The Glades (2 page)

LONGWORTH

A place other people go to maybe? Young people. To party, get drunk. Try sex?

She doesn't respond, but yeah, basically.

LONGWORTH

So it's kind of a dumb place to dump a body. If someone knew that.

ERIN

Maybe it's a good place, if you're tryin' to mess with the cops.

LONGWORTH

Is that something you think about? Messing with us for trying to keep things safe and orderly?

ERIN

I'm just saying.

LONGWORTH

So was this your first time trying sex?

ERIN

Trying?

LONGWORTH

Hey, I'm still trying. Don't ever wanna get too good at a thing, it takes out all the magic.

ERIN

How do you know she didn't float there from upriver?

LONGWORTH

Doesn't figure that way, forensically.

ERIN

Are you an expert in forensics?

LONGWORTH

I'm an expert in all things homicidal, Erin. There isn't much about murder I don't know. Or can't find out. If I just keep asking the right questions.

They stare at each other.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALM GLADE STATE PRESERVE - FISHEATING CREEK - AFTERNOON

Crime scene tape marks off a hundred or so square feet which have been cordoned off to the public. A State Police Department vehicle sits inside the area, parked along side the marsh.

We FIND Longworth, sitting on the bank, shoes and socks off, rolling up his pant legs. A 9-iron at his side, which he picks up then wades into the water.

The water is to his mid-thigh. He tries to peer down into the dark, brackish water as he sifts through the silt with the 9-iron, raking it across the river floor. He snags on something, dips to fish around the bottom with his hand, holding his head just above the water line, when he suddenly lurches out of the water, staggering back and out of the way of

AN ANGRY FIVE FOOT ALLIGATOR
whipping in a near full-breech having taken a good nip out of Longworth's hand. Longworth stumbles back onto the bank, more in shock than in pain as the alligator drifts off, already losing interest in the startled lawman.

CUT TO:

INT. TAMPA GRACE MEDICAL CENTER - EVENING

Longworth in a hospital gown, a bandage over his right hand, is bent over an exam table as a health care worker draws antibiotic into a syringe behind him.

LONGWORTH

Is this absolutely necessary?

The health care worker, CALLIE, a pretty thirty-two year old with a tough veneer, rubs an alcohol cotton ball on his ass.

CALLIE

You want to die of infection?

LONGWORTH

He looked pretty hygienic to me.

CALLIE

Everyone looks hygienic till the blood work comes back.

She looks for a spot on his ass to administer the shot, stops to run a finger over scar tissue in the middle of his back.

CALLIE

Either that's an exit wound or the surgeons in Chicago are all drunks.

He looks back at her, impressed she knew what it was.

LONGWORTH

My captain shot me.

CALLIE

On purpose?

LONGWORTH

He thought I was sleeping with his wife...

She sticks him with the needle, he blanches slightly.

LONGWORTH

-- I wasn't. But I was the only one in the department that wasn't.

She drops the gown to re-cover his ass. He holds up his bandaged hand, testing it, squeezing it open and closed.

LONGWORTH

It feels like it's gonna hurt like hell later on.

CALLIE

I can give you something for the pain, but a six pack of Heineken will do just as good. And if I do give you something and later on you want that Heineken...

Meaning, not on antibiotics, as he mimics a golf grip and swing, annoyed with the clunky bandage and wincing for the effort.

LONGWORTH

Callie, is it?

She looks at him. He nods to her name tag -- how he knows this.

LONGWORTH

How long you think I'm gonna have to wear this thing?

CALLIE

You in some kind of hurry?

LONGWORTH

I've got a Titleist with a perfect lie sitting on the fourteenth fairway at Belleair, waiting for me to break eighty for the first time in my life.

CALLIE

With that swing, I'm not surprised.

She hands him a clipboard for his signature.

CALLIE

Sign, date and initial where indicated.

LONGWORTH

What am I signing?

CALLIE

You're releasing the medical center from liability should you lose that hand or die from infection due to my incompetence.

LONGWORTH

I'm not signing that.

CALLIE

You will if you want your pants back.

She leaves. He smiles, eyes trailing her as she goes. Off which --

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL - OFFICE - DAY

Ogletree, sitting uncomfortably at his desk over a file.

LONGWORTH

That thing helping?

He turns as Longworth steps up, nodding to the back support thing strapped to the back of Ogletree's chair.

OGLETREE

No. Lose your uniform again?

Ogletree in department khakis, Longworth in street clothes. An ongoing source of aggravation for Ogletree...

LONGWORTH

I'm just saying, hit the gym once in a while, every little thing wouldn't throw your back out.

