Witness Page #9

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A Narcotics Detective enters the room laden with sev-

eral volumes of mug shots. He puts them on the desk

beside a similar book which Samuel is intently study-

ing. Sam sits on the chair cushions in a big swivel

rocker.

The Detective, Sgt. KAMAN, eyes Book a little suspi-

ciously - internal affairs officers are not greeted

warmly by the working policemen in any department.

KAMAN:

There's a Sgt. Carter on the phone

for you.

Book gets up and moves to the door.

KAMAN:

(continuing)

And, Captain, don't want to rush

you, but I'm gonna need these

files back in a half hour. We got

a lot of work to do round here.

The two men leave. Samuel looks about before hopping

off his perch and following the direction taken by

Book.

53 OMITTED53

thru thru

56 56

57 INT. DETECTIVES ROOM, NARCOTICS DIVISION - DAY57

Through glass partitions we can see Book on the tele-

phone in a cubicle of an office.

Samuel has drifted out of the office and is idling amid

the bustle of the squadroom.

He crosses to a glass case which holds a collection of

plaques and framed newspaper accounts which denote

instances of outstanding duty and achievement.

ANGLE THOUGH GLASS CASE

as Samuel moves along, only half interested in what his

eyes are taking in, not really old enough to comprehend

anyway.

Until suddenly he freezes.

SAMUEL'S POV - NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT

Enlarged, prominently displayed. The headline reads:

Division Chief McElroy Honored For Youth Project.

Accompanying the item is a large sidebar mug-shot of

McElroy - clearly the black man who murdered the young

cop in the train station men's room.

BACK TO SAMUEL:

He stares, transfixed.

A long beat, then Book, lowering himself to one knee

next to Samuel, ENTERS FRAME.

He's watching Samuel, knowing from the boy's expression

that they've found their man. Samuel slowly raises his

hand to point at the photograph. Book gently takes the

boy's small hand in his, concealing the accusation from

watchful eyes. He smiles gently at the boy.

58 INT. BOOK'S CAR (MOVING) - PHILADELPHIA - DUSK58

Rachel is curled tight in her corner of the front seat

holding Samuel close. Book glances at her:

RACHEL:

Why don't you arrest that man?

Are you protecting him because

policeman?

BOOK:

(snaps)

Listen, I'm the cop that polices

the police. I'm not in the

business of protecting crooked

cops .

(eases up)

I'll make an arrest when I know

everybody involved.

Rachel shakes her head.

RACHEL:

But why would they murders..

58 CONTINUED

BOOK:

Because - somehow - they knew

I was getting close.

(and)

Look, it's narcotics . . . They

make dope out of chemicals . . . they

sell it on the street for millions

of dollars. They'll do anything.

(and)

And they can get away with it because

they're cops.

RACHEL:

(beat, then)

I'm afraid. I'm afraid for

Samuel. I want to go home.

BOOK:

You'll be safe. you don't have to

worry.

She says nothing.

Another beat, then:

BOOK:

(continuing)

Look, they're thinking as long as

they keep the killer out of Samuel's

way, we can't make an I.D. There's

no way they can know Samuel saw that

photograph, so he's safe.

He glances at her, but she continues ahead.

BOOK:

(continuing)

I mean it. you will be safe.

Suddenly Rachel explodes:

RACHEL:

Oh yes! Of Courses Why shouldn't

we feel safe in a city where the

police are so busy killing each

other!

CUT TO:

59 EXT./INT. SCHAEFFER HOME, PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS -59

NIGHT:

The front door of Schaeffer's upper-middle class home

is opened by his wife MARILYN. She knows Book and is

surprised and delighted to see him. In the background

daughter KATHY is visible. Schaeffer himself

appears and Book is welcomed inside.

INT. SCHAEFFER'S STUDY - NIGHT

Schaeffer passes Book a drink.

59 CONTINUED59

Book is excited, animated . . . the hunter, after a

long chase, closing on his quarry:

BOOK:

It was McElroy, Paul.

Schaeffer gives him a sharp look:

BOOK:

Last guys would have figured.

But he's part of it.

SCHAEFFER:

I hope you don't have any doubts

about that.

BOOK:

If I did, I'd have kept my

mouth shut . . .

(and)

It fits, Paul . . . Fifty-five

gallons of P-two-P confiscated

four years ago . .. Guess who

was in on the collar? Mac.

(excited, explain-

ing the thing eagerly)

He salts it away somewhere . . he

knows the stuff is potent, but

the street chemists haven't figured

out how to process it. But they

do now.

(and)

And now the stuff is worth five-

grand a pint and there are

a lot of pints in a fifty-five

gallon drum.

SCHAEFFER:

(beat)

Who else knows?

BOOK:

Just us.

SCHAEFFER:

(shakes his head)

Okay, what are you going to need

to clean it up

BOOK:

More people . . Gotta pick up

where Zenovich left off. People

from outside the department.

59 (CONTINUED)59

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