Locke, Stock, and Barrel an original screenplay >John Locke is sitting in a cluttered office, reclining in a chair with his feet on the desk. The police chief bursts through the door.
Chief: Locke! Get off your ass! I got an assignment for you!
The police chief walks out of the office. Locke follows him, grabbing his hat from a hat stand as he walks through the door. The chief hands Locke a folder, which he begins to leaf through.
Chief: We got some lunatic down along the bay. We set up a wire tap, and we found out that he has plans to blow up the president.
Locke: It says in this file that he lives alone. Is that right?
Chief: Yeah. He was staying in his sister's apartment until she died last year.
Locke: That's the problem when people live alone. In a large society, we can compensate for each other's shortcomings, but when left alone, a man's weaknesses will mean his demise.
Chief: Listen! Enough of the philosophy crap, buddy! I just need you to haul in the creep!
Locke: Yes, sir.
Locke gets into his squad car, and we see him speeding through the streets of San Francisco, siren blaring. He pulls up to a small building in the back of a warehouse. He removes his gun from its holster, and knocks on the door.
Locke: Hello?
No one answers, so he tries the knob. Finding it locked, he kicks down the door, and enters a dust-covered room. He turns on his flashlight and looks around.
Locke: Anyone home?
Suddenly, a figure leaps out of the darkness, and tackles Locke to the ground. Locke feels around in the dark for his flashlight, while the mysterious man bolts through the door. Locke runs to his squad car, and slides across the hood, jumping into the driver's seat. He speeds off in hot pursuit, and picks up his radio.
Locke: Dispatch. This is Officer Locke. I'm in pursuit of a suspect in the old warehouse district. Requesting back-up. Over.
Dispatcher: Copy that. Over.
Locke crashes through a pane of glass, being carried by two men.
Locke: (thinking aloud) Why do these nut jobs always get it in their head that they're going to do in the president? Don't they know that governmental power comes from the consent of the governed? While it is justified to overthrow the ruling class if popular opinion dictates, it isn't the decision of one lone whacko? Whoa!
Locke slams on his brakes as he pulls up to the suspect's wrecked car, next to an overturned mailbox. Smoke is rising from the hood, and a broken fire hydrant is spraying water. The suspect flees down an alleyway. Locke vaults over the wrecked car, and follows him. They reach a chain link fence. The suspect tries to climb it, but falls into a pile of cardboard boxes. Locke grabs the suspect, and handcuffs him.
Suspect: I didn't do nothing, man!
Locke: That's what they all say. The reason for this is as follows: A man may not serve as his own judge, because, assuming that he has broken a law, he has proven himself unfit to tell right from wrong. Furthermore, it is impossible for a man to show objectivity in such a situation, as he is sure to value his own self-interests above all others, which will surely taint his decision.
The back-up officers pull up, with a squealing of brakes, and throw the suspect into the back of a squad car.

CURTAIN

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