-FIRST DRAFT-
KNIGHT RIDER
A NICE INDECENT LITTLE TOWN
by
Frank Telford
________________
ACT ONE
FADE IN
EXT. CITY STREET - MODERATE-SIZED TOWN - DAY
The Trans Am is parked down the street from a hotel,
surveillance mode on. As light foot traffic passes in
front of the car, we tighten on the car to reveal Michael
in the driver's seat reading a newspaper. Michael folds
the newspaper and puts it on the passenger seat. He looks
across at the hotel restlessly.
MICHAEL
Maybe he slipped out the back.
K.I.T.T.
I'm picking up a man who fits his
description coming out...now.
ANGLE ON HOTEL
A man comes out of the hotel carrying a briefcase. His
name is Ron Austin. He's in his early forties, dresses
expensively if not well. A shrewd, alert face. He glances
around with the covert eyes of a professional, starts toward
his car.
ANGLE ON MICHAEL
Eyes on Austin, he slips out of K.I.T.T., waits for a car
or two to pass before crossing the street.
INTERCUT - AUSTIN
uncannily, his roving gaze fastens on Michael. He reacts
instantly, sprints back to the hotel and darts inside.
ANGLE ON MICHAEL
He dodges some cars as he races across the street.
MICHAEL
(comlink)
Kitt, activate 'Stand-by.' I may
need you, pal.
ANGLE - INSIDE K.I.T.T.
One by one his various functions come to life, a rainbow of
blinking colors and sounds.
EXT. REAR OF HOTEL - DAY
The service door flies open and Austin runs into the alley,
looks both ways, runs down the alley to where it makes a
ninety-degree turn. He disappears around the corner.
Camera whips back to see Michael come through the service
doors, pauses, not seeing Austin.
MICHAEL
(comlink)
Kitt, around back! Quick!
He starts down the alley.
ANGLE ON K.I.T.T. AT CURB
He pulls away with a squeal of tires.
EXT. SECOND SECTION OF ALLEY - DAY
Shooting into the alley from the street as Austin reaches
the busy street, pauses, pops open the briefcase and scoops
out handfuls of large denomination bills. He throws them
into the air as he disappears down the commercial street.
ANGLE IN ALLEY (FIRST SECTION)
K.I.T.T. comes around the corner into the alley on two
wheels, races up to where Michael is running, just reaching
the turn. The door pops open and Michael jumps in.
MICHAEL
Let's kill him.
K.I.T.T.
Michael?
MICHAEL
Come on, pal. Let's fuck this guy up.
Tires burn rubber.
ANGLE FROM SECOND SECTION OF ALLEY
as K.I.T.T. comes roaring around the turn, shooting up the
alley.
REVERSE ANGLE
Only feet away, on the sidewalk, strollers, passersby,
mothers with children, etc. scramble after wind-blown
money. It's a mob, a mess.
Michael leans on the horn, which accomplishes nothing. He
jumps out, trying to get their attention, get through.
MICHAEL
It's counterfeit! Move! I've got
to get through....
He trails off because it's hopeless. No one even glances
at him. He slides back into K.I.T.T., angry and frustrated,
and revs the engine.
K.I.T.T.
Michael, what are you doing?
MICHAEL
You miserable fucking cunts!
Michael slams K.I.T.T. into gear and plows into the crowd.
People scream. K.I.T.T. pushes a baby carriage a small
distance and then eventually runs over it with a thud. A
young woman is hit, killing her instantly and throwing her
body over the car, leaving a blood stain on the windshield.
K.I.T.T. turns on the wipers and sprayers.
MICHAEL
Good job, pal.
K.I.T.T.
(laughing)
Did you see the look on her face? ...
(7 pages missing)...
MICHAEL'S POINT OF VIEW - RON AUSTIN
the elusive counterfeiter, is making his way through the
crowd. He pops peanuts into his mouth, not a care in the
world.
BACK TO MICHAEL
MICHAEL
(to Jobina)
Excuse me.
JOBINA
Where are you going?
MICHAEL
Fucking MOVE, cunt!
Michael throws his lemonade in Jobina's face and takes
chase...
(2.5 pages missing)...
EXT. ALPINE CREST POLICE STATION - DAY
The Trans Am pulls up in front of the small law enforcement
headquarters.
INT. TRANS AM - DAY
MICHAEL
Kitt, I'm going to need a visual on
Austin.
K.I.T.T.
Certainly, Michael. I'll show you
what I have available.
INSERT - VIDEO MONITOR
K.I.T.T. plays back the tape of Austin coming out of the
hotel which we witnessed earlier. We see a closeup of
his face.
MICHAEL
Freeze. Picture perfect. Can you
give me a hard copy?
A five-by-seven photograph of Austin slips out of a slot.
K.I.T.T.
How's that for service?
MICHAEL
Shut the fuck up, car.
K.I.T.T.
(stunned)
I beg your pardon.
MICHAEL
(sarcastically mimicking
K.I.T.T.)
I beg your pardon.
K.I.T.T.
(half-sobbing)
Is that how you think of me? As a...
as a car?
MICHAEL
(shaking his head)
Fag.
Michael takes the photo and heads for the police station,
slamming the car door brutally and eliciting a whimper
from K.I.T.T. ...
(3.5 pages missing)...
INT. TRANS AM - DAY
K.I.T.T.
Michael, I don't mean to question
your investigative intuition, but it
seems highly improbable....
MICHAEL
(savagely, through a
clenched jaw)
Shut up.
K.I.T.T.
Yes, Michael.
(2.5 pages missing... in which K.I.T.T. and Michael
seem to have kissed and made up)
EXT. TRANS AM
Michael turns down a street and drives past more small
businesses, neat frame houses with perfect lawns.
MICHAEL
I don't believe this place...it's
like it's frozen in the fifties.
I keep expecting to see Wally and
Little Beaver....
K.I.T.T.
'Wally and Little Beaver?' That
doesn't compute, Michael. Are they
part of the counterfeit operation?
MICHAEL
(smiles)
No, Kitt. Part of an old TV show.
What a little ass on June.
EXT. ANOTHER STREET
The Trans Am rounds a corner, drives slowly by.
MICHAEL'S VOICE
How're your rotors doing, pal?
K.I.T.T.'S VOICE
Fine, thank you. Michael?
MICHAEL'S VOICE
Yeah?
K.I.T.T.'S VOICE
We've covered every block in Alpine
Crest two point seven times. I
think it's reasonable to assume
Mr. Austin is, as the saying goes,
long gone.
MICHAEL'S VOICE
Wish I could argue with you, Kitt
...but I think you're right.
FADE OUT
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