## SID'S NARRATION ## Sid: Come to Los Angeles. The sun shines bright. The beaches are wide and inviting and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There are jobs aplenty and land is cheap. Every working man can have his own house. And, inside every house - a happy, all-American family. You can have all this. And, who knows? You could even be discovered. Become a movie star. Or at least see them. Life is good in Los Angeles. It's paradise on earth. Hehehe. That's what they tell you anyway. Because they're selling an image. They're selling it through movies, radio and television. In the hit show "Badge of Honor", the L.A. cops walk on water as they keep the city clean of crooks. Yup, you'd think this place was the Garden of Eden. But there's trouble in paradise. And his name is Meyer Harris Cohen. Mickey C to his fans, local L.A. color to the nth degree. And his #1 bodyguard, Johny Stompanato. Mickey C's the head of organized crime in these parts. He runs dope, rackets, and prostitution. He kills a dozen people a year. And the dapper little gent does it in style. And every time his picture's plastered on the front page, it's a black eye for the image of Los Angeles, because how can organized crime exist in the city with the best police force in the world? Something has to be done. But nothing too original. 'Cause, hey, it's Hollywood. What worked for Al Capone would work for the Mickster. Police: Mr. Cohen, you're under arrest. Nonpayment of federal income tax. Sid: But all is not well. Sending Mickey up has created a vacuum. An it's only a matter of time before someone with balls of brass tries to fill it. Remember, dear readers, you heard here first, off the record, on the QT and very Hush-Hush. ## BUD'S PACKARD - 4216 EVERGREEN ## Stens: You're like Santa Claus with that list, Bud. Except everyone on it's been naughty. Bud: Guy's been out on ?? two weeks. Stend: Leave it for later. We got to pick up the rest of the booze and get it to the station. Bud: Hollywood, this is 6A-7. Have Central send a prowler to 4216 Evergreen. Parole violation, assault the rising for family dispute. We won't be here, but they'll see him. (Stens laughs.) Wife beater: Who the hell are you? Bud: Ghost Christmas Past. Why don't you dance with a man for a change? Bud: You'll be out in a year and a half, I'll get cozy with your parole officer. If You touch her again I'll have you violated on a kiddie raper beef. You know what they do to kiddie rapers up at Quentin? Bud: (to beaten wife) You got someplace to go? Bud: (to beaten wife) Go get yourself fixed up. Beaten Wife: Merry Christmas, huh? Bud: Merry Christmas, ma'am. Stens: Let's go, Bud. The boys will be waiting. ## 'BADGE OF HONOR' SET ## Karen: What do you do on "Badge of Honor", Jack? Jack : I'm the.. technical adviser. I teach Brett Chase how to walk and talk like a cop. Karen: Brett Chase doesn't walk and talk like you. Jack: Well that's because he's television version. America isn't ready for the real me. Karen: Is it true you're the one who arrested Robert Mitchum? Jack: Hmm. Karen: These "Badge of Honor" guys like to pretend, but being the real thing must be a thrill. Jack: Why don't you and I go someplace quiet -- cos I'd love to give you the low down on Mitchum... Sid: Big V Jack Vincennes! Jack: Hey! Sid: May I have this dance? Jack: Of course, Karen, this is Sid Hudgens from Hush-Hush magazine. Sid: Hellooo. Karen. Karen: Hello yourself. Jack: What's that about? Sid: We did a piece last year. "Ingenue Dykes in Hollywood." Her name got mentioned. Sid: Hey, Jackie-boy, a friend of mine just sold some reefer to Matt Reynolds. He's tripping the light fantastic with Tammy Jordan. Jack: Sorry, I have lost you for second, Sid. Sid: Contract players at Metro. You pinch them. I do you up feature in the next issue. Plus the usual fifty cash. Jack: No I need another fifty. Two twenties to two patrolmen and a dime for the watch commander at Hollywood Station. SId: Jackie! It's Christmas! Jack: No it's not. It's felonly possession of marijuana. Sid: Actually, it's circulation thirty-six thousand and climbing. It is no telling where this is gonna go. Radio, television. Once you whet the public's appetite for the truth and the sky's the limit. ## HOLLYWOOD STATION ## Reporter #1: Sergeant Ed Exley, son of the legendary Preston Exley. Must be a hard act to follow. Why don't make marks somewhere else, why become a cop, Ed? Ed: I like to help people. Reporter #1: We heard two officers were assaulted this evening. What do you think about that? Ed: Goes with the job. But I took the report and luckily they're ok. Reporter #1: Aren't you a little young to be watch-commander? Ed: It's only for tonight. The.. married men have Xmas' Eve off. Reporter #2: That's a good lead for the story. Reporter #1: Captain Smith! Dudley: Oh, drop the formalities, Bobby. It's Xmas Eve. Call me Dudley. Reporter: Dudley, I came up with a title for the story. I'm calling it: Silent Night with the LAPD. Dudley: Oh, that's.. that's grand. Now, remember Bobby, that's Smith, with an S. [Men chuckling] Ed: Thank you, gentlemen. Reporters: Thank you. Merry Xmas. Dudley: Hold on there, lass. [Gives Ed a cup of eggnog] I saw the test results on the Lieutenant's exam. First out of 23. What will it be then? Patrol Division? Internal Affairs? What? Ed: I was thinking Detective Bureau. Dudley: Edmund, you're a political animal. You have the eye for human weakness, but not the stomach. Ed: You're wrong, sir. Dudley: Would you be willing to plant corroborative evidence on a suspect you knew to be guilty, in order to insure an indictment? Ed: Dudley, we've been over this. Dudley: Yes or no, Edmund. Ed; No. Dudley: Would you be willing to beat a confession out of a suspect you knew to be guilty? Ed: No. Dudley: Would you be willing to shoot a hardened criminal on the back, in order to offset the chance that some lawyer... Ed: No! Dudley: Then, for the love of God, don't be a Detective. Stick to assignments where you don't have to make those kind of choices. Ed: Dudley, I know you mean well. But I don't need to do it the way you did. Or my father. Dudley: At least, get rid of the glasses. I can't think of a single man on the Bureau who wears them. ## NICK'S LIQUOR ## Nick (to Bud): If I ever get held-up, you guys better be here. Lynn: Hiya, Nick. I need a delivery. A case each of gin, rum, scotch. Nick: That sounds like a hell of a party, Lynn. I'll be right with. Bud: Merry Xmas. Lynn: Merry Xmas to you, Officer. Bud: That obvious, huh? Lynn: It's practically stamped on your forehead. ## OUTSIDE NICK'S LIQUOR - PATCHETT'S CAR ## Patchett: See ?? Buzz. Meeks: (to Bud) Hey, get lost why don't you? Bud: Get you fucking head down. Meeks: I got a license for that. Meeks: Cut me some slack. I used to be a cop. Bud: Leland Meeks? Never heard of it. Meeks: They call me Buzz. Bud: I don't give a rat's ass what they call you. Now keep your head down and stay there, Buzz... Bud: (to Susan) You OK? Patchett: She's fine. Bud: I'm not asking you, sir. Somebody hits you? Lynn: It's not what you think. Bud: What is it then? Susan: You got the wrong idea, mister. I'm fine. Lynn: But it's nice to know you care. Bud: ?? Stens: What's going on? Bud: You know him? Stens: Yeah, seen him around. He used to be a cop. (laugh) ## MARAVILLA ## Sid: They're sitting in the dark, goofing on the Christmas tree. Jack: Alright, put your camera, right there. When I walk out, up the operator here to get the movie premiere in the background. Sid: I like it, I like it! "The Movie Premiere Pot Bust." Jack: And when I walk out the door, I do not want the goddamned flood light of yours in my eyes. Sid: Big V, consider it done, you hear that, Chip? Alright, come on. Jack: Freeze! Police! Sid: Hold it. Jack: Come on, come on! Let's go. Sid: Hold it. Got it! The movie premiere pot bust! Jack: (to cops) Take care them right to Hollywood Station. I'll get the evidence. Jack: "Fleur-de-Lis..?" Sid: "It's Christmas eve in the City of Angels, and while decent cititzens sleep the sleep of the righteous, hopheads prowl for marijuana, not knowing that a man is coming to stop them. The celebrity crimestopper Jack Vincennes, the scourge of grasshoppers and dope fiends everywhere." You like it, Jackie-Boy? Jack: Yeah, subtle. ## HOLLYWOOD STATION ## Cop: What took you so long, Stens? Stans: My partner stopped to help a damsel in distress. He's got his priorities all screwed up. Cop: Up to your old tricks again, Bud? Cop: Hey Jack, Hollywood Jack! What brings you to our humble station, huh? Cop: Hey Big V, what're you doing here? Jack: Hey, you know me, I'm