Short screenplay from the Done Deal "Devil's Deadline" contest, Sept 2008 "Vice Squad" FADE IN: EXT. GHETTO STREET - NIGHT Music blares, families argue, a baby cries, dishes shatter, a frightened woman screams, a dog barks, some poor bastard whimpers as he dies with a needle in his arm. The full Moon casts ink-black shadows across this shitty suburban landscape. A burly shape lurks in one of those shadows. DETECTIVE MARTY FINK, face like cracked stone, lips that don't know how to smile. Fink's dead fish eyes stare at a 2nd-floor apartment window across the street. The light in the window goes off. Fink watches. Ten seconds later the apartment entrance opens and ALIZE steps out, a skinny junkie ho wearing a shiny boob tube and a cheap leather skirt so short it's technically a handkerchief. Alize clicks down the street in her oversize high heels. Further up the street, a pimpmobile turns on its lights and peels out. It catches up with Alize in seconds and slows to cruise alongside her, matching her pace. Alize takes deep breaths, she doesn't want to face this. She stops, and the pimpmobile stops too. She bends down to talk to the DRIVER, a large shadow wearing a wide-brimmed hat. DRIVER Bitch, you been trying to dodge me? ALIZE I had the flu. Been in my bed all day. On my own. DRIVER Give me any of that crap, I will stick the barrel of my gun between your skinny legs and pull the trigger. You owe me. ALIZE Just gimme a couple hours. Tonight for sure. DRIVER Crackhead ho, you spend my money on dope? ALIZE I had to get my act together, you know? DRIVER Ah shit. Now I'm gonna have to kill you. The Driver opens his door, his bulk eases out from behind the wheel. Alize steps back, scared. She fumbles in her purse. ALIZE I got it, I got some money here. A knife glints. Alize shudders in fear. The Driver presses her up against the wall. No escape. DRIVER Want you to scream, scream loud as you can. Gotta set my other bitches an example. Fink crosses the street, moving fast, coming up from behind. Alize sees Fink, her eyes widen. The Driver spins round, pulls out a silver howitzer. Fink swings a baseball bat with all he's got, the wet impact is horrific, the Driver is blasted onto the pimpmobile's hood. He lies there for a moment, arms spread wide, unseeing eyes staring up at the Moon, the side of his head crushed and leaking. Then he slides down off the hood, tumbles onto the street like a giant sack of jello, leaving a gleaming black smear. Fink tosses the bat away. He grabs Alize by the arm and hussles her down the street, into a... EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY - NIGHT ...where Fink's car sits waiting, pointing the other way. Fink opens the passenger door, pushes Alize inside, slams the door shut. Fink climbs into the driver's seat, starts the engine, zooms away. INT. FINK'S CAR MOVING THROUGH GHETTO STREETS - NIGHT Alize stares at Fink. As he drives, Fink peels off latex gloves and slips them into his inside coat pocket. ALIZE What am I supposed to say when the cops ask questions? FINK They might not do that. ALIZE Suddenly you own the entire police force? Fink back-hands Alize across the mouth. The blow stuns her but doesn't seem to bother her. She wipes blood from her lip, smiles. ALIZE Where'd you get the bat? FINK Hector's crackhouse. Takes Alize a couple seconds to figure things out... ALIZE You think the cops will blame it on Hector? FINK Why not? Him and your pimp hate each other. Known fact. ALIZE You pick up anything else while you were there? FINK Look under your seat. Alize bends and reaches under her seat, pulls out a carryall, unzips it. Filled with thousands of little plastic packets containing white powder. FINK It's all for you, baby. Alize is overcome with emotion, she looks out the window, eyes brimming with tears. ALIZE You really do love me, don't you? FINK As much as a vice cop can ever love a ho, yeah. EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT Fink's car zooms into the night, becomes one with the blaze of the city. FADE OUT:§