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FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
2. CHINATOWN WAR
----------------
EXT: NEW YORK CITY, DAY
Credits roll over establishing shots of the city. First,
primary MANHATTAN, the one tourists see on post
cards. Then slowly, we drift into Chinatown. Side
streets and back alleys so different you wouldn't
even know your in the U.S...Eventually we stop on...
EXT: WINGS BAKERY SHOP, WEST BROADWAY, CHINATOWN
-DAY
CUSTOMERS move in and out when BOOOOM! The screen
EXPLODES in a ball of FIRE.
The bleeding PATRONS stumble into the street as
flames pour from a gaping hole that was once a
bustling Herb shop.
Across the street, a young ASIAN, poorly dressed,
lights a smoke. His body is undernourished and
covered with the tattoo insignia of the FUKIENESE
DRAGONS. But it's his eyes that get your attention.
Dark and hungry, they watch his day's work with the
detachment of one who's been taught the value of
life is zero. Meet BOBBY VU.
Oblivious to the chaos, he strides into the street
flanked by three similarly tattooed youths who we
will come to know as JACK, BLACK EYES and "THE TALL
KID". Together they encircle a middle-aged TRIAD
SYMPATHIZER dressed totally in his bakery whites,
crawling from the rubble. The young gangsters
brazenly pull pistols from their jackets.
BOBBY VU
Fukienese Dragons not funny now.
The injured man futilely pulls a gun from his coat as
the Dragons execute their prey in a barrage of
gunfire. Smoke drifts from their weapons when Bobby
notices a frightened TOURIST lying in a puddle of her
own blood. He looks into her tear filled eyes and
raises his gun to finish her. But she dies before he
needs to shoot.
He then climbs into a rented Ford and takes off.
3. A BAD DEAL FOR THE FUKIENESE
-------------------------------
INT: PHAN HO'S LAMPS, CANAL STREET, NYC-NIGHT
For a lamp store the joint is dark. The only light comes from the
merchandise burning 20 watt bulbs and a small black and white
Zenith spouting tape delayed news from the bombing site.
REPORTER (TELEVISION)
The tragic death of BETH KADELL from Fairlawn New Jersey
in this morning's Chinatown bombing has mobilized the city
and drawn attention to a six month war being waged in the
back alleys and underground corridors of the city's most
mysterious neighborhood. According to police, the Fukienese
Dragons, a new entity in the Chinatown crime scene, are
headed by twenty year old Bobby Vu from the Fukien
province of China.
The television shows a surveillance photo of Bobby Vu as the
sound of sporadic GRUNTS and a heavy WHACK...WHACK, emanates
from the back of the shop.
Sitting at a table, drowning in a shower of sweat, is a fifty
year old blob named PHAN HO. Nerves mask his face, when
suddenly his arm lurches forward as if something or someone
pulled him. WHACK!
REPORTER (TELEVISION)
Sources say the bombing and execution of a known Triad
Soldier are another chapter in the power struggle between
the Fukienese Dragons Youth Gang and the Triad run Tung
Fung Benevolent Association, Chinatown's ruling organized
crime entity for over a century, believed to be headed by
local businessman Benjamin Wong. Known in the community
as Uncle Benny.
A photo of sixty three year old Benny Wong fills the TV screen
as Phan Ho takes a five from a dwindling stack of bills and pushes
it across the table to NICK CHEN.
Chen's thirty six, and whatever money he earns is spent on clothes
and fifty dollar haircuts. He's handsome and cool, with looks
hailing more from his Hong Kong father than his mainland mom.
Phan watches as Chen takes a card from his hand and flips it onto
the table. Ace of Spades. Phan drops a three of Clubs. Back and
forth until Phan's empty and Chen's left with one card. He smiles,
taking his time as the fat man wipes sweat from his brow.
PHAN
Throw it!
Phan's poised to strike. Chen drops the card. Jack of Clubs. Both
men move, but Chen's quicker. He pulls the card from the table
letting Phan slam his hand on nothing but wood.
WHACK!
Phan holds his palm as Chen picks up the cards and another five.
He shuffles the deck skillfully with his right hand as his left
fishes a smoke from his pocket.
PHAN
It's late. No Fukienese Dragons come here. I close now...OK?
On cue, the bell over the front door sounds trouble.
INT PHAN HO'S LAMPS - NIGHT
The youths entering the shop are FUKIENESE. Two, Jack and "The
Tall Kid", we recognize as the shooters from Wing's. One of them,
Fuke #1, stays outside to stand guard as the others approach Chen.
TALL KID
(Fukienese)
Time to pay.
They move purposefully toward the two men as Chen drops a
seven of clubs on the table and turns to Phan.
CHEN
You speak Fukienese?
Phan nods as the young thugs reach the table. Chen turns over
a four of spades from the frightened shop owner's hand.
CHEN
Tell 'em they're in the wrong store.
TALL KID
Fuck you.
CHEN
Learned some English, good for you.
Chen pulls his .45 and lays the cannon on the table.
PHAN
Are you crazy?
Chen drops a Jack of hearts on the pile, covers it uncontested
and takes a five from Phan's ever shrinking pile.
CHEN
Lucky...are you?
Chen stares at the Tall Kid, goading him with his lack of
concern...Three seconds pass like kidney stones... Finally, Chen
laughs to himself, stands and puts his finger to the Tall Kid's
head as if it were a play gun.
The lack of respect incites the Tall Kid to go for his gun. But
before he can fire a shot, Chen produces a .38 from his sleeve
and puts a bullet through the gangster's head.
Phan drops to the ground as Chen dives over the card table,
grabbing his .45. He hits the floor pulling the table down with
him as a shield for Phan, then himself as Fuke #2 shoots
wildly before being taken out by Chen.
Jack retreats to behind a wall, then slowly crosses through an
archway to confront Chen from behind. As he steps out, he finds
only Phan cowering on the floor. Chen has disappeared. Suddenly
the place explodes in a hail of automatic gunfire as Fuke #1
enters the store and sprays everything in sight, producing a
blizzard of glass. Jack turns to see Chen has re-appeared and
taken up postion behind a counter full of lamps and mirrors while
he takes on both Jack and Fuke #1.
Chen skillfully uses one of the counters as cover as he makes
his way towards the front ofthe store, gets a bead on the Fuke
with the automatic and sends him flying back out the front
door in a hail of glass- pedestrians scattering for their life.
Jack, alone now, cowers behind an opposite counter, desperately
crawling along the floor trying to make his way out of there. He
peeks through an opening to his cover and find Chen nowhere in
sight.
Slowly, painfully hunched over, he backs up towards the
blown-out front door, checks for Chen one more time, then
decides to make a run for it. Suddenly he's got a foot slamming
into the side of his head sending him crashing back to the floor.
Chen has appeared out of nowhere.
Chen drives another kick into his stomach, then yanks him to
his feet.
INT PHAN HO'S LAMPS - NIGHT
CHEN
English?
(The boy nods)
What do they call you?
YOUNG GANGSTER
Jack.
CHEN
Tell Bobby Vu, his time is running out in Chinatown.
He kicks the kid out the door and turns toward the shell-shocked
shopkeeper looking at the shambles of his livelihood.
A teetering lamp topples from a shot up table but Chen catches
it before it hits the floor. He looks over at the owner, crying.
Chen places a fist full of fives from his winnings on the counter.
CHEN
I'll take this one.
EXT: ONE POLICE PLAZA -DAY
Establishing.
INT: ONE POLICE PLAZA-DAY
A LACKEY for the Mayor stands at a podium addressing a room
filled with UNIFORMS and PRESS. Beside him, sporting a chest
full of commendations on his dress blues, is Nick Chen.
LACKEY
In the history of the Fifteenth precinct, few officers have
done more to serve and protect the public of this great city
than Lieutenant Nicholas Chen...
In the rear of the room is DANNY WALLACE. He's 24 and has only
four spaces on his face that need shaving. But his eyes are smart
and always moving, except now. They're fixed on Nick Chen like
he was delivering the sermon on the mount.
LACKEY
...Lieutenant, for bravery in the line of fire and bringing to
justice those responsible for the Chinatown Bombing and
the tragic death of Beth Kadell, the mayor and people of
New York thank you and present you with this commendation.
The Lackey pins another hunk of brass on Chen as the room
erupts in cheers. And no one louder than Danny Wallace,
who whistles as the Lackey and Chen shake for the cameras.
INT: NICK CHEN'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN, MOTT STREET-NIGHT
The whistle comes from a screaming teapot. Chen, dressed in
a robe, pours the water into a bowl of rice which begins
sizzling like a steak. Unlike his wardrobe, his place is modest.
The lamp from Phan's fits in nicely.
Tired, he stares vacantly at the wallpaper until a gorgeous
Chinese girl, 19, walks in from the bedroom. By the way
she's tying her dress we know she was recently very naked.
He knows her as MAY. Chen slides open a drawer and pulls out
some cash.
MAY
(Cantonese)
Mr. Lee said no charge.
She bows and walks out the door. Chen watches the young
immigrant leave and can't help feeling like half a dirt-bag.
He throws the cash back into the drawer and shuts it.
Eventually, he gets up and crosses to the window. He eats
his soup in the lifeless apartment, glancing down at the
simple, elegant shrine to his dead father. He turns his
attention out the window looking out on the palpable
energy and vigor of a bustling Chinatown.
EXT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET-LATER (NIGHT)
A rush of sound as Chen steps from the building. Activity
swirls around him as he moves south on the narrow street.
His demeanor starts quiet. But as he moves through the
boisterous people, who genuflect like he's an Arab Sheik,
a smile curls his lips and the 200 watt bulbs behind his
eyes flick on. Every man gets a nod and every girl gets
a little bit more. It's his town...and it gives him life.
omitted
INT BLUE EMPRESS CAFE - NIGHT
He moves through the upscale family eatery, picking up
the Bacardi and Coke a BARTENDER fixed the second he
saw Chen step through the door. He strides into the kitCHEN...
INT BLUE EMPRESS KITCHEN - NIGHT
...cuts to the back and approaches a door guarded by a
wannabee SUMO wrestler. The big man lets him through.
INT BLUE EMPRESS OFFICE - NIGHT
Inside, behind a desk sporting two surveillence monitors,
working a phone is HENRY LEE. He's mid- forties and slicker
than an oil spill. The consummate chameleon. Whatever he
needs to be, he is. If Satan walks earth, it's in the body of
Henry Lee.
LEE
(Cantonese)
Forty thousand a piece. Fifty percent up front or else
the shipment will never leave the boat...Fine.
Lee hangs up as Chen fires the smoke he lifted from an ivory box on Lee's desk.
LEE
My congratulations on your commendation. I trust you
enjoyed the little gift I sent over.
Lee lights a cigarette of his own, enjoying making Chen feel
like a mutt. Chen doesn't like it much, but knew it would happen
the minute he started undressing Lee's present.
LEE
Uncle Benny is very proud of you.
Lee reaches into his desk drawer, produces a bulging envelope
and hands it to Chen who quickly counts the pile of hundreds.
CHEN
Thought he'd be more proud this time.
LEE
He is.
Lee lifts his wastepaper basket revealing strips of paper.
LEE
Your markers. Two thousand eighty three of them. You
really should consider other forms of recreation.
Chen slides the envelope of cash into his jacket pocket.
CHEN
Your soldier who got killed the other day was working
with the F.B.I.
Lee's smile dampens but his calm remains intact.
LEE
Really?
CHEN
Medical Examiner found a wire on him and the Feds
came down to pick it up. Lucky for you it had about six
bullets in it so it wasn't much good.
LEE
Lucky for you too maybe.
Chen lets it pass.
CHEN
That, plus the tourist who got killed, have the
Feds worked up. Word is they're going after the
triad. Probably Uncle Benny himself.
LEE
Why us? It's the Fukienese Dragons who killed her.
We're just trying to do business as we've always done.
CHEN
Because you're suppose to keep order in Chinatown.
LEE
It's not like it once was. The youth gangs are not
easily controlled. They have no respect, no honor.
CHEN
That's your problem. You can't control them, the
Feds are gonna revoke your free parking.
LEE
Taking care of the Fukes is your problem. That's why
we pay you.
CHEN
Yeah, well, it doesn't really matter cause to the Feds
you're all the same.
LEE
You mean "we're" all the same. Remember, as I go, you go.
Chen doesn't say anything because he knows Lee's right. After
a moment he gets up from the chair.
CHEN
The Ginza massage is getting a visit from us tomorrow
night, so move it or lose it.
LEE
Go ahead and take Ginza. More arrests will help keep
things calm.
A smiling Lee, stamps out his butt and circles the table.
LEE
If the Feds get near Uncle Benny, our heads go first. So
you do whatever it takes to make some kind of case against
Bobby Vu and the rest of the Fukes. I'm sure the FBI will be
just as happy with them. As you said, we're all the same.
Lee slides two tickets into Chen's front jacket pocket.
LEE
Knicks, court-side.
Chen puts down his glass and walks into the hallway.
INT BLUE EMPRESS HALLWAY - NIGHT
He cuts across a narrow corridor and passes through a door tucked
behind dried, hanging ducks. Then it's down a flight of stairs...
INT UNDERGROUND STAIRS & HALLS - NIGHT
...through a maze of underground alley-ways, populated by well
dressed TEENAGE THUGS, and into the world beneath Chinatown.
Chen walks up toward a massive BOUNCER standing in front
of a steel door. He slides the tickets into his shirt pocket.
CHEN
Knicks, court-side.
The Bouncer opens the door, exposing a room filled with Chinese
MEN playing all things you can wager a buck on.
INT GAMBLING PARLOR - NIGHT
Chen surveys the action which is loud, fast and furious. He
fires a smoke, pulls a fist full of hundreds from his envelope
and lays down his first bet of the night.
EXT: EAST BROADWAY ARCADE-NIGHT
Jack and his attractive girlfriend AMY SAN hang with their
friends in front of the arcade when Bobby Vu and three other
Dragons pull up in a red Lincoln. They quickly grab hold of
Jack.
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
You let your brothers die?
Everything stops as Bobby punches, kicks and throws Jack
around the street. The other Dragons keep everybody away,
though they already seem to know.
JACK
(Fukienese)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
Are you Fukienese Dragon?...ARE YOU?!
JACK
Yes.
Bobby looks over at Amy. She's sexy as hell and he lets
her know he knows it. He then turns to Jack and grabs him
by his hair.
BOBBY VU
Avenge your brothers. Kill that cop.
omitted
4. WELCOME TO THE A.G.U.
------------------------
INT: AGU OFFICES - DAY
Wallace is tacking a photo layout of the Hip Sing Triad to the wall
as Chen re-enters.
UNG
Junior brought a scorecard.
Chen takes out a thick magic marker, starts crossing out photos.
CHEN
Dead, dead in prison. The rest usually stop by for a visit.
It's not healthy to let them know what we know....Why does a
white cop request Asian Gangs?
WALLACE
Detective Shield, an extra eight grand a year in my
pocket...and a chance to work with you.
UNG
Uh oh. Yellow fever. You got a hard on for all things Chinese,
right? The food, customs, women. You got a Chinese girlfriend,
don't ya?
WALLACE
Actually, uh....no.
CHEN
But ya did?
WALLACE
Are we all gonna exchange sexual histories?
UNG
I knew it. Yellow fuckin fever. Junior's here to walk the
street and get his wick licked by a nice almond-eyed beauty.
WALLACE
I'm here so Chinese immigrants don't have to live thirty to a
room. Or spend twenty hours a day making clothes for slave
wages.
CHEN
Why do you give shit about Chinese immigrants?
WALLACE
I'm a cop. I give a shit about enforcing the law.
DENG
So what's your plan to save the yellow people?
WALLACE
Same techniques used on every other organized crime operation
in the city. Bust the street soldiers every time we see 'em,
move up the food chain to the Council, cramp 'em with
surveillance, sting operations, keep climbing all the way to
Uncle Benny.
Chen laughs at Wallace's naivete.
UNG
This ain't every other organized crime operation in the city.
