ADE UP On the cartoon "SPEED RACER." Speed is giving a detailed description of all the features on his race car "The Mac-5," which he does at the beginning of every episode. OFF SCREEN we hear a WOMAN'S VOICE... . WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Butch. DISSOLVE TO: BUTCH'S POV We're in the living room of a modest two bedroom house in Alhambra, California, in the year 1972. BUTCH'S MOTHER, 35ish, stands in the doorway leading into the living room. Next to her is a man dressed in the uniform of an American Air Force officer. The CAMERA is the perspective of a five-year old boy. MOTHER Butch, stop watching TV a second. We got a special visitor. Now do you remember when I told you your daddy dies in a P.O.W. camp? BUTCH (O.S.) Uh-huh. MOTHER Well this here is Capt. Koons. He was in the P.O.W. camp with Daddy. CAPT. KOONS steps inside the room toward the little boy and bends down on one knee to bring him even with the boy's eyeline. When Koons speaks, he speaks with a slight Texas accent. CAPT. KOONS Hello, little man. Boy I sure heard a bunch about you. See, I was a good friend of your Daddy's. We were in that Hanoi pit of hell over five years together. Hopefully, you'll never have to experience this yourself, but when two men are in a situation like me and your Daddy were, for as long as we were, you take on certain responsibilities of the other. If it had been me who had not made it, Major Coolidge would be talkin' right now to my son Jim. But the way it worked out is I'm talkin' to you, Butch. I got somethin' for ya. The Captain pulls a gold wrist watch out of his pocket. CAPT. KOONS This watch I got here was first purchased by your great-granddaddy. It was bought during the First World War in a little general store in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was bought by private Doughboy Ernie Coolidge the day he set sail for Paris. It was your great-granddaddy's war watch, made by the first company to ever make wrist watches. You see, up until then, people just carried pocket watches. Your great-granddaddy wore that watch every day he was in the war. Then when he had done his duty, he went home to your great- grandmother, took the watch off his wrist and put it in an ol' coffee can. And in that can it stayed 'til your grandfather Dane Coolidge was called upon by his country to go overseas and fight the Germans once again. This time they called it World War Two. Your great-granddaddy gave it to your granddad for good luck. Unfortunately, Dane's luck wasn't as good as his old man's. Your granddad was a Marine and he was killed with all the other Marines at the battle of Wake Island. Your granddad was facing death and he knew it. None of those boys had any illusions about ever leavin' that island alive. So three days before the Japanese took the island, your 22-year old grandfather asked a gunner on an Air Force transport named Winocki, a man he had never met before in his life, to deliver to his infant son, who he had never seen in the flesh, his gold watch. Three days later, your grandfather was dead. But Winocki kept his word. After the war was over, he paid a visit to your grandmother, delivering to your infant father, his Dad's gold watch. This watch. This watch was on your Daddy's wrist when he was shot down over Hanoi. He was captured and put in a Vietnamese prison camp. Now he knew if the gooks ever saw the watch it'd be confiscated. The way your Daddy looked at it, that watch was your birthright. And he'd be damned if and slopeheads were gonna put their greasy yella hands on his boy's birthright. So he hid it in the one place he knew he could hide somethin'. His ass. Five long years, he wore this watch up his ass. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the watch. I hid with uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you. Capt. Koons hands the watch to Butch. A little hand comes into FRAME to accept it. CUT TO: INT. LOCKER ROOM – NIGHT The 27-year old Butch Coolidge is dressed in boxing regalia: trunks, shoes and gloves. He lies on a table catching a few zzzzzz's before his big fight. Almost as soon as WE CUT to him, he wakes up with a start. Shaken by the bizarre memory, he wipes his sweaty face with his boxing glove. His trainer KLONDIKE, an older fireplug, opens the door a little, sticking his head in the room. Pandemonium seems to be breaking out behind Klondike in the hallway. KLONDIKE It's time, Butch. BUTCH I'm ready. Klondike steps inside, closing the door on the WILD MOB outside. He goes to the long yellow robe hanging on a hook. Butch hops off the table and, without a word, Klondike helps him on with the robe, which says on the back: "BATTLING BUTCH COOLIDGE". The two men head for the door. Klondike opens the door for Butch. As Butch steps into the hallway, the Crowd goes apeshit. Klondike closes the door behind him, leaving us in the quiet, empty locker room. FADE TO BLACK TITLE CARD: "THE GOLD WATCH" We hear over the black and white title: SPORTSCASTER #1 (O.S.) – Well Dan, that had to be the bloodiest and, hands-down, the most brutal fight this city has ever seen. The SOUND of chaos in the b.g. FADE IN: EXT. ALLEY (RAINING) – NIGHT A taxi is parked in a dark alley next to an auditorium. The sky is PISSIN' DOWN RAIN. WE SLOWLY DOLLY toward the parked car. The SOUND of the CAR RADIO can be heard coming from inside. SPORTSCASTER #1 (O.S.) ...Coolidge was out of there faster than I've ever seen a victorious boxer vacate the ring. Do you think he knew Willis was dead? SPORTSCASTER #2 (O.S.) My guess would be yes, Richard. I could see from my position here, the frenzy in his eyes give way to the realization of what he was doing. I think any man would've left the ring that fast. DISSOLVE TO: INT. TAXI (PARKED/RAINING) – NIGHT Inside the taxi, behind the wheel, is a female cabbie named ESMARELDA VILLALOBOS. A young woman, with Spanish looks, sits parked, drinking a steaming hot cup of coffee out of