The Corruptor Page #19

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INT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - MORNING (DAY)

Chen carries a tray with soup and tea toward the bed

where May rests.

CHEN:

(Cantonese)

How you feeling?

MAY:

(Cantonese)

Good.

Chen pours the tea and she reaches out to touch his

hand.

MAY:

(Cantonese)

Thank you.

Chen looks at her, then hands her the cup. He watches

her drink...then finally speaks.

CHEN:

(Cantonese)

You have family here, friends?

MAY:

(Cantonese)

No one. Everybody home...everybody.

Chen watches the tears fall from May's eyes as she

drinks and thinks of home.

INT:
BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, LARGE OFFICE - MORNING

(DAY)

Lee sits behind a large desk when Chen sits across

from him.

CHEN:

Only time I was ever in here I was talking to

Benny Wong.

LEE:

He was a great man.

CHEN:

You'd know better than anyone.

LEE:

But even a great man can out last his time.

Chen studies Lee and lights a smoke.

LEE:

I've got something for you. Should quiet any

doubts as to Wallace's character...The Fukes are

bringing in a highly valuable cargo by ship.

CHEN:

That was a short partnership.

LEE:

Bobby Vu will be on-site supervising the unloading.

Take the Fukes and half the shipment. I'll keep the

other half.

CHEN:

You're getting greedy.

LEE:

I'm an American.

INT:
HOTEL BEDROOM - AFTERNOON

Clock reads 1pm. Wallace is still sleeping in the dark

when sunlight explodes throughout the room with a

WHOOSH!

CHEN:

Let's go. We got to pick up Jack and deliver him to the

Feds.

WALLACE:

What time is it?

CHEN:

Time for a shower. You stink.

Chen lifts the mattress, spilling Wallace out of the

bed. He then pops a cig into his mouth and checks his

pants for a match...None.

CHEN:

You got a match?

Chen picks up Wallace's jacket and reaches into one

of the pockets. Wallace's eyes snap to attention as he

quickly grabs a book of matches from the ashtray on

the night stand.

WALLACE:

Here.

He tosses the pack and Chen catches it. Wallace

watches him drop the jacket to the floor. His heart

skips when he hears a tink as the recorder hits the

tile...Chen doesn't notice.

CHEN:

You know you were right.

WALLACE:

About what?

Wallace crosses over, picks up his clothes.

CHEN:

I wish it was neither of us. But truth is, I'm glad it's

not just me.

Wallace looks at Chen, then heads for the bathroom.

INT:
BLUE EMPRESS CAFE - AFTERNOON

Tai and Kim talk to the Sumo who's sullen expression

grows darker. He hands each girl a c-note and

disappears into the cafe.

INT:
FEDERAL BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM-LATE

AFTERNOON:

Wallace, Chen and Jack sit waiting.

CHEN:

You sure it was Henry Lee?

JACK:

It was him.

Chen looks at Wallace as Schabacker and a middle-

aged WOMAN with short red hair enter the room.

SCHABACKER:

Everybody knows U.S. Attorney Margaret Wheeler?

MARGARET:

The tape is good. Probably enough for convictions on

Bobby Vu and the rest. But I think we hold off until

they make their move to bring in the illegal

shipment. We bust 'em on the ship. Then we go for

the murder charge, the smuggling rap and with

Jack here connecting the dots to an ongoing criminal

enterprise, we meet our racketeering requirements

and get life sentences.

CHEN:

What about Henry Lee?

SCHABACKER:

What about him, Nick?

Wallace watches Schabacker play with Chen. He

doesn't like it.

CHEN:

Do we have a case, Pete?

MARGARET:

There's enough to drag him before a grand jury,

but it's gonna be his word against their word

and he'll win. We wait till after the shipment

comes in, then the tape's got merit.

SCHABACKER:

What do you think, Danny?

Wallace looks at Schabacker, who's smiling through it

all.

WALLACE:

It's Margaret's call.

MARGARET:

Then we wait. Everybody's on around the clock.

As soon as Jack finds out when delivery is set,

we'll reconvene and organize the arrest. Margaret

is first out of her seat.

SCHABACKER:

Nick...after we bust the Fukes, you, Danny and me

should get together... Bury the hatchet. What do you

think?

CHEN:

I can't wait.

SCHABACKER:

Me neither. How 'bout you, Dan? You up for it?

Schabacker smiles at Wallace.

WALLACE:

Sure.

Wallace pushes past Schabacker and strides out of

the room.

20. NICK LEARNS THE TRUTH

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INT:
CROWN VICTORIA-DAY

Chen and Wallace cruise Chinatown in the big blue

Ford. Both men drive without saying a word.

CHEN:

What do you think about Lee?

WALLACE:

I think if Jack's tape buries him it's his fault for

trying to be too smart for his own good.

CHEN:

And how long you think it'll take him to trade for us?

WALLACE:

You thirsty? I'm thirsty.

Wallace pulls the car in front of a fire hydrant and

tosses the police tag on the dash.

INT:
JIMMY LOO'S - CONTINUOUS DAY

Wallace and Chen pull up stools as the BARTENDER

crosses over.

CHEN:

Bacardi and Coke.

WALLACE:

Bud. I'm buying.

Wallace puts his money on the bar. Both men seem to

have something on their minds.

CHEN:

I gave that Fed to Lee.

Wallace looks at Chen.

WALLACE:

I know.

The bartender brings the drinks. Both wait for the

man to move on.

CHEN:

I'm gonna have to answer for him some day.

WALLACE:

We all have something to answer for.

CHEN:

Yeah.

They sit quietly...until Chen's pager goes off. He

checks the number.

CHEN:

Speak of the devil.

WALLACE:

Lee?

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