Regular Cast	Recurring Cast
FRASER	THATCHER
RAY
DIEFENBAKER
WELSH
HUEY
Guest Cast
Speaking Roles
TYREE
REGGIE
LOU
SCOTTIE PIPPEN
JUDGE
BOOT CARRIER
MRS. CAMERON
NEIGHBOUR
PUNK #1
PUNK #2
PUNK #3

EXTERIOR-DAY	INTERIOR-DAY
ALLEY	CONSULATE-FRASER’S OFFICE
ALLEY BEHIND COURTHOUSE	COURTHOUSE-HALLWAYS
COURTHOUSE	COURTROOM
DEAD END ALLEY	LIQUOR STORE
WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT	POLICE STATION-BULLPEN
INNER CITY SLUMS	POLICE STATION-HALLWAYS
INNER CITY STREETS	POLICE STATION-INTERROGATION
POLICE STATION	POLICE STATION-OBSERVATION
PROJECT BUILDING	POLICE STATION-WELSH’S OFFICE
SCENE OF THE CRIME	PROJECT-ANOTHER STAIRWELL
STREETS	RAY’S CAR
	TYREE’S ROOM
	WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT
EXTERIOR-NIGHT	INTERIOR-NIGHT
DEAD END ALLEY	FRASER’S APARTMENT
ABANDONED STOREFRONT	ABANDONED STOREFRONT
STREETS

SCRIPT DAYS
Scenes Day/Night
1-9 DAY ONE
10-67A DAY TWO**
67B-73E DAY THREE
74-80 NIGHT THREE

**The Following scenes are flashbacks to DAY ONE:
31, 32a, 43a, 43c

PROLOGUE
FADE IN:
EXT. INNER CITY SLUMS -- DAY (DAY 1)
Rain has recently stopped falling and punks hang out on a street corner in this
virtually all black neighborhood -- the type of neighborhood most people -- black or white -- wouldn't enter on a bet. As we hear RAY and FRASER speak, we PAN PAST several stripped vehicles parked/abandoned along the side of the road.
RAY: (O.S.) This neighborhood makes yours look like Astor Street.
FRASER: (O.S.) We're here on your recommendation, Ray.
The camera arrives at Ray's Buick Riviera which has somehow avoided the carnage
just as, in the background, Fraser and Ray emerge from around a corner and proceed toward the car. Fraser carries a pair of Mountie boots.
RAY: Linc's the best bindlestitch man in the county. You got a problem with
your footwear, you call Linc.
FRASER: (holding up his boots) They look as good as new. I agree Ray,
probably the best $125 I spent.
RAY: (quickly) I still don't see why anyone would pay $125 for a used pair of
Mountie boots?!
FRASER: They're my boots. Properly molded boots are a Mountie's most prized
possession. Boots and his horse.
RAY: We're not picking up your horse.
Ray unlocks his car door.
BANG -- a gun shot rings out not too far away. Fraser stands at the curb as Ray
climbs in.
RAY: (CONT'D) You coming or what?
FRASER: I believe that was a gun shot, Ray.
RAY: Look, Fraser, if we stop every time we hear shooting in this neighborhood,
we'll never get home.
BANG -- Another shot.
RAY: (CONT'D) See.
But Fraser has taken off toward a nearby alley, leaving his boots behind. Ray
follows, but not before re-locking his door.
RAY: (CONT'D) (calling after Fraser) I'm off duty!
EXT. ALLEY -- CONTINUOUS
Fraser hurries through the alley. Ray jogs behind him, approaching the same
corner.
RAY: You don't have jurisdiction. Unless someone stole a moose...
BANG -- a third shot, closer now.
EXT. ANOTHER ALLEY -- CONTINUOUS
Fraser rounds a corner and slams right into a tall, slender kid (TYREE), in a
gray team sweatshirt, fleeing from something. Tyree goes flying.
FRASER: Pardon me.
Tyree looks at Fraser as if he's from another planet.
TYREE: Right.
Fraser helps Tyree to his feet.
FRASER: You wouldn't know anything about --
At the other end of the alley, Fraser spots a 15 year old kid (TAYLOR) suffering
from a leg wound.
Fraser looks back to Tyree and notices that he's carrying a gun.
TYREE: Not a thing.
Tyree takes off on the run as Ray arrives.
RAY: I'll get the shooter.
Fraser heads for the victim as Ray runs after Tyree.
EXT. STREETS -- MOMENTS LATER
Tyree emerges from an alley (Tyree moves with an athletic grace). Ray runs
after him.
RAY: Give it up, man. I can run all day. Don't make me take you down.
But Tyree runs out into the street and gracefully vaults over the hood of a
stopped or slowly moving car. Ray hurries after him, panting harder than he'd like to, scrambling not to lose ground, being forced to gingerly sidestep vehicles.
Across the street, Tyree heads into another alley.
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser tries to apply pressure to the man's wound, but he's losing blood
quickly.
FRASER: Hold on. Hold on.
Somebody wanders into the mouth of the alley.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Call 911!
The person turns and walks away.
Fraser quickly picks up the shooting victim and carries him, fireman style, back
out from where he came.
EXT. ANOTHER ALLEY -- CONTINUOUS
Tyree turns a corner and finds himself face to face with a ten foot fence. He
turns and looks back, only to see Ray once again closing in on him.
Tyree runs right at the fence, bounds up, one foot against the fence, the next
on top of it and he's over.
RAY: Oh for God's sake.
Unfortunately for Tyree, Ray keeps coming. He smashes right through the fence,
ripping his pants and falling hard. But he's relentless and limps onward.
EXT. STREETS AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser emerges with a bleeding man on his back and attempts to flag down a car
-- with no luck.
FRASER: (desperate) Help!!
Several punks at the corner notice Fraser and what's going on. Each of them
pulls out a cell phone.
EXT. DEAD END ALLEY -- AT THAT MOMENT
Tyree comes loping around another corner, looking back. When he again looks
ahead, he realizes that he's in a dead end alley, facing a 40 foot brick wall.
RAY: (O.S.) Drop the weapon.
In the mouth of the alley, Ray has his gun trained on Tyree. Tyree just stares
at the wall.
RAY: (CONT'D) Unless you can fly...
Tyree drops his gun, raises his hands and slowly turns toward Ray. After a beat,
he begins to run straight at Ray.
RAY: (CONT'D) Don't make me shoot.
Ray takes aim just as Tyree launches himself. It truly is almost as if he can
fly. He reaches up, up and up and grabs onto the last rung of a fire escape ladder. No way Ray can follow him up here.
RAY: (CONT'D) (impressed) Wow.
Unfortunately for Tyree, the ladder comes straight down under his weight, breaks
off (nothing is kept up around here) and Tyree falls to the ground on his back at Ray's feet.
TYREE: (finally defeated) I hate this neighborhood.
Ray pulls out his handcuffs.
EXT. INNER CITY STREETS -- DAY
Around the corner from where Ray left his car.
An ambulance pulls away and Ray and Fraser escort Tyree toward the corner.
Ray's clothes are tattered and torn and he walks with a distinct limp.
Fraser doffs his cap toward the helpful dealers on the corner as he passes by.
FRASER: Thank you kindly.
RAY: (to Fraser) Thank you kindly. You think it was wroth it? You think
there's any chance my car is still there?
FRASER: We saved a life, Ray. You made an arrest. The neighborhood is a safer
place.
They round the corner. The car has somehow survived.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (realizes something) Oh dear.
RAY: What?
FRASER: My boots are gone.
REVEAL the empty sidewalk where Fraser had left his boots, PULL BACK to a
devastated Fraser and:
FADE OUT:
END OF PROLOGUE

ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. INNER CITY SLUMS -- DAY (DAY 2)
Same neighborhood. A couple of kids play one on one basketball in an alley.
Knock, knock.
