48 Hours

FADE IN: Endless green hills bisected by a ribbon of highway. A road gang clearing brush by the side of the road... Twenty-five men in prison fatigues sweating through their mid-afternoon labor. THREE GUARDS Flank the working prisoners... Mountie hats, shotguns,sidearms, sunglasses; they look like they mean it. HIGHWAY A battered pickup appears...approaches. Suddenly, it coughs, shudders, stalls. A big Blackfoot Indian named BILLY BEAR gets out and starts cursing and kicking the vehicle. Then hebegins walking toward the road gang... ROADSIDE BRADY is the Guard near the center of the work gang; he smiles at the oncoming man, pokes a prisoner beside him. BRADY Wonder what reservation they let him off of... The prisoner is GANZ who looks up, grins at BRADY... GANZ Yeah, there goes the neighborhood. BRADY laughs as Billy Bear closes in on him. BILLY Say, buddy, my engine's overheating and I got 30 miles before the next station... Could I get some water out of your cooler? GANZ leans on his hoe, speaks as Billy passes... GANZ Maybe you shoulda stole a better truck, Tonto. BILLY You got a real big mouth, convict. BRADY It's okay, chief. He's just joking... BILLY How about the water... GANZ Firewater, Tonto? Is that what you... Billy whirls, swings at GANZ. Both men roll to the ground. BRADY Hey! Jesus Christ! THE OTHER GUARDS Seeing the commotion, they run toward it. GANZ AND BILLY As they struggle, Billy slips a pistol into GANZ' hand. BRADY That's a state prisoner, asshole...! Back off... ROADSIDE BRADY pulls Billy away from GANZ just 'as one of the other officers arrives... GANZ suddenly whips out a pistol, shoots BRADY at point-blank range. Before the other Guards can even react, Billy comes out with his own pistol, caps the Second Guard. THIRD GUARD Still forty yards away... In mid-draw, be howls as a bullet from GANZ breaks the nearby ground. He fires, then turns and runs for the prison bus. GANZ Smiling, fires twice. but the range is too great for pistol work... THE OTHER PRISONERS Watching....Then they all scatter in different directions... GANZ Hefts his weapon... GANZ Come on... He and the big Indian run to the pickup, climb in and roar away. BUS The THIRD GUARD making a call on the police radio... OFFICER APO 657, Unit 25 to APO 478t APO 657t Unit 25 to APO 478. RADIO RESPONSE Go ahead, Unit 25. OFFICER Escape in progress. Two officers shot off rail crossing 31. Prisoners escaping. Two men, one six-four, 200 pounds, dark, an Indian, the other, Albert GANZ, five-ten... FURTHER DOWN THE HIGHWAY Several miles from the escape... A big semi parked by the side of ttie road; back doors to the closed trailer open. A station wagon parked across the road. The pickup appears, approaches the semi, slows down and drives up the ramp into the van. GANZ and Billy jump out, shove the ramp up inside the truck and close the big doors. STATION WAGON GANZ and Billy climb inside ancl roar off, back in the direction of the road gang. BILLY BEAR Takes off his hat, puts on a baseball cap and sunglasses... BILLY Get ready to duck. GANZ dives for the floor. Three police cars go by, sirens blaring, lights flashing. They pass the road gang. GANZ reappear, smiles... GANZ You know something? I'm having a real good time. HIGHWAY The station wagon blasts down the pavement... Becomes a small dot on the landscape. A DOORWAY - NIGHT the portal slams open revealing a man holding a huge pistol,jack JACK CATES, s.F.P.D., a large and powerful man... He stealthily moves up a stairwell. CORRIDOR He stops at the top of the stairs... Listens gun still ready. A continuous sound of running water... JACK CATES moves toward the bathroom. Rips the door open. BATHROOM The shape behind the shower curtain freezes. JACK CATES, gun held level, moves forward... Rips the shower curtain open. Revealing a young and very beautiful woman, ELAINE MARSHALL. JACK CATES Inspector Jack JACK CATES, S.F.P.D....And you're wanted. ELAINE stares at him as JACK CATES turns off the water. ELAINE What am I wanted for? JACK CATES I don't answer questions, I ask 'em... A moment as she continues to stare at his pistol. ELAINE I don't think your gun's loaded... JACK CATES This is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. You gotta ask yourself just one question. Are you feelin' lucky? ELAINE I still don't think it's loaded. ELAINE shakes her head and smiles, folds her arms over her breasts, shivers a little... JACK CATES looks at the cylinder, spins it... JACK CATES Hey, you're right. ELAINE You're hopeless. JACK CATES That's the way I see it, too. Be puts the gun down on the edge of the sink, embraces her. ELAINEI'm all wet. JACK CATES What's wrong with that? They both smile. TRANSITION BEDROOM JACK CATES in bed with ELAINE. She wears his shirt. ELAINE A guy in the bar called me a dumb bitch today. JACK CATES What'd you do? ELAINE Irrigated his face with the shot of J and B I'd just poured him. Then I tried to deck the sucker. JACK CATES I guess he got the message... ELAINE Then I sit back and I think, I mean, who's to say I'm not a dumb bitch. I work in a bar, right? I can't read a list of my academic credentials to every booze-hound that comes in the place... You are what you do... JACK CATES Positive self-image problem all over again ... You are who you decide you are unless you're the type that lets assholes decide for you. ELAINE Aren't you the one that thinks all psychotherapy is bullshit? JACK CATES I do think all psychotherapy is bullshit. But just because I think it's bullshit doesn't mean I don't know something about it. ELAINE If this is your idea of sympathetic interest in my problems, I'll take brutal indifference. JACK CATES Hey, you know what I really think? ELAINE Tell me--I'm dyin' to hear it. JACK CATES I think you're ashamed to tend bar which is sad because you look great in that outfit they make you wear... You pull down four bills a week which is damn good, and you mix the best Pina Coladas I've ever had... I think that if you need bigger and better things ...then go for em. She smiles at him after this. It looks like they'll kiss. Their faces are close. Then she lightly moves back. ELAINE You oversimplify every... He stops her in the middle of the sentence by kissing her, then pulls back... JACK CATES Some things are simple, right? Their faces are very close ... but they don't touch for another second. ELAINE Right... TRANSITION SAN FRANCISCO AT DAWN Tugs churning across the bay... Quiet city streets. Parked cars covered with early morning dew... A newspaper truck slowly grinds by, drops a bundleand moves on. EMBARCADERO - DAWN The station wagon pulls up to a young punk, HENRY WONG, on a motorcycle. Billy Bear smiles and leans out the driver's side window. BILLY You got somethin' for us, HENRY? HENRY produces some credit cards. Billy passes them to GANZfor inspection. GANZ How hot are they? HENRY Hot? Hey, they're not even room temperature. GANZ snorts derisively. GANZ How ya doin'? HENRY Can't complain. GANZ We got a lot to talk about. HENRY Yeah, old times. GANZ We'll follow you. Take it slow,okay? HENRY Sure, right. GANZ pockets the credit cards as HENRY wheels away. GANZ I want to drive awhile. BILLY I ain't tired yet. GANZ Maybe after we get done with him I'm gonna buy us some girls. BILLY Whaddya mean, buy? GANZ Pros. GANZ stares at Billy. BILLY Pay money? GANZ Yeah, dummy. Money. BILLY I never paid for it in my life. GANZ It's better when you pay... they let you do anything. BILLY They always let me do anything. I don't want to pay for it. I never paid for it in my life. GANZ Just do what I say, okay? We'll pay for the girls and have a good time... Don't you trust me? Billy smiles. BILLY Sure, I trust ya. They drive off. NORTH BEACH - RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAWN First light breaks over Telegraph Hill. A quiet row of Victorian townhouses now converted into apartments. APARTMENT BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING JACK CATES is sprawled across the double bed; ELAINE is on the verge of falling off the edge. JACK CATES' eyes snap open. A second later, his wrist watch alarm goes off. He turns it off, gets out of bed and begins pulling on his pants. ELAINE sits up in bed, still wearing JACK CATES' blue shirt... JACK CATES picks up a robe as ELAINE gets out of bed on the opposite side, throws the robe to ELAINE...She takes off the shirt, swaps it for the robe and throws the shirt to Jack. ELAINE You know, if you let me come over to your place once in a while, you could put on a clean shirt in the morning. JACK CATES What makes you think I have any clean shirts at my place? He buttons his shirt and heads for the kitchen. KITCHEN JACK CATES brushing his teeth at the sink, ELAINE making coffee.ELAINE You know, that's my toothbrush, Jack. He keeps brushing. JACK CATES Maybe you ought to buy me one. ELAINE Maybe I would if I knew when you were coming back. He stops brushing, turns and looks at her. JACK CATES I'm here. And I've been coming back for quite awhile... Let's not hassle, okay? And can I have a cup of coffee? Please. She pours some coffee, hands him a cup and saucer... JACK CATES pours some whiskey into it from a flask. ELAINE That's a fairly crummy way to start a morning. JACK CATES Maybe I got a fairly crummy day ahead. ELAINE Maybe that makes a nice excuse. JACK CATES Maybe you don't know what the hell you're talking about. JACK CATES picks his holstered .44 off a chair back and begins strapping it on. ELAINE When you start with that attitude... it's like I don't know who you are. JACK CATES What do you want to know? What difference does it make? I'm the guy in your bed the last three months. I make you feel good. You make me feel good. What the hell else do you want from a guy? ELAINE I wish you'd stop trying to make me mad so I won't care for you...I wish you'd give me a little more of a chance. He turns away, moves into the corridor near the stairwell. JACK CATES I don't have time for this. I gotta go to work. She stands frozen... He turns back and looks at her; it's hard to apologize. JACK CATES Look, I'm glad I'm in your life...and hell, with an ass like yours, I figure anything might be possible. She is warmed up by the first part, amused by the second; she approaches... ELAINE You know something, Jack, you really are hopeless. JACK CATES That's the way I see it, too. ELAINE Call me later. JACK CATES You sure you want me to? ELAINE Yeah, for some reason, I'm sure... He moves closer, kisses her.. JACK CATES Thanks for the coffee. ELAINE I think you forgot this. Hands him his wallet and badge... JACK CATES Guess people ought to know who I am... He turns to go down the stairwell.. ELAINE Jack, wait. Here... She puts a scarf around his neck. ELAINE It's cold as hell out these mornings, and you know what the man said, the coldest winter I ever spent was the summer I spent in San Francisco... They don't kiss. He nods appreciately, the scarf in hand as he turns and goes. STREET - NORTH BEACH - MORNING JACK CATES comes out of ELAINE's apartment building, crosses to his whipped and battered 64 Cadillac convertible, notices a parking ticket stuck under the windshield wiper... JACK CATES Son of a bitch. Shoves the ticket in his coat pocket, gets into the Caddie puts the scarf around the rear view mirror, starts the engine and guns away... CITY STREET JACK CATES driving the convertible; he comes down a hill and turns toward the East Bay... TRANSITION - GOLDEN GATE PARK - MORNING HENRY Wong, seated on a park bench. Now very dead, a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. Billy Bear is seated next to him on the bench reading the race form. GANZ Using the telephone at an outdoor booth a few feet beyond the bench. STREET - BROADWAY DISTRICT - DAY LUTHER and ROSALIE, a young couple, turn a corner. A dark parody of all-American young marrieds. They are bickering as usual. ROSALIE I liked that carpet we saw. LUTHER We can't afford it. ROSALIE Don't remind me. LUTHER Whaddya want me to do, go out and steal for the money? I hated the color anyway; the color sucked... Suddenly, BILLY and GANZ descend on Luther and Rosalie and pull them into their station wagon.. STATION WAGON Billy has Rosalie by the mouth, gagging her with his big paw... GANZ has his gun at Luther's neck. GANZ Surprise, Luther. LUTHER Whaddya want? I thought you were locked up- GANZ I want the money, asshole, what do you think? The money that Reggie hid... LUTHER I don't know what you're talkin' about. GANZ You want that Indian to snap her neck? He mimes the gesture... snap... GANZ Instead of worryin' about Reggie, you better worry about me... LUTHER Don't give me this, we were partners. GANZ Billy, go ahead, break it... LUTHER No! Don't kill her. I can get you the money. GANZ When? LUTHER I can't get it until Monday. Honest. GANZ You chickenshit punk... LUTHER Honest. The place we stashed it opens Monday morning. I can't get it till then. Monday morning, that's when it opens. After that, I'll get the money to you right away... GANZ finally takes the gun from the neck. GANZ I always liked you, Luther. You were always a lotta fun to hang out with... Rosalie is rubbing her neck now that she's been released... GANZ gestures to Billy. GANZ We're gonna keep her. Luther desperately doesn't like this. LUTHER Come on, you can trust me. Please. GANZ You try to mess with us or go to the cops, I promise you, I'll put holes in her you wouldn't believe. He smiles at Luther, pinches him on the cheek, shoves him out of the car. LUTHER Stands shivering as it powers away. WALDEN HOTEL - DAY A small hotel on one of the quiet streets behind Union Square. A GREEN COUGAR Pulls up across the street. CAR Tha car arrives in front of the hotel. GANZ Nice place, huh? Rosalie is very nervous. ROSALIE What are you gonna do to me in there? GANZ gives her a casual smile. GANZ Maybe that's where I'm gonna cut your throat. BILLY He's just kiddin', you just keep doin' what I tell ya, you'll be okay. They move out of the car, head for the hotel. LOBBY A FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE sits behind the desk in a mirrored entrance hall. She reads a lurid paperback. Morning traffic streams by outside as GANZ, BILLY and ROSALIE enter and approach the desk. GANZ We need some rooms for a couple of nights...Okay? She smiles at GANZ. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Sure. We don't get many real customers, ya know? Most people only stay an hour or two... Passes a form across. GANZ signs it, Frizzy glances at his signature then takes a key from the rack behind. GANZ I want her young. And tall. Nice legs. Legs are important. Then, real thin. Yeah. NO jeans- A dress? a nice summer dress. You know I want her fresh... I'll tell you why, because I been hoein' weeds and makin' license plates for a couple of years... Yeah, I know you don't get it... BILLY BEAR Sees a couple approaching, he shoves the dead man down on the bench and spreads the newspaper over his head. The body now looking like a typical park bum who has spent the night. Billy walks over to GANZ. BILLY Hey, what about me? GANZ And I need one more for my pal. Yeah. Make her an Indian. No, not a turban, you know, a squaw. Billy smiles, takes the Polaroid... POLAROID A close shot of the dead man with the bullet hole in his forehead. GANZ Takes the photograph back from Billy and slips it into his jacket pocket... GANZ Walden Hotel. Third near Broadway. Tell them to ask for ... uh...He takes the hot credit cards out of his pocket, the name embossed on the plastic.. GANZ G.P. Polson...P.O.L.S.O.N....Just be a couple of hours. Hangs up. The two men head for a green Plymouth... TRANSITION FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Number twenty-seven, Mr. Polson. GANZ Put them next door, okay. She gives him a slightly knowing look. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Sure, hey, you got the whole floor to yourself... GANZ sends her back a sharp look. GANZ Keep your filthy ideas to yourself, lady. GANZ picks up his suitcase, walks over to the nearest stairwell. Billy and Rosalie follow... TRANSITION - STREET Bars starting to fill up with mid-day customers... A black Chevy cruises past and stops further up the block. Two Plainclothesmen, VANZANT and ALGREN, get out of the car. As they start toward the Walden... A Cadillac convertible pulls up near the two men. JACK CATES climbs out of his car and walks over to them. JACK CATES Hey, fellas, what's happening? Radio said you guys had something on... ALGREN Not much, Jack ... Salesman named Polson had his credit cards lifted...Algren nods over to the parking lot opposite. ALGREN One of Polson's cards rented that green coupe. VANZANT Not too much for a big rough tough gunfighter like you to do on this one... JACK CATES smiles at the verbal positioning he's used to with his colleagues. JACK CATES Suspect packed or is this a laugher? ALGREN Five and dime stuff. Polson said a kid with a switchblade mugged him and drove off on a motorcyle. JACK CATES Yeah, well, I guess you two are experts at taking boy scout knives away from teenagers... VANZANT Yeah, we are, that means you can stay outta this one. We don't have any big need for the artillery. Vanzant's turn to smile. JACK CATES Hey, I'm just offering to help out... I like to watch real pros work. VANZANT Help, huh? Sometimes your kind of help tends to leave the suspect in bad shape. Algren...mediator... soothes the competitive situation. ALGREN Hey, relax ... Jack, you wanna come inside, fine... You can stake out the lobby... JACK CATES, a bit disgusted at the politics of this moment, nods... JACK CATES Fine, it's your show... The three men move toward the Walden. WALDEN HOTEL LOBBY Frizzy Blonde still behind the desk. Still reading the lurid paperback. Unaware as Vanzant and Algren approach... She looks up as they flash their badges. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Aw, you guys were in last week. You better ask around. I'm not supposed to be hassled... I got friends. VANZANT Hey, park the tongue for a second, sweetpants, we just want to search a room. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Not unless you got a warrant.JACK CATES Maybe you should of been a lawyer instead of a dumb skirt workin' behind a register. Frizzy turns to find JACK CATES standing beside her. He nudges her aside. Starts going throught the register book. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Aw, come on, what the shit is this? ALGREN We're looking for a guy going under the name Polson...Frizzy sits back down in defeat. FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Okay, big deal. Get it over with. JACK CATES finds the name. JACK CATES Mr. Polson, room 27... ALGREN Is he alone? FRIZZY YOUNG BLONDE Naw, his sister went up an hour ago. Vanzant turns to JACK CATES. VANZANT Okay, like we said, you stake out the lobby. JACK CATES Sure. Great. Whatever. VANZANT You're not missing out on Dillinger. This punk just stole some credit cards. JACK CATES watches the two Detectives head for the elevator. SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR Vanzant and Algren move down the hallwayStop at the far end. Both Detectives draw their pistols and approach a door. ENTERS ROOM Summer dress and undergarments scatteredon the floor. LISA, lies naked under the covers. She matches GANZ's earlier requirements. Smoking a cigarette, staring at the ceiling. GANZ remains on top of the blanket. Still in his shirt and pants watching TV. Three sharp knocks at the door. GANZ reacts as if he's received an electric shock. His hand goes under the pillow... Comes up with an automatic. Shoves it hard into Lisa's stomach. LISA Hey... GANZ Shut up. LISA What the hell's wrong? I didn't do anything. Another knock. GANZ makes her move to the door. LISA What do you want? What's goin' on? GANZ Shut up. She grabs her dress and tries to pull it on. GANZ Now ask who it is. Shoves harder with the pistol. GANZ Come on, ask. (She calls out.) LISA Who is it? CORRIDOR Vanzant and Algren stand back from the door. Guns held ready. ALGREN Police... open up. Lisa looks from the door back to GANZ. Then at the gun held against her. She's petrified. GANZ Stall. LISA What do you want? VANZANT Police business. Come on, open up. A smile on GANZ' face. Almost as if he's enjoying the moment. GANZ Keep stallin'.LISA Alright, I'm coming...hold on. I'll just be a minute. CORRIDOR Vanzant and Algren waiting. Sounds of movement from within the room. LOBBY JACK CATES moves toward the foot of the stairwell. Looks across at mirror on the wall opposite. The entire lobby covered from this spot. Every angle, including Frizzy. ROOM GANZ gestures to Lisa. LISA Just a second. GANZ belts her with his gun; she falls..GANZ goes through the connecting door. Slips into the adjacent room. BILLY'S ROOM Another Hooker cowers in the corner, pulling on her clothes. She's a Mexican girl in a ridiculous 'Indian' outfit. MEXICAN GIRL Que paso? Que esta pasando? No entiendo... BILLY Shut up. Billy goes to where Rosalie is awkwardlytied to a chair with an electric dord. He pulls her to her feet as GANZ moves by. BILLY When I say jump, girl, you betterjump. CORRIDOR Vanzant reaches down, tries the knob. Locked. Algren moves back, preparing to kick the door down. ADJACENT ROOM GANZ opens the door behind the two cops. Raises his pistol and fires. Billy's shots follow immediately. Hits Vanzant. Algren rolls just as GANZ fires again. Wounded, he gets off three shots, then moves inside GANZ' room. GANZ and Billy run for the elevator... Exchange two more shots with Algren. The Mexican Girl begins screaming in Spanish... LOBBY JACK CATES draws his .44. Races up the stairs three at a time. Frizzy starts to frantically call the police. CORRIDOR JACK CATES stops at the landing. Vanzant's body sprawled across the hallway. Algren back in the corridor, still losing blood... Leans against the wall for support... Lisa staggers out of the room, screams. Algren points the gun toward the elevator. Indicating where GANZ and Billy have just fled. JACK CATES starts back down toward the lobby. ELEVATOR GANZ and Billy, guns ready as the carriage jolts downward. Rosalie is terrified, sobbing... JACK CATES Arrives at the halfway turn of the second staircase. He takes the next flight in two jumps. ELEVATOR As the doors open, GANZ gestures for Billy and Rosalie to wait as he heads for the lobby. LOBBY JACK CATES literally flies into the lobby just as GANZ appears. He slams GANZ against a column, belts him across the neck with his pistol. GANZ screams with pain, drops his gun... JACK CATES again slams him with his pistol, felling him... GANZ Slides across the floor. JACK CATES Senses something ... moves just as Billy appears behind and fires at him. The bullet takes out a window. JACK CATES dives over the desk. Another bullet chews up the wood. LOBBY Frizzy has been standing beside her desk, screaming... JACK CATES' move and the accompanying bulletspanic her. She dashes for safety... JACK CATES gets to his feet behind cover. Sees Billy holding Rosalie by the throat. Frizzy begins to scream. GANZ He'll blow her goddamn head off. JACK CATES doesn't miss a beat. He slowly levels his .44. Takes careful aim and starts to fire at Billy. ROSALIE No. No. JACK CATES' shot narrowly misses Rosalie. The bullet smashes into a mirror above Billy's head. JACK CATES keeps moving closer, gun pointed straight ahead. Billy pushes the pistol against Rosalie'temple. For the first time, JACK CATES hesitates. They face each other across the length of the lobby. ALGREN Struggles down the remaining steps into the lobby. He still holds his revolver. Dares not raise it towards Billy and Rosalie. BILLY BEAR Covers Algren from near the entrance. He's confused, doesn't know what to do... He keeps hold of Rosalie. GANZ His eyes catch Algren's... GANZ You. Drop it and we won't kill her. Algren tosses his gun to the floor.GANZ Now, tell him to drop his Goddamn piece. ALGREN Do it, JACK CATES. No response. ALGREN Do it, JACK CATES. Goddamn it, do it. JACK CATES lowers his gun. Finally lets it drop to the floor. GANZ Kick it over here. JACK CATES does; GANZ picks it up, smiles, looks at Billy. GANZ Get the car. Then back to JACK CATES as Billy runs out the entrance with Rosalie. GANZ Your gun's just like mine. He's going to kill JACK CATES. But first be glances at Algren. Then, almost casually, shoots him twice with JACK CATES' .44. Algren staggers back. Dead before he hits the floor. JACK CATES twists sideways just as GANZ fires. The bullet misses. Again Frizzy starts screaming and struggling. GANZ swipes the woman across the head with the gun. Her body slumps to the floor. Police sirens can be heard in the distance. JACK CATES makes an attempt for Algren's gun. A bullet splatters against the floor only inches from his outstretched fingers. The gun skitters out of reach. JACK CATES You lying son of a bitch... GANZ What are you talking about? We didn't kill her ... GANZ smiles. With your own gun, cop. How does it feel? JACK CATES leaps into a wooden phone booth. GANZ leisurely blasts away at the booth with both his and JACK CATES' gun. Two bullets crash into the booth. GANZ moves to check inside the booth but sirens are ominously near. GANZ finally retreats out the entrance. STREET Billy and Rosalie weave their way across street to the Cougar. They make a U-turn. GANZ runs out. Car pulls out, then the police cars and vans begin to arrive. PHONE BOOTH Chunks of wood on the floor. Shafts of light through a dozen bullet holes. Shattered receiver dangling from a cord. JACK CATES, wedged tight into the very top of the cubicle. He drops to the floor. LOBBY The police arrive. Swarm into the hotel. All eyes on JACK CATES as he rushes to Algren. Too late... JACK CATES realizes Algren is dead. He cradles Algren's head as he stares at the arriving TAC Squad and Patrolmen. TRANSITION SQUAD ROOM DAY JACK CATES walks in. Several Detectives gather around him. FAT COP What happened? JACK CATES Read the report. OLD COP Two cops blown away by a credit card booster... that don't figure. JACK CATES No shit. FAT COP They were good cops. JACK CATES They were good cops who fucked up and got careless. A snotty YOUNG COP paces. YOUNG COP That's what you say, JACK CATES... JACK CATES Yeah. YOUNG COP But that's what you say about all of us all the tine ... we're always the ones fucking up when you tell it... JACK CATES The truth hurts, doesn't it, buddy? JACK CATES looks at the Old Cop. OLD COP It don't figure. JACK CATES I need to borrow a piece. The OLD COP shrugs... looks in his desk... YOUNG COP Somebody steals your gun, you're supposed to file a report. JACK CATES Are you gonna tell me about police procedure? Do me a favor, don't give me a bunch of crap. YOUNG COP I guess when two cops die on account of your fuck up you want to keep it as quiet as possible... JACK CATES loses it for a second, lands on him with both hands, pushes him against a wall... The room goes quiet. JACK CATES cools down. JACK CATES Just shut the fuck up. The other cops don't intervene. They just watch. JACK CATES cools down, straightens up. HADEN walks by, or, rather, speeds by. HADEN JACK CATES, I'll need to see you in five minutes, exactly five. The Old Cop hands JACK CATES a gun, a traditional Army .45... OLD COP Best I can do. HADEN D'you read me, JACK CATES... Haden continues moving away. JACK CATES Five minutes. I heard you, your voice carries... As JACK CATES is examining the gun, RUTH, a lab technician, enters and drops three 8 x 10's on the desk near JACK CATES. RUTH They're still wet. JACK CATES lifts the blow-ups, each one showing a different aspect of a spent bullet. RUTH Lots of people getting shot with .44's lately ... Last year, it was Saturday Night Specials..now it's heavy stuff. People must be getting madder about something. JACK CATES starts pinning the blow-ups onto a large bulletin board on the wall. Nearby, at the same time (within JACK CATES' line of sight, within earshot), Lisa, the Hooker, is being interrogated by a POLICE-WOMAN who pulls the statement off the typewriter. Nearby, the Indian Hooker is being interrogated in Spanish. POLICEWOMAN You're an accessory to Murder One, so you're going to have to do a whole lot better than what we got down here, honey... LISA Gimme a break, huh? ... Look, I got there. He was a trick just like any other for all I knew. That's all there is. He didn't feel like sitting and talking. He was in a big hurry to get laid. I was with him about an hour... JACK CATES has gotten interested in the last part of this...drifts toward her... A DETECTIVE comes through, begins distributing I.B.M. printouts to JACK CATES, the other nearby officers.. DETECTIVE We got a print from the hotel room. Guy's real name is GANZ, Albert GANZ. A hitter from back East but he worked out here a few years back. Armed robbery. Broke out of prison two days ago and capped two of the guards. A real animal. Wait'll you see this... JACK CATES reads the printout, then smoothly,imperiously, he takes over the questioning of Lisa. JACK CATES Did he give you a return match? LISA He wasn't interested. JACK CATES Maybe he didn't like your performance. LISA Fuck you. JACK CATES I'll take a raincheck... From the side, Ruth is pointing