Strange Days

BEEMER: Yeah, that's right.

LENNY: I saw you play, man. You were good. Like a fucking freight train I remember saying. So what happened, injuries or what?

BEEMER: Bullshit politics.

LENNY: It's always politics. Like this thing we're in here, he's paying you to tune me up, right? But I could pay you more not to. See what I mean? I could write you a check right now--

BEEMER: Come on, let's go, I got to get back.

LENNY: Okay cash! Logical. Here's everything I have on me, what do you say? How about a Rolex?

BEEMER: I already got a real one. Come on, it won't be too bad. It's not personal.

LENNY: Just not the eyes.

LENNY: Some tips. Don't dart your eyes around. Don't look in the mirror or you'll ID yourself. OK? You got a half hour of tape, so give me some lead-in to the main event. But don't wait too long, I don't want to be going out for popcorn. And don't act natural. Don't act at all. Just forget the thing is on. Got it?

EDUARDO: No problem.

LENNY: A star is born.

LENNY: Superconducting QUantum Interference Device. SQUID. Got it? There's gonna be a test.

EDUARDO: Hey, fuck you, man.

LENNY: Easy, Eduardo, easy. Preserve a sense of humor at all times. Okay, the receptor rig... what I'm putting on your head... sends a signal to the recorder. See we call it "being wired," but there's no wire. You gotta keep the recorder close... five, six feet away max, like in your jacket pocket by the bed or wherever you're going to close escrow, know what I mean?

EDUARDO: Yeah, right.

LENNY: Okay, let's get you wired up. I hope this axle grease you got in your hair doesn't screw up the squid receptors.

EDUARDO: What's all this squid shit?

FAITH: Well, I'm certainly in the mood for a party.

TRAN: Take her up to the suite. Have a glass of champagne... or six... I'll be up in a while to help you ring in the New Year.

FAITH: I live for the moment.

TRAN: The only time a whore should open her mouth is when she's giving head.

FAITH: Fuck you.

TRAN: Maybe later.

FAITH: You said you were going to get her out of this.

TRAN: Maybe now you appreciate the danger we're in. It was touching the way you stood by me in there. "Stand by your man". I was moved. You were very good. I don't think he even understands that you did it for him.

FAITH: He doesn't know what's going on. Leave him alone.

TRAN: I'd love to. But he keeps showing up. And you keep talking to him. I can't have that--

FAITH: I made my choice, Lenny.

TRAN: You're going down.

FAITH: Look, Tran... Lenny just came by to give me some bad news. An old friend of mine has been murdered. You remember Iris?

TRAN: A tragic story, no doubt. How'd you get up here?

TRAN: Lenny the loser. Panhandler of stolen dreams.

FAITH: Leave him alone, Tran.

TRAN: He's no concern of mine, as long as you don't talk to him. Don't talk to anybody. You understand? Not with everything that's going on right now.

FAITH: You're too goddamned paranoid.

TRAN: Paranoia's only reality on a finer scale.

FAITH: We have nothing to talk about, Lenny.

TRAN: Joey, make sure Mr. Nero gets safely to his car.

MAX: And then she said, 'Since we're going to be spending so much time together--'

FAITH: 'We might as well make the best of it.'

MAX: You were supposed to go downstairs, baby.

FAITH: I know. I don't always do exactly what I'm told. So I said, 'Do you enjoy watching me?' And you said -- come on Max.

MAX: I said, 'Yeah. I'd even do it for free.'

FAITH: Uh huh. And I said, 'That's good, because I like the feeling of someone watching me. I acquired the taste from Lenny.'

MAX: Look, baby, it's now of never... the guy is a known input junkie, so a little OD won't surprise anybody. It's the only way we can be together. You know it's true.

FAITH: My God.

FAITH: You can't just... kill him.

MAX: I'm not. Just a little poach job.

FAITH: Jesus.

MAX: Hey, he was going to kill you. And this ratfuck paid to have Iris killed, to save his own sorry ass.

MAX: This piece of puke hired me to kill you, baby. Do you believe that? Isn't that right, Tran? You pinhead.

FAITH: Oh my God. I don't believe this is happening.

MAX: Believe it. Now bring me the trodes, baby. Come on, quick.

FAITH: What're you going to do?

FAITH: So finally he gives Iris some cash and tells her to check into the hotel under a wrong name till he figures out what to do.

LENNY: Yeah... he figured out what to do all right.

FAITH: You think Tran killed her?

LENNY: The killer knew right where she was. Because he put her there.

FAITH: What a nightmare.

LENNY: How did it happen? What was Iris doing riding around with Jeriko wearing a wire?

FAITH: We should talk alone.

LENNY: No. Mace is in this.

FAITH: What's going on?

LENNY: Faith, we know about Jeriko. Iris made me a copy of the tape.

FAITH: Oh God, Lenny. I was trying to keep you out of this.

