"BACKDRAFT" Screenplay by Gregory Widen SHOOTING DRAFT INT. FIRE STATION 17 - STORAGE ROOM - 20 YRS. EARLIER Darkness. Then the GLINT of a flashlight. Its beam rocks crazily to and fro across the inside of a small storage room as we hear two children arguing. OLDER KID You're doing it wrong. YOUNGER KID Shut up. OLDER KID You're doing it wrong. It's hard, but we get a sense of the room in the whipping beam of light. Huge, dark coats lined up like sides of beef on steel batons. Bent, stained helmets hung like African masks. Beneath them BRIAN, 7, and STEPHEN, 12, are trying to struggle into a pair of the ludicrously massive coats over their pajamas. STEPHEN It doesn't go like that. BRIAN Who asked you? STEPHEN If you do it like that it'll open in the fire. Then you'll get burned and DIE. The door suddenly opens, morning sunlight roaring in. It's a fire station storage room full of fire gear. A fireman stands in the doorway, tall, athletic, their father; DENNIS McCAFFREY. DENNIS Who's going to die? STEPHEN Brian. He's not doing it right, dad. He never does it right. DENNIS (gestures for them to come out) Well, let's have a look. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - DAY The two boys tromp out of the closet. The rubber turn-out boots are as high as their thighs. The ends of the coats drag on the floor. They salute, Brian's arm just an empty sleeve. Dennis kneels down and re-fastens Brian's coat. DENNIS Your brother's right. If you don't fasten these correctly they could open and you'd get burned. STEPHEN And DIE! BRIAN You wouldn't let me die, would you, Dad? DENNIS McCaffreys are smarter than fire, Brian. (playfully slaps their shoulders) How 'bout lunch, huh? STEPHEN Fireman shit? DENNIS Hey, what's with the mouth? Where'd you grow up, a barn? STEPHEN Firehouse. DENNIS Cute. -- The station suddenly fills with the BELLOW of an ALARM KLAXON. DENNIS (sighs) Never fails... A young fireman, ADCOX, appears with the dispatch card. DENNIS Big deal? AXE Medium deal. DENNIS Want to come along, Brian? Watch the old man earn his keep? STEPHEN (pissed) Dad! DENNIS You've come along a dozen times, Stephen, give your brother a chance. We'll be back in a few minutes. (to Brian) How 'bout it, sport? BRIAN Sure! Dennis scoops Brian up and loads him into the fire engine cab. The other three firemen climb aboard and take their places. EXT. FIRE STATION 17 - DAY There's a cough of diesel, a crunch of gears, and the engine is pulling out of the station. DENNIS Hit the button, Brian. Brian stamps his foot on the siren button. The red light snaps on, the siren growls and blares, and they're off down the street. Brian turns around in his seat and, at the last instant before the corner, makes eye contact with his older brother. They stick their tongues out. EXT. CHICAGO STREET - DAY - 20 YRS. EARLIER The engine howls its way through the city. Brian, sandwiched between his father and Adcox, looks out in wonderment at intersections zipping past like picket fences, at people on sidewalks holding hands over their ears, at the red emergency lights bouncing crazily off shop windows. EXT. BUILDING - DAY - 20 YRS. EARLIER Lazy smoke curls out the second story of a commercial block. Medium deal. The engine pulls up and the firemen are jumping off like ship rats. Dennis opens his door, hops down, and pauses just long enough to point a serious finger at his son. DENNIS Stay near the truck. (winks) And keep an eye out for us, huh? We're short handed today. Brian nods vigorously, taking the command seriously. Dennis smiles and is off, dragging a hoseline with his crew toward a doorway they disappear into. Brian climbs down from the cab. ENGINEER Don't stray too far, little man. Brian smiles to the pumper operator. He just wants a better look. And he gets it: Smoke turned evil and dark now, taking on purpose. EXT. BUILDING - DAY - 20 YRS. EARLIER There's a level of apartments above the storefronts. As Brian watches, a window opens and out steps his father and Adcox onto a small fire escape. Their attention's on the next window over, out of reach, wrapped in leaky smoke. Suddenly Dennis climbs up onto the fire escape railing, armed with only an axe, and JUMPS across to the next metal balcony. A ballsy, dangerous move. He kicks in the window, breaks out the frame with his axe, and dives in. A beat later he reemerges on the balcony with a terrified, smudged little girl. He hands the little girl over the railing to a fireman now coming up the more traditional way -- a ladder. Dennis's face lifts and grins at Brian; dirty, bigger than life, invincible. He winks a wink only possible between fathers and sons and he's gone again, back into the swirling darkness. As Brian stands there, full of love, full of pride, he sees a piece of awning along the roofline crack; releasing a sickly yellow tongue of flame that slinks over the roof. The flame seems to pause, to stare at Brian a beat. Shhh, don't tell anyone. Brian is transfixed, his little head staring up in astonishment. Nobody else has noticed it. Brian can see his father and Adcox through the window; probing, looking for the flame lurking just above. Brian starts to call out in a small, hesitant voice, BRIAN Dad... He tries to call louder... But suddenly everything is happening very fast in slow motion: -- Brian can see Adcox testing the ceiling with a pike pole as Brian steps forward, under the power of a flame that beckons him as -- Dennis suddenly THROWS his body against Adcox, knocking him clear just as a flame EXPLODES DOWNWARD from the ceiling fully against him as -- All the building's windows BLOW OUT and it's like the sky's erupted for Brian, a burning hailstorm that falls and pelts the ground around him. Plaster, wood, and something metal that cracks against the pavement and spins slowly. A fire helmet. And Adcox is coming out the door now, blackened and torn, hopeless tears streaming down his face. AXE Get us some backup! We need some goddamn backup! And, spotting Brian, he runs towards him. And the helmet spins and spins and Adcox keeps running, and the sky is raining fire, and the flame on the roof has risen up now to its full, horrifying size and it's laughing now, laughing at the little boy as the helmet finally stops spinning, and we read the printing on the neck guard. MCCAFFREY And Adcox is sobbing and has his arms around the boy, protecting him from the fire, the world, but it's like Brian doesn't see him. He pulls away from Adcox, walks up to his father's helmet, And puts it on. The scene EXPLODES with a flash as a photographer captures the instant. INT. SEEDY APARTMENT - DAY Sequence omitted from original script. INT. BRIAN'S CAR - DAY Hold on the freeze-frame. Let it become an aged cover of LIFE. The magazine jiggles and rocks and we see now it's sitting atop a box of knick-knacks jostling in the back seat of an aging BMW. There's plenty of other boxes here, a live on the move, and in the driver's seat, BRIAN McCAFFREY, now 27. There's piles of empty burger wrappers, Coke cans, and Florida knick-knacks on the dash board; a little blow-up palm tree, a cheesy hula girl emblazoned with "McCaffrey High-End Stereo Sales". EXT. HIGHWAY - MONTAGE - DAY Brian and his battered BMW shoot past prairie, cow country, nervous suburbs and finally a sign: WELCOME TO CHICAGO. EXT. CEMETERY - DAY Wind tugging at his bangs, Brian stares down at the graves of Dennis and Mary Elizabeth McCaffrey. INT. CHICAGO GAS STATION RESTROOM - DAY In a crusty sink he combs his hair, knots a tie around his neck. EXT. CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ACADEMY - DAY Brian walks through its sculpted columns, straightening his tie. He comes to a door, FIRE ACADEMY CHIEF. He takes a deep breath, steadies his gaze, and enters. INT. FIRE ACADEMY CHIEF'S OFFICE - DAY The ACADEMY CHIEF sits at his desk going over a file. Out the window can be heard a FIRE TRAINING CLASS in action. CHIEF FITZGERALD Is this a joke? Brian's sitting in the seat opposite. BRIAN If it was a joke, sir, you'd be laughing. CHIEF FITZGERALD You walked out on this academy six years ago. One week to graduation. You think we forgot that? You think I did? BRIAN I want another shot, Sir. CHIEF FITZGERALD (beat) Look, everybody remembers your old man. Being his son, all you had to do was breathe to graduate here. Dead Hero Father Rule. But you blew us off. Why should I take you back? BRIAN If you remember, sir, my test scores were in the top -- CHIEF FITZGERALD -- I don't give a damn what your test scores were, maybe you could have been a good firemen, but you had your shot. BRIAN I need another one, sir. CHIEF FITZGERALD Sorry, but it's out of my hands. Try again next year. BRIAN No, it isn't out of your hands or you wouldn't even have met me. If I push you have to let me back in. Dead Hero Father Rule. Sir. CHIEF FITZGERALD (simmers) Even if you graduate this academy, you've still got nine months of probation. That's hard duty, son. If you don't really love this job, it'll kill you. BRIAN (rises) See you Monday. Sir. As we hear the BLOW OF A WHISTLE CUT TO: EXT. CHICAGO FIRE DEPT. TRAINING ACADEMY - GRADUATION DAY And everybody lined up at attention in dress blues. CHIEF FITZGERALD (at podium) Though the world changes every day, some things are truly forever: Courage, devotion, and honor in what we do. This class is a special one, for we dedicate it to the three firefighters that have fallen this year: Donald Knowlton, Richard Walter and Michael Petzold... (silent beat) Ladies and gentlemen, it is with pleasure that I certify that Candidate Class number 322, having successfully completed all academy requirements, are hereby graduated to the Chicago Fire Department. Candidates and their relatives CHEER and leap to their feet. Something struggles inside of Brian. He doesn't stand at first. Another Candidate, TIM, 20, looks at him strangely. So does the Academy Chief, his eyes finding Brian's. And Brian's standing slowly now, joining them... EXT. BROWNSTONE - NIGHT An expensive one. We hear a window BREAK. INT. BROWNSTONE - NIGHT Through the dimness a file cabinet. An AXE SUDDENLY SLAMS into it, RIPPING it apart. Files crash to the floor. And a picture. 