keeping the streets safe, boys. Alright, take these two, get him dressed and book her. Cop: Jack, great party upstairs! Jack: Ok, I'll be right up. [whispers] Exley. [taps the dime bill.] Ed: What's that for? Jack: Well, you are a watch-commander tonight, aren't you? Ed: Yeah. So? Jack: It's a gratuity from Hush-Hush magazine, you know, buy yourself a new pair of loafers. Ed: No thanks, Jack. You keep your payoff. I'm not interested. Ed: What the hell's this? Cop: Six spic, er, the Mexicans, sir. The ones who assaulted Brown and Helenowski. Jack: Yeah, I heard Helenowski lost six pints of blood and Brown's in a coma. Ed: They're home with bruises and muscle pulls. Cop: It's not what I heard. Ed: Let's get these men booked at the end of the lockup. Cop: Hey, Stens. You guys hear what those taco vendors did to Helenowski and Brown? Helenowski lost an eye and they're reading Brown read his last rites. Stens: Well, that ought to make for a very merry Xmas for Helenowski and Brown. Cop: Hey, guys! Guys, we brought the Mexicans in. They're downstairs. Ed: All right, men, Back to work. Ed: Hey, Stens, the party's upstairs. ?? Reporter: I know it's Christmas Eve. I just want to ask a few more questions to that kid Exley Jack: Hey, White? You better put a leash on your partner before he kills somebody. Stens: This is for ours, Pancho. Ed: Let me through! Bud: Hey, hey.. Garcia: And fuck your mother. Bud: Fuck you! Ed: Stop, Officer! That's an order! Ed: You're all going on my report! ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : CHIEF'S OFFICE ## Chief: Bloody Xmas. The press loved to label. Officer White, you should know this is bigger than police board. The grand jury is convening, indictments may be handed down. Will you testify? Bud: No sir, I won't. Chief: District Attorney Loew? Loew: You and Officer Stensland brought the liquor to the station. Stensland was already drunk. So do you see how appearing as a voluntary witness against him could offset the damage that you've done to yourself? Bud: Sir, I won't testify against my partner or anyone else. Loew: This man is a disgrace. Chief: Your badge and gun, Officer. You're suspended from duty. Dismissed! Chief: Ed, we need police witnesses to offset the damage done to the Department. I'm asking if... Ed: Justice has to be served. Of course I'll testify. Chief: Why do you feel that way, Edmund? Most of the men don't. Ed: That's because they think silence and integrity are the same thing. Chief (to Loew): Not exactly the image of the new LAPD we're trying to create. Loew: [chuckles] Welcome to Los Angeles, the City of the Future. Ed: May I make a suggestion, sir? Chief: By all means. Ed: The public will expect the Department to protect its own, sweep this under the carpet. Don't. Shift the guilt to men whose pensions are secured. Force them to retire. But somebody has to swing. So indict, try and convict Richard Stensland and Bud White. Secure them jail time. The message will be very clear: this Department, your new LAPD, will not tolerate officers who think they're above the law. Dudley: Dick Stensland is an embarrassment as a policeman. He's had rotten fitness reports from every CEO he's ever served under. But Bud White is a valuable officer. Ed: White's a mindless thug. Dudley: No, Edmund, he's just the man who can answer yes to those questions I've asked you from time to time. [Ed rolls his eyes heavenward.] Chief: The department and the public need role models, clean-cut, forthright men the public can admire. Sergeant, I'll promote you, to Lieutenant. Effective immediately. Ed: *Detective* Lieutenant. Chief: Ed, you're 30. Your father didn't make Lieutenant till he was 33. Ed: I know that, sir. I also know that when he made Lieutenant, it was as Detective. Loew: Before we start polishing our laurels, I think it will look better if we had a corroborative witness. Dudley: That won't be easy to come by. The men hate a stool pigeon. Ed: Jack Vincennes. He hit one of the Mexicans and he saw the whole thing. Dudley: Eventually Vincennes might be willing to admit his own culpability, but he'd never rat off on a fellow officer. Ed: [smiles smugly] Jack's the technical adviser on Badge of Honor. He *lives* for it. That's the way to get to him. Chief: [points to the mirror] I'd like you to observe, Ed. [presses the intercom] Call Sergeant Vincennes. Loew (to Chief): Bright kid. Dudley: You may well reap the benefit in. But are you truly prepared to be despised within the Department? Ed: Yes, sir, I am. Dudley: [stunned] So be it. Dudley: Well, Sergeant, we'll get right to it. Nine civilian witnesses have identified you as hitting Ezekiel Garcia. Loew: But, we have a stellar witness who will name names and also testify that you hit back, only after being hit. Jack: And? Loew: And you will testify against three officers who have already earned their pensions and plead ignorance to questions directed at the other men. Jack: No thanks, I'm not a snitch. Chief: I'll guarantee you a slap on the wrist. A pre-suspension followed by a temporary transfer from Narcotics to Vice. When you transfer out of Vice, you'll be back on the show. Jack: The show? Chief: Badge of Honor, Vincennes. We need to tone down your profile for a bit. Dudley: Jack, I doubt you've ever taken a stupid breath. Don't start now. Jack: Ok, I'll do it. Chief: The grand jury will hear your testimony tomorrow. Dismissed, Vincennes. Chief (to the mirror): So it goes, Detective Lieutenant. Ace him at the grand jury tomorrow, son. Wear a smart-looking suit and ace him. And Ed? Lose the glasses. ## COURTHOUSE ## Jack: So, *you*'re the stellar witness. I should have known. What's the Chief throwing you? Ed: Throwing me? Jack: Yeah, Exley, what's the payoff? Ed: You're the payoff expert. I'm just doing my duty. Jack: C'mon, you're playing an angle here, college boy? Right? You're getting something out of this so you won't have to hobnob with the rank-and-file cops who gonna hate your guts for snitching. Well, if they're making you Detective, watch out. Some Bureau guys are gonna burn in this and you gonna end up working with friend of theirs. Ed: What about you? Jack: I'm snitching three old-timers who'll be fishing in Oregon this time next week. Next to you, I'm clean. And smart. Clerk: Edmund J. Exley to chambers! Jack: And remember, Bud White will fuck you for this if it takes him the rest of his life. ## BAR ## Bud: Captain. What do you want? Dudley: Call me Dudley. Bud: Dudley. What do you want? Dudley: Look, lad, I admire your refusal to testify. And your loyalty to your partner. I admire you as a policeman, particularly your adherence to violence as a necessary adjunct to the job. And I'm most impressed with your punishment of woman-beaters. Do you hate them, Wendell? Bud: What do you want? Dudley: [lifts the newspaper] They're yours. Go ahead, take them. Bud: There's no goddamn bill on me? Dudley: Four of the witnesses recanted their testimony. Bud: Why? Dudley: They had a change of heart. Bud: What about Stensland? Dudley: Your partner's through. Departmental scapegoat on the Chief's orders. Bud: A year from his pension. Exley? Dudley: Exley made his play and got what he wanted. As a politician, he exceeds even myself. The Department needs smart men like Exley. And direct men, like you. Look, lad, I need you for an assignment the Chief's given me the go-ahead on. A duty few men are fit for. But you were born for. You'll be working out of Homicide, down the City Hall. Bud: Homicide? Working cases? Dudley: Your talents lay elsewhere, Wendell. It's a muscle job. You'll do as I say, and ask no questions. Do you follow my drift? Bud: In Technicolor, sir. ## SID'S NARRATION ## Meet Tony Brancato and Tony Trombino, two rising lieutenants of Mickey Cohen rackets. With the dapper little gent in prison, who knows how far they'll go? The sky is the limit. (Brancato and Trombino killed in their car.) Oh well... [Hit the road to Dreamland] Meet Deuce Perkins, Mickey Cohen's narcotics lieutenant. Could he be behind the hts? Is he consolidating organized crime power? (Perkins killed at his home.) I suppose not. One thing for sure, two-man triggers are punching the tickets on the Mickster's muscle. Meanwhile, the rumor has it the LAPD has set up a not-so-welcome wagon to discourage out-of-town criminal elements from filling the void left by Mickey Jackson. When I know more, dear readers, so will you--off the record, on the Q.T., and very Hush-Hush. ## VICTORY MOTEL ## Dudley: With Mickey Cohen in prison, Los Angeles is organized crime free. The Chief intends to keep it that way. Now, in Cleveland, you're an organised crime associate in desperate need of reeducation in the ways of polite society. Gang: I hear things. Like those two-man shooter teams, bang-bang, they're 86-ing Mickey Cohen's lieutenants. What do you want? Dudley: We want you to go home. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : BRIEFING ROOM ## Vice Captain: Picture book smut, gentlemen. There's been a bunch of them that's been found on collateral crime scenes lately. Quality ranges from piss-poor to...very well-done. Look who's back from suspension! Cop: [hands him the book] Here, Jack. Captain: We're honored, Sergeant Jack. Jack: Aah, look at that, the great jerk-off case of 1953. Captain: There's some place you'd rather be, Vincennes? Jack: Yeah, working Narcotics, looking for Mickey Cohen's missing H. Captain: Yeah, finding 25 pounds of heroin will get you plenty an ink. But you should have thought of that before Bloody Xmas. Jack: Oooh. Captain: Make a major case, Sergeant. It's the only way you're getting out of here. Dismissed, gentlemen. Go get the facts, Jack, just the facts. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : JACK'S DESK ## Woman's voice (on the phone): Whatever you desire. Jack: Hi... I'd like to get a delivery to Beverly Hills. Woman's voice: I don't think I know you. Jack: Well, look, a friend of mine just gave me this number and I just want to find out.... (Phone hung up.) Jack: Ginger? ?? from the reverse directory ?? name and address for me? Crestview 2-2-3-9? Sid: Hush-Hush, off the record and on the QT. Jack: Sid, it's Vincennes. Sid: Jackie, hey, back on Narco? I need some good copy. Jack: No. But I do have some going with Ad Vice. Sid: Something juicy for the Sidster? Jack: Tracking porn. Arty ?? What do you know about Fleur-de-Lis? Slogan's "Whatever you desire." Sid: No, I've heard bupkis. Get me some Narco skinny. You know I want an all hophead issue. Shvartze jazz musicians and movie stars. Hehe, you like it? Jack: I'll talk to you later, Sid. Jack: What did you ?? Ginger : No one is assigned, Sergeant. Jack: Thanks, Ginger. Jack: Bootleg.. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : HALLWAY ## (Cops well-wishing Stens) (Stens knocks off the box from Ed's hand.) Bud: Sorry about that, lieutenant. ## CITY HALL : PARKING GARAGE ## Stens: Stay out of trouble, Bud. Bud: I got a couple of hours before I have to be at the Victory. ??Come on, I'll buy you a drink.?? Stens:Rain check, partner. Bud: Come on. Stens: No, I got a hot date. Bud: Yeah? Stens: Uh-huh. Bud: Who is she and what did you arrest her for? Stens: Mm-mm. It's confidential. It's like that magazine that Vincennes scams for.(whispering) Hush-Hush. I'll see you later in the week. We'll do the town... on me. Bud: Yeah? I'll bring my wallet just in case. ## CITY HALL DETECTIV BUREAU ## Detective 1: See you tomorrow, Earl. Detective 2: Wait, I'll walk out with you. Voice: Sergeant William, pick up please. Sergeant William? Voice: Is anybody up there in homicide? Anybody there? Ed: Lieutenant Exley. Voice: You've got a homicide. Downtown Division. The Nite Owl Coffee Shop. Ed: I got it. It's mine. ## NITE OWL ## Cop: At least one person dead. I stopped for coffee- Ed: No one comes through the front door. Understand? Cop: Yes, sir. Ed: Sir, I took the call. It's my case. Dudley: You don't want it, Edmund, and you can't have it. Ed: I took the call. Dudley: It's mine. I'll make you my second in command. Ed: Look like the cook ?? in men's room. Pinker: Sir, we got a total of fifteen spent 12-guage Remington shotgun shells. I'll bet three men with five-shot-capacity pumps ?? Forensic cop: Excuse me, sir. We got an ID on one of the victims. It's Dick Stensland. ## CORONER'S OFFICE ## Coroner: ?? Call me crazy, but for a second I thought it was Rita Hayworth. Ed: Hell of a way to avoid a prison sentence. Bud: You tell me what happened. Ed: Appears three men held up a coffee shop. Guy at the register pulled a .38. They killed him and then took everyone else in the back and killed them, too. Coroner: Lieutenant, we're ready with that Nite Owl ID. Coroner: Is this your daughter, Mrs. Lefferts? Mrs. Lefferts: I - I don't know. Ed: We know this is difficult. Just take your time Mrs. Lefferts: It seems like my Susan, but my Susie was a blonde, not a red-head. Ed: When did you last time ?? Mrs. Lefferts: Just before Christmas. We had fought. I didn't like her boyfriend. I - Coroner: Mrs. Lefferts, does your daughter have any distinguishing characteristics? Mrs. Lefferts: She has a birthmark on her hip. Mrs. Lefferts: It's her. My baby. Ed: I'm sorry, Mrs. Lefferts. Bud: Who's in charge of this investigation? Ed: Captain Smith and myself. Why? ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : BRIEFING ROOM ## Dudley: "The Nite Owl Massacre." Hyperbole aside, this is a heinous crime that requires a swift resolution. Six victims. One of them, one of our own: Dick Stensland. As it happens, he was a Nite Owl regular. In the wrong place at the wrong time. Robbery is the likely motive. We have rubber glove smears on the register and preliminary forensics strongly tend towards a trio of shooters. We do have one hot lead, so listen well. Three Negro juveniles were seen discharging shotguns last night in Griffith Park. A park ranger IDed them as driving a 1948 to 1950 Mercury Coupe, maroon in color. An hour ago, a canvassing crew turned up a news vendor, who saw a maroon Merc Coupe parked across the Nite Owl around 1:00 am. DMV has come up with a registration list of Merc Coupes. 48, two-men teams, we'll shake three names apiece. Chief: Interrogations will be led by Lieutenant Edmund Exley. Cops: What?! No! Chief: Enough on that! Gentlemen, just go out and get them. Use all necessary force. The people of Los Angeles demand it. Dismissed. Ed (to himself): Why not just put a bounty on it? Cop: Ready to roll, White? Bud: You take them. I got something I gotta do. Cop: Christ, I don't know. What if one of these names... Bud: No. Get somebody else. Cop: Well, I got our assignment, Big V. Jack: We go by this list, we got about zero chance of making this collar. I got a guy who knows what's going on in South Jefferson. and I'm betting you he can put us 50-50... Cop: Jack! What are you doing? That's the sort of thing that got you in trouble the last time. Ed: I'll take those out. [snatches away the paper] We got it from here. Cop: With the two of you guys, you should bring along the photographer. ## NICK'S LIQUOR ## Bud: I need an address on a customer of yours. Her name is Lynn. Nick: That's all I have to go on? Bud: Yeah, and I think you already know who I mean, so cough it up. Nick: There's a billing address and a delivery address. ## PATCHETT'S HOUSE ## Bud: Are you Pierce Patchett? Pierce: I am. Ah, you're soliciting for police charities. Last time, you called at my office. Go on down to the driveway. We'll talk there. Pierce: What can I do for you? Bud: Where were you last night? Pierce: I was here, hosting a party. Bud: Tell me about Dick Stensland. Pierce: I don't know him, Mr...? Bud: Officer White. How about Sue Lefferts, you know her? Pierce: You know I do. You saw me with her. How did you find me? Bud: Nick's Liquor. This is where Lynn Bracken's booze bills go. Pierce: Of course. Bud: Sue Lefferts died at the Nite Owl. I'm investigating. Bodyguard: Everything all right, Mr. Patchett? Pierce: Fine, Phillip. Thank you. Bud: What happened to the other guy? Buzz? Pierce: Buzz Meeks no longer works for me. Bud: Lefferts looked beat up Xmas Eve but didn't act it. How come? Pierce: I think she'd been hit in the face with a tennis racket. She is... was a big doubles fan. Bud: You're a known associate of a woman killed in a mass murder. You wanna go downtown and discuss this officially? Pierce: Is that what this is? Official? Somehow, I.. have the feeling this is more personal with you, Mr. White. Alright then. Are you concerned about criminal matters peripheral to the Nite Owl murders? Bud: Not at the moment. Pierce: Then you wouldn't feel obligated to report them. Bud: Why were Lefferts' eyes black? Pierce: I needed a Rita Hayworth to fill out my little studio. Bud: What little studio? Pierce: There's Gardner, Russell, Monroe, Turner. Lynn Bracken is my Veronica Lake. I use girls that look like movie stars. Sometimes, I employ plastic surgeons. When the work had been done, that's when you saw us. Bud: That's why her mother couldn't ID her. Jesus Fucking Christ! Pierce: No, Mr. White, Pierce Morehouse Patchett. Now, I sense you're on your best behavior but that's all I'm gonna tell you. If you persist, I'll meet you with my attorney. Now, would