HARD TO KILL
Revised Screenplay by
Steven Pressfield & Ronald Shusett & Steven Seagal
Story by
Steven Seagal & Ronald Shusett
& Steven Pressfield & Bruce Malmuth
Based on an Original Screenplay by
Steven McKay
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
FINAL DRAFT
February 17, 1989
Converted to PDF by SCREENTALK
www.screentalk.org
FADE IN:
EXT. HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
A modest but handsome home in the foothills above Gower.
SUPERIMPOSE: "1983"
A young boy, SONNY STORM, rushes out -- excited but pouty
and a little peeved. He glowers at a 1981 Mercury, parked
at the curb -- then turns back toward the house.
SONNY
(calls back to
house)
Daddy! I don't want you to go!
MASON STORM
emerges from the house -- wearing a dark Gianni Versace
sport coat with a black vest underneath, carrying some
kind of case in his hand. He looks great -- a man of
action, not dandified at all by the snappy attire. He
squints down toward Sonny, proudly -- very much the family
man.
Mason's pretty wife, FELICIA, appears in the doorway.
FELICIA
(calls to Sonny)
Your father has work to do, Sonny
... but he'll be home soon. And
we'll all watch it together.
SONNY
You promise, Dad?
STORM
I promise.
Storm and Felicia come down to car, his arm around her.
Sonny grabs his father's shirtsleeve.
SONNY
Daddy ...
(very serious)
Daddy, is E.T. gonna win?
STORM
He's got my vote.
Storm laughs and ruffles his son's hair.
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FELICIA
(tight to Storm)
I want you back early. Tonight's
the night those little starlets are
crawling all over town.
STORM
Don't worry. I'll beat 'em off
with a stick.
He kisses Felicia, ready to leave.
SONNY
Daddy
(wants him to
stay)
What about my joke?
Storm lifts Sonny up into his arms. He gives the boy
100% of his attention, speaks just for him.
STORM
Knock knock.
SONNY
Who's there?
STORM
Old lady.
SONNY
Old lady who?
STORM
I didn't know you could yodel.
Sonny may not get the joke, but he laughs delightedly --
just because it's his dad telling it. Storm kisses him
and sets him down.
FELICIA
(to Storm)
Take my advice: Don't give up your
day job.
TITLES BEGIN.
INT. STORM'S CAR - MOVING - POV THROUGH WINDSHIELD NIGHT
Freeway traffic. Smoke in the sky ... flames ... the oil
refineries south of Torrance. A police RADIO is on, LOW,
and we can hear the SQUAWKING COMMUNIQUES in the b.g.
We become aware of a black limousine, ahead in the traffic.
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REVERSE ANGLE - STORM
as he drives. Intense now -- mind focused. Radio handset
in his hand.
STORM
(into handset)
Karl ... wake up.
INTERCUT POLICE STATION - DETECTIVES ROOM - NIGHT
KARL BECKER, Storm's partner, a nice guy in shirtsleeves
with a huge nautical-type wristwatch. He's wide awake
all right -- eager for this call.
KARL
(into radio)
I'm here, Mase. Where are you
EXT. HARBOR FREEWAY - NIGHT
Storm's Mercury moves discreetly, tailing the limo.
STORM
On the Harbor ... south of Torrance.
I got Calabrese right in my
gunsights.
WITH STORM
STORM
If I had a Sidewinder missile, I
could save the taxpayers a lot of
money.
Suddenly he is more alert, slowing the car.
LIMO
veers toward an upcoming exit ramp.
STORM (V.O.)
Here he goes. I'm shutting down
the radio, partner.
ANGLE ON SIGN
PORT OF LOS ANGELES
SAN PEDRO TERMINAL
PIER 65
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As the limo passes and, moments later, Storm's car.
KARL (V.O.)
Keep off the skyline, amigo.
(by the way)
Lou Gossett just won Best Supporting.
TITLES END.
EXT. COMMERCIAL PIER - NIGHT
The limousine slowly moves up beside a stand-alone shack
near the edge of the wharf. The shack is an open shelter
with a broad overhang, and various kinds of equipment
stored inside it. A single bulb illuminates it. The
limo comes to rest, engine off, no apparent activity in
or out of the vehicle.
STORM'S CAR
pulls up at a distance, deep in shadow.
INT. STORM'S CAR - NIGHT
He switches OFF the RADIO, twists a telephoto night lens
onto a specially silenced 8mm surveillance film camera;
he primes a portable sound deck in the case he's been
carrying. A quick check of the .45 in his shoulder
holster, then he exits the car.
ON STORM
Moving carefully onto the wharf, keeping to shadow, using
cover.
EXT. WHARF - NIGHT
Stacks of huge shipping crates and Sea-Land containers
from a long wall along the cluttered dock. The towering
hulks of several ships loom close by. Storm finds a slot
between bulk containers: a good surveillance point.
STORM
Let's go, boys. I'm missing the
Oscars.
He is less than forty yards away, looking lengthwise down
the car from its rear. A beat, as Storm picks up the
sound before we do.
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STORM'S POV - STATION WAGON
A paneled, expensive model approaches. The wagon pulls
up, a short distance from the limo. A man gets out from
the wagon. A beat later, the driver exits the limo.
Both are armed. They check out the area, in all
directions.
SHACK
One man crosses under the eave of the shack -- reaches
up, SMASHES the single LIGHT BULB. The spot goes dark.
WITH STORM
Seeing the doors open on both cars. A mature man,
CALABRESE, and his stocky confederate, VITALE, step from
the limo. TWO other MEN -- one wearing a stylish hat,
the other bareheaded -- step from the wagon. They cross
to the shadowed, shack area.
STORM (O.S.)
(to himself,
softly)
I know you, Calabrese. But who are
these mystery guests?
The two Shadow Men are obscured by the shack and the
position of Calabrese and Vitale.
STORM
Starts his camera soundlessly whirring. He positions his
high-tech directional mike, slipping on earphones.
WHARF - CONSPIRATORS
There is NOISE from various wharf MACHINERY on adjacent
piers, but the high-tech listening equipment still brings
in the sound with acceptable clarity.
CALABRESE
-- Murder is a serious business, my
friend. And an expensive one.
SHADOW MAN WITH HAT
You'll be well compensated,
Calabrese. Money now -- and a lot
more when I get into that office.
You can take that to the bank.
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THROUGH TELEPHOTO LENS
Despite the shadows, it's plain the Man With The Hat is
in his prime, full of vigor and impatience. Calabrese,
by contrast, is clearly older, more circumspect.
CALABRESE
Slowly ... slowly. Always with
caution.
SHADOW MAN WITH HAT
I'm up to here with caution! That
fuck lives on bean curd and alfalfa
sprouts -- he ain't gonna die of
natural causes.
CALABRESE
All I'm counseling is a little
patience. The man is public. He's
in the paper every day.
SHADOW MAN WITH HAT
Yeah? Well, the next time I read
about him, it better be in the
obituaries.
ON STORM
He squints over the camera, straining to see with the
naked eve Frustration
ANGLE - CALABRESE AND VITALE
Glancing to each other. They're tough guys, but in some
hard-to-define way, the two Shadow Men are tougher.
BAREHEADED SHADOW MAN
Enough bullshit. Can you do the
job or not? If you can't -
VITALE
We'll do it.
STORM
Knowing he's on to something super hot.
STORM
(to himself,
soft but intense)
Who are you? Get out of those
shadows --
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It's driving him crazy that he can't make out the Shadow
Men's faces. He peers around the wharf, looking for some
better vantage point.
SHACK - CONSPIRATORS
keep talking.
ANGLE - STORM
Darting closer, using the row of bulk containers for cover.
He takes up a new position, nearer the shack re-aims the
camera.
LOOKOUT #1 (MIKEY)
hears something -- peers directly at the spot where Storm
is hiding.
STORM
ducks quickly back out of sight. As he does this, his
earphone cord catches on something. yanking the phone
off Storm's head. He cannot hear what the conspirators
say next -- but the audience can.
CONSPIRATORS
SHADOW MAN WITH HAT
The job is a light plane ... a Lear
P61. We want it to take off -- we
don't want it to land.
Calabrese becomes aware of Mikey checking out the noise;
he motions the conspirators to shut up, then signals Mikey
to proceed. Mikey cocks his pistol, moves swiftly toward
the line of containers.
SHADOW MAN WITH HAT
steps forward into the light. His face comes clearly
into view. Well dressed, magnetic, Bobby Kennedy-ish --
he is L.A. Assemblyman VERNON TRENT.
TRENT (SHADOW MAN WITH HAT)
(to Calabrese,
with menace)
You told us this dock was clean --
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STORM'S HIDING PLACE - MIKEY
steps around one container (out of view of the other men)
to the exact spot where Storm was. But Storm isn't there.
Mikey is about to check farther, when out of nowhere:
Storm lashes out with a savage punch to the face. The
blow is so devastating it knocks Mikey's feet out from
under him so that he topples face-forward into Storm's
arms, out cold. Storm soundlessly lowers the lookout to
the ground.
Storm shakes a sore hand and notices it's cut. Kneeling
down to the outstretched heap, he finds the cause of his
injury -- one of Mikey's teeth wiggles freely in his
fingers. Storm plucks the tooth and folds it inside the
big guy's hand.
STORM
(re: the fairy)
A quarter's a quarter.
WHARF - SHACK
Calabrese and Vitale are getting uneasy.
CALABRESE
Mikey! Quit playing with yourself
back there.
(no response)
Mikey --
Guns come out. Calabrese and Vitale start this way --
STORM
bolts back up the wharf, toward his car.
CALABRESE AND VITALE
hurry up to their fallen comrade. They see Storm 50 yards
back up the pier, fleeing. Vitale takes off after him at
a dead run. At that instant:
TRENT
moves INTO FRAME beside Calabrese. The Bareheaded Shadow
Man with him is Police Captain DAN HOLLAND (in civilian
business suit) -- 21 years on the force, hard as nails.
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CONSPIRATORS' POV
They see Vitale pull up, on foot, as Storm's CAR ROARS
OFF into the darkness. Vitale seems close enough to pick
out the license number.
BACK TO TRENT
As his face moves into the light. Merciless, implacable.
TRENT
(to Calabrese)
Whoever that sonofabitch is, I don't
want him to get an hour older.
CALABRESE
He won't, Mr. Assemblyman.
CALABRESE'S LIMO
speeds up beside the conspirators. Calabrese gets in,
the limo whips off down the wharf to pick up Vitale and
take off after Storm.
TRENT AND HOLLAND
stand watching -- grim, furious.
INT. POLICE STATION - DETECTIVES ROOM - NIGHT
A burly plainclothesman, MAX DUNNE, waves his phone
receiver at Karl, Storm's partner, who's still at the
desk where we last saw him. A TV across the room tuned
to the ACADEMY AWARDS.
DUNNE
Karl -- Storm on three.
INTERCUT:
MINI-MALL PHONE BOOTH
Storm in a phone booth, crummy neighborhood near Torrance.
Karl punches line three, picks up his phone.
KARL
You throwing away dimes now?
STORM
This doesn't go out over the air,
pal. For your ears only.
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KARL
(getting out
note pad)
What's going down?
STORM
Calabrese. I just got his ass --
on candid camera.
KARL
You're full of shit!
STORM
Him and his gorilla Vitale. I got
film and audio on both of them,
laying out a hit. Two other guys I
couldn't make out, but I'm sure
they'll come up on the film. This
is a big one, Carlito. Our own
academy award. You ready?
KARL
(taking notes)
Shoot.
STORM
I want you to track down Morgensteen
right now. If he's with that meter
maid from Pico, crank her legs apart
and pry him out of there.
KARL
He ain't gonna be happy.
STORM
Screw his happiness. Tell him I
want the lab open at six-thirty
tomorrow morning. I want this film
pushed to the max, and nobody but
us to know about it. I know we got
something here.
KARL
You bringing it in tonight?
STORM
I promised my kid I'd be home.
I'll be at the lab before dawn.
Storm hangs up.
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EXT. MINI-MALL - NIGHT
A crummy mini-mall around Torrance. Storm exits the phone
booth -- crosses toward a liquor store, which is still
open this late at night.
INT. LIQUOR STORE - NIGHT
Storm enters. A grimy, high-crime booze store. Not
exactly the place to find Mumm's '36.
STORM
How ya doing?
(looking around)
Got any champagne?
The grizzled MAN behind the counter checks out Storm's
Versace threads.
COUNTER MAN
Right next to the caviar.
(winks; points)
There's some in the big cooler.
Storm likes the guy. He notes the man's MINI-TV tuned to
WRESTLING.
STORM
You're not watching the Oscars?
COUNTER MAN
The Oscars? I hate the Oscars.
Storm crosses to the cooler.
COUNTER MAN
Who needs the goddam movies? I get
it all in here every night.
(indicates his
view from behind
counter)
Horror. Sex. Freaks. Violence.
And I ain't gotta pay no four bucks.
Storm pulls a bottle from the cooler. He notices, on a
high shelf, a big stuffed toy. Something for Sonny.
Storm stretches up, grabs it. Suddenly:
He notices something in the big convex shoplifting mirror.
Something approaching from outside.
STORM
(to Counter Man)
You got a phone back there?
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COUNTER MAN
Why ?
STORM
(orders him)
Punch nine-one-one.
The Man hesitates, letting a few precious seconds pass.
Three Latino PUNKS enter the store. One of them carries
a long-barreled shotgun.
COUNTER MAN
Sonsofbitches! You creeps ripped
me off two weeks ago!
SHOTGUN PUNK
Shut up.
He gestures to the register.
COUNTER MAN
Take it, man. Take my life's
savings.
He scoops bills from the cash drawer (about twenty bucks)
shoves them to the Shotgun Punk. The Punk scowls --
COUNTER MAN
Where is a cop when you goddam need
one?
(to Punks,
threatening)
I got half a mind to come out there
and teach you sonofabitch --
Shotgun Punk FIRES without warning -- point blank into
the counter display and the Man! The Counter Man is BLOWN
backwards -- cabinets crash; he crumples, groaning and
bloody onto the floor!
SHOTGUN PUNK
Now you got half a mind, old man.
Punk #2 scoops up the money. The three Punks saunter up
and surround Storm.
Storm looks down at their feet, then to their faces and
smiles. Shotgun Punk points the gun at Storm's face.
SHOTGUN PUNK
What are you grinning at, pindejo?
STORM
We ... ell ... there's only three
of you and you only got one shot
left.
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The Punks don't know whether to laugh or just shoot him,
but it is too late for either option, as Storm suddenly
spins between the Punks and behind the gun.
The SHOTGUN GOES OFF and BLOWS away part of the back WALL --
BOTTLES EXPLODE -- Storm locks the Punk's fingers into
the gun, rotates the gun as a bar, breaking the Punk's
arm.
The others make their move -- but now Storm has the shotgun
and is using it as a sword or staff. He looks like a
true master conductor in an almost magical manipulation.
These pour stupid Punks have become the instruments in
his spontaneous orchestra.
Punk #2 takes a vicious swipe at Storm with his long knife.
Storm ducks, goes to his knees, and uses the gun to foot-
sweep the Punk. The Punk's legs fly skyward and his head
slams against the floor. As soon as he hits, the shotgun
is slammed through his teeth.
The last Punk has produced an icepick and is staring at
his compadres in disbelief. He and Storm square off.
STORM
(to Punk, calmly)
I know what you're thinking. I
have this big shotgun and all you
have is that little icepick. Mine's
bigger than yours. It's not fair.
Storm sets the gun down. Punk #3 is still frozen.
STORM
Still not fair?
Storm gets down on his knees.
STORM
Don't wait for the blindfold,
maricon.
PUNK #3
(clutching the
ice pick tightly)
Chinga tu madre!
The Punk lungs, thrusting the ice pick with lightning
speed at Storm's face.
Storm makes a slight movement, parries the thrust and
slides his body behind the Punk, simultaneously slamming
his forearm into the rear knee joint.
The Punk buckles and Storm now has one of his legs in
both arms and pins the other leg with his left knee.
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We see the leg held in Storm's arms begin to twist ...
and with a blood-curdling scream we hear a LOUD SNAP.
SIRENS are heard approaching outside.
EXT. LIQUOR STORE - NIGHT
Black and whites pack the parking lot. Police ambulances
make ready to haul off the three Punks. T he Counter
Man, bandaged on a gurney, is wheeled out by paramedics.
One medic catches Storm's eye -- flashes a gesture
indicating the Counter Man will be okay.