1970. Four young guys marlin fishing. Time of their lives. INT. BROWNSTONE BEDROOM - NIGHT And a GREY PUTTY being SLAPPED along the edges of a door. INT. PUB - NIGHT A split-level firemen's dive; complete with mounted axes and personalized T-shirts from various engine companies proudly declaring "LADDER CO. 6 -- AXE FIRST, HOSE LATER" and "CHICAGO FD, 150 YEARS OF TRADITION UNIMPEDED BY PROGRESS". Tonight the place is firmly in the hands of an army of recently graduated candidates. A few on the back patio have hooked up a charged hoseline and are taking potshots at balloon targets, each other, the neighbor's cat. Brian and Tim, still in their uniforms, enter from the street. Survey the scene. BRIAN Completely out of control. TIM What the hell are we waiting for? As they shoulder their way inside, another CANDIDATE appears holding proudly a fistful of sealed envelopes. CANDIDATE Hot off the presses, guys. Station assignments. Tim and everyone else but Brian eagerly tear into them. Brian nonchalantly shoulders up to the bar. BRIAN A beer, Willy! The barkeep turns and smiles. WILLY Well, if it isn't the littlest McCaffrey. (to candidates with hose) Hey! You break anything with that you buy it! (to Brian) Sorry, there must be something wrong with my eyes. I keep thinking that's a fire department uniform. BRIAN It's in my blood, Willy. The candidates are ripping open their assignments, exclaiming to each other: "All right! Engine 117! That's a slum! They get cookers every day!". "Oh no, Engine 10, that's a nice neighborhood"... Willy turns to the bulletin board behind him and unpins a stack of business cards. WILLY Really. Well, let's have a look at what else was "in your blood". I always look forward to getting these, they make such a nice collage for the bar... "Assistant Director, Sales, Aspen Snowmobile Tours..." BRIAN Didn't offer the kinda growth and challenge I need. WILLY Uh huh. And "Pioneer's Pride, Mobile Log Cabins". That was in your blood about six months wasn't it? BRIAN Management were pin heads. WILLY "Laguna Jamming, Custom Surfboards"? BRIAN Coffee sucked. WILLY And just this year, "Brian's Sound Spectrum". Your own company even. Big step. BRIAN I was ahead of my time. WILLY You know, I've got a perfect little spot here for "Brian McCaffrey, Fireman"... Tim holds an envelope marked McCAFFREY out to Brian. TIM Aren't you even curious? BRIAN Engine 115, right? TIM (opens it, surprised) How'd you know? These are supposed to be sealed. BRIAN Lucky guess. (winks) And a case of scotch to a captain in station assignments. TIM You crooked son of a bitch. Why 115? BRIAN Lots of fires. They promote faster there. Take a look at the last Lt.'s list, half the guys on it came from that battalion. Gotta think about your future, Timmy. 115's the station. TIM Ah man, if you're gonna bribe your way into a station, why not 17 with me and your brother? On Brian's reaction CUT TO: EXT. STREET - NIGHT A Porsche knifes through darkened streets. The DRIVER, 50, is dressed for success. Pulling up to the brownstone we saw earlier, he gets out and rubs his eyes. Another day in the salt mines. Climbing the short stairs, he sticks his key into the lock and opens the door. It is the last thing he will ever do. A THUNDERING EXPLOSION ENGULFS the stoop. INT. PUB - NIGHT The place is packed now with girls flirting with the candidates, putting their helmets on, etc. The horseplay around the bar suddenly stops at the sweet sound of a SIREN. EXT. PUB - NIGHT Everyone steps outside, cocks an ear. And here it comes, the real thing, SCREECHING past in a full-tilt rush. Shouts and raised toasts. TIM Hey, that's my cousin's company! C'mon! Let's go! As Brian turns, he suddenly confronted by an elderly LITHUANIAN WOMAN. BRIAN (surprised) Mrs. Viatkus... She grabs his cheeks and rattles off in Lithuanian. Brian can only smile. Then two attractive jean-clad legs step up. JENNIFER. JENNIFER Brian. BRIAN (surprised) Jennifer. JENNIFER You're back. BRIAN You look great. JENNIFER Thanks for calling. BRIAN Uh... I've been sorta keeping a low profile... the academy... I graduated today. JENNIFER Huh. BRIAN So... I see you're still in the neighborhood. JENNIFER Not quite. Just visiting. I live in Lincoln Park now. BRIAN Yeah? What have you been up to? JENNIFER I work for city hall. BRIAN Really? No kidding. JENNIFER What, you think I just dried up and blew away when you left? The world does turn once in awhile Brian, even without your permission. Just then, Tim OPENS UP the hoseline, DRENCHING Brian. TIM Don't want you overheating, Brian! Brian ducks the stream and PULLS a length of hose near his feet, FLIPPING Tim. Brian JUMPS him, shuts off the hose and pins him to the pavement. TIM Okay okay! Uncle! Brian walks back toward Jennifer JENNIFER You've certainly matured. She turns to leave. BRIAN Well, if nothing else, it's nice to know we can still be friends. JENNIFER I don't want to be your friend, Brian. Another in a series of fire engines HOWL past. Tim grabs Brian by the shoulder. TIM Let's go, man! EXT. STREETS - NIGHT Brian and Tim jump into Brian's car. They shoot blindly down the street looking for the fire engine, running down red lights or anything else that gets in their way. Brian suddenly hits the brakes, SCREECHING to a stop. They roll down their windows. Far off can be heard the wind-up of a siren. TIM (points) That way. EXT. STREETS - FIRE ENGINE - NIGHT SCREECH. They fly around a corner, down a block, and there it is, lights flashing up ahead. Brian GUNS it, roars up alongside the fire engine. Tim leans out the window, shakes a bottle of beer, and lets loose a foamy eruption in the truck driver's face. DRIVER Tim! You crazy motherfucker! But he's laughing. TIM What'cha got? DRIVER Box alarm. Walton Ave. TIM We'll meet ya. EXT. BROWNSTONE - WALTON AVENUE - NIGHT As Brian and Tim pull up two engine companies are already dragging lines toward the rolling brownstone we saw explode earlier. Tim cheers the firemen on like a drive-in movie. Brian watches the fire with uneasy fascination. Embers whipping into the night, drifting to the ground around him. One of the engine companies is entering the doorway now. He watches as they willingly crawl into a place any sane person would run for their life from. Jesus Christ. FLASH -- Brian turns at the blinding snap of a camera. Several locals are gathered around a parked car, some taking pictures. Brian notices that right away. It takes a beat longer to notice the CHARRED CORPSE stuffed head-first through the windshield. It's the Porsche driver, his legs sticking out at crazy angles. A dog barks furiously at it. TIM (also looking at body) Man. Something sure put a crimp in his evening. BRIAN Backdraft. The brownstone fire quickly transforms itself into noisy clouds of dirty white steam. And one of the firemen is coming back out now, walking toward Brian. When he's just a few yards away he pulls off his air mask and helmet and we shudder with Brian, because the man is a dead ringer for HIS FATHER. STEPHEN Well, look what we have here. Nice costume. Rent it? BRIAN I want to thank you for coming to my graduation, Stephen. It was a great inspiration to me. STEPHEN So you're going to fight fires now, huh? He pats Brian's cheeks, leaving behind large charcoal smears. STEPHEN (re smears) Doesn't work on you. (turns to leave) See ya around, little brother. BRIAN Not likely. STEPHEN (turns) Well, see you're wrong already. Had a talk with Chief Fitzgerald, and we decided in the interest of brotherly love, that maybe you shouldn't be way over on the other side of town. So starting tomorrow, your assigned to company 17. My company. (Brian's color drops a hue) One case of scotch, you're getting cheap in your old age, Brian... And Stephen turns for his own men, Tim staring at Brian as clouds of smoke drift past like ghosts. EXT. BROWNSTONE - ACROSS THE STREET - NIGHT A flame LEAPS up into the foreground. Touches a cigarette. The cigarette glows, lingers, then lowers slowly from the mouth of RIMGALE, fifty-five years old and six and a half