Terrorist by John M. Riggle
(from John) Hello again. "Silent Scream" was my first attempt at script writing. No doubt it could stand improvement. Here is the second. It was written while there was a lot in the TV news about terrorists. the main premise of the script was that they might think they could cause the downfall of the US by bombing banks and thus attacking out financial base. Everything went fine till I came to the end. I couldn't figure any way for Cagney and Lacey to catch the terrorist. This is what I came up with. I hope it comes as a surprise to you when you read it. John.
CAGNEY AND LACEY
"Terrorist"
Written by John M. Riggle
First draft, Sept. 4, 1986. Second draft, Sept. 9, 1986. Final draft, Oct. 7, 1986.
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)
Guest cast.
Burglar; Customs Inspector; Claudia Petrie; Desk Clerk; Grocery Checker; Fireman; Dan Orlando; Bank Guard #1; Bank Guard #2; Bomb squad captain; Newsman (TV); Preacher #1; Preacher #2; Preacher #3; Robber #1; Robber #2; Uniformed officers; Motel Manager
Sets
Interiors: Customs; Warehouse; 14th precinct detention cells; 14th precinct hall and stairs; Motel Desk;
Supermarket Check-out; Motel room; Petrie kitchen; Petrie living room; Bank #1 lobby; Bank #2 lobby; Bank #3 lobby;
Bank #4 lobby; Bank #4 by vault; 14th precinct squad room; Hospital room; Hospital corridor; Bomb Disposal Captain's office; The Jane; Lacey Kitchen; Detectives car
Exteriors: Airport; Warehouse; 14th precinct parking; bay-night and day; Motel-night and day;
Petrie dwelling; Bank #1; Bank #2; Bank #3; bank #4; Hospital; A police building
Chronology
Scenes 1-10 (Night); Scenes 11-31 (Day); Scenes 32-33 (Night); Scenes 34-38 (Day); Scene 39 (Night); Scenes 40-58 (Day)
ACT ONE
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-AIRPORT-JET PLANE LANDING-NIGHT-ESTABLISHING(STOCK)
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-WAREHOUSE-ESTABLISHING - NIGHT (STOCK)
CUT TO:
INTERIOR-WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Marcus and Victor are hiding in the warehouse. Victor suddenly turns on the light and he and Marcus have their guns pointed at a burglar.
MARCUS
FREEZE!! POLICE!!
The burglar ducks behind a crate and pulls a gun. He begins shooting wildly in the direction of Victor and Marcus. The CAMERA cuts back and forth between Marcus and Victor, and the burglar, as they shoot at each other. One of the bullets from the burglar's gun hits a brick wall and a chip flies off. The chip wounds Marcus slightly on his forehead. The burglar runs out of bullets and his gun clicks a few times.
BURGLAR
O.K. I give up.
VICTOR
Throw out your gun.
The gun flies out as Marcus puts a handkerchief to his forehead. Just a scratch, but it bleeds a bit. They cuff the burglar and Victor notices that Marcus is bleeding.
VICTOR
Hey, you're hit.
MARCUS
Just a scratch from a flying chip
of brick. I'm O.K.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - AIRPORT CUSTOMS - NIGHT
A man of obvious middle-eastern ancestry is passing through customs.
ANGLE on man.
CUSTOMS INSPECTOR
Do you have anything to declare, Mr. Ahmad?
MAN
(speaking with an accent)
No. Nothing.
The inspector closes the man's bag, hands him his passport, and allows him to pass.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-NIGHT
INTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT DETENTION CELLS-NIGHT
Marcus and Victor put the burglar in a cell. They lock the door and start down the stairs.
CUT TO:
THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS
As Marcus and Victor reach the bottom of the stairs, Claudia rushes up and throws herself on Marcus.
CLAUDIA
(between tears)
I heard you were shot!!
MARCUS
It's only a scratch from a brick chip.
CLAUDIA
You could have been killed.
MARCUS
I wasn't. It's just a scratch
CUT TO:
SQUAD ROOM
They enter the squad room. Lacey shows up with a wet rag. She gives it to Claudia as Marcus and Victor sit down at their desks. Claudia proceeds to clean the blood from Marcus's face.
CLAUDIA
(with great concern)
Oh. Oh. I remembered Newman and I guess
I just imagined the worst.
MARCUS
It wasn't the same at all.
Claudia finishes cleaning up his face as Cagney shows up with a first-aid kit. Claudia puts a band-aid type bandage on Marcus's forehead, then smiles through her tears, kisses Marcus, then takes a look at him as she smiles as she wipes away her tears.
CLAUDIA
I'm so relieved that you're all right.
Victor has been watching all this.
