L.A. Confidential Page #14

PATCHETT:

No, Mr. White. Pierce Morehouse

Patchett. Now, I sense you're on

your best behavior, but that's all

I'll give you. If you persist,

I'll meet you with my attorney.

Now, would you like Miss Bracken's

address? I doubt she knows

anything, but --

BUD:

I got her address.

PATCHETT:

Of course... this is personal with

you, isn't it, Mr. White?

Bud turns, heads down the walk. Patchett hits his golf

ball. It lands just past the koi pond, with the rest.

Ice.

EXT. 1736 NOTTINGHAM, LOS FELIZ (LYNN BRACKEN'S) - DAY

A modern-looking triplex. A projector's flicker strobes

against the closed curtains. We hear a PHONE RING.

INT. 1736 NOTTINGHAM (LYNN BRACKEN'S) - DAY

The film is This Gun For Hire with Alan Ladd and Veronica

Lake. It's projected on a wall in front of which stands

Lynn Bracken and an OLDER GENTLEMAN, in his underwear.

Lynn's long, blonde hair hangs down over one eye. She

looks more like Veronica Lake than Veronica Lake. The

film flashes over them as they kiss.

The PHONE RINGS. Lynn ignores it as long as she can

before breaking away to go answer it.

LYNN:

Hello?

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

(Alan Ladd)

Is it the cops?

She waves him off. As he practices pointing his finger

like Ladd points a gun, Lynn reacts to the news on the

phone.

EXT. 9781 SOUTH DUQUESNE - DAY

A South Central plywood and tar-paper dive. A BLACK

BOXER pounds a heavy bag/speed bag combo bolted to the

porch. Wiry, a welterweight, he doesn't see Jack and

Exley till they're almost on top of him.

JACK:

Leonard Bidwell?

The Boxer leans on the bag to catch his breath. Looking

them over, he finally nods.

JACK:

How's the left these days?

BOXER:

What's it to you?

JACK:

I saw you fight Kid Gavilan. I

like your style.

BOXER:

What do you want, Mr. Policeman?

JACK:

You got a brother up in Folsom. I

know because I put him there.

BOXER:

Till 19-f***ing-70.

JACK:

How'd you like to make it 1960? I

know the judge and Sergeant Exley

here is friends with hte D.A.

Exley nods, this is true. The Boxer's still listening.

JACK:

We're looking for three colored

guys who like to pop off shotguns.

One of 'em owns a purple Merc

coupe.

BOXER:

You wanna get me a f***in' snitch

jacket?

JACK:

You wanna buy your brother ten

years...? You don't have to say

anything. Just look at this list

and point. Here.

Jack holds the DMV list out to the Boxer, who waves it

off.

BOXER:

He's bad, so I'll just tell you.

Sugar Ray Coates. Drives a '49

coupe, a beautiful ride. Don't

know about shotguns, but he gets

his thrills killing dogs. He is

righteous trash.

Jack and Exley scan the list. Jack's finger stabs down

on, "Coates, Raymond, 9611 South Central, Room 414."

JACK:

That's five minutes from here.

EXT. 1736 NOTTINGHAM (LYNN BRACKEN'S) - DAY

Lynn does her best to usher the slightly disheveled

Older Gentleman out the door.

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

I don't understand, doll, we just

got started.

LYNN:

I'm sorry, but I'll make it up

to you. I promise.

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

Gosh, kitten, I don't know...

As he begins to mash up against her...

BUD (O.S.)

Hit the road, gramps.

Bud's standing at the bottom of the stairs. The Older

Gentleman strikes a pose. He still thinks he's Alan

Ladd.

OLDER GENTLEMAN:

Alright. This time I'll go, but

next time --

BUD:

(flips badge)

L.A.P.D., shitbird. Get the f***

out of here or I'll call your wife

to come get you.

Sputtering, the Older Gentleman exchanges a look with

Lynn then hurries away, giving Bud a wide berth.

LYNN:

I've been expecting you. Pierce

called. Told me what happened

to Sue.

INT. 1736 NOTTINGHAM (LYNN BRACKEN'S) - DAY

A nice breezy feel. The perfect place to shack up.

LYNN:

It's Officer White, isn't it?

Bud nods, eyeballs the place.

LYNN:

Can I get you a drink?

BUD:

Yeah, plain scotch.

Bud watches her move to the bar. God, she's beautiful.

LYNN:

I was friendly with Sue Lefferts,

but we weren't really friends.

You know what I mean?

BUD:

Are you sorry she's dead?

LYNN:

Of course I am. What kind of

question is that?

She steps back with a scotch for both of them.

BUD:

Have you ever heard of Dick

Stensland?

LYNN:

No I haven't. Do you know why

Pierce is humoring you?

BUD:

You use words like that, you

might make me mad.

LYNN:

Yes. But do you know?

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