EXT. ROAD - DAY

A pickup truck comes speeding right up behind Joe's car.  Inside the truck are two guys with cowboy hats.  They honk their horn.  Joe slows down causing the truck to slow down.  Joe waves his hand for them to pass, but they don't.  When they're down to 25 mph Joe stamps on the gas and moves quickly ahead of the truck.  The two cowboys speed right up and continue tailgating Brubaker.

INT. JOE'S CAR - DAY

Joe is starting to get mad.  His eyebrow begins to twitch and he grinds his teeth.  He slows back down to 25 mph.  The cowboys honk their horn, then speed up and actually bump Joe's car!  They suddenly swerve into the oncoming lane.  There is a car coming.  At the last possible moment they cut in front of Joe and avoid a head on collision.  Once the pickup truck is in front of Joe it begins slowing down, speeding up and swerving so that Joe can't pass.  Now Joe is furious!

EXT. INTERSECTION - DAY

The cowboys and Joe both arrive at a red light and stop.

INT. JOE'S CAR - DAY

Joe slams his car in park and gets out.  A sneer twists his face.

EXT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAY

As Joe approaches the truck he casually slides his twist-o-flex wristwatch up over his knuckles.  Joe taps on the cowboy's window.  COWBOY #1, that's driving, rolls down his window grinning foolishly.

                                                                 COWBOY #1
                                Hey, partner, why don't you learn how to drive?

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (Sarcastically)
                                No, you!

Joe punches the cowboy in the face with his wristwatch-covered knuckles.  The watch crystal shatters and so does the cowboy's nose.  The cowboy grabs his broken nose in tremendous pain.  His buddy, COWBOY #2, is totally shocked, then becomes indignant.

                                                                 COWBOY #2
                                You son of a bitch!  We're gonna call the cops!

Joe looks at his broken watch crystal, then up at the other cowboy and sneers.

                                                                 JOE
                                I am the fucking cops!

He slides the watch back onto his wrist and walks away.

EXT. INTERSECTION - DAY

Joe gets back in his car.  He drives around the truck and out of sight.  The pickup truck just sits there.

                                                                                                       CUT TO:

EXT. WATERFRONT - DAY

A purple 1970 Barracuda bounces down a rutted dirt road running parallel to the shore of the Pacific Ocean.  Frank Taylor is behind the wheel.  He rubs his aching head with his knuckles, twists his head sharply to one side and cracks his neck.

INT. BARRACUDA - DAY

Frank stops the car.  He reaches up and takes the mirror off the visor, then gets out of the car.

EXT. WATERFRONT - DAY

Frank walks down the shore.  He looks out at the ocean and paces back and forth, rolling his head around to ease the tension.  After a moment he puts a cigarette in his mouth, pats his pockets and realizes that he has no light.  He keeps the cigarette in his mouth anyway.  Soon a small motor boat appears from behind a rocky breaker.  The boat flashes to the shore with a mirror.  Frank grins and flashes back with his visor mirror.  The boat motors toward him.  There is one man aboard.  He is tall, has a large nose and looks foreign.  He is CARLOS.  He gets out of the boat holding a white Pan Am flight bag.

                                                                 CARLOS
                                                           (slight Spanish accent)
                                Hey, man.  I'm Carlos.

They shake hands.

                                                                 FRANK
                                I'm Frank.
                                                           (he points at the bag)
                                Is that it?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Yeah.  I can't believe we're actually doing
                                this.  Me and Ivan have been talking about
                                it for years.  How is Ivan, anyway?

                                                                 FRANK
                                                           (shrugs)
                                He's in jail.

                                                                 CARLOS
                                I know.  How's he doin' inside?

                                                                 FRANK
                                Not so great, that's why we're doin' this
                                deal.

                                                                 CARLOS
                                                           (nods)
                                Right.  How's Vinnie?

                                                                 FRANK
                                I don't really know Vinnie, he's a friend of Ivan's.
                                Have you got a light?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Yeah.

Carlos hands Frank a silver Zippo lighter with an inscription on it.  Frank lights his cigarette and looks at the lighter.

                                                                 FRANK
                                Vietnam lighter?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Yeah.  That's where I met Vinnie.

                                                                 FRANK
                                I thought you were Columbian?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Nope, born in Florida.  My family's from
                                Columbia.

                                                                 FRANK
                                                           (looks around)
                                Well, uh, let's do this thing, okay?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                You said it.

Carlos hands Frank the flight bag.  Frank opens it and removes a plastic and tin foil wrapped package the size of a cereal box.

