Plot Overview
This story begins with John Hartigan's last day on the job. His final mission before his forced retirement because of his Angina, is to save Nancy from Roark Junior, the infamous rapist. Junior's father is know for his power and corrupt relationship with the Basin City Police. Junior's pass time of raping and murdering pre-pubescent girls keeps Haritagn and Junior's father busy. Hartigan is successful at rescuing Nancy Callahan, the eleven year old almost victim of Roark Junior. After taking down Roark's men and dismantling their get-a-way car, Hartigan has the chance to show Junior how much he really dislikes him. Hartigan shoots of Junior's ear, hand, and "pecker" which leads to Hartigan being shot intentionally by his own argumentative partner. While all of this is happening, Hartigan is feeling the symptoms of a heart attack. Roark lapses into a coma from his injuries, but even though Hartigan was shot multiple times in the back by his partner, he is only hospitalized with a few injuries.
In the hospital Hartigan does not talk to anyone but Nancy whom he rescued. Roark's legislator father has everyone saying and believing the it was Hartigan that raped Nancy (although she is still a virgin), and that his son had nothing to do with it. Roark has made it so doctors cannot touch Nancy to examine her, and no one can take action on what Nancy says. She continually tries to tell everyone that Hartigan saved her. Hartigan is framed for the rape and is sentenced to a lengthy prison term and labeled as one of the city's most hated citizens. He continues to remain silent about the event and his pain because he knows Senator Roark would kill anyone who knew the truth.
After being in the hospital for recovery, Hartigan is chained to chair and beaten profusely by Lieboitz who demands a false confession out of Hartigan.
While in jail and abandoned by his wife and friends, Hartigan receives letters from Nancy, writing as Cordelia so no one finds out about their communication. Hartigan develops a love for Nancy. The weekly letters stop coming at one point. Hartigan first believe Nancy has outgrown her hero view of him until be begin to think Roark has caught up to her. His fears are confirmed when the Yellow Bastard comes to visit him in jail, assaults Hartigan and leave one of Nancy's envelops with what looks to be her index finder in it.
Fearing for Nancy's safety, Hartigan finds a way out of jail by claiming responsibility for the event and asks forgiveness from the Roarks in order to get parole. Hartigan gets parole but is now back on the streets as a 60 year old man looking for Nancy. He discovers she is an exotic dancer at a club and where he also find that Yellow Bastard. Nancy recognizes Hartigan and leaps into his arms and they leave, but are soon in a high speed chase with that Yellow Bastard. Although in love, Hartigan won't let things move further than kissing with Nancy, even after she confesses her love for him. Hiding out in a motel, Hartigan is ambushed in the shower by that Yellow Bastard.
That Yellow Bastard brags about his rapings and murders that he did while Hartigan was in jail. He hangs Hartigan and escapes with Nancy who he promised would have the same fate. At first Hartigan decides he will die, but with a burst of adrenaline, he changes his mind and cuts himself free. When Schlubb and Klump come to dispose of the body, Hartigan attacks them and forces them to tell him when Nancy and Junior are.."the place where bad things happen".
In route to he location of Nancy, Hartigan suffers another severe angina attack, but soldier through the pain. While in pursuit of Nancy, Junior is torturing her. She refuses giving any satisfaction to Junior, so she does not scream or cry out; Junior is impotent unless he hears his victims screams.
Hartigan takes down other corrupt policeman and Roark's men guarding Junior, but when he gets to Nancy, Junior has her at knife point. After a series of events, Hartigan kills Junior with his bare hands, and forces Nancy to flee promising he will meet her. He then discusses how he had to lie to protect Nancy and how he has no intention of meeting her. With a surprising twist, Hartigan shoots himself.
In the hospital Hartigan does not talk to anyone but Nancy whom he rescued. Roark's legislator father has everyone saying and believing the it was Hartigan that raped Nancy (although she is still a virgin), and that his son had nothing to do with it. Roark has made it so doctors cannot touch Nancy to examine her, and no one can take action on what Nancy says. She continually tries to tell everyone that Hartigan saved her. Hartigan is framed for the rape and is sentenced to a lengthy prison term and labeled as one of the city's most hated citizens. He continues to remain silent about the event and his pain because he knows Senator Roark would kill anyone who knew the truth.
After being in the hospital for recovery, Hartigan is chained to chair and beaten profusely by Lieboitz who demands a false confession out of Hartigan.
While in jail and abandoned by his wife and friends, Hartigan receives letters from Nancy, writing as Cordelia so no one finds out about their communication. Hartigan develops a love for Nancy. The weekly letters stop coming at one point. Hartigan first believe Nancy has outgrown her hero view of him until be begin to think Roark has caught up to her. His fears are confirmed when the Yellow Bastard comes to visit him in jail, assaults Hartigan and leave one of Nancy's envelops with what looks to be her index finder in it.
Fearing for Nancy's safety, Hartigan finds a way out of jail by claiming responsibility for the event and asks forgiveness from the Roarks in order to get parole. Hartigan gets parole but is now back on the streets as a 60 year old man looking for Nancy. He discovers she is an exotic dancer at a club and where he also find that Yellow Bastard. Nancy recognizes Hartigan and leaps into his arms and they leave, but are soon in a high speed chase with that Yellow Bastard. Although in love, Hartigan won't let things move further than kissing with Nancy, even after she confesses her love for him. Hiding out in a motel, Hartigan is ambushed in the shower by that Yellow Bastard.
That Yellow Bastard brags about his rapings and murders that he did while Hartigan was in jail. He hangs Hartigan and escapes with Nancy who he promised would have the same fate. At first Hartigan decides he will die, but with a burst of adrenaline, he changes his mind and cuts himself free. When Schlubb and Klump come to dispose of the body, Hartigan attacks them and forces them to tell him when Nancy and Junior are.."the place where bad things happen".
In route to he location of Nancy, Hartigan suffers another severe angina attack, but soldier through the pain. While in pursuit of Nancy, Junior is torturing her. She refuses giving any satisfaction to Junior, so she does not scream or cry out; Junior is impotent unless he hears his victims screams.
Hartigan takes down other corrupt policeman and Roark's men guarding Junior, but when he gets to Nancy, Junior has her at knife point. After a series of events, Hartigan kills Junior with his bare hands, and forces Nancy to flee promising he will meet her. He then discusses how he had to lie to protect Nancy and how he has no intention of meeting her. With a surprising twist, Hartigan shoots himself.