Original subtitles

You ready?

Yeah. Boot it.

That's it.

That's it. That's it. I'm recording. I'm recording. Good, good, good. I'm

recording. You crazy man. Wait till I get this thing down. You're trying to ID

me. What you doing? Fucking freak. What's the problem?

Dance the problem. Don't be a pussy. Fuck.

Fuck you. Don't call me a pussy.

I'll fucking ID you. All right. Here, take the gun. Give me that piece of

I can't believe it. Is it even loaded?

I want the auto, asshole.

I want the auto.

I fucked your dick, man.

Come on. Don't fucking shit on me.

It's right there. Turn right. Turn right. Hey, okay, okay. Just relax.

Relax. Right, right, right, right. Here we go. Here we go. There it is. There it

is.

One, two, three.

Go.

Over here. Over here.

How'd you get the tip? How come the cops didn't put it in evidence?

I guess with all the blood, they didn't see the rig.

Well, I had it on a wig. How'd it get to you?

I got ways, Lenny. I got ways, man. I got to deal with some of the paramedics.

My guy pages me. I pick it up at the morgue. What do you think?

This clip has got to be worth at least a grand, right?

Tick, not to dash your hopes, but I don't deal with this kind of product.

know that.

I'll give you four for it, because I've got to cut out the last bit, and my

customer is one uncut.

Fuck that, man. The last part is the best. You drive down...

turns them old men, your jocks, right into the big black. I don't deal.

Blackjack clip.

It's public.

I got ethics here. Oh, yeah, when did that start? Come on, Lenny, this is what

people want to see, and you know it. So play it off to somebody else.

Lenny, Lenny, I got expenses. I gotta get my rig fixed. Look at it. There's

blood all over the head. Wait.

Give me six at least. This is a good clip, man. It gets you pumping.

Well, first part's okay.

Better than the usual soaps you bring me.

Now that is cold.

You know I always bring you choice.

Yeah, sure. Like this little great shit here.

Some girl in a fight with her boyfriend. It's a test pattern. Nothing happens.

I'm snoring.

Lenny, you're always telling me, bring you street life, bring you real life,

that one man's mundane and desperate existence is another man's technicolor.

I said that?

Many times. It's a direct quote.

I'll take it for fine.

And you'll make out okay, because in this case, it's pure cream. You don't

to cut anything back to the wearer. Yeah, that's for sure.

Okay. What else you got?

Calls are a little kooky tonight. You know, it's a little after 2 a .m.

30th, 1999.

Second to last day of the whole darn century.

Oh, Jared Knight.

Listen. I'll drop the money by tomorrow, next day later.

It's a little crazy right now.

Would I lie? No. Never to you, Jack. Never to you.

You're not wrong.

You're not wrong.

So,

Dan,

you looking forward to the new year?

Not really.

I mean, what's the point?

Nothing changed since New Year's Day. The economy sucked.

The whole thing sucks, right?

What the hell are we celebrating?

You shoot the clip and get it to me by Monday, okay? The client wants a guy and

two girls. And the guy wears.

Yeah. No, I know. He's trying to be original.

And the girls, they have to be young, okay?

So don't use your mother like you usually do.

And yeah, you too, asshole.

Go ahead, caller. You're on the air.

My name's Dwayne. I got news resolution for the police. You know what I'm

saying? Hey, yo, 5 -0.

Better get down with the 2K.

2K, Dwayne. Help us out. What is that?

2K. You know what I'm saying? The big 2 ,000.

Coming up tomorrow night. Out with the old, in with the new.

See, for the man, no news is good news. You know what I'm saying?

I mean, he like keeps the way it is, but we're going to take it and make it new.

Make it our own.

I mean, history's going to start right here, you know what I'm saying? Right

now. Dwayne. Hey, hey, hey.

I want to give a shout -out to Boo.

You're on the air, Lori.

If you read the Bible, Mark, you'd know that there won't be another thousand

years. Right now, we're in the last days as foretold in the book of Revelation.

The last days.

You mean the coming of the apocalypse, right? The rapture. You only have to

at the signs. There are wars and rumors of wars. Now, just so the rest of us

know how much time is left, when is the rapture supposed to hit exactly?

Is it midnight New Year's Eve?

That's right.

Now, is that midnight L .A. time or Eastern Standard time or what? I mean,

time zone has God in anyway?

I pray for you all.

Okay, yeah, I mean, I can use it. It's not bad. It's not bad. Honey.

You gotta move your eyes slower next time. Much, much slower. Like you're

love with your eyes, okay?

Wait, let me get this straight. You're gonna pay me $200 to put on a hairnet

bang some beautiful babe?

I don't know. I gotta think about that.

Let's get you wired up.

I hope this axle grease you got on your hair doesn't screw up the squid

receptors. What is all this squid shit anyway?

Superconducting quantum interference device, squid.

The receptor rig I'm putting on your head sends a signal to the recorder.

We call it being wired, but there's no wire.

You gotta keep the recorder close, like five, six feet away, Mac, in your jacket

pocket by the bed or wherever you're gonna...

Closed escrow, know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, right. I've got a half hour of

so it can give me some lead -in to the main event.

But don't wait too long, because I don't want to be going out for popcorn.

Don't worry, you won't. You got it? No problem.

You look great. You look... You look beautiful.

That's a negative.

Suspect is a black male, 35 to 40.

We're handling.

You look so good.

How do you feel?

Lucky.

Dry me.

You wanna watch? What are you gonna do?

Watch and see.

Thank you.

I love your eyes, Lenny.

I love the way they see.

Oh.

New Year's Eve, 1999.

It's being called the party of the century, but it may be the biggest party

ever. No one's seen preparations like this, but preparations require care and

insurance. And the LAPD is one insurance company that doesn't want accidents.

