분야
hwpby Brian Helgeland
Based on the novel by James Ellroy
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November 16, 1995
Minor Revisions
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FADE IN:
OVER the opening strains of "I LOVE YOU, CALIFORNIA," a
MONTAGE: a mixture of headlines, newsreel footage and
live action. Economy Booming! Postwar Optimism! L.A.:
City of the Future! But most prominent among them:
GANGLAND! Police photographers document crime scenes.
The meat wagon hauls ex-button men to the morgue. Where
will it end?
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EXT. L.A. SKYLINE - SUNSET
Palm trees in silhouette against a cherry sky. City
lights twinkle. Los Angeles. A place where anything is
possible. A place where dreams come true. As the sky
darkens, triple-kleig lights begin to sweep back and
forth.
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EXT. MANSION (HANCOCK PARK) - NIGHT
The KLEIG LIGHTS are out front. Valets hurry to park a
line of elegant cars.
MAYOR (V.O.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you
the future of Los Angeles!
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INT. HANCOCK PARK MANSION - BALLROOM - NIGHT
The MAYOR yanks a cloth to reveal a MODEL of L.A. criss-
crossed by an elaborate FREEWAY SYSTEM. The CROWD oohs.
A COUNCILMAN claps. A SOCIETY MATRON nods her approval.
PIERCE PATCHETT, 50, tuxedoed, watches off to one side.
A behind-the-scenes power broker, Patchett exudes
authority much more so than the Mayor does.
MAYOR
The Arroyo Seco freeway is just
the beginning. Were planning
freeways from Downtown to Santa
Monica, from the South Bay to the
San Fernando Valley. Twenty
minutes to work or play is the
longest youll have to travel.
More applause. One REPORTER asks a little too loudly...
REPORTER
How many bodies you think Mickey
Cohenll be able to hide in all
that cement?
The Mayor wears a plastic smile, ignores it.
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INT. THE MOCAMBO - NIGHT
A CLUB PHOTOGRAPHER pops snapshots, but the real action
is on the floor where MICKEY COHEN does a wicked "Lindy
Hop" with THREE different GIRLS at once. A fireplug of a
man, he hardly seems a public menace. Nearby is his
bodyguard JOHNNY STOMPANATO. Over it all:
HUDGEONS (V.O.)
Meyer Harris Cohen, Mickey C to
his fans. Hes the big moocher,
local L.A. color to the nth
degree. You know Mickey. He runs
dope, rackets and prostitution.
He kills a dozen people a year.
But who you may not know is
bodyguard Johnny Stompanato.
His hair in a slick pompadour, Stompanato keeps an eye on
Cohen and comes onto a CIGARETTE GIRL at the same time.
HUDGEONS (V.O.)
Johnnys handsome, ladies, but the
real attraction is below the belt.
Second only to Steve Cochran, hes
sometimes known as Oscar because
of his Academy Award-size
appendage.
Mickey works a sweat on the dance floor. A bottle of
champagne pops; Stompanato reacts, nearly draws a pistol
from his shoulder holster. As he laughs at himself...
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INT. HUSH-HUSH MAGAZINE OFFICE - DAY
Lurid page one headlines cover the wall where SID
HUDGEONS types. The essence of sleaze, Sid is the
publisher-photographer-writer of Hush-Hush magazine and
keeper of inside dirt supreme. As he continues...
HUDGEONS (V.O.)
Remember, dear readers, you heard
it here first, off the record, on
the Q.T. and very Hush-Hush.
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INT. HANCOCK PARK MANSION - BALLROOM - NIGHT
The party continues. The Mayor has moved off to the side
with the power brokers. Patchett is a presence.
MAYOR
Were selling an image, gentlemen.
Beautiful weather. Affordable
housing.
(re: model)
Trouble-free transportation. And
the best police department in the
world to keep it all running
smoothly.
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EXT. STOREFRONT - NIGHT
A dozen people watch a display windoe TELEVISION as it
rolls the opening of the hit show "Badge of Honor." Over
familiar THEME MUSIC, "Sgt. Joe Reno" (actor BRETT CHASE)
walks the streets of Los Angeles.
CHASE (V.O.)
My name? Joe Reno. The city?
Los Angeles. A big town. Full of
all sorts of people. Its my job
to help them. I like what I do.
Im a cop.
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INT. HANCOCK PARK MANSION - BALLROOM - NIGHT
The Mayor continues.
MAYOR
But with a second rate Al Capone
out there, L.A. looks like Chicago
in the 30s. Something has to be
done.
As Pierce Patchett nods sagely.
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INT. OLYMPIC AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
Wrestler GORGEOUS GEORGE primps and poses before flatten-
ing an opponent with a drop kick.
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INT. MOVIE THEATER - NIGHT
An enthusiastic crowd adjusts their 3-D glasses.
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EXT. COHEN MANSION (BEVERLY HILLS) - DAY
In monogrammed silk pajamas, Mickey Cohen answers the
door, his pet BULLDOG Mickey Jr. at his feet. The police
are waiting. REPORTERS flashbulbs pop.
POLICE OFFICER
Mr. Cohen, youre under arrest.
COHEN
Bullshit. Whats the charge?
POLICE OFFICER
Non-payment of federal income tax.
COHEN
BULLSHIT.
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EXT. GRAUMANS CHINESE - DAY
JOHN WAYNE gets his hand prints in the sidewalk.
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EXT. WESTCHESTER BEAN FIELD - DAY
MIGRANT WORKERS hurry to finish the harvest. We PAN
TO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS who wait impatiently with bull-
dozers under a "Spirit of the Future" BANNER. As the
last picker leaves the field, the bulldozers move in,
leveling the bean rows to make way for a housing tract.
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EXT. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE - STEPS - DAY
Flashbulbs pop as Mickey Cohen exits and s
