Copyright © 1998 This screenplay is the property of Byron Hinson. All rights reserved. This screenplay is confidential and may not be disclosed to or copied or reproduced in part or in whole by any unauthorized party. Quoting Evil -- Pilot By Byron Hinson Early Draft June 21, 1998 INT. STRIP CLUB The strip bar is large and full of a variety of men, both young and old all sitting at tables drinking, smoking and eyeing up the girls on stage. On stage are two strippers, doing exactly what you would expect in a strip joint. INT. STRIP CLUB – BACK OF STAGE The back of the stage is where all the girls get ready for the show. The area is dark, short on space and foreboding. A few small lockers are by the walls. A young stripper about 19 years old is removing some clothes from a locker and packing them away into a small bag. She is sitting next to another, slightly older woman who is chatting away. OLDER WOMAN I’ll be glad when I have enough money to stop having to do this each and every night YOUNG WOMAN (Continues to pack clothes) Well this is my last night OLDER WOMAN Your lucky, you have something else to go for YOUNG WOMAN It’s my first acting job. I’ll probably be back here before you know it OLDER WOMAN You’ll be fine YOUNG WOMAN Thanks Jane...Well I guess I better be getting home JANE Getting a taxi? YOUNG WOMAN Nah...I don’t have that far to walk The young woman closes the locker and puts the last piece of her clothing away into her bag. JANE I guess I’ll see you around YOUNG WOMAN I’ll send you a ticket to the show JANE Thanks Michelle...Take care Jane leans over and kisses Michelle on the cheek. Jane looks weepy eyed. MICHELLE I’ll call you Michelle turns around and heads for the exit. EXT. OUTSIDE THE STRIP BAR – NIGHT The exterior of the strip bar is covered in neon lights. Michelle comes out of a side door and closes the door behind her. Michelle swings her bag over her shoulder and starts her walk home. EXT. STREET – NIGHT The street is dimly lit and Michelle is the only person to be seen. The only sound heard are Michelle’s own footsteps. As Michelle continues to walk down the street, a garbage can topples over quite a way behind her. Michelle is startled and turns around fast. Michelle breathes a sigh of relief, as a cat can be seen rummaging around the can. Michelle turns around to continue her journey when...As she turns around...the sight of a man standing directly in front of her frightens her. EXT. WOODLAND – ROADSIDE – NIGHT A car’s headlights shine through the darkness and the rain. The car pulls over to the side of the wooded area. EXT. WOODLAND – RIVERSIDE The wooded area is covered in wet leaves as rain is falling heavily onto the ground below. The figure of a man can be seen coming through the woods, he is dragging a black bin bag on the ground behind him through the mud and the leaves. As the man reaches the banks of the river he stops and crouches on the ground. He rips open the bag. INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT Various empty desks fill the police station, it’s late and the majority of officers are either at home or out on the job. Towards the far end of the room, sitting opposite each other are two detectives, 1 Male about 30 years old, the other Female and in her early twenties. Both of the officers are busily working on notes. The male detective’s name is XANDER FIELDS, unshaven and tired looking. The female detective is called LAUREN RICHARDS, an intelligent looking woman who looks as if she gets deep into her work. Lauren puts down her pen and looks over her desk towards Xander. LAUREN Almost done? XANDER Just about...i think I’ll leave the rest until the morning LAUREN But Hathaway said he wants it in before we leave XANDER Ok...Ok LAUREN It would be nice to wrap this case up Xander starts to speed up his writing. XANDER I still can’t believe that he actually handed you the gun Lauren gets up from her chair and stretches out. LAUREN I’m obviously a woman of many charms XANDER Ohhhh obviously Xander puts his pen down onto the desk and gathers up his papers. XANDER Ok...I’m done LAUREN You’re done? And you were going to wait until morning just to finish that? XANDER (Laughs) I’m obviously a fast worker LAUREN (Laughs) Obviously Xander stands up from his chair. XANDER Let’s go and hand these in to Hathaway VOICE No Need The loud voice makes both Xander and Lauren turn around and face the man who has just spoken. The man is CHIEF DETECTIVE HATHAWAY, a well-built black man around 50 years old. CHIEF HATHAWAY I’ve got another job for you two...you can leave those reports on my desk in the morning Xander turns to