The bodies of two men found early morning

under the Hollywood Seaway have been identified.

as rap star Jericho One and band member James Colton. No fans as replay.

Both men were shot repeatedly in what police are characterizing as an

-style killing. The body of an unidentified woman was found with them,

numerous times.

Police earlier said that the killings appear to be gang -related.

With his band, Prophets of Light, Jericho One's outspoken political stance

violent lyrics have stirred nationwide controversy.

Meanwhile, astrologers have been busy making predictions for the coming

Some of their fortune -telling is indeed incredible.

Muammar Gaddafi will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Turkey will make reparations to Armenia.

By the year 2025, there will be a second woman president.

What's up, Lenny?

Keith.

Keith?

Yeah. Hi, Lenny.

Lenny and Neil were always stuck on the phone. Hi.

Okay.

Not to be rude, Keith, but I gotta ask.

Are you a cop?

I understand. No, I'm not. You understand.

Attorney, right? Attorney?

Right? That's right.

Castle shooting.

Entertainment lobby, my guest.

Relax. It's my job to know people and what they want.

What's behind their eyes.

Okay, so tell me, tell me. Have you ever jacked in?

Have you ever wiretripped?

No. A virgin brain. Good.

We're going to start you off right, okay? Just tell me.

Save us some time. Tell me what you know.

Just what I've read.

The technology was developed for the feds to replace the body wire, and now

gone black market.

That's right, so this conversation's not taking place, okay?

You're damn right it's not.

Good, good.

So, do I get the deck from you? I'll set you up. I'll get you a deck at my cost,

since my thing is the software.

Clips, right?

Clips, right.

Now, listen, I want you to know what we're talking about here.

This is not like TV, only better.

This is life.

It's a piece of somebody's life.

It's pure and uncut. It's straight from the cerebral cortex.

I mean, you're there. You're doing it. You're seeing it. You're hearing it.

You're feeling it.

What kind of things, exactly?

Exactly anything.

It's whatever you want. Whoever you want to be, okay? I mean... You want to go

skiing without leaving your den, you can, but I'm assuming that a guy like

you want to go skiing, you fly to Aspen.

That's not what you're interested in here.

It's about the stuff that you can't have, right? The forbidden fruit, hmm?

Like running into a liquor store with a .357 Magnum in your hand, feeling the

adrenaline pumping through your veins, huh?

Or, um, you see that guy over there with the drop -dead Filipino girlfriend?

Wouldn't you like to be that guy for 20 minutes?

The right 20 minutes?

Yeah, and I can make it happen, and you won't even tarnish your wedding ring.

Sounds good.

See, I can get you what you want.

I can. I can get you anything. You just have to talk to me. You have to trust

me, okay? Trust me. Because I'm your priest.

I'm your shrink. I am your main connection to the switchboard of the

I'm the magic man.

It's not a clause of the subconscious.

You say it.

You think it. You can have it.

You want a girl?

You want two girls?

I don't know what your thing is, what you're curious about.

You want a guy?

Maybe you want to be a girl. Hey, think of that.

Be a girl. See what that feels like. Maybe you want a nun to tie you up.

It's all doable.

Talk to me about costs here. Okay, now, before we get into numbers, I want you

to try a taste, okay? I got a deck with me.

Right here.

Step into my office.

You're just an 18 year old girl taking a shower.

Are you beginning to see the possibilities here?

Okay,

it was funny, but it cost me a lot of money.

Come on, amigo.

World's full of marks. No one else ought to work them like you do, pal.

You could fill a goddamn rat's asshole for a wedding ring. Yeah, I could.

Let me buy you drinks.

Bobby! Bobby!

Bobby!

Tequila, four for four. Double shots.

Make it a tray. I don't know how to say it all.

Nothing but the best of my good friend Lenny.

Funnest cop to ever get thrown off the bike score.

Fuck you.

Face time.

Thanks, thanks.

You know, you gotta dress like a fucking pimp, man. Sorry I can't ruin your

entire wardrobe.

That's not a thing in life. It's the one thing that stands between me and the

fucking jungle. Hey, to the jungle.

We're out of the blue, some shitberg can cap you in the back of the head, and

that'll ruin your whole day.

You were lucky, Max. Yep.

So darn lucky, I wake up with a .22 short floating in my brain pan and a cop

pension I can't live off of.

Damn, that's a good thing I wasn't any luckier.

Bobby, hit me again.

So, you seen Faith lately?

No, she won't call me.

It's just as well, honey.

I mean, sure, Faith was by far the most outstanding woman a guy like you could

ever hope to get, and it's completely and deeply humiliating that she's gone,

but you gotta face that it's over, compadre.

Thanks, chaplain. I'm touched by your concern.

I just hate to see you pining away, man, okay?

I mean, you're my friend, and it makes me want to vomit, frankly.

Iris, you okay? I gotta talk to you, Lenny. I'm serious.

What happened, honey?

Did some John get rough on you or something?

No, I'm talking private.

Please, I'm in trouble.

So is Faith.

There it is, the magic fucking word. Can you come with me to your car, please?

There's something you have to see right away.

What's going on?

It's a bad situation.

What?

If they get me, I know they'll...

Two millennia of the human evolution, that's the best idea you can come up

Hey, listen, where do you get the report card?

200?

250? I'll pay you 350 right now.

You got the cash? No, I was going to write you a check if that's okay. Yeah,

ya. Okay, okay, I totally respect that call. I mean, I would want cash.

They'll take my check inside. I can see your purse for time. Just give me two

minutes. Here, you can keep my watch for collateral. It's a Rolex.

I'll be right back. Two minutes.

Two minutes.

Son of a bitch!

So what happened to your car this time?

See, Lenny, if you packed your piece, you could make the guy see sense.

Bobby, you turn this up and I'll wash this shit.

You watch us take it all and then you'll understand our pain.