VICTOR
I was getting shot at too, you know.
CLAUDIA
(turns to him)
Yes, and I would have been broken hearted
if you had.....you know... bought the farm.
But you're not my husband. It's not the same.
CAGNEY
(mockingly)
Poor Victor. Nobody cares about him as
long as he doesn't die.
VICTOR
It won't do me any good if people only
care after I'm dead. If you care at all,
do it now.
LACEY
We all care for each other. It's just
easier somehow, to say it about dead
people.
A couple of beats.
VICTOR
Yeah.... .You' re right.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
MOTEL DESK- NIGHT
Man checks in, using a fictitious name
DESK CLERK
Room 11, Mr. Abramowitz.
MAN
Thank you.
He picks up his bag.
FADE OUT
INTERIOR - LACEY KITCHEN - NIGHT
Harvey, Harvey Jr., Michael, and Mary Beth are sitting around the kitchen table.
MARY BETH
Marcus and Victor had to shoot it out with
a burglar tonight. Marcus was hit in the
forehead by a little piece of flying brick.
It just scratched him a little bit.
HARVEY
I'm sure glad it wasn't any worse
than that.
MARY BETH
Me too. But it made me think. It could
happen to me. I love being a Police Officer.
Doing whatever I can to make the streets safe.
But what would you do without a wife? And
what would you boys do without a mother ?
I need for you guys to tell me to go ahead.
She takes their hands and looks back and forth from one to another with a look of anguish on her face.
MICHAEL
If it wasn't for people like you we
couldn't go to school.
HARVEY JR.
We couldn't do anything else, either, except
stay home with guns to protect ourselves.
HARVEY
Somebody has to do it. At least we can be proud
of what you do, and so can you. We don't ever
have to tell anybody that you are "just" a house
wife, or "just" a waitress, or "just" an anything.
The three guys get up and go to hug and kiss her.
MARY BETH
(through tears)
I love you guys so much.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SUPERMARKET CHECKOUT COUNTER - DAY
The man is buying items and is at the checkout counter.
CHECKER
$21.37, Sir.
He pays and gets his change as the sacker sacks up his purchases. He picks up the bag and starts out.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - MOTEL - ESTABLISHING - DAY
INTERIOR - MOTEL ROOM - DAY
CAMERA shows a "shoe box" with various things inside. Hands connect wires to a timer. CAMERA widens to show the man. He puts the lid on the box and picks up a newspaper. He begins cutting words out of the paper and laying them on a sheet of writing paper. When he finishes, he glues them down, puts the paper in an envelope, and seals
it.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - MARCUS' DWELLING - ESTABLISHING - DAY
INTERIOR - MARCUS' DWELLING - KITCHEN - DAY
CLAUDIA and MARCUS are just finishing breakfast. Marcus puts down his coffee cup.
CLAUDIA
Maybe if I had been there it wouldn't
scare me so much. You're all I've got.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
I wish you'd get a safer job, like a
bank teller, or something.
MARCUS
You knew I was a police Officer when
you married me. I can't change now.
I've put in too many years. Please don't
ask me to quit.
CLAUDIA
I thought you did things like hand out speeding
tickets, or parking tickets. I never thought you
might get shot, or have to shoot somebody.
MARCUS
That's what police do, sometimes.
CLAUDIA
Not where I come from. They direct traffic.
They help children and old people across the
street. They investigate car accidents.
Things like that.
MARCUS
Claudia, there are bad people out there.
They rob, they steal, they murder.
Somebody has to put them in jail.
CLAUDIA
But you don't have to. Let somebody
else do it.
MARCUS
No Claudia. I have to do it. I can't
leave it to somebody else.
(he smiles)
Especially not today. Friday's payday.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-BANK #1-ESTABLISHING - DAY
INTERIOR-BANK #1
Claudia is in line at a teller' s window. She is just picking up her things to leave. WIDEN to show the man at the customer service counter in the middle of the lobby. The man appears to be filling out a deposit slip. He places a box in the trashcan as Claudia passes him on her way out. He turns and follows her as she leaves the bank and walks down the sidewalk. He walks at the same speed as Claudia so that he remains about 20 to 30 feet behind her.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR - BANK - DAY
ON CLAUDIA as she walks down the sidewalk with the man following her and the bank in the background. When they are about a hundred feet or so from the bank, the bomb goes off. Broken glass litters the sidewalk and showers passersby. Claudia ducks and squats on the sidewalk in surprise. She throws her hands on top of her head. The man calmly walks on, passes Claudia, and passes out of camera range.
CUT TO:
ON CLAUDIA'S FACE
She looks back at the bank with a look of amazement on her face as she squats on the sidewalk. Other people are looking as well, but only the man is not looking as we watch his back while he walks away.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT ONE
.
