DIAGNOSIS MURDER
"Obsession - Part One"
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 TIGHT ON AN OLD MAN'S FACE 1
gnarled with age, but suffused with gentleness. He looks like
the grandfather you dreamed of. He looks up, feeling the sun
hit him in the face. Over this we hear the rich, elegant voice
we will come to know belongs to CARTER SWEENEY.
CARTER'S VOICE
Imagine a man. A plain man, no
different from a thousand others
you see in a day. Who enjoys the
simple things in life -- the
feeling of the sun on his face,
the taste of that first sip of
coffee.
The old man takes a deep breath, feeling the air fill his
lungs. It's good.
INTERCUT:
2 INT. RADIO STATION STUDIO - DAY 2
CARTER SWEENEY speaks intently into to his microphone,
ignoring the panel of blinking lights on his console.
CARTER
Imagine his life. Starting out
with unlimited potential, and,
like most lives, amounting to
nothing much. A few dollars in a
retirement account, almost enough
to pay off the debts that will
outlive him. A business that still
bears his name, although it's long
since passed on to his daughter.
3 TIGHT ON THE OLD MAN 3
as he bends over a beautifully sculpted banzai tree.
CARTER'S VOICE
Imagine his hands. Hands that
built a house, caressed a wife,
held a child. Hands that sculpt
and shape and create.
The old man pinches a tiny trim in the tree.
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 2.
4 TIGHT ON THE OLD MAN 4
as he makes one final trim on the banzai and puts it with a
dozen others, a miniature forest on a steel table. A MAN'S
SHADOW falls over him.
CARTER'S VOICE
And now, imagine his death.
The old man turns to see who's come in, and for the first time
we realize we're
5 INT. DEATH ROW CELL - DAY 5
and the old man is dressed in prisoner's blues. There's a
PRIEST standing in the doorway.
CARTER'S VOICE
Imagine his face contorting in
pain as the poison surges through
his veins. And the hands, those
hands that can do so much,
clenching one last time, and
falling still, useless.
6 INT. RADIO STATION STUDIO - DAY 6
Carter is near tears, his voice trembling slightly.
CARTER
I can imagine it. Because that man
will die by lethal injection
tonight.
7 INT. DEATH ROW CELL - DAY 7
As the priest bends over the old man we now know as Lewis
Sweeney.
LEWIS
Can you ask them... Can you get me
one last phone call?
The priest nods and goes to the cell door.
CARTER'S VOICE
Because that man is my father.
And on Lewis Sweeney's face:
8 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY 8
As Mark Sloan and Jesse Travis walk down the corridor.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 3.
8 CONTINUED: 8
MARK
You've made sixty-five thousand
dollars betting on football games?
JESSE
All fantasy money so far. But my
system is so good, I'm thinking of
flying to Vegas next Sunday -- and
I'm happy to accept investors.
MARK
I've known a lot of gamblers who
ended up broke. And they all
started out with a system.
JESSE
Not with mine.
MARK
That's good, because none of the
others ever said that.
Mark's irony goes right over Jesse's head. Jesse stops, looks
around to make sure no one is listening, then whispers.
JESSE
I look at the two teams, study
their strengths and weaknesses,
analyze their game to the smallest
detail -- and then bet on the club
whose mascot would win in a fight.
Mark is looking for a polite way to decline when:
INTERCOM VOICE
Dr. Mark Sloan, please dial
extension 19.
MARK
We'll talk.
JESSE
I'll just put you down for a
couple hundred.
Before Mark can respond, Jesse heads off down the hall. Mark
picks up the phone.
MARK
Dr. Mark Sloan.
(then)
Yes, of course I remember you.
INTERCUT WITH:
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 4.
9 INT. DEATH ROW CELL - DAY 9
Lewis talks on a cell phone, the priest standing close by.
LEWIS
I'm going to die tonight, Dr.
Sloan.
MARK
Yes, I know.
LEWIS
I'm going to die because you put
me here.
MARK
You put yourself there. You
murdered 52 innocent people. All
I did was catch you.
LEWIS
You "caught" an innocent man.
Mark doesn't believe that, not a doubt in his mind.
MARK
You had your chance to prove that
at the trial. The jury didn't
believe you, and neither do I.
LEWIS
Are you so sure you'd stake my
life on that?
MARK
If you're looking for a pardon, I
can't help you. And I wouldn't if
I could.
LEWIS
I don't want your help.
MARK
Then what?
LEWIS
I want you to see what you've
done. I want you to watch me die.
You owe me that much.
Mark takes that in. He doesn't like it, but he understands his
responsibility.
MARK
I'll be there.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 5.
9 CONTINUED: 9
Mark hangs up on the phone. And on his grim resolve:
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 6.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
10 EXT. PRISON -NIGHT (STOCK) 10
BURNSIDE'S VOICE
For three years, Lewis Sweeney
held this city in a grip of terror.
11 INT. PRISON - EXECUTION ROOM - OBSERVATION AREA - NIGHT 11
A small room dominated by a large, thick window into the
execution room. DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEIL BURNSIDE, 50, stands in
front of the window, holding forth to the POOL REPORTER. A
clock on the wall reads 11:50.
BURNSIDE
Thirty-nine bombings. Fifty-two
deaths, hundreds of injuries,
millions in property damage. And
you can ask if I'm sure he
deserves to die tonight?
REPORTER
Some people believe that Lewis
Sweeney isn't the Sunny View
Bomber.
BURNSIDE
Some people believe that JFK was
killed by space aliens, and I
can't help them, either. I'm not
a psychiatrist, I'm a prosecutor.
REPORTER
And you're up for re-election in
a month.
BURNSIDE
So you're implying I'd execute an
innocent man to further my career.
Is that really what you want to
ask?
He looks the reporter directly in the eye -- until she finally
looks away.
REPORTER
During the trial, even you
conceded you had no idea what
Sweeney's motive could be.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 7.
11 CONTINUED: 11
BURNSIDE
I still don't. No one has ever
figured out the pattern to his
bombings, or the reasons he chose
his targets.
REPORTER
Doesn't that make you wonder if
you have the right man?
That's when a door opens behind them and a GUARD ushers Mark
in. Burnside shoots him a welcoming smile. Mark nods back --
he doesn't like Burnside much.
BURNSIDE
It makes me glad he'll be dying
tonight. Don't you agree, Dr.
Sloan?
MARK
I'm not here to celebrate.
BURNSIDE
"Every man's death diminishes me,
for I am all men," is that it, Dr.
Sloan?
MARK
Something like that.
Burnside notices the reporter writing that down and turns to
her.
BURNSIDE
If that's true, then I'm thrilled
to be diminished tonight.
That's when the door opens again and the guard lets in Carter
Sweeney, his arm around a sobbing young woman we will come to
know as CAITLIN SWEENEY, 20s. Burnside goes up to him and puts
out a hand to shake.
BURNSIDE
Carter, I know how hard this must
be for you. If there's anything my
office can do --
Carter ignores Burnside. He looks Mark right in the eye.
CARTER
My father would like to speak to
you.
Mark nods, accepting that, and we go:
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 8.
12 INT. DEATH ROW CELL - NIGHT 12
Mark comes in, flinching as the door slams behind him. But he
forgets that when he sees Lewis Sweeney doubled over in pain,
his body wracked by a terrible coughing fit. Mark rushes over
to him, tries to help him up.
MARK
Guard, help!
There's no answer from outside the cell. Lewis manages to get
his coughing spell under control, wiping a little blood off
his lips.
LEWIS
What are you going to do, Doctor?
Save my life?
MARK
You should be in the hospital ward.
(then)
Guard!
