MADE



               INT. SPORTSMAN'S LODGE - SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - DAY

               A large crowd has gathered to watch two WHITE BOXERS square
               off in a temporary ring in the center of a converted banquet
               hall. One is BOBBY, the other is RICKY. They are drawn
               together to start the bout by a bell and a hand gesture as
               the REFEREE backs away. Immediately the two fighters unload
               a relentless barrage of POWER PUNCHES. Neither man is
               holding back, and the punches all find purchase in the
               swelling faces of their opponent. The crowd rises to its
               feet in appreciation of this rare level of competition in
               the lower strata of the heavyweight division.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               EXT. BOBBY'S CAR - COLDWATER CANYON - LOS ANGELES - SUNSET

               Bobby drives Ricky home through the winding twists of LA's
               landmark canyon. Both their faces are swollen, verging on
               the grotesque. Bobby drives a black Special Edition 1979
               Trans Am with the gold Firebird stenciled across the hood.
               The car is not in great shape, but in its day ruled the
               road. A Hawaiian mini warrior mask hangs from the rear view.

               The T-top is out, and Ricky struggles to light his
               cigarette in the wind. He finally ignites the whole book of
               matches in frustration, lights up, then tosses it out.

               It lands, still flaming, at the base of a 'No Smoking in
               the Canyon' sign. They drive down the palm tree lined
               stretch of road bordering Beverly Hills. They turn East on
               Sunset Boulevard. The Strip lights are first flickering to
               life.

               EXT. RICKY'S APARTMENT - YUCCA CORRIDOR - NIGHT

               The opening SCORE dies away as Ricky sits beside Bobby. The
               neighborhood is awful. The light of the corner liquor store
               and a menthol cigarette billboard make up for the broken
               street lamps. Ricky smooths out his running suit and steals
               an instinctive cautionary look, scanning all the blind spots
               for predators. The swelling has now truly set in. He's a
               mess.

                                     RICKY
                         Did Max mention anything about any
                         jobs?

                                     BOBBY
                         What about boxing?

                                     RICKY
                         What about it?

                                     BOBBY
                         What are you saying?

                                     RICKY
                         You said if you didn't have a
                         winning record after eleven fights,
                         you'd talk to Max.

                                     BOBBY
                         So?

                                     RICKY
                         So, it was a draw.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah, I'm 5-5 and 1.

                                     RICKY
                         So, it's not a winning record.

                                     BOBBY
                         It's not losing record.

                                     RICKY
                         That's not what you said. You said
                         if you didn't have a winning record-

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't be shitty.

                                     RICKY
                         How am I being shitty?

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't be shitty.

                                     RICKY
                         I wouldn't keep bugging you, but
                         you said he said he would have a job
                         for us.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'm not gonna bring it up to him.

                                     RICKY
                         Of course I don't want you to bring
                         it up to him... But if it comes up...

                                     BOBBY
                         I'll page you.

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. Page me. You know the number?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. I know the number.

                                     RICKY
                         Cause if you don't know the number,
                         I can page you with the number so
                         you'll have the number.

                                     BOBBY
                         I know the number.

                                     RICKY
                         I'll page you with the number. I'll
                         see you later. What time you done?

                                     BOBBY
                         I got no idea.

                                     RICKY
                         Ask if he said anything to her.

                                     BOBBY
                         I will.

                                     RICKY
                         I'll page you with the number.

                                     BOBBY
                         Bye.

               He drives off. Ricky checks his pager, still furtively
               scanning the street.

               EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BLACKBURN - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

               Bobby pulls up in front of the quaint Spanish Colonial
               two-flat. He bounds up the stairs to the upper unit.

               INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

               He lets himself in, searching for his girlfriend. The
               apartment is Z-Gallery, with a few accents of Bobby's
               HAWAIIANA.

                                     BOBBY
                         Honey?

                                     JESS (O.S.) (O.S.)
                         Where were you?

               He finds her in the bedroom. JESSICA is a knockout. Too
               pretty. The pretty that makes a woman a full-time job.
               What's worse is she's decked out like a whore. She's wearing
               slutty lingerie covered by a bland terry cloth bathrobe. Her
               ridiculously long legs are garnished with candy-apple porn
               star sky high heels.  Bobby watches with cultivated patience
               as she applies tasteless amounts of make-up from a Mac case
               the size of a tackle box. She's in a hurry.

                                     BOBBY
                              (swallowing utter
                              contempt)
                         So, what kind of gig is this?

                                     JESS
                         Easy night. Bachelor party. Can we
                         give Wendy a ride?

                                     BOBBY
                         No. What kind of bachelor party?

                                     JESS
                         The easy kind. They're young and
                         rich and well mannered.

               She turns to look at him and reacts to his horrifying
               appearance.

                                     JESS (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Oh my god. What happened?

                                     BOBBY
                         A draw. What makes you think
                         they're well mannered?

                                     JESS
                         Bobby, this is a plumb gig. It's a
                         bunch of young agents and it's at a
                         restaurant. It's gonna be easy and
                         we'll make a lot of money.

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't like you working with
                         Wendy. Why are you working with
                         Wendy?

                                     JESS
                         They requested her. It was her gig.
                         Max put me on as a favor.

                                     BOBBY
                         Some favor. I hope they know you're
                         not like Wendy.

                                     JESS
                         Oh, please.

                                     BOBBY
                         If they asked for her, they're
                         probably expecting blowjobs all
                         around.

                                     JESS
                         Will you cut it out! Get ready,
                         we're already late.

                                     BOBBY
                         Who's watching the baby?

                                     JESS
                         She's downstairs with Ruth. Get
                         ready.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'm ready.

                                     JESS
                         Bullshit. These are classy
                         customers. You can't show up all
                         fucked up with a Fila running suit
                         on.

                                     BOBBY
                         They're not too classy to have tits
                         rubbed in their face.

               She rises and swaps her robe for a floor length overcoat.
               God, is she hot.

                                     JESS
                         Stop. I love you.

               She leans in for a kiss. He lets his anger melt. He leans
               in to kiss her. She gives him last minute cheek to save the
               perfection of her sparkling twenty minute lips.

                                     JESS (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Let's go.

               He follows, slightly slighted.

               EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BLACKBURN - LOS ANGELES

               As the couple hurries down the stairs, The face of a SMALL
               GIRL peeks out the first floor window. This is CHLOE, Jess'
               daughter. Her age is somewhere between Paper Moon and Jerry
               Maguire. She watches without expression as her mom leaves
               for work.

               EXT. HAVANA ROOM - BEVERLY HILLS - NIGHT

               They valet the car and approach the members only cigar
               lounge. Bobby opens the door for her.

               INT. HAVANA ROOM - LOWER LOBBY - NIGHT

               An attractive female HOSTESS sees Bobby's undesirable
               appearance.

                                     HOSTESS
                         May I help..?

               She then sees Jessica and guesses her occupation.

                                     HOSTESS (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Oh, hi. They've been expecting you.
                         Take the elevator upstairs. You can
                         change in the card room.

               INT. ELEVATOR - HAVANA ROOM - NIGHT

               They stand side by side in silence as the lift rises. Jess
               adjusts her bosom. Bobby continues to percolate. His pager
               goes off. He recognizes the number.

                                     BOBBY
                         You talk to Max today?

                                     JESS
                         I'm not gonna mention Ricky to him.

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't expect you to mention it to
                         him. I'm just saying, if-

                                     JESS
                         The only way he'll go with Ricky is
                         if you're in too.

                                     BOBBY
                         Well, that's not gonna happen.

                                     JESS
                         Fine. You want to help Ricky, talk
                         to Maxie yourself.

                                     BOBBY
                         I feel weird asking him.

                                     JESS
                         You shouldn't. He likes you.

                                     BOBBY
                         I just wish he never brought it up.
                         Ricky won't shut up about it.

                                     JESS
                         Forget Ricky. You should be glad
                         Max got you driving for me.

                                     BOBBY
                              (then)
                         No coke tonight.
                              (no answer)
                         Right?

                                     JESS
                         Leave me alone. I haven't touched
                         anything in months.

               The elevator door opens, and a room full of horny young
               AGENTS and EXECUTIVES see Jessica and cheer. She smiles and
               drops her coat. The crowd can't believe their luck when they
               see how hot she is. Bobby's heart sinks. He picks up her
               coat and walks to the bar as the men wave bills at the love
               of his life.

               INT. BAR - HAVANA ROOM - UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby settles into a bar stool, watching the action from a
               distance. WENDY, a slutty Pam Anderson pre-tit-removal
               wannabe, is already bouncing her ass ghetto-style in a young
               agent's face. The crowd gravitates to the new meat like a
               pack of ravenous dingoes. A beautiful young BARTENDER with
               her hair tied back drops a cocktail napkin in front of
               Bobby. She sees his bruises.

                                     BARTENDER
                         Did you get the license plate of
                         the truck?

                                     BOBBY
                              (unamused and
                              preoccupied)
                         Johnny Red rocks.

               A BLACK MAN in his late twenties slithers up beside him.
               His name is HORRACE and he seems to like gold. He puts down
               his empty highball glass.

                                     HORRACE
                         Martel's and coke. One ice cube. In
                         a snifter this time.

                                     BARTENDER
                         Snifter are for warm drinks-

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah, snifters are for cognac-

                                     BARTENDER
                         When served warm-

                                     HORRACE
                         What's the matter? You ain't got no
                         snifters in this motherfucker?

                                     BARTENDER
                         We have snifters

                                     HORRACE
                         Then put my Martel's in a snifter.

               She walks away to get him his snifter.

                                     HORRACE (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Like I'm gonna break her goddamn
                         snifter.

               Bobby downs his drink as he watches Jess give a HORNY GUY
               in a suit a lap dance. He gets a little frisky, grabbing her
               ass cheeks. Bobby begins to RISE. Jess circumvents any
               confrontation by smiling and twisting away his wrists. She
               throws Bobby the 'Don't worry, I got it' look. He sits.
               Horrace pokes his nugget encrusted fingers into his sock,
               counting a stack of bills.

                                     HORRACE (continues) (CONT'D)
                         It's already been a hell of a
                         night. Where you been?

                                     BOBBY
                         I had a fight up at Sportsman's.

                                     HORRACE
                         Well, you look it. You win?

                                     BOBBY
                         Draw.

                                     HORRACE
                         What's your record at?

                                     BOBBY
                         5-5-1.

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah, well you let me know when you
                         wanna start makin the real money.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah, sure.

                                     HORRACE
                         I'm serious. Humping sheetrock and
                         driving on weekends got to get to
                         you after a while. Might be nice to
                         buy your lady something. All it
                         takes is one fight.

               Wendy is now being dry humped by two guys. Jessica looks
               over at her, and is concerned. Lines of protocol are
               definitely being crossed. Jess' horny guy makes a bold move,
               jamming his face in her cleavage.  In a split second, Bobby
               has crossed the room and has him by a wrist. The guy is
               surprised by Bobby's presence and grotesque appearance.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         Whu-


                                     BOBBY
                         There's no touching.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         But what about them?

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't give a shit. I work for
                         her. No touching.

               She hands Bobby a stack of sweaty bills. He walks away,
               zipping the roll into his pocket. When he arrives at the
               bar, a drunk EXECUTIVE is having a quiet conversation with
               Horrace. Horrace looks around, answers, and the executive
               picks quite a few hundreds out of his wallet. Horrace walks
               him back to Wendy. Bobby grinds his teeth and points to his
               empty glass. The bartender pours and watches the interaction
               as Wendy walks off with the executive. The party howls as
               they leave the room for some privacy.

                                     BARTENDER
                              (sarcastic)
                         That's not allowed.

               Bobby downs another drink. Things are now heating up for
               Jess as mob mentality takes hold. She squirms. We TRACK BACK
               with Bobby's face as he bee lines for the feisty horny guy,
               who holds Jess' hips as he grinds her.

                                     BOBBY
                         I said no touching.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         Look, man, I'm the bachelor,
                         alright? I gave her a hundred bucks
                         in tips alone-

                                     BOBBY
                         Get your hands off of her.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         Dude, listen, man. I'm cool. How
                         much for the treatment?

                                     BOBBY
                         Your dance is over.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         Come on, dude. The other chick's
                         giving my best man a blow job in the
                         toilet. I know the drill, I'll wear
                         a rubber-

               Bobby cracks his face apart with an uppercut. Another guy
               rises in protest and is on his ass with a broken nose before
               he can speak.

                                     JESS
                         God damn it...

               Bobby drags his girl by the arm to the men's room. He kicks
               open the door and grabs Wendy, who is doing coke off a
               mirror with her john. He drags the women out. Horrace
               disappears. A PARTIER calls to the bartender.

                                     PARTIER
                         Call the police.

               She picks up the phone, but doesn't dial. She hides a
               smile. Bobby drags the women down the staircase.

               INT. BOBBY'S CAR - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

               Bobby drives, eyes locked on the road. Jess is beside him,
               Wendy's in the back.

                                     WENDY
                         What the fuck was that about?

                                     BOBBY
                         You wanna get us busted? If Max
                         found out you were turning tricks-

                                     WENDY
                         I got news for you, Bobby, he don't
                         give a shit.

                                     BOBBY
                         Bullshit.

                                     WENDY
                         You think he don't know? I give him
                         his cut of seventeen hundred, I
                         think he knows I can't make that lap
                         dancing.

                                     BOBBY
                         No more.

                                     JESS
                         Bobby...

                                     WENDY
                         Fuck you! No more for you. You
                         won't be Jess' driver for shit when
                         Maxie hears this shit happened again.

                                     BOBBY
                         Nobody's fuckin talking to you.

                                     WENDY
                         And how could you fucking leave
                         Horrace hanging?

                                     BOBBY
                         I got news for you, Horrace got his
                         ass out of there before you did.

                                     WENDY
                         Bullshit.

                                     BOBBY
                         What? You don't think Horrace would
                         leave your white ass in there to
                         hang?

                                     JESS
                         Alright. Enough already. Let's get
                         some food. I better call Maxie and
                         tell him what happened before he
                         hears it on his own.

               EXT. JOB SITE - PACIFIC PALISADES - DAY

               ESTABLISHING SHOT of the upscale renovation.

               INT. JOB SITE - PACIFIC PALISADES - DAY

               Bobby is part of a large CREW OF PLASTERERS midway through
               an Amalfi Drive renovation. He trowels a thin coat of
               plaster on a kitchen wall. Ricky drags his ass as he sweeps
               up dust and diamond wire scraps. The two of them are swollen
               to hell as they work side by side in the upscale remodel.

                                     RICKY
                         So I'm like, 'Maybe I'm not on the
                         list cause I'm not a fuckin Persian.'

                                     BOBBY
                         I thought you hate that club.

                                     RICKY
                         I do. It's a fuckin Persian Palace.

                                     BOBBY
                         Then why do you try to get in?

                                     RICKY
                         Fuck them.

                                     BOBBY
                              (hears something)
                         Shhh...

               The DECORATOR walks in with a YOUNG COUPLE and their six
               year old KID. The decorator is irritating. The husband is a
               shlubby Jew. His wife is a hot shiksa.

               The kid looks like he might already be gay. The guys work
               diligently and quietly.

