A Stiff Belt

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In Chapter 13 of GUN-WILD, robbery-homicide detectives Bobby Teen and Taya Ralls watch the surveillance video of the bank robbery ... and then the tape from the Seven-Eleven robbery, and get a positive ID when they discover that trigger-happy runaway Cam Clinch was involved in both heists ...


INT. FIRST FISHERMAN’S BANK - DAY
It’s a zoo. A swarm of EMS TECHNICIANS.
CRIME SCENE WORKERS. COPS.

Two BODIES are carried out
the back door on gurneys.

BEAT COP
(to junior cop)
Keep the fucking media
OUT OF HERE.

Junior Cop races to the doorway,
where a swarm of REPORTERS
push on the glass, muffled shouting.

IN THE BANK PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
Bobby and Taya stand at his desk.

The BANK PRESIDENT (40),
puffy, pink-faced, sweating profusely,
fidgets in his chair.

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
I’m ashamed, so ashamed.

TAYA
It’s human nature.
If you didn’t hide,
you might have been killed.

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
I should have DONE something.
Two cops -- and the guard -- are DEAD.

Bobby vibrates with anger. Grief.
It’s all he can do to keep from
smashing this idiot in the face.

BOBBY
Given what went down here,
there’s nothing you could have done.
(ominous)
Take a deep breath.
(anger rising)
There IS something you can
do to help us, though.

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
Oh, yes -- anything, anything.

Bobby points to the bank of
small video monitors
in the cabinet across from his desk.

BOBBY
We’d like to see
the surveillance tape.

Puffy leaps out of his seat.
Goes to the VCR.

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
Of course, of course.

He PUNCHES a button.
The tape starts rewinding.

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
It’ll just take a sec.

TAYA
(hands him a card)
The department offers free counseling.
In case you -- have a hard time --

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
(takes it)
Th-thanks.

The machine CLICK-CLICKS.
He PUNCHES play.

ON A VIDEO MONITOR
We see Cam.

Disguised in her scarf,
cap and shades.

The robbery unfolds.
She PISTOL-WHIPS the guard.

Makes the high school girls
get on the floor.
STOMPS on their cell phones.

Hondo and Net BURST IN.
Point their shotguns, YELLING.

Cam aims the paint can at the camera.
The screen GOES BLACK.

Bobby and Taya exchange looks.

TAYA
There’s three of them.

BOBBY
Four. Somebody was waiting
outside with the getaway vehicle.

TAYA
Of course. Right.

BOBBY
Let’s watch the other tape.

Taya pulls the videocassette
out of her jacket pocket.
Hands it to Puffy.

TAYA
Would you please?

Puffy ejects the tape.
SHOVES in the new one.
PUNCHES play.

ON THE VIDEO MONITOR
We see Skinny Black Cashier
behind the register.

Cam points her pistol at him.
In the same disguise.

TAYA (O.C.)
It looks like the same woman.

Skinny glances into the camera.
Cam sees him, WHIRLS AROUND, BANG.
The screen GOES BLACK.

BOBBY
I think you’re right.
(to Bank President)
Can we have this?

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
Of course, of course.
(ejects tape, hands it to him)
Anything I can do to help --
law enforcement.

BOBBY
Thanks.
(beat)
I suggest you go home,
try to relax.
Maybe have a
stiff belt of something.

Puffy pulls a flask
out of his jacket pocket --

PUFFY BANK PRESIDENT
Don’t mind if I do.

Takes a long pull.
A grim smile.
Offers it to Taya.

TAYA
Sorry, on duty.

BOBBY
(takes the flask)
Don’t mind if I do --