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The Glass Wall
By
Daniel S. Motter
phyloctetes@hawaii.rr.com
FADE IN:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Blackness envelops the world, footsteps approaching
quickly...
DETECTIVE CHARLTON (O.S.)
(through door)
Just this way, Dr. Levine.
Suddenly light blares in as a man opens a door, revealing the
contours of the interrogation room. It is a cube-shaped
room, somewhere around 10x10, a huge two-way mirror on a wall
adjacent to the door, a desk with three chairs right in front
of it. The room lets off an air of suspense and horror, the
silence in the area deafening.
A MAN enters and turns on the lights, fluorescent lights
flickering to life, illuminating the white room in an almost
pale-green hue.
The man walks to a chair. He is tall, around 28 years old,
with a dress-shirt with its sleeves rolled up, a wedding band
on his finger, and an offbeat bright-red checkered Bart
Simpson tie. The man is MIKE "MIKEY" CHARLTON. He's a
rookie cop, obviously still grasping onto innocence like his
last lifeline. He's seen some horrible things, but knows the
worst has yet to come.
DETECTIVE CHARLTON (CONT'D)
Right in here, sir.
ANOTHER MAN, 46, enters. He is average-height, sharply
dressed in a business suit complete with expensive cuff links
and sleeves, not forgetting the obligatory tie. He is
JAMESON "JAME" LEVINE, M.D., a heart surgeon not exactly well
known, but due to his charismatic, cocky nature, he might as
well be.
Charlton pulls back a chair and sits. Levine sits in the
chair facing the mirror, acting nonchalant and smug.
LEVINE
Thank you, detective.
CHARLTON
(smiles falsely)
Don't mention it.
(beat)
Sorry for keepin' ya waitin' for all damn
day. Had some business to attend to.
Levine stays still, marinating in wonder as to why he is
here.
LEVINE
So, what news do you have, detective?
CHARLTON
Not much. We may have somethin', but...
LEVINE
It may not pan out?
CHARLTON
Exactly.
LEVINE
So, what am I doing here, detective?
CHARLTON
Whoa, whoa! Whatever happened to
foreplay? You just came right out 'n
fucked me in the ass.
LEVINE
(laughs uncomfortably)
Funny.
(beat)
Okay, so what now?
CHARLTON
How 're things at home?
LEVINE
Fine, fine.
(beat)
Well, as good as things can be, anyway.
CHARLTON
How's the misses?
(winks)
Copacetic?
LEVINE
Big word.
CHARLTON
Why?
LEVINE
You just didn't strike me as the educated
type, you know?
CHARLTON
(ignoring sting)
I tend to surprise people.
LEVINE
(smiles)
I apologize, detective--
CHARLTON
No, no. That's all right. And call me
"Mike."
LEVINE
I prefer detective.
CHARLTON
"Charlton."
LEVINE
Fine.
CHARLTON
(beat)
So what was Abbey like?
LEVINE
She's still alive!
CHARLTON
That's right. I'm sorry, what is Abbey
like?
LEVINE
She's my shining light. My one reason
for being.
CHARLTON
What about your wife?
LEVINE
I meant besides her.
CHARLTON
(starting to despise Levine)
Oh.
LEVINE
That reminds me, do you have that picture
of her at her piano recital? Anna wants
it back.
CHARLTON
I already gave it to her today.
LEVINE
When?
CHARLTON
I guess it was while you were still
waiting. A lot of stuff happens in 24
hours, you know.
LEVINE
Oh.
CHARLTON
(beat)
We'll get the guy, doctor.
LEVINE
(breaking down)
How...how can someone do something like
this...
(cries in hands)
It's inhuman!
Charlton uneasily puts his hand on Levine's shoulder, trying
to stop his pathetic blubbering.
CHARLTON
Come on, we'll get 'im. Trust me.
LEVINE
Just get him in time. God knows what
he's doing...
CHARLTON
It's best not to think about that.
LEVINE
Can't help it.
CHARLTON
Just think of what you're gonna do when
we get her back.
LEVINE
(beat)
Thanks.
CHARLTON
'welcome.
(beat)
What are ya gonna do?
LEVINE
(beat)
I'm going to hug her as tight as I can,
give her a million kisses and get her
everything she wants.
CHARLTON
Almost like every day, ain't it?
LEVINE
You said it. But as they get older they
want less and less to do with you...
CHARLTON
I know the feelin'...
LEVINE
You have kids?
CHARLTON
A girl. Three.
LEVINE
Great age.
CHARLTON
Without a doubt. Still innocent 'n yet
right on the line between toddler and
kid.
LEVINE
And they don't give you sass yet.
CHARLTON
(sarcastically)
Can't wait for that.
LEVINE
Yeah.
(beat)
But it's all worth it, being a parent.
CHARLTON
All part of the job.
LEVINE
(beat)
I just can't take losing that. Losing
her.
CHARLTON
You won't.
LEVINE
What...what's happening to her?
CHARLTON
(not telling truth)
Not a clue.
(beat)
But we can still hope for the best.
Suddenly someone from the other side of the mirror taps on
it, getting both Charlton and Levine's attention.
LEVINE
What was that?
CHARLTON
The tap on the mirror?
LEVINE
Yeah.
CHARLTON
I'll tell you later.
LEVINE
Why not now?
CHARLTON
Later.
(beat)
You ever see a news report on raves?
LEVINE
(caught off-guard)
What?
CHARLTON
Raves. You know, underground parties.
LEVINE
Oh, yes, I've heard of them. Why?
CHARLTON
I've heard that some people actually
organize them to specifically have sex.
LEVINE
Wha...is that where Abbey is?!
CHARLTON
No, no. It's just...
LEVINE
(anxious)
What?
CHARLTON
In these clubs, the risks for STD's are
astronomical.
LEVINE
(sighs, playing along)
Why not use condoms?
CHARLTON
Well, condoms can be traced, you see?
LEVINE
(acting surprised)
Really?
CHARLTON
Yeah. We can trace the spermicide.
(beat)
But you already knew that.
LEVINE
No, I didn't, actually...
CHARLTON
Yeah, you knew.
(beat)
That's why you never used a condom.
LEVINE
(offended)
I've never been to a rave once in my
life! How dare you, detective!
CHARLTON
I'm sorry, Mr. Levine, I just don't know
what came over me.
Levine stands to leave.
LEVINE
Good day, detective.
CHARLTON
Please, I apologize. Stay?
LEVINE
I have some business to attend to.
CHARLTON
Come on, fifteen minutes? Please?
Levine stops and contemplates.
LEVINE
(sitting down)
Fifteen minutes.
CHARLTON
Thanks.
(beat)
So how is Mrs. Levine?
LEVINE
A wreck.
CHARLTON
Anyone would be.
(beat)
How's your marriage?
LEVINE
All right. Just like anyone else.
CHARLTON
No one's like "anyone else".
LEVINE
Guess that's true.
(beat)
It's a little on the distant side, but
our marriage is strong. It's healthy.
CHARLTON
Good.
(beat)
Did you tell the other kids?
LEVINE
Steven and Claire? No.
(beat)
They're in college. They don't need to
know.
CHARLTON
They deserve to, don't you think?
LEVINE
I'll make that decision.
CHARLTON
Pretty protective, aren't you?
LEVINE
Pardon me?
CHARLTON
You keep your kids under a close eye,
huh?
LEVINE
(offended)
You just crossed the line, detective
Charlton. I think I'd like to speak to
your supervisor--
CHARLTON
(suddenly cold)
We raided the club, Levine.
Levine freezes in his chair.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(smiles)
Scared now, aren't ya?
LEVINE
(regaining control)
I don't know what you're talking about,
detective.
CHARLTON
(sighs)
I thought we were past this "I don't know
nothin'" bullshit. Just stop already.
We know.
LEVINE
There's been a misunderstanding--
CHARLTON
Stop fuckin' with me, Levine.
(beat)
Give my partner 30 minutes and he'll get
your "customers" to give you up as fast
as you can shit your pants.
LEVINE
(smug)
You must be thinking about someone else,
Charlton.
CHARLTON
Then what are you doing here?
LEVINE
Like I said, you have the wrong man. I
don't have anything to do with any club.
No way.
CHARLTON
(sighs)
Gettin' nowhere with this.
Charlton stands.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
You wanted to know what that tap on the
mirror was, right? You wanted to know
what it meant.
Charlton walks to the mirror and TAPS ON IT.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(re: tapping)
That's the big dogs raidin' your house.
LEVINE
(sits up)
What?
CHARLTON
We got a warrant to search the Levine
residence. Right now a motherfucker with
a big gun is throwin' over your sofa and
findin' stuff ya lost months ago.
(leans on table)
We got people who can put ya at the club
from the dirt ya stepped in. We can
place ya there from the jackets ya bumped
against.
(beat)
We got your nuts in a vice, and I'm
tightenin' the grip.
LEVINE
(smiles)
Spare me the macho-cop jargon. I don't
have anything in my house.
CHARLTON
I'm not gonna ask ya what we're gonna
find at your house.
I'm not gonna say I'm givin' ya a chance
to make it easy for yourself. I know
you're smarter 'n that.
Levine smiles at the "complement."
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
So I'm gonna skip to the chase.
(beat)
You're on a sinking ship. Better save
yourself while you can. And your clock's
running out of sand.
(beat)
The sand runs out when the little mouths
start runnin'.
Charlton sits, letting Levine stir.
Levine looks into Charlton's eyes, searching for the
slightest hint of possibility that he's lying through his
teeth. And he finds nothing.
Charlton looks at Levine, no emotion showing, waiting for
Levine to crack in the torturous silence, the horrible
anticipation nerve-racking.
LEVINE
(giving in)
You're not getting me to say anything.
CHARLTON
Sounds like an admission of guilt to me.
LEVINE
You're fishing, detective.
CHARLTON
Am I?
LEVINE
Yes.
CHARLTON
Then give me something to work with.
Levine smiles.
LEVINE
Stop insulting me, Charlton.
CHARLTON
(chuckles)
Persistent.
(beat)
What can I say? Old habits die hard.
LEVINE
It's a habit?
CHARLTON
As long as I can remember.
LEVINE
Don't kick it. Persistence is rare
nowadays.
CHARLTON
(smiles)
"Nowadays."
LEVINE
What?
CHARLTON
Haven't heard that word in some time.
LEVINE
A benefit of the previous generation.
CHARLTON
70's funk master?
LEVINE
(smiles)
Right on the nose.
(beat)
So what am I still doing here?
CHARLTON
(sighs)
I thought we covered this.
LEVINE
Well, it's just that my wife'll be
worried--
CHARLTON
What is she like, now?
LEVINE
I already told you.
CHARLTON
No, seriously this time.
LEVINE
She's...
(beat)
...like a wife.
CHARLTON
(smiles)
I sensed that pause, that tension right
there.
LEVINE
(laughs)
All right, all right.
(sighs)
She's always on my nerves, you know?
CHARLTON
I know that.
LEVINE
Yeah, she's always nagging me to fix the
sink, the door, the car's engine,
everything. It pisses me off.
