MURDER, SHE
WROTE: THE GRAVESTONE MURDERS a script
by GN Hetherington
1.
INT. Jessica Fletcher’s House
IT IS MORNING ON A
BEAUTIFUL BALMY SUMMERS DAY, THE CAMERA PANS FROM THE OCEAN INTO THE HOME OF
JESSICA FLETCHER. A WINDOW IS OPEN AND A
CURTAIN BLOWS GENTLY IN THE BREEZE.
THERE IS SILENCE APART FROM THE TICK-TOCK OF A LARGE GRANDFATHER
CLOCK. JESSICA FLETCHER IS SLUMPED IN A
CHAIR, SUDDENLY THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN AND DR SETH HAZZLETT ENTERS HE IS ONE OF
JESSICA’S CLOSEST FRIENDS. HE NOTICES
JESSICA SITTING MOTIONLESS AND THAT SHE ISNT MOVING, HE LOOKS VERY WORRIED AS
HE APPROACHES HER AND SLOWLY REACHES TOWARD HER HAND TO CHECK FOR A PULSE, AS
HIS FINGERS TOUCH HER HAND SHE SUDDENLY AWAKES AND GIVES A LOUD YELL OF FRIGHT.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, you scared me half to death!
SETH
(Incredulous)
I scared you, woman! I’ve been calling
you all
morning and I come in to find you
sitting there,
not moving….
JESSICA
(Smiles)
Seth,
you old fool! I must have just dozed off for a while, that’s all.
SETH
I’ve known you a long time Jess and
I’ve never
known you to nap during the day.
JESSICA LOOKS UNSURE
FOR A MOMENT AND CROSSES INTO THE KITCHEN AREA AND BUSIES HERSELF PUTTING ON A
KETTLE.
JESSICA
(Pleasantly)
Coffee?
SETH CROSSES TO HER
AND PLACES A HAND ON HER SHOULDER, FOR A MOMENT THEIR EYES MEET AND JESSICA’S
EYES MIST OVER, AGAIN SHE MOVES AWAY FROM HIM.
SETH
You haven’t been the same since coming
back from
JESSICA
(Firmly)
Seth, we’ve discussed this already,
I’m fine, it
was the right time to make a move, teaching
was only meant to be a temporary thing
anyway.
Besides, I really don’t get to spend
enough time
here
anymore, with my friends…my garden…
SETH
Well, there is that, but all the same,
trading
you in for someone younger, its just
plain wrong!
JESSICA TAKES THE
KETTLE OFF THE STOVE AND POURS TWO MUGS OF COFFEE, HANDS ONE TO SETH AND THEY
SETTLE DOWN AT THE KITCHEN TABLE. SETH
HELPS HIMSELF TO A COOKIE.
JESSICA
That’s simply not true Seth, the Dean
has the
university to think of and Jenny
Raymond is THE
leading CSI authority in the country,
when
she
expressed an interest in teaching a criminology course it was just too good an
opportunity to pass up and really it all just comes down to money, there’s not
enough of it to run both our classes.
And with
the extra interest in Ms Raymond’s field it
can
only help with increased student enrollment,
and
you know what Seth, truth be told, I’d been thinking of giving up my apartment
in
SETH RAISES HIS CUP
TO HER.
SETH
And I for one am very grateful to him!
We have
barely seen anything of you for the
last few
years.
JESSICA
There you go! (SQUEEZES HIS HAND)
SETH
And you’ll be able to start work on a
new novel,
it’s been a while hasn’t it?
JESSISA LOOKS OFF
INTO HER STUDY WHERE A COMPUTER IS COVERED IN A DUST SHEET.
JESSICA
Yes, I suppose it has, I haven’t
really given it
much thought.
SETH
Well,
you should, seems to me that every book on the best sellers list seems to be
about serial killers or some such twaddle! What we need is a good old-fashioned
whodunit!
SETH WINCES AS HE
REALISES WHAT HE SAID, JESSICA AGAIN LOOKS OFF.
I’m sorry, Jess, I didn’t mean to say
that your
books where old fashioned or anything…
JESSICA
Why
not? The critic from the New York Post did didn’t he? Perhaps he’s right; maybe
my books are ‘relics of a more innocent and naïve time.’
SETH
Pah! Who cares what the conceited ass
thinks,
class is class is class, Jess. Why else do
people still read Agatha Christie?
I’ll tell
you, for the same reason that in 100
years they
will still be reading your books, good
stories
are good stories no matter what the
modern
style is.
JESSICA APPEARS TO
BE ON THE BRINK OF TEARS.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, you’re very sweet.
SETH STARES AT HER
WITH GREAT CONCERN.
SETH
How’s about we take a walk into town?
Everyone’s
dying
to see you, it’s been a long time, you know.
JESSICA
Oh, I know, Seth. I’m looking forward to
catching up with everyone too, but
maybe in a day
or two when I’ve caught up with
everything here…
SETH
Jess,
you’ve been back home for nearly a week now and yet you haven’t even ventured
outside. Now,
tell
me woman, what’s so pressing that can’t wait, eh? Come with me, come see your
friends, it’ll make you feel better I promise.
JESSICA GETS UP AND
BEGINS PACING THE KITCHEN, SETH LOOKS CONCERNED AND ALSO GETS UP, HE SLOWS HER
DOWN BY GENTLY PLACING HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS.
Now, come on Jess, what’s going on?
JESSICA SUDDENLY
BEGINS SOBBING INTO HIS CHEST; SETH PULLS HER CLOSE AND PATS HER BACK.
JESSICA AND SETH ARE
WALKING ALONG A COASTAL PATH TOWARDS
JESSICA
I’m sorry about that Seth, I don’t
know what
came over me.
SETH
Jessica Fletcher, I’ve known you for
more years
than probably either of us cares to
admit and
I can honestly say I can count the
number of
times I’ve seen you break down on one
hand, now
what’s this all about? I knew the second I met
you off the bus from
wasn’t right, I sensed it last
Christmas when
you came back from that meeting with
your
publishers. Talk to me Jess, you have to know
by now that nothing you can say to me
is ever
going to make me think bad of you, or
that you’re
silly
or an old fool or anything crazy like that.
You’re probably the most rational woman I know, so come on woman, out
with it, stupidity and all!
JESSICA LETS OUT A
LOUD, RAUCOUS LAUGH AND HUGS SETH TIGHTLY.
JESSICA
Golly,
it does feel good to laugh! Oh, I do
love you, you old fool!
SETH
And the feeling is more than reciprocated,
now
talk to me, I’m not only your friend,
I’m your
doctor.
JESSICA
I wouldn’t know where to begin. I agree with
everything you said, Seth. I AM rational, I’ve
always prided myself on that. When the dean came
to me and said that having the new
lecturer was
a great result for the college I knew
he was
right, but I couldn’t help what I
felt.
SETH
And that was?
JESSICA
The same feeling when Hartley
Publishers where
taken over and my new editor said that
my last
book needed a little ‘C.S.I.ing’ for
modern
audiences. I had no idea what that meant, all I
know is that I write what I write
because it
comes from within me, my lectures
where much the
same, I taught what I knew and for the
longest
of times I think I’ve been spoilt
because
everyone has told me that my books are
thrilling
and that my lectures are wonderful -
to go from
that to being told that, well, being
told that
I’m, I’m…
SETH
Old?
JESSICA
Seth!
SETH
Long in the tooth? Over the hill? One
foot in the
grave? Jess, we’re all of those things
and more!
But so what, I for one love being long
in the
tooth!
JESSICA REGARDS HIM
AND THEN SUDDENLY BURTS INTO LAUGHTER.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth! You are wonderful! You do
have a knack
for making everything seem
better. That’s why
I’ve been staying at home, I figured I
just had
to get to grips with these irrational
feelings
that I have.
SETH
And have you?
JESSICA
(pauses)
Do you know something Seth, the Dean,
my editor,
what they said made me feel old and I
guess you
could say it shocked me, I haven’t
really felt
old before, truthfully, I
haven’t. For the first
time I felt like an old woman, no
longer in
vogue
so to speak or that I had anything good or real or relevant to say and I hate
it! I really, really hate it! Because the truth is I don’t feel any different,
inside I’m still the same I always have been.
I mean, sure, I look in the mirror some mornings and I don’t even know
the woman looking back at me, or I do some gardening and it takes me a day to
recover! All of that is fine because I still feel the same inside, I still feel
young, I still feel vital…
THERE IS A LONG
PAUSE AS THEY CONTINUE WALKING.
And then I get a double whammy and it
knocks me
of my feet, I get up late, I sleep
during the
day, I can’t face my friends… (TRAILS
OFF)
SETH
It’s called depression, Jess. And it’s perfectly
natural and it happens to us all.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, I don’t think I’ve been
depressed a day
in my life, even when Frank died and I
thought
I
would die too; I still managed to go ON.
I got up; I moved around, I got ON. But now, what do I do? Nothing, because when
the truth is told I just don’t feel like I have a place anymore, it feels like
life is for the young!
SETH
Oh, Jessica, that is singularly the
most stupid
piece of nonsense I’ve heard in a long
time!
The young, the old, we all have our
place in
this life and we all need each other
to
get through it, you must see that!
That’s why
you went back to teaching after all
those years,
because the kids needed you, just as
much as you
needed them. To share what you know, to share
life, it's what we all need, people to
share
things with. Just because some fool says that
you’re out of date doesn’t make it
true. Why do
you think I fight so hard not to
retire?
The hospital has a new whippersnapper
doctor who
keeps trying to muscle me out and I
tell you
one thing, Jess. I’m not going without a
fight! I deserve my place in this
world
just as much as anyone else, and just
because
he knows all the latest tricks doesn’t
make
him
better than me, I know what I know just as you know what you know, nobody can
take that away from us and whether they admit it or not, they still need us,
everyone still needs us. They’ll realize
what they’ve done to you Jess and they’ll regret it, you mark my words!
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE.
JESSICA
You didn’t tell me about the hospital
getting a
new doctor.
SETH
I figured you had things of your own
on your
mind, didn’t want to add to it with my
tales of
woe!
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, I haven’t really been a very
good
friend to you lately have I? I can’t
tell you
how sorry I am about that, but I
promise that
from now on I’m going to be good. Things ARE
going to be better.
SETH
That’s my girl! What you need to do is
throw
yourself into something, a new book, a
new
project, just something to sink your
teeth into.
JESSICA
You’re probably right Seth, sitting
feeling
sorry for myself isn’t getting me
anywhere!
SETH
Wait a minute, I have an idea, and
gosh darn
if it isn’t perfect for you! Come on
Jess, I’ll
introduce you to the new proprietor of
the Cabot
Cove Gazette!
JESSICA
Oh yes, Eve Simpson wrote me about
Ebenezer
Mullen’s death, I was sad to hear that he
died, not that I knew him well at all.
SETH
Ayah, I was his doctor for 35 years
and I can’t
say I knew him either. Funny family the
Mullen’s, something in the genes if
you ask me.
JESSICA PAUSES TO
CONSIDER THIS.
JESSICA
Yes, I suppose there’s something in
that, I’m
trying to remember, Ebenezer never
married but
he had a brother, yes?
SETH
He
did, William, though he left Cabot Cove at the first opportunity to be some hot
shot senator in
JESSICA
Of course, that’s right! I met him
once or twice
at some State functions, very powerful
man if I
recall correctly. Very firm, very focused.
SETH
A horse’s ass by all accounts!
JESSICA
(laughs)
Oh, Seth! There was a wife and child
too I seem
to remember, a delicate girl, a
ballerina?
SETH
You’re like an elephant woman! Ayah, Katrina,
beautiful little thing, there was a
time that
she was stepping out with Ebenezer and
everyone
thought she would marry him, but in
swoops
William and sweeps her off her
feet. I don’t
think the brothers ever spoke again.
JESSICA
Oh it’s tragic when things like that
happen,
Sometimes I just don’t understand why
families do what they do to each
other…
I’m racking my brains but can’t think
what
happened to Katrina and the child, I
don’t
really recall them very well at all.
SETH
Well they left Cabot Cove with William
and
settled in
hearing that Katrina died ten years or
so
ago, cancer, I believe.
JESSICA
Oh
how sad. She was so very fragile looking though wasn’t she? So, what happened
to the
Gazette
after Ebenezer’s death?
SETH
He left it to his nephew, Noah, which
I
suppose came as a complete surprise to the
young
fellow as I don’t think they knew
each
other at all, still, credit where credits
due,
Noah came straight to Cabot Cove and seems
to
want to do the right thing by his uncle, seems
to
me he’s a good kid but he’s over his
head, and that my dear, is where you
come in!
JESSICA
Where I come in? What do you mean,
Seth? What
have I got to do with any of this?
THEY STOP WALKING
AND SETH TAKES A HOLD OF HER HAND.
SETH
It’s just what we’ve been talking
about, Jess,
some young’un needs help from someone
a bit wiser
and a bit older, and you, my dear,
need help
from someone a bit younger and a bit
less wiser.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, what are you talking about!
SETH
It’s called therapy Mrs. Fletcher, and
it’s what
I prescribe as your doctor! Now come
on, at the
very least let me introduce you to the
boy, I
get the impression that he’s not had
the best
of lives stuck down there in
that power hungry father of his. A nice friendly
face will probably restore some faith
in human
nature for him.
JESSICA
(laughs)
Seth Hazlitt, you don’t play fair! Ok,
let’s go,
but I’m not promising anything.
THEY CONTINUE
WALKING, SETH TAKES HER ARM AND LINKS IT THROUGH HIS, A WRY SMILE ON HIS FACE
SETH
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
THE SCENE IS A BUSY
OFFICE WITH LOTS OF PAPERS AND BOXES EVERYWHERE. AMONGST THE CHAOS IS NOAH MULLEN, 23, A BLOND
FLOPPY HAIRED TALL THIN MAN. HE APPEARS
TO BE IN A STATE OF
NOAH
Hullo, Cabot Cove Gazette, Noah Mullen
speaking,
how can I help you? (PAUSES…SLOWLY)
Oh, Hi Mr.
Williams. No, I didn’t realize the
time. Oh gosh
I complete forgot about the 2 o’clock
deadline
for printing…well, as it happens I’m almost
finished, couldn’t you, I mean,
couldn’t you
possibly, just this once give me say,
2 more
hours?
I know… I understand that Mr. Williams, it’s just that I’ve found it a little
difficult to get to grips with some of my late uncle’s
systems. Yes, of course you knew him for a long
time and he surely did have his own
way of doing
things! You will? Oh Mr. Williams,
that’s
fantastic and I promise that next week
won’t be
a problem, 4 o’clock it is then, thank
you!
HE HANGS UP THE
PHONE AND TAKES IT OFF THE HOOK, HE SINKS DEEPLY INTO THE CHAIR AND DROPS HIS
HEAD ONTO THE TABLE AND BANGS IT A FEW TIMES.
THE DOOR OPENS AND JESSICA AND SETH SWEEP IN, JESSICA SMILES SADLY AS
SHE SEES HIS DISPONDANCY AND THE STATE OF THE OFFICE.
SETH
(COUGHS)
Ah, Noah!
NOAH LEEPS TO HIS
FEET.
NOAH
Dr Hazlitt, what a surprise!
SETH
Good to see you again, young
fellow. Look here,
I’ve brought someone to meet you, this
is…
NOAH
JB Fletcher! Oh my God, I’ve been
DYING to meet
you, I’m such a fan of your work, I can’t
tell
you how much of an honor it is to meet
you,
oh listen to me, gushing like an
idiot. I’m
Noah, Mrs. Fletcher, Noah Mullen.
JESSICA
Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you,
Noah. I was
so sorry to hear about your uncle.
NOAH RUNS HIS HAND
THROUGH HIS HAIR NERVOUSLY.
NOAH
Thanks Mrs. Fletcher, but truth is I
don’t really
remember him.
JESSICA
I’m sorry to hear that, but from what
I remember
of him, he was a fine man, full of
what you would
call character!
NOAH LOOKS AROUND
NERVOUSLY.
NOAH
Yes,
I've more or less heard that about old Ebenezer! Oh dear, I’d love to offer you a
coffee
or something but as you can see, I haven’t
really
had a chance to get organized here yet!
SETH LOOKS AROUND
AND RAISES HIS EYEBROWS.
SETH
Yes,
we can see that.
JESSICA GIVES SETH A
SCOLDING LOOK.
JESSICA
Don’t you have any help here Noah?
NOAH
(GLUMLY)
No.
I guess my uncle wasn’t too good with the
Books judging from the pile of unpaid
bills he
Left! And it seems to me that with the
profit each issue makes there
isn’t really a lot left
over to employ any staff or anything
like that.
JESSICA MUSES AS SHE
LOOKS AROUND
JESSICA
Yes, Ebenezer did rather like it to be
a one
man show. But he did have a lot of
experience…
NOAH
Whereas I have ZIP, NADA! A degree in
English Lit
is about my lot but you know I thought
I would
give it a go, as I said, I didn’t
really know my
uncle but its pretty obvious he gave a
damn
about the gazette so I didn’t just
want to close
it down and box everything up…but then
again,
maybe I should have rather than run it
into the
ground!
JESSICA AND SETH
EXCHANGE PITYING GLANCES. SETH LOOKS AT THE CLOCK AND THEN WINKS AT JESSICA.
SETH
Say, I have a bit of free time before
I have
to get back to my rounds, maybe you
could use
an extra hand. Jess?
JESSICA
Oh, yes I don’t have anything pressing
either.
If we wouldn’t be in the way Noah,
consider us
to be 2 eager volunteers!
NOAH
Oh my God! You’re not serious! That is
fantastic
and it couldn’t come at a better time. I have 2
hours to get his baby to bed if I’m to
stand any
chance of getting my first issue out!
JESSICA
Well then we’d better get moving!
THE OFFICE IS MUCH
CALMER. SETH IS SITTING IN A CHAIR COMFORTABLY SNORING. JESSICA IS READING THE COMPLETED NEWSPAPER
WHILE NOAH WAITS ANXIOUSLY FOR HER TO FINISH.
AT LAST SHE DOES, SHE REMAINS SILENT AS SHE FOLDS IT UP AND PUTS IT
DOWN, SHE TURNS AND FACES NOAH.
NOAH
Well? Oh you hate it don’t you, I knew
you would!
Oh my God the town’s going to hate it
too…
JESSICA
Relax Noah, I think its wonderful,
really I do.
You’ve managed to keep the spirit of Ebenezer’s
Gazette but given it a bit of a punch
in the arm.
NOAH
I just had a few ideas for updating
it. Too
much?
JESSICA
Oh not at all, just enough, believe
me, people
from small towns don’t like change but
that’s
not to say we shouldn’t give them a
little nudge
now and again. Tell me Noah, what is your vision
for the Gazette?
NOAH
Well, like you said, it’s the town’s
only paper
so its only right that it should be
about Cabot
Cove, its people, the events, that
sort of thing,
but there’s a whole other world out
there and
it should be about that, whether its what’s
going
on
in the next town or
I’m thinking news, CD reviews, theatre
reviews,
JESSICA
(CHUCKLES)
Well, you’re certainly ambitious!
NOAH
Do you think I could do it?
JESSICA
Oh I do Noah, have a little faith in
yourself and it will do you
wonders, trust me.
NOAH
Well faith in me isn’t something I’m
used to to having or
receiving for that matter…
JESSICA
And you know, I was thinking about
your financial
Problems, I cant rememember the last
time the
Gazette went up in price and while I’m
no
financial expert it seems to me that
even a
slight increase in cost could make all
the
difference.