a white styrofoam cup. The Sportscasters continue their coverage. SPORTSCASTER #1 (O.S.) Do you feel this ring death tragedy will have an effect on the world of boxing? SPORTSCASTER #2 (O.S.) Oh Dan, a tragedy like this can't help but shake the world of boxing to its very foundation. But it's of paramount importance that during the sad weeks ahead, the eyes of the W.B.A. remain firmly fixed on the – CLICK – Esmarelda shuts off the radio. She takes a sip of coffee, then hears a NOISE behind her in the alley. She sticks her head out of the car door to see: EXT. BOXING AUDITORIUM (RAINING) – NIGHT A window about three stories high opens on the auditorium- side of the alley. A gym bag is tossed out into a garbage dumpster below the window. Then, Butch Coolidge, still dressed in boxing trunks, shoes, gloves and yellow robe, LEAPS to the dumpster below. ESMARELDA'S REACTION takes in the strangeness of this sight. Gym bag in hand, Butch CLIMBS out of the dumpster and RUNS to the taxi. Before he climbs in, he takes off his robe and throws it to the ground. INT. TAXI (PARKED / RAINING) – NIGHT Butch, soaking wet, naked except for trunks, shoes and gloves, HOPS in the backseat, SLAMMING the door. Esmarelda, staring straight ahead, talks to Butch through the rearview mirror: ESMARELDA (Spanish accent) Are you the man I was supposed to pick up? BUTCH If you're the cab I called, I'm the guy you're supposed to pick up. ESMARELDA Where to? BUTCH Outta here. The ignition key is TWISTED. The engine ROARS to life. The meter is FLIPPED on. Esmarelda's bare foot STOMPS on the gas pedal. EXT. BOXING AUDITORIUM (RAINING) – NIGHT The cab WHIPS out of the alley, FISH-TAILING on the wet pavement in front of the auditorium at a rapid pace. INT. WILLIS LOCKER ROOM (AUDITORIUM) – NIGHT Locker room door opens, English Dave fights his way through the pandemonium which is going on outside in the hall, shutting the door on the madness. Once inside, English Dave takes time to adjust his suit and tie. Mia is standing by the door. She sees Vincent with English Dave. VINCENT Mia. How you doin'? MIA Great. I never thanked you for the dinner. In the room, black boxer FLOYD RAY WILLIS lies on a table – dead. His face looks like he went dunking for bees. His TRAINER is on his knees, head on Floyd's chest, crying over the body. The huge figure that is Marsellus Wallace stands at the table, hand on the Trainer's shoulder, lending emotional support. We still do not see Marsellus clearly, only that he is big. Mia sits in a chair at the far end of the room. Marsellus looks up, sees English Dave and walks over to him. MARSELLUS (O.S.) What'cha got? ENGLISH DAVE He booked. MARSELLUS (O.S.) I'm prepared to scour the earth for this motherfucker. If Butch goes to Indo China, I want a nigger hidin' in a bowl of rice, ready to pop a cap in his ass. ENGLISH DAVE I'll take care of it. INT. CAB (MOVING / RAINING) – NIGHT Butch gets one of his boxing gloves off. Esmeralda watches in the rearview mirror. He tries to roll down one of the backseat windows, but can't find the roll bar. BUTCH Hey, how do I open the window back here? ESMARELDA I have to do it. She presses a button and the back window moves down. Butch tosses his boxing glove out the window, then starts untying the other one. Esmeralda can't keep quiet anymore. ESMARELDA Hey, mister? BUTCH (still working on the glove) What? ESMARELDA You were in that fight? The fight on the radio – you're the fighter? As he tosses his other glove out the window. BUTCH Whatever gave you that idea? ESMARELDA No c'mon, you're him, I know you're him, tell me you're him. BUTCH (drying himself with a gym towel) I'm him. ESMARELDA You killed the other boxing man. BUTCH He's dead? ESMARELDA The radio said he was dead. He finished wiping himself down. BUTCH (to himself) Sorry 'bout that, Floyd. He tosses the towel out the window. Silence, as Butch digs in his bag for a t-shirt. ESMARELDA What does it feel like? BUTCH (finds his shirt) What does what feel like? ESMARELDA Killing a man. Beating another man to death with your bare hands. Butch pulls on his tee-shirt. BUTCH Are you some kinda weirdo? ESMARELDA No, it's a subject I have much interest in. You are the first person I ever met who has killed somebody. So, what was it like to kill a man? BUTCH Tell ya what, you give me one of them cigarettes, I'll give you an answer. Esmarelda bounces in her seat with excitement. ESMARELDA Deal! Butch leans forward. Esmarelda, keeping her eyes on the road, passes a cigarette back to him. He takes it. Then, still not looking behind her, she brings up her hand, a lit match in it. Butch lights his smoke, then blows out the match. He takes a long drag. BUTCH So... He looks at her license. BUTCH ...Esmarelda Villalobos – is that Mexican? ESMARELDA The name is Spanish, but I'm Columbian. BUTCH It's a very pretty name. ESMARELDA It mean "Esmarelda of the wolves." BUTCH That's one hell of a name you got there, sister. ESMARELDA Thank you. And what is your name? BUTCH Butch. ESMARELDA Butch. What does it mean? BUTCH I'm an American, our names don't mean shit. Anyway, moving right along, what is it you wanna know, Esmarelda? ESMARELDA I want to know what it feels like to kill a man – BUTCH – I couldn't tell ya. I didn't know he was dead 'til you told me he was dead. Now I know he's dead, do you wanna know how I feel about it? Esmarelda nods her head: "yes." BUTCH I don't feel the least little bit bad. EXT. PHONE BOOTH (RAINING) – NIGHT We DOLLY around a phone booth as Butch talks inside. BUTCH (into phone) What'd I tell ya, soon as the word got out a fix was in, the odds would be outta control. Hey, if he was a better fighter he's be alive. If he never laced up his gloves in the first place, which he never shoulda done, he'd be alive. Enough about the poor unfortunate Mr. Floyd, let's talk about the rich and prosperous Mr. Butch. How many bookies you spread it around with? (PAUSE) Eight? How long to