feet of solid granite. Wearing a windbreaker and grey slacks tucked into fire department rubber boots, he takes another slow drag. Looks at the body stuffed into the windshield. It's twenty yards away from the brownstone. Stephen looks up as Rimgale drops the cigarette, crushes it with his boot, and crosses the street to the building. INT. BROWNSTONE - NIGHT Charred walls hiss and snap in the steamy darkness. Rimgale is there, gloomy in the beam of his flashlight. He crouches down, plays his flashlight along the ruined baseboard. SHADOW If you stare any longer Stevie, I'll start charging you admission. Stephen is leaning in the doorway, watching him. STEPHEN Got a cause? SHADOW Are the glory boys actually showing interest in Investigation's work? I may have a stroke. STEPHEN The glory boys just want to finish their report so they can go home. Rimgale's flashlight finds a wall socket that he pries loose and holds up to the light. He lowers it, takes in the walls, the room. SHADOW They're gonna have to wait a few days on this one. EXT. BROWNSTONE - NIGHT Tim's talking to his cousin. Brian hangs back, watches the body-bag people load the Porsche driver into a meat wagon. There's a still an audience for this, still stray dogs circling and barking. Brian walks up, looks inside the car, and sees on a seat the ragged remains of a FINGER. BRIAN (to coroner crew) Hey, you forgot... this. They're already climbing into the wagon. The driver smiles creepily. CORONER DRIVER We always leave something for the dogs. Brian looks across the fireground, sees his brother walking back to the fire engine. They share a brief, edgy glance. EXT. HOUSE - DAY A modest one. South-side Irish old fashioned. Brian walks up. There's a little kid, about five, playing with a toy fire truck on the drive. BRIAN Hey, Sean. What's goin' on, man? The kid stares at him without a glimmer of recognition. BRIAN It's Uncle Brian. Y'know. He makes his hand into a talking puppet. BRIAN (bandito accent) "Spinach? We don't need no stinking spinach". Remember? The kid drops his toy truck and flees inside. KID Mom! Mom! INT. HELEN'S HOUSE Brian follows, sticks his head in the door. BRIAN Hellooo... A warm looking woman, 30's, HELEN, comes around the corner. HELEN Brian? BRIAN Hi, Helen. Man, you look great. HELEN You look like... Brian. She gives him a tentative hug. HELEN 'Bout written you off. How long have you been in town? BRIAN Four months. HELEN Four months? BRIAN I know, I know, Should'a called. I've been really busy. I joined the fire department. Helen's expression suddenly saddens. HELEN Oh Brian... (beat) You guys... you really know how to put each other through it, don't you? The little kid is peeking fearfully from the kitchen doorway. BRIAN That's Sean? Jeez, he's a giant. HELEN Yeah, you'd be surprised what three years can do to a kid. BRIAN Sean, come on out, man. What, you forget your favorite uncle? HELEN Stephen told him you were killed in a hot tub accident. SEAN (intense) Dad was kidding, Mom. And the kid runs unexpectedly away, angry. BRIAN Well that's two things to strangle Stephen for. Where is he, anyway? HELEN (beat) Stephen's not staying here now, Brian. He moved out last April. An embarrassed sting. BRIAN Oh, man, I'm sorry. HELEN You guys ought to try picking up a phone once in awhile. EXT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - MARINA - DAY A small one on the river. Several boats bob peacefully. Except one. Raised high in dry-dock, it's an ancient fishing trawler. Bachman-Turner-Overdrive drifts up from the galley on badly fuzzed speakers as Brian climbs the ladder. BRIAN Hey. Stripped to the waist, Stephen's bent-over cleaning out the guts of the inboard motor. He looks confused to see Brian. BRIAN I talked to Helen... Wrong thing to say. Stephen turns back to his work. BRIAN ...Man, I thought dad's boat was finally retired to the family graveyard. Don't you worry about falling out of this thing? Stephen straightens up, his forearms smudged with grease. Brian admires the unwashed cereal bowls and peeling deck paint. BRIAN I like what you've done with the place. STEPHEN It's comin' along... want a beer? Stephen tosses him a beer from the fridge. As Brian pops it, he sees the small pile of city-issue gallon size cans in the corner. Armorall, solvent, extinguisher foam. BRIAN Been ripping off fire stations? STEPHEN It's old stuff Adcox gave me that the department was going to throw out anyway. Still good enough though for this tub. Brian winces at the music coming out of shot speakers. BRIAN Bachman Turner Overdrive? (looks through music rack) ...Buffalo Springfield?... Stephen Bishop? Oh man... Brian lifts one of the tapes -- an 8-track -- and holds it carefully in his palm as if it were a rare and fragile relic. BRIAN My God, an actual operating 8-track. STEPHEN What, you've never seen one before? BRIAN In the Field Museum once. STEPHEN It works. BRIAN It worked when you were in sixth grade. INT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - DAY Sequence omitted from original script. EXT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - DAY Brian opens the trunk of his old BMW. It's full of stereo boxes marked BRIAN'S "SOUND SPECTRUM". INT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - CABIN - DAY Brian's gutted the speakers and is re-wiring them. STEPHEN People actually used to pay you for this? BRIAN Millions, Stephen -- And sexual favors. STEPHEN Sheep don't count. BRIAN Yeah? What about Laura -- STEPHEN That was never proved. Brian moves over to another speaker. STEPHEN Why'd you come here, Brian? BRIAN I wanted to know why you messed with my station assignment. I mean, is this really gonna have to one of those big brother -- little brother "you broke my GI Joe and I'm still pissed" games? STEPHEN (sighs) What is it with you, man, huh? How do you manage to keep coming up with new and amazing ways to screw up? That scotch bullshit? Am I really supposed to believe you came crawling back home because you suddenly felt heart strings moan for the family biz? You were bankrupt, man. BRIAN Hey! You don't know me -- STEPHEN I know you cold, Brian. The scary thing is, you probably could have faked it for awhile. But you see, in this job there's no place to hide. Isn't like selling log cabins. You have a bad day here -- someone dies. And that's not fucking good enough. Want another beer? BRIAN So that's it? Big bad brother's gonna ride my ass till I cough blood? STEPHEN Big bad brother is going to treat you like any other probie -- that I don't think is going to make it. Brian staples the last of the audio cord in place and switches on the tape player. The cabin fills with sharp, crystal clear -- Stephen Bishop. BRIAN There's only so much technology can do. (picks up his tool box) Thanks for the beer. STEPHEN Thanks for the speakers. EXT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - DAY Brian climbs down off the boat. Looks up at Stephen. BRIAN Y'know, I told myself a million times I didn't want to be a fireman. I said bullshit to that line about tradition and family legacy. I know I split, and I know how you felt... STEPHEN Yeah, you know. You know what it felt like. BRIAN I gotta do this, Stephen. I gotta know. STEPHEN I think you're gonna find out, Brian. Don't be late tomorrow. INT. BRIAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING A simple one-room walk-up. A stereo blares Chicago blues as Brian buttons up his uniform in the mirror. He steps back, looks at himself, -- and oh man what the hell am I doing... EXT. BRIAN'S APARTMENT - STREET - MORNING Brian climbs into his car, turns the key -- nothing. He gets out, looks under the hood, then SLAMS it down in frustration. INT. ELEVATED TRAIN - MORNING A pissed-off Chicago, hauling itself off to work in the morning snap, passes by Brian's window. Tough Midwestern brick. Tough Midwesterners. Heads-down in their 150 year war with a wind committed to pushing the whole damn thing into Lake Michigan. EXT. EL STATION - MORNING The train clacking away above him, Brian walks down the sidewalk carrying his fire equipment. He turns a corner and comes on. EXT. FIRE STATION 17 - MORNING Brian stands there. It's his dad's station. Turn of the century abused. Sooty with stone gargoyles and a pair of faded red doors that suddenly CRANK OPEN as Brian comes up the drive. Fire engine 17 and ladder truck 46, lights flashing, pull out onto the apron. The fireman sticking his head out of the passenger window is Stephen. One look at the silver trumpet on his collar and we know this isn't Fireman McCaffrey but Fire LT. McCaffrey. STEPHEN You're too late, probie. Tim, in ladder truck 46, waves a small bye-bye as both rigs begin heading down the street. BRIAN (chasing) Goddamn it, Stephen... Brian bolts full-out for the engine. At the last instant before he falls on his face a fireman reaches out and drags him aboard. INT./EXT. FIRE ENGINE 17 - DAY It's Adcox, the fireman from the first scene, now a veteran. AXE Why baby McCaffrey, how ya doin'? The Pumper driver, SCHMIDT, pops in a howling ROCK TUNE as they zoom off. SCHMIDT (re Brian to