LEWIS
They couldn't do anything for me
even if they cared.
Mark studies Lewis, seeing a very sick man.
MARK
Cancer?
LEWIS
The tumor started in my sinuses;
now it possesses more of my body
than I do.
MARK
Do they give you anything for the
pain?
LEWIS
They're going to.
(then)
Outside, they'd be arrested for
ending my suffering. Instead,
you'll be a hero. Everybody wins.
MARK
Is this why you wanted to see me?
LEWIS
What, to revel in the cheap irony?
I don't have that much time left.
(off Mark's look)
There's a question I need you to
answer before I die.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 9.
12 CONTINUED: 12
MARK
I'll try.
LEWIS
Why you?
It takes Mark a moment to understand what he's being asked.
MARK
You mean why did I help the police
track you down?
LEWIS
Burnside wouldn't win the election
if he didn't produce a body. The
police needed to close a case. But
you, Doctor, what was driving you?
MARK
Innocent people were dying.
LEWIS
Innocent people are always dying.
Muggings, drive-bys, tainted
hamburger meat. Why this set of
victims and not another?
Mark doesn't have an answer. He's never asked himself that.
MARK
I did what had to be done.
LEWIS
That's it? Nothing personal, just
a feeling of civic duty?
Mark nods. It's not enough for Lewis, whose body is wracked by
a spasm of violent coughing.
LEWIS
If not for your whim, I could have
spent the last six years of my
life with my family.
MARK
And how many more people would
have died?
LEWIS
I'm not the bomber.
MARK
Then why did the explosions stop
when you were arrested?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 10.
12 CONTINUED: (2) 12
LEWIS
I assume the real bomber realized
that if he stopped, I'd pay for
his crimes and he'd go free.
(then)
At least, that's my hope. It's the
one thing that gives any meaning
to my death.
Mark doesn't believe a word of it, but he's not going to argue
with the condemned man.
MARK
I hope you find peace, Lewis.
LEWIS
I already have, Doctor. But I'll
pray for you.
And on Mark:
13 INT. EXECUTION ROOM - NIGHT 13
as a Prison Doctor prepares the LETHAL INJECTION.
14 INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - NIGHT 14
The clock on the wall reads 11:58. Caitlin buries her head
against Carter's shoulder as the guards strap Lewis onto the
table. Burnside stands transfixed as the reporter scribbles in
her notebook.
CAITLIN
Somebody stop this. Why won't
anybody stop this?
Carter shushes her quietly.
CARTER
You've got to be strong, Cait.
Mark casts an uncomfortable look back at Carter and Caitlin.
Burnside notices.
BURNSIDE
They chose to be here, Mark.
MARK
To watch their father die?
BURNSIDE
If that's what they want...
Caitlin lets out a gasp. Mark turns and sees
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 11.
15 INT. EXECUTION ROOM - NIGHT 15
The guards tighten the straps on Lewis. The doctor ties a
tourniquet around Lewis' arm, picks up the syringe.
BURNSIDE
(off Mark's look)
He should have thought of his kids
before he started planting those
bombs.
Mark knows that's true. But he still feels uncomfortable. He
glances up at the clock: It's the stroke of midnight.
16 OMITTED 16
17 INT. EXECUTION ROOM 17
The doctor gives the injection. Lewis closes his eyes. He
looks calm, ready.
18 BACK TO SCENE 18
Mark takes a deep breath, steadying himself as
19 LEWIS 19
begins to CONVULSE.
20 BACK TO SCENE 20
Burnside watches avidly. The reporter averts her eyes. Mark
can't. He knows it's his responsibility to witness every
moment of Lewis' death. And knows that all along --
21 CARTER AND CAITLIN SWEENEY 21
are staring at him and only him. And on Mark's trouble, we go
to:
22 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PATHOLOGY - DAY 22
AMANDA is in a blood-splattered gown, working intently on an
autopsy, when Jesse strides in behind her.
JESSE
Amanda, you look absolutely
beautiful.
Amanda turns from the body and pins Jesse with her coldest
glare.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 12.
22 CONTINUED: 22
AMANDA
I've been working since dawn on a
seven car pile-up. I haven't
showered. I haven't eaten.
My eyes are bloodshot, my hair is
tangled, my lips are chapped, and
I'm covered in gore. And you have
the gall to walk in here and tell
me I'm beautiful?
Jesse covers quickly.
JESSE
And yet, your natural radiance
shines through -- that is the true
measure of beauty. Nothing can
obscure it.
Amanda turns back to the body, so Jesse can't see she's
flattered despite herself.
AMANDA
I'm busy and the answer is no.
JESSE
You haven't even heard what I have
to say.
AMANDA
If it needs that big a sell, I
don't want to. Bye.
JESSE
How would you like to be
financially independent?
AMANDA
I am.
JESSE
How would you like to be obscenely
wealthy?
AMANDA
I am.
JESSE
You are?
AMANDA
My father set up a trust fund for
me when I turned eighteen.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 13.
22 CONTINUED: (2) 22
JESSE
Oh.
(then)
How would you like me to become
financially independent and
obscenely wealthy?
AMANDA
Good-bye, Jesse.
MAN'S VOICE
Amanda.
Amanda and Jesse look up to see FBI AGENT RON WAGNER walking
in the other door. Amanda tries to hide her surprise.
JESSE
Agent Wagner -- what brings you
back to town?
WAGNER
(to Amanda)
We need to talk.
(to Jesse)
Alone.
Jesse starts to go, when:
AMANDA
(to Jesse)
Stay.
(to Wagner)
We're busy right now. It will have
to wait.
WAGNER
I just flew seven hours from
Quantico to have this
conversation, and we're going to
have it. Now.
JESSE
Did you hear that? I think I'm
being paged.
He starts to go, Amanda stops him.
AMANDA
(to Jesse)
You're not.
(to Wagner)
We're in the middle of an urgent
autopsy. I can't be bothered right
now. Besides, I said everything I
have to say to you on the phone.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 14.
22 CONTINUED: (3) 22
WAGNER
To my answering machine, not me.
You can't end our relationship
that way.
Now Jesse wants to hear this.
AMANDA
I wanted to spare your feelings.
WAGNER
You wanted to hide from them.
(then)
It's because last weekend I told
you that I love you, isn't it?
Amanda looks away self-consciously, and notices Jesse standing
there, waiting for her answer. Amanda glares at him.
AMANDA
(to Jesse)
Didn't they just page you?
JESSE
I don't think so.
(off their looks)
But I could be wrong.
Jesse leaves. As soon as he's gone, Amanda takes off her
goggles and slowly removes her gloves.
WAGNER
Is it because I said I love you?
AMANDA
Yes.
WAGNER
And you don't love me.
AMANDA
I didn't say that.
WAGNER
No, you didn't.
(then)
That's why I'm here. That's why I
won't make it easy for you.
AMANDA
You've never made it easy -- not
from moment we met in the wreckage
of that 747. I warned you what
would happen if we kept seeing
each other...and why we couldn't.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 15.
22 CONTINUED: (4) 22
WAGNER
You saw me any way.
AMANDA
The point is, it's turned out just
the way I said it would. You're on
one coast, I'm on the other.
WAGNER
Aren't we happy together?
AMANDA
But all we get is a day or two at
a time. It's my marriage all over
again.
WAGNER
You think it would be any
different if I was here?
She pins him with a cold gaze.
AMANDA
That's the best you can do?
No, it isn't. Wagner steps close, takes her gently by the
shoulders and makes her look at him.
WAGNER
If you can look me in the eye and
say you want me out of your life,
then you got it, I'm gone.
She looks him in the eye.
AMANDA
If I could, do you think I would
have broken up with your answering
machine?
