DARKNESS FALLS "FOUR TRAGEDIES" BY SEAGRUMN SMITH FIRST DRAFT FADE IN: INT. BARN Beginning with darkness then single undefined light that illuminates surroundings. In the fuzziness begin to notice hay, other barn stuff, and then a figure. Once in focus can see GERALD HANNIGAN standing on a platform, eyes closed (unconscious) with a gag in his mouth and thick rope noose around his neck. (HANNIGAN is scholarly looking older professor dressed in appropriately stuffy clothing.) HANNIGAN begins to awake slowly. Eyes still closed, inhales breath, confused forehead squint and curls up nose. Tries to exhale but gags. HANNIGAN'S eyes startle open. Dread apparent. Tries to look down, closes eyes and initial struggle with rope. His hands go to his neck and feel at the rope. He looks back down at his tied feet. See that they are bound together by a similar rope. Under his feet in the wooden floor are outlines of a trap door. (This could be a chair if easier to film that way.) HANNIGAN flips out, struggling, and trying to scream past the gag. HANNIGAN (muffled) Help!! Help!! As HANNIGAN continues to struggle, laughter begins to emanate from somewhere. Never see person. Just hear high-pitched and almost wailing cackle. It continues as the trap door swings open (or chair kicked out) and HANNIGAN falls to his death. FADE OUT EXT. UNIVERSITY (OLD WELL) - DAY Students walking around. A man in police suit, ROBERT "BOB" MILES, and another in everyday suit, TED SMITH, standing around as if waiting for someone. Nearby REPORTER adjusting hair, holding mike, preparing for shoot. Other CREW MEMBERS hurriedly setting up. REPORTER moves into place in front of well. CREW moves into position. PRODUCER (professional manner) And we're on air in five, four, three, two, one... View as if it's on the TV. REPORTER Good Day. Rebecca Myers reporting live from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill where police are still investigating the bizarre hanging of a university professor several nights ago in the near by equestrian barn. In background, see nondescript car pull up along side the road/onto sidewalk. Still focus on the reporter continuing... REPORTER Details on the incident are still scarce. Police have yet to - In background, nicely dressed (suit) groomed man (think Mulder ), Federal Agent CARLTON "MAC" MACNAMARA gets out of the car nonchalantly and heads over to the waiting BOB and SMITH. REPORTER ...confirm whether the hanging of Professor Hannigan was a suicide or murder. State and Federal agents - Begin fade of REPORTER's voice and focus on MAC as he approaches BOB and SMITH. REPORTER ...are now looking into the situation. Professor Hannigan - Sole focus on MAC now as he approaches men. They begin to walk toward MAC. Meet near well. BOB (politely) Agent MacNamara, I presume? MAC (shaking hands with BOB) That's my name. BOB Bob Miles. Pleased to meet you. And this is our PR man Ted Smith. (sarcastically) He gets to deal with the friendly neighborhood press over there. MAC (humorously) Sounds like you're in for it. WILLIAMS (sarcastically) You have no idea. I'll catch you later Bob. (to MAC) It was nice to meet you. Exchange good-byes, and SMITH exits toward the reporters. BOB leads MAC away from well and reporter. MAC So, what have you got on your hands here? BOB A dead professor, a very worried bunch of faculty members, and accusations flying faster than Forte's basketball shots. MAC Pardon? BOB Joe Forte. Freshman wonder with lots of Fortes. You're not from around here are you? MAC Nope, West Coast import. Leading MAC to his car. BOB Let's just say that the only thing that could upstage college hoops in this town is a shocker like this. MAC (into professional mode) What exactly is happening here? At MAC's car BOB How about you I tell you on the way down to the barn? MAC Sounds like a plan. BOB and MAC get into car, and drive off. FADE OUT on SMITH still hassling with the REPORTER. EXT. BARN - DAY BOB and MAC exit the car and walk toward the barn. Large structure with cops milling about. Police tape surrounds the premises. BOB (in a more casual tone) I thought you feds always traveled in pairs? MAC My partner came down with the flu. My AD said I would be working with a state investigator. He pulls a small piece of paper from his pocket. MAC A Margaret Scott. BOB Ah, so that's why Maggie was poking around this