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FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
FADE IN:
INT. BEDROOM - PREDAWN
In a Simi Valley housing tract. It's dark.
CLOSE ON ALARM CLOCK
4:59 AM.
WIDER ANGLE: Eyes glisten in the clock's shine,
patiently watching the time.
BZZZZ! The ALARM SOUNDS. A hand that's been hovering
over the clock drops. Silence. JAKE HOYT, a fit young
man, rolls over, throws an arm over his sleeping wife --
JAKE
It's time.
-- she's not there, just empty blankets. He sits up.
HIS POV
LISA, his wife, in a rocking chair in the corner.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake is surprised. How'd she sneak off?
JAKE
What are you doing up?
She pulls back the blanket, she breast-feeds their infant
daughter.
LISA
Mooooo.
She lavishes kisses on her baby.
CUT TO:
CLOSEUP - BRASSO
is squirted on terry cloth. A badge is rubbed against it
in precise circles.
WIDEN TO:
INT. KITCHEN - DAWN
Jake, scrubbed, shaved, in T-shirt and jeans, studies the
gleaming badge, snaps it in its case, clips it to his
belt. He tosses a duffle on the counter. Searches
through the police gear. Lisa taps a police baton on his
shoulder. He takes it.
JAKE
Thanks.
LISA
Wrong day to forget stuff.
He shoves it in the bag. Zips it.
JAKE
She go back to sleep?
LISA
Mmm-hmm. Ate like a pig.
She grabs a pack of English muffins.
LISA
Want some eggs for the road?
JAKE
I gotta roll. Gotta beat the traffic.
He grabs his duffle and pressed uniform off a chair. He
kisses Lisa's cheek, her neck, her lips. Heads to the
door. The PHONE RINGS. Jake stops. Lisa answers.
LISA
Hello?
(beat, laughs)
Hi! How nice, thank you.
(beat, giggles)
Yes, sir. He's right here.
(to Jake)
Jake. It's Alonzo.
Jake takes the phone.
JAKE
Hello?
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
Hoyt?
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
Meet the Lieutenant yesterday?
Get the welcome aboard speech and
all that?
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
He's a good guy. Backs his boys.
You all checked in? Your sheet
signed off?
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
You're not on the squad until I
sign it. And that depends on how
you do today.
JAKE
Yessir. I know.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
On your way to roll call?
JAKE
Yessir. I'm not out the door
right now.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
Hoyt.
JAKE
Yessir?
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
Patrol fairies go to roll call.
We don't go to roll call.
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
There's a coffee shop at Virgil
and Raymond. See you there at
ten. Be in civvies. Comfortable
shoes. Got a back-up gun?
Something pocket-sized?
JAKE
Yessir. I have a three eighty
stainless with nine rounds of
silver tips.
ALONZO (V.O.)
(filtered)
Bring it. Cuffs, too. We're
gonna be in the office all day,
but who knows, maybe we'll do some
business. Told you, we're an
aggressive unit.
JAKE
I know, sir. That's why I signed
up. I want to thank you for
giving me the oppor --
-- CLICK! Alonzo hangs up. Jake too. He stands there.
Nervous. Grabs his stomach.
LISA
What's wrong?
JAKE
Feel like it's football tryouts.
Wish it was tomorrow so I'd
already know if I was on his squad
or not.
LISA
It's not tomorrow. It's today.
And it's gonna work out. I know
it will.
JAKE
I gotta relax.
(snuggles against her)
Don't have to show up until ten.
She breaks the embrace -- sore breasts -- Ouch!
JAKE
Soon they'll be mine again.
Jake chases them with cupped hands as she retreats,
giggling. Their game.
CUT TO:
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Jake struts through the door, confidently looks around.
JAKE'S POV
DETECTIVE SERGEANT ALONZO, in a flannel shirt, reading
the paper in a booth. The gun leather tough LAPD vet is
a hands-on, blue collar cop who can kick your ass with a
look.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake walks over. Slides in across. Alonzo's eyes will
never leave his newspaper.
JAKE
Good morning, sir.
A young waitress pours Jake coffee, offers a menu. Jake
waves it away.
JAKE
I'm okay, ma'am. Thank you.
ALONZO
Have some chow before we hit the
office. Go ahead. It's my
dollar.
JAKE
No, thank you, sir. I ate.
ALONZO
Fine. Don't.
Alonzo turns the page. A long beat. Then:
JAKE
It's nice here.
ALONZO
May I read my paper?
JAKE
I'm sorry, sir... I'll get some
food.
ALONZO
No. You won't. You fucked that
up. Please. I'm reading. Shut
up.
Jake does -- Jeeez, sorry. Pours a ton of sugar in his
coffee.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
The waitress pours refills. Alonzo reads. Jake fidgets.
JAKE
Where's the office, sir? Back at
Division?
No response.
JAKE
Gonna be nice not roasting all
summer in a hot black and white.
Alonzo sighs, carefully folds his paper. Glares at Jake.
ALONZO
Tell me a story, Hoyt.
JAKE
My story?
ALONZO
Not your story. A story. You
can't keep your mouth shut long
enough to let me finish my paper.
So tell me a story.
JAKE
I don't think I know any stories.
Alonzo waves the paper in Jake's face.
ALONZO
This is a newspaper. And I know
it's ninety percent bullshit but
it's entertaining. That's why I
read it. Because it entertains
me. If you won't let me read my
paper, then entertain me with your
bullshit. Tell me a story.
JAKE
A real one or should I make one up?
ALONZO
(sighs)
Where'd you do your probation?
JAKE
Van Nuys.
ALONZO
Right. The Valley. No cute
little anecdotes about your time
on the mean streets of Van Nuys?
Writing underage smoking cites at
the shopping mall?
Jake thinks. Bingo! He's got it.
JAKE
There was this D.U.I. stop.
ALONZO
A D.U.I. stop. Wow. Go on.
JAKE
We were on the mid-watch.
ALONZO
We? You and...?
JAKE
Debbie.
ALONZO
Debbie? The fuck's Debbie?
JAKE
My training officer. Debbie
Maxwell --
ALONZO
-- You're T.O. was female?
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO
She white? Black?
JAKE
White.
ALONZO
She dyked out or she any good?
JAKE
She's pretty good.
ALONZO
So you and Debbie are pullin' a
mid-watch?
JAKE
Right. It's a real quiet night.
A yawner. We're rolling on
Vanowen. I'm driving. And this
Acura, just a beautiful car, comes
out a side street. In excess.
All over the median. So I light
it up and hit the wailer. Guy
drives on like I'm invisible for
ten blocks before he pulls over.
Plates ran clean. I approach.
Debbie covers. Driver's this huge
white guy. Can barely keep his
eyes open. I field test and
arrest and I'm belting him in our
unit. Debbie's tossing his car.
She calls me to the vehicle and
shows me a snubbed .38 and two
shotguns, all loaded and locked.
ALONZO
No shit?
JAKE
No shit. She calls our supervisor
and I keep searching. I find five
hundred grams of meth in the dash.
Turns out our D.U.I. was on bail
for distribution. He was on his
way to smoke his ex-partner before
trial.
(proudly)
We prevented a murder.
Alonzo is astonished.
ALONZO
... amazing...
Jake beams -- some story, huh?
ALONZO
You're driving around the Valley
with a fine bitch in your car for
a year and the most entertaining
story you got is a D.U.I. stop?
Never hit her up for some Code X
in the back seat?
JAKE
I have a wife.
ALONZO
You also have a dick.
Alonzo shakes his head in disgust. Jake is crushed.
ALONZO
Let's go.
Alonzo tosses a twenty on the table. OFF his heavy
wedding band we:
CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
Jake and Alonzo crossing. Alonzo sizes Jake up, smirks
at his dorky running shoes.
ALONZO
You look, walk and talk like a
cop. Grow your hair out.
Alonzo stops at:
G-RIDE
A narc-machine supreme. A tired, candy blue 1978 Monte
Carlo with mismatched rims, curb feelers, window tint.
ALONZO
Gimme that menu.
Jake pulls a Chinese menu from under the wiper. Hands it
to Alonzo, who folds and pockets it.
ALONZO
Get in. S'un1ocked.
Jake's turn to smirk as he climbs in.
INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Jake buries his shoes in beer cans and coffee cups. He
notes a car seat in back. Alonzo twists a screwdriver in
the shattered ignition, pumps the hell out of the gas.
After forever, the ENGINE CATCHES -- VROOM!
JAKE
This is a piece'a shit.
ALONZO
Don't worry. My baby puts out
when she has to.
Alonzo rubs the dash lovingly and backs out.
JAKE
Where's the office?
ALONZO
You're in it.
Jake reacts. Then smiles -- This is kind'a cool.
ALONZO
Rover's in the glove box. Wanna
ten-eight us?
JAKE
Yessir.
ALONZO
Shitcan the sirs. I'm not your
domestic violence awareness
instructor.
Jake takes a Motorola radio from the glove box.
JAKE
What's our I.D.?
ALONZO
Nora fifteen.
JAKE
(into Motorola)
Nora fifteen, ten-eight.
DISPATCH (V.O.)
Nora fifteen, ten-twenty.
Jake checks the street signs -- Virgil and Raymond.
Before he can tell Dispatch, Alonzo snatches the
Motorola.
ALONZO
(into rover)
Nora fifteen, South on Rampart at
6th.
DISPATCH (V.O.)
Ten four.
Alonzo SQUEALS out of the lot, tosses Jake the rover.
ALONZO
Bad guys are listening. Don't
trust the radios. Never let
anyone know where you're really
at. Ever.
Jake nods and smiles -- makes sense.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Heading South on Alvarado, passing MacArthur Park. It
could be San Salvador or Guatemala City. Jake is
mesmerized by the crowds.
JAKE
This looks like the Third World.
ALONZO
It's my world.
Alonzo lights a smoke. Settles in his seat.
ALONZO
Today's a training day. Gonna
show you around, give you a feel
for the business. I have thirty-
eight cases pending trial. I have
sixty-three active investigations.
There's another three hundred and
fifty cases on the log I can't
clear. I'm supervising five
officers. That's five different
personalities, five different sets
of problems. You, Officer Hoyt,
if you got the guts to succeed,
will be number six. I don't have
time to baby-sit or hold hands.
You have one day to show me who
you are and what you can or cannot
handle. You can't hack narcotics,
feel free to work a pussy desk
pinching check kiters. Hear me,
Officer Hoyt?
JAKE
I hear you.
ALONZO
Good. Gonna show you reality.
Think you can handle it?
JAKE
Yeah.
ALONZO
Why you wanna be a narc?
JAKE
I want to serve my community by
ridding it of dangerous drugs.
Alonzo gives him a look -- Don't b.s. me.
JAKE
I wanna make detective.
The boy is ambitious. Alonzo likes that.
ALONZO
Stick with me and you will. If
you can unlearn the bullshit
they've filled your head with.
You gonna be passing out baseball
cards and carrying old ladies'
groceries like the rest of the
newfucks Washington's flooded the
streets with?
JAKE
Sergeant, I'll do anything you
want me to do.
ALONZO
Stand by, because narcotics ain't
about staying in the car and
looking good. I bet you write
great paper, Hoyt.
(before Jake can answer)
You do. I checked it out. Cover
your area, cover your ass, but not
necessarily in that order, right?
JAKE
Right. Are you going to teach me
that old school hard-charging beat
up everything that moves Rodney
King shit?
ALONZO
That's not police work either.
We're the new breed. We use
this...
(taps his head)
This is our tool.
Alonzo stops at a light. A shiny new police cruiser
pulls alongside. The driver sips a Big Gulp, his female
partner writes a report. They look more like co-eds than
cops.
Jake eyes the driver. Who gives him a smile. Then
Alonzo looks at the driver. When their eyes meet, the
Driver looks away, intimidated, and makes a right turn.
Alonzo grins at Jake, his point underscored.
ALONZO
How long you been married?
JAKE
A year.
ALONZO
Gotta kid, right?
JAKE
(smiles)
A nine-month-old girl.
ALONZO
I got four kids. All boys. You
want a son, lemme know. I'll do
your old lady up. I can't miss.
Jake angers, though he knows he is being tested.
JAKE
Let's not talk about my family.
ALONZO
It's cool. I can respect that.
I'm married. I have my queen,
too. I remember what it's like to
have a pretty young bride. Bet
you still fuck her face-to-face.
JAKE
(clenched teeth)
Can we not talk about my wife?
ALONZO
Kick back, kid... You're so in
love it's comin' out your eyes.
The day you bring the old lady to
the office is the day you don't go
home. If you don't hide your love
deep inside, the maggots are gonna
find it and chew on it.
Jake realizes Alonzo is right. Alonzo hands him a card.
ALONZO
That's our Chaplain, Lieutenant
Hayes. Give him a call. Invite
him and his wife over for dinner.
He's a good guy and no dumbshit.
You and your woman need any kind'a help,
call him. I'm serious.
Jake takes the card. Kind of smiles.
JAKE
Thanks. I will.
They cruise a beat.
JAKE
Who's Mr. Clean?
Alonzo nails him with surprised look.
ALONZO
Where the hell you hear that?
JAKE
From a Van Nuys Robbery Detective.
Told me to ask you that.
ALONZO
(smiles, shakes his head)
Asshole.
Alonzo pulls onto a street of dense apartments. Parks
along the curb.
JAKE
What's here?
ALONZO
Transactions... See the
Salvatrucha one-cut on the fence,
trying not to look like he's
slangin'?
Jake looks, sees a young, bald cholo, Neto, just hanging
out.
ALONZO
That's Neto. Works for me.
JAKE
Informant?
ALONZO
I got eyes everywhere. He gets to
peddle reefer, make a little cash
for the family. I get a heads up
when shit goes down. The barrio
on-line.
JAKE
And you trust him?
ALONZO
Fuckin' right I trust him. Sprung
his mom from I.N.S. detention.
Alonzo watches his mirror, perks up.
ALONZO
Here we go.
INSERT - MIRROR
A new VW Beetle pulls onto the street, moving slow.
BACK TO SCENE
The VW passes the G-Ride. Jake glimpses three people
inside, two guys in front, a girl in back. Hipster
university students.
ALONZO
Shit's going down.
JAKE'S POV
The VW stops. Neto looks around, crosses to the driver's
window, a drink cup in hand. Neto plucks a foil pack
from the cup. Trades it for the driver's ten. Neto
walks away.
BACK TO SCENE
ALONZO
See the hand-to-hand?
JAKE
I saw it.
The VW drives off, fast. Alonzo pulls out. Follows it.
ALONZO
When was your last felony stop?
JAKE
Couple weeks ago.
ALONZO
You need practice.
JAKE
They look like college kids.
ALONZO
They need a lesson. I want these
hemorrhoids grabbing glass. I got
front. You got back.
Alonzo pulls his gun. Jake reaches for the Motorola.
ALONZO
Stay off the rover.
Jake puts it away, pulls his gun.
Alonzo stomps the gas. The G-Ride HOWLS.
The VW is at the corner, about to turn --
SCREEEEEECH! -- Alonzo slaloms to a stop, blocking its
path. His pistol aimed through Jake's window at the
DRIVER.
ALONZO
Police! Lemme see your hands!
Jake draws a bead on the girl in back.
JAKE
Police officers! Your hands!
The kids gawk at the two narcs for a stunned beat.
JAKE
Don't look at us! Look straight
ahead!
ALONZO
Driver and right front passenger!
Palms on the windshield!
JAKE
You in the back! Palms on the
side window! Look straight ahead!
ALONZO
Driver! Use your left hand, put
the vehicle in park.
The Driver is mortified because:
DRIVER
... it's a stickshift...