ACT TWO
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - BANK#1 - A FEW MINUTES LATER
Ambulances, paramedics, live survivors being put in ambulances, bodies in body bags being put in hearses, uniformed police controlling the crowd, crying, shouting, "Keep back", "Over here", "Get that", "Watch it", etc. Firemen checking for fire. Cagney and Lacey arrive in their detective's car and hurry into the bank. They quickly hurry out again and go to stand on the curb.
CAMERA CLOSES on Cagney and Lacey.
CAGNEY
My God, Mary Beth. I've never seen
anything like that.
LACEY
I think I'm going to be sick.
CAGNEY
No time for that now. Do it later.
LACEY
It must have been a bomb.
CAGNEY
Looks like a bomb. And it went off right in the middle of the crowd in the lobby.
Claudia approaches. She is still shaking and has a look of fear and worry and shock on her face. She walks timidly.
LACEY
Look who's here.
CAGNEY
Hello Claudia. What are you doing here?
CLAUDIA
I was...I was...I was in the bank,...
depositing Marcus's.... paycheck.
LACEY
You're not hurt ?
CLAUDIA
No...I...got out just...before...the explosion.
Now the tears start.
CLAUDIA
(continued)
I came out (sob) and started down (sob)
the sidewalk, and (throws her hands in
the air) BOOM !!
LACEY
Calm down, Claudia. Did you smell anything
unusual in the bank, like gas ?
CLAUDIA
No. Nothing. Just people...going about
their business. Nothing...unusual at all.
CAGNEY
Can you describe any of them ?
CLAUDIA
Just look at them.( indicates the crcw~)
They looked just like that.
Lacey grabs a fireman going by.
LACEY
I'm Det. Lacey, 14th precinct. Was it
a bomb ?
FIREMAN
Sure was.
LACEY
It must have been some bomb.
FIREMAN
I'd say about a fifteen pounder, or the
equivalent.
LACEY
Dynamite?
FIREMAN
Most likely a homemade one.
Claudia is still shaking as the fireman leaves. Cagney puts her arm around Claudia's shoulders.
CAGNEY
Why don't you go on home. We'll talk
to you later.
CLAUDIA
O.K. I don't know what else to do.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY - DAY - ESTABLISHING
INTERIOR - SQUAD ROOM
Angle on Cagney and Lacey at their desks. Chris rips a page off of her calendar.
CAGNEY
I like Monday. It's usually a low
crime day.
LACEY
I can take it or leave it. But at
least the weather is nice today.
CAGNEY
Yeah. And it's a nice day to lock
up a "Mad Bomber".
LACEY
All we have to do is find one.
CAGNEY
I guess the best place to start is
with ex-mental patients.
Coleman approaches with a man.
COLEMAN
This is Dan Orlando. He's a reporter
for the TIMES.
CAGNEY
What can we do for you, Mr. Orlando?
ORLANDO
It's what I can do for you. It's
about that bank bombing Sat.
He takes an envelope from his inside coat pocket. It is the letter the man was making in the motel room.
ORLANDO
I start early in the morning and this was
on my desk when I came in at 5 A.M.
Cagney takes the paper from the envelope and reads it out loud.
CAGNEY
Banks are roots of capitalist society.
Islamic jihad will destroy all.
Allah be praised.
LACEY
(amazed)
A HOLY WAR ? HERE ???
CAGNEY
That or someone trying to make us
believe we've got one.
LACEY
I can't believe it. It must be a trick.
Cagney is looking at the envelope.
CAGNEY
I don't think so. Look at this envelope.
On the back it says "Wilson Motor Inns".
LACEY
There must be hundreds of them, all over.
CAGNEY
This is the kind they put in the rooms.
LACEY
So? Anybody could rent a room.
CAGNEY
Yes, but if it was someone with a beef against
that bank, or a mental case, he would be
short of money. He wouldn't rent a motel room.
LACEY
And motels keep their rooms locked to
keep out thieves and vagrants.
CAGNEY
Thank you Mr. Orlando. If you get another letter,
please bring it to us unopened so we can check
for fingerprints.
ORLANDO
I wouldn't have opened this one if I
had known what was in it.
LACEY
Please don't print anything about this.
Terrorists thrive on publicity and we
don't want to help them. Just say we're
working on it.
ORLANDO
You've got it.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - MOTEL ROOM - DAY
The man puts the makings of a bomb in a shoebox. He picks up a letter he has made and puts it in an envelope. He seals the envelope and stamps it.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - HOSPITAL - DAY-ESTABLISHING
INTERIOR - HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Cagney and Lacey are questioning the bank guard in his bed. He has a bandage on his head. He's holding his cap in his hands, showing the metal badge on it. The badge has a very noticeable dent in it. It is badly bent as well.