morning. She slipped out of here right after we showed up. She's probably back by now. (laughingly) This oughta be an experience for you. MAC Why do you say that? BOB Don't let Maggie fool you. On first impression, she may seem the sweet southern girl, but I would not piss her off. She learned some tricks up in New York. BOB walking ahead of MAC. MAC What was a southern girl doing up in New York? BOB Columbia. Top of her class. And if you question her authority, she'll be sure to let you know it. (lightly) And avoid playing poker with her at all cost. My men have lost many a dollars to that pretty lady. MAC following with an intrigued look on his face. FADE OUT as BOB and MAC enter barn. INT. BARN - DAY Police and/or detectives are milling around the inside of the barn. Noose still hanging from the rafters. MAC and BOB enter the barn, and stop about halfway in. Agent MAGGIE SCOTT is pacing in the area around the hanging platform, as if looking for missed clues. She is fairly young, pretty, and dressed in a nice professional pantsuit (think Scully). She holds a small memo pad in one hand and with the other hand taps a pen at her leg, as if in deep concentration. BOB (quietly to MAC) There she blows. (hollering) Hey Maggie! I got you a new playtoy. MAGGIE finally notices the two men who have begun to walk toward her. MAGGIE (playing up her southern accent) Now Bob, don't scare the poor man. (jokingly) I'm not *that* evil. She still speaks with a hint of southern accent, but more tamed. Obvious education and class. Extends her hand to MAC. MAGGIE Agent Maggie Scott. And I promise I don't bite. She looks at the note pad in her hand and then back up at MAC. MAGGIE And you're Agent Carlton MacNamara? MAC (good-naturedly) Well, that's good to hear. He shakes her hand. MAC And please, just call me Mac. I curse my father daily for "Carlton." MAGGIE Pleased to meet you. Now lets get down to work. (to BOB) I'll take it from here Bob. You can go have fun appeasing South Building. BOB (sarcasm) Thanks a bunch, Maggie. Seriously though, if you need anything else, just give us a holler. MAGGIE (sincerely) Thanks Bob. We'll keep in touch. BOB mingles over to speak with the other police, and then they EXIT, leaving MAGGIE and MAC to look over the place. Maggie resumes her inspection of the area. MAC So, Agent Scott, what's your theory? Bob wasn't too forthcoming on the ride down here. How about filling me in. MAGGIE breaks from her search and picks up a folder from the edge of the platform. She turns her attention to MAC and hands him the folder. Crossing her arms across her chest, she begins to recite the details. MAGGIE Professor Gerald Hannigan. Chairman of his Department. Award winning author and lecturer. Lifetime Tenure. Was even on the board deciding whom to grant tenure too. Seems to be your well-loved distinguished professor. MAC I'm sensing a "but" in there somewhere. MAGGIE But, Mr. Hannigan had his enemies as well. He spear-headed a group calling for increased faculty salaries through student tuition. Spoke out openly against a group of labor activists on campus. Recently cited for favoritism when granting tenure to would-be lecturers and professors. Needless to say, he's not quite as shiny as all those plaques in his office. MAC Any non-work related complications? MAGGIE Doesn't look like it. He and his wife of twenty-five years lead a socialite's life. Parties, banquets, schmoozing with the alums. MAC (sarcastically) Sounds like a real snob. MAGGIE (laughingly) That pretty much hits the nail on the head. MAGGIE resumes her search of the premises. MAC begins looking things over as well. MAC Details on the crime itself? MAGGIE Though a statement hasn't been made to the press, yet, I'm fairly certain it was murder and not suicide. There's no neon signs pointing to a suicide, and from all accounts of relatives and co-workers, Hannigan wouldn't be the type. MAC It's still a possibility, though. MAGGIE Albeit a slim one... (looking up) Especially since Hannigan was drugged. MAC With what exactly? MAGGIE (sarcastically) Too many syllables to repeat. It's about three sheets back in the case folder. (catching MAC's eye) I never was the science and math type. Mac smiles and flips through the folder. MAC Understandable. It's not for everyone. Any leads on a suspect? MAGGIE Well, Bob seems to think it's a male because of