A Bullet Life- Rated R- Starring Vince Vaughn, Robert Redford, Noah Wyle, Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel, Fazuria Balk, and Jamie Lynn Sigler. Directed By Brian Robbins.
Peter's (Vaughn) first day on the force is a rough one. He watches his partner (Whitaker) die in a violent drive-by. Enraged, Peter teams up with Detective Stone (Redford) in tracking down the gang responsible. They encounter some of the city's lowest demons including a rogue cop (Keitel) and a dealer (Balk) who continue to be a thorn in their side. Peter and Stone soon find themselves in an underground world where no man has ever returned to see the light of day, alive.
After watching his partner die in an unneccesary shooting, Detective Peter Collins (Vauhgn) teams up with Detective Stone (Redford) to track down the killer responsible. They encounter some of the city's lowest demons including a rogue cop (Keitel) and a dealer (Balk) who continue to be a thorn in their side. Peter and Stone soon find themselves in an underground world where no man has ever returned to see the light of day, alive.
REVIEWS:
"starts off strong."--- Kawaja
"Powerful. Grabs you from the start and never lets you go"--- Jack Driver
"A Thriller Packed With A Terrific Ending"---- Jinx Berry
"Vince Vaughns character is a total bad ass"--- Polaris
CHAMBER PICTURES PRESENTS
A MAC THE MOVIEGUY PRODUCTION
VINCE VAUGHN
ROBERT REDFORD
A BULLET LIFE
NOAH WYLE
JAMIE LYNN SIGLER
HARVEY KEITEL
WITH
FAZURIA BALK
AND
FOREST WHITAKER
WRITTEN BY MAC THE MOVIEGUY
PRODUCED BY MAC THE MOVIEGUY
DIRECTED BY BRIAN ROBBINS
The scene opens on PETER Collins (Vaughn) eating Christmas dinner with his wife (Sigler) and his kids, JESSIE, 6 and LUKE 3. Theyre having a great time.
LUKE
Hey dad! Do you think Santa will got me a bike?
PETER
I dont know Luke. Youre just gonna have to wait another 9 months.
LUKE
Dad! Jessie told me that theres no Santa.
PETER
Jessie!
JESSIE
What?
COLLEEN
Jessie, you know thats not true. Santa exists.
JESSIE
No he doesnt. Thats what Mrs Cooper said at Sunday school yesterday. She said that Santa was evil and hes corrupting the minds and stealing Jesus.
PETER
Im telling you Colleen, church is bad for these kids.
COLLEEN sighs. The phone rings. PETER answers it.
PETER
Hello?
His partner, DARIUS Quinlan (Whitaker) is on the other end of the phone.
DARIUS (OPon phone)
Peter? Hey man.
PETER
Hey man. Whats happening?
DARIUS
God man. I hate to call you.
PETER
What?
DARIUS
Theres been another murder.
PETER
Jesus man. Im eating dinner with my kids. Come on.
DARIUS
and another.
PETER
Two?
DARIUS
Another.
PETER
Three people? THREE people?
DARIUS
And a partridge in a pear tree.
PETER
Jesus. (pause) Gimme half an hour.
PETER hangs up the phone. COLLEEN doesnt look happy.
PETER
I gotta go.
COLLEEN
Stay.
JESSIE
Is Colleen gonna stay?
PETER
Yes. Colleen is gonna stay.
COLLEEN
You hope.
PETER walks into another room. COLLEEN follows.
COLLEEN
Jesus Peter. Theyre your kids.
PETER
I know, honey. Ive gotta do this.
COLLEEN
Will you be home tomorrow morning?
PETER
Yes. I promise.
COLLEEN
When you asked me to help you with your kids and be your wife, I actually thought you only meant help.
PETER
Colleen. Three people just died. They dont get to be with any family tomorrow whether it be parents, children, husbands, wives, mistresses. None. Ive gotta do this.
COLLEEN
Alright.
SCENE: INT--- Apartment--- 30 minutes later.
DARIUS and PETER are standing over a bed looking at a mutilated body lying on the bed. Its a female that is naked and stabbed multiple times in the chest. Blood covers the soaked sheet.
DARIUS
She was the first to die.
PETER
And then the husband?
DARIUS
No. Sadistic bastard.
PETER
The kids?
