DARK ANGEL
Season One, Episode #9: "Red"
First Aired 1/16/2000
(Max and Kendra are at power grid in hallway of their apartment building)
MAX: Just like I thought -- it's that idiot in 12B. Where does he get off thinking he can jack our power on bath night?
KENDRA: Says he needs it for his space heater so his cannabis crop doesn't die.
MAX (removes the power cables and replaces them): Tough. I'm gonna have a hot bath. His weed's gonna have to chill. I mean, we stole the power first -- it belongs to us.
KENDRA: Totally.
(In their kitchen, Max is boiling many pots of water for the bath)
MAX: You got another date with Mr. Multiples?
KENDRA: "Date" might not be the most exact term. You think "date", you think of getting dressed up, going somewhere, some wine, a movie . . . and then -- badda bing.
MAX: Yeah, and?
KENDRA: Our evening starts off naked 'cause all we do is get busy . . . all night . . . without pause.
MAX: You can't bang the gong for twelve hours.
KENDRA: You can, Max. You so can.
MAX: Well, that's not been my experience. I mean, men always have to stop and talk. They need to hear what a good job they're doing or whatever. And then they do this weird cuddle thing.
KENDRA: Not all men.
MAX: I gotta meet this guy.
KENDRA: Oh, you've met him.
MAX: Really? Who?
KENDRA: I'm not letting you near him.
(The phone rings while Max is in bathtub)
MAX: This better be global.
LOGAN: Max.
MAX: Hey.
LOGAN: I found out where the witness is being held. 355 Montgomery, between Fifth and Sixth.
MAX: You got it.
LOGAN: My source confirmed the hit's going down today, so you've gotta get over there.
MAX: I'm preparing myself mentally for the task at hand.
LOGAN: Where are you?
MAX: I was in heaven but you're bringing me right back down to earth with this whole "urgent tone" thing.
LOGAN: Are you -- taking a bath?
MAX: Damn straight, and it took me an hour to boil twenty pots of water to fill this tub. Now I'm going to enjoy it.
LOGAN: Rescuing this witness and keeping him alive to testify tomorrow is the only chance we have of bringing down Mayor Steckler once and for all.
MAX: I know.
LOGAN: And I don't trust Witness Protection to protect him.
MAX: I got it covered, Logan. Believe me, nothing's going down for at least another hour. It's not even dark yet. (Hangs up on him) This guy needs to relax.
(Max rides her motorcycle to the building Logan told her about. She sees two men with guns preparing to break into the building)
MAX: Right on schedule.
(She bursts through the door into the living room on her bike. Just as the goons come in shooting, she grabs a guy lying on the couch, puts him behind her on the bike, and rides out)
MAX: You all right?
GUY: You interrupted a dream I was having about some twins from Portland, the ba-bing sisters.
(The voice triggers a flashback to Max's encounters with Bruno at Sonrisa's and the motel.)
MAX (stops the bike): Bruno?! I thought you were dead!
BRUNO: I thought you were dead.
MAX: Sorry to disappoint.
(He tightens his grip around her waist)
MAX: Oh, great. Now I need another bath.
(Opening credits)
(Max walks into Logan's apartment with Bruno blindfolded)
MAX: Meet the courageous citizen whose life we just saved.
BRUNO: I would just like to go on record as saying that I'm unhappy with the treatment I'm receiving currently.
MAX (shoves him into a chair): Say hi to Bruno Anselmo.
LOGAN: I thought you were dead.
BRUNO: Yeah, well, I got shot up pretty bad taking out Sonrisa, thanks to chickie here, but uh . . . you know, I pulled through.
MAX: Shame.
BRUNO: Hey! You tricked me into killing the best boss I ever had. You know, I was making a good living, breaking legs. The next day I wake up in the hospital. I'm surrounded by cops telling me that if I don't turn into a snitch I'm a dead man.
LOGAN: So you agreed to testify, and they gave you an early burial so no one would come after you.
BRUNO: Yeah. Well, why don't you two tell me how you figure into this?
LOGAN: I got a tip that the chief witness in the murder case against Mayor Steckler -- you, as it turns out -- was gonna get greased. We didn't want that to happen.
MAX: Speak for yourself.
LOGAN: Now I want you nice and healthy, so you can tell the Commission about how Steckler conspired with your boss to keep Cortodiazopine from the dying vets who needed it. How a hundred and forty-nine people died because of his greed.