INT. PROJECT HALLWAY -- AT THAT MOMENT
Fraser stands in the hallway. He knocks again as he looks down...
PAN DOWN FRASER
A Mountie in uniform, except for the incongruous running shoes. Diefenbaker is
at his feet.
FRASER: Sit.
Dief sits. The door opens just a crack.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Excuse me, I'm looking for a pair of boots--
Slam.
INT. PROJECT HALLWAY -- MOMENTS LATER
Another door; another crack.
FRASER: --RCMP regulation issue, but I suppose you wouldn't be familiar--
Another slam.
INT. PROJECT HALLWAY -- MOMENTS LATER
Yet another door. Fraser holds open an encyclopedia for the TENANT to look at.
FRASER: --Like the man on the horse is wearing; though mine are slightly older
and therefore somewhat more faded--
Slam.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Thank you kindly.
Fraser is undeterred and heads toward and up a stairway.
FRASER: (CONT'D) These people have every reason to be less than charitable
with their trust. But somebody was good enough to take my boots in for safe keeping and they're undoubtedly spending as much time looking for me as I'm spending looking for them.
After a beat, Diefenbaker follows. Even he doesn't' want to be left alone in
this building.
INT. PROJECT HALLWAY -- LATER
Fraser and Diefenbaker wait at yet another door. The sound of a television can
be heard. Fraser knocks again as a NEIGHBOR approaches down the hall.
FRASER: Excuse me, the residents of this unit would appear to be home yet
they're not answering their door.
NEIGHBOR: Ain't that a shock.
The Neighbor walks on. Fraser follows.
FRASER: Were you home at the time of the incident yesterday?
NEIGHBOR: Didn't hear a thing.
FRASER: Ah. Actually I'm looking--
But the Neighbor goes into his apartment shutting his door and leaving Fraser
alone in the hall.
He looks to Diefenbaker.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (to Diefenbaker) Let's go.
He starts to walk toward yet another set of stairs, but this time Diefenbaker
doesn't follow.
Fraser takes two steps up the stairs and then abruptly spins around.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Fine.
He heads down the stairs.
EXT. SCENE OF THE BOOT THEFT -- DAY
Fraser sits on the ground, one shoe off. Dief sits a few feet away.
FRASER: C'mon.
But Dief doesn't budge.
FRASER: (CONT'D) I'm not succeeding here. Let's see how you do.
No movement.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Unless you want to go back to knocking on doors.
Diefenbaker slowly approaches Fraser's bare foot. He takes a sniff and draws
away in horror.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Sorry, fella. These sneakers don't breathe like my boots.
Diefenbaker begins to sniff the ground and heads off into the alley toward where
the shooting took place.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (following as he laces) Good boy.
At the corner, the omnipresent PUNKS watch him suspiciously as he passes.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Morning, gentlemen.
PUNK #1: Hunting moose?
FRASER: Actually, boots. You haven't seen--
Dief is giving Fraser a look as if to say "Shut up, you're embarrassing me."
PUNK #2: I got $200 Nikes I can give you for 50.
Diefenbaker decides to head on without Fraser, sniffing his way.
FRASER: That seems like too good an offer to be true. My boots are really all
I'm interested in right now. Thank you kindly.
And he hurries after his wolf.
EXT. SCENE OF THE SHOOTING -- DAY
Fraser follows Dief into the alley. He sniffs where Fraser fell down after
bumping into Tyree.
FRASER: Uh, Diefenbaker.
Dief sniffs onward -- toward the stained ground where the shooting victim lay.
The remains of a police crime scene, yellow tape, etc., are visible.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Diefenbaker.
Dief wags his tail proudly.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (trying to be delicate) You're not tracking my boots.
You're tracking my feet.
Something catches Fraser's eye. He inspects the wall of bullet holes. Dief
looks at Fraser expectantly. Fraser looks back from a pock mark in the wall, past the blood stained ground...
FRASER: (CONT'D) (looking past Dief) This is where I was yesterday--
He walks directly down his line of sight, stepping over the blood stained
ground, then over Diefenbaker and directly to a wall (ahead and to his left) where he find a single grey thread at eye level.
INT. POLICE INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY
Tyree wears the same grey team sweat shirt he was captured in. Ray stands
opposite him.
TYREE: A man can't walk down the street in this part of town without getting
harassed!
RAY: You were running.
TYREE: Didn't see no foot traffic speed limit.
RAY: You were carrying a gun; you were running from a shooting victim.
TYREE: He say that?
RAY: You know as well as I do. He's not gonna say anything.
TYREE: Look, I was carrying a gun so I wouldn't wind up a shooting victim.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCENE OF THE SHOOTING -- DAY
POV -- FROM INSIDE A CAR
Fraser rises into view through the window, tips his hat and...
FRASER: Good morning.
The recipients of his good wishes are two THUGS in a low slung sports car, who
have pulled up beside Fraser.
THUG #1: Yeah, get in the car.
FRASER: Actually, I don't--
THUG #1: Lou would like to talk to you.
FRASER: Do I know Lou?
THUG #1: You get to meet him, then you'll know him.
FRASER: Oh.
Fraser opens the door.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (to Diefenbaker) Get in.
Diefenbaker jumps in.
THUG #1: Hey, no dogs in this car.
Fraser pockets the thread and gets in after Diefenbaker.
FRASER: He's a wolf.
They pull away.
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
The sports car is parked inside a vast, decrepit warehouse, part of which has
been converted into a full length basketball court. A group of teenagers practice for a City League basketball game in front of a small but interested gallery. REGGIE, one of the players, keeps a constant dialogue/play-by-play going. Right now he's driving the lane for a trick basket. Note: Reggie
and his teammates all wear similar gray sweat shirts to guard against the cold.
REGGIE: Stamps drives the lane and... oh my God, a reverse lay up! Can no one
stop this teenage dynamo, Marv? I honestly don't think so, Dick.
Meanwhile in the crowd, Fraser is being escorted by the Thugs to LOU -- drug
dealer and self styled mayor of the 'hood. In a different place with different opportunities, Lou would be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. He's a natural leader who has risen as high as he can in his world. Lou wears a fancy Rolex watch on his right hand, but no undue attention should be drawn to this fact.
LOU: Play the game, Reggie, not the crowd! (to Fraser, annoyed) You see that?
FRASER: Fine play.
LOU: (disagrees) Hot dog. They'll be double teaming him in about eight
seconds.
FRASER: Are you their coach?
LOU: (no) These kids -- they're our hope. I watch out for them: provide the
balls, buy 'em burgers, place to stay if they need. You could call me their corporate sponsor. Check out the sweats I got 'em.
FRASER: That's very magnanimous of you.
LOU: What can I say? I'm a magnanimous guy. (to game) Get it inside; inside!
Reggie, look for the ball! (back to business) He's so dependent on his set-up man, he freaks out when he's not
here. He's gonna blow the big game.
FRASER: Where's his set up man?
LOU: You busted him. So who are you and what do you want?
FRASER: Benton Fraser. I'm a Mountie.
LOU: Why do they call you that?
FRASER: It's short for Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
LOU: So you're mounted?
FRASER: Actually, we mount horses. Or we do on occasion. You may have had an
opportunity to see the musical ride--
LOU: Aren't the horses the Mountees then?
FRASER: Well, we're mounted on top of the horses. (beat) It's historical.
Lou doesn't seem like some one who cares much about history, neither do some of
the other men who shoot Fraser hard stares.
LOU: My people tell me you were snooping around where that shooting went down.
You looking for something?
FRASER: I'm looking for my boots.
LOU: We'll let you know if we find them.
With that, the audience is over. Lou turns back to the game ignoring Fraser.
LOU: (CONT'D) (shrugs; then, to game) Get it in to Reggie!
Fraser gets escorted away by the two Thugs.
ON THE COURT
Reggie lines up a foul shot and throws it up (left handed). It rings off the
hoop and out.
