01x06 - Believers

[bunniefuu]

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. JORDAN AND TREY’S OFFICE - DAY

JORDAN is asleep on the office sofa. She awakens and hoists the blinds to the hallway and is startled by the sight of MAX standing at the window, reading the paper.

JORDAN

Oh!

She opens the door and Max enters.

JORDAN (cont’d) Geez, you almost gave me a heart att*ck, Dad. What are you doing here?

MAX Waiting for you to wake up. This is no way to live, Jordan, sleeping on any couch you can find.

JORDAN You make it all sound so tawdry. And I don’t have time to look.

MAX There’s this new thing they’ve got called the classifieds. You should check ‘em out. They actually have places to live in here.

She points to a dying plant.

JORDAN Exhibit A. I can barely take care of a house plant, much less a place of my own. I’ll just sleep here and do laundry at your house.

MAX Yeah, about that, Evelyn said there was a little mix-up in the machine. Darks in with the whites, that sort of thing.

JORDAN

Ah, I see.

He looks over a report.

MAX All these names, these people.

JORDAN

Yeah, d*ed this week.

MAX Three twenty-seven Congress Avenue, apartment B. It’s a nice neighborhood. Probably have a view of the river.

The phone RINGS.

JORDAN You know, that’s sick even for you, Dad. (picks up phone, sighs) This is Cavanaugh. Yeah, I know where it is. Bye. (hangs up) Girl was just found dead in Maudslay State Park. I gotta go.

She grabs her purse and he waves. CUT TO:

EXT. PARK – DAY

3

CHYRON: Crime Scene: Maudslay State Park

Jordan drives up to the busier than usual crime scene, siren ON. DETECTIVE LOIS CARVER is chatting UNDER SCENE with a MAN as Jordan approaches.

JORDAN Hey, Lois. What’s up with the circus?

CARVER Well, we made the ID after we called you out. Dead girl is Stacey Ryder, daughter of the uh, Commonwealth’s favorite senator. Looks like you caught yourself a hot assignment.

JORDAN And boy is my boss gonna be thrilled. Who found her?

CARVER Park rangers. We notified the Senator. He and Mrs. Ryder were out on the Cape last night, fundraiser. They’re on their way back now.

JORDAN

You got a suspect?

CARVER She was last seen with her boyfriend, ten o’clock last night. We’re sending a car over to the house to pick him up.

They move under a police tape. Jordan takes out her camera.

CARVER (cont’d) Photographer’s already here.

JORDAN

What photographer?

Carver points to a handsome young photographer, ADAM FLYNN, who is taking pictures up close of the body.

JORDAN (cont’d)

Hey, you!

Adam looks up, then moves off. Jordan sighs with frustration.

CARVER Alright, I’m sorry. The guy had a coroner’s shield. I just thought he was--

JORDAN And a police scanner, too. Doesn’t make him a cop. Reporters.

She moves to the body.

OFFICER (O.C.)

Need help?

JORDAN

Oh, I’m fine.

She bends down to the body of Stacey Ryder, an attractive young woman covered in blood. Carver squats down next to Jordan.

CARVER It was a single s*ab wound to the chest. We don’t have a m*rder w*apon.

JORDAN She’s been dead ten, maybe twelve hours.

4

(points off) Those scrapes over there, someone dragged her down here, huh. There’s some bruising around her neck, too.

FALK (O.C.)

Oh my God, Stacey.

Carver rises to face a man in a suit, GEORGE FALK.

CARVER Excuse me, sir. You’re gonna have to step behind the perimeter tape.

FALK I’m George Falk. I work for her father.

CARVER I understand. Let us handle the situation.

FALK Alright, look, can we at least move the body before the media gets here?

He dials a number on his cell phone.

CARVER Right after Doctor Cavanaugh completes her exam. Normal procedure.

FALK This is the daughter of a United States senator who happens to be running for reelection. There’s nothing normal-- I’m sorry. Look, why don’t uh, why don’t you just uh, keep me appraised of any developments, okay?

He hands Carver his card.

JORDAN

Yes, sir. We will.

CARVER Okay, now I’m going to have to ask you to step behind the tape. Come on.

She leads him away. Jordan resumes her examination. A cell phone RINGS and she reaches inside Stacey’s jacket pocket removes the phone.

JORDAN

Ooh-- Hello?

VOICE ON PHONE

Stacey, can you talk?

JORDAN

Who is this?

VOICE ON PHONE It’s Cal. Isn’t this--

The caller hangs up.

JORDAN

Hello? Oh--

She dials a number. FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

5

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - DAY

CHYRON: Autopsy Room: Stacey Ryder

The body of Stacey Ryder lies on the table. MACY enters as Jordan proceeds with the autopsy.

MACY

What k*lled her?

JORDAN I don’t know yet. No defensive wounds. Can’t figure out why she’d just let somebody s*ab her.

MACY

Any idea with what?

JORDAN From the marks on her sternum, looks to me like it was a Phillips head screwdriver.

MACY Any sign of sexual as*ault?

JORDAN Found some spermicidal gel, but no semen. She had sex last night, but I think it was consensual. Check out these lividity marks.

Stacey’s legs show markings of geometric indentation.

JORDAN (cont’d) I checked them against the crime scene photos. They weren’t made there. She was moved after she d*ed.

MACY What about these bruises? Was she strangled?

JORDAN Yeah, but that’s not what k*lled her. The bruises were already fixed and set. Whatever caused them occurred two or three hours prior to the stabbing.

MACY So where does that leave us?

JORDAN The girl’s a mess, Garret. I’m gonna need more time before I can point to the cause of death.

MACY Well, the Senator and his wife are on their way in. They’re trying hard to make a case against the boyfriend. I need to tell ‘em somethin’.

JORDAN Fine. Tell them we are very sorry for their loss, and as soon as we figure what happened to their daughter, they will be the first to know.

LILY bursts in.