the strength needed to drag a drugged man out here and then string 'em up. Personally, however, I'm not about to discount a woman, since this campus is predominantly female, especially the student body. MAC You think it's a student? Something in the hay catches MAGGIE's attention. She focuses on it and moves closer, crouching down, poking in the hay. MAGGIE Could be. This is a university after all. And you'd be surpr- MAGGIE pulls a slip of paper from the hay. MAC (turning back) I'm sorry, I didn't catch the end of that. MAGGIE Because I didn't finish. She waves the slip of paper and reads. MAGGIE "A plague upon you..." (to MAC) Any ideas? MAC "Plague" could mean any number of things? (sarcastically) Hell, these mosquitoes qualify as a plague! MAGGIE (humorously) Aww, come on, they're part of the charm. But, back to business, could you please hand me a bag from in my case over there. MAC Sure. MAGGIE looks over the paper and around the area for more. MAC goes to get an evidence bag from her open briefcase that is sitting on the floor a few feet away. As he is getting the bag, MAGGIE's cell phone (in her case) rings. MAGGIE's attention turns to MAC and she walks over to him. He hands her the phone, and she hands him the paper to put in the evidence bag. He looks it over as she begins talking on the phone. MAGGIE Maggie Scott. Oh, hi, Bob, what's new? MAGGIE listens and her face becomes stressed at what Bob is telling her. She pulls her memo pad and pen from her jacket pocket and begins to scribble something down. MAGGIE Alright Bob. Thanks for the speedy relay. We'll be right over. She hangs up her phone. MAC What'd Bob have to say? MAGGIE looks distressed. MAC I'm judging nothing good by the look on your face. MAGGIE To quote "I'd sure be doing a helluva lot better if this whacko would stop murdering professors." MAC There's been another murder? MAGGIE A history professor this time. Smothered with a pillow. MAC You're sure it's the same murderer? MAGGIE Bob thinks so. A preliminary examination of the victim shows evidence of the same drug and they found a note at the crime scene. MAC What'd the note say this time? MAGGIE (reading from her memo pad) So sweet was ne'er so fatal. (looking back up to MAC) It appears that the good professors of Chapel Hill are falling victim to a college town serial killer. Mac points to Maggie's memo pad. MAC Could I see that for a second? She hands it over. MAGGIE Sure. I'd love to see someone make sense of all this. MAGGIE goes to sit on the platform, confusion evident, and MAC studies the quote, holding the first clue/quote next to it. MAGGIE watches him with interest. Then, the concentration lines fade on MAC's forehead and recognition is apparent. He looks up to MAGGIE. MAC A serial killer obsessed with Shakespeare, milady. FADE OUT INT. CAROLINA INN HOTEL CORRIDER - LATE EVENING MAGGIE and MAC walking down corridor. MAGGIE with her briefcase over her shoulder and carrying a pizza box. MAC carrying his garment bag and the hotel key. MAGGIE What room again? He looks at the key. MAC 215. I hope we're close. That pizza smells heavenly. MAGGIE (laughing) I told you before that its not pizza. It's the college town original - Pokey sticks. They come up to 215. MAC inserts his card key and opens the door. MAC These things better live up to the hy-. MAGGIE goes on into the room leaving MAC standing just inside the door, obviously in shock. MAC Ohmigod. My AD is going to kill me. He puts down his luggage near the bathroom. MAC I thought it was just the lobby that was nice. MAGGIE Tell them it was the most convenient and closest place near the crime scenes. Mac returns from the bathroom with two glasses of water. MAC And the toilet paper's even folded into triangles at the end. MAGGIE Live a little. MAGGIE sits at the table, opens the pizza box and hands some to MAC. She takes one for herself and begins opening her briefcase. Pulls out the case file. MAC sits in one of the chairs by the table/bed. MAC I was wondering if I might run a modification of the Shakespeare theory by you. MAGGIE I was curious as to why you didn't bring up the theory at the briefing this evening. MAC I wasn't for certain yet, and I wanted to give us a chance to assess the new evidence first. See how that plays into the scheme of things. Maggie pulls a memo pad and pen from her case. MAGGIE So, shoot. MAC I