Another COP walks into the room.
COP 1
Ballistics says he shot the boy first.
DARIUS
Presumably in front of the father.
COP 1
Thats not the worst part. He raped the girl.
PETER covers his mouth. The cop leads DARIUS and PETER into the other room. The three policemen look at the bodies. The camera doesnt show them.
PETER
In front of the father?
COP 1
Presumably.
DARIUS
Thats fucking sick.
COP 2 (In another room)
Detectives! You might want to see this!
PETER and DARIUS walk into the bathroom.
COP 2
He left us a message
The message reads "Answer The Phone".
The phone rings. PETER and DARIUS whip their heads around to the ringing phone. PETER moves to the phone and answers it.
PETER
Hello?
VOICE
Let me speak to Darius.
PETER
Who is this?
VOICE
You know who I am.
PETER
What do you want?
VOICE
Darius.
PETER hands the phone to DARIUS.
DARIUS
What?
VOICE
Did you find the fourth body?
DARIUS
The fourth?
VOICE
There has to be a mother, right?
DARIUS motions to COP 1 and COP 2.
DARIUS
Tear this apartment apart. Theres another body.
COP 1
Where?
DARIUS
Where?
VOICE
But isnt the seeking part the whole fun of hide and seek?
DARIUS
What happened here?
VOICE
A homicide. Is this the kind of questions they teach you in the academy?
DARIUS
Whyd you do this?
VOICE
Well. To see how many crimes I could commit in under an hour.
DARIUS
How many?
VOICE
4 murders, 3 rapes, Breaking and Entering, Assault, Grand Theft Auto you name it. I did it.
DARIUS
GTA?
VOICE
I stole their car.
DARIUS
Three rapes?
VOICE
The father?
*beat
VOICE
What? You thought I raped the boy?
DARIUS
Youre sick.
VOICE
Not that sick. I had to pull him out of the bathroom. He got off easy. All it took was the life of a bullet.
*beat
VOICE
I think your partner is onto something.
DARIUS looks out the door and into the kitchen and sees PETER looking through cabinets.
VOICE
Hes getting warmer
DARIUS
Peter. Be careful.
PETER
Gotcha.
PETER opens the microwave between the fridge and the oven.
VOICE
Ouch. Hes getting HOT!
DARIUS
The Oven!
PETER opens the oven.
VOICE
I think he needs to cool down.
DARIUS
The fridge. The fucker put her in the fridge.
PETER begins to open the fridge as the camera cuts back to DARIUS and the PHONE
VOICE
Ding! Ding! Ding! And we have a correct answer.
PETER (Still in Kitchen)
Shit!
The camera cuts back to PETER and the fridge door standing wide open. The body of the MOTHER is cut up into many different, graphic pieces.
VOICE
I just wanted her to stay fresh for you.
The camera cuts back to DARIUS
DARIUS
Im going to catch you.
VOICE
You wont. He might.
DARIUS
What does that mean?
VOICE
Youll see.
PETER (In Kitchen)
We need forensics in here. Get this shit out of here.
PETER moves back into the bathroom with DARIUS and yanks the phone out of his hand.
PETER
Listen here you fucking psycho. Youre mine. Hear me? I will catch you and when I do, youll look worse than she does? You hear me?
VOICE
Theres a note. Inside her mouth. Itll tell you where to go next.
PETER
What?
VOICE
Goodbye.
VOICE hangs up the phone.
PETER motions to COP 2
PETER
New guy. Come here.
COP 2
What?
PETER
Theres a note. Inside the decapitated head.
COP 2
And?
PETER
I want you to get it out.
COP 2
No way!
PETER
Do it.
COP 2
Fuck that. Im not touching that.
A FORENSICS member walks into the room.
FORENSICS 1
Is this what youre looking for?
The FORENSICS member hands PETER a folded note. DARIUS watches in anticipation.
The NOTE reads "Im across the street."
DARIUS runs out of the room, followed close behind by COP 2 and PETER.
The camera follows DARIUS as he runs down three flights of stairs. He pops open the front door with COP 2 right behind him and PETER back a little.
PETER
Wait!