(beat)
Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna--
CHARLTON
Wring her neck?
LEVINE
Exactly.
CHARLTON
Yeah, wives make ya wonder why ya married
in the first place.
LEVINE
Love?
CHARLTON
(laughs)
Love's been dead since Romeo 'n Juliet.
LEVINE
I love my wife.
CHARLTON
(sarcastically)
Right.
LEVINE
(getting serious)
No, really, I love my wife.
CHARLTON
But that never stopped you from getting a
little something on the side, right?
LEVINE
I never cheated on my wife. Never!
CHARLTON
Are you telling me you never once bent a
marital pledge or two? Not once?
Levine nods "no."
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(laughs)
Get the fuck out of here.
LEVINE
Not once.
CHARLTON
(giving in)
Okay, okay. You never cheated.
(beat)
But you thought about it.
LEVINE
(smiles)
It's impossible not to.
CHARLTON
I hear that. There's nothing wrong with
that. Human nature.
LEVINE
But we get punished for it.
CHARLTON
Life's a piece of shit, right?
LEVINE
Yeah.
CHARLTON
Wives are the shit of the shit.
LEVINE
I know.
CHARLTON
Always holding us back...
Levine nods in agreement.
LEVINE
We have so much potential.
CHARLTON
So much.
(beat)
But with the kids...
LEVINE
(beat)
What's she like?
CHARLTON
She's an angel.
LEVINE
All of them are.
CHARLTON
Until they hit 7, right?
And, suddenly, Levine freezes, Charlton having hit a nerve.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
It's like that's when their innocence is
gone.
LEVINE
(almost monotone)
Don't know where it goes.
Levine nods at Charlton.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
Looks like your daughter's nearing that
age.
CHARLTON
(suddenly stung, getting
defensive)
Yeah.
LEVINE
Won't you miss her younger years?
CHARLTON
Yeah.
LEVINE
But the ones when they're older are great
in a different way. Like their maturity
gives you pleasure, you know?
CHARLTON
No, I don't.
LEVINE
You will.
CHARLTON
Yeah.
(beat)
So how'd you start up the club?
LEVINE
I don't know about any club!
CHARLTON
(sarcastically)
Right.
Levine rubs his forehead, stressed.
LEVINE
Why do you persist with this club notion?
CHARLTON
'cause I know you did it. I know you
started that club.
LEVINE
(squints, starting to get mad)
What's wrong with you?!
Suddenly someone knocks on the glass again.
Levine shudders, afraid of what the knock signalled.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
W-What was that?
CHARLTON
(smiles)
We have a system. A specific number of
knocks means a specific thing.
LEVINE
(re: glass mirror)
What did that one mean?
CHARLTON
(shrugs)
Nothin' important.
(beat)
How 'bout that Annabelle Swanson girl,
the one from that show?
(wolf whistles)
She's a hot one.
LEVINE
A little young, isn't she?
CHARLTON
(sighs)
Don't matter.
(beat)
As long as they can suck, right?
Levine recoils.
LEVINE
That's wrong, detective.
CHARLTON
Law's the law, right?
LEVINE
Yeah.
CHARLTON
Well, let's say it was legal. She is
hot, right?
LEVINE
She's barely a teenager!
CHARLTON
How old is she?
LEVINE
14, I think.
CHARLTON
Yeah, 14.
(beat)
Damn.
LEVINE
(finally agreeing)
Yeah.
CHARLTON
Awful what happened to her mother.
LEVINE
What happened to her mother?
Charlton shrugs.
CHARLTON
Well, before the show started her mom was
drivin' along some dark road, not meanin'
to sound cliched, and, somehow, she
eventually stopped her car and got out.
LEVINE
(skeptical)
Got out of the car?
CHARLTON
She got out of the car.
(beat)
Well, suddenly someone came out from
behind her and--
(slams table)
--shot her in the head!
LEVINE
(appalled)
Good God.
(beat)
Why?
CHARLTON
Case has been unsolved since she was
found.
LEVINE
Awful.
(sighs)
Jesus.
CHARLTON
You a religious man?
LEVINE
Why?
CHARLTON
You just said "Jesus."
LEVINE
(beat)
I'm not a Jesus-freak or anything.
CHARLTON
I had a feeling, even before you said
that, that you had the...
(searching for word)
...quality.
LEVINE
What quality?
CHARLTON
That "I got everything figured out"
quality.
LEVINE
How so?
CHARLTON
You look like you believe in goin' to
heaven or hell, in God and Jesus 'n shit.
LEVINE
No, I don't think that.
CHARLTON
But you do believe in God.
LEVINE
Of course.
CHARLTON
Don't you think God would be sick to let
things in this world go on like some
pathetic freakshow? Wouldn't he be sick
to do to kids what was done to Abbey?
LEVINE
I believe that life is an obstacle
course.
CHARLTON
How so?
LEVINE
I believe life to be a...a course to
prove your worth to enter heaven.
CHARLTON
Or hell.
LEVINE
If need be.
(beat)
So, when someone's proven himself, or
lived a good life, they pass on to
heaven.
CHARLTON
In other words, die.
LEVINE
I suppose.
CHARLTON
So, when someone's killed--
LEVINE
It's God's will for them to pass on.
CHARLTON
Jesus.
LEVINE
Are you a religious man?
CHARLTON
I believe in God, yes.
LEVINE
How do you justify it?
CHARLTON
I take my cue from Einstein.
LEVINE
What do you mean?
CHARLTON
He believed in the afterlife.
"Everything is made of energy, and energy
never dies."
LEVINE
Interesting--
Suddenly the door of the room opens, a big man with a pink
dress shirt underneath his cheap gray suit coming in. He is
a man who's been through the thick of it, having experienced
the very scum of society. He is DETECTIVE ANTHONY LUGOSI.
He looks at Levine with pure disgust in his eyes.
DETECTIVE LUGOSI
(to Charlton)
Well, well.
Lugosi walks behind Levine...
DETECTIVE LUGOSI (CONT'D)
How's the--
(slaps Levine on the back)
--faggot doing?
Levine looks at Lugosi, offended.
LEVINE
Excuse me?
LUGOSI
I wasn't talking to you.
(beat)
Do you want me to?
CHARLTON
(to Lugosi)
Ease up a little, Ant.
Lugosi sits at the table, turning the chair around and
sitting on it backwards, his hands resting on the back.
LUGOSI
(scoffs)
Right.
Lugosi puts out his hand to Levine.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
I'm Detective Lugosi, but people call me
Ant.
Levine, off-put, shakes Lugosi's hand.
LEVINE
(only out of politeness)
Pleasure to meet you.
LUGOSI
Doubt it.
(to Charlton)
Tell 'im about the club?
CHARLTON
Yeah.
LUGOSI
(to Levine)
What'd you say?
LEVINE
I don't know anything--
LUGOSI
Fuckin' pussy.
Lugosi slaps Levine on the back of his head.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Stop lyin'!
Lugosi slams his fist onto the table.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
We know it was you.
LEVINE
How do you know that?
LUGOSI
You'd love to know, wouldn't you?
Lugosi reaches inside his pocket and tosses something on the
table. As he moves his hand, he reveals that it is...
...a shriveled flower.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
The whole key to the case was that
flower.
(beat)
You figure it out.
Levine stares at the flower, trying to figure out the puzzle.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(smiles)
Why don't you marinate on that?
Lugosi taps Charlton on the shoulder, the two calmly
standing...and leaving, Levine now alone, stirring sweatily
in his seat.
He picks up the flower and studies it, trying to think, sweat
beads dropping down his forehead like raindrops on a house.
Levine closes his eyes in thought, concentration getting the
better of him.
Levine concentrates for a whole minute before he is
interrupted by the interrogation room door opening, Charlton
and Lugosi entering behind it.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(closing door)
Miss us?
LEVINE
Where'd you go?
CHARLTON
(evasively)
Nowhere.
Charlton and Lugosi sit, still staring at Levine with cold
eyes.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(looks at Levine)
Did you think long and hard?
Levine puts the flower down in the middle of the table.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(notices flower)
It's killing you, isn't it?
(smiles)
Ya can't even figure it out.
LEVINE
(defensively)
I can figure it out.
Lugosi laughs.
LUGOSI
Good one, pussy-boy.
Lugosi slides the flower back to Levine.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Go ahead.
(motions to flower with eyes)
Figure it out.
CHARLTON
We'll just ask you questions while you
think about it.
(beat)
Do you know where that flower came from?
LEVINE
How would I?
CHARLTON
Well, that flower was on 39th street 2
years ago.
LEVINE
2 years?
CHARLTON
Yeah.
(beat)
2 years ago on 39th street, Tammy Lawsen
was kidnapped.
LEVINE
That's awful, but I don't understand how
that relates to me--
CHARLTON
She was found. A year later, she was
found.
LEVINE
That's great--
Charlton bursts out of his chair, picks Levine up and pins
him against the wall, lifting him 6 inches off the ground!
CHARLTON
(glaring into Levine's eyes)
She was only 9, you mother fucker!!!
Lugosi tries to get Charlton off Levine to no avail--
LUGOSI
Mike, get off 'im!
CHARLTON
She was only 9! She was a baby!
LEVINE
(choking)
H-Help...
CHARLTON
What's the fuckin' matter with you?!
Lugosi then puts his hand on Charlton's shoulder, trying to
comfort him, bringing Charlton back to reality. Charlton
lets Levine down.
Levine drops to the floor, gasping for air, in shock.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(to both)
I'm sorry...
Charlton then leaves, Lugosi and Levine now alone.
LUGOSI
(re: Charlton)
Man, that one...
(beat)
...he's somethin'.
Levine nods, not able to get himself to talk.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
He's got passion, ya know?
(beat)
But that's what kills ya in this job.
Levine caresses his throat with his hands.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Yeah, he's gonna burn out real fast, that
one.
(beat)
Or eat his gun doin' it.
(sighs)
Knew a guy, 'round 7 years ago, he was a
rookie on the death watch-I mean,
homicide-and the first case he gets...
(lowers head)
...a shoot 'n run. 7 year old girl got
shot in the eye, never had a chance.
Bullet went through the eye 'n out the
back of the head.
(beat)
Turns out she was the target. She was
the love child of her mother 'n father,
but her father was married to someone
else.
(beat)
The detective blew 'is own brains out a
year later.
(beat)
Like you're gonna do after we find little
Abbey dredged out of the river with 3
bullet holes in the head and 4 in the
chest.
Levine then throws up on the floor, a mess.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(getting up to leave)
I'll get someone to clean that shit up.
Lugosi exits, leaving Levine in front of his own vomit.
LEVINE
(low voice)
God damn it.
Levine leans back against the wall, wiped out, tapped out of
energy. He reaches inside his pocket and takes out a cell
phone, turning it on and dialling a number...
...only to get a busy signal.
Levine looks at the phone's screen, which has in blinking
letters the words "No signal!"
LEVINE (CONT'D)
Fuck.
Levine puts the phone away, more apprehensive now.