Lauren. XANDER I told you we should have left these until the morning EXT. WOODLAND The rain continues to fall as Xander and Lauren drive up to the roadside and park their car. The woodland area is now brimming with police activity. The police have cordoned off a section within the woods and a number of officers are surveying the area. Xander and Lauren get out of their car and walk over to the police cordon. EXT. WOODLAND – POLICE CORDON – RIVERSIDE – NIGHT As Xander and Lauren reach the police cordon a young officer greets them. YOUNG OFFICER Sorry sir, this is a crime scene, you can’t go any further Xander reaches into his long coat and pulls out his identity badge and shows it to the officer. As Xander and Lauren show their badges to the young officer, a more official looking detective starts to walk towards them from behind the cordon. OFFICER JONES It’s ok bill, you can let them through INT. WOODLAND CRIME SCENE -- NIGHT The young officer lifts up the cordon. Xander and Lauren duck underneath it and walk into the crime scene, they stop by the side of OFFICER NATHEN JONES. Floodlights light up the surrounding area as a small group of police officers scour the muddy ground for clues and evidence. XANDER So what have we got then? OFFICER JONES The woman over there Officer Jones points to a woman around 40-50 years old, standing by a young policeman being interviewed. OFFICER JONES (Con’t) Was out walking her dog through the woods. The dog went off for a short run by itself, when it returned it bought back a little present for its owner Both Xander and Lauren look at Officer Jones, bemused. OFFICER JONES Half an arm LAUREN Jesus...have you found anything else? OFFICER JONES (Pointing) Sure...Over there...over there...down here...you point to any spot around this area and we’ve probably found part of a body there Both Xander and Lauren look sickened by the news. XANDER Did the witness hear anything unusual around here? OFFICER JONES Nope, nothing, whoever dumped it here was long gone LAUREN Any clues? OFFICER JONES Ahhh this place is too damn muddy to do much searching tonight...its also close to the river, so we’ll be searching there soon. XANDER Was the victim male or female? OFFICER JONES It’s hard to tell there’s so many pieces, and the heads missing. We might have to wait for the autopsy tomorrow before we know XANDER Mind if we look around? OFFICER JONES Be my guest...I’m up to my neck in cases at the moment...this ones yours after tonight XANDER (Sarcastic) Thanks Xander and Lauren start to walk away from Officer Jones. Lauren walks over to some trees around the area the police are searching. Xander walks over to a policeman who is placing a piece of evidence into a large plastic bag. Xander crouches beside him. XANDER Hey POLICEMAN Hey...Officer Hatfield Officer Hatfield reaches out to shake Xander’s hand. The officer’s hands are covered in mud...he withdraws them. OFFICER HATFIELD Sorry XANDER Detective Fields...its ok...what you got there Xander points to the evidence bag. OFFICER HATFIELD It’s the left hand XANDER Mind if I take a look? OFFICER HATFIELD Fine by me Officer Hatfield passes over the evidence bag...Xander looks through the see-through bag and examines the fingers. XANDER Are those painted nails? OFFICER HATFIELD They are indeed XANDER So this hand came from a female OFFICER HATFIELD Or a transvestite Xander passes back the evidence bag to the officer and gets back to his feet. XANDER Have you found anything else? OFFICER HATFIELD Only body parts Xander walks slowly over towards Lauren... LAUREN What do you make of these? Lauren points to some marking on the tree she is standing by. The markings are the numbers. 10.1.14.5 – 4.15.5 Xander walks up close to the tree to examine the markings. A concerned look falls across Xander’s face. XANDER They’ve been freshly cut into the bark...probably from earlier today LAUREN What do you think the numbers represent? XANDER I’ve seen this before...a few years ago. The numbers represent their letter equivalent Xander gets out his notepad and pen and starts to copy down the markings. LAUREN How do you mean? XANDER Simple...1=a, 2=b 3=c and so on. LAUREN Where have you seen them before? XANDER On another case about 5 years ago. There was a man...a serial killer we used to call the surgeon, he claimed about 9 victims, all women...within a 2-week timeframe. He usually left two identical clues behind at every crime scene...markings like these Xander points to the markings on the tree. XANDER (Con’t) Notes on paper...nothing that would get us any closer to capturing him until one night a witness saw a man