(Logan is working at his computer. Bling checks his watch.)

BLING: Don’t you think you ought to get going?

LOGAN: Something’s not adding up here.

BLING: You can bring down Gerhardt Bronck’s evil empire tomorrow. Tonight, you’ve got a date.

LOGAN: It’s not a date.

BLING: She’s making you dinner.

LOGAN: Well, I gotta figure this thing out, so I’m just going to have to cancel.

BLING: At the last minute?

LOGAN: I have work to do. Max’ll understand.

BLING: No, she won’t. She’s female...in case we hadn’t noticed.

LOGAN: Fine. I’ll just reorganize my entire life because some girl wants to cook dinner for me.

BLING: That’s kinda how it works. How civilization happened? And she’s not “some girl.”

LOGAN: Tell me about it.

(At Max and Kendra’s apartment, Max lights some candles and sets the table. Kendra is cooking.)

KENDRA: And when the water starts to boil, you put the pasta in.

MAX: I hope I can pull this off.

KENDRA: Max, you can do this. I’ve watched you tear down and rebuild a motorcycle in under two hours.

MAX: Different skill-set.

KENDRA: Trust me. After Logan tastes this tricolore sauce I whipped up, he will be your sex slave.

MAX: We don’t have that kind of relationship.

KENDRA: Yet.

MAX: I’m just reciprocating for all the times he’s cooked for me.

(Kendra holds up a bottle of olive oil.)

KENDRA: Okay. But answer me one question, though. Where did you find cold-pressed virgin olive oil from Tuscany in this economy?

MAX: I broke into the Italian embassy.

KENDRA (laughing): I’m going to disappear so you can take all the credit here.

(Kendra opens the door to leave and sees Logan on his cell phone in the hallway.)

KENDRA: Hi.

LOGAN (into phone): Where? When?

KENDRA: Great seeing you. (Walks away)

LOGAN (into phone): Okay. Thanks. (Hangs up) Hey, Kendra.

(Logan enters the apartment.)

MAX: Hey. Did you bring the wine?

LOGAN: Yeah.

(Logan hands Max a bottle of wine.)

LOGAN: Uh...listen, that was a contact of mine.

MAX (looking at the wine label): Pre-Pulse. Nice.

LOGAN: He gave me a tip on that guy, Bronck, I was telling you about--the one who’s ripping off the city’s blood supply and moving it out of the country.

(Max holds up two glasses that don’t match.)

MAX: These okay? I don’t have any wine glasses.

LOGAN: Yeah, they’re fine. But we need to get out to Furrow Airfield to do some recon.

MAX: I’ll swing it tomorrow after work. Um, hope you like pasta tricolore.

LOGAN: I love it. But tomorrow’s no good because we’ve got to go--

(Max starts to open the bottle.)

LOGAN: No, no! Don’t do that.

MAX: You’re right, you should do it. I always break the cork.

LOGAN: No, no. I just mean that, uh, it’ll go bad if we don’t drink it right away.

MAX: Oh. I’m game if you are.

LOGAN: Max! Haven’t you heard a word that I’ve said? We gotta do this tonight.

MAX: Okay, I’ll put the pasta on.

LOGAN: We gotta go. Now.

MAX: Now?

LOGAN: Yeah. Now. So, you know, get changed or whatever, and I’ll wait for you downstairs.

(In Logan’s car)

LOGAN: Part of the reason Bronck’s been so hard to pin down is he uses different airstrips every shipment. My contact says the next one’s going out of Furrow Airfield tomorrow night. He’s moving stolen blood, so look for refrigeration equipment.

(Max is staring into space and looks upset.)

LOGAN: Max!

(Max reluctantly turns to look at him.)

LOGAN: This is important. There are people in hospitals all over the city who are dying because of what Bronck’s doing. I almost died.

MAX: I had your back on that, remember?

LOGAN: Yeah, well, not everybody has a genetically-engineered universal donor looking out for them.

MAX: What kind of security am I going to be running into?

LOGAN: According to my source, next to nothing. Bronck is either trying to keep a low profile, or he’s so insulated by the cops, he doesn’t need to worry.

MAX: Let’s get this bitch over with.

(Max gets out of the car and slams the door.)

(At the airfield, Max enters a hangar through an open window, avoiding a guard. Most of the hangar is filled with equipment and shelving. Max goes inside the office. She sees a container of bubble gum, takes one piece, and begins chewing it. She notices that there are teen magazines, hair accessories, lollipops, and candy lying on the desk. Through the window, Max sees a plane taxiing on the runway outside. She leaves the office, still blowing a bubble. A guard is nearby, so Max ducks out of sight, but the bubble pops and the guard hears it.)

GUARD: Hey! You there!

(Max runs.)

GUARD: Hey, get back here!

