"CANINE"
by
Charles Deemer
3550 SW
Pomona St.
Portland, OR 97219-7518
(800)
294-7176
cdeemer@yahoo.com
FADE IN:
EXT. PACIFIC
NORTHWEST - COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
A road cuts
through a forest in God's country.
Parked in a
gravel area along the shoulder, a car.
EXT. WOODS -
DAY
Moving
through the woods are JIMMY, 20s, and HEATHER, 20s.
Jimmy has a
case with a video camera slug over his shoulder.
HEATHER
How much farther?
JIMMY
Almost there.
HEATHER
Jimmy, you don't have to get me
this far in the woods to get
laid.
JIMMY
Very funny.
Jimmy leads
the way along a path through the thick forest.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - MINI-MALL - PARKING LOT - DAY
A new
mini-mall is being dedicated in Crestview, Washington,
a town of
about 30,000.
A temporary
stage has been erected in the parking lot. A
SMALL CROWD
stands in front of it.
On stage, a
podium, HONORED GUESTS seated behind it.
At the
podium, Crestview Mayor RAY HIGGINS. Handsome,
athletic, a
man with a political future.
MAYOR HIGGINS
I think it's time to cut the
ribbon!
Cheers.
Behind the
crowd, a man watches. This is RHODES, gaunt, all
bones and
joints. He holds a small COCKER SPANIEL in his arms.
2.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE - DAY
Jimmy and
Heather reach a security fence. High, barbed wire
at the top.
Menacing.
JIMMY
What'd I tell you? Come on.
He moves
faster along the fence.
HEATHER
What is this place?
EXT.
MINI-MALL - PARKING LOT - DAY
Rhodes puts
the dog down.
RHODES
Okay, follow the light. Follow
the light.
Rhodes has a
pen-sized laser flashlight. He puts a spot on
the ground,
moving it so the dog follows in the direction of
the stage,
where ...
Higgins
moves to a yellow ribbon stretched in front of the
stage. He's
handed a large pair of scissors.
The dog
follows the light, getting closer.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE - TRAINING COMPOUND - DAY
Jimmy stops
along the fence. Heather comes up to him, out of
breath.
JIMMY
There.
Beyond the
fence is a baffling array of dummy human figures,
arranged in
various lines.
JIMMY
This is where they train the
dogs.
HEATHER
I don't understand.
JIMMY
Just regular breeds, you know?
Collies, cocker spaniels.
(MORE)
3.
JIMMY (CONT'D)
They teach them to take out the
dummies with the ferocity of a
pit bull.
HEATHER
Why?
Jimmy has
taken out the video camera and starts shooting the
area.
JIMMY
That's what I'd like to know.
EXT.
MINI-MALL - PARKING LOT - DAY
Higgins
poses for cameras before cutting the ribbon. All
smiles and
good will politics.
The dog
reaches him. It barks, looking up at Higgins.
MAYOR HIGGINS
Our first customer!
The crowd
loves it. Laughter, cheers.
Higgins cuts
the ribbon and freezes for the cameras.
Behind the
crowd, Rhodes presses a button on the flashlight.
The gesture
is almost violent.
A small
green "on" light flashes on the device.
At the
ribbon, the dog suddenly lunges up at the mayor's
throat. He
bites deeply. Higgins falls to the ground, the
dog at his
throat.
The crowd
screams.
A nearby
POLICEMAN draws his pistol and shoots the dog.
Aides rush
to the mayor's side.
Rhodes
dashes to the curb, where a van is waiting for him.
He jumps in.
INT. VAN -
DAY
Driving is
ALEX, all tattoos and toughness.
4.
ALEX
The screaming means we did good,
yes?
RHODES
We passed the test.
Alex speeds
away.
EXT. WOODS -
COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
Jimmy and
Heather climb into Jimmy's car, parked in a gravel
area along
the edge of the woods.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Jimmy behind
the wheel. He turns to Heather.
JIMMY
My dad needs to see this tape.
Will you come with me? I'll take
you to dinner afterwards.
HEATHER
I thought you didn't get along
with your dad.
JIMMY
I'm not visiting. I'm giving him
the tape. It's important. If you
don't want to go, fine.
HEATHER
Jimmy ... I'll go.
Heather
manages to smile. But she looks worried.
EXT. CASSIDY
HOME - BACK YARD - DAY
Sitting in a
lawn chair is RILEY CASSIDY, 30s. He wears a
county
sheriff's uniform.
He is
watching his daughter, TRACY, early teens, formally
walking with
her dog, BUDDY, a Jack Russell terrier.