collect? (pause) So by tomorrow evening, you'll have it all? (pause) Good news Scotty, real good news – I understand a few stragglers aside. Me an' Fabienne're gonna leave in the morning. It should take us a couple days to get into Knoxville. Next time we see each other, it'll be on Tennessee time. Butch hangs up the phone. He looks at the cab waiting to take him wherever he wants to go. BUTCH (to himself in French with English subtitles) Fabienne my love, our adventure begins. CUT TO: EXT. MOTEL (STOPPED / RAINING) – NIGHT Esmeralda's taxi pulled into the motel parking lot. The rain has stopped, but the night is still soaked. Butch gets out, now fully dressed in tee-shirt, jeans and high school athletic jacket. He leans in the driver's side window. ESMARELDA Forty-five sixty. Handing her the money. BUTCH Merci beaucoup. And here's a little something for the effort. Butch holds up a hundred dollar bill. Esmarelda's eyes light up. She goes to take it. Butch holds it out of reach. BUTCH Now if anybody should ask you about who your fare was tonight, what're you gonna tell 'em? ESMARELDA The truth. Three well-dressed, slightly toasted, Mexicans. He gives her the bill. BUTCH Bon soir, Esmarelda. ESMARELDA (in Spanish) Sleep well, Butch. He tweaks her nose, she smiles, and he turns and walks away. She drives off. INT. MOTEL (ROOM SIX) – NIGHT Butch enters and turns on the light. Lying curled up on the bed, fully dressed, with her back to us is Butch's French girlfriend, FABIENNE. FABIENNE Keep the light off. Butch flicks the switch back, making the room dark again. BUTCH Is that better, sugar pop? FABIENNE Oui. Hard day at the office? BUTCH Pretty hard. I got into a fight. FABIENNE Poor baby. Can we make spoons? Butch climbs into bed, spooning Fabienne from behind. When Butch and Fabienne speak to each other, they speak in babytalk. FABIENNE I was looking at myself in the mirror. BUTCH Uh-huh? FABIENNE I wish I had a pot. BUTCH You were lookin' in the mirror and you wish you had some pot? FABIENNE A pot. A pot belly. Pot bellies are sexy. BUTCH Well you should be happy, 'cause you do. FABIENNE Shut up, Fatso! I don't have a pot! I have a bit of a tummy, like Madonna when she did "Lucky Star," it's not the same thing. BUTCH I didn't realize there was a difference between a tummy and a pot belly. FABIENNE The difference is huge. BUTCH You want me to have a pot? FABIENNE No. Pot bellies make a man look either oafish, or like a gorilla. But on a woman, a pot belly is very sexy. The rest of you is normal. Normal face, normal legs, normal hips, normal ass, but with a big, perfectly round pot belly. If I had one, I'd wear a tee-shirt two sizes too small to accentuate it. BUTCH You think guys would find that attractive? FABIENNE I don't give a damn what men find attractive. It's unfortunate what we find pleasing to the touch and pleasing to the eye is seldom the same. BUTCH If you a pot belly, I'd punch you in it. FABIENNE You'd punch me in my belly? BUTCH Right in the belly. FABIENNE I'd smother you. I'd drop it on your right on your face 'til you couldn't breathe. BUTCH You'd do that to me? FABIENNE Yes! BUTCH Did you get everything, sugar pop? FABIENNE Yes, I did. BUTCH Good job. FABIENNE Did everything go as planned? BUTCH You didn't listen to the radio? FABIENNE I never listen to your fights. Were you the winner? BUTCH I won alright. FABIENNE Are you still retiring? BUTCH Sure am. FABIENNE What about the man you fought? BUTCH Floyd retired too. FABIENNE (smiling) Really?! He won't be fighting no more?! BUTCH Not no more. FABIENNE So it all worked out in the finish? BUTCH We ain't at the finish, baby. Fabienne rolls over and Butch gets on top of her. They kiss. FABIENNE We're in a lot of danger, aren't we? Butch nods his head: "yes." FABIENNE If they find us, they'll kill us, won't they? Butch nods his head: "yes." FABIENNE But they won't find us, will they? Butch nods his head: "no." FABIENNE Do you still want me to go with you? Butch nods his head: "yes." FABIENNE I don't want to be a burden or a nuisance - Butch's hand goes out of frame and starts massaging her crotch. Fabienne reacts. FABIENNE Say it! BUTCH Fabienne, I want you to be with me. FABIENNE Forever? BUTCH ...and ever. Fabienne lies her head back. Butch continues to massage her crotch. FABIENNE Do you love me? BUTCH Oui. FABIENNE Butch? Will you give me oral pleasure? Butch kisses her on the mouth. BUTCH Will you kiss it? She nods her head: "yes." FABIENNE But you first. Butch's head goes down out of frame to carry out the oral pleasure. Fabienne's face is alone in the frame. FABIENNE (in French, with English subtitles) Butch my love, the adventure begins. FADE TO BLACK FADE UP: MOTEL ROOM Same motel room, except empty. WE HEAR THE SHOWER RUNNING in the bathroom. The CAMERA MOVES to the bathroom doorway. We see Fabienne in a white terry cloth robe that seems to swallow her up. She's drying her head with a towel. Butch is inside the shower washing up. We see the outline of his naked body through the smoky glass of the shower door. Steam fills the bathroom. Butch turns the shower off and opens the door, popping his head out. BUTCH I think I cracked a rib. FABIENNE Giving me oral pleasure? BUTCH No retard, from the fight. FABIENNE Don't call me retard. BUTCH (in a Mongoloid voice) My name is Fabby! My name is Fabby! FABIENNE Shut up fuck head! I hate that Mongoloid voice. BUTCH Okay, sorry, sorry, sorry, I take it back! Can I have a towel please, Miss Beautiful Tulip. FABIENNE Oh I like that, I like being called a tulip. Tulip is much better than Mongoloid. She finishes drying her hair and wraps the towel like a turban on her head. BUTCH I didn't call you a Mongoloid, I called you a retard, but I took it back. She hands him a towel. BUTCH Merci beaucoup. FABIENNE Butch? BUTCH (drying his head) Yes, lemon pie. FABIENNE Where are we going to go? BUTCH I'm not sure yet. Wherever you want. We're gonna get a lot of money from