DARIUS steps outside just as a car drives in front of the building. The car opens fire of DARIUS. Bullets fly everywhere. A bullet tears through DARIUSs shoulder and his leg almost simultaneously. As DARIUS falls to the ground he looks back at PETER who just reached the bottom of the steps and the cop who is standing at the door. A bullet tears through DARIUSs head and kills him. DARIUSs body falls to the ground, lifeless. As PETER moves to try to help DARIUS, COP 2 is hit by two bullets in the chest and he falls backwards onto the floor and dies. The car peels out and pulls away. PETER charges outside to look at the license plate but is too late. PETER stands over DARIUSs lifeless body and stares at him with tears in his eyes.
SCENE: INT--- That evening.
PETER is sitting in a folding chair in the hallway at the hospital. DARIUSs WIFE and SON walks through the door almost in tears. PETER gets up out of his chair. DARIUSs WIFE starts to cry and shake her head. PETER approaches her. She covers her mouth and bursts into tears. The SON is young and looks confused. PETER embraces DARIUSs WIFE.
SCENE: EXT--- About an hour later.
PETER is sitting outside the hospital. Its raining hard. A car pulls up in front of him. The driver gets out. It is COLLEEN.
COLLEEN
You wanna talk about it?
PETER just looks up at her.
COLLEEN
Come on. Its raining. Get in the car.
SCENE: INT--- Moments later.
COLLEEN is driving PETER home. He is just staring ahead. He looks like shit. COLLEEN tries to talk to him.
COLLEEN
What happened?
PETER
It was my fault.
COLLEEN
No. It wasnt your fault.
PETER
No. It was. I found the body, I took the phone. He was the first one out the door. I should have had his back.
COLLEEN
If it was you, Id be without a husband and Jessie and Luke would be without a father.
PETER
He shouldnt have died.
COLLEEN
Youll catch him.
SCENE: INT--- Moments later.
PETER and COLLEEN walk into the house.
SCENE: INT--- The next day
PETER is at the precinct. He walks past DARIUSs old office only to see it full of flowers. Some colleagues greet him in the hallway.
COP 3
Sorry man.
PETER keeps walking.
COP 4
You doing OK?
PETER ignores him and walks into his
SCENE: INT--- immediately after.
office, only to find CHIEF and DETECTIVE MARK STONE (Robert Redford) sitting there.
CHIEF
Peter. I didnt think youd take the day off.
PETER
The shooter is still out there. Im going to catch him.
CHIEF
This is Detective Stone.
STONE extends his hand. PETER ignores it.
PETER
Weve met.
*beat
STONE
Listen, Peter. I would have helped sooner, but I took the wife and kids to Colorado.
*beat
PETER
Can I help you guys?
CHIEF
I know its soon, but Stone is the best detective weve got. Hes going to be your new partner.
PETER
Dariuss body isnt even cold yet and youre replacing him?
STONE
Peter
PETER
With this hack?
STONE
Ive solved more crimes than anyone else. Ive put in more man hours than you or your partner.
CHIEF
I didnt say you had to like it.
*beat
PETER starts to walk off.
CHIEF
Do you want to catch this guy or not?
PETER stops.
STONE
Look. Im the best. You know it. If you want this guy, youre gonna need me.
PETER turns around.
PETER
Did you run a test on the semen?
STONE
I stayed here last night working on the case. The semen doesnt match anything in the system.
PETER
I dont get it.
STONE
Whoevers it is, is virtually clean.
PETER
Theres no way we can trace him through that?
STONE
Nope. We can only use it to match him with others.
COP 1 walks into the room.
COP 1
Theres been another murder.
SCENE: INT--- 30 minutes later.
High School Gymnasium. PETER, STONE, and COP 1 walk into the room. COP 3 is already there.
PETER
Where are the bodies?
COP 3 points up.
PETER and STONE look up. They see a body that appears to have been hung.
COP 1
Jesus.
PETER and STONE look around,
STONE
Just the one?
COP 3
No. Theres more.
PETER
Where?
COP 3
I just want to throw this in here.
*beat
COP 3 (cont.)
The killer appears to have, um, caught these others at a bad time.
COP 3,. PETER, and STONE leave the room and go into
SCENE: INT--- Moments later
The Locker Room. As soon as they walk in, they notice two bodies, slightly off to the right, in the shower area. One is an older male, the other is a young male, much like the man hung in the gym. They are in a very embarassing position, apparently having sex.