(Max breaks through a window to get out of the hangar. When she lands outside, two men spot her. She starts running.)

MAN: Hey!

(Max runs towards the planes. The men pull out their guns and begin shooting at her, soon joined by a couple other men. Max runs toward the taxiing plane and grabs onto it, hitching a ride as it moves toward the edge of the airfield. Eventually Max drops from the plane and runs toward the fence. She jumps over and lands in a mud puddle. Max is now all dirty and her face is splattered with mud. Logan drives his Aztek up and Max gets in, slamming the door.)

MAX: Don’t even think of speaking to me.

(Later, at Logan’s apartment, Max has showered and is walking around wearing only a towel. She is clearly angry. Logan is at his computer.)

MAX: You said there’d hardly be any security.

LOGAN: My guy screwed up.

MAX: No kidding.

LOGAN: Did you see any refrigeration equipment?

(Max gets her clothes and wrings out the water onto the floor.)

MAX: No.

LOGAN: Judging from the firepower we saw out there, Bronck’s smuggling more than just medical supplies. The guy’s got his fingers everywhere--gun-running, racketeering, prostitution. Anything could have been on that plane.

MAX: Great. I risked my life, and I don’t even know what for.

LOGAN: My intelligence wasn’t accurate. It won’t happen again.

MAX: Damn straight it won’t, ’cause I’m done.

LOGAN: What do you mean, done?

(Max ignores him and puts on her boots.)

LOGAN: This guy’s up to something very bad, Max. I can feel it.

MAX: Not my problem.

LOGAN: That’s a pretty selfish way of looking at things.

MAX: Yeah, well, we can’t all be obsessed with saving the freakin’ world.

LOGAN: I’m not obsessed.

MAX: It’s all you think about. All you ever talk about.

LOGAN: Well, at least I care about other people.

MAX: You care about strangers, anyway.

LOGAN: What about our quid pro quo? You still want me to look into the other Manticore stuff for you?

MAX: Don’t bother. Looking for those kids has gotten me nothing but trouble.

LOGAN: You can’t let go of Manticore any more than I can let go of Eyes Only. It’s who we are.

MAX: If you think that you were put on this earth to be the world’s most pissed-off TV news reporter, and hide behind some silly red-white-and-blue Halloween mask, then I feel sorry for you.

LOGAN: If you think you were put on this earth to be the world’s biggest cynic, and hide behind some tough-ass attitude, then I feel sorry for you.

MAX: You know what, Logan? How about a new quid pro quo--don’t call me, I won’t call you.

(Max leaves with her clothes in hand.)

(The next day, at Jam Pony, Normal is flossing is teeth at the front desk.)

SKETCHY: What is up with Normal this morning? He’s flossing--literally.

HERBAL THOUGHT: Something strange is going on. He smells like lilacs.

ORIGINAL CINDY: I heard him tell Peabo he was splittin’ from work early.

SKETCHY: Normal’s leaving work early? Now, there’s a first.

MAX: Why is it guys are all so task-oriented? I mean, it’s work, work, work, work, work.

SKETCHY: ’Cause otherwise, all we’d think about is sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. Maybe Normal’s got a date.

ORIGINAL CINDY: That’s just a bizarre thought--Normal gettin’ busy with someone.

(They all take a look at Normal, who is busy grooming himself.)

HERBAL THOUGHT: Do we really think he has a woman?

SKETCHY: Oh, there’s something going on.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Max, let’s go check it out.

MAX: All right.

(Max and Original Cindy go up to Normal’s desk.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: You look nice today.

NORMAL: Thank you.

MAX: Going to a funeral?

NORMAL: No.

MAX (sniffing): Lilac.

ORIGINAL CINDY: So how come you’re all macked out like a playa playa?

NORMAL: The reason it’s called a personal life is ’cause it’s personal.

(Normal hands a package to Max.)

NORMAL: Here. Hot run, 930 Iliff. Beat it. Away you go.

MAX AND ORIGINAL CINDY: Booty call.

(At a park, Det. Matt Sung is handing Logan some pictures of Bronck in action.)

MATT: It’s Gerhardt Bronck and one of his operatives. This is Bronck’s street muscle collecting protection money, which is being laundered through this place.

LOGAN: Pretty pictures. But Eyes Only is not going to move on this unless we give him some supporting documentation.

MATT: It’s all there. (Hands him a folder)

LOGAN: Where’d you get this?

MATT: One of my sources in the D.A.’s office. They dropped the case--lack of evidence, supposedly.

LOGAN: Smells like a buy-off.

MATT: Have you figured out what Bronck’s smuggling out of the country?

LOGAN: Not yet, but there’s enough here for Eyes Only to amp up the pressure on him publicly and embarrass him. People start paying attention...maybe he makes a mistake.

MATT: What did you find out last night at the airstrip?

