Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man Page #3

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Well, yeah,

It's all in my plans.

It's a blue, three-ring binder,

it's gotta be in here somewhere.

DEREK (O.S.):

Got it!

So, what are we looking for?

The answer is in Willow Wood.

Beware of the pen.

He is a treacherous friend.

Look at this.

According to this,

there were five objects in the Willow series.

Where are they?

Three were given as gifts,

the other two are unlisted.

Okay. Who did he

give 'em to?

Kevin & Michelle Billings,

Marcus DeWhitt, and Virgil Logan.

It doesn't say what the items

are, though.

There are no designs for them.

Okay, this is getting

interesting.

JACK (O.S.):

So, what's next?

We split up, collect the pieces,

and get some answers.

Hello?

Mrs. Billings...

Yes.

um, I believe you

knew my grandfather?

Yes, I did. I'm very sorry

for your loss.

I think Grandpa wanted

me to talk to you.

Hello.

Hi, there.

I'm Jack Moore.

This is my brother, David.

We're friends of Derek Morton.

He sent us over here to look

at a a willow wood piece his grandfather made.

Something small.

A clock, a bowl, maybe?

Well, come on in.

GATOR (O.S.):

It's a code.

Look, a code!

Don't worry,

it's just a simple code.

It's a code.

Stupid code.

Log:
I still haven't gained

Derek's trust.

He took the coded message

with him, leaving me here with absolutely nothing to do.

I can't work with a client

that doesn't trust me!

( DEVICE BEEPS)

(STEPS APPROACHING)

(WHISTLING)

Ah-ha!

Hey, Peter.

I'm sorry, I thought it

was the guys coming back.

Coming back?

Where are they?

On a mission.

What you got in the basket?

Some snacks, Mom suggested

that we have a picnic.

Oh, this is what

you've been working on?

Yep! What do you think?

That's really neat!

What is it?

Umm that's sorta what

I'm trying to figure out.

I'm sorry, boys, I was unable

to find anything that fits your description.

Do you mind

if I take a look around?

Briefly.

So, you were close

to Mr. Morton?

I was his attorney.

I wrote documents necessary

for him to start companies for technology development.

What kind of technologies?

Hm, I'm sorry, I'm afraid

I'm not in a position...

to disclose that information.

(CLOCK CHIMES)

Derek discovered something,

didn't he?

Maybe, I'm afraid I'm not

in a position to disclose that information to you.

(CHUCKLES)

Well... Mr. Morton may,

in fact...

have tried to leave a

message before he died.

And even if he did, the best

option for Jim and his family is to go on home.

And keep their memory of James

a pleasant one...

without all

the gruesome details.

Well, I couldn't find

anything, either.

I'll keep my eyes open.

Have fun boys, but be careful.

The Morton legacy

is a fragile one.

We knew him pretty well.

He'd come over and talk up his

ideas and projects with Kevin.

I remember when he started

building the bridge out to the house.

We all thought it was

ridiculous...

but your Grandma loved it!

He built it for her, so she

wouldn't have to walk up and down the hill all the time.

Do you know if Grandpa

was working on any special projects lately?

Anything out of the ordinary?

Not that I know of.

He would have told you if he

was, though, right? I mean, you knew him pretty well?

Very well.

He was like a father to us.

We had some pretty hard times

and he was always there for us.

Of course,

he had hard times, too.

Like when you're

Daddy left.

What happened between them?

I think you should ask

your Dad...

but from what we could tell,

nothing happened.

James was focused on his work...

and your Dad just didn't see

how he fit into those plans.

Next time I saw them

together was at the funeral.

Did Grandpa give your husband

a gift in the past few months?

Yeah, it looks like

the original bond was weak.

Strange it took all these

years to finally fall apart.

Well, you'd only catch it if

you're really paying attention.

I noticed that the basement

is a little bit older than the rest of the house.

Yeah, that's a funny story.

My great grand-dad was a German.

He moved here at the turn

of the century.

He bought a piece of land,

and started his family right here.

He built this little shack

and then moved everybody in, right here.

Then his son tore it down and

built something a little bit larger, and a little more solid.

Then when Dad inherited it,

he-- he expanded, the whole thing.

Still got the same foundation,

though.

So why'd they turn it

into a bed 'n breakfast?

Well, after I moved out,

he and Mom had all this extra space...

I guess,

I really don't know why.

So are you gonna continue

the tradition?

Nah, that's not for me.

The artistic stuff...

that was Dad's thing.

Is that it?

Not quite.

I still need that threaded

coupler, and I gotta solder this one last fitting.

Okay, I'll head to the hardware

store and grab that before they close.

Is this what you need?

It's a music box,

but it doesn't work.

Kevin could probably

tell you why.

Where is he now?

He's at the station training

his new deputy.

He's a cop?

That's how I got

to know your father.

Can I borrow this for a while?

Sure.

Thank you.

I really appreciate this.

Anytime. I see a lot

of your grandpa in you.

Thanks again.

Well, I actually brought Reagan

up here to show her the old typewriter.

Oh... oh, oh, okay.

That's awesome.

Yeah, I don't think it works,

though.

What?

What's wrong with it?

It's like the keys

are all mixed up.

That's too bad.

Whoa, wait a minute.

It's not broken.

It's a code.

Log:
Remington-Rand Typewriter.

Model 2. I found it.

Did you find anything?

He said he didn't have anything

that matched our description.

All right, hop in.

Next stop, Logan's library.

Looks like they closed already.

Well, we can come back

tomorrow, right?

Guys, I think I can see it.

This building is fairly old.

Hey! What are you

guys doing?

We need something

and Mr. Logan has it.

And why do you need it?

I'm not sure.

Come back tomorrow.

I can see it,

it's sitting right there.

Come on, Derek,

it's not that big a deal.

In case you haven't noticed,

to me, yeah, it is kind of a big deal.

Derek, what's the problem here?

No problem.

I'll see you tonight.

( ENGINE STARTS)

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, guys, come look at this.

What's this?

It's gibberish, de-gibberified.

What?

I know you've doubted my

abilities in the past...

but I think from now on...

you'll see things a little

bit differently.

Watch this.

Gibberish. Now watch.

The Remington.

I'd like to try this out on your

grandfather's first note...

with your permission,

of course.

(MUSIC CHANGES)

Secretary, a fresh sheet

of paper, please?

Thank you.

This is gonna be good.

The patriarch?

It means father, grandfather,

great grandfather and so on.

Now, if you don't mind...

The end.

That's it?

That's it.

He had enemies,

so he was in some sort of--

Danger, distress, dilemma,

predicament, turmoil, trouble?

Log--

Log:
The client does not

appreciate multiple choice.

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