L.A. Confidential Page #7

Synopsis: Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 85 wins & 82 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.3
Metacritic:
90
Rotten Tomatoes:
99%
R
Year:
1997
138 min
1,188 Views


EXLEY:

White's a mindless thug.

DUDLEY:

No, Edmund. He's a man who can

answer yes to those questions I

ask you from time to time.

The Chief interrupts with his own concern.

CHIEF:

I want to know who we give the

public in contrast? The

department needs role models.

Clean-cut, forthright men the

public can admire.

EXLEY:

I'll testify, sir. I'm not afraid

to do what's right.

CHIEF:

And I'll promote you. You'll be a

lieutenant immediately.

Exley seizes the moment, going over Dudley's head.

EXLEY:

Detective lieutenant.

The Chief and Dudley exchange a look. Neither approves.

CHIEF:

Ed, you're 30. Your father didn't

make lieutenant until he was 33.

EXLEY:

I know that, sir. I also know

that when he made lieutenant, it

was as a detective.

LOEW:

(interrupting)

Before we start polishing our

laurels, it would look better if

we had a corroborative witness.

DUDLEY:

That'll be hard to come by. The

men hate a turncoat.

EXLEY:

Jack Vincennes. He's the

technical advisor on 'Badge of

Honor,' sir. He lives for it.

That's the way to get him.

CHIEF:

All right, Ed.

(into desk

intercom)

Call Sergeant Vincennes.

As Exley starts out, Dudley pulls him aside, speaks low.

DUDLEY:

You'll reap the benefits, but are

you truly prepared to be despised

within the department?

EXLEY:

Yes, Dudley. I am.

DUDLEY:

So be it.

JACK VINCENNES:

Looking sharp, he strides down the hall, enters the...

CHIEF'S OFFICE

Round two. Centred on Jack. Exley is gone.

DUDLEY:

Sergeant, we'll get right to it.

Nine civilian witnesses have

identified you as hitting Ezekiel

Garcia.

LOEW:

But my office has a stellar

witness who will tell the grand

jury that you hit back only after

being hit.

JACK:

What do I have to do?

LOEW:

Testify against the three officers

who have already earned their

pensions. Our key witness will

testify roundly, but you can plead

ignorance to questions directed at

the other men.

CHIEF:

I'll guarantee you a slap on the

wrist. A brief suspension

followed by a temporary transfer

from Narcotics to Ad Vice.

(a beat)

When you transfer out of Vice,

you'll be back on the show.

JACK:

The show, sir?

CHIEF:

Badge of Honor, Vincennes. We

need to tone down your profile for

a bit.

The Chief just got Jack where he lives.

DUDLEY:

John, I doubt you've ever drawn a

stupid breath. Don't start now.

JACK:

Okay. I'll do it.

Smiles all around. Loew smiles at the two-way. A move

not lost on Jack who wonders who might be on the other

side.

CHIEF:

Dismissed, Vincennes.

Jack leaves. The Chief steps to the mirror, looks

through.

CHIEF:

So be it. Detective Lieutenant.

OTHER SIDE OF GLASS

Exley clenches his fist in victory. The Chief continues.

CHIEF:

Ace them at the grand jury

tomorrow, son. Wear the smart-

looking suit and ace them. And,

Ed? Lose the glasses.

INT. ROOM 114 (GRAND JURY WITNESS ROOM) - DAY

Glasses off, Exley waits, looks up as Jack enters.

JACK:

You're the key witness?

EXLEY:

That's right.

JACK:

I should've known. What's the

Chief throwing you?

EXLEY:

Throwing me?

JACK:

Yeah, Exley. What's the payoff?

EXLEY:

You're the payoff expert. I'm

just doing my duty.

JACK:

You're playing an angle, college

boy. You're getting something out

of this so you don't have to

hobnob with the f***ing rank and

file cops who'll hate your guts

for snitching. If they're making

you a detective, watch out. Some

Bureau guys are gonna burn in this

and you're gonna have to work with

friends of theirs.

EXLEY:

What about you?

JACK:

I'm snitching three old timers

who'll be fishing in Oregon next

week. Next to you I'm clean. And

smart.

At that, a CLERK steps in from the hallway.

CLERK:

Edmund J. Exley to chambers.

As Exley's about to go...

JACK:

Just remember, Bud White'll f***

you for this if it takes the rest

of his life. They already

suspended him. Just pray he cops

a deal and stays on the Department

because that is one civilian you

do not want on your case.

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Brian Helgeland

Brian Thomas Helgeland (born January 17, 1961) is an American screenwriter, film producer and director. He is most known for writing the screenplays for L.A. Confidential (for which he received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay), Mystic River, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. Helgeland also wrote and directed 42 (2013), a biopic of Jackie Robinson, and Legend (2015), about the rise and fall of the Kray twins. more…

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