CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION "DEATH BY DISCO" by Robert DeFranco

Robert DeFranco (626) 533-5803

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION Death by Disco TEASER FADE IN: EXT. LAS VEGAS SKYLINE - EVENING The streets are busy, and the NEON is shining brighter with the setting sun. EXT. ATLAS ARENA - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS The lot is empty except for the TELEVISION TRUCKS and PARKING ATTENDANTS setting up for tonights game. The ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD reads LAS VEGAS UNIVERSITY ROADRUNNERS vs. UTAH RAMS, TONIGHT 9:30 P.M. SOLD OUT. INT. ARENA - COURT - CONTINUOUS The seats are still empty a few hours before the game. Tight bodied CHEERLEADERS practice TOSSES, LIFTS and TUMBLES. Their Coach MOLLY SHINAMIN, 35, holds the MIC at half-court. MOLLY (over the speaker system) Lets go, one last rehearsal. The Cheerleaders whoop it up as they run to the sideline. MOLLY (over the speaker system) In 3, 2, 1 cue the pregame The lights flick off - total darkness. A SIREN and a THUNDERING BEAT of TECHNO MUSIC comes up and over. The PYROTECHNICS launch, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, and are joined by SPOTLIGHTS and STROBES bathing the court and seats. The JUMBOTRON flashes highlights of BASKETBALL PLAYERS dunking, raining jumpers, and the team mascot RANDY ROADRUNNER (BEEP-BEEP) pulling antics with the crowd. The Cheerleaders tumble across the court in a routine that would make Cirque du Soleil proud. Their acrobatic moves are frozen in time by STROBE LIGHTS courtside.

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MOLLY (over the speaker system) Please welcome Randy Roadrunner! Molly points to the ceiling. Through the LIGHTS and STROBE EFFECT WE SEE glimpses of a frenetic mascot, RANDY ROADRUNNER, in a TRAPEZE HARNESS, descend from the rafters. His speed is too fast, and he is not slowing down...he is speeding up - heading straight for the glass back board! The Bird EXPLODES into the backboard. Molly ducks from the thousands of chards of glass showering the court. Randys body ricochets backward to the floor. The lights come up. Off the horrified cheerleaders, we: CUT TO: INT. ARENA - COURT - HALF-HOUR LATER OFFICERS interview the Cheerleaders and Molly. The Roadrunner mascot, looking more like a giant blue turkey, is dead on the court. The smashed TRAPEZE dangles above him. BRASS and GRISSOM stride toward the bird. Grissoms head is on a swivel checking out the ceiling. BRASS A pre-game show gone bad. The mascots name is James Felfer. GRISSOM The Blue Hens? BRASS The Roadrunners... GRISSOM Oh. Geococcyx californianus, the ground cuckoo. Brass points to the busted JOYSTICK on the TRAPEZE HARNESS. BRASS The unit is controlled by the joystick on the harness. According to the cheerleading coach, Molly Shinamin. Everything was working fine before his swan dive.

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GRISSOM Roadrunners are built for speed, not for flight. (beat) We have a lot of area to cover tonight. Grissom kneels, inspecting the body. The costume is dirty, with blood around the neck. GRISSOM Uniform is pretty dirty for someone who was going to be performing in front of 5,000 people tonight. Grissom inspects Jamess bloody face, then turns his eyes to the floor, searching. BRASS What are you looking for? Grissom spots something 15 feet down the court. He pulls his tweezers, bends and picks up a CHUNK OF PINKISH FLESH. GRISSOM Did anybody touch him or move the body? BRASS No. You got something? Holding up the CHUNK in his tweezers. GRISSOM Tongue. How did it get from there...to here? Brass eyes the distance. BRASS A long rebound? SMASH CUT TO: OPENING CREDITS. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER

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ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. ARENA - COURT - NIGHT OPEN on the Roadrunner being loaded on a GURNEY by two PARAMEDICS. They zip up the body bag getting caught on the BEAK. They give each other a look, then smash the beak and close the bag. Grissom reviews the ARENA SCHEMATIC. NICK and CATHERINE ENTER from the tunnel carrying their KITS. Brass leaves Mollys side and joins them with Grissom underneath the destroyed backboard. BRASS I informed the media and Dean that the game has been called. There were 35 people scattered through the building. Besides the cheerleaders, its all people who work here. (beat) So far the only one that says they saw the birdy was Ms. Shinamin. Brass motions to Molly sitting on the sidelines. CATHERINE Thats a lot of people for no one to see anything. BRASS The lights were out in here. rest were outside around the concourse working. The

GRISSOM The Facility Manager made me a copy of the arena schematic. Grissom notices Nicks eye wandering to the cheerleaders. GRISSOM Nick - the arena. (beat) Well divide it up. Catherine, take the catwalk, concourse and elevators. (MORE)

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GRISSOM(cont'd) Ill take the court and follow up with Brass on the statements. Nick, you take the training area, locker rooms and bathrooms.
NICK Bathrooms? (beat) How about I follow up with the cheerleaders and... Catherine cuts him off at the knees. CATHERINE I think youve had enough cheerleaders to last a lifetime. Grissom gives Nick a look, wishing the same could be said for him. CUT TO: INT. ARENA - COURT - MOMENTS LATER Grissom and Brass with Molly Shinamin. GRISSOM You were James Felfers coach? MOLLY Technically. The mascot has always reported to me, and worked out with us. When Coach Bean arrived last year, everything changed. He practices with us, but I dont handle his schedule or appearances. Coach Beans office handles all that. Coach Bean has obviously made Mollys life difficult. GRISSOM How do you know the trapeze was working properly before he hit the backboard? MOLLY I did the safety check myself an hour ago. Its noted on my log. BRASS Did you talk with him before he went up to the rafters?

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MOLLY No. He waved from the tunnel. GRISSOM Did he have the bird head on? How could you be sure it was him? MOLLY He was suited up, but it was definitely him. He gave me the same signal before every test. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - COURT - DAY (FLASHBACK) Molly is center court talking to the Cheerleaders. From the tunnel, Randy Roadrunner waves his arm, getting Mollys attention. He flashes the THUMBS UP. WHITE FLASH TO: BRASS Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt James? Did he have any enemies? MOLLY Not James. No way. He was really well liked, popular. He got a lot of attention being the mascot. GRISSOM Thanks Ms. Shimanin. If I have any other questions Ill get a hold of you here. Molly cant hold herself together. Brass rolls his eyes and WE: CUT TO: INT. ARENA - CATWALK - NIGHT Catherine walks the 30 foot catwalk, stopping along the way to look down at the court below. Its a long way down and not much between her and the floor. The catwalk jogs her memory to her dancing days.