She embraces him and gives him a long, passionate kiss.
AMANDA
I got blood on your shirt.
WAGNER
I think I left a clean one at your
house.
AMANDA
Oh no, here we go again.
She pushes away from him and returns to her work.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 16.
22 CONTINUED: (5) 22
WAGNER
Wait. What's wrong with that?
Amanda...
That's when BOTH THEIR BEEPERS GO OFF. They look down at their
beepers, then at one another, and on their grim looks, we:
23 INT. BUILDING - DAY 23
INVESTIGATORS and FORENSICS TECHS pick carefully through the
charred rubble. We FOLLOW a BODY BAG as it's carried past
Amanda and Wagner, who are now in their OFFICIAL WINDBREAKERS.
WAGNER
How many victims?
AMANDA
Five so far, but we're still
picking through the rubble. Any
idea how many people were here?
Wagner shakes his head.
WAGNER
The building was declared
structurally unsound after the
quake. The I.N.S moved to new
offices and the homeless came in.
(then)
It's been cold and wet. No telling
how many took shelter here.
That's when Wagner, to his surprise, sees Mark and Steve
approaching.
WAGNER
What are you doing here?
AMANDA
I called them.
WAGNER
I think the FBI can investigate
the simple firebombing of an
abandoned government building.
AMANDA
But it's not.
(to Mark & Steve)
I've only done a preliminary
examination of the dead, but their
corpses are riddled with inch and
a half, flat-head brass screws and
six-penny finishing nails.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 17.
23 CONTINUED: 23
AMANDA (cont'd)
And I found this imbedded in one
of the victims.
She holds up a baggie.
24 THE BAGGIE - THEIR POV 24
It contains a tiny shard of singed, ORNATELY CARVED wood.
25 BACK TO SCENE 25
Mark, Steve and Amanda share a grim look. Wagner takes the bag
from Amanda.
WAGNER
I'll have it analyzed. Want to
tell me what I'll find?
MARK
It's African Walnut.
WAGNER
So the shrapnel in the bodies is
nails, screws, and slivers of
African Walnut... what am I
missing?
STEVE
We've seen this before. It fits
the m.o. of a known serial bomber.
WAGNER
Great. Let's pick him up.
MARK
You can find him at the morgue. He
was executed last night.
And on Wagner's look, we FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 18.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
26 INT. BUILDING - DAY 26
Our heroes are right where we left them, standing in the
burned-out rubble. Mark is clearly shaken by this.
MARK
His first target was a seedy motel
on the Sunset Strip -- the Sunny
View. That's how he got his name:
The Sunny View Bomber.
WAGNER
Adorable.
(then)
What was his pattern?
STEVE
We never figured that out. He hit
everything -- a diner, a suburban
home, a gas station, a statuary
store, he even blew up a bench in
MacArthur Park.
WAGNER
Then how did you catch him?
STEVE
He made all his explosive devices
using materials and tools involved
in hand-crafted furniture.
AMANDA
And he encased the bombs in
beautifully-detailed boxes made of
African Walnut.
MARK
Lewis Sweeney was a furniture
craftsman -- like his father Regan
was, and his grandfather before
him. His daughter Caitlin still
carries on the tradition today...
Steve shoots his father a concerned look. Clearly, Mark is
troubled by this.
STEVE
Dad made the furniture connection
and found Sweeney.
AMANDA
Thanks to a toothache.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 19.
26 CONTINUED: 26
WAGNER
I don't get it.
AMANDA
Mark was waiting for the dentist,
leafing through Architectural
Digest, when he saw a photo of a
study... and recognized the
craftsmanship of one of the chairs.
STEVE
From there, we were only a search
warrant away from a conviction.
WAGNER
You never figured out why he was
doing it?
STEVE
We didn't have to. We had the
evidence. Found it all in his van.
MARK
So we're dealing with a copy-cat
bomber trying to make fools of the
police, the prosecutors and me.
WAGNER
Or you executed the wrong man.
And on Mark's troubled face, we CUT TO:
27 EXT. CITY HALL - ESTABLISHING - DAY 27
28 INT. CITY HALL - CORRIDOR - DAY 28
Burnside marches down the hall to his office, flanked by Steve
and Wagner.
BURNSIDE
It's out of the question.
WAGNER
We're only asking you to do it for
a few days.
BURNSIDE
If I bury the evidence that this
bombing is connected to Lewis
Sweeney, I bury my political
career with it.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 20.
28 CONTINUED: 28
STEVE
We don't know that they're
connected.
BURNSIDE
It doesn't matter whether they are
or not, detective. It happened six
hours after the Sunny View Bomber
was executed - Carter Sweeney will
make the connection for you on his
damn radio show.
WAGNER
Let him. We don't have to help him
do it.
BURNSIDE
And if he finds out we're
suppressing evidence actually
linking the two, we'll look like
we're covering up the murder of an
innocent man.
WAGNER
If you go public with what we
have, you give the copycat exactly
what he wants... you smear the
justice system and exonerate a
guilty man.
STEVE
Destroying you and my father in
the process.
Burnside looks at them, then pulls a paper out of his jacket
pocket and waves it in their faces.
BURNSIDE
See this fax? I just got it.
He holds up a paper for them to see.
BURNSIDE
After Lewis Sweeney was executed,
my approval rating soared twenty
points. A lead I've been able to
enjoy for, what...?
(glances at his watch)
Ten minutes?
STEVE
The press will jump to
conclusions, we don't have to. If
we say nothing, it buys us time to
investigate without reporters
dogging our every step.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 21.
28 CONTINUED: (2) 28
Burnside meets his gaze.
BURNSIDE
The fact that the Sunny View
Bomber used flat-head, brass
screws as shrapnel never came out
in the trial. Only a handful of
investigators knew that. And the
perpetrator.
(then)
What makes you so sure we didn't
execute an innocent man today?
WAGNER
I'm not, what we need is the
chance to determine the truth.
Burnside studies Wagner carefully.
BURNSIDE
You have today. I'll decide
tomorrow if you have another.
Burnside continues on. Steve gives Wagner a withering look
which Wagners avoids by turning and going. After a beat,
Steve follows. And we CUT TO:
29 EXT. BEACH - DAWN 29
The sun breaks gently over the waves -- or at least it would
if we were on the east coast.
30 INT. BEACH HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY 30
Mark lies in bed, deep in sleep, when the phone RINGS. He
tosses, turns, and buries his head under the pillow, but it
keeps RINGING. Finally awake, Mark's hand shoots out, grabs
the receiver, and brings it under the pillow to his ear.
MARK
Hello?
VOICE
I always wondered how well you
slept, Doctor. Now I have my
answer.
Mark sits up, the pillow falling away. He knows the voice.
MARK
I sleep a lot better when the
phone doesn't ring at 6:00 am, Mr.
Sweeney.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 22.
30 CONTINUED: 30
CARTER'S VOICE
Sorry, I assumed you'd be awake,
searching for the Sunny View
Bomber.
MARK
The Sunny View Bomber was executed.
CARTER'S VOICE
Then how was he able to blow up
the old INS building downtown
yesterday?
MARK
It's a coincidence. Or a copycat.
(then)
What's this about?
CARTER'S VOICE
Doesn't a copycat usually need
information to copy?
How did this impostor know the
real bomber always put flat-head,
brass screws in his devices --
when that information was never
released to the public?
Mark's taken aback -- how did this leak out?
MARK
If it was never released, how do
you know about the screws?
CARTER'S VOICE
Because I'm here with Sharon
Ellison, assistant district
attorney for the county of Los
Angeles.
MARK
You're where with Sharon Ellison?