still need to look over the second crime scene again, but from our initial inspection, I'd venture to guess that these murders are recreations of Shakespeare's death scenes. MAGGIE (interrupting) The second murder being Desdemona's from Othello. MAC A Shakespeare fan? MAGGIE My brit-lit professor in college had a death fetish when it came to readings. Only the most depressing selections for the undergrads. MAC (jokingly) Sounds like a real winner. So victim two, Andrew Williams, was smothered with a pillow in the same fashion as Shakespeare's Desdemona, hence the quote, "So sweet was ne'er so fatal." MAGGIE I'm following so far, but why Williams. MAC That we still have to figure out for sure. If this murderer does truly believe he's living out some kind of Shakespearean vengeance, then Williams would be suspect of adultery, as was Desdemona. MAGGIE And Hannigan most likely was a reenactment of Cordelia's death from King Lear, if I remember correctly. Hung in a barn, suspect of treason. MAC (impressed) Exactly! MAGGIE What do you suggest we do next? MAC First, we need to find out more about these victims. Betrayal of some sorts seems to be a running theme. Unfortunately, Shakespeare favors such a theme in both his comedies and tragedies, so maybe if we can find a specific connection between the victims, we can predict the next murder. MAGGIE What about the actual murderer? MAC We need to get another look at the second crime scene and a look at the bodies in the morning, and then combine those results with what we already know of the victims. Hopefully, that'll provide more of a detailed profile. MAGGIE I have a good friend at the county morgue, so I'll take that duty in the morning, and then give you a buzz when I'm done. We can go from there. MAC Sounds like a plan. MAGGIE looks down at her watch, then begins to gather her things. MAGGIE Wow, I didn't realize how late it was. I better get going if I'm gonna spend tomorrow morning with a bunch of stiffs. MAGGIE walks to door. MAC following, laughs MAC Good idea. Maggie smiles and extends her hand. MAGGIE It's been a pleasure, Agent MacNamara. I'll see you in the morning. MAC (smiling) Same to you Agent Scott. MAGGIE exits. MAC shuts the door, leaning against the back of it with a satisfied grin/smirk/smile on his face. FADE OUT INT. COFFEESHOP - MID-DAY MAGGIE sitting at a table near/in view of the window. She's drinking coffee and looking over some papers. Door opens and MAC walks in, looking disheveled. MAGGIE looks up. MAC spots her. He walks to her table, takes a seat, and folds his arms and head on the table. MAGGIE (humorously concerned) That bad, Mac? MAC You know, when I was in college, frat parties were well and good. But now, when it's two in the morning and I can't go to sleep for all the racket across the street, it really makes me question what I was thinking about in college. MAGGIE Easy. Booz, music, partying, girls, and the occasional exam. MAC I guess I'm just too old to understand anymore. MAGGIE Take it easy, Mac. It was a Thursday night. Party night here. It's not always that bad. MAC (sheepishly) Promise? MAGGIE This is a suitcase college. They party on Thursday, then bail on Friday. You'll be surprised by the noise decibel drop. Mac sits up, intrigued. MAC How do you know so much about the scene around here? MAGGIE One, I grew up near-by. And two, this is where I did my undergrad studies. MAC But Bob said you went to Columbia? MAGGIE For law school. MAC Oh. MAGGIE So, learn anything interesting today? MAC Not much more than we knew last night. Its Desdemona's death, pretty much to a tee. No evidence of forced entry. Nothing out of the ordinary. You? MAGGIE Nothing at the morgue that we didn't know already from the coroners report. However, after a morning full of formaldehyde, I did a little checking around. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but going on your Shakespeare theory, Williams would be suspect and/or guilty of adultery, right? MAC Right. MAGGIE Going on that, I accessed his phone records from the past two months. There's over a hundred calls logged to one Ashley Clark, a senior history major that's had several classes with Williams. MAC (perking up) And we have a winner. I guess we should go talk to Ms. Clark. MAGGIE Already on it. I talked to her roommate, who says that they were in the library all night studying for a test the night Williams was murdered, but Ashley may know something else valuable. She's in class right now, but she gets out in about a half hour. It's a short walk from here. MAC Sounds good. Did you find anything on Hannigan? MAGGIE Funny that you should ask. MAC (sarcasm) Well, you've certainly had a far more productive morning than me. MAGGIE (smiling) You could say that. I started going over the possible connections to treason, as per Cordelia's death in Lear. A tuition increase would seem like treason to a student, but denying tenure because of certain biases would be treason to the college, and even to his profession. And as a former student of Hannigan, I know just how much of a chauvanist he can be. MAC Good thinking. I'm assuming you followed up on the second option. Maggie shows Mac a sheet of paper. MAGGIE Yeah, I checked the stats, and Hannigan has voted against granting tenure to women 18 out of 20 times. All very good candidates, and a few times he was the only negative vote. MAC What about the two that got away? MAGGIE He would have looked like a fool turning away a Harvard grad and the other brought with her substantial grant money and publicity. MAC Sounds like another winner. You've done good this morning. MAGGIE That's what I get paid for. Maggie starts packing her things. MAGGIE Now, you better start earning yours. MAC Ha, ha. Well, let's go meet this Ashley Clark and see what we can find out. MAGGIE and MAC leave the restaurant chatting amongst themselves. FADE OUT INT. CLASSROOM BUILDING - SAME DAY MAGGIE at the water fountian. MAC is standing beside classroom door, looking at a picture of ASHLEY CLARK in a case folder. MAGGIE walks down the hallway to stand beside MAC. Students start to fill the hall. MAGGIE She in there? MAC Yeah, I think so. The classroom door opens and students begin to file out. Inside we see ASHLEY still at her desk gathering her things and her teacher, JULIE MARSH is erasing the board. Most of the students are gone. MAGGIE and MAC enter, nodding to the teacher, and walking to ASHLEY. ASHLEY notices them and becomes nervous. Drops her bag, plays with hair, etc. MAC Ashley Clark? She rises from picking up her bookbag. ASHLEY Yeah, that's me. MAC I'm Agent MacNamara and this is Agent Scott. Could we have a world with you outside? ASHLEY Is this about Andrew? JULIE (to the group) Excuse me. MAGGIE Yes. JULIE You all can stay in here and talk. I'm on my way out. MAGGIE Thanks, Ms. - JULIE Julie Marsh. I'll see you in class on Monday, Ashley. JULIE exits. ASHLEY I don't know anything about Andrew's death. MAC We're not accusing you of anything. We checked with your roommate, and she vouched for you on the night of his death. We're wondering if you noticed anything strange the night he was killed. Phone records show that you spoke with him that evening around seven o'clock. ASHLEY (saddened) He wanted me to come over that night. His wife was out of town, so he wanted to "celebrate." (regretful) I turned him down. I had to study for a philosophy exam. MAGGIE Did his wife know about your affair? ASHLEY I don't think so. MAGGIE Do you know of anyone who would want kill Professor Williams. ASHLEY No, Andrew was well liked by everyone around here. Or so I thought. Pull focus away from the group and toward the door. ASHLEY Am I in any danger? MAC You should be okay Ms. Clark. We'll let you know if there's any new developments. Here's my card. If you think of anything else, please call. See JULIE listening outside of the cracked door. ASHLEY Thanks. MAGGIE (extending her hand) Thank you. We'll be in touch. JULIE scurries off. MAC and MAGGIE shake hands with ASHLEY and exit. M&M walk outside the building. MAC Well, that wasn't much help. MAGGIE I didn't expect a whole lot. But did you catch that teacher. She gave me the creeps. MAC (jokingly) I remember having a few of those in college. As M&M walk away from the building, see JULIE walk around from behind the corner with mischievous look in her eye. FADE OUT INT. MAGGIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT MAC sitting at the dining table. MAGGIE putting finishing touches on dinner (spaghetti) in the kitchen. Chatting with MAC as she works. He pulls off his tie and unbuttons top button of his dress shirt. MAGGIE So, what did you get out of your profs? MAC Mostly a bunch a fear induced