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Training Day (2001)

by David Ayer. REVISED DRAFT, August 18, 1999.

More info about this movie on IMDb.com


FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY


FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - PREDAWN

In a Simi Valley housing tract.  It's dark.


CLOSE ON ALARM CLOCK

4:59 AM.

WIDER ANGLE:  Eyes glisten in the clock's shine,
patiently watching the time.

BZZZZ!  The ALARM SOUNDS.  A hand that's been hovering
over the clock drops.  Silence.  JAKE HOYT, a fit young
man, rolls over, throws an arm over his sleeping wife --

                        JAKE
          It's time.

-- she's not there, just empty blankets.  He sits up.


HIS POV

LISA, his wife, in a rocking chair in the corner.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake is surprised.  How'd she sneak off?

                        JAKE
          What are you doing up?

She pulls back the blanket, she breast-feeds their infant
daughter.

                        LISA
          Mooooo.

She lavishes kisses on her baby.

                                           CUT TO:


CLOSEUP - BRASSO

is squirted on terry cloth.  A badge is rubbed against it
in precise circles.

WIDEN TO:


INT. KITCHEN - DAWN

Jake, scrubbed, shaved, in T-shirt and jeans, studies the
gleaming badge, snaps it in its case, clips it to his
belt.  He tosses a duffle on the counter.  Searches
through the police gear.  Lisa taps a police baton on his
shoulder.  He takes it.

                        JAKE
          Thanks.

                        LISA
          Wrong day to forget stuff.

He shoves it in the bag.  Zips it.

                        JAKE
          She go back to sleep?

                        LISA
          Mmm-hmm.  Ate like a pig.

She grabs a pack of English muffins.

                        LISA
          Want some eggs for the road?

                        JAKE
          I gotta roll.  Gotta beat the traffic.

He grabs his duffle and pressed uniform off a chair.  He
kisses Lisa's cheek, her neck, her lips.  Heads to the
door.  The PHONE RINGS.  Jake stops.  Lisa answers.

                        LISA
          Hello?
                 (beat, laughs)
          Hi!  How nice, thank you.
                 (beat, giggles)
          Yes, sir.  He's right here.
                 (to Jake)
          Jake.  It's Alonzo.

Jake takes the phone.

                        JAKE
          Hello?

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Hoyt?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Meet the Lieutenant yesterday?
          Get the welcome aboard speech and
          all that?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          He's a good guy.  Backs his boys.
          You all checked in?  Your sheet
          signed off?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          You're not on the squad until I
          sign it.  And that depends on how
          you do today.

                        JAKE
          Yessir.  I know.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          On your way to roll call?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.  I'm not out the door
          right now.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Hoyt.

                        JAKE
          Yessir?

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Patrol fairies go to roll call.
          We don't go to roll call.

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          There's a coffee shop at Virgil
          and Raymond.  See you there at
          ten.  Be in civvies.  Comfortable
          shoes.  Got a back-up gun?
          Something pocket-sized?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.  I have a three eighty
          stainless with nine rounds of
          silver tips.

                        ALONZO (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Bring it.  Cuffs, too.  We're
          gonna be in the office all day,
          but who knows, maybe we'll do some
          business.  Told you, we're an
          aggressive unit.

                        JAKE
          I know, sir.  That's why I signed
          up.  I want to thank you for
          giving me the oppor --

-- CLICK!  Alonzo hangs up.  Jake too.  He stands there.
Nervous.  Grabs his stomach.

                        LISA
          What's wrong?

                        JAKE
          Feel like it's football tryouts.
          Wish it was tomorrow so I'd
          already know if I was on his squad
          or not.

                        LISA
          It's not tomorrow.  It's today.
          And it's gonna work out.  I know
          it will.

                        JAKE
          I gotta relax.
                 (snuggles against her)
          Don't have to show up until ten.

She breaks the embrace -- sore breasts -- Ouch!

                        JAKE
          Soon they'll be mine again.

Jake chases them with cupped hands as she retreats,
giggling.  Their game.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

Jake struts through the door, confidently looks around.


JAKE'S POV

DETECTIVE SERGEANT ALONZO, in a flannel shirt, reading
the paper in a booth.  The gun leather tough LAPD vet is
a hands-on, blue collar cop who can kick your ass with a
look.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake walks over.  Slides in across.  Alonzo's eyes will
never leave his newspaper.

                        JAKE
          Good morning, sir.

A young waitress pours Jake coffee, offers a menu.  Jake
waves it away.

                        JAKE
          I'm okay, ma'am.  Thank you.

                        ALONZO
          Have some chow before we hit the
          office.  Go ahead.  It's my
          dollar.

                        JAKE
          No, thank you, sir.  I ate.

                        ALONZO
          Fine.  Don't.

Alonzo turns the page.  A long beat.  Then:

                        JAKE
          It's nice here.

                        ALONZO
          May I read my paper?

                        JAKE
          I'm sorry, sir... I'll get some
          food.

                        ALONZO
          No.  You won't.  You fucked that
          up.  Please.  I'm reading.  Shut
          up.

Jake does -- Jeeez, sorry.  Pours a ton of sugar in his
coffee.

                                           TIME CUT TO:


INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

The waitress pours refills.  Alonzo reads.  Jake fidgets.

                        JAKE
          Where's the office, sir?  Back at
          Division?

No response.

                        JAKE
          Gonna be nice not roasting all
          summer in a hot black and white.

Alonzo sighs, carefully folds his paper.  Glares at Jake.

                        ALONZO
          Tell me a story, Hoyt.

                        JAKE
          My story?

                        ALONZO
          Not your story.  A story.  You
          can't keep your mouth shut long
          enough to let me finish my paper.
          So tell me a story.

                        JAKE
          I don't think I know any stories.

Alonzo waves the paper in Jake's face.

                        ALONZO
          This is a newspaper.  And I know
          it's ninety percent bullshit but
          it's entertaining.  That's why I
          read it.  Because it entertains
          me.  If you won't let me read my
          paper, then entertain me with your
          bullshit.  Tell me a story.

                        JAKE
          A real one or should I make one up?

                        ALONZO
                 (sighs)
          Where'd you do your probation?

                        JAKE
          Van Nuys.

                        ALONZO
          Right.  The Valley.  No cute
          little anecdotes about your time
          on the mean streets of Van Nuys?
          Writing underage smoking cites at
          the shopping mall?

Jake thinks.  Bingo!  He's got it.

                        JAKE
          There was this D.U.I. stop.

                        ALONZO
          A D.U.I. stop.  Wow.  Go on.

                        JAKE
          We were on the mid-watch.

                        ALONZO
          We?  You and...?

                        JAKE
          Debbie.

                        ALONZO
          Debbie?  The fuck's Debbie?

                        JAKE
          My training officer.  Debbie
          Maxwell --

                        ALONZO
          -- You're T.O. was female?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO
          She white?  Black?

                        JAKE
          White.

                        ALONZO
          She dyked out or she any good?

                        JAKE
          She's pretty good.

                        ALONZO
          So you and Debbie are pullin' a
          mid-watch?

                        JAKE
          Right.  It's a real quiet night.
          A yawner.  We're rolling on
          Vanowen.  I'm driving.  And this
          Acura, just a beautiful car, comes
          out a side street.  In excess.
          All over the median.  So I light
          it up and hit the wailer.  Guy
          drives on like I'm invisible for
          ten blocks before he pulls over.
          Plates ran clean.  I approach.
          Debbie covers.  Driver's this huge
          white guy.  Can barely keep his
          eyes open.  I field test and
          arrest and I'm belting him in our
          unit.  Debbie's tossing his car.
          She calls me to the vehicle and
          shows me a snubbed .38 and two
          shotguns, all loaded and locked.

                        ALONZO
          No shit?

                        JAKE
          No shit.  She calls our supervisor
          and I keep searching.  I find five
          hundred grams of meth in the dash.
          Turns out our D.U.I. was on bail
          for distribution.  He was on his
          way to smoke his ex-partner before
          trial.
                 (proudly)
          We prevented a murder.

Alonzo is astonished.

                        ALONZO
          ... amazing...

Jake beams -- some story, huh?

                        ALONZO
          You're driving around the Valley
          with a fine bitch in your car for
          a year and the most entertaining
          story you got is a D.U.I. stop?
          Never hit her up for some Code X
          in the back seat?

                        JAKE
          I have a wife.

                        ALONZO
          You also have a dick.

Alonzo shakes his head in disgust.  Jake is crushed.

                        ALONZO
          Let's go.

Alonzo tosses a twenty on the table.  OFF his heavy
wedding band we:

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

Jake and Alonzo crossing.  Alonzo sizes Jake up, smirks
at his dorky running shoes.

                        ALONZO
          You look, walk and talk like a
          cop.  Grow your hair out.

Alonzo stops at:


G-RIDE

A narc-machine supreme.  A tired, candy blue 1978 Monte
Carlo with mismatched rims, curb feelers, window tint.

                        ALONZO
          Gimme that menu.

Jake pulls a Chinese menu from under the wiper.  Hands it
to Alonzo, who folds and pockets it.

                        ALONZO
          Get in.  S'un1ocked.

Jake's turn to smirk as he climbs in.


INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Jake buries his shoes in beer cans and coffee cups.  He
notes a car seat in back.  Alonzo twists a screwdriver in
the shattered ignition, pumps the hell out of the gas.
After forever, the ENGINE CATCHES -- VROOM!

                        JAKE
          This is a piece'a shit.

                        ALONZO
          Don't worry.  My baby puts out
          when she has to.

Alonzo rubs the dash lovingly and backs out.

                        JAKE
          Where's the office?

                        ALONZO
          You're in it.

Jake reacts.  Then smiles -- This is kind'a cool.

                        ALONZO
          Rover's in the glove box.  Wanna
          ten-eight us?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.

                        ALONZO
          Shitcan the sirs.  I'm not your
          domestic violence awareness
          instructor.

Jake takes a Motorola radio from the glove box.

                        JAKE
          What's our I.D.?

                        ALONZO
          Nora fifteen.

                        JAKE
                 (into Motorola)
          Nora fifteen, ten-eight.

                        DISPATCH (V.O.)
          Nora fifteen, ten-twenty.

Jake checks the street signs -- Virgil and Raymond.
Before he can tell Dispatch, Alonzo snatches the
Motorola.

                        ALONZO
                 (into rover)
          Nora fifteen, South on Rampart at
          6th.

                        DISPATCH (V.O.)
          Ten four.

Alonzo SQUEALS out of the lot, tosses Jake the rover.

                        ALONZO
          Bad guys are listening.  Don't
          trust the radios.  Never let
          anyone know where you're really
          at.  Ever.

Jake nods and smiles -- makes sense.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Heading South on Alvarado, passing MacArthur Park.  It
could be San Salvador or Guatemala City.  Jake is
mesmerized by the crowds.

                        JAKE
          This looks like the Third World.

                        ALONZO
          It's my world.

Alonzo lights a smoke.  Settles in his seat.

                        ALONZO
          Today's a training day.  Gonna
          show you around, give you a feel
          for the business.  I have thirty-
          eight cases pending trial.  I have
          sixty-three active investigations.
          There's another three hundred and
          fifty cases on the log I can't
          clear.  I'm supervising five
          officers.  That's five different
          personalities, five different sets
          of problems.  You, Officer Hoyt,
          if you got the guts to succeed,
          will be number six.  I don't have
          time to baby-sit or hold hands.
          You have one day to show me who
          you are and what you can or cannot
          handle.  You can't hack narcotics,
          feel free to work a pussy desk
          pinching check kiters.  Hear me,
          Officer Hoyt?

                        JAKE
          I hear you.

                        ALONZO
          Good.  Gonna show you reality.
          Think you can handle it?

                        JAKE
          Yeah.

                        ALONZO
          Why you wanna be a narc?

                        JAKE
          I want to serve my community by
          ridding it of dangerous drugs.

Alonzo gives him a look -- Don't b.s. me.

                        JAKE
          I wanna make detective.

The boy is ambitious.  Alonzo likes that.

                        ALONZO
          Stick with me and you will.  If
          you can unlearn the bullshit
          they've filled your head with.
          You gonna be passing out baseball
          cards and carrying old ladies'
          groceries like the rest of the
          newfucks Washington's flooded the
          streets with?

                        JAKE
          Sergeant, I'll do anything you
          want me to do.

                        ALONZO
          Stand by, because narcotics ain't
          about staying in the car and
          looking good.  I bet you write
          great paper, Hoyt.
                 (before Jake can answer)
          You do.  I checked it out.  Cover
          your area, cover your ass, but not
          necessarily in that order, right?

                        JAKE
          Right.  Are you going to teach me
          that old school hard-charging beat
          up everything that moves Rodney
          King shit?

                        ALONZO
          That's not police work either.
          We're the new breed.  We use
          this...
                 (taps his head)
          This is our tool.

Alonzo stops at a light.  A shiny new police cruiser
pulls alongside.  The driver sips a Big Gulp, his female
partner writes a report.  They look more like co-eds than
cops.

Jake eyes the driver.  Who gives him a smile.  Then
Alonzo looks at the driver.  When their eyes meet, the
Driver looks away, intimidated, and makes a right turn.
Alonzo grins at Jake, his point underscored.

                        ALONZO
          How long you been married?

                        JAKE
          A year.

                        ALONZO
          Gotta kid, right?

                        JAKE
                 (smiles)
          A nine-month-old girl.

                        ALONZO
          I got four kids.  All boys.  You
          want a son, lemme know.  I'll do
          your old lady up.  I can't miss.

Jake angers, though he knows he is being tested.

                        JAKE
          Let's not talk about my family.

                        ALONZO
          It's cool.  I can respect that.
          I'm married.  I have my queen,
          too.  I remember what it's like to
          have a pretty young bride.  Bet
          you still fuck her face-to-face.

                        JAKE
                 (clenched teeth)
          Can we not talk about my wife?

                        ALONZO
          Kick back, kid... You're so in
          love it's comin' out your eyes.
          The day you bring the old lady to
          the office is the day you don't go
          home.  If you don't hide your love
          deep inside, the maggots are gonna
          find it and chew on it.

Jake realizes Alonzo is right.  Alonzo hands him a card.

                        ALONZO
          That's our Chaplain, Lieutenant
          Hayes.  Give him a call.  Invite
          him and his wife over for dinner.
          He's a good guy and no dumbshit.
          You and your woman need any kind'a help,
          call him.  I'm serious.

Jake takes the card.  Kind of smiles.

                        JAKE
          Thanks.  I will.

They cruise a beat.

                        JAKE
          Who's Mr. Clean?

Alonzo nails him with surprised look.

                        ALONZO
          Where the hell you hear that?

                        JAKE
          From a Van Nuys Robbery Detective.
          Told me to ask you that.

                        ALONZO
                 (smiles, shakes his head)
          Asshole.

Alonzo pulls onto a street of dense apartments.  Parks
along the curb.

                        JAKE
          What's here?

                        ALONZO
          Transactions...  See the
          Salvatrucha one-cut on the fence,
          trying not to look like he's
          slangin'?

Jake looks, sees a young, bald cholo, Neto, just hanging
out.

                        ALONZO
          That's Neto.  Works for me.

                        JAKE
          Informant?

                        ALONZO
          I got eyes everywhere.  He gets to
          peddle reefer, make a little cash
          for the family.  I get a heads up
          when shit goes down.  The barrio
          on-line.

                        JAKE
          And you trust him?

                        ALONZO
          Fuckin' right I trust him.  Sprung
          his mom from I.N.S. detention.

Alonzo watches his mirror, perks up.

                        ALONZO
          Here we go.


INSERT - MIRROR

A new VW Beetle pulls onto the street, moving slow.


BACK TO SCENE

The VW passes the G-Ride.  Jake glimpses three people
inside, two guys in front, a girl in back.  Hipster
university students.

                        ALONZO
          Shit's going down.


JAKE'S POV

The VW stops.  Neto looks around, crosses to the driver's
window, a drink cup in hand.  Neto plucks a foil pack
from the cup.  Trades it for the driver's ten.  Neto
walks away.


BACK TO SCENE

                        ALONZO
          See the hand-to-hand?

                        JAKE
          I saw it.

The VW drives off, fast.  Alonzo pulls out.  Follows it.

                        ALONZO
          When was your last felony stop?

                        JAKE
          Couple weeks ago.

                        ALONZO
          You need practice.

                        JAKE
          They look like college kids.

                        ALONZO
          They need a lesson.  I want these
          hemorrhoids grabbing glass.  I got
          front.  You got back.

Alonzo pulls his gun.  Jake reaches for the Motorola.

                        ALONZO
          Stay off the rover.

Jake puts it away, pulls his gun.

Alonzo stomps the gas.  The G-Ride HOWLS.

The VW is at the corner, about to turn --

SCREEEEEECH! -- Alonzo slaloms to a stop, blocking its
path.  His pistol aimed through Jake's window at the
DRIVER.

                        ALONZO
          Police!  Lemme see your hands!

Jake draws a bead on the girl in back.

                        JAKE
          Police officers!  Your hands!

The kids gawk at the two narcs for a stunned beat.

                        JAKE
          Don't look at us!  Look straight
          ahead!

                        ALONZO
          Driver and right front passenger!
          Palms on the windshield!

                        JAKE
          You in the back!  Palms on the
          side window!  Look straight ahead!

                        ALONZO
          Driver!  Use your left hand, put
          the vehicle in park.

The Driver is mortified because:

                        DRIVER
          ... it's a stickshift...

