Times Square

Written By Scott Wicker

Based on characters created by Barbara Avedon and Barbara Corday

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

TITLES: AUGUST, 1987

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE-DAY

We see the skyline of New York City during a day in summer. We see the CAMERA PAN over Central Park and rest on the view of Manhattan on a beautiful day.

INT. 14TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM-DAY

We see the attractive, blond, DETECTIVE SGT. CHRISTINE CAGNEY arriving on a Monday morning. She arrives in squad room full of OTHER OFFICERS and the usual SQUAD ROOM CHARACTERS. Cagney goes to the detectives chalkboard and moves the peg with her name stenciled on it from the "OUT" to the "IN" column.

ANGLE ON

Before she can move over to her desk, bald, portly LT. SAMUELS comes out of his office and calls Cagney.

SAMUELS

Cagney, come in here a minute.

CAGNEY

But Lt., Lacey isn't here yet.

SAMUELS

I want to talk to you, alone. Come on.

Cagney walks into the office after Samuels.

INT. LT. SAMUELS' OFFICE-DAY

Samuels walks behind his desk and has a seat. Cagney stands in front of the desk as she usually does.

SAMUELS

Shut the door.

Cagney turns around to close the door. As she does, she sees someone.

CAGNEY POV

She sees brunette, matronly DETECTIVE MARY ELIZABETH, "MARY BETH" LACEY just arriving at her desk. Lacey turns to see Cagney in the office. Lacey starts to walk towards the office.

ANGLE ON

Cagney puts up her hand to stop her.

ANGLE ON

Lacey stops and with a look, wonders what is going on.

ANGLE ON

Cagney shrugs quickly and closes the door.

VARIOUS ANGLES

Cagney stands in front of Samuels' desk again.

SAMUELS

Sit down.

CAGNEY

(sitting) What is it Lt.?

SAMUELS

Did you have a good weekend?

CAGNEY

It was fine. Is that why you called me in here?

SAMUELS

No. I'm glad to see you back from the death of Charlie, your father, and your other problems. Time off is always good in a case like that.

CAGNEY

I think so.

SAMUELS

Now that Charlie's gone, have you thought about a way you can honor him?

CAGNEY

Honor him?

SAMUELS

Are you familiar with a NYPD Form 49?

CAGNEY

That's a form to change,

(something is dawning on her)

to change your badge number.

SAMUELS

Now that Charlie's gone, his NYPD badge number is available. You can turn in a 49 to be assigned his old badge number. What do you think of the idea?

CAGNEY

Well, Lt. I don't know. That never even crossed my mind. Those are some big shoes to fill.

SAMUELS

Look, take some time, think about it. If you do turn in a 49, it's a slam-dunk. Okay?

CAGNEY

Yes sir.

SAMUELS

On to a different matter, I see your partner is here now, can you grab her a second. I got an assignment for the both of yous.

Cagney gets up and opens the door to the office.

VARIOUS ANGLES

Cagney now motions for Lacey to join them. Lacey brings her coffee cup and joins Cagney and Samuels in his office. Samuels grabs a file and joins them in his doorway.

SAMUELS

Morning, Lacey.

LACEY

(eager) Good morning, sir. Did you two have a nice chat?

Both Cagney and Samuels look at her without speaking.

LACEY

Not that it's any of my business, sir.

Samuels continues to stare at Lacey as he hands Cagney a file folder.

SAMUELS

You have a possible missing person. He's a real bigshot in the Republican Party, he's an heir to the Endicott paper fortune. We got an anonymous tip that he disappeared over the weekend.

Cagney looks over the file and Lacey glances over Cagney's shoulder.

LACEY

He hasn't been assigned a missing person number yet.

CAGNEY

Is Missing Persons moving on this so quickly because he's an Endicott?

SAMUELS

They're not moving on it, we are. Someone from the Commissioner's Office wants him found before the media gets hold of the story.

CAGNEY

Hey, I read about this guy, Franklin Endicott, he's the one who wants buy back all the New York City blocks owned by foreign interests.

SAMUELS

Great, you have a head start, now get going, this is your priority. If you turn this guy up, you could get noticed in the Commissioner's Office.

LACEY

If we don't, will they notice that too sir?

SAMUELS

(ignoring Lacey's question) Let me know when you turn up something.

Cagney and Lacey leave the office and walk back to their desks.

INT. LADIES ROOM-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey in the converted ladies room they share. Cagney is combing her hair shouting to Lacey, who is using one of the stalls.

CAGNEY

Samuels handed us a real turkey here Mary Beth! This guy Endicott is probably jetting to France or Spain or wherever it is the Jet Set jet to we have to drop everything because he forgot to check in with Mommy.

LACEY

(from over the stall) I'm sure there's more to it than that!

We HEAR a toilet flush and Lacey leaves the stall and begins to wash her hands in the sink next to Cagney.

CAGNEY

I got another reason for hating this case. It reminds of how the Patterson case began a couple of years ago, remember?

LACEY

Patterson? Patterson? You mean the kid that got sent to Riker's and was attacked because he showed fake ID to the cops processing him?

CAGNEY

How could you forget that case? It cost the city a couple of million dollars. Remember, that case began just like this, with a missing person that got dumped on us because Missing Persons was, well...

LACEY

Missing?

CAGNEY

Very funny. Anyway that case cost the city money and it cost us a trip to Bermuda to extradite that prisoner.

LACEY

Look at it this way, if this guy Endicott is in Bermuda, maybe they'll let us go this time.

Cagney once again, just looks at Mary Beth.

CAGNEY

LACEY

I guess that's good a place as any to start.

EXT. ENDICOTT ESTATE GATE-DAY

We see a large metal gate with a UNIFORMED GUARD inside a small booth just to the side of the gate entrance. We see an unmarked police car pull up to the gate. The gate guards the entrance to a large estate on a tree-lined street in the Hamptons on Long Island.

VARIOUS ANGLES

We see the Guard, who is in his thirties and looks tough walk up to the police car that contains Lacey as a passenger and Cagney as a driver.

GUARD

Can I help you?

CAGNEY

(flashes her badge) NYPD, we have an appointment with Helen Endicott.

GUARD

(confused) Are you two on the job?

LACEY

That's right.

GUARD

I thought they were sending men officers. Just a second.

We see the Guard go back into this booth.

ANGLE ON

We see Cagney and Lacey exchange looks as something catches Lacey's eye.

LACEY

Chris, what kind of phone is that?

Chris looks at the guard in the booth.

CHRIS POV

The Guard grabs a large square cellular phone battery and picks up the cellular phone attached to it and begins to call a number.

