"I'm Free"

[TVFan]

Okay, here's the first part. I have a script writing program, so I have to re-format my story to post it here and it's taking me longer than I thought, so I'm going to post this in parts. I took a lot of the formal formatting out of it, but there is still some in there. I apologize if this makes it difficult to read. Let me know if you have any questions. Anyway, here's part one...

"I'm Free"

EXT. CHRISTIAN HOME 1992 - BACK YARD - AFTERNOON
MUSIC -- “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane -- plays over the nearby stereo. It’s a neighborhood picnic in an upscale neighborhood. The people are all well dressed. MELINDA HAMPTON - 30s, pretty, typical suburban wife, and her neighbor the one who's name we shall not say CHRISTIAN carry on a conversation when TYLER KILLIAN - 4, adorable and shy walks up to MELINDA.

TYLER - Ms. Hampton, I want to play on the swings.

MELINDA - (fake laughing) Tyler, I’ve told you, you can call me mom.

MELINDA squats down to his level.

MELINDA - (CONT’D) I know we’re not your permanent family, but we love you very much, and I would love for you to call me mom. And sure, we can go to the swings.

MELINDA stands up and walks TYLER over to the swings. She starts pushing him until he gets going. Then, she steps back and watches him. the one who's name we shall not say walks over as well.

the one who's name we shall not say - So, how’s it going with him?

MELINDA - Oh, he’s an angel. Really, we couldn’t be happier.

the one who's name we shall not say - Ron and I really admire what you and Daniel are doing. Taking in an unwanted kid, you two are saints.

MELINDA - (feigning modesty) Oh, hardly. It’s only temporary.

the one who's name we shall not say - Stop being so modest. Foster parents are just as important as adoptive parents. Otherwise, he might have ended up in a group home. And we all know those breed trouble.

MELINDA - I couldn’t stand the thought of that.

TYLER - Look Mom! I go high!


MELINDA - I see. But be careful!

TYLER laughs as he swings higher and higher.

EXT. OLD HISTORIC HOME 1992 - FRONT YARD - NIGHT
There is a “For Sale” sign in the front yard and the house is as dark as the night.

INT. OLD HISTORIC HOME 1992 - CONTINUOUS
The camera moves from room to room and each is empty. There are no people and no furniture. The camera moves into the living room. There we see the lifeless body of TYLER KILLIAN. The moonlight from a nearby window shines down on his small frame.

INT. PPD CENTRAL 1992 - STORAGE
Two detectives label a case box with “KILLIAN, T – Aug ‘92” and file it away among the other unsolved murders.

INT. PPD CENTRAL PRESENT DAY - HOMICIDE DIVISION - DAY
MARGARET FOSTER - 60s, well dressed, kind - enters the station. She stops and approaches a detective. He points her in the direction of LILLY RUSH. MARGARET walks over to LILLY’s desk. LILLY is sitting working on her computer.

MARGARET - Detective Rush?

LILLY looks up from her computer.

LILLY - Yes.

MARGARET - I’m Margaret Foster. We spoke over the phone.

LILLY - Right. You said you have something on an old murder?

LILLY motions for MARGARET to sit, and she does.

MARGARET - Not much, I’m afraid. My husband and I bought a house in the waterfront district a little while back.

LILLY - That’s the historic district.

MARGARET - Yes, and it occurred to me that we’d been living there for almost a year, and yet, I’d never looked into the history of our home. Buying an old house and not bothering to look into its history doesn’t make much sense.

LILLY smiles.

MARGARET - (CONT’D) So, I went to the library and found this.

MARGARET reaches into her purse and pulls out a copy of a newspaper article from 1992. She hands it to LILLY and we see the headline reads, “BOY FOUND DEAD IN EMPTY HOUSE.” LILLY starts skimming the article.

LILLY - (somewhat disturbed) He was only four years old.

MARGARET - I know. That’s why I need you to look into this murder for me. I know I don’t have anything new, but I just can’t live in the house knowing a little boy died there and his killer is still free.

LILLY - We’ll look into, but I can’t make any promises.

MARGARET - Just the promise that you’ll try is all I need detective.

LILLY - Hopefully, you’ll get more than that.

OPENING CREDITS

[TVFan]

INT. PPD CENTRAL - STORAGE - LATER
LILLY, SCOTTY, and STILLMAN are all sitting around going through the old case box.

SCOTTY - (disgusted) This kid didn’t even have a permanent home. He bounced off foster families the last two years of his life.

LILLY - (sadly) You mean half his life.

SCOTTY realizes that this statement is sad, but true.

STILLMAN - What about the last home he was in?

SCOTTY - The Hamptons. They’re the ones who reported him missing.

LILLY - They say someone broke in through Tyler’s window and took him, but CSU didn’t get any prints at the scene.

STILLMAN - Maybe there’s more to that story.

LILLY - We got anything on the Tyler’s real parents?

STILLMAN - (looking over the report) Well, his birth mother - Rebecca Killian - turned him over to child services after raising him for two years.