MAX: Wait a minute -- this is about Sonrisa? Didn't we do this like months ago?
LOGAN: We didn't finish the job.
BRUNO: But I got enough on Steckler to put him away for a few centuries.
LOGAN: Well, that's assuming we can keep you alive.
MAX (in Logan's ear): Logan, you can't seriously be asking me to babysit this dirtbag!
LOGAN: He's the one who put me in this chair. If I can wrap my head around it, so can you.
BRUNO: What chair?
MAX: Take a look at the fruits of your labor. (Removes the blindfold) You might have an easier time recognizing him through the scope of a grenade launcher.
BRUNO: Oh. Yeah, now I remember. I did this?
LOGAN: Yeah.
BRUNO: Sorry . . . It was nothing personal at all . . . Coulda been worse, right? (No reaction from Logan) You got a nice pad here. I appreciate you letting me crash here.
LOGAN: I got a safe house for you out in the suburbs.
MAX: Logan, I'm begging you to let me turn this hump over to the people who wanna grease him.
LOGAN: Twenty-four hours, Max. Let him tell his story, and then he can crawl back under the rock he came from. (Holds out an envelope) Some spending money. Play nice.
(In the hallway of the safe house)
BRUNO: So from what I remember, you can hold your breath for quite a long time. You know, guys pay a lot of money for that. And settin' me up against Sonrisa -- I forgive that.
MAX: I'll sleep better now.
BRUNO: And I thank you for saving my life back there.
MAX: Don't rub it in.
BRUNO: So, um . . . you and this, uh, Logan character, um . . . you working together, or uh . .
MAX: Bruno, how about you and me take a vow of silence for the next twenty-four hours, hmm? (Opens the door to a run-down room)
BRUNO: Oh, no. This -- no. This is not working.
MAX: Excuse me?
BRUNO: Well, do you see a TV, huh? Do you see a stereo? What am I supposed to do for food, huh? I guess you're taking me to a nice restaurant.
MAX: You're staying put.
BRUNO: Oh, no. Not in this dump, I'm not. No sir. (Heads for the door)
MAX: Hey, Bruno. . .
(He turns to see her holding up a pair of handcuffs)
BRUNO: Ohhh. Oh yes, I should've figured you for a little kinkster. (Walks toward her, grinning) Yeah, I'm game. Two people alone in a room for people just passing though. It's me, it's you, looking hotter than you've ever looked. It's like déja freakin' vu, isn't it? (She yanks his arm, putting him on the couch and handcuffing him to a nearby radiator) Ow! Oh, that's not a turn-on. No, no, ow! What'd you do that for?
MAX: Let me connect the dots for you. There are people out there that want you dead. Logan wants to keep you alive. I myself am on the fence, but I'm gonna make sure nothing irrevocable happens to you until you walk out of that hearing. That means that you are going to stay here even if the accommodations aren't to your liking.
BRUNO: You know you're different, right? You're not like other girls.
MAX: What do you want on your pizza?
BRUNO: The works. But I'm a vegetarian, so I don't want sausage and I don't want pepperoni, and I don't want cheese 'cause I don't do dairy.
(Max gives him a look and starts to leave)
BRUNO: You got a thing for tying up guys, don't you?
MAX: I save it all for you, Bruno.
(Logan is watching the black-and-white video taken from the police Hoverdrone the day he was shot. He keeps rewinding it and watching over and over again)
BLING: Most people watch home videos to remember the good times.
LOGAN: It's like it happened to someone else . . . That is definitely me.
BLING: Do you really need to put yourself through this?
LOGAN: And the shooter was Bruno Anselmo.
BLING: You're a better man than me. (Sits down next to Logan) Sticking your neck out for the man who did this to you.
LOGAN: We have a situation in the here and now. That's all that matters.
BLING: How'd you get this videotape, anyways?
LOGAN: Money. What else have I got?
BLING (taking the remote and shutting off the TV): Man, you gotta scream a little. Or you're going to explode.
LOGAN: And what good would that do?
BLING: It might make you feel better.
LOGAN: For how long? A minute? Five minutes?
BLING: It's a hell of a lot healthier than pretending to be the high-minded benefactor of the man who tried to kill you. A normal person might even entertain the idea of revenge.
LOGAN: To what end? Bruno's a germ. And there are ten thousand more just like him, ready to take his place. What I have to attack is the disease, not the symptom. The disease is Mayor Steckler, and Bruno's gonna bring him down. Now, can I have my remote back, please?
