Silent Scream by John M. Riggle

(from John)I knew Cindy Cochran in Houston. She did a very nice series on educational TV about signing for the deaf. It was so interesting that I put a form of it in the episode I named "Silent Scream". I wanted to write something that was definitely different from anything I could recall seeing of TV, so I wrote it about deaf people as crime victims. I hope you like it.

CAGNEY AND LACEY

"SILENT SCREAM"

Written by John M. Riggle

First draft, Aug. 15, 1986. Second draft, Aug. 22, 1986. Final draft, Oct. 7, 1986.

"Silent Scream"

Cast

Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly

Bert Samuels (Al Waxman); Harvey Lacey (John Karlen); Victor Isbecki (Martin Kove); Marcus Petrie (Carl Lumbly); Officer Coleman (Harvey Atkin); Harvey Lacey, Jr (Tony LaTorre); Michael Lacey (Troy Slaten); David Keeler (Steven Macht); Al Carassa (Paul Mantee)

Guest cast

Officer Jean Thomas (Cindy Cochran); Charles Farley; Elaine Farley; George Scott; Lou Rochow; Dwaine Richards; Claudia Petrie; Amanda Kostopolous; Waitresses, 3 or 4; Uniformed Officers, at least 8; Ambulance crew; Deaf people, 10 to 15; Mrs. Adams; Hotel clerk; Bar patrons; Coffee shop patrons; TV Station Guard; TV Reporter; Arsonist; 3 Punks

Sets

Interiors: Bar; 14th Precinct; Theater; Coffee shop; Cheat hotel desk; Cheap hotel room; Interrogation room; Lacey kitchen; Cheap hotel hall; Detective's car; TV Newsroom; TV film cutting room; Lacey bedroom; Lacey entranceway

Exteriors: New York street corner; 14th Precinct; Cheap hotel; New York street; Police car; Detective's car; Alley; Another Street; TV station

Chronology

Scenes 1-3 (Night); Scenes 4-5 (Day); Scenes 6-8 (Night); Scene 9 (Late Night); Scenes 10-18 (Day); Scenes 19-20 (Late afternoon); Scenes 21-36 (Day); Scenes 37-52 (Night); Scenes 53-54 (Day); Scenes 55-63 (Night); Scenes 64-66 (Day)

ACT ONE

FADE IN

NEW YORK STREET CORNER - NIGHT

The camera shows a CLOSE -UP of a bus stop sign. The CAMERA PULLS BACK to show a man and woman in their forties waiting for a bus. They stand silently watching the traffic in the street. A MAN approaches them from the rear and pulls a switchblade knife from his pocket. He opens it and prepares to use it.

MAN

All right, suckers. Gimmie your money.

They seem to ignore him. He speaks louder.

MAN

Gimmie your money or I'll cut you!!

They still ignore him. He attacks the man, stabbing and slashing him. The woman turns and sees what is happening. She spins and runs toward the camera with a look of fear and horror on her face. The man falls to the ground as the woman runs into a bar to the camera right. The man takes the victim's wallet and runs around the corner out of sight after looking to see where the woman went. CAMERA shows the man's face as he looks. The man has a mean look to him.

INTERIOR - BAR - NIGHT

Laughter - talking - Juke Box playing

A waitress has just finished serving drinks to two men at a table and starts toward the bar. The woman who just ran in runs to her and grabs her arm. The waitress turns with a smile. The smile turns to immediate concern when she sees the look on the woman's face.

WAITRESS

What's wrong, honey ?

The woman pulls the waitress to the bar. She takes a small notebook and pencil from her purse. She quickly writes on it and shows it to the waitress.

CLOSE - UP OF THE NOTE.

I'M DEAF.

CALL POLICE

HUSBAND STABBED

The waitress reads the note.

WAITRESS

Where ?

The woman points outside, then holds her hands indicating a corner as the waitress picks up the phone.

STREET CORNER - NIGHT - A FEW MINUTES LATER.

Paramedics are loading the man into an ambulance. No hurry. The man is dead. A uniformed officer writes in his notebook and shows it to the woman.

CLOSE-UP OF THE NOTE.

I'm sorry, mam. He's dead.

CLOSE-UP OF THE WOMAN'S FACE.

It is tear streaked and her mascara has run. She opens her mouth to scream, but no sound comes out. An NYPD patrol car (black and white) pulls to the curb. A young woman uniformed officer gets out and hurries to the man officer and the crying woman on the sidewalk.

WOMAN OFFICER

I'm Officer Thomas of the SWAT team. You called for an interpreter for the deaf?

MAN OFFICER

Yes. We have a dead victim over there, apparently robbery, and a deaf woman witness, apparently his wife.

(Officer Thomas speaks out loud so the man officer will understand and uses sign language at the same time.)

THOMAS

I'm Officer Thomas, mam. Please tell me what happened here.

(The woman begins signing and Officer Thomas repeats it out loud for the man Officer.)

WOMAN

My husband and I were waiting for a bus. A man came up behind us and just started stabbing my husband for no reason.

THOMAS

Can you identify the man?

WOMAN

Yes. I'll never forget his face.

THOMAS

We'll have to make out a report. Can you come to the 14th precinct tomorrow morning?

WOMAN

Yes.

THOMAS

O.K. I'll drive you home now.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXT. 14TH PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - DAY (STOCK)

INTERIOR 14TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM - DAY

ANGLE Cagney and Lacey at their desks. Officer Thomas (in uniform) is standing by Cagney. The woman is sitting by Cagney's desk. As anyone speaks Officer Thomas interprets in sign language. As the woman signs Officer Thomas speaks for her. The woman uses sign language only as before.