He then hears things from outside. It is...a conversation, a
heated one, though too muffled to decipher. It suddenly
stops and the door opens, Charlton, Lugosi and a JANITOR
entering.
CHARLTON
(closing door)
Round three.
The janitor takes out a spray bottle and a towel, getting to
work on the mess covering the floor.
LEVINE
(getting up)
I think I'll call it a night, gentlemen--
Charlton pushes Levine against the table.
CHARLTON
Did we tell you? We found Abbey.
LEVINE
You found Abbey?!
CHARLTON
Over 12 hours ago, fucker.
Charlton takes out...
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(beat)
And she just told us everything.
...handcuffs.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(gleefully)
Dr. Jameson Levine, you're under arrest
for murder.
(slaps cuffs on)
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used
against you in the court of law. You
have the right to an attorney. If you
cannot afford an attorney one will be
appointed to you by the court. Do you
understand the rights I've read to you?
Levine glares at Charlton.
LEVINE
Yes.
Lugosi smiles.
LUGOSI
Now it's official.
Levine sits.
LEVINE
My lawyer's going to have a field day
with this.
CHARLTON
Not this time.
(beat, leans in)
We found the girls, Levine.
Levine's eyes shoot open in shock as Charlton and Lugosi sit.
LEVINE
I don't know what's going on here.
Charlton takes a paper from Lugosi's hand and slaps it on the
table. It is a list of...
...names.
CHARLTON
(reading)
Alysha Samson, Lacey Barnes, Jenny Louis,
Paige Rhodes, Carla Stevens, Martha
Tilly, Tammy Lawsen, Libby Jacobi...
(glowers)
...and 16 more were kidnapped.
(beat)
By you.
LEVINE
I don't have any of those girls 'cause I
didn't do it!
CHARLTON
Oh, you don't have them, all right.
(beat)
They're all dead.
Lugosi takes out a black folder. He opens it, takes a photo
out and places it in front of Levine. The photo is an
autopsy photo of a little girl.
LUGOSI
(re: picture)
Libby Jacobi.
(beat)
She was 12 years old when she was shot in
the skull.
Levine pushes the picture away.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
We're gonna give you the needle.
LEVINE
But I didn't--
LUGOSI
(mocking Levine)
"--do anything!"
(laughs)
Stop the act, faggot.
Lugosi takes out his wallet, opens it and shows
Levine...family pictures of a WIFE and 7 YEAR-OLD GIRL.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(re: picture)
My daughter and wife.
Levine looks at Charlton, confused.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
My little Ashley is 7. The sweetest
thing in the world.
(beat)
And every time I see that autopsy photo I
see my Ashley, so what the fuck makes you
think I'm gonna let you get off this?!
LEVINE
I thought cops weren't supposed to get
personal.
LUGOSI
I'm not a cop. I'm--
(re: picture)
--her father.
LEVINE
You're not blaming me for this...
CHARLTON
We don't blame. We reveal.
(beat)
And we revealed you, Jameson.
LUGOSI
You're a father, right?
LEVINE
(not seeing relevance)
Yeah...?
LUGOSI
You got 1 at home and 2 in college,
right?
(beat)
You raised 'em, you held them, you kissed
them good night...
LEVINE
I love them.
LUGOSI
Sure you do.
(beat)
You love Abbey?
LEVINE
Of course.
LUGOSI
You sick son-of-a-bitch. You love her?!
LEVINE
What's wrong with that?
CHARLTON
You know God damn well.
Charlton takes out a picture of a girl sitting on a bench,
blonde hair, a cute face, still ripe with baby fat.
She is ABBEY LEVINE.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
Look at her!
(points at picture)
Look at what she was!
LUGOSI
You gay bitch, you're dead. She was a
little girl.
She was the girl hop-scotchin' on the
street. She was the girl playin' jump
rope at the park.
(beat)
And you killed her.
Levine begins to hyperventilate.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
She doesn't jump-rope no more. She
doesn't go outside any more.
Levine tries to avoid the picture, not looking at it.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(holds picture up)
I'm gonna kill you for that.
(beat, nods at mirror)
They're gonna kill you for that.
LEVINE
Who--
LUGOSI
You know who.
(beat)
The DA, Levine.
LEVINE
You can't convict me.
LUGOSI
Why? Why can't we?
CHARLTON
We have you in a corner, Levine.
LEVINE
I didn't do anything...
(beat)
I didn't do anything...
Lugosi slams the table hard.
LUGOSI
Stop whining, you yuppie fuck.
Levine straightens up.
LEVINE
I'll...
(beat)
I'll tell you everything.
CHARLTON
(surprised)
Go ahead.
LEVINE
It all started 7 months ago.
(beat)
I was walking by the Steam Room--
CHARLTON
The "Steam Room"?
LUGOSI
A gay bar on 43rd.
Levine smiles, now having ammunition.
LEVINE
Yeah. That's the one.
(beat)
How's your marriage, detective?
Lugosi squints, mad at his family's mention.
LUGOSI
Fine.
LEVINE
Sure? You and your wife are...talking?
LUGOSI
(a nerve stricken)
Yeah. We talk.
LEVINE
And you're happy?
LUGOSI
As happy as can be.
LEVINE
Considering.
LUGOSI
(leaning in)
Considering what, faggot?
LEVINE
(smiles)
You know considering what.
Charlton intercedes, wanting to stop it before anything bad
happens.
CHARLTON
Come on. Let's get back to it.
(beat)
Go on, Levine.
LEVINE
(smiles)
They whimpered like babies when the gun
was to their heads.
Both Charlton and Lugosi looks at Levine, not believing he
just confessed. Their faces express their thinking one
question:
What is he doing?
LEVINE (CONT'D)
(reminiscing fondly)
They looked so beautiful in the water,
sinking...
(beat)
They were like angels, angels with
blossoming roses on their little, tiny
foreheads.
(chuckles)
And their pleas, their pleas for mercy,
were just...incredible. Like the sweet
sound of Mozart to the ears.
(beat, evilly)
And their "secret spots," oh they were
sweet.
Charlton then explodes, bursting out of his chair, going
behind Levine, and slams Levine against the table.
CHARLTON
(voice trembling)
You mother fucker!
(pushes down harder)
I'm going to snap your fucking, God damn
neck!!!
LUGOSI
Get off him!
Lugosi pulls Charlton off of Levine and talks to him in the
corner of the room. Levine stays on the table, bleeding from
the mouth yet looking as though all is going as planned.
Charlton walks to Levine and looks into his eyes.
CHARLTON
You're dead now, fucker.
(beat)
We got you.
Charlton and Lugosi leave, closing the door behind them.
Levine gets off the table and sits on his chair, as if
getting prepared for something he can see coning, for the
next phase in his plan.
Charlton and Lugosi re-enter, seemingly pissed off even more.
LUGOSI
(sighs)
You're a slick one.
(chuckles)
You're a slick son-of-a-bitch.
Levine smiles at the complement.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(changes tone)
But I'm slicker.
(coldly)
You're never going to leave this room a
free man, not while I'm here.
LEVINE
(smiles)
And if I get off?
LUGOSI
(voice raspy)
I'll find you. I'm gonna get some boys
to go to work on you with a pair of
pliers and a blow torch. I'm gonna get
medieval on your ass.
LEVINE
That's terroristic threatening.
LUGOSI
Just stating the facts. That's all I'm
doing.
LEVINE
(scoffs)
You're a cop. You won't do it.
LUGOSI
(laughs)
You're one naive mother fucker.
Lugosi sits down in a chair right next to Levine.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Remember Jack Jr.?
LEVINE
The serial killer?
LUGOSI
Yeah.
LEVINE
You never found him.
LUGOSI
Oh, we found him.
(beat, sighs)
It was my first case with my first
partner, an old bastard we used to call
poppy. He was a legendary cop. He never
followed the rules, he broke privacy
laws, and guess what?
(beat)
He got cases solved.
Levine shakes his head.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Well anyway, I got assigned to Jack Jr.,
a guy rippin' up hookers in black alleys.
There wasn't much evidence, just some
partials and sperm in the body. We had
nothin' to go on. Then poppy looked for
rapist-murderer cases in the past few
years. One guy came up, a guy who did
exactly what Jr. did...only he was in
prison.
LEVINE
So he was innocent?
LUGOSI
Fuck, no. He was as guilty as you. But
he did convince some people that he was
innocent. He convinced his father.
Convinced him beyond any doubt.
LEVINE
So what?
LUGOSI
So we got a warrant for the dad. We
found 'im, raided his apartment but
nothin' was there. Then we looked at his
family and sure enough, there was a
kitchen knife covered in hooker-blood.
LEVINE
I can't believe you got a warrant for the
family's house.
LUGOSI
Who said we did?
(beat)
Anyway, he got set free. Judge ruled
evidence was collected illegally, so he
sent the mother fucker free. My partner,
see, couldn't take it.
(beat)
That rapist shit was found with his
throat slit and his legs broke in the
middle of the street.
LEVINE
And your partner...?
LUGOSI
Fly-fishin' since '97.
(beat)
You got the point?
LEVINE
I get the point. Jack Jr. couldn't
defend himself.
(beat)
I can.
Lugosi laughs, leaning back in his chair.
LUGOSI
Right.
(laughs)
You can't even lift a hammer.
LEVINE
I'm capable.
LUGOSI
(grabs Levine's wrist)
Look at you! You're a toothpick. You
break under pressure.
LEVINE
(smiles)
I haven't yet.
Having stung Lugosi, Levine rests in his chair. Lugosi
smiles and leans forward, putting his elbows on the table,
his hand in the air.
LUGOSI
One way to find out.
Levine laughs at the child like solution Lugosi introduced.
LEVINE
Fine.
Levine assumes the position and grabs Lugosi's hand, two
opposed forces clashing, the universe almost dissolving
around the two.
LUGOSI
Three...
Levine starts to sweat.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
...two...
Levine's hand trembles...
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(smiles)
...one.
Then suddenly the two push with all the might and vigor they
can muster, the conflict like two monster trucks revving at
each other head-on.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(smiles)
You're doing good.
Lugosi slams Levine's wrist against the table!!! He lets go
and laughs, not even having broken a sweat.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(scowls)
Girls can't fight back, you cock-eyed
fuck.
Charlton laughs.
CHARLTON
Adults are a different story, right?
Charlton turns dead serious.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
You didn't need to be Arnold
Schwarzenegger to kidnap and prostitute
girls, did you? Did you need to be a
Stallone to pop them?
Levine shakes his head, marveling at how inferior Charlton
is.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(beat)
Do you know what happens to you when you
get convicted for murder? For murdering
little girls?
(beat)
You get the needle.
(beat)
First, you'll start feeling drowsy. By
the time you're about to pass out, you
can't move anything. You're paralyzed.
Levine starts to sweat.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
And then you die.
LEVINE
(thinks)
But that's if you're convicted.
(beat)
I won't be.
CHARLTON
Oh, you will.
(beat)
Once the prosecution shows autopsy
pictures, it's over. You're on a slab in
the coroner's.
Levine laughs.
LEVINE
Those pictures will never see the light
of day.
CHARLTON
You'd like that.