at the photos... RUTH This'll interest you, Jack...we've got something here from your gun... and these are from the first weapon GANZ used... JACK CATES I don't get it. RUTH Here. JACK CATES She turns, produces the third photo. Pins it beside the one from the Walden Hotel. RUTH A perfect match for the markings from the first gun he used... but not from the Walden Hotel... fired at least six hours earlier...at point blank range... right between the eyes. Found him on a park bench... She shows him two more pictures. Police forensics shots of HENRY Wong ... very dead on the park bench... RUTH Ya know, there are some very bad people out there in the world. JACK CATES Look at it this way, Ruth. If there weren't, what would there be for us to do? Lisa continues with the Policewoman. LISA Anyway... so I got there and took him down. He started watching television and then you sensational people started banging on the door... that's all...except ... he's gonna give you guys a hard time. JACK CATES JACK CATES looks up as he hears that remark. Notices KEHOE, another Detective, entering with a long suitcase. POLICEWOMAN What makes you think so? LISA I think he liked shooting cops a lot more than getting laid. JACK CATES watches Kehoe unpack the box. JACK CATES Is that what this guy GANZ had in the hotel? KEHOE Every last bit of it. The big guy's room was empty. JACK CATES I'll help you out. JACK CATES and Kehoe start going through the suitcase. Kehoe produces a speed loader for a .44... KEHOE This guy must have had a .44 like yours, Jack. Now he's got yours. JACK CATES Shit. Kehoe next produces several boxes of shells. KEHOE This cat was real serious about his artillery. An Attendant comes through, hands Kehoe a file. He opens it, shows the file to JACK CATES who reads the name under the mug shot. JACK CATES Billy Bear... KEHOE Backup man from the East Bay. Worked with GANZ a few years ago and sprung him from the road gang. Kehoe opens the second file. Four mug shots are inside. JACK CATES Who are all these? KEHOE They all pulled a bunch of jobs with GANZ about four years ago. JACK CATES Wait a minute, wait a minute...who's this? KEHOE Uhh ... Wong, HENRY Wong. He was in on the same job. JACK CATES spins the file around so that both Ruth an Kehoe can see it, throws the forensic shots down beside it. JACK CATES Tell me that's not the same guy. KEHOE Hey ... Dick Tracy. RUTH Did GANZ have a grudge against his old friends? Haden comes out of his office. HADEN Get in here, JACK CATES. JACK CATES ignores him. JACK CATES I think I wanna have a discussion about it with any of the ones still walking. Can we find them? KEHOE Here's the file. JACK CATES checks the file. JACK CATES One of em's in the slam. HADEN Damn you, JACK CATES ... Get in here. JACK CATES walks into Haden's cubicle. JACK CATES I want to be left alone on this one. Algren was killed with my gun. HADEN Yeah, I read the report... Haden shuffles some papers, seems to ignore JACK CATES. JACK CATES Hey, the bastard's got my gun. I want it back. HADEN Jack, come on, there is an official department policy about cop killings. Cop killers represent a special priority because any man crazy enough to kill a cop is a greater threat to an unarmed civilian... In other words, we can't seen like we're in the revenge business... I know, we all know the truth's a little different. JACK CATES almost smiles at Haden. JACK CATES Yeah... HADEN Anthing botherin' you besides losin' your gun? JACK CATES Yeah. It bothers me when cops get hurt while I'm makin' a play. I don't like it. HADEN You might be more of a team player and a little less of a hot dog on this one, Jack. JACK CATES Being a hot dog's worked pretty well for me so far... Besides, I got a lead... HADEN Okay. You're not a team player. You gotta do things your own way. Fine. Nail this guy and make us all look good. But you better watch your ass. If you screw up, I can promise you, you're goin' down. JACK CATES You really know how to send a guy out with a great attitude. He starts to go. HADEN Jack? JACK CATES Yeah? HADEN Try not to get your ass shot to pieces. We got enough dead cops on this one. JACK CATES I'll keep it in mind. (Leaves) TRANSITION CITY STREET (Heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic) JACK CATES stands near a hot dog stand. ELAINE joins him. JACK CATES is eating a hot dog and studying a police file. ELAINE Great place for lunch. JACK CATES Yeah, one of my favorites. ELAINE You made the front page. He hands her a dog. JACK CATES Yeah, Guess it must have been a slow news day... ELAINE Jack, are you okay? JACK CATES Sure, okay, fine, no problem...See, there's this kid in jail ...First thing I got to do is go up and see what he knows...He points to the file. ELAINE I thought you might come over to my place to recuperate. I don't have to go to work until the day after tomorrow. (They begin to stroll down the street) JACK CATES I got nothing to recuperate from. There's a guy out there with my gun, and I want it back. She's not happy with this attitude. ELAINE Look, spare me the macho bullshit about your gun... JACK CATES Bullshit? I'll tell you about bullshit. My gun's a real weapon in the hands of a real maniac who knows how to use it. It isn't my macho bullshit that's killing people, my gun is ... ELAINE Look, Jack, if you make everything your personal responsibility, you'll turn into a bad cop. It's not a practical way to function... JACK CATES I didn't get burned, two cops did. Listen, I'll tell you about personnel responsibility. I like to get the job done right. And if I don't get my job done right...I'm for shit. ELAINE Here it comes again ... the sacred job... JACK CATES That's right. I'm not like you. I'm not gonna sit on my ass wondering what's right and what's wrong... There's a psycho out there killing people with my gun and I'm gonna get him. Because it's my job. And if you don't get that... ELAINE I get that. The job first. Everything else, especially me, second. I get it. I don't like it. (Pause) JACK CATES No one asked you to like it... But that's the way it is. TRANSITION PRISON CELL BLOCK - DAY JACK CATES and a GUARD on the upper deck approaching the door to the cell block... The Guard shouts upward. GUARD Open Nine. With a huge metal clatters the door to the cell block opens. CELL BLOCK - NEAR ENTRANCE JACK CATES and the Guard go through the door. GUARD Close Nine. They move forward together. GUARD It's Number Twenty-two... You want company? JACK CATES No, no thanks. The Guard shrugs, stays by the door.JACK CATES He walks down the cell block. Inmates stare at him from inside the stark cells. They don't know who he is, but they can smell a cop. JACK CATES stops at Twenty-two, looks inside...a bit startled. Obviously, Reggie HAMMOND has connections and taste. The paint is fresh; there's framed prints on the wall instead of pin-ups, and the overall feeling is that of a graduate school dorm rather than a prison. JACK CATES turns, nods to the Guard at the end of the cell block. He throws a switch and the door opens. HAMMOND'S CELL JACK CATES steps inside. HAMMOND is at a table wearing a Sony Walkman and writing in some detailed ledgers with a fountain pen. He's boogeying in his seat to the music. Sprawled on a bunk nearby is LEROY, another black inmate close to HAMMOND's age. Leroy is leafing through a copy of a skin magazine. He doesn't even look at JACK CATES. JACK CATES HAMMOND. JACK CATES steps inside the cell. JACK CATES HAMMOND! (No answer) JACK CATES leans over, hits the override button on the Sony. JACK CATES HAMMOND HAMMOND jumps, grabs his ears in pain ... He pulls the headset off and glares at JACK CATES. HAMMOND You got a name, cop? JACK CATES Try JACK CATES. And let's talk in private, okay? HAMMOND Sure, anything you want. He tosses the Walkman to Leroy who dutifully puts it on. JACK CATES Look, convict, I know all about you. Single. No fixed address. No known relatives.One previous conviction. Armed robbery... six months to go on a three-year sentence. HAMMOND You here to write my life story? JACK CATES Not likely, Reggie. Maybe I just need some help. JACK CATES takes the forensic photo out of his pocket, passes it across the table to HAMMOND. He looks at it, hardly reacts. HENRY Wong... My old pal. He's looked better...He passes the photo back. HAMMOND Look, I got just six months before gettin' out of here. Six months between me and freedom after bein' here three years... And I'm not gonna do anything to screw it up, includin' pee in the prison yard, knock up the Warden's daughter or rat on my old partners... JACK CATES swings the cell door back open. JACK CATES Too bad, Reggie. I thought maybe you were a smart boy. But I guess if you were real smart you wouldn't be a convict. He smiles, decides to play his card. JACK CATES I can see a second-rater like you wouldn't be any help at all goin' up against a real hard case like GANZ. HAMMOND jerks his head around. HAMMOND GANZ? (Pause) HAMMOND GANZ the one who shot HENRY? JACK CATES, I asked you a question... JACK CATES smiles. JACK CATES Yeah, I noticed... HAMMOND GANZ is in jail. He's gonna be there two years after I'm on the street. JACK CATES Didn't work out that way. He busted out with a big Indian. They capped two guards on a road gang. Nice meeting you Reggie. He turns, goes out. The door clangs behind him. HAMMOND jumps up and bangs on the bars, shouts at JACK CATES' back... HAMMOND JACK CATES, Come back here. JACK CATES turns, saunters back, leans against the door. JACK CATES Yeah? HAMMOND I can deliver GANZ. But you gotta get me outta here first. JACK CATES You're crazy. HAMMOND I can help you, man, but you gotta get me out. I got to be on the street. Get me outta here. JACK CATES What's the big deal about you bein' on the street? HAMMOND I got a lot to protect. JACK CATES Bullshit. HAMMOND It's the only way you're gonna get GANZ. JACK CATES I'll think about it. (TRANSITION) JACK CATES typing several of official looking documents while seated across from a rather dour-looking bureaucrat named BOB. JACK CATES Let me borrow your pen, Bob. Handed over by Bob. BOB You going to use your own name? JACK CATES Shit, no. CANDY He begins signing the documents. BOB Jack, just remember one thing. If all this comes down, you don't know me. I'm not gonna burn for you. And I'll tell you something else. If it all comes down, your ass is new-mown grass. JACK CATES Right. Hey, no sweat. He hands over the papers. Smiles. BOB BOB You got him for 48 hours. Bob studies the sheet. BOB You got a big career as a forger if you decide to go that way, Jack... I'll ring security. (TRANSITION) PROCESS ROOM - PRISON - DAY The GUARD leads HAMMOND to a steel cage. Harmnond's now wearing a beautifully tailored plaid suit. The Guard shouts to ANOTHER GUARD on the far side. GUARD Prisoner G21355 ... HAMMOND. SECOND GUARD Okay. Send him through. The gate slides open. The Guard geztures for Hairmond to enter. HAMMOND walks to the far side of the pen. The first gate closes, the second one opens. HAMMOND turns and walks over to JACK CATES. The Guard comes up to JACK CATES, double checks his orders then unlocks HAMMOND's cuffs. GUARD Gotta sign for him. JACK CATES Sure thing... He looks over at HAMMOND who smiles at him. Then looks at Harmond's clothes... JACK CATES This prison gives out $400 suits? HAMMOND What are you talkin' about? This suit's mine. It cost $900. HAMMOND dusts off a sleeve. JACK CATES We're supposed to be after a killer, not a string of hookers... HAMMOND Listen, it may be a little out of date. You know, I got a reputation for looking real sharp with the ladies... JACK CATES hands some papers to the Guard. GUARD He's all yours. The Guard walks away as HAMMOND feels JACK CATES' lapel. HAMMOND We could change this for something good...Get you lookin' sharp for pussy. JACK CATES gives him a look.JACK CATES I don't need to hear your jive. I already got that department taken care of... HAMMOND You got a girl... shit... the generosity of women never ceases to amaze me. JACK CATES slaps a cuff on HAMMOND's outstrethand, then puts the other on his own wrist. HAMMOND Hey, no way. Take off the bracelets or no deal. JACK CATES You just don't get it, do your Reggie? There isn't any deal. I own your ass. HAMMOND No way to start a partnership. JACK CATES Get this. We ain't partners. We ain't brothers. We ain't friends. I'm puttin' you down and keepin' you down until GANZ is locked up or dead. And if GANZ gets away, you're gonna be sorry we ever met. HAMMOND Shit. I'm already sorry. JACK CATES yanks on the cuffs. They move away? (TRANSITION) OUTSIDE THE JAIL - DAYJACK CATES LEADS HAMMOND OUT. THEY HEAD FOR JACK CATES' BATTERED CADILLAC. HAMMOND This your car, man? JACK CATES Yeah. HAMMOND It looks like you bought it off one of the brothers. As they approach the car... JACK CATES Okay, let's get down to it. I did my part and got you out. So now you tell me where we're goin'? HAMMOND Don't worry, I got a move for ya. An awesome move. A guy named Luther. GANZ'll be paying him a visit. We go to him right away. JACK CATES Luther was part of the gang? HAMMOND What gang you talkin' about, Jack? JACK CATES I can read a police file, shithead, and quit calling me Jack. HAMMOND Just an expression man, don't mean nothin'. JACK CATES gets behind the wheel and kicks the engine over. JACK CATES I don't give a damn. It happens to be my name. HAMMOND Then what're you complainin' about? At least nobody's calling you shithead.... JACK CATES I may call you worse than that. JACK CATES drives off. STREET - MISSION DISTRICT - DAY JACK CATES' Cadillac purrs into view, entering a deserted street within a rundown neighborhood. CADDY HAMMOND seated next to JACK CATES.HAMMOND Just up the street, the other side, over there ... Now, don't bother knockin' on the door. Luther ain't the kind of guy that looks for company. JACK CATES Your pal nuts enough to take a shot at me? HAMMOND Luther ain't the reliable type. I don't want you shot yet, JACK CATES... not before you been a help to me. JACK CATES I'm helpin' you, huh? HAMMOND smiles. HAMMOND Yeah. Didn't you know that? STREET The Caddy pulls to a stop. HAMMOND Over there...232... JACK CATES double-checks his .38. HAMMOND You better let me borrow one of those. JACK CATES smiles. JACK CATES Sure thing, asshole. Handcuffs HAMMOND to the door handle. Grabs the car keys. JACK CATES You just hang on. And hope this big move of yours turns out to be something. Opens the car door. JACK CATES LUTHER'S VICTORIAN JACK CATES knocks at the door. Nothing. Knocks again ... no response.. From inside, he hears a faint noise but no response to the knock. Holding