LILLY - She say why?

STILLMAN - They talked to her the first time around, but she wasn’t too forthcoming. She told the detectives she didn’t have enough money to raise Tyler. She hadn’t seen him since the day she gave him up.

LILLY -What about his father?

STILLMAN - Unknown.

SCOTTY - The house they found Tyler in was for sale. Looks like the owners had already moved out, so they didn’t give us much in ‘92 either.

LILLY - (sadly) He was beaten pretty bad, but M-E put cause of death as asphyxiation. The realtor selling the house found his body. Looks like there wasn’t much evidence at the scene.

SCOTTY - Body dump?

STILLMAN - Most likely. We need to track down the Hamptons and this realtor.

VERA enters and looks proud.

VERA - How about the Lumpkins?

SCOTTY - The ones who were selling the house? Good luck, they’re probably long gone by now.

VERA - (sarcastic) Yeah, all the way across the city.

LILLY - Find anything on Tyler’s last foster family?

VERA - Still trying to locate them.

STILLMAN - Nick, you and Will go talk to the Lumpkins. Lil, you and Scotty hunt down this realtor. Her name is Mandy Wheeler.

VERA - Sure, boss. Hope we don’t run out of gas going all the way across town.

SCOTTY gives him a mean look as VERA exits. LILLY just smiles because she’s happy to have someone to lighten the heavy mood the case brought on. She and SCOTTY exit.

INT. SOCIETY TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE OFFICE - MAIN ROOM - LATER
There is a lot of activity - people running around everywhere, phones ringing, lots of chatter. There is a sign visible in the background that says “SOCIETY TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE.” LILLY and SCOTTY enter from the front door. They walk up to a busy woman - MANDY WHEELER - 38, petite, plain who’s standing at a table sorting files.

SCOTTY - You know where we can find Mandy Wheeler?

MANDY keeps going through her files and does not look up.

MANDY - I’m Mandy. What can I do for you?

SCOTTY holds his badge down in the direction of the file, so she’ll be sure to see it.
SCOTTY - Detectives Valens, Rush. We’re with homicide.

MANDY finally looks up.

MANDY - (discouraged) Not again!

LILLY - (confused) Again?

MANDY - Please tell me I didn’t lose another one.

LILLY - A long time ago. We’re here about the little boy you found dead thirteen years ago.

MANDY - (sighs) Tyler. You found his killer?

SCOTTY - No, not yet. But we’re lookin’ into the case again.

LILLY - Do you have a minute to speak with us?

MANDY - I wish I did. We have a huge fund-raiser this weekend, and I’m way behind.

SCOTTY - Yeah, we heard you started this whole thing. That because of Tyler?

MANDY stops going through the file and puts it down. She seems to drift off a bit.

MANDY - If you could have seen the bruises on that little boy’s body.

LILLY - We have. That’s why we need your help.

MANDY - (reluctant) Step into my office, but just for a few minutes.

INT. SOCIETY TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE - MANDY’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
MANDY, LILLY, and SCOTTY walk into Mandy’s small office and MANDY shuts the door. She then sits at her desk and motions for the detectives to do the same. They do.

MANDY (CONT’D) - I’m sorry to seem so nonchalant about the whole thing, detectives. I’m just so busy. We’re hoping this weekend is our biggest yet. What is it you need to know about Tyler’s death?

SCOTTY - Tell us what happened the day you found his body.

MANDY - (thinking) A memory still vividly burned into my mind. I had listed the Lumpkin house. It was a beautiful historic home on the waterfront, and easy sell. And it was supposed to be my big break in the business. The Lumpkins wanted to get to their new house, so they moved out. I would go by and check on the house every few days. You know, to make sure no one broke in or anything.

LILLY - And had they?

MANDY - That’s the funny thing - they hadn’t.

(FLASHBACK) EXT. LUMPKIN HOUSE 1992 - FRONT YARD - DAY
MUSIC -- “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses -- the same “FOR SALE” sign is up in the front yard. It’s raining, but not heavily. A YOUNGER MANDY WHEELER walks up to the front door. She puts her key into the lock, but it seems to be unlocked. She opens the door slowly.

MANDY - (calling out) Hello?

She pauses for a reply.

MANDY - Hello?

After she doesn’t get a response, she begins to enter the home.

INT. LUMPKIN HOUSE 1992 - FOYER - CONTINUOUS
MANDY walks down the foyer slowly and a little nervously. She ends at the family room and stops.

INT. LUMPKIN HOUSE 1992 - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
MANDY looks around and finally sees TYLER’s body. She screams out.

(BACK TO PRESENT) INT. MANDY’S OFFICE - DAY

LILLY - Are you sure the door was unlocked?

MANDY - Positive. And it wasn’t just the dead bolt. The doorknob was unlocked as well.

SCOTTY - You tell this to the detectives at the time? Cause it’s not in the report.

MANDY - I did, but they insisted I accidently left it unlocked the last time I was there.