(Bling hands him the remote and walks out of the room. Logan goes back to watching the video)
(Guy in a pay phone)
GUY: We didn't get him . . . They said some girl showed up on a bike outta nowhere and took off with him. I'm gonna take care of it myself. Don't worry, I'll find him. Let's just say he has certain weaknesses.
(In the hotel room, two half-naked women are dancing for Bruno. Max walks in and shuts off their tape player.)
BRUNO: Hey, Maxie! Ladies, say hi to Maxie. Maxie, this is Britannica, and this is Ling-Ling, which is short for something . . .
MAX: Are you a complete idiot or do you just have a death wish?
BRUNO: Huh? They're trusted associates!
MAX: Come on, kids, put your clothes on. Bruno's got school in the morning.
BRUNO: Hey, come on. I can't put my life on hold because I'm doing my civic duty and testifying.
MAX: The reason why they call it a safe house is because nobody's supposed to know where it is! . . . Who forgot their thong? (Ling-Ling comes to claim it)
BRITANNICA: Three hundred.
BRUNO: Well, like the duck said to the working girl, put it on my bill.
LING-LING: Sorry, baby. We gotta have the paper.
BRUNO (to Max): Well, I -- you know, I kind of didn't get my wallet 'cause you grabbed me so fast. Do you mind paying? I'll pay you back. Listen, I'll get you a lap dance if you want. It's my treat.
(Max kicks him and uses some of Logan's money to pay the girls)
BRUNO: Ow! God, don't do that.
BRITANNICA: You and your kinky, kinky lady have a good night.
BRUNO: Oh, I'm sure we will. (They leave)
MAX: We gotta blaze.
BRUNO: You know, you've overreacting.
MAX: It's not safe here. We gotta find new digs.
BRUNO: You wouldn't have to protect me if you had gotten me dead back when you tried. (She wrenches his arm) Ow! I think there's a lesson in that?
MAX: Yeah-try harder.
BRUNO: Ow!
(At a hotel front desk)
CONCIERGE: May I help you?
MAX: Checking in.
CONCIERGE: Name?
BRUNO: Galt.
MAX (at same time): Stark.
BRUNO: We just got married.
CLERK: Congratulations . . . No, I don't have anything under either name.
BRUNO: Baby! Tell me you remembered to make the reservation.
MAX: I thought you were handling that.
BRUNO (putting his hand on her butt): Well, I didn't marry her for her brains.
(Max squeezes his hand, we hear the sound of bones cracking. She produces a bill for the concierge)
MAX: Can't we just get a room?
CLERK: Let me see what I have available.
(In the hotel hallway)
BRUNO: Too bad the bridal suite's ocupado.
MAX: I'm heartbroken.
BELLHOP: Your room is right this way.
BRUNO: Well, sweetheart, I should carry you over the threshold for good luck.
MAX: You're out of luck!
(Bellhop unlocks the door and they enter a room)
BRUNO: Oh, now, this is some style!
BELLHOP: I'll send your luggage right up.
BRUNO: We don't have any. We're newlyweds. Who needs clothes? Can you tip the young man, honey? (He grabs some extra money from her hands and gives it to the bellhop) Listen, can we get a free bottle of champagne or something?
BELLHOP: I'll see what I can do. (Leaves)
BRUNO (looks around): Ah. This is more like it.
MAX: Last room in the place and one bed. Great.
BRUNO: We're all adults. I think we can share.
MAX: Yeah, right.
BRUNO: You take the middle, I'll take the top.
MAX: You get the floor, pal. (Knocks him out) Honeymoon's over.
(Later in hotel room Max is reading on the bed. Bruno is sitting in an armchair, holding ice to his jaw)
BRUNO: It's all coming back to me now. (He flashes back to the beating she gave him in the motel room after Sonrisa's.) You pack a big wallop for a little thing.
MAX: Silence.
BRUNO: I'm bored.
MAX: Watch television.
BRUNO: Well, what's the point? You won't let me order any movies.
MAX: "Hose Monkeys: The Next Generation" is not a movie. It's excrement.
BRUNO: Easy. The leading lady is a personal friend of mine.
MAX: Dinner's on its way. Why don't you take a nap or something 'til it gets here?
BRUNO: I can't sleep!
MAX: You want me to put you under again?
BRUNO: I'm gonna take a shower.
MAX: Take your best shot, but some dirt just doesn't wash off.
BRUNO: Why don't you come help me?