LOU: (CONT'D) (calling) Reggie! Purdue sees that garbage you're going to be
sweeping up your pop's barber shop the rest of your short life.
INT. POLICE INTERROGATION ROOM -- DAY
Tyree is alone in the room. He plays shadow basketball against a wall; faking
out an imaginary guard and laying the imaginary ball into an imaginary basket left handed.
FRASER: (V.O.) Good news. He didn't do it.
PULL BACK TO:
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Fraser and Ray are watching the kid through the one way glass.
RAY: No no no, not this time.
FRASER: Not what this time, Ray?
RAY: Somebody shot someone, right?
FRASER: That would appear to be the case.
RAY: And I have a responsibility to catch the someone who shot the other
someone, right?
FRASER: Correct.
RAY: And if I catch someone, it's good news, right?
FRASER: I suppose so.
RAY: So if that person turns out to be the wrong person, would that mean that
there was no shooting?
FRASER: No.
RAY: Would that mean that no one was almost killed?
FRASER: No.
RAY: Would that mean that there was one less bad guy in the world?
FRASER: No.
RAY: No, no and no. It would just mean the real bad guy was out there
somewhere instead of safely locked away. So that means you coming in telling me our guy is innocent is just not good news, is it?
FRASER: I stand corrected. Bad news, Ray. He didn't do it.
Ray leaves the room in disgust and Fraser follows:
INT. POLICE STATION HALLWAYS -- CONTINUOUS
RAY: Fraser, you come from that neighborhood, you do one of two things,
basketball or crime.
FRASER: Tyree plays basketball.
RAY: They all start playing basketball-- and once in a while one of them makes
it to Division One college ball -- but if they're not tall enough, not talented enough, not disciplined enough, they go the other way, become like this kid, and make it hell for everyone else.
Fraser pulls out the grey thread.
RAY: (CONT'D) Evidence?
FRASER: The shooter wore this.
Ray takes it from Fraser and does an about face and hurries back toward:
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER
Ray puts the thread up against the window.
RAY: Grey!
He holds the thread up to Fraser.
RAY: (CONT'D) Grey! Different shade?!
FRASER: It appears--
RAY: Different material?!
FRASER: Again, it wouldn't--
Ray hands the thread back to Fraser.
RAY: Then bag it and add it to my case file.
And Ray leaves again.
INT. POLICE STATION HALLWAYS -- CONTINUOUS
Again, Fraser hurries after Ray.
FRASER: It's left handed.
RAY: The thread?!
FRASER: The shooter.
Again, Ray spins around and grabs Fraser's arm and leads him back...
FRASER: (CONT'D) Aren't you interested in how I know the shooter was left
handed?
RAY: He is.
Ray drags Fraser into:
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Behind the glass, Tyree continues to make his left handed shots. He shoves
Fraser's face toward the glass.
RAY: Look. What hand?
And off Ray goes again.
FRASER: (following) I know what you're thinking, Ray.
INT. POLICE STATION HALLWAYS -- CONTINUOUS
FRASER: He hasn't made a single right handed shot.
RAY: Is that your way of saying you're so very wrong?
Ray arrives at the front desk and is handed a file which he begins to review as
Fraser talks.
FRASER: The kid is dedicated, so he's not practicing his strengths; he's
practicing his weaknesses. He's making left handed shots because he's right handed.
RAY: All right, explain this.
He shoves the file at Fraser.
RAY: (CONT'D) Ballistics report. The gun matches the bullet that went through
the victim. And your buddy's prints are all over the trigger.
Fraser opens the file.
FRASER: We know he was holding the gun. We found it on him...
Ray hands him another file.
RAY: Paraffin test. Gunpowder blowback all over his hand and arm. He fired
the gun. All the labs match him to the shooter. So for the next hour, I'm going to treat myself to thinking he's the guy.
FRASER: Ray--
RAY: Sixty minutes, okay, Fraser. Don't talk to me for one hour.
FRASER: Certainly, Ray.
Ray just keeps on walking.
CUT TO:
EXT. POLICE STATION -- DAY
Fraser holds a door open for Tyree and walks with him to the curb.
FRASER: I'm not asking you to tell me the truth.
Tyree has nothing to say.
FRASER: (CONT'D) If you wished the authorities to know the truth, you would
have been more forthcoming; you obviously have some reason to fear the truth. I'm concerned that you may be in some kind of trouble - of course, you're obviously in trouble, you've been charged with a rather serious crime but that's not the trouble I'm referring to. Perhaps if you simply told me why you're not telling us the truth.
Tyree stares at Fraser.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Of course if you told me why you weren't telling the truth,
it's not unreasonable to assume that that would indicate what the truth was, which as I said I'm not asking you-
TYREE: You talk English?
As Reggie pulls his own Nissan Sentra up to the curb in front of them:
FRASER: I'm sorry. Perhaps we can speak later --
TYREE: Don't count on it.
Ray hurries out of the police station and toward them.
Tyree gets in the car.
FRASER: Right.
TYREE: (to Reggie) Thanks for the ride.
REGGIE: (announcer style) Least I could do for this fine young man with the
noble heart
assisting his friend destined for greatness...
And off they go just as Ray arrives.
RAY: That was him?
FRASER: Yes.
RAY: He's out?
FRASER: Yes.
RAY: He make bail?
FRASER: Yes.
RAY: Where did the punk get the money?
FRASER: I lent it to him.
Ray gives Fraser a look. This time Fraser remains stone faced. Ray just turns
and walks away.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. POLICE BULLPEN -- DAY
Other cops give Ray and Fraser the evil eye as they pass on their way to Welsh's
office. Huey intercepts them.
HUEY: What's wrong with your pal, Vecchio? He can't think straight without his
boots on?
FRASER: I don't believe the loss of my boots has impaired my thinking,
Detective Huey. But now that you mention it, if you happen to see them on your travels --
HUEY: You better hope I don't, Constable. Because you don't even want to think
about what I'd like to do with them.
RAY: Put a cork in it, Huey.
They continue on.
RAY: (CONT'D) In case you were wondering, your popularity rating is at an all
time low around here.
FRASER: The young man is innocent, Ray.
RAY: You THINK he's innocent, which is still no reason to bail him out
yourself. Next time you
do something like this, talk to me first. All right?
FRASER: I would have, Ray, but you did ask me to leave you alone an hour.
Before Ray can react, Welsh meets them at the door to his office.
WELSH: Detective, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to confer
with me.
RAY: Any time, sir.
WELSH: You must be even busier than usual since your Canadian friend has
decided to set free the dangerous felons you've worked so hard to incarcerate.
FRASER: I'd be happy to explain, Lieutenant. You see, the young man has a very
important basketball game coming up--
WELSH: Ah. And if Charles Mason had a kazoo concert on his schedule, you would
have bailed him out, too.
FRASER: No, sir. But I believe the evidence will support my theory about Tyree
Cameron.
WELSH: Why don't we let the court decide that, Constable? Your young friend is
due for a prelim in a few hours. If he doesn't show up, you're going to be out a lot of money. (to Ray) And you're going to be spending a long, long time in my dog house. Understood?
FRASER: Clearly, sir.
With that, Welsh closes the door on them. Ray turns to Fraser.
CUT TO:
INT. LIQUOR STORE -- DAY
ON BOTTLE OF TEQUILA
Reggie grabs the bottle and stuffs it under his thin jacket.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL
Reggie and Tyree are alone in an aisle of a liquor store.
REGGIE: You did Lou a good turn. You're his man. And I'm your man.
Tyree grabs the bottle from Reggie and puts it back onto the shelf. But Reggie
grabs it right back, hides it and heads away.
REGGIE: (CONT'D) (play by play) Good times are gonna roll in the clubhouse
tonight, Marv. Well, these fellows have earned it, Dick.
