Sell Me A Gun

"Sell me a gun" was inspired by another newspaper report on organized crime hijacking trucks around New York City. I wondered what was in those trucks and what they might have done with it. I recalled a semi trailer that was taken when I worked in Chicago that was full of color TV's and later found empty on the street. But what if it was a truck full of guns?

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"SELL ME A GUN"

Written by John M. Riggle

First draft Oct. 23, 1986 Final draft Nov. 12, 1986

"Sell me a gun" CAGNEY AND LACEY SHARON TYNE GLESS DALY Cagney (Sharon Gless); Lacey (Tyne Daly); Harvey Lacey (John Karlen); Victor Isbecki (Martin Kove); Marcus Petrie. (Carl Lumbly); Al Carassa (.Paul Mantee); Bert Samuels (.Al Waxman)

Guest cast

Perp; Stephanie Brandon; Weliborn; Murgatroyd Potts; Clerk; Woman; Pimp; 12th Precinct Desk Officer; Street uniformed officers l (2) Waitresses; Sniffles

SETS

INTERIORS 14th Det. Squad room ; Lacey bedroom; Samuels' office; Lacey living room; City Engineer's Office; City Controller's Office; Lacey kitchen; 12th Pet. Booking Desk; 12th pct. Interrogation room; Detectives car

Exteriors

14th Pct. parking bay; Lacey home; City office building; Mills Park; New York streets (2); Restaurant Coffee shop

CHRONOLOGY

Scenes 1-2 (Day); Scenes 3-4 (Night); Scenes 5-7 (Day); Scenes 8-9 (Night); Scenes 10-15 (Day); Scenes 16-17 (night); Scenes 18 on (Day)

ACT ONE

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - 14Th PRECINCT PARKING BAY - DAY - ESTABLISHING

INTERIOR - SQUAD ROOM - DAY

ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks. Cagney is writing and Lacey is reading a newspaper. Lacey puts down her paper.

LACEY

I've been reading about the cost overrun on that new freeway. I don't see how they get away with it. If Harvey bids on a contract, that's how much he gets. He pays for overruns.

CAGNEY

Why don't you ask Harvey ? He should be able to explain it to you.

LACEY

I was just thinking of that. I guess cost overruns are the only thing we've never talked about.

CAGNEY

It must be hard to find something new for you to talk about after 17 years.

LACEY

You say that like you think it's boring for us. That's not the way it is at all. I meant I don't like to take my work ]problems home and dump thorn on him, and he doesn't like to dump his on me. Now we have this we can talk about. It might be both of us are interested in this.

CAGNEY

I didn't mean I think you have a boring marriage. Just that you must know each other as well as you know yourselves.

LACEY

We do.

CAGNEY

It must be comfortable for you. No surprises.

LACEY

There are plenty of surprises. All nice ones.

CAGNEY

How did we get started on this ?

LACEY

I read this story about cost overruns.....

CAGNEY

STOP! I don't want to do it again.

Isbecki and Petrie enter with a teenage perp in custody, about 13 years old. They sit him in the chair by Petrie's desk.

CAGNEY

Hey Isbecki, what rock did you turn over to find that ?

ISBECKI

It's nothing. Just illegal possession of a firearm. Me didn't even have any ammo for it.

LACEY

Somebody should tell him that's a good way to get killed.

Cagney gets up and walks over to the perp.

CAGNEY

(to perp) They did you a favor by bringing you in.

PERP

What favor ? I just wanted it for a paperweight. A conversation piece.

CAGNEY

Sure, like "Hands up," and "Give me your money"

PERP

Come on, gimmie a break here.

CAGNEY

(smiling sweetly) You already got one. You got busted.

Cagney gives him a little pinch on the cheek and returns to her desk laughing. Petrie turns from his computer terminal

PETRIE

Victor. It's another one.

ISBBCKI

Is that three or four ?

PETRIE

Four.

LACEY

Four what ?

PETRlE

A shipment of guns, whiskey, and cigarettes was hi-jacked in Delaware last week. This is the fourth gun recovered in this precinct, and the fifteenth in New York city, according to the computer.

CAGNEY

You're telling us we have a city full of drunken punks with guns In their pockets ?

ISBECKI

it looks that way.

