15 Minutes Page #12

JORDY:

Ladder 20 was on the Rock for training.

We stopped there... so she could get

cleaned up.

DUFFY:

What do you mean, 'cleaned up?'

JORDY:

I let her take a shower.

DUFFY:

A shower!? Did you take one, too?

JORDY:

No! Nothing happened.

DUFFY:

Oh really. That's nice. You took a

homicide witness to take a shower after

your partner was shot? Are you out of

your f***ing mind?? Are you having that

much trouble gettin' dates?!

EDDIE (O.S.)

I told him to take her there.

Jordy and Duffy turn. Eddie walks out. Eddie turns - Tommy -

the young detective who caught the case in the King Edward

Hotel - is coming out of the back office.

EDDIE (CONT'D)

Tommy, get her outta here.

Tommy takes Daphne into the precinct.

TOMMY:

This way, ma'am.

EDDIE:

There was too much press hangin' around

there. I didn't want her face on the

news. So I told him to take her to a

quiet area until things settled down.

DUFFY:

Oh.

EDDIE:

It was my decision, not his.

DUFFY:

Well, I'm the Deputy Chief Fire Marshall

and every now and then I'd like to be

included in decisions.

EDDIE:

Look, after Jordy briefs me, you can do

the press conference. How about that?

The case is all yours.

DUFFY:

Oh yeah...? Alright.

EDDIE:

(to Jordy)

I'm ready to be briefed.

(to Duffy)

Excuse us.

DUFFY:

(to Eddie)

Yeah, sure.

(to Jordy)

Beep me when you're ready for the press

conference.

JORDY:

Will do, Chief.

Eddie leads the way, walking past the Sergeant's desk -

toward the back and to his office.

JORDY (CONT'D)

Eddie, I...

Eddie holds up his hand - silencing Jordy.

EDDIE:

Wait.

INT. POLICE PRECINCT - DETECTIVE ROOM'S SQUAD - DAY

A handful of detectives talk about work over burned coffee.

Eddie enters with Jordy.

EDDIE:

Guys...give me a few minutes?

They empty out.

JORDY:

Look, Eddie, I'm tellin' you - I didn't

touch her.

EDDIE:

Well, you shoulda because nobody's gonna

believe you didn't...including me.

JORDY:

I took her there for a shower and that's

it.

EDDIE:

Just a shower?

Eddie gives Jordy a questioning look.

JORDY:

Yeah, just her in the shower. Nothing

happened. Look, I'm sure you probably

think I'm a fool and I f***ed up, but...

EDDIE:

No, I don't think you were a fool, I

just think you were stupid about it. I

mean, to say the least, you outta know

better. You don't know her well enough.

She's got the potential to f***ing hang

you even if she suggests that you made a

pass at her, it's f***in' over. You can

deny it all you want, but it will not

make one f***ing bit of difference.

You're dead.

JORDY:

I told you, you know, I thought I was

doing the right thing, you know, I think

she's innocent.

EDDIE:

Well, it's not up to you to decide

whether she's innocent or not. Don't

you understand, that's why you're a

professional.

JORDY:

But, I mean, didn't you ever go out on a

limb for somebody? I mean, you shoulda

heard her there. Tellin' her whole

story...I believed her.

EDDIE:

How you go out on a limb for somebody is

by giving her a number of an Immigration

lawyer. Here, here's a number of an

Immigration lawyer. That's how you help

her.

But you can't get involved in her like

that. You're gonna jeopardize your

career, your life and you're gonna

jeopardize my case. And lemme give you

another piece of advice. Maybe you

don't watch TV but I'll let you in on a

little secret - the whole f***in' world

watches television. And when you get

out there, they know your face. And the

little fame, the little f***in' itty

bitty fame that I get in this city makes

it a lot easier for my job. And I get

more done because of it.

Jordy studies Eddie for a quiet beat.

JORDY:

Why'd you help me back there with the

Chief? Why'd you stand up for me like

that?

EDDIE:

You know, I don't know. I like you.

You remind me of a puppy I used to have.

He pissed on the rug all the time, but I

still kept him.

Eddie picks up his cigar that's going out. He sticks it in

his mouth. A match is lit. He looks up. Jordy holds the

match. Eddie dips the end of the cigar and puffs. The

homicide detective and the fire marshal hold a look.

INT. EDDIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Eddie walks in - carrying flowers. He closes and locks the

door behind him. He grabs the phone. Dials.

EDDIE:

It's Flemming...anything turn up? Did

they check the hospitals? Airports?

Yeah, I hit him! I f***in' hit him! We

should be all over everywhere - with

dogs, choppers, everything! These guys

are from f***in' Czechoslovakia...

He looks at the flowers. Decides to put the case behind him

for a moment.

EDDIE (CONT'D)

I'll call you later.

He HANGS up. Arranges the flowers in a vase. So they look

perfect. Sets them on the coffee table. Fills out a card,

writes, "Nicky, I love you.

Will you marry me?" He sticks the card in the flowers -

turns the lights down low. Puts a romantic Sinatra song on

the stereo. Moves to the liquor cabinet. Pours himself a

drink. He sets the ringbox on the coffee table - next to the

flowers. There's a knock at the door.

EDDIE (CONT'D)

Coming!

Eddie smooths his hair, unlocks the door. But the hallway is

empty.

EDDIE (CONT'D)

Nicky!?!?

No answer. Eddie steps out in the hallway with the drink in

his hand. Walks toward the elevator. Doesn't notice the

shadow that passes behind him - entering his apartment.

Eddie turns. No sign of anyone.

EDDIE (CONT'D)

Nicky?!

He walks back toward his apartment. Turns and locks the

door. A BLUR jumps out of the shadows SLAMMING him on the

head with a gun. Eddie tumbles to the floor! OUT COLD!

A BLURRED VIDEO IMAGE

as it's focused - on Eddie - handcuffed and upper body taped

to a chair - 20 minutes later - sobered up. Emil is sitting

in front of him. On the coffee table alongside him are the

flowers in a vase. They've ransacked the place. Emil has

Eddie's watch, his gold shield and his money. He's smoking

one of Eddie's cigars and in Emil's hand...is the diamond

engagement ring and card. Oleg, 60 MINUTES-style, is

positioned behind Emil videotaping Eddie. He moves to the

corner of the room - bringing a light back over to illuminate

Eddie's face.

EMIL:

So...who's Nicky?

EDDIE:

What do you want?

EMIL:

Your opinion.

(leaning forward)

You see, they going to make a movie

about me, too, Eddie. And write books.

EDDIE:

(sarcastic)

What's your accomplishment.

EMIL:

I kill someone famous.

EDDIE:

Then do it, a**hole.

EMIL:

Good - be tough to the end. Actor who

plays you will want to die like hero.

Eddie looks at the videocamera. Emil answers Eddie's look.

EMIL (CONT'D)

So tabloids don't have to do re

enactments. They going to have real

movie this time.

EDDIE:

If you kill me and film it you're

putting a noose around your neck.

Emil turns to Oleg.

EMIL:

Turn it off.

Oleg obeys. Emil turns to Eddie.

EMIL (CONT'D)

No. We are insane. Who else but crazy

men would film their murders?

(gestures to Eddie)

So we kill someone famous and if we are

caught, we are sent to mental hospital.

But what good is money there? Because

once in hospital I say I not crazy.

Just pretended to be acquitted. We see

psychiatrists. They must certify we are

sane and because of your - what is law

called?

(Eddie says nothing)

Oh - I got it. Because of your Double

Jeopardy law, we can't be tried for same

crime twice. We come out free, rich and

famous!

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