GUARD
I was looking down at the floor at
a key ring, dropped by a woman
customer, when the bomb went off.
A piece of shrapnel hit right there.
I was knocked out, but my badge saved
my life.
LACEY
Lady Luck smiled on you.
CAGNEY
Did you see any unusual persons in
the bank before the explosion?
GUARD
No. Everything seemed normal to me. Lots
of people are in and out of the bank every
day. Nobody special.
LACEY
We have reason to believe it may have been
an Arab terrorist. Did anybody have one of
those things on their head ?
GUARD
Two or three during the day. But they're all
regular customers. They make deposits every day.
CAGNEY
Do you know if any of them might have
had some problem with the bank ?
GUARD
Not them! They're all good accounts, AND,
nobody has been fired from the bank in
over five years, either.
LACEY
Thank you, sir. If we have any more
questions we can come back later.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-A POLICE BUILDING - DAY
A sign on the building announces it is the N.Y.P.D. bomb disposal squad.
INTERIOR - BOMB DISPOSAL CAPTAIN'S OFFICE-DAY
Cagney and Lacey are sitting in front of the desk, the Capt. sitting behind it.
CAGNEY
Did you determine what kind of bomb
it was '?
CAPTAIN
Homemade. You could buy all the parts in
any supermarket. It's the kind popular with
terrorists in all parts of the world.
LACEY
We have a letter received by Mr.
Orlando, a reporter for the Times.
It looks like a terrorist might
have sent it.
CAGNEY
You have some experience with "Mad
Bombers". How do you think we should
go about catching him ?
CAPTAIN
Mad bombers are insane and they do insane
things. Most of them have records at mental
hospitals. A terrorist, on the other hand, could
be anybody. They are fanatics. We have few
fanatics in this country. We know the identity
of virtually all of them. If you have a terrorist
to catch, he will in all probability be a foreigner
who came through customs within the last two
weeks. He probably checked into a motel under
a fictitious name. He may be using a disguise.
So you are looking for a person with no face,
no description, no prints, no anything.
LACEY
Looks like we have to do it the hard way. Check
all the mental hospitals to see who might be the
one, then check with customs to see who else it
might be, and all those motels.
CAPTAIN
That's the way it always is. And it takes lots of
time. Time we usually can't spare.
CAGNEY
You mean he'll do it again ?
CAPTAIN
Once is never enough. He's likely got a
schedule. Just hope you don't have a copycat
to catch too.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT - ESTABLISHING - DAY
INTERIOR - 14th PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM
ON CAGNEY AND LACEY at their desks. ISBECKI approaches.
ISBECKI
So how you commin' with the bomber ?
CAGNEY
A Middle Eastern terrorist. No I.D., no
description, no prints, no nothing. Just
an M.O.
ISBECKI
So why don't you send a flyer to all the
bank guards'. Tell 'em to watch for a
suspicious acting person.
LACEY
What do you call suspicious acting ?
ISBECKI
Well, a man, with a box. He leaves
the box in the trash.
CAGNEY
Probably a man. But we don't know for sure.
The bomb in a box in the trash is right enough.
ISBECKI
That bank must have been a mess.
LACEY
When the bomb went off it tore the trash
can to shreds. The pieces flew all over the
bank like shrapnel.
CAGNEY
Only eleven people killed, but
thirty-seven wounded in the hospital.
LACEY
How does this sound for a flyer ?
LACEY
(continuous)
NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE!
Be on the alert for a person of middle-eastern
appearance with a box similar to a shoe box.
The person will place the box in the trashcan
near the middle of the lobby, then leave the bank.
Try to apprehend the person but regard them as
armed and dangerous. Evacuate the bank immediately.
The box may contain a bomb.
ISBECKI
Sounds good to me.
CAGNEY
Let's get it out as soon as possible. We can get
the armored car services to distribute it.
Samuels approaches from his office.
SAMUEL
I just got word that a TV news crew is on
the way up. I want you to tell them we are
looking for a "Mad Bomber?. Nothing else,
O.K. ?
CAGNEY
I suppose so.
LACEY
Just what we needed. What next?
Samuels hurriedly retreats to his office as the news crew enters. The cameraman starts taking pictures.
NEWSMAN
This is Jim Evans at the 14th precinct.
Could I have your name please ?
CAGNEY
Sgt. Cagney.
NEWSMAN
Sgt. Cagney, how are you coming with
the bombing of the bank the day before
yesterday ? Do you have any leads ?
