EXT. DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK - SAME DAY

LORI GOODWIN, 28, a rookie cop, dressed in uniform with her
long brunette hair tied in a bun behind her head. A pretty
young woman seemingly proud as she walks with her partner.

 

THOMAS HENNESSY, 35, wearing the same uniform, also looking
proud and confident. Nice smile on his face, walks beside
Lori.

 

                    THOMAS
          Now, Lori, because you’re still new
          at this, I’ll show you the location
          which has the most activity.

        

                                                           12.

 

                    LORI
          I’ve lived in LA my whole life. I
          think I know where they all are.

 

                    THOMAS
          That’s what a rookie would say.

 

                    LORI
          I am a rookie.
  

                    THOMAS
          See, I told ya.

 

Lori playfully punches his shoulder.

 

                    THOMAS
          Ouch! That stings.

 

                    LORI
          Shut up.

 

A HOMELESS man, in his 60s, looking worn out, sits on the
pavement holding up a sign. His tattered and stained clothes
drift briskly in the soft wind. His dirty beard follows it.

 

                    HOMELESS MAN
          Mister officer, sir. Can you spare
          some cutter, me brother?

 

                    THOMAS
          Now, you know it’s illegal for us
          to give money without getting
          something back. Right?

 

                    HOMELESS MAN
          Alright!

 

The homeless man stands up and starts humming the "CIRCUS
THEME" while he spins around with his hands over his head. Like a ballerina.

 

Lori shakes her head.

 

                    LORI
          Come on, Thomas.

 

Lori checks her pockets for change and hands the homeless
man the money.

 

                    LORI
          There you go, sir.

 

                                                           13.
 

                    HOMELESS MAN

          Thank you, Ms.

 

The homeless man grins happily.

 

                    THOMAS
          I was just joking.

 

                    LORI
          Jerk.

 

She playfully punches Thomas again in the same shoulder.

 

                    THOMAS
          Ouch! It’s bruising now.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN - PAWNED IT PAWN SHOP - DAY

 

YANN, 26, Haitian, thin and gaunt, and ALAIN, tall and
athletic build also Haitian, step out of the pawn shop.

 

Both have the same type of dark clothing, like gang
uniforms. Alain pockets a large stack of bills in his coat.

 

Both speak with Haitian accents.

 

                    YANN
          Why do you wait till we get outside
          to pocket the cash? You know how
          many people are out here?

 

Alain grins at his friend’s mumbling then takes a notice at
Merck and Jayson standing near MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK.

                    ALAIN

          Yo, Yann. Check that out?

 

Alain points over to Merck. Yann turns his head to see. Yann
squints his eyes to take a better look.

 

                    ALAIN
          That looks just like Merck, no?

 

                    YANN
          I can’t tell.

 

                    ALAIN
          No, man, that’s him. That’s the
          asshole who took the black key!

 

Alain reaches into his inside coat pocket and takes out a
Walther P99. Yann takes notice and looks around in a nervous
riot.

 

                                                           14.

 

                    YANN
          Not here, Alain. Alain!

 

Alain runs over to his car pointing his weapon. PEDESTRIANS
close by scatter away noticing his firearm.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Merck and Jayson stand near the Dodge eating. Merck leans up
against the side while Jayson stands in the shade.
Merck takes a bite out of his sandwich.

 

                    MERCK
          Ah, man, now this is a Philly
          cheese steak.

 

Jayson smiles at his friend.

 

                    JAYSON
          Mine needs more cheese whiz.

 

Jayson walks over to the shack.

 

BANG!

 

Jayson reacts with a quick turn, hunching over and grasping
at an invisible side arm on his right thigh.

 

                    JAYSON
          Merck!

 

Merck drops the sandwich. Blood oozes out of the side of his
neck. His eyes wide open in shock.

 

                    JAYSON
          Merck, get down?

 

Jayson rushes over to him.

 

BANG! Another gunshot.

 

People around SCREAM and make a hasty retreat. Some duck for
cover and hide behind benches and vehicles. Some MOTORISTS
quickly speed away.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

                                                           15.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK - SAME DAY

 

Lori and Thomas both pull out their sidearms and hunch
behind some drop off mailboxes. Thomas calls out for backup
from his radio.