this. But it ain't gonna be so much, we can live like hogs in the fat house forever. I was thinking we could go somewhere in the South Pacific. The kinda money we'll have'll carry us a long way down there. FABIENNE So if we wanted, we could live in Bora Bora? BUTCH You betcha. And if after awhile you don't dig Bora Bora, then we can move over to Tahiti or Mexico. FABIENNE But I do not speak Spanish. BUTCH You don't speak Bora Boran either. Besides, Mexican is easy: Donde esta el zapataria? FABIENNE What does that mean? BUTCH Where's the shoe store? FABIENNE Donde esta el zapataria? BUTCH Excellent pronunciation. You'll be my little mama ceta in no time. Butch exits the bathroom. We stay on Fabienne as she brushes her teeth. Butch keeps on from the other room. BUTCH (O.S.) Que hora es? FABIENNE Que hora es? BUTCH (O.S.) What time is it? FABIENNE What time is it? BUTCH (O.S.) Time for bed. Sweet dream, jellybean. Fabienne brushes her teeth. We watch her for a moment or two, then she remember something. FABIENNE Butch. She walks out of the bathroom to ask Butch a question, only to find him sound asleep in bed. She looks at him for a moment. FABIENNE Forget it. She exits frame, going back in the bathroom. WE STAY on the WIDE SHOT of the unconscious Butch in bed. FADE TO BLACK FADE UP: MOTEL ROOM – MORNING SAME SHOT AS BEFORE, the next morning. We find Butch still asleep in bed. Fabienne brushes her teeth half in and half out of the bathroom so she can watch TV at the same time. She still wears the terry cloth robe from the night before. ON TV: WILLIAM SMITH and a BUNCH OF HELL'S ANGELS are taking on the entire Vietnamese army in the film "THE LOSERS". Butch wakes from his sleep, as if a scary monster was chasing him. His start startles Fabienne. FABIENNE Merde! You startled me. Did you have a bad dream? Butch squints down the front of the bed at her, trying to focus. Butch, still trying to chase the cobwebs away, sees on TV Hell's Angels tear-assin' through a Vietnamese prison camp. BUTCH What are you watching? FABIENNE A motorcycle movie, I'm not sure the name. BUTCH Are you watchin' it? Fabienne enters the room. FABIENNE In a way. Why? Would you like for me to switch it off? BUTCH Would you please? She reaches over and turns off the TV. BUTCH It's a little too early in the morning for explosions and war. FABIENNE What was it about? BUTCH How should I know, you were the one watchin' it. Fabienne laughs. FABIENNE No, imbecile, what was your dream about? BUTCH Oh, I... don't remember. It's really rare I remember a dream. FABIENNE You just woke up from it. BUTCH Fabienne, I'm not lying to you, I don't remember. FABIENNE Well, let's look at the grumpy man in the morning. I didn't say you were lying, it's just odd you don't remember your dreams. I always remember mine. Did you know you talk in your sleep? BUTCH I don't talk in my sleep, do I talk in my sleep? FABIENNE You did last night. BUTCH What did I say? Laying on top of him. FABIENNE I don't know. I couldn't understand you. She kisses Butch. FABIENNE Why don't you get up and we'll get some breakfast at that breakfast place with the pancakes. BUTCH One more kiss and I'll get up. Fabienne gives Butch a sweet long kiss. FABIENNE Satisfied? BUTCH Yep. FABIENNE Then get up, lazy bones. Butch climbs out of bed and starts pulling clothes out of the suitcase that Fabienne brought. BUTCH What time is it? FABIENNE Almost nine in the morning. What time does our train arrive? BUTCH Eleven. FABIENNE I'm gonna order a big plate of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, eggs over easy, and five sausages. BUTCH (surprised at her potential appetite) Anything to drink with that? Butch is finished dressing. FABIENNE (referring to his clothes) Oh yes, that looks nice. To drink, a tall glass or orange juice and a black cup of coffee. After that, I'm going to have a slice of pie. As he goes through the suitcase. BUTCH Pie for breakfast? FABIENNE Any time of the day is a good time for pie. Blueberry pie to go with the pancakes. And on top, a thin slice of melted cheese – BUTCH – where's my watch? FABIENNE It's there. BUTCH No, it's not. It's not here. FABIENNE Have you looked? By now, Butch is frantically rummaging through the suitcase. BUTCH Yes I've fuckin' looked!! He's now throwing clothes. BUTCH What the fuck do you think I'm doing?! Are you sure you got it? Fabienne can hardly speak, she's never seen Butch this way. FABIENNE Uhhh... yes... beside the table drawer – BUTCH – on the little kangaroo. FABIENNE Yes, it was on your little kangaroo. BUTCH Well it's not here! FABIENNE (on the verge of tears) Well it should be! BUTCH Oh it most definitely should be here, but it's not. So where is it? Fabienne is crying and scared. Butch lowers his voice, which only serves to make him more menacing. BUTCH Fabienne, that was my father's fuckin' watch. You know what my father went through to git me that watch?... I don't wanna get into it right now... but he went through a lot. Now all this other shit, you coulda set on fire, but I specifically reminded you not to forget my father's watch. Now think, did you get it? FABIENNE I believe so... BUTCH You believe so? You either did, or you didn't, now which one is it? FABIENNE Then I did. BUTCH Are you sure? FABIENNE (shaking) No. Butch freaks out, he punches the air. Fabienne SCREAMS and backs into a corner, Butch picks up the motel TV and THROWS IT AGAINST the wall. Fabienne SCREAMS IN HORROR. Butch looks toward her, suddenly calm. BUTCH (to Fabienne) No! It's not your fault. (he approached her) You left it at the apartment. He bends down in front of the woman who has sunk to the floor. He touches her hand, she flinches. BUTCH If you did leave it at the apartment, it's not your fault. I had you bring a bunch of stuff. I reminded you about it, but I didn't illustrate how personal the watch was to me. If all I gave a fuck about was my watch, I should've told you. You ain't a mind reader. He