Cover Version

Watched Die Hard again recently and was struck by the scene where Reginald VelJohnson's black LAPD patrolman explains to John McClain he's working a quiet beat (unnamed Century City) on Christmas Eve because after mistakenly shooting a kid with a toy raygun he doesn't think he'll ever be able to draw his service revolver again (why a cop incapable of using his weapon is on the street at all, they don't say).

Anyway, I thought it was quaint and humorous to see that reasonable past, when we could accept the difficulty inherent in armed policing, as long as it was explained to us in the honeyed tones of an inoffensively soulful black man.

Alas, I could not find the scene online. But I found something better. The Perfect Movie Recreations version of the scene. Not to disparage the actor covering the Sgt Powell role here (for he is excellent), here's a picture of Reginald VelJohnson to enhance the mood:

"Don't worry, White Man, I got enough goodness for both of us."

Enjoy: