Assassins Page #5

INT. CRUISER TWO

COP #3 is on the radio as cop #4 drives.

COP #3

Officers down. We need an aid

car, now, twenty-seven hundred

block. Victoria Ave.

INT. RENT-A-CAR - MOVING - LATE DAY

Rath has the calls, hangs a right.

INT. CRUISER TWO - MOVING - LATE DAY

COP #3

Request backup and ambulance to...

Suddenly the WINDSHIELD SPIDERWEBS and Cop #3 is hit in

the chest.

INT. CRUISER ONE - UPSIDE DOWN - LATE DAY

Bain FIRES again.

INT. CRUISER TWO - MOVING - LATE DAY

The other side of the WINDSHIELD SPIDERWEBS. Cop #4 is

hit.

INT. CRUISER ONE - UPSIDE DOWN - LATE DAY

Upside down Cop #1 twists a desperate look back at Bain.

COP #1

Don't shoot me. Please.

BAIN:

(agreeable)

Okay.

Bain rolls clear as Cruiser Two slams into and through

Cruiser One.

EXT. WRECKAGE - LATE DAY

Bain looks at the wreckage for a beat and disappears

between two buildings -- the rifle at his side.

INT. RENT-A-CAR - SUNSET

Rath slows as he nears the wreckage. Bain is nowhere in

sight. Rath stops. Holding his .22, Rath leans low

out of the sedan for a quick look. Four dead cops, but

no Bain. Just a discarded pair of coveralls on the

sidewalk.

Rath scans the deserted streets. It's a little spooky.

Then, a shadow moving. Across the street.

EXT. STREET - SUNSET

Rath gets out of his rent-a-car, .22 in hand. As we hear

a DISTANT SIREN, Rath crosses to a chainlink fence, peers

through.

Our hearts are in our throats as, without warning, a big

watch dog lunges at the fence.

But Rath is unphased. He gets back in his car, continues

driving and scanning for any sign of life.

EXT. STREETS - SUNSET

He hangs a left, coasts, then hangs a right. A block

ahead, a yellow cab waits at a red light. Rath looks a

little more determined as it gives him an idea. A police

car races by.

INT./EXT. YELLOW CAB/INTERSECTION - NIGHT

The DRIVER's eyes look to the rearview as headlights

loom. He winces as his cab is bumped from behind.

EXT. INTERSECTION - NIGHT

Rath gets out of the sedan and the Driver out of the cab.

As they converge on the bumper...

DRIVER:

There better not even be a scratch,

you dumb sonuva --

Before the Driver can finish his point, Rath knocks him

cold with a short, powerful punch. He catches the man,

drags him over to the safety of the sidewalk.

Rath relieves the Driver of his cap, sticks two hundred

bucks in his hand and hops into the cab. The light

turns green and he's off.

INT. YELLOW CAB - NIGHT

Cap on, Rath is behind the wheel. He turns up the CB,

hoping to get lucky. CALLS CRACKLE, then...

DISPATCH (V.O.)

Who's near Adams and Nine? I got

a fare going to the airport.

Rath picks up the mic, pulls the Driver ID from the

dash, checks the cab's ID number.

RATH:

This is 501. I got it.

Rath clicks off, shoves the ID under the seat. Sticking

the .22 down between his legs, he rolls.

EXT. ADAMS AND NINE - NIGHT

An empty payphone on the corner. Not a soul in sight.

The Yellow CAB pulls up, IDLES at the curb.

INT. YELLOW CAB - NIGHT

Rath holds the .22 with one hand, the door handle with

the other. Tense as a tiger ready to spring.

A couple exit from a dingy bar across the street. Rath

looks over, frowns as they start toward him.

In that instant, the opposite passenger door opens and

someone gets in the back. As the door slams shut, Rath

checks the rearview mirror.

It's Bain. He carries his rifle wrapped in his jacket.

For the first time we realize that the front and back of

the cab are separated by bullet-proof glass.

An awkward silence as Rath slides the .22 back between

his legs. Bain looks at his eyes in the rearview. (Bain

never really saw him at the cemetery.)

BAIN:

Is there a problem?

RATH:

(cool as can be)

The airport, right?

BAIN:

Right.

RATH:

No problem.

EXT. INTERSECTION - NIGHT

As the Yellow Cab pulls away, we get the distinct feeling

this is going to be no ordinary cab ride.

INT. YELLOW CAB - NIGHT

Rath studies Bain in the rearview. Bain stares out the

side window, chuckling to himself, a thin trickle of

blood on his temple.

RATH:

You're cut.

Bain touches the blood, looks at it a bit surprised.

BAIN:

(smiles)

I had an accident at work.

RATH:

What kind of work?

BAIN:

Look, I'm, how do you say? Dead tired.

Save the chitchat for someone else.

Rath nods. Bain stares out the window. Rath continues

studying him.

CUT AHEAD TO:

EXT. AIRPORT NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT

The Yellow Cab rolls through the intersection. An

airport exit is coming up.

INT. YELLOW CAB - ROLLING - NIGHT

The cab passes the airport turn-off. Bain sits up.

BAIN:

What're you doing?

RATH:

What?

BAIN:

That was the turn-off for the

airport back there.

RATH:

Sorry.

BAIN:

Yeah, well, you just blew your tip, pal.

RATH:

You think I'm running you up?

BAIN:

Just do your job.

EXT. CURB - SOCCER FIELD - NIGHT

Rath pulls to the curb, lurches to a stop. On an

adjacent field, a soccer match in progress.

Rate this script:2.5 / 2 votes