We work cases, Junior. Keep the tourists safe. Violence spills
into the street, we break heads. `Cept Detective Deng, she's
above that.
DENG
When the department authorizes police brutality perhaps I'll
join you.
CHEN
You don't change Chinatown, it changes you.
WALLACE
I'm ready to give it a shot.
Chen eyeballs the cocky kid.
CHEN
Alright...Don't make plans tonight.
WALLACE
Why?
UNG
Cause we're goin on a panty raid.
EXT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT - DAY
Chen, in last night's clothes, climbs the steps of the
yellowed brick building and steps inside.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT - DAY
Chen coughs hellos to the DESK PERSONNEL, cuts
through a door marked ASIAN GANG UNIT and steps
into a small colorless room.
INT: ASIAN GANG UNIT - DAY
He passes plums to his two Chinese-American
detectives; WILLY UNG, sharp of tongue and nose...and
LOUISE DENG, a by the book cop who puts in her eight
and goes home to a family.
CHEN
Everybody works tonight, we're visiting Ginza
Massage.
UNG
My kind of raid.
Ung's accent is hard-core Bronx. On the phone you'd
think he was an Italian from Eastchester Road.
UNG
Found another young pretty in a dumpster.
He tacks a crime scene photo onto a board already
showing another woman lying in a dumpster when he
notices a scratch on Chen's neck.
UNG
Anybody I know?
Chen removes Ung's smile with a look and pours
himself a coffee.
DENG
Did a two hour sweep. No one would speak to me.
UNG
Try breath mints.
Deng's accent is Connecticut, along with her
wardrobe. She ignores Ung as she cuts the plum into
four perfect slices.
DENG
And the two who found the body didn't see, hear or
smell anything.
CHEN
What's new?
We stay on Chen as a sudden silence descends. A beat
and he turns to see why. There at the entrance to the
AGU stands young WALLACE holding a box of personals.
WALLACE
I'm Daniel Wallace.
He looks as if that's supposed to mean something. By
the looks on the faces of the AGU members, it doesn't.
KLEIN (O.S.)
He spent six months in China on a college course
or some shit.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT, CAPTAIN'S OFFICE-DAY
CAPTAIN STAN KLEIN, a Chinese hater going back to his
tour in `69, sits back with a cold washcloth over his
eyes as Chen, looking like he ate a bad lemon, tosses
Wallace's file onto the desk.
CHEN
The Chinese don't trust whites or cops and you're
giving me a white cop.
KLEIN
They want ethnic diversity in every squad so you get
a white face in the AGU.
CHEN
He's worse than white, he's green.
KLEIN
Which is why you should school him.
CHEN
So he can get me killed?
KLEIN
Look, it's your fault he's here in the first place.
CHEN
My fault?
KLEIN
A freakin tourist got blown up in our backyard. Not to
mention an FBI snitch. And it happened on your
watch. The Mayor's been on TV talking about it, the
Police Commisioner has promised safety on the
streets of Chinatown, Christ it's been on freakin
Nightline. So if putting a white cop in the Asian
Gang Unit makes them feel better and gets them off
my ass fine and dandy. So why don't you get out of
here and do something about these whores
turning up in dumpsters. It's embarrassing.
Klein sniffs the air, then peeks out from under his
wash cloth.
KLEIN
You still here?
INT: AGU OFFICES - day
Wallace is tacking a photo layout of the Hip Sing Triad to
the wall as Chen re-enters.
UNG
Junior brought a scorecard.
Chen takes out a thick magic marker, starts crossing out
photos.
CHEN
Dead, dead in prison. The rest usually stop by for a
visit. It's not healthy to let them know what we
know....Why does a white cop request Asian Gangs?
WALLACE
Detective Shield, an extra eight grand a year in my
pocket...and a chance to work with you.
UNG
Uh oh. Yellow fever. You got a hard on for all things
Chinese, right? The food, customs, women. You got
a Chinese girlfriend, don't ya?
WALLACE
Actually, uh....no.
CHEN
But ya did?
WALLACE
Are we all gonna exchange sexual histories?
UNG
I knew it. Yellow fuckin fever. Junior's here to walk
the street and get his wick licked by a nice
almond-eyed beauty.
WALLACE
I'm here so Chinese immigrants don't have to live
thirty to a room. Or spend twenty hours a day making
clothes for slave wages.
CHEN
Why do you give shit about Chinese immigrants?
WALLACE
I'm a cop. I give a shit about enforcing the law.
DENG
So what's your plan to save the yellow people?
WALLACE
Same techniques used on every other organized
crime operation in the city. Bust the street soldiers
every time we see Ôem, move up the food chain to the
Council, cramp Ôem with surveillance, sting operations,
keep climbing all the way to Uncle Benny.
Chen laughs at Wallace's naivete.
UNG
This ain't every other organized crime operation in the
city. We work cases, Junior. Keep the tourists safe.
Violence spills into the street, we break heads. `Cept
Detective Deng, she's above that.
DENG
When the department authorizes police brutality perhaps I'll join you.
CHEN
You don't change Chinatown, it changes you.
WALLACE
I'm ready to give it a shot.
Chen eyeballs the cocky kid.
CHEN
Alright...Don't make plans tonight.
WALLACE
Why?
UNG
Cause we're goin on a panty raid.
5. THE GINZA RAID
-----------------
EXT: PANTY RAID BUILDING - DUSK
Except for the ten COPS moving quickly toward an
unmarked door, the alley is empty. Out front is Chen.
He orders a thick COP toward the door which is
quickly opened with a crowbar.
INT: PANTY RAID BUILDING, STAIRCASE - NIGHT
Chen calmly lays his dark hankerchief over the tiny
survellience camera, then leads the group up the
stairs.
UNG
(whispers to Wallace) You never know how a guy
gettin his dick rubbed is gonna react when you
charge into the room, so keep your eyes sharp and
your Glock cocked. And don't be trying to feel any
Chinese titties you little pervert.
Snickers from the men.
CHEN
Wallace stays out here.
Wallace doesn't like it, but doesn't argue it. Chen pulls
his .45 and nods to the thick Cop, who thrusts his
crowbar into the lock jam and snaps it off. They hit
the hallway like a tornado. Bright lights strobe the
length of the place thrusting us several minutes into
the future.
INT: GINZA MASSAGE HALLWAY - A SHORT TIME LATER
The cops are dragging about ten prostitutes and
matching Johns into the hallway.
Chen coordinates when he sees Deng leading May and
three other dressed prostitues from the front
towards the back hallway. May looks at Chen and he
knows why Lee smiled when he gave him the Ginza.
CHEN
Deng. See if you can find any files back there.
He turns to a uniform.
CHEN
(referring to the prostitutes)
Joe, take Ôem down, Wallace'll help ya write
Ôem up.
Deng heads back down the hall while the uniform
corrals the girls down the stairs the cops came up.
Chen grabs May as she passes and pulls her into one
of the bedrooms.
INT: 1ST GINZA BEDROOM
Chen reaches into May's pocket, finding a packet of
white powder. She tries to kiss him. He pulls away
and pockets the heroin, pissing her off. He quiets her
with three hundreds.
CHEN
(Cantonese)
Get outta here.
He gently nudges her out to the hallway and towards
the backstairs where Wallace is just coming up with a
handfull of paperwork.
WALLACE
You want me to take her?
Chen shakes his head as he lets May head towards
the exit. He turns back to Wallace who stands talking
to a uniform who is handing him some paperwork.
CHEN
(sotto to Wallace)
Always throw back the smallest of the day's
catch.
Suddenly a torrent of automatic gunfire explodes at
the opposite end of the hallway taking out the glass
door and the uniform who stood in front of it
revealing a Fukiense shooter behind the shatterered
door. One cop down. Chen's instinct are immediate.The
Fuke killer is toast. The uniform who was talking to
Wallace turns towards the action and is met with a
pile of lead exploding his heart, blowing out his back
and spraying Wallace with blood. Wallace freezes- a
deer in the headlight. Chen sees this, jumps across
the hall and pushes Wallace out of the line of fire and
into one of the bedrooms. The doorway where Wallace
stood explodes into a million pieces of shrapnel. He
would have been chopmeat. Just at that moment, Ung
crosses the hall in the opposite direction, shielding a
prostitute as he takes out the shooter who took out
the uniform and almost Wallace.
Chen leans out of what remains of the doorway, while
yelling back to the still shell-shocked Wallace.
CHEN
Fire your weapon!
UNG
They're Fukes!
The entire compliment is pinned down in either the
rooms or the hallway facing down three furious
Fukes. Chen pumps his final ammo clip into his gun,
pulls a second gun from an ankle holster and fires
away. Suddenly, another Fuke with an automatic
weapon comes out of nowhere and advances
kamakazi style to one of the bedrooms- the P.D.'s
gunfire no match for his Uzi. He's got Chen, Ung, Deng,
Wallace and the five remaining uniforms pinned down.
Chen thinks fast, retreats into the bedroom-
INT: 1ST GINZA BEDROOM
Chen quickly feels the solidity of the walls- finds the
weak spot of the plasterboard and starts kicking
through to the next room while the firefight
continues in the hallway.
INT: 2ND GINZA BEDROOM
The uniforms fighting at the doorway turn to see Chen
come crashing into their room and continue on right
to the next wall, battling his way up the hallway
towards the Fukes position the only way he can.
INT: HALLWAY
The firefight continues but it's totally one sided as
the cops pistols can't compete against the Uzi.
Windows to the bedrooms are exploding like
firecrackers, whores and johns caught out in the
hallway shiver in terror behind whatever cover they
can find. A huge glass display in the hallway implodes
drenching the place in flying glass.
Wallace does the best he can, firing uselessly at the
kamikazi, only visible from the neck up as he keeps
the entire force at bay. Suddenly we see a glock come
up to the back of the shooter's head which blows his
brains out into the hallway, finally silencing the
automatic. Chen steps out, the arm behind the hit.
There's only three fukes left now, including Jack,
armed only with semi-automatics.
CHEN
I'm out on three! One, two,
three!
Every cop steps out and bombards the end of the hall
with all the firepower they've got. They pin back the
shooters as Chen storms into the hall and races, guns
blazing toward the gunmen. All three of them flee,
one down the stairs, Jack and the other up towards
the roof. Chen decides to go up, negotiating each
corner with whatever he's got left. He gets to the
second flight just in time to see Jack desperately kick
out a window and make a run across a rooftop. Chen
continues the last flight up where he finds the lone
Fuke out of amo and desperately trying to tear open
the roof acess door which is bolted shut.
CHEN (cont'd)
Weapon down, hands in
the air, up against the
wall.
The Fuke cooperates, backing up onto the landing as
Chen ascends.
CHEN (cont'd)
Turn around!
The kid does, but as he moves he suddenly produces a
knife the size of a baby's arm that cuts across Chen,
slicing his stomach. Chen reacts with amazing speed,
smashing his gun across the gangster's head almost
decaptating him. Simultaneously, the last Fuke comes
charging up the stairs, Chen picks up the guy next to
him and hurls him over the staircase knocking the
charging Fuke down to the next landing. His gun goes
flying right towards Wallace's feet who together with
a backup of unifroms, comes bounding around the
corner, grabs the weapon and covers the two punks.
Chen looks down from top landing
CHEN
You're late.
INT: KUNG PHO RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Ung and Chen storm into the twelve-table restaurant
filled mostly with teenage Fukienese. They move
toward the rear of the restaurant passing Jack,
huddled with two of his friends.
Some of the gangsters stand to run interference, but
the two cops push through them to a back table
where Bobby Vu works a cell phone. Without a word
Chen punches him out of his chair. He hits him again
and again, knocking the gangster into the kitchen.
INT: KUNG PHO RESTAURANT KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ung pulls his gun, holding the other gangsters at bay
as Chen grabs a sauce pan from the overhead rack
and slams it into Bobby Vu's head, knocking him to the
floor. He then throws it at the group of Dragons
closing in around them.
CHEN
Want some?
No one does. He stares down the gangsters with
disgust.
CHEN
Fukienese Dragons.
He spits on the floor then walks out the rear door
with Ung.
6. A BUST FOR WALLACE
---------------------
EXT: DAVIS STREET-DAY
A hazy sun slices through thick clouds as Chen,
carrying a take-out bag, exits a small storefront and
gets into a brown Chevy.
INT: BROWN CHEVY - DAY
Wallace drives as Chen pulls a container from the bag.
CHEN
Fishball Gongee. Wanna be Chinese you've gotta eat
the nasty stuff.
Wallace takes the food, looks over at Chen.
WALLACE
Last night...You saved my life.
CHEN
Part of the job.
WALLACE
Maybe...I still want to say thanks.
Chen nods as he eats. Wallace turns up Delancey.
WALLACE
That said...I heard you paid a visit to Bobby Vu last
night.
Wallace looks at Chen.
WALLACE (cont'd)
I tightened up last night, but I didn't find this
badge in the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. I
earned it.
CHEN
You study Chinese so you know what it means that I
saved your life?
WALLACE
It means my life is yours, to do with as you wish
CHEN
That's right. So here's my advice. Quit. Before you
end up dead.
They drive past a crumbling building where a TRIAD
SOLDIER openly does a healthy drug trade.
WALLACE
I know the risks.
CHEN
So did the cops I didn't save last night. And all it
got them was dead. This isn't fun and games.
Especially for a kid heading to Law School
with his head up his ass if he thinks this is the way
to raise tuition.
Wallace's a bit surprised Chen knows this.
WALLACE
Just cause I'm not putting in twenty doesn't mean I
can't do the job.
CHEN
Yes it does.
WALLACE
You don't want to work with me, fine. Let me do
my own investigations. But don't try and keep me
from my work. Cause like it or not, I'm a cop.
CHEN
You're playing cop and that's gonna get one of us
killed.
WALLACE
Playin'? Who's playin'? Playin's driving by shit and
pretending you didn't see it.
Chen turns to Wallace.
CHEN
You got something to say, say it.
WALLACE
How 'bout I show you?
Wallace slams on the brakes, sending the take-out
flying onto the dash. He then drops it in reverse and
floors the gas. The Chevy roars backwards up onto
the sidewalk in front of a crumbling building.
EXT: CRUMBLING BUILDING - DAY
Wallace jumps from the car, catches one of the two
well dressed triad DRUG DEALERS hanging out front,
pushes him through the door and into the building.
INT: CRUMBLING BUILDING - DAY
A dark, piss stenched room called home by fourteen
rats and a dozen ADDICTS sharing needles and
mindless nods. The Dopers can't move but three more
DEALERS can and take off running.
WALLACE
FREEZE!
Wallace fires over their heads, stopping them in their
tracks as Chen races into the room. Wallace frisks the
Dealer he pushed inside as Chen looks over the
others.
WALLACE
What do we have here?
Wallace pulls a thick packet of heroin from the kid's
pocket. Impressed with himself, he holds it up and
tosses it at Chen, looking at him through steel grey
eyes.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT, BOOKING ROOM-LATER (DAY)
The four Dealers stand handcuffed to a steel beam
riveted to the wall as Wallace files his first arrest
with the DESK SERGEANT. Chen casually sips coffee
when a pissed off six footer in a blue suit rushes into
the room.
SCHABACKER
Get each one of these guys
in different rooms...NOW!
PETE SCHABACKER holds up an FBI badge which gets
everybody moving. Two UNIFORMS unclasp the perps
and take them away. Schabacker looks at Chen and
gestures towards the AGU.
INT: AGU OFFICE
Schabacker hardly looks at Ung and Deng who pour
over paperwork as Chen and Wallace follow him into
the room.
CHEN
Something bothering you, Pete?
SCHABACKER
Only that you assholes just arrested a federal agent
working undercover with the Triad.
Wallace pales as Ung smiles to himself.
UNG
Nice work, Junior.
WALLACE
I made the arrest.
Wallace looks over at Chen who's offering no help
SCHABACKER
Well goody for you, Einstein. So tell me, what
am I supposed to do now? Put a Federal Agent in jail
to maintain his cover. What? Let him go? We put
him back on the street everybody in Chinatown
will think he cut a deal with you and he'll be dead
inside an hour. So what should I do?