CARTER'S VOICE
I'm sorry, Doctor Sloan, didn't I
mention?
And maybe this is a good time to INTERCUT WITH:
31 INT. RADIO STATION STUDIO - DAY 31
Carter Sweeney sits in front of his microphone. Next to him is
SHARON ELLISON.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 23.
31 CONTINUED: 31
CARTER
We're live on KCDM-AM.
(then)
Sharon, I believe you and Dr.
Sloan have something of a
professional relationship.
He shoots a smug smile at Ellison. She's been enjoying this.
Mark is less amused, realizing this is an ambush.
ELLISON
Yes, I successfully prosecuted Dr.
Sloan for murder.
MARK
I was framed, and you know it.
ELLISON
As we found out later. The DA's
office issued an official apology,
and I personally sent him a lovely
fruit basket.
CARTER
The good news is, you discovered
the frame before Dr. Sloan was
executed.
ELLISON
That time we did. Lewis Sweeney
wasn't so lucky.
MARK
Lewis Sweeney's lawyers spent six
years searching for evidence to
overturn his verdict. They never
found anything -- because he was
guilty.
ELLISON
Or because it was in everybody's
best interest to keep such
evidence hidden.
CARTER
Are you suggesting there's a cover-
up in the DA's office?
ELLISON
The case against Lewis Sweeney was
terribly flawed. I know, because
I was originally assigned to
prosecute him.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 24.
31 CONTINUED: (2) 31
MARK
Then you know there was a van full
of evidence.
ELLISON
Which I had reason to believe was
planted.
But when I took my suspicions to
my superiors, they demoted me to
second chair and put Neil Burnside
in charge.
CARTER
And as I recall, it was Burnside's
successful conviction of my father
that led to his election as DA.
MARK
If you really believed Lewis
Sweeney was innocent, how could
you stay silent?
ELLISON
I was scared.
Carter shoots her a puzzled look.
CARTER
I have a hard time imagining you
being scared of anything.
ELLISON
Neil Burnside's enemies have a way
of losing their jobs, their
careers, even their reputations.
I'd worked so hard to get where I
was...
MARK
And you suddenly got over your
fear this morning.
ELLISON
Yes, I did. When I saw the
pictures of Lewis Sweeney's body
and realized that my inaction had
allowed this to happen, I knew I
could stay silent no longer.
CARTER
And that's when you decided to run
for Neil Burnside's job?
Now Mark understands what's going on here. He's being used --
and he doesn't like it.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 25.
31 CONTINUED: (3) 31
MARK
So that's what this is -- a
campaign commercial.
CARTER
Some people might call it a quest
for the truth.
MARK
There's a copycat bomber out
there, and instead of helping the
police, she's using him to win an
election.
ELLISON
I've faced my culpability in Lewis
Sweeney's death, Dr. Sloan; it's
time for you to face yours.
MARK
I've done nothing wrong.
CARTER
My father said exactly the same
thing to me -- just before they
took him to his death.
(then)
We'll continue this right after
traffic with Kate...
Before Mark can say anything -- he's off the air. And on his
frustration:
32 INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY 32
Steve and Wagner are going over the evidence and paperwork.
Mark paces, angry.
MARK
Carter ambushed me. Got me on the
air while I was half-asleep and
mowed me down. I was totally
unprepared, scrambling to explain
myself.
WAGNER
Forget it, doctor. His show is
irrelevant. What matters are the
facts.
MARK
And he had them all -- and Sharon
Ellison to help him turn them
against me.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 26.
32 CONTINUED: 32
MARK (cont'd)
(then)
How did that happen? I thought you
had an agreement with Burnside.
WAGNER
We do.
STEVE
Either Sharon Ellison leaked the
details to Carter -- or he is our
bomber.
MARK
Carter certainly has a motive. So
does his sister Caitlin.
STEVE
Maybe they are in it together.
Their father could have given them
the details that were kept out of
the trial.
WAGNER
Hell of a lot of good it does him
now.
(off their looks)
If they wanted to clear him,
wouldn't they have started the
bombings before he was executed?
STEVE
(snaps)
Who else could it be?
WAGNER
There's a whole city full of
people out there, last time I
looked.
(then)
What if the Sunny View Bomber was
two people all along?
STEVE
Then why didn't this secret
accomplice strike until now?
WAGNER
Why were they bombing in the first
place? Find the original motive
and it will all fall into place.
MARK
I can't argue with that.
That's when Amanda and Jesse come in.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 27.
32 CONTINUED: (2) 32
AMANDA
I've completed my autopsies on the
victims. Unfortunately, no
surprises there.
JESSE
But we did turn up some blood on
a finishing nail found at the
scene.
WAGNER
That doesn't mean anything. It
could have passed through one, or
more, of the victims in the blast.
AMANDA
I already checked that -- the
blood doesn't match any of the
victims.
MARK
But it might match one of our
suspects.
WAGNER
We don't have any suspects.
MARK
I can think of two.
WAGNER
It's too early to concentrate on
just one possibility, particularly
when there is no evidence to back
it up.
MARK
There will be.
(to Jesse)
With your help, Jesse.
And on Jesse's look, we --
DISSOLVE TO:
33 INT. RADIO STATION LOBBY - DAY 33
Jesse paces irritatedly. The two YOUNG NURSES standing by a
stack of BLOOD DRIVE EQUIPMENT share blank looks with the
RECEPTIONIST. Finally, SALLY PRESTON, the 30-ish station
manager comes out, checks something with the receptionist and,
putting on her best corporate smile, goes over to Jesse.
SALLY
Dr. Travis? I'm Sally Preston.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 28.
33 CONTINUED: 33
Jesse looks at her blankly.
JESSE
You're it?
SALLY
I'm the station manager, if that's
what you mean. How can I help you?
JESSE
Roll up your sleeve. Might as well
get what we can.
He gestures to the nurses, who take syringes and vials out of
one of the boxes of medical equipment. Jesse takes Sally's arm
and pushes her sleeve back -- until Sally snatches her arm
away.
SALLY
What are you doing?
JESSE
Apparently, wasting my time and
the hospital's money.
SALLY
I don't know what you're talking
about, but --
JESSE
Do you see these two nurses here?
Do you think they work for free?
And what about the bloodmobile --
it's not like we have a fleet of
them just sitting around for some
adolescent shock jock to use in
his idiotic practical jokes.
Sally still doesn't know what's up -- but she knows when her
station's being insulted.
SALLY
KCDM is talk radio for adults. We
don't do practical jokes.
JESSE
What do you call arranging for a
blood drive and not having anyone
show up?
Jesse glances around and sees Carter Sweeney coming out of the
studio heading for the exit. He's got to hurry now.
SALLY
I don't know anything about this.
Can you tell me who you dealt with?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 29.
33 CONTINUED: (2) 33
JESSE
Sure. Or maybe you can turn on
your own station right now and
hear Gus Dallas bragging about
arranging the biggest blood drive
LA's ever seen.
Relief floods Sally's face -- finally she understands. Carter
stops at the name Gus Dallas. He's intrigued.
SALLY
Gus Dallas is on KLMV. This is
KCDM.
Jesse sneaks a glance at Carter, who's still listening, then
turns to Sally, embarrassed.
JESSE
You mean, I've been yelling at
you... and I'm at the wrong radio
station?
CARTER
No, this is the right station.
Jesse and Sally turn to see Carter coming up to them.
CARTER
Sally, e-mail everyone in the
building and tell them to get
their veins down here right away.
SALLY
(to Carter)
I'm sorry, Carter, did you arrange
this?
CARTER
I'm arranging it right now.
(to Jesse)
Gus Dallas can't touch us in
ratings or demos. Does he really
think we'd let him beat us on a
blood drive?