Storm finishes with two other DETECTIVES, obviously
buddies, as they complete their on-site notes. The
champagne bottle rests on the hood of their car.
DETECTIVE #1
You were armed, Storm -- why didn't
you just use your gun?
STORM
I just got these new glazer bullets.
You know they're almost a buck a
pop now?
He grabs the champagne, takes off for his car.
INT. STORM'S CAR - TRAVELING - NIGHT
Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" PLAYS in the TAPE DECK.
Storm listens for a few beats, as if letting the horn
cool him out after the liquor store action. Then he ejects
the tape decisively -- reaches into his camera case, pulls
out the surveillance tape from tonight. He punches this
tape into the deck.
Storm listens. The part where the Shadow Man with the
hat (Trent) says, "You'll be well compensated. Money now --
and more when I get into that office. You can take that
to the bank." Storm CRANKS UP the VOLUME.
STORM
I know that voice.
Who the hell is it? He rewinds the tape --
EXT. STREET - STORM'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Storm's car turns into the block, slows approaching his
house.
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INT. STORM'S CAR - TRAVELING - NIGHT
Still listening. Can't place the voice. Punches " eject,"
the tape pops half-out. Into the driveway, Storm activates
the garage door remote.
INT. GARAGE - NIGHT
Storm's car stops, headlights go out. The garage door
closes. Storm gets out, carrying his camera case,
champagne and the big stuffed toy. He takes a couple of
steps toward the door to the house, then stops, remembering -
He leans back into the car, yanks the surveillance tape
from the deck. Hands full, he tucks the tape into a inside
pocket of his Versace vest.
INT. STORM'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
It's late; just a courtesy lamp left on for Storm. He
pulls the tapes and recorder from his case, stashes the
case out of sight. He grabs a couple of champagne glasses --
INT. STORM'S HOUSE - STAIRWAY - STORM
tiptoes toward the bedroom. Felicia appears at the top
of the stairs, wearing panties and a teddy top. She smiles
seeing the big toy, shooshes Storm --
ANGLE FROM SONNY'S ROOM
Storm stops outside his boy's room, looking in. Felicia
tiptoes up beside him. Sonny sprawls loose-limbed on the
bed in his Woody Woodpecker pajamas.
STORM
Wish I could sleep like that.
FELICIA
Maybe I can help you.
She tugs Storm sexily toward the bedroom --
SONNY
Is that for me, Dad?
Storm stops, toy in hand --
STORM
You faker.
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He comes into the room, sits on the edge of Sonny's bed --
tousling his son's hair with great affection. Sonny takes
the stuffed toy sleepily, pulls it into bed beside him.
SONNY
E.T. lost.
Storm knows E.T. is not just a movie character to Sonny;
he's a real person.
STORM
Who won?
SONNY
I dunno. Candy.
STORM
Candy?
FELICIA
(from doorway)
Mahatma Candy. He was a great man.
Storm moves closer to his son. He sees how much E.T.'s
loss has hurt his son, and wants to make it better.
STORM
(very gently)
You know why E.T. lost?
SONNY
Why?
STORM
Cause they only let grownups vote.
If kids had voted --
SONNY
(cheered by
this)
-- We would have gave E.T.
everything!
STORM
We would have given him everything.
SONNY
Yeah.
Storm starts to rise.
SONNY
(wants him to
stay)
Daddy -- tell me a knock-knock.
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STORM
You know the rules.
(pulls covers
up)
One joke a day. I have to make 'em
last.
Already Sonny is most of the way back to sleep. Storm
kisses his forehead --
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
INSERT - JOHNNY CARSON - 1982 "TONIGHT SHOW"
In mid-joke behind his famous desk.
Storm and Felicia forms obscure part of the screen --
standing close to each other, beside the bed. Felicia
helps him off with his jacket.
FELICIA
There's blood on your jacket.
STORM
It's okay. It's not mine.
Storm's hands dump his stuff onto the bedside table --
camera, tapes from case, gun. He gathers the glasses,
pours champagne.
Felicia watches her husband. She plainly loves him deeply --
and is held and excited by his contradictions. They come
closer together, clinking their glasses, sipping.
FELICIA
If people knew how sweet you are,
they'd never be scared of you.
She kisses him seductively, unbuttoning his shirt at the
collar. Storm still wears the vest.
FELICIA
I'm not scared of you.
STORM
Maybe you should be.
FELICIA
(closer,
increasing
passion)
Why? Are you planning on doing
something to me?
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STORM
A couple of things crossed my mind,
in the car coming home.
Another kiss. They get their glasses out of the way,
Storm lowers his wife languidly onto the bed. They begin
kissing more deeply. Storm helps Felicia slide out of
her teddy top; her beautiful breasts rise into the light.
Storm begins to kiss them, she moans with pleasure. The
lovemaking increases in intensity, Felicia's hand groping
to open Storm's pants. He begins to help her, guiding
her legs apart --
FELICIA
(in mid-kiss)
Door's open.
Not missing a beat, Storm grabs a heavy pillow, heaves it --
without looking -- at the door.
ANGLE FROM HALLWAY - BEDROOM DOOR
The pillow strikes it, starting it swinging closed. Storm
and Felicia's forms, on the bed, are eclipsed. Sound
from the "CARSON SHOW" DROPS DOWN -
INT. STORM'S HOUSE - ANOTHER HALLWAY - NIGHT
TWO MEN -- carrying shotguns, faces hidden by masks --
move soundlessly down a hall. A terrible alien presence
within this normal American household. The men turn a
corner into a different hallway --
MEN'S POV - MOVING - HAND-HELD
At the end of this new hall: the bedroom door.
ANGLE - TWO MEN
creeping closer.
BEDROOM - STORM AND FELICIA
Their passion highly aroused now. Felicia's legs wrapped
tight around Storm... their breathing, combined with the
TV sound, seems like it would obscure the men's silent
movement out in the hall. But:
Storm suddenly freezes. Listening.
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FELICIA
(frightened)
What?
Storm lunges for his .45 on the nightstand. Suddenly
LOUD and VIOLENT CRASH and the bedroom door is kicked in.
Two dark figures with shotguns leveled fill the door.
There is an eruption of GUNFIRE and blinding muzzle blast
and smoke. In the dim light for a moment we do not know
what has happened, then:
STORM'S POV
We see one of the assassins thrown backward, jacket blown
open at the shoulder.
SWITCH TO:
ASSASSIN'S PARTNER'S POV
We see Storm hit badly at close range. He takes it in
the right center mass. It looks like his right arm is
torn off as his .45 is literally blown across the room.
Felicia is now hysterically screaming -- but not for long --
as she is mortally wounded. We are sure Storm will
collapse and this horror will be over, but Storm rushes
the remaining assailant, and tilting his body sideways as
he enters, he avoids one more ferocious BLAST.
The momentum of Storm's quick spin catches the assailant
perfectly, and like a fast spinning top slammed against
another, Storm has the puppet by the strings. He clamps
down with his left and only good hand on the assailant's
right hand, and uses it against the gun as a tool for
more torque. Spinning him around until he is at the peak
of his circle, Storm with all his might spins his whole
body in the opposite direction quickly, using the whipping
effect of his shoulder and hip to snap the assailant's
wrist and flip him violently.
There is a LOUD CRACK and scream as he lands on his head
and neck, and then -- from the side, point-blank --another
ferocious SHOTGUN BLAST -- Storm is blown into the air
and back onto the bed from which he came.
QUICK CUTAWAY TO:
INT. KARL BECKER'S BEDROOM - ANGLE ON DIFFERENT SHOTGUNS
BOOMING! Karl (Storm's partner) being BLASTED. No chance
at all as he takes the full brunt of MULTIPLE BLASTS.
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We recognize the large nautical wristwatch he wears as he
falls to the floor --
BACK TO:
INT. STORM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The scene of slaughter we just left. Now in perfect
stillness and quiet we HIGH ANGLE PAN DOWN the room in
...
SLOW MOTION:
Down feathers slowly float down toward the terribly sad
and lifeless bodies of Storm and Felicia. Holes pepper
walls; lamps obliterated; beds and pillows not even a
semblance of their original form; crimson red and white
smoke.
BEDROOM - NORMAL SPEED
The two assassins recover themselves. Bigger Man's
shoulder: limp and bloody.
LITTLE MAN
(re: Big Man's
wound)
Man.
BIG MAN
(he's tough)
Get to work.
They do. Big Man collects tapes and camera from the
bedside table, replacing them with large lumps of cocaine
and cash. Then lie coolly places something on the night
stand directly in front of the lifeless cop's face -- it
is a tooth.
Little Man rifles Storm's pockets, including the Versace
jacket beside the bed.
LITTLE MAN
(patting Storm's
pants pockets)
You got the tapes?
BIG MAN
(re: what he
grabbed from
the table)
I got a shitload of 'em.
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Little Man is just about to search Storm's vest when he
looks up and sees:
BEDROOM DOORWAY - SONNY
Storm's little boy stands there, in his Woody Woodpecker
pajamas, holding the stuffed toy. He stares in numb
horror.
LITTLE MAN (FORD)
without hesitation pumps his SHOTGUN, aims at the boy.
Sonny dashes from the bedroom as the BLAST rips the door
behind him!
SONNY'S ROOM - SONNY
streaks to the window, heaves against the sash --
HALLWAY - TWO MEN
Big Man (Dunne) boots Sonny's door open, crashes in --
SONNY'S ROOM - WINDOW
Sonny plunges out just as both men OPEN FIRE. They pound
ROUND after ROUND into and through the window, blowing
GLASS everywhere and ripping the windowframe and half the
wall to shreds. An ALARM begins BLARING. The men glance
to each other, flee.
EXT. STORM'S HOUSE - FRONT WALK - NIGHT
ALARM CONTINUING. The men emerge walking swiftly but not
running, shotguns tight to their sides. They cross the
street to a sedan parked in shadows. Up goes the trunk:
in go shotguns, plastic bag with tapes -- and their masks,
which they have just torn off.
INT. SEDAN - NIGHT
Little Man whips behind the wheel. He is Jack Ford, an
extremely bad hombre we've never seen before. He STARTS
the CAR. Big Man in the passenger seat. We recognize
him! He is Max Dunne -- the burly man who took Storm's
phone call in the police station and passed the receiver
to Karl.
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DUNNE (BIG MAN)
Punch it.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The sedan speeds away.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - TRACKING SHOT - LIEUTENANT
O'MALLEY - NIGHT
A tall and heavy Irishman, built like a tank, with
beautiful baby-blue eyes.
He hurries down the corridor, radiating intensity. Several
cops with him. They turn a corner into a second corridor.
O'MALLEY
Jesus Christ.
O'MALLEYS POV - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE EMERGENCY ROOM
Jammed with cops, officials, newspeople. A circus.
O'MALLEY
strides forward into the crush.
ASSEMBLYMAN TRENT AND CAPTAIN HOLLAND
side by side in the mob scene. We recognize the two Shadow
Men from the wharf -- the ones who ordered Storm's murder.
Under the glare of a mini-cam lamp, a female TV reporter
tries to get Trent to talk.
TRENT
(emotional)
knew Storm from when I was City
Attorney ... and he was a young
homicide detective -
(choking back
tears)
We worked on... cases ... together
...
(can't go on)
I'm sorry ... sorry --
Trent's grief is so sincere, he himself almost believes
it; his aides shield him from the camera, steer him away,
in the direction of where O'Malley is. Holland goes the
opposite way. The reporter picks up her V.O.:
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TV REPORTER (V.O.)
That was Assemblyman Vernon Trent,
deeply moved by the loss of an
officer he knew, (etc.).
Medics wheel Felicia's body past, one bloody forearm
visible beneath the sheet.
TRENT
What makes people do this?
(in tears, agony)
Will you tell me? Will someone please
tell me?!!
O'Malley watches Trent pass, weeping, escorted out by
police and aides.
Across the crowd O'Malley spots Captain Holland, who
apparently is the man he's searching for.
O'MALLEY
(calls)
Holland! Captain Holland!
In the general hubbub, Holland doesn't hear -- conferring
with some other officers.
ANGLE PAST HOLLAND - EMERGENCY ROOM
THROUGH the glass partition, we see doctors and nurses
going about their examination of Storm's body.
O'MALLEY
pushes his way toward Holland. Two uniformed cops in the
crush along the way. O'Malley comes up beside Holland.
HOLLAND (BAREHEADED SHADOW)
They always said Storm was
superhuman. Now we know why he was
always jacked up on coke!
O'Malley grabs Holland, slams him against the glass wall.
O'MALLEY
(whisper, full
of menace)
Let me tell you something, you piss-
ant. That man in there was the
cleanest I ever knew -- with more
honor and guts than this whole
department put together. If I ever
hear you say fuck all like that
again, I'll lose my shield to put
you where you belong.
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O'Malley releases Holland, backs off, calming himself.
The men stare at each other.
HOLLAND
(hostile)
What the hell's I.A. doing up at
this hour?
O'MALLEY
Taking over the show.
HOLLAND
This is Homicide, not Internal
Affairs.
O'Malley tugs out a letter on official stationery.
O'MALLEY
We got two cops down, with money
and drugs all over the place. This
is straight from the commissioner.
Holland is clearly upset by this, but knows he can't argue
with a letter from the commissioner. Reluctantly he yields.
He turns his gaze back to the stretcher in the ER.
Now he and O'Malley are just two officers, sharing a loss.
HOLLAND
You and Storm were tight, O'Malley.
I'm sorry.
O'MALLEY
He was the most unstoppable
sonofabitch I ever knew.
HOLLAND
Well.
He got stopped tonight.
Holland breaks his stare at Storm's body and drags away,
signaling his own cops to vacate. They exit. No farewells
between Holland and O'Malley. O'Malley waits silently,
watching Holland and his men clear the corridor and
disappear.
DOCTOR
emerges from the emergency room.
E.R. DOCTOR
Excuse me, are you with the police?
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O'MALLEY
(dully, showing
ID)
Lieutenant O'Malley. What've you
got, Doc?
E.R. DOCTOR
I've got a live cop, is what I've
got.
INT. E.R. TRAUMA ROOM
O'Malley stares at Storm's body, stunned. The Doctor
stands beside him -- at the side of the room, away from
the medics.
E.R. DOCTOR
The paramedics called it wrong, so
did my people at first. Look... it
happens. The man had no vital signs.
With all the blood and excitement,
I almost missed it myself. But we
have a pulse now. Your man is alive,
Lieutenant.
O'Malley's eyes flash from Storm (over whom the medics
are now working) to the corridor outside, at the end of
which he can see several straggling cops and news people.
His mind is racing --
He spots something on a stainless steel medical table:
Storm's blood-soaked vest, apparently tossed there when
the medics stripped Storm to work on him. O'Malley picks
the vest up. He studies it -
INSERT - VEST
The surveillance tape Storm stashed is still there!
O'MALLEY
slips the cassette into his pocket. O'Malley makes a
decision. Turns intensely toward the Doctor.
O'MALLEY
Who else knows he isn't dead?
E.R. DOCTOR
No one ... just the people in her.
But --
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O'MALLEY
I want to see each one of them before
they leave the room. No one else
comes in as of right now.
E.R. DOCTOR
Hold on. I don't think you --
O'Malley steers the Doctor into a corner.
O'MALLEY
(eyeball to
eyeball)
Mason Storm is going to vanish,
Doctor -- and you're gonna help
make it happen. Until he can give
us some answers, the deader he is,
the safer he is.
CLOSE - STORM
The man could be dead, but the reality is he has survived
and still lives.
QUICK FADE TO:
MONTAGE - WITH SCORE
A) L.A. TIMES FRONT PAGE
"SENATOR CALDWELL KILLED IN SIERRA PLANE CRASH. Photo of
Senator Caldwell, photo of light plane crash in mountains.
B) CLOSE - TV - LOCAL NEWS
Photo of Trent, with capitol in b.g.
NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)
-- The governor today appointed
dashing L.A. Assemblyman Vernon
Trent to the Senate seat vacated by
the tragic death of --
C) INT. COMA WARD - NIGHT
Scene of still sadness, motionless bodies in beds. An
elderly nurse tends to patients ... one of them is Storm.
D) SAN FRANCISC0 CHRONICLE FRONT PAGE
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"TRENT WINS SECOND TERM." Subhead: "POPULAR SENATOR TOUTED
FOR VP SLOT IN '92." Photo of Trent with wife and kids.
E) INT. COMA WARD - NIGHT
Storm in a different bed, different side of the ward.
