The Delivery (2) MERRILL Move it! Augustus reluctantly slides behind Jules as she reaches to hold the wheel... MERRILL Go! Simultaneously: Merrill scrambles over the front seat to the back and Jules hops into the driver's seat. JULES Now we're taking a ride. She shifts, ENGINE GROWLING. CUT TO: EXT. COMMERCIAL STREET -- CHASE CONTINUES Store fronts and businesses. The van takes a corner, dodges other cars... The Mustang pursues, Jules at the wheel. The van faces a mini-traffic jam. Nowhere to go, except... Up on the sidewalk, CLOBBERING a parking meter. Jules follows without hesitation, jumps the curb. On the sidewalk, PEDESTRIANS scatter, screaming. The van BLASTS through the obligatory NEWSSTAND... Up ahead: FRUIT STAND... DESTROYED... The van hits the cross street... BOUNCES over a median strip, burning rubber. The Mustang's behind, HORN BLOWING... Civilian vehicles panic skid, CRASHING parked cars, The upcoming intersection shows a red light. Too bad. The van SLAMS a crossing car, exploding onward. IN THE MUSTANG Merrill climbs up to the front passenger seat. MERRILL Get closer! Don't lose him! JULES I kinda already figured that, but keep those helpful hints coming. ON A CROSS STREET The van takes a sharp turn, tooling up a HIGHWAY ON-RAMP... EXT. ELEVATED HIGHWAY -- CHASE CONTINUES ... onto the freeway. Relatively clear sailing ahead. IN THE VAN Ted looks in his rearview. THROUGH MIRROR: the Mustang rises on the horizon Ted climbs across the waterbed, opening a utility box by the wheel-well... finds the van's JACK. ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang zig-zags past other cars. IN THE MUSTANG The world outside's a blur. MERRILL (motions with hands) You put your bumper just behind his left tire and then accelerate... make him spin out... JULES Is there nothing in this world you enjoy more than the sound of your own voice? In back, Augustus's looking out, sweating his ass off. AUGUSTUS (to himself) This is too fast. (to Merrill and Jules) This is way too fast! MERRILL Relax. AUGUSTUS (grips Merrill's shoulder) We should slow down. MERRILL Hands off the suit, monkey-boy. Close your eyes if you're scared. Augustus sits back, digs up his "Dallas Cowboy" football helmet and straps it on. ON THE HIGHWAY The van and Mustang blast past. IN THE VAN Ted's at the head of the waterbed with the jack rigged under the frame, pumping the handle... The frame lifts in front; angled so the waterbed's sliding and sloshing... bunching up at the rear doors. ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang increases velocity. IN THE VAN Ted locks the jack, climbs over the frame and slides down, stomping on the blob-like waterbed. He grips a strap on the ceiling and kicks at the rear door handle, but misses. Kicks again. ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang's directly behind. The van's doors open... IN THE MUSTANG Jules, Merrill and Augustus see what's about to happen. MERRILL Oh shit! ON THE HIGHWAY The waterbed flops out on the road... The Mustang COLLIDES in an EXPLOSION OF WATER... Spins out of control... Skids backwards on the shoulder, scraping the guard wall till it finally comes to a halt. IN THE MUSTANG Dazed pause. Jules, Merrill and Augustus are drenched. MERRILL Alright... you had your chance, sister. Make room for Merrill... Jules climbs in back. Merrill takes the wheel. ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang spits shoulder gravel, u-turning... causing other cars to make drastic moves to avoid. IN THE MUSTANG Merrill accelerates, shifting gear, focused. MERRILL I�m getting tired of this shit! He shifts again. ENGINE DEAFENING... SPEEDOMETER: 65mph... 70mph... 75mph... ON THE HIGHWAY FAR AHEAD: the van. Ted sticks his head out the window, holds his hat, looking back. TED Fuck me... Indeed. The Mustang's far back, but coming on strong. IN THE MUSTANG MERRILL Firepower, Augustus Augustus swigs from his flask. He opens a trap door in the seat beside him, reaching back in the trunk to produce a sawed-off shotgun, which he hands up to Jules. SPEEDOMETER: vibrating at 99mph... 105mph... ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang's getting close to the van, looks like it's gonna pass on the right. The van moves to block... Merrill twists the wheel... Coming around the van's left side... Jules points the shotgun... The Mustang overtakes the van... Jules fires -- BOOM -- the van's back tire is OBLITERATED! The van fishtails, out of control... The van crosses six lanes left, then crosses right back, straight at the concrete GUARDWALL... CRASHES into the guard wall -- the van driver flies through the windshield like a human cannonball, thrown off the elevated highway... ON A SURFACE STREET BELOW A TRUCK DRIVER sits in traffic, whistles a tune. : he's in a GLASS TRUCK loaded down with great, big, perfect sheets of glass, just as... The van driver soars from above -- SHATTERING EVERYTHING! UP ON THE HIGHWAY The Mustang skids to halt on the shoulder. Merrill, Jules and Augustus run back to look down to where people gather around the glass accident. AUGUSTUS Holy Shit. MERRILL I can not even begin to imagine how much that must have hurt. At the van, a door opens and Ted stumbles out, wig askew, bleeding. He runs across the highway... JULES (sees Ted) You got to be kidding. Jules whips out a gun, FIRES a warning shot. JULES Stop, jackass! Ted keeps going. Jules takes quick aim, SHOOTS... Butch's leg is knocked out from under him. He hits the median, moaning. Cars rush past. MERRILL (to Jules) Told you you'd get to shoot him. (heads to car, to Augustus) Think you can pick him up without all the bells and whistles this time, Big-Boy? Thanks. CUT TO: EXT. PRECINCT HOUSE -- MORNING The wounded Mustang rides up at the precinct house. At the underground garage, JOE MECHANIC, in greasy overalls, jaws with cops. He spots the Mustang coming. JOE MECHANIC Ah, Jeez, here we go again... MERRILL Sorry, Joe. These things happen. Merrill gets out. Jules and Augustus drag out the battered Ted in a gag and handcuffs. MERRILL (tosses keys) Pop in a windshield and bang out the dents. I need it quick. JOE MECHANIC (gets in Mustang) This car loves you, Merrill. Why do you treat it so bad? MERRILL Fear of commitment. Joe drives the Mustang into the underground garage. Augustus and Jules bring Ted up the precinct house stairs. Merrill follows, Cops come and go. FRIEND COP comes out, a young, fresh-faced model citizen in uniform. FRIEND COP Merrill!? Merrill's elated to see Friend Cop, bear-hugging him. MERRILL Hey, squirt! Goddamn, it's good to see you. How you been? FRIEND COP Can't complain, but I will if you give me half a chance. MERRILL You met my partners... ? (to Jules and Gus) This here's Harry McDoogle's kid. Fresh out of the academy. Top of the class and best scores on the pistol range to boot. Augustus and Jules greet him and shake hands. Meanwhile... DOWN THE BLOCK A CADILLAC Eldorado rounds the corner. TWO VILLAINS in front. ONE VILLAIN in back. All in suits and ski-masks. ON THE PRECINCT STAIRS MERRILL (positively beaming) Your pop must be proud of you. Look at ya, ya short-shaver... Merrill takes off Friend Cop's hat, ruffles his crew-cut. MERRILL Finally got a haircut. Hell, you look almost respectable. FRIEND COP (laughing) Almost, right? (of Ted) Looks like you got your hands full. MERRILL Ted�s going downstairs for a little "chit-chat." Gonna tell us all about Ted's big score... (removes Ted�s gag) Aren't you, Butch-Butch? TED Suck my dick. MERRILL (stuffs gag back) He's disgruntled right now, but he'll come around. ON THE STREET The Cadillac speeds up... SPLIT-SCREEN ON THE STAIRS ON THE STREET Jules sees danger, shouts MACHINE GUNS point from warning... from the windows of the Cadillac. Friend Cop spots the The Ski-masked VILLAINS Cadillac and starts to open fire -- flame erupting draw his gun... from their weapons, rapid fire: BLASTING and BLASTING Augustus dives forward... and BLASTING and BLASTING and BLASTING, non-stop... Ted's