48 HOURS
Screenplay by Walter Hill, Larry Gross, Roger Spottiswoode and Steven deSouza
FADE IN:
5 (minutes) Chain Gang. Billy Bear shows up. Shoot out, Escape! / Intro: Cates (girlfriend
problems).
10) Gance and Billy Bear... Poison murder. / Cates and Girlfriend. / Gance kidnaped
by Luther... they want the money. Gance keeps Luther's girlfriend.
15) Hotel: Cates' reputation as a gunslinger. Up to the room. Gance and Hooker
watching cartoons. Cops knock at the door...
20) Big shootout! The elevator/stairs chase! Lobby stand off... suspense. "Don't give
him the gun." Cates gives Gance his gun... Gance and Cates face off. Big shoot out!
Gance escapes with hostage.
25) Cop Shop: Cates gets chewed out. / Intro: Reggie. Q & A. Reggie and Cates have
a minor personality conflict.
30) Reggie s deal: Get me out and I'll get Gance. 48 Hours. Reggie gets out. Cates'
law - "We ain't buddies". / They drive to Luther's. Reggie cuffed to steering wheel.
35) Luther's Apartment: Shoot out! Chase! Reggie trips Luther. Cates questions
Luther. Cop Shop: Luther jailed. Cates' girlfriend problems - Reggie tries to help.
Cares and Reggie dine.
40) Reggie Qs Cates about sex - it's been a while. Ext. Torchy's Night Club: The deal
- if Reggie gets Gance, Cates has to let him find a lady. Int. Torchy's: It's a cowboy
bar! "Not a popular place with the brothers."
45) Reggie takes charge - "There's a new sheriff in town..." They get info from the
bartender about Billy Bear's girl. Outside - Cates disarms Reggie.
50) Chinatown: Billy's girl. Wham! Girls have guns... They defuse situation. Dead end -
she hasn't seen Billy Bear. / Reggie and Cates get on each other's nerves.
55) Reggie and Cates fight - bonding through beating. Cops show to break it up.
Reggie admits he has the $ from the robbery. Reggie s law - "We ain't buddies."
60) Stake out on Reggie's car. Luther shows... takes Reggie's car. They tail him
through town. Luther parks, pulls out the $...
65) BART Station: Luther with the $... Gance shows... HUGE shoot out! Reggie
chases Luther. Cates chases Gance and Billy Bear. Shoot out and chase. Gance and
Billy escape.
70) Night Club: Reggie can't get laid. Cop Shop: Cates at work - he's lost Reggie, lost
Gance and Billy Bear, lost everything. Plus, he has girlfriend problems! Reggie calls...
he's tailed Luther.
75) Night Club: Cates and Reggie join forces. They actually become friends. Reggie
finds a girl, heads to a hotel... but spots Luther leaving! Tails Luther.
80) Bus: Luther hops the bus - Gance, Billy Bear, and Luther s girl are on it. Deal - $
for the girl. They make the trade. Luther is killed. Reggie and Cates give chase. Big
car/bus chase! Shoot out! CRASH! Cates' car DESTROYED! Gance, Billy Bear, and
the money escape. Cop Shop: Cates gets chewed out big time.
85) Bar: Cates and Reggie have a last drink. They are true friends. They talk about
women... what about Billy Bear's girl? Chinatown: Billy s girl's apartment - BIG SHOOT
OUT! Billy is killed. Gance escapes...
90) Alleys: Maze shoot out - rooftop chase and shoot out... to High Noon in alley.
Cates and Gance face off. Bang! Cool down vest gag - "I can t believe it! I've been
shot!"
95) Falling action - the rag top man. Cates will keep Reggie's car safe until he gets
out.