CAGNEY

Was your husband totally deaf as you are, mam?

WOMAN

Yes. We were both born deaf.

LACEY

We didn't find a wallet in your husband's pockets, main. Do you know if he had one with money in it?

WOMAN

Yes, he did. In his back pocket.

(Cagney takes out a form and picks up a pen to fill it out.)

CAGNEY

I have to fill out a report. What's your name, mam?

WOMAN

Mrs. Elaine Farley.

CAGNEY

And your husband' s name?

FARLEY

Charles.

CAGNEY

Can you describe the man who did it?

FARLEY

He was about six feet, 180 lbs., white with a full beard. He was wearing a dirty T-shirt, blue jeans, and an open tan jacket.

LACEY

We have some books of pictures we would like you to look at, Mrs. Farley.

(LACEY gets up and indicates a table.)

LACEY

(continuing) If you'll just step over here, please.

LACEY

Here is a pad of paper and a pencil. If you see anyone who resembles the man, write down the number of the book, and the number under the picture. O.K.?

FARLEY

O.K.

(LACEY returns to her desk. THOMAS sits down by Cagney's desk, as Officer COLEMAN approaches.)

COLEMAN

I haven't seen you around before. Are you new around here?

THOMAS

No. I'm with the SWAT team. I go to all the precincts when they need an interpreter for the deaf.

COLEMAN

You must get around a lot. How many interpreters does the Dept. have?

THOMAS

Only two. Olive and myself.

COLEMAN

Is Olive as pretty as you are?

THOMAS

No, he's not.

Cagney giggles as COLEMAN frowns.

CAGNEY

Pay no attention to the guys around here. They're all married, except Isbecki and Capt. Samuels. Neither of them is your type.

THOMAS

That's O.K. I go out with all kinds of guys, even married ones. But with one condition. We go where I want to go.

COLEMAN

See ya later.

LACEY

(incredulously) You go out with married men?

THOMAS

Sure. But only if we go where I want to go. Some of them like it so much they come back later and bring their wives and children. In fact, I'll even invite you two.

(THOMAS takes a couple of cards from her pocket and gives one to Cagney and one to Lacey. Lacey reads the card out loud.)

LACEY

"2837 Victoria Ave., Queens. Free admission. Bring a friend. 8:30 P.M. Monday through Friday." That's right in my neighborhood. What kind of place is it?

THOMAS

Bring a friend, or your family, and find out. You'll like it.

(MRS. PARLEY approaches and hands Lacey a paper with numbers indexing the pictures in the books.)

LACEY

Pay dirt. I'll pull the rap sheets.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN - NIGHT

We are in a small theater built in a storefront. The floor is flat. The room is about 20 by 50 feet. In the rear is built a small stage about 15 feet from the footlights to the rear wall. The stage is about a foot high and has no curtain. There are about 50 folding chairs for the audience. The audience is small, about 15 to 20 people, mostly deaf. On the stage is a "boom box" with a tape playing. Officer Thomas is on stage in civilian clothes. As the music plays, she interprets the words in sign language. It is like watching a beautiful and very meaningful dance. She is doing the last chorus as CAGNEY, DAVID, MARY BETH, HARVEY, MICHAEL, AND HARVEY JR. enter together and take seats in the rear. Thomas finishes the song, stops the tape, and acknowledges the applause of the audience. When it stops, she speaks, also signing the words. The music stops in 10 to 13 seconds.

THOMAS

I want everybody to meet some new guests we have tonight. In the back we have Sgt. Cagney and friend, and Det. Lacey and family.

(CAMERA on them for a few beats.)

THOMAS

(continues) In the front we have Det. Isbecki, and Det. Petrie with Mrs. Petrie.

CAGNEY

(loudly) We might have known you would be here Isbecki.

SAMUELS

All right, let her get on with the show.

THOMAS

And over there we have Capt. Samuels.

(Everybody looks at everybody else and then settles down. THOMAS starts the tape and another song starts. She starts signing it. After about 10 to 15 seconds.)

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

Three tables have been pushed together so everyone can sit around them like they are one table. All are drinking coffee except Michael and Harvey Jr. They have soft drinks.

CAGNEY

Why did you decide to learn sign language when you can hear perfectly well?

THOMAS

I first saw it in church when I was a little girl. The minister was speaking, and there was a man signing as he went. I thought that was really neat and I wanted to learn it.

SAMUELS

How did you decide to become a police officer?

THOMAS

I came on a crime scene and the victim was deaf, so I interpreted for the investigating officer. After that I was called to interpret for the Precinct, and sometimes for courts. I saw a need in the Dept. that I could fill, so I joined the force.

MARCUS

It doesn't seem so hard to learn.

THOMAS

It's not. Anyone can learn it. It just takes a little time.

CLAUDIA

How much time?

THOMAS

One or two nights a week for three or four months and you'll just about have it. You can practice with each other on the job.

LACEY

With my family, I don't think I could find the time. You've got plenty of time Victor. Why don't you do it.

ISBECKI

Welllll, I'm not ready yet.

CAGNEY

You'd have a hard time getting ready for breakfast by lunch time.

THOMAS

Then it's settled. I'll help you, and so will my deaf friends. Anybody else want to get brave?

ISBECKI

Wait a min. If I'm going to get railroaded, I'm not going alone. Come on Cagney.

CAGNEY stands up.

CAGNEY

I gotta wash my hair.

(Jeers all around as everybody gets up.)

MARY BETH

These boys have school tomorrow.

HARVEY

We'll talk about it and let you know.

(Small talk - chatter- as everyone starts to leave.)

FADE IN

LACEY APT. - NIGHT

The door opens and the Lacey family enters talking. MARY BETH is carrying baby Alice.