We make you the rats that crawl through the cracks.

You love that red, white, and blue, but you hate the black, black, black.

And you try to make me think I did this to myself when the drugs I smoke and the

guns I tow both came from your shell.

My life is a nightmare.

America's been my cookie man for 400 years.

been tried every government's been tried you know every fucking hairstyle

fucking bubble gum flavors you know breakfast cereal every type of fucking

know what i mean what are we gonna do man how are we gonna make another

years for christ's sake i'm telling you man it's over we used it all up so lenny

what's this week's sad story oh they jerk my wheels you believe it i mean

outrageous the computer errors banks are making lately.

Have you noticed that? No, actually, I haven't noticed because I make my

payment.

So, Max Felcher, how's the PR business?

Sucks. But as soon as I get this new logo... Shut up a second. I want to hear

what scumbag... Do you have any leads?

Why was Jericho's buddy adequate security?

Who was that adequate security available to? I mean, no, he chose not to have

those kinds of companies in his life.

Why is he a scumbag, Lenny? You know who left Lenny for him.

Faith left Lenny for him?

Don't say faith. You know, you use the F word around Lenny and it triggers a

maudlin...

It's gonna be a big night.

Can't you feel it?

The energy in the air, there's money to be made. There's dreams to solve.

Leaves to paddle.

See, Dad, it's so unenlightened. I so experience it.

The way I see it, I'm performing a humanitarian service.

I'd probably save lives.

I want to hear this part.

Look, everybody needs to take a walk to the dark end of the street sometimes.

That's what we are.

Now, the risks are out of line.

The streets are a war zone.

Feds can kill you.

So, you slip on the troves, get what you need, almost as good as a real thing, a

lot safer.

Porno. Ladies, you sell porno to wireheads.

Harsh. Harsh and untrue. My clients are professionals. They're people with

taste. Some of them are even celebrities.

Yeah, what celebrities?

Oh, the guy from the news.

He does the weather.

Well, that counts.

Hey, you passed Lesbianica. That would imply I'm not taking Lesbianica.

It's the quickest way to get to the club. I gotta get to the club. I got

business there. I'm meeting people.

Mace, you're my friend. I need you. Plus, I'll give you 25 % of what I make

tonight. You know, this may be a hard concept for you, but friends don't have

pay their friends.

Faith, you're singing better than I should have known.

I pulled 12 hours. I got to get some sleep. Now, I got one last pickup at the

St. James Club.

They got a taxi stand. You can catch a cab. It'll take you wherever you want to

go. A taxi?

Well, someone might see me.

Hold it up. Hold it right there, ma 'am.

Whoa. Hold it right there, ma 'am. Damn it, Lenny. You made me late. I'll take

care of it. What's your pickup's name?

Pumit. Pumit?

Nero, record commissioner.

Sure, whatever.

See, since you shick -hand my career, I don't even have to call you sir.

It's one of life's small pleasures.

Aren't you peddling your wares a little far from your usual gutter? No, I was

invited here by a close friend, Mr.

Pumitzo. See, he's right over there.

I don't like disappointments, Nero.

And you know what disappoints me very much. Your sex license.

Excuse me.

Mr. Pumitzo.

Combamwa.

I've arranged for one of our very finest drivers, Lornette Mason, to take care

of you this evening. She's a bonded security specialist. She's trained in

defensive combat. And, of course, the car is bulletproof and fully armored.

I'll just be coming along to complete our routine periodic driver evaluation,

with your permission, of course.

We do it to ensure that our VIP clients, such as yourself, are always treated as

honored guests.

Good evening, Mr. Commissioner.

Sir, please watch your head.

Excuse me, Mr.

Nero. Excuse me. Sir!

What the fuck are you doing?

Coming with you.

You will not live to see the morning.

Drive on.

Not much I could say.

Are you a cop?

No.

Good. Have you ever been wired?

Wired?

The latest technology.

Oh, that is so beautiful.

You gotta take a look at this, okay?

Yeah.

You're gonna love it. You have more. I have more. You have more?

I have more.

Hey, careful on the jacket. It's Armani.

Hey, are you angry? I told you no wireheads shit in my car.

You're on hook.

In L .A.? Are you crazy?

Can we talk a little bit here, like two rational adults?

That'd be no.

Okay, you got my attention. This is cutting off the circulation of my head

Do you mind?

Maybe.

It's cool. It's nothing.

This is uncharacteristic behavior for you, Miss Icewater, in her vein. Super

chill. You pushed me too far, Lenny. You made me lose it in front of a client. I

could get fired.

Are we still friends? I don't know, Lenny.

You see, friendship is more than one person constantly doing favors for

I know that. I don't hustle my brains. You just suck people along with your

schemes, your scams, and your slick ass.

We're still buddies, aren't we? Don't just be using the time that I'm talking

be thinking about what you're going to say next. You listening?

Yeah. Lenny, your ass is always broke.

You'll go from one score to the next and you're getting strung out. You don't

even see it. It's your brain, so you do whatever the hell you want with it. But

not on my watch, you understand me? I got a child, I got rent, and I got an ex

-husband doing hard time who doesn't send me a dime of support. I'm just

to hold on here.

I know you wouldn't be saying all this if you didn't care about me.

Thanks, Mace, really. You're getting out with the Mitsu, and that's the end.

I'll get you to the Templars in ten minutes, sir. I'm very sorry for the

inconvenience. I'm changing my plans.

Your supervisor, Mr. Nero, has recommended an excellent club called the

Fetish. I believe it's on La Cienega.

Yes.

Enjoy your evening.

Hey, babe.

Really keep it, okay? Okay?

Wait. Come on.

Do that.

Do that. Do that. Please.

Do that.

Hi, Lily.

She's a friend of mine. You met her. You take care of her.

Hey, Lenny, how you doing? Who's the new shot of beef against Boston?