OGLETREE

Yeah, we can be workout partners. Spend even more time together.
(re: the files)
I got Missing Person files from Orlando, Ocala, Tampa, Miami. Nothing promising. I'm waiting for Jacksonville and Naples.

LONGWORTH

Naples? That's like old people. She wasn't that old.

OGLETREE

Maybe she was visiting a relative.

LONGWORTH

Dressed like that, I don't think so.

OGLETREE

What's wrong with the way she was dressed?

LONGWORTH

Someone she was visiting would've called it in if she went missing, don't you think?

Ogletree looks at him blankly.

LONGWORTH

We may not have her head, compadre, but we still have ours.

Longworth heads off. Ogletree watches him head out.

INT. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT - LAB

Carlos over a microscope, Longworth poring over a victim protocol.

CARLOS

The club manager called. He's getting complaints that you've cordoned off an area around your ball on the fourteenth fairway.

LONGWORTH

I want to finish the round.

CARLOS

It's going to be weeks before you can swing a club. Go pick up your ball.

LONGWORTH

I'm getting medical treatment, I'll be fine by the end of the week.
(from the protocol)
Esophageal abrasions? What's that, like heartburn? What would cause that?

CARLOS

Acid reflux. Spicy food. You.

LONGWORTH

How spicy?

CARLOS

Spicy. Habanero spicy.

LONGWORTH

What's that test called again?

CARLOS

What test?

LONGWORTH

Barnucleous or something.

CARLOS

(annoyed by the obvious)
A skin graft, to determine race. She's white.

LONGWORTH

And tan. Any way to determine if her tan was natural, or the result of a tanning booth?

CARLOS

No. Both are caused from exposure to UV rays...

LONGWORTH

Exposed evenly from a tanning bed - or mottled, like a native?

Carlos looks up at him, annoyed but sees his point.

CARLOS

Fine. I'll do a barnucleous.

Carlos goes back to his eyepiece.

LONGWORTH

You know if she had any kids?

CARLOS

Pelvic density suggests not.

LONGWORTH

But you'll run a test to determine anyway.
(off his look)
If she's anything like my mom, she and my sister talk five times a day and they hate each other.

CARLOS

Whatever the hell that means.

LONGWORTH

It means I think it's time I found a woman's perspective.

Carlos looks up from his eyepiece at that -- to see that he is gone.

INT. TAMPA GRACE MEDICAL CENTER - DAY

Longworth is having his wound re-dressed by a NURSE, when CALLIE walks by, bag over her shoulder, clearly on her way to the parking lot.

Longworth nods thanks to the nurse, hurries off to follow.

Falling in step with Callie as she hurries through the lobby.

LONGWORTH

Hey. I was hoping I would catch you.

CALLIE

Already not sure how I feel about
that.

LONGWORTH

I'd like to run something by you.

CALLIE

Look, I just stopped by to pick up my check...

LONGWORTH

See, I have this theory. Two theories, actually. I need someone like yourself to kind of walk it through with me.

CALLIE

Don't you have co-workers for that kind of thing?

LONGWORTH

I do, yeah, a lot of co-workers...

She stops at the automatic doors leading out to the parking lot to fish out her keys --

LONGWORTH

-- and a partner I guess, I mean, technically speaking. He heads up the local Highway Patrol. Nice enough guy, great wife. They have me over to dinner every Sunday. But he's not a very good cop. He's also not a health care professional. Or a woman. I need a woman's perspective.

CALLIE

Who's a health care professional.

When a car HORN sounds, coming from a KIA SORRENTO, parked under the entrance overhang.

CALLIE

Look, I really can't do this right now...

LONGWORTH

The new Sorrento. Nice. Who's that waiting for you?

Meaning the BOY in the front seat, obviously the horn honker.

CALLIE

That's my husband.

LONGWORTH

Your husband is twelve?

CALLIE

Okay, he's my son.

LONGWORTH

He looks annoyed.

CALLIE

He's twelve.

LONGWORTH

So there's a husband somewhere.

CALLIE

Somewhere.

Vagueness, Longworth clocks, when her son honks again.

LONGWORTH

Then maybe a drink, later. Which sounds a lot like a date, but it's not.

CALLIE

Later I have to feed my son and get on him about his homework.

LONGWORTH

After that.

CALLIE

After that I go to bed.

LONGWORTH

Breakfast then, my treat, wherever you want.

She gives him a look, he smiles. Then the horn again.

CALLIE

Okay, look. I'll feed my son and at least get him pretending to do his homework. You can stop by around eight, I'll give you thirty minutes.