FAITH: Who did it?

LENNY: Don't know. But this guy's real damaged goods. Iris knew someone was after her... and she said you were in danger too. Now no more games, Faith. Whatever you're hiding, whatever's going on, you have to get out of here now. Come with me right now. Don't even think about it.

FAITH: Then what? Then what, Lenny?! You going to protect me? Big tough guy. You're a talker, Lenny. You don't even have a gun.

LENNY: I have a gun. It's under my bed.

FAITH: You don't know what you're fucking with here.

LENNY: Tell me.

FAITH: You're crazier than I thought, Lenny. Coming here... Tran's just in there.

LENNY: Iris is dead. She was murdered.

FAITH: You have to get out of here. If Tran catches you he'll... he's acting crazy. He's doing way too much playback and he's getting completely paranoid. He's such a control freak, he's even paying Max to follow me around.

LENNY: Max Pelcher? You're kidding?

FAITH: Yeah, for about a month now. Lenny, just stay away from Tran, okay? And stay away from me. Stop trying to rescue me. Those days are over. I'm a big girl now. Stop trying to save me, okay, because I don't need saving... Just... give up on me.

LENNY: Can't do it.

FAITH: You know one of the ways movies still have Squid beat? Because they always say "The End." You always know when it's over. It's over! Now please leave. I have to go on again in a couple of minutes.

LENNY: Look, baby, I've watched you create yourself out of nothing. You're like a goddamn cruise missile, targeted on making it. And you will.

FAITH: Damn right.

LENNY: It's you up on that stage, not him. You don't need him.

FAITH: You have to go. I mean it.

LENNY: Yeah, OK, whatever you say. Just answer one question. Is anything wrong? Iris said you might be in trouble.

FAITH: You talked to Iris? When?

LENNY: Tonight.

FAITH: Well I haven't seen her in months. Who knows what's going on in her head. You're really running out of excuses to come around, aren't you?

LENNY: I know you Faith. You're afraid of something. What's going on?

FAITH: Let it alone, Lenny. It'll take care of itself.

LENNY: It's Tran, isn't it? This guy is poison, Faith. Listen to me. He's got you walled in on all sides. And he uses the wire too much, he gets off on tape, not on you.

FAITH: That's a good one, coming from you.

LENNY: Why don't you just split? You don't love him, anybody can see that. And to him you're just some kinda possession, like a Ferrari, something to show the other guys.

FAITH: He has his uses too.

LENNY: What? He gonna record you on his label?

FAITH: Maybe.

LENNY: Come on, Faith! He's just toying with you. And when he gets bored, you'll be yesterday's papers.

LENNY: Hi, baby. I've missed you.

FAITH: I know. Lenny, if Tran finds you talking to me he'll hurt you.

LENNY: I'm already hurting.

LENNY: Faith, call me, okay?

FAITH: No, Lenny.

FAITH: I don't think that's a good idea, Lenny.

LENNY: I just got to talk to you for one second.

FAITH: Cut it out, Tran.

LENNY: Too bad about your guy Jeriko. Tough break.

FAITH: I don't feel anything. Is it on?

LENNY: Forget it's there.

FAITH: Make me forget it, baby.

FAITH: I feel like you're turning me into a VCR.

LENNY: I just want to see what we're like together through your eyes.

FAITH: Hey, you going to watch or you going to do?

LENNY: Watch and see.

KEITH: Yeah, I'm interested, but can we get someplace a little less public?

LENNY: You nervous? Forget it. The cops have more to worry about in this city than the squid-trade, believe me--

KEITH: Sounds good.

LENNY: I can get you what you want. You just have to talk to me. I'm your priest, your shrink, your main connection to the switchboard of souls. I'm the Magic Man, the Santa Claus of the Subconscious. You say it, you even think it, you can have it. You want a girl, you want two girls? I don't know what your thing is or what you're curious about... you want a guy? You want to be a girl... see what that feels like? You want a nun to tie you up? It's all doable.

KEITH: Talk to me about costs, here.

LENNY: Listen, before we get into numbers, I want you to try a taste. I got a deck with me.

KEITH: What? Right Here?

LENNY: Step into my office.

KEITH: No.

LENNY: A virgin brain! Well we're going to start you off right. So what do you know about this? Save us some time...

KEITH: Just what I've read. That the technology was developed for the Feds, to replace the body wire. And now it's gone black market. So, uh, do I get the deck from you?

LENNY: I'll set you up, get you a deck at my cost... since my thing is the software.

KEITH: Clips.

LENNY: That's right. Clips. Look, I want you to know what we're talking about here. This isn't like TV only better. This is life. It's a piece of somebody's life. Pure and uncut, straight from the cerebral cortex. You're there. You're doing it, seeing it, hearing it... feeling it.

KEITH: What kind of things exactly?

LENNY: Exactly anything. Whatever you want. Whoever you want to be. Fabri, get us another round, would you.