Charlton smiles.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
But thank God for the American justice
system. Murderers go free, honest men
get convicted...
(beat)
...and money can buy anything.
LEVINE
That's illegal.
CHARLTON
Who's gonna know?
Levine nods at Lugosi.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(laughs)
You're too trusting, Levine.
LUGOSI
(smiles)
Did you think I'd roll over on my partner
for you?
(scoffs)
You're such an ass.
Levine, now realizing his dilemma, freezes in deep thought.
LEVINE
(beat)
I want to see my family.
LUGOSI
(smiles)
Sure. That can be arranged.
Lugosi nods at the mirror, signalling to someone behind it.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Someone's on it now.
(beat)
They'll be here soon.
LEVINE
Thank you.
(beat)
Do you have a family, detective? Besides
the wife and daughter, I mean
Lugosi looks into Levine's eyes, sending the message that he
wouldn't answer that question should the heavens fall.
CHARLTON
He has 4 kids.
LEVINE
College?
CHARLTON
Yeah, the first 3.
(beat)
Tyler, Paul and Jamie.
LEVINE
Is Jamie a--
CHARLTON
He's a boy.
LEVINE
Hmm.
(beat)
Mostly male household. Must feel the
need to be the stereotypical macho-man
type, huh?
LUGOSI
Shut the fuck up, Levine.
Lugosi pulls out his police issue Beretta and cocks it.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(tapping pistol)
Shut up.
CHARLTON
Careful, Lugosi.
Lugosi, his point made, holsters his gun without uncocking
it. He then stares daggers into Levine, his eyes almost
glowing red.
LEVINE
(out of formality)
I apologize, detective. I crossed the
line.
LUGOSI
Just watch it.
LEVINE
(smiles)
I will.
(beat)
Did you ever kill anyone, detective?
LUGOSI
(scoffs)
Like I'd tell you.
LEVINE
It's just a question.
LUGOSI
(beat, thinks)
7. 7 criminals. 7 murderers.
LEVINE
Were these men--
LUGOSI
And women.
LEVINE
(smiles, correcting himself)
--and women serials?
LUGOSI
None.
LEVINE
(beat)
Domestic abuse.
LUGOSI
(beat, in heavy contemplation)
Wrong again, faggot.
Lugosi then protectively crosses his arms across his chest.
LEVINE
(finding what he wanted)
My mistake.
(beat)
Ant.
Charlton looks at the two, sensing the immense tension.
CHARLTON
(advertently changing subject)
Let's get back to the case, shall we?
LEVINE
(eyes still on Lugosi)
Lets.
Suddenly someone on the other side of the mirror taps on it,
causing Levine to flinch as Charlton and Lugosi smile.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
What did that mean?
CHARLTON
(to Lugosi)
Should I tell 'im?
(beat)
Or should he wait?
LUGOSI
(smiles)
Oh, you should tell 'im.
(laughs)
I wanna see this.
Charlton leans in, looking into Levine's eyes.
CHARLTON
(beat)
Someone rolled over on ya.
LEVINE
(going pale)
W-Who?
CHARLTON
Know someone by the name of Lester Boggs?
Levine's eyes widen.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(smiles)
He gave you up.
(beat)
He told us everything. How you met him,
how you gave him an hour for free that
first time at the club...
(chuckles)
Everything.
(beat)
You just didn't expect him to talk his
ass off, did you? You told him how to
cover his ass, but there was still that
one thing: you didn't know what he would
do when the heat was on, when big brother
was 'round the next corner.
Levine, sweating, begins to get a hold of himself.
LEVINE
Who is "Lester Boggs"?
Charlton's jaw drops, not believing Levine has a way out of
this one.
CHARLTON
Don't even--
LEVINE
I never heard of him.
CHARLTON
(losing control)
You know damn well--
LEVINE
I'm sorry, detective.
(beat)
I have never met a Lester Boggs.
CHARLTON
You son-of-a-bitch.
(beat)
Well, we still have Tyler Grey to do the
talking.
Levine looks Charlton in the eye, having recognized the name.
LEVINE
(a little uneasy)
You're lying--
CHARLTON
(more confident)
Am I? He's gonna confess any minute now,
he's gonna tell us everything about your
little "plan," all about what you did.
He's gonna tell us how he kidnapped those
girls.
LEVINE
You don't even have him here.
CHARLTON
Oh, really? I just picked his name out
of thin air, is that it?
(scoffs)
You're a fuckin' idiot.
LEVINE
If he were here you wouldn't even be
talking to me.
CHARLTON
I want you to confess, Levine. You, not
him.
LEVINE
It isn't gonna happen, because I didn't
do anything.
CHARLTON
(rolls eyes)
Except kidnap those girls! Come on,
Levine! Give me more credit than that.
I'm not that stupid.
LEVINE
Are you sure?
CHARLTON
(chuckles)
Try to insult me all you want. I'm still
the guy on this side of the questioning
table 'nd you're still the guy who's
gonna be eatin' prison gruel the rest of
your natural life.
LEVINE
Once I'm out of here, I'm filing a formal
complaint about you to your commanding
officer, Charlton.
CHARLTON
Call me "detective," Jameson.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Someone knocks on the door and enters. It is a WOMAN in her
late thirties, pretty, but looking like a wreck. She is ANNA
LEVINE, Jameson's wife. Once inside she runs to Levine and
hugs him, planting kisses on him up and down.
ANNA
(practically weeping)
Oh my God, I was so worried...
LEVINE
It's okay, Anna, it's okay.
Lugosi gets up and closes the door.
ANNA
(to Charlton)
Why are you doing this?!
CHARLTON
(trying to make Anna see)
Mrs. Levine, you don't know your husband--
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Suddenly Charlton and Lugosi's beepers go off.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(looking at beeper)
What the fuck...
The two read the messages on their beepers and exchange looks
of shock. They suddenly leap out of their seats and run to
the door.
LUGOSI
(leaving, closing door)
Fuckin' stay right here!
BAM!
And then, the door closes, leaving Levine alone with Anna,
who still holds him.
LEVINE
(soothingly)
It'll be all right...
(pets her hair)
This 'll all be fine.
ANNA
What's going on, Jame?
(sobs)
What's happening to our family?
LEVINE
(beat)
It's just a test.
(sighs)
It's just a test.
Anna squeezes Levine tighter, not comforted.
ANNA
(sniffles)
What do they want?
LEVINE
(beat, sighs)
They think I took her.
Anna freezes, not expecting his response.
ANNA
But there's no way--
LEVINE
That's what I told them.
(beat)
They wouldn't listen.
ANNA
But why...?
LEVINE
(sighs, not wanting to say)
They don't have anything else to follow
up on.
ANNA
(beat, heart dropping)
But they found Abbey...
(beat)
How can they not know who did this?
LEVINE
(beat)
They think they do.
(beat)
They're charging me for killing 25
people. Girls.
(sighs)
7 year-old girls.
ANNA
Oh my God...
LEVINE
They were all kidnapped like Abbey, but
they found the bodies instead of finding
them alive.
ANNA
(wanting to know what was to
happen to Abbey)
H-How did they die?
LEVINE
(beat)
They were stripped naked and told to
kneel at the edge of a wooden dock as
someone shot them in the back of the
head. The bodies fell into the water.
Anna almost vomits, finally realizing how close her daughter
was to becoming a name on a long list. She hugs Levine, then
quickly reaches inside her purse and takes out...
...a picture of Abbey.
Anna pets the picture and cries, needing to be reassured her
daughter is still alive.
ANNA
(sniffling)
Oh, Abbey...
LEVINE
(soothingly)
Don't worry. She's fine now.
(beat)
Don't worry.
ANNA
Why were they kidnapped?
Levine lifts his eyebrow, not expecting her to have asked
such a stressful, painful, agonizing question.
LEVINE
(letting her have it)
They were caged.
(beat)
And prostituted.
ANNA
(not surprised, as if having
expected the answer)
The doctors...
(sniffles)
...they found scarring on Abbey...
(puts her hand between her
legs)
...here...
Levine shakes his head, though his face shows no emotion.
ANNA (CONT'D)
(sobbing)
What are we going to do?
(beat)
What is she going to do?
LEVINE
(running hand through her hair)
We'll find out, Anna.
(beat)
Soon, we'll find out.
ANNA
(sobbing)
So much pain...
(sniffles)
...she's been through so much...
(beat)
...she's gone.
Levine's eyes react, sensing something familiar in what his
wife said, remembering something Lugosi said: "You killed
her."
LEVINE
(trying to get a different
meaning)
What do you mean?
ANNA
(sniffles)
Abbey...she's gone.
(beat)
She's not our little girl anymore.
(sobs)
She doesn't smile any more, she doesn't
laugh...
(beat)
...she can't feel.
LEVINE
(blankly)
Because it hurts too much.
ANNA
(sobbing)
I wanna make it better...
(beat)
...mothers always make it better...
LEVINE
(stroking her hair)
You can't.
(beat)
Only she can.
ANNA
(sobbing)
She's hurting so much...
(beat)
...if finding this person does even the
smallest good...
(sniffles)
But it won't, will it? She doesn't care,
does she? She just sits in her room, all
alone, crying...
LEVINE
She just needs some time.
(beat)
She just needs to get her bearings.
ANNA
She was raped.
(beat)
Repeatedly.
(sobs)
You don't get your bearings from that.
(beat, regretfully)
They raided our house.
LEVINE
I know.
ANNA
You know? How can you sit there when
some cop is destroying everything we own,
traumatizing Abbey even more?!
LEVINE
I'm as mad as you, but there's nothing we
can do.
(beat)
We just ride through it.
ANNA
Ride through it?! Jame, the damage they
do to Abbey can't be erased! They're
marking her with permanent ink!
LEVINE
(getting frustrated)
She'll get over it.
ANNA
"She'll get over it"? She's dying, Jame!
Our girl is dying, leaving just some
mindless body in her place.
(beat)
We're losing her.
LEVINE
(frustration level rising)
Are you a psychiatrist?
ANNA
She's my daughter. I don't need to be a
psychiatrist to...
(beat)
...to know she's gone. And you're
telling me she'll get over it. You, her
own father, the man who read her bedtime
stories at night, who would teach her how
to draw, who would carry her--
Levine bolts out of his chair and slams it against the wall!
LEVINE
Enough! I've heard enough!
ANNA
You need to know--
LEVINE
No! You shut up right now!
ANNA
(about to give up)
She's your daughter.
LEVINE
Well, you can have her.
Anna suddenly slaps Levine harshly.
ANNA
(pissed off)
You son-of-a-bitch.
(beat)
You son-of-a-bitch!
LEVINE
You don't talk to me like that! You shut
the fuck up and that's it! Over!
Anna tries to slap Levine again when he swiftly grabs her
hand fiercely, his fingers digging into her wrist.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
(coldly)
Don't you dare touch me.
ANNA
(sobbing)
She needs you. I may not, but...
(beat)
...she needs you.
LEVINE
(re: interrogation room)
I'm sorry, but I can't just up and leave!
They arrested me for murder. Murder,
Anna!