Wallace looks over at Chen, who's offering no help.
WALLACE
You should do a better job of keeping us informed.
UNG
Here here.
SCHABACKER
Confidential undercover assignment. Key word
being confidential. Which nothing in the fifteenth
precinct is.
CHEN
Relax, Pete.We lost the bag. No evidence. They can
all go.
Wallace looks over at Chen, but he doesn't dispute him.
SCHABACKER
Keep 'em three hours, slap the shit out of 'em and let
'em go. I want everything on the Ginza raid by the
end of the day. And keep that dipshit on a leash.
CHEN
You take care of your people, I'll take care of mine.
Wallace appreciates Chen's back up. Schabacker
heads out the door.
CHEN
Which one's the Fed?
SCHABACKER
The Chinese one.
CHEN
Up yours too.
Ung takes the paperwork from the Desk and holds it
out to Wallace.
UNG
You wanna eat this with soy sauce?
Wallace takes it from Ung's hand and tears it in half.
7. HENRY LEE
------------
INT: JIMMY LOO'S COCKTAIL LOUNGE-NIGHT
No tourists, this watering hole's for the locals.
Getting another round of Tsiang Taos from the
WAITRESS is Chen, Wallace and Ung.
UNG
Cough up the cash, Junior. Knuckleheads
buy all rounds.
Wallace pays off the waitress as he snaps at Ung.
WALLACE
Eat me.
UNG
That's it, show a little piss and vinegar. So
your first bust was a Federal Agent and a
senior Fed bit off a giant piece of your ass.
Chen laughs with Ung as Wallace takes a drink.
UNG
Hey Junior, I dunno if you noticed, but
there're Chinese girls here.
WALLACE
Sounds like you're the one with yellow
fever.
UNG
Yellow fever, black plague, brown sugar,
white bread, I got it all.
Wallace can't help but smile.
WALLACE
Why does the FBI want the info on the
Ginza raid?
CHEN
It was their raid. They use us so the locals
don't smell feds. Mostly they use us
cause they're lazy shits.
UNG
Last summer we grabbed a Viet Namese gang bringing
in Heroin by the boatload. Who swoops in last minute
for the credit? Your friend Shabacker of the FBI.
WALLACE
We had the same problem in the one six, there's
nothing you can do.
UNG
A guy pisses in the street that's one thing. A guy
pisses in your house you deal with him or live with
the stench.
WALLACE
Very poetic. Unfortunately I don't know what the hell
you're talking about.
CHEN
The Feds lost a snitch. Now they have an agent
working undercover in the triad. We find the agent,
see what he's got going, and when the eleventh
hour hits we swoop in, make the bust and pull the
case right out from under them.
Appearing quietly as if from some unseen back
entrance, Henry Lee appears through the crowd.
LEE
(to Chen in Cantonese)
I don't believe I know your friend. A new soldier
in the fight against crime?
CHEN
(Cantonese)
He won't be here long enough to get to know.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
I hope to be here long enough to make a
difference. Chen, Ung and Lee all look astonished
at Wallace's heretofor unknown language skills.
UNG
You speak Chinese!?
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
I'm not a total knucklehead.
UNG
Whoa, in case you haven't noticed, I'm bronx born
and bred. The only Chinese I know is the Miranda
rights and what's on the menu.
CHEN
Danny Wallace, Henry Lee.
LEE
You gentlemen are partners?
WALLACE
(to Chen)
Are we?
CHEN
Cagney and Lacey.
LEE
Chinatown needs more police. I hope you find a
home here. I think you'll discover the Chinese
people are warm and generous.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
I've already discovered that.
UNG
Speak English, already.
LEE
Never mind them. Reach out to our community, it
will reach out to you. Isn't that right, Detective?
Chen holds up his glass in a mock toast...The Waitress
brings over a bottle of Cristal and three glasses.
LEE
I hope to see much of you over the coming weeks.
Lee then disappears into the back as the Waitress
pours.
WALLACE
(quietly)
He's Triad.
UNG
That's why it's Cristal and not Asti fuckin' Spumanti.
Chen and Ung clink glasses and down some bubbly.
EXT: BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION- DAY
Establishing. Tucked between a pair of banks sits the
sand colored building highlighted with artifacts from
ancient Chinese culture.
INT: BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION- DAY
A small group of Elderly Men sit at game tables
playing Mahjong. Sitting in the rear of such a table,
playing a round is Benny Wong and Henry Lee.
BENNY WONG
(Cantonese)
It's very dangerous to approach a white cop. We
can't risk exposing our other ties in the
Department.
LEE
(Cantonese)
That's why we must approach Wallace. He could
compromise Chen at a time when he is our best
weapon against the Fukes. We need him with us
to safeguard Chen's position. Besides, to the NYPD
Chen is Chinese first and a cop second.
WONG
(Cantonese)
Chen can take care of himself. And he knows
what we need him to know.
LEE
(Cantonese)
He knows what he hears in the Fifteenth. A white
officer would have ears outside the precinct. We
can let Chen test the waters.
Benny nods his acceptance and continues to Play.
INT: BLUE EMPRESS CAFE - DAY
In between lunch and dinner. Lee is emptying the bar
of cash while waiters change the table linen. Chen
enters, moves directly to Lee
CHEN
What do you want?
LEE
I like your partner.
Chen looks at Lee who turns from the bar and begins
walking the length of the restaurant towards the
kitchen straightening napkins and silverware as he
goes.
LEE
I think he could help us.
CHEN
He could hurt us more.
LEE
Afraid of competition?
CHEN
Afraid of piquing the kid's interest...
LEE
...in who else is a dirty cop?
Chen pretends to ignore him.
LEE
Uncle Benny feels he might poke his nose in places a
Chinese cop wouldn't.
CHEN
I can handle him.
LEE
He also feels he could be an asset against the Fukes
since you don't seem to be doing much.
CHEN
I'll take care of the Fukes. The kid's a short timer.
Leave him alone.
LEE
I didn't realize you had such maternal
instincts...Uncle Benny wants you to speak with
him.
CHEN
No.
Lee and Chen reach the kitchen, where amongst the
chickens, ducks and steaming dumplings, Triad
underlings are moving boxes of tourist trinkets that
fell off of some truck somewhere. Lee reaches into
one and pulls out a fake Rolex.
LEE
This cost one dollar to make. And some fool will
pay hundreds for it. It's amazing how easy it is for
some people to over estimate worth. Don't
overestimate yours. Talk to him.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT - DAY
Chen, lost in thought, enters the station house when
Wallace comes out of the A.G.U. office.
WALLACE
There's a homicide on Worth.
8. ANOTHER VICTIM
-----------------
EXT: REAR ENTRANCE OF A RESTAURANT-DAY
UNIFORMS from the Fifteenth have the area around
the dumpster taped off as Wallace and Chen pull up
and cross toward Deng and Ung.
CHEN
Who's in the bin?
DENG
The invisible woman. No I.D., no print record, no
nothing.
Wallace looks into the dumpster where a young
female, is tangled with yesterday's shellfish. He
instantly begins dry heaving.
UNG
I thought you liked Chinese food, Junior?
CHEN
Leave him alone...Let's go, I need about fifty
coffees.
WALLACE
We're not gonna investigate this?
CHEN
We just did.
WALLACE
What're you talking about?
CHEN
Tell our partner what we learned.
Ung puts on his Academy Instructor persona.
UNG
Deceased is an illegal straight off the boat,
probably less than a week cause there's two
bills Chinese under the oysters, by her spleen.
DENG
She finds her passage over was twice what she
thought. She can't pay and doesn't like working
as a prostitute. So she ends up here. No family,
no friends, no witnesses.
UNG
No sense wastin taxpayers' money.
Wallace looks painfully at the young woman being
pulled from the bin and stuffed unceremoniously into
a body bag.
WALLACE
So what? Case closed?
UNG
He's so young.
Chen looks at Wallace. Remembers when he was that
young.
CHEN
Take a walk around with Deng. See if anybody
knows anything.
Chen motions for Ung to come with him and the two
cops move off.
EXT: EAST BROADWAY ARCADE-DAY
Jack and his girlfriend step from the arcade. He kisses
her goodbye and watches her as she heads north up
East Broadway.
He turns and heads south. He moves slowly down the
empty street as someone or something moves up
behind him. Quickly. He feels the presence and turns
as Chen and Ung grab hold of him and pull him into a
deserted alley.
EXT: ALLEYWAY-DAY
Jack tries to get away but Ung slams the small boy
into the wall.
UNG
Easy Jackarroo.
Jack looks at the two men as they close in on him.
UNG
Detective Chen is now able to I.D. the shooter
who got away from the lamp store.
CHEN
Unless he can do something for me...I want
Bobby Vu.
A bead of cold sweat tumbles down the back of Jack's
neck.
JACK
He'll kill me.
UNG
The alternative to helping us is ten to twenty at
Sing Sing. And that's gotta hurt. Especially for
somebody five foot nothin.
Jack stands with a million things racing through his
mind.
JACK
No court? No wire?
CHEN
No promises. Think about it. You've got ten
seconds to make up your mind.
Jack thinks....
JACK
Fuck you.
Jack runs but Ung slams his fist into his face knocking
him cold.
UNG
Kid's loyal.
Ung kneels and cuffs the unconscious Fukienese
soldier.
CHEN
See how loyal he is after two weeks in lock up.
EXT: WORTH STREET - DAY
Deng and a very frustrated Wallace, stand outside a
junk shop where a frightened CHINESE WOMAN, shakes
her head.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
We're trying to help you.
Deng holds out a business card but the woman slams
the door.
WALLACE
What's wrong with these people?
DENG
They don't like me, don't trust you and
know we can't protect them.
WALLACE
Then what's the point? Why bother?
The two cops walk south on Worth Street as they
continue to talk.
DENG
Every cop starts out planning to save the
universe. When you realize you can't you've got
two choices. Do your best and the second the
shift's over go home to a life. Or let the stink
of the street get on you so you end up like ninety
percent of the cops in this city. An alcoholic
with more vices then half the people you arrest.
WALLACE
You're talkin about Chen?
DENG
I'm talking about you.
WALLACE
Well how does he close so many cases?
The inquiry makes her uncomfortable.
DENG
He works the cases he can solve. And he's not
American born, he's Hong Kong, immigrant like
them.
WALLACE
How does a guy from Hong Kong get in the NYPD?
DENG
They wanted a Chinese to speak to the Chinese. And
his father was a cop in Hong Kong. Pretty big
wheel before they booted him, he knew people in
Chinatown who could vouch for his son.
WALLACE
Why'd they boot him, was he dirty?
DENG
Because he wasn't. Shift's over, go home.
Deng turns up Elizabeth street and Wallace heads off
toward Doyers.
9. FAMILY BUSINESS
------------------
EXT: WALLACE'S APT - DAY
Wallace cuts across a city baseball diamond in the
shadow of the Manhattan Bridge and makes his way
to his front door.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT-DAY
He enters the one bedroom brick box and hits a light
switch. It's clear he's just moved in because most of
his things are still in boxes. What furnishings he has
are accented with Chinese artifacts and books on
Chinese culture. He heads into the dingy kitchen.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN-DAY
He gets a water and drops in some Alka Seltzer. He
sits at the window and holds the cold glass to his
forehead while the tablets fizz.
EXT: WALLACE'S APT - DAY
What he doesn't see, is Bobby Vu's Lieutenant, BLACK
EYES, watching him from the empty market across the
street.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN -DAY
He downs the drink as a SHADOW creeps toward him.
He hears a creak in the floor. In a flash he bolts to his
feet, pulls his gun and spins to face a large MAN,
maybe sixty, wearing beat up threads.
WALLACE
I coulda killed you.
SEAN WALLACE
I coulda killed you first.
WALLACE
What're you doing here?
SEAN WALLACE
Father can't visit his son?
Got something to drink?
I'm dry as a ninety year
old tit.
WALLACE
How'd you get in?
Sean pulls a flask from his jacket.
SEAN WALLACE
I brought somethin anyway. Join me?
Sean extends the offer but his son doesn't flinch.
SEAN WALLACE
Twenty years robbery homicide outta the two
five, greenhorn, that's how I got in. I been
hrough more doors and windows...
WALLACE
I don't have any money.
Sean takes a pull from the flask.
SEAN WALLACE
I'm in for twelve grand. Those fuckin dagos down
on Mulberry. Wallace knows this is serious but
doesn't show anything to his father.
WALLACE
Good luck.
SEAN WALLACE
I'm not asking for the twelve...God forbid you'd
bail me out with your lawyer money. Wouldn't
want you to miss becoming a leech asshole.
WALLACE
And here I thought you'd want me to be a chip off
the 'ol block.
SEAN WALLACE
All I'm askin for is a little stake money to help me
get even.
WALLACE
ouldn't work, you're too much a loser.
SEAN WALLACE
Then we'll go partners. You're a lucky son of a
bitch ain't ya?
Wallace doesn't say anything.
SEAN WALLACE
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't serious.
It takes a while but Wallace finally makes a move. He
opens the fridge, slides open the crisper and pulls out
an envelope. He hands it to his father who smiles at
the money.
SEAN WALLACE
Cold hard cash. You slay me.
WALLACE
Little over five hundred and we ain't partners.
This is buying you off. Next time someone sneaks
up on me...
SEAN WALLACE
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll kill me.
Sean turns and starts for the door. Then stops.
SEAN WALLACE
By the way. You got a chink watchin you from
across the street, Sherlock.
Wallace turns to the window and sees Bobby Vu's boy,
Black Eyes standing in the shadows across the street
as his father slips out the door with a slight chuckle.
SEAN WALLACE (cont'd)
Goodnight officer.
10. AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
------------------------------
INT: UNDERGROUND SPA-NIGHT
Through the steam, we see Henry Lee sitting in a tub
filled with hot water. Standing near the doorway in
street clothes is Chen.
CHEN
I've got something for you.
LEE
I love gifts.
A female arm runs a wet sponge down Lee's back.
CHEN
This isn't free ... Forget the kid.
LEE
That's an expensive request.
CHEN
This is an expensive item.
Lee pulls the female arm into him. It's connected to
May. Chen spots her, and it bothers him more than he
lets on.
LEE
Let's hear it.
CHEN
The F.B.I. have another informant inside the Triad.
This time, it's one of their own- it's an agent.
Lee strokes the May's hair as she slides her nude
body against his. He enjoys the fact that Chen's not
enjoying it.
LEE
Who is it?
CHEN
Don't know. We picked up four of your guys and one
was a Fed. Won't take long to find out which one. Then
all you've got to do is blow his cover and they'll pull
him. No violence, no mess.
LEE
My thanks.
CHEN
The kid's out.
LEE
As you wish.
Lee turns May toward Chen and rubs her breasts.
LEE
Would you like a turn?
Chen, looks at the young girl then turns and exits the
room. Lee laughs as a figure moves out of a steam
room behind him.
LEE
We've got a Federal Agent sniffing around. We'll have
to postpone delivery.
Lee glances toward Fukienese leader, Bobby Vu.
BOBBY VU
We can't. The boat's coming into port next week.
LEE
Then it'll wait at the port.
BOBBY VU
I'm not afraid of the F.B.I.
Lee pushes May under the water toward his crotch.
LEE
Everything we've done has been to keep the Feds
focused on Uncle Benny. When he's gone, and I lead
the triad, you and your Fukienese brothers will
make all the money you want.
BOBBY VU
Then let's kill him now.
LEE
When Uncle Benny's indicted, he'll be
dangerous to our partners in Hong Kong. And
killing him, will come with thanks
instead of retribution.
BOBBY VU
And Chen too.
LEE
All in time.
EXT: GOLDFLOWER RESTAURANT, DOYERS STREET, MORNING
Through the glass we see Wallace pay the tab on his
morning's breakfast. He picks up a toothpick and a
mint and exits the building. He starts to move east
when a man steps beside him.
