3. Youthful Indiscretion

[r2k]

You're probably wondering why I bumped this one up aside from it being my favorite fan fic. I will be posting the fan fic season finale on Saturday night. I am skipping some of my planned fan fics so I can get this new out. Anyway, this episode is important to the finale so I need for you to make sure you read it to catch up. If you don't, you will not be able to follow Scotty's case. Make sure you pay attention. I have planning the finale for months and this cold case is about to become more shocking.

YOUTHFUL INDISCRETION

Opening Scene

October 17, 1997, Friday
Ashwood Hall, St. Joseph’s University
“Fly” by Sugar Ray plays in the background
A young female student is sitting at the Anderson Hall desk. She has brown hair and is 5’4. She is looking at the clock, kind of excited. It is 7 minutes until 7. She begins to count the money in the drawer. She records the money in the binder and then waits. Across from the desk, the elevator door opens. The girl becomes excited. A young man comes out of the elevator and spots her immediately. He is 5’5 with brown hair and sports a light tan.
Jennifer: Tim! You made it!
(She jumps over the desk and runs up to him. The two kiss. Tim smiles and looks at her. He fixes his necklace which has a cross on it)
Tim: You worried I wouldn’t make it.
Jennifer: Well. You had to travel a long way. I’m glad you’re wearing the cross I gave you.
Tim: Penn State is not that far away. Besides, it’s fall break. I’ve got Monday and Tuesday to hang with you. I’ve got the whole weekend.
Jennifer: Yeah, but you got to visit your parents too.
Tim: They’d be mad if I didn’t. So what do you have planned?
Jennifer: Well, Ben and Cassie are going out with us. Ben misses you.
Tim: I know. He ever going back to school?
Jennifer: Not sure. He’s working right now to make money.
Tim: Can’t believe his parents cut him off like that.
Jennifer: He got 4 Fs. Cassie was mad. She wouldn’t speak to him for a week.
Tim: He did party too much. Funny to watch him fall on his face. Guess I was the more responsible one.
Jennifer: I’m the lucky one. I got the good guy. Tonight, however, we’re going to get a little crazy.
Tim: Are you Jen, the good girl who never got into trouble?
Jennifer: Yes. It’s just I’ve decided to have one night of craziness. Cass insisted on it. And you’re coming with me. She told me we should at least get drunk once in our lives. After that, we’re responsible adults. It’s okay to get wild once.
(Someone comes out of the office located behind the desk. He is 24 years old with blonde hair, neatly styled. He is 5’9 and well-built. He is a preppy type.)
Tony: Jen. Why don’t you take off a few minutes early. I’ll finish your shift. You only have a few minutes anyway. So this is the guy.
Jennifer: Yes. Cute, isn’t he?
Tony: Asking the wrong person. (Tony walks up to Tim and raises his hand to shake.) Tony Crosby, nice to meet you.
Tim: Tim Collins. Jen talks about you as well.
Tony: All good, I hope.
Tim: Just the basics. Grad student, cute, nice. Usual girl stuff.
Tony: Same of you. Not the grad student part.
Tim: Not yet. Two more years to finish the bachelor’s.
Tony: Well, why don’t you two get going? I’ll stay here and watch things, Jen. Have a good time.
Jen: Later Tony. Maybe we can get together tomorrow.
Tony: How about lunch?
Jen: Sure.
(Tony goes back into the office. Tim and Jennifer walk away.)
Tim: I think he likes you.
Jennifer: Perhaps so, but you’re the one I love. Come on. Ben is back at my room with Cassie. We’ll go to this great burger place.
(Tim pauses and looks out the window.) What is it?
Tim: I don’t know. Weird feeling. I haven’t been back to Philly all summer. Kind of felt bad not seeing mom and dad. For some reason, I’m getting the feeling I’ve been here before.
Jennifer: Don’t worry about it. You’ll see them tomorrow. And forget your strange feelings. You get them all the time.
(Both walk away, their voices fade)
Tim: I should at least call them before dinner.
Jennifer: That’s a good idea.
(Tim looks out the window at the campus. Thinks a bit and forgets whatever he is thinking. He continues to walk with Jen)

LATER
(In a ditch further down at another part of the campus, Tony’s body lays dead. He has been beaten senselessly. Blood flows away from him down the stream. It is raining and thundering like crazy.)

In the cold case room, Tony’s box is being filed away.
CROSBY, T. October 10, 1997

RETURN TO PRESENT
(Lilly leaves the lounge. Scotty meets her.)
Lilly: Hey Scotty. Anything new.
Scotty: Yeah. Stillman sent me to get you.
Lilly: Got another one.
Scotty: Yes we do. A couple is waiting at your desk. Wanted to talk to you.
Lilly: Anything on who the victim is.
Scotty: Nothing. Vera stopped me downstairs and I came straight here. I haven’t seen them yet.
(At Lilly’s desk, Tim and Jennifer are sitting there, waiting for her. Scotty immediately reacts when he sees Jennifer and rushes over to her.)
Scotty: Jen!
Jen: Oh my gosh! I don’t believe it. Scotty. Strange coincidence you being here.
Scotty: Well, I’m a detective now. How have you been?
Jen: Good. How about Elisa?
Scotty: She’s had it rough. We’re kind of not seeing each other.
Jen: I heard. You two were such a cute couple back then.
Lilly: Hi, I’m Detective Rush. Seems you two have already met.
Scotty: Back when she was in college. And my, well friend was.
Jennifer: Scotty and I only knew each other briefly. We both had a mutual friend. Anyway, this is my husband, Tim. He has something to tell you both.
Tim (interrupts): Honey, I’m not sure this is good idea.
Jennifer: Just tell them.
Tim: It’s not going to help.
Lilly: What’s not going to help?
Jennifer: Tim’s been remembering something.
Scotty: About Tony?
Jennifer: We’re not sure, exactly.
Lilly: What do you mean by that?
Tim: It was 7 years ago, October. I was visiting Jen. I was at Penn State. She was at St. Joseph’s University. We had an extended weekend so I thought I’d come visit. I stayed at college that summer and didn’t come back to visit. A couple guys and I rented a house so I hung around. October was the first time I’d seen her in a while.
Scotty: What do you remember?
Tim: I was drinking that night. We all were. Things got crazy. I only remember bits and pieces of that night.
Lilly: Like what?
Tim: For starters, the poor girl I picked up and threw in the puddle. It was raining off and on. I ran into a large glass window and kept trying to go through it.
Jennifer: Good thing Ben was able to stop you.
Tim: Lately, I’ve been dreaming about something else I think happened that night.
Lilly: What is it?
Tim: Not sure. I think I’m being attacked. Difficult to tell.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
(Tim is outside going to a car. He is drunk. He is staggering and falling. Suddenly, he approaches a car. He tries to get it open. Someone comes from the left and starts grabbing him. Tim punches back several times and eventually runs away.)