TRACY
Heel, Buddy!...Heel.
Daughter and
dog strut across the lawn. They could be in a
dog show.
5.
TRACY
Dad, what do you think?
CASSIDY
Very impressive.
INT. CASSIDY
HOME - KITCHEN - DAY
KATHERINE
CASSIDY, 30s, dressed casually, pours coffee for
Cassidy.
He looks at
his watch.
CASSIDY
I have to get to work. So Tracy's
serious about entering a dog
show?
KATHERINE
She's talking about Seattle. What
do you think?
CASSIDY
It's a part of society I know
nothing about. I'd better get the
rest of my things.
KATHERINE
There's no rush.
This brings
a puzzled expression to his face.
CASSIDY
Last week you couldn't get rid of
them fast enough.
KATHERINE
Tim and I broke up last night.
Cassidy
shrugs.
KATHERINE
Well, I didn't expect sympathy.
It's just, well, there's less
pressure to get rid of your
things now.
CASSIDY
I'm here, I'll get them.
He leaves
the kitchen. Katherine starts to say something
after him
but stops herself.
6.
INT. CASSIDY
HOME - BEDROOM - DAY
Cassidy
enters the bedroom.
He goes to a
closet. He starts taking out his clothes,
piling them
on the bed.
Tracy
enters.
TRACY
Mom broke up with Tim.
CASSIDY
I heard.
TRACY
Maybe you can move back in.
CASSIDY
Not a good idea.
TRACY
I think mom--
CASSIDY
Tracy. I know this is hard for
you. But it's not a good idea.
EXT. CASSIDY
HOME - CURB - DAY
Cassidy
piles his clothes into the back seat of his car.
Tracy looks
on.
Buddy, the
dog, sits in the front window, looking out.
Cassidy
notices him.
CASSIDY
The time he spends at that
window.
TRACY
Why do you think he likes to do
it so much?
CASSIDY
Probably wants somebody to take
him for a walk. Maybe he's a
dreamer, thinking of all the neat
places he could be.
7.
INT. CASSIDY
APARTMENT - NIGHT
A small
table off the kitchen in a small apartment. Cassidy
having
dinner with OLIVIA, 20s. A looker. Cassidy is out of
uniform,
dressed casually.
OLIVIA
I bet she wins a prize. I love
dogs. We should get one.
CASSIDY
Dogs need a place to run.
OLIVIA
Maybe after we get a bigger
place.
Cassidy is
silent. As if he were thinking, if we do.
INT. CASSIDY
APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Olivia
reads. Cassidy watches the news.
ON TV
NEWSCASTER
Crestview Mayor Roy Higgins was
attacked by a cocker spaniel
today while dedicating a new
mini-mall. Witnesses say the
small dog went for the mayor's
throat without any apparent
provocation. The mayor remains in
critical condition.
CASSIDY
A cocker spaniel?
OLIVIA
What?
CASSIDY
Did you ever hear of a cocker
spaniel attacking anyone?
The doorbell
rings. Cassidy goes to the door.
In the
hallway, Jimmy and Heather.
JIMMY
Hey, Dad.
CASSIDY
Jimmy. What a surprise.
8.
JIMMY
Is it too late?
CASSIDY
No, come in.
Jimmy and
Heather step inside.
CASSIDY
Olivia, Jimmy's here.
JIMMY
I didn't know you had company.
CASSIDY
She moved in.
JIMMY
Oh.
CASSIDY
(to Heather)
I'm Riley.
HEATHER
Hi.
JIMMY
Is there some place we can talk
private?
INT. CAFE -
NIGHT
Cassidy,
Jimmy, Heather in a booth over coffees.
Jimmy brings
out the videotape.
JIMMY
You have to watch this.
CASSIDY
What is it?
JIMMY
I was hiking in the woods near
Saddle Mountain last week and got
lost. I finally heard some noise
and followed it. What I came to
was a huge fenced area where they
were training dogs to attack
these stuffed scarecrow figures.
(MORE)
9.
JIMMY (CONT'D)
The thing is, these were just
regular dogs. Like collies and
terriers and stuff. They had them
acting like mad attack dogs. It
was scary to watch.
CASSIDY
This is all on here?
JIMMY
Unfortunately, no. I didn't have
my camera. But I went back. The
dummy figures are still there.
CASSIDY
Did you hear the news tonight?
JIMMY
No, why?
CASSIDY
Do you ever watch the news?
JIMMY
(to Heather)
He thinks I'm illiterate.
CASSIDY
Check it out when you get home.