the .38 in one hand, JACK CATES tries the knob with the other. The door opens. Cautiously, JACK CATES steps inside. LUTHER'S VICTORIAN Long corridor ahead. No sign of Luther. JACK CATES Moves down the corriaor, checks the rooms off to one sides. LUTHER LUTHER Slips into the hallway behind JACK CATES... JACK CATES turns just as he gets to the kitchen. Luther holds a gun. JACK CATES drops to a crouch and aims the .38. Luther whirls and fires at JACK CATES. As wood and plaster fly out all round him, JACK CATES makes a running dive for the floor. Luther runs out before JACK CATES has regainehis feet. STREET Luther rushes out the front door and heads toward the Cadillac. HAMMOND Watches as Luther heads down the sidewaltoward him. As he starts to pass by... HAMMOND steps out suddenly... Flattens him with the car door. Luther drops, stunned. HAMMOND, still restricted by being cuffed to the door handle, reaches and grabs his pistol. JACK CATES HAMMOND, Drop the Goddamn gun. HAMMOND looks up. He sprints across the pavement. Aims his gun at HAMMOND. HAMMOND Quit playin' cop and undo this cuff, Jack, I need to talk to this man. JACK CATES I'm tellin' you to drop the Goddamn gun. HAMMOND I got a whole thing about people pointin' guns at me. JACK CATES Just throw me the Goddamn gun. Long moment. Then HAMMOND smiles and tosses him Luther's pistol. Luther groans. JACK CATES puts his foot on Luther's belly and pulls himself into a standing position, cuffs him. HAMMOND Luther, I always told you the physical side of life wasn't your gig. Look at you, all messed up... Course you never were much in the snappy dresser department, were you? JACK CATES now has Luther ready to be questioned. JACK CATES Come on, talk to him. HAMMOND turns to smile at Luther. HAMMOND What's happening, Luther? LUTHER I thought you were inside... HAMMOND Meet my travel Agent. Luther leans forward, looks straight at JACK CATES. LUTHER A cop... JACK CATES I sure ain't his fairy godmother... now I'm looking for GANZ...where is he? LUTHER Haven't seen him for years. That's the truth. JACK CATES You just took a shot at me, asshole. I think you do know where he is. LUTHER Who gives a fuck what you think? JACK CATES grabs the still open Cadillac door, slams it into Luther. He falls backwards. JACK CATES looks at HAMMOND.JACK CATES Hey, this works pretty good. HAMMOND Thank you. JACK CATES Want to try it again? Luther sits up again, glares at JACK CATES. LUTHER GANZ and Billy got my girl, Rosalie. JACK CATES I think I met her. Now tell us something we don't know, like where they stashed her. LUTHER I don't know. JACK CATES slams the car door agains him again. HAMMOND I gotta tell you he's having a ball with this car door, Luther...You'd better think of somethin' to tell him. Luther besitates...flashes a look at HAMMOND, who sends him a silent fleeting reply. Maybe JACK CATES sees this. Maybe not. LUTHER He ... he wants me to help him skip town. JACK CATES When? How? LUTHER I dunno ... he's gonna call me... Another look at HAMMOND. LUTHER He's gonna call me on...Tuesday. Something's wrong with all this. JACK CATES isn't sure just what. Not yet. He looks at HAMMOND. JACK CATES What do you think?HAMMOND I think you better put him on ice, man. JACK CATES He's gotta take that call... if there is one. HAMMOND If you let him run around till Tuesday, he's gonna run right to GANZ and warn him. Ain't you, motherfucker? Luther makes a play toward HAMMOND, who laughs, doesn't even flinch. HAMMOND Luther, are you angry with me? JACK CATES wrestles Luther into the back seat, turns to HAMMOND. JACK CATES I don't know what the hell you're smiling about, watermelon. Your big move turned out to be shit. HAMMOND Just stares at JACK CATES, keeps smiling... (TRANSITION) BOOKING - POLICE PRECINCT - NIGHT Two Uniforms follow a sullen Luther, JACK CATES and HAMMOND to the DUTY SERGEANT... JACK CATES speaks to him through the small window. JACK CATES Assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon. Carrying a concealed weapon. Resisting arrest, Disturbing the peace. Public nuisance... The Sergeant begins typing out an arrest form. JACK CATES I'll think up a few more and file the report tomorrow. JACK CATES looks back at HAMMOND as Luther is hauled away. JACK CATES Come on, I gotta make a phone call. As they move through the honeycomb of office partitions. JACK CATES You stay with me. JACK CATES picks up the phone on the other side of the booking desk. Dials ... waits for a response as TWO HOOKERS are led past by an Arresting Officer. HAMMOND gives them the eye. JACK CATES This is Jack JACK CATES. Any messages? ELAINE'S APARTMENT ELAINE is on the kitchen phone, speakingwhite putting her coat on over her uniform for the evening. One look at the way it is cut and you know why she hates her job. ELAINE Just one. Some lady called. Said she's a little hot-headed sometimes... But she still wants her occasional roommate. She'd like to talk it over after she gets off work tonight... if it's humanly possible.... JACK CATES ELAINE, look, I'm in the middle of sone stuff right now... I'm not gonna have time to come by. I don't know when I can get there. Her face falls. Making the offer was hard enough. ELAINE Come on, Jack ... you're making me work too Goddamn hard at this... Jack is very irritated by this turn of events. JACK CATES Listen, Goddamn it if you think I'm happy about it, you're nuts. I just gotta take care of a few things, okay? ELAINE This is not the way people who care for each other are supposed to behave. JACK CATES says nothing. She hangs up angrily. (BOOKING) HAMMOND is working on the girls. HAMMOND Excuse me, ladies, you seem to be in need of assistance. HOOKER TWO Look, we got enough problems, we don't need no tight-ass court-appointed lawyer trying to bullshit us! HAMMOND Sweetheart, I'm not trying to bullshit you. I don't know whether or not you ladies heard but the city is coming down real hard on people practicing unlawful carnal knowledge. HOOKER ONE So what are you trying to say, fella? HAMMOND I'm trying to say that you're not just walk in that courtroom and get gonna slapped with a $50 fine and be back on the street turning tricks tonight. You both are going to do some time. About 30 days each... Unless, of course,we talk real business. HOOKER TWO So where do you want to do it, honey? You wanna hop up on the counter? HAMMOND No, we can go to the back room. JACK CATES walks over and pulls him by the shoulder. JACK CATES We're on the move. Let's go. As they walk toward a corridor. HAMMOND Do you know how close I was to getting some trim. And you fucked' it up. JACK CATES Yeah, well, my ass bleeds for you. And I didn't get you out so you could go on a Goddamn "trim" hunt... stop moaning. HAMMOND Speakin' of moans my Stomach is startin' to growl. JACK CATES We eat when I say we eat. HAMMOND Bullshit ... I ain't moving till I get something to eat. You've been treating me like shit ever since I came out here. If you don't like it, you can take me back to the penitentiary and kiss my hungry black ass good-bye. And I want some food some place nice.. Some good people, nice music... JACK CATES Yeah, I'm hungry too. I know of a place. Let's go eat. HAMMOND Yeah, I want mandolins, flowers...They move off down the corridor. (TRANSITION) UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT - NIGHT POLICE HEADQUARTERS JACK CATES and HAMMOND at a candy machine. JACK CATES drops in a quarter, throws HAMMOND a candy bar... JACK CATES There's your God-damn dinner. Now, let's go. They move toward a row of parked cars. AT THE CADDY HAMMOND Who'd you call on the phone back at the booking station? JACK CATES Just get in the car and keep your mouth shut. HAMMOND gets in the car as JACK CATES readjusts ELAINE's scarf on the mirror. HAMMOND Must of been your lady friend... JACK CATES frowns at him. HAMMOND You really do have onoe, huh,Jack... what's her problem besides you? JACK CATES She's got the same complaint as half the Goddamn population. She can't get the job she's trained for and it pisses her off...Anyway, what the fuck do you care? JACK CATES climbs in behind the wheel of the Cadillac. HAMMOND No, man, tell me about her. In jail they got me surrounded by guys wearin' blue suits twenty-four hours a day. And I ain't built for that. Really? With the clothes you got on you look like you'd love it. JACK CATES takes a belt from his flask. JACK CATES Now, where we goin', convict? HAMMOND Mission District. Gonna find us an Indian. JACK CATES starts the motor, slams it into gear. Accelerates out to the street. (TRANSITION) CITY STREET NIGHT JACK CATES and Hammon booming along in the Caddy. HAMMOND Come on, Jack. I want to hear about your girl. When were you with her last ... You get what I mean? Smiles. JACK CATES smiles back at him, almost cruelly JACK CATES I don't give out the details. HAMMOND Last night, two nights ago, three? JACK CATES keeps smiling. JACK CATES Last night. HAMMOND You have a good time? Pained expression on JACK CATES' face as he comes back to reality. JACK CATES Sure. Then we had a fight this morning. HAMMOND At least you took care of business and got the important part in before she came down on you...Tell me a little about her. She got great tits? JACK CATES gives him a hard look. JACK CATES I get the feeling it's going to be real long night. They keep driving. (TRANSITION) MISSION DISTRICT - STREET - NIGHT The Cadillac drives slowly past a bar called Torchie's. Stops at the end of the block. JACK CATES Well? HAMMOND It's a long shot, but...Billy used to tend bar here a few years back. I heard him talk about it. JACK CATES This part of town, they'll make us for heat the second we walk in. Just back me up like you've got a piece...HAMMOND Back you up? Now why would I wanna do that? JACK CATES If they kick my ass, they'll sure as hell carve yours up... HAMMOND But you can handle it all right, huh? Real amazin' how far a gun and a badge can carry some cats... JACK CATES Bullshit. Attitude and experience get you through... JACK CATES and HAMMOND step out, glance toward the bar. HAMMOND I been in a lot of bars where a white cop rousted me and some of the brothers. All those clowns ever had going for 'em was a gun and a badge... JACK CATES You need five years training to handle a joint like... Hamnond's had enough of this debate. HAMMOND Hey, you wanna bet? JACK CATES I got two problems. Number one, I'm not playin' games. Number two, you got nothin' to bet with. HAMMOND If we come outta this joint with GANZ' phone number, or a dead Indian, or anything else useful, then you could turn the other way for half an hour while I get laid... JACK CATES Why? Anybody that talks about women as much as you do probably can't get it up anyway. HAMMOND That's never been one of my problems.Now, stop stallin', man, or else admit all this professional stuff you're talkin' about is a crock of shit. JACK CATES I'll tell you what happens if you lose... you tell the truth for once. HAMMOND What are you talkin' about? JACK CATES You tell me what GANZ busted out for, he's after a lot more than just gettin' out of jail. And whatever it is, you're part of it. HAMMOND I don't know what you're talking about. I just wanna see GANZ nailed. JACK CATES The bet's off. HAMMOND thinks it over.. HAMMOND Okay, if I lose, I'll tell you anything you want to know... JACK CATES reaches into his pocket. JACK CATES I'm gonna enjoy this ... here, I'll even loan you my badge. HAMMOND I thought you said bullshit and experience are all it takes. He takes the badge anyway as they head for the entrance. TORCHIE'S WESTERN BAR They step inside. HAMMOND reacts to... REDNECK CITY Longhorns mounted over the bar, Rebel Flags, Lone Star Beer, armadillo posters. Even the waitresses wear Stetsons. Rockabilly pounding from the jukebox. A Cowgirl Stripper is doing the grind on a small podium. HAMMOND This place don't seem real popular with the brothers. JACK CATES My kind of place. I always liked country boys. JACK CATES smiles, finds a table in the corner. A Cowgirl comes over to take his order. HAMMOND Takes a deep breath, moves toward the bar. Smiles at the good ol' boys. They don't smile back. He sits down at the bar. BARTENDER Yeah. HAMMOND Vodka. BARTENDER Maybe you better have a Black Russian. HAMMOND No, man, I think I'll have a vodka. Hamnond looks around the room. THE BARTENDER places a glass in front of him, picks up the dollar as Harmond flashes JACK CATES' shield. HAMMOND You know a big Indian named Billy Bear? He used to work here. The BARTENDER shakes his head, gives him a scowl. BARTENDER Never heard of him. HAMMOND lifts the shot glass and throws it through the mirror behind the bar. Sudden silence throughout the room. HAMMOND Now how's your memory doin'?BARTENDER Fuck off. I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about. HAMMOND Maybe I better ask around, see what your pals think. BARTENDER I don't give a shit who you ask. The BARTENDER walks down toward JACK CATES. HAMMOND Moves away from the bar. He stops at a booth occupied by FOUR COWBOY PUNKS, one a very big man. HAMMOND grabs him by the arm and pulls him up. HAMMOND Up against the wall, cowboy. The Punk breaks free, aims a massive haymaker at HAMMOND. Gets a right to the stomach for his trouble. HAMMOND Now, I said get over there by that wall ... You hear me, motherfucker... Looks at the others. HAMMOND Move it, rednecks. On your feet...He grabs the next by the arm, yanks him up. HAMMOND Over there...move your ass. Some of you rednecks seem a little hard of hearing, so I'll repeat it for everybody... I need word on the whereabouts of an Indian that goes by the name of Billy Bear. It's a police matter and you all look like you'd just love to cooperate... JACK CATES Quietly sips his beer. The other occupants of the bar watch HAMMOND herd the four Punks to the end wall. A BIG COWBOY when HAMMOND isn't looking, he dashes toward the exit, JACK CATES puts out a leg. Sends the Cowboy crashing into a crowdedtable. HAMMOND Turns around at the noise. HAMMOND That wasn't necessary, buddy. I got this under control. JACK CATES Some of us citizens are with you all the way, Officer. The Redneck Punks are now spread-eagled against the wall. HAMMOND searches the first. He drops a wallet on the floor and moves to the second. A switchblade, some credit cards and another wallet fall to the floor. The last Punk has only a roll of bills. HAMMOND holds the money up to his face. HAMMOND You're in trouble, big trouble, so you better start talking. Where'd a boy like you make a score like this? PUNK It's mine, what the hell... HAMMOND You must a rolled somebody. They