" Speed is giving a detailed description of all the features on his race car "The Mac-5," which he does at the beginning of every episode.

OFF SCREEN we hear a WOMAN'S VOICE....

WOMAN'S VOICE (OS) Butch.

DISSOLVE TO:

BUTCH'S POV We're in the living room of a modest two bedroom house in Alhambra, California, in the year 1972. BUTCH'S MOTHER, 35ish, stands in the doorway leading into the living room. Next to her is a man dressed in the uniform of an American Air Force officer. The CAMERA is the perspective of a five-year old boy.

MOTHER Butch, stop watching TV a second. We got a special visitor. Now do you remember when I told you your daddy dies in a P.O.W. camp?

BUTCH (OS) Uh-huh.

MOTHER Well this here is Capt. Koons. He was in the P.O.W. camp with Daddy.

CAPT. KOONS steps inside the room toward the little boy and bends down on one knee to bring him even with the boy's eyeline. When Koons speaks, he speaks with a slight Texas accent.

CAPT. KOONS Hello, little man. Boy I sure heard a bunch about you. See, I was a good friend of your Daddy's. We were in that Hanoi pit of hell over five years together. Hopefully, you'll never have to experience this yourself, but when two men are in a situation like me and your Daddy were, for as long as we were, you take on certain responsibilities of the other. If it had been me who had not made it, Major Coolidge would be talkin' right now to my son Jim. But the way it worked out is I'm talkin' to you, Butch. I got somethin' for ya.

The Captain pulls a gold wrist watch out of his pocket.

CAPT. KOONS This watch I got here was first purchased by your great-granddaddy. It was bought during the First World War in a little general store in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was bought by private Doughboy Ernie Coolidge the day he set sail for Paris. It was your great- granddaddy's war watch, made by the first company to ever make wrist watches. You see, up until then, people just carried pocket watches. Your great-granddaddy wore that watch every day he was in the war. Then when he had done his duty, he went home to your great- grandmother, took the watch off his wrist and put it in an ol' coffee can. And in that can it stayed 'til your grandfather Dane Coolidge was called upon by his country to go overseas and fight the Germans once again. This time they called it World War Two. Your great-granddaddy gave it to your granddad for good luck. Unfortunately, Dane's luck wasn't as good as his old man's. Your granddad was a Marine and he was killed with all the other Marines at the battle of Wake Island. Your granddad was facing death and he knew it. None of those boys had any illusions about ever leavin' that island alive. So three days before the Japanese took the island, your 22-year old grandfather asked a gunner on an Air Force transport named Winocki, a man he had never met before in his life, to deliver to his infant son, who he had never seen in the flesh, his gold watch. Three days later, your grandfather was dead. But Winocki kept his word. After the war was over, he paid a visit to your grandmother, delivering to your infant father, his Dad's gold watch. This watch. This watch was on your Daddy's wrist when he was shot down over Hanoi. He was captured and put in a Vietnamese prison camp. Now he knew if the gooks ever saw the watch it's be confiscated. The way your Daddy looked at it, that watch was your birthright. And he'd be damned if and slopeheads were gonna put their greasy yella hands on his boy's birthright. So he hid it in the one place he knew he could hide somethin'. His ass. Five long years, he wore this watch up his ass. Then when he died of disentary, he gave me the watch. I hid with uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you.

Capt. Koons hands the watch to Butch. A little hand comes into FRAME to accept it.

CUT TO:

The 27-year old Butch Coolidge is dressed in boxing regalia: trunks, shoes and gloves. He lies on a table catching a few zzzzzz's before his big fight. Almost as soon as WE CUT to him, he wakes up with a start. Shaken by the bizarre memory, he wipes his sweaty face with his boxing glove.

His trainer KLONDIKE, an older fireplug, opens the door a little, sticking his head in the room. Pandemonium seems to be breaking out behind Klondike in the hallway. KLONDIKE It's time, Butch.

BUTCH I'm ready.

Klondike steps inside, closing the door on the WILD MOB outside. He goes to the long yellow robe hanging on a hook. Butch hops off the table and, without a word, Klondike helps him on with the robe, which says on the back: "BATTLING BUTCH COOLIDGE."

