"Double Back"
fade in:
ext. Downtown city street - day - Six months earlier
Several Police cars sit, lights flashing, in front of a dilapidated downtown apartment buildings. Their lights flash, A van marked "DEA" pulls up and SCREECHES to a halt.
int. downtown apartment - day - Six months earlier
A dirty looking young Man quickly turns from the apartment window and walks towards ALEX BARROW. The dirty looking man wears a stained white T-shirt and Bermuda shorts, no shoes. Alex stands motionless. He bears the look of a forty year old heroin addict. His eyes are sunken and his skin is blistered and weathered. He is only in his mid-twenties, but you'd never know it. Alex has an automatic Glock pistol in his hand that hangs effortlessly at his side.
Bags of cocaine lie piled up on the table in the middle of the cramped room.
dirty looking man
The fucking cops are here!
aLEX
Just chill. There's hundreds of apartments in this building.
The Dirty looking man starts to pile the bags of coke in his arms.
diRTY LOOKING MAN
I don't like this!
Alex raises the gun and points it at the man's head. The barrel rests inches from his brow.
aLEX
I wouldn't do that cowboy.
A POUNDING on the door is followed by several screams behind it.
dea lieutenant (O.S)
Police officer! Open up now!
The man takes a step away from Alex.
aLEx
Don't shoot!
diRTY LOOKING MAN
What?
aLEx
Put the gun down.
The man walks towards the bathroom with the coke.
dea lieutenant (o.s.)
We're comin' in!
aLEx
No!
Alex fires a shot into into the man's back. He fires another shot into the back of the man's head as his body falls to the ground
The DeA Officers from outside break in and rush around Alex at frantic speed. Alex stands motionless.
aLEX
I'm a N.O. I'm a cop.
The DEA Lieutenant stands over the man's dead body. He turns to Alex who holds his gun down at his side as before.
deA LIEUTENANT
Put the gun down.
aLEX
I'm a cop.
Alex drops the the gun and another DEA officer, JEFF, grabs Alex's wallet from his back jeans pocket. The wallet is attached to the jeans with a wallet chain and it jerks Alex back as the Cop rips it from the belt loop.
Alex falls backwards onto the cop and three other officers wrestle Alex to the ground and pry him off Jeff.
aLEX
I'm a cop!
INT. ALEX BARROW'S APARTMENT - day - present
The living room is dark, with only a few pieces of furniture and Ansel Adams poster on the wall. Several weeks worth of newspapers are strewn throughout the room.
Alex sits in a folding chair in the corner of the room, reading the front page section of today's newspaper by the light from the window.
He opens the paper, revealing the front page.
The headline reads "Charges finally dropped for officer".
He stands and stretches, folds the paper down neatly, and places in it a small overnight bag sitting on the couch.
INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM - day
He moves some of the clothes away that are laying helter-skelter on his bed, he turns suddenly remembering something and reaches over to his dresser and picks up his wallet, a ring, and his watch from a cluster of miscellaneous jewelry and such on top of the dresser. He has a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
On the wall next to the mirror are dozens of newspaper articles relating to his case. "Young Cop Was Out for Vigilante Justice", "Five Indicted in Drug Scandal", "Barrow Refuses to Cut Deal", are some of the headlines.
He puts out the cigarette on the top of his dresser and takes a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tosses them on the dresser.
Alex grabs a duffel bag stuffed with clothes from his perpetually unmade bed and a jacket draped over a chair.
INT. LIVING ROOM - day
With the duffel bag in one hand and his jacket in another, he throws his overnight bag over his shoulder.
He opens the front door, looks back for another quick memory, then exits the apartment.
INT. TRAILER - DAY
It is the same day inside a mobile home on the outskirts of town. The trailer sits in an area protected by a lot of trees on one side and a small lake on another.
BETH LANGLEY has her eyes glued to an old thirteen-inch television in the corner of the living room.
BETH
Don't believe her!
(beat)
Don't believe it!
(beat)
I told you, you stupid bitch!
she leaps to her feet and begins pacing.
beTH (cont'd)
(upset)
How she could ever get mixed up with that loser? What the hell was the matter with Martino?
She swings her arms wildly, knocking over a trophy, one of many sitting on the mantle.
beTH
He's not good enough! Go back to Martino you...
Beth begins to back up and as she talks she trips over the trophy she has knocked over.
beTH
idiot...whoa! Oops.
EXT. MOM'S CAFE - DAY
Alex and his Honda pull into the square of a small Midwestern town called Danville. The town is small. A one traffic light town. Population around four thousand. In the middle of the square is the county seat. A giant courthouse/jail. Around it is a park, but their are no children playing on the swing set and the jungle gym that sits under one particularly large tree. There is a street that encircles the courthouse square. Along that street are several shops, Mom's Cafe, and a couple of bars and pool halls.
It is a windy day blowing dust all over the gravel paved parking lot. The parking lot is lined with several old pickup trucks outside the front of the diner. Several old timers sit on a porch that runs down the entire block of the town square, jawing about the weather, their relatives, and the government.
Alex pulls into an empty space along a strip of store, right in front of a restaurant on the square with a small neon sign which reads: "MOM'S CAFE".
He climbs out of the car, stands up straight and squints as the wind gusts. He takes a look around and then walks towards the entrance of the diner when he stops to respond to a older man on the porch.
MR. KREITZER
It takes some kind of a man to crawl back here on his hands and knees.
Alex turns to see MR. KREITZER, an aging sort of curmudgeon sweeping the walk outside the row of stores. He looks down at his hands, then at his feet, while not responding verbally to the comment.
MR. KREITZER
I always knew you'd screw up and come back here.
A couple of the old timers, ELMORE AND JEB, sit on a bench a few feet from Alex.
JEB
You know it's just sick when you can't ever trust the police.
Elmore leans forward and swats at a fly.
ELMORE
Shoot, that's why I'm glad we don't have to put up with that stuff around here.
Alex again doesn't respond and opens the door to the diner.
mr. KREITZER
That's the problem with you kids today, ya never stand up for...
Alex lets go of the door and steps quickly towards the old man. He grabs the broom which Mr. Kreitzer doesn't let go of.
Alex
(sternly)
Remember, I was acquitted.
jeb
Damn plea bargain's what it was.
He lets go of the broom and walks into the diner.
Mr. Kreitzer turns to Jeb and Elmore.
MR. KREITZER
I always thought that boy would make something of himself.
INT. MOM'S CAFE - DAY
Mom's cafe is an old time looking coffee shop with booths and a counter with a grille behind it. It sits on the town square. The decor appears not to have changed since the early sixties. The clientele is made up of older people who all dress casually, most wearing jeans and western wear.
Alex enters, removing his sunglasses.
The cafe is busy and fairly noisy and when Alex walks in business continues as usual.
A heavy set man in an apron comes out from the kitchen and walks right up to him. He extends his hand. They shake.
DAD
Alex.
Alex
Dad, What're you doing here?
With hands still entwined, Alex pulls himself in for a hug. They embrace firmly.
Alex's mother also comes out from the kitchen. She runs over to Alex and gives him a patented maternal bear hug.
DAD
Give the boy some room, Mom. You'll scare him off.
Mom pulls away from Alex.
aLEX
(To Mom)
What's Dad doing in the restaurant?
moM
He's been helping a little bit, lately.
dAD
Been a bad year. No rain.
Some of the patrons begin to stand and greet Alex themselves.
PATRON 1
Good to have to you back. I, I didn't believe a word of it.
PATRON 2
Maybe it was just meant to be that you'd come back home.
Alex nods uncomfortably as his father grabs his arm.
mom
Hungry?
Alex
I could eat. But I'll make it myself.
mom
Be my guest.
INT. Diner, kitchen - DAY
Alex puts on an apron identical to his father's.
Alex
Alright, where are the eggs around here?
His mother grabs a couple eggs and sets them in front of him.
Alex breaks the eggs and begins to fry them up. His father stands to side of him while Alex continues to fix his breakfast.
DAD
So...uh, how is everything?
Alex
It's a long drive. I think it gets longer every time.
DAD
That's not really what I meant.
Alex
Well, things have been...better.
Mom speaks from across the kitchen.
MOM
How long are you staying?
Alex
You trying to run me out of town already?
MOM
No. No, not at all. I got your room all ready to go, just like always.
Alex
Do you still have those Kansas City Royals sheets?
MOM
I think I can find them somewhere, if you'd like.
Alex laughs.
Alex
No, that's OK. Whatever'll be fine.
Mom gives a little chuckle. She looks to her husband and smiles. But their smiles turn to troubled looks. Alex doesn't seem to notice.
aLEX
I think I'm going to go camping tonight.
DAD
What?
MOM
Alex, you just got here.
Alex
Yeah, but despite my usual stoic demeanor, I still have a lot of things to
think about and besides, I think I should take advantage of the good weather.
MOM
It's not that we're worried, it's just that...
DAD
...what your Mom is trying to say is that we're not worried, it's just that...
Alex
...I know. You're concerned. But it's all over. I screwed up, it wasn't my fault, but I just can't be a cop anymore. It's nothing any of us should lose sleep over any more. I just think the outdoors is what I need.
Mom grabs his arm.
aLEX
I'll be back bright and early. You can have me for the entire day. I hope that's OK. OK?
DAD
If you need some time, boy, you take the time.
Alex
OK. Thanks for...uh.
Mom rubs Alex's arm and steps away from him.
moM
It's all right.
Mom and Dad leave the kitchen.
Alex looks down at his meal that is burnt.
aLEX
Oh shit.
INT. TRAILER, KITCHEN - DAY
Beth is at the kitchen table, broken trophy and a bottle of glue in hand.
LIONEL LANGLEY, her husband, stumbles through the front door, covered with dirt from head to toe.
lIONEL
What's with the bonfire outside?
Beth double-times to get everything hidden before Lionel sees, but is not quick enough.
Lionel stands in the doorway, staring at her, teeth clinched. She cowers like a puppy. He walks off.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Alex walks into the office like a church mouse.
The only sound in the entire building is coming from NAT LARABEE, a uniformed mountain of a man pecking away at a typewriter.
NAT
(not looking)
Can I help you?
Alex
Yeah, uh, I'm looking for the big lummox who knocked up my sister.
Nat spins around and laughs.
NAT
There you are, So you heard?
Alex
Well I heard I was going to be an uncle, so I assumed it was you although I had my doubts.
NAT
That's my wife you're talking about you sick bastard.
Alex
So, how is everything?
NAT
They've been better.
Alex
I've heard that one before.
NAT
I bet. But no, it's just the three of us now.
(beat)
Myers found out his wife has cancer, so they've been in St. Louis getting treatment. So he's practically part time. And Nyland went back to the factory when we told him he couldn't shoot anybody he wanted.
Alex
Jesus Christ.
NAT
Yeah, that son of a bitch would go out and pick fights at the Crawdad, then start waving his piece around.
Alex
Sounds like you've got your hands full.
NAT
So where've you been keeping yourself?
Alex
Oh, here and there. I'll be here, home for a while.
NAT
So, Al, just between you and me, what happened with you? I mean if you don't mind, you don't have to tell me if you don't want.
Alex
No, it's alright. I made a mistake and they made an example of me, pure and simple.
NAT
Did you know?
Alex
Yeah I knew. I knew and I didn't do anything about it.
NAT
So you lose your job.
Alex
Can't have an officer associating with drug users, can we?
NAT
Well...
Alex
...It was stupid. He said we're going to a party, told me he had some dope. How am I supposed to know the guys driving on expired plates, and would get pulled over.
(beat)
Don't trust anyone, Nat.
Alex takes a quick look around.
alEX
Well, I'll let you get back to work. Hey, is Murphy all right?
NAT
Murphy's Murphy.
Alex
Well if you see him, tell him I'll stop back by and holler at him.
NAT
Take her easy.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Every star is out on this perfect mid-western night. The only sounds that can be heard are the low roar of nature: the rustling leaves, the cool wind against the lake, the animals.
Alex sits on a log, poking a stick into his dying fire. He stares blankly out over the moonlit lake.
He squints to check his watch. He rises, stretches and begins to unroll his sleeping bag.
He walks into the woods, past a big rock and big dead tree, his campfire barely in sight.
He comes to a sudden stop and stares into the ground.
It is the dead body of a young woman, fully clothed.
He stares at the body for a second or two and then he kneels down to take a closer look.
He tries to get closer to the body, but he slips and falls half-way into the pond.
Alex
Shit!
ext. foREST, near Alex's car - NIGHT
Alex walks up to his car, that is parked to the side of a two-lane county road.
He opens the car door and searches around the glove compartment. He pulls out a cell phone. He leans against the car and dials.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
The beams of light from the flashlights slash through the woods.
Alex, Murphy, and Armando Walker walk slowly through the woods, intently looking around, with little chatter.
A stream of smoke filters into the sky where Alex's fire was. The search continues.
MURPHY
Did you recognize the body?
wALKER
(to himself)
I bet it was those damn two boys I caught at the Burger King.
Alex
(to murphy)
Uh,no. but I didn't really take a good look.
wALKER
(to Alex)
I mean it, those bastards looked like they were up to no good.
Alex stops walking and turns to Walker
aLEX
What would the charge have been?
muRPHY
Fellas, c'mon now.
aLEx
No, seriously.
wALKER
They had on all that gang paraphernalia, probably gettin' ready to raid the high school. You know, the girls.
ALEX
Aren't you Mexican?
wALKER
Half, but I'm one-hundred percent red-neck.
aLEX
Great.
Murphy clears his throat.
MURPHY
OK, you said it was close to this rock over here, right?
Alex
Yeah.
MURPHY
You sure it was a dead body?
Alex
For God's sake, I know a dead body when I see it.
MURPHY
Maybe you didn't see what you thought you saw.
Walker makes a "he drank to much gesture" with his hand.
Alex
Murphy, I saw a body. I'm a cop.
Alex shakes his head.
MURPHY
Well, there doesn't seem to be one here now.
Alex begins to get more frazzled. He covers the area very quickly, kicking up leaves and dirt.
Alex
(agitated)
It has to be here.
Walker
I think we should pack it in until morning. We're just covering the same old tracks.
MURPHY
I don't know.
Alex
We can't leave a crime scene.
Walker
Hey supercop, it's not a crime scene until we've established that there's been a crime.
Alex quickly steps in Murphy's direction.
Alex
(angry)
Who is this guy?
MURPHY
Come on.
walKER
Seriously, Murphy. We're trying to do our job here.
muRPHY
This here's Alex. He's Edna's, uh, Mom's boy. One of the youngest detectives ever for the KCPD.
Walker roll's his eyes.
wAlKER
Nat mentioned you.
aLEX
We better start looking.
Walker
Call it just being practical. Let's wait until the morning. Then we can get a fresh start and start dredgin' the lake.
Alex rubs his face with his hands and yawns.
aLEX
I guess.
Walker
If you'd like, I can stand guard out here.
MURPHY
I'm makin' the call, Alex.
Alex paces back and forth, eyes pressed to the ground.
Alex
Fine. But I'm staying too.
Walker
That ain't necessary.
Alex
I'm staying.
MURPHY
I don't see what it'll hurt. I'll be back in the morning with some breakfast.
(beat)
I think we better keep this thing quiet until we actually know something definite.
Walker
Sure, chief.
Walker and Murphy take off towards the car as Alex keeps searching for something, anything.
ext.
forest - night
Later that
night, Walker is asleep, sitting with his head propped up against a tree. He has a Toronto Maple Leafs blanket
wrapped around his large mid-section.
The campfire is
smoldering down.
Alex opens a can
of beans with a manual can opener.
The opener sticks and he tries to force it to move. He cuts his hand and some of the beans
fall to the ground. He doesn't
cringe in pain, but merely stairs at the blood slowly oozing from the small cut
on this hand.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
The sun peaks through a narrow opening in the trees to the west. A thin blanket of haze sits over the lake, a covering for the lowland woods where the search continues.
Walker and Alex both crouch near the large stone.
Murphy and LYLE MOECK, a short man handling a pair of dogs walk along the crest of a hill overlooking a steep drop.
Walker
Well, there's some footprints. but it's a pretty safe guess that they're ours.
aLEX
What about that trailer over there?
MuRPHY
That's Lionel's. Heck, that's over a mile away.
Alex
Yeah but there's people always out here, the owners don't mind. This one.
He points with a stick to the footprint.
Alex
It could be a small man's...or a woman.
Murphy and Lyle with his dogs are traversing the steep slope to where Alex and Walker are standing.
Walker
Or a young kid's. All of this is bull until we find your body.
Murphy slips on a rock.
muRPHY
Whooah!
He tumbles the last ten feet down the slope.
Walker speeds over to Murphy in his waddling way.
The Dogs BARK and drag Lyle over to Murphy. They begin licking him.
muRPHY
Goddammit. Goddamn dogs.
He pushes the dogs away.
lyle
Jesus, Sheriff.
AleX
You OK, Murphy.
muRPHY
Yeah, yeah.
Walker helps him up.
MurPHY (cont'd)
Thanks, partner. Maybe we can find out if there's been any missing persons in the area.
waLKER
We're just wasting our time, boss.
Murphy walks away.
Alex catches up with him, and Murphy puts his hand on Alex's shoulder.
MurPHY
We can look at some pictures. And get a sketch artist to take a composite from you, that is if you got a good enough look at it.
Walker shakes his head and looks at Lyle who refuses to make eye contact with him.
INT. TRAILER, BEDROOM - DAY.
Beth slinks through the door in a slump as Lionel changes his clothes.
LIONEL
I thought we had rules around here.
BETH
We do.
LIONEL
Then why don't you follow them?
BETH
It didn't happen like that.
LIONEL
What character was it this time? Was it Leslie?
BETH
Lionel.
Lionel breathes in deeply and rolls his eyes.
LIONEL
Or was it Martino?
BETH
Accidents happen.
LIONEL
Things get particularly dangerous around here between two and three o'clock, don't they?
BETH
You're a monster!
He throws her onto the bed.
LIONEL
And you broke the rules!
He throws her onto the bed.
lIONEL
And if you keep watching those damn soaps, the TV's not the only thing's getting thrown out the door.
lIONEL
You better be fixin' to make me dinner. I ain't waiting around like last night. I guarantee that.
He lets her up. She dives under the bed and pulls out a pair of panties in one hand and an earring in another.
BETH
Whose are these? Whose are these, Lionel?
lIONEL
You go fishing again?
BETH
I know they're hers!
Lionel ignores her.
bETH
You seen her lately?
lIONEL
I don't know what you're talking about, woman.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
The office is empty and quiet. Bright sunlight peers through the open windows.
Alex is leafing through a book of photos. His right hand is bandaged.
Armando and Murphy are both on the phone. Murphy stands in the corner of the room. Walker sits at his desk and flips through a yearbook.
Alex stands in front of Walker looking carefully through another high school yearbook.
wAlKER
(in Spanish)
No, no Mama. I told you not to talk to those people on the phone. Yes, but...
In the background, a radio PLAYS.
Alex
(to Murphy)
Are these all the yearbooks you have?
Murphy puts the phone away from his mouth.
MuRPHY
There's a whole stack, under the coffee maker.
raDIO
ANNOUNCER (o.s.)
Wow. What a round for the unknown Mexican, Hernandez. It's got to be important, getting in so early with such a low score.
walKER
(in Spanish)
You can't afford all those subscriptions. Mama, you'll just gonna have to tell them no.
Alex grabs huge stack of books and sets them on Walker's desk.
Murphy puts his hand over the receiver.
MURPHY
(To Alex)
This is really the best way to keep track of this part of the state.
Alex nods as he continues his search.
MuRPHY
(Into phone)
Yeah, just somebody who can take a sketch. We might have a situation up here that needs some attention.
(beat)
No, nothing right now. We're doing some double-checking on somebody.
Alex puts his yearbook down and moves over behind Walker. He looks over his shoulder.
muRPHY
Sounds good. You take her easy, Jimmy.
(To Alex)
They' might have somebody up this afternoon.
MURPHY
(Into phone)
Well, that was Nodaway County. No missing persons up north by your description. But she could have been from the college. If she'd lived alone, nobody'd know she was missing for...
walkER
(in Spanish)
No. Mama no. Please will you just listen to me this one time?
Alex grabs at a page that Walker is turning.
Alex
(excited)
...That's her!
Murphy drops the phone and races over to Alex. They look down into the yearbook.
MURPHY
That's my boy. Which one?
walKER
(in Spanish)
Everything's all right. No, I, I uh...
Walker motions the two back. Only Murphy steps back.
walKER (cont'd)
(in spanish)
I gotta call you back. I know. I know.
Alex
Her.
Alex puts his finger on the girl's name.
aLEX
Jan Wiley.
MURPHY
Jan Wiley. That's Buck and Mavis' girl.
(beat)
Better get them on the horn. See if they know what's up.
Walker
You don't know them.
MURPHY
I know 'em a little from a couple of fourth of July's ago. I used to hunt pheasant up north with my brother Bobby...few years back anyway.
raDIO ANNOUNCER (o.s.)
