Bittersweet
Of all the scripts I wrote, this is probably the worst one. Having known several women who had been raped, and the effect that can have on a woman for the rest of her life, and knowing the extent some women will go to to exact revenge, I wrote this script inserting several "dream sequences" telling how a woman can have nightmares for years, maybe for life, concerning being raped. A dream sequence means that the edges of the picture all around the screen become blurred and sort of smoke filled. What I was trying to do was point out how terrible it really is for a woman to be raped. Somehow, it just doesn't seem to come out right. But here it is anyway. I hope you can make sense out of it and understand what I was trying to say with it. It's the only one I wrote where the perpetrator got away with it. Or did she? This was the most difficult story for me to write since I am a non-violent person, and this is the most violent story I have ever written. Which explains why it's not so good.
CAGNEY AND LACEY
"BITTERSWEET"
Written by John M. Riggle
First draft May 10, 1987; Final draft May 15, 1987
Cast:
Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly.
Coleman (Harvey Atkins ); Victor Isbecki (Martin Kove);
David Keeler (Steven Nacht); Bert Samuels (Al Waxman);
Marcus Petrie (Carl Lumbly); Harvey Lacey (John Karlen )
Guest cast
Woman (perp) ; Man (victim)/Prost ; Officer Bergstrom; owner (pizza parlor ) ;
Willie Knox ; Dom Lucero; Man (Dying junkie) ; Farmer/ Henry Axlerod;
Nurse; Proprietor (pawn shop) ; Man (on street) ; Receptionist
Sets
Interiors: Squadroom; Woman's apartment parole office; Office; Pizza parlor; Detective's car; Room in rooming house; Woman's bedroom; Cagney's loft; Slum building; Slum building (2nd floor); Room; Lacey bedroom; Car interior; Hospital room
Exterioirs: New York Street #1; New York Street #2; New York Street #3; New York Street #4; Parking Bay; House (dream sequence); Parking lot (dream sequence); Deserted woods; Country roadside; Hospital
Chronology
Scenes 1-10 (Day); Scene 11 (Night): Scenes 12-15 (Day); Scenes 16-16A (night); Scene 16B (Day): Scene 17 (Night); Scenes 18-24 (Day); Scenes 25-26 (Night); Scenes 27-29 (Day); Scene 30 (Night); Scenes 31-32 (Day); Scene 33 (Night); Scenes 34-46 (Day); Scene 47 (Night); Scene 48 (Day)
ACT ONE
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET #1-Day
The camera is the perpetrator. The camera is looking down and we see a woman's dress, legs, and feet wearing shoes. The camera swings up and left. A man comes out of a doorway about thirty feet away and turns to walk down the sidewalk toward the perpetrator. The perpetrator steps away from the building where she has been leaning, waiting for the man, and faces him, blocking his way. He is about fifteen feet away from her.
WOMAN (V.0.)
Do you remember me ?
MAN
No, I don't believe so.
WOMAN (V.0.)
Six years ago you used a gun to murder my
husband, and my baby, and raped me, shot me,
and left me for dead.
A look of recognition crosses the man's face. The woman perpetrator raises her right hand in front of the camera. She has a gun. The camera is looking right down the barrel over the sights as she points it at the man.
WOMAN (V.0.)
Six years wasn't enough for what you
did. Now I'm going to even the score.
MAN
NO. NO. Don't kill me.
He raises his hands in front of himself as she pulls the trigger, we see the gun jerk in her hand and see the smoke from the gun. The man clutches his chest, then falls to the ground. The woman approaches a few feet closer as the man gasps for breath. we still see the gun as before. She shoots him two more times and the gun jerks and smoke is seen each time. The man jerks, then is still.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET -DAY
Cagney and Lacey are talking to a uniformed officer as
the zipper is closed on the body bag.
CAGNEY
Did you find any witnesses when you
arrived ?
OFFICER
We responded to the radio call and no
one was here when we arrived. This
crowd came up in response to our sirens.
LACEY
Nobody saw anything ?
OFFICER
It seems not.
CAGNEY
If you responded to a radio call then
someone must have reported it.
OFFICER
That's right. The dispatcher said an
anonymous woman called it in.
LACEY
Any I.D. on him, or money ?
OFFICER
He had a wallet with forty dollars, but no
I.D. Maybe you can I.D. him from his prints.
The Coroner can get them for you when
he makes the autopsy.
CAGNEY
A typical New York side street. A hundred
people could have seen it all and nobody
wants to get involved.
LACEY
Somebody did. She called it in.
