Bringing Out the Dead Page #15

MARCUS:

Ten-four.

Marcus hits the sirens and lights, accelerates to full speed.

The vodka spills; Frank grabs the dash.

MARCUS (CONT'D)

I'm coming, Love! I'm coming!

Marcus swings the bus wildly to avoid a cab, SKIDS into a

turn--and smack toward a parked truck. Frank covers his face

and screams.

CRASH! The back of the ambulance rams into the truck, the

rear windows shatter.

MARCUS (CONT'D)

Sh*t.

Frank looks around, realizes no one is hurt. He climbs out:

MARCUS (CONT'D)

Where you going?

FRANK:

I quit! I'm through!

MARCUS:

You can't leave me now.

Frank walks up Avenue A, leaving Marcus and the disabled

vehicle. The first rays of sun strike the buildings ahead.

CUT TO:

EXT. MERCY EMERGENCY--DAYBREAK

Frank turning the corner, checking his watch, about to enter

the Dark Bar across the corner from the hospital, watching

Noel run past him and away, skipping from one foot to the

other.

FRANK:

So long, Noel.

The Emergency doors open: Mary Burke, head down, looking

neither direction, walks away from Frank. Griss steps out

after her. Frank joins him:

FRANK (CONT'D)

What's going on, Griss?

GRISS:

Your friend there just untied the

water beggar. Griss was coming out

to thank her. Probably saved Griss a

murder charge.

(about Mary)

Having a tough time of it.

Mary starts to run. Frank follows. She pushes her way through

a group of high schoolers; Frank does likewise, keeping his

distance.

Five blocks later, Mary hesitates at a plaza outside the

Stuyvesant Town projects,

CUT TO:

EXT. STUYVESANT TOWN--MORNING

Frank stops a few steps away from Mary; Mary turns.

FRANK:

Excuse me. You seemed like you were

in trouble.

MARY:

(steps over)

I'm all right. I just can't stand to

see people tied up. I'm in the

waiting room for hours, listening to

Noel screaming. The only reason he's

screaming is 'cause he's tied up.

FRANK:

Don't seem so bad to me.

MARY:

Don't say that. I wanted to cut my

father loose too. They told me he

almost died and five minutes later

they say he's better and I go in.

It's killing me seeing him fighting

like that.

(gazes up building)

Look, since you're here, maybe you

could do me a favor. I need you to

wait for me outside this building,

okay? I have to visit a friend who's

sick.

FRANK:

Okay.

Mary takes a few steps, turns back.

MARY:

I'm only asking because it's a

dangerous building. There's been

some robberies, a woman was raped

not long ago. This woman I'm seeing,

she'll want to talk to me all day,

but if I can point to you out the

window and say you're waiting, I can

be out quick. if anything happens,

I'll be in apartment 16M.

FRANK:

Maybe I should come up with you.

MARY:

If I'm not back in fifteen minutes,

hit the buzzer. That way she'll let

me go.

FRANK:

Nothing's going to happen. I'll come

with you.

MARY:

No, I'll be fine. I'm just visiting

a sick friend.

She walks into the building. He follows.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR--DAY

The dinged metal doors shudder shut as Frank follows Mary

into the graffittied elevator. It jumps three feet upwards,

stops, then continues, metal scraping concrete at each passing

floor.

MARY:

I shouldn't have asked you to come.

FRANK:

You asked me not to come.

MARY:

Promise you won't go inside.

FRANK:

Fifteen minutes.

MARY:

I just have to relax a little. Not

feel so guilty all the time.

FRANK:

We can still go back. I'll walk you

home. You sleep a couple of hours,

watch some TV, take a bath.

MARY:

Don't be a cop. If you have any doubts

about this, it's my fault.

The elevator jerks to a stop; the doors open.

CUT TO:

INT. SIXTEENTH FLOOR--MORNING

Mary turns to Frank:

MARY:

You go on home, okay. I'm fine,

really. I don't need you. Thanks.

Mary pushes the bell at 16M. KANITA, 25, wearing a paisley

robe, opens the doors and says:

KANITA:

Hey Cy, guess who's here?

COATES (O.S.)

Mary ...

The elevator doors close on Frank.

CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY--MORNING

Frank paces past the sleeping security guard, checks his

watch.

He presses the elevator button.

CUT TO:

INT. THE OASIS--MORNING

The door to 16M opens:

KANITA:

Can I help you?

FRANK:

Mary Burke. She's a friend.

KANITA:

She's not here.

Frank pushes past her.

KANITA (CONT'D)

Wait a minute. You can't go in.

CY COATES, 45, light-skinned black, stands in the smoky room.

Dark curtained windows block the sunlight; a dirty fish tank

casts a green glow across the beat-up furniture.

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