You may be on to something.
JIMMY
Is that a compliment?
CASSIDY
We'll have to see.
Cassidy
takes the tape.
CASSIDY
Your sister's training Buddy for
a dog show.
JIMMY
Oh, God. She would. She thinks
she's aristocracy or something.
CASSIDY
I've got an early day tomorrow.
He grabs the
check and slides out of the booth.
10.
JIMMY
Call me after you watch it?
CASSIDY
You in the same rat hole?
JIMMY
It's a bigger rat hole than
yours.
Cassidy
smiles and heads for the counter.
JIMMY
Call me!
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - DAY
A large
farmhouse without visible neighbors. Several cars in
the
driveway, including the van from the dog attack.
In front is
a sign: "Master Dog Training Academy."
INT. OFFICE
- DAY
At a desk
with the morning paper is COOTY, 40s. Fit for his
age.
Across the
desk sit Rhodes and DR. YALE, 40s, a skeleton.
COOTY
Except for the mayor surviving,
everything seems to have worked
perfectly. I congratulate you,
doctor.
DR. YALE
Yes, I'm very pleased.
RHODES
It all went off like clockwork.
COOTY
Gentlemen, I believe we can
proceed to the next step.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - SHERIFF'S STATION - DAY
Cassidy, in
uniform, enters the modest building. A sign,
"Crestview
County Sheriff's Department."
11.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - FLOOR - DAY
Cassidy
enters the main floor area. Desks crowded together.
At one desk
is MIKE, 30s, a deputy.
MIKE
Riley, how'd it go?
CASSIDY
She already broke up with him.
Mike laughs.
MIKE
You moving back in?
CASSIDY
Not a masochist.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - DESK - DAY
Cassidy
reaches his desk. EDITH, 30s, arrives.
EDITH
Sheriff wants to see you.
CASSIDY
Thanks, Edie.
EDITH
Everything go okay?
He heads off
without replying.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - CHIEF'S OFFICE - DAY
Cassidy
steps inside. Behind the desk, FOX, 50s. He's doing
paperwork.
CASSIDY
You wanted to see me?
FOX
Sit down, Riley.
He does.
FOX
I'm thinking of retiring. I'm
thinking you should throw your
hat into the ring.
12.
Cassidy is
speechless.
FOX
You don't have to look like it's
the end of the world.
CASSIDY
Aren't I, well, a little young to
be sheriff?
FOX
I wasn't much older than you when
I got the desk. Why, you don't
think you can handle it?
CASSIDY
I've never thought about it. To
be honest, since my marriage fell
apart, I've been thinking of a
change of scenery. Of course, my
daughter's here.
FOX
Your personal life is none of my
business, but it would be a
substantial loss to the
department
to lose you.
CASSIDY
I appreciate that.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - STREET - DAY
A county
sheriff squad car cruising the streets.
INT. SQUAD
CAR - DAY
Cassidy
driving. Edith riding shotgun.
Cassidy sees
something.
CASSIDY
Here we go again.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - STREET - DAY
Staggering
along the street is EDGAR, an old man, obviously
drunk.
The squad
car pulls over. Cassidy and Edith get out.
13.
CASSIDY
Hey, Edgar! We're you heading,
old timer?
Edgar
ignores him, staggering on.
CASSIDY
(to Edith)
What is it, third time this week?
EDITH
Set your watch by him.
CASSIDY
Okay, old timer, time for a ride.
A pick up
truck pulls over. FREDDY, 20s, hops out.
FREDDY
I've got him, sheriff!
CASSIDY
Freddy.
FREDDY
Come on, gramps, time to go home.
CASSIDY
You sure you can handle it?
Edgar is letting
Freddy lead him to the pick up.
FREDDY
Everything's under control.
CASSIDY
I'm tired of seeing him this
week,
Freddy.
FREDDY
I can handle it.
Cassidy
shakes his head. He and Edith head back to the squad
car.
INT. SQUAD
CAR - DAY
Cassidy
driving.
EDITH
You'd be a fantastic sheriff.
14.
CASSIDY
I don't know. I'm not even sure
how long I'm staying around.
EDITH
Really?
CASSIDY
Don't you get tired of picking up
Edgar? Maybe there's more action
in a bigger market. Seattle would
probably freak me out. But maybe
Spokane. Where you do something
besides chase speeders and take
drunks to the tank.
EDITH
We got mad dogs. That's not crazy
enough for you?
Cassidy
turns thoughtful.
CASSIDY
My son came by last night. He had
a tape of what he claims to be a
training ground where they turn
household breeds into attack
dogs.
EDITH
You saw this?
CASSIDY
Not much to see. But it's a
curious theory. Unfortunately,
you have to consider the source.
Jimmy believes in every
conspiracy
theory under the sun.
EDITH
There's sure one cocker spaniel
in town who acted like a pit
bull.
The radio
belches a message.
RADIO
Emergency at 4th and Davis
Avenue.
Victim in critical condition.
CASSIDY
(on radio)
We're on it.
He turns on
the siren and lights.
15.
EXT. STREET
- DAY
The squad
car races off.
EXT. ALLEY -
DAY
The squad car
is parked at the end of an alley.
An ambulance
nearby. Two PARAMEDICS carry a BODY to it.
Cassidy and
Edith with a WOMAN, a witness.
WOMAN
I was across the street. I heard
the dog and turned and by then
the man was on the ground. The
dog was attacking him.
EDITH
What kind of dog?
WOMAN
It was just the cutest dog. One
of those, what do you call it,
long skinny things, like a hot
dog.
CASSIDY
Weiner dog? A dachshund?
WOMAN
That's the one.
Cassidy and
Edith exchange a look.
INT. CASSIDY
APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Cassidy and
Olivia making love.
The phone
rings.
OLIVIA
Don't...
Cassidy
answers it.
CASSIDY
Yeah.
JIMMY
(filtered)
I saw the news. There's got to be
a connection. Don't you think?
16.
CASSIDY
Jimmy...
OLIVIA
Oh, Christ.
She gets out
of bed and heads for the bathroom.
CASSIDY
Jimmy, it's late.
JIMMY
(filtered)
Aren't you going to look into it?
CASSIDY
I can't talk now.
JIMMY
(filtered)
Right. I forgot you're in your
reborn stud phase.
Click.
CASSIDY
(under his breath)
Jesus.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE - DAY
Jimmy,
alone, back at the compound with his video camera.
This time
he's shooting action as ...
EXT.
TRAINING COMPOUND - DAY
Cooty and
Dr. Yale watch as Rhodes works with various pet-
breed dogs.
The dogs
stand obediently in a line, facing a line of
stuffed
figures.
Rhodes has
the small laser flashlight in hand. He presses a
button, and
the dogs immediately leap at the figures,
attacking
them ferociously.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE - DAY
Jimmy is
getting everything on tape.
Alex appears
behind him.
17.
ALEX
This is forbidden area.
Jimmy turns
-- and fear washes over his face.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - DESK - DAY
Cassidy at
his desk, doing paperwork.
The phone
rings.
CASSIDY
Cassidy.
An
expression of shock.
INT. MORGUE
- DAY
Cassidy
watches as a table is pulled out. A sheet over the
body.
The MORGUE
WORKER pulls down the sheet.
Jimmy.
Cassidy,
fighting back tears, nods.
EXT. MORGUE
- PARKING LOT - DAY
A squad car
is parked in the morgue lot. Edith stands by the
car.
EDITH
Are you okay?
CASSIDY
Of course not.
She moves
forward, as if to embrace him.
CASSIDY
I'm okay. I just don't know where
to start.
EDITH
The park where they found the
body?
EXT. PARK -
DAY
Cassidy and
Edith in the park. Grass, trees, picnic tables.
18.
They approach
a park bench.
CASSIDY
He was found here. Not
necessarily
shot here. There wasn't any blood
evidence in the area.
EDITH
It's a big park. He could have
been shot up the way and moved
here.
CASSIDY
Or anywhere and moved here.
EDITH
What drug trafficking we get,
comes down here. Was your son ... ?
CASSIDY
I don't know. I wouldn't put it
past him. It's a place to start.
PHOTOGRAPH
OF JIMMY
grinning,
fashionably disheveled, a young man without a care
in the world.
INT.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
At a table,
looking at the photo, is LESTER, 30s, red-eyed
and
hungover, a mess. Cassidy hovers over him.
LESTER
Never seen him before.
CASSIDY
You sure about that?
LESTER
Positive. What is he, dead or
something?
A SERIES OF
SHOTS
as other
SUSPECTS peruse the photograph of Jimmy. All shake
their head,
no.
--a bald man
with a tattoo on his forehead.
--a young
man in farmer's overalls.
19.
--a cheap
looking street walker type.
INT.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE - HALLWAY - DAY
Cassidy and
Edith walking.
CASSIDY
It wasn't a drug deal gone sour.
It had something to do with the
dogs.
EDITH
That's shooting in pitch black
midnight. If you want my opinion.