KEITH: I understand. No, I'm not.

LENNY: You understand? Attorney! Right? Am I right?

KEITH: That's right.

LENNY: How did you hook up with Faith?

MAX: This dink hires me a month ago to eyeball her, right? But Faith knows me from you, right, so she comes up to me and says, 'Hey Max why you following me?' I say, 'I'll buy you a drink and explain.' And she says...

LENNY: So there never was a death squad.

MAX: Naawww.

LENNY: Just those two loose-cannon cops running around covering their butts.

MAX: Yeah. Pretty zany, huh? All this shit caused by a random traffic stop. Hey... nothing means nothing. You know that. Look around... the whole planet's in total chaos. You gotta take what you can, while you can. Cause some shitbird can come up and put a fuckin' .22 in the back a your head any second.

MAX: Only he doesn't know about me and Faith. So I say to myself, if I turn the job down, he just gets somebody else. And I lose Faith... to coin a phrase. So to buy time, I do the skank. I still gotta do something about Tran... I figure it's him or me... but I can't cap him without a chump to take the fall. And who better than his girlfriend's loser ex-boyfriend... a known criminal... who has been seen hassling them in public numerous times.

LENNY: And who was, regrettably, also your best fucking friend.

MAX: No plan is perfect, Lenny. Hey, cheer up. World's gonna end in ten minutes anyway.

LENNY: You must be so pleased, I followed your jellybean trail right here, like a good little chump.

MAX: You got froggy on me a couple times.

MAX: Picture it... I feel like I gotta share this with somebody. It's too perfect.

LENNY: I won't say anything.

MAX: I know. So, I'm working for this puke, right? And he says he'll pay me quite large to do the hooker. But also I gotta do his bitch girlfriend cause she knows the whole score and she's totally out of control.

LENNY: Wait a minute. Now I'm remembering. I killed Iris too, didn't I?

MAX: That's right. They'll find the original of her snuff clip in your apartment. The one I left for you at the club was a copy.

LENNY: Was I a really busy guy? Did I do Tick too?

MAX: You bet. Did you like it?

LENNY: So... I killed Tran. Then you ran in, being on his payroll, and shot me.

MAX: That's pretty much the way it happened.

MAX: You just did.

LENNY: Jesus!

MAX: You know, statistically that's the second most common word people say right before they die. Shit being number one.

MAX: I'll have that. Glock 22. Nice.

LENNY: Where's Faith?

MAX: I sent her to the party. I figured I'd wait up here until you killed Tran.

LENNY: What makes you think I'm gonna kill Tran?

LENNY: No. I suppose not. I didn't know you were colorblind, Max.

MAX: Only way I could stand your ties.

LENNY: 2-2-0-3. Got it. Stay on her.

MAX: I intend to.

MAX: He's got her up in the room, under guard. And he's still working the party... acting smooth like nothin's nothin'. So buddy... I say we work a trade.

LENNY: What do you mean?

MAX: Give him the tape. See? It's fucking brilliant! The tape for Faith. I know he'll go for it. I can set it up.

LENNY: This is what we laughingly refer to as a plan, right?

MAX: Come on! If he gives us any shit, we kill 'em all. Whattya say? Just get your butt down here. If I'm not at the shindig downstairs go to the room. It's 2203. You writin'?

MAX: Mace... no disrespect... but you run this on the 11 o'clock news, by midnight you got the biggest riot in history. They'll see the fucking smoke from Canada.

LENNY: Okay... what about Strickland?

MAX: No. Bad idea.

LENNY: Jesus.

MAX: Yeah. So don't walk near me in public, alright.

LENNY: Thanks, buddy. See... things weren't bad enough. They weren't fucking bad enough!

LENNY: Whattya mean?

MAX: All I'm saying... you don't know how high up the food chain this thing goes. I've heard stuff.

LENNY: What stuff?

MAX: Smoke. Rumors. I've heard stuff about a death squad. A group a guys loyal to the hardline school. Guys that've had too many years of city hall and the review boards and the goddamn media pissing down their necks, suspending cops right and left, tying their hands... while outa the other side a their mouths these same people're squealing save us, save us, do something you fucking morons, crime is totally out of control.

LENNY: He's been cooked-off

MAX: Is he dead?

LENNY: No. But his frontal lobes are like two runny eggs. They put an amplifier in-line to boost the signal till it french-fried his brain.

MAX: Sounds like Tick's already celebrating.

LENNY: You may be a little overdressed for this party. Yo, Tick! It's Lenny. Open up!

LENNY: Faith OK?

MAX: Yeah. She's leaving with Tran so I got to boogie. Real quick... Iris checked into the Sheraton last night under a false name. Paid cash.

LENNY: Looks like she was holding out.

MAX: Yup. Hey, so I heard you dropped in on Tran last night. Another slick Lenny move.

