Scene: Intersection of Damen, Milwaukee, and North avenues, 1:57 on the morning of Saturday, April 21. The sidewalks are packed with clubgoers. The streets are wet and gleaming from an earlier shower. Three couples, plus or minus a person, stand on the corner in front of the Starbucks coffee shop entertained by one of their number, a WELL-DRESSED MAN who speaks in a loud voice. Two blond masked BANDITS huddle in a doorway between Starbucks and Estelle’s.

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[SECOND BANDIT has made his way around the corner onto Damen. A beat later, there’s a crash, then a commotion at the corner, some yelling, a scream or two. FIRST BANDIT seems to disappear. SECOND BANDIT rounds the corner and runs west down North Avenue at full speed. WELL-DRESSED MAN follows in hot pursuit. WELL-DRESSED MAN has fire in his eye. He has something to prove. WELL-DRESSED MAN runs like a former high school running back. second BANDIT runs like a bandit.]

FRIENDLY MAN [to OFFICERS, pointing west]: You might want to head over there. Somebody’s getting the shit beat out of them in between those cars.

[He stiffens, refusing to duck into back seat. OFFICER draws nightstick and jabs BANDIT’s backside.]

WELL-DRESSED MAN [trying to impress date with tale of heroic capture]: Blah, blah, blah.