                        ALONZO
          Shut up, dickhead!  I'll shoot
          your face off!  Take the keys out
          of the ignition.  Throw 'em out
          the window!

The Driver does, quickly, as Alonzo jumps from the car
charges the Driver, shoves the gun in his face.  These
are just scared kids.  The girl tries not to cry.

                        ALONZO
          Fork it over, smartman.

                        DRIVER
          What, sir?

Alonzo grabs his ear, tugs violently.

                        ALONZO
          The fuckin' marijuana I just
          watched you purchase!

The Driver hands over the foil pack.

                        PASSENGER
          I'm very sorry, sir.  I didn't
          know he was bringing me here.

                        ALONZO
          Shut up, dumbass.  You're here
          now!  Gimme that pipe!

There's a pot pipe on the floor mat.  The PASSENGER picks
it up.  Reluctantly hands it to Alonzo.

                        PASSENGER
          My mom gave me that pipe.

                        ALONZO
          What else you got?

                        DRIVER
          Cigarettes...?

                        ALONZO
          Gimme those too.

He gives him a squished packed of Marlboro reds.  The
girl lowers her hands -- bad move.

                        ALONZO
          Control your suspect, Hoyt!

                        JAKE
          Miss!  Palms on the glass!

Alonzo sees her lip quiver.

                        ALONZO
          Cry and I slap the eyes outta your
          face!

Back to the Driver.

                        ALONZO
          You aware this is a gang
          neighborhood?

That gives him pause -- no kidding -- Alonzo grabs his
ear again, shakes.

                        ALONZO
          I see you here again, I take your
          car.  You can walk home while your
          girlfriend pulls a homeboy
          train... Hear me, reefer addict?

                        DRIVER
          Yes, sir.

                        ALONZO
          Thank you for your cooperation --
          Safe your iron.

Jake holsters his gun.  Follows Alonzo to the G-Ride.


ON VW

The kids trade shell-shocked looks, grabbing glass.  Then
lower their hands.


ON G-RIDE

Alonzo and Jake climb in.  As they drive away, the gir1
nails Jake with a look of revulsion.  Jake reacts.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Alonzo laughing.  Jake didn't like what happened.  It
shows.

                        JAKE
          Was that training?  How to roust
          students for dime bags?

                        ALONZO
          They have no business being here.
          Sooner or later that little smart-
          ass white boy college puke is
          gonna get jacked.  I saved his
          life.

                        JAKE
          Taught him a real lesson.

                        ALONZO
          Sure did, buy your shit on campus.
                 (beat)
          I like your moves.  Someone
          trained you well.

Jake smiles to himself.  Alonzo opens the foil, sniffs --

                        ALONZO
          Shitty dime.  Check it out.

-- hands it to Jake.  Who takes out a bud.

                        ALONZO
          See the small hairs?  The
          undeveloped seeds.  How it's all
          stems?

Jake nods.

                        ALONZO
          It was picked immature.  See how
          flat it is?  Classic brick-pack
          Mexican.  See how brittle it is?
          It's not bud season.  It's from
          last year.

Jake is amazed.  Alonzo snatches the bud, crumbles it in
the pipe, tosses aside seeds.

                        ALONZO
          To be truly effective, a narcotics
          detective must know and love
          narcotics.  A good narcotics
          detective should have narcotics in
          his blood.

                        JAKE
          You going to smoke that?

Alonzo smiles devilishly, offers Jake the pipe.

                        ALONZO
          You are.

                        JAKE
          Hell if I am.

                        ALONZO
          What?  You a Mormon?  A Jesus freak?

                        JAKE
          No.  I'm not losing my job.

                        ALONZO
                 (re: the pipe)
          This is your job.

                        JAKE
          I can't do it.

                        ALONZO
          This isn't some kind of test.
          Take a fuckin' hit.

                        JAKE
          I became a cop to keep people from
          using that poison.

                        ALONZO
                 (laughs)
          This ain't a review board.  We
          ain't doing rails.  Just leafy
          green bud.

Jake stands firm, shaking his head.

SCREECH!  Alonzo stops in the middle of the street, pulls
his gun, jams it in Jake's ear.  CARS behind them HONK.

                        ALONZO
          If I was a dealer, you'd be dead.
          Turn shit down on the street and
          the Chief hands your wife a
          crisply folded flag.

Jake stares stubbornly at Alonzo.  Alonzo pockets the
gun.  Lights the lighter.  And takes a huge hit, blows
smoke in Jake's face.

                        ALONZO
          I don't want you in my unit.  Not
          even my division.  Go back to
          Valley.  Get the fuck out of my
          car.

A staring contest.  Jake decides to play the game.

                        JAKE
          ... Okay...

He takes the pipe, takes an absolutely huge hit --

                        ALONZO
          Alright.  That's how it's done,
          son.

-- And is racked with a spasm of coughing.

                        ALONZO
          Betrayed by your virgin lungs.

Jake takes another hit -- a passing driver watches --
blows the smoke in Alonzo's face.

Alonzo laughs, resumes driving, takes a hit.  They pass
the pipe around a few times before Alonzo tosses it on
the dash.

                        ALONZO
          It's cashed.

They cruise in a strange otherworldly silence.  Jake is
clearly messed up, his head lolls from side to side.

                        ALONZO
          Shit, you took some mansized hits.
          You gonna be okay?  When's the
          last time you smoked out?

                        JAKE
          ... Twelfth grade...

                        ALONZO
          Left that out of your service
          jacket.  Knew you had secrets,
          everyone does.  Didn't know you
          dig dusters.

                        JAKE
          What are dusters?

                        ALONZO
          You know, dusted bud.  Dippers?
          C'mon, dipped in P.C.P.  Primos.
          Sherm, Kool, P-dog, Angel dust...
          Didn't you smell it?  Taste it?

                        JAKE
                 (horrified)
          ... I've never done it...

                        ALONZO
          Now you have.  Remember the smell
          for next time.  Think I'd inhale
          that shit?

Jake is scared as hell, pale, sweaty.

                        JAKE
          Oh, no.  No.  No.  No.

                        ALONZO
          Gonna kick the shit out of Neto.
          Motherfucker's lacing crappy bud
          to get that unsuspecting return
          client.  Hell with his mom, I'm
          deporting the bitch.

                        JAKE
          I'm gonna get piss tested.  I'm
          gonna get fired.

                        ALONZO
          I told you, Lieutenant's got our
          backs.  We know a week before we
          piss.

                        JAKE
                 (panicking)
          Shit.  How could you do this to
          me?  Shit.  Shit.  Shit!

Alonzo slams an elbow across Jake's throat.

                        ALONZO
          Fuckin' chill and ride the high.
          You're an adult.  You chose to
          smoke.  Live with your decisions.
          You cool?

                        JAKE
          I'm cool.

                        ALONZO
          Besides, no one put a gun to your
          head.

Jake shoots him a look.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. HOUSE - DAY

A well-tended craftsman on a steep hill of fixer-uppers
in Echo Park.  The G-Ride parks out front.

                        ALONZO
          Get your shit together.

Alonzo and Jake cross to the door.  The steepness of the
hill is disorientating to Jake.  Alonzo knocks.

                        ALONZO
          This is my Road Dog's pad.  Wanna
          see what he thinks of you.

                        JAKE
          What do I say?

                        ALONZO
          You'll think of something stupid.

Someone peeps through the peephole.  A tall, heavy man in
a bathrobe with long, grey hair answers.  This is ROGER,
old before his time, a little sick.  Happy to see Alonzo.

                        ROGER
          Hey, brother, get your ass in
          here.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. ROGER'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Roger and Alonzo hug.

                        ALONZO
          Did I wake you?

                        ROGER
          No.  C'mon in.  Please have a seat.

Alonzo and Jake sit in big chairs.  Three beepers, three
cell phones on the coffee table.  Roger sits, takes a
bottle of whisky, three tumblers from a liquor cart.
Pours booze.

Jake looks around at the modest traditional furniture.
The Hummel figurines.  Photos on the wall.

                        ALONZO
          Alright.  Time to get my swerve
          on.

Roger gives Alonzo a concerned look.

                        ROGER
          Heard you had a beef in Vegas.

                        ALONZO
          I'm cool.  People talk shit.

                        ROGER
          You know I got your back.

                        ALONZO
          I know.  Thanks.

They clink glasses, chug booze.  Jake doesn't.  He stares
into the liquid, enraptured by its smoky patterns.

                        ALONZO
          C'mon.  Be polite.

Jake takes his tumbler, sniffs, sips.  Winces.  Roger
runs a finger up Jake's crew-cut.  Jake recoils.

                        ROGER
          Went and got yourself a daisy-
          fresh scuzz-headed rookie.

Roger leans back in the couch.  Jake is looking around
the room again.  A BEEPER BEEPS.  Roger checks it.  Dials
a cell phone.  Alonzo gesturing for Jake to drink.  He
almost empties his glass.

                        ROGER
          Wassup?
                 (beat)
          Collect first.  Step to that cat
          with something to flash.  He'll
          lay you down.
                 (beat)
          Righteous.  Later, dude.

Roger hangs up.  Studies Jake.

                        ROGER
          Jesus, Alonzo.  He's high as a
          motherfucker.  The hell you give
          him?

Alonzo tosses the foil pack on the table.  Roger takes
it, smells the PCP and shakes his head.

                        ROGER
          Where'd you grow up?

                        JAKE
          North Hollywood.

                        ROGER
          What's your last name?

                        JAKE
          Hoyt.

                        ROGER
                 (it clicks)
          You play strong safety for North
          Hollywood High?

                        JAKE
          Yessir.  How'd you know?

                        ROGER
          I follow all the good players.

His BEEPER BEEPS.  He checks it, sighs.  Dials a cell
phone.

                        ROGER
          It's me.  Whassup?
                 (beat)
          Can't do a thing for you.  Your
          mess.  You clean it up.  Don't be
          callin' me.

He hangs up.  Freshens the drinks.

                        ROGER
                 (to Jake)
          Here's a joke, boy.  One day this
          man walks out of his house to go
          to work.  He sees this snail on
          his porch.  So he picks it up and
          chucks it over his roof, into the
          back yard.  Snail bounces off a
          rock, cracks its shell all to
          shit, and lands in the grass.
          Snail lies there dying.

A BEEPER BEEPS.  Roger checks and ignores it.

                        ROGER
          But it doesn't die.  It eats some
          grass.  Slowly heals.  Grows a new
          shell.  And after a while it can
          crawl again.  One day the snail up
          and heads back to the front of the
          house.  Finally, after a year, the
          little guy crawls back on the
          porch.  Right then, the man walks
          out to go to work and sees this
          snail again.  So he says to it,
          'What the fuck's your problem?'

Jake stares at Roger a beat.  Then starts laughing.
Really laughing.  Maybe too much.  He wipes his eyes.

                        JAKE
          That's messed up.  That wasn't
          funny.

                        ALONZO
          Then why are you cackling like a
          jackal?

                        JAKE
          I dunno.

                        ROGER
          Figure that joke out and you'll
          figure the streets out.

                        ALONZO
          Don't listen to him.  There's
          nothing to figure out.  The
          street's nothing more than
          senseless bullshit.

                        JAKE
          Uh-uh.  I got 'em figured out.

                        ROGER
          You got the streets figured out?

                        JAKE
          Yeah.  It's all smiles and cries.

                        ALONZO
          Give up.  You're too high, space
          captain.

                        ROGER
          Hold on -- smiles and cries.  I
          hear you.

                        JAKE
          You gotta control your smiles and
          cries.  No one can take them away
          so... they're all we really have.

Roger and Alonzo trade looks -- sharp kid.  Alonzo pats
Jake's shoulder.  To Roger:

                        ALONZO
          Think this greenhorn can handle
          undercover?

Roger scrutinizes Jake a beat.  Smiles and nods:  yes.

                        ROGER
          You were just like him.

                        ALONZO
                 (laughs)
          Fuck you.

                        ROGER
          Same silly-ass look and
          everything.  Saving the fuckin'
          world.

                        ALONZO
          That lasted a week.

Alonzo stands, shakes with Roger.

                        ALONZO
          Brother, I gotta get back in my
          office.  Thanks for the snort,
          dog.  What're you up to today?

Roger gestures at the phones and beepers.

                        ROGER
          Think I get out of the house?

A BEEPER BEEPS.  Roger shakes with Jake.

                        ROGER
          Take care, Hoyt.  You're gonna do
          okay.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

South on Rampart.  Jake senses he passed a test.  Alonzo
smiling at him.

                        JAKE
          What?

                        ALONZO
          He liked you.

                        JAKE
          Who is he?  One of your snitches?

                        ALONZO
          He's no snitch.  He's a good man
          to know.  C'mon, let's find some
          action in Niggertown.
                 (off Jake's look)
          N-wordtown.  What are you, Hoyt?
          You ain't pure whiteboy.  You
          mixed?

                        JAKE
          Italian, Irish and Mexican.

                        ALONZO
          No shit?  You're all fucked up.
          How's the Espanol?

                        JAKE
          Mas o menos.

                        ALONZO
          Work on it.  People'll be plotting
          the worst kind of shit behind your
          back.

Alonzo parks in front of a liquor store.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. LIQUOR STORE - DAY

Alonzo crosses to the G-ride with a sixer of beer --


INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

-- Climbs in.  Sees Jakes's eyes are closed.

                        ALONZO
          C'mon, man.  Open your eyes.
          You'll make it worse.

Nothing.

                        ALONZO
          Sit your ass up.  Hoyt!

Jake locks bleary red eyes on Alonzo, jokingly:

                        JAKE
          Who're you?

                        ALONZO
          The fuckin' zig-zag man.

                        JAKE
          Cool.  I'm a cop.

                        ALONZO
          You're a little bitty boot.

Alonzo cracks beers for him and Jake.

                        ALONZO
          C'mon.  It helps.  Believe me.

Jake takes one.  Swigs.  Alonzo lights a smoke, pulls
onto Normandie.  Does a doubletake.

                        ALONZO
          Oh, damn!

Jake looking around wildly.

                        JAKE
          Oh, shit!  What?  What?  What?

                        ALONZO
          Relax.  See that savory Mexican mama?


                                JAKE'S POV

A beautiful Mexican woman pushing a baby carriage.
CAMERA PLAYING OVER her in luscious SLOW MOTION.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake stares, mouth open.  Alonzo points out more
beautiful Latinas gracing the sidewalks.

                        ALONZO
          Mmmm-mmmm.  The brown woman is the
          fine woman.  Give her ten more
          babies to push around.  Thick and
          tasty.  Love to get up in that...
          Your old lady white?  Fuckin'
          Nordic cheerleader, right?

                        JACK
          Wrong.  She's Chicana.  Light-
          skinned.

                        ALONZO
          I like my meat dark.  C'mon, pound
          that beer.  Have another.  Gives
          you ballast.

Alonzo tosses his empty out the window.  Jake too.
Alonzo cracks two fresh beers -- Jake takes one, drops
it, soaking his leg.

                        ALONZO
          Dumbass.  Don't spill it.  You
          gotta learn how to party.

                        JAKE
          I'm fine.

                        ALONZO
          You gotta be able to handle a
          high.  It's a necessary job skill.
          I'm not kidding.  It's an alcohol
          world down here.  You gotta be
          able to hang.  To get fucked up
          and talk shit with sketchy
          sociopathic dumbasses and not pass
          out and get your shoes stolen.

                        JAKE
          I'm fine.  Just a little dizzy.

But Jake looks decidedly green.  He sips beer.  HICCUPS
mightily.  Alonzo brakes, flings open Jake's door.

                        ALONZO
          Not in my car!

Jake leans out, vomits onto the street.  He hangs there a
beat, dry heaving.

                        ALONZO
          Okay, okay.  Well's dry, kid.

He yanks Jake in by the collar.  Keeps driving.

                        JAKE
          Sorry.

                        ALONZO
          Wipe your chin.

Jake does, rinses his mouth with beer, spits out the
window.

                        JAKE
          I'm cool now.  Had to unload the
          groceries.

He leans his head on the window pillar.

Jakes's eye absorb the street's tableau of unworldly
gliding by.  Palm trees and sunshine.  Paradise and hell
in one.

His lids begin to drift shut.

Then Jake sees a flash of movement in an alley.  Suddenly
alert, he paws at the doorhandle.

                        JAKE
          Activity on the right?  Stop the
          car!

                        ALONZO
          Siddown, Hoyt.  Everything's fine.

                        JAKE
          Stop the fucking car!

                        ALONZO
          C'mon, relax.  You're trippin' --

Jake grabs the gearshift, throws it in reverse.  The
transmission GRINDS, tires SCREECH.  The engine stalls.

Jake is out like a shot --


EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

-- He dodges an oncoming car.

                        ALONZO
          Get the fuck back here!

Jake into the alley.


ON G-RIDE

Alonzo pulling to the curb.

                        ALONZO
          Dumb-ass kid.


ON JAKE

Running like a deer.  He enters the alley.  Sees a book
bag on the ground -- A dumpster ahead.  Jake rounds it.
Fast.


HIS POV

A devastatingly beautiful Latina SCHOOLGIRL, pinned
against the wall by a tall CRACKHEAD.  Her nose dots
blood on her uniform blouse.


BACK TO SCENE

The Crackhead hauls back to smack her.  Jake Charging.

                        JAKE
          Police officer!  You're under
          arrest!