LEE
Do you remember me?
Wallace looks closer...and sees Henry Lee who stays
in step with Wallace as he walks up Bowery.
WALLACE
Yeah.
LEE
I have information about the girl you found in the
garbage dumpster.
WALLACE
How'd you find me?
LEE
You're conspicuous in Chinatown...Two brothers
on Chrystie Street bring in illegals. The woman,
worked in their brothel, then tried to run. They left
her as a message to the others.
WALLACE
How do you know?
LEE
Everyone knows. But no one's going to speak of it.
Especially to the police.
WALLACE
Why are you?
LEE
I knew her.
Lee looks at Wallace, and for a moment he seems
almost sad.
WALLACE
What are their names?
LEE
You can't tell anyone how you found out. Not even
Chen.
WALLACE
Forget it.
LEE
For every person who knows, the chances of me,
or one of my children being killed in reprisal
increases a hundred fold.
WALLACE
I can't.
LEE
That girl was fifteen...And there are more to come if
you don't help us. Wallace thinks, remembering
the girl as she was stuffed into the body bag....He
knows he shouldn't, but he nods his head and Lee
hands him a piece of paper.
LEE
Check the basement of a place called TONY'S. Don't
worry. This is how things get done in Chinatown.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT, AGU OFFICE-DAY
Chen enters the room where Deng is filling out
paperwork.
CHEN
Wallace come in yet?
DENG
I don't think so.
The concern is easily read on Chen's face.
EXT: 142 CHRYSTIE STREET-DAY
Wallace anxiously watches the apartment building. He
steadies his nerves, then crosses the street and
enters through the front door.
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE HALLWAY - DAY
It's damp and poorly lit. Wallace moves down the
narrow hall and stops by the door next to the
incinerator. He jimmies the lock.
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, STAIRS - DAY
He descends the stairs into the darkness. His mouth
dries as he pulls his gun. He moves down a narrow
corridor, passing a wooden door, when he hears
something from inside. Faint breathing. He reaches
for the doorknob. It's locked. He takes the slim jim
from his jacket pocket and easily opens the door.
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - DAY
It's dark. Wallace takes his mag-light and scopes the
room. He steps back, startled, when he sees thirty
FEMALE FACES, gaunt, eyes glazed, huddled in the
room like prisoners of war. None look older than
fifteen. Wallace stands looking at the young women
when he hears noise further down the hall. Slowly, he
steps back
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, CORRIDOR-DAY
and creeps toward a second door framed with the
bright light from within. It sounds like a small motor
mixed with whimpering. He looks through the
keyhole. It takes a moment for his eye to adjust.
When it does he jumps to his feet and kicks open the
door.
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - DAY
WALLACE
POLICE!
The room is awash in bright light, almost blinding
Wallace coming from the darkness. But there, on a
bed, he sees the source of the cries. Three young
WOMEN engaged in forced sex.
He turns toward the light which is set atop a video
camera recording the scene. A MAN, mid forties,
throws the camera at Wallace and races for the door.
Wallace tackles him into the dark hallway...
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, CORRIDOR-DAY
...and pummels him with his fist. A loud BANG and a
flash of light from the end of the hall as someone
fires a bullet at Wallace.
Instinctively, without thinking, he fires back, hitting
the SHOOTER, who slumps to the ground. The impact of
his first shooting washes over him. In that moment,
the man beneath him pushes to his feet and begins
running down the hall.
WALLACE
STOP!
The man grabs for the dead shooter's gun, turns and
takes a bullet from Wallace's Glock before he can
squeeze off a shot. Wallace stands frozen. The smoke
from his gun fills the tiny hallway. He tastes blood
and realizes he bit through his lip.
INT: 142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - LATER (DAY)
The place is now brightly lit as COPS and FORENSICS
scour the area. Chen enters from the far end and pulls
Wallace aside.
CHEN
What were you doing in here?
WALLACE
I came out of the diner on Pell Street and saw
some guy snatch a purse. I chased him into the
building, but I lost him inside. Then I heard
screaming from down here. I just stumbled into
it.
Chen stares at him as Ung and Deng approach from
upstairs.
UNG
There's close to forty women here, all illegals.
And we found a storeroom with about a hundred
tapes.
DENG
And the landlord remembers the four Jane
Does we pulled outta the dumpsters as part of
the stable.
Ung extends his hand to Wallace.
UNG
Good job, Detective.
Chen eyes Wallace who takes Ung's hand.
WALLACE
Thanks, Junior.
Soon other COPS come over to give congratulations.
The good wishes turn into applause as we
INT: POLICE HEADQUARTERS-DAY
The Mayor's LACKEY pins a commendation on Wallace
in front of a room filled with POLICE and PRESS.
Somewhere in the back, feeling a little bit proud, in
spite of his suspicions, is Chen.
INT: JIMMY LOO'S -NIGHT
A good-sized crowd, including Ung and Wallace. Ung's
gassed.
UNG
It's dick size.
CHEN
You think everything is dick size.
UNG
It is. White people believe all Asians got little
dicks. So you think that when an Asian chick
sees your pecker, she's going to think it's Mount
Saint Helens.
Chen and Wallace laugh.
UNG
It's true. And then you look at the tiny hands on
most Asian chicks and figure your weenie's
gonna look like a sewer pipe in her fist.
WALLACE
He's discovered our secret.
UNG
Well the joke's on you, cause this Chinaman's
hung like a...
CHEN
A gnat.
Chen and Wallace laugh at Ung.
UNG
You wanna see?!
Ung struggles to his feet.
CHEN & WALLACE
No!
Wallace pulls Ung back into his seat.
WALLACE
On that note, it's time to head home. I'll see you
tomorrow.
CHEN
Eight sharp. We're going to pick up surveillance
on those guys you busted, find out which one's
the fed.
He nods and crosses to the door. Chen gets up and
follows him to the door.
CHEN
Wallace.
The young cop stops. Chen stands before him.
CHEN
You did a lot for those women down there...You
did good work.
WALLACE
Thanks.
CHEN
But it was an accident. You're lucky you're not
dead. So don't you ever go off alone again.
Chen stares a hole in Wallace's head. The young cop
nods and slips out the door.
11. A GIFT FOR WALLACE
----------------------
EXT: JIMMY LOO'S-CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Wallace steps from the bar and begins walking north
on Centre. He sees the subway entrance and steps
from the curb when a green Mercedes pulls to a stop.
Inside is Henry Lee.
LEE
Congratulations, Detective.
Uncomfortable, Wallace glances back at the bar.
WALLACE
Thanks. I've gotta...
LEE
You must allow me to buy you a drink.
WALLACE
I really...
LEE
You did a great thing for the people of this
community...Let me thank you, as a show of
respect...please.
Lee unlocks the door as Wallace hears some cops
exiting the bar. Rather than be seen he quickly ducks
into the car.
INT: STAIRWELL-NIGHT
Chen climbs a rotted stairwell of the Ginza massage
and approaches an unmarked door. He hesitates, then
decides to knock. He sees an eye in the peephole. An
old WOMAN, seventy plus, opens the door and he steps
inside.
INT: GINZA MASSAGE - NIGHT
All is back to normal just days later. The welcome
room is filled with young girls smoking. One of the
girls is May.
The old Woman calls her over and Chen sees her eye is
bruised. May leads him toward the back but halfway
down the hall he stops. Chen turns to the old woman
and says something in Cantonese. She nods and Chen
hands her three hundred dollar bills. He then takes
May gently by the arm and escorts her out of the
apartment.
INT: UNDERGROUND SPA/MASSAGE ROOM - NIGHT
Lee and Wallace, wrapped in towels, sip champagne
as they step from a steam room thick with humidity.
WALLACE
There's more of Chinatown below sea level than
above.
LEE
There's always more under the surface.
The two men are greeted by a pair of beautiful
MASSEUSES. One guides Wallace to a massage table,
the other takes Lee outside.
LEE
Enjoy.
Lee exits as Wallace's Masseuse motions for him to
lie face down on the table. He hesitates, but
eventually lies down.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
What's your name?
She "Shhh's" him...then removes Wallace's towel. He
glances back, feeling awkward as she begins covering
his naked body with oil.
Expertly, she glides her hands over his skin,
massaging his muscles. He wants to stop her, but he
doesn't. The Masseuse moves around, working his
arms, legs, back and buttocks.
She then climbs on top of him, and using her weight,
digs deeper into his muscles. Slight moans begin
escaping from his lips. After a moment, she reaches
over and dims the lights.
She removes her robe, covers her body with oil and
glides herself slowly over Wallace's skin. His eyes
move about, showing both his discomfort and
enjoyment. She rubs her lips gently across his back to
the base of his neck. She kisses his ear as her mouth
moves across his face. She turns him onto his back.
He looks up into her eyes, knowing he should stop. But
he can't. Yellow fever.
INT: CHEN'S APARTMENT-NIGHT
Chen leads May into the apartment. She stands
awkwardly in the center of the room. He turns on the
lamp he picked up at Phan's. When he turns she tries
to kiss him...but he holds her back.
CHEN
No.
She looks at him, not sure why she's there. Neither is
he. They stand awkwardly. After a moment, he
crosses to the kitchen. He opens the fridge and
removes a cellophane bag filled with fruit.
He takes a knife from a butcher block and expertly
slices a blood orange, separating the rind, removing
the seeds. He hands May a sculpted piece of the dark
red fruit.
CHEN
(Cantonese)
From home.
She takes it from him. Her eyes close as she tastes
the fruit. For a short moment she is across the sea,
sitting with her family.
Chen smiles, and digs more produce from the fridge.
He then hands May another slice of blood orange and
begins chopping the vegetables in perfect, even
slices. He glances at May and sees a tear sliding down
her cheek.
EXT: WALLACE'S BUILDING-SUNRISE
The sun barely peeks over the horizon as Wallace
enters the apartment.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT - SUNRISE
He moves slowly, wearing the all nighter across his
face. He cuts across the living room, steps into the
bathroom.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT - BATHROOM - DAY
He stops in his tracks. Lying on the floor is his father,
beaten to a pulp. For a moment we see genuine
concern on Wallace's face.
WALLACE
Shit.
SEAN WALLACE
Tried to...Never made it.
His concern fades as he realizes his father's
conscious. But he still kneels beside him and checks
his injuries.
WALLACE
You gotta go to the hospital.
SEAN WALLACE
No time.
He starts coughing and a pile of blood seeps from his
mouth.
WALLACE
You're bleeding inside.
SEAN WALLACE
Wouldn't be surprised...I need the money.
WALLACE
I don't have it. Not that kind.
SEAN WALLACE
How much?
WALLACE
A grand, maybe.
Wallace helps the big man up to his feet...but both
collapse under the weight. They hit the floor heavy.
WALLACE
Shit....Come on, again.
Wallace starts to lift but Sean shakes him off.
SEAN WALLACE
Would you give it to me if you had it?
Wallace looks at his father.
WALLACE
I don't think so.
SEAN WALLACE
Fuckin honest, like your mother...Screw it then.
Might as well call the hospital.
Sean passes out. Wallace looks at his old man, then
dials 911.
12. HEAVY TRAFFIC
-----------------
INT: APARTMENT BUILDING BAXTER, HALLWAY-DAY
Deng and Ung are coming out of apartment 5C as
Wallace reaches the landing from the stairwell.
WALLACE
The Fed tip his hand yet?
UNG
If he has I haven't seen it.
DENG
Better get in there, he's startin to get pissed at
you.
WALLACE
What's new.
Deng and Ung move down the stairs as Wallace enters
the room.
INT: APARTMENT 5C - BAXTER STREET - DAY
The room's filled with surveillance equipment. Chen's
at the window photographing the comings and goings
across the street where Wallace busted the fed days
before.
CHEN
You're late.
WALLACE
My father had a fall last night..I had to get him to
the hospital.
CHEN
Took all night to get him there?
WALLACE
He fell last night, I found him this morning in the
bathroom.
Chen looks at him suspiciously, then hands him the
camera and touches Wallace's neck.
CHEN
Looks like he scratched you.
Wallace pulls away and positions himself at the
window.
WALLACE
When I was carrying him.
CHEN
He alright?
WALLACE
Yeah.
Chen sits at a table and deals himself a hand of
solitaire.
CHEN
He was a cop, right?
WALLACE
The two five.
CHEN
Tough beat. Is that why you're here? Prove
something to the old man?
WALLACE
Is that why you're here?
CHEN
My old man's dead. I don't have to prove anything
to anybody. How 'bout you?
WALLACE
Just to you I guess.
CHEN
That's for sure.
WALLACE
Why do you have to constantly bust my balls?
CHEN
I'm educating you while there's time.
Chen lights the smoke as Wallace feigns
embarrassment.
WALLACE
You mean you care about me?...I don't know
what to say.
CHEN
Try nothing.
WALLACE
But I'm overwhelmed. This showing of emotion.
This outpouring of human kindness. The caring,
the warmth. Don't look at me, I think I'm crying.
Chen smiles in spite of himself as Wallace turns
toward the window and spots two ASIANS stepping
from a Lincoln, which drives away.
WALLACE
These two don't look like junkies.
He picks up the camera and starts snapping away.
Chen crosses to the window, watches through a pair
of binoculars.
CHEN
No, they don't.
They watch the two youths enter the brownstone.
EXT: CRUMBLING BUILDING -DAY
...the two YOUTHS enter the brownstone.
INT: VACANT APARTMENT- BAXTER STREET - DAY
Chen puts down his binoculars.
CHEN (cont'd)
You get pictures?
WALLACE
Yeah.
Then suddenly, the unmistakable sound of
automatic gunfire rings out from the building
across the street. Wallace's camera freezes
as the gun shots echo across the street.
CHEN
Shit.
Both men have guns drawn by the time they hit the
door.
EXT: BAXTER STREET APARTMENT BUILDING-CONTINUOUS-
DAY
Chen and Wallace hit the pavement at the same
moment the two Asian gangsters climb into the
big Lincoln which immediately starts backing out
of the alley.
CHEN
Police!
Asian gangster's #2's answer is a barrage of
automatic gunfire. Chen responds with one neat
shot through the windshield and into the driver's
head. Gangster#1 wastes no time pushing the
dead driver out from behind the wheel before
Chen and Wallace can reach the car and
continues their getaway at warp speed. Chen
unloads his weapon at the fleeing car before
turning and heading towards the Chevy while
Wallace charges up a narrow passageway to cut
the gangsters off.
EXT: NARROW CHINATOWN STREET (N.Y.) - DAY
Wallace comes flying out of the alley and into
the street just in time to get off a few shots at
the oncoming Lincoln which barrels right at him
forcing him to jump onto a parked car at the
last minute. Chen races from the opposite
direction hoping to block the Lincoln's path.
Without hesitating, the gang car plows onto the
sidewalk and escapes past the terrified
pedestrians. Chen pulls a 180, Wallace hops in
the passenger seat and the chase is on.
EXT: SECRET STREET (TOR) - DAY
Wallace and Chen in hot pursuit.
WALLACE
(in the radio)
This is car seven in green sector, we're in
pursuit of a blue Lincoln Continental, Jersey
plates five, niner, five, alpha, alpha, zulu
travelling south on Park Row, subjects armed
and dangerous. Request road block units on
all lanes.
With Chen and Wallace closing in, Gangster #2
unloads another burst of gunfire. One of the
bullets punctures the windshield, grazes
Wallace's ear, exploding the headrest behind
him. Chen continues to catch up as the Lincoln
makes a sharp left slipping through the cross
traffic. The Chevy's not as lucky, as it gets
clipped in the rear causing it to spin 90 degrees
and slowing their pursuit.
EXT: PELL STREET (N.Y.) - DAY
The Lincoln moves fast down Pell and hangs a
sharp right careening onto Bowery heading
downtown. Chen and Wallace struggle to keep
up with pedestrians scattering in all directions.
