ACT 1, PART 1

FADE IN

CHICAGO CITY

DURING DAYTIME as

TWO COPS are chasing a burgular down a neighborhood street.

FIRST COP: Get back here!Get back here, you scumbag!

The burgular is a good distance away from them.

BURGULAR: No way, man!

He turns a corner, SECOND cop looking to First Cop.

SECOND COP: What do you say we split up? I'll take the break-away street, you head on after him. He only has those two options.

FIRST COP: Yeah.

Second Cop sways away, First Cop, his handsome face fighting against the blaring sun, bolting ahead to find the burgular.

LATER BEHIND A BROKEN DOWN HOUSE

First Cop, his gun raised defensively, and back against the house, is moving along it carefully, looking for the enemy.

Once, he sees its clear, he goes further in front of the backyard, finally moving away from the home, but

Suddenly, The Burgular jumps down, from the roof, landing on top of First Cop, beating at him --

First Cop knocking him off, then punching him in the face, just before he points the gun his way.

The burgular, a bag in his hands, ceases in fear, First Cop grinning.

FIRST COP: Stupid move, asswipe.

He snatches the bag away from the creep, pulling out some tiny bags of dope.

FIRST COP: Whoa! So that's what you're a burgular of? When that old lady said you stole her life's savings, little white dust is not exactly what I had in mind. You're both going to jail. C'omn!

He pulls the burgular up from the ground, snapping handcuffs on him.

POLICE SIRENS are heard, just as..

FIRST COP: You have the right to remain silent...

IN THE FRONT OF THE YARD

the other cops pull up in their squad cars, all looking to First Cop.

Second Cop comes running around.

SECOND COP: Well, I'll be damned
Rookie done caught another one.

The cops all laughing, First Cop smirking.

LATER ON THE ROAD, A BLACK CAR MOVES ALONG WITH THE TRAFFIC

23-year-old JAKE and 23-year-old PEYTON SAWYER sit in the front seat.

7-year-old JENNY in the backseat.

JENNY: Hey, dad, when are we gonna get there?

JAKE: In a minute, Jen.

JENNY: You said that, last time.

Peyton laughs.

PEYTON: You remember when we used to ask things like that at her age?

JAKE: Yeah, and over and over again?

They both laugh.

PEYTON: Thanks for doing this, Jake. For inviting me.

JAKE: Oh, no problem, Peyton...Look, I told you, Niki is my past. You're my future. She gets to be in Jenny's life, not mine.

Peyton looks reassured, Jenny wondering, however.

JENNY: Are you talking about, mom, again, dad? Why are you guys always talking about, mom?

They both laugh as Jake answers.

JAKE: Because you love her so much, Jen.

Peyton stares out the window.

PEYTON: So a Knicks game? Haven't been to too many basketball games, that's for sure.

JAKE: Yep, and I even scored us backstage passes. They are so gonna kick the BULLS butt! I mean, the Bulls haven't been the same since Jordan.

PEYTON: They aren't called backstage passes, are they?

JAKE: Whatever. Either way, we get to meet this team.

AN HOUR LATER INSIDE OF THE STADUIM TO THE NEW YORK KNICKS VS. THE CHICAGO BULLS GAME

A LOT OF people are cheering in the stands.

Jake and Peyton sitting close to each other, Jenny in between them.

THE CROWD GOES WILD! As the teams play fiercely.

Peyton looks to Jake.

PEYTON: I'm gonna go get some popcorn, okay?

JAKE: That's fine.

Jenny squeals with delight.

JENNY: Ooh, a big box. Please, Peyt! Please!

Peyton giggles.

PEYTON: Okay, squirt.

She then leaves.

AT THE CONCESSION STANDS

Where popcorn and all the candy delights possiible are there, Peyton walks up.

It's pretty crowded.

And a little dark.

Peyton looks at the clerk.

PEYTON: Yeah, let me get your biggest bucket there is.

CLERK: Right away, mam.

Mam? Peyton whispers under her voice. She is not nearly old enough to be a mam.

Peyton looks off into the crowd of people. She sees and hears a MAN arguing with A WOMAN...

MAN: Well, I wouldn't have this problem if you had just kept your legs closed! We don't need a kid!

WOMAN: But, baby, it's not my fault. Maybe you should be better equipped with condoms! What are they too big for you, you just slipped right out?

A FEW PEOPLE laugh, having heard that comment --

The Man slaps the crap outta The Woman, her falling to the ground, holding her face.

Peyton sees this and runs over to her, jumping in between them.

PEYTON: Hey, what do you think you're doing? That's a woman, you ass.

The Man, pulls out a gun.

The CROWD gasps, backing away in fear.

The Man points his pistol at Peyton.

MAN: Anything I want, bitch!

PEYTON: Hold on a minute, you're telling me you're going to shoot me because I called you on being a woman-beater?

MAN: Don't know what I'm gong to do. I'm tired of this crap!

Abrupty someone else's voice is heard.

FIRST COP: He's not going to shoot anyone.

Everyone turns around to look at First Cop, his gun pointed at the back of The Man's head as he stands at least fifteen feet away.

Peyton is watching First Cop too, his cop hat on, pulled a little over is brow, casting a shadow to where you cannot see his eyes, only half of his face.

But something about that half is eery to Peyton. The point of that nose. Those lips.

The Man looks over is shoulder at First Cop.

MAN: You have got to be kidding me. Ain't no rookie gonna take me down.

First Cop frowns.

FIRST COP: Rookie?

MAN: Yeah, only a rookie would hold his piece that way.

FIRST COP: I'll show you how much of a rookie I am when the bullet from my gun is lodged into the back of your head.

The Man is silent. First Cop continues.

FIRST COP: You have two options. Either drop your weapon, or die and your weapon will drop for you.

THE CROWD is tense and instagating as they all say: OOOOOOOOH!

The Man is still pointing his gun at Peyton.

First Cop clicks his pistol, the Man becoming scared.

MAN: Alright, alright. I'm putting my gun down. Damn!

He does so, First cop slowly coming to pick it up as his aim is still on the guy.

Peyton is relieved.

PEYTON: My -- God -- thank you. It's just, I --

As First Cop bends down, finally picking up The Man's gun, his hat brushes against the guy's body, falling off, REVEALING that famous spikey blond hair, those famous squinty eyes.

Peyton's mouth drops open in shock! No, it couldn't be.

She stares at the beautiful blond cop before her as he snaps handcuffs onto the creep.

PEYTON: Lucas Scott?

LUCAS, all daper in his cop uniform, looks up at Peyton and smirks.

LUCAS: Hi-ya there, Peyton.