A Winding Road by Marty Thornton

7/30/2019 A Winding Road by Marty Thornton

1/33

A WINDING ROAD

a short screenplay

written by

Marty Thornton

2012


2/33

EXT. BOSTON, WET ROAD - AFTER MIDNIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING

A car with flashing roof lights moves slowly through a mazeof vehicles clogging a winding stretch of wet roadway, andcomes to a stop between two patrol cars. Fire trucks, an

ambulance, and the fire marshal's car form a semi-circlearound a blackened shell of a car illuminated by largeconstruction lights.

Lieutenant LAURA STONE of Boston's Major Crime Squad stepsbriskly out of the car and flashes her badge to a patrolmanguarding the taped-off accident scene. She is a tall,fit-looking, dark-haired woman in her early forties.

She sees her senior detective, ERNIE LUCCHESE, talking to theFIRE MARSHAL. Ernie is around the same age and height asLaura, but dark-complexioned to her peaches-and-cream. As thefire marshal walks away, Ernie sees Laura and waves her over.

ERNIEHey Laura, you got here prettyquick. You probably could've takenyour time. The bucket brigade justgot the fire out and the lab ratsjust got here.

LAURAWhy did we get called in, Ernie?This isn't a Major Crimes case.

ERNIEThe chief called me about an hour

ago when he couldn't reach you.Told me it was ours. He's in apissy mood, avoid him if you can.

LAURAWhy us?

ERNIEThe driver of the wreck is DermotShea, the deputy mayor's son. Heand his wife were driving homearound 11:00. Just two blocks fromtheir home when this happened. Both

killed instantly. The patrolman onscene reported the tag number backto H.Q. to I.D. the victims. Anywaythat got a quick response, someonecalled the chief, and he woke themayor up.

LAURAAnything else I should know?


3/33

2.

ERNIEYeah, your husband's here too, andmore pissed off than the chief.

LAURA

He's just here to stir up trouble.Where's the witness? Have you takenhis statement?

ERNIEYeah, but he didn't see much. Hesays he had just turned onto theroadway when a dark SUV comes upbehind and crosses into theoncoming lane to pass. It slips onthe wet road as it pulls in frontof him. And then the victims' carcomes around the curve, moving

pretty fast too, he says. It pullssharp to the right to avoid ahead-on and plows into the stand oftrees there. The car goes up like aRoman candle.

LAURAWhat about the SUV?

ERNIEDidn't even slow down.

LAURADid he see the driver?

ERNIENo. Too dark, the visibility wasnil. All he could say was the SUVwas dark. Thinks it might have beena Tahoe, but he's not sure.

LAURAHold him for a few minutes more.I'll see him after I talk to Lundy.

Ernie walks off and Laura heads toward the Scene of Crime vanwhere the Forensic Team chief, PHIL LUNDY, is standing

writing in a notebook. He is a tall dour-looking man in hislate forties, one of Laura's best friends in the department.

PHILTo what do I owe the honor of yourpresence, Lieutenant?

LAURACut the crap, Phil. What can youtell me that I can't guess on myown?


4/33

3.

PHILNot much. Pretty cut and driedscene. No tire tracks for the SUV,because of all the rain, and noskid marks for the victim's car.

The vic never had time to hit thebrakes. There are swerve marks ashe tried to correct the steering.He just lost control, went off theroad, and stopped rather abruptlywhen that tree got in the way.

LAURAHow fast was the victim going?

PHILWithout skid marks it's hard totell, but it was fast enough. From

the results, I'd say at leastforty.

LAURAThat's a little fast for the roadconditions. He might have lostcontrol without the SUV's help.

PHILI guess we'll never know.

They both turn and look as the medical examiner's van and anambulance drive off.

PHIL (CONT'D)We have a little more work to donow that the M.E.'s finished. Whenthe vehicle cools down, we'll towit in, but I don't expect we'llfind any clues to help you out.

LAURAThat's too bad, you know how muchall of us detectives love clues.

Laura's cell phone chirps, as Phil walks off. It's from JOHNHAGERTY, at 29 years old the youngest member of her team.

LAURA (CONT'D)Hey, John, what have you got?

JOHN (V.O.)We may've I.D.'d the SUV. A darkblue Tahoe stolen in the North Enda half hour before the crash. Ownerleft it idling outside Regina'swhile he ran in to pick up a pizza.It was gone when he went back out.


5/33

4.

LAURAI assume you issued a BOLO for it.

JOHN (V.O.)Yeah, top priority.

LAURAMaybe we'll get lucky on this one.Thanks, John. I'll be there soon.

She pockets her phone just as Laura's boss, Chief ofDetectives, MIKE O'HALLORAN, 54, reaches her.

O'HALLORANWhere the hell were you, Stone,when I called earlier?

LAURA

Sorry, Chief. I never heard thephone ring. I was driving home whenyou called. Ernie called me shortlyafter I got home and brought me upto date when I got here.

O'HALLORANYeah, well, we got ourselves agiant bucket of shit with this one,which His Honor is going to dump onthe Commissioner's head, who'sgoing to dump it on mine, andyou're next in line after me.

LAURAThis is not going to be an easyone, Chief, but we may have caughta break. One of my team justreported an SUV, a Tahoe, wasstolen in the North End aboutthirty minutes before the crash.

O'HALLORANHave they found it yet?

LAURANo, but Hagerty issued a BOLO for

it. Unless it was stolen by a proand dumped at a chop shop already,we'll probably recover it soon.

O'HALLORANLet's hope. If we don't close thisone quickly, we're going to havethe commissioner breathing down ournecks, not to mention Hizzoner.Dermot was like a son to him.


6/33

5.

LAURAI'll get the team together oncewe're finished here, see how we canspeed the process up.

O'HALLORANDo it fast, but do it right! Wecan't afford any screw-ups on this.And I expect to hear from you laterthis morning, because the Mayor hasa press conference scheduled for2:00 and he's going to be askedabout this, so don't disappoint me.

O'Halloran walks off to his car while Laura takes a deepbreath and then heads over to talk to the witness.

INT. BOSTON POLICE, MAJOR CRIME SQUAD ROOM - MORNING

The squad room is very busy for a Saturday morning. Severalpolice detectives are two-finger typing on their keyboards,the remains of Dunkin' Donut breakfasts strewn on every desk.Laura walks over to Ernie's desk as he scans a printout.

LAURAComing up with anything, Ernie?

ERNIEI'm checking out known car thieves,Bill and John are out looking atsome suspected chop shops, and

Chuck and Aimee are going throughthe registry database for SUVowners, in case it wasn't stolen.

LAURAStick with the stolen car angle.There's a good chance the Tahoestolen in the North End wasinvolved. The timing is good.

ERNIEIf the SUV wasn't stolen, we won'thave a much of a chance unless the

owner turns himself in.

Laura looks up as her husband, CAPT. MARK STONE, Chief ofPatrol, strides in. He is a dark-haired man in his earlyfifties. Without acknowledging her husband she walks to heroffice and sits down at her desk. Her husband follows her in.

INT. MAJOR CRIME, LAURA'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Stone starts in on her without a word of greeting.


7/33

6.

STONEWhat the hell do you think you'redoing? This should be our case.

LAURA

I didn't ask for it. It was dumpedon my lap. You got a complaint,take it to O'Halloran. I'd ratherbe home sleeping, which is whereyou should be. With the kids. It'syour weekend with them.

STONELeave the kids out of this, Laura!

LAURAI can't believe you just got up andleft them all alone in the middle

of the night!

STONEYou always find a way of turningthings back on me. You walk out onme and take my kids, and then youmake me out to be the bad guy.You're the one breaking up thisfamily, and the kids know it.

LAURA( )her voice rising

The kids only know the lies you'vebeen feeding them!

PHILIt was you who moved them out oftheir home and away from theirfriends. They blame you for this.

LAURADo you want me to tell them why Ileft you? Don't force me to. Andwhen you find a place to live I'llmove them back home where theybelong. Just accept it and move on,Mark. It's over between us.

STONEIt's not over till I say so! If youdon't come back, I'll make yourlife a living hell, and I'll getthe kids. You can count on that!

He turns abruptly, knocking over one of the chairs as hestorms out of the office.


8/33

7.

INT. SQUAD ROOM - LATE SATURDAY MORNING

Several tired looking detectives are sitting in front ofcomputer screens as Laura enters the squad room from heroffice. Ernie is ending a call as Laura approaches his desk.

ERNIEBoss, I just got off the phone withMurray over at the impound yard.They just brought in the Tahoe.

LAURAThe forensic team been notified?

ERNIEYeah, Murray called them before hecalled me. They're checking it out.

LAURAWhere did they recover it?

ERNIEAbout a mile from the scene, nearBrigham Circle. Now all we need todo is prove this was the vehicleinvolved in the accident.

LAURALet's hope Lundy's team findssomething in the car to help usidentify who stole it. Let's startwith a list of car thieves who

operate in this area.

ERNIEWe've started that already, but wedon't have much to go on. Our listat this point has about a hundrednames on it.

LAURASee if you can narrow it down bylimiting it to suspects who livewithin a four or five block radiusof the recovery location.

ERNIEYour word is my command, boss.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Laura is reading a report when O'Halloran enters her office.

O'HALLORANSo what have you got for me? I haveto give the Mayor a heads-up before

(MORE)


9/33

O'HALLORAN (CONT'D)

8.

the press conference today.

LAURANothing for certain at this point,Chief, but we may have identified

the SUV. A Tahoe was stolen in theNorth End shortly before the crash,and recovered near Brigham Circle.The lab guys have it now.

O'HALLORAN( )getting a little heated

That's it?! That's all you got?!

LAURA( )getting heated herself

We got this case twelve hours ago,there was no evidence at the scene,

and all we know from the witness isa dark SUV, maybe a Tahoe, wasinvolved. And a Tahoe, stolen justbefore the accident is recovered amile from the accident scene. Fromthis, we have produced a list ...

( )waving the list at himof ten suspects who live near therecovery site of the stolen Tahoe.