CAGNEY

Mary Beth that's just a portable phone, they are called cell phones.

LACEY

Cell phones?

CAGNEY

Mary Beth, anybody can use one of those, they're not just for the wealthy.

LACEY

Well for heaven's sake.

ANGLE ON

The Guard hangs up the phone and pushes a button.

ANGLE ON

We see the gate open up and the Guard points as the car passes through the estate entrance.

EXT. ENDICOTT HOME-DAY

We a large, two story Colonial-style home surrounded by perfectly landscaped trees. We see the unmarked car park in front of the main entrance of the home in a large driveway.

ANGLE ON

We see Lacey pull out a compact and check her hair and make-up one last time and Cagney does a double take.

CAGNEY

Meeting the Pope?

LACEY

I'd like to make an impression, do you mind?

CAGNEY

I'm not impressed just because they have money.

LACEY

And I don't resent them just because they have money.

CAGNEY

I don't resent the Endicotts. I'm just not impressed with anyone who lives in the Hamptons year 'round. My family had a chance to move out here, we didn't because this place is for tourists.

LACEY

I don't think this family lives anywhere year 'round.

INT. ENDICOTT SITTING ROOM-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey sitting on a couch in a wood paneled sitting room. The walls are full of European style paintings, the wood coffee and side tables look antique and the rugs are Persian.

ANGLE ON

We see HELEN ENDICOTT, 60, make her entrance by opening the wooden sliding doors and closing them behind her in one fluid gesture. Helen is dressed in a dark Chanel suit jacket and skirt combination, a white silk blouse, dark short-heeled shoes and minimal but expensive jewelry. She has a lined, pale face and her dark short hair has a few streaks of gray in it and is feathered on the sides and brushed to the left on top, not very different from Lacey's hair style.

VARIOUS ANGLES

Cagney and Lacey both stand and Helen walks over and shakes hands with both officers.

HELEN

Helen Endicott. Do you like my new hairstyle?

CAGNEY

I'm Detective Sgt. Chris Cagney this is my partner Detective Mary Beth Lacey.

LACEY

Mrs. Endicott, I like your hairstyle. Very much so.

HELEN

Thank you. I was tired of being confused with Rose Kennedy. Sit down. Call me Helen.

Helen motions for them to sit down and she sits down in a chair near the couch.

HELEN

I thought they were sending male officers. It is a pleasant surprise to see you though. Now, I'm told this concerns my son, Franklin.

CAGNEY

We received an anonymous call saying that he disappeared over the weekend. We were just wondering if you know where he went.

HELEN

Was the call from a woman?

LACEY

Dispatch indicated that it sounded like a woman.

HELEN

If he kept a woman waiting, it's serious.

LACEY

Did he call in here or did he tell you he was going somewhere this weekend?

HELEN

Friday morning, he said he was going to spend the night at our place in the city. He had some political business to attend to and he'd be quite late.

CAGNEY

Your place in the city?

HELEN

We have a small co-op on Park Avenue. It's only two bedrooms.

LACEY

You said that he usually doesn't keep women waiting. Was they're a particular woman he was seeing Friday night?

HELEN

None that he mentioned. Look, he sometimes does impulsive things, been that way since his father died. A man in his thirties in his position should be married by now. I haven't heard from him since Friday when he kissed me goodbye on the way to our office in the morning. I was a little worried but he's gone off on weekends before, so I wasn't that concerned.

CAGNEY

We'll need an address and a phone number for your place on Park Avenue and your office.

HELEN

I'll make sure you have them before you leave. I will also call our lawyer and direct him to give you anything you need.

CAGNEY

One more question, is there any particular place he'd go, if he was being impulsive?

HELEN

You mean in this country?

CAGNEY

Somewhere in the city?

HELEN

He likes the water and the seaports. When he was a boy, he'd take his lunch and just hang out at the docks all day. He loved living here because he could go sailing on a moment's notice. I'm sure he's fine and when turns up, I'll make sure he apologizes to you for making you come all the way out here.

LACEY

That won't be necessary Helen.

HELEN

Helen gets up and Cagney and Lacey rise as well.

EXT. LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY-DAY

We see the unmarked police car driving in one of the many lanes of traffic leading back to New York City on the busy highway.

INT. UNMARKED CAR-DAY

We see Cagney driving down back to the city with Lacey looking over her notes from the interview.

CAGNEY

You get the feeling that there is not much communication in that family? I called Helen's assistant and identified myself as a police officer and said we were coming to talk to Helen. Everybody there still thought we were men. I'd still like to dump this case and move on.

LACEY

I'll tell what I'd like. I'd like to find the girl who called this in. So far she's the last person to have seen him.

Cagney just drives as Lacey continues to read her notes.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. SMITHFIELD OFFICE-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey sitting in the office of HAROLD SMITHFIELD, 45, a successful architect. He has blueprints and sketches all over the office. He is sitting at a desk and Cagney and Lacey are sitting opposite the desk but we can see his drafting table in the background. He is wearing a tie, no jacket and his sleeves are rolled up.

SMITHFIELD

I apologize for my appearance. I'm trying to solve a problem with a bearing wall on a building I'm renovating.

CAGNEY

That's quite all right. Thank you for seeing us Mr. Smithfield.

SMITHFIELD

Call me Harold.

LACEY

Thanks Harold, is the bearing wall in an old building?

SMITHFIELD

Yes. Why?

LACEY

Are you trying to fortify the bearing wall without having to tear it down?

SMITHFIELD

That's exactly right. How did you know that?

LACEY

My husband is in construction, he started his own contracting business recently. Bearing walls are a problem in those older code structures.

SMITHFIELD

CAGNEY

I understand that you went to meeting of other Republican Party officials at the Plaza Hotel Friday night. Is that correct?

SMITHFIELD

That's true, we were trying to convince a New York appointed official to run for elective office from our party. I know that's not against the law.

LACEY

Was Franklin Endicott there?

SMITHFIELD

Yes he was. Did something happen?

CAGNEY

Mr. Endicott is overdue, so we are trying to find out where he might be. His secretary said his datebook mentioned the Plaza Hotel meeting.

LACEY

Do you recall if he said he was going out of town or on some other trip after the meeting?

SMITHFIELD

The only place he was going was to his Park Avenue place with a greeter at the party. An attractive blond greeter as I recall.

LACEY

A greeter?

SMITHFIELD

Oftentimes, party volunteers are chosen to greet party officials. They seat guests, run errands, serve drinks.

CAGNEY

Leave with major donors.

SMITHFIELD

It's not like that Detective. They're not call girls, they are volunteers, staff members of elected officials, interns and even family members of major donors. They network, make connections, become party officials, they even get elected themselves.