LACEY

(throws her hands in the air) The very thing we needed today.

PETRIE

They're selling the guns for $15, The whiskey for $5 a fifth, and the cigarettes for $5 a carton.

ISBECKI

Any kid can get one.

CAGNEY

We'll have a lot of dead kids if they get wild with those guns.

PETRIE

Since when have kids been any other way?

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - LACEY HOME - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING

INTERIOR - LACEY BEDROOM - NIGHT

Harvey and Mary Beth are preparing for bed.

MARY BETH

Harv, I saw something in the paper today that puzzled me.

HARVEY

What was it, Babe ?

MARY BETH

A cost overrun on the new freeway. How does that happen ?

HARVEY

Lots of ways, Babe. Bad weather, flaws in the plans by the architect, faulty material from a supplier, faulty work by a sub-contractor, sickness of key personnel, a surveyor can make a one inch mistake so things don't fit and have to be done over, problems with utility companies, and so on.

MARY BETH

That's a lot.

HARV

There's about a thousand more, but those are the most common legit ones.

MARY BETH

And the Illegitimate ones ?

HARVEY

Sometimes they hire too many men so some just stand around. They charge $55 an hour and pay the men $48. They stock all sizes of pipe so they can put in the wrong size, then charge for it and for changing it, and charge again for the new. Later they sell it again to another project so they get paid twice. They can use "creative bookkeeping". If they really want to get dirty, they can put voids in the concrete so it has to be broken out and done over, and about 10,000 other ways.

MARY BETH

Well, If they're dishonest, there should be a way to prove It.

HARVEY

Sure, but if you do, they just blame some flunkie. Nobody important ever gets touched.

MARY BETH

So on a job, say $20 million, how much can they set away with ?

HARVEY

Legally, maybe four million, tops. Illegally, maybe twelve.

MARY BETH

TWELVE MILLION ??? - ON A TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR JOB ???

HARVEY

Yeah, Babe, but when you're dealin' with the government, 20 million is a small Job, and nobody looks too oboe. So many bureaucrats are involved you can always find one somewhere to approve anything.

MARY BETH

But Harv, That's stealing from the taxpayers, from us !!

HARVEY

Yeah, but that's the system. From time to time it gets out of hand, so somebody cleans it up a little. But it goes back to normal soon. Don't worry about it. You'll just get gray hair, and anyway, it's not your job.

MARY BETH

If they're breaking the law, It's my job. I want to check it out, and I want you to help me.

HARVEY

OK. But I still think you should forget it. Good night, Babe.

MARY BETH

Good night, Harv.

A BEAT

FADE OUT

CUT TO INTERIOR - SQUAD ROOM - DAY Lacey has arrived early and is sitting at her desk studying yesterday's paper when Cagney arrives. Cagney sits down at her desk, puts her purse in a drawer, and looks over at Lacey.

CAGNEY

So what' s new in the paper today ?

LACEY

(absently) I don't know.

CAGNEY

You don't know what you're reading ?

LACEY

It's yesterday's paper.

CAGNEY

What's so great about yesterday's paper ?

LACEY

I wanted to read that story about the cost overrun on the freeway, and I found another one on a cost overrun on that new Hills park.

CAGNEY

Did you talk to Harvey about the freeway ?

LACEY

He said there are so many ways to cheat that I should just forget it. But something about this story bothers me so I can't. If I could just put my finger on it. It's kind of like a premonition.

CAGNEY

Well I've got something you can put your finger on. It's these hot guns appearing all over.

A uniformed female officer approaches.

BRANDON

Hi. remember me ?

They turn and look at her.

CAGNEY

I seem to remember your face from somewhere.

LACEY

Wait a minute......I got it!! Stephanie. From six years ago. You were the runaway who got involved with.........

CAGNEY

Dom Lucero. You were setting yourself up as an independent prostitute!!

LACEY

Now look at you. In uniform.

BRANDON

I bet you never expected to see me like this.

CAGNEY

No, I sure didn't. How did it happen ?

BRANDON

After you sent me to a halfway house. Then got me declared an emancipated minor, things changed for me. For the first time I was treated like a real human being. They gave me a real chance to be me. I learned a lot there.

LACEY

But how did you get the uniform ?