O'HALLORAN( )cooling down a bit

It's not much, Lieutenant, but ifwe pretty it up a little we can

make it look like progress is beingmade. Let's hope the Mayor is happywith this report. Call me by 1:30if you come up with anything new.

He turns and abruptly leaves Laura's office. She breathes asigh of frustration and goes back to the list.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON

An exhausted Laura Stone is packing a briefcase with a fewfolders and papers. Phil Lundy knocks on her open door and

lets himself in, placing an evidence case on her desk. Heopens it, revealing several plastic evidence bags.

PHILLooks like I got here just in time.

LAURAYeah, I was just leaving, Phil. I'mwhipped. I want to go home and takea shower. Then I've got some filesto look over.


10/33

9.

PHILI don't know if we found anythingin the vehicle that will help you.

LAURA

So, no fingerprints, then?

PHILNo, just a few smudges so far, butwe'll run some more tests.

LAURAWhat's in the case?

Phil displays various sealed bags as he speaks.

PHILLint and fibers, and so on in the

small bags, a matchbook, a map ofBoston found on the floor, and thebiggest piece, a green windbreaker,found in between the front seats.

LAURADid you check with the owner aboutthese things?

PHILOne of my techs did. The owner saidthe map was probably his and thematchbook, but the windbreakerisn't. He doesn't own one.

Laura picks up the bag containing the windbreaker and holdsit up to catch the light from her desk lamp. When she turnsthe bag over, a look of shock registers briefly on her face.She stifles a gasp as she places the evidence bag back in thecase. Phil notices this and reaches across the desk to her.

PHIL (CONT'D)Are you okay, Laura?

LAURA( )shaking it off

Yeah, yeah, I'm okay, Phil. I just

need a good night's sleep.

Laura puts on her suit coat, grabs her briefcase, and headsfor the door. Phil packs up and locks the evidence case, andswitches the lights off as they both leave the office.

EXT. NORTH END SIDE STREET - SATURDAY EVENING

A silver Honda backs into the only space available on thestreet, clearly marked NO PARKING. Laura slaps a "PoliceBusiness" sign on the dashboard and slides out of the car.


11/33

10.

She locks the car and walks a few feet to the front door of athree-story brownstone, which she unlocks and enters.

INT. NORTH END HOME, LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Laura enters the house and climbs the stairs to the secondfloor where she hears the sound of a cartoon show blaringfrom the living room. She peeks in to see her nine-year-olddaughter, LIZZIE, lying on the couch watching Phineas andFerb on the Cartoon Network. She smiles and knocks gently onthe door frame so she doesn't startle her.

LAURAHi, Honey.

LIZZIE( )surprised

Hi, Mom. Why are you here? Are youpicking us up? I thought we'restaying with Dad till tomorrow.

Laura walks over to her and gives her a hug.

LAURANo, that's right. I'm on the wayhome ... ah, to Grandpa's ... and Ithought I'd see how you guys aredoing. Where's your Dad?

LIZZIEHe just went out to pick up dinner.

He'll be back soon. You wanna wait?

LAURANo, that's okay. I need to talk toTommy for a minute. Where is he?

LIZZIEHe's upstairs in his bedroom, wherehe is all the time.

LAURAAre you doing all right, Sweetie?

LIZZIE( )sadlyI just wanna come back home andlive here, Mom. Why can't we dothat? I miss my friends.

LAURAWe've talked about this,sweetheart. Your dad and I can'tlive together any more, and ...


12/33

11.

LIZZIE( )getting upset

That's not what he says...he askedyou to come home but you said no.

LAURA( )hiding her frustration

We'll talk about this some moretomorrow. Right now I have to seeTommy. I love you.

LIZZIE( )sulking

Whatever!

Laura looks sadly at her daughter for a few seconds and thenclimbs the stairs to the bedroom floor.

INT. NORTH END HOME, TOMMY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

A typical teenage boy's bedroom. Red Sox banner and a posterof Tom Brady on the wall over his bed. Tommy is sitting athis computer tweeting or facebooking or whatever teens do topass the time. He doesn't look back as Laura enters the room.

LAURAHi Tommy.

He ignores her and keeps typing.

LAURA (CONT'D)

Tommy, we need to talk.

TOMMY( )still typing

Mom, I'm busy. Can't it wait?

She walks up behind his chair and turns it toward her.

LAURA( )angrily

No, it can't wait. I want you tostop typing and look at me.

Angry and defiant, Tommy looks up at her.

TOMMYOkay! What's so important?!

LAURA( )trying to speak calmly

I need to know what you did lastnight, after I dropped you andLizzie off here.


13/33

12.

TOMMYWhy?

LAURAJust answer me. What did you do?

TOMMYWe had dinner with dad and watcheda movie. Dad went to bed earlyafter Lizzie went to bed, and Istayed up and watched TV.

LAURAYou didn't go out after that?

TOMMYNo! I told you I watched TV andthen went to bed around 11:30 and

read for a while.

She looks intently at her 15-year-old son. An angry scowlmars his otherwise handsome face.

