Code of Silence Page #19

Eddie enters and looks over the scene. He nods to Donato,

sitting at the rail with his foot propped up.

DONATO:

How you doin', Sarge?

EDDIE:

What's the score?

DONATO:

(nods toward witness)

Kid's grandmother says Cragie threw

down the pistola.

Eddie takes a seat. Officer Cragie is called back to the

witness stand.

PARTIDA:

(to steno)

Officer Cragie has already been sworn.

(pause)

Officer Cragie, you have heard Mrs.

Murillio's testimony --

CRAGIE:

Yes, sir.

Cragie is neat as a pin, humble, cooperative to a fault.

PARTIDA:

You have heard her tell this panel

that she saw you lay the gun in her

grandson's hand.

He feigns compassion.

CRAGIE:

I'm not saying the woman would make

this up. But there's no way she could

have seen anything from where she

was standing in a hallway that dark.

(pause)

Like you said, she's the boy's

grandmother.

PARTIDA:

If it was dark, Officer, how were

you sure Vega had a gun?

CRAGIE:

We were lucky. There was a glint of

light, a reflection comin off the

barrel of the weapon.

EXT. EDDIE'S ALLEY - DAY

A carload of Comachos, including Luis, cruises down the street

and parks in the alley next to Eddie's building.

INT. OPS HALL - DAY

The hearing is in recess and the hall is filled with smokers

and coffee drinkers.

Eddie is getting a BUSY SIGNAL on the pay phone.

Donato approaches.

DONATO:

You think he'll get a pass?

EDDIE:

You heard it all. What do you think?

DONATO:

If the hearing was over I'd have to

put my money on the old lady.

(smiles)

But Kosalas's next. My bet's on

Cragie.

EDDIE:

The kid may surprise you.

Eddie dials the number again. Still a busy signal.

INT. PIRELLI'S APARTMENT - DAY

Pirelli has Eddie's answering machine plugged in, and is

tinkering with the insides.

Diana comes into the living room, toweling her wet hair,

just out of the shower, but in her street clothes.

INT. HEARING ROOM - DAY

Kosalas is on the witness stand.

PARTIDA:

And right after you heard Officer

Cragie's gun discharge, what did you

do then?

KOSALAS:

I immediately advanced down the hall.

PARTIDA:

And what did you see?

KOSALAS:

The deceased, Vega, lying on the

floor. Officer Cragie was checking

his vital signs.

PARTIDA:

What happened then?

KOSALAS:

We recovered a .25 calibre automatic

from the teenager's right hand.

PARTIDA:

Did you see that weapon in Vega's

hand before Officer Cragie fired?

KOSALAS:

Yes, sir.

Cragie leans back.

A ripple is felt in the crowd. The reaction of the boy's

relatives, delayed by translation, is one of outrage.

PARTIDA:

No more questions.

As Kosalas steps down he keeps his eyes on the floor ahead

of him avoiding eye contact.

Eddie leans back in his seat. A couple of people get up and

head for the door.

Eddie gets to his feet and heads for the door. Partida hits

the gavel.

PARTIDA:

I'd like to now call Sergeant Cusack.

Eddie halts with his hand on the knob.

INT. PIRELLI'S APARTMENT - DAY

Pirelli works on the answering machine, but the phone is

reconnected. Diana is looking at photographs on the wall.

DIANA:

You made that uniform look good.

Pirelli looks up.

PIRELLI:

That good looking gorilla next to me

is Eddie's father. Better than good

cop. Killed in the line of duty.

'71.

(pause)

Another cop shot him. An accident.

He goes back to the machine.

INT. EDDIE'S HALL - DAY

The Comachos come up the stairs, led by Luis. They stop at

Eddie's door. They pull out their guns, and kick the door

in.

Across the hall, Pirelli's door opens, and Pirelli, holding

his pistol steps into the hall.

The Comachos turn and fire, blasting Pirelli back into his

apartment.

Through the open door we see Diana dash across the living

room.

INT. PIRELLI'S APARTMENT - DAY

Luis and his men burst in.

Diana runs for the phone.

A Comacho takes it from her and rips it from the wall.

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