CAGNEY
Some involvement. A body on the sidewalk
report. Anybody could have reported that.
No information as to who killed him or why.
The only thing we can be sure of is it
wasn't robbery.
LACEY
We should get the coroner's report tomorrow.
Maybe we can get something from that.
The turn and walk toward their detectives car.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROON-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks as Coleman approaches.
COLEMAN
Here's the coroner's report on your sidewalk
stiff from yesterday. Three thirty-eight caliber
slugs fired from more than six feet away.
CAGNEY
Any I.D. on him yet ?
COLEMAN
Anthony Prost. A career criminal. He just got
out on parole two weeks ago. With his record
he must have at least a hundred enemies who
would like to see him dead. You might as well
put this one in the unsolved file right now,
unless you want to make a career of this one case.
LACEY
Did the coroner recover the fatal bullets ?
CAGNEY
This report says thirty-eight caliber fired from
a Smith and Wesson revolver. Three shots.
Fired from more than six feet. Only one weapon used.
COLEMAN
So it wasn't a group. Just one killer.
LACEY
I guess we might as well check out all his
enemies, starting with anybody he might
have stooled on.
CAGNEY
Lets get started.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-APARTMENT-LATE AFTERNOON
The door opens and a woman enters. We see her from the neck down only. At no time is her face shown. She crosses the tiny apartment and sits on the bed. She picks up a picture of a man in his twenties in her left hand and a baby in her right hand from the table next to the bed. She looks at them.
WOMAN
You can rest easy now, my darlings.
It's finished at last.
The camera pulls back and shows the back of her, including her head as she replaces the pictures on the table, then puts her hands over her face and sobs.
A BEAT
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.
CAGNEY
Here's something. Might be important.
LACEY
Oh ?
CAGNEY
Prost was in prison for six years. A year or
so before he went up his former partner in
crime went up for burglary. Prost skipped
town just before the police arrived to arrest
him. He could have sent money to the lawyer
to help pay for the defense, but he didn't. The
partner always claimed Prost was the burglar
and he was taking a fall for an ungrateful
partner. He swore revenge.
LACEY
So what happened to the former partner
when he got out ?
CAGNEY
The partner got out about six months ago.
He had plenty of time to prepare to blow
away Prost, and motive.
LACEY
Can we get an up to date address from
his parole Officer ?
CAGNEY
We can try. It's the office on west 41st St.
His name is Willie Knox.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-PAROLE OFFICE-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey at the desk. They show their badges to the receptionist.
CAGNEY
I'm Sgt. Cagney, and this is Det. Lacey. We
want to see the parole officer handling Willie Knox.
RECEPTIONIST
That would be Mr. Bergstrom. Down the hall,
fourth door on the left.
Cagney and Lacey walk don the hall, and enter the office.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-Office-DAY
Bergstrom is seated at his desk as they enter.
BERGSTROM
What can I do for you ladies ?
CAGNEY
Sgt. Cagney, Det. Lacey, l4th precinct.
Do you have an address for Willie Knox ?
BERGSTROM
Sure.
Re opens a file cabinet and sorts through manila folders.
BERGSTROM
What's he done now ?
LACEY
We think he might have murdered his
former partner.
BERGSTROM
Here it is. 929 East 61st Street. So far he's
been a real straight arrow since he got out.
He works at a pizza parlor on 61st street
about a block from where he lives.
CAGNEY
Does he work days or nights ?
BERGSTROM
Nights.
LACEY
The shooting took place in the day.
He could be the one.
BERGSTROM
I hope not, since he's been doing so
well.
CAGNEY
I can't imagine a better cover than
to make it look like you're completely
rehabilitated.
LACEY
I guess we'll soon know if he is or not.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-PIZZA PARLOR-DAY
Business is going on as usual as Cagney and Lacey enter. The owner is waiting on the counter.
OWNER
What'll ya have here ?
CAGNEY
I'm Sgt. Cagney and this is Det. Lacey. We
want to ask the owner a few questions.
OWNER
Hey, we get everything from approved sources.
Whatever they got sick on, they didn't get it here.
LACEY
We want to know about one of your
employees. Willie Knox.
OWNER
That's different. Sure, he works here. Never
gives me any trouble at all. Comes to work
every night on time. Works hard. Doesn't
steal. Even pays for anything he eats, and
I give that to the employees for free. I
should be so lucky to have more like him.
CAGNEY
Did you know he's on parole ?
OWNER
Sure. That's why I hired him. The state
pays half his wages while he's on parole.
I get a great employee for half pay.
Can't beat that deal.
LACEY
Do you have any idea what he does when
he's not working ?