Different nurse. Monitors depict EEG, etc. MUSIC DOWN,
sequence ends --
EXT. NIGHT SKY - THUNDERSTORM (STOCK)
A THUNDERBOLT CRACKS -- lightning, rain sheeting down.
SUPER: "SEVEN YEARS LATER"
INT. (UCI) MEDICAL FACILITY - COMA WARD - NIGHT
We hear RAIN O.S. as two hallway swinging doors open and --
ANDREA SIMPSON ("ANDY")
strides through. Raincoat, wet hair ... carrying a small
clothing bag, armload of books and notes. Andy is serious
and businesslike but underneath it all, she is the most
sensuous and beautiful woman you have ever seen.
ANGLE - NURSES' STATION
MARTHA COE, an attractive black nurse about Andy's age,
finishes her shift report. She barely pays attention as
Andy comes up, starts unloading her stuff.
MARTHA
You're early again.
ANDY
(deadpan)
You won't report me, will you?
Andy gulps from Martha's coffee cup. We see they're good
friends, who've split shifts on this ward for many moons.
ANDY
(re: shift report)
Inquiring minds want to know --
INT. COMA WARD - NIGHT
Martha and Andy, with the shift report.
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MARTHA
-- Dr. Cannon ordered a glucose
drip on Jimmy See. Mack's E.E.G.
monitor's developing a nice
electronic hiccup -- and your
boyfriend...
(indicating
Storm)
... turned his head.
ANDY
(electrified)
He did?
In a coma ward, this is headline news.
MARTHA
(excited too)
I thought he was going to sit up.
I almost shit!
The nurses laugh. But Andy's glance toward Storm's bed
is full of deep care and hope.
INT. COMA WARD - CLOSE ON STORM - LATER
Changed in seven years, softer. His shaggy hair is
manicured in a sleeker, longer length and he wears a
smartly short, perfectly trimmed beard. We glimpse, on
Storm's chart, the identifying label: "JOHN DOE 461Z."
ANGLE - BEDS OF OTHER PATIENTS
trapped between sleep and death. A spectral, haunting
scene, full of pathos.
BESIDE STORM'S BED - ANDY
works, full of beauty and youth -- like a beacon of life
and hope in this silent still world. She runs a physical
therapy regimen on Storm and seems quite expert at this
delicate work. The "workouts" are electronically induced
by sophisticated impulse equipment.
ANDY
(gently, with
compassion and
hope)
-- Can you hear me, John Doe? I
don't care what the doctors say, I
know my words are reaching you
somehow.
(MORE)
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ANDY (CONT'D)
I'm going to talk to you tonight...
and tomorrow night ... and the night
after that. I'm going to keep talking
to you till you come back --
On the shelf behind his head is a framed photo of Yogi
Berra, with the quote: "IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER.
Andy lifts it and sets it an the pillow beside Storm's
head.
ANDY
Yogi said it ain't over till it's
over. Till the fat lady sings.
There's life in you, J.D., I feel
it. I'll never give up on you, and
you'll never give up on yourself --
She finishes working out Storm's muscles, beginning
disconnecting the contact points. She stops, lifts the
robe off Storm so that she can see his lower body, naked,
underneath.
ANDY
Besides ... you've got so much to
live for.
As Andy replaces the sheet, her WRISTWATCH ALARM BEEPS a
reminder. Checking the watch, she leans over and smooths
Storm's sheet, touching him tenderly.
ANDY
Sorry. I won't be long.
She exits.
INT. EMPLOYEE SNACK KITCHEN - NIGHT
Martha pouring herself a cup of coffee. Andy comes in.
MARTHA
How's the sleeping prince?
Andy crosses to the counter, starts pouring herself a cup
too.
ANDY
Still sleeping.
(serious)
It's bad enough when it's old people.
But a young handsome guy --
Her voice trails off.
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MARTHA
Don't let this job get you, honey.
It's eight hours, not twenty-four.
Get out, meet somebody ... get laid --
ANDY
(with a grin)
You can have my orgasms, Martha.
I'll make up for 'em later.
INT. COMA WARD - CLOSE ON STORM - NIGHT
His hand moves! A beat ... then another. Something's
happening. Another beat, and then we see him draw several
sharp intake breaths, then a very deep breath. Suddenly
he shudders intensely --
MONTAGE - SUBLIMINAL SEQUENCE
Storm's return to consciousness. Like a disjointed dream
sequence, we meld OPTICALLY DISTORTED FOOTAGE of scenes
into a quick sequence depicting Storm's journey up the
"tunnel" from unconsciousness and back to life:
A) Storm emerging from the door of his house, the night
of the Oscars. Felicia smiling, taking his arm --
B) Sonny's bedroom, the night of the Oscars. Sonny with,
the stuffed toy, embracing Storm --
C) The masked assassins. SHOTGUN BLASTS detonating point
blank into Storm and Felicia --
INT. COMA WARD - STORM
His eyes open. He grimaces with pain, as if even the dim
illumination of the ward blinds him. His eyes keep
blinking and squeezing, his tongue working for saliva --
INT. NURSES' STATION - ANDY
Alone, doing paperwork, concentrating totally on her work.
INT. COMA WARD - STORM
His hand slowly rises, finds his face. He discovers the
electrodes, pausing to determine what they are, everything
a slow painful effort.
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INT. NURSES' STATION - ANDY
A BUZZER sounds on a bank of monitoring equipment. Andy
glances up; a light flashes on one screen. She studies
the screen a moment, gives a perplexed look toward the
ward --
INT. COMA WARD
Andy enters, scanning the area, listening. She moves
down the row of patients, visually checking each. She
stops at Storm and checks him, too.
Storm's eyes are closed; he's motionless.
Andy turns, starts to exit.
STORM
(in b.g., weakly,
directly behind)
-- Nurse ...
Andy whips around, sucking air and falling back, knocking
over an IV UNIT -- which SHATTERS on the floor!
She turns and sprints from the room.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - TRACKING STORM'S GURNEY - NIGHT
As we crash through doors WITH it. MOVING FAST. Knotted
around Storm is an emergency team of doctors and nurses.
A controlled chaos of AD LIB status reports and queries
from them overlaps as the doors swing shut behind them.
Andy is left alone on the coma ward.
INT. NURSES' STATION - NIGHT
Andy unlocks a drawer, pulls out a laminated card from
the record notice section. She picks up a phone, punches
in a long series of numbers.
INTERCUT:
INT. PRECINCT HOUSE - DETECTIVES' ROOM - NIGHT
The PHONE on someone's desk begins RINGING. JONES, a
plainclothesman, picks it up.
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JONES
Internal affairs. Detective Sergeant
Jones.
ANDY
My name is Andrea Simpson. I'm
calling from U.C.I. Medical Center.
I'd like to speak with
(reads from
card)
Captain O'Malley.
Wheels start to turn in Jones' head.
JONES
What is this in regard to, please?
ANDY
I have a John Doe coma patient,
code access 461 zebra, with
instructions to notify upon any
change in condition.
JONES
What is the change?
ANDY
(with enthusiasm)
The patient has regained
consciousness.
Jones reacts -- puts his hand over the receiver, turns to
a leather-faced plainclothesman (NOLAN) at the next desk.
JONES
(urgent)
Nolan. Get Holland at home ...
right now.
(back to Andy
on phone)
I'm sorry, Ms. Simpson. Captain
O'Malley is no longer with this
division. Let me take your
information. Please ... contact no
one else on this matter.
INT. COMA WARD - NIGHT
Storm back in bed. A knot of doctors finishes returning
him from their emergency resuscitation work. "We'll leave
him here for tonight, where they've got the full support
setup." The team wraps up and begins to move off.
The TEAM LEADER instructs Andy in Storm's immediate
condition and care.
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DOCTOR (TEAM LEADER)
-- Clip him with 50 cc of Thorazine
if he gives you any trouble. I'm
afraid he's very disoriented and
quite paranoid. He thinks people
are trying to kill him.
The team exits. Andy is alone in the ward with the
immobile patients -- and Storm. Storm groans and tries
to lift himself onto an elbow.
STORM
Miss ... please ... they won't tell
me ... think I'm too disorient --
ANDY
This is U.C.I. Medical Center.
You've been in a coma. Your charts
go back for seven years.
STORM
(staggered)
Seven... years?
He can't absorb this. It's too much. His mind reels.
STORM
Who ... who knows I'm awake?
ANDY
(innocent
enthusiasm)
It's all over the hospital. You're
the first one that's come out of a
coma of this duration. You'll
probably be on the news!
(beat)
You'll be famous!
STORM
(struggles to
sit up; fails)
Listen to me carefully --
(reads her name
tag)
-- Andy. I don't have the strength
to talk much. I'm a cop. My wife
... family ... murdered. That's
how I got here. If you don't get
me out ... you and I ... good chance
... both be dead.
ANDY
Please -- you're in no danger here.
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She touches him kindly -- but Storm sees that she doesn't
believe him, thinks he's paranoid.
STORM
Goddamit --
(urgent but
weak)
can't stay here. Listen to me -
ANDY
I'll have one of the aides take you
down the hall for hydrotherapy.
It'll help you relax.
STORM
No --
ANDY
Listen... I've got work to do.
You're my cutest patient, but you're
not my only one.
She leaves. Storm blows a sigh of frustration. His body
won't do what his brain tells it! In half-paralyzed rage
he struggles to move his limbs, open and close his hands --
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - FIRST FLOOR - NIGHT
An accident case being hurried in from an ambulance.
Paramedics, E.R. personnel and patients fill the scene.
A bespectacled doctor in a white coat casually emerges
from the crush and continues on into a hallway.
ANGLE - DOCTOR
This is no doctor; it's Jack Ford, one of the killers who
shotgunned Storm seven years ago!
INT. HYDROTHERAPY ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION
DANNY, an aide, has Storm harnessed in a frothing
whirlpool.
INT. FIRST FLOOR/MAIN DIRECTORY - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Several nurses chat and drink coffee at a clerical station.
Ford comes up - nameplate, stethoscope, looking the part
perfectly. We see him exchange a greeting, ask a question.
One of the nurses hands him a clipboard with some papers
on it. As the killer scans the clipboard -RUSS, the
security man, approaches.
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Ford averts his face subtly, continuing to study the list.
Russ passes, with a greeting for the nurses -- and a
(slightly unsure) nod for the killer. The killer nods
back.
SECOND FLOOR SUPPLY ROOM - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Andy arrives and goes about business.
INT. THIRD FLOOR ELEVATORS - CONTINUOUS ACTION
A set of DOORS DINGS open. Ford steps out.
INT. COMA WARD - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Eerie ultraviolet; motionless forms; steady HUM of
monitoring EQUIPMENT -- and the shuffle of the killer's
shoes ... moving purposefully from bed to bed checking
each chart for the right name.
INT. THIRD-FLOOR NORTH CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Danny helps Storm out of the tub.
INT. COMA WARD - CLOSE ON FORD - CONTINUOUS ACTION
Checking the chart in the dim blue when -- a flashlight
ray suddenly hits his face ...
RUSS
Excuse me, Doctor. I have to check
everyone on the upper floors.
(comes forward,
no suspicion)
Can I just get your I.D. --
PHHT! Russ takes the SILENCED SHOT right between the
eyes. His body collapses in a heap there in the entry.
INT. THIRD-FLOOR CORRIDOR
Danny wheels Storm through the big swinging doors.
Suddenly -- he freezes.
DANNY'S POV
He sees Russ's partial body in the doorway up the hall
recognizable because of its security uniform trousers.
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DANNY
reacts as if fearing Russ has had a heart attack. He
leaves Storm, rushes forward to investigate. Storm strains
to see.
INT. DOORWAY TO COMA WARD
DANNY
(dashes up)
Russ! Russ, are you --
PHHT! PHHT! Danny sprawls onto the floor, dead.
INT. CLOSE ON STORM
Doesn't need to see to recognize that sound. He gropes
at once for the wall corner, trying to propel his litter
back through the swinging doors and out of sight.
Storm strains for it, his limbs maddeningly uncooperative
... stretching, pawing ... until -- he claws far enough
to reach where the janitor's mop rests against the wall.
COMA WARD - HALLWAY - FORD
steps into the hallway, peering up and down -- just as
Storm slides out of view. The killer grabs Danny's body
by the ankles, to drag it back out of sight. Just then:
ANDY
backs through the double doors at the other end of the
hall, trying to balance an overloaded tray of supplies
she's carrying. She and Ford are momentarily in full
view of each other ... but backs turned. Suddenly --
Ford hears Andy! He spins ... gun ready.
Andy carefully heads that way -- the two corpses visible
ahead and the killer poised to waste her. But she's
concentrating on the overloaded tray, traveling closer
... closer ... until -- she turns off into the medicine
room.
Ford swiftly hauls both corpses out of sight.
AT ELEVATORS
Storm weakly, awkwardly "rows" himself toward the elevators
with the mop handle. Then using his hands, trying to
grasp the wall and push himself along.
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He makes it within reach of the call button and stabs at
it with the mop handle. Misses. Again. Then: bull's-
eye! The light comes on!
INT. COMA WARD
Ford has found the last (Storm's) medical chart -- and
the empty bed. He's heading back -- frustrated, angry
out toward the hall when... the elevator BELL DINGS.
AT ELEVATORS
Storm struggles to push himself inside. Everything an
excruciating effort. The doors slap into his litter,
trying to close. Reopen. Close. Reopen. Hindering him
as he throws a look toward --
INT. CORRIDOR - FORD
stalks this way, ears tuned to the SLAPPING DOORS ahead
around the corner. He breaks into a trot --
ELEVATORS - STORM
makes it all the way in with a final heave. FOOTSTEPS
nearing. The doors not yet closed and --
INT. CORRIDOR - FORD
rounds the corner just as they shut. Races forward --
INT. ELEVATOR
Storm jabs at the panel for the lobby button -- but the
shaky mop handle hits 7TH FLOOR instead.
STORM
Sonofabitch!
THIRD-FLOOR CORRIDOR - AT ELEVATORS
The killer hears this -- hears the ELEVATOR START UP. He
punches the call button. The other elevator opens. He
plunges in just as:
SOUTH CORRIDOR - ANDY
comes out of the medicine room and spots blood on the
floor, hurries forward -- sees Russ and Danny's bodies!
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She backs off in horror.
Andy rushes to the ward station, lunges for the phone --
finds it's been cut. Her view into the coma room suddenly
brings the realization that Storm's bed is still gone.
STORM'S ELEVATOR
The doors open -- revealing a dark, deserted seventh floor
still under construction. He registers the opposing
elevator rising his way -- jabbing again at the control
panel ... exposed there ... doors wide open. Wild stabs.
Any button will do -- just close the goddam door!
DING! Ford's ELEVATOR arrives. Doors open. We make out
the killer's form -- just as Storm's doors close.
Storm blows huge relief. Looks to see what he finally
pushed ... Shit! -- the 3RD FLOOR button. He puts the
mop to the side wall and shoves himself with all he's
got. The gurney wheels around and places him right next
to the control panel. Storm twists onto his side and
slams a hand over the EMERGENCY STOP button. But the
button jams! And Storm's thrusting hand has pushed his
gurney even farther away! He can't reach it!
He feels the elevator about to stop at a floor ... claws
at the mop, as a weapon ... raises it with all his feeble
strength. The doors open and --
Andy crashes into him!
ANDY
My God!
STORM
(hoarse, weak)
-- Help me ...
INT. STAIRWELL - FORD
Pounding down the steps three at a time. Gun in hand.
INT. LOBBY
Andy hauls Storm's litter full tilt out of the elevator.
A night janitor is waxing the floor, his long power cord
snaking down the corridor. He stares in astonishment at
this nurse racing down the corridor with a gurney --
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ANGLE - GURNEY
As its wheels hit the buffing machine cord. The gurney
bucks, almost capsizes.
ANDY
I'm sorry! Sorry --
She heaves the gurney, despite all its weight, past the
power cord, just as:
FORD
hurtles from the stairwell. In one beat, he takes in the
janitor; in the next, Andy and Storm -- down the hall.
Ford takes off after them. He's going to catch them!
JANITOR
jerks up on the power cord! It whipsnakes down the hall,
flaring up, tripping Ford! He sprawls face-first as:
EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Andy blasts through the exit doors with Storm on the
gurney. She hauls ass with him into the parking lot --
BACK TO FORD
He spins, on the floor, drills TWO SILENCED SHOTS into
the janitor's chest. The janitor drops.
EXT. HOSPITAL EXIT - FORD
highballs from the doors, in time to see:
FORD'S POV - ACROSS PARKING LOT
A dark-colored CAR, its make indistinguishable in the
dark lot, SCREECHES into an exit lane and races out of
the lot.