don't let punks like you take jobs that pay this much ... you sure you don't know a dangerous Indian, because unless you start talkin' I may just have to start looking down your pants with a flashlight... PUNK What kind of cop are you, anyway? HAMMOND I am your most terrible nightmare... a bad nigger with a badge that entitles him to kick your ass... HAMMOND turns to the BARTENDER... HAMMOND One of them is under-age. Another attacked a police officer. And you know I ain't found what I came lookin' here for yet... Walks back to the BARTENDER. HAMMOND The tall one had a weapon ... you want me to keep on makin' a list, or you got the picture yet? He reaches for a towel under a pyramid of bar glasses. Jerks the towel, the pyramid capsizes onto the floor. Huge crash as the glasses break into a million fragments. HAMMOND Looks like you're on your way to bein' outta business, redneck...Now, let's see what can we fuck with next? The BARTENDER doesn't have the look of a happy man. BARTENDER Okay, okay. The Indian hangs out with a girl down the block. Right where Chinatown starts. She lives on top of the hardware store. HAMMOND turns, grins at JACK CATES. As far as he's concerned, he's won the bet. JACK CATES nods, slips out the door. HAMMOND I don't give a damn about his girl... BARTENDER Look, give me a break, you're going to have to settle for her place. It's the only thing I know. He looks desperate. BARTENDER I'm tellin' ya, I'm giving you all I know. HAMMOND Try obeyin' the law once in awhile, and I won't have to hassle you... Turns to go, then turns back. HAMMOND But remember this, cowboy, there's a new sheriff in town. Smiles, turns and goes. (TRANSITION) STREET - ACROSS FROM TORCHIE'S - NIGHT HAMMOND steps out of the bar. He crosses to JACK CATES by the car. JACK CATES I think you got something for me. Pause. JACK CATES The gun you took off that redneck in there. HAMMOND smiles. HAMMOND You made that move, huh? JACK CATES While you're at it, You can give me the switchblade, too. HAMMOND reluctantly takes out a .22 automatic, slams it down on the hood of the car. JACK CATES Credit cards? HAMMOND hands them over with the knife. HAMMOND You already got a gun and you owe me a piece of ass. I'll settle for the gun you just took. A long moment. Then JACK CATES slowly lifts the .22 automatic. JACK CATES You did a real good job... Guess you deserve a reward. Removes the clip. Throws it across the street. Hands HAMMOND the automatic. HAMMOND Motherfucker. He throws the gun away. JACK CATES I sure am. Now let's go get us an Indian. They walk up the block. (TRANSITION) STREET - CHINATOWN - NIGHT Neon signs with Sino lettering. JACK CATES AND HAMMOND Walk down the street, spot a shop with a window display of tools. Look up at the darkened apartment windows. They walk to the end of the block. ALLEY Stairwells lead to each apartment above the shops. JACK CATES and HAMMOND move along the buildings... Arrive at the back of the hardware store. Quietly, they start to ascend the stairs. STAIRWELL The metal steps extend onto a platform by the back door. JACK CATES leans over the railings to look through the adjacent window. Between the drawn curtains, a flickering glimmer from a TV set. On the tube, various poses from stridently exercising women. HAMMOND What the shit is that? Looks again. A female form passes by, goes out of the room. JACK CATES There. HAMMOND Must be billy's girl. JACK CATES Come on. DOORWAY JACK CATES gestures to the door lock. HAMMOND fiddles with it for several moments. The door swings open. They step into a darkened room. APARTMENT JACK CATES takes the .38 from his pocket. He stops near the open bedroom doorway. He looks at HAMMOND and then both men step quickly into the room. JACK CATES Police! Nobody move! HAMMOND reaches for the light switch. Takes a heavy blow. Slumps against the door. A Woman's voice screams out. JACK CATES Stay where you are! The light goes on. JACK CATES' gun points at a YOUNG WOMAN (CASEY) in a flimsy dressing gown. Saturday Night Special held between her palms, police style... A SECOND WOMAN (SALLY) stands beside HAMMOND at the light switch. Larger and slightly older than the first, she wears a man's shirt. Holds a baseball bat in her right hand. SALLY You better drop it or he's gonna get another one. HAMMOND Hey, talk to here jack. I don't feel like gettin' number two along side of the head. JACK CATES I said police. Now drop the goddamn gun. CASEY Don't give me that police shit. You drop it. Pause. JACK CATES Okay, look, don't shoot. I'm just reachin' for my badge. JACK CATES takes out his badge-Shows it to Casey. CASEY I don't like this bullshit. I've seen fake badges before. HAMMOND I'll tell you something lady, this guy is a real nervous cop - He's just liable to pull the trigger. JACK CATES takes two steps toward Casey... JACK CATES Naw, I'm the calm type. I know you don't want me to shoot you, and I know that you don't want to shoot me. He takes two more steps toward her. JACK CATES Shooting a cop puts you away for a long time. Holds out his hand. CASEY You assholes better be real. She hands JACK CATES the gun. Sally prods HAMMOND with the baseball bat. SALLY Just wait a Goddamn second here, let's see your badge... He snatches the bat out of her hands. HAMMOND Don't have one. SALLY I knew it. Call the cops. Casey walks over to the phone. JACK CATES Tell them it's JACK CATES, Detective 31st District. Then put your clothes on. If you don't answer some questions I'm taking both your asses in. After a moment, Casey puts down the phone. JACK CATES Now, let's cut out the crap, which one of you sees Billy Bear? SALLY None of your business, cop. The son of a bitch isn't here, and he isn't coming back. JACK CATES You can do better than that. Turns to Casey. JACK CATES How about it? CASEY I used to go with him...I don't know where the hell he is. I haven't seen him for two weeks. And I don't think I will. He owes me money... SALLY He's a Goddamn lowlife, the way he treated her. JACK CATES Sounds like a real stormy romance. CASEY I don't much care what it sounds like to you, Cop. All I know is that I went a few laps around the track with him and I ended up with nothin' but the short end of the stick. JACK CATES looks over at HAMMOND. JACK CATES Let's go. HAMMOND Wait a minute. Maybe these ladies would like to go a few laps with us. How about it? I been nearly three years in prison and... SALLY Fuck off. JACK CATES Come on... Hannond starts for the door with JACK CATES. CASEY If you find that bastard, Billy, tell him to stay out of my life. I don't need any more of his macho bullshit. TRANSITION STREETS OF CHINATOWN AT NIGHT The two men walk among the bright neon lights. Neither of them very happy. JACK CATES This sucks. A maniac gets hold of my gun and goes all over the streets killing people with it. So, instead of me being where I oughta be, which is in bed giving my girl the high, hard one, I'm out here doing this shit, roaming around with some overdressed, charcoal-colored loser like you. HAMMOND You wanna leave, man? Let me take care of GANZ all by myself. JACK CATES You? Don't make me laugh. You can't take care of shit. You've been dicking me around since we started on this turd-hunt. All you're good for is games... So far, what I got outta you is nothin'... HAMMOND I'm impressed with you too, Jack you did a real good job of busting up a couple of dykes bedded down for the night. JACK CATES Luther knew more than he told me and so do you...Now you better tell we what the fuck this is all about. I gave you 48 hours to come up with something and the clock's runnin' ... A long look at HAMMOND. HAMMOND Maybe I don't like the way you ask. JACK CATES Who gives a Goddamn what you think? You're just a crook that's got a weekendpass ... You're not even a name anymore. Just a spear-chucker with a Goddamn number stenciled on the back of his prison fatigues... They walk past. (TRANSITION)STREET ACROSS FROM TORCHIE'S - NIGHT They two men walk toward the Cadillac. JACK CATES Okay, Reggie, I'm done playing around. I want to know what's going on and I'm going to beat the living shit out of you until you tell me. HAMMOND goes into a street rap. HAMMOND You beat the shit out of me? Don't make me laugh, sucker. You don't know how I'd dance on your face? I'll hit you so hard, so many times, you'll wish you'd never been hatched. I'll turn your face into cottage cheese. I'll make your girl think you been takin' ugly pills. She won't even know who you are, sucker. They stop by the car. JACK CATES takes the gun out, lays it on the hood. HAMMOND stares at him. JACK CATES next takes out his wallet, shows HAMMOND his badge, then lays the badge on the car fender... Smiles. JACK CATES I guess the first thing I ought, to explain to you, nigger, is I fight dirty. Hits HAMMOND a tremendous right hand full in the face. HAMMOND sags, grabs onto the car fender for support. JACK CATES hesitates ... and HAMMOND kicks out, sending the partially open car door slamming into JACK CATES. JACK CATES sprawls. HAMMOND So do I. HAMMOND aims a kick at JACK CATES' head. JACK CATES blocks it with crossed forearms, grabs, twists. HAMMOND tumbles, rolls away from JACK CATES. Both men struggle to their feet, circle each other. HAMMOND moves in only to receive twoquick blows from JACK CATES, a bit sooner than he expected. JACK CATES smiles. HAMMOND dances in and out... JACK CATES' breathing becomes more labored. His windmill attack penetrates JACK CATES' defense. JACK CATES clears his head, charges, bull-like ... His rush and greater bulk send both of them crashing into some trash cans and a brick wall. HAMMOND is faster... JACK CATES is much stronger; Both men on their knees. They look at one another. Silently, they move to their feet. HAMMOND's back is to a wall... JACK CATES keeps him there, negates the lighter man's agility. They slug away, each now arm-weary...Exchange a dozen blows. Finally, JACK CATES steps back, arms at his side... Breath coming like a bellows... HAMMOND has to hold on to the wall; one more punch would put him out. JACK CATES Now, you bastard, you going to tell me what's going on... Puffing away. JACK CATES ... Do I have to kick the shit out of you some more. They stand facing one another. HAMMOND smiles. A black-and- white comes roaring up the street. Sirens howling, red lights flashing, it slides to a stop. TWO UNIFORMED COPS jump out, guns drawn. FIRST COP All right, you two. Don't move. JACK CATES NO, no...it's okay...I'm police. SECOND COP Yeah, sure. Get your hands above your head. He keeps his gun trained on JACK CATES,and HAMMOND. JACK CATES My gun and badge are over there. And I'm too fucking tired to raise my hands... HAMMOND rubs the side of his face. JACK CATES falls back against the patrol car. Still fighting for breath. The First Cop lifts JACK CATES' wallet off the Cadillac and looks at his badge, shows it to the other cop. FIRST COP What the hell's going on here? JACK CATES walks over, pockets his gun. SECOND COP I've got a burglary call. Two women say a couple of hoods broke into their place posing as cops. JACK CATES I was following a lead. We rousted them... Go up and sweet talk 'em. You can straighten it out. The First Cop checks out JACK CATES' badge and I.D. FIRST COP Why don't you do it? We got better things to do than straighten out your messes. JACK CATES So do I. I'll file a report tomorrow. The First Cop takes out his book, starts writing. He's pissed. FIRST COP I gotta file a..Report tonight asshole... JACK CATES Goes with the territory. He grabs HAMMOND and they head for the Cadillac. (TRANSITION) ALL-NIGHT GAS STATION Cadillac parked behind the service area. RESTROOM HAMMOND looks' up at his bruised face in the mirror, then washes up. JACK CATES is one step ahead of him. He rolls up a piece of the wet towel and inserts it over his bleeding gum. HAMMOND Too bad we got interrupted when we did. I was getting ready to finish you off. JACK CATES straightens up from the wash basin. JACK CATES Yeah, right. You want to try again? HAMMOND Naw, you'd just call your pals back to bail you out one more time. JACK CATES They saved your ass, convict. HAMMOND One thing's for sure, Jack. That's how you'll tell the story. JACK CATES dries off his face, starts out of the washroom. JACK CATES I'll even put it in my report that way. The door closes behind JACK CATES. HAMMOND leans back toward the mirror, nudges a tooth with his finger. HAMMOND Motherfucker. GAS STATION PARKING LOT JACK CATES leans on the Cadillac as HAMMOND emerges. HAMMOND starts for the passenger side. JACK CATES Wait a minute. HAMMOND stops. JACK CATES You come clean or we're going to go again. Right here, right now. Pause. A long moment; HAMMOND decides be has no choice. HAMMOND I been waiting a long time for some money. JACK CATES How much? HAMMOND Half a million. JACK CATES Jesus. HAMMOND smiles his meanest smile. HAMMOND How's that for a number to give you heart failure? Guess you might start to get the picture after all. Mlaybe you're on the wrong side of the old law and order business.. JACK CATES is unmoved. JACK CATES Just tell me about the money. HAMMOND Me and my bunch hit a dealer in the middle of a sale. It's the kind of money nobody ever reports stolen. I was sittin' pretty, livin' in the high cotton, then somebody fingered me for another job. ... Some psycho who's out there capping people with some cop's gun. JACK CATES He's after your money. HAMMOND You catch on real fast...Okay, Jack, let's talk deal. How much of my money you gonna let me keep? JACK CATES just looks at him. HAMMOND We split 50-50? JACK CATES Not likely, convict. HAMMOND You gonna let me keep any of it? JACK CATES Depends on how things work out. I believe in the merit system. So far you haven't built up any points. He smiles. HAMMOND Okay, from now on, I'm gonna be real good, Jack. JACK CATES smiles back. JACK CATES Where's the money? HAMMOND In the trunk of a car. A lot better than under a mattress, right? JACK CATES smiles. JACK CATES Right, partner. HAMMOND Get this. We ain't partners. We ain't brothers. We ain't friends. If GANZ gets away with my money, you're gonna be sorry we ever met. JACK CATES Yeah. Right. They get into the Caddy. Boom away. (TRANSITION) The Cadillac moving through the city... Clock on the dashboard showing 4 a.m. JACK CATES at the wheel. JACK CATES Where's the goddamn car? HAMMOND You're a real case, you know that, Jack? Smiles. HAMMOND This'll show you how smart I am. I got it parked. JACK CATES ...For three years? Let's hope it wasn't a tow-away zone. HAMMOND You just drove by it. The Cadillac makes a screeching U-turn,i swings into the