hit... blood exploding from his VILLAINS keep FIRING, teeth body and splattering... bared through their masks... Augustus tackles Merrill... Machine guns retorting... spent shells flying... Jules hits the dirt. gun barrels spitting death. Friend Cop's gun is only BLASTING... halfway up when bullets BLASTING... slap him in the chest and BLASTING... BLOOD spurts! BLASTING... BLASTING... Augustus lands on the BLASTING ceaselessly... ground with Merrill in his arms. The Cadillac accelerates, GUNS still FIRING... Ted does a dance of death as glass doors Machine guns are withdrawn, behind him SHATTER. smoke wafting. Ted goes flying thru the precinct doors. Friend Cops falls, coughing blood. Augustus leaps to his feet, enraged... Jules rises to follow... Augustus and Jules draw weapons as they bound down the stairs, chasing the Cadillac, SHOOTING. On the stairs, Merrill sees Friend Cop down. Horror. Augustus and Jules keep running and FIRING, but... The Cadillac escapes round a corner. Merrill comes to Friend Cop's body, cradles him. MERRILL No... come on, kid. Come on... (feels for pulse) No... Friend Cop's dead. Merrill squeezes him, eyes filling with tears, anguished fury building... CUT TO: EXT. STREET, A FEW BLOCKS AWAY -- MORNING INSIDE THE CADILLAC In front, there's MICKEY, evil, with spiked blonde hair and wrap-around sunglasses, and BALLS, eviler, a lip-less dullard in a fez hat and turtle-neck sweater. In back, there's POE, evilest, one dangerous-looking bastard; a circus freak giant in a pink polyester three-piece suit. POE Nice job, boys. Iced a bonus cop in the bargain. He dips his pinkie-nail in a vial, snorts coke. He grins, has a bunch of teeth missing in front. CUT TO: INT. POSH CLUB, RESTAURANT -- MORNING Windowless, wood-paneled walls showcase fine oil paintings. QUIET MUSIC PLAYS. It's a staid club, isolated from the outside world. Merrill, Jules and Augustus push thru the front doors, blowing by the MAITRE D'. MAITRE D' Excuse me, sir. MERRILL You're excused. Merrill, Jules and Augustus stop, scanning the restaurant. The maitre d' catches up, blocking, calmly superior. MAITRE D' Sirs and madam... I assure you you're not welcome here, This is a very exclusive, private club. MERRILL So is this... Merrill shows his badge, moving on... Snobby, upper-crusty PATRONS look up with disapproval from their center pieced tables as our heroes stride to... The table in the rear corner, where TED is flanked by TWO BIMBOS, Mickey, Balls, Ted and other THUGS. TED Well, well... if it isn't the Justice League of America. Ted is a jewelry-adorned, Balls stands, looking tough. Augustus picks up speed, SHOVES Balls with both hands... Sends Balls stumbling violently backwards, CRASHING into and FLIPPING over another table, to the dismay of patrons. MERRILL (to Balls) Don't get up on our account. (to Bob) Mind if we join you, Bob? Merrill sits. Thugs are edgy. TED Be my guest. (to bimbos) Ladies... go powder your beaks. The Bimbos go as Jules and Augustus sit. Balls rises, wiping scrambled eggs off his suit, furious. Ted waves him off, and Balls acquiesces, skulking away. JULES How you been, Ted? TED Better than ever, pig. JULES Still haven't fixed those front choppers, huh? Guess you're digging that hillbilly look. MERRILL We probably should give 'em back... but Augustus seems to think they're some kinda good luck charm. Augustus holds up a tiny jar with teeth inside, rattles them at Ted. Ted remains impassive. TED (still eating) What can we do for you, officers? What new, mindless harassments have you planned this morning? MERRILL Just to make you aware... before todays over, we'll be standing on top of your mountain of horse and pissing down on you. TED Thank you for sharing that charming image. JULES Laugh it up. You'll cry later. AUGUSTUS You'll cry like a great big, blubbering baby. Ted laughs, dabs his mouth with his napkin. TED You three... (shakes head, amazed, addresses the table) Narcotics have been around since before 4000 B.C. Marijuana