OWNER
He's a bookworm. He's working on his
G.E.D. Then he plans to go to college.
CAGNEY
Do you know if he owns a gun ?
OWNER
If he does, I never heard of it.
LACEY
Do you know anybody else who might
be able to tell us anything about him ?
OWNER
Did you try his P.O. ?
CAGNEY
He sent us here.
OWNER
How about his landlord ?
LACEY
We'll go there next. How about pals,
or girlfriends.
OWNER
I don't know, but somehow I think maybe
he turned gay in prison. It's just a hunch though.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR-ROLLING-DAY
CAGNEY
Turned gay in prison.
LACEY
I guess if your gonna do that, prison's
the place to do it.
CAGNEY
Come on, Mary Beth. At least half the guys
who do that are just plain vicious. The very
kind that would blow away a former partner.
LACEY
I suppose so, but I want to talk to the
landlord first.
CAGNEY
I think we should just lock him up on
suspicion. Let him cool his heels in
jail for a while.
LACEY
Well I don't think he did it. It's just too pat.
He has too good a motive, too much
opportunity, and too good an alibi.
CAGNEY
We haven't checked his alibi yet.
LACEY
You can be sure it'll be a good one.
CAGNEY
Or none at all.
LACEY
Right now, that's the best kind he
could have.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-ROOMING HOUSE ROOM-DAY
Cagney, Lacey, and Knox are there.
KNOX
I just got up. What can I do for you
Officers ?
CAGNEY
Where were you yesterday afternoon ?
KNOX
I went to a Movie. Since I work nights
though, and I was up late this morning
with some friends, I went to sleep in the
movie. I can't tell you what it was about.
LACEY
What theater was it ?
KNOX
The Regent, on 59th St.
CAGNEY
You know you're not supposed to have a
gun on parole, but I have to ask you
anyway. Do you have a gun ?
KNOX
No, and I never had a gun at any time
in my life. If I had had a gun when I got
caught it would have been another ten
years on my sentence. I keep far away
from guns.
LACEY
We understand from your employer that
you've been doing well since you got out.
Do you have a girlfriend yet ?
KNOX
No. I gave up the idea of having a girlfriend.
Who would want a guy with my record ?
Another ex-con just like myself ?
That's a violation of my parole. I've only
got a year to go. I'll worry about a girlfriend
later. Anyway, it was a girl that talked me
into getting in trouble in the first place.
I've already got a lifetime supply of trouble.
I don't need any more.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
Cagney and Lacey enter talking and go to their desks and sit down.
CAGNEY
I guess you're right about Knox. It's
just too pat. He could be the one anyway,
but if he was he would have done a better
job of getting an alibi than sleeping in a theater.
LACEY
So let's see who else we have.
CAGNEY
His record says he was high on heroin when
he was killed. Maybe he owed money to
some dealer.
LACEY
Could be. Who was dealing six years
ago ?
CAGNEY
I think Isbecki and Petrie were working on
something last week and they have the folder.
Cagney gets up and goes to Petrie's desk. Petrie and Isbecki are not there. She starts looking through the folders. After she looks at a few, Isbecki. arrives.
ISBECKI
What are you looking for ?
CAGNEY
The folder you and Marcus were using
last week about dope dealers.
ISBECKI
It's on my desk. You got a dope
case ?
CAGNEY
No. Murder. We think a dealer might
be involved somehow.
ISBECKI
Very possible. They've been known to
do such things. Here's the folder.
They go to Cagney's desk. She sits down and starts reading the file. Isbecki goes to Lacey's desk.
ISBECKI
What do you have ?
LACEY
I'm trying to see if any other parolees might
have a grudge against him from before they
went to jail. No luck so far.
ISBECKI
You might have to go to the prison to
find out that one.
LACEY
I think you're right. There's not
much here.
CAGNEY
Maybe I've got something. In order to get a
shorter sentence Prost turned in his dealer.
Turns out to be our old friend, Dom Lucero.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN
INTERIOR-WOMAN' S BEDROOM-NIGHT
The room is dark but light is coming in through the window. We can see the pictures of the man and baby on the table. The woman is sleeping. DISSOLVE to dream sequence. The camera is looking through the woman's eyes. She is in a park with her husband and baby. She is sitting on the grass watching her husband as he is playing baseball. The game ends and the husband approaches her at a trot. She rises as he gets there, they turn to leave. In front of them is Prost. Prost laughs. The woman screams. Sudden end of dream. CUT BACK to dark bedroom with the woman sleeping. She suddenly sits up in bed and screams.