LENNY: He's in this somehow... I don't know how. Just stay close to Faith.

MAX: I'm on her, amigo. No worries. Gotta jam.

MAX: Hey, the last day of the world and you spend it in bed.

LENNY: W'sup, Max?

MAX: That's right. He wants to share. Needs an audience. This is one sick puppy.

LENNY: Why me?

MAX: You alright? Y'okay?

LENNY: Yeah. No, not really.

MAX: Let's work it.

LENNY: Not now... I don't want to think about it--

MAX: Come on, Lenny. You used to be good at this stuff. Play it down. What's the perp doing?

LENNY: He stalks her. He rapes her. Then he does her...

MAX: And he records it. Thrill kill. Wants to see it again. And again.

LENNY: He records himself raping and killing her--

MAX: But at the same time he's sending the signal to her--

LENNY: So she feels... what he feels... while he's in her. The thrill while he's killing her... is sent to her, heightening her fear... which in turn heightens the turn on for him. I've seen a lot, Max.

MAX: So've I. Too much.

LENNY: But this is a bad one.

MAX: Top ten.

LENNY: He makes her see her own death, feeds off the reaction... killer and victim merging... orgasm and agony merging. And he records it all.

LENNY: Shoulda told me about your new gig, buddy.

MAX: I was gonna tell ya. Hey, it's just a job. I feel like shit about it.

LENNY: You should feel like shit.

MAX: I figured, what the hell, I could take the prick's money and make sure Faith was OK at the same time. Do us both good. Right?

LENNY: Fairly twisted logic, Max, even for you. Hey, at least you got a job! Watch her for me. Stay on her.

MAX: I'm on her.

MAX: I'm telling ya, it's over. We used it all up--

LENNY: Shutup a second!

MAX: See, if you packed your piece you could've made the guy see sense.

LENNY: Uh unh, carrying a gun wrecks the line of a fine jacket.

MAX: An ex-cop that doesn't carry. It's embarrassing. I oughta not be seen with you. Hey, Mace. What's goin' on?

MAX: I just hate to see you pining away. It makes me want to vomit, frankly. Broken hearts are for assholes.

LENNY: Hey, Iris, you okay?

LENNY: Naw. She won't call me.

MAX: Just as well, Lenny. You gotta get past it. I mean sure, Faith was by far the most outstanding woman a guy like you could ever hope to get, I mean it's completely and deeply humiliating that she's gone, but it's over, campadre.

LENNY: Thanks, Max. I'm touched by your concern.

LENNY: You were lucky, Max.

MAX: Yup. So darn lucky. I wake up with a .22-short floating in my brainpan, and a cop pension I can't live off of. Good thing I wasn't any luckier. Bobby! Another shooter right here!

MAX: Bobbyyyy! Tequila por favor! Double shots. Make it Tres Generaciones, huh. Nothin' but the best for my good friend Lenny, the finest cop that ever got thrown off the vice squad. Hey, nice tie.

LENNY: Thanks, Max.

MAX: D'you always have to dress like a fuckin' pimp?

LENNY: This tie cost more than your entire wardrobe.

MAX: That's not sayin' much.

LENNY: It's the one thing that stands between me and the jungle.

MAX: You see the look on that preppy puke's face? Fuckin' pissed in his Topsiders.

LENNY: Okay. It was funny. But it cost me money.

MAX: Come on, amigo, the world's full of marks. And nobody knows how to work 'em like you do, pal. You could sell a goddamn rat's asshole for a wedding ring! Let me buy you a drink.

LENNY: Least you can do.

TICK: Lookit, you see the peak period ratios there? Could be some kind of tumor or brain lesion or something. Some kind of trauma This is not good. I don't like this at all...

LENNY: What?

TICK: Well, it's cutting awful close to me. I mean she was just here.

LENNY: Who was just here?

TICK: Iris, man. Pay attention.

LENNY: Wait, wait... wait a minute. Iris was here?!

TICK: Yeah, she came by last night. Shaking like a junkie, wanting me to make a copy of some clip.

LENNY: What clip? What was it?

TICK: I don't know, man, she wouldn't let me see it. Said I wouldn't want to see it. She said she was going to give it to you to hold for her. Like insurance or somethin'

LENNY: She never gave me a tape.

TICK: Whoa. That is one unbelievable piece of eyefuck.

LENNY: Skip the art criticism, Tick, what can you tell me about the wearer.

TICK: Well... the guy's fucked up.

LENNY: Sure, like this low-grade shit here, some girl in a fight with her boyfriend... it's a test-pattern. Nothing happens. I'm snorin'.

TICK: Hey, you're always saying, 'Bring me real life. Bring me street life. And, like, one man's mundane and desperate existence is another man's Technicolor.'

LENNY: I said that? Look, I'll take it for five, and you'll make out okay, because in this case it's pure cream, you don't have to cut anything back to the wearer.

TICK: Ha! That's for fucking sure.

LENNY: What else you got?

TICK: Give me six at least. This's a good clip, here. Gets you pumpin'.

LENNY: Yeah, well, the first part's okay. Better than the usual soaps you bring me.

TICK: Now that is cold, Lenny. I always bring you choice.

LENNY: How'd you get the tape? Why didn't the cops put it in evidence?

TICK: With all the blood I guess they didn't see the rig. Guy had it under a wig.

LENNY: Yeah, but how'd it get to you?

TICK: I got ways, Lenny, I got ways. Okay, okay... I got a deal with some a the paramedics. My guy pages me and I pick it up at the morgue. So whaddya think? This clip's gotta be worth at least a grand. Right?

LENNY: Tick. Not to dash your hopes, but I don't deal this kind of product, you know that. I'll give you four for it, cause I've gotta cut off the last bit. And my customers want uncut.

TICK: Fuck that! The last part's the best. You dry-dive six stories and blammo! Jack right into the Big Black.

LENNY: I don't deal black-jack clips! It's policy. I got ethics here.

TICK: Yeah, when did that start? Come on, man! It's what people want to see, and you know it.

LENNY: So lay it off to somebody else.

TICK: Come on, Lenny. I got expenses. I got to get this rig fixed. Look at it...

TICK: Don't have a fucking coronary, Lenny.

LENNY: Well you could've at least warned me. You know I hate the zap... when they die. It just brings down your whole day. Jeez, Tick.

TICK: Sorry.

LENNY: It's alright. He means it.

TRAN: I do mean it. And I mean this... if Faith stays you go away and never come back. You scuttle back into your cockroach hole and never cross my vision again. You understand?

LENNY: Charm.

TRAN: Uh huh. Look, Nero. I'll make you an offer. Take her. Right now. If she wants to go, if she's unhappy here, she can go. I'll let her choose. Faith always knows what she wants. Hands off. See?

TRAN: About what?

LENNY: That would be between me and Faith, wouldn't it?

TRAN: Show a little respect, Nero. The man was an important artist.

LENNY: Yeah, important for your label. Which no doubt is why you're in mourning. Don't worry, his records'll sell out now he's dead. You'll make out.

TRAN: I always do.

LENNY: Faith, can I talk to you a second?

TRAN: You come to peddle me some tapes, Lenny? For old time's sake? Make a couple bucks for the holidays?

LENNY: You're not a client anymore, Tran. I wouldn't sell you the sweat off a dead dog's balls.

TRAN: I already got everything I need from you.

STRICKLAND: I don't like disappointments, Nero. And do you know what disappoints me very much?

LENNY: Your sex life?

STRICKLAND: Your existence.

STRICKLAND: Nero.

LENNY: Strickland.

STRICKLAND: Commissioner Strickland.

LENNY: Sure. Whatever. See, since you shitcanned my career, I don't even have to call you sir. One of life's small pleasures.

STRICKLAND: Aren't you peddling your wares a little far from your usual gutter?

LENNY: I was invited here by a close friend, Mr. Fumitsu, see he's right over there.

MACE: Well... Get going. You're still bleeding.

LENNY: See you downtown.

MACE: Yeah. See you there.

MACE: Hey, Lenny. We made it.

LENNY: Yeah. We did.

MACE: Are we under arrest?

LENNY: Naw. They just have to ask us a few questions... for about six hours.

MACE: Oh boy. What if you're wrong?

LENNY: Then we'll be right where we are now.

MACE: Yeah, right. Fucked.

LENNY: Take it to him.

MACE: A cop? You want me to trust a cop?!

LENNY: No. Trust me.

MACE: That's the original. There are no copies.

LENNY: Exactly. That's why it's a make- able deal.

LENNY: Alright. We're going up.

MACE: And do what? Take on his whole posse?

LENNY: I still got one ace to play. Tran's got what I want... and I've got what he wants...

LENNY: You see Tran?

MACE: Uh unh.

LENNY: Got your ticket?

MACE: No. They must have sent it to my beach house by mistake.

LENNY: Mace... you're a girl.

MACE: Good, Lenny. I can see why the detective gig didn't work out. Come on.

LENNY: I worked Vice, Narcotics... Violent Crimes... and I saw every known depravity. I was lost, Mace. In outer darkness. Then I busted this strung-out little teeny-hooker. When I met Faith she was just another runaway giving twenty dollar blowjobs to buy crank. Another lost soul.

MACE: You never told me.

LENNY: But she was different. There was a light in her eyes... and she had this voice. It was scary, all that pain coming out of that little body. Like she could take all the hurt and rage of the entire world and lift it up to heaven in one voice. I helped her. And I promised her that I'd always be there... to protect her. See? It's not about what's in her head. It's what's in mine. I can't let go of the promise. It's... like... it's all I have left.

MACE: No, it's not.