kisses her hand. Then rises. Fabienne is still sniffling. Butch goes to the closet. FABIENNE I'm sorry. Butch puts on his high school jacket. BUTCH Don't be. It just means I won't be able to eat breakfast with you. FABIENNE Why does it mean that? BUTCH Because I'm going back to my apartment to get my watch. FABIENNE Won't the gangsters be looking for you there? BUTCH That's what I'm gonna find out. If they are, and I don't think I can handle it, I'll split. Rising from the floor. FABIENNE I was so dreadful. I saw your watch, I thought I brought it. I'm so sorry. Butch brings her close and puts his hands on her face. BUTCH Don't feel bad, sugar pop. Nothing you could ever do would make me permanently angry at you. (pause) I love you, remember? (he digs some money out of his wallet) Now here's some money, order those pancakes and have a great breakfast. FABIENNE Don't go. BUTCH I'll be back before you can say, blueberry pie. FABIENNE Blueberry pie. BUTCH Well maybe not that fast, but fast. Okay? Okay? FABIENNE Okay. He kisses her once more and heads for the door. BUTCH Bye-bye, sugar pop. FABIENNE Bye. BUTCH I'm gonna take your Honda. FABIENNE Okay. And with that, he's out the door. Fabienne sits on the bed and looks at the money he gave her. INT. HONDA (MOVING) – DAY Butch is beating the steering wheel and the dash with his fists as he drives down the street. BUTCH Of all the fuckin' things she coulda forgot, she forgets my father's watch. I specifically reminded her not to forget it. "Bedside table – on the kangaroo." I said the words: "Don't forget my father's watch." EXT. CITY STREET – DAY The little Honda races toward its destination as fast as is little engine will take it. CUT TO: A parking meter red flag rises up, then out, leaving the arrow pointing at one hour. EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET CORNER – DAY Butch isn't completely reckless. He has parked his car a couple of blocks from his apartment to check things out before he goes boppin' through the front door. EXT. ALLEY – DAY Butch walks down the alley until he gets to another street, then he discreetly glances out. EXT. STREET – BUTCH'S APARTMENT – DAY Everything seems normal. More or less the right number of cars in the street. None of the parked cars appear out of place. None of them have a couple of goons sitting inside. Basically, it looks like normal morning activity in front of Butch's home. Butch peers around a wall, taking in the vital information. Butch walks out of the alley and is ready for anything. He crosses the street and enters his apartment courtyard. Across the street from Butch's building, on the corner, is a combination donut shop and Japanese restaurant. A big sign sticks up in the air, with the name "Teriyaki Donut" and a graphic of a donut sticking out of a bowl of rice. EXT. BUTCH'S APARTMENT COURTYARD – DAY Butch is in the courtyard of his North Hollywood apartment building. Once again, everything appears normal – the laundry room, the pool, his apartment door – nothing appears disturbed. Butch climbs the stairs leading to his apartment, number 12. He steps outside the door and listens inside. Nothing. Butch slowly inserts the key into the door, quietly opening it. INT. BUTCH'S APARTMENT – DAY His apartment hasn't been touched. He cautiously steps inside, shuts the door and takes a quick look around. Obviously, no one is there. Butch walks into his modest kitchen, and opens the refrigerator. He takes out a carton of milk and drinks from it. With carton in hard, Butch surveys the apartment. Then he goes to the bedroom. His bedroom is like the rest of the apartment – neat, clean and anonymous. The only things personal in his room are a few boxing trophies, an Olympic silver medal, a framed issue of "Ring Magazine" with Butch on the cover, and a poster of Jerry Quarry and one of George Chuvalo. Sure enough, there's the watch just like he said it was: On the bedside table, hanging on his little kangaroo statue. He walks through the apartment and back into the kitchen. He opens a cupboard and takes out a box of Pop Tarts. Putting down the milk, he opens the box, takes out two Pop Tarts and puts them in the toaster. Butch glances to his right, his eyes fall on something. What he sees is a small compact Czech M61 submachine gun with a huge silencer on it, lying on his kitchen counter. BUTCH (softly) Holy shit. He picks up the intimidating peace of weaponry and examines it. Then... a toilet FLUSHES. Butch looks up to the bathroom door, which is parallel to the kitchen. There is someone behind it. Like a rabbit caught in a radish patch, Butch freezes, not knowing what to do. The bathroom door opens and Vincent Vega steps out of the bathroom, tightening his belt. In his hand is the book "MODESTY BLAISE" by Peter O'Donnell. Vincent and Butch lock eyes. Vincent freezes. Butch doesn't move, except to point the M61 in Vincent's direction. Neither man opens his mouth. Then... the toaster LOUDLY kicks up the Pop Tarts. That's all the situation needed. Butch's finger HITS the trigger. MUFFLED FIRE SHOOTS out of the end of the gun. Vincent is seemingly WRACKED with twenty bullets SIMULTANEOUSLY – LIFTING him off his feet, PROPELLING him through the air and CRASHING through the glass shower door at the end of the bathroom. By the time Butch removes his finger from the trigger, Vincent is annihilated. Butch stands frozen, amazed at what just happened. His look goes from the grease spot in the bathroom that was once Vincent, down to the powerful piece of artillery in his grip. With the respect it deserves, Butch carefully places the M61 back on the kitchen counter. Then he exits the apartment, quickly. EXT. APARTMENT COURTYARD – DAY Butch, not running, but walking very rapidly, crosses the courtyard... ...comes out of the apartment building, crosses the street... ...goes through the alley... ...and into his car in one STEADICAM SHOT. EXT. HONDA – DAY Butch CRANKS the car into gear and drives away. The big wide smile of a survivor breaks across his face. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING STREET – DAY The Honda turns down the alley and slowly cruises by his apartment building. INT. HONDA – DAY Butch looks out the window at his former home. BUTCH That's how you're gonna beat 'em, Butch. They keep underestimatin' ya. This makes the boxer laugh out loud. As he laughs, he flips a tape in the cassette player. When the MUSIC starts, he SINGS along with it. He drives by the apartment, but is stopped at the light on the corner across from Teriyaki Donut. Butch is still chuckling, singing along with the song, as we see: THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD The big man himself, Marsellus Wallace, exit Teriyaki Donut, carrying a box of a dozen donuts and two large styrofoam cups of coffee. He steps off the curb, crossing the street in front of Butch's car. This is the first time we see Marsellus clearly. Laughing boy stops when he sees the big man directly in front of him. When Marsellus is in front of Butch's car, he casually glances to his left, sees Butch, continues walking... then STOPS! DOUBLE-TAKE: "Am I really seeing what I'm seeing?" Butch doesn't wait for the big man to answer his own question. He STOMPS on the gas pedal. The little Honda SLAMS into Marsellus, sending him, the donuts and the coffee HITTING the pavement at thirty miles an hour. Butch CUTS into cross traffic and is BROAD-SIDED by a gold Camaro Z-28, BREAKING all the windows in the Honda and sending it up on the sidewalk. Butch sits dazed and confused in the crumpled mess of what at one time was Fabienne's Honda. Blood flows from his nostrils. The still-functional tape player continues to play. A PEDESTRIAN pokes his head inside. PEDESTRIAN Jesus, are you okay? Butch look at him, spaced-out. BUTCH I guess. Marsellus Wallace lies sprawled out in the street. GAWKERS gather around the body. GAWKER #1 (to the others) He's dead! He's dead! This jerk's yelling makes Marsellus come to. TWO PEDESTRIANS help the shaken Butch out of the wreckage. The woozy Marsellus gets to his feet. GAWKER #2 If you need a witness in court, I'll be glad to help. He was a drunken maniac. He hit you and crashed into that car. MARSELLUS (still incoherent) Who? GAWKER #2 (pointing at Butch) Him. Marsellus follows the Gawker's finger and sees Butch Coolidge down the street, looking a shambles. MARSELLUS Well, I'll be damned. The big man takes out a .45 Automatic and the Gawkers back away. Marsellus starts moving toward Butch. Butch sees the fierce figure making a wobbly bee-line toward him. BUTCH Sacre bleu. Marsellus brings up his weapon and FIRES, but he's so hurt, shaky and dazed that his arm goes wild. He HITS a LOOKY-LOO WOMAN in the hip. She falls to the ground, screaming. LOOKY-LOO WOMAN Oh my God, I've been shot! That's all Butch needs to see. He's outta here. Marsellus RUNS after him. The CROWD looks agape. Butch is in a mad, limping RUN. The big man's hot on his ass with a cockeyed wobbly run. Butch cuts across traffic and dashes into a business with a sign that reads "MASON-DIXIE PAWNSHOP". INT. MASON-DIXIE PAWNSHOP – DAY MAYNARD, a hillbilly-lookin' boy, stands behind the counter of his pawnshop when, all of a sudden, chaos in the form of Butch RACES into his world. MAYNARD Can I help you wit' somethin'? BUTCH Shut up! Butch quickly takes measure of the situation, than stands next to the door. MAYNARD Now you just wait one goddamn minute – Before Maynard can finish his threat, Marsellus CHARGES in. He doesn't get past the doorway because Butch LANDS his fist in Marsellus' face. The gangster's feet go out from under him and the big man FALLS FLAT on his back. Outside, two police cars with their SIRENS BLARING race by. Butch POUNCES on the fallen body, PUNCHING him twice more in the face. Butch takes the gun out of Marsellus' hand, than grabs ahold of his middle finger. BUTCH So you like chasing people, huh? He BREAKS the finger. Marsellus lets out a pain sound. Butch then places the barrel of the .45 between his eyes, PULLS back the hammer and places his open hand behind the gun to shield the splatter. BUTCH Well guess what, big man, you caught me – MAYNARD (O.S.) – hold it right there, godammit! Butch and Marsellus look up at Maynard, who's brandishing a pumpaction shotgun, aimed at the two men. BUTCH Look mister, this ain't any of your business – MAYNARD – I'm makin' it my business! Now toss that gun! Butch does. MAYNARD Now you on top, stand up and come to the counter. Butch slowly gets up and moves to the counter. As soon as he gets there, Maynard HAULS OFF, HITTING him hard in the face with the butt of the shotgun, knocking Butch down and out. After Butch goes down, Maynard calmly lays the shotgun on the counter and moves to the telephone. Marsellus Wallace, from his position on the floor, groggily watches the pawnshop owner dial a number. Maynard waits on the line while the other end rings. Then it picks up. MAYNARD Zed? It's Maynard. The spider just caught a coupl'a flies. Marsellus passes out. FADE TO BLACK FADE UP: INT. PAWNSHOP BACK ROOM – DAY TWO SHOT – BUTCH AND MARSELLUS They are tied up in two separate chairs. In their mouths are two S&M-style ball gags (a belt goes around their heads and a little red ball sticks in their mouths). Both men are unconscious. Maynard steps in with a fire extinguisher and SPRAYS both guys until they're wide awake and wet as otters. The two prisoners look up at their captors. Maynard stands in front of them, fire extinguisher in one hand, shotgun in the other, and Marsellus' .45 sticking in his belt. MAYNARD Nobody kills anybody in my place of business except me or Zed. A BUZZER buzzes. MAYNARD That's Zed. Without saying another word, Maynard climbs up the stairs that lead to red curtains and goes through them. WE HEAR, on the other side of the curtains, Maynard let Zed inside the store. Butch and Marsellus