Just as the gangsters reach the first stoplight it
turns green. They pull out into the oncoming lane
cutting in front of the waiting traffic which is
just starting to move. In order to stop them and
pin the Chevy in, gangster#2 lets loose a
barrage of gunfire which mows down the
drivers of the first row of car, pinning the Chevy
behind the bloody roadblock. The Lincoln takes
off to the right. Chen backs up, sees an opening
to an alley parallel to the street and takes off
down it hoping to cut them off.
EXT: SPADINA ALLEY (TOR) - DAY
Chen and Wallace speed through the narrow
pasageway checking through the periodic
openings to Temperance Street trying to track
the Lincoln.
WALLACE
There!
Chen floors it- comes flying out the end of the
alley on to...
EXT: NARROW DOWNTOWN STREET (TOR) - DAY
Cars parked on both sides of the street.
Chen comes right up beside the Lincoln and tries
to force it to a stop by pushing it up against the
parked cars but the Lincoln just keeps charging,
banging an opening through the cars and
jumping onto the sidewalk knocking down a
half-dozen pedestrians who can't get out of the
way fast enough. Chen tracks alongside-
gangster#2 spraying automatic fire at them,
smashing out the windows of the parked cars.
Chen and Wallace do their best to return fire. A
delivery truck straddles the sidewalk in front of
the Lincoln, instead of slowing, they speed up
and at the last moment crash through parked
cars, forcing an opening for them to come back
onto the street. The parked car they punched
through now blocks the Chevy. Rather than
stop, Chen blasts onto the opposite sidewalk,
pulls up next to the Lincoln while he and Wallace
try to blow it out. Suddenly there's an elderly
woman pulling her shopping basket in front of
them who can't possibly get out of the way.
WALLACE
Yo, Civilian!!
Chen jams on the brakes, slides through an
opening of parked cars and follows the Lincoln
around the corner to the left.
EXT: POST OFFICE ALLEY - DAY
Gangster #2 seeing the Chevy gaining on them,
leans far out his passenger side window and
sprays the Lincoln's tires just before a truck
pulls out from a loading dock and sends the
gangster's body flying through the air like a
puppet. The Lincoln doesn't even slow. The Chevy
spins uncontrollably, the front end smashing
into the elevated lift of a meat truck, which cuts
right through the windshield pinning Chen
behind a collapsed steering column.
Both men, shaken, watch as the Lincoln heads
for the end of the street, then suddenly pulls a
smoky 180 and heads right back towards them.
WALLACE
What the hell is he doing?
The Lincoln drives straight at them with the now
visible BLUE and WHITES tailing it in close pursuit.
CHEN
Shit.
Chen and Wallace try and climb from the Chevy.
Wallace can. Chen can't. He's trapped behind the
wheel.
Chen looks at Wallace who stands beside the
car.
CHEN
Go!
Chen begins firing at the Lincoln. Wallace looking
between Chen and the fast approaching car,
fires also. Chen's gun empties. Because of the
chaos of the delivery trucks, the Lincoln has
only one way out, and that is to crash straight
through the disabled Chevy.
CHEN
I said go!
Chen empties his gun. Wallace refuses to leave
him. The Lincoln is forty yards, thirty yards. It's
engine is deafening.
CHEN
GO!!!
Wallace stays, firing everything he's got. Out of
ammo, he quickly turns, dives back in the ca and
grabs the shotgun from the back seat. Twenty yards,
ten yards, he sees the face of the DRIVER when he
gets lucky and a shotgun blast hits the gangster in
the chest. The Lincoln spins out of control, twirling
like crazy before it hits one of the trucks and
explodes in flames. Wallace pulls Chen down as the
fireball rolls just over their heads. Chen looks at
Wallace as they sit up.
13. ENTER THE FEDS
------------------
INT: INTERROGATION ROOM TWO - DAY
SCHABACKER
Federal agent Ronald Ming is dead. Shot seven times
in the back and I'm thinking some scumbag in
the Fifteenth is responsible.
Chen insides are twisted in knots. Half of him wants
to come clean, but the self preservation half knows
to play it cool.
CHEN
Maybe some scumbag in the Bureau is responsible.
SCHABACKER
And maybe I'm gonna grow a tree out of my dick.
CHEN
If anybody could.
SCHABACKER
And you can bet your ass it'd be an Oak.
Schabacker stares at Chen looking for the slightest
flinch.
SCHABACKER
We I.D'd the shooters...They're Fukienese.
Chen breathes a touch easier. Maybe it wasn't Lee.
Maybe it was part of the turf war.
CHEN
Fuke's have been makin a move on the triads for
months.
SCHABACKER
That's the only thing keepin me from ripping
this fuckin precinct to the ground. That...and this.
Schabacker puts a small tape on the desk. Chen looks
at tape, wondering if he's on it.
SCHABACKER
The assholes were in such a hurry to get moving
they didn't check the bodies for wires.
CHEN
Who's on it?
SCHABACKER
Benny Wong. Some others. Three weeks worth of
undercover work.
CHEN
A court'll never admit it without the agent backin
it up.
SCHABACKER
They will once you tell 'em you've been working with
us on this investigation. That after the shooting
and before the chase, you entered the building,
approached our agent who, with his last breath,
told you he got this tape and corroborated what's
on it.
CHEN
That's perjury. Why would I do that?
SCHABACKER
To keep me from bringing charges against you for
obstructing a federal investigation. Wallace told
us how you engaged in the unauthorized surveillance
of a federal agent, which possibly blew his cover,
resulting in his assassination.
Chen looks at Schabacker.
CHEN
That speech may have shivered a rookie, but
you'll need better for me.
SCHABACKER
Then I'll tell you what. You better watch your back
cause my gut's still tellin me somebody in the
Fifteenth gave my guy up and if I can't have Uncle
Benny, I'm gonna have him.
Chen looks into Schabacker's face.
INT: WALLACE'S APARTMENT-LATER
Wallace, dressed only in pants, cracks open the front
door and sees Chen standing in the doorway. The visit
catches Wallace off guard.
CHEN
You alone?
WALLACE
Yeah.
CHEN
Then invite me in.
Wallace opens the door wider and Chen steps inside.
He looks around the small apartment filled with boxes
and Chinese artifacts with cops eyes. The kind that
make you nervous even if you've done nothing wrong.
CHEN
You got something to drink?
WALLACE
(putting on his shirt)
No.
CHEN
About yesterday. You saved my life out there.
WALLACE
Part of the job.
CHEN
Maybe. I still want to say thank you.
WALLACE
You know what it means I saved your life.
Chen smiles as he causually but carefully looks
through the papers on Wallace's coffee table.
CHEN
This is America, it doesn't mean anything.
That said...Feds got you nervous?
WALLACE
No.
CHEN
Good. Cause whether it's the Feds, Internal
Affairs, whoever, the inside of a cop car is
sacred. You don't tell them what we do
unless you discuss it with me first.
WALLACE
Why the sudden paranoia?
CHEN
I'm just sayin'. Anybody asks you a question.
You ask me first.
Chen crosses to Wallace and stands face to face with
him, making his point clear.
CHEN (cont'd)
No more talking with the Feds until we're
working off the same page.
Understood?
WALLACE
Yeah...sure.
CHEN
Good.
Chen turns and walks out the door. Wallace lets out a
breath.
EXT: THE TOMBS-DAY
New York's city prison and holding facility. Like any
toilet, it's filled with shit.
INT: THE TOMBS - INTERROGATION ROOM
Sitting behind a desk is Chen. The Guards put Jack in a
chair then step back into the hall. Chen eyes the kid
who looks even smaller in his prison rags. He waits a
moment, then puts a surveillance photo of Jack's
girlfriend Amy San on the table between them.
CHEN
Nice looking girl. Did you know she's in the country
illegally?
Jack looks from the picture to Chen.
CHEN
Gonna have to send her back...after a little
jail time of course. Shame you two'll never
see each other again.
Jack's toughness is gone.
JACK
You can't send her, she's in trouble there.
She'll be...
CHEN
Too bad. I can't help you. That's what you told me
isn't it?
Jack feels the noose closing around his neck. He
doesn't have much choice. He speaks quietly, already
afraid of what he has to do.
JACK
I help you, when they move me, she come too,
with papers?
Chen nods, then places a small tape recorder on the
table. Jack looks at it like it was poison. Chen then
puts a business card beside it.
CHEN
My pager number. Punch one one after your number
so I know it's you.
Jack reaches for the card and recorder. When he
does, Chen grabs his wrist and pulls him closer.
CHEN (cont'd)
I get you out, you better not run on me.
Jack looks at Chen and knows he's serious.
CHEN (cont'd)
I want to know who shot that undercover Fed.
And I want to know if whoever it was talks to
Henry Lee
Chen lets go of Jack and motions to the Guards. They
reenter the room, pick up Jack and take him back to
his cell. Chen watches him go and it's clear he doesn't
feel good about what he just did.
EXT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY
A truck filled with dead pigs hanging on hooks, stands
on the corner. MEN carry said swine to small vans
parked at the curb.
Chen, carrying groceries, walks past the workmen
and up to his door. He glances toward the vans as he
slides in his key.
INT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY
Chen, still struggling with the death of the
undercover agent, plops the package on the table,
takes out a bottle of Bacardi and cracks the seal. He
pours a portion of it into a half empty liter of Coke
and hits it as he crosses to the window.
EXT: CHEN'S APARTMENT - POV MEAT VANS - DAY
He looks at the meat vans.
INT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY
He picks up the phone and punches in a number.
VOICE (PHONE)
New York Times.
CHEN
I just called to tell you that Pete Schabacker of
the F.B.I. is a hemorrhoid-licking asshole.
VOICE (PHONE)
Excuse me?
Chen hangs up, sips his muscled Big Gulp and finally
has something to laugh about.
INT: MEAT VAN, MOTT STREET-DAY
Tucked inside one of the meat vans, is a reel-to-reel
recorder, Pete Schabacker and two hysterical AGENTS.
SCHABACKER
Shut the fuck up.
14. HENRY'S DEAL
----------------
INT: HOSPITAL, SEAN WALLACE'S ROOM-DAY
Wallace moves past the other patients to his father's
bed where the big Irishman lies with his eyes closed.
Wallace looks down at him, then starts to leave.
SEAN WALLACE (O.S.)
Hey.
Wallace turns back to the bed. His father smiles at
him.
SEAN WALLACE
Thank you.
Wallace isn't sure what he's talking about.
SEAN WALLACE
For the money. They sent a guy, he told me you
settled up. I'm not gonna forget it.
INT: LEE'S OFFICE-NIGHT
Lee sits behind his desk when Wallace storms into the
room.
WALLACE
Did you cover my father?
LEE
I'm helping you because I want you to help me.
WALLACE
No way.
LEE
My business is victimless. I supply services people
want and are forbidden to them by politicians.
However, you've seen there're those whose
business is not victimless. Whose tactic is violence.
I can help you rid Chinatown of those elements, and
help keep your father alive. All I ask, is that you
look out for my interests in return.
WALLACE
You're asking for more than that.
LEE
Long after you and I are gone there will be
gambling in Chinatown. There will be men willing
to pay a woman for her favors. And the police will
always be the last to know. That's a fact...Now
you can chase your tail in the dark and accomplish
nothing, or you can really do some good. For the
people of Chinatown, for your career and for your
father.
Lee circles his table and approaches Wallace.
LEE
Think of how many more young girls would have
ended up in dumpsters if not for your acceptance
of my help.
Wallace does think about it. Knowing that they did
save lives. He looks out the window at a bustling
Chinatown.
LEE
This isn't America, Danny. It's Chinatown.
LEE
Do we agree?...Or do you want me to call the
Italians and rescind my offer? Let them deal
with your father.
The moment of choice. Its consequences are not lost
on Wallace. The decision is not easy...but slowly, he
shakes his head.
LEE
Good. There's something I'd like you to do for me
tomorrow.
Lee doesn't speak right away. He makes Wallace wait.
LEE
There's a tin shop on Hogan.
EXT: TIN SHOP - HOGAN STREET - MORNING(DAY)
Wallace steps from the subway, crosses to a
newsstand, buys a paper and checks the timepiece
hanging over the porn mags. 5:58AM.
LEE (V.O.)
A Malaysian runs it. Tomorrow at six AM, he'll
be receiving two bricks of heroin from a Colombian.
He clocks the tin shop. He can make out the
MALAYSIAN guy behind the counter and a MALE
CUSTOMER, Chinese, checking the racks.
LEE (V.O.)
These men are scum, they deal to children. I'd like
you to stop them. He takes position at the bus stop
on the corner and waits. He sees an HISPANIC MALE,
40's, enter the store. The Malaysian locks the front
door and leads the Hispanic to the rear of the shop.
He moves quickly across Hogan. He reaches the front
door, slides the slim jim from his jacket, and easily
opens the lock.
INT: TIN SHOP - CONTINUOUS - DAY
Wallace pulls the Glock from his holster. He hears
voices from behind the rear door. Cold sweat runs
down his neck as he takes position. He steadies
himself, then kicks open the door.
INT: TIN SHOP, OFFICE - DAY
WALLACE
POLICE! NOBODY MOVE!
He aims his gun and nearly fires when he hears
YELLING from one of the men and sees the barrel of a
.45 pointed at his face.
But he doesn't shoot because the gun belongs to
Chen, in the middle of busting the two drug dealers.
Eyes wild and still YELLING, Chen nearly squeezes the
trigger himself, but his brain registers Wallace faster
than his finger.
The two cops, breathing hard, stare at each other
knowing exactly how the other got there. After a
moment, Chen cuffs the two prisoners to the radiator
and pushes Wallace back into the store.
INT: TIN SHOP - DAY
CHEN
You son of a bitch. When did Lee approach you?!
The bust on Chrystie, right? The porn operation?
WALLACE
Yeah.
CHEN
I knew it. I knew your story was full of shit.
WALLACE
Well here you are. When did he approach you? I bet
quite a while before that. When was it, two years
ago, five years? How long have you been working
for him? Or can't you even remember?!
Chen grabs Wallace by the neck.
CHEN
You're dead. Your life is over. I thought you were
smart. You're not, you're as dumb as they come.
Chen lets go of Wallace. It takes a moment and then
it hits him.
WALLACE
You gave him the Fed didn't you?
Chen looks back at Wallace.
WALLACE
That's why we were watching them. That's why
you pressed that kid so hard to wear a wire. Yeah
I heard about that. You want to see if it was the
Fukes who killed the agent or if it was Lee.
They hear something behind them and turn with guns
pointed at a seventy year old Woman stepping
through the door.
15. PLUMS AND PEACHES
---------------------
INT: GAMBLING PARLOR-DAY
Chen moves purposefully through the crowded room
but he doesn't stop to play. Instead he strides up to
Henry Lee, grabs him and forcefully pushes him down
the hall and out into the back alley.
INT: GAMBLING PARLOR, STAIRWAY - DAY
He punches Lee to the floor. Lee's Sumo and two other
triad SOLDIERS race into the room, guns drawn, but
hold back from firing because Chen's gun is pointed at
Lee's head.
CHEN
We had a deal.
LEE
You brought him in, not me. I couldn't risk it.
CHEN
I had him under control.
LEE
Says you.
CHEN
Let him go.
LEE
What's done is done. You know that better than
anyone. You want to help him? Smarten him up.
Make sure he doesn't trip over his toes and fuck
both of you. I hear dirty cops have an extra rough
time of it in prison.
Chen looks right into Lee's eyes.
CHEN
I find out you killed that Fed, I'll kill you.
Chen strides from the room, keeping his gun pointed
on target.
EXT: SECOND STREET- DAY
Chen and Wallace move across the street. The mood is
solemn.
CHEN
Wires. You never know who's wearin one so
assume everyone is.
Chen stops at an outdoor fruit stand and samples the goods.
CHEN (cont'd)
Another thing. If you hear something in the precinct
you think we should pass along, always double
check. It could be a bogus tip they wanted you to
hear to see if it got passed along. Black or red plum?
WALLACE
I don't like plums.
CHEN
You don't like plums?
WALLACE
I like peaches.