BRANDON

I decided that I' d like to pass the favor on to somebody else. Since juvenile records don't count, I was able to enroll in the police academy, and here I am, a member of New York's finest.

CAGNEY

When did you graduate from the Academy ?

:BRANDON

Last Fri. I've been assigned to the 2nd Precinct. I start there on next Monday. I have this week off.

Carassa approaches with a gun in his hand.

CARASSA

Here's another one of those guns from that hi-jacked shipment.

Isbecki turns from his desk.

ISBECKI

The word on the street is that guys are selling them, the whiskey, and cigarettes from cars and vans on the street.

PETRIE

What we need is a new face to make some buys. They seem to know all of us and close the store when we show up.

BRANDON

Will my face do ?

LACEY

Oh, Stephanie, we couldn't send you out on the street to do an undercover job as dangerous as that. Not fresh out of the Academy with no experience at all.

BRANDON

You're forgetting, I worked those streets as a prostitute. I had nobody to back me up at all, and I survived it. Besides, some of the people out there still remember me. I could walk right in. They still trust me.

CAGNEY

Well, if she just gathered information, and didn't try to make any arrests, I guess it might work.

LACEY

If Samuels buys it.

A BEAT while Cagney looks from one face to another.

CAGNEY

How did I get elected to ask him ?

LACEY

You're the one who took the most interest in Stephanie. You got her into the halfway house...

CAGNEY

O.K., O.K., I get the message.

She gets up and heads for Samuels office.

CUT TO: INTERIOR - SAMUELS OFFICE - DAY

Cagney knocks on the door and without waiting for an answer she opens it and sticks her head in. Samuels is sitting at his desk.

CAGNEY

You busy ? Samuels waves his hand for her to come in.

SAMUELS

What's on your mind ?

Cagney comes in and sits down.

CAGNEY

I don't suppose you remember her. It's been six years. I got a fifteen year old prostitute off the street and into a halfway house.

SAMUEI.S

So ?

CAGNEY

She did well in the halfway house. Her juvenile record was expunged, and she decided she wanted to become a cop, so she entered the police Academy.

SAMUELS

Good for her. How's she doing:?

CAGNEY

She graduated last week.

SAMUELS

What precinct was she assigned to ?

CAGNEY

The 2nd.

SAMUELS

That's a good precinct for a new officer to get some experience. Not too much crime over there.

CAGNEY

She doesn't report till next Monday. That gives her a week off. She wants to help us with a case where we need somebody undercover to make a buy.

SAMUELS

We can't use her yet. She's got to go through a probationary period first.

CAGNEY

She knows the street life, and some of the people out there might still remember her as a prostitute. I think she can handle it. Can't we contact her superior and get an exception made ?

A BEAT

SAMUELS

It's never been done before, but I suppose we could try. I'll call Lt. Ferguson at the 2nd and see if he'll approve. But I want to make it clear she's not to try to arrest anybody alone.

CAGNEY

She won't make any arrests at all. Just make buys and gather information.

SAMUELS

O.K. I'll see what I can do.

Cagney gets up to leave as Samuels picks up the phone.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN

SQUAD ROOM - DAY

ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks as a well dressed man in a suit and tie approaches.

WELLBORN

I'm agent Wellborn, Federal Bureau of Investigation. I understand you people have been recovering some guns from a hijacked interstate shipment.

CAGNEY

That's right, we have five so far.

ISBECKI

Six.

WELLBORN

I see. Just where have you recovered them ?

LACEY

Kids and punks on the street. Anybody with fifteen dollars can get one.

WELLBORN

Have you made any arrests ?

CAGNEY

Just for possession of an illegal weapon and possession of stolen property. Most of them were juveniles so we had to release them to their parents.

WELLBORN

That's all right. Just give me your records and we'll bring then into the Bureau for questioning.

LACEY

You know we can't give you juvenile records, sir, those are sealed.

CAGNEY

We can give you something on the one adult we have. But you won't get anything out of him. He was drunk when he bought it and doesn't have any idea where he got it.

WELLBORN

Well, if that's all you have to show for this case, then I'll have to settle for the confiscated guns.

PETRIE

Sorry again. They've already been melted down. That's the law in New York. As soon as they're no longer needed in a case we melt them down.

Wellborn looks at each one in turn with a look of angry frustration.