                                                                 FRANK
                                And this is supposed to be, like, good
                                stuff?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                It's completely pure.  China White.  Try it.

                                                                 FRANK
                                I don't do these kind of drugs.  I get mine
                                at the drugstore.

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Then why are you buying it?

                                                                 FRANK
                                'Cause Ivan wants me to.  Now, just suppose
                                I was to break this down and cut it and all that
                                stuff, how much would it be worth?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                I don't know.  At least a million, maybe two million.
                                Are you planning on selling it on the street?

                                                                 FRANK
                                Maybe.  Why not?

                                                                 CARLOS
                                No reason.  Could I please have the money
                                now?

Frank goes to his car and takes a briefcase out of the front seat.  He hands it to Carlos.  Carlos opens the briefcase, digs around and finds all kinds of wrappers and trash, but no money.

                                                                 CARLOS
                                Hey, what's going on?

He looks up to find Frank aiming his Winchester 30-30 rifle at him.

                                                                 FRANK
                                                           (shrugs)
                                This is the opportunity of a lifetime.  I can't let it
                                slip away just because I couldn't get the money.

Carlos's eyes widen in fear.
                                                                 CARLOS
                                But . . .

Frank fires an enormous slug into Carlos's chest.  Carlos flies backward and lands in his boat.  He dies immediately.  Frank cocks the rifle.  The spent shell flies into the air . . .

                                                                                                       CUT TO:

EXT. LOMPOC POLICE STATION - DAY

. . . An empty beer can hits the pavement as Joe Brubaker opens his car door in the police station parking lot.

INT. JOE'S CAR - DAY

Joe is shaving with an electric razor plugged into the lighter.  He finishes, tosses the razor into the debris on the seat and gets out of the car.  He is wearing dark sunglasses.

EXT. LOMPOC POLICE STATION - DAY

Joe walks across the parking lot and passes a uniformed cop.

                                                                 UNIFORMED COP
                                Morning, Joe.

                                                                 JOE
                                Morning, Kyle.  How's the wife?

                                                                 UNIFORMED COP
                                Mean as a snake.  Better be careful, Captain's
                                in a foul mood.

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (sarcastically)
                                Uh-oh, now I'm in trouble.

INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Joe enters and sees Pat at the front desk.  She smiles and shakes her head.

                                                                 PAT
                                Well, look what the cat dragged in.

                                                                 JOE
                                Morning, sweetheart.  Thanks for covering
                                for me.

                                                                 PAT
                                Sure.  Captain Uto wants to see you immediately.

                                                                 JOE
                                He'll wait.

Pat buzzes Joe through into the main office.

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY

Joe crosses the room.  He nods and grunts, "Morning" to each person he passes.  They all smile and nod and look at each other in an unbelieving way.  Joe steps up to the coffee machine and pours himself a cup.  He dumps in a lot of sugar.  Ted sits across the room near Pat.

                                                                 TED
                                That's him?

                                                                 PAT
                                It sure is.  I wouldn't bother him until he's had
                                his coffee.

Joe practically guzzles his first cup of coffee.  Baduski steps up beside him.

                                                                 BADUSKI
                                Morning, Joe.  Lookin' good.

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (nonchalantly)
                                Fuck you, you bald-headed Pollack.

                                                                 BADUSKI
                                You're a charming guy, Joe.  That's why I like you so
                                much.

                                                                 JOE
                                Really?  Then blow me.

Baduski shakes his head and grins.  Joe pours himself another cup of coffee.  Just as he's bringing it to his lips Captain Uto's voice comes booming out of his closed office door.

                                                                 CAPTAIN (O.S.)
                                Brubaker!  Get your ass in here!

Everyone in the police station is startled and looks up.  Joe jerks and spills hot coffee down his front.

                                                                 JOE
                                Oh, shit!

Joe takes a napkin and tries to blot his wrinkled shirt.  Baduski grins.

                                                                 BADUSKI
                                It's okay, you look great.

Joe gives him a dirty look, then heads into the Captain's office.

INT. CAPTAIN UTO'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe enters.  Captain Uto looks up with a truly sour expression on his face.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                So nice of you to drop in.  I hope you didn't
                                inconvenience yourself getting here.

Joe sits down and sips his coffee, entirely unconcerned.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Take those goddamned sunglasses off, you're inside!

Joe removes his sunglasses and puts them in his pocket.  His eyes are really bloodshot.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Your eyes look like hell.

