1

Regular Cast	Recurring Cast
FRASER	FRANCESCA
RAY	MORGAN
DIEFENBAKER
WELSH
GARDINO
HUEY
ELAINE
Guest Cast – Speaking Roles
SUPERINTENDENT THATCHER
OVITZ
COOPER
CLAUDE	LENNY
ASSISTANT MANAGER	LITTLE KID
BOB	NORM
DAMIAN	TELLER
HAROLD

EXTERIOR-DAY	INTERIOR-DAY
ALLEY BESIDE BANK	BANK
BANK	BANK – FRONT DOOR
CANADIAN CONSULATE	BANK - HALLWAY
STREET	BANK - VAULT
STREET IN FINANCIAL DISTRICT	CONSULATE - RECEPTION
STREET IN FRONT OF BANK	CONSULATE – THATCHER’S OFFICE
STREET IN FRONT OF CONSULATE	MAINTENANCE TRUCK
TRUCK	POLICE STATION - BULLPEN
	POLICE STATION – WELSH’S OFFICE
	RAY’S CAR
SEDAN	MOTEL HALLWAY
EXTERIOR-NIGHT	INTERIOR-NIGHT
NONE	NONE

SCRIPT DAYS

Scenes Day/Night

1-69A DAY ONE

70-71 DAY TWO

FADE IN:
PROLOGUE
1- EXT. CANADIAN CONSULATE (CHICAGO) -- DAY
CLOSE ON A MOUNTIE’S BOOTS
brown leather, pristine, shone to a gleam. The owner, unseen except from the knees down, stands silent sentry, unmoving. A drop of melted ice cream falls into frame and splashes onto the boot, spoiling its high gloss finish. It is followed by another drop, and another, until the ice cream begins to pool and drip down the toe onto the pavement.
TILT UP TO REVEAL
the criminal in question, a seven year-old boy whom we shall call DAMIAN, because it seems appropriate. He looks up from the mess he’s very purposefully making to study the Mountie’s face.
ON THE MOUNTIE
stoic, eyes front, ignoring the desecration just as we’ve come to expect from our mountie...but something’s different -- whoever these handsome, chiseled features belong to, it isn’t Fraser.
DAMIAN
grins -- Mounties, you gotta love ‘em. As he continues to drip contentedly, the CHURCH BELLS CHIME. The boy counts along with them, waiting until the last possible second...
DAMIAN: ten.... eleven... twelve...
Damian drops the entire cone, scoop down onto the boot, then turns and hightails it out of there, laughing uproariously.
WITH DAMIAN
Halfway down the block he realizes the Mountie isn’t behind him. He slows, stops, then turns back, curious...
THE MOUNTIE
remains stoic, unmoving.
DAMIAN checks his watch, then turns and walks back.
DAMIAN (CONT’D) (to Mountie): Hey, dummy -- your shift’s over.
No response. Damian waves his hand in front of the mountie’s face.
DAMIAN (CONT’D): Hello-o, I’m committing a crime here. (Still no response. To himself, confused) Geez, what happened to the other guy?
HOLD AND PUSH IN on the consulate windows behind:
OVITZ (V.O.): The man works twelve hour shifts, never moves a muscle -- not even a twitch.
FRASER (V.O.): Who is he?
OVITZ (V.O.): I don’t know, some yutz in a hat. We flew him in from the Academy while you were in the hospital.
CUT TO:
2- INT. CONSULATE (RECEPTION AREA)
FRASER (in his browns) and OVITZ (early 20s), the new male executive secretary, stand at the window looking out at the scene.
Fraser turns from the window, covering any feelings of insecurity he, of course, would never have. DIEFENBAKER remains there, staring out at the Mountie, fascinated.
FRASER (to Dief): A-hem.
Reluctantly, Dief follows. Fraser lowers himself into a chair with just a slight suggestion of stiffness.
OVITZ (cruising for dirt): How’s the back? Bullet wound wasn’t it?
FRASER (quickly): Good as new, thank you kindly....?
OVITZ: Ovitz.
FRASER: ...Ovitz.
Fraser doesn’t recognize the name. For some reason, Ovitz thinks he should.
OVITZ: It’s a nickname. (nodding toward Supt.’s door) Hers. “Respectfully and affectionately.” (derisively) Respectfully my ... (ass).
FRASER (cutting him off): Superintendent Moffat.....
Fraser’s eye catches a box beside the desk. A name plate lettered “Superintendent Moffat” sticks out of the top.
FRASER (CONT’D): Retired?
OVITZ: Promoted. Seven years the man sits in that office, doesn’t make a single valuable contribution. Then one day he puts a mountie hat on a Mickey Mouse doll and --
The intercom on the desk BUZZES. Ovitz nods toward the door where Superintendent Moffat’s name has been stripped off.
OVITZ (CONT’D): She’ll see you now.
Fraser rises.
OVITZ (CONT’D): Don’t be nervous.
FRASER: I’m not.
OVITZ (chuckles): Yeah.
Fraser passes this off, starts to cross.
OVITZ (CONT’D): Not to worry. I’m sure its nothing.
FRASER: What is?
OVITZ (lowers his voice): Your personnel files. She ordered them from Ottawa.
Ovitz holds up a letter and lets it dangle enticingly, just out of reach.
OVITZ (CONT’D): But that’s standard, right? You’re her deputy, she’s your new boss...
FRASER: Of course. Standard procedure.
Fraser starts for the door again.
ORVITZ: Your medical files, your time cards.
Fraser hesitates.
FRASER: Also standard.
ORVITZ (big smile): Sure.
Fraser continues crossing.
ORVITZ (CONT’D): You sure have moved around a lot.
Fraser turns back to see Ovitz perusing a file folder containing a dozen similar letters. Fraser, annoyed but suppressing it, crosses back to the desk.
FRASER: Excuse me...Ovitz...but if there is certain information which you have been privy to as a part of your duties, I believe that as the Inspector’s executive secretary you have a responsibility to keep that to yourself.
OVITZ: Oh yeah. I’d protect that bikini wax appointment with my life.
Fraser eyes the door, uneasy. Ovitz, of course, notices as he does everything.
OVITZ (CONT’D): You’ll be fine. She’s already eaten two file clerks this morning.
Fraser makes a firm decision to ignore this. He looks to DIEFENBAKER, who is still sitting by the chair.
FRASER (to Dief): Coming?
Diefenbaker stands, crosses to Ovitz’s desk and crawls under it.
FRASER (CONT’D) (under his breath): Coward.
As Fraser KNOCKS on the door:
WELSH (V.O.): Come in, Vecchio.
CUT TO:
3- INT. POLICE STATION (WELSH’S OFFICE) -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray opens the door, wearing a sling around his right arm. He steps in and approaches the desk.
RAY: Appreciate this, sir, know you’re busy, won’t take a moment.
Welsh doesn’t bother to look up from his desk.
WELSH: You’re right, it won’t. (holds out a paper) Disapproved.
Ray hesitates, taken aback, but recovers.
RAY: You’ve thought that over carefully, have you, sir?
WELSH: Yep. For about three minutes.
RAY (sees his opening): Well, sir, with all due respect, three minutes for an officer who was wounded in the line of duty -- in defense of a fellow officer I might add...
WELSH (sighs): The Mountie.
RAY: ...and a grievous wound it was, sir...
Welsh finally looks up.
WELSH: Now see, that’s the part I struggled with...
Welsh picks up the form, rises, strolls the office
WELSH (CONT’D): Setting aside this penchant that you and Constable Fraser have for shooting each other...the bullet you describe on this form -- this is your handwriting, I assume -- is a truly remarkable piece of ammunition. (referring to form) You see, here where it says "shoulder wound”...