The Crackhead punches Jake's throat.  Stops him cold.
Jake realizes how huge this guy is.  Gulp.

                        CRACKHEAD
          Gonna fuck you too, cop.

ANOTHER CRACKHEAD dives from the shadows and tackles
Jake.  Both go down hard.

Crackhead #1 stomps Jake's head.  Jake gets his arm
around Crackhead #2's neck, squeezes -- the forbidden
choke hold.

Alonzo enters the alley.  And just stands there,
watching.

Jake rides out Crackhead #I's vicious kicks as Crackhead
#2 convulses from hypoxia.  And finally goes limp.

Jake lets go, sweeps Crackhead #I's legs out from under
him and hops to his feet.  Crackhead #1 stands too.

The Schoolgirl looks on, stunned.

                        CRACKHEAD #1
          You're ass is doomed.

Jake growls, snatches him up like a rag doll, spins him,
slams him hard.  In a flash, Jake twists him into a
pretzel, drops a knee on his neck, grinds his head into
the asphalt.  Clicks on the cuffs.

                        CRACKHEAD #1
          We didn't do shit.  Bitch is crazy
          and shit.

Crackhead #2 coming to, starting to stand.  Jake crosses
to him, pins his head with his knee.  Slips a pair of
flexicuffs from his sock, zips them on the man's wrists.

                        CRACKHEAD #2
          Man, you fuckin' up, slick.
          Homegirl tradin' her ass for
          cookies.

                        JAKE
          Shut the fuck up, sir!


ANGLE ON ALONZO

Smiling, impressed by his raw skill.

                        JAKE
          Thanks for the help.

                        ALONZO
          Should'a shot 'em.

Jake crosses to the Schoolgirl.

                        JAKE
          We're police officers.  You okay?
          You hurt?

                        SCHOOLGIRL
                 (to the Crackheads,
                  shaken but tough)
          You fucked up!  My cousins are
          from White Fence.  They're gonna
          blast you fools!  Pinchi mayates!

                        ALONZO
          Miss!  Relax!  Are you okay?

                        SCHOOLGIRL
          What?  No.  No, I'm not okay.
          Lookit my nose... My mom's gonna
          trip out.

Alonzo gingerly examines her nose.

                        ALONZO
          Honey, it's just a nosebleed.  Put
          ice on it.  Don't be walkin'
          around here alone.  Tell your
          cousins to get your back.  You
          know what those pieces'a shit were
          gonna do.  Probably got AIDS.  Why
          aren't you in school?

                        SCHOOLGIRL
          I was going to a ditch party.

                        ALONZO
          You almost became a ditch party.
          Go home.  Go home.  Now.

She grabs her book bag and gets out of there.

                        JAKE
          I gotta get her statement.

                        ALONZO
          Unhook em'.  We're not racking up
          arrests.

                        JAKE
                 (shocked)
          Kick 'em loose?

                        ALONZO
          No.  Get some shots in first.

                        JAKE
          I have a punching bag at home.  I
          want them off the street.

Alonzo squats by Crackhead #1.  Searches him.

                        ALONZO
          Hear that, bro?  My dog, here,
          wants to lock you up.  Been to the
          bootyhouse?  Grabbin' ankles for
          the big boys?

                        CRACKHEAD #1
          Suck my dick, bitch.  I know
          people.

                        ALONZO
          Kick back, who's-who.

Alonzo finds rocks in one sock.  Some twenties in the
other.  He pockets the cash and crack.  Searches
Crackhead #2.

                        ALONZO
          Where's your horn?

                        CRACKHEAD #2
          Ain't got no horn.

Alonzo finds a glass pipe.

                        ALONZO
          So what's this, chief?  Gonna make
          you eat it.

Instead, he grinds it underfoot.

                        ALONZO
          Ya'll lucky I got pressing
          business today -- You, stand up.

Alonzo hauls Crackhead #1 to his feet.  Unlocks the
cuffs, tosses them to Jake.  Crackhead #2 strains against
the flexicuffs.

                        ALONZO
                 (to Crackhead #2)
          You get to keep those.

He steers Crackhead #1 to a wall -- cocks his fist.

                        ALONZO
          Ain't the first honey ya'll pinned
          to a wall, huh?  Close your eyes.

Crackhead does.  Alonzo knees his groin -- oof! -- He
falls to the ground, whimpers in the fetal position.

                        ALONZO
          Next time I cut your dick off and
          shove it up your ass.
                 (pats Jake's back, winks)
          I'll leave you three alone.  Gonna
          grab some beer.

Alonzo exits the alley.  Jake watches Crackhead #1
whimper, Crackhead #2 writhe in the gutter.  It's futi1e
to beat these men.  Jake takes pity, walks away.

                        CRACKHEAD #2
          Pussy motherfucker.  Gonna see
          your ass again.  Gonna fuck you
          up, bitch.  Won't see shit coming.
          Creep like a ninja and crack your
          head open.  Blow your house up.
          Punk-ass white boy.  Now you in my
          world, motherfucker.

Jake stops and turns around.  He stoops to pick up a pink
Hello Kitty change purse.


INSIDE CHANGE PURSE

The Schoolgirl's MIA bus pass and her freshman ID from
Immaculate Heart High School.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake glares at the Crackheads.

                        JAKE
          You assholes!  She's fifteen!

                        CRACKHEAD #2
                 (grins)
          She all woman.  Tax that ass for
          days.

Man!  Jake could kick his brains out.  Somehow, he turns
and walks away.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Jake steams.  Alonzo offers a beer from a new sixer.
Jake refuses.  Alonzo counts and pockets the money he
took.  Notes Jake's stare.

                        ALONZO
          Wanna book sixty bucks?  Where're
          the suspects?

                        JAKE
                 (ice)
          You let them go.

                        ALONZO
          Get over it.  You wanna go runnin'
          and gunnin', stay in patrol.  This
          is Investigations.  Leave the
          garbage for the garbage men.
          We're professional anglers.  We
          reel in the big ones.  Should'a
          dished out some shoe leather.
          You'd have a big 'ol smile on your
          face.

                        JAKE
          I get my shits and grins booking
          bad guys, not beating them.

                        ALONZO
          Man... The fuck you doing running
          alone into an alley full'a
          cracked-out monkey-strong
          motherfuckers?  Those hemorrhoids
          wouldta killed you without mercy
          or hesitation.

                        JAKE
          That's why they belong in prison.

                        ALONZO
          They lost their money, their rock,
          got beat down and now the eses
          from White Fence are gonna smoke
          'em.  Jesus, what more do you want?

                        JAKE
          Justice.

                        ALONZO
          Is that not justice?

                        JAKE
          That's street justice.

                        ALONZO
          What's wrong with street justice?

                        JAKE
          Let the animals wipe themselves
          out, right?

                        ALONZO
          If only they would.  But it don't
          work like that.  They wipe out the
          good folks.  Notice how it's
          always school kids, mommies and
          ass-bustin' family men catching
          stray slugs in their noodles.  You
          protect the sheep by catching the
          wolves.  It takes a wolf to catch
          a wolf.

                        JAKE
          What?

                        ALONZO
          You protect --

                        JAKE
          I heard you.  Whatever.

A beat.

                        JAKE
          When do you lock anyone up?  Seems
          like you're too busy keeping people
          out.

Bad mistake.  Alonzo slaps him.  Glares at him.

                        ALONZO
          Shut up, boot!  Nothin' but shit
          'tween your ears.  They build
          prisons cause'a me!  Judges have
          handed out fifteen thousand man
          years of incarceration time based
          on my investigations.  My record
          speaks for itself.  How many
          felons have you collared?
          Dickhead.

Now that it's clear who's the boss, they drive in tense
silence for a long beat.  Alonzo digs in his pocket --

                        ALONZO
          Here...

-- hands Jake the rocks he found.  A beat.

                        JAKE
          I'm not smoking crack.

                        ALONZO
          Good.  I'm glad to hear that.
          Toss 'em in the glove box.

Jake does, sees several more rocks under some papers.

                        ALONZO
          Comes in handy.  Like a debit
          card.
                 (offers Jake a beer)
          You earned it.  C'mon.

Jake refuses.

                        ALONZO
          No matter what I say, I want you
          to know, you did the right thing.
          Reminds me of when I could chase
          down anyone and fuck them up.
          You're a good cop.  You got fire.
          That was some amazing shit back
          there.

                        JAKE
          Thanks.

                        ALONZO
          That the choke hold I saw you
          applying?  Isn't that a big no-no,
          procedure-boy?

                        JAKE
          Well... I was getting my ass
          kicked.

                        ALONZO
          You did what you had to do.

Alonzo gives Jake a beer and grins at him like a proud
dad.

                        ALONZO
          You got a magic eye, Hoyt.  You
          have a magic fucking eye.  Up your
          street I.Q. and you'll do some
          damage, crime fighter.

They clink cans.  Jake smiles.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. NORMANDIE AND VERNON - DAY

The G-Ride rolls through the intersection.  If you don't
know the neighborhood, stay the hell out.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

The area fills Alonzo's eyes with memories.

                        ALONZO
          This is Southwest Div.  Did my
          probation here.  Learned a lot
          here.  Good things.  Bad things.
          Kicked some ass.  Had my ass
          kicked.

                        JAKE
          Back in the days.

                        ALONZO
          Yeah, back in the days.  Today's
          my date of employment.  Know how
          long I been a cop?
                 (as Jake shakes his head)
          Thirteen years.  Seven more and I
          cash outta the game.

                        JAKE
          No shit.  Happy anniversary.

Jake holds out his hand.  Alonzo shakes it.  Kills his
beer, cracks another.

                        ALONZO
          Thanks.  Thirteen's an unlucky
          number but the seven to go cancel
          it out.

Alonzo turns on Adams.  He reaches over, digs in the
glove box.  Pulls out a photograph and hands it to Jake.


INSERT - PHOTO

A spit-and-polish, young cop in crisp blues, white
gloves, holding his Beretta at inspection arms.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake looks at the photo, then at Alonzo.  Realizing:

                        JAKE
          You're Mr. Clean.

                        ALONZO
          I had a few misconceptions when I
          started out.
                 (points out a house)
          On the left.  See that house?
          Dude named Spooky lived there.
          Mean old vato loco.  Mexican
          Mafia.  No one fucked with Spooky.
          Even got respect from the cops.
          We'd keep an eye on his house.
          You like dogs?

                        JAKE
          Gotta six-year-old Rottweiler.
          Not too bright, but I can trust
          him with my kid.

                        ALONZO
          Rotties are good dogs.  Dobermans
          are better.  Spooky raised
          Dobermans.  On my second week of
          patrol, when I was not knowin'
          shit, we roll by Spooky's one
          night.  I observe this old, black
          fool, named Too Fine, all drunk,
          beating the shit out of this
          female Doberman.  Beautiful dog,
          seven months old.  Too Fine's
          whoopin' her with a garden hose.
          This dog's just crying, shaking.
          I grew up with Dobermans.  I was
          pissed.  I tell my T.O. 'I'm gonna
          take him.'  And my T.O. is like:
          'No, no.  It's cool.'  He fuckin'
          waves to Too Fine and this
          motherfucker smiles and waves back
          and keeps hitting the dog.
          Thought I lost my damn mind.
          Tells me Spooky gave him twenty
          bucks to beat the shit out of it.
          My T.O., this good 'ol boy, looks
          me in the eye and says:  'Teaches
          'em to hate niggers.'  Almost quit
          right there.  Almost got out of
          the fuckin' black and white and
          took the bus home.

Jake looks at Alonzo.

                        JAKE
          That's fucked up.  That's one of
          the most fucked up things I ever
          heard.

                        ALONZO
          Just remembered that.  Every time
          I'd seen it all, the street'd show
          me something even more fucked up.
          I know you didn't see no shit like
          that in the Valley.

                        JAKE
          No, I haven't.

Jake takes a last look at the photograph of young Alonzo
and replaces it in the glove box.

Alonzo enters an alley cutting through several blocks.

                        ALONZO
          Double-nickel Crips control shit
          here.  They come up hard.  Come in
          here running undercover shit and
          get made as a narc, the O.G.s'll
          booty-bust you then some thirteen-
          year-old wannabe'll curbstone you.
          Feed your dead ass to a pit bull.
          Youngins here fight for the right
          to dump a cop.  Everyone wants a
          name.

                        JAKE
          That really happen?

                        ALONZO
          No, Hoyt, I'm pullin' your dick.
          Anything can happen.  It's loony
          tunes here.  Keep an eye out for
          rock stars.

Alonzo pulls on a side street where PEANUT, a young
gangster, is ready to serve them.

                        ALONZO
          There's one.  Don't let him see
          your face.  And don't let anyone
          run up on us with a shotgun.

Alonzo pulls out a twenty, stops near Peanut, who crosses
to his window.

                        PEANUT
          What you want, homie?

                        ALONZO
                 (flashes twenty)
          Twenty.  Gimme a big-ass chip.

Peanut takes a rock from his pocket, gives it to Alonzo,
reaches for the twenty -- CLICK-CLICK!  Alonzo cuffs him
to the steering wheel --

                        ALONZO
          Let's take a ride, asshole.

-- Stomps the gas, SCREECH!  Peanut runs to keep up.
Alonzo stops at the end of the alley.

                        ALONZO
          You from double nickel?

                        PEANUT
          Ain't from shit.

                        ALONZO
          Again:  Where you from?

                        PEANUT
          My mom.

                        ALONZO
          Your mom?  From her ass?  You a
          butt baby?

                        PEANUT
          Fuck you --

-- SCREECH!  Alonzo races in reverse down the alley.
Peanut is yanked off his feet.  His legs drag in the
dirt.  Alonzo stops, lights a squished Marlboro.  He has
Peanut's attention.

                        ALONZO
          What do they call you?

                        PEANUT
          Peanut.

                        ALONZO
          You in double nickel, Peanut?

Peanut nods.

                        ALONZO
          See, respect me, I respect you.
          Talk shit, I fuck you up.  Ah'ite,
          homie.

                        PEANUT
          Ah'ite.

                        ALONZO
          Who's the boss?

                        PEANUT
          You.

                        ALONZO
          No, dumbass.  Who you slangin'
          for?

Peanut clams up.  Alonzo grabs the gearshift.

                        ALONZO
          Gimme a name or your hand.  Choose
          now.

Peanut stares at his hand, flexes it.  Alonzo revs the
engine.

                        PEANUT
          Mr. Mighty.

Alonzo shoves forty bucks in Peanut's hand, unlocks
him --

                        ALONZO
          Back to work, poo-butt.

-- and drives away.  Peanut flips him off.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Jake adds Peanut's rock to the glovebox.

                        JAKE
          He was just a kid.

                        ALONZO
          Kids or not, gotta make 'em sing.

                        JAKE
          Who's Mr. Mighty?  Let's get him.

                        ALONZO
          Nope... can't catch that fish.

                        JAKE
          Why not?

                        ALONZO
          Lives in the unincorporated part
          of Lynwood.  We don't wanna deal
          with County Sheriffs.  Fuck that
          headache.  Wastin' our time here.
          Let's head East.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

The G-Ride cruising through an even worse area.  Alonzo
scans the urban wasteland for prey.  Sees a gaunt DEALER
on a corner.  Hands Jake a twenty.

                        ALONZO
          Your turn.

                        JAKE
          What do I say?

                        ALONZO
          Adlib, dumbfuck.

He pulls over.  The Dealer crosses to Jake.

                        DEALER
          What you want, homie?

                        JAKE
          Crack.  Twenty dollars' worth.

                        DEALER
          Fuck you, rookie.

He quickly walks away.  Alonzo smiles.

                        ALONZO
          Fetch, boy.  Fetch.

Jake bolts from the car.


EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - ON DEALER - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

walking.  He sees Jake, starts running.

Jake gaining, tackles him.  Gets the Dealer in a
compliance hold and cuffs him.  Alonzo pulls up, sees
Jake grinning.

                        ALONZO
          Love doing that, huh?
                 (searches Dealer)
          Who you work for, fuckstain?

                        DEALER
          Can't work.  I'm on disability.

                        ALONZO
          Bullshit.  You crackin'.

Jake finishes searching.

                        ALONZO
          No rocks?

                        JAKE
          No rocks.

                        DEALER
                 (laughing)
          Aw, dang.  See?  Ya'll ain't got
          shit.  The man comin' up short
          again.

Alonzo exits the car.  Glares.

                        ALONZO
          I never come up short, fool.
                 (to Dealer)
          Open your mouth.

The Dealer does.  Sensing to not play with Alonzo.

                        ALONZO
          Lift your tongue.

He does.

                        DEALER
          See.  I ain't be gottin' shit.

                        ALONZO
          Gimme a pen.

Jakes does.  Alonzo grabs the Dealer's neck.  Forces the
pen in his mouth.  Down his throat.  He gags -- Urgh!
Vomits.

                        DEALER
          Motherfucker!

Jake is stunned.  Alonzo inspects the spattered sidewalk.
Sees Saran-wrapped rocks.

                        ALONZO
          Lookie those.

                        DEALER
          That's corn.

                        ALONZO
          That's Jimmy crack corn... One,
          two, three, four, five... six.
          How'd you swallow that shit
          without water?

                        DEALER
          Fuckin' bullshit!  Fuck you, civil
          rights violatin' motherfuckers.

Alonzo slaps him.

                        ALONZO
          Gonna act like a man or a bitch?!
          Got you cold.  Gimme a name and
          stay on the streets.

The Dealer mulls it over.

                        DEALER
          He in County.