WELLBORN

Then the bureau will just have to take over this investigation.

He turns and leaves in obvious anger. After he's gone, things continue.

PETRIE

Those F.B.I. people have all the nerve in the world.

ISBECKI

Yeah, but we shut off his water this time. I bet we won't see him again.

PETRIE

No bet.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - LACEY HOME - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING - STOCK

LACEY LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Mary Beth shows Harvey an item In the newspaper.

MARY BETH

Look at this, Harv.

HARVEY

(reads item out loud) Child dies in freak accident in Hills park. Paula Evans, 7, was playing on the teeter-totter in Mills Park with her friend, Jean Thomas, also 7, when the teeter-totter board broke. The child fell to the ground, landing on her back. A sharp stick lying on the ground penetrated her heart, killing her almost instantly. Attorney Joseph Watson has filed a $50 million suit against the city, claiming negligence in the construction of the park.

She puts down the paper.

HARVEY

(continuous) What a shame.

MARY BETH

I checked, Harv. That's the new park I was talking about yesterday. The one with the cost overrun.

HARVEY

When did they finish it ?

MARY BETH

Last month, and with a 23% overrun.

HARVEY

23%....Sounds like a lot on such a small park.

MARY BETH

I think something' s wrong. I want you to help me check it out. I need your experience in construction.

HARVEY

O.K. We'll start with all the information from the city engineers office. I'll look it over and we'll take it from there.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - DAY

SQUAD ROOM - DAY

Cagney and Lacey are not there. A man enters. ON Petrie and Isbecki at their desks. The man approaches them.

ISBECKI

Can we help you ?

POTTS

My name is Murgatroyd Potts. I'm from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. I understand you have recovered some firearms from a hi-jacked Interstate shipment.

PETRIE

We did, but we already melted them down.

POTTS

That's all right. I'm only interested in tracing them to the hi-jackers.

ISBECKI

No luck there, I'm afraid. Most of them were recovered from juveniles We had to release them to their parents. The one we recovered from an adult was bought when he was drunk, and he couldn't tell us anything.

POTTS

How about using an undercover officer to make a buy ?

PETRIE.

They tried that in the twelfth. Whoever is selling them seems to know us all.

POTTS

How about an informant ?

ISBECKI

We've come up dry there too. The only idea anybody here has come up with is Stephanie.

POTTS

Who's Stephanie ?

PETRIE

She's a new officer, just out of the Police Academy. She has no experience at all, and she's been assigned to another Precinct.

POTTS

What makes you think a green Officer could help ?

ISBECKI

When she was a teenager she tried working the streets as a prostitute. Juvenile records are expunged, so she decided to join the force.

POTTS

So she's familiar with street life ?

PETRIE

Very much so. But she's not available to us.

POTTS

Do you think she can do the job ?

ISBECKI

I do. How about you, Marcus ?

PETRIE

She's got a better chance than anyone else.

POTTS

Give me her name and precinct. I'll get her for you.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - CITY OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE IS LOCATED - DAY - ESTABLISHING

INTERIOR - CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE

ON Harvey and Mary Beth at the counter.

CLERK

Can I help you ?

Mary Beth takes out her badge and shows it.

MARY BETH

I'm Det. Lacey, 14th precinct. This is my husband, Harvey. We want copies of every bit of information you have on the Mills Park project.

CLERK

It'll take about half an hour to make copies for you.

HARVEY

How about if we go for coffee ?

MARY BETH

Sounds good to me. We'll be back.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE - HALF AN HOUR LATER

Harvey and Mary Beth enter to find a stack of papers on the counter.

CLERK

There you arc. Everything we have.

Harvey looks through the papers.

HARVEY

Looks like it's all here. Plans, specifications, surveyor's report, material list, inspection reports. Everything but the costs.

CLERK

We don't have that here. You have to go to the Controller's Office for that.

MARY BETH

Oh. Well, thank you very much for this.

CLERK

You're welcome, I'm sure.

Harvey starts to pick up the papers.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - CITY CONTROLLER'S OFFICE - SAME DAY

Harvey and Mary Beth enter and approach a woman at a desk. Harvey has the papers from the City Engineer's Office.

MARY BETH I

'm Det. Lacey, 14th Precinct. We're investigating the death of Paula Evans in Mills park. We need all the information you have on the costs involved in the construction.