RAY: Ripped into the old lateral deltoid right about here. (offers his shoulder, winces) Ahh. Sorry.
WELSH: Uh-huh. But the truly startling thing? This bullet, once inside your shoulder, appears to have taken a radical change in direction, travelling southward, piercing a lung and injuring several major organs. Now why do you suppose it did that, Detective?
RAY: Who really knows shy these things happen, sir? A freak accident...
WELSH: And a convenient one. Because such a wound would qualify you for extended disability benefits to the tune of (turns page, whistles) a whole lot of sunshine and marguerites.
RAY: Sir, if you’re suggesting that I would capitalize on my own near-death experience...
WELSH: Look, Vecchio, beyond your obvious desire to squeeze a little more juice out of the benefits package--
RAY: A package which I have paid into heavily for thirteen years, sir...
WELSH: I can’t afford to have another detective on sick leave. We’re too short handed.
RAY: Sir, I have already submitted this form to the insurance company. If they approve it-
WELSH: Then the insurance company and I might have to have a quiet little chat. Because wound or no, you are back on the street as of tomorrow.
RAY (hurt): Alright, sir. If that’s your decision.
WELSH: It is.
Welsh returns to his paperwork. Ray, frustrated, turns for the door.
WELSH (CONT’D): And, Vecchio? (Ray turns back) This incident might fade from my mind completely were you to stay out of trouble for just twenty-four hours.
RAY: Yes, sir.
WELSH (with meaning) Have a good day, Vecchio.
RAY: You too, sir.
4- INT. BULLPEN -- CONTINUOUS
Ray exits, a black cloud of frustration. On the way to his desk he passes HUEY AND GARDINO who are gathered with several other BULLPEN EXTRAS. Gardino, spotting Ray, quickly lifts up a chart, roughly drawn, of the human torso and begins lecturing loudly for Ray’s benefit.
GARDINO: ...Now this bullet......
HUEY (holding it up): This magic bullet.
GARDINO: ...entered here...took a sharp right, bounced off the collar bone, pierced the rib cage, took a U-turn at the pancreas...
Ray charges over, rips the chart out of Gardino’s hands, tosses it and grabs back the bullet from Huey. The extras scatter.
RAY: Stay out of my desk, okay?
Ray shoves the bullet in his pocket and moves off. Elaine greets him at his desk with a pile of mail.
ELAINE: All bills. Welcome back.
RAY: Anymore good news, Elaine?
ELAINE: Well, I was planning on saving it for the surprise party, but...
She pulls out a fax written on official stationery.
ELAINE (CONT’D): Your disability application -- it’s been denied. The insurance doctor said.... (reading) “No man could sustain this kind of injury and live.”
RAY: And the good news?
ELAINE (hesitates): It can wait.
RAY: Elaine!
ELAINE: They’re burying you with full honors. (hands him the fax) Three o’clock, Thursday. Don’t be late.
Elaine moves off. On Ray’s _expression:
END OF PROLOGUE
ACT ONE
5- EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS -- AFTERNOON
The Riviera driving through the financial district. BUBBLE GUM MUSIC is playing loudly on the radio, so loudly that Ray has to speak up to be heard.
RAY (V.O.): I’m a dead man, Fraser. Some yahoo down at city hall reads the insurance report and flags my name in the central computer system. Look at this:
6- INT. RAY’S CAR -- CONTINUOUS
Ray is in the passenger seat sorting through his stack of bills. Fraser and Dief are in the rear. FRANCESCA, the musical offender, is driving.
RAY (V.O.): “Vecchio, Raymond: deceased.” Then the city computer instructs the state and federal computers to cancel (off letters, one by one) my registration, my drivers license, and my social security card. So now, I’m getting buried on Thursday and I can’t even afford to get my good suit out of the cleaners! (re: music) Will you turn that off!
FRANCESCA: No. I’m driving, I should get to hear what I want.
RAY: This is not your car, Franny. You have merely been given temporary dispensation to operate it. Which means that you may sit on that seat, touch that wheel and nothing else.
Ray switches off the radio.
FRANCESCA: Oh, well thank you, your Eminence. I’ll remember that the next time you need somebody to back up your phony insurance claim.
Franny switches the radio on again.
RAY: That claim is not a phony! I have latent muscle damage which inhibits making three point turns.
Ray turns the radio down. During the following, Francesca gradually turns the music up again, bit by bit, until it’s back at full blast.
RAY (CONT’D) (turning to Fraser): Look at us, Fraser -- two dedicated cops, we risk life and limb to protect total strangers and --(stops, realizes) Why are you wearing that?
We see that Fraser is dressed not in his usual browns, but in the regulation blue RCMP uniform, which is new and has not yet been tailored.
FRASER: My initial interview with the new inspector.
RAY (eyeing the new uniform): Went well, did it?
FRASER: I’m on probation, Ray. Inspector Thatcher has reviewed my job performance and found it to be somewhat unorthodox.
RAY: This is how they punish Mounties in Canada? They make them dress like an American?
FRASER: It’s not exactly the same uniform, Ray. My brown uniform is somewhat antiquated. And this new one is the current fashion.
FRANCESCA (to Fraser): I think it looks kind of cute.
FRASER: Thank you kindly, Francesca.
RAY (to Franny): Just keep your eyes on the road, okay?
FRANCESCA: I wish I had a uniform. When you wear a uniform, you’re somebody, people respect you.
RAY: Francesca, you’re my sister -- trust me, no matter what you wear, I will never respect you. (looks out the window) Now pull over.
FRANCESCA: Respect, Ray!
RAY (forcing himself): Please bring the car to a halt.
FRANCESCA: Certainly.
And with a SCREECHING OF BRAKES and a sudden jerk, the car, indeed halts. Fraser braces himself against the backseat.
RAY (suppressing himself): Thank you.
As Ray and Fraser climb out:
FRANCESCA: You got five minutes or I’m coming in after you!
They move off. Francesca turns up her BUBBLE GUM MUSIC full blast.
7- EXT. STREET IN FINANCIAL DISTRICT -- CONTINUOUS
Ray and Fraser step away from the car and move down the street toward their destination: Ray’s bank. Fraser removes a fur cap from his pocket.
RAY: What is that, a dead animal? She can make you wear a dead animal on your head?
FRASER: It’s regulation.
He somewhat self-consciously puts it on.
FRASER (CONT’D): Well?
RAY: She is punishing you.
FRASER: She is my superior officer, Ray. Not a field officer, mind you, but still a fine officer and a woman of considerable character.
Fraser pauses while he and Ray study their reflections in a glass window. The hat is attracting stares.
RAY: She hates you, Fraser.
FRASER: I believe so.
They turn and walk a few feet past a long line of customers waiting outside the bank’s glassed-in Automatic Teller Machine. Ray walks right up to the front of the line and “badges” the first waiting customer.
RAY: Police. You mind?
The man moves quickly out of the way. Ray moves into his place.
FRASER: Ray.
RAY: Don’t start with me. This is a legitimate emergency. (pulls out a form) Bulls tickets.
FRASER: Bulls tickets?
RAY: My season’s pass. I’m gonna cash my last disability check, renew my pass and then I’ll have something to look forward to -- who says you can’t take it with you.
The door opens and a customer exits. Ray and Fraser enter the ATM. In the b.g. a CLEANING MAINTENANCE TRUCK pulls past.
8- EXT. ALLEY BESIDE THE BANK -- CONTINUOUS
The truck pulls into the alley and up to the bank’s service entrance. It stops, continuing to idle.
9- INT. MAINTENANCE TRUCK -- CONTINUOUS
The driver, who we’ll call LENNY, is dressed like a janitor but looks more like an ex-con. Which he is. He puts on the parking brake, checks the side view mirrors, checks his watch, then picks up the walkie talkie on the seat beside him.
