Diagnosis Murder
"Murder Blues"
Written by Lee Goldberg
&
William Rabkin
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. HOUSE - EARLY MORNING 1
It looks like a crime scene at an Ethan Allen showroom. We
wind through COPS and FORENSIC TECHS, as we follow STEVE
SLOAN, sipping a STYROFOAM CUP of COFFEE. He is working his
way up behind a WOMAN in a BLUE WIND-BREAKER, with the words
MEDICAL EXAMINER etched in big yellow letters on the back.
She is leaning over a WOMAN'S CORPSE.
STEVE'S VOICE
What've you got?
M.E.'S VOICE
A headache, lower back pain, and
bags under my eyes that qualify as
luggage.
Steve Sloan crouches beside her and offers her his COFFEE.
STEVE
I warned you not to join the
M.E.'s office.
The woman turns and we realize it's AMANDA. She takes the cup
and sips it.
AMANDA
It's not the job. It's the divorce.
(then)
And this is an amicable split.
STEVE
They say divorce is one of the big
three for causing stress. So's
starting a new job.
AMANDA
The work takes my mind off my
troubles.
STEVE
I suppose a corpse will do that.
Steve studies the body. A WOMAN in her 30's, face-down in a
negligee on the floor, three BULLET HOLES in her back, her arm
outstretched in front of her.
AMANDA
Janet Dettmeyer, lives here alone.
She's been dead about two hours.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 2.
1 CONTINUED: 1
Amanda stands up and, still sipping the coffee, starts to
point some things out to Steve.
AMANDA
Judging by the splatter patterns
on the walls and carpet, she
caught someone coming through the
window and was shot three times as
she made a run for the phone.
Amanda takes another sip of coffee and motions to the phone
with her cup. The phone is on a table just out of reach of the
victim's out-stretched arm.
AMANDA
Jewelry's missing, so my guess is
a burglary gone bad.
STEVE
I don't see why they pulled me out
of bed, you got it all covered.
(then, smiles)
Want my job, too?
AMANDA
No, but I'll take a refill. Easy
on the sugar this time.
She hands him the empty cup and goes back to her work. And on
his look, we go:
2 EXT. HOUSE - EARLY MORNING 2
Steve emerges, still holding the empty cup, just as an
UNMARKED POLICE SEDAN pulls to the curb, windows rolled down.
Detectives STANG and HALLORAN are inside.
HALLORAN
Councilman Watson shown up yet?
STEVE
At dawn on a Saturday?
(shakes his head)
He likes big-ticket murders,
between nine-and-five on weekdays.
There aren't any sound bites here.
Halloran and Stang share a grim look.
STANG
That's his wife in the body bag.
She ditched him a couple months
ago. Started calling herself Ms.
Something-or-other and wearing a
wonder bra.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 3.
2 CONTINUED: 2
Steve groans and looks back over his shoulder at the house.
This simple case just became a pain-in-the-ass.
HALLORAN
We've been trying to get him on
the phone, no answer. We're on our
way over to his place now.
Steve opens the door to the backseat, tosses his empty cup on
the floor, and climbs in.
STEVE
Let's go.
And on the sedan speeding off, we:
CUT TO:
3 EXT. WATSON'S HOUSE - DAY 3
Usually houses this nice have gates around them. Halloran
leans on the bell. They can hear it RINGING inside. They wait
a moment. Nothing. Steve bangs on the door and shouts:
STEVE
Councilman Watson? It's the police.
Halloran shifts his weight, impatient. Steve pounds on the
door again. Stang walks away.
STANG
I'm taking a look around.
Stang disappears behind the house. Steve knocks again.
HALLORAN
How much longer are we going to
stand here making noise?
STEVE
You got a better idea?
HALLORAN
We go in.
STEVE
Without a warrant and without
probable cause? Have you forgotten
that Watson is on the police
commission? I'd hate to hear your
bad ideas.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 4.
3 CONTINUED: 3
HALLORAN
If something has happened to
Watson, and the press finds out we
were hanging around out here,
debating procedure, we might as
well leave our badges behind when
we leave.
That's when Stang returns and motions them to follow him.
STANG
You want to see this.
4 EXT. WATSON HOUSE - DRIVEWAY 4
Steve crouches and examines the stairs leading to the back
door of the house.
STEVE
It's blood.
Halloran is at the back door of the house.
HALLORAN
There's more on the doorknob.
(then)
Maybe we should knock louder this
time.
Steve shares a look with Halloran - he wins. Steve draws his
gun, marches up to the door, and KICKS IT OPEN.
5 INT. WATSON HOUSE - DAY 5
As Stang comes through, covered by Steve and Halloran.
STANG
Knock. Knock.
Stang moves forward, covering the other two as they come in.
The threesome move methodically through the house, cross-
covering each other as they go.
STEVE
Police. If there is anyone in the
house, step forward slowly with
your hands up.
They reach the master bedroom... the door is ajar. Steve
pushes it open to reveal:
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 5.
6 INT. WATSON HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM 6
MATTHEW WATSON, 50's, is waking up groggily in bed. Stang
moves into the bathroom, Halloran checks out the closets.
Steve covers Watson with his gun and, with his free hand,
yanks the sheets off the bed. Watson is still half-asleep,
apparently uninjured and unarmed.
WATSON
Who are you? What the hell is
going on?
STEVE
Steve Sloan, Homicide.
Halloran checks the phone, it works. He notices a BOTTLE OF
SLEEPING PILLS on the night stand.
HALLORAN
No wonder he didn't hear anything.
He tosses the bottle to Steve, who glances at it.
7 THE BOTTLE - STEVE'S POV 7
It's for triazolam, a tranquilizer. It's from the COMMUNITY
GENERAL PHARMACY, prescribing doctor is: MARK SLOAN.
8 BACK TO SCENE 8
Steve looks back at the still-groggy Watson.
STEVE
How many of these did you take?
WATSON
Three-four, I don't know.
Stang steps out of the bathroom, holstering his gun.
STANG
There's blood in the bathtub and
the sink.
(then)
Think maybe he had a nosebleed?
STEVE
I think someone should read him
his rights.
And on Steve's grim look, we:
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 6.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
9 EXT. CITY HALL - DAY 9
A cluster of REPORTERS surronds POLICE CHIEF MASTERS, 50's, as
he addresses them, wearing his UNIFORM.
REPORTER #1
Chief Masters, do you really
believe Councilman Watson is
capable of committing such a
vicious crime?
MASTERS
I have the greatest respect for
Mr. Watson, but I also firmly
believe he's capable of doing
whatever will further his
interests.
REPORTER #2
Some people are going to say that
this arrest smells of a personal
agenda.
MASTERS
And most of them work on your
paper's editorial board. I'm
prepared that they're going to
call this a fight over the
mayoralty, despite the fact that
neither Mr. Watson nor I have
announced any intention to run.
REPORTER #1
So you really believe Councilman
Watson is guilty?
MASTERS
Of corruption, personal and
professional? Yes. Of working to
tear down everything real
Americans believe in? Just look at
his record.
REPORTER #1
Of murder, Chief. Is he guilty of
murdering his wife?
MASTERS
I'm sorry, it would be
inappropriate for me to comment on
that.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 7.
9 CONTINUED: 9
Masters disappears behind a door and we FIND Steve, Stang, and
Halloran standing to one side. Stang and Halloran seem
pleased, but Steve is vaguely troubled.
STANG
I think we just bought ourselves
promotions.
STEVE
I hope that's all we bought.
CUT TO:
10 INT. POLICE PRECINCT - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY 10
Watson fixes MARK with a look of pure sincerity. Mark has a
hard time meeting it. There's just the metal table, four
chairs, a MIRROR and a BARRED WINDOW.