Lori frantically checks to see if she has ammo in her gun.

 

Her shaking hands make it almost impossible for her to
release the magazine.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - SAME DAY

 

Alain and Yann cover behind their car. Alain shoots off
another round from his gun. Yann fumbles with his car keys.

 

                    YANN
          You idiot. In broad daylight?

 

                    ALAIN

          I got HIM! I’m coming for you!
          You’re a dead man, Merck!

 

Alain shoots twice more.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

One of the bullets strikes Merck in the back. He falls down
to the ground. Jayson makes his way after him.

 

                    JAYSON
          Merck, my God, Merck!

 

Merck clutches at the air and finally finds Jayson’s shirt.

 

He grabs it and pulls Jayson closer.

 

Merck’s GURGLING voice makes it hard to listen to. Blood
drools out of his mouth. His eyes flutter open and close.

 

                    JAYSON
          Stay with me, Merck! Merck!

 

Jayson repeatedly slaps Merck on the cheek trying to keep
him awake. Merck’s eyes flutter open. His face fades to a
pale complexion quickly.

 

Merck reaches into his jacket pocket with a trembling bloody
hand pulling out a single key. A BLACK solid large key with
a GOLD emblem in the handle.

 

                                                           16.

 

Jayson furrows his eyes, confused.

 

                    MERCK
               (gasping for breath)
          ...take...(gasp)...this...(gasp)

          ...church...

 

Merck gives Jayson the key.

 

Another GUN SHOT. Jayson flinches at the sound. The bullet
RICOCHETS from the Dodge’s top and lands into a bench.

 

A COP SIREN blares out from a long distance.

 

                    JAYSON
          What’s the key for?

 

Merck struggles to breathe.

 

                    JAYSON
          What’s the key for? Merck? Stay
          with me, buddy.

 

Jayson notices a handgun tucked into Merck’s pants. He pulls
it out and fires three aimed shots at Alain and Yann.

 

He fires and holds the gun in a professional and trained
position.

 

Alain and Yann cower behind the car.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - DAY

 

Yann and Alain wait for more gun fire from Jayson. Nothing
happens. Yann opens his passenger side door and pulls out a
semi-automatic shotgun.

 

Yann quickly runs out into traffic. Motorists avoid Yann,
one UNLUCKY MOTORIST slams into the back of another.

 

Yann fires his powerful weapon from mid street. The pellets
make a Rorschach impression on the side of the Dodge.

 

One unlucky PEDESTRIAN gets capped in the leg. She falls to
the ground SCREAMING and writhing in pain.

 

Another motorist misses Yann. Then peels out of sight in a
hurry. Alain follows Yann into the street.

 

Thomas runs out to him with his weapon drawn. Lori follows
right behind with her gun out.

 

                                                           17.

 

                    THOMAS
          Put your weapon down!

 

Alain turns to Thomas and shoots off at him. Thomas hunches
over and falls to the ground.

 

Lori ducks for cover behind the two wrecked cars. Thomas
fires his weapon from the ground. He tries to roll to
safety.

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Jayson notices Thomas trying to roll away then looks back at Yann in the middle of the street.

 

Yann fires another round, then another. The Dodge takes
another blow. Pieces of metal fly apart from the impact.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. DOWNED POLICE OFFICER - SAME DAY

 

Thomas calls for back up from his radio transmitter then
fires two shots at Alain. Alain gets clipped by the
officer’s bullet in the shin. Alain falls back. Cries out!

 

Lori stays frozen in fear behind the wrecked car.

 

Yann turns to Alain and then to Thomas. Yann walks over to

Thomas angrily and blasts away. The first wave from the
blast strikes the cement. It kicks up pavement particles up
to Thomas’s face.

 

                    THOMAS
          Lori! Help!

 

Thomas shoots a few more rounds. Each not making any
contact. Yann flinches at the gunshots.

 

Alain hunches up from the ground and fires his gun at
Thomas.

 

Lori Stares out into the gunfight. Everything in her POV
seems to go in slow motion. She has her gun out, pointing it
at Yann. Her finger quivers to pull the trigger. Lori is
lost in tears.

 

Alain fires again and clips Thomas in his side arm. His
weapon falls. He cries out in PAIN.