FADE OUT
EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET #2-DAY
Cagney and Lacey approach Dom Lucero from the rear.
CAGNEY
Well, well, well. Look who's here.
Lucero turns from the prostitute he is talking to and faces Cagney and Lacey.
LUCERO
Don't tell me you have another girl beaten
to death and you want to blame me. I did
my two years for manslaughter and I don't
operate that way any more.
LACEY
Do you still deal dope ?
LUCERO
No way. I just barely got away with
that for a while, but I got turned in
by one of my customers. I got out of
dealing completely before I got caught.
I have a habit of not getting caught.
CAGNEY
Except for us.
LUCERO
My one failure. But that's all in the
past now.
LACEY
How about the customer who burned you ?
LUCERO
I don't even remember her name.
CAGNEY
It was a he. Anthony Prost.
LUCERO
Now that you mention it, I believe
you're right.
LACEY
He burned you by turning you in, and
he beat you because he owed you money.
LUCERO
Oh yeah. I remember him now.
CAGNEY
Motive enough for murder. He was blown
away the day before yesterday.
LUCERO
Well, I didn't do it. All that old stuff is just
water over the dam. I chalked it up to
experience and moved on to something else.
LACEY
Yeah, like pimping, and beating women
to death.
LUCERO
All in my past. I don't do any of that
stuff any more. All I do now is hold the
girl's money for them. I'm kind of like a
banker. If they get arrested, I pay the fine
and get them out, or put up the bail. That
way they don't have to be worried about
being robbed. They pay me for services
rendered.
CAGNEY
So you're still pimping ?
LUCERO
No. This is for the independent girls.
It's strictly legal.
LACEY
When was the last time you saw prost ?
LUCERO
Years ago. I forgot all about him till
you mentioned him.
CAGNEY
Do you own a gun ?
LUCERO
Get serious. I wouldn't touch one for
anything.
CAGNEY
Just where were you the day before
yesterday ?
LUCERO
Right here, taking care of business. I'm
here every day. I take no vacations and
no days off. I got at least 30 people who
see me every day.
LACEY
We'd like to talk to some of them.
LUCERO
Sure. Start with the man selling newspapers
right there. I'll have some of the girls talk to
you as soon as they show up. Just hang
around a while.
Cagney and Lacey start toward the newsstand.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-DETECTIVE' S CAR-ROLLING-DAY
CAGNEY
I've got a feeling this could turn out to be
a long investigation. we've been on the case
two days and we've only checked out six
possibles. We must have at least a hundred
more to go.
LACEY
Some people live so quietly no one even
knows they exist and then we come to one
like Prost who makes so many waves it seems
like the whole world would like to kill them.
CAGNEY
Feast or famine. Too many suspects or none.
Why can't we get any simple cases any more ?
LACEY
I guess it's because the uniforms take
care of them.
CAGNEY
I suppose so, still, it'd be nice
to get an open and shut case once in
a while.
LACEY
We do, sometimes, like the time you
wanted some hot Chestnuts, so we stopped
to get some from a street vendor. An armed
robber came running out of a liquor store
with his gun in one hand and the bag of
money in the other. He ran right into our arms.
CAGNEY
I remember that. (laughs) It was really funny.
It took him a while to figure out how he got
caught. (more laughter from both) Then
there was the car thief who had the bad luck to
get two flat tires in front of the precinct station
just as the owner came out after reporting
his car stolen.
LACEY
He screamed "That's my car", We were
right there when the thief tried to run.
LACEY
See. We get some easy ones sometimes.
CAGNEY
I guess we do at that.
They arrive and park at the precinct.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR-PARKING BAY-DAY-ESTABLISHING
They get out of their car.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR -SQUADROOM-DAY
Cagney and Lacey enter.
ESPOSITO
You got a call from the Warden at the big
house. He gave me a list of names. I left it
on your desk.
LACEY
Good. Maybe we'll find something
there.
She sits down at her desk and finds the list.
LACEY
Only three names ? Not much of a list.
ESPOSITO
Yeah. He said everybody else who hated
Prost is still there. Who's prost ?
CAGNEY
Somebody blew him away on the sidewalk
in broad daylight. No witnesses, of course,
and the guy has so many enemies you
wouldn't believe it.
ESPOSITO
One of those, huh ? I had one once. I worked
on it on and off for six months before I
finally gave up.
LACEY
It's a real rat's nest of confusion all right. We
have at least a hundred suspects to check out.
Most of them won't have an alibi, and all of
them had motive and opportunity.
CAGNEY
It looks like our only hope might be
to find the murder weapon, and tie it to
one of them.