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CATHERINE (to herself) This is a lot higher, but you didnt want to twist your heel on that catwalk either. She bends, inspecting the hole in the metal grate with her MAG LIGHT, her eye stopping on... ...a CLUMP OF FEATHERS and FUR stuck in the metal grating. Catherine stands, tweezers extended grasping them. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - CATWALK - NIGHT (VERSION) Randy Roadrunner struggles against a man hidden by the shadows. CLOSE on clumps of FEATHERS and FUR catching in the metal grates. WHITE FLASH TO: BACK TO SCENE Catherine bags them, and pulls out her dusting kit. She applies PRINT POWDER with her brush. The black metal turns SILVER, revealing PRINTS, crisscrossed everywhere. CATHERINE This is going to take awhile. CUT TO: INT. ARENA - LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT The CAMERA weaves through rows of LOCKERS finding Nick PHOTOGRAPHING the room. He turns the corner, and is greeted by a series of toilets. NICK Porcelain palace. He snaps a few shots. Perfect.

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POV NICK The drain at the center of the floor is overflowing with water. There isnt a source point. He inspects the toilets, none of them are leaking water. He refers to the SCHEMATIC copy. INSERT The SCHEMATIC of the LOCKER AREA. The MENS LOCKER ROOM is adjacent to the LAUNDRY ROOM. BACK TO SCENE NICK They share an overflow drain. CUT TO: INT. ARENA - LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT Nick enters, eyeing the FOUR INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINES. WE SEE they are full and have finished their cycles. CLOSE ON the bottom of a LEAKY MACHINE, Nick spots a watery blood puddle speckled with tiny SHARDS OF DARK GLASS. Nick collects the evidence. The door is pulled OPEN by BOB LONSKY, the pudgy equipment manager. Bob freezes - caught. NICK You forget to add the fabric softener? CUT TO: EXT. ROUGH SECTION OF TOWN - NIGHT A pristine 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS has been turned into a parts car by an unforgiving telephone pole in a rough section of the city (think Utah Street). The crumpled car is taped off holding back the lookey-loos who are multiplying like rabbits even in this part of town. WARRICK BROWN and SARA SIDLE emerge from behind the tape carrying their kits.

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AN OFFICER and DETECTIVE DALE SULIK have their hands full with NATE, a dirty homeless man making a fuss. Sulik joins Warrick and Sarah walking toward the car. SARAH Let me guess, hes the only witness? SULIK Names Nate, no last name yet. Says he didnt see nothing. Officer OMalley searched his two bedroom cardboard condo in the back alley and found this. Sulik hands over an evidence bag holding a bloody PLATINUM ROLEX. SULIK He snatched it off the victim after the accident. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) Moments after the accident, we can almost feel the last breaths of Darnel Chance. Nate is in the car pulling at his wrist, finally wrenching the WATCH off. Nate takes a look at his bloody hands, then wipes them across the seat. WHITE FLASH TO: BACK TO SCENE WARRICK (to Sarah) Well need to process him. Im sure he is going to turn up everywhere in there. Sulik escorts them to the drivers side door. The WINDOW is blown out onto the street. SULIK Driver took a gun shot to the groin. Names Darnel Chance...

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WARRICK Fat Chance, the rapper? SULIK Yes, the same. Lives in Las Vegas most of the year. Girlfriend, Roxanne Venter. SARAH Could be more of that East Coast, West Coast rap thing? They arent sure if she is serious. Warrick leans in eyeing the body. The remains of a black male, DARNEL CHANCE, are plastered through the interior. It looks like a Saber Tooth took a bite out of him at the waist and almost tore him in half. Nates clepto-moment has left the crime scene seriously disturbed. WARRICK Im not sure if that is an entrance or exit wound, but it did a lot of damage. SARAH He wont be having kids. SULIK (from notes) Nate came from the alley after he heard the accident and gun fire. Says he saw a woman running from the passengers side door. Couldnt give a description, but says she was carrying something, maybe a duffle bag. WHITE FLASH TO: EXT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) From the ALLEY, we see a a thin, N.D. WOMAN carrying a duffel bag close the passengers side door and run away. WHITE FLASH TO: Sara bends, checking out punctures in the car bed.

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SARAH Two bullet holes in the bed. Looks fresh, no rust. Judging by the diameter, probably a small caliber handgun. Warrick and Sarahs eyes go to the corner intersection where they imagine the El Camino to have come from. SARAH Theyre chasing him taking shots. He takes the corner too wide, hits the pole. While hes incapacitated, they run up and execute him. WHITE FLASH TO: EXT. ROUGH SECTION OF TOWN - NIGHT (VERSION) A GHOST EL CAMINO comes tearing around the corner, followed by a GHOST SEDAN. The PASSENGER is hanging out the window popping SHOTS from his hand gun, landing TWO in the car bed. The Ghost El Camino smashes into the telephone pole. The Ghost Sedan pulls up next to it. Sarah, Warrick and Sulik are watching this happen around them. The GHOST DRIVER and GHOST WOMAN jump. The Ghost driver pulls open the drivers side. Fat tries to get away. The Ghost Driver shoots Fat in his lower back. The Ghost Woman is at the passengers side grabbing the DUFFEL BAG. SARAH Something goes wrong, the driver gets nervous, and takes off. He leaves her behind, holding the bag. The Ghost Sedan takes off, leaving the Woman stranded. WHITE FLASH TO: BACK TO SCENE Warrick inspects the pavement. Its devoid of any noticeable marks, except for the El Caminos.

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WARRICK (eyeing the road) Only one set of skid marks from him braking. It would have been an awful slow chase judging by the damage to the front end. He probably wasnt going more than 30 m.p.h. Sarah turns back to the car. SARAH Well find the answer in there. CUT TO: INT. ARENA - LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT Nick, Brass and Grissom question Bob Lonsky. Bobs left hand is cut and is already bandaged. Bob is more than eager to be helpful. BOB As the equipment manager, I wash all the uniforms and practice gear. (beat) I was carrying all the laundry in, and I had my sunglasses in my hand. When I went to put the laundry up on the machine, I smashed my glasses and cut my hand. Shatter proof my ass. Brass gives him a sarcastic laugh. BRASS What did you do with the glasses? BOB I threw them away. When I was headed out back, the trash guys were emptying the dumpster, so I just chucked them in there. Grissom is watching intently. GRISSOM You threw your glasses away? Why wouldnt you buy new lenses?