                                                                 JOE
                                They've seen a lot of shit.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                                           (sarcastically)
                                Aw, my heart's breaking.
                                                           (serious)
                                You continue with this behaviour and you're going to
                                end up somewhere that'll make Lompoc look like a
                                major metropolis.  You're a bad influence on everyone
                                here.

                                                                 JOE
                                That's what the teachers used to say to me in high
                                school.  Somehow all my classmates grew up all
                                right.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Don't get smart with me, buster, I'll bust your ass
                                down to shit cleaner!
                                                           (Joe shrugs)
                                Now, that guy you shot robbing the gas station last
                                week lost his leg.  He's suing the police department
                                and the city of Lompoc.

Joe waves his hand.

                                                                 JOE
                                He doesn't have a leg to stand on.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Very funny.  Did you have to shoot him?

                                                                 JOE
                                He was trying to escape.  He'd already cut the gas
                                station attendant with a knife.  What was I supposed
                                to do, congratulate him?

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                How about saying "stop or I'll shoot?"

                                                                 JOE
                                I said stop.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                But you'd already shot him.

                                                                 JOE
                                I was just making sure he listened.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                                           (shakes his head)
                                Do you have to shoot everyone?

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (flatly)
                                I never shot anyone that didn't deserve it.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                What about the Mayor's nephew in L.A.?

                                                                 JOE
                                He deserved it all right.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Then what're you doing here in Lompoc, smartass?

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (impatiently)
                                You got something to say to me?

The Captain tosses Joe a file.

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                Yeah.  Your new partner's here.

                                                                 JOE
                                Swell.  What did he do to end up in this God-forsaken
                                shit-hole?

                                                                 CAPTAIN
                                                           (angry)
                                Hey!  I was born here.

Joe says nothing.  He looks down at the file.  He sees a black and white photograph of Ted stapled to the file.

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY

Ted sits at a desk behind Pat at the front desk.  He finishes a white styrofoam cup of coffee and sets it beside three other empty cups.  Pat gets a call on the radio.  It's a weary, irritated male voice - ABLE ONE.

                                                                 ABLE ONE (O.S.)
                                Base, this is Able one.  Come back.

                                                                 PAT
                                                           (into microphone)
                                Able one, this is Base.  Go ahead.

                                                                 ABLE ONE (O.S.)
                                Where the heck's our relief?  We were supposed to be
                                outta here over an hour ago.

Pat looks up and sees Joe step out of the Captain's office.  He puts on his sunglasses.

                                                                 PAT
                                                           (into microphone)
                                It's on the way, Able one.  Over.

Brubaker looks around.  He spots Ted and approaches.  Ted jumps up to meet him, eager and brimming with energy.  Ted holds out his hand and smiles.

                                                                 TED
                                Officer Brubaker, I'm detective Lieutenant
                                Ted Walburn.

Brubaker walks right past him and up to Pat.  Ted is left with his hand in the air, which he slowly lowers.  Joe speaks to Pat.

                                                                 JOE
                                Tell Marty I'm on my way.

                                                                 PAT
                                I just did.

                                                                 JOE
                                Thanks, Radar.

Pat smiles.  Joe takes a step away, stops and turns back.

                                                                 JOE
                                You know, you're looking pretty good lately, Pat.

                                                                 PAT
                                                           (blushing)
                                Thanks.

                                                                 JOE
                                Have you been working out?

                                                                 PAT
                                Yeah.  I workout every morning.

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (hesitant)
                                Uh . . . You wanna have dinner with me tonight
                                over at Marty and Tina's?

                                                                 PAT
                                                           (smiles)
                                Joe, is this a date?

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (blushes)
                                No.  It's just dinner.

                                                                 PAT
                                Oh, O.K.  Sure.

                                                                 JOE
                                Great.

Joe opens the door and heads out of the police station.  Ted looks at Pat helplessly.  Pat nods toward Brubaker.

                                                                 PAT
                                You better go or he'll leave you.

Ted hurries out the door.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

Ted runs after Joe who is just getting into his car.  Ted goes up to Joe's window.

                                                                 TED
                                Hey, what's the idea?

Brubaker looks at him with a disapproving expression.

                                                                 JOE
                                I don't like you.

                                                                 TED
                                                           (shocked)
                                You don't like me?  You've never met me.

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (flatly)
                                I read your file.  I don't have to meet you.

                                                                 TED
                                                           (indignant)
                                Oh, yeah?  Well . . . I've heard quite a few things
                                about you, too.  I'll bet your file doesn't look so
                                hot, either.

Joe shrugs and starts the engine.