ESPOSITO
If the killer still has it, or if the killer threw
it away and somebody finds it and turns it in.
LACEY
Pretty slim chance of that, I'm afraid.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-CAGNEY'S LOFT-NIGHT
Cagney and Keeler are having a candlelight dinner.
CAGNEY
Times like this always make me feel good.
They take my mind off my work and help
me relax.
KEELER
I was just thinking the same thing.
CAGNEY
Yeah ?
KEELER
Yeah. All day long I have to deal with
other people's problems, and being with
you makes me happy that I don't have
their problems.
CAGNEY
Are you trying to tell me I'm not a problem ?
KEELER
No. I'm trying to tell you you're the cure for my
problems. You make me forget the world outside.
CAGNEY
Our own private little world where
we can both feel good.
KEELER
You got the picture.
CAGNEY
That's nice. It's just the way I feel. I can
say anything to you and you don't get up
tight about it. Trust. I think that's an
important part of life.
KEELER
It's an important part of living.
It's participating in life.
CAGNEY
I wonder why so many people can't
do that ?
KEELER
I guess only those who studied
philosophy, like us, can do it.
CAGNEY
I think nobody can really enjoy life
if they don't participate.
KEELER
Some participate, some just observe,
and others just let it slip away.
CAGNEY
Sometimes I feel like I'm selling my life
in bits and pieces to the city of New York
for a weekly paycheck.
KEELER
I guess we all do that. It's the
price of living.
CAGNEY
Sell some so we can enjoy the rest. The
rest is beautiful when you're with
somebody you can trust with your
heart and soul. Trust is a wonderful thing.
KEELER
That it is. That it is.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-BEDROOM-NIGHT
The woman is sleeping in the bed and we can see the pictures on the table in the light from the window.
DISOLVE TO:
DREAM SEQUENCE-DAY
The camera is looking through the woman's eyes. She is standing in front of an empty house with a "For Sale" sign in the yard. on that sign is another sign saying "Sold". The picture blurs to show the woman's eyes filling with tears. We hear her crying and sniffling. A hand with a Kleenex wipes the camera lens and the picture clears. She turns to go to her car. A tow-truck backs up to the front of her car. On the truck is a sign saying "Repo Service". The driver gets out and looks at her and laughs. It is Prost. She screams.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-BEDROOM-NIGHT
The woman sits up abruptly in the bed and screams. She puts her hands over her eyes and cries softly.
A BEAT
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
ON Petrie and Isbecki at their desks. Samuels approaches.
SAMUELS
Seen Cagney and Lacey today ?
PETRIE
Yes, they were here about an hour ago.
I think they went out to see somebody
about that sidewalk murder a few days ago.
ISBECKI
I think they said they had to go to Brooklyn,
or Queens. I really didn't pay that much attention.
Samuels hands Isbecki a piece of paper.
SAMUELS
The Lt. at the 21st just called. He nave me this
address. There's supposed to be somebody there
who knows something about that case, but it has
to be checked out right away. The person is
leaving town. I can't wait for Cagney and Lacey
to get back. You two drop whatever you're doin'
and take care of it.
PETRIE
On our way.
They get up to leave.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-POLICE CAR-ROLLING -DAY
Isbecki driving, Petrie riding.
PETRIE
This address is right in the middle of
needle park. Probably a shooting gallery.
ISBECKI
I noticed. So we have to interview
a junkie who's leaving town.
PETRIE
Just how do you suppose a junkie held
onto money long enough to buy a bus ticket ?
ISBECKI
Probably taking a one way trip in a
body bag. A twenty dollar ticket to
ride forever.
PETRIE
In the neighborhood where I grew up,
nobody ever took that trip.
ISBECKI
Me too. Lucky us.
PETRIE
Lucky us.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET #3-DAY
ISBECKI parks the car at the curb and they get out and go in. It is a typical New York slum street, filled with trashy people, garbage, and trash.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-SLUM BUILDING-DAY
Isbecki and Petrie enter. They climb some stairs to the second floor.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-SLUM BUILDING SECOND FLOOR-DAY
ISBECKI and PETRIE approach a door. They knock and the door just swings open.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-ROOM-DAY
Isbecki and Petrie enter. The room is mostly empty and bare, except for a pile of newspapers near one wall and prominent signs that a large number of people have been using the room for some time to shoot dope. Sticking out from under the newspapers is a hand. They go to it and lift the papers away. Under them is a man. He is unconscious. They try to rouse him.
ISBECKI
Hey man! Wake up!
Isbecki tries to raise the man and slaps him lightly on the cheek.