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BOB Oh these were cheapos, like 10 bucks. I got them at a convenience store. GRISSOM You said you bandaged your hand at home. Why go all the way home when you could have gone to the training room here? Bob raises his hand, eyeing the cut. BOB I didnt go home to put a band-aid on. Im not a wimp or anything. BRASS Of course not. BOB It isnt that bad, but the thing bled like crazy. It got all over my shirt, so I threw it in the wash, and had to go home to get another one. GRISSOM Well need a sample of your blood to test against what we found. BOB No problem. I always give blood to the Red Cross, why not give some to you, right? (beat) So do you think this has anything to do with the big fight yesterday? This stops them in their tracks. Brass and Grissom, shoot each other a look. Theyll play along. BRASS We might, but since this is a police investigation, we cant really give you details. Why dont you tell us what you know about the big fight?

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BOB Sure. Coach Bean was going crazy, I mean crazy insane. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - COURT - DAY (FLASHBACK) The BASKETBALL TEAM is running suicides on the court. Randy Roadrunner (James) is way behind everyone, his floppy bird feet, tripping him up. Molly and the Cheerleaders stretch at the sideline, waiting to use the court. COACH BEAN (think Bobby Knight) goes ballistic. BEAN You lazy bastard. If you think you are going to leave our team, youre out of your mind. WHITE FLASH TO: GRISSOM And you witnessed this? BOB Everyone did. The whole arena could hear him screaming at him. Im glad it wasnt me. BRASS Why was Coach Bean yelling at him? BOB I didnt get the whole thing, but James was supposed to go out of town and he was going to miss tonights game. CUT TO: EXT./INT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT Warrick and Sarah process the El Camino. Warrick is snapping PHOTOGRAPHS from all angles of the outside of the car. He clicks shots of the BULLET HOLES, the TIRE TRACKS, and the SHATTERED GLASS from the DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW.

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Sarah is on the passengers side lining up a CASTER FRAME on the floor mat. SARAH Looks like a high heel. Inside the caster frame, a CIRCLE at the bottom and a larger impression at the top. Sarah sprays SNOWPRINT WAX on the imprint and lets it dry. She then pours the CASTER PLASTER into the frame to make the mold. Warrick CLICKS away at the interior where he spots... WARRICK Looks like we got a foreign substance on the floor mat. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT Among the carpet fibers which are now the size of trees is a fine white powder. BACK TO SCENE Sarah TWEEZES several LONG BLONDE strands off the HEAD REST into a pouch. SARAH Looks like our lady friend is a blonde. OFF Sarah and Warrick WE: CUT TO: INT. CORONERS OFFICE - AUTOPSY ROOM A - NIGHT The Roadrunner suit hid a well defined and muscular James Felfer, whose body now lies on the slab flanked by DR. ROBBINS and Grissom. Jamess mid-section and lower arms are severely bruised. His neck is marked by a HORIZONTAL RED ABRASION, with three identical PUNCTURE HOLES under the chin. Dr. Robbins pulls open his MOUTH.

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DR. ROBBINS The tongue belongs to your victim. Bite marks on both halves match his teeth. He points to Jamess hip - hundreds of minute red dots. DR. ROBBINS He has pruritic erythematous papules. Looks like he picked up a parasite somewhere before he died. GRISSOM Can you do a skin scrape on them for me? DR. ROBBINS Sure, Ill send it over. (pointing) Multiple fractures, humerus, mandibular, diffuse ecchymoses of thorax and back from impact. Grissom points to the LARGE RED MARK across his neck. GRISSOM And the ligature marks on the neck? Strangulation? DR. ROBBINS No. Trachea is intact, no scleral hemorrhages. Linear abrasions are more consistent with restraint marks. (beat) Plus three puncture wounds... Pointing underneath his chin - THREE IDENTICAL HOLES. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT Under Jamess chin three puncture marks push open, blood trickles. Then in TIME LAPSE they quickly coagulate and form the beginnings of a scab.

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BACK TO SCENE DR. ROBBINS They occurred several hours before death and were healing. (beat) He has major damage to the spinal cord. He suffered an Atlantooccipital dislocation. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT CAMERA pushes in on a violent WHIPLASH snapping of the neck, tearing the LIGAMENTS. The movement jars the ATLAS and AXIS vertebrae apart, causing the SPINAL CORD to sever. BACK TO SCENE DR. ROBBINS Usually you find this type of injury in car accidents, but its consistent with the impact to the backboard. Death would have been instantaneous. GRISSOM Would have been? DR. ROBBINS There is no surrounding hemorrhaging at the point of the injury. He was already dead before he hit the backboard. (beat) I wont be sure what the cause of death is until I open him up, but it might have something to do with the fact that he had brain surgery. Dr. Robbins points at a faint SCAR around his head. As Grissom processes multiple theories, WE: FADE OUT. END OF ACT ONE

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ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. COACH BEANS OFFICE - DAY The place is a shrine to Coach Beans career. Grissom inspects the walls. Brass is seated. GRISSOM You were fired by Illinois for choking a player. BEAN Your a little out of your jurisdiction? GRISSOM Im not referring to the geography of the case so much as the crime. BEAN I wasnt referring to the geography either. That player is still alive. Grissom stops cold on a team photo. INSERT A team photo of the ILLINOIS INDIANS, Coach Bean is off to the right. James Felfer is easily recognized as the team Indian. BACK TO SCENE Grissom turning to Coach Bean. GRISSOM You and James Felfer? He was the mascot at your last school? BEAN Yes. He transferred when I took the job here. I asked him to. Grissom contemplates, trying to figure if the coach had anything to do with this.

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BRASS But maybe this time you lost control Coach? He was going to leave and you had to stop him. GRISSOM Maybe it was just because he defied you? BEAN I didnt care if he left. You think Im going to let a mascot affect the way we play? BRASS We have 20 people that say they saw differently. Grissom continues to eye the wall. BEAN If it was my brothers wedding, I would have left too. (beat) I wasnt yelling at him because he wanted to leave. He was falling behind during drills. (beat) He came to me after practice, and apologized for slacking off. I told him he could leave when he wanted to. GRISSOM Then why was he still here? BEAN I have no idea. I wasnt here, I was doing my radio show. (beat) But I am sure you fine investigators knew that and are probably just here for an autograph. Coach Bean grabs a pen, knowing how to clear out a room. BEAN So who do you want me to make it out to? CUT TO:

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INT. CSI BUILDING - TRACE LAB - MORNING GREG SANDERS has his feet up, telling Nick the way it is. SANDERS Its like a supply chain. You know? All supply and demand. Grissom ENTERS. Greg drops his feet. GRISSOM What is all supply and demand? SANDERS Our relationship. Youve got questions, demand, and Ive got answers, supply. Its like Im your knowledge supplier. GRISSOM Greg, I have a job position, and you have a need for job. I am your job supplier, or your boss, so what do you have? SANDERS Thats another way to look at it. (beat) The laundry room sample contains only one type of blood. Its an exact match with the Equipment Managers sample. Greg motions to Grissom to take a look down the microscope. SANDERS The glass you found is good quality, embedded polarization. When they manufacture the glass, they can either shrink wrap a coating of polarization around the glass or add it before the glass is hardened using the embedded technique. Both are common in sunglasses. GRISSOM In cheap sunglasses?