MACE: Yeah. Lenny. I have.

LENNY: It didn't stop you from loving them. Right? Or understanding them, or being able to forgive them...

MACE: I guess.

LENNY: And it didn't stop you from wanting to protect them. Did it?

MACE: No. It didn't.

LENNY: Okay, we gotta get over there. Can you borrow a dress from Cecile or something--

MACE: I'm not going.

LENNY: Whatya mean? We're going! Tran's gonna do her right there unless--

MACE: Lenny... shutup. Just park your mouth and listen. It's a set-up. Think about it! Why's he been sending you tapes? To freak you, get you to rush in without thinking. Then they put one in you, put one in her, put the gun in your hand... crime of passion. This guy's bent enough to think of that.

LENNY: Kinda guy you can count on in a pinch.

MACE: Why didn't he just go public with the tape? Save himself that way.

MACE: Who's Strickland?

LENNY: Deputy Commissioner Palmer Strickland. The sanctimonious prick who busted me out. His ass is so tight when he farts only dogs can hear it. I know this guy. If there's one cop who's not dirty it's him.

MACE: The only card we have to play is the tape. You know, we get it to the media somehow...

LENNY: Yeah, right, blow it open.

LENNY: He's totally cut off from the outer world.

MACE: How long does it last? Oh.

LENNY: So, let's see, I've got Tran's goons, some squidhead psycho and the LAPD all trying to kill me. Happy new year, Lenny.

MACE: Well, look at the plus side.

LENNY: There's a plus side?

MACE: Yeah. You gave up your hot tub tape to save me. That's real progress for you.

LENNY: It was a tough call.

MACE: I still can't square the psycho smarts of whoever did Iris with those two cops.

LENNY: I don't think those cops did Iris. I think whoever Iris was wearing for killed her.

MACE: Why?

LENNY: To break the trail. If those cops had gotten hold of her, they would have beat it out of her who she was wearing for, and then gone after them too. Our killer is running as scared as we are. Which makes him really dangerous. Judging by how scared I am.

LENNY: We got to make another copy of this. Little life insurance.

MACE: You know what this tape could do if it gets out.

LENNY: I've got a good idea, yeah.

MACE: People finding out... seeing... that the LAPD just flat out executed Jeriko One. Jesus. Maybe they ought to see.

LENNY: Maybe. But tonight is probably not the best night. Come on, we're rollin'.

LENNY: Hang on. Hang on, Max. You see?

MACE: I see. I see the earth opening up and swallowing us all.

LENNY: Yeah I know. So what do we do?

MACE: Tell me.

LENNY: I can't tell you. You've got to see.

MACE: Uh unh. I won't do it.

LENNY: Mace. I know what you think about the wire. But I'm asking you to do this. It's that important.

LENNY: Those two guys were cops.

MACE: You sure?

LENNY: It's the walk. Something. Anyway, they'll run your plates and get your address. We gotta keep moving.

MACE: I can't believe we had to give them the damn tape.

LENNY: Yeah, me neither. It was one of my favorites. Me and Faith in a hot tub on my birthday. I'm going to really miss it.

LENNY: Are you out of your fucking mind?!

MACE: Fire's out, isn't it?

MACE: This is bad.

LENNY: The gas tank's going to go any second!

LENNY: Goddamnit!! 911 is busy!

MACE: It's okay, Lenny They'd never get here in time anyway.

LENNY: Shit!

MACE: Take it easy. The glass is bullet resistant.

LENNY: Bullet resistant? Whatever happened to bullet proof?

MACE: Lenny. Calm down. This is what I do.

MACE: Lenny, give them the tape.

LENNY: It's in my case. Okay? I'm going to open my case...

MACE: Think back about what she said. Exactly what she said.

LENNY: She wanted to go out to my car, something about my car...

MACE: Something in your car...

MACE: Lenny, have you lost it completely?

LENNY: Easy, there, Mom. Easy. This is audio only. John Coltrane. "A Love Supreme." Give it a listen, let me know what you think, maybe you won't go for it now, but it'll get in your head and grow like a seed into something really beautiful.

MACE: Will you relax. There's nobody back there.

LENNY: Mace, the guy had a knife. To my throat. In my living room. Relaxing might be right out, okay?!

MACE: You better keep a low profile for a while.

LENNY: No shit. You got someplace in mind?

MACE: What is it?

LENNY: This tie doesn't go with blue!

MACE: Where we going?

LENNY: Anywhere. We'll talk about it in the car.

MACE: Whatup Lenny?

LENNY: Jesus, Mace!

MACE: I'm sorry about getting on your case earlier. I just see you getting sucked in deeper and deeper, and I -- anyway. I'm sorry.

LENNY: S'okay. I know you still love me.

LENNY: How's Zander?

MACE: OK. He asks about you all the time. It's been weeks since you've seen him.

LENNY: The question is not whether I am paranoid, but whether I am paranoid enough. You want to rub my neck?

MACE: Sure.

LENNY: She said "If they get me". They. Which means the whole sex-killer thing is a cover, which means somebody whacked her for a reason.

MACE: So the guy's not a sicko.

LENNY: If he could do what's on that tape, he's a sicko.

MACE: Okay, so he's a freak who thinks he's sane pretending to be a freak. The point is, he was a hitter. Somebody wanted to shut her up. But why not just put a little lead in her ear?

LENNY: Because it had to look random. Not connected to anything or anyone. But then why give the rape to me?

MACE: That's where it gets a little strange.

LENNY: And what about the guy that was following me?

MACE: Now you're really getting paranoid.

LENNY: See, it's all about what they see walking in. A dead hooker, handcuffs, penetration... they'll see a trick gone wrong. Random kill. The kind you never solve.

MACE: But that doesn't add, does it.

LENNY: No it doesn't.

MACE: Because Iris knew somebody was after her.

LENNY: She came to me for help. I should have read it better... I just figured, y'know... another strung- out hooker having a bad night.

MACE: It's not your fault.

MACE: No more, Lenny.

LENNY: Yeah. I'm ghosting pretty bad.

MACE: Don't crank the gain any more. You're gonna fry yourself.

LENNY: I need to see more... get more detail. Something. I feel his presence, so strong...

LENNY: He knows what he's doing. He's worn before... a lot.

MACE: So that gives you something.

LENNY: It gives me... I don't know... maybe two hundred people who I know wear.

LENNY: Is this great fabric or what?

MACE: You ever wonder why you get beat up a lot?

LENNY: Never really thought about it.

LENNY: Uh unh. No way! They'd crucify me.

MACE: So some psycho wire-freak gets to keep running around--

LENNY: Jesus, Mace. Back off.

MACE: This guy is someone you know, one of your squid-head contacts.

MACE: Cause you're the man, right? The Magic Man. If it's got something to do with the wire, sooner or later it washes up on your beach.

LENNY: I've never dealt in black-jacks. Never. Everybody knows that.

MACE: And gives it to you.

LENNY: Wants to share.

MACE: My God, Lenny. What is it?

LENNY: Black. Jack.

MACE: Blackjack? I don't understand--

LENNY: Snuff clip. It was Iris. She said she needed my help and I... aw Jesus, Mace... the sick fucker killed her.

MACE: Are you sure it's real?

MACE: What is it?

LENNY: Go to the Sunset Sheraton. RIGHT NOW! Just go! GO!

MACE: What's that? Present from Faith?

LENNY: No idea.

MACE: You're some piece of work, you know that. Just calmly backstroking around in the big toilet bowl, and somehow you never let it touch you. I mean, between Vice and this so- called occupation you're in now, you must've seen it all.

LENNY: I have crawled through the gutter... through every wrinkle in the human brain.

MACE: What I'm saying. But you still come out this goofball romantic.

LENNY: It is my sword and my shield, Macey.

MACE: Forget her.

LENNY: She still loves me.

MACE: She thinks you're a bucket of dog vomit. Trust me on this.

LENNY: She's my destiny.

MACE: Destiny? You living in a perfume commercial? She's a hard-climber that dropped you like a used tampon when she got a better ride.

LENNY: You'll see.

LENNY: Who's the new side of beef in Tran's posse?

MACE: Guy named Wade Beemer. Used to be a running back for the Rams in '96 and '97.

LENNY: Rams... that's football, right?

MACE: Yeah. I don't see a way out of it.

LENNY: Macey, I know you're tired, but can you drop me at the Retinal Fetish? It's on your way.

MACE: Jesus, Lenny.

LENNY: Begging? Groveling? Any pathetic behavior at all? Will that help? Faith's there tonight, and I've got to talk to her.

MACE: Sure, Lenny. The only thing worse than a junkie is someone in love.

LENNY: I thought we were friends.

MACE: No, see a friend is more than one person constantly doing favors for another. You just suck people along with your schemes and your scams and your slick act. Well I'm out. I got a kid, I got rent, I got an ex- husband someplace who doesn't send me a dime of support... I'm just trying to hold on here.

LENNY: So am I. Just trying to get by.

MACE: No, you're just trying to get off.

LENNY: Macey... I've never seen you like this.

MACE: Lenny, you're turning into some kinda squid-head low-life. You're always broke, you just go from one score to the next. And you're getting strung out... you don't even see it. Getting high on your own supply like some crack dealer.

LENNY: I know you wouldn't be saying all this if you didn't care about me. Thanks, Mace. Really.

MACE: Look, I gotta get some sleep.

LENNY: You still like me, don't you? We're still buddies?

LENNY: That would be no.

MACE: I've had it. No more wirehead shit in my car. You understand? You want to poach your lobes, do it somewhere else.

LENNY: Okay, you got my attention, but this is cutting off the circulation to my head, here. D'you mind?

LENNY: I need my case. It's still in the back.

MACE: Get it.

LENNY: Hey, careful on the jacket. This is Armani. You angry?

MACE: I've had enough of this shit. You're on foot, Lenny.

LENNY: In LA? Are you crazy?

MACE: Are we having a bad night?

LENNY: Let's talk in the car.

MACE: What the fuck are you doing?

LENNY: Coming with you.

MACE: You will not live to see the morning.

LENNY: What's his name?

MACE: Fumitsu.

LENNY: Mr. Fumitsu, good evening sir, Leonard Nero, Security Express. Lornette Mason here is just completing our routine driver evaluation. We do it to make sure that out VIP clients, such as yourself, are always treated as honored guests. I just need to ride up front and take some notes, if you don't mind.

MACE: So, what's up with you? Another busy night selling porno to wireheads?

LENNY: No, wrong... I sell experiences. Sex is only part of it.

MACE: Buncha techno-perv jerkoffs.

LENNY: Way I look at it, I actually perform a humanitarian service. I save lives.

MACE: Uh huh, I wanna hear this part.

LENNY: Okay, take some executive... bored with his life, bored with his wife... he picks up a hooker or some girl at a bar. Then he goes around for months, torn up worrying that he's got AIDS, that he'll infect his wife. And maybe he really does catch something--

MACE: Price he pays for being a scumsucking pig.

LENNY: Everybody needs to take a walk to the dark end of the street sometime, it's what we are. But now the risks are outa line. The streets are a war zone. And sex can kill you. So you slip on the trodes, you get what you need and it keeps you from jumping your tracks.

MACE: Lenny, this shit's illegal.

LENNY: Define illegal.

MACE: Me bailing your sorry pale ass out of jail twice in the last six months.

LENNY: Yeah, but that was for love.

MACE: Define love.

MACE: Jeez, you're pathetic. Okay, I got a pickup at the St. James. I'll take you there, you can get a cab.

LENNY: Mace! You're a life-saver.

MACE: Driving Mr. Lenny.

LENNY: Thanks for giving me a ride. I just have a few stops, mostly on the west side--

MACE: Whoa, whoa, whoa. I said I'd drop you home, but I'm not taking you on your sleazoid rounds. I've already pulled twelve hours today.

LENNY: Come on, Mace. This is gonna be a big night. Can't you feel it? The energy in the air? There's money to be made, dreams to sell.

MACE: Sleaze to peddle.

LENNY: Just a couple of hours. It'll be fun--

MACE: Excuse me. What part of NO don't you understand?

LENNY: Mace, you're my friend. I need you. Plus I'll give you 25% of what I make tonight.

MACE: Lenny, this may be a hard concept for you, but friends don't have to pay their friends.

MACE: Greetings, gents. So let's hear this week's sad story.

LENNY: They jerked my wheels, d'you believe it? I mean it's outrageous, the computer errors the banks are making lately. Have you noticed?

MACE: We're going to aunt Cecile's, honey. We're going to watch fireworks from there. Let's go. Chop chop.

ZANDER: Aw, Mom!

MACE: What is that?

ZANDER: Cheerios and wieners. I made it myself. It's good.

MACE: Well give me some then... I'm starving.

ZANDER: Where were you Mom? Did you meet a guy?

MACE: Just Lenny.

ZANDER: Right. That explains it.

MACE: Are you going to make me beg?

MACE: So you're saying we just pretend is didn't happen? It happened! The LAPD executed one of the most important black men in America! Who the fuck are you to bury this?!

MAX: Fine. Do you want blood running waist deep in the storm drains? The gangbangers'll spread like a wave through this city and burn it to the ground. And when the fires start the street cops'll be capping off at anything that moves. It'll be all- out war and you know it.

MACE: Yeah, well maybe it's time for a war!

MAX: You really want that on your head?

MAX: Those two psycho cops are on a slash-and-burn to find the tape and cover their tracks.

MACE: This seems a little sophisticated for them. These are not subtle guys.

MAX: There's more to this whole thing than you think.

MAX: Problem is, Lenny knows everybody.

MACE: Take the tape to the cops.

MAX: He's skull-fucking you, bud. Trying to get a reaction. Maybe pushing you to do something.

MACE: Maybe he just figures Lenny will appreciate what he's created. It's the dark end of the street, Lenny. How do you like it now?

MACE: Hey, isn't that Tran Vo?

MAX: Yup. He was Jeriko's manager. Bummer, Tran! Lost your golden goose. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

MACE: But I mean isn't he Faith's new--

MAX: Sssssh! Not in front of Lenny. You may trigger a maudlin display which will force us to tranquilize him.

MACE: No. I haven't noticed because I make my payments. So, Max Pelcher, how's the P.I. business?

MAX: Sucks. Hey, Bobby, turn that up.