PETRIE
I'll go call for an ambulance.
He leaves. Isbecki starts artificial respiration.
ISBECKI
Hang in there, man, you can make it.
After a few minutes the man shows a few signs of life. His eyes open and he starts to speak.
MAN
Who ??
ISBECKI
I'm a cop. I found you here.
MAN
Ye.....
ISBECKI
Are you the one I'm supposed to see about
the sidewalk shooting a few days ago ?
MAN
(weakly)
Yeah.... I never saw.....anything.... like her....
She was so cold....just killed....him....and left.
The man passes out again as Petrie returns.
PETRIE
The Ambulance is on the way.
ISBECKI
They better hurry.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks as Isbecki and Petrie enter and go to them.
ISBECKI
Samuels sent us to check out a lead on
your sidewalk stiff from the other day.
CAGNEY
Did you find anything ?
PETRIE
We found out you are barking up the
wrong tree looking for the man that did it.
LACEY
We are ?
ISBECKI
I got a dying statement from a junkie
who was an eyewitness. He said it was
a woman who did it.
CAGNEY
A woman ?
ISBECKI
(READING FROM A NOTEBOOK)
His exact words were, "I never saw anything like
it. She was so cold. Just killed him and left."
CAGNEY
So what happened to the junkie ?
PETRIE
D.O.A. at Bellview. He didn't have time to
give us a description either.
LACEY
So I guess we can cross off all the men from
our list of suspects. That includes all the
guys he met in prison.
CAGNEY
So what women could have hated him
so much. A lover he dumped ? A
junkie he ripped off ?
ISBECKI
Whoever it was, he must have really
hurt her to make her hate him so much.
LACEY
A victim, maybe ?
CAGNEY
I guess our list of suspects is now narrowed
down to about fifty, and we don't even
know if it's complete.
PETRIE
It's better than square one.
FADE OUT
INTERIOR-LACEY BEDROOM-NIGHT
Harvey and Mary Beth are ready for bed. Harvey is drinking a cup of coffee and Mary Beth is brushing her hair.
HARVEY
I can't get over how good the boys
are doing in school this year.
MARY BETH
Harvey Jr. might win a scholarship
if he can keep it up one more year.
HARVEY
One more year. A long time in his life,
but it's like the blink of an eye to us.
MARY BETH
What brought on that attitude in the
middle of good news ?
HARVEY
I was thinking how much I wished I had.
had the chance to go to college.
MARY BETH
I wish I could have gone too. Christine talks
about things that happened to her when she
was in college from time to time.
HARVEY
I bet she had a good time, and I bet
it's one of the reasons she made Sgt.
MARY BETH
Could be. Her brother in California went to
college too. They want Christine's Niece,
Bridgett, to go. I hope she does.
HARVEY
Well, if I have anything to say about
it, ALL ours will go.
MARY BETH comes and gets in bed.
MARY BETH
Fortunately, they're far enough apart in age
so they won't all be going at the same time.
HARVEY
That'll make it easier to pay, all right.
But I still hope they win scholarships.
MARY BETH
I do too. Then they won't have to walk girders,
like you do, or face down criminals, like I do.
Look how long it took us to afford this house.
They can get better ones right away.
HARVEY
And start their own families, have children,
and the dog we couldn't have.
MARY BETH
I don't know about a dog, but I hope the boys
get good wives, and Alice gets a good husband.
HARVEY
The boys couldn't do better than I
did in getting wives.
MARY BETH
That's sweet, Harvey, and Alice
couldn't do better than I did.
They kiss.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-WOMAN' S BEDROOM-NIGHT
We can see the pictures on the table in the light from the window. The woman is sleeping.
DISSOLVE to dream sequence.
DREAM SEQUENCE-DAY
The camera looks out of the woman's eyes. She is carrying her baby in her arms and her husband is pushing the shopping cart with the bags of groceries as they leave the supermarket.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-LIQUOR STORE-DAY
An armed robber is just leaving with his loot and gun. He runs to his stolen car in the parking lot and tries to start it with no success. The man and the woman with the baby arrive and start putting their groceries in the car next to the one with the robber. The robber looks at them, gets out of his car with his loot in one hand and his gun in the other. It is Prost. He goes around his car and approaches the man, woman, and baby.
PROST
I need your car. Get in and drive.
CUT TO:
PARKING LOT-DAY
The camera is looking through the woman's eyes as she turns and sees Prost pointing his gun at them. She screams.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-BEDROOM-NIGHT
The woman sits up in bed, covers her face and sobs.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
I NTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey signing in.