Just before Reggie can exit the aisle, Tyree grabs the bottle from Reggie.
TYREE: You are such an idiot, Reggie.
REGGIE: And you?
TYREE: I can afford to be an idiot. I'm going nowhere.
Tyree stuffs the booze into his own coat and heads for the exit.
TYREE: (CONT'D) You've got college coaches licking your Nikes; you've got a
future. All I've got is a bum shoulder. What coach is gonna give me the time of day?
As they pass the counter, Tyree slips a five dollar bill out of his pocket,
leaving it on the counter, unseen by the clerk or by Reggie.
EXT. STREETS -- DAY
CLOSE ON A STREET SIGN, identifying this as South 24th Street (plausible Chicago
address to come).
RAY: (O.S.) See that, Benny?
ANGLE -- THE RIVIERA -- MOVING
Diefenbaker rides in back as Ray points out the sign to Fraser.
RAY: (CONT'D) The next five blocks down is the turf of the Two Four Dragons.
You're a member of that gang, and you cross this street alone, you're either stoned, stupid, or suicidal, but you're gonna get shot. Which is what happened to Taylor Thomas. He walked into enemy territory, and the enemy shot him, left handed thread or not.
FRASER: But Tyree wasn't the shooter, Ray.
RAY: Then why did he have the gun?
FRASER: I don't know.
RAY: Why did he make me chase him?
FRASER: I don't know that, either.
RAY: And if Tyree Cameron didn't shoot him, who did?
FRASER: I haven't quite figured that out.
RAY: Okay. Now we're getting somewhere.
FRASER: Sarcasm really isn't necessary, Ray.
Ray just looks at him, then drives on.
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Tyree and Reggie are practicing some hoops. Reggie feeds Tyree for the alley
oop. Tyree gives Reggie a behind the back pass and Reggie hits a long three pointer.
REGGIE: From downtown... Yes!
They play beautifully, as if they are one person -- they know each other's moves before they happen. But into this artistry strolls Lou and his thugs. He watches for a beat, then applauds after a particularly nice basket by Reggie.
LOU: Tyree, would you come over here for a moment?
Reggie and Tyree approach Lou.
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- DAY
Fraser, Ray and Diefenbaker poke around the crime scene. Some dangling police
tape marks the spot.
FRASER: The bullet was recovered from the wall, right here. The shot had to
have been fired from over here.
RAY: Because you found a thread there.
FRASER: It had been raining that morning; wind out of the southwest; yet the
thread was dry, with no sign of mold. Footprints would indicate that a man of approximately 195 pounds had been there just after the deluge.
RAY: That coulda been anybody, Fraser. Here's what happened:
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- RAY'S FLASHBACK -- DAY
Taylor enters the alley, eating a Big Mac, looking quite stoned. Tyree pops up
from beside a garbage can.
TYREE: Hey, what are you, brain dead? This is my turf.
Tyree whips out his pistol and fires at Taylor. His first shot misses. Taylor
grabs his own gun, fires wildly at Tyree, hitting the garbage can. Tyree fires back, hits Taylor.
Taylor falls. Tyree runs.
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- BACK TO PRESENT
RAY: That's it. Tyree misses, the victim misses, hits the garbage can, then
our guy nails him. Ba-da-bing.
FRASER: What was that, Ray?
RAY: What?
FRASER: You said "ba-da-bing."
RAY: They don't say that in Canada?
FRASER: Listen.
RAY: To what?
FRASER: Just listen. That day.
CLOSE ON FRASER, concentrating, then DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- FRASER'S FLASHBACK -- DAY
We're CLOSE on Fraser at the moment of the shots. As he makes the same moves he
did that night, we hear the SOUND of the shots amplified. BANG, BANG... (a long moment), then BING.
BACK TO SCENE
FRASER: The first two shots had the same sound. Bang, bang. The third shot
was the bing.
RAY: Benny, you're starting to worry me, here.
FRASER: Your scenario doesn't hold up, Ray. The BING was the shot which hit
the garbage can. Not the second shot, which was a bang.
RAY: The judge is gonna love this. We have no case, your honor, because the
bing was where the bang shoulda been.
FRASER: The sounds don't lie, Ray.
RAY: All right. Tell me this. How does the bang being where the bing shoulda
been--
FRASER: It's actually the bing being where the bang should have been, according
to your theory.
RAY: What the difference? How does any of this mean I busted the wrong guy?
FRASER: Perhaps Tyree was with a left-handed man.
RAY: Perhaps? Perhaps/ What am I supposed to do with perhaps?
FRASER: At this point, I don't know, Ray.
Ray lets out a frustrated grunt, then marches back to the Riviera.
OMITTED
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Lou speaks with Tyree and Reggie. We might notice the Rolex on Lou's right
wrist.
LOU: And yet the Mount-ING bailed you out? Out of the goodness of his heart?
TYREE: I don't know.
REGGIE: Tyree wouldn't say nothing.
TYREE: Anything.
REGGIE: What?
LOU: Tyree wouldn't say "anything".
REGGIE: Right.
LOU: Go work on your jump shot, Reggie.
Regie turns and sinks a long shot, then keeps working on his shot (muttering his
play by play to himself) as Lou speaks with Tyree.
LOU: (CONT'D) I'm worried, Tyree.
TYREE: Nobody wants you to be worried, Lou.
LOU: You're due in court.
TYREE: (unconcerned) Few hours.
LOU: You be there. I want this over. I want you to plead this one out.
Reggie clangs one off the rim and turns to Lou, concerned.
REGGIE: We've got the finals tomorrow.
LOU: Keep shooting, Reggie. You don't need Tyree there to show your stuff.
REGGIE: Purdue's gonna be there. Hey, Isaiah Thomas's gonna be there.
TYREE: Right.
REGGIE: For real. Everybody says so.
LOU: And you'll make us all proud, Tyree or no Tyree. The man's gotta take
care of business.
(to Tyree) Isn't that right?
Tyree just shrugs unconvincingly.
LOU: (CONT'D) You're a juvie, Tyree; you'll do light time. I'll make sure
your mom's okay. And when you get out --it's you and me. You'll have protection, make the good money... Meet Isaiah Thomas some other time.
Tyree stares at him a beat. Reggie looks from Tyree to Lou -- what's going to
happen.
TYREE: Thank you.
Tyree turns and walks away, followed by Reggie. Lou turns to one of his Thugs,
gestures toward Tyree and Reggie with a nod of his head. The Thug gets the message. He'll keep an eye on these two.
EXT. CONSULATE -- DAY
To establish.
INT. CONSULATE -- FRASER'S OFFICE -- DAY
Fraser works in his office, his feet under the desk. Thatcher enters looking
angry. She glares at him a second before he reacts.
FRASER: Ma'am?
THATCHER: I received a call from Lieutenant Welsh at the Chicago Police
Department.
FRASER: A fine man. Good commander.
THATCHER: He was less enthusiastic about you.
FRASER: Ah.
THATCHER: He mentioned that you had bailed out a gang member accused of
attempted murder.
FRASER: Yes. In fact, I'm on my way shortly to his preliminary hearing.
She notices he's not standing. This is an occasion for going by the book.
THATCHER: Fraser, is there a reason you're not standing at attention?
FRASER: I beg your pardon, Ma'am.
He moves the waste paper basket in front of his chair and stands, his feet
hidden by the basket.
THATCHER: Why did you do that?
FRASER: Do what?
THATCHER: You moved the basket in front of your feet. Are you hiding
something?
FRASER: Yes, Ma'am.
She moves the basket aside to reveal the sneakers on Fraser's feet.
THATCHER: You're wearing sneakers.
FRASER: Correct. I'm afraid I've lost my boots.
THATCHER: They aren't yours to lose.
FRASER: Also correct. You see, I was saving a life.
THATCHER: (slightly thrown) With your boots?