Oh, that's Wade Beamer. He used to play running back for the Rams in 96, 97.

Hey, like a fucking freight train.

Rams, football, right?

Oh, that's ping pong. Hey, Irish is looking for you.

Hello, Lenny.

It's okay, Wade. There's an old friend of mine, Lenny Nero.

Come to peddle me some clips for old time's sake?

Just make a few extra bucks for holiday. You're not a client anymore, Gan. I

wouldn't play the sweat out of a dead dog's balls.

I've already got everything I need from you, Lenny. Thanks.

Cut it out, Philo.

Too bad about your guy, Jericho, huh? Tough break.

You lost your golden goose.

Try showing some respect sometimes. Man is an important artist.

Important for your label, which no doubt is why you're in mourning.

Oh, don't worry. His records will sell out now he's dead and you'll make out.

Always do.

Faith,

can I talk to you for one second?

Not a good idea right now, Lenny.

I just got to talk to you for one second, okay? About what?

Leave that a deep between me and Faith, wouldn't you?

Honey, Lenny, I don't feel anything between you and me.

Hmm.

That's your problem, Vinnie.

You assume too much. You assume there's something, but there's nothing. You

assume that you have a life. In fact, you're just peddling pieces of other

people's lives.

And the broken parts of your own.

Chase! Wait, get into the car. Call me, okay?

Chase!

Call me!

I need to leave him there.

Leave him alone, Philo, okay?

Just so you shouldn't be talking to him.

You shouldn't be talking to anybody.

I mean, not with everything that's going on. You are too goddamn paranoid. You

know that, pilot?

Paranoid? Reality on a finer scale.

Hey,

hey, hey.

Still haven't grown back yet, huh? Uh, no.

Any day now, though. I just know it.

Hey, you got something for you.

It's a present. Something I had custom made.

Happy millennium.

Oh, I got something here for you, too. Just showed up tonight.

Uh, I don't know who from.

Fan mail from some clowner?

Hi, baby.

I missed you.

Lenny, you have to leave. I mean it.

Iris said you're in trouble. What does she mean?

You talked to Iris? When?

Tonight. I haven't seen that girl in months. What the fuck would she know?

Who knows what's going on in that whore's head? She used to be her best

What, Iris?

You're really running out of excuses to come around, aren't you? I know you,

Faith. You're afraid of something.

What's going on?

Just let it alone, Lenny. It'll take care of itself.

It's Gam, isn't it?

This guy's poison, Faith. You've got to listen to me. He's got you walled in on

all sides, and he uses the wire too much. He gets off on tape, not on you.

That's a good one, Ty, from you.

Why don't you just split, huh?

Because I don't want to. What, do you love him, Faith?

I don't think so. And to him, you're just some kind of possession. You're

Ferrari. You're just something to show the other guy.

Yeah. He has his uses, too, you know. What?

He's going to record you on his label?

He might.

You never know, right?

Faith.

Faith.

I've watched you create yourself out of nothing like a goddamn cruise missile,

targeted on making it, and you will.

I know I will.

It's you up on that stage. It's not him. You don't need him.

Lenny, you have to get out of here. If Philo catches you, he's gonna hurt you.

I'm already hurting him. No, I'm serious.

He's acting crazy. He's doing way too much playback.

He's gotten completely paranoid.

He's such a control freak now, he's even paying Max to follow me around.

Max? You're kidding.

Yeah, for about a month now.

Jesus.

Look, Lenny, just stay away from Philo. And stay away from me.

Stop trying to arrest me. Those days are over. I'm a big girl now. I've changed.

Stop trying to save me. I don't need saving. Just give up on me.

I just wanted to make sure you were all right.

You know one of the ways that movies are still better than playback?

Because the music comes up, there's credits, and you always know when it's

It's over!

You were great.

Hey, man.

I know what you're thinking.

You should have told me about your new gig. I was gonna tell you. It's just a

job, man. I feel like shit about this. You should feel like shit. I do feel

shit, okay?

Hey, you can introduce me to that prick, Gant. Introducing to Faith, too,

doesn't mean it's a moment I cherish from my past. Questionable move,

definitely, given the historical perspective.

Anyway, look, the way I had it figured is I could take the prick's money, and

I'd make sure that Faith is okay at the same time. Keep an eye on her for you,

okay? Which you can't do without getting your fingers bent the wrong way back.

See?

I'm busted, man. I need the money. That's the way it does you and me both

good. Fell he took the logic, man. It's even for you.

Hey, got a job.

I got a job.

Okay, I'm sorry. You got a job. That's great. I got a job.

Hey, listen.

You've got to stay on her, okay?

Watch her for me, please. I'm on her.

Okay, cool. Take it easy.

Take it easy, all right?

Hey,

wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I recognize you. You're Wade

Beamer, right?

Running back for the Rams in 96, 97. Am I right?

Yeah, that's right.

That's right, man. I mean, you were good.

Really good. I mean, like a fucking freight train.

So, what happened?

Injuries or what?

Bullshit politics, man. It's always politics. Like this thing in here, like

paying you to tune me up. I mean, I could pay you more than that. You see

mean? I could write you a check right now.

I got to go.

Okay. Cash.

Cash. Here's everything I have on me. Oh, look. What do you say? How about a

Rolex?

I got a real one.

Come on, it won't hurt too bad.

It's nothing personal. Just one second. Just one second, please.

My jacket.

It's really expensive.

Just not the eyes.

You're bleeding.

Some jerk puked down the stairs and I slipped.

I should sue.

He came back for me. I came back to pick up my client.

No, no, he came back for me.

I gotta lie down. Macy, please, in the back.

Some piece of work, Lenny Nero.

You're just calmly backstroking along in the big toilet bowl and somehow you

never let it touch you.