LONGWORTH

Eight o'clock, thirty minutes, pretending to do his homework.

She gives him a look, grins despite herself and heads off.

EXT. THE DON CESAR - BEACH RESORT - POOL SIDE CABANA - DAY

A jewel of Deco renovation on the sugar-white sand of St. Pete Beach.

Longworth talking to a man in a Blue Blazer, who nods him off in a specific direction, which Longworth follows.

He approaches Justin, wearing white shorts and cotton shirt with epaulets, setting up cabanas and guest umbrellas for the day.

LONGWORTH

Got a minute for some questions?

Justin glances up briefly. Continues to set up chairs.

JUSTIN

Can't. Got to set up for the day.

LONGWORTH

Actually, now is what I meant.

Justin looks at Longworth, who's pulled out his badge.

EXT. THE DON CESAR - BEACH - DAY

Justin sits with Longworth at the beach side cafe. Parasails, turquoise water and half-naked tourists in every direction.

JUSTIN

I already gave that other guy my statement.

LONGWORTH

Mixed in with chunks of whatever you had for dinner last night. I thought I'd do a little follow up now that you're, presumably, less hammered.

JUSTIN

I didn't have anything to do with that lady getting killed.

LONGWORTH

I don't know that.

JUSTIN

Why would I tell you guys she was out there if I had something to do with it?

LONGWORTH

I dunno, you're a moron? I already know you're not very bright...
(off his look)
-- it's not murder, but rape will still get you eight years in prison, and you brought that to our attention.

JUSTIN

Rape? I didn't rape anybody.

LONGWORTH

The presumption is a sixteen-year-old isn't emotionally ready to consent to a sexual encounter, so legally, the presumption is a clear "no" across the board. Having sex with someone who says no, is rape.

JUSTIN

The legal age is sixteen. She looked it up or something, went
online.

LONGWORTH

She lied to you about that. Which I'm guessing you believed because it synced up better with your immediate needs. Any reason you can think of why she lied to you about that, like maybe it was her first time?

JUSTIN

Her first time, that's hilarious.

LONGWORTH

She indicated to me that it was.

JUSTIN

Maybe she just indicated that to you to mess with you. And what's that got to do with the woman without the head?

LONGWORTH

What's with everyone and that question? It's how a police investigation works. That's what we do, we ask questions. Sometimes direct, sometimes indirect, it doesn't matter if they make sense to you, half the time they don't make sense to me.

JUSTIN

I know she's lying because I know for a fact a guy she did before me.

LONGWORTH

How do you know he's not lying?

JUSTIN

Because he was my brother.

LONGWORTH

What do you mean, was? Is your brother dead?

JUSTIN

Yeah, he's dead. Got clipped on his motorcycle by a tourist on State Road 301. At Interlake and 301, where the light is now. Put that friggin' light up right after it happened, like some friggin' reminder to me, so that every time I drive by I get to remember how he got mangled by some minivan driving asswipe from friggin' Maine.

LONGWORTH

Well at least you've worked through it.

Justin glares at Longworth.

LONGWORTH

I'm gonna need to ask you a few more questions, so don't leave town without checking with me first.

JUSTIN

Why?

LONGWORTH

I'm pretty sure we just covered that.

Longworth gets up and leaves. Off Justin...

EXT. HIGHWAY INTERSECTION - S.R. 301 - NIGHT

CLOSE on a TRAFFIC LIGHT, burning green in a moonless night.

ECU of the instrument, the screen filled with green. Emitting an electronic BUZZ. The light shifts from green to yellow, angle widening now to include it. Then on again to red.

The light glows, instrument swinging in a light ocean breeze.

WIDER

A vehicle, a sedan, comes to a full stop at the intersection.

INT. LONGWORTH'S CAR - NIGHT

Longworth at the wheel, annoyed he caught the light. He looks left and right, even more annoyed to realize there's no traffic in either direction.

He waits, checking his bandaged hand, squeezing and unsqueezing his grip, wincing slightly from discomfort.

He looks at the light, still red. When something at the curb of the intersection catches his eye.

A "shrine" at the base of the traffic light. Beer cans and liquor bottles, candles, notes, flowers, relatively fresh.

Longworth gets out of the car and steps to the shrine.

He kneels to read a few notes and cards, all a loving tribute to "Lane," live fast and die hard, etc.

Longworth looks up at the street signs at the intersection.

State Road 301 and Interlake Boulevard.

A car HORN blasts -- some idiot behind his idling car, pissed to be waiting behind a light that's turned green.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT TWO