The Promise

<Doo Mah>

 

[consulate car; Fraser is driving]
Thatcher: If you’d picked me up on time when I told you--
Fraser: Uh, yes sir, I was--
Thatcher: --instead of driving in endless circles around the Justice Building--
Fraser: Well, there was a   No Stopping -
Thatcher: --I would be fully dressed and ready for the theater instead of half-dressed and late.
Fraser: Uh, yes sir, my apologies--
Thatcher: This is a consular vehicle with diplomatic plates. Nobody’s going to haul you off to jail for double parking.
Fraser: Understood. Uh, here are your tickets.
Thatcher: Put them in here. [hands him her bag]
[Dief moans from the front seat floor]
Fraser: Shh.

Thatcher : Do you always bring your wolf with you on assignments?
Fraser: Well, he’s not feeling very well, so I-I didn’t want to leave him alone. Um...if he’s bothering you--
Thatcher: I don’t dislike animals, Fraser. I’ve had pets.
Fraser: Really.
Thatcher: Small ones. A dachshund.
Fraser: Ah.
Thatcher: He died.
[Dief moans]
Thatcher: Just...don’t get hair on my seats. There it is.
Fraser: Uh, yes, I see it.
Thatcher: You need to stop.
Fraser: Well, that would appear to be prohibited.
Thatcher: Stop anyway.
Fraser: Certainly.
Thatcher: You’re not stopping.
Fraser: No, sir, I’m not.

[Thatcher sighs]

[street, in front of the theater]
Panhandler: Spare change? Spare change, spare change, nickels, dimes, quarters? Spare change? Could you help me out? [continues asking passersby]

[alley, across from theater; a man (Cobb) walks to a parked car and gets in; Sunny Barclay closes her electronic address book]
Sunny Barclay: Where’s Elliot?
Cobb: Nice car.
Sunny: It was a gift. Where’s Elliot?
Cobb: He decided not to come. I think he’s unhappy with you.
Sunny: Sorry to hear that.
Cobb: So is the Senator. See, he really enjoyed your services but you were paid once, and he sees no reason to pay you again.
Sunny: All right. If he would rather leave this to his press agent.
Cobb: [puts his hand on her shoulder]   I think we can come to some kind of accommodation.
Sunny: I’m so glad.

[he smiles and rolls up the window]

[consulate car]
Thatcher: There’s a parking space right there.
Fraser: Sorry. Handicapped.
Thatcher: Oh, what about that one.
Fraser: Taxi stand.
Thatcher: There’s an alley right there.
Fraser: Yes, there is.
Thatcher: Fraser.
Fraser: It’s a fire lane, sir.

[Thatcher sighs again, very frustrated]

[another alley, near the theater]

Panhandler : Spare change? Spare change?

[Sid spots a ‘mark,’ dressed for the theater & distracted; he bumps into her]
Woman: Oh!

Sid : Excuse me.

[Andrea (Andy) pulls wallet out of mark’s purse; they meet up a few paces away, and Andy hands over the booty]
Sid: Two more.
Andy: I already did three.
Sid: Two more.

Andy : Sid?!  

[they move to a hidden doorway, where two youngsters loiter; Sid opens his pack, and a girl puts items inside]

Sid : That’s it? [she puts something else in]   That’s better. Two more. [to boy]   What are you deaf? Come on.

[just then, Thatcher’s car pulls into the alley...]

Thatcher : That’s a parking space.
Fraser: Yes, but you will notice the--
Thatcher: Constable.
Fraser: Parking. [he does, then opens the door for her]   I’ll wait.
Thatcher: I’ll take a cab.
Fraser: Yes, but it-it might rain.
Thatcher: Suit yourself.
Attendant: What’s the matter, you can’t see the diagonal striped lines?

Fraser : Oh.

Attendant : Do I have to call a tow truck?
Fraser: No-no. I’m sorry, I’ll move it.
Attendant: Be quick about it.
Fraser: Sorry.
Attendant: Yeah, keep it moving.

[Cobb gets out of car, and drops garrote down a sewer grate]

[Andy filches items from a vending cart, then spies Cobb putting something (the address book) into his inside coat pocket; she runs into him...]
Andy: Oh! Sorry, sir, sorry. [to self]   One down.
[Thatcher rushes across the street, putting on her brooch, then stops]

Thatcher : Ah! My bag. Fraser.

[she rushes back down the alley; Andy runs into her...]

Thatcher : Watch where you’re going! [realizes her brooch is gone]   Hey! Hey! Somebody stop that little thief! She stole my brooch. Thief!
Man: [voice]   Stop that kid! Hey! Stop! Hey!

[Cobb realizes he has been pick-pocketed, too, and runs after the shouts...almost getting run over by the consulate car; Fraser gets out to see what’s happening]
Panhandler: Pick-pockets are everywhere.

Fraser : Would you mind? [runs off]
Panhandler: No problem. I’ll drive around and meet you.

[Andy runs; Thatcher chases; then Sid leaps out from behind a building and knocks into Thatcher, who knocks against Cobb]

Thatcher : Ooh!!