I mean, between working vice and your current so -called occupation, you must

have seen every kind of perversion. But you're just like some Teflon man.

You still come out this goofball romantic.

That's why I throw it in my field, mate.

A little B &E action.

What'd you say?

Oh, nothing.

Please. Please.

Please.

You can let me go. Please. I haven't seen your face.

Please.

Let me go.

Let me go, please.

Oh, my.

Oh.

Lenny.

Lenny.

Go to the subject region right now.

outfit she see what he see she she see herself

What is it?

Blackjack. Jack.

Snuff clip.

Who's Iris?

Sick fucker.

Killed her.

Are you sure it's real?

Oh shit.

For about a year.

Want to take a look? Hell no. I don't fool with a bat.

You all right?

Yeah. You okay?

No, not really.

All right.

Let's work it.

No, I can't.

Come on, Lenny. You used to be good at this shit.

Let's play it down. What's the perp doing?

He used to be a fucking cop, okay? Now that's a fucking murder.

What's he doing? Okay, he stalks her.

And, uh... He rapes her, and he does her.

He records it. It's a thrill kill, right? He wants to see it again and

again. He records himself raping and killing her. But at the same time, he's

sending a signal to her. So she feels what he feels.

While he's inside her, the thrill, while he's killing her, sent to her,

heightening her fear, which in turn heightens the turn on for him.

It's a bad one, it's a bad one.

He makes her see her own death, feeds off the reaction.

He records it all, everything.

And gives it to you.

Wants to share. Of course he wants to share, man.

That's his deal.

He needs an audience.

He's a sick puppy.

Why me? Because you're the magic man, Lenny.

You make dreams happen, don't you?

If it's got something to do with the wire, sooner or later it washes up on

beach. I've never dealt in blackjack. Never.

Everybody knows that. Come on, he's just skull -fucking your buddy, all right?

He just wants to get a reaction out of you. He wants to make you do something

that you do not want.

To do. No, hell, maybe he just figures Lenny will appreciate what he's created.

It's the dark end of the street. How do you like it now?

Back off.

No. This guy is one of your squid head contacts.

He's somebody that you know, Lenny. Any problem with that, Ismay?

Lenny knows everybody.

Let's take the tape to the cops.

No.

No.

He's helped crucify me.

I see. So this wire freak gets to keep running around, huh?

Lenny's right.

The police will think he's the perp, or they'll go through his client list and

they'll ruin his life.

Such as it is.

I'm gonna call my buddies at Homicide, all right? I'm gonna tell them Iris was

friend of mine and that way they'll put me in the loop.

I'll get the forensics and all that shit, okay?

Get some sleep.

I'll call you when I get something.

Relax!

Lenny!

Keep moving, man.

Somebody's thinking about you a whole lot.

Leave me alone.

Don't come to my house. Are you trying to ruin my life?

Iris is dead. She was murdered.

Who did it? I don't know, but this guy's real damaged goods.

Iris knew someone was after her. She said you were in danger, too.

I'm not in any danger.

No more games.

Whatever you're hiding, whatever's going on, you have to get out of here now.

Please, come with me right now.

Then what?

Are you going to protect me?

Are you a big talk guy? You're a fucking talker. You don't even own a gun. I

have a gun. It's under my path.

You don't know what you're fucking with here. Tell me.

Adam Faith.

God.

Uh, listen.

Listen. Lenny, just stop by to give me some bad news, okay?

An old friend of mine's been murdered. Remember Iris?

How the fuck did you get up there?

My charm.

Tell you what, my dear.

Just for you.

Make a deal. Why don't you just take her?

I mean, if she's so unhappy and she wants to leave, she can go.

Now, let her decide.

Faith always knows what she wants.

Don't you believe me? See?

Hands up.

I'll tell you something else.

I'll tell you this, you fuck.

If she says she stays, you go.

You crawl back into your little cockroach hole in the fucking...

I've made my choice, Lenny.

Get him out.

Get him out.

You're fucking crazy, Frank! You're fucking crazy!

Come with me!

you were going to get Iris out of this, Philo.

Now you understand the danger we're in.

So sweet when you said out there. So touching. I almost believed it.

I don't even think he understands. He did it for him, right?

He doesn't even know what's going on. Leave him alone!

I'd love to leave him alone if he'd stop coming around and you would just stop

talking right now.

Let's go.

Oh, come on now, buddy.

Let's go to the hospital.

Really smart.

I can make it really work for a while.

I'm not saying you don't want a couple of shots. Just go right as long as I'm

sick. Here, look. I've taken my Rolex.

Let me see.

Ooh.

Nice watch.

Is this impact resistant?

Yeah, sure.

You stupid piece of shit.

I need a drink.

Benny, I want you to put some rest. Cops and all, they'll never nail this guy

the second they walk in the room. What about the people you're walking in?

Dead hooker, handcuffs, penetration.

And cops are lazy, and they know nobody gives a shit about a dead hooker. I

mean, they're roadkill, right? So they'll come in. They'll take some

and they'll make some jokes. They'll just shrug it off like it's a random

It's a trick gone wrong. It's the kind you never saw. But that doesn't add,

it? No, it doesn't. Because Iris said she knew somebody was after her. That is

not random.

If they get me, I know you.

She said they.

If they get me, they. Which means this whole random sex killer thing is

bullshit. Which means somebody whacked her for a reason.

So this guy's not a psycho?

No, he's a psycho.

To do what's on that tape, he's not a well -adjusted human being.

Put that down.

And I'll check on you tomorrow.

You want to rub my neck?

Your shoulder's real sore.

Ready? Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Oh.

Don't stop.

How's Xander?

I'm missing.

Misses you, too.

I'm real sorry about being so hard on you earlier.

It's just that I see you getting sucked into this deeper and deeper, I know.

I miss you. Come on. I know you still love me.

