DARKNESS FALLS "FOUR TRAGEDIES" BY SEAGRUMN SMITH SHOOTING SCRIPT 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 single chair beneath him.) HANNIGAN struggles, and tries to scream past the gag. HANNIGAN (muffled) Help!! Help!! As HANNIGAN continues to struggle, hear high-pitched and almost wailing cackle/laughter. Never see person. It continues as chair kicked out and HANNIGAN falls to his death. FADE OUT EXT. UNIVERSITY (OLD WELL) - DAY Students walking around. A man in police suit (or plain clothes), ROBERT "BOB" MILES, 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 riding stable. 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, Federal Agent CARLTON "MAC" MACNAMARA, gets out of the car nonchalantly and heads over to the waiting BOB. 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. REPORTER ...are now looking into the situation. Professor Hannigan - Sole focus on MAC now as he approaches BOB. He walks 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. (gesturing) Friendly neighborhood press over there. MAC (humorously) I'll bet. BOB (sarcastically) You have no idea. 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 more than basketball shots. MAC Pardon? BOB 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 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 the REPORTER. EXT. BARN - DAY BOB and MAC exit the car and walk toward the barn. 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 piece of paper from his pocket. MAC A Margaret Scott. BOB Ah, so that's why Maggie was poking around this morning. (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. (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 milling around. 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. She is young, pretty, and dressed in a nice pantsuit. 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 walking toward her. MAGGIE (playing up her southern accent) Now Bob, don't scare the poor man. 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 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. (to BOB) I'll take it from here Bob. You can go have fun appeasing South Building. BOB (sarcasm) Thanks a bunch, Maggie. If you need anything else, just give us a holler. MAGGIE (sincerely) Thanks Bob. We'll keep in touch. BOB and other police 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 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. 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. 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 longtime wife lead socialites' lives. Parties, banquets, schmoozing with the alums. MAC Sounds like a real snob. MAGGIE Pretty much. MAGGIE and MACC resume search of the premises. MAC Details on the crime itself? MAGGIE 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 - . MAGGIE Albeit a slim one... (looking up) 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 Bob seems to think it's a male, because of the strength needed to drag a drugged man out here and string 'em up. Personally, however, I can't 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 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. 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 talks 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. She hangs up her phone. MAC What'd Bob have to say? MAGGIE looks distressed. 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. 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 stix. They come up to 215. MAC inserts his card key and opens the door. MAC These things better live up to the hype. MAGGIE sits at the table, opens the pizza box and hands some to MAC. She takes one for herself and opens her briefcase. Pulls out file. MAC sits in chair by the table/bed. MAC I was wondering if I might run a modification of the Shakespeare theory by you. MAGGIE Why didn't you bring up the theory at the briefing this evening? MAC I wasn't for certain yet, and we needed a chance to assess the new evidence. 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 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 Sounds like a real winner. So victim two, Andrew Williams, was smothered with a pillow like Shakespeare's Desdemona, hence the quote, "So sweet was ne'er so fatal." MAGGIE Why Williams? MAC That we still have to figure out. If this murderer does truly believe he's carrying out some kind of Shakespearean vengeance, then Williams would be suspect of adultery, as was Desdemona. MAGGIE And Hannigan was a reenactment of Cordelia's death from King Lear. Hung in a barn, suspect of treason. MAC Exactly! MAGGIE We need to find out more about these victims. Betrayal of some sorts seems to be a running theme. MAC Unfortunately, Shakespeare favors betrayal in both his comedies and tragedies, so maybe if we can find a 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 friend at the county morgue, so I'll go there in the morning, and then give you a buzz when I'm done. MAC Sounds like a plan. MAGGIE looks at her watch. Begins to gather things. MAGGIE 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. 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 drinking coffee and looking over some papers at a table near window. Door opens and disheveled MAC walks in. MAGGIE looks up. MAC spots her. He walks to her table, takes a seat, and folds his arms and head on the table. MAGGIE That bad? 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 back then. MAGGIE Easy. Booz, 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 Promise? MAGGIE They all leave on Fridays. You'll be surprised by the noise decibel drop tonight. Mac sits up, intrigued. MAC How do you know so much about the scene around here? MAGGIE I grew up near-by, and I did my undergrad here. 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 already knew. Its Desdemona's death to a tee. No evidence of forced entry. Nothing out of the ordinary. You? MAGGIE Nothing at the morgue that we didn't know from the coroners report. However, I did a little checking around. Going on your Shakespeare theory, Williams would be suspect and/or guilty of adultery, right? MAC Right. MAGGIE 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 has had several classes with Williams. MAC And we have a winner. We should go talk to Ms. Clark. MAGGIE Already on it. I talked to her roommate, who says that they were in the library studying the night Williams was murdered, but Ashley may know something else valuable. She gets out of class in about a half hour. MAC Sounds good. Did you find anything on Hannigan? MAGGIE Funny that you should ask. MAC 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 chauvinist 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. 