Beat Me, Daddy by John M. Riggle

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"Beat me daddy"

Written by John M. Riggle

First draft Oct. 12, 1986

Final draft, Oct. 24, 1986

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"Beat me Daddy"

Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly

Bert Samuels. (Al Waxman); Harvey Lacey (John Karlen); Marcus Petrie (Carl Lumbly); Victor Isbecki (.Martin Kove); Al Carassa (Paul Mantee); David Keeler (Steven Macht ); Officer Coleman (Harvey Atkin).

Guest Cast: Man (Mr. Simmons) ; Mrs. Simmons ; Mrs. Perry ; Mrs. Edlow ; Neighbor (man) ; psychiatrist

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"Beat me Daddy"

SETS

Interiors: Squad room; Apartment building hall; Pery apartment living room; Edlow apartment living room; Psychiatrist's office; The Jane; Cagney's apartment; Lacey Living room; Hospital room; Detective's car; Subway station; Samuel's office; Morgue

Exteriors: 14th parking bay; New York Street (4); Hospital

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"Beat me Daddy"

CHRONOLOGY

Scs. 1 - 12 (Days); Scs. 13-14 (Night); Scs. 15- 29 (Days); Scs. 30-32 (Night); Scs. 33 - 37 (Day)

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"Beat me daddy"

ACT ONE

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-DAY

INTERIOR - SQUAD ROOM - DAY

ON Cagney at her desk.

CAGNEY

Did you see that show on wife abuse on TV last night "

WIDEN to show Lacey at her desk.

LACEY

No. We wanted to, but we were so tired we went to sleep.

CAGNEY

They told all about how to tell when it's going on, and told everybody to call the police when they find out.

LACEY

I guess that means we'll get about a thousand calls in the next few days.

CAGNEY

Probably. I've noticed that happening before when TV showed something.

Cagney's phone rings.

CAGNEY

Sgt. Cagney.....May I have your name sir ?....And your address ?.....OK sir, we'll be over in just a few minutes.

Cagney hangs up the phone.

CAGNEY

He wants to report his neighbor beating his wife right now.

LACEY

At this hour in the morning ? What ever happened to a man coming home drunk after work and fighting with his wife ?

A BEAT

CAGNEY

He works nights ?

Lacey stands up and picks up her purse.

LACEY

I guess we better get going.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-DAY

The detective's car comes down the street and parks at the curb, Cagney driving. As they get out of the car they hear the sounds of a struggle in progress coming from the first floor apartment of a typical brownstone. Glass breaking, etc. A muffled man's voice is heard in anger but the words are unintelligible. A woman is heard sobbing and screaming. Cagney and Lacey hear and rush into the building.

INTERIOR-APARTMENT BUILDING HALL-DAY

Cagney and Lacey locate the door with the noises and pound on it with their fists.

CAGNEY

POLICE!! OPEN UP!!

LACEY

OPEN UP IN THERE!!

CAGNEY

POLICE!! OPEN UP!!

At last a man opens the door. He has a furious look on his face. A woman can be heard crying inside the apartment throughout this conversation.

MAN

Whadda you two want ?

CAGNEY

You're making so much noise you're disturbing your neighbors.

MAN

So what's it to ya ? You two broads get away from my door.

They show their badges.

CAGNEY

We're not a couple of broads! We're the police. I'm Sgt. Cagney, and this is Det. Lacey.

LACEY

Perhaps you'd like to cool off your temper in jail for a few days.

MAN

Aright, we'll hold it down.

He slams the door in their faces. They look at each other in exasperation, then turn to leave. They meet the neighbor who called on the way out.

NEIGHBOR

I'm the one who called. I don't know why I bother. They never do anything when they come out but tell them to be quiet.

CAGNEY

What do you think should be done ?

NEIGHBOR

Arrest him. The way he beats his wife all the time, he must be guilty of SOMEthing.

LACEY

It's the Dept.'s policy not to interfere more than absolutely necessary in domestic quarrels.