Hi,

Mommy. This is Lenny.

is Lenny.

Just what do you have in mind?

Hey, last day of the world, you spend it in bed?

What's up, man? Not a whole hell of a lot, man.

I've just been saying words over Jericho.

Tension's running pretty high down here, man, I'm telling you.

Faith okay?

Yeah.

She's leaving with cancer. I gotta book it real quick.

Iris checked into the Regent last night under a false name. She paid cash.

Looks like she was hiding out. Yep.

So, uh, I heard you dropped in on Gant last night. Another slick Lenny move,

huh? Oh, he's in this somehow.

I don't know how.

Just stay close to Faith, okay?

No worries, bro.

I got a jam. I got a jam.

What up, Lenny?

So where are we going?

Anywhere. You're acting strange. What's going on? What?

We'll talk about it in the car.

I need to go back to the table.

Yeah.

Oh, shit.

What's the matter?

Tired of him going blue.

Lenny, would you relax?

We're not being followed.

Stop being so paranoid.

The guy had a knife to my throat in my living room.

Relaxing might be right out, okay?

Boy, that is one unbelievable piece of eye fuck. Just give the odd criticism,

Tick. What can you tell me about the wearer?

That guy is fucked up. We know that, Tick. No, I mean the killer's got some

of distortion in the visual cortex. Look, the color and the grade scale

are all messed up, like color blindness, titty peak period ratios. There could

be some kind of tumor or brain lesion or something, some kind of trauma.

Whoever's doing this is using a box to split the single so that... You ever

a box like that? Yeah, a few, but I can't see the gear well enough to see if

it's mine.

I don't like this.

This is not good.

What? It's cutting awfully close to me.

She was just here, man.

Who was just here? Iris, would you pay attention to me? Wait, Iris was here?

was here the other night. She was shaking like a junkie. Said she wanted

make a copy of some clip. What clip? What was it? I don't know. She wouldn't

me see it. She said I wouldn't want to see it. Said she was going to give it to

you. for her, like insurance or something. But she never gave me a tape.

minute, Lenny. Think back to what she said.

She came into the bar. She was crying. She wanted to go out to my car. Can you

go out to your car for me? There's something you have to see. Something

car? Something in your car.

That's a handy little attitude adjuster.

What's it say?

Nothing.

Don't play this back.

Give us the tape right now.

What tape? I just want to get my car back, but the place is closed. Shut the

fuck up.

Give him the tape.

It's in my case.

I'm going to open my case.

Facing us, so we can see it.

Take it and turn it loose, okay?

Absolutely.

Take it easy. The glass is bullet resistant.

Bullet resistant?

Whatever having a bullet proof?

Calm down, baby. This is what I do.

It's all right, then.

Then you'll make it in time anyway.

The gas tank's gonna go any second.

Hold on.

Are you

out of your fucking mind?

The fire's out, isn't it?

Just pick up.

Can't believe you had to give them the damn thing.

Yeah, me neither.

There's one of my favorites.

Me and Faith in a hot tub on my birthday.

Are we impressed yet?

Yeah.

Pretty impressed.

Well,

you got the miss of the party since, mate.

All of your asses round like I ain't got to shit on you. Hey, hey.

Just drive, all right? Shit is wet.

Those two guys were coughed.

You sure?

It's the walk. Something, anyway, will run your plates and get your address.

We gotta keep moving.

What's going on, Wes?

Hey!

What's up?

Xander, we're going to Aunt Cecile's house. We'll watch fireworks from over

there, okay? Oh, Ma! Oh, Ma, come on, boy. Chop, chop. Come on.

Come on, Xander. We're going for a ride, okay? Come on, buddy.

I want to know what's going on.

What's going on now?

Oh, man.

Tell me.

I can tell you.

You gotta see it.

I'm not doing it.

I know what you think about the wire.

But you gotta see it. It's that important.

I'm sorry, this has to be your first playback.

All right. Keep your eyes closed, or you'll be double.

Baby, yes.

Oh,

I'll take you home.

Only two, you bastard. That's right.

Hey, baby.

they gonna be cool all right i don't want no trouble i can't afford no

You too.

Suppose you pulled us over because you had suspects fitting our description in

the area.

Jericho One, you're the one that's been getting all the gangbangers together,

going downtown, forming citizens.

Thanks. Are you there?

Meet me at Tix in half an hour in Lenny.

Don't get pulled over, okay?

Do you know what this tape could do if it got out?

Yeah, I got a pretty good idea.

We will find an out.

See?

The LAPD just flat out executed Jericho.

Maybe they ought to see.

Maybe.

But tonight's probably not the best night.

Mate, come on.

We're rolling.

I don't think those cops did Iris. I think whoever Iris was wearing before

killed her.

Why? To break the trail.

If those cops had gotten hold of her, they'd have beat it out of her who she

wearing for and then gone after them too.

Our killer is running as scared as we are.

She makes him really dangerous, judging by how scared I am.

Let him go.

Sounds like Tim's already celebrating, huh?

Seems a little overdressed for this party.

I'm gonna look nice for you, my dear.

Hey, Tim!

He's been cooked off.

Is he dead? No, but his frontal lobes are like two runny eggs. They put an

amplifier in line to boost the signal, and it fries his brain.

Tick!

Totally cut out from the outside world. How long does it last?

Forever.

Those two psycho cops are on a slash and burn, man, to find the tape and cover

their tracks.

You know, since Tick is a known duplicator, they want to find out what

Like if copies were made or who might have wired a virus. It doesn't even get

investigated as a homicide since he's technically alive.

Yeah, that's right. He's technically alive.

Seems a little sophisticated for them. These are not subtle guys.

There's more to this whole thing than you think, Mace.

What do you mean?

All I'm saying is you don't know how high up the food chain this thing goes.

I heard stuff.

What stuff?

