BLIND AMBITION

Written by Marvin Kupfer and Mark Lisson

FADE IN:

EXT. STATE PRISON - NIGHT #1 (STOCK)
To establish.

INT. CELL BLOCK - NIGHT #1

A GUARD moves along the cellblock in the semi-darkness. He
is doing a night bedcheck. He glances in one cell and
casually moves along to the next. He pauses, his attention
drawn to something at his feet. He takes out his flashlight
and focuses it -

ON THE FLOOR

a pool of blood at the door of the cell.

THE GUARD

reacts. Puzzled, he moves the flashlight along the trail of
blood through the bars into the cell and to -

HIS POV - WHAT HE SEES

The pool of blood leads to a young black inmate who we will
later learn is 21-year-old DONALD COOLEY. He lies on his
bunk, his bloody wrist dangling over the bunk to the floor.
He is dead.

ON THE GUARD

as he reacts.

GUARD
...Cooley?
(louder)
Cooley! Oh, my God.

On his shock:

EXT. MAC CREADY'S COFFEE SHOP - EARLY MORNING DAY #2

It's in downtown L.A., close to the court house and Parker
Center, a convenient eatery for cops, lawyers and others
doing business in the area.

INT. MAC CREADY'S

The place has a good size crowd. Some are seated at stools
that line a counter; others are in booths that are end to
end along an entire wall. MCCALL and MICHAEL COBURN are
finishing their breakfast in one of the booths. Michael's
in his early forties. He's a handsome man who's managed to
stay trim and athletic over the years. That's because he
regiments himself to things like coffee and a sweet roll for
breakfast. He watches as McCall polishes off a complete
meal.

MICHAEL
How can you eat so much and not
gain weight?

MCCALL
Because I eat the right kind of
foods. Notice. Whole grain
cereal, dry toast and herbal tea.
It's not how much you eat but what
you eat.

MICHAEL
You sound like my doctor.

MCCALL
Michael, no one can go all day on
coffee and a sweet roll.

He looks at her and smiles.

MICHAEL
You worried about me?

MCCALL
(smiles)
Someone has to.

MICHAEL
You know, you could become a habit
with me.

MCCALL
(smiles)
That's what they all say.

MICHAEL
I'm serious, Dee Dee. I really
like what we have.

He reaches over and takes her hand. A beat and:

MCCALL
These last few months have been
wonderful...
(a beat)
But...

Before she can answer a big beefy homicide cop, ART
GREENBERG, passes.

GREENBERG
Morning, Dee Dee. Your Honor.

MCCALL
Morning, Art.

As Greenberg goes, Michael is locked onto McCall.

MICHAEL
But what?

MCCALL
Let's just take it a step at a
time. Ok...?

MICHAEL
(smiles)
Ok.

McCall returns the smile, glances at her watch. Urgently:

MCCALL
Oh, I've got to get out of here.
We're interviewing a possible
witness on that arson fire on
Flower Street.

They both rise from the table and as they start for the cash
register -

MICHAEL
A night watchman was killed.

MCCALL
Yeah. If we get lucky with this
witness and if the guy hasn't
skipped, we may get the arsonist.

MICHAEL
And I may get him in my court.

At the register, Michael takes out several bills and pays
the cashier. A TV is on behind the counter. Michael gets
his change and as he and McCall turn to go we hear --

NEWSCASTER'S VOICE
Prison authorities say Donald
Cooley slashed his wrists with a
spoon filed to razor sharpness.

Michael stops in his tracks and turns to the TV. McCall
turns back to see him watching as -

ON TV SCREEN

CROSSCUT the Newscaster and Michael, an unreadable look on
his face.

NEWSCASTER
You may recall, the 21-year-old
Cooley was convicted in the rape
and strangulation murder of his
girlfriend, Terry Lincoln, the
17-year-old Pulaski high school -

During this, still photos of Cooley and his victim, Terry
Lincoln appear on the TV screen. Cooley is a surprisingly
gentle looking young man.

NEWSCASTER
(continuing)
- senior. Cooley who was
eighteen at the time, was given a
life sentence. The young man, who
claimed he was innocent, had to be
dragged from the courtroom after
sentencing.
(beat)
In other news.

MCCALL
Michael, didn't you prosecute
Donald Cooley?

MICHAEL
Yeah...it was one of my last cases
before I became a judge.

MCCALL
I'm sorry.

MICHAEL
Cooley raped and murdered that
girl. It's hard to feel sorry
about him.
(he smiles)
Come on. You've got an arsonist
to catch.

He puts his arm around her and as they go -

EXT. PARKER CENTER - DAY #2

To establish:

INT. SQUAD ROOM - DAY #2

NED LEVY, a frail old man sits at a desk carefully going
through one of a stack of mug books. He takes off his
glasses and cleans them with a handkerchief as -

HUNTER (O.S.)
How you doing, Mr. Levy?

NEW ANGLE

to include Hunter, carrying several more mug books.

LEVY
I'm working on it.

He looks a little peaked. He wipes his forehead with his
handkerchief. Concerned:

HUNTER
Are you all right?

LEVY
A headache, a little indigestion,
an occupational hazard when you're
my age. So take my advice. Stay
young.

HUNTER
If you're not up to it, you can
come back tomorrow.

LEVY
No. The man who died in that fire
was a friend. I want you to find
who did it.

HUNTER
Okay - when you finish up with
those, try these.

Hunter places the books beside him. Levy looks at the
books.

LEVY
Whatever it takes.

HUNTER
Thank you.

As Levy continues through the books. Hunter turns and heads
for his desk as McCall hurries up.

MCCALL
Sorry, I'm late. I had a few
errands to run...and--

HUNTER
And you had breakfast with a
certain judge we know.

MCCALL
(surprised)
How did you --

She stops in mid sentence and looks over at Sgt. Greenburg,
going over some papers at his desk. Greenburg looks up and
wiggles his fingers in a little wave. Hunter smiles.

HUNTER
Good detectives are very
observant.

MCCALL
Yeah...and sometimes they have big
mouths.

HUNTER
(chuckles, then)
You two have been pretty visible
lately.

MCCALL
(smiles)
Yeah...I guess we have. I like
him a lot, Rick.

HUNTER
Nothing wrong with that.
(a beat, then)
By the way, I caught that item on
the news this morning about the
Cooley kid. That was Michael's
case, wasn't it.

MCCALL
Yeah...

HUNTER
How'd he take the news.

MCCALL
He said it didn't bother him...but
I think it did.

Before Hunter can reply, Devane comes up.

DEVANE
How's the old man doing on an
I.D.?

HUNTER
He's trying. He claims if his
face is in one of the books he'll
find him. But...but he's up there
in age, and his vision isn't good.
I wouldn't count on it.

LEVY (O.S.)
Sgt. Hunter.

They turn to Levy.

LEVY
This is the bum.

Hunter, McCall and Devane look at each other and hurry over.
He points to a picture.

INSERT

The mug shot of a ferret faced looking man.

BACK TO SCENE

HUNTER
Are you sure, Mr. Levy?

LEVY
You-think I don't see well?