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SANDERS Its been around for awhile, but usually cheap glasses are just coated. So short answer, no. Sanders is interrupted by Brass ENTERING. BRASS I dont want to break up your quality CSI time, but the Coachs story checks out. He wasnt anywhere near the arena. (beat) We spoke with Jamess professors, and Kiddy Parks, the starting center on the basketball team, was in class with James yesterday. (beat) Kiddy is going pro, majors in basketball. Brass pulls out his note pad. BRASS The class - Computer Methods for Engineers. GRISSOM Doesnt sound like a core requirement. (beat) Nick, you go with Jim. I have a date with parasite. CUT TO: INT. ARENA - LOCKER ROOM - DAY KIDDY PARKS, a Christmas tree with a head on top, packs up his locker. His size 14 SHOES could be a murder weapon. Brass and Nick, the elves, question him. NICK Youre not registered for computer methods, so why were you in Jamess class yesterday? KIDDY I was auditing for educational purposes.

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BRASS Youre a step away from the pros, and you want me to believe you have a sudden interest in higher learning? Kiddy steps at them. KIDDY You here to talk about classes? We got bounced from the tourney because you guys canceled our game. BRASS You better relax, or this is going to get a whole lot more unpleasant. Kiddy thinks about it, and eases back. Good thing, because it wouldve taken a football team to take this kid down. KIDDY Fine. Its girls. NICK You have a problem getting girls? KIDDY No, I got plenty of them. Getting rid of them is the problem. (beat) They come out of the woodwork, knocking on my door all the time. Following me everywhere. I cant get away from them. Only place they wont follow is in the classroom. Teachers wont let them. BRASS You were hiding from groupies? (beat) And it just happened to be James Felfers class that day? KIDDY Yeah. I rotate all over campus. Talk to the teachers, Ive had them all. Even if it is just for one class. CUT TO:

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INT. CORONERS OFFICE AUTOPSY ROOM A - DAY OPEN ON the edges of a severe wound. and singed at edge. The skin is turned up

PULL BACK to reveal the gaping wound in Darnel Chances groin. Sarah, Warrick and Dr. Robbins surround him. DR. ROBBINS This was from a very powerful shotgun. The shot came from the front, directly to the genitals. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) From head on a N.D. MAN levels a gun at Fat, and BOOM! WHITE FLASH TO: WARRICK The cab of the El Camino is tight. If its a shotgun, it has to be a sawed-off. SARAH Even with a sawed-off thats an awkward position to shoot from? Dr. Robbins leaves that for them to figure out, he just gives them the facts. DR. ROBBINS The wound is 7 1/2 by 6 inches. The pellets didnt have time to spread. It would have been much larger had it come from a greater distance. SARAH Looks like it was big enough. DR. ROBBINS The entrance and exit wounds can be confused. Its the blow back effect. If the weapon is pressed against the skin when its fired, the heat, and gases have no where to go once they enter the body. (MORE)

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DR. ROBBINS(cont'd) Theyre forced back out and to the sides of the entrance, splitting and tearing the skin.
SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT A SHOTGUN, pressed hard against the skin, blasts into a N.D. LEG. The outer edges of the SKIN bubble and then burst, sending BLOOD and HOT GAS into the air. BACK TO SCENE DR. ROBBINS (pointing to his chest) The bruising pattern is consistent with trauma from the seat belt. WARRICK Tox report? DR. ROBBINS Clean. No alcohol or drugs of any kind in his system. (beat) I extracted the pellets and sent them to ballistics. WARRICK Why get so close? You have a shotgun, why not to the head or from a distance? SARAH The person who did this knew Darnel. It was personal. CUT TO: EXT. HOSPITAL - MORNING The place is crawling with MEDIA and TV TRUCKS. Warrick and Sarah step through the media frenzy. WARRICK I guess were not the only people that know she was Fat Chances girlfriend. CUT TO:

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INT. HOSPITAL - PEDIATRICS FLOOR - MORNING Sarah and Warrick follow ROXANNE VENTER, a beautiful Asian nurse, 25, past occupied rooms. ROXANNE This will be fine in here. They ENTER an empty childrens hospital room. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Sarah, Warrick and Roxanne. WARRICK Ms. Venter, how long had you been living with Darnel Chance? ROXANNE Two years. Hes mostly out of town on tour these days, but when he gets a free moment he flies back. SARAH Are you his only girlfriend in Vegas? ROXANNE Im his only girlfriend. WARRICK Did you meet him here at the hospital? Roxanne likes answering Warricks questions better. There is something about dating Darnel that has been taxing for her, and Roxanne is ready for better. ROXANNE No. I was working as a nurse chaperon for the kids on a field trip Darnels charity organized. He started coming by here more and more after that. WARRICK Do you have any family here? ROXANNE A brother, Erny, but I dont speak with him.

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SARAH Anybody that would want to hurt him? Other rappers? Any of his past street friends? Roxanne burst out with a laugh. ROXANNE Darnel grew up in Connecticut. All that gangsta rap stuff was manufactured by the record company. (beat) He hated the rap game. He was a pianist. He went to Juilliard for gods sake. SARAH Were you with him in the car last night? ROXANNE Yes. I was with him earlier in the night. We ran a few errands, and then he dropped me off at our place and he left. WARRICK Can anyone confirm that? Roxanne shakes her head. Sarah presses her. SARAH No? Your boyfriends been murdered, and the best you can come up with is he dropped me off? ROXANNE I dont like your tone. And I dont have to be answering your questions. SARAH Youre our prime suspect, so you better start answering them. Roxanne looks her up and down. ROXANNE No, I dont think I will. I have to get back to work now. Roxanne EXITS in a huff.