You know, I heard stuff. Smoke, rumors. I've heard stuff.

I've heard stuff about a death squad.

A group of guys, cops, loyal to the hardline school.

Guys who've had too many years at City Hall.

review boards and the goddamn media pissing down their necks, suspending

right and left, tying their hands, while out of the other side of their mouths,

the same people are saying, save us, save us, do something, you fucking

Crime is totally out of control.

Bullshit, Max. It's conspiracy paranoia. The issue isn't whether you're

paranoid, Lenny. I mean, look at this shit. The issue is whether you're

enough. Christ.

Exactly. Get religion, man.

I love you like my own blood, Lenny, but don't walk near me in public right now,

all right? The only card we got to play is the tape.

Get it to the media.

That's right. Yeah, blow it open.

Hey, May, Lenny, no disrespect, but you run that on 11 o 'clock news by

midnight, you got the biggest riot in history. They'll see the fucking smoke

Canada. So what the hell are you saying, Max?

Pretend it didn't happen?

I say that. It happened. The LAPD executed one of the most important black

in America.

Who the fuck are you to try to bury it? Trying to rape the LAPD?

Over a cheese grater?

Fine. You want blood running waist deep in the storm drains, then go do it. 200

,000 gangbangers will spread like a wave through this city and burn it to the

fucking ground, Mace. And as soon as the fire starts, the street cops will start

capping off on anything that moves.

It'll be an all -out war, and you know it. I don't think so.

Well, maybe it's time for a war.

Oh, you really want that on your head, Mace?

Huh?

Really?

Whoever did Iris did pick is the same thick wirehead shit, the same reason to

burn the trail.

Not Faith knows anything about this.

And she does.

Somebody's going to kill Faith.

me a copy of the tape. God damn it, Lenny. I was trying to keep you out of

I know. Now, how'd it happen? What was Iris doing riding around with Jericho

wearing a watch? Hey, hey, listen. Look, look, look.

You gotta trust us. We're here to help you.

All right, I'll talk to you alone.

Mace is in there. Tell us.

Hey.

Philo, he's gotten obsessed with playback.

He's a total wiretrip junkie.

He's such a control freak now. He's been having people followed.

He's recording his business partners' phone calls. He's wiring up people left

and right.

Philo and Jericho weren't getting along.

He was afraid Jericho was going to dump him, but he wasn't sure.

So he starts with the surveillance.

A couple of nights ago, he wires up Iris and he sends her and the other girl,

Diamanda, over to Jericho's table.

So that night, Iris calls up crying.

She's freaking out.

She comes over and she plays the tape.

Philo loses it. He can't believe the disaster she's gotten him into.

He's afraid the cops are going to beat it out of her who she's been working for

and then come looking for him.

I need you to go public with the tape. Save himself that way. If it got out

he had his own artist under surveillance, he'd lose all his other

be over for him.

He tells her to check into a hotel under an assumed name until he can figure out

what to do.

He figured out what to do, all right.

What, you think he killed her? The killer knew right where she was because

put her there.

What a nightmare.

I don't know who the fuck she is, but later.

Let's go.

Paolo, listen, man. I was wondering how you wanted me to work it tonight down at

the Bonaventure. You want me downstairs at the party or upstairs this week?

Lenny. Leave here with me right now.

Come on.

Talk about that later. No, man, I really need to know. Upstairs, downstairs,

where are you going to be?

Hey, what the fuck are you waiting for? Come on, get her. Go.

I just did this once, baby, okay? So we'll talk about that later.

Oh, okay, man. I'm cool. I'm cool. I'm sorry, man.

Hey, wait. Go on for a pass, bro.

I'm certainly in the mood for a party.

Wait. I want to take her up to the suite. No problem.

You going to have a glass of champagne?

With sticks.

See you up there in a bit. Happy ring in the new year.

I live for the moment.

Pussy whip, sorry ass, motherfucker.

Ow!

Take it easy.

So where are they now? He's got her up in the room under guard.

He's still working the party, acting smooth like nothing's nothing.

So, buddy, I say we work a trade. What do you mean?

Give him the clip. See, it's fucking brilliant.

Tape for tape. I know he'll go for it, and I can set it up. This is what we've

left, and you refer to it as a plan, right?

Hey, come on. Just get your butt down here, okay? If I'm not at the party

downstairs, go to the room.

It's 2203, right?

Two. Two.

Zero. Three.

If he gives us any shit, we'll kill them all.

What do you say?

Lily's got it at pigeons.

Okay, we gotta get over there.

Can you borrow a dress from the theater or something?

I'm not going.

What do you mean? We're going, Gant. It's gonna do it right there. Shut up.

Lily, park your mouth and listen.

It's a setup. Think about it.

Why is he sending tapes to you? To freak you?

Get you to rush in without thinking, put a bullet in you, one in her and a gun

in your head?

Yeah, that sounds right.

I'm going.

You gonna get yourself killed for this? For this toxic waste of bitch?

What the fuck are you doing?

Look, this is your life.

Right here, right now.

It's real time.

She doesn't love you anymore.

Maybe she did once, I don't know, but she doesn't now.

These are used emotions.

Time to trade them in.

Memories were meant to fade, Lenny.

They're designed that way for a reason.

Have you ever been in love with someone who didn't return that love?

Yeah, Lenny.

It didn't stop you from loving them, right?

Or being able to understand them or forgive them?

I guess.

It didn't stop you from wanting to protect them, did it?

I met Faith. She was just another.

Another runaway giving $20 blowjobs to buy crank.

That's another lost soul.

And she had this voice. It was... It was scary.

Like she could take all the hurt and rage of the entire world and lift it up

heaven in one voice.

I helped her.

And I promised her that I'll always just be there to protect her.

It's not about what's in her head, it's about what's in mine.

I can't let go of the promise.

It's like all I have left.

