WE SEE the "HOLLYWOOD" sign and Pan down to the "Walk of
Fame. CORY MASON (13) RIDES into FRAME
on a BEAT UP BMX Bicycle, there is a ragged BACKPACK on his back. A LONG METAL PIECE with FOLDING HOOKS is
fastened to the side of the bike frame.
He is DODGING the TOURISTS, who are walking and milling around along the
sidewalk.
CORY
Sorry, excuse me.
(beat)
Coming through.
INSERT:
WE SEE a MISSING
CHILD FLYER STAPLED to a light pole. The
FLYER has the photo of a young girl listed as KAYLEE CARSON. A second headline READS: ENDANGERED RUNAWAY.
BACK TO SCENE :
Cory almost runs
into a CHINESE WOMAN carrying a BABY. He
GLANCES over his shoulder as he rides past her.
CORY
Sorry!
When he TURNS back
to face forward he RUNS SQUARE into SERGEANT THOMAS "VADER"
NEWMAN(45) a TALL, FIT POLICE OFFICER with SERGEANT STRIPES. Newman doesn't even FLINCH when Cory rams
into him. Cory and the bike TOPPLE to
the pavement. Newman SMIRKS at the boy
and helps him to his feet.
NEWMAN
You might consider
walking with that thing at this time of day, with so many people on the
streets.
CORY
Sorry,
Vad...Officer Newman.
ROOKIE JEFFERSON
SPENCE (21), a young ROOKIE cop joins them, carrying a CUP of COFFEE and a
HOTDOG thickly loaded with MUSTARD, RELISH and KETCHUP. Cory is in the process of PUSHING the bike
down the street. Newman watches after
him.
NEWMAN
(WHISPERS)
One, two, three...
Cory HOPS onto the
bike and wheels away.
CORY
Game on!
NEWMAN
(grinning)
Lasted all of
three seconds this time.
SPENCE
Are you going to
ticket him or something?
NEWMAN
For what, being a
kid. These street kids got it hard
enough without us making it worse on them.
He's just trying to survive in a tough world.
Spence doesn't
notice as a GLOB of mustard and ketchup FALLS onto his uniform shirt.
SPENCE
I still think we
should do something.
NEWMAN
(pointing at
Spence's chest.)
Why don't you
start by cleaning yourself up.
Spence LOOKS down
at the spill.
SPENCE
Oh damn.
Newman TURNS away
and hides a SMILE. He begins walking
down the street in the opposite direction that Cory was heading. Spence tries to follow while he fumbles to
clean his shirt.
SPENCE
Why are we walking
instead of riding in the car, serge?
NEWMAN
You know that
people from around the world flock to walk this sidewalk every year.
SPENCE
Yeah, so?
NEWMAN
I walk because I
try to keep somewhat fit for the job and for my health.
Newman STOPS and
LOOKS across the STREET to the opposite sidewalk.
NEWMAN
And I think it
helps make for a more pleasant experience for the tourist who visit to see us
out on the streets walking sometimes.
SPENCE
They aren't paying
any attention to us. They could care
less if we're here or not.
Newman's P.O.V.
WE SEE a young
prostitute approaching a ASIAN MAN, who is busy snapping photos of the STARS on
the sidewalk. The young woman is
preparing to TAP the man on the shoulder when she happens to look directly at
Newman. She STOPS in mid-motion and
watches him.
ANGLE ON
Newman simply
SHAKES his head NO.
Back on the woman.
She NODS and
WHEELS around to WALK back down the street in the direction she came from.
ANGLE ON
Spence isn't
paying attention to where he is walking and RUNS into Newman's back SMASHING
the messy hotdog into his back. Spence
has a large bite of hotdog in his mouth.
SPENCE
Oh damn. Sorry Serge.
I didn't...
Newman TURNS to
FACE Spence.
NEWMAN
Didn't mean too, I
know.
(beat)
Now we return to
the car. And I think we'll head back to
the station. In the future snack on
something a little less messy.
Spence NODS,
trying to CHEW bite of hotdog so he can talk.
Newman RAISES a HAND to stop him and SHAKES his HEAD, NO. Newman STARTS off down the street amid
suppressed laughter from the other people on the street. Spence STUMBLES After him dropping more of
the mess onto the sidewalk as he does.
Newman doesn't even bother to look behind him for the Spence.
INSERT: As the two
officers PASS a LIGHT POST WE SEE another MISSING PERSONS POSTER of Kaylee
Carson stapled to it.
BACK TO SCENE :
NEWMAN
(to himself)
I really should
have stayed in the Corps.
EXT. HOLLYWOOD KARATE STUDIO -- MOMENTS LATER
Cory slips his
bike to a stop in front of the studio and chains it to a tree growing up
through one of the grated sidewalk openings.
He rushes into
INT. HOLLYWOOD KARATE STUDIO -- CONTINUOUS
Upon entering he
quickly BOWS to the SENSUI and DARTS toward the locker rooms in the rear of the
studio. The Sensui GLANCES at the wall
clock.
ANGLE ON
Wall Clock which
READS 5:15pm
BACK TO SCENE
The Sensui shakes
his head, he is apparently used to Cory's late arrivals.
INT. LOCKER ROOM
-- CONTINUOUS
Cory is PULLING
his DIRTY GIG, from the backpack on the bench when the Sensui ENTERS.
CORY
Sorry,
Sensui. It won't happen again. I'll be dressed in a flash.
SENSUI
That's what you
said the last dozen times.
The Sensui smiles
slightly. The Sensui walks over to
examine the top of Cory's gig which is laying on the bench now as Cory
struggles to get the bottom of the karate uniform on.
SENSUI
It does not look
good to the rest of my pupils that one of my black belt students has such dirty
gig.
CORY
The washer at my
house is busted. I'm sorry Sensui. I'll have it clean for the next class.
The Sensui shakes
his head disapprovingly.
