as Mr. Spock slips through shadows. There is a rustle of cloth behind him. He carries the phaser now. He turns suddenly, and Beckwith is there. The scuffle is only a moment in duration, with the two of them wrestling among wooden crates and cans of refuse. Spock falls, Beckwith grabs the phaser and dashes off with it. Spock follows as CAMERA IN ARRIFLEX GOES WITH. Beckwith snaps off a shot, and Spock dives sideways to escape the lethal blast.

87 ON SPOCK

as he looks up from sidewalk and HEARS the SOUND of FOOTSTEPS RUNNING AWAY in the darkness. HOLD on his fixed expression which says time is growing deathly, inescapably short.

FADE OUT.

END ACT THREE

Act Four

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

88 EXT. NEW YORK STREET—EVENING—ESTABLISHING

CLOSE ON a hand-lettered placard that reads:

I FOUGHT AT VERDUN

as CAMERA PULLS BACK we see the sign is hung around the neck of a legless cripple, hunkered down on his stumps on a wooden push-board that rolls on roller skate wheels. He has a tray of apples and pencils beside him. His cap is pulled down far over his eyes, and the beard stubble looks as though it nests a troupe of nits. A VOICE O.S. speaks to him just as a PAIR OF LEGS MOVE INTO FRAME. All we see are the legs.

KIRK’S VOICE O.S.

Are you Trooper?

TROOPER looks up with rheumy eyes. In that face is the true meaning of the worst social era America ever faced. He is a man destroyed. The light has gone out in the eyes, the mouth speaks a silent sadness. Disillusioned. He was the drummer boy who went to war, and came back to find no one needed him. He nods up at the unseen person.

TROOPER

Good apples, fellah. Pencils? I fought at Verdun.

KIRK’S VOICE O.S.

Someone told me to come see you.

TROOPER

(shakes his head as if to clear it)

I just sell apples and pencils.

KIRK’S VOICE O.S.

Perhaps it’s time for you to diversify your wares.

TROOPER

Who are you?

Kirk hunkers down next to him on the filthy sidewalk. And we see Kirk fully for the first time in this scene. Trooper looks nervous about it.

KIRK

I’m just a Bo who needs some easy information.

TROOPER

I don’t know much ’cept there’s nine guys on this block sellin’ apples. Try them.

KIRK

There’s two bucks in it for a few words.

TROOPER

I din’t do nothin’. I been right here sellin’—

KIRK

I’m not after you, mister, I want you to find out something for me…I was told you know everything that goes on in this neighborhood. Now, you want to make a couple of bucks?

TROOPER

(warily)

How do I know you ain’t crooked as a hairpin?

KIRK

Take a two-dollar chance.

Trooper ponders a moment, licks his lips, nervously nods.

KIRK