NEIGHBOR

That's no domestic quarrel. He's just plain mean, and he beats her once a week or so just because he enjoys it.

CAGNEY

Why doesn't she just leave ?

NEIGHBOR

I guess she's afraid to leave without help from the police, and she's not getting any at all.

LACEY

When did she ever ask for it ?

NEIGHBOR

Well,,,I don't know, but she must have asked sometime.

CAGNEY

We'll check into it.

FADE OUT

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-DAY

INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM

ON Lacey at her desk. The desk has a pile of reports on it in several stacks.

LACEY

I've been checking these reports from the uniforms. What that neighbor told us is true. They've been out there almost every week for months. Mrs. Perry has been in the hospital for her injuries twice in the last six months.

CAGNEY

Did she ever ask for help ?

LACEY

I've only checked back six months, but I find nothing to show she did.

CAGNEY

Then our hands are tied.

LACEY

Something else bothers me about these reports of family disturbances. There are others.

CAGNEY

How many ?

LACEY

It looks like at least 15 to 20 right here in our precinct.

CAGNEY

Why didn't we find out about this earlier ?

LACEY

The uniforms have been handling them. I guess the uniforms were all busy this time, so we got the call.

CAGNEY

Are they still going on ?

LACEY

Most of them. Some moved. But one ended with the woman dead and the husband in jail. He only got five years for beating her to death.

CAGNEY

A lousy five years for murder ???

LACEY

Looks like it.

CAGNEY

I wonder when these men work. I'd like to talk to some of' these women without them around.

LACEY

I would too. Let's check into it.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-APARTMENT LIVING ROOM-DAY

Cagney and Lacey are sitting on the couch. Mrs. Perry is sitting on the edge of a chair.

ON Cagney as she starts to speak. WIDEN as she speaks.

CAGNEY

Mrs. Perry, we came to talk to you about all these calls the police have been getting here.

MRS. PERRY shows evident signs of a severe beating.

PERRY

They didn't need to come. It's all right.

LACEY

Have you looked in a mirror today ?

PERRY

It's all right, I tell you. He's a passionate man. Once in a while he gets a little excited and carried away.

CAGNEY

They'll carry you away some day. Like the paramedics did about six months ago, or worse.

LACEY

Why don't you file a complaint on him, or leave him and put him under a peace bond, so we can do something to help you ?

PERRY

I don't need any help, really. I can handle him fine when I get him calmed down.

Cagney and Lacey see they are getting nowhere with her, so the get up to leave. Lacey goes to Mrs. Perry and places her hand on her back. Perry flinches in pain.

LACEY

The law is made for your protection. But we can't do a thing unless you let us.

PERRY

It's all right.... It's all right.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-ANOTHER APARTMENT-DAY

Cagney and Lacey sitting on another couch, and a woman with healing marks of a beating sitting in an upholstered chair.

CAGNEY

Why won't you let us help you, Mrs. Edlow ?

EDLOW

I really don't need any help. Everything is just fine.

LACEY

Mrs. Edlow, I have been married to my husband for over 17 years. From time to time we have our differences of opinion, everybody does. But in all that time he has never once raised his hand to me in anger. Nor I to him. I really can't understand how you can say everything is fine. You just got out of the hospital two weeks ago. Your husband beat you so bad you had to have surgery for a ruptured spleen.

EDLOW

He didn't really mean to do it. He just got so angry because I burned the dinner. You don't know how hard he has to work to earn the money for food. Then I burned it up. It was my own fault.

CAGNEY

I can't believe what I'm hearing. You accidentally burned the dinner a little bit, he put you in the hospital, and you blame yourself 7

EDLOW

I should have been more careful and more considerate of his feelings.

Cagney and Lacey just look at each other in total exasperation, then get up to leave.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM-DAY

Cagney and Lacey are sitting silently at their desks. Cagney is playing with a pencil as both of them sit with their chins propped up on their palms. They look very disconsolate as Carassa approaches.

CARASSA

What's with you two ?