curb. JACK CATES leans out, looks at... PARKING BUILDING Narrow, multi-storied, with a garage-like opening and signals... proclaiming 'Weekly-Monthly-Long Term." CADILLAC JACK CATES Okay, now what? HAMMOND gets out of the car. Stands on the sidewalk. Stretches. Then gets into the back seats. HAMMOND Since you're wired on benniest you get to stay up and stare at the building. I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep. They take Sunday off. Place opens at seven o'clock Monday morning. Wake me up at a quarter till... JACK CATES stares at the place. JACK CATES You son of a bitch. You knew where the money was all along and all we had to do was come here and wait. I almost got my ass blown off twice tonight for nothing. HAMMOND I wasn't sure the money was still there until we saw Luther. You almost got your ass shot off for nothing once, not twice, Jack. JACK CATES Shit. THE CITY Beyond the skyline, grey streaks of dawn etch the sky. (TRANSITION) The Cadillac is pulled up facing the streets down the block from the parking sections JACK CATES walks in through the lot entrance. Threads his way between the lines of parked vehicles Tired and haggard, he carries a paper bag filled with quick-order food. CADILLAC HAMMOND stretches on the back seat. JACK CATES slams the door shut. JACK CATES I don't want you sleeping on the job. HAMMOND yawns, eases himself into a sitting position. HAMMOND The place opens in five minutes. GANZ ought to be here soon... JACK CATES tears the paper bag open. Passes a cup of coffee and donut back. He sips his own coffee, adds some whiskey from his flask... pops another bennie. JACK CATES You took a big chance, leaving this here all this time. HAMMOND Not really. I figured GANZ was put down for a long time. And I knew Luther would never job me on his own. He's too chickenshit. JACK CATES Guess what? Luther just got in line. HAMMOND sits up. HAMMOND What? JACK CATES Musta got some primo bondsman. HAMMOND Jesus Christ. That's a disgrace The guy pulls a gun on a cop and he's out in 24 hours. I tell you some of the courts these days are just a fucking revolving door. PARKING LOT BUILDING Luther walks up to the window where a bored ATTENDANT reads a comic book. ATTENDANT Yeah?LUTHER I want to pick up my car. He passes across a faded form. ATTENDANT Name? LUTHER HAMMOND. The Attendant examines the form, surprised. ATTENDANT This is three years old. LUTHER Yeah, I've been busy. The Attendant opens a key file, begins rummaging in it. ATTENDANT We don't wash 'em, ya know. LUTHER How about chargin' the battery? ATTENDANT That we do. And we put air in the tires. I'll even sell you some gas if you need it. LUTHER Great, just great. The Attendant finds the key, exits the booth. Luther follows to an elevated stack of cars. The Attendant throws a switch, the stack of cars begins to move. STREET Luther drives down the exit ramp in a dated Porsche convertible. The car is covered with a uniform coat of dust, except for the windshield which has been wiped hastily clean. Luther waits for a break in the flow of traffic, drives out. Another street Luther turns onto a side street and then suddenly Cate's Cadillac appears ... starts to tail the Porsche. CADILLAC JACK CATES follows Luther through several turns. The Porsche jerks whenever it speeds up or slows down. HAMMOND Jesus Christ, look at all the dust on my car...why in the hell don't he take it to a car wash? JACK CATES Didn't know you darker people went in for foreign jobs. HAMMOND I had no choice. Some white asshole bought the last piece of shit skyblue Cadillac. ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. CADDY As they follow Luther. JACK CATES You'd think the guy'd be smart enough to know he was being tailed. HAMMOND Tryin' to save his girl, man. He's in another world. JACK CATES If I was his size and had GANZ on my ass, I'd just leave town. HAMMOND I'm tellin' you the man's in love... he wants to be a hero for his girl. JACK CATES Oh, yeah, does bein' in love make you stupid? ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. As they follow Luther. JACK CATES I suppose you'd never be like Luther and let a woman get to you...HAMMOND I let women get to me. The quest for pussy is the meaning of life... I got my own personal philosophy about 'em. Keep women separate from guns, money and business ... women are for spending money. They got nothing to do with helping you make it. JACK CATES That ain't philosophy. That's common sense. ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. CADDY As they follow Luther. HAMMOND Say, do you always work people over like you did Luther? JACK CATES If they don't tell me what I need to know... HAMMOND Doesn't it get... Tiring? JACK CATES I'm not in this 'cause it's fun. I'm not into hitting guys 'cause it makes me feel good either... I do it 'cause it works-... HAMMOND You got a very depressing view of life, man... you gotta smile once in awhile... ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. CADDY As they follow Luther. JACK CATES Maybe Luther hopes GANZ'll give him a piece of your money...HAMMOND If he's hoping that then he's dumber than I think he is, which would be amazin', cause I already think he's real dumb. ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. CADDY As they follow Luther. HAMMOND A long time agb Luther must of got the shit beat out of him so bad it just rattled his brain ... that would account for him making so many wrong moves in a row... JACK CATES Yeah, it doesn't look like he's gonna make it as a dangerous tough guy... ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. As they follow Luther, HAMMOND You know, I'd be embarrassed if I let my wheels go the way you've done with this job. JACK CATES What you don't understand is, I don't give a damn about how this thing looks. HAMMOND No class... JACK CATES Class isn't somethin' you buy, punk. Look at you, five hundred dollar suit and you're still a lowlife. ANOTHER STREET The Caddy follows the Porsche. As they follow Luther. HAMMOND We're getting too close ... JACK CATES,what's the matter, you been takin' dumb pills? JACK CATES Yeah, most cops are pretty dumb...But since you're the one that landed in jail what's that make you? ANOTHER STREET Luther pulls over to curb and parks. CADILLAC suddenly swings over several lanes of traffic and parks in driveway of parking lot. LUTHER - JACK CATES & HAMMOND'S P.O.V. He goes to the trunk. Rummages there ... picks up a flaming red suit. CADILLAC> JACK CATES That Goddamn suit is yours? HAMMOND winces. HAMMOND That was in style a couple years back, man. JACK CATES Right. if you ever switch from armed robbery to pimping, then you're all set. Under the suit is a nondescript attache case. Luther takes it, closes the trunk. Beads down the sidewalk. CADILLAC HAMMOND That's the money, Jack. They jump out of the car, follow on foot. (STREET) Luther hurries along the sidewalk. He reaches the corner, turns quickly... JACK CATES AND HAMMOND Following a little way behind. They pause at the corner, watching the pedestrian traffic move by. Then turn down the cross street after Luther. Follow him down a stairwell. SUBWAY STATION - LOBBY Escalators and open stairwells. Luther enters and pauses by the doorway. Commuters crowd the counters and congregate near the stairwells. More people are seated along hard plastic seats. But no GANZ. And no Billy. Luther moves further into the station. JACK CATES and HAMMOND enter. They keep Luther fixed between them, 50 feet ahead. Luther seems to be wandering He walks through the shop area and back toward the escalator. HAMMOND remains near the arcade while JACK CATES blends in with the commuters. Luther puts the briefcase down at his feet and leans against a counter. Next to him, a loud troop of Boy Scouts marches by. A crowd of people from the train area below flows through the lobby obscuring Luther from HAMMOND and JACK CATES for a moment. JACK CATES steps out to get a better view and suddenly spots GANZ moving through the crowd toward Luther. Be looks over at HAMMOND across the station and motions. Then they both start moving in on GANZ, trying to intercept him before he gets deeper into the crowd. GANZ moves cautiously through the station. A crumpled newspaper held absently in his hand. He scans the faces of the commuters and spots Luther. Fails to notice JACK CATES and HAMMOND closing in on him from two directions. A PATROLMAN comes up. Starts chatting amiably with a Boy Scout next to Luther. GANZ hesitates in his approach. He motions Luther to move awaye, but Luther starts to panic when he sees JACK CATES and HAMMOND closing in... GANZ reacts to Luther, turns and spots the two men. He makes an immediate break for open ground. The Patrolman sees GANZ start to run. The newspaper is thrown to the floor... GANZ swings JACK CATES' .44 toward HAMMOND. PATROLMAN Hey--you! GANZ whirls, his feet slipping on the marble floor. His shot at HAMMOND goes plowing into the ceiling. The crowd starts to panic and run in all directions. The Patrolman has al ready brought his own gun out. Levels it at GANZ. PATROLMAN Put it down. BILLY BEAR Suddenly appears, Rosalie at his side. Billy Bear's .44 blasts the Patrolman onto his back. GANZ comes up and scrambles through the screaming patrons. He, Billy and Rosalie head toward the escalator. JACK CATES has already brought out his .38... Can't get a clean shot through the chaos. HAMMOND pushes his way through the crowd to JACK CATES. HAMMOND Shoot the sons of bitches. JACK CATES can't risk it... HAMMOND You don't want to chance it, then give me the gun... A moment. HAMMOND Bullshit. Then i'm staying with the money. JACK CATES You stay with me... HAMMOND No way... HAMMOND starts after Luther. JACK CATES turns, starts to aim at HAMMOND. Hesitates... PASSENGER WALKWAY Panic has overtaken everyone as they try to escape the madman with the gun. GANZ and Billy elbow and kick their way through the crowd, tugging Rosalie along... JACK CATES, gun in hand, creates further-panic as he moves after GANZ. GANZ grabs a man beside him. Shoves him hard into the passengers in back. The man knocks over several more people creating a roadblock. GANZ vaults over the railing and starts for the trains. JACK CATES loses a few more precious seconds grappling through the terrorized passengers... TRAIN AREA The usually jammed area looks like an empty stockyard. The patrons huddle in fear against any available wall. JACK CATES bursts out of the stairwell... TUNNEL Red and green signal lights. The light goes red, a train roars up and the doors hiss open. Billy and GANZ fight through the passengers getting off the train, jump on board; Billy pulls Rosalie behind him. JACK CATES Running for the doors... Suddenly, a SECURITY OFFICER appears, riot gun in hand. SECURITY OFFICER Freeze! JACK CATES No! No! There they are! SECURITY OFFICER Just put it down real slow. The train doors close. JACK CATES I'm a policeman, you asshole! SECURITY OFFICER Don't even try... now drop it or - you're all done. He means it, points the riot gun even closer... The train in front of him moves away. JACK CATES carefully places the .38 on the pavement. Then raises his hands in the air. JACK CATES Shit.TRAIN STATION - LOBBY Witnesses stand in nervous little knots. Give versions of what happened to notepad-toting patrolmen. Hospital Attendants minister to various and sundry complaints. JACK CATES sits on a passenger bench, obviously dejected. A voice comes echoing from behind. HADEN JACK CATES. Haden, silhouetted against the light from the street. HADEN What the bell happened? JACK CATES I lost them, that's what happened. HADEN How did they get away? JACK CATES They ran. As fast as they could. Caught a train. Haden watches the Morgue Personnel wheel out the body of the Patrolman. HADEN Which one pulled the trigger? JACK CATES The Indian. I was about 30 yards away. HADEN You couldn't get to him? JACK CATES shrugs. HADEN What a screw-up. JACK CATES Right. I screwed up. I fucked up. I messed up. Anybody could have done better, especially you. I bet you're real good at hitting targets through crowds. Haden starts toward the street. Looks back at JACK CATES. HADEN Don't duck the bullet JACK CATES. Why didn't you call in for backup instead of makin' a grandstand play? JACK CATES I didn't have the time. HADEN Too bad, it would've covered your ass. Now you're in the shit and so's the department. In case you haven't noticed, this wasn't our finest hour... I told you everyone was watchin' on this one. Maybe you better start thinkin' about writin' tickets off a three wheel bike. JACK CATES looks at Haden for a moment... Turns and walks away. (TRANSITION) PREDMORE HOTEL - NIGHT HAMMOND across the street from Predmore. Standing in a phone booth talking into the receiver... He turns and looks acain at the hotel... Hangs up. Walks into a nearby bar. (TRANSITION) VROMAN'S ROCK CLUB HAMMOND Punk Dancers all over the floor. A rock group blasting away...