CAGNEY
It looks like a mental case. We're checking
the records of all the mental hospitals but
it's too early to expect any results.
NEWSMAN
How long might it take to get some
results ?
CAGNEY
From a few days up to a month or so. We have
a lot of records to go over, not just in New
York, but in all the surrounding states as well.
NEWSMAN
There you have it. A long and laborious job
ahead for the police in identifying and
apprehending this "Mad Bomber".
The cameraman stops and they prepare to leave.
NEWSMAN
Thanks, and good luck, Sgt. Cagney.
They hurry out. Mary Beth waits till they are gone before she speaks.
LACEY
I guess that should disappoint our
terrorist.
CAGNEY
I hope so.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-BANK #2 - ESTABLISHING-DAY
INTERIOR - BANK #2 LOBBY
ON the man at the customer service desk. He puts the bomb in the trashcan and exits the bank.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR-BANK #2
ON the man as he walks away from the bank. Behind him the bomb goes off and glass erupts all over passersby on the sidewalk.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - MARCUS AND CLAUDIA' S DWELLING - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT-STOCK
INTERIOR - PETRIE LIVING ROOM-NIGHT
Marcus and Claudia are sitting on the couch. Coffee cups are on the table in front of the couch.
CLAUDIA
The other night when you were hurt in that
shoot-out, I was so worried about you.
MARCUS
But you didn't need to. I wasn't really hurt.
CLAUDIA
I realize that now. But I was so scared at the
time. I went to Newman's funeral, and I cried
for him. I barely knew him, and I cried. All I
could see in my imagination was a coffin
with you in it.
MARCUS
I was worried about you too when Chris and
Mary Beth told me you were at the bank when
that bomb went off. Then they told me you had
just gone out the door when it happened.
Worrying didn't do any good. You were O.K.
CLAUDIA
I know. I wanted you to quit the Police Dept.
and get a nice safe job like a bank teller. Then
I went to the bank and almost got killed myself,
and some of the tellers did. It made me mad,
and it made me think. Then another bank was
blown up today. Somebody has to do something
about people who do things like that.
MARCUS
Chris and Mary Beth were assigned
to that case.
CLAUDIA
Yes, but maybe next time it'll be you and
Victor who get the case. I understand now.
It's something you have to do. Victor
needs his partner.
MARCUS
Yes. I have to.
They embrace and kiss.
CLAUDIA
I love you.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - HOSPITAL - DAY- ESTABLISHING-( STOCK)
INTERIOR - HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY
ON Cagney and Lacey as they walk along. They pass a nurse going the other way, and turn a corner. The camera follows them as they go. Just around the corner they stop and push the down button for the elevator.
CAGNEY
It's a good thing there were less
people in this bank.
LACEY
Only two killed and eleven hurt this time.
CAGNEY
And nobody saw anything unusual this
time either.
LACEY
The flyers are due to be delivered
tomorrow morning.
CAGNEY
I wish we could've got them out
earlier.
LACEY
One bank Sat. Another Mon. And
tomorrow is Wed. I hope we can
get a line on him before he hits
another one.
CAGNEY
I hate to even think about him doing
it again. We need more time.
LACEY
Maybe we'll have something from
customs when we get back.
The elevator arrives and they enter.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT PARKING BAY-ESTABLISHING-DAY
INTERIOR-SQUAD ROOM-DAY
ANGLE ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.
Orlando enters and hands Cagney a letter.
ORLANDO
I got another one today. Here it is,
still sealed.
CAGNEY
Good. Maybe we can get some prints
from this one.
She turns and calls out.
CAGNEY
COLEMAN !
Coleman approaches.
COLEMAN
What do you need?
CAGNEY
I need you to take this to the fingerprint man.
See if he can get anything from the letter inside.
COLEMAN.
O.K.
Coleman leaves. As he goes out the TV crew arrives with three preachers.
ORLANDO
Looks like there's a leak at the
Times. See ya later.
Ando starts out.
NEWSMAN
Well, Orlando, trying to scoop me ?
ORLANDO
Yes, but they don't have anything yet.
NEWSMAN
(with a knowing smile)
If you say so.
Orlando leaves as the TV crew sets up to get Cagney and Lacey at their desks. The preachers get in position as well. Samuels sees this through the windows of his office and comes out to see what is going on.
SAMUELS
What kind of circus is this ??
NEWSMAN
Ah, Captain. This time the big gun
shows up to talk with us.
SAMUELS
You already have our official statement.
We have nothing to add at this time.
NEWSMAN
We think you may want to change your
statement. We have information that you
received a letter from a middle- eastern
terrorist claiming he is responsible for the
bombings. Your statement indicated you
think he's a mental case.