WOMAN

I can give you that only if you have a court order.

MARY BETH

Then we'll get one.

HARVEY

I never heard of any public records that are secret. This must be where the crooks are.

WOMAN

(indignantly) There are NO crooks in this office.

MARY BETH

I can see that. That's why the police have to have a court order to investigate possible cases of embezzlement and manslaughter.

A BEAT

WOMAN

Wait here. I'll speak to my supervisor.

The woman goes to a rear office. We can see her talking to a man through a glass window.

HARVEY

Looks like we got to her.

MARY BETH

I hope so. We might not get a court order, since this isn't an official investigation. At least not yet. It's only official if someone reports a crime, or we find a crime. Looking for a possible crime isn't official.

The woman returns.

WOMAN

My supervisor says I can give you the information you want, but you have to agree to keep it confidential.

MARY BETH

If we find everything in order, we will. If we find a crime took place, I'll make an arrest. That will make it public.

WOMAN

Well....I suppose that will have to do.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - LACEY HOME - NIGHT

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - LACEY KITCHEN

The kitchen table and chairs are piled with papers as Harvey works on the Mills Park papers. ON Harvey as he works. WIDEN as Mary Beth steps up to him.

MARY BETH

Can you make room so we can eat ?

HARVEY

I guess so. I can't find anything wrong. The plans are good. The material all came from reputable suppliers at reasonable prices. All the inspections seem to be in order. I guess I'm done here.

Harvey gathers up the papers and puts them on top of the refrigerator. Mary Beth starts setting the table and putting the food from the stove on it.

MARY BETH

So what do we do now ?

HARVEY

I have to go to the park and inspect things for myself. I have to try to get hold of that broken board from the teeter-totter. According to the plans that board should have supported at least a thousand pounds. No way it should have broken with just a couple of 7-year-olds.

MARY BETH

Maybe there was more than just two girls on it.

HARVEY

Even if you lined them up from end to end, it still wouldn't have been enough weight to break a board like the plans call for.

Mary Beth calls out to the boys in the living room.

MARY BETH

HARVEY. MICHAEL. SHUT OFF THE TV AND WASH UP FOR SUPPER.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT - DAY - WSTABLOSHING - STOCK

INTERIOR - SQUAD ROOM - DAY

ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks as Officer Stephanie Brandon enters in uniform.

BRANDON

Somebody around here sure has clout.

CAGNEY

Not us, They turned us down flat.

LACEY

It was Mr. Potts, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

BRANDON

Well he sure got results. I've been ordered to assist you in any way you want.

CAGNEY

All right ! Do you still have some of the clothes you wore when you worked the street?

Petrie approaches. B

RANDON

No, my mother threw them all away, but I can get more in about an hour, and make-up too. But it'll be tomorrow before I can be all ready, with the hair and all.

PETRIE

Just remember, you'll be out there on your own. No back-up at all. If any of us come near you it could blow your cover.

BRANDON

I can handle it. But of course you know I won't be doing any prostitution, so I won't be able to stay in any area for long.

CAGNEY

We can have a uniform come by and collar you to get you out of an area when you need to move. If you go back there later, it'll make it look good.

BRANDON

Sounds good to me. Do you want me to make buys with marked money?

LACEY

Yes, the Dept. will supply it.

CAGNEY

Just get us the license numbers and descriptions. We'll bust them later so nobody will get wise to you.

LACEY

You'll have to carry your badge and ID concealed somewhere on your person, but I think it would be too hard to conceal your gun, and why would you want to buy one if you already have one ?. If anything goes wrong all you can do is get out of there fast.

BRANDON

I've run for my life before. I haven't forgotten how.

LACEY

I wish we had time to give you more training. The streets have gotten meaner in the last six years.

CAGNEY

If anyone finds out who you are you'll be a target..... I guess you will be anyway..... Be careful. I'd hate it if I found I tried so hard for you and it came to.....

BRANDON

I can do it, and I promise, I'll be careful.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - DAY - MILLS PARK

Harvey is standing by some of the park equipment which is made of painted wood. Mary Beth approaches.

MARY BETH

What did you find, Harv ?