                        ALONZO
          Who?

                        DEALER
          Sandman.  He's shot callin'.

                        ALONZO
          Unhook him, Hoyt.

Jake unlocks the cuffs.  Alonzo steps over the vomit.

                        ALONZO
          And collect the evidence.

                        JAKE
          Fuck you.

                        ALONZO
          You're learning.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Jake keeps looking at Alonzo, half impressed, half
appalled.

                        ALONZO
          What?

                        JAKE
          You don't give a fuck.

Alonzo grins, dials a cell phone.

                        ALONZO
          Afternoon, Bob.  It's Alonzo,
          Rampart Narcs.
                 (beat)
          Good, and you?
                 (beat)
          Great.
                 (beat)
          Yeah, that's right.  I made it.
          The big one three.
                 (beat; laughs)
          'Course I'm on the street.  Hey,
          partner, got your gang book?
                 (beat)
          Okay, I need a res.  Alias is
          Sandman.  If he's not in Ghetto
          Boys, try the Mobsters... might be
          in custody.
                 (beat)
          No, I'll hold.
                 (to Jake)
          Bob Ramirez.  Intel coordinator
          for Seventy-Seventh Div Crash.
                 (into phone)
          -- Yeah, Bob, still here.  Shoot.

Alonzo jots the information on a notepad.

                        ALONZO
          Okay... Thank you, sir.  That's
          gonna do it.  Have a good one.

Alonzo hangs up.

                        JAKE
          We go after the Sandman?

                        ALONZO
          We go after the Sandman.

Jake smiles.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Graffiti on a wall:  GHETTO BOYS HOOD -- SANDMAN

The G-Ride glides INTO FRAME and OUT.


ANGLE

The G-Ride parks in front of a house.  Alonzo and Jake
exit.  Alonzo pops the trunk.  Inside is a microwave box,
toaster, a boombox, a TV.

                        JAKE
          Gonna open a Circuit City?

                        ALONZO
          It's unclaimed shit from property.
          I pass it out to informants,
          victims, witnesses.  Help their
          families out.

Alonzo fishes out an assault vest, tosses it to Jake and
dons an LAPD windbreaker, POLICE across the back.

                        ALONZO
          Intel says his mom's in the
          residence with two female
          juveniles and a possible male
          juvenile.

                        JAKE
          If he's not here, why are we here?

Alonzo pulls a paper out of his pocket, unfolds it.

                        ALONZO
          We gotta serve this search
          warrant.

It's the Chinese take-out menu Jake handed him earlier.

                        JAKE
          We can't do that.

                        ALONZO
          Yes we can, supercop.  Ding-ding,
          that's the schoolbell.

He slams the trunk.  Pulls his gun.  They cross to the
door.

                        JAKE
          Get a real warrant.

                        ALONZO
          I wanna get shit done.

They step onto the porch.  Take sides by the front door.

                        ALONZO
          Don't get me killed, new guy.

He knocks on the security screen.

                        ALONZO
          Police!  Search warrant!

Silence.  Alonzo knocks again.  Nods at Jake.

                        JAKE
          L.A.P.D.!  Open the door.

Nothing.  Then:

                        WOMAN (O.S.)
          Kevin ain't here.  He up at the
          Honor Ranch.

                        ALONZO
          L.A.P.D.!  Please open the door or
          we kick it in!  Ma'am?!

CLICKING.  The door is unlocked, opened.  An attractive
black WOMAN stands on the other side of the security
screen.  Alonzo waves the menu.

                        ALONZO
          Search Warrant.  Unlock the door
          and back away.

She does, Alonzo snaps it open, rushes in, Jake follows.


INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Jake and Alonzo swinging guns around the room.  There's
two scared toddlers in a play pen.  The Woman on the
couch, pissed.

                        JAKE
          Stand up, ma'am.

He searches the couch for a weapon.

                        ALONZO
          Anyone else in the house, ma'am?

                        WOMAN
          My nephew, Dimitri.  He in the
          bedroom.  The boy is ten.

                        ALONZO
          Cover her.  Gonna clear the house.

                        JAKE
          You can sit.  Please keep your
          hands on your knees.

Alonzo exits through a doorway into the kitchen.

                        ALONZO (O.S.)
          Kitchen's clear!

We HEAR Alonzo moving through the bedrooms.

                        ALONZO (O.S.)
          Bedrooms're clear!  Bringing out
          the kid!

Alonzo marches Dimitri, 10, into the living room.  The
youngster trembles.

                        ALONZO
          S'okay, son, we're the good guys.
          Go sit on the couch with your
          aunt -- House is code-four.  Gonna
          start my search.

Alonzo exits.  The Woman glares at Jake.

                        WOMAN
          I wanna read the warrant.

                        JAKE
                 (reacts)
          My partner has it.

She looks out the window at the empty street.

                        WOMAN
          Where's your back-up?

                        JAKE
          Ma'am, please be quiet while we
          conduct our investigation.

                        WOMAN
          You got the gun, boss.
                 (sotto)
          Crooked-ass motherfuckers.

The kids stare at Jake like an occupying soldier.  He
crosses to Dimitri, smiles.

                        JAKE
          Hey, little man.  How's it going?

Jake tries to shake.  Dimitri crosses his arms, looks
away.  The Woman smirks.

O.S., the SOUNDS of Alonzo tearing apart the bedrooms
like a hurricane.  Making a hell of a mess.

The Woman stands.

                        JAKE
          Ma'am.  Stay seated.

                        WOMAN
          Who you be thinkin'?  Comin' in
          like you pay the rent.

                        JAKE
          Ma'am, sit down.

                        WOMAN
          Both ya'lls stink.  Drinkin' all
          day.  Gotta get liquored up to do
          business?

Alonzo is suddenly quiet.  Jake backs to the doorway,
peeks around it.  Sees a dresser with a mirror.


IN MIRROR

Alonzo shoves something big down his raidjacket.


BACK TO SCENE

                        JAKE
          Siddown.

                        WOMAN
          Gonna shoot me, boss?  Kids, don't
          look.  The drunk policeman gonna
          shoot me now.

Alonzo enters, excited, grinning.

                        ALONZO
          Didn't find shit.  Let's go --
          Sorry about the inconvenience,
          ma'am.  Thank you for your
          cooperation.

He and Jake head for the door.

                        WOMAN
          I wanna see the warrant.

                        ALONZO
          Here.

He hands her the menu as they exit.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

At the end of the block, three big GANGSTERS buy
popsicles from a Mexican vendor.


ANOTHER ANGLE

The Woman bursts out of the house, screams at Jake and
Alonzo as they climb in the G-Ride.

                        WOMAN
          Fuckin' jackers!  You ain't no
          fuckin' police!  Get the fuck back
          here with my money!

She sees the gangsters.

                        WOMAN
          Why ya'll standin' there lookin'
          pretty?!  Blast them fools!

The gangsters trade looks.  Start running towards --


G-RIDE

Alonzo sees the gangsters.  Tries STARTING the CAR.  The
engine won't catch.

                        ALONZO
          C'mon, baby.  Don't do me like
          that.

The gangsters getting closer.

                        ALONZO
          Fuckin' bitch!  Start!

Nothing.  Alonzo piles out.  Raises the hood, taps the
carb with the butt of his gun.

                        ALONZO
          Start it!

Jake twists the screwdriver.  No dice.  He sees a Glock
pulled from a waistband.  Alonzo tapping.

                        JAKE
          Gun!  Gun!  Gun!

                        ALONZO
          Start it!

VAROOM!  Alonzo slams the hood.  Climbs in.  SQUEALS from
the driveway.

The armed gangster drops to one knee.

The G-Ride tear-asses away in Glock's sights.

POP!-POP!-POP!-POP!-POP!

A ROUND SHATTERS a taillight.

ANOTHER pierces the trunk --


INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

-- the back seat -- the front seat -- the six pack -- and
finally the dash.

Jake reacting to beer spray.  Alonzo rounds the corner,
tosses the wounded cans out the window.

                        ALONZO
          Shit... Let's hit a liquor store.

Jake fingers the hole in the dash.

                        ALONZO
          Gun!  Gun!  Gun!

Jake startles, Alonzo laughing.

                        ALONZO
          First time you been shot at?

                        JAKE
                 (lies)
          No.

                        ALONZO
          Yeah, it is.

                        JAKE
          That wasn't cool.  That wasn't
          cool at all.  What the fuck were
          you doing in there?

                        ALONZO
          Looking for narcotics activity.
          Scales.  Baggies.  Guns.  Coke.
          Bud.  Etcetera.

                        JAKE
          Cash...?

                        ALONZO
          Say it, motherfucker.

                        JAKE
          She was screaming about money.

                        ALONZO
          Bitch was talking shit.  Trying to
          get us blasted by her homies.

Jake's eyes fall to a brick-shaped bulge under Alonzo's
raid jacket.

                        ALONZO
          What?

                        JAKE
          I dunno.  I'm just a new guy.  A
          daisy-fresh scuzz-head boot.  You
          tell me what.

                        ALONZO
          I don't deny my shit stinks.  I
          will never deny that.  So why do I
          got the best arrest and conviction
          record in the county.  Why?
          'Cause I don't handicap myself
          with bullshit.

                        JAKE
          I thought that bullshit served a
          purpose.

                        ALONZO
          You thought wrong.  There's
          hemorrhoids walking free on the
          streets right now who've killed
          fuckin' three, four, five people.
          I know it, they know it, every
          detective on payroll knows it.
          Why do these turds still float
          around?  The rules.  I take down
          the duly deserving.  I'm not
          locking up Mr. Nine-to-five, Mr.
          Family Provider.

Jake shaking his head angrily.

                        ALONZO
          C'mon, communicate.  What aren't
          you saying?  Talk to me.

A beat.  Then Jake fixes Alonzo with a stare.

                        JAKE
          I think... I think you're a rogue
          cop.

Alonzo laughs his ass off.  Wipes his eyes, he laughs so
hard.

                        ALONZO
          Fuckin' Hoyt, man.  Know what?
          You're alright.  You are alright.

Jake gives him an "I'm not stupid" look.

                        ALONZO
          You're in a privileged position to
          learn a thing or two if you can
          keep your mouth shut and your eyes
          open.  If you're serious about
          doing good out in the real world,
          this is the place to learn how.
          If this shit shakes you up, go
          back to Division and cry to the
          Watch Commander.  He'll find you a
          nice job lighting flares and
          measuring wrecks.  Decide now if
          you want to be a wolf or a sheep.
          If you want on my squad, I'll sign
          your card.

Alonzo stops the car.  Reaches over and opens Jake's
door.

                        ALONZO
          If not, get out of my car.

Jake looks at Alonzo, he turns away and reacts.


JAKE'S POV

They are parked in front of a police station, steps lead
up to a pair of glass doors.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake sits there a beat.  He gives Alonzo a final look.
Then gets out of the car.


EXT. POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Jake stiffly marches up the steps.  Then stops.  And
turns.  Alonzo staring at him.  Waiting for him to change
his mind.

A beat.  Jake shakes his head:  no.

SCREECH!  Alonzo is gone.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. POLICE STATION LOBBY - DAY

Jake badges the elderly sergeant desk and is buzzed into
the offices.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. POLICE STATION OFFICES - DAY

Jake stands just inside the door.  Taking in station
life.


HIS POV

Station queens of all sorts.  Overweight cops talk on the
phones.  Pension jockeys tap away at keyboards.  This is
about as far from the action as you can get.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake looks at a sign over a door:  "WATCH COMMANDER".

Instead of crossing to it.  Jake looks at his hands,
dirty and scraped from fighting.  Jake turns around and
exits.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

As Jake descends the steps, the G-Ride pulls up.  The
passenger door opens.  Jake climbs in.  Shuts the door.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Alonzo holds out his hand.  Solemn.

                        ALONZO
          Welcome to Narcotics, Officer
          Hoyt.

Jake beams, shakes his hand.

                        JAKE
          I'm going to do my best.

                        ALONZO
          You do and you'll run the unit
          someday.
                 (a beat)
          You hungry?  Let's code seven.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. CENTRAL AVENUE - DAY

The G-Ride pulls onto a side street then winds its way
through a maze of shabby streets.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Jake nervously glances around one of the toughest parts
of the city.  A strong point adorned with wrought iron
and concertina wire.

                        JAKE
          What are you doing?  We'll be
          killed coming in here.

                        ALONZO
          Oh, you've heard about this neck
          of the woods?

                        JAKE
          No man's land.
                 (points)
          You got Broadway there, dividing
          the eastside-westside Hispanic
          gangs.  And Adams Boulevard there
          is the only thing separating the
          Rolling Twenties Bloods from the
          Hoover Crips.  They said never
          come in here with anything less
          than a platoon.

                        ALONZO
                 (impressed)
          On top of that, area's an
          administrative nightmare.  Four
          L.A.P.D. Division boundaries meet
          here.  Rampart, Central, Southwest
          and Newton.  That makes everything
          that happens here the other guy's
          problem.

Jake is really uncomfortable.

                        JAKE
          I thought we were going to eat.

Alonzo gives him a reassuring look and stops in front of
a cul-de-sac of run down houses and apartments.  He
HONKS.

A little kid runs out of the corner house.  He eyes
Alonzo then hops on his bike and rides OUT OF VIEW into
the cul-de-sac.  A beat.

The little kid returns.  Waves Alonzo into the cul-de-
sac.  Alonzo turns onto the dangerous dead-end, driving
around a poorly parked van.

                        JAKE
          That little kid's a lookout.

                        ALONZO
          Lots of eyes on us right now.
          Never come up in here without me.
          For your safety.  I'm serious.

                        JAKE
          Okay.  Why do you have a golden
          pass?

                        ALONZO
          Because I'm square with 'em.  But
          they know if the line is crossed,
          I'm leading the platoon in here.

Alonzo parks in front of some apartments.  Jake and
Alonzo get out.

An old woman sweeps her doorstep and glares at Jake.

                        ALONZO
          Buenas tardes, Dona Lucila.

The old woman smiles, nods.

Jake and Alonzo pass a long driveway as they cross to
some stairs.


JAKE'S POV

At the far end of the driveway, gangsters work out and
drink.  One of them is benching over 300 pounds.


BACK TO SCENE

                        ALONZO
          Don't look at them.

Alonzo and Jake climb the steps.

                        ALONZO
          See that dude benching?

                        JAKE
          Yeah, Jesus.

                        ALONZO
          Exactly, you run into him; you
          pray.  Real quick hands for a big
          guy.  Used to make money boxing
          but he fucked that up.

Alonzo knocks on a door.

                        JAKE
          What's here?

                        ALONZO
          A loving touch.

                        WOMAN (O.S.)
          Quien...?

                        ALONZO
          Policia, senorita.

The door opens, there stands SARA, a ravishing Salvadoran
in a housedress.  She hugs Alonzo, plants a big kiss on
him --

                        SARA
          Hi, papi.

-- then notices Jake and backs off.

                        ALONZO
          He's just my new guy.

She holds out her hand.  They shake.

                        SARA
          Hi.  How are you?

                        JAKE
          Good, thank you.

                        SARA
          Come in, come in.  Welcome to my
          house.

Alonzo enters, Jake follows.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. APARTMENT - DAY

The living room is filled with Salvadoran kitsch.  A 2-
year-old boy on the couch watches cartoons.  Alonzo
motions for Jake to sit.

                        ALONZO
          You had a rough morning.  Relax
          and let her hook you up.

He disappears into the bedroom.  Sara hands Jake the
remote.

                        SARA
          Here.  Take this.  I have cable.
          You watch what you want.  This is
          your house.  Don't be shy.

She crosses to the kitchen.  Sounds of POTS, DISHES.
Jake is about to change the channel.  The kid gives him a
look.  He puts away the remote.

Sara returns with a massive tray of food, chicken stew,
beans, rice, salad, tortillas, the works.  She sets the
mouth-watering spread before Jake.

                        SARA
          This is El Salvador food.  I hope
          you like it.

                        JAKE
          Thank you.  This is great.  I'm
          starving.

She hangs a beat, eabarrassed.

                        SARA
          I'm sorry.  I have too...

Jake knows.  She runs off.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Sara hands Alonzo a beer.  Alonzo lays back on the bed
with a huge grin.  She surveys him, smiles.

                        SARA
          Wow.  That's something different.
          You're smiling.

                        ALONZO
          Wassup, woman?  Lookin' good
          today.

                        SARA
                 (unties his shoes)
          Well, happy man:  you didn't say
          'hi' to your son.  He's been
          asking for you.

                        ALONZO
          Yeah, well... I will.

She removes his shoes, massages his feet.

                        SARA
          How's your wife?

                        ALONZO
          Why the fuck you comin' at me with
          all this shit?  Don't you have a
          brain?  I'm in a good fuckin' mood
          for the first time in who knows
          how the fuck long and you start
          talkin' shit.  Man.  Just shut the
          fuck up.  Take that shit off and
          get your ass in bed.

                        SARA
                 (crosses her arms, glares)
          I'm not a piece of something for
          you to bark at, mister.

                        ALONZO
          I'm sorry.  Please get your ass in
          bed.  I gotta get back to work.

She thinks it over.  Slips off her dress -- Wow!

                        SARA
          This is because I want to.  Not
          because you tell me to.

                        ALONZO
          Whatever.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY (LATER)

Jake dozes, his plate wiped clean, an arm around the
little kid, still watching cartoons.  Alonzo enters,
invigorated, he kicks Jake's foot.