LAURAYou didn't go to see Angela lastnight? You were going to call her.

TOMMYNo, I told you! I stayed home....Angela was busy.

Laura walks away from the desk and looks around the room,

peering into the closet and looking behind the bedroom door.Tommy follows her movements.

TOMMY (CONT'D)( )nervously

What are you looking for?!

LAURAWhere's the green jacket you werewearing last night?

TOMMYWhat jacket?

LAURAThe green one, the one with thetear in the collar.

TOMMY( )looking away from her

Oh, that one. I threw that one awaya couple of weeks ago. I waswearing my hoodie last night.


14/33

13.

LAURA( )with a quizzical look

Are you sure? I swear...

Tommy picks up a blue hoodie and waves it at her.

TOMMY( )snottily

This one here. I haven't had thejacket for weeks. It was ripped,remember?

Laura looks at her son for a few seconds and then walks overand hugs him. It's like hugging a mannequin.

LAURASorry, Tommy. I didn't mean to giveyou the third degree. It's been a

long day, I didn't get any sleeplast night. Are we okay?

TOMMY( )relaxing a bit

Yeah, sure. ... I guess.

She backs away after giving him a kiss on the cheek.

LAURAI've got to go now. I'll pick youand Lizzie up around five tomorrow.We'll stop somewhere for dinner onthe way back to Grandpa's.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Laura's office is full to capacity. Ernie is seated acrossfrom Laura. The rest of the team is scattered about. JohnHagerty has found a seat on the window ledge. AIMEE BERTRAND,a regal-looking 33-year-old African American woman, is seatedin the other chair across from Laura. Gray-haired CHUCKLAVOIE, nearing retirement, is leaning against the doorframe, chewing gum. BILL WANAMAKER, the last member of hersquad, is standing next to Hagerty.

Laura taps her foot nervously as she speaks.

LAURAThe chief's not happy with us rightnow. The Mayor's press conferencelaid an egg yesterday. Too manyquestions, not enough answers.

CHUCKWhat's he want us to do, pin thison some mook we drag off thestreet?


15/33

14.

ERNIE( )jokingly

Only if we can make it stick!

LAURA

That's why we're all here now. Arewe ready to bring in anyone yet?

AIMEEAll we have is the short list ofsuspects who live near the Tahoedrop site, which we don't know waseven involved in the crash.

JOHNI say we go with it.

LAURA

Does anyone on the list look good?

CHUCKThere's one guy I like. A life-longcar thief, Marcellus Salmon, liveson Smith Street, a couple blocksfrom the parking lot where theTahoe was recovered. Just got outof Concord a few weeks ago. Dideighteen months for stealing an SUVat Quincy Market. We think he wason his way to a chop shop when hecrashed into a hydrant in Roxbury.

BILLWhy would he abandon the SUV thistime?

CHUCKI dunno. Probably just panickedafter he drove the other car offthe road. Just got rid of it andwent home.

LAURAOkay. Bring him in first thingtomorrow. And pick up the other

guys on the list too.

ERNIE( )getting up

Sounds like a plan, boss. We'llstart with Salmon and bring theothers in later in the morning.

The meeting breaks up and they all head back to their desks.


16/33

15.

INT. SUBURBAN HOME - SUNDAY EVENING

Laura is seated at a small table in the kitchen of herparents' brick house in the quiet town of Belmont, a fewmiles west of Boston. She is looking through the folders she

took from her office a few hours earlier.

The tea kettle whistles as her father, DAN MCNALLY, aruddy-looking man in his early seventies, enters the room andturns off the gas.

He is filling a large mug with boiling water as he speaks.

DANCan I make you a cup of tea?

LAURA( )smiling a bit

No thanks, dad. I just had one.I'm having a hard time stayingawake, but I need to go throughthese.

( )indicating the foldersO'Halloran's camping out in myoffice waiting for results.

DANDon't let him get to you, Laura.You'll work it out. You're a goodcop.

LAURA

Not like you were, pop. At leastthat's what everyone tells me allthe time.

( )grinning as she saysOne of your old buddies told me"You ain't half the man your dadwas."

They both laugh at this.

DANSounds like my old partner, Ray. Hewas always a horse's ass!

LAURA( )mood suddenly changing

Speaking of which, Mark paid me avisit today. He's still angry Ileft him and took the kids.

DANI never liked the man, Laura. He'sa lazy, incompetent cop who usedhis charm and good looks to getwhere he is on the force. I don't

(MORE)


17/33

DAN (CONT'D)

16.

know how you stayed married to himas long as you did.

LAURAWell I won't be much longer. I'm

serving him papers on Monday.

DANWatch out for him, Laura. A manwith an ego the size of his can bedangerous. He may be a blowhard,but he's a blowhard with a gun.

LAURA( )in visible pain

That's not what I'm worried about,pop. He's turning the kids againstme and threatening to get custody.

DANNonsense, Laura. That'll neverhappen. I know a few of hissecrets...things he wouldn't likecoming out in court.

LAURAI know a few things too, but Ican't put the kids through it. Idon't want them to hate their dad.