ALONZO
Shut up, dickhead! I'll shoot
your face off! Take the keys out
of the ignition. Throw 'em out
the window!
The Driver does, quickly, as Alonzo jumps from the car
charges the Driver, shoves the gun in his face. These
are just scared kids. The girl tries not to cry.
ALONZO
Fork it over, smartman.
DRIVER
What, sir?
Alonzo grabs his ear, tugs violently.
ALONZO
The fuckin' marijuana I just
watched you purchase!
The Driver hands over the foil pack.
PASSENGER
I'm very sorry, sir. I didn't
know he was bringing me here.
ALONZO
Shut up, dumbass. You're here
now! Gimme that pipe!
There's a pot pipe on the floor mat. The PASSENGER picks
it up. Reluctantly hands it to Alonzo.
PASSENGER
My mom gave me that pipe.
ALONZO
What else you got?
DRIVER
Cigarettes...?
ALONZO
Gimme those too.
He gives him a squished packed of Marlboro reds. The
girl lowers her hands -- bad move.
ALONZO
Control your suspect, Hoyt!
JAKE
Miss! Palms on the glass!
Alonzo sees her lip quiver.
ALONZO
Cry and I slap the eyes outta your
face!
Back to the Driver.
ALONZO
You aware this is a gang
neighborhood?
That gives him pause -- no kidding -- Alonzo grabs his
ear again, shakes.
ALONZO
I see you here again, I take your
car. You can walk home while your
girlfriend pulls a homeboy
train... Hear me, reefer addict?
DRIVER
Yes, sir.
ALONZO
Thank you for your cooperation --
Safe your iron.
Jake holsters his gun. Follows Alonzo to the G-Ride.
ON VW
The kids trade shell-shocked looks, grabbing glass. Then
lower their hands.
ON G-RIDE
Alonzo and Jake climb in. As they drive away, the gir1
nails Jake with a look of revulsion. Jake reacts.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Alonzo laughing. Jake didn't like what happened. It
shows.
JAKE
Was that training? How to roust
students for dime bags?
ALONZO
They have no business being here.
Sooner or later that little smart-
ass white boy college puke is
gonna get jacked. I saved his
life.
JAKE
Taught him a real lesson.
ALONZO
Sure did, buy your shit on campus.
(beat)
I like your moves. Someone
trained you well.
Jake smiles to himself. Alonzo opens the foil, sniffs --
ALONZO
Shitty dime. Check it out.
-- hands it to Jake. Who takes out a bud.
ALONZO
See the small hairs? The
undeveloped seeds. How it's all
stems?
Jake nods.
ALONZO
It was picked immature. See how
flat it is? Classic brick-pack
Mexican. See how brittle it is?
It's not bud season. It's from
last year.
Jake is amazed. Alonzo snatches the bud, crumbles it in
the pipe, tosses aside seeds.
ALONZO
To be truly effective, a narcotics
detective must know and love
narcotics. A good narcotics
detective should have narcotics in
his blood.
JAKE
You going to smoke that?
Alonzo smiles devilishly, offers Jake the pipe.
ALONZO
You are.
JAKE
Hell if I am.
ALONZO
What? You a Mormon? A Jesus freak?
JAKE
No. I'm not losing my job.
ALONZO
(re: the pipe)
This is your job.
JAKE
I can't do it.
ALONZO
This isn't some kind of test.
Take a fuckin' hit.
JAKE
I became a cop to keep people from
using that poison.
ALONZO
(laughs)
This ain't a review board. We
ain't doing rails. Just leafy
green bud.
Jake stands firm, shaking his head.
SCREECH! Alonzo stops in the middle of the street, pulls
his gun, jams it in Jake's ear. CARS behind them HONK.
ALONZO
If I was a dealer, you'd be dead.
Turn shit down on the street and
the Chief hands your wife a
crisply folded flag.
Jake stares stubbornly at Alonzo. Alonzo pockets the
gun. Lights the lighter. And takes a huge hit, blows
smoke in Jake's face.
ALONZO
I don't want you in my unit. Not
even my division. Go back to
Valley. Get the fuck out of my
car.
A staring contest. Jake decides to play the game.
JAKE
... Okay...
He takes the pipe, takes an absolutely huge hit --
ALONZO
Alright. That's how it's done,
son.
-- And is racked with a spasm of coughing.
ALONZO
Betrayed by your virgin lungs.
Jake takes another hit -- a passing driver watches --
blows the smoke in Alonzo's face.
Alonzo laughs, resumes driving, takes a hit. They pass
the pipe around a few times before Alonzo tosses it on
the dash.
ALONZO
It's cashed.
They cruise in a strange otherworldly silence. Jake is
clearly messed up, his head lolls from side to side.
ALONZO
Shit, you took some mansized hits.
You gonna be okay? When's the
last time you smoked out?
JAKE
... Twelfth grade...
ALONZO
Left that out of your service
jacket. Knew you had secrets,
everyone does. Didn't know you
dig dusters.
JAKE
What are dusters?
ALONZO
You know, dusted bud. Dippers?
C'mon, dipped in P.C.P. Primos.
Sherm, Kool, P-dog, Angel dust...
Didn't you smell it? Taste it?
JAKE
(horrified)
... I've never done it...
ALONZO
Now you have. Remember the smell
for next time. Think I'd inhale
that shit?
Jake is scared as hell, pale, sweaty.
JAKE
Oh, no. No. No. No.
ALONZO
Gonna kick the shit out of Neto.
Motherfucker's lacing crappy bud
to get that unsuspecting return
client. Hell with his mom, I'm
deporting the bitch.
JAKE
I'm gonna get piss tested. I'm
gonna get fired.
ALONZO
I told you, Lieutenant's got our
backs. We know a week before we
piss.
JAKE
(panicking)
Shit. How could you do this to
me? Shit. Shit. Shit!
Alonzo slams an elbow across Jake's throat.
ALONZO
Fuckin' chill and ride the high.
You're an adult. You chose to
smoke. Live with your decisions.
You cool?
JAKE
I'm cool.
ALONZO
Besides, no one put a gun to your
head.
Jake shoots him a look.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOUSE - DAY
A well-tended craftsman on a steep hill of fixer-uppers
in Echo Park. The G-Ride parks out front.
ALONZO
Get your shit together.
Alonzo and Jake cross to the door. The steepness of the
hill is disorientating to Jake. Alonzo knocks.
ALONZO
This is my Road Dog's pad. Wanna
see what he thinks of you.
JAKE
What do I say?
ALONZO
You'll think of something stupid.
Someone peeps through the peephole. A tall, heavy man in
a bathrobe with long, grey hair answers. This is ROGER,
old before his time, a little sick. Happy to see Alonzo.
ROGER
Hey, brother, get your ass in
here.
CUT TO:
INT. ROGER'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Roger and Alonzo hug.
ALONZO
Did I wake you?
ROGER
No. C'mon in. Please have a seat.
Alonzo and Jake sit in big chairs. Three beepers, three
cell phones on the coffee table. Roger sits, takes a
bottle of whisky, three tumblers from a liquor cart.
Pours booze.
Jake looks around at the modest traditional furniture.
The Hummel figurines. Photos on the wall.
ALONZO
Alright. Time to get my swerve
on.
Roger gives Alonzo a concerned look.
ROGER
Heard you had a beef in Vegas.
ALONZO
I'm cool. People talk shit.
ROGER
You know I got your back.
ALONZO
I know. Thanks.
They clink glasses, chug booze. Jake doesn't. He stares
into the liquid, enraptured by its smoky patterns.
ALONZO
C'mon. Be polite.
Jake takes his tumbler, sniffs, sips. Winces. Roger
runs a finger up Jake's crew-cut. Jake recoils.
ROGER
Went and got yourself a daisy-
fresh scuzz-headed rookie.
Roger leans back in the couch. Jake is looking around
the room again. A BEEPER BEEPS. Roger checks it. Dials
a cell phone. Alonzo gesturing for Jake to drink. He
almost empties his glass.
ROGER
Wassup?
(beat)
Collect first. Step to that cat
with something to flash. He'll
lay you down.
(beat)
Righteous. Later, dude.
Roger hangs up. Studies Jake.
ROGER
Jesus, Alonzo. He's high as a
motherfucker. The hell you give
him?
Alonzo tosses the foil pack on the table. Roger takes
it, smells the PCP and shakes his head.
ROGER
Where'd you grow up?
JAKE
North Hollywood.
ROGER
What's your last name?
JAKE
Hoyt.
ROGER
(it clicks)
You play strong safety for North
Hollywood High?
JAKE
Yessir. How'd you know?
ROGER
I follow all the good players.
His BEEPER BEEPS. He checks it, sighs. Dials a cell
phone.
ROGER
It's me. Whassup?
(beat)
Can't do a thing for you. Your
mess. You clean it up. Don't be
callin' me.
He hangs up. Freshens the drinks.
ROGER
(to Jake)
Here's a joke, boy. One day this
man walks out of his house to go
to work. He sees this snail on
his porch. So he picks it up and
chucks it over his roof, into the
back yard. Snail bounces off a
rock, cracks its shell all to
shit, and lands in the grass.
Snail lies there dying.
A BEEPER BEEPS. Roger checks and ignores it.
ROGER
But it doesn't die. It eats some
grass. Slowly heals. Grows a new
shell. And after a while it can
crawl again. One day the snail up
and heads back to the front of the
house. Finally, after a year, the
little guy crawls back on the
porch. Right then, the man walks
out to go to work and sees this
snail again. So he says to it,
'What the fuck's your problem?'
Jake stares at Roger a beat. Then starts laughing.
Really laughing. Maybe too much. He wipes his eyes.
JAKE
That's messed up. That wasn't
funny.
ALONZO
Then why are you cackling like a
jackal?
JAKE
I dunno.
ROGER
Figure that joke out and you'll
figure the streets out.
ALONZO
Don't listen to him. There's
nothing to figure out. The
street's nothing more than
senseless bullshit.
JAKE
Uh-uh. I got 'em figured out.
ROGER
You got the streets figured out?
JAKE
Yeah. It's all smiles and cries.
ALONZO
Give up. You're too high, space
captain.
ROGER
Hold on -- smiles and cries. I
hear you.
JAKE
You gotta control your smiles and
cries. No one can take them away
so... they're all we really have.
Roger and Alonzo trade looks -- sharp kid. Alonzo pats
Jake's shoulder. To Roger:
ALONZO
Think this greenhorn can handle
undercover?
Roger scrutinizes Jake a beat. Smiles and nods: yes.
ROGER
You were just like him.
ALONZO
(laughs)
Fuck you.
ROGER
Same silly-ass look and
everything. Saving the fuckin'
world.
ALONZO
That lasted a week.
Alonzo stands, shakes with Roger.
ALONZO
Brother, I gotta get back in my
office. Thanks for the snort,
dog. What're you up to today?
Roger gestures at the phones and beepers.
ROGER
Think I get out of the house?
A BEEPER BEEPS. Roger shakes with Jake.
ROGER
Take care, Hoyt. You're gonna do
okay.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
South on Rampart. Jake senses he passed a test. Alonzo
smiling at him.
JAKE
What?
ALONZO
He liked you.
JAKE
Who is he? One of your snitches?
ALONZO
He's no snitch. He's a good man
to know. C'mon, let's find some
action in Niggertown.
(off Jake's look)
N-wordtown. What are you, Hoyt?
You ain't pure whiteboy. You
mixed?
JAKE
Italian, Irish and Mexican.
ALONZO
No shit? You're all fucked up.
How's the Espanol?
JAKE
Mas o menos.
ALONZO
Work on it. People'll be plotting
the worst kind of shit behind your
back.
Alonzo parks in front of a liquor store.
CUT TO:
EXT. LIQUOR STORE - DAY
Alonzo crosses to the G-ride with a sixer of beer --
INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
-- Climbs in. Sees Jakes's eyes are closed.
ALONZO
C'mon, man. Open your eyes.
You'll make it worse.
Nothing.
ALONZO
Sit your ass up. Hoyt!
Jake locks bleary red eyes on Alonzo, jokingly:
JAKE
Who're you?
ALONZO
The fuckin' zig-zag man.
JAKE
Cool. I'm a cop.
ALONZO
You're a little bitty boot.
Alonzo cracks beers for him and Jake.
ALONZO
C'mon. It helps. Believe me.
Jake takes one. Swigs. Alonzo lights a smoke, pulls
onto Normandie. Does a doubletake.
ALONZO
Oh, damn!
Jake looking around wildly.
JAKE
Oh, shit! What? What? What?
ALONZO
Relax. See that savory Mexican mama?
JAKE'S POV
A beautiful Mexican woman pushing a baby carriage.
CAMERA PLAYING OVER her in luscious SLOW MOTION.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake stares, mouth open. Alonzo points out more
beautiful Latinas gracing the sidewalks.
ALONZO
Mmmm-mmmm. The brown woman is the
fine woman. Give her ten more
babies to push around. Thick and
tasty. Love to get up in that...
Your old lady white? Fuckin'
Nordic cheerleader, right?
JACK
Wrong. She's Chicana. Light-
skinned.
ALONZO
I like my meat dark. C'mon, pound
that beer. Have another. Gives
you ballast.
Alonzo tosses his empty out the window. Jake too.
Alonzo cracks two fresh beers -- Jake takes one, drops
it, soaking his leg.
ALONZO
Dumbass. Don't spill it. You
gotta learn how to party.
JAKE
I'm fine.
ALONZO
You gotta be able to handle a
high. It's a necessary job skill.
I'm not kidding. It's an alcohol
world down here. You gotta be
able to hang. To get fucked up
and talk shit with sketchy
sociopathic dumbasses and not pass
out and get your shoes stolen.
JAKE
I'm fine. Just a little dizzy.
But Jake looks decidedly green. He sips beer. HICCUPS
mightily. Alonzo brakes, flings open Jake's door.
ALONZO
Not in my car!
Jake leans out, vomits onto the street. He hangs there a
beat, dry heaving.
ALONZO
Okay, okay. Well's dry, kid.
He yanks Jake in by the collar. Keeps driving.
JAKE
Sorry.
ALONZO
Wipe your chin.
Jake does, rinses his mouth with beer, spits out the
window.
JAKE
I'm cool now. Had to unload the
groceries.
He leans his head on the window pillar.
Jakes's eye absorb the street's tableau of unworldly
gliding by. Palm trees and sunshine. Paradise and hell
in one.
His lids begin to drift shut.
Then Jake sees a flash of movement in an alley. Suddenly
alert, he paws at the doorhandle.
JAKE
Activity on the right? Stop the
car!
ALONZO
Siddown, Hoyt. Everything's fine.
JAKE
Stop the fucking car!
ALONZO
C'mon, relax. You're trippin' --
Jake grabs the gearshift, throws it in reverse. The
transmission GRINDS, tires SCREECH. The engine stalls.
Jake is out like a shot --
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
-- He dodges an oncoming car.
ALONZO
Get the fuck back here!
Jake into the alley.
ON G-RIDE
Alonzo pulling to the curb.
ALONZO
Dumb-ass kid.
ON JAKE
Running like a deer. He enters the alley. Sees a book
bag on the ground -- A dumpster ahead. Jake rounds it.
Fast.
HIS POV
A devastatingly beautiful Latina SCHOOLGIRL, pinned
against the wall by a tall CRACKHEAD. Her nose dots
blood on her uniform blouse.
BACK TO SCENE
The Crackhead hauls back to smack her. Jake Charging.
JAKE
Police officer! You're under
arrest!
The Crackhead punches Jake's throat. Stops him cold.
Jake realizes how huge this guy is. Gulp.
CRACKHEAD
Gonna fuck you too, cop.
