Copycat Page #15

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HELEN OPENS THE WEAPON, SEEMINGLY COMPETENT ENOUGH TO HANDLE

IT WELL, AND EMPTIES OUT THE BULLETS. SHE LOCKS IT UP AND

HEAVES A SIGH OF RELIEF.

THE SONG CONTINUES...

CUT TO:

EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

THE FBI ARRIVES. High angle, looking down: three identical

cars draw in front, park with military precision: all four

doors on the all three cars open at the same time and

identically dressed men, in suits, get out, slam the doors

in sync., and march toward the front steps to HQ, ignoring a

couple of bemused cops smoking on the sidewalk...

INT. POLICE HQ - CONTINUOUS

As the parade of FBI, led by their Commander SAKS, walk down

the corridor from the front door, toward CAMERA, performing

a smart right angle turn, and (CAMERA PANNING TO FOLLOW)

continue away from CAMERA down another corridor. Through

the glass partitions and in the halls they pass cops who

pretend they aren't looking at them: no eye contact between

cops and FBI. The cops are at ease; bellies slop over

belts; neatly pressed blouses strain over breasts; sweat

stains; shirtsleeves. The marching men wouldn't sweat.

QUINN emerges from his office and sees them arriving. He

gets his jacket off a hook on the back of the door, signals

a few top officers to follow. He looks resigned...

INT. TASK FORCE ROOM - DAY (LATER)

M.J., RUBEN, NIKKO, and a number of other officers are being

addressed by SAKS, an FBI agent. At the back are three more

FBI AGENTS, suited and tied. QUINN stands off to one side.

THE SONG IS JUST ENDING, ON A CD PLAYER IN THE ROOM. A

projector beams up a copy of the note RUBEN found in the

phone booth.

Dr. Hudson:
Don't lose your head.

"Once that you've decided on a killing

First you make a stone of your heart

And if you find that your hands are still willing

You can turn murder into an art.

Well, if you have a taste for this experience

You're flushed with your very first success

Then you must try a twosome or a threesome

Before your conscience bothers you much less.

Then you can join the ranks of the illustrious

In history's great dark hall of fame

All of our greatest killers were industrious

At least the ones that we all know by name."

SAKS speaks...

SAKS:

Hello. I am (research title)

Meryhew Saks. The song is called

"Murder By Numbers." The

performers are a group called The

Police. Adam here...

... from Behavioral Science is

working out exactly what this

perpetrator is trying to telegraph

in the note. This is an extremely

complex case, and we have a lot of

fancy theories floating around.

We're not ruling out the possib-

ility of three Copycat serial

killers. We have Quantico working

on graphology, the Washington lap

is cloning DNA from the secretor.

It's our feeling that the best lead

we have is the two sperm samples in

one of the victims. We have a team

sweeping sperm banks. Now I want

to say a few word to you local

people. Your Commissioner asked

for our assistance. The Bureau

does not send us in on these cases

to lord it over the local police.

We couldn't catch up on what you

people know if we had a year. We

have nation-wide resources and hard

state of the art forensic science;

you have the local savvy. Together

we can be unbeatable. Which one is

Inspector Halloran?

M.J.

Over here.

SAKS approaches M.J., guides her away from the others.

TWO SHOT:
Saks is unctuous and insincere, self-confident.

SAKS:

We don't see too many lady homicide

detectives. You have my respect.

Have you discussed the note with

Dr. Hudson?

M.J.

Someone broke into her place last

night. It wasn't connected to our

case, but it shook her up pretty

bad so I haven't...

QUINN joins them, SAKS gives him a nod.

SAKS:

I was just about to advise the

Inspector here not to show Dr.

Hudson the note.

M.J.

Sir, Doctor Hudson and I see a

pattern develop...

SAKS:

(riding over her)

We know Helen. She's not exactly a

credible collaborator. Especially

late in the day...

M.J.

She takes tranquilizers her doctor

prescribes.

SAKS:

Who prescribes the brandy?

M.J.'S look makes SAKS smile. QUINN is called to the phone.

M.J.

How come you're so up on Dr.

Hudson?

SAKS:

She is a writer, writing best

selling books about serial killing.

Giving lectures she's well-paid

for. Her interests are not the

interests of law enforcement.

M.J.

Okay.

SAKS:

We've put a tap on Dr. Hudson's

phone. I know you won't mention

it.

So much for any trusting relationship, right? QUINN has

arrived, addresses SAKS.

QUINN:

Sorry to interrupt. I need a word

with my officer...

He turns to M.J. Diplomatically, SAKS moves away.

QUINN:

M.J., I'm going to have to borrow

Ruben. The alien-smuggling thing

in Chinatown is going down tomorrow

night and Jack's kid got hit by a

car. I gotta give Ruben to Nikko.

M.J.

What does this mean? Now we got

the FBI, my team is expendable?

I'm working my ass off, is anybody

listening? Why Ruben, anyway? He

and Nikko don't even get on

together...

QUINN:

Teach both of them a lesson in

cooperation and self-discipline.

M.J.

If this is a first step in kicking

me off the case, just tell me, to

my face, sir, don't waste time

being diplomatic.

QUINN:

Just, I need results. And -- I am

short-handed. Who else am I gonna

give him?

M.J.

(looking at Saks)

Give him thatpompous son of a

b*tch.

She turns and leaves, brushing past Saks as she goes... Gigi

meets her...

GIGI:

Lab called. They got a result on

the drug test you requested...?

It takes a moment to remember what it was...

GIGI:

They said it was Windex?

If there was any residual doubt about what's happening, it's

gone now. She starts after Quinn, sees he is in spirited

dialogue with SAKS and decides to wait.

CUT TO:

INT. HELEN'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

HELEN and M.J. Helen unfolds a xerox copy of the note, that

M.J. has just given her.

HELEN:

..."I'll be back..."

As she looks at the back of the note... she looks up into

M.J.'S face.

M.J.

Yeah. Addressed to you. "Don't

lose your head."

Helen puts down the note. She is holding herself together

by main will power... doesn't want to face that note...

HELEN:

They put Merry Saks on it?!

M.J.

He said to send you his regards and

to tell you that the Bureau holds

you in the highest esteem.

HELEN:

What I can't believe is that in an

earlier life I slept with him!

Christ! Any God that loved his

people would give women a rewind on

their life and an erase button.

(looks at M.J.)

Just give me a minute here. The

letter is addressed to me...

(she's breathing

fast, controls it)

You don't feel fear, do you?

You're young. You feel like you'll

live forever. How wonderful.

M.J.

I put my ass on the line, giving

you that.

HELEN:

They weren't going to show it to

me?! The arrogance! It's my life!

M.J.

It's also the major piece of

evidence, and it makes you a key

part of his plan. You can't run

away from it anymore.

(beat)

Look at the order he's doing

them... He did three as the Boston

Strangler just to tell us a copycat

serial killer was at work. Then he

did one like the Hillside Strang-

ler. And then one as Son of Sam.

To lead us on -- to where and what

end? And he's doing more than that

-- he's imitating each killer's

method as closely as he can -- in

details. Injecting Windex. Using

.44. Playing Abba.

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