RETURN TO PRESENT
Tim: The guy grabbed me from the left and was trying to drag me somewhere. I hit back. Pounded him until he let go and I ran.
Lilly: You must have been pretty tough.
Tim: Martial arts black belt. Junior high was hell. Made sure high school was easier. Worked. Nobody bothered me after the first fight.
Jennifer: That must have been before you hurt your arm.
Lilly: What was that?
Jen: You were attacked before you hurt your arm. Sorry to change the subject.
Tim: I must have scraped my arm pretty bad falling. I was running and completely drunk. They took me to the emergency room and I don’t remember a thing after.
Jen: Health center, Tim. We took you to the health center. It was closer. The injury wasn’t really that bad. No stitches were needed.
Lilly: Do you remember what the guy looked like?
Tim: No. I just hit him a few times and ran away. My car was parked on the north side of the building. Tony’s car I heard was parked on the south side. I think I fought this guy off and he went for the next person available.
Scotty: Tony.
Tim: I think. From what I remember in my dream, I must have gotten a good look at him. I can’t see it right now. I’m positive that whoever attacked me killed Tony. And I think he spoke to me as well. Still can’t hear anything in the dream. It’s pretty silent. Images are blurry and it is silent.
Lilly: We’ll look into it.
Scotty: I will especially make sure justice is served on this one.

OPENING CREDITS

[r2k]

(Scotty and Lilly are in the cold case room with the box.)
Lilly: Tony Crosby, 24, found dead in a ditch on the south end of campus. A little far away from Ashwood Hall. Makes the crime scene hard to determine.
Scotty: Tony was a good guy. He didn’t deserve this. I was working the streets when it happened. Responded to the call. You’re right, crime scene location was never determined. So a suspect could never really be identified.
Lilly: That had to be rough. Says here he was found Saturday morning around 9 A.M. Time of death was listed as 1:00 A.M. That was the best guess. Beaten, then drowned. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure he was killed. He was hit about 30 times in the front. One blow to the back of the head. Must have been dragged to the ditch. Maybe he tried to cross the bridge. Health center was on the other side across the street. He might have slipped and fell into the ditch.
Scotty: That person is in a world of trouble when I find him.
Lilly: Are you going to be able to handle this?
Scotty: I’ll be fine.
Lilly: Good because I need you to be focused. Remember, justice will be served in due process. Now let’s see, no suspects at the time. Even with an exact time of death, it was difficult. Clearly not many people here had alibis or motives. Still, how did he get across campus?
Scotty: It was raining cats and dogs that night. Wind, thunder, lightning. If he was killed anywhere, no one heard it. Plus, he was beaten. He might not have died right away. Timeline was difficult to establish.
(Vera comes into the room with them.)
Vera: We got a hold of Tony’s parents. They’re going to come in later today. Jen left but Tim is still here.
Lilly: He is?
Vera: He wanted to talk to you some more. I think he’s in love.
Lilly: Oh yeah, like I can compete with that pretty young girl in there.
Scotty: Jen’s 25. Just like you.
Lilly: Why thank you Scotty? You might want to look in the mirror. I think your nose is growing.

(Upstairs, Tim is talking to Lilly. Both are sitting down.)
Lilly: Seems like you didn’t really want to come in here. What’s that all about?
Tim: I didn’t feel I remembered enough yet. Maybe later when I remembered more.
Lilly: What do you mean?
Tim: The dreams started happening a few weeks ago. I seem to be remembering more as time goes on. I wanted to wait until I had something you can really work with.
Lilly: Tim, don’t worry about what you don’t know. Since I’ve got you here you can help. I need to know some things. Who were you with that night?
Tim: Well Jen was there. It was her room. Ben and Cassie were there. Ben Potter and Jen McCallister. The four of us went to high school together. Ben was at Penn State with me until he flunked out. Branden was there also.
Lilly: Who’s Branden?
Tim: A friend. Branden Pryce. He and Jen knew each other.
Lilly: Anybody else?
Tim: Kristen. She was a resident assistant. She gave us a warning to quiet down. Others came in and went. Like I said, I didn’t live there. I only remember the people Jen hung out with. I did meet the Hall Director, Stacy Walters.
Lilly: How well did you know Tony?
Tim: That night was the first time I met Tony. We shook hands and I never saw him again. Alive, that is. I went to visit my parents on Saturday. Funny. I thought I’d seen Tony before somewhere. I thought I’d seen the place before.
Lilly: The building?
Tim: The area. I kept thinking about it all evening. I was drunk by midnight. I’d forgotten about it the next day.
Lilly: I forgot to ask earlier. What were you doing out there?
Tim: Jennifer had asked to get her purse out of the car. She was a little out of it. So was I. We never used the car that night after dinner. I had never been drunk before. Neither had she. We weren’t raised that way. Before that night, we were not party people.
Lilly: Catholic?
Tim: How’d you know?
Lilly: Your necklace.
Tim: Yeah. Reminds me to stay out of trouble. Jen gave it me that summer. Anyway, that was the first and last time I was that stupid. The health center took a blood alcohol test to teach me a lesson. They asked Jen for me to come in on Tuesday so they could discuss it with me.
Lilly: What did you test?
Tim: .12. Jen and I realized even that one night could have got us killed. We were the good couple in high school. My parents made sure I never did anything stupid. They never knew about that night.
(Lilly notices her computer.)
Lilly: They haven’t fixed it yet. I put an order for it this morning.
Tim: What’s wrong with it?
Lilly: I can’t get into my files.
Tim: Let me look at it.
Lilly: I can’t let you.
Tim: Relax. This is what I do for a living. I’m a tech person at Fexcom. I know a computer inside out. I’ve been around computers for, well 15 years now. Since I was a kid.
(Tim works on it for a few seconds and it is fixed.)
Lilly: Wow, you really are good at this.)
Tim: I’ve had years of training.
Lilly: Were you a computer nerd?
Tim: A cute one.
Lilly: Didn’t stop you from marrying. (She notices the wedding band on his finger) How long?
Tim: 3 years. She’s 2 years younger than me. Graduated in 2001. I had to wait for her. 2 years of agony. Worth it. We’ve actually been together for 10 years. Junior year I asked her to the prom. Her parents said no. So I took her out an a regular date. They let me take her out my senior year.
Lilly: Any kids?
Tim: Not yet. She wants to work for a while. We’d love to soon. One step at a time.
Lilly: I’m going to need to keep in touch with you. Don’t stress trying to figure anything out. Let it come naturally.
Tim: Okay. Let me know when you need me. I’ve got the week off. Let me give you my cell phone number. I’m going to be out and around. Here’s my e-mail. I definitely check that.
(Tim writes the number and e-mail and gives it to her.)
Lilly: Thanks. If you remember anything, let me know.
Tim: I will
(Scotty walks up to both of them.)
Scotty: I just want you to know I appreciate you doing this. Tony would to. Knowing him, he’s probably already forgiven the killer. Kind of person he was. I, on the other hand, am not so forgiving. Tony was a good friend.
Tim: He seemed pretty nice. You know, I may have a tip for both of you.
Scotty: Like what?
Tim: Well, hall directors do a lot of hiring of students to work at the desk and to be resident assistants. I know this from Penn State. Anyway, they do have to turn away a lot of student applicants. Nice as Tony seemed to me, there has to be someone he may not have selected for a job that may have wanted him dead. I lived on campus the first two years and it got pretty ugly sometimes.

(Tim has left. Lilly and Scotty are with the rest of the team discussing the game plan.)
Lilly: We don’t have much to go on. Tim didn’t seem to remember much. They were having an all night party until Tim had to go to the health center.
Scotty: Maybe Stacy might be able to help us.
Lilly: The Hall Director, right.
Scotty: Yeah. Tony didn’t really like her. Said she was controlling. He had some choice words about her.
Lilly: Well, she’s our first person, then.
Scotty: Let’s start with the university. They must have her records. They’re good about knowing where former employees have moved.
Jeffries: Way ahead of you. We caught a break. She’s still in Philly. Works at the Keller Conference Center.
Lilly: Setting up conferences.
Scotty: Sounds like it. Let’s set up a little conference of our own.

