The Brave One Page #4

Yeah, well, have him call me.

What is she?

Like a DJ or something?

- No, she's just interesting, you know.

- Interesting?

Have him call me at my desk.

It's Mercer.

What's she want with you?

Give her my number.

What's her precise street address?

You know what I want?

I want everyone in the market

that night...

...everyone on the subway, outside.

Everybody, I need them all brought in.

Somebody has to have seen this guy.

I need you to get the registration

off of this iPod.

- See who it belongs to.

- I'm on it.

You've been avoiding me.

- No, I haven't.

- Yeah.

You've been avoiding

the full glare of my disapproval.

Yeah, well, it was... The show sucked

and everybody hated it. I'm sorry.

Well, we don't normally do silence

on WNKW.

You almost managed a full minute.

Well, I think I did

an okay recovery, so...

You got 11 more steps, do you?

Are they all gonna be on the air?

I thought we were better than

some AM confessional...

...but people are responding.

I was wrong.

I'm big enough to admit it, so keep it up.

Erica Bain?

Erica Bain.

I'm Detective Mercer. You...

You remember me from last night?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, well...

...I saw you in the hospital after...

After what had happened

to you and to your friend.

My friend?

Yeah. I stopped by your room, you know,

because I recognized your name.

My wife, she used to listen to your show

all the time and...

...that was why I stopped you

in the subway.

I just wanted you to know that.

Thank you.

You know, it was disturbing.

It really was. I mean, you were gone.

And to see somebody...

...that can't see you, it...

But you're back now.

Yeah, I'm back now.

A lot of people don't make it back.

I know that.

I know you do. You see...

...I checked into your case.

- You checked into my case?

- Yeah.

We got two of the best detectives

in this city that's working on this...

...and we will find them.

We always do.

Are policemen always so confident?

Are you interviewing me now?

- Yeah, I guess I am.

- Right.

Okay.

How long is this gonna take?

Five minutes, tops.

We can do it over here.

Yeah.

When you first go to a crime scene...

...what do you look for?

- Evidence.

Okay, such as?

Murder weapon, entry wound...

...DNA samples, prints,

carbon fragments...

...position of the corpse.

It's amazing what a dead body

can tell you.

So the dead do talk?

Oh, yeah. Everybody talks.

Now, most everybody lies.

But the dead can't.

And then again, the lies

tell you things too, because...

...people tell them for a reason.

And those bodies at the subway,

what are they telling you?

You read the paper.

Should I believe what I read?

You ever read about him?

Why do I know him?

That's Mr. Murrow. He owns the parking

out on Roosevelt Island.

But that's not all he does.

What else does he do?

- You really wanna know?

- Yeah.

Then this is off the record.

Okay.

He imports drugs, guns, people.

Whatever's in demand.

Found three guys that had crossed him...

...with their hands Superglued to a table

and expanding cement in their throats.

Had his wife ready

to testify against him...

...and then she's found with her brains

blown out, gun in her hand.

Nothing adds up except his lawyers.

Now he's got custody

of his stepdaughter...

...and not for sentimental reasons.

But he knows she knows something...

...and I hate to think what's

gonna happen to her. But...

...maybe you know a nicer side.

And why can't you nail him?

Because I follow the law.

Well, there's nothing you can do?

Nothing that's legal.

I didn't say that.

I didn't hear it.

Thank you.

Nothing that's legal.

So...

...there's nothing you can do?

No. No matter how bad I feel about it.

I petitioned that she be made

a ward of the court...

...but his lawyers killed that one

stone dead, so...

Ever shot anyone?

Yeah.

Did your hands shake?

No.

But that's one of the benefits

of being on the right side.

A benefit that that a**hole and

the subway shooter don't have.

And you think they're the same?

They both walked away from a murder,

didn't they?

Let me ask you a question.

Just us.

How did you...

...pull it back together

after what happened to you?

You don't.

I'm sorry.

- No, no.

- Jacked-up question, man.

It's a fair question. You...

You become someone else.

A stranger.

You must have loved him very much.

Yeah.

Sometimes that just makes it harder,

you know. You just wish you didn't.

So, come on, some more cop stuff.

- Or are we done?

- No, l... We're good.

Thanks.

And... here.

That's my card. You...

You wanna talk about your case,

you can call me. Any time.

I warn you...

...I don't sleep.

Neither do I.

I walk the streets at night now.

I find places and things

I never knew existed.

But am I finding them

or are they finding me?

Ever shot anyone?

Yes.

Did your hands shake?

No, that's one of the benefits

of being on the right side.

That from a police detective covering

last night's subway shooting.

And like all good cops,

he believes in the law...

... in right and wrong,

and the thin, fragile line between them.

And he's probably wondering,

as I speak...

... why is somebody

doing his job for him?

Hey, baby.

- Hello.

- What's up, honey?

Not much.

So, what would 50 dollars do for you?

- Shouldn't she be at home?

- She got no home.

Have you, honey?

- Where to?

- Come on in.

- You're looking for a show in the back seat?

- Oh, yeah.

What's your name, honey?

Chloe.

What's he got in mind, Chloe?

The little whore needs a mommy.

Are you a mommy?

You're a whore, right?

I'm collecting whores.

You know them suicide bombers

over in Iraq?

When they die they want 72 virgins.

Me, I want whores.

I want them while I'm alive.

You know, Chloe and I

are gonna take a little walk.

- You ain't going nowhere.

- Never get in the car.

How long have you been in it?

Four...

...five, six days.

Since...

Since Vegas.

But you wanna go now, don't you?

Yes.

Are you giving me grief again?

Oh, my, got us a supercunt here.

Open the doors.

And if I don't?

Then I'll be the last supercunt

you'll ever see.

Get out of the car, Chloe. Go on.

Not until he pays me.

All right, pay the girl.

Come on! Easy.

All of it.

All of it!

Come on, walk.

Don't turn around. Just keep going.

You got a family back there, Chloe,

in Vegas?

No. I went there from Albuquerque.

Well, you got enough money

to get you home now.

Ain't you a sad whore?

Get out of the way!

Hey. Hey!

You're okay. You're okay, come on.

Let me turn you over.

All right. I'm so sorry. Here.

Is this...

...still America?

Yeah. Your leg is broken.

Who the hell are you?

I'm nobody.

There is no going back...

... to that other.

She is gone.

This thing, this stranger...

... it's all you are now.

You walking out the heat?

Yeah.

Are you all right?

Your hands are cold as ice.

Your lipstick is smudged.

Erica. Erica!

You never said my name before.

I heard your show.

Right and wrong?

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