LACEY

Oh yeah, do you hire men as greeters or just women?

SMITHFIELD

Sometimes you see men, but this particular function they had all women.

CAGNEY

All women, what a surprise.

SMITHFIELD

You women want to be hired, the minute we hire more than two of you we're sexist.

CAGNEY

If you hire us because we can do the job, that's fine, but you shouldn't hire us because we look good wearing a nametag.

SMITHFIELD

Sometimes looking good wearing a nametag is the job. If we only hired men, wouldn't that be sexist?

LACEY

Yes sir, it would. Anyway, can we get back to Endicott? You say he left with someone, do you have a name on the greeter he left with?

SMITHFIELD

Let me see, as I recall, her name was Lola? No Lana, Leslie, Lisa. That's it. Lisa, Lisa Sue. She said she goes to NYU. I think she's from the south.

LACEY

Why do you say that? Did she have an accent?

SMITHFIELD

Not really, but she said 'Y'all' a lot, like people do from the south. That's really all I can tell you.

LACEY

Thanks for your cooperation.

SMITHFIELD

My pleasure. Detective Cagney, don't feel bad, the other side has just as many greeters as we do.

CAGNEY

I'm just here to do a job and I did it. If you don't concern yourself with my feelings, I won't concern myself with yours. Have a nice day.

INT. SQUAD ROOM-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey sitting at their desks. Cagney is on the phone, and Lacey walking back to her desk with a fresh cup of coffee when she sees something unusual.

ANGLE ON

We see the African-American member of the squad, DETECTIVE MARCUS PETRIE, wearing and bandanna around his forehead, a second hand fatigue jacket and jeans with a hole cut in one of the knees. He is also wearing dark glasses. DETECTIVE VICTOR ISBECKI, his good-looking blond partner, is following behind. Isbecki is dressed normally in a sport shirt and khaki pants. We HEAR a couple of whistles from others in the squad room.

LACEY

Marcus, I told you not to let Isbecki dress you for work.

ISBECKI

Very funny Mary Beth.

PETRIE

It's my undercover outfit. I'm close to nailing those cocaine smugglers. I have to look like a low-level buyer.

LACEY

You look like a low-level user.

ISBECKI

We have a meet set up for tonight. These guys are South American, maybe we can learn something about Iran-Contra hunh Marcus?

PETRIE

Victor, Iran-Contra concerned Nicaragua in Central America.

ISBECKI

Whatever.

LACEY

Good luck.

Cagney hangs up the phone. She gets up and walks over to Mary Beth with something on a piece of paper. She notices Petrie and Isbecki.

CAGNEY

(looking at Petrie) You let Victor dress you?

Victor and Marcus turn and go back to their desks.

(to Lacey)

Anyway, Mary Beth I got a line on our greeter. NYU enrollment records show a Lisa Sue Palmer will be a junior when the school year starts after summer break. She's from Austin, Texas.

LACEY

Do you have a phone number or address?

CAGNEY

She listed an address on Waverly, near Washington Square Park for the summer. I want to go and see her. How did you do?

Lacey puts her coffee cup down and picks up a mini-cassette tape player. She smiles at Cagney.

CAGNEY

Good, lets go.

EXT. APARTMENT HALLWAY-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey walk down the hallway of an apartment building. They are looking on all of the door for the proper number. Lacey sees a door and points at it. She waits for Cagney to catch up. Lacey knocks on the door.

ANGLE ON

Right behind them, we see LISA SUE PALMER, 20, walking down the hall carrying a backpack. Even though Lisa is casually dressed in designer jeans and a man's button down shirt, she is still stunning. She is thin, long-legged and has a wild mane of straight blond hair with a slight curl to it. She notices the ladies knocking on her door.

PALMER

That's my door.

VARIOUS ANGLES

Cagney and Lacey turn around, they go to work.

CAGNEY

Lisa Sue Palmer?

PALMER

That's right.

Both Cagney and Lacey pull out their badges and show them to Lisa Sue.

CAGNEY

Detective Sgt. Cagney and this is my partner, Detective Lacey, NYPD, we'd like to talk to you.

PALMER

About what?

LACEY

Can we go in? It'd be easier if we sat down.

PALMER

Just tell me, what'd y'all want?

CAGNEY

It's about Friday night.

Lisa walks past them and reaches for her key to unlock her front door.

PALMER

(with her back to them)

I don't know what you mean.

Lacey pulls out her portable tape player and hits play.

PALMER'S VOICE

911? I was on a date with a guy, he said he was coming back but he never did. He's Franklin Endicott, y'all may want to look for him. I'm at his place, he's been gone close to 48 hours. He just left me here.

Lacey stops the tape player. We see Lisa Sue stop trying to open her door. It's her voice, she knows it and now Cagney and Lacey know it.

EXT. WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK-DAY

PALMER

We met at the Republican Party meeting. Afterward, me and the other greeters were having drinks with the officials that were there. Normally I turn down the offers I get, those middle-aged married guys all think we're there to act like call girls.

Lacey has to keep from laughing as she looks at Cagney. Cagney just gives her a look and continues listening to Lisa Sue.

PALMER

Anyway, he invited me to his co-op on Park Avenue. It's been a while since I had a boyfriend and I knew he wasn't married, so I thought why not. I'm just there to network, I'm studying business and I've met a lot of people working functions like that.

CAGNEY

Okay, so you go to Park Avenue, what then?

PALMER

He invites me in, he's mixing drinks, I'm using his bathroom. He's got marble floors in there, crystal figurines on the shelves, it was really fancy. Like we say at home, he butters his bread on both sides. Anyway, while I'm in there, I hear the phone ring. He answers it. I can't quite make out what he says, except I think I heard the word cigar. By the time I come out, he hangs up the phone, gets excited, says he'll be right back and leaves me there.

CAGNEY

Wait a minute, he left you in his place?

PALMER

Yes, he said I could help myself to anything and he took off.

LACEY

You said he got excited. Do you mean he was mad?

PALMER

Just the opposite, he was happy.

CAGNEY

How long did you wait?

PALMER

I fell asleep waiting for him. The next morning, when I woke up, it didn't look like he'd been back. The bed wasn't slept in or anything. So I left, I figured it was time to put my chairs in the wagon.

CAGNEY

Why did you call the police on Sunday if you left on Saturday morning?

PALMER

I wrote a note and left it in the lobby of his building when I left Saturday morning. Sunday afternoon, I went to a movie near Times Square, so afterward went over to his building on Park Avenue. I walked into the lobby and I saw my note was still there behind the desk. I asked the clerk if Franklin had been back and he said no. When I asked if that was unusual, he said no because the Endicotts go weeks at a time without using that place. I still felt funny, so I called 911 from a pay phone across the street from the building.