you like Lynn Bracken's address? I don't think she knows... Bud: I got her address. Pierce: Find Susan's killer, Mr. White. I'll give you a handsome reward. "Whatever you desire." ## LYNN'S HOUSE ## Lynn: (on the phone) Right now? OK. I understand. Bye. Lynn: Oh, baby, bad news. You have to go. Councilman: Go? Lynn: ?? But, I'll make it up to you, OK? I promise. Excuse me. Councilman: Is it the cops? Bud: Miss Bracken, I'm Officer White. Lynn: I've been expecting you. Just not this soon. Pierce called. He told me what happened to Sue. Councilman: Everything alright, doll? You want me to get rid of him? Bud: Hit the road, pal. Councilman:Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. Bud: LAPD, shitbird. Get the fuck out of here or I'll call your wife to come and get you. Councilman: Officer. Bud: Councilman. Lynn: Would you care for a drink? Bud: Yeah, scotch. Straight. Lynn: I was friendly with Sue Lefferts, but we weren't friends. You know what I mean? Bud: Sorry she's dead? Lynn: Of course I am. What kind of question is that? Do you know why Pierce is humoring you? Bud: You use words like that, you might make me mad. Lynn: But do you know? Bud: Yeah, I know. Patchett's running whores, cut to look like movie stars. Judging by his address, probably something bigger on the side. He doesn't want any attention. Lynn: That's right, our motives are selfish. So we're cooperating. Bud: So cooperate, Miss Bracken. Why was Susan Lefferts at the Nite Owl? Lynn: I don't know, I've never heard of the Nite Owl till today. Bud: How did she meet Patchett? Lynn: Pierce meets people. Sue came on a bus with dreams of Hollywood and this is how they turned out. Thanks to Pierce, we still get to act a little. Bud: Tell me about... "Pierce." Lynn: He's waiting for you to mention money. Bud: You want my advice, Miss Bracken? Lynn: It's Lynn. Bud: Miss Bracken. Don't ever try to fucking bribe me or threaten me, or I'll have you and Patchett in shit up to your ears. Lynn: I remember you from Christmas Eve. You have a thing for helping women, don't you, Officer White? Bud: Maybe I'm just fucking curious. Lynn: You say "fuck" a lot. Bud: You fuck for money. Lynn: There's blood on your shirt. Is that an integral part of your job? Bud: Yeah. Lynn: Do you enjoy it? Bud: When they deserve it. Lynn: Did they deserve it today? Bud: I'm not sure. Lynn: But you did it anyway. Bud: Yeah, just like the half-dozen guys you screwed today. Lynn: Well, actually it was only two. You're different, Officer White. You're the first man in five years who didn't tell me I looked like Veronica Lake inside of a minute. Bud: You look better than Veronica Lake. ... Pierce Patchett? Lynn: He takes a cut of our earnings and invest it for us. Doesn't let us use narcotics and he doesn't abuse us. Can your policeman's mentality grasp those contradictions? Bud: He had you cut to look like Veronica Lake? Lynn: No, I'm really a brunette. The rest is me. And that's all the news that's fit to print. Nice meeting you, Officer. Bud: I'd like to see you again. Lynn: Are you asking me for a date or an appointment? Bud: I don't know. Lynn: If you're asking me for a date, I should know your first name... Bud: Forget I asked. It was a mistake. ## SOUTH JEFFERSON ## Jack: Leonard Bidwell. Come on down here and talk to us. How's your left these days? Lenny: What's it to you? Jack: Oh, I saw you fight Kid Gavilan. I like your style. Lenny: What do you want, Mr. Policeman? Jack: You've got a brother up in Folsom. I know because I put him there. Lenny: Till 19-fucking-70. Jack: How'd you like to make it 1960? I know the judge and Lieutenant Exley here is very good friends with the DA. Ed: Yeah. We're looking for three colored guys who like to pop off shotguns. One of them owns a maroon Mercury Coupe. Lenny: You wanna give me a snitch jacket? Jack: You wanna buy your brother ten years? (to Ed) It was 10 years, right? Ed: Yeah, 10 yrs. Jack: You don't have to say anything. Just look at this list and point. Lenny: [waves it away] He's bad so I'll just tell you. Sugar Ray Collins. Drives a maroon '49 Coupe. Beautiful ride. Don't know about shotguns but he gets a thrill killing dogs. He's righteous trash. Jack: Well, look at this, it's 5 min. from here. Thanks, Lenny. Lenny: So I hear from you, right? About my brother? Jack: Keep it up, Lenny, up. ## SOUTH STREET ## Ed: One of ours. Jack: Shit. ?? beat us here. Ed: My glasses. Jack: You're kidding? Well, just don't shoot me. ## SOUTH STREET : GARAGE ## Breuning: What are you guys doing here? Jack: Oh, we were just in the neighborhood. What do you got? Carlisle: I got 3 12-gauge pumps, an empty box, double-aught buck, and some cash. Jack: Oooh, so long Vice, Badge of Honor here I come. Carlisle: Hey, fuck you, Vincennes! This is our collar. Ed: Quiet! I'm ranking officer here. We go as a team. End of story. Breuning: Yeah right. Jack: How many ways in? Carlisle: Only one, up the stairs. Jack: Hmm. [whispers to Breuning] He's *very* serious. ## SOUTH STREET : INSIDE THE HOUSE ## Jack: Freeze! Carlisle: Ace him, Jack. Ed: Shup up, Carlisle! Ed: Don't you kill them. Jack: So how does it feel to get out of the office? ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : INTERROGATION ROOMS ## Exley: "Casitas"... "Twenty-two"... "Burning clothes"... Lieutenant: It's crowded in here, White. Bud: These guys killed Stensland. Dudley: The ejection marks on the shells fired from the suspects' shotguns are identical to the marks on the shell casings found at the Nite Owl. I want confessions, Edmund. The night's staying up should have softened them up. Ed: Oh, I'll break them, sir. Jack: Are you sure golden boy is up to the task, Cap? Dudley: Oh, I think you'd be surprised at what the lad is capable of. Ed: You're 22, aren't you, Ray? Did one of the officers work you over a little? So you're 22, right? Ray: Why do you keep asking me that? Ed: 22 makes it a gas chamber bounce. You should have pulled this caper a couple of years ago. Get life, do a little Youth Authority jolt, transfer to Folsom a big man. Get yourself a sissy. Ray: Hey, I don't truck with no sissies! Ed: Louis. Ray: What? Ed: You did the Casitas Youth camp with Louis, didn't you? Ray: Why do you keep asking me about Louis? His business is his business. Ed: Well, Sugar, Louis told me you went sissy up at Casitas. You couldn't do the time so you got yourself a big, white boy to look after you. Said they called you Sugar because you gave it out, so sweet. [switch 2 on] Ray: Louis gave it up at Casitas, man, and I was the fucking boss jocker on my dorm! Louis was the sissy! F-- Louis f-- gave it up for f-- candy bars! He ain't got the sense of a goddamn dog! Ed: [switch off] I heard you like to shoot dogs. Ray: Dogs got no reason to live. Ed: Oh? You feel the same way about people too? Ray: What you trying to say? Ed: We got the shotguns, Ray. Ray: I don't own no shotguns. Ed: Why were you throwing clothes in the backyard incinerator? Ray: Say what? Ed: A neighbor said she saw you throwing clothes in the backyard incinerator. It doesn't look good. Ray: I ain't got shit to say till I see a judge! Ed: Were you on hop? You guys were all passed out when we arrested you. Were you hopped up, Ray? Ray: Tyrone and Louis fuck with that shit, man, not me! Ed: Where did they get their stuff? C'mon, give me one to feed the DA. It will make me look good, and I'll say Sugar Ray's not a punk, like his sissy partners. [switches 2, 3 on] Alright, Raymond, tell me one more thing about Jones and Fontaine. Where did they get their drugs? Ray: Roland Navarette. He runs a hole up on Bunker Hill and he sells red devils. Jack: Exley's good, I'll give him that. Ed: I'm gonna take a break. You know, Ray, I'm talking about the gas chamber and you haven't even asked me what this is about. You've got a big, guilty sign around your neck. Dudley: That was masterful, Edmund. This one's ready to go. Ed: Give Jones the newspaper. I want him primed. Dudley (to another cop): Take the cuffs off so he can read it. Ed: Ray Collins just ratted you off. Said the Nite Owl was your idea. I think it was Ray's idea. You talk, I think I can save your life. Son, six people are dead and someone has to pay for it. Now, it can be you, or it can be Ray. Louis, he called you a queer. Said at Casitas you took it up the ass. Louis: I didn't kill nobody! Ed: Son, you know what's gonna happen to you if you don't talk. You'll go to the gas chamber so for God's sake, admit what you did. Louis: I didn't mean to hurt her. Maybe she's ok. Ed: Ok? These people are all in the morgue. They were dead when you left them. Louis: I