ANOTHER CRACKHEAD dives from the shadows and tackles
Jake. Both go down hard.
Crackhead #1 stomps Jake's head. Jake gets his arm
around Crackhead #2's neck, squeezes -- the forbidden
choke hold.
Alonzo enters the alley. And just stands there,
watching.
Jake rides out Crackhead #I's vicious kicks as Crackhead
#2 convulses from hypoxia. And finally goes limp.
Jake lets go, sweeps Crackhead #I's legs out from under
him and hops to his feet. Crackhead #1 stands too.
The Schoolgirl looks on, stunned.
CRACKHEAD #1
You're ass is doomed.
Jake growls, snatches him up like a rag doll, spins him,
slams him hard. In a flash, Jake twists him into a
pretzel, drops a knee on his neck, grinds his head into
the asphalt. Clicks on the cuffs.
CRACKHEAD #1
We didn't do shit. Bitch is crazy
and shit.
Crackhead #2 coming to, starting to stand. Jake crosses
to him, pins his head with his knee. Slips a pair of
flexicuffs from his sock, zips them on the man's wrists.
CRACKHEAD #2
Man, you fuckin' up, slick.
Homegirl tradin' her ass for
cookies.
JAKE
Shut the fuck up, sir!
ANGLE ON ALONZO
Smiling, impressed by his raw skill.
JAKE
Thanks for the help.
ALONZO
Should'a shot 'em.
Jake crosses to the Schoolgirl.
JAKE
We're police officers. You okay?
You hurt?
SCHOOLGIRL
(to the Crackheads,
shaken but tough)
You fucked up! My cousins are
from White Fence. They're gonna
blast you fools! Pinchi mayates!
ALONZO
Miss! Relax! Are you okay?
SCHOOLGIRL
What? No. No, I'm not okay.
Lookit my nose... My mom's gonna
trip out.
Alonzo gingerly examines her nose.
ALONZO
Honey, it's just a nosebleed. Put
ice on it. Don't be walkin'
around here alone. Tell your
cousins to get your back. You
know what those pieces'a shit were
gonna do. Probably got AIDS. Why
aren't you in school?
SCHOOLGIRL
I was going to a ditch party.
ALONZO
You almost became a ditch party.
Go home. Go home. Now.
She grabs her book bag and gets out of there.
JAKE
I gotta get her statement.
ALONZO
Unhook em'. We're not racking up
arrests.
JAKE
(shocked)
Kick 'em loose?
ALONZO
No. Get some shots in first.
JAKE
I have a punching bag at home. I
want them off the street.
Alonzo squats by Crackhead #1. Searches him.
ALONZO
Hear that, bro? My dog, here,
wants to lock you up. Been to the
bootyhouse? Grabbin' ankles for
the big boys?
CRACKHEAD #1
Suck my dick, bitch. I know
people.
ALONZO
Kick back, who's-who.
Alonzo finds rocks in one sock. Some twenties in the
other. He pockets the cash and crack. Searches
Crackhead #2.
ALONZO
Where's your horn?
CRACKHEAD #2
Ain't got no horn.
Alonzo finds a glass pipe.
ALONZO
So what's this, chief? Gonna make
you eat it.
Instead, he grinds it underfoot.
ALONZO
Ya'll lucky I got pressing
business today -- You, stand up.
Alonzo hauls Crackhead #1 to his feet. Unlocks the
cuffs, tosses them to Jake. Crackhead #2 strains against
the flexicuffs.
ALONZO
(to Crackhead #2)
You get to keep those.
He steers Crackhead #1 to a wall -- cocks his fist.
ALONZO
Ain't the first honey ya'll pinned
to a wall, huh? Close your eyes.
Crackhead does. Alonzo knees his groin -- oof! -- He
falls to the ground, whimpers in the fetal position.
ALONZO
Next time I cut your dick off and
shove it up your ass.
(pats Jake's back, winks)
I'll leave you three alone. Gonna
grab some beer.
Alonzo exits the alley. Jake watches Crackhead #1
whimper, Crackhead #2 writhe in the gutter. It's futi1e
to beat these men. Jake takes pity, walks away.
CRACKHEAD #2
Pussy motherfucker. Gonna see
your ass again. Gonna fuck you
up, bitch. Won't see shit coming.
Creep like a ninja and crack your
head open. Blow your house up.
Punk-ass white boy. Now you in my
world, motherfucker.
Jake stops and turns around. He stoops to pick up a pink
Hello Kitty change purse.
INSIDE CHANGE PURSE
The Schoolgirl's MIA bus pass and her freshman ID from
Immaculate Heart High School.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake glares at the Crackheads.
JAKE
You assholes! She's fifteen!
CRACKHEAD #2
(grins)
She all woman. Tax that ass for
days.
Man! Jake could kick his brains out. Somehow, he turns
and walks away.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Jake steams. Alonzo offers a beer from a new sixer.
Jake refuses. Alonzo counts and pockets the money he
took. Notes Jake's stare.
ALONZO
Wanna book sixty bucks? Where're
the suspects?
JAKE
(ice)
You let them go.
ALONZO
Get over it. You wanna go runnin'
and gunnin', stay in patrol. This
is Investigations. Leave the
garbage for the garbage men.
We're professional anglers. We
reel in the big ones. Should'a
dished out some shoe leather.
You'd have a big 'ol smile on your
face.
JAKE
I get my shits and grins booking
bad guys, not beating them.
ALONZO
Man... The fuck you doing running
alone into an alley full'a
cracked-out monkey-strong
motherfuckers? Those hemorrhoids
wouldta killed you without mercy
or hesitation.
JAKE
That's why they belong in prison.
ALONZO
They lost their money, their rock,
got beat down and now the eses
from White Fence are gonna smoke
'em. Jesus, what more do you want?
JAKE
Justice.
ALONZO
Is that not justice?
JAKE
That's street justice.
ALONZO
What's wrong with street justice?
JAKE
Let the animals wipe themselves
out, right?
ALONZO
If only they would. But it don't
work like that. They wipe out the
good folks. Notice how it's
always school kids, mommies and
ass-bustin' family men catching
stray slugs in their noodles. You
protect the sheep by catching the
wolves. It takes a wolf to catch
a wolf.
JAKE
What?
ALONZO
You protect --
JAKE
I heard you. Whatever.
A beat.
JAKE
When do you lock anyone up? Seems
like you're too busy keeping people
out.
Bad mistake. Alonzo slaps him. Glares at him.
ALONZO
Shut up, boot! Nothin' but shit
'tween your ears. They build
prisons cause'a me! Judges have
handed out fifteen thousand man
years of incarceration time based
on my investigations. My record
speaks for itself. How many
felons have you collared?
Dickhead.
Now that it's clear who's the boss, they drive in tense
silence for a long beat. Alonzo digs in his pocket --
ALONZO
Here...
-- hands Jake the rocks he found. A beat.
JAKE
I'm not smoking crack.
ALONZO
Good. I'm glad to hear that.
Toss 'em in the glove box.
Jake does, sees several more rocks under some papers.
ALONZO
Comes in handy. Like a debit
card.
(offers Jake a beer)
You earned it. C'mon.
Jake refuses.
ALONZO
No matter what I say, I want you
to know, you did the right thing.
Reminds me of when I could chase
down anyone and fuck them up.
You're a good cop. You got fire.
That was some amazing shit back
there.
JAKE
Thanks.
ALONZO
That the choke hold I saw you
applying? Isn't that a big no-no,
procedure-boy?
JAKE
Well... I was getting my ass
kicked.
ALONZO
You did what you had to do.
Alonzo gives Jake a beer and grins at him like a proud
dad.
ALONZO
You got a magic eye, Hoyt. You
have a magic fucking eye. Up your
street I.Q. and you'll do some
damage, crime fighter.
They clink cans. Jake smiles.
CUT TO:
EXT. NORMANDIE AND VERNON - DAY
The G-Ride rolls through the intersection. If you don't
know the neighborhood, stay the hell out.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
The area fills Alonzo's eyes with memories.
ALONZO
This is Southwest Div. Did my
probation here. Learned a lot
here. Good things. Bad things.
Kicked some ass. Had my ass
kicked.
JAKE
Back in the days.
ALONZO
Yeah, back in the days. Today's
my date of employment. Know how
long I been a cop?
(as Jake shakes his head)
Thirteen years. Seven more and I
cash outta the game.
JAKE
No shit. Happy anniversary.
Jake holds out his hand. Alonzo shakes it. Kills his
beer, cracks another.
ALONZO
Thanks. Thirteen's an unlucky
number but the seven to go cancel
it out.
Alonzo turns on Adams. He reaches over, digs in the
glove box. Pulls out a photograph and hands it to Jake.
INSERT - PHOTO
A spit-and-polish, young cop in crisp blues, white
gloves, holding his Beretta at inspection arms.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake looks at the photo, then at Alonzo. Realizing:
JAKE
You're Mr. Clean.
ALONZO
I had a few misconceptions when I
started out.
(points out a house)
On the left. See that house?
Dude named Spooky lived there.
Mean old vato loco. Mexican
Mafia. No one fucked with Spooky.
Even got respect from the cops.
We'd keep an eye on his house.
You like dogs?
JAKE
Gotta six-year-old Rottweiler.
Not too bright, but I can trust
him with my kid.
ALONZO
Rotties are good dogs. Dobermans
are better. Spooky raised
Dobermans. On my second week of
patrol, when I was not knowin'
shit, we roll by Spooky's one
night. I observe this old, black
fool, named Too Fine, all drunk,
beating the shit out of this
female Doberman. Beautiful dog,
seven months old. Too Fine's
whoopin' her with a garden hose.
This dog's just crying, shaking.
I grew up with Dobermans. I was
pissed. I tell my T.O. 'I'm gonna
take him.' And my T.O. is like:
'No, no. It's cool.' He fuckin'
waves to Too Fine and this
motherfucker smiles and waves back
and keeps hitting the dog.
Thought I lost my damn mind.
Tells me Spooky gave him twenty
bucks to beat the shit out of it.
My T.O., this good 'ol boy, looks
me in the eye and says: 'Teaches
'em to hate niggers.' Almost quit
right there. Almost got out of
the fuckin' black and white and
took the bus home.
Jake looks at Alonzo.
JAKE
That's fucked up. That's one of
the most fucked up things I ever
heard.
ALONZO
Just remembered that. Every time
I'd seen it all, the street'd show
me something even more fucked up.
I know you didn't see no shit like
that in the Valley.
JAKE
No, I haven't.
Jake takes a last look at the photograph of young Alonzo
and replaces it in the glove box.
Alonzo enters an alley cutting through several blocks.
ALONZO
Double-nickel Crips control shit
here. They come up hard. Come in
here running undercover shit and
get made as a narc, the O.G.s'll
booty-bust you then some thirteen-
year-old wannabe'll curbstone you.
Feed your dead ass to a pit bull.
Youngins here fight for the right
to dump a cop. Everyone wants a
name.
JAKE
That really happen?
ALONZO
No, Hoyt, I'm pullin' your dick.
Anything can happen. It's loony
tunes here. Keep an eye out for
rock stars.
Alonzo pulls on a side street where PEANUT, a young
gangster, is ready to serve them.
ALONZO
There's one. Don't let him see
your face. And don't let anyone
run up on us with a shotgun.
Alonzo pulls out a twenty, stops near Peanut, who crosses
to his window.
PEANUT
What you want, homie?
ALONZO
(flashes twenty)
Twenty. Gimme a big-ass chip.
Peanut takes a rock from his pocket, gives it to Alonzo,
reaches for the twenty -- CLICK-CLICK! Alonzo cuffs him
to the steering wheel --
ALONZO
Let's take a ride, asshole.
-- Stomps the gas, SCREECH! Peanut runs to keep up.
Alonzo stops at the end of the alley.
ALONZO
You from double nickel?
PEANUT
Ain't from shit.
ALONZO
Again: Where you from?
PEANUT
My mom.
ALONZO
Your mom? From her ass? You a
butt baby?
PEANUT
Fuck you --
-- SCREECH! Alonzo races in reverse down the alley.
Peanut is yanked off his feet. His legs drag in the
dirt. Alonzo stops, lights a squished Marlboro. He has
Peanut's attention.
ALONZO
What do they call you?
PEANUT
Peanut.
ALONZO
You in double nickel, Peanut?
Peanut nods.
ALONZO
See, respect me, I respect you.
Talk shit, I fuck you up. Ah'ite,
homie.
PEANUT
Ah'ite.
ALONZO
Who's the boss?
PEANUT
You.
ALONZO
No, dumbass. Who you slangin'
for?
Peanut clams up. Alonzo grabs the gearshift.
ALONZO
Gimme a name or your hand. Choose
now.
Peanut stares at his hand, flexes it. Alonzo revs the
engine.
PEANUT
Mr. Mighty.
Alonzo shoves forty bucks in Peanut's hand, unlocks
him --
ALONZO
Back to work, poo-butt.
-- and drives away. Peanut flips him off.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Jake adds Peanut's rock to the glovebox.
JAKE
He was just a kid.
ALONZO
Kids or not, gotta make 'em sing.
JAKE
Who's Mr. Mighty? Let's get him.
ALONZO
Nope... can't catch that fish.
JAKE
Why not?
ALONZO
Lives in the unincorporated part
of Lynwood. We don't wanna deal
with County Sheriffs. Fuck that
headache. Wastin' our time here.
Let's head East.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
The G-Ride cruising through an even worse area. Alonzo
scans the urban wasteland for prey. Sees a gaunt DEALER
on a corner. Hands Jake a twenty.
ALONZO
Your turn.
JAKE
What do I say?
ALONZO
Adlib, dumbfuck.
He pulls over. The Dealer crosses to Jake.
DEALER
What you want, homie?
JAKE
Crack. Twenty dollars' worth.
DEALER
Fuck you, rookie.
He quickly walks away. Alonzo smiles.
ALONZO
Fetch, boy. Fetch.
Jake bolts from the car.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - ON DEALER - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
walking. He sees Jake, starts running.
Jake gaining, tackles him. Gets the Dealer in a
compliance hold and cuffs him. Alonzo pulls up, sees
Jake grinning.
ALONZO
Love doing that, huh?
(searches Dealer)
Who you work for, fuckstain?
DEALER
Can't work. I'm on disability.
ALONZO
Bullshit. You crackin'.
Jake finishes searching.
ALONZO
No rocks?
JAKE
No rocks.
DEALER
(laughing)
Aw, dang. See? Ya'll ain't got
shit. The man comin' up short
again.
Alonzo exits the car. Glares.
ALONZO
I never come up short, fool.
(to Dealer)
Open your mouth.
The Dealer does. Sensing to not play with Alonzo.
ALONZO
Lift your tongue.
He does.
DEALER
See. I ain't be gottin' shit.
ALONZO
Gimme a pen.
Jakes does. Alonzo grabs the Dealer's neck. Forces the
pen in his mouth. Down his throat. He gags -- Urgh!
Vomits.
DEALER
Motherfucker!
Jake is stunned. Alonzo inspects the spattered sidewalk.
Sees Saran-wrapped rocks.
ALONZO
Lookie those.
DEALER
That's corn.
ALONZO
That's Jimmy crack corn... One,
two, three, four, five... six.
How'd you swallow that shit
without water?
DEALER
Fuckin' bullshit! Fuck you, civil
rights violatin' motherfuckers.
Alonzo slaps him.
ALONZO
Gonna act like a man or a bitch?!
Got you cold. Gimme a name and
stay on the streets.
The Dealer mulls it over.
DEALER
He in County.
ALONZO
Who?
DEALER
Sandman. He's shot callin'.
ALONZO
Unhook him, Hoyt.