CAGNEY

He still could have come back while you were asleep.

PALMER

Do you think a man like that is going to walk in, see me sleeping on his couch and not wake me up?

LACEY

It does seem unlikely Christine.

PALMER

Honey, he was there to fish, not cut bait.

CAGNEY

What movie did you see Sunday?

PALMER

That one with Madonna, "Who's That Girl?" It was awful. I should have seen "Lost Boys" instead, I hear that movie is cool and the guys in it are cute. I was mainly there to see Times Square again, I heard some people mention it at the party meeting. I hadn't seen it since I was a freshman.

LACEY

What do you mean mention it?

PALMER

Some people there said that they had plans for Times Square or something. As far as I'm concerned, they can have it. That place is scary, all them no account people walking around looking like trash.

CAGNEY

One more question. You said you felt funny before you called 911. Why did you feel funny?

PALMER

I've been stood up before dates, but this was the first time I've been stood up in the middle of a date. He had to have quite a reason to leave me there like that. I'm afraid it may not have been his idea.

LACEY

If we need anything more from you, we'll be in touch.

Lisa Sue gets up and leaves. Cagney and Lacey stand up but stay behind in the park.

CAGNEY

You believe her?

LACEY

I believe Endicott would have to have a good reason to stand her up.

CAGNEY

Anyway, could you take the car back and sign me out? I have a date tonight.

LACEY

A date, with who?

CAGNEY

That guy I met at the market last week. He's taking me to a Broadway show. He says he can get "Les Miserables" tickets. I'm going to meet him in a cafe round the corner from the theatre on 53rd St.

LACEY

In Times Square?

CAGNEY

Yes, why?

LACEY

Careful, it's full of "no account people who look like trash."

CAGNEY

If it wasn't for them, we'd be out of work. Bye.

Cagney and Lacey part company in the middle of the park.

INSERT

We see a sign at night that says ENTERING QUEENS.

INT. LACEY KITCHEN-NIGHT

We see Lacey in the comfortable kitchen of her Queens home with her burly husband, HARVEY, dressed in a plaid felt shirt and jeans. Harvey is pouring a pot of stew into a porcelain serving bowl. Lacey is taking some rolls out of the oven. As they talk, she moves the hot rolls to a plate.

HARVEY

So you were at the Enidcott place in the Hamptons today?

LACEY

Yes, and I don't mind telling you, I felt like I was walking into a museum.

HARVEY

That place has more art than some museums. They're major art collectors. You know Ronald and Nancy Reagan go out there all the time. I'll bet Helen Endicott knows more about Iran-Contra than Ronald.

LACEY

Oh, Harvey, she seemed really nice.

HARVEY

That's how those society types get all the dope, they smile and sit you at the best table, serve you meals on their best china. Then they remember every word they ever hear. That is until they have to testify under oath.

LACEY

Well, you put this on the table, I'll get the boys.

HARVEY

Oh, Harv Jr. is having dinner at his new girlfriend's house.

LACEY

Oh?

HARVEY

I called over there, her parents are home.

LACEY

Good. I'll get Michael.

INT. MICHAEL'S ROOM-NIGHT

We see MICHAEL LACEY, 14, sitting on his bed listening to something with his headphones. He is really moving his head and rocking with the music. Lacey walks in and taps Michael, she is smiling at how much he is enjoying himself. Michael turns the CD player down and takes off the headphones.

LACEY

Michael, honey, dinner's ready.

MICHAEL

Great Mom.

LACEY

Wash your hands.

Michael bounces out of the room without a care in the world. Lacey turns to leave, but she is curious about what her son is listening to, so she turns the music up and puts the headphones to her ears. We HEAR a snippet of Axl Rose screaming over a set of loud guitars, the song is "Welcome To The Jungle". Lacey turns the music off quickly. She looks around and picks up the CD cover on Michael's bed.

ANGLE ON

She holds the cover to Guns'N Roses' "Appetite For Destruction" in her hand and with it's skeleton head images snarling back at the viewer.

CLOSE ON

Lacey is not pleased by Michael's choice in CD's.

EXT. NEW YORK PIER-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey walking up to A GROUP OF UNIFORMED OFFICERS that have put up yellow police tape to cordon off an area of a commercial pier that is used to load and unload freighters. Cagney and Lacey show their badges and of the officers in uniform lifts up the police tape to let them into the area.

VARIOUS ANGLES

We see Cagney and Lacey walk to the edge of a pier that does not have a ship docked to it at the moment. They approach SGT. LENSKY, a burly, 40ish, uniformed veteran of the NYPD with a small moustache and wearing rubber gloves. He is standing over a body whose head is covered by a black blanket.

CAGNEY

We're Cagney and Lacey are you Sgt. Lensky?

LENSKY

That's right. We got a floater. One of the dock workers saw a body about 100 yards out so they called it in. So my divers fished the body out and radioed in. The ID on the body is one Franklin Endicott. His wallet had no cash but the ID and credit cards are there. I guess Dispatch routed it to you.

LACEY

That's right. Let's take a look.

The three bend over the body and Lensky lifts the blanket. Cagney and Lacey wince but they both nod to Lensky who covers the body again.

CAGNEY

Any indication on the cause of death?

LENSKY

He's got a large gash in the back of his head, but the coroner can confirm that was fatal wound.

CAGNEY

Thanks.

LACEY

So he leaves a date with Lisa Sue to get his head caved in and dumped in the Hudson River?

CAGNEY

Don't think he took his lunch this time.

Cagney and Lacey keep walking back to their car.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. SQUAD ROOM-DAY

The squad room is even busier than usual. Every officer in the squad room is on the phone, including Cagney and Lacey. We can even hear Samuels on the phone from his office as well.

CAGNEY

(into the phone) No, we don't have the cause of death yet. Yes it was a tragedy. No, I don't suspect the Democrats.

LACEY

(into the phone) Well, I found Helen Endicott very nice. No, I wasn't there when she was told about her son. I don't know if anyone placed a call to the White House. Don't the Reagans have problems of their own?

INT. SAMUELS OFFICE-DAY

We see Samuels slam his phone down and screams from a sitting position in his office.

SAMUELS

CAGNEY, LACEY IN MY OFFICE NOW!

INT. DESK SERGEANT'S AREA-DAY

We are at the Desk Sergeant area just outside of the main squad room. We see COLEMAN, the balding, bespectacled Desk Sergeant of the 14th Precinct. He is holding court over A MOB OF PRINT AND TELEVISION REPORTERS by standing behind the desk over the mob on the floor in front of the desk.