Adcox) You know this rug rat? AXE Know him? I practically raised him. (Jewish mom) And he never calls, he never writes... Brian shouts over the noise to GRINDLE, 35, one more seat down. BRIAN I'm Brian. GRINDLE I'm sorry. Grindle sticks his nose out the window, sniffs, then begins buckling up his coat. GRINDLE Boys, I do believe we have a barbecue... As Brian and Adcox fasten up their own equipment -- EXT. FACTORY - DAY Smoke pours with confused indecision from every window of a five story factory as the pumper and ladder company pull up. GRINDLE (staring at confusing smoke) I hate it when we gotta fucking go look for it. STEPHEN (to Schmidt) Call in another alarm. We're gonna need some back-up. Everyone begins strapping on air tanks and masks. Adcox drags the rig's suction line to the hydrant. A beautiful illegally parked Mercedes is blocking the way. AXE (to Stephen) Oh these moments do try me... STEPHEN (admiring car) Be gentle. Whistling to himself, Adcox SMASHES the brass coupling through the passenger window, runs the line through and SMASHES it out the other window before connecting up to the hydrant. Stephen and Grindle pull hose off the bed and move out. Brian's so jacked up he can't get his air tank on right. Schmidt calmly helps him into his gear. SCHMIDT It's only rock 'n roll, kid. Stephen, Adcox and Grindle are crouched at the door, ready to go. Brian takes a hose roll and runs to catch up when he's cut-off by dazed Latin workers shouting incoherently at him in SPANISH. STEPHEN Hey, probie! How 'bout it, huh? Brian pushes past the workers and takes his position on the hose line. Stephen reaches over and re-adjusts Brian's air tank strap. STEPHEN You're doing it wrong. Stephen eases the door open. Thick smoke rolls sickly out over their heads. STEPHEN (to Brian) Stay beside me. And in they go... INT. BURNING FACTORY - DAY Inside the smoke is like liquid lead. Going by feel, they hump the hose up one staircase after another, crawling on their hands and knees toward a dull red glow. Turning a corner, they enter INT. BURNING FACTORY - A VAST ROOM - DAY Totally ablaze. Brian looks up in wonder at the buffeting waves of flame in the ceiling, at the SCREECHING timbers crumbling to the white-hot floor. At the walls HOWLING in bestial agony. It is the most horrifying, and wonderful thing he has ever seen. AXE Wash it to the windows? STEPHEN No, we'll hit the son of a bitch head on. AXE It's gonna flash, Stevie. We gotta get behind it. STEPHEN Nah, listen to it. It's a pussy. It'll just steam on us. It won't flash. Go high in the ceiling. Adcox and Grindle shrug and pull their helmets down tight, expecting the worst. Adcox opens up the nozzle, turning loose a high pressure BLAST OF WATER into the ceiling. The fire SCREAMS in manic anger and HEAVES a cloud of HOWLING steam that WHIRLS back and BAKES them like lobsters. Brian gasps for air as swirling ash batters his facemask. A window somewhere EXPLODES. Somebody shouts. Christ, you can't see anything. Stephen HOOPS in victory. STEPHEN (to fire) I knew you were a pussy! C'mon! Steam us! (to firemen) Let's go! The chase is on! Going for the throat while the fire's confused and defensive, the firemen SCRAMBLE through the boiling cloud. They hit it in the ceiling, in the walls, forcing it back and back. It HOWLS and CLAWS in anger, furiously throwing cinders and broken timbers in their faces. The walls ECHO with its SCREAMS as it retreats to a corner. STEPHEN Ya love it, probie? BRIAN I'm in heaven, Lt. STEPHEN Hook us up to a stand-pipe. Brian runs back to the wall to hook up his hose roll to the building water system. He goes to unscrew the cap with his hydrant wrench but it keeps slipping off the nut. STEPHEN Jesus, how 'bout man, huh? We're gonna loose this! Brian finally gets it hooked up and runs back. EXT. FACTORY - OTHER SIDE - DAY Tim and three guys from his ladder company, come up an extended aerial ladder, CRASH through a window and INT. FACTORY - DAY begin HACKING their way toward Brian's company as -- BOOM! It's a sudden, shattering vibration that shakes the building to its foundations. Then, a sucking sound: RUSH-RUSH-RUSH... Stephen speaks calmly into his radio handset. STEPHEN Hey Otis, is it...? SCHMIDT (into radio) Yeah. STEPHEN Goddamn it, where's our backup? Where's the second-in companies? SCHMIDT'S VOICE Sorry, man. John Wayne time. STEPHEN (to firemen) Dig in! The firemen hesitate. PENGELLY, the Truck Company Lt., looks at Stephen with concern. STEPHEN Dig in, goddamn it! The crews immediately gather in the center of the floor. They turn over tables, chairs, anything to form a barrier. A circling of the wagons. -- BOOM! rush-rush-rush -- BOOM! Each louder than the last. Stephen and Brian are ducked behind an overturned desk. Adcox and Krizminski clutch hoselines like frontiersmen's Winchesters. STEPHEN You're gonna love this. -- rush-rush-rush -- CRAAAASH!! On an instant the world comes apart as all four walls of factory windows EXPLODE in a hail of glass. A wave of HOWLING FLAME POURS IN after it, SHRIEKING and HISSING. At the same moment, part of the floor beside a heavy sewing machine GIVES WAY and a ladderman, SANTOS, FALLS THROUGH, grabbing the edges at the last minute as flames BELLOW UP from underneath. He SCREAMS as his grip loosens. Grindle leaps to the ladderman's side, grabbing his arms and coat. Brian hesitates just an instant and Stephen SHOVES him out of the way to back up Grindle. SANTOS Help... Oh God... Adcox's taken the hoseline and is opening fire. Water and flame crash and snarl across the floor in a blood curdling ROAR. It's a thrashing, murderous standoff. Stephen and Grindle have got Santos but the angle's bad. Blow it now and all three could take a header. Santos is panicking, losing his grip. Grindle bores his eyes into the man's with the calm and conviction of Moses. GRINDLE You go, we go. They may all die, but they won't leave him. He calms a little, hangs on till they PULL him out of harm's way. Adcox continues with the hose as suddenly, everyone HITS the deck as the fire EXPLODES over them, BURSTING their coats into flame. Tim's company opens up their line, WASHING everybody down before CHARGING after the fire. A ladderman, NIGHTENGALE, steps on Brian's back. BRIAN Hey! NIGHTENGALE Sorry man, I thought you were dead. Brian, stunned, sits up, his coat and helmet smoking. Stephen seems totally unaffected and is already on his feet and over the top of the barricade, the others backing him as he mercilessly drives the fire back, trapping it finally into a corner. The fire hisses, spits, shakes the walls with its furious anger. But it's all bluster now, the fire's dying. PENGELLY (ladder co. captain) Stephen! BC's on the radio. Says they think a civilian got left behind downstairs. STEPHEN Adcox! Take Tim and do a search. Adcox leads Tim downstairs. Brian looks shaken up. Stephen helps him roughly to his feet. STEPHEN Don't you fold on me now, man. Brian burns at that and shakes his brother's arm off. STEPHEN Clear the hose for me. Brian's walking over to clear the hoseline when he hears it. small voice. Faint. "Help me..." BRIAN Hey, I think it's coming from a different staircase. Nobody hears. -- Brian takes off down the other steps on his own. INT. BURNING FACTORY - DOWNSTAIRS It's only the fire's ghost here, lazy and slow. Off the corridor are rooms full of commercial sewing machines. Brian enters one and drops to his knees. Looks under a table, flashes his light behind a work stand. Nothing. He turns to backtrack his way out when A TONGUE OF FLAME suddenly LEAPS up through the floor in front of him, cutting off the door. Brian lands on his ass as it hisses and giggles and dances unreally in front of him. I never forget a face, kid. -- That fire from childhood. He could maybe force his way through but Jesus, the way it looks at him -- -- Brian ROLLS away from it. Looks for another doorway -- And ends up in thick smoke. He drops to a crawl, stays on his belly where the air's clear. When he sees it. Behind some furniture. Something flesh-colored. Shit. It's a body. He crawls up closer. It's a woman. Adrenalin pounding the top of his skull off, he grabs her and stumbles back down the hall, makes a turn -- BRIAN I got one! EXT. FACTORY - DAY -- And now he's bursting from the building onto a short fire escape, shouting at the top of his lungs. BRIAN I got somebody! I got somebody! A sea of media flashbulbs ERUPTS in his face. The press have arrived in force, crowding the street. Brian pushes through them to a clear spot on the far side of the engine. Two fire paramedics rush over as he lowers the figure. BRIAN Is she... Is she alive? The paramedics suddenly stop their efforts. Turn to Brian. PARAMEDIC I'm afraid you're a little too late with this one. They step aside. Brian looks down. The woman looks strange. Mostly because she's a heavy store DRESSING DUMMY. The paramedics burst into laughter. Brian, looking pale and shaken, turns and walks away. He passes Grindle and Tim, sitting on the pumper's tailboard helping the REAL woman that was found inside. GRINDLE Sorry to hear about the mannequin. I