Story 2

She's not coming, Babe. She called about an hour ago and asked if she could take a rain check. Something about an old friend who's in town for the evening and wants to have dinner

LACEY

Your mother has the busiest social life

HARVEY

It's good for her. Keeps her young. You're not mad, are you Mary-Beth?

LACEY

Not mad, Harve. Relieved. And tired…

HARVEY

(stands behind her massaging her shoulders)

This'll make you feel better. …………. And this (kisses her neck and begins to nuzzle)

(Lacey laughs and turns to embrace him)

FADE TO:

Chris coming in the door of her loft apartment, a paper bag containing a liquor bottle in hand. She sets it on the counter, throws her coat onto the couch and checks her answering machine. One message - from David.

DAVID (on machine)

Chris - just called the precinct and the Desk Sergeant said you'd gone home for the afternoon. Look, I'm sorry about the other night. I think we were both tired and said things we shouldn't have. Will you meet me for dinner? 6:00 o'clock at Chaney's for cold beer and hot pastrami? I really want to see you, Chris. Hope you can make it.

(Chris smiles and heads toward her bedroom to change.)

CUT TO:

(Chris, dressed casually but you can tell it's with care - knocking on Charlie Cagney's apartment door. No answer. Impatiently she knocks again, harder…)

CHARLIE (off screen)

Okay, I'm coming! Don't have a heart attack!!

CAGNEY (under her breath)

I haven't got all day, Pop…

(Charlie opens the door, surprised but happy to see his "Officer Daughter")

CHARLIE

Chrissy!

CAGNEY

Hi-ya, Pop.

(Walking in…)

What took you so long?

CHARLIE

Must have dozed off on the couch. Watching one of those talk shows where the people always end up hitting each other with chairs… What happened to Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin? Nobody ever got hit with chairs on their shows. The worst thing that'd happen was one of 'em might start singin'….

CAGNEY (interrupting)

Pop! I didn't come over here to discuss the deterioration of day-time television!

CHARLIE

What are you doin' here, anyway? (looks at watch) - You should be at work for at least another hour and a half…

CAGNEY

I know … nice of you to notice. Mary Beth and I walked in on a convenience store robbery today and…

CHARLIE (interrupting)

Not the one I just saw on the mid-day news? On Peak Street … near downtown?

CAGNEY

That's the one. Two guys - in ski masks - robbing the place - armed of course. They'd already shot the owner when we walked in. We had 'em, Pop. Until one of their "associates" came up behind me and pulled his gun. Long story short - they got away, we didn't get so much as a plate number and I had the pleasure of digging through a very full dumpster for our guns. It's been a hell of a day.

CHARLIE

(He puts his arm around her shoulders and gives her a squeeze)

I'm sure it has … I'm just glad you're okay, Chris. Everybody carrying guns these days - not just the cops but the civilians! Used to be a time when an officer could do his job armed with nothing more than a billyclub. Not today. You gotta carry an arsenal just to keep up with the scum.

CAGNEY

Some cops do …

CHARLIE

And I don't blame them. ……. What are we standin' here for - sit down. We'll watch TV and order a pizza. (looks at watch) - It's almost time for one of those judge shows.

CAGNEY

Pop, is this all you do these days?! Lie around napping and watching bad television?

CHARLIE

We don't have to watch the judge show. We can watch Oprah for all I care. I don't know about all that "Remembering My Spirit" jazz. Seems a little hokey….

CAGNEY (exasperated)

Charlie, forget about the TV! … I can't stay. I just stopped by to see how you're doing - I'm on my way to meet David for dinner.

CHARLIE

Keeler … You two still hot and heavy?

CAGNEY (making a face)

HOT and HEAVY??? What kind of talk is that?

CHARLIE

Just tryin' to keep up with the times is all…

CAGNEY

Well, give it up, Pop. It's not working. - And yes, we're still seeing each other. When our schedules permit.

CHARLIE

Maybe your schedules should permit more often. David's a good guy and I'd like a couple more grandchildren - that weren't a plane-ride away…

CAGNEY (annoyed)

I'm leaving… Get up off the couch and away from the TV more often, Charlie. It's frying your brain.

CHARLIE

(Smiles) I just want you to be happy, Christine. Married, single - I don't care.

CAGNEY

Don't worry about me, Pop. I'm doing just fine…

(Cagney smiles gives her dad a hug and then leaves).

FADE TO:

INT. LACEY APT. (early evening)

The boys are home from school. Michael sits on the floor in front of the coffee table, books spread out, doing his homework. Harvey, Jr., sits back on the couch watching TV. Something loud, gun fire, tires squealing. Michael keeps looking up from his homework to the television. Mary Beth walks in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

LACEY

Okay, guys. That's enough TV for now. (The boys start to protest. Lacey looks at Michael) How many times have I told you no TV during homework, Michael. What do you think that desk in your room is for?

MICHAEL

It's too quiet in there, Ma. I can't think!

LACEY

So you're saying all this shooting and the car crashes … it HELPS you study?

(Michael just smiles at his Mom - knows there's no use fighting this one… She bends to ruffle his hair and smiles.)

Off to your room then

(Michael gathers his books. Mary Beth turns her attention to Harve, Jr.)

And what about you, Harvey? Where's your homework?

HARVEY, JR.

I already did mine.

LACEY

No tests to study for? No chapters to read before tomorrow?

HARVEY, JR.

We have a test in American History. But I don't have to study for that. Mr. Caldwell's the best. His tests are open-book.

LACEY

Open-book? History's supposed to be about remembering dates, not looking them up. Go study for it anyway, Harvey. I want you to LEARN whether that's your teacher's goal or not.

HARVEY, JR.

Mom!!

LACEY

I mean it, Harvey. Hit the books.

(He rolls his eyes in disgust and walks out. Lacey goes to the TV and changes the channel - the evening news is in progress. News reporter Lydia Sanchez is outside St. Alban's Hospital.)

SANCHEZ

Francis Corbello of Queens had run the small grocery on Peak Street for nearly 15 years. He died today of gunshot wounds at the age of 64. Patrons who frequented his store say Mr. Corbello was a quiet man with a ready smile. He was known to be a hard worker and a generous man, offering hot coffee to the homeless huddled in the alleyway outside his store on cold winter days and occasionally providing them with food. The sentiment in the neighborhood surrounding his store is that he will be greatly missed.

(Cut to anchorman Tom Gannon in the studio, Sanchez visible on the screen behind him)

GANNON

I know the community will want to assist in the apprehension of the persons responsible for this horrible crime. For those just tuning in, can you once again describe the suspects, Lydia?

SANCHEZ

Of course, Tom. The only description we have of the two masked suspects is that they were both males, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing black jeans and black jackets. The third suspect is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 5 ft. 10" tall, 160 - 175 lbs. with medium length dark brown hair. He was wearing new dark blue denim jeans, a red and black flannel shirt, black work boots and mirrored sunglasses. The fourth suspect, the driver of the get-away car, could not be seen well enough by witnesses for a description. The only information we have on the car is that it was a dark blue, late model, four-door sedan.

GANNON

Thank you, Lydia. If viewers have any information on the suspects in this crime

(Mary Beth turns off the TV and heads for the kitchen. The expression on her face is hard to read.)

CUT TO:

Chris sitting at the bar at Chaney's. She checks her watch, it's almost 6:30 - David should have been here nearly half an hour ago. Chris motions for the bartender.

CAGNEY

Another scotch, please.

(She turns around on her barstool, eyes scanning the tables behind her. Something catches her eye and she does a double-take. It's the girl from the store this morning - the cashier, Rachel Salinas. She's sitting with a young man near her age. They seem very cozy and she doesn't look too shaken up from the day's events. The waiter arrives with their check. The young man pays in cash and lets the waiter keep the change. Nodding a thank you, the waiter leaves and the couple stands, the young man helping Salinas on with her coat. The two head for the door. Chris eases off the barstool, leaves several dollars on the bar and takes off after them. When she gets outside, she sees the two stepping into what looks like the same sedan used in the robbery that day. Cagney runs to her car, wishing the bright yellow sports car weren't so conspicuous and proceeds to follow them.)

David Keeler's cab has just pulled up to Chaney's. He steps out, leans in to pay the driver and spots Chris' car pulling away from the curb.)

KEELER

I changed my mind. (As he gets back in and points in Chris' direction) Follow that yellow sports car.

CABBIE

Whatever you say

KEELER

Just hurry or we'll lose her.

(The driver takes off, tires squealing. Chris turns a corner as a traffic light turns yellow. The driver slows down.)

KEELER

Don't stop! You can make the light!

CABBIE

There better be a good tip in this for me, Buddy.

KEELER

Don't worry

(Chris tries to keep up with the blue sedan and remain unnoticed as well. She follows the sedan a few more blocks and then slows as it pulls to a stop in front of an apartment building. She parks a block away, partially hidden behind a van and hops out of her car. David Keeler's cab has dropped him about a block away from Chris and he hangs back, watching to see where she's going.

Unaware of Keeler's presence, Cagney follows the two inside the lobby just as the elevator doors close with them inside. Chris watches the lights as the elevator ascends and sees that it has stopped on the third floor. She takes the stairs to the third, in time to see an apartment door to her left just closing. She runs back down the stairs and to the old metal fire escape on the side of the building. The metal ladder is too high, out of her reach. She steps back, runs and makes a leap at it grabbing the bottom rung. She'd thought it might come down when she'd thrown her weight on it, but it was stuck. Using all her strength she pulls herself up, a rung at a time until she could get a foothold. Then she climbs to the landing just outside the third floor window that she hopes looks in on the apartment with Salinas inside. David, who remained hidden, watches in fascination, not yet willing to interrupt what Chris was doing and still not quite sure what she was up to. Chris stood to side of the window, hoping the creaking of the old fire escape wouldn't give her away. When she finally got a look inside, Chris saw not only Salinas and the young man from the restaurant, but also two large men about the size of the masked gunmen from the robbery. Her suspicions of Salinas involvement in the crime were confirmed when she caught sight of a man in a flannel shirt sitting at the kitchen table. His mirrored glasses were still on top of his head. It was the jerk that had pulled the gun on her. As much as Chris would have liked to catch them all together in one room, she knew this wasn't something she could pull off alone. 5 to 1 were horrible odds. She tries to make her way quietly back down the fire escape, but the metal creaks loudly enough to give her away. She could see the shadow of someone approaching the window. In her attempt to hurry down the fire escape she slips on a metal step falling to the first floor landing, tearing a deep jagged cut that runs along the top of her forearm to the back of her hand between forefinger and thumb. Blood begins to pour from the wound immediately. As she hears the window being opened, Chris scrambles to the edge of the first floor landing and swings herself over the side. There is a gun shot as she lets herself drop to the ground, landing badly and twisting her right ankle. She swears and limps over to press herself against the side of the building, in the shadows, and out of sight. David Keeler had witnessed all this and was already on his way over when Chris dropped to the ground from the fire escape. He stood across the alleyway half-hidden by the corner of the building across from where Chris is standing and almost shouts

KEELER

Chris!

CAGNEY

(Trying to catch her breath and wincing in pain, looks up in disbelief as she sees him…)

David! (she stage whispers) What the hell are you doing here?

KEELER

Never mind that for now … you're hurt. You've got to get out of here.

CAGNEY

No shit…

(Keeler starts to make his way over to her)

Stay there David! Here… (she reaches into her pocket and throws him her car keys. As he catches them…)

Go get my car. It's up the street behind a white van. I'll meet you in the alley behind the building.

KEELER

(He starts to protest) Chris….

CAGNEY

Just hurry, David! (under her breath) I hope you can drive a stick….

(He runs for the car as she painfully edges along the building to the rear alley. She hears more than one set of feet running her way and ducks behind some empty cardboard boxes, scarcely breathing until they've passed her. The two large men from inside the apartment stop at the entrance to the alley where she's to meet David, look around, turn back and run past her once again as they take off down the street toward where she'd parked her car. She makes her way to the alley behind the building, just as David screeches to a halt when he sees her appear in the headlights. Thinking she is about to get hit, Chris flattens herself against the building.)

CAGNEY

Oh my God! You nearly gave me a heart attack!!

