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OUTRO - A Short-Thriller-Screenplay

🇨🇭Hassan_Camara
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Synopsis
It's the strangest murder case in years and the Boston Police Department faces a big question mark. Soon enough they'll get a tip that gets them one step closer to the killer.
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Chapter 1 - "OUTRO" - A Short Story/Screenplay by Hassan Camra

BLACKSCREEN.

 Loud noises of constantly working printers and fax machines.

 From a distance, a small crowd of people slowly fade in too,

 they're discussing something whith each other. 

FADE IN:

 BOSTON, 2002.

 INT. - BOSTON - EASTERN POLICE STATION - DAY 

There's a chaotic ensemble of Police Officers standing at the

 big whiteboard of the office. They're discussing the large

 case that is pinned onto it. 

In the next moment, the Police Chief, ERNEST WHITE (57),

 makes his way to a meeting. A tall man with white hair in a

 fancy suit. He casually passes by them with a nod.

 CHIEF 

Afternoon, Men.

 POLICE OFFICERS

 Afternoon, Chief.

 The Officers hold on to their conversation until the Chief

 passed by. Before the Chief opens the door to the meeting

 room, he shares a short look with a detective sitting a few

 tables away on a small desk. This is DETECTIVE WYATT (38). 

He's sitting on a desk opposite to an empty one. The Chief

 closes the door behind him and Wyatt dedicates himself back

 to his work. He's wearing a tie with a white shirt. His

 jacket wrapped around his chair. The desk full loaded with

 mountains of documents and files.

 The Officers in front of the whiteboard slowly leave the

 whiteboard and head to their own desks. Wyatt notices that

 and then looks to the case on the whiteboard. While they're

 going away, Wyatt can't take his eyes off this whiteboard.

 Mainly there are a lot of pictures pinned onto it, connected

 with each other through drawn lines. 

All of the lines are somehow connected with each other but

 every single one leads to one spot - an empty square on the

 top of the whole structure of the whiteboard. A big "?" drawn

 into it.

 Wyatt's eyes wander from picture to picture, then to the

 empty square. And all over again, he tries to catch a detail

 he hasn't noticed yet. After a few seconds his eyes let go

 off the case. He goes back to his documents.- MINUTES LATER 

2.

 The Chief sticks his head out of the meeting room, aiming his

 look directly to Wyatt again. Wyatt catches the look and

 nods. He quickly grabs some files from his table, puts on his

 jacket and heads to the meeting room. 

INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY

 As he enters, Wyatt stands right in front of three unfamiliar

 faces, all sitting straight on the big ovale table. TERESA

 TAYLOR (55), head of Police Force in the western district.

 Next to her ANNE MAYFIELD (39), an experienced FBI agent. 

The two women and Wyatt greet quickly and then go right to

 the topic. Wyatt and the Chief stand in front of them to

 start a presentation. But before that, the Chief slightly

 whispers into Wyatt's ear:

 CHIEF (WHISPERING)

 Goddamn Wyatt, where's your

 partner?

 WYATT (WHISPERING)

 He didn't show up to work today. I

 already tried to reach him.

 CHIEF (WHISPERING)

 Forget it, we can't wait for him. 

They then turn back to their guests.

 CHIEF 

Thank you for being here today, we

 appreciate your help on this case. 

I'm going to be straight forward

 with you and let you know that we

 have done everything in our power

 trying to catch this guy. Wyatt

 here is our best investigaor and

 has been on this case since the

 start. The case has been going on

 for...

 Teresa Taylor cuts his phrase off.

 TERESA 

Tell us something about him. I mean

 the suspect. I heard you have him

 under arrest right now. What

 evidence do you have?

 CHIEF

 Of yourse. We found at least one

 hair or a finger prints on all of

 the seven bodies. It's just...

 TERESA 

Just what?

CHIEF

 3.

 You could say that it's pretty

 convenient. 

(beat)

 What I mean is...his story and

 motive doesn't seem to make 100%

 sense.

 ANNE 

Does he have an alibi?

 CHIEF

 No, he doesn't. But it's a bit more

 complicated than that. See, this

 guy lives alone. He's divorced and

 has a kid that lives with his

 mother. While quiestioning him, we

 got the impression that...he's

 alone often. He goes to work, gets

 some groceries and goes right back

 home. Almost every day of the week.