CASSIDY
I feel it in my gut. I let Jimmy
down.
EDITH
Don't do this to yourself.
EXT.
CEMETERY - DAY
Funeral
services for Jimmy. The casket being lowered.
Prominent,
standing together in front of the MOURNERS, are
Riley (in a
dark suit), Heather, Katherine, Tracy. Standing
together
like a family.
Standing
behind Riley is Olivia.
EXT.
CEMETERY - PARKING AREA - DAY
Riley with
Katherine and Tracy. Olivia stands apart, waiting
for him.
CASSIDY
You know I'm going to find out
who did this.
KATHERINE
Riley, it doesn't bring him back.
Does it really make a difference
now?
CASSIDY
Of course it makes a difference.
He hugs
Tracy.
20.
CASSIDY
It makes a difference.
TRACY
I know.
Cassidy
walks to Olivia.
OLIVIA
That was quick.
He just
looks at her.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Riley
driving, Olivia beside him.
CASSIDY
I'm dropping you off.
OLIVIA
You're going somewhere?
CASSIDY
I told Heather I'd buy her a cup
of coffee.
Olivia gives
him a funny look.
CASSIDY
Jimmy's girlfriend.
OLIVIA
It has to be private?
CASSIDY
It's work. It's not personal,
okay? It's part of the
investigation.
EXT. CASSIDY
APARTMENT - DAY
The car
pulls in front of Cassidy's apartment.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Olivia opens
the door.
OLIVIA
Will you be home for dinner?
21.
CASSIDY
I should be. If something comes
up, I'll call you.
She starts
to get out, hesitates. She slides over and kisses
him. Longer,
slower, than the moment demands. But Cassidy
doesn't kiss
back.
OLIVIA
I love you.
CASSIDY
I need to do this.
OLIVIA
That's what you tell me.
She gets
out, closing the door.
Cassidy
pulls away.
INT. BAR -
DAY
Cassidy and
Heather at a corner table over drinks.
CASSIDY
Could you find it again?
HEATHER
I'm not sure.
CASSIDY
Willing to try?
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - DAY
Cassidy's
car zips along the highway.
On each
side, fields stretch off to wooded hills.
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - ANOTHER AREA - DAY
Now the road
cuts through a forest.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Heather
looking intensely out the window.
OLIVIA
Wait! There. That's where we
parked.
22.
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - DAY
The car
pulls to the shoulder. Cassidy backs up into the
gravel
parking area. The car stops.
They get out
of the car.
CASSIDY
Lead the way.
Heather
heads for the path off the parking area.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE - DAY
They come to
the corner of the fenced area.
HEATHER
We went this way.
CASSIDY
Let's do it.
EXT. WOODS -
FENCE, ANOTHER AREA - DAY
Heather
stops.
HEATHER
I remember this tree. But there
were all these stuffed figures
everywhere.
Beyond the
fence now, nothing but scrub grass and bushes.
CASSIDY
Were you guys on anything?
HEATHER
What?
She stares
at him in disbelief.
INT. CAR -
DAY
In traffic,
entering town.
CASSIDY
Look, I'm sorry.
HEATHER
I don't do drugs. Neither did
Jimmy.
23.
CASSIDY
I'm glad to hear that.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - STREET - DAY
The car
approaches a flashing police car and an ambulance.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Cassidy
slows down, looking.
HEATHER
I think somebody hit a dog.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - STREET, ANOTHER AREA - DAY
Farther on,
another police car and ambulance.
INT. CAR -
DAY
Cassidy lost
in thought.
HEATHER
There's another.
Ahead, more
of the same.
CASSIDY
I'm stopping a minute.
EXT.
CRESTVIEW - STREET, CRIME SCENE - DAY
Cassidy
pulls next to a police car and stops. He gets out.
He
approaches an OFFICER, his I.D. out.
CASSIDY
What's going on?
POLICE OFFICER
The dogs in this city are going
crazy.
Cassidy sees
a dead dog at the curb.
Two MEDICS
carry a stretcher on which is a MAN'S BODY, a
deep wound
at his throat.
24.
INT. SHERIFF'S
STATION - MEETING ROOM - MORNING
Fox at the
head of the room. DEPUTIES in chairs. Everyone
has coffee.
FOX
Dogs around here are going crazy
for no apparent reason.
Yesterday,
four attacks at various
locations,
no discernible pattern. All
breeds not known to be violent.
This morning, two already. I need
a volunteer to head a task force
to find out what the hell is
going on here.
Cassidy's
hand shoots up in the air.
FOX
Riley, you seem unusually
anxious.
