IN WHICH ARE LOGGED THE CONTENTS OF THE SCRAP PAPER BIN OF THE ROSE READING ROOM OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 42ND AND 5TH

Sunday 11 October 2009

Hero for Hire

pp1-57 of screenplay named Hero for Hire

first line of dialogue:

RICK (Spanish)

I have had an ass-full of you! (beat)

full text:

"HERO FOR HIRE"

FADE IN:

EXT. EL GATO'S VILLA - NIGHT

A large, Spanish style mansion on a secluded estate. It looks like something has crashed through one of the large windows. Maybe a truck.

We hear the sounds of a GUNFIGHT. SHOTS FIRED. SCREAMING. General mayhem.

TITLE OVER BLACK: EL GATO'S LAIR, LA PAZ, MEXICO

CLOSE ON

RICK STAPLE'S determined face. He's 25, cut up, bruised, and battered. His buzz-cut hair and thick mustache dyed an unnatural black.

[NOTE: ALL DIALOG IS SPANISH, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.]

RICK (Spanish)

I have had an ass-full of you! (beat)

I'm calling you out, El Gato.

CLOSE ON

EL GATO'S face. He's 35, mean, sadistic, and slick. His sneer reveals a gold tooth.

EL GATO (Spanish)

You don't know what your getting into.

WIDE to reveal they are in ...

INT. EL GATO'S VILLA - BASEMENT - NIGHT

Expansive. An underground shooting range. WESTERN HATS and antique WESTERN GUNBELTS line one wall.

Rick is dressed in black from head to toe. He has an automatic pistol holstered on his belt.

RICK

Maybe, maybe not. But, I do know one thing: what you do is despicable and it ends right now.

2.

El Gato, wearing a white cowboy hat, dual pistol belt, huge belt buckle and western boots, sizes Rick up.

El Gato is a cross between an extra in an American Western and a straight up gangster, with a neck tattoo that reads:

ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME.

He's a bad looking son of a bitch.

EL GATO

A man's got to do something for a living these days.

RICK

Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy.

EL GATO

You're no Outlaw Josey Wales.

Rick reaches over, grabs a BLACK COWBOY hat and puts it on. He looks back at El Gato, determined.

RICK

I am today.

El Gato looks down at the blood pooling around his boot, he makes a show of pointing out a serious gunshot wound to his right arm.

EL GATO I'm injured.

RICK

I don't give a flying shit.

A devilish grin spreads across El Gato's face.

EL GATO

I'm actually better with my left anyway.

RICK (resigned to it) Of course you are.

They square off. Hands hover over holstered guns. The tension builds.

RICK (CONT'D)

Get ready to eat hot, leady death, you rotten bag of dic--

Before Rick completes the sentence, they go for their guns ...

FREEZE FRAME

3.

THE SCREEN GOES BLACK - Over this, a single, deafening GUNSHOT.

TITLE OVER BLACK: TWO WEEKS EARLIER AND 1000 MILES AWAY

EXT. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK - DAY

A long line of cars extends out of the entrance onto the highway. Irritated FAMILIES peer out of the their cars what's the hold up?

EXT. PARK INFORMATION BOOTH - DAY

Rick, sporting his natural hair color, wearing a crisp, neatly pressed, green Park Ranger uniform and the world's shiniest badge, stands at the window of a giant, old lady car.

The face of the OLD LADY reflects in the mirrored lenses of his aviator shades.

[NOTE: DIALOG IN ITALICS IS ENGLISH WITH SPANISH SUBTITLES.]

REALLY OLD LADY (English)

Is there some sort of problem, officer?

Rick carefully scrutinizes her driver's license, comparing the picture to her face.

RICK (English)

Ranger, Ma'am. United States Park Ranger.

Rick flashes a charming smile and hands her license back.

RICK (CONT'D) Have a nice day, Ma'am.

The Old Lady returns the smile and drives off as ...

Rick's supervisor, MAX, 50, a big, loudmouth jerk steps up. Max doesn't look happy, as he invades Rick's personal space.

MAX

Do you have any idea why people drive for hours - sometimes days - just to visit our beautiful park?

RICK

I would suspect a number of reasons are--

4.

MAX

Shut up answer boy! That was a rhetorical question. I have no idea why people come here, but it isn't to get harassed by over zealous Park Rangers.

Max holds up a couple of complaint letters for Rick's benefit.

MAX (CONT' D)

And yet the complaints keep coming.

RICK

I'm just enforcing the law.

MAX

Leave the law enforcement to the law enforcement Rangers. Your job is to take fees for parking and camping, to check for campsite compliance and to hand out maps. That's it.

Max slaps the complaint letters against Rick's forehead.

MAX (CONT' D) You got that, bunghole?

INT. RICK'S DUMPY APARTMENT - NIGHT

Rick enters and walks immediately to a small table with several pieces of mail on it.

He thumbs through the mail until he reaches an envelope with US DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. as the return address.

Rick is nearly beside himself with excitement as he tears the envelope open.

He reads. His face drops. He walks to a large dry erase board mounted to a wall in the small, filthy kitchen.

On the board is a list of law enforcement agencies: ATF, LAPD, ICE, SECRET SERVICE, DSS, DEA, and FBI.

Rick grabs a black marker and crosses off "DEA". He stands there for a long beat staring at the board, all the names have been crossed off, all except FBI.

He lets out a crestfallen SIGH before shuffling into the ...

LIVING ROOM

5.

Where his roommate, MARK, 25, chubby, shaggy, lounges on the couch wearing only his tightie-whities and a McDonalds's uniform shirt.

He's eating French fries out of a huge paper bag, dipping each fry into an industrial size can of "special sauce."

MARK

Want some fries? They fell on the floor, but they're fine if you don't think about it.

Rick shoots Mark a disgusted look and shuffles off to his ...

BEDROOM

Dingy and messy. The walls are plastered with movie posters:

DIE HARD, LETHAL WEAPON, COLORS, POINT BREAK, HEAT, etc.

Rick grabs a magazine, plops onto the bed, picks up a remote control and hits "play."

On the TV/DVD combo: POINT BREAK - Keanu Reeves' Johnny Utah is shooting the piss out of the FBI Range at Quantico, in the rain.

RICK

Oh, Johnny Utah, take me away from this life.

As the sequence ends, Rick falls back onto the bed and opens his magazine: GUNS AND WEAPONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

After a beat, Rick's eyelids begin to sag. He falls asleep.

EXT. SUBURBAN HOME / FRONT YARD - DAY/NIGHT

Cacophonous, disjointed, and fragmented imagery.

A YOUNG BOY dressed as a cowboy, plays with a toy pistol as a BLACK AND WHITE POLICE CAR pulls to the curb.

MOM, 35, pretty, wipes her hands on an apron as she steps onto the porch as two stoic POLICE OFFICERS climb out of their vehicle.

Daylight plunges into SUDDEN DARKNESS as Mom's face crumples.

The toy pistol slips from the Boy's hand. He watches, frozen in place as his Mom's knees give out.

TIGHT on the Young Boy's face as it becomes ...

ADULT RICK'S face, dripping with sweat. WIDE to reveal ...

6.

EXT. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK / MOUNTAIN TRAIL - DAY

Rick, riding hard, on a dirt-bike style MOTORCYCLE, tearing up the dirt path.

EXT. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK / CAMPSITE - DAY

Rick bursts through a clearing, catches some air, and skids into into the campsite, shrouding a camping FAMILY in a dirt cloud.

The Family is startled by the commotion.

FATHER Jesus-jump-roping-Christ, you nearly made me squirt out a log, kid.

A MOTHER, ten year-old SON, and TEENAGE DAUGHTER sit around a campfire. Bacon SIZZLES in a frying pan.

RICK Ranger Staples.

FATHER

Beg pardon?

RICK

Please address me as Ranger Staples.

The Father shoots a look to his family. They all SNICKER. Rick bites his lip.

FATHER

Can I help you with something, slappy? I'm trying to fry up some swine for the kids and the little lady here.

RICK

Your fire is in violation of US Park Code nine-twenty-four-C, in that it's within thirty-six inches of your tent.

(scrutinizes tent)

Which looks to be a BiemCo 47~5. Highly flammable. Manufactured in Thailand in the late 1990's. Not a good tent at all.

The Father and his family stare at Rick for a beat and then burst out LAUGHING.

FATHER (to family)

Can you believe this douche?

7.

The Father goes back to his bacon.

Rick reaches to his BACKPACK, like a samurai going for his sword, and produces ...

A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. He douches the fire (and yes, the bacon) with nasty, pus-colored dry chemical.

The Father's jaw drops, he looks from the ruined pan of bacon to his shocked Family to Rick.