FRASER: No. The seams had become frayed and, to be frank, I wasn't completely
satisfied with my prior cobbler's mastery of the bindlestitch --
Thatcher pulls out a form.
THATCHER: This is a long story, isn't it?
FRASER: Yes, Ma'am, quite long.
THATCHER: (reading from form) Were you on duty?
FRASER: No, Ma'am.
THATCHER: The life you saved... Was this person Canadian?
FRASER: I don't believe so.
THATCHER: Then you're paying for the new boots yourself.
FRASER: Understood.
With that, Thatcher goes. We stay with Fraser for a moment as his mind wanders
back to...
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME -- FRASER'S FLASHBACK -- DAY
We see the moment in which Fraser drops his boots to pursue the sound of the
gunshots. All we hear are the SHOTS, louder and more focused now. BANG BANG BING.
REPLAY
Or was it BOOM BANG BING?
From this, we
CUT TO:
INT. COURTROOM -- DAY
Close on Fraser and Ray on a bench in the gallery.
FRASER: It was Boom, Bang, Bing.
WIDER ANGLE
Reveals Tyree at the front of the court, talking to a public defender as the
State's Attorney, Judge, court staff and other assembled miscreants and onlookers engage in hubbub between cases.
RAY: I know what happened, Fraser. What I saw and what I did, I have to tell
it all to the judge.
If it goes against the kid, I can't help that.
FRASER: Just try, Ray. The sounds are stored in your mind. To find them, try
to imagine yourself on a still, clear day on an ice floe, hundreds of miles from any conceivable distraction.
RAY: Another Eskimo trick?
FRASER: Inuit. Close your eyes. Take yourself back to that night. That
moment. What do you hear?
RAY: The entire Chicago police department laughing at me.
FRASER: Ray, please.
RAY: All right. All right.
CLOSE ON RAY, then DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. SCENE OF THE CRIME - RAY'S FLASHBACK -- DAY
Replay the moment of the shooting, at first FULL OF SOUNDS. Then, replay it
again, this time with fewer sounds, then fewer, until finally, the only sounds we hear are the GUNSHOTS:
BOOM BANG... BING.
BACK TO RAY
Eyes closed. The SOUND AGAIN. BOOM BANG... BING.
ANGLE -- THE BENCH
The judge calls to Tyree, standing now next to his attorney.
JUDGE: In the matter of Illinois versus Tyree Cameron, case number J87965, how
does the defendant plead?
TYREE: Guilty, your honor.
ON RAY
His eyes pop open! He leaps to his feet.
RAY: Hang on, your honor! I was the arresting officer. That kid didn't do it!
TYREE: Yes, I did!
RAY: No he didn't.
Off the judge, very confused...
OMITTED
EXT. COURTHOUSE -- DAY
Ray, Fraser and Tyree exit the building and head for the stairs.
TYREE: What is wrong with you?
RAY: You couldn't have done it, kid. Fraser was right. The shots went BOOM,
BANG, BING.
TYREE: Are you out of your mind? I shot the dude. Why won't either one of you
let me pay for my crime?
FRASER: It took me a while to recall the exact sounds, Tyree. But the BOOM was
clearly the report of a PPK 380, Taylor Thomas' gun. He fired first. The BANG was the .32.
That shot struck Mr. Thomas. The BING was the shot you fired from the same .32 into the trash can. You wanted your own prints on the gun, and you wanted to make sure the blow back would be revealed in a paraffin test.
TYREE: This is not good.
RAY: Who are you covering for, Tyree? Who was the real shooter?
DOWN THE ROAD
A low slung, souped up Chevy with tinted windows and overactive shocks growls
down the road, slowly and deliberately, moving implacably toward Tyree.
WITH RAY, FRASER AND TYREE ARRIVING AT RAY'S CAR
There is construction, repairing a broken water main, going on near where Ray
parked. Looking past the construction equipment, Tyree sees the approaching car and recognizes it as that of a Rival Gang. Tyree turns and goes into high speed down the road.
The gang car immediately picks up speed, thundering after. Windows lower a few
inches and a gun barrel peeks out.
As it passes near Fraser and Ray, Fraser grabs a hose which is pumping water
from the ditch and sprays the windshield of the oncoming car, causing it to swerve, skid, correct, then skitter away.
Tyree has made his escape.
OMITTED
EXT. ALLEY BEHIND COURTHOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER
Tyree jogs around a corner, only to come face to face with Lou's Thugs waiting
at their car.
Tyree stops in his tracks.
THUG #1: Hey, Tyree. You and Lou better talk.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Kids play some hoops and in the bleachers, Lou hands over some bags to an
UNSAVORY
CHARACTER in exchange for a lot of money. As the character leaves, Lou's thugs
bring Tyree to Lou.
LOU: I'd like to protect you, Tyree. I really would. But you shouldn't have
been walking out of that Courthouse in the first place.
TYREE: The Mountie and the Cop wouldn't let me take the fall. They won't leave
it alone.
LOU: That Mountie know something, Tyree?
TYREE: He doesn't know nothing. Not from me anyway.
LOU: He's been asking a lot of questions. If he does find out anything, it
ain't gonna be good.
You gonna let that happen to your friend?
TYREE: I'm not gonna let nothing happen. I'll do the right thing.
LOU: I'm worried, Tyree.
TYREE: Nobody's got nothing to worry about, Lou.
Tyree starts to protest, but Lou cuts him off with a gesture.
LOU: There's one way you can eliminate my doubts and eliminate my worries. (to
the Thug) Trevor, give him your piece.
The Thug pulls out his weapon. Tyree looks at it nervously.
LOU: (CONT'D) Show me where you stand. Do the Mountie.
INT. WELSH'S OFFICE -- DAY
Ray is getting reamed by Welsh.
WELSH: Vecchio, sometimes it seems like you're making a full time job out of
destroying your career.
RAY: Begging your pardon sir...
WELSH: Now is not talking time. Now is listening time. Your job is to respond
to crimes and arrest the offender, not to play public defender. Your friend, Fraser, bailing the kid out does not make any sense, but I've come to expect that from him. But you standing up in court attempting to have the charges dropped is nothing less than insane.
RAY: Insane is a harsh word, sir...
WELSH: The harsh words have not begun. I have not yet begun to describe my
feelings about your involvement in the drive-by shooting outside the courthouse.
RAY: Look, new information surfaced that Tyree Cameron was not the shooter in
the incident, and that the shooting was in self defense. I had to make that information known to the court.
WELSH: And what exactly is the new information?
RAY: At first, sir, we believed that the shots were BANG, BANG, BING. Upon
reflection, I came to realize that they were more BOOM, BANG, BING.
Welsh just keeps staring at him.
RAY: (CONT'D) Sir, with a little time, I now believe I can track down the real
shooter.
WELSH: For your sake, I hope so, Vecchio. Cause a little time is all you've
got.
With that, Welsh is back to his paperwork. Ray stands there uncomfortably for a
beat, then turns and exits.
CUT TO:
OMITTED
EXT. INNER CITY SLUMS -- DAY
Ray's car is parked in front of a building.
MRS. CAMERON: (V.O.) I'll show you his room, but he hasn't been here since
yesterday.
OMITTED
INT. TYREE'S ROOM -- DAY
The place is tidy but tiny and threadbare. The walls are plastered with
basketball posters. Many are of Isaiah Thomas. Ray and Fraser are with MRS. CAMERON, Tyree's mother.
Ray and Fraser each have their own agenda but she's evasive to both.
MRS. CAMERON: Why did you have to arrest him anyway? Tyree's a good boy.
RAY: Mrs. Cameron, maybe I'm old fashioned, but the way I figure it, good boys
don't run around with handguns.
MRS. CAMERON: I'm not defending Tyree having that gun.
FRASER: Does your son know Mr. Lou Robbins?
MRS. CAMERON: Everybody knows Lou.