We're here live at the U.S. Open golf tournament and a great story is developing, with Juan Hernandez leading the tournament with an opening round sixty-five.
Walker leans towards Alex.
Walker
Are you sure that's her?
Alex takes a long look.
Alex
Sure as I can be.
MURPHY
Well, I think the least we can do is contact her parents.
Walker
Yeah, but what if she turns out to be on vacation or something, then we just look like stupid country bumpkins.
MURPHY
We are stupid country bumpkins.
EXT. WILEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Murphy, Walker, and Alex walk up the stairs to a large farm house in the middle of nowhere.
Walker looks at Murphy before Murphy can knock on the door.
Walker
I hope this guy remembers you.
Alex
People don't like men with badges around here, Jim.
MURPHY
Murphy knocks hard on the door.
MURPHY
We're almost family for Christ's sake.
BUCK WILEY, a tall man in overalls, answers the door.
BUCK
Can I help you?
MURPHY
Hey, Buck.
buCK
We're all out of tacos.
muRPHY
See, he remembers us.
BUCK
What can I do for you officers?
MURPHY
Uh, can we go inside, maybe sit down.
BUCK
No, no we can't. Mavis is doing one of those home perms. The whole place smells like a beauty parlor. Let's just hang around out here.
They all walk off the front porch and begin to stroll about the house.
MURPHY
We don't want to worry you Mr. Wiley, and there may be nothing to worry about, but...
Alex
When was the last time you saw your daughter?
BUCK
Who's this fellow here?
Buck points at Alex.
aLEX
I'm Alex Barrow. Have you seen her recently?
MURPHY
This is Alex, he's helping us with some things.
BUCK
Oh.
Alex
Have you seen Jan lately?
BUCK
Well, mother spoke to her a couple weeks ago but I probably haven't seen her in over a month. She moved down to Kansas City a while back.
MURPHY
How long ago?
BUCK
Must be going on a year now, at least.
(beat)
What's all this about? Is she in trouble?
Alex
What has happened is, well...it's very important we try to contact her, and make sure she's alright.
Buck sits and thinks for a second.
BUCK
Well, let's go inside and clear all this up.
INT. WILEY'S HOUSE - DAY
The three officers sit next to MAVIS WILEY, a thick woman with her hair rolled up under a plastic shower cap. Buck is on the phone.
BUCK (o.s.)
Uh, Jan, this is your father.
Mavis speaks to the officers.
MAVIS
Can't you tell us more, more than just she's in some kind of trouble?
BUCK (o.s.)
Give me a call when you get in. Just wanted to see how you were doing.
Alex
The other night...
Walker
Wait...
MURPHY
It's alright.
BUCK (o.s.)
Or Marsha, if you get this message, if you could give us a holler. Like I said, we're just checking up on Jan.
He hangs up. He begins to twitch a bit, rubbing his neck and staring at the floor.
Mavis rises and begins to pace.
Alex
The other night, I was camping and I saw a woman, a body of a woman, that looked like your daughter.
buCK
Oh my God!
alEX
It may be nothing, I know this is upsetting.
Both Buck and Mavis stare deeply at Alex. They lean forward and whisper to each other. Mavis stands and begins pacing again.
MaviS
(to Alex)
Do we know you from somewhere?
Alex
My parents live here in town. Ronald and Jean Barrow.
BUCK
No, that's...You were that cop in Kansas City aren't you?
MAVIS
The drug addict.
Alex
No, that's not...I don't have a drug problem Mrs. Wiley, I uh...
BUCK
So what were you on that night? In the woods I mean.
Alex
Sir, I was reprimanded for an incident, but I do not use...
BUCK
Deputy, you better look at where you're getting your information. Maybe you all better leave.
Alex jumps up.
Alex
What are you saying? You don't care if something's happened? What kind of people are you that...
Buck stands nose to nose with him.
BUCK
Listen son, I don't know you or your parents, but you've got some balls on you to talk to me like this. Now you drag your crack-smoking ass off my property before I throw it off. If anything was wrong with my daughter, she would have called a long time ago.
Alex
(dumbfounded)
She would have called? You're one dumb son of a...
BUCK
Get this guy outta here!
MURPHY
Come on, let's go.
Murphy drags Alex outside by his arm. Walker follows.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE-DAY
Murphy, Walker, and Alex sit around a small table, head in their hands, slouching. Nat is at his desk typing.
Walker reads the local paper as he leans back in his wooden chair. He uses his gut like a table for the paper to sit on.
Alex
I shouldn't have gone.
MURPHY
It's probably for the best anyway. Once word'd got out, this whole county'd be in a tail spin. Now we can look into things without a lot of interference since we don't have a body...
Walker
...or any evidence.
Alex
I know what I saw.
Walker
You'd had a few beers.
Alex
A few beers doesn't mean you confuse a dead body with a log.
waLKER
Could you have made a mistake?
Alex throws his arms down and jumps up, and begins to pace.
muRPHY
Now what?
Alex
I'm going back to the city.
MURPHY
You're gonna be on your own.
Alex
There's gotta be something I can find. I'll call soon.
Alex heads to the door.
MURPHY
You take care of yourself first. Remember that.
Walker keeps his attention to his paper.
Walker
Take her easy.
Alex exits.
Walker
So?
MURPHY
I hope something comes up, but he may have just been drunk off his ass and none of this stuff ever happened.
Walker
That's my guess.
muRPHY
Why don't you go and keep an eye on him.
wALKER
What?
He puts down his paper.
muRPHY
I promised Edna I'd look after him, Walker.
wALKER
I want an extra week's vacation for this.
muRPHY
You don't have to go now.
int. mom's cafe - day
Alex and his parents sit in a booth in the empty room.
dAD
I don't understand son. You just got here.
aLEX
Well.
Alex shrugs.
Mom
There's something wrong.
ALEX
I've gotta run back home for a few days.
MoM
I was hoping you thought of this as your home.
aLEX
I'm doing a favor for Murphy, it's nothing big.
moM
You haven't spent a night at home yet.
aLEX
I'll be back in two days.
dAD
We're not here to judge you. If you're in trouble again, you can tell us.
Alex stands up and laughs.
aLEX
I know, I...
He starts to head for the door.
Dad walks over to Alex and grabs his arm.
dAD
I don't want any more trouble. If there's any more of this drug stuff, I don't want you around here.
Mom turns in her chair and faces Alex.
moM
Listen to him.
alEX
Thanks a lot.
He leaves and slams the door.
Mom breaks down into tears.
Dads
It had to be done.
INT. Trailer, KITCHEN - Day
Lionel and Beth sit silently at the kitchen table. The kitchen is a mess. Food bits and crumbs are all over the counters and boxes, pots and pans, and other assorted junk sits
Lionel shovels in the food as if his last meal. Beth pokes at hers, head down.
LIONEL
Eat! I ain't eatin' alone.
No response.
LIONEL
Suit yourself.
(beat)
This is different.
He takes a close look at his food.
LIONEL
What they hell is this, paprika?
BETH
No it isn't.
LIONEL
I can't get the taste.
BETH
It isn't paprika, Lionel.
Lionel coughs.
LIONEL
I can't get the taste.
He coughs ferociously.
Beth rises from the table and takes her plate to the sink.
BETH
I don't think it has a taste Lionel.
Lionel begins to cough even more violently.
beTH
Least it's not supposed to.
He falls to the floor, clutching his throat.
beTH
I wasn't going to try it out.
She goes over to Lionel, writhing on the floor in pain.
beTH
(calmly)
You made me. Now it's just me and Martino now.
His flailing legs knock into the table, tipping over plates and glasses. Porcelain and glass chips cover his body.
beTH
You know honey, there, we have rules around here.
From behind her back she pulls a cast-iron skillet. She raises it above her head and the body of her fallen husband.
He doesn't move.
She bends down on her hands and knees and kisses Lionel on the forehead.
She wipes a tear and sweat from her face and brings a skillet down onto his head.
int. Alex's apartment, living room - night
The apartment is as he left it, with the exception of a flashing red light on his answering machine.
He hits the playback button on the answering machine.
TomMY
(Filtered)
Al, baby. It's Tommy. If there's anything I can do, call me. You got the number.
He walks into the bedroom.
int. AleX'S APARTMENT, Bedroom - NIGHT
Alex puts a CD into his boom box that lies atop a cheap thrift store night stand. The slow sounds of Uncle Tupelo's, "Anodyne" sing out of the speakers.
He staggers into the bedroom and leans against the dresser and stares into the mirror. He surveys the articles that describe his past problems.
He picks up the pack of cigarettes and reaches into a drawer and pulls out a Zippo lighter. He lights the cigarette and takes a long drag while putting the pack of cigarettes into his pants pocket.
He fights back tears, they eventually overwhelm him. He puts the cigarette out on the dresser, right next to the last butt he extinguished.
Alex pauses for a second, listening to the music. He then picks up a razor blade from the dresser and slowly puts a deep cut into his left arm.
aLEX
Ahhh!
He finishes cutting himself and a calm comes over him. The tears stop and lets out a long deep exhale of breath.
int. Jan's apartment - day
The doorbell rings. MARSHA ALLEN, a young good-looking woman in her mid-twenties, lies on the couch in the nice-sized, but cluttered city apartment. On the coffee table lies a bag of cocaine with some pot spread out on a tin can lid. Cigarette butts and roaches lie in the several ash trays which sit on the table.
The doorbell RINGS again and Jan picks herself, slowly off the couch. She wears nothing but a half-shirt and panties.
She looks through the peep-hole and pauses for a second.
The doorbell RINGS.
Jan messes with the several door locks as the doorbell RINGS yet again. She opens the door and Alex stands there waiting impatiently.
marsha
Who are you?
aLEX
Alex Barrows. I called last night.
marSHA
You should have come by.
Alex makes his way into the doorway.
aLEX
Can I come in?
marSHA
You a cop?
aLEX
Like I said last night, I'm just helping a friend out. A missing persons thing.
marshA
You're not a cop?
Alex takes a deep breath.
aLEX
No.
She motions him inside.
They walk into the living room. Alex stands near the couch and eyes the assortment of narcotics on the table.
Marsha heads for the kitchen.
marshA
Want a drink?
aLEX
No. Uh, no.
int. JAN'S APARTMENT, kitchen - DAY
She pulls a glass out of the cupboard and reaches into the refrigerator.
marsha
It's your loss.
She pulls out a container and pours herself a Bloody Mary.
Alex (o.s.)
Uh. Basically I just want to know where your roommate is.
int.
jAN'S APARTMENT - DAY
Marsha walks
into the room and sits down, cross-legged, in a chair opposite Alex so that the
drugs lie between them.
marSHA
Your guess is a good as mine, man.