HUNTER
Me -- no.

MCCALL
(reads info)
Dean Haller. Four arrests for
arson, two convictions. Let's see
if we can get an address.

HUNTER
Mr. Levy. Don't go away. We'll
be back.

As Hunter follows McCall. Devane is there.

LEVY
(to Devane)
He's a nice boy.

On Devane's smile:

EXT. DEAN HALLER'S HOUSE - DAY #2

Hunter and McCall drive up. They get out of the car,
followed by a black and white backup. They all get out of
their cars.

HUNTER
(to uniforms)
You take the back.

They head around the back of the house as Hunter and McCall
go the front door. Hunter knocks.

INT. HALLER'S HOUSE - DAY #2

Haller, a lean man in his mid-thirties, walks up to the door
as the knocking continues.

HALLER
Yeah, I'm coming.

EXT. HALLER'S HOUSE - DAY #2
Hunter and McCall are waiting.

HALLER (O.S.)
Yeah?

HUNTER
Police! Open the door.

INT. HALLER'S HOUSE - DAY

Haller immediately bolts toward the back of the house, but
he stops in his tracks as he sees a Uniform entering. He
stops, sees no way out. He races back to the living room
and goes crashing out a window.

EXT. THE WINDOW

as he tumbles to the ground. Hunter appears, his gun out.
He grabs him by the neck and shoves him against the wall.

HUNTER
The door would have been easier.

HALLER
You got nothing on me. Get your
hands off me.

Hunter lifts him off the ground and shoves him against the
wall.

HUNTER
We got a witness, Haller.

As Hunter cuffs him and reads him is rights -

EXT. COURTHOUSE - DAY #2

To Establish:

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S OFFICE - DAY #2

Michael enters wearing his judicial robe. GLORIA, his
matronly secretary, is hanging up the phone.

GLORIA
Another reporter for a comment on
the Cooley death.
(off his frown)
I told them -- no comment.

MICHAEL
Thanks.

As he starts into his office, the phone rings again. She
answers.

GLORIA
Judge Coburn's office.
(reacts)
Uh, yes, he's in. One moment
please.
(to Michael)
Your honor...it's Larry Austin
from Washington.

Michael pauses and smiles.

MICHAEL
That's a call I'll take.

GLORIA
(excited)
Line two. I'm keeping my fingers
crossed for you.

He smiles and as he disappears into his office another line
rings. She answers.

GLORIA
Judge Coburn's office.
(a beat)
He's in but he's unavailable.
Who's calling?

EXT. PHONE BOOTH - ON STREET - DAY #2

A lean black man in his early thirties and wearing a leather
jacket is on the phone. His name, we will learn later, is
LEON COOLEY. He listens for a beat, then hangs up, an
unreadable look on his face. He exits the phone booth and
climbs into a red Chevrolet sedan.

As he drives away -

INT. DEVANE'S OFFICE - DAY #2

Devane is going through some papers when Hunter knocks and
enters.

DEVANE
Any luck?

HUNTER
The lab boys are going through
Haller's house with a fine tooth
comb.
(chuckles)
He claims he's had extensive
therapy in the joint and doesn't
care for fire anymore.

DEVANE
What do you think?

HUNTER
He's a liar. But given Mr.
Levy's eyesight, I think we have
to see if he can pick Haller out
of a lineup.

DEVANE
That's a good idea.

HUNTER
Is he still around?

DEVANE
He was a little under the weather
so I had someone take him home.
Why don't you arrange to pick him
up about five o'clock.

HUNTER
Fine.

INT. SQUADROOM - DAY #2
McCall heads in carrying a couple of files.

MICHAEL <O.S.)
Dee Dee.

McCall turns to see -

NEW ANGLE

to include Michael standing nearby, a visitors tag on his
suit coat.

MCCALL
(surprised)
Michael...what are you doing here?

MICHAEL
I've got some good news. Is there
somewhere we can talk?

MCCALL
(puzzled)
Sure...come on.

She leads him into the conference room.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY #2

as they .enter.

MCCALL
What is it?

MICHAEL
You think I'd make a good federal
judge?

MCCALL
Federal Judge?

MICHAEL
That's right.

MCCALL
You're kidding.

MICHAEL
I didn't say anything before
because I didn't want to jinx it.
For the last three weeks, Larry
Austin at the White House has been
feeling me out about it. He
called today and offered it to me.

MCCALL
That's fantastic.

MICHAEL
I still can't believe it. They
want me to fly to Washington next
week for the announcement.

MCCALL
I'm so pleased for you.

She kisses him and he responds. Then:

MICHAEL
Listen...we have to celebrate.
Can you take tomorrow off?

MCCALL
...I don't know.

MICHAEL
I made a reservation at the
Coronado in La Jolla. You know
that fabulous place on the cliffs.
We pick up your things, stop by my
place and we drive down late this
afternoon. It'll be a great
weekend together.

Before she reply.

MICHAEL
Come on, Dee Dee. A guy doesn't
get offered a seat on the federal
bench every day. I've got to
celebrate with someone I really
care for.

MCCALL
(smiles)
Okay - But let me clear it with
Hunter.

INT. SQUADROOM - DAY #2
Hunter is with McCall.

HUNTER
I don't see the problem.

MCCALL
I've got a few days coming anyway.

HUNTER
It's really no problem. Why don't
you get out of here right now.
I'll pick up Mr. Levy at five for
the lineup. If he I.D.'s Haller
we'll have an open and shut case.

MCCALL
(smiles)
Okay. Look, my notes on the
Haller investigation are on my
desk. If you need me, you can
reach me at --

HUNTER
I know, the Hotel Coronado in La
Jolla. Quit rubbing it in.

MCCALL
Thanks.

HUNTER
Just have a good time.

She turns and goes. On Hunter's smile.

EXT. PASADENA STREET - DAY #2

Michael's Mercedes heads down the street, driving past
Cooley's red parked red Chevrolet. Michael pulls into the
driveway of his attractive house. He stops.

INT. MERCEDES -DAY #2

Michael is at the wheel. McCall is beside him.

MICHAEL
I'll throw a few things in a bag
and be right out.

He kisses her and then, as he starts out.

MICHAEL
Did you bring your tennis racket?

MCCALL
(realizing)
Oh, I forgot it. I'm sorry.

MICHAEL
No problem, we'll stop back at
your place on the way out of town
and pick it up. Be right back.

Michael exits the Mercedes and heads for --

EXT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - DAY #2
he takes out his key and lets himself in.

INT. THE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY #2

A nicely decorated, modern and tastefully done. He closes
the door behind - him and hurries across the living room --
when suddenly -

MAN'S VOICE
Hey, Mr. Judge.

Suddenly, he turns in his tracks to find Leon Cooley, the
man we saw at the phone booth. Only now, he has a gun
pressed against Michael's back.

COOLEY
Not a sound or I'll blow your head
off.

Michael turns...and looks at him.

MICHAEL
(stunned)
...You...What do you want?

COOLEY
What do you think. My brother's
dead because of you. Now you're
gonna die.