Rick cracks a little smile.

RICK Consider that a warning. (beat)

Slappy.

The Father drops the pan. His face twists up in a knot of rage.

FATHER

I'm going to rip off your ass!

The Father advances on Rick.

SON

Kick him a new corn-shoot, Dad!

Rick pulls his big can of PEPPER SPRAY and shakes it up.

RICK

Today is not the day to mess with me, sir.

The Father ROARS and lunges at Rick.

INT. PARK RANGER OFFICE - DAY

Rick stands at attention, while Max SCREAMS at him.

MAX

What the hell is the matter with you, Staples? Are you out of your mind?

RICK.

No I--

MAX

Don't answer rhetorical questions, dipshit; it's the mark of an idiot. (MORE)

8.

MAX (CONT'D)

(beat)

Pepper spraying the Dad was one thing, I might have only suspended you for that, but the Mom and the two kids? Why?

RICK

Is that a rhetorical question?

MAX

No it's not a goddamn rhetorical question, you ass-wipe.

(beat)

You're fired.

Rick's jaw drops.

INT. RICK'S DUMPY APARTMENT - DAY

Rick, looking despondent and dejected, sits on the couch with Mark, who's wearing a grease-stained McDonald's uniform and eating chicken nuggets out of a black garbage bag.

MARK

What a bummer, dude. have enough money for concert tickets now.

Guess you won't those Rush

RICK Please, shut up. (beat)

This is the worst day of my life.

MARK

Don't worry, I'm sure that FBI recruitment letter will come for you.

Rick SIGHS and slowly gets to his feet. He tosses a letter to Mark before shuffling off.

Mark opens the letter, we notice FBI LETTERHEAD and the word REJECTED stamped in big red letters.

MARK (CONT'D) (calling after Rick;

trying to help)

You can come work with me, dude. I'll get you on the fryer, it'll be tits.

Rick just hangs his head and disappears into his room.

9.

INT. RICK'S DUMPY APARTMENT / RICK'S ROOM - NIGHT

Chinese takeout containers, pizza boxes, and other trash litter the room.

Rick, who's looking like ass - unshaven, stained wife-beater, stained boxers - sits at his computer checking out a webpage called: WORLD'S COOLEST POLICE SHOOT-OUTS

VIDEO WINDOW:

Grainy, amateur video of MEXICAN POLICE and BANK ROBBERS having an outlandish GUNFIGHT.

RICK (O.S.)

Sweet.

REPORTER (V. 0 . )

Today in La Paz, Mexico, Federal Police authorities gunned down eleven heavily armed bank robbers as they attempted to escape after a daring, daylight heist.

Suddenly, the RINGLEADER bolts out of the bank with a bag of money and a pistol.

REPORTER (V.O.) (CONT'D) Roberto Cruz, 22, a bank security guard is being hailed as a hero for setting off a silent alarm and wrestling the ringleader to the ground as he attempted to flee with a sack

of currency.

Security Officer, ROBERTO CRUZ, dashes out of the bank and TACKLES the Ringleader. The bag of money goes flying, spilling currency everywhere.

Cruz stands up, triumphantly, jumping up and down with his hands in the air.

Ringleader stands up, shrugs, and SHOOTS Cruz repeatedly.

REPORTER (V.O.) (CONT'D) Cruz was shot nine times, but is listed as being in stable condition.

BACK TO RICK

RICK

So cool.

He sits back in the chair deep in thought. After a beat Rick leans forward, fingers flying over the keyboard.

10.

A page appears: MEXICAN SECURITY JOBS.

INT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ MEXICO - DAY

A hot, cramped, dirty office.

JOSE, 45, in a rumpled, sweat stained, security uniform, chews tobacco at his desk while tying a noose out of a long length of rope.

He stops briefly to take a long pull from a liquor bottle. The guy's a mess. The phone RINGS, Jose answers it.

JOSE (Spanish) Hello?

Tobacco drool runs out of his mouth.

INTERCUT - Between Rick at home with a Spanish/English Dictionary and Jose at his desk.

RICK (broken Spanish) I want· the job.

JOSE Are you sure?

Rick has no idea what Jose said.

RICK

Si.

JOSE

It is very dangerous. The last guard was killed, we found only his penis, nailed to the side of the booth.

RICK

Si.

Jose is slightly puzzled by the response. He shrugs.

JOSE

Okay, you got the job.

Rick pages through the dictionary and reads. His eyes light up - holy shit, I got the job!

MONTAGE - RICK GETS READY TO GO TO MEXICO

-- Rick goes to the bank and withdraws his life savings. The TELLER counts out a decent pile of cash.

11.

-- Rick purchases a large stack of DVD's from a video store:

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly; Fistful of Dollars; Pale Rider; Magnificent Seven; etc.

Rick and Mark buy PELLET PISTOLS at a sporting goods store.

Rick watches Dora the Explorer to practice his Spanish.

Rick and Mark quick draw with their PELLET PISTOLS. Mark is slow as shit, but he's about twice as fast as Rick. He SHOOTS Rick, who goes down like a sack of shit, hand clamped to his eye.

RICK

Sweet Christ on the Cross, my eyeball!

-- Mark and Rick watch Magnificent Seven. Rick holds an ice pack to his eye. Rick removes the pack and turns to Mark.

RICK (CONT'D) How's it looking?

His eye is purple, swollen and grotesque.

MARK

Dude - wow! (obviously lying) It's almost healed. (beat)

Don't look at it, though.

-- Rick, now sporting a sweet BLACK EYE PATCH, packs clothes, his collection of DVD's, and a portable DVD player into a wheeled suitcase. As an afterthought, he puts an old, ragged toothbrush in the suitcase.

INT. RICK'S DUMPY APARTMENT - NIGHT

Rick, still wearing the previously seen EYE PATCH sits in front of the bathroom mirror, while Mark dyes his hair and mustache a deep, unnatural black.

RICK

(through gritted teeth)

Is it supposed to burn so much?

MARK Yeah, I think so.

(beat)

It might sting a bit now, but I swear you'll look like the El Mariachi

when I'm done with you.

LATER

12.

Rick's hair and mustache are now a deep, coal black. He and Mark admire their work.

MARK (CONT'D)

I got you a going away present--

Mark pulls what is obviously a clumsily gift wrapped Mexican sombrero out from behind his back.

MARK (CONT' D) To help you blend in.

EXT. LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

A large plane takes off.

EXT. LA PAZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT / MEXICO - DAY

A large plane lands.

INT. LA PAZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

Rick, dressed in a poncho, sombrero, cowboy boots, his eye patch and sticking out like a sore thumb, makes his way through the airport.

PEOPLE sidestep him, MOTHERS clutch their CHILDREN. He looks like a murderous bandit.

EXT. LA PAZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

Rick climbs into a beat-up taxi.

INT. /EXT. TAXI - DAY

The nervous TAXI-DRIVER eyes up Rick.

[NOTE: ALL DIALOG IS SPANISH UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED]

TAXI-DRIVER Where to, Sir?

RICK

Seguridad Segura De La Paz. I am Rico the Killer.

The Taxi-Driver's eyes widen and he floors the gas.

A KICK ASS SONG (READERS CHOICE) PLAYS as Rick takes in the local culture on the taxi ride.

He looks out the window and sees:

Herds of donkeys running roughshod.

13.

STREET VENDORS selling food.

Children playing soccer with tattered balls, etc.

WORN AND RAGGED POSTERS OF MISSING CHILDREN on walls and posts.

As the taxi rolls slowly through a jam-packed OUTDOOR MARKET, KIDS approach the car, panhandling and trying to sell Rick trinkets.

The Kids chase after the Taxi, LAUGHING as is picks up speed and leaves the market.

It's like another world. Rick is in awe.

INT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ - DAY

Jose sits at his desk sharpening a huge knife on a whetstone.

Rick barges in, surprising Jose, who hurls the knife, pinning Rick to the door frame by his poncho.

Jose pulls a pistol from a desk drawer and aims it at Rick.

(NOTE: Italics indicate Spanish with subtitles.)

JOSE

(tobacco and juice flying from his mouth)

Who sent you? Who sent you to kill me? Salvador? El Gato? Who?

Rick has no idea what Jose said.

RICK

I'm Rico.

Jose thinks for a beat. A smile spreads across his face, revealing teeth the color of strong coffee, littered with chunks of tobacco.

JOSE

Oh, Rico, the new guard for the death mission.

Rick has no idea what to say ...

RICK

si.

Jose puts away his gun, crosses the room, pulls the knife out of the doorjamb and warmly embraces Rick.

Rick makes a face - this guy smells like the beer shits.

14.

