Absence of Malice Page #5

Couldn't you say

you spoke to someone

who was with him the whole time?

I'm a reporter.

You're talking to a newspaper

right now, understand?

You said you could keep it out.

I did not.

I said I would discuss it

with my editors.

Look, if you have

some information

about where Michael Gallagher

was that night

and you want to help him...

You don't understand.

There was this guy...

Michael hates him.

Maybe he's not so hot,

but, you see, I'm Catholic.

Ms. Perrone, look,

I really don't wanna be rude,

but I don't understand

what you're trying to tell me.

I have a deadline. I have to get back.

I had an abortion.

I got pregnant

and I didn't know what to do.

I got a name in Atlanta.

And Michael took me.

It was three days.

He stayed with me

every day, every hour,

and that's what happened.

That's not such

a terrible thing.

Have you told

anybody else this?

Oh, God.

Oh, you're not Catholic.

Look, it's 1981.

People will understand.

Are you crazy?

Not my people. Not my father.

I don't even understand it.

How old are you?

You believe me, don't you?

Yes, I do.

Well, then don't write this.

You're a friend

of Michael Gallagher's.

He's in trouble.

You've told the truth

about something

that will help him.

No one's gonna hate you

for that, really.

Really.

Do you have ticket stubs

or receipts

or anything that will prove

that what you're?

[]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

MICHAEL:

Eight and a half cases short

and he drops us after 12 years.

[]

[WOMAN SPEAKING

INDISTINCTLY]

Thank you, that's fine.

MEGAN:

Mac, if it has no bearing

on the case, then why run it?

What does it mean?

Let the readers decide

what it means.

I'm beginning to feel funny

about mentioning the abortion.

Isn't being with Gallagher

what's relevant?

The reason I believe the story

is because of the abortion.

Don't tell me it's not relevant.

Are you sure you're right?

I'm never sure I'm right.

She's the alibi witness

for a key suspect in a major crime.

People have a right

to know the alibi.

You got something going on

with Gallagher?

Good night, Mac.

[]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Mac, about this construction worker...

Meg, we've had, um...

There's been an accident.

What?

It's Teresa Perrone.

What happened?

She killed herself.

They found her about an hour ago.

Where?

Her father woke up

and found her.

She was living at home.

Did she leave a note?

They don't think so.

Meg?

Want me to do the story?

No.

No, no, no. I'm gonna do it.

Okay.

Do you wanna go home?

No.

How?

She cut her wrist

with a razor blade.

It turns out she was

seeing a psychiatrist.

Look...

People get caught up

in things.

Remember the woman

in San Francisco

a few years ago,

took a shot at Ford?

The guy in the crowd

grabbed her arm

and saved the president's life,

and he was a hero.

It turned out

he was also gay.

That's news, right?

Now the whole country

knows that too.

Did he kill himself?

Meg, let me take you home.

It was not your fault.

Then why do I have to go home?

Michael?

You don't wanna come in here.

I'm warning you.

Michael, if I could just talk to you...

Shut up!

I don't wanna hear it.

I don't wanna hear any of it.

What the hell

are you doing here?!

Details?

Is that what you want?

Details, okay.

They found her naked

in the tub.

God, she didn't even

wanna make a mess.

No water, just naked in the tub.

You interested, huh?

You're interested in how she felt?

Yes.

Okay.

She picked up a newspaper,

for chrissake,

and there it is

for everybody to see.

Everybody to look at it.

She must have felt like...

Unh!

Just raped!

Aah! No, Michael!

Goddamn it!

She must have felt...

No! Let go! Oh, God!

Know something I didn't know?

When you kill yourself,

it's a homicide,

so they do an autopsy.

They're gonna get a knife.

They start here.

They're gonna split her open.

When they get here,

they use shears.

They use shears!

Christ.

Oh, goddamn you!

Get away from me.

[CRYING]

Excuse me, Michael,

but I can't go home like this.

I need something to wear.

I'll have this returned to you.

MICHAEL:

Couldn't you see

what it was to her?

Couldn't you stop

scribbling for a second

and just put down

your goddamn ballpoint pen?

Didn't you see her?

Didn't you...?

Didn't you like her?

It was Rosen.

It was Elliott Rosen.

He runs a strike force.

He's the one that leaked

the story about you.

I don't know why.

I have to go now, Michael.

I'm very tired.

[SOBBING]

ROSEN:
Were they in Atlanta?

Got them on the manifest.

Doesn't mean he's clear.

Doesn't mean anything. He did it,

or he knows who did it,

or he can find out who did it.

He sure isn't easy.

Yeah.

Why don't you see

if Meersma's got

anything from IRS?

Think we ought to let this cool down?

No.

I'm sorry about Perrone.

I got a job to do.

This thing isn't just gonna go away.

I still gotta find who hit Diaz.

That's what they're paying me for.

[]

PRIEST:

The hour has come for

the son of man to be glorified.

I solemnly assure you,

unless the grain of wheat

falls to the earth and dies,

it remains just

a grain of wheat.

But if it dies,

it produces much fruit.

The man who loves his life

loses it,

while the man who hates

his life in this world

preserves it

through life eternal.

Grant her eternal rest, O Lord,

and may your light shine

on her forever.

Amen.

[INTERCOM BEEPS]

MAN [OVER INTERCOM]:

Who is it?

MICHAEL:

Michael Gallagher.

I need to see my uncle.

Yes, Michael?

I got a job to do, uncle.

I need some information

about this guy Elliott Rosen.

[]

Uh, this is Michael Gallagher.

I'm somewhere else right now.

If you wait for the tone,

leave your name and number,

I'll get back.

[]

SARAH:

How large is the search area?

Can you give me

the boundaries?

Are there sharks in that area,

do you think?

Okay, great. Thanks, lieutenant.

No, I think I'll be working.

Maybe lunch. Bye-bye.

I don't think they're

gonna find those guys.

It's been two days now.

You might wanna go easy

on the sharks.

Why?

Don't scare the tourists.

The rule is, it's a shark

if it walks out of the water,

stops traffic, and bites a cop.

If they're just swimming,

call them fish.

Okay. Fish-infested waters.

Want some coffee?

It might keep me up.

It's decaffeinated.

I've been thinking it might be time

for you to come on the desk.

[SIGHS]

I'm not over the hill yet.

I think you'd make

a damn fine editor.

Mac...

you ever miss being on the street?

No.

Too many people out there.

A lot of news is bad news

for somebody.

You stay out there too long,

the somebodies start adding up.

Ever think about

doing anything else?

Yep.

But you won't?

Nope.

Mondays are always

different from Tuesdays.

You don't have to lie a lot.

Once in a while,

you nail the bad guy.

I know how to print what's true.

And I know how not to hurt people.

I don't know how to do

both at the same time,

and neither do you.

Maybe you're tougher than I am.

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