She bends over and looks for a place on the table to set her drink.
Alex pushes the bag of coke out of the way and winces.
aLEX
When was the last time you saw her?
marSHA
I don't know. A couple of days. I work days normally and she bartends so, you know?
Alex pulls out a cigarette and lights it.
aLEX
What about a boyfriend?
MarSHA
She's always got one. She'll stay with him sometimes.
He flicks some ashes in an ashtray and sees a large half-smoked joint in it.
aLEX
You got a number.
marSHA
I might. He moves around a lot.
They stare at each other for a moment.
aLEX
Can you get the number?
Marsha shrugs.
marSHA
OK.
She gets up slowly and heads into the kitchen.
marSHA
Hey come in here a second.
Alex takes a large drag and then puts his cigarette out in an ashtray.
He walks into the kitchen.
int. jAN'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN - DAY
She points to a number on the kitchen wall. There are several numbers scrawled on the wall in different types of ink and handwriting.
marSHA
You think that's a five or a six?
alEX
Which one?
She gets closer to him and puts her finger on the number.
MarSHA
This one.
They look into each other's eyes and lean towards each other as if they are going to kiss.
She caresses his arm and moves the sleeve of his shirt up his arm to reveal the fresh scar.
mArshA
What happened to you?
He rubs her face.
aLEX
Nothing.
MARSHA
That doesn't look good.
aLEX
Do you always keep so many drugs around?
She takes a step back.
marSHA
No I don't, officer.
Alex takes a deep breath.
aLEX
Where did Jan work?
marSHA
You better go, I've got things to do today.
She turns to leave.
He grabs her arm.
aLEX
Where did she work, Marsha?
MarSHA
I, uh...
She tries to pull away, but Alex hangs on to her arm.
marSHA
Manford's Pelican.
Alex lets go.
MarSHA
What do you mean did?
aLEX
Huh?
MARSHA
You said, "Where DID she work."
aLEX
I did?
marshA
Yeah, you did. Is she dead?
aLEX
Well, no. Maybe. I'm trying to find out.
marSHA
There was this guy.
aLEX
From the Pelican?
marSHA
No, some other place she worked. They went out once or twice. Anyway, he'd been following her around.
alEX
Recently or...
Alex takes out a note pad.
mArshA
No. He stopped about a year ago, but he was super creepy.
AlEX
A year ago.
marSHA
As far as I know.
aleX
You don't see her much.
marSHA
Right.
He jots some information on the pad.
aLEX
The boyfriend, what's his name?
marshA
I don't know. It's been a while.
aLEX
No. The current man.
marSHA
Oh. Uh, Terry. Terry Marshall.
aLEX
Is that who you buy from?
marSHA
Let yourself out.
She walks into her bedroom.
Alex pushes his sleeve back down and heads to the front door.
int. moM'S CAFE - DAY
Murphy and Walker sit opposite each other in a booth in the cafe. Murphy holds a menu and studies it intensely.
Walker looks at him and laughs.
walKER
Murphy, you have the same thing every time.
Murphy peers over the menu.
muRPHY
Not true. Sometimes I don't get the soup.
Mom approaches their booth and pulls out her pad.
moM
Hello guys.
muRPHY
Hello darlin'. Because you look so good today, I'm gonna have the special.
moM
The special's tuna.
muRPHY
So.
Murphy smiles at Mom.
moM
You won't like it. I'll make you the club like always.
She turns to Walker and puts her hand on his shoulder.
moM
I made it special just like you asked.
walKER
I really appreciate this, ma'am.
muRPHY
Edna, what's this?
moM
Don't get all jealous Henry.
wAlkER
I gave her one of my mother's recipes.
moM
For tamales. We'll see if it's any good.
Mom walks back to the kitchen.
muRPHY
How can eat that Mexican stuff. It kills my stomach.
walKER
When did you ever eat Mexican food?
muRPHY
They got a Taco Bell Avenue City.
Walker laughs.
muRPHY
Can't you make that stuff at home?
walKER
I could.
muRPHY
Lazy damn Mexican.
Walker laughs a bit harder.
Mom arrives and sets the food plates down on the table.
moM
What so funny?
Murphy shrugs.
int. Manford's Pelican Bar - day
The bar is empty save for an OLDER LADY who plays with an umbrella at the end of the bar.
The bartender, Manford, is cleaning glasses at the end of the bar.
Alex stands, slumped on the bar.
older lady
She was nice.
manford
(To the Older Lady)
You never met her.
(To Alex)
She only worked nights.
older LADY
A gorgeous creature.
manforD
She in trouble?
olDER LADY
She gave me a plant once.
aLEX
Maybe.
manford
I bet it's that Terry guy.
oldER LADY
It was a fern. Big one.
Alex glances at the Lady.
aLEX
What do you know about him?
manfORD
I've been sober for a year now, I don't want any trouble. Got it?
aLEX
Right.
manford
This guy was big time, then his source got whacked by a cop or something. He's been out of control ever since.
older LADY
(To Alex)
Weren't you on TV?
aLEX
Really.
lyLE
Yeah, I've kicked him out of here about ten times.
aLEX
Know where he might be?
manford
No.
olDER LADY
(To herself)
It was like a court show or something.
alEX
Jan ever mention going back home?
manford
No.
aLEX
She ever mention her home town?
manford
No.
aLEX
Ever?
manford
Never.
older LADY
That fern, it died.
Alex gets up and walks away. His hand grazes the rail of the bar. He spins back.
alEX
Tell you what, gimme a beer.
Manford places a bottle on the bar.
ext. city street - dusk
Walker stands at a pay phone.
walKER
Hello. No sir, I need to speak with someone about obtaining some telephone records.
He nods.
walKER
I'll hold.
Ext. manfORD'S PELICAN BAR - night
It's raining hard. The streets are busy with traffic, human and mechanical.
TOMMY REAGAN runs across the street, seemingly hitting every puddle. He is a man in his late thirties who wears a closely cropped beard. He wears a baseball cap and a long raincoat over his business clothes. He wears a vividly colored shirt with the collar open down mid-way to his navel. Several gold necklaces hang from his neck. Lots of rings adorn his hands.
He pushes through the pack of people right outside the door.
int. maNFORD'S PELICAN BAR - night
Tommy pushes through the door. Several people block the entrance. He calmly pushes them aside. He takes off his ball cap and jacket and gives them a good shake. The people near him get a little wet.
Bar Patron
Hey jackass!
Tommy shakes his head and walks towards the bar. Manford is still holding down the fort.
Tommy shake his hand to get Lyle's attention. Manford walks towards him. A YOUNG WOMAN leaves at the end of the bar to reveal Alex, still sitting there involved in a game of Yahtzee.
tOMMY
Motherfucker!
manFORD
That's it, you're out of here, buddy.
Tommy gets distracted. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a hundred dollar bill and hands it to Manford.
ToMMY
No hard feelings.
Manford raises the bill to the light to inspect it.
Tommy fights through the crowd towards Alex.
tOMMY
Looking for a game?
Alex gives a quick look up and starts to fall off his stool. The dice he's holding go flying.
Tommy catches the stool and prevents Alex from taking a spill.
tOMMY
Saved your ass again, kiddo.
Tommy picks up two dice on the floor.
Alex regains his composure, a bit, and sits up. He swivels on his stool to square up with Tommy.
AleX
Tommy, what the fuck? I got your message, but I've been busy.
tOMMY
You look good. I guess forty-eight hours in jail doesn't really drain the body like it used to.
alEX
That's the past.
toMMY
How're you doing, Al?
Alex reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pack of cigarettes. He searches through the pack. No more cigs. He crumples of the pack and sets it on the bar.
aLEX
Let's get out of here.
Tommy rolls the two dice.
tOMMY
Seven.
aLEX
So what.
Alex stumbles as he gets off his chair.
Tommy pockets the dice and follows him out the door.
ext. MANFORD'S PELICAN BAR - NIGHT
The rain is coming down in sheets now.
Alex stands several feet from the bar's awning, getting soaked.
Tommy walks out the door and stands at the edge of the awning.
toMMY
This is ridiculous, let's go inside.
Alex keeps staring straight ahead.
aLEX
Ask me, how I'm doing?
tOMMY
C'mon.
No response.
Tommy shrugs his shoulders.
tOMMY
How are you doing?
Alex turns to Tommy.
aLEX
I can't hear you. You'll have to come closer.
Tommy shakes his head in disgust.
tOMMY
(To himself)
Fine.
Tommy walks out from under the awning and into the downpour. He puts his mouth near Alex's ear.
TOMMY
How the fuck are you doing, man!
Alex starts to walk away.
Tommy stands where is.
ToMMY
Now what?
The CRACK of lightning bursts through the air.
Alex walks back up to Tommy and throws a lightning quick punch that lands square on Tommy's nose, sending him reeling. Tommy lands in the middle of the wet street. Right in a puddle, that he had so skillfully avoided, minutes earlier.
Alex stands over him, shaking his punching hand over and over.
aLEX
Ow. Fuck. Thanks for askin'. I'm not doing all that well.
Tommy doesn't reply, he just keeps rubbing his jaw.
Alex continues to shake his hand.
aLEX
You got some nerve trying to buddy up with me.
Tommy spits a bunch of blood onto the ground.
ToMMY
It was all a mistake.
AleX
You're pathetic.
toMMY
You chipped my fuckin' tooth.
alEX
And you ruined my life. We're even.
int. Saint luke's hospital, tech room - day
Walker enters the sterile white room.
Marsha is sitting behind a microscope, looking rather disheveled.
marSHA
You from path?
wALKER
Path?
marSHA
I'm almost done. Hang on a sec.
She peers into the microscope.
wALKER
I'm sorry, ma'am. I ain't from path or wherever.
She looks up.
marSHA
You're not from pathology.
wALKER
No ma'am. I'm from Andrew County. Sheriff's office.
mArSHA
Is this about Jan again?
wALKER
Yes. And no.
marSHA
Well one of your guys already got me.
wALKER
Yeah, that was Alex. He's actually working on his own officially.
marSHA
Then what do you want?
wALKER
Did Alex act strange?
MarsHA
What?
wALKER
Was he on something? I mean, do you think?
mArsHA
He didn't act normal.
Marsha walks over to the doorway.
wALKER
I'm sorry for asking this. Did you two do any drinkin' or druggin'?
marSHA
I don't do drugs. But he was on something, that's for sure.
wALKER
What did Alex say?
marSHA
He just kept going on about how much he wanted to get a hold of Jan.
wALKER
I appreciate your time.
marSHA
Whatever.
She leaves.