[r2k]

(At the Keller Conference Center. Lilly and Scotty are sitting at the reception area. A black woman, 35, walks up to them. Her image flashes to age 28 and then back again.)
Stacy: Stacy Jenkins. I’ve been married for 6 years. I was told you needed to speak with me.
Lilly: Yes, I’m Detective Rush. This is…
Stacy: Scotty Valens. I remember you. You still look fine. (Stacy pauses.) This is about Tony, isn’t it?
Scotty: Afraid so.
Lilly: We have a new lead.
Stacy: I can’t imagine anything new coming up.
Lilly: Someone has come forward with very little information. A young man. He was Jennifer Gillis’ boyfriend. Well, now husband.
Stacy: I met him a few times. His name was Tim. It’s nice to see they made it. So few college couples I knew made it.
Lilly: He remembers being attacked. He can’t remember who attacked him.
Stacy: I remember he was extremely drunk. That’s how he and I met. At first, I thought he was a drunken idiot. I scolded Jen the next morning when I found out he was her boyfriend. She apologized. So did he the next time he came. Claimed it was a one time thing. After that, they were fine. Tim even helped me with my computer to help patch things up.
Lilly: He seems to be the master.
Stacy: He’s helped you too, I see. The housing office gave directors new computers and no one came to set mine up. Tim spent all day one weekend putting it all together. He came down to Philly to do it. I dismissed his drunken episode as a youthful indiscretion. I remember the injury he had suffered. Big scrape. He slept for hours after that. Jen stayed with him. He woke up with the biggest hangover. The police never questioned him. Questioned the others.
Lilly: Why not Tim?
Stacy: He wasn’t any use to them. He was the only one not tied to Tony. Jen and Cass were ruled out. Ben too. Tim was so drunk that night. It’s a shame he can’t remember who his attacker was. Tony was so well-liked. It made no sense to kill him.
Lilly: Did anyone harbor any ill will towards Tony. Tim mentioned the possibility of someone not hired by Tony.
Stacy: I’m sure there were. People not hired to work the desk. That was a highly desired job on campus. Some were turned down and became bitter.
Lilly: Any idea on who these people were?
Stacy: The kids stopped trusting me after a while. It was hard to get information from them. I ran a tight ship. Students began to resent me for that. I wanted perfection. One of the reasons I left. Perfection out of generation X. Not going to happen.
Scotty: I hate to bring this up. Tony didn’t speak kindly of you.
Stacy: Tony and I didn’t see eye to eye on many things. He was more laid back. I was tough. I clashed with everyone. Looking back on it now, I’m surprised I wasn’t the one killed. But I would never have killed Tony.

(Later, outside)
Lilly: Seems like Stacy was kept out of the loop.
Scotty: This murder was ruled a random attack. It didn’t seem motivated.
Lilly: Something in my gut tells me it was motivated. Someone wanted Tony dead. Stacy must have known something. You don’t run a dorm and not know what’s going on. Tim was helpful in his general knowledge of dorm personnel. He wasn’t aware of any Ashwood Hall specifics.
Scotty: Good point. Tim might not know much about Ashwood Hall, but Jen might.
(Scotty’s phone rings)
Scotty: Valens. Okay, we’re on our way. That was Vera. Tony’s parents are at the station.

(At the station)
Judy Crosby: Tony was going places. Always knew that. Still do.
Paul Crosby: Tony had a personality you couldn’t hate. Who would do this to him?
Lilly: We’re not sure. Hopefully, Tim can give us more.
Paul: Who is Tim?
Lilly: The boyfriend of a close friend and employee of Tony.
Judy: What exactly does Tim know?
Lilly: He was drunk that night. He remembers being attacked.
Scotty: Unfortunately, he is unable to remember everything right now. That may change soon. We’re investigating other people in the case right now.
Judy: Where is Tim? I’d like to meet him. He may be our only hope to find Tony’s killer.
Lilly: He’s nice.
Scotty: He married Jen. You remember her.
Judy: Oh, her. Tony had a crush on her. For the first few weeks of that semester she was all he talked about.

FLASHBACK TO 1997 “I Want You” by Savage Garden plays in the background
(Tony is visiting his parents in the suburbs)
Tony: Jen is so pretty and smart. I love everything about her.
Judy: You should ask her out.
Tony: I’ll have to get in line. Someone else wants her.
Judy: Who?
Tony: His name is Branden.
Judy: Well. This Branden has a lot of competition. You are a class act.
Tony: I barely know her. Plus, she works for me. Hands off.
Judy: Well, keep her in mind for the future.
Tony: Well, she is an undergrad and she works for me. Even if she was interested, nothing could happen right now.
Paul: Well, give it some time. Maybe someday you and her can get together.
Tony: I hope so. She’s gorgeous. And I would treat her right. Branden is a jerk. He doesn’t deserve her.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Judy: That was in September. The last time I saw him. We spoke on the phone. But he was so busy. Eventually, Tony gave up on her. He learned she was seeing someone at Penn State. Tim must have been the one she was seeing. Tony was devastated. But he held his head up high.
Paul: We’d like to think Tony’s killer can still be brought to justice. Tell Tim we appreciate his help.
Judy: I want to meet him soon.
Lilly: I’m sure he’d like that too. He’s different from a lot guys his age. I’d take him if he wasn’t already taken.

[r2k]