                        ALONZO
          Let's go.  We're rollin'.  Gotta
          meeting in fifteen.

Jake stirs, stretches.  Stands.  Alonzo shows him the
door.

                        ALONZO
          Go to the car.

                        JAKE
          I wanna thank her for the food.
          It was great.

                        ALONZO
          I'll tell her, don't worry.

Jake tussles the kid's hair.

                        JAKE
          See you later, little man.

Jake exits.  Alonzo picks up his son.  Hugs him tight.
Kisses him.

                        ALONZO
          Hey.  How you been?  Been good?
          Gettin' heavy, mister.  Mama says
          you miss me.

Sara watches from the bedroom doorway.  Seeing Alonzo
like this rips her apart more than anything he says.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Near downtown.  The noon sun high and bright.

                        JAKE
          What about your queen?

                        ALONZO
          Sara's my princess.

                        JAKE
          I like her.  She's a really cool
          lady.

                        ALONZO
          So are her two sisters.  They look
          fuckin' good and they party.
          How'd you like to be in the middle
          of a bitch sandwich?  Come to
          Vegas with us.

                        JAKE
          No, thanks.  I get mine at home.

                        ALONZO
          You're missing out.  I should
          know.

                        JAKE
          Her kid looks just like you.  He's
          number five.

                        ALONZO
          Number six.

                        JAKE
          Six kids.  That's all?  Or you
          holding royal court in a few more
          houses?

                        ALONZO
          I'm only aware of six.

                        JAKE
          It's easy to make a baby --

                        ALONZO
          -- And hard to take care of one.
          Fuck you, okay?  No one's going
          hungry.  Everyone gets plenty of
          what they need:  toys, shoes,
          clothes.

                        JAKE
          Love?

Alonzo shoots a look at Jake.

                        ALONZO
          Let's not talk about my family.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY

A great place for lunch and cocktails.  Alonzo and Jake
cross to the entrance.  Alonzo, his raidjacket tucked
underarm, hands Jake some Visine.

                        ALONZO
          Use it.

Jake does.  Alonzo opens the door.

                        JAKE
          Who's here?

                        ALONZO
          Don't speak unless spoken to.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY

A lunchtime business crowd dines in burgundy leather
booths amidst a forest of wrought £ron.  Alonzo leads
Jake into:


INT. CORTEZ ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Empty.  Save for the back table.  Three scary 40ish
bruisers in nice suits, DOUG, STAN, AND LOU, share a
pitcher of beer.

Doug and Stan see Alonzo, react like they've seen a
ghost.  So Lou turns around, sees Alonzo.  And quickly
stands.

It's tense.  Like there could be a gunfight.  Jake's hand
creeps near his gun.

Alonzo and Lou converge, trading serious questions and
answers with their eyes.

Jake watches Stan and Doug.  They watch him.  Alonzo and
Lou grab hands grimly.

                        LOU
                 (softly)
          I don't know why I'm meeting you.
          I don't talk to dead men.

                        ALONZO
                 (smiles, winks)
          Ain't dead yet, you prick.

They shake vigorously, smile big.  Everyone relaxes.

                        LOU
                 (claps his back)
          Fuckin' Alonzo.  Heard you just
          tucked lucky number thirteen under
          your belt.  Hey, man.
          Congratulations.

                        ALONZO
          Thanks, Lou.  What, marked your
          calendar?

Lou smiles, taps his temple.  Doug and Stan shake with
Alonzo.  It's clear he makes them uncomfortable.

                        DOUG
          Congratulations.  Good to see you.

                        STAN
          Congratulations.  You made it
          through another year of this
          madness.

                        LOU
          Who the fuck is Ricky Rookie?

Alonzo grabs Jake's shoulder, pulls him into the huddle.

                        ALONZO
          This is Jake Hoyt, first day on
          the squad.

Jake shakes Lou's hand.  Sees an LAPD Captain's badge on
his belt.  Jake realizes these guys are police
administrators.

                        ALONZO
          Jake, this is Lou Jacobs,
          interagency task-force
          coordinator.  You ever have to
          talk to a fed, talk to this man
          first.  He'll get your back.

                        JAKE
          Pleased to meet you, sir.

                        ALONZO
          This is Stan Gursky, senior
          investigator for the L.A. County
          officer involved shooting team.
          Think about him before you pull a
          trigger, okay?  Stan will rock
          your world if you make a bad call.

                        JAKE
                 (shaking with Stan)
          Pleased to meet you, sir.

                        ALONZO
          And this is Doug Marcab, Metro
          Burglary.  Does high-dollar cases
          for the Poodle crowd.  Your Van
          Gogh takes a trip.  Doug'll find
          it.

                        JAKE
          Pleased to meet you, sir.

Lou takes Alonzo's arm.

                        LOU
          Have a seat, guy.

Alonzo slides into the booth after Lou.

                        ALONZO
                 (to Jake)
          Shoo, boy.  Shoo.

He points out the adjacent booth.  Jake crosses, sits,
his back to their table.

                        LOU
          Seems like a good kid.

An attractive tall blonde waitress, JULIE, brings a fresh
pitcher of beer.

                        ALONZO
          Fuckin' elbow benders read my
          mind.

                        LOU
          Look's like you're way ahead of us.

                        ALONZO
          I'm always a step ahead of you
          guys.

Julie smiles at Alonzo.

                        JULIE
          There's the mystery man.  Thought
          you gave up on us.  What've you
          been up to?

                        ALONZO
          Been good.

                        JULIE
          More bad than good, right?

                        ALONZO
          You know it.

                        JULIE
          Mmmm-hmmm.  You need to eat.
          Combo plate?

                        ALONZO
          No.  I'm good.  Toss the kid,
          there, a taco and a beer.

Alonzo grabs the pitcher, starts pouring.  Julie walks
away.

                        ALONZO
          Why the long face, Doug?  Feds
          seize your house or something?

Chuckles from Lou and Stan.

                        DOUG
          Fuck you, Alonzo.

                        STAN
          Doug had a bad day in court
          today -- Tell him what happened.

                        DOUG
          You tell him, think it's so funny.

                        STAN
          He went to a sentencing hearing.
          On a three strikes case against a
          silk-suit catburglar type.
          Fuckwad pulled fifteen Encino
          burglaries.

                        DOUG
          Spent twelve months trying to
          catch the suspect, a real
          slickster, gave up nothing.
          Captain rode my ass the entire
          time.  What broke it?  Luck.
          Caught in the act by a fuckin'
          patrolman.  We had him.
          It was the prosecutor's first
          serial burglary case but he slam-
          dunked it from a stepladder.
          Clockwork trial.  Jury deliberates
          half a day.  Comes back guilty on
          ten out of eleven counts.  The
          fuckbag was looking at a twenty-
          five mininum.

                        STAN
          Mininum.  Bye-bye, toilet-licker.

                        DOUG
          Sentencing was today --

                        LOU
          -- Judge is female.

                        DOUG
          Right.  Female judge.

                        ALONZO
          Who?

                        DOUG
          Landers.  The stress-case
          brunette.

                        ALONZO
          I know her.  Sharp lady.

                        DOUG
          Before this guy goes to the
          hearing, he gets a hold of some
          peanut butter and packs his ass
          crack with it.  So there he is,
          standing tall before the bench to
          give his statement and he shoves
          his hand down his pants and comes
          out with a gob of fuckin' extra-
          chunky Jiff.  Could'a heard a pin
          drop.  Bailiffs wouldn't come near
          him.  He looks the judge right in
          her eyes and licks his fingers
          clean.  Holy shit.  The judge, she
          screams.  All these homeowners are
          there to read statements, they run
          out of screaming.

Alonzo is breaking up.  Stan and Lou, too.


ON JAKE

laughing too.  Julie returns with a beer and a taco
plate.  And walks away with a flirty smile.


BACK TO STAN

                        STAN
          No, wait, here's the punchline...

                        DOUG
          Judge Landers, she says:
                 (falsetto)
          Oh, this poor man's insane, he
          can't go to prison.
                 (himself, grim)
          She ordered him to psychiatric.

                        ALONZO
                 (floored)
          You are fucking kidding.  She fell
          for it?

                        DOUG
          Time she found out it was sandwich
          spread, the order was signed and
          he'd been transferred.

                        ALONZO
          Proceedings closed.

                        DOUG
          Proceedings closed.

                        STAN
          Fucker'll do six months in the
          puzzle factory before they say
          he's normal and kick him loose.

                        DOUG
          So a maggot gnaws on a
          wrinkleneck.  Real or not, lock
          him up.  He's repulsive not
          insane.

                        LOU
          Little kids eat their own shit.

                        STAN
          Not my kids, Lou.

                        ALONZO
          It's called coprolagnia.  People
          do it for sex kicks.

                        STAN
          Bullshit.  How do you know?

                        ALONZO
          Had a case when I worked vice.

                        LOU
          Only in America.

                        ALONZO
          If the asshole's clever enough to
          play the system like that, I say
          he earned his freedom.

                        DOUG
          I see him on the street, I'm gonna
          fuckin' do him.

                        ALONZO
          Take his bullets, Stan.

Laughs.  Alonzo pours a fresh round.

                        ALONZO
          Hey, listen to this, my new guy,
          right?  Been showing him around
          town.  Scored some reefer for him
          to smoke.  But he wouldn't.  So I
          run through the whole bit, the gun
          to the head.  Everything.  'Okay,'
          he says.  I light up and it stinks
          like burnt rubber, right?  I pass
          it to him anyway.

The detectives grin knowingly.

                        STAN
          You're an asshole.

                        DOUG
          Kid's gotta learn.

                        ALONZO
          He sucks the shit down.  Showing
          me he can hang.  We're in
          MacArthur Park and he starts
          screaming and jumps out of the
          fuckin' car.  And runs down the
          street.  Omigod.  I thought he
          lost it.

The detectives are hooked.  So is...


JAKE

Listening, sipping beer.

                        ALONZO
          So I chase him down this alley
          and, holy shit, he's jamming two
          huge crackheads and there's this
          pretty girl with a bloody nose.
          Kid stopped a rape.

                        STAN
          No shit.

                        ALONZO
          No shit.

                        LOU
          Kid's got a magic eye.

                        ALONZO
          That's what I told him.  Kid's a
          prince.

Jake beams with beer-buzzed pride.


ON DETECTIVES

                        ALONZO
          His first day on the squad and
          know what he tells me?
                 (pathetic voice)
          'You're a rogue cop.'

Roars of laughter from the Detectives.  Lou refills
beers, holds up his glass for a toast.

                        LOU
          Okay.  Okay, ladies... Here's to
          the craziest, most bounce back,
          nine lives cop to darken the
          streets of this fine city.
          Congratulations for -- ahem --
          honorably completing thirteen
          years in the most fickle job a man
          could be married to.

Glasses clink.  The men drink.  Lou turns to Alonzo,
quiet, serious.

                        LOU
          You should be at Division hiding
          under a desk.

                        ALONZO
          Best way to fix a problem is to
          look it in the eye.

                        LOU
          I'm not the problem.


ON JAKE

He turns, sees it's a serious pow-wow.  Overhears:

                        STAN
          Heard you had an expensive weekend
          in Vegas.  How'd you fuck up so
          bad?

                        ALONZO
          How could I know?  Vegas ain't my
          town.  I'm not omniscient.

                        LOU
          You should hop a jet outta here.

                        ALONZO
          Why?  It's an easy fix.

                        LOU
                 (laughs)
          How?

                        ALONZO
          I can cash out an account.

                        STAN
          Whose?

                        ALONZO
          One of mine.  My first.

The three suits shudder, trade looks.

                        LOU
          You're fucked up.

                        ALONZO
          Someone steps on his tail, he'll
          cry like a coyote.  I can't keep
          him off the radar forever.  He's a
          security risk.

                        LOU
          Do your job and no one steps on
          his tail.

                        ALONZO
          Fuck him.  I'm taxing him.

A beat.  Lou acquiesces.

                        LOU
          It's your call.

Alonzo smiles.  And the men speak in hushed tones.  Jake
turns to look.


JAKE'S POV

Lou, Doug, Stan and Alonzo stare back at him.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake snaps his eyes to his plate.  The men murmur.  Julie
arrives with a fresh beer.  Softly:

                        JULIE
          You should know when not to
          listen.

She quickly exits.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. LA GOLONDRINA - DAY

Alonzo and Jake exit.  It's obvious something big is
going down.  Alonzo is excited, happy, the raid jacket
underarm.  He crosses to the valet --

                        ALONZO
          Gimme the keys for the grey one.

-- receives a key ring.  Alonzo crosses to one of three
plush unmarked Crown Victorias in the lot.  Jake watches
him open the trunk and empty his jacket inside.  Alonzo
returns the keys to the valet.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - DAY

Alonzo drives away.  Dials his cell phone.

                        ALONZO
          It's me.  We gotta green light.
          Fax the warrant to the clerk and
          tell her to get the judge to sign
          it.  I want you and Paul to bring
          it to the van.  And bring some
          picks and shovels.  Sign 'em out
          from maintenance.  Copy that?
                 (beat)
          Good.  Hurry the fuck up.

He hangs up.

                        JAKE
          How much was in your jacket?

                        ALONZO
          Forty G's.

                        JAKE
          What for?

                        ALONZO
          You wanna know?

                        JAKE
          I wanna know.

                        ALONZO
          Nothing's free in this world.  Not
          even an arrest warrant.

Jake didn't want to know.

                        JAKE
          Who's it for?

                        ALONZO
          A real bag of shit.  A genuine bad
          guy.  Been investigating this vile
          bastard for ten years.  He's a big
          fish in a big pond.  Today I fry
          him.  The squad's gonna get some
          glory.  Talkin' name-making shit.
          We'll be getting handshakes from
          the Chief and Mayor.  Wanna piece,
          new guy?

A beat.  Jake smiles.  Sounds good.

                        JAKE
          Hell, yeah.  I wanna piece.

                        ALONZO
          Knew you would.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. ALLEY - DAY

In an old, hilly L.A. neighborhood near downtown.  The G-
Ride parks.  Alonzo and Jake exit.  Cross to a Pacific
Bell repair van that Alonzo knocks on.

                        VOICE
          Go away.

                        ALONZO
          Daddy's home.  Open up.

The door opens.  Alonzo and Jake climb in.


INT. STAKEOUT VAN - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Crammed with surveillance gear.  Monitors show
neighborhood streets, houses.  TIM and JEFF, late 2O's,
dressed in jeans but obviously cops, play Streetfighter
II.  The stubbly pair has been holed up for two days.
Jeff knocks Tim out.

                        TIM
          Jerk.

                        JEFF
          The chick always wins.

Jake and Alonzo sit on milk crates.  Jake examines the
fascinating gear.  Tim opens the cooler he sits on,
tosses beers to Alonzo and Jake.

                        ALONZO
          Guess what, guys.  Jake's joined
          the team.

                        TIM
          Great.
                 (shakes)
          Here's my official welcome to the
          squad handshake.

                        JAKE
          Thanks.

Jeff and Jake shake next.

                        JEFF
          Welcome aboard.  How's the first
          day?  Don't worry.  Gets worse.

Tim hits PLAY on a VCR.

                        TIM
          Check this out.


ON VIDEO MONITOR

Two amorphous human heat signatures hump with compeling
intensity on infrared surveillance video.


BACK TO SCENE

                        ALONZO
          What's this shit?

                        TIM
          Infrared.  Trained a thermal scope
          on a house down the street.

                        JEFF
          Some Asian chick.  Lives alone.
          Everyday some asshole from work
          follows her home, throws in some
          pumps and bails.

                        TIM
          This was too good to pass up.  You
          know we love yellow-tail.  Check
          this out.


ON MONITOR

Same couple, same intensity, clearly seen through a
window via a camera atop a phone pole.

                        TIM
          I threw on the climbing irons and
          got a camera on her window.

                        JEFF
          This afternoon we're spiking her
          wall for sound.

Tim and Jeff beam proudly.

                        ALONZO
          No.  You're not.  Erase that shit.

They trade looks.

                        ALONZO
          I'm not fuckin' kidding!  Erase
          that shit.  And any other horny
          housewife tapes you made.  Right
          fuckin' now!

Alonzo smacks the back of Tim's head.  Tim hits the VTR
buttons.

                        TIM
          Ow, man.  I'm erasing.  Jesus.

Alonzo studies a clipboard.  Hurls it at Jeff.

                        ALONZO
          What's this?  Day camp sign-in?
          Redo the logs.  Neatly.
                 (taps a blank monitor)
          Why isn't this on?

                        TIM
          Respect.  I don't wanna watch the
          dude in his living room.

Alonzo CLICKS it ON.  Rewinds the tape of the VTR it's
connected to.

                        JEFF
          Why are you being a dick?  What's
          wrong?

                        ALONZO
          What's wrong?  All you've done for
          two days is jerk off and play
          sega.  You pinheads even see me in
          there this morning?

                        JEFF
          No one went in there this morning.

                        ALONZO
          I should snap your neck.

Instead, he hits play.


INSERT - MONITOR

A living room.  A familiar one -- Three beepers, three
cell phones on the coffee table.  Roger in his bathrobe,
having a drink with Jake and Alonzo.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake stares at the screen, stunned to see himself.  Jake
gives Alonzo a confused look.

                        JEFF
          Okay.  I'm sorry.  We haven't been
          diligent.  How can we take this
          gig seriously?  Who's gonna fuck
          with him?