(Max glares at him, and he goes into the bathroom & closes the door. Sound of water running)
BRUNO (from bathroom): The towels are all scratchy. (Max goes to the phone and starts dialing.) There's no water pressure. I piss harder than this.
LOGAN (on phone): Hey.
MAX: We got a problem.
LOGAN: What's wrong?
MAX: I'm supposed to be protecting your boy, only I'm this close to killing him. He turns my stomach, he's subhuman, he's -
LOGAN: - a material witness in the biggest murder trial in Seattle history.
MAX: Can't we just lock him in a steamer trunk for the next twenty-four hours and put him in your basement?
LOGAN: Remember the goal here -- bringing down Steckler. I'm sure I don't have to remind you what he did to your friend Theo. He died on account of him and Sonrisa.
MAX: Like I'd forget that.
LOGAN: Then keep your eyes on the prize.
MAX: Okay. But you don't have to share a room with the creep.
LOGAN: Why am I not worried about you being able to take care of yourself?
MAX: The only thing you need to worry about is me snapping his neck.
LOGAN: Just get him to the courtroom in one piece and able to talk.
MAX: Does he need to have all his teeth?
LOGAN: I'll see you tomorrow.
MAX: You owe me for this one. Large.
(There’s a knock on the door as Max hangs up the phone. She goes to the door, checks the peephole, and unlocks it)
MAX: Bruno, dinner. (Bellhop enters with room-service cart) What's this?
BELLHOP: The gentleman ordered a can of whipped cream.
MAX: Here. (hands back the whipped cream) Knock yourself out. You can take that champagne too. Honey, dinner. (Bellhop leaves) Bruno! (Knocks on bathroom door. Still no response.) I am entering this room in order to determine that you are safe and unharmed. This should in no way be construed by you as . . .
(The water is still running but the bathroom is empty. Max sees the window open and goes downstairs to the front desk)
MAX: Excuse me. The gentleman I checked in with --
CONCIERGE: Your husband?
MAX: Yeah. Do you know where he went?
CONCIERGE: I called him a cab. Where is my ten percent?
MAX: Ten percent? Of what?
CONCIERGE: Either I get paid, or you don't work this hotel again.
(Max grabs him by the neck and pulls him across the desk)
MAX: You puttin' the touch on the working girls? You think you deserve a piece of the action for sittin' here on your can, lookin' down your nose at them? I don't think so.
CONCIERGE: I can't breathe!
MAX: I ever hear about you shaking down my sisters again, I'll come back here and slap you like the bitch that you are. Now where did my husband go?
CONCIERGE: Steel Pole Saloon, Eighth and Pender.
MAX (releasing him): Have a nice night.
(Max pulls up to the Steel Pole. Inside there are two women boxing in a cage, and Bruno and another guy shooting pool)
BRUNO: Fifteen in the corner.
OPPONENT: Slop, man.
BRUNO: That's not slop. I called that.
MAX: What the hell are you doing here?
BRUNO: I'm just teaching this douche bag how to play pool.
OPPONENT: What'd you just call me?
BRUNO: You heard me. Hey bartender, I wanna get a vinegar and water for this douche bag over here.
(Opponent drops his stick and they start to fight. Max kicks his opponent's butt. Other guys from the surrounding crowd jump in against her and she kicks their butts too.)
BRUNO (proudly): That's my wife.
MAX: Anybody else want a piece? No takers? Let's go. (Grabs Bruno and they walk out)
BRUNO: Not bad for a girl.
MAX: Just pretending they were you, sweetheart.
A GUY ON HIS CELL PHONE: It's Johannessen. Yeah, he was just here. She's good. I'm gonna need the team.
(Back at the hotel room, Max handcuffs Bruno to the headboard of the bed)
BRUNO: I can't reach the phone from here.
MAX: No more phones, no more room service, no more showers. You're gonna go to sleep and I'm gonna sit right here and watch you.
BRUNO: Well, I gotta call my little girl before she goes to bed.
MAX: Right. And then you're gonna visit your sick Aunt Mary.
BRUNO: I'm serious! I gotta call my kid.
MAX: You actually have offspring? Is it considered Homo sapiens?
BRUNO: Hey, know what? You can say whatever you want to about me, but don't make any cracks about my little girl. Understood?
MAX: You really have a daughter?
BRUNO: Yes. Her name's Annabelle, and she's seven. And she doesn't sleep good unless I call her at night.