NOAH
Do you really think so?
JESSICA
I certainly do, and Noah, I want you
to know that
I’m here to help, not just for today,
for
whatever and whenever you need it, ok?
NOAH
(CHOKED)
Oh you don’t know how much that means
to me
Mrs. Fletcher, I thought I was
drowning here and
then in walks an angel!
JESSICA LOOKS AROUND
FLUSTERED.
And you know, seeing as you how you’re
in such a generous mood, I did
have another thought…
JESSICA
Yes?
NOAH
Well, its just that I want the Gazette
to be
relevant. Just because it’s a small town doesn’t
mean it has to be a small newspaper,
you know?
And that got me to thinking, I mean,
we have our own master author right here in town and I
thought wouldn’t it be great if we
could maybe
have a series of new short stories or
perhaps
a serialization by the world famous
author
JB Fletcher!
JESSICA
Oh I don’t know, that seems…
NOAH
I realize its an imposition and I
shouldn’t
really of asked, you’re probably in
the middle
of your next book.
JESSICA
Well, no, not really…
NOAH
You know what I had imagined? A series of short stories with a
sort of thread running through
them, all held together by that great
raconteur
inspector Armand of yours, I’ve loved
him ever
since he appeared in The Umbrella
Murders. He
always seemed slow and deliberate to
me but
razor sharp!
JESSICA
(SMILES)
Yes, he was one of my favorites too!
NOAH
He was always observing and it
occurred to me
that would lend itself great to a
series of
stories, Inspector Armand observing
the comings
and goings of everyday folks and with
your
knack for intrigue there’s no end to
the scrapes
he could get into! The readers would
love it!
JESSICA
(LOOKS FLATTERED)
Well, it certainly sounds interesting…
NOAH
As I said, I shouldn’t of even
mentioned it…
JESSICA
Well… I mean, I couldn’t promise
anything
but maybe I could give it some thought
and
see what happens.
NOAH
You would do that for me? See what I
was
saying about angels!
JESSICA NODS, SHE
LOOKS OVER AT SETH.
JESSICA
I’d better wake Seth up before he
misses
his rounds. You know Noah, I bet you haven’t
had a home cooked meal in some time.
NOAH
(LAUGHS)
You have no idea how long!
JESSICA
Well in that case you must come to my
house
tonight for a good old traditional
Cabot Cove
welcome, albeit a little late! Though
I do say
so myself, my corn chowder is quite
famous
in these parts! (WINKS)
NOAH
Wow, that would be great.
JESSICA
Good, shall we say 8?
NOAH
8 it is!
JESSICA SMILES AND
GETS UP, AS SHE TURNS HER BACK TO NOAH SHE SEES THAT SETH WAS NOT REALLY
ASLEEP, HE SMILES AT HER KNOWINGLY, SHE SHAKES HER HEAD IN A MOCK –ANGRY
FASHION.
NOAH FINISHES EATING
AND PUSHES HIS PLATE AWAY, HE BLOWS A LOUD KISS WITH HIS FINGERS, JESSICA LOOKS
VERY PLEASED.
NOAH
Belisimo! My compliments to the chef!
JESSICA
Oh, go on! Its just something I threw
together
at the last moment.
NOAH
Well I wish I could throw something
together
that tasted like that! Thank you Mrs.
Fletcher.
JESSICA
Its my pleasure Noah, and please, you
must start
calling me Jessica.
NOAH
Ok, thank you Jessica. It really was wonderful
though, you might say that I’m not
really the best cook in the
world, I never really had to be.
JESSICA
You parents were good cooks?
NOAH
(LAUGHS)
Not
even close! I don’t even think they ever set
foot inside the kitchen, mom…well, I
guess mom
was always worried about putting on
that extra
pound (BEAT) still though I had a
great
housekeeper, May, who was just the
best thing
ever and boy could she cook!
JESSICA
She sounds lovely.
NOAH
Oh she was, still is, you could say
she raised
me and when I went off to college she
left with
me.
I have an apartment in
next door!
JESSICA
Well, that sounds lovely!
NOAH
(BITTERLY)
Yeah, you cant say my father wasn’t
generous to
us…
JESSICA
Noah, you sound so cold. Things couldn’t of been
so bad, surely?
NOAH
Oh couldn’t they? You could say that
my father wasn’t really the
paternal type.
JESSICA
But a good man I understand? I believe
he does
some great things on Capital Hill?
NOAH
Does he? I’m sure he does. Tell me Jessica, did
you ever read his biography? I merit 2
sentences,
something along the lines of ‘my son
went off
to study literature at
that’s me. Twenty-three years of me.
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE. JESSICA REFILLS THE WINE
GLASSES. A CLOCK TICKS.
Oh, I’m sorry Jessica, I didn’t mean
for that to
happen. I must sound terribly bitter and the
truth is I’m not, I’m really not. I
realize how
much worse many people had it than me,
I’m not
just some rich kid whining poor me.
JESSICA PATS HIS
HAND.
JESSICA
I know that Noah, I didn’t think that
for a
second. Even with a privileged life we all
have things we just try our best to survive.
Tell me, is there nobody special in your
life?
NOAH
There was, at college, but it ended...badly
and I guess the saying once bitten
twice shy
is kinda accurate!
JESSICA
(LAUGHS)
Oh so young and so jaded!
NOAH
I’m not young Jessica, I’m 23!
Besides, I have
the Gazette to keep me busy and for
the first
time it feels like I have a purpose,
something
to work towards.
JESSICA
Well, there is that, but promise me
something,
don’t give up on love altogether will
you?
NOAH
We’ll see! So, moving on quickly,
thank you
again Jessica for a wonderful welcome
to
Cabot Cove! Now, shall we make a start
on the
next edition of the Gazette?
JESSICA NODS HER
AGREEMENT.
NOAH IS PACING
OUTSIDE THE STORE AS PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT READING THE GAZETTE, THEY ALL SEEM
PLEASED AS THEY NOD AT HIM. JESSICA
COMES AROUND THE CORNER, AS SHE SEES HIM WAITING ANXIOUSLY SHE LAUGHS.
JESSICA
Noah, I had a feeling you’d be camped
out here!
HE WALKS OVER AND
KISSES HER.
NOAH
I couldn’t resist, I had to see how it
was
selling.
JESSICA
And?
NOAH
Well, touch wood, it all seems ok, I
mean there’s
been nobody trying to lynch me or
anything!
JESSICA
Of course not, I have to congratulate
you again,
the new Cabot Cove Gazette is a
triumph, its
bright, its literate, its exactly the
type of
newspaper I want dropping on my mat.
NOAH
Thank you Jessica, and speaking of
triumphs,
I
just finished reading the first part of the Inspector Armand series; it’s
wonderful, so full of suspense! I cant wait for the rest!
JESSICA
Oh don’t, I’d almost forgotten about the joy
of deadlines!
THEY BOTH
LAUGH. JUST THEN SHERIFF MORT METZGER
APPEARS AND APPROACHES THEM.
MORT
Good morning folks. Noah, Mrs. F.
NOAH
Hi there Sheriff.
JESSICA
Hello Mort.
MORT
Just been reading the new Gazette
Noah, great
job, mind you, could of done without
that piece
about Mack Anderson.
NOAH
Sorry about that, Sheriff…
JESSICA
Mort, Noah would be remiss if he
didn’t report on
the upcoming elections for Sheriff,
you know
that.
Besides, I don’t think you have anything
to worry about, I don’t think any of
us could
imagine not having you as Sheriff.
MORT
Well that’s good of you to say Mrs. F,
but you’ve been away for a while,
the word on the street is
that
things.
JESSICA
I
can’t believe people think that, I haven’t even met him yet so I can’t really comment.
MORT
Pah! All teeth and fake tan, not to
mention
making idle promises that he has no
way of
keeping!
JESSICA
Mort, you mustn’t underestimate the
people of
this town, we’re not easily taken in!
MORT
That’s what I used to think but I’m
not so sure
anymore what with Seth practically
being run out
of the hospital.
JESSICA
How is Seth? I haven’t seen him for a
few days?
It seems as if he’s always on duty.
MORT
He’s scared not to be! Everytime he
goes of duty
it seems the new Doc, Eli Cassidy, implements
changes or steals some of the Docs
patients.
JESSICA
Oh, I’m sure it cant be that bad!
NOAH
Well I was over there yesterday to do
a feature
for next weeks paper and lets just
say, there’s
no mutual appreciation going on and Dr
Cassidy,
well, he may be bright and know his
stuff but
he’s no Dr Hazlitt.
MORT’S CELL PHONE
BEGINS RINGING.
MORT
Excuse me. Hello, Sheriff Metzger. Oh Hi Andy,
What’s up? What do you mean a body? At
the
Hill House? Yes, he’s here with me. Who? Are
you sure Andy? Have you called the
doc? Ok,
we’ll be there in 10 minutes.
HE HANGS UP THE
PHONE AND LOOKS ANXIOUS.
JESSICA
Is everything ok Mort?
MORT
Not really, Noah, I’m sorry to tell
you this but
there’s been an accident at the Hill
House Motel.
NOAH
(PUZZLED)
Why would you be sorry to tell me
Sheriff?
MORT
Its your father Noah.
NOAH
My father what are you talking about?
He’s not
at the Hill House, he’s in
MORT
Are you sure about that?
NOAH
Well, of course… I mean, I’m as sure
as I can
be, I mean what would my father be
doing at the
Hill House motel without telling me?
MORT
Well they checked his credit card and
Andy found
his drivers’ license.
NOAH
What do you mean found his driving license?
Where’s
my father sheriff, what’s happened to him?
MORT
I’m really sorry to tell you this son,
but your
father is dead.
JESSICA GASPS AND
PULLS A DAZED NOAH TOWARDS HER.
THE SCENE BEGINS WITH
SEVERAL MEN IN WHITE COVERALLS EXAMINING THE ROOM, DEPUTY SHERRIFF ANDY BROOM
IS TALKING INTENTLY TO DR ELI CASSIDY AS THEY LOOK UP AT THE SWINGING
BODY. CASSIDY, A SLENDER MAN WITH
PROMINENT FEATURES MOTIONS TO A PALE FACED YOUTH WITH CLOSE CROPPED HAIR.
ELI
Josh,
I think we’ve seen all we can see here,
I suggest you take the body to the
morgue now.
JOSH
(NERVOUS, ANXIOUS)
Are you sure? I… I mean the sheriff
hasn’t
examined the body yet or anything.
ANDY
That’s right Dr Cassidy, I cant let
you move
the body at least until the sheriff
has had a
chance to look.
ELI LOOKS
IMPATIENTLY AT HIS WATCH AND TUTS LOUDLY.
ELI
Well where on earth is he? Its not
like we’re
in some big town and he’s stuck in
traffic!
JUST THEN THE
SHERRIFF RUSHES IN, HOT ON HIS HEELS ARE JESSICA AND NOAH, JESSICA IS DISMAYED
WHEN SHE SEES THE BODY AND TRIES TO STOP NOAH FROM COMING IN BUT HE PUSHES PAST
HER. HE STOPS DEAD AT THE FEET OF HIS
FATHER AND STARES IN SHOCK.
MORT
Noah, you might want to wait outside,
you don’t
want to see your father like this.
ELI
(RAISES HIS EYEBROWS)
Ah, so we can confirm identity. Good, Josh,
you can take the body now.
MORT
Woh! Lets just slow down here Dr
Cassidy, I
haven’t had a chance to look around
yet.
ELI
What’s to look at? We’ve taken photos
and its
pretty obvious the fellow hung himself
now the
sooner we cut him down and get him
back to the
hospital morgue and I can do the PM
and we can
all get on with our days.
MORT APPROACHES HIM
AND LEANS IN CLOSE AND WHISPERS IN A HISS.
MORT
This here is the mans son, a little
compassion
wouldn’t go amiss.
ELI
(REGARDS NOAH COLDY)
Well, I’m sorry for your loss.
JESSICA MOVES OVER
TO NOAH AND PUTS HER ARM AROUND HIM.
JESSICA
I’m so terribly sorry, Noah
NOAH
(SOFTLY)
Thank you Jessica, I cant believe…
ELI
(INTERUPTING)
Jessica? You’re Jessica Fletcher? I’ve been
wanting to meet you. I’m Eli Cassidy, Cabot
Cove’s new doctor!
JESSICA
(COLDLY)
Oh, I was under the impression we
already had
one of those.
ELI
Ah, Old Doc Hazlitt you mean. Well the
old fellow
can’t go on forever you know, mistakes
happen
so easily when physicians don’t know
when to
retire.
JESSICA IS ABOUT TO
SNAP AT HIM WHEN MORT INTERJECTS.
MORT
Speaking of Doc Hazlitt, where is he?
ELI
I didn’t see the need to page him, I’m
here!
JESSICA LOOKS AWAY
AS NOAH SITS ON THE BED, HE IS PALE AND MOTIONLESS, SOMETHING CATCHES JESSICA’S
EYE AND SHE STEPS FORWARD. AT THE FOOT OF THE BODY IS A HANDFUL OF WHAT APPEARS
TO BE DRY MUD, SHE LOOKS UP AND NOTICES THAT SOME OF IT IS ALSO ON THE BODY.
JESSICA
Mort, have you seen this?
SHE POINTS TO THE
MUD, MORT TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.
MORT
It looks like dirt, mud of some kind.
JESSICA
Yes, that’s what I thought, but where
did it
come from?
ELI
Well its obvious, some damn fool who
knows
nothing about preserving crime scenes
has
trampled it in.
JESSICA LOOKS AROUND
FURTHER AND THEN SHAKES HER HEAD.
JESSICA
I don’t think so, I mean where are the
foot
prints? Its almost as if somebody just threw
a handful of dirt at the body.
ELI
What on earth would someone want to do
that
for? This is a suicide after all.
MORT
We don’t know anything for sure yet,
Andy, bag
that dirt up and get it right over to the
lab.
ANDY
Sure thing Sheriff.
ANDY BENDS DOWN AND
BEGINS BAGGING THE DIRT.
ELI
I take it we can proceed now then sheriff?
MORT
Ok, let me have your findings ASAP,
ok?
ELI
Of course Sheriff, ok Josh, lets cut
him down.
JOSH
Ok Dr Cassidy.
JESSICA SHOOTS ELI A
DIRTY LOOK, JUST THEN THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN AND A RED FACED AND OUT OF BREATH
SETH RUNS IN.
SETH
What’s going on here? I didn’t get
paged.
ELI
(CONDISENDINGLY)
Dr Hazlitt, I was on site and really
there was
no need for 2 doctors to come, I
thought I’d let
you have a little rest…
SETH
(FURIOUS)
A little rest! Now listen here Eli
Cassidy, I’ve
been Doctor here for longer than you…
JESSICA CUTS IN AND
SHE CROSES AND SITS NEXT TO NOAH.
JESSICA
Seth, the deceased is Noah’s father.
SETH
What! Well, I…I’m so very sorry Noah.
NOAH ATTEMPTS A
SMILE OF GRATITUDE; JESSICA PULLS HIM CLOSE TO HER.
JESSICA
Noah, we should really get you out of
here, I
don’t think you should go back to your
rooms in
town, you’ll come and stay with me for
a while,
for as long as you need.
NOAH
I don’t understand Jessica, why was my
father
here and why didn’t he tell me?
JESSICA SHAKES HER
HEAD AND BEGINS TO LEAD HIM OUT OF THE ROOM.
JESSICA IS POTTERING
IN THE KITCHEN, NOAH IS ON THE TELEPHONE IN THE OTHER ROOM, SHE HEARS HIM HANG
UP AND COME INTO THE ROOM.
NOAH
I just spoke to my fathers’ secretary
and she
wasn’t a lot of help. As far as she knew he told
her he was coming to Cabot Cove to see
how
I was getting on, and that was almost
a week ago
(HE SITS DOWN) I don’t understand
Jessica, why
would my father come down from
to see me and then not even bother to
contact me.
JESSICA
Well, its difficult to say, Noah, what
I do know
is that some men have trouble
expressing their
emotions.
NOAH
Well that was certainly true in his
case!
JESSICA
But what is obvious is that even if he
did have
a problem expressing his emotions he
still came
to see how you were getting on, and if
that’s the
case he must of read the Gazette and
been very
proud of you.
NOAH
You think? Shame he didn’t tell me to
my face.
JESSICA
I think he would of Noah, I really do.
THE KITCHEN DOOR
OPENS AND MORT COMES IN.
MORT
Hey folks, how you doing Noah?
NOAH
I’m ok sheriff, thanks for asking.
MORT
Phewy, I hate to tell you this but it
looks
as if news has gotten out already, i’ve
taken
dozens of telephone calls from the
press, its
only a matter of time before they
descend upon
Cabot Cove like locusts.
JESSICA
Oh dear.
MORT
It doesn’t help that Doc Cassidy is
calling a
press conference for tomorrow morning.
JESSICA
Whatever for? Can he do that Mort?
MORT
(SHRUGS)
I’ve tried having a word but you saw
him Mrs. F,
he’s not exactly the most approachable
person.
JESSICA NODS, NOAH
COUGHS.
NOAH
Did he tell you anything else sheriff?
MORT
Well, yes, he said that his original
findings
stand, as far as he’s concerned your
father
committed suicide.
NOAH
I just cant believe that, it just
doesn’t make
any sense. My father may have been many things
but I just cant see him killing
himself like
that.
JESSICA
Mort, what about the soil we found?
MORT
I’m still waiting for the official
report but
the prelim seems to be that its just
your common
or garden ground dirt.
JESSICA SCRATCHES
HER HEAD.
JESSICA
Strange. Very strange.
NOAH
Well, I suppose I’d better make some
calls,
there’s a lot to do. I have to arrange the
funeral and everything like that.
JESSICA
There’s time, Noah, one step at a
time, eh?
Where do you think the funeral will be?
NOAH
Well, mom is buried in
he would want to be next to her, its
hard to tell
its not really a conversation we ever
had.
Jessica, I know it’s an imposition but
would you
come with me? I could sure use a friendly face!
JESSICA
(PATS HIS HAND)
Of course I’ll go with you Noah, and
don’t worry,
we’ll get you through this.
THE SCENE BEGINS
WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUSY HARBOUR, THERE IS A CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED
LISTENING TO A MAN STANDING ON A PLATFORM TALKING TO THEM. HIS NAME IS MACK ANDERSON, A WELL GROOMED,
TANNED MAN IN HIS EARLY 40S, THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTERS AROUND SHOWING PICTURES
OF HIM AND HIS INTENTION TO RUN FOR THE SHERIFFS JOB. AMONGST THE CROWD ARE JESSICA AND SETH, SETH
IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY AGITATED.
MACK
(CONTINUING)
…and it is my intention, if you put
your faith
in me, to restore this great town to
its former
glory, a quiet, peaceful safe haven!
THERE ARE SEVERAL
LOUD CHEERS AND THE CROWD BEGINS TO DISPERSE, JESSICA PULLS SETH AWAY AND THEY
WALK ON, MACK SPOTS THEM AND RUNS TOWARDS THEM.
MACK
Mrs. Fletcher! Dr Hazlitt! I thought
it was you,
I can’t tell you how much it means to
me to have
the two of you come out to support me...
SETH
To support you! Why, you…
JESSICA
(INTERJECTS)
We were actually just passing on our
way
to have lunch.
MACK
Ah, excellent! I insist you let me
buy, there
are some things I would like to run by
you, as
2 of Cabot Cove’s more prominent
citizens I’d
really like to get your feedback on
the crime
issue.
SETH
Crime issue? What crime issue?
MACK
Oh now come Dr Hazlitt, figures don’t
lie, all
you have to do is look and compare the
crime
statistics from 10 year ago to now and
you’ll
see that the current regime here
doesn’t seem
to have a handle on crime prevention.
JESSICA
Mr. Anderson, figures may indeed not lie,
but
they can be very easily
misinterpreted, for
example, I’m sure if you compared the
number of
inhabitants 10 years ago and now and
then
compared the percentage increase in
crime I’d
be very surprised if it wasn’t almost
identical.
As far as I’m concerned Mort Metzger
has been
an exemplorary sheriff and we were
very lucky
to get him.
MACK
(SMILES)
Ah, you’re going to be a challenge, I
like that!
But you will let me buy you lunch?
JESSICA
Maybe another time Mr. Anderson, i’ve
just gotten
back into town from a funeral and
would like to
catch up with Seth. Gooday to you.
SHE AND SETH SWEEP
OFF.
I
don’t know what’s gotten into Cabot Cove lately!
SETH
Things aren’t what they were, that’s
for sure
Jess.
JESSICA
And how are things with you?
SETH
Oh you know, I’m not one to complain…
JESSICA SMILES AT
HIM WISTFULLY.
But that man is impossible, if he’s
not usurping
me he’s leaving instructions for me
not to be
paged and when I question him on it
he’s all,
‘I just wanted you to have some time
to yourself
After all your years of dedication to
this town.’
Well, I tell you one thing Jess, when
I want time
to myself I want to decide, not some
upstart
from out of town!
JESSICA
Oh Seth, I know that Dr Cassidy may be
a little
lacking on the tact front but perhaps
he does
only have your best interests at
heart.
SETH
Pah! All he wants is me out so he can
reign
supreme over the hospital, see in a
big town
he’d be a small fish in a big pond, here
he can
be the biggest fish of all! Once he
gets me out
of the way that is!
JESSICA
But there must be enough work for both
of you
or else the hospital would never of
brought him
in, if you want to stay Seth then you
have to
find a way of working with him.
SETH TUTS LOUDLY AND
THEY CONTINUE WALKING.
MORT AND ANDY ARE
WORKING AT THEIR DESKS WHEN THE TELEPHONE RINGS.
ANDY
Sheriff’s office, Deputy Broom
speaking.
Yes?
When? Ok, don’t touch anything we’ll
be right over.
HE HANGS UP THE
PHONE AND BEGINS PUTTING ON HIS JACKET.
That was Lady Abigail Lloyd, the
sister of
Father Adler, she says he’s dead.
MORT
What! What happened?
ANDY
I don’t know she said she just found
him lying
in
the church with a bottle of pills next to
him.
MORT
Ok, let’s go. Phone the doc and have
him meet us there.
MORT AND ANDY ENTER
THE CHURCH, IT IS VERY QUIET. LADY ABIGAIL
LLOYD IS SITTING ON A PEW, HER HEAD DOWN, SHE IS A LARGE WOMAN IN HER 40S
WEARING A LONG FLOWING DRESS, HER LONG GREY HAIR IS TYED UP WITH SEVERAL
STRANDS FALLING DOWN, A VERY HANDSOME MUCH YOUNGER MAN IS SITTING NEXT TO HER
COMFORTING HER.
MORT
Lady Lloyd, I’m very sorry for your
loss.
SHE STANDS UP AND
SHAKES HIS HAND.
ABIGAIL
Thank you sheriff, its Metzger isn’t
it? You
must excuse me I haven’t had much
chance to
get accustomed to names yet.
MORT
That’s ok Lady Lloyd.
ABIGAIL
Please Sheriff, call me Abigail, I
left the
Lady Lloyd name in
my dear husband passed on.
MORT
I’m sorry to hear that Abigail, and
now your
brother…
SHE CASTS A GLANCE
OVER AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH; HER BROTHERS FEET ARE STICKING OUT FROM BEHIND
A PEW.
ABIGAIL
Well, my husband was a very sick man
for a VERY
long time and as for my brother, well,
I’ve been
out of
and purposes we were strangers to each
other, still… one cant help
feeling very sad that it
came to this.
MORT STEPS FORWARD
AND LOOKS AT THE BODY, HE TAKES OUT A PAIR OF GLOVES, PUTS THEM ON AND PICKS UP
A BOTTLE OF PILLS.
MORT
Hmm, antidepressants prescribed by Dr
Cassidy,
would you say your Father Adler
suffered from
depression?
ABIGAIL
(LOOKING PENSIVE)
Well as I said Sheriff Metzger I
didn’t really
know my brother that well and when my
husband
died, well, there were complications
and I
thought it best to step away for a
while.
MORT
Complications?
ABIGAIL
(COLDLY)
Well, my husband, Lord Lloyd was an
elderly man
and he already had a family before I
came along
and lets just say, as is so often the
case, they
didn’t take at all well to me,
especially when
it appears that he altered his will in
my favor,
so,
I thought, until the dust I’d come see what was, in effect, my only living
relative.
SHE STARES AGAIN AT
THE BODY.
But
once again it appears that a problem has presented itself.
MORT REGARDS HER CAUTIOUSLY;
HE THEN TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE HANDSOME MAN BY HER SIDE.
MORT
And you are?
ABIGAIL
Oh please excuse me Sheriff, this is
Sebastian
SEBASTIAN STEPS
FORWARD AND SHAKES MORT’S HAND.
SEBASTIAN
Hello Sheriff.
MORT
Hello.
And you discovered the body together?
ABIGAIL
That is correct Sheriff, we normally
take a
walk
along the cliff tops at this time of the day, one forgets how beautiful
MORT
And you discovered the body, how?
ABIGAIL
Well, we where just making our way to
the house for lunch when Sebastian
spotted
the door of the church open so we came
over
to check and that’s when we found him.
SEBASTIAN
Just lying there dead.
MORT
And you don’t recall him being
depressed at all?
ABIGAIL
Well, that’s quite difficult to say,
as I said
my brother and I, whilst not estranged
we were
never really close and as you yourself
may know
he was a serious chap, never really
had much to
say, I think I rather disrupted his
peaceful
world of books and sermons, the
flighty younger
sister running away from scandal in
ENTER JESSICA AND
SETH.
SETH
I got your message Sheriff, what’s
happened?
MORT
It’s Father Adler, doc.
JESSICA
Oh dear how terrible!
SETH GOES OVER TO
THE BODY; ABIGAIL MAKES A BEELINE FOR JESSICA.
ABIGAIL
It is you; I can’t tell you how much I’ve
been
looking forward to meeting you,
Jessica Fletcher!
My name is Lady Abigail Lloyd, we do,
I believe
have mutual friends in
JESSICA
(SOMEWHAT FLUSTERED)
Y..yes. I know Lance and Lauren
Hargreaves very
well, Lauren and I share the same
British
publisher. Lady Lloyd, that means, oh dear,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
ABIGAIL
My loss? Oh yes, indeed.
SETH REJOINS THEM.
SETH
I’d say he’s been dead not more than 2
hours,
I’ll get him back to the morgue and
let you
know later today what I find.
MORT
And the pills? The antidepressants?
SETH LOOKS AT THE
BOTTLE, SHAKES IT AND COUNTS THE PILLS.
SETH
I can’t think why Cassidy prescribed
him these,
I’ve never known Father Adler to have
anything
but
flu and hay fever! But it does seem that there are more pills missing than
there ought.
JESSICA STEPS
FORWARD AND APPROACHES THE BODY.
JESSICA
Mort, did you see this?
MORT FOLLOWS HER, HE
KNEELS NEXT TO THE BODY WHERE THERE IS A HANDFUL OF DIRT THAT APPEAS TO HAVE
BEEN SPRINKLED OVER THE BODY.
MORT
It looks like dirt.
JESSICA
Yes, dirt, again.
ABIGAIL.
Again? What do you mean by again?
SETH
She doesn’t mean anything, somebody
must of just
carried it in on their feet.
JESSICA AND MORT
EXCHANGE WORRIED GLANCES.
IT IS LATER THAT
NIGHT, MORT IS SITTING AT THE TABLE DRINKING COFFEE WHILE JESSICA TALKS ON THE
TELEPHONE.
JESSICA
Ok Noah, well listen you take care of
yourself,
and I’ll see you tomorrow, don’t worry
about
that, we’ve got 2 days to get the
newspaper
ready and I’m sure between us we’ll manage.
Ok, goodbye and safe journey!
SHE HANGS UP AND
SITS NEXT TO MORT AND POURS SOME COFFEE.
MORT
How’s Noah doing?
JESSICA
Well, it’s a little difficult to tell,
he tends
To keep his feelings to himself. I’m glad I
went to his fathers funeral with him
though, I
think there were only 1 or 2 other
people there
that he knew.
MORT
And you didn’t tell him about the soil
at Father
Adler’s feet?
JESSICA
What was there to tell him? I don’t
know what it
means, if indeed it means anything!
But its
strange, yes, its very strange. What appears to
be a handful of dirt at the feet of 2
apparent
suicides barely a week apart.
MORT
Well, stranger things have happened I
suppose.
JESSICA
(UNCONVINCED)
Yes, I’m sure its nothing…
THE DOOR OPENS AND
SETH BUSTLES IN, HE HELPS HIMSELF TO A COFFEE.
SETH
Ah! Just what I needed!
MORT
What you got for me doc?
SETH
Well, it’s as I suspected, death
appears to have
been caused by an overdose.
JESSICA
And there was nothing to indicate
anything else?
SETH
What’s
that devious mind of yours getting at
Jess?
JESSICA
(SHRUGS)
Well, its just this soil business I
cant shake.
It seems such a strange coincidence,
yet there
seems to be no doubt that both deaths
where
indeed suicide.
SETH
Yup, that’s true enough.
JESSICA
Is it possible that these deaths could
have been
staged so that they appear to be
suicides?
MORT
Well,
it’s possible, I suppose, but if someone’s going to go to the trouble of
covering up a murder like that then why throw dirt at the scene? They’d have to
know that would make us suspicious.
JESSICA
Yes, it’s that that’s bothering me…
MORTS CELLPHONE
RINGS AND HE ANSWERS IT.
MORT
Metzger, oh hi Andy, what! You’re
kidding me!
How long? And how did it happen? Ok,
I’m on
my
way, i’ve got the Doc with me. Hey Andy,
check something for me, look around the body, can you see what appears to be a
handful of dirt? You
can, ok. See you soon.
HE HANGS UP, JESSICA
AND SETH ARE STARING.
JESSICA
Mort?
MORT
Andy just found the body of the
fisherman Aaron
head in with a shovel.
JESSICA
Oh how dreadful! And the dirt?
MORT
Yup, its there alright.
SETH
Lordy!
JESSICA
I don’t understand what’s going on
here! But
Mort, I think there is a serial killer
in Cabot
Cove!
JESSICA, SETH AND
MORT PULL UP IN MORT’S CAR, THERE IS A LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE, ANDY AND SOME
OTHER DEPUTYS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEM BACK, ANDY SEES MORT AND WALKS OVER TO
HIM AND LEADS HIM TO A BODY COVERED IN A SHEET, MORT BENDS DOWN AND LOOKS UNDER
THE SHEET AND WINCES, SETH FOLLOWS HIM AND BEGINS AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BODY.
MORT
Any idea what happened here Andy?
ANDY
Well, no-one saw anything, best I can
make out
is that Aaron went out on his boat
this morning
as usual and that was the last anyone
saw of him.
MORT
And who found his body?
ANDY
Sheila from the diner, she was on her
way
to start her lunchtime shift, she’s
pretty shaken
up, there was a lot of blood.
MORT
Yeah, so I can see. Did you get anything from
her?
ANDY
No, she didn’t see anything strange or
anyone
else around, things are pretty quiet
this side
of the harbor and its quite well
hidden from the
market area.
MORT LOOKS AROUND.
MORT
Yeah, perfect place if you want to do
someone
in quietly.
JESSICA
Do we know of anyone who may have had
a grudge
against Aaron?
ANDY
Not really, he liked a game of poker
like half
the men in town but I don’t think
there were
any debts or anything like that if
that’s what
you mean.
JESSICA
Well, usually when something like this
happens
you look at the possibilities and
often its
something
to do with love affairs or money problems.
MORT
Love Affairs! I think the only thing
Aaron Davis
was interested in was his fish!
JESSICA APPROACHES
THE BODY AND LOOKS AT THE SOIL.
JESSICA
Mort, I wonder, when you get the lab
to examine
the soil would they be able to tell if
it all
came from the same place?
MORT
I don’t see why not, why, do you think
that makes
a difference?
JESSICA
I don’t know, probably not, but it may
help us
to know if it’s the same TYPE of soil
as it may
help pinpoint a location.
MORT
Good point, Andy, get that soil bagged
up and
straight over to the lab, she what
they can
find.
ANDY
Right away Sheriff.
HE BEGINS BAGGING
THE SOIL AND WALKS OFF.
MORT
What do you reckon doc?
SETH
Well, death was by massive trauma to
the head
probably caused by the shovel over
there that
appears
to have half of his brain matter still on it.
JESSICA
Yes, it seems rather a violent murder,
doesn’t
it?
MORT
Murders often are Mrs. F
JESSICA
I know that, I just mean that the
amount of blood
seems to be rather excessive, as if a
lot of
force was used.
SETH
What are you getting at Jess?
JESSICA
Oh I’m not sure really, but it seems
that crimes
of such violent force are generally
either
personal or because the killer is a
particularly
psychotic man.
MORT
I get you, but how does that help?
JESSICA
It doesn’t really, but if that’s the
case then
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of
him
SETH
Words to chill a person to the bone!
JUST THEN, MACK
ANDERSON ENTERS AND STORMS OVER TO THE SCENE, WHEN HE SPEAKS IT IS IN A LOUD,
ARGUMENTATIVE MANNER SO THAT THE CROWD CAN HEAR HIM.
MACK
So sheriff, what do we have here?
MORT
A crime scene
with the rest of the civilians?
MACK
As I was just saying earlier and here
we
have
further proof that you don’t have a
handle on this town anymore!
SEVERAL PEOPLE IN
THE CROWN BEING CHEERING IN AGREEMENT.
MORT
What! Now listen here…
JESSICA
Gentleman, please, Aaron Davis has
just been
murdered, this is hardly the time or
the place
to be talking about town politics.
MACK
Yes indeed, the truth hurts!
HE WALKS OFF INTO
THE CROWD AND CONTINUES INSIGHTING THEM.
MORT
That man gets right under my skin!
JESSICA
I know Mort but you cant let him get
to you, you
just have to keep doing your job the
same way you
always have.
MORT
For how long? Judging by that crowd
they agree
with Mack, maybe I should just throw
in the towel
now and save myself some embarrassment.
JESSICA
Oh Mort, don’t be so silly, come election
time
your record will speak for itself,
you’ll see,
and besides, if there is a serial
killer in
Cabot Cove that would of happened
whether you
or Mack was sheriff. Have a little
faith Mort.
MORT
I’ll try Mrs. F, I’ll try.
SETH
We should be getting Aaron to the
morgue.
MORT
Oh yeah, sure thing Doc.
JESSICA
It may be worth having another look at
Father
Adler.
SETH
What do you expect to find?
JESSICA
I don’t know, maybe nothing but I
think we
should give it a go just in case.
MORT
Eli Cassidy did the PM, he’s gonna
love us
second guessing him!
SETH
(CHUCKLES LOUDLY)
Yes he is, isn’t he!
14.
INT. HOSPITAL MORGUE. DAY
JESSICA, SETH, MORT
AND ELI ARE GATHERED AROUND A BODY THAT IS COVERED BY A SHEET.
ELI
Sheriff, I don’t really see the point
in
reexamining the body, as I said in my
report,
its fairly straight forward. Cause of death
was acute respotory failure due to an
overdose
of prescribed medication.
MORT
And
you’re sure there’s nothing that appears to be out of the ordinary?
ELI
(EXASPERATED)
In what respect? He appears to have
been a middle
aged man in reasonable health, nothing
more than
that.
JESSICA
Dr Cassidy, excuse me, but the
overdose appears
to have been of anti-depressants that
you
prescribed, is that correct?
ELI
Well Mrs. Fletcher you know I cant
talk
about a patient…
SETH
I knew Frank Adler for many years and
I don’t
think I’ve ever prescribed anything
other than
flu medicine to him.
ELI
Well what I will say is that it seemed
to me
that Father Adler had been suffering
from
chronic depression for many years and
had
never been diagnosed or treated for
it.
SETH
Why, listen here!
JESSICA
Oh Dr Cassidy, I have to agree with
Seth, we
all knew Father Adler for many years
and I cant
believe he was suffering from
something that
serious, I know he hated the winters
that’s why
he always spent the cold season in
apart from that I can’t think of many
other men
so vibrant and committed to their
jobs.
SETH
Here Here!
ELI
Be that as it may I can only speak
from my own
medical impression. Now, Sheriff, what do you
want me to look for exactly?
MORT
A clue…something…anything, all I know is
that in
a matter of weeks there have been 3
deaths in
Cabot Cove and there doesn’t seem to
be any
connection other than this soil issue,
now we
know the 3rd death was
murder I just want to
be sure that the others are what they
seem.
JESSICA
But William Mullen has already been
buried.
MORT
I know and hopefully we can leave him
there to
rest in peace, but all the same, we
have to
be sure.
JESSICA LOOKS AT HER
WATCH.
JESSICA
Oh golly look at the time, I promised
Noah I
would meet his bus so we could make a
start on
the next issue of the Gazette.
SETH
What are you going to tell him?
JESSICA
I don’t know what there is to tell him
really,
but all the same, I feel he should be
told about
the soil on all 3 bodies. Mort?
MORT
Hmm.
Well, I was really trying to keep that
info to as few people as possible,
still, if
you can get him to keep it out of the
Gazette
then there shouldn’t really be any
harm in him
knowing.
JESSICA
Ok, I’ll see you all later.
15.
EXT. CABOT COVE BUS TERMINAL. DAY
JESSICA RUSHES UP TO
THE TERMINAL JUST AS THE BUS PULLS IN, SHE WATCHES AS PEOPLE OFFLOAD, FINALLY
NOAH ALIGHTS, HE LOOKS VERY PALE AND DRAWN, SHE RUSHES OVER AND GIVES HIM A
HUG, HIS HANDS STAY AT HIS SIDE, HE SEEMS UNSURE WHAT TO DO WITH SIGNS OF AFFECTION. HE PULLS AWAY AND RETRIEVES HIS BAG, JESSICA
LINKS ARMS WITH HIM AND THEY BEGIN WALKING.
JESSICA
How are you Noah?
NOAH
Oh I’m fine, Jessica, thanks for
coming to
meet me.
JESSICA
No need to thank me, are you really
fine?
NOAH
I am you know, I guess the truth is I
didn’t
really know my father well enough to
get
upset over his death.
JESSICA
Noah, you don’t mean that.
NOAH
Don’t get me wrong, Jessica, I’m not
glad he’s
dead or anything but I cant feel
something for
a man I didn’t know, even the fact
that he
came down here to see how I was
getting on
doesn’t really mean anything, if he
wanted to
he could easily of come and seen me,
just to
tell me he was proud of me, or not, it
wouldn’t
of mattered, just something would have
been nice.
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE AND CONTINUE WALKING.
JESSICA
So what happens next? Do you think
you’ll stay
in Cabot Cove?