heard you two were close. Photographers have appeared and are flashing the woman. Dizzy, Brian wanders off, tries to help out with the choking clog of singed factory employees before finally turning quickly into EXT. FACTORY ALLEY - ACROSS THE STREET - DAY Where he barfs his guts out in private. Doubled-over, one arm on the brick wall for support, we see the raw terror. The demons rushing out of him. BRIAN Shit... Someone else does too. Jennifer. Dressed now in a long expensive coat, she's standing at the end of the alley with a clipboard. Brian, ashes smeared across an ashen face, spittle on his chin, doesn't notice her. STEPHEN (appearing beside him) You all right? Stephen isn't pale. He's flushed and buoyant. All this hasn't taken anything from him. It's made his day. BRIAN Yeah. Fine. I'm a little busy right now. Stephen leans against the wall. Folds his arms. STEPHEN Y'know, you got an awful short memory for direct orders. I told you to stay beside me. BRIAN -- C'mon, Stephen. STEPHEN -- You split the team, man. And what was that crap with the standpipe? You'd think you and a hose were never introduced before. Stephen turns to leave. Brian yells after him. BRIAN Goddamn it Stephen! STEPHEN -- I told you to stay next to me! BRIAN -- I was doin' it! I was up there fucking doin' it. You don't know, man, you don't know what I did! STEPHEN What you did was drop the ball, Probie. Get that right. PENGELLY (from end of alley) Hey! Stevie! They're callin' for ya. Stephen turns to walk away. Pauses. STEPHEN Bet 30,000 dollars a year and twenty two days a month off sounded pretty good twelve weeks ago, huh? As Stephen leaves, we see that Jennifer's been standing at the end of the alley, listening to them. She's turns and walks as Brian looks up. We register his surprise. He watches her head toward a dynamic-looking guy in his 40s, ALDERMAN SWAYZAK, surrounded by reporters. EXT. BURNED BUILDING - FRONT - DAY SWAYZAK (to reporters) Roger, Paul... How's it going, guys? REPORTER Another fire in this district. Getting to be Cinder Alley up here. JENNIFER (walking up) You used that last week. She hands Swayzak a clipboard. AXE (yelling down from window) (to Brian) Hey! Probie! We're still workin' here, man. INT. BURNED BUILDING Brian and the rest of the company rip open the walls and beat the last weak flames in a final flurry of dingy sparks. The moment the smoke clears just a fraction, cigarettes appear in everyone's mouth. Was it good for you? The talk is easy and obscene, the intense camaraderie of shared danger. Ash clods are thrown playfully back and forth in the afterglow of having taken on the worst there is and walking away one more time. GRINDLE (to Adcox) Stephen man, what's going through that guy's head? Takin' it on in the first room... this shit's happening too often. It could've flashed. Should've flashed. AXE But it didn't. Guy knows. GRINDLE Guy's lucky. Adcox sees Brian. Smiles. AXE Hey, baby McCaffrey. First one's the clincher. You did okay. BRIAN My Lt. might have something to say about that. AXE Ah, everybody screws up some, Brian. You're working for the toughest Lt. on the job. Saw him once pick up a probie he thought was moving too slow and throw him into a burning building. It's just bad luck you're family. BRIAN (beat) John, when you're in there... in the fire... do you ever see... STEPHEN (from across room, interrupting) C'mon ladies, let's roll some hose... BRIAN (to Adcox) -- Never mind. Brian turns and sees out the window Jennifer and Swayzak standing near Rimgale's red fire dept. sedan. EXT. FACTORY - DAY Rimgale walks up to his sedan. SHADOW Alderman Swayzak. SWAYZAK Investigator Rimgale. SHADOW I need to get in the trunk. Swayzak's leaning on it. We sense the dislike between them. Swayzak steps aside. Rimgale pops the trunk. SHADOW Awful expensive shoes to be wearing at a fireground, Alderman. But then I guess you haven't been to too many fires. JENNIFER I wanted to talk to you about Alan Seagrave's death. We still haven't gotten a fire report from your office. SHADOW You'll have an answer as soon as I do. SWAYZAK People are asking how a prominent taxpayer got stuffed through the windshield of his own car. They're asking me. JENNIFER --The point is, Investigator, you haven't even told us yet if the fire was accidental. We're starting to get the feeling your office is dragging out this case to embarrass the Alderman because of his fire dept. reorganization program -- SHADOW -- You mean his firehouse closing program, -- Don't you? JENNIFER We'd just be very disappointed if it turned out your office was playing politics. SWAYZAK -- Because I'm not. I care about this city, and I care about this department -- Rimgale cuts him off with the shutting of his trunk lid. SHADOW (calm of a monk) Alderman, I have a remarkably uncomplicated job. To decide if a fire's arson, and if so catch the pain in the ass doing it. But to be honest, if my methodical investigative methods just happen to muck up the campaign of certain mayor wanna-bees, well, I guess I can't say I sleep any less peacefully. And he walks back to the burned building. SWAYZAK I wish I could just fire the son of a bitch. STEPHEN Hey! Swayzak! Stephen's leaning out of an upstairs window. As the TV cameras turn, he drops down onto a fire engine hose bed and pops right into Swayzak's face with a murderous grin. STEPHEN We almost lost a whole company up there, Swayzee buddy. Isn't any back- up since you closed '33. And we really appreciate it, the guys and me. Honest. I know you've got my vote for mayor. Grindle and Santos start walking for Stephen. Brian's there, following after them. SWAYZAK Look Lt., I'm on your side. If there's a problem, please, work with our task force to fix it. STEPHEN Oh yeah, your famous task force... three guys have already died this year because of the cuts made by your "task force"... GRINDLE Stevie, c'mon man... Stephen silences Grindle with an outstretched hand. Swayzak leans close, out of earshot of the cameras. SWAYZAK You see that funny glow that's starting to blink in the corner of your eye, Lt? That's your career dissipation light -- and it just went into overtime. STEPHEN If anybody's light's gonna blink, it's yours. Swayzak holds his ground. It's a tense, out of control moment between them. Rimgale turns from his work, watches Stephen with concern. Adcox suddenly inserts himself face-to-face with Swayzak and we see the raw hatred. AXE You're in firemanland now, Swayzak. Do yourself a favor and just walk away. Swayzak holds Adcox's gaze, then turns for his car. Brian watches Jennifer climb in beside her boss. BRIAN This is your city job? Jennifer shrugs as they pull away. INT./EXT. FIRE STATION 17 - LATE DAY Brian jumps down from the rig as it backs up the driveway. Across the street a middle-aged woman flashes them from the balcony of her apartment. AXE That's Franny. She likes firemen. STEPHEN Tim, fill out the alarm card. (to Brian) Clean the pipe poles, wipe down the ladders and hang some hose. Adcox watches Brian and Tim exchange looks. Tim shrugs. Brian sighs and pulls out the pike poles, starts across the floor before freezing suddenly at a murderous GROWL. Brian turns and sees a DOG. Sort of. It has the rib cage of a wild beast, fangs, long greasy hair. It blocks his way, SNARLING with hate. GRINDLE That's The Thing. You can't stay unless he likes you. Slobber drools out of its mouth as it GROWLS. BRIAN Have you guys got something against dalmatians? Brian wipes some of the crusted grime from his face, looks back and forth between Franny and The Thing, and sighs. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - BUNKROOM Sequence omitted from original script. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - LOCKER ROOM Brian enters, strips down his battered uniform, and opens his locker. The mannequin from the fire SPRINGS OUT, legs spread. A sign taped to its mouth says: "TAKE ME BRIAN, YOU'RE MY SUPERMAN!" INT. FIRE STATION 17 - WASHROOM Brian and the others scrub the morning's fire off their bodies in the station shower. Tim keeps filling his mouth full of water and launching it upward in a stream. BRIAN Do you have to do that? TIM (pumped) Could you believe that fire? Man! First day! There I was, Adcox and me, pullin' that lady right out of the fire's fuckin' throat! I love it here -- No surround and drown for this company. Fighting 17th! Goddamn Stephen's amazing. You see how he took that fire by the balls? I'm gonna be that good some day, you watch. Brian compares himself to the praise heaped on Stephen. TIM Y'know what Stephen said to me, right when all the shit was coming hard? "You never know till the moment the fire stares you down if you're just gonna do this job or be great at it". BRIAN Ah man, is he usin' that line now on you? What, you think he made that little gem up? Jesus Christ, I used to have to listen to my old man use that every morning. Brian shuts off his shower and walks out. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - BUNKROOM Stephen sits alone at his bunk, slowly stretching a strained and ruined back. He blows out a long, tired breath, and begins working ointment into an anciently scarred and battered knee. On the wall is a small glass case full of station memorabilia through the years. There's a two battered fire helmets there, set reverently on velvet. Beside it is a photograph of his father. Grinning. Top of the world. He's wearing a T-shirt proudly stenciled FIGHTING 17th. Father and son exchange a long, awkward greeting. In the doorway, Brian stands watching his brother, who not even 40, suddenly seems an old and broken man. The ALARM KLAXON suddenly sounds. Brian, just in a towel and Tim, in boxers covered with little dinosaurs, dash for the fire pole. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - APPARATUS FLOOR Tim and Brian slide down and bounce off the floor. GRINDLE -- C'mon! C'mon! Go! Go! Brian and Tim rush for their equipment. Grindle grabs their arms. GRINDLE No! C'mon! This way! He hustles them across the apparatus floor, through a doorway, and into the kitchen. INT. FIRE STATION 17 - KITCHEN/DINING AREA The makings of a meal are laid out on the counter. Brian and Tim come to a screeching halt. The rest of the station is sitting calmly at the kitchen table, watching. BRIAN What's going on? PENGELLY Dinner, Probies. Get started. CUT TO: INT. FIRE STATION 17 - KITCHEN Tim and Brian, still in their boxers, set down plates of food. STEPHEN Better be good. SANTOS Or we feed you to The Thing. Everybody digs in. The table is a craze of half a dozen different conversations. On the TV mounted above on the wall are news shots of Seagrave's body sticking out of the windshield. Adcox stands and tinks his glass with a spoon for silence. AXE Gentlemen, please... As 17's official toastmaster -- SANTOS And bullshitter. AXE Thank you, Santos. Did I happen to mention that you were cut out of my will? (company laughs) I think it appropriate that we recognize the two asswipes -- I mean probationary firemen -- among us who today were baptized officially into the world of Old Man Fire. First to Tim, who despite being handicapped at birth with a rather dull expression and a really hideous pair of ears, not only took on the beast but pulled from its clutches -- assisted by a more famous and brilliant firefighter -- me -- a kicking and screaming civilian that will probably end up suing us for breaking her fingernail. (laughs) And to Brian, who's own contribution was both more beautiful and less likely to sue. Adcox puts his arm affectionately around the mannequin, seated with honor at the head of the table. Right beside The Thing. AXE Y'know, when I heard that both McCaffrey brothers were going to be assigned together here, well, my heart was filled with... a sudden desire to transfer. (laughs) So raise a glass, lads. To funny- looking Tim, and the McCaffrey brothers, who despite years of getting on each other's nerves have managed with great effort... to still be pissed off at each other. Gentlemen! COMPANY (together, a toast) Fuck you! The klaxon suddenly rings. Two bells. The ladder guys groan and get up. STEPHEN Bye, boys. SCHMIDT (winks) We'll keep it warm for you. DISSOLVE TO: INT. FIRE STATION 17 - BUNKROOM Dawn lightens the room as Brian slowly opens his eyes and sees in extreme, fish-eyes close-up: THE THING GROWLING at him. Brian turns the other direction and sees Stephen, fully dressed, standing over his bunk. STEPHEN Clean the toilets. INT. APPARATUS FLOOR Bleary-eyed, the nine firemen line up raggedly in front of their rigs, dressed like shit but for peaked uniform caps they wear only at this moment. Stephen stands before them, does a quick glance up and down the line. STEPHEN Okay, company dismissed. -- See ya guys tonight at Fitzgerald's retirement party. They shuffle for the door. As Brian passes, STEPHEN You want a ride? EXT. BRIAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING Stephen pulls up. Brian opens the door. BRIAN Thanks. STEPHEN Brian -- (a beat that hangs there) -- See ya tonight. INT. RESTAURANT - RETIREMENT PARTY - NIGHT That's been cleared out for a huge PARTY in full swing. An Irish folk band cuts loose a merciless bagpipe beat. City brass--including Alderman Swayzak -- a few reporters, firemen and their families all mix together for this is a RETIREMENT PARTY for the Captain Fitzgerald. Brian enters, seeks out a beer at the bar. Stephen's there, swaying with what is clearly not his first drink of the evening. STEPHEN Hey. BRIAN Hey. CHEERS as a one joke gift after another is laid on the Chief. Stephen sees his ex-wife, Helen, dancing with another man. He turns away. STEPHEN I gotta change the view... Santos and Grindle walk up. GRINDLE Heard you didn't make the list for captain, man. I'm sorry... Stephen just shrugs. Brian sees Jennifer across the room. She looks great. Refined as she expertly works the room, schmoozing and hugging and calling various politicos by their first name. As she speaks to one, a waiter offers a drink. As she accepts, a bottle appears over her shoulder and splashes it with red syrup. BRIAN (holding bottle, interrupting) With grenadine, right? JENNIFER When I was twenty. BRIAN Oooh, very sophisticated. Having fun? Her attention broken, the politico has slipped away. Annoyed, Jennifer leads Brian aside and speaks low, but angrily at him. JENNIFER Look, I'm not the same girl who had nothing better to do than wrap her legs around you on a Saturday night. This isn't about fun. I'm working here. BRIAN Carrying Swayzak's notebook? JENNIFER Let me tell you something. Martin Swayzak is going to be this town's next mayor. BRIAN Yeah. Swayzak. Humanity's last hope. How can you work for that guy? JENNIFER Why do you think Marty came here tonight? Because he cares about your department. You don't know how hard he works. You don't know about his programs helping West Side -- BRIAN -- All I know is that his programs are getting firemen hurt. JENNIFER Bullshit. Marty's plan is only about efficiency. I've got two cousins on the job, you think I'd work for him if I didn't believe in it? Jennifer instantly cuts off as a well-dressed COUPLE passes and switches stunningly into schmmoze-mode. JENNIFER (to man) -- Tom, how nice to see you. I know Marty'll be very happy you came. Thanks so much for the donation. (to woman) Marie... how's little Kevin? Really? Seen the polls? This is the year... They move away. Jennifer turns to Brian and switches just as fast back to their argument. JENNIFER -- The thing that really makes me angry is the way your union has -- Brian can't help it. He cracks up. BRIAN What was that? Oh man, you have picked up a few moves since John Paul II Boulevard. JENNIFER Yeah, well I like to think I'm just a little past hanging out on JP II watching the Irish pick fights and Litwalks barf in the planters. BRIAN I seem to remember some pretty good nights on JP II. Brian turns and walks away. ACROSS THE ROOM Adcox is talking with another knot of firemen. He's brought a date, SALLY, a hot little number that has a habit of standing on her tip-toes when she talks. SALLY (looking at Swayzak across room) Yuck, what a scumbag. AXE (to Santos) Fuckin' city transferred Sally three months ago out of parking violations into Swayzak's office. Now I gotta pay my own goddamn tickets and she's stuck with an asshole. SANTOS Pay more? SALLY (shrugs) No, but there's more exercise -- being chased around a desk. There's a commotion at the other end of the bar. A group of firemen have gathered around a weekly magazine. GRINDLE Aw, I don't believe this shit. SCHMIDT Somebody get a shovel! You seen this, Stephen? As they hold it up to Stephen we see a photo spread titled DARING FIRE RESCUE. The first photo shows Brian rushing out of the burning building with seemingly a woman in his arms. The second photo shows the backs of Adcox and Tim's helmets as they administered aid to the real woman they saved. The implication is it's the same woman. BRIAN What? TIM (reads) "Probationary Fireman Brian McCaffrey, on his very first fire, showed the kind of bravery and courage of a veteran firefighter when he risked life and limb to double-check a burning floor alone, emerging victoriously with Anna Rodriguez, a seamstress for the North Shore Clothing Company... McCaffrey first gained prominence as the subject of a 1972 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph taken at the scene of his father's death..." The old photo is there too. Brian and his dad's helmet. GRINDLE Whadda we gonna do about this? Stephen glances over the headlines. STEPHEN Y'know, I think it's a union bylaw that if a guy gets in the paper -- especially if it's bullshit -- he owes the company a drink. In fact... (motions to waiter) ...I'll have a double. On the hero. The other firemen jump in with drink orders. Dozens of them. BRIAN (confused) What's going on? Tim shows him the magazine. Brian reads with horror as Alderman Swayzak appears beside him. SWAYZAK Brian McCaffrey, right? JENNIFER Brian, this is my boss, Alderman Swayzak. (to Swayzak) Brian's a big fan of yours. BRIAN Yeah. Big fan. SWAYZAK And I'm a huge fan of what you did to save that woman, Brian. BRIAN Uh, I think there's been a mistake. I