                                     DECORATOR
                         And as you can see, we're a little
                         behind in here. We always knew the
                         kitchen would be the trouble spot.

                                     HUSBAND
                         When will it be ready? Are we still
                         shooting for Christmas? I really
                         want Christmas in the new house.

                                     DECORATOR
                         We're trying. Unfortunately the
                         trades are stacking a bit. But look
                         at this Italian plaster job. The
                         color skim-coat will go on next.

                                     WIFE
                         It looks great.

               Ricky sneaks some eye contact to the wife. She almost
               smiles as he peers at her with his battle scarred face. The
               little boy pokes his finger into the wet plaster. Bobby
               throws him a look. The kid just stares back like he owns him.

                                     DECORATOR
                         Did you see the stove yet?

                                     HUSBAND
                         The Viking was delivered?

                                     DECORATOR
                         Yes, of course. It's in the garage.

               They leave. Bobby repairs the plaster damage.

                                     RICKY
                         You see that, bro? She wants to
                         fuck me.

               Ricky's pager goes off.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You see that? My shit's blowing up.

               He looks around and grabs the wall phone and dials.

                                     BOBBY
                         Come on, man. Not with the owners
                         here.

                                     RICKY
                              (phone)
                         Hey, baby... Nothing.  What are you
                         doing..? Yeah, I'll probably cut out
                         early...

               In walks ARTHUR, the plastering contractor and their boss.

                                     ARTHUR
                         Watch out, the fag's here.
                              (seeing Ricky)
                         Get off the fucking phone. Then he
                         wants to know why he's still
                         sweeping floors. Bobby, you got a
                         minute?

               Bobby looks concerned. Something's wrong.

               EXT. JOB SITE - PACIFIC PALISADES - DAY

               Bobby and Arthur stand by a gravel pile outside the huge
               remodel. Arthur looks around and they duck into his Suburban.

                                     ARTHUR
                         Look, Bobby, I don't know what
                         happened, and I don't want to know
                         what happened, but something's up.

                                     BOBBY
                         What are you talking about?

                                     ARTHUR
                         Maxie wants me to replace you on
                         the job tomorrow. He wants you to
                         come by the office today.

                                     BOBBY
                         They were grabbing her fucking ass-

                                     ARTHUR
                         Hey. I don't know, I don't want to
                         know. Far as I'm concerned, you're a
                         good kid. I got news, though,
                         without you here I can't keep on
                         your friend. I got enough people
                         pretending to sweep.

                                     BOBBY
                         Do me a favor, Arthur, keep him on
                         til I see what's happening.

                                     ARTHUR
                         Good luck.

               EXT. MAX'S OFFICE - VAN NUYS - DAY

               Bobby parks his car in the off street lot of Max's run-down
               industrial complex. Bobby walks past the many businesses
               that share the structure in tandem.

               MEN working in an auto BODY SHOP go about their business,
               but discreetly watch as the unfamiliar man passes. Bobby
               carries himself with the proper amount of ambivalence. He
               then passes a loading dock, which also has a secretive
               stench.

               Finally, he arrives at a STEEL DOOR, above which is mounted
               a video camera, several generations past its prime.

               A steel sign reads simply: 'M and M Contracting'.

               Bobby rings the bell and looks up to the surveillance
               camera. He is buzzed in.

               INT. M AND M CONSTRUCTION OFFICES - VAN NUYS - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby walks into an anticlimactically mundane office. The
               decor is sixties industrial gray. There is a waiting area
               next to a flimsy lucite partition/reception window, behind
               which is a desk. Behind the desk is AUDREY, the sixty-plus
               receptionist whose hair was recently 'set' and colored by
               her beautician. Security seems quite lax.

                                     BOBBY
                         Hi, uh, excuse me. I'm here to see
                         Mr. Reuben.

                                     AUDREY
                         You're Bobby, right?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     AUDREY
                         Good afternoon, Bobby. I'll let Max
                         know you're here.

               She fiddles with her phone. Bobby sits at the kidney shaped
               coffee table. He thumbs through a copy of Redbook.

                                     AUDREY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         He'll be a minute, hon. You want
                         some coffee?

                                     BOBBY
                         No thank you.

                                     AUDREY
                         You sure? I just made it.

                                     BOBBY
                         No, thank you. I'm good. Thanks.

               He calms his nerves by staring at a recipe for Strawberries
               Devonshire.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. MAX'S OFFICE - VAN NUYS - DAY

               Bobby walks in. He doesn't seem like he's been there
               before. The first thing that hits you is all the
               thoroughbred racing shit all over the place.  Brass table
               top statues, pictures of jockeys with wreaths,
               hand-painted(!) portraits of horses faces. The second thing
               you notice is MAX REUBEN. He's an off-the-rack East Coast
               Jew.

               He's got deep-set eyes and Abe Vigoda brows. He wears a
               golf shirt with a little penguin on it, and oversized
               reading glasses are perched on his balding head. His nose
               was broken in '63. He smiles broadly as Bobby enters. Bobby
               forces a relaxed smile.

                                     MAX
                              (on phone)
                         Will ya calm down. Just calm down
                         for a minute, Nadeleh. The money
                         will be there. How do I know? I just
                         know... Yes. Yes, that's exactly
                         what I'm saying... You got my word.

               He hangs up his rotary phone and looks up to Bobby, who
               stands looking at the painting with his ears closed.

                                     MAX (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You like the ponies?

                                     BOBBY
                         Sure. Yeah.

                                     MAX
                         You bet the ponies?

                                     BOBBY
                         Me? No. Not really.

                                     MAX
                         Smart. Hard as hell to handicap.
                         You know what I like? Hai Alai. Fast
                         game. You know why I like it?

                                     BOBBY
                         Why?

                                     MAX
                         It's fixed. That's the only way to
                         win. A sure thing. See that horse.
                         The blaze.

                                     BOBBY
                         This one?

                                     MAX
                         Yeah. The blaze. I bought her in
                         '66. Hired a trainer, stall,
                         whatever it was. That horse made me
                         over a hundred grand. In 'sixties'
                         dollars. You know what that is today?

                                     BOBBY
                         Pshhh...

                                     MAX
                         A million. Easy.

                                     BOBBY
                         She was fast, huh?

                                     MAX
                         Never won a race. But it got me in
                         with the trainer. We'd have a thing,
                         I don't remember, some fucking
                         thing. The jockey would raise his
                         whip, it meant the fix was in, we'd
                         all go running. People get greedy.
                         First they bet small, they keep
                         their mouth shut. Within a month's
                         time, everyone and their brother was
                         in on it. The odds would drop, I
                         mean you could watch the goddamn
                         board. It looked like a fuckin
                         stopwatch, the odds would drop so
                         fast.

                                     BOBBY
                         That's why they call it the smart
                         money.

               Maxie laughs a genuine laugh.

                                     MAX
                         I like you, kid. Why do you gotta
                         make it so hard for me to take care
                         of you?

                                     BOBBY
                         Mr. Reuben, I swear to God, they
                         were out of line.

                                     MAX
                         Last time, maybe, with the Puerto
                         Ricans, but these were nice Jewish
                         boys.

                                     BOBBY
                         They were out of line-

                                     MAX
                         They're fucking yeshiva buchas. You
                         didn't have to tear up the goddamn
                         place. You knocked out a guys teeth.

                                     BOBBY
                         That prick tried to get Jessica to
                         blow him in the bathroom-

                                     MAX
                         Bobby, I love Jessica like she's my
                         own daughter.  I would kill anyone
                         so much as lays a finger on her or
                         her beautiful daughter, but that
                         fucking pisher you socked in the
                         mouth has the most expensive dentist
                         in Beverly Hills and wants I should
                         buy him an implant. Your silverback
                         horseshit's gonna cost me eight
                         grand.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'll work it off.

                                     MAX
                         Not driving Jess, you won't.

                                     BOBBY
                         What?

                                     MAX
                         You're not driving Jess no more.
                         Two strikes, Bobby, and this last
                         one was big. The bachelor's father
                         goes to my schul.

                                     BOBBY
                         So, that's it. I'm out?

                                     MAX
                         I didn't say that.

                                     BOBBY
                         Then what are you saying?

                                     MAX
                         Bobby. You're a bull terrier and I
                         got you herding sheep.

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't understand.

                                     MAX
                         It's my fault.  I send you out to
                         watch scum drool all over the love
                         of your life, then I wonder why you
                         seered. It's my fault. The tooth is
                         on me. But no more. I'm
                         'reassigning' you.

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't want to drive another girl,
                         Max. The only reason I'm -

                                     MAX
                         Who the fuck do you think you're
                         talking to? This ain't a fucking
                         democracy. You want out?

                                     BOBBY
                         No.

                                     MAX
                         Don't I put food on you're table? I
                         sponsor your training, I take care
                         of your girl and her little baby. I
                         even pay that deadbeat friend of
                         yours to push a goddamn broom.

                                     BOBBY
                         I know.

                                     MAX
                         Now you wanna shut up and listen
                         and hear what I got to say?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. Sorry.

                                     MAX
                         I got a way we make everybody happy.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     MAX
                         We try something out. There's
                         someone I'm in business with named
                         Ruiz. I want you to accompany him on
                         a drop.
                              (off Bobby's look)
                         Just as scenery. Ruiz has his boys.
                         I just want a big guinea with a
                         busted up face to give him a deep
                         bench. As a deterrent.

                                     BOBBY
                         Ruiz knows about this?

                                     MAX
                         Ruiz wants to go alone, but it's
                         not up to Ruiz. It's up to me, and I
                         like a sure thing. Just go and we're
                         square on the tooth.

                                     BOBBY
                         What about Ricky? He'd jump at the
                         opportunity.

                                     MAX
                         Ricky? Ricky 'I lost the truck'
                         Ricky?

                                     BOBBY
                         You told him you liked him.

                                     MAX
                         That was before he lost my carpet
                         cleaning van.

                                     BOBBY
                         He'll work it off.

                                     MAX
                         I don't know the kid, and what
                         little I do scares me.

                                     BOBBY
                         He's good people, Mr. Reuben. I
                         swear.

                                     MAX
                         You vouch for him?

               The exchange has taken on a gravity.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. Sure.

                                     MAX
                              (lighter)
                         How 'bout this. If you're in, he's
                         in.

                                     BOBBY
                         I gotta tell you, Mr. Reuben, I'm
                         not comfortable getting in any
                         deeper. It's one thing to look after
                         Jess...

                                     MAX
                         You're ready to move up. Christ,
                         the way you busted up the place,
                         you're doing worse already. May as
                         well get paid instead of punished.

                                     BOBBY
                         It's not that I don't appreciate
                         the offer...

                                     MAX
                         Do me a favor. Think about it. Is
                         that too much too ask?

                                     BOBBY
                         No. Okay. I'll think about it.

               EXT. SPORTS FIELD - HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

               ESTABLISHING SHOT of the mural for the HOLLYWOOD SHEIKS
               football team. Bobby and Ricky walk past the empty stands
               watching the HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM practice.  Ricky
               drinks from a brown paper bag.

                                     RICKY
                         We need guns.

                                     BOBBY
                         We don't need guns.

                                     RICKY
                         I think we might.

                                     BOBBY
                         He didn't say we need guns.

                                     RICKY
                         He implied it.

                                     BOBBY
                         You don't imply about something
                         like that. You lay it out on the
                         table. Besides, I'm not taking the
                         job.

               TIME CUT. Ricky and Bobby watch the field from behind the
               concrete stairwell.

                                     RICKY
                         This is the opportunity of a
                         lifetime. What are you? Nuts? You've
                         been waiting for this kind of
                         opportunity.

                                     BOBBY
                         No. You've been waiting for this
                         kind of opportunity.

                                     RICKY
                              (sparking up)
                         Damn right, I have. You think I
                         like living on fucking Yucca? We do
                         a good job on this, we're in.

                                     BOBBY
                         What happened to boxing? I thought
                         we made a vow.

                                     RICKY
                         Shit. Who we kidding? I know I
                         suck, and I held you up for ten
                         rounds-

                                     BOBBY
                         Bullshit...

                                     RICKY
                         Please. I got three inches on you.
                         You wouldn't have landed a punch if
                         I didn't let you.

                                     BOBBY
                         You wanna go right now?

                                     RICKY
                         I'll beat your ass-

               They slap-box in the empty stairs. This attracts the
               attention of the team and the COACH, who has walked up to
               the bottom of the stands. He calls out to them.

                                     COACH
                         Ricky! Bobby! Cut that shit out!

               They stop.

                                     RICKY
                         Sorry coach.

                                     BOBBY
                         Sorry coach.

                                     COACH
                         How's the boxing going?

                                     BOBBY
                         Great.

                                     RICKY
                              (shitty)
                         He's 5-5-1.

                                     COACH
                         It takes time, Bobby. You always
                         had the heart.

                                     RICKY
                         What about me coach? Did I have
                         heart?

               The coach throws a look and walks back to practice, blowing
               his whistle.

                                     BOBBY
                         We look good this year.

                                     RICKY
                         We'll kill Fairfax this year.

                                     BOBBY
                         I still can't believe you missed
                         the fucking team bus.

                                     RICKY
                         Fuck him.

                                     BOBBY
                         Your first start at DB, it's
                         against Fairfax, and you miss the
                         fucking bus.

                                     RICKY
                         What are we delivering?

                                     BOBBY
                         We're not delivering shit. Ruiz is
                         delivering something, and whatever
                         it is is his business.

                                     RICKY
                         Who is this fucking Ruiz?

                                     BOBBY
                         Maxie says he runs a tight ship. I
                         wouldn't fuck with him.

                                     RICKY
                         Some Mexican? How much could he
                         weigh? A buck fifty, tops? I'd kick
                         his fucking ass.

                                     BOBBY
                              (looks at watch)
                         I gotta pick up the baby.

                                     RICKY
                         Why do you always get stuck taking
                         care of the kid.

                                     BOBBY
                         I like it.

                                     RICKY
                         It's not even yours.

                                     BOBBY
                         I like it.

               Bobby pulls into a RTA bus stop in front of...

               EXT. THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE - LA BREA - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby's Trans Am is parked in the bus stop in front of the
               school. Ricky is on the phone, oblivious, as a black METER
               MAID gives the car a ticket. Bobby walks down the walkway
               with Chloe, Jessica's daughter, and takes the ticket.

               INT. BOBBY'S CAR - PARKED ON HIGHLAND - CONTINUOUS

               He helps Chloe into the back. Chloe is silent and clutches
               dried macaroni glued to a paper plate and spray-painted
               silver.

                                     BOBBY
                              (re: ticket)
                         Nice work.

                                     RICKY
                         Shhh...
                              (on cell phone)
                         Yeah, yeah... No. No. I'll be there.
                              (hangs up)
                         You gotta get me to the Magic
                         Castle at four.

                                     BOBBY
                         How'd you unlock my phone?

                                     RICKY
                         I tried your ATM PIN. I gotta kill
                         an hour. Let's grab a beer.

                                     BOBBY
                              (to Chloe)
                         Seat belt.

                                     CHLOE
                         Ricky's not wearing one.

                                     BOBBY
                         Ricky, can you put on a seat belt?

                                     RICKY
                         No, man. It wrinkles my shit. Let's
                         grab a fuckin beer-

                                     BOBBY
                         C'mon, man, not in front of the
                         baby. Put on your seat belt before I
                         get another ticket.