                        ALONZO
          We're gonna fuck with him.  We're
          serving an arrest warrant.

Tim and Jeff trade serious looks.

                        JEFF
          We can't arrest Roger.

Alonzo ejects the tape.  Tosses it to Tim.

                        ALONZO
          Erase it.

Alonzo notices an unmarked police sedan pull up to the
van.

                        ALONZO
          Here we go.  Least someone on the
          squad has their shit squared away.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. ALLEY - DAY

The sedan parks by th G-Ride.  Out steps MARK, a black
clothes horse in Italian silk.  And PAUL, a steely-eyed,
clean-cut chicano in a turtleneck.  The van doors open.
Jeff and Tim climb out.

                        JEFF
          Nice suit, Mark.

                        TIM
          Beautiful suit.

Now Alonzo and Jake get out.  Six cops huddled in an
alley.  Jake fits right in with the motley bunch.  Paul
hands Alonzo the warrant.

                        ALONZO
          Thanks.  My picks and shovels?

                        MARK
          In the trunk.  Gonna dig a ditch?

                        ALONZO
          You are.  Great suit.

                        MARK
          Fuck you.

                        ALONZO
                 (shakes with Paul)
          Howdy, killer.

                        PAUL
          Alonzo, what the fuck's going on?

                        ALONZO
          Don't worry.  I talked to the
          three wise men.  It's all good.

His men trade looks, they have total trust in him.  Jake
is a little nervous.

                        PAUL
          If we can get away with it, let's
          go for it.  Fuck Roger.
                 (re:  Jake)
          Who's this?

                        JAKE
          Jake Hoyt.  First day in the unit.
          I'm coming from Van Nuys patrol.

He holds out his hand.  Paul scoffs.

                        PAUL
          Why's he in on this shit?

                        ALONZO
          Gotta pop his cherry sometime.

                        PAUL
                 (to Jake)
          Stay outta my way, boot.

Alonzo notes Jake's unease, shows him the warrant.

                        ALONZO
          It's the real deal.  Signed by the
          judge.  Thank the Sandman.

                        PAUL
          Roger's not gonna be too keen on
          going back to the pokey.

                        ALONZO
          I don't care what Roger thinks.
                 (addresses everyone)
          Our safety comes first.  He gives
          us shit, we give him lead.  Let's
          do this right so everyone can go
          home and do the wife and girl
          friend thing tonight.
                 (checks his watch)
          Suit up, ladies.  Time to punch in.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. ROGER'S HOUSE - DAY

Five cops crouch outside the door with shotguns, machine
pistols.  Assault vests and helmets worn over civvies.
Jake and Jeff to one side.  Paul, Mark and Tim to the
other.

Paul and Mark give the door several quick, powerful
kicks.  Wood splits, hinges tear.  It falls open.  The
five cops surge into:


INT. ROGER'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Roger reads on the couch, the morning paper.  He's non-
plussed to find himself surrounded by police, weapons.

                        MARK
          Freeze up!  You need to not move,
          breath, think or blink.

                        ROGER
          What are you clowns doing here?

                        PAUL
          Shut up! -- New guy!  His hands
          move, blast him.

Jake aiming his shotgun at Roger's head.

                        JAKE
          I'm on him.

Roger, holding his newspaper, recognizes Jake.

                        ROGER
          You know what you're doing, son?

Jake nods:  yes.

                        PAUL
          Drop what's in your hands.  Before
          zero.  Five.  Four.  Three.  Two.

CLUNK-CLUNK!  Two tiny derringers hit the coffee table.
Roger had been palming them.  Paul sweeps them aside with
his foot.  The cops relax a little.

Roger folds his paper.  Sets it down, takes off his
reading glasses.  A principal besieged by truants.

                        ROGER
          Alonzo's gonna kill you guys.

Alonzo enters the shattered door.  Holding picks,
shovels.  He drops the tools.  They crash to the floor.
Roger crosses his arms and glares at his friend.

                        ROGER
          What's going down, Alonzo?

                        ALONZO
          I had lunch with the three wise
          men.  You gotta render unto
          Caesar.

Roger sees the tools and knows exactly what they are for.

                        ROGER
          Those goddamn vampires want my
          pension.

                        ALONZO
          No, man, it's not like that.
          You're just getting taxed.  They
          got their boat payments and God
          knows what.  I'm sorry.  They're
          makin' me do it.  I'm just a lowly
          civil servant.

                        ROGER
          Fuck you.  You're their bitch.
          What happens with me?

                        ALONZO
          Don't worry, bro.  I promised
          you'd never go back to prison.  I
          got your back.  You won't even
          miss what I'm gonna take.  I hate
          doing this.  Orders is orders.
          Sorry, dog.

                        ROGER
          No, you ain't.  Cop.

                        ALONZO
                 (to Tim and Jeff)
          You guys are gonna work.  Get the
          tools.
                 (grabs Jake's shotgun)
          Gimme the boomer.

Tim and Jeff gather the tools.  Alonzo hands Jake a pick
and leads the three men to a bedroom door.  Roger pours a
slug of Crown Royal as Paul and Mark guard him.

                        ROGER
          Who's paying for my floor?

                        ALONZO
          The city.


INT. BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Alonzo flips the bed.  Taps the floor with his toe.

                        ALONZO
          Open the floor.  Right here.

Jake, Tim and Jeff begin chopping.  It's quick work to
tear a large hole in the wood.

                        ALONZO
          Hop in, Hoyt.  Couple'a of feet
          down, there's a locker.

Jake jumps in.  Attacking dirt with his pick.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. BEDROOM - DAY (10 MINUTES LATER)

Jake, Tim and Jeff haul a trash-bag-wrapped footlocker
out of the hole.

                        JAKE
          What's in it?

                        ALONZO
          Open it.

Jake tears away trash bags.  Alonzo takes a pick and
snaps the lock.  Jake opens the lid -- taped bundles
inside.

                        JAKE
          It's coke?

                        ALONZO
          Go ahead.  It won't bite.

Jake grabs a bundle.  Hefts it in his hand.

                        JAKE
          Hmmm.  A good five kilos.

Alonzo hands him a penknife.  Jake pokes a hole --
nothing pours out.

                        ALONZO
          Cut the damn thing open.

Jake does -- it is a brick of fifty dollar bills.  Alonzo
is relieved to see the money.  Jake likes its heft.

                        JAKE
          This is sweet.

                        ALONZO
          That's a hundred grand in your hot
          little hands.  There's four
          million bucks in there.

Alonzo slaps Jack's back.

                        ALONZO
          First day on the job and you're in
          on a three million dollar seizure.

                        JAKE
          You said four.

                        ALONZO
          Told you, nothing's for free.
          Gotta grease the rails to make the
          big moves.

Alonzo grabs a pillowcase.  Tosses bricks of fifties in
it.  Hands it to Jake.

                        ALONZO
          Here.  Lucky to get this, day-one-
          motherfucker.

                        JAKE
          What's this?

                        ALONZO
          Sweet green clean legal tender.
          Start the kid's college fund
          early.  Get the old lady a
          minivan.

However pleasant the heft, Jake could never accept.  He
returns the pillowcase to Alonzo.

                        JAKE
          No way.  Only checks I cash say
          City of L.A. on 'em.

                        JEFF
          Someone didn't sleep through Ethics.

                        ALONZO
          You said you wanted a piece.

                        JAKE
          Not like this.

                        ALONZO
          I understand.  I'II hold on to it
          for you.  Not everyone's
          comfortable the first time --
          Let's wrap up.

Alonzo drops the pillowcase in the locker.  Exits.  Jake,
Tim and Jeff follow.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Roger reads a Vegas odds paper.  Alonzo, Tim, Jeff and
Jake enter.  Roger glares at Alonzo.

                        ROGER
          What have I done to those guys?
          Are they nuts?  Am I supposed to
          stand still and let them horsefuck
          me?

                        ALONZO
          No.  We can put you out of your
          misery.

Alonzo tosses Jake the shotgun.

                        ALONZO
          Lemme tell you a secret, Hoyt.  If
          you kill someone on duty, they
          have to be your slave in the
          afterlife.
                 (points to Roger)
          There you go.  Start an entourage.

                        JAKE
          You want me to shoot him?

Paul, Mark, Tim and Jeff snicker, crack smiles.  Roger
too.  Jake plays along, points the shotgun at Roger.

                        ROGER
          You'd be doin' me a favor, kid.

                        JAKE
          Bang -- There.

He lowers the weapon.

                        ALONZO
          Not gonna to do it?

                        JAKE
          Of course not.  This isn't funny.

Alonzo smiles.  Takes the shotgun from him.

                        ALONZO
          Man, youngsters these days.  Can't
          get shit done unless you do it
          yourself.

Alonzo aims at Roger...

BOOM!  Roger is punched ragged with BUCKSHOT, lifted off
his couch, knocked into the wall.

Jake jumps back.

A peal of laughter from Tim.  Contagious giggles from the
others.  Roger gurgles.  Jake stares wide-eyed at Alonzo.

                        JAKE
          Holy shit!

Jake's shock elicits more giggles from the squad.

                        PAUL
          Finish him.

Jake watches Alonzo cross to Roger, blindly gasping.

                        ALONZO
          He's finished.

Alonzo takes one of Roger's derringers from the floor.
Slaps it in the dying man's hand.

                        ALONZO
          C'mere, Jeff.  You took fire
          coming through the door.

Jeff smiles, gets in position so Alonzo can shoot him.

                        JEFF
          Alright.  Gonna get some time off.

He braces himself.  Alonzo aims Roger's hand.  Pop!  A
BULLET THWACKS harmlessly into Jeff's vest.  He removes
his sunglasses from a pocket.

                        JEFF
          Watch my Oakleys.

Jake looking at Roger, it's hard watching him die.

Again Jeff braces.  Pop!  The THWACK of another BULLET.

                        ALONZO
          How's that?

Jeff probing his hand under the vest.

                        JEFF
          Fine.

Alonzo drops the gun in an envelope marked:  EVIDENCE
HANDGUN.  Jake can't believe what he just saw.

                        ALONZO
          Listen up.  This is the scenario.
          Mark and Paul kick the door.  Jeff
          is first through.  Roger opens
          fire.  Hits Jeff twice.

Jeff coughs -- bright foamy blood in his hand.

                        JEFF
          Oh, shit.

                        ALONZO
          One go through?

Jeff answers by coughing more blood.  Tim runs to him.

                        TIM
          Siddown, dude.

Jeff does.  Tim opens the vest -- a hole in a seam on the
edge.  Underneath, bruised puckered flesh drools blood.

                        TIM
          You shot him!

                        JEFF
          You fuckin' shot me!

                        TIM
          Call a rescue.

                        ALONZO
          You're fine.  You'll get a medal.

                        JEFF
          Call the R.A.!

                        ALONZO
          Let me run the scenario and I
          will.  Okay -- Mark and Paul kick
          the door.  First through is Jeff.
          Bang.  Bang.  Gets hit.  Wounded.
          Second through is our new guy,
          Hoyt.  He drops the suspect with
          some fine shotgun work.
                 (points at Mark)
          Who shot Roger?

                        MARK
          The new guy.  Came in spraying.

                        ALONZO
          Paul?

                        PAUL
          The boot shot him.

                        ALONZO
          What'd you guys see?

                        TIM
          Hoyt blasted him.

                        JEFF
          Hoyt went for it -- Now will you
          get me a fucking rescue ambulance?

Jake looks at these guys.  They look back, smiling,
smirking.  He feels dizzy, sick as the nightmare sinks
in.

Jeff coughs blood.  Alonzo tosses his rover to Paul.

                        PAUL
                 (into rover)
          Eleven forty-nine.  Nine-nine-
          eight.  Shots fired.  Shots fired.
          Man down.  Fifty-nine fifty-one
          Baxter Street.

                        ALONZO
                 (slaps Jake's back)
          Good job, son.  Congratulations.
          Gonna get a medal of valor.

                        JAKE
          ... I didn't shoot him...

                        ALONZO
          Roomful of cops says you did.

                        JAKE
          Fuck you.  I don't care.  I didn't
          shoot him.  You did.

Alonzo pulls his gun.  Aims at Jake's face.

                        ALONZO
                 (as a newscaster)
          A Los Angeles Police Department
          narcotics officer was killed
          serving a high risk warrant in
          Echo Park today.  An L.A.P.D.
          spokesperson said the young
          officer was survived by his wife
          and infant child.
                 (himself)
          Shit gets deeper.  Get the picture?

                        JAKE
          I got the picture.

Jake strikes -- twists back Alonzo's gun sharply --
sweeps away his legs with a kick.

Alonzo finds himself on his back, Jake's knee on his
neck, staring down the maw of his own pistol.

                        JAKE
          That's the second time you've
          stuck a gun in my face.  Won't be
          a third.

Paul presses his Beretta against Jake's temple.

                        PAUL
          Be my pleasure putting a
          hydrashock in your melon.

Tim, Jeff, Mark gawk at the Mexican standoff.

                        PAUL
          But I'm gonna be cool.  Open your
          hand slowly.  Drop the weapon.

Jake's free hand inches to his holstered gun --

                        JAKE
                 (super-calm)
          Hey, sorry, man.  Relax, okay7

-- and snatches it -- He swings on Tim -- who swings his
.45 on Jake.  A three-way standoff.

                        JAKE
          Wanna shoot me, Paul?  Go ahead.
          Because these two are gonna be
          wiping my ass in the netherworld.

A beat.  Then:

                        TIM
          Alonzo.  This is bad.

                        PAUL
          This dude's a fuckin' fed.

                        ALONZO
          He's no fed.  Just a choirboy with
          heart who got the drop on you
          fools.  Everyone, let's take a
          deep breath and defuse this --
          Jake?  You hear me?

                        JAKE
          You can't just spring this shit on
          me.  I never signed up for this.

                        ALONZO
          I hear you.  I know you're
          angry -- Paul, Tim, please put
          down your guns.

                        TIM
          Hell no.

                        PAUL
          Choirboy first.

SIRENS approach.  Lots of them.

                        ALONZO
          Both of you:  guns down.  Now.

Paul and Tim reluctantly lower their weapons.  Jake lifts
his knee off Alonzo's neck, stands and backs away, aiming
both pistols at Alonzo, who climbs to his feet.

                        ALONZO
          Jake, use your ears and listen.
          Sometimes we take shit all the
          way.  That's the nature of the
          game.  We don't do this every day.
          No one will ever again ask you to
          pull a trigger you don't want to
          -- Mark, where're you
          transferring to?

                        MARK
          Westside Homicide.

                        ALONZO
          Westside Homicide -- Only made
          detective last test.  Jake, give
          me eighteen months and I'll give
          you a career.  We make the big
          arrests.  We make the big
          seizures.  When someone's in my
          unit they're in all the way or not
          at all.  I thought you were man
          enough to handle this shit.

Alonzo calmly pours himself a whisky.

                        ALONZO
          Five proven, decorated officers
          say you were the shooter.
          Investigators are gonna pull a
          tube of your blood and test for
          intoxicants.  Remember all the
          P.C.P. you smoked today?

Jake does, wincing at his stupidity.

                        JAKE
          You've been planning this all day.

                        ALONZO
          I've been planning this all week.
          You start talking crazy shit, I
          will make sure the right sample
          goes to the lab.
          Still wanna talk your babynuts
          around the block?  You won't make
          it to the corner.  But if you're
          cool.  You're a hero.  A virgin
          shooter above suspicion.

Jake looks at Roger, gasping like a beached carp.  The
SIRENS are getting closer.  Alonzo gulps his drink and --

Pfffffst!  Spits the booze in Jake's face.

Jake is blinded.  Paul seizes Jake's wrists and aims the
pistols at the ceiling.  Alonzo wrenches the pistols from
his hands.

Jake wipes his eyes, looks at the roomful of crazy cops,
scared.  Paul points at Roger's other derringer, laying
on the carpet.

                        PAUL
          Alonzo, there's two shots in that
          stinger.  Let's kill your boy
          right now and say Roger dumped him
          coming through the door.

Mark, Tim, Jeff like the idea.  Jake doesn't.  And lucky
for him, neither does Alonzo.  He stands protectively in
front of Jake.

                        ALONZO
          No.  We're not killing him.  He's
          a good guy.  Man's got the magic.
          Just having a little freakout is
          all.  We've all been there.  I say
          he's cool.  No one's gonna hurt
          him.

Jake and Alonzo trade a look.  The SIRENS are close.
Alonzo returns Jake his gun.

                        ALONZO
          Hoyt, you gotta decision to make.
          In thirty seconds, this place will
          be overrun with patrolmen.  Go
          outside and clear your head.  Or
          shoot me now.

Jake is only too happy to get out of there.  Jake crosses
to exit, pauses, an afterthought?

                        JAKE
          Hey, Paul.

Crack!  Jake nails his jaw.  Paul staggers, almost falls.
To Jake as he exits:

                        PAUL
          You're dead!  I'm takin' you out.
          I don't care.

                        ALONZO
          Kick back, Wyatt Earp.  Gotta
          respect a motherfucker who puts
          you on queer street with one
          punch.

Alonzo catches his men trading looks.

                        ALONZO
          Kid's got more balls than all you
          faggots combined.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD - LONG SHOT - ROGER'S HOUSE
- DAY

from a distant hilltop.  The ambulances and black and
whites out front shimmer in golden afternoon heat.  OVER:

                        PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Patient is a white male
          approximately forty years old, six
          one, two hundred fifty pounds.
          Eight buckshot wounds in the
          torso.  First wound:  left chest
          wall, fourth intercostal space,
          anterior axillary line.  Second
          and third wounds:  eighth
          intercostal space, mid-clavicular
          line.  Fourth and fifth wounds:
          right chest wall.  Tenth
          intercostal space.  Posterior
          axillary line.