FRASER: Mrs. Cameron, I understand your reticence, but--
RAY: Is your son part of any gangs?
MRS. CAMERON: He plays basketball.
Apparently to her, this is an answer.
RAY: This isn't the first time Tyree's been in trouble.
MRS. CAMERON: Tyree lives by his own rules but he's a good boy. Only been
arrested once.
RAY: Only once?
MRS. CAMERON: Fell asleep on the subway.
FRASER: That's a crime?
MRS. CAMERON: It is if you wake up in Lake Forest and gotta walk five miles
through white neighborhoods. (beat) He tries. He works on that basketball court, but he don't have the body to play pro ball ever since his shoulder went on him. He tried at school. But there, even the teachers don't pretend a boy from here can make it to college. What's a young man to do but get frustrated?
RAY: Do you have any idea who your son might have been with yesterday?
MRS. CAMERON: Yeah. He had a practice like every day. And Lou takes them out
for a meal afterwards.
RAY: He's a regular prince.
MRS. CAMERON: Breaks me up inside to see that drug dealer being the only one
who looks out for the kids, the only one who can get through to them. But you tell me. He doesn't take care of them, who will? Government? Police? Who?
FRASER: So you believe that Tyree might have been with Lou for most of yesterday.
MRS. CAMERON: Could be. It's a sure bet he was with his friend, Reggie. Ain't
nothing that separates those two but the need to shut their eyes every night. You talk to him.
They look at her expectantly but she's not talking.
EXT. INNER CITY STREETS -- DAY
Ray and Fraser head for Ray's car.
RAY: The kid's own mother thinks he did it.
FRASER: She didn't say that.
RAY: (plowing on) But she stands by her family, Fraser.
FRASER: yes, I suppose--
RAY: (has a point to make) Some people stand by their family, some stand by
their friends.
Some people stand by complete strangers, leaving their friends to get reamed out
by their Lieutenant!
FRASER: I'm sorry, Ray. If it's any consolation, my relations at the consulate
have not been too smooth either.
RAY: No, Fraser. Consolation would be you having bought a new pair of boots
rather than making me take you down to my cobbler.
FRASER: As I remember it, you were the one who insisted that I...
RAY: I thought you were the one who was apologizing.
FRASER: Right.
RAY: Look, I'm going to go back to that crime scene and take a look around.
You coming?
FRASER: I think I'm going to try to talk to Reggie.
RAY: Fraser, these kids are not going to talk to you.
FRASER: He may not have to, Ray.
OMITTED
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Reggie practices on his own, under the lights, doing his play by play thing.
Fraser slowly walks up to him and watches for a beat.
FRASER: Nice shot.
Reggie smiles and takes another shot.
REGGIE: You're that Mounting guy, right?
FRASER: Mountie.
REGGIE: Why they call you that?
FRASER: It's a long story.
Reggie nods -- he's not that interested.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Would you like to play some one on one.
REGGIE: You'll lose.
FRASER: That's very possible.
Reggie smiles and sinks a long shot.
REGGIE: You're down one already.
Fraser takes the ball and dribbles out to half court where Reggie begins to
guard him.
FRASER: Your friend is in trouble.
REGGIE: Everybody round here's got trouble.
Fraser makes a move on Reggie who easily steals the ball.
REGGIE: (CONT'D) Geez, watch it man, look at my shoes.
FRASER: I'm sorry, it was clearly an offensive penalty.
REGGIE: Forget it. Lou'll get me a new pair.
FRASER: I believe you're entitled to two foul shots.
REGGIE: Don't sweat it.
And with that, Reggie gracefully makes a move on Fraser and goes in for the jam.
FRASER: You're protecting Tyree.
Reggie smiles and throws the ball back out to Fraser.
REGGIE: He'd do me the same.
Fraser dribbles a bit, carefully guarding the ball.
FRASER: I'm sure he would... But I don't know if he needs protecting.
REGGIE: You still trying to get him off.
FRASER: A number of elements of the crime did not make sense.
REGGIE: Yeah?
FRASER: I don't believe Tyree shot that young man.
REGGIE: How you figure that?
FRASER: Whoever did the shooting was left handed.
Reggie makes a fast move and takes the ball from Fraser.
REGGIE: Hard to prove something like that.
FRASER: True.
As Reggie tries to move around Fraser, Fraser takes the ball back, dribbles it.
FRASER: (CONT'D) I also believe that the third shot fired was to provide
blowback on Tyree's hand to make it appear he was the shooter.
Reggie makes another move on the ball, but Fraser dribbles it away. Reggie's
tense.
REGGIE: Why would somebody do that?
FRASER: Like you said. Friends protect each other. I believe he's covering
for someone.
REGGIE: Hey, Tyree said he did something, he did it. It's that simple. You
live down here, sometimes you have to shoot somebody in self defense.
FRASER: If it were self defense, the other person would have had a gun.
REGGIE: He had a gun!
FRASER: You were there?
REGGIE: No!
FRASER: Of course not. Because then you'd have to protect your friend.
He suddenly leaps and sails the ball into the hoop.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Thank you kindly.
Fraser turns and walks off, leaving Reggie staring after him.
OMITTED
EXT. ALLEY -- DAY
Ray is checking out the alley, positions himself where Taylor must have been
standing and mimes the action of what must have happened in the incident. As he gets to the part where Taylor is hit, he follows the likely trajectory of the gun. It leads him to a crumbling wall beside a pile of garbage. Ray pushes aside some slats of wood, sees--
HIS POV shows a glint of metal peeking out from the mass of junk.
Ray pulls the grate open, screws up his face in disgust as he reaches into the
mess below. He
comes up holding a PPK 380 pistol.
INT. FRASER'S TENEMENT -- NIGHT (TWO)
Fraser makes his way up the tenement staircase and through the dingy hall to his
apartment.
ANOTHER ANGLE shows TYREE hiding in the shadows at the end of the hall. He's
gripping the gun which is stuffed in his jacket, sweating profusely.
Fraser gets to his door and opens it. As he does, Diefenbaker exits to greet
him.
FRASER: I know. Dinner time. You should learn to use the stove yourself.
Diefenbaker gives him a look.
FRASER: (CONT'D) Just kidding.
Diefenbaker looks down the hallway toward Tyree's position and growls.
As Fraser turns to look, Tyree breaks from hiding and bolts out the far exit.
FRASER: (CONT'D) (to Diefenbaker) Stay here.
He closes the door again, runs after Tyree.
EXT. ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
Tyree runs out of an alley, scans the street and the alley behind him. No sign
of pursuit. He moves to the doorway of an abandoned storefront, pushes the door open and starts inside.
INT. ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
As Tyree makes his way through the empty space, he hears a noise behind him,
turns toward it gun raised. It's Reggie.
REGGIE: Whoa, it's me!
TYREE: (repockets the weapon) Geez, don't do that.
Reggie shows him an armful of junk food he's brought.
REGGIE: Sorry. Look, I brought you some crap.
Tyree relaxes a little.
TYREE: Thanks.
He rips open a bag of chips and begins stuffing them in his mouth. Suddenly,
another sound is heard and they spin to see--
FRASER standing behind them.
FRASER: Mind if I join you?
Tyree feels for the gun in his pocket, unsure of what he's going to do next.
OMITTED
END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR
EXT./INT. ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
Fraser is still facing off with Tyree and Reggie. The wind blows right through
ruined walls and whips at their clothes as they talk.
TYREE: Don't come any closer
FRASER: Okay.
REGGIE: Be cool, Tyree.
Tyree doesn't want to hear this. He's looking for a reason to pull the gun.
TYREE: Reggie, get outta here.
REGGIE: I'm not going nowhere.
FRASER: You were waiting outside my apartment.
TYREE: Is it off limits? I can't visit your building?
FRASER: Were you visiting Mr. Mustafi? Or Ms. Krezjapalov?
TYREE: Maybe.
