A Training Day In The Art Of Deception
A rookie cop is offered the chance of a lifetime to join an elite policing unit, he just has to get through the training day first. Not so easy when your boss has other plans. This training day could become a matter of life and death.
Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) has a huge problem. He owes the Russian Mafia a million dollars.
Alonzo has the solution though — today’s a training day, he’ll show a rookie cop the ropes. How to become an undercover narcotics officer in his unit.
Alonzo’s full influential range will be on display.
Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) has no idea what’s in store for him. Married with a new born baby, he’s applied to join an undercover narcotics unit. Jake wants to make a difference as a Los Angeles Police officer. He knows working patrol in the San Fernando Valley won’t offer that.
Jake receives a call from his training officer Alonzo Harris with instructions to meet him at a downtown LA coffee shop. Jake starts telling Alonzo what a privilege this is and how he’s grateful for the opportunity.
Alonzo hangs up on him.
The art of persuasion
Alonzo’s dressed in all black. Gold chains hanging off his neck, 45 caliber pistols resting in shoulder holsters. He radiates experienced street cop. He exudes confidence. Easily bored with the newspaper he’s reading, which he says is 95% bullshit, he asks Jake for a story. Alonzo wants to be entertained. He’s seen it all. Jake starts to wonder what sort of a detective this is.
Alonzo’s car, a long black 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is parked outside. As they climb in Jake sees this isn’t the usual non descript unmarked police vehicle.
Jake: So where’s the office, back at the division?
Alonzo: You’re in the office baby.
As they drive away Alonzo explains that Jake has today and today only to prove himself. If he doesn’t like narcotics he can return to patrol. He can help issue parking tickets. Jake seems to understand, he has to perform as he’s been trained. Alonzo tells him to forget all that bullshit he was taught in the Police Academy though. There’s no place for it out here.
Alonzo and his team work street narcotics in South Central LA. The Rampart division. Less than desirable neighbourhoods with gang infested activity. Bloods, Crips, Latino sets.
If he wants to be successful in the streets Alonzo tells Jake to become fluent in Spanish. Otherwise the criminals have an easy way to plot behind his back. Alonzo asks Jake why he wants to be a narc. When he says he wants to remove dangerous drugs from society Alonzo just gives him a look.
Jake admits he wants to make detective. Alonzo tells him he will if he sticks with him.
Alonzo takes Jake to a known marijuana dealing spot to gauge how he deals with a simple stop and search.
When they pull over a car of white college kids who have bought a small amount of the drug, Jake gets a first glimpse of Alonzo’s policing style.
Heavy handed with gun drawn, he confiscates the drug aggressively intimidating the vehicles occupants in the process. No arrests are made as Alonzo let’s them off with a stern warning.
Jake sees that it’s unorthodox policing but effective. Alonzo is after all the more experienced cop.
As they drive off Alonzo shows Jake the small wrapping of marijuana and comments on its poor quality. As he drives he fills a pipe confiscated from the previous stop and holds it out for Jake.
Alonzo: To be truly effective a narcotics officer must know and love narcotics. In fact a narcotics officer should have narcotics in his blood.
He hands the pipe to Jake to smoke.
Jake, uncomfortable and confused refuses. Alonzo with a smile on his face tempts Jake to smoke it. Jake flat out refuses.
Alonzo stops the car in a busy intersection and puts his gun to Jake’s head. Never turn down narcotics on the street. Alonzo disgusted, dismisses Jake telling him he doesn’t want him in his unit and orders him out of the car. Jake, impressionable and thinking of his career agrees to smoke it.
Alonzo drives on amused. As Jake stares out the window in a drug induced stupor Alonzo wonders aloud why Jake likes to smoke PCP laced weed.
Jake: What’s that? I’ve never had it?
Alonzo: You have now. I haven’t but you have.
The paranoia hits him as he realises he’ll be fired for this. Alonzo casually informs him that the unit are notified a week in advance of any official urine testing.
Alonzo: You made your decision so live with you decision.
It’s not like I’m gonna put a gun to your head. Alonzo laughs.
The art of influence
Alonzo takes Jake to Roger’s house. Jake assumes Roger’s a retired cop buddy. Roger keeps two small pistols in his dressing gown pockets. Roger drinks expensive whiskey. In the morning.
In Jake’s drugged out state he picks up small snippets of conversation. Roger’s tells Alonzo that he hears there’s a green light out on him. Alonzo shrugs it off saying it’s nothing he can’t handle.
