Hardcore Page #23

JAKE:

(pause)

You and I, Niki, have very different

ideas about sex.

NIKI:

Why? Are you a sex fiend?

JAKE:

(smiles)

No.

NIKI:

Neither am I.

JAKE:

But it's all you do.

NIKI:

How important do you think sex is?

JAKE:

Not very.

NIKI:

We're just alike. You think sex is

so unimportant you don't do it. I

think sex is so unimportant I don't

care who I do it with.

Jake thinks. That sounds right. But it can't be right. He

looks away, then back at her.

JAKE:

You can never understand a person

like me. I am a mystery to you. A

middle class person, a Mid-westerner.

A man who doesn't pursue women. A

man who believes in social order. A

man who goes to church, believes in

God, and a man who, at the end of

his life, believes he will be

redeemed.

(a beat)

This is all unfathomable to you.

Fifty years ago, in art, the prostitute sought to justify

her life to the bourgeoisie. Now it is the bourgeoisie who

must justify himself to the whore.

JAKE:

(continuing)

I don't see why I must justify myself

to you. I don't care about the things

you do. I don't care what's happening

in New York or Los Angeles. I don't

care about movies or TV. I don't

care who's on Johnny Carson.

NIKI:

(incredulous)

What do you care about?

JAKE:

(cold)

I care about my daughter.

INT. OKINAWA BAR - DAY

Niki and Jake stand at the counter talking with JIM RUCKER,

an entrepreneurial type about 40.

NIKI:

You remember me. Louise? Rhymes with

squeeze.

RUCKER:

(looks, then nods)

You working in San Diego now?

NIKI:

I'm still in L.A., but I'm looking

for Tod. I heard he was around.

RUCKER:

'Was.' He and that shitheel Ratan

went down to T-J. Maybe I shouldn't

say that. Anyway, I hear he's back

in Frisco now.

NIKI:

Was he with a girl?

RUCKER:

No.

NIKI:

Thanks.

Niki starts to leave.

RUCKER:

Keep in touch, baby. Got some good

stuff comin' up. Need you back, baby.

(as they exit)

And take good care of your friend

for me.

Jake turns back as Niki gives him a tug.

CUT TO:

EXT. OKINAWA BAR - DAY

They walk toward the car.

JAKE:

What's T-J?

NIKI:

Tijuana.

JAKE:

They were here?

NIKI:

Tod was.

(her voice chills)

He was with Ratan.

JAKE:

What does that mean?

(no answer)

What does he do?

NIKI:

He deals in pain.

JAKE:

Is Kristen safe?

She doesn't answer.

JAKE:

(continuing)

Let's get a plane for San Francisco.

CUT TO:

INT. L.A. POLICE MISSING PERSONS - DAY

DETECTIVE BURROWS walks back into his office. Mast, sitting

on the edge of the desk, is waiting for him.

BURROWS:

Apparently your friend has gone into

Mexico. A Border Guard responded to

the APB. How does it feel to have

the L.A.P.D. doing your work for

you?

MAST:

You're going to thank me for this.

You know what the media's like. They

love this kinda sh*t. If that guy

goes off half-cocked and gets himself

hurt, you're going to have so much

bad publicity, you...

BURROWS:

(interrupting)

I heard you the first time. We had

nothing to go on with this kid. Just

a runaway.

(a beat)

Do you really think he's in danger?

MAST:

If he has anything to say about it,

yeah. I've been asking a lot of

questions and I don't like the answers

I'm getting. He's made a lot of people

nervous, including some poor f*ggot

who thought he was going to be a

movie star.

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