WATSON
You know me, Mark. Do you honestly
believe I could do what they're
saying?
MARK
You've been my patient for a long
time, but Steve is my son, and
he's a good cop.
WATSON
One of the few.
MARK
I have to tell you, Matthew: He
believes you're guilty.
There, it's out in the open. But it doesn't even slow Watson.
WATSON
As he should -- based on the
evidence. I've had a very public,
and very bitter, separation from
Janet, and there was blood all
over my house. But I didn't put it
there.
MARK
Who did?
WATSON
There could have been fifty people
marching through my house for all
I know.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 8.
10 CONTINUED: 10
WATSON (cont'd)
I went to bed at eight and didn't
wake up until I was being
arrested -- thanks to the
tranquilizers you prescribed.
(then, ironic)
First decent night's sleep I've
had since the separation.
Mark studies Watson.
MARK
Steve was there. If he saw
evidence being planted, he would
expose it.
WATSON
If he saw it.
(then)
The officer who "found" the blood
was Tony Stang. My commission on
police brutality named him one of
the twelve worst cops on the force
and urged his immediate
termination. Masters ignored the
recommendation, of course.
MARK
I'm sorry, Matthew, I can't
believe police officers would let
a murderer go free and frame an
innocent man just to silence a
critic.
WATSON
How about to protect a corrupt
power structure from the one man
who stands a chance of bringing it
down?
Mark wants to believe his friend, and yet--
MARK
I don't know. It sounds so--
WATSON
Paranoid?
MARK
Well, yes.
WATSON
It's not the first time I've been
called paranoid. Hell, I've been
hearing that for decades -- every
time I said Geronimo Pratt was
framed.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 9.
10 CONTINUED: (2) 10
MARK
The Black Panthers leader? Wasn't
he just released from prison?
WATSON
After serving 25 years for murder.
A federal judge ruled the FBI and
the DA's office had suppressed
proof of his innocence.
(then)
I don't have 25 years, Mark. I
need justice now.
And on Mark's concern:
11 INT. POLICE PRECINCT - PIKE'S OFFICE - DAY 11
CAPTAIN CYNTHIA PIKE, 40's, attractive but tough, motions for
Mark to wait just one more minute as she tries to get off the
phone. He settles into one of the two uncomfortable, metal
seats. Her office is a neat, orderly glass-walled island in
one corner of a busy, over-populated, paper-strewn precinct
that needed a paint job 20 years ago and still hasn't gotten
it.
PIKE
(into phone)
Stang and Halloran took the call
because they were in the area.
(then)
They were on patrol. That's why we
call them patrol cars.
(then)
If the mayor wants to work out the
duty roster himself, he's welcome
to my job. Until then, I won't be
second-guessed.
She slams down the phone and turns to Mark. That's when the
phone RINGS again.
MARK
Maybe this is a bad time.
PIKE
It's not going to get any better.
She picks up and hangs up the phone.
MARK
I just talked to Matthew Watson.
PIKE
And he told you he was framed.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 10.
11 CONTINUED: 11
MARK
He makes a strong argument.
PIKE
Go ahead, Doctor. Follow that
thought wherever it takes you.
The phone starts ringing. She ignores it, staring at Mark,
challenging him to take the obvious next step.
MARK
I just want to rule out the
possibility that what Watson's
saying is true.
Mark gets up to go, but Pike isn't done.
PIKE
Don't we all. But if you find
anything odd, I'd appreciate it if
you came to me before the press.
MARK
Of course.
PIKE
Because there was only one officer
at Watson's house who was also at
the crime scene -- and he'll take
the biggest fall.
Mark is clearly worried. He looks out the window at his son,
just another weary face in the sea of weary faces that is the
precinct squad room.
MARK
I know.
And on Mark's troubled look:
12 INT. PRECINCT - SQUAD ROOM - DAY 12
Stang and Halloran are holstering their weapons and stuffing
extra bullets into their pockets as Steve approaches.
STEVE
Expecting a siege?
HALLORAN
Matter of fact, we are.
STANG
Watson says he's framed, and ten
seconds later your father is here
trying to prove it.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 11.
12 CONTINUED: 12
STANG (cont'd)
Way I see it, the crap is gonna
hit us any minute.
(then)
But you got nothing to worry
about, do you?
STEVE
My father is Watson's doctor, this
is just a courtesy.
STANG
Yeah, my dentist is on the way
down, too.
HALLORAN
(to Steve)
What chance do we have against a
city councilman and his powerful
allies?
STEVE
My father is only interested in
the truth, and we all know what
happened out there. You have
nothing to worry about.
STANG
Oh, so the truth will protect me.
I feel so much better already,
don't you Fred?
HALLORAN
I'll feel better after we've fired
a couple dozen rounds at the
shooting range.
Halloran turns to go. Stang hangs back a moment.
STANG
Remind your Dad who the good guys
are. They are the ones with badges.
And on Steve, we:
DISSOLVE TO:
13 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - ESTABLISHING - DAY 13
14 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PATHOLOGY - DAY 14
We face the TWO GLASS DOORS leading to the lab. On one door,
there's the usual PATHOLOGY LAB sign.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 12.
14 CONTINUED: 14
On the other door, there's a COUNTY SEAL on the door and the
words: "County of Los Angeles, Adjunct Medical Examiner's
Office." JESSE pushes through the doors to find BODIES on
every table. Amanda moves among the various CORONER'S
ASSISTANTS, directing their activities, signing clipboards,
double-checking their work as Jesse catches up with her.
JESSE
I had no idea so many people get
killed in LA.
AMANDA
Not all of them are murders,
Jesse. Some are accidents, some
are deaths by "undetermined
causes," some are--
Jesse whips back a blanket to examine a CORPSE we don't see.
He WINCES at the sight, quickly putting the sheet back over it.
AMANDA
--drowning victims that wash up on
the beach after days at sea.
Amanda motions to the body Jesse just glanced at.
JESSE
Remind me to never, ever, do that
again.
AMANDA
You didn't come down here for a
tour of my new lab.
JESSE
Actually, Mark sent me down for
the work-up on Janet Watson.
Amanda goes to her desk and retrieves a file.
AMANDA
I'm afraid there's no mystery
here. Cause of death is a .35
caliber bullet that punctured her
aorta.
JESSE
What about the tox screen?
AMANDA
Nothing unusual -- just trace
amounts of acetaminophen and
pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 13.
14 CONTINUED: (2) 14
JESSE
Cold medicine.
(then)
Did you find anything at all that
could possibly clear Councilman
Watson?
AMANDA
No, but I found something that may
convict him: That was definitely
Janet Watson's blood all over his
house.
She hands Jesse the file. And on his look, we:
CUT TO:
15 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 15
Mark is riding a COMPUTERIZED EXERCISE BIKE, one of those with
an elaborate control panel, virtual reality goggles propped on
his forehead as he reads the SAME FILE Amanda handed to Jesse,
who looks on.
MARK
It doesn't look very good.
Mark puts the goggles back on.
JESSE
You should see what was on table
number three.
(re: bike)
I've never seen an exercise bike
like this before.
MARK
You can ride 7000 different routes
around the world.
Steve enters as Mark starts going up a steep hill on his "bike
trek."
STEVE
Still in France?
MARK
Crossed the border ages ago. I'm
three miles outside Gstaad. Where
have you been?
STEVE
Nowhere as exotic. I've been back-
tracking Janet's movements over
the last 24 hours.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 14.
15 CONTINUED: 15
Unnoticed by the others, Mark's uphill climb is getting harder
and harder.
STEVE
She was home all day except for a
trip to the drugstore for some
cold medicine.
JESSE
Maybe she was followed from the
store by one of those home
invasion guys.
STEVE
And maybe space aliens came to
take her back to their mothership.