Jake unlocks the cuffs. Alonzo steps over the vomit.
ALONZO
And collect the evidence.
JAKE
Fuck you.
ALONZO
You're learning.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Jake keeps looking at Alonzo, half impressed, half
appalled.
ALONZO
What?
JAKE
You don't give a fuck.
Alonzo grins, dials a cell phone.
ALONZO
Afternoon, Bob. It's Alonzo,
Rampart Narcs.
(beat)
Good, and you?
(beat)
Great.
(beat)
Yeah, that's right. I made it.
The big one three.
(beat; laughs)
'Course I'm on the street. Hey,
partner, got your gang book?
(beat)
Okay, I need a res. Alias is
Sandman. If he's not in Ghetto
Boys, try the Mobsters... might be
in custody.
(beat)
No, I'll hold.
(to Jake)
Bob Ramirez. Intel coordinator
for Seventy-Seventh Div Crash.
(into phone)
-- Yeah, Bob, still here. Shoot.
Alonzo jots the information on a notepad.
ALONZO
Okay... Thank you, sir. That's
gonna do it. Have a good one.
Alonzo hangs up.
JAKE
We go after the Sandman?
ALONZO
We go after the Sandman.
Jake smiles.
CUT TO:
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY
Graffiti on a wall: GHETTO BOYS HOOD -- SANDMAN
The G-Ride glides INTO FRAME and OUT.
ANGLE
The G-Ride parks in front of a house. Alonzo and Jake
exit. Alonzo pops the trunk. Inside is a microwave box,
toaster, a boombox, a TV.
JAKE
Gonna open a Circuit City?
ALONZO
It's unclaimed shit from property.
I pass it out to informants,
victims, witnesses. Help their
families out.
Alonzo fishes out an assault vest, tosses it to Jake and
dons an LAPD windbreaker, POLICE across the back.
ALONZO
Intel says his mom's in the
residence with two female
juveniles and a possible male
juvenile.
JAKE
If he's not here, why are we here?
Alonzo pulls a paper out of his pocket, unfolds it.
ALONZO
We gotta serve this search
warrant.
It's the Chinese take-out menu Jake handed him earlier.
JAKE
We can't do that.
ALONZO
Yes we can, supercop. Ding-ding,
that's the schoolbell.
He slams the trunk. Pulls his gun. They cross to the
door.
JAKE
Get a real warrant.
ALONZO
I wanna get shit done.
They step onto the porch. Take sides by the front door.
ALONZO
Don't get me killed, new guy.
He knocks on the security screen.
ALONZO
Police! Search warrant!
Silence. Alonzo knocks again. Nods at Jake.
JAKE
L.A.P.D.! Open the door.
Nothing. Then:
WOMAN (O.S.)
Kevin ain't here. He up at the
Honor Ranch.
ALONZO
L.A.P.D.! Please open the door or
we kick it in! Ma'am?!
CLICKING. The door is unlocked, opened. An attractive
black WOMAN stands on the other side of the security
screen. Alonzo waves the menu.
ALONZO
Search Warrant. Unlock the door
and back away.
She does, Alonzo snaps it open, rushes in, Jake follows.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Jake and Alonzo swinging guns around the room. There's
two scared toddlers in a play pen. The Woman on the
couch, pissed.
JAKE
Stand up, ma'am.
He searches the couch for a weapon.
ALONZO
Anyone else in the house, ma'am?
WOMAN
My nephew, Dimitri. He in the
bedroom. The boy is ten.
ALONZO
Cover her. Gonna clear the house.
JAKE
You can sit. Please keep your
hands on your knees.
Alonzo exits through a doorway into the kitchen.
ALONZO (O.S.)
Kitchen's clear!
We HEAR Alonzo moving through the bedrooms.
ALONZO (O.S.)
Bedrooms're clear! Bringing out
the kid!
Alonzo marches Dimitri, 10, into the living room. The
youngster trembles.
ALONZO
S'okay, son, we're the good guys.
Go sit on the couch with your
aunt -- House is code-four. Gonna
start my search.
Alonzo exits. The Woman glares at Jake.
WOMAN
I wanna read the warrant.
JAKE
(reacts)
My partner has it.
She looks out the window at the empty street.
WOMAN
Where's your back-up?
JAKE
Ma'am, please be quiet while we
conduct our investigation.
WOMAN
You got the gun, boss.
(sotto)
Crooked-ass motherfuckers.
The kids stare at Jake like an occupying soldier. He
crosses to Dimitri, smiles.
JAKE
Hey, little man. How's it going?
Jake tries to shake. Dimitri crosses his arms, looks
away. The Woman smirks.
O.S., the SOUNDS of Alonzo tearing apart the bedrooms
like a hurricane. Making a hell of a mess.
The Woman stands.
JAKE
Ma'am. Stay seated.
WOMAN
Who you be thinkin'? Comin' in
like you pay the rent.
JAKE
Ma'am, sit down.
WOMAN
Both ya'lls stink. Drinkin' all
day. Gotta get liquored up to do
business?
Alonzo is suddenly quiet. Jake backs to the doorway,
peeks around it. Sees a dresser with a mirror.
IN MIRROR
Alonzo shoves something big down his raidjacket.
BACK TO SCENE
JAKE
Siddown.
WOMAN
Gonna shoot me, boss? Kids, don't
look. The drunk policeman gonna
shoot me now.
Alonzo enters, excited, grinning.
ALONZO
Didn't find shit. Let's go --
Sorry about the inconvenience,
ma'am. Thank you for your
cooperation.
He and Jake head for the door.
WOMAN
I wanna see the warrant.
ALONZO
Here.
He hands her the menu as they exit.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
At the end of the block, three big GANGSTERS buy
popsicles from a Mexican vendor.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The Woman bursts out of the house, screams at Jake and
Alonzo as they climb in the G-Ride.
WOMAN
Fuckin' jackers! You ain't no
fuckin' police! Get the fuck back
here with my money!
She sees the gangsters.
WOMAN
Why ya'll standin' there lookin'
pretty?! Blast them fools!
The gangsters trade looks. Start running towards --
G-RIDE
Alonzo sees the gangsters. Tries STARTING the CAR. The
engine won't catch.
ALONZO
C'mon, baby. Don't do me like
that.
The gangsters getting closer.
ALONZO
Fuckin' bitch! Start!
Nothing. Alonzo piles out. Raises the hood, taps the
carb with the butt of his gun.
ALONZO
Start it!
Jake twists the screwdriver. No dice. He sees a Glock
pulled from a waistband. Alonzo tapping.
JAKE
Gun! Gun! Gun!
ALONZO
Start it!
VAROOM! Alonzo slams the hood. Climbs in. SQUEALS from
the driveway.
The armed gangster drops to one knee.
The G-Ride tear-asses away in Glock's sights.
POP!-POP!-POP!-POP!-POP!
A ROUND SHATTERS a taillight.
ANOTHER pierces the trunk --
INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
-- the back seat -- the front seat -- the six pack -- and
finally the dash.
Jake reacting to beer spray. Alonzo rounds the corner,
tosses the wounded cans out the window.
ALONZO
Shit... Let's hit a liquor store.
Jake fingers the hole in the dash.
ALONZO
Gun! Gun! Gun!
Jake startles, Alonzo laughing.
ALONZO
First time you been shot at?
JAKE
(lies)
No.
ALONZO
Yeah, it is.
JAKE
That wasn't cool. That wasn't
cool at all. What the fuck were
you doing in there?
ALONZO
Looking for narcotics activity.
Scales. Baggies. Guns. Coke.
Bud. Etcetera.
JAKE
Cash...?
ALONZO
Say it, motherfucker.
JAKE
She was screaming about money.
ALONZO
Bitch was talking shit. Trying to
get us blasted by her homies.
Jake's eyes fall to a brick-shaped bulge under Alonzo's
raid jacket.
ALONZO
What?
JAKE
I dunno. I'm just a new guy. A
daisy-fresh scuzz-head boot. You
tell me what.
ALONZO
I don't deny my shit stinks. I
will never deny that. So why do I
got the best arrest and conviction
record in the county. Why?
'Cause I don't handicap myself
with bullshit.
JAKE
I thought that bullshit served a
purpose.
ALONZO
You thought wrong. There's
hemorrhoids walking free on the
streets right now who've killed
fuckin' three, four, five people.
I know it, they know it, every
detective on payroll knows it.
Why do these turds still float
around? The rules. I take down
the duly deserving. I'm not
locking up Mr. Nine-to-five, Mr.
Family Provider.
Jake shaking his head angrily.
ALONZO
C'mon, communicate. What aren't
you saying? Talk to me.
A beat. Then Jake fixes Alonzo with a stare.
JAKE
I think... I think you're a rogue
cop.
Alonzo laughs his ass off. Wipes his eyes, he laughs so
hard.
ALONZO
Fuckin' Hoyt, man. Know what?
You're alright. You are alright.
Jake gives him an "I'm not stupid" look.
ALONZO
You're in a privileged position to
learn a thing or two if you can
keep your mouth shut and your eyes
open. If you're serious about
doing good out in the real world,
this is the place to learn how.
If this shit shakes you up, go
back to Division and cry to the
Watch Commander. He'll find you a
nice job lighting flares and
measuring wrecks. Decide now if
you want to be a wolf or a sheep.
If you want on my squad, I'll sign
your card.
Alonzo stops the car. Reaches over and opens Jake's
door.
ALONZO
If not, get out of my car.
Jake looks at Alonzo, he turns away and reacts.
JAKE'S POV
They are parked in front of a police station, steps lead
up to a pair of glass doors.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake sits there a beat. He gives Alonzo a final look.
Then gets out of the car.
EXT. POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Jake stiffly marches up the steps. Then stops. And
turns. Alonzo staring at him. Waiting for him to change
his mind.
A beat. Jake shakes his head: no.
SCREECH! Alonzo is gone.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION LOBBY - DAY
Jake badges the elderly sergeant desk and is buzzed into
the offices.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION OFFICES - DAY
Jake stands just inside the door. Taking in station
life.
HIS POV
Station queens of all sorts. Overweight cops talk on the
phones. Pension jockeys tap away at keyboards. This is
about as far from the action as you can get.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake looks at a sign over a door: "WATCH COMMANDER".
Instead of crossing to it. Jake looks at his hands,
dirty and scraped from fighting. Jake turns around and
exits.
CUT TO:
EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY
As Jake descends the steps, the G-Ride pulls up. The
passenger door opens. Jake climbs in. Shuts the door.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Alonzo holds out his hand. Solemn.
ALONZO
Welcome to Narcotics, Officer
Hoyt.
Jake beams, shakes his hand.
JAKE
I'm going to do my best.
ALONZO
You do and you'll run the unit
someday.
(a beat)
You hungry? Let's code seven.
CUT TO:
EXT. CENTRAL AVENUE - DAY
The G-Ride pulls onto a side street then winds its way
through a maze of shabby streets.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Jake nervously glances around one of the toughest parts
of the city. A strong point adorned with wrought iron
and concertina wire.
JAKE
What are you doing? We'll be
killed coming in here.
ALONZO
Oh, you've heard about this neck
of the woods?
JAKE
No man's land.
(points)
You got Broadway there, dividing
the eastside-westside Hispanic
gangs. And Adams Boulevard there
is the only thing separating the
Rolling Twenties Bloods from the
Hoover Crips. They said never
come in here with anything less
than a platoon.
ALONZO
(impressed)
On top of that, area's an
administrative nightmare. Four
L.A.P.D. Division boundaries meet
here. Rampart, Central, Southwest
and Newton. That makes everything
that happens here the other guy's
problem.
Jake is really uncomfortable.
JAKE
I thought we were going to eat.
Alonzo gives him a reassuring look and stops in front of
a cul-de-sac of run down houses and apartments. He
HONKS.
A little kid runs out of the corner house. He eyes
Alonzo then hops on his bike and rides OUT OF VIEW into
the cul-de-sac. A beat.
The little kid returns. Waves Alonzo into the cul-de-
sac. Alonzo turns onto the dangerous dead-end, driving
around a poorly parked van.
JAKE
That little kid's a lookout.
ALONZO
Lots of eyes on us right now.
Never come up in here without me.
For your safety. I'm serious.
JAKE
Okay. Why do you have a golden
pass?
ALONZO
Because I'm square with 'em. But
they know if the line is crossed,
I'm leading the platoon in here.
Alonzo parks in front of some apartments. Jake and
Alonzo get out.
An old woman sweeps her doorstep and glares at Jake.
ALONZO
Buenas tardes, Dona Lucila.
The old woman smiles, nods.
Jake and Alonzo pass a long driveway as they cross to
some stairs.
JAKE'S POV
At the far end of the driveway, gangsters work out and
drink. One of them is benching over 300 pounds.
BACK TO SCENE
ALONZO
Don't look at them.
Alonzo and Jake climb the steps.
ALONZO
See that dude benching?
JAKE
Yeah, Jesus.
ALONZO
Exactly, you run into him; you
pray. Real quick hands for a big
guy. Used to make money boxing
but he fucked that up.
Alonzo knocks on a door.
JAKE
What's here?
ALONZO
A loving touch.
WOMAN (O.S.)
Quien...?
ALONZO
Policia, senorita.
The door opens, there stands SARA, a ravishing Salvadoran
in a housedress. She hugs Alonzo, plants a big kiss on
him --
SARA
Hi, papi.
-- then notices Jake and backs off.
ALONZO
He's just my new guy.
She holds out her hand. They shake.
SARA
Hi. How are you?
JAKE
Good, thank you.
SARA
Come in, come in. Welcome to my
house.
Alonzo enters, Jake follows.
CUT TO:
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
The living room is filled with Salvadoran kitsch. A 2-
year-old boy on the couch watches cartoons. Alonzo
motions for Jake to sit.
ALONZO
You had a rough morning. Relax
and let her hook you up.
He disappears into the bedroom. Sara hands Jake the
remote.
SARA
Here. Take this. I have cable.
You watch what you want. This is
your house. Don't be shy.
She crosses to the kitchen. Sounds of POTS, DISHES.
Jake is about to change the channel. The kid gives him a
look. He puts away the remote.
Sara returns with a massive tray of food, chicken stew,
beans, rice, salad, tortillas, the works. She sets the
mouth-watering spread before Jake.
SARA
This is El Salvador food. I hope
you like it.
JAKE
Thank you. This is great. I'm
starving.
She hangs a beat, eabarrassed.
SARA
I'm sorry. I have too...
Jake knows. She runs off.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
Sara hands Alonzo a beer. Alonzo lays back on the bed
with a huge grin. She surveys him, smiles.
SARA
Wow. That's something different.
You're smiling.
ALONZO
Wassup, woman? Lookin' good
today.
SARA
(unties his shoes)
Well, happy man: you didn't say
'hi' to your son. He's been
asking for you.
ALONZO
Yeah, well... I will.
She removes his shoes, massages his feet.
SARA
How's your wife?
ALONZO
Why the fuck you comin' at me with
all this shit? Don't you have a
brain? I'm in a good fuckin' mood
for the first time in who knows
how the fuck long and you start
talkin' shit. Man. Just shut the
fuck up. Take that shit off and
get your ass in bed.
SARA
(crosses her arms, glares)
I'm not a piece of something for
you to bark at, mister.
ALONZO
I'm sorry. Please get your ass in
bed. I gotta get back to work.
She thinks it over. Slips off her dress -- Wow!
SARA
This is because I want to. Not
because you tell me to.
ALONZO
Whatever.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (LATER)
Jake dozes, his plate wiped clean, an arm around the
little kid, still watching cartoons. Alonzo enters,
invigorated, he kicks Jake's foot.