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WARRICK You want to let me know what that was? SARAH Her boyfriend gets murdered, she laughs and talks about where he grew up? (beat) Theres something wrong with that. Warrick disagrees with her theory. WARRICK She has black hair and she doesnt seem like the shotgun type. CUT TO: INT. CSI BUILDING - TRACE LAB - DAY Warrick is growing impatient with VINCENT DORSEY. WARRICK Let me know what you have and Ill let her know. DORSEY No. I am tired of repeating myself. I give you the download, then she comes in and I have to repeat it. Well wait for her. WARRICK Ill tell her not to bother you. DORSEY Right. Like she listens to anyone. Sarah ENTERS carrying a PHOTO. SARAH Sorry, I was waiting for surveillance photos from the bank. Sarah hands Warrick the PHOTO. INSERT A GRAINY photo of Darnel, seated with Roxanne. twisted toward him, grabbing his arm. Roxanne is

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BACK TO SCENE SARAH The errands Roxanne referred to included a stop at the bank. Darnel made a withdrawal of $40,000 that afternoon. (beat) What did I miss? Vincent shoots Warrick an I told you so smirk. DORSEY We all ears here? (beat) Hair is human, well most of it anyway. Pointing Sarah to the COMPARATIVE MICROSCOPE. MICROSCOPE POV WE SEE two images of different texture BLONDE HAIR. The LEFT image is of a human air STRIPPED OF its CUTICLES giving it a smoother texture. The RIGHT image is a MONOFILAMENT dyed Blonde. BACK TO SCENE DORSEY The hairs are from a 50/50 blended wig. On the left you have the processed human hair, and on the right, monofilament dyed to match. Sarah shoots Warrick a look. SARAH Thats why we didnt find any of Roxannes hair in the car, she had it covered up. (beat) What about the white powder sample? Vincent hands Warrick the MASS SPECTROMETER report. DORSEY Fat Chance was a K-hole.

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SARAH Dont you mean A-ho... WARRICK No. K-hole. Its the effect from Ketamine. A cat tranquilizer popular with the rave crowd. Gives you a near death experience. SARAH His tox report came back clean. DORSEY Someone in that car liked to get Insane the membrane, insane in the brain. WARRICK If youre talking Special K in Vegas, youre talking Ricky Panos. CUT TO: INT. CSI BUILDING - GRISSOMS OFFICE - DAY OPEN ON a giant NEMATODA, a vicious worm with three pairs of teeth. PULL BACK to Grissom staring down the microscope at the larva like he was 13 again seeing it for the first time. Catherine ENTERS. CATHERINE I processed the 67 prints I lifted from the elevator and rafter through AFIS. So far I have seven matches. GRISSOM Any possibles? CATHERINE Not unless he was attacked by a group of electricians. (beat) Kid Rock was in town three days ago. Apparently his entire lighting crew did time in Detroit before he hid it big and took them on the road. (beat) Can you identify it?

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GRISSOM Creeping eruption. CATHERINE Sounds like a bad 70s horror flick. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT WE ARE AT THE ENTRANCE of Jamess bruised skin which is raised in minute serpiginous patterns. GRISSOM The parasite burrows through the epidermis. In humans they cant get below the basement layer, so they migrate through the cutaneous layer. The CAMERA pushes inside an ENTRANCE, we are along for twisting turning ride through a parasite trail just behind the advancing larvae. BACK TO SCENE GRISSOM Its a parasite Ancyclostoma caninum, causes severe inflammation. CATHERINE Where did he get it? GRISSOM A dog. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT WE PUSH below a N.D. DOGs FUR, where hundreds of LARVAE are bombarding the skin to penetrate. WE FOLLOW as they burrow through finding a river of blood.

31.

GRISSOM The larvae penetrate the skin, and burrow through the animal, finding the bloodstream, which carries them to the lungs. In the DOGS LUNG, the WORM eats through the lining traveling up through the respiratory system to the mouth. BACK TO SCENE GRISSOM They then they bore up through to the dogs mouth, are swallowed down and pass out in the dogs feces to the soil, where they eventually find a new host. (beat) In this case, James. Theyre uncommon for these parts because of the low precipitation and higher temperatures. Catherine, liking that they have a new lead. CATHERINE Ill see who has pooch. CUT TO: INT. CORONERS OFFICE - AUTOPSY ROOM A DAY Grissom anxiously awaits Dr. Robbins findings. DR. ROBBINS Cause of death is Hypoxic encephalopathy, mostly likely caused by a severe epileptic fit. GRISSOM He had epilepsy? Dr. Robbins pulling his chart and handing to Grissom. DR. ROBBINS Since birth. I received all his medical records, but I knew it when I opened up his head. (beat) He had a hemispherectomy. SNAP ZOOM TO:

32.

CSI SHOT Jamess childs brain, blood pumping, is hit by an ELECTRICAL STORM. The whole brain shutters. Then - the right side is sliced out. DR. ROBBINS (V.O.) Half the brain is carefully removed, and the void fills with cerebrospinal fluid. FLUID flows from a freed dam taking over the cavern. BACK TO SCENE GRISSOM He was a functioning adult? How? DR. ROBBINS It is not the how, but because of the when. The operation was performed when he was only a few months old. GRISSOM The childs brain isnt fully formed, the growing brain adapts, and takes over the functions performed by the removed tissue. DR. ROBBINS Its possible cognitive function could be completely intact. Grissom constructs Jamess last moments. GRISSOM He had an epileptic fit, his respiratory muscles were paralyzed and oxygenation plummeted until he died. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT The lungs pumping fiercely are hit hard by the surrounding muscles with spasms. The lungs struggle to fill but lose the battle against the crunching muscles.

33.

BACK TO SCENE Dr. Robbins hands Grissom Jamess file. DR. ROBBINS Tox report matches his prescribed meds, carbamazepine, and valproic acid, but the doses were high. Dr. Robbins walks to JAMESS SECTIONED BRAIN on the counter. DR. ROBBINS Because of the doses, I figured something else might be at work in his brain, so I did the coronal sections at 1/2 cm instead of 1 cm and found this -He points out a small lesion at the back of the section. GRISSOM He had a growing lesion? DR. ROBBINS A glioblastoma, highly malignant. GRISSOM He was self-medicating because he was experiencing new and more intense seizures. Catherine pulls open the door. CATHERINE Sorry to interrupt. None of the players or staff on the list registered pets with the school this year, but one lives in the dorms where pets are allowed. (beat) Kiddy Parks. FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO

34.

ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. KIDDY PARKS APARTMENT - FIRST FLOOR - DAY OPEN ON a row of bouncing BOBBLE HEAD DOLLS. PULL BACK to reveal Grissom flicking the heads. Kiddy is seated in his unkempt apartment. GRISSOM You collect dolls Kiddy? KIDDY Theyre not dolls. Theyre bobble heads. Theyre a symbol of success. GRISSOM A symbol, how so? KIDDY No matter how cool you think you are, youre nothing till they make you a bobble head. Grissom inspects the apartment. He eyes the beer bottles and mess in the apartment. Kiddy is nervous, his eyes cant keep away from the double glass doors to the back yard. GRISSOM You have a party? KIDDY Yeah. To celebrate the win. (beat) Like I told the other cop, my dog, Zeus, died seven months ago. GRISSOM Were not police officers. You have any dogs since then? KIDDY No, there... Catherine ENTERS holding an absurdly large SPIKED DOG COLLAR in her gloved hands. This thing could hold back a tiger.

35.