HARVEY

Some of this equipment is made of new wood and some of used wood. Not the all new wood they charged the city for.

MARY BETH

So the construction Co. switched it. They bought new and used old.

HARVEY

Could be. An employee could have ripped off the company by switching it too. The teeter-totter board was eaten us by termites. That's why it broke.

MARY BETH

Well, at least we know what happened. Now we have to figure out who did it.

HARVEY

The contractor paid for all new material. I saw the receipt. The supplier doesn't deal in used material. The truck driver has worked there for 11 years with no trouble. That leaves the construction crew. They work for a sub-contractor I don't know anything about him.

MARY BETH

I guess that's where we start.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - NEW YORK STREET - DAY

Stephanie is walking about on the street in the manner of a prostitute. Wandering aimlessly describes it. She is keeping a sharp eye for the police as she scans the faces around her, watching for trouble, but hoping to spot someone she knows. She spots no one, but from time to time a man approaches her. She refuses them all. A pimp approaches her and tells her to get out of "his" territory.

PIMP

Hey Mama. Wat choo think you're doin' on my turf ? Ya wanna work for me ?

STEPHANIE

I don't work any more. I'm just looking for some of the girls I used to know when I did.

PIMP

Well, if yer not gonna work for me, then get lost. Go anywhere else.

STEPHANIE

Maybe some of the girls work for you now. Do you know Adrian, or Sniffles, or Yolie, or black Millie ?

NOTE: Yo-lee is a nickname for Yolanda.

PIMP

I didn't know you knew Sniffles. She works for me now. But she's not in such good shape any more, an' I'm about to cut her loose. Come on. I'll take you to her.

The walk off down the street together.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-ANOTHER NEW YORK STREET-DAY

Sniffles is a cocaine addict. Her arms are liberally adorned with needle tracks and she got her nickname from the long sniffing of cocaine. Her nose runs constantly and she "sniffs' constantly. She wipes her nose with her hand often. She is about twenty years old but looks in her late thirties. As usual, she has a head full of cocaine as Stephanie and the Pimp approach her.

PIMP

Here she is.

STEPHANIE

Sniffles ? Is it really you ?

Sniffles turns and looks at her dully.

SNIFFLES

Yeah..... Steffie ? Is that you ?

STEPHANIE

It's me all right. But look at what you've done to yourself. You look so much older. I don't think I would've recognized you.

PIMP

She barely makes enough money to pay for her habit any more. If you want her you can have her. She's no good to me.

STEPHANIE

O.K. I'll take care of her.

PIMP

O.K. You two can get along without me. I got business to tend to.

The pimp leaves.

STEPHANIE

You look like you could use a cup of coffee.

NOTE: Drug addicts crave candy for the sugar to provide them with energy. They never brush their teeth, and the sugar rots their teeth so they end up needing more dope to kill the pain.

SNIFFLES

You wouldn't happen to have a candy bar, would you?

STEPHANIE

No, but I'll buy you half a dozen if you like.

Stephanie leads Sniffles into a restaurant.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - RESTAURANT - DAY

WAITRESS

OUT ! YOU TWO GET OUT RIGHT NOW ! We don't allow hookers in here.

STEPHANIE

Just sell me a half dozen of those candy bars and we'll be on our way.

She pays the waitress and they leave.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-DAY

Stephanie gives her a candy bar. Sniffles opens it and starts eating it as they wander off down the sidewalk.

STEPHANIE

Here. Tell me about the others. Start with Adrien.

SNIFFLES

Adrien O.D'd three or four years ago.

STEPHANIE

How about Yollie ?

SNIFFLES

She quit the street, like you did. Like I should have done. Went home to her Mama.

STEPHANIE

And black Millie ?

SNIFFLES

A "John" killed her.

STEPHANIE

At least you're still alive.

SNIFFLES Y

Yeah....But not for long, I hope. I'm so tired of livin'. If I can get the money I'm gonna O.D. I Just can't handle it any more. All those beds, and alleys, and wherever. All those men. I just wanna die.

NOTE: I considered using a statement once made to me by a prostitute, "If I have to look at one more hard penis I think I'll scream", but I rejected it as being too radical for a C and L show.

STEPHANIE

I don't know what to say to you, my friend.

SNIFFLES

Loan me a couple hundred so I can do it.