LENNY (into walkie): We’re in the alley, honey.
CUT TO:
10- INT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
A woman dressed in a business suit and tinted glasses, is at a teller’s cage. (Her name is MORGAN, and we’ve seen her somewhere before, but that’s not important now.) She receives the communication in her earpiece, then responds softly in the direction of the hidden mic in her purse.
MORGAN: Thank you, sweetie.
THE MALE TELLER looks up, having overheard. He smiles warmly...
MORGAN (CONT’D) (to teller): Have a nice day.
She accepts a handful of small bills and moves off. The teller, relieved to be finished, shuts his cage.
11- INT. MAINTENANCE TRUCK -- CONTINUOUS
Lenny pushes back the curtain dividing the cab from the rear.
IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK
It’s lined with tool cages, and with the types of drills and heavy duty tools displayed we can pretty much guess that this isn’t your standard maintenance truck. TWO MEN (we’ll call them HAROLD AND NORM), who don’t look much like janitors either, are zipping into overalls.
NORM (to Lenny): We on?
LENNY: Sit tight.
12- INT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
At a counter Morgan sets down her purse and takes her time counting the bills and tucking them away in her wallet. As she does, she surveys the bank, noticing
THE CLOCK ABOVE THE ENTRANCE registering twenty minutes to three.
THE LAST FEW CUSTOMERS being ushered out the door by an older security guard, BOB.
EMPLOYEES AT DESKS putting on their coats, wishing each other a good night, and heading for the rear employee entrance, and finally
A GATED SECURITY AREA where a young security guard, THOM, stands sipping coffee, chatting with the ASSISTANT MANAGER as she cleans off her desk, preparing to leave.
BACK TO SCENE
Morgan opens a stick of chewing gum and saunters over to the trash can nearest the security area. As she disposes of her wrapper, we see that she is now in a better position to look through the open security gate and see.
THE BANK VAULT -- MORGAN’S POV
which lies just beyond the gated area at the end of a narrow hall. The huge steel door, several feet thick, stands open.
BACK TO SCENE
Morgan deposits her wrapper then continues toward the front entrance. As she opens her purse and pulls out her sunglasses...
MORGAN (into hidden mic): Looking good. Give me thirty.
13- INT. MAINTENANCE TRUCK -- CONTINUOUS
Lenny turns to the others.
LENNY: We’re on.
The men move into action: Harold pulls back a tarp revealing a long case of drilling equipment and begins loading it, piece by piece, into the maintenance cart. Norm opens a cage, removes a small box and sets it into a cleaning pail along with a spool of what looks like detonation wire. The equipment is then covered over with rags, mops, brooms and bottles of cleaning supplies.
IN THE CAB
Lenny opens up a false compartment between the seats revealing a stash of compact automatic weapons. He pulls them out and starts passing them back to the others.
14- INT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
Morgan checks her watch on the overhead clock as she moves out the door. Both read 2:42. Bob, the older security guard opens the door for her.
BOB: Have a nice evening.
MORGAN: I will.
As Morgan pushes out the revolving door, Ray pushes in, looking like a thundercloud. The Security Guard moves to block his entrance.
BOB: Sorry. We’re closing now.
RAY: No you’re not.
Ray pushes past him, making a beeline for the teller’s counter.
BOB: Hey...!
Fraser strides in after Ray.
FRASER (to Bob): Thank you, (noticing name tag) Bob. We’ll be just a moment. Ray...
Ray heads for the last open teller, just as she’s putting up her “CLOSED” sign.
RAY (loudly): Okay, where’s the manager?
WOMAN TELLER: I’m sorry, sir, but the bank is...
RAY: No it’s not. It is not closed.
Ray grabs the sign and pushes it to one side.
RAY (CONT’D): See, it’s open.
The woman Teller slides the sign back in place.
WOMAN TELLER: No, it’s not, sir.
Ray slides the sign away again.
RAY: Yes, it is!
FRASER (stepping in): Ray, perhaps I could assist...
RAY: Fraser, my bank, my account, I’ll handle it.
WOMAN TELLER: Can I have a manager here?
The manager, COOPER, is already striding toward them, accompanied by the security guard.
RAY (furious): Good! A manager -- good choice!
COOPER (to Ray, pleasantly): Can I help you, sir?
RAY: Yes. Yes you can. I am Ray Vecchio, this is my bank, and this was my ATM card...
Ray holds up several perfectly shredded plastic strips.
COOPER: Ah. Well, it is just a machine and occasionally we do have a problem or two. Let’s take a look, shall we?
RAY: Yes, let’s.
As the manager crosses behind the counter to the computer terminal, Ray gives Fraser a smug grin.
COOPER (talking as he types): Vecchio...Raymond?
RAY: Nine-nine-one-oh-five.
The manager types in the account. While he waits....
COOPER (with a put-on folksiness): The computer age, huh? Sometimes it just makes you want to spit.
RAY: Sure does. So if your computer will just makes this deposit I can write my check and renew my Bulls Seasons...
COOPER: Mmm, you do have a problem. Accounts been frozen.
RAY: What??
COOPER: It can’t be accessed.
Ray’s smile quickly fades. He pulls out his badge.
RAY: Access it!
COOPER: I’m afraid not. Without a court order I can’t help you, Detective. The owner of this account is deceased.
On Ray’s _expression:
15- EXT. ALLEY BESIDE THE BANK
The truck is still idling in the alley.
16- INT. TRUCK -- CONTINUOUS
Morgan zips up her blue jean overalls. She looks much more familiar now -- in fact, she’s dressed very much like the villainess who stole the bearer bonds in Episode One. Which she is. She turns to the others, checking her watch.
MORGAN: Two forty-five. We’ve got to be in and out in fourteen minutes.
Lenny hands her a photo I.D. card and gives her a squeeze.
LENNY: Best looking cleaning lady I ever saw.
MORGAN: Oh, that is so sweet.
She takes a beretta from him, stuffs it deep into a pocket.
MORGAN (CONT’D) (to the others); Anybody gets in the way, kill them.
17- EX. TRUCK -- CONTINUOUS
The rear doors open and the team climbs out, Harold and Lenny lifting the maintenance cart which is decidedly heavy. Each has some sort of cleaning bucket or carrying case.
18- INT. BANK BUILDING HALLWAY -- AT THE SERVICE ENTRANCE
Employees are exiting. Harold holds the door open and they wait as the Male Teller exits. He smiles at the cleaning team and passes through.
MALE TELLER: Good night.
MORGAN: Good night.
Once the team is inside, Harold shuts the door and snaps the lock on. As they move down the hallway toward the bank:
19- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray still arguing with the manager.
RAY: ...so, I’m here, my money is here, but as long as your computer says I’m really not here, I can’t have it?
COOPER: I’m sorry, sir, but I’ll have to call head office. If you could just come back tomorrow--
RAY: Listen Champ, I’m a cop. I may not be alive tomorrow.
COOPER (tries a joke): Well, according to this you’re not alive now, sir.
Ray looks ready to pounce.
FRASER: Excuse me -- Ray? (to Cooper) Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. If it will help, I’m prepared to vouch for this man’s veracity.
RAY: See, a Canadian is vouching for me. Canadians never lie.
FRASER: Well, Ray, that may be overstating it just a tad.
RAY (to Cooper): And a Mountie. If you can’t trust a Mountie, who can you trust?
FRASER: I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, Ray.
RAY (with meaning): Yes, you would.
The Assistant Manager steps in and speaks to Cooper.
ASSISTANT MANAGER: Ten to three, Mr. Cooper.
COOPER (relieved): Would you excuse me?
The Manager moves off.
