THE ENFORCER

by

Mark Dunn

Copyright (c) 2011. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced

without the express written permission of the author.
LOW MARIACHI MUSIC. MUTED TRUMPETS. STRUMMING GUITARS.
HUMMING VIOLINS, DISTANT SINGING.

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET - PACOIMA - NIGHT

Black Chrysler 300, tinted windows, flashy rims, low profile

tires, creeps along. PIPES GROWL.

MUSIC VOLUME RISES.

Driver’s face shines in cell phone reflection.

INT. GANGSTER CAR

Small assault gun on front seat.

Back seat littered with ammo clips, handguns, assault rifles

and shotguns.

CELL PHONE SCREEN

Google maps real time location. A finger taps.

BACK TO SCENE

DRIVER

Deep creases along forehead and laugh lines. Short, black

hair slicked in all directions. Gritty tattoos cover his
cheeks and neck. A wicked cross on forehead.

JAVIER MARGUEZ, 35, alias “EL CUITO” (The Circuit), glances

out the window at a brightly lit tract house. He stops. Cuts
lights, motor. Picks up assault gun.

EXT. GANGSTER CAR

He slips assault gun under his dark jacket.

He strides toward the house.

MUSIC VOLUME RISES

EXT. GARDEN PARTY - BACKYARD

Bright, festive, colorful paper lanterns hang around the

yard. Confetti streamers weave through the lights and trees.
 2.

Mariachi trumpets BLARE, guitars STRUM, violins HUM, voices

CROON a festive tune.

The Crowd mills in cocktail party dress in and out of the

house and backyard. Excited murmurs blend beneath the MUSIC.

Two Security Guards, bulky, similar dress, stop El Cuito at a

gate from the driveway. He lets them search him until First
Security Guard discovers the gun.

First Security Guard pulls at the gun. El Cuito resists. His

shoulders swell. Face hardens, teeth clinch.

First Security Guard backs away, staring daggers at El Cuito,

motioning to Second Security Guard. They pull handguns.

El Cuito, unphased, flicks the assault gun in a surprise

move. FIRES A BURST. Security Guards FALL BACK, RIDDLED,
BLOODY.

The Crowd, at first shocked, SCREAMS and scatters. MUSIC

STOPS.

El Cuito stalks forward through the fleeing, screaming Crowd,

One hand waves the assault gun. The other removes his cell
phone, tapping the screen to a PHOTO.

CELL PHONE

MANNY REYES, thirties, dark-haired handsome adonis.

BACK TO SCENE

He steps into the house.

INT. HOUSE - DEN

SCREAMING Partygoers flee from stalking El Cuito.

He scans faces as he steps.

BEDROOM

Manny sucks a glass pipe filled with smoke.

A kilo of cocaine lies strewn on a vanity near him.

LUCY, twenties vixen, strips for him, baring herself.

He paws at her.

The door CRASHES OPEN.

 3.

CARLOS, thirties, jacketed, burr haircut, launches into the

room.

CARLOS
Get out! You’ve got to get out!
Now!

Coming out of his fog, Manny turns to him.

MANNY
What’s wrong? What is it?

CARLOS
A hit man! With a gun!

A FIERY BURST spins BLOODY Carlos down.

SCREAM from Lucy. Manny jumps to his feet.

El Cuito steps into the doorway. The assault gun smokes.

Lucy SCREAMS, covers her body with her arms.

Manny half-staggers, half-lurches for his jacket draped over

a chair.

El Cuito looks at the cell phone.

CELL PHONE

Manny’s image.

BACK TO SCENE

MANNY sweats, wheels.

El Cuito remains calm. The assault gun rises.

Manny fumbles with his pistol’s safety.

EL CUITO
Don’t act like you didn’t know.

He BLASTS Manny, throwing him into the wall behind. Pistol

FIRES into the floor.

Manny slumps into a BLOODY heap.

Lucy runs to a window. Her hands fail to open it. She pants,
turns to El Cuito.

His eyes pour over her.

She falls to her knees. Crosses herself, Closes her eyes.

 4.

LUCY
Mary mother of God -

EL CUITO
Not bad.

He leaves.

She trembles, cries.

EXT. GANGSTER CAR - MOMENTS LATER

El Cuito at the door. Opens it.

INT. GANGSTER CAR

The assault gun falls onto the seat.