(Later.)
Lilly: Tony was in love with Jennifer. I wonder if Tim knew that.
Scotty: I don’t think it would have made a difference. Jen was faithful to Tim. Besides, Jen never led on that she knew. Tony never made his feelings known to her.
Lilly: Did someone else like Jennifer?
Scotty: Ben and Cassie were hot and heavy.
Lilly: What about Branden?
Scotty: He did not like Tony? Tony had some things to say about him too.
Lilly: Like what.
Scotty: Branden wanted to be a resident assistant. Those are people who are in charge of a floor in a dorm. Anyway, Branden had applied 4 times and was rejected. Tony got the feeling Branden had it in for him.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
“Tubthumping” by Chumbuwaba is playing the background
(Scotty and Tony are hanging out a bar off campus.)
Tony: I’m telling you this one kid is a pain in the a--. He has no idea why I won’t hire him for the job.
Scotty: Maybe you’re being a little hard on him.
Tony: No I’m not. This guy came into my office the other day and started getting into with me.
Scotty: Has he threatened you yet. Because if he has, we can bring him in charges.
Tony: What would that accomplish? I’m not sure what to do about this guy. He is extremely immature. Worse, he is in love with that girl.
Scotty: I thought she was off limits.
Tony: She is to me. But there is another guy in the picture. He goes to Penn State. Branden doesn’t seem to care about that.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Scotty: I mentioned it to police back then. But without a definite crime scene and the alibis, nothing stuck.
Lilly: Let’s check with Jen to see if Branden is around.
(Tim comes back into the main area.)
Lilly: Tim.
Tim: I just came in to check to see how things are going.
Lilly: I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk. By the way, Tony’s parents were here a while ago. They want to meet you soon.
Tim: Okay.
Lilly: Have a seat.
(Tim sits down.)
Lilly: Be honest with me. What was your impression of Tony when you met him?
Tim: Alright. I kind of sensed that he liked her. It was obvious. But I didn’t let it get to me. He was her boss. He knew better. So did she. She never would have hurt me like that. It was Branden I worried about.
Scotty: What do you mean?
Tim: He would touch her jokingly. In front of me. Ben told me he never did it when I wasn’t there. He would do it to tick me off.
Lilly: What do you know about Branden?
Tim: Not much. He was mad that weekend for not getting a job. Resident assistant I believe. Blamed Tony.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
“The Beautiful People” by Marilyn Manson plays in the background.
Branden: Rejected again!!!
(He walks in on Jen, Tim, Ben, and Cassie early before they go out to dinner.)
Jen: I’m sorry.
Branden: Oh, I’m not bothered by it. All the work I do for this dorm. Doesn’t bother me a bit.
Cassie: Look. We’re all going out to have some fun tonight. Let’s forget our worries.
Branden: Jen. Who is this?
Jen: Oh, this is Tim. My boyfriend.
Branden: Your boyfriend. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.
Jen: We’ve only known each two weeks. You’ve never been to our room.
Branden: Wow. I didn’t know! How crazy is that? Oh well. Let’s go out. Forget the snobby little hall directors who play favorites. The pretty people.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Tim: That guy was a piece of work. He spent the early evening messing around with Jen. She didn’t seem to mind. She thought he was joking at first. Never occurred to her he liked her. I thought he was just a jerk. She began to see it later. I think.
Lilly: How later?
Tim: Soon after Tony was killed. He tried to be there for her a little more often than usual.
Lilly: Did Jen know he liked her?
Tim: I think so. Ben and Cassie eventually told me she had a long talk with him. He backed off. I will say this. Prior to his meeting me, he had no idea I even existed.

[r2k]

(Lilly and Scotty are in another area. The rest of the team is there. Tim is still at the station, waiting for Lilly to return.)
Lilly: Branden had it bad for Jen too.
Jeffries: Two roosters in the hen house.
Vera: And a third rooster who was there long before the others.
Stillman: Signs point to Tim being the one to get mad.
Jeffries: Seems that Tim was oblivious to Tony’s affections.
Scotty: Maybe Branden. He now has two motives. Maybe he tried to kill them both.

(Lilly returns to Tim)
Lilly: Tim, do you have any idea where Branden is now?
Tim: Oh yes. Perfect career too. He is always busy and somewhere else. He is a flight attendant. He still lives in Philly. Holidays are the hardest when he is able to attend our get togethers. He knows better now than to pull the same crap.
Lilly: How so?
Tim: I grabbed his arm and pulled it behind his back. No harm done. Just a little pain. Never touched her again.
Lilly: What airline does he work for?
Tim: American. Tell him I said hi.

(Next day. Lilly and Scotty are at the airport. A flight lands and crew exits. Branden walks with some girls, laughing and giggling. His image flashes back to 21 and then back to 28.)
Lilly: Branden Pryce. Detective Rush.
Scotty: Detective Valens. We’ve met before.
Branden: Can’t say I have.
Scotty: Tony Crosby, or have you forgotten?
Branden: I don’t think about the dead.
Lilly: The same way you think about Jen.
Branden: What do you mean?
Scotty: You loved Jen. Problem is so did Tony. Maybe you planned to get him out of the picture because he was getting so close to her.
Branden: He worked for the university. She was a student. He wouldn’t risk his career over her.
Lilly: Still, you hated him for other reasons too. Passed you up for the resident assistant job 4 times. That can really hurt, can’t it Scotty.
Scotty: It can. (Turns to Lilly.) How many times were you passed over for detective.
Lilly: Not once. But then I believe in hard work.
Branden: I worked hard and that boy flaunted his power over me. I’m glad he’s dead. Anything to wipe the smile off his face.
Scotty: Watch it buddy. He was a friend of mine.
Branden: If anything, the real threat to me was Tim. Why didn’t I kill him?
Lilly: Tim claims he was attacked by someone.
Scotty: You see, we’re thinking you tried to do them both but couldn’t quite get Tim. So you killed Tony.
Branden: That’s crazy. You’ve got nothing. Come back with something better next time. I would never kill anybody.
Lilly: We’ll be back. One more question for you big boy. You fondle the other flight attendants like you did Jen?
Branden: That is ancient history.
Scotty: Not to Tim. He doesn’t think to highly of you. We’ll be in touch.
Branden: I wouldn’t advise it. You better watch your step, you two. Or somebody might get hurt. Really hurt.
Lilly: Is that a threat?
Branden: More like a promise. One I don’t need to keep.

(Back at the entrance to the station.)
Lilly: Branden seemed to hate Tony who loved Jen. Then Tim came straight out of left field. Now two people who love the girl of his dreams.
Scotty: I do not like this guy.
Lilly: Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves. Still, why doesn’t Branden go for the one who actually had her? Why kill the one who didn’t?
(Stillman joins the group.)
Stillman: We located the resident assistant on duty, Kristen Adler. She’s upstairs with Jeffries now.

(Kristen is talking with Lilly and Jeffries.)
Kristen: They were pretty drunk. I warned them several times to cool it.
Lilly: Did they?
Kristen: After 4 warnings. The pizza delivery guy had arrived. They were busy eating. The storm had started. At was about midnight.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
“Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind plays in the background
Kristen knocks on Jen and Cassie’s door.
Kristen: You guys need to quiet down. I can’t keep covering for you.
Jen (giggling): We’re trying. Don’t worry. Pizza here. They’ll fall asleep soon. You want some.
(Kristen sees the boys scarfing the pizza down.)
Kristen: I’ll pass. I don’t think they’re going to let my anywhere near it. Just keep it down.
Jen: Sure (whispers.)
Cassie: Yeah (whispers)
Kristen: Good night.
All in the room: Goodnight!!!!
Kristen: God help us all.
(Kristen closes the door and walks away. She hears Jen talking.)
Jen: Tim. My purse is in your car. Go get it. Branden says it is in your car.
Tim: I don’t want to.
Jen: Please. I’ll marry you.
Tim: Okay. But you promised.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Kristen: You know what the funny thing is?
Lilly: What?
Kristen: Each person had a pile of beer cans they had been drinking that night. Normally, I’d document them. I think I was being nice. Jen was a good worker and she might lose her job. One pile only had two beers.
Lilly: Someone wasn’t as drunk as they led on to believe.
Kristen: Even then, I couldn’t tell you which one was faking it.
Lilly: When do you recall seeing Tony last?
Kristen: He left the building at around 7:30.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
(Kristen is doing her rounds when she approaches the Ashwood Hall desk.)
Tony: Hey there, Kristen.
Kristen: Hey Tony. Who’s working the desk?
Tony: Mindy. She needed to use the washroom. I’m watching the place until she gets back.
(Stacy comes out from the office behind the desk.)
Kristen: Hey Stacy. What’s up?
Stacy: Oh, not much. Looks like a big storm is coming tonight.
Tony: Yeah, I better go eat something before the big storm comes. I’ll be back by midnight, Kristen. I’m going to wait until Mindy comes back.
Kristen: Sure thing. Later.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Kristen: That was the last time I saw Tony alive.