[Cobb keeps chasing Andy; Fraser runs up...]
Thatcher: Oh Fraser, thank god--
Fraser: I’ll be right back. [...and keeps going]
Thatcher: Fraser!!
[Andy goes downstairs, Cobb goes into another alley, searching; Fraser stops, and sees Andy & Sid go through a door and up the stairs, and he follows... they go to the roof, and climb higher, on a makeshift ladder]
Sid: Go, go! Come on! Move it! [they throw down the ladder & keep running, eventually climbing down a fire escape]   Come on. Gotcha! Go!

[Fraser follows, hot on their heels, and into a blind alley...where they’ve disappeared; Cobb appears]
Fraser: I’m sorry. They’re obviously much more familiar with the territory than-- sir. [Cobb runs off]   Sir?

[27 ^th precinct; interrogation room]
Ms. Downing: I waited in the lobby for twenty minutes and then I took my seat. I assumed Miss Barclay had been delayed on business. It wasn’t uncommon.
Huey: Were you aware of any particular appointments Miss Barclay had scheduled last evening?
Ms. Downing: No. I wasn’t privy to that kind of information.
Huey: But you did work for her.
Ms. Downing: We were associates.
Huey: And she provided you with clientele.
Lawyer: They were associates, I think that’s sufficient.

[Lt. Welsh, Comdr. O’Neil, Fraser, & Vecchio are watching from the observation room]
Gardino: Well then ask--
Fraser: Demantoids.
Ray: What?
Fraser: Demantoids. They’re a green gemstone. A variety of androdite commonly known as green garnets.
Ray: Lieutenant, is this an interrogation or a first date? I mean, I realize she has a set of... great eyes, but--
Welsh: Do you mind?
Fraser: Apparently the Inspector’s brooch was a gift and has some particular significance that makes it irreplaceable, so I--
Ray: The book. Ask about the book, or would that be a relevant question?!
O’Neil: Doesn’t he have his own case load?
Welsh: [to Vecchio]   Shut up.
Ray: Sir, you don’t understand--
O’Neil & Welsh: Shut up!
Fraser: It’s a very attractive brooch--
Ray: Shut up!
Lawyer: ...Ms. Downing is being frank and open with her responses, Detective.
Gardino: We understand that Miss Barclay had a book with names, addresses, and private phone numbers--
Ms. Downing: Most people have an address book.
Huey: This book is rather exclusive. A lot of names of clients who are somewhat publicity shy.
Gardino: Especially if it’s the wrong kind of publicity.
Ms. Downing: I’m afraid I wouldn’t know about that.
Ray: Oh, come on. Look.

Gardino : We’re not asking you to implicate...
Ray: Lieutenant. She knows all about the book. She used to be one of Sunny’s girls. Most of the guys she spends her evenings with are all over People Magazine.
O’Neil: Welsh, does your Detective not have a leash?
Ray: Look, Lieutenant, ya gotta give me this case. I spent 6 years in vice. I know how to handle this sort of thing!
O’Neil: You’re not going near this case, Vecchio! God only knows what names are in that address book.
Welsh: This requires very special handling.
O’Neil: Not your kind of special handling.
Ray: Oh, and what’s that supposed to mean?
Fraser: I think, Ray, what the Commander is suggesting is that your methods tend to be a little... how would you put it?
Ray: In your face?
O’Neil: Exactly.
Welsh: Commander, have you met...
O’Neil: The Mountie. Sherry O’Neil.
Fraser: Benton Fraser. Pleased to meet you. [they shake hands]
Ms. Downing: I’m afraid I have a pressing appointment. If you need any more information my attorney will give you his card.
Ray: Ohhh. I see where this is going. Yeah, why don’t we give this to the Duck Boys. They’re perfect for the assignment. They don’t ruffle anybody’s feathers.
Gardino: Hey, are those chenille pumps?
Ms. Downing: Yes!
Huey: Stunning.
O’Neil: They’ll do fine.

 

[corridor]
Ray: Yeah, so this is my mistake, huh? Instead of being out there solving crimes I should have been attending charm school.
O’Neil: Does he always   whine like this?
Fraser: Well, I wouldn’t use the word “whine,” but he does have an occasionally a nasal quality.
Welsh: Yes, he does.
Ray: Is that a sexist remark? Do I detect a little reverse discrimination?
Reporter: Commander O’Neil. Do you have a suspect in the Barclay murder?

[reporters all shout questions, take pictures]
O’Neil: No statement. [to uniformed officer]   Get them out of here. [to Welsh, pointing after Vecchio]   Him, too.
Welsh: Constable. Do you happen to have an insignificant and time-consuming case in your back pocket?
Fraser: As a matter of fact sir, yes. There’s a matter of a street urchin.
Welsh: Oh perfect, perfect. Take Vecchio with you.
Fraser: Thank you, Leftenant.

[Celia’s Fine Reusables]
Celia: Naugahide.
Sid: No, it’s leather. Smell it.
Celia: Naugahide. Fifty bucks for the lot.
Sid: Fifty. It’s quality stuff, it’s worth twice that much.
Celia: Well, take it or leave it.