ALONZO
Let's go. We're rollin'. Gotta
meeting in fifteen.
Jake stirs, stretches. Stands. Alonzo shows him the
door.
ALONZO
Go to the car.
JAKE
I wanna thank her for the food.
It was great.
ALONZO
I'll tell her, don't worry.
Jake tussles the kid's hair.
JAKE
See you later, little man.
Jake exits. Alonzo picks up his son. Hugs him tight.
Kisses him.
ALONZO
Hey. How you been? Been good?
Gettin' heavy, mister. Mama says
you miss me.
Sara watches from the bedroom doorway. Seeing Alonzo
like this rips her apart more than anything he says.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Near downtown. The noon sun high and bright.
JAKE
What about your queen?
ALONZO
Sara's my princess.
JAKE
I like her. She's a really cool
lady.
ALONZO
So are her two sisters. They look
fuckin' good and they party.
How'd you like to be in the middle
of a bitch sandwich? Come to
Vegas with us.
JAKE
No, thanks. I get mine at home.
ALONZO
You're missing out. I should
know.
JAKE
Her kid looks just like you. He's
number five.
ALONZO
Number six.
JAKE
Six kids. That's all? Or you
holding royal court in a few more
houses?
ALONZO
I'm only aware of six.
JAKE
It's easy to make a baby --
ALONZO
-- And hard to take care of one.
Fuck you, okay? No one's going
hungry. Everyone gets plenty of
what they need: toys, shoes,
clothes.
JAKE
Love?
Alonzo shoots a look at Jake.
ALONZO
Let's not talk about my family.
CUT TO:
EXT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY
A great place for lunch and cocktails. Alonzo and Jake
cross to the entrance. Alonzo, his raidjacket tucked
underarm, hands Jake some Visine.
ALONZO
Use it.
Jake does. Alonzo opens the door.
JAKE
Who's here?
ALONZO
Don't speak unless spoken to.
CUT TO:
INT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY
A lunchtime business crowd dines in burgundy leather
booths amidst a forest of wrought £ron. Alonzo leads
Jake into:
INT. CORTEZ ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Empty. Save for the back table. Three scary 40ish
bruisers in nice suits, DOUG, STAN, AND LOU, share a
pitcher of beer.
Doug and Stan see Alonzo, react like they've seen a
ghost. So Lou turns around, sees Alonzo. And quickly
stands.
It's tense. Like there could be a gunfight. Jake's hand
creeps near his gun.
Alonzo and Lou converge, trading serious questions and
answers with their eyes.
Jake watches Stan and Doug. They watch him. Alonzo and
Lou grab hands grimly.
LOU
(softly)
I don't know why I'm meeting you.
I don't talk to dead men.
ALONZO
(smiles, winks)
Ain't dead yet, you prick.
They shake vigorously, smile big. Everyone relaxes.
LOU
(claps his back)
Fuckin' Alonzo. Heard you just
tucked lucky number thirteen under
your belt. Hey, man.
Congratulations.
ALONZO
Thanks, Lou. What, marked your
calendar?
Lou smiles, taps his temple. Doug and Stan shake with
Alonzo. It's clear he makes them uncomfortable.
DOUG
Congratulations. Good to see you.
STAN
Congratulations. You made it
through another year of this
madness.
LOU
Who the fuck is Ricky Rookie?
Alonzo grabs Jake's shoulder, pulls him into the huddle.
ALONZO
This is Jake Hoyt, first day on
the squad.
Jake shakes Lou's hand. Sees an LAPD Captain's badge on
his belt. Jake realizes these guys are police
administrators.
ALONZO
Jake, this is Lou Jacobs,
interagency task-force
coordinator. You ever have to
talk to a fed, talk to this man
first. He'll get your back.
JAKE
Pleased to meet you, sir.
ALONZO
This is Stan Gursky, senior
investigator for the L.A. County
officer involved shooting team.
Think about him before you pull a
trigger, okay? Stan will rock
your world if you make a bad call.
JAKE
(shaking with Stan)
Pleased to meet you, sir.
ALONZO
And this is Doug Marcab, Metro
Burglary. Does high-dollar cases
for the Poodle crowd. Your Van
Gogh takes a trip. Doug'll find
it.
JAKE
Pleased to meet you, sir.
Lou takes Alonzo's arm.
LOU
Have a seat, guy.
Alonzo slides into the booth after Lou.
ALONZO
(to Jake)
Shoo, boy. Shoo.
He points out the adjacent booth. Jake crosses, sits,
his back to their table.
LOU
Seems like a good kid.
An attractive tall blonde waitress, JULIE, brings a fresh
pitcher of beer.
ALONZO
Fuckin' elbow benders read my
mind.
LOU
Look's like you're way ahead of us.
ALONZO
I'm always a step ahead of you
guys.
Julie smiles at Alonzo.
JULIE
There's the mystery man. Thought
you gave up on us. What've you
been up to?
ALONZO
Been good.
JULIE
More bad than good, right?
ALONZO
You know it.
JULIE
Mmmm-hmmm. You need to eat.
Combo plate?
ALONZO
No. I'm good. Toss the kid,
there, a taco and a beer.
Alonzo grabs the pitcher, starts pouring. Julie walks
away.
ALONZO
Why the long face, Doug? Feds
seize your house or something?
Chuckles from Lou and Stan.
DOUG
Fuck you, Alonzo.
STAN
Doug had a bad day in court
today -- Tell him what happened.
DOUG
You tell him, think it's so funny.
STAN
He went to a sentencing hearing.
On a three strikes case against a
silk-suit catburglar type.
Fuckwad pulled fifteen Encino
burglaries.
DOUG
Spent twelve months trying to
catch the suspect, a real
slickster, gave up nothing.
Captain rode my ass the entire
time. What broke it? Luck.
Caught in the act by a fuckin'
patrolman. We had him.
It was the prosecutor's first
serial burglary case but he slam-
dunked it from a stepladder.
Clockwork trial. Jury deliberates
half a day. Comes back guilty on
ten out of eleven counts. The
fuckbag was looking at a twenty-
five mininum.
STAN
Mininum. Bye-bye, toilet-licker.
DOUG
Sentencing was today --
LOU
-- Judge is female.
DOUG
Right. Female judge.
ALONZO
Who?
DOUG
Landers. The stress-case
brunette.
ALONZO
I know her. Sharp lady.
DOUG
Before this guy goes to the
hearing, he gets a hold of some
peanut butter and packs his ass
crack with it. So there he is,
standing tall before the bench to
give his statement and he shoves
his hand down his pants and comes
out with a gob of fuckin' extra-
chunky Jiff. Could'a heard a pin
drop. Bailiffs wouldn't come near
him. He looks the judge right in
her eyes and licks his fingers
clean. Holy shit. The judge, she
screams. All these homeowners are
there to read statements, they run
out of screaming.
Alonzo is breaking up. Stan and Lou, too.
ON JAKE
laughing too. Julie returns with a beer and a taco
plate. And walks away with a flirty smile.
BACK TO STAN
STAN
No, wait, here's the punchline...
DOUG
Judge Landers, she says:
(falsetto)
Oh, this poor man's insane, he
can't go to prison.
(himself, grim)
She ordered him to psychiatric.
ALONZO
(floored)
You are fucking kidding. She fell
for it?
DOUG
Time she found out it was sandwich
spread, the order was signed and
he'd been transferred.
ALONZO
Proceedings closed.
DOUG
Proceedings closed.
STAN
Fucker'll do six months in the
puzzle factory before they say
he's normal and kick him loose.
DOUG
So a maggot gnaws on a
wrinkleneck. Real or not, lock
him up. He's repulsive not
insane.
LOU
Little kids eat their own shit.
STAN
Not my kids, Lou.
ALONZO
It's called coprolagnia. People
do it for sex kicks.
STAN
Bullshit. How do you know?
ALONZO
Had a case when I worked vice.
LOU
Only in America.
ALONZO
If the asshole's clever enough to
play the system like that, I say
he earned his freedom.
DOUG
I see him on the street, I'm gonna
fuckin' do him.
ALONZO
Take his bullets, Stan.
Laughs. Alonzo pours a fresh round.
ALONZO
Hey, listen to this, my new guy,
right? Been showing him around
town. Scored some reefer for him
to smoke. But he wouldn't. So I
run through the whole bit, the gun
to the head. Everything. 'Okay,'
he says. I light up and it stinks
like burnt rubber, right? I pass
it to him anyway.
The detectives grin knowingly.
STAN
You're an asshole.
DOUG
Kid's gotta learn.
ALONZO
He sucks the shit down. Showing
me he can hang. We're in
MacArthur Park and he starts
screaming and jumps out of the
fuckin' car. And runs down the
street. Omigod. I thought he
lost it.
The detectives are hooked. So is...
JAKE
Listening, sipping beer.
ALONZO
So I chase him down this alley
and, holy shit, he's jamming two
huge crackheads and there's this
pretty girl with a bloody nose.
Kid stopped a rape.
STAN
No shit.
ALONZO
No shit.
LOU
Kid's got a magic eye.
ALONZO
That's what I told him. Kid's a
prince.
Jake beams with beer-buzzed pride.
ON DETECTIVES
ALONZO
His first day on the squad and
know what he tells me?
(pathetic voice)
'You're a rogue cop.'
Roars of laughter from the Detectives. Lou refills
beers, holds up his glass for a toast.
LOU
Okay. Okay, ladies... Here's to
the craziest, most bounce back,
nine lives cop to darken the
streets of this fine city.
Congratulations for -- ahem --
honorably completing thirteen
years in the most fickle job a man
could be married to.
Glasses clink. The men drink. Lou turns to Alonzo,
quiet, serious.
LOU
You should be at Division hiding
under a desk.
ALONZO
Best way to fix a problem is to
look it in the eye.
LOU
I'm not the problem.
ON JAKE
He turns, sees it's a serious pow-wow. Overhears:
STAN
Heard you had an expensive weekend
in Vegas. How'd you fuck up so
bad?
ALONZO
How could I know? Vegas ain't my
town. I'm not omniscient.
LOU
You should hop a jet outta here.
ALONZO
Why? It's an easy fix.
LOU
(laughs)
How?
ALONZO
I can cash out an account.
STAN
Whose?
ALONZO
One of mine. My first.
The three suits shudder, trade looks.
LOU
You're fucked up.
ALONZO
Someone steps on his tail, he'll
cry like a coyote. I can't keep
him off the radar forever. He's a
security risk.
LOU
Do your job and no one steps on
his tail.
ALONZO
Fuck him. I'm taxing him.
A beat. Lou acquiesces.
LOU
It's your call.
Alonzo smiles. And the men speak in hushed tones. Jake
turns to look.
JAKE'S POV
Lou, Doug, Stan and Alonzo stare back at him.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake snaps his eyes to his plate. The men murmur. Julie
arrives with a fresh beer. Softly:
JULIE
You should know when not to
listen.
She quickly exits.
CUT TO:
EXT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY
Alonzo and Jake exit. It's obvious something big is
going down. Alonzo is excited, happy, the raid jacket
underarm. He crosses to the valet --
ALONZO
Gimme the keys for the grey one.
-- receives a key ring. Alonzo crosses to one of three
plush unmarked Crown Victorias in the lot. Jake watches
him open the trunk and empty his jacket inside. Alonzo
returns the keys to the valet.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY
Alonzo drives away. Dials his cell phone.
ALONZO
It's me. We gotta green light.
Fax the warrant to the clerk and
tell her to get the judge to sign
it. I want you and Paul to bring
it to the van. And bring some
picks and shovels. Sign 'em out
from maintenance. Copy that?
(beat)
Good. Hurry the fuck up.
He hangs up.
JAKE
How much was in your jacket?
ALONZO
Forty G's.
JAKE
What for?
ALONZO
You wanna know?
JAKE
I wanna know.
ALONZO
Nothing's free in this world. Not
even an arrest warrant.
Jake didn't want to know.
JAKE
Who's it for?
ALONZO
A real bag of shit. A genuine bad
guy. Been investigating this vile
bastard for ten years. He's a big
fish in a big pond. Today I fry
him. The squad's gonna get some
glory. Talkin' name-making shit.
We'll be getting handshakes from
the Chief and Mayor. Wanna piece,
new guy?
A beat. Jake smiles. Sounds good.
JAKE
Hell, yeah. I wanna piece.
ALONZO
Knew you would.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - DAY
In an old, hilly L.A. neighborhood near downtown. The G-
Ride parks. Alonzo and Jake exit. Cross to a Pacific
Bell repair van that Alonzo knocks on.
VOICE
Go away.
ALONZO
Daddy's home. Open up.
The door opens. Alonzo and Jake climb in.
INT. STAKEOUT VAN - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Crammed with surveillance gear. Monitors show
neighborhood streets, houses. TIM and JEFF, late 2O's,
dressed in jeans but obviously cops, play Streetfighter
II. The stubbly pair has been holed up for two days.
Jeff knocks Tim out.
TIM
Jerk.
JEFF
The chick always wins.
Jake and Alonzo sit on milk crates. Jake examines the
fascinating gear. Tim opens the cooler he sits on,
tosses beers to Alonzo and Jake.
ALONZO
Guess what, guys. Jake's joined
the team.
TIM
Great.
(shakes)
Here's my official welcome to the
squad handshake.
JAKE
Thanks.
Jeff and Jake shake next.
JEFF
Welcome aboard. How's the first
day? Don't worry. Gets worse.
Tim hits PLAY on a VCR.
TIM
Check this out.
ON VIDEO MONITOR
Two amorphous human heat signatures hump with compeling
intensity on infrared surveillance video.
BACK TO SCENE
ALONZO
What's this shit?
TIM
Infrared. Trained a thermal scope
on a house down the street.
JEFF
Some Asian chick. Lives alone.
Everyday some asshole from work
follows her home, throws in some
pumps and bails.
TIM
This was too good to pass up. You
know we love yellow-tail. Check
this out.
ON MONITOR
Same couple, same intensity, clearly seen through a
window via a camera atop a phone pole.
TIM
I threw on the climbing irons and
got a camera on her window.
JEFF
This afternoon we're spiking her
wall for sound.
Tim and Jeff beam proudly.
ALONZO
No. You're not. Erase that shit.
They trade looks.
ALONZO
I'm not fuckin' kidding! Erase
that shit. And any other horny
housewife tapes you made. Right
fuckin' now!
Alonzo smacks the back of Tim's head. Tim hits the VTR
buttons.
TIM
Ow, man. I'm erasing. Jesus.
Alonzo studies a clipboard. Hurls it at Jeff.
ALONZO
What's this? Day camp sign-in?
Redo the logs. Neatly.
(taps a blank monitor)
Why isn't this on?
TIM
Respect. I don't wanna watch the
dude in his living room.
Alonzo CLICKS it ON. Rewinds the tape of the VTR it's
connected to.
JEFF
Why are you being a dick? What's
wrong?
ALONZO
What's wrong? All you've done for
two days is jerk off and play
sega. You pinheads even see me in
there this morning?
JEFF
No one went in there this morning.
ALONZO
I should snap your neck.
Instead, he hits play.
INSERT - MONITOR
A living room. A familiar one -- Three beepers, three
cell phones on the coffee table. Roger in his bathrobe,
having a drink with Jake and Alonzo.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake stares at the screen, stunned to see himself. Jake
gives Alonzo a confused look.
JEFF
Okay. I'm sorry. We haven't been
diligent. How can we take this
gig seriously? Who's gonna fuck
with him?
ALONZO
We're gonna fuck with him. We're
serving an arrest warrant.
Tim and Jeff trade serious looks.
JEFF
We can't arrest Roger.
Alonzo ejects the tape. Tosses it to Tim.
ALONZO
Erase it.
Alonzo notices an unmarked police sedan pull up to the
van.
ALONZO
Here we go. Least someone on the
squad has their shit squared away.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - DAY
The sedan parks by th G-Ride. Out steps MARK, a black
clothes horse in Italian silk. And PAUL, a steely-eyed,
clean-cut chicano in a turtleneck. The van doors open.
Jeff and Tim climb out.
JEFF
Nice suit, Mark.
TIM
Beautiful suit.
Now Alonzo and Jake get out. Six cops huddled in an
alley. Jake fits right in with the motley bunch. Paul
hands Alonzo the warrant.
ALONZO
Thanks. My picks and shovels?
MARK
In the trunk. Gonna dig a ditch?
ALONZO
You are. Great suit.
MARK
Fuck you.
ALONZO
(shakes with Paul)
Howdy, killer.
PAUL
Alonzo, what the fuck's going on?
ALONZO
Don't worry. I talked to the
three wise men. It's all good.
His men trade looks, they have total trust in him. Jake
is a little nervous.
PAUL
If we can get away with it, let's
go for it. Fuck Roger.
(re: Jake)
Who's this?
JAKE
Jake Hoyt. First day in the unit.
I'm coming from Van Nuys patrol.
He holds out his hand. Paul scoffs.
PAUL
Why's he in on this shit?
ALONZO
Gotta pop his cherry sometime.
PAUL
(to Jake)
Stay outta my way, boot.
Alonzo notes Jake's unease, shows him the warrant.
ALONZO
It's the real deal. Signed by the
judge. Thank the Sandman.
PAUL
Roger's not gonna be too keen on
going back to the pokey.
ALONZO
I don't care what Roger thinks.
(addresses everyone)
Our safety comes first. He gives
us shit, we give him lead. Let's
do this right so everyone can go
home and do the wife and girl
friend thing tonight.
(checks his watch)
Suit up, ladies. Time to punch in.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROGER'S HOUSE - DAY
Five cops crouch outside the door with shotguns, machine
pistols. Assault vests and helmets worn over civvies.
Jake and Jeff to one side. Paul, Mark and Tim to the
other.
Paul and Mark give the door several quick, powerful
kicks. Wood splits, hinges tear. It falls open. The
five cops surge into:
INT. ROGER'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Roger reads on the couch, the morning paper. He's non-
plussed to find himself surrounded by police, weapons.
MARK
Freeze up! You need to not move,
breath, think or blink.
ROGER
What are you clowns doing here?
PAUL
Shut up! -- New guy! His hands
move, blast him.
Jake aiming his shotgun at Roger's head.
JAKE
I'm on him.
Roger, holding his newspaper, recognizes Jake.
ROGER
You know what you're doing, son?
Jake nods: yes.
PAUL
Drop what's in your hands. Before
zero. Five. Four. Three. Two.
CLUNK-CLUNK! Two tiny derringers hit the coffee table.
Roger had been palming them. Paul sweeps them aside with
his foot. The cops relax a little.
Roger folds his paper. Sets it down, takes off his
reading glasses. A principal besieged by truants.
ROGER
Alonzo's gonna kill you guys.
Alonzo enters the shattered door. Holding picks,
shovels. He drops the tools. They crash to the floor.
Roger crosses his arms and glares at his friend.
ROGER
What's going down, Alonzo?
ALONZO
I had lunch with the three wise
men. You gotta render unto
Caesar.
Roger sees the tools and knows exactly what they are for.
ROGER
Those goddamn vampires want my
pension.
ALONZO
No, man, it's not like that.
You're just getting taxed. They
got their boat payments and God
knows what. I'm sorry. They're
makin' me do it. I'm just a lowly
civil servant.
ROGER
Fuck you. You're their bitch.
What happens with me?
ALONZO
Don't worry, bro. I promised
you'd never go back to prison. I
got your back. You won't even
miss what I'm gonna take. I hate
doing this. Orders is orders.
Sorry, dog.
ROGER
No, you ain't. Cop.
ALONZO
(to Tim and Jeff)
You guys are gonna work. Get the
tools.
(grabs Jake's shotgun)
Gimme the boomer.
Tim and Jeff gather the tools. Alonzo hands Jake a pick
and leads the three men to a bedroom door. Roger pours a
slug of Crown Royal as Paul and Mark guard him.
ROGER
Who's paying for my floor?
ALONZO
The city.
INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Alonzo flips the bed. Taps the floor with his toe.
ALONZO
Open the floor. Right here.
Jake, Tim and Jeff begin chopping. It's quick work to
tear a large hole in the wood.
ALONZO
Hop in, Hoyt. Couple'a of feet
down, there's a locker.
Jake jumps in. Attacking dirt with his pick.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - DAY (10 MINUTES LATER)
Jake, Tim and Jeff haul a trash-bag-wrapped footlocker
out of the hole.
JAKE
What's in it?
ALONZO
Open it.
Jake tears away trash bags. Alonzo takes a pick and
snaps the lock. Jake opens the lid -- taped bundles
inside.
JAKE
It's coke?
ALONZO
Go ahead. It won't bite.
Jake grabs a bundle. Hefts it in his hand.
JAKE
Hmmm. A good five kilos.
Alonzo hands him a penknife. Jake pokes a hole --
nothing pours out.
ALONZO
Cut the damn thing open.
Jake does -- it is a brick of fifty dollar bills. Alonzo
is relieved to see the money. Jake likes its heft.
JAKE
This is sweet.
ALONZO
That's a hundred grand in your hot
little hands. There's four
million bucks in there.
Alonzo slaps Jack's back.
ALONZO
First day on the job and you're in
on a three million dollar seizure.
JAKE
You said four.
ALONZO
Told you, nothing's for free.
Gotta grease the rails to make the
big moves.
Alonzo grabs a pillowcase. Tosses bricks of fifties in
it. Hands it to Jake.
ALONZO
Here. Lucky to get this, day-one-
motherfucker.
JAKE
What's this?
ALONZO
Sweet green clean legal tender.
Start the kid's college fund
early. Get the old lady a
minivan.
However pleasant the heft, Jake could never accept. He
returns the pillowcase to Alonzo.
JAKE
No way. Only checks I cash say
City of L.A. on 'em.
JEFF
Someone didn't sleep through Ethics.
ALONZO
You said you wanted a piece.
JAKE
Not like this.
ALONZO
I understand. I'II hold on to it
for you. Not everyone's
comfortable the first time --
Let's wrap up.
Alonzo drops the pillowcase in the locker. Exits. Jake,
Tim and Jeff follow.
CUT TO:
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Roger reads a Vegas odds paper. Alonzo, Tim, Jeff and
Jake enter. Roger glares at Alonzo.
ROGER
What have I done to those guys?
Are they nuts? Am I supposed to
stand still and let them horsefuck
me?
ALONZO
No. We can put you out of your
misery.
Alonzo tosses Jake the shotgun.
ALONZO
Lemme tell you a secret, Hoyt. If
you kill someone on duty, they
have to be your slave in the
afterlife.
(points to Roger)
There you go. Start an entourage.
JAKE
You want me to shoot him?
Paul, Mark, Tim and Jeff snicker, crack smiles. Roger
too. Jake plays along, points the shotgun at Roger.
ROGER
You'd be doin' me a favor, kid.
JAKE
Bang -- There.
He lowers the weapon.
ALONZO
Not gonna to do it?
JAKE
Of course not. This isn't funny.
Alonzo smiles. Takes the shotgun from him.
ALONZO
Man, youngsters these days. Can't
get shit done unless you do it
yourself.
Alonzo aims at Roger...
BOOM! Roger is punched ragged with BUCKSHOT, lifted off
his couch, knocked into the wall.
Jake jumps back.
A peal of laughter from Tim. Contagious giggles from the
others. Roger gurgles. Jake stares wide-eyed at Alonzo.
JAKE
Holy shit!
Jake's shock elicits more giggles from the squad.
PAUL
Finish him.
Jake watches Alonzo cross to Roger, blindly gasping.
ALONZO
He's finished.
Alonzo takes one of Roger's derringers from the floor.
Slaps it in the dying man's hand.
ALONZO
C'mere, Jeff. You took fire
coming through the door.
Jeff smiles, gets in position so Alonzo can shoot him.
JEFF
Alright. Gonna get some time off.
He braces himself. Alonzo aims Roger's hand. Pop! A
BULLET THWACKS harmlessly into Jeff's vest. He removes
his sunglasses from a pocket.
JEFF
Watch my Oakleys.
Jake looking at Roger, it's hard watching him die.
Again Jeff braces. Pop! The THWACK of another BULLET.
ALONZO
How's that?
Jeff probing his hand under the vest.
JEFF
Fine.
Alonzo drops the gun in an envelope marked: EVIDENCE
HANDGUN. Jake can't believe what he just saw.
ALONZO
Listen up. This is the scenario.
Mark and Paul kick the door. Jeff
is first through. Roger opens
fire. Hits Jeff twice.
Jeff coughs -- bright foamy blood in his hand.
JEFF
Oh, shit.
ALONZO
One go through?
Jeff answers by coughing more blood. Tim runs to him.
TIM
Siddown, dude.
Jeff does. Tim opens the vest -- a hole in a seam on the
edge. Underneath, bruised puckered flesh drools blood.
TIM
You shot him!
JEFF
You fuckin' shot me!
TIM
Call a rescue.
ALONZO
You're fine. You'll get a medal.
JEFF
Call the R.A.!
ALONZO
Let me run the scenario and I
will. Okay -- Mark and Paul kick
the door. First through is Jeff.
Bang. Bang. Gets hit. Wounded.
Second through is our new guy,
Hoyt. He drops the suspect with
some fine shotgun work.
(points at Mark)
Who shot Roger?
MARK
The new guy. Came in spraying.
ALONZO
Paul?
PAUL
The boot shot him.
ALONZO
What'd you guys see?
TIM
Hoyt blasted him.
JEFF
Hoyt went for it -- Now will you
get me a fucking rescue ambulance?
Jake looks at these guys. They look back, smiling,
smirking. He feels dizzy, sick as the nightmare sinks
in.
Jeff coughs blood. Alonzo tosses his rover to Paul.
PAUL
(into rover)
Eleven forty-nine. Nine-nine-
eight. Shots fired. Shots fired.
Man down. Fifty-nine fifty-one
Baxter Street.
ALONZO
(slaps Jake's back)
Good job, son. Congratulations.
Gonna get a medal of valor.
JAKE
... I didn't shoot him...
ALONZO
Roomful of cops says you did.
JAKE
Fuck you. I don't care. I didn't
shoot him. You did.
Alonzo pulls his gun. Aims at Jake's face.
ALONZO
(as a newscaster)
A Los Angeles Police Department
narcotics officer was killed
serving a high risk warrant in
Echo Park today. An L.A.P.D.
spokesperson said the young
officer was survived by his wife
and infant child.
(himself)
Shit gets deeper. Get the picture?
JAKE
I got the picture.
Jake strikes -- twists back Alonzo's gun sharply --
sweeps away his legs with a kick.
Alonzo finds himself on his back, Jake's knee on his
neck, staring down the maw of his own pistol.
JAKE
That's the second time you've
stuck a gun in my face. Won't be
a third.
Paul presses his Beretta against Jake's temple.
PAUL
Be my pleasure putting a
hydrashock in your melon.
Tim, Jeff, Mark gawk at the Mexican standoff.
PAUL
But I'm gonna be cool. Open your
hand slowly. Drop the weapon.
Jake's free hand inches to his holstered gun --
JAKE
(super-calm)
Hey, sorry, man. Relax, okay7
-- and snatches it -- He swings on Tim -- who swings his
.45 on Jake. A three-way standoff.
JAKE
Wanna shoot me, Paul? Go ahead.
Because these two are gonna be
wiping my ass in the netherworld.
A beat. Then:
TIM
Alonzo. This is bad.
PAUL
This dude's a fuckin' fed.
ALONZO
He's no fed. Just a choirboy with
heart who got the drop on you
fools. Everyone, let's take a
deep breath and defuse this --
Jake? You hear me?
JAKE
You can't just spring this shit on
me. I never signed up for this.
ALONZO
I hear you. I know you're
angry -- Paul, Tim, please put
down your guns.
TIM
Hell no.
PAUL
Choirboy first.
SIRENS approach. Lots of them.
ALONZO
Both of you: guns down. Now.
Paul and Tim reluctantly lower their weapons. Jake lifts
his knee off Alonzo's neck, stands and backs away, aiming
both pistols at Alonzo, who climbs to his feet.
ALONZO
Jake, use your ears and listen.
Sometimes we take shit all the
way. That's the nature of the
game. We don't do this every day.
No one will ever again ask you to
pull a trigger you don't want to
-- Mark, where're you
transferring to?
MARK
Westside Homicide.
ALONZO
Westside Homicide -- Only made
detective last test. Jake, give
me eighteen months and I'll give
you a career. We make the big
arrests. We make the big
seizures. When someone's in my
unit they're in all the way or not
at all. I thought you were man
enough to handle this shit.
Alonzo calmly pours himself a whisky.
ALONZO
Five proven, decorated officers
say you were the shooter.
Investigators are gonna pull a
tube of your blood and test for
intoxicants. Remember all the
P.C.P. you smoked today?
Jake does, wincing at his stupidity.
JAKE
You've been planning this all day.
ALONZO
I've been planning this all week.
You start talking crazy shit, I
will make sure the right sample
goes to the lab.
Still wanna talk your babynuts
around the block? You won't make
it to the corner. But if you're
cool. You're a hero. A virgin
shooter above suspicion.
Jake looks at Roger, gasping like a beached carp. The
SIRENS are getting closer. Alonzo gulps his drink and --
Pfffffst! Spits the booze in Jake's face.
Jake is blinded. Paul seizes Jake's wrists and aims the
pistols at the ceiling. Alonzo wrenches the pistols from
his hands.
Jake wipes his eyes, looks at the roomful of crazy cops,
scared. Paul points at Roger's other derringer, laying
on the carpet.
PAUL
Alonzo, there's two shots in that
stinger. Let's kill your boy
right now and say Roger dumped him
coming through the door.
Mark, Tim, Jeff like the idea. Jake doesn't. And lucky
for him, neither does Alonzo. He stands protectively in
front of Jake.
ALONZO
No. We're not killing him. He's
a good guy. Man's got the magic.
Just having a little freakout is
all. We've all been there. I say
he's cool. No one's gonna hurt
him.
Jake and Alonzo trade a look. The SIRENS are close.
Alonzo returns Jake his gun.
ALONZO
Hoyt, you gotta decision to make.
In thirty seconds, this place will
be overrun with patrolmen. Go
outside and clear your head. Or
shoot me now.
Jake is only too happy to get out of there. Jake crosses
to exit, pauses, an afterthought?
JAKE
Hey, Paul.
Crack! Jake nails his jaw. Paul staggers, almost falls.
To Jake as he exits:
PAUL
You're dead! I'm takin' you out.
I don't care.
ALONZO
Kick back, Wyatt Earp. Gotta
respect a motherfucker who puts
you on queer street with one
punch.
Alonzo catches his men trading looks.
ALONZO
Kid's got more balls than all you
faggots combined.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD - LONG SHOT - ROGER'S HOUSE
- DAY
from a distant hilltop. The ambulances and black and
whites out front shimmer in golden afternoon heat. OVER:
PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
(filtered)
Patient is a white male
approximately forty years old, six
one, two hundred fifty pounds.
Eight buckshot wounds in the
torso. First wound: left chest
wall, fourth intercostal space,
anterior axillary line. Second
and third wounds: eighth
intercostal space, mid-clavicular
line. Fourth and fifth wounds:
right chest wall. Tenth
intercostal space. Posterior
axillary line.