JESSE
They wouldn't shoot her with
bullets. They'd use phasers.
Steve glares at Jesse, who is shooting him a smile. Behind
them, Mark is now going quickly downhill, the pedals spinning
wildly. He lifts his feet off the pedals and coasts.
STEVE
My point is, any theory is
possible, but all the proof we
have points to Councilman
Watson -- and he's not helping
himself by refusing to talk to the
police.
MARK
Except to say he's innocent.
STEVE
Which is somehow less compelling
than the fact his wife's blood was
all over his house.
Something occurs to Mark, he takes off his goggles.
MARK
Let me see that file again.
Mark reaches for the file and starts to read through it again,
seemingly looking for something. Steve and Jesse share a look.
JESSE
I've got a feeling he's got a
feeling.
And on Mark, intent on his search, we
CUT TO:
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 15.
16 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PATHOLOGY - DAY 16
Amanda is working over a body with pathology assistant JAN
YANIHIRO, 20's, bright and energetic.
AMANDA
...the bullet avulsed the inferior
branch of the right, main
pulmonary artery, causing massive
internal hemorraging and death.
(then)
That finishes up Mr. Fitz. Who's
next?
JAN
He's the last one.
Amanda barely conceals her disappointment.
AMANDA
There are no more bodies? What
about that five car pile-up?
JAN
You cleared that up before lunch.
AMANDA
Right. Maybe we should look them
over again, in case we missed
something.
JAN
That's what we did after lunch.
AMANDA
Oh.
(then)
Guess it's time to fill out the
report on that drowning victim.
JAN
Done.
Amanda is beginning to look uncomfortable. She wants to work.
She needs work.
AMANDA
Well, we've put off ordering
supplies long enough. Let's get
down to it.
JAN
I got down to it this morning.
Amanda gives her a cold look.
AMANDA
My, aren't we efficient.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 16.
16 CONTINUED: 16
JAN
I have to be to keep up with you,
Dr. Bentley. You mind if I go?
I have a date with the guy in
radiology.
AMANDA
Have a great time. I'll just
stick around and finish up the,
uh, stuff.
Jan smiles and leaves. Amanda looks around for something to
do. She finds a crooked picture and is straightening it when
THE PHONE RINGS. She dives for it, relieved and ready for
action.
AMANDA
Dr. Amanda Bentley, staff
pathologist, adjunct county
Medical Examiner. What have you
got?
INTERCUT WITH:
17 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 17
Mark is on the phone. Steve and Jesse are nearby.
MARK
Amanda, sorry to bother you. Did
you run a tox screen on the blood
samples collected at Councilman
Watson's house?
AMANDA
Sure did. Came up clean.
MARK
No drugs or preserving agents?
AMANDA
Nothing at all.
MARK
(sadly)
Thanks, Amanda.
AMANDA
(quickly)
I can do the autopsy again, if you
like.
Mark is confused. Why the heck would she want to do that?
MARK
That really isn't necessary.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 17.
17 CONTINUED: 17
AMANDA
Are you sure? It's no trouble.
MARK
Thanks for the offer, but I have
what I need. I appreciate the
work, Amanda.
And on Amanda's dejected look, Mark hangs up the phone and
shares a grim look with Steve and Jesse.
DISSOLVE TO:
18 EXT. PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT 18
19 INT. PRECINCT - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT 19
A stark, empty room, save for a MIRROR on one wall and BARRED
WINDOW on another. Mark and Captain Pike are sitting at the
table when Stang comes in.
STANG
I heard you wanted to see me.
PIKE
Sit down, Detective.
Stang glances warily at Mark and continues standing.
STANG
Is he here to look at my
hemorrhoids, or is there something
I ought to know?
PIKE
I said sit down.
Stang slides out a chair, and sits down. He casts an uneasy
glance back over at Mark.
PIKE
I never liked you, Stang -- but I
fought for you because you cleared
cases. When Watson's commission
called you dirty, I persuaded them
you were just over-enthusiastic.
Made sure you kept your job.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 18.
19 CONTINUED: 19
STANG
And I never even got around to
baking you a batch of cookies.
PIKE
Shut up, Stang.
(then)
Being a cop in this town is a
lousy job, and as long as you do
it right, I'm not going to make it
worse by busting you over the
small stuff.
STANG
That's what makes you a hero to us
little guys, Captain.
PIKE
You've got one chance to save your
badge here, Detective. You want to
take it, or you want to mouth off?
Stang wants to mouth off. But he manages to keep it shut.
PIKE
As long as you're clean, no one's
going to mess with you while I'm
here. But if you're dirty, nothing
you can do will keep me from
bringing you down.
Now Stang is beginning to see there's a little more here than
another reprimand.
STANG
Who says I'm dirty?
Pike turns to look at Mark. Stang follows her gaze angrily.
STANG
What the hell does he know?
MARK
If I knew, we wouldn't be having
this conversation. Right now I
just think you framed Councilman
Watson for murder.
Stang stares at him, processing it, not believing it.
STANG
You think?
(to Pike)
Do I have to sit here and listen
to this crap?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 19.
19 CONTINUED: (2) 19
MARK
You had the motive. You hated
Matthew Watson.
STANG
I admit I crossed him off my
Christmas card list, but find one
cop in the department who liked
the guy.
(to Pike)
Go on, tell me you voted for him.
MARK
You had the motive, and you had
the opportunity. You were the one
who went behind the house alone.
You were the one who found the
blood on the driveway. You were
also the one who found it in the
bathroom.
STANG
Where do you suppose I got all
this blood?
(then)
Oh yeah, your son must've given me
a big, dripping swab of the stuff
from the crime scene and said
paint the place with it.
MARK
That was where you made your
mistake. The blood didn't come
from the crime scene.
Stang stops, the sneer momentarily dropping from his face. He
didn't expect to hear this from Mark Sloan.
STANG
What are you talking about?
MARK
Janet Watson was taking cold
medication -- yet there was no
sign of it in the blood at
Councilman Watson's house.
PIKE
That means the blood didn't come
from Janet Watson the day she was
killed...but some time before.
MARK
That's premeditation.
PIKE
And that's Murder One.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 20.
19 CONTINUED: (3) 19
Stang looks from one to the other. He's in deep trouble.
STANG
I want my PBA rep.
Pike gets up.
PIKE
If that's how you want to play it--
(then)
You want to talk, I'm willing to
make a deal with you. But it's a
limited time offer. I want an
answer when I come back.
Pike and Mark walk out, leaving Stang alone, shaken. He
glances at his REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR and, realizing there
might be someone watching, puts his sneer back on and blows a
kiss to whoever is behind it.
20 INT. PRECINCT - OBSERVATION ROOM - NIGHT 20
Halloran and Steve are on the other side of the mirror.
HALLORAN
There goes my career and my
pension.
STEVE
You didn't frame Watson, he did.
HALLORAN
You think that makes a difference?
I was his partner. He goes down,
so do I.
Halloran walks out. Steve takes another look at Stang, then
leaves.
21 INT. PRECINCT - SQUAD ROOM - NIGHT 21
Steve joins Mark in the busy squad room.
MARK
Watson was released ten minutes
ago. He's already scheduled a
press conference outside City Hall
for tomorrow morning.
STEVE
If he really cares about the city,
he'd keep his mouth shut.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 21.
21 CONTINUED: 21
MARK
The man's wife was murdered and
his reputation was ruined, Steve.
You can't blame him for wanting to
restore it.
STEVE
He doesn't need to hold a press
conference to do it.
(then)
The public already distrusts us.
By exploiting the situation,
Watson is stoking their outrage.
It could get bloody out there.
MARK
And you'll be caught right in the
middle.