COP 3
Its like they didnt even see him come in.
PETER
No other entrances?
COP 3
Just the one.
STONE
What happened?
COP 3 starts to talk and PETER explains.
PETER
The coach was having affairs with his students. My best guess is that the one hanging from the ceiling was watching out. Making sure no one else walked in. Maybe he was next. The killer is probably someone they knew, someone they werent afraid of. The killer shows his face, hes not afraid. He knows the fate of his victims. The killer took out the first boy and spent some time attaching him to the ceiling. He then walked in on the couple in here.
PETER approaches the bodies that are still visible. He crouches down next to them.
PETER
They werent facing the door. They didnt hear him come in. He walked up behind the coach and slit his throat. The kid didnt notice too much happening because he got his throat slit next. They were caught with their pants down, so to speak.
STONE
How can you be so sure?
PETER looks directly at STONE
PETER
This killer has no fear. Hes experienced. Hes the kind of killer that laughs at us when we stumble. I dont know who he is, but he certainly has a way of not creating a stir wherever he goes.
COP 1 comes into the room.
COP 1
Detectives. The Mayor just called. He wants you at his office, immediately.
SCENE: INT--- About An Hour Later
PETER and STONE walk into the MAYORs office and are promptly greeted with handshakes from the MAYOR (Noah Wyle).
MAYOR
So. Tell me what you know.
PETER
This guy has no fear of being caught. He doesnt care.
MAYOR
What kind of evidence have you found?
PETER
None of his victims have tried to resist. Hes everybodys best friend.
STONE
I think we can get him within the next 24 hours.
MAYOR
You can be that certain?
STONE
Ive never wanted something this bad.
MAYOR
Peter?
PETER
Yes. I think we can get him.
MAYOR
Alright. If you guys need anything. Dont hesitate to call. OK?
PETER
Of course.
STONE and PETER exit.
SCENE: INT/EXT--- About 30 min later.
PETER is driving a patrol vehicle and STONE is riding in the passenger seat.
STONE
I need to stop off somewhere first. OK?
PETER
Whatever.
SCENE: INT--- Apartment building hallway.
STONE knocks on the door of CHI. PETER stands next to STONE
PETER
Who is this guy?
STONE
A friend.
PURDY (Fazuria Balk) answers the door.
PURDY
Oh shit. Look, I know I forgot to pay the water bill but
STONE flashes his badge.
PURDY
Hes in the back.
STONE and PETER walk toward the back. CHI is sitting on a couch, snorting cocaine when they walk in.
STONE
Back to your old habits?
CHI is startled and snorts too much. He grabs his nose in pain.
CHI
Fuck!
STONE pulls out a gun and points it at CHI. PURDY comes into the room.
PETER
Miss. Could you step out of the room for a second? I dont think you want to see this.
CHI (in Spanish)
What do you want?
STONE turns to PETER
STONE
What the fuck did he just say?
PETER
I dont know. I dont speak spanish.
PURDY
He wants to know what you want.
STONE looks at PURDY
STONE
Tell him I want to know who is killing.
PURDY
Ask him yourself. Just because he cant speak it dont mean he dont understand it.
STONE looks back at CHI.
STONE
Did ya hear me?
CHI (in English)
Fuck you. Of course I heard you. I dont fucking know so leave me alone.
STONE pistol whips CHI.
CHI
Fuck! Asshole.
STONE
Thats what you get cuntrag.
PETER tries to stop STONE
PETER
Hey. Maybe we should go.
STONE
Shes coming with us.
CHI
Fine. I dont need that bitch.
PURDY flips off CHI.
CHI
Suck this.
CHI grabs his crotch.
PURDY
Grab what?
CHI gets up and hits PURDY. PETER pulls out his gun and shoots CHI. STONE is stunned.
PETER
What? All of a sudden youre the good cop?
SCENE: INT/EXT--- The car, again.
STONE is driving, PETER in the passenger seat, and PURDY in the back.
PURDY
I know this guy, he might be able to help you out.
STONE
Who?
PURDY
Hes a cop too.
PETER
Whats his name?
PURDY
Dont know. Just call him Cop.
PETER
Then how do you know hes a cop?
PURDY
Having him on my side keeps me from getting jailed.
STONE
Why would you have to worry about that?
*beat
PURDY
I have my reasons.