On Michael's look -

END OF ACT ONE

************************************************************

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. COBURN'S HOUSE - ANGLE ON MERCEDES - DAY #2

McCall remains in the passenger seat, staring out the
window, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly -- -

MCCALL
(a realization)
I didn't forget my tennis racket.

She chuckles to herself, gets out of the car and heads for
the front door as --

INT. MICHAEL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
Cooley still has the gun pressed up against Michael.

MICHAEL
You're crazy, you know that?

Suddenly, they both hear the front door start to open.

COOLEY
Who's that?

Before Michael can reply, Cooley grabs him around the neck
and covers his mouth as -

ANGLE ON FOYER
as McCall casually comes in the door and enters.

MCCALL
(casually)
Michael, I didn't forget my tennis
racket. I left it here last
weekend.

As she walks in, Michael shoves Cooley's hand from his mouth
and -

MICHAEL
(cries out)
Get out of here, Dee Dee!

Instantly, Cooley backhands him across the side of the head
and he goes down to the floor. McCall sees this, but it all
happens so fast, she can't respond fast enough. She tries
to reach into her purse for her gun, but Cooley is on her
and knocks the purse out of her hand, sending her gun to the
floor. Tense, as he levels his gun at her.

MCCALL
Michael...what's going on?

COOLEY
Who's she?

MICHAEL
(in pain)
A friend...let her go.

Cooley picks up her gun.

COOLEY
You carry a gun?

MCCALL
I'm a cop.

COOLEY
No kidding. You got a cop for a
girlfriend, your Honor...

MICHAEL
Let her go, Cooley. She's got
nothing to do with this.

MCCALL
(puzzled)
Cooley? What's this about,
Michael?

COOLEY
Your girlfriend wants to know
what's going on. Tell her so she
understands why you're gonna die.

McCall is stunned. She looks at Michael. Then:

MICHAEL
He's Leon Cooley. It was his
brother who committed suicide at
the state prison last night.

COOLEY
(explodes)
Because of you!

Cooley backhands him across the face, sending Michael back
over the sofa. McCall moves toward him, but Cooley's gun is
instantly in her face.

COOLEY
Don't' be stupid, lady. It's him I
want, not you.

MCCALL
Why -- because he convicted your
brother.

COOLEY
He knows why.

Michael doesn't respond.

COOLEY
I told him about that guy the cops
busted in San Francisco, but he
didn't care.

CLOSE ON MCCALL
puzzled by what she has just heard.

MCCALL
Michael, what's he talking about?

MICHAEL
It was nothing, Dee Dee.

COOLEY
Nothing? Tell her so she'll see
what a bastard you are.
(shoves gun at him)
Tell her!

MICHAEL
(sighs)
Last week, a sixteen year old girl
was raped and murdered in San
Francisco by a drifter named
Derrick Slocum. A few days ago,
he came to me with this lame idea
that it wasn't his brother, but
this guy Slocum who killed Terry
Lincoln three years ago. He
wanted me to check it out.

MCCALL
Did you?

MICHAEL
Of course, I did. It was nothing.

COOLEY
The San Francisco paper said the
girl was raped and strangled with
a bicycle chain - just like Terry
Lincoln.

MICHAEL
So what?
(to McCall)
Look, Cooley, I spoke with the
medical examiner. He wasn't even
sure the murder weapon in San
Francisco was a bicycle chain.
Damn it, Cooley, think. You can't
believe that one incident in San
Francisco makes your brother
innocent.

COOLEY
(moving toward
Michael)
You're dead, Coburn.

McCall steps into his path.

MCCALL
Stop it.

COOLEY
Back off, lady.

MCCALL
(urgently)
Maybe it's possible. Maybe this
guy in San Francisco is the
killer.

MICHAEL
Forget it, Dee Dee...he's
desperate. He needs someone to
blame for what his brother did to
himself.

She cuts a glance at Michael. Their eyes meet. She's
buying time.

MCCALL
(to Michael)
You don't know for sure.
(then to Cooley)
Look, I'm a cop, I could check it
out with the D.A.'s office in San
Francisco.

COOLEY
You'd do anything to save his
life.

MCCALL
Yeah, I would. But I could still
check it out.

COOLEY
What difference does it make now.
Donald's gone.

MCCALL
But all that happens if you kill
him is destroy your own life.

COOLEY
You really think I care anymore?

MCCALL
Maybe not. But I think your
brother would. If this guy up
north is really guilty, then at
least your brother would be
vindicated.
(off his look)
If Donald had been my brother, I'd
care about it. Let me call San
Francisco.
(beat)
Maybe you just didn't love your
brother enough.

COOLEY
(explodes)
Don't say that - don't you ever
say that.

MCCALL
(hard)
Then let me try.

A long beat, then:

COOLEY
Go ahead -- call.

McCall picks up the phone and dials.

MCCALL
San Francisco information. Give
me the number of the District
Attorney's office.
(writes it down)
Thank you.

As she dials, Cooley hangs on the other phone. As it rings.
There is no answer. They exchange looks. McCall hangs up.
She glances at her watch.

MCCALL
It's after hours. No one's there.
(off his look)
We can wait until morning.

COOLEY
Don't treat me stupid, Lady.

MCCALL
I'm not. What have you got to
lose?

There is a long moment of decision. He looks from Michael
to McCall and then he backs up to the drapes. He reaches up
and rips off the chord.

COOLEY
Okay...until morning. You tie up
your boyfriend.

He tosses her the rope. As she and Michael exchange a look

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY #2

Hunter's car heads down the street. It pulls up to a house
where a few neighbors are gathered around a Paramedic's
wagon in front of a house. Hunter emerges and heads for
the house.

NEW ANGLE

as Hunter walks up to an OLD WOMAN standing there.

HUNTER
Excuse me, what's going on?

WOMAN
The man who lives here, Mr. Levy,
he had a heart attack.

HUNTER
I spoke with him less than an hour
ago.

Hunter starts toward the front door when a paramedic
emerges. Hunter flashes his badge.

HUNTER
How's he doing?

Before the paramedic can answer, a second paramedic emerges
pushing a gurney carrying the covered body of Mr. Levy.
Hunter stops them, lifts back the sheet. We see Mr. Levy's
face. On Hunter's sad look -

EXT. COBURN'S HOUSE - NIGHT #2

To Establish.

INT. THE LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Michael is tied up in a chair. His mouth is gagged. We
hear voices coming from --

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT.

CLOSE on an open oven as McCall's hand reaches in and pulls
out two frozen dinners. ANGLE WIDENS to include McCall and
Cooley standing across from her

COOLEY
Aren't you having anything?

MCCALL
A gun in my face doesn't do much
for my appetite. There should be
some plates up there.

He takes the plate. As he does, she goes to silverware
drawer and opens it. As she starts to reach in we see what
she sees --

INSERT - A LONG, SHARP KNIFE

as her hand reaches for it -

COOLEY (O.S.)
What is it with this guy. He got
no decent food in the house but
plenty of dishes.

BACK TO MCCALL

as Cooley steps up. She pulls out two forks and butter
knives, leaving the sharp knife.

