Sharky's Machine

Tom Sharky, a seasoned narcotics sergeant for the Atlanta Police Department, navigates a delicate transaction with notorious drug dealer Highball when an unexpected interruption by fellow officer Smiley sends the situation spiraling out of control. The ensuing chaos culminates in a tense standoff on a MARTA bus, where Sharky is forced to take down the suspect after the wounding of the driver and a passenger. As a result, he's demoted to the vice squad, a division shrouded in controversy and considered the least desirable posting within the department.

As Sharky plods through the depths of the vice-squad division, led by the enigmatic Friscoe, a routine arrest of small-time hooker Mabel inadvertently uncovers a high-stakes prostitution ring operating under the radar. The discovery leads Sharky to a stunning revelation: Dominoe, a breathtaking escort charging $1,000 per night, is embroiled in a clandestine affair with Donald Hotchkins, a gubernatorial candidate seeking to lead Georgia. This tantalizing development piques Sharky's interest, prompting him to assemble a team of jaded fellow investigators – Papa, Arch, and surveillance expert Nosh – collectively referred to by Friscoe as Sharky's "machine" – to unravel the tangled threads of this underworld operation.

During an extended stakeout, Dominoe is caught on camera enjoying a romantic tryst with Hotchkins, who vows to provide her with a luxurious abode upon his election. However, another surveillance session yields a more sinister development: Victor, a mysterious crime kingpin with a hold over Dominoe since her youth, appears at her apartment, forcing her into one final, reluctant encounter. Sharky watches from the shadows, his growing fascination with Dominoe tempered by disgust and a creeping sense of unease.

As the investigation unfolds, Sharky's fixation on Dominoe deepens, fueled by private daydreams of a fantasy relationship with her. But tragedy strikes when he witnesses Dominoe's brutal murder at the hands of Billy Score, a desperate drug addict and Victor's loyal accomplice. This gut-wrenching turn of events reveals that Hotchkins, too, is under Victor's thumb, serving as a powerless puppet in his criminal empire. The investigation now takes on a starkly personal dimension for Sharky, as he's compelled to confront the dark forces driving this twisted world and exact justice for Dominoe's untimely demise.

As Sharky navigates the labyrinthine layout of Dominoe's apartment, a sudden twist unfolds: she reappears, very much alive, leaving him stunned and grappling with the realization that Billy Score has committed a grave mistake. The revelation is soon compounded by a phone call from Nosh, who frantically conveys the disturbing news that most surveillance tapes have vanished from the police station, casting a shadow of doubt over the investigation's integrity. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Sharky and Dominoe, Billy Score exacts his vengeance on Nosh, ending his life in a ruthless display of violence.

With their lives hanging precariously in the balance, Sharky makes the reluctant decision to whisk Dominoe away to his childhood home in the West End neighborhood. His attempts to extract information from her about Victor's true nature are met with resistance, culminating in a brutal outburst that ultimately leaves him feeling disgusted and ashamed.

As the truth begins to unravel, Dominoe stumbles upon photographs taken during their stakeouts, leading her to confront Sharky about his voyeuristic tendencies. The revelation sparks a candid conversation between the two, allowing them to share stories about their pasts: from Sharky's decision to buy back his childhood home and restore it to its former glory, to Dominoe's harrowing tale of being "discovered" by Victor at the tender age of 12 and forced into a life of sexual servitude.

Seething with righteous indignation, Sharky confronts Victor in his opulent penthouse apartment within the Westin Peachtree Plaza, vowing to bring him to justice. Victor, however, remains impervious, smugly informing Sharky that Dominoe is deceased and unable to testify against him. Sharky's defiant retort leaves Victor stunned.

As Sharky searches for Nosh at his residence, a sudden ambush leaves him unconscious and helpless. He awakens on a boat, face-to-face with Detective Smiley, who reveals his true allegiance: he is working for the elusive Victor. Smiley's cold-blooded confession details the murders of JoJo and Nosh, both victims of Victor's ruthless ambition.

Refusing to betray Dominoe's location, Sharky is met with a gruesome display of violence as two hitmen are ordered to sever two of his fingers. Miraculously, Sharky manages to escape. Later, at a political rally celebrating Hotchkins' electoral victory, the candidate is shocked to catch glimpses of both Dominoe and Sharky. The news sends shockwaves through law enforcement, leading to Hotchkins' eventual arrest.

As Victor receives word of these developments on the evening news, he sets his sights on the next move in his Machiavellian game of cat and mouse.

As Billy Score's disoriented state spirals out of control, he unleashes a fatal shot that silences Victor's verbal tirade. The penthouse apartment erupts into chaos as Sharky and other law enforcement officials converge on the scene, determined to apprehend Billy. Like a spectral presence, he materializes and vanishes throughout the upper floors of the Westin hotel, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. A dual shootout ensues, with Billy emerging battered but not defeated, as he wounds Arch and claims Papa's life. Wounded and reeling, Billy flees to the under-construction areas of the building, only to be cornered by Sharky. In a desperate bid to avoid capture and preserve his dignity, Billy vows to take his own life rather than surrender to the authorities. However, his defiant stance ultimately proves futile as Sharky's relentless pursuit culminates in Billy's tragic demise – he crashes through a window and plummets to his death on the city streets below. Meanwhile, Sharky finds solace with Dominoe at his childhood home, where they share a tender moment on a tire swing, their faces radiating joy and contentment.