LOGAN: When some girls don’t eat dinner, they get real cranky.

(On her lunch break, Max is at home with Kendra.)

MAX: Men. They just don’t have the mental or emotional capacity to make a real connection.

KENDRA: You’re better off kicking it with some gorgeous, slow-witted stud who you can send on his way.

MAX: I’m swearing off the whole gender.

KENDRA: I tried that. You will so hate your life.

(Kendra grabs her address Rolodex and flips through it.)

KENDRA: There is Sosh. He’s a student--too smart. Haj is cute...but he’s a computer analyst. Sven! Big Norwegian, hauls nets on an Alaskan fishing rig. On shore leave for two, maybe three more days, tops. Six-foot-four...eyes like the ocean.

MAX: Thanks, but no thanks. See you at Crash tonight?

KENDRA: I’ll be there.

(Max leaves. Kendra makes a phone call.)

(At Logan’s apartment, Bling is doing physiotherapy with Logan. Bling is lifting Logan’s leg.)

BLING: Seven...eight...nine...come on, you can do it...ten.

(Logan grunts.)

BLING: Rest a couple of minutes, then we’ll finish.

LOGAN: No. I’m done.

BLING: Two more sets.

LOGAN: I said I’m done.

BLING: Want to tell me what’s going on with you today?

LOGAN: Same thing that’s going on with me every day. Reps, and more reps, and pep talks about patience and mind over matter, and I’m sick of it.

BLING: What, you and Max have a spat? Now you’re feeling sorry for yourself?

LOGAN: Max has nothing to do with it. My legs don’t work. And that’s never going to change.

BLING: If I ever hear you talk like that again, I will beat on your skinny ass, wheelchair or no wheelchair. You understand? Let’s go again.

(Bling starts lifting Logan’s leg again.)

BLING: One...two...

(That night, at a restaurant, Normal is sitting at a table. Soon the owner of the restaurant, Jorge, comes to greet him.)

JORGE: Mr. Ronald. So happy to see you.

(Jorge goes to take away the second set of table settings.)

NORMAL: Whoa. Hold the phone, Jorge.

JORGE: Oh, you do not dine alone tonight?

NORMAL: No, I do not dine alone.

JORGE: A lady, perhaps?

NORMAL: I’ll say.

(A blond woman walks in. Jorge walks away.)

NORMAL: Hi, Louise.

LOUISE: Have you been waiting long?

(Normal gives Louise a kiss on the cheek.)

NORMAL: Only a lifetime.

(Normal helps Louise with her chair.)

NORMAL: Here you go.

LOUISE: This place is so interesting.

NORMAL: Ah, it’s an old haunt. I met Jorge when I was doing my Ph.D. at Harvard. He ran a bistro in the square back then, but...well, we all have our tales of woe.

LOUISE: You have a Ph.D.?

NORMAL: Yes, several.

LOUISE: You really are a remarkable man, Reagan.

NORMAL: Please, call me Ray. But enough about me. I want to hear your story. The first two acts left me wanting so much more.

LOUISE: Not much else to tell, really. Just a girl from the Midwest trying to get by in a broken world.

NORMAL: And doing so with style and grace.

LOUISE: You’re sweet.

(Jorge brings two wineglasses and pours some wine into them.)

JORGE: Jorge’s best. For Mr. Ronald...and his beautiful...

NORMAL: Thank you.

JORGE: ...lady friend.

NORMAL: Thank you.

JORGE: Enjoy.

LOUISE AND NORMAL: Thank you.

(Normal raises his glass for a toast.)

NORMAL: To our second date.

(Later, Louise and Normal are dancing.)

NORMAL: I gotta tell you, when I first saw you at that sector checkpoint, I didn’t think a guy like me could be a dog-walker for a gal like you.

LOUISE: Stop. I can’t believe a man like you is unattached.

NORMAL: I’ve been waiting for a long time for the right someone to come along.

(They kiss.)

(At Crash)

MAX: I don’t understand women who need a man to make themselves feel complete.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Put the bullet right here.

(Kendra shows up with two guys.)

KENDRA: Surprise, surprise. Max, this is Sven.

SVEN: Hello, Mac.

MAX (chuckling): Hi.

KENDRA: Sometimes a tight six-pack and a good set of shoulders help take the edge off.

(An Eyes Only broadcast comes on the TV. Max’s smile disappears.)

EYES ONLY: Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a Streaming Freedom Video Bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly sixty seconds...

MAX: Actually, I’m not really into partying right now. See ya. (Leaves)

EYES ONLY: ...cannot be traced, cannot be stopped...

SVEN: Bye, Mac.

MAX: Bye.

EYES ONLY: ...and it is the only free voice left in this city. There is a cancer spreading through the Northwest, and its name is Gerhardt Bronck.