NOAH
I guess so; I don’t really know what’s
happening
at the moment,
after another, seems I’m the last of
the Mullen’s
which means that its all mine, lock
stock and
barrel, and it seems dad had quite a
bit
hidden away.
JESSICA
Well that’s comforting I suppose.
NOAH
Yeah, a rich orphan! All alone in the
world.
JESSICA
Oh Noah, that’s simply not true, you
have me,
you have friends who care a great deal
about you,
families aren’t always a good thing
you know!
Look at it this way, you get to choose
your
own family now.
NOAH
Thanks Jessica, you do have a knack of
making
me feel better. Want to be a honary member of
my family?
JESSICA
I would be delighted!
SHE KISSES HIS
CHEEK.
NOAH
So what’s been happening in Cabot Cove
in my
absence.
JESSICA
Ah well, yes, I wanted to talk to you
about
that.
NOAH
You did? Sounds intriguing.
JESSICA
Yes,
you see there have been 2 more deaths, Father Adler was found dead in his
church, it looks like he committed suicide.
NOAH
Wow, another suicide. You said 2 deaths?
JESSICA
Yes, there’s little doubt though that
the
second was murder.
NOAH
I
go away for a few days and all hell breaks loose!
JESSICA
Y..yes.
NOAH
Jessica, what is it that you’re not
telling me?
JESSICA
Well Noah, you understand it may be
nothing, but
do you remember the soil that was
found next to
your fathers’ body?
NOAH
Yes I do, very strange and out of
place.
JESSICA
Well, it seems that there were similar
mounds of
soil found at the feet of the other 2
bodies.
NOAH
What?
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE.
Wait a minute, if the second death was
unquestionably murder then that means
it was
deliberate. I knew it Jessica, I knew my
father wasn’t the type of man to
commit
suicide! What about the priest? Are they
sure he committed suicide.
JESSICA
(SHRUGS)
Well, the truth is they cant tell one
way
or the other, Dr Cassidy looked again
at
the body at a little while ago and
there’s
nothing to suggest anything but
suicide.
NOAH
But suicides can be faked, Jessica,
you of
all people should know that.
JESSICA
I understand that, but what I don’t
understand
is why.
NOAH
What do you mean?
JESSICA
Well, why stage a murder to look like
a suicide?
It would only make sense to do that if
you
wanted to keep getting away with
it. If you
father and Father Adler where indeed
murdered
why would the murderer then completely
change
his modus operandi and actually kill
the next
person in such a way that there could
be no doubt
that it was murder.
NOAH
I see what you mean now, yes, that
doesn’t make
a lot of sense, but it cant be a
coincidence,
Jessica, can it?
JESSICA
No,
I rather think it can’t and that scares me, a lot!
16.
INT. CABOT COVE GAZETTE OFFICE. DAY
JESSICA & NOAH
ARE RUSHING AROUND THE OFFICE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES TO THE NEWSPAPER, THE
TELEPHONE RINGS.
NOAH
Hullo, Cabot Cove Gazette, Noah
speaking,
how can I help? Oh Hi, Mr. Simmons
(PUTS HAND OVER PHONE AND MOUTHS TO
JESSICA)
It’s my dad’s lawyer. Yes Mr. Simmons,
I understand your objection but its my
decision to make, no I’m not worried
about the
scandal, I want to know… I need to
know, I
don’t believe my father would of
killed himself
and in light of what’s happened here,
I need
to be sure. Can’t you understand that? Well,
I’m sorry you feel like that but as I
said
its not really your decision. Please make
the arrangements and let me know when
its done.
HE HANGS UP THE
PHONE AND SIGHS.
JESSICA
Your fathers lawyer’s not very happy
about the
exhumation I take it?
NOAH
Not even close but I think he’s more
worried
about what the press are going to say.
JESSICA
Well, he does have a point, your
father was
a very prominent man there’s going to
be a great
deal of interest in this, are you sure
you want
to do it?
NOAH
Am
I sure? No but I keep thinking that I
need to know the truth one way or the other, for dads sake as well as my own,
if someone did this to him then they need to be punished for it.
JESSICA
Yes, there is that, when’s it happening?
NOAH
In the next couple of hours, thanks to
dads
position in Washington, Simmons has
managed
to get the Chief Medical Examiner to
re-examine
his body, we should know one way or
the other
later tonight.
JESSICA
Ok, well lets not dwell on it for now,
shall
we put this baby to bed?
NOAH
Absolutely!
17.
INT. JESSICA’S KITCHEN. NIGHT
JESSICA, SETH AND
NOAH ARE IN THE KITCHEN FINISHING DINNER, SETH IS READING THE GAZETTE, HE FOLDS
IT UP AND PUTS IT DOWN.
SETH
Well, another excellent edition of the
Gazette
you two, you should be very proud.
JESSICA
Oh its all Noah’s work, I just helped
a little!
NOAH
Jessica, that simply isn’t true, I
couldn’t of
done any of it without you, especially
the latest
Inspector Armand mystery, brilliant!
SETH
So, it was, tell me Jess, any more
thoughts on
starting a new book?
JESSICA
Well, you know there’s a little germ
of an idea
there, I think it could turn into
something.
NOAH
That’s excellent news!
SETH
(TWINKLES)
Aye, it is, it sure is.
JESSICA SMILES AT
HIM AFFECTIONATELY AND PATS HIS HAND, NOAH’S CELLPHONE RINGS, HE ANSWERS IT.
NOAH
Hullo.
Oh Hi Mr. Simmons, thanks for getting
back to me. Ok. Oh
my God, are you sure? But
I don’t understand, how was that
missed? Ok, I’ll
let the sheriff here know right away,
thanks Mr.
Simmons, thank you so much.
HE HANGS UP AND
LOOKS VERY PAIL.
JESSICA
What is it Noah?
NOAH
They just finished the second post
mortem on
my dad and they found something.
SETH
What?
NOAH
A
bruise on the back of his neck that looks like finger impressions, they believe
that the position of the bruises indicate that they couldn’t of come from my
dad.
SETH
What
do you mean?
NOAH
The
medical examiner believes that the bruises
were
caused by somebody tying my dad up. I
don’t
understand
how that could have been missed in the original postmortem.
JESSICA
Well,
its not uncommon for bruises to take some
time
to appear which would explain the discrepancy between the two examinations...
SETH
Or
the doctor that performed the first one didn’t
do
his job properly.
JESSICA
Seth,
we cant know that for sure.
SETH
Oh
cant we!
JESSICA
But
they’re sure are they Noah?
NOAH
Mr.
Simmons seemed convinced, they’re going to fax the pm results over to Sheriff
Metzger, we’d better get over there and let him know what’s happened.
18.
SHERIFF
METZGER’S OFFICE. NIGHT
MORT IS BUSILY
WORKING AT HIS DESK, DEPUTY ANDY ENTERS AND APPROACHES HIM WAVING A PIECE OF
PAPER.
ANDY
Just got the results from the lab
about the soil
found at the crime scenes.
MORT
And?
ANDY
(SHRUGS AND LOOKS AT PAPER AGAIN)
Nothing startling, common ground soil,
nothing
special to report other than the soil has
the
same
chemical breakdown indicating it all came from the same place.
MORT
Well, at least that certainly shows
the 2
apparent suicides in a different
light.
HE GETS UP AS THE
FAX MACHINE BEGINS WHIRRING, HE PULLS THE PAPER FROM IT AND BEGINS
It’s a fax from the Chief Medical
Examiner of
William Mullen this afternoon.
ANDY
Noah’s dad?
MORT
Yeah, well I’ll be darned.
ANDY
What’s up sheriff?
MORT
Well according to this fellow he
thinks that this
is a case of murder made to look like
suicide.
ANDY
Well I guess that fits.
MORT
Sure does, we need to have another
look at Father
Adler.
JESSICA, SETH AND
NOAH ARRIVE.
Ah, Noah, I just received a fax about
your dad.
NOAH
I know, I’ve heard, what do you think
Sheriff?
MORT
Well, it certainly changes things.
JESSICA
Any further developments Mort?
MORT
We just got the report back from the
lab and it
confirms that the soil found at all 3
deaths is
from the same place.
JESSICA
Well, that’s certainly interesting.
NOAH
What’s your next move sheriff?
MORT
Well I was just going to head over the
hospital
I think the body of Father Adler
deserves another
look over.
NOAH
We’re coming with you, somebody
murdered my dad
and I want to know why.
19.
HOSPITAL
MORGUE. NIGHT
THE HOSPITAL MORGUE
IS VERY DARK AND EERY, CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND AS ELI IS BENT
OVER THE BODY OF AARON DAVIS AS HE PERFORMS THE PM, AROUND HIM, MORTUARY
ASSISTANT JOSH THOMAS IS BUSYING HIMSELF.
ELI
Phew,
this old chap sure liked a drink!
JOSH
(SHOOTS A NASTY LOOK AT THE CORPSE)
He sure did, a mean drunk he was too.
ELI
Really, never met the chap
myself. Hand me
the saw would you Josh?
JOSH HANDS HIM THE
SAW AND WATCHES AS HE BEGINS CUTTING.
You really like your work don’t you
son?
JOSH
I sure do, Dr Cassidy.
ELI
Didn’t you ever think of training to
be a doctor?
JOSH LOOKS AWAY, HIS
FACE WHITE AND HIS MANNER CHILLY.
JOSH
Thought about it… yes, but some things
are meant
for some people.
ELI
Nonsense, boy! This is
hope for all and that sort of thing.
JOSH
I’m not sure that applies to us all Dr
Cassidy,
some people just don’t get given the
chances that
others do…
THE DOOR OPENS AND
NOAH, MORT, JESSICA AND SETH ENTER; THEY APPROACH BUT STEP BACK WHEN THEY SEE
THE BODY.
SETH
What are you doing Cassidy? I was down
to do the
ELI PUTS HIS GLASSES
ON AND LOOKS AT SETH WITH PITY.
ELI
Oh really Dr Hazlitt, I wasn’t aware
of that,
Its just I thought with a murderer on
the loose
it was more prudent for me to forgo my
dinner
and get right to it, I didn’t realize
things
were done differently in Cabot Cove…
SETH
Why, listen here you little…
MORT STEPS FORWARD
AND BLOCKS THE TWO MEN.
MORT
Listen Dr Cassidy, we’ve just had word
from the
Chief Medical Examiner in
again at the body of William Mullen
and thinks
there is a very real likelihood that
it was
staged to look like a suicide…
ELI
What! I didn’t give permission for
that…
NOAH
I did, he was my father and I didn’t
believe he would of killed
himself.
JEESICA
It seems that there were bruises at
the back
of his neck that were inconsistent
with him
strangling himself.
ELI
Well, it is possible that the bruises
wouldn’t
of shown up right away.
MORT
That’s just what Mrs. F thought.
ELI
(BEAMS)
Ah is that so! Well, Mrs. Fletcher,
great minds
think alike!
MORT
So, we now know that there have been
at least
2 murders in Cabot Cove linked by a
handful
Of soil, the same soil was found next
to Father
Adler, now, what I want to know is
whether that
apparent suicide could have been
staged too.
ELI
(CONDESENDINGLY)
Sheriff Metzger, I understand that it
may be
possible to string someone up and make
it look
like suicide, but…
EVERYONE BUT ELI AND
NOAH WINCE AT THAT REMARK.
I don’t see how it would be possible
to stage
an overdose of pills.
SETH
Well what about somebody holding a gun
to his
head?
MORT
Maybe Doc, but I think if it was me
you would
think I’m gonna die either way so I
certainly
aint gonna make it easy!
JESSICA
I had a thought Dr Cassidy, have you
examined the
stomach contents of Father Adler?
SETH
What you thinking Jess?
JESSICA
Well, just because we found a bottle
of empty
pills next to the body we just assumed
that
the Father took an overdose, when of
course,
it doesn’t necessarily mean that. He
could of
course drunk something that contained
the pills
crushed up, and I may be wrong, but I
would
think that the stomach contents may
show how
the pills where ingested.
SETH
Its certainly would Jess, we done!
Well, Cassidy
what of it?
ELI
(SNAPS)
Do, I look like I have nothing else to
do, Josh!
Josh! Get over here!
JOSH RUNS OVER LIKE
A SCARED DOG.
JOSH
Yes, Dr Cassidy?
ELI
Prep the Adler body, it looks like
neither of
us is going to get much sleep.
20.
INT. CHURCH RECTORY. DAY
LADY ABIGAIL LLOYD
IS IN A CRAMPED, DUSTY OLD RECTORY LIVING ROOM, SHE IS HOLDING A PIECE OF
PAPER, SHE CURSES, CRUMPLES IT AND THROWS IT TOWARDS THE BIN, SEBASTIAN MERRICK
ENTERS AND WALKS TOWARDS HER AND PULLS HER INTO A PASSIONATE CLINCH. SHE PULLS AWAY.
SEBASTIAN
What is it Abigail?
ABIGAIL
Oh Sebastian! What am I to do, i’ve
just received
a letter from that useless old
solicitor of mine,
its confirmed I’m afraid, Reg’s family
have
lodged a suit against me! What am I to
do? Oh
to have come so close to finally
having the life
I deserved, I cant bear to lose it
again, I cant
bear it I tell you!
SEBASTIAN
Calm down Abigail, it wont come to
that! They
cant do a damn thing about it, they
know that
and they’re just trying to scare you!
ABIGAIL
Well they’re doing a pretty damn good
job! Do
you really think that they haven’t got
a case?
SEBASTIAN
Not even close! The old fellow was as
sane as
the rest of us. You didn’t force him to change
his will and they cant prove you did!
ABIGAIL
Oh but what about us Sebastian?
Suppose they
find out that Reg discovered us and
threatened
to divorce me.
SEBASTIAN
(THROWS BACK HEAD AND LAUGHS)
The pertinent word there love is
threatened,
he could threaten all he likes fact is
he didn’t
do a damn thing about it, he died and
his will
stayed the same! Very fortunate!
ABIGAIL
Yes. VERY fortunate. All the same Sebastian,
we’re talking about an awful lot of
money, we
should, I think, be a little discreet
from now
on, just in case, I mean, for all we
know we
could be being watched or anything.
SEBASTIAN CONSIDERS
THIS FOR A MOMENT.
ABIGAIL
Maybe your right darling, maybe your
right.
HE CROSSES THE ROOM
AND PULLS OPEN THE HEAVY DRAPES, SUNLIGHT FLOODS THE ROOM, SEBASTIAN CASTS HIS
GAZE INTO THE CHURCHYARD AND GASPS.
Oh God, what on earth’s happened?
ABIGAIL JOINS HIM
AND LETS OUT A GASP OF HER OWN.
21.
EXT. CHURCHYARD. DAY
SEBASTIAN AND
ABIGAIL COME OUT OF THE RECTORY INTO THE CHURCHYARD WHERE IT IS A SCENE OF
CHAOS, MANY OF THE
ABIGAIL
Oh this is terrible! Who would do such
a
horrible, horrible thing!
22.
EXT. CHURCHYARD.
DAY
MORT AND ANDY ARE
EXAMINING THE CHURCHYARD, SEBASTIAN AND ABIGAIL LOOK ON, NOAH IS WALKING AROUND
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, JESSICA APPEARS OUTSIDE, PROPS HER BIKE AGAINST THE WALL
AND WALKS IN.
JESSICA
(GASPS)
Oh dear! Who would do such a terrible thing?
MORT
Beats me, Mrs. F, but there sure are
some sickos
out there.
JESSICA APPROACHES
ABIGAIL AND SEBASTIAN.
JESSICA
Lady Lloyd, are you alright?
ABIGAIL
Oh I'm fine, Jessica, truly I am. Its all such
a shock though, to hear my brother
talk about
Cabot Cove you’d think nothing ever
happened
here.
JESSICA
Well, this sort of thing isn’t usual,
I can
assure you of that.
MORT
And you’re sure you didn’t hear
anything at
all Lady Lloyd.
ABIGAIL
No Sheriff, I didn’t hear a thing I’m
afraid,
you see I turned in early last night,
the shock
of things you know and I must of dozed
straight
off.
MORT
And you Mr. Merrick?
SEBASTIAN
Me? Well, I turned in early also, there’s
not
really a lot else to do around here.
MORT
And neither of you saw anyone hanging
about
or heard anything? Judging by the mess
here
this can’t have happened quietly.
SEBASTIAN
Well, our room is at the back of the
house so…
HE TRAILS OFF WHEN
HE REALISES WHAT HE HAS SAID, ABIGAIL SHOOTS HIM A FILTHY LOOK, JESSICA LOOKS
AWAY AND MORT COUGHS WITH EMBARESSMENT.
MORT
Well, thanks for that, if you do think
of
anything be sure to let me know.
ABIGAIL
We will Sheriff, come Sebastian. Mrs. Fletcher.
JESSICA NODS AS
ABIGAIL AND SEBASTIAN ENTER THE RECTORY.
NOAH THEN APPROACHES CAMERA IN HAND.
NOAH
I’ve been taking some photos for the
Gazette
Sheriff, I hope you don’t mind.
MORT
Not at all Noah, be obliged if you
could let
me have some copies for my records
though.
NOAH
No problem. Who would do this?
JESSICA BEGINS
LOOKING AROUND.
JESSICA
There doesn’t seem to be a pattern to
it, some
of the stones are smashed, others are knocked
over and some have what appears to
be ordinary red paint just thrown over
them.
MORT
It could just be kids, but I cant see
how any
of the town kids would do this.
JESSICA
Well, you would think so, I know
things aren’t
the same as they once were but I cant
believe
things have gotten to this.
NOAH
Is it just me or isn’t it a little
strange that
Father Adler was just murdered and
then this
happens.
JESSICA
Well the thought had crossed my mind,
a vendetta
against Father Adler maybe?
MORT
Or Lady Lloyd maybe? It seems to me
that her and
that fellow of hers have whipped up a
storm back
in
JESSICA
Well that’s certainly possible, but
where do the
other deaths come into it?
MORT
Hmm, I usually rely on you for this
sort of thing
Mrs. F!
JESSICA
Well sorry to disappoint Mort, but I’m
drawing
blanks
on this occasion, except whatever is going on seems to be escalating.
NOAH
And that cant be good.
JESSICA
No, no it cant.
MORTS CELLPHONE
RINGS, HE ANSWERS IT.
MORT
Sheriff Metzger, oh Hi Dr Cassidy,
thanks for
getting back to me so early. Ok.
And you’re
sure about that? Ok, thanks again
HE HANGS UP AND
SCRATCHES HIS HEAD.
JESSICA
Mort?
MORT
Dr Cassidy just had Father Adler’s
stomach
contents examined and it appears that
its
entirely consistent with the tablets
being
ingested in powdered form.
NOAH
So that means…
JESSICA
We’re 3 for 3 and judging by this
scene the
killer is getting more and more out of
control,
which….
JESSICA TRAILS OFF
AS SHE SEES ONE OF THE UPROOTED GRAVESTONES, SHE APPROACHES IT, IT SAYS “ADLER,
THOMAS, BORN 1931, DIED 1994, DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND, FATHER”
Well, that’s interesting.
NOAH
What is it?
JESSICA
Do you remember this Mort?
MORT LOOKS AT THE STONE
AND SHAKES HIS HEAD.
MORT
Cant say I do.
JESSICA
Well, its just I saw the name and of
course
it made me think of Father Adler, they
weren’t
related of course but its just I
remember how
Thomas Adler died, you must remember
Mort?
He lived in the old Mill, his family were
all
long gone and he was an invalid, quite
well off
and there was only a nurse that looked
after him.