[Sid takes it; he produces the electronic address book]
Sid: What about this? Some kind of computer. It’s gonna be worth at least a 100 bucks.
Celia: Korean party favor. I’ve got 10 of ‘em.
Sid: Show her the brooch. Show her!
Andy: I thought maybe I could keep this one.
Sid: No, we need the money.
Andy: Well, it’s mine.
Sid: No, nothing’s yours. Not until I say.
Celia: Maybe you ought to listen to your sister.
Sid: Somebody ask you?
Celia: Look at you, Sidney. Look at your hands. Hard to pinch quality stuff, I would say, with those size mitts. You ought to remember where your bread’s buttered.
Sid: You want the pin or not?
[Celia looks at Andy]

Celia : Can’t move it. Take it somewhere else.
Sid: Thanks. Come on. The matinee’s getting out.

[Celia and Andy smile at each other, Andy takes a handful of candy]

 

[sidewalk]

Sid : Who does the business in this family, huh? Who?
Andy: It’s just a stupid piece of jewelry! I don’t ask you for much. I don’t ask you for clothes or money or anything. Not that you’d give it to me, even if I did.
Sid: We’ll get your jewelry when we can afford it.
Andy: I want it!
Sid: Look, fine!   You can starve to death!

[Andy gets into the back of a van; Sid finds a ticket on the windshield; she puts the brooch in a pouch, in a box, with a photo inside...her mother?]
Sid: Yeah, right. [crumples up the ticket & throws it aside]

[horn honks and a car pulls beside him]
Crowley: How you doing, Sid?
Sid: I don’t have time for you today, Crowley.
Crowley: Well, you better, otherwise I may have to invite you and your sister down to the office for an interview. Now that would be an official interview. Cost us both time and money.
Sid: Over here. [Crowley pulls up, out of the road]     Look, I gave you 500 bucks last week.
Crowley: That was last week.
Sid: Well I don’t have it.
Crowley: Can you get it?
Sid: No!
Crowley: Otherwise I do have an obligation to return your sister to a foster home.
Sid: My sister’s staying with me.
Crowley: Not if you can’t afford it. Stay out of trouble now.
Sid: Yeah, whatever.

[gets in the van and starts it up]

Sid : Andy, today!

[Andy gets into the front seat & they pull away]

[coffee shop, right next door to Celia’s]
Cobb: Brown hair, about this tall. Her mother’s worried sick about her. This is a number I can be reached at.

[hands her a slip of paper, with a $50 on it]
Waitress: We get a lot of runaways in here. I’ll ask around.
Cobb: Thank you.

[close-up on his tattoo: an American Flag, on his neck below his left ear]

[street, near an alley]
Ray: There’s no way we’re gonna find these kids. They’re street smart. They live underground. We might as well be looking for a pennant-winning Cubs team.
Fraser: I promised the Inspector, Ray.
Ray: You promised her? The same woman who’s been trying to get you fired for weeks? Does the word ‘sap’ mean anything to you, Benny?
Fraser: Of course it does, Ray. It’s from the Latin ‘sapire.’
Ray: It is?
Fraser: Don’t be a sap, Ray.
Ray: You don’t really know Latin.
Fraser: [speaks Latin, sounds like ‘bene scire latinus liberas ifichile momest’]
Ray: Ah, you’re making that up.

[they walk back to the Riv, where Dief has made himself comfortable on the front seat]
Fraser: You’re babying yourself, you know that. Now it’s only going to make the situation worse.
[Dief whines]
Ray: Ah, leave him alone. He’s sick.
Fraser: Ray, he is my wolf. I believe I know what’s best for him.
Ray: How would you know what’s best for him? You haven’t been sick a day in your life.
Fraser: I most certainly have.
Ray: With what?
Fraser: Various childhood illnesses.
Ray: Such as?
Fraser: The usual.
Ray: Could you be a little more specific?
Fraser: Pink eye. Both of them. Swelled up like watermelons.
Ray: Pink eye.
Fraser: [to Dief] All right. Suit yourself.

[Dief groans]
Ray: [laughs]   Yeah, my heart’s bleeding for ya. You know, I hear that pink eye can be fatal.
Fraser: In the north? Most definitely.

 

[inspecting the alley]
Fraser: You know first impressions can be misleading, Ray.
Ray: No, you just have to find the good in everyone even if you have to manufacture it.
Fraser: Look at this.
Ray: Ah. Somebody has a sweet tooth.

[pours out a paper bag – it’s full of sugar cubes]
Fraser: Hmm.
Ray: Did I ever tell you how much I hate it when you go “hmmm”?
Fraser: Hmm. [moves aside boxes and a mattress]   Underground.
Ray: Oh no, no, I am not going underground.
Fraser: I’ll be right back. [leaps down]
Ray: Fraser! Fraser! Oh, why do I always let him do this to me? All right. All right, I’m coming. But remember, this is Chicago. If we crawl into this thing we may never come out. Ohhhh!

* splat*  

Ray : [voice]   Fraser, where are you?
Fraser: [voice]   I’m here, Ray. Just follow my voice.