I remember you telling a recruit
once not to volunteer for
anything.
Light
laughter.
CASSIDY
Actually I have a lead already.
I'd like to follow up on company
time.
Light
laughter again.
FOX
It's yours. How many men you
think you'll need?
CASSIDY
At least Edith.
And again.
INT. OFFICE
- DAY
Cooty on the
phone. Across the desk, Dr. Yale.
COOTY
It's a drop in the bucket,
really.
. . . Yes, we have more than
enough lead time. . . Thank you.
.
. . Is the date firm? . . . Very
good. Goodbye.
He hangs up.
25.
COOTY
He's pleased at our progress.
DR. YALE
He should be.
COOTY
We stay on schedule. He wants to
be here for the last phase. Will
there be a problem?
The doctor
hesitates.
COOTY
Doctor?
DR. YALE
No problem.
EXT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - MEETING ROOM - DAY
Cassidy
meeting with his task force, Edith, and two other
deputies,
Mike (from before) and JAKE. Everyone in uniform.
CASSIDY
Mike, Jake, make sure we get
autopsies on the dogs sooner
rather than later.
MIKE
No problem.
CASSIDY
Edith and I are going to check
out the compound. How about we
meet back here at five?
MIKE
Five it is.
Mike and
Jake leave.
CASSIDY
We're changing into civvies and
taking your car.
EDITH
Undercover? I've seen cops do
that on television. Imagine,
getting to do it right here in
God's Country.
26.
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - DAY
A compact
car speeding down the two-lane highway.
INT. EDITH'S
CAR - DAY
Edith
driving. Both dressed casually, as if out for a sight-
seeing
cruise.
CASSIDY
I see two possibilities. A drug
deal gone bad. Or Jimmy knew
something worth shutting him up
permanently. You got a
preference?
EDITH
He wasn't shot at the park.
Unless they cleaned up after
themselves, which doesn't make
sense. That weakens the drug
deal,
don't you think?
CASSIDY
I don't know what to think.
There's a
silence as they drive on.
CASSIDY
As I recall, there was a junction
just ahead.
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - DAY
The car
comes to the junction and turns off to take the side
road.
INT. SQUAD
CAR - DAY
A moment of
silence.
CASSIDY
I let Jimmy down.
EDITH
Riley, don't.
CASSIDY
He had so many problems as a
teenager, I stopped listening to
him. Stopped taking him
seriously.
(MORE)
27.
CASSIDY (CONT'D)
If I'd been receptive when he
came to me with the tape--
EDITH
There's nothing on the tape that
would lead to this. You can't
second-guess yourself. The
connections were circumstantial
at best.
Cassidy
notices something ahead.
CASSIDY
What have we here?
EXT. ROAD -
FARMHOUSE - DAY
The car
slows down as it approaches the large farmhouse to
one side.
And the
sign: "Master Dog Training Academy."
INT. SQUAD
CAR - DAY
Edith turns
to Riley.
EDITH
What do you think?
CASSIDY
I think we're a happily married
couple who's looking for a dog
trainer.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - DAY
The car
pulls into the driveway and stops. Several other
cars are
parked there.
Cassidy and
Edith get out. They climb the steps onto a large
porch and go
to the door.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - PORCH - DAY
Before they
knock, the door opens and Rhodes and Alex come
out. They
look surprised to find anyone.
RHODES
May I help you?
28.
CASSIDY
We're looking for someone to
train our dog.
RHODES
Just a minute.
(to Alex)
Wait for me in the car.
Alex heads
off. Rhodes steps back inside.
Cassidy and
Edith exchange a glance, waiting.
Rhodes
returns and hurries past them. Behind him is Cooty.
COOTY
I understand you're looking for a
dog trainer.
CASSIDY
Right.
COOTY
Please come in.
INT. OFFICE
- DAY
Cassidy and
Edith sit close across the desk. They are
looking
through a brochure together.
Cooty sits
behind the desk.
COOTY
We have many references, of
course.
CASSIDY
Of course.
COOTY
Tell me about your Jack Russell.
Does the dog have papers?
CASSIDY
I'm not sure. He's my daughter's
dog. From a previous marriage.
COOTY
Of course.
CASSIDY
Can we take this with us?
29.
COOTY
Of course.
He stands
up. Cassidy and Edith take the cue.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - PORCH - DAY
Cooty has
walked them to the entrance.
CASSIDY
Oh, I almost forgot. My brother's
a cop. He wanted me to ask if you
train police dogs. You know, to
attack on command. Whatever it is
they want them to do.