HARVEY

That was a good show tonight.

MARY BETH

Yes, it was, and free too. It was nice of Mrs. Henderson next door to take care of Alice while we were there.

HARVEY

Sure was. I'll make coffee.

(Mary Beth puts baby Alice to bed. She is already asleep. The boys sit down at the table while Harvey starts the coffee.)

HARVEY JR.

We don't have any deaf kids at school. I never thought about deaf people at all before.

MICHAEL

Me neither. Are there lots of deaf people dad?

HARVEY

Not very. Some of them were born that way, and some got that way from getting sick.

HARVEY JR.

I think its neat hew they learned to talk with their hands. I think I'd like to learn how to do that.

MICHAEL

Me too. Miss Thomas said they have classes there after school, and it's only two blocks away.

(MARY BETH comes in from the bedroom where she has heard this.)

HARVEY JR.

Can we, mom?

MARY BETH

Well, it seems to be a safe place to go after school, and it is right in the neighborhood.

HARVEY

Yeah, but it's like going from one school to another school after school. I never thought lid hear you boys say you'd like to do that.

MICHAEL

It'll be fun, dad. And we can practice with each other. Sort of like learning a secret code.

HARVEY JR.

Yeah, and we can talk to each other at a distance. It's easier than yelling.

HARVEY

O.K. by me. Mary Beth ?

MARY BETH

(smiling)

Sure. Why not?

CHRIS'S LOFT - LATE NIGHT

CHRIS & DAVID are sitting on the couch. They have drinks in their hands and are in a quiet and thoughtful mood. Sort of mellow. ANGLE each as they speak.

CHRIS

That was an interesting show tonight.

DAVID

Yeah, it was.

CHRIS

Do you ever get any deaf clients?

DAVID

Very seldom. When I do, I get an interpreter. Deaf people do a pretty good job of staying out of trouble.

CHRIS

I had a case of a mugger going after people in wheel chairs. I got a wheel chair and decoyed him to catch him. When people see someone in a wheel chair, they can make allowances. But they can't do that for deaf people. Their "inconvenience" is invisible.

DAVID

We tend to think of everyone as the same as ourselves if there isn't some sort of sign, like a wheel chair, or a white cane. It must be quite a problem for them.

CHRIS

I saw a program on TV a while back about how deaf children are taught to lip-read and even speak.

DAVID

I saw that too. It looked like a miracle.

CHRIS

If I had more deaf people to deal with, I suppose I could learn signing, but it's like you said. They do a pretty good job of staying out of trouble.

(A couple of beats.)

DAVID

It's late. Let's go to bed.

(They get up and start heading for the bedroom, leaving the camera behind in the living room.)

CHRIS

They're good people. They deserve some justice. Just thinking about

(They enter the bedroom but we can still hear Chris' s voice.)

CHRIS

(continuous) an animal like that walking around free leaves a bad taste in my mouth that even these drinks can't wash away.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY - ESTABLISHING - DAY

14TH PRECINCT SQUADROOM - DAY

ANGLE ON PETRIE AND ISBECKI at their desks.

VICTOR

Did you and Claudia talk about the show when you got home last night?

Marcus

Yeah. It was a nice show. But we've got a heavy case load right now, and Claudia has to grade her student's homework and tests, so we don't have any time left to learn signing. Why don't you do it?

VICTOR

All my girl friends got married, or left town, or something. I'm spending all my spare time looking for a new girl friend.

MARCUS

You might get lucky over there.

VICTOR

What do you mean by that?

MARCUS

Deaf women need love too.

VICTOR

Well....yeah....but I wouldn't feel right about it.

MARCUS

Why not.

VICTOR

I'd feel kind of like....I was taking advantage, or something.

MARCUS

Victor, they're deaf, not stupid!

VICTOR

Yeah, but....

MARCUS

Did you ever see a deaf person walking down the street carrying a sign saying "Please don't take advantage of me because I'm deaf and that makes me too dumb to understand anything." ?

VICTOR

Noooo, .. but...

MARCUS

But me no buts. Give it your best shot. Or are you are afraid of being rejected by a handicapped woman?

(VICTOR gets a sheepish look on his face as OFFICER THOMAS enters, in uniform, carrying a portable computer in a case. CAMERA follows Thomas as she approaches Cagney's desk. ANGLE Cagney and Lacey at their desks.(

THOMAS

Hi. I'm having my calls forwarded to this number. Just let me hook this up.

(She puts the computer on the desk, opens the top, pulls out a cord, and proceeds to hook it to Cagney's phone.)

NOTE: When I wrote this script I didn't know the telephone device for the deaf is called a TDD.

CAGNEY

What's that for?

THOMAS

It's how deaf people use the phone. If your phone rings, and you pick it up, and all you hear is a bunch of tones, then it's for me.

CAGNEY

O.K.

LACEY

Mrs. Farley gave us 17 possibilities. I've been running them down. 6 are in the penitentiary, in New York and 1 in Connecticut. 3 are dead from narcotic overdose. 1 moved to another state. That leaves us with 2. I have addresses on both of them. You ready to go check them out?

(The phone rings. CAGNEY answers it.)

CAGNEY

Ca......

(She jerks the phone away from her ear and frowns at it, then hands it to Thomas. Thomas flips a switch on her computer and types a bit.)

THOMAS

You can hang it up now.

(THOMAS types some more as Cagney cranes her neck to see the computer screen, still holding the phone.)

CUT TO:

CLOSE-UP of the computer screen as letters appear on it. It is a deaf person calling.

CUT TO:

ANGLE Cagney and Lacey at desks.