LACEY
Harvey and I were talking about how well
the boys are doing in school. If they keep
on like this they might both get scholarships.
CAGNEY
My mother paid most of my way through Barnard.
I did a lot of it in Paris. After my mother died
I finished by working my way through as a
fashion photographer.
LACEY
You never told me that before.
CAGNEY
I didn't ?
LACEY
No, you didn't.
CAGNEY
I thought I did. I told you I graduated
from Barnard, I remember that.
LACEY
You told me that, but you never mentioned
photography, or working your
way through.
CAGNEY
Well, I did. Coffee ?
LACEY
Yeah. But I'll pass on doughnuts and
sweet rolls.
They sit down at their desks. They pick up some reports left by Coleman in delivering the mail.
CAGNEY
Lets check out the latest garbage reports.
LACEY
Just looks like more of the same.
CAGNEY
I don't know why the department wastes
money sending us this trash.
They both throw everything in the wastebaskets.
LACEY
Well, back to our list of suspects. Amy
Brownell, Robbed by Prost. Jean Crockett,
robbed and shot, paralyzed from the waist
down, We can cross her off. The junkie said
the woman walked away.
CAGNEY
Tomasina Crowley, moved to Maine.
Karen Clinch, Deceased.
The voices fade away as;
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.
CAGNEY
Looks like that's it, at last.
LACEY
Three hours and we still end up with a
list as long as your arm. This guy must
have been the most hated guy in the country.
CAGNEY
Make that North and South America. I'm
beginning to think maybe this case is unsolvable.
LACEY
Still, we gotta try, but I'm starting to believe
so too. I just can't believe a man could be shot
in broad daylight, and we can't solve
the case.
CAGNEY
All we've got so far for several days work is
a dead witness who said a woman did it,
a dead body, and three .38 bullets fired
from a gun we can't find.
LACEY
And too many suspects. I'll bet at least
half of them had motive AND opportunity.
CAGNEY
I feel like a puppy chasing it's tail.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
FADE IN
INTERIOR-BEDROOM-NIGHT
We can see the pictures on the table in the light from the window. The woman is sleeping.
DISSOLVE to dream sequence.
EXTERIOR-PARKING LOT-DAY
We are looking through the eyes of a woman holding a baby in her arms. Her husband finishes putting the grocery bags in the car and closes the door. A man comes to the rear of their car and speaks.
PROST
I need your car. Get in and drive.
They turn to face him. He is pointing a gun at them. The woman screams.
PROST
Shut up and get in the damn car. Hurry.
They all get in the car. The husband. starts the motor. He backs out of the parking place and starts out of the parking lot with the man in the back seat with the gun to his head.
CUT TO:
CAR INTERIOR-ROLLING-DAY
Still looking through the woman's eyes.
HUSBAND
Where do you want to go ?
PROST
Just keep going right down the street.
I'll tell you where to turn. And don't go
too fast, or do anything else to attract
attention. Got it ?
WOMAN
Why are you doing this ?
PROST
For a living, why else ?
A BEAT
PROST
Turn right at the next corner. Go through
the tunnel.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-A DESERTED PLACE IN A WOODS-DAY
The car pulls to a stop. The husband and Prost get out of the near side and the woman with the baby get out of the far side.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR-A DESERTED PLACE IN A WOODS-DAY
Looking through the woman's eyes.
PROST
Come around here.
The woman comes around the car.
PROST
Give the baby to him.
She does.
PROST
Step back.
She does. Prost starts shooting both the man and the baby. The woman screams as they fall to the ground. The woman screams and rushes to the fallen man and baby. Prost steps up and slaps her, then pulls her away. He shoots the man in the head and does the same for the baby. The woman is dizzy from the slap. He proceeds to rip off her clothes. The camera goes out of focus. The man is just a figure with no detail as he drops his pants. He pushes her to the ground on her back so she is looking up, then gets on top of her. He holds the gun to her head as he rapes her. The woman sees tree limbs above her and feels the shaking of the thrusts he is making. She is now going into psychological shock and is silent. She doesn't resist. He finally finishes, gets up, and pulls up his pants. He then shoots the woman in the chest. He gets in the car and drives away as the woman loses conciseness.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-A DESERTED PLACE IN A WOODS-DAY
Still looking through the woman's eyes. The car is gone and some time has passed. She regains consciousness and weakly rolls over. She crawls to her dead husband and baby. She checks them both and finds they are really dead. She sobs loudly. She struggles to her feet and begins going for help in her bloody clothes.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-A ROADSIDE BY THE FORREST-DAY
The woman(still looking through her eyes) staggers out of the woods and starts looking up and down the road for a car. One comes and she waves her arms in the air for help. The car stops and she gets in.