(Later, after Kristen has left)
Lilly: Someone was sober that night.
Scotty: Who? Ben and Cassie. Not them. Jen, hardly.
Lilly: Kristen remembers her telling Tim to go get her purse.
Scotty: Tim was so drunk. How could he get her purse?
Lilly: He didn’t know the campus very well, either.
Scotty: Maybe he is playing like he was the drunk.
Lilly: I don’t know about that. If he was, why come forward with it and incriminate himself. Doesn’t make sense. He’s better off leaving it alone. We’re overlooking something. So far, Branden seems to be the top suspect. Scotty, you mentioned something earlier about Stacy not being too nice.
Scotty: Tony noted how uptight she was. He hated her.
Lilly: Is it possible she killed him?
Scotty: I don’t know. She talked about him like he was so great. Thing is he remarked to me constantly about how she despised of him. I didn’t think about that before.
(Kristen walks up to them again.)
Lilly: Kristen?
Kristen: I need to come clean about something. Something I never told anybody.
Scotty: What?
Kristen: Tony had dirt on someone. He found out a dark secret that would have ruined someone.
Scotty: Who?
Kristen: Stacy.

FLASHBACK TO 1997 A FEW DAYS EARLIER, MONDAY
“Wannabe” by The Spice Girls” plays in the background.
(Kristen is in Tony’s apartment.)
Tony: Here Kristen. I wanted to make sure someone here knew. You must keep this quiet. You’re not going to believe it.
Kristen: What?
Tony: Stacy lied on her application to be a hall director.
Kristen: About what?
Tony: You need a master’s degree. She doesn’t. She lied about it. I just confirmed it. UCLA has no record of her ever attending. We got her.
Kristen: What are you going to do?
Tony: I’m going to let the housing office know first thing tomorrow.
Kristen: I’d wait on that. Give it until Thursday. Find out for sure.
Tony: But I’m sure now.
Kristen: You don’t want to mess with Stacy. The last assistant lost his job for crossing her.
Tony: Alright. I don’t know what you’re worried about. She’s not that tough.
Kristen: You weren’t here last year. You don’t want to know.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Kristen: I was afraid of Stacy. She is capable of killing. I’m convinced. It turned out to be true. Whether the housing office knew is a mystery. She left after that year.
Lilly: Did Tony have any paperwork on this?
Kristen: Yes, he did. That’s what I don’t get. Where did it go?

[r2k]

(Later. The team is together)
Lilly: Kristen seems to think Stacy is capable.
Scotty: My money is on Branden.
Lilly: Let’s talk to Jen again. She worked at the desk. Like a secretary, she might be able to help.
Stillman: Sounds good. Have her bring Ben and Cassie with.
Scotty: Tim too. He might have remembered more.
Vera: I’ll go talk to Stacy. Make her nervous.
Jeffries: I’ll come along.

(Vera and Jeffries confront Stacy)
Vera: Turns out you’re not the angel we all thought you were.
Stacy: What are you talking about?
Jeffries: Lied on your job application, did you.
Stacy: I did no such thing.
Vera: Tony had proof. One of your resident assistants confirmed it.
Stacy: That’s impossible. Universities do a thorough background check on all potential employees before hiring. Besides, housing personnel across the country know each other. There was no way to fool them.
Jeffries: Is that so.
Stacy: Yes. After Tony died the housing office alerted me to the situation. The paperwork was mailed to them. They laughed about it. We never knew who sent it.
Vera: If Tony was dead and the paperwork was in his apartment, who had access to it.
Stacy: Myself and possibly the resident assistant on duty. You don’t think I would have taken it. I had no idea he had it or where it came from. It simply wasn’t true. (Stacy walks up to a shelf in her office.) Here, my masters degree. You can even talk to my boss. He checked out my credentials as well.

(At the station, Jen, Tim, Ben, and Cassie are there. Their images flash to their younger selves and then back again.)
Lilly: First, Tim do you remember any more.
Tim: No. I wish I did. Must be trying too hard.
Scotty: Don’t feel too bad. Let it come naturally.
Lilly: Jen, you worked at the desk. Who would have had access to Tony’s apartment to get any paperwork?
Jen: Stacy, the director. And Kristen. She was on duty. She had a desk key, where she could get the master key. Opens any lock in the building. Why?
Lilly: Turns out Tony found something out about Stacy.
(Vera and Jeffries enter)
Vera: Actually, that is now a dead lead. Stacy did have a masters after all.
Cassie: Stacy didn’t have a masters! That would have ruined her. Had it been true. Funny that he died right before revealing it. Perhaps there was some truth to it.
Vera: Checks out. Stacy even showed us her masters.
Tim: People can fake those. You might want to call the university she got it.
Lilly: Good thinking. Now you were all together. Can you remember anything?
Jen: No not really.
Lilly: Recreate the evening.
Jen: Tim arrived when I was working. We joined Ben and Cassie. Branden joined us.
Ben: We went for burgers. Stayed there a while. Went to one party. Didn’t drink much there. Tim drove us back in his car. I remember how ticked you were.
Tim: About what?
Ben: How you had to move it because it was the wrong lot.
Tim: Yeah, Jen moved it for me. Apparently. She loved driving the Camarro. I wasn’t thrilled that Branden got a ride in it though. Waited until I had a couple beers to do it so I wouldn’t get mad.
Jen: Oh please. You never would have let me drive it and it needed to be moved so you wouldn’t get towed.
Tim: Well, you did save me $50 towing fee. You’re forgiven.
Lilly: At this point, Tim, you were the only one out there. Someone else was out there with you.
Ben: Impossible.
Scotty: Not really. Kristen, the resident assistant on duty remembers you all had piles of beer cans. One pile only had two cans.
Cassie: That was my pile. Ben kept taking cans from me so he would look good. You know, “I can drink a ton!!”
(Lilly and Scotty look at Ben funny.)
Ben: I was 20. I flunked out of college because of stuff like that.
Lilly: You ever go back.
Ben: Yes.
Scotty: Heard you had pay your own way. (Laughs)
Ben: Alright. Enough with the jokes.
Lilly: Alright. I’ll talk to you all again tomorrow. You can go.
(They all get up to leave.)
Lilly: Tim, come back here a second.
Tim: Yes.
Lilly: I need to know more about Branden. You think you can talk to Jen a bit. I get the feeling Jen respects Branden and might not want to share some things about him.
Tim: Sure. Whatever I can do. Not sure she’ll share. She doesn’t about Branden. You know, there is something about Branden.
Lilly: What?
Tim: The morning he was found dead, Branden told me how Tony like Jen. Always found it strange that he reveal something like that to me and then, you know. By all means, I should be the suspect. Branden shared that with me. Why? And after the murder, Branden was distant. He avoided me. These days, he rarely comes around. This started before our little wrestling incident. Not that I’m complaining. I always got the feeling Branden was afraid of me, or hiding something.
Lilly: Maybe its guilt. Oh, I almost forgot. Did you get Jennifer’s purse out of her car that night.
Tim: Let me think. (Pauses.) You know, that’s something. I don’t think I ever got into the car. After the attack, I ran back to the building. That’s when I fell. The next morning, her purse was in her room. I think she had it all along. I’m positive she told me to get it. But she doesn’t remember that.