CAGNEY hangs up the phone. and she and Lacey get up.

CAGNEY

We have to go.

THOMAS starts to disconnect her computer.

THOMAS

So do I.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR- DETECTIVES CAR - ROLLING - DAY

LACEY at the wheel, CAGNEY beside her. CAMERA follows the car as it parks at the curb. They get out and enter a cheap hotel.

CUT TO:

STAIRS-LEADING TO SECOND FLOOR-CHEAP HOTEL ENTRANCE

CAGNEY AND LACEY climb the last three steps to the second floor where the hotel desk is located. The desk clerk looks like a slob. They approach and show their badges.

CAGNEY

I'm Sgt. Cagney and this is Det. Lacey.

(The DESK CLERK regards them with bored indifference. CHRIS takes a photo from her purse and shows it to the clerk.)

CAGNEY

We're looking for this man. His name is Dwaune Richards. This is the address he gave his Parole Officer

CLERK

Room 11. Down the hall on the left.

CHEAP HOTEL HALL

(CAGNEY AND LACEY approach room 11 and knock. In a few moments the door is opened by a man they recognize from the photo Chris has.)

CAGNEY

Mr. Richards, I'm Sgt. Cagney and this is Det. Lacey. We'd like to talk to you about a robbery and murder that took place about a week ago.

RICHARDS

Sure. Come on in.

(He opens the door wide and they enter.)

INTERIOR - CHEAP HOTEL ROOM

Sparsely furnished with cheap furniture. A bed, a chest, two chairs, and a mirror. A blue jacket is over the back of one chair. Cagney goes to the closet and starts looking at the few clothes there. Lacey sits in the chair with the jacket, when Richards invites them to sit. Richards sits on the bed.

RICHARDS

Sit down. What do you want to know ?

CAGNEY

Where were you last Thursday night, Mr. Richards ?

RICHARDS

I suppose someone said they saw someone that looked like me.

CAGNEY

That's right.

RICHARDS

I work nights at a pizza place on 59th street. I go in at 6 P.M. and work till closing at 3 A.M.

LACEY

Are there others working the shift with you ?

RICHARDS

Yes. Three others. What time did this happen ?

CAGNEY

Around 9 P.M. Do you have a tan jacket ?

RICHARDS

No. Just that blue one. And I've got an iron clad alibi for 9 P.M. Thursday night. My parole Officer and his wife come in every Thursday about that time, and I always serve them. Have you talked to him about it ?

CAGNEY

Yes, but we only asked for your address.

RICHARDS

Well, this is the first time I was ever been glad to be on parole. I only have 6 more months to go.

It's been a long 6 years, but it's almost over now. Sorry I can't help you solve your case.

(CHRIS and MARY BETH get up and leave. At the door on the way out Lacey says to him, with a smile.)

LACEY

We're glad your doing so well. We'll keep in touch.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - DET. CAR - ROLLING - DAY

LACEY at the wheel.

LACEY

I'm glad to see somebody who's reformed and he's making it the honest way.

CAGNEY

Me too, but I didn't think he did it anyway since he did time for burglary.

LACEY

You got the address for the other one?

CAGNEY

(looks at a paper) It's down in the village.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

GRENWICH VILLAGE STREET - LATE AFTERNOON

Lacey parks the car. Cagney and Lacey go up to a door and ring the bell. CAMERA CLOSES. A woman opens the door.

WOMAN

Yes?

CAGNEY

I'm Sgt. Cagney and this is Det. Lacey. Is Mr. Adams at home?

WOMAN

No, he isn't.

LACEY

Can you tell us when he might come in, mam?

WOMAN

My husband is in the hospital. He had an accident at work two weeks ago. I don't expect him home till next week.

CAGNEY

What hospital is he in, mam?

WOMAN

The County. We don't have enough money for him to go anyplace else.

LACEY

Thank you mam. We can see him there.

(CAGNEY and LACEY get in their car and leave.)

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - DET. CAR - ROLLING - A FEW MIN. LATER

CAGNEY DRIVING

CAGNEY

17 possibilities and we end up with nothing.

LACEY

Looks like we've come to a dead end.

CAGNEY

Maybe we should get together with Officer Thomas and Mrs Farley, and start over from the beginning. Maybe we missed something.

LACEY

Mrs. Farley has been walking the boys home from the theater. All this time and I didn't even know it was right in my neighborhood.

CAGNEY

How are the boys doing in learning sign language?

LACEY

They just call it signing, and they are really picking it up fast. They walk around the apartment signing to each other all the time, and Harv and I don't know what they're saying unless we ask.

CAGNEY

They must be getting really good at it.

LACEY

They are. Everything has it's blessings. The apartment has never been so quiet. They never wake up the baby......Oh, drop me at the corner. I gotta get some eggs for breakfast.

(The car stops at the curb. Lacey gets out.)

LACEY

See ya in the morning.

CAGNEY

O.K.

(The car pulls away as LACEY enters the grocery store.)

FADE OUT

EXTERIOR

14TH PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - DAY (STOCK)

INTERIOR

14 TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM

ANGLE on Cagney and Lacey at their desks. SAMUELS approaches.

SAMUELS

How are you two doing en that case of the "dummy" who got stabbed to death? What was his name?

LACEY

Mr. Farley, sir, and they don't call them "dummies" any more.

SAMUELS

Yeah ?? What do they call them now?

CAGNEY

Hearing impaired, sir.

SAMUELS

Hearing impaired, huh? Always coming up with new terms so nobody understands what anybody is talking about.

CAGNEY

If you were deaf, how would you feel about being called stupid?

SAMUELS

Well, you know what I meant.

LACEY

Yes sir, and I also know what you said. You said deaf people are stupid.

SAMUELS

O.K., I stand corrected. Now, how are you coming with the case?

CAGNEY

We checked out all the suspects and cleared them all. We've reached a dead end till he does something else.

SAMUELS

Welllll....So who's the dummies now?

CAGNEY

That's not fair, we've worked just as hard on this case as on any other. It's just that we've temporarily run out of leads.

SAMUELS

Well work harder then. It seems that Farley's Uncle is Judge Coe.

LACEY

The one with the reputation of giving the maximum sentence all the time?

S AMU EL S

The same. And he knows how to give out heat everywhere.

CAGNEY

What do you suggest we do, Capt. We've run out of leads.

SAMUELS

There's only one thing to do. Get out on the street and beat the bushes. Come up with some new leads.

(SAMUELS turns and heads for his office. At the door he turns and calls out.)

SAMUELS

Get Isbecki, or somebody, to help you.

He closes the door to his office. With fire flying from her eyes Chris snatches up her purse, and heads for the Jane.

CUT TO: THE JANE

CAGNEY stamps in followed by LACEY. Chris throws her purse in the sink from half way across the room, and stamps across the room to stand in front of the sink, looking daggers at her own reflection in the mirror.

LACEY

Get a grip on yourself Christine. Whatever we have to do to get this guy is what we will do.

CAGNEY

(loudly, turns and starts pacing) Of course we will. I just resent his acting like we're not trying our best, or we don't know how.

LACEY

You know he didn't mean it that way. I guess he's getting a lot of heat from upstairs. It's our heat and he's taken about all he can to protect us.

(CAGNEY does several takes, as her temper cools.)

CAGNEY

(quietly now) O.K., so where do we go from here?

LACEY

Shopping. Maybe we can find a store that sells bush beaters.

(They walk out, leaving the door open.)

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT REAR ALLEY-DAY

CAMERA ON THE TRASH DUMPER. A man comes walking down the alley toward the camera. He finds the dumpster and lifts the lid.

CUT TO:

INSIDE OF THE DUMPER

Inside the dumpster is just a bunch of papers, coffee cups, etc.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-THE ALLEY

The man looks around. He sees no one. He takes a book of matches from his pocket. He tears off the cover and tears out one match. He lights the match and uses it to light all the rest of the matches in the book. He drops the burning matches in the dumpster and closes the lid. He continues walking down the alley toward the camera.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-NEW YORK STREET-DAY

The man buys a newspaper and takes up a position where he can look across the street and see the dumpster in the alley.

CUT TO:

EXTERIOR-THE ALLEY

Smoke is now evident around the lid of the dumpster.

CUT TO:

THE MAN

CLOSE-UP showing the man's eyes looking over the top of the newspaper at the smoking dumpster.

CUT TO:

THE ALLEY

Officer Coleman comes out of a door in the rear of the station with two wastebaskets in his hands. He is surprised to find the dumpster burning. He rushes back into the station.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT DOWNSTAIRS HALLWAY

Various rooms open off of the hallway. Coleman rushes along the hall.

COLEMAN

FIRE!! FIRE!! EVERYBODY OUT!!

People come rushing from various rooms and follow Coleman toward the front of the station.

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-DAY

Various people rush out, mainly uniformed officers. Capt. Samuels takes charge. He issues orders.

SAMUELS

Nieto, call the fire department and be sure they're on the way. Donaldson, take two men with you and go to that corner. Detour the pedestrians to the other side of the street. Fornier, do the same at that corner. Wilson, Greer, Thomas, get these cars out of the way. Use them to block off the street and stay with them to let the fire engines through.

The man lowers his newspaper and folds it. A crowd forms around him as we see him put his paper under his arm.

CUT TO:

THE MAN AND THE CROWD AROUND HIM.

A BEAT

CUT TO:

STREET

Fire engines come down the street with sirens wailing. They stop and the firemen start laying hoses. A news crew arrives and starts filming. They film the firemen, the police, and the crowd.

CUT TO:

THE CROWD

CENTER ON the man. His eyes are gleaming and he has a smile of delight as he watches the excitement.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

THE ALLEY

The firemen have finished and left. All that is left in the alley is a very damaged dumpster, Marks of the fire on the building, and a lot of water everywhere.

CARASSA and a fire department arson investigator survey the scene.

FIREMAN

Arson, without a doubt.

CARASSA

Who the hell would want to burn down a police station ?Nobody could collect a dime of insurance for this.

FIREMAN

This is the fourth dumpster fire this week. We had three last week, and four the week before.

CARASSA

You mean somebody is doing this for the thrill of watching the firemen put out a fire ?

FIREMAN

Looks like it.

CARASSA

We don't have enough to do. Now we have to try to find an arsonist. A nut case at that.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR - SMALL THEATER - NIGHT

ISBECKI shown entering.

INTERIOR - SMALL THEATRE - NIGHT

WIDE SHOT showing Isbecki taking a seat in the rear and a similar small audience to that in Act One. All is silence as the players on stage are deaf and doing a play in sign language only.

CUT TO:

ON ISBECKI as THOMAS sits down beside him.

THOMAS

(

normal voice, not signing) Hi. I saw you come in. Tonight they are doing a play. My part is in the last act. I play a housemaid.

VICTOR

(almost whispering) What's it about?

THOMAS

(smiling) You don't have to whisper. You and I are the only ones here tonight that aren't deaf. It's a love story that ends in tragedy. It's an original, written by the woman on the right in the front row.

ISBECKI

Oh.. Looks.... .interesting.

THOMAS

It is....when you can understand signing.

I SBECKI

Yeah...I guess that would be better. You said it's easy to learn. I was wondering how a person starts.