LILY Doctor Macy, you’re needed in the crypt immediately. There’s a brouhaha.

Macy exits hurriedly. CUT TO:

6

INT. CRYPT - DAY

RABBI WOLK, 60, speaks for a group of JEWISH MEN in business suits.

RABBI WOLK You want to cut Morris, you’ll have to cut me first.

TREY and BUG stand beside a gurney holding the corpse of a 300-pound man. CORONER TECHS are in b.g.

TREY Mister Katz’s autopsy is required by law.

RABBI WOLK Not by Jewish law. It’s a desecration.

BUG We respect that, but you--

Macy rushes in.

MACY Alright, alright, alright. What’s goin’ on? Let’s all take a deep breath here. I’m Doctor Macy, supervisor in charge.

RABBI WOLK I’m Rabbi Joseph Wolk. I want you to release Morris Katz’s body.

BUG Unfortunately, Mister Katz d*ed in an automobile accident that caused extensive property damage.

TREY The state requires us to determine cause of death.

RABBI WOLK We’ll go to court if we have to.

MACY We handle Jewish decedents all the time.

RABBI WOLK Then you know they have to be buried quickly.

MACY Right, well, you could go to court and get the autopsy stopped temporarily, but that’d take at least a week.

RABBI WOLK This is not an arbitrary request, Doctor Macy. This is a sacred matter. We simply don’t allow our dead to be cut up like this.

MACY I understand, Rabbi. I have a friend named Leonard Bloom. He’s a fine doctor as well as a practicing Orthodox Jew. Now, if I could get him to supervise an autopsy that respects your traditions, would that be acceptable?

RABBI WOLK I’ll talk to this Bloom fellow. ‘Til then, you don’t touch Morris. Understand?

MACY

You have my word.

Wolk nods. CUT TO:

7

INT. HALLWAY – DAY

Jordan approaches the conference room and sees Falk talking UNDER SCENE on the phone. SENATOR RYDER and wife LEONA RYDER are with Carver. Leona turns away to the doorway, then moves down the hall toward the crypt. Jordan calls to her.

JORDAN Excuse me, can I help you? Mrs. Ryder? I’m sorry, but we don’t let the public into this part of the morgue by themselves.

LEONA RYDER I have to see her. My daughter, please?

JORDAN

Come with me.

They move into the crypt. CUT TO:

INT. CRYPT - MOMENTS LATER

A TECH opens the drawer that contains Stacey Ryder’s body. Jordan observes as Leona gazes at her daughter.

LEONA RYDER (sighs) It doesn’t ever go away, that feeling that something might happen to your child. If only we’d been at home.

JORDAN

I’m so sorry.

LEONA RYDER Her father’s a very important man.

JORDAN

Yes, I know.

LEONA RYDER But he isn’t strong enough to deal with this. He isn’t the strong one.

JORDAN Mrs. Ryder, I’m gonna find out who’s responsible for this. I promise you.

LEONA RYDER (weeping) How could they do this to her? My baby.

Falk enters.

FALK Mrs. Ryder. I’m sorry. A car’s waiting.

He exits. Mrs. Ryder looks to Jordan.

LEONA RYDER

Thank you, Doctor.

Jordan nods and Leona leaves. The tech covers the body and closes the drawer. Jordan looks into the hallway as Senator Ryder escorts Leona out. CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

Jordan comes out of the crypt as Carver approaches.

JORDAN Did you find the boyfriend?

CARVER

8

Sent a unit over to his house to question him. Kid took off on us right out the back. Got an APB out for him.

They move off in opposite directions. CUT TO:

INT. RECEPTION - DAY

Lily comes up to a well-dressed couple, DENISE and ROY.

LILY

Can I help you?

DENISE Yes. We need to speak to a medical examiner, please.

We see that Denise is a transsexual.

LILY Are you the family of a decedent here?

ROY

Not yet.

LILY

I- I don’t understand.

DENISE We’d like to make special arrangements for my death.

Lily reacts. PRE-LAP DIALOGUE TO:

INT. MACY’S OFFICE - DAY

Denise and Roy sit across the desk from Macy.

DENISE You see, Doctor Macy, for the past three years I’ve been undergoing psychotherapy along with hormonal injections. I was about to begin the final phase in the process of becoming a w-

He stops and sighs, overcome with emotion. Roy holds her hand.

ROY Denise was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer last month.

DENISE Another one of God’s cruel jokes.

MACY Are you undergoing treatment?

DENISE Unfortunately, it’s too late for that. The oncologist says that it’s a matter of time.

MACY

I’m very sorry.

DENISE Given my condition, no surgeon will complete the gender transition. That’s why we’re here.

MACY I’m not sure I understand exactly what it is you’re asking me to do.

DENISE

9

When I leave this world, I would like to rest in peace as my true self.

ROY She wants you to remove it, Doctor. Postmortem.

Macy reacts. CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY – DAY

Jordan moves down the hall. She looks into the crypt and sees Adam Flynn looking over a chart for one of the bodies.

INT. CRYPT - CONTINUOUS

Jordan enters and confronts Adam.

JORDAN

Who are you?

ADAM

Oh, me? Uh, nobody.

JORDAN Yeah, well, maybe you are and maybe you aren’t, but what the hell are you doing in here?

ADAM

I was just leaving.

He starts to leave, but she stops him.

JORDAN No, not before you tell me who you are.

He hands her his press credentials.

JORDAN (cont’d) Adam Flynn, Boston Examiner.

ADAM Just trying to get a lead on the Ryder m*rder.

JORDAN How do I know that’s not fake?

ADAM You know, I get the feeling we got off on the wrong foot.

JORDAN (nods) You have got two minutes to get outa here.

She opens the door.

INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

They come out of the crypt.

ADAM That’s it? You’re just gonna kick me out empty-handed?

JORDAN

Yeah, pretty much.

ADAM You don’t know who k*lled Stacey Ryder yet, do you?