SAMUELS
He is a mental case. We think he's pretending
to be a terrorist as a red herring. Even if he
is a terrorist, he's still a mental case. That's
our statement. Goodbye.
1ST PREACHER
Not so fast. What about the letter the terrorist
sent? We were shocked to hear of its
anti-Christian hate.
2ND PREACHER
What do you intend to do about this
murderous barbarian ?
SAMUELS
We think it's a fake. Just somebody trying
to get publicity. The bomber didn't send it.
We received it after the bombing. If the
terrorist sent it we believe we would have
received it before the bombing.
NEWSMAN
Is that what you really believe?
SAMUELS
That's our official position.
3RD PREACHER
Well, I'm not buying it.
SAMUELS
Good. When you get to be in command
of this precinct you can do what you
like! For now, goodbye.
Samuels turns and goes to his office. The newsman turns
to Cagney.
NEWSMAN
And what do you have to add to that ?
CAGNEY
Nothing. Goodbye.
The newsman and the preachers leave. When they are gone, Samuels comes out of his office again.
SAMUELS
I hope we got away with that.
LACEY
It sounded good to me, sir, and it may
be right.
SAMUELS
It may have just bought us a little time. This
is a race against time. We don't know when
or where this bomber may hit again. You
two have to get hot on this before it blows
up in our faces. Our time is running out fast.
Samuels leaves and Cagney and Lacey head for the Jane.
CUT TO:
THE JANE
CAGNEY
What does he expect from us ?? There's six
million people out there and only one bomber.
No description, no name, no address, no nothing.
He works alone so there's nobody to tell us
anything. Where do we start looking??
LACEY
All true. But he's out there to
find. He's not a ghost.
CAGNEY
He might as well be.
A BEAT
LACEY
(looks around)
One thing sure. He's not in here.
A knock sounds on the door. Coleman is outside.
COLEMAN
Cagney! Lacey! You in there ??
CAGNEY
(still angry)
What do you want, Coleman ??
COLEMAN
Come get this stuff.
Cagney opens the door and Coleman starts handing her papers.
COLEMAN
The envelope. (pronounces it thee)
The letter.
The fingerprint report.
The list from customs of middle-eastern
people who came through customs in
the last month.
CAGNEY
Great!! Let's get on with this Mary Beth.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - LACEY KITCHEN - NIGHT
Harvey and Mary Beth are having coffee.
MARY BETH
All we have on this guy is a set of prints
from a letter he sent, and a list of suspects
from customs. 3000 possibles.
(
HARVEY
3000? Can't you narrow it down
better than that ?
MARY BETH
We have a crew of uniforms working on
locating them.
HARVEY
Sounds like it'll take a while.
MARY BETH
It will. We can eliminate those who went
on to other cities, doctors, diplomats, and
long time residents returning from trips.
HARVEY
How many will you have left after that ?
MARY BETH
At least 300.
HARVEY
And how long will it take to check
all of them out ?
MARY BETH
A couple of weeks. Maybe longer.
HARVEY
The TV says he's setting off a bomb
every other day. That's a lot of bombs
before he's caught.
MARY BETH
(sadly)
I know. Oh, Harv. We don't know any
faster way. We don't kill people for religion
in this country. We've got nobody in our
records who might be a suspect. I wish
somebody could explain these "Holy war"
things to me. They seem so senseless.
HARVEY
We outgrew that stuff with the Salem witch
trials. How could we understand it now after
all these years. It' s just as senseless now as
it was then.
MARY BETH
I guess Samuels is right. He's a
mental case.
HARVEY
All fanatics are.
A BEAT
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - BANK #3 - DAY - ESTABLISHING
INTERIOR - BANK LOBBY
ON the man at the customer service desk. He places a box in the trashcan and starts to leave the bank as the bank guard approaches, with the flyer in his hand.
GUARD
(loudly)
Just a minute, sir.
The man pulls a gun, spins, and shoots the guard. Many people see his face. The guard is hit in the abdomen and the bullet goes through and hits his spine, paralyzing the guard from the waist down, The guard falls to the floor as the man runs from the bank.
GUARD
(yelling)
Everybody get out of the bank!
There's a bomb here!
People rush out, some screaming. The bank employees take cover. All becomes silent, except for the voice of the stricken guard.
GUARD
Our father, who art in heaven....
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR-BANK #3 -
The bomb goes off with similar results as the first two times.
END OF ACT THREE
.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN
INTERIOR - MOTEL ROOM - DAY
The man puts another bomb in a box, and lays a sealed letter on top of it. He then starts putting on a disguise. A large mustache, glasses, and a turban on his head to make himself look like a Siek from eastern India. He puts a small stone in his left shoe to insure a limp. He puts a gun in the waistband of his pants and conceals it with a sling on his left arm. He looks like he has been in an accident. He takes the box with the bomb and the letter, and leaves the motel room.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-14TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM - DAY
ANGLE ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.