MCCALL
But plenty of silverware.

COOLEY
Yeah, he's got everything anyone
could want. But he didn't have
time to see if my brother was
innocent.

MCCALL
Maybe he wasn't.

COOLEY
You listen to me. I been in
trouble most of my life. Been in
the joint twice. That's why I
made sure that Donald wasn't gonna
turn out like me. Our mama died
when he was ten. So all we ever
had was each other. He never got
into trouble. You know he had a
scholarship to that Junior college
he went to.
(a pained beat)
I seen lots of punk killers in the
joint. But not Donald - he
wouldn't kill anyone.

MCCALL
...The jury thought he did.

COOLEY
They were wrong. Man, don't you
think I know that every guy in the
joint cops that he's innocent. I
did, too.
(off McCall's look)
But Donald was.

MCCALL
Why did he kill himself?

COOLEY
When I told him that your friend
in there wasn't interested in the
San Francisco murder, it's like
all his hope was gone.
(near tears)
He just couldn't hang on anymore.
I should have known.

McCall is moved by what he has said.

MCCALL
I am sorry.

COOLEY
Forget it. Let's go.

INT. LIVING ROOM - ON MICHAEL

He is struggling with the cord that bind his wrists behind
his back and having no luck. Hearing McCall enter with
Cooley he stops. They enter, McCall carrying the food.

MCCALL
Why don't you untie him so he can.
eat.

COOLEY
(pulls the gag off
Cooley)
You feed him.

MICHAEL
Forget it, Dee Dee.

MCCALL
You've got to eat something. It's
going to be a long night.
(sotto)
Eat and shut up.

Michael can see that there is something on her mind. He
relents. As she starts to feed him -

INT. DIVISION - NIGHT #2

The place is fairly empty. Hunter is at his desk going
through some notes. Devane walks up.

DEVANE
Hunter, I just heard about Mr.
Levy.

HUNTER
He was a nice old guy.

DEVANE
You know the problem.

HUNTER
Without a witness, Haller's going
to walk. Charlie, I've been going
through McCall's notes...she
talked to some people who saw the
fire. There's one notation here,
"A Ochoa" and the word "possible"
scribbled next to it.

DEVANE
You think it's a possible
eyewitness.

HUNTER
I've got McCall's number at the
Coronado in La Jolla. Let's find
out.

He nods. Hunter dials the phone. He waits, then;

HUNTER
Dee Dee McCall's room, please.
(a beat)
You're sure. Uh, yes. Would you
please leave a message for her to
call Rick Hunter at home tonight.
Thanks.
(hangs up)
They didn't arrive yet. They must
still be on the road.

DEVANE
Keep trying.

INT. MICHAEL'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT #2

Michael is gagged again. McCall sits on the sofa. Cooley
stands by the window, peering out a corner of the drapes.
McCall and Michael share a look, noticing. She starts to
get up when -

COOLEY
turns to her.

COOLEY
Where do you think you're going?

MCCALL
To take the dishes back to the
kitchen.

COOLEY
Forget it. When this is all over
the Judge can have his expensive
maid do it. Now shut up and sit
down.

MCCALL
What are you going to do?

COOLEY
Tie you up. This way I can move
your boyfriend's car into the
garage and then get some sleep.
(a beat)
I'm sure you understand.

MCCALL
Yeah.

COOLEY
Put your hands behind your back.

As she does, she and Michael exchange a look and

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MICHAEL'S STREET - MORNING - DAY #3

It's early. The street is quiet. Except for a street
cleaning vehicle as it moves along the curb. On that side
of the street, all the cars are gone, except Cooley's red
Chevrolet. As the street cleaner goes around it, we hold on
the Chevrolet, which we see has a parking ticket on the
windshield. Hold a beat, then:

INT. MICHAEL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY - ON MICHAEL

as he sits in his chair, straining against the ropes.

ANGLE

McCall, gagged, is tied up on the sofa, asleep.

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

A tea kettle whistles. ANGLE WIDENS TO INCLUDE Cooley, who
has two cups. He turns off the stove. As he pours two cups

INT. LIVING ROOM

McCall wakes up and sees Michael struggling with the ropes.
They gesture to each other. Michael stops struggling when

COOLEY

enters with coffee. He finds them both awake.

COOLEY
It's time to make that call, Lady.
You remember the call. It's the
reason he's still alive.

He removes McCall's gag. She takes a deep breath of air.
He then unties her. He lets her stand. As he hands her a
cup of coffee.

COOLEY
Here, so you'll be alert.

MCCALL
What about him?

COOLEY
I like him better with his mouth
shut. Now, make that call.

McCall gets up, shakes her legs out and goes to the phone by
the table. She finds the number and starts to dial.

COOLEY
You remember, I'm listening.

He picks up the other phone. As she dials.

ANGLE ON MICHAEL

as he watches, he is working his wrists.

CLOSE ON HIS WRISTS

He is not having a lot of luck.

MCCALL AND COOLEY

MCCALL
(into phone)
Yes. Can you tell me who the
assistant D.A. is who's
prosecuting Derrick Slocum.
(a beat)
Eleanor Pearson?
(a beat)
I'm Sgt. Dee Dee McCall, Los
Angeles homicide. Can I speak with
her. They're ringing.
(then)
Do you know when she'll be in?
(glances at Cooley)
Uh, please have her call me. I
need some information on a suspect
in a case she's handling. A
Derrick Slocum. Please, it's
urgent. Yes, I'm Sgt. McCall -
uh, area code 213-555-2078.

She hangs up.

NEW ANGLE

COOLEY
What now?

MCCALL
You heard yourself. She won't be
in until later. We have to wait.

COOLEY
I'm tired of waiting.

MCCALL
(snaps)
Then just kill us and forget the
whole thing.

He looks at her hard. It's a tempting challenge. And then
he smiles.

COOLEY
You got guts, lady. I'll give you
that.

Off her reaction -

INT. MICHAEL'S OFFICE - DAY-#3

Hunter is with Michael's secretary Gloria.

GLORIA
I don''t understand...Sgt. McCall
and Judge Coburn have to be there.

HUNTER
I tried again this morning. Could
they have gone to another hotel.

GLORIA
Absolutely not. It's the only place
he would stay in La Jolla.

HUNTER
It's imperative that I reach Sgt.
McCall.
(a thought)
Maybe they haven't left yet.

INT. MICHAEL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY #3

Cooley is pacing nervously, when the phone rings. Cooley
snaps up. So does McCall.

COOLEY
All right, that's her. Answer it.
And no tricks.

As McCall goes to the phone

ANGLE ON MICHAEL

Unnoticed by Cooley, he struggles with his ropes.

CLOSE ON HIS WRISTS

as they are starting to slip free.

McCall takes a deep breath and picks up the phone. Cooley
slips onto the other phone and listens, other phone.

MCCALL
Hello?

INT. MICHAEL'S OFFICE - ON HUNTER - INTERCUT

as he breathes a sign of relief.

HUNTER
McCall, it's Hunter. I've been
trying to reach you in San Diego.

Cooley cuts a hard look at her and aims the gun.