The two men head for the door. Klondike opens the door for Butch. As Butch steps into the hallway, the Crowd goes apeshit. Klondike closes the door behind him, leaving us in the quiet, empty locker room.

FADE TO BLACK

TITLE CARD:

"THE GOLD WATCH"

WE HEAR OVER THE BLACK AND TITLE:

SPORTSCASTER #1 (OS) -- well Dan, that had to be the bloodiest and, hands-down, the most brutal fight this city has ever seen.

The SOUND of chaos in the b.g.

FADE IN:

A taxi is parked in a dark alley next to an auditorium. The sky is PISSIN' DOWN RAIN. WE SLOWLY DOLLY toward the parked car. The SOUND of the CAR RADIO can be heard coming from inside.

SPORTSCASTER #1 (OS) ...Coolidge was out of there faster than I've ever seen a victorious boxer vacate the ring. Do you think he knew Willis was dead?

SPORTSCASTER #2 (OS) My guess would be yes, Richard. I could see from my position here, the frenzy in his eyes give way to the realization of what he was doing. I think any man would've left the ring that fast.

DISSOLVE TO:

Inside the taxi, behind the wheel, is a female cabbie named ESMARELDA VILLALOBOS. A young woman, with Spanish looks, sits parked, drinking a steaming hot cup of coffee out of a white styrofoam cup.

The Sportscasters continue their coverage.

SPORTSCASTER #1 (OS) Do you feel this ring death tragedy will have an effect on the world of boxing?

SPORTSCASTER #2 (OS) Oh Dan, a tragedy like this can't help but shake the world of boxing to its very foundation. But it's of paramount importance that during the sad weeks ahead, the eyes of the W.B.A. remain firmly fixed on the -- CLICK --

Esmarelda shuts off the radio.

She takes a sip of coffee, then hears a NOISE behind her in the alley. She sticks her head out of the car door to see:

37. A window about three stories high opens on the auditorium-side of the alley. A gym bag is tossed out into a garbage dumpster below the window. Then, Butch Coolidge, still dressed in boxing trunks, shoes, gloves and yellow robe, LEAPS to the dumpster below.

ESMARELDA'S REACTION takes in the strangeness of this sight.

Gym bag in hand, Butch CLIMBS out of the dumpster and RUNS to the taxi. Before he climbs in, he takes off his robe and throws it to the ground.

Butch, soaking wet, naked except for trunks, shoes and gloves, HOPS in the backseat, SLAMMING the door. Esmarelda, staring straight ahead, talks to Butch through the rearview mirror:

ESMARELDA (Spanish accent) Are you the man I was supposed to pick up?

BUTCH If you're the cab I called, I'm the guy you're supposed to pick up.

ESMARELDA Where to?

BUTCH Outta here.

The ignition key is TWISTED. The engine ROARS to life.

The meter is FLIPPED on.

Esmarelda's bare foot STOMPS on the gas pedal.

The cab WHIPS out of the alley, FISH-TAILING on the wet pavement in front of the auditorium at a rapid pace.

Locker room door opens, English Dave fights his way through the pandemonium which is going on outside in the hall, shutting the door on the madness. Once inside, English Dave takes time to adjust his suit and tie.

In the room, black boxer FLOYD RAY WILLIS lies on a table -- dead. His face looks like he went dunking for bees. His TRAINER is on his knees, head on Floyd's chest, crying over the body.

The huge figure that is Marsellus Wallace stands at the table, hand on the Trainer's shoulder, lending emotional support. We still do not see Marsellus clearly, only that he is big.

Mia sits in a chair at the far end of the room.

Marsellus looks up, sees English Dave and walks over to him.

MARSELLUS (OS) What'cha got? ENGLISH DAVE He booked.

MARSELLUS (OS) I'm prepared to scour the earth for this motherfucker. If Butch goes to Indo China, I want a nigger hidin' in a bowl of rice, ready to pop a cap in his ass.

ENGLISH DAVE I'll take care of it.

Butch gets one of his boxing gloves off.

Esmarelda watches in the rearview mirror.

He tries to roll down one of the backseat windows, but can't find the roll bar.

BUTCH Hey, how do I open the window back here?