CAGNEY

It's these guys who beat their wives.

LACEY

We spent the whole day interviewing one after another and not one of them will file a complaint.

CARASSA

I had a couple of those a while back. But mine were wives beating their husbands.

Cagney looks up in disgust.

CARASSA

I know. You never heard of that before. I hadn't either. But it does go both ways.

CAGNEY

It would take a psychiatrist to figure this out.

CARASSA

I never thought of that. Why don't you try it ?

LACEY

I suppose we could.

CAGNEY

I'm not going to spend my money on a psychiatrist to tell me to mind my own business. And anyway, why should I go to that trouble to try to help people who don't want help ?

CARASSA

You don't have to spend your money. I think the Dept. has a psychiatrist. He's to help Officers get over the aftershock when they do something by accident, like shoot at a perp and hit a citizen by mistake. Things like that. He's in the interdepartmental phone book.

LACEY

I guess we could give him a call.

Cagney picks up the phone book.

CAGNEY

Couldn't hurt anything.

FADE OUT

INTERIOR-PSYCHIATRIST 'S OFFICE-DAY

Cagney and Lacey are sitting in chairs in front of the desk. The psychiatrist is seated behind it.

PSYCHIATRIST

This is the first time any Officers have come to me with this question. Have you ever heard a rapist say his victim "wanted" him to do it, and even enjoyed it ?

CAGNEY

Sure, but that's a load of crap.

PSY

In a surprising number of cases, it's not. Only the women who report it didn't want it to happen.

LACEY

I cannot believe any woman ever enjoyed being raped, or asked to be raped.

PSY

You've heard the saying, it takes all kinds ?It seems that some are so confused or psychotic that they do. The way most of them do it is to find a man willing to rape them regularly, and marry him. He will oblige their wishes by beating and raping them on a regular basis. If they let you "help" them, they would have to find another man willing to do it. If they leave them, the same result. Men willing to commit rape on demand are not so easy to find.

Cagney and Lacey sit in stunned silence for a couple of beats.

LACEY

So what do they do while they are looking for one to marry ? Invite any rapist who comes along ?

PSY

Yes. That's why only about 10% of all rapes are ever reported to the police.

CAGNEY

So what do we do about it ??

PSY

You're already doing all you can. You respond to calls of disturbances, You get whatever help you need from the paramedics, you hospitalize them when they need it, and if one kills the other then you put the survivor in jail.

LACEY

That's all ??

PSY

That's all the law provides for you to do. There is one other thing. If you can get an immediate adult family member to go for it, you can get a sanity hearing. Sometimes you can get the court to send one or both to a mental hospital, or get the court to order psychiatric treatment for one or both. If that fails, you're done.

LACEY

It seems so brutal of society to allow this to go on.

PSY

It is brutal, and it goes on generation after generation. The children of abusive parents become abusers. The children of women who enjoy being raped grow up to enjoy being raped or rapists. It's an endless cycle.

A BEAT

PSY

They grow up seeing this relationship between their parents, and they come to believe this is the way things are supposed to be between married people. It becomes a tradition to them, and they make every effort to live that way when they grow up. History does indeed repeat itself. Many of my colleges feel the only way to end it is to reach the children. Others feel that if we ended this repugnant situation, then something we regard as normal today would cone to be considered equally repugnant tomorrow. I have no definitive answers for you. It seems to be a personal decision as to where to draw the line. Each of us draws it in a different place, and the average of those different views becomes the place society as a whole draws it. When society wants to change the line, they elect someone to change it in the direction they want it moved. Till then, you have little choice but to enforce the line where it is.

A BEAT

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-DAY

INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY

Cagney and Lacey enter and sit down at their desks without saying a word. Carassa observes this and approaches.

CARASSA

What's going on with you two ?

LACEY

It's O.K. She'll get over it.

Silence as Carassa looks back and forth between them for a couple of beats.

CARASSA

Get over what ?

LACEY

She feels we should bend the law a little bit and I feel we shouldn't. That's all.