DAN( )angrily

It's what the bastard deserves! Theway he treated you for all thoseyears, and you afraid even to tellus what was going on.

LAURAI'm sorry for that, pop.

DAN( )sorrow in his eyes

We only want the best for you.You're our only child, Laura ...you know, since Jack died.

LAURAThat's why I never said anything toyou about my problems. I didn'twant to see you in pain again. ...Jack's death almost killed you. Hewanted to follow in your footsteps.

DANI know that's why you joined theforce, Laura.


18/33

17.

LAURAIt wasn't the only reason, pop. Iwould have become a cop even ifJack had lived. It's in my blood.

DANYou know I'm very proud of you.

LAURA( )smiling again

That's all I've ever wanted.

He reaches down and hugs her, brushing a tear from his eye.

DANI've got to get this to your motherbefore it gets cold. Don't stay uptoo late. You've had a long day.

Dan walks out of the kitchen with tea in hand as Laura turnsback to the folders on the table.

INT. SQUAD ROOM - MONDAY MORNING

Laura shoulders her way through the entry to the squad room,briefcase in one hand and a Starbucks coffee in the other.Chuck holds the door open to let her through.

CHUCKMornin', boss. Going with thehigh-test today, I see.

LAURAYeah, up late last night.

CHUCKWe brought in Salmon. He's in theinterview room with Ernie.

(nodding toward her)office

And the chief's waiting for you.

LAURAGreat. Give me five with the chief

before you start. I want to watch.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

O'Halloran is reading the Herald as Laura enters. She walksaround him and deposits her briefcase and coffee on the desk.

LAURAGood morning, Chief.

Silence. O'Halloran ignores her and continues reading the


19/33

18.

paper. When she ignores him, he finally closes the newspaperand tosses it dramatically in front of her, headlinesblaring: COPS SHOOT BLANKS

O'HALLORAN

( )staring intentlyYou know, your old man won't beable to help you if you screw thiscase up.

LAURA( )returning the stare

What makes you think he ever helpedme in the first place? A womancan't make it on her own in thisboys' club ... is that what youthink?

No response. She pushes the newspaper back across the desk.

LAURA (CONT'D)I saw it already when I stopped forcoffee. Cute headline.

O'HALLORANIt's not so cute when the Mayorrips the Commissioner a new one at7:30 in the morning. What are youdoing about it, and no bullshit?

LAURAWe're bringing in some suspects

this morning. My team has someonein the interview room right now.

Laura pulls a folder from the pile on her desk and stands up.

LAURA (CONT'D)I have to go look in on it now.You're welcome to join me.

O'HALLORAN( )getting to his feet

I'll take a rain check, but Iexpect to hear from you this

afternoon.

He turns and leaves the office ahead of Laura.

INT. MAJOR CRIME INTERVIEW ROOM - LATE MONDAY MORNING

Ernie and Chuck are seated across a metal table from a verynervous looking black man. He is light skinned and very thin.This is MARCELLUS SALMON, career car thief.

Ernie is neatly dressed in jacket and tie, and holding a


20/33

19.

folder. Chuck looks like an unmade bed. Good cop, bad copattire. Ernie speaks softly. Chuck is loud and demanding.Laura looks on from the next room through a one-way mirror.

MARCELLUS

( )eyes avertedI told you already. I wasn't in theNorth End Friday night.

ERNIEYou did say you were drinking in abar on Causeway Street, Mr. Salmon.That's just a few blocks away.

CHUCKWhat were you doing on Causeway,Marcellus? There are plenty of barsin Roxbury.

MARCELLUSYou like'm so much, you drink in'em. I like drinking where thereain't so many knives and guns.

CHUCKWhy are you so nervous, Marcellus?You've been hinking and jinkingsince we brought you in? Gotsomething to hide?

MARCELLUSNo. Just don't like police.

ERNIE( )tapping the folder

Says here you just got out ofConcord a few weeks ago. What haveyou been doing for money?

MARCELLUSOdd jobs. This and that.

CHUCKLike what? You don't have anyskills other than boosting cars.

MARCELLUSDo errands for folks, that's all.

ERNIEYou were arrested twice with SUVs,and a suspect in a few others. WhySUVs, Marcellus?

MARCELLUSI dunno.


21/33

20.

CHUCKAll of these were boosted near theMarket, almost in the North End. Isthat what you were up to on Friday?

MARCELLUSNaw. I told you I was just having afew drinks.

CHUCKAnd you can't remember the name ofthe bar or anything else, right?

MARCELLUSYeah. Don't remember nothing. Iremember it was near the station,that's all. And it was dark inside.

CHUCKThere's a half dozen bars nearthere, Marcellus. They're all dark.

ERNIE( )standing up suddenly

All right, Mr. Salmon. that's allwe have for you now. We may want totalk to you later about this.

( )slides a card to himIf you think of the name of thebar, call the number on this card.

Marcellus quickly gets to his feet and heads for the door.

Ernie steps in front of him as he gets to the door.

ERNIE (CONT'D)Not so fast. You don't want toforget your jacket. It looks new.