COOTY
Actually we just finished a
project like that for Hollywood.
They were working on a thriller,
sci-fi kind of story, where
suddenly dogs all around the
world de-evolve back to their
pack mentality. They start
attacking anything that moves.
EDITH
Sounds like yesterday's news.
COOTY
You mean the rabies epidemic?
CASSIDY
That's what it is?
COOTY
According to the noon news.
INT. SQUAD
CAR - DAY
Edith
driving. Cassidy fiddling with the radio, looking for
the news.
All he gets are music, talk shows and static.
He gives up
and turns off the radio.
CASSIDY
Rabies, my ass.
30.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - MEETING ROOM - DAY
Cassidy and
Edith, still in civvies, sit with Mike and Jake
around a
seminar table.
CASSIDY
Rabies, my ass. They're pulling
at straws. What about the
autopsies?
MIKE
Tomorrow soonest.
JAKE
Rabies was a leak. A lab guy
there predicted it's what they'd
find.
CASSIDY
Edie, you track the Hollywood gig
yet?
EDITH
When have I had time to do that?
When we're done here, I'll start.
CASSIDY
We're done.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - HALLWAY - DAY
Breaking up
after the meeting. Edith comes alongside Cassidy.
EDITH
You can't solve this overnight.
Give yourself some slack.
CASSIDY
Jimmy knew something. I'm finding
out what.
EXT.
APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Cassidy's
car at the curb.
Heather
arrives on foot. Cassidy gets out.
CASSIDY
I appreciate this.
HEATHER
No problem.
31.
They
approach the building together.
INT. JIMMY'S
APARTMENT - NIGHT
The light
comes on. Heather leads Cassidy inside.
CASSIDY
How long were you two living
together?
HEATHER
Actually I hadn't moved in yet.
We'd just made the decision.
CASSIDY
I'm sorry.
HEATHER
Can you lock up after yourself? I
really have a hard time being
here.
CASSIDY
Of course. I owe you one.
She leaves.
Cassidy in
his son's apartment, alone. He looks around,
getting used
to the idea.
Where to
begin? He goes to a desk and sits down in front of
a computer.
He stares at
the dead screen. He turns on the computer.
INT.
FARMHOUSE - DEN - NIGHT
Cooty, in a
robe, looking very debonair, sips brandy and
watches the
evening news.
ON TV
ANNOUNCER
Sheriff Fox announced the
formation of a special task force
to investigate the recent series
of mad dog attacks. Heading the
task force is deputy sheriff
Riley Cassidy.
A photo of
Cassidy on the screen. Cooty takes notice. He
recognizes
the face.
32.
ANNOUNCER
In the past week, five unprovoked
dog attacks have resulted in
three deaths, with two other
victims remaining in critical
condition.
He moves to
a small desk on which is an intercom phone. He
buzzes.
COOTY
I need you right away.
He hangs up.
On the TV, a new story.
Cooty clicks
the screen dead.
INT. JIMMY'S
APARTMENT - NIGHT
Cassidy at
the computer.
ON THE
SCREEN
A document,
a page from Jimmy's journal.
"The
CIA may be training killer dogs so they can drop them
into Cuba
prior to an invasion to overthrow Castro. It's the
fear and
chaos that results when a bunch of mad dogs are on
the loose,
any kind of dog, all kinds of dogs, you can't
feel safe
because you never know which pooch is going to be
the one to
leap up and grab your throat!"
Cassidy
shakes his head.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - MEETING ROOM - DAY
The task
force meeting over coffee and donuts. Everyone but
Cassidy is
in uniform.
CASSIDY
What's your day look like?
JAKE
May get the autopsy results,
right, Mike?
MIKE
Should.
JAKE
Are you following through on the
dog training?
33.
CASSIDY
Absolutely.
EDITH
Why didn't you call me not to put
on my uniform this morning?
MIKE
Only one attack yesterday. Maybe
it's passing.
CASSIDY
Maybe I'll win the lottery.
INT.
SHERIFF'S STATION - HALLWAY - DAY
Cassidy and
Edith moving down the hallway.
CASSIDY
I found something in Jimmy's
apartment. He thinks the CIA was
training killer dogs to overthrow
Castro.
EDITH
You're kidding me.
CASSIDY
Don't I wish. He thinks the CIA
killed Kennedy, too, over the Bay
of Pigs.
EDITH
A real conspiracy buff. So we're
on a wild goose chase?
CASSIDY
We'll find out.
EXT. COUNTRY
ROAD - DAY
Cassidy's
car zips down the highway.
INT.