                                     RICKY
                              (clipping in)
                         Jesus Christ, fine. Alright?

                                     BOBBY
                         See? Now everyone's got one on.
                              (re: macaroni plate)
                         What do you got there?

                                     CHLOE
                         A elephant seal. Where's mommy?

                                     BOBBY
                         She's, uh, sleeping.

                                     CHLOE
                         It's daytime.

                                     BOBBY
                         Mommy works hard so you can have
                         all your pretty clothes. Don't you
                         like your pretty clothes?

                                     CHLOE
                         No.

                                     BOBBY
                         Show uncle Ricky what you made.

                                     RICKY
                         Let's grab a beer.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               EXT. COLOR ME MINE - LA BREA - DAY

               ESTABLISHING SHOT of the storefront ceramics workshop.

               INT. COLOR ME MINE - LA BREA - DAY

               Bobby paints a CERAMIC PLATE as Chloe does the best she can
               painting a frog in this do-it-yourself crafts store. Ricky
               looks out of place as he lights a Marlboro and bitches.

                                     RICKY
                         Why can't we just grab a goddamn
                         beer.

                                     BOBBY
                         I promised Chloe we'd come here.

                                     RICKY
                         Oh, give me a break. Look at her.
                         She don't even know where the hell
                         she is. She'd have more fun at
                         Bordner's.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'm not taking her to a bar.

                                     RICKY
                         Why not? I grew up in bars. It's
                         fun for a kid.

               A YOUNG FEMALE SALESPERSON approaches Ricky.

                                     SALESPERSON
                         Excuse me, there's no smoking in
                         the store.

                                     RICKY
                         Why? You serve food?

                                     SALESPERSON
                         No. Store policy. And you can't sit
                         at a station without purchasing a
                         ceramic.

                                     RICKY
                         Could you believe this shit? Fine.
                         Give me an ashtray.

               She brings him an unpainted ceramic ashtray from a display.

                                     SALESPERSON
                         What color paints would you like?

                                     RICKY
                         Surprise me.

               He SNUFFS the CIGARETTE out in the ashtray in the palm of
               her hand. She puts it down and leaves in a huff.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         I'm telling you, bro, we're on the
                         verge. He's reaching out to us.

               Chloe stops painting.

                                     BOBBY
                         What's wrong, baby?

                                     CHLOE
                         He's not doing it.

                                     RICKY
                         What? Did she say something?

                                     BOBBY
                         She wants you to paint the ashtray.

                                     RICKY
                         I'm not painting the fu-, I'm not
                         painting the ashtray. And frogs
                         aren't purple.

                                     CHLOE
                         It's a poison arrow tree frog.

                                     BOBBY
                         Will you paint the damn thing. Why
                         do you gotta be such a baby.

                                     RICKY
                         Fine. Here, look. I'm painting.

               He haphazardly paints. Chloe resumes her task.

                                     BOBBY
                         Max won't let me drive Jess to
                         dance anymore.

                                     RICKY
                         Who's driving her?

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't know.

                                     RICKY
                         This paint sucks. The white shows
                         through.

               EXT. MAGIC CASTLE MOTEL - FRANKLIN - DAY

               Bobby pulls up. The WIFE of the Amalfi homeowner is
               precariously waiting and smoking.

               INT. BOBBY'S CAR - MAGIC CASTLE MOTEL - CONTINUOUS

                                     RICKY
                         Right here's fine.

                                     BOBBY
                         Is that the woman from..?

                                     RICKY
                              (smiles)
                         She really liked the kitchen.

               He pops out, and the woman corrals him into a room. Bobby
               pulls away.

               INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BLACKBURN - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

               Jessica is half made up and half dressed. Little Chloe sits
               at the kitchen table twirling a spoon around her head. Her
               mom is haphazardly cooking a rushed supper. Bobby sits
               watching TV in his sweats in the adjoining living room.

                                     JESS
                         Here, sweety, mommy's in a hurry.

                                     CHLOE
                         I don't want grilled cheese.

                                     JESS
                         Mommy has to work.

                                     CHLOE
                         I hate cheese.

                                     JESS
                         Here, sweety. Don't be a little
                         shit.

               Bobby approaches and takes the pan. He kisses Jess.

                                     BOBBY
                         Go finish getting ready. I'll take
                         care of dinner.

                                     JESS
                         Yeah? You sure?

                                     BOBBY
                         Go.

               She shuffles off. Bobby puts up some water and heats a pan,
               adding oil. Garlic.

                                     CHLOE
                         You're not my daddy.

                                     BOBBY
                         You gonna bust my horns, or you
                         want spaghetti

                                     CHLOE
                         I want spaghettis.

               He pours in a can of sliced olives in with the capers.

                                     BOBBY
                         You better watch everything I'm
                         doing. You know why? Because that's
                         how you learn to cook. I watched my
                         grandma cook every night. That's how
                         I learned. If you can't cook, then
                         you gotta go out to eat every night,
                         then you spend all your money on
                         food. And when you eat in
                         restaurants, the cooks scratch their
                         ass and touch the food.

               There's a knock on the door.

                                     JESS (O.S.) (O.S.)
                         Could you get that, baby?

               He does. It's Horrace. Bobby's surprised.

                                     HORRACE
                         What's up? Jess ready?

                                     BOBBY
                         You driving her?

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah.

                                     BOBBY
                         She'll be out in a minute.

               Horrace tries to walk in. Bobby stands in the door.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                              (firm)
                         She'll be out in a minute.

               Jess hurries in, clipping earrings.

                                     JESS
                         Hiya Ho. Come in. I'll just be a
                         minute.

               He throws Bobby a look as he slides by.

                                     HORRACE
                         Some shit smells good in this
                         motherfucker.

                                     JESS
                         Bobby's cooking. He's the best.
                         Whip him up something.

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah. Whip me up something. I'm
                         hungry as a motherfucker.

               Jess hurries out, brushing her hair.

                                     BOBBY
                         Watch your mouth in front of the
                         baby.

               Bobby joins Jess in the back.

               INT. BEDROOM - JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby enters, boiling over with opinions.

                                     BOBBY
                         No way that cocksucker's driving
                         you.

                                     JESS
                         Maybe if you didn't go Rambo every
                         time I did a lapdance, you'd still
                         be doing it yourself. Meantime, I
                         gotta feed my little girl.

                                     BOBBY
                         Maxie's fucking with me. He put you
                         with the spook to get under my skin.

                                     JESS
                         Ho's a good guy-

                                     BOBBY
                         Ho's a fucking pimp! He encourages
                         Wendy to turn tricks. And she's his
                         fucking wife!

                                     JESS
                         Shhh. He'll hear you.

                                     BOBBY
                         Good! It'll save me the trouble of
                         repeating myself. He's not fucking
                         driving you!

                                     JESS
                         Listen to me, Bobby. This is my
                         job. It puts a roof over me and my
                         daughter and you for as long as you
                         want to stay.

                                     BOBBY
                         I want you to quit.

                                     JESS
                         Look at the bills. I can't. I'm not
                         gonna put my daughter through what I
                         went through.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'll support you.

                                     JESS
                         With what?

                                     BOBBY
                         Max offered to stake me.

                                     JESS
                         Yeah, well Max offers a lot of
                         things. And I got news for you. He's
                         not the sweet old man you think he
                         is.

               She crosses to the door, abruptly ending the discussion.
               Bobby grabs her.

                                     BOBBY
                         She needs a family. A dad. I'll
                         give her what you never had.

                                     JESS
                         Don't get my hopes up. If I quit,
                         what then? I can't go through this
                         again.

               She leaves the bedroom.

               INT. FRONT ROOM - JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby enters to find Horrace eating the pasta and feeding
               Chloe the grilled cheese.

                                     HORRACE
                         C'mon girl. Eat up.

                                     BOBBY
                         Get away from her.

                                     HORRACE
                              (not backing down)
                         Excuse--

                                     JESS
                              (interrupts the
                              conflict)
                         C'mon, Ho. We're late.

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah. We got money to make. See you
                         around, Bobby. You make a good
                         puttanesca. Mmmmm-mmmm. You should
                         make that shit for a living.

               They leave. Bobby looks at Chloe, who spits out the cheese
               sandwich.

                                                                  FADE OUT.

               The DIALOGUE PRELAPS over a BLACK SCREEN...

                                     MAX
                         This is the last time I speak to
                         either of you in person about work
                         related matters. All of our
                         interactions in the future will be
                         social. If you have any questions
                         about anything work related, you
                         will direct them to Ruiz. He has my
                         full confidence.

               FADE UP on...

               INT. MAX'S OFFICE - VAN NUYS - DAY

               Max sits behind his desk as he briefs Bobby and Ricky.
               Bobby wears sweats. Ricky wears a suit. Max speaks with a
               directness suggesting gravity. He lays down two MANILA
               ENVELOPES. The two guys pick them up.

                                     MAX
                         Everything you need or need to know
                         is in these envelopes. Do not-

               Ricky starts to tear his envelope open.

                                     MAX (continues) (CONT'D)
                         open the envelopes until you have
                         left this office.

               Ricky sheepishly draws a length of scotch tape from Max's
               desk set dispenser.

               Mid-pull, he becomes self-conscious and asks for permission.

                                     RICKY
                         Can I borrow a piece of-

                                     MAX
                         Go ahead. Open the fuckin things.
                         You should each find fifteen hundred-

               They tear open the envelopes. Ricky's flies apart, sending
               a stack of crisp new Franklin HUNDREDS falling from the air
               like a New England autumn morning.

                                     MAX (continues) (CONT'D)
                         dollars in c-notes, a numeric
                         pager, a double-A battery, and a
                         first class round-trip ticket to JFK.

                                     RICKY
                         We're going to New York?

                                     MAX
                              (with detectable
                              condescension)
                         Yes. You're going to New York.

                                     RICKY
                         And the money. Where do we bring
                         the money?

                                     MAX
                         That money is your per diem.

                                     RICKY
                         And where do we bring it?

                                     BOBBY
                         It's ours.

                                     RICKY
                         To keep?

                                     MAX
                         Yes, for expenses and such. Now,
                         you'll be contacted on your pager as
                         to where you should go. You each
                         have been given an extra battery, so
                         there is absolutely no excuse as to
                         why a page would not be immediately
                         returned. Am I making myself
                         abundantly clear?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah.

                                     MAX
                         You will not carry any other pagers
                         with you. You will not carry
                         anything, for that matter, that I
                         have not just given you.

                                     RICKY
                         Keys.

                                     MAX
                         What?

                                     RICKY
                         What about my keys?

                                     MAX
                         You can carry your keys. You will
                         not mention my name or imply that
                         you are in my employ. You will not
                         speak to anyone while you are
                         working. When you are not working,
                         you are considered to be 'on call'
                         and available twenty-four hours a
                         day. This means you will not get
                         drunk or do anything that will
                         prevent you from operating in a
                         professional manner. There is
                         already a number in your pager's
                         memory. It is a car service. When
                         they ask you what account, you will
                         respond: 'Cardiff Giant.' They will
                         pick you up and take you anywhere
                         you need to go. In other words,
                         there is no reason why you should
                         not reach any destination that you
                         will be called upon to reach within
                         fifteen minutes. Do you see a
                         pattern forming?

                                     RICKY
                         Yes.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yes.

                                     MAX
                         What is it?

                                     BOBBY
                         You want-

                                     MAX
                         Not you. I want Ricky to answer.

                                     RICKY
                         I get it.

                                     MAX
                         Tell me.

                                     RICKY
                         Don't worry. I get it.

                                     MAX
                         So tell me how it is.

                                     RICKY
                         You want... Why are you picking on
                         me?

                                     MAX
                         Because you lost my fucking carpet
                         cleaning van and I don't like you.

                                     BOBBY
                         Already told you, I parked it for
                         five minutes and I locked it with
                         the club-

                                     BOBBY (CONT'D)
                              (interrupts)
                         You want us to be wherever you want
                         us to be, ASAP, no questions asked.

                                     MAX
                         Yes. Goodbye.

                                     RICKY
                         So, wait, what are we dropping off?

                                     MAX
                         Goodbye.


               INT. LAX - DAY

               One of those cool over cranked tracking shots of the two
               guys walking purposefully that means we're really getting
               down to business now. A cool song is playing. Ricky and
               Bobby each hold a manila envelope.

               INT. SECURITY CHECK - LAX - DAY

               Bobby lays his envelope on the x-ray conveyor belt. He
               walks through the metal detector. He passes the check.

               Ricky does the same. The ALARM goes off. Bobby looks
               concerned. Ricky pulls a ring of KEYS and drops it in the
               tray with a look to Bobby. Bobby looks relieved. Ricky is
               dressed to the nines: Dark blazer over a dark sweater.
               Bobby, more casual, wears dark slacks, a dark shirt and a
               gold horn around his neck.

               INT. FIRST CLASS CABIN - UNITED AIRLINES 777 - DAY

               They check their boarding stubs and sit in the plush first
               class seats in the almost empty cabin.

                                     RICKY
                         Holy shit. Can you believe this?

                                     BOBBY
                         Pretty nice.

                                     RICKY
                         See, man. Maxie fuckin takes care
                         of you when you're in. Beats
                         cleaning carpets.

                                     BOBBY
                         What's the movie?

                                     RICKY
                         I'll get the girl.

                                     BOBBY
                         Nah, don't bother-

               Ricky rings the service chime. An attractive young FLIGHT
               ATTENDANT arrives. She has a tray of champagne and orange
               juice.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                              (turning off the
                              service light)
                         Champagne or orange juice?

               Ricky takes a champagne. She smiles and walks away. He
               stops mid-gulp and rings the bell again. She turns with a
               smile.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT (continues) (CONT'D)
                              (turning off the
                              service light)
                         Yes?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, uh, what's the movie?

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         It's in your copy of Hemispheres. I
                         believe it's Mickey Blue Eyes.

                                     RICKY
                         Ugh...

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         I'll get you the list of videos, if
                         you don't mind, I'll offer the other
                         passengers a beverage.

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, sure. How much are they?

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         How much is what?

                                     RICKY
                         The videos.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         You're up front. Everything's free
                         up here.

               She smiles. He smiles. She walks away. He rings the bell
               again. She returns with a strained smile.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT (continues) (CONT'D)
                              (turning off the
                              service light)
                         Yes?

                                     RICKY
                         Drinks are free, right?

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         Yes.
                              (waits)
                         Would you care for another one?

                                     RICKY
                         Yes.

               He takes another champagne and she crosses to leave. He
               calls after her.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         I'll have a Cutty on the rocks.

               She smiles and walks away.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You hear that? You can drink as
                         much as you want up here.

                                     BOBBY
                         We're not supposed to get drunk.
                         We're on call.

                                     RICKY
                         Unless we're supposed to whack out
                         the fuckin' pilot, I don't think
                         we're gonna have to work in the next
                         five hours.


                                     BOBBY
                         I don't want to show up hammered.
                         We're supposed to be representing
                         Max.

                                     RICKY
                         Oh, I'll represent alright.

               He rings the bell.

                                     BOBBY
                         Cut that shit out.

               She returns.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         Yes.