STEPHANIE

You know I couldn't do that, even if I had it.

SNIFFLES

No....I guess not.

STEPHANIE

Have you tried detoxing ?

SNIFFLES

Four times. But I love coke so much I just go right back to it. I know you never did any. Take my advice. Don't. You'll love it to death....Your death.

Sniffles hugs Stephanie and cries uncontrollably as Stephanie tries to comfort her. A blue and white patrol car pulls to the curb and two officers get out. Stephanie and Sniffles don't notice them as they approach. The officers grab them by the arm and hustle them into the back seat of the police car. They don't resist.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - 12TH PRECINCT BOOKING DESK - DAY

The officers bring in Stephanie and Sniffles. The officer at the desk turns to Stephanie first.

BOOKING OFFICER

Name ?

Stephanie shows her badge and I.D.

STEPHANIE

Officer Brandon, 14th Precinct.

DESK OFFICER

You're workin' undercover ?

STEPHANIE

I was. Till those two came along and blew my cover. I thought they were sent for me because I was in a bad situation, but now I see they were Just looking for a couple of sitting ducks so they could make an easy collar.

SNIFFLES

You're a cop now ? I'd a never believed that of you.

STREET OFFICERS

We didn't know. We would've left you alone if we had.

STEPHANIE

And what were you going to charge us with? Soliciting?

STREET OFFICER

Well.....

STEPHANIE

We've both seen your kind before, just hit the street and clean up your act.

Stephanie turns to the Desk Officer.

STEPHANIE

Where's your interrogation room ?

DESK OFFICER

That's it, right there.

They go into the indicated room.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR-INTERROGATION ROOM-DAY

STEPHANIE

I couldn't tell you out there on the street. You've always been my friend. I want to do something to stop other girls like us from getting to be like you are now, so miserable, feeling like their lives are over at 22, or 25, or whatever. It hurts me so much to see you like this. That's why I became a cop.

SNIFFLES

I guess I understand.

STEPHANIE

Do you remember what it was like before we hit the street ? Life was sort of miserable, but nothing like as bad as the street.

SNIFFLES

If only we had known.

STEPHANIE

Our parents tried to tell us.

SNIFFLES

Yeah....They tried....But we knew everything ....and nothing.

STEPHANIE

I was luckier than you. I met a woman cop who was tougher than I was. She put it together for me. I'd give anything to be able to do that for you.

SNIFFLES

It's too late.., just too late.

STEPHANIE

I can't believe that. You're still breathing. I'm going to call her.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-DAY-ESTABLISHING-STOCK

INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM-DAY

ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks as Harvey enters.

HARVEY

Hi, Babe, Hi Chris. I got it all checked out.

CAGNEY

Got what checked out ?

MARY BETH

The Mills Park thing. What did you find out ?

HARVEY

The truck driver delivered the new material to the job site on Wed. The construction crew started the job on Fri. They used some of the new material then. They were off on Sat, and Sun. They continued the job on Mon. Some of the material on the job on Mon. was used material. Somebody switched it over the weekend. There's no way to find out who did it.

Isbecki and Petrie approach.

CAGNEY

So it's a dead end ? The guilty person will never be found ?

HARVEY

Looks like it. Sorry Babe.

MARY BETH

I wouldn't say NOTHING came of it. At least we found out who was innocent.

PETRIE

Looks to me like you have a worse problem now than you did before.

CAGNEY How's that ?

ISBECKI

If you tell what you found out, the girl's family will get nothing.

PETRIE

And if you don't tell, the city loses.

CAGNEY

Well....It wasn't an official investigation.

MARY BETH

Thanks a lot. That just means I can't ask Samuels what to do.

ISBECKI

Looks like this one is strictly up to you and Harv.

PETRIE

Whatever you decide, it won't do any good for the little girl who died.

HARVEY

I suppose not. Whatever you decide, I'll support it, Mary Beth.

MARY BETH

Whatever I decide ?

CAGNEY

It was your idea to investigate it.

Cagney's phone rings.

CAGNEY

Sgt. Cagney, 14th.....Hi Stephanie...... O.K......We'll be right there. Bye.

She hangs up the phone.

CAGNEY

Stephanie's at the 12th and she needs us right now.