attack a young girl out while she was on her way home in her car. The witness saw the man drag this girl into what turned out to be his house...she called the police... Xander closes his notepad and puts it back into his coat pocket. XANDER (Con’) When we finally arrived on the scene...we found the girl dead...cut up...the guy...Frank White...who did it was still in the house and was caught and convicted on all 9 murders. But I never once believed he did the other murders. LAUREN Why? XANDER The woman he killed was done in a rush, it was messy, none of the cuts were clean like in the other murders, the others were done by a professional...and the other killings were always done at night, never in daylight like in the Frank White case. LAUREN Did you explain all this to the other officers on the case? XANDER (Sighing) They never took any notice...as long as they got all the attention and fame they didn’t care what I thought. LAUREN Well what happened to the killings? XANDER They stopped straight after Frank was caught...which gave even more weight against my theory that they had the wrong man on the other 8 charges. LAUREN That’s a lot of weight against them if you ask me XANDER You weren’t even based here then...if you were one of the main officers collecting the evidence then maybe you would think the same as me LAUREN Maybe XANDER Jane Doe LAUREN What? XANDER That’s what these markings represent LAUREN Well I’d guess the killer’s right seeing he seems to have took the head with him as a souvenir XANDER (Shouting) Hatfield...can you get some photos taken of the markings on this tree? OFFICER HATFIELD Sure thing XANDER (To Lauren) That’s another thing...the killer always used to take a part of the victim with him...these parts were never found around Frank White’s house or any surrounding area LAUREN (Slight smile) Did you check his trophy cabinet? INT. CORONERS OFFICE – DR HASSLEBAIRN’S OFFICE – MORNING The office of Dr Hasslebairn is a small room full of cabinets and forensic information and posters depicting various stages of autopsy. There is a desk in the room with two chairs in front of it and one behind the desk. Xander and Lauren sit on the two chairs at the front. A few seconds later in walks Dr BRIAN HASSLEBAIRN. In his hand is a large selection of notes and photos. He walks over to the chair behind the desk and sits down. DR HASSLEBAIRN Right...I have just completed the full autopsy on the victim...fingerprints have been taken and we expect a full identification of the body within the next few hours LAUREN Was there anything noticeable during the examination? Dr Hasslebairn starts to layout some photos and notes on the desk, while talking to Xander and Lauren he points out various places on the autopsy photos. DR HASSLEBAIRN During the external examination I noticed, what I thought at first was just a small cut on the lower part of the back...upon closer examination it revealed a selection of numbers cut deep into the skin probably with a small penknife. XANDER Can I take a look? The doctor hands over one of the photos to Xander. LAUREN Did you manage to find out how she died? DR HASSLEBAIRN It has been difficult, but despite the lack of parts to examine above the shoulders and the possibility that the neck could reveal strangulation. I have come to the conclusion that the woman was alive while she was being dismembered...The feet were removed first then working the way up the body until she died of lack of blood XANDER The numbers are the same as the ones at the crime scene Xander hands back the photo. XANDER I remember working with you on “The surgeon” case about five years ago DR HASSLEBAIRN I remember XANDER Are the cuts similar to the ones that were made on those victims? DR HASSLEBAIRN From what I can remember they are similar...yes. This killer has the same excellence at cutting up his victims as “the surgeon” did...why? XANDER Just a theory...this killer has also left two identical clues, just the same as “the surgeon” used to. DR HASSLEBAIRN I know you never believed that the police caught the right man, but if you are trying to suggest that this is the same killer...then that’s unlikely to go down well at the station LAUREN Why? DR HASSLEBAIRN For starters there was a massive amount of public interest in “the surgeon” case, people were scared to go out at night. If it gets out that the police caught the wrong person and that the killer could be on the loose again...well you can guess what will happen after XANDER Well I think we should check into it a bit more before we go throwing this idea around DR HASSLEBAIRN Right...I’ll phone your office