[we follow their voices above ground as they travel through the sewer]
Ray: You see the kids?
Fraser: No.
Ray: The brooch?
Fraser: No.
Ray: Exactly, so let’s just turn around.
Fraser: Ray.
Ray: This is a swill pit. You brought me into a swill pit!
Fraser: No, it’s not a swill pit, Ray. First of all, “swill” entails a more pungent odor, and a “pit” is generally a circular indentation with only one entrance from the top. This however fits the definition of a tunnel. A long straight—

*clink*
Ray: Ow!
Fraser: Correction, a long meandering tunnel.
Ray: All right, call it what you want, but all I see is dirt and mold and-- Oh my god. Oh My Go-- Aw. You’re not gonna-- Oh, don’t put that--
Fraser: I’m just smelling it, Ray.
Ray: Like there isn’t enough to smell in here? You have to dredge something up from the sledge.
Fraser: A carrot!
Ray: What?
Fraser: It’s a carrot.
Ray: All right great. It’s a carrot. Just drop it.

*crunch*
Fraser: Mmm, it’s fresh, too.
Ray: You ate it?!
Fraser: Ray, calm down. I’m sure there’s nothing in here any less sanitary than-- Ooh, stay away from that, Ray.
Ray: Out. That’s it. Out. Now. Out!

[they exit through a manhole in the middle of street]

Ray : Do you know how many suits of mine you’ve ruined? Twenty-four perfectly good - Holy Cow! [car slams on the brakes & honks]   Come on man, Let’s get out of here!

[Vecchio runs to the sidewalk; Fraser puts the cover back, then joins him]

Ray : What is it with you? Does dirt not stick to you? What, were you scotch-guarded at birth?
Fraser: Hanky?

[Andy walks past, crossing the street behind them; she whispers to a girl at the vending cart, who’s getting a pretzel with mustard; the girl promptly runs into a man, leaving a giant yellow mark on the man’s jacket, and Andy swipes the man’s wallet]
Man: Hey, hey! Look what you did! This is genuine leather.
Cobb: Police, she’s a pickpocket.

[he throws the wallet back, grabs Andy, and drags her away; she shrieks, attracting Fraser’s attention]

Cobb : Where is it? Where is it?! You stole something from me and I want it back. [tries to throttle her with a wire, and she tries to get away]
Fraser: Stop right there!

[Cobb runs off]

Fraser : [to Vecchio]   You chase him.

[Vecchio takes off after Cobb; Andy runs, then starts down into the sewer but Fraser pops up, and she cries out in surprise]  

Fraser : I’m sorry. I’m gonna have to ask you to come with me.

[27 ^th precinct; a policewoman points Thatcher to Vecchio’s desk]
Policewoman: Right over there, ma’am.

Thatcher : Do you have my brooch?
Fraser: Well uh...no, sir.
Thatcher: I see. You brought me down here in the middle of my busy schedule and you don’t have my brooch.
Fraser: The police would like you to help identify a suspect who might have stolen it.
Thatcher: But they don’t have my brooch either.
Ray: No.
Thatcher: I thought I made it clear that you’re not here to clean up America. This is their problem.
Ray: Well thank you, I appreciate you pointing that out.
Thatcher: I’m not interested in retribution. I’m interested in results. Even a rudimentary understanding of dealing with criminals would indicate you have a better chance of locating the whereabouts of my brooch with the suspect free to be followed. Or am I mistaken, Constable?
Fraser: Uh, no sir, you’re quite right.
Thatcher: Well then. Get going.
Fraser: Yes sir. [she exits]
Ray: Oh, yeah. I’d crawl through a sewer for her any day.
Cop: Cleaned out her apartment. Got every book we could find. Fiction and nonfiction.
Huey: We’re looking for an appointment book with names and numbers of possible suspects, not a good read, officer.
Gardino: How long you been out of the academy? It’s useless.
Ray: Cut the kid loose.
Fraser: Ray, the man who assaulted her was the same man she stole from.
Ray: Look, you spend your day picking other people’s pockets, you’re going to tick somebody off.
Fraser: Well, that’s hardly comfort to a 14-year-old, now is it?
Ray: Well, what do you care so much about this kid for? [pause]   All right. [slams file drawer]   Please tell me this doesn’t involve subzero temperatures or Inuit legends.
Fraser: No, it does not.
Ray: Aw, course it does. It always does.
Fraser: Ray, all right. Listen. When I was little, my grandparents took me on vacation to Aklavik.
Ray: For what, a little sun and sand?
Fraser: Oh, hardly. It’s a thriving urban center. Anyway, one day I-I wandered off alone when they were window-shopping. There I was, all alone in the big city. The thing is Ray, I became hungry, very hungry. I knew no one. I had no money. I was desperate.
Ray: So you ate a polar bear?
Fraser: Don’t be ridiculous, Ray. I boiled my shoes. My oxfords. My left oxford to be exact. Boy, did my grandmother ever tan my hide for one.
Ray: Ah, that’s a good one. So what’s the point?
Fraser: The point is Ray, that to be young and alone is frightening. Without proper guidance we will do things that are out of character.
Ray: Look, they’re petty thieves, you know? They rob and assault people for nickels and dimes.
Fraser: Ray, will you at least just let me talk to her for a second?
Ray: Okay, okay, but you promise to leave me alone?
Fraser: I promise.
Ray: Okay, go ahead.
Fraser: Thank you. [approaches Sid & Andy]   Excuse me, can I talk to you? The man who accosted you--
Sid: Who is this guy?
Fraser: Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was the same man who chased you last night, was he not?
Crowley: Excuse me, are you here in some official capacity?
Fraser: My superior officer has lost something. A brooch.
Sid: We don’t have to listen to him, right?
Ray: Your sister has been accosted twice by the same man in the last 24 hours.
Sid: She’s fine.
Fraser: Not if we hadn’t been there.
Sid: Look, I’m telling you that I can take care of her.
Fraser: I think you probably can under normal circumstances--
Sid: Like I said, do we have to talk to him?
Lawyer: No, you don’t.
Sid: Bye.
Fraser: Excuse me. You forgot your sugar cubes.
Andy: Thanks.