CATHERINE Probably caused the puncture marks under his neck. Ill test it for blood. WHITE FLASH TO: JAMES FELFERS NECK (FLASHBACK) His head jerks, pushing the COLLAR through the skin under his chin creating THREE SYMMETRICAL PUNCTURE WOUNDS. BACK TO SCENE GRISSOM Probably from James Felfer. Catherine pulls out a COTTON SWAB and bottle of PHENOLPHTHALEIN, but then pauses, staring out the double glass doors that Kiddy has been eyeing. Grissom is not seeing, or actually hearing what they are. CATHERINE Do you hear that? By his look we know Grissoms hearing is getting worse. Catherine pulls the glass door open. WE NOW all hear the distinct yelping of a PUPPY that was making Kiddy nervous. EXT. KIDDY PARKS APARTMENT - BACK YARD - CONTINUOUS Grissom crosses the yard to the fence, the barking growing louder. He pulls himself up to look over the fence. GRISSOMS POV A lethargic BEAGLE yelps back at him. At the sight of Grissom, the DOG OWNER, walks over. GRISSOM You should get your dog to a Vet, hes sick. Grissom slides back down the fence. He fingers the damp soil at the bottom of the fence.

36.

GRISSOM Not a boundary for a parasite. CUT TO: INT. CSI - BALLISTICS LAB - DAY

Greg is at the IBIS Computer. Sarah and Warrick enter. SANDERS Not even close bud. The one you took from the side of the car is .32 caliber slug. The pellets from the victim are buckshot. WARRICK Two weapons, two shooters. SARAH Or one person carrying two weapons. Greg is silent for once, about to explode in anticipation, waiting for them to ask. SARAH Do you get the sense there is more? (beat) What is it Greg? SANDERS There is gold in dem dare hills! The buckshot has a suspicious substance on it. WARRICK How so? SANDERS The buckshot taken out of the victim and the two pellets Warrick extracted from the seat are number 1 buckshot, composite of 45% iron and 55% tungsten, but there were several of them covered with a third substance. (beat) I separated them, and ran them through the gas chromatograph to sure. (beat) Gold! 18K.

37.

SARAH Gold shot? SANDERS Not shot, fragments. The pellets hit something. SNAP ZOOM TO: CSI SHOT SHOTGUN PELLETS traveling through human tissues strike an OBJECT. WE catch up with them as they come to rest in the muscle. The lead colored pellets are marked with distinct gold chips. BACK TO SCENE WARRICK Jewelry? Greg grabs an evidence bag holding a PLATINUM NECKLACE. SANDERS Ice. Darnel wore Platinum not gold, like his watch. Nick bursts in. NICK Your suspect, Roxanne, was just taken into custody. They stopped her at the front desk. She was trying to get in the building with a shotgun. OFF Warrick and Sarah, her theory is looking right. INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY Roxanne and her lawyer, FRED CAREY, are here to make her statement. Warrick drives the interview, Sarah rides shotgun. ROXANNE It was an accident. Darnel was holding the gun when we crashed and it went off. WHITE FLASH TO:

38.

INT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT (VERSION) Darnel, with the shotgun pointed at his groin, looks up too late colliding with the telephone pole. The interior flashes with gun fire. WHITE FLASH TO: WARRICK Why were you driving around with a loaded shotgun? ROXANNE I wasnt. Darnel was, for protection. Earlier in the day someone took a few shots at him. He was really scared. He thought it was a crazed fan. SARAH Was he scared of you? CAREY You dont need to answer that. May I remind you that my client came in to cooperate. SARAH Your client has been lying to us. So the sooner you start telling us the truth, the sooner this will be over. (beat) We have you on surveillance at the bank with Darnel. What was the money for? Was it for you? ROXANNE I didnt need his money. Darnel was going back on the road and he liked to travel with cash. SARAH Youve been dating a rap star for two years, and according to your bank accounts, he has never given you a dime. Careys patience is wearing thin with Sarah.

39.

CAREY Ms. Venter has come here to right a wrong. There was a terrible accident. She should not have left the scene, but that doesnt make her a murderer. Sarah changes her tune. SARAH Right. Lets back up. Why dont you start by telling us about him. What did you like to do together? Warrick, leans back unsure where she is taking this. Roxanne is caught off guard. ROXANNE We stayed home mostly, you know hung out. SARAH And when you hung out what did you do? ROXANNE (stammering) Dinner, watch TV. SARAH Whats his favorite kind of food? Warrick even thinks she is stretching it. ROXANNE What the hell does that have to do with anything? Sarah waits for a long time, sizing up Roxanne. SARAH Whens the last time you had sex with Darnel? ROXANNE Lady, you got a real problem. Carey stands, lifting Roxanne with him. CAREY (Warrick) I think you should report her to her supervisor, she deserves help.

40.

Carey and Roxanne EXIT. Sarah is fuming. WARRICK What was that? SARAH I hate to be lied to. WARRICK Shes in on her own accord, brings the weapon with her, and you think she is lying? SARAH I know she is and I can prove it. CUT TO: INT. CSI - GARAGE - DAY The El Camino is on blocks, just past it is a TEST CAR loaded with TWO DUMMIES. A SAWED OFF SHOTGUN, held up by a REMOTE FIRING RIG is pointed at the Driver Dummy. SARAH The drivers side window was blown out, but the passengers side was intact. She said the doors were closed when the gun went off, but both windows would have exploded from the pressure. WARRICK If the window was rolled down it would release the pressure. SARAH It wasnt. I noted it during processing. The pressure in a confined space would need somewhere to go. They turn toward the rigged car. With a nod, Sarah hits the remote. The shot gun is triggered. CSI SHOT SLOW MOTION as the gun fires, releasing AIR PRESSURE WAVES. The WAVES travel away from the gun toward the window. As they approach impact...

41.

BACK TO SCENE BOOM, BOOM, both windows explode, spraying shards of glass out from the car. SARAH A good confession, but a lie. She is covering for someone. They step to the car. Warrick opens the door, and kneels inspecting the blast. WARRICK It confirms the angle too, wounds the same. The angle gets Warrick thinking. He opens the El Camino door and inspects the seat. WARRICK Hand me those needle nose pliers. Sarah hands him the PLIERS from the cart. WARRICK There were 14 pellets taken out of Darnel, and I pulled two from the seat. When I extracted them, I wasnt looking for anything else down there. Warrick pushes the pliers through the BULLET HOLES into the seat. He fishes the first one and finds nothing. The second one - he pulls back a CRUMPLED PIECE OF GOLD. SARAH Weve got to get that to Greg. Warrick nods and checks his pager thats buzzing. WARRICK Why dont you take this? Sulik just picked up Ricky Panos. He had a semi-auto .32 on him. CUT TO: INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY Kiddy, Brass and Grissom are present.

