11. Honor Among Thieves

[r2k]

Here is the latest. As usual, I was able to put in some good twists and include some music. Keep in mind I’ve never heard these songs and have no idea if they would really fit. The titles just looked good.

Honor Among Thieves

July 9, 1949

-“That Lucky Old Son” by Frankie Laine plays in the background. A bank in Philadelphia. At first, you see the outside of the bank. It is the afternoon. Work has not let out yet so there aren’t too many people there. Inside, a woman works at the front desk. A mother and child come in.
Woman teller: May I help you?
Mother: Yes, I’d like to deposit this check.
Woman teller: Sure.
-The little boy stays by his mother for a few seconds. Then, he runs off to the next desk. There, a woman gives him a piece of candy.
Other woman: Little Jack. You’re so cute. You and Mommy depositing money again today.
Jack: Yes. Grandma gave me a check for my birthday. Says it’s for college.
Other woman: A good college education is extremely important.
Jack: Yes! That’s what Grandma tells me. She wants me to be great and smart. But I don’t know what to be.
Other woman: You’re only five. You have 13 years to figure that out.
Jack: How long is that?
Other woman: Long enough.
-Suddenly, three men rush in. They are wearing masks. The first man is unarmed. The other two men each have a gun.
Man #1: Everyone drop to the floor!
-The other two men remind everyone they have guns by aiming them at the people. Everyone drops to the floor. Man #1 points to the main teller.
Man #1: You! Empty the drawers! Now!
-Man #1 hands her a large sack. The teller complies. She runs around and gathers all the money.
Man #1: The safe!! The money in the safe!!!
-The teller races to the safe. When she comes out, the bag is filled with money.
Man #1: Great! Now on the floor!!
-The teller drops to the floor. The men exit out the back door. Everyone slowly gets up and takes stock at what has happened. The teller races to the phone to call the police. She clicks the receiver.
Teller: The phone is dead!!! It’s not working!!!! Somebody run and find a cop now!!! NOW!!!!

-Later, two young men appearing to be in their mid twenties lay dead in an apartment. One man has a bullet hole in his head. The other is shot in the heart.
-File folders with the men’s names are placed away.

McCallister, G. July ‘49

Behr, B. July ‘49

-In the present. Lily is having lunch with Lindsay, her psychiatrist friend.
Lindsay: I’m so glad we finally got together girl. You’ve been so busy.
Lily: Well, sometimes you got to relax a little.
Lindsay: Well, according to the papers, you are hot stuff.
Lily: Well, it’s a message to those who thought they got away with a crime. The past will catch up with you.
-An old man sitting on a stool at the restaurant turns around and recognizes Lily.
Lindsay: Speaking of that. Our former thug in the making. They’re going to release him early.
Lily: That’s great. You know, I got a letter from him. He seems more focused now.
Lindsay: Now that he has a family. His real family. He’s still on probation but his parents have him occupied. They’ve introduced him to some good kids. He’s warmed up to them. Even likes one of the girls. You know, I never thought he was a full bad seed.
Lily: I kind of new that too.
-The old man interrupts.
Old Man: Excuse me. I’m sorry to bother you. Are you the nice girl who solves the cold cases.
Lily: Yes.
Old Man: My name is Frank Sanders. Could I talk to you?
Lily: Sure.
Frank: Before I begin, may I ask something.
Lily: What do you need to know?
Frank: If I were to have a broken a law not murder. What could they do to me?
Lily: Well it depends. What was the crime?
Frank: Robbery.
Lily: Even in a felony robbery the statute of limitations would have run out. But I’m homicide. Did someone get killed during the robbery? Because than you might be.
Frank: No. Not during the robbery. Later that night. My two. (Frank starts to cry) My two friends.
-Frank starts to lose it. Lily comforts him.
Lily: It’s okay. What happened to them?
Frank: After the robbery, I left to see my girlfriend. I was to meet up with them later. When I did, they were dead.
Lily: So, they weren’t killed by a cop in the pursuit.
Frank: No. We got away easily. I have no idea who killed them. The robbery was perfect down to the last detail. Nobody got hurt.
Lily: Until later.
Frank: I went to the apartment after things had cooled down.

-Flashback to 1949. Frank arrives at the apartment. He knocks on the door. Nobody answers.
Frank: Hey guys. It’s me.
-He opens the door. He is shocked to see his friends dead on the floor with bullet holes in their heads.
Frank: What the?
-Frank is stunned. He looks around.
-Return to the present.
Frank: They were on the floor dead. Nothing I could do about it.
Lily: Maybe there’s something I can do about it.

Opening Credits.

[r2k]

-At the old file storage room, Lily and Scotty look for the case files. Lily finds it.
Lily: Got it. Greg McCallister, age 25. Brian Behr, same age. Found shot in their apartment.
Scotty: So Frank didn’t live with them.
Lily: No. He mentioned he had a girlfriend. He was also still living at home. Frank didn’t really dive into too many details about his life at the time. He just mentioned those things up front.
Scotty: I wonder why he’s telling you this after all these years?
Lily: Must have recognized me and figured, why not?
Scotty: Police never found anything at the apartment. Seems like there was no indication they knew these two were involved in the robbery.
Lily: Well one thing’s for sure.
Scotty: What’s that?
Lily: Somebody knew they had the money. Someone who killed them.
Scotty: There’s not much to the file. Not many witnesses.
Lily: Well, two young men with few prospects shot in the head in an apartment doesn’t really make the high priority list. I’m getting the feeling this one was dumped pretty fast. Thing is, these victims had no priors.
Scotty: Probably why they were never fingered for the robbery. Oh, and one was shot in the heart.
Lily: I didn’t notice that.

-Later, in Lily’s office. Frank is sitting with her and Scotty.
Lily: Frank. It’s very important so think. Think back to the time leading up to and right after the robbery. Was there anything out of ordinary?
Frank: Difficult to say. When they were murdered, I tried to forget it. I figured it was karma. But I was never surprised that I lived. Greg and Brian were friends since childhood. We grew up together. But those two seemed like they were further down the wrong path than I was. I was like those guys in the old movies who got caught up with the bad guys. After they were killed I decided never to go down that road ever again. I had a girlfriend. Eleanor. I loved her so. Passed away a few years ago.
Lily: Did she ever know about this?
Frank: I told her near the end. She was sick. Doctor said a few months. She lasted a little longer. One night I told her. She made me promise to come in to the police and then she’d forgive me. She told me to take some time if I needed to. But she was adamant about me waiting until after she was gone. Afraid I’d be locked up and she’d be alone.
Lily: She seemed like a sweet girl.
Frank: She was. And now she has forgiven me. You know. It’s possible Brian might have told somebody. He had a big mouth. Wanted to be a famous outlaw.

-Flashback to 1949. “Slippin’ Around” by Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely plays in the background. Greg, Frank, and Brian are at a bar having a beer. There are lots of people hanging around. A girl comes up to Brian.
Girl: Hey cutie.
Brian: You like me.
Girl: Maybe. I only like bad boys.
Brian: I’m bad. I’m an outlaw. My buddies and I are outlaw bandits. We rob places.
Girl: Oh really. Maybe one day you can take me along. I love a good thrill.
Brian: Maybe I will.
-The girl walks away, smiling at him.
Greg: (in a soft tone) That was slick, buddy. Next time, why don’t you just yell it out what we’re going to do?
Brian: What’s the big deal, I’m just having a little fun.
Greg: Yeah, and that’s the first thing she’ll remember when she hears about it in three days.
Brian: Sorry.
Greg: Don’t be sorry, be quiet. Shut the mouth once in a while.
Frank: Keep it down, people will get suspicious. Let’s get out of here.
-Outside the bar, away from everybody.
Greg: Now the plan is simple. We make sure the phone lines are cut. Frank and I will watch the door. Brian, you’ll handle the loot. The plan is perfect. Our escape route is foolproof they’ll never figure it out.
Brian: Are you sure it is going to work?
Greg: I spent months planning the escape. They’re never gonna catch us. Trust me. The only thing getting in the way is your big mouth.

-Return to the Present.
Frank: Brian saw it more as the role of a lifetime. He enjoyed being a crook. For him it was the image of it.
Lily: You think that might have been his undoing?
Frank: Perhaps he told the wrong guy.
Lily: And what were you in it for.
Frank: They were my best friends. Back then, friends did everything together. I don’t know. I guess for me it was an adventure. A thrill. I could never tell my wife. She’d kill me.

-Meanwhile, Vera and Jeffries have located the bank teller. Her name is Norma Kint. She is 78 years old. Her image flashes back to 23 and then returns to normal.
Norma: I remember that day. Most terrifying ten minutes of my life. It all happened so fast. The three came in wearing masks. Two of them had guns. One had a bag for me to put the money in.
Jeffries: Did you cooperate?
Norma: Well, of course. I didn’t want to get my head blown off. Plus there was a little boy in the bank.
Vera: In your report you said you had no idea who these guys were.
Norma: No. They had to have been young. Maybe my age.
Vera: Thing is, we’ve identified all three of them.
Norma: After all this time! Who?
Jeffries: Frank Sanders. He’s the only one left alive.
Norma: Oh dear!
Jeffries: You know him.
Norma: I’d known him since childhood. He was friends with my older brother, Greg.
-Jeffries and Vera look at each other. Norma notices and becomes distraught.
Norma: Oh please! Don’t tell me! Not Greg.
Vera: We’re afraid so. Frank told us Greg was in on it with another guy.
Norma: Brian.
Vera: Yes.
Norma: Those three did everything together. Good thing we didn’t have a cliff around to jump off of. And I won’t defend Greg. He was the leader. But they were killed soon after the robbery. We never connected the two. Never. In hindsight I can’t imagine why we didn’t.
Jeffries: Norma, do you remember the name of the boy and his mother.
Norma: I’ll never forget the little boy. Jack Baird. Adorable little boy. Grew up to be a nice man. I believe his mother passed away but he’s still around. But I don’t know where. Tell him I said hello.
Vera: We will.

[r2k]

-Back at the station.
Jeffries: We located Jack Baird. He’s a distinguished neurosurgeon here in Philly.
Lily: Scotty and I will talk to him. Have you located any other family members.
Jeffries: Brian had a sister and brother. They’re coming in later. We were also able to locate the waitress in Frank’s story. She stays at retirement home north of the city. We’re trying to find some other workers at the bank but I’m afraid many of them were older than Norma. They’ve all passed on.
Vera: But we still have a few people who may give us some insight.
Scotty: Were there any other customers at the bank.
Jeffries: Norma said John and his mother were the only ones there at the time.
Scotty: I keep thinking maybe the robbers knew the place wasn’t going to be packed. I mean this was 1949. Technology wasn’t as advanced to stop robbers.
Vera: Norma also mentioned that the phone lines were cut.
Jeffries: Didn’t the bank have some kind of alarm?
Lily: Probably not a silent alarm. The robbers would have heard. Someone might have been killed.
Jeffries: Plus, they went out the back door.
Lily: Frank mentioned something about a foolproof escape plan.
Scotty: Let’s go ask him.

-At Frank’s house.
Frank: Greg made sure we’d never get caught. Plan was flawless. We were to enter in the front, rob it, and leave out the back door. That’s where the escape plan was executed.
Lily: How?
Frank: I’m getting to that. There was an old building behind the bank. It had been deserted for some time. Only an alley was between them. Anyway, Greg made sure a basement window was open for us. We figured the cops would be alerted soon after we got out. Cutting the phone lines bought us a little time. Thing is, the basement windows all around the building were opened. Now, here’s the tough part. The basement windows next door to the building on the next street. Greg some people who worked there. He would visit them there all the time. Well the morning of the robbery, Greg made sure a window was unlocked. We figured we wouldn’t be at the bank for long. We’d sneak in the abandoned building crawl out a side window into the other building. That was the bar we hung out at. Slip in and out. Since Greg knew everyone they weren’t suspicious about anything. In fact, they didn’t notice us coming up from the basement. When everyone saw Greg and me, they assumed we were coming in.
Lily: What about Brian?
Frank: He slipped out before they saw. His job was to hide the loot.
Lily: Where did he hide it?
Frank: I don’t know. We were supposed to meet later that night. When I arrived, they were dead. I glanced around the apartment for the loot. Didn’t bother to touch anything. I didn’t want them to be suspicious if my fingerprints were found all over the place.
Lily: You thought they might pin the murder on you.
Frank: That would have been hard to explain. Officers, my friends and I robbed a bank today. Someone killed them and took the loot. Yeah! They’d believe that.
Lily: I see your point.
Frank: You know, to this day I have no idea if the loot was every there. Brian was in charge of it and given his big mouth, someone probably killed them both and took it.
Lily: We’ll look into it.

-At the station.
Lily: Frank seems to think Brian may have spilled the beans on their robbery.
Scotty: They made off with a lot of money. I have that case file. $50,000.
Stillman: That was a lot back then. Police searched for years. Nothing.
Lily: With two dead and the loot missing.
Vera: Add that the remaining thief had no idea what happened, I’m not surprised nobody ever figured it out.
Lily: Thing that gets me is two men who easily could have fit the profile to be bank robbers are murdered later that night. Nobody ever made a connection.
Jeffries: We may never get to the bottom of your question. The detectives on the robbery case are now dead.
Lily: What about police officers?
Jeffries: One of them is still alive. Retired. Still in Philly.

-A man in his early sixties comes in.
Lily: That must be the little boy. Jack Baird.
-As Jack comes closer, his image flashes back to a five year old boy with a smile and then returns to his present age.
Jack: Jack Baird. My wife told me you wanted to speak with me.
Lily: Yes. Have a seat please.
- Jack sits down.
Lily: I’m looking into an unsolved murder from 1949. Two actually. We believe they may connected to the bank robbery you witnessed earlier that day.
Jack: (Stunned and smiling) The bank robbery! I remember that day. My mother didn’t let me out of her sight for months. My dad finally put a stop to it. She was hanging outside my classroom window. Dinner wasn’t on time and for him it was the last draw.
Lily: Do you remember that day?
Jack: Right down to the last detail. Funny, I was never scared. You saw that stuff in movies but never in real life. It was kind of exciting to me.
Lily: Give me the story, moment by moment.
Jack: It was pretty simple. The three guys came in so quickly. My mom and I were the only customers in their. We came in their every Thursday. My grandparents gave me money for college every week. My mom always took me to deposit it. One guy didn’t have a gun. The other two did. One of them was scary sounding but the other one wasn’t. He was more interested in looking bad.
Lily: How so?
Jack: He spoke to me. Never took his mask off. But he said he was baddest outlaw in all Philly.

-Flashback to 1949. No music in this flashback. The robbery is in progress. One of the robbers spots Jack and looks down at him.
Masked man: Hey kid. I’m the baddest outlaw in all of Philly. Remember me when I strike again.
-The masked man moves on with his gun.

-Return to the present.
-Lily looks at Scotty.
Scotty: That must have been Brian.
Jack: You said two people were killed.
Lily: Two men were found shot in an apartment later that night. The third man recently came forward but he has no idea what happened to them.
Jack: Police were never able to figure out who robbed that bank. I always thought they got away with it. I mean don’t get me wrong, I am a law-abiding citizen. But the idea of those guys getting away with it. I guess it is the kid in me. Funny thing is, they seemed to get along. They were friends.
Lily: We’d like you to look at some pictures of the three men. Maybe you recognize them.
Jack: Sure.
-Lily shows him the three pictures. Jack looks at all three. He points to Greg.
Jack: I know I’ve seen that guy before. Can’t place it. Prior to the robbery, I had seen him. At the bank. He was talking to the head teller. She was the one who was forced to collect the money.
Lily: Are you sure?
Jack: Positive. I’d never seen her grab money so fast. It’s as if she knew where it was without checking. She didn’t even look as she opened the registers and safes. It was automatic. And she had a strange look on her face after the robbery.
Lily: Thank you.
Jack: You know. I remember something else. She hesitated before running to the phone. She kept looking at the back way for a few seconds and then she ran to the phone.

-Later in an interrogation room, Norma is with Lily and Scotty.
Lily: Hesitated to call the cops, Norma Jean. Not a good move.
Norma: What do you mean? That never happened.
Lily: Jack Baird remembers that day. Never underestimate the memory of a little boy who loves cops and robbers.
Norma: (Image flashes back) I didn’t want to be connected with Greg. I worked at that bank and he robbed it. (Image returns)
Scotty: So you knew about the robbery?
Norma: No, I didn’t. But Jack’s right. Greg had been coming around a little more lately. I thought it was odd but then growing up, he and his friends did a lot of crazy things.
Lily: When did you know he was going to rob the bank?
Norma: In the middle of the robbery. I was never completely sure. Everything happened so fast. But his voice. I recognized it. But I couldn’t see his face. He was my brother, detective. I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. I did hesitate after they left because I was in shock. How would you react if you found out you were robbed by three men and one of them was your brother.
Scotty: Why didn’t you tell the police?
Norma: I wanted to. But I wanted to find out for myself. I was going to see Greg later. But the police needed me for a longer period of time. And of course, my husband kept me busy as well. We were just married. I was going to quit working when we married. But the bank needed me a while longer so I stayed. I know what these working mothers must go through. Anyway, I never made it to his apartment that night. Whatever happened there is a mystery to me.
Norma: I remember identifying Greg’s body. I did it for my parents. They couldn’t bear to do it.

-Flashback to 1949. No music in this flashback.
Coroner: This way, Miss.
Norma: This can’t be Greg. He wouldn’t get himself into this kind of trouble.
-Norma enters the room where Greg’s body lays covered. The coroner lifts the cover and reveals Greg’s body with a bullet hole in his head. Norma screams silently and keeps it in as she backs away.
Norma: That’s my brother. What happened?
Coroner: They’re thinking someone broke into the apartment. A detective is going to want to talk to you.
-A detective comes in.
Detective: Detective Hopkins.
Norma: Norma Kint. Are you the one investigating?
Hopkins: Yes. We’re a little short-staffed due to the bank robbery but I’ll look into this as best as I can. Do you know of anyone who might have wanted you brother and his friend dead.
Norma: His friend?
Coroner: We haven’t identified him yet.
Norma: Let me. I know his friends.
-The coroner leads her over to the Brian’s body and lifts the cover.
Norma: Brian Behr. They live in the apartment together. But where’s Frank?
Hopkins: Frank?
Norma: Frank Sanders. He’s good friends with them. They’re always together.
Hopkins: We’re just figuring out who these guys are, Miss.
Norma: You need to talk to him. He might know more. (Begins to cry.) Excuse me. I have to go tell my parents. My mother’s not going to like this.
-Norma walks out of the room where her brother and friend lay dead on slabs.

-Return to the present.
Norma: My parents had to bury my brother. That was painful enough. I figured it would be more painful if they learned he robbed a bank too. And since I never did confirm it and the loot was obviously not at the apartment, what was the point of mentioning it.
Lily: Was the bank insured?
Norma: Of course it was. We eventually recovered. Well, they did. I left the bank soon after that. I was pregnant. In time, I told myself Greg couldn’t have robbed that bank. But his murder always haunted me. The question keeps going through my mind over and over again.
Lily: What question?
Norma: Who took the money?
Scotty: Seems like you were convinced he did it.
Norma: I was between a rock and hard place. Too much happened in one day. I should have told the police. If he had been innocent, he’d be alive. He’s dead because I was silent.
Lily: Well, you’re not now.
Norma: But it’s too late, detective.
Lily: Better late than never.
Norma: I’m not in any trouble, am I?
Lily: You were never certain and there was no way you could have been. Given how many years have passed. I wouldn’t worry.
Norma: Thank Heavens. I was scared for a minute. Imagine locking a grandmother up. The grandkids might not like that too much.
-Lily giggles a bit.
Lily: Are you the only who worked at the bank who is still alive?
Norma: I’m afraid so. I was the only one in my twenties working there. I attended the funeral of the last person I worked with about three years ago. Aside from Jack Baird, I am the only left who was in that bank that day.

[r2k]

-Later at the station.
Lily: Well, Norma was suspicious but kept quiet. Guess she was overwhelmed.
Jeffries: A lot to take in a day. Brother may have robbed a bank then turns up dead hours later after dark.
Lily: Brian had a big mouth and Frank talked about a waitress of girl at the bar.
Vera: You know, that’s one of the few bars from that time still open in Philly. Might have changed owners over the years but this girl might have been a familiar face there.
Stillman: You and Jeffries check that out.

-Frank comes in.
Lily: Frank’s back. Maybe he can help us out some more.
Frank: I wanted to check how things are going.
Lily: They’re going. Have a seat.

-A few minutes later.
Lily: Norma, Greg’s sister, was on to you guys.
Frank: Are you sure?
Lily: She suspected you guys.
Frank: Can’t imagine how. There was no way she could tell it was us.
Lily: She recognized Greg’s voice. Plus there were three of you. She figured it out.
Frank: She never said anything.
Lily: And she’s paid for it deep down inside.
Frank: We never intended to hurt anyone. With her in the bank, Greg was strict about that. We talked a good talk in there and we were grateful it went as well as it did. All these years I’ve kept it inside. This was supposed to a big adventure. Something we would talk about for years. After the murders, I thought it was a punishment. But I didn’t die. I wasn’t with them. Never had a chance to redeem myself. I should have been with them. I should have died with them.
-Frank begins to cry.
Lily: Now there. It’s okay. You were obviously good friends with these two. Don’t forget you guys didn’t exactly do a heroic thing. You robbed a bank and that may have had a lot to do with why your two friends died.
Frank: I must know what happened to them. Before I die, I must know.
Lily: I’ll do my best to find out. Now if there is anything you can tell me. You mentioned something about a girl Brian tried to put the moves on. Who was she?
Frank: Her name was Lena. I don’t know the rest. She worked at the bar we hung out at. She was a waitress. She was a favorite there.

-Meanwhile, Vera and Jeffries arrive at the bar when Vera’s cell phone rings.
Vera: That was Lily. Our girl’s name is Lena.
Jeffries: Sounds like a name for a waitress in a bar.
Vera: Nice place. It’s been kept up pretty well over the last 100 years.
Jeffries: Been open that long.

-Inside, Vera and Jeffries are talking with the manager.
Andy Preston (manager): We have the records in the basement. But off hand, I do remember that name. Stories about the bar’s history are popular even around here. And of course, there’s her picture to go with them.
-Andy points to the south wall. A picture a beautiful woman is hanging on the wall.
Vera: What kind of a girl was she?
Andy: Classy. Gorgeous, sexy, but classy. She had her standards. She liked a guy once. Legend has it he disappeared. She cried for a while. Took time off. She returned some time later and was happy after that.
Jeffries: Any idea where she is now?
Andy: Not sure. She hasn’t passed on that’s for sure.
Vera: How do you know?
Andy: It’s sort of a tradition here. This bar’s been around a century. When a former worker dies, we sort of observe. We have a moment of silence that evening and then buy a round of drinks to whoever is here at the time. I’ve been here for twenty years. We know who’s gone and who’s still kickin’. Lena’s name hasn’t come up.
Vera: You wouldn’t be any chance know her last name.
Andy: Erickson. Lena Erickson.

-Back at the station.
Jeffries: We did a check on Lena Erickson. She lives with one of her sons in the suburbs.
Lily: Thanks. Scotty and I will check her out. Maybe Brian told her more than Frank remembers.

-Lily and Scotty knock on a door at a house in the suburbs. An old woman answers.
Lily: Lena Erickson.
Lena: Yes. (Her image flashes back to 1949 and then returns to the present.)
Lily: Detective Rush.
Scotty: Detective Valens.
Lily: We’d like to ask you a few questions about a double homicide.
Lena: I don’t know anything about a homicide.
Lily: Of course. But you may know something about a robbery.
Lena: I’m afraid I can’t help you.
Lily: Do you remember a guy named Brian Behr. 1949.
Lena: Now there I can help you. Come inside.

-Inside. Lena is pouring some coffee. Lily takes a cup.
Lena: My son is at work. His wife too. They both work. I stay here. I still make dinner for both of them. Keeps my busy. That Brian was sweet on me. I thought he was cute. He was a gentlemen yet eager to get it on. I kept him at bay. I wasn’t that kind of waitress. I was married you see. My husband was still going to school and I worked evenings to make a little extra money.
Lily: So there was nothing between you and Brian?
Lena: Just a little friendly teasing. He knew I was taken. So, his come-ons were kind a joke.
Lily: Well, here is a little surprise for you. Brian and his two friends were responsible for that bank robbery in 1949.
Lena: You’re kidding!!! You know, Brian was hinting that he was bad boy. I thought it was part of the game we were playing with each other. I never imagine it was serious. He did that to some of the other girls for real. He was hoping a girl would go for him. Never happened. His other friend, Greg was more successful with the ladies. And Frank was engaged.
Lily: You knew.
Lena: Did I ever. She came down a few times before the wedding. She was mad. He spent too much time with those two she said.

-Flashback to 1949. “My Darling, My Darling” by Jo Stafford & Gordon Mcrae plays in the background. At the bar, the three are sitting at a table. Frank’s wife, Eleanor, storms in. Lena overhears and observes the exchange.
Eleanor: Frank!! It’s time to come home.
Frank: I told you when I’d be home. Why are being like this?
Eleanor: Because I’m home all by myself while you are out having a good time.
Frank: We’re not living together yet.
Eleanor: I know. But why don’t you ever take me out.
Frank: I need to be with my friends.
Eleanor: Oh. So you need them more than you need me.
Frank: I don’t mean that.
Eleanor: When we get married, this is going to stop. Understood?
Frank: Understood.
-Eleanor walks out of the bar.
Greg: She seemed pretty ticked off. Perhaps you should go talk to her.
Brian: Really.
Frank: Not now. I’ll smooth it over tomorrow.
Greg: She never comes in here like that. Why is she starting now?
Frank: Beats me.
Greg: Have you been saying anything to her about our plans.
Frank: No way. I wouldn’t tell her. She’d never speak to me again. Why don’t you ask Brian that question?
Greg: Brian. Anything you want to tell us.
Brian: What are getting on my case for?
Greg: Because you’re teasing the waitress about out plans.
Brian: I’m not saying anything specific to her. She’ll never know.
Greg: Maybe you’re telling people.
Brian: I’m not. Relax will you.
Greg: You better not be.

-Return to the present

Lena: They were talking about something but keeping the details a secret. And as for Frank’s girl. She never came in before so angry. She never came in at all. She was out of sorts that evening.
Lily: When was this encounter?
Lena: Four days before the robbery. These guys. I never imagined there was a connection between their deaths and the robbery. They were treated as separate crimes. I saw the one years later. He came in. Didn’t stay long. He seemed sad. Then he left. I think that is odd that a connection was never made. Police turned the city inside and out looking for those bank robbers. Nobody can be that stupid.

[r2k]

-At the station.
Lily: Lena is convinced that Frank’s wife, then girlfriend, was not herself. The guys at the table confirmed it in her observations.
Vera: Maybe Frank told her.
Lily: Not likely. His reason for coming forward was because he told her on her deathbed.
Jeffries: Well, this wife was upset about something.
Scotty: Maybe Norma was suspicious beforehand. She might have asked Eleanor if she had known something.
Vera: Maybe Brian told someone who told Eleanor in an attempt to stop it.
Lily: But Greg was the leader. Frank is talking about it being a one time thing. But for Greg, maybe not.
Scotty: Well, let’s ask him. He’s here.
-Lily turns to see Frank coming in. She approaches him.
Lily: Frank, why didn’t you mention the fact that your wife came to see you at the bar four nights before the robbery.
Frank: I didn’t think it was relevant. You don’t think she had anything to do with their deaths.
Lily: You tell me.
Frank: I was with her before I went to the apartment that night. We were together the whole evening. I had to make up for what happened earlier that week. We had dinner together. At the end of the evening, I walked her home and left. My next stop was the apartment. I found them dead. But it wasn’t her. Impossible.
Lily: Do you think she might have known about the robbery?
Frank: That came up in the conversation after she left the bar. If anyone mentioned it, it would have been Brian. I would never tell her.
Lily: You said this was a one time thing. Do you think Greg saw it that way?
Frank: Difficult to say. Greg didn’t really have a steady job. Brian did. Problem was, Brian would follow him no matter what. I was engaged. I was torn between two influences at that point.
Lily: And you were going towards Eleanor.
Frank: I loved her. Greg was a dear friend but I’m not sure he understood that friends should all have a say in what goes on. Greg was the leader and I was breaking that string that he had holding us together. Brian would have stayed with him no matter what. He didn’t really have anybody else.
Lily: He had you, didn’t he.
Frank: Greg was the leader. I never could have persuaded Brian not to.

-Later.
Lily: Brian was very dependant on Greg for friendship. Frank said he would follow Greg anywhere.
Scotty: And Frank is getting married soon. Leaves Greg with only one follower.
Lily: There’s not much here. All of our potential suspects are merely pawns. They were suspicious but didn’t know for certain.
Scotty: This case is really getting on my nerves.
Lily: If police had only made the connection in ’49, we might have more. Well, let’s go over it again. Maybe we might see something we didn’t before.
Scotty: Frank owns up to robbery with his two buddies who turn up dead later that night.
Lily: Greg’s sister suspected he was involved but keeps quiet after he dies.
Scotty: John Baird remembers one of the men talking to him.
Lily: Brian. Who we know didn’t keep his mouth quiet about it.
Scotty: Then there’s Lena who now realizes Brian was talking about the robbery.
Lily: And remembers Greg’s fiancé coming in angry.
Scotty: So what do we have?
Lily: Who else could have known about the robbery?
Scotty: Maybe someone else at the bar knew what was going on.
Lily: Or the bank.
-Norma comes in to the main area.
Lily: Norma?
Norma: I had a feeling. When you talked to me the last time. I have to do what I have to do.
Lily: Do what?
Norma: His mother had a safety deposit box. Jack’s mother. I helped her set it up. She placed something in it. But then she had me put it in my name. And she made me promise.
Lily: Promise what?
Norma: Never to open it.
Lily: Until now.
Norma: Until the bank robbery case was ever reopened.
Lily: Why the bank robbery case?
Norma: I think the note speaks for itself. I never read it until now. I respected her wishes.
-Norma hands Lily the note.
Lily: Thank you.

-Later, Lily is in the interrogation room with Jack.
Lily: Jack. We know you’re father died in the war.
John: Killed in 1944. Never knew him.
Lily: You parents had money saved but it was running out.
John: That wasn’t true. She had plenty money from (pauses). What are you getting at?
Lily: Your mother went into that bank every week. Only Greg started coming around more often, scoping the area out.
Jack: What does that have to do with my mother?
Lily: She knew them both well. And when Greg and his buddies robbed the bank, Norma recognized Greg. His voice. Thing is, your mother noticed. You told your mother everything you saw. You told me that earlier.
Jack: My mother wouldn’t have done that. She was good mother.
Lily: She was a desperate mother, John. She needed money.
Jack: But she didn’t own a gun. I’m telling you she didn’t own one. Besides, she was still talking to the police well into the evening. They kept her and the other witnesses a long time. They wanted every possible piece of information. I was with her most of the night.
Lily: Until the time they were killed. Your grandmother was watching you that night. While your mother was gone.
Jack: She went out.
Lily: For what?
Jack: She went out. Why do you care?
Lily: Because you have no idea why she went out.
- Jack lowers his head in tears.
Jack: She couldn’t have killed those men.
Lily: She did. I have the proof here in my hand.
-Lily takes a note out of her pocket.
Lily: We found it in her safety deposit box.
Jack: I already emptied it out after she died.
Lily: Not the other one. She kept it a secret from you.
Jack: I don’t understand.
Lily: Norma Kint, the bank teller. She was given instructions by your mother to open this box if anyone came asking about the robbery.
Jack: And you did.
Lily: Norma brought my the note earlier today. We need to keep it as evidence. But I thought you might want to read it.
- Jack slowly takes the note and begins to read it.
Jack: Dear Jack. If you are reading this note, then this means they have reopened the robbery case meaning I must tell you. I was a fool not telling you and coming clean about what I did. Your father was a brave man who died serving his country. He left me against his will to raise you alone and in a moment of desperation I did a terrible thing.

-Flashback to 1949. No music in this background. The bank robbery is in progress. Jack’s mother notices Norma’s mannerisms. She can tell Norma recognizes the one robber and realizes it is her brother Greg. She watches the robbery closely and Jack stands there.

-Return to the present.
Jack: (continuing the note. I went to the apartment and took some money from them. I am so ashamed of what I have done. And the fact that they are dead makes it worse. Forgive me son. I love you and I wanted you to know that I did it for you. Love, your mother.
Lily: That ends it.
Jack: It ends nothing. This note merely confirms she stole the money from them. She never flat out confesses to killing them at all. I’m telling you, she didn’t own a gun.
Lily: Cut the stupid act. We have records indicating she did. A few weeks later, you’re house was broken into. There’s a report. Your mother shot at the burglars but missed. But there was a gun.
Jack: (Realizing he must tell the truth.) She couldn’t have gotten to the gun because I was playing with it earlier. She came into the room and I hid it before she say me with it.. If she was intending to kill those two men, she would have to find it and there is no way she could have found it in time. As for where she went, she never told me. But she didn’t have a gun. So, that doesn’t end it yet.
Lily: Do you still have the gun?
Jack: Yes. I do.
Lily: We’re gonna need to see that gun.

-Later, after Jack has left.
Lily: I’m willing to give Jack the benefit of the doubt on believing his mother was innocent.
Scotty: One thing’s for sure. She stole the money from them.
Lily: But how? How did she get in there?
Stillman: Sort of makes this case a lot more challenging.
Lily: Maybe Norma did intervene on the bank’s behalf after all.

-Norma is in the interrogation room.
Vera: Well, Norma. We think you may have tried to stop your brother after all.
Norma: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Lily: That little boy at the bank. His mother took the money from them later that night.
Norma: So she’s the one who killed them. Are you people stupid? Why are you picking on me? She killed them!!
Lily: We thought that at first. Thing is, her son doesn’t believe it. And her note confessing doesn’t actually mention murder.
Vera: So as always, we’re open to all possibilities. Which brings us to you.
Lily: You suspected Greg and his friends took the money. And that made you mad. Mad because you didn’t call the cops fast enough.
Vera: Not that it matters seeing they cut the phone lines.
Lily: But maybe because he betrayed you so and humiliated you. Maybe you were afraid the cops might catch them and blame you since you worked there.
Scotty: Or worse, you’d be embarrassed every day you went to work after that.
Norma: I would never have killed my brother. I did go to see him that night. To check if it was true. I figured they had the money.

-Flashback to 1949. “A Little Bird Told Me” by Evelyn Knight plays in the background. Norma knocks on Greg’s door. Brian opens it.
Brian: Norma (in a nervous tone.) What brings you here?
Norma: Can’t a sister visit her loving brother. You are so naïve. Greg.
Greg: Norma. Are you okay? I heard what happened.
Norma: Oh, don’t worry. I’m fine. The robbers didn’t hurt us. Probably didn’t have the guts to. They talked a good talk but I think they’re cowards.
Greg: It’s a shame what happened.
Norma: Yeah. By the way, when did you find out?
Greg: What?
Norma: I’m curious. I mean, I could have been killed and here I am looking for you hours later. Not the other way around. I’ve been talking to the police all evening.
Greg: What are you trying to say?
Norma: You know what I mean. I recognized your voice today! At the bank!
Greg: Shhhh. Quiet. The people down the street didn’t hear you.
Norma: Do you realize what position you’ve put me in? Now, if I rat you out I get in trouble.
Greg: We didn’t rob that bank.
Norma: Yes, you did!
Greg: No we didn’t. You don’t know for sure if we did or didn’t. You aren’t in an uncomfortable position.
Norma: So we’re gonna play this little game right. You tell me you didn’t do it, I pretend to believe you. And as long as I don’t know for sure with evidence I can go about living my life so happily. Please. So where is it? Is it in the closet?
Greg: Norma, stop.
-Norma checks the closet.
Norma: Not in here. Hmmm. Maybe in your bedroom. Won’t take too long. Not much in there. No wonder you had to rob a bank.
-Norma goes into the bedroom for a minute.
Norma: Not under the bed or in the dresser. Nor is it in the closet. Maybe Brian’s room. On second thought, Brian, your room is so messy I don’t think you guys could find the money yourselves. But this is a special occasion. So I’ll check. (Norma goes in there to look and then comes back out of the room.) Well, I guess you don’t have it here. But you have it somewhere. I’m giving you 48 hours to return the money or else I will tell the police.
Greg: Norma, we don’t have it.
Norma: The police aren’t going to like that. 48 hours and I call them. Please do the right thing.
-Norma leaves the apartment. Greg has a frustrated look as she turns around and gives him a look.

-Return to the present.
Norma: That was the last time I saw him.
Lily: You searched that place top to bottom.
Norma: Every nook and cranny. Nothing. And I still believed they stole the money. The thing is, Greg and Brian seemed nervous. Like they were worried it was gone.
Scotty: Maybe you went back one more time to appeal to them.
Norma: I didn’t. They would have been dead by that time.
Lily: Question is, was John’s mother there before you or after.
Norma: If John is right and she only took the money, then she must have been there before me.
Lily: Was there anybody else at the bank you might have forgotten about that may still be alive. Maybe somebody who came in to help.
Norma: Everybody else is dead I’m afraid.
Lily: Someone killed those two. Someone who was angry that money was gone.

[r2k]

-Later.
Lily: I’m beginning to think there was another reason for this robbery. There was more to it than just a thrill.
Vera: Norma seemed to notice Greg was edgy. If it was just for a thrill, why get mad at the loss.
Lily: Unless Greg owed somebody.
Vera: That’s gonna be impossible to figure out, Gambling debts. Back then, gambling was done in secret.
Lily: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ll figure it out.
Jeffries: Still, how did the mother get the money?
Scotty: I mean, really. The two men still had their guns.
Lily: Maybe she tricked them.
Vera: Wait a sec. I’m looking at the note. John’s mother said she took some money.
Scotty: That’s right.
Lily: They gave it to her.

-Lily and is talking with Lena again.
Lily: Lena, level with us here. Was their any gambling going on at the bar?
Lena: Of course. It was the ‘40s. Gambling continued until the ‘60s. I was long gone by then.
Lily: Did Greg ever gamble?
Lena: Oh yes. Brian too. Greg was good but Brian was lousy. I know a few weeks before the robbery Brian lost a lot of money. The boss was easy on him. Gave him a few weeks to come up with the money.
Lily: So this was all for Brian.
Lena: I guess it was. Poor guy. He really liked me. And he died anyway. I never told anybody this, but Brian asked me out once.
Lily: Did you go?
Lena: No. He was hurt. But he still tried to get me. It became more of a joke we shared. He figured since he couldn’t have me he could be a good friend.
Lily: And was he?
Lena: Oh yes. He was. He’d come by after the bar closed and I was cleaning up sometimes. Without Greg, he was a man. Problem was, you couldn’t get Brian without Greg. Frank knew that. That’s why he got engaged. It was the only way out. Brian was a gentleman with me. Honest, caring, and loving. I regret not accepting his offer. Things might have turned out differently. You know, I believe the circumstance make the man. I worked at that bar, but I would never hang out there for fun. For me, it was job. When I married, the job and that life were over. A man is defined by his surroundings. And those surroundings can make a man a saint or a sinner. I guess the point is, “Choose your surroundings wisely.”
Lily: Those are wise words.
Lena: So tell me, what’s your story?
Lily: My story. It’s long and complicated. I believe in justice no matter how long overdue it is. These two men may have done something wrong, but they did not deserve to die for it. I’ve investigated some case where the victim’s were horrible people and deserved something horrible in return.
Lena: Had to be hard to arrest those people.
Lily: Sometimes it is. But it’s necessary. Those people need to be held accountable for what they did. No matter how bad they were treated by the person they killed.
Lena: Well, it doesn’t seem fair that those people get to walk free while their victims lay six feet under. I like your story. Your story is many stories. Shaped over time. Victims laying in wait for their day to truly rest in peace. I hope Brian can rest in peace soon. Greg too. They were young and crazy. At a time when that simply wasn’t always accepted. They wanted to take life by the horns. But Brian also wanted someone to be with. He was always lonely. Even with Greg.
Lily: You ever marry anybody.
Lena: Yes. I married in 1952. We were together for 50 years. My husband passed away in 2002. Peaceful I might add. Drifted off in the middle of the night. I miss him. But I think I miss Brian more. And we were never in love. My husband must be mad at me right now, wherever he is.
Lily: I think he’d understand. I met a guy like that recently. Sometimes there are people that make such an impact on us no matter how short their journey with us was.
Lena: For a gal of your generation, you are wise.

-Later, in the station.
Lily: Well, Lena provided some insight to Brian’s gambling problems.
Scotty: It seemed like Greg took more of an interest in it.
Lily: I wonder why that is.
Vera: Maybe he got the bookie to back off a bit. For a while at least.
Lily: So Greg’s reputation is on the line because of Brian. I’m beginning to understand why Brian was the follower. He owed Greg for a lot more.
Jeffries: We compared the guns used in both the murder and the robbery at the Baird home. No match. Whoever killed them was somebody completely different.
Lily: We’re back at square one.
Scotty: I wasn’t aware we left.
Vera: Well, somebody knew they had the money.
Lily: But the person is probably dead now.
Scotty: Maybe the bookies came and took the money.
Jeffries: And killed them off.
Stillman: Possible. Even with Frank still alive, he would have had no idea.
Lily: Or does he?

-In the interrogation room.
Frank: I’ve already told you everything I know.
Lily: No, you haven’t Frank. If you want me to help you, you need to tell me everything. Now what was the real reason for the robbery?
Frank: (pauses) Brian was in trouble. He lost some bets and owed the owner of the bar a little money.
Lily: How little is little?
Brian: $10,000.
Scotty: How does a small bar owner allow a patron to lose that much money?
Frank: Beats me. They took advantage of a lot of people in those days. Easy money. Brian wasn’t a thinker. He always leaped before looking. Greg smoothed things over with the owner. Owner gave them time to come up with the money.
Lily: And you went along to help your friend?
Frank: Brian was a friend. He’d do the same for me.
Scotty: If he could figure that out.
Frank: (Getting angry.) He was a good friend!! (Getting louder) Don’t you ever talk bad about him again! He was a screw up, but he was good friend!!
-Scotty backs off. Lily looks shocked.
Lily: Scotty. We don’t you give Frank and me a minute.
-Scotty walks out.
-Lily stares at him.
Lily: Are you okay?
Frank: Nobody ever really respected Brian. He was the loser of the group. But he meant well. He just kept screwing up. That’s why Lena said no. She knew he was a screw-up. That’s why he followed Greg all the time.
Lily: Greg would look out for him.
Frank: We never wanted to rob that bank. But Brian was scared they’d kill him.
Lily: And somebody did.