MCCALL
...I'm sorry, Rick...something
came up and we didn't leave.
Uh...We're leaving in a few
minutes.
(covers phone)
It's my partner.

COOLEY
(covers phone)
Get rid of him.

HUNTER
McCall?

MCCALL
I'm here.

HUNTER
We've got a problem. We lost our
witness in the Haller case. Mr.
Levy died of a heart attack.

MCCALL
Oh, God, that's awful.

HUNTER
We'll have to spring Haller unless
I come up with something. I saw
this name "A. Ochoa" followed by a
question mark. Was that a
possible witness?

MCCALL
Uh...yeah. The question mark was
there because I thought he was
holding something back. We had
Levy, I didn't push it.

HUNTER
I better check it out.

MCCALL
I figure the guy for an illegal
because he had one of those ESL
textbooks. I think he was
probably taking English lessons
for his amnesty proceedings.

HUNTER
All right, I'll see if I can
locate him. You okay?

She trades a look with Cooley. Then:

MCCALL
...Yeah, I'm fine.

HUNTER
Have a good weekend.

After Hunter clicks off, a disappointed Cooley takes the
phone from McCall and hangs up.

NEW ANGLE

Coburn has freed his wrists. He reaches down and quickly
frees his ankles.

COOLEY

unaware that Coburn is free.

MCCALL
I'm sorry about that. We've still
got to wait.

Before he can reply, Coburn dives for him. Cooley goes
flying over the sofa. McCall is about to move, when Cooley
comes around and pistol whips him into unconsciousness.
McCall moves towards him, but Cooley's gun stops her in her
tracks. He points the gun straight at her.

COOLEY
Don't!

END OF ACT TWO

***********************************************************

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY #3

Michael sits in the chair, his hands now tied behind his
back. McCall finishes bandaging his head. His right eye
is swollen half-closed.

Cooley sits on the edge of the couch, his gun trained on
them. He taps his left foot nervously. A portable phone
sits on the coffee table. McCall applies a cold compress to
Michael's eye.

MCCALL
Feel any better?

Michael looks over at her - he's obviously in pain.

MICHAEL
I could use a couple of aspirin.

COOLEY
Forget it. Nobodies going
anywhere I can't see 'em.

Cooley takes a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket
- puts one in his mouth and lights it.

MCCALL
I've got some aspirin in my purse.

COOLEY
I don't give a rat's ass if his
head hurts.

MCCALL
You're all heart, Cooley.

COOLEY
He was all heart when he sent my
little brother to jail.

Cooley's eyes dart to the portable phone.

COOLEY
Why the hell doesn't this D.A.
lady in San Francisco call you
back?

MICHAEL
She's still in court, Cooley. She
may not even call back today.

Cooley whirls on Michael, shoving his gun up beside his
head.

COOLEY
She better, or you're a dead man.

MCCALL
(fast and hard)
Cooley listen to me. I'm an LAPD
detective. There's no way a D.A.
isn't going to return my call.
Just give her some time.

COOLEY
Too much time has passed already.

McCall, still trying to defuse a very tense situation.

MCCALL
Listen to me, there may be
something we can do while we wait.

Cooley eases up a bit. He looks over at McCall.

COOLEY
Like what?

MCCALL
Michael, when you became a judge,
what did you do with all your
files from the D.A.'s office?

Michael shoots McCall a look, not sure where she's going...

MICHAEL
I stored them.

MCCALL
Where?

MICHAEL
What difference does it make?

McCall drills him with a look.

MCCALL
It makes a difference.

MICHAEL
(a beat)
They're here in my study. Why?

MCCALL
(a beat)
I think we should review the
transcripts of Donald Cooley's
trial.

MICHAEL
(incredulously)
What?

McCall locks eyes with Michael. She's trying to buy time.
But he's not liking her idea one bit.

MCCALL
Maybe we can find something that
was missed earlier.

MICHAEL
Dee Dee -

MCCALL
Michael, it's worth a try.

MICHAEL
(with an edge)
I don't think so.

COOLEY
(hard)
But I do.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOME OFFICE - DAY #3 6^

CLOSE ON a file cabinet as it's pulled open. WIDEN to
reveal McCall with Cooley. Cooley watches as she fingers
through the files, looking for the transcripts on Donald
Cooley's trial.

MCCALL
It's gotta be in here somewhere.

Cooley looks at McCall disdainfully...

COOLEY
Look at you working so hard to
find that file. You think I don't
know what you're doing.

McCall looks up at him.

MCCALL
I'm trying to help you.

COLLEY
Bull. You're just trying to buy
time for lover boy in there. You
don't believe Donald was innocent
for a second.

McCall finds the file. Pulls it out.

MCCALL
I don't know if he was innocent or
not. I'm just trying to find the
truth.

COOLEY
Well lady, then you and me are the
only ones. 'Cause your friend out
there sure ain't interested.
(a beat)
What the hell do you see in him,
anyway?

MCCALL
(hard)
I don't think that's any of your
business.

Cooley steps up to her - close - threatening...

COOLEY
Is it that he's a big important
judge?

McCall says nothing. Cooley touches the side of her face.

COOLEY
You're a pretty lady.

McCall drills him with her eyes.

MCCALL
You want to look at these files or
not?

Cooley takes a beat...

COOLEY
You don't scare. I like that.

Cooley takes the file from her hand. He motions her ahead
of him with his gun.

COOLEY
After you.

McCall heads out. Cooley is right behind her.

INT. PARKER CENTER - SNACK ROOM - DAY #3

As Hunter approaches the coffee machine, DETECTIVE DAVID
SHYER walks up. He's in his early thirties.

SHYER
Hunter. The Captain told me you
might be down here.

HUNTER
Any luck finding Ochoa?

SHYER
I checked out this guy's home
address. It was a hot-dog stand.

HUNTER
Listen, McCall said this guy was
taking ESL classes. There must be
three hundred ESL classes in this
town. Let's start with the ones
within a five mile radius of where
the fire occurred.

As Hunter shoves his coins into the coffee machine, Thayer
pops an antacid into his mouth.

HUNTER
Buy you a cup of coffee?

THAYER
Thanks, but it's not too good for
the ulcer I'm trying to avoid.

Hunter takes his coffee out of the machine...

HUNTER
This may be another dead-end, but
when McCall was questioning Ochoa,
she noticed he had an ESL text
book with him. Probably for an
English course he's taking.

THAYER
You have any idea how many of
those classes there are in L.A.?

HUNTER
Too many. So it'll take both of
us.
(off Thayer's look)
Hey, it's the only game in town.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY #3

CLOSE SHOT ON A FILE as it's thrown down on a table.

ANGLE ADJUSTS

to find McCall on the couch. She reaches for another file
in a box sitting beside her on the floor. Michael is still
in the chair, his arms tied behind him. Cooley paces behind
her impatiently. Michael looks up at him.

MICHAEL
Sit down, Cooley. Before you
wear a hole in my carpet.

COOLEY
You must want that gag back in
your mouth, man.

McCall looks up from the file.

