HOLD

Teaser

FADE IN:

Water sparkles in the sun, waves are soft, it's a bright day in New York with normal EAST RIVER boat traffic that includes a freighter chugging upriver giving off a lot of smoke.

INT. 55 CHARLIE (MOVING) -- DAY (2:20 PM)

Cruising north on FDR Drive, SULLY juggles a steaming coffee, He's alone in the RMP, checks the time, shows mild disgust.

SULLY

What is it with me?  Half-hour early for everything, even work.

Glancing at river traffic, he frowns like, What Do You Expect?

SULLY

You got no life, that's why.  One more sulky, Sully-day.

Then, he notices a MERCEDES BUSINESSMAN his own age, blowing kisses into a cell phone.

SULLY

But, Tatiana... oh, that Tatiana.

Now, his hopeful face stands out from the hurried, preoccupied faces of other drivers.

INT. FIREHOUSE LOUNGE - DAY (2:21 PM)

JIMMY DOHERTY, CARLOS NIETO, DOC PARKER, LOMBARDO, with the CAPTAIN and other FIREFIGHTERS and EMS , play cards.

DOHERTY

(to Carlos)

This is for the whole thing now, you know that.  You sure you want it?

CARLOS

Go.  Just givit to me, man.  I gotta win with this one.

But Doherty reluctantly reveals his winning hand, and Carlos, fully expecting to win, tosses his cards in the central pile.

                        DOHERTY

(hip-hopping)

Gotta learn to play/ For you to stay a-way/ From the dirty chores, Carlito!

Firefighters and paramedics get a big laugh, high fives. 

Carlos gets up, looking all down and disgusted.  Doc grins, seems to secretly love Carlos losing.

LOMBARDO

And, Carlos, don't miss any part of those lo-ong undercarriage sections!

CARLOS

(turning around serious)

It's not that funny.  I had an exam.

(head bowed, he looks about to cry)

It's like you guys want me to fail.

DOC/OTHERS

Hey, man...  Come back...  It's not like that, man... c'm on...  Someone wins, someone loses, nothin personal.

Carlos walks into the...

DORMITORY

ALEX TAYLOR is in a flesh-tone leotard, doing a cool Yoga position by standing on one leg with arms spread, and her other leg fully extended back. 

Carlos proceeds with caution.  Lies face-down on the bunk, flaps open his neurochem book.

ALEX

Giving you a good razzin' out there?

CARLOS

Ag-h.  Yeah, what's new?

ALEX

Look, I always get stuck with the lousy jobs, too.  I'll help you with the undercarriage.

CARLOS

(a twinkle in his eye)

Really?  God... Good... fine.  Don't suppose you know any neurochem?

The Captain STRIDES in, and Alex comes out of her Yoga position.  He hands them envelopes.

CAPTAIN

Big wigs uptown.  Updating all the certifications and CEU requirements.

CARLOS

Great.  More requirements.

CAPTAIN

Cheer up, Nieto, you can get out of it by giving talks at local schools.

CARLOS

Me?  Talks.  About what?

CAPTAIN

It's a new idea.  Basically just a recruiting scheme.  Think about it.

The Captain taps once on the door jamb, and departs.

INT. YOKAS' APARTMENT -- DAY (2:25 PM)

Mellow sun's RAYS stream in the gauze-draped windows, falling on FRED's clean-shaven face as he stands at the kitchen sink with a dishrag, screwing dry the inside of a plastic cup. 

FAITH YOKAS sits in uniform, finishes the last luscious bites of a sandwich.

YOKAS

Umm.  Thanks for making this, Fred.

FRED

I put salsa in the tuna.

SCRREEEECH!  The kitchen chair backs away from the table as she snaps to her feet, empty plate and glass in hand.

YOKAS

I knew it was different.

He faces her, arms folded loosely, leans over so Yokas can reach the sink.

FRED

What time you think you'll be home?

Yokas flinches, puts the dish in the sink. 

YOKAS

You keeping up with me?

FRED

No.  Aren't you getting home early so the kids can give you presents?

YOKAS

They can wish me a happy birthday tomorrow.  The cake'll be good.

FRED

It's not the same.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

YOKAS

Yeah, but it has to do.

Yokas answers it.  It's an ASIAN TEENAGE GIRL, blue-hair.

TEENAGE GIRL

Excuse me.  I'm a neighbor, in 2C.  Can you come down to our apartment?

YOKAS

Sure.  What's the problem?

TEENAGE GIRL

I think someone stole our jewelry.

YOKAS

OK.  I'll be down.

She closes the door, returns to lean against the counter.

FRED

I thought you were using some of the time you had saved up?

YOKAS

I told you, Fred, it's my regular shift.  God forbid I need that time for something important.

FRED

It's important that the kids give you your presents on your birthday.

YOKAS

Get off it, Fred.

He whips the dishrag over the faucet stem.

FRED

They should give you birthdays off.

YOKAS

It's a regular shift.  I have to go.

She leaves quickly.  Fred smooths out the folds on the dishrag draped over the faucet.

INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY -- MOMENTS LATER

Yokas walks up to APT 2C.  Doesn't hear anything.  She's about to knock when a MUFFLED VOICE SPEAKS in a foreign language, not Spanish.  INS is mentioned.

She KNOCKS.  It goes quiet again, then the teenager answers.

INT. APARTMENT 2C -- CONTINUOUS

An ASIAN MAN and WOMAN fidget on the couch.  Everyone's a bit edgy.

YOKAS

I'm Faith Yokas, a neighbor upstairs.  Did you lose some jewelry?

ASIAN MAN

We're not sure.  We don't want to make any report.

YOKAS

Did you lose some valuables, or not?

No response, then,

TEENAGE GIRL

My friend said she was raped last night.  She's not legal... you know?

Yokas looks confused, suspicious, takes out her report pad.

YOKAS

She scared to come forward?  She can't be sent back, if that's it.

ASIAN MAN

What about INS?  You make a report.

YOKAS

It's a law, police can't call INS if there's a crime.  On the other hand, I'm not on duty yet.  What's your friend's name?

The three of them look at each other.  The girl bows her head, begins breaking into tears.

TEENAGE GIRL

It's me.

The adults don't move, studying Yokas.

YOKAS

You have a problem.  I can help.

Yokas places her hand gently on the teenager's arm. 

But the Asian man SPRINGS off the couch, SHOVES Yokas away from the sobbing girl.

ASIAN MAN

No!  You only bring more problems!

Yokas handles her club, doesn't want to use it. 

YOKAS

Back off, sir.  I know, it's tough, but assaulting the police makes it worse.  This is up to her.

The Asian man sweats, a slow boil of frustration and mistrust.

ASIAN MAN

(contemptuous to Yokas)

You don't care, you people, how we suffer to get to the U.S.   How it is to live here.  Everyone an enemy.

He storms by Yokas, through the doorway, out of the apartment.

TEENAGE GIRL

Help me.  Please.  We just wanted some help.

Yokas strokes back the girl's matted blue hair, looks at the dubious woman on the couch.

YOKAS

Sure, I will...

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