Tequila Sunrise

MAC:

Whose idea was this?

ANDY:

What idea?

MAC:

Meeting here.

ANDY:

Theirs.

ANDY:
Why?

MAC:
It looks like we're dealing dope.

(RADIO STATIC)

MAC:

You like static?

ANDY:

It's tough getting FM.

MAC:
Under a freeway

and high tension wires.

These guys are late. What time

were they going to meet you?

ANDY:
7:00.

MAC:
Yeah, they're real late.

ANDY:

Okay, what do I do about it now?

MAC:
Why don't you just back up

and see if you can get K-EARTH?

(CAR ENGINE)

(CAR IN MOTION)

MAC:
Boy, this is not cool. He ought

to lower his brights, at least.

MAC:

Lights, goddamn it!

ANDY:
Jesus Christ!

We're just meeting here...

... to make sure

we weren't followed.

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

MAC:

Christ, how did I get here?

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

ANDY:
He's got the cash.

Now we got to go weigh it and test it.

MAC:
Why not just do it

on the hood of the car?

MAC:

Stop here.

What are you looking at?

MAC:

Peanut shells.

MAC:

Right! Jesus!

Go in the room and leave the door

unlocked. I'll be there soon.

What were you doing?

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

ANDY:

Who is it?

LELAND:

It's Leland, Dan.

- Andy, how you doing, baby?

ANDY:
Great.

Say hello to Nick.

Nick's my partner.

NICK:

Hold it.

Who the f*** is that?

It's a friend.

He's not my friend.

And I got all the friends I need.

He's my ride.

He drove me, that's all.

Let him wait in the car.

I don't like meeting strangers.

ANDY:

Really, he's just a friend of mine.

Hey, that's cool.

MAC:
Just let me take a quick leak

and I'll be out of here.

Deal's still good.

How do you want

to weigh and test it?

We'll work it out, Andy.

Maybe you shouldn't be looking for

any new faces in your life, either.

Fine with me.

I'll wait outside.

NICK:
I thought you retired.

MAC:
I am retired.

- Then what are you doing here?

- A favor.

You mean, a felony favor.

A client paid him with coke.

I'm holding his hand

while he sells it.

Man, that is one

flimsy f***ing excuse.

He also says his customer asks more

questions about me than the dope.

My phones have

funny little noises on them.

You're setting me up, Nick.

Not tonight, pal.

I got here by accident.

Talk about a flimsy f***ing excuse!

Later.

This is going down right now.

And do yourself a favor.

Don't go back to the car.

Don't you go back to the room.

There's no evidence.

I'm sorry. I couldn't afford to have

him busted, as dumb as he is.

He's my lawyer.

Who authorized this sh*t?

You did, lieutenant.

Look, that's what

we were told, okay?

COP 1:

What a waste of time.

(OVER RADIO) Units 3, 4 and 5,

return to parking lot.

(OVER RADIO)

Units 6 and 7...

... check all of the exits and the

stairwell. Look at those vents...

(COP 2) Got a runner

going across the freeway!

MAC:
F***ing-A!

MAC:
Must be the only f***ing phone

I've ever met that don't...

Get in there!

JO:
Vallenari's. Good evening.

- Hi, this is Dale McKussic.

Mr. McKussic, I'm sorry.

It's a little noisy in here.

Aren't we seeing you this evening?

I don't think

I'll make my reservation.

I'm going to be a little late.

How late will you be?

I don't know.

How late is the kitchen open?

Tell me something, Hal.

When you asked me to help, did you

know who you were asking me to bust?

I knew who it was.

Why didn't you bust him?

You know that too.

He's a friend of mine.

I'll tell you what I heard

when I came to L.A.

Nick won't work South Bay

because he won't bust McKussic.

Tonight you proved that.

You not only let him walk...

...you kicked him out and gave

him a personal escort. Why?

Because you're predictable, Hal.

You're very predictable.

Mac saw you coming a mile away.

How did you know he wasn't holding?

Was Andy Leonard?

You busted him.

NICK:
No coke. No sale.

No conspiracy to sell.

All you've got is a conversation...

...with a chickenshit

Century City lawyer.

And an entrapment lawsuit.

Mac's lawyers would make

mincemeat of you.

I let him walk to save you

from a bad bust.

Hal.

I did you a favor.

(JO OVER TELEPHONE) How are you?

(MAC OVER TELEPHONE) Fine, thanks.

NICK:

What is it?

It's McKussic.

You're kidding.

He's in and out of this place

all the time.

Andy Leonard's the lawyer

for this restaurant.

McKussic and the Vallenaris

talk drugs and money?

They're careful what they say.

NICK:

Let me hear.

I told you they're real careful.

I'm sure you're right.

Could I hear?

Yeah, sure!

(JO OVER RADIO) In that case,

why don't I give you a taste...

... of something different tonight?

How about...

... rigatoni?

(MAC OVER RADIO)

Rigatoni?

JO:
Rigatoni quattro formaggi, a

creamy blend of four Italian cheeses.

Fontina, taleggio,

gorgonzola, and parmigiano.

MAC:

Sounds good.

Sounds good to me too.

Look, before we spend another

$5,000 to hear what Mac eats...

...take my guys off the clock

and let me ask him.

Unless you guarantee the Feds

are picking up the tab tonight.

NICK:

What's good?

Everything.

Why, are you hungry?

I missed dinner.

- What are you having?

MAC:
Pasta.

Something like

rigatoni quattro formaggi?

Good guess.

Dinner's over, Bart.

Pay the tab at the bar.

L.A. Narcotics and the D.E. A...

...are arguing about

what you're doing here.

Why?

NICK:
You deal drugs

and don't pay taxes.

I'm not active these days.

But you're a legend around here.

Not only that, you're white.

They figure they'll be able

to see your picture in the paper.

MAC:

So what do you figure, Nick?

I made lieutenant.

It'll be announced next week.

I'm the head of Narcotics

for L.A. County.

Congratulations.

That's all you got to say?

What about your law degree?

Getting into the D.A.'s...

Forget about my career. The Feds

swear you're doing business here.

I'm not, here or anywhere.

And you couldn't catch me if I was.

Try the sand dabs.

Try the sand dabs.

Here, look.

Watch!

That's terrific.

You know, I just...

...think something's going on.

I'm still a detective

even when there's no crime.

What do you think's going on?

Something

you don't want me to know.

JO:
How are we treating you

this evening, Mr. McKussic?

Fine, thank you.

JO:
Can I offer you anything more?

- More?

JO:
There are two excellent fish

you haven't tried.

MAC:
Sure.

- What are they?

I thought I'd surprise you.

This is my friend, Nick Frescia.

A pleasure, Jo Ann Vallenari.

A plate for you?

I've got to be going.

JO:
Try us another night.

- What I tried tonight was terrific.

I'm pleased to hear it.

She's attractive.

Oh, yeah.

So, how about it?

How about what?

Whatever you're doing...

...do it somewhere else,

and don't make me look bad.

There is one last thing.

There's no new business.

It's an accounting problem.

The Colombians.

Another discrepancy about money.

Sure.

They don't know how to count.

I got your word, Mac?

Yeah.

One more thing.

How about another bite of that fish?

That's great!

ARTURO:
I give him two drinks.

JO:
That's two too many.

If my brother sees Nino like this...

What will he do, fire him?

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes