The Corruptor Page #2

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Chen drives another kick into his stomach, then yanks him to

his feet.

INT PHAN HO'S LAMPS - NIGHT

CHEN:

English?

(The boy nods)

What do they call you?

YOUNG GANGSTER:

Jack.

CHEN:

Tell Bobby Vu, his time is running out in Chinatown.

He kicks the kid out the door and turns toward the shell-shocked

shopkeeper looking at the shambles of his livelihood.

A teetering lamp topples from a shot up table but Chen catches

it before it hits the floor. He looks over at the owner, crying.

Chen places a fist full of fives from his winnings on the counter.

CHEN:

I'll take this one.

EXT:
ONE POLICE PLAZA -DAY

Establishing.

INT:
ONE POLICE PLAZA-DAY

A LACKEY for the Mayor stands at a podium addressing a room

filled with UNIFORMS and PRESS. Beside him, sporting a chest

full of commendations on his dress blues, is Nick Chen.

LACKEY:

In the history of the Fifteenth precinct, few officers have

done more to serve and protect the public of this great city

than Lieutenant Nicholas Chen...

In the rear of the room is DANNY WALLACE. He's 24 and has only

four spaces on his face that need shaving. But his eyes are smart

and always moving, except now. They're fixed on Nick Chen like

he was delivering the sermon on the mount.

LACKEY:

...Lieutenant, for bravery in the line of fire and bringing to

justice those responsible for the Chinatown Bombing and

the tragic death of Beth Kadell, the mayor and people of

New York thank you and present you with this commendation.

The Lackey pins another hunk of brass on Chen as the room

erupts in cheers. And no one louder than Danny Wallace,

who whistles as the Lackey and Chen shake for the cameras.

INT:
NICK CHEN'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN, MOTT STREET-NIGHT

The whistle comes from a screaming teapot. Chen, dressed in

a robe, pours the water into a bowl of rice which begins

sizzling like a steak. Unlike his wardrobe, his place is modest.

The lamp from Phan's fits in nicely.

Tired, he stares vacantly at the wallpaper until a gorgeous

Chinese girl, 19, walks in from the bedroom. By the way

she's tying her dress we know she was recently very naked.

He knows her as MAY. Chen slides open a drawer and pulls out

some cash.

MAY:

(Cantonese)

Mr. Lee said no charge.

She bows and walks out the door. Chen watches the young

immigrant leave and can't help feeling like half a dirt-bag.

He throws the cash back into the drawer and shuts it.

Eventually, he gets up and crosses to the window. He eats

his soup in the lifeless apartment, glancing down at the

simple, elegant shrine to his dead father. He turns his

attention out the window looking out on the palpable

energy and vigor of a bustling Chinatown.

EXT:
CHEN'S APARTMENT, MOTT STREET-LATER (NIGHT)

A rush of sound as Chen steps from the building. Activity

swirls around him as he moves south on the narrow street.

His demeanor starts quiet. But as he moves through the

boisterous people, who genuflect like he's an Arab Sheik,

a smile curls his lips and the 200 watt bulbs behind his

eyes flick on. Every man gets a nod and every girl gets

a little bit more. It's his town...and it gives him life.

omitted

INT BLUE EMPRESS CAFE - NIGHT

He moves through the upscale family eatery, picking up

the Bacardi and Coke a BARTENDER fixed the second he

saw Chen step through the door. He strides into the kitCHEN...

INT BLUE EMPRESS KITCHEN - NIGHT

...cuts to the back and approaches a door guarded by a

wannabee SUMO wrestler. The big man lets him through.

INT BLUE EMPRESS OFFICE - NIGHT

Inside, behind a desk sporting two surveillence monitors,

working a phone is HENRY LEE. He's mid- forties and slicker

than an oil spill. The consummate chameleon. Whatever he

needs to be, he is. If Satan walks earth, it's in the body of

Henry Lee.

LEE:

(Cantonese)

Forty thousand a piece. Fifty percent up front or else

the shipment will never leave the boat...Fine.

Lee hangs up as Chen fires the smoke he lifted from an ivory box on Lee's desk.

LEE:

My congratulations on your commendation. I trust you

enjoyed the little gift I sent over.

Lee lights a cigarette of his own, enjoying making Chen feel

like a mutt. Chen doesn't like it much, but knew it would happen

the minute he started undressing Lee's present.

LEE:

Uncle Benny is very proud of you.

Lee reaches into his desk drawer, produces a bulging envelope

and hands it to Chen who quickly counts the pile of hundreds.

CHEN:

Thought he'd be more proud this time.

LEE:

He is.

Lee lifts his wastepaper basket revealing strips of paper.

LEE:

Your markers. Two thousand eighty three of them. You

really should consider other forms of recreation.

Chen slides the envelope of cash into his jacket pocket.

CHEN:

Your soldier who got killed the other day was working

with the F.B.I.

Lee's smile dampens but his calm remains intact.

LEE:

Really?

CHEN:

Medical Examiner found a wire on him and the Feds

came down to pick it up. Lucky for you it had about six

bullets in it so it wasn't much good.

LEE:

Lucky for you too maybe.

Chen lets it pass.

CHEN:

That, plus the tourist who got killed, have the

Feds worked up. Word is they're going after the

triad. Probably Uncle Benny himself.

LEE:

Why us? It's the Fukienese Dragons who killed her.

We're just trying to do business as we've always done.

CHEN:

Because you're suppose to keep order in Chinatown.

LEE:

It's not like it once was. The youth gangs are not

easily controlled. They have no respect, no honor.

CHEN:

That's your problem. You can't control them, the

Feds are gonna revoke your free parking.

LEE:

Taking care of the Fukes is your problem. That's why

we pay you.

CHEN:

Yeah, well, it doesn't really matter cause to the Feds

you're all the same.

LEE:

You mean "we're" all the same. Remember, as I go, you go.

Chen doesn't say anything because he knows Lee's right. After

a moment he gets up from the chair.

CHEN:

The Ginza massage is getting a visit from us tomorrow

night, so move it or lose it.

LEE:

Go ahead and take Ginza. More arrests will help keep

things calm.

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