Assassins

INT. YELLOW CAB – NIGHT

Cap on, Rath is behind the wheel. He turns up the CB, hoping to get lucky. CALLS CRACKLE, then...

DISPATCH (V.O.)

Who's near Adams and Nine? I got a fare going to the airport. Rath picks up the mic, pulls the Driver ID from the dash, checks the cab's ID number.

RATH

This is 501. I got it.

Rath clicks off, shoves the ID under the seat. Sticking the .22 down between his legs, he rolls.

EXT. ADAMS AND NINE – NIGHT

An empty payphone on the corner. Not a soul in sight. The Yellow CAB pulls up, IDLES at the curb.

INT. YELLOW CAB – NIGHT

Rath holds the .22 with one hand, the door handle with the other. Tense as a tiger ready to spring.

A couple exit from a dingy bar across the street. Rath looks over, frowns as they start toward him.

In that instant, the opposite passenger door opens and someone gets in the back. As the door slams shut, Rath checks the rearview mirror.

It's Bain. He carries his rifle wrapped in his jacket. For the first time we realize that the front and back of the cab are separated by bullet-proof glass.

An awkward silence as Rath slides the .22 back between his legs. Bain looks at his eyes in the rearview. (Bain never really saw him at the cemetery.)

BAIN
Is there a problem?

RATH

(cool as can be)

The airport, right?

BAIN

Right.

RATH

No problem.

EXT. INTERSECTION – NIGHT

As the Yellow Cab pulls away, we get the distinct feeling this is going to be no ordinary cab ride.

INT. YELLOW CAB – NIGHT

Rath studies Bain in the rearview. Bain stares out the side window, chuckling to himself, a thin trickle of blood on his temple.

RATH

You're cut.

Bain touches the blood, looks at it a bit surprised.

BAIN

(smiles)

I had an accident at work.

RATH

What kind of work?

BAIN

Look, I'm, how do you say? Dead tired. Save the chitchat for someone else.

Rath nods. Bain stares out the window. Rath continues studying him.

CUT AHEAD TO:

EXT. AIRPORT NEIGHBORHOOD – NIGHT

The Yellow Cab rolls through the intersection. An airport exit is coming up.

INT. YELLOW CAB – ROLLING – NIGHT

The cab passes the airport turn-off. Bain sits up.

BAIN

What're you doing?

RATH

What?

BAIN

That was the turn-off for the airport back there.

RATH

Sorry.

BAIN

Yeah, well, you just blew your tip, pal.

RATH

You think I'm running you up?

BAIN

Just do your job.

EXT. CURB – SOCCER FIELD – NIGHT

Rath pulls to the curb, lurches to a stop. On an adjacent field, a soccer match in progress.

INT. CAB – STOPPED – NIGHT

Rath slaps the cab in park, looks over his shoulder at Bain. Only we see Rath grip the .22.

RATH

Get out.

BAIN

What?

RATH

You think I'm running you up? Get out.

BAIN

You can't –

RATH

The hell I can't! Get out!

Bain almost finds it funny. He opens the door to get out. Rath faces forward. He'll shoot him when he does.

BAIN

I don't believe this.

Bain has one leg out when he looks back, sees the ID is missing from the dash. An odd beat as Bain wonders.

Bain looks to Rath's eyes in the rearview. It's now all the confirmation he needs.

BAIN
Cojones de Dios. Robert Rath.

The cab rocks as both men draw their guns. Bain is poised at the door; Rath leans back across the front seat. They draw down on each other despite the glass. Bain looks like he'll make a run for it, but then...

BAIN

I get out, pow, you got me.

Bain pulls the door closed, smiles.

BAIN

Now what?

RATH

Who are you?

BAIN

Cono. Robert Rath wants to know me.

Bain leans back, a big moment for him.

BAIN

Bain. Miguel Bain.

(laughs)

I don't believe this. You rolled some cabbie, then waited for the right call. That's genius, man. Genius.

(really impressed)

And then you got the balls to sit there and bullshit with me. No way I could've done that.

RATH

You stole my contract. How did you know?

Bain admires Rath's gun. What begins to show through is that in a twisted way, Rath is Bain's hero.

BAIN

A silenced Smith Wesson .22. Classic. I switched when I heard that's what you used.

(re: rifle)

Excuse this. It was a long shot.

RATH

Who contracted you?

Bain looks across to where the kids play soccer. Co-ed. As Bain rolls down his window...

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – BAINS POV OF GAME – NIGHT

BACK TO CAB

BAIN

Why don't you drive? We can get acquainted. Chitchat.

RATH

We'll sit.

Rath sees the kids, too as Bain levels the sniper's rifle.

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – NIGHT

The SOCCER BALL EXPLODES in mid-air as Bain FIRES. The kids stand confused. The silencer muffled the report.

INT. YELLOW CAB – PARKED – NIGHT

Bain smiles at Rath.

BAIN

Drive.

(aims again)

Number thirteen looks tired. Maybe she needs a rest.

Bain's finger curls around the trigger as he follows a girl down the field.

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – LONG LENS POV – NIGHT

Of girl playing.

INT. YELLOW CAB

BAIN

Help me out, Rath. A moving target. That's the front sight, right?

EXT. CURB – SOCCER FIELD – NIGHT

Rath throws it into drive and starts away.

INT. CAB – MOVING ACROSS BRIDGE – NIGHT

Bain smiles.

BAIN

Protect the innocent. That's weak. You could've had me in the cemetery, but you couldn't shoot the cops. You're Antiquado.

RATH

And you've got a lot to learn.

THWUMP! Rath looks back to where a slug is imbedded in the glass. Bain coughs as the rifle smoke clears.

BAIN

I had to try. I mean, who knows?