[r2k]

(Later)
Lilly: Okay, Branden is definitely keeping a secret. Tim can sense it.
Scotty: Stacy didn’t do it. UCLA confirmed she did have a masters degree. We just checked with them.
Vera: Kristen seemed convinced and so did Tony.
Stillman: Perhaps someone faked the paperwork. Tony was communicating with someone on the other end of the country. That would be easy to fake. Someone may have called Tony pretending to be someone from UCLA.
Jeffries: What about Kristen? She might have believed it. She might not have been as close a friend to Tony as he thought. Maybe she was together with Stacy and killed Tony to protect Stacy. Maybe she did it alone.
Vera: Branden seems to be the suspicious one. He tells Tim Tony likes his girl conveniently after he is dead, but before anyone finds the body. Tim seems like the honest type. It would be hard to lie about that even if he didn’t kill Tony. Branden knew that. I knew that about Time when I first saw him.
Scotty: We have time to bring one more person in today. Let’s bring Branden in.
(Branden is in the interrogation room with Vera and Scotty)
Scotty: Branden, we’ve been hearing some bad things about you. You told Tim about how Tony liked his girl. Right before someone found his body.
Branden: Come on. You have to do better than that.
Vera: You have motive. Your friends are too drunk to give you an alibi. Ben snatched some of Cassie’s cans to make himself look like the stud drinker.
Scotty: We’re thinking you grabbed a few cans in your favor. Make it look like you were out of it as well. But really, you were perfectly sober and able to kill Tony.
Branden: That’s ridiculous. Look. I did tell Tim about Tony. But it wasn’t anything Tim didn’t already know.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
“I Don’t Want To Wait” by Paula Cole plays in the background
Branden: You know Tony likes Jen.
Tim: Yeah. I got that feeling last night.
Branden: You don’t understand. He really likes her.
Tim: I’m not worrying. Jen loves me. She’ll never hurt me.
Branden: I’d worry if I were you.
(Ben walks in)
Ben: Give it up, Branden. Tim isn’t going to get mad. Tim never gets mad. Believe me I’ve tried.
Branden: Alright, don’t come crying to me when she goes with him.
Tim: Why would I come crying to you?
Ben: Yeah. Why would he? He’s my friend.

RETURN TO PRESENT
Branden: Never bothered him. Tim already seemed to know. He and Jen were made for each other. I learned that a long time ago.
Scotty: Before or after Tony was killed?
Branden: What kind of question is that?
Vera: It’s a good question. Someone tried to kill Tim as well. Whoever that was killed Tony. You had a reason to kill them both.
Branden: I told the lady and I’m going to tell you. You don’t want to push it or someone will get hurt.
Vera: The only person getting hurt is you. Tim is going to remember who attacked him.
Scotty: For your sake, it better not be you he sees.
Vera: Or you’re going meet some new girlfriends of a different kind. But seems to me like you’re going to be the girlfriend. I’m sure your background as a flight attendant will serve you well in the big house.
Branden: I’m so scared.

(Later.)
Lilly: Branden is really pushing Tim as the jealous one.
Scotty: I know. Why didn’t Branden pursue it? I mean Tim would have been the perfect scapegoat, but Branden never mentioned it the police back then.
Lilly: Ben overheard the conversation. It happened after the murder but before the discovery. Even if Branden mentioned it to the police, it wouldn’t have stuck. Ben would have counteracted it. He would have told police when the conversation took place. Police would have looked at Branden again. It was a trick that could have backfired so Branden backed off.
Scotty: So what’s our next game plan?
Lilly: I don’t know. It’s getting late. Perhaps we should call it a night.
Scotty: This early. You’ve never left this early. Who is he?
Lilly: There is no he. I’ve decided to for once put something else in front of work.
Scotty: You and Kite back together again.
Lilly: I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.
Scotty: You should forgive him. Talk to him. He’ll understand.
Lilly: Forget it. Bring it up again and your name is going on one of those boxes.
Scotty: So some female detective can solve it 20 years from now.
Lilly: The jokes never stop, do they.
(The two leave.)

[r2k]

(Next day. Lilly is sitting at her desk. It is about 11:00. Jennifer comes running in. Ben and Cassie are with her)
Jen: Rush. You gotta help me. Tim’s missing.
Lilly: What do you mean?
Jen: He always sleeps in on days off. He’s nowhere to be seen.
Lilly: Alright, calm down. Scotty, we gotta go.
Scotty: Where?
Lilly: Tim and Jen’s. We may have a possible kidnapping.

(At Tim and Jen’s house)
Lilly: No signs of a struggle. Tim may have been lured out.
Scotty: Seems like one of our suspects may have nabbed him.
Vera: Lured him. It was someone he knew.
Scotty: Branden.
Jen: Branden would never do that. People misread him. He’s really a nice guy.
Lilly: He is our number one suspect. Jen, did the phone ring at all last night.
(Jeffries comes in)
Jeffries: What was he wearing to bed last night?
Jen: His athletic shorts. Light blue. An undershirt. He hates pajamas.
Jeffries: Like these?
Jen: Yes. Where did you..
Jeffries: In the laundry hamper.
Jen: But. Where did he go? I don’t understand.
Lilly: Maybe he remembers something about last night.
Vera: I’ll call in and have them check out Branden.
Lilly: You don’t think Tim would take matters into his own hands.
Ben: Doesn’t sound like him. We never really cared for Branden but he wouldn’t do this.
Vera: A car is on its way to Branden’s place.
Jen: He’s probably already at work. I’ll call the airport and check.
(Jen walks out.)
Lilly: This is our fault. We never should have revealed it was Tim who was remembering. Anyone could have taken him. Could have happened after he got dressed? Someone called him in the middle of the night. Killed him, came here, hid the pajamas. (Lilly pauses for about 15 seconds.) Wait.
Scotty: What?
Lilly: Nothing.
(Jen comes back in)
Jen: The airline said Branden came in this morning. He was in Miami last night. Flew in this morning.
Vera: Rules him out.
Lilly: Look, Jen. Stay here with Ben and Cassie. I’ll call you as soon as we learn something.

(Back at the station)
Lilly: I wanted to wait until we were out of the house to say it. Jen didn’t need to hear it.
Scotty: Say what?
Lilly: Scotty, I’m not sure how you’re going to take this. I think I know why we have had a hard time flushing this killer out in the open. And it might explain why Tim is nowhere to be seen.
Vera: Lilly, where are you going with this?
Lilly: I think Tim remembered everything last night. I think it scared him. Branden has been warning that someone would get hurt. He wasn’t talking physical. Emotional. I think Tim saw something he didn’t want to see. I don’t think anyone kidnapped him. Vera go back to the airport and find a way to get in touch with Branden. He was definitely hiding something. He was right when he promised someone was going to get hurt.
Scotty: Lilly, you think Tim is protecting someone.
Lilly: In a way, yes. Why don’t you go find Tony’s parents and bring them in. They should be here.
Stillman: Lilly, what is going on?
Lilly: The worst possible thing. I’m going to go back to see Jen.