FRASER: Or, did you want to see me? We have things to talk about. I still
don't understand why you're prepared to go to prison for a crime you didn't commit.
TYREE: Don't try to get into my head. You and me ain't nothing alike.
The rumble of a big engine draws closer on the street outside. Reggie peeks out
over the windowsill, ducks back.
REGGIE: Two-fours.
The car from the drive-by at the end of act two grins down the street, slow and
menacing, like a beast on the prowl.
Tyree and Fraser lean back against the wall. They listen to the thumping engine
as it slides past.
REGIE: (CONT'D) You Canadian, huh?
FRASER: That's right.
TYREE: That mean you been outside of Chicago.
FRASER: Uh huh.
REGGIE: What's it like?
FRASER: We see the same stars as you. Just more of them.
REGGIE: You grew up under the stars, with the wolves and the weasels, and the
birds and the trees?
FRASER: There was an abundance of wildlife.
TYREE: We got wildlife. They gunned down my daddy in front of me when I was
four.
FRASER: I also lost my father to a killer's bullet.
TYREE: You don't get over that.
FRASER: No.
TYREE: Life sucks, don't it?
Tyree moves toward Fraser. He's sweating and has a hand on the gun in the
jacket of his sweats.
Fraser studies the other man's eyes, realizes something, then notes the bulge of
the gun in Tyree's pocket.
FRASER: If there is no hope. Only... fear.
Tyree's trying to be hard.
TYREE: I got nothing to fear.
FRASER: Do you fear death?
TYREE: Do you?
FRASER: Yes.
There's a communication going on between Fraser and Tyree that Reggie doesn't
understand. It scares him.
INT. FRASER'S APARTMENT BUILDING HALLWAY -- NIGHT
Ray knocks on the door.
RAY: Fraser, it's me.
He opens the door. Diefenbaker runs out, excited and fidgety. He runs to the
end of the hallway, comes back toward Ray a few steps, runs to the end of the hallway again. He whines.
RAY: (CONT'D) Is Fraser really in trouble? Cause if you just have to pee...
Okay, I'm coming.
EXT./INT. ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
FRASER: There must be things you want to do before you die.
TYREE: Yeah. I'm gonna play in the finals tomorrow. I'm gonna see Reggie sign
himself a scholarship.
Tyree and Fraser still face each other.
REGGIE: Tyree, you gonna tell me what's going down?
TYREE: Why don't you just go, Reggie? You got a game tomorrow.
REGGIE: You too. I need you.
TYREE: You don't need nothing. You gonna be golden. I gotta do some talking
with the Mountie.
EXT. EMPTY STREET -- NIGHT
Diefenbaker runs along, sniffing here and there. He stops at the corner, turns
back to look at Ray, who is chugging after him.
RAY: I'm coming. He! You've got twice as many legs...
Diefenbaker charges through. As he leaps over a muddy pothole, Ray steps into
it, splashing himself with wet mud.
EXT. STREET OF ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
The Two-Four rumble car thrums back up the street.
EXT./INT. ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
FRASER: You're not going to play in the game because of the Two-Fours?
REGGIE: They don't matter. There's a truce during the game.
TYREE: Hey, I can't talk all night.
FRASER: It's the game you've been practicing for all year. Everybody you
know's going to be there. And Isaiah Thomas -- I've seen the posters in your room...
TYREE: Man, you know nothing. Those people do not care about this place.
FRASER: You love basketball.
TYREE: Yeah, well it doesn't love me. In this neighborhood who lives; who
dies; it's all set at
birth. You either got the genes to play hoops or you don't.
FRASER: There are always other options, Tyree.
TYREE: You just don't get it. Reggie here, he's good enough; he's got a life.
The rest of us; we flip burgers for awhile; maybe we sell drugs for awhile; we keep busy until we piss someone off or just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time which happens pretty damn often, and somebody steps up with a gun and makes you dead.
FRASER: Just because someone has a gun, it doesn't mean they have to use it.
You've proved that here tonight.
REGGIE: What gun? What's he talking about?
EXT. NEAR OR ON STREET OF ABANDONED STOREFRONT -- NIGHT
Ray chases after Diefenbaker who is moving excitedly now. Ray cuts a corner too
close, knocks over a trash can, stumbles, tears his pants, and scrambles back up.
EXT./INT. ABANDONED STORE FRONT -- NIGHT
They hear the racket from outside.
REGGIE: They're coming in.
TYREE: Man...
Tyree and Fraser's eyes meet. Tyree makes a decision, takes his hand off the
gun, turns toward the back of the building.
REGGIE: Tyree!
But Tyree's already disappearing.
REGGIE: (CONT'D) (to Fraser) You saying he was gonna kill you?
Fraser doesn't answer. Ray's voice is close.
RAY: (O.S.) Hey!
Reggie turns and runs out.
FRASER: Ray?
Diefenbaker runs up to Fraser, followed by Ray.
RAY: You okay, Fraser?
FRASER: Yes.
RAY: The wolf was acting like something big was going down. I thought maybe
you'd found your boots.
EXT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY (THREE)
People entering, some of whom are gang members, eyeing each other shiftily.
From inside we
HEAR a REFEREE'S WHISTLE and the ROAR of the crowd.
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
The teams hit the court, including Reggie and Tyree. As they play, we see them
manoeuver masterfully around the court. The other team plays just as hard and are also talented, but Reggie and Tyree shine. As Reggie takes a pass from Tyree and jams it--
The SCOUTS in the audience react enthusiastically, take notes and share
whispered comments.
Fraser, Ray and Diefenbaker watch from the bleachers. Fraser looks up and
notices the Two Four rumble car pull up outside and stop. Several unsmiling gang members get out.
We see Lou in the crowd with some of his boys, watching. He's happy with
Reggie's performance. He turns to a Scout beside him.
LOU: Young man's a talent, ain't he?
BACK TO THE GAME as Reggie starts a give and go with Tyree. Tyree returns a
perfect alley
oop pass as Reggie soars through the air. But he rims it. The ball ricochets
and goes high in the air and goes out of bounds. The whistle blows.
TYREE reacts.
LOU reacts.
As the teams head back to their benches for a timeout, Tyree takes Reggie aside.
TYREE: What's with you?
REGGIE: Nothing.
TYREE: You're blowing it.
REGGIE: Then I blow it.
TYREE: No way. My ass is on the line for you.
REGGIE: I didn't ask you to.
TYREE: You didn't have to.
REGGIE: You were going to kill him.
Tyree doesn't answer.
ON REGGIE AND TYREE
REGGIE: (CONT'D) We can get out of this. Both of us can.
ANGLE
Fraser sees something on the opposite bleachers.
POV
Fraser's boots surrounded by tennis shoes.
BACK TO FRASER
Standing.
FRASER: My boots. I'll be right back.
Fraser moves off while Ray cheers an exciting basket.
ANGLE
Fraser moving through the crowd, turns and sees--
ANGLE
The Two Fours moving toward Tyree.
TYREE: This is out of our hands. You do what you're told. I do what I'm told.
Nothing happens that Lou doesn't want to happen. He wanted you free. He wants the Mountie dead.
REGGIE: If he wants you or me dead, what happens? We kill each other?
Suddenly, Lou barges through the crowd to their side.
LOU: Reggie what the hell you doin'?
REGGIE: Playing the game.
LOU: Play it better. (darkly) You don't want to screw this up.
Lou sees that Tyree's attention is drawn over his shoulder. He turns to see
what Tyree's looking at. It's--
THEIR POV shows Fraser moving through the crowd, coming toward them. People are
eyeing him suspiciously.
Lou glares at Tyree. The whistle blows and Reggie and Tyree head back onto the
court and begin to play again. Lou leans into one of his THUGS and speaks quietly in his ear.
The Thug nods.
WITH FRASER as he continues to work his way through the crowd.