MAX: No way. If Steckler's goons are sitting on your family, they'll trace the call.
BRUNO: Boy, you must think I'm dumb, huh?
MAX: Do you really want me to answer that?
BRUNO: I gave my ex a scrambled cell. Nobody can trace the call. (She picks up the phone) Thank you.
MAX: What's the number?
BRUNO: 84-39-78-36-42-79-43.
MAX: This better be real, 'cause I'm listening in.
BRUNO: Hey, Mary Jo, it's me. I know it's late -- I had a bit of a situation. Is Annabelle still up? Can I talk to her, please? I promise I won't keep her very long. (To Max) See? She waited up for me. Um . . . would you mind going to the ice machine for me?
MAX: Yeah.
BRUNO: Come on, I just would like a glass of ice water to put on my bedside table at night.
MAX: So open a vein.
BRUNO: Come on, you got me locked up here, I'm waiting for my little girl to come to the phone . . . where am I gonna go? (Into the phone) Hi, sweetheart! How was school today? I'm gonna try and come down there tomorrow and see you. I've kind of got a busy day. Okay, okay . . . Well, I'm gonna be there. Yeah. So what story do you want to hear tonight, sweetie? Again? Okay. Are you all tucked in? All right, are you ready? In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon.
(Max takes the ice bucket and leaves. Three guys enter the lobby.)
CONCIERGE: Can I help you, gentlemen? Are you checking in, or visiting a guest?
(From the ice machine, Max sees one of the guys throw the concierge across the lobby with unnatural strength, and they head upstairs. Max runs back to the room.)
BRUNO: Goodnight, moon. Goodnight, cow jumping over the moon.
MAX (uncuffing Bruno): Bruno, we gotta get out of here.
BRUNO: Goodnight, light, and red balloon.
MAX: Hang up the phone. Now!
BRUNO: Goodbye chairs, and . . .
MAX: Let's go! Now!
(Max rips the cord out of the phone and drags him out the door.)
BRUNO: I didn't get to the kittens and the mittens!
(The three guys approach the room door. They burst through, guns pointed, but it's empty. One of them steps on Max's pager and picks it up)
CONCIERGE (on phone): Yes, hello, police? Yes . . . (The three guys appear at the front desk. One of them snaps the concierge's neck, and they leave)
(In the morning. Scenes from the streets including homeless people gathering around fires. A pile of blankets jumps up and we see it is Bruno)
BRUNO: Oh! God! Ugh! There's a rat!
MAX: Calm down.
(At Jam Pony)
NORMAL: It's 10:45 am, and even you feckless bums have been working here for over an hour. Where is she?
SKETCHY: I resent being called feckless.
ORIGINAL CINDY: Me too. What's it mean?
NORMAL: Where is Max?
ORIGINAL CINDY: In the bathroom.
SKETCHY (at the same time): On a run.
NORMAL: If she is not present and accounted for in the next fifteen minutes, she will be without employment. You tell her that for me.
SKETCHY: Normal, I swear I just saw her a minute ago.
NORMAL: Get out of my sight. Get out of my sight. (Walks away)
SKETCHY (to Cindy): Do you have any idea where Max is?
ORIGINAL CINDY: None. But we gonna fix that. (Dials the phone as Sketchy leaves on a run.)
LOGAN (on phone, clearly expecting Max): Hey.
ORIGINAL CINDY: Hey.
LOGAN (surprised): Hey.
ORIGINAL CINDY: You got Original Cindy here.
LOGAN: Oh. Hey.
ORIGINAL CINDY: We already did that. Do you know where Max is? I've been blowin' up her pager for two hours and she ain't hit me back, which is not her stilo.
LOGAN: Max is okay.
ORIGINAL CINDY: That's not what I asked. Where is she?
LOGAN: She's doing something for me. She'll be back at work this afternoon.
ORIGINAL CINDY: If the man don't fire her ass first.
LOGAN: Well, tell him she had a medical emergency and she'll bring a note from her doctor.
ORIGINAL CINDY: What you got her doin'?
LOGAN: It's a favor.
ORIGINAL CINDY: A favor. Look. You wanna be International Man of Mystery, that's your dealio. But you get my homegirl jammed up, I'm gonna beat on your ass, chair or no chair.
LOGAN: Trust me. Max is okay.
ORIGINAL CINDY: She better be. Later. (Hangs up)
NORMAL: Hi. I couldn't help overhearing you use the M word. Did you inquire as to her whereabouts?