Two distance-distorted LAPD paramedics wheel out Roger on
a stretcher.
PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
(filtered)
Sixth wound: left lower quadrant,
mid-clavicular line. Seventh
wound: left lower quadrant,
anterior axillary line.
Eighth wound is an exit wound.
Left lower quadrant posterior
axillary line.
ZOOM IN --
Amidst the heat mirages, Alonzo talks to a uniformed
sergeant. Two more paramedics wheel Jeff outside on a
stretcher. Mark, Tim and Paul following.
PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
(filtered)
There is a sucking wound at the
first woundsite. Superclavicular
in-drawing. Abdomen is rigid.
Stand by for skin signs.
Patient's skin is pale and cool
and diaphoretic. Here's the
vitals: B.P. sixty and
palpitated. Respiration thirty-
one, decreased on the left with
hyper-resonance.
Roger is lifted into an ambulance. Alonzo dismisses
Jeff's paramedics and huddles with his men.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - DAY
Alonzo crosses to the G-ride with an armload of gear.
Pops the trunk. Dumps everything inside. He shuts the
trunk. Dials his cell phone and gets in the car.
ANGLE ON JAKE
leaning against a phone pole. Watching as Alonzo pulls a
clipboard from under his seat and puts on reading
glasses. Alonzo begins writing a major incident report
as he talks on his cell. A beat.
Alonzo STARTS the G-RIDE. Motions for Jake to get in.
INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY
Jake gets in. Alonzo with his reading glasses, the
clipboard on his steering wheel, filling in the report,
talking on his cell phone, laughing.
ALONZO
-- you're gonna be scrubbing the
bathtub, homie. Later.
Alonzo hangs up. Preoccupied with filling in little
boxes on the report as he drives slowly down the alley.
ALONZO
Why didn't you take off?
JAKE
There's nowhere to run.
ALONZO
Roger was D.O.A. at Good
Samaritan. Let's get the paper
rolling now.
Alonzo looks at Jake, sees his torment.
ALONZO
Justifiable homicide in the line
of duty. Anyone'd be proud to
have that in their jacket.
JAKE
Not this way. Say I don't play
along?
ALONZO
At this point it behooves you not
to fuck around.
That's the truth. And Jake knows it. We can almost hear
his heart breaking. Jake stares out the window a beat,
clenching his jaw, finally he looks at Alonzo, stares at
Alonzo's scary, empty eyes. Amazed to be utterly trapped
by them.
JAKE
It can't be like this.
A beat.
ALONZO
It is like this.
Jake has a lump in his throat as they drive in silence
for a long beat.
ALONZO
Look, the money I gave you, keep
it.
JAKE
Told you, I don't want it.
ALONZO
Just take it. Throw it in the
ocean. Barbecue it. Just take
it. It would make the boys feel
better.
JAKE
Fuck their feelings.
ALONZO
Jake, they're worried.
JAKE
About what?
ALONZO
About you. You didn't make anyone
feel you were on the team back
there.
JAKE
Fuck the team. You guys are
insane. I'll go back to Valley
and cut parking tickets. And tell
Paul: he comes near me again,
I'll shoot him.
ALONZO
I'm really sorry I exposed you to
that today. It was ugly but it
was necessary. Roger sold dope to
kids. World's a better place
because he's gone. Never seen no
one die before? You're too damn
soft. Bet you never missed a meal
in your life.
JAKE
(glares at Alonzo)
Missed a lot of meals growing up.
Why?
(pantomimes shooting up)
Because the folks had to do their
shit.
OFF Alonzo's amazed look:
JAKE
That's right. I'm in the cop
business to lock up the criminals
and poisoners. Not be one.
Alonzo sizes up Jake anew, laments not knowing that
earlier.
ALONZO
What happened today was --
JAKE
-- was murder and armed robbery.
Wait. We had badges, it's
different.
ALONZO
Dammit, boy! Why can't you open
your eyes and see?
Jake can see. Too clearly. Softly:
JAKE
That man was your friend and you
killed him like a fly.
ALONZO
(ice)
We weren't friends.
(consoling)
All the shit you're feeling now,
it's going to go away. I know
you're scared.
JAKE
I'm not scared.
ALONZO
You're terrified. I know you are.
Because I went through the same
shit. Everyone has. Jake,
there's gotta be dirt on you if
anyone's gonna trust you. After
this is behind you, a whole new
world will open up. I walk a
higher path. I can give you the
keys to all doors.
JAKE
What are you talking about?
ALONZO
I'm not the asskicker I once was,
but you are. Want to run my unit?
My guys are good but not one of
those clowns is a leader. You
are. Want my job? You got it.
Wanna lock up criminals?
This is the best place to do it.
Do your time and make detective.
Play the game, grow wise and
change things from the inside.
Jake looks at him. And realizes Alonzo is right.
ALONZO
Let's get to the hospital and talk
to Stan. He'll tell you what to
say to the D.A.'s guys.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - SUNSET
A large hospital near downtown looms in the distance.
TILT DOWN --
to reveal the tough old barrios below it. Cholos drink
on the sidewalk. Play grab-ass and listen to MUSIC.
CUT TO:
INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - STREET
Alonzo parks near the gangsters.
JAKE
What's here?
Alonzo points out a well-tended, quiet, quaint house near
the Cholos.
ALONZO
Informant of mine's in Chino.
Promised I'd help out his family.
Alonzo gets out. Opens the trunk. Loads up his arms
with appliances.
ALONZO
Sometimes I bring food. Believe
it or not, I like to help out the
community whenever I can.
(a box falls)
Shit. Hoyt, help me with this.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - SUNSET
Jake gets out, takes some boxes. And they cross to the
house. With Jake following. Past staring Cholos. A
drunk PeeWee maddogs Jake. Jake maddogs back.
PEEWEE
You know where you're at, fool?
A VETERANO shoves the PeeWee aside.
VETERANO
The fuck outta the way, punk.
It's business.
He shakes with Alonzo.
VETERANO
'Sup, dog. Thought you were
missing in action.
ALONZO
'Sup, man. You know I'm never
lost.
Jake and Alonzo cross to the house. AD LIBS of "Those're
cops," spread through the Cholos.
At the house's door, Alonzo knocks. A beat. A little
girl cracks it.
ALONZO
Hi. Got some stuff for your
family.
She closes it. A beat. The door opens to reveal SMILEY,
a huge, drunk Veterano sleeved with prison tattoos. He
looks at the two cops. Massive, impassive. Smiley never
smiles.
SMILEY
Kitchen's this way.
Alonzo enters. Jake hesitates. Then follows.
CUT TO:
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - SUNSET
The little girl does homework. Two fine Cholas watch the
Spanish newscast. An old man dozes in a chair.
Family photos on the wall -- A proud line of warfighters,
lots of military uniforms.
Alonzo and Jake follow Smiley into:
INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS ACTION - SUNSET
SNIPER and MORENO, big and intimidating like Smiley, have
been playing poker around a beer-bottle covered table.
Smiley, Alonzo and Jake enter.
SMILEY
Put it on the counter.
Alonzo and Jake place the boxes on the counter. Sniper,
Moreno, ignore Alonzo. And vice versa.
ALONZO
Can I use the head?
SMILEY
Go for it.
ALONZO
(to Jake)
I'll be two seconds. We're
already late.
Alonzo exits to a hallway. Smiley opens a box. Pulls
out a nice CD player.
MORENO
That's nice. Lemme get that.
SMILEY
You get the Osterizer. This is
mine.
Smiley opens a microwave box. Jake reacts.
JAKE'S POV
The box is crammed with cash from Roger's locker.
BACK TO SCENE
SMILEY
Dreamer! Got your bony ass in
here!
DREAMER, 19, an attractive young lady, enters. Smiley
stacks the heavy packages in her arms. He tops it off
with the pillowcase of Jake's money.
SMILEY
Count that shit in the bedroom.
DREAMER
Thanks, eh. I was doing stuff.
Learn to count, math whiz.
SMILEY
Wait up.
Smiley pulls a small electric money counter from a
drawer. Dreamer's hands are full. So he balances it on
her head.
SMILEY
Don't drop it.
She gives him a dirty look and exits. Smiley takes his
seat and picks up his cards. He eyes Moreno.
SNIPER
You looked at 'em.
MORENO
No I didn't.
Smiley tosses them to Sniper.
SMILEY
Deal again.
SNIPER
Play cards, cop?
JAKE
Not really.
MORENO
Beer?
Moreno offers one. Sniper deals in Jake.
JAKE
No thanks.
SNIPER
C'mon and play a hand.
MORENO
Don't be rude, dude. One hand.
SMILEY
Don't sweat it. We ain't playin'
for money.
JAKE
We gotta go.
SMILEY
Alonzo's probably taking a dump --
Go ahead and have a seat.
Sniper finishes dealing. Jake looks at the cards
intended for him.
JAKE
Okay. One hand.
Jake sits. Now he can see a shotgun against the wall by
Moreno. The three Cholos check their hands, signal for
more cards. Jake checks his cards.
MORENO
How long you been a cop? You look
like you're in high school.
JAKE
Nineteen months.
MORENO
Like it?
JAKE
I should'a been a fireman.
MORENO
My cousin's a fireman. And his
kid's a Police Explorer. Gonna be
our man on the inside.
SNIPER
I'd love to be a jura. Drive
around all day getting fucked up.
Talkin' to the ladies. Any heads
that talk shit, fuck 'em up.
SMILEY
Listen to your bullshit. You
couldn't hack takin' orders --
They order you around all the
time. You gotta do everything
they say, huh?
JAKE
Yeah, it's pretty strict.
Especially when you're just
starting out.
SMILEY
Sounds like the service. You
serve?
JAKE
No. Never been in the military.
But half the guys I work with
were.
SMILEY
I was in the Army. Ranger Alert
Battalion. Carried a machine gun.
SNIPER
Kick back, Rambo -- Waddaya got,
dog?
JAKE
Huh?
SNIPER
Your hand, homes.
Oh -- Jake lays down his cards.
JAKE
Three of a kind.
SMILEY
Man... didn't get squat.
He tosses away his hand, Moreno, too. Sniper shows his
cards with a grin.
SNIPER
Two pair.
Sniper collects the cards. Shuffles.
SMILEY
What are you doing? The cop won.
SNIPER
I got two pair.
SMILEY
Three of a kind beats two pair,
dumbass.
MORENO
See why we don't play for money?
Smiley slides the deck to Jake.
SMILEY
Your deal.
Jake looks down the hall. Getting up:
JAKE
We have to go. I'm gonna get
Alonzo.
SMILEY
Kick back and party.
Smiley pulls aside the curtain.
JAKE'S POV
An empty street. The G-Ride is gone.
SMILEY (O.S.)
Ain't nobody out there for you.
ON JAKE
He feels like a toddler lost in a department store. He
sits back down. Moreno laughs.
MORENO
Alonzo played you like a booger.
SMILEY
Deal.
Jake shuffles. Smiley lights a joint. Offers it to him.
SMILEY
It's P.C.P. Wanna hit?
JAKE
No thanks. I already smoked out
today.
SNIPER
Shit. I'll step on that P-dog.
Sniper takes it, inhales. Jake dealing cards. The joint
rounds the table.
MORENO
Lemme see your cohete.
SNIPER
Your gun, dude. Let him see your
gun. Under your shirt.
Jake is outnumbered, outsized, outgunned. All he can do
is take the pistol from his holster and show Moreno.
MORENO
That's down. What is it? A three
eighty?
JAKE
Three eighty stainless. Double
action. Nine round mag.
MORENO
Lemme see it. Ain't gonna blast
no one.
Jake hands it over. Moreno examines it with skilled
hands.
MORENO
Fuck a vat up with this.
He hands it back. To Jake's relief.
SNIPER
Gimme two cards.
Jake does. Dreamer enters.
DREAMER
There's extra.
SMILEY
I know. That's ours. Set it
aside. Sure about the count?
DREAMER
You count it if you don't believe
me.
SMILEY
Okay. Thanks -- Gimme three.
Dreamer grabs a beer and exits. Jake deals three.
SMILEY
Alonzo pulled off a miracle, huh?
Times are tight. That's a lotta
cash.
SNIPER
Who'd he jack?
JAKE
(dealing cards)
I dunno.
SMILEY
He jacked Roger. Blasted the
dude.
Moreno guffaws. Sniper chuckles.
MORENO
Damnnnn. Alonzo's scandalous.
SNIPER
That's some cold shit. Vato'll
jack anyone.
MORENO
Alonzo's a low-down dirty ruthless
vato.
SMILEY
That's why I never shake his hand.
He don't respect shit.
(to Jake)
Know what all the money's for?
JAKE
No.
SMILEY
Alonzo's a hothead. Last week in
Vegas some dude was talking shit
so Alonzo beat his ass and killed
him. Turns out the dude was
somebody. He ran a big game and
owed big money. Now Alonzo owes
the money.
JAKE
How do you know?
SMILEY
I'm the man in the middle. I hear
shit. They gave Alonzo till today
to pay up. His name's already on
a list. There's a crew up from
Sinaloa to do the mission.
They're gonna blast him. No one
thought he could get cash like
that.
SNIPER
Dude made a pact with the devil or
some shit 'cause only a miracle
could'a saved his ass.
JAKE
It's no miracle.
SNIPER
Alonzo takes care of business.
SMILEY
Cops get crafty in a clinch.
MORENO
And get away with it -- Been to
jail, cop?
SNIPER
That's a stupid question. If he's
been to jail, he wouldn't be cop.
JAKE
You can be a cop as long as you've
never been convicted of a felony.
MORENO
There goes my chance. I got like
eighty strikes.
SNIPER
Fuck cops. Cops turned out my
little brother.
That went over Jake's head.
SNIPER
You hear me?
JAKE
What? He got arrested?
SNIPER
No. Two fuckin' juras turned him
out. They took his manhood. They
booty-tagged him in the back of a
black and white.
JAKE
That can't be true.
SNIPER
Do I look like I'm lyin',
motherfucker?
JAKE
I didn't say you were lying. I
just haven't ever heard anything
like that.
SMILEY
'Cause you're a rookie. Put in a
few years' work and you'll know
what's up.
MORENO
Makes me wanna turn out a cop --
Ever had your shit pushed in?
JAKE
What?
MORENO
I had my shit pushed in.
SNIPER
Me too. My shit's been pushed in.
Smiley?
SMILEY
(grins)
I'm always gettin' love from the
homies.
Smiley caresses Jake's thigh under the table. He almost
leaps from his chair. Everyone laughs.
SMILEY
Jumpy motherfucker.
SNIPER
(disgusted)
He's a fuckin' buster.
MORENO
You never been booty-busted?
Jake tries to laugh. But it's getting weird.
SMILEY
Hey, cop. Win this hand and we
won't bust you out.
MORENO
Unless you want us to.
Laughs. Sniper reveals his cards.
SNIPER
I got two pair again.
MORENO
(tossing his cards)
Didn't get shit.
SMILEY
(grins)
Gotta straight.
SNIPER
Uh-oh. This jura's gonna be
wearin' a dress.
Everyone looks at Jake -- well? He lays down his cards.
JAKE
Full house.
SMILEY
Lucky fucker.
SNIPER
You won. Deal again.
Smiley taps the deck. Jake looks at it. At them.
MORENO
Deal, homie.
Jake picks up the deck. Starts dealing.
SNIPER
There's a new chick in the
neighborhood.
SMILEY
Oh yeah? What's her name?
MORENO
Vanessa... Vanessa Salguero.
Everyone but Jake laughs.