Carter rolls up his sleeve and presents his arm. And on
Jesse's grin:
34 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL - PATH LAB - DAY 34
Amanda is going wearily through a file when she begins to feel
like she's being watched. She looks up and sees Wagner
standing in the doorway, smiling.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 30.
34 CONTINUED: 34
AMANDA
I didn't realize forensics had
become a spectator sport.
Wagner stops rubbing.
WAGNER
You're having a bad day.
AMANDA
You know me so well. Keep rubbing.
He does -- with one hand. With the other, he flips open the
file Amanda was studying.
WAGNER
Caitlin Sweeney? She's dead?
AMANDA
Just a dead end.
(off his look)
Caitlin had some tests done at
Community General a few years
back, so I pulled her charts. No
match to the blood on the nail.
WAGNER
(astonished)
I'd heard LA judges were easy, but
still...
AMANDA
Judges?
WAGNER
You know, that guy in the black
robe who granted you the warrant?
She shoots him a look.
AMANDA
I brought a sack of macaroons to
Imelda in Records and she turned
her back for five minutes.
WAGNER
What if you'd found a match? Any
evidence you found afterwards
would have been irreparably
tainted.
AMANDA
I'd take it to Mark, and we'd
figure something out.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 31.
34 CONTINUED: (2) 34
WAGNER
I've got to warn you, Amanda,
these methods aren't going to fly
in Quantico.
AMANDA
Fortunately, my jurisdiction
doesn't extend much further east
than Fontana.
Wagner stops. Oh yeah -- he hasn't given her the news yet.
WAGNER
It didn't when you were an
associate medical examiner for the
county of Los Angeles. But now
that you're the newest forensic
pathologist at FBI headquarters in
Quantico --
AMANDA
I'm what?
WAGNER
That's what I came to tell you. I
slipped them a copy of your
resume, and they're excited.
You've still got to interview, but
it's a formality.
He's waiting for the big thank you. One look at her face tells
him he's not going to get it.
AMANDA
So I'm supposed to quit my job,
leave my friends, and uproot CJ
from his family?
WAGNER
We can live together, be a family.
AMANDA
And if we can't, you walk away
clean, while I'm 3,000 miles away
from everyone I know, and CJ cries
himself to sleep every night
because he lost another man in his
life.
Wagner is practically speechless. It never occurred to him
this is how it would go.
WAGNER
All I was trying to do was make
our relationship work.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 32.
34 CONTINUED: (3) 34
AMANDA
To make it work for one of us, at
least.
WAGNER
Maybe I should never have tried.
Maybe you actually like being 3000
miles away from me.
AMANDA
Maybe I'm beginning to.
He starts to say something, quickly stops himself, then turns
and stalks out. She stares after him, furious.
35 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - DAY 35
Mark joins Jesse at a nurse's station, where Jesse seems
engrossed in a chart.
MARK
You look troubled. Need a consult?
JESSE
As a matter of fact, I do.
He shows the file to Mark.
JESSE
You know what a Buckeye is?
MARK
It's a tree, isn't it?
JESSE
Exactly. Tiger goes up against a
razorback, I figure it's pork for
dinner, know what I mean?
MARK
Not exactly.
JESSE
Bears and bruins, colts and lions,
there's nothing I can't figure out
watching a couple of National
Geographic specials.
Now Mark has a clue what's going on.
MARK
This is your mascot betting system?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 33.
35 CONTINUED: 35
JESSE
This weekend I've got Washington
and Ohio State -- Huskies vs.
Buckeyes. Can a dog beat a tree?
I figure best he can do is
embarrass it a little, right?
MARK
It's a tough call.
JESSE
I hate making these kinds of
choices. It's what I have to face
every day.
Jesse takes the file back and is studying it when Amanda walks
up with a file of her own.
AMANDA
We just got the results of the DNA
comparison between Carter
Sweeney's sample and the blood we
found on the nail.
She hands him the file. Mark opens it, scans it a moment, then
has reason to smile himself.
MARK
It's a positive match.
JESSE
That didn't help Marcia Clark and
Christopher Darden much.
MARK
We're a long way from the court
room. We can't even arrest Carter
Sweeney based on these results.
JESSE
So what was the point of doing it
in the first place?
MARK
Now we know he's guilty.
AMANDA
And now we get to feel angry,
frustrated and powerless. I liked
it better when we didn't know.
MARK
We've got him, Amanda. All we have
to do now is get his consent to
repeat the test.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 34.
35 CONTINUED: (2) 35
AMANDA
(dead-pan)
Oh, he'll rush to give you that.
Mark picks up the phone and dials.
MARK
He will if he has no other choice.
Let's see how he likes being
ambushed.
(then, into phone)
Carter Sweeney, please. Tell him
it's Dr. Mark Sloan calling.
And on Mark's enigmatic smile, we CUT TO:
36 INT. RADIO STATION - DAY 36
Mark is sitting across from Carter Sweeney in the booth. A
SIGN on the wall glows "ON THE AIR."
CARTER
I want to thank you for agreeing
to appear on my show -- it can't
be an easy thing for you to do.
MARK
I felt I had to.
CARTER
Even so, you don't have to be
here, facing your harshest critic
on his own ground. It takes
courage, and I respect you for
that.
MARK
This isn't about me. It's about
preventing any more deaths.
CARTER
So you concede that the Sunny View
bomber is still out there.
MARK
Someone is planting bombs and
killing people, but it's not the
Sunny View Bomber. That man was
Lewis Sweeney, and he was executed
for his crimes.
CARTER
My father maintained his innocence
to his death, did he not?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 35.
36 CONTINUED: 36
MARK
He did. Saying you're innocent
doesn't make it so.
CARTER
But weren't you once convicted and
imprisoned for murders you didn't
commit? After an experience like
that, how can you be certain the
same thing didn't happen to my
father?
MARK
Lewis Sweeney was the Sunny View
Bomber. The latest bombing was
done by a copycat to create this
controversy and obscure the truth.
CARTER
With all due respect, doctor, your
"explanation" sounds like a
desperate attempt to avoid taking
responsibility for a tragic, fatal
mistake. There's no evidence to
support your theory.
MARK
We have a bloody nail.
CARTER
A nail.
MARK
A finishing nail, to be exact,
found at the scene of the bombing.
CARTER
What does that prove?
MARK
By itself, nothing. But we were
able to extract a blood type and
DNA from it. If we can match it to
another blood sample, it's better
than a fingerprint.
(then)
Your fingerprint.
Mark smiles. Carter stares at him, unflinching.
CARTER
Let's be clear, doctor. What
you're implying is that you
matched the blood on the nail to
mine.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 36.
36 CONTINUED: (2) 36
MARK
Yes.
CARTER
I don't recall giving you a sample.
MARK
Do you recall rolling up your
sleeve for a blood drive at the
radio station a few days ago?
Carter squirms uncomfortably.
MARK
You were in that building. You
pricked yourself on that nail when
you made the bomb -- to your
father's specifications, no doubt.
CARTER
You say the blood on the nail
proves all that.
MARK
Conclusively. You wanted to
discredit me and clear your
father... and you killed five
innocent people to do it.
Mark goes in for the kill.
MARK
Of course, you can prove us wrong
by providing us with another blood
sample. We can do it right now. I
happened to bring a kit with me.
CARTER
You're not wrong. It is my blood.
I was in that building.
Mark smiles triumphantly.
CARTER
And I have five million witnesses
to prove it.
(to his engineer)
Get me show 1268, about ten
minutes in, and cue it up.
Mark's smile begins to fade.
CARTER
You listen to my show much, doctor?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 37.