Walker watches her leave, like any red-blooded American would. He looks at the microscope and peers into the eyepiece.
int. trailer - day
Beth walks over to Lionel's dead body. It sits leaned up against a wall. She bends him forward and puts a collared shirt on him.
bETH
You got a funeral today and this time you're wearing that suit my Daddy gave us.
She continues to dress the dead body. She buttons the shirt. She grabs a ties from the floor and straddles the body from behind and ties the tie from behind Lionel's body.
ext. meadow oaks cemetery - day
Alex drives through the maze of narrow roads squirming through the cemetery. He holds a piece of paper that looks at and then sets on the passenger seat. He drives to a remote part of the cemetery, where TERRY MARSHALL is driving a tractor, cutting grass.
Alex parks the car and gets out. He walks over to the tractor.
aLEX
(Yelling)
Terry?
terry
(Equally loud)
What?
aLEX
(Yelling)
I'm looking for Terry...
Terry cuts the motor.
aLEX
Marshall!
teRRY
You don't have to yell, I'm right here.
aLEX
Oh. Your boss said it'd be cool if I could talk to you for a minute.
terry
OK.
AleX
Where'd you get this gig?
terrY
Probation officer. He's a wonderful human being.
aLEX
Great. I need to know the last time you saw Jan Wiley.
terrY
Why? You a cop?
aLEX
More of a private investigator. When was the last time?
terrY
It's been a while. I dumped her ass months ago.
aLEX
When did this happen?
Terry adjusts himself on the tractor seat.
teRRY
Who are you? Are you her brother?
aLEX
She doesn't have a brother.
terRY
You're starting to piss me off.
aLEX
Look, I'm sorry. I'm working with the Sheriff's Department up in Andrew County. There's been a missing person's report filed on Jan.
terRY
I don't know where Andrew County is and I don't talk to cops.
aLEX
I'm not a cop.
terRY
Really.
alex
Do you know who she was seeing after you two split?
teRRY
Will you leave if I tell you?
aLEX
Yeah, sure.
teRRY
I dumped her because she was doing a lot of talking to some guy called Lightning. I saw him once outside of Donnie's. Preppy guy.
aLEX
Donnie's.
terrY
It's a strip club. Don't pretend like you don't know.
aLEX
She danced there?
TeRRY
Couple of times a week.
aLEX
She was only nineteen.
terRY
So?
Alex walks towards his car.
TeRRY
Hey, if you see her, tell I'm pissed, but I'm not that pissed. You know what I mean?
Alex gets into the car and drives off.
Terry starts the loud tractor mower up.
int. mANFORD'S PELICAN BAR - DAY
Walker sits in one of the booths with a table full of food.
A television plays the U.S. Open golf tournament.
golf announcer
It doesn't look for Hernandez now. The kid from the barrio sits now at even par on Saturday, moving day.
The WAITRESS walks over to Walker's table.
Walker points at the screen.
waitress
I got it. She was supposed to work last night.
waLKER
Check it out! A Mexican in the U.S. Open.
waiTRESS
You golf?
waLKER
No ma'am. I just eat.
waiTRESS
Anything else.
walkER
What did you say?
waitrESS
She never showed. No one's seen Jan in a week.
walKER
OK. Thanks.
waiTRESS
You want some more Ketchup?
waLKER
Uh, yeah. Please.
The waitress picks up an empty ketchup bottle and leaves.
int. aleX'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
He's sitting on the couch. The radio plays country music at a low level. His hair is wet, like he just got out of the shower. He wears an old T-shirt and some sweat pants. He enjoys a cigarette, taking long drags. An ashtray sits precariously on the arm of the couch.
A KNOCK at the door.
Alex quickly puts out the cigarette in the ashtray. He gets up, but knocks the ashtray off the couch and ashes spill on the floor.
aLEX
Shit.
The KNOCKING continues.
He rubs in the ashes so they are not so readily visible. He puts the ashtray under the couch.
Alex opens the front door.
aLEX
Walker?
waLKER
Hola.
Alex says nothing.
waLKER
Mind if I come in?
Alex steps back into the apartment.
aLEX
Any news?
Alex takes a seat in a folding chair across from the couch.
wALKER
Not really.
Walker sits on the couch.
aLEX
I was just about to call the station up there.
Alex looks about the room nervously.
wALKER
I talked to Marsha Allen today, her roommate.
aLEX
Yeah, so did I.
waLKER
She was nice. Man what a body on her.
alEX
Yeah.
waLKER
She didn't have much to say.
alEX
Did she mention Terry Marshall? The boyfriend.
Walker fidgets in his seat.
wALKER
Man, I'm thirsty. You got a beer?
alEX
Just water.
wALKER
Never mind.
alEX
Anyway, I talked to the boyfriend and he told me that she was seeing some guy called Lightning in the past few weeks.
waLKER
Wow.
alEX
Huh?
wALKER
I just can't believe this is Mavis and Buck's daughter.
alEX
You know, all those women on the internet have parents.
wALKER
We don't have the internet yet. I keep telling Murphy.
alEX
Terry was a drug dealer and I think this Lightning guy is too. He's from up around Danville. Marsha seemed to think she went up there to see him quite a bit.
wALKER
Buck said he hadn't seen her in over a year.
Walker gets up and grabs a golf club from Alex's golf bag that is leaning against a corner of the room.
aLEX
You play?
wALKER
No.
Joe begins to swing the club half-speed like a hockey stick.
wALKER
Now, hockey. That's a sport.
aLEX
Hockey?
wALKER
The gift from the great white north.
aLEX
Aren't you Mexican?
wALKER
My mama was from Western Canada, my papa worked on the pipe lines.
alEX
How the hell did you end up in Danville?
wALKER
Life is a journey with as many twists and turns as you can stomach.
He puts down the club and walks back to the couch and sits.
wALKER
Oh, by the way, she was scheduled to work the night before last, but never showed, never called.
aLEX
Did they find the body?
WALKER
No, no luck.
aLEX
She had a stalker about a year ago, and two boyfriends messed up in narcotics.
wALKER
You know, Alex. I don't mean to rain on your hospitality, but isn't this getting into some dangerous territory for you?
aLEX
I think we should focus on this Lightning character.
wALKER
She does seem to be missing. I guess it's back up north. You want a ride?
Alex slumps in his chair.
aLEX
I'll see you in the morning.
wALKER
After church.
Alex picks up a nice-looking shirt from the floor and models it.
waLKER
Where you goin'?
aLEX
To a strip club, wanna come?
wALKER
No, no. Maybe you shouldn't either.
aLEX
Jan used to work there. You come or not. Whatever.
Walker starts to look around.
aLEX
The phone is in the kitchen.
Walker heads to kitchen.
Alex opens a drawer in a desk in the living room. He pulls out a wallet and opens it. In it is a policeman's badge.
int. the volcano, night club - night
The Volcano is a stereotypical strip club, blaring hip-hop music.
Naked women abound, on stage and on the floor. Alex and Walker walk amid the THRONG.
A black DANCER wearing nothing but a thong moves in front of Walker. Alex smiles, while Walker tries not to stare.
aLEX
She likes you.
waLKER
If you believe that...
She rubs her ass against his crotch.
wALKER
Aw jeez. Let's go ask about Jan.
aLEX
OK.
Walker heads to the backstage area.
Alex grabs a drink off a COCKTAIL WAITRESS' tray and slams it. He hurries to catch up the large Mexican.
Alex and Walker stand next to a three-hundred pound BOUNCER who stands by the backstage door.
bouncer
Jan, she was called Candy Canes I think.
Alex flashes his badge
aLEX
Can we talk to the girls? It's important.
The bouncer shrugs.
They walk on.
int. Backstage at the volcano, night club - night
The long room is lined with mirrors and stools, but women.
walkER
I don't think you should be flashin' that badge around Alex. I'm an officer of the law, I can't let you...
aLEX
Come out, come out, wherever you are.
Walker eyes an office to his left.
walKER
Hey.
He points to the office. Alex knocks on the door. No answer. He opens it and enters.
int. office, tHE VOLCANO - NIGHT
A woman, RITA, looks up at them. She is an attractive middle-aged woman who, to some surprise, is fully dressed. On the corner of the desk sits a small placard with the name "Leslie" on it.
Rita
I'm busy.
Alex takes out his badge.
aLEX
We hoped to talk to some dancers tonight, Leslie.
riTA
No patrons backstage.
walkER
We're investigating the disappearance of Jan, Candy Canes.
riTA
So.
wALKER
Doesn't a badge mean anything to you?
ritA
You from around here Pedro?
waLKER
No. I'm a deputy Sheriff from Andrew County.
riTA
Then you're badge don't mean shit to me.
Alex looks impatient.
alEX
Jan Wiley.
riTA
She's gone.
aLEX
Where?
ritA
You don't show up, you're fired
wALKER
Was this typical behavior?
riTA
Typical? I know a name, Candy Canes. I don't know anything else about her and neither does anyone else.
Rita leaves.
Alex looks at Walker.
aLEX
You know, you're a real dick.
wALKER
I'm sorry?
Alex gets in his face.
aLEX
I'm a cop. Have ever investigated anything in your life other an missing cow or two?
walkER
You don't know what you're talking about.
Alex pushes Walker.
wALKER
I know you. You're a guy who used to be a cop. A dirty cop.
Alex takes a swing at Walker. Walker blocks the punch and displays some fairly quick karate moves and lays a series of blows to Alex's head and body.
Alex goes down in a heap.
Walker looks at the sky.
He reaches his hand to Alex.
wALKER
I'm sorry partner.
Alex pushes it away.
aLEX
It's cool.
wALKER
I'll get a cab.
Alex spits out a little blood.
alEX
Cool.
Walker leaves. Alex remains on the floor.
Rita returns.
rITA
Son-of-a-bitch! You got pig blood on my floor.
Alex doesn't move.
She kicks him
RitA
Get out. Get out!
Alex gets up.
int. sherIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Alex sits on top of a desk, his face swollen, going through the pile of old yearbooks.
Walker enters, wearing an ill-fitting suit.
aLEX
Did you pray for me?
wALKER
I did.
aLEX
Where's Murphy? At church?
Walker
He hasn't been going.
Walker comes behind the counter, takes off his jacket and pulls up a chair. Large sweat stains appear under each of his armpits.
wALKER (cont'd)
I asked around at church about this Lightning guy.
alEX
And?
WALKER
Nothing. Could be another dead end.
aLEX
Maybe it's someone with a similar last name.
wALKER
That's no one I know.
Murphy walks in through the back room. He is dressed casually with his sheriff's badge pinned on a golf shirt and his gun belt around his waist.
aLEX
Don't believe in God anymore Murphy?
muRPHY
I believe in God and once saved, always saved.
aLEX
You better hope.
walkER
Real funny.
(beat)
Hey chief. Ever heard of a guy around here named Lightning?
muRPHY
I don't believe I've heard this one.
aLEX
It's not a joke. Jan was seeing a guy called Lightning before she disappeared.
Murphy heads to the coffee maker and grabs a cup of coffee.
murPHY
Well I can't say I know anyone with that name. So how's the mystery going?
Alex and Walker give each other a solemn look.
alEX
Well Walker, what do you think?
wALKER
I think she's gone.
muRPHY
Dead gone or just gone, gone.
waLKER
No one's seen her down in K.C. and no one's heard a peep.
muRPHY
But we've got no body. We might have to bring in the State Police.
aLEX
Shit, Murphy. Just give me a day and I'll track down Lightning. I'm sure he's involved in drug dealing and if he is, I can find him.
muRPHY
You realize we can't just walk up to these guys and say, "Hey, you're on drugs and we think you killed a girl."
aLEX
Why not?
walKER
For one thing, there's no body.
Alex gets up and pours himself a coffee.
aLEX
We've got to search the area again and talk to someone who knows everybody. Knows everybody's business.
Murphy holds up The Gazette, the local paper and points to the masthead.
ext. scott house - day
Around the side of the two-story monster, Mary Scott, a frail old woman, is flipping burgers on the smoker.
Alex begins to cough as he sees her. She turns and spots him.
mary
Hello. Can I help you.
Alex walks closer to her.
aLEX
Sorry to interrupt your party, but there was no one at the paper.
mary
Wow, who got a hold of you?
Alex rubs his shiner.
alEX
No one really.
mary
Well, there's no party, this is for me. As for the paper, it's Sunday.
alEX
Right.
mary
You're gonna have to come by the office on Monday.
aLEX
Ma'am my name is...
mary
I know who you are and if you don't want any trouble you best get moving.
Alex laughs.
Mary
What's so funny?
aLEX
I'm surprised you know me.
mary
Know you? You're the boy who caught the Thinsulate work boot in the county fish off in eighty-two.
alex
How do you remember that stuff?
mary
I learned a long time ago, and I mean a long time ago, that there are things you'll never want to forget and things you'll never need to remember. So forget those and remember the others. You listening?
aLEX
Uh, yeah.
mary
Want some lunch?
She holds out the plate of burgers.
aLEX
Well, I wasn't going to stay...
mary
Quit being so damned polite and take the plate.
He takes the plate and they walk into the house.
int. scott house, kitchen - day
Alex and Mary sit at the kitchen table of the large house. Mary's husband, CHARLES, is sleeping with a fork in his hand at the table.
Alex laughs.
aLEX
Is he alright?
mary
Sure. Heaven forbid he try and stay awake for more than ten minutes at a time. How's your Mom and Dad?
Alex takes a bite of his burger, but can't help looking at the catatonic in front of him.
aLEX
Fine. They're fine. Business is good.
mary
You bet it is. I call for reservations just for lunch.
aLEX
They take reservations?
mary
No, but it doesn't hurt to call.
Mary gets up and grabs both hers and Alex's water glasses. She refills both of them with iced tea that's sitting on the counter.
mary
So, in getting to the point, who do you want to find?
aLEX
Do you remember anyone who went by the nickname, "Lightning"?
Mary
What?
aLEX
Or someone who had a name close to that?
mary
Lightning?
alEX
Anyone?
She sits back down. She crosses her legs like a man.
mary
Lightning.
alEX
If you can't think of it now, maybe...
mary
That does sound familiar.
She starts eating her burger. Alex waits for more out of her, but she continues eating.
Alex, after a minute, goes back to eating himself.
int. SheRIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Alex staggers into the office, holding his stomach. The radio is on, tuned to the U.S. Open golf tournament.
radio announcer (o.s)
This is it. What a final surge by Hernandez. Three putts to be the first native Mexican to win the U.S. Open.
Murphy and Walker are eating at their desks.
murPHY
You OK?
Alex sits down in a chair and cringes.
alEX
I ate too much.
Walker winks at Murphy.
wALKER
Mary's burgers.
Murphy smiles.
murPHY
I got Lyle to help us do some more searching tomorrow.
radIO ANNOUNCER (o.s.)
There it is. Juan Hernandez is your new U.S. Open champion.
Alex nods.
wALKER
Yes!
Walker claps his hands.
murPHY
Your boy did it.
Murphy wipes his mouth with a napkin.
wALKER
(To Alex)
She know's Lightning?
Alex leans back in the chair.
aLEX
She couldn't remember.
waLKER
What?
radIO ANNOUNCEr (o.s.)
A thrilling victory for golf fans everywhere.
alEX
She'll call us tomorrow if she comes across anything at the paper.
muRPHY
That old woman can remember what I wore on my wedding day forty years ago.
aLEX
She said it sounded familiar.
wALKER
I bet he ain't from around here after all.
alEX
He's from somewhere around here.
muRPHY
(To himself)
She couldn't remember.
ext. near lionel's trailer - day
Beth drags Lionel's nattily attired dead body in wheel barrow along a ridge, not far from the trailer. A shovel rests atop Lionel's body.
The day is almost over and from this vantage point the lake is almost directly below the ridge, about fifty feet down an embankment. The lake is one of those lakes with lots of dead tree stumps sticking out of the water.
Beth gets tired and sets the wheel barrow down. The shovel falls off, a few feet from the wheel barrow.
bETH
I hate funerals, Lionel. Did you know that?
She bends down to get the shovel, but loses control of the wheel barrow and it starts to tip over. She tries to catch the wheel barrow and manages to grab one of the handles, but the body falls out and caroms down the embankment.
Beth falls down, muddying herself as the wheel barrow falls on her.
beTH
Ouch!
The body makes a loud splash.
She rolls over and looks over the edge of the embankment. The body does not surface.
ext. lake, under water - day
Lionel's body is impaled on a tree stump that does not quite extend to the water's surface.
The body lays motionless, mere feet from view.
ext. NEAR LIONEL'S TRAILER - DAY
Beth rolls around in the mud, laughing.
ext. back street, downtown Danville - night
Alex walks down a back street, not far from the town square. He carries a bottle of whisky in a brown paper bag. A cigarette dangles from his mouth.
He comes across a small bar. It is located in a building with no windows, just a small painted sign saying, "Bar".
Alex nears the entrance. Ralph, a long haired bearded man with a tatoo on his arm that says, "Tough guy" meets him in the doorway.
ralph
No cops and no cons in here.
Alex tries to walk past him.
Ralph blocks his path. The door is partially open.
ralPH
You're both, so skedaddle.
aLEX
Thanks a lot Ralph.
Ralph closes the door.
aLEX
I never did fix that parking ticket.
The cigarette falls out of his mouth.
Alex continues to walk down the street.
He takes a large swig from his bottle as he walks.
int. barrow's house - night
Alex walks through the front door as his mother ascends the stairs.
A look of relief comes across Mom's face.
mom
Good. You're home.
aLEX
Yeah. Home. I'm home.
MOM
Let me get you some coffee. My God, your eye.
Mom rubs his face. Alex recoils a bit.
aLEX
No coffee. It's not good for you.
Mom sighs.
moM
So what have you and Murphy been doing?
aLEX
What?
mom
Well, I'm asking. I know you've been hanging around the sheriff's office.
aLEX
What do you care?
mom
Is that any way to talk to your mother?
Alex collapses at the foot of the stairwell.
mom
Alex. You're gonna wake your father.
alEX
Good. Wake his ass up.
moM
No. Nobody wants that. This is my only free time I get in the house away from him.
alEX
So go ahead, ask me.
moM
Ask you what?
aLEX
Oh come on. Ask me what you've been dying to ask me all along.
moM
Alex, I really don't know what you're talking about.
aLEX
You want to know if I'm a drug addict. If I'm a cheater, a liar. Don't you?
moM
Please keep it down. I'll get some coffee.
He grabs her arm.
aLEX
I fucked up. I snorted the coke, I made some mistakes. You ever make a mistake Mom?
Tears begin to flow from Mom's eyes.
moM
Oh Alex, everyday.
aLEX
I made one. And now my whole life is fucked.
mom
Maybe you can get a job with Murphy. You could stay here until you saved up a little money.
aLEX
Why don't I just kill myself right now.
She begins to cry in earnest.
mom
Don't talk like this.
aleX
I'm tired.
moM
Let's go to bed.
Mom kisses Alex on the cheek and walks up the stairs.
Alex leans back on the stairs and closes his eyes.
int. andrew county gazette - day
Mary is sitting at her desk, legs crossed man-style, and puffing on a Virginia Slim.
Alex enters her office. His shiner looking better than the day before, but still very noticeable. Before he can get a word out, Mary holds her hand up, stopping his progress.
Mary
Stop right there. I'd thought I said I'd call.
aLEX
Mary, Mary. I couldn't stand to be away from you any longer.
mary
Good for you. Don't let the truth stand in your way.
aLEX
Do you have anything for me?
mary
Well I think I have your name, and I didn't have to use this damn thing.
She slaps her computer monitor.
Alex opens his mouth to speak, but Mary beats him to the punch.
mary
I was flipping channels last night and I landed on ESPN. They had some replays of a basketball game. There was some little fella, don't know who he plays for, but he's faster than a monkey.
She raises her hand at Alex.
mary
No racial slur intended. I see this young man and I started to think about your fella, Lightning.
aLEX
Yeah.
mary
Back in the seventies, we had a hell of a high school basketball team. Finished sixth in the state. Your cousin was on it.
aLEX
Jimmy?
mary
No, Justin from your Dad's side.
aLEX
Oh, yeah.
mary
There was a kid on that team that our sportswriter used to call lightning. He didn't play a lot, but he made the basket that won the district tournament.
She holds up an old clipping, that reads, "Lightning wins it!"
aLEX
So he went by "Lightning".
Alex takes the clipping from her.
mary
Probably.
aLEX
Lightning Lionel Langley.
mary
That's him.
Alex stretches out his hand to Mary.
mary (cont'd)
Must be official business if we're shaking hands.
alEX
Thanks ma'am.
mary
Just tell your Mom to give me a free lunch.
alEX
I'll try.
Alex walks out the office door.
mary
You owe me mister.
int. shERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Murphy and Walker are sitting around, drinking coffee.