ORIGINAL CINDY: She's at the doctor's. The good news is, they caught it before it turned into chronic multiple progressive brain dysfunction syndrome. She'll be in as soon as they're done testing her.
NORMAL: Oh, for the love of Mike.
(Logan's phone rings again. It's Max, at a pay phone at some diner on the street, with Bruno nearby)
LOGAN: Hey. I've been paging you all morning.
MAX: Little run-in at the hotel. Had to bail in a hurry and left my pager.
LOGAN: What happened?
MAX: Somebody dropped a dime on Bruno and some goons paid us a visit.
LOGAN: Is he okay?
MAX: Yeah. I'm okay too, thanks for asking.
LOGAN: You figure 'em for Steckler's people?
MAX: These weren't the same guys as last night. They were scary.
LOGAN: Well, there's a lot of players who want him dead. I'll look into it.
MAX: I'm in the home stretch with Dumbo here. See you in court?
LOGAN: Okay. Max . . . be careful.
(Max hangs up, smiling)
BRUNO: C'mon, let's get a move on. I'm supposed to be at the park in fifteen minutes.
MAX: What are you talking about?
BRUNO: I promised my kid I'd come see her. Listen. You look at me like something people scrape off the bottom of their shoes. My kid looks at me, she sees her father. I wanna go see my daughter.
MAX: I don't like it.
BRUNO: Listen. Eight years of marital pain living with a guy like me, you think Mary Jo didn't learn something? She knows how to avoid a tail like most wives know how to make a casserole.
MAX: Still. It's risky.
LOGAN: Well, that's why I got myself one kick-ass bodyguard.
(At the park, his wife and daughter are waiting)
BRUNO: Hey, sweetie! How are ya? (Annabelle runs toward him and he picks her up) Ya-hoo! Annabelle, this is my friend Max.
MAX: Hey, Annabelle.
ANNABELLE: Hello.
BRUNO: Shall we go say hi to Mommy? Thanks for bringing her, Mary Jo.
MARY JO: Annabelle deserves a father, despite everything.
BRUNO: Say hi to Max?
MARY JO: Hi.
MAX: Hey.
ANNABELLE: Daddy!
BRUNO: What?
ANNABELLE: Push me on the swings!
BRUNO: I'll race ya!
(They run off to the swings while Mary Jo and Max watch)
MARY JO: So where do you dance?
MAX: Dance?
MARY JO: You're with my husband. You gotta be a stripper.
ANNABELLE: My teacher says the moon can't be yellow.
BRUNO: Really? Why not?
ANNABELLE: She says the sun is yellow.
BRUNO: Hmm. What color do you want the sun to be?
ANNABELLE: Purple.
BRUNO: Purple? Well, you know what? I think that the moon has to be yellow, and the sun has to be purple, and that's the way it's gotta be. Yes? Yes?
ANNABELLE: Yes!
BRUNO: Okay!
MARY JO: I thought I'd heard every excuse there was, but bodyguard? That's a new one.
MAX: It's true. Your husband has a lot of enemies.
MARY JO: You're talking to one of his biggest.
(Max sees a man in the distance, hiding behind trees and carrying a gun)
MARY JO: Look, it's not like I care if you're fooling around with him, but don't kid yourself -- You're not his only bodyguard.
MAX: Excuse me. Bruno! BRUNO!
(Max runs toward Bruno and knocks him to the ground just as the man fires. The bullet flies over them and the man leaves)
(Logan's apartment)
BLING: This just came for you. (Hands Logan a disk)
LOGAN: Great! Thank you, Bling. I've been waiting for that.
(Pops it into the computer)
BLING: What is it?
LOGAN: Security camera from the hotel that Max stayed at last night.
(Onscreen, the three guys walk down the hotel hallway)
BLING: Trigger men looking to take out your witness?
LOGAN: They don't look like housekeeping doing turndown service.
(Onscreen, the bellhop runs into the elevator and the door closes. A fist punches through the elevator door and presses the "open doors" button. One of the guys enters, grabs the bellhop, and throws him into the hallway. The three guys get into the elevator.)
BLING: What the hell was that?!
LOGAN: That's a good question. I have no idea. (He replays the hand punching through the elevator door) I think I better go see Sebastian.
(Max and Bruno are on Max's motorcycle in a line of cars waiting to get to the courthouse)
MAX: I gotta ask, Bruno. Why are you doing this? Coming forward, I mean.
