The Corruptor Page #13

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CHEN:

About yesterday. You saved my life out there.

WALLACE:

Part of the job.

CHEN:

Maybe. I still want to say thank you.

WALLACE:

You know what it means I saved your life.

Chen smiles as he causually but carefully looks

through the papers on Wallace's coffee table.

CHEN:

This is America, it doesn't mean anything.

That said...Feds got you nervous?

WALLACE:

No.

CHEN:

Good. Cause whether it's the Feds, Internal

Affairs, whoever, the inside of a cop car is

sacred. You don't tell them what we do

unless you discuss it with me first.

WALLACE:

Why the sudden paranoia?

CHEN:

I'm just sayin'. Anybody asks you a question.

You ask me first.

Chen crosses to Wallace and stands face to face with

him, making his point clear.

CHEN (cont'd)

No more talking with the Feds until we're

working off the same page.

Understood?

WALLACE:

Yeah...sure.

CHEN:

Good.

Chen turns and walks out the door. Wallace lets out a

breath.

EXT:
THE TOMBS-DAY

New York's city prison and holding facility. Like any

toilet, it's filled with sh*t.

INT:
THE TOMBS - INTERROGATION ROOM

Sitting behind a desk is Chen. The Guards put Jack in a

chair then step back into the hall. Chen eyes the kid

who looks even smaller in his prison rags. He waits a

moment, then puts a surveillance photo of Jack's

girlfriend Amy San on the table between them.

CHEN:

Nice looking girl. Did you know she's in the country

illegally?

Jack looks from the picture to Chen.

CHEN:

Gonna have to send her back...after a little

jail time of course. Shame you two'll never

see each other again.

Jack's toughness is gone.

JACK:

You can't send her, she's in trouble there.

She'll be...

CHEN:

Too bad. I can't help you. That's what you told me

isn't it?

Jack feels the noose closing around his neck. He

doesn't have much choice. He speaks quietly, already

afraid of what he has to do.

JACK:

I help you, when they move me, she come too,

with papers?

Chen nods, then places a small tape recorder on the

table. Jack looks at it like it was poison. Chen then

puts a business card beside it.

CHEN:

My pager number. Punch one one after your number

so I know it's you.

Jack reaches for the card and recorder. When he

does, Chen grabs his wrist and pulls him closer.

CHEN (cont'd)

I get you out, you better not run on me.

Jack looks at Chen and knows he's serious.

CHEN (cont'd)

I want to know who shot that undercover Fed.

And I want to know if whoever it was talks to

Henry Lee

Chen lets go of Jack and motions to the Guards. They

reenter the room, pick up Jack and take him back to

his cell. Chen watches him go and it's clear he doesn't

feel good about what he just did.

EXT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY

A truck filled with dead pigs hanging on hooks, stands

on the corner. MEN carry said swine to small vans

parked at the curb.

Chen, carrying groceries, walks past the workmen

and up to his door. He glances toward the vans as he

slides in his key.

INT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY

Chen, still struggling with the death of the

undercover agent, plops the package on the table,

takes out a bottle of Bacardi and cracks the seal. He

pours a portion of it into a half empty liter of Coke

and hits it as he crosses to the window.

EXT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT - POV MEAT VANS - DAY

He looks at the meat vans.

INT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET - DAY

He picks up the phone and punches in a number.

VOICE (PHONE)

New York Times.

CHEN:

I just called to tell you that Pete Schabacker of

the F.B.I. is a hemorrhoid-licking a**hole.

VOICE (PHONE)

Excuse me?

Chen hangs up, sips his muscled Big Gulp and finally

has something to laugh about.

INT:
MEAT VAN, MOTT STREET-DAY

Tucked inside one of the meat vans, is a reel-to-reel

recorder, Pete Schabacker and two hysterical AGENTS.

SCHABACKER:

Shut the f*** up.

14. HENRY'S DEAL

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INT:
HOSPITAL, SEAN WALLACE'S ROOM-DAY

Wallace moves past the other patients to his father's

bed where the big Irishman lies with his eyes closed.

Wallace looks down at him, then starts to leave.

SEAN WALLACE (O.S.)

Hey.

Wallace turns back to the bed. His father smiles at

him.

SEAN WALLACE:

Thank you.

Wallace isn't sure what he's talking about.

SEAN WALLACE:

For the money. They sent a guy, he told me you

settled up. I'm not gonna forget it.

INT:
LEE'S OFFICE-NIGHT

Lee sits behind his desk when Wallace storms into the

room.

WALLACE:

Did you cover my father?

LEE:

I'm helping you because I want you to help me.

WALLACE:

No way.

LEE:

My business is victimless. I supply services people

want and are forbidden to them by politicians.

However, you've seen there're those whose

business is not victimless. Whose tactic is violence.

I can help you rid Chinatown of those elements, and

help keep your father alive. All I ask, is that you

look out for my interests in return.

WALLACE:

You're asking for more than that.

LEE:

Long after you and I are gone there will be

gambling in Chinatown. There will be men willing

to pay a woman for her favors. And the police will

always be the last to know. That's a fact...Now

you can chase your tail in the dark and accomplish

nothing, or you can really do some good. For the

people of Chinatown, for your career and for your

father.

Lee circles his table and approaches Wallace.

LEE:

Think of how many more young girls would have

ended up in dumpsters if not for your acceptance

of my help.

Wallace does think about it. Knowing that they did

save lives. He looks out the window at a bustling

Chinatown.

LEE:

This isn't America, Danny. It's Chinatown.

LEE:

Do we agree?...Or do you want me to call the

Italians and rescind my offer? Let them deal

with your father.

The moment of choice. Its consequences are not lost

on Wallace. The decision is not easy...but slowly, he

shakes his head.

LEE:

Good. There's something I'd like you to do for me

tomorrow.

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