was a major crop in colonial North America. Wars have been waged over opium, and still... in spite of it... (motions to trio) ... into that timeline of thousands of years come three vice cops determined to change the course of human history. Thugs laugh derisively. Merrill struggles to mask anger. MERRILL Couldn't have said it better myself. TED You bust some small-time pimps, whores and dime-bag junkies, like the world's a better place because you're in it. And for what, Merrill... two hundred and fifty dollars a week? Tell me, how does anyone get so self-righteous when they can barely afford to pay their rent? MERRILL Just 'cause you belong to some fancy-pants club, doesn't make you any less a murderer. TED Murderer? Really? JULES You're stealing people's lives, pusher-man. You might be killin' them so slow they think they're being saved, but down that road, they're just as dead. TED Live under whichever delusion you choose, you'll never touch me. You're not smart enough. AUGUSTUS Shove it up your ass. TED And always with the witty rejoinder. Touch�'! (picks up menu) Let me treat you to brunch. You'll need your strength. MERRILL Thanks, but we don't recognize "brunch" as an actual meal. TED (looking at menu) I insist. What will it be? Boston Tea Party Clam Chowder, or maybe the Chicken Red, White and Cordon Bleu? No... (tosses menu) Merrill does a slow boil... FLASHBACK-- PRECINCT HOUSE STAIRS -- TWO SCENES AGO Friend Cop's gun is only halfway up when bullets slap him in the chest and BLOOD spurts... ! BACK TO SCENE IN POSE CLUB All at once, IN SLOW MOTION: Merrill stands, enraged, pulling his gun... Ted pulls his gun... Jules shoves her hands in her overcoat pockets... Augustus reaches both hands cross-armed into his jacket... Merrill levels his gun at Ted. Ted puts his gun to Merrill's temple. Augustus points two guns at Mickey just as Mickey raises his gun and puts it in Augustus's face. Jules brings her hands thru pocket holes, shrugging her coat, pointing two sawed-off shotguns on shoulder straps. Several thugs freeze, eye-to-eye with Jules's shotguns. Stalemate. Waiters and patrons freak, clearing out, screaming. The eye of the storm: MERRILL I could end a whole lotta suffering right now. TED And your friends' lives. Ted calmly stares down Merrill's gun, brings a forkful of meat to his mouth and chews. Merrill wants to pull the trigger so badly, shaking, sweat dripping down his face. But, Merrill reins his anger in... backs off. MERRILL Your poison's not gonna make it into the veins of my street. TED Wave that flag, hero. Keep dreaming those dreams. Merrill leads Jules and Augustus out, past frightened employees. Thugs return to their seats. as Ted allows an edge of anger. TED Something needs to be done about them, once and for all. CUT TO: INT. PRECINCT HOUSE, MAIN LOBBY -- MORNING The precincts busy with cops and jabbering weirdoes in custody. Merrill, Jules and Augustus move thru the boarded-over front doors, crossing... All around, other cops are giving dirty looks to our trio. Near the duty desk, OFFICER STEVE, a square-jawed uniform cop, nudges his intense, crew-cut partner, OFFICER JIM. These are blue-blooded, boots-polished, buttons-shined cops. Officer Steve points out Merrill, Jules and Augustus. OFFICER JIM (with disdain) Whoop-de-do, there they go. Strutting in like they're better than us. OFFICER STEVE They're a disgrace. OFFICER JIM It's their kind of... of... overzealous antics that give cops a bad name. Officer Steve nods in full agreement. Merrill, Jules and Augustus near double doors. A grumpy-looking plain-clothes HOMICIDE COP is heading the opposite direction, chomping on a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. His eyes light up when he spots Augustus. HOMICIDE COP (mouth full, to Gus) Hey, big man... how's the last of the red hot lovers? Augustus's confused. Homicide Cop's jolly, like they're in on a private joke. Problem is, Augustus's not in on it. HOMICIDE COP (off Gus's confusion) That