                                                                 JOE
                                Get in the car.

Ted goes around to the passenger side.  He opens the door and a cascade of beer cans spill out and clatter on the pavement.  Ted looks from the beer cans up to Joe with an "I- told-you-so" expression.  Joe puts the car in gear and floors it.  Ted jumps in as the door slams shut.  A cloud of blue burnt rubber smoke lingers behind.

INT. JOE'S CAR - DAY

Joe and Ted drive in silence.  Every now and then Pat's voice can be heard over the radio, but she's not talking to them.  Ted begins to squirm.

                                                                 TED
                                Uh.  Could we stop at a gas station? I've got
                                to use the restroom.

Joe pulls over to the side of the road and stops the car.  He gets out of the car and walks around to the passenger side of the car.  He stops with his back facing Ted's window.  Ted hears him unzip and begin pissing on the shoulder of the road.

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

Ted gets out of the car and also begins pissing on the shoulder.

                                                                 JOE
                                Lesson number one - when you're a cop you
                                can piss wherever you want.

                                                                 TED
                                Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

                                                                 JOE
                                What is this?  "My Fair Fuckin Lady?"  You gonna
                                teach me manners now?

                                                                 TED
                                                           (exasperated)
                                No . . .

                                                                 JOE
                                Good.  Get in the fuckin' car.

They both get back in the car and speed off.

INT. JOE'S CAR - DAY

Ted looks at Joe's stone face and sighs.

                                                                 TED
                                We haven't gotten off to a very good start, have
                                we?

                                                                 JOE
                                No.

                                                                 TED
                                Could we start again?

                                                                 JOE
                                No.

                                                                 TED
                                Why not?

Joe slams on the brakes and the car screeches to a halt in the middle of the road.  Joe turns to Ted.

                                                                 JOE
                                Why didn't you back up your partner in Frisco?

                                                                 TED
                                                           (hesitantly)
                                . . . I never had a clear shot.

                                                                 JOE
                                Your partner got killed.  Why didn't you get
                                one?

                                                                 TED
                                The guy ran away.

                                                                 JOE
                                Why didn't you go after him?

                                                                 TED
                                                           (intense)
                                My partner was dying!

                                                                 JOE
                                                           (more intense)
                                Did you save him?

                                                                 TED
                                                           (sadly)
                                . . . No.

                                                                 JOE
                                And you didn't get the motherfucker who shot him,
                                either!  All in all you're just worthless.

                                                                 TED
                                                           (quietly)
                                You don't understand.

Brubaker puts the car in gear and starts to drive away.

                                                                 JOE
                                Oh, I understand all right.  Remember, I'm in
                                Lompoc, too.

EXT. ALLEY - DAY

Joe's LTD turns a corner into a long alley lined with garbage dumpsters.  Halfway up the alley is a green sedan.  Joe parks behind it.  Joe and Ted get out of the car.

                                                                 TED
                                Mind telling me where we're going?

                                                                 JOE
                                Stakeout.  Drug house across the street.  We got
                                word something big is coming through.  Personally,
                                I think it's crap.  These two dealers are such lame
                                fucks that they couldn't handle a big shipment
                                of Cheerios.

Joe goes through a doorway into an old apartment building and Ted follows.

INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY

Joe and Ted walk up the hallway of the abandoned apartment building.  Garbage and broken furniture litter the floor.  Joe knocks on an apartment door.  A voice comes from within.

                                                                 VOICE (O.S.)
                                Who is it?

                                                                 JOE
                                It's Joe.

                                                                 VOICE (O.S.)
                                Thank God.

The door is opened by Detective MARTY POPESCU who is tall, blond and very tired.

                                                                 MARTY
                                You're two hours late for Chissakes!

                                                                 JOE
                                I had to break in the new guy.

Joe goes inside.  Ted rolls his eyes and follows.

INT. STAKEOUT APARTMENT - DAY

It's an empty apartment with two chairs, a table, recording equipment, a telescope on a tripod and a sea of McDonald's wrappers and coffee cups.  Marty holds out his hand to Ted.

                                                                 MARTY
                                Hi, I'm Marty Popescu.

                                                                 TED
                                Ted Walburn.

They shake.  Marty points to the detective with headphones on.  He is stocky and black.  His name is J.P. JONES.

                                                                 MARTY
                                That's J.P. Jones.  J.P. to his friends.

Ted steps over and shakes J.P.'s hand.  J.P. takes off the headphones and hands them to Ted.

                                                                 J.P.
                                Nice t' meet you.