look around the room. The basement of the pawnshop has been converted into a dungeon. After taking in their predicament, Butch and Marsellus look at each other, all traces of hostility gone, replaced by a terror they both share at what they've gotten themselves into. Maynard and ZED come through the curtains. Zed is an even more intense version of Maynard, if such a thing is possible. The two hillbillys are obviously brothers. Where Maynard is a vicious pitbull, Zed is a deadly cobra. Zed walks in and stands in front of the two captives. He inspects them for a long time, then says: ZED (to Maynard) You said you waited for me? MAYNARD I did. ZED Then how come they're all beat up? MAYNARD They did that to each other. They was fightin' when they came in. This one was gonna shoot that one. ZED (to Butch) You were gonna shoot him? Butch makes no reply. ZED Hey, is Grace gonna be okay in front of this place? MAYNARD Yeah, it ain't Tuesday is it? ZED No, it's Thursday. MAYNARD Then she'll be fine. ZED Bring out The Gimp. MAYNARD I think The Gimp's sleepin'. ZED Well, I guess you'll just wake 'em up then, won't you? Maynard opens a trap door in the floor. MAYNARD (yelling in the hole) Wake up! Maynard reaches into the hole and comes back holding onto a leash. He gives it a rough yank and, from below the floor, rises THE GIMP. The Gimp is a man they keep dressed from head to toe in black leather bondage gear. There are zippers, buckles and studs here and there on the body. On his head is a black leather mask with two eye holes and a zipper (closed) for a mouth. They keep him in a hole in the floor big enough for a large dog. Zed takes the chair, sits it in front of the two prisoners, then lowers into it. Maynard hands The Gimp's leash to Zed, then backs away. MAYNARD (to The Gimp) Down! The Gimp gets on its knees. Maynard hangs back while Zed appraises the two men. MAYNARD Who's first? ZED I ain't fer sure yet. Then with his little finger, Zed does a silent "Eenie, meany, miney, moe... " just his mouth mouthing the words and his finger going back and forth between the two. Butch are Marsellus are terrified. Maynard looks back and forth at the victims. The Gimps's eyes go from one to the other inside the mask. Zed continues his silent sing-song with his finger moving left to right, then it stops. TWO SHOT – BUTCH AND MARSELLUS After a beat, THE CAMERA MOVES to the right, zeroing in on Marsellus. Zed stands up. ZED Wanna do it here? MAYNARD Naw, drag big boy to Russell's old room. Zed grabs Marsellus' chair and DRAGS him into Russell's old room. Russell, no doubt, was some other poor bastard that has the misfortune of stumbling into the Mason-Dixie pawnshop. Whatever happened to Russell is known only to Maynard and Zed because his old room, a back room in the back of the back room, is empty. As Marsellus is dragged away, he locks eyes with Butch before he disappears behind the door of Russell's old room. MAYNARD (to The Gimp) Up! The Gimp rises. Maynard ties The Gimp's leash to a hook on the ceiling. MAYNARD Keep an eye on this one. The Gimp bows its head: "yes." Maynard disappears into Russell's old room. There must be a stereo in there because suddenly The Judds, singing in harmony, fills the air. Butch looks at The Gimp. The Gimp giggles from underneath the mask as if this were the funniest moment in the history of comedy. From behind the door we hear country MUSIC, struggling, and: MAYNARD (O.S.) Whoa, this boy's got a bit of fight in 'em! We the HEAR Maynard and Zed beat on Marsellus. ZED (O.S.) You wanna fight? You wanna fight? Good, I like to fight! Butch pauses, listens to the voices. Then, in a panic, hurriedly struggles to get free. The Gimp is laughing wildly. The ropes are on too tight and Butch can't break free. The Gimp slaps his knee laughing In the back room, we hear: MAYNARD (O.S.) That's it... that's it boy, you're goin' fine. Oooooooh, just like that... that's good. (grunting faster) Stay still... stay still goddamn ya! Zed goddammit, git over here and hold 'em! Butch stops struggling and lifts up on his arms. Then, quite easily, the padded chair back slides up and off as if it were never connected by a bolt. The Gimp sees this and its eyes widen. THE GIMP Huhng? The Gimp FLAILS WILDLY, trying to get the leash off the hook. He tries to yell, but all that comes out are excited gurgles and grunts. Butch is out of his chair, quickly dispensing three BOXER'S PUNCHES to its face. The punches knock The Gimp out, making him fall to his knees, this HANGING HIMSELF by the leash attached to the hook, Butch removes the ball gag, then silently makes his way through the red curtains. INT. PAWNSHOP – DAY Butch sneaks to the door. On the counter is a big set of keys with a large Z connected to the ring. Grabbing them, he's about to go out when he stops and listens to the hillbilly psychopaths having their way with Marsellus. Butch decides for the life of him, he can't leave anybody in a situation like that. Se he begins rooting around the pawnshop for a weapon to bash those hillbillies' heads in with. He picks up a big destructive-looking hammer, then discards it: Not destructive enough. He picks up a chainsaw, thinks about it for a moment, then puts it back. Next, a large Louisville slugger he tries on for size. But then he spots what he's been looking for: A Samurai sword. It hands in its hand-carved wood sheath from a nail on the wall, next to a neon "DAD'S OLD-FASHIONED ROOT BEER" sign. Butch takes the sword off the wall, removing it from its sheath. It's a magnificent piece of steel. It seems to glisten in the low-wattage light of the pawnshop. Butch touches his thumb to the blade to see if the sword is just for show. Not on your life. It's as sharp as it gets. This weapon seems made to order for the Brothers Grimm downstairs. Holding the sword pointed downward, Takakura Kenstyle, he disappears through the red curtains to take care of business. INT. PAWNSHOP BACK ROOM – DAY Butch quietly sneaks down the stairs leading to the dungeon. Sodomy and the Judds can still be heard going string behind the closed door that leads to Russell's old room. INT. RUSSELL'S OLD ROOM – DAY Butch's hand comes into frame, pushing the door open. It swings open silently, revealing the rapists, who have switched positions. Zed is now bent over Marsellus, who is bent over a wooden horse. Maynard watches. Both have their backs to Butch. Maynard faces the CAMERA, grinning, while Butch comes up behind him with the sword. Miserable, violated, and looking like a rag doll, Marsellus, red ball gag still in mouth, opens his watery eyes to see Butch coming up behind Maynard. His eyes widen. BUTCH Hey hillbilly. Maynard turns and sees Butch holding the sword. Butch SCREAMS... with one mighty SWING, SLASHES Maynard across the front, moving past him, eyes and blade now locked on Zed. Maynard stands trembling, his front sliced open, in shock. Butch, while never taking his eyes off Zed, THRUSTS the sword behind him, SKEWERING Maynard, then EXTRACTS it, pointing the blade toward Zed. Maynard COLLAPSES. Zed disengages from Marsellus in a hurry and his eyes go from the tip of Butch's sword to Marsellus' .45 Automatic, which lies within reach. Butch's eyes follow Zed's. BUTCH You want that gun, Zed? Pick it up. Zed's hand inches toward the weapon. Butch GRIPS the sword tighter. Zed studies Butch. Butch looks hard at Zed. Then a VOICE says: MARSELLUS (O.S.) Step aside, Butch. Butch steps aside, REVEALING Marsellus standing behind him, holding Maynard's pump-action shotgun. KABOOM!!!! Zed is BLASTED in the groin. Down he goes, SCREAMING in AGONY. Marsellus, looking down at his whimpering rapist, EJECTS the used shotgun shell. Butch lowers the sword and hangs back. Not a word, until: BUTCH You okay? MARSELLUS Naw man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay! Long pause. BUTCH What now? MARSELLUS What now? Well let me tell you what now. I'm gonna call a couple pipe- hittin' niggers, who'll go to work on homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. (to Zed) Hear me talkin' hillbilly boy?! I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'm gonna git Medieval on your ass. BUTCH I meant what now, between me and you? MARSELLUS Oh, that what now? Well, let me tell ya what now between me an' you. There is no me an' you. Not no more. BUTCH So we're cool? MARSELLUS Yeah man, we're cool. One thing I ask – two things I ask: Don't tell nobody about this. This shit's between me and you and the soon-to-be-livin'- the-rest-of-his-short-ass-life-in- agonizing-pain, Mr. Rapist here. It ain't nobody else's business. Two: leave town. Tonight. Right now. And when you're gone, stay gone. You've lost your Los Angeles privileges. Deal? BUTCH Deal. The two men shake hands, then hug one another. MARSELLUS Go on now, get your ass outta here. Butch leaves Russell's old room through the red curtains. Marsellus walks over to a phone, dialing a number. MARSELLUS (into the phone) Hello Mr. Wolf, it's Marsellus. Gotta bit of a situation. EXT. MASON-DIXIE PAWNSHOP – DAY Butch, still shaking in his boots, exits the pawnshop. He looks ahead and sees, parked in front of the establishment, Zed's Big Chrome Chopper with a teardrop gas tank that has the name "GRACE" on it. He climbs aboard, takes out the keys with the big Z on them and starts up the huge hog. It RUMBLES to life, making sounds like a rocket fighting for orbit. Butch twists the accelerator handle and SPEEDS off. WE CUT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN... INT. BUTCH AND FABIENNE'S HOTEL ROOM – DAY Fabienne stands in front of a mirror wearing a "Frankie says, Relax" tee-shirt, singing along with MUSIC coming from a BOOM BOX. EXT. CITY STREET – CHOPPER (MOVING) – DAY Butch drives down the street, humping a hot hog named "GRACE." He checks his father's watch. It says: 10:30. The SONG in the motel room PLAYS OVER this. EXT. MOTEL ROOM – DAY Butch rides up on Grace. He hops off and runs inside the motel room, while we stay outside with the bike. FABIENNE (O.S.) Butch, I was so worried! BUTCH Honey, grab your radio and your purse and let's go! FABIENNE (O.S.) But what about all our bags? BUTCH Fuck the bags. We'll miss our train if we don't split now. FABIENNE (O.S.) Is everything well? Are we in danger? BUTCH We're cool. In fact, we're super- cool. But we gots to go. I'll wait for you outside. Butch runs out and hops back on the bike. Fabienne exits the motel room with the boom box and a large purse. When she sees Butch on the chopper, she stops dead. FABIENNE Where did you get this motorcycle? BUTCH (he kick-starts it) It's a chopper, baby, hop on. Fabienne slowly approaches the two-wheel demon. FABIENNE What happened to my Honda? BUTCH Sorry baby, I crashed the Honda. FABIENNE You're hurt? BUTCH I might've broke my nose, no biggie. Hop on. She doesn't move. Butch looks at her. BUTCH Honey, we gotta hit the fuckin' road! Fabienne starts to cry. Butch realizes that this is not the way to get her on the bike. He turns off the engine and reaches out, taking her hand. BUTCH I'm sorry, baby-love. FABIENNE (crying) You were gone so long, I started to think dreadful thoughts. BUTCH I'm sorry I worried you, sweetie. Everything's fine. Hey, how was breakfast? FABIENNE (waterworks drying a little) It was good – BUTCH – did you get the blueberry pancakes? FABIENNE No, they didn't have blueberry pancakes, I had to get buttermilk – are you sure you're okay? BUTCH Baby-love, from the moment I left you, this has been without a doubt the single weirdest day of my entire life. Climb on an' I'll tell ya about it. Fabienne does climb on. Butch STARTS her up. FABIENNE Butch, whose motorcycle is this? BUTCH It's a chopper. FABIENNE Whose chopper is this? BUTCH Zed's. FABIENNE Who's Zed? BUTCH Zed's dead, baby, Zed's dead. And with that, the two lovebirds PEEL AWAY on Grace, as the SONG on the BOOM BOX RISES. FADE TO BLACK