as soon as the identification comes through and I’ll get the notes and photos completed and sent over to you as soon as possible XANDER Ok thanks...talk to you later INT. POLICE STATION – LATE MORNING Xander and Lauren walk into the office and head towards their desks LAUREN I’m slightly skeptical as to whether or not we should follow up on this. Why would this “surgeon” guy start up again after being in hibernation for so long? And if he got away with it after Frank White got caught. XANDER He’s a serial killer...he does it for fun...for kicks...he’s had his cooling off period and now he wants more. The serial killer is simply motivated to kill; as you or I need water, the serial killer needs to kill Xander and Lauren reach their desks and sit down LAUREN I still think we need more evidence before you start shouting your mouth off about this XANDER Shouting my mouth off? A young police officer walks over to Xander and Lauren. OFFICER 1 I took a call for you a few moments ago from the coroner’s office The officer hands over a small note to Xander. XANDER Thanks The officer walks away and sits back at his desk. XANDER The victim’s name is Michelle Brady from the West Side of town...she had just quit her job as a stripper to become and actress LAUREN Not a lot to go on The officer sitting at his desk picks up a photo of some kind. OFFICER 1 (To Xander) Oh and before I forget The officer gets up and carries the photo over to Xander and Lauren. OFFICER 1 (Con’t) This came for you just over an hour ago The officer hands the photo over to Xander. Xander examines the photo and looks bewildered. The photo is of a young woman about 30 years old. She is just coming out of a shop. XANDER From who? OFFICER 1 No idea, it was left at the front desk with Sarah, she handed it to me to give to you XANDER Ok...thanks The officer trundles back to his desk and gets back to work. Xander examines the photo a little more but still has a clueless look across his face. Xander hands the photo over to Lauren. XANDER Any ideas? Just as he hands the photo over to Lauren he notices something written on the back of the photo. The writing says “2 Hours”, it has been written in bright red. XANDER What does that mean? Xander points out the writing to Lauren. LAUREN I’ve no idea what that means, but I recognize the shop XANDER I’ve never seen it before LAUREN It’s pretty close to here actually, just a few blocks away XANDER We better check it out EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SHOP The street is a bustle with activity, mainly people shopping, and some people just wandering. Xander and Lauren walk down the street and stop outside the shop, Xander carries the photo in one hand. The shop looks run down and small but is well stocked with items for sale. LAUREN This is the one Xander takes a peek inside through the doorway and at the photo in his hand. XANDER Well she’s not in there LAUREN Well let’s go in and ask XANDER As long as we don’t have to buy any of this crap to get answers LAUREN (Sarcasm) Paycheck bounce this month then? INT. SHOP Xander and Lauren walk in through the main front entrance of the shop and walk towards the counter where a woman is serving a customer. Behind the counter is another door leading to the back of the store. The woman is about 50 years old, dressed up messily with heavy make up on. Xander meanders slowly through the shop while Lauren reaches the counter first. The woman behind the counter finishes serving the customer and turns to face Lauren. WOMAN AT COUNTER Hi...can I help you at all LAUREN I hope so...we’re with the police department Lauren waves her police badge in front of the woman’s eyes. LAUREN (Con’t) We were wondering if you could help us with a small enquiry that we have WOMAN AT COUNTER Sure...what’s the problem? LAUREN Could you tell me if you recognize the woman in this photo? Lauren looks around for Xander but can’t see him. LAUREN (Loud voice) Xander Xander comes from around the side of the store where the magazines are kept. XANDER Sorry...they had playboy Xander shows the photo to the woman behind the counter. WOMAN AT COUNTER (Questioning voice) Yeah I know her...what do you want her for? LAUREN We received this photo an hour or so ago at the station and have no idea why we got it...we just want to track her down and see if she knows why we received it. XANDER She’s not in any trouble with us or anything WOMAN AT COUNTER Ok...Her name’s Brenda Black XANDER (Smiling) We’ll need a little bit more information than that...is she here? WOMAN AT COUNTER You missed her today...her shift finished about an hour ago and she went back