Roger asks Jake where he grew up. When he answers North Hollywood, Roger searches his memory and clicks.
Strong safety, North Hollywood high.
Jake’s amazed and wonders how Roger knew what school he went to and football position he played.
Roger says he follows all the good players.
Alonzo considers this with a fresh appraisal of Jake. A strong safety is sometimes the last line of defence. A sure tackler.
Alonzo asks Roger if he thinks the rookie can handle undercover work. Roger tells Alonzo that he was exactly the same way in the beginning.
Before leaving Alonzo asks Roger what he’s doing for the rest of the day. Roger tells him he’s staying in the house. He’s close to retirement, then he’s gone for good.
Driving away Jake sleeps off the marijuana in Alonzo’s car. He wakes up to a can of beer resting in his lap. Alonzo drives sipping his own can.
Alonzo: Get that beer up in you, that’ll give you balance.
Jake shakes his head.
They drive past a downtown alleyway. Jake gets a glimpse of a girl being attacked in the alley. Ordering Alonzo to stop, Jake’s police training kicks in. He jumps out the car and runs into the alley to intervene.
Alonzo takes his time parking the car then stands and watches Jake. He observes closely as Jake fights off two street bums in the process of attempting to rape a teenage girl. Seeing them under control and subdued Alonzo enters the fray. Jake sees the girls wallet lying close by and picks it up. Her ID shows she’s 14 years old.
Alonzo talks to the girl and finds out her cousin is a Latino gang member with Hillside Trece. He sends the girl on her way telling her to tell her cousin about the incident.
Alonzo turns his attention to the would be rapists. Jake expects arrest and transportation to the station. Alonzo hurts one by slamming two pistols into his balls. Jake is horrified by his lack of proper procedure. Alonzo waves him off by saying street justice will take care of them.
He knows the two guys won’t make it once the girls cousin finds out.
Jake’s pissed. He wants lawful justice and starts to question Alonzo’s motivations. Alonzo plays into Jake’s untapped potential.
Alonzo: To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf. It takes a wolf to catch a wolf.
Alonzo: You got the magic eye Hoyt. You up your street IQ and you’ll do some damage out here.
Jake’s feeling good, he’s going to make it in this unit. He takes Alonzo’s beer and they toast together.
Jake starts to see how undercover narcotics investigation works.
Jake and Alonzo run down a street crack dealer in a wheelchair. Pressured by Alonzo he provides a name further up the supply chain.
Alonzo entices the dealer to give up his supplier.
Alonzo: You wanna go to jail or you wanna go home?
The wheelchair bound dealer provides Alonzo with his suppliers street name. It’s enough. Jake is beginning to understand.
Release the small fish to catch the bigger fish.
Alonzo is given the suppliers name and address through an intel colleague. He tells Jake they’ll conduct a search warrant at his house. Alonzo uses a take way menu as the search warrant. Jake goes along.
They’re in an area of Watts. Crip gangbangers hang out around cars on the street.
Inside the house Alonzo enters a bedroom and finds vacuum sealed money stacks hidden under the mattress. He conceals it and goes to leave the house. The female owner causes a ruckus shouting and screaming when she sees the search warrant is just a Chinese take out menu.
Gang members open fire on Alonzo and Jake as they reach their car. Alonzo returns fire and they make their escape.
Jake suspects money was stolen, he’s angry and in disbelief. They pull over on the highway. Stepping out, Alonzo moves into a motivational recruiter role. He informs Jake that he now has a decision to make. Work narcotics or go back to where he came from.
Alonzo points to a highway patrolman helping a motorist change a flat tyre. Jake stares contemplating his professional future. At a crossroads. He doesn’t want a career without a meaningful impact.
He walks back to Alonzo’s car.
Alonzo drives Jake into the Jungle — a gang related no go area to visit his girlfriend. Alonzo warns Jake never to come in here without him. Alonzo cruises the street slowly. A man disperses pigeons from a nearby roof top to announce the cops arrival.
When they stop Jake sees something else. Alonzo converses with some of the gangsters holding court. Jake realises the undercover world is also about cultivating relationships not just drug buy/busts. The day has shown Jake that some criminals on the street know Alonzo’s a cop, a narc. While others don’t.
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Later that afternoon Alonzo takes Jake to a steak house and introduces him to three senior LAPD officers. He calls them the Wise men. One of whom runs the team that investigates all officer involved shootings. A crucial ally to have.
Unknown to Jake out of ear shot, the LAPD bosses express concern the Russians are going to kill Alonzo. They don’t want the negative attention. Another narcotics officer splashed across the media.