STEVE
I made the bust with Stang and
Halloran. I'm already in the
middle.
MARK
It doesn't help that your father
brought down a fellow cop. I've
made you an outcast.
STEVE
Stang was dirty. The rest I can
live with.
That's when they hear a GUNSHOT. All the detectives
instinctively take cover. Steve turns to Mark. They both know
where that sound came from. They rush out of the squad room to:
22 INT. PRECINCT - CORRIDOR - NIGHT 22
They rush down the hall to find Pike and Halloran outside the
interrogation room door. They are trying to open it.
HALLORAN
It's locked.
Steve opens the observation room door and rushes in with Pike.
23 INT. PRECINCT - OBSERVATION ROOM - NIGHT 23
Steve and Pike stop in front of the one-way glass and look
into the interrogation room. Stang has jammed a chair under
the doorknob. Stang's body is face-down on the floor.
PIKE
No.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 22.
23 CONTINUED: 23
Pike picks up a CHAIR and HURLS IT THROUGH THE GLASS. The
mirror SHATTERS. Pike climbs through the jagged glass,
followed by Steve.
24 INT. PRECINCT - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT 24
Steve goes to Stang, finds a GUN in his hand, a pool of BLOOD
on the floor. Pike, BLEEDING now from several major and minor
cuts, pulls away the chair that was jammed under the door and
lets in Mark and Halloran. Steve looks up from the body and
shakes his head.
STEVE
He's dead.
And on their grim reactions, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 23.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
25 INT. PRECINCT - PIKE'S OFFICE - NIGHT 25
The shades are drawn. An EMT is treating several ugly
lacerations on Pike's arms and a few minor scratches on her
face. Steve and Halloran look grim.
PIKE
I pushed him too hard. I made sure
there was no way he could get out
without losing his badge and doing
time -- except one.
STEVE
You couldn't have known what he'd
do.
PIKE
I shouldn't have left him alone.
He was a cop. He had no other
choice.
STEVE
Maybe -- but where the hell did he
get the gun?
Halloran looks away, he hates what he's about to say.
HALLORAN
Could've been his throw-down
weapon. Kept it in his ankle
holster.
Pike glares at Halloran, barely controlling her rage.
PIKE
You never know when you might
shoot an unarmed man and need a
weapon to plant on him.
HALLORAN
Guns have a way of disappearing,
even if they were there. You've
been on the streets. You know that.
Pike looks at her two officers, her anger barely under the
surface of her words.
PIKE
(to Steve)
Take Stang's gun down to
ballistics.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 24.
25 CONTINUED: 25
PIKE (cont'd)
(then, to both)
Spread the word: any officer in my
precinct carrying a second weapon
better lose it. Today.
(then)
Dismissed.
Steve and Halloran leaves. The EMT applies some disinfectant
to a wound, Pike winces, but takes it.
DISSOLVE TO:
26 EXT. BEACH HOUSE - ESTABLISHING - DAY 26
WATSON (O.S.)
This shocking injustice proves
what I have been saying for years
about this police department...
27 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 27
Mark, Amanda and Jesse watch the WATSON PRESS CONFERENCE on
TV. He is surrounded by the LEADERS of several MINORITY GROUPS
(African-American, Hispanic, Korean, etc.)
WATSON (ON TV)
They don't serve the badge. They
don't serve the community. They
don't serve the law. They serve
Chief Masters and his personal
agenda.
(then)
They are his foot soldiers,
enforcing his will, trampling our
civil rights in his brazen pursuit
of power.
The crowd behind him ROAR THEIR APPROVAL.
WATSON (ON TV)
We demand the Chief's immediate
resignation and an in-depth re-
investigation of every case
Detective Stang worked during his
long and deplorable career.
Mark switches off the TV set and turns to Jesse and Amanda.
MARK
Steve was right -- Watson's
rhetoric could spark a war on the
streets.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 25.
27 CONTINUED: 27
JESSE
I hate to say it, Mark, but the
Councilman has a point and you
proved it: The police framed him.
AMANDA
An officer may have framed him.
It's unfair to blame the entire
department for one man's actions.
(then)
Do you think Steve condones what
Stang did?
JESSE
Of course not, but I think even
Steve would agree that when you
wear a badge, you are representing
the entire department.
MARK
There are too many unanswered
questions to just let it go with
Stang's suicide.
(then)
Who killed Janet Watson? Where did
Stang get Janet's blood?
AMANDA
I may have a lead. After Stang's
suicide, I re-opened the autopsy
of Janet Watson. I found a nearly-
healed puncture in the crook of
her arm. It's a wound consistent
with someone drawing blood. But I
called her family doctor, and he
hasn't seen her in months.
JESSE
Maybe she gave blood. I could
check out the local blood banks,
see if she made any donations
recently.
MARK
Good idea. Can you get on it this
afternoon?
JESSE
Sure.
(then)
There's something I don't get. If
Stang killed her, why didn't he
just use blood from the scene?
Mark takes a deep breath -- he's thought about this, too.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 26.
27 CONTINUED: (2) 27
MARK
There's only one reason I can
think of..
And as they mull the disturbing implications of that, we:
DISSOLVE TO:
28 EXT. POLICE PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - DAY 28
29 INT. POLICE PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM - DAY 29
Steve comes in, carrying a file, heading for Pike's office. He
stops when he sees through the window that Pike is talking to
Masters -- and it doesn't look like a happy conversation.
Halloran comes up behind Steve.
HALLORAN
They offered a lip-reading class
at the Academy. Never regretted
skipping it until now.
STEVE
Think they're talking about your
future?
Halloran gives Steve a sardonic grin.
HALLORAN
My what?
STEVE
It's not necessarily over for you,
Fred.
HALLORAN
Yeah, I hear Burger Town is always
looking for experienced security
guards.
And with that, he walks away. Steve watches him sadly, then
heads to Pike's door and knocks, then goes into:
30 INT. POLICE PRECINCT - PIKE'S OFFICE - DAY 30
Pike and Masters stop their conversation as Steve comes in.
They stare at him.
MASTERS
Were you aware, Detective, that
there was a meeting going on in
here?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 27.
30 CONTINUED: 30
STEVE
Yes, sir. I'm sorry, but--
PIKE
I asked Detective Sloan to bring
me the ballistics report on
Stang's gun as soon as it was
available.
If it's possible, Masters' look gets colder. He takes the file
from Steve.
MASTERS
I see.
(to Steve)
Have you looked at this?
STEVE
Yes, sir. It appears that Stang's
gun was the same weapon that
killed Janet Watson.
PIKE
I can't believe it...
Pike looks crushed. Masters doesn't betray any emotion.
MASTERS
(to Steve)
Who else knows?
STEVE
No one. The techs didn't know
whose gun they were testing.
MASTERS
See that it stays that way.
Pike sees where he's going and tries to head him off.
PIKE
You're not thinking of trying to
bury this. If Stang actually
murdered Janet Watson--
MASTERS
It's an ongoing investigation,
Captain. We'll announce the
results when we know the entire
truth.
PIKE
Word gets out, it always does. And
then it will look like we have
something to hide.
Masters gives her a hard look, then turns to Steve.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 28.
30 CONTINUED: (2) 30
MASTERS
When Stang went into Councilman
Watson's house, where were you?
STEVE
Right next to him, sir.
MASTERS
And who made the actual arrest?
STEVE
I did.
MASTERS
And who was in charge of the
ballistics report on Stang's gun?
Pike and Steve exchange a look.
MASTERS
So you see, it already looks like
we have something to hide, doesn't
it?
STEVE
Sir, if you're suggesting that I
had anything to do with--
Masters holds up a hand, cutting him off.
MASTERS
I'm not suggesting anything. But
the press will. And the suggestion
of a police conspiracy to murder
Janet Watson and frame her husband
will be enough to destroy us all.