CASSIDY'S CAR - DAY
Cassidy
driving. Edith changed into casuals.
EDITH
I had a date last night.
34.
CASSIDY
You're kidding me. And?
She laughs
nervously.
EDITH
I'm too old for this shit.
CASSIDY
That bad?
EDITH
Oh, yes. Really, really bad.
She looks
out the window. No more to say.
CASSIDY
We could date.
Edith's head
snaps around.
CASSIDY
Not romantically, for Christ's
sake. I know better than that.
For company. Dinner, a movie.
Help fight the boredom.
EDITH
You're bored?
CASSIDY
It was just a thought.
EXT.
NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
The car
pulls in front of Cassidy's old house.
INT.
CASSIDY'S CAR - DAY
Edith looks
puzzled.
EDITH
Visiting your daughter?
CASSIDY
We need a dog. Look in the
window.
EXT. CASSIDY
HOME - DAY
Buddy looks
out the front window.
35.
INT.
CASSIDY'S CAR - DAY
Edith
smiles.
EDITH
He's waiting for you?
CASSIDY
He's a dreamer. He sits at the
window for hours. Give the dog a
window, and he's ecstatic.
He reaches
for the door handle.
INT. CASSIDY
HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Cassidy and
Katherine.
KATHERINE
She'd kill me if I let you have
Buddy.
CASSIDY
Just for the day. I could have
him back before Tracy's home from
school.
KATHERINE
I can't, Riley.
INT.
CASSIDY'S CAR - DAY
Cassidy
slides behind the wheel.
EDITH
And?
CASSIDY
We still need a dog.
Edith looks
out. Buddy is at the window again as they drive
off.
INT. HUMANE
SOCIETY - DOG AREA - DAY
A LADY leads
Cassidy and Edith past cages of dogs. Lots of
barking and
fawning, Take me! Take me!
CASSIDY
We can return it if it doesn't
work out?
36.
LADY
Absolutely.
Cassidy
stops in front of a cage. A Jack Russell terrier
leaps on the
screen.
CASSIDY
I'm partial to Jack Russells.
INT.
CASSIDY'S CAR - DAY
Now Edith
drives. Cassidy has his hands full with the Jack
Russell on
his lap.
EDITH
I don't know about this.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
The squad
car pulls into the driveway.
They get
out. Cassidy has the dog on a leash.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - PORCH - DAY
Cooty opens
the door.
CASSIDY
We're here for our sample free
lesson.
Cooty looks
puzzled.
CASSIDY
It's in the brochure.
COOTY
Of course. But you need to make
an appointment.
Edith has
the brochure out.
EDITH
(reading)
"Stop by for a 30-minute
free
lesson for your dog."
COOTY
But our trainer is on lunch
break.
37.
CASSIDY
We'll wait.
INT.
FARMHOUSE - PARLOR - DAY
Cassidy and
Edith, the dog at their feet, waiting.
INT.
FARMHOUSE - OFFICE - DAY
Cooty with
Rhodes.
RHODES
What am I supposed to do with the
dog?
COOTY
I don't give a damn. March it
around in a circle.
RHODES
You said he's a cop. Let me get
Alex to do his thing.
COOTY
At the moment, that would only
make matters worse. We have
legitimate references for them to
check. We covered our tracks.
They can't know anything.
RHODES
Then why are they here?
COOTY
It's what they do. They follow
wherever their noses lead. We
train dogs, they found us in the
yellow pages, they're here. We
give them their free lesson and
they're gone.
EXT.
FARMHOUSE - PATIO/FIELD - DAY
Cassidy and
Edith sit at a table on a patio. In the nearby
adjacent
field, Rhodes leads the dog around in a large
circle. The
dog follows obediently.
EDITH
I think they're legit.
38.
CASSIDY
Because Hollywood used them? It
still could be a front.
EDITH
I think what Jimmy saw was their
Hollywood gig. For Christ's sake,
Riley, using mad dogs to
overthrow
Castro? Give me a break.
Cassidy
stares ahead, watching the lesson.
He stands
up.
CASSIDY
I'll be right back.
He starts
away.
EDITH
Riley...
She
nervously looks toward Rhodes. He concentrates on the
dog, not
noticing.
INT.
FARMHOUSE - ROOM - DAY
Cassidy
comes through a sliding door into a room off the patio.
He moves to
a HALLWAY and keeps going.
At a DOOR,
he looks around. All clear. Cracks open the door.
A closet.
He moves to
A SECOND DOOR. Reaches for the handle. Just as
he cracks it
open and looks inside...