(We see Logan making the broadcast from his apartment.)

LOGAN (AS EYES ONLY): You’ve seen his picture in the newspaper, heard him described as a businessman--a philanthropist, even. Make no mistake. He is a thug, whose crime machine preys on the citizens of this community. What you are about to see is just the tip of the iceberg.

(At Bronck’s headquarters, Bronck is watching the Eyes Only broadcast on TV with two henchmen, named KK and D’nardis. They put the TV on mute.)

KK: That is not good, him jamming us up like that on television.

BRONCK: This is exactly what we wanted to happen.

KK: What if the D.A. sees it and comes after us?

BRONCK: The D.A. doesn’t unzip his fly without checking with me.

KK: Still...bad publicity.

BRONCK: Who gives a rat’s ass, as long as it gives us Eyes Only? So which of these three cops we’ve set up thinks he’s a Boy Scout?

D’NARDIS: The Korean guy, Matt Sung. You want us to pick him up?

BRONCK: No. He’s got to be communicating with Eyes Only through an intermediary. I want you to feed this wink something else on me. Then we watch him, see who he shares the birthday cake with, and then we squeeze the living crap out of him until he gives us his boss. So, that was Eyes Only. Over and out.

(He turns off the TV.)

(The next day, Jorge brings Louise’s purse to Jam Pony. Original Cindy overhears the conversation.)

NORMAL: Jorge.

JORGE: Your young lady friend left her purse last night.

NORMAL: That’s so sweet. You didn’t have to come all the way over here--I could have sent one of my kids.

JORGE: For an old friend, good customer, and his beautiful female companion? No problem.

NORMAL: Thank you, amigo. Very sweet. All right, we’ll see you tonight, okay? 7:00, regular table.

JORGE: Adios.

NORMAL: Adios.

(Over by the lockers)

MAX (to Sketchy): I mean, you never hear women talking about leaving a legacy or worrying about their place in history. What’s that about? It’s like your entire gender think they’re on some mission.

ORIGINAL CINDY: It is hurting on my brain, trying to figure out who on earth would go out with Normal.

SKETCHY: There’s a lot of freaks out there. So, who’s coming with me on this run?

(They just look at him.)

SKETCHY: Well, come on, guys. Clemson Street is deep in Rydin Forties turf.

MAX: So?

SKETCHY: So there’s permanent gang wars going on down there. Please?

MAX: You are such a wuss. Let’s go.

(They leave. Normal hands Original Cindy a package.)

NORMAL: I have a run. 4711 Kings Road.

ORIGINAL CINDY: I’m on break.

NORMAL: Well, whenever you get a chance.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You okay?

NORMAL: It’s a personal run, so be nice.

(Max and Sketchy are riding their bikes to Clemson Street.)

SKETCHY: In defense of my gender...women come into the world with a mission, which is to make offspring; men have to find a mission, create things. Um, space travel--(Dodges a pedestrian)--space travel, the carbureted bong...I personally know this guy who figured out a way to breathe through his anus by threading ordinary aquarium tubing inside his colon.

MAX: You know what? I’m beginning to think that Normal’s right--you are an idiot.

(Max and Sketchy get off their bikes. Max knocks on a door. There’s no answer at first and she gets tired of waiting.)

MAX: Come on. What’s the number on this thing?

SKETCHY: It’s, uh, 7657380423611.

MAX: Okay. I’ll call.

(Max starts to walk toward a nearby pay phone, but suddenly a man answers the door.)

SKETCHY: Package for Tacoma Bleed.

(The man reaches for the package. Sketchy pulls it away nervously.)

SKETCHY: Are you Mr. Bleed? It’s a return-receipt request. I need a signature.

(The man escorts Max and Sketchy inside.)

MAN: Yo, Bleed, a package.

SKETCHY: Need a signature, yo. Just, uh... (Points to the signature line)

(Tacoma Bleed signs the form.)

SKETCHY: Thanks.

(Max and Sketchy start to leave. Tacoma Bleed opens the box and finds a severed finger inside, with a man’s ring on it.)

TACOMA BLEED: Hold up.

SKETCHY: Is that a finger?

TACOMA BLEED: Who sent this?

MAX: It was a pickup on the east side.

MAN: Blunt Ryddim Kidz turf.

TACOMA BLEED: They got Li’l Throttle, ’cause that’s his ice. We got to go to war, dog.

MAX: Don’t kill the messenger. We’re just trying to get paid.

TACOMA BLEED: Check this out. You and Gilligan better get on up out of here, ’cause starting right now, anybody ain’t claiming the same set as me is going down quick...and wet.

MAX: Great. Another man on a mission.

TACOMA BLEED: Right.

MAX (to Sketchy): Let’s bounce.

(Max and Sketchy leave.)