COLEMAN

Okay, I can't allow any of you in. You'll disrupt police operations. Only authorized personnel.

We see JOSIE, the elderly homeless woman who practically lives in the precinct. She quietly makes her way through the mod and stops at the door leading to the squad room. She looks at Coleman and points to the squad room door.

COLEMAN

Go ahead, Josie.

Josie walks into the squad room.

COLEMAN

Where was I?

The Mob starts firing questions at Coleman, like "Why Not?" and "When?".

INT. SAMUELS OFFICE-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey make their way to Samuels' office. Samuels is one the phone again.

SAMUELS

(into the phone) Yes sir, yes sir. Goodbye, sir.

He hangs up.

SAMUELS

Have you been able to get any work done on the Endicott murder?

CAGNEY

No, sir. Reporters keep calling me.

LACEY

I've been on the phone with staff members of Republican politicians all day. I didn't know they're were that many Republicans in the city of New York.

SAMUELS

I've on the phone with Knelman of the Commissioner's Office. You have 24 hours to turn up a solid lead on the killing before you have to turn every thing you have over to a Task Force.

CAGNEY

Task Force?

SAMUELS

It's being setup out of One Police Plaza.

CAGNEY

Do I get to run it?

SAMUELS

You and Lacey don't even get to be on it.

LACEY

What? This is our case. I thought you said we'd get noticed?

SAMUELS

Well you have been. It'll be on the record that you turned your notes over to the Task Force.

CAGNEY

Whose going to be in charge of the Task Force?

SAMUELS

Bornstein of Midtown.

CAGNEY

Bornstein? He's a klutz! I worked a stakeout with him before, when Mary Beth was on maternity leave. I had to make the bust while he was out getting his third cup of coffee from a diner across the street. Then he swept in and took all the credit because the bust happened in Midtown's jurisdiction.

SAMUELS

He's got some major juice. He's being backed by the President of the City Council.

LACEY

The City Council President?

CAGNEY

That politician with the hairpiece?

SAMUELS

That's him. Since the Mayor's stroke, the City Council President's word carries more weight because he's next in line to be Mayor. The President wants a task force headed by Bornstein.

LACEY

Isn't the City Council President a Democrat?

SAMUELS

Yeah, so?

LACEY

Why would a Democrat want a Task Force to look into a prominent Republican's death?

CAGNEY

He doesn't care. That's why he wants Bornstein.

SAMUELS

That's enough Cagney! 24 hours and then after that you either help Isbecki and Petrie on the smuggling case or you go back to your normal case load. Back to work.

Cagney and Lacey walk out of the office. Cagney is furious and Lacey is more disappointed. CAMERA FOLLOWS THEM back to their desks.

CAGNEY

That just burns me up. We get kicked off the case the minute they're is something for us to do.

LACEY

Didn't you say this case was a waste of time and you wanted to dump it?

CAGNEY

That was before.

LACEY

Before what?

CAGNEY

Mary Beth, do you know what's going on here? They assigned this case to the ladies when they thought it was just a case of some missing heir. Now that it's a full blown murder case, they kick it back to the men with juice. That burns me up and it should burn you up too!

LACEY

What do you want to do?

CAGNEY

We should use the men we know. Follow me.

Cagney and Lacey walk over to Isbecki and Petrie's desks. Isbecki and Petrie and doing paperwork, Petrie is dressed normally again in a tie and dress shirt.

ISBECKI

That's some mob going on out there. We may have to call the cops.

Isbecki laughs, Cagney laughs loud and Lacey doesn't laugh at all but then joins in after Cagney nudges her. Petrie is oblivious.

CAGNEY

We may be working together. The Endicott case is being reassigned tomorrow. How's your smuggling case coming?

PETRIE

(looking up) The meeting went fine, we have another meeting coming up with the supplier. I convinced them I wanted to buy 10 grand worth of cocaine.

ISBECKI

That meet will probably happen tonight. You may be backing us up when we bust the whole operation.

CAGNEY

Good.

LACEY

Good.

CAGNEY

Victor, do you still have a connection at the phone company?

ISBECKI

Connection, phone company, that's a good one!

PETRIE

It's my connection and yes.

CAGNEY

A call came in to a phone number Friday night, we need to know where that call came from.

PETRIE

Why don't you get a court order?

CAGNEY

We would, but it's for the case being reassigned.

LACEY

We want to beat the cops it's being reassigned to, if you know what I mean?

ISBECKI

What's in it for us?

CAGNEY

What do you want?

ISBECKI

I want a chance to win back some of the money we lost to you in poker.

CAGNEY

Victor, I'm a cop, not a miracle worker.

PETRIE

Have a nice day ladies.

CAGNEY

Alright, we'll have a poker rematch.

ISBECKI

Next payday?

CAGNEY

Next payday.

PETRIE

What's the phone number?

Lacey goes to her desk and grabs her pad.

LACEY

(reading from the pad) It's a place on Park Avenue, 555-2823.

PETRIE

I'll let you know.

CUT TO:

INT. LADIES ROOM-DAY

We see Cagney in the ladies room, coming out of a stall. She moves over to the sink to wash her hands. Lacey comes in a beat later and washes her hands next to Christine.

LACEY

With all of the excitement today, I forgot to ask how your date went last night. Did you like "Les Miserables?"

CAGNEY

I didn't go.

LACEY

Why not?

CAGNEY

This guy's big ticket connection fell through. All we could get were tickets to see "Nunsense," Off- Broadway. Even that flopped because this genius didn't realize Off-Broadway houses were dark on Mondays. The tickets he got were for tonight.

LACEY

Oh.

CAGNEY

We went back to his place, even that was a disappointment.

LACEY

Are you going to see him again, tonight?

Cagney just looks at Lacey, the look says no.

LACEY

Speaking of music, I think I need a talk with Michael.

CAGNEY

Why? Did he stick his gum under the coffee table again?

While they talk, the apply the finishing touches to their makeup.

LACEY

He doesn't do that anymore. He's a teenager now, he starts junior high next month. He was listening to a CD with a scary looking cover. It was some sort of hard, death rock or something. It had a lot of screaming on it.

CAGNEY

Mary Beth, listening to music that upsets your parents is the standard op for a teenager.

LACEY

Michael's always been a good kid. I think someone is putting the idea in his head that noise like that is cool.

CAGNEY

They're called friends Mary Beth.

LACEY

Well he's too young.

CAGNEY

To have friends?

LACEY

To listen to that noise.

CAGNEY

He's gotta grow up sometime.

LACEY

Well, not until I say so.