Fire flies from Cagney's eyes, but she says nothing.

CARASSA

So how does she want to bend it ?

LACEY

She thinks we should arrest the men who beat their wives and charge them with Assault and Battery, even if the woman won't sign a complaint.

CARASSA

We can arrest anybody on any charge, but we can't always make it stick in court. If we do that too much, we have to look for new jobs.

CAGNEY jumps up and heads for the Jane.

LACEY

We've been arguing about this since we left the psychiatrist's office.

LACEY gets up.

LACEY

I guess we'll have to argue it out or she won't get over it for a week.

Lacey heads for the Jane.

CUT TO:

THE JANE

Cagney is pacing the floor as Lacey enters and sits down on the bench.

LACEY

What can I say to get you over this ?

CAGNEY

Damn it, Mary Beth! There has to be some way we can protect those women, even if they don't want us to !!

LACEY

I would like very much to protect them. You know perfectly well I feel just as sorry for them as you do.

CAGNEY

Of course you do. That's not what we're arguing about. There are hundreds of laws on the books. I just can't believe we can't find something to charge them with.

LACEY

The system works the way it does because there aren't any. We just have to do the best we can with what we have.

CAGNEY

I just can't understand the madness that makes those women marry men like that in the first place, or to stay with them in the second place. You can bet if I found myself married to a guy like that I'd leave in a New York second!!

LACEY

This from a woman who's never been married.

CAGNEY

That's not fair, Mary Beth. I could have been married lots of times if I wanted to.

LACEY

I wish I could tell you what it's like to get married. People get married because they want to have children and to protect the legal rights of the children, or for love, or whatever. But we all do it with a certain amount of fear too. It takes courage to wrap up all your tomorrows in a nice neat little package, and give them to someone. And it takes courage to accept it when they give theirs to you. Somehow, we overcome that fear and do it. When it works out like it has for me and Harv, it's wonderful.

CAGNEY

And if it works out like theirs ??

LACEY

Then I guess it becomes a hell of their own making.

CAGNEY

Exactly!! And if he beats her to death she won't have any of those tomorrows to give. So why don't they leave!!! If they screwed up and picked the wrong guy, why don't they try again ??

LACEY

I guess some of them do. But they seem to pick another guy just like the first. Or maybe they somehow make him over to be like the first.

CAGNEY

I suppose I'll never really understand, but I still want to help them.

LACEY

I'm with you, partner.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-CHRIS'S APARTMENT-NIGHT

ON Chris and David on the couch.

DAVID

I've been here over an hour and you haven't said ten words. What's the matter ?

CHRIS

Sometimes being a cop is just plain depressing.

DAVID

It's a relief to know it's not my fault.

CHRIS

You never depress me. Just the opposite.

DAVID

So do you want to tell me about it ?

CHRIS

It's those men who abuse their wives. They beat them with their fists, ashtrays, whatever they can get their hands on. I want to do something to help them, but the women won't sign a complaint and I can't do anything without one. It's totally frustrating.

DAVID

I've heard about cases like that, but I never handled one. Civil rights is my field.

CHRIS

Families don't end up in civil rights cases.

DAVID

They do bear a sort of resemblance to sex discrimination cases, but the law is entirely different.

Chris perks up a bit at this.

CHRIS

Yeah?? Tell me about it.

DAVID

Sex cases are generally divided into two types. The type where a woman is denied advancement in a company only because she's a woman, and harassment cases where she is subjected to unreasonable pressures by the men where she works. In both cases she is regarded as an object, or thing to be used, rather than a human being. Wife abusers seem to do pretty much the same thing, but civil rights laws don't apply to wives.

Chris frowns in disgust.

CHRIS

I guess that's what I wanted to hear, but it doesn't make me feel any better.

DAVID

Most people find very little to enjoy in other peoples troubles. Everybody would like to help, too, but the question is how ?

CHRIS

You got that right. That's the problem.

DAVID

You can't. Only a shrink can do that. All you can do is close your eyes to it and don't let it affect your personal life.

CHRIS

Sometimes that's easier said than done. Being a cop isn't just another job. It's something you do because you really care about people. You can't look away. It hurts too much inside you.

FADE OUT SLOWLY

FADE IN

LACEY LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

Harvey is reading the newspaper. Mary Beth brings a steaming cup of coffee and sits it on the table beside him. She then stands looking about the room sort of smiling. Over the top of the newspaper we see Harvey's eyes roll up as he looks at her. He folds the paper and puts it down in his lap.

HARVEY (sternly)

Mary Beth! What's going on here ??

MARY BETH

What ?

HARVEY

Don't give me that "what" stuff. From the moment I walked in the door tonight you've been acting peculiar. It's like you suddenly can't do enough for me. It's not enough you fix me a nice steak dinner, oh no, you have to cut it for me too. I find the paper already open to my favorite page. I no sooner sit down till you have a cup of coffee here. And now look at you. You're looking for something else to do for me. What is it with you tonight ??

MARY BETH

I just want to please you.

HARVEY

O.K. You can please me by sittin' down.

She goes to a chair and sits down. Harvey scowls at her.

HARVEY

Not over there. Over here on the couch with me.

She changes to the couch.

HARVEY

Now I want to know what's goin' on. I've never seen you acting like this before, and it worries me.

MARY BETH

HARVEY

And just what brought on this sudden realization ?

A BEAT

MARY BETH

Not every woman is lucky enough to have a husband as good as you. Some men seem to take a lot of pleasure in beating their wives. I don't think you ever even thought about doing anything like that.

HARVEY

Oh, babe !! Certainly I never considered that ! No man worth anything at all would do that !

MARY BETH

I guess not, but some men do it, and their wives just go on letting them. Even when they get hurt so bad they get put in the hospital they won't sign the papers so we can help them.

HARVEY

I've heard of things like that. So why won't they let you help them ?

MARY BETH

They say they don't need any help.

HARVEY

Of course they need help. Doesn't the law provides some way to help them anyway ?

MARY BETH

No. Nothing at all.

HARVEY

Then the law is wrong.

MARY BETH

But we can't enforce laws that don't exist, even if we know it would be the right thing to do. Only if he kills her, then we can do something. Even then he can get a good lawyer and claim it was an accident, and the time because he doesn't have an arrest record.

Harvey just puts his arm around her and kisses her on the cheek. She just sits there sort of woodenly with a very sad expression on her face.

A BEAT

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-HOSPITAL-DAY-ESTABLISHING

INTERIOR-HOSPITAL ROOM-DAY

A woman is in the bed. She has a black eye and other cuts and abrasions. Her right arm is in a cast. Cagney is standing on one side of the bed and Lacey on the other.

CAGNEY

Mrs. Simmons, we got the whole story from your friends and neighbors.

LACEY

This is the third time your husband has injured you so badly you had to be hospitalized.

SIMMONS

They got it all wrong. I just fell down.

LACEY

Is that a cigarette burn on your cheek ?

SIMMONS

No. I was cooking and some hot grease got on me.

A BEAT while Cagney and Lacey glance at each other. Cagney puts some papers in front of the woman.

CAGNEY

If you'll just sign these papers we'll see to it he doesn't do this again.

SIMMONS

No...No...He just gets a little carried away when he drinks too much.

CAGNEY

That must be all the time.

SIMMONS

No. The rest of the time he's the finest man alive. I'm lucky to have a man who loves me so much.

LACEY looks at her face and cast.

LACEY

Yes, mam. I can see that.

CAGNEY

So you won't press charges ??

SIMMONS

NO....No.

Cagney snatches up the papers and Cagney and Lacey head for the door.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-DAY

The detective's car is parked. Chris is behind the wheel and Mary Beth beside her.

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-PARKED-DAY

LACEY

What are we doing here ?

CAGNEY

I want to see what a wife beater looks like, and I hope he's up to something else we can jail him for.