SCENE: INT--- Apartment hallway, very rundown.
PURDY knocks on the door. PETER and STONE stand behind him. A noise comes from a couple floors above.
PURDY
Shit. Hes leaving!
STONE and PURDY charge up the stairs. PETER busts open the door to the apartment. FRANK (Harvey Keitel) jumps into the apartment as soon as PETER kicks the door open.
FRANK
Hold on buddy! Im a cop!
PETER
Wheres your badge?
FRANK
Youre just gonna have to trust me.
PETER
Easy for you to say.
FRANK
Youre Peter, arent you?
PETER
Howd you know.
FRANK
Sorry to hear about Darius.
PETER
Was it you?
FRANK
Did I kill him?
*beat
FRANK
No.
PETER
Who did?
FRANK
Hell kill me too.
PETER
I can kill you.
FRANK
Whos with you now?
PETER
Stone.
FRANK
Im already dead.
STONE (O.S.)
Peter! Where are you?
PETER
Down here!
FRANK
Shit. Fuck. What did I just say?
*beat
FRANK
Fine. Youll see in a minute.
STONE (O.S.)
Where?
FRANK
The killer is a man, one who is eager to help you.
PETER
Why?
FRANK
To make him look like a friend, rather than a foe.
PETER
Stone?
FRANK
Youll find out.
PETER
How does he get into places without scaring people?
FRANK
Hes like a celebrity.
PETER
Whos next?
FRANK
I dont know.
PETER
Whyd he kill Darius?
STONE comes around the corner.
FRANK
He didnt.
STONE opens fire on FRANK and kills him. PETER is stunned.
STONE
Jesus kid. You could have been killed.
PETER is still stunned. STONE walks over to the body and rolls him over revealing a gun on the backside. PURDY walks into the room.
STONE
Well, I guess that makes her a cop killer.
STONE shoots PURDY, killing her.
PETER
Jesus!
STONE points the gun at PETER
STONE
What?
STONE walks over and lays his gun next to her body. He pulls out a radio.
STONE
Dispatch. This is Detective Stone, I need a clean up crew at 440 W. Madison. We have an officer down, another dead, one fleeing the scene, now in pursuit.
PETER
There wasnt anyone else here.
STONE
They dont know that. This just means we can leave the scene.
STONE puts his radio away and starts to walk out. STONE turns to PETER
STONE
You coming?
PETER
Did you kill Darius?
STONE
What?
PETER
You heard me.
STONE
Youre crazy.
PETERS cell phone rings.
PETER
Hello?
COLLEEN (V.O.)
Peter?
PETER
Colleen? Are you OK?
COLLEEN (V.O.)
The kids are gone.
COLLEEN starts to cry.
PETER
What?
COLLEEN
Luke and Jessie. The hous is torn apart and the kids are gone!
PETER
Dont worry. Ill take care of it.
PETER hangs up his phone and looks at STONE.
PETER
Now its gotten personal.
SCENE: INT--- PETERS house.
PETER is sitting at his dining room table as other cops and forensics experts search the house for clues. COLLEEN sits next to him with her head on his shoulder. PETER is trying, obviously, to keep his composure. STONE walks in.
STONE
You OK?
PETER
No.
STONE
Wanna talk?
PETER
This has been one hell of a day.
STONE
Sorry about that shit earlier. If I knew this was gonna happen, I wouldnt have shot.
PETER
Thats OK.
STONE
Youre not mad.
PETER
No. Im fucking furious, but right now my kids mean more to me than you.
STONE
Well find them.
COP 2 walks into the room.
COP 2
We found a note.
PETER
Lemme guess. Answer the phone?
COP 2
Yeah.
PETERS cell phone rings.
PETER
What the fuck is your problem?
VOICE
Its nice to hear from you again too, Peter. Hows Colleen?
PETER
Fuck you.
VOICE
Youll never catch me.
PETER
Youre wrong. I already have.
VOICE
What?
PETER
Ill be seeing you within the next hour.
VOICE
You dont know where I am.
PETER
Wrong again.
VOICE
So confident?
PETER
I know who you are. And Im going to kill you.
VOICE
Should I rape your daughter or son first?
PETER
Fuck you.
VOICE
Bring your wife with you. Its her funeral too.
