48 Hrs. Page #10

Pause.

CATES:

Okay, look, don't shoot. I'm just

reachin' for my badge.

Cates takes out his badge-Shows it to Casey.

CASEY:

I don't like this bullshit. I've

seen fake badges before.

HAMMOND:

I'll tell you something lady, this

guy is a real nervous cop - He's

just liable to pull the trigger.

Cates takes two steps toward Casey...

CATES:

Naw, I'm the calm type. I know

you don't want me to shoot you,

and I know that you don't want to

shoot me.

He takes two more steps toward her.

CATES:

(continuing)

Shooting a cop puts you away for

a long time.

Holds out his hand.

CASEY:

You a**holes better be real.

She hands Cates the gun. Sally prods Hammond with the

baseball bat.

SALLY:

Just wait a Goddamn second here,

let's see your badge...

He snatches the bat out of her hands.

HAMMOND:

Don't have one.

SALLY:

I knew it. Call the cops.

Casey walks over to the phone.

CATES:

Tell them it's Cates, Detective

31st District. Then put your

clothes on. If you don't answer

some questions I'm taking both

your asses in.

After a moment, Casey puts down the phone.

CATES:

(continuing)

Now, let's cut out the crap, which

one of you sees Billy Bear?

SALLY:

None of your business, cop. The

son of a b*tch isn't here, and he

isn't coming back.

CATES:

You can do better than that.

Turns to Casey.

CATES:

(continuing)

How about it?

CASEY:

I used to go with him...I don't

know where the hell he is. I

haven't seen him for two weeks.

And I don't think I will. He owes

me money...

SALLY:

He's a Goddamn lowlife, the way he

treated her.

CATES:

Sounds like a real stormy romance.

CASEY:

I don't much care what it sounds

like to you, Cop. All I know is

that I went a few laps around the

track with him and I ended up with

nothin' but the short end of the

stick.

Cates looks over at Hammond.

CATES:

Let's go.

HAMMOND:

Wait a minute. Maybe these ladies

would like to go a few laps with

us. How about it? I been nearly

three years in prison and...

SALLY:

F*** off.

CATES:

Come on...

Hannond starts for the door with Cates.

CASEY:

If you find that bastard, Billy,

tell him to stay out of my life.

I don't need any more of his macho

bullshit.

TRANSITION.

STREET CHINATOWN - NIGHT

The two men walk among the bright neon lights. Neither of

them very happy.

CATES:

This sucks. A maniac gets hold of

my gun and goes all over the

streets killing people with it.

So, instead of me being where I

oughta be, which is in bed giving

my girl the high, hard one, I'm

out here doing this sh*t, roaming

around with some overdressed,

charcoal-colored loser like you.

HAMMOND:

You wanna leave, man? Let me take

care of Ganz all by myself.

CATES:

You? Don't make me laugh. You

can't take care of sh*t. You've

been dicking me around since we

started on this turd-hunt. All

you're good for is games... So

far, what I got outta you is

nothin'...

HAMMOND:

I'm impressed with you too, Jack

you did a real good job of busting

up a couple of dykes bedded down

for the night.

CATES:

Luther knew more than he told me

and so do you...Now you better

tell we what the f*** this is all

about. I gave you 48 hours to

come up with something and the

clock's runnin' ...

A long look at Hammond.

HAMMOND:

Maybe I don't like the way you ask.

CATES:

Who gives a Goddamn what you

think? You're just a crook that's

got a weekendpass ... You're not

even a name anymore. Just a spear-

chucker with a Goddamn number

stenciled on the back of his

prison fatigues...

They walk past.

TRANSITION.

STREET ACROSS FROM TORCHIE'S - NIGHT

They two men walk toward the Cadillac.

CATES:

Okay, Reggie, I'm done playing

around. I want to know what's

going on and I'm going to beat the

living sh*t out of you until you

tell me.

Hammond goes into a street rap.

HAMMOND:

You beat the sh*t out of me?

Don't make me laugh, sucker. You

don't know how I'd dance on your

face? I'll hit you so hard, so

many times, you'll wish you'd

never been hatched. I'll turn

your face into cottage cheese.

I'll make your girl think you been

takin' ugly pills. She won't even

know who you are, sucker.

They stop by the car. Cates takes the gun out, lays it on the

hood. Hammond stares at him. Cates next takes out his

wallet, shows Hammond his badge, then lays the badge on the

car fender... Smiles.

CATES:

I guess the first thing I ought,

to explain to you, n*gger, is I

fight dirty.

Hits Hammond a tremendous right hand full in the face.

Hammond sags, grabs onto the car fender for support. Cates

hesitates ... and Hammond kicks out, sending the partially

open car door slamming into Cates. Cates sprawls.

HAMMOND:

So do I.

Hammond aims a kick at Cates' head. Cates blocks it with

crossed forearms, grabs, twists. Hammond tumbles, rolls away

from Cates. Both men struggle to their feet, circle each

other.

Hammond moves in only to receive twoquick blows from Cates,

a bit sooner than he expected. Cates smiles.

Hammond dances in and out... Cates' breathing becomes more

labored. His windmill attack penetrates Cates' defense. Cates

clears his head, charges, bull-like ... His rush and greater

bulk send both of them crashing into some trash cans and a

brick wall.

Hammond is faster...

Cates is much stronger; Both men on their knees. They look at

one another. Silently, they move to their feet. Hammond's

back is to a wall... Cates keeps him there, negates the

lighter man's agility. They slug away, each now arm-weary...

Exchange a dozen blows. Finally, Cates steps back, arms at

his side... Breath coming like a bellows...

Hammond has to hold on to the wall; one more punch would put

him out.

CATES:

Now, you bastard, you going to

tell me what's going on...

Puffing away.

CATES:

(continuing)

... Do I have to kick the sh*t out

of you some more.

They stand facing one another. Hammond smiles. A black-and-

white comes roaring up the street. Sirens howling, red lights

flashing, it slides to a stop. TWO UNIFORMED COPS jump out,

guns drawn.

FIRST COP:

All right, you two. Don't move.

CATES:

NO, no...it's okay...I'm police.

SECOND COP:

Yeah, sure. Get your hands above

your head.

He keeps his gun trained on Cates,and Hammond.

CATES:

My gun and badge are over there.

And I'm too f***ing tired to raise

my hands...

Hammond rubs the side of his face. Cates falls back against

the patrol car. Still fighting for breath. The First Cop

lifts Cates' wallet off the Cadillac and looks at his badge,

shows it to the other cop.

FIRST COP:

What the hell's going on here?

Cates walks over, pockets his gun.

SECOND COP:

I've got a burglary call. Two

women say a couple of hoods broke

into their place posing as cops.

CATES:

I was following a lead. We

rousted them... Go up and sweet

talk 'em. You can straighten it

out.

The First Cop checks out Cates' badge and I.D.

FIRST COP:

Why don't you do it? We got

better things to do than

straighten out your messes.

CATES:

So do I. I'll file a report

tomorrow.

The First Cop takes out his book, starts writing. He's

pissed.

FIRST COP:

I gotta file a..Report tonight

a**hole...

CATES:

Goes with the territory.

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