(At Logan’s apartment, the phone rings. Matt Sung is calling from a pay phone.)

LOGAN: Hello?

MATT: Hey, Logan.

LOGAN: Hey, Matt. Your contact turn up anything else?

MATT: I think your guy will be pleased.

LOGAN: Okay. Meet you in the park in an hour.

MATT: Great.

(At Crash)

MAX: Sketchy, how did you manage to escape from being a male obsessed with his career?

SKETCHY: Hey, just because at present I happen to be stuck in a dead-end job with no prospects doesn’t mean I don’t have larger ambitions. I’d like to run my own business someday. Something like Power Nipple.

ORIGINAL CINDY (joining them): 911, ’cause Mommy’s got the 411 on Normal’s shorty.

MAX: Do tell.

ORIGINAL CINDY: ’Kay. So, Original Cindy’s en route to sister girl’s crib to deliver her purse, aiight? Then I think to myself, “What kind of female forgets her purse?” I wrestle my conscience for a minute. Then I decide to take a peek.

MAX: You went into her purse?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Hell, yeah. You want to know everything there is to know about a female, where do you look?

SKETCHY: That’s, like, invasion of privacy.

MAX: Crossing the line, if you ask me.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You want to know what I found out or what?

MAX: Spill it.

SKETCHY (at same time): Immediately.

ORIGINAL CINDY: So, Original Cindy finds a prescription made out for Louise Klein for Primarin.

SKETCHY: What’s that?

MAX: Estrogen, basically. Yeah? So?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Then Original Cindy finds Louise Klein’s driver’s license. Only it says that Louise Klein is Louis Klein.

SKETCHY: You mean like a typo?

ORIGINAL CINDY: I mean like a former male.

SKETCHY: Normal’s chick is a dude?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Was a dude.

MAX: Come on, maybe she’s got a brother or something.

ORIGINAL CINDY: No, girl. The part of King’s Road where she lives is very gender-friendly. It’s where all the mista sistas reside. The lesbian mind could get seriously tampered with in that neighborhood.

SKETCHY: This and a human finger, all in the same day. It’s deep.

MAX: For real.

ORIGINAL CINDY: For real, for sure. Louise comes to the door wearing a towel, right out of the shower. I’m clocking her for nose hair, Adam’s apple, miscellaneous male debris, but the bitch is fine. Even got back.

SKETCHY: Do we think Normal knows?

MAX: Oh, he’s going to find out.

SKETCHY: Which will be the entertainment spectacular of a lifetime.

(They all laugh at the thought.)

(Det. Sung and Logan are meeting in the park at night. Bling is waiting in the car.)

MATT: This is documented proof that the D.A.’s on Bronck’s payroll.

LOGAN: Right.

MATT: One of my sources in the D.A.’s office is dropping the case--lack of evidence. You give that to Eyes Only, he ought to be able to put Bronck away for good.

LOGAN (distractedly): Yeah, that’s...that’s great, Matt. Thank you.

MATT: Grea...What? You okay?

LOGAN: Yeah. You’ve known me a while--would you describe me as obsessed?

(KK and another man approach. KK points a gun at Det. Sung.)

KK: Let’s take a ride.

(A van drives up and two more of Bronck’s henchmen take Det. Sung and Logan away.)

LOGAN: Get off me! Bling! Bling!

(Bling gets out of the car to chase after Bronck’s men, but they’re too fast and their van drives off.)

BLING: Hey!

(Later, Max leaves Crash for the night and heads for her motorcycle, parked outside. She hears a voice and looks up to see two cops leading scared young girls into the back of a police van.)

COPS: Get the door. Take it easy, girls. Get in there. Take it easy. You know there’s a curfew. You’re gonna have to come down to the station; then we’ll call your folks. Don’t worry.

(Max recognizes the cops as two of the guys who chased her at the airfield. She flashes back to the hangar office, where she found all the teen magazines and candies. She also remembers the plane taking off. A passing bus obscures Max’s view of the van; by the time the bus is out of the way, the van has left. Max goes to a nearby pay phone and dials Logan’s number.)

LOGAN’S VOICE (on answering machine): No one’s around. Leave a message.

MAX (on phone): Logan, it’s me. I think I know what Bronck’s up to. He’s got some cops on his payroll. They’re picking up kids off the street.

(Bling picks up the phone.)

BLING: Max.

MAX: Let me talk to Logan.

BLING: I can’t. Bronck’s got him.

(Max hangs up the phone and takes off on her bike.)

(At one of Bronck’s airfield bases, Logan and Matt are tied to chairs. Bronck looks through Logan’s wallet.)

BRONCK: No ID. What’s that, an Eyes Only thing?

LOGAN: The boss is a privacy nut.

BRONCK: What’s he got against me, plastering my face all over the TV? My mother is starting to worry.