THOMAS

You get a dictionary.

I SBECKI

They make a dictionary of signs?

THOMAS

Sure. I'll get you one. Be right back.

(CAMERA FOLLOWS Thomas as she goes to the side of the room.)

CUT TO:

ON ISBECKI as he watches the performance on stage and tries to figure out what is going on.

CUT TO.

ON THE PLAYERS on stage. A man and a woman are playing chess and discussing the reasons they must end their relationship.

CUT TO:

ON ISBECKI as Thomas returns with a very attractive dark haired woman about Isbecki's age.

THOMAS

Here you go. A dictionary, and grammar book too. Her name is Amanda Kostopolous.

(She signs to Amanda and speaks to Isbecki.)

THOMAS

(continuing) Amanda. this is Det. Isbecki, N.Y.P.D.

THOMAS

(Amanda signing) Pleased to meet you. Jean says you would like to learn signing.

ISBECKI

(Thomas signing) Yeah...but I was thinking of some sort of book, and call me Victor.

THOMAS

(Amanda signing) A book for signing would be about a hundred volumes and be all pictures. It would cost several thousand dollars too. The best way is to learn from someone who knows.

THOMAS

(signing and speaking for herself) Why don't you two just go on over to the coffee shop? The light is better there. Amanda has already seen the show, so she won't miss anything.

ISBECKI

O.K.

(They rise and start for the door.)

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR - COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

ANGLE: ISBECKI and AMANDA are sitting in a booth on the same side of the table. The table is littered with papers with notes scribbled all over them. The napkin holder is empty too, and they have used all of them for notes as well. Amanda finishes writing a note and gives it to Victor. She points to the words, one at a time and shows him the sign for each. Victor says the word and imitates the sign.

VICTOR

The.. factory.. .where... I. .work... is. .very. noisy. Or... so. .1'm... told. I...don' t...hear... it...at... all. Everybody...who...works... there.. is. . . deaf. We.. sign.. all... day. People... who...hear...think... it...looks...funny...to... see,...but...we.. don't. .think.. so.

(Victor writes a note and gives it to her. He says the words out loud as she continues to show him the sighs.)

VICTOR

I... don't.. think. .its. . . funny. I... think..it's...kind...Of...pretty...the... way. .you.. do. .it.

(AMANDA writes and gives it to him.)

VICTOR

Thank. .you. I... feel.. safe. .with... you.. since. .you' re. . . a. .policeman... and... very...nice...too. Would...you... like.. to. . walk. .me. .home?

(VICTOR forgets to sign and speaks.)

VICTOR

Sure, why not.

(AMANDA writes and gives it to him.)

VICTOR

It's...O.K....to...speak...when...I... can.. see. .your... face. I... can... read.. .lips... some. I...can...teach... you.. signing.. and. . you. .can. .help... me. .with. .lip. .reading.

VICTOR

(looks at her and grins) O.K. I never thought we might help each other.

They get up to leave. Victor looks at the huge mess on the table for the waitress to clean up and leaves a five dollar tip.

ON Mary Beth and Harvey in bed. They are watching TV. The news is on and they are showing film from the fire at the 14th Precinct.

HARVEY

Hey, that's the 14th.

MARY BETH

Yeah. That was today.

CUT TO:

TV SET

On the TV screen are the firemen putting water on the fire in the dumpster.

ANNOUNCER(V.O.)

Arson was determined to be the cause of another fire in a trash dumpster today. It was located in the alley behind the 14th Precinct Police station. Luckily, the fire was discovered in the early stages of

(The scene changes to show the crowd. In the middle of it is the man who set the fire.)

ANNOUNCER (V.0.)

(continuous) development, and extinguished before serious damage resulted. There were no injuries.

CUT TO:

HARVEY AND MARY BETH IN BED

HARVEY

A little excitement at the station today. What happened ? Did somebody get bored.

MARY BETH

It's not funny, Harv. The whole station filled with smoke. It took three hours to air the place out.

HARVEY

There was one guy there that seemed to enjoy it. He was right in the middle of the crowd watching the firemen.

MARY BETH

Don't joke with me Harv. Did you really see somebody enjoying it?

HARVEY

Yeah, I really saw somebody.

(Mary Beth gets out of the bed and gets a pad of paper and a pen. She hands them to Harv.)

MARY BETH

Write me a description of the man.

(Harvey starts to write as Mary Beth starts to dial the phone.)

(We hear the ringing signal from the phone. After a few rings it is answered.)

CARASSA (V.O.)

Hello.

MARY BETH

Did I wake you up, Al?

CARASSA (V.0.)

No, I was watching the news on TV.

MARY BETH

Did you see the story about the fire at the station?

CARASSA (V.0.)

Yeah. just now.

MARY BETH

So did we. Do you remember the arson investigator saying that the arsonist enjoys fires and the excitement ?

CARASSA (V.0.)

Yeah.

MARY BETH

Harvey said he saw someone in the crowd who was enjoying watching the fire. I think the TV got pictures of the arsonist. I'll let Harvey describe him to you. Hang on. Here Harvey. This is Det. Al Carassa.

(She hands the phone to Harvey.)

MARY BETH

(continuous) Samuels assigned him the case of the arsonist at the station. I want you to describe the man you saw.

HARVEY

O.K.

(Harvey takes the phone.)

HARVEY

Hello?

CARASSA (V.0.)

Yeah, go ahead.

HARVEY

He was right in the middle of the crowd

FADE OUT

FADE IN

EXTERIOR-TV STATION-NIGHT

CARASSA rings the night bell and a station guard comes to the door.

GUARD

The station is closed for the night. You'll have to come back tomorrow.