Alex walks in on them.
murPHY
Alex. We've been waiting for you. Walker, call Lyle and tell him we're on.
aLEX
Look Murphy, I got a name on Lightning. Lionel Langley.
wALKER
That guy?
muRPHY
Lionel? That's right. He played ball on that state championship team.
alEX
They finished sixth.
murPHY
No, I think they won it.
wALKER
That guy was in here not too long ago. Him and his wife.
murPHY
I don't think they're married Walker. She was beat up pretty bad that night.
wALKER
She can take care of herself. She whipped the poor bastard upside his head with little twenty-two.
muRPHY
Those two are kinda strange.
waLKER
So how we gonna handle this Murphy?
muRPHY
What do you think Alex?
Alex walks over to where Murphy is sitting.
alEX
Let's just go ask them a couple questions.
muRPHY
Talk to both of them?
aLEX
Separately. If she's not too bright, she could let something slip.
walKER
Or she could slap that twenty-two upside your head.
Alex turns towards Walker.
alEX
I've had worse.
ext. front yard, Beth & lionel's trAILER - DAY
Murphy and Alex pull up in the Sheriff's squad car.
The front yard is covered with shabby old lawn ornaments, but not much grass. Mostly tall weeds and dandelions.
They open the chain linked gate, which almost falls off it's rusty hinges.
Alex knocks on the front door.
Beth opens it wearing only a bathrobe. Her hair is done up, but she is remarkably cleaner and more well kept than before. She sees Murphy's uniform and starts to shake.
beth
Hello?
alEX
Are you Beth Langley?
beth
No. I'm Beth Hunt.
aLEX
Is Lionel in ma'am?
She shirks back into the doorway a bit.
beTH
No.
murpHY
Beth, can we come in for a second?
beth
He ain't here.
aLEX
I know, Ms. Hunt. Can we speak to you for a moment?
beTH
I guess I have to right?
murPHY
Well, no you...
aleX
That's right you do.
She opens the door for them and they enter.
int. tRAILER - DAY
As messy as the trailer was before, it is now noticeably cleaner. A bucket and mop sit in the middle of the kitchen.
Murphy and Alex are led into the living room where there is a mantle over a faux fire place. A box overflowing with sports trophies and memorabilia sit in it.
Alex and Murphy share a look as they notice the mantle.
Walker sits down on the old couch.
Beth, seeing Murphy, sits on the edge of an uncomfortable looking almost antique chair. Alex stands, looking through the box of memorabilia.
wALKER
When do you expect your old man back, Beth?
bETH
He left.
wALKER
Well when do you think he'll be coming back.
Beth smiles.
bETH
He ain't coming back.
wALKER
What do you mean, ma'am?
Beth's hands both rest on her face.
bETH
What I said. He won't be back in this place.
Alex turns around and faces Beth, who is looking right into Walker's eyes.
aLEX
What happened?
She answers Alex, but doesn't look at him.
beTH
He left and said he's never coming back.
aLEX
When did all this happen?
waLKER
He's left before hasn't he, Beth?
Beth drops her hand.
bETH
When he leaves, in the past, he'd threaten to come back. Not this time.
alEX
When did you have this confrontation?
bETH
Do you know where he is?
wALKER
I figured you'd might know his whereabouts.
beTH
No. No way.
alEX
Is there anything you can tell us about where Lionel might be?
beTH
Can you all just leave me alone? I don't know nothing.
Alex bends down on his knee and looks Beth in the eye. She turns her head to avoid eye contact. Alex leans in so his face is very close to hers.
aLEX
You seem kind of nervous.
She slams her foot against the couch and begins swinging her arms.
bETH
I ain't got no more time to talk. It's one-fifty five.
aLEX
So?
She stops swinging her arms.
bETH
You sound just like Lionel.
Alex opens his shirt pocket and pulls out a small photo. It is a posed picture of Jan Wiley.
Alex takes the picture and puts it in front of Beth's face.
aLEX
Have you ever seen this girl before?
Her eyes widen. She turns her back on her guests and sits down on the couch. She grabs the remote off the coffee table and flips on the television.
Alex flashes a quizzical look to Walker, who rolls his eyes.
aLEX
Ma'am?
Beth gathers herself in a more comfortable position in her chair.
BeTH
My stories come on at two.
Alex shakes his head and leans back.
wALKER
Sure. That's why we want you to take another look at the picture. Then we'll go.
Beth's lip begins to quiver. She tries to stop it, but it only shakes harder. Her eyes are clouding up.
beTH
What's the matter with her?
Alex stands up and looks down on her.
aLEX
Nothing.
wALKER
What?
aLEX
Have you seen this girl in the last few weeks?
Beth says nothing.
aLEX
Did Lionel know this woman?
No response from Beth. She sits, staring at the television.
walKER
Beth? Do you think he was seeing this woman?
beTH
They're not around here anymore.
Walker sits up in the couch.
walkER
How? Why?
bETH
I'm his wife. I know these things.
aLEX
You're not married.
Walker flashes Alex a look of death.
wALKER
When your husband left, was he with her?
She starts to cry.
bETH
Yes.
aLEX
Lionel was having an affair with her?
Another angry look from Walker directed at Alex.
Alex walks to the other side of the room.
She covers her ears with her hands and clinches her eyes shut.
wALKER
Beth?
bETH
I know it. I knew it.
Alex plops his body down on the couch.
int. Walker's squad car - day
Alex and Walker drive silently back towards town. Walker stares at the road. Alex snacks on a chocolate bar.
After a minute or so of silence.
waLKER
I'm gonna check on some phone records.
alEX
I'm hungry.
int. mom's cafe - day
Alex sits, sunglasses on, in a far booth.
Mom stands over the table, pouring him some coffee into his empty cup.
moM
Why can't you tell me what's up?
Alex looks up at his mother.
aLEX
Not now. Maybe later. Maybe never. OK?
moM
You're breaking my heart.
She walks away.
WILT, the fattest man in town, waddles into the cafe. He looks around and seems confused.
aLEX
Wilt!
Wilt doesn't hear Alex, who is behind him. Wilt shakes his head and sits down in a booth, facing away from Alex. Wilt can barely fit in the booth. He has to push the table away from the booth to sit.
aLEX
Wilt!
He doesn't hear Alex.
Alex, grudgingly gets up and walks over to where Wilt is sitting. Alex puts his arm on Wilt's shoulder.
alEX
Wilt.
Wilt looks up and sees Alex.
wilt
Well, look there. I ain't seen you since I kicked you and Johnny out of my place. When was that?
aLEX
I don't know. I'm sitting over there, bud.
Wilt looks over to the booth that Alex had been occupying.
wiLT
I ain't gettin' up again. Have a seat.
aLEX
Let me get my coffee.
Wilt grabs Alex by the shirt.
wiLT
I'm kinda in a hurry.
Alex turns around and attempts to sit down. There is very little room between the booth opposite Wilt and the table. Alex winces as he squeezes into the tight spot.
wiLT
Gaining a little weight there?
aLEX
Yeah, something like that.
wiLT
How's your Daddy?
aLEX
He's fine.
wiLT
Ain't seen him in here in awhile.
aLEX
Good to see you, Wilt.
Mom walks over to the table.
moM
What'll it be?
wiLT
Alex you want anything?
aLEX
Just my coffee, Mom.
moM
Wilt?
wiLT
Gimme a large chocolate milk and a lettuce salad.
moM
OK.
Mom heads back to behind the cafe counter.
aLEX
Cool. Say Wilt, you know Lionel Langley?
wiLT
Yeah, Lightning comes into my place every once in a while.
aLEX
Seen him lately?
Wilt giggles a bit.
wiLT
You wanna kick his ass?
Alex rubs his bruised face.
aLEX
Don't plan on it.
WiLT
Well I don't give a shit one way or another. You know, I ain't seen him in a couple of weeks.
Wilt points to the window at the corner of the diner. Beth is tucked away behind the window, paint on the window blocking most of her body. Only her face is visible.
WiLT
Why don't you ask his wife?
aLEX
I saw her earlier actually.
wiLT
Well I think she's following you then.
aLEX
What?
Wilt points again.
Alex turns his head and looks behind him.
aLEX
Huh.
Alex looks at Wilt.
aLEX
Stay here for a second.
wiLT
I don't even have my food yet.
Alex squeezes out of his tight spot.
aLEX
Right.
Alex walks towards the door. He sees Beth run off.
Alex runs out the door.
ext. outside mom's cafe - day
Alex runs after Beth, who wears large bulky cowboy boots and a long sun dress.
aLEX
Beth!
She turns the corner and slips on the concrete and falls.
bETH
Ow!
Alex bends down to help her, she jumps like a scared cat.
aLEX
It's only me. Don't worry. You OK?
She sits up and pats away the dirt off herself. She takes an exaggerated deep breath to regain her composure.
bETH
He ain't come back yet, mister.
Alex grabs her arm and helps her back to her feet.
aLEX
Let's just talk.
bETH
About what?
aLEX
About you.
bETH
I told you, I ain't done nothing.
aLEX
Right. I know. I can imagine how you feel.
bETH
Huh?
aLEX
Look, I can tell you've been hurting since he ran off.
bETH
Who?
Alex is confused by her question.
aLEX
Uh, Lionel.
Beth begins to look around, as if she's keeping a look-out.
beTH
Yeah, he's gone.
aLEX
Yeah, yeah, I know. That's why I'm sorry. Jeez. I doubt if you know, but I lost something too.
bETH
What?
aLEX
My job, my life. Both really.
beTH
What happened?
aLEX
Well, there were some things out of my control, actually. I didn't do some things I should have done. Vice versa.
bETH
Yeah, me too.
aLEX
Is that why he left?
bETH
He did some things. I was a prisoner, but now I'm on parole.
Alex stares at her, a melancholic look in his eyes.
Beth, wanting to say something, leans forward, but at the last moment, she takes a step back and looks down the street.
Alex grabs her arm and brings her closer to him.
aLEX
Do you know what redemption is, Beth?
bETH
I guess.
Alex stares into her eyes.
bETH
What does it mean?
aLEX
When you can right a wrong. Get it?
beTH
I don't know.
aLEX
Do you love Lionel?
Beth doesn't hesitate.
BETH
No.
Alex grabs her with both arms.
aLEX
You are my redemption.
Beth tries to squirm away from Alex.
bETH
How'd I do that?
Alex lets go of her.
She looks at him for a brief second, then runs off.
Alex stands on the street corner. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. It is the last one in the pack. He lights the cigarette with a cheap looking K.C. Chiefs labelled Bic lighter. A large burst of wind makes him squint, when the dust blows into his eyes.
int. sheriFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Walker is standing at the fax machine, tapping his fingers against the plastic. He HUMS under his breath, an unrecognizable tune.
The transmission begins to roll out.
The top of the first sheet contains large bold letters. It reads, "AT&T Detail of Phone Record."
Walker waits casually for the rest of the transmission, completing the song, known only to him.