MCCALL
This is interesting.
(to Cooley)
There was some question as to what
time Terry Lincoln left your
brother's garage the night she was
murdered.

MICHAEL
Totally immaterial.

McCall shoots him a "shut up" look.

MCCALL
It's something to look into.

MICHAEL
You want something to look into?
Try this - Terry Lincoln's blood
was found all over the inside of
Donald Cooley's car.

COOLEY

He told you how that happened. He
was doing some body work and she
cut her hand on a sharp edge.

MCCALL
(looking through
file)
According to the M.E.'s report
there was a gash on Terry
Lincoln's right hand.

MICHAEL
Which she probably got in the
struggle with him.

COOLEY
How about the bicycle chain she
was strangled with. They could
never prove it was Donald's.

MCCALL
(reading file)
That's true. There were no finger
prints found on it and they could
never trace it back to its owner.

MICHAEL
That's because it was stolen.

COOLEY
My brother never stole anything in
his life. I made sure of that.

MCCALL
Leon, why was Terry with your
brother that night?

COOLEY
She was always hanging out with
him. Donald once told me that
Terry really liked that he was
smart and also good with his hands
- fixin' up cars the way he did.

MCCALL
So she admired him.

COOLEY
That's right. And I'll tell you
how it went down too. She showed
up that night. Cut her hand.
Donald helped her bandage it. And
she left around ten thirty. Next
thing we knew she was dead.

MICHAEL
Then how come when the body was
found, there was no bandage on her
hand - only the gash?

COOLEY
It could've fallen off in the
struggle.

MICHAEL
The murder sight was thoroughly
searched. Nobody found a bandage.
(to McCall)
We went over all this at the
trial.
(then)
My hands are getting numb.

COOLEY
Shut up.

INT. PARKER CENTER - HALLWAY - DAY #3

As Hunter exits the elevator and steps out into the hallway,
Devane walks up.

DEVANE
Any word on the Ochoa kid yet?

HUNTER
He wasn't at any of the ESL
classes I checked out. I'm still
waiting to hear from Thayer.

DEVANE
Haller's going to skate if you
guys don't find him.

HUNTER
We can't hold him another twelve
hours?

DEVANE
His lawyer's really breathing down
the D.A.'s neck.

HUNTER
And the D.A.'s really breathing
down yours.

DEVANE
You got that right.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Files and papers are everywhere. McCall is reading the
transcript to Donald Cooley's trial. Michael is still tied
to the chair. Cooley reaches into his pocket for another
cigarette and finds an empty pack. As he angrily crunches it
up and throws it on the floor.

COOLEY
You got any cigarettes around
here?

MICHAEL
Neither of us smoke.

COOLEY
Figures.

Cooley glances around at the files scattered all over the
floor. He picks one up - quickly scans it and throws it
down.

COOLEY
This stuff is all legal jibberish,
man.
(to McCall)
You're getting nowhere, Lady.

MCCALL
I haven't even read through half
the files.

COOLEY
But all you've come up with is
some friggin time question about
when Terry left my brother's
garage.

MICHAEL
And that's all she's going to come
up with.

Cooley flares in anger.

COOLEY
Shut up!

MICHAEL
Face it man, your brother was
guilty.

Cooley backhands Michael across the face, cutting his lip.

MCCALL
(hard)
Cooley, stop it!

COOLEY
I should kill you both right now.

MICHAEL
Killing us isn't going to change
the facts.

MCCALL
(warning him to
shut up)
Michael...

MICHAEL
I didn't convict your brother,
Leon. A jury did that. I just
laid out the facts. I did my job.

Cooley is frustrated now, confused, pacing like a caged
animal.

COOLEY
It's what happened after. You
wouldn't listen to me. This guy
Derrick Slocum, the one they
arrested in San Francisco-

MICHAEL
Derrick Slocum didn't kill Terry
Lincoln.

COOLEY
(explodes)
You don't know that!

Suddenly the phone rings. Cooley quickly shoves a gag n
Michael's mouth and moves to the portable phone sitting on
the coffee table.

COOLEY
(To McCall)
On my nod, pick it up.

The phone rings a forth time. Cooley nods. He and McCall
pick the phones up simultaneously.

MCCALL
(into the phone)
This is Sgt. McCall....
(listens, then)
Well, thank you for returning my
call.... I see.... Do you know
how much longer Ms. Pearson will
be in court? This is urgent.

Cooley covers the phone and whispers to McCall.

COOLEY
I don't want you talking to some
D.A.'s assistant.

McCall covers the phone.

MCCALL
He might be the best we can do for
now.

McCall returns to the phone.

MCCALL
(into phone)
Maybe you could answer a couple of
questions about Derrick Slocum....

Unseen by either of them, Michael stares down at the floor,
his face masked with worry...

INT. DIVISION - SQUAD ROOM - DAY #3
Hunter is at his desk when Detective David Thayer walks up.

THAYER
Hunter, good news. I picked up
Ochoa at an ESL class about three
miles from the factory.

HUNTER
Nice going Thayer.

THAYER
Here's the best part.
(grins)
She's going to testify that Haller
set the fire.

HUNTER
You mean he.

THAYER
No. Ochoa's a she. The A stands
for Alejandra. She's right over
there.

Thayer points off to a corner of the squad room where a very
pretty Latino girl of about eighteen sits. Hunter is
perplexed.

HUNTER
McCall said Ochoa was a guy.

THAYER
(ribbing him)
Maybe you better get your hearing
checked.

HUNTER
(half listening)
....yeah. Maybe I better check
out a couple of other things too.

Hunter grabs his coat heads out of the squad room.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY 3

McCall is on the tail end of her phone conversation with
Elenore Pearson's assistant. Leon still listens in.

MCCALL
(into phone)
...you're sure of this?

McCall's eyes dart to Michael. He looks away from her.
Cooley notices.

MCCALL
(into phone)
What was that name again?

McCall grabs a pencil and writes the name down.

MCCALL
(into phone)
...Lieutenant Mozack, Houston PD.

McCall notices that Michael reacts at the mention of the
Houston Police.

MCCALL
(into phone)
Thank you very much. And when Ms.
Pearson is done interrogating
Slocum, would you please have her
call me?

McCall and Cooley hang up the phone. Cooley is seething.
He rips the gag out of Michael's mouth.

COOLEY
See, I told you that girl in San
Francisco was strangled with a
bicycle chain.

McCall turns to Michael, looking at him in a slightly
different light now...

MCCALL
I thought you talked to the
Medical Examiner up there.

MICHAEL
I did. At the time his findings
were inconclusive.

McCall stares at Michael, trying to read if he's telling the
truth.

COOLEY
But even if there was a question,
you could've looked into Donald's
case. Give him some hope. Man, I
told you what prison was doing to
him. I told you he couldn't take
it.

MICHAEL
You don't re-examine a case with
that kind of evidence. It
wouldn't hold up in court.

McCall and Michael lock eyes again. This time she's sure
he's lying. And he knows it.

COOLEY
That lady D.A. mentioned a girl in
Houston who also got strangled
with a bicycle chain. There was a
cop...

MCCALL
Lieutenant Mozack.