PIKE
That's why we should come forth
with everything we know as soon as
possible.
MASTERS
It's taken this department five
years and three chiefs to recover
from the last scandal. I'm not
sure we can ever recover from
another one.
(hands Pike the file)
Bury this.
He leaves. Pike sighs heavily.
PIKE
They never learn.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 29.
30 CONTINUED: (3) 30
STEVE
Captain?
PIKE
It's not the crime that brings you
down, it's the cover-up.
STEVE
And we're right in the middle of
it.
(then)
But maybe we can get out.
PIKE
We can't release the ballistics
report against the Chief's
explicit order.
STEVE
But if we find independent
evidence confirming our
suspicion...
Pike stares at him for a moment, appreciating the thought.
Then:
PIKE
Get us a search warrant for
Stang's apartment.
Steve heads for the door.
PIKE
But Sloan, do it quietly.
Steve nods and leaves. A moment later, Pike's phone rings.
PIKE
Pike.
(listens)
Dr. Sloan is where?
And on Pike's baffled look, we:
CUT TO:
31 INT. PRECINCT - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY 31
Mark walks around the room, pausing to study the SHATTERED
MIRROR and then the WINDOW, which is BARRED on the outside. He
is still at the window when Pike comes in.
PIKE
Dr. Sloan... what are you doing
here?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 30.
31 CONTINUED: 31
MARK
I find that revisiting the scene
of the crime often gives me a
fresh perspective.
PIKE
Then shouldn't you be at Janet
Watson's house?
MARK
We have a pretty good idea what
happened there. What we don't know
is what happened here.
PIKE
Stang jammed the door shut and
blew the back of his head off.
MARK
What if he didn't?
Pike looks confused.
PIKE
Are you suggesting he was murdered?
MARK
I'm suggesting it's a possibility.
Pike gives him a dubious look.
PIKE
Even if we forget he was holding
the gun that killed Janet Watson,
and that there were powder burns
on his hand, the door was jammed
shut from the inside. The windows
are barred. And the mirror wasn't
broken until I tossed a chair
through it.
MARK
I know. But consider this: Janet
Watson gave blood at a City Hall
blood drive three days ago... and
the bag has disappeared.
Now Pike is getting it.
PIKE
If Stang killed Janet Watson, why
bother stealing a bag of blood
drawn three days before?
(then, realizing)
That's why you think someone else
may be involved -- someone who was
afraid Stang would talk.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 31.
31 CONTINUED: (2) 31
MARK
Let's assume, for the moment,
that's what happened. How could it
have been done?
Pike looks around, studying the room anew.
PIKE
The killer walks in the door,
pulls out a gun and caps Stang. He
puts the gun in Stang's hand, jams
a chair under the door, then has
maybe ten seconds to get out...
but how?
Mark returns to the window and points to the bars.
MARK
Notice how rusty these bars are.
So is the lock.
Pike joins Mark and examines the bars.
MARK
Now look closely at the lock. The
rust is gone around the loop.
PIKE
It's been opened recently.
(then, angry)
God-damn it.
MARK
Where are the keys for the lock
kept?
PIKE
In the desk sergeant's drawer.
32 INT. PRECINCT - DAY 32
Mark and Pike are at the desk sergeant's counter. Pike opens
the drawer and, using a pencil, lifts the keys out by the ring.
PIKE
I'll have them checked for prints,
though it's probably a waste of
time.
MARK
Who knew about these keys?
PIKE
Every cop in the precinct -- in
case of a fire or other emergency.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 32.
32 CONTINUED: 32
Pike drops the keys into an evidence bag and leads Mark back
to her office.
PIKE
There's still a big problem with
your theory: there was no time
between the sound of the gunshot
and us breaking into the room for
the killer to get away.
MARK
We're assuming that the gunshot we
heard was the shot that killed
Stang. What if it wasn't?
They arrive at:
33 INT. PRECINCT - PIKE'S OFFICE 33
Where Steve is waiting.
MARK
Suppose the killer shot Stang with
a silenced gun, left the weapon in
Stang's hand, then escaped through
the barred window. The killer
climbed back into a nearby room
and then, safely away from the
crime scene, used a different gun
to fire a blank.
PIKE
That all makes sense. But how do
you explain the powder burns on
Stang's hand?
Steve clears his throat and steps forward.
STEVE
Stang and Halloran visited the
shooting range a couple hours
before he was killed.
PIKE
And there must have been fifty
cops who saw him there... and saw
an opportunity.
Pike can barely keep her anger in check.
PIKE
(to Steve)
What happened to that search
warrant on Stang's place?
Steve pats his breast pocket.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 33.
33 CONTINUED: 33
STEVE
Right here, Captain.
PIKE
(to Steve)
Let's go.
And on the two of them hurrying out, we:
CUT TO:
34 EXT. STANG'S APARTMENT - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT 34
35 INT. STANG'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 35
Pike is thoroughly searching the place, tossing drawers and
checking behind and under furniture.
36 EXT. STANG'S GARAGE - NIGHT 36
Steve EMPTIES THE TRASH CAN onto the floor. He is sorting
through the usual muck of day-to-day life when he discovers...
37 HIS POV - A BAG 37
It's a RED CROSS blood bag, Janet Watson's name clearly marked
on the label.
38 INT. STANG'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 38
Steve comes in, the blood bag now in an EVIDENCE BAG.
STEVE
Captain, I've got something.
Steve finds Pike in the ransacked bedroom, reading a FILE that
has MASKING TAPE on TWO ENDS.
STEVE
The Red Cross bag that contained
Janet Watson's blood.
(re: the file)
What's that?
PIKE
Trouble for all of us.
Pike looks up from the file, clearly disturbed.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 34.
38 CONTINUED: 38
PIKE
I found this taped under a drawer.
It's a secret police intelligence
file on Councilman Watson -- from
Chief Masters' office.
And on Steve's dread, we
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 35.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
39 OMITTED 39
40 EXT. CITY HALL - DAY 40
Pike stands with Councilman Watson at her side, bathed in the
harsh light of TV LIGHTS. We pull back to reveal a CROWDED
PRESS CONFERENCE is in progress. Mark, Steve, and Halloran are
also in the crowd. Pike speaks forcefully, but she seems weary.
PIKE
I want to say this clearly, and
without equivocation: Individuals
in this department framed
Councilman Watson for murder and,
in all probability, were involved
in the killing of his wife.
The REPORTERS react with SHOCK.
PIKE
It appears that Det. Stang planted
Janet Watson's blood on the
Councilman's property and that
Det. Stang's gun was the murder
weapon.
Pike waits a moment for the impact of this revelation to sink
in. For once, the press corps is quiet, too stunned to say a
word. The silence itself is astonishing.
PIKE
I share your horror at this abuse
of the public trust.
But I urge you not to condemn the
entire department for the actions
of a few corrupt officers. I
promise you that we will find the
truth, no matter where it leads.
Pike steps back. Watson, clearly moved, takes the podium.
WATSON
I want to praise Captain Pike for
her honesty and courage. It's good
to know there are still a few
police officers in this city we
can believe in.
Watson offers his hand to Pike. She takes it. A HUNDRED
FLASHBULBS seem to go off at once. The REPORTERS surge
forward, hurling questions at Pike and Watson.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 36.
40 CONTINUED: 40
REPORTER #1
Councilman, is Chief Masters
behind this plot against you?
REPORTER #2
Was Detective Stang murdered?
REPORTER #1
Is Captain Pike being considered
to replace the Chief?
Pike steps weakly up to the mike. Mark notices her discomfort.
PIKE
That's all. My office will be
releasing a detailed statement
within the hour. Thank you.