FRASER: Pardon me. Excuse me. Pardon. Pardon me. Excuse please.
Fraser suddenly finds himself up against a wall of Lou's Thugs. He looks behind
him to see he's surrounded.
OMITTED
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
ON A CLOCK which is counting out the last seconds of the game. The score is
tied.
ON REGGIE who has the ball and is driving for the basket. He passes to Tyree,
who jukes and shakes and bakes and then throws up a blind pass which Reggie snags on his way into the air. He switches hands mid-air and does a reverse jam.
The Crowd rises, goes crazy. The whistle blows to mark the end of the game. As
the crowd begins milling around and mobbing the players.
LOU arrives beside Tyree.
LOU: Nice pass.
TYREE: Thanks.
LOU: But the game's not over.
Lou nods to his men who are flanking Tyree. They walk him out through the
crowd.
REGGIE mobbed by FANS, REPORTERS and SCOUTS, looks to see his buddy. He sees
Tyree being escorted out by Lou and the Thugs. He begins to push his way out of
the throng.
REGGIE: Excuse me.
He pushes his way out of the crowd, moves toward the back door after Lou and
Tyree.
WITH RAY standing and looking for Fraser. Ray moves off and Diefenbaker
follows.
RAY: Watch out. Wolf coming through.
The crowd opens up, people leaving the wolf a fair bit of room. Ray keeps
looking around, but can't see any sign of Fraser, Tyree or Reggie.
EXT. ALLEY -- DAY
ON A SECTION OF WALL as Tyree is thrown up against it. Lou's hand is against
his throat.
LOU: You had a job to do. You didn't do it.
TYREE: Hey, we won.
LOU: You know what I'm talking about. The Mountie.
TYREE: Time wasn't right.
LOU: Yeah? Well, here's your chance.
As he slaps the gun in Tyree's hand, they turn to see three Thugs bringing out
Fraser.
LOU: (CONT'D) Time's right, Tyree.
He pulls Tyree away from the wall and stands him in front of Fraser.
TYREE: What's he hurtin'?
LOU: He's been snooping around since the shooting.
TYREE: He don't know nothin'.
FRASER: Actually I do.
Reggie exits the building behind them. Tyree's gun hand is wobbling with fear.
LOU: (to Tyree) Hear that?
FRASER: (to Tyree) You're not going to shoot me.
LOU: Do it! Now.
REGGIE: Tyree, don't. There's no reason
Tyree doesn't budge.
LOU: Reggie, step back.
REGGIE: I did it.
TYREE: Reggie, no!
REGGIE: It's over, Tyree. It's over. (to Fraser) I shot Taylor.
LOU: Shut up!
FRASER: I know.
EXT. STREET -- FLASHBACK -- DAY
Lou, Reggie and Tyree walk along. The boys are finishing milkshakes in paper
cups with straws.
FRASER: (V.O.) Lou had taken you out for burgers after practice. On the way
home you split up.
The three men go off in different directions.
EXT. ALLEY -- CONTINUING FLASHBACK -- DAY
Taylor, leaning against the wall of an alley, hears voices, becomes alert. He
raises a gun.
FRASER: (V.O.) Taylor was waiting for Reggie in the alley. He fired first and
missed. Then Reggie shot. Taylor's gun fell into the wall.
Reggie enters the alley. Taylor fires, misses. Reggie pulls a gun out of his
pocket, shoots back once, hitting Taylor in the leg.
FRASER: (V.O.) (CONT'D) When Tyree heard the gun shots, he ran back to
Reggie. He made Reggie give him the gun.
Tyree grabs the gun. Reggie doesn't let go. The boys argue. Lou appears and
hands Tyree the gun, says "Take it." Finally, Reggie releases the gun, runs off. Lou says, "They'll know you didn't fire it."
FRASER: (V.O.) (CONT'D) Tyree fired the gun again into a garbage can, giving
him blowback on his hand and arm.
Lou directs Tyree to aim at the trash can. Tyree fires the gun.
EXT. ALLEY NEAR COURT -- BACK TO SCENE -- DAY
REGGIE: He came at me, figured shooting me he'd win his rag. It was self
defense. Tyree didn't do nothing.
LOU: You're both fools. (to his men) End it.
As Lou's men turn to Fraser, he quickly and efficiently grabs the Thugs on
either side of him and throws them into Lou. One of the Thugs comes back at Fraser, whipping out a knife. Fraser grabs a garbage can lid as a shield, blocks the blow. He smashes the Thug in the face with the lid.
The guy goes reeling backwards. The other Thug moves on Fraser, who flips him
over.
Lou produces a nasty looking switchblade.
Tyree turns his gun on Lou.
TYREE: All right, Lou, enough.
Lou freezes. Stand off.
FRASER: (to Tyree) You're not going to shoot, Tyree.
TYREE: What you say?
FRASER: You're not a killer.
Tyree looks at Fraser for a long moment, realizes he is right. Disgustedly,
Tyree throws down the
gun. Lou grabs it.
LOU: Now. Let's make this right.
He steadies the gun at Fraser.
FRASER: You're not going to shoot, either, Lou.
LOU: Because I'm not a killer.
FRASER: Because if you try, Detective Vecchio will blow your brains off.
ANGLE ON LOU
WIDEN to show Ray standing behind him, his service baretta pointed at Lou's
head. CLICK.
Ray cocks the gun.
RAY: Out.
FRASER: I stand corrected.
EXT. INNER CITY BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Lou is being led to a cop car. Fraser, Ray and Diefenbaker stand by.
RAY: (to Reggie) For what it's worth, I'll do what I can to help you out
downtown.
TYREE: You better be straight, man. He don't deserve to go down.
FRASER: We know.
Somebody walks up to Fraser, carrying Mountie boots.
BOOT CARRIER: I heard you was looking for these.
FRASER: Thank you.
BOOT CARRIER: Saw them on the streets. Looked valuable so I took them in.
The man begins to walk away.
BOOT CARRIER: (CONT'D) This isn't a safe neighborhood.
INT. INNER CITY WAREHOUSE/BASKETBALL COURT -- DAY
Fraser and Tyree sit on a bench. Everybody else has long since gone home.
There's the sound of the car pulling up outside. After a beat a tall, athletic man enters. When he turns toward the bench, we recognize Isaiah Thomas.
ISAIAH: Hey.
TYREE: Hey.
FRASER: Ey.
ISAIAH: Everybody gone?
TYREE: Yeah
ISAIAH: Guess I blew it. Bad weather in Toronto. Plane got off late.
TYREE: Can't change the weather.
ISAIAH: I'm sorry though. You play today?
FRASER: He played great. He's very good.
TYREE: Not good enough
FRASER: For what?
TYREE: To play ball in college.
ISAIAH: You and almost everybody else on the planet. What are you going to do?
TYREE: Nothing else to do if it's not ball.
ISAIAH: I hope that's not so.
TYREE: Easy for you to say.
ISAIAH: I like to think I had other assets.
TYREE: Like what?
ISAIAH: (grinning broadly) My winning smile.
TYREE: (nodding in agreement) Oh yeah.
Isaiah taps the side of Tyree's head.
ISAIAH: No, kid, my brain. Get that in shape and there'll be no stopping you.
Ray enters.
RAY: State's Attorney is considering dropping charges and -- (sees Isaiah)
Hmmnnahah...
ISAIAH: Hi, I'm Isaiah.
RAY: Hmmnnahah....
Isaiah holds his hand up for a five. Ray tries but misses.
ISAIAH: (stands) We gonna play or what?
As everyone starts shooting around, Isaiah and Fraser find themselves off to the
side for a moment.
ISAIAH: Mountie, right?
FRASER: That's correct, Sir.
ISAIAH: Since I've been living in Toronto, I've wondered --
FRASER: (quickly) We mount the horses.
ISAIAH: Cool.
FADE OUT.
THE END