Keeler pushes open the passenger door from the inside and Chris climbs in. They tear away, neither speaking until they're several blocks from the apartment building… David looks at Chris, who is in obvious pain, trying to wrap a warm-up jacket found in the floorboard around her arm.

KEELER

The cut's deep, Chris. I'm taking you to get it stitched up.

CAGNEY

It'll be okay, David. (He can tell from her face that it won't be. Noticing the look of concern on his face…) I can't spend all night waiting in an emergency room. I have to report this… Just take me to Mary Beth's, she's five minutes from here. I can clean this up and call it in.

KEELER

(Not looking too happy about this says resignedly)

Whatever you say, Detective

CUT TO:

Lacey apartment. Harvey and Mary Beth are on the couch. He's sitting. She is lying with her head in his lap as he strokes her hair.

LACEY

I can't get this morning off my mind, Harve. That sleaze had a gun held to Chris' head and I couldn't do a thing about it. I didn't even see him approach. What if she'd died, Harvey?

HARVEY

She didn't die, Babe. There was a lot going on. You both had your eyes on the scum inside the store. It's understandable that he could have approached from the outside without either of you noticing.

LACEY

But if she had gotten killed, Harvey… I would have felt so responsible.

HARVEY

I know. But you can't blame yourself for something that didn't happen and wouldn't have been your fault even if it had. Let it go for now

(Lacey sits up and turns to him.)

LACEY

You know something else that's bothering me, Harvey? Why did the robbers shoot the owner and not the girl at the register? The witnesses said he put up no more resistance than she did but they shot him almost immediately.

HARVEY

Maybe they were trying to prove a point. That they'd do what they had to in order to get that money. Scare anyone out of trying to stop them.

LACEY

They killed a man to scare two elderly women and a young girl? I don't think so. Those women were terrified. The girl seemed to be in shock. No tears, expressionless. … And murder for what amounted to no more than three or four hundred dollars?

HARVEY

Mary Beth, people get killed for their tennis shoes these days. You can't try to rationalize this.

LACEY

I'm telling you, Harve. It doesn't make sense.

(There's a knock at the door. Harvey goes to answer it and Mary Beth gets up from the couch. He opens the door and David steps in, his arm around Chris. Harvey looks confused.)

HARVE

Chris?

LACEY

(Immediately noticing the blood soaked jacket on Cagney's arm)

What HAPPENED?!?

CAGNEY

Mary Beth, we've got to call it in! I just saw Salinas in an apartment not 10 miles from here with the guys who robbed the store.

LACEY

What?

CAGNEY

I'm telling you, she was in on it. I've gotta use your phone.

LACEY

Let me see your arm

CAGNEY

In a few minutes, Mary Beth. (Cagney limps to the kitchen as Harvey and Mary Beth turn to David)

LACEY

Who are you?

KEELER

I'm David. David Keeler. And you're Mary Beth (he shakes her hand) and you must be Harvey (shakes his as well).

LACEY

David! Right. I've only seen a picture of you - from the ski trip you took with Chris. I didn't recognize you without your toboggan.

(David smiles … Mary Beth turns to Harvey)

Stay here with David, Harve. I need to hear this phone call.

(Harvey motions for David to sit down and the two smile at each other awkwardly.)

(In the kitchen, Lacey tries to get a look at Cagney's arm before she's done with the phone call but Chris deliberately turns away from her and finishes the call.)

CAGNEY

(into telephone) You'll let us know what happens, Sergeant? All right, then. Thank you. And good luck!

(Cagney smiles at Lacey, then winces in pain and holds her arm.)

LACEY

You can tell me what happened while I have a look at that arm. Come on.

(Lacey leads Cagney to the bathroom … a few minutes later, Harvey and David are at the kitchen table having a beer and talking like old friends. You can hear running water in the background and an occasional "Ow!" from Cagney followed by an admonishment from Lacey to hold still. Michael appears in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes - awake because of the noise. Harvey gets up, swoops Michael into his arms and takes him back to his bedroom. Chris and Mary Beth come out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, Cagney's arm and part of her hand wrapped in gauze.)

KEELER

How's the patient, Doctor?