CHEN
Peaches are shit. Didn't you ever hear that song
Sinatra sang, "Out of the tree of life I just picked
me a plum?"
WALLACE
I don't care if he picked a raisin out of Sammy Davis'
eye socket. I like peaches.
CHEN
Then I'm not paying for it. Chen pays for his plum and
Wallace pays for his peach. Chen stops to watch a bunch
of KIDS playing soccer in the park.
WALLACE
How'd they get to you?
CHEN
I was the first Chinese cop in the Fifteenth.
Thought I was gonna clean up Chinatown. But
white cops wouldn't work with me and the
people wouldn't talk to a cop, Chinese or not. Only
Uncle Benny paid me any attention. He became my
godfather, took care of my debts. Henry Lee was
his lieutenant. He fed me a few busts, made me
look good and I liked it. Then one night my father
walks into a gambling house and ends up dead.
Turns out Lee knew there was a contract on him.
Made it clear he could've told me, I could've
stopped it...Got me thinking I was better at
my job with him, than without him.
The soccer ball rolls over and Chen kicks it back into
the game.
CHEN (cont'd)
And he was right.
Chen takes a bite from his plum as the sound of a
shutter on a 35mm camera clicking stops the action in
beautiful black and white. Suddenly, a hand reaches in
and pulls the photo off the wall.
16. BENNY WONG CUTS A DEAL
--------------------------
INT: FBI HEADQUARTERS HALLWAY -DAY.
Schacker walks briskly through the hallway carrying
the picture and talking on a cordless mouthpiece.
SCHABACKER
It's Schabacker. I want everything you have on a
Detective in the Fifteenth Precinct. His name is Daniel
Wallace...Yeah his old man worked crooked outta the
two five, check on him too.
He rounds a corner and approaches his office where
Benny Wong his lawyer and two Fed minions sit
waiting for him.
INT: SCHABACKER'S OFFICE
He enters, closing the door behind him.
SCHABACKER
Mr. Wong, we're running a one day sale. Chance of
a lifetime. The opportunity to buy your freedom.
Schabacker pulls an audio tape from his desk drawer.
SCHABACKER
This tape was obtained by an agent working
undercover inside the Triad.
It's Cantonese but the look on Wong's face tells us it
isn't good.
LAWYER
The tape is garbage. If it weren't, you would have
arrested my client by now.
Schabacker lays an arrest warrant on the table and
speaks to Wong.
SCHABACKER
Lawyers are always gutsy when it's someone else
looking at life. But I don't want you. I want whoever
killed my agent. I want the cops in the Fifteenth on
your payroll. And I'm willing to pay for it.
INT: FUKIENESE CRASH PAD, BEDROOM - NIGHT
The phone rings as Bobby Vu makes out with a good
looking girl.
BOBBY VU
Hello.
INT: GREEN MERCEDES-SAME NIGHT
Lee rides in back, speaking into his cell-phone.
LEE
Our patience has paid off. Uncle Benny paid a visit to
the F.B.I. His time is over.
INT: FUKIENESE CRASH PAD, LIVING ROOM-SAME NIGHT
The room looks like home to seven teenagers who
drink, do drugs, fight and play with guns all day. Four
of them, including Jack, are on the couch, watching
porno. The bedroom door opens and Bobby Vu enters,
kicking everybody off the couches.
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
Get dressed, we have a job.
JACK
(Fukienese)
What is it?
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
We take care of Benny Wong tonight.
EXT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET-NIGHT
Wallace drives to the curb as Chen looks at the Phone
Company truck parked across the street.
CHEN
My friends are waiting for me.
Wallace glances at the truck.
WALLACE
How long you think the Feds'll be watching us.
CHEN
Month, maybe two.
Chen can see that fact rattles Wallace.
CHEN
I didn't want Lee involving you.
WALLACE
It's not your fault.
CHEN
I didn't say it was. What I'm saying is you're
alone now. You can't trust anybody in the
department. Not the guys in the Fifteenth, not
the guys in the AGU. And you sure as hell can't
trust Henry Lee. So if anything gets sticky, you
come to me.
WALLACE
How do I know I can trust you?
CHEN
You don't.
Chen opens the car door.
WALLACE
I'm glad it's not just me...Nuts huh?
Half of him feels the same way...But the smarter half,
the self preservation half, doesn't.
CHEN
No.
WALLACE
You wanna eat? I'll buy you a plum.
Chen smiles. He wants to, but he closes the door.
CHEN
I got plans.
WALLACE
Some other time.
Wallace drives off as Chen turns and pushes into his
building.
INT: CHEN'S BUILDING, HALLWAY OUTSIDE HIS
APARTMENT-NIGHT
Lying against the door, cold and pasty white, is May.
Chen quickly checks her vitals, then lifts her in his
arms and carries her back outside.
EXT: GAS STATION, QUEENS-NIGHT
The Fukienese crew sit packed into a stolen Buick
Regal as one of the boys pumps unleaded into the
tank. Jack in the middle of the back seat fidgets like
an inmate on death row.
JACK
(Fukienese)
I gotta take a leak.
Bobby Vu looks at him with the impatience of a killer.
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
Hurry up.
Jack climbs out the door. He crosses the forty yards
of asphalt and moves behind the filling station to the
side of the building.
EXT: GAS STATION PAYPHONE - NIGHT
He stops at a payphone nestled between the men's
and lady's rooms. His hands tremble as he slides in
the quarter and dials the number off Chen's card. He
checks the number of the phone, punches it in along
with his code. He hits the pound key, hangs up and
waits.
INT: HUDSON ST CLINIC: HOSPITAL ROOM -NIGHT
The population, STAFF and CLIENTELE, is mostly Asian,
Spanish, and poor. The pace is fast and the care
minimal by necessity.
Behind a curtain, May lies sleeping, I.V. tubing
supplying nutrition, an oxygen mask supplying life.
Chen watches her when his pager goes off. He checks
the number, recognizing the pager code he gave Jack
as a young DOCTOR enters the area.
DOCTOR
She's lucky you found her.
CHEN
I want you to write her up as deceased.
DOCTOR
Nick.
CHEN
She recovers, she goes to work. Two weeks
she's back here, maybe not so lucky.
DOCTOR
You're asking a lot.
Chen reaches into his pocket and pulls out ten
hundred dollar bills. The Doctor thinks, then takes the
money.
CHEN
Let her stay a few days, till she's stronger.
Then I'll come get her.
Chen looks at May then slips outside.
EXT: GAS STATION, PAYPHONE- NIGHT
BOBBY VU (O.S.)
(Fukienese)
What the fuck are you doing?
Jack spins and calls on every ounce of strength he
has to keep from turning white.
JACK
(Fukienese)
I'm sick. I wasn't sure if I had to go back inside
or not.
Bobby Vu starts to smile...until the phone rings. Then
he just stares at Jack, who ignores the ringing phone.
JACK
I'm alright. Let's go.
Bobby stops him...and picks up the phone. He puts the
receiver to his ear, but doesn't say a word.
INT: HUDSON STREET CLINIC-SAME (NIGHT)
Chen stands at a payphone and almost speaks, but
the silence on the other end of the line stops him.
EXT: GAS STATION, PAYPHONE-NIGHT
Jack's legs nearly buckle as Bobby Vu keeps the
phone to his ear. The wait is agony, but gets
interrupted when Black Eyes walks up.
GANGSTER
What're you doing?
INT: HUDSON STREET CLINIC-NIGHT
Chen hears the voices through the phone line and
realizes something's not right.
CHEN
Is this Domino's Pizza?
EXT: GAS STATION, PAYPHONE-NIGHT
Jack continues to watch Bobby Vu, who hangs up
without saying a word. Slowly, a smile curls his lips.
BOBBY VU
(Fukienese)
Jack thought he was gonna shit his pants.
He puts an arm around his soldier and leads him to
the Buick.
INT: HUDSON STREET CLINIC-NIGHT
Chen hangs up the phone. He stands a moment, then
takes a pen from his pocket and writes down the
number on the pager.
EXT: BENNY WONG'S HOUSE, FLUSHING QUEENS-NIGHT
Chinatown Two and definitely the nicest. An upper
income, suburban neighborhood populated by
American-born Chinese.
Out front of the gated corner house is the Bobby Vu's
car. The Fukeniese fan out around the walls
surrounding the property.
INT: BENNY WONG'S BEDROOM-NIGHT
Benny Wong sits in a club chair watching an episode
of Sinbad when he hears the KRAK KRAK KRAK of
gunfire coming from inside his house.
He quickly searches his desk drawer finding a .38
caliber pistol. He turns toward the door and freezes
as he looks into the eyes of Bobby Vu and the other
three Fukienese who point submachine guns at his
chest. Bobby Vu smiles....Benny Wong stares at him.
BENNY WONG
You're not man enough to kill me.
In a flash, Benny brings the revolver to his temple
and shoots himself. Bobby Vu looks at the old man
lying dead.
BOBBY VU
We kill you anyway.
The four youths open up, turning Benny Wong into
hamburger.
INT: BENNY WONG'S BATHROOM-NIGHT
The door opens and Bobby Vu enters. He lifts the lid
and begins to pee unaware of MRS. WONG who lies
paralyzed with fear in the bathtub.
She tries to lie quietly as he unzips his pants. The
sound of liquid hitting liquid mixes with the faint cry
of police sirens in the distance.
He finishes, takes one step toward the exit then turns
and begins firing into the glass shower door. He stops.
Walks through the smoke filled room and stands over
Mrs. Wong, alive, but cut to pieces in the bottom of
the tub. He looks down at her and nonchalantly points
his gun at her chest. She begins to cry as he pulls the
trigger.
17. A LITTLE HELP FROM NICK
---------------------------
EXT: WORTH STREET-DAY
HENRY LEE stands outside his restaurant greeting
people who pay respects to him as though it were a
coronation.
Ung, Wallace and Chen buy frozen ices from a street
cart trying to make a buck in the ninety degree heat.
WALLACE
You been able to reach Jack yet?
Chen shakes his head.
CHEN
Paged him fifty times and nothing. He's hidin.
WALLACE
Think he was calling about the hit?
CHEN
He was on it.
Wallace looks at all the people greeting Lee.
WALLACE
Nobody seems too upset.
CHEN
Except them.
Across the way, they see an FBI surveillance VAN.
UNG
Fuckin Feds...Dumb shit brings Benny Wong into
the federal building, should've just taken an ad
out in the papers.
They suck on their freeze bars when Chen notices
three little CHINESE kids looking at the ice cream.
Chen looks at the kids.
CHEN
You stay in school?
The kids nod. Chen hands the vendor a ten.
CHEN
Set 'em up.
The youngsters clamor for the ices.
WALLACE
Whatdaya think Lee's gonna do about the Fuke's
now that he's top dog?
CHEN
He's made his deal with the Fukes.
WALLACE
What are we going to do?
CHEN
I know what I want to do.
Chen stares at Lee with complete hate.
INT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT, OUTSIDE THE AGU OFFICES-DAY
Through the glass door we see Wallace and Ung catch
up on paperwork as Detective Deng comes through it,
into the hall where the coffee machine sits. She pours
black coffee into a thirty-ounce cup, then hits it with
a half dozen sugars. Chen walks up.
CHEN
Planning on staying up for a month?
DENG
Wait till you have a baby...Did you hear?
CHEN
Hear what?
DENG
I've heard the FEDS have a case against someone in
the Fifteenth.
This gets Chen's attention, but he tries to dismiss it.
CHEN
I've heard that every month for ten years.
Deng presses, like she's trying to tell Chen something
more.
DENG
So have I, but this time I hear they have tapes,
photos, the whole nine yards. They're pissed off
about their agent and Benny Wong getting killed
and they want to hang somebody for it.
Chen nods to his partner as she heads back to her
desk. Chen thinks for a moment, then looks through
the glass at Wallace working away.
INT: GAMBLING PARLOR-DAY
Chen enters the underground parlor. But today it's
empty, except for Henry Lee, the Sumo, two other
triad soldiers and the dealer from last nights
gambling. Lee is here to collect his cut. His minions
immediately frisk Chen and take his guns from him.
CHEN
Think I have a reason to use them?
LEE
I'm not sure. Lately you've forgotten that what
happens to me, happens to you.
Lee makes sure Chen gets the message.
CHEN
The Feds are making a case against Wallace. We need
to cut him loose.
LEE
You're nervous. You're getting soft in your old age.
CHEN
The only thing going soft is your brain.
The Sumo smashes Chen into the wall and down to the
ground.
LEE
Personal attacks are going to get us nowhere,
Detective.
Chen can barely breathe, let alone get to his feet.
LEE
But I'll tell you what. I'll take your advice to a
point. I'll sever any traceable ties between
us...and give Wallace a few arrests to knock the
shoo- flies off his heels.
Lee and his men start for the door, then stop.
LEE
I almost forgot in all this hub-bub.
He peels several bills from his takings and drops it on
the floor.
LEE
Today's payday for dirty cops. Make sure you give
Wallace his cut.
He smiles and walks out the door. Chen, still on the
ground, watches him go...then picks up the money.
EXT: FIFTEENTH PRECINCT-DAY
Chen walks up Elizabeth Street toward the station
entrance when he sees Wallace hurrying out of the
building.
CHEN
Wallace.
The young cop either ignores the sound or didn't hear
it, cause he heads straight for a patrol car parked at
the back of the police lot. Chen yells after him.
CHEN
Where're you going?
Wallace stops, lets Chen catch up.
WALLACE
(making sure he's not overheard)
Lee's not covering my old man with the
Italians. I gotta move him.
He starts towards his car.
CHEN
I told him to.
WALLACE
Why the hell'd you do that?
CHEN
Because the Feds are building a case against
you.
The words hit Wallace like a jack hammer.
WALLACE
How do you know?
CHEN
I know. And if they nab you it'll take three
seconds for you to give them me.
WALLACE
I wouldn't...
CHEN
Yes you would...And so would I.
Wallace turns away. Watches some cops heading off
duty.
CHEN
I'm not saying it's fatal. Point now is to cover
tracks and keep everything clean on the
surface. And when they call you in, keep your
mouth shut.
WALLACE
I wish I never got into this.
Chen can't help feeling sorry for him.
CHEN
You and me both.
Chen reaches into his pocket and takes out the money
he got from Lee, careful that no one sees him. He
peels off several bills.
CHEN
This is your cut from Lee.
Three grand.
Wallace looks at Chen. He doesn't want to touch the
money...but he needs it. So he slips it into his jacket.
WALLACE
I gotta get to the hospital.
CHEN
Where're you gonna move him?
WALLACE
I don't know.
Chen looks at him, then holds out the rest of the
money.
CHEN
This'll cover your old man.
WALLACE
I can't.
CHEN
Just take it.
Wallace hesitates, but takes the money.
WALLACE
Thanks.
CHEN
Remember. Don't say anything. Let me deal with
the Feds. Alright?
Wallace nods and heads for his car.
INT: AMY SAN'S BEDROOM, BROOKLYN-DAY
Jack and Amy watch TV when Chen breaks in the
window beside them. Jack grabs for his gun but Chen
pins his arm to the wall.
CHEN
Hard to find, Jack.
Chen grabs Jack's gun and slides it into his own belt.
CHEN
Tell her to take in a movie.
Jack utters a few words in Fukienese and the young
girl grabs her clothes and hurries out of the room.
JACK
I wanted to call. I couldn't.
CHEN
Now I'm here. So what did you want to tell me about
Benny Wong?
EXT: JACOBI HOSPITAL, BRONX-LATER (DAY)
Wallace stops in the no parking section in front of the
clinic. He pops the "police tag" on the dash, gets out
and heads inside.
EXT: JACOBI HOSPITAL STREET - DAY
Across the street, two FEDS snap photos of Wallace
from a van.
INT: JACOBI HOSPITAL, BRONX- DAY
Wallace approaches the front desk when someone
calls his name.
VOICE (O.S.)
Daniel Wallace.
Wallace turns and sees the two Feds moving toward
him. He quickly hands the envelope to the RECEPTIONIST.