36 CONTINUED: (3) 36
MARK
No.
CARTER
That's a shame. We aren't like
other talk-radio shows. We get
outside the studio, we investigate
issues first hand.
(then)
I lived with the homeless in that
building for three days. I did a
series of live broadcasts from
there six months ago as an expose
on slumlords... in this case, the
government itself.
(to engineer)
Play the tape.
Carter meets Mark's gaze as they HEAR:
CARTER-ON-TAPE
There's no running water, no
electricity, raw sewage streams
down the corridors. And yet this
is where entire families are
forced to live, forced to -- ahhhh!
We can hear, on the tape, Carter groaning in pain.
VOICE-ON-TAPE
What is it? What's wrong?
CARTER-ON-TAPE
I stepped on a nail...I'll be
okay...
(then, pained)
If this is what happens to me,
walking through here in daylight,
imagine what it's like for the
people who seek shelter here at
night. My pain is small compared
to what these people have to
endure each and every day...
Carter motions the engineer to cut the tape. Mark sits there,
stunned, brilliantly outmaneuvered by Carter.
CARTER
(to Mark)
I'm sorry you weren't listening.
I'm sorry the politicians in city
hall weren't, either. It might
have spared us all this ugly
incident.
(more)
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 38.
36 CONTINUED: (4) 36
CARTER (cont'd)
(then, to the mike)
This is how Dr. Sloan works. This
is how he twists the evidence to
fit his own preconceptions. This
is how he killed my father.
And on Carter, righteously indignant, and Mark, flabbergasted,
we FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 39.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
37 INT. BURNSIDE'S OFFICE - DAY 37
Once again, Steve and Wagner are standing at Burnside's desk,
facing his rage.
BURNSIDE
(to Steve)
Who asked you to bring your father
into this investigation?
STEVE
I consulted him.
(then)
Isn't that why you hired him as a
police consultant?
BURNSIDE
No where in his job description
does it say "go on the radio and
make a complete ass out of
yourself."
(to Wagner)
How much of this did you know
about?
WAGNER
Only what I heard on the radio.
Wagner gives Steve a hard look. Steve avoids it.
BURNSIDE
Why weren't we informed about Dr.
Sloan's findings before he went
public?
Steve is in a corner -- and knows it.
STEVE
My father felt he didn't have
enough to make an arrest stick -
he was trying to get us what we'd
need.
BURNSIDE
He's a doctor, not a homicide
detective. It's not his job to
make those decisions -- it's mine.
Who the hell does he think he is?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 40.
37 CONTINUED: 37
STEVE
A man who's solved more murders
for this department than any
police officer. Until now, I
didn't hear any complaints.
BURNSIDE
Until now, he never went public
and made fools of us all.
That's when there's a knock at the door.
BURNSIDE
Come in.
Sharon Ellison enters.
ELLISON
You wanted to see me?
BURNSIDE
Thank you, counselor, for coming
so quickly.
ELLISON
I don't often get an urgent
summons from the district
attorney. At least not since you
transferred me to West Covina.
BURNSIDE
I'm reassigning you, effective
immediately.
She was expecting this. Maybe even looking forward to it.
ELLISON
Transferring me to an even
smaller, darker corner of Southern
California may make you feel
better, but it's going to look
like political retaliation to the
voting public.
BURNSIDE
I'm sure it would. That's why I
would never do anything like that.
He bends down behind his desk and picks up a BULGING FILE BOX,
which he holds out to her.
BURNSIDE
I want you to reopen the case
against Lewis Sweeney and take
over the investigation of the new
bombings.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 41.
37 CONTINUED: (2) 37
Ellison is taken completely by surprise.
STEVE
There is no case to re-open. We
convicted the right man.
BURNSIDE
After your father's performance
this morning, I'm not so sure any
more. I need an objective view.
He glances at Sharon Ellison. Steve does a quick burn.
STEVE
And you went to her? She already
made up her mind.
BURNSIDE
I'm sure we can expect a cold,
honest appraisal of the facts.
Isn't that right, counselor?
ELLISON
I'll do my best.
STEVE
To ruin my father for a few more
votes.
(to Burnside)
Can't you see she's got an agenda?
BURNSIDE
And you don't? One more word out
of you, detective, and you're off
the investigation.
Steve nods, chastised and accepting it.
WAGNER
(to the three)
Excuse me, but I'm not interested
in personnel issues and local
politics. I have an investigation
to conduct. Unless you have
something relevant to add to it,
I'd like to get back to work.
ELLISON
We don't need your help. This
isn't a Federal case.
WAGNER
It became one when a government
building was destroyed.
Ellison is about to respond, but Burnside cuts her off.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 42.
37 CONTINUED: (3) 37
BURNSIDE
Yes it did, but on the
understanding that this office
remains in charge of the
investigation. You will both
coordinate your activities through
me.
(to Steve and Wagner)
You're dismissed.
We follow Steve and Wagner out to:
38 INT. CITY HALL - CORRIDOR - DAY 38
As Steve and Wagner emerge from Burnside's office and march
down the hall.
WAGNER
You have to admire Burnside.
STEVE
He's a political shark.
WAGNER
Exactly. Sharks are predators.
They're also survivors. He proved
why the way he handled Ellison.
STEVE
By letting her crucify my father?
WAGNER
Your father did that to himself.
(then)
What Burnside just did was deflect
a body-blow to his campaign... and
inflict one on Ellison's instead.
By giving her the case, he
demonstrates he's concerned with
the truth, not politics. If she
takes a shot at him now, she looks
very bad.
STEVE
I thought you weren't interested
in local politics.
WAGNER
I'm interested in Amanda and the
people she cares about.
(then)
A man like Burnside survives by
making sure other people don't.
It's not the bomber you and your
father should be afraid of.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 43.
38 CONTINUED: 38
And on Steve's look, we CUT TO:
39 INT. RADIO STATION - DAY 39
Carter Sweeney is with Sharon Ellison.
CARTER
The Sunny View bombing case is
closed. The man convicted of the
crime was executed. So why re-open
the case now?
ELLISON
The similarities between the new
bombings and the old ones are
undeniable -- re-examining the
previous investigation is simply
the responsible thing to do.
CARTER
So this is not a repercussion of
Dr. Sloan's appearance on the show
this morning?
ELLISON
Absolutely not.
(then)
However, after what I heard, I'm
deeply disturbed by Dr. Sloan's
methods. I intend to take a
serious look at every murder
investigation he's ever been
involved with.
40 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PARKING LOT - DAY 40
Mark is in his car listening to the radio as Amanda passes.
CARTER'S VOICE
I'm disturbed, too, which is why
I've filed a $150 million lawsuit
against Community General
Hospital, which continues to
employ Dr. Sloan and allows him to
use their resources, staff and
good name to further his personal
agendas.
Mark turns off the radio and gets out of the car.
AMANDA
Don't let him get to you, Mark.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 44.
40 CONTINUED: 40
MARK
He already has. Brilliantly.
(then)
Carter Sweeney went into that
empty building, did that live
show, and stepped on that nail...
knowing exactly how, six months
later, I'd use it against him...
and how he'd turn it against me.
AMANDA
Listening to him isn't going to
help. It will only eat away at
you.
MARK
He knows how I think, how I
deduce, how I plot. If I'm going
to beat him, I have to know the
same about him.
Amanda takes a deep breath. This isn't an easy thing to
broach, but...
AMANDA
Maybe you should let the FBI and
the LAPD handle it now.
MARK
Because I fell into his trap and
lost all my credibility?
Well, yes.
MARK
(off her look)
That's exactly why I can't back
down now. If I let him get away
with this, it raises doubt on
every murder conviction I've
helped make. My reputation will
be ruined and, even worse,
murderers could go free.