WOMAN
My husband and baby are dead and I'm shot.
Please take me to any hospital.
She lapses into unconsciousness again.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
I NTERIOR-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM-DAY
A man dressed like a farmer enters and shouts.
FARMER
Hey, I got a woman out here's been shot.
I think she's in pretty bad shape Can
somebody come and get her out of my
car and help her ?
People come running with a Gurney. They go to his car and return with a woman on the Gurney, but we don't see her face. They rush her into the aid room and start on her immediately as a police Officer in uniform approaches the man. The officer speaks to him.
OFFICER
What is your name ?
FARMER
Henry Axlerod. I got a farm about fifteen
miles from here. I was commin' into town
and I found her along side the road.
OFFICER
Exactly where did you find her ?
FARMER
It was about......
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-HOSPITAL ROOM-DAY
We are looking through the eyes of the woman as she wakes and finds herself in intensive care with all kinds of wires and tubes attached to her going to medicine bags and machines.
A nurse approaches.
NURSE
Well, welcome back to the world of the
living.
WOMAN
Am I going to live ?
NURSE
Sure you are.
WOMAN
Did the police find my husband and
baby ?
NURSE
(sadly)
Yes, they were both dead.
WOMAN
Now long have I been here ?
NURSE
Eight days.
WOMAN
Will I be able to go to their funeral ?
NURSE
They were buried three days ago.
I'm sorry.
The woman cries.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
HOSPITAL EXTERIOR-DAY
Looking through the eyes of the woman as she walks out the front door of the hospital. A small park is across from the hospital. On a bench in the park the woman sees a man, woman, and baby in the woman's arms. As she watches, they kiss.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-PAWN SHOP-DAY
The proprietor comes forward.
PROPRIETOR
Can I help you ?
WOMAN
I want to buy a gun.
PROPRIETOR
Did you have anything special in mind ?
WOMAN
A medium sized handgun, please.
The proprietor removes one from a case.
PROPRIETOR
Here's a Colt .38 police special. A
very reliable gun.
WOMAN
That'll do fine.
PROPRIETOR
O.K. Fill out these forms and you can
pick it up in three days. That's the law.
WOMAN
I understand.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
NEW YORK STREET #4-DAY
Looking through the eyes of the woman walking down the sidewalk. A man approaches in the opposite direction. He smiles and holds his arms out toward her.
MAN
Hello, Darling, I've been looking for
you.
CUT TO:
NEW YORK STREET-DAY
Close-up of the woman's purse. She puts her hand in and partially withdraws a gun.
CUT TO:
NEW YORK STREET-DAY
Looking through the woman's eyes, the man with his arms out walks past right next to her, and embraces a woman right behind her, as she turns to watch. The couple walk off together.
CUT TO:
NEW YORK STREET-DAY
CLOSE-UP of the woman' s purse. Her hand shakes visibly as she puts back the gun.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
WOMAN' S BEDROOM-NIGHT
Close-up as she writes in her diary.
WOMAN (V.0.)
Dear Diary. I hated that man Prost so much I
killed him. Life has been Hell for me ever
since that day. I still love my husband and baby.
I'd like to get married again, but I can't stand
to even shake hands with a man. I lost the house,
car, and everything because I couldn't make
enough money to keep up the payments. And
the nightmares. I thought after I killed him
they would go away, but they didn't. He ruined
my life. Revenge was sweet, but bitter too.
It didn't help me at all. Bittersweet revenge.
That's all I have.
A BEAT
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-SQUADROOM-DAY
Samuels, Isbecki, Petrie, and Coleman, are standing by the desks of Cagney and Lacey, as they sit at their desks.
SAMUELS
You can't expect to solve every case. I've put
plenty of them in the unsolved file myself.
Everybody has.
PETRIE
Victor and I put one there last week.
ISBECKI
I think you're being too hard on yourself.
CAGNEY
I wish everybody would just go away and
let us suck our sour grapes by ourselves.
LACEY
Speak for yourself, Christine. I was perfectly
happy to file this case as soon as we found
out what kind of person the victim was.
COLEMAN
Don't take it so hard. The world's a
cleaner place with him buried.
CAGNEY
Of course it is. But it's the principle
of the thing. I just hate to lose.
PETRIE
We all hate to lose. But even if you did
solve the case, where would you find a
jury that would convict anybody for killing him ?
SAMUELS
Face it Cagney. God was the jury this time.
THE END
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