WALLACE
Would you pass this letter to my father in room 409?
Sean Wallace.
Before she can answer, the Feds are on him flashing
badges as the larger Agent reaches for Wallace's gun.
WALLACE (cont'd)
Back off.
LARGE AGENT
Don't be an asshole.
He again reaches for Wallace's gun but Wallace
pushes him off.
WALLACE
You don't touch my gun or my badge dipshit. I work
in the Fifteenth.
Wallace stares at the two agents.
SMALLER AGENT
Fine. Let's just get out of here quietly. There's a
couple questions we'd like to ask you.
Wallace continues to stare, then...
WALLACE
My father.
AGENT
We'll have someone on his door.
After a moment, Wallace turns to the flustered
Receptionist holding the envelope.
WALLACE
Thank you.
He then walks toward the door with the two Feds
behind him.
INT: AMY SAN'S BEDROOM, BROOKLYN-SAME (DAY)
Chen leans against the wall as Jack puts on his
clothes.
CHEN
Then everybody split up?
JACK
Yeah.
CHEN
Good. You're under arrest.
JACK
What?!
Chen slaps on the cuffs and turns the kid around.
CHEN
You're gonna tell the Feds you've been working with
Wallace and me. That the hit on Benny Wong was
Fukienese and you're eager to testify against
Bobby Vu. Do it right and I'll back you on trying to
tip me before the hit. Do it wrong, I'll go out of my
way to bury you.
Chen hustles the kid out the door.
18. WALLACE'S SECRET
--------------------
INT: SCHABACKER'S OFFICE, FEDERAL BUILDING-DAY
Wallace sits alone in the office looking at the stack of
photos depicting his actions over the past few days.
He also sees photos of Chen with May. He looks at the
young girl and recognizes her from the raid on the
Ginza Massage.
He looks up as a pissed off Schabacker and NYPD
Internal Affairs Inspector Vince Kirpatrick enter the
tiny room.
SCHABACKER
Why the fuck didn't you tell me you were Internal
Affairs?
WALLACE
Confidential undercover assignment. The key word
being confidential. Which nothing in the Bureau is.
SCHABACKER
Fuck you.
KIRPATRICK
Nobody knows except a few of us in IA. Not even
the commanding officer in the Fifteenth knows.
SCHABACKER
Well now I know.
Schabacker looks at Wallace.
SCHABACKER
A bagman's kid, Internal Affairs. You're old man
must think you're a real scumbag.
WALLACE
I know what he thinks of Feds.
SCHABACKER
Yeah, yeah. So what have you got on Chen?
WALLACE
This isn't a federal case. So there's no reason to
tell you anything.
SCHABACKER
Yes, there is. Cause from where I'm sitting it looks
to me like a young, I.A. rat went under to build a case
against Nick Chen and ended up working for him.
KIRPATRICK
You're reaching.
SCHABACKER
Enjoying for himself the Chinatown whores and a
little financial assistance to help with a family
gambling problem.
KIRPATRICK
Don't even start with that.
One of the arresting Agents enters the room.
SCHABACKER
I'll start and finish with it unless somebody hands
me Chen.
AGENT
He's here.
SCHABACKER
Who's here?
AGENT
Chen.
INT: CONFERENCE ROOM, FEDERAL BUILDING-CONTINUOUS (DAY)
Chen and Jack sit as Schabacker enters the room.
CHEN
Hello, Pete.
SCHABACKER
Hello, Nick...Who's your friend?
CHEN
A snitch of Wallace's and mine. He's an eye witness
to the Benny Wong murder.
Schabacker sits back into his chair and offers Chen
some nuts.
SCHABACKER
Cashews?
They both sit, munching their nuts.
SCHABACKER
Eye witness...And you brought him here to me?
Why?
CHEN
You know why.
The two cops sit looking at one another.
INT: SCHABACKER'S OFFICE, FEDERAL BUILDING-LATER (DAY)
The same crew as before sit when Schabacker re-enters.
SCHABACKER
My compliments, Wallace. You must've sunk your
hooks into Chen pretty good.
WALLACE
What'd he want?
SCHABACKER
To trade for you.
KIRPATRICK
He said that?
SCHABACKER
Not in so many words. He brought that Fuke snitch
of yours who rode shotgun on the Benny Wong killing.
He gives me the eye witness, I call off the FBI
investigation on Wallace. Wallace feels more like a
shit as Schabacker talks.
KIRPATRICK
What'd you tell him?
SCHABACKER
I told him fine. We're puttin the kid on the
street to get the rest of the Fukes on tape talking
about the hit on Benny Wong. And in return, I'm
not going to press charges against young Wallace
here.
WALLACE
Is he still here?
SCHABACKER
He took off.
Schabacker leans back in his chair and smiles at
Wallace.
SCHABACKER
You gotta promise me I can be there when you
break the bad news to Chen. That's gonna be
priceless.
Wallace feels a heavy weight lay across his shoulders.
EXT: SOUTHERN MANHATTAN-NIGHT
Establishing. Clouds drift over the city making the
familiar landmarks almost unrecognizable.
INT: WALLACE APARTMENT, BEDROOM-NIGHT
Wallace opens a safe box he has on the bed. Inside
are audio tapes. Dates and names written across the
labels. Chen's on most. Lee on others. He grabs a
blank tape and pops it into a recorder.
He crosses to a mirror, opens his belt hides the
recorder in his underpants. He buckles up and runs a
wire up his chest. He gently tapes it to the inside of
his shirt, then buttons up.
He tucks in the shirt tails and repositions the
recorder. Finished, he stares at himself. Not liking
what he sees.
SEAN WALLACE
Your wire's showin.
Wallace turns and sees his father leaning against the
doorway. Sean walks over and roughly fixes his son's
shirt. Wallace pulls away and fixes it himself.
SEAN WALLACE
How long you been I.A.?
WALLACE
First assignment.
SEAN WALLACE
Quickest way to a gold shield.
Wallace doesn't say a word.
SEAN WALLACE
And all you've got to do is bury your partner. The guy
who shoved ten grand in your fist to back your play.
Wallace looks at his father, wonders how he knows.
SEAN WALLACE (cont'd)
I figure you ain't worth much to the chinks yet,
so this must be Chen's money.
Wallace's lack of a response tells his father he's right.
SEAN WALLACE (cont'd)
And you're gonna bury him. And for what? Turning his
head and makin a few dollars.
WALLACE
I know that wouldn't mean much to you. Lyin and
cheatin are what you're made of.
SEAN WALLACE
And it's a hell of a lot better than what you're
made of.
WALLACE
You don't know what I'm made of. It's the one thing
I should thank you for, your lack of interest.
SEAN WALLACE
Yeah you've been real honest with your partner.
Wallace looks away from his father.
WALLACE
End justifies the means.
SEAN WALLACE
The end is bullshit. The means are what you live
with.
Sean reaches into his jacket, holds out Chen's money
and tosses it on the floor.
SEAN WALLACE
Keep it. I don't want anything from you.
Sean Wallace turns out of the room. His son looks
back in the mirror and does a last adjustment on his
wire.
He then reaches for the cologne on the dresser,
splashes some into his palm and hurls the bottle
against the wall.
INT: GAMBLING PARLOR - LATER (NIGHT)
The joint is packed. At a center table Chen is teaching
Wallace and two beauties named KIM and TAI, the
finer points of Pai Gou. One of the girl's got a hot hand
and can't seem to make a wrong move.
CHEN
Unbelievable.
WALLACE
What are we doing here?
CHEN
Celebrating. You just got off death row.
INT: HOTEL SUITE - LATER (NIGHT)
The foursome slide into the dimly lit room with
bottles of champagne in tow. Chen and Kim are
already halfway to one of the bedrooms before
Wallace has the door locked.
He turns and Tai has herself draped over him with her
hands headed for his crotch. He holds her off,
conscious of the recorder.
WALLACE
Wait, wait, wait.
She looks at him confused.
TAI
You don't like me?
Wallace looks at the beauty and kisses her full on the
mouth.
WALLACE
I got to go to the bathroom first.
INT: HOTEL BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS (NIGHT)
Wallace, drunk, locks the door behind him. He splashes
water on his face, then glances up at himself in the
mirror.
WALLACE
What the fuck're you doin?
He then takes off the wire and removes the recorder
from his shorts. He takes off his jacket, puts the
device in the inside pocket and rolls it up.
INT: HOTEL LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
He heads back into the living room but Tai isn't there.
He walks toward the bedroom and peeks inside.
INT: HOTEL BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lying on the bed is Tai and Kim.
WALLACE
Where's Nick?
KIM
He left. He said he wanted you to be very happy.
She dims the lights. Wallace hesitates, then drops his
jacket and walks toward the bed. He climbs between
the women and closes his eyes.
19. THE SNARE IS SET
--------------------
EXT: PEARL STREET-NIGHT
Henry Lee and the Sumo move across the street and
descend through a loading door in the sidewalk.
INT: BASEMENT-CONTINUOUS (NIGHT)
Lee and the Sumo reach a door and the Sumo knocks.
Jack answers and lets them inside.
INT: FUKIENESE CRASH PAD - PEARL STREET - NIGHT
A dozen Fukienese are there, from Bobby Vu to the
newest groupie.
LEE
The police are running in circles on the unfortunate
death of Uncle Benny.
Jack tries to slowly position himself near Lee and
Bobby Vu.
BOBBY VU
We want money. We didn't kill him for nothing.
LEE
It's time to bring the cargo ship to port and unload our
freight. One hundred eighty-six, at forty thousand a
piece. I'd say that's a nice start to our relationship,
wouldn't you?
INT: HOTEL, BEDROOM - MORNING (DAY)
Clock reads five AM. Wallace lies unconscious on the
bed. Near the door, Kim takes the money from his
wallet as Tai pulls the crumpled bills from his pants.
She grabs his jacket, unrolls it and checks every
pocket. She stops when she hits the recorder.
They whisper intently to each other, then quickly
return the recorder and the money to where they
found them. Within seconds they're gone.
INT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - MORNING (DAY)
Chen carries a tray with soup and tea toward the bed
where May rests.
CHEN
(Cantonese)
How you feeling?
MAY
(Cantonese)
Good.
Chen pours the tea and she reaches out to touch his
hand.
MAY
(Cantonese)
Thank you.
Chen looks at her, then hands her the cup. He watches
her drink...then finally speaks.
CHEN
(Cantonese)
You have family here, friends?
MAY
(Cantonese)
No one. Everybody home...everybody.
Chen watches the tears fall from May's eyes as she
drinks and thinks of home.
INT: BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, LARGE OFFICE - MORNING
(DAY)
Lee sits behind a large desk when Chen sits across
from him.
CHEN
Only time I was ever in here I was talking to
Benny Wong.
LEE
He was a great man.
CHEN
You'd know better than anyone.
LEE
But even a great man can out last his time.
Chen studies Lee and lights a smoke.
LEE
I've got something for you. Should quiet any
doubts as to Wallace's character...The Fukes are
bringing in a highly valuable cargo by ship.
CHEN
That was a short partnership.
LEE
Bobby Vu will be on-site supervising the unloading.
Take the Fukes and half the shipment. I'll keep the
other half.
CHEN
You're getting greedy.
LEE
I'm an American.
INT: HOTEL BEDROOM - AFTERNOON
Clock reads 1pm. Wallace is still sleeping in the dark
when sunlight explodes throughout the room with a
WHOOSH!
CHEN
Let's go. We got to pick up Jack and deliver him to the
Feds.
WALLACE
What time is it?
CHEN
Time for a shower. You stink.
Chen lifts the mattress, spilling Wallace out of the
bed. He then pops a cig into his mouth and checks his
pants for a match...None.
CHEN
You got a match?
Chen picks up Wallace's jacket and reaches into one
of the pockets. Wallace's eyes snap to attention as he
quickly grabs a book of matches from the ashtray on
the night stand.
WALLACE
Here.
He tosses the pack and Chen catches it. Wallace
watches him drop the jacket to the floor. His heart
skips when he hears a tink as the recorder hits the
tile...Chen doesn't notice.
CHEN
You know you were right.
WALLACE
About what?
Wallace crosses over, picks up his clothes.
CHEN
I wish it was neither of us. But truth is, I'm glad it's
not just me.
Wallace looks at Chen, then heads for the bathroom.
INT: BLUE EMPRESS CAFE - AFTERNOON
Tai and Kim talk to the Sumo who's sullen expression
grows darker. He hands each girl a c-note and
disappears into the cafe.
INT: FEDERAL BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM-LATE
AFTERNOON
Wallace, Chen and Jack sit waiting.
CHEN
You sure it was Henry Lee?
JACK
It was him.
Chen looks at Wallace as Schabacker and a middle-
aged WOMAN with short red hair enter the room.
SCHABACKER
Everybody knows U.S. Attorney Margaret Wheeler?
MARGARET
The tape is good. Probably enough for convictions on
Bobby Vu and the rest. But I think we hold off until
they make their move to bring in the illegal
shipment. We bust 'em on the ship. Then we go for
the murder charge, the smuggling rap and with
Jack here connecting the dots to an ongoing criminal
enterprise, we meet our racketeering requirements
and get life sentences.
CHEN
What about Henry Lee?
SCHABACKER
What about him, Nick?
Wallace watches Schabacker play with Chen. He
doesn't like it.
CHEN
Do we have a case, Pete?
MARGARET
There's enough to drag him before a grand jury,
but it's gonna be his word against their word
and he'll win. We wait till after the shipment
comes in, then the tape's got merit.
SCHABACKER
What do you think, Danny?
Wallace looks at Schabacker, who's smiling through it
all.
WALLACE
It's Margaret's call.
MARGARET
Then we wait. Everybody's on around the clock.
As soon as Jack finds out when delivery is set,
we'll reconvene and organize the arrest. Margaret
is first out of her seat.
SCHABACKER
Nick...after we bust the Fukes, you, Danny and me
should get together... Bury the hatchet. What do you
think?
CHEN
I can't wait.
SCHABACKER
Me neither. How 'bout you, Dan? You up for it?
Schabacker smiles at Wallace.
WALLACE
Sure.
Wallace pushes past Schabacker and strides out of
the room.
20. NICK LEARNS THE TRUTH
-------------------------
INT: CROWN VICTORIA-DAY
Chen and Wallace cruise Chinatown in the big blue
Ford. Both men drive without saying a word.
CHEN
What do you think about Lee?
WALLACE
I think if Jack's tape buries him it's his fault for
trying to be too smart for his own good.
CHEN
And how long you think it'll take him to trade for us?
WALLACE
You thirsty? I'm thirsty.
Wallace pulls the car in front of a fire hydrant and
tosses the police tag on the dash.
INT: JIMMY LOO'S - CONTINUOUS DAY
Wallace and Chen pull up stools as the BARTENDER
crosses over.
CHEN
Bacardi and Coke.
WALLACE
Bud. I'm buying.
Wallace puts his money on the bar. Both men seem to
have something on their minds.
CHEN
I gave that Fed to Lee.
Wallace looks at Chen.
WALLACE
I know.
The bartender brings the drinks. Both wait for the
man to move on.
CHEN
I'm gonna have to answer for him some day.
WALLACE
We all have something to answer for.
CHEN
Yeah.
They sit quietly...until Chen's pager goes off. He
checks the number.
CHEN
Speak of the devil.
WALLACE
Lee?
CHEN
Yeah. Order me another.
Chen picks up his drink and crosses to the phone. He
pumps in a quarter, dials and waits.
CHEN
It's Chen, get me Lee.
Chen finishes the drink as he waits.
LEE (PHONE)
Where've you been. I've been paging you all
morning.
CHEN
What do you want?
LEE (PHONE)
Wallace is Internal Affairs.
Chen feels his stomach tighten, but he's not sure he
got it right.
CHEN
What?
LEE (PHONE)
You heard me.
CHEN
I don't believe it.
LEE (PHONE)
Your girlfriends found a wire on him last night. I
checked it out and the fuck is making a case
against you.