MORT
Ah the Death Nurse! I remember now.
NOAH
Remember what?
JESSICA
Well, Thomas Adler died of what
appeared to be
Natural causes and nobody would of
thought
anything of it except Mort got a
report from
several other Sheriffs offices.
MORT
That’s right, seems old Thomas’s nurse
was
wanted in several states for offing
several
of her patients who coincidently left
everything
they had to her!
JESSICA
And as it turned out she almost got
away with
it here too, she had been poisoning
poor Thomas’
drinks for months.
NOAH
Hmm, but what does that have to do
with this?
JESSICA
Well nothing, I think, yet…
SHE LOOKS AROUND THE
CHURCHYARD AND SEEMS VERY WORRIED.
23.
INT. JESSICA’S HOUSE. DAY
JESSICA IS BUSY
WORKING ON HER COMPUTER, WHILE NOAH IS FIXING SEVERAL OF THE PHOTOS HE TOOK AT
THE CHURCHYARD TO HER NOTICEBOARD.
NOAH
Jessica, you want to help me choose a
photo
for the front page of the Gazette?
JESSICA GETS UP AND
JOINS HIM AND BEGINS LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS, THEY ARE SILENT FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
JESSICA
Wait a minute, now, that’s strange,
no, it cant
be…
NOAH
What’s wrong Jessica?
SETH ENTERS THEN,
HUFFING AND PUFFING.
SETH
He’s going to be the death of me!
JESSICA
(LAUGHS)
I don’t suppose I need to ask who!
SETH
No, you don’t, he’s changed the rota,
didn’t
even bother to ask me! Everyone knows
I go once
a month Cray fishing of the Coast,
gone all day
and night! He said, of course if I
found it too
much he would take some of the slack!
SOME OF THE
SLACK! So I told him there’s no
problem here!
Shame though, I did enjoy that trip…
JESSICA
Oh
Seth, I’m sorry. Seth, Noah and I were
just looking at the photographs he took at the churchyard.
SETH
Shocking! I don’t know what’s come of
the world
lately!
JESSICA
Indeed. No, something’s niggling at
me, do you
remember Elise Mullen.
SETH
Elise Mullen. Hm. Well, we’re going back some
time I think. Wasn’t she the one engaged to the
McKenzie fellow that went to
came back.
JESSICA
Exactly. Now, do you remember what happened to
her?
SETH
I surely do, cause I was the one that
had to cut
her down.
NOAH
Cut her down? You mean she?
SETH
Aye, racked with grief she was, poor
soul, tied
a noose around her neck and threw
herself over
the balcony.
NOAH
Oh my God, so that’s two.
SETH
Two?
JESSICA
Yes, you see it too. Seth, early today I saw
one of the gravestones that was
damaged, it was
someone called Adler who was also
poisoned.
SETH
I don’t get it.
JESSICA
I’m not sure I do either, its just
there was
Thomas Adler who was poisoned, just
like Father
Adler was this week, and now we see
Elise Mullen
who hung herself just like Noah’s dad,
William
Mullen did. Don’t you find that strange?
SETH
Well I suppose so but it doesn’t mean
anything
surely.
JESSICA
Well, I don’t think so.
NOAH HAS BEEN
STUDYING THE PHOTOS AGAIN; HE PULLS ONE OFF AND HANDS IT TO JESSICA.
NOAH
Would it mean something if there was
another?
JESSICA AND SETH
LOOK AT A PHOTO OF THE
SETH
Robert Davis, ayah, remember that too.
NOAH
Let me guess. Killed by a blow to the head.
JESSICA
Bar fight, over a girl I seem to
remember.
SETH
What does this all mean, Jess?
JESSICA LOOKS AT ALL
THE PHOTOS.
JESSICA
Hopefully nothing, or…
SETH
Or?
JESSICA
Or there are an awful lot of potential
victims!
24.
EXT. CHURCHYARD. DAY
JESSICA AND NOAH
ARRIVE AT THE CHURCHYARD; THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE LOOKING BUSY AS THEY TRY TO
TIDY UP THE MESS.
NOAH
Wow! Quite a turn out.
JESSICA
Yes, I knew the Cabot Cove Restoration
Society
would be out in force to tidy this
horrible mess
up.
SHE APPROACHES THE
CROWD AND SEES JOSH, THE MORTUARY ATTENDANT; HE IS KNEELING DOWN WORKING.
Hello, it’s Josh isn’t it?
JOSH GETS UP AND
WIPES DOWN HIS HANDS, HE LOOKS VERY NERVOUS.
JOSH
Yes it is Mrs. Fletcher.
JESSICA
I
thought it was you, I saw you the other night at the hospital.
JOSH
Yeah, I’m the mortuary assistant.
JESSICA
Well, its kind of you to help the
Restoration
Society and we could use all the help
we can
get!
JOSH
Listen, I’d better get on, I haven’t
much time before my shift starts at
the
hospital.
JESSICA
Oh I know! It’s the same with Seth,
never
seems
to have any time off lately! Well it was nice seeing you again Josh.
JOSH
You too Mrs. Fletcher.
JESSICA MOVES AWAY
AND REJOINS NOAH WHO IS BUSY ROLLING UP HIS SLEEVES.
NOAH
Time to right some wrongs Jessica,
what do you
say?
SHE SMILES AND
BEGINS ROLLING UP HER SLEEVES.
25.
EXT.
MACK ANDERSON IS
AGAIN ON A PLATFORM ADDRESSING A LARGE CROWD; MORT IS STANDING AT A DISTANCE
WATCHING.
MACK
And yet again good residents of Cabot
Cove,
your Sheriff lets you down, a
murderer, a
serial killer no less roams our good
streets
while Sheriff Metzger appears helpless
to
stop him, I urge you that come
election time
on Friday you show him and everyone
else that
you wont stand for it a moment longer
and
put your faith in someone who will
return your
town to the beautiful, peaceful place
it once
was.
Thank you for your time, and I’ll see you
at the polling station on Friday!
THERE IS LOUD
APPLAUSE, MACK CLIMBS OFF THE PODIUM AND APPROACHES MORT.
Good to see you Sheriff.
MORT
Yeah? Wish I could say the same
MACK
Ooh I’m hurt Mort!
MORT
That’s Sheriff Metzger to you
Anderson.
MACK
Is it now? For how much longer I
wonder? You
must know your time is up here as
Sheriff, why
don’t you accept your defeat graciously?
MORT
Remember, it aint over till the fat
lady sings.
MACK
Maybe, though your apparent inability
to track
down a murderer in such a small town
could just
be the nail in your coffin, (LAUGHS)
Pardon the
pun!
MORT
Glad you find it amusing that 3 people
have been
killed.
MACK
Amusing? No sheriff, I don’t, I don’t
find it
amusing at all, but I cant argue that
it could
just be the stepping stone I need to
get into
office. And don’t worry Metzger, come Saturday
morning when I slip on your badge, you
can leave
the real police work of finding this
killer to someone with ability,
me!
HE WALKS OFF QUICKLY
LEAVING MORT FUMING, DEPUTY ANDY PULLS UP IN HIS POLICE CAR.
MORT
Andy, tell me you have something for
me.
ANDY
Maybe I do Sheriff, though you’re not
going to
like it.
MORT
Why, what is it?
ANDY
I just interviewed the night watchman
at the Hill
House motel, he didn’t think anything
of it
before as we all thought it was a
suicide, but he
saw someone at the hotel that night
that wasn’t
a guest.
MORT
He did, who?
ANDY
That’s the bit you’re not going to
like.
26.
EXT. CHURCHYARD.
DAY
JESSICA AND NOAH ARE
WORKING ALONGSIDE THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS, MORT’S CAR PULLS UP.
JESSICA
Oh hello Mort, you come to help?
MORT
Not right now Mrs. F.
JESSICA
Is there something wrong Mort? There
hasn’t
been another murder has there?
MORT
No, thank God. We do have a witness though
who saw someone at the hotel the night
of
William Mullen’s faked hanging.
NOAH
Wow! That’s great.
MORT
Is it?
Noah, do you still maintain you had no
idea your father was in town.
NOAH
What do you mean, ‘do I still
maintain’? What’s
this about, Sheriff?
MORT
The night watchman at the Hill House
Motel just
positively identified you from a
photograph,
he claims he saw you hanging around
outside the
hotel.
NOAH
What? Oh wait, of course, I can
explain.
MORT
Maybe so, but not here, why don’t we
go to my
office.
JESSICA
Mort, you’re not arresting Noah,
surely?
MORT
Lets just say, for now, that he’s
helping us
with our enquires, now you gonna come
along
son?
MORT LEADS NOAH
TOWARDS HIS CAR, JESSICA QUICKLY FOLLOWS.
27.
INT. SHERIFF METZGER’S OFFICE. DAY
MORT IS SITTING AT
HIS DESK WITH NOAH AND JESSICA SITTING OPPOSITE.
NOAH
Sheriff, I can explain.
MORT
I’m all ears, Noah.
NOAH
I was working late at the Gazette when
I
received a phone call from someone who
said they had proof that a senior
official
had been taking kickbacks from a state
building contractor to build a whole
lot of
condos in Cabot Cove.
JESSICA
And this caller? Did you know him?
NOAH
Well that’s the thing, he refused to
give
his name and I haven’t really been
here long
enough so I didn’t recognize his
voice.
Anyway, he said he would meet me in
person
and give me the proof, he said he
would meet
me at the Hill House Motel in 1 hour.
JESSICA
And you decided to go?
NOAH
Well I wasn’t going to then I figured
if it
was true then it would make an
excellent story
for the gazette.
JESSICA
Yes of course, so what happened when
you got
there?
NOAH
Absolutely nothing, I got there early
and must
have waited close to an hour and
nobody turned
up, in fact I didn’t see a soul or
hear a
thing. Finally I gave up and went back
to the
office, I figured he got scared of or
something
and would call again.
JESSICA
And he didn’t?
NOAH
Nope, didn’t hear another thing from
him.
JESSICA
Well Mort, that all seems quite
straightforward.
MORT
Does it? Why is this the first time
we’ve
heard about it, we were all at Hill
House the
very next day and you never saw fit to
mention
you’d been there only a few hours
earlier.
NOAH
(LOOKING LOST)
Sheriff… I, I suppose it just never
occurred
to me, I mean there wasn’t anything to
tell
I went to meet someone and they didn’t
turn up.
I guess the shock of seeing my dad…I
just didn’t
think about it.
JESSICA
Well, of course, Mort you couldn’t
possibly think
Noah went there to murder his father,
for one
thing he didn’t even know he was
there.
MORT
Didn’t he? We only have his word for
that.
NOAH
Sheriff, I promise you I had no idea
my dad
was in town, and why would I kill him?
MORT
Well, its pretty obvious that you two
didn’t
get on, and then of course there’s the
question
of the very large inheritance he left
you,
people have been murdered over a lot
less.
JESSICA
Oh Mort, this is preposterous, what
about the
other 2 murders? You cant think Noah
did those
too?
MORT
Why not?
JESSICA
Well for what reason would he kill 2
perfectly
innocent strangers?
MORT
I
don’t know Mrs. F. To cover up his crime
maybe? Perhaps Father Adler or Aaron Davis saw something they shouldn’t have,
or maybe just to throw us of the reason for the original crime.
NOAH
This is absurd Sheriff!
MORT
Maybe
so, but until we check things out, I’d prefer it if you’d agree to stay here in
custody.
NOAH
Are you arresting me sheriff?
MORT
As
I said, for now, you’re just helping me with my enquires. Andy, take Noah out back would you?
ANDY APPROACHES AND
TAKES NOAH BY THE ARM.
ANDY
Come with me Noah
NOAH
Jessica?
JESSICA
It’ll be ok Noah, everything will be
fine, I
promise.
ANDY LEADS A VERY
PALE, WORRIED NOAH OUT INTO THE CELLS.
JESSICA FACES MORT ANGRILY.
Mort, I know we haven’t known Noah
very long,
but I truly believe with all of my
heart that
he wouldn’t have done any of this.
MORT
I know you’ve grown very fond of him Mrs.
F,
taking him into your home and all, but
truth
is we don’t know anything about him
really
or what happened to him before he came
to
Cabot Cove.
JESSICA
Maybe not Mort, but I pride myself on
being a
good judge of character and I refuse
to believe
him guilty of such terrible
crimes.
MORT
Mrs. F, Jessica, I don’t like this any
more than
you, but you have to see, I cant take
the chance,
until we completely exonerate Noah I
cant take
the chance of letting him roam
free. We have the
elections for new Sheriff in only 2
days…
JESSICA
Oh Mort, I cant believe your locking
Noah up just
because of that…
MORT
As I was about to say, Mack Anderson
is doing a
good job of riling everyone up, if
anything its
safer for Noah here.
JUST THEN THE DOOR
BURST OPEN AND MACK STORMS IN.
MACK
Metzger, I just heard you arrested
Noah Mullen
for the murders…
MORT
What the….!
MACK
Well, is it true? Answer me!
MORT
Listen here,
damn thing.
MACK
Oh don’t you? Take a look out of the
window
Sheriff.
MORT LOOKS OUT OF
THE WINDOW; THERE IS AN ANGRY CROWD SHOUTING AND GEERING.
I represent those people Sheriff and
we have
a right to know what’s going on.
MORT
Ok, ok, Noah Mullen has not been
arrested, but
he is helping us with our enquires.
MACK
And what’s that supposed to mean?
I can assure you both of one thing,
Noah Mullen
is not going to get away with this
just because
he has money and friends in high
places, if you
two think you’re going to cover up the
murder of
2
good people of this town just because of
your personal relationships with him
then I’m
here to tell you that I won’t let you!
JESSICA JUMPS UP,
STRUGGLING TO KEEP HER COMPOSURE.
JESSICA
I
can assure we’d do no such thing! And what’s more I’m outraged at the accusation, I’ve lived in Cabot Cove for over
40 years, while you’ve only been here a matter of months, and I can tell you
this, the people here are not only my friends, they’re part of me! Part of who
I am and what I stand for. And to insinuate that I would help a murderer walk
free is not only insulting its slanderous.
And let me also say this Mr. Anderson, what you are doing is a crime!
Insighting the people of this town is wrong; Noah Mullen is innocent and will
be proved to be so. Now, I’m leaving before I say something I will really
regret. Mort.
SHE NODS AT HIM AND
STORMS FROM THE ROOM LEAVING MACK LOOKING FLABBERGASTED.
28.
INT. JESSICA’S HOUSE. NIGHT.
LATER THAT DAY
JESSICA IS AT WORK IN HER STUDY ON THE COMPUTER, SETH ENTERS VIA THE KITCHEN
DOOR, JESSICA GETS UP, HITS THE PRINT KEY AND GOES TO THE KITCHEN.
JESSICA
Glass of wine, Seth?
SETH
I wont say no Jess.
SHE POURS THEM BOTH
A GLASS AND HANDS HIM HIS.
How you doing?
JESSICA
Me? Oh I’m fine.
SETH
You sure?
JESSICA
Oh yes, I was just a little taken
aback.
SETH
You’ve grown quite fond of young Noah,
haven’t
you?
JESSICA
I have Seth, I have, haven’t you?
SETH
I have, I like him, I like him a lot,
still…
JESSICA
Don’t say it, Seth. We both know that he didn’t
do any of this. I got so cross, Mack Anderson is
using all of this for his own personal
agenda, I
don’t even think he cares whether Noah
is guilty
or not, its just another way to get at
Mort.
SETH
He’s been at the hospital all afternoon,
him and
Dr Cassidy locked up in a room
together, thick as
thieves.
JESSICA
That’s interesting, I had no idea they
knew each
other.
SETH
Well all I know is that those 2 with
their heads
locked together can't be a good thing.
JESSICA
Yes,
I see what you mean.
SETH
So,
what’s the plan? If I know you at all I expect your hard at work proving that
Noah couldn’t of possibly had anything to do with these murders.
JESSICA SMILES AS
SHE CROSSES TO THE STUDY TO RETRIEVE HER PRINTOUT. SHE HANDS IT TO SETH.
What’s this?
JESSICA
I’ve been online, that’s a list of the
some 200
odd people buried in the
seems that they stopped burying people
there
about 25 years ago when the new
crematorium
opened.
SETH
That’s right, what’s the list for,
Jess?
JESSICA
Well, we know that there are at least
3
similarities between names and deaths
with
what has happened here lately. So, I thought
that between you and I and the public
records
office we could figure out how each
person
died.
SETH
What good would that do?
JESSICA
Maybe nothing, but it’s somewhere to
start
Seth, we could cross reference the
names with
the current electoral roll.
SETH
But that’s about 200 deaths that could
occur
Jess, how we supposed to prevent them?
JESSICA
Well we may not be able to Seth, but
it might
help point us in the right direction,
I’m
hoping a pattern will present itself.
SETH
Sounds like a long shot.
JESSICA
It is, but its all we’ve got right
now. There
has to be a link, a pattern of some
kind, why
is the killer choosing his victims’
this way?
There has to be a reason for that.
SETH
Or maybe not, crazy folks don’t always
do things
logically.
JESSICA
Oh I don’t agree, Seth, this feels
perfectly
thought out to me, its all thought out
and
planned, remember, we weren’t really
meant to
discover that the 2 suicides had been
staged.
SETH
What about the soil, and the church
vandalism.
JESSICA
Well, i’ve been thinking about that,
those things
almost spoil it, don’t you think? Two
almost
perfect murders where committed but
the soil
gave him away, which I believe means
that the
killer couldn’t stop himself and that
means
that
the soil is important to him and to the reason behind what he’s doing.
SETH
I hope you’re right, Jess.
JESSICA
Me too, but in the meanwhile lets make
a start
on the list and hope something becomes
obvious.
29.
INT. SHERIFF METZGERS OFFICE. DAY
MORT IS SITTING
WORKING AT HIS DESK, HE LOOKS VERY TIRED AND WORRIED, JESSICA AND SETH ENTER
CARRYING SEVERAL BOOKS.
MORT
I know that look Mrs. F. You’re on a mission.
JESSICA
(LAUGHS)
Well, Seth and I have been rather
busy.
THEY SIT DOWN
OPPOSITE MORT.
We’ve been comparing the names on the
gravestones with the current Cabot
Cove
electoral roll.
MORT
What on earth for?
JESSICA
Mort, I’m convinced that that is how
the killer is getting his victims, so
I thought if I compared the names it
would
give us somewhere to start.
MORT
And what do you suggest I do? Give all
the people who are alive
but have the same surname
as someone who may be buried round the
clock
protection.
JESSICA
Well, granted that’s were my plan
falls down
a little.
MORT
Ah-ha.
So, just out of interest, how many names
are we talking about here?
JESSICA
Well, there are 78 people registered
in Cabot
Cove with the same surnames.
MORT
Oh, only 78! And that of course isn’t
counting
visitors to town like William Mullen.
JESSICA
Please Mort, don’t mock me, this is
serious, Seth
and I have gone through the list and
we know how
each of those people died, I know this
isn’t the
best solution Mort, but I for one cant
just sit
around while the REAL murder walks
free.
MORT
Mrs. F, I know you’re very fond of
Noah.
JESSICA
Oh I wish everyone would stop saying
that! That
has nothing to do with this, Noah is
innocent and
it seems that apart from Seth and I
trying to
help the only thing that’s going to
clear him is
if, no, when, the real killer strikes
again.
