Lethal Weapon Page #5

RIGGS:

Sam, every day ... in every way ...

I'm getting better and better.

Opens the box and removes its contents. Brand new

TELEVISION. Plugs it in. Switches it ON. Sits down

with a bottle of whiskey. Drinks. On the screen, the

Grinch steals Christmas from the residents of Whoville.

color29 ANOTHER ANGLE 29

Riggs opens a drawer beside him, and takes out a bottle

of sleeping pills. Picks it up. As he does --the sound

of the TELEVISION FADES OUT -- silence, dead silence...

As Riggs rolls the bottle in his fingers. Slowly,

thoughtfully, unscrews the cap ... dumps them on the table.

Runs his fingers through them. CLICK... CLICK... Stares.

Mesmerized. RAIN BEATS on the window.

30 EXT. TRAILER 30

The RAIN CONTINUES to hammer the lonely little pit

Riggs calls home.

which

CUT TO:

31 L.A.P.D. - MORNING 31

A zoo. A sign reads METRO ROBBERY/HOMICIDE.

Roger Murtaugh sits at his desk, lost in thought.

Behind him, McCASKEY, Class Three Detective.

to Murtaugh:

McCASKEY

See, you're behind the times,

Sarge. Guys in the Eighties

aren't tough. They're sensitive

people. They show emotions around

women and sh*t like that.

(beat)

I think I'm an Eighties man.

MURTAUGH:

How you figure?

McCASKEY

Last night:
I cried in bed, so

how's that?

MURTAUGH:

Were you with a woman?

McCASKEY

No, I was alone, why the f*** you

think I was crying?

MURTAUGH:

Sounds like an Eighties man to me.

He talks

Another detective enters. Rail-thin, nose like a beak.

His name is BURKE.

Behind him in the door frame we see a fat cop pass by

down the hall, walking backwards; a beat, and then he is

followed by four more cops singing the world's shittiest

rendition of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." It sounds

like pigs mating.

Burke approaches Murtaugh:

BURKE:

Got some news on the Lloyd case,

Rog.

MURTAUGH:

That was quick.

BURKE:

So was the autopsy.

(takes a deep

breath)

You ready for this? They're not

calling it suicide.

MURTAUGH:

What?

BURKE:

Surprise, surprise. First off,

coroner found evidence she took

barbiturates.

MURTAUGH:

Brilliant. There was an open

bottle on her table.

BURKE:

Right, right. That's not the

surprise. Surprise is someone

doctored the pills.

(beat)

Every capsule was loaded with

drain cleaner.

MURTAUGH:

Jesus ...

BURKE:

If she hadn't jumped, she woulda

been dead inside fifteen minutes.

MURTAUGH:

(sighs)

This case blows.

32 ANOTHER ANGLE 32

ACROSS the room, a detective takes off his gun and

slings the holster across his chair. As he EXITS FRAME

-- PAN to reveal: Martin Riggs as he enters the squad

room. Shuffles from foot to foot, looking lost. Lights

a smoke.

33 ACROSS ROOM 33

Murtaugh slings on a jacket.

Riggs.

Turns to go. Notices34 MURTAUGH'S POV 34

Riggs resembles a bag person.

hair, grimy leather jacket.

Unshaven, limp dirty35 BACK TO SCENE 35

He frowns, says:

MURTAUGH:

McCaskey, if my wife calls, tell

her late dinner.

BURKE:

Ho, Rog-I'm not through yet.

I'm supposed to tell you two more

things.

Shoot.

MURTAUGH:

He is still looking at Riggs, who is slowly wandering

from desk to desk, smoking -- Stopping near the desk with

the holstered gun.

BURKE:

First, condition of the sheets and

mattress indicate someone was in

bed with Amanda Lloyd just before

she died. That's A.

What's B?

MURTAUGH:

BURKE:

B is, I'm supposed to tell you

you're breaking in a new partner

on this.

Now Murtaugh is eyeballing Riggs. Cautious.

MURTAUGH:

(distracted)

I don't work partners.

BURKE:

You do now. C.I.T. transfer, some

burnout they want you to keep on

a leash.

MURTAUGH:

Oh, perfect. Can I trade in my

life for a new one?

At which point, across the room, Riggs removes the holstered

gun and hefts it, curiously. Suddenly all hell

breaks loose:

MURTAUGH:

Gun !!

He bolts like a cheetah.

Cops dive for cover, a secretary shrieks, and Murtaugh

goes plowing through the squad room like an express

train, blowing people out of the way -- Cops grabbing

for their holsters -- Riggs, meanwhile, looking around

frantically, he's trying to find the guy with the gun

who is, of course, himself.

Murtaugh takes a flying leap sails across

the desk, going for the glory And Riggs, in the

blink of an eye, simply ducks and flips Murtaugh

neatly over one shoulder. There is a hideous crash

of BREAKING GLASS and OVERTURNING FURNITURE. Ouch...

McCaskey, meanwhile, screams to Burke:

McCASKEY

What the sh*t is going on?

Burke sighs, shakes his head:

BURKE:

Roger just met his new partner.

36 INT. OFFICE 36

Darkness. A soft CLICK as a gun is cocked. The barrel

gleams faintly in the dim light. A voice:

MAN (O.S.)

There are three guns on you.

VISITOR:

Easy. Take it easy.

(beat)

I'm going to light a match.

He does. Holds it near his face.

MAN (O.S.)

Thank you, Mr. Mendez.

The lights come on. Dazzling. Mendez covers his eyes.

Three men. Seated in chairs. Shirt sleeves and shoulder

holsters. The LEADER speaks.

LEADER:

If you'll follow me, please.

MENDEZ:

Who the hell are you?

LEADER:

That's hardly important. If you

like, you may call me Mr. Joshua.

MENDEZ:

Swell.

They move toward a door in the rear wall.

JOSHUA (LEADER)

I trust you're having a pleasant

holiday season?

MENDEZ:

(looks at him)

Yeah. It's a f***ing joy, thank

you.

37 INT. BACK OFFICE - SAME TIME 37

The door opens into a dimly-lit office. Stained carpet.

Rotten wood. A desk.

Behind the desk sits a large, rugged man with eyes like

chips of stone. This is the GENERAL.

GENERAL:

Yes, Joshua... ? Ah, Mr. Mendez.

Please, have a seat.

Joshua stands off to one side. Mendez sits.

MENDEZ:

(under his breath)

Where'd you get him? Psychos 'R.'

Us?

GENERAL:

Hardly.

Points to another merc.

MENDEZ:

I like the sunglasses. Very

Hollywood.

GENERAL:

Mr. Larch is unfortunately missing

an eye. For anonymity's sake, he

chooses to forego wearing a patch.

MENDEZ:

Swell. Blind people with guns.

This is a class act. Maybe we

can run over to the V.A. and

pick up a couple amputees.

Bargain rates after six.

GENERAL:

I don't find you funny.

MENDEZ:

I don't find this goddamn setup

funny.

(beat)

You're using mercenaries, for

Chrissake. Tell me I'm wrong.

GENERAL:

No. You're not wrong.

MENDEZ:

And I'm supposed to trust these

bozos?

GENERAL:

My people are loyal, Mr. Mendez.

They are loyal to me.

MENDEZ:

Bullshit.

GENERAL:

Joshua. Hold out your hand.

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