JOSE

I'm so happy that you have come. I was worried that I would have to go out to that godforsaken, haunted, death pit, desert myself.

Jose spits a large gob of tobacco juice. foot.

It lands on Rick's

JOSE (CONT'D) Nineteen of my men have met their maker in that place.

(beat)

All of them, relieved of their genitals and tortured for the sport of it.

(beat)

Are you afraid?

Rick goes with the opposite response, preoccupied with trying to shake the gob of spit off of his boot.

RICK

No.

JOSE

Then you will go the desert and die the miserable death of a hero?

Rick perks up, he recognizes the Spanish word for hero.

RICK

Si.

Jose LAUGHS, CLAPS Rick on the back and ushers him to a seat.

Jose sits at his desk, reaches into a drawer and produces a sweat stained tan uniform, a badge, and a bus ticket. He hands the pile to Rick.

RICK (CONT'D)

Gracias.

Rick is captivated by the shiny and very cool looking badge.

JOSE

Now go, I will make arrangements for your funeral. I hope burial in a burlap sack is okay.

RICK

(still staring at the badge)

Si.

15.

Rick stands and leaves. Jose looks after him, shaking his head.

Jose opens a drawer and produces a bottle of tequila and a dirty glass, he pours a stiff shot and hoists it toward the door.

JOSE

That's one tough son of a bitch.

Jose downs the shot and pours another, then takes a huge

pull straight from the bottle. We notice a FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH OF A WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN on Jose's desk.

INT. SHITHOLE APARTMENT - DAY

One room, filthy kitchenette, soiled mattress. Toilet and gross shower separated from the main room by a dingy curtain.

Keys JINGLE outside. The door swings open and Rick steps in. He surveys the dump for a beat, then drops his bags on the floor.

EXT. STREET MARKET - DAY

Rick, with amazed admiration, walks through a vibrant street market looking for food.

LOCALS bustle around him, shopping and working at various stands and booths.

A MANGEY STRAY DOG approaches Rick, he extends his hand.

RICK (English)

Hey there, little fella.

The Stray Dog SNAPS and SNARLS at him. A couple of the LOCAL KIDS LAUGH. Rick hustles away.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Mexican dogs suck ass.

INT. SHITHOLE APARTMENT - NIGHT

Rick holds up his security uniform and examines it. It is wretched: huge salty sweat stains, dried blood, etc.

He takes a whiff and GAGS.

LATER

Rick washes his uniform in the sink, while a pot of eggs boils on the small stove.

16.

Mexican MUSIC plays on a tinny old radio on the counter. Rick dances to the rhythm and HUMS along as he scrubs.

LATER

Rick, in bed, clutches his shiny badge as he drifts off to sleep, a big, silly smile on his face. A man content.

After a beat, a HUGE RAT scampers across Rick's chest. He SCREAMS and leaps out of bed.

EXT. BUS STOP - DAY

Rick, proudly wearing his clean uniform and sombrero, and holding a brown, paper lunch bag in his hand, waits for the bus along with a small group of TRAVELERS.

The bus pulls up. The doors open with a HISS. Rick lets everyone else get on the bus first.

INT. /EXT. BUS - DAY

Rick boards the bus and hands his ticket to the BUS DRIVER. The Bus Driver examines the ticket, then looks Rick up and down.

BUS DRIVER

So you are the next to die shrieking in the desert, your tiny, flaccid penis hacked from your body with a machete?

Rick smiles stupidly and stands near the front of the bus. The Bus Driver stares at Rick and shakes his head.

BUS DRIVER (CONT'D) You are bold, young man. Bold and doomed.

The doors HISS shut and the bus lurches away, Rick loses his balance, and falls in the aisle, among a dozen free-roaming chickens.

He hustles to his feet and moves down the aisle, taking in the other BUS RIDERS.

The bus is packed tight, Rick searches for an open seat. He finds one, next to a sleeping OLD MAN, and quietly sits down.

EXT. CEMETERY / POLICE FUNERAL - DAY/NIGHT

Another disjointed, jumpy DREAM.

YOUNG RICK stands next to his MOM, near a flag draped coffin.

17.

A seven man POLICE HONOR GUARD begins the three volleys of the 21 Gun Salute. BANG. BANG.

The last volley sounds like a THUNDERCLAP and suddenly ...

It's NIGHT and Young Rick is alone at the funeral. He looks around nervously.

LIGHTENING FLASHES followed by another THUNDERCLAP and ...

INT. /EXT. BUS - DESERT - DAY

Rick STARTLES awake. He looks around and sees that the bus is empty except for him and the Bus Driver.

Rick takes a second to snap out of the dream and then remembers that he is on a bus in Mexico.

He checks his watch.

RICK (English)

Holy crap, we've been driving for three hours.

Rick looks around - where the hell am I?

The Bus shudders to a stop.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Where the hell are we?

EXT. DESERT - DAY

The bus obscures our view. The doors HISS open and closed. The bus pulls off in a cloud of dust. As the cloud clears, Rick stands in front of a ...

TINY GUARD SHACK, clutching his lunch bag like a security blanket.

RICK (English)

You've got to be shitting me.

Rick looks all around. Not a damn thing on the horizon.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Seriously, you've got to be shitting me.

Rick turns and looks closely at the shack. A large, round, analog temperature gauge is mounted to the shack.

18.

The arrow hovers at 118 degrees.

Rick taps the gauge.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

This thing has to be broken.

Rick taps the gauge.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

I'll have to bring this up to Jose after my shift.

Rick steps into the shack. It's about three feet by three feet, empty except for a small desk-like ledge and a stool. A pair of huge binoculars hang from a nail on the wall.

He looks at his lunch bag then leans out and looks at the temperature gauge again. He makes a face - not good.

Rick leans back in, puts the lunch bag on the ledge, grabs the binoculars and steps back out in the desert.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Okay, Mexican drug runners, let's get it on.

Rick scans the desert.

MUCH LATER

Rick, now sporting some large SWEAT STAINS, puts down the binoculars.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Okay, no one's out there.

Rick explores the area a bit and finds an old bicycle lying in the sand. He picks it up, it's dusty and eroded.

Rick looks around - the coast is clear, he climbs on the bike and tries to peddle. He falls over.

He gets back up and tries again. The chain utters a dry SCREECH, but he manages to peddle a little bit.

He is instantly bathed in sweat.

LATER

Rick peddles the bike, struggling and sweating.

19.

LATER

Rick is shirtless now, sweating and peddling.

LATER

Rick, exhausted, collapses from the bike, panting. He looks back to measure his progress and his face drops.

He's made it about twenty feet from the shack.

RICK (CONT'D) Not a great idea, Rick.

Rick gets up and walks back to the shack. He steps in and grabs his lunch bag.

He pulls the can of cola out. The sweat on his hand SIZZLES on the hot can.

RICK (CONT'D)

Ouch.

He puts the can down on the ledge.

Rick pulls out his egg salad sandwich and takes a whiff. He makes a disgusted face - that ain't good.

He puts the sandwich on the ledge and takes a seat on the stool. He looks, longingly at the sandwich and the can of cola.

Rick stares at the food. His stomach GROWLS. Finally he can't take it anymore, he POPS the top on the cola, it explodes allover ...

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Jesus, that's hot--

He drinks anyway. He puts the can down and BELCHES loudly.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Not good.

He grabs the hot, rancid egg salad sandwich and stares at it for a quick beat.

RICK (CONT'D)

(English)

It's hot. Heat kills germs, right? It's like putting it in the oven on low heat for a few hours. It's fine.

20.

Rick takes a huge bite.

LATER

Rick is curled in a fetal position on the floor of the shack. He is pale, sweaty, and shaking.

RICK (CONT'D) (English)

Not again.

Rick gets up and hustles out of the shack. He drops his pants and squats down, O.S. He lets fly and we hear every BLAST.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) (English)

Montezuma's revenge, man.

MUCH LATER - IT'S GETTING DARK

The bus pulls up. The doors HISS open. Rick is slow to get on. The doors HISS shut. The bus pulls away.

INT. SHITHOLE APARTMENT - NIGHT

Rick practically crawls into the apartment and makes a beeline for the bed.

EXT. TINY GUARD SHACK - DAY

Rick, body glistening from suntan oil, sits in front of the guard shack in his boots, underwear and sombrero.

He is seated on a folding lawn chair, under a beach umbrella, drinking water out of an aluminum water bottle. A cooler sits beside him.

Rick glances over at the eroded bicycle, baking under the unforgiving sun.

He grabs the suntan oil and walks over to it.

RICK

Okay, you salty bitch, lets get wet.

He begins to lube up the bike chain.

MONTAGE - RICK HAS HOT FUN IN THE DESERT

Rick scans the empty desert with his binoculars.

Rick pulls SPANISH LANGUAGE versions of his favorite DVD's, out of a shopping bag.

21.

-- Rick watches The Outlaw Josey Wales on his DVD player. Rick is in awe.

ON THE SCREEN:

Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) faces down a Bounty Hunter.

BOUNTY HUNTER (Spanish)

You're wanted, Wales.

JOSEY WALES (Spanish)

I reckon I'm popular. You a bounty hunter?

BOUNTY HUNTER

A man's got to do something for a living these days.

JOSEY WALES

Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy.

Josey Wales outdraws and guns down the Bounty Hunter.

Rick practices Spanish lessons on his Mp3 player.

Rick does push-ups, using a scorpion as motivation to keep from giving up, while practicing his Spanish.

Rick rides the bicycle like a madman, circling the shack in wild figure eights.

TITLE OVER BLACK: DAY FIVE

Rick scans the empty desert.

Rick does sit-ups, his feet jammed under the edge of the guard shack. A framed photograph of a frowning Clint Eastwood looks on.

-- Rick practices his Spanish while riding the bicycle.

TITLE OVER BLACK: DAY TEN

-- Rick does a set of push-ups then immediately stands and starts doing jumping jacks. He's looking fit. Clint's photograph looks on.

-- Rick, while practicing his Spanish, pulls an egg salad sandwich out of his cooler. He sniffs it, smiles and takes a huge bite.

-- Rick watches Casino Royale: Daniel Craig's James Bond, in a highly badass move, tells his torturer that he has " ... an

22.

itch, down there. Do you mind?" And subsequently receives a rope smash to the nuts.

RICK (English)

You're a bad man, Mister Bond.

-- Rick practices air quick draws, he looks to the framed picture of Clint as if for reassurance.

END MONTAGE

EXT. TINY GUARD SHACK - DAY

Rick, sitting on his beach chair, glances up toward the horizon and sees a cloud of sand being kicked up.

RICK (Spanish)

What the hell is that?

Rick grabs his binoculars.

BINOCULAR VIEW

A pair of silver SUV's speeding through the desert, kicking up a storm of sand behind them.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) (Spanish)

Who are those guys?

Rick puts the binoculars down.

RICK (CONT'D) (Spanish)

Holy shit, I'm speaking Spanish. I speak Spanish! I'm a genius!

[NOTE: FROM THIS POINT ON RICK SPEAKS ONLY SPANISH UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED]

Rick brings the Binoculars back to his eyes.

The SUV's come to a halt.

HUGE THUG, a giant, mean looking son-of-a-bitch gets out of the lead SUV.

HEAD THUG, a smaller, but even meaner looking bastard gets out of the second SUV.

SKINNY THUG and LONG-HAIRED THUG hop out of Head Thug's SUV and drag out ...

23.

ISABEL PADILLA, 30, a strong, stunning woman with fire in her eyes.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) Ay caramba - look at her.

Head Thug SHOVES Isabel, she turns around and PUNCHES him in the mouth, knocking him to one knee.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Holy shit.

Huge Thug steps up to Isabel and takes a swing at her, she nimbly ducks it and KICKS him in the balls, doubling him over.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Wow.

Head Thug pulls a pistol from his waistband and aims it at Isabel. She puts her hands up.

Skinny Thug and Long-Haired Thug grab her by the arms and hold her.

Huge Thug recovers from his nut shot and PUNCHES Isabel in the stomach, knocking her to the ground.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) Son of a bitch.

Huge Thug goes to the rear of one SUV and produces a shovel. He throws it to Isabel.

BACK TO RICK

Rick drops the binoculars and addresses Clint's photo.

RICK (CONT'D)

What the hell am I looking at, Clint?

Rick raises the binoculars again.

BINOCULAR VIEW

Isabel is digging a shallow grave, while Huge Thug and Head Thug look on.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) It's a grave. She'S digging her own grave.

He drops the binoculars again. He's getting freaked out. Re looks to Clint.

24.

RICK (CONT'D)

Oh, shit, what do I do? What do I do?

Clint just stares.

RICK (CONT'D) A weapon? Good call.

Rick looks around for a weapon. sweep the dust out of the shack.

All he has is a broom to He grabs it.

RICK (CONT'D)

If I break the handle and fashion a crude spear ...

Rick stomps on the broom handle, it snaps cleanly in half, no sharp end.

RICK (CONT'D)

Shit, I can't do anything right.

Clint Eastwood looks out at Rick disapprovingly.

RICK (CONT'D)

Come on Clint, I don't have the soul of a gunslinger.

The picture doesn't care for Rick's excuses.

RICK (CONT'D) Don't judge me, Clint!

Rick spins around and raises the binoculars again.

BINOCULAR VIEW

The grave is just about big enough to bury Isabel in. Rick scans over to Head Thug, he watches Isabel intently, gun trained on her.

Rick scans over to Huge Thug and - HOLY SHIT - he's looking right at Rick through his own giant pair of binoculars.

BACK TO RICK

Rick is in full panic mode, he drops the binoculars and runs behind the guard shack to hide.

RICK (CONT'D)

Oh, shit, oh shit, he spotted me!

Rick flattens himself against the shack.

25.

RICK (CONT'D)

Maybe he didn't really see me. Just calm down Rick, you're fine. He probably didn't see anything.

Rick low-crawls out from behind the shack and raises the binoculars again.

BINOCULAR VIEW

Huge Thug and Head Thug are engaged in a heated discussion. Huge Thug gestures toward Rick repeatedly and shakes his binoculars at Head Thug.

RICK (O.S.) (CONT'D) Okay, that doesn't mean anything.

Head Thug grabs the binoculars and he looks right at Rick. Rick SHRIEKS. He hurls the binoculars into the desert and hides behind the shack again, curling in to a fetal ball.

EXT. DESERT GRAVE - DAY

Isabel digs her grave with Skinny Thug and Long-Haired Thug standing guard. She listens in as Head Thug and Huge Thug discuss the problem.

HEAD THUG

Just go kill him like you killed the last one.

HUGE THUG

I hate cutting off the tiny penises. It's distasteful.

HEAD THUG

I think it's weird too, but that's what the boss likes. It's like his calling card.

HUGE THUG

Fine, but this is the last one. Make one of the other guys do it next time.

Skinny Thug and Long-Haired Thug makes disgusted faces and shake their heads.

HEAD THUG

They don't have the stomach for it. And Frankly, I don't blame them.

HUGE THUG

What about Diego? He's a sick bastard.

26.

HEAD THUG

Diego works for Salvador now.

HUGE THUG He does? Since when?

HEAD THUG Since last month.

Huge Thug looks perturbed as he takes the shovel away from Isabel and ...

HUGE THUG

No one tells me anything.

WHACKS her over the head with it. She collapses into the shallow pit.

Huge Thug hands the shovel to Head Thug.

HUGE THUG (CONT'D) I've got a date with a tiny penis.

EXT. TINY GUARD SHACK - DAY

Rick peers out from around the side of the shack. He glances over at the disapproving Clint Eastwood photo.

RICK

Are they coming for me Clint?

The photo glares at Rick, unimpressed with his cowardice.

Rick crawls to his binoculars and scans the desert ...

He sees Huge Thug hauling ass toward him in the SUV, a plume of dust rising behind him.

Rick drops the binoculars on the ground.

RICK (CONT'D)

This is your chance, Rick. This is what you've been waiting for.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - DAY

Huge Thug reaches into the back seat and grabs a blood stained machete.

EXT. TINY GUARD SHACK - DAY

The SUV skids to a stop near the guard shack. There is no sign of Rick.

Huge Thug climbs out of the SUV brandishing the machete.

27.

HUGE THUG

Come on out, asshole, I don't have all day!

Huge Thug approaches the closed door of the shack, he shoves the door open and hurls his bulk inside the cramped structure.

Rick is not in there. Huge Thug tries to turn himself around but ...

He's too damn big. He's stuck. He struggles to free himself.

Rick steps out from the rear of the guard shack. He tentatively approaches Huge Thug.

Huge Thug can see Rick over his shoulder.

HUGE THUG (CONT'D) Get me out of here, asshole! I'm stuck!

RICK

What? Can you slow down a bit, I'm not catching all that. I've only been speaking Spanish for about four minutes.

HUGE THUG (slowly)

Get me out of this shack and I'll kill you quickly.

RICK

You're really not doing much to further your cause here, guy.

Huge Thug goes apeshit, struggling and SCREAMING at Rick.

RICK (CONT'D)

I'm going to have to put you down, big boy.

Rick looks around and spots his ALUMINUM WATER BOTTLE. He grabs it, winds up like A Rod and BASHES Huge Thug in the back of the head.