 He is mentally not in the best

 shape too. He got depressed a long

 time ago. The point is that we

 couldn't possibly ask a lot of

 people for an alibi. 

ANNE 

And his personality?

 CHIEF

 That's where I'm headed to. He

 doesn't seem to fit in our profile

 of the serial killer. Our best

 investigators, including Detective

 Wyatt, confirmed this...

 WYATT

 ...And after all, we found the

 undeniable evidence. 

TERESA

 So you're going to tell me that you

 and you team have 100% clear

 evidence for the biggest serial

 killer case in 10 years...and

 you're assuming to know FOR SURE

 that he's not the killer you're

 looking for. 

WYATT

 That's right. 

Teresa and Ann change looks as Wyatt proceeds:

4.

 WYATT (CONT'D)

 This is exactly why we can't afford

 to lose more time. I...

 WE, strongly beleve that the killer

 fooled us all and transported the

 evidence onto his bodies.

 As Wyatt is about to continue...

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 It's raining.

 CUT TO:

 Single steps heading in a certain direction. The steps are

 walking over a small river and through mud. 

Now the steps walk different, the shoes are different. The

 steps keep walking.

 The face of JAMESON REED (43) is seen for a split second. One

 man walking right in front of another one. Both hold a light

 in their hand to guide the path. The light of the one man

 hits the belt of Jameson - on it, a golden police badge.

 WYATT (V.O.)

 Whoever this guy is...

 A closer look reveals that the man walking in the back holds

 a gun in his right hand. Through a quick flashing of his

 light, we get to see his eyes for a second. 

A loud thunderbolt hits.

 WYATT (V.O.)(CONT'D)

 ...he's dangerous. 

They keep walking through the rainy night, without any word. 

INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY

 WYATT (CONT'D)

 And we don't have a clue who he is

 or how to find him.

 CUT TO:

 The Chief looking from Wyatt now over to Susan and Anne.

 CHIEF 

That's were you come in to the

 game.

5.

 Anne and Susan look at the Chief skeptical. They then proceed

 to open up some of their files and start discussing it, the

 Chief joining them. While the Chief heads over to them, Wyatt

 takes a quick moment to check his phone. No messages.

 WYATT (TO HIMSELF)

 Where are you, Reed?

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 Another Thunderbolt hits. Louder than before.

 CUT TO:

 The rain makes it even harder to walk the path in this

 darkness. Still, the one with the gun forces him to continue.

 Moments later, they arrive at a small road. The one with the

 gun makes him stop right under a small lantern. He grabs the

 Officer by his shirt and pulls him right in front of him, out

 of nothing. Eye to eye now. Jameson now sees his face for the

 fisrt time...he's shocked to death. Wallace (19), stares

 right back into Jameson's eyes, analyzing him. 

The gun is still tight in his right hand but he doesn't hold

 it against him right now, Jameson knows the threat, though.

 They keep staring at each other. Wallace dominates Jameson by

 just looking at him. Jameson is backing up a little, it's

 uncomfortably close for him.

 JAMESON

 What? Why are you looking at me?

 Suddenly, Wallace lets go of his shirt and goes on to grab

 something in the bushes behind him. He still stays close to

 Jameson.

 At the same time--

 INT. POLICE STATION - MEETING ROOM - DAY 

CUT TO:

 Wyatt packs away his phone and takes his beeper from his

 belt. He stares at it. No messages there either.

 CUT TO:

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 Jameson doesn't move an inch, while Wallace is still looking

 for something in the bushes.

 Wallace still has the gun but he's not focused on Jameson

 right now.

6.

 Jameson's right hand suddenly feels something in his pocket.

 Can it be?

 He takes the opportunity and moves his right hand onto his

 pocket and presses a button of his beeper. 

He shuts his eyes as the beeper shouts a widely hearable 

"BEEP-BEEP"

 Wallace turns around immediately.

 INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY 

CUT TO:

 Wyatt is still staring at his beeper and then packs it away

 since nothing is coming. He heads over to join the other as

 "BEEP-BEEP"

 Wyatt takes out his beeper again as he reads: "new message

 from J. Reed - location sent"

 As he looks at the location, he's wondering what that means.

 Two seconds pass and suddenly he realizes. He yells straight

 over the whole meeting room. 