Pike and Watson go, but not before Mark sees her grab a pillar
to steady herself. Concerned, Mark goes in after them.
Halloran storms off, Steve follows him. Mark joins them as
Pike lowers herself heavily onto a bench.
WATSON
Mark, I want to thank you again.
Without your help, I'd be in a
cell and this scandal would never
have been exposed.
But Mark ignores the praise and goes to Pike.
MARK
Are you all right?
PIKE
I feel terrible. I don't take any
pleasure in this.
MARK
That's not what I'm talking about.
He feels her forehead.
MARK
You're burning up.
He rolls up her sleeve and examines her arm. One of the CUTS
is SWOLLEN AND RED, and her MUSCLE is TWITCHING.
MARK
How long has your arm been
twitching like this?
PIKE
A few hours, maybe. It's just
nerves.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 37.
40 CONTINUED: (2) 40
MARK
I'm afraid it's not.
(to an officer)
Get an ambulance down here right
away.
And on his concern, we:
CUT TO:
41 OMITTED 41
42 INT. POLICE PRECINCT - SQUAD ROOM - DAY 42
Halloran goes to his desk and starts angrily pulling the
drawers out of his desk, emptying the contents onto the top.
Steve comes up to him.
HALLORAN
Still think I have a future here?
STEVE
Depends how much you knew about
what Stang was doing.
Halloran stops, stares at the mess on his desk.
HALLORAN
You want to help? Get me one of
those boxes for this crap.
Steve hands him a MOVING CARTON from the floor, then picks up
a small black box from the desk and opens it -- it contains a
MEDAL. He knows what it's for.
STEVE
Long Beach refinery stand-off. I
was in the academy then. Watched
you pulling out those hostages on
TV.
HALLORAN
Yeah, I was the big hero that day.
Great things in my future.
Halloran takes the medal from Steve and tosses it in the
garbage.
STEVE
What happened, Fred?
HALLORAN
Stang happened.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 38.
42 CONTINUED: 42
STEVE
I guess a dirty partner doesn't do
much for your reputation.
HALLORAN
Suspect gets a couple of bruises
on the way back to the precinct,
gun gets dropped at a shooting,
doesn't matter which partner does
it. You're a team.
STEVE
You could have said something.
HALLORAN
Right.
STEVE
Not the department's way, is it?
We don't talk, we take action.
Halloran stops and looks sharply at Steve.
HALLORAN
What are you getting at?
STEVE
Stang didn't kill himself.
That's not much of a surprise to Halloran.
HALLORAN
Never seemed like his style.
(then)
I look good for popping him, that
it?
STEVE
You were the first one at the
interrogation room door.
HALLORAN
I had to use the can. Door was
locked, so I was waiting outside.
(then)
As a crack detective, I'm sure
you've observed that the bathroom
is right next to interrogation.
STEVE
That's your story?
HALLORAN
You got motive, you got
opportunity. Cuff me, what the
hell do I care?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 39.
42 CONTINUED: (2) 42
Halloran picks up his box and walks away. Steve follows.
HALLORAN
That sonofabitch Stang. He
couldn't be content just
humiliating Watson, he had to
destroy him.
STEVE
Humiliating him how?
HALLORAN
With his wife, of course.
STEVE
(putting it together)
Stang... and Janet Watson?
HALLORAN
She got off on sleeping with the
one cop her husband hated the
most. Stang said it was the same
for him.
STEVE
And you never thought of
mentioning this?
HALLORAN
Who would it have helped?
Halloran leaves the building. And on Steve, pondering that
thought, we:
CUT TO:
43 EXT. POLICE PARKING LOT - DAY 43
Mark emerges gingerly from his car as Steve comes up behind
him, carrying a file.
STEVE
I see the bike tour's treating you
well. Been pedaling the green
hills of Africa?
MARK
Try the steep hills of Spain.
STEVE
I'd like to. Think I can get a
flight today?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 40.
43 CONTINUED: 43
MARK
I came down to see how you're
doing. Now I know. I guess this
Stang thing is getting to you.
STEVE
No, I love being despised by
everyone I work with.
Mark tries to find a way to comfort his son.
MARK
Remember when you found out your
college quarterback was getting
his test questions in advance?
STEVE
And I let you convince me to go to
the administration.
MARK
You took a lot of heat then, but
you came out all right.
STEVE
I was cut from the squad, my car
was torched in the parking lot,
and I couldn't get a date my
entire junior year.
Oh. Mark didn't remember that part.
MARK
Still, you saw a wrong and you
made it right. That's what's
important.
STEVE
Especially if you ignore the fact
that the quarterback was drafted
by the pros, the coach re-upped
with a huge raise, and they
expelled some poor grad student
who got blamed for the whole thing.
Wow. This isn't anything like the point Mark was aiming at.
MARK
I was sure there was a life lesson
in there somewhere.
STEVE
The guilty were rewarded, the
innocent were punished, and I got
screwed.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 41.
43 CONTINUED: (2) 43
MARK
Okay, maybe the football thing was
a bad example.
STEVE
No, I think it's pretty much dead-
on.
(then)
I hate myself for even thinking
this, but in a way, everyone would
have been better off if you'd
never proven the blood was planted.
MARK
Except for Matthew Watson, who'd
be facing the death penalty for a
crime he didn't commit.
STEVE
And what a loss that would be.
(off Mark's look)
I told you I hated myself for
thinking it. We're talking about
bringing down the chief of police.
MARK
You know it's the right thing to
do.
They both know how hollow that sounds right now.
STEVE
So was exposing the quarterback.
So why's he making 13 million a
year while I'm checking to see if
my car's on fire yet?
And on Mark's concern:
CUT TO:
44 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT 44
45 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PATHOLOGY - NIGHT 45
Amanda is doing an autopsy in the empty lab as Jesse passes by
in the corridor. He does a double-take and comes in.
JESSE
I thought your shift ended hours
ago.
AMANDA
It did -- but I have a lot of work
to do.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 42.
45 CONTINUED: 45
JESSE
I'm sure it's nothing that can't
wait -- they're dead. They will
still be dead tomorrow.
Jesse checks his watch.
JESSE
You can catch CJ before he goes to
bed.
AMANDA
CJ is with Colin this week.
There's just a big, empty house
waiting for me.
JESSE
Well, my shift ends after I see
this next patient. We could go see
that new action movie...
"Jack Bludd: Deathfist." Deathfist
drives this monster truck with
rocket launchers that--
AMANDA
(interrupts)
I really want to get this work
done. But thanks.
Jesse shrugs and starts to go, then stops. He turns around
slowly.
JESSE
Look, I know what you're doing.
(then)
I did the same thing when my
parents divorced.
AMANDA
You removed someone's liver?
Jesse ignores the sarcasm and continues.
JESSE
I joined every club at school,
went out for every team,
volunteered for every charity, I
even hung around to help the
custodians to clean the rooms.
(then)
Anything except go home and face
my pain. It caught up with me,
though.
AMANDA
I'm fine, Jesse. I just want to
get my work done.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 43.
45 CONTINUED: (2) 45
JESSE
Fine.
He starts to go again, then stops.
JESSE
But I'm saving you a seat at
"Deathfist."
She smiles and goes back to work. Jesse goes.
46 OMITTED 46
47 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PIKE'S ROOM - NIGHT 47
Pike is feverish, sweaty, an IV in her arm, monitors beeping.
A NURSE checks the cardiac monitor and makes a notation in a
chart. Pike can barely summon the strength to look over as
Jesse comes in studying a chart, trying to look less worried
than he really is.
PIKE
This'll teach me to eat fish tacos
from a roach coach.
JESSE
It's a good lesson to keep in
mind, but your condition has
nothing to do with food poisoning.
PIKE
Then what?