ANNA
I know that, Jame! It's just...
(beat)
...if you love Abbey you'll tell the
truth and come home.
(beat)
I need to tell you something else,
though.
LEVINE
(still slightly irritated)
What?
ANNA
I...I called the kids. I told them
what's happening.
LEVINE
(suddenly enraged again)
What?!
ANNA
(slightly afraid)
They-They're coming right down.
LEVINE
But I told you not to tell them.
ANNA
Abbey's their sister. They deserve to--
LEVINE
I decide what they deserve! They weren't
supposed to know, and that was it!
ANNA
You don't run this family, Jame. We're
not even a family anymore.
LEVINE
You undermine me, you insult me, you
berate me...
(beat)
It's over.
ANNA
(unflinchingly)
Fine. Divorce me, but not Abbey, not our
kids!
Levine picks up the chair and sits down right back at the
table, again looking across to Anna, into her blazing eyes,
aflame with anger and desperation.
LEVINE
That's not your decision.
ANNA
You can't be serious...
Suddenly the door opens, Charlton stepping back in. Taking
notice of the tension in the air, he chuckles to himself.
CHARLTON
Looks like trouble in paradise.
Charlton sits next to Anna, facing across from Levine.
ANNA
None of your business.
CHARLTON
(putting hands up)
Sure, sure.
(beat)
Did he tell you why he's here?
ANNA
Yes and you're looking in the wrong
place. Jame didn't do this, not ever.
He's a kind man, Detective Charlton.
CHARLTON
'cept for when he rapes 'nd kills little
girls.
ANNA
(disgusted)
You are a sad, pathetic man.
CHARLTON
(sighs)
Whatever.
(beat)
How's Abbey?
ANNA
You don't get to talk about her.
CHARLTON
I am the one that found her, you know.
ANNA
And you accuse my husband of murder.
CHARLTON
That's easy since he is a murderer. A
murderer and a pimp. A pimp of his own
daughter.
ANNA
You don't know who you're talking about.
Jame loves Abbey!
CHARLTON
With his dick, Mrs. Levine.
ANNA
(appalled)
You pervert.
CHARLTON
I think you're talking about the wrong
guy in the room.
(laughs)
He did it. We have evidence. Hard
evidence.
ANNA
What kind?
CHARLTON
I'm not at liberty to discuss.
ANNA
Why?
CHARLTON
'cause I fuckin' don't need to, okay?
ANNA
(beat)
Why would he even do that, kidnap his own
daughter? He wouldn't. There's no
reason!
CHARLTON
I bet she just stumbled onto his little
club.
(eyes Levine)
Didn't she, Levine?
Levine finally butts in.
LEVINE
Where's Lugosi?
CHARLTON
Out.
(smiles)
He's securing your electric chair.
LEVINE
(beat, to Anna)
Wait outside, honey.
ANNA
No--
Levine snaps at her.
LEVINE
Just leave!
Anna, shocked, storms out, leaving Levine and Charlton alone
again.
CHARLTON
(relieved sigh)
Alone at last.
(smiles)
We got you.
LEVINE
What is it?
CHARLTON
(nods at flower)
It's right there. Your whole life. It's
all there...
(beat)
Even your death.
LEVINE
(suddenly enraged)
I'm not standing for this. You don't
talk to my wife that way!
CHARLTON
(in mock terror)
W-What have I done? I'm so scared--
WHACK!
Suddenly Levine punches Charlton in the jaw! Charlton falls
to the floor, blood coming from his lip...
BAM!
The doors burst, regular uniforms beginning to stream into
the interrogation room, handcuffs ready--
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
I'm fine.
Charlton motions for the cops to leave.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(spitting out blood)
I'm fine!
The cops, hesitant, leave.
Charlton stands and walks to Levine, now back in his seat.
Charlton's face is an enigma, not letting any hint as to what
is going on inside escape. He walks to Levine...
WHACK!
...and socks him in the nose!
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
Enough with the pleasantries.
Levine nurses his bleeding nose.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
You don't like me, I know you prostitute
kids, it's just a recipe for disaster.
(beat)
Let's just get to the chase, shall we?
Charlton snaps his fingers, signalling to the men behind the
glass...
The door then opens, someone entering and then closing the
only way out...
...it is ABBEY LEVINE!
She has dark circles under her eyes, her clothes tattered and
worn, a blanket draped around her shoulders. Her eyes convey
the lost innocence in her soul, the rape of her very being,
the perversion of a child.
As she walks she spreads out her thighs as far as she can,
not wanting to coerce any more pain by walking, not wanting
to be reminded of the horrible things done to her in the
months past.
Levine's eyes open wide in shock.
ABBEY
(softly)
Daddy?
Levine stares daggers into Charlton, mad not at the use of
his daughter as a tool, but at something else...
LEVINE
(in a 180 degree mood swing)
Hey, honey.
(soothingly)
How are you doing?
Abbey, not smiling, walks to Levine. Levine picks her up and
sits her on his lap, Abbey wincing from the pain as she sits.
ABBEY
Okay.
LEVINE
What are you doing here?
ABBEY
I missed you.
The two hug lovingly.
LEVINE
(softly)
I love you, sweetie.
ABBEY
I love you too, daddy.
Levine strokes her hair like any father would, trying to
convey actual paternal love for his little scarred child.
ABBEY (CONT'D)
What are you doing here?
Levine sighs.
LEVINE
I just need to do some things. Don't
worry. I'll be back home soon.
(beat)
I'll never leave you again, okay?
Abbey smiles, not understanding what Levine truly means.
ABBEY
Mommy says you let those men come into
the house.
LEVINE
(beat)
Is that what Mommy said?
(thinks)
I'm sorry, honey. Did they scare you?
ABBEY
A little.
(beat)
They looked everywhere.
LEVINE
(eyeing Charlton)
Well, I wanted to stop them, but the
police wouldn't let me--
Charlton finally enters the conversation, cutting off Levine.
CHARLTON
(comfortingly)
Hey, Abbey. I'm Mike. Remember me?
ABBEY
You're the detective-man. You were there
when...
Abbey tries to convey what happened in words, but fails to
find the right things to say, instead merely trailing off,
giving up.
CHARLTON
Yeah, I was there. All us police men
tried to help you and the girls. We want
you all to be okay, you know.
Abbey smiles.
ABBEY
(starting to accept Charlton)
Thanks.
Levine begins to bounce Abbey on his lap lightly, Abbey
trying to ignore the pain.
CHARLTON
How are you doing?
ABBEY
Fine.
CHARLTON
Good.
(beat)
What have you been doing lately?
ABBEY
Nothing.
CHARLTON
Not anything?
Abbey shakes her head.
ABBEY
No.
CHARLTON
Shucks.
(beat)
Oh, well, maybe you and me can go to the
fair some time. Would you like that?
ABBEY
Uh-huh.
(beat)
I like the ferris wheels.
CHARLTON
Are you kidding me? Those are my
favorite too!
(laughs)
It's weird how we both like the same
things.
ABBEY
(opening up)
I like the cotton candy too.
CHARLTON
Oh, cotton candy is my fave. But you
know what's almost as good? Candied
apples. Those are the best. Do you like
candied apples?
ABBEY
I never had them.
CHARLTON
Well, maybe I'll get you one or two.
ABBEY
Are they sweet?
CHARLTON
As sweet as can be.
(beat)
Just like you.
Abbey smiles and giggles, but suddenly realizes something and
closes herself off.
ABBEY
(beat)
You talk like...those men.
CHARLTON
(honestly)
I'm sorry, Abbey. I won't do it any
more, okay?
ABBEY
Okay.
CHARLTON
(beat)
So, Abbey, what do you remember about the
last few months?
Abbey begins to squirm.
ABBEY
I don't know...
CHARLTON
Are you sure? It would really help me
out a lot if you did, you know. Can you
help me?
ABBEY
Ok-Okay.
CHARLTON
Thanks.
(beat)
What do you remember?
ABBEY
I remember...
(beat)
...Libby.
CHARLTON
Who's Libby?
ABBEY
A girl.
CHARLTON
How old was she?
ABBEY
12. She took care of me.
CHARLTON
Were there other girls?
ABBEY
Uh-huh. Lots.
CHARLTON
Where?
Levine begins to bounce Abbey harder...
ABBEY
In the basement.
CHARLTON
Was it a big basement?
ABBEY
Really big.
CHARLTON
Who else was there?
ABBEY
The men.
CHARLTON
What were they like?
ABBEY
(hesitant)
They were...
(sniffles)
...mean.
CHARLTON
How many were there?
ABBEY
A little, sometimes.
CHARLTON
And other times?
ABBEY
Lots.
CHARLTON
What did they do?
ABBEY
They played the game with us.
CHARLTON
"The game"?
ABBEY
The skin game.
Charlton does everything in his power to keep from killing
Levine.
CHARLTON
(beat)
How do you play it?
ABBEY
You take your clothes off and...
(beat)
...bounce.
CHARLTON
(gritting teeth)
How long did you play this game?
ABBEY
The whole time.
CHARLTON
(beat)
What happened to Libby?
ABBEY
(unflinchingly)
They fucked her cunt.
CHARLTON
(beat, shocked)
What?
ABBEY
That's what the men said. They fucked
her cunt and reamed her shit-hole.
CHARLTON
But what happened to her?
ABBEY
A week ago she left.
(beat)
They took her back home.
CHARLTON
Did you ever see her again?
ABBEY
No. But she didn't want to leave. She
kept crying and kicking. They had to
drag her.
CHARLTON
Did she tell you about her home?
ABBEY
(beat)
She told me about her family. She had a
nice mommy and daddy and she had a little
sister like me.
(beat)
Fern.
CHARLTON
Did she talk about Fern?
ABBEY
A lot. She has green eyes and a tooth
for the tooth fairy.
(beat)
Libby says the tooth fairy isn't real,
though. She said that the tooth fairy
can't be real.
CHARLTON
Do you know anything about Libby herself?
ABBEY
Uh-huh. Lots of stuffs.
CHARLTON
Do you remember her last name?
ABBEY
Jacobi.
CHARLTON
Libby Jacobi?
ABBEY
Mm-hmm. Yes.
CHARLTON
Thanks.
(beat)
Abbey, I'm going to ask you a personal
question, and you don't have to answer it
if you don't want to, okay?
ABBEY
Okay.
CHARLTON
Now...
(beat)
...when these people played the skin
game, did they use condoms?
ABBEY
Use what?
CHARLTON
Condoms. They're these rubber things
that fit on the man's...
(tries to think of nice word,
fails)
...penis.
ABBEY
No. They didn't use them.
CHARLTON
Now...did you recognize any of their
faces? Do you remember them?
ABBEY
One.
(beat)
H-He had a tattoo...
CHARLTON
Of what?
ABBEY
...of a naked lady.
Charlton reaches into his pocket and takes out a photo of...a
tattoo, taken right off someone's skin. Slapping it on the
table, Charlton points to it.
Abbey turns away fearfully, burying her teary face in her
dad's shirt.
LEVINE
That's enough, detective.