CAGNEY

Well, I think when he grows up, he'll tell you. You ready to do some more work that someone else is going to get credit for?

Lacey puts her makeup kit in her purse, she nods to Cagney and they walk out of the bathroom together.

INT. SQUAD ROOM-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey back at their desks, they are both still on the phone, but this time, it seems like they are actually getting some work done. They both hang up their phones at the same time.

LACEY

That was the Medical Examiner's office. Endicott suffered blow to the back head that caused a hairline skull fracture and a mild concussion but that blow is not what killed him.

CAGNEY

What killed him?

LACEY

The river. He drowned. His lungs were full of salt water, he was alive when he was dumped into the water and the blow to the head disoriented him enough so that he couldn't tread water.

CAGNEY

Do they know what was used to hit him?

LACEY

Some sort of object with a sharp corner, like a gun butt.

CAGNEY

The phone number that Petrie's phone company contact gave us belongs to Caribbean Incorporated, an import/export company, they import coffee and cocoa. It's run by a former Cuban national named Mario Duran. I just got off the phone with bunco, this company is a suspected front for illegal imports, like guns and other banned items. Their financing comes from a bank in the Cayman Islands.

LACEY

That company ever been shut down?

CAGNEY

According to bunco, they've been suspected but never convicted of anything illegal. What bothers me is that Endicott is Mr. American Ownership. Why would a guy who objects to foreign ownership of anything deal with an overseas import/export company?

LACEY

Harvey, my husband says it's part of the hypocritical power structure.

CAGNEY

The what?

LACEY

These people in power always complain about the foreign trade gap but the minute they get a dollar in their pocket they buy the German car or the Italian shoes or the Russian caviar. That's it.

CAGNEY

What?

Lacey gets her notes, she starts flipping through her pad. She finds a pad and starts reading over it.

LACEY

Remember what that college student said, the greeter? She said that when Endicott got the call he was happy and she thought she heard the word...

CAGNEY AND LACEY

(in unison) CIGAR!

LACEY

The Cayman Islands are just a hop, skip and a jump from Cuba.

CAGNEY

So Endicott kept a blond Texan waiting to score some Cuban cigars, which are illegal in this country. Helen said he was impulsive.

LACEY

Probably thought he'd be right back.

CAGNEY

The company was never busted probably because his political buddies were running interference. I wonder how they met?

LACEY

Duran probably sold guns or drugs to Endicott or a buddy of Endicott's. This is a nice theory but we still don't why he was killed.

Cagney and Lacey don't say anything else. They both realize that Lacey is right. The respite is over because we HEAR both their phones ring in unison. They both wince as they answer the phone once again.

EXT. PIER WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We see a van pull up near a dark and scary looking warehouse located near the waterfront. We HEAR foghorns and other ship signals. The van side door slides open and we see Petrie slide out with the same funky outfit he had on earlier that week. He is carrying a briefcase. Isbecki comes out of the van and in the background, we see surveillance equipment in the van.

ISBECKI

Now Marcus, they'll pad you down before you go in, so the microphone is in front of the case. Try to keep the case in the center of the action.

PETRIE

It's got $10,000 in it, so it won't be far from what's happening.

ISBECKI

Remember, when you say "Do you ship at high tide?" we'll come with the cavalry.

PETRIE

I remember.

ISBECKI

Take care of yourself.

PETRIE

I'll be back.

Petrie walks toward the warehouse entrance a few hundred yards away and Isbecki jumps back into the van.

INT. VAN-NIGHT

We see Cagney and Lacey in the front of the van, Cagney is behind the wheel. We see all three of them listening to the mic on the equipment in the back of the van.

ANGLE ON

We see Petrie walk to a warehouse entrance and knock on the door. We see PABLO, 35, answer the door. Pablo is sharply dressed in black leather from head to toe and is wearing an earring. He is handsome in a flash way.

PABLO

Hey, Marcus my man, come on in. You got...

ANGLE ON

We are in the van listening to the surveillance equipment. We hear Pablo's on the van speaker.

PABLO'S VOICE

the scratch man?

PETRIE'S VOICE

Yo, I got it Pablo. You got the blow?

PABLO'S VOICE

I wouldn't keep you hanging.

ANGLE ON

We see Petrie enter the warehouse.

INT. WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We see Petrie walk into an office area of a large shipping warehouse. The walls are covered with photos of jungle and ocean scenes. We see Pablo with GUILLERMO, 25, also is wearing a sharp silk shirt and pinstripe double-breasted suit with no tie. He also looks sharp but nervous.

PABLO

Yo man, set the case down, my cousin Guillermo has to pat you down, nothing personal.

PETRIE

It's cool.

Petrie sets the bag down on a nearby desk and raises his hands. Guillermo pads him down thoroughly. When he's finished, he looks over and nods at Pablo.

PABLO

Guillermo, open the case man.

CLOSE ON

Guillermo opens the case and $10,000 in $100's is sitting in the case. Guillermo starts counting the money.

ANGLE ON

Pablo motions for Petrie to come to another corner of the office, where a table had been set up with an identical case full of plastic bags full of white powder. Petrie looks over at the case, is the table too far from the mic?

PABLO

Want to sample the goods my friend?

PETRIE

Cool.

Pablo takes a penknife and cuts into a bag. He takes a little powder out onto the blade and holds it for Petrie. Petrie reaches into his pocket and pulls out a test tube with liquid in it and a lid on it. Pablo pours the sample into the tube as Petrie takes the lid off. When the powder is in the tube he shakes it.

ANGLE ON

In the van, all we HEAR on the speaker is paper rustling.

ANGLE ON

Guillermo finishes counting the money and closes the case. Guillermo starts to walk out of the warehouse the same door that Petrie walked into, with the case full of money!

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We are still in the warehouse with Petrie. He is noticing the test tube liquid change color to indicate the stuff he just bought is pure. He smiles and he closes the case with the powder and notices Guillermo starting to walk out with the case that has a mic in it. Petrie has to improvise.

PETRIE

Where's he going?

PABLO

G is going to put the cash in our car, what do you care?

PETRIE

HEY YOU, G, COME BACK HERE!

ANGLE ON

Guillermo is confused, he stops. Petrie dashes over and puts his hand on the handle while Guillermo is holding it.

ANGLE ON

We see Pablo reach for a gun in a shoulder holster.

ANGLE ON

In the van, we HEAR some noises, like the mic is being moved quickly. Cagney, Lacey and Isbecki tense up, Cagney picks up a walkie-talkie.

LACEY

C'mon Marcus.

PETRIE'S VOICE

Where do you think your going? You gonna take this cash in a ship? YOU GONNA SAIL AT HIGH TIDE?