Jesse checks the chart.
JESSE
I'm looking at the files your
doctor sent over, and I don't see
any record of a tetanus shot in
the last ten years.
PIKE
Tetanus?
(suddenly scared)
I know I did. I stepped on an old
nail and my parents sent me to the
hospital--
(realizing)
--when I was fifteen.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 44.
47 CONTINUED: 47
JESSE
We've started aggressive
treatment, and I think we caught
it early enough that, with a
little luck, you'll be out of here
in a day or two.
PIKE
What if I'm not lucky?
If she's not lucky, she's going to die in a particularly
horrible way -- and they both know it.
JESSE
Let's not worry about that until
we have to.
(to nurse)
Continue IV, D5W 1/2 normal
saline, 150ccs an hour. Diazepam
10 mg IV push. Heparin 5000 units,
IV, with infusion, 800 units an
hour. And T.I.G., 3000 units IM.
Jesse gives Pike a comforting smile and goes to the door, just
as an enraged Chief Masters storms in.
MASTERS
What the hell were you thinking?
Jesse steps in front of him.
JESSE
This is not a good time.
Masters shoves Jesse out of the way and gets in Pike's face.
MASTERS
I'm the Chief of Police, not you.
I decide what goes public, no one
else.
PIKE
I don't let suspects in a homicide
dictate how I handle an
investigation. Sir.
Behind Masters, Steve Sloan slips into the room, motions Jesse
out, and closes the door behind him.
MASTERS
You playing politics now, Pike?
What kind of deal did you strike
with Watson?
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 45.
47 CONTINUED: (2) 47
PIKE
You wanted the ballistics report
on Stang's gun suppressed. We
found an intelligence file on
Watson, from your office, in
Stang's place. You add it up.
MASTERS
You don't even see how you're
being played by that bastard. All
you're doing is tearing this
department down -- so he can be
mayor.
PIKE
I'm doing my job.
Masters shakes his head and heads for the door, but not before
giving Steve a withering look.
MASTERS
Guess I ought to congratulate you,
Sloan. If Pike makes Chief, what's
that gonna make you?
Masters walks out. Pike sags, exhausted, and looks at Steve.
PIKE
Tell me you've got good news.
STEVE
You tell me.
Pike looks puzzled. Steve hands her a file.
PIKE
Stang's phone records?
STEVE
Look at that number. It shows up
more than thirty times.
Pike recognizes the number.
PIKE
That's Masters' private line.
They share a brief moment of triumph -- before the reality of
what they're talking about hits. And on their shared worry, we:
CUT TO:
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 46.
48 INT. PRECINCT - NIGHT 48
Steve is hard at work at his desk when a shadow falls over it.
He looks up in surprise to see Chief Masters. Steve
immediately stands up.
STEVE
Chief.
MASTERS
We have to talk.
Masters motions him with a jerk of his head into Pike's
office. Steve dutifully follows him inside.
49 INT. POLICE PRECINCT - PIKE'S OFFICE - NIGHT 49
Masters slams the door and confronts Steve.
MASTERS
I'm taking over the Watson
investigation while Capt. Pike is
hospitalized.
STEVE
I don't think that's a good idea,
sir.
MASTERS
Thank you for sharing your
opinion, detective. Give me
everything you have on the case.
STEVE
I can't do that, sir.
MASTERS
As long as you're wearing that
badge, you work for me, and you
will do exactly what I tell you.
STEVE
Is that what you told Stang?
Masters doesn't take the bait.
MASTERS
You're off the case. Hand over
all your files and notes, now.
STEVE
I don't share details of an
ongoing investigation with a
suspect. And like it or not,
Chief, you're a suspect.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 47.
49 CONTINUED: 49
Masters gets in Steve's face.
MASTERS
I'm still the same cop I was when
I walked a beat in South Central.
I don't break the law, I enforce
it.
STEVE
Then you know why it has to be
this way. If that's a problem for
you, fire me.
Masters studies Steve, then:
MASTERS
You better hope this plays out the
way you think it will... because
I'll still be standing when it's
over.
(then)
The question is, will you?
Masters walks out, leaving Steve to ponder that.
50 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 50
Steve sits with Mark and Jesse at breakfast.
STEVE
(to Mark)
I looked into your theory of how
Stang was killed. You were right.
(then)
I checked every room on the same
floor. In the men's room, I found
powder traces on the ceiling,
consistent with someone firing a
blank in there. And the rust on
the window bars was flaked off at
the hinge -- they've been opened
recently.
JESSE
If it wasn't for the rusty bars,
you might never have figured out
Stang was murdered.
Suddenly, something occurs to Mark. He's lost in thought as
the others chew over the case.
STEVE
The question now is who killed
Stang.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 48.
50 CONTINUED: 50
JESSE
And was it really Stang who killed
Janet Watson or someone else?
STEVE
And were they doing it on Chief
Masters' orders?
Mark snaps out of his thoughts with:
MARK
There's definitely a conspiracy at
work here, but not the one we're
being led to believe.
(then)
There's just a couple more details
I need to check...
And on his certainty, and everyone else's confused looks, we:
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 49.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
51 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY 51
52 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - NURSES' STATION - DAY 52
Mark, carrying a cup of coffee, joins Amanda at the counter.
She is clearly exhausted. He sets the cup in front of her. She
looks at it like it's poison.
AMANDA
Get that thing away from me.
MARK
Sorry, you looked like you might
need a little pick-me-up.
AMANDA
That's what I told myself each of
the last six hundred times I
filled a coffee cup.
MARK
I'm sure you're due for some time
off. Why not go away somewhere?
AMANDA
I can't, I have too much work.
(then, realizing)
Thanks for reminding me. I've got
six autopsies waiting.
She grabs the coffee and hurries off, nearly running into
Jesse, who joins Mark.
MARK
She's working too hard.
JESSE
No, she's running.
Mark thinks about that for a moment, then:
MARK
How is Cynthia Pike?
JESSE
No change.
(then)
Now I understand why my mother
always made me wear shoes when I
went outside.
That's when Steve emerges from the elevator, looking grim.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 50.
52 CONTINUED: 52
STEVE
I checked with the department's
janitorial service. They cleaned
the restroom the night before
Stang's death.
MARK
What about the observation room
mirror?
STEVE
They did every room on the floor,
including all windows and mirrors.
MARK
That's what I was afraid of.
STEVE
Dad, this seems like an odd time
to be concerned about the sanitary
conditions of my workplace. What's
going on?
MARK
Let's go over what we know:
Stang's killer jammed the
interrogation room door closed
with a chair, then shot him with
a silenced gun.
STEVE
Then the killer took off the
silencer, left a gun in Stang's
hand, climbed out the window to
the bathroom, where he fired a
blank into the ceiling.
JESSE
When everyone rushed to the
interrogation room, the killer
slipped out of the bathroom in the
confusion.
STEVE
That all makes sense to me -- so
what does the cleaning crew prove?
MARK
Unfortunately, it proves that
Stang was murdered by Cynthia Pike.
Jesse and Steve stare at him.
STEVE
That can't be right...
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 51.
52 CONTINUED: (2) 52
MARK
Remember how Captain Pike got into
the interrogation room?
STEVE
She smashed the mirror and climbed
through. Cut herself up pretty
badly doing it.
MARK
What if she cut herself
deliberately?
STEVE
Why?
MARK
To cover up the fact that she'd
already cut herself on the rusty
window bars. What she didn't know
was that she'd infected herself
with tetanus.
A moment, then the truth of it hits Steve and Jesse.
JESSE
Which she couldn't get from a
clean mirror.
Steve tightens angrily.
STEVE
All this time...
(then)
Why would she do it?
MARK
I have an idea -- but we won't
know for sure until we bring down
the leader of this conspiracy.