PARKING LOT - FORD
hurries after it on foot. Too late. He pulls up.
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EMPTY GURNEY
rolls randomly INTO VIEW across the lot.
HIGH ANGLE - WIDE SHOT - PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY - DAWN
Andy's car speeds up the PCH. Majestic Malibu Mountains
visible -- dawn sun shimmering the ocean with early light.
INT. ANDY'S CAR - MOVING - DAWN
Storm sprawled, asleep, exhausted, in the passenger seat.
Andy windblown at the wheel. A pair of fugitives, on the
run. The car pulls off the highway, past a sign for
"OJAI."
INT. L.A. COUNTY COURTHOUSE - MEETING ROOM - DAY
OPENING ON a big table, covered with weapons confiscated
from gangs -- pistols, knives, assault rifles. Reporters
crowd around Senator Trent at the table. A large sign
reads: "GANG WEAPONS SEIZED IN ONE WEEK!"
TRENT
(to group,
finishing up)
Six gang-related murders in one
week. We're going to put a stop to
it -- and we're going to start right
here!
Trent picks an AK-47 off the table and stuffs it
theatrically into a huge TRASH CAN. News cameras record
this juicy nugget for the nightly news.
TRENT
I'll be talking with the mayor.
We'll have a statement shortly --
He raises a fist in a "power salute," moves off --
SIDE OF ROOM - TRENT
Waving and beaming, edges away to the "wings," where Ford
and Dunne wait, along with Holland -- proper and official
in their plainclothes suits.
TRENT
(to Holland,
furious)
How much dirt do I have to shovel
into this goddam Storm's grave?
(MORE)
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TRENT (CONT'D)
Jesus Christ!
(turns to Ford)
The man is flat out on a stretcher
and you still can't kill him!
Reporters and bystanders continue to approach and
congratulate Trent. He handles them easily, shaking hands --
then ducking back, aside, to his thugs.
TRENT
Holland -- plaster his ass with
slime in the press. Put a tail on
every person he knows --
HOLLAND
We know how to do our job, Senator.
TRENT
Then start showing it.
(to Ford, Dunne)
I'm starring in that sonofabitch's
home movie -- and the Oscar is thirty
years in the slammer. He's toast,
understand?
The assassins nod grimly. Trent turns, hands raised
triumphantly, to the crowd.
TRENT
(to crowd)
We're going to end violence in this
state -- and you can take that to
the bank!
EXT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - DAY
A horse in sunshine. Pretty oaks on a hillside beyond.
INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - BEDR00M DAY
Storm blinks his eyes -- groggy, disoriented. He is in
bed, just waking up. Outside his window: this postcard-
perfect ranch scene. Has he died and gone to heaven? He
can barely absorb it: nature, sunshine, life.
Storm peers around. He is alone in a pretty room, with
Western and Oriental furnishings. He's safe; someone has
apparently put him to bed, seen that he's comfortable.
He remembers: the nurse ... Andy.
A TV is on at the foot of the bed. Storm squints at the
digital clock beside him: 4:17 PM. Storm closes his eyes.
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STORM
Seven years.
He struggles to sit. It takes all his strength simply to
get half-propped on pillows. Something jabs him. It's a
TV remote, on the sheet beside him. Storm picks it up.
After a beat, he manages to focus on the TV --
TV SCREEN - "GERALDO SHOW" (FILE TAPE)
Heated argument in progress. Suddenly Roy Innis leaps
from his chair, starts strangling a white supremacist
across from him. Melee. The stage flooded with shooting,
fist-fighting men. Geraldo's nose is broken!
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
(from TV)
-- Stay tuned for more of: Best of
Geraldo!
BACK TO STORM
Dumbstruck.
STORM
Geraldo?
Outside the HORSE WHINNIES loudly and rears up on its
hind legs. Storm turns toward the horse --
When Storm is turned away from the TV, a 10-second ad
comes on. Senator Trent waving and smiling to a crowd.
AD (V.O.)
(from TV)
Senator Vernon Trent promises: No
new taxes!
TRENT (V.O.)
(from TV)
And you can take that to the bank!
Storm misses this. He turns back to:
TV SCREEN
An attractive female spokesperson speaks directly and
sincerely into camera.
FEMALE SPOKESPERSON (V.O.)
(from TV)
-- If you want to sleep with me ...
you better wear a Pharoah.
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A "product shot" of condom packages appears.
MALE ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
(from TV)
Pharoah condoms. The only safer
sex is no sex at all!
STORM
Certain the world has gone insane.
INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Andy at the wall phone.
ANDY
(into phone)
can't come in to work, are you
crazy?! I can't even go to my
apartment! People are dead, Martha
... no, I can't tell you where I am
... you're better off not knowing --
Mini-TV on countertop. On TV: a photo of Storm. Jack
Esposito reporting --
ANDY
(into phone)
I am freaking A.W.O.L. I mean, what
am I gonna do with this guy --
(pacing, anxious)
I want to help him... my God, he
needs it ... but it's all over the
T.V., he's some kind of crooked cop
with drugs and murder and --
CLICK. Andy turns to see Storm standing there, glowering --
his hand on the PHONE hang-up bar.
For half a beat, Andy is frightened: unsure what this man
will do. Then Storm starts to collapse.
Andy rushes to him, supports him.
ANDY
It's okay -- I'm here, I'm with
you.
INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Storm on the couch, phone in hand -- Andy across from
him. The day's newspapers before them... TV ON in b.g.
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STORM
(into phone)
Yeah, that Esposito. The ignorant
fuck who's broadcasting the news
right now.
(listens)
Tell him it's Storm. Mason Storm.
Storm cups the receiver -- steaming -- waiting to be put
through. His eyes flash to the room, the house...
STORM
(to Andy)
I can't stay here. They'll trace
you from the hospital in two --
ANDY
(cuts him off)
I told you -- no one knows I'm here!
I'm house-sitting...
(out of patience,
frustrated and
frightened)
This place belongs to a doctor friend
of my parents. He's in China now,
on research... won't be back for
six months. The medical center
only has my apartment address.
Even my friends don't have this
number.
(beat)
Will you believe me?! We're safe
here.
Storm studies her for a long beat. Then: a voice comes
onto the phone line.
STORM
(into phone)
Esposito?
(furious)
Listen, you sonofabitch --
EXT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE (OJAI) - EVENING
We see a little more of where we are: a pretty little
retreat, nestled amid rolling hills. With the evening
light, the mood seems softer.
INT. ARMSTEEAD HOUSE - LIVING ROCM - EVENING
Storm on a different couch -- very tired. Looking
terrible. Andy sits on the floor at the coffee table --a
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phone beside her, the table covered with notepads,
scribbled pages.
ANDY
We'll find your friend O'Malley.
We'll just keep phoning ...
STORM
Listen. I'm getting out of here.
He grabs for a cane resting against the sofa.
ANDY
(knows he has
no chance)
I'll buy tickets to that.
STORM
I just need some food -- and a few
days to get my strength.
ANDY
Days? Try a few weeks.
Storm braces against the cane, ready to try to stand.
Andy gets up, to catch him. This infuriates Storm's pride.
STORM
You helped me, okay? I'm grateful.
But every day you keep helping puts
you in more danger.
ANDY
(deadpan)
Danger is my middle name.
This is no joke to Storm.
STORM
I've been dead, Andy. You wouldn't
like it.
He tries to get up. Andy stops him.
ANDY
Hey, hey -- I don't think you get
the picture here. Your muscles
have been getting electronic
stimulation at the hospital, but
it's not like actually being up and
bearing weight.
STORM
You're the one who doesn't get the
picture.
(MORE)
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STORM (CONT'D)
First of all, I ain't no fucking
invalid! And second, I don't have
time --
He makes it upright, shaking, with a "See, I told you"
look.
He starts toward the kitchen. Andy looks very worried
but doesn't try to stop him. First step -- okay. Second --
okay. Third -- blam! The cane slips and he falls flat on
his face. Too weak to break the fall.
LOW ANGLE - STORM
We see his face on the carpet and a mean desperate
conviction in these eyes not to fail and not to give up.
He struggles to rise -- it is pitiful. He's on his knees
growling with effort. Cane propped up, he manages to
somehow stand again. One step ... two steps ... three,
four ... he's absolutely exhausted. Boom! Falls flat
again.
ANOTHER LOW ANGLE
Storm's face on the floor.
EXTREME CLOSEUP
Fury, frustration, despair --
ANDY
grabs his arm and helps him back onto the couch. She
exits the room and comes back momentarily with a bowl of
rice and begins to try to feed him. Of course he takes
the fork away and tries it himself, but by now his arms
are so fatigued from the previous strain that they shake,
his hand trembles and he misses his mouth -- getting the
rice all down his beard. Spilling a little too much to
ignore and at first it looks like he's going to explode.
He looks up at Andy, who looks so sad.
Storm breaks out laughing and so does Andy. They howl
together for a while and then settle down. Now Andy begins
to "help" feed Storm.
INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - STORM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Storm is in bed -- writing something on a note pad.
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ANDY
(next to bed)
Mata Hari -- at your service.
She looks at what Storm is writing: Chinese characters.
Storm writes from top to bottom, straight up and down.
STORM
Just some herbs I need for my
recovery.
She takes the list, studies it.
ANDY
No problem. This is on my list for
Safeway every day.
EXT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - DAY
Andy's car drives up to the house, pulls into the garage.
INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Andy enters, carrying a folder, and stares in surprise.
Storm has shaved and cut his hair. She obviously approves.
She watches for several moments as Storm, weak but on his
feet, holds on to the kitchen counter. He steps out, in
wobbly balance. Not too good at first, he tries again.
This time he does better, but not by much. He turns to
look at Andy, conscious of her look of sympathy.
STORM
(re: himself)
That bad ... huh?
She silently hands him a set of newspaper photocopies.
He glances at them... at her ... and understands.
ANDY
I'll be in the other room.
Storm slowly seats himself and begins to read.
INSERT - NEWSPAPER PHOTOCOPIES
One headline:
OFFICER SLAIN IN ALLEGED SCANDAL
DRUG DEAL FALLOUT SUSPECTED
Second headline with photos of Storm, Felicia, Sonny:
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POLICEMAN, FAMILY SLAUGHTERED
CLOSE - STORM
Battling his sorry and grief.
LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN - ANGLE - ANDY
She can see Storm in this moment of agony.
INT. TRENT'S OFFICE - DAY
CLOSE ON TV SCREEN - JACK ESPOSITO
A well-known L.A. anchorman, Jack Esposito "whom we
glimpsed earlier in the mini-TV in the Armstead kitchen
scene), delivers the news.
A graphic behind him has a photo of Storm, captioned:
"COMA COP. "
ESPOSITO (V.O.)
(on TV)
-- This reporter was contacted
personally by the now-infamous 'Coma
Cop'... fugitive officer Mason Storm --
who until days ago had languished
in a seven-year coma.
WIDEN SHOT
TO REVEAL Trent's office. Trent, Holland and several of
Trent's security aides glued to the tube.
ESPOSITO (V.O.)
(from TV)
Storm gave me his word that he is
innocent of all charges preferred
against him in the press -- and
that he has access to indisputable
proof of this. Battling the atrophy
caused by seven years of
hospitalization, Storm is struggling
even now to regain the strength
that will enable him to come forward
with this evidence. He has promised
me and the K.A.B.C. audience a first
look at his alleged proof.
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TRENT
turns to his men and to Holland.
TRENT
(indicates
Esposito on TV)
I want 24-hour surveillance on this
sonofabitch.
EXT. WESTWOOD APARTMENT BUILDING - EVENING
A WOMAN in a nurse's uniform comes INTO VIEW on the
sidewalk, trots up the steps toward the second floor of
the apartment building.
ANGLE - DUNNE AND FORD
REVEALING that they are watching this from a parked car
from across the street. They get out, glance around
furtively --
INT. APARTMENT - EVENING
The nurse is Martha -- Andy's friend from the hospital.
She holds a cat in her arms.
MARTHA (WOMAN)
(responds to
interrogation)
I told you -- Andy's out of town.
I just came by to pick up her cat.
DUNNE
Where out of town is Andy?
MARTHA
I don't know.
(losing patience)
Look, I've been questioned by you
cops half a dozen times since
Tuesday. I'm getting a little tired
of it.
(beat)
You need a warrant to walk in on
someone like this. Get the hell
out.
The cops don't budge. It's getting a little scary.
MARTHA
Then I'll get out.
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Clutching the cat, she strides for the door. Ford's foot
slides the door shut. He and Dunne block Martha.
FORD
We'll ask you again, Martha: Where
is Miss Simpson?
Martha backs away -- toward a telephone.
MARTHA
I'm calling your superior officers
to report this. I want both your
names and shield numbers.
She picks up the phone. Dunne's enormous hand engulfs
her wrist, forces her to put the phone back in the cradle.
The two cops stare at her penetratingly.
Martha knows this is it -- life or death.
She hurls the cat into Ford's face; the CAT claws him,
SHRIEKING. Martha knees Dunne in the balls, bolts --
EXT. APARTMENT - WALKWAY - EVENING
Martha sprints from the door, toward the stairs, screaming.
MARTHA
Help? Help me!
Ford appears in the apartment doorway, his face scratched
and bleeding. He aims his silencer-mounted .45 --
ANGLE - TOP OF STAIRS - MARTHA
The front of her white uniform erupts in a bloody gush;
she plunges face-first down the flight of stairs.
ANGLE - BOTTOM OF STAIRS
Martha's crumpled form. Ford and Dunne hurry swiftly
down -- pick up her body, drag it a few feet to a
smackadjacent steep hillside covered with thick brush.
They peer around swiftly to be sure no one has seen them,
then slide the body under the brush, down the hill. In
three seconds it has slithered ten feet down, out of sight.
The killers take off.
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INT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - NIGHT
Storm has found a zabutone meditation pillow and is sitting
on his knees in formal Japanese posture with black Dugi
pants and no shirt. He unravels a package with Oriental
characters handwritten on the outside.
In one section: what looks like an old wax Baggie full
of Chinese herbs. In the other, Storm unfolds a pouch
containing an assortment of needles: long, short, skinny,
fat.
Storm fingers the needles and finds a spot in his shoulder
with very bad scar tissue and quickly and coldly sticks
it in deep. He then twirls and adjusts it.
It is apparent that he knows what he's doing. We STAY
CLOSE ON the needles, noting the amount in the package
has greatly diminished.
PULL UP to reveal Storm, with at least 50 needles sticking
out of him.
He is now frozen deep in meditation. CAMERA CIRCLES AROUND
him 360 DEGREES -- he is like a Japanese statue.
MONTAGE
WITH SCORE.
A) INT. ARMSTEAD GYM - NIGHT
An impressive home facility with floor-to-ceiling mirrors,
Nautilus equipment, etc. Storm ignores the machines and
tentatively selects from an old set of weights, hefting
them to test his own strength, then begins a slow workout.
B) EXT. ARMSTEAD YARD - DAY
Storm performs a series of Eastern exercises: stick,
Aikido, and meditation. He's obviously pushing himself
beyond exhaustion; Andy watches, growing more and more
concerned.
ANDY
That's enough! I don't care how
many needles you stick in yourself
or how much ginseng root you eat
... you have to sleep if you're
going to recover.
STORM
I slept for seven years?
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ANDY
That's an order!
Storm, dripping sweat, glowers at her for a long beat,
then... relents. She snatches the stick from his hand,
hauls him toward the house.
ANDY
Jesus -- what a patient!
C) EXT. FIRE ROAD - DAY
Storm tries to run up a dirt hill. He's still too weak --
struggles, sweating, straining with fierce determination.
D) INT. ARMSTEAD - GYM - NIGHT
Storm at the "sticking point" in a Scott-bench curl. His
biceps bulge, veins pop as he strains with all his
strength. He ... can't ... quite -- then: he Makes it!
Exhausted. Lets the bar crash metal-to-metal"' into its
cradle.
E) EXT. ARMSTEAD POOL - DAY
Storm swims, slowly gaining power.
F) EXT. WOODED CLEARING (ARMSTEAD'S) - DAY
Storm with two long pieces of cut oak. As Andy watches,
he lays them side-by-side on the ground and begins to dig
a deep narrow hole. He tests the hole for depth. When
it's deep enough, he places the boards down into the hole
and begins to fill it in, packing the earth tightly. He
goes to the top of the boards and around them wraps a
length of old hemp rope. Around and around. The boards
stand up about six feet high. Storm steps back, observes
the height, taps it lightly testing the recoil tension.
Now he begins to punch it, harder and harder. Over and
over again. Andy, preparing his lunch, can't keep her
eyes off him. She is awed by his fire and perseverance.
G) EXT. ARMSTEAD POOL - DAY
Andy and Storm churn up the water in a splashy race. She
wins but not by much. She smiles. He doesn't. She
splashes water on him, but he's not in a playful mood.
END MONTAGE. MUSIC DOWN --
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INT. ARMSTEAD KITCHEN - NIGHT
Storm in frustration at the table.
Medical charts... a scribbled mess of medication dosages,
reading, etc
ANDY
-- You can't compare blood pressure
readings now with when you were in
a coma. It's not going to give a
true measure --
STORM
What's this reading? 555 over four
digits --
ANDY
That's crazy --
She snatches the chart, stares at it.
ANDY
It's Martha's chicken scratches.
Even she can't read 'em.
STORM
I'll tell you what it is. It's a
phone number.
NEW ANGLE - KITCHEN - LATER
Andy on the wall phone, Storm listening on an extension.
We hear the PHONE RINGING on the other end, then someone
picking it up.
OLD LADY (V.O.)
(on phone)
Redondo Beach Retirement Villa
INTERCUT:
INT. NURSING HOME - OLD LADY AT DESK
ANDY
(into phone) I'm. sorry ... maybe I
have the wrong number. I'm looking
for Kevin O'Malley.
OLD LADY
O'Malley? There's no O'Malley here.
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ANDY
My name is Phyllis O'Connor. I'm
with the pension board of the Los
Angeles Police Department. We have
a misplaced check here for Captain
O'Malley ...
OLD LADY
A check?
(pause)
Well, listen... there's a big
turnover here, people are dying all
the time, I never know who's in
what bed. Can you leave me your
number?
Andy glances to Storm, he shakes his head: hang up. He
hangs up his receiver in disgust.
ANDY
(into phone)
I'm sorry, we're not allowed to do
that.
Andy hangs up. Thinking.
EXT. RETIREMENT HOME (REDONDO BEACH) - DAY
Andy gets out of her car in a sunny parking lot. She's
wearing dark glasses and a big floppy hat, so we can barely
see her face. She passes a sign: "REDONDO BEACH RETIREMENT
VILLA."
INT. RETIREMENT HOME - OFFICE - DAY
Andy sits across from the Old Lady from the phone call.
A plaque on the desk reads: "HENRIETTA WADE." Both she
and Andy look frustrated, irritated.
ANDY
Mrs. Wade, I'll be honest with you --
I'm not from the police pension
board. My name is Andrea Simpson,
I'm a nurse from U.C.I. Medical
Center.
The Lady listens skeptically, revealing nothing. We see
that she is in a wheelchair.
ANDY
You probably have no connection to
this, and what I'm about to say
(MORE)
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ANDY (CONT'D)
will sound completely absurd to
you.
(beat)
My patient is a police officer named
Mason Storm. He's in trouble and
needs desperately to contact his
friend, Captain O'Malley. If you
have any idea how to contact Captain
O'Malley, please help me.
MRS. WADE (OLD LADY)
As I've said, Miss Simpson, I've
already asked everybody in the home.
There is no O'Malley here. But
it's possible O'Malley could be a
relative of somebody living here.
Sunday is family day. Why don't
you leave your phone number and
I'll contact you if I learn anything.
ANDY
I can't do that.
Crestfallen. Andy gets up.
ANDY
Can I phone you?
MRS. WADE
(pleasant;
innocuous)
Of course, my dear.
CLOSET
Andy opens the door, reaches in for her jacket. Suddenly
she pauses.
She sees on the closet shelf, amid other clothing:
policeman's cap with a gold shield.
Andy makes a decision -- finds a pad on a table, scrawls
a phone number. She holds out the paper.
ANDY
(pointedly)
This is my number, Mrs. O'Malley.
The Old Lady never bats an eye.
MRS. WADE
(correcting her)
You mean Mrs. Wade. O'Malley is
the person you're looking for.
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Andy meets her gaze.
ANDY
Yes ... you're right. I'm sorry.
EXT. WOODED CLEARING - DAY
Storm again approaches the Makiwara.
This time it is almost as if no walls can contain him
nothing in his mind can represent a barrier. He has a
sense of total domination before he has begun.
He begins much harder and faster, continues driving his
fist deeper and faster and harder, until even those twelve
inches of solid oak are not enough for him.
With one lightning blow the OAK SPLINTERS and flies in
half. Storm walks away with a frightening calm -- stalks
straight inside toward the gym...
INT. ARMSTEAD GYM - NIGHT
Storm has just finished a major aerobic workout and is
now doing some strange martial aerobic-type movements.
He is sweating profusely and is dressed in a tiny black
tank top and black sweat pants.
CAMERA PANS OVER TO a corner mirror and we see Andy peeking
through a crack in the door. She is enjoying this
immensely. She seems to be fighting her feelings, and
finally she puffs up her courage. Having made some
decision, she enters.
ANDY
Oh, I'm sorry ... I didn't mean to
interrupt. I, ah, well, I was just
passing by and ...
They stare at each other in quite a different way. This
time it's obvious what Andy wants, and Storm probably
wants the same thing. But he tries very hard to maintain
his "one objective" in life -- to get very strong and win
the upcoming battle.
He looks at this woman who now 'Looks more beautiful than
anyone he has ever seen. Storm throws down the light
weights in his hands and walks up to her.
He gently grabs the back of her head and pulls her hair
back and kisses her on the mouth. She seems to explode
with passion as she falls to the floor, pulling him on
top of her.
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They roll in passion growing stronger and stronger. The
CAMERA PANS TO the mirror and we see Andy's feet moving
in delight.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GYM. - STORM - LATER
Alone, sitting up -- bare-chested, glistening with sweat
from the lovemaking. He glances across at his reflection
in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
MIRROR - STORM
Seeing himself, just after making love. His wedding ring.
ANDY
appears in the doorway, returning from the kitchen with a
tray and glasses. She wears a robe and has that mussed,
after-lovemaking glow.
She takes one look at Storm and her heart sinks.
She crosses to him -- lowers herself gracefully to kneel
beside him, setting down the tray and glasses.
STORM
(dead)
Thanks.
She looks at him. She has a good idea what's tormenting
his mind. She reaches her hand, gently touches his
shoulder ...
Storm pulls back.
STORM
Please.
He gets up, backing slowly away from her -- seeing the
pain in her eyes, feeling his own pain. In frustration,
he slams an elbow punch into a piece of gym equipment --
furiously venting rage! Andy flinches at the sound, the
violence.
STORM
I'm sorry --
(wracked with
emotion)
Sorry. I --
(MORE)
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STORM (CONT'D)
(another furious
punch)
Why am I still in this fucking cage?!
What's wrong with my body? Why
won't it heal faster?!!
He slams another furious punch. Andy gets up, tries to
approach Storm.
ANDY
Mason, please
(wants to ease
his pain)
I love you.
STORM
Don't say that!
ANDY
Why not?!
STORM
Because I can't love you! Don't
you see? It's seven years to anyone
else. But it's only days for me.
Andy draws a sharp, pained breath.
STORM
How can I be with you ... how can
I want you and take you, when --
He can't finish, torn by guilt. He stares at Andy.
Suddenly his tone becomes harsh, accusatory.
STORM
You seduced me. You came in here,
looking that way, knowing just what
the hell you were doing --
ANDY
(defiant)
Yeah, I knew. What of it? I wanted
you --
STORM
You have no right to want me!
ANDY
Then who does?! I've risked my
life for you --
STORM
Who asked you to? Not me!
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ANDY
You haven't stopped me!
STORM
Then don't risk it! Don't do shit
for me! I don't need you!
For a second it look's like he's going to strike her.
Instead he kicks the tray and GLASSES -- which smashes
into the floor-to-ceiling MIRROR, SHATTERING like a bomb?
Andy glares at him, stalks for the door --
EXT. APUMSTEAD DRIVE - IRON GATE - NIGHT
Andy's CAR ROARS out the dirt drive past the iron gate.
INT. ARMSTEAD BEDRROM - NIGHT
Storm stalks in, slamming the door behind him -- crosses
in fury and despair to the desk. On the desktop: the
news photo of Felicia, Sonny and himself.
Storm stares at the photo in agony for a moment, then
rips the desk drawer open, rummages fiercely. He finds:
keys!
INT. ARMSTEAD GARAGE - NIGHT
Storm strides in, punches the garage door button; the
door starts to open. He grabs the corner of a dusty canvas
cover -- jerks it off an Army-style Jeep.
EXT. GARAGE - NIGHT
The Jeep speeds out into the night.
EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
The Jeep parked at the edge of a cemetery road.
STORM
stands in the midst of the graveyard, staring at --
THREE TOMBSTONES
In the light from the road lamp, we read the names: FELICIA
STORM... MASON STORM ... JEREMY "SONNY" STORM.
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EXT. ALL-NIGHT COFFEE SHOP - PHONE BOOTH - DAWN
Ethnic neighborhood, Dodger Stadium visible in b.g.
Andy looks exhausted, from a night of black coffee and
anxiety. Now: frustrated by a BUSY SIGNAL.
ANDY
(into phone)
Pick up, Martha ... Pick up.
No luck. Andy hangs up.
EXT. CHAVEZ RAVINE STREET AND ALLEY - DAWN
Andy's car pulls past tiered hillside apartment units,
enters an alley behind a row of multi-family dwellings.
Andy at the wheel: cautious, peering around.
She parks in an out-of-sight spot, TURNS OFF the ENGINE.
INT. CAR - ANDY
The emotion of the parting with Mason catches up with
her.
ANDY
Get a hold of yourself, Andy.
She wipes her eyes, cranks the mirror around, tries to
fix her face. She looks like hell.
ANDY
(into mirror,
sarcastic)
You're really beautiful.
She puts on shades, pulls up the hood of her sweatshirt.
EXT. ALLEY - ANDY
gets out... wary. She's barefoot, just in the jeans she
threw on before bolting from Armstead's.
EXT. TWO-FAMILY DWELLING - DAWN
Andy pads quickly up to a weathered wooden door, knocks.
No answer. She rings the BELL.
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ANDY
(calling out)
Martha! Martha, it's me --
A NEIGHBOR sticks his head out next-door. A rough-looking
youth in a T-shirt, with his hair mussed up from bed.
NEIGHBOR
(tentatively)
You looking for Martha Coe?
ANDY
Yes... yes --
do you know if she's home?
The boy gets a funny look on his face.
NEIGHBOR
You haven't seen the news?
(beat)
She's dead. They shot her in the
back... over in Westwood.
Andy reacts in shock and horror.
NEIGHBOR
(staring at her)
You look like the woman's picture
on T.V... the one whose house they
shot her at --
Andy turns, flees into the alley.
ANGLE - ALLEY - ANDY'S CAR
pulls out swiftly into the street. It passes:
AT CURB - UNMARKED CAR - FORD
The killer lets Andy's car pass.
FORD
(into two-way
mike)
You called it right, Max. The bitch
showed. I'm on her ass right now --
(pulls out to
follow her)
Mount up, boys. Two to one she
leads us right to our boy Storm.
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EXT. AMRSTEAD HOUSE - MORNING
Storm's Jeep enters the drive, pulls into the garage.
Storm SHUTS OFF the MOTOR. As he steps to the floor, a
man's silhouette MOVES INTO FRAME behind him.
MAN
That's grand theft, auto.
Storm spins. For a second he is ready for anything.
Then his face softens --
STORM
(with emotion)
O'Malley.
In the garage doorway stands the friend Storm feared was
dead.
STORM AND O'MALLEY
bear hug each other affectionately.
INT. ARMSTEAD KITCHEN - OPENING CLOSE ON SNAPSHOTS - DAY
of Sonny -- now aged 12 -- in a school environment,
athletic fields, etc. O'Malley is with Sonny in some of
the shots, beaming, arm around the boy.
O'MALLEY (O.S.)
-- It's Sonny, all right. Believe
how big he got? He can throw a
football forty yards --
PULL BACK to reveal -- Storm looks up at his friend, too
moved to speak.
O'MALLEY
He made it to my house, the night
you got shot. I hid him, played it
out like he was dead -- even staged
a funeral, along with Felicia's and
yours. They bought it. Everyone
believed he was dead.
STORM
Where is he now? Is he safe?
O'MALLEY
Trinity School in Ventura. Under
my mother's maiden name, Wade. No
one has any idea he's your son.
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STORM
(trying to absorb
it all)
Then that was your mother. The one
Andy found.
O'MALLEY
Your nurse friend? Yeah. She left
your number, I traced you to here.
Storm gazes with great tenderness at the snapshots of
Sonny.
STORM
O'Mal ... I can never thank you.
O'MALLEY
Just seeing your ugly ass alive,
that's enough for me.
(beat)
You wouldn't happen to have a beer
around this joint --
Storm indicates the fridge. O'Malley helps himself brings
one for Storm.
STORM
I'd give my left arm to see Sonny,
just for two minutes. But we can't
risk it -- not yet. Not till I get
Calabrese.
O'MALLEY
Calabrese? Calabrese's dead.
Storm reacts.
O'MALLEY
Someone blew the shit out of his
Cadillac -- six months after you
'died.'
STORM
(understands)
He did his thing -- then they waxed
him.
Storm's wheels are turning.
STORM
The two guys at the pier. They
ordered the hit on me too.
(beat)
And I've got 'em on film. Still in
the camera, right where I left it.
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EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY - DAY
Andy's car drives north, back to the Armstead house.
Ford in his car keeps a discreet distance back.
ANGLE - FORD'S CAR
as another car carrying three men (including Jones, the
cop we remember who answered Andy's phone call from the
coma ward) pulls up alongside. Ford points ahead, toward
Andy's car. The new car slips in behind Ford's, tailing
Andy.
INT. ARMSTEAD LIVING ROOM - DAY
Coffee table piled with the news clippings Storm has been
studying these past days.
O'MALLEY
-- That night in the hospital, I
found the audiotape ... in your
vest. I must've listened to it a
thousand times -- looking for little
quirks in the voices, phrases they
repeat ...
His look shows he came up with nothing.
STORM
Where is the tape?
O'MALLEY
I turned it in for evidence.
Storm scowls.
0'MALLEY
Don't worry, I made a duve. I'll
get it for you. Meanwhile maybe
this'll cheer you up.
From O'Malley's briefcase comes .45 automatic, three empty
clips and a box of Glazer ammo.
Storm takes the weapon with pleasure. Checks the action,
hefts it for weight. He glances at O'Malley -- two old
comrades, ready to get back in action. Suddenly a bit of
sadness crosses Storm's face.
STORM
What happened, O'Mal? To you?
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O'Malley begins loading the clips: grim, almost
heartbroken.
0'MALLEY
I was on the case, trying to find
who pulled the trigger on you. But
it was like swimming through shit.
People kept telling me to back off.
Then one morning, the phone rings.
Immaculate Heart Emergency: someone
ran my mother off the road, her
back's broken, she's paralyzed.
STORM
(painful, emotion)
I'm sorry, O'Mal.
O'MALLEY
That night there's a note in my
locker -- letting me know it's not
an accident.
He looks at Storm, tormented.
O'MALLEY
You know me, Storm. I never would've
backed off. But there was Sonny to
worry about too. What if they found
him? What if they found you?
STORM
You did the right thing, O'Mal.
Storm takes a loaded clip from his friend, slams it into
the butt of the .45. He jacks the slide back and lets it
slam home -- chambering a round.
STORM
We'll get 'em, buddy. Every fucking
one of them.
EXT. ARMSTEAD DRIVEWAY - DAY
O'Malley in his car, in gear. Storm by the driver's door.
STORM
Get Sonny out of that school, O'Mal.
Right now. With me alive and making
a stink, whoever's on that film is
going to be looking harder than
ever for Sonny -- just to get to
me. Get him someplace safe ...
three thousand miles away if you
have to.
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O'MALLEY
Consider it done.
STORM
I'm going straight to get that film.
When you've got Sonny safe, bring
me the audiotape. We'll put 'em
together and get 'em to Esposito
for the T.V. news. That should be
quite a show.
O'MALLEY
You got it, partner.
(starts to back
out)
You can always reach me through my
mother.
(pauses, shifting
to forward)
What about that nurse? She still in
this?
STORM
Gone.
(with pain)
For the best. For her best.
O'MALLEY
Thanks for the brew!