LOGAN: She should. It’s dangerous being a bad guy.

BRONCK: Oh, no. It’s much more dangerous being the good guy, which your boss is about to find out. Tell me who he is.

LOGAN: I wish I could help you, but I’ve never met the man.

(Bronck backhands Logan across the face.)

LOGAN: I was wondering when we were going to get to the hitting part.

BRONCK: As much as I would like to smack you around until you tell me what I want to know, I just don’t have a lot of time. Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?

(One of Bronck’s henchmen rubs together a pair of jumper cables hooked up to a machine. They spark. The henchman connects the jumper cables to Det. Sung’s chair.)

BRONCK: Tell me who he is.

D’NARDIS: All set.

LOGAN: Let him go.

(A henchman turns the machine on. Det. Sung begins convulsing from the electrical shock.)

LOGAN: Stop it.

BRONCK: Who is Eyes Only?

LOGAN: Please stop it.

BRONCK: Tell me.

LOGAN: All right, I’ll tell you.

(The shocking continues.)

LOGAN (more loudly): I’ll tell you!

(Bronck makes a signal and a henchman turns the machine off.)

BRONCK: Who is Eyes Only?

(Logan hesitates.)

BRONCK: Who is Eyes Only?

LOGAN: I am. I’m Eyes Only.

(At Jorge’s restaurant)

NORMAL: Did you get your purse okay?

LOUISE: Yes. Thanks. Ray, there’s something you need to know about me.

NORMAL: Louise...

LOUISE: Let me say it.

NORMAL: You don’t need to say it. I know.

LOUISE: You know? What?

NORMAL: That you’re, uh... someone, um...how do I put it?...uh, who’s had, uh, some after-market work done. That is to say, you’ve undergone a fairly substantial...retrofit.

LOUISE: So you know I used to be a guy. (Normal nods) How did you find out?

NORMAL: Louise, you may have noticed I am a keenly intuitive, highly observant person.

LOUISE: You went through my purse.

NORMAL: Yes. My impulse to unravel the mystery that is you overwhelmed my deep reverence for private property. I’m sorry. I just...You know, I thought about this long and hard, and I...I realize it doesn’t matter. You know, it’s 2020, I’m a modern man, and you’re a...you know, newly minted babe. You’re as sexy as all get-out.

LOUISE: It means a lot to me that you understand and accept me for who I am.

NORMAL: Vive la différence.

LOUISE: But that’s not what I was going to tell you.

NORMAL: It’s not?

LOUISE: I’ve realized something about myself these past few days that we’ve spent together that’s going to change things between us.

NORMAL: You know, I’ve thought about this long and hard, and there...I’m telling you, there is absolutely nothing you can say that would change my feelings about you.

LOUISE: I’m gay.

NORMAL: In what sense?

LOUISE: I’m a lesbian, Ray.

NORMAL: Oh, for the love of Mike.

(In Logan’s apartment, Bling is on the computer. A window comes up, asking him to confirm that he wants to delete all files. Before he can hit “Delete,” Max enters the apartment.)

MAX: Bling?

BLING: In here.

(Max walks into the room.)

MAX: What happened?

BLING: He had a meet with Sung. Bronck grabbed him. I tried to get to him, but...

MAX: What are you doing?

BLING: When Logan let me in on Eyes Only, he made me promise that if anything ever happened to him, I’d protect the informant net by making sure the files didn’t fall into the wrong hands. Lot of hard work... gone.

(Bling goes to hit “Delete.” Max stops him.)

MAX: Which he’s so going to regret when he gets back.

BLING: Max, he may not be coming back.

MAX: Yes, he is. And that scumbag Bronck is going down, hard. (Takes over the keyboard) Now, he gave you the codes and the passwords, right?

BLING: Yeah. What are you going to do?

MAX: What I always do--make it up as I go along.

(At the airfield, Bronck slaps Logan across the face.)

BRONCK: Say it, like you do on TV. “Do not attempt...”

(He hits Logan again.)

BRONCK: “...to adjust your set.”

(Bronck hits him a third time.)

BRONCK: Oh, dear. It looks like we’re going to have to refry Detective Won-ton.

LOGAN: Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a Streaming Freedom Video. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped, and it is the only free voice left in this city.

BRONCK: It is him.

KK: The plane will be here in 15 minutes.

HENCHMAN: Picked up a nice little sampler for our friends overseas. Something for every taste.

BRONCK: Load them up when the plane gets here.

LOGAN: What are you up to, Bronck?

BRONCK: I thought you had all the dirt on me.

LOGAN: Well, there’s just so much of it, it’s hard to keep up.

BRONCK: You are going to give me everything that you have on my operation. In fact, you’re going to give me everything you have, period. You have the goods on a lot of people. That could come in handy for someone in my line of work.