questions. Maggie brings the plates to the table and sits. MAGGIE Same here. The history department was baffled. Williams was one of the most loved in the department. MAC Not quite the case with Hannigan. Wonderful in the classroom, but a real jerk on the outside, especially to the women. However, no one ever said much to him, since he wielded so much power. Like you said before, schmoozing with the alums and administration. Not with his lowly co-workers. (kindly) This looks wonderful. MAGGIE (smiling) Thanks. I'm not much of a cook, but the basics are pretty hard to screw up. I had one other lead that a friend is checking on. MAC (between bites) What's that? MAGGIE Faculty members who teach some aspect of Shakespeare in their courses. I should be getting an email from him any minute. MAC Good idea. The suspect is definitely recreating the death scenes, but I can't fathom his motive. MAGGIE Don't rule out a "her" yet. MAC Okay, okay. His or *her* motive. We've got treason and adultery. Betrayal. But, what's next? MAGGIE (lightly humorous) At the moment, I really just want to enjoy my spaghetti. We'll see what the faculty compilation turns up. MAC This is really good stuff. MAGGIE Thanks. I bless RAGU daily. MAC (laughs) And I thank god for the glory of Kraft Mac & Cheese. MAGGIE So, what really happened to your last partner? I know it wasn't a case of the flu. Mac looks up. MAC Checked up on me, did you? MAGGIE I make it a policy to always know everything I can about who I'm working with. MAC Well, I'm sure the official report didn't include all the details. MAGGIE How so? Mac stares down at his plate, and twirls his spaghetti. MAC It was a routine kidnapping case. Right up until we found out who the kidnapper was. Turned out to be a guy I put away a few years ago. Total Whacko. I never found out how he got out. It was trap. We were negotiating with "Matt." He was holding an AD's family hostage, and Ross, my partner, was one of the bureau's top negotiators. We were called to the scene, and Ross had talked "Matt," into bringing the family out of the building. This could be shot as a voice over with the past playing out on film. MAC "Matt" turned out to be Cameron White, part of a twosome that terrorized northern Virginia for months until my profile led to his downfall. I was there when the initial bust when down. A peaceful surrender turned into a bloodbath. Cameron and his partner, his brother, came out with guns firing, and several agents went down. Along with Cameron's brother. Mac takes a drink. MAC I was the one who shot him. MAGGIE (following) And he came back to kill your partner. God, I'm sorry Mac, I didn't know. MAC It's okay. Its not easy to connect the second report to the other on first glance. I took a couple months off, before coming back to this case. Needless to say, the betrayal theme hits close to home. Not a day goes by that I don't feel guilty for Ross's death. MAGGIE I'm sorry to have brought up a painful subject. Mac covers her hand with his. MAC No, no, its okay. Outside of Internal Affairs, I haven't spoken to anyone about this. It feels better to talk about it now. (smiling sincerely) Thank you. MAGGIE You're welcome. We're having a moment here when...MAC's cell phone rings. MAC awkwardly coughs, startled. MAC Excuse me. He gets up to go get his phone from his jacket (laying on the sofa). MAGGIE fidgets for a moment and then goes to check her computer. MAC (into phone) Oh yes, hi, how are you? Yes, I remember her. Oh really. Well, thanks for the tip. You take care. MAGGIE turns from her computer. MAGGIE Who was that? MAC Ashley Clark. She thought we might like to know that her teacher, Ms. Julie Marsh, the one that who let us use the room, questioned Ashley right after we left. Ashley thought it rather odd. She says Ms. Marsh seemed obsessed with the case and what we knew so far. Maggie turns back to the computer. MAGGIE What a coincidence? Ms. Marsh teaches the English department's Shakespeare and pre-1645 dramatic literature courses. MAC I think we better go talk to Ms. Marsh. MAGGIE Agreed. MAC puts dishes in sink, and MAGGIE gets ready to go. MAGGIE Thanks. I'll call Bob from the car and get an address. Let's go. M&M exit apartment. FADE OUT EXT. JULIE MARSH'S HOUSE - SAME EVENING M&M pull up into JULIE's driveway. House is dark. MAC Doesn't look like anyone's home. MAGGIE (sarcasm) Brilliant