HUGE THUG Did you just hit me?

Rick's face drops. This ain't good. Rick winds up and BASHES Huge Thug again.

HUGE THUG (CONT'D)

Stop that.

28.

RICK

Oh, crap.

Rick HITS him again. Huge Thug is enraged and goes apeshit again, the shack strains to contain him.

Rick WHALES on Huge Thug's head with the bottle, frantically.

The fight slowly goes out of Huge Thug and he goes slack, unconscious at last.

Rick is out of breath, GASPING for air. He looks at the now MANGLED water bottle ...

RICK (CONT'D)

Holy shit .

.. . and drops it. He looks to Clint for guidance.

RICK (CONT'D) What now, Man With No Name?

Clint stares.

RICK (CONT'D) You're no help.

(beat)

What would dad do?

Rick thinks hard.

RICK (CONT'D)

Of course, take his phone and his car and save the lady! Hell yeah!

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - DAY

Rick hauls ass across the desert in the stolen SUV.

EXT. TINY GUARD SHACK - DAY

Clint's abandoned picture just glares at Rick's dust cloud. Rick's got no more time for Clint.

EXT. DESERT GRAVE - DAY

Rick pulls up in the SUV, just as Isabel's fist PUNCHES up through the crusty ground.

Rick jumps out, runs to the grave, drops to his knees and starts to dig with his hands, as Isabel claws her way out of her tomb.

Rick grabs her hands and pulls with all his might; she bursts out of the grave, GASPING for air, covered in dust.

29.

Rick looks Isabel in the face, his jaw drops. Even caked in dirt, hair stringy and filthy, COUGHING and GASPING she's amazing.

Isabel COUGHS a gout of sand into Rick's face. Her eyes are crusted in sand and she's disoriented.

She grabs Rick's arm and JUDO FLIPS him to the ground, her fist poised to pummel him.

RICK

I landed on my wallet!

Isabel drops her fist - that's some weird Spanish.

ISABEL Are you retarded?

RICK

No I'm not retarded, I'm American.

ISABEL

Your Spanish is horrendous, it sounds like a dog vomiting on a sidewalk to me.

RICK

That's really harsh considering I've only been speaking Spanish for about eight minutes now.

ISABEL Who are you?

Isabel tries to brush some grit out of her eyes. Rick takes her in as best he can, while she is preoccupied.

RICK

Rick Staples, I'm a security guard.

ISABEL

You are in great danger, Rick Staples.

RICK

Me? You were the one in the grave, I'd say you're the one in danger.

Isabel LAUGHS.

ISABEL

I can take care of myself, but you just crossed a very powerful man. (MORE)

30.

ISABEL (CONT'D)

A very powerful and regal man, who will not stop until you are dead and your penis is hacked off of your still warm corpse.

Rick makes a face - shit.

RICK What do we do?

ISABEL Kill him first.

INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

Dark, dank, mostly empty warehouse. Cones of light break up the darkness.

PANDA, 40, athletic and tough looking, hangs from a hook, by his bound wrists. He has clearly been badly beaten and tortured, he is bloodied and bruised.

FAT THUG sits on a stool doing a crossword puzzle.

FAT THUG

What's a four letter word for "the hue of old lace?"

Panda does not respond.

FAT THUG (CONT'D)

Look, we're going to be here a while waiting for the Boss, so why don't we try to pass the time--

Panda SPITS at Fat Thug.

Fat Thug puts down his crossword, walks to Panda PUNCHES him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

FAT THUG (CONT'D)

I was trying to be nice. I don't think that people in our line of work have to be uncivilized, but you had to be rude.

Fat Thug PUNCHES Panda in the face. Panda spits at him again. Fat Thug reaches into his waistband and pulls out a pistol.

EL GATO (0. S . ) What are you doing?

31.

Fat Thug's head snaps around and he sees El Gato striding toward him, wearing his trademark white cowboy hat, snakeskin boots and dual pistol gunbelt.

He's slapping a manilla file folder against his thigh.

Head Thug and Long-Haired Thug trail behind, along with an unidentified MYSTERY MAN, who hangs in the shadows.

Fat Thug is instantly nervous. Panda, previously defiant, is now shitting his pants. This ain't good.

FAT THUG

I was just trying to make a point--

El Gato reaches back like a pimp and SLAPS Fat Thug.

EL GATO

You don't make points around here. I make points. You understand me?

El Gato wheels around to face Panda.

EL GATO (CONT'D) MyoId friend, Panda ... (inspecting Panda's face)

Animals. Look what they did to you.

PANDA

I'm telling you the truth. She was working in a bar when I met her.

EL GATO Yes, I know.

El Gato drops the file folder at Panda's feet. An austere black and white picture of a younger Isabel is clipped to the front flap, next to the word "CLASSIFIED."

PANDA

God as my witness, I had no idea, El Gato.

EL GATO

Using the lord's name in vain--

El Gato reaches into a pocket and pulls out an ornate STRAIGHT RAZOR.

EL GATO (CONT'D) Shame on you.

Panda SWALLOWS hard, wild eyes dart around the room, looking for a way out.

32.

PANDA I didn't know!

EL GATO

It doesn't matter. You brought the bitch into my organization.

EI Gato opens the razor with a SNICK.

Panda, in hysterics now, thrashes against his restraints to no avail.

PANDA No, please, oh God ...

El Gato grabs a handful of Panda's hair.

EL GATO

You are pleading your case to the wrong person, my friend. He doesn't have time for people like us.

El Gato presses the blade against Panda's throat as we ...

CUT TO:

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - DAY

Rick and Isabel barrel through the desert.

Rick looks over at Isabel, who is quiet, apparently deep in thought and nervously handling a LOCKET NECKLACE around her neck.

RICK

I want to help, but I need to know what's going on.

Isabel, suddenly self-conscious of the locket necklace, tucks it out of sight and puts both hands on the wheel.

ISABEL

If you want to help someone, think about helping yourself - by getting on the first plane back to America.

Rick notices blood running down the side of Isabel's head.

RICK You're bleeding again.

Isabel touches the blood.

ISABEL It's nothing.

33.

RICK

We need to get it cleaned up. I know somewhere safe we can go.

INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

El Gato wipes the blade of his razor on Head Thug's shirt, leaving a smear of blood.

EL GATO

Call Salvador, we're moving the shipment up.

El Gato looks around.

EL GATO (CONT'D)

And where is that gorilla brother of yours? Panda's penis isn't going to chop itself off.

HEAD THUG

He should be along soon. There was a new security guard in the desert who looked like he needed a circumcision.

El Gato SNORTS and walks off.

INT. SHITHOLE APARTMENT - NIGHT

Rick and Isabel enter the apartment, each carrying a shopping bag.

They set their bags down. Isabel does a quick check of the apartment.

RICK

It's totally safe, no one around here knows anything about me.

Rick goes to a small table with a phone on it and picks up the receiver.

ISABEL What are you doing?

RICK

I'm calling the police--

Isabel darts across the room, grabs the phone, and pulls it out of the wall.

RICK (CONT'D) That's going to come out of my security deposit. Thanks.

34.

ISABEL

You can't call the police.

Why not? us.

RICK

We've got killers after

ISABEL

The police are in on it.

Rick lets the severity of the situation sink in for a beat.

RICK

Well what do we do? Who can we trust?

ISABEL

No one.

Suddenly, the door SMASHES inward, revealing the sunburned, chapped, and heavily pissed off, Huge Thug. His eyes are wild, his breathing heavy, and he clutches the lid to Rick's cooler in one hand.

RICK

What are you doing here?

Isabel squares off in a fighting stance. Rick jumps behind her.

HUGE THUG

I'm here to finish my job.

RICK

You should be dead in the desert, you big, red, bag of dicks.

HUGE THUG

Then you should have killed me yourself, Rick.

RICK

How do you know my name? How did you find us?

Huge Thug holds up the cooler lid. It reads: PROPERTY OF RICO (RICK) SUAVE, 52 MANGROVE ROAD, APARTMENT 3, LA PAZ, MEXICO.

Isabel looks at Rick.

ISABEL

Seriously?

35.

RICK

Shit.

(to Thug)

How did you get out of the desert?

FLASHBACK - MONTAGE

Huge Thug breaks the guard shack apart, freeing himself.
Huge Thug rips the lid off of the cooler.
Huge Thug wraps his shirt around his head like a turban.
Huge Thug starts peddling Rick's bike out of the desert.
Huge Thug gets to a road, dismounts the bike, and flags
down a car. Huge Thug breaks the driver's neck and leaves his corpse at the roadside.

Huge Thug drives into La Paz.