[alley]
Andy: Sid?
Sid: What? What?!
Andy: Nothing, nothing.

[they get into their van; Sid pulls the address book from a cubbyhole]
Sid: This what you stole from that guy?
Andy: Yeah, I guess so.
Sid: Must be worth something.
Andy: Eh, it’s just junk, you heard Celia.
Sid: No, it’s worth something. Maybe even a thousand.
Andy: Well then give it to the cop. [Sid scoffs]   You heard the Mountie, the guy’s trying to kill me!
Sid: Yeah, since when has a pig ever been straight with us?
Andy: Don’t we have enough saved up already? Can’t we just jet?
Sid: No, we need more.
Andy: [mocking]   “We always need more.”
Sid: Look, we’re going, okay? Don’t I always do what I say? You want to go back to the foster home? I’m taking care of you. [Andy storms out of van]Andy? Andy! You meet me back at Celia’s, do you hear me?!

[street; a hansom cab stand]
Andy : [to horse]   Listen buster, if you eat all your carrots, I’ve got sugar cubes for dessert for you.
Fraser: It’s a very good choice. Plenty of carotene.
Andy: What’s that?
Fraser: It’s a red or yellow crystalline pigment found in carrots, among other things. The body converts it into vitamin A. It’s the orange stuff.
Andy: Oh.
Fraser: Have you ever ridden in one of these things?
Andy: Sid says it’s a waste of money.
Fraser: Sid’s not paying. [to driver, sitting in the back]   Excuse me. May I?   I’ve had some experience. [hands him a bill]
Driver: Go ahead. But she only moves for me.
Fraser: Really.   [gets in the front]   There. Come on up. [gives Andy a hand]   Diefenbaker.
Andy: It’s a wolf, huh?
Fraser: Yes, his name is Diefenbaker.
Andy: He looks pretty sick.
Fraser: Oh, it’s just a plea for sympathy, I assure you. [he makes kissing noises & snaps the reins, and off they go]   So it’s just you and your brother, then?
Andy: No, we’ve got family. They got a big ranch with lots of horses. Um, we’re just hanging out, making a few bucks until we can hook up with them again. You ever been to Wyoming?
Fraser: As a matter of fact, I have. I arrested a man in Wyoming.
Andy: Then you know where we’re going. I’m gonna have my own horse when I’m there.
Fraser: Mm-hmm.
Andy: I’m gonna ride it everyday.
Fraser: Mm-hmm.
Andy. That’s why Sid’s got us working so hard. He’s just trying to get us there.
Fraser: Well, I imagine you’ll be leaving quite soon.
Andy: Yeah, pretty soon I guess.
Fraser: When? A week? A month?
Andy: I don’t know.
Fraser: It’s a big trip. You must’ve been planning it for a long time. You must talk about it a lot.
Andy: Yeah we talk about it. Well, I talk about it.
Fraser: How long?
Andy: What?
Fraser: How long you been planning the trip?
Andy: A few months maybe. More like a year actually.
Fraser: Ah.
Andy: Look, we’re going okay? Sid always does what he says. Always. It’s just that...we got to go together, like we promised.
Fraser: Okay. Here, you want to try this? [hands her the reins]   Just hold ‘em nice and loose. There we go. That’s it.

[27 ^th precinct]
Huey: [to woman]   Personally I prefer Myrtle Beach to Martha’s Vineyards. You?
Gardino: [to another woman]   Tell me, is that blouse from the Gap?
[Vecchio walks by their desk, snags a file, and keeps going]

[hansom cab]
Andy: So, what do you want?
Fraser: Excuse me?
Andy: Sid says people only do stuff for you when they want something. So what is it?
Fraser: Well, you know the world’s a big place. Sid’s only seen a little part of it. Whoa. [they stop back at the taxi stand]
Andy: Do you think that guy’s going to come after me again?
Fraser: I think that’s very likely.
Andy: He kept saying something about a book or something.
Fraser: Is that what you stole from him?
Andy: I haven’t said anything about stealing anything.
Fraser: No, that’s right, you didn’t. Want to go around again?
Andy: Well, it’s kinda raining.
Fraser: Oh yeah. I’ll help you down.