He speeds off. Storm stands, thinking --
INT. ARMSTEAD BEDROOM - DAY
Storm enters, still deep in thought. Racking his brain --
SUBLIMINAL FLASH - EXT. DOCK - NIGHT (FOOTAGE FROM
PREVIOUSLY SHOT SCENE)
The two Shadow Men. Obscure... in darkness --
BACK TO ARMSTEAD BEDROOM - STORM
moving to the bed. The TV set edges INTO FRAME --
SUBLIMINAL FLASH - EXT. DOCK - NIGHT (FOOTAGE FROM
PREVIOUSLY SHOT SCENE)
The tall Shadow Man, starting to edge into the light.
Almost, but not ... quite --
BACK TO ARIMSTEAD BEDROOM - STORM
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sits on bed -- identical angle including TV to when he
half heard the TV ad for Trent's campaign.
STORM
(it all comes
together)
I'm gonna take you to the bank,
Senator Trent. The blood bank.
Storm's vengeance look. Suddenly O.S. -- a CAR!
INT. VESTIBULE - DAY
Storm poised inside the front door -- .45 in hand. In
walks ... Andy!
She nearly faints at the sight of the pistol leveled
between her eyes. Storm instantly jerks the weapon back.
They stand there staring at each other.
ANDY
Martha's dead.
Storm takes Andy in his arms. She weeps, sobbing. Feeling
all the tension and terror of the past days -- yet somehow
knowing she's safe in the arms of this man she loves.
ANDY
I won't leave you. Not ever again.
STORM
I won't let you.
Storm holds her, knowing he loves her.
STORM
O'Malley was here.
ANDY
Here? How did you find him?
STORM
You found him. The old lady was his
mother.
(beat)
And Andy ... my son's alive.
Andy raises her face to Storm's, her eyes welling with
emotion. He kisses her. They are standing there, just
inside the front door, which has a wood bottom-half and a
frosted-glass top-half. Suddenly:
Storm jerks Andy sideways into the room with all his
strength! He dives with her as -
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The TOP of the FRONT DOOR EXPLODES inward in a SHOWER of
flying GLASS! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three more point-blank
SHOTOGUN BLASTS BLOW the rest of the DOOR to hell.
ANGLE - HALLWAY
Storm hurls Andy so hard and fast it looks like she will
land in pieces. He somehow ends up in front of her on
the floor as a masked man plunges through the front door
into the hallway, shotgun spinning to cover his advance.
Too late.
We hear TWO LOUD ROUNDS and the masked man's head snaps
violently back and he falls into a pile.
EXT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - DAY
Jones and Ford pull masks over their faces and sprint for
the other doors. Both carry assault rifles. An enormous
powerful third man (Joe Bear), his mask already in place,
vaults to low balcony, hauls himself up to a second story
window -- his huge Bowie knife glinting in the sun.
INT. HALLWAY - STORM AND ANDY
hurry toward a staircase, their attention focused behind
them -- on the first floor.
INT. HOUSE - UPSTAIRS - INTERIOR BALCONY
Joe Bear waits concealed at the top of the stairs, on an
interior balcony overlooking the living room, atrium-style.
Through the mouth opening of his ski mask, we see he is
smiling a sick smile -- and sensually stroking his Bowie
knife.
ANGLE - TRACKING - STORM
Storm and Andy scramble up the staircase onto the atrium
balcony and out steps Joe Bear with his knife and his
smile.
Joe Bear, for the first time in his life, is surprised
when Storm smiles too. Joe Bear screams like an animal
and lunges with his knife.
Storm stabs out his left arm like a spear and tilts his
body ever so slightly, then clamps Joe Bear's wrist with
his right hand.
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Allowing his tremendous momentum to culminate like a
hurricane, Storm manipulates him in a full circle,
catapulting Joe Bear unbelievably into a tall T'ang Dynasty
cabinet filled with priceless Oriental artifacts!
LIVING ROOM
Ford and Jones, masked, hurtle into the living room, just
below the atrium balcony. They raise their automatic
weapons, but before they can fire --
STORM
hurls Joe Bear's massive body down upon the attackers!
Jones takes the tonnage head-on and is crushed beneath
it! Ford dodges, unleashes a burst of AUTOMATIC FIRE
straight up at the balcony. Storm shoves Andy to safety
onto the exterior balcony and dives there himself, just
as the whole interior balcony is RIDDLED by Ford's BULLETS!
Ford bolts for the staircase, coming after Storm. Storm,
crouched around the corner on the exterior balcony, waits
till Ford hurtles INTO VIEW at the top of the staircase.
Storm FIRES his .45 furiously ... Ford springs back,
Storm's BULLETS BLAST the staircase WALL to ribbons. His
.45 CLICKS empty!
EXT. BALCONY - STORM
rips a magazine from his pocket, slams it into the butt
of his .45, reloading. He has it half-raised when:
Ford appears -- right in his face, assault rifle leveled
at Storm's guts. Storm strikes an instantaneous blow,
sending the rifle flying. In one motion, he pinwheels
Ford over his head, sending him flying off the exterior
balcony and crashing down into the Oriental fountain below!
EXT. ARMSTEAD HOUSE - BALCONY AND FOUNTAIN
Storm swings down to the ground. Andy leaps into his
arms, he breaks her fall and helps her alight safely.
He reaches to Ford in the fountain, rips the mask off his
face.
He recognizes the man.
STORM
I know this fuck. He's a cop!
FRONT SIDE OF HOUSE - STORM AND ANDY
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race INTO VIEW, leap aboard the JEEP, FIRE it UP and fly.
TWO MORE MASKED MEN
appear running down the drive -- SHOTGUN and assault RIFLE
trained on Storm and Andy. They begin to FIRE.
Andy can't shoot and Storm can't drive and shoot at the
same time, so he does what is logical for him -- he keeps
the pedal to the metal and chases them.
BULLETS from the two men OBLITERATE the Jeep's WINDSHIELD.
BUCKSHOT RIDDLES the VEHICLE everywhere. Andy is on the
floor of the Jeep. Storm is periodically ducking. He is
bleeding we don't know from what or how bad -- and then
blam! -- masked man #1's body is airborne. This makes #2
think... and run very fast.
EXT. TEAHOUSE - DAY
He is sprinting the 100 in 5 flat -- racing for the tea
house. He makes it inside and dives for a good position
to resume firing, but there isn't enough time. Storm
just drives right through the front of the tea house and
over the assassin's body! The JEEP ROARS out of the
flattened tea house and keeps on hauling!
EXT. ARMSTEAD GROUNDS - JEEP
ROARS across the terrain... past the horses, ostriches,
etc.
JEEP'S POV
The heavy iron gate straight ahead.
STORM
SLAMS THROUGH the metal GATE with JEEP BLASTING it.
ONCOMING VEHICLE
Captain Holland! -- in the car as a passenger, with another
plainclothes cop. The flying gate sends glass in all
directions, as Storm swerves in his Jeep to avoid the
car.
Storm freaks, seeing Holland as Holland's car is forced
off the road. Storm SKIDS into a wild 180 --
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STORM
(gun in hand,
heading back)
Holland! The other man on the dock --
ANDY
Are you crazy?! Get us outa here --
Holland and the driver are out of their car, guns drawn.
Ford races up, reinforcing them. He has an assault rifle --
STORM'S JEEP
swerves as BULLETS SMACK into it! Protecting Andy with
his body, he races off down the mountain road at high
speed.
INT. O'MALLEY'S CAR - MOVING - DAY
The unmistakable sound of a TIRE BLOWING OUT.
O'MALLEY
Shit!
EXT. HIGHWAY ONE - DAY
O'Malley's car limps to the roadside, in view of a sign:
"VENTURA 21." O'Malley gets out in frustration --
EXT. TRINITY BOYS' PREP (VENTURA) - SOCCER FIELD - LONG
LENS - SONNY STORM - (SLOW MOTION) - DAY
Our first live look at Storm's son as a twelve-year-old.
Wearing colorful soccer duds and TRINITY PREP athletic
shirt. He looks terrific, like a young colt -- free and
fearless -- his shiny hair flying as lie runs down a soccer
ball in the pell-mell action of an eighth-grade game.
The feel of this SLOW MOTION portrait is diametrically
opposite to the corruption and duplicity in the world of
the movie so far. In contrast, Sonny's world seems pure
and unsullied -- youthful and untouched by the harsh
realities of the world. We watch Sonny and his teammates
long enough to absorb his vigorous,full-of-life energy.
Then:
BACK FOCUS TO:
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MAX DUNNE AND NOLAN
Striding swiftly. Toward Sonny. Their dark plainclothes
suits in grim contrast to the colorful soccer uniforms --
SONNY (SLOW MOTION)
He falls! The rush of soccer action sweeps past him,
down the field. Sonny -- all attention focused on the
game -- scrambles to his feet, legs churning to take off
in pursuit of his friends. Just as he gets his traction:
MAX DUNNE (NORMAL SPEED)
Out of nowhere scoops Sonny up in his brawny, brutal arms!
Sonny cries out and tries to resist, but --
DOWNFIELD - SOCCER PLAYERS
They don't hear, lost in their own action and cheering.
BACK TO SONNY
Dunne and Nolan hustle him swiftly toward their car.
Already they're well away from the field, moving fast
DOWNFIELD SIDELINES
The soccer coach turns back. We see him shout, his arm
raised in a gesture of urgency --
DOWNFIELD - SOCCER PLAYERS
They turn back, too.
LONG ANGLE - SONNY, DUNNE AND NOLAN
Into Dunne's car. The car speeds off.
EXT. STORM'S OLD HOUSE - POV THROUGH JEEP WINDSHIELD -
MOVING - DAY
As the house whips INT0 VIEW and the JEEP BRAKES HARD to
stop. This is the house from the film's opening -- the
one Storm, Felicia and Sonny lived in seven years ago.
It is undergoing a remodeling now. Carpenter's and
plasterers' trucks in the driveway --
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INT. JEEP - ACROSS STREET - STORM AND ANDY
Storm yanks up the brake, full of urgency -- pulls out
his gun.
ANDY
What the hell are you doing?!
STORM
We just made the top of the chart,
Andy. Every cop in the city thinks
we shot our way out of a legitimate
bust --
ANDY
There are no cops here!
STORM
Only 'cause they're too stupid.
(cocks the slide,
ready to go)
We need that film and we don't need
any bullshit --
EXT. HOUSE - FRONT WALK - DAY
Andy making Storm put the gun away.
ANDY
Goddamit ... for once, do something
the non-violent way!
Storm is reacting to the sight of his old home -- the
first time he's seen it since the slaughter seven years
ago. He struggles with his pain and rage.
Andy, aware of his turmoil, takes his hand. Her hair is
done up in a businesslike style; she wears a jacket and
carries a briefcase. They cross to the front door --
INT. STORM'S HOUSE - ENTRYWAY - DAY
A pleasant, chatty (and very pregnant) HOUSEWIFE speaks
through the open door to Storm and Andy. Sounds of
HAMMERING, ETC. in other rooms O.S.
HOUSEWIFE
-- Gee, my husband and I aren't
really thinking about selling. In
fact, we're adding a nursery --
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ANDY
Oh, that's the best time for us to
see it! Then when you do come to
sell, our office will know the
upgrades you've made and we can
market your home more effectively.
Two plasterers troop past, a carpenter with them.
HOUSEWIFE
Hell, come on in. Everyone else
does.
Storm and Andy enter. Andy immediately begins to steer
the Housewife away from the kitchen, into the living room.
"Oh what a cute place!
I'd love to see what you're doing with the nursery..."
INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Storm casually lingers behind, drifting into the kitchen.
He crosses immediately to the alcove where, seven years
earlier, he stashed the camera case.
But the spot has been remodeled! There's a new wall there!
STORM
New wall ... fucking yuppies!
Without hesitation, he slams his fist through --
WALL
Bang! Gypsum wallboard splinters, revealing a fake panel
of brick adjacent to a real brick wall, six inches behind
the new wallboard. Storm reaches into the hole, yanks
out the camera case. He shakes his sore knuckles from
the blow as:
HOUSEWIFE AND ANDY
arrive from the living room. The Housewife stares in
shock at this strange man -- with his hand halfway through
her new wall.
HOUSEWIFE
(very cool)
Just checking for termites He tucks
the camera case under his arm --
takes Andy by the elbow.
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STORM
(to Housewife)
Better have this place fumigated --
quick.
He leads Andy out -- crisply, businesslike. Housewife
stands there dumbfounded.
ACROSS FROM CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL - PHONE BOOTH - DAY
Storm pauses in mid-conversation, drops the phone receiver
from his ear. Thinking fast, troubled. Andy beside him...
both of them keeping their faces obscured as moviegoers
and business people pass.
STORM
(to Andy)
O'Malley left his mother's place
three hours ago -- with the tape.
He should be at the school by now,
but she hasn't heard back from him.
Several people pass, glancing curiously at Storm. He
averts his face, getting even more antsy. The camera case
under his arm.
ANDY
(re: people
staring)
Fuck the tape. We gotta get this
film to Esposito or I'm gonna have
a nervous breakdown.
Storm knows this, too -- puts the receiver back to his
ear.
STORM
(into phone)
Mrs. O'Malley. Sorry ... listen.
We're outside the Century Plaza now
... the hotel. Right, right. The
one in Century City. Okay, listen
closely ...
(makes this
very clear)
Tell O'Mal to leave a message for
us at the hotel desk. Leave it for
Andy ... Andrea Smith. We're not
gonna check in, it's too dangerous --
but the desk will hold the message
if you tell them we're coming in
this afternoon. Got it? Great.
You're a champ, Mrs. '0.'
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Storm hangs up, peering around uneasily -- takes Andy by
the elbow...
STORM
You're gonna call Esposito. But
not from this phone.
ANGLE - PLAZA
Storm and Andy hurry off.
MONTAGE
WITH SCORE. Tension, urgency increasing --
A) INT. REDONDO BEACH RETIREMENT - VILLA - OFFICE -DAY
Mrs. O'Malley hangs up her phone, finishes scribbling the
notes she took from Storm. CAMERA MOVES IN ON the office
window. THROUGH the window, outside DOWN the block, we
see ... a nondescript sedan --
B) EXT. STREET OUTSIDE RETIREMENT VILLA - SEDAN - DAY
Two men inside. One wears earphones. He takes them off --
shoots a look of satisfaction to the other man.
C) EXT. TRINITY PREP (VENTURA) - MAIN BUILDING - DAY
O'Malley hurrying from his car in the lot toward the
school's main administration building.
D) ANGLE - ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
A priest and the soccer coach hurry from the building,
toward O'Malley.
We see the three men confer urgently. O'Malley reacts
with extreme alarm. He hurries, with the two others,
into the building --
E) INT. JEEP - MOVING - ANGLE ON STORM - DAY
Scowling, as a car passes and its occupants seem to stare
at the Jeep.
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F) EXT. SILVER LAKE STREET - DAY
Storm's JEEP BRAKES HARD at a stoplight, next to four bad-
looking LATINO YOUTHS in a ragged Camaro. The dudes check
Andy out lasciviously.
STORM
Hey, hermano! You want this Jeep?
He pulls the keys from the ignition, holds them up.
YOUTH #1
How hot is it?
STORM
Fuckin' smoking.
The youths look to each other. Then to the piece of shit
they're driving. In their heads, they've already got the
Jeep stripped, repainted, etc.
YOUTH #1
We got it, my man.
In ten seconds, everyone has switched cars -- BOTH VEHICLES
ROAR OFF in different directions.
MONTAGE ENDS, MUSIC DOWN --
EXT. L.A. ZOO - PARKING LOT - DAY
Storm's Camaro parked discreetly. Storm gets out -- wary,
camera case on a strap from his shoulder. Kids and moms,
other zoo-goers coming and going.
ANGLE - CAMARO - STORM AND ANDY
Andy moves uneasily behind the wheel.
ANDY
(checking watch,
nervous)
Esposito won't be here yet. He said
three-thirty.
STORM
He'll be there.
Storm adjusts his jacket to conceal his .45. Peering
around. He passes the camera case back in to Andy.
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STORM
Try O'Malley one more time.
(ready to go)
If you hear any lions roaring, haul
ass.
Andy looks at him with fearful concern.
STORM
Don't worry. I'm a big boy.
A grin. A touch --
EXT. ZOO - ATMOSPHERE SHOTS - DAY
A lion. Elephants. Kids chomping candy apples. Etc.
EXT. ZOO PATH - STORM
moving through the scene. Tense, but casual ... blending
in.