END FLASHBACK

RICK (CONT'D)

Wow, that's some unreal determination, I'll give you that.

HUGE THUG

Now I'm going to kill you both.

He looks to Rick with a mischievous grin.

HEAD THUG And cut off your penis.

ISABEL

Not going to happen. You don't have any of your little friends around to save your ass this time.

Huge Thug throws a big, looping punch at Isabel, who deftly shoves Rick into a corner, as she dodges the blow, while countering with a sharp KICK to the Thug's knee cap, dropping him to the floor.

Isabel grabs a cooking pot and brings it CRASHING down on Huge Thugs head, knocking him flat on his stomach.

Isabel swings the pot again, but Huge Thug quickly flips over and catches her by the wrist. He throws her, and she SLAMS hard against the wall.

36.

Huge Thug gets up and moves toward Rick. Rick puts up his dukes and shuts his eyes.

Isabel recovers and executes a graceful JUMPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK to Huge Thug's head.

He turns, rubs the side of his head, smiles and says:

HUGE THUG

That was a pretty good kick.

RICK

Oh crap.

A little fear creeps into Isabel's face. This ain't great.

Huge Thug charges at Isabel, she sidesteps and drives a finger into Huge Thug's eye. He CRIES OUT.

Huge Thug puts his hand to his eye.

HUGE THUG

You tricky little bitch. That hurt.

Huge Thug smiles again.

HUGE THUG (CONT'D)

I'm going to enjoy ripping you apart.

Huge Thug charges her again. This time Isabel falls backward, grabbing him by his shirt and using his momentum against

him. She uses her legs and ...

LAUNCHES Huge Thug out the third story window.

Isabel and Rick rush to the window and see that Huge Thug has landed on top of a car, crushing the roof.

RICK

That was the coolest thing I've ever seen.

Huge Thug's eye's POP OPEN, and he lets out an ANIMALISTIC GROWL.

Rick and Isabel's jaws drop as Huge Thug rolls off the crushed car and onto the street. He stands up and looks up at them

just as ...

A SPEEDING TRUCK barrels out of the night, hits Huge Thug and carries him O.S.

RICK (CONT'D)

I take it back. That was the coolest thing I've ever seen.

37.

Rick and Isabel hear SIRENS approaching in the distance. They turn from the window.

ISABEL

We don't have much time, we need to get out of here, but we need to get you out of that security uniform. It stands out too much.

Isabel grabs one of the shopping bags and throws it to Rick.

ISABEL (CONT'D)

Get changed. You have thirty seconds.

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

A secluded section of the warehouse. El Gato stands in front of a series of silhouette shooting targets. He gently caresses his twin six-shooters. A smiles creeps onto his face.

In the blink of an eye, he draws the pistols and lets fly with a barrage of GUNFIRE.

Large, neat, bullet holes appear, in amazingly tight clusters, in the heads and chests of several of the targets.

El Gato does a dive roll to a position of cover, behind some 50 gallon drums. He reloads his six-shooters quickly and efficiently, using speed-loaders from his belt.

El Gato barrel rolls from his cover position, SHOOTING as he goes, again holes in tight clusters appear on the silhouette targets.

El Gato scrambles to his feet and finds another set of drums for cover. He reloads again, pops up from behind the drums, scanning the targets.

They are all dead as shit. He smiles to himself, spins the revolvers with a flourish, and holsters them.

O.S. we hear SLOW CLAPPING.

El Gato turns to see ...

POLICE CHIEF SALVADOR DOMINGUEZ, 50, distinguished, dressed in a police uniform.

SALVADOR Very impressive, El Gato.

El Gato says nothing. Salvador gestures to his own holstered pistol.

38.

SALVADOR (CONT'D)

Would you like to try my automatic?

EL GATO

What would be the challenge in that?

(beat)

Revolvers have a ... dignity about them. A throwback to a simpler time. A better time.

(beat)

Any asshole can grab a Glock, with eighteen bullets in it and spray rounds. It takes a true gunslinger to do it with six.

Salvador cocks an eyebrow - I think he was calling me an asshole.

EL GATO (CONT'D) Are we ready?

SALVADOR

The shipment will be here in an hour.

EL GATO

Good stuff?

SALVADOR

The best my boys could find.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Rick stops the SUV a block from El Gato's warehouse. He's dressed all in black, with a black cowboy hat on, a la Yul Brenner in the Magnificent Seven.

Isabel points out the windshield.

ISABEL

This is the place. El Gato will most likely move up his shipment, he's worried about being raided by the Mexican Secret Service.

Rick perks up at the mention of Secret Service.

Rick notices again, that Isabel is holding her locket necklace.

RICK

So this El Gato's a smuggler?

ISABEL

Right.

39.

RICK

What's he smuggle, drugs, guns, chupacabras? What?

ISABEL Look for yourself.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

A box truck, escorted by Mexican Police Cars, backs into the loading dock. Several POLICE OFFICERS get out of the cars and stand guard.

The truck DRIVER gets out, goes to the garage door and bangs on it.

The garage door rolls up. Head Thug and several more THUGS spill out.

The Thugs and the Driver usher twenty young GIRLS, dressed in ragged clothes, out of the truck and into the warehouse.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Rick's mouth is agape.

ISABEL

You see? You see why El Gato must be stopped?

RICK who are they?

ISABEL

Girls from the slums. El Gato pays the police to go out and round up girls and bring them here.

RICK What happens to them?

ISABEL Terrible things.

Isabel opens the glove compartment of the SUV, revealing two glimmering pistols.

ISABEL (CONT'D) We have to get them out.

RICK

Why don't we just alert the Secret Service?

40.

ISABEL

There's a leak. El Gato's got someone on the inside--

RICK

How do you know all this? Who the hell are you, Isabel?

A long beat.

ISABEL

I'm a Secret Service Agent--

RICK Really? That's so cool.

ISABEL

(ignoring Rick's awe)

But El Gato was tipped off and my cover was compromised. That's how I wound up digging my own grave.

Rick lets it all sink in for a beat then shakes his head.

RICK

Secret Service Agent or not, we can't go in there. There's at least a dozen dudes in there and cops and El Gato and I'm not a hero, I'm a Park Ranger from Joshua Tree National Park. I'm not cut out for this shit.

Isabel hands him a gun.

ISABEL You have to be.

Rick and Isabel's eye's lock. He's falling for her. He's screwed.

ISABEL (CONT'D) I need you, Rick.

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

El Gato and Salvador oversee as the Girls, scared, CRYING and clinging to one another, are herded into holding cages.

EL GATO

They look good, Salvador. You finally did something right.

El Gato SNAPS his fingers and Head Thug produces a sweet looking metal briefcase and opens it. It's loaded with Mexican currency.

41.

Head Thug quickly shuts the case and hands it to Salvador, who can barely contain himself.

EL GATO (CONT'D) Make sure it all goes smoothly, Salvador.

El Gato walks away.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Rick and Isabel creep up to the loading dock, hiding behind some garbage cans.

RICK (whisper) What's the plan?

ISABEL (whisper)

We kill as many of them as we can and save the girls.

RICK

I don't know if that really counts

as a plan. Maybe we should rethink--

Isabel breaks cover, runs to the side door of the loading dock and slips in quickly and quietly.

RICK (CONT'D)

Oh, crap.

He runs after her.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

At the opposite side of the warehouse, El Gato climbs into a seven-series BMW. Head Thug and Long-Haired Thug climb into an SUV and they all drive off.

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Isabel and Rick creep along in the shadows, hiding behind drums and crates. They hear men's VOICES and LAUGHTER in the distance.

They work their way toward the voices. Isabel is calm and cool. Rick is wide-eyed and scared.

As they get closer, Isabel and Rick hear the frightened Girls CRYING. The male LAUGHTER getting louder as they approach the ...

HOLDING CAGE AREA

42.

From the cover of drums and crates, they see ...

Several THUGS and POLICE OFFICERS sitting at a table playing cards and drinking.

Behind them, several holding cages house the scared Girls.

Isabel's eye's widen with rage. She steps out from behind the crates, pistol aimed at Skinny Thug's head.

Mid-shuffle, Skinny Thug's eyes go wide and he SPRAYS cards allover the place.

Rick steps out, Officers. They the new Rick as almost badass.

his pistol covering the other Thugs and Police freeze. This is our first real good look at Chris from the Magnificent Seven. He looks Almost.

ISABEL

Everyone put their hands in the air, slowly.

Skinny Thug's hand darts for the gun in his waistband.

Isabel SHOOTS Skinny Thug three times, he crumples to the ground.

Chaos breaks out as Thugs, Police Officers, and Rick scramble for cover, while SHOOTING wildly.

Isabel takes careful aim and ...