home a few minutes after LAUREN Well could you give us her address? The Woman lets out a large sigh and then walks out the back of the store. XANDER She’s a bundle of laughs Lauren looks at Xander in a weird way and then smiles. LAUREN Playboy? XANDER Hey...give me a break...i was only looking...not buying LAUREN Aaawww? You need me to lend you some money? XANDER Are you leaving the force to take up a career in stand up? Because I won’t stand in your way The woman appears from the doorway. LAUREN I don’t think I’m the one looking for stand up The Woman behind the counter hands over a crumpled piece of notepaper with Brenda Black’s address to Lauren. WOMAN AT COUNTER Here you go...she lives in the house with the bright green door...its hard not to miss it LAUREN Thanks...you’ve been a great help WOMAN AT COUNTER (Sarcasm) My pleasure Xander and Lauren make their way out of the shop. XANDER (Dirty look at Lauren) No...It’s been my pleasure EXT. LONG STREET -- DAY Xander and Lauren walk past a couple of houses on the long street of this friendly looking neighborhood. All the houses are neat and tidy looking and the outside grass is green. XANDER Village of the Damned LAUREN Or village of the completely sane XANDER 50 bucks on the damned Xander stops Lauren in her tracks. XANDER I guess this is the one Xander points to a house with a bright green door. The windows are all closed and the curtains have been pulled. EXT. BRENDA BLACK’S HOUSE Xander and Lauren start to walk up the path towards the door. It is your basic everyday front door with a letterbox at the front. LAUREN Nice color co-ordination XANDER Almost as bad as your kitchen Xander knocks at the front door. LAUREN There’s nothing wrong with orange for a kitchen XANDER If you say so There is no answer. Xander leans down and looks through the letterbox. XANDER (Through letterbox) Hello...Ms Black LAUREN She probably went off somewhere else after work XANDER Wait a second...can you hear that? LAUREN Hear what? Xander stands up straight again... XANDER Take a listen through the letterbox Lauren crouches down and opens up the letterbox...Classical music can be heard playing from somewhere inside the house. LAUREN It’s just music Xander XANDER Which means she’s in LAUREN Not necessarily...she could have left the house and forgotten to turn the radio off Lauren takes another look through the letterbox. LAUREN (Shouting through letterbox) Brenda Black...it’s the police...could you please come to the door Lauren closes the letterbox and gets back up. Xander meanwhile puts his hand onto the door handle and opens the door. XANDER I suppose you’ll now tell me that she forgot to lock the door on her way out LAUREN It seems a friendly neighborhood...why not? INT. BRENDA BLACK’S HOUSE – CORRIDOR – DOORWAY The corridor is dark as the lights in the house are all turned off. The only light getting into this area is from the outside where Xander and Lauren are standing. Along the corridor is a doorway leading to another room, at the front of the corridor is a set of stairs leading to the second floor of the house. XANDER After you Lauren enters the corridor through the front door Xander follows close behind her. Xander flicks the light switch as he enters the corridor, nothing happens. XANDER Ohhh...scary...no lights LAUREN (Loud voice) Brenda...it’s the police Lauren reaches the stairs and looks up...nothing seems to be there...the only sound in the house is the music playing in one of the rooms upstairs. XANDER (Points to stairs) I’ll check upstairs...you check some of these rooms Lauren continues to walk through the corridor as Xander walks slowly up the stairs. As Xander gets closer to the top the stairs the music gets louder and louder. Xander puts his hand into one of his inside jacket pockets and pulls out his gun. INT. BRENDA BLACK’S HOUSE – UPSTAIRS LANDING Xander gets to the top of the stairs, this whole area is dark. There are a couple of rooms along the upstairs landing but Xander decides to go for the one that has the music playing. The room with the music playing is at the far end of the landing. Looking from the top of the stairs the door of the room is slightly open. Xander walks carefully up to the door. XANDER Miss Black? Gun in hand, Xander pushes open the door and walks into the room. As the door swings open the full volume of the music can be heard. Xander walks into the room... INT. BRENDA BLACK’S HOUSE – BEDROOM Xander stands staring into the room just inside the doorway, his face is a ghostly white. The mutilated body of Brenda Black lies on top of a long white bed. Written on the wall behind the bed