LOGAN: I’ve got nothing to give up. Not anymore. My people are under orders to destroy the informant net if anything should happen to me.

BRONCK: Am I supposed to believe that?

LOGAN: It’s the truth.

(Bronck takes out a gun.)

LOGAN: I can’t give you what I don’t have.

(Bronck points the gun to Det. Sung’s head.)

LOGAN: I’m telling you the truth.

BRONCK: Sayonara.

LOGAN: No!

(An Eyes Only broadcast comes on the TV.)

EYES ONLY: Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a Streaming Freedom Video Bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly sixty seconds. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped, and it is the only free voice left in this city.

(We see that Max is making the hack from Logan’s apartment, using the computer to alter her voice, as Bling watches.)

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): This is Eyes Only speaking to Gerhardt Bronck. You are holding two of my operatives, Mr. Bronck. I want them back. You will be contacted.

(The broadcast ends. Bronck kicks the TV down. A phone rings.)

LOGAN: That’s my phone. I’m guessing it’s for you.

BRONCK: Shut these two up. Trace the call. I’m going to nail this bastard once and for all.

(Bronck’s henchmen put black tape over Logan’s and Det. Sung’s mouths. D’nardis plugs a cord into Logan’s cell phone so he can trace the call. Bronck answers the phone. Max continues to alter her voice.)

BRONCK: Yes?

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): This is Eyes Only.

BRONCK: That’s odd. I have someone here who claims that he’s Eyes Only.

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): It’s what my operatives are trained to do--to protect the informant net.

BRONCK: Are they trained to do impressions as well?

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): I want my operatives, Bronck.

BRONCK: And I want you off my back. Turn over everything you have on me, call off your hounds, and I’ll think about releasing your friends.

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): Not good enough. My cable hacks are making it tough for you to do business. You want them to stop, it’s going to cost you a hundred large.

BRONCK: I said I have your friends here.

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): And I’ve got enough on you to put you away for life.

(A window comes up on Logan’s computer that says, “ALERT: COMMUNICATIONS SUB-SYSTEM - TRACE ATTEMPT DETECTED ON OUTBOUND CALL.”)

BRONCK: Are you trying to shake me down?

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): I’m looking to cut a deal.

BRONCK: So Eyes Only is a player.

(Bling writes a note to Max that says “THEY’RE TRACING CALL.” Max starts typing.)

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): I prefer to think of myself as a businessman, like you.

BRONCK: What about your whole “make the world a better place” rap?

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): Doesn’t pay the bills. So do we have a deal?

D’NARDIS (whispering): I’ve got an address.

BRONCK: Let me consider it.

MAX (AS EYES ONLY): You’ve got twenty minutes.

(Max ends the call.)

BLING: Hope you know what you’re doing.

MAX: So do I.

BRONCK (to his henchmen): Get the files. Torch the place. And before you kill him, make sure you gouge his eyes out.

(At Logan’s apartment, Max is playing back a recording of the phone call.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: I said I have your friends here.

EYES ONLY’S VOICE: I’ve got enough on you to put you away for the rest of your life.

MAX: Did you hear that?

BLING: Sounds like an airplane engine in the background.

MAX: These guys are rotating their operation through a network of abandoned airstrips. Question is, which one?

BRONCK’S VOICE: I have your friends here.

EYES ONLY’S VOICE: I’ve got enough on you to put you away for the rest of your life.

(Some of Bronck’s henchmen arrive in a car at their destination.)

HENCHMAN: Let’s go.

(Back in Logan’s apartment, Max is still playing the recording. She adjusts the audio controls to highlight the background sounds.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: I have your friends here.

(Max replays it, adjusting more.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: I have your friends here.

(Bling and Max hear the elevator bell announce its arrival on their floor. Bling gets up to check it out, gun drawn.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: Let me consider it.

(Bling carefully walks toward the door, opens it, and quickly points his gun at whoever is on the other side. It turns out to be an elderly woman. Bling lowers the gun.)

WOMAN: Bling! What are you doing in my apartment?

BLING: You’re on the wrong floor, Mrs. Moreno.

(Max uses the speakerphone to call Tacoma Bleed.)

TACOMA BLEED: Yeah?

MAX: Yo, Bleed.

TACOMA BLEED: Who is this?

MAX: Word. Bad guys with guns got sent to your place to kill people. Just giving you the heads up.

TACOMA BLEED: Is that right? Good lookin’ out.

(At Tacoma Bleed’s place, Bronck’s henchmen come bursting in, only to find Tacoma Bleed and his crew pointing guns at them.)

HENCHMAN: This 134 Clemson?

(Max hangs up the phone and continues to listen to the recording.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: Let me consider it.

(Max adjusts the sound to highlight a particular background noise.)

BRONCK’S VOICE: Let me consider it.