                                                                 TED
                                You, too.

J.P. puts on his jacket and turns to Brubaker.

                                                                 J.P.
                                I think something's coming down, but who knows
                                with these schnooks.  Maybe soon.  I really
                                do appreciate you getting here in time so that
                                whatever it is, we don't have to deal with it.

Joe goes to the telescope.

                                                                 JOE
                                Anything for you, J.P.

                                                                 MARTY
                                                           (to Joe)
                                You coming over for dinner tonight?

                                                                 JOE
                                Yeah.  And I'm bringing someone.

                                                                 MARTY
                                Oh, really?  Who?

                                                                 JOE
                                Pat.

Marty and J.P. look at each other and raise their eyebrows.

                                                                 MARTY
                                'Cause she needs a ride or 'cause . . . you're . . .

                                                                 JOE
                                What?

                                                                 MARTY
                                Nothing.  I'll tell Tina to set another place.

J.P. and Marty leave, but keep talking.

                                                                 MARTY (O.S.)
                                Pat?

                                                                 J. P. (O.S.)
                                Man, you looked at her lately?  She be lookin' good.
                                Must be workin' out or some shit . . .

Brubaker looks through the telescope.  He sees . . .

EXT. APARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET - DAY

In the apartment across the street the venetian blind is drawn.  Through the blind two figures can be seen.  One of the figures is pacing back and forth.

INT. STAKEOUT - DAY

Ted has the headphones on.  Joe turns to him.

                                                                 JOE
                                Are they saying anything?
                                                           (Ted doesn't hear him
                                                           so Joe speaks louder)
                                Hey!
                                                           (Ted looks)
                                Let me hear it, too.  Turn it up.

Ted looks at the recording equipment -- there's a lot of knobs.  He chooses one at random and turns it.  It causes a loud squelch in the headphones.  Ted grimaces and quickly turns the knob down.  He tries another knob and two male voices fade in, accompanied by Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon."  One voice belongs to LON, the other to BILL.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                Why can't Roger Waters and David Gilmore just
                                make up and cut a new record?  I mean, what's the
                                big deal?  Why hold grudges?

Joe rolls his eyes and snorts.

                                                                 JOE
                                Oh, Christ!  This fucking album came out twenty-
                                five years ago.
                                                           (turns to Ted)
                                I'm gonna go get some donuts and coffee.  Want
                                anything special?

                                                                 TED
                                No, just a cup of coffee.  But what if something
                                happens?

                                                                 JOE
                                What?  Like Pink Floyd getting back together?
                                I'll hold my breath.

Joe snorts loudly and leaves.

Ted looks at the equipment, then drops the headphones.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                . . . Man, if Floyd put out a new album with Roger
                                Waters on it would blow all this new shit away!

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                Oh, yeah.

Ted removes his jacket and loosens his tie.

EXT. THE DONUT DEPOT - DAY

Joe's LTD pulls into the Donut Depot's parking lot.  He finishes guzzling another warm beer, crushes the can and tosses it on the floor.  Joe gets out of the car.

INT. STAKEOUT - DAY

Ted has the speaker turned up and is reclining in a chair, his feet up on a table.  The phone in Lon and Bill's apartment rings.  Ted lowers his feet and pays attention.  He hears Lon answer it.

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                Hello?  Are you on your way over?
                                                           (listens)
                                OK, see ya.

Ted hears Lon hang up.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                . . . But who is this guy?

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                A pal of Vinnie's.  How am I supposed
                                to know.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                But Vinnie's an asshole and we haven't seen
                                him in years.

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                Look, when was the last time you saw a key
                                of smack?  I don't think I ever seen a whole
                                key.  If he can get this for a reasonable price we
                                stand to make a bundle.  Then maybe we can pay
                                off Farouk and get out of debt.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                I don't know, if this guy's a friend of Vinnie's
                                then I'm sure he's psychotic.  When's he coming
                                over?

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                Now.

                                                                 BILL (O.S.)
                                Oh fuck!

                                                                 LON (O.S.)
                                Ya know, you shouldn't smoke so much pot,
                                it makes you paranoid.  Here, take a valium.

Ted stands up and looks around.  What the hell is he supposed to now?  He puts his jacket back on.  He picks up the telephone, is about to dial and stops.

                                                                 TED
                                Hold on, be cool.  Nothing's happened yet.

Ted goes over to the telescope and looks through it.  He sees Bill peering through the blinds with a pistol in his hand.  Ted ducks down to get out of sight.

                                                                 TED
                                Oh, shit!