EXT. ANOTHER ZOO WALKWAY - STO'RIM
So far so good. Zoo goers more interested in chimps and
boa constrictors.
EXT. PLAZA OUTSIDE GORILLA COMPOUND - ESPOSITO
The TV reporter we remember from earlier in the film, the
one Storm is now going to meet. He stands nervously
outside, smoking. We hear one of the great APES BELLOW -
ANGLE - GORILLA COMPOUND - STORM
enters the plaza. He spots Esposito. Starts forward.
Suddenly Storm slows --
ANGLE ON ESPOSITO
as Max Dunne moves INTO FRAME seizing Esposito -- subtly,
not drawing any attention. Another man in a suit
reinforces Dunne from the other side. Esposito shows
terror, but no surprise. Clearly the men have had the
drop on him for several minutes -- but there was nothing
he could do about it. Dunne's posture indicates he has a
concealed gun pressed to Esposito's ribs.
Dunne and Storm make eye contact. The message is clear:
Try anything and Esposito dies.
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As Dunne and the other man hustle Esposito from the plaza --
ANOTHER SECURITY-TYPE IN SUIT
moves into Storm's peripheral vision. Coat over his arm,
concealing a short-barreled automatic weapon.
SECURITY-TYPE
Someone wants to talk to you, Storm.
The man gestures with his coat arm. Storm's eyes follow
to:
STORM'S POV - PARK BENCH - TRENT
The Senator himself. Big, as life and cool as a cucumber.
Alone and unrecognized on a bench, shelling and munching
from a bag of peanuts. Behind him: a caged vulture.
ANGLE - PARK BENCH
as Storm MOVES INTO FRAME. He stops, standing above Trent.
TRENT
What a day, huh? Beautiful!
(squints up at
Storm, offers
bag of nuts)
Want some nuts?
Storm makes no move.
STORM
I haven't got the film on me.
TRENT
(breezily)
I didn't think you would.
(clears space
beside him)
Sit down. Take a load off.
Storm glances to the coat-over-the-arm-man, who has taken
up a subtle position about twenty feet away.
After a beat ... Storm sits.
TRENT
You do have the film somewhere, I
assume?
Storm's hard look says yes.
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TRENT
Developed yet?
STORM
Still in the camera.
TRENT
Good. Very good. That way I know
you haven't duplicated it.
Storm inches slightly closer.
STORM
You know, Trent ... I could rip
your fucking throat out before that
sonofabitch over there could find
the spit to sneeze.
TRENT
Oh, I'm sure you could, Storm.
(keeps munching
peanuts)
But not before one of those other
gentlemen, across the way, could
put a fifty-caliber slug through
your brainpan.
ANGLE - NEARBY ROOFTOP - TWO SNIPERS
Nicely concealed atop one of the zoo buildings -- their
guns zeroed on Storm's skull.
BACK TO BENCH - STORM AND TRENT
STORM
Very well placed, Trent. But did
you know that human reaction time --
even the fastest -- is between half
and three-quarters of second? And
in that time, I could easily --
Like lightning, Storm lunges for Trent... whips behind
him, seizing his throat and hauling Trent's body into the
line of fire -- as a shield protecting Storm!
TRENT
You could kill me now, Storm -- but
you'll die two seconds later.
STORM
You think I care, motherfucker?
Just so I get you -- one way or the
other.
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Then, a voice from O.S.
DUNNE (O.S.)
Maybe you care about this, asshole.
MAX DUNNE
Twenty feet away -- both hands up -- holding a bay's
athletic shirt... "TRINITY VENTURA."
STORM AND TRENT
Storm: stunned.
TRENT
Reach into my jacket pocket.
(when Storm
hesitates)
Reach in!
Storm pulls out a Polaroid snapshot. Stares at it.
INSERT - POLAROID SNAPSHOT
It's Sonny, looking terrified, in some murky environment --
Dunne and another man (Nolan) smiling with their arms
around the boy.
BACK TO SCENE
Storm releases Trent. The Senator straightens his tie
and jacket.
TRENT
I want that film and the tape.
I'll give you three hours.
Storm stands. Dunne facing him. The snipers behind him.
STORM
(to Trent)
Just tell me one thing. Who pulled
the trigger on me and my wife?
TRENT
(sadistic irony)
Hate poisons people. Let go of it.
Storm glares at Trent. Dunne takes a step forward.
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DUNNE
(to Storm)
I missed your kid seven years ago.
But I won't miss tonight.
Storm glowers with fury. Trent hands Storm a business
card.
TRENT
Bring that film, Mr. Storm. Three
hours.
EXT. PLAYA VISTA POWER PLANT - NIGHT
Towering smokestacks silhouetted against black sky. Deep
RUMBLE of DYNAMOS, TURBINES --
INT. POWER PLANT - EQUIPMENT ROOM - NIGHT
A mesh-enclosed space above the main dynamo room.
Deafening DIN of TURBINE GENERATORS below. A bulb
illuminates Sonny sitting rigidly on a metal chair. Nolan,
a cop we saw earlier in the film, and TURNER (whom we
haven't seen before) play cards, making sure Sonny goes
nowhere.
NOLAN
(re: power plant)
It's fun, huh, kid? Kinda like a
field trip.
Sonny glowers. There's a lot of his father in him.
SONNY
I'm remembering both of you. And
when my dad gets here --
TURNER
He's gonna have a long trip, kid --
starting from Forest Lawn.
They both laugh derisively.
NOLAN
By the time this night's over, your
old man'll have a use for that phony
grave of his.
A wall-mounted PHONE RINGS. Nolan picks it up. He listens
seriously for a long beat.
NOLAN
Yeah... yeah -- we'll be right down.
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He hangs up, stands. So does Turner. They exit the wire-
mesh space, re-close the door on Sonny.
NOLAN
(to Sonny)
We'll come back with your French
fries.
(padlocks the
door)
Don't leave home without us.
ANGLE - STAIRWAY DOWN FROM EQUIPMENT ROOM
Nolan and Turner clump down and away, laughing and making
wisecracks.
INT. EQUIPMENT ROOM - SONNY
He waits till they're out of sight, then swiftly mounts a
tall equipment box that reaches almost to the ceiling.
He shoves a few boxes out of his way, revealing --
WIRE MESH HATCH
in the mesh ceiling of the room. Sonny flops onto his
back atop the tall equipment box, kicks up hard -- the
hatch pops open!
ANGLE - ROOF OF EQUIPMENT ROOM - SONNY
climbs out onto the "roof" of the room. He sees a short
catwalk leading to the huge, high wall of the dynamo room.
Against the wall are big windows.
Sonny scoots to the windows, which are cracked open awning
style. He peers out and down.
SONNY'S POV
A 30-foot drop to the pavement below.
EXT. POWER PLANT - NIGHT
Sonny shins down a pipe as niftily as a spider monkey!
EXT. POWER PLANT - LOT - NIGHT
Sonny scampers across the darkened lot, heading for the
traffic and headlights on the PCH.
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EXT. REDONDO BEACH RETIREMENT VILLA - NIGHT
A cab pulls into the curb outside Mrs. O'Malley's place,
Sonny springs out. We see the cabbie shouting after him --
and Sonny arguing, gesturing toward the nursing home.
Mrs. O'Malley emerges from the nursing home wheelchair.
Sonny rushes to her ... they embrace joyfully.
O'Malley comes out too, more cautiously than his mother.
He is armed. He also hurries to Sonny, hugs him tight.
SONNY
Malley!
O'MALLEY
It's okay, sport. It's okay...
it's okay --
Still hugging Sonny, O'Malley shoves a bill at the cabbie.
Whatever it is, the cabbie is thrilled. He boogies off
ecstatically.
INT. CAMARO - MOVING - NIGHT
Storm wheels the car at high speed -- super-intense,
clutching a tiny chain-link "low-rider" steering wheel.
ANDY
Is that a steering wheel -- or a
Winchell's donut?
Storm has no time for humor -- he twists the wheel,
flooring the accelerator.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The Camaro ROARS through a hairy turn.
EXT. REDONDO RETIREMENT VILLA - OFFICE WINDOW - NIGHT
Through the window we see O'Malley on the phone, speaking
urgently. He finishes, hangs up -
ANGLE - FRONT DOOR OF NURSING HOME
O'Malley emerges with Sonny, carrying a travel bag. The
boy and O'Malley quickly hug Mrs. O'Malley, then stride
swiftly out toward O'Malley's car.
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UP BLOCK FROM NURSING HOME - SEDAN
The car with the two surveillance men we saw before, waits,
hidden in shadow. The men watch --
O'MALLEY'S CAR
with Sonny aboard, pulls out.
SEDAN
pulls out after it.
EXT. CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL - ENTRYWAY - NIGHT
Two unmarked sedans whip in and stop ... doors open...
out come Ford, Jones and two plainclothesmen. They give
curt instructions to the valets and hurry inside --
INT. CENTURY PLAZA - LOBBY - NIGHT
The men fan out nonchalantly. Jones approaches the --
MESSAGE DESK
JONES
(displays badge
and warrant)
I need to check any messages for a
Miss Andrea Smith.
The DESK CLERK quickly scans the message slots.
DESK CLERK
I'm sorry. I see no slot for that
name --
JONES
She hasn't checked in yet. But
she's due here. Someone might have
left a message for her.
The Clerk finds the slot.
DESK CLERK
Here it is. There's just one message.
Jones takes the message slip. Ford and one of the
plainclothesmen join him -- the three move aside, confer
briefly. Ford and the cop move off. Jones crosses back
to the Desk Clerk, hands the message slip back to him.
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JONES
You can put this back now.
(significantly)
You never saw me.
(indicates other
cops)
You never saw these guys.
The Clerk nervously replaces the message slip.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL - LOBBY - NIGHT
OPENING ON: FORD
in a subtle position near the lobby entrance.
JONES
half-hidden at a corner of the cocktail pit..
TWO PLAINCLOTHESMEN
dispersed at angles across from the message desk.
EXT. CENTURY PLAZA - ENTRY DRIVE - NIGHT
Storm's Camaro pulls and parks. Storm and Andy, very
wary, step out.
INT. CENTURY PLAZA - LOBBY - NIGHT
Andy enters first, Storm half a step behind her like a
bodyguard. His eyes move everywhere --
FORD
slips back out of sight.
JONES
does the same.
MESSAGE DESK AND ALCOVE
Storm drops away from Andy, about ten feet from the desk,
slips subtly toward an alcove.
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Andy crosses to the desk -- we see her speak to the Clerk
and the Clerk hands her the message slip. She scans it
hastily, excited by what she reads -- moves quickly back
to Storm.
ANDY
Sonny got away! He's with O'Malley!
O'Malley's gat the tape -- they're
heading for Union Station.
Storm:. ecstatic. He grabs Andy, ready to exit. Suddenly,
he freezes --
STORM'S POV
He spots Ford!
STORM
his eyes flash across the lobby. He spots:
JONES
STORM
shields Andy. Plainclothesman #1 steps out, whipping out
his badge. Suddenly Storm grabs the cop with the badge
in front of his face and uses him as a human battering
ram for him and Andy to escape, plunging the man through
two layers of glass windows of the adjoining Hertz rental
office and out into the street in front of the hotel!
Andy follows through the newly formed exit. People scream.
Chaos. The other cops react in pursuit of Storm and Andy.
EXT. CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL - NIGHT
Storm dumps his "battering ram body" and he and Andy sprint
toward the valet booth at the main entrance of the hotel,
where numerous cars are coining and going.
VALET AREA
The valet is a big fat man in a red Beefeater costume.
He is presently handing keys to a large "good old boy" --
boots, ten-gallon hat and all. Tex is just laying a bill
in the Beefeater's hand, and starting to stuff his too-
large frame into a sleek Gullwing speedster with its doors
popped up. Before he can, we see him take a flying seat
on the road as Storm and Andy shove in and --
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AVENUE OF THE STARS
Instantly the Gullwing is in flight -- SCREECHING away
from the hotel entrance, across the median and the
decorative fountain that separates the Avenue of the Stars.
But almost equally as fast, two cop cars start to close
in on him. It looks like Storm is trapped! But he slams
the pedal to the metal and blasts between them, escaping.
As the two cop cars crash into each other --
FORD AND JONES
on foot, catch up to the scene. Too late.
FORD
Get the goddam cars!
They run off. A crowd of theatergoers stare in
bewilderment at the scene of chaos.
EXT. AVENUE OF THE STARS - NIGHT
The Gullwing thunders off into the night.
INT. UNION STATION - NIGHT
0'Malley scans the monitor above the ticket seller's
window. The 11:10 to Albuquerque leaves on track 12.
The waiting area is quiet at this time of night except
for a few travelers and stragglers.
Sonny Storm, quiet and apprehensive, focuses on tearing
open the packet of mustard for his hot dog. He sits on
top of a battered suitcase.
O'Malley returns with the tickets and sits next to Sonny
on a bench.
O'MALLEY
Be careful you don't get any of
that guck on your sweater ... let
me comb your hair before your old
man gets here, it's stinking up in
the back.
O'Malley takes a comb out of his jacket pocket.
SONNY
Quit it, will you ... you're making
me more nervous than I am already.
My father's going to be more
interested in seeing the real me.
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Nevertheless O'Malley tries to comb Sonny's hair. Sonny
pushes the comb aside.
O'MALLEY
I think I'm more nervous than you
are, kid. We got out of my mother'
place about two shakes ahead of the
landlord ... know what I mean?
SONNY
My dad'll get 'em. You guys'll
nail them all.
(beat,
thoughtful;
then)
You think he's gonna like me?
O'MALLEY
Does a bear dump in the woods? Are
you kidding -- he's gonna love you.
SONNY
Let me see the tickets. Did you
get us one of those sleeping cars?
What time is he getting here anyway?
O'MALLEY
Soon...
Just then, O'Malley becomes aware of a bad vibe in the
air. A foreign presence. Nolan, and Turner have followed
him and Sonny from Mrs. O'Malley's house. Now they
approach --
NOLAN
(calling out)
Hey, O'Malley! Long time no see.
(approaching)
Taking a trip somewhere?
O'Malley slip the tape from his pocket, placing it under
Sonny's Jacket on the bench without missing a beat, as he
calmly starts to rise.
O'MALLEY
(to Sonny, under
his breath)
Make sure your father gets this ...
(to Nolan)
Yeah. Me and my son are visiting
my mother in New Mexico.
O'Malley gets up, starts to move toward the men.
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NOLAN
Your son, huh? That's funny. He
doesn't look much like you --
(to his partner)
Does he, Turner?
They both laugh.
TURNER
Looks a lot like Mason Storm.
O'Malley and the men come to face-off point, staring at
each other.
NOLAN
Enough of this fucking around. We
want the tape.
CLUNK! O.S. we hear a CLATTERING ECHO.
Sonny has picked up his jacket. The tape has fallen onto
the marble floor!
O'MALLEY
Sonny -- run!
Sonny snatches up the tape and leaps over the bench, racing
toward the rear doorway heading for the street.
Nolan and Turner start to run after him. O'Malley throws
a fierce body block on both men, sending all three crashing
into a big, loaded luggage cart. O'Malley finds his feet
first as all three struggle to get up. Nolan starts to
pull his gun. O'Malley grabs a heavy metallic suitcase
and smashes Nolan in the face with all his strength.
Nolan crashes backward against Turner, toppling them both
into a huge 25-foot lighting installer's ladder -- which
now starts -- to cave over, pulling a string of dozens of
big industrial GLOBES plummeting to the floor and EXPLODING
into thousands of tiny shards! People scream. O'Malley
shoves the luggage cart at the men and races for the door --
EXT. UNION STATION - NIGHT
Sonny has made his way into the parking area, amidst dozens
of cars, but he has stopped -- looking back fearfully,
worried about O'Malley. O'Malley bursts from the exit.
O'MALLEY
(shouts)
Go! Sonny -- get outta here!
In front of the station, a cab is jacked up; the driver
replacing a flat. O'Malley starts to run toward Sonny
past the cab, when suddenly:
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He is SHOT in the back by Nolan! His lurching bulk crashes
into cab, knocking it off its jack to the ground. The
tire iron (that's used as a jack handle) springs loose,
onto the ground near O'Malley.
Seeing the gunmen, Sonny in horror crawls under a car.
The cab driver flees for his life. O'Malley spins back,
draws and tries to fire at the oncoming Nolan and Turner --
but he is SHOT TWICE in the stomach. Turner kicks O'Malley
in the hand, sending the gun flying off under the cab!
NOLAN
Get the kid! He's under the cars!
