RONIN Page #6

FRANCOIS:

He wanted to see how you reacted when I

said that you were a cop.

SAM:

(he can't believe this)

You told him I was a cop?

FRANCOIS:

He asked me to say it.

SAM:

(looking at Vincent, truly

pissed)

He asked you to?

VINCENT:

I needed to know.

SAM:

You need to know a lot of sh*t, Vincent.

FRANCOIS:

(to Vincent, in subtitled

French)

Are you ready?

Francois's French words give Sam pause -- he's wondering

what's being said, as - Vincent moves towards Francois,

leaving Sam several steps away. The conversation is again in

SUBTITLED FRENCH.

VINCENT:

(taking out an envelope)

Here's yours.

FRANCOIS:

There's been a slight problem.

VINCENT:

(immediately tensing)

What's that?

Francois gives the slightest of nods, indicating that Vincent

should look towards a place perhaps thirty yards away -

A COPSE OF TREES, where we see a SNIPER pointed a telescopic

rifle at Vincent.

FRANCOIS:

(still in subtitled French)

If you say a word in English, Vincent, my

friend with the high powered sporting

rifle will shoot you in the throat.

Sorry to screw you over like this, but

the information you want might get me

killed if I give it to you, and that's a

price I'm not willing to pay.

VINCENT:

(in French)

I take it you still want the money...

FRANCOIS:

(in English, with a grin)

Of course.

SAM'S POV:
Looking at Vincent and Francois.

The men are talking, and from here we can't really hear them

speak. All Sam can see is an earnest Vincent listening to

Francois talk, almost as if Francois is giving Vincent

instructions. Now - Vincent reaches into his pocket,

reaching for the envelope of cash he's carrying. As he hands

the money to Francois, Vincent uses his free hand to pull out

his gun while - Sam already has his gun out -- somehow he

figured out what was going on -- and now Francois looks on in

stunned disbelief as -

Sam fires a single shot, hitting Francois in the shoulder,

driving him away from - Vincent, who now squeezes off several

rapid fire shots at the sniper, while - Francois, bleeding

but still very much alive, now has his piece free just as -

The Sniper, his gun firing wildly into the air, falls to the

ground, shot dead by Vincent, and now - Francois is drawing a

bead on Vincent when - Sam hits Francois with a fusillade of

bullets in the chest and now - A SINGLE SPENT BULLED CASING

flies through the air in SLOW MOTION and lands on the ground,

spinning around until it comes to a halt and - A HEAVY

SILENCE FALLS, as the last echo of the last gunshot finally

dies. Vincent and Sam look at one another, see that they're

still alive, and then look back at - The two men they've

shot. Francois isn't quite dead. Blood bubbles from his

lips as Vincent leans over him. Again, they speak in

SUBTITLED FRENCH

VINCENT:

Where's my information?

FRANCOIS:

(with a grim smile, pointing to

his head)

In here...

VINCENT:

Then you better find it in your heart to

tell me, Francois, because while your

death is inevitable, it still isn't

decided how painful it's going to be.

A LONG ANGLE - Vincent whispers in Francois's ear, whose grin

blanches as he realizes Vincent means to hurt him. Francois

whispers something back and then - BANG. Vincent shoots

Francois in the head, killing him instantly. Then Vincent

bends down and retrieves the envelope of money which Francois

had tucked inside his shirt. As Vincent does this, Sam comes

up from behind.

SAM:

Now would be a good time to get the f***

out of here.

INT. THE FIAT - LATER/NIGHT

The two men drive in silence for a moment. Vincent lights a

cigarette and offers one to Sam, who refuses. Finally, Sam

speaks.

SAM:

You know, what you pulled back there,

that was bullshit.

VINCENT:

I needed to see if you were a cop.

(defensively)

I'm a popular man with the police, Sam,

and whenever they try to catch me they

always do it with an inside guy -- some

man on some job who seems more

trustworthy than all the others put

together. And that's the guy you have to

watch out for.

(beat)

I hate cops...

SAM:

(insulted that Vincent would

even consider it)

Well I ain't a cop.

A BEAT, the two men driving in silence.

VINCENT:

How did you know?

SAM:

Know what?

VINCENT:

That there was a gun pointed at me.

SAM:

I saw you look off when Francois nodded

his head. I figured he wasn't pointing

out a particularly rare shrub, and the

rest was easy.

VINCENT:

But how did you know I would have the

presence of mind to pull my weapon

when I did?

SAM:

(as if it's obvious)

Because that's what I would have done...

CUT TO:

EXT. AN APARTMENT HOUSE - A LITTLE LATER/NIGHT

Vincent's Fiat is parked at the curb in front of this

apartment house. Vincent and Sam exit the car and move

towards the house -- a silence hanging between them. Right

before they go into the house, Vincent takes out the envelope

full of cash that was supposed to have been for Francois. He

thinks for a moment and then hands the whole envelope to Sam.

VINCENT:

You saved my life back there in the park.

I know this doesn't begin to make it

right between us...

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