He takes the papers and heads over to his desk. He tips his chair back and props his feet up while he takes a swig of coffee.
He begins to read.
He stops suddenly. His chair slams to the floor and his feet his the ground, spilling coffee all over the desk.
wALKER
Crap!
He absentmindedly takes some of the phone records and sets them on spilled coffee. He see what he is doing and immediately stops.
wALKER
Uh, oh.
He grabs an old shirt from his desk and wipes up the mess.
The phone records are piled up at the corner of his desk. Some of the papers are wrinkled from being wet.
He looks through the papers again. This time he grabs a yellow hi-lighter from his desk and begins crossing over the number "535-8259" the many times it appears on the page.
ext. town square - day
Walker races through the town, balls out, like Bullitt.
He ignores an on-coming car and narrowly avoids a collision. Dust flies up, but Walker turns on the flashing lights on his squad car and motors on.
int. mom'S CAFE - DAY
Walker bursts in, totally out of breath.
wALKER
(To everyone)
Where's Alex?!
The only people around are Alex's mother and Wilt, who now sits at the counter.
wiLT
What's up, Walker?
wALKER
Where is he?
WilT
Who?
Mom walks over to where Walker is standing.
moM
Do you want Alex?
Walker nods.
moM (cont'd)
He went running out of here a while back. Do you want me to call home?
Walker runs out the door.
Mom turns to Wilt.
mom
I hope Alex isn't drinking.
Wilt pushes his coffee cup towards her.
She pours him a fresh cup and displays her patented worried look.
ext. towN SQUARE - DAY
Walker is still running hard, but he begins to slow. A confused look comes across his face. A perplexed look. An angry look.
He starts to run again. But not as fast and he doesn't concentrate on his actions, so his limbs begins to flail and his shirt comes un-tucked.
Suddenly, he grabs his side. Overcome by pain, Walker sits down at a park bench in the courtyard of the town square.
int. alEX'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - flashback
Walker picks up the phone in the hallway. Alex lies on the couch.
Walker takes a closer look at the phone.
wALKER
I gonna give 'em my number here. Is this it on the phone?
aLEX (o.s.)
Nah. That's the old one. The new one's on the phone book cover.
INSERT - TELEPHONE
It reads 525-8259.
END FLASHBACK
int. crAWDAD RANCH TAVERN - DAY
Alex sits at the end of the bar. He is visibly drunk. The bartender, ROB, stands behind the bar, near Alex. There are several empty glasses sitting on the bar in front of Alex.
aLEX
Can you be redeemed by God?
roB
What are you talking about?
aLEX
Have you asked for his forgiveness?
roB
You're losin' it.
aLEX
I'm not sure if I can be forgiven.
I mean, is theft as bad as lying or cheating...and killing?
rob
I don't know.
aLEX
Do you believe in God, Rob?
roB
I guess. Yeah sure.
aLEX
God! He'll cure your pain, make all the sins go away.
Rob leans over the bar to get closer to Alex.
roB
Why don't you lay off a bit.
The door to the bar BANGS open. Walker walks in. He approaches Alex and stands firm, staring at him.
Alex matches the direct eye contact.
Walker pulls out the coffee-soiled papers from his pocket.
aLEX
What you got there, chief?
He shoves the paper into Alex's face. Alex doesn't waver.
Walker, hesitates, then folds the sheet into quarters and tucks it back into his shirt.
Alex nods in understanding.
aLEX
Any new info?
Walker motions for Alex to leave the bar.
roB
You want anything, Walker?
wALKER
Let's go somewhere.
Alex shrugs it off and they both leave.
Rob takes Alex's empty high-ball glasses and begins to clean the bar with a large bar towel.
ext. forest - day
The sun is just starting to make its descent behind the trees.
Alex and Walker hike their way to the spot where Alex was camped out, earlier. Walker has his gun out and Alex walks ahead of him, confidently.
Alex speaks without looking back at Walker.
aLEX
So you gonna tell me what's up?
They get to the exact spot where Alex found the body. Alex kneels down, grabs a handful of dirt, and shakes it in his hand, just playing with it.
walkER
Everyone I talked to said there was someone following Jan. What if that man, isn't Lionel Langley?
aLEX
So?
wALKER
I think it's time to go big. I've talked to Murphy and he thinks we go public with everything. Maybe someone out there can identify our mystery man.
aLEX
We got Langley, Walker.
Walker puts the gun back into his holster.
wALKER
We know where Langley is. Problem is we think he's got an alibi.
Alex's eyes stare intently out over the lake.
aLEX
You don't say.
wALKER
Yeah, Murphy and I think the stalker is the way to take the investigation. The guy's gotta be a sitting duck, just waiting to get picked off.
aLEX
What if he doesn't turn up.
wALKER
Phone records. His number would be all over her phone records.
Walker takes his gun out and raises it towards Alex.
aLEX
I talked to Beth again today.
wALKER
So what did y'all talk about?
aLEX
Redemption.
wALKER
Whose?
aLEX
We all need redemption, big guy. Anyway, we talked about forgetting the difference between right and wrong.
wALKER
We're all guilty of that.
aLEX
From the smallest details to the most grievous of mistakes.
wALKER
We all make mistakes, Alex.
aLEX
Well, a person can make one mistake that leads to another, and another, and another until we are all defined by our mistakes.
wALKER
It ain't a mistake if you can't correct it. Then it becomes something else.
aLEX
That's what Beth was saying.
wALKER
What'd you say?
aLEX
I don't remember.
Walker cocks his gun.
aLEX (cont'd)
I don't know what evidence you think you have, but you got nothing on me. You go nothing. You shoot me here and you go down for cold blooded murder.
Walker's walkie-talkie spits out a high-pitched SQUEAL, then a voice.
aLEX
We don't got Jan's body, Armando. You got nothing!
wALKER
Shut up.
He puts his gun down and picks up his walkie-talkie.
muRPHY (o.s.)
Get your butt back home, Walker. We've got what we need to get the guy.
Alex's eyes widen.
wALKER
What do you got?
muRPHY (O.S.)
It's Lionel. Lightning all right. Beth just brought in the topper. And we got Buck and Mavis here,too.
No response from Walker.
murPHY
(O.S.)(cont'd)
You copy?
walker
Yeah, I copy. Alex and I will be right in.
He replaces the walkie-talkie onto his belt.
Alex gives him a playful shrug.
aLEX
This is getting interesting.
int. shERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Walker and Alex enter to find Beth sitting hunched over in a chair.
Buck and Mavis sit behind the counter, next to Murphy, who's on the phone.
wALKER
What's going on?
Murphy hangs up.
murPHY
Walker, Alex. You two were right, Lionel Langley was up to no good.
He grabs an evidence bag off the counter.
muRPHY
Beth brought in an earring and some unmentionables. She said the stuff wasn't hers. 'Bout that time, Buck calls, says he ain't heard from Jan.
aLEX
Really.
muRPHY
Yeah. So I ask about the earring. Red and yellow, or gold, triangle shaped, about two inches on each side.
He hands Walker the the yearbook with Jan's picture in it. The same shot as before.
muRPHY
The same damn earrings.
buCK
She wore them all the time. They were one of a kind, made by them White Cloud Indians.
mAvIS
She said they were for good luck.
Buck turns to Alex.
buCK
I'm sorry about the other day.
Alex shakes his head.
wALKER
So...
muRPHY
We gotta opens this up now. See if we can get our hands on Lionel. Walker, give the state police a holler. Tell them we need an all points bulletin and give the info they need.
Murphy puts his arm around Mavis, who's started to cry softly.
muRPHY
Don't worry. We'll find this guy. He'll have Jan.
Alex walks outside.
ext. shERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Alex looks around his clothing for a cigarette. There are none left.
aLEX
(To himself)
Shit.
Walker walks outside.
wALKER
I'm gonna tell them what I know.
aLEX
What if I didn't even know her. What if I was just investigating a case?
wALKER
Alex.
aLEX
You go and tell Buck and Mavis it wasn't Lionel Langley who killed her. Go ahead.
Walker turns to go back inside.
aLEX
You gotta cigarette?
walkER
I don't smoke.
Walker opens the door and heads inside.
ext. foreST - NIGHT - flashback
Alex stands by Jan's dead body, wrapped in plastic. The body is naked.
He runs his fingers through her hair.
A SNAP of a twig can be heard.
aLEX
Who's there?
Out of the shadows comes, Beth, draped in a long overcoat.
bETH
Who are you?
aLEX
I'm camping. Why don't you continue on?
She walks closer to him.
He pulls out his 9mm automatic pistol and points it at her.
bETH
Aahh! She's dead. She's dead.
aLEX
Get out of here now.
Beth stands still.
bETH
That's her. That's her.
aLEX
One more time. Get out of here now.
Beth scurries away.
Alex keeps the gun pointed at her long after she is gone.
He lowers the gun and pushes the body into the river.
int. wilEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buck and Mavis watch their big screen television. They sit in their personal TV watching chairs.
On the television is a state policeman and Murphy.
state policeman
We're looking for a young woman aged twenty-three.
A picture of Jan appears on the screen.
state policeman
Ginger hair, out-going personality.
murPHY
If anyone has seen this woman or this man.
A picture of Lionel Langley appears on the screen.
muRPHY
Lionel Langley, known as Lightning. Please call the Andrew County Sheriff's Department at 533-0390. Thanks.
Murphy and the State policeman appear back on the screen.
muRPHY
A reward of thirty thousand dollars will be given to any information leading to the whereabouts of either one of these people. Thanks.
mAvIS
(To Buck)
Can we afford it?
buCK
We'll manage.
ext. forest - night - FLASHBACK
Beth drags Jan's body out of the lake. She puts it up into her wheel barrow and pushes it away.
ext. nEAR LIONEL'S TRAILER - night - flashback
Beth light a large fire near the trailer. Jan's body is in middle of the bonfire. Beth sits on the ground looking on as the fire reflects off the trailer's windows.
int. aleX'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - flASHBACK
Alex sits on a fold-up chair. In front of him, on the couch, is
Jan. She is bound and gagged and
laying on a plastic mat.
Alex gets up and sits on the couch with her.
He strokes her hair again and again.
He undoes her gag.
Jan
Aaahh!
aLEX
Shut up. Shut up!
He punches her in the mouth with his fist.
jan
Oww.
She merely whimpers now.
He gets up and walks over to the the corner of the room. He takes a nine iron out of his golf bag and walks back over to the couch.
He takes the club and pounds it into her mid-section.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
She stops whimpering. She makes no noise whatsoever.
He throws the golf club across the room.
aLEX
I'm a cop. I'm a cop.
fade out.