LACEY
Did those new notices with the
descriptions go out yet 2
CAGNEY
They went out this morning. I hope
they do some good.
LACEY
The artists pictures should help. And if
we're lucky maybe some detective from
some precinct may find a desk clerk that
recognizes him.
CAGNEY
What worries me is that he sets off a bomb
every other day. The last one was day before
yesterday, so he's due.
LACEY
I wish we could spot some sort of pattern
so we could guess where the next one might be.
A BEAT
CAGNEY
The worst part of this job is informing the
next of kin. I never found an easy way to do
that. Or a good way. It's always hard. Always.
A BEAT
LACEY
It's never easy to inform people their loved
ones are gone. No matter how many times
do it, it never gets any easier, either.
CAGNEY
You got that right. We've had a bunch to inform
this time. I just wish some of them were the
family of the bomber.
LACEY
Even if he had blown himself up by accident,
he would have probably have killed others
at the same time.
CAGNEY
I suppose so. But maybe not so many.
COLEMAN approaches.
COLEMAN
We just got a radio call from some uniformed
Officers. They have a positive I.D. on the
bomber. They're at the "Wilson Motor Inn"
on 54th Street and 10th Avenue.
CAGNEY and LACEY are already on their way out the door.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXTERIOR - MOTEL - DAY
CAGNEY AND LACEY arrive in their detectives car with the red light flashing on top. They stop short by the office and leap from their car. They meet two uniformed Officers.
CAGNEY
It took a little while to get the search
warrant, but we finally got here.
OFFICER #1
He was out of the room when we got here
and he hasn't returned yet, so the room
is empty.
LACEY
Lets get in there fast.
While this conversation has been going on they have been hurrying to meet Officer #2 at the door of room 11, with the Manager.
Cagney shows him the search warrant.
CAGNEY
Here's the search warrant. Get that
room open right now!!
The manager unlocks the door and stands aside. Cagney and Lacey rush inside.
CUT TO:
MOTEL INTERIOR - DAY
CAGNEY AND LACEY check the room and find the man is out.
CAGNEY
Looks like he's not here.
An open suitcase is on the stand. Clothes are in the closet. On the table is paper, envelopes, and a pair of scissors. In the wastebasket is cut up newspapers which he used to get the words for the letters. In the drawers of the chest are the ingredients for making bombs. On the floor beside the chest are boxes about the size of shoe boxes. Cagney finds the boxes.
CAGNEY
Look at these boxes.
LACEY opens the drawers.
LACEY
Things for making bombs.
CAGNEY finds the newspapers.
CAGNEY
Newspapers. He used these to make
the letters.
LACEY
I guess there's no doubt he's our bomber.
CAGNEY
Put everything back and lets get out of here.
We can put a stakeout on the room and get
him when he comes back.
They do so and leave, locking the door behind them.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR-DETECTIVES CAR - PARKED ACROSS THE STREET
Cagney and Lacey are sitting in their car watching room 11 The uniformed officers are waiting about two blocks away.
LACEY
How long has it been. Cagney looks
at her watch.
CAGNEY
I can't believe it's only been about
an hour.
LACEY
You want another cup of coffee ?
CAGNEY
I'm all coffeed out. One more cup and I'll
be chasing my eyeballs as they float down
the street.
LACEY
Me too.
A BEAT
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - #4TH BANK - DAY
The man places the box in the trash can. As he turns to leave, six
armed men wearing ski tasks rush into tie bank.
1ST ROBBER
THIS IS A HOLDUP !!!
One of the robbers quickly disarms the guard.
1ST ROBBER
EVERYBODY INTO THE VAULT !!
MAKE IT FAST !!
They quickly herd everyone into the vault and close the door. They grab the money from the teller's drawers and head for the door.
CUT TO:
EXTERIOR - 4TH BANK - DAY
The bomb goes off with similar results to the other three.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
I NTERIOR - DETECTIVES CAR - PARKED
The radio comes to life.
RADIO (V.0.)
Detectives 14 - 2.
Cagney picks up the microphone.
CAGNEY
14-2.
RADIO (V.O.)
A bank bombing has just been reported
at 51st and 6th Ave.
CAGNEY
14 - 2 responding. Have the Uniforms in
14 - 68 take up cur position here.
RADIO ( V. O.)
10 - 4.