observation, Sherlock. MAC smirks back, and then rings the doorbell. No answer. Rings again. MAGGIE I'll go check around back. Follow MAGGIE. Hear MAC in distant knocking. MAGGIE knocks on the back door. No answer. She turns around and runs into the trash can. It topples, top comes off and some trash falls out. Something catches her eye. MAGGIE (Hollering) Hey Mac. Come here, and hit the car lights on your way. MAC comes around the corner and turns on the lights. MAGGIE in the headlights looking at trash contents. MAC comes up. MAC Well, I'll be. Maggie pulls latex glove from her pocket, and picks up a syringe on the ground. MAGGIE Gotta baggie. MAC I'll get one from the car. MAC goes to the car, and MAGGIE continues to look around. There's a red star on some newspaper. Mac holds a bag open to her. MAC Here's you go. Maggie drops in the syringe and picks up the paper looking at it. MAGGIE I think I found something else. I think we've found both our murderer and our next target. MAGGIE stands up, hands MAC the paper, and heads toward the car. Close-up on the paper headline: TEAM MANAGER RUMORED TO BE COVERING FOR ATHELETE SUSPECTED OF RAPE. Realization dawns on MAC's face and he races for the car, hopping in driver seat, and they reverse out of drive way. INT. CAR - NIGHT Maggie is driving and Mac is talking MAC This has to be Ophelia. She was suspected of covering and conspiring with Hamlet. MAGGIE But she killed herself in the end. Apparent suicide. MAC So, Julie's going to make this look like suicide. Where would she take him? Maggie contemplates and then it hits. MAGGIE The Dean Dome!! She hands MAC the cell phone. MAGGIE Here, call Bob, star 4, and tell him to send back up. MAC gets dialing, and MAGGIE speeds off in the car. FADE OUT on tail lights. CUT TO: EXT - DEAN DOME - NIGHT Several cop cars with lights flashing. Ambulance and/or firetruck out front. MAC and MAGGIE come out, following paramedics rolling stretcher with body bag on it. MAC We were too late. MAGGIE Barely. She couldn't have gotten far. MAC Bob said he has officers combing the area. Hopefully, they'll find her. MAGGIE So, this is a recreation of Ophelia's death. What's next? MAC It looks like the classic Four Tragedies, which leaves Lady MacBeth, if Julie sticks with the females' deaths, which she undoubtedly will. MAGGIE Why do you say that? MAC Julie's avenging the deaths of what she sees as Shakespeare's wronged females in the Four Tragedies with males that are truly guilty of the accused crimes. Cordelia and Desdemonda were innocents. Ophelia is driven to death by insanity, largely at the hands of Hamlet. Now, were down to Lady MacBeth, who is also driven to death by her own guilt. The only truly guilty of the four. BOB comes walking out of the Dean Dome and toward M&M. BOB I'm sorry we couldn't get to him in time. But we'll get her now. She couldn't have gotten far and with a face to put to the crime, we know what we're looking for. You too look beat, why don't you go on back to your places, and get some rest. We'll keep you posted every two hours, at least. MAGGIE Thanks, Bob. BOB exits. MAGGIE I'm not sure exactly who to look to as the next victim. I'll go back to my place and poke around on the net and see if I can find anything. She looks at Mac who is disheveled. MAGGIE I think you need to get some sleep. MAC I think I agree. I've got Juliet's dancing in my head. MAGGIE (laughing) I'll drop you by the hotel. M&M drudge off to their car. FADE OUT on chaos around the Dean Dome in the background. INT. CAROLINA INN CORRIDOR - NIGHT MAC fishes key out from his pocket and puts it in the door slot. Opens door. Turns on light. Sees JULIE MARSH sitting at the table in his room, crying in her folded arms. EXT. MAGGIE's APARTMENT - NIGHT MAGGIE gets out of her car and starts toward her door. MAC (V.O.) Now, were down to Lady MacBeth. Death by her own guilt. The only truly guilty of the four. MAGGIE fishing out her keys. MAC (V.O.) I feel guilty for Ross's death on a daily basis. MAGGIE Shit!! MAGGIE runs back to her car. Quick reverse. INT. MAC's HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT Where we were before, MAC at the door and JULIE at the table crying in her arms (folded on the table). MAC (hesitantly) Julie Marsh? JULIE (crying hysterically) I can't believe I've done this. I can't believe I killed those