The Corruptor Page #9

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LEE:

As you wish.

Lee turns May toward Chen and rubs her breasts.

LEE:

Would you like a turn?

Chen, looks at the young girl then turns and exits the

room. Lee laughs as a figure moves out of a steam

room behind him.

LEE:

We've got a Federal Agent sniffing around. We'll have

to postpone delivery.

Lee glances toward Fukienese leader, Bobby Vu.

BOBBY VU:

We can't. The boat's coming into port next week.

LEE:

Then it'll wait at the port.

BOBBY VU:

I'm not afraid of the F.B.I.

Lee pushes May under the water toward his crotch.

LEE:

Everything we've done has been to keep the Feds

focused on Uncle Benny. When he's gone, and I lead

the triad, you and your Fukienese brothers will

make all the money you want.

BOBBY VU:

Then let's kill him now.

LEE:

When Uncle Benny's indicted, he'll be

dangerous to our partners in Hong Kong. And

killing him, will come with thanks

instead of retribution.

BOBBY VU:

And Chen too.

LEE:

All in time.

EXT:
GOLDFLOWER RESTAURANT, DOYERS STREET, MORNING

Through the glass we see Wallace pay the tab on his

morning's breakfast. He picks up a toothpick and a

mint and exits the building. He starts to move east

when a man steps beside him.

LEE:

Do you remember me?

Wallace looks closer...and sees Henry Lee who stays

in step with Wallace as he walks up Bowery.

WALLACE:

Yeah.

LEE:

I have information about the girl you found in the

garbage dumpster.

WALLACE:

How'd you find me?

LEE:

You're conspicuous in Chinatown...Two brothers

on Chrystie Street bring in illegals. The woman,

worked in their brothel, then tried to run. They left

her as a message to the others.

WALLACE:

How do you know?

LEE:

Everyone knows. But no one's going to speak of it.

Especially to the police.

WALLACE:

Why are you?

LEE:

I knew her.

Lee looks at Wallace, and for a moment he seems

almost sad.

WALLACE:

What are their names?

LEE:

You can't tell anyone how you found out. Not even

Chen.

WALLACE:

Forget it.

LEE:

For every person who knows, the chances of me,

or one of my children being killed in reprisal

increases a hundred fold.

WALLACE:

I can't.

LEE:

That girl was fifteen...And there are more to come if

you don't help us. Wallace thinks, remembering

the girl as she was stuffed into the body bag....He

knows he shouldn't, but he nods his head and Lee

hands him a piece of paper.

LEE:

Check the basement of a place called TONY'S. Don't

worry. This is how things get done in Chinatown.

INT:
FIFTEENTH PRECINCT, AGU OFFICE-DAY

Chen enters the room where Deng is filling out

paperwork.

CHEN:

Wallace come in yet?

DENG:

I don't think so.

The concern is easily read on Chen's face.

EXT:
142 CHRYSTIE STREET-DAY

Wallace anxiously watches the apartment building. He

steadies his nerves, then crosses the street and

enters through the front door.

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE HALLWAY - DAY

It's damp and poorly lit. Wallace moves down the

narrow hall and stops by the door next to the

incinerator. He jimmies the lock.

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, STAIRS - DAY

He descends the stairs into the darkness. His mouth

dries as he pulls his gun. He moves down a narrow

corridor, passing a wooden door, when he hears

something from inside. Faint breathing. He reaches

for the doorknob. It's locked. He takes the slim jim

from his jacket pocket and easily opens the door.

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - DAY

It's dark. Wallace takes his mag-light and scopes the

room. He steps back, startled, when he sees thirty

FEMALE FACES, gaunt, eyes glazed, huddled in the

room like prisoners of war. None look older than

fifteen. Wallace stands looking at the young women

when he hears noise further down the hall. Slowly, he

steps back

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, CORRIDOR-DAY

and creeps toward a second door framed with the

bright light from within. It sounds like a small motor

mixed with whimpering. He looks through the

keyhole. It takes a moment for his eye to adjust.

When it does he jumps to his feet and kicks open the

door.

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - DAY

WALLACE:

POLICE!

The room is awash in bright light, almost blinding

Wallace coming from the darkness. But there, on a

bed, he sees the source of the cries. Three young

WOMEN engaged in forced sex.

He turns toward the light which is set atop a video

camera recording the scene. A MAN, mid forties,

throws the camera at Wallace and races for the door.

Wallace tackles him into the dark hallway...

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT, CORRIDOR-DAY

...and pummels him with his fist. A loud BANG and a

flash of light from the end of the hall as someone

fires a bullet at Wallace.

Instinctively, without thinking, he fires back, hitting

the SHOOTER, who slumps to the ground. The impact of

his first shooting washes over him. In that moment,

the man beneath him pushes to his feet and begins

running down the hall.

WALLACE:

STOP!

The man grabs for the dead shooter's gun, turns and

takes a bullet from Wallace's Glock before he can

squeeze off a shot. Wallace stands frozen. The smoke

from his gun fills the tiny hallway. He tastes blood

and realizes he bit through his lip.

INT:
142 CHRYSTIE BASEMENT ROOMS - LATER (DAY)

The place is now brightly lit as COPS and FORENSICS

scour the area. Chen enters from the far end and pulls

Wallace aside.

CHEN:

What were you doing in here?

WALLACE:

I came out of the diner on Pell Street and saw

some guy snatch a purse. I chased him into the

building, but I lost him inside. Then I heard

screaming from down here. I just stumbled into

it.

Chen stares at him as Ung and Deng approach from

upstairs.

UNG:

There's close to forty women here, all illegals.

And we found a storeroom with about a hundred

tapes.

DENG:

And the landlord remembers the four Jane

Does we pulled outta the dumpsters as part of

the stable.

Ung extends his hand to Wallace.

UNG:

Good job, Detective.

Chen eyes Wallace who takes Ung's hand.

WALLACE:

Thanks, Junior.

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