(At Jen’s. They are in the backyard. Ben and Cassie are inside)
Lilly: Jen. You need to be told, before anyone else. Tim remembers. He knows who killed Tony. I need your help.
Jen: How can I?
Lilly: Where would he go if he was really upset?
Jen: What are you talking about? Tell me what the problem is.
Lilly: Tim was never attacked.
Jen: What? Are you telling me he killed Tony?
Lilly: I think so.
Jen: Why?
Lilly: Not sure.
Jen: He was so drunk. He couldn’t have known Tony would be there. Tony was gone all evening too.
Lilly: It’s the only possibility that makes sense. Wait. I think I know where he might be. It’s a long shot.
Jen: I’m going with you.
Lilly: No. You three go to the station and wait. I’ll bring Tim in.
Jen: Oh no. Why did this have to happen?
Lilly: Just go to the station. Jen, relax. Everything is going to be okay.

(Later. Lilly is at Ashwood Hall. It is dark now. Students are walking here and there. Lilly spots the place north of the building and sees Tim sitting with his back up against a tree. She sits down beside him.)
Lilly: Hey.
Tim: Hey. Guess what? I know who killed him.
Lilly: Me too. I’ve been thinking all day where you might be. I went to your church, workplace. It finally hit me. You came back to where it happened. Right here.
Tim: When did you figure it out? It sure took me a long time. 7 years.
(Tim buries his face in his hands.)
Lilly: I didn’t tell Scotty yet. I wasn’t sure how he would take it.
Tim: Well I certainly didn’t take it well last night. I woke up and Jen is asleep beside me and I’m thinking, “What am I gonna tell her?” I was so drunk that night I couldn’t remember half of what was going on. The big clue was right in front of me.
Lilly: The cars.
Tim: Jen and Branden moved my car. I didn’t know. They didn’t tell me until the next morning.
Lilly: And when you went out to get Jen’s purse, you went to the spot you parked it in. Tony’s car was there.
Tim: Yes. When I remembered the attack, I forgot about that.
Lilly: I don’t know what to say.
Tim: I’m scared. In my mind, right now, I don’t feel like I did anything. But I did.
Lilly: I know you’re scared. I am too. You’re too good of a guy for this to happen to.
Tim: I hate myself right now.
Lilly: Tell me what happened.
Tim: Not yet. I don’t want to have to tell it so many times. I need to tell Jen.
Lilly: She’s downtown waiting. Come on.
Tim: I’m not a bad person. I never would have done this in my right mind. This is not me. I am not a killer.
Lilly: Yes, you are. Hard as that is to hear, you need to face it. The sooner you face it, the easier it will be to deal with it. You need to deal with this.
Tim: What’s the point? I did this and that makes me a bad person in everyone’s eyes.
Lilly: If you were a bad person, you wouldn’t be feeling this bad right now.
(Tim starts crying.) People make mistakes. We’re human. So far, you haven’t done anything to make you a bad person. A bad person is someone who doesn’t take responsibility for his mistakes. You look like the person who is willing to admit his mistakes no matter how big they are.
Tim: How could I have done this to him? How?
Lilly: I don’t think you can answer that question. But you can take responsibility for it. I know deep down inside it’s what you want. Look, you came in wanting to help. That hasn’t changed. You can still help. You don’t want to run away now.
Tim: Maybe I do.
Lilly: And go where? Where are you going to run to? Everything you know and everyone you care about is here. Plus, I’m not going to let you go. I can’t.
Tim: I don’t think I can handle this. I’m going to be put away forever.
Lilly: Don’t overreact. Relax. I believe you didn’t do this on purpose and that makes a big difference. I have dealt with killers more ruthless than you. And I have dealt with some who truly were sorry. Last year, a woman came to me in a similar position. She was an alcoholic and thought she ran some guy over. Turns out she didn’t, but she came in.
Tim: But she didn’t kill him. (Wipes his face.) You’re right. Jen would never forgive me if I left her. And I wouldn’t. Not now.
Lilly: Is there something going on?
Tim: She’s pregnant. Told me last night. She’s three weeks along. Kind of complicates things, doesn’t it. She’s going to have to do this alone, without me.

[r2k]

(At the station, Jen, Cassie, and Ben sit. Scotty brings in Tony’s parents. Vera, Stillman, and Jeffries are waiting there too. Lilly comes in with Tim. Scotty sees the look on Tim’s face and immediately figures it out.)
Scotty: It was you!! All along it was you!!
(Scotty advances towards him. Tim slowly backs away. Vera gets behind him to keep him from running. Lilly approaches Scotty.)
Lilly: Scotty. Scotty. He didn’t know. He was drunk. He didn’t remember! Don’t do this!
(Tony’s parents interrupt.)
Judy: Scotty. Calm down.
(She looks at Tim)
Judy: Come here.
(Tim walks up to her, scared as can be.)
Judy: You were the one who remembered something.
Tim: Yes.
Judy: It didn’t seem to go the way you wanted. Ever since they told me you were helping, I’ve wanted to meet you.
Tim: I guess you don’t now.
Judy: Yes. I do. We both do. Sometimes knowing the truth is more important than anything else.
(Jen walks up to Tim)
Jen: Tim, I love you. Don’t forget that. We were crazy that night. You know I can’t hate you for this. Whatever happens, we can work it out.
(Tim starts to cry in her arms. Both images flash back to their age in 1997, and then back again.)
Tim: I thought I was helping. I never knew it was me. I wouldn’t have kept this a secret from anyone.
(Scotty calms down. He seems to understand Tim did not do this on purpose. Tears roll down his face. His image fades to what he looked in 1997 and then back again.)
Judy: Young man. For years we thought this killing was done by a cold-blooded killer. Two years after it, I wanted to kill the one responsible. Things have changed now. I miss Tony. I’m angry he’s dead. But Tony had been drunk a few times himself. He even got behind the wheel of a car once. We caught him before the police did. I can only imagine what might have happened if we didn’t stop him. He might have been where you are now. If I were to hate you now, I would be turning a blind eye to the things Tony had done. He was a wonderful son, but not perfect. And neither are you. I think you try so hard to be good you forgot it is near impossible to be perfect. Tell me what happened to my son and I’ll forgive you. I feel better knowing you didn’t mean to do it rather than if you knew what you were doing. But you must tell me.
Tim: (Crying.) I want to. I’m scared.
Paul: Don’t be. You’re here now, in front of us. There’s no where you can run to. Now is the moment. For you, it is like you have just killed him. And we’re not going to kill you. Promise.
Jen: Please, Tim. Relax. You can do this. I’ll stand by you no matter what. I love you.
(Tim takes a few deep breaths. Jen holds his hand. He begins to tell.)

FLASHBACK TO 1997
(Tim is going to his car. It is raining like crazy. Actually it is Tony’s car, but he doesn’t know that. He tries to open the passenger side door but the key won’t work. Tony comes up to his left. Tim had exited from a different door, but Tony was entering another. He had seen Tim trying to get into his car and has come to stop him.)
Tony: Hey there buddy, what are you doing?
Tim: Going into my car.
Tony: Actually that’s my car.
Tim: No, it’s my car. I parked it here. (laughs like a drunk.)
Tony: You’ve been drinking a bit. I can’t let you get into the car. It’s my car anyway. You shouldn’t be out here in this storm.
Tim: I just need to get Jen’s purse.
Tony: Here, I’ll get it for you. Where’s your car?
(Tries to take the keys. Taps his left shoulder. Tim is facing the other way.)
Tim: No!!! Get off me. Let me go. My car is right here.
(Tim becomes confused and now thinks he’s being attacked. He punches Tony in the face hard.)
Tony: What are you doing?
(Tim hits him over and over again until he is on the floor. He hits him about 20 times. Tim runs away without looking. Tony falls back and falls on his face. Tim falls and scrapes his arm before entering the building.)