                                     RICKY
                         Where do you live?

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                              (strained politeness)
                         Excuse me.

                                     RICKY
                         Where do you live?

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         I operate out of the Chicago O'Hare
                         hub. Can I help you with anything
                         else?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. Me and my boy here are gonna
                         be in New York overnight. I want you
                         to pass the word around to the
                         honeys back in business class that
                         you all got plans for tonight. I'm
                         talkin' a California style, Tupac,
                         gangster pool party back at the
                         hotel. And make that drink a double.

               She stares at him for a BEAT.

                                     FLIGHT ATTENDANT
                         Listen, asshole, I don't care if
                         you're the Sultan of Brunei, no man
                         talks to me like that. Now you can
                         either learn some manners or I can
                         make a formal complaint to the
                         airport authorities and we can sort
                         this out while you're waiting
                         stand-by for the next flight to
                         Kennedy.

               She walks away. He turns off the bell light.

               INT. JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - NEW YORK - DAY

               The PASSENGERS file off the plane and out of the gate.
               Bobby walks out purposefully. Ricky staggers slightly. He
               got his money's worth. Bobby checks his pager and Ricky
               scans the crowd through his buzz.

                                     BOBBY
                         Shit. No new pages. I don't even
                         know where the fuck we're supposed
                         to go.

                                     RICKY
                         Maybe we should call for a cab.

                                     BOBBY
                         No. Look. There.

               A hulking Italian DRIVER holds up a sign reading 'CARDIFF
               GIANT.'

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         'Cardiff Giant.' That's us.

                                     RICKY
                         You sure?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. He said that's our account
                         with the car service.

               They approach the driver.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Hi. I, uh, think that's us.

                                     JIMMY
                         Hi. I'm Jimmy.

                                     BOBBY
                         Bobby.

                                     RICKY
                         Ricky.

                                     JIMMY
                         Soho Grand, right?

                                     BOBBY
                         What's that?

                                     JIMMY
                         You're going to the Soho Grand
                         hotel, right?

                                     BOBBY
                         I'm not sure. All I know is the
                         account is Cardiff Giant.

                                     JIMMY
                              (smiles)
                         Yeah. You're staying at the Soho
                         Grand. You got anything checked?

                                     BOBBY
                         Nah.

                                     JIMMY
                         Travelling light. I like that.

                                     RICKY
                         Is it nice?

                                     JIMMY
                         The Soho Grand?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah.

                                     JIMMY
                         You're from LA, right?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah.

                                     JIMMY
                         You'll love it.

               EXT. LIVERY STAND - JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY -
               CONTINUOUS

               Jimmy walks them out and up to a black STRETCH LIMO. He
               opens the door. Ricky's eyes light up.

                                     RICKY
                         Holy shit.

               The flight attendant who told Ricky off rolls her overnight
               bag past them. Ricky can't help himself. He calls after
               her...

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You missed out, lady! We're staying
                         at the Soho Grand! I'd give you a
                         ride in my limo, but I gotta stretch
                         my shit out.

               She ignores him.

               INT. LIMOSINE - QUEENS - DAY

               They ride in the back. Ricky fucks with the buttons.

                                     RICKY
                         So whenever we want...

                                     JIMMY
                         Yeah. Grab one of the cards behind
                         you. Call that number. It's my cell.

                                     RICKY
                         So you're our own private guy?

                                     JIMMY
                         I handle most of Cardiff Giant's
                         stuff.

                                     RICKY
                         You know my pager number?

                                     JIMMY
                         No. What is it?

                                     RICKY
                         I don't know. I thought you might.
                         Any idea what the job is?

                                     JIMMY
                         The 'job?' Alls I know is I'm
                         taking you to the Soho Grand.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where is the Soho Grand?

                                     JIMMY
                         Soho.

               EXT. LIMOSINE - QUEENS - MONTAGE - DAY

               The LIMO drives past a vista of the luminescent SKYLINE.
               The lights twinkle through the highway emissions. The
               SOUNDTRACK takes a decidedly carnivorous, urban turn.

               EXT. NEW YORK CITY - STREETS MONTAGE(CONT.) - DAY INTO DUSK

               The limo drives through the streets of the city. Steam
               comes out of a manhole cover (if we can afford it).

               EXT. SOHO GRAND HOTEL - SOHO - GOLDEN HOUR - DUSK

               ESTABLISHING SHOT of the trendy architectural hotel. The
               limo pulls up.

               INT. SOHO GRAND HOTEL - SOHO - NIGHT

               Nice lobby.

               INT. BOBBY'S SUITE - SOHO GRAND HOTEL - SAME

               A young black BELLMAN walks Bobby into his suite. They are
               followed by Ricky. The room is beautiful. Blonde wood
               paneling is offset by black and white photos of New York's
               past.  Modern furniture and a mirrored wet bar give the
               suite a luxurious feel.

                                     BELLMAN
                         ... And here is the key to the
                         mini-bar. Room and tax has been
                         picked up by Cardiff Giant, as well
                         as one fifty in incidentals.

                                     RICKY
                         What's 'incidentals?'

                                     BELLMAN
                         Phone, room service, mini-bar. Any
                         additional expense. If you need
                         anything you can push the button
                         marked 'Concierge', and they'll be
                         able to help you.

                                     BOBBY
                         Thanks.

               He hands the bellman a tip. He then pulls out a card key
               and beckons Ricky.

               Bobby dials phone.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Now, Mr. Slade, you're in room 315.

                                     RICKY
                         Just give me the key. I'm gonna
                         stay here.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Yes, sir.

                                     RICKY
                         Is it a good room?

                                     BELLMAN
                         I can take you down there.

                                     RICKY
                         Just tell me. Wait, here... Do you
                         have change of a hundred?

                                     BELLMAN
                         Not on me, sir.

                                     RICKY
                         Here. Take it. Bring me back eighty.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Are you sure?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. Take it.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Thank you very much, sir.

                                     RICKY
                         So?

                                     BELLMAN
                         What, sir?

                                     RICKY
                         Is it the good room?

                                     BELLMAN
                         All the suites are about the same.

                                     RICKY
                         Come on. Just tell me. It'll save
                         all the trouble of you showing me
                         all the rooms.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Honestly, the suites are all about
                         the same.

                                     RICKY
                         What if I gave you forty?

                                     BELLMAN
                         It's as good a suite as we have,
                         unless you want two bedrooms.

                                     RICKY
                         No. That's cool. Bring me back
                         eighty.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Thank you, sir.

                                     RICKY
                         Where's the place to go tonight?

                                     BELLMAN
                         As far as..?

                                     RICKY
                         Nightlife. Where's the hot ass?

                                     BELLMAN
                         Women?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah 'women.' If I was a fag I
                         could get laid in a subway.

                                     BELLMAN
                         I don't know, Forum's pretty hot
                         tonight. It might be hard to get in,
                         though.

                                     RICKY
                         Don't worry about me getting in.
                         Just tell me where it is.

                                     BELLMAN
                         It's on West Broadway.

                                     RICKY
                         See you later.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah, take care.

                                     BELLMAN
                         Thanks again. I'll bring up your
                         change.

               The bellman leaves.

                                     BOBBY
                         Hi girls, It's Bobby. I'm here safe
                         and sound. I'm just calling to say I
                         love you. I'd leave my number, but
                         you know you can't call me here, so
                         I'll try you later. Uncle Ricky
                         wants to say hi...
                              (he won't)
                         He says hi. Be home soon. Love you.
                         Bye bye.
                              (hangs up)
                         Why don't you want to say hi? She
                         likes you.

               Ricky dials the phone.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Who you calling?

                                     RICKY
                         Shhh... Hello, room service?

                                     BOBBY
                         C'mon, man...


                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, bring up two burgers and a
                         couple of Heinekens.  I'm in room...
                         How'd you know? Oh. Yeah. How long?
                         Cool.

                                     BOBBY
                         How much is it?

                                     RICKY
                         How much? Okay. Make it fifteen
                         minutes and you can add on a ten
                         dollar tip. Bye.

                                     BOBBY
                         How much was it?

                                     RICKY
                         Forty-six.

                                     BOBBY
                         Jesus, man. Plus ten?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, I guess.

                                     BOBBY
                         Great. On my fucking room.

                                     RICKY
                         Relax. You got one-fifty. You heard
                         the guy.

                                     BOBBY
                         Ricky, who knows how long we're
                         gonna have to be here. We gotta make
                         it last.

                                     RICKY
                         Fine. I'll put it on my room. Okay?

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't worry about it. Just be smart.

                                     RICKY
                         But let me tell you, man, I don't
                         like your attitude already.

                                     BOBBY
                         Oh really. Why's that?



                                     RICKY
                         We just got moved up in the world.
                         You gotta let go of that blue collar
                         mentality that was drummed into your
                         head. You gotta start owning it man,
                         or they'll smell you a mile away
                         like a cheap suit.

                                     BOBBY
                         Who's gonna smell me a mile away?

                                     RICKY
                         Don't play dumb. You know what I'm
                         talking about.

               He picks up the phone and pulls out Jimmy's card. Bobby
               hangs up.

                                     BOBBY
                         What are you doing?

                                     RICKY
                         What are you doing?

                                     BOBBY
                         I know you're not calling Jimmy.

                                     RICKY
                         As a matter of fact I was. You got
                         a problem with that?

                                     BOBBY
                         We're here representing Max. You're
                         acting like a Puerto Rican on the
                         fifteenth of the month.

                                     RICKY
                         You think Maxie doesn't want us to
                         roll hard? Why do you think he gave
                         us all this bread? Or the number on
                         the pager? We gotta represent him by
                         showing some class. The man's got an
                         operation. How does it reflect on
                         him if we nickel and dime it?

               He dials. Bobby hangs up.

                                     BOBBY
                         It's on West Broadway. We can walk.

                                     RICKY
                         Well, I don't want to walk.

               Ricky starts to dial. Bobby takes the CARD and RIPS IT UP.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Motherfucker!

               Ricky DIVES on Bobby, and a huge ugly BRAWL begins.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               EXT. FORUM - SOHO - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               Ricky and Bobby stand side by side at the front of the line
               as Ricky tries to talk his way past the velvet rope. They
               look horrible. All their cuts have reopened, their faces are
               swollen, and their only set of clothes are now disheveled
               and torn. Ricky talks a steady stream of bullshit, but the
               DOORMAN will have none of it.

                                     RICKY
                         ... How 'bout Jimmy? You know Jimmy
                         the driver? Cardiff Giant? You ever
                         deal with them? Cardiff Giant?

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. THE CUPPING ROOM - SOHO - NIGHT

               Ricky and Bobby are poured tea by a frilly SERVER. A LONG
               BEAT of SILENCE.

                                     RICKY
                         Horseshit. 'Try the China Club.
                         'Fuck you, asshole. I think it was a
                         fag bar. Didn't it look like a fag
                         bar.

                                     BEEBEEBEEBEEP
                         .....They look at each other. BOTH
                         of their PAGERS are going off
                         simultaneously...

                                                              MATCH CUT TO:

               EXT. STREET PAYPHONE - ACROSS THE STREET - NIGHT -
               CONTINUOUS

               They run up to a phone stand. An HISPANIC KID is on it.
               They wait and listen as he talks baby-talk with his woman.

                                     BOBBY
                         Hello? Shit...

               Taptaptap ... No dial tone. He lifts the receiver higher.
               The wires have been RIPPED OUT of the base. They look at the
               next phone. An HISPANIC KID is on it. They wait and listen
               as he talks baby-talk with his woman.

                                     HISPANIC KID
                         Yeah... Mmmm, that sounds good...
                         Uhu...

                                     BOBBY
                         Excuse me, we need to make a call.

                                     HISPANIC KID
                         I'm on the phone.

                                     BOBBY
                         It's important.

                                     HISPANIC KID
                         So's this.
                              (in phone)
                         Hey baby... Oh, nothing. What were
                         you saying?

                                     BOBBY
                         Listen, man, we really gotta...

                                     HISPANIC KID
                         I be off in a minute.
                              (phone)
                         Say again..?

               Ricky GRABS THE RECEIVER and BEATS HIM across the head with
               it. The poor kid falls out of frame, and Ricky yells into
               the phone...

                                     RICKY
                         He'll call back!

               He hangs up and they both fumble with their pagers and
               pockets. Bobby puts in a quarter...

                                     BOBBY
                         Shit. It's thirty-five cents. You
                         got a dime?

                                     RICKY
                         Fuck...

               He looks down to the kid out of frame.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You got a dime, bro?

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               The two banged-up Angelenos clean themselves up in the
               fold-down vanity mirrors. Jimmy is their driver.

                                     BOBBY
                         So, Jimmy, you know where this
                         address is?

                                     JIMMY
                         Yeah. I'll find it. It's in Harlem.

                                     BOBBY
                         Harlem? What is it, a restaurant?

                                     JIMMY
                         You don't know where you're going?

                                     BOBBY
                         No. Just the cross streets.

                                     JIMMY
                         Well, this is the corner.

               The limo settles on a desolate street in Harlem. There is
               nothing going on.

                                     JIMMY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         I can wait around if you want.

                                     BOBBY
                         No. That's cool, man.

               They get out and the limo leaves.

               EXT. STREET CORNER - HARLEM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

               They stand outside. They look awful. They look with
               curiosity as cars pass. Ricky lights a cigarette.

                                     RICKY
                         What exactly did they say?

                                     BOBBY
                         They said a hundred thirty-fifth
                         and Twelfth.

                                     RICKY
                         They didn't say an address?

                                     BOBBY
                         I told you what they said.

                                     RICKY
                         Nothing else.

                                     BOBBY
                         Nothing.

                                     RICKY
                         How'd they know who you were?

                                     BOBBY
                         They asked who it was.

                                     RICKY
                         So they said more than the address.

                                     BOBBY
                         No. They asked who I was, then told
                         me what corner.

                                     RICKY
                         This is bullshit, man.

                                     BOBBY
                         What the fuck do you...

               A BROUGHAM slowly passes. They pause. It goes.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         What the fuck do you have to
                         complain about?

                                     RICKY
                         Don't even start.

                                     BOBBY
                         No. Tell me. What's so fucking
                         horrible about this gig? You've been
                         crawling up my ass for six months to
                         get your name on Maxie's list, and
                         here we are.

                                     RICKY
                         Look, man, I never met Ruiz, okay?
                         I don't know what the fuck I'm
                         picking up, what the fuck I'm
                         dropping off, who the fuck I'm
                         meeting. All I know is Maxie's still
                         pissed at me cause I sold his
                         fucking van.

                                     BOBBY
                         You sold it? I thought they stole
                         it.

                                     RICKY
                         Sold it, stole it, whatever...

                                     BOBBY
                         Motherfucker...

                                     RICKY
                         Oh, give me a break. Don't tell me
                         you feel bad for the guy.

                                     BOBBY
                         You gotta be kidding me. I vouched
                         for you.

                                     RICKY
                         Relax. I'll do right by him. You
                         know that.

                                     BOBBY
                         You just don't fucking get it, do
                         you?

                                     RICKY
                         You know he fucks all his girls,
                         don't you?

