Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the movie Collateral. But, uh, I'd like to own Tom Cruise's hair.
Max stood shaking, a gun held fearfully in front of him. The only thing separating him from Vincent, a murderer, was a flimsy square of glass. The cab driver's thoughts were all erased, distress overtaking his body. All night he had been driving this man around L.A., sending four different people to their deaths. The woman standing beside him was trembling with dread, for she had never been in a situation like this. For years she had been a lawyer, but being face-to-face with a murderer made all comprehension leave her body. Their death seemed imminent.
Max tried to peer through the glass, but with the lights of the subway car flickering on and off, it was seemingly impossible to catch a glimpse of Vincent. The murderer stood upon the other side, his face expressionless. He had been through a situation like this before, and Max was inexperienced with a gun. Vincent's calm composure did not change, and he did not move from his spot. There was no running now. Max and Annie had no chance of getting away, and now the only thing they had to rely on was luck.
Gunshots were heard, and both sides fired senselessly. Neither man knew what was going on, just that their life was on the line. Then, it stopped. Max slowly put his gun down and looked at himself. He didn't see any gunshot wounds, so he forced the subway doors open, and stepped into the next car. Vincent slowly sat down in the nearest seat, and pulled back his jacket slightly, revealing to Max that he had hit his target. Max sat down across from him, deeply stunned. Earlier, Max was certain that it was himself that would be lying lifeless upon the floor of a subway car.
Vincent and Max sat across from each other, not speaking. There was nothing to say. All night Max had been driving his cab, taking Vincent to each of his victims. Except for one, and she was sitting next to him. All night Vincent was doing his job, and now it was all over. He could handle a gun amazingly well, and he was shot by a cab driver who had probably never even picked up a gun in his life.
Max looked at Vincent, and was shocked. There was no rage in his eyes. Vincent expressed no anger, and he kept his calm exterior. A few moments later, Vincent looked up at Max, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Hey, Max," he started with effort, "Guy gets on the MTA here in L.A. and dies; think anyone will notice?"
Max saw Vincent's head drop to his chest slowly, and the cab driver solemnly stood up. Max led Annie out of the subway car, and took one step out before looking back at Vincent. He bowed his head and stepped the rest of the way out, and continued to walk away from the subway station.