Mort, I know this election tomorrow
has you
stymied,
but this isn’t you, I’ve known you a long time and you’re an exemplary officer
of the law. Sitting and wallowing in
self pity isn’t you.
MORT
(PAUSES)
Point taken Mrs. F. I’m sorry, I guess this is
getting to me more than I thought.
JESSICA
You’re only human, Mort.
MORT JUMPS TO HIS
FEET.
MORT
So what do you want me to do?
JESSICA
Well, I know its not ideal but I
thought we
could start by splitting up the list
and asking
the people on it if they’ve perhaps
seen or heard
anything suspicious or out of the
ordinary.
MORT
Seems a long shot, but what the heck,
beats
sitting here cooling my heels.
SETH
That’s the spirit Mort!
MORT
Say,
out of interest, there’s no Metzger’s on that list of yours is there?
JESSICA
No, no Metzger’s or Hazlitt’s for that
matter,
there is a Fletcher however, not Frank
of course,
he was buried in his families cemetery, no
the
only Fletcher is old Jediah Fletcher,
died in 1898 of rickets, I think I’m
safe from
that one!
SHE WINKS AND GETS
UP.
30.
EXT. CHURCHYARD. DUSK
SETH AND
SETH
Dunno what you wanted to come back
here for at
this time of day.
JESSICA
Oh Seth, it’s a graveyard, there’s
nothing to be
scared of here!
SETH
Scared! Who’s scared? Just don’t see
the point of
being here.
JESSICA
Well, I just wanted to have another
look to see
if anything springs to mind, you never
know,
there may be something we missed. Ah, there’s
Lady Lloyd.
ABIGAIL AND
SEBASTAIN ARE HUDDLED IN A CORNER IN A DEEP CONVERSATION, AS THEY SEE JESSICA
AND SETH THEY JUMP APART.
ABIGAIL
Mrs. Fletcher, why, its terribly nice
to see
you again. You too Dr Hazlitt.
JESSICA
And you, Lady Lloyd. Mr. Merrick.
SEBASTIAN
(NODS)
Mrs. Fletcher, Doctor.
JESSICA
I hope this all hasn’t been too much
for you.
ABIGAIL
Not at all.
SEBASTIAN
Livened the place up a bit if you ask
me!
ABIGAIL
You must forgive my young assistant, I
expect
coming here with me to Cabot Cove
wasn’t really
all he thought it would be.
JESSICA
Of course, after
slow here.
SEBASTIAN
It certainly did until we had a serial
killer
on the loose! Mrs. Fletcher, I may
steal your
thunder here, I always fancied myself
as a bit
of a Patricia Cornwell, perhaps I can
turn this
sordid tale into a gruesome
bestseller, I don’t
want to step on your toes of course!
JESSICA
Oh
there’s no need to worry about that Mr. Merrick, I can assure you that I
wouldn’t dream of turning this into a book.
SETH
So,
the restoration society have all finished, eh?
ABIGAIL
Yes, they seem to have done a terribly
good job,
don’t they?
THE GROUP BEGINS
WALKING AROUND AND LOOK AT THE CHURCHYARD; IT IS MUCH TIDIER AND LOOKS MORE OR
LESS THE SAME AS BEFORE.
JESSICA
They have done a great job haven’t they?
SETH
That they have, you’d hardly know any
thing
had happened here.
ABIGAIL
Indeed, they managed to get the paint
off most
of the stones and those that were only
partially
damaged have been repaired in such a
way you’d
scarcely know anything had happened to
them.
JESSICA
Oh that is good news.
THEY STOP AT A PILE
OF RUBBLE.
SEBASTIAN
This was the only lot they couldn’t do
anything
with, they’ll need completely new
stones.
JESSICA BENDS DOWN
AND BEGINS LOOKING AT ONE, IT IS WHAT REMAINS OF A GRAVESTONE FOR A MAN CALLED
RALPH MURDOCH WHO DIED IN 1986.
JESSICA
This one seems particularly bad.
SETH
Ayah, the rest of them had a good
going over
but that one seems to have had a good
hammering.
JESSICA
Yes, its interesting, if you look at
the others
it does seem as if a hammer has just
been taken
to it, but this one seems to have been
much more
brutal,
you see? there’s not just one or two hits, it looks to me as if its been smashed
over and over again until there’s barely anything left of it.
ABIGAIL
Well, yes, I suppose, but I cant think
that means
anything.
SEBASTIAN
No, of course not, I think you’re
writers mind is
working overtime a bit there Mrs.
Fletcher!
JESSICA
Well, yes, maybe.
SETH
Ralph Murdoch…why does that name ring
a bell to
me?
JESSICA
I don’t know, I was just thinking the
same thing
myself.
SETH
Ah! Of course, he was the chap that
lived here
in the old
JESSICA
That’s right, he tended to the
graveyard, dug
the graves that sort of thing, I’d
clean
forgotten all about him.
SETH
That’s not surprising, a dour man, a
dour, dour
man.
JESSICA
Yes, always pale faced I seem to
recall, if you
saw him in the street he’d cross the
road sooner
than say hello to you.
SETH
That’s right, I don’t think he ever
paid me a
visit!
JESSICA
You must remember him Lady Lloyd, he
would have
been here when you were growing up.
ABIGAIL
Yes, I suppose I do, cant say I
remember him
though, father didn’t like me going
anywhere
near him, not that I wanted to though,
he gave
me the creeps he did! Always standing
around
staring at a person.
JESSICA
Seth, wasn’t he married with a child?
SETH
Can’t say I remember Jess, can’t even
remember
him arriving in Cabot Cove and he was
never a
patient, so.
JESSICA
I wish I could remember, I’m sure
there was
a child, I was teaching at the high
school at the
time and I’m sure there was a problem
of him
refusing to enroll a child, saying his
wife
would home school, but for the life of
me I cant
remember ever seeing any of them about
town.
SETH
Nor me.
SEBASTIAN
Well, as interesting as all of this
is, I don’t
see what this has to do with our book Mrs.
Fletcher.
JESSICA
Our book?
SEBASTIAN
Yes, I’ve decided, you can help me
write it and
I’ll cut you in!
31.
INT. CABOT COVE HOSPITAL MORGUE. NIGHT
IT IS LATE AT NIGHT,
ELI CASSIDY AND MACK ANDERSON ARE DEEP IN CONVERSATION, JOSH IS LISTENING
AROUND THE CORNER, THEY DON’T REALISE HE IS THERE.
ELI
Things are certainly working out well
for you
Mack.
MACK
Yeah, you might say having a serial
killer
has been good for us both, eh, Eli?
ELI
I’ll drink to that!
THEY CLASH THEIR
BEER CANS TOGETHER.
MACK
Who’d of thought it would be so easy
to win
over a town like this?
ELI
I
didn’t that’s for sure! I thought it would be all inbreeding and ignorance,
just shows you old
friend, new faces that say the right
things
have a place anywhere.
MACK
Indeed, in 8 hours the polling opens
and in
24 hours I’ll be the new Sheriff of
Cabot Cove,
and with you as Chief of the hospital
we’ll have
the whole place sown up. By the time the
bulldozers start they wont know what’s
hit them.
ELI
True!
JOSH BACKS AWAY AND
KNOCKS SOMETHING OVER, ELI AND MACK RUSH OVER.
Ah, its only the mortuary assistant.
MACK
You spying son?
JOSH
No, no I wasn’t!
MACK
Good, cos it would be pretty dumb to
cross me
don’t you think?
JOSH
Yes, yes…I, I…
MACK
Calm down kid!
ELI
You like your job Josh?
JOSH
Yes, yes, I do Dr Cassidy.
ELI
That’s good son, Cabot Cove is under
new
management, you’d do well to keep next
to us,
come this time next year you wont know
the
place, we have deals in place for a
whole new
resort, a marina, golf courses the
works, rich
folks with money to spend, rich old woman who
want a state of the art hospital equipped
with
all the latest plastic surgery devices, now,
what you heard here tonight, you’re
not going
to tell anyone, right?
JOSH
I wouldn’t say a word, Dr Cassidy,
honest
I wouldn’t.
ELI
That’s good son, now why don’t you
join us
in a drink.
HE HANDS HIM A BEER.
I propose a toast, to my old college
buddy,
Mack Anderson, the new Sheriff of
Cabot
Cove!
32.
INT.
JESSICAS HOUSE. MORNING.
SETH ENTERS JESSICAS
KITCHEN, SHE IS JUST COMING DOWNSTAIRS.
SETH
Morning Jess.
JESSICA
Morning Seth, you sleep well?
SETH
Like a log as always! You?
JESSICA
Not really, too much going on in this
old
brain of mine! I’ve just spoken to
Mort, he
and Andy have spoken to at least half
of the
names of the list and they haven’t
seen or
heard anything strange.
SETH
Hmm, I’m not sure what you expected
from that.
JESSICA
Well, me neither, but its not that
that’s been
on my mind during the night, it was
the
gravestone of Ralph Murdoch, I cant
help but feel
that that stone was particularly
singled out.
SETH
Maybe, but I cant see as how that
would be
important.
JESSICA
You’re right, of course, it could just
be an
accident that it was more badly
attacked than
the others, or it could mean
something. It seems
to me that these murders are quite
deliberately
planned and thought out, for that
reason, the
fact that the gravestone of Ralph
Murdoch was
practically destroyed could be
relevant.
SETH
And what do you propose to do about
that?
JESSICA
Well, I thought after we went and
voted we’d
take Mort out for breakfast to cheer
him up
then I intend to find out something
more about
Ralph Murdoch, I’m sure there was a
wife and
child and I intend to find out what
happened
to them, this could just be the break
we’ve
been looking for.
33.
EXT.
JESSICA AND SETH
PULL UP IN SETHS CAR OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL; THERE ARE CROWDS OF PEOPLE COMING
IN AND OUT OF THE POLLING STATION.
JESSICA AND SETH APPROACH THE BUILDING; MACK ANDERSON IS STANDING OUTSIDE
MEETING AND GREETING EVERYONE, HE BEAMS WHEN HE SEES JESSICA AND SETH.
MACK
Mrs. Fletcher! Dr Hazlitt! Well, its
wonderful
to see you.
SETH
Hurumph!
MACK
(MOVING ON)
I trust you’ll be doing the right
thing in there
today…
JESSICA
Oh we will Mr. Anderson, don’t doubt
that for
a moment.
MACK
Mrs. Fletcher, by your tone, can I
assume that
your vote isn’t going in my direction?
JESSICA
My vote, Mr. Anderson, is private.
SETH
As is mine, but lets just say, you’re
guess
would be pretty accurate.
MACK
Ah, the old guard of Cabot Cove! You
both must
realize by now that changes are
happening in this
town and we must move with the times,
why, even
Metzger knows when he’s beaten, he’s
at least had
the grace not to show up today.
SETH
Perhaps that’s because he’s doing what
the good people of this town pay
him to do, to be Sheriff
not stand outside a polling station
shaking
hands!
JUST THEN, BOTH
SETH’S AND MACKS CELLPHONES RING, THEY BOTH STEP AWAY AND ANSWER THEM.
Hello, oh hello Mort, what! You’re
kidding me!
Ok, I’m on my way.
HE HANGS UP AND
PULLS JESSICA CLOSE TO HIM.
Come on Jess we’ve got to get moving.
JESSICA
But why? Where to? We haven’t voted
yet.
SETH
Later, we’ve gotta meet Mort at the
Travis
house.
THEY RUSH AWAY; MACK
IS HAVING AN ANIMATED CONVERSATION ON HIS CELLPHONE.
MACK
You’ve gotta be kidding me!!
34.
EXT. HOME OF ALAN TRAVIS. DAY
SETH AND JESSICA
ENTER THE HOUSE OF ALAN TRAVIS, DEPUTY ANDY IS WALKING AROUND TAKING
PHOTOGRAPHS, MORT IS STANDING NEXT TO A
JESSICA
I don’t believe it!
MORT
Well believe it Mrs. F.
SETH BENDS DOWN AND
BEGINS EXAMINING THE BODY.
JESSICA
I don’t think I know him, who is he?
MORT
Alan Travis, works over at the shoe
factory, only been in town a couple
of years I think.
JESSICA LOOKS IN HER
BAG AND PULLS OUT A SHEET AND BEGINS LOOKING FOR THE NAME TRAVIS.
JESSICA
Yes, here we are Millicent Travis,
died
1963.
Electrocuted…
SETH
Well
judging by the television in the tub
we
can have a guess how Alan died.
MORT
I
just don’t believe this is happening, and
on
today of all days!
JESSICA
Mort,
you don’t mean that, this has nothing
to
do with the elections.
MORT
Oh
I know that, I’m sorry, I’m just struggling
here.
SETH STANDS UP AND
WIPES HIS HANDS ON A CLOTH.
SETH
Well, I’ll be able to tell you more
when I get
him back to the morgue, but as I said,
looks
like he was electrocuted, time of
death may be
tricky due to the temperature of the
water, but
I’d hazard a guess at not more than an
hour or
two, the waters still lukewarm.
JESSICA
And again, this could have so easily
just been
thought of as an accident were it not
for the
soil which makes me more sure than
ever that
the soil is important to the
killer. Wait a
minute, Mort, if this only happened in
the last
hour or two then that means Noah can’t
have been
involved.
MORT
True, Mrs. F, he’s been in the office
with me
all morning.
JESSICA
So, you’ll free him.
MORT
Why not, wanna come with me and see
him, at
least someone’s getting some good news
today.
JESSICA
Yes, I’d like that very much, it will
also give
me a chance to talk to you about my
theory.
MORT
Mrs. F! You have no idea how much I
want one of
your theories right now!
JESSICA
Well, it may be nothing, but I’d like
you to
help me track someone down, they may
just hold
the key to this whole thing.
35.
INT.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE. DAY
JESSICA AND MORT
ENTER THE OFFICE. MORT GOES INTO THE OTHER ROOM AND A FEW MOMENTS LATER RETURNS
WITH NOAH WHO LOOKS VERY PALE AND WORRIED, JESSICA RUSHES OVER TO HIM AND GIVES
HIM A CUDDLE.
JESSICA
Oh Noah, its so good to see you!
NOAH
You too, Jessica, I was getting a bit
too used
to solitary confinement.
MORT
Well, it looks like you’re free to go
Noah.
NOAH
Free to go? How come? Oh wait, if you
think
I’m innocent that can only mean one
thing…
JESSICA
Yes, I’m afraid Alan Travis was found
dead
a little while ago.
NOAH
And there was soil?
JESSICA
Yes, there was.
NOAH
Well as happy as I am to be proven
innocent
I wish it hadn’t come at such a high
price.
MORT
Well said kid.
NOAH
We have to figure out a way to stop
this.
MORT
Well, Mrs. F has a theory.
NOAH
You do? That’s fantastic!
JESSICA
It may be nothing, but I think with
Mort’s
help we may be able to find a clue.
MORT
Whatever it takes Mrs. F, I’ll call in
whatever
favors I can to find your missing
persons.
JESSICA
Ok, I just have to pop across to the
records office and try and
get some names and dates of
birth, once we have them it will be a
lot easier
to track them down.
36.
INT. CHURCH RECTORY. DAY
SEBASTIAN MERRICK IS
STARING OUT OF THE WINDOW AT THE REPAIRED GRAVEYARD, LADY ABIGAIL ENTERS THE
ROOM.
ABIGAIL
Ah Sebastian, there you are! I’ve been
looking
everywhere for you.
SEBASTIAN
You can’t have looked very far
Abigail, it’s
hardly a castle we’re staying in.
ABIGAIL
Well of course its only an expression
darling,
but why so grumpy?
SHE TRIES TO CUDDLE
HIM BUT HE IS TENSE AND PULLS AWAY.
Why what’s wrong Sebastian?
SEBASTIAN
Why does there always have to be
something
wrong, Abigail? Have you seen the
churchyard,
they’ve finished restoring it. Good as new
you might say, or even better!
ABIGAIL
Yes, of course, they’ve done a marvelous
job, are you bored darling? Is that
it? I know
Cabot Cove must seem terribly dull to
someone
who was born in
darling, we’ll be able to go home
soon.
SEBASTIAN
Home to what? Some sordid court case,
you
know the family are going to go after
you for
having an affair with the help, the
MUCH
younger help…
ABIGAIL
So what darling? Since when has that
worried
you, besides, we’ll be married by
then, that
will take the sting out of the tale
rather.
SEBASTIAN
(LAUGHS)
Married! You’re kidding right?
ABIGAIL LOOKS DEEPLY
HURT, SHE TURNS AWAY.
ABIGAIL
But I thought that’s what you wanted
Sebastian, darling, I love you so,
that’s the
only thing that kept me sane when that
lecherous
fool of a husband kept pawing at me, I
closed
my eyes and thought of you, of us, of
us being
together one day like this. Now that I’m free
I assumed that you would want to marry
me.
SEBASTIAN
Abigail, your title is one of the best
things
about you, people notice you and look
differently
at someone when they have a
title. Why on earth
would you be so foolish as to want to
give that
all up?
ABIGAIL
Its not foolish, Sebastian, it doesn’t
matter
a damn to me, its you I love, its your
name that
I want!
SEBASTIAN
My name! Pah! What good is that, my name
doesn’t mean anything, and it’s certainly not something
you should dream of taking!
ABIGAIL
Sebastian,
I don’t understand why you’re so angry, what have I done that is so wrong?
SEBASTIAN
(ROARS)
Oh just leave me alone woman. JUST LEAVE ME
ALONE!
ABIGAIL RUNS FROM
THE ROOM CRYING, SEBASTIAN LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW AGAIN AT THE GRAVESTONES.
37.
INT.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE. NIGHT.
MORT IS TALKING ON
HIS PHONE, JESSICA AND NOAH SIT OPPOSITE.
HE HANGS UP THE PHONE.
MORT
My old friend at the NYPD has a
contact at the
Social
Security headquarters that may speed things up a little, he’s getting right on
it and will ring as soon as he finds something.
JESSICA
Oh that’s good news Mort.
SHE LOOKS AGAIN AT
THE PIECE OF PAPER.
I still cant believe I don’t remember
these
people. Edith Murdoch and a son, John born
in 1972.
NOAH
Well, you cant remember everything
Jessica,
I mean, some people are just unmemorable,
you
know, people that are there but not,
always
fading into the background.
JESSICA
Yes, I know you’re right, but Cabot
Cove used
to be such a united town, but if you’re
an
outsider, its not always easy to fit
in.
MORT
And by all accounts this Ralph Murdoch
fellow
wasn’t
the nicest man walking.
JESSICA
No, he wasn’t I’m sorry to say, as I
said earlier
I’m sure the only time I met Edith was
at the
school when she and Ralph came to take
the child
away.
A small child if I remember correctly,
very quiet and withdrawn, we were all
concerned
that home schooling was only going to
make his
shyness worse.
NOAH
It sure can, I should know!
DEPUTY ANDY ENTERS.
ANDY
Well that’s it, its done, the polling
station
is closed and they’re counting the
votes now, we
should know one way or the other in an
hour or
two.
JESSICA
Oh dear! I’m so sorry, what with all
this I
completely forgot about it.
MORT
That’s ok Mrs. F, it’s a moot point
anyway.
JESSICA
Oh Mort, don’t be so disheartened!
MORT
Who me? Never! Well, all this waiting
around
is making me hungry, what say we order
some
pizza while we wait for news.
JESSICA
That’s a great idea, I’m famished!
38.