                                     BOBBY
                         What the fuck is that supposed-

                                     RICKY
                         Mean, that's what I heard-

                                     BOBBY
                         You got something to say-

               Bobby grabs him, and is about to start another scrap, when
               the distant roar of a fleet of JAPANESE SUPER BIKES draws
               near. The pack screams up to the duo.

               There are a dozen black men, on Ninjas, and they all wear
               black Nazi-style helmets.

               The two men freeze, and the bikes settle in around them.
               One BIKER pulls up to Bobby.

                                     BIKER
                         They flew you all the way out here
                         to cook me up some fuckin puttanesca?

               Bobby recognizes the biker is Horrace, from LA. He is
               relieved, but not pleased.

                                     RICKY
                         You know this guy?

                                     BOBBY
                         His names Horrace. Horrace, this is
                         Ricky Slade.

                                     HORRACE
                         What's up. You all ready to meet
                         Ruiz?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. Where is he?

               Horrace throws him a helmet.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               EXT. HARLEM STREETS - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               Bobby now rides bitch behind Ho, and Ricky clutches the
               back of a buff shirtless BROTHER. The bikes rip down the
               uptown streets with a ferocity that scares pedestrians. An
               urban drum track rattles the SOUNDTRACK.

               EXT. LITTLE ITALY - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               The horde of bikers rumble under a red, white, and green
               banner strung from street lamps marking the start of Italian
               turf. The businesses are all closed or closing.

               Looks are drawn from locals as the outsiders chug by at a
               respectful trawl.

               EXT. LUNA RESTAURANT - LITTLE ITALY - NIGHT

               The pack pulls away leaving only Bobby, Ricky, and Horrace.

               Ho leans his Ninja to rest next to a custom Buell
               Harley-Davidson cafe racer.

               Bobby can't help but stare at the rare piece of machinery.
               They enter.

               INT. LUNA RESTAURANT - LITTLE ITALY - CONTINUOUS

               The restaurant is now closed, but RUIZ sits in a rear booth
               on a Nokia. He is a slim, young black man with a tight round
               fro. He wears a rolex, but, other than that, nothing flashy.
               He's wearing dark Gucci slacks, a black pullover crew-neck
               shirt, and a black, red and orange racing leather jacket. He
               must have pull here, because 'Between the Sheets' is playing
               over the stereo of this bare-bones, Italian eatery.

                                     RUIZ
                              (on cell)
                         Nah, man. Nah. Too risky. I don't
                         like it... I want out... It's too
                         risky... Listen, man, we made a lot
                         of money together on this one, but
                         it's over. Shit's gonna come down...
                         Well, then, you got my blessing. I'm
                         selling my end. This internet shit's
                         too volatile. I'll keep my block of
                         Microsoft, but I'm taking profits on
                         Yahoo and all the portal stocks. The
                         bubble's gonna pop, man... Alright,
                         peace.

               The three men approach Ruiz's table.

                                     RUIZ (continues) (CONT'D)
                         That's it? This is Maxie's cavalry?
                         Who the fuck swole you up like that?

               Bobby and Ricky both point to each other.



                                     RUIZ (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Shit. If that shit don't beat all.
                         Maxie sent me two fuckin broke ass
                         swole up guineas from the West side.
                         I coulda signed up some hard local
                         guineas for beer money. Ain't that
                         right, Leo?

               LEO, the white-haired Italian waiter nods in agreement.

                                     LEO
                         Sure. You boys want anything?

                                     RUIZ
                         Yeah, bring us four fernet.

                                     LEO
                         Four fernet.

                                     RICKY
                         No. I'll take a strega.

                                     RUIZ
                         What, motherfucker? You drinking
                         'the witch' after dinner?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. That fernet tastes like tar.
                         My grandfather tried to give me that.

                                     RUIZ
                         Some fuckin guineas he sent me.
                         It's midnight and the motherfucker's
                         ordering an apertif.

                                     RICKY
                         It's a digestif.

                                     LEO
                         Strega's an apertif.

                                     RICKY
                         Fine. Bring me a Cynar.

                                     RUIZ
                         Nigger, please. Don't even order
                         that artichoke shit. West side
                         guineas. Forget the drinks, Leo. We
                         gotta roll. What do I owe you?

                                     LEO
                         We're square.

                                     RUIZ
                         Thanks, man. You need anything, you
                         call.

                                     LEO
                         Thanks.

                                     RUIZ
                         You rode?

                                     HORRACE
                         Yeah.

                                     RUIZ
                              (hits speed dial)
                         Jimmy? Ruiz. Pick up Maxie's
                         guineas at LUNA and bring them to
                         Spa.
                              (hangs up)
                         Jimmy's bringing the car around. Me
                         and Ho rode sleds. We'll meet you at
                         Spa in the VIP room.

                                     RICKY
                         Where's Spa.

                                     HORRACE
                         Jimmy knows. 13th Street. We'll
                         meet you there.

               They leave. Ricky and Bobby sit and wait. Ricky addresses
               Leo after they kick their bikes.

                                     RICKY
                         How do you like that fucking
                         moulinyan?

                                     LEO
                         Maybe you two should wait out front.

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               Ricky and Bobby sit in the back as Jimmy drives them.

                                     RICKY
                         This shit's sketchy. Why do they
                         drop us in the middle of nowhere to
                         have the guy we're supposed to meet
                         come meet us just to tell us we have
                         to meet the same guy somewhere else?

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't know.

                                     RICKY
                         Well, I thought you understood and
                         I was just missing it.

                                     BOBBY
                         Missing what? He didn't say shit.

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, but you know Horrace. What
                         did you get off him?

                                     BOBBY
                         What did I 'get?'

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. What vibe?

                                     BOBBY
                         I detected no vibe other than that
                         Ruiz thinks you're a fucking idiot.

                                     RICKY
                         Yo, fuck him, man. Calling us
                         guineas...

                                     BOBBY
                         What do you give a shit what he
                         calls us? He's not our friend. Let's
                         just get this shit over with and go
                         home. What's this place we're going
                         to, Jimmy?

                                     JIMMY
                         Spa?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     JIMMY
                         Depends what night.

                                     RICKY
                         A lot of Persians?

                                     JIMMY
                         Not usually. Mostly Trustafarians.

                                     BOBBY
                         'Trustafarians?'

                                     JIMMY
                         You know, white kids with trust
                         funds acting like they're poor.
                         Keeping it real. Know what I mean?

                                     RICKY
                         I call 'em wiggers.

                                     JIMMY
                         Different.

                                     BOBBY
                         This Ruiz guy, what's his deal?

                                     JIMMY
                         Don't know much. I hear he runs a
                         tight ship.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah?

                                     JIMMY
                         Understand me?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     RICKY
                              (quiet)
                         So is this the drop?

                                     BOBBY
                         Like I said, I don't know.

                                     RICKY
                         He woulda told us right?

                                     BOBBY
                         You would think.

               EXT. SPA - 13TH STREET - NIGHT

               A horrifying line has formed as New York's best and
               beautiful primp and peck their way to the door. The rope is
               three-deep and three DOORMEN coordinate the traffic
               patterns. The limo settles in and a HOMELESS MAN opens the
               door in hope of a tip. Jimmy steps in his way as Bobby and
               Ricky, in tattered clothes, move toward a big white DOORMAN
               in an oversized hat. They fight their way past the other
               people who are fighting their way past the line.

                                     RICKY
                              (responding to
                              irritated looks)
                         Watch out, man. Sorry. I'm on the
                         list, man.
                              (to the doorman)
                         Hey, bro.

                                     DOORMAN
                         The line's over there.

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah, but, we're good. You know
                         what I mean?

                                     DOORMAN
                         How is it you're good? You on a
                         list?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. Ricky Slade.

                                     DOORMAN
                              (to doorman with
                              clipboard)
                         You see a Ricky Slade?

               The doorman with a clipboard checks and shakes his head.

                                     RICKY
                         Cardiff Giant?

                                     DOORMAN
                         What?

                                     RICKY
                         Cardiff Giant. Just check.

                                     DOORMAN
                         Maybe you wanna try the China Club.

                                     RICKY
                         Again with the fucking China Club!
                         What do I look like a fucking
                         Persian to you?

                                     DOORMAN
                              (firm)
                         Hey. I'm half Lebanese.

                                     BOBBY
                         We're with Ruiz.

                                     DOORMAN
                         Ruiz isn't here.

                                     BOBBY
                         We're supposed to meet him here. Is
                         Ruiz on the list?

                                     DOORMAN
                         Ruiz is always on the list. He just
                         ain't here, though.

                                     BOBBY
                         Can you check?

                                     DOORMAN
                         He's not here.

               While they're waiting, the actor who played SCREECH on
               'Saved By the Bell', now in his twenties, walks by and is
               let through the rope with a handshake.

                                     DOORMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         What's up, man.

                                     SCREECH
                         S'up.

                                     DOORMAN
                         You look big, man. Diesel. You been
                         lifting?

                                     SCREECH
                         A little.

                                     DOORMAN
                         You look good, man.

                                     SCREECH
                         Cool. See you later.

                                     DOORMAN
                         Cool.

               Ricky can't believe his eyes.

                                     RICKY
                         Did you see that shit? Motherfucker.
                              (to doorman)
                         You let in fucking Screech, dude?
                         I'm waiting and you let in Screech?

                                     DOORMAN
                         He's on the list.

                                     RICKY
                              (hot)
                         Show me. Show me where it says
                         Screech on the fucking list.

               This altercation is cut short by the arrival of Ruiz and
               Horrace. The Red Sea parts as they approach the door.

                                     DOORMAN
                         What's up, bro? You look big, man,
                         you been lifting?

                                     RUIZ
                         A little. How's it going tonight?

                                     DOORMAN
                         Shit's off the chain. These two say
                         they're with you.

                                     RUIZ
                         Yeah.

                                     DOORMAN
                         Alright. These two are good.

               He opens the rope. Bobby shakes his hand.

                                     DOORMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Sorry, man, but...

                                     BOBBY
                         Thanks a lot. Don't worry about it.

                                     DOORMAN
                         Any time, bro.

                                     BOBBY
                         Thanks.

               Ricky walks by and throws him a look like he just stuck it
               in.

               INT. SPA - 13TH STREET - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby and Ricky are lead into the club and past a window
               and another set of ropes.

               Their hands are stamped several times representing the
               highest level of security clearance. They file down a
               staircase and into one common area where hip-hop plays and
               people dance. Ruiz and Horrace touch hands with an endless
               stream of ACQUAINTANCES. They pass a myriad of rooms and
               seating areas, then down a narrow corridor where they
               encounter yet another DOORMAN who waves them past a CLUMP of
               VIP hopefuls. They trot down a short bank of stairs and
               into...

               INT. VIP AREA - SPA - CONTINUOUS

               ... a series of passageways furnished like a French parlor.
               Lithe MODELS sit amongst Dreadlocked white boys. After yet
               another bar, the crowd vomits into a cavernous bomb shelter.
               A pulsing dance floor is surrounded by a series of couches
               and coffee tables, representing the private seating areas.
               At the far end of the room is an elevated stage with a DJ
               and a banner reading 'GRANDMASTER FLASH'. The party is
               greeted by a male club PROMOTER. He hugs Ruiz. With the
               slightest of nods, the party is lead to the prime table with
               a table tent marked 'RESERVED.' They sit down as a beautiful
               MODEL/WAITRESS brings two buckets of champagne and fluted
               glasses. Bobby and Ricky try to hide how impressed they are
               as they look at each other. GIRLS on the dance floor throw
               priceless looks toward their table. Ricky raises a glass to
               one. Ruiz finally looks at them and leans in. He's spotted
               someone.

                                     RUIZ
                         That's him. Now you all know the
                         drill, right?

                                     BOBBY
                         What drill?

                                     RICKY
                         We don't know any drill. Nobody
                         told us anything.

                                     RUIZ
                         Maxie told you to keep your mouth
                         shut while you're working, right?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

                                     RICKY
                         So we're working?

                                     RUIZ
                         What the fuck you think, I wanna
                         'hang' with you motherfuckers? Yeah
                         you're working. And put down the
                         champagne.

                                     RICKY
                         She poured it for-

                                     RUIZ
                         Far as she knows you're John Gotti.
                         Now put the shit down and act like
                         you got some ass.

               Ruiz gets up and crosses to a BRITISH looking GUY across
               the room. They watch.

                                     BOBBY
                         He making the drop?

                                     HORRACE
                         Nah, man. He's just making contact.
                         That's our man. The Welsh guy.

                                     BOBBY
                         What's his name?

                                     HORRACE
                         Ruiz don't like using names on cell
                         phones. He refers to him as the Red
                         Dragon.

                                     BOBBY
                         So, when's the drop.

                                     HORRACE
                         To be honest, man, I don't know
                         shit either. All I know is it ain't
                         drugs and it ain't now.

                                     RICKY
                         How do you know it's not drugs?


                                     HORRACE
                         Maxie knows I don't go near drugs.
                         I did a minute in Quentin for
                         possession with intent. And it ain't
                         now cause he woulda told me.

                                     RICKY
                         You strapped?

                                     HORRACE
                              (confused)
                         'Strapped?'

                                     RICKY
                         It means you got a gun?

                                     HORRACE
                         I know what 'strapped' means,
                         motherfucker. What the fuck you
                         think this shit is? '21 Jump Street?'
                              (notices)
                         Cool out, they're coming back. Just
                         throw up your screw face and don't
                         speak unless spoken to.

               They settle in and Ruiz comes back with the WELSHMAN.
               They're both laughing.

                                     RUIZ
                         Here, man, sit down.

                                     WELSHMAN
                              (breaking the
                              tension)
                         I see you brought along the rogues
                         gallery.

                                     RUIZ
                         Not really. Just some friends from
                         out West. This is Ho, Bobby, and
                         Rick.

               He shakes their hands, keeping it light.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         And here I thought you flew in some
                         out of town muscle. How's it going,
                         men?

                                     RICKY
                         So, you must be the Red Dragon.

               This draws GLARES from Ruiz, Ho, and especially Bobby.
               After an uncomfortable pause, the Welshman breaks the
               tension with laughter.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Well, that's news to me. The name's
                         Tom.

                                     RICKY
                         Mmmm-hmm. Where's the, uh,
                         'Dragon's lair?' Where do you live?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Edinburgh.

                                     RICKY
                         And where might that be?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Scotland.

                                     RICKY
                         Well, word on the street is you're
                         Welsh.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         I am.

                                     RICKY
                         A rose by any other name would--

                                     RUIZ
                              (changing the
                              subject)
                         Come here, there's someone I want
                         you to meet. You like big tiddies?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Well, who doesn't?

               They walk off. Ruiz sneaks a glare.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. LIMOSINE - IN FRONT OF SPA - 13TH STREET - NIGHT

               Ricky and Bobby are being lectured by Ruiz, who sits across
               from them next to Horrace.

                                     RUIZ
                         What the fuck was you told? Don't
                         talk, right?

                                     RICKY
                         Unless spoken to, ain't that right,
                         Horrace. Didn't you say that?

                                     HORRACE
                         Don't drag my ass into this-

                                     RICKY
                         He spoke to me. You want me to dis
                         him?