[27 ^th precinct; restroom]
Fraser: The killer has a very specific tattoo on the side of his neck. She says she pick-pocketed something from him the night of the murder.
Ray: Yeah, so?
Fraser: Well, she said she took some kind of device. I think they call it an electronic organizer.
Ray: The book. Sunny’s address book.
Fraser: Perhaps. There’s something more, Ray. She said he tried to use a wire on her. I think it was a garroting wire.
Ray: Well, guess who was killed the same way.
[shows a file... a newspaper headline reads: “Sunny Barclay Dead; Madam To The Stars Murdered”;   Sid closes the newspaper – he’s in the crime scene alley, holding the address book]

[tattoo shop]
Fraser: It was a small tattoo. The stars and stripes. Located approximately 4 centimeters below the left ear. I remember quite distinctly. And judging from the sharpness of the color, our man either avoided the sun or the tattoo was relatively new. Now, if we can just match up the style of the tattoo to the artisan--
Ray: Fraser, a tattoo is a tattoo. It doesn’t take a Michaelangelo to doodle Old Glory on somebody’s neck.
Fraser: On the contrary, Ray. A tattoo is a very individual thing. You don’t hand it over to just anybody. You have to have faith in the vision and the integrity of the artist.
Ray: The artist?
Fraser: Yes.
Ray: You call this art?
Fraser: Very much so. And you know something? It’s exactly that kind of assumption that has contributed to the commercialization of this ancient form in recent years.   [to heavily tattooed guy getting a new tat]   Excuse me. These subtle shadings, are they Zulu influenced or Tanganyikan?
Artist: Boyd.

[Boyd comes out of the backroom – he’s a very tough-looking guy]
Fraser: Ah.

 

[Music: ‘Goodbye Train’ by Big Sugar. Fraser & Vecchio go from parlor to parlor, getting thrown out of each one; finally...]

 

[tattoo parlor]
Artist (Miles Emery): Nuance. You don’t get a lot of it in this business. That’s why I remember him.
Ray: Nuance?
Miles Emery: The man favored subtlety. At first I thought he was just another Cro-Magnon knock-off. I had him figured for the dancing Statue of Liberty. The flag of Iwo Jima. Jon Bon Jovi. You sure you only want red and white?
Fraser: Uh, yes, just red and white, thank you.
Miles Emery: Then he did something unexpected. It was like he ordered a bottle of 1970 Chateau Margaux with his burrito.
Fraser: You mean the American flag on the back of his neck?
Miles Emery: Yeah, postage stamp size. You have to appreciate it. Are you sure? I got a very nice metallic puce.
Fraser: No, no, uh, red and white will be sufficient, thank you. And I believe you will find that the-the Maple Leaf actually has three points, unlike the oak which you have, you have rendered quite, uh, quite accurately here.

[artist has drawn with a pen on Fraser’s arm a Canadian flag – but with an oak leaf in the center]
Miles Emery: Problem?
Fraser: No. Carry on.
Ray: You know where we might be able to find this guy with all the nuance?
Miles Emery: No. Just paid cash, then he left.
Ray: Did he talk about his work? Mention a favorite restaurant or anything?
Miles Emery: Not the talkative type. He gave me this though. As if I don’t have enough of ‘em.
[hands Vecchio a pin – it’s a US flag, with “Johnstone” imprinted underneath]
Ray: Johnstone. Senator Johnstone. Come on, let’s go.
Fraser: Ah well! [jerks arm away just as the needle gets close]   Perhaps next time.
Ray: Oh that’s very nice. Is that the Tanganyikan influence?

[van]
Andy: Okay, so Sid, when are we going to leave?
Sid: Leave me alone.
Andy: Sid, when?
Sid: A month or two. Look at this. Movie actors and football players. They’ve got lots of money.
Andy: So what?
Sid: Some of their names are in this computer. I knew it was worth something. I knew it.
Andy: Okay. How much do we have saved?
Sid: Look, you don’t worry about that. That’s my business. You dip, I do the rest. [Andy begins poking around]   What the hell are you doing?!
Andy: Looking at our money.
Sid: Gimme that. Give it!
Andy: Look, that money is mine, too. I must’ve lifted at least 500 bucks last week, now where is it?
Sid: We have expenses, all right? Andy!

[Andy bursts out of the van]

Sid : Don’t you walk away from me! [chases her]
Andy: You spent our money, Sid.
Sid: Look, I put food in your mouth and a roof over your head.
Andy: You said it was all right to steal from other people.
Sid: Look, you know how much it costs me to keep you out of that foster home?
Andy: You said it was all so we could go to Wyoming!
Sid: There’s nothing in Wyoming! It’s just some stupid idea you got into your head.
Andy: What are you talking about? Momma said that we have family that live up there. She said that--
Sid: Momma lied!   [Andy slaps him]
Andy: And you said you would take me there. You lied!

[campaign headquarters]
Ray: Celebrities no different than the next guy, Fraser. The only mistake you can make is treating them like they are.
Fraser: Still, Ray, there is the matter of etiquette.
Ray: Are you saying I don’t have any etiquette?
Fraser: Etiquette is a loose codification of the rules of conduct in polite society, and I believe that precludes accusing a United States Senator of murder, conspiracy, and moral deviance.
Ray: Fraser, this is America, we do that all the time. [to worker]   Excuse me. Senator Johnstone, please. [worker points]
Campaign Manager: We have dozens of campaign workers. We don’t demand a psychiatric history before allowing them to stuff envelopes. [to worker]   This one.
Ray: The woman he killed was Sunny Barclay. Maybe you’ve seen some of the press coverage?
Campaign Manager: Ditch the slogan. This way, Detective.