LACEY

So we're going to keep him under surveillance for a while ?

CAGNEY

Right you are.

LACEY

Why did you pick today to start this surveillance ?

CAGNEY

Today's the day Mrs. Simmons gets out of the hospital. He's picking her up now and they will be here any minute.

A BEAT

LACEY

Aha !!..... That comes very close to harassment.

CAGNEY

Close, but not over the line. I checked. As long as we don't approach him, or his employer, or his neighbors, or his family, we can watch all we want.

LACEY

How much do you expect to learn by just watching ?

CAGNEY

I don't know! But we can't just stand by and wait till they take her away in the dead wagon !!

LACEY

True. But we'll have to keep a very low profile.

CAGNEY

There's a taxi stopping at their building now. Maybe it's them.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-DAY

CUT TO:

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR

CAGNEY

So that's what a big brave woman beater looks like.

LACEY

Just lookin' at him you'd never know.

CAGNEY

Well he certainly wasn't carrying a sign.

LACEY

I guess there's nothing to do but wait.

A BEAT

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-HOURS LATER

CAGNEY

Hey, Mary Beth. He just came out with a brown bag. Looks like lunch.

LACEY

I heard this one works nights, but I didn't hear where.

CAGNEY

I guess we'll just have to follow him and find out.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-LATE AFTERNOON

CAMERA follows the man as he walks to the corner and enters the subway.

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR

CAGNEY

You want to follow him ?

LACEY

I guess so.

CAGNEY

Got your walkie-talkie ?

Lacey opens the car door.

LACEY

Yeah. Use channel two.

CAMERA follows as she starts toward the subway.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR-SUBWAY STATION

A train pulls in and the man gets on.

ON Lacey by the train. She is getting on the next car of the train. She speaks into her radio while the station is still quiet.

LACEY

He took the uptown B train.

The train doors close and the train starts to move.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET

Cagney starts the car and pulls away from the curb.

FADE OUT

TIME CUT

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-DAY

INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM -DAY

CAGNEY AND LACEY are at their desks as Samuels approaches. Samuels waves his hand in front of the face of one, then the other. They look at him with a questioning look.

SAMUELS

Well, I see you two are awake this morning. I haven't seen any paperwork from either of you in the last week, and every time I look at you, you seem to be about half asleep. Whatta you two been up to nights to cause this ?

CAGNEY

I've been studying for the test for Lt.

LACEY

My kids have kept me up.

SAMUELS

If anybody believes that, I've got a bridge to Brooklyn I'd like to sell cheap!! I'll be in my office when somebody decides to let me in on what's goin' on.

He goes to his office and turns back to look at them, then makes it a point to leave the door open as he goes behind his desk and sits down.

CAGNEY

I guess we might as well tell him.

LACEY

Might as well.

They go into Samuels's office and close the door.

CUT TO:

SAMUELS OFFICE -DAY

WIDE VIEW as they sit in front of his desk.

CAGNEY

It's this guy Simmons.

SAMUELS

Simmons...Simmons....I don't seem to recall that name. What did he do ?

LACEY

He beats his wife.

SAMUELS

Beats her at what ? Some kinda game ?

CAGNEY

If it's a game, I think it's a deadly one. He put her in the hospital three times.

SAMUELS

Physical abuse ?

LACEY

Yes sir. And we're afraid he'll kill her the next time.

SAMUELS

So get his wife to sign a complaint and lock him up. We've got other cases to work on, you know.

CAGNEY

She won't sign.

SAMUELS

Then our hands are tied. Drop it and go on to something else.

LACEY

Aren't we supposed to be peace officers ?

CAGNEY

Isn't peace involved in saving someone's life ?

SAMUELS

Sure it is and we are, but we can't save people's lives if they don't want us to.

CAGNEY

We're just keeping him under surveillance so we can be there when he tries. We can arrest him if we see it happening with our own eyes.

SAMUELS

And he can have the both of you up on charges if he finds out what you're up to. The law is on his side in this. It's too dangerous for you, and I can't afford to lose good Officers like you. This is for the record. Drop it!! Is that understood ?