CARASSA shows him his badge.

CARASSA

I'm Det. Carassa, 14th precinct. - I need to see someone in the news department. It's very important.

GUARD

Well, if it's a police matter....

CARASSA

It certainly is.

GUARD

Come in.

CUT TO:

STATION OFFICE-NEWS DEPARTMENT

Only one reporter is on duty at this time of night.

GUARD

This is Det. Carassa, 1.4th Precinct. He wants to see you about police business.

REPORTER

What did I do ?

CARASSA

Nothing yet. It's what I want you to do.

REPORTER

OK. What could I do for you?

CARASSA

I want you to get out all the news film of all the trash dumpster fires. Put them all together end to end so I can see them one after another.

REPORTER

OK. I can do that. But it will take me a couple of hours.

CARASSA

I don't care if it takes all night. It's very important. I'll wait for it.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-THE NEWS ROOM-NIGHT

CARASSA is sleeping with his head propped on his hand.

REPORTER

Officer ? Officer ?

CARASSA

Yeah. OK. What do you have ?

REPORTER

Do you want to see the film now ?

CARASSA gets up and rubs his eyes.

CARASSA

I sure do.

REPORTER

OK. Come with me.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-A VIEWING ROOM-NIGHT

CARASSA is viewing film on a Moviola machine.

NOTE: A Moviola machine is a machine used for viewing and editing 35 MM movie film. It's used now only by movie studios. TV stations have replaced it with video cameras.

CARASSA

There he is again. That's the seventh fire that guy was at. Can you blow that up and give me a good shot of that guy's face ?

REPORTER

A lead pipe cinch. I'll have it for you in fifteen minutes.

FADE OUT

EXTERIOR SIDEWALK - NIGHT

ISBECKI and AMANDA are walking along, slowly, toward the camera, which precedes them. She is showing him signs as they go, pointing to things and giving him the signs for them. He copies what she does. Traffic light, no parking sign, things in store windows, etc. A group of three punks spots them.

1ST PUNK

Hey, lookit the dummies!!. Ya wanna have some fun wit' 'em??

Isbecki turns to them and pulls back his coat to show his badge.

ISBECKI

Go ahead. I got a cell reserved for you.

2ND PUNK

SHEESH!!

The punks hurry off down the street. Victor and Amanda come to the steps of a brownstone. She indicates it with a wave of her hand. She gives the sign for a drink. Isbecki smiles, shakes his head no, and points to his watch. She smiles, and nods to show she understands. She climbs the steps, opens the door, looks back, waves, and enters. After the door is shut, Isbecki starts walking away down the sidewalk.

SLOWLY FADE OUT

FADE IN

14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY- ESTABLISHING - DAY

14TH PRECINCT SQUADROOM

ON PETRIE at his desk. ISBECKI enters and sits down at his desk. He leans back in his chair and laces his hands together behind his head. He puts his feet up on his desk. He has a grin from ear to ear. PETRIE gazes at him curiously.

PETRIE

Don't tell me. You won the lottery?

ISBECKI

Nope.

PETRIE

Bon Bon is back??

I SBECKI

Better. Amanda has arrived.

PETRI E

AMANDA?

ISBECKI

Yeeeaaahhh..

.

PETRIE

And who is Amanda?

I SEECKI

She's the one you told me to find. So I did.

PETRIE

I told you to do what ??

I SBECKI

You told me to check out learning signing.

PETRIE

(suddenly understands) Ooooohh! And you got lucky?

ISBECKI

Did I ever. She's beautiful, ii~tellegent, and a real charmer. I never met a woman like her.

PETRIE

That's not surprising, considering the places you've been looking.

I SBECKI

I've found some nice women in those places, but none like her. She's just different.

PETRIE

Yeah. Deaf.

ISBECKI

That too.

CAGNEY and LACEY enter. Chris spots Isbecki, stops short, points to him and looks at Lacey.

CAGNEY

Oh now, would you look at this??

(She turns to Isbecki.)

CAGNEY

Isbecki, are you drunk at eight O'clock in the morning ?

PETRI E

He's drunk with happiness.

CAGNEY looks back and forth between them for a couple of beats, trying to make some sense of this.

CAGNEY

You mean he scored ?

I SBECKI

Come on. She's a very nice woman, and all I did was walk her home and say good night. I didn't even kiss her.

LACEY

Well... Do you suppose you could pull yourself out of paradise long enough to give us some ideas about this case of the deaf man who was killed ?

I SBECKI

Sure. The guy was killed in Manhattan, right ?

LACEY

Yeah ?

I SBECKI

Don't look for the guy who did it in Manhattan.

CAGNEY

Why not ?

ISBECKI

I've already checked it out with everybody I know on the street. They say he's new in town. He lives in Queens and takes the subway to Manhattan to commit his crimes. He figures he's safe because he can duck in the subway and be gone instantly.

LAGEY

That's more than we had.

CAGNEY

Not much more.

I SBECKI

So what do you want for nothing ? Cagney just frowns in silence.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN

INTERIOR - DETECTIVES CAR - NIGHT

The car is parked near the Lacey home. CAGNEY at the wheel.

CAGNEY

Another day, another nothing.

LACEY

Yeah. I'm sure tired. I guess we've checked half the motels and hotels in Queens.

CAGNEY

I didn't know there was so many.

LACEY

Me neither.

CAGNEY

David's out of town tonight. I haven't seen Alice for a while. Mind if I come up ?

LACEY

You're always welcome at my door, partner.

FADE OUT.