("NEW SHOES" - Vocal) HAMMOND At a back booth... A MAN (SOSNA) approaches carrying a small suitcase. HAMMOND How you doing, man? SOSNA Not bad, not bad. Puts the suitcase down on the table. SOSNA You want to go outside? HAMMOND Naw, right here's okay. Dancers sliding and jerking in front of them. SOSNA You sure? HAMMOND I'm sure. Everybody here's looking at everybody else's ass. Sosna pops open the suitcase. Lid shielding the contents from the patrons... SOSNA I got some real nice merchandise. All of it's clean. Suitcase arranged like q salesman's display case. Tightly spaced rows of handguns mounted in their holsters. HAMMOND I like this one... Pockets a revolver with a deft move. HAMMOND How about some ammo? SOSNA It's loaded... I got some shells in here. Opens another compartment. HAMMOND helps himself to two boxes... HAMMOND How much? SOSNA This is clean shit. No serial numbers and never been used... HAMMOND Don't mess with me. How much? SOSNA Five bills. HAMMOND Five. On credit. SOSNA This ain't a credit business. You know that. HAMMOND Yeah, I know that, but this is me and we're old friends. I haven't got the money so what are you gonna do about it? SOSNA Give it back. HAMMOND Try and take it. A long moment. SOSNA Fuck you. You got no right for this kind of play. HAMMOND I'll got your money to you. No sweat. HAMMONDs heads for the bar. Stands next to a good-looking woman (RITA). Nods to the barkeep. HAMMOND Vodka. With a twist. And I want to run a tab. Served up. He knocks half of it back, turns to the woman. HAMMOND My name's Reggie HAMMOND. Big personality smile. RITA So what? She turns away as he takes a drink. He looks at another pretty girl (ANGELA). HAMMOND Hi there. I'm Reggie HAMMOND. ANGELA I'm with somebody. She turns away. HAMMOND This ain't my night. He drinks up. (TRANSITION) SQUAD ROOM - NIGHT Several Detectives are working at desks. Kehoe walks into the office. He moves slowly to JACK CATES' desk and slumps down in a nearby chair. KEHOE You look awful. JACK CATES So do you...been a long day. KEHOE Long night, too, from what I heard... Word's going around that in addition to losing GANZ for the second time, and in addition to Haden busting you back to Patrolman, some jig beat the crap out of you. JACK CATES Aw, bullshit, you heard wrong. KEHOE Doesn't look like it. JACK CATES Nothing came in for me yet? No calls? KEHOE Nothing. Kehoe's phone begins to ring. JACK CATES watches hopefully. KEHOE Kehoe... Okay, hang on. Offers the phone to JACK CATES. KEHOE It's for you... Ordinance. JACK CATES' excitement vanishes. He takes the receiver. Kehoe begins to clean off his desk. JACK CATES Hello... Yeah, okay. I'll be in tomorrow. That's right, you can depend on it. Okay? He slams down the receiver, leans back in the chair. JACK CATES Bullshit red tape. KEHOE I'm heading out. How about you? JACK CATES shakes his head. JACK CATES I got to wait for a call. KEHOE Okay. See you in the morning... you know, you ought to get some rest... He walks out the door. JACK CATES stares fixedly at the phone on the desk. Hoping HAMMOND will call... Across the room another phone starts to ring. JACK CATES stares at the PLAINCLOTHESMAN who answers. PLAINCLOTHESMAN Yeah, he's here. JACK CATES stiffens. PLAINCLOTHESMAN JACK CATES... line twelve. JACK CATES snatches up the phone, shouts into it... JACK CATES You motherfucker, where are you? ELAINE In the Chronicle Restaurant and Bar, a well appointed establishment off Montgomery Street. ELAINE I'm at work, asshole. Where else? JACK CATES ELAINE! I... I'm sorry... I was expecting somebody else... police business. ELAINE No wonder you're so popular. JACK CATES No, it's I'm just surprised you called. ELAINE So am I. ELAINE JACK CATES Jack, this afternoon... Hey, look, when... ELAINE You first. JACK CATES Look, I'm sorry about ... the way things have been lately. I know I haven't been acting real great... Behind JACK CATES, Kehoe steps back into the room. KEHOE Hey, JACK CATES... JACK CATES swings around. KEHOE I almost forgot. That pal of yours from the Vice Squad wants you to call him. JACK CATES What? ELAINE Jack, are you still there? KEHOE Yeah. He said he rousted a bar with you last night. JACK CATES Jesus Christ. Why the hell didn't you tell me before? KEHOE I'm not paid to take your personal calls. He was in some bar. .. off duty. JACK CATES interrupts. JACK CATES The number ... what's the Goddamn number? ELAINE Jack? What was that? KEHOE Find it yourself. It's on my desk. JACK CATES speaks back into the receiver. JACK CATES ELAINE, I gotta put you on hold... ELAINE Jack, wait... JACK CATES Just a second, that's all! He hits the bold button, starts rummaging through the desk. Paperwork scatters in all directions. Kehoe watches him in silence for awhile then leaves. JACK CATES begins to dial. JACK CATES HAMMOND... you son of a bitch, where are you? Listens for a moment. VROMAN'S ROCK CLUB HAMMOND on the phone as the band rocks away. (MONKEY MASH - Track only) HAMMOND Hey, Jack, how ya doin'? What took you so long to call, man? I been waitin' ... I'm at Vroman's up in the Fillmore. Yeah, Vroman's...'Course you don't hang out here; it's for the brothers.' SQUAD ROOM JACK CATES I'll be there in a minute. You don't move your ass, right? Slams down the phone. Starts toward the door. Remembers... He dashes back to the phone, hits the other line. Hears only a buzz. JACK CATES Oh, shit. (TRANSITION) VROMAN'S ROCK CLUB Band blasting away on another number (THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN - VOCAL) HAMMOND now in the middle of the floor dancing his ass off with a girl named CANDY. As the song ends... HAMMOND My name's Reggie HAMMOND. Tries his big personality smile. This time gets one back. CANDY I'm candy... HAMMOND Excuse me, baby, but if i don't get some action tonight, I'm gonna bust. You interested? CANDY Hey, what kind of talk is that? HAMMOND Oh ... You're a schoolteacher... CANDY No, I go to a school to learn how to do hair. It's a government program. But really I want to be a model - and I am definitely not sellin'. HAMMOND (humorously) Goodbye. She stops him. CANDY Hey, don't you think a hair stylists got any interest in gettin' it on?HAMMOND Here you go sweetheart, throw it my way. He gives her a kiss. CANDY You're in a hurry. HAMMOND Yeah, i been waiting three years. CANDY You just quit bein' a priest or somethin'? HAMMOND No, baby, nothin' like that. Look, there's a place across the street. We can go right over there... CANDY What's the matter with my place? HAMMOND No, it's gotta be here and now. Believe me. Only I don't have the damn money for a room... The band starts up again. ("LOVE SONGS ARE FOR CRAZIES" - VOCAL) CANDY Yeah, well, even us non-pros expect the guy to pay for the room... JACK CATES suddenly appears... steps between them. Yells above the band's noise. JACK CATES Where's luther? HAMMOND Be polite. Say hello. This is Candy. JACK CATES Hello. And goodbye. She looks at HAMMOND. He nods. CANDY Well, maybe I'll see you later ...HAMMOND Here's hoping, baby... Candy leaves and melts into the crowd on the dance floor. JACK CATES What about Luther? HAMMOND What about GANZ? JACK CATES shrugs. JACK CATES We missed. HAMMOND You missed ... Luther took a taxi to the hotel across the street. Made a phone call. JACK CATES Maybe we should pay Luther a visit. HAMMOND Let him get some sleep. He's going to need it. They move to the bar. HAMMOND They must have set up a meeting for the morning; Luther left an 8 am wake-up and put up the "Don't Disturb" sign. He's trading his girl for the money. All we have to do to grab GANZ is not go blind. JACK CATES So you took the rest of the night off... HAMMOND smiles. HAMMOND We don't have too many cheerleaders in prison. I though I might indulge myself in a little trim. JACK CATES orders two drinks. JACK CATES Tell me something. Why didn't you just take the money off Luther and split? HAMMOND Forget it. I want GANZ as bad as you do and I got some other news for you... He opens his jacket slightly. Reveals a shoulder holster and accompanying .45. A long moment. JACK CATES I don't know why, but I'm going to let you keep it. Maybe because you told me you had it, or maybe just because I'm too tired to argue... HAMMOND You sure that's the reason? Pause. JACK CATES Thanks for callin' in... and I guess Maybe... Look, I'm sorry I called you Watermellon nigger... those kinds of things. I was just leanin' on ya, doin' my job. HAMMOND Bein' good at your job don't explain everything, Jack ... JACK CATES Yeah. Guess not. HAMMOND gives him a big smile. HAMMOND As long as you're feeling like Abe Lincoln, how about payin' me on our bet? We got time and all this pussy around here's drivin' me crazy. See that one over there, the one I was with... He nods at Candy across the way. JACK CATES Yeah, I see her. HAMMOND I can just take her right across the street to Luther's hotel. All I need is some money for the room.HAMMOND Big smile as JACK CATES produces some cash. HAMMOND counts it eagerly. Looks around. Candy suddenly appears like a trout seeing a lure. She grabs the money. CANDY Hello, again. HAMMOND I just struck it rich... I think we can do a little business. As a matter of fact, I think we can have a party. HAMMOND smiles, leads her out of the bar. JACK CATES Hurry back. JACK CATES watches them go, downs his drink. He fishes in his pocket for a coin, moves to a wall phone. Dials... CHRONICLE RESTAURANT BAR - NIGHT A COCKTAIL WAITRESS answers the phone as ELAINE pours a drink. COCKTAIL WAITRESS It's for you. Hands her the receiver. ELAINE Hello. JACK CATES Hi, it's me... ELAINE Fuck you. She slams down the receiver. SIDEWALK - FRONT OF VROMAN'S - NIGHT HAMMOND and Candy exit the rock club. A line of young Punkers waiting to get inside... HAMMOND and Candy are in a tight clinch, a little giggly. CANDY So... what did you have in mind? Suddenly, HAMMOND sees Luther emerge from the Predmore across the street. HAMMOND Oh no, not now! Luther moves down the street with the briefcase. HAMMOND pulls Candy back inside Vroman's. VROMAN'S ROCK CLUB - BAR Rock group still blasting away... (LOVE SONGS ARE FOR CRAZIES - Vocal continues) HAMMOND and Candy reappear, knocking aside a waitress about to refill JACK CATES' drink. JACK CATES That was quick. HAMMOND When you been in prison three years, it don't take long. Let's go. JACK CATES Why? HAMMOND Luther's on the move... JACK CATES jumps up, runs out. HAMMOND looks at Candy. HAMMOND I'll be back. Trust me. He kisses her. Runs off after JACK CATES. She stares at him in disbelief. STREET LIGHT Luther checking over his shoulder for shadows, walks down the block. Turns into a narrow street. A BUS STOP Luther waits, impatient. Checks his watch. Looks up and down the street. He double-checks the bus stop sign over his head. Just as a bus pulls to a stop, air brakes hissing ... LUTHER Gets in. Sees that the driver is Billy Bear... BUS The bus starts up. Luther hesitates in the front. On the wide rear seat is GANZ. Rosalie beside him. GANZ Open your coat. Both sides. He shows he's not packed. LUTHER Let her go. GANZ First, the money. Luther takes a step. GANZ Just show me. Luther puts the case on a side seat, opens it for display. ANOTHER BUS STOP Commuters look up expectantly. One of two drift toward the curb. Jump back in alarm as the bus roars by. BUS GANZ is satisfied. Luther closes the case. LUTHER Rosalie, you okay? GANZ What are you talkin' about? I said I wouldn't hurt her. And then he shoots Luther. Right between the buttons. GANZ I never break my word. Laughs as Rosalie begins to scream. JACK CATES' CADDY Barreling down the street, ignoring red lights. HAMMOND shouts over the wind. HAMMOND Notice something funny about that bus? JACK CATES Yeah. It missed the last four stops. JACK CATES pours on the gas. BILLY BEAR His eyes fall on the rear view mirror. A white Caddy dances in the vibrating glass. Billy looks over his shoulder at GANZ. BILLY GANZ! THE CADDY Swerves into cross traffic, makes a big press forward. Comes abreast of the driver's side of the bus. GANZ Smashes a side window with the two handguns. Blasts away. JACK CATES driving with one hand as he draws his gun. JACK CATES Looks up as glass shards sparkle down. He speeds up ... he is neck and neck with the bus. HAMMOND has a clear shot of Billy Bear who gives a side glance at him; HAMMOND doesn't shoot... JACK CATES slows down and fires... Billy is hit in the shoulder. GANZ runs up and fires again... HAMMOND is hit in the arm. JACK CATES grabs HAMMOND by the shirt. Yanks him close. Throws the wheel over ... CADDY Swerves as bullets pepper the passenger side. Stuffing flies out of HAMMONDis still warm seat. The right hand windows explode. Then the Caddy spins out.THE BUS Roars away... THE CADDY Skids into a traffic sign, demolishing some newspaper machines. JACK CATES curses, tries to start the car. The engine won't turn over. He looks at the distant bus. JACK CATES Goddamn! Goddamn! Goddamn! Pounds on the dash. What's left of the windshield falls in at the impact. TRANSITION SQUAD ROOM AT NIGHT JACK CATES at his desk. HAMMOND seated nearby, now with a bandaged arm. Haden in front of JACK CATES, furious. HADEN A bus, you goddamn whiskey mick cop, you lost a stolen bus... We got five deaths related to GANZ, all of 'em law enforcement related, and you blow it for a lousy nigger convict... JACK CATES says nothing... HADEN That's rights I called him a nigger. You bet I did ... I saw the report on that little piece of shit. If he spent one legal day in his whole life, it'd be a record...This is it for you...suspension, review board... you've had it. When it gets 'round you protect a con rather than nail a cop killer... JACK CATES stands up. JACK CATES He's got more brains and more guts in one corner of his asshole than any cop I've worked with. HADEN Just cause you say it with conviction don't mean shit to me... How you gonna take to a pink slip, huh?. JACK CATES stands. Moves to HAMMOND. Handcuffs himself to him. HADEN Where the Christ do you think you're going? JACK CATES I'm taking my prisoner back to jail. HAMMOND looks at Haden. HAMMOND Goin' a little hard on him, aren't you? HADEN Go fuck yourself convict. HAMMOND You know for a man, you have very pretty brown eyes. JACK CATES and HAMMOND walk out. UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT - POLICE STATION - NIGHT JACK CATES and HAMMOND walk stoically along a row of cars, arrive at HAMMOND's Porsche. HAMMOND Hey, how'd my car get here? JACK CATES I had it impounded. Come on, we'll use it for haulin' you back to the slam. HAMMOND Back to jail in my own car. GANZ got away. Got all my money. It just don't seem right. JACK CATES I don't know about you, but I could use a drink... I'll buy you one. It'll be my good-bye present. Takes off HAMMOND's cuffs. Looks at them.. Throws them away. HAMMOND Sorry we didn't do better, Jack. I feel like I let you down. JACK CATES Naw, you didn't let me down. It was a long shot all the way. We gave 'em a good run at it. HAMMOND Yeah, but we didn't get 'em. They get in and drive off. (TRANSITION) CITY STREET - NIGHT The Porsche blasts by ... These men want a drink. (TRANSITION) CHRONICLE RESTAURANT AND BAR - NIGHT JACK CATES and HAMMOND walk in. It's late, the place is almost empty. The BARTENDER is a woman with her back to them conferring with a waitress about something. HAMMOND It's late, they're closing... JACK CATES Don't worry about it. The barmaid turns around to take their order. It's ELAINE. ELAINE Hey, I don't believe it. JACK CATES Hiya, kid. ELAINE I ought to have you and your friend thrown out... JACK CATES Don't. We've had a hard night. ELAINE I can see that. Pardon me for saying so, but you look like shit. What happened? JACK CATES We and my pal here have been taking it on the chin for the last few hours... HAMMOND looks at her. He nudges JACK CATES. ELAINE Who the hell are you? HAMMOND Name's HAMMOND, Reggie HAMMOND. I heard a lot about you. And any friend of Jack's is a friend of mine. Gives her a big smile. ELAINE I'm not so sure I can say the same thing...You don't look like a cop. HAMMOND Well, I been workin' the other side of the street for the last few years. And you don't exactly look like a shrink, wearin' that dress... ELAINE Shrink major, not a shrink. She pours three