LACEY

Yes sir, if that's your order sir.

SAMUELS

It is. Now, off the record, do you really think he might kill her ?

CAGNEY

Yes, sir. We really do.

SAMUELS

Then do what you can to protect her, and if he does it, lock him up. It would be pretty positive evidence in court if you caught him in the act. Now get out of here and get some work done.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

CHRIS'S APARTMENT-NIGHT

Chris puts on her coat, yawns, rubs her eyes, and goes out the door.

TIME CUT TO:

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-NIGHT

The car is parked at the curb with the motor stopped. Cagney is at the wheel, Lacey opens the door and gets in. She has a paper bag.

LACEY

This working night and day is getting to me. I don't know how much longer I can take it.

CAGNEY

Tell me about it. I can hardly keep my eyes open, day or night.

LACEY

I wish there was some way we could know when he'll do it so we could get some sleep.

CAGNEY

That's what makes life exciting, haven't you heard ?

LACEY

If this is what exciting is all about, I think I'll pass. I had a hangnail last month that was more exciting than this.

She hands Cagney a paper cup.

LACEY

Here's your coffee.

CAGNEY

Our hourly fix. It's a good thing that all night restaurant is right on the corner.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-NIGHT

Morning is just dawning but it is sort of like dusk, only dim light. Cagney and Lacey are still in the car but are sound asleep. They waken to the sound of sirens approaching. The paramedic ambulance and a uniformed officer's car stop across the street. (Do they call them a black and white in Cal.? In Houston they call them a blue and white, because they are.) Cagney and Lacey come alive with the wail of the sirens dying out almost next to their car.

LACEY

Christine, did we both go to sleep ?

CAGNEY.

Looks like it. Lets go see what's happening.

They struggle to get out of the car, but finally make it. They cross the street slowly and just as they get to the other side the paramedics bring Mrs. Simmons out on a collapsible Gurney and put her in the ambulance. She is alive but unconscious.

LACEY

Oh my God Christine, He did it right under our noses.

CAGNEY

DAMN !! Why did we go to sleep !!! Cagney and Lacey watch in stunned silence as a Uniformed Officer brings a drunk Mr. Simmons out and puts him in the back seat of his blue and white. He gets in and drives him off to jail, leaving Cagney and Lacey standing on the sidewalk. They stare off down the street with a look of sad frustration on their faces, as they watch the fading police car and ambulance.

END OF ACT THREE.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN

SQUAD ROOM-DAY

Cagney and Lacey enter as Coleman is going out.

COLEMAN

Good morning.

CAGNEY

Shove it, Coleman.

They go to their desks as Coleman stops in his tracks, turns, and looks at them in complete puzzlement. At their desks, they throw themselves down in their chairs. Isbecki approaches.

ISBECKI

My, how testy we are this morning.

CAGNEY

You can shove it too, Isbecki.

ISBECKI

If I do, it'll be up yours.

They gaze at each other for a beat, Cagney frowning and Isbecki grinning.

LACEY

That's in very bad taste, Victor.

ISBECKI

No worse than you two.

CAGNEY

I've had it with the snide remarks.

ISBECKI

So what's snide about good morning ?

LACEY

You're absolutely right, Victor. We apologize.

CAGNEY

Mary Beth.!!

LACEY

Just because they're trying to be friendly doesn't give us license to be rude.

A BEAT

CAGNEY

I guess I was a little rude.

LACEY

You were a lot rude, Christine.

Samuels approaches.

SAMUELS

Is this a private argument, or can anybody get in on it ?

CAGNEY

Just pick a place and jump right in. Don't be bashful. Nobody else is.

SAMUELS

Good. If somebody will just tell me what it's all about, I will.

LACEY

We've been watching that guy Simmons, Sir. We were sure he would beat his wife again so we went without sleep for the last two weeks. When he finally did it we were asleep in our car.

CAGNEY

We just blew it.