men. MAC You mean Hannigan, Williams, and Peterson. JULIE Yes, I don't know what I was doing. Ohmigod, Ohmigod. I'm so sorry, so sorry. Didn't mean to, didn't mean to. MAC Julie, calm down. It'll all be okay. MAC begins to pull his cell phone from his pocket, but is interrupted. JULIE (angrily hysterical) How can you say that? I killed three men. How can you know what this guilt feels like? MAC I know, Julie. I know. JULIE How can you possibly know what it feels like to kill someone? Trying to calm JULIE, he lays his gun on the bed, crouches beside her, looking her straight in the eyes. MAC seems to become mesmerized. Tears fill his eyes. MAC (tears brimming over) I killed my partner. I should have known better. Should have seen it coming. JULIE (suddenly composed) That's right. Go with it. MAC (crying) It was all my fault. All my fault. JULIE (leading) And how's that make you feel. MAC Terrible. Sad. Unworthy of this life. Julie reaches for the gun on the corner of the bed. JULIE Have you tried to take your life, Mac? MAC Yes, that night. After Ross died. I felt responsible. But I couldn't even do that right. JULIE You can try again. Release all that guilt. Escape. JULIE hands MAC the gun, and he stands, looking at it oddly, feeling its weight, like he's never held it before. JULIE Just do it, MAC. MAC's holding the gun when pounding at the door. MAGGIE (screaming) MAC!! MAC!! Are you in there? MAGGIE uses the card key (management), opens the door, and draws her gun upon entering. Her eyes widened at the scene before her. MAGGIE Mac, put down the gun. MAC looks up at MAGGIE as if he's lost. MAGGIE She's convinced you of something that's not true. You're not guilty Mac. JULIE Don't listen to her Mac. Get rid of all that pain. JULIE makes a step toward MAC. MAGGIE Stay right there! MAGGIE turns her attention back to MAC. Walks toward him. Holds gun in one hand, trained on JULIE, and extends other hand to MAC. MAGGIE Come on, Mac. Give me the gun. JULIE Just do it, Mac. MAGGIE (to JULIE) Shut up!! (to MAC) It's okay, Mac. Just give me the gun. It'll be okay. MAC's eyes readjust and he seems to snap out of it, but he's exhausted. He almost drops the gun, but MAGGIE catches it, and his body as it slumps against her. Her other arm w/ gun is still trained on JULIE. MAGGIE (to JULIE) You stay right there. JULIE sits, knowing the game is up. MAGGIE attempts to comfort MAC. Rubbing his back, etc. MAGGIE (fading) It'll be okay. It'll... FADE OUT. INT. AIRPORT GATE - TWO DAYS LATER M&M are in front of a departing gate. Sign reads Washington, D.C. People milling about. MAC I still don't know exactly what happened. The last thing I remembered was walking into the room. After that, it's a total loss. MAGGIE Mac, let's not dwell on it. What's done is done. And most importantly, our suspects in the bag. Oh, that reminds me, did I tell you what I learned from one of her friends. MAC No, what? MAGGIE Apparently, when Julie was young, she fell in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. She was raised in a wealthy, well-educated family that didn't want anything to do with the "trailer trash" she'd brought home. They were planning to run away together, but on the planned night of their departure, he was in a fatal car crash not five miles from her home. MAC The fair Juliette. Shakespeare's most famous tragic heroine. MAGGIE And she was even treated for suicidal tendencies. MAC Amazing. It all makes sense now. MAGGIE Yes, it does. Despite the craziness we started out with. I gotta say Mac that this is one experience I will not forget. It's the most exciting thing that's happened around here in a while. MAC (bowing) Glad to have been have been of service, ma'am. FLIGHT ATTENDANT (V.O.) Now boarding coach class for Flight 1013 to Washington, D.C. MAC That's me. I guess I'll be going now. He extends his hand. MAC It's been a pleasure working with you Agent Scott. She shakes his hand. MAGGIE And with you as well, Agent MacNamara. Come back again sometime, and maybe by then I'll have learned to cook something else. MAC (smiling) I just might take you up on that offer. (sincerely and with regret) Good-bye Maggie. MAC turns and walks to his gate. MAGGIE (sorrowful smile) Bye Mac. See past Maggie's back as MAC walking down the tunnel, and then she turns away and walks somberly toward the airport exit. FADE OUT. THE END. 1