ESMARELDA I have to do it.

She presses a button and the back window moves down. Butch tosses his boxing glove out the window, then starts untying the other one.

Esmarelda can't keep quiet anymore.

ESMARELDA Hey, mister?

BUTCH (still working on the glove) What?

ESMARELDA You were in that fight? The fight on the radio -- you're the fighter?

As he tosses his other glove out the window.

BUTCH Whatever gave you that idea?

ESMARELDA No c'mon, you're him, I know you're him, tell me you're him.

BUTCH (drying himself with a gym towel) I'm him.

ESMARELDA You killed the other boxing man.

BUTCH He's dead?

ESMARELDA The radio said he was dead.

He finished wiping himself down.

BUTCH (to himself) Sorry 'bout that, Floyd.

He tosses the towel out the window.

Silence, as Butch digs in his bag for a tee-shirt.

ESMARELDA What does it feel like?

BUTCH (finds his shirt) What does what feel like?

ESMARELDA Killing a man. Beating another man to death with your bare hands.

Butch pulls on his tee-shirt.

BUTCH Are you some kinda weirdo?

ESMARELDA No, it's a subject I have much interest in. You are the first person I ever met who has killed somebody. So, what was it like to kill a man?

BUTCH Tell ya what, you give me one of them cigarettes, I'll give you an answer.

Esmarelda bounces in her seat with excitment.

ESMARELDA Deal!

Butch leans forward. Esmarelda, keeping her eyes on the road, passes a cigarette back to him. He takes it. Then, still not looking behind her, she brings up her hand, a lit match in it. Butch lights his smoke, then blows out the match.

He takes a long drag.

BUTCH So....

He looks at her license

BUTCH ...Esmarelda Villalobos -- is that Mexican?

ESMARELDA The name is Spanish, but I'm Columbian.

BUTCH It's a very pretty name.

ESMARELDA It mean "Esmarelda of the wolves."

BUTCH That's one hell of a name you got there, sister.

ESMARELDA Thank you. And what is your name?

BUTCH Butch.

ESMARELDA Butch. What does it mean?

BUTCH I'm an American, our names don't mean shit. Anyway, moving right along, what is it you wanna know, Esmarelda?

ESMARELDA I want to know what it feels like to kill a man --

BUTCH -- I couldn't tell ya. I didn't know he was dead 'til you told me he was dead. Now I know he's dead, do you wanna know how I feel about it?

Esmarelda nods her head: "yes."

BUTCH I don't feel the least little bit bad. You wanna know why, Esmarelda?

Esmarelda nods her head: "yes."

BUTCH 'Cause I'm a boxer. And after you've said that, you've said pretty much all there is to say about me. Now maybe that son-of-a- bitch tonight was once at one time a boxer. If he was, then he was dead before his ass ever stepped in the ring. I just put the poor bastard outta his misery. And if he never was a boxer -- (Butch takes a drag) That's what he gets for fuckin' up my sport.

We DOLLY around a phone booth as Butch talks inside.

BUTCH (into phone) What's I tell ya, soon as the word got out a fix was in, the odds would be outta control. Hey, if he was a better fighter he's be alive. If he never laced up his gloves in the first place, which he never shoulda done, he'd be alive. Enough about the poor unfortunate Mr. Floyd, let's talk about the rich and prosperous Mr. Butch. How many bookies you spread it around with? (pause) Eight? How long to collect? (pause) So by tomorrow evening, you'll have it all? (pause) Good news Scotty, real good news -- I understand a few stragglers aside. Me an' Fabian're gonna leave in the morning. It should take us a couple days to get into Knoxville. Next time we see each other, it'll be on Tennessee time.

Butch hangs up the phone. He looks at the cab waiting to take him wherever he wants to go.

BUTCH (to himself in French with English subtitles) Fabian my love, our adventure begins.

CUT TO:

Esmarelda's tax pulled into the motel parking lot. The rain has stopped, but the night is still soaked. Butch gets out, now fully dressed in tee-shirt, jeans and high school athletic jacket. He leans in the driver's side window.

ESMARELDA Forty-five sixty.

Handing her the money.

BUTCH Merci beaucoup. And here's a little something for the effort.

