King and Maxwell: Summer Adventures Page #2

She watches him tie his laces.

MICHELLE:

Ever heard of slip-ons?

SEAN:

First slips-ons. Then pants withelastic tops. And before you know ityou’re wearing a hoodie and peoplethink you’re from L.A.

MURDOCK’S VOICE

Sean King?

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

Sean and Michelle both look up as two men step up, flashingFBI BADGES. Agent BRANDON MURDOCK, 40s, by the book and hisjunior partner Agent CARTER, late 20s.

MURDOCK:

Agent Murdock, Agent Carter. FBI.

King finishes tying his shoes.

SEAN:

If this is about Eddie Finch, you’llhave to talk to Metro.

MURDOCK:

Do you know a man named Ted Bergin?

Not what Sean was expecting.

SEAN:

He’s a friend. Why?

MURDOCK:

When did you last speak with him?

SEAN:

A week ago.

MURDOCK:

He called you last night.

SEAN:

No he didn’t.

MURDOCK:

Yes he did.

SEAN:

Hope you’ve got a warrant if you’redigging around in my phone records.

CARTER:

According to Bergin’s records, helogged a thirty second call to yourcell last night at nine-forty-two.

As Sean pulls out his cellphone to check...

MICHELLE:

What’s this about?

MURDOCK:

And you are?

MICHELLE:

Michelle Maxwell. But I’m guessing youalready know that, don’t you AgentMurdock?

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

Murdock eyes her steadily, no need to answer.

SEAN:

Nine-forty-two, missed call. Went tovoice-mail.

MURDOCK:

On speaker if you don’t mind.

Sean hesitates, looks at Michelle, then holds up the phone sothey can all hear it.

BERGIN’S VOICE

(phone filter)

Sean, it’s Ted. I’ve got newinformation about Edgar Roy. Call meback as soon as you get this, it’surgent.

And the call ends.

MURDOCK:

You know who Edgar Roy is?

SEAN:

Yeah. Serial killer. Ted’s his

attorney.

MICHELLE:

You going to tell us what this isabout now?

A moment, then...

MURDOCK:

He’s dead.

SEAN:

Edgar Roy?

MURDOCK:

Ted Bergin.

(beat)

Murdered.

And off Sean’s shock...

END TEASER:

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

ACT ONE:

FADE IN:

INT. CITY MORGUE - DAY

FLUORESCENT light flickering us out of BLACK, revealing halfa dozen gurneys, each with a sheet draped corpse. The

ATTENDANT leads Sean, Michelle, Murdock and Carter to the end

gurney.

The Attendant looks at Murdock, who nods. He lifts the

sheet, revealing the body of Ted Bergin, 60s. There’s a

clean bullet wound in his left temple. Sean gazes at the bodyfor a moment.

SEAN:

That’s Ted.

Murdock nods to the Attendant, who covers the body andleaves.

SEAN (CONT’D)

You know who did this?

MURDOCK:

No. Do you?

SEAN:

Where did it happen?

MURDOCK:

West Virginia. Country road, thirtyminutes out of DC. His car was pulledoff to the side. Engine was stillrunning. Single gun shot to the head.

(beat)

When did you last see him?

SEAN:

Monday. Breakfast.

MURDOCK:

You were working with him on the EdgarRoy case?

SEAN:

It was our monthly catch-up. He

mentioned the case, said he neededsome help.

MURDOCK:

In your capacity as a lawyer? Or a

private investigator?

SEAN:

Both.

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

MURDOCK:

Give you the case to read?

SEAN:

No.

MURDOCK:

Brief you?

SEAN:

Only the headlines.

MURDOCK:

Any idea what this ‘new information’might refer to?

SEAN:

No.

MICHELLE:

Shouldn’t we be talking to the Statepolice?

MURDOCK:

Ted Bergin was the attorney of analleged serial killer - which makes itFBI jurisdiction.

(beat)

Bergin made two calls last night.

(looks to Sean)

The second was to you. The first wasto the Federal Correctional Facilityat Cutter’s Rock. He was on his way tosee Edgar Roy in prison when he waskilled.

MICHELLE:

Was the window down?

Murdock looks at her blankly.

MICHELLE (CONT’D)

The driver’s window - was it down?

MURDOCK:

Yes.

MICHELLE:

Cold night. He pulls over, rolls thewindow down. Suggests he knew hiskiller. Or it was someone he had no

reason to fear. Like law enforcement.

Murdock holds her gaze for a beat, then turns to Sean.

MURDOCK:

You remember anything, call me.

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

And he and Carter depart. Michelle turns back to Sean, whoraises the sheet, gazes down at Bergin’s body.

SEAN:

He saved my life once. I ever tell youthat?

MICHELLE:

No.

SEAN:

(quietly)

What did you get yourself into, Ted?

And off Sean hurting...

EXT. BERGIN’S LAW OFFICE - DAY

Late afternoon. Sean and Michelle pull up outside Bergin’slaw office in Michelle’s LANDCRUISER. As they get out, acouple of FBI AGENTS leave the office carrying archive boxesand add them to other boxes, files and computers in the trunkof their sedan.

MICHELLE:

Murdock’s not wasting any time.

The Agents clock Sean and Michelle as they enter the office.

INT. BERGIN’S LAW OFFICE - DAY

A well kept woman in her 50s, HILARY CUNNINGHAM, looks up asSean and Michelle enter. The office is a mess - open drawersand cabinets, desks stripped of computers and hard drives.

HILARY:

Sean...

They embrace.

SEAN:

You okay?

HILARY:

Keeping busy. Or I was until theyarrived... Did you see them?

SEAN:

FBI?

HILARY:

At first they just wanted the EdgarRoy files. But when they saw howlittle there was - they decided totake everything.

(sees Michelle)

You must be Michelle...

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

SEAN:

Hilary Cunningham, Ted’s secretary.

MICHELLE:

Sorry we’re meeting under thesecircumstances.

MEGAN’S VOICE

(edged with defiance)

There’s nothing left to take.

Everyone turns to see MEGAN RILEY, early 20s, standing in thedoorway. Megan’s clutching a tissue, has clearly been crying.

HILARY:

It’s okay. These are friends, Megan.

Ted’s friends.

(to Sean and Michelle)

Megan’s just out of law school. Onlyjoined us last month. Ted has bigplans for her

Realizes her mistake. Sean covers.

SEAN:

Did Ted get you to review the EdgarRoy file?

MEGAN:

What there was of it.

Megan looks questioningly at Hilary, who nods herencouragement.

MEGAN (CONT’D)

Six weeks ago, Edgar Roy was chargedwith the murder of six men. None have

been identified. Police caught himwith a shovel in his hand and the

bodies partly buried in his barn.

SEAN:

Has he entered a plea?

MEGAN:

No.

SEAN:

Make any admissions?

MEGAN:

No.

MICHELLE:

What did Ted think?

King & Maxwell Revised Network 01-10-12

MEGAN:

He said the evidence was overwhelming.

MICHELLE:

So why did he take the case?

HILARY:

Because when he met Edgar Roy, he knewno one else would. Justice for all.

SEAN:

That was Ted alright. He mention

anything about ‘new information’?

MEGAN:

No. I’m sorry...

MICHELLE:

How was he yesterday?

HILARY:

A pain in the butt. Said he was

trying to ‘decipher something’.

MICHELLE:

Know what that could have been?

HILARY:

He wouldn’t tell me. But I could tell

it was important to him.

MICHELLE:

He ever take work home?

HILARY:

Not until last year...

MICHELLE:

What changed?

SEAN:

His wife died.

MICHELLE:

(to Sean)

No harm in looking.

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