Suspect Zero Page #13

Mackelway half-nods. His chest is bandaged.

CHARLTON:

We're gonna need everything you can

remember about this guy, Tom. Physical

description, any kind of distinguishing

characteristics.

That was terse. Charlton looks pretty pissed-off.

MACKELWAY:

(scratchy)

Where is he?

CHARLTON:

The suspect fled. Couple janitors walked

in on it.

(before Mack can ask:)

They're fine. But the description they

gave of him wasn't worth a damn.

Mackelway nods.

CHARLTON (CONT'D)

Case you're curious the real Professor

Daitz is on sabbatical, out of the

country. We can't find him.

(Mackelway nods)

Whose idea was it to meet there?

MACKELWAY:

His, Sir.

CHARLTON:

Uh-huh. Did he ask you to come alone?

MACKELWAY:

No, Sir.

CHARLTON:

But you figured you'd get a bigger pat on

the head if you wrapped this whole thing

up without any help - is that it?

The truth? Charlton has him pegged. But:

FRAN:

Sir, I'm the one who took the call. Agent

Mackelway was acting under the assumption

that I'd already checked the guy out.

We're both to blame.

Hold it. That was a major exaggeration, if not an outright

lie. Mackelway eyes her, thrown. She's poker-faced.

Charlton, however, seems unmoved...

CHARLTON:

Did Agent Mackelway attend the interview

unaccompanied?

FRAN:

(reluctantly)

Yes, Sir.

CHARLTON:

Then whose f***-up is it?

Mackelway eyes her: "Thanks for trying." She nods.

MACKELWAY:

(at Charlton)

It was... poor judgment, Sir.

CHARLTON:

You wanna work alone, start your own

agency.

Mackelway can do nothing but nod. Then, bailing him out,

another COMPOSITE ARTIST enters, tools in hand. Charlton

sighs, frustrated.

CHARLTON (CONT'D)

(re:
Composite Artist)

Let's get you two started.

Composite Artist is ready to begin...

CUT TO:

69 INT. BAPTIST CHURCH - DAY 69

A lively Sunday Service. Lots of Baptists, singing a rousing

spiritual. Music and praise filling the room.

We move along the pews, until we came to the very back row...

There, one man sits. Alone. Quiet. O'Ryan.

Odd expression on his face - it's as if he can't hear this

rousing music, or feel the power of this place. People in the

next row are stomping their feet. Music soars.

But O'Ryan just drops his head, slowly... and begins to WEEP

in the middle of this boisterous congregation.

Outside, an 18-WHEEL TRUCK can be heard, rumbling by with

great force. No one else in here seems to hear it.

But O'Ryan shuts his eyes tight, grieving, sobbing...

70 EXT. STREET - OUTSIDE THE CHURCH - CONTINUING 70

That TRUCK has just thundered by, leaving a swirl of debris in

its wake. We TILT UP from it... to find that those STORMCLOUDS

once in the distance are upon us now.

And they are pulsing with menace. Rain, wind, lightning,

thunder. Like a black wave, about to descend...

71 INTERCUT WITH/INT. FBI OFFICE - "FAX ROOM" - SAME 71

One of those five FAX MACHINES begins to ring. Then it begins

to PRINT.

It's a Sunday. No one's here... but we get a look at what's

coming in. Same TOP-SHEET again: "Attention Agent Thomas

Mackelway" etc.

CONTINUE INTERCUT: this incoming fax, set against a few

tableaus of Americana. Innocence...

72 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM - SAME 72

A high school MARCHING BAND is out here, practicing.

Cheerleaders work on their routines nearby.

Then a LOUD WHISTLE SOUNDS. It's the BAND-LEADER, who is

taking note of the weather gathering overhead. The music from

the band ceases.

BAND-LEADER

Everybody into the gym!

The band-members start to move. LIGHTNING erupts overhead.

73 EXT. UNIDENTIFIED HOME - BACKYARD - SAME 73

An unnamed MOTHER emerges onto her back-porch, where her FIVE-

YEAR OLD DAUGHTER is having a playdate with a FRIEND.

This house borders a wooded area. That wind is starting to

make the trees swirl.

MOTHER:

Girls, I want you to come in now.

Startin' to rain.

The girls sigh, disappointed, deciding instead to hide

themselves inside the TENT they've erected out here.

They giggle. The mother doesn't. CONTINUE INTERCUT:

74 INT. FBI OFFICE - "FAX ROOM" - RESUMING 74

That fax is now printing page after page. Photos with HAVE YOU

SEEN ME? across the top and vitals across the bottom.

But this time the transmission isn't stopping at five. There

are at least TEN sitting in the tray. Maybe twenty. Faces.

Eyes. Stats. Locations. Innocence violated...

75 EXT. PARK - SAME 75

A SOCCER GAME's been called in the middle of the Second Half.

PARENTS and their uniformed 12 YEAR-OLDS scatter.

RAIN is pouring down now, blown sideways by that wind.

76 INT. THE 18-WHEELER - SAME 76

That massive, gleaming beast that rumbled past the church now

rolls right by this park - as all of those kids and their

parents scramble for the shelter of their cars.

The windshield wipers on this truck push water away, giving us

a clear look at the wet suburban chaos.

77 INT. BAPTIST CHURCH - RESUMING 77

The faithful in here keep singing, their voices full with

praise - despite the heavy weather outside. They feel safe in

here. We move along the PEWS...

...until we find O'Ryan's. He's not here anymore.

78 EXT. BAPTIST CHURCH - SAME 78

O'Ryan leans against the door of the church, pelted by that

heavy rain.

BAM! Here comes those IMAGES AGAIN:

79 EXT. WHEAT FIELD - NIGHT - RESUMING 79

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