Nolan and Turner sprint off after Sonny. Sonny rolls
from under one to another.
Nolan and Turner try to trap him, peering under the cars --
but Sonny is too agile and cat-like. Turner crouches down,
spots Sonny.
TURNER
Give us the tape, kid -- and we'll
take you home.
SONNY
Fuck you, Jack!
Turner aims his gun. Suddenly:
His head turns to squash as: a bloody O'Malley stands
over him, bashing him with a tire iron!
A crowd of bystanders scream in horror at this horrendous
sight.
EXT. ALAMEDA STREET - NIGHT
A block from Union Station, the GULLWING SCREECHES into
view.
EXT. UNION STATION - PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Nolan comes around the end of the car, sees O'Malley --
standing over the dead Turner with a tire iron in his
hand. It is clear O'Malley is about to die. But still
he staggers toward Nolan, raising the tire iron.
Nolan, gun in hand, watches incredulously. O'Malley
staggers another step. Sonny has crawled out from under
the car; he sees this. O'Malley staggers another step.
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O'MALLEY
(to Nolan, dying)
You don't deserve to wear your badge.
with his last failing strength,
O'Malley raises the tire iron.
Nolan PUMPS him once, square in the
chest, killing him.
Sonny screams and flees in fear for his life. Nolan races
after him. Between the maze of parked cars. Sonny,
dodging, in between the endless rows.
Meanwhile a small crowd has gathered around the mortally
wounded O'Malley.
Suddenly, O.S. we hear the SCREECHING of TIRES. The crowd
reacts as the Gullwing blasts into the lot, ROARING
straight toward Nolan and the terrorized Sonny. Finally,
unable to get any closer, Storm leaps out of the Gullwing,
onto the hood of a car and races across the rooftops of
one vehicle after another, closing in on Nolan and Sonny.
Andy stops in horror beside the deathly stricken O'Malley.
ON SONNY
unaware of Storm -- trying to escape from his pursuer.
NOLAN
cursing and unable to gain ground on the fleet-footed --
now actually raising his gun. Suddenly:
STORM
from the roof of the next-to-last car roof in a line of
parked vehicles soars through the air like a night eagle-
setting what looks like a new world record in the long
jump -- surprising Nolan from the rear! Slamming the cop
to the ground in instant death. Cracking his neck.
SONNY
stops. Gasping, breathless -- seeing the father he hasn't
seen in seven years.
STORM
relieved and overwhelmed, grabs his son and lifts him off
the ground in a moment of salvation and triumph. They
hold each other with all their strength.
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However their moment is incomplete, as Sonny is visibly
distraught about the stricken O'Malley, beginning to sob
at the loss of his surrogate father. Storm turns and
starts to move toward --
O'MALLEY - ON GROUND
Andy ... the crowd around O'Malley. Sonny breaks through,
with Storm half a pace behind. Sonny kneels, embracing
his fallen friend. Storm joins his son, kneels alongside
him, both mourning the loss of their dearest comrade.
ANDY
watching them. Touched deeply. Then: O.S. SIRENS!
EXT. ALAMEDA STREET - NIGHT
Two police CARS ROAR into view, racing for the station.
BACK TO PARKING LOT
Storm jumps up -- turns Sonny over to Andy, hurrying them
into a nearby cab. The cab takes off.
INT. CAB - MOVING
Andy and Sonny topple into the back seat. The DRIVER
picks up on all the frenzy.
DRIVER
Where to?
ANDY
That's a good question. Out of
here for sure.
ANDY
turns with Sonny to see Storm, through the back window of
the cab, looking after them protective -- full of emotion.
SONNY
(to Andy)
Where are we going? Who are you?
ANDY
thinks for a moment.
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ANDY
It's a long story. You got a few
minutes?
EXT. PARKING LOT - STORM
leaps aboard the Gullwing, ROARS out of the lot --
THUNDERSTORM - NIGHT (STOCK)
Forked lightning blazes above Los Angeles, THUNDER BOOMS --
STAND OF PALMS
illuminated by lightning
... RAIN sheeting past... WIND RIPPING the fronds in a
RATTLING MAELSTROM --
EXT. TRENT MANSION - RAIN - NIGHT
No sentries, no dogs. Only a high gate and fence
surrounding the fort-like mansion.
STORM
swiftly sliding through the shadows, he moves around the
perimeter, pausing to examine things, searching for
something. He finds an old storm gate to what would
probably be a cellar or basement.
INT. TRENT MANSION - SPORTING ROOM - NIGHT
RAIN LOUD outside. Holland, Dunne, Ford and Jones. Half-
tanked, shooting pool to pass the time and cool their raw
nerves. No one armed.
DUNNE
(angry, defending
himself)
What do we have to do, Holland drive
a fucking stake through his heart?
HOLLAND
I'll settle for a bullet.
Holland and Dunne exchange furious glares.
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HOLLAND
You had him point-blank seven years
ago, and he's still walking!
FORD
He won't be for long. Not with his
picture on every T.V. in --
HOLLAND
Fuck his picture! Get off your
asses --
(waves them to
get out of
here)
Start earning your money!
Holland grabs his shoulder holster off the back of a chair,
stalks angrily toward a rear door.
The others glower as Holland pounds off into the rear of
the house. Dunne slings a cue ball the length of the
table, breaking the rack with a crack like a pistol shot.
The balls ricochet into each other and the cushions in a
futile expression of rage and frustration. Suddenly:
STORM
Out of nowhere appears at the door opposite the one Holland
just left by. He is dripping from the rain and has a .45
pointed at them with one hand, while with the other he
holds a finger to his lips as if to say, "Shhh, don't
wake the baby."
DUNNE, FORD AND JONES
don't know whether to shit or go blind.
STORM
How's the action, boys? Mind if I
play?
Glances from the men toward the couch at the rear of the
room, on which rest their jackets and shoulder holsters.
Storm: totally aware of every aspect of the situation.
STORM
I know what you guys are thinking.
You're thinking I couldn't play
with this gun in my hand. Right?
Pause as the men stand in extreme anticipation. Then:
Storm holsters his gun.
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STORM
Well? Somebody hand me a cue.
There is a brief moment of hesitation and a look of
disbelief between the boys and then, BOOM! Ford tries to
hand Storm a pool cue as if Storm's head is a baseball
and the cue is a bat. This doesn't work very well, as
Storm enters and simultaneously grabs Ford's cue, using
his momentum to slam his head down onto the edge of the
pool table. We hear Ford's SKULL CRACK and he goes down.
Almost instantly another pool cue in Jones's hands slashes
toward Storm's head. This time Storm has his own tool --
and takes his cue to intercept the one about to connect
with his head.
He again uses the power of the attacker's momentum and as
soon as his cue goes down, so does Storm's, onto the back
of Jones's skull with so much force we hear the NECK SNAP
at the same time the cue splinters in half! Storm is
left with the jagged tip of the skinny end.
Dunne, knowing he'll never make it in time to the couch
at the rear of the room, lunges at Storm with a butcher
knife he seizes from a tray of cold cuts on a side table.
Storm traps the knife, and quickly guides it into Dunne's
midsection. With the other hand he raises the sharpened
end of the pool stick and slams it down Dunne's throat
via the windpipe!
STORM
That's for my wife. Fuck you and
die.
Dunne falls to his knees and just stares. Storm does a
flying kick to his chin, breaking his neck. The room now
finished, he turns and exits.
INDOOR POOL
Holland pours himself a nervous drink. He paces, tracking
Trent who's doing a gentle breaststroke.
TRENT
I want Dunne and the others here.
That goddamn Storm is nuts enough
to come after me --
HOLLAND
He's nuts -- but not that nuts.
Holland watches Trent swim a few more strokes, then turns
and heads away down a short hallway.
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INT. BATHROOM - HOLLAND
as he lifts the toilet seat to pee, he finds a handwritten
note on the seat. Shocked, he nervously looks around.
Seeing nothing, he picks up the note and reads it.
INSERT - NOTE
Anticipation of death is worse than death itself.
HOLLAND
A faint smile comes to his face with great confidence.
As he backs out of the toilet, he pulls his pistol from
his shoulder holster, cocking it. He cautiously exits.
TRACKING
Holland as he moves toward the sporting room and his
support team. He enters the area of carnage and the smug
confidence on his face starts to change to a slight worry.
He then starts carefully making his way back to the indoor
pool to inform Trent.
INDOOR POOL
Holland enters the area and finds no one. Now the look
on his face is one of fear and confusion.
HOLLAND
Sonofabitch.
But he has a plan. His plan is to try to make it out of
the house in one piece. What was once careful stalking
has turned into panicked blundering.
CONTINUE TRACKING Holland as he bumps into things, knocking
them over, retreating wildly. He passes a raging fireplace
and suddenly out of the shadows comes a voice:
STORM (O.S.)
How does it feel to know you're
about to die?
Holland FIRES in the direction of the voice, and Storm
comes out of the shadows standing in plain view -- his
.45 pointed at Holland.
STORM
I'll give you more time than you
and Trent gave my wife.
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Holland changes the point of his aim and FIRES again. As
he fires, Storm EMPTIES his GUN straight at Holland.
WALL BEHIND HOLLAND
A Louis XIII portrait -- where a silver dollar-sized group
of holes has just appeared, two inches above Holland's
head. They are both out of ammo.
STORM'S POV
Holland picks up a fireplace poker. He's swinging like
maniac and we hear the sound of the poker SLASHING the
AIR.
But he gets too close to Storm, who snatches the poker
away from him.
They are like two vicious cats whirling. We see Holland
gasping in agony and hear the sound of BONES BREAKING.
Storm then begins the search for Trent. He casually
strolls through the house calling as if he's playing hide
and seek with a childhood friend.
STORM
Vernon, oh, Verrrrrnon, where are
you?
Storm opens closets, looks in drawers, under the toilet
seat, and then proceeds into --
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
STORM
(loud enough
for Trent to
hear)
Let's see ... where could that bad
boy be?
From the tragic violent rage to what almost seems like a
kiddie game, we are not sure if: Storm has gone mad or
what. He approaches the master closet as he continues
the taunting melody.
MASTER CLOSET
Storm enters and begins pushing the clothes of the racks
aside -- looking for something that's probably not there.
Trent is too smart for this shit ... he's probably on a
jet to the Bahamas by now.
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One more rack of clothes in the farthest-back section.
Storm reaches to shove it aside when, with shocking and
deafening suddenness: a SHOTGUN BLAST erupts point-blank
... shredding $10,000 worth of suit jackets and barely
missing Storm's head. Instantly a figure leaps out. Storm
gently disarms him, and the two men are for a moment frozen
eye to eye.
STORM AND TRENT
Storm seems to drift off somewhere far away, and then
violently slams Trent up against the wall, pinning his
chest with the left hand. Storm takes the sawed-off
shotgun by the handle and punches the barrel straight
into Trent's mouth. The barrel simply goes through the
teeth and in his mouth. It appears Storm has made up his
mind about what to do. Trent's eyes bug out of his head.
Storm now takes Trent by the hair and leads him through
the house, shotgun still in his mouth.
STORM
You know, Trent, I want to kill you
so bad I can barely contain myself.
But I keep thinking that death is
far too merciful a fate for you,
and that a nice petite white-bread
boy like you in a federal
penitentiary ...
(pause)
-- let me put it this way -- I doubt
whether you could remain anal
retentive for very long. Yeah... I
think that's best for you --
Trent is now so fucking scared he looks like he is about
to go out of his mind. About this time in their journey
through the house, Storm has stopped before Holland's
mangled and lifeless body. If you think Trent was scared
before, you should see him now.
Storm curiously turns his back on Trent for a moment, to
pick up handcuffs off the floor. Trent sees his last
chance.
Trent seizes the poker and does his most mighty Babe Ruth
impression. Just as Storm stands up, the poker comes
flying. It looks like Storm is dead but somehow he steps
inside the arc and does shihonage, which disarms Trent
and flips him backwards head-first into the fire.
Trent's neck is impaled by one of the decorative iron
arrows of the fireplace. He is stuck -- struggling to
free himself from the arrow as his head catches fire ...
a fate somewhat worse than prison.
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Storm turns away --
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY - LONG SHOT - DAY
We are not sure where we are yet. In the distance, we
see a procession of marching men, all wearing kilts, and
all the accoutrements of traditional Scottish garb. In
the front, several paces ahead of the neatly marching
lines of men, is a single BAGPIPER. Behind all of them
is a hearse, being nobly escorted by mounted police.
FULL SHOT
Now we see them fully: the colors, the feeling, the emotion
of caring men marching in the funeral parade of a fallen
comrade.
CAMERA PAN'S OVER to reveal a section of mourners -- mostly
police but with some civilians. The CAMERA MOVES CLOSER
and PANS TO the front row, where we see Storm in full
police regalia, a medal of valor around his neck. Andy
and Sonny are standing near at sober attention.
The procession stops and the lone bagpiper continues to
play the dirge as he walks up and takes his position on a
section of lawn. The pallbearers remove the flag from
the casket and present it to the Chief of Police, who now
slowly approaches the group of mourners and stops directly
in front of Sonny Storm. He presents the flag and salutes
Sonny. The lone bagpiper stops and an officer on TRUMPET
begins playing "Taps." The coffin is slowly lowered.
FULL SCREEN - TV MONITOR
Finally: the film that Storm shot that night seven years
ago on the wharf. Spliced with the audiotape -- with
subtitles including each speaker's name to make every
word and identity clear. We see:
The two Shadow Men step from the station wagon. The
"pushed" film clearly reveals them to be Trent and Holland.
We see them conspire with Calabrese and Vitale.
CALABRESE (V.O.)
Murder is a serious business, my
friend. And an expensive one.
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TRENT (V.O.)
I'm up to here with caution! This
(bleep) lives on alfalfa sprouts
and bean curd, he ain't gonna die
of natural cause.
Our SHOT starts to WIDEN, revealing that the TV monitor
is in a news studio. The nightly news is being broadcast:
what we see on this monitor is simultaneously going out
over the air.
As the SHOT WIDENS and TRAVERSES, we begin to see the
actual news set -- including Esposito who got his well-
deserved scoop -- and other anchorpeople, crewmen, etc.
CALABRESE (V.O.)
All I'm counseling is a little
patience. The man is public. He's
in the paper every day.
TRENT (V.O.)
Yeah? Well, the next time I read
about him, it better be in the
obituaries.
CONTINUE MOVE as the wharf scene keeps playing. The TV
monitor passes OUT OF FRAME, SOUND goes DOWN, we're MOVING
PAST the news set and its occupants (who are readying to
go back on-camera as soon as the wharf tape ends) and on
UP TOWARD --
LIGHTS ABOVE NEWS SET
which now FILL the FRAME -- bright and blinding. The
screen starts to bleach out ... it goes white and
MATCH CUT - SUN (MARINA DEL REY)
above a perfect peaceful sea. A small powerboat (the
kind that you rent from the dock) moves INTO FRAME. Storm
steers it, standing up. Andy and Sonny in the back cockpit
seat.
IN ANDY'S LAP - PORTABLE TV
She switches a channel: up comes the same footage we just
saw on the news set.
ANDY
It takes a beat before she realizes what it is. Then:
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ANDY
Hey ... Seven year Storm!
(indicates TV)
I told you you'd be famous.
Storm takes a step so he can see the screen. Views it
for a short beat, then --
STORM
picks the TV up from Andy's lap and, while it's still
playing, heaves it over the side and into the drink!
OCEAN SURFACE - TV
splashes ... bobs for a few moments... then sinks beneath
the surface.
ANDY
(laughing)
Hey! Why'd you do that?
STORM
watching the last ripples from the sinking set. A moment
between him and himself -- when the past is allowed to
slip away, sink out of sight, making way for the future.
Storm turns back from the water surface, to his son and
to the woman he loves. He sits (letting the boat drift
wherever it wants to) and tugs Andy down beside him.
Then he reaches across to his son, pulls the boy to him
with a playful headlock.
For a moment both Andy and Sonny are held in suspension,
wondering what Storm will do or say.
Finally:
STORM
(to Sonny)
Knock, knock.
For a beat, the boy is taken aback. Then he break's into
a broad smile.
SONNY
Who's there?
Storm glances to Andy, pulling her tighter to him.
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STORM
Boo.
SONNY
Boo who?
STORM
You don't have to cry about it.
(a beat, then)
I love you both.
Storm hugs his son with great affection, pulling Andy to
him with his other arm. This is their beginning.
BOAT
drifts its happy way across the sun-shimmering sea.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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