Two distance-distorted LAPD paramedics wheel out Roger on
a stretcher.

                        PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          Sixth wound:  left lower quadrant,
          mid-clavicular line.  Seventh
          wound:  left lower quadrant,
          anterior axillary line.
          Eighth wound is an exit wound.
          Left lower quadrant posterior
          axillary line.

ZOOM IN --

Amidst the heat mirages, Alonzo talks to a uniformed
sergeant.  Two more paramedics wheel Jeff outside on a
stretcher.  Mark, Tim and Paul following.

                        PARAMEDIC (V.O.)
                 (filtered)
          There is a sucking wound at the
          first woundsite.  Superclavicular
          in-drawing.  Abdomen is rigid.
          Stand by for skin signs.
          Patient's skin is pale and cool
          and diaphoretic.  Here's the
          vitals:  B.P. sixty and
          palpitated.  Respiration thirty-
          one, decreased on the left with
          hyper-resonance.

Roger is lifted into an ambulance.  Alonzo dismisses
Jeff's paramedics and huddles with his men.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. ALLEY - DAY

Alonzo crosses to the G-ride with an armload of gear.
Pops the trunk. Dumps everything inside.  He shuts the
trunk.  Dials his cell phone and gets in the car.


ANGLE ON JAKE

leaning against a phone pole.  Watching as Alonzo pulls a
clipboard from under his seat and puts on reading
glasses.  Alonzo begins writing a major incident report
as he talks on his cell.  A beat.

Alonzo STARTS the G-RIDE.  Motions for Jake to get in.


INT. G-RIDE - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY

Jake gets in.  Alonzo with his reading glasses, the
clipboard on his steering wheel, filling in the report,
talking on his cell phone, laughing.

                        ALONZO
          -- you're gonna be scrubbing the
          bathtub, homie.  Later.

Alonzo hangs up.  Preoccupied with filling in little
boxes on the report as he drives slowly down the alley.

                        ALONZO
          Why didn't you take off?

                        JAKE
          There's nowhere to run.

                        ALONZO
          Roger was D.O.A. at Good
          Samaritan.  Let's get the paper
          rolling now.

Alonzo looks at Jake, sees his torment.

                        ALONZO
          Justifiable homicide in the line
          of duty.  Anyone'd be proud to
          have that in their jacket.

                        JAKE
          Not this way.  Say I don't play
          along?

                        ALONZO
          At this point it behooves you not
          to fuck around.

That's the truth.  And Jake knows it.  We can almost hear
his heart breaking.  Jake stares out the window a beat,
clenching his jaw, finally he looks at Alonzo, stares at
Alonzo's scary, empty eyes.  Amazed to be utterly trapped
by them.

                        JAKE
          It can't be like this.

A beat.

                        ALONZO
          It is like this.

Jake has a lump in his throat as they drive in silence
for a long beat.

                        ALONZO
          Look, the money I gave you, keep
          it.

                        JAKE
          Told you, I don't want it.

                        ALONZO
          Just take it.  Throw it in the
          ocean.  Barbecue it.  Just take
          it.  It would make the boys feel
          better.

                        JAKE
          Fuck their feelings.

                        ALONZO
          Jake, they're worried.

                        JAKE
          About what?

                        ALONZO
          About you.  You didn't make anyone
          feel you were on the team back
          there.

                        JAKE
          Fuck the team.  You guys are
          insane.  I'll go back to Valley
          and cut parking tickets.  And tell
          Paul:  he comes near me again,
          I'll shoot him.

                        ALONZO
          I'm really sorry I exposed you to
          that today.  It was ugly but it
          was necessary.  Roger sold dope to
          kids.  World's a better place
          because he's gone.  Never seen no
          one die before?  You're too damn
          soft.  Bet you never missed a meal
          in your life.

                        JAKE
                 (glares at Alonzo)
          Missed a lot of meals growing up.
          Why?
                 (pantomimes shooting up)
          Because the folks had to do their
          shit.

OFF Alonzo's amazed look:

                        JAKE
          That's right.  I'm in the cop
          business to lock up the criminals
          and poisoners.  Not be one.

Alonzo sizes up Jake anew, laments not knowing that
earlier.

                        ALONZO
          What happened today was --

                        JAKE
          -- was murder and armed robbery.
          Wait.  We had badges, it's
          different.

                        ALONZO
          Dammit, boy!  Why can't you open
          your eyes and see?

Jake can see.  Too clearly.  Softly:

                        JAKE
          That man was your friend and you
          killed him like a fly.

                        ALONZO
                 (ice)
          We weren't friends.
                 (consoling)
          All the shit you're feeling now,
          it's going to go away.  I know
          you're scared.

                        JAKE
          I'm not scared.

                        ALONZO
          You're terrified.  I know you are.
          Because I went through the same
          shit.  Everyone has.  Jake,
          there's gotta be dirt on you if
          anyone's gonna trust you.  After
          this is behind you, a whole new
          world will open up.  I walk a
          higher path.  I can give you the
          keys to all doors.

                        JAKE
          What are you talking about?

                        ALONZO
          I'm not the asskicker I once was,
          but you are.  Want to run my unit?
          My guys are good but not one of
          those clowns is a leader.  You
          are.  Want my job?  You got it.
          Wanna lock up criminals?
          This is the best place to do it.
          Do your time and make detective.
          Play the game, grow wise and
          change things from the inside.

Jake looks at him.  And realizes Alonzo is right.

                        ALONZO
          Let's get to the hospital and talk
          to Stan.  He'll tell you what to
          say to the D.A.'s guys.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. STREET - SUNSET

A large hospital near downtown looms in the distance.

TILT DOWN --

to reveal the tough old barrios below it.  Cholos drink
on the sidewalk.  Play grab-ass and listen to MUSIC.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. G-RIDE - MOVING - STREET

Alonzo parks near the gangsters.

                        JAKE
          What's here?

Alonzo points out a well-tended, quiet, quaint house near
the Cholos.

                        ALONZO
          Informant of mine's in Chino.
          Promised I'd help out his family.

Alonzo gets out.  Opens the trunk.  Loads up his arms
with appliances.

                        ALONZO
          Sometimes I bring food.  Believe
          it or not, I like to help out the
          community whenever I can.
                 (a box falls)
          Shit.  Hoyt, help me with this.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. STREET - SUNSET

Jake gets out, takes some boxes.  And they cross to the
house.  With Jake following.  Past staring Cholos.  A
drunk PeeWee maddogs Jake.  Jake maddogs back.

                        PEEWEE
          You know where you're at, fool?

A VETERANO shoves the PeeWee aside.

                        VETERANO
          The fuck outta the way, punk.
          It's business.

He shakes with Alonzo.

                        VETERANO
          'Sup, dog.  Thought you were
          missing in action.

                        ALONZO
          'Sup, man.  You know I'm never
          lost.

Jake and Alonzo cross to the house.  AD LIBS of "Those're
cops," spread through the Cholos.

At the house's door, Alonzo knocks.  A beat.  A little
girl cracks it.

                        ALONZO
          Hi.  Got some stuff for your
          family.

She closes it.  A beat.  The door opens to reveal SMILEY,
a huge, drunk Veterano sleeved with prison tattoos.  He
looks at the two cops.  Massive, impassive.  Smiley never
smiles.

                        SMILEY
          Kitchen's this way.

Alonzo enters.  Jake hesitates.  Then follows.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - SUNSET

The little girl does homework.  Two fine Cholas watch the
Spanish newscast.  An old man dozes in a chair.

Family photos on the wall -- A proud line of warfighters,
lots of military uniforms.

Alonzo and Jake follow Smiley into:


INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS ACTION - SUNSET

SNIPER and MORENO, big and intimidating like Smiley, have
been playing poker around a beer-bottle covered table.

Smiley, Alonzo and Jake enter.

                        SMILEY
          Put it on the counter.

Alonzo and Jake place the boxes on the counter.  Sniper,
Moreno, ignore Alonzo.  And vice versa.

                        ALONZO
          Can I use the head?

                        SMILEY
          Go for it.

                        ALONZO
                 (to Jake)
          I'll be two seconds.  We're
          already late.

Alonzo exits to a hallway.  Smiley opens a box.  Pulls
out a nice CD player.

                        MORENO
          That's nice.  Lemme get that.

                        SMILEY
          You get the Osterizer.  This is
          mine.

Smiley opens a microwave box.  Jake reacts.


JAKE'S POV

The box is crammed with cash from Roger's locker.


BACK TO SCENE

                        SMILEY
          Dreamer!  Got your bony ass in
          here!

DREAMER, 19, an attractive young lady, enters.  Smiley
stacks the heavy packages in her arms.  He tops it off
with the pillowcase of Jake's money.

                        SMILEY
          Count that shit in the bedroom.

                        DREAMER
          Thanks, eh.  I was doing stuff.
          Learn to count, math whiz.

                        SMILEY
          Wait up.

Smiley pulls a small electric money counter from a
drawer.  Dreamer's hands are full.  So he balances it on
her head.

                        SMILEY
          Don't drop it.

She gives him a dirty look and exits.  Smiley takes his
seat and picks up his cards.  He eyes Moreno.

                        SNIPER
          You looked at 'em.

                        MORENO
          No I didn't.

Smiley tosses them to Sniper.

                        SMILEY
          Deal again.

                        SNIPER
          Play cards, cop?

                        JAKE
          Not really.

                        MORENO
          Beer?

Moreno offers one.  Sniper deals in Jake.

                        JAKE
          No thanks.

                        SNIPER
          C'mon and play a hand.

                        MORENO
          Don't be rude, dude.  One hand.

                        SMILEY
          Don't sweat it.  We ain't playin'
          for money.

                        JAKE
          We gotta go.

                        SMILEY
          Alonzo's probably taking a dump --
          Go ahead and have a seat.

Sniper finishes dealing.  Jake looks at the cards
intended for him.

                        JAKE
          Okay.  One hand.

Jake sits.  Now he can see a shotgun against the wall by
Moreno.  The three Cholos check their hands, signal for
more cards.  Jake checks his cards.

                        MORENO
          How long you been a cop?  You look
          like you're in high school.

                        JAKE
          Nineteen months.

                        MORENO
          Like it?

                        JAKE
          I should'a been a fireman.

                        MORENO
          My cousin's a fireman.  And his
          kid's a Police Explorer.  Gonna be
          our man on the inside.

                        SNIPER
          I'd love to be a jura.  Drive
          around all day getting fucked up.
          Talkin' to the ladies.  Any heads
          that talk shit, fuck 'em up.

                        SMILEY
          Listen to your bullshit.  You
          couldn't hack takin' orders --
          They order you around all the
          time.  You gotta do everything
          they say, huh?

                        JAKE
          Yeah, it's pretty strict.
          Especially when you're just
          starting out.

                        SMILEY
          Sounds like the service.  You
          serve?

                        JAKE
          No.  Never been in the military.
          But half the guys I work with
          were.

                        SMILEY
          I was in the Army.  Ranger Alert
          Battalion.  Carried a machine gun.

                        SNIPER
          Kick back, Rambo -- Waddaya got,
          dog?

                        JAKE
          Huh?

                        SNIPER
          Your hand, homes.

Oh -- Jake lays down his cards.

                        JAKE
          Three of a kind.

                        SMILEY
          Man... didn't get squat.

He tosses away his hand, Moreno, too.  Sniper shows his
cards with a grin.

                        SNIPER
          Two pair.

Sniper collects the cards.  Shuffles.

                        SMILEY
          What are you doing?  The cop won.

                        SNIPER
          I got two pair.

                        SMILEY
          Three of a kind beats two pair,
          dumbass.

                        MORENO
          See why we don't play for money?

Smiley slides the deck to Jake.

                        SMILEY
          Your deal.

Jake looks down the hall.  Getting up:

                        JAKE
          We have to go.  I'm gonna get
          Alonzo.

                        SMILEY
          Kick back and party.

Smiley pulls aside the curtain.


JAKE'S POV

An empty street.  The G-Ride is gone.

                        SMILEY (O.S.)
          Ain't nobody out there for you.


ON JAKE

He feels like a toddler lost in a department store.  He
sits back down.  Moreno laughs.

                        MORENO
          Alonzo played you like a booger.

                        SMILEY
          Deal.

Jake shuffles.  Smiley lights a joint.  Offers it to him.

                        SMILEY
          It's P.C.P.  Wanna hit?

                        JAKE
          No thanks.  I already smoked out
          today.

                        SNIPER
          Shit.  I'll step on that P-dog.

Sniper takes it, inhales.  Jake dealing cards.  The joint
rounds the table.

                        MORENO
          Lemme see your cohete.

                        SNIPER
          Your gun, dude.  Let him see your
          gun.  Under your shirt.

Jake is outnumbered, outsized, outgunned.  All he can do
is take the pistol from his holster and show Moreno.

                        MORENO
          That's down.  What is it?  A three
          eighty?

                        JAKE
          Three eighty stainless.  Double
          action.  Nine round mag.

                        MORENO
          Lemme see it.  Ain't gonna blast
          no one.

Jake hands it over.  Moreno examines it with skilled
hands.

                        MORENO
          Fuck a vat up with this.

He hands it back.  To Jake's relief.

                        SNIPER
          Gimme two cards.

Jake does.  Dreamer enters.

                        DREAMER
          There's extra.

                        SMILEY
          I know.  That's ours.  Set it
          aside.  Sure about the count?

                        DREAMER
          You count it if you don't believe
          me.

                        SMILEY
          Okay.  Thanks -- Gimme three.

Dreamer grabs a beer and exits.  Jake deals three.

                        SMILEY
          Alonzo pulled off a miracle, huh?
          Times are tight.  That's a lotta
          cash.

                        SNIPER
          Who'd he jack?

                        JAKE
                 (dealing cards)
          I dunno.

                        SMILEY
          He jacked Roger.  Blasted the
          dude.

Moreno guffaws.  Sniper chuckles.

                        MORENO
          Damnnnn.  Alonzo's scandalous.

                        SNIPER
          That's some cold shit.  Vato'll
          jack anyone.

                        MORENO
          Alonzo's a low-down dirty ruthless
          vato.

                        SMILEY
          That's why I never shake his hand.
          He don't respect shit.
                 (to Jake)
          Know what all the money's for?

                        JAKE
          No.

                        SMILEY
          Alonzo's a hothead.  Last week in
          Vegas some dude was talking shit
          so Alonzo beat his ass and killed
          him.  Turns out the dude was
          somebody.  He ran a big game and
          owed big money.  Now Alonzo owes
          the money.

                        JAKE
          How do you know?

                        SMILEY
          I'm the man in the middle.  I hear
          shit.  They gave Alonzo till today
          to pay up.  His name's already on
          a list.  There's a crew up from
          Sinaloa to do the mission.
          They're gonna blast him.  No one
          thought he could get cash like
          that.

                        SNIPER
          Dude made a pact with the devil or
          some shit 'cause only a miracle
          could'a saved his ass.

                        JAKE
          It's no miracle.

                        SNIPER
          Alonzo takes care of business.

                        SMILEY
          Cops get crafty in a clinch.

                        MORENO
          And get away with it -- Been to
          jail, cop?

                        SNIPER
          That's a stupid question.  If he's
          been to jail, he wouldn't be cop.

                        JAKE
          You can be a cop as long as you've
          never been convicted of a felony.

                        MORENO
          There goes my chance.  I got like
          eighty strikes.

                        SNIPER
          Fuck cops.  Cops turned out my
          little brother.

That went over Jake's head.

                        SNIPER
          You hear me?

                        JAKE
          What?  He got arrested?

                        SNIPER
          No.  Two fuckin' juras turned him
          out.  They took his manhood.  They
          booty-tagged him in the back of a
          black and white.

                        JAKE
          That can't be true.

                        SNIPER
          Do I look like I'm lyin',
          motherfucker?

                        JAKE
          I didn't say you were lying.  I
          just haven't ever heard anything
          like that.

                        SMILEY
          'Cause you're a rookie.  Put in a
          few years' work and you'll know
          what's up.

                        MORENO
          Makes me wanna turn out a cop --
          Ever had your shit pushed in?

                        JAKE
          What?

                        MORENO
          I had my shit pushed in.

                        SNIPER
          Me too.  My shit's been pushed in.
          Smiley?

                        SMILEY
                 (grins)
          I'm always gettin' love from the
          homies.

Smiley caresses Jake's thigh under the table.  He almost
leaps from his chair.  Everyone laughs.

                        SMILEY
          Jumpy motherfucker.

                        SNIPER
                 (disgusted)
          He's a fuckin' buster.

                        MORENO
          You never been booty-busted?

Jake tries to laugh.  But it's getting weird.

                        SMILEY
          Hey, cop.  Win this hand and we
          won't bust you out.

                        MORENO
          Unless you want us to.

Laughs.  Sniper reveals his cards.

                        SNIPER
          I got two pair again.

                        MORENO
                 (tossing his cards)
          Didn't get shit.

                        SMILEY
                 (grins)
          Gotta straight.

                        SNIPER
          Uh-oh.  This jura's gonna be
          wearin' a dress.

Everyone looks at Jake -- well?  He lays down his cards.

                        JAKE
          Full house.

