Hero Page #16

ELLIOT:

Fifty-four! I was there, remember?

You know why I didn't rush into that

plane? Because I'm a trained

fireman, that's why! Part of a

team! A disciplined team. We take

risks all the time, save people.

But we don't take crazy chances.

This guy does something really dumb

and he lucks out. So the media go

crazy about his shoe for god's sake!

What kind of message are they giving

to youth?

EVELYN:

(indicating Joey)

What kind of message are you giving

to youth? Sneering at someone for

sticking his neck out. You sound

like my ex for heaven's sake...

Mister Cynicism.

ELLIOT gets up, shrugs.

ELLIOT:

So what can I say? Give your ex

credit for being smart enough not

to do something stupid. Maybe the

man's not all bad. I'm gonna watch

TV, hoping it's not all this

"Superman stuff."

ELLIOT walks over to the TV and turns it on, leaving JOEY and

EVELYN alone. JOEY is excited.

JOEY:

My father didn't have his shoes on

when he... when he came here.

EVELYN:

(surprised)

You were in bed. Weren't you?

JOEY:

I... I saw him out the window.

EVELYN frowns, hesitates a moment. Was the kid listening?

Then...

EVELYN:

You think your father would do

something like that? Rescue people?

(sadly)

Your father is Bernie LaPlante,

Joey. It's against his religion

to stick his neck out.

ANGLE ON THE TV (INT. NEWS SET - NIGHT)

Where an ANCHORPERSON speaks from a news set.

CHANNEL 4 ANCHORPERSON/TV

-- where the leader of a religious

group claimed today that the

mysterious hero is, in fact, an

angel who is anticipated in

scripture.

INT. SHADOW LOUNGE - NIGHT

Washing glasses behind the bar, CHICK is watching the same show

on the TV over the bar when he turns to see BERNIE enter

(wearing a brand new pair of cheap running shoes.)

CHICK:

Bernie, how'sa kid?

BERNIE:

You don't wanna know, Chick, you

don't wanna know. Those guys been

in here?

CHICK:

(pouring a 7&7)

You in business with those guys or

what? I wouldn't want a problem

for the establishment, Bern.

BERNIE:

You couldn't have a problem, Chick,

because I personally have got them

all. I cornered the whole goddamn

market. You wouldn't believe...

Oh, how ya doin'...?

ESPINOSA and VARGAS have entered the bar. They have another guy

with them, MENDOZA.

ESPINOSA:

We bring our frenn this time, okay?

Something about MENDOZA spells trouble. it's almost palpable.

BERNIE doesn't notice, but CHICK does. He looks worried.

BERNIE:

Excuse me here, Chick, I gotta do

these guys a little favor.

ANGLE ON BOOTH:

As BERNIE, MENDOZA and ESPINOSA slide into a booth intent on

business, ESPINOSA looks around for VARGAS and spots him

lingering back at the bar watching the TV.

ESPINOSA:

(calling out to Vargas)

Hey, vato! Vamos.

ANGLE ON THE BAR

Where VARGAS and CHICK are staring at the screen.

ANGLE ON THE TV SCREEN: INT. NEWS SET - NIGHT

Where the ANCHORPERSON is introducing WALLACE who stands there

in a suit and tie looking ill at ease...

CHANNEL 4 ANCHORPERSON/TV

-- bring you a special announcement

from Channel Four station Manager,

James Wallace.

Framed alone now, WALLACE smiles awkwardly at the camera.

WALLACE:

Good evening. We at Channel Four,

like you, have been stirred by the

courage and...

ESPINOSA'S VOICE (O.S.)

Hombre! Por aqui!

INT. SHADOW LOUNGE - NIGHT

ANGLE ON VARGAS:

Eyes lingering on the TV, backing toward the booth.

ANGLE ON BOOTH:

BERNIE has spread GALE'S credit cards on the table in front of

ESPINOSA and MENDOZA. ESPINOSA examines them, questions

BERNIE...

ESPINOSA:

How many you got there? Eight?

Ten?

VARGAS slides into the booth before BERNIE can answer.

VARGAS:

They offer him a million dollars

reward.

MENDOZA:

Who?

VARGAS:

The "plane crash guy".

ESPINOSA:

(to Bernie)

Is that all of them? Eight?

BERNIE:

(distracted)

What "plane crash guy"?

VARGAS:

The one-shoe dude who saved all

those people, man. Channel Four

gonna give him a million for an

interview.

ESPINOSA tries to turn BERNIE'S attention back to "business."

ESPINOSA:

Come. on, hombre, we doin' business

here. You got more or not?

ANGLE ON CHICK:

Watching the TV

ANGLE ON THE TV SCREEN (INT. NEWS SET - NIGHT)

Where WALLACE is concluding...

WALLACE/TV

The offer is absolutely

unconditional. All he has to do,

is satisfy our reporter, Gale

Gayley, and the other passengers

who had contact with him that he

is indeed the brave man who...

BERNIE'S VOICE (O.S.)

(yelling)

HEY! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHAT'S

GOIN' ON HERE?

INT. SHADOW LOUNGE - NIGHT

ANGLE ON CHICK:

Turning, seeing a commotion at the booth.

ANGLE ON THE BOOTH

Where MENDOZA is handcuffing the outraged BERNIE while ESPINOSA

reads him his rights...

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