42.

GRISSOM Your soil tested positive for Ancylostoma caninum. The same parasite present in James Felfers skin. KIDDY Bacterias everywhere. GRISSOM Parasite. And this kind isnt everywhere. BRASS The dog collar tested positive for blood. So you better start talking or the only court youll see will be the one at your trial. KIDDY I dont think so. GRISSOM You followed him to class, then you brought him back to your apartment. When the party started, you couldnt have him tied up in the apartment, so you took him out back and chained him up with your dog collar. Only problem was that during the party James had a seizure, this one was unrelenting, and with no one there to save him, he died. WHITE FLASH TO: EXT. KIDDY PARKS APARTMENT - BACK YARD (VERSION) The Roadrunner, chained to the back fence, flails, his body convulsing. Finally the jerking stops and the body comes to a rest. WHITE FLASH TO: GRISSOM Then you brought him to the stadium to make it look like an accident. Kiddy seems to shrink knowing he is out of moves.

43.

KIDDY I couldnt have a bad game on national TV. I worked hard for this my whole life, and finally its about to happen, and this kid is going to jinx us by taking off. No way I was going to let that happen. (beat) But I didnt kill him. BRASS You kidnapped him and he died on you. Thats enough for me. KIDDY He didnt die. He was only out there a few hours. I checked on him, and he didnt look so good. I brought him in, and he crashed on the couch. I took him to the stadium in the afternoon. BRASS And why should I believe you? Grissoms mind is at work, something isnt adding up. might be something to what Kiddy is saying. KIDDY I swear he was alive when I dropped him off. BRASS We already have you for the kidnapping. It doesnt do any good to lie about him dying. OFF Kiddys desperate LOOK, WE: CUT TO: INT. CSI BUILDING - HALLWAY - DAY Grissom on the move with the PHONE to his ear. to keep up. GRISSOM (into phone) Check all the hardware, boating, and safety stores. (beat) Okay. Brass tries There

44.

He hangs up, turning to Brass. GRISSOM Do you know Schrodingers cat? BRASS No, but I know Pavlovs dog. GRISSOM Its an analogy to describe the conundrums in physics. Brass wipes his face knowing the explanation is coming. GRISSOM ...If he died, and was then transported to the arena he would have lividity marks from the inside of a car, or from any objects that were pressed against him. (beat) The only marks he has are from the harness. They plow through the double doors. GRISSOM And thats where Schrodingers cat comes in. (beat) The cat lives inside a box. In quantum physics reality, in the box he can be alive and dead at the same time, but not in our reality. Once we take a look at him, he is either dead or alive. We cant have it both ways. BRASS What in gods name are you talking about Gil? GRISSOM The conundrum of the cat - James being alive at the stadium but dead before he hits the back board with out a cause. They PUSH into the A/V room. CUT TO:

45.

INT. CSI - A/V LAB - DAY - CONTINUOUS The room is covered in SPOTLIGHTS, LASERS and STROBES. Brass and Grissom ENTER. GRISSOM (to Catherine) You ready. (to Brass) Catherine has reconstructed the stadium lights as James saw them from the perch. Catherine steps toward a large X on the floor. She is surrounded by 16 LIGHTS and STROBES set 2 1/2 feet off the ground. CATHERINE James was positioned here. From his perch, he would have been hit by 16 different lights sources, which I pulled from the arena set up. (beat) Most of the effects were blocked from his vision by JUMBOTRON and grid below him. BRASS I can appreciate a light show, but why does this matter? GRISSOM Epilepsy is pretty common, about 1 in 200. Photosensitive epilepsy is not, about 1 in 4000 are afflicted. In order for you to have a seizure, you need a stimuli. BRASS So the light show was the stimuli and you are saying this was an accident? CATHERINE Thats what well find out with this experiment. Under a rate of five flashes per second, most photosensitive epileptics will be completely safe.

46.

Grissom motions for Catherine to start. She stands on the X, holding a LIGHT SENSITIVE DIODE, and hits the lights. Brass suddenly feels like the rock star he knows he is. WE NOTICE that Catherine is barely being hit by the lights. She shuts it down, holding up the METER. CATHERINE Three flashes per minute. Brass isnt sure. Grissoms PHONE RINGS and he answers. GRISSOM Yes. Okay. (beat) Pick one up and meet us at the station. Grissom hangs up. GRISSOM James was experiencing new types of seizures, but he knew it, and he was prepared. Even if he was caught off guard, that light show wouldnt have provided enough stimuli to cause the attack that killed him. CATHERINE There had to be someone up there with him that knew he was photosensitive. Grissom turns to Brass knowingly. GRISSOM (to Brass) Bob Lonsky. BRASS On what cause? GRISSOM Nick just found a receipt in his name for the murder weapon. OFF Brass WE: FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE

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ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT Warrick and Sulik sit across from RICKY PANOS, a dirty low life. WARRICK We pulled two .32 slugs out of Darnel Chances El Camino. I am sure theyll match to your gun. PANOS We both know I didnt hit anyone with those shots. WARRICK Youre tied to the murder scene, so why dont you make this easy. Panos knows they have him. PANOS You make sure you tell the DA I was helpful. (beat) It was a messy drop off. Hed been on a binge and ran up a huge tab. I called in his tab and they met me to drop off the cash. During the drop, the kid flashed a shotgun. I laughed at him and fired two into the car to let them know is wasnt playing. (beat) They paid me and took off, I never saw them again. WARRICK They? Who was in the car with Darnel? PANOS Darnels boyfriend, Erny Venter. It was Ernys tab.

48.

Sarah was right. brother.

Roxanne had been covering for someone, her CUT TO:

INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT Grissom, Nick and Brass sit across from a confident Bob Lonsky. GRISSOM The spadefoot toad can live months with out water. In fact, it goes into such a deep hibernation its metabolic rate slows down. But when the rain comes, it springs to life, finding mates and with-in 24 hours can produce tadpoles. Humans react to isolation and then a sudden jolt of testosterone in a very similar way. BOB Is this biology class? GRISSOM Social isolation can have devastating effects on humans weight gain, heart attacks, and even death. Grissom slides a piece of paper over to him. Bob recognizes the SIGN UP SHEET. BOB So, I tried out to be the mascot, so what? That doesnt mean anything. BRASS I bet you werent expecting Coach Bean to be there. WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - COURT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) Bob, James and TWO COLLEGIANS run the stairs. Bob can barely lift his leg. Coach Bean runs a few steps ahead of them. Molly is flabbergasted at his cruelty.

49.