[Vecchio & the Campaign Manager walk off alone]

That’s quite an accusation.
Ray: Uh, who’s accusing? I’d just like a word with the Senator.
Campaign Manager: Sounds to me like you want to start a smear campaign.
Ray: Look, I’ve got a dead madam, a missing address book, and a guy running around with a garroting wire who’s a walking advertisement for Elliot Johnstone. I think that warrants a conversation with the man.
Campaign Manager: You believe the Senator, a well-known advocate of family values, knew Miss Barclay?
Ray: It wouldn’t be the first time a politician preached one thing and practiced another.
Campaign Manager: You have proof of this?
Ray: Look, all I’m asking for is five minutes of the man’s time. Now you can keep stonewalling me, and I’m going to start to get suspicious. Like maybe the Senator did know Sunny Barclay. Maybe they exchanged phone numbers. And maybe that phone number found it’s way into her little black book.
Campaign Manager: So you are accusing him.
Ray: All I’m saying is it’s possible.
Campaign Manager: Well, it’s not.
Ray: Oh, and you know this for sure? You know where he is and who he’s with every minute of every day and every night?
Campaign Manager: Yes. I do.
Ray: And I thought you were his campaign manager.
Campaign Manager: I am. I’m also his wife. [picks up phone]   What district did you say you’re with?

[Celia’s; Sid is on the phone]
Sid: A waitress gave me your number. I have what you’re looking for.
Cobb: Yeah.
Sid: A book with names in it. Want to hear some?
Cobb: Be smart, kid. Take the book back to the alley where you stole it. I’ll meet you there.
Sid: I want a reward. Ten thousand. If you don’t pay, I take the book to the cops.
Cobb: The girl. She’s your sister, isn’t she? [he’s watching Andy in the diner from his car]
Sid: What?
Cobb: I thought so. She looks a lot like you.
Sid: My sister?
Cobb: The alley. One hour. Bring the book.
Sid: What about my sister?
Cobb: Oh, don’t worry. I’ll keep a close eye on her.
[Andy leaves the diner, trying to pin the brooch on the inside of her jacket; Sid runs, looking for her; Cobb grabs her from behind, putting his hand over her mouth]
Cobb: Sweetheart, you’re not lucky. [drags her across the street]   It’s okay. [she struggles]   I told you I don’t want nothing else, all right?   Get in the-Get in the car.

[he pushes her into his car, then gets in himself]

Andy : Sid!

[car drives away; Sid searches frantically... finds only the brooch, dropped on the sidewalk]

[27 ^th precinct, Welsh’s office]
Welsh : Now that takes real vision. Shaking down a United States Senator.
Ray: Honest to God, sir, all we did was ask Mrs. Johnstone a couple of questions, she completely overreacted.
Welsh: Oh, you think. You did accuse her husband of consorting with a world famous prostitute.
Ray: Suggested, sir. Never accused.
Welsh: That makes a big difference.
O’Neil: [bursting in]   Harding?! What were you thinking?
Welsh: Excuse me?
O’Neil: You let this idiot question a United States Senator?
Welsh: Can’t we talk about this in private?
O’Neil: I don’t have time for that. I have to report to the Mayor’s office and explain to them why your detective lost his mind!
Ray: Sir, we have compelling evidence tying one of the senator’s men to the murder of Sunny Barclay.
O’Neil: Oh really. And what would that compelling evidence be?
Ray: Well that would be a, uh... You see, sir, it’s sort of a small, uh...
Fraser: It’s a tattoo, sir.
Ray: Yeah, that’s what it is, sir.
O’Neil: Johnstone has a tattoo?
Fraser: An employee. His bodyguard, I believe.
Ray: The guy with the tattoo murdered Sunny Barclay and stole her organizer and we have a witness.
O’Neil: Someone saw this guy kill Sunny?
Ray: Well not exactly. Our witness stole the organizer from the killer.
Fraser: A young pickpocket, sir.
O’Neil: Oh. A credible witness.
Fraser: She was later threatened by the tattooed man with the same type of weapon.
O’Neil: So you proceeded to grill the Senator’s wife on the word of a thief.
Fraser: Well, not just the thief, sir. We also spoke with the tattoo artist and he gave us this. [hands the pin to Welsh]
Welsh: Fraser, there are thousands of these things all over the city. I have one myself.
Fraser: I believe, sir, that you will find that all those other pins are labeled ‘Johnstone 96.’ This one is from his earlier campaign in 1990, indicating that whoever wore it had to have a particular attachment to the senator to have kept it and be wearing it six years later.
O’Neil: Your pickpocket. Can she ID the guy?
Fraser: Yes...
O’Neil: She’s here ready to make a statement?
Ray: Well, she’s not on the premises, sir.
O’Neil: You have her stashed somewhere?
Ray: Well, we don’t actually have her in our actual possession.
Welsh: But you know where to find her.
Fraser: Oh no, sir, we don’t have the slightest idea.
O’Neil: Oh, you are a piece of work, Vecchio. And you wonder why you’re career’s going nowhere. Nope, you are so incompetent you couldn’t get to nowhere if I drew you a map.
Cop: Detective Vecchio.
O’Neil: I’m not through with him.
Cop: Uh, Commander, the kid says it’s urgent.
Ray: Uh, what kid?
O’Neil: Would you mind not interrupting me?
Welsh: Commander, this is still my unit. These are my detectives. Now, if Detective Vecchio needs to be disciplined, I’ll do it.
Ray: What does he want?
Cop: Something about an address book?
Ray: [smugly]   Well. Would you excuse us, please?

