Code of Silence Page #18

KOSALAS:

Looks like I'm caught between the

rock and the hard place, Sarge.

Eddie just looks at him.

KOSALAS:

You know I really wanted to be a

good cop, but... sh*t. It's hard

enough sometimes just to stay alive.

Comes so easy to you. You got all

the f***in' answers. Me, I'm still

tryin' to find the questions.

Eddie is still silent. Kosalas takes a swig of his beer, and

finally blurts is out.

KOSALAS:

Cragie planted the gun on the kid.

Just wasted him, and then I... I

don't know what to do about the

hearing tomorrow...

EDDIE:

Tell the truth.

KOSALAS:

See. It's all so nothin' for you. If

I talk straight every cop on the

force will sh*t on me. If I don't...

Cragie gets away with murder.

EDDIE:

And the chance to do it again. Next

time he might take away a cop. That

make any difference?

KOSALAS:

He's my partner.

EDDIE:

Your partner's selling you out,

Kosalas. He kills an unarmed kid,

and now he's risking your ass to

save his own.

KOSALAS:

It was a mistake.

EDDIE:

It cost an innocent kid his life.

KOSALAS:

I know that! I KNOW THAT!

He is too loud, and attracts attention.

KOSALAS:

(softly)

Jesus. I see that kid's face every

time I close my eyes.

EDDIE:

Tell 'em like it is, Nick. I'll back

you up.

Eddie gets up and walks away.

INT. TAVERN - NIGHT

The two amateur holdup men are being hustled out to the paddy

wagon as Eddie heads for the door. Someone grabs his arm.

It's Cragie, a little drunk.

CRAGIE:

Nice to see you out with the boys

for a change, Sarge.

EDDIE:

Hello, Cragie.

CRAGIE:

They tell me my Sergeant wouldn't

sign for me. You want to tell me

why?

EDDIE:

You know why.

CRAGIE:

No. Tell me.

EDDIE:

(gently)

You were a good cop for a lot of

years. You've passed your limit now

Cragie.

CRAGIE:

F*** you. Where do you get off?

EDDIE:

Right about here.

Eddie walks out the door.

INT. EDDIE'S HALL - NIGHT

Eddie buzzes the door. Pirelli opens it. He lets Eddie in,

scans the hall, and closes it.

INT. PIRELLI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Pirelli sets down his gun, and pours Eddie a cup of coffee.

PIRELLI:

She's havin' a bad night. Gave her a

shot of brandy. Maybe she'll sleep.

EDDIE:

Giving liquor to a minor, Pirelli?

He turns to leave.

EDDIE:

I'll be back right after the hearing

tomorrow, and you can get some sleep

then.

INT. PIRELLI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Eddie cracks the door and peeks in. Diana sits on the bed, a

lonely forlorn figure.

She looks at Eddie, and tries a smile that fails.

Eddie walks over to sit on the bed next to her.

She falls apart, and lies down, on the verge of crying,

collapsing so that her head rest in Eddie's lap.

They are quiet like that for a moment, she curled into a

ball, Eddie stroking her hair.

DIANA:

What do you do when you don't have

anyone?

EDDIE:

You find someone.

She looks up at him.

DIANA:

Could you... Hold me for a while?

Eddie lays on the bed beside her. She curls up in his arms,

and closes her eyes. Eddie's eyes remain open.

INT. HEARING ROOM - DAY

The Civilian Review Board is in the Office of Professional

Standards. The panel consists of eight civilians. It is a

real cross-section of the city of Chicago. Leon Partida chairs

the proceedings. We recognize several faces from the opening

bust.

An old Mexican woman is on the stand facing the panel. Cragie

sits at a table with his representative, facing the officials.

A female panel member is questioning the old woman.

MALE PANEL MEMBER

How far were you standing from where

your grandson was shot, Mrs. Murillio?

The question must be TRANSLATED by a bumbling clerk, the old

woman answers in Spanish, then the answer is translated.

CLERK:

In the next doorway. Four meters.

The room is packed. In addition to the police officers,

character witnesses, and friends of the dead kid, there are

a dozen reporters.

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