glasses of cognac. A STRAGGLER at the end of the bar pipes up. STRAGGLER Hey, lady, a drink here. ELAINE We're closed. STRAGGLER Hey, what the hell? ELAINE turns to him; it's short and sweet. ELAINE Drink your drink, pay up and get out. STRAGGLER You can't do this. It's against... ELAINE Hey, just fuck off. My friends have guns. JACK CATES holds up his pistol. The man's eyes widen and he turns his angry move toward her into a skedaddle out of the bar. ELAINE finishes drying a glass and approaches. ELAINE You real down? JACK CATES I've been better...Dead end. No GANZ, no Indian. He finishes his drink, puts down the glass. JACK CATES I gotta call the station. Looks back at HAMMOND... JACK CATES Don't run off anywhere, okay? I've already got enough to worry about. Moves away. HAMMOND Hard man to live with. ELAINE How would you know? HAMMOND Hey, two days with him is enough. ELAINE That's no bull. She looks at him carefully. They both grin. JACK CATES In the phone booth. JACK CATES Is there any report ... No ... Just tell me... nothing..Yeah I figured... Okay, sure. Hangs up. ELAINE AND HAMMOND JACK CATES returns... JACK CATES Nothing. No sign of GANZ. No sign of the Indian. Airport's clean. Train station. Bus station. Docks... Shit... ELAINE GANZ is going to be hard to track. Just a pure schizo ... wires all crossed... totally without any pattern... kill anybody... The Indian... himself... anybody... JACK CATES How do you know? ELAINE Jack, it's all over the papers. He's an obvious type. But this Indian... HAMMOND cuts in. HAMMOND He was the only one of my bunch that was my friend... He was loyal, went all the way for you... ELAINE In all due respect, he sounds kind of pathetic to me. The kind of guy that runs home to his momma or some girlfriend. Have you two ace detectives checked that out? JACK CATES Yeah, well the only woman of the Indian's we ran into was shacked up with her dyke girlfriend. I guess she went with him before she came outta the Closet ... They both looked mad enough to kill him... HAMMOND Yeah, too bad. They were real nice lookin' too...In bed together, hardly any clothes one watching TV... ELAINE What makes you think they were lesbians, or as you so quaintly put it, dykes? JACK CATES Come on, they were a little old for a slumber party. ELAINE It might pay to reexamine a few of your more primitive notions. I was in bed with a girlfriend watching TV last week, Jack, and one thing we know about me is I happen not to be a lesbian ... Now, if this Indian's girlfriend got upset when you came looking for him, it could just be she's still vulnerable to him. JACK CATES So what? ELAINE When a guy hurts you, then comes back bleeding on his hands and knees, who knows, he might just be irrestible. JACK CATES Hey, Come on, shrink time's over. They wouldn't go see some old girlfriend. ELAINE Oh, yeah, well look where you came when you were down and out. HAMMOND She's got a point there, Jack. Smiles. JACK CATES reflects for a moment. JACK CATES It's the only thing we got. He looks at ELAINE. JACK CATES Whaddya think? ELAINE What do I know? I'm just a BARTENDER. JACK CATES Let's go, Reggie. He kisses ELAINE. HAMMOND Do I get to kiss her too? JACK CATES If she's right, and if you don't screw up. They exit the bar. (TRANSITION) STREET - CHINATOVIN - NIGHT JACK CATES and HAMMOND hidden in a doorway which affords them a good view of the alley landing to Casey and Sally's apartment. HAMMOND What if your girl's theory turns out to be bullshit? I mean, they could be in Rio de Janeiro. JACK CATES I've got to play it rough with them. If they know anything, I'm gonna know it. A woman appears, turning out to be Casey carrying a shopping bag. HAMMOND Hey, there she is... JACK CATES Whatever play I maker just back me up. HAMMOND If we run into Billy first, let me try and talk him in. JACK CATES Sure, I'll give you a shot at it, but GANZ is mine. You know, that big Indian plays it for keeps... HAMMOND Yeah, and I know GANZ sure ain't no sweetheart... I wouldn't like it if this partnership ended before it gets started. JACK CATES Partnership? HAMMOND Well, you got to admit we come a long way. JACK CATES gives him a smile. JACK CATES Let's just do it. APARTMENT STAIRWELL As Casey opens the door and starts toward the.stairs, JACK CATES and HAMMOND come through the door and grab her. They are now on the ground floor stairwell. JACK CATES I hear you've got visitors. CASEY Would you guys... JACK CATES No time for any of that crap any more, lady... I'll rip your lungs out if you don't answer fast. JACK CATES has her by the shoulder and arm; he twists her like a vise... HAMMOND He means it... She looks at JACK CATES, knows HAMMOND's correct. CASEY Don't kill him. Please, just don't kill him. A long moment. JACK CATES You and the other one, you're still Billy's girls. You always were his girls... CASEY Yeah. Sure, i'm crazy in love with him, who wouldn't be... JACK CATES You're gonna help us take him. CASEY No chance. JACK CATES He can live or die ... You let us in and he's got a chance to make it. Otherwise, he gets ventilated.Casey's face is seared with pain at the thought of Billy dying. HAMMOND If you help use he's got a chance, lady. CASEY Billy's in the first room off the hall ... With rosalie ... He's makin' her happy tonight. You don't understand about the way it is with him, do ya? JACK CATES Where's GANZ? CASEY In the back. Down the other corridor. JACK CATES looks at Reggie. JACK CATES Looks like you're gonna get your chance. They move upward... APARTMENT - NIGHT JACK CATES is stealthily going to the end of the second corridor of the kitchen and living room area. That corridor turns at a sharp angle and goes to the back. HAMMOND is at the very front of that first corridor..at a door ... he shoves it back. FIRST BEDROOM There is a bed and Rosalie, undressed, is in it... Billy is seated on the edge of it... pants on, shirt off, pulling on his boots. Suddenly, HAMMOND is pointing a gun at him... HAMMOND Give it up, Billy. You got no shot at it. Billy stands. ROSALIE Don't let him hurt met Billy. You're not gonna let 'em hurt me, are ya? BILLY He won't hurt you. He ain't gonna do nothin' to you, he's just after me. HAMMOND I'm tellin' ya, Billy, give it up. BILLY I never was much for bein' rehabilitated. Billy looks at HAMMOND. With lightning sudden quickness, he reaches and produces a huge Bowie knife from behind his back. Billy smiles, laughs...then with a sudden, awful roar, he leaps at Hamnond who unflinchingly fires his pistol. The big slugs stop Billy cold and throw him back against the bed as Rosalie shrieks. BACK BEDROOM GANZ, half-dressed, asleep, gun in hand, throws himself off the bed, pushes Sally out of the way ... opens the door and starts firing furiously down the corridor... He grabs the briefcase and runs to the window. CORRIDOR/DOOWAY TO BACK BEDROOM JACK CATES has ducked the bullets ... he is inching toward the door... He pulls it open...GANZ from the window fires another shot which almost gets him then vanishes down the fire escape... BACK BEDROOM Sally gets to her feett yelling, runs at JACK CATES as he appears and futilely tries to hit him....He throws her down on the bed as if she were a doll ... He goes to the window... FIRE ESCAPE GANZ peels down the fire escapes hits the ground. He stops for a second... Then JACK CATES appears, GANZ fires a shot then starts to run. JACK CATES keeps coming... FIRST BEDROOM HAMMOND hears the gunfire, runs out of the room... JACK CATES Dives down the fire escape. BATHROOM HAMMOND enters to find it empty of GANZ and JACK CATES, only Sally crying hysterically ... He runs out. CHINATOWN STREET GANZ runs out the back alley ...JACK CATES pursues... ALLEY HAMMOND runs down the stairs toward the front of the building. STREET GANZ runs, turns out of an alley onto a street baked with neon light. JACK CATES pursues. FRONT OF CASEY'S BUILDING HAMMOND runs out, turns down the adjoining street. JACK CATES Following GANZ, holding him in sight, but unable to get a shot off... PARALLEL STREET HAMMOND running down a street near the one where GANZ is being chased... MAIN STREET JACK CATES fires at GANZ ... GANZ ducks in a doorway... HAMMOND on his street hears the shot... he runs toward it, down a narrow alley between two buildings.... DOORWAY AT END OF ALLEY GANZ hears footsteps approach from the opposite direction of JACK CATES. They move very close to where be is crouched... it is HAMMOND coming toward him... GANZ suddenly rolls a garbage can in his path, dropping him like a stone. JACK CATES Comes toward where he expects to find GANZ... GANZ has his arm around HAMMOND's throat and his gun to his ear... GANZ Drop it... you come up against me, you're gonna lose... HAMMOND drops his gun. GANZ Hey, cop, come on...l got something for ya... come on... MAIN STREET JACK CATES comes out of the doorway from which he's fired...and comes into the middle of the street, gun up ... he puts it down when he sees GANZ with HAMMOND in jeopardy. The hand that's around HAMMOND's throat also holds the black bag. JACK CATES walks forward, his gun down at his side... GANZ After I get outta this, cop...I'm gonna live forever... JACK CATES I don't think you're gonna make it. GANZ Whaddya mean...I got your gun ...I got his money... I got everything... HAMMOND Give up. He's crazy. He'll kill us both. JACK CATES still walking... GANZ He won't try it. He's a fucking chickenshit cop. They're all fucking wimps, right, JACK CATES? They are now closer to each other. GANZ holding HAMMOND and the money... GANZ Okay, cop ... give me your gun and I'll let him live. Come on, JACK CATES, you're real good at giving up your gun. JACK CATES keeps the same methodical pace... JACK CATES Sure... Suddenly, he crouches and fires twice. HAMMOND twists as GANZ also fires. GANZ is hit in the collarbone and driven ten feet backward. His grip on HAMMOND drops, HAMMOND dives to the ground, looks at JACK CATES. HAMMOND Jesus Christ, I didn't think you'd really do it. You are crazy. GANZ' gun still in his hand, but his arm useless at his side. JACK CATES is frozen in the crouch, ready to fire again. GANZ is in enormous pain holding his bleeding chest... A look of childish disbelief passes over his face. GANZ I got hit. I can't believe it. I got shot. JACK CATES You're done. End of story. GANZ I ain't gonna beg for my life. It ain't cool. He runs at JACK CATES full-speed, screaming, roaring, then is stopped by two more bullets that tear fist-sized holes in his chest. JACK CATES rises from his crouch. Takes his gun out of GANZ' now lifeless hand. Then goes over to HAMMOND... HAMMOND Yours? JACK CATES raises the pistol. JACK CATES Mine...Pause. JACK CATES You okay? HAMMOND Yeah. But I wasn't there for a second. JACK CATES You did pick a real strange time to go and be brave all on your own... HAMMOND smiles. HAMMOND Just tryin' to get the money, Jack. Just tryin' to build up a few points on that merit system. JACK CATES smiles back, picks up the black bag as they move off. (TRANSITION) ELAINE'S BATHROOM JACK CATES in the tub, steam rushing from the water. ELAINE sits on the porcelain edge as he splashes and soaps... ELAINE How'd they take it back at headquarters? JACK CATES Usual bullshit. You make one smart move and everybody wants to be your friend... You know somethin', shootin' guys sucks. Especially compared to this. ELAINE I've been waiting a long time to hear you say that. JACK CATES Yeah, bein' a hard-ass all the time is a real drag, but it works. He reaches out, lifts his watch from his pile of clothes on the floor. JACK CATES Three more hours... ELAINE Where is he? JACK CATES Promised I'd turn my back while he... ah, never mind... ELAINE Tell me. JACK CATES He's takin' care of the same business I'll be takin' care of - soon as I dry off. ELAINE smiles, leans close. ELAINE You're impossible... JACK CATES That's what I always say. TRANSITION CANDY'S ROOM AT NIGHT Minimal crummy hotel room accommodations... HAMMOND is kissing her at the door, finishing buttoning all his buttons. He reaches for a wallet, gives her several bills. HAMMOND Here you go, baby. CANDY Hey, don't do that. I said I wasn't a pro, remember? HAMMOND Hey, no, I'm tryin' to be nice. Buy yourself something pretty. I'd do it, but I got to go. I got this cop waitin' for me... They kiss... it's pretty romantic... She opens the door for him. CORRIDOR She stands at the top of the stairs; as HAMMOND walks down, he calls back to her over his shoulder ... HAMMOND I'll be back in six months...Maybe I'll make an honest woman of you. He gives her a big smile. HAMMOND I'll buy ya the best dinner in San Francisco...how'd that be? Then we'll go dancin', okay? CANDY Now you're talkin'. See ya... He moves off, still smiling, holding the black briefcase... STREET - NIGHT on a picturesque hill above the Haight. JACK CATES standing near the wheel of HAMMOND's Porsche. HAMMOND comes down the porch steps from the hotel. JACK CATES Okay, reggie, start bustin' my chops... Tell me how great you were with that chick. HAMMOND Hey, Jack, real men don't have to go in for that macho bullshit...but I was fantastic. As a riatter of fact, I was so good, I may have my cock done in bronze. JACK CATES holds up the black briefcase. JACK CATES I guess this is what you want to talk about...All the pretty money that's inside here. JACK CATES takes the case to the trunk, opens it, deposits the case, locks the trunk. HAMMOND Wait a minute, JACK CATES. I've been waitin' three years for that. I don't think it's fair, man. What about the merit system.? You were gonnna give me a few thousand. JACK CATES There's nothin' to talk about. Another long exchange of looks. Then be hands HAMMOND the keys to the trunk. JACK CATES It's your money. It'll be here in six months when you get out. HAMMOND And you're tellin' me you don't want any of this cash? JACK CATES That's right. Not my style, Reggie.. HAMMOND You are an awesomely weird cop. Sure wish there were more like you runnin' around out here. JACK CATES No, you don't. If I ever get word of you steppin' over the line again, I'm gonna ventilate that suit of yours. HAMMOND Spare me Jack. I'm into legit investments from here on in. JACK CATES gives him a very skeptical look, as they head for the car. HAMMOND gets in behind the wheel, JACK CATES on the passenger side. JACK CATES takes out a cigarette, starts to light it. HAMMOND takes the match does it for him. JACK CATES Thanks. HAMMOND No trouble, Jack. But, listen, suppose I stay a crook? Where'd you get the idea that you could catch me? They both smile. HAMMOND socks it into gear and they drive off into the far distance... THE END.