SMILEY
I seen her around. Think she's a
good girl or a bad girl?
SNIPER
She's a good girl. Innocent.
Easy to play.
MORENO
How's she like the neighborhood?
SNIPER
Dunno.
(to Jake)
How you like the neighborhood?
Jake realizes he's Vanessa. Laughter. Jake finishes
dealing. Sets down the deck. Smiley arranges his hand.
SMILEY
Gimme three.
MORENO
Fuck this buster. Let's get this
shit over with.
Looks of agreement are traded. Moreno grins at his
shotgun. Sniper shifts his weight. Smiley
whiteknuckling his beer.
SMILEY
Hurry up, cop. Gimme three.
Jake reaches for the deck.
This happens fast:
Jake flings the deck in Sniper's face.
Smack! Cards scatter.
Jumps up from the chair, flips the table into Moreno.
Smiley SMASHES a beer BOTTLE on Jake's head.
Moreno grabbing the shotgun.
Crack! Jake socks Smiley's jaw. He goes down, amazed to
find himself on his ass.
Crack! Sniper uppercuts Jake.
Smiley grabs Jake's legs, yanks him to the deck --
kerchack!
JAKE'S POV
The bore of a 12 gauge and Moreno's leering face.
BACK TO SCENE
Jake gives up, his broken scalp gushing blood.
JAKE
... uncle...
Dreamer pops her head in.
DREAMER
Dang! You guys fucked him up.
MORENO
Get outta here. Take the girls
next door. Or you're next.
She gives him the finger, pops out. Smiley pats Jake
down. Pockets the gun.
SMILEY
You fucked up, fool. You know
that.
He finds Jake's handcuffs -- clicks his wrists together
behind his back. He takes his badge, clips it on his
belt.
SMILEY
Look. I'm a cop. Gonna start
taxing.
Smiley commences kicking the hell out of Jake:
SMILEY
You're under arrest. For being a
cop. For being a buster. For
dogging me in the mouth in my own
pad. And for bleeding on my clean
kitchen floor. You have the right
to be kicked. And the right to be
slapped.
Smack! He slaps him. Everyone laughs. Smiley finishes,
panting.
SMILEY
There. Get him in the bathtub.
Moreno grabs Jake's hair, Sniper grabs an arm, they jerk
him to his feet.
SMILEY
Gotta fuck this vato up.
They run him out of the kitchen, Smiley follows.
INT. BATHROOM
Pink carpet and porcelain kitties. They throw Jake into
the tub -- shove his face in the drain. Smiley turns on
the water -- Jake's blood whirlpooling away.
Smiley grabs the shotgun from Moreno. Thumps the butt
against Jake's head, flips it, shoves the muzzle in his
ear. Snicks the shower curtain shut to catch the
spatter.
SNIPER
Fuckin' do it, eh.
SMILEY
It's gonna be loud. Close the
door.
Moreno does. Sniper plugs his ears. Smiley braces for
the recoil.
Jake is dazed, like steer in a slaughterhouse chute.
MORENO
Wait. Lemme get his money first.
Smiley nods. Moreno searches Jake's pockets, takes his
wallet. Pockets forty bucks. Finds the Schoolgirl's
pink change purse. Opens it, reacts.
MORENO
... dang...
He hands it to Smiley.
MORENO
Here, ese... You are gonna trip
the fuck out.
Smiley opens it. His face goes dead blank. He hands
Moreno the shotgun. Whips aside the shower curtain.
Starts slugging Jake. Emphasizes each word with a kidney
punch.
SMILEY
Pinchi... game... playing...
cop... where'... you... get...
this?
JAKE
Get what? Get what? Oh, God.
Smiley slaps him with the change purse.
SMILEY
This, stupid. Alonzo give it to
you?
JAKE
No! I found it!
SMILEY
Where?
JAKE
MacArthur Park!
SMILEY
What? Bullshit!
Snick! The curtain closes. Smiley take the shotgun.
Holds it to Jake's temple. Moreno angles for a peek.
MORENO
Wait up. I can't see.
SMILEY
If you're religious, go ahead and
get in that last prayer.
JAKE
(sobs)
Omigod... she was going to be
raped. I was driving with Alonzo.
These two crackheads were gonna
rape her. I saw them hit her. I
stopped them. They were gonna
rape her. I swear to God. I
stopped it... I gotta kid --
SMILEY
-- Shut up, faggot!
Smiley opens the curtain -- stomps Jake's back -- closes
it.
SNIPER
Fuck the fool. Blast him.
Smiley aims, braces for the recoil. Jake croaks:
JAKE
... I gotta little girl...
Smiley pauses. He eases off the trigger. Pulls a cell
phone. Dials.
SMILEY
We're gonna get to the bottom of
your bullshit. She's my cousin.
She's a civilian. Ain't right
involving her.
He sits on the toilet. Still holding the shotgun to
Jake's head, he waits for an answer.
INTERCUT:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
The Schoolgirl works out Algebra II proofs on a "Hello
Kitty" bedspread in a pink T-shirt. She grabs her
RINGING PHONE.
SCHOOLGIRL
Hello?
SMILEY
Wassup, Letty. Whatc'cha don'?
LETTY (SCHOOLGIRL)
Hey, Smiley! Just here doing
homework. Wanna talk to Tony?
SMILEY
No. I wanna talk to you. Go to
school today?
LETTY
Yep.
SMILEY
All day? You didn't ditch?
LETTY
I went to every class... Why?
SMILEY
I heard different.
LETTY
Nuh-uh.
SMILEY
Cops talk to you today?
LETTY
(beat)
No.
A beat. Smiley sighs.
SMILEY
Tell me what happened. Don't
bullshit me.
LETTY
I got jumped by two niggers.
SMILEY
You got jumped?
LETTY
Well... I think they wanted to
rape me. I kinda got hit. I mean
he just slapped me. But nothing
happened, okay? 'Cause this cop
came and kicked their butts. They
almost killed him but he kicked
their asses.
A beat.
SMILEY
What did this cop look like?
LETTY
He was a white boy. Brown hair.
Tall. He looked young.
Smiley looks at Jake. That's him.
SMILEY
Sure you're okay?
LETTY
I'm fine. Nothing happened.
SMILEY
That don't sound like nothing.
Wanna go to the doctor?
LETTY
No. I said I'm fine.
SMILEY
Letty.
LETTY
Yeah?
SMILEY
What the fuck were you doing in
MacArthur Park?
LETTY
I was just kicking back at my
friend's pad. There weren't no
guys or nothing. I swear to God.
SMILEY
Letty.
LETTY
Yeah?
SMILEY
You go there again, I'm gonna beat
your ass. I got your bus pass and
I.D. Gonna send 'em over. And
we're gonna talk more about this.
He hangs up. Looks at Jake a long beat. Soaked, bloody,
shivering. Click. He safeties the shotgun. Tosses it
to a disappointed Moreno.
MORENO
Ain't you gonna blast him?
SMILEY
The vato was tellin' the truth.
Life's a fuckin' trip, huh?
SNIPER
This is some trippy-ass shit.
Smiley hands the change purse to Sniper.
SMILEY
Get this to Letty.
Smiley stands, turns off the water. He helps Jake to his
feet. Unlocks the handcuffs as Jake sways, woozy.
SMILEY
Thanks for getting my cousin's
back.
Jake half-smiles, not really sure if he's alive or not.
Smiley tosses him a towel.
SMILEY
Put that on your head. You're
gonna stain the carpet. Where the
fuckers at? Where'd you book
them?
JAKE
I didn't.
SMILEY
Why the fuck not?
JAKE
Alonzo let them go.
OFF Smiley's scowl, we:
CUT TO:
INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT (LATER)
Moreno and Sniper help Dreamer pick up broken glass.
Jake sits in a chair holding a bloody towel on his head.
Smiley returns his badgecase and gun.
JAKE
Thanks.
SMILEY
You know this shit was just
business.
JAKE
I know.
DREAMER
Want some coffee?
JAKE
No, thank you.
Smiley tosses the pillowcase of Jake's money on the
table.
SMILEY
Alonzo gave me that to take care
of you. To burn you up on the
freeway by your house. I don't
want his blood money. So... I
don't know. I just don't want it.
JAKE
I'll take it.
Jake picks up the pillowcase and hugs it.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
Smiley walks Jake past the Cholos, staring at the beaten,
wet cop. Jake hugs the pillowcase. Out in the street:
SMILEY
I know Alonzo paid off his debt,
but I'm gonna wait till tomorrow
to make the call. His magic ran
out.
Jake and Smiley shake hands.
SMILEY
Sure you don't wanna ride?
JAKE
I'm sure.
As Jake walks away:
SMILEY
You went Sega today, rookie.
You're at that next level. Just
play their games and do what you
gotta do and you'll be cool.
They'll make you Chief.
(beat)
Hey, cop!
Jake stops, turns. Smiley smiles. The first time.
SMILEY
Remember me.
JAKE
(smiles)
I will.
CUT TO:
EXT. BOULEVARD - NIGHT
Jake boards an MTA bus. Flashes his badge to the driver
and plunks into a seat. Passengers gawk.
CUT TO:
INT. MTA BUS - NIGHT
Jake thousand-yard-stares out the window.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The MTA bus FILLS FRAME. A beat. It rolls out to reveal
Jake and his pillowcase. Just standing there on the
curb.
JAKE'S POV
The cul-de-sac. No man's land. And very dark, the
streetlights have been shot out. Deceptively quiet,
except for the little kid riding away on his bike.
CUT TO:
EXT. CUL-DE-SAC - NIGHT
Jake enters, wary. He rounds the misparked van. And
sees the street is quiet. The glow of a cigarette on the
roof of an apartment building catches his eye.
He looks at a building across the street. Sees movement,
a shadow, like someone taking cover.
ON HOUSE
A light turns off. The curtain in the window moves.
Jake swallows hard and keeps walking toward Sara's
apartment. The G-Ride parked out front.
ON DRIVEWAY
Thirteen men pour out like hornets from a hive. They are
the gangsters he saw earlier. The bench presser leads
the way, like a cat that has found a spider to play with.
Jake stares unwaveringly into the man's eyes.
Bench presser looks at the pillowcase curiously --
Smack!
-- Jake threw a roundhouse at his throat, solidly
connecting.
Bench presser drops on one knee. He struggles for a
breath. Clutches his throat. His homies stare in
disbelief.
ON JAKE
He takes a deep breath.
TILT DOWN --
Jake's police handcuffs orbit his fist like brass
knuckles.
The gangsters stare at him.
JAKE
I have business with Alonzo.
It's in his eyes, he will not back down. A gangster with
intelligent eyes, obviously next in the chain of command,
sizes up Jake. A beat.
He gestures for Jake to go ahead. Jake steps around the
bench presser, only now getting air through his windpipe.
Jake walks into their midst.
Their faces follow him. They are behind him, around him.
He is outnumbered by these hardened streetfighters. Jake
prays he isn't bum-rushed.
Now past them, he continues walking toward Sara's
building.
CUT TO:
INT. SARA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Sara sits on the couch, clutching her son. Watching TV
in the dark. Something is wrong, she's almost catatonic.
We hear MOANS and GIGGLING O.S.
ANGLE
to see Sara has a black eye.
BANG! The FRONT DOOR flies open. It's Jake, his gun
out.
Jake and Sara look at each other a long beat. Two
battered faces in a dead TV glow. She points at the
bedroom.
Jake crosses, opens the door. Enters.
INT. SARA'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - NIGHT
It's a bitch sandwich and Alonzo's in the middle. Jake
crosses to the foot of the bed. Stands there. From
inside the writhing flesh pile:
ALONZO
'Bout time you changed your mind
and joined in.
The two women stare at Jake, naked and immodest. It
takes a beat for Alonzo to recognize the ghost before
him.
Jake dumps the money on the blankets.
JAKE
Smiley didn't want the job.
Alonzo's eyes bug in horror at the mountain of cash. He
ages a hundred years in a second. A man who knows he
will soon be dead.
ON JAKE
with eyes colder and blacker than a shark's. Alonzo can
fool him no more.
JAKE
Know what I learned today? It's
not about money.
He turns, about to walk away. And turns back around.
The women shriek, dive out of the line of fire. Alonzo
braces for bullets and instead hears:
JAKE
It's about respect.
Jake leaves. As he crosses the --
INT. LIVING ROOM
ALONZO (O.S.)
... Oh, God...
Jake exits the apartment.
ON SARA
A smile slowly spreads across her face.
CUT TO:
EXT. CUL-DE-SAC - NIGHT
As Jake descends the stairs, the porch lights of a house
come on. Then the lights of another house.
Steel doors open. People tentatively step outside.
Women and children, mothers with babies on their hips.
Blue-collar fathers in shop uniforms.
More porch lights come on. More doors open.
JAKE'S POV
The cul-de-sac has come to life. The homes are lit,
their occupants filling the street, ready to bear
witness.
BACK TO SCENE
All eyes on Jake as he walks down the street. Three
young boys follow him.
The old woman comes out of her house to watch Jake pass.
As do two pretty girls.
Jake nearing the gangsters. They block the street. The
bench presser stands there, arms crossed, Jake will have
to go through him again.
Curious eyes wonder what will happen.
The bench presser gives Jake a slight nod of respect.
The gangsters part for Jake and he leaves the cul-de-sac.
ON JAKE
As he walks, his innocence is gone, a heavy burden on his
shoulders, but there is much strength in his gait.
Jake walks past the aloof little kid, riding his bicycle
in tight circles. He smiles at Jake. Jake smiles back.
CUT TO:
INT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Lisa watches TV on the couch, snuggling with a cup of
tea, worried. Headlights sweep the curtains. A car
pulls into the driveway.
Lisa smiles, sets down her tea, sprawls on the couch like
she's sleeping, opens her robe provocatively, arranges it
just right.
We hear the front DOOR OPEN O.S. FOOTSTEPS as Jake moves
through the house. Lisa peeks, sees him enter the baby's
room in silhouette.
LISA
(sotto)
Guess I'm second in line tonight.
She rises, crosses to the bedroom and enters.
INT. BEDROOM - LISA'S POV
Jake's back is to her, holding his daughter tight.
BACK TO SCENE
Lisa lays a hand on his shoulder. He turns slowly,
reveals his broken, swollen face. And a look in his eyes
that says he will never be the same.
Lisa sees this and starts crying. She holds him tightly
in her arms.
He holds onto his wife and child for dear life.
PULL BACK, OUT OF the room, HANDHELD THROUGH the house
to:
TELEVISION
Breaking news. A helicopter shot of the G-Ride. Crashed
into a light pole. Alonzo lies dead under a sheet,
hanging out of his beloved car. An utterly impossible
river of blood flows from his head, into a gutter.
NEWSCOPTER REPORTER (V.O.)
-- has not been identified by name
but a police spokesman said the
thirteen-year L.A.P.D. veteran was
the victim of a failed carjacking
attempt near Los Angeles
International Airport. Gunfire
was exchanged with the suspects,
now being sought in an extensive
countywide manhunt, described as
four hispanic males in their mid-
twenties, with shaved heads,
wearing white T-shirts and driving
a dark late model sedan --
CUT TO:
EXT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
An unmarked police sedan pulls up. We recognize the
silhouettes of the Three Wise Men inside.
CUT TO:
INT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jake and his wife embracing. The SEDAN HONKS. Jake
steps back from her. Her eyes search his.
JAKE
We served a warrant. I shot a
man.
Lisa reacts.
CUT TO:
EXT. JAKE'S HOUSE - ON FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Jake opens it and exits his house, ready for absolutely
anything.
WIDER
He crosses to the sedan. The back door opens, and Jake
gets in.
FADE OUT.
THE END