girlie of yours... she's one-in-a-million, I'll tell you. How you lucked into that, I'll never know. Augustus I don't... what... !?? But, Homicide Cop's beading on, winking and clicking his tongue in lascivious appreciation. Augustus hasn't a clue, moving to keep up with Jules and Merrill. INT. PRECINCT, VICE BULLPEN -- MORNING A stereotypically busy room of overburdened bulletin boards and file cabinets. As Merrill, Jules and Augustus enter, we meet the middle-aged CAPT. ALBERT, who points angrily. CAPTAIN ALBERT My office! Now! INT. PRECINCT, CAPTAIN'S OFFICE -- MORNING Captain Albert slams the door, circles Merrill, Jules and Gus as they sit. The graying DISTRICT ATTORNEY COCKSUCKER stands with arms crossed, looking out the window. D.A. COCKSUCKER I turned on my TV, and I expected to see Los Angeles brimming with jubilation. I expected children with painted faces. Men and women in Bicentennial garb. Multi-ethnic marching bands. Pie eating contests. All good things American. I turned on my TV and what did I see instead? (turns to cops) A corpse was scraped off Canyon Road after Lord knows how many cars ran over the carcass. And in a related story, a high speed chase ended when the suspect was thrown from the highway to his death. Merrill, Jules and Augustus exchange looks, a bit sheepish. D.A. COCKSUCKER And, what... what am I forgetting? Oh, yes... the transvestite junkie whose bullet riddled body came blasting through the front doors of the precinct house! MERRILL Well, sir... D.A. COCKSUCKER No. Don't open your mouth! You honestly think you can explain this to my satisfaction? MERRILL I... I think I can... clarify... D.A. COCKSUCKER Don't bother. This behavior's gone on too long. You're suspended. MERRILL What? CAPTAIN ALBERT You heard the man... Captain Albert points at a CLOCK. 12 noon. CAPTAIN ALBERT It's noon straight up. Effective immediately, you three work desk jobs till midnight. JULES You can't be serious. CAPTAIN ALBERT Can't I? JULES We've been chasing this deal six months, and now you're gonna chuck it out the window? Merrill stands up. MERRILL Hey now, look! Let's all get on the same page here. This shipment is do or die for Ted's syndicate; all or nothing. If we stop the drugs, we don't even have to catch him red-handed. He's ruined cause his pushers go broke with nothing to sell. On the other hand, if we fuck this up, it means more zombies crawling the gutters than ever and a morgue that doesn't have a single empty drawer. More old ladies getting mugged and molested by junk-hungry needle-freaks, and all the while Ted's sitting back and laughing his head off. CAPTAIN ALBERT There'll be other chances. MERRILL Not like this. Are you even listening? D.A. COCKSUCKER I will not allow your obsession to turn a day of pride and celebration into a day of wholesale slaughter. AUGUSTUS (rising) May I say something... ? CAPTAIN ALBERT No! Augustus sits back down. Merrill's fed up. MERRILL Don't you condescend to tell me how or why to honor Independence Day, and don't tell me I'm overreacting when I'm trying to bust the guy responsible for half the filthy junk coming into this city! D.A. COCKSUCKER You're about an inch away from insubordination! MERRILL Well... seeing how you just suspended me, what's to stop me from calling you a crazy bastard, you old fart? D.A. COCKSUCKER (bottled fury) Till the last firework fizzles out tonight, detective, you sit a desk. And, after that, I'll decide if you keep your shield. CUT TO: INT. PRECINCT HOUSE, MEN'S BATHROOM -- AFTERNOON Merrill, Jules and Augustus storm in. Cops at sinks and urinals look up. Merrill motions them out. Jules goes to sit on the window ledge, worried, while Augustus checks stalls. The other cops exit, irritated, MERRILL I say, fuck 'em. Let's go. AUGUSTUS Well... we shouldn't rush into this, right? Let's talk about it. MERRILL What are you, Henry fuckin' Kissinger all the sudden? AUGUSTUS I'm just saying... MERRILL You're just saying nothing! Tonight is the night. AUGUSTUS