CHARLTON
Just look at it, Abbey. Is this it?
LEVINE
That's enough!
CHARLTON
You shut up!
Abbey starts to cry...
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
I tell you what's enough!
LEVINE
(pissed)
Look at her!
CHARLTON
Shut up!
(to Abbey)
Now, you--
Charlton roughly yanks Abbey onto her feet and shoves her
face right into the photo, the girl crying harder...
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
--is this it?!
Abbey, unable to stop crying, doesn't reply.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(blind with rage)
Stop crying and tell me!
Not able to take any more, Abbey runs to the door, trying to
open it only to find it locked from the outside.
Charlton starts to go toward Abbey when he notices something:
A speck of blood on Levine's pants.
Charlton looks at Abbey and sees...a patch of blood in the
seat of her dress, getting bigger and bigger...
And then Charlton realizes what he's done. He sees that he
is no better that Levine, no better than the scum he puts
away.
Charlton snaps his fingers, the door then opening from the
outside.
Abbey runs out and jumps into her mother's open arms--
And the door closes.
LEVINE
What's wrong with you?!
CHARLTON
(quietly)
Nothing.
(beat)
You didn't even figure out the flower
yet, did you?
LEVINE
Fuck you.
CHARLTON
That's mature.
LEVINE
And you would know, after doing that to a
7 year old girl?!
CHARLTON
I do what I have to, Levine.
(beat)
When you're in jail, you'll remember
that.
LEVINE
You have nothing.
CHARLTON
I have that flower. That's all I need.
That's all the jury needs, because it is
what killed you. It is that one mistake
every criminal makes at least once.
LEVINE
You know nothing.
CHARLTON
I know everything.
(beat)
I'm gonna kill you.
LEVINE
Watch what you say, Charlton.
CHARLTON
Lord knows you wouldn't want an unfair
trial.
LEVINE
The jury will see right through you.
CHARLTON
(laughs)
You're so sure.
(beat)
I like that. It'll make it that much
sweeter when the jury hangs you. When
that needle is stickin' out your arm,
pumpin' in that sweet juice.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Charlton opens the door, a regular blue uniform standing
outside.
UNIFORM
Mr. Levine's attorney is here.
Levine laughs.
LEVINE
Tell him to piss off.
CHARLTON
(to uniform)
You heard him.
The officer begins to close the door--
--until Anna Levine bursts through it, police issue Beretta
in hand! Tears streaming down her face, she aims it at
Levine...
ANNA
You son-of-a-bitch!!!
Anna cocks the gun--
--before the uniform grabs her and takes the gun, pulling
Anna out of the room, leaving only the labored breathing of
Levine.
CHARLTON
Now she knows.
(beat)
Pretty convincing evidence we must have
to convince your wife, huh?
LEVINE
Fuck you.
CHARLTON
(smiles)
Finally chinking the armor, huh?
LEVINE
(beat)
I want to file charges.
CHARLTON
Against us? We didn't do anything to
you, Levine.
LEVINE
I want to file charges against her.
CHARLTON
(lifts eyebrow)
Anna? Your wife?
LEVINE
She tried to kill me. That's attempted
murder.
CHARLTON
Leave the law to me, hot-shot.
LEVINE
You know what I mean.
(beat)
I want to file charges.
CHARLTON
(beat, thinks)
Okay.
Charlton snaps his fingers.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
It'll be a minute or two.
The two wait quietly, silence getting more and more
uncomfortable, until the door opens, a uniform entering with
a single piece of paper.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(taking paper)
Thanks.
The uniform leaves, Charlton taking out a pen and writing on
the paper.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(eyes on paper)
Name?
LEVINE
Jameson--
CHARLTON
(writing)
--Charles Levine. Gotcha.
Charlton scribbles something.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
Date of birth?
LEVINE
10-30-59.
CHARLTON
Okay.
(beat)
Social security number?
LEVINE
686-431-004.
CHARLTON
Okay.
(beat, stops writing)
Now all you do is--
Charlton slides the paper and pen to Levine.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
--write down what happened to you and put
down your signature.
LEVINE
Okay.
Levine begins to write, the pen in his left hand.
CHARLTON
(noticing)
Left-handed, huh?
LEVINE
Yeah.
Charlton sighs.
CHARLTON
Left handers don't have much attention
these days.
LEVINE
I don't follow.
CHARLTON
Everything's right-handed. Computer
mouses, gear shifts, can openers,
everything.
LEVINE
So...?
CHARLTON
Ah, nothing.
(beat)
Just noticed you're left-handed, 's all.
Levine finishes the paper and hands it to Charlton, Levine
pocketing the pen, Charlton scoffing as he notices.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(skimming over paper)
Okay.
Charlton snaps his fingers, a uniform soon entering the room
and taking the paper.
The uniform leaves.
LEVINE
So, is that it?
CHARLTON
That's it.
LEVINE
What now?
CHARLTON
You confess.
The two laugh.
LEVINE
You're funny.
CHARLTON
I try.
(beat)
You're the funny one. The way you keep
lyin' to me, you just know you're lookin'
right at another smack in the face.
LEVINE
You can slap me all you want. You ain't
getting me to say a thing.
CHARLTON
I "ain't"?
(laughs)
Whatever happened to Mr. Holier than thou
art?
LEVINE
Grammar is beside the issue.
CHARLTON
There you go again. You're talkin' like
you're some upper-class plastic surgeon
or something.
LEVINE
I am a respected heart surgeon--
CHARLTON
But it isn't exactly the march of dimes.
LEVINE
I don't have to justify myself to you--
Charlton scoffs.
CHARLTON
You do. I'm the one keeping you out of
jail.
LEVINE
Or keeping me in.
CHARLTON
Now you're starting to see, huh?
LEVINE
That's entrapment.
CHARLTON
You wish.
(smiles)
I don't need to plant shit on you. I got
all the evidence a jury needs.
LEVINE
You have nothing.
CHARLTON
It's all in the flower!
LEVINE
Then why don't you tell me what's with
the flower?!
CHARLTON
You really want to know?
LEVINE
Yeah.
CHARLTON
(smiling)
Well, okay.
(beat)
Flowers are only good for a day, right?
Especially those lilies, those go the
fastest.
Levine nods.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
So we looked at whoever bought lilies the
days all the girls were kidnapped.
LEVINE
What if the guy had his own lilies?
CHARLTON
Then we'd look for whoever had a garden
of lilies in the city.
LEVINE
(stumped)
Oh...
CHARLTON
(smiles)
Well, we got the records from all the
flower venders that sell lilies and
looked at the dates before the
kidnappings...
(beat)
...and no one bought lilies from a store
on those days.
Levine gives a huge sigh of relief.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
But one person did alternate stores.
(beat)
One person bought lilies on all of the
days at different stores each time.
Levine goes pale.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
Seems one Tyler Grey bought lilies at
Flower Emporium the day Abbey Levine was
taken. Then he bought lilies at
Botanical Beauties the day Libby Jacobi
was kidnapped.
(beat)
Beginning to see a pattern here?
Charlton laughs.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
You fucked up royally, Levine.
LEVINE
Actually, you said that Tyler Grey did
everything wrong, not me.
CHARLTON
Yeah, he fucked up by leavin' a trail...
(beat)
...but you fucked up by trustin' someone.
(beat)
We traced his whereabouts, we stormed his
apartment and caught him jackin' off to
one of your videos.
LEVINE
(smiles)
What videos?
CHARLTON
The videos you shot of those girls
gettin' raped.
(squints)
Why'd you do it? Are you some fuckin'
perv, or is there somethin' else?
LEVINE
I'm somethin' else. I'm not a perv.
Suddenly someone enters the room...
...it's Lugosi.
LUGOSI
The faggot still not coppin'?
Levine scoffs.
CHARLTON
Nope.
(beat)
Still dickin' around.
Lugosi slaps Levine behind the head.
LUGOSI
We don't need a confession. Not any
more.
CHARLTON
What we got?
LUGOSI
We got Grey. He 'fessed, gave up Levine
in a snap.
LEVINE
Come on, you're just trying to mess with
me. It isn't working.
CHARLTON
Fuckin' shut up.
(to Lugosi)
He copped?
LUGOSI
Yeah.
CHARLTON
We still have to ogle this fucker?
LUGOSI
Yeah.
CHARLTON
Shit.
(sighs)
Fuck.
Levine scoffs, offended.
LEVINE
I'm not a hard person to deal with.
There are lots of people that would be
worse than me.
CHARLTON
(scoffs)
Right.
Many other people whore their own kids?
Many other people kill children?
(beat)
You're the worst fuckin' scum 'cause you
don't know it.
Levine shakes his head in denial.
LEVINE
(sarcastically)
Right. Sure.
Charlton marvels at Levine's ignorance.
CHARLTON
You're a fuckin' idiot.
LEVINE
None of the girls thought so.
Charlton slams his fist on the table and draws his gun!!!
Cocking it, Charlton points the gun at Levine, cowering
beneath the barrel.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
No!
Lugosi rushes to Charlton and takes the gun.
LUGOSI
Calm down, God damn it!
Charlton takes in a deep breath and staggers back as Levine
continues to whimper, closing his eyes shut.
LUGOSI (CONT'D)
(to Levine, laughs)
It's over, you fuckin' pussy.
Levine opens his eyes and gives out a sigh of relief. Lugosi
leads Charlton to his chair and the two sit with Levine.
LEVINE
(jumpy)
I-I want my lawyer.
Charlton and Lugosi sigh, now having to deal with a lawyer.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
(now assertive)
Now.
Charlton snaps his fingers, the doors soon opening, a LAWYER
stepping in and sitting with Levine. He is VINCENT SCOTT, a
30 year-old lawyer, suave, slick and emotionless.
SCOTT
(to Charlton and Lugosi)
I'm advising you to now ask your
questions through me and to me alone.
Charlton shakes his head, pissed.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
(to Charlton)
Are you disappointed, detective?
CHARLTON
No, no.
(smiles)
Happy as a clam.
SCOTT
Good. Now I need some time alone with my
client.
Charlton and Lugosi leave, not able to do anything else,
Levine now alone with Scott. The two lean into each other,
making sure as to not be able to be heard by Charlton and
Lugosi, most likely in the viewing room.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
(quietly)
Just stay silent and I'll get you out of
here in a snap.
LEVINE
What about the trial?
SCOTT
Don't worry about that now.
LEVINE
Tell me, God damn it!
SCOTT
(beat, sighs)
You'll be facing the death penalty.
LEVINE
The death penalty?!
SCOTT
You're being charged with killing 25
girls, Jameson.
LEVINE
You fix this, then, God damn it!
SCOTT
I need to know...
(beat)
...did you do it?
Levine stares into Scott's eyes.
LEVINE
Does it matter?
SCOTT
(beat, thinks)
No.
Scott opens his briefcase and takes out a notepad and pen.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
Do you know what they have on you?
LEVINE
A video, a flower that connects me, and
Tyler Grey.
SCOTT
Who's that?
LEVINE
He fuckin' kidnapped the girls. He gave
them my name.
SCOTT
The flower?