ISBECKI

That's it.

CAGNEY

(into walkie-talkie) Unit 2, GO! GO! MOVE IN!

EXT. WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We see Cagney drive the van toward the warehouse door Petrie used.

LACEY'S POV

From the passenger side of the van, we see the door get closer and closer. All of a sudden, we see two figures tumble out of the door with the case Petrie carried between them. The two figures are Petrie and Guillermo. The van stops with the headlights in their faces.

VARIOUS ANGLES

We see Lacey jump out of the van first with her gun pulled. Cagney and Isbecki follow a beat behind.

LACEY

POLICE, HOLD IT!

We see Pablo come out of the door holding his gun, ready to shoot someone. Cagney notices Pablo.

CAGNEY

DROP THE GUN, NOW!!

We now HEAR police sirens coming closer to the warehouse. Pablo drops the gun. Petrie picks up the gun and pushes Guillermo against the wall of the warehouse. Pablo raise his hands, it's over.

ANGLE ON

It is a few minutes later and we see Pablo and Guillermo in handcuffs being led into the back of a squad car by a UNIFORMED OFFICER.

INT. WAREHOUSE-NIGHT

We see Cagney and Lacey looking at the table where the case of drugs is sitting. Lacey picks up a black notebook and opens it. She actually does a double take. Cagney walks over to her.

LACEY

Christine, you are not going to believe this.

Lacey shows the book to Christine, Christine is also shocked.

CAGNEY

You've got to be kidding!

Cagney and Lacey look at each other, what does this mean?

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LACEY DINING ROOM-DAY

We see Lacey and her husband Harvey sitting at their dining room table eating their breakfast and wearing their robes. They have been up and talking for a while.

HARVEY

That plan sounds a little crazy Mary Beth.

LACEY

I know. Christine and I can pull it off. It depends on Samuels not asking too many questions.

HARVEY

There's politics in every job, I know that. It burns me up that you gotta be knee deep in it so often. What's that nickname you cops have for One Police Plaza where the Commissioner's Office is at?

LACEY

The "Puzzle Place."

HARVEY

It sure is isn't it?

Harvey reaches for a morning paper on the table next to them.

HARVEY

Look at this, the paper is full of it already.

LACEY

I don't want to look at it.

Michael walks in still wearing his pajamas. He goes to the cabinet and gets a bowl and a box of cereal.

MICHAEL

Hi Mom. Hi Dad.

Michael sits down and begins to pour the cereal without a care in the world. Lacey and Harvey both tense up and change the subject.

LACEY

Michael dear, your Father and I need to talk to you.

MICHAEL

What about?

HARVEY

Your Mother was worried about some music you were listening to young man.

MICHAEL

Hunh?

LACEY

When I got you for dinner the other night, I saw the cover of the CD you were listening to, something destruction or other.

MICHAEL

You mean "Appetite For Destruction"?

LACEY

Whatever. What possessed you to buy something like that?

MICHAEL

It's not mine.

LACEY

I saw it in your room, son. I know you were listening to it.

MICHAEL

I was listening to it but it's not mine. You know the Lombardis down the street?

HARVEY

You mean the family in that black and white house at the end of the block?

MICHAEL

Yeah. They came back from a vacation in Southern California last week. Eddie, their son, is my age, he told me while he was in L.A. he heard about some cool new band called Guns'N Roses. He lent me his copy of the CD. He bought it.

LACEY

I knew it. I knew somebody you knew put you up to it. Listen son, I know you're a teenager now, but I don't think it's a good idea listening to music like that.

HARVEY

Look son, I used to listen to Rock and Roll my old man didn't like. You're a good kid. You might want to wait until you're a little older before you listen to stuff we may not like. That's all we're saying.

LACEY

I think you should take Eddie's CD back to him.

MICHAEL

I did already. I didn't like the CD.

HARVEY AND LACEY

(in unison) What?

MICHAEL

I liked one song, "Welcome To The Jungle" so I made a tape of that song. But the album had too much screaming on it. I can keep that song can't I?

LACEY

Sure, son.

HARVEY

Eat your cereal.

Michael continues to eat his cereal and the parents just smile and try to keep from laughing.

INT. SQUAD ROOM-DAY

We see Lacey sitting at her desk. She is not drinking coffee, she is not really doing much, she is tense, she's waiting. She sees Cagney come in and check herself in, she then turns and makes eye contact with Mary Beth. They nod without saying a word, they get up and walk over to Lt. Samuels office together. Lacey is carrying a file full of papers

INT. SAMUELS OFFICE-DAY

Samuels is spreading cream cheese on a bagel with a plastic knife. Cagney knocks on the door and she and Lacey enter the office. Samuels motions them to come in.

SAMUELS

Hey, good work backing up Isbecki and Petrie last night.

CAGNEY

Thanks, Lt. We have our case work on the Endicott case written up.

LACEY

In duplicate, sir. One set for you.

CAGNEY

We'd like to run the duplicate set over to One Police Plaza.

SAMUELS

You would?

CAGNEY

I want to see which set of New York's finest is replacing us.

SAMUELS

You do, why?

LACEY

Curiosity, sir?

Samuels looks them over. They try not to say anything more.

SAMUELS

I guess I owe that. Run the reports over, come back here and wrap up the paperwork on your other cases.

CAGNEY

Okay. Mary Beth, you go on, I'll catch up to you in a second.

CAGNEY

Lt. I've made up my mind about the form 49. The answer is no.

SAMUELS

Why?

CAGNEY

The Endicott case reminded me that some people still think of the police force as all male. I'm not my father, I don't anyone confusing me with him. I'm a policewoman, that has to be good enough. Understand?

SAMUELS

I think so.

Cagney walks out of his office. Samuels looks up and SCREAMS!

SAMUELS

LACEY! LACEY!

They both stop. Is Samuels going to ask the questions Lacey told Harvey she was afraid of him asking earlier? They don't know as they both turn around to face Samuels.

SAMUELS

ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME THAT FILE OR NOT?

Lacey looks and realizes that she forget to hand the file to Samuels and she is still holding on to it. Lacey quickly goes to the office, sets the file down on Samuels' desk and rejoins Cagney. They grab another file just like it and leave with their purses.

EXT. UNMARKED CAR-DAY

We see the same unmarked car Cagney and Lacey drove to Long Island driving in Manhattan traffic.

INT. UNMARKED CAR-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey in the unmarked police car. Cagney is driving.

CAGNEY

I thought Samuels had us there for a second. I can't believe you didn't give him the file.

LACEY

You didn't notice either, did you?

CAGNEY

Okay, we got an hour, maybe two at the outside before we'll be missed. What's the address?