RAY (to Fraser, stunned): Wait a second here--
FRASER: Ray, maybe we should--
RAY: I want my money!
AT THE REAR EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE
The cleaning team enters. The younger security guard, Thom, checks their photo I.D. cards and lets them pass.
THOM: New team, huh, Lenny?
LENNY: Hard to keep good help.
During the following and almost unnoticed by the remaining employees, the cleaning team spreads out taking up various positions in the bank: Lenny and Norm each take an entrance, keeping close to the security guards who are guarding them; Harold moves his maintenance cart into the center aisle and begins unloading cleaning supplies; Morgan takes up a position near the vault, busying herself with a dusting rag while keeping her eye trained on the manager who is approaching the vault.
AT THE VAULT
Ray catches up to the manager as he prepares to close the vault.
RAY: Tell you what, I’ll give you this check, you give me twelve-hundred and forty-two bucks. Then tomorrow we call head office...
COOPER: Mr. Vecchio, this is a secured area, if you’ll just stand back...
While Ray continues to argue...
ANGLE ON FRASER
RAY (O.S.): Not going to give me any consideration? Fine. I mean, who am I -- I’m just a cop, right? One of those nameless, faceless stiffs who risks his life to protect your family, your business...
Waiting at the tellers cage a few yards away. He observes Harold rolling past his heavy maintenance cart. Harold nods, keeps moving. Something about the man makes Fraser frown. He studies each member of the cleaning team. Each seems to have his attention on a bank employee. The frown deepens . He starts crossing toward Ray and spots Morgan, who has her back turned to him as she dusts. Fraser freezes... his eyes drop to her shoes -- red running shoes -- and he makes an abrupt bee-line for Ray.
RAY (CONT’D): So all I’m asking for is to be listened to...
FRASER: Ray, there’s something you should--
RAY: Not now Fraser.
The Assistant Manager calls from her desk.
ASSISTANT MANAGER: Mr. Cooper, we have five minutes...
MORGAN: FREEZE.
Morgan stands a few feet behind Cooper her automatic leveled at his back.
MORGAN (CONT’D): This is a hold-up.
Everyone stands frozen, except the other members of the team who snap into action.
AT THE ENTRANCES
Lenny disarms the older security guard, Norm takes the younger one.
AT A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
Lenny spray paints the lens and moves on to the next one.
AT THE ASSISTANT MANAGER’S DESK
She reaches for the silent alarm button under the desk. Harold grabs her wrist, jabs his gun into her side.
HAROLD: Let’s not have any dead heroes.
AT THE VAULT
Fraser, between Ray and the vault, eyes the open door a foot away.
MORGAN (to bank employees): Okay, nice and slow, everybody down on the floor.
Her eyes fall on Fraser.
MORGAN (CONT’D): It’s you!
Heads turn.
MORGAN (CONT’D): The Mountie!
RAY (to Fraser): Friend of yours?
FRASER: Ours. Last year. The one who held up the brokerage firm.
RAY: The one who shot you in the hat?
MORGAN: You made my life hell.
Suddenly, a commotion starts at the Assistant Manager’s desk.
ASSISTANT MANAGER (hysterical): Don’t shoot. Please, don’t shoot.
MORGAN (turning; distracted): Nobody is shooting, just shut up and lay down.
ASSISTANT MANAGER: Please, please -- don’t shoot.
Ray starts to reach for his gun.
FRASER: Psst.. Ray...
RAY: Not now.
FRASER: Ray...
RAY: Fraser!
Fraser grabs Ray and yanks him backward into the open vault. Morgan, turning back, sees it, FIRES. As bullets bounce off metal, Fraser kicks the door stop and the huge heavy door swings to.
MORGAN: Nooo!
The door closes and the cylinders slide into place, locking them inside. Morgan yanks the manager over to the door.
MORGAN (CONT’D): Open it -- open it!
COOPER: I can’t. There’s a time lock.
MORGAN: So disarm it!
COOPER: I can’t! No one can.
Lenny is at the door now, having dragged the security guard with him.
LENNY: What time does it open?
COOPER: Eight o’clock......tomorrow morning.
Morgan and Lenny exchange looks.
20- INT. VAULT -- CONTINUOUS
A roughly 8 by 12 room lined with safety deposit boxes and several large cash boxes (safes) recessed into the sides. Any way you look at it, it’s wall to wall steel.
RAY: Fraser, we’re in the vault.
FRASER: Yes, Ray.
RAY (tries the handle): You locked us in.
FRASER: Yes I did, Ray.
RAY: May I ask why?
FRASER: Well, on the spur of the moment it seemed the only way to prevent the thieves from entering the vault and stealing the money.
RAY: I see. So now we have some very angry thieves outside, a whole lot of money inside and you and I are...?
FRASER: In between. (beat) Oh.
On Ray’s look:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
21- INT. BANK -- MOMENTS LATER
The Manager, Assistant Manager and both security guards are bound and sitting on the floor near the vault, out of view of the bank windows. Lenny keeps his gun on them, as he, Morgan and the others huddle a few feet away. Norm is sweating it, Harold is cool, Morgan is furious. Lenny’s just trying to hold it all together.
NORM: Forget it, it’s impossible. That door is solid steel, two feet thick.
MORGAN (pacing, agitated): He’s not doing this to me again, Lenny. He’s not getting away with it. (pounds on the vault; yelling) You hear that, Mountie?
LENNY (trying to calm her): It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. We’ll take care of the Mountie.
MORGAN: I dreamed about him, Lenny, every night in prison. I carved his face into a cement wall. (yelling toward vault) With a plastic fork!
LENNY: Morgan, I got you outta there, didn’t I? I’ll get you out of this (turning) Harold?
HAROLD: The combinations are easy enough. It’s the time lock. No point in drilling a lock that can’t be disabled.
LENNY: But there’s a way.
HAROLD: There’s always a way. Drill holes into the locking bolts, stuff ‘em with C4 and then blow it.
MORGAN: Good, pack it with the stuff. I want those bozos blown to kingdom--
NORM: Did he mention how many hours it will take to drill that hole?
HAROLD: Won’t know till we try.
LENNY (to Harold): What about the alarm company?
HAROLD: The vault closed before three. As far as they know the place is empty and everything’s fine. If we close the blinds...
NORM: Drills make noise, Lenny. You think nobody’s gonna hear?
HAROLD: I can cover that.
MORGAN: Good -- get the explosives.
NORM: I only brought enough to blow the cash boxes.
LENNY: So where’s the rest?
NORM (reluctantly): In the truck.
MORGAN: Norm, there’s a Mountie in that vault, and he’s got ten million dollars of my money. Now you can blow the door or I can blow your head off. Take your pick.
She raises her beretta, chambers a bullet...obediently, Norm and Harold move out with the maintenance cart, heading for the rear entrance.
LENNY (to Morgan): You want a back rub, sweetheart?
MORGAN: Not now, Lenny!
22- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray has his cell phone out and is moving around the vault trying to position the antenna to get reception. Fraser’s attention is on the vault, inspecting, measuring and familiarizing himself with every inch, from the light fixtures to the baseboards.
FRASER: High carbon steel... (pounds his heel against floor) I’d say eight to ten inches thick.
RAY (into cell): Hello...nine-one-one?...Hellooo. (to himself) I’m not receiving. Why am I not receiving?
FRASER: We’re in a vault, Ray.
RAY (snaps cell phone shut): Right.
FRASER (knocks along the wall in a pattern): No hollow spots in the walls -- must be backed by solid concrete...
RAY (to Fraser) Check for ventilation.
Fraser studies the wall. Starts climbing up the rack.
FRASER: Got it.
RAY: A vent?
FRASER (studies it): Yes, we’re in luck. It’s completely sealed off.
Fraser climbs down, satisfied.