PETER
Im coming for you.
VOICE
I know something you dont.
PETER
Whats that.
VOICE (in a whisper)
I didnt kill your partner.
PETER
Bullshit.
VOICE
I know something you dont.
PETER
How to sever a head?
VOICE (in a whisper)
The killer is in the room.
*beat
PETER
Nope. I dont see you.
VOICE
Come and get me.
VOICE hangs up the phone. PETER dials a number.
PETER
Hi. Can I speak to the mayor?
SECRETARY (V.O.)
Sure. Ill put you through.
STONE
What is it?
PETER
Hi. This is Detective Collins, from earlier today? I was wondering if you could stay in your office, I have a few things I need to run by you about the murders.
MAYOR
Sure. Ill be here.
*beat
PETER
What did you just say?
MAYOR
Youre on a cell phone right? Bad reception.
PETER
Uh yeah.
MAYOR
Im here.
PETER
OK.
*beat
PETER
Ill be there in less than an hour.
PETER hangs up the phone, looks at COLLEEN and STONE
PETER
Were going.
SCENE: INT--- Mayors Office
PETER, STONE, COLLEEN, and the SECRETARY walk through the door. MAYOR is sitting behind his desk.
MAYOR
I see you brought your wife by.
PETER turns to the SECRETARY
PETER
Could you do me a huge favor?
SECRETARY
Sure.
PETER
Could you run across the street and get me a cup of coffee.
SECRETARY
OK. It might take a while, Starbucks is usually crowded at this time.
PETER
I know, Im sorry.
SECRETARY leaves the room.
COLLEEN
You hate coffee.
PETER
I said Id be here in less than an hour.
MAYOR
Excuse me?
PETER
On the phone?
MAYOR
Youre a smart boy.
STONE
Peter?
MAYOR
You guys should take a seat.
PETER pulls out a gun and points it at the mayor.
COLLEEN
Peter!
PETER
Shhh. Itll be OK.
STONE backs away.
STONE
Look. Peter. You dont want to do this.
PETER stays focused on the MAYOR
PETER
Its time for a little Q&A.
MAYOR
OK. No bullshit.
PETER
No bullshit. Why the family?
MAYOR
Ive been doing it for almost 4 years now. Darius was hot on my tail. I figured the family would get to him the most.
PETER
Did you kill Darius?
MAYOR
No. I just got lucky that someone else wanted him dead.
PETER
Who?
MAYOR
Youre the detective.
PETER
Do you know who?
MAYOR
Of course.
PETER
Why would you kill anyone? Youre the fucking mayor for Christ sake.
MAYOR
Youve never felt the power. The power of God. You can do anything you want when you reach that level. Almost like being invincible.
PETER
You make me sick.
MAYOR
Unfortunately, you cant kill me because I have your kids.
PETER
Thats where youre wrong.
MAYOR
If you kill me, youll never see your kids again.
PETER
Theyre at your house.
MAYOR
Bullshit.
PETER
Your other house.
MAYOR
Fuck me.
PETER
The one where you live your other life. Live out your dark secrets.
MAYOR
Fine. Shoot me.
PETER shoots the MAYOR. STONE and COLLEEN are both shocked.
COLLEEN
Peter!
STONE
Fuck.
PETER turns to STONE.
PETER
You said you didnt kill Darius?
STONE
Fuck man. No.
PETER has a flashback:
STONE
Listen, Peter. I would have helped sooner, but I took the wife and kids to Colorado.
END FLASHBACK
STONE
I dont know who did either. Maybe it was that Frank guy
PETER turns the gun to COLLEEN who shrieks. PETER fires the gun.
PETER
And I dont want to know why you did it either.
COLLEEN stumbles around a bit.
STONE
Holy shit!
COLLEEN looks at PETER and falls to the ground. COLLEEN dies.
STONE
What the hell!
PETER
You were skiing in Colorado.
STONE
She killed Darius?
PETER
I dont know, but sometimes what you want to be the truth, is better than knowing the real story.
CUE: SONG: Let The Bodies Hit The Floor by Drowning Pool.
PETER and STONE walk out of the room in slow motion just as the SECRETARY comes back with the coffee.
PETER
Cancel my order.
The music grows louder and the camera zooms in on Peters gun.
THE END
END CREDITS ROLL