 

                                                           18.

 

                    THOMAS
          Lori!

 

Alain shoots again. The bullets strike the cement, kicking
up more gravel. Yann walks over to Thomas slowly. Thomas
struggles to reach for his sidearm resting a couple of feet
away from him.

 

Lori pulls the trigger. No bullet comes out. She struggles
again to pull the trigger.

 

                    LORI
          What’s wrong with this thing?
          Thomas!

 

Yann turns up to look at her. He gives her an evil grin.

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Jayson peeks out from the hood. He notices Lori standing
behind the wrecked cars exposed with her gun out.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - SAME DAY

 

Yann points his shotgun at Thomas. Thomas looks up. A tear
rolls down his eye. Thomas clenches his eyes shut.

 

Yann pulls the trigger of his shotgun. The ammo takes a
fatal blow. It impacts into the side of Thomas’s face;
caving it in.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Jayson closes his eyes in disbelief. He shakes his head.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - DAY

 

Yann, in a lunatic fashion, turns back to Lori and aims his
shotgun at her.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

                                                           19.

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Jayson quickly aims his gun at Yann and fires two rounds.
The first one hits Yann’s leg. Blood squirts out in a large
spray from his leg.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - DAY

 

Yann yells out angrily. The second bullet strikes the
shotgun’s handle breaking the bottom part into chunks.
Alain quickly limps back to his car.

 

Lori turns to Jayson. Her eyes showing her fear. She
continues standing in the gun pose, ready to shoot off a
round.

 

EXT. MIKE’S AUTHENTIC PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SHACK

 

Jayson covers behind the Dodge checking his ammo in his gun.

 

                    JAYSON
          Officer, duck! Get behind the cars!

 

Jayson fires a few more shots at Yann, who cowers away.

 

Backing up to his car. Jayson sees Lori ducking down behind
the wrecked cars.

 

                    MERCK (O.S.)
          ...Patrick Cath...(gasp)...dral...

 

Jayson reverts his attention back to Merck.

 

                    JAYSON
          Merck, stay with me, brutha!

 

Merck releases his last long breath he’s been holding. His
limp body settles, lying motionless on the pavement. His
blood flows under his carcass in a mad rush. It becomes a
quick red puddle.

 

Jayson reaches into Merck’s pocket and takes his car keys.

 

He quickly stands up and covers himself behind the Dodge. He
fires away at Yann.

 

Three bullets strike Yann directly in the chest. Yann
collapses to the ground. Motionless.

 

Jayson hops into the car and peels out in a hurry.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

                                                           20.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - ALAIN’S CAR - DAY

 

From inside Alain’s car, he fires his gun twice, it shatters
the rear window of the speeding Dodge.

 

Alain sticks the car into first gear and skids after Jayson.

 

                                                       CUT TO:

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - SAME DAY

 

Lori crouches down behind the wrecked cars. One of the
DRIVERS in one of the cars lifts his head up. He’s on his
cell phone.

 

The BACKUP POLICE arrive.

 

EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS - SPEEDING CARS - DAY

 

From a bird’s eye view, Jayson in the Dodge avoids colliding
with other motorists. He seems to know how to handle the car
very well.

 

Behind him, Alain quickly approaches. Alain’s maneuvering
skills are not perfect, but they’re enough to get close.

 

At different moments, Jayson swerves into an alley way
getting out of the streets. Alain follows. He shoots out
from his window.

 

Jayson clears the alley way forcing the Dodge to spill into
an intersection with MOTORISTS driving by. He narrowly hits
one but manages to stay steady and spin out of the mayhem.

 

Alain on the other hand, smacks side by side with a
MOTORIST. That motorist loses control smashing into a
VENDOR. The OWNER, jumps out of the way in the nick of time.

 

Alain continues his pursuit after Jayson, who speeds away a
few yards. Jayson swerves around vehicles and even getting
into the oncoming lane. HORNS honk, PEDESTRIANS jump out of
the way and MOTORISTS yell out obscenities.

 

Right behind, three POLICE CRUISERS follow in hot pursuit.
Their SIRENS whir and their red and blue lights STROBE
wildly.

 

                                                           21.