BEAN Tell that fat boy he shouldve stayed home if he cant keep up. WHITE FLASH TO: BACK TO SCENE BRASS Not much spotlight washing other peoples jockstraps? NICK You dont get many girls being the equipment manager. Bob cant help reveal that they are touching a nerve. BOB They shouldnt even have had tryouts. It was a big joke, you know? GRISSOM You were isolated all over again. Your shot at attention yanked away. (beat) That changed after James told you his secret? WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - LOCKER ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK) Bob, carrying the Roadrunner head, confronts James at his locker. BOB Why did you put this in here? You arent supposed to modify the costume. James looks in on the VELCRO he has affixed inside the head. JAMES I need to ask you a favor Bob. You cant tell anyone about this. Bobs face lights up.

50.

BOB Of course not. What is it? WHITE FLASH TO: GRISSOM Did you feel a sudden jolt of testosterone when you found out his weakness? BRASS Thats when you decided to kill him? BOB Thats crazy. Im not the one who kidnapped the guy. You should be talking to Kiddy. GRISSOM How did you know that? Were you following him? The cracks are starting to appear. BOB No...I just heard thats what happened. Grissom pulls out A HAND HELD STROBE LIGHT. GRISSOM Do you know what this is Bob? BOB A flash light? NICK A strobe light. BRASS Its a murder weapon, and you bought one just like it three weeks ago. Bob is boxed in, feeling the heat. GRISSOM You knew he had epilepsy, and strobe lights could stimulate a fit, and you took advantage of it. (MORE)

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GRISSOM(cont'd) You were up there waiting for him Bob.

WHITE FLASH TO: INT. ARENA - CATWALK - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) James is strapping into the TRAPEZE (SANS BIRD HEAD). Bob runs the other end, shoving the HAND HELD STROBE in his face. James JERKS violently, catching his FEATHERS in the metal frame. Jamess head snaps forward, his teeth sniping his TONGUE off. The TONGUE launches into Bobs chest and bounces through the CUT OUT hole to the court. WHITE FLASH TO: BACK TO SCENE GRISSOM Those lights couldnt have set off his attack, so you made sure your light would. (beat) You didnt cut your hand on your glasses. They were Jamess. Your plan also didnt count on his tongue hitting you and bouncing to the court. BOB Everyone treated me like I was the hunchback, or something. Toiling away, doing the crummy work. (beat) If Coach hadnt come in and taken over we wouldnt be in this mess. James would be alive and I would be the Roadrunner. Brass waves in an OFFICER. BRASS Take twinkle-toes here for a walk down to booking. NICK Maybe now youll be able to pick up cheerleaders with the attention?

52.

Bob is escorted out. GRISSOM Social isolation can be crippling. BRASS I dont think hell be too lonely where hes going. CUT TO: INT./EXT. CSI TAHOE/ SUMMER HILL REHAB CENTER - DAY Warrick and Sarah drive up the long groomed DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE to the SUMMER HILL REHAB CENTER. SARAH Greg retested all the blood in the car. It all belonged to Darnel, but he found oral epithelial cells on the gold. Ran it through CODIS and it came back with Erny Venter. WARRICK Panos says Erny is Darnels boyfriend and Roxanne was his cover for his music career. SARAH She was trying to cover for Erny this time. Erny checked into the rehab center the morning after the crash. CUT TO: INT. SUMMER HILL REHAB CENTER - DAY An elegant visiting room in the exclusive rehab center. Roxanne and Fred Carey sit across from Warrick and Sarah. The door opens - a NURSE escorts ERNY VENTER, 26, a slight Asian man, who is badly bruised, and drying out. CAREY Mr. Venter will answer all of your questions. I can assume you will be significantly more courteous than you were with Ms. Venter.

53.

SARAH Someone should have shown Darnel a lot more courtesy. Erny lifts his head, hes already weeping. ERNY He wasnt murdered, he shot himself. WARRICK We already know thats not true, this was not an accident. ROXANNE Im sorry I lied to you, but we werent trying to protect Erny. (beat) You know what the media would have done to Darnels family, his mother, if they found out he was gay? ERNY I didnt mean the shooting. WARRICK Erny, what was an accident? Erny recalls the events. ERNY The whole thing. It started with my relapse. I had been clean for four months, but it was hard having Darnel out of town so much. I had been on a binge that lasted two weeks and ran up a huge tab. SARAH With Ricky Panos? Erny nods, the memories pull the scabs off his fragile psyche. ERNY Darnel and Roxanne found me. I was pretty beat up, and still high. I had been at a drag club partying all night, when Ricky found me. WHITE FLASH TO:

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INT. BACK ALLEY - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) Ricky is throwing punches at a defenseless Erny (note: Erny is in Drag in all Flashbacks). He is enjoying it, probably repressed feelings. PANOS If you dont have it, Darnel will pay. With your life or his money! WHITE FLASH TO: SARAH Thats the $40 thousand? ROXANNE No. $25k for Ricky and $15 for rehab. Erny didnt have insurance and Darnel insisted on paying. WARRICK What about the payoff? ERNY Ricky wanted an inconvenience fee. I didnt want to pay. So I pointed the shotgun at him, and Darnel gave him the money. When we took off, he shot at us. Erny composes himself for the hard part. ERNY Darnel was upset, I was still messed up,...I wanted to make him feel good. I didnt know what to do, so I... ROXANNE Its okay Erny, just get it over with. ERNY ...Darnel tried to stop me, but it was too late, I was already... Erny breaks down crying. ROXANNE Thats when they crashed, and Erny accidentally bit it off. (MORE)

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ROXANNE(cont'd) Darnel was bleeding to death and he didnt want to be found that way. It would have caused too many problems.
ERNY Even to the last second he was concerned about everyone else. (beat) I helped him with the shotgun, but I couldnt do it, so Darnel did. WHITE FLASH TO: INT./EXT. EL CAMINO - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) We are at the aftermath of the car accident. Erny is huddled at the side of the car trying to will it all way. Darnel pulls the trigger. Erny screams. He then reaches in grabbing the shotgun and duffel bag. He wipes the car down with the bag. He takes one last look at Darnels eyes, remembering him and runs. WHITE FLASH TO: ERNY I got scared, so I took off. I had blood on me, I had touched the gun. I lost the best thing that ever happened to me, and it was all my fault. Warrick and Sarah take all this in. This was not the explanation they had envisioned, but the evidence fits, except... SARAH Were you wearing a gold necklace, or chain? Erny, embarrassed points to his new enamel front teeth. ERNY My gold teeth broke off during the accident. I couldnt find them. I replaced them with regular ones. Darnel thought I looked like a punk with the other ones. (beat) You people probably think were sick. Well were not. (MORE)

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ERNY(cont'd) Darnel was the nicest person I ever met. He did everything he could for people.
SARAH Mr. Venter, we dont judge people. We just look at the evidence. FADE OUT. THE END