Body of Proof Page #5

This too Megan files away. She takes a final look at

Angela's photographs.

MEGAN:

How did Tom Burris fit in?

MR. SWANSON *

He didn't. Angela didn't have timefor a real relationship. Tom's

only virtue was she was in nodanger of falling in love with him.

We always knew he was no good.

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 23.

MEGAN:

And there was no one else? No one

she was seeing recently?

MR. SWANSON

No. No one.

MEGAN:

One last question. After the coma,

did you notice any change in

Angela's behavior?

At this, Mrs. Swanson stifles a sob. She exits the room,

leaving her husband to explain -

MR. SWANSON

Understand we've always loved our

daughter, but in her teens Angela

became a hard, driven girl. All

she wanted was to get out of

Fishtown, and when she did there

were times we wouldn't hear from

her for months. After the coma, it

was like she came back to us. Our

little girl. She'd drop in once a

week. She'd call just to sayhello.

Mr. Swanson stifles a sob of his own. *

EXT. SWANSON HOME -MOMENTS LATER

Peter leads Megan back to the car, shaking his head.

PETER:

I've heard of someone getting some

sense knocked into them, but

feelings? That's a new one.

MEGAN:

I'd throw my ex down the stairs if

I thought it'd get the same result.

Peter gives her a look, but Megan is already on to her next

thought.

MEGAN:

Let's swing by midtown on our way

back.

PETER:

But midtown's in the opposite

direction.

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 24.

MEGAN:

(a look)

It was a figure of speech.

INT. HANDBAG SHOP -DAY

A high end boutique. Peter follows Megan inside. The female

OWNER disappears into the back and returns with a box which

she sets before Megan on the counter.

OWNER:

I haven't let anyone else see it,

much less touch it.

Off comes the top. Megan beholds a handbag about the size

and shape of a flattened softball, covered in blue sequins.

OWNER:

The Devi Kroell Crystal Disco Ball

Handbag. Isn't it stunning?

PETER:

It looks like a kindergarten

project gone wrong.

Megan and the Owner exchange a 'What a Neanderthal' look.

MEGAN:

My daughter turns twelve tomorrow

and I want to get her somethingnice, okay?

Peter meanwhile moves on to the price tag.

PETER:

Yeah? For eleven hundred dollars?

Megan stares at him. Then at the price tag. Apparently this

is a problem.

OWNER:

You wanted the limited edition,

didn't you?

MEGAN:

Yes, but... I don't want her to

think I'm buying her affection.

PETER:

You don't want her to think you're

insane. Which is what anybody is

who pays that much for a handbag.

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 25.

OWNER:

You don't know much about handbags,

do you.

Peter takes Megan by the arm and steers her out of earshot of

the Owner.

PETER:

Getting your daughter that bag is abad idea.

MEGAN:

And what could you possibly know

about my daughter?

That stops him cold.

PETER:

You know something? You're

absolutely right. How could I know

anything about your daughter?

He heads for the door. She watches him go.

INT. CAR -DAY

All is quiet as they head back to the office. Megan glances

over at Peter. He stares straight ahead. Finally -

MEGAN:

Lacey lives with her dad. We

divorced five years ago. He got *

sole custody. *

Peter glances over at her. *

MEGAN *

He got it because a woman who works *

18 hours a day is an absentee *

mother but a man who works the same *

hours is a provider. Do you have *

any idea what it takes to be a

practicing neurosurgeon at 28 and *

run your own department at 33? *

PETER:

I spent my entire 20's in a weight *

room. *

She stares at him. *

MEGAN:

Did you really just compare *

neurosurgery to football? *

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 26.

PETER *

Um.... *

MEGAN *

I saved lives. And I was damn good *

at it. And yes I missed play dates *

and phone calls and for that I'm *

sorry. But I was under the bizarre *

impression my husband had my back. *

Instead he was building a case *

against me. I can still hear the *

judge. "I find it in the best *

interests of the child...." *

Megan takes a moment to stare down at her hands. *

MEGAN *

I lost my daughter to my career. *

And then I lost my career. All *

because of that god damn car *

accident. My hands still go numb. *

Silence. *

PETER *

I still don't get the handbag. *

MEGAN *

What else am I supposed to do? *

Hire a sky writer? "Lacey, I'm *

sorry?" I pay for summer camp and *

dance classes and everything else, *

but no matter what I do Mike tells *

her I'm just trying to make myself

feel better.

PETER:

Which... you're not...?

MEGAN:

I'm trying to have a relationship *

with my daughter, okay? For all *

the good it's done. *

PETER:

Maybe you should just try having *

some fun with her. *

She looks at him, then stares out the window.

MEGAN:

Forget we had this conversation.

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 27.

INT. ME'S OFFICE -DAY

Megan and Peter come through the entrance and sail past the

front desk. The RECEPTIONIST does his best to flag Megan

down -

RECEPTIONIST:

Dr. Hunt, the Chief wants to see

you.

They disappear down the hallway. The Receptionist stares

after her. Did she hear him? Does she give a damn?

PETER:

That would be the Chief as in our

boss.

MEGAN:

I'm still not talking to you.

PETER:

Or the Chief, apparently. A career

strategy that always works for me.

MEGAN:

I'll handle the Chief. You light a

fire under somebody's ass. I want

those diaphragm results.

He peels off and heads for the lab. Megan turns down the

hall and practically bumps into Elliot. They walk side by *

side until --*

MEGAN *

What do you want now? *

ELLIOT *

Nothing. *

MEGAN *

Elliot, I'm really not in the mood. *

ELLIOT:

You know that female heat stroke *

victim I mentioned? Her

electrolytes were normal. Negative

tox for drugs and alcohol too.

MEGAN:

Any psychological problems?

Depression, paranoia?

ELLIOT:

Um..., why?

Christopher Murphey -Body of Evidence -1/11/10 28.

Off her look --*

ELLIOT *

I'll find out. But what do I do if *

there were?

MEGAN:

Order an ANA panel.

Megan heads for the Examination Rooms. Elliot stares after

her.

ELLIOT:

Isn't that the test that got you in

trouble with Semo?

She throws a look back with that same mischievous smile. *

INT. EXAMINATION ROOM #1 -DAY TO NIGHT

Megan walks her magnifying glass over to Angela's body and *

begins a CLOSEUP inspection. AT SKIN LEVEL. WE WATCH *

VARIOUS CROSS FADES OVER TIME as Megan covers the entire body

and comes, at last, to a discovery. At the side of Angela's

head, on her scalp hidden by hair and the edges of Angela's

head wound, a faint BRUISE IN THE SHAPE OF A FINGER.

INT. EXAMINATION ROOM #1 -NIGHT

Megan has by now mapped the bruises on Angela's scalp onto a

piece of paper. They are unmistakably the fingerprints of a *

man's hand. Megan now stands behind Angela combing out *

strands of hair against a piece of white cardboard. What she

sees among the other hairs are a few that appear clipped

short, standing out against the rest.

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