 

INT. BURRITO HUT - SAME DAY

 

Los Angeles Police Detective, NORRIS HENDERSON, 38 tall and
brooding with an unshaven face, dressed in a red and blue
flannel jacket and washed out jeans, sits at an umbrella
table with his partner.

 

Los Angeles Police Detective, MORGAN REYNOLDS, 49, dressed
in a detective-style dark suit, with dark shades, sits at
the table eating a burrito. BEAN & CHEESE is scribbled on
the aluminum foil in black marker. (He’s the same Morgan
from the first scene)

 

Beside them, just a couple of feet, is a bus drop off. A few
PEDESTRIANS have gathered on the bench. Some stand.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON

          Seriously, I don’t understand why
          you don’t try the other burritos.
          There are far better flavors than a
          boring ass bean and cheese burrito.

 

                    MORGAN
          I don’t like the other ones.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          You haven’t even tried them, how do
          you know you don’t?

 

Off in the distance the sound of a car’s tire SCREECHES in
the pavement. The two don’t pay attention to it.

 

Norris dips into his bag and pulls out a burrito and hands it to Morgan. PICADILLO is scribbled on the side of the aluminum foil in black marker on a white sticker.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Here, take this one. You’ll like

          it.

 

                    MORGAN
          Nah.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          "Nah!" See, that’s the problem with
          ignorant people. They disregard
          something that may be better than
          what they thought. What’s it going
          to hurt to try?

 

                    MORGAN
          Why do you even care what I like?

 

                                                           22.

 

The SOUND of another louder car tire SCREECH looms in the
distance. The distant sounds of POLICE SIRENS whirl as well.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          It’s not about caring, it’s about
          demonstrating the good with the
           bad. Will you just try it?

 

                    MORGAN
          Fine!

 

Morgan snatches the bag Norris dangles for him. He unwraps
the foil.

 

The sound of the car SCREECH gets louder. Norris turns to
the sound. Then turns back to Morgan.

 

                    MORGAN
          What’s in this anyway?
 

Norris takes a big bite from his burrito. He replies back
with a mouthful.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          It’s just a simple picadillo.

 

                    MORGAN
          Pick of what?

 

Morgan grabs the foil and reads the writing on it. He reads
it phonetically. PICK-A-DILL-0.
 

                    MORGAN
          What the hell is a pick a dill-o?
          Is it armadillo meat or something?

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          See, there ya go? Being an ignorant
          asshole. Why would you say that?
          It’s hamburger meat with slices of
          tomatoes and potatoes.

 

                    MORGAN

          Hmm, a burger without a bun.
 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          It’s like a Sloppy Joe without the
          sloppiness of it. Take a bite.
          You’ll remember this day for the
          rest of your life, I bet.

 

Morgan takes a big bite.

 

THEN...CRASH!

 

                                                           23.

 

A MOTORIST crashes into the bus bench launching the sitting
PEDESTRIANS into the air like rag dolls. One PEDESTRIAN
flies into a business window near the burrito hut.

 

PEDESTRIANS nearby jump for cover. SCREAMS everywhere.

 

Norris and Morgan jump up to their feet. Morgan continues
chewing and watching the mayhem. Norris quickly runs to his
car. Morgan runs over to the crash site.

 

Norris gets to his driver’s side seat of his car and gets on
the radio.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Center, detective Norris Henderson
          777.

 

                    DISPATCHER (V.O.)
          777, Center, go ahead.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Paramedic; roll a medic at South
          Main Street and West 3rd Street.

 

                    DISPATCHER (V.O.)
          Medics advised. How serious?

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Car wreck. Several pedestrians
          injured, possible deaths. Need to
          leave scene, going on hot pursuit
          of suspects.

 

                    DISPATCHER (V.O.)
          10-4. Medics en route.

 

Three POLICE SQUAD CARS rush past Norris on hot pursuit
after Alain and Jayson. Norris quickly sticks his head out
of the car.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Morgan, get in the car. We have a
          pursuit on our hands.

 

                    MORGAN
          But they’re people injured.

 

                    NORRIS HENDERSON
          Medics are on their way. Get over
          here.

 

Morgan quickly rushes to the car. Norris starts the car as
Morgan steps inside it. Norris puts the car into full
throttle and peels out of the area.