LACEY

It's on 45th near Broadway.

CAGNEY

That's Times Square.

LACEY

That's right.

EXT. TIMES SQUARE-DAY

We are in the Times Square of 1987. We see Broadway marquees boasting shows like "I'm Not Rappaport," "Broadway Bound," "Cats," "A Chorus Line" and of course, "Les Miserables." In between these legitimate theatres, we see X-rated movie houses, live sex show signs and other more profane attractions.

ANGLE ON

We see an unmarked police car park near the corner of Broadway and 45th in front of a construction site. Cagney and Lacey leave their car and walk among the crowd of street hookers, construction workers, business people and others on foot in Times Square. They walk into a nondescript building.

INT. BUILDING HALLWAY-DAY

We see a seedy looking building hallway as Cagney and Lacey get off an elevator and walk down the hallway. They stop at a set of glass doors marked "Caribbean Incorporated" Cagney and Lacey look each other over one last time and nod at each other.

INT. CARIBBEAN INCORPORATED-DAY

We see Cagney and Lacey walk into the office entryway of what looks like a legitimate business. We see an attractive, professionally dressed Latina RECEPTIONIST in her twenties chewing gum and double checking her nails when Cagney and Lacey enter.

RECEPTIONIST

Can I help you?

Cagney and Lacey show their badges and put them away.

CAGNEY

Is your boss in there alone?

The stunned Receptionist nods.

LACEY

Buzz us in.

The Receptionist pushes a button and we HEAR the door behind her buzz. Cagney and Lacey walk in quickly.

ANGLE ON

We see Cagney and Lacey enter an office with the same kind of tropical pictures on the wall as the warehouse the previous night. We see MARIO DURAN, 40, sitting behind the desk of a nicely furnished office. He is wearing a gray suit and quietly reading some papers. He looks similar to Pablo, who was busted the night before.

MARIO

How'd you two get in here?

Cagney and Lacey show their badges to Mario.

CAGNEY

Detective Lacey and I, Detective Sgt. Cagney would like to talk to you.

MARIO

What about?

Cagney and Lacey sit down in chairs in front of Mario's desk.

CAGNEY

So Mr. Duran, can I call you Mario?

Mario nods.

CAGNEY

So Mario, you run a legitimate business here. You buy and sell coffee and cocoa from South America.

LACEY

You get by doing that don't you? You earn just enough to cover the overhead in this great neighborhood, hunh?

MARIO

I get by. You Americans like to buy what I sell.

CAGNEY

It's a long way from South America to here isn't it? It would be easy to stop in some place like Cuba, your old home, wouldn't it?

MARIO

Cuba is easy to enter but hard to leave.

LACEY

I'll bet. It must be tough smuggling Cuban cigars along with the cocaine you get from South America isn't it? I'll bet you have to bribe a whole new set of customs agents.

MARIO

I don't know what you're talking about.

CAGNEY

Let's drop that. Why did you call Franklin Endicott? A call was placed from this office to his home the night he was killed.

LACEY

I'll bet Endicott couldn't wait to get his latest batch of Cuban cigars. What was the deal? He fed you a few dollars through your Cayman Island bank account and in exchange, you gave him all the Monte Cristo cigars he could smoke?

MARIO

If I

CAGNEY

Oh I see. You called a wrong number and Endicott came all the way down here to tell you you had a wrong number?

LACEY

Whatever he said made you mad enough to kill him. What did he say? The arrangement was over? He found another buyer? What could he have said to make you hit in the head until he died?

MARIO

Look, this conversation is over. Unless you got a warrant to arrest me, get out.

Lacey points to the ground.

LACEY

Christine, look at that. A blood stain.

CAGNEY

That does look like a blood stain. We have to get the lab boys in here. If that's Endicott's blood, you'll have some explaining to do.

Mario snaps, he reaches into his desk. Before he can pull his hand out, Cagney snaps the drawer shut on his hand. Mario screams. Lacey pulls out some handcuffs and cuffs his hands behind him. He sits in his chair almost crying in pain.

ANGLE ON

Cagney reaches into his drawer and uses a pencil to pull out a .38 revolver. The butt of the gun is still covered in dried blood.

LACEY

Mario, you should have gotten rid of the gun after you killed Endicott. Shame on you.

CAGNEY

Last night, we busted your partners with the warehouse. We didn't even know there was a connection between them and you until we saw an address book that listed this office.

LACEY

Okay, Endicott came here, you killed him, then you and Pablo used a ship to dump Endicott's body at sea.

CAGNEY

I still don't get why you killed him.

MARIO

After these last few months, I think jail would be a break. I'll show you. Let's go outside.

EXT. TIMES SQUARE-DAY

We are outside at the corner of 45th and Broadway at the construction site near where the car is parked.

MARIO

Endicott said he just came back from a meeting with the guy they are gonna back for Mayor in a couple of years. He said when that guy gets in, he's gonna rebuild Times Square. You see that construction site? That's just the beginning. He said this whole place is going to be cleaned up and anyone who owned land here would double their money.

CAGNEY

That's craziest thing I've ever heard. This is already some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

LACEY

What guy was Endicott backing for Mayor?

MARIO

Some guy with an Italian name, some big attorney. Julie something.

CAGNEY

Giuliani?

MARIO

That's it. Endicott and his friends are buying the land around here. When I said I wanted in, Endicott just laughed at me. He said this place was only for Americans, it wasn't for foreigners like me, then he started to walk out. I just wanted to hit him to get some respect. I guess I hit him too hard.

LACEY

He was lying to you and you believed him. That's so sad. Republicans don't get elected Mayor of New York City.

They walk Eddie to their car and gingerly put him in the backseat and close the door. Cagney and Lacey then talk to each other.

LACEY

You want to take him to Midtown, One Police Plaza, or back to our precinct?

CAGNEY

Let's take him to One Police Plaza to the Task Force. I want to see how they react to us solving the case for them.

LACEY

Good idea.

CAGNEY

Nice bluff about the bloodstain.

LACEY

Thanks, Christine.

Cagney and Lacey get back in the car and when it is clear, they drive off into Times Square traffic.

EXT. TIMES SQUARE-DAY

Once again, we see the Times Square of 1987. The legitimate and the illegitimate are all mixed together.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. TIMES SQUARE-DAY

TITLES: AUGUST, 2001

We have dissolved to the Times Square of 2001. We now see the marquees of such Broadway shows as "The Producers," "Rent," "The Lion King" and "Riverdance." We see no more live sex show signs, instead, we see chain music stores, fast food restaurants, and multiplex cinemas. Endicott was right but is this an improvement?

FADE OUT:

THE END