Yeah, but if we don't sit, they'll take our badges. MERRILL What of it? Haven't we waited forever... ? (turns to Jules) Haven't we, honey? Haven't we waited long enough to get this scumbag? Jules looks down. She's having doubts. MERRILL What... ? Not you too? JULES He's right. We hit the bricks, we walk back triple-fucked. MERRILL I can't believe I'm hearing this, JULES I worked my ass off for my badge, Merrill, It's the only thing that makes me different from every other slob out there. MERRILL That's not true. JULES I know it is, even if you don't. AUGUSTUS All I got is being a cop. What do I do if I'm not that? MERRILL You big, fat sonofabitch, if it weren't for me, you'd still be sitting in the file room where I found you. (to Jules) And you... Jules... you've still got needle scars from where I pulled you out of. You of all people... JULES Yeah, my arms healed up real good, and that's how I wanna keep 'em. That's what I'm trying to tell you. MERRILL Guys... all we've got is each other. Don't we know that by now? Jules stews. Augustus sweats, stares at the floor. MERRILL Christ... (hurt pause) Alright... alright, I'm taking off. I'll expect you to catch up. He walks. The door swings closed. Jules's miserable. JULES (under her breath) Damn him. CUT TO: INT. PRECINCT, PARKING GARAGE -- AFTERNOON IN THE MUSTANG, Merrill gets in. He keys the engine, pauses, gripping the wheel, contemplating. It's something we've not seen cross Merrill's face till now: uncertainty. Worry. Merrill faces front and shakes off doubt, cursing himself. He puts the car in gear and peels out. CUT TO: EXT. HOLLYWOOD STREETS -- AFTERNOON The Mustang vooms past... IN THE MUSTANG MERRILL (disgusted) Come on, come on... ! "The Hustle." "Kung Fu Fighting." He turns the RADIO OFF, sickened. EXT. HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, XXX-THEATER -- AFTERNOON The Mustang parks. IN THE MUSTANG Merrill gets a bottle of baby powder from the glove compartment. He takes a section of newspaper. ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD Merrill walks briskly. Every flea-ridden business along the way's drumming up business by exhibiting patriotism. Merrill stops, hesitating... backtracks... At the XXX-THEATER, he examines a poster for "DEEP ASS," this shows a half-naked, �Deep Ass� ing�nue in blue eye shadow, pig-tails and moist lipstick. FLASHBACK -- THAT MORNING -- HAMBURGER STAND Augustus Sits eating a burger, staring lovey-eyed at his girlfriend. The girlfriend's familiar now... BACK TO SCENE AT XXX-THEATER The "school-girl" is the porn star on the poster. Merrill realizes, saddened. He KICKS -- SHATTERS the window. The THEATER OWNER rushes out. THEATER OWNER Hey, you fucking creep. Merrill shoves his badge in the owners face. The owner backs off. Merrill takes the "Deep Ass" poster... He folds it and pockets it as he continues. CUT TO: INT. DISCO CABARET -- ATTERNOON DISCO MUSIC THROBS. Merrill passes through the turnstile. By the erratic light of a glitter ball, three topless, body-painted women, RED GO-GO DANCER, WHITE GO-GO DANCER and BLUE GO-GO DANCER, grind to disco rhythm. Merrill moves, wading thru drunken vermin. A few BUSINESS MEN dance woozily in the aisle. At the bar, PINK-EYE, a sizable lunatic-thug wearing a knitted macram� tie and brown corduroy leisure suit, watches Merrill cross. Pink-eye downs his scotch. Merrill moves against one curtained wall, admiring the nearest go-go dancer. He slips behind the curtain... INT. DISCO CABARET, HALLWAY - AFTERNOON Merrill moves quickly down this hall. INT. DISCO CABARET, STAIRWELL -- AFTERNOON Merrill climbs a long staircase. He takes out the bottle of baby powder, sprinkles powder on the top landing. He unfolds his newspaper and places it flat over the powder. INT. DISCO CABARET, OFFICE -- AFTERNOON Meet POP-SWEET, black super-pimp in lime-green fuzzy jump-suit and feathered fedora. He's on the couch, on the phone, caressing the HOOKER beside
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