Let's go to a

I'd be better than I would.

Thank you, I think.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, buddy.

Come on, buddy.

Right.

Still got one ace to play.

Gant's got what I want.

I've got what he wants.

This is the original. There are no copies.

Exactly. That's why it's a makeable deal.

Look, this tape is a lightning bolt from God.

It's worth more than you, more than me, and more than faith.

You understand?

It can change things, things that need changing, before we all go off the end

the road. And you do not have the right to use it for current things.

So if you go, you go alone.

You see, I care about you a lot more than you know, which makes us both

stupid, huh?

But if you pawn this tape, you mean nothing to me.

You see that guy over there?

That's the deputy commissioner named Palmer Strickland.

The sanctimonious prick who busted me out.

His ass is so tight when he farts only dogs can hear it.

If there's one cop who's not dirty, him.

Take it to him.

You want me to trust a cop?

No, trust me.

Here.

What did you...

Commissioner, there's a clip in here that you need to see right now.

If it weren't New Year's Eve, I'd have you arrested for possession of illegal

equipment.

Just look at the clip.

You want to know who killed Jericho, you go into that stall right now and hit

play. Sir, is there a problem here?

Damn it, I knew it.

Let go of me.

Sir?

Wait, can we talk here like two human beings?

Nothing personal.

Remember me, you fucking dick?

Come on!

Steckler!

I didn't hear you come in

I love you, Max.

You're so pretty, man.

Come here!

Come here, you... Fuck, fuck, you wanna fucking die?

You wanna fucking die?

You wanna fucking die?

Piece of puke hired me to kill you, baby.

Can you believe that? Isn't that right, kid? Oh, my God, I can't believe this is

happening. Believe it!

Now bring me the trolls in the deck.

Come here, big shot. Suck on this, huh? Suck on this. You want to suck on

something? Suck on this, huh? What are you going to do?

You can't just kill him, Max. I'm not going to kill him. Give me that. I'm not

going to kill him. Just a little post job.

Shut the fuck up!

Shut up!

Shut up!

I'll blow this fucking trigger.

Here's how much I love you, baby.

God, Max.

Hope you enjoy the show, Philo.

Fuck Thank you

Don't make any assumptions about our friendship, okay, Lenny?

Didn't know you were colorblind, Max.

Only way I could stand your tide.

Mano cerebro, Miguel.

Ooh.

Glock 23.

Nice.

Where's Faith?

Senator Party.

Figured I'd wait up here until you killed Gant.

What makes you think I'm gonna kill Gant?

You just did.

Jesus. You know, statistically, that's the second most common word people say

right before they die.

Shit. Being number one.

So, uh, I killed Gant, and you ran in, being on his payroll, and shot me.

That's just about the way it happened.

Wait a minute, now I'm remembering. I killed Iris, too, didn't I? That's

They'll find the original first snuff clip in your apartment. The one I left

you at the club was a copy.

Was I a really busy guy? Did I do Tick, too?

Oh, you bet. Did you like it?

So why, Max?

Why'd you have to do Iris?

Oh, I've got to picture it. I feel like I've got to share this with somebody

because it's just too perfect, okay?

Don't worry, I won't say anything.

Oh, I know.

So I'm working for this puke, right? And he says he'll pay me quite large to do

the hooker. But I also got to do his bitch girlfriend because she knows the

whole score and she's totally out of control. Only he doesn't know about me

Faith. So I say to myself, if I turn the job down, he'll just get somebody else.

And I lose Faith, to coin a phrase.

So to buy some time, I do this gank, but I still got to deal with Gant.

I figure it's him or me, but I can't just camp him without some chump.

take the fall and who better than his girlfriend's loser ex -boyfriend known

criminal and who has been seen half in him in public numerous times and was

regrettably also your best fucking friend hey no plan is perfect lenny

go on man cheer up world's gonna end in 10 minutes anyway you must be so pleased

i mean i followed your jellybean trail right here like a good little chump

Oh, you got froggy on me a couple times.

Oh? Yeah, remember that rip about the death squad? That was pretty good. I had

to keep from going to the cops. Well, you know, I've heard stuff about a death

squad. The issue isn't whether you're paranoid, Lenny. I mean, look at this

shit. The issue is whether you're paranoid enough.

So there never was a death squad? No. Just those two loose -count cops are

running around covering their butts.

Pretty thing, huh? All this shit caused by a random traffic stop, huh?

Ain't nothing means nothing, man. You know that.

Look around, the whole planet's in total fucking chaos.

The day of reckoning is upon us!

You gotta get what you can, while you can, cause some shitbird can come put a

.22 in the back of your head any second.

How'd you hook up with Faith?

Hmm.

This fuck hired me about a month ago to eyeball her. Only Faith knows me from

you. So she comes up to me and says, Max, why are you following me and i say

i'll buy a drink i'll explain and then she says so do you enjoy watching

supposed to go downstairs baby but upstairs i know

i don't always do exactly what i'm told max you know that so i said do you enjoy

watching me come on max play with me and then what do you say i

said yeah i'd even do it for free

Uh -huh. And I said, that's good, because I like the feeling of someone

me. I acquired the taste from Lenny.

And then she said, since we're going to be spending so much time together, you

know? Why don't we make the best of it?

Very bad.

You know all about that, don't you, Lenny?

Faith and me, we found a place you could never reach, Max.

Never.

Faith.

I know it's gone.

Max, you can't fucking touch it.

Enjoy it.

Get this woman some medical attention.

What?

Are we under

arrest? No, I just wanted to ask a few questions.

For about six hours.

Okay, where are you hurt, sir?

Ma 'am, you okay?

Ma 'am?

I need to get that coat off. Are you hurt anywhere else?

Hey,

Lenny, we made it.

You

should

get going.

See you downtown.

Whoa.

Thank you.