LEVINE
Proves Grey's story.
SCOTT
(beat)
The tape?
LEVINE
(sighs)
I shot it when I was in the club.
(beat)
It shows everything.
SCOTT
Does it show you?
LEVINE
(smiles)
No.
SCOTT
Good.
Scott scribbles on the notepad.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
(puts pen down)
Okay, we have a good case. All the
evidence is circumstantial at best.
(beat)
And it'll be harder for the jury to
believe the case against you since your
daughter was one of the girls.
Levine smiles.
SCOTT (CONT'D)
Now lets work on getting you out of here.
(to mirror)
Detectives?
Charlton and Lugosi re-enter and sit across from Levine and
Scott.
CHARLTON
You rang?
SCOTT
I want my client out of here.
CHARLTON
(in disbelief)
What did you say?
SCOTT
I want my client out of here. Now.
CHARLTON
I'm sorry, but as you may have noticed,
there's a murder investigation going on
right now. Your client ain't goin'
anywhere.
SCOTT
You have my word that he will not flee.
Charlton laughs.
CHARLTON
(sarcastically)
Sure, 'cause I'll really take your word
for it.
SCOTT
Fine. I'll file a motion to appeal under
the fact that both of you detectives
barrelled past the legal boundaries of
interrogation.
CHARLTON
We didn't do nothin'.
SCOTT
Then what happened to my client's nose?
Charlton looks at Levine's nose, bloodied.
CHARLTON
He tripped.
SCOTT
Not funny, detective. That's assault.
CHARLTON
(points to his own bloody lip)
Then this is assault, too. Get someone
to charge us both.
SCOTT
Just watch it.
Charlton suddenly jumps out of his seat and throws his chair
across the room! He leans over the table and peers into
Scott's eyes, now wide open in shock.
CHARLTON
Don't you ever tell me what to do.
(squints)
Ever.
SCOTT
(quivering)
F-Fine...
Charlton picks up his chair and sits down, not breaking eye
contact with Scott even once, the lawyer all the while
looking as if he will pee in his pants.
LUGOSI
Ease off, Mike. Don't want to blow it.
LEVINE
(to Scott)
These two are just fools acting off
Gestapo instructions.
LUGOSI
Gestapo?
(to Charlton)
We got a history buff on our hands.
CHARLTON
(to Levine)
You remember Gestapo, so you'd remember
Robert E. Lee. Hitler. Noriega. They
all gave up, they all surrendered.
(beat)
Just like you.
SCOTT
(toughening back up)
You already blew it, detective.
LUGOSI
(re: Charlton)
I'm the only thing keeping him from
ripping you to shreds, so be grateful.
SCOTT
You don't scare me, Charlton.
CHARLTON
(scoffs)
You were scared a minute ago.
(beat)
How does it feel to defend a fuckin'
killer?
SCOTT
You get used to it.
CHARLTON
You're fucking slime.
SCOTT
(standing)
If this is all, gentlemen, we have no
more to talk about.
Levine stands--
CHARLTON
We have somethin' for you. So sit the
fuck down.
Charlton snaps his fingers, signalling to the men outside to
do something...
SCOTT
Will this take long?
CHARLTON
Not long.
The door to the room suddenly opens, regular uniforms coming
in with a television and VCR on a shelf-like apparatus. The
men hook it up and then hand Charlton a remote and two
videotapes, Charlton smiling as the men exit.
LEVINE
What's that?
SCOTT
Jameson, let me do the talking--
CHARLTON
(to Levine)
It's a TV, idiot.
Lugosi switches the TV on, the machine making a high-pitched
whine as it turns on, a simple blue screen emerging.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(ignores TV, to Levine)
Are you ready to see it?
LEVINE
See what?
CHARLTON
See your life fly away.
Charlton laughs.
SCOTT
Get to the point.
(beat)
I need to file a complaint about you to
your supervisor.
CHARLTON
Complain all you want, we still got your
client's ass.
LEVINE
What does that mean?
CHARLTON
It means you're a fuckin' dead man.
SCOTT
(clears throat warningly)
What's on the tape?
CHARLTON
You'll see. But first--
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Someone knocks and enters. It is...CLAIRE and STEVEN LEVINE,
Abbey's SISTER and BROTHER, Jameson's other children.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
(smiling)
--you have visitors.
CLAIRE
(afraid of Levine)
D-Dad...?
LEVINE
Hey, honey.
(to Steven)
Hi, son.
CLAIRE
W-What's happening?
LEVINE
I just need to sort this out with the
police.
(laughs)
They think I'm some kind of killer!
CLAIRE
(afraid)
W-Why?
LEVINE
I don't know, just because I'm
convenient. That's all.
CLAIRE
No, why?!
Levine stares at Claire, not understanding what she is asking
him.
LEVINE
(realizing what she means)
I-I don't know what they're telling you,
but they're lies!
Levine stares at Charlton and Lugosi, blaming them.
CLAIRE
The police didn't say anything.
Levine brainstorms, trying to think of someone else who could
have done it, when he eyes the door to the interrogation room
and figures out who.
LEVINE
(thinks, suddenly angry)
Your mother is delusional! How can you
possibly believe I did what she said?
It's insane!
Claire cries.
CLAIRE
How could you?!
LEVINE
(to Steven)
T-Talk to your sister. Talk some sense
into her.
STEVEN
Do it yourself. I'm not helping you.
LEVINE
(not understanding)
What do you...
STEVEN
You're on your own, dad.
(beat)
You're a monster.
LEVINE
Who the hell do you think you're talking
to, some hobo off the street?!
STEVEN
What are you gonna do? Kidnap me too?
LEVINE
You don't know what you're saying. It's
me! Come on, I'm your father...
(beat, desperate)
Who took you to baseball games? Who
taught you how to throw a winning shot?
Who taught you everything you know?!
Steven doesn't flinch.
LEVINE (CONT'D)
(to Claire)
Come on, who made you?! Who got you into
Harvard?!
STEVEN
Don't talk to her you fucking--
LEVINE
I am your father and you will treat me
with respect! I deserve that much, God
damn it.
CLAIRE
(falling apart)
How could you...
(beat, wipes away tears)
...how could you do that to Abbey? How
could you...
LEVINE
You ungrateful bitch, how dare you. I'm
your father, and who do you believe?
Anna.
STEVEN
Mom. I'd trust her with my life before
I'd trust you with shit.
LEVINE
You son-of-a-bitch, I sacrificed to get
you where you are today!
CLAIRE
You ruined her!
Claire walks over to Levine and slaps him, the smack
reverberating in the room loudly. The slapped section of
Levine's face turns red, outlining a single hand.
Levine stares blankly at Claire until he explodes, bursting
out of his seat and lunging at her only to be restrained by
Charlton and Lugosi.
LEVINE
You fucking bitch! You selfish, fucking
cunt!
CLAIRE
You're a filthy animal, you fucking
pervert!
LEVINE
I'll kill you, you God damn cunt!
CHARLTON
Calm the fuck down!
LEVINE
(to Charlton)
You stay out of this.
CHARLTON
This is my interrogation room, so you do
what I say. Now sit the fuck down.
Levine reluctantly sits, Claire still in shock.
STEVEN
(to Levine)
You son-of-a-bitch.
LEVINE
Tell Abbey daddy'll be home soon.
STEVEN
Do you really think you'll see her again
after what you've done?
LEVINE
You don't know what you're talking about.
STEVEN
After your trial, we're moving.
LEVINE
(not believing him)
You're a God damn pussy.
STEVEN
Not about this. I'm doing it, dad.
LEVINE
(now believing him)
You piece of shit.
STEVEN
You don't scare me anymore. You're just
pathetic.
LEVINE
(giving Steven the eye)
Some girls out there think otherwise.
Steven tries to lunge at Levine, only to stop himself before
he does something foolish.
STEVEN
(at his boiling point)
You mother fucker! I'll kill you!
LEVINE
(knowing he has control)
Don't talk to your father that way,
Steven! You do as you're told, now!
STEVEN
You don't own me, you fuckin' monster!
LEVINE
(smiles)
I do own you, 'cause you're the same as
me. You're the same flesh and blood, and
I made you.
Levine laughs as he twirls his son around his finger.
STEVEN
I'm tellin' the police everything, you
piece of shit!
LEVINE
(smug)
Go ahead! You can't say anything to help
their case. You can't say anything that
matters. You're just a worthless,
meaningless person with a life that'll be
forgotten as my life--
CHARLTON
(having heard enough)
Enough theatrics.
(beat, to Steven and Claire)
Get the fuck out of here.
Steven opens the door, he and Claire leaving.
STEVEN
(softly)
Bye.
The two leave.
Charlton laughs at Levine.
CHARLTON
Look what you did. You destroyed your
family.
LEVINE
(closing himself off)
Shut up...
CHARLTON
You lost everything. Your money, your
family, your job, your reputation...
LEVINE
Shut up!
CHARLTON
...and for what? A club. A club!
LEVINE
You did all this.
CHARLTON
I didn't do shit. You brought me to your
door. You were how I solved the case.
LEVINE
Shut up!
CHARLTON
And above all else, you're getting the
needle.
LEVINE
You're full of shit.
CHARLTON
(scoffs)
Am I?
(beat, leans in)
Am I?
Lugosi turns on one tape, which is of him and ANOTHER MAN, a
slim, lanky, pale man with scary, cat-like eyes. The man is
TYLER GREY.
TV LUGOSI
You're givin' me shit here, Tyler.
TYLER
I didn't kidnap no fuckin' girls.
TV LUGOSI
You're up shit creek without a paddle,
son. Now tell me.
TYLER
I don't know shit!
TV LUGOSI
You fucking liar!
TYLER
I ain't done shit, man.
TV LUGOSI
You call kidnappin' 29 girls not doin'
shit? Huh?!
TYLER
You got shit on me.
TV LUGOSI
(scoffs)
You fuckin' fag. You're coverin' for
that no-good piece of shit?! He don't
care about you!
TYLER
No shit he don't care about me.
TV LUGOSI
You know what he did? Do you know?
TYLER
I don't fuckin' care.
TV LUGOSI
He turned you over. How the fuck do you
think we got your name in the first
place?
TYLER
(laughs uneasily)
You're full of shit, man.
TV LUGOSI
Think I would lie to a no-good fuckin'
fag like you? It's too much work, no
payoff. It ain't worth it.
TYLER
(scoffs)
Yeah right, man.
TV LUGOSI
He told us about the flowers.
Tyler lifts one eyebrow, starting to believe Lugosi.
TYLER
W-What did you say?
Levine begins to sweat.
TV LUGOSI
The flowers. He told us.
TYLER
(extremely anxious, in denial)
No, no, he didn't.
TV LUGOSI
How else would we know?
TYLER
He wouldn't...
(beat)
...he wouldn't...
TV LUGOSI
Just stop 'nd think 'bout it.
(beat)
You know it's true.
TYLER
(beat, thinks)
You're a fuckin' liar.
TV LUGOSI
Believe what you wanna believe, pal.
TYLER
Fuckin' WOP.