in blood are the words “You’re late”. There is a tape player playing the music on a dresser at the side of the bed. XANDER (Shouting) Lauren...you better get up here Xander walks around the side of the bed and examines the tape player. The tape player is in continuos mode so the music will repeat and repeat. Lauren comes running into the room...as soon as she sees the body on the bed she covers her mouth as if she were about to be sick. XANDER Looks like you owe me $50 EXT. BRENDA BLACK’S HOUSE – EARLY AFTERNOON The police have now cordoned off the house and a number of police cars surround the area. The coroner’s car is also parked close by. A number of onlookers talk amongst themselves wondering just what has happened inside the house. Lauren is on the car radio chatting to someone. Detective Xander and the Coroner, Dr Hasslebairn walk out of the house together and stop on the driveway. XANDER Do you have any idea when this took place? DR HASSLEBAIRN From the quick examination I just did, it was most likely only a few hours ago Xander rubs his eyes he is clearly getting tired. DR HASSLEBAIRN (Con’t) The lacerations on this victim are identical to those on the body of Michelle Brady that you brought in yesterday XANDER So it’s more than likely we have the same killer here? DR HASSLEBAIRN Doesn’t take a genius to work that one out Detective Fields XANDER What about the writing on the wall?...I assume that was Brenda Black’s blood DR HASSLEBAIRN From the amount of blood that she lost I would say that’s a good guess Lauren finishes her conversation on the police radio and walks over to Xander and Dr Hassslebairn. DR HASSLEBAIRN We should have more results in tomorrow LAUREN We’ve got a few people checking into the history of the photo that we received. Perhaps that might give us some leads. XANDER Lets hope we can come up with something soon...So your sure that this was done this morning and not during the night? DR HASSLEBAIRN Positive...there were hardly any signs of dried blood when I arrived on the scene... XANDER He’ll do this again LAUREN What makes you so sure?...You said that this killer only committed these murders at night...that idea’s already down the pan...for all we know, this might well be just a copycat killer who read about the murders a few years back or a different killer altogether XANDER No...It’s him...this is just a change in the pattern...The “Surgeon” gave us the same kind of timeframe clues on when he was going to kill his victim. He just never gave us a look at who they were, like he did for us today...it’s as if he wants us to find them first LAUREN Oh come on...this isn’t a game to him XANDER I’m serious...We got sent the photo of the victim...he gave us 2 hours in which to find her before he killed her. The body of Brenda Black is carried out in a black bag by two officers and placed into the coroner’s car. DR HASSLEBAIRN I’ll call you later today if anything new comes up Dr Hasslebairn makes his way over to his car. LAUREN Well we need to get back to the office and work on some of this evidence...you can be the one to explain your “Theory” to Hathaway Xander and Lauren start to walk over to their car. XANDER Don’t worry...i have every intention to do so INT. POLICE STATION – CHIEF HATHAWAY’S OFFICE The office is spacious and filled with cabinets and shelves. There is one main desk in the office towards the back of the room. Chief detective Hathaway is sitting at his desk writing when he receives a knock at the door. CHIEF HATHAWAY Come in Detective Xander opens the door and walks into the office carrying a folder of documents and photos, he looks tired and worried. CHIEF HATHAWAY Aahhh detective Fields...what can I do for you XANDER I need some help from you CHIEF HATHAWAY You know I’ll help you anyway I can in this case XANDER I would like to see evidence that was collected in a case a few years ago CHIEF HATHAWAY Sure...but what does this have to do with your current assignment? XANDER I believe it has everything to do with it sir...The evidence I want to go through is from the “Surgeon” case from a few years ago CHIEF HATHAWAY For Christ sake Fields...that case is over...done and dusted...don’t start up on your bullshit idea that we got the wrong man again XANDER It’s not bullshit sir...You know as well as I do that a whole lot of the evidence that put Frank White away was...how do I say...suspect CHIEF HATHAWAY Frank White was picked out in a line up by a witness...was found at the scene of the crime...and had blood all over when we caught him...How much more evidence do you think we needed? XANDER What clues did Frank White leave