MARCELLUS( )sheepishly

No sir, I don't. Thank you.

He quickly retrieves his jacket, a blue windbreaker, andleaves the room without another word.

ERNIE( )looking at ChuckNew jacket, huh?

CHUCK( )smiling

We may need to have a longer talkwith him real soon.


22/33

21.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON

Laura is reviewing interview reports, when Phil Lundy entersher office. He places a briefcase on the corner of her deskand sits down. Laura smiles, happy to see him.

PHILHow's it going, Laura?

LAURASlowly, I'm afraid. We'vequestioned several car thievestoday who live near the drop site.Could be almost anyone of them, ornone of them. Half of them havealibis, most of them worthless.What about you? You got anythingnew for me?

PHILWe've been running some more testson the fingerprints we collected.

LAURAIf I give you our suspect list, canyou use the prints for comparison?

PHILIf we get lucky, but even with apartial hit there won't be enoughto use in court.

LAURAIt may be enough to narrow the lista bit. Anything else, Phil?

Phil opens his briefcase and extracts a sealed evidence bag.

PHILWe found a note inside the jacketlining. It must have fallen througha hole in the inside pocket.

Laura looks at the small scrap of paper in the bag, and readsthe handwritten note. It says "Call Angela." Her eyes widen

and her hands begin to tremble as she stares at the note.

She maintains her composure and hands the note back to Phil,who doesn't seem to notice her reaction.

LAURA( )acting casually

Not much help, Phil.

Phil puts the note back in his briefcase and stands up.


23/33

22.

PHILEarly day for me today, Amy's got asoccer match tonight. Send us yoursuspect list and we'll see if wecan connect the partials to one of

them. Don't count on anything,though. There's not much to matchthem to.

LAURA( )distractedly

Yeah, thanks, Phil. And say hi toAmy, for me.

Phil leaves and Laura remains seated, staring out the window.

INT. SQUAD ROOM - TUESDAY MORNING

Laura enters the squad room door a little after eight,looking out of sorts. She taps Ernie on the shoulder on theway to her office.

LAURAWe need to talk.

Ernie gets up and follows her into her office. She drops herbriefcase on her desk and sits down. Ernie remains standing,with a concerned look on his face.

ERNIEWhat's up, boss?

LAURAI want you to bring Salmon back.

ERNIE( )surprised

But we haven't finished questioningthe rest of the list yet! And wehaven't heard back from Forensicsabout the fingerprints.

LAURAI think he's our guy, Ernie. Unless

you have a better candidate.

ERNIEI don't like him for it, boss.

LAURAWhy not, you saw him? He couldhardly sit still.

ERNIEYeah, he was acting hinky, but Idon't think it was about this.


24/33

23.

LAURAWhy don't you like him for it?

ERNIEFor one thing, he was heading away

from his home. If he was bringingthe Tahoe to a chop shop, he wouldhave gone out the expressway, comeinto Roxbury that way.

LAURAMaybe he's got a new fence. Youdon't know where he was going. Ilike him. I think he'll give it upif we push him a little harder. LetChuck lead. Put pressure on him andI think he'll fold.

ERNIE( )giving inOkay. We'll go get him.

LAURAThanks. We need to close this case.... Shut the door when you leave.

Ernie leaves and closes the door behind him. Laura sitssilently for a few seconds and then suddenly sweeps thebriefcase off her desk.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - TUESDAY AFTERNOON

Laura is sitting at a table in the observation room intentlywatching the interrogation next door. She looks up asO'Halloran enters the room.

O'HALLORANHow are things progressing?

LAURASlowly. They've been at it for overan hour. When we questioned himyesterday, he tells us he wasdrinking on Causeway Street. Today

he suddenly remembers he was inChinatown. Trying to distancehimself from the North End. He musthave seen the news and realizedwhat we were questioning him about.

She turns her attention back to the interrogation.

INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - CONTINUOUS


25/33

24.

CHUCKHere's how it is, Marcellus. Weknow you stole the Tahoe and ...

MARCELLUS

No, no! That wasn't me! I wasn'tnowhere near there! How many timesdo I have to tell you that?

ERNIEWhere were you? What were youdoing?

MARCELLUSLook, if I tell you I was doingsomething else ...

CHUCK

What kind of something else?

MARCELLUSI didn't steal no Tahoe. ... Whatif I told you I was stealinganother car Friday? A Cherokee.

CHUCK( )laughing loudly

Let me see if I understand. Youralibi is that you couldn't havestolen the Tahoe because you werestealing a Cherokee at the time. Doyou believe this, Ernie?

ERNIELet the man talk, Chuck.

MARCELLUSI'm tellin' the truth. I stole itin Haymarket Square. A guy left thekeys in the car.

CHUCKWhat did you do with the car?

Marcellus looks away and shrugs his shoulders.

MARCELLUSI don't know.

CHUCKWhat do you mean you don't know?

Marcellus shakes his head. A look of fear on his face.

MARCELLUSI can't tell you ... I don't know.


26/33

25.