10

JORDAN I don’t talk to the press.

ADAM I think I can help you. Alright, I’ll make you a deal, quid pro quo, everything off the record.

JORDAN (snickers)

Yeah, right.

ADAM Alright, look. Look, my guess is the boyfriend didn’t k*ll her, and I’m looking for proof.

JORDAN If he’s so innocent, why did he run from the cops?

ADAM I don’t know. Maybe we should ask him. He called me twenty minutes ago. I was just on my way to meet him.

Jordan reacts. CUT TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE - DAY

Jordan and Adam stand between two pickup trucks with TOM MURCH, a working class 18-year-old.

TOM I swear I didn’t k*ll her. I dropped her off at her house around ten fifteen. That’s all.

JORDAN Why’d you run when the cops came for you?

TOM ‘Cause I knew how it looked. (a b*at) I strangled her. (off Jordan’s look) She liked me to choke her when we had sex. Said it made it more intense. I told her it was the last time I was gonna do it. She got all pissed at me, said if I was gonna be a wimp, she had plenty of other guys.

JORDAN Was one of these guys named Cal?

TOM Maybe. She used to see an older guy who lived in a big house in Concord.

ADAM

Who’s Cal?

JORDAN He called on her cell phone this morning.

Police cars drive up, sirens WAILING. Tom looks around in panic, trapped.

OFFICER (O.C.) Freeze, kid. Don’t move.

Tom glares at Adam.

TOM Son of a bitch, you gave me your word.

Jordan sneers at Adam.

11

JORDAN

Nice.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

12

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. JORDAN AND TREY’S OFFICE - DAY

Jordan is sitting at her desk staring at Stacey’s phone in an evidence bag. Max enters with a list.

MAX This list, the dead people. Pure gold.

JORDAN

Dad.

MAX Here’s the pick of the litter. River view, sixteen hundred square feet of loft space. I told the landlord we’d be there in fifteen minutes.

JORDAN I can’t. I’m under serious pressure here on this Ryder case and I still don’t have cause of death nailed. Strangulation, stabbing, and apparently the guy who did the former didn’t do the latter.

MAX On TV, they said they had the boyfriend in custody.

JORDAN I talked to him. He didn’t do it. He called a reporter, came out of hiding to tell his story. Now, why take that risk if he’s the k*ller?

MAX Then what else you got?

JORDAN Mystery call to her cell. I tried to redial, but there was ID block.

MAX Police have any luck with it?

JORDAN I’ve been pushing Carver to check it out, but she’s convinced she’s got the right guy. (a b*at) You still have that friend at the phone company?

MAX Yeah. But it’ll cost ya.

JORDAN

What?

MAX One hour. Come see this place.

JORDAN (sighs)

I--

MAX Come on. It’ll take you at least that long to run your trace.

He holds up her coat and she gives in. CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY – DAY

13

Trey approaches Trace Evidence with DR. LEONARD BLOOM, who wears workout clothes and a yarmulke.

TREY I really appreciate you helping us out, Doctor Bloom.

BLOOM Oh, Leonard. It’s no problem, really. Least I could do for Mad Dog.

They meet Bug at the door.

BUG

Mad Dog?

BLOOM Oh, guess you’ve never seen Garret Macy on the basketball court. (chuckles) Total animal.

He moves into Trace Evidence. Trey looks to Bug and chuckles. CUT TO:

INT. TRACE EVIDENCE - CONTINUOUS

CHYRON: Trace Evidence: Morris Katz

NIGEL stands by Morris Katz’ body on a gurney. TECHS are in b.g. Bug and Trey enter and moves past Bloom.

BUG Nige, this is Leonard Bloom. He’s gonna be supervising Mister Katz’s autopsy.

NIGEL Cheers. So you’re a pathologist, then?

BLOOM Uh, ear, nose and throat, actually. (off their looks) Oh, look, fellas. No, I’m not here to tell you how to do your job. I spoke to Rabbi Wolk and assured him that the autopsy would be minimally invasive.

TREY Uh, what does that mean, exactly?

BLOOM It means you do what you have to do, and I’ll try to smooth things out with the Rabbi. That being said, in Jewish tradition, respect for the body is absolute.

NIGEL Well, you gotta respect a body like this. I mean, the guy’s a behemoth.

He pats the dead man’s huge abdomen, then catches Bloom’s look.

NIGEL (cont’d)

Sorry.

BLOOM Uh, the drill is whatever God put inside Mister Katz, we’ve got to send back to God--blood, organs, everything.

NIGEL

No problem.

BLOOM So, minimal impact to the body and we’ll be cool. Hey, do I have a minute to catch a shower?

14

BUG Sure. Locker room’s down the hall.

BLOOM

Ah, thanks.

He exits.

NIGEL Alright, boys. Let’s get him onto the table.

They grab the plastic sheet under the body.

BUG

On three. Uno, dos...

They pull the sheet and the body falls off the gurney, crashing to the floor.

NIGEL Maybe we should go over the minimal impact part again.

CUT TO:

INT. MORGUE HALLWAY - DAY

TECHS transport a body past Macy as he moves down the hall. Lily comes out of Trace Evidence and catches up with him.

LILY So, are you really gonna do it?

MACY

Do what?

LILY (stops, turns to him) You know, Denise Logan, the transsexual lady.

MACY How do you know about that?

LILY I sent her to you. So?

MACY Yeah, when hell freezes over.

INT. FORENSIC ANALYSIS - CONTINUOUS

Lily follows him into the analysis area.

LILY But y- you’d- you would be honoring her last wish. It would be giving- giving her spiritual peace for eternity.

MACY Lily, spiritual peace isn’t exactly my department.

LILY What do you mean? You’re a doctor. Well--

INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

They move back into the hallway and face each other.

LILY (cont’d) What about the- what about the Hippocratic Oath?

MACY

You--

15

(sighs)

I work on dead bodies.

LILY Exactly. The body is the conduit to the soul. It’s only through death that we pass on to a higher state. Don’t you believe that?

MACY

Please, uh- uh--

(sighs) I don’t know what I believe. It’s just a little early in the day for a theological discussion, don’t you think?

He moves off and she follows, stopping to face him.

LILY But I- I told her that you would understand. I t- I told her that you were different.

MACY Look, ee- even if I was crazy enough to say yes, there are laws against mutilating the human body, and I’d say that cutting off a m-

He waits for an EMPLOYEE to pass.

MACY (cont’d) Cutting off a man’s penis qualifies for that.

LILY Haven’t you ever felt trapped before, defined by the world’s narrow definitions of you?

MACY (sighs)

Lily, I--

LILY See, I felt that way my whole life. I just assumed when I met you, you felt the same way. Guess I was wrong.

She walks away, disappointed. He reacts. CUT TO:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY (ESTABLISHING)

PRE-LAP KNOCK.

INT. LOFT - DAY

Jordan enters.

JORDAN

Hello? Anyone here?

She looks around the empty loft. A man clears his throat O.C.

JORDAN (cont’d)

Oh, you the landlord?

A MAN IN A JUMPSUIT comes in with a cage containing snakes.

JUMPSUIT No, animal control. Just rounding up these bad boys here. Snakes.

JORDAN

Yeah, I can see that.

JUMPSUIT

16

Yeah, last tenant had about a dozen of ‘em. Most of ‘em your poisonous variety. That one right there tried to get a hold of my large toe. (laughs) That’ve been about twelve and half minutes of fun, huh? Well, see ya. (moves to door) Oh, I got all but two of ‘em. But don’t worry, they only come out at night.

He snickers, then exits laughing. Max enters.

MAX Well, what do you think?

JORDAN Yeah. Okay, we’re goin’.

MAX Well, where we goin’? I haven’t even seen the place yet.

JORDAN

It’s a snake pit.

MAX Really? Looks okay to me.

JORDAN Could we just go? I gotta get back. I’m waiting for that phone trace to come in.

They exit. CUT TO:

INT. RECEPTION - DAY

Jordan steps off the elevator and moves to the front desk.

JORDAN Hey, Vickie. Any faxes come in for me?

RECEPTIONIST (O.C.) Yes, Doctor Cavanaugh. Here you go.

The RECEPTIONIST hands her a fax.

JORDAN (sighs)

Excellent, thank you--

Adam calls to her.

ADAM

Jordan.

JORDAN Oh, wow, must be my lucky day. What happened? You run out of fake ID’s?

She moves off. He looks to the receptionist.

ADAM

I’m with her.

He runs after her.

INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

He catches up with her as she moves down the hall.

17

ADAM (cont’d) You’re still mad at me, aren’t you? It was for his own good. Trust me. The best way for an innocent kid to get k*lled is running from the cops.

JORDAN (snickers) Oh, right, you’re a real humanitarian.

ADAM The way I see it, you and I are on the same team here. Only difference is you’re looking for a cause of death, I’m looking for a byline.

JORDAN You keep following me, you’ll be looking for a hospital.

ADAM

What’s on the fax?

JORDAN

What’s it to ya?

She moves back up the hall and he follows.

ADAM You found this guy, Cal, didn’t you? And you’re goin’ there now, aren’tcha?

ADAM (cont’d) Now, I could follow you, and that would only piss you off more. (snickers) Alright, alright. Tell you what. Uh, if you let me come, I promise to uh, shut up.

JORDAN Oh, now, that I would like to see.

ADAM Is that smile you’re trying to fight back?

JORDAN It’s a facial tick. And you’re drivin’.

She exits and he follows. CUT TO:

EXT. REHAB FACILITY - DAY

Adam and Jordan drive up to the gates of what appears to be a palatial home. They get out and walk up to the gate.

ADAM Cal’s got some nice digs.

JORDAN You see a doorbell anywhere?

A MAN’S VOICE COMES OVER AN INTERCOM.

MAN’S VOICE

May I help you?

JORDAN Yeah, hi. Uh, is Cal here?

They look up to a video surveillance camera.

MAN’S VOICE You mean Doctor Yarborough.

18

ADAM Right, right. Doctor Calvin Yarborough. (aside to Jordan) Yarborough Clinic. Ah, the rehab guy.

MAN’S VOICE

Is he expecting you?

ADAM My sister and I don’t have an appointment, but we need to see the doctor about um, admitting her to the program.

MAN’S VOICE Sorry, you need to call first and schedule an a-

ADAM Oh, come on, man. It took me two six packs just to get her in the car.

MAN’S VOICE Hold on. I’ll see what I can do.

Adam nods. CUT TO:

INT. DR. YARBOROUGH’S OFFICE - DAY

A WOMAN shows Jordan and Adam into the office.

WOMAN

In here.

She exits. Jordan and Adam look around. He whistles.

ADAM National Inquirer, eat your heart out. This is the rehab of the rich and famous. (moves to file) You realize how much I could make rifling this file cabinet?

DR. CALVIN YARBOROUGH enters.

YARBOROUGH Hello. Uh, Jordan, is it? Hi, I’m Doctor Yarborough. You can call me Cal.

JORDAN Actually, uh, I’m- I’m not supposed to be here.

YARBOROUGH Oh, that’s okay. No judgments. You the brother?

ADAM

Uh, yeah, yeah. Adam.

They shake hands.

YARBOROUGH

Hi, Adam.

JORDAN You don’t understand. Uh, I’m a medical examiner. We’re here about Stacey Ryder. I’m the one you hung up on this morning.

YARBOROUGH I’m sorry. I don’t discuss my patients.

JORDAN

19

Why did you call her?

YARBOROUGH

We’re through here.

JORDAN You obviously cared about her.

YARBOROUGH I can’t be having this conversation.

JORDAN Why not? Did someone get to you?

YARBOROUGH They could pull my license.

ADAM Who told you that, the Senator?

YARBOROUGH No, not personally. Look, I didn’t even get the message until this morning. That’s when I called.

ADAM

What did it say?

He exchanges looks with them, then sits down an places a cassette in a tape recorder. It plays back:

STACEY (V.O.) Cal, pick up. Damn it, pick up. I can’t do this. I’m all alone. I hate him. I just- I can’t take it anymore. I can’t.

He stops the tape.

YARBOROUGH Look, she came to me for help, but I never treated her.

JORDAN Why not? If she had such a serious drug problem, why didn’t you admit her?

YARBOROUGH Stacey was a minor. The law says I can’t take her without parental permission.

ADAM And the Ryders wouldn’t give it. Not in an election year.

Yarborough nods.

JORDAN She just needed someone to listen. Anyone.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

20

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. MASSACHUSETTS STATE CORONER’S OFFICE - DAY (ESTABLISHING)

INT. RECEPTION - DAY

Jordan and Nigel emerge from separate elevators in the midst of the WALLA of conversation.

NIGEL ‘Morning, sunshine. Tox screen with your coffee?

He hands her a lab report.

JORDAN (gasps)

Thank you.

INT. MORGUE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

They enter, Jordan reading the report.

JORDAN She had all these dr*gs in her system?

NIGEL Xanax and Prozac and Valium, oh my.

JORDAN Check this out. Oxycodon was there, too.

NIGEL An excellent way to k*ll the pain. A better way to overdose. But uh, which one doesn’t belong?

JORDAN Premarin. That’s for estrogen deficiency, right?

NIGEL Usually prescribed to post-menopausal women. So, unless your girl was remarkably well-preserved...

JORDAN

It was her mother’s.

NIGEL Wow. Well, if that’s the case, the old gal’s got her own apothecary at home.

JORDAN Well, I’m gonna go find out.

NIGEL

Where you off to?

JORDAN To the memorial service. Thanks, Nige. You’re a rock star.

She moves off. He grins and turns away. CUT TO:

INT. MACY’S OFFICE - DAY

Macy is making a phone call at his desk when he looks up and sees Lily sneering at him in the doorway. He hangs up and goes to the door, motioning for her to come in.

MACY

21

Look, Lily. I’m sorry if I disappointed you. It’s not that I don’t feel sympathy for this person, I do. People have the right to change themselves, even a duty sometimes. I come to work here every day, and the only thing that gets me through is that I know I’m on way to being someone different, someone better than the guy I was yesterday. Now, that being said, I have a responsibility as a medical examiner, to obey the law. You understand that, don’t you? (off her nod) I hope we’ve put this behind us.

LILY Mm-mm. No, actually, we haven’t. Denise Logan committed su1c1de this morning. (off his sigh) Her next of kin is here with the body.

She exits and he sighs. CUT TO:

INT. CRYPT - DAY

CHYRON: Crypt: Denise Logan

CAROL LOGAN stands over the body of Denise. Macy enters.

MACY

I’m Doctor Macy.

CAROL Carol Logan. I’m his wife. I- I told Roy that I’d handle the arrangements.

MACY I understand the shock you must feel. It’s very sudden.

CAROL I used to lay awake at night, thinking it was my fault, that it was me. That I wasn’t good enough, wasn’t pretty enough.

MACY Mrs. Logan, this isn’t the time to be hard on yourself. You’ve suffered a great loss.

CAROL Denny and I have been separated for the last two years. We’ve got two kids, four and seven. I wasn’t about to let them watch their father turn into... into this.

MACY I didn’t know your husband well, but I spoke to him before he d*ed. He was... MACY (cont’d) ... in a great deal of pain, turmoil. He was desperately trying in his own way to change.

CAROL You can’t change who you are, Doctor. Look what happens when you try.

She exits. Macy sighs and looks down to the body. CUT TO:

EXT. RYDER ESTATE - DAY

CHYRON: Senator Ryder’s Estate

A taxi pulls up. Jordan pays the DRIVER.

DRIVER

Thanks, lady.

22

She spots Adam among the arriving MOURNERS and joins him in the line to enter the mansion.

JORDAN Come to give your condolences? Sweet.

ADAM And I’m sure you attend the memorials of all your stiffs. Just here to see if I can get a statement. What about you?

JORDAN Lot of security. Might be kind of tough gettin’ in.

ADAM Where there’s a will, there’s a me.

JORDAN

Excuse me for a sec.

She moves to a SECURITY GUARD at the head of the line and points to Adam.

JORDAN (cont’d) Excuse me, sir. That man towards the end of the line. Well, this service is supposed to be for friends and family only, those of us who really knew Stacey. And that man over there, well, he’s a reporter.

SECURITY GUARD (nods) I’ll take care of it immediately.

JORDAN

Thank you.

The security guard moves to Adam. Their conversation is muffled:

ADAM Hey, no-no. I’m supposed to uh--

SECURITY GUARD You’re outa here. Right now.

Jordan observes with a grin, then goes inside.

INT. FOYER – CONTINUOUS

Jordan enters. The area is abuzz with conversation from the MOURNERS. Jordan spots Falk heading her way, so she turns to a WAITER and picks up a glass of wine. Falk turns to a MAN.

FALK Cancel all of his campaign appearances.

He moves off. Jordan heads upstairs.

INT. MASTER BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Jordan enters, locks the door and opens the medicine cabinet. She looks over the pill bottles and opens one, a pill spilling onto the floor. She reaches down to pick it up and sees the geometric pattern that was embedded in Stacey Ryder’s skin.

INSERT: Stacey’s leg imprinted with pattern.

Jordan remembers. CUT TO:

INT. FOYER – MOMENTS LATER

Jordan comes downstairs. Falk intercepts her.

FALK What the hell were you doing up there?

23

JORDAN I um, was just using the bathroom.

FALK The family has very specific rules about their private quarters. I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.

JORDAN

Sorry.

She moves to the door.

FALK If you have questions, have your boss call my office.

She nods and goes out. He turns away. CUT TO:

INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - DAY

CHYRON: Autopsy One: Morris Katz

Morris Katz lies on the table. Bug performs the autopsy as Bloom observes.

BUG Liver looks normal. Is it okay if we weigh it?

BLOOM Yeah, I can sell that. Just as long as it goes back in when you’re done.

BUG

Mm-hm.

Nigel takes pictures while Trey assists Bug. Bug holds up the liver.

NIGEL Oh, that bloody thing is massive.

TREY Two thousand grams, easy.

BUG Two thousand five hundred.

NIGEL Twenty-one fifty. Lenny?

BLOOM Well, I’m- I’m better with inflamed adenoids, but I’ll say twenty-seven hundred even.

Bug puts the liver on the scale.

BUG

Twenty-seven fifty.

NIGEL

Give the ENT a cigar.

Bug moves back to the body.

BUG The uh, bowel’s cramped under the pelvis.

TREY

Want the bone saw?

He gets the bone saw.

BUG

24

(to Bloom) Sometimes with obese patients, we have to cut through the pelvic bone to run the gut.

BLOOM Can you salvage the bone chips?

TREY

I don’t see why not.

BLOOM

I can sell that.

Lily enters.

LILY Hi, gentlemen. Sorry to bother you, but Rabbi Wolk just called. He wanted to know when he can come for Mister Katz.

BUG

Won’t be too long now.

LILY

Thank you.

She exits and Bug turns on the bone saw.

INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS

Lily moves off amid the DRONE of the saw. There is an expl*si*n the autopsy room, blood splattering against the opaque window.

LILY (O.C.) (gasps)

Oh my--

She returns.

INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - INTERCUT

Lily enters. Blood is splattered everywhere, including on the doctors.

LILY (gasps)

Are you- are you okay?

BUG/TREY/NIGEL

Fine.

NIGEL

Sweet Nancy, he blew.

BLOOM What the hell happened?

Lily exits.

BUG Must have been a build-up of hydrogen in the gut. I guess the saw sparked it.

TREY

Aw, man, this is bad.

BLOOM Oh, this I definitely can’t sell.

CUT TO:

25

INT. MACY’S OFFICE – LATER

Macy enters with Bloom, Nigel, Bug and Trey.

MACY Alright, let me get this straight. Are you telling me he actually blew up?

BLOOM Oh, he blew up, alright.

NIGEL Yeah, like a hamster in a microwave.

BUG Uh, I, for one, want to go on the record and say how badly I feel about this.

TREY

Ditto.

BLOOM Well, look, there’s no sense crying over spilled--

BLOOM (cont’d) (sighs) The- the bottom line is we’ve got to figure out how to put Mister Katz back together.

MACY No, granted, we have a problem here. But isn’t it against Jewish law to have an open casket?

BLOOM

Yeah, but--

NIGEL Well, we’ve got most of Mister Katz pretty well reassembled, right?

TREY Except for a two foot hole in his stomach.

NIGEL So, we just cover it up.

BLOOM Look, fellas. No offense, but papering Mister Katz over won’t help during the Taharah.

BUG

I’m afraid to ask.

BLOOM It’s a ritual bath of purification performed before the funeral.

NIGEL Well, maybe if they don’t scrub too hard.

They sh**t him a look. CUT TO:

EXT. MAX’ HOUSE - NIGHT (ESTABLISHING)

PRE-LAP DIALOGUE TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Max enters with a bottle of whiskey. Jordan is looking at the case file.

MAX

26

Well, it’s called illegal search and seizure. You should know that, Jordan.

JORDAN What was I supposed to do? The evidence was all there, right under my feet.

MAX Will you keep it down, please? I don’t want you waking Evelyn.

JORDAN Oh, right. We wouldn’t want to do that. (off his look) Stacey d*ed in her own house. The lividity on her leg matches the tile from the bathroom floor.

MAX So how’d her body get out in that field? Who stabbed her and why?

JORDAN I don’t know. Her parents were on the Cape that night.

MAX You’re sure it’s not the boyfriend?

JORDAN I just don’t see it. Besides, Stacey’s message to her doctor said she was alone.

MAX So someone went in later. Who had access?

JORDAN

Falk.

MAX

Who?

JORDAN The Senator’s campaign advisor. This guy’s everywhere. These people do not take a leak without him knowing about it.

MAX Well, fine. He has opportunity, but where’s the motive for k*lling her? (off her shrug) I’ll be Falk.

JORDAN

I’ll be Stacey.

(slips into role)

I just got home.

(snickers) There’s nobody here. Typical.

FANTASY SCENARIO:

INT. MASTER BATHROOM - NIGHT

STACEY RIDER stands at the medicine cabinet.

JORDAN (V.O.) I feel so alone. I need something. I need...

MAX (V.O.) Your mother’s painkillers.

27

Stacey reaches inside for a bottle of pills.

JORDAN (V.O.) Whatever, I just want to be numb.

Stacey’s image is replaced by Jordan. She becomes dizzy, moves to a sunken tub and lies down on the floor.

JORDAN (V.O.) They work fast. I’m feeling warm.

MAX (V.O.) But you’ve taken too many.

JORDAN (V.O.) Who cares? They don’t. Nobody cares.

MAX (V.O.) How long are you on the floor before I come in?

INTERCUT MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

JORDAN Lividity from the tile must have taken two hours to set.

MAX

Okay.

RYDER MASTER BATHROOM:

MAX (V.O.) So you’re on the floor.

Falk enters.

FALK

Stacey!

He sees Jordan, tries to revive her.

JORDAN (V.O.)

You try to revive me.

MAX (V.O.) It’s too late. I don’t know what to do. I can’t let anyone find you like this, not during a campaign. I...

IN MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

MAX (cont’d) ... I gotta get rid of the body.

JORDAN

Yes.

EXT. PARK - NIGHT

Falk drags Jordan’s body through the brush and rolls her down a short embankment.

JORDAN (V.O.) Better to find me out here than under my own parents’ roof.

INTERCUT MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

MAX No, it’s not enough. They’ll still find the dr*gs in your system.

PARK:

28

Falk ponders what to do.

JORDAN (V.O.) So then make it look like a m*rder.

MAX (V.O.)

But I’m not a k*ller.

MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

JORDAN Doesn’t matter, I’m already dead.

MAX I don’t even have a w*apon.

JORDAN What about your car? There’s gotta be something in there.

MAX

Screwdriver.

PARK:

Falk holds the screwdriver.

MAX (V.O.) Oh God. She forced his hand.

MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

MAX (cont’d) She was a risk to the campaign, all he’d worked for. You can’t get elected if your daughter OD’s. But if she’s m*rder*d, you’re a shoo-in.

PARK:

Falk raises screwdriver.

MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

JORDAN

Wait a minute.

MAX

What is it?

JORDAN

Her lungs.

MAX

What about ‘em?

JORDAN There was so much bruising I didn’t check. I had Gloria--

She looks down to file.

MAX

Yeah?

JORDAN She had aspirated blood into her lungs.

MAX

Oh boy.

PARK:

Falk stabs Stacey. Her eyes open wide and she gasps as she is struck.

29

MAX’ LIVING ROOM:

JORDAN She was still alive when he stabbed her.

MAX

Oh God.

PARK:

REPEAT: Falk stabbing Stacey, her eyes opening wide.

IN MAX’ KITCHEN:

Jordan reacts to the revelation. FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

30

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. POLICE PRECINCT/INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

CHYRON: Interrogation Room: Police Precinct

Carver paces as Falk answers a question. A female LAWYER sits next to him.

FALK Of course you found Stacey’s hair fibers in my car. She’s been in it a dozen times. Press events, uh, campaign events, press conferences--

CARVER Maybe you can tell me why the Phillips head screwdriver’s missing from the tool kit in your trunk.

LAWYER Detective, if this is a fishing expedition--

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM – INTERCUT

Jordan watches the interrogation.

CARVER Stacey Ryder overdosed in her parents’ home. Somebody found her there, moved her to the open field and then tried to make it look like m*rder by stabbing her. Unfortunately, for your client, Mister Falk is one of the few people with keys to the Ryder household.

FALK You’re not seriously accusing me of k*lling Stacey?

CARVER Sir, until I hear a credible explanation for where you were that night...

FALK

I was home sleeping.

CARVER Then we’ve got a real problem, because your speed pass shows you going through a toll booth at eleven forty-two p.m., four miles from where we found Stacey’s body.

Falk confers privately with his lawyer, then faces Carver.

FALK Alright, there was someone in the car that night who can vouch for me.

CARVER

And who might that be?

FALK (sighs) This has to be handled very sensitively.

CARVER I’ll be gentle. Try me.

FALK I was taking her to Cape Cod. She’s a friend of the Senator’s, and I- I had to wait for her, you know, ‘til they were finished.

CARVER The Senator was with his girlfriend?

31

Falk sighs and wipes his eyes.

CARVER (cont’d) Can you tell us how that happened when he was in a hotel room with his wife?

FALK Mrs. Ryder hasn’t stayed with him for years. Always books another hotel room under an alias, so the... FALK (cont’d) (clears throat) ... so the press doesn’t smell disharmony.

CARVER Gonna need the girlfriend’s name and number.

Jordan reacts, turns away. CUT TO:

INT. MORGUE HALLWAY - DAY

Bug is putting on his jacket as Nigel comes out to join him.

NIGEL Hi. Hey, we wouldn’t happen to have any yarmulkes lying around, would we?

BUG Not last time I checked.

Nigel looks to his own attire.

NIGEL Oh, this isn’t too casual, is it? The jumper and jeans?

BUG You look fine. It’s not like it’s gonna make any difference.

They move down the hall.

NIGEL I just want to show some respect when the rabbi gets here, that’s all. I mean, we did blow the guy up.

BUG We didn’t do it on purpose.

NIGEL We detonated a man. I’m not sure intention enters into it.

BUG If this was India, a little expl*si*n would be no problem. There, they set fire to the bodies to actually help the soul move on.

NIGEL Well, if that really works, then Mister Katz’s soul ought to be in the promised land by now.

BUG (stops, turns to him) It’s actually quite a beautiful ritual. The goal is to achieve Moksha, spiritual liberation from the cycles of rebirth. A fitting end, really. That’s the way I’d like to go.

NIGEL Yeah, I had no idea you were so pious.

32

BUG When you’ve experienced the miraculous complexities of the insect world the way I have, you can’t help but believe in some higher power.

NIGEL You’re serious, aren’t you?

Bug points to an insect display.

BUG The thoracic ganglia of the dung beetle alone is enough to make anyone believe in God.

NIGEL Right. Share that with Rabbi Wolk. Maybe he’ll go easy on us.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY/MACY’S OFFICE - DAY

Macy enters his office to find Bloom reading.

MACY

Lenny.

BLOOM

Hey.

MACY What’s that? The Talmud? Little light reading?

He sits down near him.

BLOOM Just lookin’ for an answer.

MACY Mmm. Aren’t we all? You didn’t happen to come across anything on transsexuals in there, did you? (off his look) Never mind.

BLOOM You know, I’m not an expert on these things, but the Talmud refers to a divine purpose called tikkun olam--to repair the world. Fixing the imperfections God created.

MACY Now I have to do God’s job, too.

BLOOM (sighs) Basically, yeah. ‘Cause the imperfections are all part of his plan.

MACY So are you saying that God wanted Mister Katz to blow up?

BLOOM It’s a complicated concept, granted. But the point is, it’s up to each of us to do a bit of God’s work.

BLOOM (cont’d) (rises) Now, of course we’re only human, so repairing Mister Katz isn’t about making him as good as new. It’s about preserving the dignity of his soul, his true self.

MACY

33

His true self, huh? And who’s to say just what that is?

BLOOM Well, do any of us really ever know the answer to that?

MACY (chuckles) Is this a Jewish thing, answering every question with a question. I mean, look, I have the utmost respect for the bodies that come into my morgue, but I’m a medical examiner. I just wasn’t trained to play God.

BLOOM And that’s just what I’m trying to say. (moves to him) They’re one and the same, Garret. However you show respect for the person, you’re doing God’s work. See ya, buddy.

He moves off.

MACY

See ya, Lenny.

Bloom exits. CUT TO:

INT. CRYPT - DAY

CHYRON: Crypt: Morris Katz

Rabbi Wolk observes as Trey, Nigel and Bug cover Morris Katz’ body with a tunic. Bloom whispers in Wolk’s ear.

BLOOM There was a slight accident during the procedure, but I think they did the best they could and showed great respect.

Rabbi Wolk looks to Trey, Bug and Nigel and nods with a smile, then begins the ceremony, placing a shroud over the body.

RABBI WOLK In the first century, a wise rabbi asked to be buried in a simple garment... so that he might meet God and be judged on his soul rather than his appearance. As he came, so shall he go.

The others lower their heads in respect. CUT TO:

INT. AUTOPSY ROOM - DAY

CHYRON: Autopsy Room: Denise Logan

Macy begins the autopsy, removing Denise’s wig and lipstick. He thinks for a moment, then sighs. CUT TO:

EXT. RYDER ESTATE - DAY (ESTABLISHING)

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Mrs. Ryder is clipping a bonsai tree as a MAID escorts Jordan out to her.

JORDAN

They’re beautiful.

LEONA RYDER Bonsai trees. They take so much time and patience that sometimes I think it’s not worth it, and then when I stand back and see such perfection-- Can I help you with something?

JORDAN

34

I came here to talk to you about Stacey. I talked to Doctor Yarborough. I know about her drug problem.

LEONA RYDER Do you have children, Doctor Cavanaugh?

JORDAN

No.

LEONA RYDER You look for an explanation when you have a child like Stacey. You blame yourself. Maybe it was the money, the wrong schools. And it tore my husband apart, almost ruined our life. And then one day I realized that there was nothing more that I could do.

JORDAN

She wanted help.

LEONA RYDER No. I don’t believe that.

JORDAN You could have saved her.

LEONA RYDER You didn’t know Stacey.

JORDAN I’m saying she was still alive when you took her out to that field.

Mrs. Ryder reacts, shaken.

JORDAN (cont’d) She was in a drug induced coma that mimics death. When you stabbed her, that’s what k*lled her.

Mrs. Ryder turns away.

JORDAN (cont’d) Does your husband even know you left the hotel early that night?

LEONA RYDER Oh my God. What have I done?

Jordan reacts. Senator Ryder observes from behind a screen door. CUT TO:

INT. MORGUE HALLWAY - DAY

Macy comes out of his office at the end of the day. Lily comes up to him.

LILY

Doctor Macy.

MACY

Yeah, Lily?

LILY I was just looking over the paperwork that you filled out on Denise Logan, and there seems to be uh, a little typo here where you marked the gender. You checked it female.

MACY

It’s not a typo.

He moves off. She smiles and calls after him.

LILY

35

Oh, okay. Thank you, Doctor Macy. I just wanted to make sure. Hmm.

Jordan approaches.

LILY (cont’d) Oh, Doctor Cavanaugh, your- your dad called. He said something about getting snakes driven out of Ireland? You can pay him later for the first month’s rent and security. Yeah.

She hands Jordan a note.

JORDAN

Thanks.

LILY

Bye.

She moves off. Jordan exits.

INT. RECEPTION - CONTINUOUS

Jordan enters and moves past Adam, who is standing at the counter.

JORDAN What are you doing here?

ADAM Well, thought maybe we’d go grab a drink, you know, celebrate.

He joins her at the elevators.

JORDAN There’s not much to celebrate.

ADAM You mean meeting me wasn’t the highlight of your week?

JORDAN Well, meeting you, now there’s a reason to drink.

ADAM Come on, Jordan. I’m really not a bad guy.

The elevator arrives and Jordan gets on.

JORDAN Probably not, but right now, I just don’t have the energy to find out.

ADAM So you’re saying maybe another time?

JORDAN (nods)

Another lifetime.

The elevator doors close. CUT TO:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT (ESTABLISHING)

INT. JORDAN’S LOFT - NIGHT

Max is unpacking a box as Jordan enters.

MAX You sure don’t have much stuff after all these years.

JORDAN

36

Yeah, well, uh, I like to travel light.

He chuckles. He puts a pillowcase on a pillow.

JORDAN (cont’d) Dad, listen, uh, thanks for doing this.

MAX No problem. I enjoy it. Won’t take much work. This place’ll feel like home soon enough.

She sits down with a sigh.

MAX (cont’d) Nothin’ wrong with puttin’ down roots, Jordan.

JORDAN I don’t know. You get too comfortable in one place, you’re bound to be disappointed.

MAX You gotta stop runnin’ sometime.

JORDAN It’s just... home never felt like a real safe place to me.

He sits down next to her.

MAX

I’m sorry, darlin’.

JORDAN No, it’s not your fault. Eh... (sighs) You always tried.

MAX I could stay a little while if you want.

JORDAN

I’m fine. But thanks.

MAX See you tomorrow, kiddo.

JORDAN (whispers)

Right.

A SONG PLAYS as Max exits. Jordan moves to her sink, pours a cup of water and waters her plant. As she surveys the room, we FADE OUT.

THE END