BLING: Sounds like a foghorn.

MAX: Could be Warton Airfield, out by the harbor.

(Max drives there on her motorcyle.)

(Inside Bronck’s base at the airfield.)

BRONCK: What the hell is going on? They should’ve checked in by now.

(We see Max looking down from the upper level, unnoticed.)

KK: We are ready to roll.

BRONCK: The money is on the plane. I’ll meet you out there. Shoot them!

(Max uses a chain to swing down and kick over the two gunmen. She kicks KK down. D’nardis fires at her; she ducks into a storage area to hide. Bronck leaves. D’nardis follows Max, looking for her among the crates. She runs across an aisle and he fires, but he misses. Max hides again.)

(Outside, Bronck boards a plane. Two of his henchmen have been standing nearby, waiting for him.)

BRONCK: This is the last shipment. It was nice doing business with you boys.

(Back inside, D’nardis passes by Max’s hiding place, and she takes him down. She runs over and unties Logan’s hands.)

MAX: I gotta stop the plane.

(Outside)

HENCHMAN (to Bronck): Aren’t you forgetting something? Our money?

(Max leaves the building just in time to see Bronck shoot the two hunchmen and get in the plane.)

BRONCK (to the pilot): Okay! Let’s go!

(The plane begins taxiing. Max runs after it and jumps in. She looks up to find Bronck pointing a gun at her.)

BRONCK: Do you have a boarding pass?

(Max fights Bronck and kicks him out of the plane. She sneaks up on the pilot.)

MAX: Turbulence.

(She knocks out the pilot and brings the plane to a stop. She opens a door to the rear of the plane and finds the girls. They’re scared, and some are crying.)

MAX: It’s going to be okay.

(At Jam Pony)

NORMAL: Hot run, 95 Round Hill Road.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Speaking of hot runs, was that your shugga I delivered to on Kings Road yesterday?

NORMAL: I said it’s a hot run. Now, beat it.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Hold on. Talk to me, Normal. Original Cindy understands the human heart.

NORMAL: Well, we had a moment...or so I thought, and, uh... it passed.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You liked her, huh?

NORMAL: Yeah.

ORIGINAL CINDY: What happened, if I’m not out of line asking?

NORMAL: Oh, it’s just different interests, you know. I enjoy the company of women, and...apparently, so does she.

ORIGINAL CINDY: I feel you.

NORMAL: Actually, she asked me to, uh...give you her number. She found you “alluring”...I think was the word.

(Normal gives Original Cindy a slip of paper with Louise’s number on it.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: This bitch is getting you to pimp for her?

NORMAL: I am in the messenger business.

ORIGINAL CINDY: The right one’s out there for you somewhere, Normal.

NORMAL: Yeah. Well, I shouldn’t be pouring out my heart on company time. You better get going.

(Original Cindy nods and walks over to her bike. Sketchy joins her.)

SKETCHY: So?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Damn. Normal just gave me that half-a-heifer’s phone number.

SKETCHY: Well, you going to call her?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Mm-mm. ’Cause when you get right down to it, Original Cindy’s just too damn straight to kick it with a science-fiction girlfriend.

(Original Cindy throws the piece of paper on the floor and walks away. Sketchy picks it up.)

(At Logan’s apartment)

MAX: You were right about Bronck.

LOGAN: Great place, America. Kid’s walking home from school...next thing she knows, she belongs to the highest bidder, working in a brothel on the other side of the world someplace. And Bronck’s been making a killing every planeload.

MAX: And I almost let him get away with it.

LOGAN: The bottom line is he’s out of business. You did good.

MAX: I just wish I could’ve done something about those kids on the plane that other night.

LOGAN: Got a lead they’re being held by a middleman in L.A. Got some people on it.

MAX: So, do I finally get my Eyes Only secret decoder ring?

LOGAN: Listen...I’m sorry about the other night. I, uh...I guess I have been a little too focused on my mission. I don’t know, maybe Eyes Only has been a way of not having to, uh, think about the less...pleasant aspects of my life. Maybe it is a Halloween mask I’ve been hiding behind.

MAX: You don’t have to. Not from me.

LOGAN: I’ve got everything we need to whip up a pasta tricolore.

MAX: I can boil the water.

LOGAN: You can?

MAX: Mm-hmm.

(They head for the kitchen. Logan’s cell phone rings.)

LOGAN (on phone): Yeah...Word on the net is he’s a weapons dealer?...Mm-hmm...Okay, this is definitely something Eyes Only’s going to have to get into...Really? When?...Tonight? No, I can’t. I’ll have to call you tomorrow...Yeah. Bye.

(Logan hangs up.)

MAX: Don’t hold up the war on my account.

LOGAN: The world will still be broken in the morning.

(Logan and Max smile at each other.)