RAY: What?!
FRASER: Air-tight, obviously to ensure security. It’s alright, Ray, the money is perfectly safe.
RAY: Well, that’s certainly a relief, Fraser, because for a moment there I was concerned that all those little Thomas Jeffersons might run out of oxygen!
FRASER: Ray, there’s really no need to panic. We have an 8 by 10 room with a 10 foot ceiling, which gives us at least 800 cubic feet of air. It’s three fifteen now, the time lock is due to open at 8 a.m., so we won’t be in danger of suffocating for at least...(calculates to himself, realizes, then) We have an 8 by 10 room with a 10 foot ceiling--
RAY: We’re gonna die.
FRASER: We’re not going to die, Ray.
RAY: Yeah, we are Fraser. We’re going to lay down our lives protecting somebody else’s money.
FRASER: Well, alright -- for argument’s sake. But there is a certain inherent danger in all police work.
RAY: No there isn’t, Fraser -- what there is, is a certain inherent danger in working with you.
FRASER: You didn’t have to do this, Ray. You could have simply surrendered your weapon, raised your hands...
RAY: I was doing that, Fraser.
FRASER: No, you weren’t. You were responding like any law enforcement officer would. You were preparing to defend this institution and its employees with your life.
RAY: No -- you see, this is where you get confused. I am not like you, Fraser. I do not throw myself into the line of fire just so that some money-grubbing, back-stabbing bank doesn’t have to pay higher insurance premiums.
FRASER: You don’t really mean that, Ray.
RAY: Yes, I do.
FRASER: No, you don’t.
RAY: I do, Fraser.
FRASER: I beg to differ.
The vault door SHUDDERS as something huge is SLAMMED up against its outer side. On Fraser and Ray’s reaction:
23- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
A huge drill press, mounted on it’s side, is now attached to the vault door by magnetic plates. Harold is taking painstaking care oiling the bit before he secures it in place. Norm is nervously kneading some balls of C4 like it’s silly putty.
NORM: Could you move a little slower, Harold? Because I’m really looking forward to relaxing in jail this weekend.
HAROLD (to Morgan): Is he telling me my business?
MORGAN: Just drill the door, Harold, okay?
HAROLD: I gotta drill six holes through twelve inches of steel. I don’t keep this bit lubricated, it’s gonna set the whole place on fire. Now am I doing this or are you?
The others back off, frustrated.
LENNY (to Norm): I’m gonna check on the truck. Put these on the doors.
Lenny shoves a couple of signs at Norm.
NORM: What, I’m the messenger boy?
MORGAN (to Norm, waving her gun): Go!
As Norm moves off toward the front doors and Lenny to the back--
Harold flips his goggles in place and throws the switch on the drill. As THE DRILL BITES into the steel door--
24- EXT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
Norm arrives at the front door. Peers out through the blinds, scanning the street for signs of trouble.
25- EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Francesca sits in the Riv, BUBBLE GUM MUSIC BLARING. She’s got the entire contents of her make up bag strewn across the dash and is putting on nail polish and talking on her hot pink cell phone. Diefenbaker sits in the passenger seat beside her, watching.
FRANCESCA: ...No, Ma I can’t go to the butcher’s...Because I’m busy...(listens) Ma! It’s always what you need and Ray needs! What about what I need sometime? (beat) “What do I need?” How about being treated like a valuable, respected human being for a change? (beat) No, Ma, the butcher does NOT respect me! “Kiss me and I’ll give you a pork round” does not constitute respect.
Francesca glances at the bank door, annoyed.
ON BANK DOOR -- FRANCESCA’S POV
The blind on the bank door is moved aside and Norm affixes the sign to the glass. It reads: “Under Renovation, Please Pardon Our Noise” with a drawing of a happy face wearing a hard hat.
BACK TO SCENE
Francesca reacts, annoyed, checks her watch.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D) ( into phone): Ma, I gotta go... Okay, Ma... Pork chops and veal. Yes, Ma, milk fed.
Francesca hangs up, turns to Diefenbaker.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D): Stay here. (climbing out) And don’t touch the radio.
Francesca climbs out. Diefenbaker waits a beat then climbs out the window after her.
26- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray studies the money bags that line the shelves of the money rack. Fraser is carefully inspecting the vault door. SFX: DRILLING.
FRASER (off door): Interesting. This is a 1986 Windsor-Creighton Protector 2000....
RAY (off money): I’m gonna die surrounded by money. More money than I’ve ever seen....
FRASER: The door’s made of high carbon steel with 8 cantilevered dead bolt cylinders countersunk into 18 inches of solid steel.
RAY: Don’t the Greeks have a word for this? Hubris?
FRASER: Hubris means insolent pride or arrogance.
RAY: Pathos?
FRASER: A feeling of pity. Did you know that in the ten years this vault has been in active use it has never been breached?
RAY: What about onomatopoeia?
FRASER: The dead bolts are roughly two inches in diameter. If they’re drilling, it means they intend to fill the holes with some kind of high explosive and blast the door off its hinges.
RAY (finally remembering): Irony!
FRASER (off the door): No. Hubris, perhaps. But they do have the time. They’ve disabled the surveillance cameras so there’s no fear of the police showing up until the alarm is tripped.
RAY: Which it won’t be until the door is blown.
FRASER: Which will be too late. (thinks) Ray, what is the chance a foot patrol might notice something amiss?
RAY: In Chicago?
FRASER: Not to worry. I’m sure some curious passerby will eventually--
RAY (realizing): Francesca! She’s outside, she’ll look at the time, realize something’s wrong...
27- INT. BANK (FRONT DOOR) -- AT THAT MOMENT
Francesca arrives at the bank door, looks at her watch, tries to look through the blinds, realizes something is wrong...
RAY (V.O.): ...and she’ll call the police.
28- INT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
Norm, back to the door, fingers his gun, nervous as a cat. Francesca peeks through the blinks at him and starts POUNDING on the door.
FRANCESCA (O.S.) (loudly): Hey. open up in there! Don’t hide from me, I see you!
Norm practically jumps out of his skin.
AT THE VAULT
Morgan hears the commotion, signals to Harold to STOP DRILLING. She calls to Norm.
MORGAN: Get rid of her!
AT THE FRONT DOORS
Francesca is trying to see through the glass. Norm hides his gun.
NORM (to Francesca): We’re closed.
FRANCESCA (can’t hear): What?
29- EXT. BANK
With Francesca, as Norm peeks out through the blinds.
NORM (loudly): Read the sign, lady!
FRANCESCA: Hey, don’t get smart with me, Mister...
Diefenbaker watches all this, curious.
IN THE ALLEY
Lenny grabs some orange construction cones from the back of the truck, walks to the mouth of the alley
AT THE BANK DOORS
Norm still looking out, getting anxious.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D) (to Norm, loudly): ...Oh, so you’re saying because I’m a woman I must be overreacting...?
In the b.g. Lenny appears and quickly sets out the cones to block the alley entrance while he checks the street for activity...
DIEFENBAKER
spots Lenny. Curious, the wolf trots toward him.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D) (to Norm); A scene? No this is not a scene. Now if I were to start screaming and stamping my feet -- like this --(screams, stamps her feet) That would be making a scene.
IN THE ALLEY
Lenny closes one of the doors of the van -- turns to see:
THE WOLF
looking up at him, curious.
BACK TO SCENE
LENNY (reacting) AH! (shooing Dief) Outta here! Get!
Dief ducks off around the corner of the truck. Lenny exits into the bank. A beat, then Dief appears again. The truck door is still open a bit. Curious, Dief jumps in.
30- INT. BANK (FRONT DOOR) -- AT THAT MOMENT
Norm and Morgan at the door.
NORM: Some kinda nut. She says we got her brother.