Chuck leans over the table and gets in Marcellus's face.

CHUCKYou don't know, or you can't tellus? Which is it?

Marcellus clams up and looks down at the table. Ernie standsup and pushes his chair back.

ERNIELet's take five, Chuck. Give Mr.Salmon a chance to think it over.

Chuck slams his fist on the table, startling Marcellus.

CHUCKThink hard on it, pal. We'll beback in a few minutes.

Chuck and Ernie leave the room.

INT. SQUAD ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Laura and O'Halloran meet Ernie and Chuck in the squad room.Chuck looks angry. It's not just a bad-cop act to him.

CHUCK( )heatedly

He's a lying piece of shit!

LAURA

Yeah, but what's he lying about?Ernie, ask Aimee to check into thisother stolen car.

Ernie leaves the group and walks over to Aimee's desk.

LAURA (CONT'D)Chuck, you and Ernie need to gethim to open up. Let me know whenyou're ready to start up again.

Chuck heads over to speak with Ernie, while Laura andO'Halloran go into her office and close the door.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - LATER

When Laura and O'Halloran reenter the observation room, theysee Chuck and Ernie already seated in the interview roomacross from a very nervous looking Marcellus Salmon.

Laura hands a sheet of paper to O'Halloran.


27/33

26.

LAURA( )speaking softly

2012 Grand Cherokee stolen Fridaynear the Union Oyster House abouttwo hours before the Tahoe was

stolen. Hasn't been recovered yet.One discrepancy - the owner says hedidn't leave the keys in it.

O'Halloran sits at the table and looks the report over as thequestioning begins again.

INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Chuck gets up from his seat and approaches the suspect. Hehas a menacing look on his face.

CHUCKWhat is it, Marcellus? Have you gotsomething to tell us?

MARCELLUS( )scared and uncertain

I still ... I can't ...

Chuck leans over Salmon, close enough to kiss him on thecheek. Salmon turns away and looks toward Ernie for help.Ernie just shrugs and sits back in his chair.

Chuck speaks quietly to Salmon, almost whispering in his ear.His soft voice is more menacing than his previous outbursts.

CHUCKThis is your last chance,Marcellus. You tell us whathappened Friday night, and I meannow, or we lock you up. There's abus leaving for Walpole in an hourand you're going to be on it.

MARCELLUS( )changing direction

Ah, you know, this Tahoe on thenews, ah ... what would I be

looking at ... if I was to say thatI ... I stole it?

CHUCK( )brightening

Are you telling us now you stolethe Tahoe?

MARCELLUSI'm just saying what if I stole it?I mean there was a bad accident andpeople died. If I ...


28/33

27.

CHUCK( )catching on

You know, we're not even sure whowas at fault. The other vehicle wasdriving over the limit, and the

roads were wet. It was just a badaccident.

MARCELLUS( )uncertain

Maybe it was ... maybe I ...

CHUCKJust tell us what happened andwe'll talk with the D.A. You'llsee. We'll take care of you.

Salmon turns to Ernie, looking for confirmation. Ernie nods

almost imperceptibly.

MARCELLUS( )resigned

Yeah ... I ... I stole the Tahoe.

ERNIEYou're going to have to take usthrough the details. Give us astatement of what happened. Can youdo that?

MARCELLUSYeah ... I think so.

Ernie turns on a digital voice recorder on the desk andbegins to take his statement.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

O'Halloran smiles and pats Laura on the shoulder. She doesn'tacknowledge the congratulations. She is looking at Salmon ashe begins to give a statement to Ernie.

O'HALLORANThat should wrap this case up.

Great work, Laura.

A shadow crosses his face momentarily.

O'HALLORAN (CONT'D)( )waving the report

What about this stolen Cherokee?

LAURA( )distracted

Oh, that. He probably stole thatone too. He had plenty of time for

(MORE)


29/33

LAURA (CONT'D)

28.

both of them.

O'HALLORANWhat about the fingerprints? DidLundy get a match for them?

LAURANo, but they were smudged and histeam didn't have much to go on.

O'HALLORAN( )smiling again

Yeah, that's good then.( )standing up

I've got to report the news to theCommissioner. The Mayor will behappy when he hears this. I'll callyou later and we can prepare a

statement for the press.

O'Halloran leaves the room. Laura remains standing watchingSalmon record his statement. After a few seconds of this sheleaves the observation room.

INT. SQUAD ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Laura passes through the squad room she sees O'Hallorantalking with the rest of her team. They are gathered aroundAimee's desk, smiles on all their faces, O'Halloran beaming.

John gets Laura's attention as she walks by.

JOHNLieutenant, congratulations! We gotthe bastard!

Laura looks over at her team, forcing a smile.

LAURAYeah, looks like we did. Good work,everyone.

With that she enters her office and closes the door.

INT. LIVING ROOM - WEDNESDAY EVENING

Laura is drinking a glass of wine and trying to read a book,but her mind is elsewhere. Lizzy is in bed sleeping.

Tommy, who has been avoiding his mother all week, comes intothe room and sits across from her on the couch. He looksnervous and upset. Laura ignores him.