WYATT

 Sir, I think we got something.

 The Chief instantly looks at him curiously. 

EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 Jameson looks down to the floor, his eyes still shut.

 Waiting.

 CUT TO:

 In front of him stands Wallace, as close as before. The gun

 now directed on his head. He sticks the shovel from the

 bushes into the mud. He takes the beeper in his hands and

 looks at it for a few seconds...then - he breaks it.

 WALLACE

 Who received this message? 

(beat)

 LOOK AT ME.

 Jameson slowly opens his eyes and slowly moves his head up.

 Before he gets to look at him again, Wallace HITS him right

 on the head with his gun out of nothing.

7.

 CROSS CUT TO:

 EXT. POLICE STATION - PARKING SPOT - NIGHT-- "Outro" by M83 starts playing --

 Wyatt and the Chief don't waste any time and hop right into

 the Chief's car. A 1997 Jeep Cherokee with flashing blue neon

 lights. Wyatt gets into the driver's seat and turns on the

 car. The Chief pulls out the police sirene and puts it onto

 the roof of the car, right above him. He then grabs the

 police scanner as he announces:

 THE CHIEF

 To the entire eastern police

 department of Boston,

 Massachusets...This is Chief Ernest

 White speaking. All available

 police officers are ordered to the

 following location immediately.-- sending message... --

 "42.6162291, -78.7828708"-- message sent --

 THE CHIEF

 I repeat: All available police

 officers are ordered to the

 following location immediately. 

At the same time--

 EXT. - FREEEWAY - EXIT - NIGHT

 CROSS CUT TO:

 Pulled over to the exit of a freeway, a civilian gets

 questioned by a Police Officer, while the other one is

 sitting in the car, writing the report. -- As he hears through his car radio:

 THE CHIEF (CONT'D)

 Detective Jameson Reed gave us the

 information needed to arrest the

 serial killer responsible for seven

 murders in the last year. 

The Officer in the car takes the information and instantly

 sticks out his head off the car window and yells. 

8.

 OFFICER 1

 Hey man, call the central for

 another car for the "speedo" here.

 The Chief called us in. THEY

 LOCATED THE SERIAL KILLER.

 The other Officer nods and so he drives off and disappears

 into the rainy freeway. 

CROSS CUT TO:

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 Jameson is laying on the cold and wet mud of the woods.

 Holding his wound with both hands. Wallace stands right over

 him, his gun directing to his head. He hesistates. 

CROSS CUT TO:

 EXT. - FREEWAY - NIGHT

 Wyatt is driving as fast as he can through the traffic on the

 freeway. Even more difficult with all the rain. The beauty is

 undeniable, though. The golden street lights and lanterns of

 the freeway shine right through the rain, lighting them the

 way through the traffic. -- "Outro" by M83 intensifies --

 The Chief is still on the police scanner, shouting out

 information.

 THE CHIEF (CONT'D)

 We don't know if they're still on

 this location and...

 The Chief slightly looks over to Wyatt.

 THE CHIEF (CONT'D)

 ...we don't know if Detective Reed

 is still alive. But we have to try.

 INT. - OTHER POLICE STATION - NIGHT

 CROSS CUT TO:

 All Officers and Detectives in the office are on their way to

 to the exit with determination. 

EXT. - OTHER POLICE STATION - PARKING AREA - NIGHT

 CUT TO:

 They all head into their cars and drive off.

9.

 At the same time--

 EXT. - ROAD - POLICE CAR - NIGHT

 Two Officers are sitting in the car, listening to the Chief.

 As they hear the call for help, the one Officer on the wheel

 turns around right away. His partner activating the car

 sirene.

 He then turns up the car radio as the Chief continues to

 speak.

 THE CHIEF (CONT'D)

 Let's get this piece of shit...

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - NIGHT

 CROSS CUT TO:

 Wallace forces Jameson again to keep walking. The shovel

 still in his hands. They pass some lanterns and now arrived

 off-road, right in the middle of the woods.

 Wallace hands over the shovel to Jameson and points on the

 floor he's standing on. 

WALLACE

 Here.

 Reed looks at him, still shocked. He then starts digging

 right where he stands, knowing what will follow. 

As Jameson is digging, he notices that Wallace is looking

 around. As if he's expecting someone already. 

