48 Hrs. Page #6

ELAINE:

I get that. The job first.

Everything else, especially me,

second. I get it. I don't like it.

Pause.

CATES:

No one asked you to like it... But

that's the way it is.

TRANSITION.

PRISON CELL BLOCK - DAY

Cates and a GUARD on the upper deck approaching the door to

the cell block... The Guard shouts upward.

GUARD:

Open Nine.

With a huge metal clatters the door to the cell block opens.

CELL BLOCK - NEAR ENTRANCE

Cates and the Guard go through the door.

GUARD:

Close Nine.

They move forward together.

GUARD:

(continuing)

It's Number Twenty-two... You want

company?

CATES:

No, no thanks.

The Guard shrugs, stays by the door.

CATES:

He walks down the cell block. Inmates stare at him from

inside the stark cells. They don't know who he is, but they

can smell a cop. Cates stops at Twenty-two, looks inside...

a bit startled. Obviously, Reggie Hammond has connections and

taste. The paint is fresh; there's framed prints on the wall

instead of pin-ups, and the overall feeling is that of a

graduate school dorm rather than a prison. Cates turns, nods

to the Guard at the end of the cell block. He throws a switch

and the door opens.

HAMMOND'S CELL

Cates steps inside. Hammond is at a table wearing a Sony

Walkman and writing in some detailed ledgers with a fountain

pen. He's boogeying in his seat to the music. Sprawled on a

bunk nearby is LEROY, another black inmate close to Hammond's

age. Leroy is leafing through a copy of a skin magazine. He

doesn't even look at Cates.

CATES:

Hammond.

Cates steps inside the cell.

CATES:

(continuing)

Hammond!

No answer. Cates leans over, hits the override button on the

Sony.

CATES:

(continuing)

Hammond!

Hammond jumps, grabs his ears in pain ... He pulls the

headset off and glares at Cates.

HAMMOND:

You got a name, cop?

CATES:

Try Cates. And let's talk in

private, okay?

HAMMOND:

Sure, anything you want.

He tosses the Walkman to Leroy who dutifully puts it on.

CATES:

Look, convict, I know all about

you. Single. No fixed address. No

known relatives.

One previous conviction. Armed

robbery... six months to go on a

three-year sentence.

HAMMOND:

You here to write my life story?

CATES:

Not likely, Reggie. Maybe I just

need some help.

Cates takes the forensic photo out of his pocket, passes it

across the table to Hammond. He looks at it, hardly reacts.

HAMMOND:

Henry Wong... My old pal. He's

looked better...

He passes the photo back.

HAMMOND:

(continuing)

Look, I got just six months before

gettin' out of here. Six months

between me and freedom after bein'

here three years... And I'm not

gonna do anything to screw it up,

includin' pee in the prison yard,

knock up the Warden's daughter or

rat on my old partners...

Cates swings the cell door back open.

CATES:

Too bad, Reggie. I thought maybe

you were a smart boy. But I guess

if you were real smart you

wouldn't be a convict.

He smiles, decides to play his card.

CATES:

(continuing)

I can see a second-rater like you

wouldn't be any help at all goin'

up against a real hard case like

Ganz.

Hammond jerks his head around.

HAMMOND:

Ganz?

Pause.

HAMMOND:

(continuing)

Ganz the one who shot Henry?

Cates, I asked you a question...

Cates smiles.

CATES:

Yeah, I noticed...

HAMMOND:

Ganz is in jail. He's gonna be

there two years after I'm on the

street.

CATES:

Didn't work out that way. He

busted out with a big Indian.

They capped two guards on a road

gang. Nice meeting you Reggie.

He turns, goes out. The door clangs behind him. Hammond jumps

up and bangs on the bars, shouts at Cates' back...

HAMMOND:

Cates, Come back here.

Cates turns, saunters back, leans against the door.

CATES:

Yeah?

HAMMOND:

I can deliver Ganz. But you gotta

get me outta here first.

CATES:

You're crazy.

HAMMOND:

I can help you, man, but you gotta

get me out. I got to be on the

street. Get me outta here.

CATES:

What's the big deal about you

bein' on the street?

HAMMOND:

I got a lot to protect.

CATES:

Bullshit.

HAMMOND:

It's the only way you're gonna get

Ganz.

CATES:

I'll think about it.

TRANSITION.

Cates typing several of official looking documents while

seated across from a rather dour-looking bureaucrat named BOB.

CATES:

Let me borrow your pen, Bob.

Handed over by Bob.

BOB:

You going to use your own name?

CATES:

Sh*t, no.

CANDY:

He begins signing the documents.

BOB:

Jack, just remember one thing. If

all this comes down, you don't

know me. I'm not gonna burn for

you. And I'll tell you something

else. If it all comes down, your

ass is new-mown grass.

CATES:

Right. Hey, no sweat.

He hands over the papers. Smiles.

BOB:

BOB You got him for 48 hours.

Bob studies the sheet.

BOB:

(continuing)

You got a big career as a forger

if you decide to go that way,

Jack... I'll ring security.

TRANSITION.

PROCESS ROOM - PRISON - DAY

The GUARD leads Hammond to a steel cage. Harmnond's now

wearing a beautifully tailored plaid suit.

The Guard shouts to ANOTHER GUARD on the far side.

GUARD:

Prisoner G21355 ... Hammond.

SECOND GUARD:

Okay. Send him through.

The gate slides open. The Guard geztures for Hairmond to

enter. Hammond walks to the far side of the pen. The first

gate closes, the second one opens.

Hammond turns and walks over to Cates. The Guard comes up to

Cates, double checks his orders then unlocks Hammond's cuffs.

GUARD:

Gotta sign for him.

CATES:

Sure thing...

He looks over at Hammond who smiles at him. Then looks at

Harmond's clothes...

CATES:

(continuing)

This prison gives out $400 suits?

HAMMOND:

What are you talkin' about? This

suit's mine. It cost $900.

Hammond dusts off a sleeve.

CATES:

We're supposed to be after a

killer, not a string of hookers...

HAMMOND:

Listen, it may be a little out of

date. You know, I got a reputation

for lookingreal sharp with the

ladies...

Cates hands some papers to the Guard.

GUARD:

He's all yours.

The Guard walks away as Hammond feels Cates' lapel.

HAMMOND:

We could change this for something

good...Get you lookin' sharp for

p*ssy.

Cates gives him a look.

CATES:

I don't need to hear your jive. I

already got that department taken

care of...

HAMMOND:

You got a girl... sh*t... the

generosityof women never ceases to

amaze me.

Cates slaps a cuff on Hammond's outstrethand, then puts the

other on his own wrist.

HAMMOND:

(continuing)

Hey, no way. Take off the

bracelets or no deal.

CATES:

You just don't get it, do your

Reggie? There isn't any deal. I

own your ass.

HAMMOND:

No way to start a partnership.

CATES:

Get this. We ain't partners. We

ain't brothers. We ain't friends.

I'm puttin' you down and keepin'

you down until Ganz is locked up

or dead. And if Ganz gets away,

you're gonna be sorry we ever met.

HAMMOND:

Sh*t. I'm already sorry.

Cates yanks on the cuffs. They move away.

?

TRANSITION.

OUTSIDE THE JAIL - DAY

CATES LEADS HAMMOND OUT. THEY HEAD FOR CATES' BATTERED

CADILLAC.

HAMMOND:

This your car, man?

CATES:

Yeah.

HAMMOND:

It looks like you bought it off

one of the brothers.

As they approach the car...

CATES:

Okay, let's get down to it. I did

my part and got you out. So now

you tell me where we're goin'?

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