[Riv; watching the alley]
Sid: He said he’d be here. He’s gonna see us. He’s gonna know I went to the cops.
Ray: Relax. He doesn’t think you’re that smart.
Welsh: [voice] All units, report.
Ray: [into radio]   Unit one’s in place.

[on the street]
Huey: [into wireless]   Unit 2. [he’s dressed as a bum]

[alley; a wino stumbles out]
Welsh: [voice]   Unit 3. Unit 3 are you there? Unit 3.
Gardino: [into wireless]   Unit 3 check.

[sharpshooter climbs to roof above an unmarked car]
Welsh: [into radio]   Suspect appears, let him get into position. Don’t overreact, just wait for my command. [to O’Neil]   That is unless you...
O’Neil: Your department.
Welsh: Thank you, sir.
Huey: They’re here.
[Cobb parks in view of the Riv; he gets out, then drags Andy from the car; Sid shifts, wanting to go after them]

Ray : Stay cool.

[they go into alley]
Andy: Ow, you’re hurting me, stop it! Please, let me go! Please, please, please let me go!

Gardino : Moving this way.
Andy: Ow, ow, ow!
Cobb: Shut up!

[he drags her to the gate... just then a woman opens her door to take out her trash, shining light on the whole scene and Gardino]
Gardino: Hold it, police! Hold it!

[Andy kicks Cobb and runs]

Gardino : Hold it!

[Cobb punches Gardino in the gut, knocking him down, and goes after Andy]

Gardino : He’s blown! Ran up the fire escape!
Ray: [to Sid]   Stay put.
[Cobb blocks the door, preventing Gardino’s escape; Sid gets out of the Riv; Andy & Cobb run up to the roof]
Huey: Where the hell are they?

Gardino : On the roof.

[first Andy, then Cobb leap over onto the next building]

Gardino : [to others]   They’re on the roof!
[Duck Boys & Vecchio rush up the stairs; Fraser runs down another alley; Sid comes running, heading to chase Andy...but climbs up a nearby telephone pole when he discovers his way is blocked.   Andy climbs up the makeshift ladder & almost makes it... but Cobb grabs her by the ankle]

 

[rooftop; Vecchio & Huey meet up]
Huey: Nothing.

[Gardino appears on the roof above them]

Gardino : Nothing.

[Andy screams; the cops run toward the sound; Cobb has Andy again and they head toward the fire escape... Fraser pops up]
Cobb: Move it!
Fraser: I can’t do that.
Cobb: I’ll kill her, now get out of the way.
Fraser: Won’t do you any good.
[Andy bites Cobb... she tumbles over the edge... Fraser catches her; Sid runs up from behind]

Sid : Andy!

[Cobb is going after Andy or Fraser with a large pipe... Sid tackles into Cobb... they both go over the edge]

Sid : Andy!

Andy : No, Sid! Sid!

[Sid has landed on top of Cobb; Fraser struggles, barely hanging on to the ladder... he loses his grip... but Vecchio grabs him by the jacket & holds on, grinning]

[alley; reporters & cops abound]
O’Neil: Well actually, Sunny Barclay’s address book was recovered...
Huey: [to EMTs] ...broken leg. Just tell me how soon I can get him into court.
Sid: [on stretcher]   You okay?
Andy: I’m fine.
Sid: I was thinking. Maybe we should get out of this place.
Andy: You just fell off a building.

[Sid winks at her]
Fraser: Thank you for the brooch.

Sid : She never wanted to steal. I made her.
Ray: Ah, not to worry. I got a friend down at the State’s Attorney’s office.
Fraser: Good luck.

[Sid is loaded into the ambulance]

Fraser : Your friend hates you, Ray.
Ray: Ah, it’s just a ploy.
Fraser: She would like to see you incarcerated.
Ray: Eh, so she likes handcuffs.

[consulate; Fraser’s office]

[knock knock knock; Thatcher enters; Fraser rises, hitting the desk quite hard]

Thatcher : Oh! I’m sorry.

Fraser : No, I’m fine. I took the liberty of--

Thatcher : I found it on my desk this morning.

[he sees the brooch is pinned to her lapel... she clears her throat]

Fraser : Ah. I hope it wasn’t damaged, I noticed, um--

Thatcher : No, actually. It’s been like that for years. [pause]   Thank you, for finding it.

[Fraser nods; she turns to exit]   And don’t ever go into my office again without permission. [turns back to him]   That’s my first and last warning. [exits]

 

<Doo Mah>

 

[Fraser runs into his desk again]

 

 

End