COOLEY
Yeah, we should call him.

MCCALL
Okay.

MICHAEL
I can't believe you're even taking
part in this.

COOLEY
She better take part in it. It's
the only reason you're still
alive.
(to McCall, hard)
Call 'em.

As McCall picks up the phone.

EXT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Hunter drives up to the front of Michael's house and stops,

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

McCall is listening on the phone. She covers the mouth
piece and looks at Cooley.

MCCALL
Mozack's not in.

Suddenly they hear a car door being closed out in front of
the house.

COOLEY
grabs the phone out of McCall's hand and slams it down on
the carriage. Then he stuffs the gag back in Michael's
mouth and kicks his chair over. Michael lands with a thud,
concealed behind the couch. He shoves McCall roughly over
to the drawn living room drapes, his hand clamped over her
mouth.

COOLEY
(harsh whisper)
Not one word.

He parts the drawn drapes ever so slightly...

COOLEY AND MCCALL'S POV - HUNTER

walking up the drive way. He picks up the newspaper and
glances at it. Then throws it back down. Cooley notices
Hunter's ND police unit parked out front by the curb.

BACK ON MCCALL AND COOLEY

He quickly shoves her away from the drapes and closes them
back up again. He whirls on McCall, his gun aimed at her,
talking in a panicked whisper.

COOLEY
He's a cop. You know him?

MCCALL
He's my partner.

COOLEY
Come here.

Cooley shoves McCall behind a large armoire.

EXT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Hunter walks up to the front door and knocks.

CROSS CUT McCall with Cooley behind the armoire and Michael
still tied to the chair behind the couch.

Hunter rings the front door bell. He waits... Nothing.

He walks to one of the living room windows and peeks through
a slight opening in the drawn drapes.

HUNTER'S POV

of Michael's living room... From his vantage point he sees
very little.

BACK ON HUNTER

He turns and walks away. As he passes the garage door, he
stops and tries it, but it's locked.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE

Cooley grabs McCall by the wrist and moves back to the
window. He carefully parts the drapes. They watch Hunter
heading back down the driveway.

ON HUNTER

noticing something...

HIS POV

of Cooley's red Chevrolet. It looks totally out of place in
the upper class neighborhood. It also has a parking ticket
on it. Hunter makes a mental note of the license plate.

RESUME HUNTER
As he gets in his car, starts it up.

BACK ON COOLEY AND MCCALL

watching Hunter's car disappear down the street through the
slightly parted drapes. Cooley sighs with relief. McCall
can't help but look like she's been abandoned. She rubs her
sore wrist from where Cooley grabbed her. He notices.

COOLEY
Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.

McCall gives him a look.

MCCALL
What difference do it make.
You're going to kill us anyway.

She walks past him. HOLD ON Cooley...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

*************************************************************

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. SQUAD ROOM - DAY #3

Hunter is at his desk talking on the phone. As he gets
information, he writes it down in his note book.

HUNTER
...That's right... Uh huh... So
the car's registered to a Leon
Cooley. Yes, that's very helpful.
Thank you.

Hunter hangs up the phone and heads over to Detective Art
Greenburg.

ANGLE - GREENBURG

At the moment his feet are up on the desk and he's devouring
a tuna sandwich.

HUNTER (OS)
Greenburg.

ANGLE - HUNTER

Greenburg looks around...

GREENBURG
Hey Rick, how's it goin'?

HUNTER
Donald Cooley -- you arrested him,
right?

GREENBURG
Yeah. Two years ago. Why?

HUNTER
Do you remember if he had a brother or
a first cousin...

GREENBURG
Yeah. He had a brother who showed
up at the trial every day.
(thinking)
What the hell was his name?

HUNTER
Leon.

GREENBURG
(looks up
surprised)
Right. Leon...

HUNTER
Thanks.

As Hunter turns off and heads toward Devane's office.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Cooley nervously checks the clip in his gun. He looks up at
McCall. Michael is still tied to the chair.

COOLEY
This is taking too long.

MICHAEL
Bureaucratic agencies are not
known for their swiftness.

COOLEY
Yeah, the wheels of justice turn
slowly. I heard all that crap
from Donald's lawyer during his
trial.
(to McCall)
You find anything else in those
files?

MCCALL
No.

COOLEY
Damn it! Call Houston again.

MICHAEL
That's just going to be another
dead end.

MCCALL
(with an edge)
Maybe not.

McCall and Michael lock eyes. McCall can't hide the
disillusionment she feels for him.

She picks up the phone and dials, never taking her eyes off
Michael. Cooley notices this.

MCCALL
(Into the phone)
Ahhh... yes, this is Sgt. McCall
from LAPD homicide calling. I'd
like to talk to Lieutenant
Mozack...

McCall waits a moment... Then:

MCCALL
Please, I've already called him
once today. It's very urgent that
he return my call as soon as
possible.

As McCall hangs the phone up we hold on Cooley's look of
frustration.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAY #3

Hunter and Devane pull up in Hunter's unit. Behind them are
two black and whites with four uniforms in each. They exit
their units.

HUNTER
Charlie, I'm going to check some
things out.

DEVANE
Fine. I'll deploy the men to
their positions.

As Charlie walks back to the four uniforms standing by the
two black and whites -

HUNTER

walks over to the intersection and glances around the
corner.

HUNTER'S POV

of Michael Coburn's house.

BACK ON HUNTER

After a moment, Devane walks up beside him.

DEVANE
Too bad we can't use S.W.A.T.

HUNTER
We haven't been able to visually
I.D. a hostage situation.

DEVANE
I know...
(then)
If you're not back in five
minutes, I'm going to move.

Hunter nods and moves off. HOLD ON Devane's concern for a
moment.

INT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3
Michael squirms in the chair he's still tied to.

MICHAEL
Cooley, you've got to loosen this
cord a little. It's digging into
my wrists.

COOLEY
Suffer.

EXT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - BACK YARD - DAY #3

Hunter enters through a back fence and makes his way to the
back door where he notices the window has already been
cracked open.

As he gently opens the screen door, an unseen piece of
broken glass from the window slips out of the pane and falls
to the floor.

INT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Cooley perks up when he hears the glass fall to the floor
from the back of the house.

COOLEY
What the hell was that?!

Cooley quickly steps behind Michael, his gun right by his
head.

HALLWAY - HUNTER

His gun drawn, he edges against the wall until he comes to a
door that leads into the kitchen. Hunter quickly steps into
the kitchen, his gun out in front of him. It's empty.

LIVING ROOM

Cooley, still behind Michael, motions with his gun to
McCall.

COOLEY
(harsh whisper)
Get over here.

McCall doesn't move.

COOLEY
Now!

As McCall moves toward Cooley.

BACK ON HUNTER

As he edges down the hallway... He comes to the living room
- looks out

HUNTER'S POV

Of Cooley standing in the middle of the living room.
Sitting in front of him tied to the chair is Michael.
Beside him with Cooley's gun to her head is McCall.

RESUME HUNTER

as he draws a bead down on Cooley.

HUNTER
Police, Cooley. Drop your weapon.