Wallace then takes a few steps back, very slowly. He looks at

 Jameson again, regret in his eyes. Jameson looks right back.

 He still holds his wound with one hand. 

EXT. - WOODS - NIGHT-- "Outro" by M83 (2:05) --

 CROSS CUT TO:

 Wyatt and the Chief arrived in the woods, still looking for

 the exact location. Behind them, almost the entire Police

 Force of eastern Bosten assembled, including Teresa and Anne.

 The flashing colors of 20 police sirenes reflecting in the

 eyes of the deers that are watching them pass by. TRULY AN

 INVASION OF LIGHTS.

 The Chief slightly looks behind their car to witness it all,

 then turns back to Wyatt. 

10.

 THE CHIEF 

We're gonna get him.

 WYATT

 Goddamn right, Chief.

 All the cars head into one direction. Far away, at the end of

 the road, there is a weak shining light recognisable. They

 keep goint.-- "Outro" by M83 -> (2:25) --

 All the Police cars arrive on the scene, they're parking

 around it in a circle. In the middle of it all is a hole in

 the floor, more like a grave. The shovel is sticking straight

 in the mud. 

And Wallace...is sitting on the edge of the grave. He

 carefully throws his gun away and then holds up both hands.

 About 12 Officers slowly approach in his direction, guns

 directed on him. 

As Wyatt parks 15 meters away from Wallace, they both get out

 of the car and run to the scene. Wyatt sees that the Officers

 are arresting Wallace and is now looking around. Screaming

 with his full strength:

 WYATT

 REED, WHERE ARE YOU?

 Wyatt then heads right to Wallace, now standing in front of

 him with anger.

 WYATT

 Where is he?

 Wallace doesn't answer. He just looks at him.

 WYATT(CONT'D)

 Where is my partner, you piece of

 shit? Huh?

 Wyatt is furious. He starts grabing Wallace on his shirt. A

 Officer has to drag Wyatt away from him.

 WYATT

 You tell me...

 THE CHIEF

 Wyatt, you gotta see this.

 The Chief stays right next to a tree 10 meters away from the

 grave. Wyatt turns around and slowly heads to The Chief. Next

 to him on the floor...sits Jameson. Holding his wound, still

 under shock.

 As soon as Wyatt sees him, he runs. He approaches him and

 they take care of his wound. 

11.

 WYATT

 You gotta tell me what happened? 

Jameson isn't in a good condition. He's still shocked.

 JAMESON

 Wyatt, he's...not older than my

 son.

 EXT. - IN THE FOREST - POLICE CAR 

Wallace sits inside the car with handcuffs on. Two Officers

 on the front seats. He looks outside of the window and

 observes everything thats happening. Then he approaches the

 officers.

 WALLACE

 Uhm, excuse me.

 They turn around and look at him.

 WALLACE (CONT'D)

 I have a question.

 They just stare at him, also slightly shocked.

 POLICE OFFICER 1

 Ex...Excuse me but...how old are

 you again?

 WALLACE (CONT'D)

 Can you release my father. I

 believe he's under arrest because

 of me. 

Officer 2 looks over to Officer 1.

 POLICE OFFICER 2

 I'll get the Chief.

 The Police Officer gets out of the car and walks to the

 Chief. The whole scene around the grave is surrounden by

 Police Men. Making photos, collecting evidence and guarding

 Wallace.

 The Officer approaches the Chief directly.

 POLICE OFFICER 2

 Hey Chief.

 THE CHIEF

 Yes?

 POLICE OFFICER 2

 I think there's something more to

 the case.

 (MORE)

12.

 POLICE OFFICER 2 (CONT'D)

 The prisoner asked if his dad can

 be relesased, that it was his fault

 he got arrested. Would that

 mean...he placed the evidence of

 his dad on his victims.

 THE CHIEF

 His father, huh? 

From the distance, Wallace is looking straight over to the

 Chief, Wyatt and Jameson. No expression in his eyes.

 POLICE OFFICER 2 (V.O.)

 Chief, the description we had for

 the seven victim serial killer

 would be him? Do you really think

 he did all this?

 The Chief takes it all in and thinks about it for a moment.

 THE CHIEF (V.O.)(CONT'D)

 Yes, I do. I'm only wondering how

 someone can turn out to be like

 him. 

(beat)

 What in the bloody hell happened to

 this kid?

 THE END.