Mary Beth kisses Harvey quickly on the cheek and she and Chris hurry out.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-12TH PRECINCT BOOKING DESK-DAY

Cagney and Lacey enter and go to the desk officer.

CAGNEY

I'm Sgt. Cagney and this is Det. Lacey. We're looking for officer Brandon.

DESK OFFICER

In there.

They head for the indicated room.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR-INTERROGATION ROOM-DAY

Stephanie and Sniffles are still there as Cagney and Lacey enter.

CAGNEY

What do you have.

STEPHANIE

This is my old friend, Sniffles. She knows everything you need to know about the guns and stuff.

SNIFFLES

Yeah, but I need to go. I gotta make some money so I can get some Coke.

LACEY

My lord. How old are you, Sniffles ?

SNIFFLES

22, I think.

LACEY

You look so much older. I guess that's what dope does to you.

CAGNEY

We can't offer you any Coke, but we do pay for information. How much do you need ?

SNIFFLES

A couple hundred would be nice.

LACEY

We don't have that much. How about $50 ?

SNIFFLES

O.K. What do you want to know ?

CAGNEY

People are selling guns, whiskey, and cigarettes on the street from a hi-jacked truck. We need to know where they pick up their supply. Where's the warehouse ?

SNIFFLES

O.K. The stuff is stored.......

FADE OUT .

FADE IN

INTERIOR-DETSCTIVES CAR-PARKED-DAY

Chris and Mary Beth are parked on the street and are watching a warehouse about a block away through binoculars. Chris reads off a license plate while Mary Beth writes it down.

CAGNEY

New York, DGS-571.

LACEY

Lets go ahead with a raid. That's 19 vehicles in the last hour. The stuff will all be sold before we do it if we don't act soon.

CAGNEY

OK. Get on the radio. There's obviously too many of them for just the two of us.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-WAREHOUSE-DAY

Several police cars converge on the warehouse at once. The police jump out and rush into the warehouse. In a few moments they start bringing out men and women they have arrested inside. Chris and Mary Beth help load them into a police van as they are brought out.

CAGNEY

Step right along, ladies and gentlemen. Lots of room on the inside.

LACEY

Looks like this is the last one. Close it up.

An officer closes the back doors of the van and prepares to drive them to jail.

CAGNEY

Lets set up a sting for the rest. Arrest them as they arrive.

LACEY

. And get a truck down here to bring in the rest of this merchandise.

CAGNEY looks at her watch.

CAGNEY

We've been here for about three hours. Time we got back to Stephanie and Sniffles.

LACEY

Yeah. They're probably wondering what happened to us.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-COFFEE SHOP-DAY

Stephanie is sitting alone in a booth. She has obviously been crying and her mascara is streaked down her cheeks. Chris and Mary Beth approach.

CAGNEY

Well, we got 'em all. Where's Sniffled ?

STEPHANIE

They just took her away.

LACEY

Why didn't you stop them.

STEPHANIE

She wasn't arrested. After we left you, I went with her to score. After she got her coke we came here. She went into the toilet to shoot up. I waited here. She was gone for a while and I wondered what was taking her so long. I went into the toilet and found a message on the mirror in lipstick. It said, "Steffie, take care of me." I looked for her and found her with her face in the toilet bowl. She drowned herself.

SEVERAL BEATS while Stephanie cries some more and Chris tries to comfort her by hugging her.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN

14TH SQUAD ROOM-DAY

ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.

LACEY

I've decided to keep quiet about Mills Park. The family has lost enough already when their daughter died. No reason for them to lose again in court. The people of New York have a big heart. We can do that much for them.

CAGNEY

I suppose so...I hated to lose Sniffles like that.

LACEY

I feel sorrier for Stephanie. That's a terrible way to lose a friend.

CAGNEY

You win some and you lose some. No telling how many kids might have gotten killed with those guns if Sniffles hadn't helped us.

LACEY

It was like she was waiting to do one good thing before she killed herself.

CAGNEY

And maybe a friend to take care of sending her body home.

LACEY

Sometimes I can't decide if I love this job or hate it, if I should be happy to put criminals in jail or sad to see poor kids like Sniffles go, after wasting their lives, or what.

CAGNEY

You know what they say. Onward through the fog.

FREEZE FRAME

FADE OUT

THE END