-Later that night. Lily is about to leave work. Scotty comes up to her.
Scotty: So you got any plans with…?
Lily: You mean Kite.
Scotty: Everyone’s dyin’ to know.
Lily: Well, we talked a bit. And we both agree not to jump back into it. I’m not really looking to get back together just yet. I’m not sure.
Scotty: You guys were good together.
Lily: Well, yes. We were definitely good together.
-They walk out of the building.
Scotty: He’s not waiting around for you.
Lily: (giggles) You guys just love doing this, don’t you?
Scotty: It gets us through the day. See ya.
Lily: Bye Scotty.

-Lily walks slowly for a while. Then decides what she is going to do.

[r2k]

-The next day. Lily is looking through her notes when Scotty comes in.
Scotty: Found anything yet?
Lily: No. I’m beginning to think you’re right. We are back at square one.
Scotty: I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it. What is missing?
Lily: Something or somebody we don’t know exists. Wait. Look. Brian and Greg are murdered. A few weeks later, Jack and his mother are robbed.
Scotty: Right.
Lily: We know Jack’s mother came to the apartment. To ask for help. It was a hush hush deal. They give her a little of the money.
Scotty: And she keeps quiet.
Lily: Whoever killed Brian and Greg must have already been there. And they tried to get the money back a few weeks later.
Scotty: She must have suspected something was wrong after they turned up dead.
Lily: She was ready for the robbers.

-Jack Baird is with Lily at her desk.
Jack: I remember the robbery at the house.
Lily: Did anything about the robber click?
Jack: He was familiar. But this time it was dark. I know he came in. Mom somehow knew it was going to happen. She began shooting at him. Got three shots out. Missed.
Lily: Did the robber look familiar?
Jack: No. But I didn’t get a good look at him.
Lily: What about his voice?
Jack: The voice was familiar. I think it was one of the robbers.

-Frank is in the interrogation room. Again.
Lily: You’re getting agitated Frank. Why is that?
Frank: Because you’re picking on me, that’s why. I gave you the lead. And no you’re pinning it on me because you can’t figure it out. I’m very disappointed in you.
Lily: And I’m disappointed in you. I thought your generation had class. But apparently I was mistaken.
Frank: I don’t care what you think of me right now. I want to know what happened and you seem not to care.
Lily: Thing is, you were the one who robbed that mother and boy’s house a few weeks later.
Scotty: It’s a shame she couldn’t at least get one bullet in you. Then the robbery and murder would have been out in the open.
Frank: Watch it little boy.
Scotty: I’m not little.
Frank: You are to me.
Lily: Thing is, you and your friends made off with $30,000.
Scotty: Brian only owed $10,000.
Lily: We checked with the Baird’s bank records. Jack’s mother deposited $20,000.
Scotty: Now that couldn’t have originally been part of the plan.
Frank: No, it wasn’t.
Lily: So in an angry rage, much you’re starting to show, you kill them.
Frank: I didn’t kill them. I was angry. But given what happened, I couldn’t show it. It’s true, I had an anger problem.
Scotty: We’re aware of that. You see, we also pulled some other records.
Lily: Hospital records. Seems that your wife has spent a lot of time there.
Scotty: Numerous visits spanning over twenty years.
Lily: She never left you. Even when you beat on her.
Frank: You have no right to judge me. What do you know about it?
Lily: Because I was her at one time.
Frank: I didn’t kill them and I didn’t care about the money. I was helping a friend solve his problem.
Scotty: That was to help a friend’s gambling debts. Maybe not the best way to solve the problem.
Lily: But at least it wasn’t out of simple greed. Maybe you got greedy. Ann that money. And you killed them when you learned they weren’t keeping any of it for yourself.
Frank: For the last time, I didn’t kill my friends and I don’t know who did.
Lily: I hope you’re right.
Frank: I used to get angry all the time. I was angry when my friends died. (Get’s frustrated.) Everything is so confusing to me now. I never wanted the pain. I never wanted them to die. But they did and I have no idea who did it. But I don’t see how Greg would have let Brian give away the money. He wouldn’t have done that. It doesn’t make sense.

-Later.
Lily: Frank made me think about something.
Scotty: Like what?
Lily: About Greg not letting Brian give all that money away.
Scotty: But he must have.
Lily: I know. Perhaps it was Greg’s away of getting rid of the leftovers so when sis ratted them out, there would be no evidence.
Scotty: You know, I just don’t buy into Norma’s threat. I believe her when she said that was what she was going to do. But in the end she wouldn’t have done it. He was family. And she couldn’t prove it.
Lily: He risked a lot by robbing that bank. But I see why.
Scotty: Why?
Lily: Well, with a sister working there, he could go in there and scope out the place. Nobody would be suspicious. He’s family. If he went to a different bank, the police would have had them in less than an hour.
Scotty: Well, that explains why nobody ever connected the two.
Lily: Still. The brother of a woman who was in a bank that was robbed. I bet the cops figured since the guys were dead, the money was missing. They probably knew.
Scotty: Why not go after Frank?
Lily: Maybe they figured he didn’t have the money. I don’t think we’ll ever know about the robbery in full and what detectives really thought of the case.
-Vera enters. A 65 year old man is with him.
Vera: Welcome back square one, we missed you.
Lily: Tell me about it.
Vera: I have someone here I’d like you to meet.
Man: I’m David Felt. I lived in the apartment next to the two guys who were killed. I can give you a detailed description of what happened that night prior to the murders.
Vera: I decided to go by the old apartment building to see if anyone might still be living there. And wouldn’t you know it. David here owns the building now.
Lily: What did you see?
David: I saw a woman knock on the door. My parents weren’t watching me. Was before my bedtime. Anyway, only one of the guys was there at the time.
Lily: Are you sure?
David: Positive. The dumb guy was home.
Lily: Brian.
David: The other guy came home after the lady left. There was a fight. I heard a gunshot a while later.
Lily: Why didn’t you call the police?
David: My parents were busy. They didn’t hear it. Although I think they simply ignored it. Besides, we didn’t have a phone then. We heard gunshots frequently back then.
Lily: Then what happened.
David: A while passed and there was another gun shot. I finally snuck out into the hallway again after a few minutes. And that’s when I heard a woman’s voice inside the apartment. She kept repeating, “Why?” “Why?” She was shaken up. Like someone had wronged her.
Lily: That could be either of the two women we’ve talked to.
Scotty: And not talked to. Jack’s mother.
Lily: Did you see this woman?
David: No. I snuck back into my apartment as their apartment door opened. It wasn’t until later when the police arrived that I knew what happened.

[r2k]

-Later
Lily: Well, this could be Norma getting payback for the robbery.
Scotty: Or Frank’s wife for them getting her man involved.
Vera: Or Jack’s mother came back and went nuts.
Lily: David said he heard a gunshot. But then silence for a long time. Finally, he heard another gun shot.
Scotty: What are you thinking?
Lily: I know why we’ve been having a hard time figuring this out. We’re looking for one killer. But there were two.
Scotty: So how do we find them?
Lily: By going to the one who is still alive.

