L.A. Confidential Page #4

BUD:

Merry Christmas.

LYNN:

Merry Christmas yourself, Officer.

BUD:

That obvious, huh?

LYNN:

(smiles sweetly)

It's practically stamped on your

forehead.

As the Owner bangs a case of liquor on the counter...

EXT. HOLLYWOOD LIQUOR - NIGHT

Bud exits with his booze, heads for the car. Something

catches his eye. A woman in the rear passenger seat of a

new Cadillac. SUSAN LEFFERTS. Both her eyes are black.

Bud starts over. The case on his hip, he motions for her

to roll down the window. The driver's side door opens

and bodyguard TURNER "BUZZ" MEEKS menaces his way out.

MEEKS:

Get lost why don't you?

Meeks stops short as Bud shoves his badge in Meeks' face.

Setting the case on the car's hood, Bud spins Meeks

around, pats him down. He finds a .38 in a shoulder

holster.

MEEKS:

I got a license for that.

Bud removes Meeks' wallet, checks the ID.

MEEKS:

Cut me some slack. I used to be a

cop.

BUD:

Turner Meeks? Never heard of you.

LYNN:

(exiting store)

We just call him Buzz.

Bud raps on Susan's window with his badge. It comes

down.

BUD:

You okay?

Beside her, a man leans over. Pierce Patchett, seen

before at the freeway unveiling, is a man used to being

chauffeured. Like FDR, he smokes his cigarette in a

holder.

PATCHETT:

She's fine.

BUD:

(menacing)

I'm not asking you.

Patchett has no idea he's walking on thin ice. As he

stares impatiently at Bud, Bud looks back to Susan.

BUD:

Somebody hit you?

LYNN:

It's not what you think.

Bud looks to see Lynn Bracken moving to the driver's

door.

BUD:

What is it then?

SUSAN:

You got the wrong idea, Mister.

I'm fine.

Susan laughs. Patchett eases back into the shadows.

LYNN:

(getting in the car)

But it's nice to know you care.

Bud considers Meeks' gun license, then hands him back the

.38 and wallet. Lifting his booze, Bud watches Meeks get

back in the car.

Stensland steps up as the cabbie starts to pull away.

STENSLAND:

What's going on?

For an odd moment, Stensland and Meeks lock eyes.

BUD:

You know him?

STENSLAND:

Seen him around. He used to be a

cop.

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON DUDLEY SMITH

Fifty, handsome in his police captain's uniform. Singing

"Silver Bells" in a beautiful low tenor. Tough,

respected, Dudley goes to bed as a cop every night of his

life. He's a department power to be reckoned with.

INT. PRECINCT HOUSE - MUSTER ROOM - NIGHT

An L.A. Herald Express REPORTER and photographer listen

along with the gathered patrolmen as Dudley finishes to

applause. Dudley joins the press.

REPORTER:

Captain Smith, I --

DUDLEY:

Drop the formalities; it's

Christmas Eve. Call me Dudley.

REPORTER:

Dudley, I came up with a title for

the story. I'm calling it "Silent

Night with the L.A.P.D."

DUDLEY:

Excellent. How's this?

(dramatic pause)

The sanctity of the night is an

invitation to the darker criminal

element. Our vigilance will not

be diminished.

As the Reporter scribbles down the quote...

DUDLEY:

That's Smith with an S.

They laugh. Dudley points the way out.

DUDLEY:

This way, gentlemen.

Dudley's the last one out the door. As he goes, he turns

back to give the men a wink. He's no sooner out the door

when the first case of Johnny Walker is brought in.

INT. PRECINCT HOUSE - DISPATCH DESK - NIGHT

Ed Exley gets another report from the Young Officer.

YOUNG OFFICER:

Two police officers were assaulted

in a bar. Brown and Helenowski.

He hands the report to Exley. It's now that Dudley comes

through on his press junket.

DUDLEY:

This is Sergeant Ed Exley. Son of

the legendary Preston Exley. He's

the watch commander tonight and a

damn fine job.

As the photographer snaps Exley's picture...

DUDLEY:

I was fortunate enough to be

partnered with his father when I

was a rookie. It makes a man feel

old. That's a fact.

(a beat)

Feel free to get a feel for the

place.

As the Reporter and photographer wander off, Dudley turns

to Exley a bit more serious.

DUDLEY:

A word with you, lad.

INT. DUDLEY SMITH'S OFFICE - DAY

Dudley pours two drinks, hands one to Exley.

DUDLEY:

To the memory of your father.

They drink. Exley looks to a photo on the wall.

Himself as a ten-year-old standing between Dudley and his

father Preston, both in police uniform.

DUDLEY:

The day he got the Medal of Valor.

A simpler time.

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