INT.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE. NIGHT
IT IS A LITTLE LATER
ON, MORT, NOAH, JESSICA AND ANDY ARE SITTING AROUND THE CONFERENCE TABLE
FINISHING OFF THEIR MEAL, THE PHONE RINGS AND MORT GOES TO ANSWER IT.
MORT
Sheriff Metzger’s office. Oh Hi, Brian, thanks
for getting back to me so
quickly, yeah, a
serial killer in Cabot Cove, if I’d know
that I
would of stayed in the Big Smoke! Ok,
what you
found? Oh brilliant, let me get a pen
(BEGINS SCRIBBLING) Ok, ok, what about
the kid?
Are you sure? Nothing? Ok, well,
thanks for
that Bri, I owe you one, ok, I owe you
another one! Catch you later buddy.
HE HANGS UP AND
WALKS BACK TO THE TABLE.
JESSICA
Did your friend find something, Mort?
MORT
Sure did, he got a current address
from
social services for Edith Murdoch, a
nursing
home in Rockport Point.
JESSICA
Rockport Point? I think I know where
that is.
ANDY
Its about 40 miles up the coast.
JESSICA
Ah, good, and the son Mort? What about
the
son?
MORT
Well that’s the damndest thing, there’s
nothing,
no trace.
JESSICA
No trace whatsoever? How is that possible?
MORT
I don’t know, but there’s definitely
no current
social security activity showing for
the son,
John.
NOAH
Maybe he died.
JESSICA
No, I think that would of shown up,
its more
likely that he left the country.
NOAH
Or changed his name.
JESSICA
Yes, that is possible.
SETH COMES IN.
SETH
Ah! I see you ate without me.
JESSICA
Oh sorry Seth, I thought you would
have eaten
something at the hospital.
SETH
Well, maybe I had a light snack…
MORT
So, what’s the word doc?
SETH
Well, just as I reckoned, death by
electrocution,
nothing suspicious to me, I sent some
samples to
the lab but there’s nothing to suggest
anything
other than a tragic accident.
JESSICA
Except we know that’s not true.
SETH
Ayah, we do.
THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN
AND MACK ANDERSON STORMS IN, HE LOOKS VERY FLUSHED AND APPEARS TO BE DRUNK.
MACK
Ah! There you are Metzger!
MORT
Are you drunk
MACK
You bet I’m drunk, I’m celebrating!
MORT
Celebrating? You mean…
MACK
Oh you haven’t heard yet Sheriff? They
just
announced the results of the election,
it seems
that come midnight tonight there will
be a new
person using that title.
HE STOPS AND LOOKS
AROUND THE OFFICE.
And the first thing he’ll do is
brighten up this
dull, old fashioned place.
JESSICA
You mean, you won the election?
MACK
I did indeed Mrs. Fletcher, oh please,
don’t
look so down about it, I’m sure we’ll
all get
along very well together. Mind you, I
must tell
you here and now I won’t be needing
your services
anymore, the new Sheriff of Cabot Cove
wont need
the help of any old weather beaten busybodies.
SETH
Why, you listen here you…
MORT
Its ok doc, I got this, Andy get this buffoon
out
of here.
MACK
You can’t throw me out of here!
MORT
Don’t bet on it, my name’s still on
the door,
till midnight at least.
ANDY
Come on Mack, you heard the sheriff.
MACK
Get your hands off me boy, if you want
to stay
on as deputy you’d better figure out who’s
your
boss now.
ANDY
Well
it sure isn’t you, Sheriff Metzger goes
then so do I, now goodnight.
HE PUSHES MACK OUT
OF THE DOOR.
MORT
Andy, you don’t have to do that, you’re
one of
the best deputies this town has ever
had.
ANDY
Thanks for that Sheriff, but truth is,
I couldn’t
work for that idiot if they paid me
double,
they’re always looking for security
guards…
MORT
I guess so.
JESSICA
Oh this is terrible, Mort, I’m so
sorry.
MORT
Hey,
don’t sweat it Mrs. F, everything happens for a reason, this is just what was
meant to be,
that’s all.
NOAH
Well, we should catch this killer
before
tomorrow, that would be a great kick
in the
teeth for
MORT LOOKS AT HIS
WATCH.
MORT
Sounds
good to me, but that just gives us 6 hours.
JESSICA
Well, we’d better get a move on then,
hadn’t we?
Seth, feel like a drive to Rockport
Point?
SETH
Not really, but I suppose that wasn’t
really
a question.
JESSICA
No, do you mind? I hope that the
answer to
all of this lies there.
SETH
Well in that case, let’s go!
JESSICA
Noah, do you want to come with us?
NOAH
Not really, can I go back to your
place? No
offence
sheriff, but after the beds here,
Jessica’s lovely warm, comfy guest bed
is calling
out for me!
MORT
No offence taken, they’re not meant to
be
comfortable.
JESSICA
Will you be ok, Mort?
MORT
Who me? I’ll be fine, don’t you worry
about
me, just catch us a killer.
JESSICA
I’ll try! Mort, would you ring ahead
and let
them know we’re coming, I suspect
they’ll be
much happier to let us in after hours
if the
sheriff of Cabot Cove requests it.
MORT
Sure thing Mrs. F, consider it one of
my
last duties as Sheriff of Cabot Cove!
JESSICA, SETH AND
NOAH GET UP AND LEAVE. MORT LOOKS AROUND
THE EMPTY OFFICE AND HIS EYES BEGIN TO WELL.
39.
INT. SETH’S CAR.
NIGHT
JESSICA AND SETH ARE
IN SETH’S CAR HEADING TOWARDS ROCKPORT POINT.
SETH
So, Jess, you put a lot of stock in
this theory
of yours?
JESSICA
I do Seth, it’s the only thing that
makes any
sense about this.
SETH
So, what are you thinking? That
Murdoch’s widow
or son is involved?
JESSICA
It’s a possibility Seth, or they may
know
something, or someone, I’m more
convinced than
ever that the seed for these crimes
comes from
the church.
SETH
Then what about Lady Lloyd or that
young gigolo
of hers.
JESSICA
Well of course that occurred to me,
however, when
I examined the gravestones Ralph Murdoch’s
was
definitely the most damaged, which
suggests to
me that maybe that was the first stone
that
was attacked.
SETH
Ah, and the others were damaged to
cover it
up.
JESSICA
Yes, that’s what I’m thinking, the fact that
soil came from the same place, well,
what’s
to say it didn’t come from the churchyard?
And
also, the soil was sprinkled…
SHE MAKES A HAND
GESTURE TO SHOW THE SPRINKLING OF SOIL.
Well, I believe that the sprinkling is
symbolic
somehow of the church, I’m more sure
than ever
that the crime originates there.
SETH
But old Edith Murdoch’s in a nursing
home by
all accounts, I cant quite see her
sneaking out
at night to come to Cabot Cove and
murder
people.
JESSICA
No, I agree that that’s not very
likely, which
brings us to her son.
SETH
Ayah, the mysterious son that appears
to have
disappeared off the face of the earth.
JESSICA
Yes, I mean, you’re right of course,
he could of
just gone abroad, but, on the face of
it that
does give us cause for concern.
SETH
Born in 1972, eh?
JESSICA
That’s right, which would put him in
his mid 30s.
SETH
Indeed, but I don’t know about any
strangers in
town lately who fit into that
category.
JESSICA
No,
I don’t either, but that said Seth, who’s to say he would be a stranger? I
mean, there’s no record of John Murdoch, he could have been in Cabot Cove under
an assumed name for any number of years and we wouldn’t have been any the
wiser.
SETH
Well, that’s a mighty scary thought! A
homicidal
maniac right under our noses. BRGHH!! Doesn’t
bear thinking about!
JESSICA
I agree, now, lets say, out of
interest, that he
has been in town for a while, is there
anyone
that jumps out at you?
SETH
Mid 30s? Well it depends how you look
at it
woman, I mean, Deputy Andy Broom would
fall into
that age group!
JESSICA
(LAUGHS)
I think we can rule Andy out of our
enquiries,
no, if the murderer has been living
amongst us
I don’t believe it would have been for
a long
time.
SETH
Why so?
JESSICA
Well, if Cabot Cove is the trigger for
him
then I don’t believe he would have just
festered
for a long time, the urge to kill
would be
too strong, no, I believe he would be
a relative
newcomer, no more than a year or two,
probably
less.
SETH
Well, that would narrow it down. Any thoughts?
JESSICA
Well, what about Dr Cassidy? He’s only
been at
the hospital for a few months hasn’t
he?
SETH
He certainly has! And it wouldn’t
surprise
me in the least!
JESSICA
Seth! And what about Mack Anderson?
I’d put
him as early 40s, but then again,
looks are so often deceptive.
SETH
True enough, but if you put it that
way Jess
you have to include Noah, he could
just look
young for his age!
JESSICA
Point taken Seth, oh, its no good, it
could be
anyone, there are so many new people
in Cabot
Cove these days.
SETH
And don’t forget Lady Lloyd’s young
man, or
the mortuary assistant Josh Thomas.
You’re right
Jess, its impossible!
JESSICA
That’s why I’m hoping that this visit
to Edith
Murdoch will tell us all we need to
know.
40.
INT. ROCKPORT POINT NURSING HOME. NIGHT
JESSICA AND SETH
ENTER THE NURSING HOME FOYER, A MIDDLE AGED IRISH-AMERICAN WOMAN RISES TO GREET
THEM, SHE IS MATRON MCGEE, THE CHIEF OF THE NURSING HOME.
JESSICA
Hello, my name is Jessica Fletcher…
MATRON
Of course it is! I recognized you
instantly!
The photos on your books don’t do you
justice,
I must say! Oh, I can’t tell you how
much my
ladies and gents here loving reading
your books!
I’m Matron McGee by the way.
JESSICA
Why, thank you. It’s a pleasure to
meet you
Matron.
SETH
My name is Dr Hazlitt, tell me, did
Sheriff Mort
Metzger of Cabot Cove telephone you to
let you
know that we were coming?
MATRON
Oh, he did, very exciting, we don’t
often get
distinguished visitors.
JESSICA
I must apologize for the late hour,
its rather
important we speak to Edith Murdoch
though.
MATRON
I quite understand, urgent police
business the
sheriff said, I do hope Mrs. Murdoch
isn’t in
any kind of trouble, I can’t imagine
it myself,
frail old thing, wouldn’t say boo to a
goose,
still, as I said to my husband Eddie,
you can’t
always judge a book by its cover…oh, ha-ha,
see
what I did there!...
SETH INTERJECTS
IMPATIENTLY.
SETH
Sorry to interrupt you Matron McGee,
but is
Mrs. Murdoch awake?
MATRON
Oh
indeed, most of the old dears are, don’t
need as much sleep as they did, just
sit in
front of their television, and, oh you
wouldn’t
believe the fuss they make if they
miss
their programs! I’ve wheeled Mrs.
Murdoch into
the sun room for you, you’ll have a
bit of
privacy there.
JESSICA
Thank you, that’s very kind, just one
other
thing, matron, does Mrs. Murdoch have
many
visitors?
MATRON
No, god love the old souls, not many
of them
get any visitors, families drop ‘em
off here
and that seems to be the end of it.
SETH
Not even her son?
MATRON
Her son? What on earth you talking
about? Son?
Never heard mention of him? Certainly
not on
our paperwork, next of kin is listed
as a cousin
in
SHE LEADS THEM
TOWARDS THE SUNROOM.
41.
INT.
SUNROOM. NIGHT
MATRON LEADS JESSICA
AND SETH INTO THE SUNROOM, IT IS DIMLY LIT, AT THE BACK SITTING IN A WHEELCHAIR
IS A FRAIL WOMAN, THOUGH SHE LOOKS MUCH OLDER SHE IS ONLY IN HER 50S, SHE LOOKS
WORRIED AS SHE STARES OUT OF THE WINDOW AT THE CRASHING WAVES.
MATRON
Here they are Mrs. Murdoch, the
visitors I told
you about earlier, you remember?
EDITH MURDOCH WHEELS
HERSELF AROUND, HER MOUTH IS TWISTED BITTERLY, SHE LOOKS AT SETH AND JESSICA
WITH A MIXTURE OF HORROR AND ANGER, SHE SPEAKS IN A LOW WHISPY VOICE.
EDITH
Of course I do, Matron.
MATRON
Well, I’ll leave you folks to it,
I’ll just be out there in the foyer if
you
need anything, so just give me a yell!
JESSICA
Thank you so much matron.
MATRON DEPARTS.
EDITH
Why don’t you sit down.
SHE GESTURES WITH A
SHAKY HAND, JESSICA AND SETH DO SO.
She didn’t even offer you a drink.
JESSICA
Oh that’s fine, we’re fine.
SETH
Mrs. Murdoch, its nice to meet you, my
name
is Dr Seth Hazlitt and this is
Jessica…
EDITH
I know who you are. People think because of
the way I look that I’m senile or
something,
well, I may be a lot of things but
that’s not
one of them.
SETH
Why, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause
you
any offence.
EDITH
Tell me honestly, do either of you
remember
me?
JESSICA
The truth? Well, I suppose no I don’t, I mean
I know we met, but I cant honestly say
I
remember it, I mean, it was such a
long time ago.
EDITH
Yes… a long time ago, well thank you Mrs.
Fletcher for your honesty, I don’t suppose
I was a memorable woman, as my husband
used
to say I was like a little field
mouse,
always scuttling about in the
background.
Oh, but I remember you all. I remember
you all SO well.
SETH
Mrs. Murdoch, I’m sorry if we wronged
you,
I can assure you that it certainly
wasn’t
intended, if you think otherwise I
wish
you’d tell us.
EDITH
Ah,
the good doctor, part of the family they used to say.
SETH
I like to think that I’ve done that
for
my patients over the years.
EDITH
And yet you don’t remember me?
SETH
What’s to remember? As I recall you
wouldn’t
even let me look at you when you home
birthed
your child, your husband barely let me
in the door, damn quack he called me.
EDITH
And you didn’t think you had a responsibility
towards me and my child?
SETH
Of course I did, but you were there
that
day, I didn’t see you overrule your
husband,
all you had to do was say, please
check
everything is ok Dr Hazlitt.
EDITH
Over rule my husband! HA!
JESSICA
Mrs. Murdoch, I don’t quite know what’s
going on
here, but I can assure you that Seth
has done
his very best for the townsfolk of
Cabot Cove
for almost 40 years. You seem to be under
the impression that we shunned you and
I’m
sorry, that simply wasn’t true, WE
tried to
involve you in the town, I only ever
met you
on a few occasions and each time I
tried to
engage you, whether it be about your child’s
schooling or trying to involve you in
town
activities, I know that for certain, I
would
never just ostrise somebody for no
reason,
I tried, we all tried, your family
just didn’t
want to know, and we lost touch with
you, I’m
sorry for that, but frankly there are
only
so many times you can have a door
slammed in
your face before you decide not to
knock on it
again.
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE.
EDITH
Well, I suppose I asked for that!
JESSICA
I’m sorry if I sounded harsh, I can
assure you
we didn’t come here to cause you any
painful
memories.
EDITH
Ah, but that’s exactly what you did
do. No,
you must excuse me, you see, I’ve been
sitting
here a long time, sitting here in this
same
chair watching the same waves crash
against the
same rocks for what seems like an
eternity.
Time like that isn’t necessarily good
for a
person, it gives you time to right the
wrongs
of your life, in your own mind only of
course,
you know, you get the chance to tell
off those
that wronged or hurt you, I’m sorry to
say that
you’re the first people I’ve seen in
over a
decade, and accordingly it appears
that the flood
gates opened! Strangely, it wasn’t
nearly as
satisfying as I thought it would be.
JESSICA
No, it so often isn’t.
SETH
I’m sorry Mrs. Murdoch, but what is it
that we
did exactly?
EDITH
I…I…
JESSICA
He
hit you didn’t he? When did it start?
EDITH
Start? (LAUGHS) Well it started the
day we
were married! Oh you see all these
programs
now saying, if he hits you he doesn’t
love
you, leave, that sort of thing, well,
for me,
that was never an option. I came from God
fearing people you see and I knew
nothing
of the world, or men for that matter,
so when
Ralph took me for his bride it was the
happiest
time of my life, he also was a God
fearing
man, so that night when he took me to
his bed
and beat me till I bled, I believed,
that this
was Gods will.
SETH
God’s will!
EDITH
Dr Hazlitt, I didn’t know any
different, my
family adored Ralph, there was a time,
we’d
only been married a matter of weeks
when he
beat me so bad I couldn’t open my
eyes, I told
my father and do you know what he
said? What did
I do to deserve it? I knew then that
this was
my lot, my father did speak to Ralph,
from that
day on he hit me everywhere BUT my
face.
JESSICA
Oh, I’m so sorry, so terribly sorry.
EDITH
Don’t pity me Mrs. Fletcher, don’t you
dare,
I didn’t want it then and I don’t want
it now,
you’re right in a way, I didn’t want
any of you
coming near me.
SETH
Shame is a terrible thing.
EDITH
I wasn’t ashamed, it was easier that’s
all, if
no one bothered us then I could just
keep things
on an even keel, Ralph was always much
angrier
when there were other people around.
JESSICA
And your son?
AGAIN THEY LAPSE
INTO SILENCE.
EDITH
That was a mistake that should never
of
happened. I tried so hard not to get pregnant,
but really the truth of it was I knew
nothing
about the world so I’m amazed it
happened only
once, though of course, there were
times when
a particularly bad beating probably
took care
of
that. Yes, my son should never have been
born.
SETH
You can’t mean that?
EDITH
Oh but I do, I assure you of that,
from the
moment John was born Ralph hated him,
I never
really understood why, it was as if
John
knew not to cry, what it would cause
if he
did, but from the second he was born
it
was as if Ralph saw something in him,
I don’t
know whether that was the devil or me,
but
whatever he saw he seemed to want to
beat it
out of him.
JESSICA
Oh my good lord, I know the townspeople
didn’t
see any of this, but you lived on the
church
grounds, wasn’t Father Adler witness
to any
of it?
EDITH
Witness? Who knows? He certainly
didn’t say
anything if he did, but John and I
learnt
how to keep quiet and fade into the
background,
I…for the longest time I took the
beatings for
him, but, but, there were times when
my body
ached so much that when he hit John,
I…I, well,
when my time comes I’ll answer for
that and
answer for it gladly.
JESSICA
I know its easy to blame yourself, but
you
must try to forgive yourself, whatever
you did
or didn’t do is not your fault, the
beatings
and the torment shook that out of you,
we, none
of us can say, honestly, what we would
do in
such circumstances.
SETH
That’s true. I wish I’d stepped in, I knew,
I knew I should have insisted in
seeing you and
your son, but the truth was, I met so
many
people that came from a time and a
place where
doctors like me were not wanted that I
didn’t
want to fight it, I’m sorry that I
didn’t fight
it Mrs. Murdoch, please believe that I
truly am.
EDITH
Thank you for saying that Dr Hazlitt,
it really
does mean a lot, but you know the
truth is,
if anybody had asked me then I would
of denied it
to the heavens! I loved my husband for
better
or
for worse, I would never have told, never.
Even now I don’t speak of it, if you heard me talking to the old folks
here you’d think I’d had the happiest marriage ever.
JESSICA
Yes, sometimes, its easier to survive
something
that way.
EDITH
Yes, he’s been gone a long time now,
and there’s
not a day passes when I don’t FEEL
him. I mean,
really feel him, feel his hands on me,
hitting
me, touching me, making love to me,
its all just
a jumble of feelings, of smells, of
memories…
JESSICA
How did he die?