behind at the house of the woman he was murdering?...none. Why was the body ripped apart instead of neatly and professional cut up like all the rest were? Xander is clearly getting frustrated and angry. XANDER Frank White wasn’t clever enough to have committed the other murders...he had an argument with his girlfriend and he took his anger out on some woman he had never met off of the street CHIEF HATHAWAY The case is closed Fields...If this guy kills again, we’ll have the FBI knocking on our doors. Now get out of my office and find the real killer...or I’ll get someone else to do it Xander turns to walk out of the door. Suddenly he turns back around and faces Hathaway. Xander throws his folder of photos and evidence onto the desk. Photos of the victim’s bodies and clues left by the killer scatter across the desk in front of Hathaway Hathaway stares down at the photos on his desk. XANDER (Angry) You take a look at those and tell me that’s not the same killer...If he kills again...i hope those images stay with you forever Xander walks out of the office and slams the door hard behind him. Chief detective Hathaway picks up the photo of Brenda Black’s body lying on the bed with the writing on the wall behind, he just sits and stares at it. INT. POLICE STATION – DESK Lauren is sitting on top of her desk listening to the tape that her and Xander found at the crime scene. Xander walks into the office and removes his coat. He places it on the chair by his desk and sits down. XANDER (Frustrated) Get any news back on the prints taken off the tape and tape player? The music off of the tape continues to play. LAUREN Yeah...They all matched up to Brenda’s XANDER So yet again we have nothing? He’s playing us like a fiddle LAUREN Something has to turn up, perhaps forensics will come up with something XANDER It’s always been the same with this guy...Everything...like the writing on the walls, the tape, it all looks as if its done in a rush...but its always so damn clean we can’t get anything off of it The music on the tape stops...Silence...Only the winding of the tape can be heard. LAUREN He’s obviously knows what he’s doing...He takes his time planning all this...Making sure he won’t get caught Xander wipes his eyes, he’s tired. XANDER It’s so frustrating not to have anything to follow up LAUREN We did all we could at the house...We got every bit of evidence we could XANDER Yeah...well...it’s not enough LAUREN What else can we... Before Lauren can finish what she is saying...A voice on the tape can be heard. Xander sits up straight and turns to Lauren. XANDER (Snappy) Turn it up VOICE ON TAPE (Dark and Scary) There is no happiness without tears, no life without death, I will give you cause to weep. Lauren lets the tape run for a few seconds more...Silence...Lauren rewinds the tape back and plays it again. VOICE ON TAPE (Dark and Scary) There is no happiness without tears, no life without death, I will give you cause to weep. Lauren stops the tape. LAUREN Think that’s our man? XANDER Unless Mozart’s taken up quoting evil...I would say there’s a good chance that’s our guy LAUREN What did it mean? XANDER It’s a quote, I’ve heard before somewhere...I think it said by Lucian Staniak...a serial killer in Poland in the 1960’s. LAUREN The Red Ripper? XANDER That’s the one...also known as The Red Spider LAUREN Any connection between these murders and the ones Staniak committed? XANDER All Staniak’s victims were women, that’s about the only connection between the two. Staniak killed only twice. He revealed that both of his parents, and his sister were killed in an automobile accident involving a "hit-and-run" female driver. As the woman responsible escaped justice, Lucian decided to administer some of his own to any woman he found bearing a resemblance to her. LAUREN Well our killer can’t be using the same motive, the last two victims didn’t look alike XANDER I suppose he could have been brought up at the time of those murders and they’ve stuck in his mind...but its still not much to go on, he could be just randomly using quotes Lauren picks up a note of paper from her desk. LAUREN I’ll get the tape checked out...Perhaps we can pull something off of it. Lauren hands over the note of paper to Xander. LAUREN (Con’t) I had some guys check the photo of Brenda Black out. They traced down the shop that produced the film and sold the photos. Xander reads the address off of the note. XANDER Ok...I’ll give them a visit. An officer walks into the room and gradually walks over to Xander and Lauren. OLDER OFFICER We got ourselves another body. Xander and Lauren look at each other. TO BE CONCLUDED