EXT. CAB – STREET – BRIDGE – NIGHT

Two POLICE CARS SCREAM by going the other way.

INT. CAB – MOVING – NIGHT

BAIN

They look pissed, huh?

RATH

I wouldn't be surprised.

BAIN

How'd you like the cemetery? Rome. 14 BC. They killed a General, Flavius, at his brother's funeral. But I couldn't wait for Branch's brother to die. So I killed him, too. Proud of me?

Although he's actually impressed, Rath doesn't answer. He's too busy trying to figure a way to take Bain out.

BAIN

I killed a guy in his bathtub once. Was a bitch, but I wanted to do him like they did Marat... You know, the French Revolution?

Rath just stares grimly ahead. Bain's a bit disappointed. After a beat.

BAIN

It was nice meeting you, Rath. Someday, I'll tell my little nietos about this.

Moving like lightning, Bain slides, reaches the RIFLE through the right rear passenger window and FIRES.

The first SHOT BLOWS OUT the passenger WINDOW. As Bain moves the rifle in for a better shot, Rath jerks the wheel hard left. Off balance, Bain's second SHOT drills the roof at Rath's head.

EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT

Rath jerks the wheel, sends the cab sliding across the yellow lines. A HORN BLARES as he hurtles toward an oncoming car and a head-on collision!

Bain FIRES a wild third shot – the windshield spiderwebs.

Rath cuts hard back across the yellow lines. The cab slides, slams into the side of a bus traveling the same direction.

As Bain FIRES again, Rath slams the cab against the side of the bus, smack into an "I am the NRA" placard. The rifle is ripped from Bain's hands.

The cab bounces off, continues on. The rifle is crushed under bus wheels. Bain's lucky to still have his arm.

INT. YELLOW CAB – NIGHT

The bus continues, Rath slams on the brakes. Bain bangs into the glass as the cab shudders to a stop.

EXT. CAB – STOPPED – NIGHT

Rath is getting out of the cab, .22 at the ready. Bain's got about three seconds to live and knows it.

Several blocks away a POLICE CAR – LIGHTS FLASHING – races towards them.

SIRENS WAIL. Gritting his teeth, Rath gets back behind the wheel. A huge grin from Bain as he looks back at the police car that's bearing down on them. Rath throws it in gear, flips a U-turn and races off.

INT. CAB – ACCELERATING – NIGHT

BAIN

You and me. We're teammates! Companeros!

Rath speeds up. Faster and faster. Bain suddenly doesn't feel so safe, beat. As Bain buckles his seatbelt...

INT. POLICE CAR – NIGHT

Where one of the OFFICERS is on the radio.

OFFICER

... in pursuit of yellow cab, number 5-0-1, reported stolen near same twenty as officers down. Proceeding west on...

EXT. POLICE HELIPAD – NIGHT

Two police officers race to waiting HELICOPTER. As it LIFTS OFF towards the skyline of the city. We LIFT OFF net to it, RISING and SWINGING WITH it as it turns towards the city skyline.

EXT. CITY STREETS – CHASE – NIGHT

The cab at 60. The cop car stays with. A hard braking left and then a sliding turn and the cab is nearing a street running under a viaduct.

INT. YELLOW CAB – CHASE – NIGHT

Bain smiles as they leave the cop behind.

Ahead, a second cop car turns off a side street and heads right at them. Rath turns under a viaduct.

BAIN
Can you feel it, Rath?! It's real! We're alive!

RATH

Don't count on it.

BAIN

Before I went freelance, I was an exchange student.

(smiles)

C.I.A. University. You were a legend at Langley. Even if you were Army.

(looks ahead)

I know this neighborhood. Turn in here.

Rath turns under a viaduct.

EXT. ROAD UNDER VIADUCT – NIGHT

It's a race with the two police cars right behind.

INT. YELLOW CAB UNDER VIADUCT – CHASE – NIGHT

Down the straightaway, two sets of cop lights and SIRENS behind them. Bain leans forward, right behind Rath.

BAIN

I studied everything you ever did, Rath. God damn you were good. You and the Russian. Nicolai Talinkov –

The name hits Rath like a hammer.

RATH

Tachlinkov. How did you know about Nicolai?

Rath turns, nearly broadsiding a train car.

BAIN

They said he shaded you. Over and over. And in the end, he aced you. Shaded and faded. They say he's living on some Greek island, but I say you were the best. I say Nicolai's dead as a clavo.

(thinks; smiles)

A doornail. Am I right?

Rath doesn't answer.

BAIN

I heard you guys played chess. Coded in the New York Times obituaries.

Rath's past is chasing him almost as hard as the cops.

BAIN

Ten miles of microfilm, but I found it. The last game ends before anyone wins.

(smiles)

He thought you were his friend. That's how you got him, right?

EXT. INTERSECTION – VIADUCT – NIGHT

Rath starts to answer when... Suddenly an enormous truck appears, blocking their path. Rath is forced to brake. He whips the wheel around, powerslides a grinding U-turn in front of the truck.

BAIN

Hey, Rath.

(opens door)

Black queen to king's bishop 4!

Bain throws himself out of the door. Rath whips a look over his shoulder as Bain tumbles head over heels toward the truck. What he said means something, but no time to explain now. As he continues...

BACK TO BAIN

Pushing himself to his hands and knees, Bain watches the two cars disappear. He disappears into the darkness.

EXT. INTERSECTION – VIADUCT – NIGHT

The cab races away from the intersection with the police cars in pursuit.

INT. YELLOW CAB – NIGHT

Rath takes another hard turn. But suddenly the cab is bleached white by a searchlight.

INT. POLICE HELICOPTER – NIGHT

Where a HELI-COP trains the light on the cab below.

HELI-COP

We got you now, rabbit.

EXT. SKY – AERIAL – NIGHT