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 substantial grant money and publicity. MAC Sounds like another winner. You've done well 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. Let's go meet this Ashley Clark and see what we can find out. MAGGIE and MAC leave the restaurant. FADE OUT INT. CLASSROOM BUILDING - SAME DAY MAGGIE at 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 file out. Inside, ASHLEY is 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, nod to the teacher, and walk to ASHLEY. ASHLEY notices them and becomes nervous. Drops her bag, plays with hair, etc. MAC Ashley Clark? Rising from picking up her bookbag. ASHLEY Yeah, that's me. MAC I'm Agent MacNamara and this is Agent Scott. Could we have a word with you outside? ASHLEY Is this about Andrew? JULIE (to the group) Excuse me. MAGGIE Yes. JULIE You all can stay in here. 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 we know you were studying that night. 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. His wife was out of town. I turned him down. I had to study. MAGGIE Did his wife know about your affair? ASHLEY I don't think so. MAGGIE Do you know of anyone who would want to 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 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 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 in the kitchen. Chatting with MAC as she cooks. 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 plates to the table and sits. MAGGIE Same here. The history department was baffled. Williams was genuinely well-liked. 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 response any minute. MAC Good idea. The suspect is definitely recreating the death scenes, but I can't grasp his motive. We've got treason and adultery. Betrayal. But, what's next? MAGGIE 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? 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. Voice over with past actions playing out in black and white. MAC It was a routine kidnapping case. Right up until we discovered who the kidnapper was. Turned out to be a guy I put away. Total Whacko. I still don't know how he got out. It was trap. We were negotiating with "Matt." He was holding a family hostage, and Ross, my partner, was a top negotiator. Ross had talked "Matt" into bringing the family out of the building. Mac takes a drink. MAC "Matt" was Cameron White, part of a twosome that terrorized northern Virginia until my profile led to his downfall. I was there when the initial bust went down. A peaceful surrender turned into a bloodbath. Cameron and his brother came out with guns firing, and several agents went down. Along with Cameron's brother. 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. 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. (smiling sincerely) Thank you. MAGGIE You're welcome. MAC's cell phone rings. MAC awkwardly coughs, startled. MAC Excuse me. He gets up to get his phone from his jacket (laying on 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, 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. 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. Exit car. House is dark. MAC Doesn't look like anyone's home. MAGGIE 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 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. MAC pulls latex glove from his pocket, and hands to MAGGIE. She picks up a syringe on the ground. MAGGIE Gotta baggie too? MAC I'll get one from the car. MAC goes to the car, and MAGGIE continues to look around. There is 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. MAGGIE I think I found something else... both our murderer and her 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. Falls from her favorite tree into a stream below and drowns. MAC So, Julie's going to make this look like suicide. Where would she take him? Someplace in the woods. Or maybe someplace with rafters. 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 dialing, and MAGGIE speeds off in the car. FADE OUT on tail lights. CUT TO: EXT - DEAN DOME - NIGHT Police tape around front. Lingering detectives. Reflective blue light flashing (if possible). MAC and MAGGIE come out from around corner of DD. MAC We were too late. MAGGIE 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. And Julie will undoubtedly stick with the females' deaths. MAGGIE Why do you say that? MAC Julie's avenging the deaths of what she sees as Shakespeare's wronged females with males that are truly guilty of the accused crimes. Cordelia and Desdemonda were innocent. 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 her in time. But she couldn't have gotten far and with a face and name now, we know who we're looking for. You two look beat. Go on back to your places, and get some rest. We'll keep you posted every two hours. 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 disheveled MAC. MAGGIE I think you need to get some sleep. MAC I think I agree. I've got Juliet's dancing in my head. MAGGIE I'll drop you by the hotel. M&M drudge off to their car. FADE OUT. INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT MAC pulls key 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 pulling out her keys. MAC (V.O.) I feel guilty for Ross's death on a daily basis. MAGGIE Damn It!! MAGGIE runs back to her car. Quick reverse. INT. MAC's HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT MAC at the door and JULIE at the table crying in her arms. MAC Julie Marsh? JULIE (hysterical) I can't believe I've done this. I can't believe I killed those men. MAC You mean Hannigan, Williams, - . JULIE Yes, I don't know what I was doing. Ohmigod. I'm so sorry, so sorry. Didn't mean to, didn't mean to. MAC Julie, calm down. I'll 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 And how's that make you feel. MAC Terrible. Sad. Unworthy of life. Julie reaches for the gun. JULIE Have you tried to take your life, Mac? MAC Yes, that night. After Ross died. 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 burst through the door, and draws her gun upon entering. Her eyes widened. 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 exhausted. He almost drops the gun, but MAGGIE catches it. His body slumps against her. Her gun arm 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. EXT. MAGGIE'S APT. PARKING LOT - TWO DAYS LATER M&M, casually dressed, are walking down stairs out to MAC's rental car. 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, don't dwell on it. What's done is done. And most importantly, our suspect is 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 night of their departure, he was in a fatal car crash not five miles from her home. MAC The fair Juliet. 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 of service, ma'am. MAC looks at his watch. MAC I guess I'll be going now. Wouldn't want to miss my flight. 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 I just might take you up on that offer. (sincerely and with regret) Good-bye Maggie. MAC gets in the car, reverse, drives away.. MAGGIE (sorrowful smile and waving) Bye Mac. See past Maggie's back as MAC driving away, and then she turns away and walks somberly back toward her apartment. FADE OUT. THE END. 1