FRANCESCA ( through door): You tell Mr. Fancy-Pants Detective either he’s out here in two minutes or I’m wrapping that car around a tree!
MORGAN: ...Detective? (smiles)
Morgan opens the door. Franny pushes her way in, furious.
FRANCESCA: Okay -- where is he?!
Morgan and Norm greet her with the muzzles of their guns,.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
31- INT. BANK -- MOMENTS LATER
Morgan holds out a phone to Francesca, aiming a gun at her with her other hand.
MORGAN: Talk.
Francesca draws herself up bravely.
FRANCESCA: I refuse to be used as a pawn to make my brother forsake his duty.
MORGAN (to Franny): If that door doesn’t open in ten seconds, you are dead.
FRANCESCA (grabs the receiver from the guard): Gimme that.
32- INT. VAULT -- CONTINUOUS
Somewhere in the vault a PHONE RINGS. Ray scrambles for it.
RAY: A phone?
FRASER: I was afraid of this.
Ray is moving frantically around the vault looking for it.
RAY: Where is it?
FRASER: I’d rather not say.
Ray spots a small metal door flush with the wall. Flips it open:
FRASER (CONT’D): No...!
Fraser lunges for Ray and grabs him, holding him back.
RAY (astounded): What are you doing?!
FRASER: It’s them.
RAY: Of course it’s them. Who else would have the phone number of a vault?
FRASER: They’ll want to speak to us, Ray. To try and convince us to open the door.
RAY: We can open it?!
FRASER: Of course. There’s an emergency release button right there.
Ray turns, sees it and lunges. He locates the release, covered by a locked plastic protector, and starts pounding at the lock with his shoe.
RAY: You knew this.
FRASER: It’s standard equipment.
RAY: And you didn’t tell me we could open it...
FRASER: This isn’t about the loss of a few million dollars of this bank’s money. Its about average ordinary people who put their trust in this institution. People whose life savings are now entrusted to our care. We have an obligation to preserve those people’s trust, Ray.
RAY: Fraser, they’ll get their money back. It’s insured.
He cracks open the cover, reaches for the release button, twists...the lever comes off in his hand.
RAY (CONT’D): It’s broken?
FRASER: No. I disabled it.
RAY: You what?
FRASER: In case one of us weakened. I’m sorry...
Ray sees his chance and jumps for the phone. He gets it off the cradle and to his ear
FRANCESCA (O.S.): If you don’t get your butt out here..!
Fraser reaches across Ray, grabs the phone cord and RIPS it out of the wall cutting her off.
RAY (astounded): You did it again.
FRASER: It was Francesca.
RAY: Yes, Fraser. She’s in the bank. (realizes) They’re going to kill her.
FRASER: No, Ray, not if they can’t speak to you, they can’t tell you they have Francesca and if they can’t tell you they have her, then they can’t threaten you , rendering the need for a hostage moot.
RAY: But I know they have her.
FRASER: They don’t know you know. It’s the only way you can protect her.
Ray knows he’s right.
RAY: She’s my sister, Benny.
FRASER: She’s also an intelligent woman capable of handling herself in any situation.
RAY: You really believe that?
FRASER: (beat) No.
RAY: Good. Neither do I.
33- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Morgan redials, listens, slams down the phone, frustrated. Franny, still in shock, staring at the phone.
FRANCESCA: He hung up... I’m standing here with a gun to my head and he won’t even come to the phone? (to Morgan) Do something!
MORGAN: Lady, I can’t threaten him if he won’t answer the phone.
FRANCESCA: So keep dialing! What kind of bank robber are you?
MORGAN: Look, either shut up and sit down or I’m going to kill you.
FRANCESCA: Yeah, yeah. Like anyone would even notice.
She pushes Franny in among the other hostages.
MORGAN: Don’t just stand there! Drill!
As the DRILLING RESUMES, Franny turns to the Assistant Manager who is huddled against the wall, terrified.
FRANCESCA: They’re going to kill us all, you know. A last prayer...A single bullet to the head...Tomorrow we’ll be nothing but headlines... (brightens) Yes....headlines! And photographs...dead bodies on a blood-soaked rug...family members prostrate with grief...a reporter chronicles their last brave moments...
The Assistant Manager starts to whimper.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D): Don’t cry. Let’s sing a marching song...
34- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray is pacing, taking stock of the situation.
RAY: Okay, they’ve got the drills, the explosives and my sister. We’ve got...what have we got, Fraser?
FRASER: We have our wits, Ray.
RAY: No, you tried that. There isn’t anything left to break.
FRASER: Diefenbaker. He’s always alert in an emergency...
35- INT. TRUCK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Dief is sitting in the truck surrounded by drills and high explosives, wolfing down a bag of scavenged potato chips.
LENNY (O.S.): Hey!
Lenny stands in the open doorway, his automatic aimed.
LENNY (CONT’D): I said stay outta here!
Dief makes a bolt for the door, leaps past him and out into the alley. Lenny grabs some drill oil, exits to the bank.
36- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray.
FRASER: He’ll go straight for the first available help.
37- EXT. STREET -- AT THAT MOMENT
Dief races down the street, hell-bent-for-leather. As he runs, he passes--
--A COP writing a parking ticket.
-- TWO FIREMEN drinking coffee on the back of a truck.
-- And dashes through the legs of a GROUP OF UNIFORMED MARINES as they step out of a restaurant.
ON DIEFENBAKER as he disappears down the street and out of view.
38- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray.
RAY: Like I said -- bupkus.
39- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Francesca addresses the huddled hostages in a hushed conspiratorial whisper.
FRANCESCA: The first thing you have to watch out for is that Norwegian Syndrome. You can’t identify with them in any way. (quickly) Not that you would, because you are brave innocent hostages and they’re unfeeling worms who should be stripped naked and hung upside down by their toes. But that’s later. In the meantime, I need you to listen very carefully....
COOPER (incredulous): Who are you?
FRANCESCA: Francesca Josephina Vecchio. Feel free to think of me as your leader.
As the hostages look on, stunned, Morgan passes them. We TRACK WITH HER to the vault.
ANGLE AT THE VAULT
Chips flying as the drill bores deep through the steel door. Harold releases the trigger, draws back the bit and inspects the hole.
MORGAN: How much longer?
HAROLD (frustrated): Can’t tell. I don’t know how deep the dead bolt is. I need the specs for the door.
40- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser taps a camping fork (from his pouch) against the door. He listens closely to the sound.
FRASER: I don’t have specifications for the door, but I have been making some visual calculations based on its thickness, the depth of the existing input as they percuss against my camping utensil.
RAY: So if it wasn’t for your fork, we’d be in real trouble.
FRASER: Beyond the initial depth sounding it won’t be much good to us. What I have managed to ascertain is that the bolts are eight point three inches from the outside surface.
41- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Morgan shoves her gun into the frightened manager’s chest.
MORGAN: How far?
COOPER: About eight inches.
Harold consults his calculator.
HAROLD: Twenty-two minutes a bolt.
42- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray.
FRASER: I estimate it’ll take them twenty-two minutes per bolt to drill the holes. Another two minutes after that to set the charges. And one minute to prime them.
43- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Harold’s still calculating.
HAROLD: ...And one minute to prime them. That’s... (calculating)
44- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray.
FRASER: One hundred and thirty seven minutes total. We need a plan.
RAY: There is a plan, Fraser. It goes something like this. They drill the door. They blow the door. They shoot us with automatic weapons. We die.
FRASER: Well, there is the plan where we surprise them, disarm them and release the hostages.
RAY: With a camping fork? Benny, if I have a choice between their plan and one of yours, I’ll take theirs. It’s probably safer.
45- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
As Francesca continues to whisper loudly to the hostages, visions of glory dancing in her head.
FRANCESCA: ...Sure we’ll die painful grisly deaths, but it’ll be worth it. Because finally our families will respect us!
ASSISTANT MANAGER (to the others; on the verge of terror): Who is she?
Franny turns to the uniformed security guard.
FRANCESCA: Can I borrow your epaulets?
46- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray.
FRASER: There’s only one way to break out of the vault, rescue your sister and prevent the robbery.
RAY: What?
FRASER: It’s very dangerous, you’d be risking your life, you’d have to trust me implicitly.
RAY: I don’t trust you at all.
FRASER: Really.
RAY: Why should I trust you? In the last two years you’ve risked our lives twenty-four times.
FRASER: That many?
RAY: Yes.
FRASER: I had no idea you’d been counting.
RAY: I felt I should. You certainly don’t seem to pay it any attention.
FRASER: I had no idea it upset you.
RAY: I’m not upset. I just think you should ask me about it, let me know in advance.
FRASER: How far in advance?
RAY: I don’t know -- an hour?
FRASER (checks his watch): I’m asking you.
RAY: I need to think about it.
FRASER: Why?
RAY: Because I want to think about it alright?
CUT TO:
46A- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Norm is guarding the hostages. Francesca has moved in close to him.
FRANCESCA: ...I realize we’ve only known each other a brief time, but for some reason I feel a deep kinship for you and your cause.
Norm stares at her, confused.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D): I know now that I wish to dedicate my life to whatever it is your life is dedicated to.
NORM: We’re stealing money, lady.
FRANCESCA: Oh. Well, I suppose that will do.
Norm moves away, not sure what kind of crazy he’s got here.
46B- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser is trying not to look at his watch as Ray continues to think. Finally:
RAY: Okay, what is it? (Fraser starts to speak) No, don’t tell me, just do it. Because if you tell me, two things will happen: One, I’ll know it’s stupid. Two, you’[ll do it anyway. This way at least you can do it without my knowing it’s stupid.
FRASER: You’ve given it some thought.
RAY: Yes.
FRASER: You’re sure.
RAY: Yes.
FRASER: Alright.
He looks at his watch, then reaches up to the ceiling and snaps off the head of the fire sprinkler. Water starts gushing down onto the floor of the vault.
RAY: What did you do that for?!!
FRASER: You said you didn’t want to know.
RAY: Well now I want to know!
FRASER: I’m not sure I should tell you.
RAY: Tell me!
FRASER: Alright. It will take them exactly one hundred and thirty seven minutes to open the vault. They resume drilling five minutes and twenty seven seconds ago. That leaves them one hundred ad thirty one minutes and thirty three seconds. Taking into account the dimensions of the room, the size of the sprinkler pipe and the rate of flow of the water, by the time they blow the door, the vault should be filled with water and they’ll be met by a virtual tidal wave.
RAY: And where will we be in the meantime?
FRASER: Floating.
RAY: I know that! Alive or dead?
FRASER: There’ll still be sufficient air left.
RAY: How much is sufficient?
FRASER: An inch.
RAY (impressed): That much.
FRASER: So long as they maintain a constant drilling speed.
47- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Francesca turns to the other hostages. Norm eyes her suspiciously from a distance.
FRANCESCA ( to hostages): It’s now or never. Auf wiedersehen.
Francesca suddenly stands from the middle of the group of hostages.
FRANCESCA ( CONT’D): Hey -- you with the drill!
Harold stops drilling.
FRANCESCA (CONT’D): Take me!
She whips off her blouse revealing a sexy camisole.
48- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
The drilling has stopped. They listen for a beat. No drilling.
RAY (reacting): And if they stop drilling?
49- EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF CONSULATE -- AT THAT MOMENT
ON WILL, the Mountie, still standing guard. Damian is still there, but with another LITTLE KID now.
DAMIAN: Go ahead, do it. You can do anything!
The Little Kid take a huge wad of gum out of his mouth and stretches it in front of Will ominously. At that moment--
DIEFENBAKER comes tearing around the corner and up to Will. Dief barks twice at Will, WOOF WOOF! No reaction. Twice more. WOOF WOOF! Will remains ramrod stiff.
LITTLE KID (To Damian): Maybe he’s stuffed.
50- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray. Another couple inches of water. Still no drilling.
RAY: And the backup plan?
FRASER: Did I mention that the Inuit have a method of breathing without taking in air?
As the water rises--
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
51- INT. BANK (AT THE VAULT) -- LATER
Harold has resumed drilling. Lenny is now tying Franny to a chair.
FRANCESCA: ...Alright--so it was a desperate and foolish ploy. Someone has to stand up to you people. I’ll sacrifice anything, you know -- my life, my honor, even my body --
LENNY: The votes are in, lady. Nobody wants your body.
FRANCESCA: You say that now, but later when you’re tired and frustrated and the smell of sweat is in the air...
MORGAN (Stepping in): Are you done over there?
LENNY (to Franny): Just shut up and stay put, okay?
Lenny and Morgan move off. Francesca edges her chair toward the hostages. In her conspiratorial whisper:
FRANCESCA: You see? Now I have them exactly where I want them. They think I’m nuts.
The hostages share a look.
AT THE VAULT
Harold switches on the drill and begins PUNCHING another hole.
52- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
The water is now knee-high. Fraser is measuring the water level against the time on his watch. Ray is neatly folding his jacket which he puts with his shoes on an upper rack.
RAY: You know, I just can’t shake this feeling that we’re gonna die.
The drill stops and starts again.
RAY ( CONT’D): How many was that?
FRASER: Six. Two to go. We lost seven minutes. At point two-six cubic inches per second... (calculates) You know, Ray, there are worse things than dying.
RAY: Name two.
FRASER: Living without honor. Dying without reason.
RAY: Which one is this?
FRASER: Well, this isn’t really either. This would be considered death in the line of duty.
RAY: No, see, duty is something you’re paid to do. This is more like voluntary stupidity.
FRASER: I’m sure some people think that’s what good deeds are, Ray.
RAY: Well, aren’t they?
FRASER (new thought): I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.
53- EXT. CANADIAN CONSULATE (CHICAGO) -- AT THAT MOMENT
William is still frozen in sentry position, a garland of gum hanging from his hat. While Damian and his friend take aim at his hat with pea-shooters, Dief frantically tugs on Will’s pant leg trying to get his attention. Finally the CHURCH BELL TOLLS -- One-two-three-four-five-six. Will comes out of his frozen stance, turns to Diefenbaker.
WILL: Trouble?
Diefenbaker WOOFS.
WILL (CONT’D): Canadian?
Diefenbaker WOOFS again.
WILL (CONT’D): Lead on.
Diefenbaker takes off down the street. Dief dashes off down the street. Will dashes off down the street after him.
54- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Norm is preparing the C4, Lenny assisting.
NORM (to Lenny): Hand me the detonator.
As he takes the detonator out of its case--
NORM (CONT’D): Careful!
This catches Franny’s notice. As Norm takes the detonator and gingerly lays it down on the explosives table, he turns back to where Harold is drilling at the vault.
55- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
The water is up to their waists. Ray has a bag of money from the shelf and is ripping it open.
RAY: The point is, you almost get yourself killed for some stupid cause every other day and you never stop to ask yourself what YOU’RE getting out of it. Is anybody paying you for this or are you just a crazed do-gooder?
FRASER (indicates the money): That’s private property, Ray.
RAY: I don’t care, Fraser. I’m getting my twelve-hundred and forty-two dollars. (grabs money; stuffs it in subscription envelope) That’s what I’m getting out of this. What are you getting out of this? I bet you don’t know! You just don’t know, do you?
FRASER: It’s a responsibility I accepted when I put on the uniform.
