L.A. Confidential Page #2

REPORTER:

How's your bullshit now, Mickey?!

As Cohen gets into a waiting car, the media turn their

attention to District Attorney ELLIS LOEW. A singularly

ambitious man, Loew loves the spotlight.

LOEW:

Today is an auspicious one for the

city of Los Angeles. Mickey Cohen

has just been sentenced to ten

years in federal prison for

failure to pay income tax.

As the District Attorney for Los

Angeles County, it is my pleasure

to declare our great city

organized crime free. It is truly

the dawning of a new day.

The SONG ENDS and so does the MONTAGE.

INT. PACKARD (ACROSS FROM BULLOCKS WILSHIRE) - NIGHT

December 24th. Wendell "BUD" WHITE, 30, stares at the

enormous Christmas tree on the deco platform over

Bullocks' entrance. An LAPD cop, Bud's rep as the

toughest man on the force has been well earned. In the

back seat, with cases of Walker Black and Cutty Sark, is

Bud's partner -- DICK STENSLAND. Older, but also a tough

hump, "Stens" sucks on a pint of Old Crow.

The passenger door opens and Mickey Cohen bodyguard

Johnny Stompanato slides in. Guinea handsome, Johnny

wears his curls in a tight pompadour. With his boss

behind bars, he's out of work. Bud just stares at him.

STOMPANATO:

Officer White. I heard you got a

hard-on for wife beaters.

BUD:

And you f*** people up for a

living. That don't make me you.

Capisce, shitbird?

Stompanato smiles. Nervous. Through the window, Bud

watches a Salvation Army Santa palm coins from a kettle.

STENSLAND:

Bud ain't in the mood for small

talk, Stompanato.

STOMPANATO:

Look, Mickey C's doing time and

half the other guys who'd hire me

are dead or left town. I need

money. If your snitch-fund's

green, I'll get you some f***ing-A

collars.

Impatient, Bud tugs at a finger, CRACKS a KNUCKLE.

STOMPANATO:

There's this guy. He's blond and

fat, about forty. Likes the

ponies. Been pimping his wife to

cover his losses. Knocks her

around to keep her in line.

Bud's eyes narrow at this last bit of info. Stompanato

holds up a slip of paper.

STOMPANATO:

I figure the address is worth

twenty.

Bud digs into his wallet, pulls out twenty bucks,

exchanges it with Stompanato. Stompanato smiles smugly,

grabs a bottle of Scotch from the back.

STOMPANATO:

Yuletide cheer, fellas.

Without warning, Bud grabs Stompanato's tie and yanks,

slamming his forehead into the dash.

BUD:

Happy New Year, greaseball.

EXT. 1486 EVERGREEN - NIGHT

A stucco job in a row of vet prefabs. A neon Santa

sleigh has landed on the roof. Through the front window,

we see a fat guy browbeating a woman. Puff-faced, 35-

ish, she backs away as he rages at her.

The Packard pulls up out front. Stensland could care

less.

STENSLAND:

Leave it for later, Bud. We got

to pick up the rest of the booze

and get back to the precinct.

Bud KILLS the IGNITION, picks up the radio.

BUD:

Central, this is 4A-31. Send a

prowler to 1486 Evergreen. White

male in custody. Code 623 point

one. Domestic assault and

battery. I won't be here, but

they'll see him.

EXT. 1486 EVERGREEN - BUD - NIGHT

steps to the house. Inside, we hear SLAPS, MUFFLED

CRIES. Bud grips an outlet cord coming off the roof and

yanks. The sleigh crashes to the ground with REINDEER

EXPLODING around it. A beat. The fat guy runs out to

investigate, trips over Rudolph.

Bud pounces. Fat guy takes a swing, misses. Grabbing

fat guy's hair, Bud smashes his face to the pavement.

Once, twice. Teeth skitter down the walk.

BUD:

Touch her again and I'll know

about it. Understand? Huh?

Another face full of gravel. Fat guy's WIFE watches with

apprehension from the steps as Bud cuffs her husband's

hands behind his back, empties his pockets. A cash roll

and car keys. Bud looks over at her.

BUD:

You got someplace you can go?

She nods. Bud hands her the keys and the cash.

BUD:

Go get yourself fixed up.

WIFE:

(nods, determined)

Merry Christmas, huh?

Bud watches as she gets into a pre-war Ford in the drive.

She backs over a blinking reindeer as she goes.

STENSLAND:

You and women, partner. What's

next? Kids and dogs?

INT. STAGE FOUR (VARIETY INTERNATIONAL PICTURES) - NIGHT

The "Badge of Honor" set. A Christmas party in full

swing. Eating, drinking, and dancing. Star Brett Chase,

seen earlier on television, is holding court.

LAPD Sgt. "Trashcan" JACK VINCENNES, late 30s with slick,

good looks, dances with a young ACTRESS. Grinding their

way through a ballad, they're obviously hitting it off.

ACTRESS:

Brett Chase told me you're the cop

who busted Bob Mitchum.

(grinds closer)

These 'Badge of Honor' guys like

to pretend, but being the real

thing must be a thrill.

JACK:

Let's go someplace quiet. I'll

give you the low-down on Mitchum.

ACTRESS:

You got your handcuffs with you?

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