The Usual Suspects Page #7

Baer eyes the corpses on the dock, burned beyond recognition.

COP:

Looking for anyone in particular?

Baer looks at the cop for the first time, unamused.

BAER:

f don't want any of the bodies taken away

until I've had a chance to go over this,

understood?

COP:

I have to clear the scene. I've got word

direct from the Chief

Baer lights a cigarette, only half listening.

BAER:

(Unimpressed)

Yes, the chief. Spooky stuff. Any

survivors?

COP:

Two. There's a guy in county hospital,

but he's in a coma. The D.A. has the

other guy - A cripple - from New York I

think. Listen, the Chief said -

BAER:

Excuse me.

Baer walks away from the cop, ignoring him completely. He

wanders through the carnage on the pier.

YELLOW 06/11/94

22.

20 MT. OCEAN

20

A half mile out from the pier.

The sea is choppy, stirred by the wind. An object floats into

view a few feet away, bobbing in the water.

It is A DEAD BODY - a man, face down, wearing a CHECKERED

BATHROBE. He drifts quietly toward the open ocean.

21 INT. HEARING ROOM - DAY - LOS ANGELES PRESENT 2:

Verbal Kint sits in a chair in front of a microphone attached

to a tape recorder, his brow beaded with sweat.

On the wall behind him is the seal of the STATE OF CALIFORNIA

He is cleaner, better kept, in a well-cut suit and neatly

trimmed hair. He looks older than he did in New York - worn

down.

A flurry of voices banter off screen. Verbal's eyes follow

the voices back and forth.

VOICE #1 (O.S.)

My client offers his full cooperation in

these proceedings. In exchange, his

testimony is to be sealed and all matters

incriminating to himself are to be

rendered inadmissible.

VOICE #2 (O.S.)

The district attorney's office will

comply provided -

VOICE #1

No provisions, nothing. My clients

testimony for his immunity.

VOICE #2

May-I be frank, Counselor? I suspect your

political power as much as I respect it.

I don't know why Mr. Kint has so many

faceless allies in City Hall, and I don't

care. The embarrassment he helped cause

the city of New York will not happen

here.

VOICE #1

Immunity.

YELLOW 06/11/94

22A.

VOICE #2

Counselor, I will prosecute your client.

VOICE #1

Then prosecute. I will be very impressed

to see if the District Attorney manages

to bring in twenty-seven simultaneous

counts of murder against one man with

cerebral palsy. I would think a man with

your job would agree with these alleged

"faceless people in City Hall" you

mention.

VOICE #2 1

One would think the counsel is veiling a

threat.

VOICE #1 +

Counsel isn't veiling anything.

VOICE #2

I'11 take my chances then. I'11 feel

safer without a job if a man like Mr.

Kint is behind bars.

VOICE #1

Mr. Kint will plead guilty to weapons

possession.

VOICE #2

You're joking.

VOICE #1

Weapons. Misdemeanor one.

VOICE #2

Counselor, you're insulting me.

VOICE #1

Counselor, you're bluffing. Shall I push

for misdemeanor two?

Voices mumble off screen. Verbal fidgets in his chair.

VOICE #2 +

Misdemeanor one. Fine. This is

ludicrous.

A tiny smile and a genuine look of disbelief flash across

Verbal's face.

YELLOW 6/11/94

22B.

VOICE #2 (CONT'D)

(Clearing throat)

As for the rest of the charges grand

larceny, arson... murder - the district

attorney will accept the subject's

testimony in connection with the above

mentioned events and in exchange will

offer complete immunity. The

transcript... The transcript of said

testimony will be sealed and all matters

incriminating to Mr. Kint will be

rendered inadmissible.

Verbal lets out a long-held sigh of relief.

22 INT. POLICE STATION - HALLWAY - DAY

22

David Kujan is walking quickly beside SERGEANT RABIN, a dark

and weathered looking man in his late thirties. They move up

a staircase into the heart of police headquarters.

KUJAN:

What do you mean I can't see him?

RAB IN:

The D.A. came down here last night ready

to arraign before they even moved him to

county. Kint's lawyer comes in and five

minutes later, the D.A. comes out looking

like he'd been b*tch-slapped by the

boogey man. They took his statement and

cut him a deal.

KUJAN:

Did they charge him with anything?

RAB IN:

Weapons. Misdemeanor two.

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