didn't save that woman. SWAYZAK No need to be modest, Brian. BRIAN No, you don't understand, I saved a mannequin. SWAYZAK -- That really was incredibly work you did. You and your brother, fighting fires together, helluva image, isn't it? You must feel lucky to be assigned under his command. BRIAN Every little boy's fantasy. SWAYZAK Brian, let me come to the point. I'd like to offer you a job. BRIAN I have a job. SWAYZAK This one's still with the fire department. One of our best investigators, Don Rimgale, is working on a very difficult, visible case right now. We think he could use another pair of hands and you're exactly the kind of guy I want representing us: An authentic hero from a traditional firefighting clan. BRIAN Yeah, we got all kinds of traditions -- like dying young. SWAYZAK Not every job in the fire department comes with a tombstone, Brian. This could be a great opportunity to move... beyond a fire engine. Brian looks at Jennifer, then smiles at Swayzak. BRIAN Thanks anyway, Mr. Swayzak, but fire engines sorta run in my family. Politics don't. -- A man suddenly steps between them to pump Swayzak's hand. Brian shakes his head and walks away. Swayzak shoots a concerned glance at Jennifer. She catches up with him at the buffet table. JENNIFER Boy, took you all of thirty seconds to blow that. BRIAN C'mon Jennifer, he's just another North-Side jag-off with a mouth. JENNIFER Brian, do you always have to be so stupid? Think about your future for once. BRIAN So now you suddenly care about my future? JENNIFER Look, I didn't mean to take a piece out of you back there, I just thought you'd call when you came back. You didn't and... (beat) Don't blow it just because of this garbage between us. BRIAN Hey, sorry if I made you look bad in front of your boss. But I'm not gonna be a poster boy for him, I'm trying to do something here. There's five hundred smoke eaters in this room that do that stuff for real every day. Tell Swayzak to talk to one of them. Across the room, Stephen's at the buffet, watching Helen dance with her fireman date, the drinks hammering him hard. PENGELLY Aw man, how can she dance with that guy? SCHMIDT I hate that guy. He's a dispatcher. I hate his voice. STEPHEN Whatever... PENGELLY I mean, I know women have gotta bang somebody, but why that son of a bitch? Stephen gives Pengelly an icy, sideways look. SCHMIDT Hey Stevie, he's an asshole... Stephen smiles and pushes off the bar -- right for Helen as she dances. STEPHEN Uh, Helen, I wanted to talk to you a second about Sean... HELEN Stephen, I'm kinda busy here, can we talk about this later? DATE How ya doin', Stephen? STEPHEN Jackson. Jackson steers her away but Stephen isn't done yet. He dogs them. STEPHEN (to Helen) What's wrong with right now? He's your son for christ's sake. He's -- JACKSON Hey, Stephen, what about that dumb ass brother of yours, huh? STEPHEN ...Yeah? JACKSON Savin' a mannequin... How fuckin' stupid can a guy get? Stephen suddenly PUNCHES Jackson. STEPHEN You can't talk about my brother like that... HELEN (sighs) Here we go... And Stephen PLOWS into Jackson. Another fireman JUMPS to Jackson's aid. And Brian's there, defending his brother, PUNCHING OUT a fireman. The crowd finally pulls the two apart. JACKSON You're crazy, man! STEPHEN Leave me alone! AXE Goddamn it, Stephen, lay off! (Stephen calms a little) You stupid dumbshit, you never know when to fucking quit, do you? You ever wonder why your career's in the fucking toilet? Why you're gonna be stuck a Lt. for life? STEPHEN No. (beat) I need a drink. Stephen takes a step for the bar -- then suddenly turns and JUMPS Jackson again. Brian pulls him off and drags him for the door. BRIAN You don't need a drink, man. You need to get outta here... As Jennifer watches Brian lead Stephen out the door. JENNIFER (to Swayzak) Ah those McCaffreys... just hate leaving a party with anyone left standing... EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT Brian leads Stephen toward his car. STEPHEN I'm okay... leave me alone... Stephen pushes Brian away and promptly stumbles to the sidewalk. BRIAN So you got a 'roid going with Jackson or what? STEPHEN Nah, he's nothin'. It's just sometimes... sometimes you just gotta punch somebody out, y'know? Brian stands there and folds his arms. STEPHEN I don't think I can get up. Brian lends an arm. STEPHEN Look, Brian, a photographer. Maybe I can get on the cover of LIFE magazine, too. BRIAN C'mon, let's crawl home. EXT. STEPHEN'S BOAT - NIGHT Stephen throws an arm over Brian's shoulder as he leads him up onto the boat. STEPHEN ...Adcox, those guys...they don't get it... it isn't the goddamn promotion... or dad... I'm not my old man, y'know? No fire's gonna get me... I don't give a shit about being a captain... it's just... it's just they don't trust me anymore... (blows out painful breath) ...they don't trust me anymore... INT. STEPHEN'S BOAT Brian's flops his brother on the bed. Unties his shoes. STEPHEN If you'd get out of my fuckin' way. I could take my own goddamn shoes off... He clearly can't. Brian slips them off. STEPHEN You're such a pain in the ass... You've always been a pain in the ass... There's just a grim wall lamp above Stephen's face. STEPHEN Jesus, it's too damn bright in here... Like a goddamn spotlight... I'm goin' blind... BRIAN (touching light) This? STEPHEN Yeah... too bright... Brian turns off the dim light. Stephen's breathing deepens. STEPHEN They don't know... they don't know what I hear in there... Brian tucks the blanket around him. STEPHEN ...This boat could be okay, huh?... Take it out weekends... Sean 'n me... Stephen's voice drifts off into sleep. Brian watches a moment, the rare look of peace on his brother's face, then leaves. EXT. FIRE ACADEMY - NIGHT Dark and still. Brian, carrying a roll of hose, scales the chain link. EXT. FIRE ACADEMY - EXERCISE GROUND - NIGHT Is a practice stand-pipe. Brian counts down to himself, then rushes the stand-pipe, spinning off the cap with a hydrant wrench and attaching the hose coupling. He does it again, over and over. EXT. FIRE ACADEMY - DAWN The sky's gone pink and blue as Brian climbs back over the fence. Adcox, coming out of a donut shop across the street, sees him. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. STREET - CHICKEN ACCIDENT - DAY A truck has JACKKNIFED across the avenue and SPILLED its contents -- several THOUSAND baby chicks. They're scurrying everywhere as Brian's company tries to round them up. It's hopeless as the exhausted firemen stuff handfuls of the cheeping cargo into their turn-out coats. There's ghetto kids all around, grabbing at the chicks, grabbing at the fire engine. STEPHEN (at kids) Hey! Knock it off! Brian stops a beat. Rubs his eyes. AXE (smiles) Maybe you should have gotten more sleep last night. Brian looks at him. Does he mean what he thinks he means? Tim is coming out of a small store across the street. He hands a small bag of groceries to Adcox. TIM This everything you wanted? Everyone grows suddenly silent. EXT. WIDOW'S HOUSE - DAY A fireman's without even saying so, "Petzold" on the mailbox, Engine 17 parked out front. Brian's alone outside, cleaning the diesel fuel off his arms. Watching a small kid playing with a toy fire truck in the drive. INT. WIDOW'S HOUSE Tim and Brian are loading the groceries into the fridge. Stephen and Grindle are fixing a loose cabinet door as Adcox sits caulking a faucet fitting at the kitchen table with a young WOMAN. WOMAN (to Stephen) Can I help you guys at all? STEPHEN Nah, we just about got it. WOMAN (noticing Adcox's shirt) Sally must be finally ironing your shirts. AXE It's just new. Couple'a shifts and it'll be as thrashed as the rest. The sight of uniform is too much for her. Her eyes cloud. WOMAN I'm sorry... Adcox reaches out and lets her weep on his shoulder. AXE It's okay... WOMAN I miss him... I just miss him, y'know?... EXT. WIDOW'S HOUSE - DAY Adcox stands out at the fire engine smoking a cigarette, lost in himself, watching the little boy play with his toy fire truck. Stephen's followed him out. AXE This job... This fuckin' job sometimes... To buy it trying to go the extra yard, man, that's one thing, but to buy it just because there wasn't any back-up... it's bullshit... Stephen leans down close. STEPHEN Yeah, it's bullshit. So what? Fuck Swayzak. Fuck 'em all. We don't go into fires for them. You know that. Christ, you taught me that. A beat of understanding between them. Stephen looks back at the house. STEPHEN You know Knowlton pretty well? AXE Yeah... STEPHEN (beat) Kind of an asshole, wasn't he? Adcox can't help but smile. AXE Biggest in two battalions. STEPHEN (beat, smiles) We're gonna be okay, man... INT. FIRE STATION 17 - DAY As Brian and Tim scrub down the fire engine, the rest of the company lies sprawled in THE STATION REC ROOM Watching a weepy soap. Schmidt walks through and is snared by the TV's glow. He hesitates. Shares the moment. SCHMIDT Is she going to get the divorce? SANTOS (sighs with honest concern) Hell if I know, man. A ladderman, WASHINGTON, walks in with a memo. WASHINGTON Hey, Pengelly, you made the captain's list! Everybody clasps Pengelly on the shoulder. "Way to go". "All right, man". Brian turns and sees Stephen out on the apparatus floor, watching. Watches. Pengelly's younger than him. EXT. FIRE STATION 17 - TRAINING BUILDING/HOSE TOWER - DAY An expanse of concrete lying out back of the station. Built in one corner is the concrete shell of a five story training building, just wide enough for a stairway and room on each level. Twenty yards away, Brian, Tim and Adcox stand ready beside a pile of coiled hose rolls. STEPHEN (looking at watch) Alright... Go! Tim picks up a roll of hose, 50 pounds, throws it over his shoulder and runs with Adcox to the foot of the building. There's a fixed standpipe that Adcox ties into as Tim drags the other end inside and up a flight of stairs. STEPHEN Go! Brian lifts another hose roll under his arm and runs for the building. STEPHEN That isn't a football, probie. Get it on your shoulder. Brian runs up two flights to meet Tim and connect his end. Tim heads down for another roll as Brian drags his up another two flights. It's a bitch. Sweating, he barrels back down the stairs, passing Tim coming up with another roll. BRIAN Having fun, fireman? Tim flips him off. Brian laughs and sprints for another roll. STEPHEN You're not breaking any records, Brian. Brian holds it under his arm and takes off. Stephen grabs a roll himself, hoists it to his shoulder and runs alongside. STEPHEN Your shoulder. Like this! Brian lifts it to his shoulder. STEPHEN Come on! Pick it up! They come to the doorway. Instead of stopping, Stephen follows Brian in and runs alongside up the stairs. Without a word spoken it's become a race between them. Brian's face explodes in sweat. His heart pounds as they go up flight after flight. The hose rolls weigh a 100 pounds. A thousand. Neck 'n neck all the way; grunting, their throats burning, only one flight from the roof Stephen STUMBLES and SCRAPES his leg. Brian pauses. Stephen's already back on his feet. STEPHEN Run, damn you! Brian does, Stephen already gaining on him -- getting ready to pass him -- when they burst gasping out onto the roof, Brian the "winner" by a nose. Stephen drops his hose roll, sticks his face into Brian's, -- And laughs. Unsure, Brian starts to join in. Stephen stops suddenly. STEPHEN Roll the hose. BRIAN What, are you kidding? By myself? Adcox and Tim, down below, have already disappeared back into the station. STEPHEN You heard me. We see now what Stephen apparently doesn't. He was scraped badly, his pant leg torn and leaking dark circles of blood. BRIAN What, is it the stairs? Christ, I'll let you win next time. STEPHEN (in Brian's face) You got a problem with drilling, probie? BRIAN No, Lt., I don't have a problem with drilling. But let's just have one drill. Not one for the company and one for me. STEPHEN Roll the hose. Stephen turns and walks away. Brian stands there watching him in blind fury, finally exploding. BRIAN Goddamn you Stephen, I'm not gonna quit. You hear me! An awkward beat between them that's interrupted suddenly by the station alarm klaxon. Stephen smiles. STEPHEN Well, thank God for fires... EXT. FIRE STATION 17 - HOSE TOWER - BELOW - DAY Sequence omitted from original script. CUT TO: EXT. LAKE SHORE MANSION - NIGHT Sequence omitted from original script. EXT. LAKE SHORE MANSION - NIGHT Sequence omitted from original script. INT. LAKE SHORE MANSION - FRONT DOOR Sequence omitted from original script. CUT TO: EXT. TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY Smoke and confusion. A MOTHER is screaming hysterically at Stephen as he jumps down from the engine. MOTHER (grabbing his coat) My baby! My baby's still up there! BATTALION CHIEF Hang on a sec, Stevie, we got a hoseline coming. Stephen doesn't even pause and enters the building. Brian hesitates a beat, then follows. INT. TENEMENT BUILDING - DAY Where they bomb up a staircase just as a WALL OF FIRE LASHES DOWN, KNOCKING them on their ass. Stephen jumps to his feet with an axe as Brian struggles to get up. STEPHEN Don't take that kind of shit from it! Don't let it know you're scared! Come on! Stephen, with just his axe, CHASES up the stairs at the fire, HAMMERING at the flaming boards. The fire retreats into another room, SLAMMING the door shut behind it. Brian struggles up the stairs. The two of them slide up on either side of the closed door, Stephen cradling his axe like a SWAT team shotgun. The door breathes in and out and something animal scratches and snarls on the other side. Brian can feel the panic rising in his throat. That thing behind the door, that slobbering, evil thing. It wants out. It wants... him. STEPHEN Ready? BRIAN Christ, Stephen, let's wait for the hose team... STEPHEN Listen to it, Brian... Jump when I say... It won't get us. Stephen HAMMERS the lock with his axe and KICKS the door open. A WALL OF FLAME ROARS out past their cheeks, then BACKWASHES in. STEPHEN Now! Stephen picks up the door, and using it as a shield CHARGES into the flames. Brian tries to follow but the fire WELLS UP, cutting him off. He hesitates. It's that goddamn flame again, leering at him. Daring him. It BUCKS suddenly, DROPPING Brian to his knee. He GROANS in pain. -- And now Adcox and Grindle are coming up the stairs with a hoseline WASHING DOWN the room. Clouds of furious steam bellow out and across the ceiling. Nobody could be alive in there. Except Stephen. His entire outfit smoldering, he emerges from the clouds like a fucking god, carrying in one arm a gasping child. EXT. TENEMENT BUILDING - AFTERMATH - DAY Most of the firemen have gathered together for post-fire coffee and stories. Brian sits off alone on the fire engine bumper, apart from them. Santos walks up. SANTOS They think she's gonna live... Stephen walks up. Sits down beside him. STEPHEN You okay? BRIAN I waited... I would have fucking waited... STEPHEN That's not what it's about, Brian. The point is there was a kid in there. And what if there'd been two? I went in because that's what I do. It's my way. It's dad's way. It isn't everybody's way. BRIAN Dad's way? Where did he tell you that? In a fucking seance? STEPHEN You said you wanted to know something, Brian. What did you learn today? (Brian doesn't answer) What do you say, Brian, huh? Time to move on? Brian lingers only a moment before standing. BRIAN You're right, Stephen... You win... You're the best, man... Brian hands Stephen his helmet and walks away. INT. SWAYZAK'S OFFICE - DAY There's only six like it in city hall, and this one has a view. SECRETARY'S VOICE (on intercom) Brian McCaffrey on line two for Jennifer. JENNIFER I'll take it in my office. SWAYZAK (turns to her and smiles) Go get him. INT. CORRIDOR/CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Jennifer comes out of Swayzak's office and walks down to her own. INT. JENNIFER'S OFFICE/INT. BRIAN'S APARTMENT - DAY -- It's a tiny, bleak little rat hole. She picks up the receiver... JENNIFER Brian? We see Brian in his apartment. BRIAN I've been thinking about what you said the other night... If the offer's still on the table, I'd like to talk about it. JENNIFER (beat) ...Okay. I'll arrange things with your assignment captain. (beat) Marty's a good man, Brian. BRIAN Yeah... Brian hangs up. He stares at it a moment, then SLAMS it against the wall. Jennifer stares at the phone with something almost like sadness. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. BROWNSTONE - DAY Stephen drives past the burned-out brownstone that fried Alan Seagrave. He parks in the alley behind, walks up the building, and PULLS OFF a plywood sheet covering a blown-out window. INT. BROWNSTONE - DAY Stephen walks through the creepy, brutalized silence. Back to where Rimgale had focused his investigation that night. He searches the floor, the wall, looking for something... EXT. ARSON HQ/FIREHOUSE - DAY A crumbling one in Chinatown. Brian checks the address on his slip of paper. He stands there a beat, hating himself. INT. FIRE STATION/ARSON HQ It's a regular station but for the rear that has been converted into arson squad offices. As Brian approaches the office door he can see Rimgale sitting at his desk. Standing nervously beside it is a fresh-faced, uniformed PROBIE. SHADOW (to probie) ...So stop me if I get this wrong... The fire's almost out... You're upstairs on the unburned floor checking for heat. You've been told by your Battalion Chief, your Captain, by me, not to do anything up there until ordered. But now the itch starts, and all of a sudden comes the Glory Boy Flash: Hey, I'm a hero. Heroes don't just stand around. So on your own you decided to punch out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline? The kid is dying a thousand deaths of humiliation. SHADOW You could've crispered half your company with that little stunt, but more importantly you wrecked the physical evidence I use to prove it's arson. You've made my day longer, Probie. Go home and think about that. The kid shuffles off hang-dog. Rimgale's angry gaze falls on Brian. BRIAN Uh, I'm Brian McCaffrey. Your new assistant. SHADOW Your Dennis' kid. (beat) I work alone. And Rimgale walks into his office