LACEY already has the motor started as Cagney puts the red spinner on the roof and starts the siren as they pull away from the curb.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - 4TH BANK - DAY
The six robbers are lying on the floor covered with cloth, The customer service desk has been blown to bits. Several Uniformed Officers are searching the debris in the bank for survivors. Cagney and Lacey enter.
CAGNEY
How many dead this time ?
OFFICER
Just these six. They all seen to be robbers.
We found their guns on the floor beside
them and they all were wearing masks.
They had sacks with money stuffed in
them and the teller's drawers are empty.
LACEY
Where are all the other people ?
OFFICER
Those six are all we've found so far.
CAGNEY
They must be here someplace. The bank
was open.
LACEY
You checked outside ?
OFFICER
Yes.
CAGNEY
And all the offices ?
OFFICER
Yes.
LACEY
The vault !!
OFFICER
It's closed.
CAGNEY
They must be inside it
LACEY
Let's get it open.
THEY ALL GO TO THE VAULT. The massive door is closed. No sound comes from inside because it is so massive. Cagney goes to it and listens with her ear to the door. She takes off her shoe and hammers on the door with the heel. Then she listens again. A faint tapping comes from inside.
CAGNEY
We've found them. Let's get this
door open.
OFFICER
HOW ??
LACEY
We can call the main office of the
bank.
By this time they are already on the way to a phone. The Officer left behind looks at the door. It has no handle. No knobs. No nothing. A clock dial is inset in the door and under it a window shows the word "Open".
CUT TO:
INTERIOR - ANOTHER PART OF THE SAME BANK - DAY
Cagney is standing beside a desk talking on a phone.
CAGNEY
We just push that button ?
A BEAT
CAGNEY
O.K. Bye.
She hangs up the phone
CAGNEY
There's a button on a post by the door.
We just push it and an electric motor
opens the door.
They hurry to the vault. The button is found and pushed. A motor whirrs and the door swings open. The people come out with words of relief.
Thank heavens.
We've been in there over an hour.
We heard the boom.
What a mess.
I have to call my husband.
CAGNEY (loudly)
Give me your attention, please. We have to
interview every one of you before anyone
leaves. Please line up over here and we'll
go as fast as we can.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - BANK LOBBY - DAY
Cagney has a line of people in front of her and to her right some 10 feet away is Lacey with a line in front of her. Each has a Uniformed Officer to help her. Lacey has come to the man with the turban.
LACEY
You came to exchange some currency ?
MAN
Yiss. I haff ondly forgdn money.
CUT TO:
ON CAGNEY
She glances to her right and does a double take when she spots the butt of a gun concealed by the man's sling.
CUT TO:
CLOSE-UP OF THE MAN FROM THE SIDE showing the gun behind the sling.
CUT TO:
CLOSE-UP OF CAGNEY
CAGNEY
(to Officer)
Come on.
CUT TO:
ANGLE - ON LACEY AND THE MAN
Cagney and the Officer circle around behind the man so that Cagney, Lacey, and the two Uniformed officers helping them surround the man.
CAGNEY
Do you have a permit for that gun, sir ?
The man grabs for the gun and makes a break for the door. As he pulls it out the men officers grab him and wrestle him to the floor and disarm him. They cuff him, then pull him to his feet and look at him closely.
CAGNEY
Phony mustache.
She pulls it off.
LACEY
Pancake make - up.
She rubs her fingers across his cheek and looks at the color that rubs off on her fingers.
CAGNEY
Phony sling to hide a gun.
LACEY
Didn't the coroner recover a bullet
from the dead guard ?
CAGNEY
Sure did. I'll take his gun to ballistics.
LACEY
And we have prints from the letter.
CAGNEY
Looks good. I think we have our bomber.
(To the Uniformed Officers)
CAGNEY
(continuous)
Read him his rights and lock him up. I get sick
just looking at trash like him.
MAN
The Islamic Jihad will...
LACEY
(disgustedly)
Oh, shut up !!!
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INTERIOR - 14TH PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM - DAY
ANGLE ON Cagney and Lacey at their desks.
CAGNEY
You know, we owe a vote of thanks
to those robbers.
LACEY
Yeah ?
CAGNEY
No telling how many lives they saved.
Too bad they all died doing it.
LACEY
Looks like they became heroes in
spite of themselves.
CAGNEY
Well, I don't think I'd go so far as
to call them heroes.
LACEY
They gave their lives to save others.
What else would you call them ?
CAGNEY
I'm not going to build any monuments to
bank robbers, no matter what else they did.
LACEY
I suppose not. Still, we owe them thanks.
CAGNEY
If any of them had survived we could have
thanked them before we put 'em in jail.
FADE OUT
THE END
My main Cagney & Lacey index page
Main index page for Cagney & Lacey fiction
My main index page
|