Leaving the restaurant Jake gains an insight into corruption at the higher levels of the LAPD.
They accept cash to authorise search warrants.
Alonzo buys himself a legitimate search warrant for the $40, 000 he previously stole.
Jake is disappointed to see how things work at the upper echelons of the LAPD.
Alonzo: There’s nothing free in this world Jake. Not even arrest warrants.
Jake meets the rest of Alonzo’s team. Sceptical of the new guy, they remind him that this isn’t uniformed patrol — you’re a long way from Starbucks homie.
The art of manipulation
Alonzo and his team conduct the search warrant at Roger’s house. When the team force entry to his house Roger seems unconcerned — he’s known Alonzo for years. Alonzo sits down opposite Roger and tells him he saw the three Wise men earlier. He tells Roger he has to render under Caesar.
Roger knows immediately. He tells Alonzo the vampires want his pension. Alonzo says no, they’re just taxing him a little bit.
Alonzo knows exactly where to look for the ‘evidence.’ The team cuts open the floor linoleum in Roger’s kitchen. Jake and the team take turns digging. Alonzo supervises. Jake’s shovel hits a metal chest is a few feet deep within the ground. Jake thinks it contains cocaine. Alonzo knows better. The chest contains $4 million in sealed packages. Alonzo, delighted tells Jake he just made a $3 million seizure on his first day. Jake is confused and tells Alonzo he just said $4 million. Alonzo throws a package of cash at Jake and says buy an new mini van. Put the kids through college. The team splits the remaining million. Jake wants no part of the illegal money. Alonzo’s team looked worried. There is nothing more dangerous within a police unit than the one officer who can’t be corrupted. Who could testify down the road and put them all away.
Alonzo needs the money to pay off the Russian mob and cancel the murder contract out on him. Alonzo tells Jake that if he’s uncomfortable his first time he’ll hold onto his portion for him.
Alonzo puts the next phase of his plan into action. He asks Jake to shoot Roger. Jake refuses thinking he’s joking. Alonzo shoots Roger himself.
Jake, shocked and confused looks on as Alonzo masterfully takes the stage.
Alonzo: Its not what you know it’s what you can prove.
Alonzo coordinates the cover up by making it appear Roger shot one of his team entering the house. They then returned fire killing Roger in justified self defence — a clean shooting.
Using a weapon without a serial number, Alonzo shoots a nominated member of his team injuring him the process. Now to the external investigators it appears as if Roger had shot him.
Rogers murder becomes justifiable homicide in the line of duty.
Alonzo decides that Jake justifiably shot and killed Roger and he makes sure his team agree. That’s the official story.
Jake disputes it. Alonzo points a shot gun at Jake. He tells him the consequences of his refusal by reciting how a news report of the days events would sound like..
Alonzo: A Los Angeles narcotics officer was killed today serving a high risk warrant…
Alonzo convinces Jake that as the newest member of the team he’s a first time shooter above any suspicion. If he disputes the sequence of events Alonzo knows the external investigation team will test him for intoxicants. Standard procedure with all officer involved shootings.
Alonzo forced Jake to smoke the pcp laced marijuana earlier that day.
Jake in a state of disbelief now knows Alonzo planned this.
Alonzo: I’ve been planning it all week son.
Alonzo tells Jake he won’t have to do this every day. If he gives Alonzo 18 months Jake can become a detective. Alonzo will give him a career.
There’s nothing Jake can do. The sirens and back-up have arrived.
The art of deception
Back in Alonzo’s car Jake is distraught. He tells him he didn’t sign up for this. What just occurred was essentially armed robbery and murder.
It can’t be justified because they’re police officers.
Jake tells Alonzo he’ll go back to uniformed patrol giving out parking tickets. It cant be like this.
Alonzo placates him. He needs Jake to provide a positive statement to the investigators to remove any suspicion on himself and his team.
Alonzo uses every psychological tool in his box. He convinces Jake that things like this don’t happen every day. They go after the big guys, it gets ugly sometimes but it’s necessary.
He confides to Jake that he was also scared his first time. Everybody goes through these feelings their first time.
Alonzo: In this business you gotta have a little dirt on you for anyone to trust you.
Roger was a major dealer Alonzo had been working on for years. Now he’s finally got him. When Jake says Roger was Alonzo’s friend he enlightens him.
Alonzo: I was playing him. That my job. That’s your job.
This shit is chess it’s not checkers.
With heartfelt focus and emotion, Alonzo plays on Jake’s ethics and morality. He says that one day he can have Alonzo’s job and put away the dealers and poisoners. He’s a leader. Alonzo tells him he has to take his time though, make detective first. He has to accomplish it from the inside though. Then he can truly make a difference.
Genuinely moved, Jake agrees to go along with Alonzo’s version of events.
Evening has arrived. Jake has satisfied Alonzo’s expectations. He’s driving him home but has to make a quick stop first. They pull up outside a Latino house with guys and girls hanging out. Alonzo gets some boxes out of his car telling Jake an informant of his is in state prison and he’s promised to take care of his family. Alonzo takes the boxes and they head into the house. Walking up the outside stairs they are crowded and by the men who move to stop their path. This is a Sureno` house — a Latino street gang allied to the prison based Mexican Mafia. The gang leadership sit inside.
Alonzo is granted entry to the house and shares a look with the main guy — Smiley.
Walking into the kitchen Alonzo tells Jake he’s going to the bathroom then they’re leaving.
Smiley takes a bundle of cash from one of the boxes Alonzo handed him and sits down. Jake sees the three gangsters sitting around a kitchen table playing cards. They convince Jake to play cards with them as Alonzo’s busy in the toilet. Jake sits down playing a hand.
The leader Smiley receives a message on his phone. The other gangsters ask to see Jake’s service weapon expressing interest in what type of police pistol he carries. Jake confirms it’s a 9mm Beretta. Smiley takes out his Beretta and lays it on the table — we’re all armed here as well, there’s no problem.
The gangsters playfully ask to see Jake’s gun. As Jake knows Alonzo is down the hallway and he’s friends with these guys, he’s comfortable enough to unload his pistol and hand it over.
Smiley holds the bullet clip and looks out the kitchen window. Jake’s empty gun is handed back to him and he gets up to go calling out for Alonzo.
Smiley tells him to stick around saying there’s nothing out there for him.
Jake looks out the kitchen window and see an empty space where Alonzo’s car was parked.
With horrified realization Jake now knows Alonzo has contracted his murder. He’s planned the day’s entire events. Jake was required as the fall guy for Roger to get Alonzo his million bucks. Once Jake had given his statement as Alonzo asked — to justify Roger’s death, Alonzo and his team were free and clear. Jake refused to take the bribery money and was incorruptible. Jake was now expendable.
The gang leader Smiley fills in the blanks for Jake. He knows Alonzo robbed and killed Roger. It’s spread throughout the underworld.
He tells Jake that Alonzo lost his cool and beat someone to death in Las Vegas. The guy belonged to the Russian mob. Alonzo was on the hook to them for a million dollars. Nobody thought Alonzo could get the money together in such a short period of time.
Smiley tells Jake a hit team is on standby to take Alonzo out if the Russians don’t receive their money by midnight.
Jake’s about to be killed in the house. One of the gangsters wants to empty his wallet first. He grabs the wallet from Jake’s pocket — a pink Velcro wallet. He opens it and sees a picture of Smileys teenage cousin.
Jake tries to explain how he found the wallet, then admits the girl was about to be raped before he intervened.
Smiley calls his cousin and gets the truth from her.
He now knows Jake is now an admirable and honourable cop. The opposite of Alonzo.
Truth and virtue has won out. By being an honest upstanding officer Jake has saved his own life.
Jake tracks down Alonzo at his girlfriends apartment in the Jungle. The gangsters running the territory grant him access. They’ve had enough of Alonzo’s cruelty and heavy handed ways.
After a shootout and brawl Jake relieves Alonzo of the million dollars.
In a spit filled tirade, Alonzo condemns the community standing on the street witnessing this without intervening on his behalf. He offers money to anyone who will kill Jake for him. Nobody does. He threatens to lock them all up.
Alonzo: I’m the man around here. King King ain’t got shit on me!
Alonzo has missed his payment rendezvous with the Russians.
Defeated, he drives to LAX to board a flight out of LA.
A woman pulls up next to him at the airport intersection. Alonzo sinks back in his seat. He’s invincible and arrogant again appearing cool. Two vehicles rush in and block in Alonzo’s car in a pincer movement. The Russians exit their vehicles and fire their automatic weapons into Alonzo’s car.
As Jake arrives home he hears the radio report of Alonzo’s death.
It’s the very statement Alonzo predicted for Jake’s demise back at Roger’s house;
‘ A narcotics officer was killed today…police spokesperson says the officer Alonzo Harris…
The audio trails off.
Jake has survived his ‘training day.’