TV Lugosi looks at Tyler, glaring into the punk's eyes.
TV LUGOSI
Just 'cause I ain't beatin' you down
don't mean I like you.
TYLER
Shit-bird.
TV LUGOSI
Yeah. I'm the piece of shit 'nd Levine's
the saint, right?
TYLER
You don't know shit.
TV LUGOSI
Oh?
TV Lugosi reaches into his pocket and slams something on the
desk. It is...a flower, one just like the shriveled one
before Levine. Tyler stares at it, struggling to find a way
to justify it without Levine betraying him, only finding
nothing.
TV LUGOSI (CONT'D)
Cat got your tongue?
TYLER
(not believing self)
You're fuckin' lying!
TV LUGOSI
Don't trust me. Trust the evidence.
(beat)
He gave you up, Grey.
TYLER
(in denial)
No...
TV LUGOSI
Yeah.
Tyler slams his fist on the table.
TYLER
God damn it!
(pounds table again)
Mother fucker!
TV Lugosi looks at Tyler, knowing he will confess.
TV LUGOSI
He gave you up.
Tyler looks at TV Lugosi in the eye.
TYLER
(beat)
He...He paid me to kidnap 'em.
(sighs)
He gave me free picks at the club.
TV LUGOSI
Who?
(leans in)
Who?
TYLER
(beat)
Levine.
(sighs)
He taped 'em, too. Gave me some copies
'nd sold the rest.
Lugosi turns off the TV, looking at Levine, now in a cold
sweat.
CHARLTON
You're fucked.
SCOTT
Watch your mouth, detective.
CHARLTON
Fuck you, yuppie shit-bag.
SCOTT
(looks into Levine's eyes)
Jameson...?
LEVINE
(beat)
He's a fuckin' liar.
Charlton sighs, removes the tape, and puts in another. He
presses "play" and the screen flickering to life. The video
is of...a party, being shot on a handheld. It is
of...Levine's sex club!
The club is a huge room, girls in hanging cages, crying,
dressed scantily. Men, all middle aged, crowd around the
cages, shouting, screaming and whistling to the girls.
Levine is obviously the one behind the camera.
While moving through the club, people shout and wave at the
camera, trying to get on tape. The men throw money at the
camera, one of them coming right up to the lens.
MAN
Hey, $1000 on number 13.
The man takes out a WAD of cash and hands it to Levine, who
hands the man...a single key. The key to the girl's cage.
TV LEVINE
Have fun.
TV Levine laughs as the man walks off into the distance.
TV LEVINE (CONT'D)
(to camera)
We're just going to follow this
guy...maybe catch the action.
TV Levine follows the man as he walks through the club.
There are dozens upon dozens of cages, all with GIRLS in
them, some with men inside, as well.
All the girls are crying as men crowd around the cages,
grabbing at them, trying to feel them. The girls, most not
even 10, can't even understand why these men are doing what
they are doing.
These girls are just simply too young to understand what
these horrible, despicable men want. The girls don't know
that what the men want are them.
The man TV Levine follows looks at some of the girls, not
even uncomfortable in the least, obviously having been to
this club before, and walks strait toward his destination,
his walk exuding purpose.
Among the other men in the club, one opens a girl's cage with
shaky hands, nervous beyond belief. He is doing this for the
first time. He reaches into the cage and tries to gently
coax the girl inside to come out, to no avail.
Suddenly a man comes by, laughs, and pushes the newcomer
away. He is obviously a regular, wearing no shirt, his chest
exposed, which has a tattoo on it. It is the same tattoo on
the picture Charlton tried to show Abbey!
MAN
You need to force 'em to come out,
newbie. Don't sugar-coat it.
The regular reaches the cage and grabs the girl by the
ankles, pulling her out of the cage like a fish on a fishing
line, getting closer and closer to the slaughter, closer and
closer to death.
The regular takes the girl out and shoves her wrists into the
newbie's hands.
The newbie squirms, first not ready to restrain her, but
quickly learns how to keep her in her place. The newbie
smiles and, just like that, a new pervert is born.
The regular walks away, laughing, disappearing into the crowd
of raving men.
The man TV Levine follows heads toward a cage housing...a
GIRL, around 12, wearing only a white, cotton gown with
bloodstains between the legs. She has bruises on her face,
arms and legs, one eye with a shiner.
She has been brutalized.
Next to the cotton girl's cage is another cage, this one with
ABBEY LEVINE, wearing a tattered dress, the tattered dress.
Someone is pulling her out of the cage, Abbey kicking and
screaming, trying to keep the men grabbing at her at bay.
ABBEY
(to girl in cotton)
Libby!
The girl in cotton is LIBBY JACOBI!
She crawls to the bars and looks into Abbey's eyes.
LIBBY
It's okay, it's okay.
(beat, cries)
Do what they say, Abbey.
ABBEY
(crying)
No!
LIBBY
(crying, desperate)
Abbey, for God's sake do what they say!
Please! Just do what they want and
you'll be fine. I promise.
Abbey cries as she stops resisting...and climbs out of the
cage, waling away with the men, getting enveloped in shadow.
Libby sighs, wipes her tears away, and looks at the man
heading her way--
Charlton shuts off the tape, not able to take any more. He
looks at Levine, his anger boiling his insides, his sweat
drenching his shirt.
He is afraid.
CHARLTON
You fuckin' mother fucker.
(beat)
You God damned piece of shit.
Charlton slams his fists on the table so hard it jumps.
CHARLTON (CONT'D)
They were kids!
(grits teeth)
Some of 'em sewed themselves shut 'cause
they thought that would make it stop.
Some cut up their faces so they'd look
ugly 'nd no one'd want 'em.
Charlton slams his fists on the table!
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
His hands pound the table hard, a desperate attempt to get
rid of his hatred, his anger, while Lugosi takes over.
LUGOSI
These tapes 're goin' to court. You're
gettin' convicted, you fuckin' fag--
LEVINE
I'm not the fag in this room.
Lugosi freezes.
LUGOSI
(not believing Levine knows)
What?
LEVINE
You're the fuckin' fag, you dress-wearin'
fairy!
Lugosi begins to tremble with anger as his deepest secret is
revealed, as his greatest fear is manifested...as Levine.
LUGOSI
You don't even know the first thing about
me, fag.
LEVINE
I don't need to know about you. You're
about as complex as a tire. You're a
fag, a homo, a queer, man-lovin' piece of
flamboyant shit!
Lugosi, at the end of his rope, does the only thing he can
imagine doing: he draws his gun and aims for Levine!
LUGOSI
You mother fucker--
Levine then bursts out of his chair and punches Lugosi,
disorienting him, as Charlton lunges for Levine! Scott
freezes in shock as Levine takes Lugosi's pistol and cocks
it, wrapping his arm around Lugosi's neck, Lugosi now a
hostage for Levine.
LEVINE
(to Charlton, pressing gun to
Lugosi's temple)
Don't fuckin' move!
Charlton swiftly draws his gun and points it at Levine, the
two men in a stand off, Scott quivering with fear!
LEVINE (CONT'D)
Put the fucking gun down, now!
CHARLTON
Fuck you, man!
LEVINE
(re: Lugosi)
I'm gonna shoot this fucker!
CHARLTON
You ain't gettin' out of here alive,
Levine!
LEVINE
Fuck you!
CHARLTON
They're gonna kill you!
LEVINE
Drop the fucking gun!
Scott shakes with fear as he looks at Levine, who doesn't
even know Scott is there. Scott thinks of a radical idea...
CHARLTON
(to Lugosi)
You okay, man?
LUGOSI
(being choked)
F-Fine.
Lugosi tries to break free of Levine's grasp, to no avail.
LEVINE
Drop the fucking--
Suddenly, Scott jumps to his feet and lunges at Levine,
plowing into him and trying to wrestle the gun out of his
hands! The two fall to the floor, Lugosi now free. Levine
points the gun at Scott and--
BAM! BAM! BAM!
--shoots Scott in the face, blowing holes in his forehead.
Levine marvels at the power of the gun, Scott's body falling
to the floor! Levine turns to Charlton and Lugosi, pointing
his gun and cocking it...
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Levine shoots Lugosi 3 times in the chest! Lugosi's body
crumpling to the floor, Levine aims the gun at Charlton...
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Charlton shoots Levine, blowing his face out the back of his
skull, Levine's pistol still trained on Charlton--
BAM!
--when a reflex motion in Levine's arm pulls the trigger,
shooting Charlton in the upper chest, the bullet then
shattering the interrogation room mirror!
The glass falls to the floor, revealing the entire room
behind it, the viewing room, which is no more than a room
even smaller than the interrogation room, only with two
chairs and a video camera recording everything. It is almost
pathetic.
Charlton coughs out blood, dipping his finger in it as blood
also spurts out of the wound in his chest, gushing out like
water from a garden hose.
Charlton looks at the hole in his chest, dazed, with
disbelief. He tries to walk, but stumbles and falls to the
floor, his face smacking against the linoleum, the sound
echoing throughout the room.
On the floor, Charlton rolls onto his back and slowly crawls
to the wall and rests against it in a sitting position. In a
shocked daze, he peers at the room with glazed-over eyes, no
longer able to comprehend what has happened.
Charlton looks around the room, looking at all the death
before him: his partner, his friend, Lugosi. His enemy, his
rival, Levine. And his obstacle, the scum's lawyer, Scott.
Charlton reaches into his pocket and takes out...his badge.
He looks at it, his face unchanging, etched in stone, and
opens the badge to see...
...a picture of his family, his WIFE, CLARA, a beautiful,
radiant, happy woman and their DAUGHTER, CATHARINE, a girl
around 3 with the eyes of her father and the smile of her
mother.
Charlton smiles as he drowsily closes his eyes, drifting off
into sleep...
And then the door bursts open, paramedics running in, dressed
completely in white with medical kits in their hands. They
kneel before Charlton and rip open his shirt, showing the
bullet wound, blood still gushing out.
If blood is coming out, he is alive.
PARAMEDIC A
(checking Charlton's pulse)
Good vitals.
(beat, thinks)
Epinephrine.
Paramedic B hands Paramedic A a vial and syringe. Paramedic
A fixes the syringe with epinephrine and takes the needle,
sticking it into Charlton's heart! Paramedic A sticks in the
plunger and retracts the syringe.
Charlton opens his eyes.
PARAMEDIC A (CONT'D)
We got 'im.
Paramedic B runs out of the room, Charlton grabbing his
badge, taking the picture of his family out, later looking at
his shield.
Charlton stares at the badge, his mind trying to make a
crucial decision. He looks at the picture of his family and
smiles, thinking about his wife, thinking about his daughter.
Paramedic B returns with a gurney, he and Paramedic A pushing
it down to the floor next to Charlton. Paramedic A grabs
Charlton's legs as Paramedic B grabs Charlton's shoulders and
the two hoist him onto the gurney, quickly wheeling Charlton
out of the room.
Charlton stares at the badge...and throws it to the floor,
grasping onto the photo as he is wheeled into the police
station hallway, away from the interrogation room...
FADE TO BLACK.
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