BANG, she drops Fat Thug in his tracks.

Rick, in his haste to find cover, trips over a HOSE on the ground and falls on his face, his gun CLATTERING to the floor.

He looks up and sees a grinning MUSTACHED COP looming over him, aiming a gleaming pistol at his head. Mustached Cop COCKS the pistol ...

Just as Isabel KICKS it out of his hand. He turns and squares off with her. But, unfortunately for him, she doesn't have time for games.

BANG. He drops like a sack of shit.

ISABEL We don't have time shenanigans, Rick. help me.

(CONT'D) for your

Get your gun and

Rick scrambles to his feet and retrieves his gun.

43.

BALD THUG pops out from behind a crate and SHOOTS at Rick, who dives for cover, while SHOOTING back. He misses by a mile and lands hard, behind a 50 gallon drum.

RICK That was so badass.

Isabel SHOOTS MACHINE GUN COP, who collapses to the ground, his machine gun sliding across the floor toward her.

She stops it with her foot, kicks it up into the air, and catches it.

Rick's jaw drops.

Isabel SPRAYS MACHINE GUN FIRE at the remaining Thugs and Police Officers, who duck for cover behind drums and crates.

ISABEL

Let's get them out of here!

Rick and Isabel open the holding cages and release the Girls.

They take intermittent FIRE, which Isabel RETURNS with the machine gun.

She and Rick herd the Girls to the ...

LOADING DOCK

Isabel scans the group of Girls and picks out OLDEST.

ISABEL (CONT'D) Do you know how to drive?

Oldest Girl nods her head.

ISABEL (CONT'D)

Good.

She rushes the Girls inside the truck while Rick holds off the Cops and Thugs by SHOOTING at the door, wildly.

ISABEL (CONT'D) (to Oldest Girl)

I need you to drive to--

Rick glances over at Isabel and Oldest Girl, while SHOOTING. Isabel appears to be quickly explaining where Oldest Girl should take the truck.

RICK (to Isabel)

I can't hold them off much longer! Get them out of here!

44.

Isabel rushes Oldest Girl to the cab of the truck. As she SHUTS the door, the side view mirror SHATTERS.

The Girls inside the truck SCREAM. Isabel FIRES back at the Thugs.

ISABEL (to Oldest Girl)

You know where to go, right?

OLDEST GIRL

I think so.

A Thug SPRAYS rounds from the loading dock door, STRIKING the back of the truck. More frightened SCREAMS from the Girls.

Rick and Isabel RETURN FIRE, as Oldest Girl starts the truck and tears away.

The truck crashes through a low wall and out onto the street.

A FAST THUG, breaks from cover and RUNS AFTER the truck. Isabel sees it happening and takes off after him.

ISABEL (to Rick)

Get the car!

Rick sprints to Huge Thug's SUV, under a hail of GUNFIRE. He climbs in and takes off after Isabel.

Two Police Officers run for their Police car and give chase.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

Fast Thug gains on the slow moving truck, he FIRES his pistol as he runs.

Rounds PELT the rear of the truck and SHATTER the driver's side window.

INT. /EXT. BOX TRUCK - NIGHT

Glass shards EXPLODE on the Oldest Girl, she panics and cuts the wheel - hard ...

The truck swerves, SMASHING into parked cars and slowing it even more.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

Fast Thug pulls up almost even with the cab of the truck.

45.

Isabel is extremely fast, she's gaining on Fast Thug. He doesn't notice as ...

He gets Oldest Girl in his sights ...

Isabel closes the gap, puts her machine gun to Fast Thug's head.

BANG. He drops and rolls like a sack of shit.

Isabel doesn't break stride, Rick catches up in the SUV and swings the passenger door open.

The Police car closes in.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Isabel dives into the car.

ISABEL Stop the car.

RICK Are you nuts?

ISABEL

We have to divert them from following the truck. Stop the car!

Rick floors the brake pedal.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

Tires SCREAMING, the suv skids to a stop. The Police Car panic brakes to a stop also.

Isabel leans out of her window and SPRAYS the Police Car's windshield and hood with bullets, disabling it.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Isabel turns around and sees:

The Panel Truck full of girls turns off on a side street and disappears.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

The SUV tears ass away, in the opposite direction.

A SECOND POLICE CAR flies up behind them, lights FLASHING, SIREN WAILING.

46.

INT. /EXT. POLICE CAR - NIGHT

PASSENGER COP, leans out the window of the car and OPENS FIRE.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Rick and Isabel duck, as BULLETS smash through the rear window glass.

RICK

Can you do something about that, please? I can't drive like this!

Rick weaves the SUV in and out of traffic, with the Police car right behind them.

Isabel grabs her machine gun, climbs into the rear of the SUV, and SMASHES out the remaining rear window glass with the gun barrel.

Just as Isabel OPENS FIRE, Rick makes a hard left turn, jumping the curb, and knocking Isabel off balance.

She SHOOTS holes in the roof of the SUV.

RICK (CONT'D)

What are you doing? Firing warning shots now? Shoot at them for shit's sake!

Isabel gives Rick a look - shut up - and lets fly with a BURST of machine gun FIRE.

INT. /EXT. POLICE CAR - NIGHT

The windshield SHATTERS and SPIDERWEBS, DRIVER COP and Passenger Cop both duck.

The Police car spins out of control and CRASHES into a parked truck. Both vehicles burst into FLAMES.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Rick celebrates!

Hell yeah! awesome!

RICK

That was completely

Isabel relaxes for a beat and cracks a small smile. Her first. She and Rick share a moment, until ...

47.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

A MOTORCYCLE COP, riding a dual-sport bike, blue lights FLASHING, comes tearing off of a side street - right behind the SUV.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Isabel's head snaps around as she hears the MOTORCYCLE coming.

ISABEL

Oh, shit.

Isabel brings up the machine gun, just as Motorcycle Cop accelerates to the rear of the SUV.

She smiles and squeezes the trigger. CLICK.

Isabel makes a face - shit.

EXT. LA PAZ STREET - NIGHT

Motorcycle Cop, in a bold, badass move, LEAPS from the bike, and grabs onto the rear of the SUV.

The motorcycle CRASHES and TUMBLES along behind.

INT. /EXT. HUGE THUG'S SUV - NIGHT

Isabel KICKS Motorcycle Cop in the head, but his helmet protects him.

He has his upper body partially in the SUV now. He draws his pistol ...

But Isabel intercepts his hand. Motorcycle Cop FIRES several rounds, which ....

WHIZ by Rick and SHATTER the front windshield.

RICK

I can't see shit and the bullets whizzing by aren't helping my driving!

The SUV SWERVES and WEAVES wildly down the street, running OTHER CARS off the road.

Suddenly, a small heard of DONKEYS appear in the middle of the road.

RICK (CONT'D)

Donkeys!

PEDESTRIANS and STREET VENDORS dive out of the way, as the SUV mounts the curb and barrels down the sidewalk.

48.

Rick struggles to see out the side window, while Isabel and Motorcycle Cop continue their close-quarter fight.

Rick SWERVES hard, throwing Isabel off balance again, and giving Motorcycle Cop an opportunity ...

He PUNCHES her in the face and then throws himself onto her ...

They tumble into the back seat, Isabel struggles to keep the gun pointed away from her head.

Motorcycle Cop PULLS the trigger several times. Rounds narrowly miss Rick and BLAST HOLES in the roof near his head.

Isabel shoves Motorcycle Cop back, against the rear passenger side door, she drives an elbow into his helmet. He just LAUGHS it off.

She glances up and notices the door handle. She opens the door ...

Motorcycle Cop falls backward, his head and shoulders hanging out of the SUV.

He still manages to press the attack, the gun moves steadily toward her head.

Isabel glances to the left, she cracks a thin smile and leans back into the car ...

The open door HITS A LIGHT POLE and CRASHES SHUT. Motorcycle Cop's helmeted head in squashed in the door with a sickening CRUNCH.

Rick glances back.

RICK (CONT'D)

Gross. That crunching sound was too much.

Isabel, tired and battered, climbs back to the passenger seat.

RICK (CONT'D) Shit, it took you long enough.

ISABEL

Get off my tits, already. You weren't helping.

RICK

I was trying to, you know, swerve and throw him out the back window.

49.

ISABEL

Did you notice that it wasn't working?

RICK

Sort of. (beat)

Where did you send those girls?

ISABEL A safehouse.

RICK

I thought that you were worried about a leak--

ISABEL

Before I went undercover, I set up the safehouse myself. No one else knows about it.

RICK How do we get there?

ISABEL

We can't go there, it would endanger the girls too much.

Rick thinks for a beat.

RICK

I know somewhere we can go.

