INT. TEMPLE, ALTAR - NIGHT
All we can see is a VICTIM #1 tied to an altar, she's in
her late teens, early twenties. Her mascara is running
because of her tears. She is whimpering.
The light comes from multiple candles. A giant shadow
looms over her. It is THE KILLER. He is obscured by
shadows, his face is NEVER shown directly. Only the
smile, or an eye, or his hands in extreme close ups. He
is wearing the ceremonial robes.
Next to the altar are jars. The KILLER walks over to a
nearby table. He selects a large dagger, which is curved
like it came straight from Arabia. We see his hands are
covered in handwritten hieroglyphics, with black and
green inks.
The Killer's P.O.V. will be erratic and hand held, he is
seeing the room and it appears to be more like a real
Egyptian temple. Instead of wood, the walls are stone.
The Hieroglyphics will be the same, but the actual set
will be different.
The Killer sees Anubis, the jackal headed God of
embalming. This imaginary ghost is assisting in the
ritual. The Killer, in both his mind and reality, chants,
only in the imaginary version, there is a chorus
following his every syllable.
VICTIM #1
Please.....don't hurt me.....I'll do
anything.....just don't hurt me......
KILLER/THOMAS
It is not your body I want.....
He approaches her slowly with knife in hand. He smiles,
casually.
KILLER/THOMAS (CONT'D)
It is your soul.....
Her screams are drowned out in his head as the imaginary
drums of the ceremony get louder and louder. Even more of
the ghostly worshippers join in the procession.
The Killer slowly and meticulously cuts through her
stomach. He holds her heart in his hands, over his head.
The drum beats get to their apex as the Killer takes a
bite out of the heart.
An apparition appears to exit the girl's body. It
levitates for a moment. As the Killer stares at it, he
takes another chomp out of the heart. The apparition
seems to scream and it fades into the Killer.
The Killer falls to the floor and writhes in pain for a
moment. Then he stands, he lets out an other worldly
scream of triumph.
OPENING CREDITS ROLL OVER THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE
The Killer prepares the body. He is methodically removing
the internal organs of the body.
He catalogs the organs and inserts them into ancient
Egyptian jars.
The body is sprinkled with oils and liquids (the
embalming fluids).
A cast is made of the girls face.
The incisions are closed and sewn shut with an almost
invisible fiber.
The color from the girls face is drained and her image is
serene, like that of a porcelain doll.
The Killer's sweat covered hands are shaping and coloring
a sarcophagus that has her exact face. He is hand carving
the hieroglyphics into the body cast. He paints the face
solid gold with spray paint.
The body is mummified with precision and not a single
tuck is uneven.
The body is lowered into the sarcophagus.
FADE TO BLACK
EXT. COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART - DAY
There are kids getting out of a yellow bus and single
file, following a teacher into the museum.
TEACHER
Come on, Stevie, don't touch Shannon
like that, good boy.
The kids are being kids, giggling and talking to one
another in that special language only kids can speak.
SHANNON
Miss Gellar, Steve's a stupid head.
TEACHER
I know Shannon, I know. Steve, I won't
tell you again.
They get inside the entrance to the Museum.
INT. WING OF MODERN ART, COLUMBUS MUSEUM - DAY
The kids are all following the teacher and the museum
curator, Chelton Williams, late thirties and very sick of
giving tours to kids who don't give a rat's ass about his
life's work. He speaks in a monotone and has little love
of children.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
And this work is from a modern
sculpture named Mike Janson, one of
Columbus, Ohio's only known artists.
Next we'll be going into the Egyptology
room.
(stops the parade of children
and turns to them)
Do any of you know anything about
Egyptology ?
Children raise their hands.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
You there with the red parka.
RED PARKA KID
They built da pyramids.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
That's correct. Anyone else ?
(points to the fat kid)
You, with the Skittles ?
KID WITH THE SKITTLES
They had mummies.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Very good. Today we're going to be
seeing some mummies. Some of these
mummies are over three thousand years
old.
The parade starts to enter the wing of Western
Civilization.
INT. EGYPTOLOGY WING, COLUMBUS MUSEUM - DAY
Chelton leads the children through he room.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Now this picture represents Isis.
Notice the wings...She was a Goddess
who could become a bird at will. At
least according to rumor. She also was
renowned for her love of Osiris, the
God of the Dead.
The Kid With The Skittles stops where he is and stares
ahead into the room.
KID WITH THE SKITTLES
Mister Williams ?
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Yes ?
KID WITH THE SKITTLES
Why isn't that one behind glass ?
(points to the far wall)
Chelton slowly looks in the direction he is pointing. He
sees the sarcophagus that we watched being constructed.
It looks regal on the steps in the corner of the room.
Almost as if it belongs there.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Curious....
TEACHER
Mister Williams ?
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Just a moment everybody....
He walks closer to the artifact. He slows as he sees that
it is nothing he has seen before. He touches face on the
top. He then pulls on the top. It comes loose for a
moment and he looks in. By this time, the kids have all
snuck in closer.
CHELTON WILLIAMS
Oh my... God....
(He steps back from it)
EXT. COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART - DUSK
An unmarked police car arrives. The house has the yellow
police tape stretched out.
JACK NIVENS, late twenties or early thirties with short
spiked hair, khaki pants, and a jacket, gets out of his
car. He looks around, then enters the house.
INT. COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART
There is very little light. The only lights are from the
flashlights and the red & blue siren lights from the cars
outside and the security lights from the ceiling.
a BEAT COP, early twenties in uniform, and the FORENSIC
COP, in his late forties & plain clothes, are already
there.
JACK
Has anyone seen this yet ?
BEAT COP
No. Forensics just got here.
JACK gets out his flashlight.
BEAT COP
Hey, Detective !
(to Forensics Cop,
whispering)
This must be serious if they're
bringing in Wonder Boy.
The older, Forensics cop smiles at this, but Jack seems
disturbed at the joke.
JACK
Who found the body ?
BEAT COP
A bunch of elementary school kids.
They've got them down at the station
already. They're pretty shook up.
JACK
Did they touch anything ?
BEAT COP
Just the door they said. Then the
curator took a look at it and vomited.
The circuits blown for the lights.
They all three turn a corner in the Egyptology room and
come to the altar. They shine their flashlights on it.
There before them in the dark is the sarcophagus.
It looks like an exact replica of a real one from the
museum.
JACK
Jesus.....
The Forensic Cop shoots Jack a look, then moves in to go
to work.
They look at the face on the grave. It looks just like a
human girl painted gold. The top is slightly ajar,
revealing the mummy inside.
BEAT COP
What the hell ?
FORENSIC COP
The real estate agent must have opened
this.
BEAT COP
Is it a real mummy ?
FORENSIC COP
I doubt it. This is the third one.
JACK
Why don't we stop the speculation.
FORENSIC COP
Look here...
The Forensic Cop shows a row of jars next to the altar.
The have something in them.
FORENSIC COP (CONT'D)
These appear to be all the vital
organs. If these were to rot as well,
we'd be smelling something a lot worse.
There is an embalming fluid in there
keeping them perfectly preserved.
The Beat Cop, backs away. Then he sees something.
BEAT COP
Detective ? I think you might need to
see this....
On the floor, in the flashlight, a pile of white powder.
Jack kneels down by it, puts on his rubber gloves. He
feels the powder in his hands.
JACK
Definitely a narcotic. I'm willing to
bet it's the same polychlorade mix that
we had at the other two murder scenes.
BEAT COP
What the hell is going on here ?
JACK
I don't know...
BEAT COP
It is official now isn't it ? I mean
this is number three ?
JACK
It's official. We have ourselves a
serial killer.
Jack turns back to see the forensics cop examining the
bloody body of the girl. He is photographing the
mummified corpse exactly where it was. Jack stares at it.
He seems very disturbed. The Beat Cop walks over to the
body. Jack turns and starts to search the rest of the
basement.
The Beat Cop leans down to the Forensics Cop.
BEAT COP
(whispers to Forensics cop)
I thought the Wonder Boy would have
been less squeamish.
FORENSIC COP
Look at him, he's too young, too
inexperienced to be handed something as
important as this. He's over his head.
There's too many politics involved with
his promotion if you ask me.
Jack is re-examining the white powder. On the floor are
dried blood stains, they're splattered in a bizarre
pattern. He silently starts back towards the body.
BEAT COP
The sad thing is, some sick fuck is out
there killing girls and HE's the one
their relying on to find him.
Jack over hears this and is pissed.
JACK
Have you put the police line up yet ?
BEAT COP
I, uh, I
JACK
I think you better get on that. I want
everyone non essential out of here and
that means you.
The Beat cop starts to leave.
JACK
And if I hear one word that the press
got any info whatsoever, I'll have your
badge, you understand me ?
(to forensics cop)
You got a problem ?
FORENSIC COP
No, sir.
More Forensics cops arrive, Jack just fumes and looks
about the room with his hands on his hips.
EXT. CITY HALL - DAY
There is an enormous press conference setup. At least The
mayor is speaking. To his immediate right is the Chief of
Police. Down the line is Jack, who is looking very
nervous, and is probably the youngest person on this
panel by about fifteen years.
MAYOR
....I can assure you swift justice.
REPORTER #1
Mayor, is it true that no one on the
police force has ever worked on a
serial killing before ?
MAYOR
I will let the Chief of Police, Edward
Washington answer that.
The Mayor, in his early sixties, backs away from the
microphone and let's Chief Washington,a black man in his
early fifties, up to the mike.
CHIEF
Thank you, Mister Mayor. We have
assigned our youngest and best officer
to head the investigation. Detective
Jack Nivens.
The reporters all gawk and start to rustle. Jack looks at
the crowd, even more uncomfortable.
CHIEF
Detective Nivens as you know just
solved the Ricardo Palazzo case. He is
the best man for the job. All of our
resources will be put at our disposal
to stop the Killer before he strikes
again.
MAYOR
Now that's all we have for today. No
more questions.
All of the public officials start to file back into the
building. Chief Washington grabs Jack by the arm.
CHIEF
(whispering)
Now Jack, don't talk to the press,
understand ? We don't want you to
convey the wrong image. You're new to
this game, so don't screw it up.
JACK
Yes sir.
The press are screaming questions out at random to Jack
and the Chief as the ignore them all.
EXT. COFFEE HOUSE - DAY
Near a college campus, this coffee house is doing pretty
good with the upper classmen of the university. There are
people talking, others just reading the paper.
From the Killer's P.O.V., we see one girl,DREW 21, that
is at a table by herself. She is stunningly beautiful.
She has long golden hair tied behind her in a scrunchy.
She is reading her book with intensity.
The Killer sees her as a princess. He sees the headdress
and the black hair wig. He sees her wanting him. He is
fantasizing.
Back to her studying.
The Killer approaches her.
KILLER/THOMAS
Hello.
DREW
(without looking up from her
book)
Hi.
KILLER/THOMAS
I just love the fall. The leaves
changing colors.
DREW
(sarcastically)
Yeah, they're all brown instead of
green. Listen I have to study for my
physics final.
KILLER/THOMAS
I'm sorry. I did not mean to interrupt.
(casually puts the flower
petals into her coffee)
I'll just go back whence I came.
DREW
Thanks.
Drew keeps on studying.
From the Killer's P.O.V., we see her take a sip of her
coffee.
Moments later, we see Drew getting kind of sweaty and
distracted.
The Killer approaches her and we see his lips moving, but
do not hear what he's saying to her. She looks up at him,
almost adoringly. He helps her out of the cafe.
EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Cars roll by. It's a nice, newer building and typical of
the Mid West.
INT. JACK'S OFFICE - DAY
The room is cluttered with black & white photos from the
three crime scenes. Files and files of
scientific/forensic evidence is also strewn about the
room. Jack is on the speaker phone to the Chief.
JACK
I'm still waiting for all the evidence
from this latest crime scene. I can't
give a summation without all the
evidence. Forensics has only given me a
preliminary report.
CHIEF
Then YOU give me a preliminary report.
The Mayor has asked me to make a
statement to the press tonight. If you
don't give me anything, how the hell am
I going to explain this to the public ?
I put my ass on the line to promote
you. You better get on the ball or
you'll be out on your ass. Now what
have you got ?
JACK
We've got three dead girls. They were
all beautiful, late teens, early
twenties. Two were college students,
two were high school girls. No
connection between them. We have
massive quantities of narcotics at the
crime scenes. Narcotics and the F.B.I.
tell me that the drug is imported from
the Middle East, we'll have more
specifics as they continue they're
research. We have a set of prints that
link the three crime scenes. It's a
male between the ages of 18 and 36. No
prior criminal record, there's no file
on these prints anywhere locally.
CHIEF
Bump that up to national. Call the
F.B.I. section and see if they can run
the prints. Have you consulted the
F.B.I. list of potential suspects yet ?
JACK
No. I haven't gotten to it yet. We
still have no substantial leads. Unless
we can find a witness to these events,
we've got nothing.
CHIEF
What do you mean there were no
witnesses ? That body and a two hundred
pound coffin were put there. No one saw
anything ?
JACK
No sir. No witnesses saw how the thing
got there. All we know is that at 1
A.M., the janitor was in the room
cleaning the floor. At six A.M., it was
there. It's a dead end.
CHIEF
Well you better start generating leads,
young man. And fast. My seven year old
son can give me a lead if I asked him
to. I don't understand you, son. We
promoted you based on the ingenuity you
displayed on the Ricardoo Palazo case.
You took the initiative and you got the
job done. Why aren't we seeing any of
that now ?
JACK
Sir, I... I
CHIEF
I don't want to hear anything from you
other than "Sir, I'll have some
substantial leads by the end of the
week."
JACK
Sir, I think this case may be more.
CHIEF
I SAID THE ONLY THING I WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU IS "SIR, I'LL HAVE SOME LEADS
BY THE END OF THE WEEK"
JACK
Sir, I'll have some leads by the end of
the week.
CHIEF
Thank you. Good work.
The phone hangs up. Jack sinks into his chair. He puts
his head in his hands and start to light up a cigarette.
CINDY enters. She's a very beautiful lady in her mid
twenties, with short brown hair. She's a cop in uniform
and it fits so well. Cindy knocks on the open door.
CINDY
Tough day huh ?
JACK
You have no idea....
CINDY moves in behind him. She begins to massage his
neck. She sensually moves her hands down to his
shoulders.
CINDY
Is this the new case ?
JACK
Yeah. I've got no leads and the higher
ups want progress.
CINDY
Maybe what you need is a little break.
Why don't we have dinner tonight, then
we could go back to my place tonight
and....
JACK
I don't think my wife would like that
too much.
CINDY
That hasn't stopped you before....
CINDY moves in for a kiss. She's very slow and sensual.
JACK
I know, but I can't. Not right now.
Jack pulls her off.
JACK
I need to concentrate on this. I don't
have time to stop and play doctor.
CINDY
Maybe I can help.
JACK
Yeah right.
CINDY
What you don't think I can help ?
JACK
Maybe if I needed my nails done.
CINDY
What the hell do you know ? I have a
degree in criminal psychology with a
minor in sociological disorders. That's
what serial killers have, Jack.
Jack has begun to semi-ignore her. He's reviewing the
paperwork. She picks up a photo from the latest crime
scene.
CINDY (CONT'D)
What's this ? It looks like an Egyptian
mummy. Did you see this ?
JACK
Of course I saw it, I was there. Look,
you're just getting in the way here.
CINDY
There's some writing on the floor, too.
The blood here. I think that's Egyptian
writing. I had a professor at the
university that taught a class on
Egyptology. You should have him look at
this.
Jack looks at the photo. He never noticed that the blood
stains on the floor were in anyway organized. Jack's too
proud to admit he's wrong to a woman.
JACK
(sarcastically)
Well little miss college degree, I
think I can handle this better with you
not here. Why don't you just go and
primp your hair or something.
CINDY
Fine ! Just try not to hurt yourself
while thinking so hard. I'll be around
if you change your mind about tonight.
Cindy leaves. Jack stares long and hard at the photo of
the blood stains. It does look vaguely like an Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
INT. FORENSICS LAB OFFICE- DAY
People are in white lab coats and wand walking about in a
seemingly perpetual rush.
Jack enters.
INT. FORENSIC LAB LABORATORY - DAY
Jack goes into a room where Dr. Peter Davis, mid
thirties, is hard at work looking through a microscope.
Dr. Davis has glasses and a quickly receding hairline. It
comes from his tireless research and always being forced
into a rush.
DR. DAVIS
Detective Nivens, please hold on one
moment. I happen to be doing the
comparison now of the narcotic from
yesterday to see if it matches the two
priors.
Jack uncomfortably sits on a chair near the impeccably
clean desk. He sits in silence for several long pauses
and the only sound is the grunts of curiosity that Dr.
Davis makes.
JACK
Doctor, I'm sorry to.....
DR. DAVIS
You're in a rush. Everyone is in a
rush. Everything has to be fast. But
what you don't understand is that I
have a responsibility to give accurate
answers. That takes time.
JACK
Sorry to interrupt you.
DR. DAVIS
That's all right.
Through the microscope we see the distinct white powder
magnified several hundred times.
DR. DAVIS (CONT'D)
Detective.... I'd say you have a match.
Would you like to see ?
JACK
I'll take your word for it. I don't
think I'd see what you see.
DR. DAVIS
Here...
He hands Jack several files of scientific papers in a
manilla folder.
DR. DAVIS (CONT'D)
These are all the test results we did
on the powder.
JACK
What's it say ?
DR. DAVIS
I wrote it down so I wouldn't HAVE to
tell you.
JACK
Please, doctor. In laymen's terms
please.
DR. DAVIS
What you have is an exotic combination
of cocaine mixed with hash fragments.
It's very uncommon and toxicology says
that it comes from the Middle East.
It's source is almost untraceable.
There was very little left from the
body. The girl had all of her bodily
fluids drained completely out.
JACK
I heard that before, but how did it get
that way ?
DR. DAVIS
That's your field of expertise
Detective. Or at least it's supposed to
be.
JACK
Thanks, Doc.
DR. DAVIS
Pardon me for asking, but don't they
usually give partners to fresh
Detectives ?
JACK
Usually.
DR. DAVIS
I would say swallow your pride and ask
for help young man. This is serious
business. We may not be out in the
field, but we still here everything
down here. It's not good to have all
eyes on you and most people wanting you
to fail.
JACK
Thanks for the advice, Doc.
DR. DAVIS
Besides, usually serial killers kill
themselves before they're caught.
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - DAY
Jack exits his car.
INT. PROFESSOR'S OFFICE - DAY
Professor Jones, early sixties or late fifties, sits
behind his desk with his glasses on examining the photos.
PROFESSOR
These three here are most definitely
Egyptian. These other two I do not
recognize. I am afraid Egyptology is
not my forte'.
JACK
Anything you could tell me would be
most helpful.
PROFESSOR
These here are the royal names of
Egyptian Gods. One for Osiris, one for
Isis, and the last one in Horus, their
son. These other symbols are the
equivalent of verbs, but I am not adept
enough to translate their precise
meaning.
JACK
I am desperate here. I need any help I
can get. The encyclopedia isn't exactly
giving me the info I need.
PROFESSOR
I know of a young man who may be of
service to you.
As the Professor gets up from his chair, CATHY, 22
brunette and very tan, enters.
PROFESSOR
Cathy, we'll be heading to the library.
Can you take my 1:30 class ?
CATHY
Yes. Do you want me to pick up your dry
cleaning from Ross' Cleaners ?
PROFESSOR
That would be great. Detective Nivens,
this is my teaching assistant Cathy.
JACK
How do you do ?
They leave the office. Jack looks at her as he leaves.
She is definitely a looker. Jack is wondering if the old
Professor is doing a little more than just teaching
history.
EXT. CAMPUS OVAL - DAY
Jack & the Professor are walking along the path en route
to the library, in the short distance.
JACK
So who is this ?
PROFESSOR
One of my grad students. He has just
returned from abroad. He studied in
Egypt for over four years. You might
say he has a passion for Egyptology.
INT. LIBRARY STAIRS - DAY
The Professor is struggling slightly up the stairs.
PROFESSOR
Paul is eccentric, but his knowledge of
Egyptology far surpasses that of most
professors who teach it. He can be a
bit... obsessive in his pursuits.
INT. LIBRARY RESEARCH TABLE - DAY
Paul Roth, mid twenties with very long dark hair in a
pony tail and glasses sits surrounded by books. Several
of which are open. He reads and furiously writes in his
journal.
Jack & The Professor see him from a distance.
JACK
He looks like Yanni.
PROFESSOR
I would like to also mention that Paul
may be a bit on edge. His wife of two
years passed away.
JACK & the PROFESSOR approach the table.
PROFESSOR
Hello, Paul. This is Detective Jack
Nivens. He would like to ask you some
questions.
PAUL
Uh huh...
Paul barely even notices anyone is talking to him. He is
very driven and shuts out the world.
PROFESSOR
Paul, it's very important.
PAUL
Yes, it always is. What more do you
people want from me ?
JACK
What ?
Jack is very perturbed by the attitude.
PROFESSOR
No, Paul. He needs your assistance with
an translation. He has some
hieroglyphics that I can not decipher.
Perhaps you can.
JACK
Now these photos are of the strictest
confidence. You may not discuss them
with anyone, especially the press. It
could endanger the investigation. The
photos are intense. These are violent
crimes.
PAUL
I understand.
Jack hands over a manilla folder containing several black
& white photos of the victims and the crime scenes.
Paul's eyes stare at the photos intensely.
JACK
So what does this say ?
PAUL
I have to research this. It's not as
simple as reading the Sunday cartoons.
I mean these are detailed
hieroglyphics. It'll take time.
JACK
How long ? about half an hour ? Forty
Five minutes ?
PAUL
Try a couple days at least.
JACK
What do you mean a couple days ?
PAUL
I have this ther project to work on
first, then I will get to it.
Jack's face turns red.
JACK
Look this is a murder case. I am trying
to stop a murder. I think this takes
precedent over a silly fuckin' homework
assignment.
A library worker "shh"'s them.
PAUL
Look it may be important to YOU, but
that doesn't not mean it is important
to ME. I will look into it, but in my
OWN TIME.
Jack leaves a business card on the table. Paul looks back
into his books to continue whatever he was working on
prior to the interruption.
JACK
Here's my number. Call me when you get
off your slack ass and find something.
Jack storms off. The Professor looks disapprovingly at
Paul then follows after Jack.
PROFESSOR
I must apologize for him. I said he was
eccentric.
JACK
He's an asshole. Just another slacker
that gives generation X a bad name.
PROFESSOR
He is not himself. He has only just
returned from Egypt, as I said. Paul
worked in the desert for many months at
a time. People in the desert lose
certain social graces.
JACK
What he needs is an attitude adjusting
ass kicking.
PROFESSOR
Be that as it may, I think I can convey
the urgency of this matter to him. Do
not judge him too harshly.
JACK
Thank you professor.
Jack leaves. The Professor returns to the research table.
PROFESSOR
Did you have to be so curt with him ?
He is after all an officer of the law.
Neither of you have the right to
pontificate
PAUL
People like him are the reason I left
this country in the first place. i
despise that whole attitude that
whatever I'm doing is more important
than what you're doing.
PROFESSOR
Paul, he is investigating the death of
young girls. They have families, loved
ones. I would have thought you of all
people would put aside petty
differences to keep anyone else from
losing a loved one.
The Professor leaves. Paul stops for a long moment. He
shakes his head and continues his research.
EXT. JACK'S SUBURBAN HOUSE - NIGHT
Jack pulls in the driveway.
INT. JACK'S HOUSE FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Jack enters, he stubs his toe on a toy left on the floor.
We hear an off screen voice of his wife. The camera stays
on Jack and VERY slowly tracks backwards.
WIFE
Honey, is that you ?
JACK
Yeah...
WIFE
I'm giving the kids a bath. Guess who
called.
INT. JACK'S HOUSE HALLWAY - NIGHT
Jack continues to stare straight forward. Wishing he were
someone else, someplace else.
WIFE
It was Patti Anderson.Can you believe
that she and Roger are getting a
divorce. Oh, I was shocked ! Remember
the kids have a doctors appointment
tomorrow, so I'll need you to pick up
some stuff at the grocery after your
little police thing tomorrow. And don't
forget this weekend, we're going to my
mothers for dinner on Saturday. So your
all important investigation will have
to wait.
As she continues to ramble on and on, Jack continues to
just stare into space, wondering how life ever got this
mundane.
INT. PAUL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Paul has a desk that is a equally covered with books as
the the libraries was. He is still researching the former
project.
He stops and stretches. He sees a picture in a frame on
the desk.
C.U. of picture. It has Paul & a beautiful girl at the
Pyramids at Giza in Egypt. They are frolicking and
looking happy.
Paul stares at the picture longingly. He seems to be on
the verge of tears. Then he shakes it off. He opens up
the manilla folder that has the police photos. He begins
to write down the symbols and opens another book open.
INT. HOMICIDE DEPT - DAY
Jack comes in. As he walks by, the other Detectives all
look at him in detest. Everyone else is having the usual
Good Mornings and Hello's, but everyone ignores Jack.
Jack opens the door to his office. HE looks at his desk
and picks up a file or two. He then comes out and
approaches Detectives Damon & Benjamin, both about forty
and trim. Jack stands idly by as they continue their
story.
DET. DAMON
So I says to the guy "Look buddy, when
you towed the car, the stuff was in the
car, and when they picked up the car,
the stuff is gone, so where is it ?"
DET. BENJAMIN
And what did he say ?
DET. DAMON
He says "Are you gonna charge me wit
somethin' or not ? 'Cause if not, then
get off my property."
DET. BENJAMIN
Damn, I hate those guys. They told me
that they charge $71 bucks for a tow,
then they told this fat guy, his name's
Steve, that they charge $85. You just
can't trust
JACK
Excuse me.
DET. DAMON
Yes, Detective.
JACK
I was wondering if you could help me
look over this autopsy. I can't make
heads or tails of it.
DET. BENJAMIN
What do you mean YOU can't make heads
or tails of it ?
DET. DAMON
Yeah, I thought you were like this
super whiz kid who can solve cases in
your sleep, I mean that was why you
were promoted right ?
JACK
It's jus that it's very technical and
....
DET. DAMON
Let me see here. It looks to be plain
English to me. I mean it's not written
in German.
JACK
I thought you might have some ideas as
to how this might.....
DET. BENJAMIN
I'm sorry detective. We're really busy
today. We've got a dead high school
teacher we have to look into, I know
it's not as big a serial killer, but
you can take care a that all by
yourself can't ya ? Eh, Wonder Boy ?
JACK
Why do you have to be like that ?
DET. DAMON
Because you don't deserve to be here.
We all came up the hard way and you
come strollin' in like a fucking super
hero, that's why. If you're so fucking
good, then you figure it out, okay ?
JACK
Your help is deeply appreciated.
Jack walks back to his office.
DET. DAMON
Anytime, anytime.
As soon as Jack's door slams shut.
DET. DAMON
Fuckin' jerk.
DET. BENJAMIN
What an asshole !
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