30/33

29.

TOMMYMom, can I talk with you?

LAURAIm a little busy now, Tommy. Cant

it wait for later?

TOMMYNo, Mom, I need to talk with younow. Please!

Laura is annoyed and a little afraid of what may be coming.

LAURAOkay, whats so important?

TOMMYWhats going to happen to the guy

you arrested? Is he going to jail?

LAURAI dont know, Tommy. Probably.

TOMMY( )hesitantly

I got to tell you something. I

LAURA( )angrily

Dont say anything, Tommy. I dontwant to hear what you have to say.

TOMMY( )starting to cry

I have to say this, I ...

LAURANo! I dont want to hear it!

Tommy jumps up from the couch and kneels down in front of hismother. He talks quickly trying to get it all off his chest.

TOMMYIt was me and Eddie. We stole thecar. That guy you arrested didnt

do it ...

LAURAI don't want to hear this!

TOMMY( )speaking rapidly

No, you have to listen to me. Eddiewas driving. He was going too fast.He didnt see the other car till itwas too late. You gotta dosomething!


31/33

30.

LAURA( )very angry

What the hell do you want me to do?Arrest you? Bring you in in cuffs?I can't do that, Tommy. Just leave

it alone. The man confessed!

TOMMYBut he didn't do it! I'm sorry, I'mso sorry!

Laura is at a loss for words. She leans over and embracesTommy. She rocks him in her arms.

LAURA( )softly

I know. I know.

She pushes back from Tommy, and lifts his chin so she canlook in his eyes.

LAURA (CONT'D)Why, Tommy, why?

TOMMY( )crying

I was angry, with you, with Dad.You especially. You know, one daywe have a family, I have all myfriends, the next day its allgone. I just couldnt take it. Imet Eddie after Dad went to bed and

we walked over to Regina's to get apizza. When we get there we seethis car idling in front. Eddiegrabs me and pushes me into thecar, and we take off.

LAURAWhat did you think you were doing?

TOMMYI don't know. It happened so fast.I wasn't thinking. I just wish Icould undo it.

LAURAWell, you cant. Its done. Theresnothing we can do about it now.

TOMMY( )his voice rising

I dont want that man to go tojail, Mom. He didnt do anything.


32/33

31.

LAURAIm trying to protect you, Tommy.That guys a bad man. Hes donethings like this before.

TOMMYYeah, but he didnt do it thistime. Me and Eddie did.

LAURAYou dont know what youre askingme to do, Tommy. If you own up tothis, they wont try you as achild. Youre almost sixteen,Eddie's seventeen. This is ahigh-profile case and youre theson of a cop. The D.A. wont cutyou or Eddie any slack. They could

send you to prison, Tommy. I cantlet that happen. I couldnt livewith myself.

TOMMY( )he starts crying again

But I dont think I can live withmyself if I dont do this.

Laura wraps her arms around her son and presses his head toher chest, and rocks him as she erupts into tears. Shesqueezes him tightly, afraid to let him go.

LAURA

I know, sweetheart, I know.

INT. LAURA'S OFFICE - THURSDAY MORNING

Laura is seated behind her desk, looking out the window atthe late morning traffic streaming down Tremont Street. Onher desk we see her shield and holstered weapon.

She turns from the window and we see her tired eyes as shelooks out at her team working busily at their desks. Ernie'sand Aimee's desks are unoccupied. They are in the interviewroom questioning Tommy, who is accompanied by a lawyer.

The door to the squad room opens and O'Halloran storms in.Laura sits up in her chair as he enters her office.

O'HALLORANJust what the hell were youthinking?! Did you know about this?No, don't answer that question.

Laura is silent.

He paces in front of her desk, looking for a way out of this.


33/33

32.

O'HALLORAN (CONT'D)You've really done it this time.You put me right in the middle ofthis. You've embarrassed the wholeforce. The press will have a field

day over this. I don't know if Ican save you, or even want to.

LAURAI'm not asking you to save me. Iknew what I was doing. Don't doanything for me, but please help myson. That's all I ask. He's justfifteen years old. He didn't knowwhat he was doing. I'll take what'scoming to me. I won't fight it -just help my son.

O'Halloran stops pacing and looks Laura in the eyes for thefirst time since he entered the office.

O'HALLORAN( )his eyes softening

I don't know what I can say to you.I have a son the same age. ... Idon't know what I would have done.... I don't know if I can help him,but I'll try.

LAURA( )crying silently

Thank you.

O'HALLORANIn the meantime, stow your gear inyour desk and lock it. Give Ernieyour key.

( )heading to the doorYou can stay here while theyquestion your son. You shouldcontact your rep, and talk to alawyer. You may have to take allthe heat for this. I'll talk to theD.A. about Tommy ... and about you.

LAURAThanks, Chief.

He nods his head and leaves the office. Laura cradles herhead in her hands for a few moments after O'Halloran leaves,and then lifts the telephone from its cradle. She has a fewphone calls to make.

THE END

A Winding Road by Marty Thornton

Documents

Transcript of A Winding Road by Marty Thornton