RAY: You don’t even like that uniform. They took away the uniform you like! And did you say anything? (Fraser hesitates) No. Not a word.
56- EXT. STREET -- AT THAT MOMENT
Will and Dief are racing along the street, leaping over: piles of garbage, winos, a car.
57- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Harold finishes drilling the last hole. He backs off the drill and raises his goggles.
HAROLD: That’s it.
MORGAN: Let’s blow it.
Harold moves the drill aside and Norm begins packing C4 into the drill holes.
WITH FRANCESCA as Lenny runs a cable past her. As he begins hooking it up to the detonator box, she sees the cable running by her feet and gets an idea. She winks at the other hostages--who look back at her in utter bewilderment.
FRANCESCA (to hostages): Think of me fondly.
FRANCESCA pulls the cable closer to her with her foot and lifts it up so she can grab it with her hand. She slips a nail file out of her back pocket and begins sawing at the cable.
THE HOSTAGES look, if possible, even more scared now.
Francesca assures them with brave smile.
58- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Ray and Fraser. They’re treading water and holding on to the shelving. The water is now up to their chins, their heads almost touching the ceiling.
RAY: Admit it. You feel unappreciated. Because if you do this for me, this one small thing — if you can admit that just once in your perfect existence you felt the need to put yourself before duty, like any normal human being, then I will go to my death peacefully.
FRASER: ...Why?
RAY: I don’t know. I just will. Humor me.
FRASER: Alright. (struggling) I feel...occasionally, I feel....not very occasionally, but -- is this really necessary?
RAY: I’m drowning n dry land, Fraser!
FRASER: Occasionally I feel...unappreciated.
RAY: You do? Really?
FRASER: Yes, Ray.
RAY: Good. So from now on... (off water level) the next minute or two...try to stick up for yourself a bit more.
Fraser at the ceiling which is closer by the second.
FRASER: I’ll try, Ray.
59- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
The C4 is fully packed, the detonators planted and primed and the wiring is in place. Lenny nods to Morgan as he attaches the final cable to the detonator box.
60- EXT. STREET -- AT THAT MOMENT
Will and Dief racing along the street. Will slows down to disarm an ARMED THIEF backing out of a liquor store. He throws the gun to the terrified SHOPKEEPER and continues running.
61- INT. VAULT -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser and Ray have their noses to the ceiling hunting for the last inch of air.
RAY: Well, at least they won’t be gathered for nothing on Thrusday. (amoment, then) Fraser?
FRASER: Yes, Ray?
RAY: My eulogy. I would have liked you to deliver it.
FRASER: I’m honored, Ray.
RAY: What would you have said?
FRASER: I would have said you were a good friend. YOu never failed me.
RAY: I didn’t, huh.
FRASER: Never. Well, there was that one time--
RAY: What time?
FRASER: But that would be nitpicking.
RAY: How did I fail you?
FRASER: You didn’t fail me. Really. I’ve already forgotten.
RAY: You hadn’t forgotten ten seconds ago. This is so like you. We’re having a nice moment and you have to ruin it by being honest.
Fraser raises a finger to object. It touches the ceiling. He thinks better of it.
62- INT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
The crooks are all hiding behind overturned desks.
MORGAN: Blow it!
Norm smiles and hits the button on the detonator box. Everyone braces themselves, but nothing happens.
MORGAN (CONT’D): What now?
Norm, Lenny and Harold run to check the charges, moving down the short hallway toward the vault door. Morgan watches them, scowling, then turns and crosses toward the detonator, following the wires along the floor, looking for a break in the cable. She moves along following it foot by foot until she arrives at
FRANCESCA
clutching the broken wire behind her back, the two frayed ends exposed.
MORGAN (CONT’D): You!
FRANCESCA: What...!
Startled, Francesca yanks the wires behind her back to hide them, and in the process
ANGLE ON WIRES
the frayed ends bump together, sending out a SPARK
FRANCESCA (CONT’D): Ah!
She drops the wires -- it’s too late -- as the charge runs down the wires....
63- THE VAULT DOOR
EXPLODES. Smoke pours out of the drilled holes, but the vault door remains in place.
Lenny, Norm and Harold move tentatively down the corridor. There’s a creaking of metal and the three look at each other. They take another step. There’s another creaking of metal. Suddenly, the door falls off its hinges and hits the floor, releasing a tidal wave of water which sweeps Lenny, Norm and Harold off their feet.
Fraser and Ray shoot out the door, knocking Harold, Norm and Lenny out of action.
64- AT THE DETONATOR
Morgan turns to run for the door.
INTERCUT WITH
65- THE VAULT HALLWAY
Where Ray and Fraser hack up water as they struggle to their feet.
66- BACK WITH FRANNY
Struggling to break her bonds.
CUT TO:
66A AND 66B OMITTED
67- EXT. BANK -- AT THAT MOMENT
Diefenbaker stands at the door to the bank BARKING anxiously. Will races down the sidewalk....
68- INT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
Morgan lunges for the door, pushes it open --
WILL: Stop in the name of the......!
WHACK -- Will takes the blow full in the chest. He drops like a stone to the pavement, out cold. The door ricochets back at Morgan -- catching her in the chest and knocking her out as it swings shut.
FRANCESCA (still tied) Yes!
WITH FRASER AND RAY
As Fraser helps the hostages out of their ropes, Ray unties Franny.
RAY: I thought I told you to stay in the car.
FRANCESCA: Oh yeah -- that’s gratitude.
RAY: For what?
Franny, free now, wheels on Ray indignant.
FRANCESCA: For thirty years of picking up socks, buying veal and kissing butchers.
RAY: Excuse me?
FRANCESCA: And the next time I say five minutes -- I mean five minutes. Clear?
Franny turns and stalks to the front entrance. She turns back... Ray just stares.
69A- EXT. BANK -- CONTINUOUS
SIRENS approaching. Ray and Fraser step out the door.
RAY: Now this is how it’s done. See -- the criminals are inside -- we are outside. Can you try to remember that?
FRASER: Yes, Ray.
RAY: Thank you.
Will is still lying on the ground. Diefenbaker stands guard over him. Fraser stops... looks down at the Mountie and suppresses a smile.
RAY (CONT’D): That’s not a smile, is it?
They begin to walk.
FRASER (suppressing it): No, no. Of course not.
A beat and the smile surfaces again.
FRASER (CONT’D): Well, I admit to a certain satisfaction.
RAY: It is a smile. Well I’ll be.
FRASER: (beat) Be what, Ray?
70- EXT. CANADIAN CONSULATE (CHICAGO) -- DAY
to establish.
FRASER (V.O.): With respect, ma’am,
71- INT. CANADIAN CONSULATE (CHICAGO) -- DAY
TIGHT ON FRASER, now cleaned up and dressed in his browns.
FRASER: I’ve always considered myself a diligent officer who has conducted himself with loyalty and obedience. However, this uniform...(takes a beat, then) I have worn this uniform my entire career with pride, as my father did his, and many did before him. It is more than a piece of cloth. It is a tradition that links me to every officer who has ever worn it and acquitted himself with honor and integrity. I realize it is not the current fashion, but I would be hard pressed to change it without feeling that I had in some way betrayed that tradition. (a beat, draws himself up) And so, in that this uniform, while not being in common use, is in fact regulation issue, and in that in most postings the choice of uniform rests with the officer and not his commander, (steels himself) I will not change my uniform.
TIGHT REVERSE ANGLE ON INSPECTOR THATCHER, her head down as she finishes reading a document on her desk. She lifts her head slowly, fixes him with a steely, dispassionate gaze.
SUPERINTENDENT THATCHER: You’re fired.
FRASER: Oh.
FADE OUT - THE END