Cooley grabs McCall around the neck and shoves her in front
of him. He points his gun toward Hunter.

COOLEY
Step out where I can see you, cop.

Hunter steps out into the living room.

MICHAEL
(his voice full of
fear)
Kill him Hunter, kill him!

HUNTER

slowly approaches Cooley as he talks. His movement's
deliberate - his gun aimed right at Cooley with McCall
shielding his body.

COOLEY
(to Hunter)
I'd hate to see your partner here
hurt.

HUNTER
Then let her go.

COOLEY
No way.

HUNTER
There's no way you can get out of
here.

COOLEY
I don't care about getting out of
here. I don't care about
anything.

MCCALL
Not even your brother's memory?

Cooley's voice is wracked with pain...

COOLEY
There's nothing I can do to bring
him back...

MCCALL
Then you don't care if you clear
his name or not. All of this has
been for nothing.

COOLEY
I know he was innocent.

MCCALL
It's too bad. We were so close to
proving it to everyone else.

Hunter, still approaching Cooley as he talks.

HUNTER
Listen to her Cooley.

COOLEY
I should've killed you both when I
had the chance.

MCCALL
But you couldn't. Because you're
not a murderer.

COOLEY
I'm about to become one, Lady.

Suddenly the phone rings. Cooley stiffens.

MCCALL
(thinking fast)
That could be Houston.

Cooley glances at the phone as it rings again.

MCCALL
Let me answer it.

The phone rings again. Cooley takes a long beat -- then.

COOLEY
(a beat)
Get it.

He lets McCall go and grabs Michael around the neck, his gun
right beside Michael's head.

ANGLE - MCCALL
as she picks up the phone....

MCCALL
(into phone)
Sgt. McCall... Lieutenant Mozack,
thanks for calling back...
Derrick Slocum, what can you tell
me about him?

As McCall listens to Mozack's information on the other end
of the line, Cooley's eyes keep looking away from Hunter to
McCall. Hunter keeps moving closer and closer to Cooley.

MCCALL
(continuing into
phone)
... really? I see...

McCall's eyes quickly dart to Michael who averts his eyes.

MCCALL
I don't know either...No, that's
not the way we usually do things
in Los Angeles...

Cooley motions for her to get on with it.

MCCALL
Well you've been very helpful,
Lieutenant. Thank you.

McCall hangs up the phone. Hunter takes another unseen step
toward Leon.

COOLEY
(with urgency)
What did he say...

Michael stares at McCall, knowing that she knows the truth,
and wondering if she'll reveal it.

MCCALL
(a beat)
He didn't have anything
substantial.

COOLEY
(incredulously)
What?

MCCALL
I'm sorry, Leon.

COOLEY
You're lying!

Cooley steps toward McCall lowering his gun for just an
instant. SUDDENLY Hunter dives for him. Cooley's gun goes
off as both men tumble to the floor. Hunter renders him
helpless with two quick jabs. Then pulls him to his feet and
cuffs him.

HUNTER
You're under arrest. You have the
right to remain silent...

As Hunter continues to give Cooley his rights, McCall steps
over to Michael.

ANGLE - MICHAEL AND MCCALL

As she looks down at him, her contempt obvious.

MICHAEL
God, Dee Dee... I can't believe
it's over.
(then)
Untie me, would ya?

MCCALL
(ignoring him)
Why did you do it, Michael?

MICHAEL
Would you please untie me?

MCCALL
Does getting a seat on the federal
bench mean that much to you?

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

MCCALL
Yes you do.

McCall looks over to Hunter with Cooley. He's finished
giving him his rights.

MCCALL
Rick, would you please bring Leon
over here? I'd like him to hear
something.

Hunter leads a handcuffed Leon Cooley over to Michael and
McCall.

MCCALL
You were right, Leon. I was lying
to you about my conversation with
Lieutenant Mozack.
(looks back at
Michael)
I was afraid of what you'd do if
you knew the truth.

MICHAEL
This is absurd.

MCCALL
Is it? The Houston Police
contacted you three months ago and
you didn't do anything about it.

MICHAEL
Do you have any idea how many
calls I get?

MCCALL
This wasn't just any call. Lt.
Mozack told me that three months
ago in Houston, Derrick Slocum was
a suspect in a the rape and murder
of a sixteen-year-old girl.

Cooley reacts to this.

MCCALL
And,it looked like she was
strangled with a bicycle chain.

MICHAEL
(blurting it out)
'Looked like.' But they weren't
sure.

MCCALL
Mozack was familiar with the
Donald Cooley case and called you
about Slocum. He asked you on
three separate occasions to send a
team of investigators down to
Houston. But you ignored him.

MICHAEL
Hunter, talk to her. She's
flipped out.

HUNTER
I don't think so.

MCCALL
Lt. Mozack couldn't hold Slocum
because of a technicality, but
when he was finally arrested in
San Francisco, guess what they
found among Slocum's possessions
- one of Terry Lincoln's credit
cards.

MICHAEL
(stunned)
... I didn't know about the credit
card.

MCCALL
Because you never bothered to
check. You were so afraid that a
blotch like this on your career
would keep you from getting your
precious Federal Judgeship.
(a beat)
You sent an innocent man to
prison, Michael...

Michael doesn't have anything to say. He drops his head...

COOLEY
(almost to himself)
So it was all worth it...

EXT. MICHAEL COBURN'S HOUSE - DAY #3

Cop cars. Street crowd. Cops are holding people back,
including the press. Devane is running the operation.

ANOTHER ANGLE - COBURN'S FRONT DOOR

As McCall and Hunter exit the house with Leon Cooley in
custody. Michael exits the house behind them and veers off
trying to avoid the press.

COOLEY
(to McCall)
What happens to me now?

MCCALL
Realistically, you'll probably do
some jail time. But I'll help you
any way I can.

COOLEY
And then what?

HUNTER
I guess that's up to you, Leon.

MCCALL
It'd be a real shame to clear your
brother's name, just to spend the
rest of your life in and out of
prison.

Cooley stops walking. He looks at McCall. For the first
time he smiles.

COOLEY
You really think Donald's name'll
be cleared?

MCCALL
I'd say there's a pretty good
chance.

Cooley takes a beat, then looks off toward Michael...

COOLEY
Not if he has anything to say
about it.

Hunter and McCall look over toward-

THEIR POV OF

Michael talking to a group of reporter.

BACK TO SCENE

McCall's anger is hard to contain.

MCCALL
Don't worry, I'll take care of
that.

As McCall heads over to Michael and the Reporters, Hunter
stays with Cooley.

NEW ANGLE

of Michael fending off the reporters.

REPORTER #1
Your Honor, can't you fill us in
any more than that?

MICHAEL
I've told you, I'll have a
statement for you in the morning.

MCCALL (OS)
Well I've got a statement for you
now.

ANOTHER ANGLE

to INCLUDE McCall. She and Michael lock eyes - any vestige
of feeling she once had for him is now gone.

McCall turns back to the reporters.

MCCALL
In fact, I've got a story for you.
A hell of a story...

As all the reporters descend on McCall...

FADE OUT:

THE END