Dexter

FADE IN:

ON THE FULL MOON

Millions of glittering stars behind it and as we start

pulling back off the stars, we HEAR the even VOICE of -

DEXTER (V.O.)

Tonight's the night. And it's going to

happen again and again. Has to happen.

PANNING DOWN:

Passing the moon -- wonderfully bright in all its redness.

DEXTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Nice night.

PANNING FURTHER DOWN UNTIL

The moonlight illuminates the restless, inner city streets of

Miami and we start moving through them -- passing the neon

lit bars with enthusiastic DRINKERS, clueless GERMAN

TOURISTS, wearing shorts, black socks and sandals, long

legged MODELS flirting on the boulevard, blue collar CUBANO

MEN sipping espresso, a few scantily clad HOOKERS hawking

johns and a band of RUNAWAYS looking for handouts --

DEXTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Miami's a great town -- love the Cuban

food, pork sandwiches -- my

favorite...but I'm hungry for

something different now.

A nervous middle-aged COUPLE, clearly lost, RACES in and out

of the pools of light cast by the city street lights.

A HONDA CIVIC, CIRCA LATE 1980's

Drives into frame, turns a corner, drives down a main

boulevard, approaches an intersection -- the overhanging

light turns RED and as the car stops, we push into --

THE WINDSHIELD AND SEE

A MAN behind the wheel of that Civic but we can't see his

face.

CUT TO:

EXT. BAND SHELL - PARK - MIAMI, FL - NIGHT

PROUD PARENTS sit on the grass, opened picnic baskets in

front of them.

2.

Their eyes focused on two dozen BOYS (12-14) wearing snappy

looking ties and jackets, singing a beautiful rendition of

ÒBach Magnificat.Ó

With a flourish, the tuxedoed CHOIR MASTER (40's), handsome,

all-American looking, with a scrubbed clean face, guides the

boys to the stunning crescendo.

The CROWD stands, ERUPTS with applause. The boys smile.

The Choir Master turns, bows to the audience -- more

applause, then rises, blows kisses to his perky little WIFE

and their TWO young DAUGHTERS standing in the front row.

FREEZE FRAME ON THE CHOIR MASTER

DEXTER (V.O.)

(contained excitement)

There he is --Mike Donovan. He is the

one.

BACK TO SCENE:

The kids all walk off the stage, join their happy parents on

the lawn. The Choir Master joins his wife, bends down, gives

her a kiss, hugs his two sweet little girls.

Everyone starts packing up their picnic baskets -

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - BORDERING THE PARK - MIAMI, FL - LATER

The Choir Master walks his wife and daughters to a Buick

sedan. Helps them get in, buckles up the kids -- waves as the

car drives off.

He turns, walks up the street, passes the Civic, but the Man

sitting behind the wheel is no longer there.

NEW ANGLE:

The Choir Master comes closer, closer to a -

FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON

And STOPS right before us, so close we can almost touch him.

He fumbles in his pocket for his keys and after a beat, the

key finally enters the lock, the station wagon door opens and

as the Choir Master slides in behind the wheel, SUDDENLY -

A MAN:

3.

POPS UP from the back seat, quicker than a jack in the box,

and with incredible quickness WHIPS a fishing line around the

Choir Master's neck, pulls it very TIGHT.

THE CHOIR MASTER'S EYES go wide and his face turns white.

The MAN behind him turns toward the camera, and we finally

SEE -

DEXTER'S FACE (30's), good looking with carefully constructed

features, eyes that are full of life.

FREEZE FRAME ON HIS FACE

DEXTER (V.O.)

My name is Dexter -- Dexter Morgan and

I'm going to kill this man tonight.

BACK TO SCENE:

Dexter turns back to Donovan, leans in close to his ear,

whispers menacingly.

DEXTER (CONT'D)

You're mine now, so do exactly as I

say.

DONOVAN:

(struggling, barely audible)

What do you want..?

And Dexter pulls the fishing line tighter, cuts into

Donovan's skin.

DEXTER:

(hard)

I want you to be quiet.

(beat)

Be good and maybe I'll let you live a

little longer. Now drive.

And Donovan pulls out of the spot.

CUT TO:

EXT. DIRT ROAD - OUTSKIRTS OF MIAMI, FL - LATER

The station wagon driving down a dirt road flanked by

swampland. It doesn't look good. We can see it in Donovan's

eyes.

DEXTER:

Turn here.

4.

Donovan turns the wheel and the car rumbles toward --

EXT. AN OLD HOUSE - OUTSKIRTS OF MIAMI, FL - SAME

The car stops in front of a ramshackle home -- clearly hasn't

been lived in for years. To the side of the house is a small

yard where we see THREE MOUNDS of dirt piled high.

The car STOPS. Donovan stares at the mounds, then snaps his

eyes shut. Dexter releases the noose.

DEXTER:

Get out.

Donovan STUMBLES out of the car, falls to the ground, starts

to whimper.

DEXTER (CONT'D)

(sharp, demanding)

You have to listen and do what I say.

You should know that. It's important.

After a beat, Donovan slowly gets up and the two of them

stare at each other. There's a weird understanding between

the two. Dexter smiles, says softly -

DEXTER (CONT'D)

In the house.

Dexter whips the fishing line back around the Donovan's neck

and they both walk up to the front door and enter -

INT. THE OLD HOUSE - OUTSKIRTS OF MIAMI, FL - SAME

Dexter KICKS the door closed, quickly flips on a flood lamp,

lights up the room, leans into Donovan's ear, whispers...

DEXTER:

Look.

Donovan is too scared, tries to turn his head away -

DONOVAN:

No.

DEXTER:

Oh yes...

DONOVAN:

(struggling)

NO! NO!

5.

But Dexter twists the noose tighter and Donovan's SCREAMS are

cut off.

DEXTER:

It's horrible, isn't it? Isn't it?

But Donovan SLAMS his eyes shut even tighter.

DONOVAN:

(pleading)

Please.

Dexter GRABS the back of Donovan's neck, SPINS him around,

SLAMS his face into a wall, then grabs his hair and pulls

Donovan's head back.

DEXTER:

OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU

DID -- LOOK OR I'LL CUT YOUR EYELIDS

RIGHT OFF OF YOUR FACE.

Donovan's eyes pop open wide, and we finally SEE --

THREE SMALL BODIES

Three little dead BOYS laid out on plastic sheets and spread

out in a semi-circle before them.

DEXTER (CONT'D)

It took me a long time to get all

these little boys clean -- one of them

had been in the ground so long he was

falling apart -- Pulled him out in

bits and pieces.

DONOVAN:

NO.

And then in a deeply heartfelt voice Donovan starts mumbling

in a mantra-like way -

DONOVAN (CONT'D)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord...

DEXTER:

(furious)

STOP! That never helped anyone.

DONOVAN:

Please.

DEXTER:

It's time for the truth.

6.

DONOVAN:

(pleading again)

Please...You can have anything -

DEXTER:

That's good. Beg. Did these little

boys beg?

Donovan SCREAMS and Dexter lets go. Donovan falls forward and

lands on his face sobbing, sniveling.

DONOVAN:

I couldn't help myself, I just

couldn't...Please, you have to

understand.

Dexter looks down at him --

DEXTER:

Trust me, I definitely understand.

Then Dexter grabs him, lifts him up, stares into his eyes.

DEXTER (CONT'D)

See, I can't help myself either.

(w/disgust)

But children. I could never do that.

Not like you. Never, ever kids.

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