                                     RUIZ
                         'Dis?' 'Dis?' You're not in a
                         position to 'dis', or 'give props',
                         or whatever your Real World sense of
                         fucking decorum tells you to do.
                         You're nothing. You're wallpaper.
                         You're not here to make fucking
                         friends. Asking a motherfucker where
                         he lives. And who the fuck told you
                         'Red Dragon'?.

                                     BOBBY
                         We get it. We're sorry.

                                     RUIZ
                         Now that Limey motherfucker's jumpy
                         and wants to change shit around on
                         me. Maxie's gonna shit a Nokia when
                         he hears about... Aw, shit, I better
                         call him before he hears.

               Ruiz pulls out his cell phone and steps out, slamming the
               door.

                                     HORRACE
                         I'm not saying shit to neither of
                         you.

                                     RICKY
                         Why? What I say bad?

                                     HORRACE
                         What the fuck, 'Red Dragon?'

                                     RICKY
                         What? Why am I bad?

                                     BOBBY
                         How bad is it?

                                     HORRACE
                         It's bad. Before you even showed
                         up, he said you were Maxie's 'token
                         goons', and not to be trusted. He
                         wanted to TCB alone. I was gonna
                         ride shotgun to keep the English
                         dude above board. Now he's spooked.
                         This shit's snowballing.

                                     BOBBY
                         When's it going down?

                                     HORRACE
                         Was gonna be tomorrow morning. Now,
                         who knows?

                                     BOBBY
                         Shit.

               Outside, Ruiz starts his bike. Horrace slides out.

                                     HORRACE
                         See you later.

                                     RICKY
                         You really in trouble?

                                     HORRACE
                         Stop.

                                     RICKY
                         I'll tell him someone else told me.

                                     HORRACE
                         Just don't ask me no more shit.

               Horrace closes the door and starts his bike. They ride off.

                                     BOBBY
                         You happy?

                                     RICKY
                         About what?

                                     BOBBY
                         Why you gotta make everything
                         difficult?

                                     RICKY
                         You too?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah, me too. You're a fucking bull
                         in a china shop.

                                     RICKY
                         Fuck this.

               He opens the door.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where do you think you're going?

                                     RICKY
                         Back in.

                                     BOBBY
                         You fucking nuts?

                                     RICKY
                         Work's over. I'm gonna party.

                                     BOBBY
                         You can't go in there. They know
                         you're with Ruiz.

                                     RICKY
                         You got that right.

                                     BOBBY
                         Fuck you. Go then. I'm taking the
                         car.

                                     RICKY
                         Fine.

               Ricky walks past the line with a handshake. Bobby sits,
               staring forward.

                                     JIMMY
                         Where to?

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. VIP AREA - SPA - NIGHT

               Ricky sits in their booth surrounded by young hot GOLD
               DIGGERS. Two WOMEN are already part of the fun: BIANCA and
               CYNTHIA, who we will get to later. They are dressed
               Manhattan fabulous. Bobby approaches, a wet blanket on two
               legs.

                                     RICKY
                         Look who's back? Want some
                         champagne?

                                     BOBBY
                              (to waitress)
                         Do not put this on Ruiz's tab.
                         Start a new one.

                                     RICKY
                         Damn right. Bring us two bottles of
                         Dom Champs and here, take fifty in
                         case I call you bitch later when I'm
                         drunk.
                              (she goes)
                         Siddown, motherfucker.
                              (he pours him a
                              glass and toasts)
                         'Sex and paychecks.'

               They all clink.

               EXT. DOWNTOWN NEW YORK - MONTAGE - NIGHT

               Shots at the bar. With chicks.

                                     RICKY
                         So, wait, you're from where?

                                     BIANCA
                         Manhattan.

                                     RICKY
                         You girls aren't from Brooklyn or
                         anything?

                                     BIANCA
                         No.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         I swear to God, we live in
                         Manhattan.

               EXT. DOWNTOWN NEW YORK - NIGHT

               Staggering through the streets of downtown with a string of
               WOMEN in tow, including Bianca and Cynthia. Laughs and
               cigarettes. A bottle snuck out of a bar.

               INT. NEW YORK BAR - NIGHT

               Another BAR. A magnum of champagne empty and jammed
               nose-down into an ice bucket.

                                     RICKY
                         I don't get it. What do you do?

                                     BIANCA
                         We're in Fashion.

                                     RICKY
                         So you're models?

                                     CYNTHIA
                         We rep lines? You know? Fashion?

                                     RICKY
                         And you grew up in Manhattan?

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Kinda. Yeah.

                                     RICKY
                         What do you mean 'kinda?'

                                     BIANCA
                         You ever heard of Whitestone?

               EXT. STREET - NEAR SOHO GRAND - NIGHT

               A new bevy of LADIES, but still Bianca and Cynthia. Drunk.
               Drinking more. Vampires watch the sun rise. They skulk
               into...

               EXT. SOHO GRAND HOTEL - SOHO - DAWN

               Ricky and Bobby are hammered and lead Bianca, Cynthia and
               an EXOTIC GIRL into their hotel.

               INT. RICKY'S SUITE - SOHO GRAND HOTEL - DAWN

               CLOSE on a FISHBOWL as the group of partiers are seen
               through the glass playing grabass.

               INT. RICKY'S SUITE - SOHO GRAND HOTEL - SOHO - DAWN

               The place is a mess. Room service is all over the place.

               Bianca, Cynthia, the Asian coat check girl, and Bobby sit
               in the squalid living area as Ricky enters from the toilet
               zipping his fly.

                                     RICKY
                         I don't know about you guys, but
                         I'm starting to feel a really sexual
                         vibe here.

                                     BIANCA
                         What happened? I thought we were
                         playing Truth or Dare.

                                     RICKY
                         Look at, ladies. I could sit here
                         and take turns throwing skittles at
                         your ass all night. But I feel what
                         you guys are putting out there. I'm
                         only a mirror reflecting what I'm
                         getting from you. And I'm saying yes
                         to it. I'm shaking hands with it. I
                         see the road that you're pointing
                         down and I'm saying I'll ride
                         shotgun. And when your foot slams on
                         the accelerator, I won't get scared.
                         I'll stand up and let the wind blow
                         through my long blonde hair. With my
                         summer dress clinging to my bosom
                         yelling 'Faster, Billy! Faster!
                         Drive faster! Faster yet-!'

               Ricky is CUT OFF by Bianca's CELL PHONE blowing up. She
               answers.

                                     BIANCA
                         Hello... She doesn't want to talk
                         to you... No... I don't have to ask
                         her. Let it go, Sean.

               Cynthia grabs the phone.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Will you leave me alone, already..?
                         No, Sean, it's over... I don't
                         care.... As a matter of fact, I
                         am... Yeah. In his hotel room...

                                     BIANCA
                              (can't believe she
                              said it)
                         Holy shit.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         I'm having fun , Sean. Can you
                         handle that..? Yeah. He doesn't
                         judge me.

                                     RICKY
                         I don't wear a white wig, I don't
                         carry a gavel.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         That's a good idea, maybe I will!

                                     BIANCA
                         Are you alright.

               She hangs up.

                                     RICKY
                         Now you girls wait here. I got a
                         special surprise.

               The girls are all waiting with Bobby as Ricky leaves the
               room. Bobby does not make any attempt to keep the ball
               rolling.

               Cynthia whispers too loud and drunk.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Is he cute?

                                     BIANCA
                         He's okay.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Should I fuck him?

                                     BIANCA
                         I don't know. Do whatever you want.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         He's great, right. Is he great?

                                     BIANCA
                         He's alright.

                                     CYNTHIA
                              (disappointed)
                         I know.

                                     BIANCA
                              (cheerleader)
                         But maybe that's okay. Maybe that's
                         just what you need.

                                     BOBBY
                         Can you excuse me for a minute?

               Bobby leaves the room. He finds Ricky in a hotel robe
               filling the BATHTUB.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         What the fuck's going on?

                                     RICKY
                         Dude, get back out there. You gotta
                         help me get them in the hot tub.
                              (shouts)
                         Hang on girls! Just get out there.
                         I'll be right out. You know how I do.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah, I know how you do. I know how
                         you do. I've heard your kibbles and
                         bits all fucking night. You've been
                         shaking your ass like an unemployed
                         clown. How the room's a boiling pot
                         of sugar water. How you're gonna dip
                         a string into it and make rockcandy.
                         Who wants to play 'Just the tip?'
                         Dancing around like a smacked ass.
                         Oh, and that coat check girl you've
                         been dragging around as 'insurance'
                         doesn't even speak English.
                              (leaves)

               Ricky checks the water and comes out talking.

                                     RICKY
                         Okay. We got a lot happening here.
                         Here comes the good part... Okay...

                                     BIANCA
                              (re: robe)
                         Somebody's getting comfortable.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Where's the surprise?

                                     RICKY
                         You want your surprise?

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Yeah. I want it.

                                     RICKY
                         Well, come on then. It's back here.

               Cynthia leaves with Ricky. Bobby is left with Bianca and
               the Asian coat check girl. Bianca and he are uncomfortable.
               After a long pause...

                                     BIANCA
                         You mind if I roll a joint?

               Ricky sits in the BATHTUB with a glass of champagne.

                                     RICKY
                         You want to come splash around.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         I'm just warning you, I can't swim.

               Then... Bianca sparks up. She offers to Bobby, who refuses.

                                     BIANCA
                         I'm not like her, you know. I mean,
                         I'm not judging, but I'm more about
                         my dogs. Do you have dogs? Are you a
                         dog guy?

                                                                    CUT TO:

               Cynthia lets her towel drop. She dips her toe into the
               water. Out of nowhere she begins to wail. Back in the main
               room Bobby, Bianca, and the Asian girl react to the
               off-screen crying. Cynthia comes rushing out in a bathrobe,
               bursting with tears. Ricky follows in a towel.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         I want to leave right now.

                                     RICKY
                         I didn't do anything--

                                     BOBBY
                         What the hell did you do?

                                     RICKY
                         I swear to God, I didn't do
                         anything.

                                     BIANCA
                         Oh no. What is it this time.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         We used to take baths together.

                                     BIANCA
                         Come on. Let's go.

               Cynthia calls her boyfriend on the cell phone.

                                     CYNTHIA
                         Sean? I want you to pick me up... I
                         know. I'm sorry too.

               They leave.

                                     BOBBY
                         What the fuck was that about?

                                     RICKY
                         She was jonesing for me.

               They notice the Asian girl still sitting there in the room.
               Bobby hands her cab fare and escorts her out.

                                     BOBBY
                         Here you go, darling. Get home safe.

               BEEBEEP... BEEBEEP...Both their pagers go off.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Fuck.

               He reaches for the phone. Dials.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Hi.
                              (mouthes to Ricky)
                         It's Ruiz.
                              (phone)
                         Yeah. So the driver knows where to
                         go? When? We'll be down in five. No,
                         I'll tell him. He's right there. Bye.

                                     RICKY
                         What's up?

                                     BOBBY
                         He wants to see us now.

                                     RICKY
                         Where?

                                     BOBBY
                         He said it's being arranged. He
                         said Jimmy will know.

                                     RICKY
                         We're getting whacked.

                                     BOBBY
                         We're not getting whacked.

                                     RICKY
                         Why else you think he won't tell us
                         where the sit down is?

                                     BOBBY
                         It's not a 'sit down.' He said he's
                         telling us the plan.

               Ricky is waving around a STEAK KNIFE from a room service
               tray, testing the weight and balance.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         What are you doing.

                                     RICKY
                         I got a bad feeling, man. I don't
                         want to go in naked.

                                     BOBBY
                         You gonna shank him in the shower?

                                     RICKY
                         Is it so unrealistic to think Ruiz,
                         who doesn't even want us here, is
                         throwing us to the wolves? As an
                         apology? And I don't even know what
                         we're dropping off or picking up -

                                     BOBBY
                         We're getting ahead of ourselves.
                         We haven't gotten any sleep. Let's
                         just keep our mouthes shut and not
                         make any mistakes. Now hurry up and
                         get your shit on so we're not late
                         and make things worse.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - MORNING

               Ricky and Bobby look awful. They have bags under their
               swollen eyes, gorged stomachs, bruised faces, tattered
               clothes, and yolk on their chin. Ricky lights a smoke.

                                     BOBBY
                         Put that shit out...

                                     RICKY
                         C'mon, man...

                                     BOBBY
                         I swear to God, I'll fucking puke.

                                     RICKY
                              (obliging)
                         Hey, Jimmy, where they taking us?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. Where they gonna whack us?

               Ricky looks at him without an ounce of humor. Jimmy laughs.

                                     JIMMY
                         If they're whacking you, they're
                         doing it in style.

               The limo pulls up to...

               EXT. TAVERN ON THE GREEN - CENTRAL PARK - MORNING -
               CONTINUOUS

               Jimmy lets them out.

               INT. TAVERN ON THE GREEN - CENTRAL PARK - MOMENTS LATER

               The MAITRE D' leads them past an orgy of a BUFFET.
               Everything looks sickening to our bloated drunks. The head
               of a whitefish in particular makes an impression on the
               boys.

               They are lead to a table joining Ruiz and Horrace, who are
               both dressed appropriately for a society brunch.

                                     RUIZ
                         Jesus Christ, where the fuck you
                         been all night? You look like you
                         got shit out in the gorilla house.

                                     BOBBY
                         Good morning.

                                     HORRACE
                              (laughs)
                         Good morning.

                                     RUIZ
                         You think this shit's funny, Ho?

                                     HORRACE
                         Nah, man...

                                     RUIZ
                         You think it's funny, motherfucker?

                                     BOBBY
                         Easy, Ruiz.

               A WAITER shows up.

                                     RUIZ
                         Don't 'easy Ruiz' me. Y'all turned
                         a Easter egg hunt into a
                         butt-fuck-a-thon.
                              (to waiter)
                         Bring me four eggs Benedict and a
                         mimosa. You all want mimosas?

                                     BOBBY
                              (ill)
                         Nah, man...

                                     RICKY
                         No...

                                     RUIZ
                         Four mimosas.
                              (to guys)
                         You'll love them. So here's the
                         plan. I didn't say shit to Maxie,
                         cause the man has acute angina, and
                         I don't want to get him all worked
                         up.

                                     RICKY
                         He has a cute what..?

                                     BOBBY
                         A bad heart.

                                     RUIZ
                         I didn't tell him shit. He worries
                         too much. I love that old Jew, but
                         he's gonna kill himself worrying. We
                         started this shit, and we're gonna
                         finish it.

                                     RICKY
                         Who's gonna outfit us?

                                     RUIZ
                         Outfit? What's he talking about?

                                     BOBBY
                         Nothing, man.

                                     RICKY
                         You want us strapped, don't you?

                                     RUIZ
                         Last thing I want is you with a gun.

                                     HORRACE
                         Word.

                                     BOBBY
                         What's the plan?

                                     RUIZ
                         Tom, the Welsh dude-

                                     RICKY
                         The Red Dragon.

                                     RUIZ
                         Shut it, man. Shut it. Tom is a
                         square. He don't but dabble in shit.
                         Maxie had me hook up a loan-back
                         with him, through an Austrian
                         passbook account.

                                     RICKY
                         So, we're talking money
                         laundering...