EDITH
(LAUGHS)
Slowly! Some might say it was
providence, cancer,
slow eating cancer, he died in misery,
painful
misery. And you know what was cruelest
about it
all?
SETH
What?
EDITH
It didn’t mean anything. I thought it
would, I
thought it would be the ultimate
revenge, payback
for everything he did to me and John
but it
didn’t, it didn’t mean anything, just
more work
for me in looking after him.
JESSICA
About John.
EDITH
Yes, I thought it must have been him
you came
about.
I’m sorry though, I cant help you.
SETH
Why? What happened to him?
EDITH
I don’t know, I honestly don’t know,
he left when
he was 16 and never looked back, oh,
he tried to
convince me to go with him but it was
too late
for me then, it was too too late, we
both knew
that if he went his father would never
let him
come back, so we said goodbye and in
many ways
it was the happiest day of my life,
one of us
was free.
JESSICA
But what happened when Ralph died?
Didn’t John
come back?
EDITH
No, he didn’t, I don’t even know if he
ever
even knew his father was dead, and I
had no
idea how or where to contact him.
SETH
Ah…
EDITH
So, tell me the real reason you’ve
come here to
see me. You’re looking for John aren’t you? Why?
JESSICA
Well, its not that necessarily, its
just well,
some things have been happening in
Cabot Cove
and they seemed to originate in the
churchyard,
several of the gravestones where badly
damaged,
your husband’s was one of the worst
hit…
EDITH
Oh how John hated that graveyard! Come
rain, or
shine or snow his father would have
him out there
knee deep in mud digging the graves,
he screamed
and screamed to get out of it!
SETH AND JESSICA
EXCHANGE KNOWING LOOKS.
I’ve been reading about the goings on
in Cabot
Cove, the murders, you think John did
them
don’t you?
JESSICA
Well, that’s just it, we don’t know
anything,
it’s just that all roads seem to lead
us back
to the churchyard, at the very least,
we would
like to find John just to eliminate
him.
SETH
Tell me, do you think John capable of
such
a thing?
EDITH
Who me? I told you, I’ve not laid eyes
on the
child since he was 16 years old, I can
remember the look in his eyes as he
walked
out that door. Hatred, pure hatred, the same
eyes I saw on his father, I always
hoped that
no matter where John went he found a
way of
dimming those lights of evil.
JESSICA
And you’re sure there nothing you can
tell us?
No relatives he may of gone to?
EDITH
No, my family are all long gone, I
have a cousin
that he wouldn’t of even know about,
no, for all
I know he may be dead. Long dead.
No, all I
have left of my son is a tattered old
photograph.
JESSICA
Photograph? Can we see it?
EDITH NODS AND PULLS
A WORN OLD PHOTO OUT OF HER POCKET, SHE HANDS IT TO JESSICA AND SETH WHO STUDY
IT INTENTLY.
SETH
Darnit! I don’t know this fellow at
all.
JESSICA
Well, he must of only been 14 or 15
here so he
most surely will have changed, but I
don’t know
Seth, there’s something about the
chin, and those
eyes.
SETH
Are you telling me you know who this
is woman?
JESSICA
I cant be 100% sure, but yes, Seth, I
think I
know who this, and yes, he’s in Cabot
Cove
right now!
42.
INT. JESSICA’S HOUSE. NIGHT
NOAH IS FAST ASLEEP
IN JESSICA’S GUEST ROOM; DOWNSTAIRS SOMEBODY SMASHES THE GLASS ON KITCHEN DOOR,
REACHES IN, OPENS THE DOOR AND HEADS INTO THE HOUSE. UPSTAIRS NOAH IS AWAKEN BY THE SMASH, HE SITS
UP TRYING TO GET HIS BEARINGS, THEN HE HEARS A FLOORBOARD CREAK.
NOAH
Jessica, is that you?
THERE IS NO ANSWER,
HE GETS UP AND LOOKS OUT OF THE DOOR, THROUGH THE HALLWAY MIRROR HE CAN SEE
THAT SOMEONE DRESSED IN BLACK IS CREEPING UP THE STAIRS, NOAH GOES BACK TO INTO
THE ROOM AND TOWARDS HIS CELLPHONE, HE PICKS IT UP AND DIALS A NUMBER, IT
RINGS.
Hello? Sheriff Metzger? Oh thank God!
Its Noah
Mullen here, listen, someone has just
broken
into Jessica’s house and they’re
coming upstairs,
get here as soon as you can…
NOAH IS CUT OFF AS
HE FALLS TO THE GROUND AFTER BEING STRUCK ON THE HEAD.
MORT
(VOICE FROM THE PHONE)
Noah? Noah? Are you still there?
43.
INT. SETH’S CAR.
NIGHT.
SETH AND JESSICA ARE
DRIVING ALONG IN SETH’S CAR.
SETH
Are you quite sure you recognized him Jess?
JESSICA
I’m as sure as I can be, aren’t you
Seth?
SETH
Well I wouldn’t have been unless you
said it, but
yes, now that you have, I can see it.
JESSIA
Good, I’ll ring Mort.
SHE TAKES OUT HER
CELLPHONE AND CALLS MORT.
Hi Mort, its Jessica, I…what! What do
you mean
my house? Is everything ok? Ok, we’ll be right
there!
SHE HANGS UP.
SETH
What’s up Jess?
JESSICA
Mort just took a call from Noah, it
seems
somebody has just broken into my
house, oh God,
Mort you don’t think…
SETH
Don’t even think about that Jess, lets
just
get there as soon as we can.
SETH’S CAR
ACCELERATES TOWARDS CABOT COVE.
44.
INT. JESSICA’S HOUSE. NIGHT
SETH’S CAR SCREECHES
TO A HALT OUTSIDE JESSICA’S HOUSE, SHE AND SETH RUN IN, ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON,
MORT AND ANDY ARE LOOKING AROUND.
JESSICA
Mort!
MORT
Oh hey Mrs. F, you guys got here
quick!
SETH
Luckily the entire sheriff’s
department seems to
be here.
JESSICA
Where’s Noah?
MORT
There’s no sign of him Mrs. F.
ANDY
There’s definitely sign of a break in
though and
what appears to be drag marks from
upstairs but
we cant find any trace.
SETH
Well where on earth would they go?
THEY LAPSE INTO
SILENCE, JESSICA SINKS INTO A CHAIR.
MORT
I don’t understand this, why would
Noah be taken?
JESSICA
Oh dear!
JESSICA LOOKS INTO
HER PURSE AND RETRIEVES THE LIST.
There is another Mullen on the list, I
must admit
I didn’t really think anything of it,
it was
a child that died in infancy, a cot
death, there
were lots more more feasible people
but of course
that could mean Noah is going to be
suffocated!
MORT
Don’t beat yourself up Mrs. F, how were
you to
know?
JESSICA
I should have Mort, I should have.
SETH
Well, none of this helps us track them
down.
THERE IS SILENCE FOR
A FEW MOMENTS.
JESSICA
Wait! The morgue, we have to try the morgue.
MORT
The morgue? What’s that got to do with
any of
this?
JESSICA
We’ll explain on the way Mort, but I
think we
may know who is behind all of this.
45.
INT. CABOT COVE MORGUE. NIGHT
THE MORGUE IS DIMLY
LIT, NOAH IS TIED TO A GURNY, A MAN STANDS IN THE CORNER WATCHING HIM, HE STEPS
FORWARD WITH A CUSHION AND APPROACHES NOAH, HE IS JUST ABOUT TO PUT THE CUSHION
OVER HIM, NOAH BEGINS STRUGGLING WILDLY TO NO AVAIL, JUST THEN THE DOOR BURSTS
OPEN AND JESSICA, SETH, MORT AND ANDY BURST IN. JESSICA FLICKS THE LIGHT ON AND
THE WHOLE ROOM IS ILLUMINATED.
MORT
Stop what you’re doing!
HE RAISES HIS GUN,
JOSH THOMAS, THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT STEPS BACK IN SHOCK, HE RECOVERS HIS
COMPOSURE AND GRABS A SCALPEL AND HOLDS IT AGAINST NOAH’S NECK.
JOSH
Step back!
MORT
Woah! Now calm down Josh, just keep it
cool.
JOSH
Don’t tell me what to do! People are
always
telling me what to do! Now, no more,
I’m
in control.
JESSICA
Josh, please calm down, please, you
don’t want
to do this, I know you don’t want to
do this.
We’ve been to see your mother John,
we’ve been
to see your mother and she misses you
very much.
JOSH
How do you know about that? I haven’t
used that
name in a long, long time.
JESSICA
It was the soil John, we couldn’t
figure out why
there was soil at the feet of the
victims,
especially those that appeared to be
suicide.
Why did you do that?
JOSH
I don’t know, I couldn’t stop myself,
it just
made me remember.
JESSICA
Your mother said that your father made
you dig
the graves, is that where this all
started!
JOSH
YES! I hate you all so much, not one
of you
helped me, not her, not you, not the
doctor,
not the sheriff, I looked at you all
desperately
hoping you would see what he was doing
to me,
and not one of you did, not even her,
my
bitch of a mother.
SETH
Son, we’re all sorry for what
happened, truly
we are, if there was anything we could
have done
I promise you we would have, we didn’t
know, and
while I know that’s not much comfort
to you
it’s the truth, but none of that
compares to
this, to what you’ve done.
JOSH
Ha! I made you take notice of me
though! You
cant ignore me! I hate this town, all
nice on
the outside, all crying over the
coffins of
loved ones as they were lowered into
graves
I dug until my hands bled, and then
what?
Back home for more beatings? You all
looked but
you never saw! But I saw everything, I
saw you
all standing there burying your loved
ones and
I remember the names, hating each and
every one
of them for the love they’d known,
when I
escaped this hole of a town when I was
16 I knew
I’d be back one day and get my
revenge!
JESSICA
And we’re truly sorry, if we could
take it back
we would, but we can’t John, we really
can’t, and
for whatever reason you think you’re
doing all
of this it just isn’t worth it, it
isn’t, too
much innocent blood has been spilt
already,
there
can’t be anymore, not in your father’s name.
He’s been dead a long time John, evil only hangs around if we let
it. Now please, let us get you the help
you need, I know your mother would love to see you.
JOSH
Her! I hate her almost as much as I
hate him,
she
let him do it, she should have stopped him!
SETH
Oh, that’s not true, your mother was
the same
as you, innocent in it all, neither of
you stood
a chance…
JESSICA
John, why did you try to frame Noah?
It just
didn’t make any sense.
JOSH
(laughs)
It made perfect sense to me! You’re
right though
I didn’t intend to, I wanted to take
the credit
for all of this, truly I did, I wanted
you all to
find out it was me and why I did it,
why you had
to pay for abandoning me as a child,
no, it was
all an accident really, I read the
Gazette about
this new hotshot kid in town, rich kid
from a
rich family, good looking and popular,
everything
I never had, everything I never could
be.
NOAH
You know nothing about me, or my life,
if you did
you’d know that appearances can be
deceptive!
JOSH
Oh spare me your boohoos rich boy!
NOAH
I don’t understand though, why me, why
my dad?
JOSH
(laughs again)
As I said, it was all a bit of an
accident, you
see I’ve been living in one of the apartments
behind the Hill House, I’d just been
reading all
about you when I overheard your father
talking
on his cellphone about you. It was
then that I
knew he would be the first. Quite a
stroke of
luck, I got to start my revenge and
wipe the
smirk of your face. I bet you’d like
to know what
he was saying on the telephone? Or
what he said
before he died? You want me to make it
better
and tell you he was proud of you? Well forget it
this aint no fairytale, there are no
happy
endings!
JESSICA
Stop this! This is cruel!
JOSH
Welcome to my world Mrs Fletcher!
Perhaps if you
good townsfolk had paid as much
attention to me
as you did to Noah Mullen then this
may never
have happened!
JUST THEN THE BACK
DOORS SWING OPEN AND ELI CASSIDY WALKS IN, MOMENTARILY JOSH LOOKS BACK, THIS
GIVES MORT AND ANDY THEIR CHANCE, THEY RUSH FORWARD AND TACKLE HIM TO THE
GROUND, KNOCKING THE SCALPEL FROM HIS HAND AND PUTTING HANDCUFFS ON HIM.
ELI
What on earths going on here!
MORT
Josh Thomas, I’m arresting you on
suspicion
of the murders of William Mullen,
Frank Adler,
Aaron Davis and Alan Travis…
HE AND ANDY BEGIN TO
LEAD HIM AWAY, HE STRUGGLES VIOLENTLY.
ELI
Josh? What are they talking about?
JOSH LAUGHS
HYSTERICALLY.
JOSH
Who cares? They’re all fools, you’re
all fools,
you didn’t see what I was doing, just
as they
don’t see what you and Mack Anderson
are up
to, stripping the town and turning it into
a new
marine development and making yourself
a small
fortune out of it! It was almost worth
watching
you get away with it, but hey, if I’m
going down
then you’re all coming with me!
ELI
Why you…
MORT GIVES HIM A
PUZZLED LOOK AS HE AND ANDY DRAG JOSH OUT.
SETH
Is that true Cassidy?
ELI
So what if it is? Its about time this
town was
pulled into the new millennium, Mack
and I are
going to see to it that it happens!
SETH
Over my dead body!
JESSICA
Oh enough of this! Noah!
SHE RUSHES FORWARD,
SETH JOINS HER AND THEY FREE NOAH, HE STRUGGLES TO HIS FEET LOOKING VERY
SHOCKED.
NOAH
My God, I cant believe what just
happened here!
JESSICA
I know, but its ok now, everything is
going to be
ok.
NOAH
Josh did all of this? It doesn’t make
sense.
SETH
No, it doesn’t, I don’t think that boy
ever
stood a chance.
JESSICA
No, but at least he’s caught now and
will get
the help he needs, nobody else need
suffer
because of what Ralph Murdoch started.
46.
INT. JESSICA’S KITCHEN. DAY
IT IS SOME DAYS
LATER, JESSICA IS SITTING AT HER KITCHEN TABLE DRINKING COFFEE WITH NOAH, LADY
ABIGAIL AND SETH.
ABIGAIL
I cant quite believe what has happened
right
here in Cabot Cove.
JESSICA
Indeed,
I can assure you its not an everyday thing.
ABIGAIL
I should hope not!
SETH
And
what about you Lady Lloyd, are you heading
back to blighty soon?
ABIGAIL
You know Dr Hazlitt, I can’t help
think that
despite everything that’s happened
here, that
Cabot Cove is a pretty terrific place
to live.
JESSICA
Oh it is, it really is.
SETH
And your friend? Your assistant is it?
ABIGAIL
(LAUGHS)
Your very discreet Dr! No, young
Sebastian
left this morning, resigned to the
folder in my
life marked, silly foolish mistakes,
I’m not
the first silly middle aged woman
that’s been
flattered by the attention of a young
stud of
a man, but it seems that Sebastian was
more fond
of my title and what it brought him, a
boy born
in the gutters is only really
interested in
himself and how high he can climb,
well, I may
have been foolish but that doesn’t
mean I had
to continue to be, I’ve done too many
things
for the wrong reason in the past, I
don’t intend
to continue on that trend.
JESSICA
Good for you Lady Lloyd, I just know
you’re
going to be very happy here.
ABIGAIL
I’m sure I will, as long as you
finally start
calling me Abigail and forget that I
was a
frightful pain to begin with!
JESSICA
All forgotten, Abigail.
SETH
I have news of my own.
NOAH
Oh yes?
SETH
As of this morning, I am the only Dr
working
at Cabot Cove hospital.
JESSICA
How did that happen?
SETH
Well, it turns out that not only was
he up to
his neck in double dealing with Mack
Anderson
he had also exagerated quite a bit
about his
so-called impressive credentials! Lets
just
say he leapt at the chance to go
quietly when
presented with all of the facts.
JESSICA
Oh, that is good news Seth, but
really, I know
he wasn’t ideal, but the hospital
really did
need another doctor, you cant manage
it all
on your own.
SETH
Don’t talk rubbish woman! Of course I
can, but
as fortune would have it, do you
remember Sadie
Marchent, my intern from a few years
back.
JESSICA
Yes, of course, a lovely girl.
SETH
Well, just so happens she’s looking
for
a residency, I’ve put in a word for
her and
she should be joining us soon, clever
girl
Sadie, knows enough not just to rely
on new
fangled techniques.
JESSICA
Oh, Seth! its good to finally see you
happy.
SETH
You bet! And I can finally take some
time off!
The fish are feeling neglected!
THEY ALL LAUGH, MORT
AND ANDY WALK IN.
MORT
Well, that’s a sound I haven’t heard
for a while!
JESSICA
Yes, it feels good, it feels like a
dark cloud
that was hanging over us all has
finally lifted.
MORT
Indeed! Speaking of black clouds, Andy
and I just
loaded Mack Anderson into the back of
a state
police car, seems he’s going to be
answering
some pretty serious state charges concerning
insider trading, it seems its not the
first time
he’s wormed his way inside a small town
only to
to rip it apart with new developments,
made a
pretty penny from it he has too!
SETH
Pah!
JESSICA
Oh but wait, does that mean we are
currently
without a sheriff?
MORT
(SMILES)
Well, I’ve just spoken with the Mayor
and I’ve
agreed to stand in as Sheriff until a
new
election can be arranged.
JESSICA
Which of course you will win by a
landslide!
SETH
Here here!
MORT
Well, its funny you should say that,
with every
thing that happened with Mack Anderson
it got me
to thinking…
JESSICA
Oh, Seth, you mustn’t think too much
into it,
the townsfolk were scared that was
all, and Mack
had the time to stand there shouting
the loudest,
trust me, Cabot Cove knows what you’ve
done for
it.
MORT
Its not that Mrs. F, truth is, I sat
down with
Adele and realized something, maybe I
do work
too much, its not like I’m getting any
younger,
neither of us are, and I just don’t
get to spend
as much time with Adele as I would
like, I always
promised her I’d take her on a cruise
and
never got round to it, I’m thinking
maybe the
time is now.
JESSICA
Oh, but you wouldn’t leave Cabot Cove
would you?
MORT
Are you kidding? This is my home now.
SETH
Well who on earth would be sheriff?
MORT
Well, funny you should ask, I spoke to
the mayor
about that, and while I’m happy to
stand in for
now, I’m only doing it so I can throw
my weight
behind the next sheriff of Cabot Cove.
SETH
Who?
MORT
Andy.
ANDY
Me? Are you kidding?
MORT
Not at all Andy, you’ve been my deputy
for a
long time, you know the ropes and more
importantly you’re darn good at your
job, you’d
make an excellent sheriff.
ANDY
Wow! I never even thought about it!
JESSICA
Well you must Andy, because you’d be
perfect!
You’ve served this town very well for
a long
time, if it helps, I’ll support you
all the way.
ANDY
Wow! I don’t know what to say.
MORT
And what about you Noah? Are you going
to stay
with us and keep running the Gazette?
NOAH
I don’t know Sheriff, so much has
happened lately
that I don’t really know what to do
next!
JESSICA
One day at a time, you’re young, enjoy
it all!
SETH
And you woman? What’s afoot for you? A
new book
to delight your readers?
JESSICA
Maybe, Seth, I’ve not really given it
much
thought, though, I did hear that Abbey
Creek has
crayfish that are just desperate to be
caught,
and you know, I haven’t really had a
holiday
for a while and I’ve realized that its
time to
stop worrying about my tomorrows, there’s
a lot
more fun to be had today.
SETH
Sounds good to me woman!
JESSICA
To the future, whatever it holds!
THE END.