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23EXT. JANES SCENIC DRIVE - MORNING

Tony steps out of his truck. Laroche smiles warmly.

TONY

Morning. May I ask what you gentlemen

have in those pillowcases?

LAROCHE

Yes, sir, you absolutely may.

Laroche goes back to directing the Indians. Tony's confused.

TONY

Okay, I'm asking then.

LAROCHE

Oh, Okay then! Let's see...

(peeking in bags)

Five kinds of bromeliad, one peperomia,

nine orchid varieties. About a hundred

and thirty plants all told, which my

colleagues have removed from the swamp.

TONY

You're aware that it's illegal to remove

plants or animals from state owned land?

LAROCHE

And don't forget these plants are all

endangered, sir. Every one of them.

TONY

Exactly. Well, that's exactly the issue.

This is a state preserve.

LAROCHE

Yes, sir, it is.

(afterthought)

Oh, and my colleagues are all Seminole

Indians. Did I mention that? You're

familiar, I'm sure, with the State of

Florida v. James E. Billie.

Tony nods, even though he has no idea.

LAROCHE (cont'd)

So you know that even though Seminole

Chief Billie killed a Florida panther,

one of, what, forty in the entire world?

Laroche looks to the Indians for confirmation. They give it.

LAROCHE (cont'd)

The state couldn't successfully prosecute

him. Because he's an Indian and it's his

right. As repugnant as you or I as white

conservationists might find his actions.

TONY

But --

CONTINUED: (2)

LAROCHE