LACEY

I've seen better. (Cagney makes a face at this). But this (pointing to Cagney's arm) is only temporary. (To David) She needs stitches and someone has to look at that ankle, it's pretty swollen already. You'll take it from here, David?

KEELER

I've already rescued her once tonight, I guess I can take care of a little cut.

CAGNEY

(Rolling her eyes) I'm never going to hear the end of this am I, David? You'll be telling stories of how you were my knight in shining armor for years to come.

LACEY

Chris! You should be grateful he was there for you! You might not be here if he wasn't!

CAGNEY

Give me a break, Mary Beth. You're going to give him a bigger head than he's already got.

KEELER

Don't worry about me, Chris. You know how modest I am. What do you say we go spend some quality time in the emergency room, getting you sewn back together?

CAGNEY

I hate doctors

KEELER

What about lawyers?

CAGNEY

(Smiles) Do you have to ask?

(David leans down and kisses her. Helps her up from the chair and starts toward the door.)

KEELER

Thanks for your hospitality, Mary Beth. She might have lost a couple of pints of blood if you hadn't been home to let her use the phone and wrap that cut. She wasn't going anywhere until she called this one in.

LACEY

Think nothing of it. I'm used to cleaning up after the messes she gets herself into.

CAGNEY

Would you two stop talking about me like I'm not even here?! I don't know if I want to be in the same room with the two of you ever again

LACEY

(Smiles and gives her a hug) Go take care of yourself and I'll see you tomorrow.

CAGNEY

(Chris leans back inside the door and says, sheepishly) Thank you, Mary Beth. See you in the morning. (whispers) And thanks for not going off on me for running after Salinas without you.

LACEY

Oh, there's always tomorrow for that, Chris

(She shuts the door)

INT. 14th PRECINCT - 8:30 AM

Mary Beth is already at her desk, sipping coffee. Chris comes limping through the squad room doors, a smile on her face and signs in.

LACEY

How's the arm?

CAGNEY

15 stitches… (shows Lacey, who makes a face) and a tetanus shot (this time Cagney makes a face).

LACEY

And the ankle?

CAGNEY

(Sits at her desk) Strained not sprained. I'll live

LACEY

Not if you keep charging after the bad guys by yourself.

CAGNEY

(Puts her face in her hands). Mary Beth, please, not now! I'm actually in a good mood… David and I had a really nice time after we were done with my stitches

LACEY

Christine

(Before she can say anything further, Samuels calls them into his office. Cagney smiles at Lacey as she stands up…)

CAGNEY

(Grinning triumphantly) Saved by the Lieutenant!

LACEY

For now…. (Cagney's smile vanishes. They walk into Samuels office.)

SAMUELS

Thought you two would like to know that uniforms from the 12th Precinct caught your perps last night. Guess they didn't know the racket they heard on the fire escape was caused by a renegade detective (looks pointedly at Cagney and pauses… she's ready for his lecture but it doesn't come.) Anyway, they were home when the cops came knockin' - it was an easy collar.

LACEY

Motive, Lieutenant? Seems like a big operation for a small take?

SAMUELS

Salinas, the cashier, she knew that the old man had a lot of money stashed in a safe in the back of the store. His life savings. That's what they were after. They were gonna make it look like a small time robbery, kill the owner and take off with money no one was supposed to even know he had. But Salinas is talking, a lot. So everyone's going down for this one. Good work - even though I don't approve of your methods Cagney. We've gone round about this before. I'll leave the lecture up to you this time, Lacey.

LACEY

Yes, sir. I'll be happy to take over.

CAGNEY

(Under her breath) I'm sure you will

(Lacey gives her a stern look.)

(Smiling) So, Lieutenant. Got any more hot cases for us to handle?

SAMUELS

No. Just a mountain of paperwork for you to finish today, Detective. Your desk is even worse than Lacey's. Get to it!

(Cagney's smile fades as they head out of the office. She starts for her desk as Lacey grabs the back of her shirt and steers her toward the Jane.)

CAGNEY

(Stops) Mary Beth, you heard the Lieutenant. We have to get to those reports

LACEY

First things first, Christine. Conference?

(Lacey walks on. Cagney stares after her, sighs in resignation and walks through the door to the Jane. Freeze frame on the door closing behind her.)