                        SMILEY
          Lucky fucker.

                        SNIPER
          You won.  Deal again.

Smiley taps the deck.  Jake looks at it.  At them.

                        MORENO
          Deal, homie.

Jake picks up the deck.  Starts dealing.

                        SNIPER
          There's a new chick in the
          neighborhood.

                        SMILEY
          Oh yeah?  What's her name?

                        MORENO
          Vanessa... Vanessa Salguero.

Everyone but Jake laughs.

                        SMILEY
          I seen her around.  Think she's a
          good girl or a bad girl?

                        SNIPER
          She's a good girl.  Innocent.
          Easy to play.

                        MORENO
          How's she like the neighborhood?

                        SNIPER
          Dunno.
                 (to Jake)
          How you like the neighborhood?

Jake realizes he's Vanessa.  Laughter.  Jake finishes
dealing.  Sets down the deck.  Smiley arranges his hand.

                        SMILEY
          Gimme three.

                        MORENO
          Fuck this buster.  Let's get this
          shit over with.

Looks of agreement are traded.  Moreno grins at his
shotgun.  Sniper shifts his weight.  Smiley
whiteknuckling his beer.

                        SMILEY
          Hurry up, cop.  Gimme three.

Jake reaches for the deck.

This happens fast:

Jake flings the deck in Sniper's face.

Smack!  Cards scatter.

Jumps up from the chair, flips the table into Moreno.

Smiley SMASHES a beer BOTTLE on Jake's head.

Moreno grabbing the shotgun.

Crack!  Jake socks Smiley's jaw.  He goes down, amazed to
find himself on his ass.

Crack!  Sniper uppercuts Jake.

Smiley grabs Jake's legs, yanks him to the deck --
kerchack!


JAKE'S POV

The bore of a 12 gauge and Moreno's leering face.


BACK TO SCENE

Jake gives up, his broken scalp gushing blood.

                        JAKE
          ... uncle...

Dreamer pops her head in.

                        DREAMER
          Dang!  You guys fucked him up.

                        MORENO
          Get outta here.  Take the girls
          next door.  Or you're next.

She gives him the finger, pops out.  Smiley pats Jake
down.  Pockets the gun.

                        SMILEY
          You fucked up, fool.  You know
          that.

He finds Jake's handcuffs -- clicks his wrists together
behind his back.  He takes his badge, clips it on his
belt.

                        SMILEY
          Look.  I'm a cop.  Gonna start
          taxing.

Smiley commences kicking the hell out of Jake:

                        SMILEY
          You're under arrest.  For being a
          cop.  For being a buster.  For
          dogging me in the mouth in my own
          pad.  And for bleeding on my clean
          kitchen floor.  You have the right
          to be kicked.  And the right to be
          slapped.

Smack!  He slaps him.  Everyone laughs.  Smiley finishes,
panting.

                        SMILEY
          There.  Get him in the bathtub.

Moreno grabs Jake's hair, Sniper grabs an arm, they jerk
him to his feet.

                        SMILEY
          Gotta fuck this vato up.

They run him out of the kitchen, Smiley follows.


INT. BATHROOM

Pink carpet and porcelain kitties.  They throw Jake into
the tub -- shove his face in the drain.  Smiley turns on
the water -- Jake's blood whirlpooling away.

Smiley grabs the shotgun from Moreno.  Thumps the butt
against Jake's head, flips it, shoves the muzzle in his
ear.  Snicks the shower curtain shut to catch the
spatter.

                        SNIPER
          Fuckin' do it, eh.

                        SMILEY
          It's gonna be loud.  Close the
          door.

Moreno does.  Sniper plugs his ears.  Smiley braces for
the recoil.

Jake is dazed, like steer in a slaughterhouse chute.

                        MORENO
          Wait.  Lemme get his money first.

Smiley nods.  Moreno searches Jake's pockets, takes his
wallet.  Pockets forty bucks.  Finds the Schoolgirl's
pink change purse.  Opens it, reacts.

                        MORENO
          ... dang...

He hands it to Smiley.

                        MORENO
          Here, ese... You are gonna trip
          the fuck out.

Smiley opens it.  His face goes dead blank.  He hands
Moreno the shotgun.  Whips aside the shower curtain.
Starts slugging Jake.  Emphasizes each word with a kidney
punch.

                        SMILEY
          Pinchi... game... playing...
          cop... where'... you... get...
          this?

                        JAKE
          Get what?  Get what?  Oh, God.

Smiley slaps him with the change purse.

                        SMILEY
          This, stupid.  Alonzo give it to
          you?

                        JAKE
          No!  I found it!

                        SMILEY
          Where?

                        JAKE
          MacArthur Park!

                        SMILEY
          What?  Bullshit!

Snick!  The curtain closes.  Smiley take the shotgun.
Holds it to Jake's temple.  Moreno angles for a peek.

                        MORENO
          Wait up.  I can't see.

                        SMILEY
          If you're religious, go ahead and
          get in that last prayer.

                        JAKE
                 (sobs)
          Omigod... she was going to be
          raped.  I was driving with Alonzo.
          These two crackheads were gonna
          rape her.  I saw them hit her.  I
          stopped them.  They were gonna
          rape her.  I swear to God.  I
          stopped it... I gotta kid --

                        SMILEY
          -- Shut up, faggot!

Smiley opens the curtain -- stomps Jake's back -- closes
it.

                        SNIPER
          Fuck the fool.  Blast him.

Smiley aims, braces for the recoil.  Jake croaks:

                        JAKE
          ... I gotta little girl...

Smiley pauses.  He eases off the trigger.  Pulls a cell
phone.  Dials.

                        SMILEY
          We're gonna get to the bottom of
          your bullshit.  She's my cousin.
          She's a civilian.  Ain't right
          involving her.

He sits on the toilet.  Still holding the shotgun to
Jake's head, he waits for an answer.

INTERCUT:


INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

The Schoolgirl works out Algebra II proofs on a "Hello
Kitty" bedspread in a pink T-shirt.  She grabs her
RINGING PHONE.

                        SCHOOLGIRL
          Hello?

                        SMILEY
          Wassup, Letty.  Whatc'cha don'?

                        LETTY (SCHOOLGIRL)
          Hey, Smiley!  Just here doing
          homework.  Wanna talk to Tony?

                        SMILEY
          No.  I wanna talk to you.  Go to
          school today?

                        LETTY
          Yep.

                        SMILEY
          All day?  You didn't ditch?

                        LETTY
          I went to every class... Why?

                        SMILEY
          I heard different.

                        LETTY
          Nuh-uh.

                        SMILEY
          Cops talk to you today?

                        LETTY
                 (beat)
          No.

A beat.  Smiley sighs.

                        SMILEY
          Tell me what happened.  Don't
          bullshit me.

                        LETTY
          I got jumped by two niggers.

                        SMILEY
          You got jumped?

                        LETTY
          Well... I think they wanted to
          rape me.  I kinda got hit.  I mean
          he just slapped me.  But nothing
          happened, okay?  'Cause this cop
          came and kicked their butts.  They
          almost killed him but he kicked
          their asses.

A beat.

                        SMILEY
          What did this cop look like?

                        LETTY
          He was a white boy.  Brown hair.
          Tall.  He looked young.

Smiley looks at Jake.  That's him.

                        SMILEY
          Sure you're okay?

                        LETTY
          I'm fine.  Nothing happened.

                        SMILEY
          That don't sound like nothing.
          Wanna go to the doctor?

                        LETTY
          No.  I said I'm fine.

                        SMILEY
          Letty.

                        LETTY
          Yeah?

                        SMILEY
          What the fuck were you doing in
          MacArthur Park?

                        LETTY
          I was just kicking back at my
          friend's pad.  There weren't no
          guys or nothing.  I swear to God.

                        SMILEY
          Letty.

                        LETTY
          Yeah?

                        SMILEY
          You go there again, I'm gonna beat
          your ass.  I got your bus pass and
          I.D.  Gonna send 'em over.  And
          we're gonna talk more about this.

He hangs up.  Looks at Jake a long beat.  Soaked, bloody,
shivering.  Click.  He safeties the shotgun.  Tosses it
to a disappointed Moreno.

                        MORENO
          Ain't you gonna blast him?

                        SMILEY
          The vato was tellin' the truth.
          Life's a fuckin' trip, huh?

                        SNIPER
          This is some trippy-ass shit.

Smiley hands the change purse to Sniper.

                        SMILEY
          Get this to Letty.

Smiley stands, turns off the water.  He helps Jake to his
feet.  Unlocks the handcuffs as Jake sways, woozy.

                        SMILEY
          Thanks for getting my cousin's
          back.

Jake half-smiles, not really sure if he's alive or not.
Smiley tosses him a towel.

                        SMILEY
          Put that on your head.  You're
          gonna stain the carpet.  Where the
          fuckers at?  Where'd you book
          them?

                        JAKE
          I didn't.

                        SMILEY
          Why the fuck not?

                        JAKE
          Alonzo let them go.

OFF Smiley's scowl, we:

                                           CUT TO:


INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT (LATER)

Moreno and Sniper help Dreamer pick up broken glass.
Jake sits in a chair holding a bloody towel on his head.
Smiley returns his badgecase and gun.

                        JAKE
          Thanks.

                        SMILEY
          You know this shit was just
          business.

                        JAKE
          I know.

                        DREAMER
          Want some coffee?

                        JAKE
          No, thank you.

Smiley tosses the pillowcase of Jake's money on the
table.

                        SMILEY
          Alonzo gave me that to take care
          of you.  To burn you up on the
          freeway by your house.  I don't
          want his blood money.  So... I
          don't know.  I just don't want it.

                        JAKE
          I'll take it.

Jake picks up the pillowcase and hugs it.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

Smiley walks Jake past the Cholos, staring at the beaten,
wet cop.  Jake hugs the pillowcase.  Out in the street:

                        SMILEY
          I know Alonzo paid off his debt,
          but I'm gonna wait till tomorrow
          to make the call.  His magic ran
          out.

Jake and Smiley shake hands.

                        SMILEY
          Sure you don't wanna ride?

                        JAKE
          I'm sure.

As Jake walks away:

                        SMILEY
          You went Sega today, rookie.
          You're at that next level.  Just
          play their games and do what you
          gotta do and you'll be cool.
          They'll make you Chief.
                 (beat)
          Hey, cop!

Jake stops, turns.  Smiley smiles.  The first time.

                        SMILEY
          Remember me.

                        JAKE
                 (smiles)
          I will.

                                           CUT TO:

EXT. BOULEVARD - NIGHT

Jake boards an MTA bus.  Flashes his badge to the driver
and plunks into a seat.  Passengers gawk.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. MTA BUS - NIGHT

Jake thousand-yard-stares out the window.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. STREET - NIGHT

The MTA bus FILLS FRAME.  A beat.  It rolls out to reveal
Jake and his pillowcase.  Just standing there on the
curb.


JAKE'S POV

The cul-de-sac.  No man's land.  And very dark, the
streetlights have been shot out.  Deceptively quiet,
except for the little kid riding away on his bike.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. CUL-DE-SAC - NIGHT

Jake enters, wary.  He rounds the misparked van.  And
sees the street is quiet.  The glow of a cigarette on the
roof of an apartment building catches his eye.

He looks at a building across the street.  Sees movement,
a shadow, like someone taking cover.


ON HOUSE

A light turns off.  The curtain in the window moves.
Jake swallows hard and keeps walking toward Sara's
apartment.  The G-Ride parked out front.


ON DRIVEWAY

Thirteen men pour out like hornets from a hive.  They are
the gangsters he saw earlier.  The bench presser leads
the way, like a cat that has found a spider to play with.

Jake stares unwaveringly into the man's eyes.

Bench presser looks at the pillowcase curiously --

Smack!

-- Jake threw a roundhouse at his throat, solidly
connecting.

Bench presser drops on one knee. He struggles for a
breath.  Clutches his throat.  His homies stare in
disbelief.


ON JAKE

He takes a deep breath.

TILT DOWN --

Jake's police handcuffs orbit his fist like brass
knuckles.

The gangsters stare at him.

                        JAKE
          I have business with Alonzo.

It's in his eyes, he will not back down.  A gangster with
intelligent eyes, obviously next in the chain of command,
sizes up Jake.  A beat.

He gestures for Jake to go ahead.  Jake steps around the
bench presser, only now getting air through his windpipe.

Jake walks into their midst.

Their faces follow him.  They are behind him, around him.
He is outnumbered by these hardened streetfighters.  Jake
prays he isn't bum-rushed.

Now past them, he continues walking toward Sara's
building.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. SARA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sara sits on the couch, clutching her son.  Watching TV
in the dark.  Something is wrong, she's almost catatonic.
We hear MOANS and GIGGLING O.S.


ANGLE

to see Sara has a black eye.

BANG!  The FRONT DOOR flies open.  It's Jake, his gun
out.

Jake and Sara look at each other a long beat.  Two
battered faces in a dead TV glow.  She points at the
bedroom.

Jake crosses, opens the door.  Enters.


INT. SARA'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION - NIGHT

It's a bitch sandwich and Alonzo's in the middle.  Jake
crosses to the foot of the bed.  Stands there.  From
inside the writhing flesh pile:

                        ALONZO
          'Bout time you changed your mind
          and joined in.

The two women stare at Jake, naked and immodest.  It
takes a beat for Alonzo to recognize the ghost before
him.

Jake dumps the money on the blankets.

                        JAKE
          Smiley didn't want the job.

Alonzo's eyes bug in horror at the mountain of cash.  He
ages a hundred years in a second.  A man who knows he
will soon be dead.


ON JAKE

with eyes colder and blacker than a shark's.  Alonzo can
fool him no more.

                        JAKE
          Know what I learned today?  It's
          not about money.

He turns, about to walk away.  And turns back around.
The women shriek, dive out of the line of fire.  Alonzo
braces for bullets and instead hears:

                        JAKE
          It's about respect.

Jake leaves.  As he crosses the --


INT. LIVING ROOM

                        ALONZO (O.S.)
          ... Oh, God...

Jake exits the apartment.


ON SARA

A smile slowly spreads across her face.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. CUL-DE-SAC - NIGHT

As Jake descends the stairs, the porch lights of a house
come on.  Then the lights of another house.

Steel doors open.  People tentatively step outside.
Women and children, mothers with babies on their hips.
Blue-collar fathers in shop uniforms.

More porch lights come on.  More doors open.


JAKE'S POV

The cul-de-sac has come to life.  The homes are lit,
their occupants filling the street, ready to bear
witness.


BACK TO SCENE

All eyes on Jake as he walks down the street.  Three
young boys follow him.

The old woman comes out of her house to watch Jake pass.
As do two pretty girls.

Jake nearing the gangsters.  They block the street.  The
bench presser stands there, arms crossed, Jake will have
to go through him again.

Curious eyes wonder what will happen.

The bench presser gives Jake a slight nod of respect.

The gangsters part for Jake and he leaves the cul-de-sac.


ON JAKE

As he walks, his innocence is gone, a heavy burden on his
shoulders, but there is much strength in his gait.

Jake walks past the aloof little kid, riding his bicycle
in tight circles.  He smiles at Jake.  Jake smiles back.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Lisa watches TV on the couch, snuggling with a cup of
tea, worried.  Headlights sweep the curtains.  A car
pulls into the driveway.

Lisa smiles, sets down her tea, sprawls on the couch like
she's sleeping, opens her robe provocatively, arranges it
just right.

We hear the front DOOR OPEN O.S.  FOOTSTEPS as Jake moves
through the house.  Lisa peeks, sees him enter the baby's
room in silhouette.

                        LISA
                 (sotto)
          Guess I'm second in line tonight.

She rises, crosses to the bedroom and enters.


INT. BEDROOM - LISA'S POV

Jake's back is to her, holding his daughter tight.


BACK TO SCENE

Lisa lays a hand on his shoulder.  He turns slowly,
reveals his broken, swollen face.  And a look in his eyes
that says he will never be the same.

Lisa sees this and starts crying.  She holds him tightly
in her arms.

He holds onto his wife and child for dear life.

PULL BACK, OUT OF the room, HANDHELD THROUGH the house
to:


TELEVISION

Breaking news.  A helicopter shot of the G-Ride.  Crashed
into a light pole.  Alonzo lies dead under a sheet,
hanging out of his beloved car.  An utterly impossible
river of blood flows from his head, into a gutter.

                        NEWSCOPTER REPORTER (V.O.)
          -- has not been identified by name
          but a police spokesman said the
          thirteen-year L.A.P.D. veteran was
          the victim of a failed carjacking
          attempt near Los Angeles
          International Airport.  Gunfire
          was exchanged with the suspects,
          now being sought in an extensive
          countywide manhunt, described as
          four hispanic males in their mid-
          twenties, with shaved heads,
          wearing white T-shirts and driving
          a dark late model sedan --

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

An unmarked police sedan pulls up.  We recognize the
silhouettes of the Three Wise Men inside.

                                           CUT TO:


INT. JAKE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Jake and his wife embracing.  The SEDAN HONKS.  Jake
steps back from her.  Her eyes search his.

                        JAKE
          We served a warrant.  I shot a
          man.

Lisa reacts.

                                           CUT TO:


EXT. JAKE'S HOUSE - ON FRONT DOOR - NIGHT

Jake opens it and exits his house, ready for absolutely
anything.


WIDER

He crosses to the sedan.  The back door opens, and Jake
gets in.

                                           FADE OUT.

THE END
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