                                     RUIZ
                         Will you tell Peter Jennings to
                         shut up and fucking listen. The
                         shit's as routine as you get. I
                         coulda turned it over offshore in a
                         week, but Maxie likes to do it all
                         his way. Safe. I coulda dropped the
                         bag alone. It's only two hundred
                         G's. But he sent you all. So I can
                         either send you home and tell Maxie,
                         or we can flush the toilet one more
                         time and hope it all goes down.

                                     BOBBY
                         Let's do it.

                                     RICKY
                         I'm your soldier.

                                     RUIZ
                         Now listen. The gig couldn't be
                         simpler. You carry the money to the
                         Welshman, he checks it, hands you
                         his marker, you're done. The washed
                         money goes directly to Maxie. Long
                         as you hand off the bag, you're
                         tight.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where's the drop?

                                     RUIZ
                         You three are gonna meet him for
                         dinner. Find out if and where. Now
                         any of you motherfuckers got
                         anything else to say?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah.

                                     RUIZ
                         What?



                                     RICKY
                         When all this is over and we're not
                         working for Maxie, I'd love to run
                         into you on the street.
                              (beat of silence)
                         Why aren't you coming?

                                     RUIZ
                         That's none of your fucking
                         business.

               INT. HALLWAY - TAVERN ON THE GREEN - CENTRAL PARK - DAY

               Bobby tries to hold his shit together as he wanders down a
               mirrored hallway. He arrives at a DOOR. He opens the door to
               find a...

               INT. DINING ROOM - TAVERN ON THE GREEN - CONTINUOUS

               ...windowless dining room, painted with grotesque greenery.
               He quickly ducks out.

               INT. BATHROOM - TAVERN ON THE GREEN - CENTRAL PARK

               Bobby splashes water on his face.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO - POLAR BEAR TANK - DAY

               Horrace, Bobby and Ricky walk and talk through the
               picturesque park. Ricky picks at a tuft of cotton candy.

                                     BOBBY
                         Why isn't Ruiz coming?

                                     HORRACE
                         This Welsh dude is tripping on Ruiz
                         cause he's a Shot Caller.

                                     BOBBY
                         What's that?

                                     HORRACE
                         A Shot Caller. A boss, a Capo. He's
                         running shit.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah.

               CUT TO another view of the bears.



                                     HORRACE
                         The Welsh dude, sees all these
                         niggers in perms and diamonds and
                         shit, he gets nervous. But you
                         motherfuckers, he just laughs. All
                         beat up in your babaloo suit like
                         Fruitpie the magician.

                                     RICKY
                         So we just go eat with him and
                         that's gonna solve everything?

                                     HORRACE
                         Dude, you just gotta settle your
                         shit down. You gotta go and say all
                         that 'Red Dragon' shit. Make him
                         think he's on Barretta.

                                     RICKY
                         Like you were doing any better
                         shucking and jiving like you were
                         waiting for wings outside the Quick
                         and Split.

               CUT TO another view of the bears.

                                     BOBBY
                         So what do we do?

                                     HORRACE
                         We go and hang out with the dude,
                         make him happy, drink some tea,
                         whatever it takes, until he feels
                         comfortable enough to bring it up on
                         his own. We make the drop, go home
                         to California.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where is this happening?

                                     HORRACE
                              (hands him matchbook)
                         We meet at the Globe on Park Avenue
                         at six forty-five. I'll see you then.

               Horrace walks away, leaving Bobby and Ricky.

                                     RICKY
                         Let's check out the penguins.

                                     BOBBY
                         The what?

                                     RICKY
                         The penguin house.

                                     BOBBY
                         Wait a minute. You want to look at
                         fucking penguins now?

                                     RICKY
                         Yeah. Let's look at the penguins.

                                     BOBBY
                         Did you hear what he just said?

                                     RICKY
                         Whatever. We're here. We may as
                         well go to the penguin house.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'm tired and I'm scared, and I'm
                         not looking at fucking penguins.

                                                              SMASH CUT TO:

               INT. PENGUIN HOUSE - CENTRAL PARK - DAY

               Bobby and Ricky watch the PENGUINS frolic in their arctic
               habitat. The silence is broken by...

                                     RICKY
                         We need guns.

                                     BOBBY
                         We don't need guns.

                                     RICKY
                         I'm pretty sure we do.

                                     BOBBY
                         I listened extremely carefully.
                         Nothing was even vaguely implied. He
                         even laughed in your face when you
                         asked him

                                     RICKY
                         All the more reason.

                                     BOBBY
                         You wouldn't even know where to get
                         one.

                                     RICKY
                         Wanna bet?

                                     BOBBY
                         You couldn't even get a hand job
                         from bridge and tunnel posse, how
                         you gonna get a gun?

                                     RICKY
                         That's cause you decided to get all
                         tired all of a sudden.

                                     BOBBY
                         It was six in the fucking morning.

                                     RICKY
                         Float me a hundred bucks.

                                     BOBBY
                         Why?

                                     RICKY
                         You wanna see how fast I get a gun?

                                     BOBBY
                         You're out of money?

                                     RICKY
                         No.

                                     BOBBY
                         What do you have left?

                                     RICKY
                         Eighty.

                                     BOBBY
                         Eighty bucks?!?

                                     RICKY
                         Eighty five.

                                     BOBBY
                         What happened to the fifteen
                         hundred?

                                     RICKY
                         You coulda picked up a tab every
                         once in a while.

                                     BOBBY
                         I did! I paid for half the fuckin
                         drinks!

                                     RICKY
                         You did?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yes I did. You asshole! What about
                         the room?

                                     RICKY
                         What about it?

                                     BOBBY
                         They only cover one fifty in
                         incidentals. You've been ordering
                         fucking... Motherfucker...

               He starts to count out his cash.

                                     RICKY
                         Calm down.

                                     BOBBY
                         I fucking vouched for you. I
                         vouched for you and you fucked me.

                                     RICKY
                         This shit's peanuts compared to
                         what we're gonna make with Maxie.

                                     BOBBY
                         Ricky. I'm trying to save this
                         money. Understand? I'm trying to
                         make it so my girlfriend doesn't
                         have to grind her ass into other
                         men's erections so her daughter can
                         go to private school.

                                     RICKY
                         I'm sorry...

                                     BOBBY
                         This is horseshit. It coulda been
                         so easy.

                                     RICKY
                         It's gonna be fine.

                                     BOBBY
                         No more, man.

                                     RICKY
                         Let's get some sleep. That's what
                         we need, man. Sleep.

                                     BOBBY
                         How we gonna sleep? We only got a
                         few hours til dinner.

                                     RICKY
                         So what do we do?

                                     BOBBY
                         Let's just go now and wait.

                                     RICKY
                         Three and a half hours?

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't want to take any more
                         chances.

                                     RICKY
                         Let's just go get guns, I'd feel
                         better.

                                     BOBBY
                         Don't fuck around. You're gonna get
                         us all killed.

                                     RICKY
                         Think about it: You knocked out
                         that Jewish kid's tooth, cost him
                         eight grand, maybe more. Maybe lost
                         his whole line of clientele? He
                         knows you're fucking up Jess'
                         dancing, and I got a feeling he
                         knows I stole his carpet cleaning
                         van by the way he looks at me. He
                         can't kill us in LA cause that leads
                         to too many questions. So he flies
                         us out here first class for a 'drop'
                         that's turned into whatever? He can
                         make us disappear out here real
                         nice...

                                     BOBBY
                         Where do you get this shit?

                                     RICKY
                         Scenario B. I think I'm getting
                         under Ruiz's skin. I'm no dummy. He
                         doesn't like how it went down with
                         the Red Drag- Welshman, whatever.
                         Now I got Fruitpie the Magician
                         telling me I can't call my man Max?
                         And that Welshman's sketchy.
                         Whatever, I don't know where it's
                         coming, which way it's coming from,
                         I'm telling you one thing right now,
                         I'm not gonna be late for the dance.

                                     BOBBY
                         You're not getting a gun.

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - DAY

               Bobby is on the CAR PHONE beside Ricky. He leaves a message.

                                     BOBBY
                         Hi girls. It's Bobby. Can't seem to
                         get a hold of you. Gonna be home
                         soon. I miss you. Chloe, Uncle
                         Ricky's here. He wants to say hello.
                         Say hi to Chloe.

               Ricky fights with him in whispers, then finally takes the
               phone.

                                     RICKY
                         Hi Princess. It's Ricky. I hope
                         you're doing good sweety. Everyone's
                         okay. Nobody's hurt... Talk to you
                         soon. Bye.

               INT. GLOBE - MANHATTAN - DAY

               Ricky and Bobby look horrible. They stare in silence
               drinking coffee.

               INT. GLOBE - MANHATTAN - DAY

               TIME LAPSE of the two guys shifting and resting.

               INT. GLOBE - MANHATTAN - DAY

               Horrace arrives with the Welshman.

                                     RICKY
                         Look. They're together. You telling
                         me this ain't a set-up?

                                     BOBBY
                         Easy...

               They arrive.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Hey, boys.

                                     BOBBY
                         Tom. How's it going?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Fine, fine. And you were..?

                                     BOBBY
                         Bobby and Ricky.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Right, right. The 'thugs.'

               They share a laugh. The tension is slowly dissipating.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         And where is..?

                                     HORRACE
                         Ruiz? Oh, he ain't here.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         No?

                                     HORRACE
                         Nah, see, Maxie just asked him to
                         set that shit up as a favor. He, you
                         know, he tied in with the club. Set
                         us up so, you know, you feel at home.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Well, I didn't care for the club
                         much. And, I must say, I didn't care
                         for him either.

                                     HORRACE
                         Well, he ain't gonna be around no
                         more.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Pity. What's say we have a drink?

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. LOT 61 - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               Ricky and Bobby can barely keep they're eyes open. Horrace
               seems equally irritated as the Welshman drains what appears
               to be his fifth pint of ale. Ricky is preoccupied by a
               projected image on the wall.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         This is the greatest fucking
                         country in the world. I love this
                         fucking place. I mean the food, the
                         women, the fucking curbs. This
                         country has the highest fucking
                         curbs in the world. It's fucking
                         brilliant. You know what I love
                         most? This shit.

               He pulls out a can of SKOAL chewing tobacco and pinches off
               a chew.

                                     RICKY
                         Dip?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Yeah. This shit's fucking
                         brilliant. I just fucking love the
                         fact that you have kids driving
                         around in pickup trucks with a
                         mouthful of this shit, speeding
                         their brains out. I gotta bring a
                         case of it home to my mates. It's
                         illegal back home, you know.

                                     HORRACE
                         No shit?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Does anyone want another?

                                     HORRACE
                         You want another drink?

                                     RICKY
                         I'll get it.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Who's up for a night on the town.

               This is the worst possible thing he could've said as far as
               Bobby is concerned. He is exhausted. The guys play the host.

                                     HORRACE
                         Sure. Anyplace in particular?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         I hear the China Club is a laugh.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. THE CHINA CLUB - MANHATTAN - NIGHT

               They sit in a booth. Loud club music bombards their growing
               impatience. Bobby and Ricky strain to stay awake. The
               Welshman drains a cocktail, watching a table-hopping
               MAGICIAN relishing his enthusiastic audience of one as he
               presents him with the Queen of diamonds.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Bloody hell! Brilliant! Did you see
                         that?

               Horrace slips the performer a bill and he trots off.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Now, about the business at hand...

               They all perk up and lean in. Tom drains his glass.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Anyone have any drugs.

               A wave of dread.

                                     HORRACE
                         What do you want?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         A little Charlie, perhaps.

                                     HORRACE
                         Coke?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         I've heard you've got the best coke
                         in the States. The shit back home is
                         pants.

                                     HORRACE
                              (slipping Ricky some
                              bills)
                         That shouldn't be a problem.

               Ricky looks to Bobby, who shrugs. Ricky reluctantly goes
               off to find drugs. Tom smiles and hugs Bobby and Horrace.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         You guys are the fucking best.  I
                         swear, I didn't know about this
                         whole thing, but you guys are okay.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. BATHROOM STALL - CHINA CLUB - LATER - NIGHT

               Horrace, Ricky, Tom, and Bobby are all packed like sardines
               in the toilet stall. Ricky hands Tom a glassine envelope
               full of coke.

                                     WELSHMAN
                              (slurring)
                         God love you...

               He opens it with drunken abruptness, sending part of it's
               contents onto Bobby's jacket.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Aw, fuck me. Sorry...

               He starts rubbing the spillage from Bobby's lapel onto his
               gums. Horrace prevents any more waste by taking the envelope
               away.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Sorry, mates. Now there isn't even
                         enough to go around...

                                     HORRACE
                         Don't worry, man. It's all for you.

                                     WELSHMAN
                              (touched)
                         No, really, mate?

                                     HORRACE
                         Here...

               Horrace positions himself so that the Welshman can sniff
               from his hand. The four large men all reposition themselves
               in the tiny stall, inevitably stepping on each other and
               banging heads.

                                     RICKY
                         Ow, shit...

                                     HORRACE
                         Watch it...

                                     BOBBY
                         C'mon...

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Fuck...

               OUTSIDE THE STALL, the attendant watches the feet shuffle
               as they curse from within. INSIDE, Tom snorts a pile of
               cocaine from Horrace's outstretched hand.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Fuck, that's good shit. So, what's
                         say we make a go of this and you
                         drop off the cash tomorrow?

               Finally.

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - LATER - NIGHT

               The limo settles to a STOP to drop off Horrace.

                                     HORRACE
                         Now, here's what worries me. He
                         said he wants to meet up at a bar in
                         Red Hook. You know where that is?

                                     BOBBY
                         No.

                                     HORRACE
                         Brooklyn.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah?

                                     HORRACE
                         He must have that shit troughed.

                                     BOBBY
                         What do you mean 'troughed?'

                                     HORRACE
                         Troughed off. Protected. Like, you
                         know, like he got a moat around it.

                                     BOBBY
                         Ruiz tied in out there?

                                     HORRACE
                         Nah, man. No one is. They got some
                         Puerto Ricans and a new crop of
                         fuckin Irish immigrants.

                                     RICKY
                         I'm half Irish.

                                     HORRACE
                         I don't fuck with those crazy,
                         off-the-boat fuckin Irish. You heard
                         of the Westies?.

                                     BOBBY
                         Heard of them.

                                     HORRACE
                         They ran shit back in the Eighties.
                         Used to cut motherfuckers heads off
                         and sit them on the bar. That's back
                         when the Irish was making a play
                         against the Italians. I don't know
                         if they still around, but I don't
                         fuck with those motherfuckers just
                         in case.

                                     BOBBY
                         It sounds to me like everybody's
                         just a little jumpy. And since all
                         it is is a drop, the Welshman's got
                         nothing at stake. I say we go to his
                         'troughed off' bar. It'll calm his
                         nerves, we drop the bag, and we all
                         get back to our lives.

                                     HORRACE
                         And not a word to Maxie. He'll shit
                         if he knew we crossed a bridge.

               They all nod. Horrace gets out.

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - DAY

               They pull up to the Soho Grand. Ricky wakes Bobby, who
               begins to doze.

                                     RICKY
                         Get up brother. We're home. Go up
                         and get some sleep.

               INT. BOBBY'S SUITE - SOHO GRAND HOTEL - DAY

               Bobby drags himself into his suite. He drops his drawers
               and lays down. Instead of sleeping, he picks up the phone
               and dials.