BRUNO: I do my part, the cops will forget about me whacking Sonrisa.
MAX: Resourceful guy like you, there are a million ways you could get out from under the beef. You could just disappear.
BRUNO: Well, I thought about it.
MAX: Don't tell me your conscience got the better of you. Three-plus decades of being a world-class dirt chute and all of a sudden you wake up one morning and have to do the right thing?
BRUNO: I'm doing it for Annabelle.
MAX: Even though you may never see her again?
BRUNO: She's gotta live her whole life knowing the kind of guy she had for a father. The very least I wanna do is give her one thing she can point to and say I did good.
(At an apartment. Johannessen is talking on his cell phone while two of the guys are using a hot iron to cauterize the third guy's open wound while he watches)
JOHANNESSEN: Believe me, sir, I understand the importance of this mission. Once we have her, I'll be in touch. (Hangs up.) What's the trouble here?
ONE OF THE GUYS: His arm won't stop bleeding.
JOHANNESSEN: Clotting agents are too thin. Get me the girl. This kind of problem will be a thing of the past.
(At Sebastian's. Logan and Sebastian are watching the security camera on the computer.)
SEBASTIAN (via voice synthesizer): My guess is they are military.
LOGAN: Ours?
SEBASTIAN: Probably South African disposables. . . Bingo (zooms on a mark on the neck of one of the guys on the video)
LOGAN: What?
SEBASTIAN: That's where the implant is inserted. In the trade, these guys are known as the Red Series.
LOGAN: I've heard about 'em. Soldiers modified to be all they can be.
SEBASTIAN: The implant burrows into the brain stem, blocks the pain receptors so they don't feel anything. They become hyper-adrenalized, which makes them incredibly strong, essentially fearless.
LOGAN: How can their bodies take that kind of punishment?
SEBASTIAN: They can't. They burn out in six months, a year tops. The South Africans have been trying to fix the problem by reengineering their DNA.
LOGAN: Pretty tall order.
SEBASTIAN: They could marry state-of-the-art transgenic science with neural-implant technology if they could get their hands on a genetically enhanced prototype. Question is, what are these guys doing in Seattle?
(Outside the courthouse, onlookers are crowding the sidewalks and the press is gathered against the fence. A police car goes by, siren sounding. Logan and Bling are by the side of Logan's car. Logan removes a gun from the door pocket and puts it inside his leather jacket, and they head for the courthouse)
BLING: She may already be inside.
LOGAN: Doesn't mean she's safe.
BLING: Max can take care of herself.
LOGAN: Not if she doesn't know what she's up against. (He cuts through the crowd to a cop standing guard) Excuse me. Excuse me. My name's Logan Cale.
COP: Press is over there.
LOGAN: I'm covering the hearing.
COP: Closed session. (to another cop) Miller, I told you to check the gate perimeter and move the crowd back.
LOGAN: Thank you.
(Max and Bruno pull up outside the courthouse)
MAX: Somebody out there's on Steckler's payroll with a big piece of lead just for you.
BRUNO: I don't care. I'm still going in.
MAX: Only not through the front door.
(Inside the courtroom)
JUDGE: All right. We are back in session, and we'll hear testimony regarding the alleged involvement of the mayor's office in the Cortodiazopine crisis of last year, which of course led to the deaths of one hundred and forty-nine Balkan War veterans. Next witness is Bruno Anselmo. (A bailiff hands the judge a note) Is the marshall in the gallery?
MARHSALL: Uh, yes, your honor.
JUDGE: I've just received a note here indicating that the witness is not ready to appear at this time. Now it was our understanding that Mr. Anselmo was in protective custody.
SHERIFF: Yes, your honor, he was -- until about sixteen hours ago.
JUDGE: And what happened?
SHERIFF: We're, uh, not exactly sure. A search is being conducted to determine his whereabouts.
JUDGE: Either Mr. Anselmo presents himself immediately, or this hearing is concluded. Call to the stand Mr. Bruno Anselmo. (Silence) Since Mr. Anselmo is not present, we are adjour-
(Max and Bruno burst into the courtroom on her motorcycle. She pivots to a stop, sending Bruno flying to the floor in front of the stand)
MAX: Your witness.
(Later in the courtroom, Bruno is testifying)
BRUNO: Sonrisa had the plan, Sonrisa did the dealings, but Mayor Steckler was the guy that made it happen. He made a chunk of cash off a lot of dead GI's.