AMANDA
It won't come to that.
MARK
Because I won't let it. He thinks
he's won. That's going to make
him careless -- just like it made
me.
AMANDA
You weren't careless. You were
tricked.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 45.
40 CONTINUED: (2) 40
Amanda gives Mark a kiss on the cheek.
AMANDA
We'll just have to do better next
time.
She leaves, Mark smiling appreciatively after her. And we CUT
TO:
41 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - ELSEWHERE - DAY 41
Amanda sees Wagner coming and turns in the opposite direction.
Wagner catches up to her.
WAGNER
Amanda -- wait.
AMANDA
There's nothing you can say worth
stopping for.
WAGNER
I was wrong.
Okay, maybe that.
AMANDA
Wrong is an understatement.
WAGNER
How about selfish? Insensitive?
Amanda just glares at him.
WAGNER
Arrogant? Tyrannical?
Contemptuous?
AMANDA
You're getting closer. Keep going.
WAGNER
How about well-intentioned?
(then)
I just wanted us to be together.
AMANDA
I want that, too.
WAGNER
Good, because I've already told my
boss that after this investigation
is over, I'm moving to LA
permanently.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 46.
41 CONTINUED: 41
She stares at him, stunned.
AMANDA
They're going to transfer you?
WAGNER
If they can find a place in the
bureau. Otherwise I'll find
another job.
AMANDA
I can't let you do this.
WAGNER
Now who's the expert on what's
good for everyone else?
AMANDA
What if it doesn't work out for us?
WAGNER
Then I'm going to feel like a
complete idiot. I can live with
that risk if you can.
She smiles at him, then steps into his arms. And as they kiss:
42 INT. PARKING STRUCTURE - DAY 42
A family in a Suburban backs out, and a sedan takes its space.
TWO TEENAGE GIRLS with shopping bags search for their car. Not
one of them notices that
43 BY A PARKED CAR 43
sits an intricately carved WOODEN BOX. Not until it EXPLODES
and
44 THE PARKING STRUCTURE (STOCK) 44
explodes into a fireball.
45 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL PATHOLOGY - DAY 45
Amanda barks into the phone.
AMANDA
I'll be there in fifteen minutes.
She hangs up the phone, grabs her M.E. windbreaker off a hook,
and is heading for the door when Sharon Ellison and TWO
MARSHALS come in.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 47.
45 CONTINUED: 45
ELLISON
Dr. Bentley.
Amanda stops, remembering her last encounter with this woman,
and not liking the memory.
AMANDA
I'm sorry, Ms. Ellison, I don't
have time to talk now.
ELLISON
Actually, you do.
She motions one of the marshals to the phone.
AMANDA
There's been another bombing. I
was just called.
ELLISON
Consider the call rescinded. Dr.
Steinberg will handle the
investigation.
The marshal hangs up the phone, confirming this with a nod to
Ellison.
AMANDA
You can't do this.
ELLISON
You and I will get along much
better once you realize that the
words "you can't" don't apply to
our relationship.
(before Amanda can
reply)
Now, I'm going to be taking all of
your files on the current series
of explosions, as well as the
original Sunny View bombings. Will
you please assist my marshals in
retrieving them?
AMANDA
You ca--
Amanda stops herself. Ellison smiles sweetly.
ELLISON
You see? We're getting along
better already. Now, the files.
AMANDA
I'll have to clear this with the
coroner's office.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 48.
45 CONTINUED: (2) 45
ELLISON
No need. They'll understand when
you show them the court order.
She gestures to one of the marshals, who hands her a BLUE
DOCUMENT. Amanda stares at Ellison.
ELLISON
Old files get lost so quickly,
especially when they contradict
the word of old friends.
AMANDA
Why do you hate Mark Sloan so
much? Is it because he made a fool
of you by proving his innocence?
ELLISON
Dr. Bentley, do not mistake a
professional investigation for a
personal vendetta, because once
you do, your actions will be based
on emotion, rather than
intelligence. And at that point,
your employment will be called
into question.
Amanda is about to tear Ellison's head off when her BEEPER
goes off. She looks at it.
46 THE BEEPER READOUT 46
reads "911."
47 BACK TO SCENE 47
Amanda looks around, confused, until she sees Wagner standing
in the hallway holding up his cell phone.
AMANDA
Excuse me.
As Ellison motions at the marshals to start searching, Amanda
goes out into
48 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY 48
and goes up to Wagner.
AMANDA
What's the emergency?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 49.
48 CONTINUED: 48
WAGNER
Your career, and whether you want
to have one tomorrow.
She follows his gaze to
49 THE PATH LAB 49
where Ellison and the marshals are going through her files.
50 BACK TO SCENE 50
Amanda turns back to Wagner, fuming.
AMANDA
I don't need to be rescued from a
fight.
WAGNER
Unless it's one you can't possibly
win.
AMANDA
She all but accused me of conflict
of interest.
WAGNER
You've made your loyalties clear;
there is an appearance of
conflict. If you fight to stay on
this case, you'll only make that
appearance worse.
AMANDA
I know this woman. She's going to
twist the facts until Mark is the
bad guy and Carter Sweeney an
innocent victim.
WAGNER
I won't let that happen.
AMANDA
There's no way she's going to
follow up any evidence that leads
to Sweeney.
Wagner takes Amanda by the shoulders and looks into her eyes.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 50.
50 CONTINUED: 50
WAGNER
If you can tell me without a trace
of uncertainty that Mark is right,
that Carter Sweeney is the bomber,
then we'll go back into your
office together and fight Sharon
Ellison until her career is
ruined -- or ours are.
AMANDA
I'm ready.
WAGNER
But if you have any doubt at all
about Mark's conclusions, if
there's even a tiny chance that
Sweeney is not the one, then walk
away.
That stops Amanda. She thinks, making one of the hardest
decisions of her life. Then she nods, almost imperceptibly.
Wagner lets out a sigh of relief.
WAGNER
I have to go to the bombing site.
I promise, I'll share anything I
find.
And with that, he walks away. Amanda takes one last look into
her path lab, then turns the other way down the hall, only to
find Mark standing there, staring at her, betrayed.
AMANDA
Mark...
But he doesn't wait for an explanation, just turns and walks
away. And on Amanda, we CUT TO:
51 INT. PARKING STRUCTURE - DAY 51
The usual crush of forensic techs, local and federal, are
picking through the scorched earth. REPORTERS are kept a safe
distance away. Wagner joins Burnside.
WAGNER
The heat of this blast was
enormous. Most of the forensic
evidence is gone.
Wagner holds up a baggie. It contains scorched and twisted
nails and screws.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 51.
51 CONTINUED: 51
WAGNER
But not hot enough to melt these.
I found them in what's left of the
victims.
Burnside gives Wagner a fresh appraisal.
BURNSIDE
Your superiors weren't
exaggerating when they described
you as "hands on."
Wagner passes the bag to Burnside, who studies it.
WAGNER
Flat-head, brass screws and
finishing nails. Same perp.
BURNSIDE
I wonder what his favorite radio
station is.
That's when they both spot Mark and Steve approaching. Wagner
grimaces. Burnside is furious.
BURNSIDE
(to Mark)
What are you doing here?
MARK
I wanted to get a look at the
crime scene before too many people
trampled through it.
BURNSIDE
(to Steve)
Did any reporters see you two?
STEVE
I don't think so. We came in
behind them.
MARK
(re: baggie)
May I see that?
Burnside shoves the baggie in Wagner's hands then advances on
Mark.
BURNSIDE
Are you insane or just stupid?