-Back at Lena’s son’s house.
Lena: I’m not sure I can give you any more information. I knew so little of those two as it is.
Lily: I think you know more that you told us.
Lena: I don’t follow.
Lily: You see, we were confused at first. Kept thinking about the money Brian gave away to the mother at the bank. She asked him for help.
Lena: That’s Brian. He was generous when even when he couldn’t afford to be.
Lily: You did know him. You were in love with him.
Lena: I guess it is impossible to hide. A 50 year marriage couldn’t stop my love for him.
Lily: You figured it out, didn’t you. About the robbery.
Lena: I don’t think I should say any more.
Lily: We know you didn’t kill Brian. In case you’re afraid we think you killed them both, don’t be. You couldn’t. He was already dead when you got there. Wasn’t he?
Lena: I was so mad when I learned of the robbery. I wanted Brian to give the money back. When I got there the door was unlocked.

-Flashback to 1949. Lena enters the room and sees Brian on the floor. Greg is standing over him in tears.
Greg: What have I done? I killed him.
-Lena notices the gun is left on the table, out of Greg’s reach.
Lena: No. no. What did you do?
Greg: He gave the money away!
Lena: Why! Why!
-Flashback within a flashback. A while earlier. Greg returns to the apartment.
Greg: I’m back. I gave them the money. You’re okay as long as you don’t get into trouble again.
Brian: We’re okay now as well. I gave the money away.
Greg: What?
Brian: Look. The mother at the bank. She found us. She said she wouldn’t rat us out but she needed money to get by.
Greg: And you fell for it. Are you stupid?
Brian: No. I thought it would be a good idea. I can’t keep the money. It was wrong to do it. And I don’t care what happens. I’m going to go to the police. I’ll figure out some way to make that money back. I don’t care what happens. We need to do the right thing now.
Greg: I was going to return that money to the bank somehow. We were never going to keep it. You’re an idiot. And giving it away to someone else isn’t exactly paying it back.
Brian: (Pauses) I’m sorry. I guess I’m too stupid. I’m going to the police now. I’m sorry. Look. I’ll take the heat for it. I don’t care anymore. I’m not going to live with this.
Greg: That’s right. (Pulls a gun out.) Too stupid to live.
-Brian turns around.
Brian: Greg. What are you doing!!
-Greg shoots Brian in the heart. Brian tries to breathe but he knows he is going to die.

-Return to the present.
Norma: That’s what Greg told me.
Lily: Then what happened.
Norma: All I could think about was what was going through Brian’s mind as he died. What pain he was feeling as he knew his best friend killed him. Brian never wanted to do it. He was desperate. He was so scared. And Greg just went and killed him. For the first time, Brian grew a backbone and decided to face his own problems head on no matter the consequences.
Lily: So you did what you felt was necessary.
Lena: Greg took a life. So he should lose his.

-Flashback to 1949.
Lena: Why did you have to kill him?
Greg: He was so stupid. He’s an idiot. He made me kill him. He was going to get us all in trouble.
Lena: Well, I’ll solve that problem.
-Lena aims the gun.
Greg: Lena no. Stop. You don’t know what you’re doing.
Lena: It doesn’t look to me like you knew what you were doing just now. Look at you, slobbering on the floor, begging for your life. Crying over a friend you just killed.
Greg: Please. Enough people have died already.
Lena: Only one person is dead. And in my eyes there is room for one more.
-Lena fires the gun. Greg is hit in the head. He hits the floor and dies instantly.
Lena: You didn’t suffer the way Brian did. Brian saw the error of ways before you got a chance to. You should have followed him. Not the other way around. Deep down inside, Brian was the better man. He always was.
-Lena walks out of the apartment after wiping her fingerprints off what she touched. She takes the gun with her.

-“I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” by Les Brown plays in the background as Lena is arrested. She is taken into the station where Frank is sitting there. Both of their images flash back as she cries. Frank wipes the tears off her cheek. Their images return. Meanwhile, Jack is visiting a bank near his home. His image flashes back to age 5 and then returns to normal. Lily is visiting Norma to tell her the truth. Norma cries as she learns the truth. Her image flashes back to 1949 as she looks up and sees Greg standing in the corner of the room. He looks ashamed of himself as his image fades. Norma continues to cry as Lily comforts her. Lena is now sitting in jail cell with her head down when a hand touches her shoulder. Brian is sitting next to her. Her image flashes back as they begin to talk to each other. They hug. Lena rests her head in his arms as he finally gets something right and knows how to make her feel better. At home, Lily enters and puts her coat down. On her fridge, she spots Kite’s number. She reaches for the phone but hesitates to dial. Olivia is on top of the fridge. Lily picks her up and pets her. She puts the phone down and walks away.

Next Episode: Last Request
A death row inmate scheduled to die at the end of the week asks Rush to reopen the unsolved murder of his older brother in 1970. The inmate, Kaylen Jefferson was walking home with his older brother, Cordero, from the playground basketball court when a gang approached them. Kaylen claims Cordero kept them busy while he ran home. Kaylen also admits he kept this information from the police because he and his brother were supposed to be at home that night while their mother was at work.

[Disasterfreak]

R2K: You're killing me with this Kite thing!!! :smile41: And you had me going with the case but good. I can sometimes figure them out--but no way with this one. The idea of having 2 murderers instead of one was cool, and I bought Lena's motive for doing it, though it's strange she should say before that "it doesn’t seem fair that those people get to walk free while their victims lay six feet under". I guess that discordancy can be interpreted many different ways.

And Lilly's "thing" with Kite--well, it was pretty in-character. No complaints in that sense. I could see it happening on the show.

[r2k]

So I'm tormenting you with the Kite thing. Get used to it. I have a few more teases before I pull out the big one. To answer your question about Lena, she said that line to fool everyone. That's what I ended up deciding. I'll tell you how I originally intended this episode to end. At first, I had no idea how it was going to end. I decided as I went along and added characters. After a while, I made my decision. Some of my earlier fan fics were planned in advance but not this one. Frank was my first choice to be the killer. His motive for coming forward was in hopes that Lily would get enough leads for him to locate the missing money. He was supposed to turn from charming to mean. In the end, I needed a better twist than that and poor Lena took the fall. The two different murders hit me near the end and I thought it would be a nice surprise. I'm going to try to make the next fan fic have a more ruthless killer. Someone you want to see go away.

[Disasterfreak]

Cool. Will be looking forward to it, as usual. I think it's pretty interesting how your fanfics are becoming more spontaneous each time. Me, I'm just writing one--and any attempts at planning it have been fruitless. I've changed the killer around zillions of times!!! It's like each chapter has a mind of its own. I'll let you all have it when I'm done with it, I promise. Never know where it'll take me.

As for Kite... well, you know I hate him, but I know you don't--so they'll have to be together in the end *resigned sigh*. And I'll have to shoot myself, but if it's what your Lilly wants... At least I know I can trust you to make it in-character. It's not like she's swooning into his arms or anything.

:smile50:

[ruda]

realy good fanfik R2K!
I'm waitin for your next fik ;D

[TVFan]

You kept me guessing R2K. I really liked the twist with the two different murders. Nice job!

[Tati]

Great twist with the two murderers. I never thought about that possibility, until the end I was thinking Frank had done it (and reading that this was your original plan, I guess I wasn't so far off). I also liked the tiny Kite part. I liked him, and I can't wait to see how your bringing him into the story.