And as Mark contemplates his next move, we:
CUT TO:
53 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 53
as Watson stares at Mark and Steve incredulously.
WATSON
Pike and Stang were in this
together?
STEVE
I didn't want to believe it myself.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 52.
53 CONTINUED: 53
WATSON
I still don't.
MARK
Pike killed your wife and Stang
planted the blood at your house.
WATSON
I just told the city she had my
complete trust, for God's sake.
MARK
And that's exactly what she wanted
you to do. Everything is going
exactly as she planned it. With
Chief Masters, of course.
WATSON
Why?
MARK
For all the reasons you thought
before: to ruin you and give
Masters a clear shot at the
Mayor's seat.
STEVE
And he'd make her the first female
Chief of Police in LA history. But
once Dad figured out you were
framed, Pike decided to make Stang
the fall guy and save herself.
MARK
Pike killed Stang and tried to
make it look like suicide. But she
made a few mistakes, one of them
fatal.
(off Watson's look)
She contracted tetanus and I'm
afraid she isn't responding to
treatment.
WATSON
If she dies, we'll never be able
to prove Masters was behind this.
STEVE
There might be a way. Offer the
Chief a deal, tell him you know
about the intelligence file in
Stang's place. Tell him you'll
exonerate him if he drops out of
the race and endorses you for
Mayor.
Steve holds up a small TRANSMITTER and MICROPHONE.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 53.
53 CONTINUED: (2) 53
STEVE
And wear this when you do it.
And on Watson's look, we:
DISSOLVE TO:
54 EXT. ABANDONED GREENHOUSE - ESTABLISHING - DAY 54
55 OMITTED 55
56 INT. ABANDONED GREENHOUSE - DAY 56
Watson walks in to find Masters standing in the center of the
empty greenhouse.
WATSON
What's the matter, didn't know any
good empty warehouses or abandoned
amusement parks?
MASTERS
You asked for this little party.
So tell me why I'm here.
WATSON
Because next time we meet I'll be
wearing this.
Watson holds up the TRANSMITTER and lets it dangle from his
hand.
WATSON
I'll offer to make you a deal on
tape that will implicate you in my
wife's death and the plot to frame
me.
(then)
This is your last chance to save
yourself.
If Masters is jarred by this, he's not showing it.
MASTERS
You can eavesdrop on every
conversation I have until I die,
and it won't change a thing. We
both know I had nothing to do with
any of it.
Watson shrugs.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 54.
56 CONTINUED: 56
WATSON
Doesn't matter. It sure looks like
you did, and that'll be enough to
ruin you. Unless I help you out.
(then)
Tomorrow, we can put on an act
that will clear you and put all
the blame on Pike and Stang.
MASTERS
(wryly)
All I've got to do is forget about
a couple of your parking tickets.
WATSON
I want you to drop out of the
race, endorse me, and use your
"resources" on my behalf while I'm
in office.
MASTERS
And how do you explain all that's
happened?
WATSON
We'll say Pike and Stang were
lovers. She found out he was also
sleeping with my wife and wasn't
happy about it. So Pike figured
out a way to kill her and lay
everything on Stang.
MASTERS
(playing along)
And you'll say Pike planted the
blood at your house, knowing Dr.
Sloan would clear you and go after
Stang. Pike killed Stang, makes it
look like suicide, end of story.
WATSON
Now you're getting the hang of it.
MASTERS
Only one problem: Pike won't play
along.
WATSON
Pike is dying. And even if she
makes it, who will believe her if
you and I support each other?
MASTERS
Sounds good. Bet it sounds just as
good on tape.
Masters opens his jacket to reveal a TRANSMITTER.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 55.
56 CONTINUED: (2) 56
MASTERS
Good thing one of us was wired.
Watson is shocked. Before Watson can do anything, Steve
appears behind him with Halloran, their guns drawn. Mark,
pushing Pike in a wheelchair, emerges from an adjoining room
with two UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
MARK
Watson's story wasn't far from the
truth, Chief. With one crucial
difference. He was the one having
the affair with Captain Pike.
(to Pike)
Isn't that true?
She nods, glaring at Watson with utter hatred.
PIKE
He killed his wife and planted the
blood on his own property. We
framed Stang -- and I killed him.
The only thing Stang was guilty of
was bad luck.
WATSON
Shut-up, Cynthia.
PIKE
(to Watson)
You were ready to sacrifice me to
save yourself. One good turn
deserves another, honey.
Steve looks at her with disgust.
STEVE
You did it all, so Masters would
be disgraced, Watson would become
Mayor, and you'd be the new Chief
of Police.
Pike looks away, she can't meet his gaze. Masters turns to
the officers and makes a motion towards Watson and Pike.
MASTERS
Get them out of here.
(to Halloran)
I'm sorry about what's happened to
you. I'll make it right.
Halloran nods, but then says privately to Steve:
HALLORAN
Yeah, sure.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 56.
56 CONTINUED: (3) 56
STEVE
It beats Burger Town.
The officers lead Watson and Pike away... but Watson stops,
and turns to face Mark.
WATSON
How did you know it was me?
MARK
Once I realized Pike killed Stang,
I asked myself who benefited the
most from all this. It certainly
wasn't Masters. But I couldn't
have proved it if you hadn't tried
one last manipulation.
(then)
I counted on you being a
politician to the end -- and you
were.
And on Watson's utter defeat, and Mark's triumphant smile, we:
DISSOLVE TO:
57 INT. PRECINCT - CAPTAIN'S OFFICE - DAY 57
Masters and several ND OFFICERS are packing up Pike's files
into boxes as Steve comes in.
STEVE
You wanted to see me, sir?
Masters motions the officers out.
MASTERS
(to officers)
We need a few minutes.
The officers leave and close the door.
MASTERS
Capt. Blake from North Hollywood
will be taking over here.
STEVE
He's a good man.
MASTERS
He does his job - nothing more,
nothing less. He's thinking about
his pension, not politics.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 57.
57 CONTINUED: 57
STEVE
Then I hope the department is
saving up for a nice gold watch
for him.
(then)
I'm not holding out hope for mine.
MASTERS
This is my department. I will not
tolerate any opposition from
within.
Masters steps close to Steve, meeting his gaze.
MASTERS
I want my officers clearing cases,
not pursuing their own private
agendas.
(then)
You're staying. But if you ever
move against me again, I will
crush you.
Steve nods, turns to go, when:
MASTERS
By the way, that was good police
work.
Masters allows himself a small smile. And on Steve's
surprise, and relief, we GO TO:
58 EXT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 58
Amanda drives up front in her car. She honks insistantly.
Mark comes up to her window.
AMANDA
What's so urgent that I had to
stop here on my way to work?
MARK
I know it's out of your way, but
it couldn't wait.
She motions for him to spit it out.
MARK
I know how busy you are, and I
really hate to add to your
workload, but this is important.
Again, she motions him to hurry up.
AMANDA
I can handle it.
(CONTINUED)
"Murder Blues" Buff 7/29/97 58.
58 CONTINUED: 58
MARK
I just learned that Dr. Hugo
Arbuthnot, the renowned forensic
anthropologist, is demonstrating
his new technique for
reconstructing a human skull from
shards of bone. You have to see
this.
AMANDA
Great -- where and when, I'll be
there.
MARK
That's the bad news -- Hawaii in
seven hours. Here's your ticket
and hotel reservations. I'm really
sorry, Amanda.
AMANDA
No problem, it's a five hour
flight. I've got two hours to
spare, if I leave right now.
She speeds off, laying rubber. So much of a hurry, she
doesn't see the smile on Mark's face as she goes. Jesse sneaks
out of hiding behind Mark and looks off in Amanda's wake.
JESSE
What do you think she will