MARK
I admit I've made some mistakes,
but Carter Sweeney is our bomber.
I won't under-estimate him again.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 52.
51 CONTINUED: (2) 51
It's all Burnside can do to contain his rage.
BURNSIDE
You're fired, doctor.
MARK
You can't take me off this case.
I'm part of it, whether you like
it or not.
BURNSIDE
You are no longer a consultant to
this department. If you show up at
a crime scene again, you will be
arrested on the spot.
(to Steve)
Get him out of here. And find
something to put over his head --
I don't want anyone to see him.
STEVE
You can't treat my father this way.
BURNSIDE
(to Steve)
You're off this investigation. One
more word, and you're off the
force.
Steve takes off his badge and drops it on the ground.
STEVE
Let's go Dad.
Mark pulls the hood of his jacket over his head and cinches it
tight. Steve glares at Burnside, then leads his father away.
And Mark's disgrace, and Wagner's disappointment, we FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 53.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
52 INT. REGAN SWEENEY DESIGNS - DAY 52
A warehouse filled with furniture pieces and hand-tools.
Caitlin Sweeney stands at a workbench, painstakingly carving
an ornate Celtic pattern onto what will be a chair back. She's
so involved in her work she doesn't notice Steve coming in
until he's almost next to her.
STEVE
It's beautiful.
She looks coldly at him, not surprised, then goes back to her
work.
CAITLIN
It's my grandfather's. My father
designed a few pieces, but the big
sellers, they're all based on
Regan's work.
STEVE
And his work methods, I'd guess.
CAITLIN
I'm carrying on the family's
traditions.
STEVE
So is your brother, I'm afraid.
She stiffens, but keeps working.
CAITLIN
My grandfather came to this
country with nothing in his
pockets but his hands. They were
all he needed to build himself a
future.
STEVE
Ms. Sweeney, you know what your
brother is doing.
CAITLIN
It's not much of a job for a man,
talking on the radio. That's what
my father used to say. A man lives
off his hands, a fool lives off
his mouth.
(then)
Those fights are over now, thanks
to you and your Dad.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 54.
52 CONTINUED: 52
Steve watches her work, trying to decide if she really doesn't
know what he's talking about, or is playing with him.
STEVE
We know Carter Sweeney is planting
those bombs. Your brother thinks
he's getting revenge for your
father's death. But all he's doing
is killing innocent people.
That's enough for Caitlin. She puts down her tools.
CAITLIN
Like you did my father?
STEVE
I know I'll never convince you
that what we did was right. I know
that you'll always hate us. But to
hurt me and my father, your
brother is punishing all the
people of this city.
She fixes him with a cold glare.
CAITLIN
One chair at a time, my
grandfather built his business
until it could finally support a
family. And once he did, this city
decided to build a freeway through
it.
STEVE
Listen to me --
CAITLIN
Six days Regan held off the
bulldozers, one man with a shotgun
against the forces of civic pride
and progress. And on the seventh
day, progress called in the
sharpshooters, and my father
watched his father die. Just like
I did.
(then)
Don't ask me to grieve for the
people of this city.
STEVE
I'm talking about innocent mothers
and children.
CAITLIN
No, you're done talking. Get out
of my shop.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 55.
52 CONTINUED: (2) 52
She turns back to her work. Steve knows there's no point in
talking. He turns and walks away. She doesn't look up after
him. And we DISSOLVE TO:
53 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - ESTABLISHING - DAY 53
54 EXT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - DAY 54
Mark is heading into the hospital as Jesse, in street clothes,
comes toward him, carrying an OVER-STUFFED gym bag.
MARK
Where are you going?
JESSE
I was thinking about Las Vegas.
Use my sports-betting system to
bankroll my career as a
professional gambler.
MARK
You already have a job, and if you
want to keep it, you better turn
around and get dressed. Your shift
started an hour ago.
Jesse stares incredulously at Mark.
JESSE
Mark, where have you been? I don't
practice medicine here any more.
MARK
What are you talking about?
JESSE
The hospital put me on
disciplinary leave -- until they
can decide whether to fire me or
not.
MARK
I don't understand. You're the
best doctor in the ER.
JESSE
It's not about that - they've got
120 million other reasons.
(off his look)
It's about taking Carter Sweeney's
blood under false pretenses and,
as they put it, "ordering
unauthorized, unnecessary and
unreimbursed medical tests."
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 56.
54 CONTINUED: 54
MARK
That's not your fault, it was my
idea. I asked you to do that.
JESSE
But I did it -- when I should have
refused.
(off Mark's look)
And I'd do it again, if you wanted
me to.
(then, lighter)
No wonder they want to fire me.
I'm incorrigible.
MARK
I won't let them do this.
JESSE
Hey, a few months from now, when
I'm in my lavish Vegas penthouse,
a showgirl on each arm, none of
this will matter.
MARK
Don't go anywhere. I'm talking to
the board of directors right now.
Mark marches on, Jesse calling after him:
JESSE
Wait, Mark! Don't --
And on Jesse's look, we CUT TO:
55 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - LOBBY 55
Mark storms out of the elevator and is immediately confronted
by Carter Sweeney and a MARSHALL, who slaps a PIECE OF PAPER
in Mark's hand.
MARK
What's this?
CARTER
A restraining order. You and your
son are not to get within 100
yards of me or any member of my
family.
MARK
I won't let you continue killing
people. No lawsuit or court order
will save you.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 57.
55 CONTINUED: 55
CARTER
You heard him, Marshall. You're my
witness.
That's when we hear a PAGE:
VOICE ON SPEAKER
Paging Dr. Sloan. Please report to
the board room immediately. Dr.
Mark Sloan. You are wanted in the
board room.
Mark rushes back into the elevator, catching it just as the
doors are closing. And we CUT TO:
56 INT. COMMUNITY GENERAL - PATHOLOGY - DAY 56
Amanda is putting files into boxes as Wagner comes in.
WAGNER
You're not supposed to be here.
AMANDA
Everyone has made that abundantly
clear.
WAGNER
What I meant is, it's your day
off. We could be spending it
together.
AMANDA
We are. You're helping me pack.
She hands him a box and returns to stuffing boxes.
AMANDA
You can start stacking these by
the elevator.
WAGNER
I don't understand.
AMANDA
These are my personal files. I'm
going to need them at Quantico.
Wagner sets the box down on an autopsy table and goes up
beside her.
WAGNER
Quantico.
AMANDA
The job is still open, isn't it?
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 58.
56 CONTINUED: 56
WAGNER
Yes.
AMANDA
Then I'm taking it. Why aren't you
smiling?
WAGNER
Why aren't you?
(then, carefully)
I thought your life was here.
AMANDA
It was. But the board of directors
is going to suspend me today...
and the city is about to fire me
as adjunct county medical examiner.
(then)
I won't give them the satisfaction.
WAGNER
So you're taking the FBI job to
spite them.
She turns away from the boxes and looks him in the eye.
AMANDA
I could go anywhere, Ron. I'm
choosing to go with you.
(then)
Because I love you.
They kiss softly, tenderly.
WAGNER
Damn. Now I'll have to clean out
some closets.
AMANDA
Not yet.
(then)
I want to find my own place.
WAGNER
But I thought you just said --
AMANDA
(interrupts)
I did. That's a big step we're not
ready to make yet. And there's
someone else who has a say in this.
WAGNER
Cj.
(then, worried)
I don't know how to talk to kids.
(CONTINUED)
"Obsession" Part One 2/10/98 (GOLDENROD 59.
56 CONTINUED: (2) 56
AMANDA
You'll learn.
They are about to kiss again when Steve comes in.
STEVE
You are the only people I know who
find th