EXT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ / ALLEY - NIGHT

Shadowy, dark, deserted.

Rick parks the SUV near the rear door.

Rick and Isabel get out of the SUV, tucking pistols into their waist bands.

INT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ - NIGHT

Jose sits at his desk, drinking tequila from his dirty glass and whittling a wooden knife with his giant, real knife.

Suddenly, Rick and Isabel burst in.

Startled, Jose hurls the giant knife at Rick, whose eyes widen in terror.

Isabel catches the knife, by the handle, in mid-air, and throws it back ...

50.

The knife embeds in Jose's chair, millimeters from his balls, with a THUNK. His jaw drops, a wad of tobacco PLOPS out like a turd.

RICK

That's a shitty way to greet people, Jose. Try something like "Hello," or "Who's there," next time.

Jose regains some composure.

JOSE You're alive?

RICK And kicking ass.

Isabel looks at Rick.

RICK (CONT'D) ( shrugging)

It sounded cool.

JOSE Are you retarded?

RICK No, I'm American.

Jose shrugs.

JOSE (nodding to Isabel) Who is this?

RICK

This is Isabel, I saved her from being buried alive.

Isabel shoots him a look.

RICK (CONT'D) (shrugging)

Kind of.

Jose nods.

RICK (CONT'D)

Is there somewhere we can get cleaned up?

BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Risk pours alcohol on a cotton ball and dabs Isabel's head wound. Isabel WINCES, but doesn't make a sound.

51.

ISABEL

Why did you come to Mexico?

A beat.

RICK

I came here to prove something to myself.

ISABEL

That notion doesn't make sense to me.

Rick thinks for a beat.

RICK

I guess I came down here to try to become a hero.

Isabel CHUCKLES at this.

ISABEL

Heroes don't set out to perform heroic acts, Rick.

(beat)

True heroes are born out of necessity. They find themselves in a moment in time when they must find the courage to push ahead when other turn and flee.

Rick listens with rapt attention.

ISABEL (CONT'D)

Why is it so important for you to become a hero?

RICK

My father.

ISABEL

Your father wants you to be a hero?

RICK

No, my father was a hero. He was a policeman.

ISABEL

Was?

RICK

He died when I was young.

52.

ISABEL

I see now. You're trying to walk in your father's foot steps.

Rick is silent.

ISABEL (CONT'D)

You can't do that Rick. A man who dies a hero is forever held in that moment. You can't live up to that.

Isabel looks at Rick, and sees him in an uncharacteristic, quiet, vulnerable moment.

She softens. She gets it. Their eyes lock. They share a moment. Something is passing between them, until ...

Jose pops his head in, tequila and glasses in hand. The moment is over, Isabel and Rick try to act natural.

JOSE

Let me buy you guys a drink.

JOSE'S DESK - MOMENTS LATER

Rick and Isabel sit at Jose's desk, empty shot glasses in front of them.

ISABEL

We just need somewhere safe to hide for the night.

JOSE

It's not safe hereJ Salvador's cops and El Gato's men will be swarming the streets looking for you two and those girls.

(beat)

You two need to get as far away from La Paz as you can.

ISABEL

That's not an option. First of all, El Gato is not the kind of man who let's things like this slide and I'm not the kind of woman who runs from a fight. Secondly, I don't take kindly to being buried alive in the desert.

(beat)

I will spill his blood before this is over.

53.

INT. EL GATO'S VILLA - GAME ROOM - NIGHT

Beautifully appointed game room: pool table, bar, video games, etc.

El Gato sits at the end of the bar, carefully cleaning his six shooters.

Salvador, looking like a scared little boy, stands in front

of El Gato, nervously starting at the two neat rows of bullets El Gato has lined up on the bar.

Head Thug and Long-Haired Thug look on, equally nervous.

EL GATO

What do you mean "they got away?" Who got away?

SALVADOR The girls got away.

EL GATO

How?

SALVADOR

A woman--

EL GATO

Isabel.

SALVADOR

And a man showed up and freed them. They killed several of your men and mine during the escape.

EI Gato turns to Head Thug as he slowly and deliberately loads bullets into the chambers of a revolver.

EL GATO

How is it that the woman has stolen my shipment? does that work?

you killed How exactly

Head Thug is nervous.

HEAD THUG We buried her alive.

EL GATO

You buried her alive? Why would you do that?

54.

HEAD THUG

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

(nervously chuckling)

We even made her dig her own grave.

El Gato presses the sixth bullet home and SNAPS the cylinder shut. Salvador and the Thugs flinch at the sound.

EL GATO

Why not just shoot her in the head?

HEAD THUG

We thought this was more poetic.

El Gato stands and steps around the end of the bar.

EL GATO

Well, your poetry just cost us millions of dollars.

(beat)

Next time I tell you to kill someone, just shoot them in the head.

EI Gato raises the pistol.

EL GATO (CONT'D)

Like this.

BANG. El Gato SHOOTS Long-Haired Thug in the head.

EL GATO (CONT'D) What was so hard about that?

Salvador and Head Thug are shocked. El Gato turns back to Salvador.

EL GATO (CONT'D) Where are they now?

SALVADOR I don't know.

El Gato moves close to Salvador.

EL GATO

Find them and get those girls back.

I pay you not only to find the girls, but to keep shit like this from happening.

(beat)

Fix this problem, or you'll find yourself sharing a shallow grave with my long-haired friend here.

55.

Salvador hustles off.

EL GATO (CONT'D) (to Head Thug)

Clean up this mess.

Head Thug hustles off. El Gato digs out his cell phone and dials a number.

INT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ - NIGHT

Rick, Isabel, and Jose sit at the desk drinking. A RING TONE cuts the silent moment.

Isabel and Jose look at Rick.

RICK

Oh, crap, that's the huge dude's phone.

He pulls it out and hands it to Isabel. The caller ID reads:

EL GATO'S CELL.

Isabel answers the phone.

INTERCUT - ISABEL/EL GATO

ISABEL Missing something?

El Gato smiles.

EL GATO

So you killed the big boy.

ISABEL He had it coming.

EL GATO We all have it coming. (beat)

You know what I want.

ISABEL

Of course, and you know I won't give it to you.

EL GATO

I'll kill you myself this time. You don't have anywhere to hide. I'll find you wherever you go.

ISABEL

Who said anything about hiding. I'll be coming for you, El Gato.

56.

Isabel hangs up. Rick looks at her with undisguised awe and admiration.

INT. EL GATO'S VILLA - GAME ROOM - NIGHT

El Gato tucks the phone away. He's furious, beside himself with anger.

He viciously KICKS Long-Haired Thug's corpse repeatedly.

Head Thug walks in with plastic garbage bags, sees what is happening and immediately walks out.

El Gato stops kicking the body.

EL GATO That little bitch.

Isabel's Secret Service file, lying on the pool table catches El Gato's eye. The corner of a 5x7 COLOR PHOTOGRAPH peeks out from the folder.

El Gato crosses the room, picks up the folder and looks at the photo. We don't see the picture, but we do see a huge smile spread across El Gato's face.

EL GATO (CONT'D)

Check mate.

EXT. ALLEY BEHIND SEGURIDAD SEGURA - NIGHT

A Police car creeps down the alley and stops next to the heavily damaged SUV.

SADISTIC COP, inside the car looks at the SUV then grabs his radio mic.

INT. SEGURIDAD SEGURA DE LA PAZ - NIGHT

Isabel knocks back a shot of tequila.

ISABEL

How is it that you know so much about El Gato and Salvador.

Jose LAUGHS mirthlessly.

JOSE

I used to be the head of the La Paz Police Department Vice Unit. My boss was Salvador, he was in charge of the Vice Unit and the Narcotics Unit.

Isabel nods.

57.

JOSE (CONT'D)

When El Gato was younger, he was a drug trafficker. He paid off many cops, including Salvador. It never effected me in those days, because I worked vice.

ISABEL

But then El Gato became involved in prostitution and human trafficking.

JOSE

Right.

Jose knocks back a shot.

JOSE (CONT'D)

Then I was in direct conflict with El Gato and Salvador. I was trying my best to put him away.

(beat)

I got close, and Salvador had drugs planted in my locker. I was fired and jailed for a year.

RICK

Jesus, did anyone ever touch

you ... down there? Around the bung?

Jose ignores him.

JOSE

I got out and started this business. It's been rough, but it keeps a roof over my head.

(beat)

But not a day has gone by that I have not dreamed of bringing them down. They took everything from me, my family, my career, my life.

RICK

Then help us. Help us get them.

Jose LAUGHS.

JOSE

You have more heart than brains, American. Salvador has an army of cops. El Gato has millions of dollars. You can't fight that.




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