He reaches for the key. Turns it. PIPES GROWL.

Door SLAMS.

EXT. STREET

Lights out, Gangster Chrysler PEELS RUBBER, ROARING and

SPEEDING down the street.

EXT. HOUSE - FRONT YARD

First and Second Partygoers emerge from bushes. MOS First

Partygoer dictates. Second Partygoer scribbles the
description on a piece of paper.

EXT. ABOVE PACOIMA - LATER - NIGHT

Angles of streetlights. Rows of arching parking lot stanchion

globes. Glowing porch lights. Business spotlights. Rushing
headlights.

Two black and white squad cars race down a main boulevard.
SIRENS WAIL. OVERHEAD LIGHTS CHURN AND FLASH.

EXT. ABOVE 210 FREEWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Gangster Chrysler ZOOMS southbound. Mountain communities

sparkle on either side.
 5.

EXT. HOUSE - PACOIMA - LATER

Black and whites angle to the curb, doors ajar.

FIRST PATROLMAN radios. Second Patrolman consoles Lucy and

Partygoers.

FIRST PATROLMAN
Black Chrysler three hundred,
custom rims. Answers description of
El Cuito, street gang enforcer.
Tied to cartels. -

EXT. SHOULDER - 210 FREEWAY

First CHP squad car rests. Traffic passes.

INT. FIRST CHP SQUAD CAR

CHP OFFICER listens to his radio.

FIRST PATROLMAN (O.S.)(CONT’D)

- Suspect should be considered
armed and dangerous.

EXT. 210 FREEWAY

Gangster Chrysler approaches first CHP squad car.

Passing headlights flicker on El Cuito’s face.

INT. GANGSTER CAR

El Cuito glances at first CHP squad car as he passes.

Cell phone blinks LOW BATTERY.

INT. FIRST CHP SQUAD CAR

CHP Officer watches the Gangster Chrysler SPEED PAST.

He CRANKS THE MOTOR, hits the LIGHTS AND SIREN. The squad car
lurches forward.

EXT. 210 FREEWAY

First CHP squad car pursues Gangster Chrysler.

 6.

INT. GANGSTER CAR

First CHP squad car lights reflect from the rear view.

El Cuito shifts, uncomfortable at the nearing car. He jams

his foot to the gas pedal.

SPEEDOMETER

Clicks up, digital readout rising from 80 to 120.

BACK TO SCENE

First CHP squad car lights fall back.

He watches the exit signs. He turns off.

EXT. OFFRAMP - MOMENTS LATER

Gangster Chrysler hesitates, turns.

A gas station shines from a corner on the other side of the

freeway.

INT. GAS STATION - MOMENTS LATER

El Cuito enters.

Cashier rings up waiting Customers.

He browses the cell phone rack. Picks out a car charger and a
prepaid phone. Waits in line.

First CHP squad car pulls up behind Gangster Chrysler

outside.

CHP Officer inspects the car. Draws service pistol. Uses

shoulder radio.

El Cuito panics. The assault gun appears.

Cashier and Customers SCREAM and dodge away.

He BLASTS the WINDOW, SHATTERING IT.

CHP Officer ducks for cover.

El Cuito rushes out the door.

 7.

EXT. GAS STATION

ASSAULT GUN BLAZES. Pins CHP Officer down. El Cuito races for
his car.

FIRE RIDDLES the squad car: radiator BLOWS, tires EXPLODE,

windows and windshield SHATTER, metal POCKMARKED WITH HOLES.

El Cuito jumps into his car, MOTOR ROARS. Tires SQUEAL. He

continues to LAY FIRE as he drives one-handed out of the
station.

EXT. ABOVE 210 FREEWAY - MOMENTS LATER

A Sheriff’s helicopter BUZZES over the gas station,

SEARCHLIGHT focuses on speeding Gangster Chrysler. It follows

the car onto the freeway northbound.

Several more CHP squad cars join the pursuit.

INT. GANGSTER CAR

El Cuito reloads his assault gun. Steers with his knees. He

glances at the SEARCHLIGHT following him.

REAR VIEW

CHP squad cars follow: SIRENS AND LIGHTS.

BACK TO SCENE

He accelerates.

EXT. ABOVE 210 FREEWAY

Gangster Chrysler and CHP squad cars RACE in tandem.