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         Hello.

                                     BOBBY
                         Chloe?

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         Uncle Bobby?

                                     BOBBY
                         Hi, baby. What are you doing awake?
                         Where's mommy?

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         I don't know.

                                     BOBBY
                              (concerned, checking
                              watch)
                         Mommy's not home?

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         No.

                                     BOBBY
                         What time is it there?

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         Can you take me to Color Me Mine?

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah. Are you sure mommy's not
                         home? It's very late.

               BEEBEEP... BEEBEEP...Shit. The pager.

                                     BOBBY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         I gotta go, baby. I love you. Tell
                         mommy I called. You be a big girl
                         and be careful when you're alone.

                                     CHLOE (V.O.) (V.O.)
                         I love you. Come home.

               He hangs up, then dials.

                                     BOBBY
                         Yeah..? Now..? Did Ricky call
                         yet..? See you in a minute.

               He sits up, hunched over. He motivates reluctantly. He
               claws his way into the bathroom and rinses his face in a
               meagre attempt to wash away the cobwebs. He looks awful. The
               COLORS are beginning to INTENSIFY as sleep deprivation sets
               in.

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

               Bobby sits into the car once again. Jimmy pulls away.

                                     BOBBY
                         Aren't we waiting for Ricky?

                                     JIMMY
                         Ricky's taken care of.

                                     BOBBY
                         Taken care of?

                                     JIMMY
                         Yeah, he's getting there on his own.

               Bobby fights to clear his head and think.

               EXT. CITY STREET - MANHATTAN - DAY

               The limo pulls up, and Horrace steps in, talking on the
               phone. Horrace carries a BRIEFCASE.

               INT. LIMOSINE - MANHATTAN - CONTINUOUS

               The car pulls away. Bobby has the no-sleep-sweats. He looks
               awful. No one greets anyone. There is a tension. Horrace is
               on the phone.

                                     HORRACE
                              (phone)
                         Yeah... Yeah... Uhu... I can't
                         really talk now, but it's all going
                         as planned. If things change, I'll
                         call.

               He hangs up. PAUSE.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where we going?

                                     HORRACE
                         Quick drop. In and out.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where's Ricky?

                                     HORRACE
                         Ricky's taken care of.

                                     BOBBY
                         How so?

                                     HORRACE
                         He was uptown when I paged him. I
                         gave him the address. He's meeting
                         us there.

                                     BOBBY
                              (re: briefcase)
                         That it?

                                     HORRACE
                         That's it.

               PAUSE.

               EXT. LIMOSINE - BROOKLYN - DAY

               The car crosses the Brooklyn Bridge and drives through
               Brooklyn.

               INT. LIMOSINE - BROOKLYN - SAME

               Bobby is watching and thinking as Brooklyn goes by. Horrace
               seems distant.

               EXT. ICARUS TAVERN - RED HOOK - BROOKLYN - DAY

               The limo passes the corner and settles in front of the time
               worn Icarus Tavern.

               A young IRISH MAN stands out front smoking a fag. The place
               is open, but the neon 'OPEN' sign is off.

               INT. LIMOSINE - IN FRONT OF THE ICARUS - CONTINUOUS

               They pop the doors.

                                     HORRACE
                         This is it.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where's Ricky.

                                     HORRACE
                         I guess inside. Or he never made
                         it. Either way, I don't give a shit.
                         Let's get this over with.

               EXT. ICARUS TAVERN - RED HOOK - CONTINUOUS

               The two guys get out and enter the pub. Horrace carries the
               case of cash. The guy at the door watches them enter and
               snuffs out his smoke.

               INT. ICARUS TAVERN - RED HOOK - CONTINUOUS

               They enter the old world gin mill. It's dark. There's a
               long, aged wooden bar and oak booths. The floor boards are
               faded and bowed. A middle-aged BARTENDER reads the Post by
               the oversized beer taps. He looks up over his reading
               glasses without expression. Two young Irish TOUGHS stand up
               from a booth and lead the men into the back room. There is a
               silent tension. No sign of Ricky.

               INT. BACK ROOM - ICARUS TAVERN - CONTINUOUS

               Even darker. They slowly walk in, sending cautious looks to
               every corner. A simple round table sits in the center of
               this sparse dining room. Three ROGUES sit around it, all
               facing the door.  Tom, the Welshman, sits with his back to
               the door. They all have pints before them. A muted
               conversation ends as Tom follows their stares over his
               shoulder to see Bobby and Horrace enter. Silence for a BEAT,
               then...

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Here they are, then.

                                     HORRACE
                              (falsely relaxed)
                         How's it going?

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Brilliantly. Care for a pint?

                                     HORRACE
                         No, thanks, man. We got to head out.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Come, now. You just got here.

                                     HORRACE
                         That's alright, man. It's a little
                         early for me to drink.

               This draws an uncomfortably bass chuckle from the seven
               dark characters now surrounding them.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         Nonsense. We'll have three half
                         pints of lager.

               One Irishman goes to fetch the drinks. Two of the Irishmen
               pat them down for guns.

                                     WELSHMAN (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Sorry about that. Where's your mate?

                                     HORRACE
                         Couldn't make it. Here's the money.

               Horrace places the case on the table. Its weight makes a
               loud thunk as it hits the hardwood. He pops the catch and
               lifts the lid. Wow. That's a lot of money. The toughs lose
               their poker faces as their knees weaken from the sight of
               it. Even Bobby has to swallow as the Devil blows on his
               nape. Tom fingers the stacks.

                                     HORRACE (continues) (CONT'D)
                              (anxious)
                         Give me your marker, and we'll be
                         on our way.

               Tom begins to write out a receipt.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         I can't yet vouch for the amount,
                         unless you want me to sit here and
                         count.

                                     HORRACE
                         No, man, that's fine. Just put that
                         you took delivery.

               Then, in what takes only a matter of seconds, Bobby has a
               LOCKBLADE to his THROAT and Horrace takes a truncheon to the
               gut, flooring him.

                                     HORRACE (continues) (CONT'D)
                         What the fuck, man? Why? The
                         money's in your hand. Why you
                         pulling this shit?

               Tom is scared shit. He's more surprised than any of them.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         I... I just hired these guys to
                         watch my back...

                                     HORRACE
                         Motherfucker, we're handing you
                         money. What the hell we gonna pull?

                                     ROGUE
                         Shut your goddamn mouth! As far as
                         any of you are concerned, a gang of
                         spics took the bag. Understood? Grab
                         their wallets. I'll know where to
                         find each and every one of you.

                                     WELSHMAN
                         didn't know, I swear to God, I-

               WHACK. He takes one in the gut, violently losing his wind.

                                     HORRACE
                              (to Bobby)
                         If you and your boy set this up,
                         you're way out of your league.

                                     ROGUE
                         Shut up!

                                     VOICE (O.S.) (O.S.)
                         Maybe you're the one who better
                         shut up.

               They all turn to see RICKY standing tall with a PISTOL to
               the head of a tough with two beers. Ricky sips the third
               lager.

                                     ROGUE
                         He's only got six shots, he's bound
                         to miss.

                                     RICKY
                         Or maybe I'm real lucky. I'll tell
                         you one thing, I'll waste every
                         bullet making sure you're dead if
                         you don't take that knife away from
                         my friends throat.

               The thug removes the blade from Bobby's neck. His eyes
               narrow as he looks at the gun. He notices something...

                                     THUG
                         That's a starter pistol.

                                     RICKY
                              (covering)
                         What?

                                     THUG
                         His gun's a starter pistol. I can
                         see the red plug in the barrel.

               The toughs begin to relax and converge...

                                     RICKY
                              (nervous)
                         Are you willing to risk your life
                         over-

               But the moment proves enough of a distraction for Bobby to
               unload a damaging COMBINATION to his captor. He may not have
               what it takes to cut it as a professional boxer, but these
               untrained goons are way outclassed. He drops one like a lead
               weight. It's about to get ugly as weapons are raised.
               Then... The melee is cut short by a resounding VOICE calling
               from the door.

                                     JIMMY
                         That's enough.

               Jimmy the driver stands in the door aiming a Glock 45 at
               the crowd.

               They all freeze.



                                     JIMMY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         You guys, over in the corner. Leave
                         the hardware and your wallets on the
                         table.
                              (to bartender)
                         Make out an invoice on damages. You
                         got e-mail?
                              (nods. Jimmy hands
                              him a card.)
                         E-mail it to me. A check will
                         arrive. Call the number at the
                         bottom and tell them the Rook is
                         code four. Then destroy the card.
                              (to Bobby)
                         Nice. I'll let Maxie know you're
                         good in the pocket.
                              (to Ricky)
                         Staduch.
                              (to the guys)
                         Go. I'll take care of this.

               Things are about to get ugly. Bobby grabs the case. They
               split.

               EXT. ICARUS TAVERN - RED HOOK - MOMENTS LATER

               They get in. The limo pulls out.

               INT. LIMOSINE - IN FRONT OF THE ICARUS - CONTINUOUS

               Horrace peels out and Bobby, Ricky, Horrace, and the Red
               Dragon all sit in silence catching their breath. Bobby holds
               the case. Looks are exchanged.

                                     RICKY
                         Holy shit. Get me back to Manhattan.

                                     BOBBY
                              (interrupts)
                         Take us right to Kennedy. Now.

               Horrace nods.

                                                                  FADE OUT.

               FADE UP ON:

               INT. MAX'S OFFICE - VAN NUYS - DAY

               Bobby and Ricky sit before Max. They look the worst we've
               ever seen them. They've obviously not slept or changed yet
               and flew right out after the melee.

               Maxie looks at the open case of cash.

               A long, tense BEAT of unclear reaction. Is Maxie mad or
               happy. Finally...

                                     MAX
                         You did good.

               He throws them each a bundle off the top of the pile of
               bills. Ten grand stacks?

                                     MAX (continues) (CONT'D)
                         I never intended to test you two to
                         that extent, but you both came
                         through. I should've been informed
                         there was a flag on the play, but
                         I'll take that up with Ruiz. I made
                         a few calls back East. Those punks
                         weren't tied in with anyone. As for
                         the Welshman, he wasn't in on it. He
                         was just plain dumb. As for you,
                         Ricky, your draw will go towards a
                         new carpet cleaning van.

                                     RICKY
                         But, Max-

                                     MAX
                         We're square.

                                     RICKY
                         Yes, sir.

                                     MAX
                         And, as for you, Bobby, you just
                         moved up a notch. Your days of
                         fighting for crumbs is through. Take
                         a week off, come back, and we'll
                         talk about the next thing.

                                     BOBBY
                         There won't be a next thing.

                                     MAX
                         Take a few days-

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't need a few days. I'm gonna
                         settle down with Jess. She's through
                         dancing. We're opening a restaurant.

                                     MAX
                         Hate to ruin your fairy tale, but
                         I've been paying Jess' rent for six
                         months. She's got to keep dancing-

               Bobby throws his stack of cash at Maxie. Ricky grimaces.

                                     BOBBY
                         She's through too. Thank you for
                         the opportunity, Max. We'll see you
                         around.

               They rise to leave.

                                     MAX
                              (smiling)
                         You got a lot to learn, kid. Say hi
                         to Jess for me.

               EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BLACKBURN - LOS ANGELES - CONTINUOUS
               - NIGHT

               The Trans Am pulls up in front of Jess' house. Bobby and
               Ricky both pop out. We catch the end of a conversation.

                                     RICKY
                         Dude, we were practically made...

                                     BOBBY
                         I'll drop you off in a minute. I
                         want to see if the baby's up. You
                         wanna come in?

                                     RICKY
                         No. I'll wait here.

                                     BOBBY
                         I'll be a minute.

               Bobby trots up the stairs. Ricky lights a smoke and watches
               him go. We linger on his look.

               INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BLACKBURN - LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

               The door opens. The living room looks like a disaster area.
               The sink is full of dishes, stacked high above the counter.
               Dirty clothes are strewn all over. Half eaten plates of food
               are on the coffee table and bags of carry-out containers and
               pizza boxes lie about. In the center of it all, Chloe sits
               alone watching a Hollywood Hills brushfire on the news.  She
               looks up with the solemnity of one much older.

                                     BOBBY
                         Where's mommy? Did she leave you
                         alone again?

               Chloe looks to the back room as she sips from her juice
               box. Bobby sees a MIRROR and COKE laid out on the table. He
               grits his teeth and goes for the bedroom door.

               INT. BEDROOM - JESSICA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

               Bobby bursts in to find Jess in bed with the HORNY BACHELOR
               whose nose he broke the week before. The guy jumps in fear.
               Jess is startled and coked out of her mind.

                                     HORNY GUY
                         I-I-I... Don't...

                                     BOBBY
                         I don't get it.

                                     JESS
                         I never promised you anything.

                                     BOBBY
                         How could you let her see this?

                                     JESS
                         Goodbye, Bobby.

                                     BOBBY
                         Just so you know, I bought you out
                         with Maxie. I suggest you leave
                         while you can.

                                     JESS
                         Don't you get it? I don't want to
                         leave. This is who I am.

                                     BOBBY
                         Tell you the truth, I don't give a
                         shit for me. But that little girl is
                         so special, and you're gonna fuck
                         her up.

               He crosses to go, but is interrupted by...

                                     JESS
                              (quietly)
                         Take her.

                                     BOBBY
                         What'd you say?

                                     JESS
                         I want you to take her with you.

               Off Bobby's look we...

                                                                    CUT TO:

               INT. FRONT ROOM - JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

               Bobby walks in. Chloe looks up at him. A tense silence.

                                     BOBBY
                         I, uh ... Listen, hon. Mommy thinks
                         it's a good idea if, just for a
                         while, if you and me go on a trip-

               Before he can finish, his stammering is cut short by her
               bolting across the room and into his arms.

               She squeezes him with all her might.

               We see Bobby's relief and happiness over her shoulder.

                                                                   FADE TO:

               EXT. BOBBY'S CAR - SMALL DESERT HIGHWAY - OUTSIDE LOS
               ANGELES - NEXT MORNING

               We FADE UP on a beautiful sunny morning travelling on an
               empty desert road. The only car visible is Bobby's Trans Am
               in the deep background, leaving the mountains behind. The
               CAMERA TRACKS BACKWARDS along the road as the car closes
               slowly. We hear Chloe's angelic voice as she sings a melody.
               As the car draws closer, we see Bobby, still in the clothes
               from the trip, driving. There is luggage packed for a
               journey. Bobby looks content. When the car finally settles
               into a TWO-SHOT through the windshield, we notice SMOKE
               coming from the back seat. A moment later, Ricky sits up
               behind them. He is half awake and cranky.

                                     RICKY
                         Baby, you got the sweetest voice I
                         ever heard, but Uncle Ricky's gotta
                         sleep. I've been driving all night,
                         Princess.

               She ignores him.

                                     RICKY (continues) (CONT'D)
                         Shhh, c'mon, baby. It's quiet time.
                         Isn't it quiet time, Bobby? Bobby?
                         Tell her it's quiet time Bobby.
                         Please tell her it's quiet time...

               Bobby smirks and accelerates, passing CAMERA, which PANS to
               watch them speed off into the big sky horizon.

                                                             FADE TO BLACK.