SAMUELS

The worst you could have arrested him for is disturbing the peace, if she wouldn't sign.

PETRIE

Still, if he was arrested and fined enough times, he might stop because it's too expensive.

LACEY

That doesn't help her now. She's in the hospital again.

ISBECKI

So, what'll you do now ?

CAGNEY

I guess we'll have to try some of the other women. If we can get one to sign, maybe we can get others.

LACEY

Now I know what it's like for a fish trying to swim upstream.

ISBECKI

Or a drunk trying to pick up a nickel off of a wet bar.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-PERRY APARTMENT-DAY

The apartment is furnished in an average way for a working couple. Nothing fancy. Cagney and Lacey are sitting on the couch. Mrs. Perry is in another chair.

PERRY

I shouldn't be talking to you. My husband would be very angry if he found out, so please make it fast and go.

CAGNEY

Mrs. Perry, the last time we were here your husband was beating you. We want to protect you, because it's our job. But we can only do that with your approval.

PERRY

I really don't need any protection. All I have to do is be nice to him, like a wife should, and everything will be O.K. Really.

LACEY

Mrs. Simmons told us the same thing. She's in the hospital now. She's been unconscious in intensive care for the last two days.

CAGNEY

We're not trying to make trouble between you and your husband. We just want to protect you, and keep peace in your family.

PERRY

That won't happen to me again. We've reached an understanding.

Cagney and Lacey look at each other, then get up to go.

CAGNEY

Here's my card. If you change your mind, or have a problem, just call.

PERRY

All right.

Cagney and Lacey leave. Mrs. Perry shuts the door, then drops Chris's card in the wastebasket.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-ROLLING

RADIO (V.0.)

Detectives 14-24

LACEY

(picks up microphone) Detectives 14-24

RADIO (V.0.)

14-24, we just heard from the hospital. Mrs. Simmons just died.

LACEY

14-24,,,10-4.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM- DAY

CAGNEY AND LACEY sit disconsolately at their desks. Isbecki, Petrie, Carassa, and Samuels are standing beside them.

SAMUELS

You have to stop blaming yourselves. You did all you could do, and even took a chance in bending the law to keep him under surveillance.

CARASSA

Nobody could have done more than you did.

PETRIE

We all feel the same way you do about the law, and the way it ties our hands.

ISBECKI

Just put it behind you and go on.

CAGNEY

I wish you guys would stop being so damn solicitous. We failed, and a woman is dead because of it !

LACEY

We went to sleep on the job and it cost her life. How do we put that behind us ??

SAMUELS

You didn't kill her. Stop blaming yourselves.

CAGNEY

We have to blame ourselves. We don't have anybody else to blame.

PETRIE

Try blaming her husband. It was his hands that did it.

LACEY

You don't understand. He was like a bomb, just waiting to go off. We knew it. We were like the bomb disposal squad. The bomb went off, just as we knew it would. Who do you blame, the bomb, or the bomb disposal squad ??

ISBECKI

In this case, I blame the bomb, and the victim. She knew what was going to happen. You told her everything. She was as much to blame as her husband. So now they both get buried. Her in the cemetery, and him in prison. They both lose. The question is, what are you going to do about the others ?

CAGNEY

What the hell good are marriages like that ? They're already over, if they ever started in the first place.

PETRIE

They have standing, legally.

LACEY

But what about morally? Doesn't that count for something ?

SAMUELS

In church, yes. In court, no. By the way, they want you two to go over to the morgue to identify Mrs. Simmons body.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-MORGUE-DAY

Cagney and Lacey stare at the body on the table. The cast is still on her arm and her face shows evidence of a fatal beating.

CAGNEY

Rosemary Alice Luett Simmons. Battered by her father and brothers. Forced into incest with all of them. Married to a man who battered her to death. Her life, over at age 29. Just another name to be carved on a tombstone. I still say she should have left him.

LACEY

I guess she did, Christine. In the only way she knew how.

FREEZE FRAME

THE END