EXT. GANGSTER CAR

El Cuito watches exit signs blow by.

FLASHBACK

EXT. SECOND TRACT HOUSE - SUN VALLEY - THIRTY YEARS EARLIER

A corner house. Curbs broken, asphalt potholed, lawn bare and

sere.
 8.

A ramshackle wooden fence runs from one side to the rear.

YOUNG JAVIER, five, T-shirt and tattered jeans, tugs a wooden
gate open and enters.

INT. SMALL LIVING ROOM - TRACT HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Young Javier watches Father, forties, worn work clothes, YELL

MOS, waving a bottle of tequila at the family:

Two Sisters, one older, one younger, and Three Brothers, all
older, mill around the room. Mother, forties, threadbare
slip. She nurse an infant.

Young Javier watches Father beat on the older brothers and

sister.

EXT. SECOND TRACT HOUSE - SMALL SIDE YARD

Young Javier frowns, saddened. A cat meanders nearby. He

picks up a rock. Chunks it at the cat. WHINE. Javier grins.

INT. CRACK HOUSE - SOMEWHERE IN THE VALLEY - TWENTY YEARS

LATER

Javier, 25, with fewer tattoos, lounges in a bean bag chair.

Four Gangsters stand and sit around the desolate room, spray
painted, dim, and broken down.

Gang Leader appears. Javier gets to his feet with the others.
Each accepts bags of drugs: pills and powders.

YEARS LATER
Javier holds an automatic pistol at First Gangster. First
Gangster pleads MOS, dropping to his knees.

Gang Leader watches nearby.

Javier FIRES. First Gangster falls back, BLOODIED, wound to

the head.

He reflects. His gun hand rubs the gun grip. Slight smile.

END FLASHBACK

INT. GANGSTER CAR

El Cuito reflects. His expression becomes intense. He grips

the steering wheel harder. His shoulders swell.
 9.

An exit sign beckons. He turns.

EXT. OFFRAMP - 14 FREEWAY - DAWN

Gangster Chrysler hurtles off the freeway, SCREECHING to a

stop. It turns, ACCELERATES.

EXT. ABOVE 14 FREEWAY

Sheriff’s helicopter traces the gangster car.

CHP squad cars follow from the offramp.

I/E. GANGSTER CAR/SURFACE STREETS/VASQUEZ ROCKS

MONTAGE

Gangster Chrysler races along the roads, turning,

fishtailing, twisting.

CHP squad cars continue to pursue.

El Cuito glances anxiously behind him. He makes more turns.

CHP squad cars right behind him.

SIGN READS:

VASQUEZ ROCKS

He turns the car into the gate.

Gangster Chrysler KICKS UP A CLOUD OF DUST.

He stops the car.

Assault guns disappear from the back seat.

He runs into the desert rocks.

CHP squad cars halt at the Gangster Chrysler.

CHP Officers pile out, guns drawn. They cautiously approach

the car. They find it empty. Motion toward the desert rocks.

El Cuito climbs behind Vasquez Peak.

 10.

EXT. VASQUEZ PEAK - DAY

Dark silhouette against powder blue sky, El Cuito appears to

walk on a knife edge.

The enforcer stands atop. Assault gun, assault rifle, and

bandoliers hug his body.

CHP Officers stalk below, boulder to boulder.

He switches to the assault rifle. Takes aim through the

scope. BLASTS.

CHP Officers take cover. Return FIRE with their service

semiautomatics.

Two CHP Officers circle around from El Cuito’s rear.

EXCHANGE OF FIRE keeps El Cuito focused. ROUNDS RICOCHET.

From the rear. The Two CHP Officers stalk up the peak. They
come within range.

FIRST CHP OFFICER

Throw down the guns! Now!

El Cuito wheels. At first, the uniforms blend with the

surface rocks. He squints.

FIRST CHP OFFICER (CONT’D)

Put it down! Hands behind your
back!

He spots them. Stands and BLASTS at them.

Second CHP Officer FIRES a volley.

El Cuito takes HITS to the torso. He goes limp. Falls
backward.

His body sails off the peak. Guns follow him. Two seconds
until he hits the rocks below. THUMP-BUMP.

El Cuito stares lifeless at the sun above.

LOW MARIACHI BALLAD SWELLS TO FULL VOLUME.

FADE OUT.

THE END