JUDGE: Did you ever personally witness Mayor Steckler receive payoffs from Mr. Sonrisa?
BRUNO: Are you kidding? I put the money in his hands myself.
(The bailiff hands the judge another note)
JUDGE: Ladies and gentlemen, we've just been notified that a bomb threat has been made. We are adjourned until further notice. Everyone please exit the building in an orderly fashion.
(Everyone leaves the courtroom)
MAX: Let's go.
BRUNO: No, no, no, the stairs. This way. C'mere.
(Outside the courthouse)
COP: People, I'm gonna ask you to move away from the building. Move away from the building! We've got a situation here!
(Logan and Bling look worried)
(Parking garage below the courthouse)
MAX: Why am I not surprised you know your way around courthouses? (Looks around and sees the Red soldiers getting out of a van) Back upstairs! (Bruno takes a fire extinguisher and uses it knock the doorknob off the door.) What the hell are you doing?!
BRUNO: Just holdin' up my end of the deal. (The three goons get out, along with Johannessen. The goons approach Max) See, word on the street for a while now that there's some people in town that are willing to pay large for, uh, what do you call 'em?
JOHANNESSEN: Manticore prototypes.
BRUNO: Yeah. Now I know you think I'm dumb, but I'll tell you what I've figured out, girlie. (Johannessen gives him a briefcase full of cash) Yeah, that's good. I figure a girl that can run faster than a speeding bullet, and can hold her breath forever, and take out guys three times her size . . . Well, I figure she might be one of these, uh . . . whaddayacallits.
MAX: You figured that out all by yourself?
BRUNO: Uh-huh. I even staged a demonstration in that biker bar.
MAX: So now you're all ka-ching.
BRUNO: Well, I got a family to think about.
MAX: Bruno, I saved your life.
BRUNO: And I'm grateful. (One of the guys gets out some kind of electrical prod) But I'm a bad guy doing what comes natural. It's been fun. So goodbye, girlie. Wish I coulda thrown a hump into you. (Leaves)
(The goons are drawing closer to Max. She looks a little nervous but tries to look tough)
JOHANNESSEN: You have two choices. You can come quietly --
MAX: Bite me.
JOHANNESSEN (smiling): . . . or not.
MAX: You shoulda brought more guys.
JOHANNESSEN: Gentlemen . . . (The Reds circle around Max)
(Outside the courthouse)
LOGAN: Check the other side. (Bling leaves. Logan sees Bruno leaving the courthouse in a small crowd.) Bruno! Bruno! (Bruno glances over and sees him) Where's Max? (Bruno doesn't answer but turns and keeps going. Logan leaves)
(Bruno is walking away when the sniper from the park appears in front of him. The man fires straight into Bruno's stomach. Bruno collapses)
(Fight scene in the parking garage)
MAX: One at a time, boys. There's enough ass-kicking to go around.
(More fighting. They stun Max with the electrical prod and throw her onto a car)
MAX: Now you're pissing me off!
(More fighting. Max is starting to lose when Logan's car comes roaring by. He fires his gun, hitting a couple of the guys and giving Max a chance to jump in through the window. They peel out)
(In the van, parked in an alley)
JOHANNESSEN (on cell phone): She only got away because someone helped her. It won't happen next time. (One of the guys is removing bullets from the other two's flesh as they watch) Yeah, even better than we thought. She's stronger, faster, and well-trained. We just need some time to regroup, figure out our next move. But we'll get her. Don't worry. (Holds up Max's pager) We've got a lead.
(At Logan's apartment, he has the first aid kit our and is tending to Max’s wounds)
NEWS ANCHORMAN: Mayor Leopold Steckler is expected to be indicted on one hundred and forty-nine counts of murder. The most damning testimony against him was from Bruno Anselmo, who was felled by gunmen outside the municipal building only moments after his testimony.
LOGAN: Why is it that the good die young?
NEWS ANCHORMAN: City and state officials are hailing Anselmo as a courageous man who paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of justice.
MAX: He got what he wanted.
LOGAN: Mmm. A bullet in the chest?
MAX: Something his kid could point to and say he did good. Oww! (flinching)
LOGAN (putting peroxide on a burn on her shoulder): They got you good.
MAX: I need to get my ass kicked once in a while. Just to keep me real.
LOGAN: These guys aren't going away, Max.
MAX: Kinda pesky like that.
LOGAN: Max . . .
MAX: You don't have to tell me to be afraid. I'm already there.