The words hit Chen like a freight train. He stands
speechless. His insides reeling as he looks over at his
partner.
LEE (PHONE)
You there?
CHEN
Yeah.
LEE (PHONE)
Who knows how long he was wired...He's got to go.
Chen's breath grows heavy as his eyes stare vacantly
at Wallace, who's working a beer.
LEE (PHONE)
You kill him tonight.
Chen can't answer either way, he's not even sure if
it's real or a dream.
LEE (PHONE)
The Fukes are taking delivery in one hour. Pier
25 at Port Imperial in Jersey, a ship called the
DORIAN. Take him along and make sure he doesn't
leave the boat...you understand me? I don't
give a shit about the cargo, the Fukes, nothing.
Just make sure Wallace is dead. Are we clear?
Chen doesn't answer, he just keeps looking at
Wallace, who's looking back at him now.
LEE (PHONE)
He'll hang us both.
CHEN
Yeah. I understand.
LEE
Kill him.
Chen hangs up. He looks at Wallace, then pushes
into...
INT: JIMMY LOO'S BATHROOM - DAY
He stands in the tiny room, half looking in the mirror,
half looking nowhere. Eyes darting, mind racing. He
turns on the water and runs it across his face, but it
doesn't really help.
He reaches for a hand towel but it's stuck in the
dispenser. He rips down on the towel with all the
rage, frustration and anger inside him, tearing the
metal dispenser from the wall and slamming it into
the sink, the wall and finally to the ground. He then
tries to steady himself, but he's too upset. But then
his pager goes off. He calms himself, checks the
number...then dials. A voice answers.
CHEN
Jack...slow down...tonight, Pier 25, the Dorian. You did
good, Jack. Where are you?...No, I'll contact the
F.B.I. I want you to stay at your girlfriend's, don't talk
with anyone. After we pick up the others, I'll come for
you.
Chen hangs up. He takes a breath and looks at himself
in the mirror. He runs his hands through his hair and
slowly exits back into the bar.
INT: JIMMY LOO'S -DAY
His eyes stay on Wallace as he crosses the room. Only
now they look like he wants to kill him right there. He
sits beside his partner.
WALLACE
Get a hold of him?
Chen takes a healthy gulp from his new drink.
CHEN
Yeah.
WALLACE
Did you tell him about the tape?
CHEN
No.
WALLACE
What'd he want?
Chen looks directly into Wallace's eyes. It takes him a
moment to get the words out of his throat.
CHEN
He wanted to tell me that the Fuke's are picking up
their shipment in an hour, in Jersey.
WALLACE
Shit, we gotta move. Did you call the Feds?
CHEN
Yeah. They're going to meet us there.
Chen finishes his drink and the two cops cross for the
door.
21. THE SHIPYARD
----------------
EXT: PORT IMPERIAL, DOCK 25-DUSK
A huge container ship sits silently at dock. We
focus closer on the Wheelhouse.
EXT: DOCK - NIGHT
Through night vision goggles we see the
adjacent parking lot. All seems calm at the
moment.
INT: WHEELHOUSE - NIGHT
Chen stands quietly in the darkness looking
through the night vision goggles.
CHEN
No sign of anybody.
He turns and hands the goggles to Wallace.
CHEN (cont'd)
Have a look.
Wallace takes up the post as Chen steps back into the
shadows.
WALLACE
Lee said an hour, right?
CHEN
Yeah...still nothin'?
WALLACE
Nope.
CHEN
You sure?
WALLACE
Yup...all clear.
There's a long pause. We watch Chen's face turn to
stone.
CHEN
How about Internal Affairs?
Wallace flinches but covers.
WALLACE
What?
CHEN
I forgot to mention it. Lee thinks they're making a
case against someone in the fifteenth.
WALLACE
(while continuing looking through the goggles)
Who?!
CHEN
He didn't know. Maybe it's just a rumour. You hear
anything?
Wallace is about to answer when he sees a
tractor trailer pull into the lot.
WALLACE
They're here. Take a look.
He turns to give the goggles to Chen.
CHEN
No- you keep watching. We've got to let 'em lead
us to the cargo.
EXT: CONTAINER SHIP - NIGHT
Through the goggles we Bobby Vu and the others
be met by a shipman and led to the far end of
the boat.
WALLACE
They're heading away from us.
INT: WHEELHOUSE - NIGHT
Chen quietly cocks his gun and points it at the back of
Wallace's head.
CHEN
What would you do if you knew I.A. had a case
against you? Would you run?
WALLACE
(increasingly uncomfortable)
I don't know what I'd do. What would you do?
Wallace is unaware of Chen standing directly
behind him, sweat building on his face- ready to
pull the trigger.
CHEN
You mean after I killed whoever ratted on me?
Wallace's blood turns to ice. He lowers the goggles,
turns slowly and comes face to face with the barrel
of Chen's gun. It's instantly clear Chen knows all.
CHEN
You should have let me die in the car that day. At
least then I die a cop.
WALLACE
You are a cop- a good cop. And I'll tell anyone who
asks.
Chen hesitates. Not sure what to believe.
CHEN
And you?
WALLACE
I don't know what I am. All I know is you saved me
and you saved my father. My life is really yours to
do with as you wish.
His words hang heavy in the air...and then Chen fires. But
not at Wallace. He fires past his head, through the glass
of the wheel house and hits the FUKENESE gangster who
was about to blow them away with an assault rifle. A
beat, and automatic fire comes from another window,
spraying the wheelhouse with hot metal.
Wallace takes out the shooter as Chen flies out the door.
Momentarily dazed, Wallace recovers, scrambles
to his feet- looks around, but Chen has disappeared.
INT/EXT: FUNNEL CHAMBER - NIGHT
Wallace enters slowly and traverses the three
storey high metal grate walkways. WE HEAR only
the clank of his feet as he descends deep into
the ship.
INT: ELECTRICAL ROOM - NIGHT
Chen moves stealthily passed the huge humming
generators, slowly approaching each blind
curve. HE HEARS what sounds like the distant cry
of an infant. He keeps moving
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE P.O.V. - NIGHT
We see Chen move through the room towards
the exit. An arm carrying an UZI passes in front
of the camera.
INT: ANCHOR ROOM - NIGHT
Wallace cocks his ear to the same sound as he
moves through the room dominated by the giant
chains that connect to the lowered anchors. Just
at that moment a Fuke moves out from behind
the casing and gets off a shot that cuts right
through Wallace's left hand. He yelps in pain as
he takes cover, rips the sleeve of his shirt to
stem the bleeding, then waits for the Fuke to
make his move. He does- Wallace stands right up
at him and takes him out in a fierce exchange.
INT: ENGINE ROOM FIRST FLOOR - NIGHT
The cavernous energy center of the ship. Four
storey's high. A cacophony of the brute force of
the engines and the steel walkways that
encircle them.
Chen comes out on the bottom level. All seems
quiet, except for what seems like the distant
hum of human whispering. He moves slowly out
into the open. The place seems empty until
suddenly a shape appears on the metal catwalk
two storey's above. He turns with lightening
speed- points, ready to shoot at...Wallace.
There's a tense standoff. Neither wants to lower
their weapon first. The sound of distant
murmuring grows louder until suddenly the
standoff is ended by a common enemy. Wallace
whips around and sends a fuke who was about
to shoot him flying back against a wall. Chen
suddenly finds a Fuke charging down metal
stairs towards him. He blasts him before he can
get a shot off- the Fukes lifeless body
toboganning down to land at Chen's feet.
One holdout, BLACK EYES, equipped with an AK47
on the top floor will not be taken out. Like some
madman on crack he sprays crazily in every
direction until finally Chen just goes for it
stepping out into the open and pummeling BLACK
EYES with bullets. A pipe behind the Fuke
explodes with steam, enveloping Black eyes who
falls limply onto a vertical crane. Chen and
Wallace relax a beat and then BANG! Black Eyes
is up and charging Wallace. Chen is faster,
spraying him with everything left in his weapon,
hitting and igniting a fuel pipe which spills out
it's fiery liquid setting BLACK EYES aflame. The
dying Fuke grabs onto some hanging rope and in
a last defiant act, swings down the three
storeys all the time firing and coming almost
face to face with Chen before being finally
silenced- his incinerated corpse landing at
Chen's feet.
Wallace scans the area while he descends the
stairs towards Chen. There are no Fukes in sight.
The human murmuring grows louder. Without
speaking, Chen and Wallace move towards the
source of the sounds.
INT: PASSAGEWAY ANTEROOM - NIGHT
Chen and Wallace move slowly down the few
steps to a heavy steel door beyond which the
sounds seems to emanate. With silent gestures
they work like the partners they've become.
Wallace opening the door and stepping back,
covering Chen as he makes his move.
INT: PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT
Nothing could have prepared them for what they
find on the other side of the door. There, as far
as the eye can see, running the entire length of
the ship, is the cargo Lee awarded the Fuke's.
Several hundred illegal Chinese immigrants
huddled together in unspeakable conditions,
stuffed into a tiny opening that resemble's an
endless train compartment. Their dark vacant
eyes stare back at the shocked cops who move
cautiously through the passageway. It doesn't
take long for the remaining Fuke's to make their
presence known with a bullet destined for Chen,
and intercepted by the back of an innocent
young male immigrant.
Chen, Wallace and the desperate group of
illegals flatten themselves against the sides of
the corridor. SILENCE
Chen steps out quickly as if to take a shot, but
it's a sucker punch as he immediately tucks
himself back in then out again just in time to
duck the bullet from a Fuke and plant his own
squarely in the gangster's chest.
Chen ducks back behind the steel separators
that occur about every twenty feet in the
passageway. Wallace is one "compartment"
back. A young boy, no more than six years old,
drifts out into harm's way. Wallace reaches out
quickly and pulls him to his side. While Wallace
keeps quard, the kid holds onto his hand and
begins to sympathetically rub his bandage- his
eyes pleading for salvation of any kind. Chen
looks back sees this and Wallace's empathic
reaction to pat the young kid on the head. Chen
hesitates a second, then...
CHEN
(whisper)
Wallace...
Wallace snaps to. Chen indicates for him to
follow as he sprints out and moves quickly down
the narrow tunnel past the endless collection of
immigrant pawns. We see their desperation not
only in their faces, but in their pathetic little
bundles that contain all their worldly
belongings. They mutter Cantonese pleas.
CHEN AND WALLACE
(Cantonese)
Quiet...quiet.
They come to a stop. Listen a moment to the
silence.
WALLACE
Maybe that's all of them.
CHEN
Bobby Vu's here, and he'll never leave without us.
WALLACE
Without you.
Wallace moves out quickly out into the
passageway as if taunting Vu to make his move.
He stops two compartments down. Chen is one
compartment behind. They exchange looks. Chen
indicates to "stay put".
Wallace peaks out from behind the steel. One of
the oldest women in the hold, a grandmotherly
face of China, motions for
Wallace to come closer.
GRANDMOTHERLY TYPE
(Cantonese)
Come here, boy. Come to me.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
What?
GRANDMOTHERLY TYPE
(Cantonese)
I know where they are.
WALLACE
Where?
GRANDMOTHERLY TYPE
Come here.
Chen watches as Wallace moves out and
approaches the woman. Suddenly the image
goes into hyper slo-mo. We see the woman
mouthing the Cantonese words for "come here".
Back on Chen, there suddenly something wrong.
He looks closely at the old woman, and then,
operating purely on instinct, he races forward.
CHEN
NO!!!!!
Just as Wallace steps up to the woman, CHEN
pushes Wallace aside and takes the automatic
fire that Bobby Vu shoots from behind an
innocent skirt. Wallace immediately raises his
gun and fires two in the chest and one in the
head. Just like Chen taught him. Bobby Vu's body
hits the floor with a thud. Dead.
Wallace looks down at Chen as the blood begins
spreading out around him. Quickly, he kneels
beside his partner, gathers him in his arm and
tries to control the bleeding, but the wound is
deep. He turns toward a commotion at the
entrance to the tunnel and sees a bunch of Feds
and uniforms heading towards him.
WALLACE
Bring a stretcher!! (to Chen) Come on, hang on.
CHEN
Shit.
Chen tries to catch his breath, but he can't seem to.
WALLACE
You're alright. You're OK.
Chen's body spasms from the pain.
WALLACE
I'm sorry.
Chen grabs hold of Wallace's hand.
CHEN
Who sends a white cop undercover in Chinatown?
Wallace looks into Chen's eyes. He's fading in and out.
WALLACE
(leaning close)
Nick...can ya hear me?
CHEN
(barely conscious)
Mmmm...
WALLACE
Nick...it's just you and me...I'm your partner.
A tiny smile escapes from Chen just before he loses
consciousness and is surrounded by an EMS team.
22. FINAL HONOR
---------------
INT: HOSPITAL CORRIDOR-DAY
Kirpatrick, a manila envelope in his hand, rushes down the hallway
with Schabacker.
They hurry to the Intensive Care ward stopping outside a room where
a uniformed OFFICER stands guard. Through the window in the door
they can see Wallace leaning close to Chen who lies motionless in the
bed.
SCHABACKER
(to the OFFICER)
Get Wallace out here.
The Officer doesn't move so Schabacker pulls out his FBI badge and
shoves it close to the cops face.
SCHABACKER
Now.
The Officer gets up slowly from his chair as the door swings open and
Wallace exits from the room. He looks at the two men then starts
down the hall when Kirpatrick slaps him across the chest with the
manila envelope.
KIRPATRICK
What's this bullshit?
WALLACE
Exactly what it says. That after a month
long investigation, there's no evidence to
support any charges against Lt. Nicholas
Chen.
SCHABACKER
You think you can get away with this
forget it. He's responsible for the death of
a Federal Agent.
An ICU team races down the hall and charges into Chen's room.
WALLACE
Chen's dead.
Schabacker and Kirpatrick don't say a word.
WALLACE
And no matter what you believe, the
officer in that room died a good cop.
Wallace looks them in the eye, then pushes past them and continues
down the hall.
INT: AMY SAN'S APARTMENT, BROOKLYN-DAY
Jack opens the door and sees Wallace standing in the doorway.
WALLACE
Time to take care of Henry Lee.
INT: BLUE EMPRESS CAFE-DAY
Lee sits at a table with a white, middle aged MAN in a pin striped suit.
Wallace, Ung and Deng enter the restaurant.
WALLACE
Henry Lee, you're under arrest.
LEE
I'd like to introduce you to my attorney, Mr. Cotten.
UNG
I'd like to introduce you to the inmates at Riker's
Island, but that'll take a few weeks.
LEE
Your optimism is refreshing.
Lee gets up, along with his attorney. He turns to Wallace.
LEE
I was very saddened to hear about your friend, Lt.
Chen...Oh, I'm sorry, he wasn't your friend after all,
was he? Lee puts on his coat and leans close to
Wallace.
LEE
And I'd like to thank you for killing all the witnesses
against me.
He smiles.
WALLACE
Not all. Not the one who recorded this tape.
Wallace plays a short sample of Jack's tape and the smile fades from
Lee's face...which makes Wallace smile as Deng and Ung lead Lee out
in cuffs.
INT: CHEN'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Wallace sits across from May. He slides an envelope in front of her.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
He wanted you to have this.
She opens the envelope. Inside is a "green card" clearly indicating
"OFFICIAL U.S. RESIDENCY STATUS."
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
And this.
Wallace takes out the envelope of money his father tossed on the
floor and gives it to May who's eyes well with tears.
WALLACE
(Cantonese)
You gonna be alright?
MAY
Yes...thank you.
She gets up and gives Wallace an appreciative kiss on the cheek.
EXT: ELIZABETH STREET-DAY
End credits roll as the NYPD honor and bury their own. In a funeral
procession that draws on traditional Chinese culture as well as
present day police decorum, the men and women who serve and
protect parade down the small Chinatown street in full dress blues.
Banners depicting the face of Nick Chen wave out front as his coffin,
draped in the American flag draws cheers from the people of
Chinatown. And no one louder than Detective Daniel Wallace.
THE END