NEW YORK STREET TRAFFIC - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

NEW YORK SIDEWALK NIGHT

Reading from left to right, a deaf man, Harvey Jr., Michael, and Mrs. Farley, are walking down the street. The CAMERA precedes them, looking back. They are conversing in sign language. Harvey and Michael do all the speaking. (Note; This conversation is a bit difficult to envision. When Michael asks a question, he speaks the answer out loud, no matter who answers. The same goes for Harvey Jr. It's difficult to know who is actually speaking the words. The boys in the middle sort of have to swivel their heads back and forth much more than hearing people to carry on this conversation. To make it easier I will use (H) to indicate Harvey Jr., and (M) to indicate Michael when they speak.)

MICHAEL

How did you meet your husband, Mrs. Farley?

FARLEY (M)

We met several years ago, in High School.

HARVEY JR.

Was it a special school for the deaf?

FARLEY (H)

Yes. I guess you could call it love at first sight for both of us. When we graduated, he went into business with George here. They sell ---sold---life insurance, to deaf people. At least they did until he was killed. Now I have taken his place at the office.

GEORGE (H)

She does a fine job, too. But I still miss my old friend,

Suddenly Mrs. Farley looks down the street past the camera and a sudden look of recognition crosses her face. She suddenly throws her arm in front of Michael. They all stop.

FARLEY CM)

There's the man who killed my husband!! Quick!! Go to a phone and call your mother!! We'll wait right here in this doorway!!

CUT TO:

INTERIOR - LACEY - KITCHEN

Harvey, Mary Beth, and Chris are sitting at the table having coffee as the phone rings.

MARY BETH

Hello?

CUT TO:

NEW YORK PHONE BOOTH ON THE STREET - NIGHT

MICHAEL

(excitedly) Mom, ya gotta come quick!! I'm with Mrs. Farley and she just saw the man who killed her husband!!!!

CUT TO:

LACEY KITCHEN

MARY BETH

Where are you Michael ?

CUT TO:

PHONE BOOTH

MICHAEL

In a phone booth right outside the coffee shop we all went to the other night!!

CUT TO:

LACEY KITCHEN

MARY BETH

We'll be there in three minutes !! Bye.

Mary Beth hangs up the phone and turns to Harvey and Chris.

MARY BETH

Christine. Michael's with Mrs. Farley and she just spotted the guy who killed her husband. Let's go.

HARVEY

(Looks at Mary Beth. It's obvious he wants to go with her but knows she won't agree.) Ok. I'll stay here and watch Alice..

MARY BETH

Thanks, Harv. (She kisses him quickly, and then she and Christine rush out the door.).

NEW YORK STREET IN FRONT OF THE COFFEE SHOP

Michael, Harvey Jr., the deaf man, and Mrs. Farley are standing there when Chris and Mary Beth rush up from their rear.

FARLEY (M)

That's him. Right there in the tan jacket by the bus stop sign.

Christine and Mary Beth start down the street toward the man. When they are beside the man, Mary Beth walks in front of him and stops. She turns to him and pulls one side of her coat open, revealing her police badge.

MARY BETH

Police. You're under arrest.

The man steps back and looks around, trying to find some way to escape. Suddenly he pulls a switchblade knife and starts to lunge at Mary Beth. Christine has her gun pulled, grabs the perp's shoulder and spins him around..

CHRISTINE

I don't think that's a good idea.

The man sees the gun in Christine's hand and he drops his knife. Mary Beth picks it up. As she does, a police car with uniformed officers pulls to the curb. Chris gets out her badge. As they approach, she shows it to them.

CAGNEY

Cagney and Lacey, 14th Precinct. Lock up this punk. Charge him with robbery and murder.

Everyone gathers around Cagney and Lacey as the officers give the man his rights and put him in the back of their patrol car.

HARVEY JR. (speaking and signing) Gee mom, that's the first time we ever saw you arrest somebody!!

MICHAEL (signing and speaking) Yea!! Way to go mom!!

FADE OUT

EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-DAY-(stock)

INTERIOR- SQUAD ROOM-DAY

Cagney and Lacey at their desks. Samuels approaches. Carassa is standing by Chris with a coffee cup in his hand.

SAMUELS

I just got word. The 17th just picked up our firebug. A known mental case.

CAGNEY

Way to go.

C

CARASSA

Well, I couldn't let somebody get away with burning down MY workplace.

SAMUELS

It was good work. Now you can wind up that case and the killer from last night in one day.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INTERIOR-INTERROGATION ROOM-DAY

Cagney standing, Lacey sitting across the table from the man arrested the night before. Lacey reads from the arrest report.

LACEY

Lou Rochow. Last known address in Chicago. How long have you been in New York, Mr. Rochow ?

ROCHOW

About a month.

CAGNEY

(loudly) We've got you cold, Rochow. Forensics has positively identified your knife as the murder weapon. It still had traces of the victim's blood on it, AND, it fit perfectly in the wounds in the victim's body. AND we have a positive I.D. from an eye witness.

(Cagney paces the floor a bit. About two steps each way.)

CAGNEY

(continues with quiet fury) We just want to know one thing. Why did you kill him ?

Rochow looks from one to the other and realizes he has had it. There's nothing left to hide.

ROCHOW

Well, I told him twice I just wanted his money, but he pretended I wasn't even there. Nobody treats me like that. I just lost my temper.

LACEY

Where were you standing when you told him that ?

ROCHOW

Right behind him, about two feet away.

CAGNEY

(hotly) Did it ever occur to you that he might not have heard you ?

ROCHOW

Oh, he heard me all right. I said it right out loud.

LACEY

(flatly) He was stone deaf. He didn't even know you were there till you started stabbing him.

(Rochow looks dismayed as the camera widens to show all three.)

FREEZE FRAME

FADE OUT

THE END


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