just wanted to lose my cherry. She don't die, so I don't die. She don't die so I don't die... Ed: Louis, who's the girl? What's her name? Who are you talking about? Was she at the Nite Owl? Louis, listen to me. Was she at the Nite Owl? Louis: She don't die so I don't die... Jones: This newspaper shit ain't shit! Ed: Where's the girl Fontaine's talking about? Did you kill her? You wanted Louis to lose his cherry but that wasn't enough. So things got out of hand and you made her bleed. She bled on your clothes, so you burned the clothes. Jones: Who told you that?! Ed: Now, listen to me: if that girl is still alive, she's the only chance you've got. Jones: I think she's alive! Ed: You think?! Then where is she now? Do you leave her some place? To sell her out? Tell me where she is! [White comes in, throws Jones against the wall] Ed: White! Bud: One in six! Where's the girl?! Ed: White, I have this under control. Put the weapon down! Bud: WHERE IS THE GIRL?!! Jones: Sylvester.. Bud: What? Jones: Sylvester Fitch, 109 Avalon, brown corner house, upstairs... ## AVALON STREET ## Bud : Captain, give me one minute. Dudley: You've got it, Wendell. Dudley: Nobody moves. ?? going through the front. Until ?? Ed: Miss, I'm Lieutenant Exley. I'm sorry to have to ask you this. I need to know what time they left you. Bud: Get her to the hospital. Ed: I realize this is difficult... Bud: Give your career a rest. Leave her alone. Ed: A naked guy with a gun? You expect anyone to believe that? Bud: Get the fuck away from me. Ed: How's it gonna look in your report? Bud: It will look like justice. That's what the man got: justice. Ed: You don't know the meaning of the word, you ignorant bastard. Bud: Yeah? You think it means getting your picture in the paper. Why don't you go after criminals for a change, instead of cops? Ed: Stensland got what he deserved and so will you. Dudley: It's best to stay away from the man when his blood is up. Ed: His blood's always up. Dudley: Then perhaps you should stay away from him altogether. Dispatcher's voice: Repeat, three suspects escaped from the Hall of Justice jail. Raymond Collins, Ty Jones and Louis Fontaine. They are considered armed and extremely dangerous. Repeat, the Nite Owl suspects have escaped... ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU ## Cop 1: They jumped out a second floor. Cop 2: Girl at the hospital gave her statement. The three jigs left her at midnight. Plenty of time to be at Nite Owl by one. Ed: The question was, "Where do they get their drugs?" What was the answer? Stenographer: ?? yet. "Roland Navarett. Lives on Bunker Hill. He runs a hole-up and sells red devils-" Ed: Anyone seen Jack Vincennes? Carlisle: Is something up, Lieutenant? Ed: I need some back-up... Come on. ## BUNKER HILL ## Carlisle: What? Ed: No, let's go. Ed: ?? Ed: 4-0-4. Ed: Nobody move! Stay right there. You're under arrest. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU ## Cop: There it is. Good kid... ?? Dudley: 'Shotgun Ed' ?? ## CITY HALL STEPS ## Chief: Edmund J. Exley has amassed a brilliant record in his seven years with the Los Angeles Police Department. Recently he evinced spectacular bravery in the line of duty. It is our pleasure to present him with our highest honor, the Medal of Valor. ## 'BADGE OF HONOR' SET ## Woman: ?? My husband.. Brett: Excuse me, ma'am, just the facts. Woman: Really all I remember, officer, Brett: Thank you ma'am. You ?? Staff: Cut! ?? Brett: Hey, Big Jack! Back! Jack's back! Jack: (smiles) ## BUD YEARNING OUTSIDE LYNN'S HOUSE ## ## FLEUR-DE-LIS PARTY ## ## CITY HALL ## Councilman: You tell Mr. Patchett I have no intention of changing my vote. Councilman: It may surprise some, ?? but after do consideration, I'm changing my position of ?? council. ## FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION ## The Mayor: ?? No stop signs. No traffic signals. From downtown to the beach in 20 minutes. ## VICTORY MOTEL ## Dudley: ?? start with? Prostitution? Gambling? Dudley: Go back to Jersey, sonny. This is the city of the angels, and you have got no wings. ## LYNN'S HOUSE ## Lynn: I wondered when you might knock on my door again, Officer White. Bud: It's Bud. Lynn: Bud.. Bud: Why me? Lynn: I don't know. ## BADGE OF HONOR FUND RAISER ## Brett: This election is about the future of law enforcement in Los Angeles. City Councilman Rogers represents that future. Let's dig deep and let's get a moral man reelected. District Attorney Ellis Loew would like to say a few words. Loew: Thank you, thank you, Brett Chase, the very television star of "Badge of Honor". Let me tell you I am so thrilled to be here on the set of "Badge of Honor"... Sid: Big V Jackie! Sid: Good to see you're back, boychick. Jack: How are they hanging, Sid? Sid: Down around my ankles. You tight with the D.A., Jackie? Jack: Oh yeah, yeah, he just tried to throw me off the force last Christmas as little joke Sid: How about some payback? Big time. Plus the usual fifty dollar donation to the Jack Vincennes' retirement fund. Did you know Loew was a swish? Jack: No kidding? Sid: You remember Matt Reynolds? Christmas Eve movie premiere pot bust? He just got off the honor farm. Jack: What's he doing here? Sid? Sid: Reynold's acey-deucey. Not to mention broke. I'm getting him to fuck the D.A. for a hundred bucks. That's twice the fifty you got for wrecking his career. Sid: Hey Matt! Jack: Don't bring him. Sid: That's D.A. Loew right there. Matt: Yeah. Sid: You need a drink, kid... Jack, look after him a minute. Matt, this is Jack. No secret between me and him. Matt: ?? Jack: Oh, I'm OK. How are you? Matt: Have we met before? Jack: Yeah. Matt: Was it a party? Jack: Something like that. Matt: A Fleur-de-Lis party, right? Jack: Right. Fleur-de-Lis. "Whatever you desire." Matt: Dope, hookers that look like movie stars. Pierce Patchett has it all. Jack: ?? You got that right. Matt: Pierce isn't like regular guy. I dig him, but he scares me, too. Jack: Really? How? Matt: You know, when I came out to L.A., this isn't exactly where I saw myself ending up. Jack: ?? Get in line. Sid: Dutch courage, Kid. Drink up. Matt: You know.. I don't know if I should do this. Sid: Hey, it's not like you don't know how. And Jack here has connections on "Badge of Honor." You pull this off and there'll be a part for you. I smell a comeback. Don't you, Jack? Sid: Go on. DA's free. Go introduce yourself. Sid: Talk to him, Jack. Tell him about the opening on the show. Jack: I'm pretty sure I can get you a part on the show... ?? But tonight? Pretend it's an acting job, kid. ?? Showbiz. Matt: And no one'll know about this, right? Jack: It'll be our secret. Matt: Alright, showbiz.... Sid: If Reynolds works his charms, which I know he will, they'll be around the corner at the Hollywood Center Motel. Room 2-0-3. Meet me at midnight for a little photo shoot. Maybe we'll work in the Hollywood sign this time. Jack: What do you know about Pierce Patchett? Sid: Patchett? I know you know. He is very rich. And he's invested in freeway construction which makes him richer. Why do you ask? Jack: I'v been hearing some rumors. High class porn, drug, hookers that look like movie stars. Sid: Patchett's what I like to call 'Twilight.' He ain't queer, he ain't Red, he can't help me in my quest for prime sinuendo. Sid: As though 'Badge of Honor' would touch the kid with a ten foot pole after he's been the Hush-Hush cover boy twice in one year. Jack: I'll catch up with you in a couple of hours.?? Sid. Sid: Midnight. I guarantee all kinds of illegal activity. ## BUD AND LYNN AT THEATER('ROMAN HOLIDAY') ## Lynn watches the screen, laughing, but Bud can't stop looking at her. ## FROLIC ROOM ## Bartender: Another, Jack? Jack: Yeah. ## CENTER MOTEL ## Jack: Kid? Matt? Come on, kid. You don't have to do this... ## HOSPITAL : HALLWAY ## Inez: Thank you for what you did for me, for killing those animals who raped me. Will you thank Officer White for me please? Ed: Sure. Inez: See him come through the door is about the only thing I remember. Thank God. Ed: You remember what time the Negroes left you, right? In your statement, you said they left you at midnight. Inez: They might have. Ed: What do you mean "they might have"? Inez: I don't know what time they left me. I wanted them dead. Would anyone care that they raped a Mexican girl from Boyle Heights, if they hadn't killed those white people at the Nite Owl? I did what I had to do for justice. Reporter: Inez! Lt. Exley, over here. C'mon, Inez. So, see your hero, Miss Soto? Hey fellows, how about this: "Rape Victim Wheeled out of Hospital by Nite Owl Hero"? ## LYNN'S BED ## Bud: Hey...all they get is Veronica Lake. I get Lynn Margaret Bracken. Bud: Bisbee? Lynn: I grew up there. I'm going back in couple of years. Open up a dress shop. Girls in Bisbee need a little glamour. (They laugh.) Lynn: Where'd this come from? Bud: When I was twelve, my old man went after my mother with a bottle. I got in the way. Lynn: So you saved her. Bud: Not for long. Lynn: I'm sorry. It's not my- Bud: He tied me to the radiator. I watched him beat my mother to death with a tire iron. He left me there with her. Three days till a truant officer found us. They never found the old man. Lynn: Is that why you became a cop? To get even? Bud: Maybe. Lynn: Do you like it? Bud: I used to. Now it's all strong-arm, sitting duck stuff. Bud: Lynn Bracken, I've got chance to work on Homicide, like real detective. That prick Exley... he shot the wrong guys. Whoever killed Stensland is still out there. I know it in here. I know it. There's something wrong with the Nite Owl. But I can't prove it at all. I'm not smart enough. I'm just the guy they bring in to scare to the other guy shitless. Lynn: You're wrong. You found Patchett. You found me. You're smart enough. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : FORENSICS ## Pinker: Bud White, what brings you down to the basement? Bud: I got a couple of Nite Owl questions. Pinker: Don't know if you read the papers, but that case is closed. Bud: Anything bother you about it, Ray? Pinker: Yeah, the fact that the pack-up boys haven't hauled this shit outta here yet. We got three shotguns taken from the suspects which match the strike marks on the shell casings. What more do you want? Bud: There's blood on the wall here. I thought everyone but the cook got shot in the men's room. Pinker: That is Stensland's blood. Bud: Stensland? Pinker: Yeah. Took a blow to the head. Was probably unconscious when they dragged him to the john. Bud: Did they hit anyone else? Pinker: No, but he was a cop, he probably tried to do something. Bud: Grilled cheese, black coffee. Someone sitting next to him. Two of the victims were women, right? Pinker: Yeah. Patti Deluca, the night-shift waitress, and a Susan Lefferts. Bud: Susan Lefferts... Pinker: Yeah, what about her? Pinker: You're welcome. ## ELYSIAN PARK : LEFFERTS' HOUSE ## Bud: Mrs. Lefferts! Mrs. Lefferts, I'm Officer White, LAPD. Bud: Tell me about the boyfriend. The one you mentioned at the coroner's office. Mrs: Susie, I told you I didn't approve of that boyfriend. He was too old for you. And you let him be fresh with me. They came here one day, when I wasn't home. And Old Mrs. Jensen next door says she thought she saw a Susie's boyfriend, and another man, and she heard a ruckus. Bud: What was the boyfriend's name? Mrs: We weren't properly introduced. Susie gave a nickname, Muns or Luns or something... Bud: Stens? Was it Stens? Mrs: Maybe. I don't know. Bud: Look at a picture for me. [shows her a picture of Stens.] Mrs: That's him. That's him! Bud: You said the neighbor heard a ruckus. Was it outside, inside? Mrs: O-outside. And then Mrs. Jensen said they kept going under the house. You have to leave now, Officer. Bud: What's through here? Mrs: Just a room full of old things. Oh, don't move that. Don't mind the smell. I think a rat died behind the wall. My Susie was a good girl! She was never in any kind of trouble at all! Mrs: Was it a rat? Bud: Yeah, a great big one. [hands her a bill] Here. Compliments of Los Angeles Police Department. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : FORENSICS ## Pinker: Stomach of the week from the motel homicide. Unemployed actor, had frankfurt, french fries, alcohols and sperm. Hell of a last supper, don't you think, Lieutenant? Ed: Anything bothering you about the Nite Owl case? Pinker: Yeah, the fact that you guys won't let it get filed away. Ed: What do you mean? Pinker: Bud White grilled me on it this morning. Ed: Bud White? Pinker: You know, he's not as dumb as I thought. Ed: Did he say where he was going after he talked to you? ## ELYSIAN PARK : LEFFERTS' HOUSE ## Mrs: Let my daughter rest in peace! Ed: Mrs. Lefferts, I just wanna ask a few questions. Mrs: Officer Whiter already checked under the house. Ed: Under the house? Where? Mrs: Out back. All he found was rodents. ## CORONER'S OFFICE ## Ed (to coroner): I need an ID on this as soon as possible. You talk only to me on this one. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : NARCO ## Ed: Vincennes, I need your help with something. Jack: I'm busy right now. Why don't you just go ask some of your boys in Homicide? Ed: I can't. I need someone outside Homicide. I want you to tail Bud White till he goes on duty this evening. Jack: Why don't you do me a real favor and leave me alone? Ed: Do you make the three Negroes for the Nite Owl killings? Jack: What? Ed: It's a simple question. Jack: Why in the world do you wanna go digging any deeper into the Nite Owl killings, Lieu-tenant? Ed: Rollo Tomasi. Jack: Is there more to that or am I supposed to guess? Ed: Rollo was a purse snatcher. My father ran into him off duty, and he shot my father six times and got away clean. No one even knew who he was. I just made the name up to give him some personality. Jack: What's your point? Ed: Rollo Tomasi's the reason I became a cop. I wanted to catch the guys who thought they could get away with it. It's supposed to be about justice. Then, somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that. Why did you become a cop? Jack: ... I don't remember. Ed: ... Jack: What do you want, Exley? Ed: I just wanna solve this thing. Jack: Nite Owl was solved. Ed: No, I wanna do it right. Jack: Even if it means paying the consequences? Ed: Uh-hm. Jack: Alright, college boy, I'll help. But there's a case you boys in Homicide don't care about. They think it's just another Hollywood Homo-cide. But I don't. You help me with mine, I'll help with yours. Deal? Ed: Deal. ## FORMOSA CAFE ## Bud: Johny Stompanato. Johny: Officer Wendell White. How's tricks, paesano? Bud: I ain't your paesano. Johny: And I ain't in the snitch business anymore. Bud: You know a guy named Buzz Meeks? Works for Pierce Patchett. Johny: Should I? Bud: You're muscle for hire, Meeks is muscle for hire. You tell me. Johny: Oh yeah, I remember now. Buzz Meeks. A rundown ex-cop. Same as you're going to be some day. That's all you're going to get, and you can keep your twenty bucks. Bud: What do I get if I give you your balls back, you wop cocksucker? Johny: OK, OK, there was a rumor, going around that Meeks had a line on a large supply of H. Bud: And? Johny: And nothing! He's kept down. Bud: Bullshit. How would a two-bit hick like Meeks get a large supply of heroin? Johny: You're right, it is probably bullshit. Besides, even if he had it, he could never unload it. Not without drawing all kinds of attention. Bud: Maybe that's why he's under a house in Elysian Park and he doesn't smell too good. Paesano.. ## OUTSIDE LYNN'S HOUSE ## Jack: Maybe Bud White's not so dumb after all. ## IN THE STREET ## Ed: So we got Rita Hayworth at the morgue and now Veronica Lake with White. Jack: I think your case and my case are somehow connected. It's Fleur-de-Lis again. Ed: Fleur-de-Lis? Jack: "Whatever you desire." Porno. High-class whores, cut to look like movie stars. Who knows what else. Reynolds, the kid that got killed was involved. So's Pierce Patchett. Ed: The millionaire? Jack: Yeah, I think we should go talk to him. Ed: First I wanna brace Stompanato. ## FORMOSA CAFE ## Johnny: Want an autograph? Write to MGM. Ed: Since when the two-bit hoods and hookers give out autographs? Johnny: What did you say to me? Ed: LAPD. Sit down. Lana: Who in the hell do you think you are? Jack: Ed... Ed: Take a walk, honey, before I haul your ass downtown. Johnny: You are making a large mistake. Lana: Get away from our table! Ed: Shut up! A hooker cut to look like Lana Turner is still a hooker. Johnny: Hey! Ed: She just looks like Lana Turner. Jack: She is Lana Turner. Ed: What? Jack: She is Lana Turner. ## OUTSIDE FORMOSA CAFE ## Ed: How was I supposed to know? (In the car, Ed and Jack chuckling.) ## PATCHETT'S HOUSE ## Pierce: I believe the Nite Owl is your area of expertise, Mr. Exley. I saw you on television getting your medal. (to Jack) And you're... another Hollywood ce-lebrity policeman, aren't you? Ed: The Veronica-Lake-look-alike who works for you, she's one of your whores, correct? Pierce: A vulgar term. Ed: Why is she seeing Bud White? Pierce: Why do men and women usually see each other, Mr. Exley? Jack: Well, let's try this for ?? Fleur-de-Lis? "Whatever you desire"? An actor named... Matt Reynolds? No? Nothing? No? Ed: We want some answers, Patchett. Pierce: Oh, we all want something. Jack: Guy's as cool as they come. Dispatch: Lt. Exley, come in, please, over. Ed: This is Exley. Dispatch: The coroner wants to talk to you, Lt. He says he has your ID. Ed: Tell him Sgt. Vincennes is coming in to talk to him. Dispatch: I'll roger. Ed: I'll drop you at your car. Jack: Where the hell are you going? Ed: Lynn Bracken's. I'm gonna find out why Patchett has her seeing Bud White. See you at the Frolic Room. Jack: Oh great. You get the girl, I get the coroner. ## SID'S OFFICE ## Sid: (on the phone) Hush-Hush, off the record, and on the QT, ## CORONER'S OFFICE ## Jack: Hey, I was just coming up to see you. You got that ID for me? Coroner: Thank God for dental records. Stiff used to be a cop. Leland Meeks. Jack: "Buzz" Meeks? Coroner: You know him? Jack: Of him. He was around when I first joined the force. Bad rep. Thanks! Coroner: Hey, just the facts, Jack. Just the facts. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : RECORDS ROOM ## Secretary: Anything else, Sergeant? Jack: Yeah, Leland Meeks worked Vice, '39 to '41. I need to see his arrest records. Secretary: Ok. ## LYNN'S HOUSE ## Ed: Miss Bracken, I'm Lt. Exley. Lynn: I know who you are. Bud told me all about you. Ed: Is that so? And what did White have to say? Lynn: He said you were smart. He also said you were a coward and you'd screw yourself to get ahead. Ed: Well, let's concentrate on my smarts. Pierce Patchett made you, didn't he? Taught you how to dress, talk and think, and I am very impressed with the results. But I need some answers. And if I don't get them, I'm gonna take you and Patchett down. Lynn: Pierce Patchett can take care of himself. And I'm not afraid of you. And you forget one thing, Lieutenant. Pierce also taught me how to fuck. Ed: And he tells you who to fuck. Why does he have you fucking Bud White? Lynn: What makes you think I'm not seeing Bud because I want to? Lynn: It would be easier for you if there was an angle, wouldn't it? You're afraid of Bud, because you can't figure out how to play him. He doesn't follow the same rules and politics as you do. Makes him dangerous. Ed: I can handle Bud White. Lynn: Can you? I see Bud because I want to. I see Bud because he can't hide the good inside of him. I see Bud because he makes me feel like Lynn Bracken and not some Veronica-Lake-look-alike who fucks for money. I see Bud because he doesn't know how to disguise who he is. I see Bud for all the ways he's different from you. Ed: Don't underestimate me, Miss Bracken. Lynn: The way you've underestimated Bud White? [Ed suddenly kisses her.] Lynn: [pushing away, shaken] Fucking me or fucking Bud aren't the same thing, you know. Ed: Stop talking about Bud White! ## OUTSIDE FROLIC ROOM ## Jack: Shit ?? ## DUDLEY'S HOUSE ## Dudley: Jack Vincennes. What's going on at midnight, Jack? Jack: I need two minutes, Dudley. It's important. Dudley: It's a good thing for you my wife and 4-5 daughters are at the beach in Santa Barbara. Jack: Do you remember Buzz Meeks, Dudley? Dudley: A disgrace as a police officer. Straight D fitness reports from every CEO he ever served under. What about him? Jack: 12 years ago, he was on a Vice roust with Dick Stensland. They questioned Pierece Patchett about a blackmail scam. Patchett had Sid Hudgens photographing prominent businessmen with hookers. Anyway, charges were dropped, insufficient evidence. You were the supervising officer on that case and I was wondering if you remembered anything about it. Dudley: What's this all about, boy-o? Jack: Part of it has to do with a murder. I've been working with Ed Exley on it. Dudley: You're Narco, Jack, not Homicide. Since when do you work with Edmund Exley? Jack: Well, it's a private investigation. Dudley: Ah? Jack: I messed something up, I'm trying to make amends. Dudley: Don't start trying to do the right thing, boy-o. You haven't had the practice. Buzz Meeks and Dick Stensland... So... what does Exley make of all this? Jack: No, I haven't told him yet. I just came straight from the records room... Dudley: Have you a valediction, boy-o? Jack: Rollo... Tomasi... ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : BRIEFING ROOM ## Dudley: Sgt. Vincennes was killed by a 32-slug to the heart. Time of death approximately 1:00 am. Although he was found in Echo park, preliminary forensics indicate the body was most likely moved. I want two-men teams to scour that entire neighborhood. Our justice must be swift and merciless. That is all. Dudley: Edmund? Might I have a word with you? We're trying to run down a lead on an associate of Vincennes. The records check has reached a dead-end. Ed: What's the name? Dudley: Rollo Tomasi? You ever heard Vincennes mention it? Ed: No. No, I haven't. Dudley: Well, it's probably nothing. Still, keep your eyes open, boy-o. ## CITY HALL DETECTIV BUREAU - NARCO ## Bud: (to a cop) Yeah, I know it's unlikely. But suppose, just for a moment, *just* for a moment suppose somebody did have that much heroin. Who would they go to move it? Dudley: White! In my office. Bud: Captain. (to cop) Look, just give me a name. Cop: Mickey Cohen. ## CITY HALL DETECTIV BUREAU - DUDLEY'S OFFICE ## Bud: Captain? Dudley: I could use your fiercesome habits at the Victory Motel. Bud: When? Dudley: NOW, Wendell. Bud: Right. Dudley: Close the door, lad. You're a bit of a puzzlement these days, Wendell. You don't seem to be your old cruel self anymore. And I had such grand plans for your future. Bud: What plans? Dudley: You have your extracurricular activities, and I have mine. We must have a clarification session one of these days. However, right now, we gonna brace the man who may know who killed Jack Vincennes. So, the question is, can I count on you, lad, yes or no? Bud: Yes, sir. ## CORONER'S OFFICE ## Ed: I wanna know everything you and Jack Vincennes talked about last night. Start with the ID on the corpse. Coroner: An ex-cop, Leland Buzz Meeks. Ed: An ex-cop? What did Jack say? Did he know him? Coroner: Only by reputation. ## VICTORY MOTEL ## Dudley: Wendell, this is Sid Hudgens. Sid: I'm willing to cooperate. There's no need to tie me down. Dudley: It's for your own safety. Now, what can you tell us about Sgt. Jack Vincennes? Sid: Hollywood Jack? Big V? I can tell you he's on a night train to the big adios. [blow] I didn't have anything to do with him getting killed, if that's what you mean. Dudley: But you were business associates. Sid: What's that got to do with anything? [blow] Ok, ok, so we worked together. It was an information exchange. I got him first-class collage, he got me good stories. We were friends, for Christ's sake! Dudley: Drop that for a moment. Would you care to comment on Pierce Patchett? Sid: Patchett? You think he had something to do with Vincennes getting iced? Dudley: Wendell? I'd like full of docile cooperation on every topic. Sid: Ok, ok, all right. Everybody knows Patchett's worth a boat load of green bags. But the man has hobbies too. He bankrolls B-movies under the table. And try this one on: he's rumored to be a periodic heroin sniffer. All in all, a powerful behind-the-scene strange-o. Dudley: And? Sid: And what?! [blow] Dudley: Reciprocity, Mr. Hudgens, is the key to every relationship. Sid: He runs call-girls. Primo tail. Fixed up to look like movie stars. Dudley: And? Sid: Blackmail shit. In my car. In the trunk, under the rug. Patchett got me to photograph this cop screwing this gorgeous slut, named Lynn, who just looks like Veronica Lake... Dudley: I wouldn't trade places with Edmund Exley right now for all the whiskey in Ireland. Sid: Dudley... Dudley, I thought you were gonna let the dumb bastard kill me. (to Breuning) And you! Learn to pull your punches better. Sid: You can uncuff me now, fellas. Sid: Fellas? Dudley, we had a deal. You, me, and Patchett were a team! Dudley: Hush, hush... ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : RECORDS ROOM ## Ed: Anything? Secretary: Nothing. Ed: So Buzz Meeks never made an arrest the entire time he worked Vice. Secretary: Someone must have pulled the file. Ed: What about the daily report books? Secretary: We still have them, they'd be buried somewhere in the basement. Ed: Well, find them. ## LYNN'S HOUSE ## Bud: You talked to Exley? Lynn: Come in out of the rain. Bud: I wanna know what happened with Exley. Lynn: Just come in. Bud: Are you gonna tell me what happened with you and Exley? Lynn: We talked. Bud: So tell me about it. Lynn: Later. Bud. No! Now! You fucked him... you fucked him... Lynn: I thought I was helping you... I thought... ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : RECORDS ROOM ## Ed: I'm glad you here... Ed: Wait. Ed: Dudley killed Jack. He wants you to kill me. He showed you the photo, didn't he? Didn't he? Ed: Think, goddamn you! Think... Bud: Stay the fuck out of here! Bud: Dudley... Ed: I checked the daily report books. Dudley, Buzz Meeks and Stensland go way back. Bud: I knew Stensland lied to me. Lefferts' mother IDed Stensland as Lefferts' boyfriend. Stensland pretended he didn't know Meeks or her the night that I met... Lynn. Ed: Stensland and Meeks, what the hell were they up to? Bud: I don't know. But I think Stens killed Meeks over heroin. Ed: What heroin? Bud: Johnny Stompanato told me that Meeks had heroin for sale. Meeks ends up dead, Stensland dies at the Nite Owl... Ed: It wasn't the Negroes. The rape victim lied in her statement. The first guys to the Mercury Coupe were Breuning and Carlisle. Bud: Dudley's guys. They planted the shotguns. Ed: And they'd have killed the Negroes too, if Jack and I hadn't showed up. Dudley framed them because they were Negroes and had records, and he knew there'd be no questions asked if they... they were killed resisting arrest. Somehow, this is all connected to Jack's angle: Sid Hudgens, the pictures to blackmail Ellis Loew. A kid got murdered. If we gonna figure this out, we need to work together. Bud: Why are you doing this? The Nite Owl made you. You wanna tear all that down? Ed: With a wrecking ball. You wanna help me swing it? Bud: Let's go see Ellis Loew. Find out what the District Attorney knows. ## DA'S OFFICE ## Secretary: May I... Hey! You can't go in there! Do you want me to call the police, Mr. Loew? Ed: Ask for Captain Dudley Smith. Tell him we're having a discussion about the death of an unemployed actor at Sunset Street motel. DA: These are the police. What do you want? Ed: I want DA Bureau men to tail Dudley Smith and Pierce Patchett 24 hours a day. I want you to get a judge to authorize wired taps on their home phones, and I want authorization to check their bank records. Loew: On what evidence? Bud: Call it a hunch. Loew: Absolutely not. Dudley Smith is a highly decorated member of this police department. I'm not gonna smear his and Pierce Patchett's name without... Ed: Without what? Them smearing yours first? What do they have on you, Loew? Pictures of you and Matt Reynolds with your pants down? Loew: Do you have any proof? Ed: The proof had his throat slit. So far you're not denying it. Loew: Well, I'm not gonna dignify this with answers. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have a press conference for Jack Vincennes that I have to prepare for. Loew: Unless you came here to wipe my ass, I believe we're through. C'mon, don't pull that good cop/bad cop crap. I practically invented it. So what if some homo actor is dead, huh? Boys, girls, ten of them get off the bus to LA everyday. Loew: Pull off me, Exley! Ed: I don't know how. Bud: Now, I know you think you're being A-number-one hotshot. But here's the juice: if I take you out, ten more lawyers will take your place tomorrow. They just don't come on a bus, that's all! Loew: Alright, ok, please!! Ok, Dudley and Patchett, they, they... oh, oh my god!! I wouldn't play ball, so they set me up, and then I gave in, but the kid heard everything. So they killed him! Ed: Why? What are Dudley and Patchett up to? Loew: They're taking over Mickey Cohen's rackets! Because, because of those pictures, I-I c-couldn't prosecute them! Oh Jesus, help me out!! Ed: Is that how you used to run the good cop/bad cop? Ed: (to Bud) Patchett? ## PATCHETT'S HOUSE ## Ed: Looks like his bodyguard had a conflict of interest. Suicide note. Says he killed Jack, because Jack had figured out the pornography scam Patchett was running. Bud: Slicing himself open wasn't his idea. Two of his fingers are broken. Ed: They must have held him there. Bud: Or drugged him. Ed: I'd say Dudley's tying up his loose ends. Patchett's dead, he sent you after me. Bud: Lynn! Ed: West Hollywood Sheriff. They're closer than we are. Bud: I'll get the car. Keys! ## OUTSIDE LYNN'S HOUSE ## Policeman: Hey! We took her to the station for safekeeping. Ed: Hold her as John (Joan?) Smith. No one sees her unless I ok it. Policeman: Somebody worked her over. She wouldn't say who. See you, Exley. Ed: Sure. (to Bud) We should talk to Lynn. Bud: You do it. Ed: What are you gonna do? Bud: I'm gonna talk to Sid Hudgens. Complement him on his performance at the Victory Motel. Ed: Remember Bud, we need evidence. Bud: I'll get the evidence. ## WEST HOLLYWOOD SHERIFF ## Ed: Are you ok? Lynn: You ok? Ed: [blushes, nods] Bud hates himself for what he did. Lynn: I know how he feels. Ed: Lynn, I need to know what you can give me on Dudley Smith. Lynn: Huh? Ed: He's a police captain, he's in business with Patchett. Lynn: I've never heard of him. Ed: Do you have some place you can stay? Lynn: I'll be ok. ## SID'S OFFICE ## Bud: What happened? Cop: Somebody beat him to death and stole a bunch of files. Must have dug up garbage on the wrong guy. We got it narrowed down to a thousand suspects. Cop: Sergeant White? Dispatch got a call for you. Lt. Exley wants you to meet him at the Victory Motel. ## VICTORY MOTEL ## Bud: You wanted to meet here? Ed: You called it, I thought Sid Hudgens was... Bud: Hudgens is dead. Ed: Let's get out of here. Bud: It's too late. Ed: You figured this was a setup and you showed up anyway? Bud: A lot of bad stuff happened here. It's as good a place as any for it to end. Bud: Here, clip! Ed: All I ever wanted was to measure up to my father. Bud: Now's your chance. He died in the line of duty, didn't he? Bud: You O.K.? Ed: Yeah. Bud: Come on. Easy... Bud: Move! Ed: Rollo Tomasi... Dudley: Who is he? Ed: You are. You're the guy who gets away with it. Jack knew it. So do I. Dudley: Are you gonna shoot me? Or arrest me? Good lad. Always the politician. But let me do the talking. After I've done, they'll make you Chief of Detectives. Dudley: Hold up your badge, so they'll know you're the policeman. ## CITY HALL DETECTIVE BUREAU : INTERROGATION ROOM ## Internal Affairs One: You think you can talk your way out of this, Lieutenant? Ed: No, but I think I can tell the truth. During our investigation, of events surrounding the Nite Owl case, Jack Vincennes, Bud White and I learned the following. Loew(to Chief): Your golden boy is throwing his whole life away. Ed: The three Nite Owl suspects, while guilty of kidnapping and rape, were innocent of the multiple homicides at the Nite Owl. The actual gunmen were most likely Los Angeles Police Department officers Michael Breuning and William Carlisle, and a third man, who may or may not have been... Captain Dudley Smith. The objective? The elimination of another police officer: Richard Stensland, who along with former LAPD officer, Leland Buzz Meeks, also committed multiple homicides on behalf of Captain Smith, and then betrayed him over 25 pounds of heroin, the retrieval of which was the ultimate motivation behind the Nite Owl killings. Beginning with the incarceration of Mickey Cohen, Captain Smith has been assuming control of organized crime in the city of Los Angeles. This includes the assassinations of an unknown number of Mickey Cohen lieutenants, the systematic blackmail of city officials, and the murders of Susan Lefferts, Pierce Patchett, Sid Hudgens... and Sgt. Jack Vincennes. Captain Smith admitted as much to me, before I shot him at the Victory Motel. That's it. Loew: Well, the press is gonna have a field day with this. Cop: This, Christ, it will stain the Department for years. Chief: Decades. Loew: If we can get the kid to play ball, who's to say what happened? Maybe Dudley Smith died a hero. Cops: Yeah, we can get the press to play. [Ed smiles at the mirror] Chief: [intercom] You wanna tell me what you're smiling about? Ed: A hero. Cops: How did he know what we're talking about? He couldn't have heard us. Chief: [intercom] And? Ed: In this situation, you'll need more than one. ## CITY HALL ## Chief: It is with great pleasure that I present this award to Det. Lt. Edmund Exley, two-time Medal of Valor recipient. Next year, the LAPD will move into its new facility. With leaders like Lt. Edmund Exley, the image of fat cops stealing apples will be left behind forever, and Los Angeles will finally have the police force it deserves. Lynn: You just couldn't resist. Ed: They're using me, so for a little while I'm using them. Lynn: Come on. Ed: (to Bud) Hey. Ed: Thanks for the push. Ed: Yeah. Cop: Congratulations, Lt. Exley. Lynn: Some men get the world. Others get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona. Lynn: Bye. Ed: Bye.