RETURN TO PRESENT
Tim: He must have drowned trying to cross the bridge. I don’t remember what happened to him after that.
Lilly: Wait. Tim, you forgot to mention something.
Tim: What?
Scotty: The injury to the back of Tony’s head. You hit him in the front 20 times.
Jen: That’s right!

(Branden has been there for the story, though no one noticed he was there.)
Branden: I can’t let this happen. Tim didn’t kill him. He started it. (Pauses.) He had no idea I was watching. I wanted you so bad Jen. I figured I would kill Tony and you would be available.
Lilly: But you never knew about Tim.
Branden: Right. I planned on killing Tony weeks earlier. Perfect plan.
Lilly: Fooling him into thinking he found dirt on Stacy. That would possibly lead police down the wrong path.
Branden: He wanted to believe it. I made it happen.
Scotty: So you changed the plan. Tried to kill them both.
Branden: We were all together that night. I lured Tim outside. I faked Jen’s voice.
Scotty: So you never were drunk, were you?
Branden: No, I wasn’t.

FLASHBACK TO 1997
(Tim goes out in the hall and to the stairs. Branden follows him, planning to kill him outside. Kristen stops him, but not Tim. She never saw him.)
Kristen: Branden, go back to Jen’s room. You can’t be out here. Stacy will kill you.
Branden: I want to get back to my room.
Kristen: Okay. Hurry.

RETURN TO THE PRESENT
Branden: I wanted to kill Tim. Then Tony. Jen would turn to me and we would be together.
Lilly: But another opportunity presented itself.
Scotty: You realized killing Tim even when he was drunk wasn’t going to be easy. That was evident after you watched him kick the crap out of him. So you killed Tony. Finished him off when he was vulnerable. You tried to frame Tim for Tony’s murder. But the next morning you couldn’t do it.
Branden: I realized I would be living a lie.
Lilly: Well, Tim is still in trouble. You should have helped Tony. He might have respected you then.
Judy: How could you do that!?! At least this man had the decency to come forward on his own! You’ve known for 7 years and you did nothing! This poor young man here will not suffer like you will. I’ll see to that.
Branden: Tim would have gotten in trouble then. I realized a long time ago Jen would never love me the way she loved Tim. I let it go. (Looks at Jen.) I understood how much you and Tim meant to each other. I kept quiet for you.
Jen: That’s a load of crap. You kept quiet because you knew you couldn’t blame Tim for this. Why don’t you finish your story because it is the last I want to hear from your mouth!!
Branden: Jen, please don’t hate me for this.
Jen: Stop right there! You planned something that night. And it involved two people I care deeply about.
Lilly: Branden, did you fake the paperwork on Stacy?
Branden: Yes. I originally wanted to humiliate Tony. Then the plan to kill him came to me. I grabbed the paperwork after I killed him.
(Branden stands there and begins to tell the final part of the story.)

RETURN TO 1997
(Branden sees Tim hit Tony and run. Tony struggles to get up. He can’t. Branden goes up to Tony.)
Branden: Are you okay?
Tony: I think. Don’t know what got into him.
Branden: He’s drunk and confused. We need to get you to the health center. Maybe the hospital. Come on. My car’s over there across the bridge.
(They walk until they get to the bridge.)
Tony: Wait a minute. You don’t have a car.
(Branden knocks Tony off his feet with his left foot. The back of Tony’s head hits the bottom railing of the bridge. He begins beating him with his feet over and over again. He grabs Tony's keys. Branden then pushes Tony into the ditch. Tony is still conscious. Barely conscious)
Branden: You are so stupid. Jen is my girl. Mine. Tim is going to take the fall for this. You should have given me a job, idiot. Now you’re going to die.
(Tony drifts away and drowns. Branden sneaks into Tony's apartment and grabs the paperwork. Branden went out there later that night and walked to the other end of campus to see that Tony was dead. It was still raining. He sees Tony laying there dead.)


“The Freshman” by the Verve Pipe plays in the background as Tim kisses and hugs Jen goodbye. He is taken away as she begins to cry. Lilly lets him go back to her and hug her one more time. Their images flash back to 1997. He calms her down before leaving her again. Ben and Cassie also flash back. Branden is also arrested. His image flashes back and forward. Lilly is later talking to Jen, giving her advice on what to do next. It appears that Tim has a chance of getting off easy. Jen is calmer now than before but still worried. Tony’s parents hug each other as Judy begins to cry. At the conference center, Stacy and Kristen meet for the first time in years. Their images flash back and forward again. Tim and Branden are placed in separate cells far away from each other. Scotty gives Branden a dirty look, but is kinder to Tim, who is still shaken up by what happened. The two shake hands. Scotty walks away from Tim and looks forward. Tony is standing there staring back at him with a smile. Scotty walks towards him as his image fades. Scotty’s image flashes back to what he looked like in 1997. It returns as Tony’s image fades.

NEXT EPISODE: Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

Rush and Valens reopen an unsolved 1987 double homicide of a woman and her unborn daughter. The woman, Susan Letterman, was found dead in a wooded area. Her unborn daughter, Connie, was found 50 yards away. The case is reopened when photos come to light revealing that Susan’s husband, John, was having an affair with another woman.

Remember, the cases depicted in this episode are fictitious. Yeah right!!! It is pretty obvious where I got this idea.

[Tati]

another awesome story!!
I'm glad Tim wasn't the only one involved in the murder.
And I'm curious to know what Lilly put in front of work that night! I hope you'll tell what it is on your next fic!

[r2k]

To Tati: You'd be shocked to know that when I began writing the episode, things were different. Tim originally was meant to be the only one involved. Tony was beaten and then left to die. He tried to go to the health center, hit his own head and drowned. I decided to add another twist to the plot and not let Tim take the fall. Unlike my other fics, the characters here are based on people I knew at Ball State University when I was there. Names were changed.

[Tati]

you mean this fic was based on real facts ?

[r2k]

To Tati: The characters were based on people I knew at Ball State University. The character of Tim is actually based on me a little. Jen was a close friend of mine that I wished I had pursued a little more. She dated a guy named Ben. Cassie was a combo of many blonde girls from BSU that I knew at the time. Branden is gay in real life and is close friends with Jen. Tony was my assistant hall director one year and in reality was not a nice person. I cleaned his personality up in the story. Stacy was my hall director for two years and many hated her. She was a control freak. Tony and I did not part on a good note. Funny thing is, he lives in Chicago and I live 26 miles away. I've been in the city quite a bit and have yet to run into him. A student drowning at BSU was similar to what I described. The victim was drunk and fell of a bridge in downtown Muncie. It was never determined if he fell on his own or was murdered. I didn't remember that story until I read your post. I guess it was partially based on true events and I forgot.

[Disasterfreak]

Hey R2K! I just wanted to say your scripts are so good, when a person asked me a few days ago what was the last episode of Cold Case I had watched, I started telling them about "Youthful Indiscretions". I don't usually make that kind of mistake. You make pictures with your words! After reading your fics, I feel like I've watched it, heard it, whatever. Congrats! Keep writing!

[Tati]

R2K: It's funny how we use our own personal experiences when writing fanfiction, sometimes without even realizing. It happens to me too!