Butch holds up a hundred dollar bill.

Esmarelda's eyes light up. She goes to take it. Butch holds it out of reach.

BUTCH Now if anybody should ask you about who your fare was tonight, what're you gonna tell 'em?

ESMARELDA The truth. Three well-dressed, slightly toasted, Mexicans.

He gives her the bill.

BUTCH Bon soir, Esmarelda.

ESMARELDA (in Spanish) Sleep well, Butch.

He tweaks her nose, she smiles, and he turns and walks away. She drives off.

Butch enters and turns on the light.

Lying curled up on the bed, fully dressed, with her back to us is Butch's French girlfriend, FABIAN.

FABIAN Keep the light off.

Butch flicks the switch back, making the room dark again.

BUTCH Is that better, sugar pop?

FABIAN Oui. Hard day at the office?

BUTCH Pretty hard. I got into a fight.

FABIAN Poor baby. Can we make spoons?

Butch climbs into bed, spooning Fabian from behind.

When Butch and Fabian speak to each other, they speak in baby- talk.

FABIAN I was looking at myself in the mirror.

BUTCH Uh-huh?

FABIAN I wish I had a pot.

BUTCH You were lookin' in the mirror and you wish you had some pot?

FABIAN A pot. A pot belly. Pot bellies are sexy.

BUTCH Well you should be happy, 'cause you do.

FABIAN Shut up, Fatso! I don't have a pot! I have a bit of a tummy, like Madonna when she did "Lucky Star," it's not the same thing.

BUTCH I didn't realize there was a difference between a tummy and a pot belly.

FABIAN The difference is huge.

BUTCH You want me to have a pot?

FABIAN No. Pot bellies make a man look either oafish, or like a gorilla. But on a woman, a pot belly is very sexy. The rest of you is normal. Normal face, normal legs, normal hips, normal ass, but with a big, perfectly round pot belly. If I had one, I'd wear a tee-shirt two sizes too small to accentuate it.

BUTCH You think guys would find that attractive?

FABIAN I don't give a damn what men find attractive. It's unfortunate what we find pleasing to the touch and pleasing to the eye is seldom the same. BUTCH If I had a pot belly, I'd punch you in it.

FABIAN You'd punch me in my belly?

BUTCH Right in the belly.

FABIAN I'd smother you. I'd drop it on your right on your face 'til you couldn't breathe.

BUTCH You'd do that to me?

FABIAN Yes!

BUTCH Did you get everything, sugar pop?

FABIAN Yes, I did.

BUTCH Good job.

FABIAN Did everything go as planned?

BUTCH You didn't listen to the radio?

FABIAN I never listen to your fights. Were you the winner?

BUTCH I won alright.

FABIAN Are you still retiring?

BUTCH Sure am.

FABIAN What about the man you fought?

BUTCH Floyd retired too.

FABIAN (smiling) Really?! He won't be fighting no more?!

BUTCH Not no more.

FABIAN So it all worked out in the finish?

BUTCH We ain't at the finish, baby.

Fabian rolls over and Butch gets on top of her. They kiss.

FABIAN We're in a lot of danger, aren't we?

Butch nods his head: "yes."

FABIAN If they find us, they'll kill us, won't they?

Butch nods his head: "yes."

FABIAN But they won't find us, will they?

Butch nods his head: "no."

FABIAN Do you still want me to go with you?

Butch nods his head: "yes."

FABIAN I don't want to be a burden or a nuisance --

Butch's hand goes out of frame and starts massaging her crotch.

Fabian reacts.

FABIAN Say it!

BUTCH Fabian, I want you to be with me.

FABIAN Forever?

BUTCH ...and ever.

Fabian lies her head back.

Butch continues to massage her crotch.

FABIAN Do you love me?

BUTCH Oui.

FABIAN Butch? Will you give me oral pleasure?

Butch kisses her on the mouth.

BUTCH Will you kiss it?

She nods her head: "yes."

FABIAN But you first.

Butch's head goes down out of frame to carry out the oral pleasure. Fabian's face is alone in the frame.

FABIAN (in French, with English subtitles) Butch my love, the adventure begins

FADE TO BLACK

FADE UP: