A CLUE SAGA
Episode #13
INT. PRATTON POLICE DEPARTMENT - FORREST'S OFFICE - NIGHT
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST sits behind his bulky metal desk with a grim look on his face. The three men sit before him on uncomfortable, metal folding chairs.
Two investigators from INTERPOL stare at COMM. FOREST with intense, hungry eyes. The third - a local detective - eyes the men impatiently.
A lengthy list of suspects rests on the surfaces of the desk in front of the Commissioner.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
(reading)
"Sergeant Benjamin Gray provided a list of people present, as well as the victims. We'll start with the victims..."
COMM. FOREST clears his throat and begins at the top.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Alphabetically - Yvette Ardoise, parlor maid, hanged in the master bedroom - a note was left indicating apparent suicide. I'm not buying it."
(pausing)
"Benedict Black the Fifth, long-thought dead, shot by his biological father... also long-thought dead. We need to question Hugh Black thoroughly regarding the situation."
(pausing again)
"Olga Bloom, the cook, found dead in Swimming Pool early in the night, her body is currently MIA. Edward Clay, a guest, professional tennis coach, found dead on the tennis net - tortured, mutilated; his eyes were removed and haven't been recovered yet.
(MORE)
2.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST (CONT'D)
Brenda Dove, Hugh's fiancée, she died of poisoning in the nursery in front of her son, just like Bloom her body is also MIA."
COMM. FOREST sets down the list and looks up at the men before him.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN shakes his head in disgust.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY follows the list of suspects and victims with his eyes, eager to hear more.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO, still bored, stretches his back and cracks his knuckles.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Five murders."
INSP. BROWN speaks in a Scottish accent with a floaty, tenor-like timber.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Read off the suspect's names."
INSP PRY speaks in a deep, monotone voice. He shows no emphasis on words and emotion while speaking.
COMM. FOREST picks up the list and adjusts his pince-nez.
CoMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Alphabetically - Reginald Ash, the butler. Sir Benedict Black the Fourth, long-thought dead. Hugh Black, our killer. He'll be arrested on arrival and brought back here for further questioning."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Save them the details, Randy. Let's just get going."
DET. AMARILLO sighs loudly. He speaks in a dry, dull tone with a slight Spanish accent.
3.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(insistently)
"Keep reading."
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Rose Black, Hugh's older sister. John Boddy, Hugh's nephew. Alphonse Brunette, an arts dealer."
INSP. BROWN's ears perk up.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Fivel Dove, Brenda's eight-year-old son. Thallo Green, involved in BGP's family business. Colonel Mustard, a close friend. A doctor, Andrea Orchid, engaged to John Boddy. Senator Peacock's widow, Patricia. Professor Plum, an estranged family member. Dr. Raven and his daughter - she used to be married to Hugh. They both have remained in contact despite the divorce."
INSP. PRY watches COMM. FOREST's lips carefully as he reads off the names.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Miss Scarlet, stepdaughter to Mrs. Peacock, romantically involved with one of the victims - Edward Clay. A nurse, Ava Silver, serving as Blackwell Grange's nanny. And finally Blanche White, the housekeeper."
INSP. BROWN smirks.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Well, that about covers it."
INSP. PRY and INSP BROWN exchange a look and immediately turn to COMM. FOREST.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(standing up)
"Then off we go. Lawrence, Detective?"
COMM. FOREST holds out his hands and motions for INSP. BROWN to sit back down.
4.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
"Inspector Brown, Inspector Pry, while I appreciate your punctuality... we don‘t need any outside investigators. Detective Amarillo is perfectly capable of sorting things out at Blackwell Grange."
DET. AMARILLO crosses his arms confidently over his chest, pleased with COMM. FOREST's words. INSP. PRY looks over at INSP. BROWN and chuckles. INSP. BROWN leans back in his chair. He shakes his head in disappointment at COMM. FOREST.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
”You are tip-toeing around terribly. Why don't you just come out and say it? You want to wrap up this murder in time for breakfast so the people of Pratton wake up to something juicy and exciting.”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
(defensively)
”No, no! Not at all! I just wouldn’t want to waste the international police’s time. Especially on a country-house murder.”
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(speaking up)
”Multiple murders, Commissioner. The Black Family owns numerous mansions and castles across the globe. This is not a waste of our time.”
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Commissioner Forest, with all due respect, Inspector Pry and I both have history with Blackwell Grange. We are already aware of some of the activities that may be under your radar. We got a call regarding missing persons staying at Blackwell Grange and spotted in Pratton. Now we have arrived in time for blood to stain the halls once more."
5.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
”You say you received a call in advance, warning you about something at Blackwell Grange. A missing person?”
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"German fugitives Olga Bloom and Klaus Gold were reported four days ago. And now Bloom is a murder victim."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You may want to add Klaus Gold to the list."
COMM. FOREST hesitantly picks up a pen and writes in the new suspect.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
(looking at the list)
”Eh, who called it in? The tip about Gold and Bloom?”
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
”With the current situation at hand involving mass murders and a killer on the loose, the identity will remain off the record. Best to not engage in small-town gossip until all the facts are presented.”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
”You understand that an arrest needs to be made in a timely fashion. The townsfolk are superstitious and nosy about anything that happens at Blackwell Grange.”
InSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
”The killer will be caught. Justice will be served. I can firmly promise that by the end of this investigation, there will be no mystery left at Blackwell Grange.“
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
”Is the car fueled up?"
(scoffing)
"Top it off just in case. It’s a long way to Blackwell Grange.“
6.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
(standing up)
"Let's go get this done."
InSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
”Just one more thing.“
(clearing his throat)
“When we went over the suspects, I couldn’t help but notice that one of your officers was not listed. The one who called you?”
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
“Sergeant Gray isn’t like that. He’s a good guy.”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
”Sergeant Gray knows Blackwell Grange better than Amarillo and myself. He could offer some insight. He isn't a serious suspect.”
InSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(appalled)
”Is that how you run things?“
INSP. BROWN and INSP. PRY look at each other again, with growing concern in their eyes.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(aggressively)
”What kind of game are you playing here?”
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(hushing Pry)
“Commission, what you just said gives Inspector Pry and I even more of a reason to accompany Detective Amarillo.“
InSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
”Everyone is a suspect. Do not forget that.”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
(to Amarillo)
"Yes, yes! You are right, Detective. Sergeant Gray will be under the suspicion of murder until proven otherwise. It is only fair."
7.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(nodding in approval)
“The last thing we need is a conflict of interest.”
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
(annoyed)
”Are we ready?”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
”You two have been to Blackwell Grange before, correct? It can be a little intimidating to first-timers.”
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Inspector Pry and I are well acquainted with Blackwell Grange."
INSP. PRY stares at COMM. FOREST, penetrating his eyes with unyielding contact.
InSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
”I’ve been keeping my eyes on that place for a long time. The time for hiding secrets is over.”
FLASHBACK - 35 years ago - blackwell grange
INT. Blackwell grange - kitchen - morning
A young, handsome, twenty-some WINFIELD BROWN stands before the massive stone hearth in the Kitchen.
On the floor, near the open back door, a chalk outline and pool of blood indicate where the murder took place.
A tall, woman questions a young fair-haired woman in a maid’s uniform while BROWN takes notes. The detective is clean cut and butch with a strong militant presence.
Young Insp. Brown
(reading his notes)
”Mrs. White said she heard the gunshot after midnight. No later than three o’clock.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE speaks nervously. Wringing her hands and tucking her shoulders as small as possible.
8.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
(nodding)
”That’s right. It was still pitch black outside. Dawn begins to brighten the forests between three and four.”
The leading detective walks over to the open back door and chalk outline. She crouches down and examines where the blood has pooled around the throat of the chalk outline.
Detective garnet
”When you came down to the kitchen, the groundskeeper had already found him - Ruston Naylor?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE nods as tears begin to fill her eyes.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
“Rusty told me not to look... but I couldn't stop myself. Th-there was so much blood.”
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Mrs. White, I need you to answer some very difficult questions.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE nods cooperatively.
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Is there anyone you suspect may have had it out for your husband?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
(sobbing)
”I don’t know. Honestly I don’t. I just assumed this was because of an attempted burglary. You don't suppose he was murdered?“
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Nothing was stolen from the kitchen or dining room. The rest of the doors were locked. From what we can tell, someone saw Mr. White at the back door and shot him.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE breaks down and begins to cry heavily.
DETECTIVE GARNET
(offering a hand)
"I'm sorry."
YOUNG MRS. WHITE holds up her hands, composing herself.
9.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
(sniffling)
”I’m sorry. I wish I could offer more help.”
DETECTIVE GARNET
(smiling politely)
”We aren’t quite finished yet. I have some other questions that might help shed some light.”
DET. GARNET motions to a chair at the central table.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE sits down, glancing over at the chalk outline as she does.
DETECTIVE GARNET
”I noticed you share a similar accent with Brown here.”
WINFIELD BROWN smiles a bit.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
“Scotland. Fourteen miles south of Boneblack Acres.”
YOUNG INSP. BROWN
”A true farmer‘s daughter, eh?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE smiles politely and nods.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”My childhood home isn't there any more. The whole area was taken over by gypsies - their tents, trailers, theaters...”
DET. GARNET shakes her head in dismay, laughing politely to lift the mood.
DeTECTIVE GARNET
(groaning apathetically)
”I understand that all too well. My family’s home was moved due to a new railroad. As if we honestly need more roads and tracks! Sadly my father found out there would be extra expenses while transporting the house to a new farm. He hastily decided to drop it in the spot. I watched it crumble away in front of my eyes. I always assumed he never intended to move the house.
(MORE)
10.
DETECTIVE GARNET (CONT'D)
He figured something would go wrong with the construction crew and then he would be compensated. But there was no accident and he dropped it.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
(clearly uninterested)
"Oh?"
DETECTIVE GARNET
(changing her tone)
"Sometimes we expect things to go a certain way... but life has a way of catching us off guard. So much changes in life... people, money, politics... can’t we at least keep our farm - the mountains and fields from our memories?”
BROWN cocks his head to the side, unsure of the unusual tangent.
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Did you meet Winslow in your homeland?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”No. We met in America. It was actually Sir Benedict who introduced us.”
BROWN quickly begins to scribble in his notebook as the two women discuss Winslow White.
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Tell me about that, if you would.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”I was a nurse at Pratton Memorial. He was a chauffeur for the Black’s. His job mainly entailed driving Lady Beatrice around - God rest her soul.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE does the sign of the cross and takes a moment of silence.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”He was charming. He was polite. He abandoned his shift to drive me home during a bad spot of rain. Lady Beatrice nearly had him fired over it.
(MORE)
11.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE (CONT'D)
She insisted that he should introduce her to the woman more important than she.“
DetECTIVE GARNET
”Was she pleased?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”If I may speak off the record?”
GARNET and BROWN exchange a glance.
YOUNG INSP. BROWN
”Speak your heart and mind, Mrs. White.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”I would not have accepted a job at Blackwell Grange if not for Lady Beatrice.“
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Is Sir Benedict not a fair employer?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
(lowering her voice)
”I worry about Hugh and Margaret. Hugh's only eighteen but the way he spends money... And Margaret. She'll do anything to upset her father. Her new favorite way to do that is by opening her legs to any man Sir Benedict disapproves of.”
DET. GARNET holds up a hand.
DETECTIVE GARNET
"Thank you, that is quite a descriptive picture."
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
"I'm sorry."
DETECTIVE GARNET
”Do you personally believe that anyone in the house would have harmed Winslow? A chauffeur can overhear a lot Of important things. People seem to just forget that they are sitting there with nothing to do but listen.”
12.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”He tells me everything. If he overheard something worth killing over, I’d know and be dead as well.”
DET. GARNET is taken aback by the candidness of her answer.
DETECTIVE GARNET
”I know that this is the last thing you want to think about right now, but is it possible that Your husband was having an affair?”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”That’s not it...”
DETECTIVE GARNET
”An affair can make a killer out of the other woman, and it can make a killer out of her own husband.”
YOUNG MRS. WHITE subconsciously lets a hand slide protectively over her stomach. She notices and quickly drops her hand to her side.
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
”My loyalty was to him.“
DETECTIVE GARNET
"I believe it was his loyalty in question."
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
"What did I say?"
DETECTIVE GARNET
"Your loyalty was to him."
YOUNG MRS. WHITE
"I meant his loyalty was to me."
DETECTIVE GARNET
"Of course."
INSP. BROWN makes a note in his notepad -
- Mrs. White is having an affair.
BACK TO PRESENT
13.
InT. PRATTON POLICE DEPARTMENT - garage - night
INSP. BROWN makes himself comfortable in the passenger seat of the police cruiser. INSP. PRY sits in the back seat, his height causes his knees to rise near his chest. DET. AMARILLO is outside the cruiser topping of the gas tank with a red cannister.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You know what this means, don't you?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"No clue."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(chuckling)
"Dr. Black is innocent."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I wouldn't jump to any conclusions until we get there and see what the scene tells us."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I'm not saying he's an innocent man, no he is a killer inside and out. But tonight, I do not think he killed anyone."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Based on?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Gut feeling."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"This is why I don't like working with you."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"No, you'd rather do everything alone."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I get shit done."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You leave cases open."
14.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"What makes me good at my job is that I have a keen sense of knowing when to continue pursuing someone and when to cut my losses and call it a fucking day."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"We have two different perceptions of justice."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"You're referring to the gardener."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Ruston Naylor."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(repeating)
"Ruston Naylor. Rusty. Good old Rusty. Trusty Rusty. Handyman, gardener, amateur billiard player."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You let him walk. He still walks."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Maybe he kicked the bucket years ago. He wasn't on the suspect list."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Perhaps."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I don't really care what you think. If Rusty really was the perv that people said he was, he went to incredible length to avoid it. No one ever found those boys. Pinning them on Blackwell Grange and creating ghost-stories does not make it true. The oldest was notorious for lying."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I remember. You spend weeks looking through his school files."
15.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"The youngest had no father and loved gardening. I don't think it went further than that."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"That's your opinion."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(lashing out angrily)
"So tell me what happened, then?"
INSP. BROWN shakes his head in disgust. INSP. PRY sits back as DET. AMARILLO opens the driver door and sits down. He starts the engines and pulls out of the parking lot.
FLASHBACK - 15 YEARS AGO - BLACKWELL GRANGE
Ext. Blackwell grange - forest - afternoon
INSP. PRY alone walks with RUSTY the groundskeeper. The forest trail is narrow and covered in autumn leaves.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I'm going to be straight-forward with you, Mr. Naylor. I asked you to take me out here because three missing boys were last seen on the grounds. The boys parents claim that you were the only person they ever spoke of from Blackwell Grange."
RUSTY speaks in an Irish accent, whistling a bit on the letter S.
RUSTY
(defensively)
"I didn't see those boys!"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Slow down, I just want to talk."
RUSTY
"The little one, Devon used to come around. He doesn't any more."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"People have said things..."
16.
RUSTY
(sadly)
"Which is why he doesn't come around any more. I won't have church gossipers and housewives talk about me just because I never took a wife."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Is there a reason for that."
RUSTY
"I'm not a homosexual."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I never said you were."
RUSTY
"I just... My heart is occupied by a love that will never be returned."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I see."
RUSTY
"My heart waits in a lonely lighthouse, hoping, praying..."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(stopping him)
"I don't need to hear anything more."
RUSTY
"I can't help you, Inspector."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I know that now."
RUSTY
"I'm sorry."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"I am too. Missing children cases always leave me with a stomach ache."
RUSTY
"You lost a child, didn't you?"
INSP. PRY bites his lip tightly, angered by the words that just hit his ears.
17.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fuck off, old man."
INSP. PRY turns away from RUSTY and walks back towards BLACKWELL GRANGE. INSP PRY clenches and unclenches his fists the entire way back.
BACK TO PRESENT
Int. Police cruiser - night
DET. AMARILLO stares ahead at the open road before the headlights of the police cruiser. INSP. BROWN watches the fields and countryside flicker by.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"What's the worst you've seen at Blackwell Grange?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"What kind of question is that?"
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Before we get all serious, I figured we could engage in a little small talk."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I'd imagine what we are about to see tonight will top everything we've seen collectively."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"I once saw a guy's head cut off. Tongue fell through the hole in the neck. Dangling out with the spinal cord."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"At Blackwell Grange?"
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Nah, some whore house down near the marina."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I thought you asked about Blackwell Grange."
18.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Okay, what's the grossest thing you've ever seen in your whole life."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Grossest? I thought it was the worst thing. The worst thing I've seen wasn't necessarily gross. It was more... unsetting. I suppose you could say gross, in a broader use of the word. In the same way stealing from the elderly is gross, or how taking advantage of a young woman, or how setting up a child for failure is gross."
FLASHBACK - 8 YEARS AGO - BLACKWELL GRANGE
Int. Blackwell grange - study - evening
DR. BLACK speaks to LORD GRAY, SGT. GRAY, COMM. FOREST, INSP. BROWN, and INSP. PRY.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"So it is settled, then?"
LORD GRAY nods, wrapping his knuckles on the wooden desk for emphasis.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Sergeant Gray will be on retainer for Blackwell Grange security. Fifty thousand dollars up front."
DR. BLACK places a stack of money in front of LORD GRAY and SGT. GRAY.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Twenty-five thousand quarterly. On solstices and equinoxes."
LORD GRAY takes the stack of money and thumbs through it. He carefully places it inside the his coat in the breast pocket.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Seventy-five thousand to the Pratton Police Department for their continued understanding."
DR. BLACK places a larger stack of money in front of COMM. FOREST.
19.
COMM. FOREST quickly accepts the money, pocketing it without counting.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"That is an annual due, mind you."
COMM. FOREST nods silently.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"And finally, for the international pain in my ass..."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Two-hundred thousand dollars. One time buy out. Leave Blackwell Grange the fuck alone."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fine."
INSP. BROWN is cross.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Excuse me?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fine. I accept, whatever."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"You do not speak."
DR. BLACK places a finger sternly to his lips. He motions to the spinning record on the record player in the corner.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"All of my meetings are tape-recorded and now you have interrupted the flow for the transcript. Thank you, Inspector."
INSP. PRY eyes the record player.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Are we finished here?"
There is a collective nod between LORD GRAY, SGT. GRAY, COMM. FOREST, INSP. PRY, and INSP. BROWN.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Why do the gray clouds block the azure sky?”
20.
LORD GRAY, SGT. GRAY, & COMM. FOREST
“The black night is still not brightened by rose-gold flames.”
INSP. BROWN stands up, startled by the unison reply. He nudges INSP PRY, urging the young inspector to take the money and get up.
BACK TO PRESENT
Ext. Blackwell grange - courtyard - night
DET. AMARILLO slows down as the police cruise crawls along the gravel road. The dark forests on either side of the cruiser have become humid and foggy from the torrential rain.
INSP. BROWN rolls down the window, letting out the stale air.
INSP. PRY looks around the dark woods through the windows of the back seat.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(nervously)
"We're getting close."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Nervous, Inspector?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(composing himself)
"I saw the old well house."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Ah, yes! Great minds think alike. A case of Rose Black's missing lover lead me to that well."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"What did you find?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Poor boy slipped and fell head first. Terrible luck."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"An accident?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"He had a habit of sleep-walking."
21.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
(laughing)
"That's a shitty way to go."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(speaking up)
"Those are the gates."
DET. AMARILLO slows down the car as they approach the open FRONT GATES at the GATE HOUSE.
EXT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - COURTYARD - CONTINUOUS
The police cruiser slowly rolls up the driveway, through the FRONT GATES, and towards a small procession of parked cars. The heavy rain patters loudly on the roofs and hoods of the cars.
DET. AMARILLO exits the car, immediately opening a bright yellow umbrella.
INSP. BROWN and INSP. PRY exit the car in unison, opening their brown and gray umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain.
DET. AMARILLO looks up at the massive façade of Blackwell Grange. Lightning illuminates the sky behind it. Thunder follows almost immediately. The storm is close.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"What a godforsaken place!"
The trio proceed to the concrete steps that lead to the front doors.
INSP. PRY feels each step becoming heavier and heavier as he reaches the threshold of the mansion.
INSP. BROWN feels it too - dread with every ticking second.
DET. AMARILLO reaches his hand forward and knocks on the door.
It is a pitiful knock. A gentle knock that might not even be heard by someone standing on the other side - barely audible to INSP. PRY and INSP. BROWN under the roaring pattering of the storm.
INSP. BROWN impatiently reaches forward and grabs the chain to the doorbell. He yanks it.
SNAP.
22.
The doorbell chain snaps off in his hand.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Oh, for the love of Jesus!"
INSP. PRY takes a deep, steadying breath. He steps forward and reaches for the bottom of the doorbell's broken chain. He pinches it with his fingernails and tugs firmly.
The bell tolls deep within the hall.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Thank you."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(distracted)
"Yeah."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"What's taking so long? I gotta take a piss."
The front door slowly creaks open. MR. REGINALD ASH appears with a grim look on his face. MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE appears directly behind him over his shoulders.
MR. ASH steps out onto the rainy porch, rather than letting the police inside.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"It's Dr. Black... he's been murdered."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Him too? Shit, I gotta call the Commissioner."
MR. ASH opens the front door, allowing the police to enter the mansion.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Where's your bathroom?"
M. BRUNETTE shakes his head, laughing.
23.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Top of the stairs, gentlemen's to the right, ladies to the left."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Thanks."
DET. AMARILLO waddles up the staircase.
INSP. PRY steps into the HALL and takes a long deep breath.
INSP. BROWN stays with MR. ASH at the open front door.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Where is Dr. Black?"
MR. ASH motions to the sweeping staircase on the left side of the HALL.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"The cellar door is behind that staircase. He's..."
(sighing)
"He's at the foot of the staircase. You can't miss him."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"And the suspects?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"They are all in the Ballroom."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fantastic. I'm going to take a crack at that, then."
MR. ASH nods.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Maybe we should slow down, wait on Amarillo to get back down stairs."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fuck Amarillo. I'm letting them know who is in charge of this investigation."
INSP. PRY turns to the red curtained entrance at the end of the HALL. He quickly pushes his way into the BALLROOM.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I'd like to see the body first."
24.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Right now?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Yes, now."
MR. ASH nods and quickly leads INSP. BROWN to the back of the HALL and to the CELLAR STAIRCASE.
DET. AMARILLO reappears at the top of the staircase. He looks over the empty hall below.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
(calling out)
"Hello? Anyone there?"
DET. AMARILLO shrugs and descends the staircase. He walks over to the telephone on the side table and picks it up. He dials a number and waits a moment.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
(speaking into the phone)
"This is Detective Amarillo, can you get me Commissioner Forest. Thanks, sweetheart."
There is a moment of silence.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Commissioner, do you have that suspect and victim list?"
(pause)
"Well, go get it."
DET. AMARILLO kicks at the leg of the table absent-mindedly while he waits on the telephone.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Cross of Hugh Black and add him to the victim list."
COMM. FOREST's loud angry voice is quite audible through the telephone.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FORREST
(muffled, angry)
"Are you fucking with me?"
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"No, Commissioner. He's dead. The butler told us as soon as we got here."
(pause)
"Commissioner, are you there?"
25.
There is a loud BANG on the other end of the line. The call cuts off.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Hello?"
DET. AMARILLO places the telephone back onto the cradle.
END OF EPISODE #13