SCOTTY - Maybe you did.

MANDY’s image flashes to the 1992 MANDY.

MANDY - No. I know I didn’t. I was always extra careful about things like that.

MANDY’s image flashes back to present day MANDY.
LILLY - Who else had a key?

MANDY - Just the Lumpkins.

LILLY and SCOTTY are both thinking the same thing.

LILLY - Thank you for your help.

LILLY and SCOTTY get up to leave the office.

MANDY - Detectives...

LILLY and SCOTTY stop and turn to face her.

MANDY - (CONT’D) I gave up real estate to devote my life to preventing more Tylers. Please, just get the S-O-B who did this.

LILLY nods and she and SCOTTY exit.

INT. LUMPKIN’S CURRENT HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
It is a very modern looking house, a stark contrast to the historic home they used to own. DAVE LUMPKIN - 57, conservative, kind - is sitting in a chair. VERA and JEFFRIES are sitting on a nearby couch. KATHY LUMPKIN - 56, well dressed, younger than her years - enters from the kitchen. She has water for everyone. She serves it and sits down in a chair.

VERA - (looking around) Kind of went from one extreme to the other, huh?

DAVE - (smiling) Yeah. I’m the history buff, but it’s not really Kathy’s thing.

KATHY - Well, I don’t mind reading about it or visiting the sites, but when you’re having to deal with creaking floors and leaking pipes...that’s just not my thing.

DAVE - That’s why we sold our other house. Kathy was in such a rush to get out of there, we ended up leaving the house empty for a while.

KATHY - And it really sat there after that little boy’s murder. It was such a tragedy. I’m really glad you’re looking into this again.

VERA - (sarcastic) Must have been inconvenient.

KATHY - It was, but nothing compared to what happened to him.

JEFFRIES - Did either of you know Tyler Killian?

DAVE - No, never heard the name until it hit the news.
KATHY - And then to find out it hit so close to home.

VERA - Yeah, literally. What I want to know is why a four year old you both don’t know shows up dead in your house.

DAVE - That’s what continues to puzzle us as well.

VERA - Maybe now you got some of the missing pieces.

KATHY - (getting upset) Like what? We don’t know anything about his murder.

VERA - Then how did the body get into your locked house? Someone else have a key?

DAVE - Only our realtor Mandy.

JEFFRIES - We spoke with her, but she swears she locked the door.

KATHY - Well, she must be mistaken. Now if there’s nothing else, we would like to get back to our lives.

VERA - Sure.

VERA and JEFFRIES get up and start to leave. VERA stops and turns back around.

VERA - (CONT’D) Wouldn’t want to inconvenience you again with Tyler’s murder.

VERA and JEFFRIES exit.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - HOMICIDE DIVISION - LATER
LILLY is on the phone. SCOTTY is doing some research on his computer. VERA and JEFFRIES enter, so STILLMAN enters from his office.

STILLMAN - What’d the Lumpkins have to say?

LILLY hangs up her phone and walks over to the group.

VERA - That we’re a big inconvenience. Oh, and apparently a dead four year old in your living room is too.

LILLY - (sarcastic) Compassionate, huh?

VERA - As my pinky.

JEFFRIES - They backed up who had a key though - just them and Mandy.

STILLMAN - They have any ideas then on how the door got unlocked?
JEFFRIES - They think Mandy must have left it unlocked.

STILLMAN - So we’re at a “he said, she said.”

JEFFRIES - Pretty much. You guys get anything?

LILLY - Still trying to hunt down the birth mother and the Hamptons.

SCOTTY approaches the group.

SCOTTY -Would you settle for their daughter Angela? She’s got an apartment here in the city.

STILLMAN - Nice work, Scotty. You and Lil go talk to her. Will, you and Nick keep trying to track down Rebecca Killian.

LILLY grabs her suit blazer and puts it on. She then grabs her bag.

LILLY - We’re on the street, Boss.

LILLY and SCOTTY exit.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - LATER
LILLY and SCOTTY wander down the hallway and stop at apartment 4B. They knock on the door. ANGELA HAMPTON - 25, pretty, well dressed - answers the door. LILLY and SCOTTY hold up their badges.

LILLY - Angela Hampton?

ANGELA nods.

LILLY - (CONT’D) Detectives Rush and Valens, homicide. Can we come in?

ANGELA opens the door all the way and walks into her living room.

INT. ANGELA HAMPTON APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
LILLY and SCOTTY follow ANGELA into her apartment. The apartment is well kept, and furnished nicely. ANGELA sits down on a couch and LILLY and SCOTTY follow suite and sit down on the opposite couch.

ANGELA - What’s this about?

SCOTTY - We’re looking into Tyler’s murder.

ANGELA
Well, it’s about time! Have you talked to my parents yet?
LILLY - No, we’re still trying to find a current address and number for them.

ANGELA - That’s because they bounce off neighborhoods. I’ll give it to you.

SCOTTY - You ever been to the Lumpkin house?

ANGELA - The house where they found Tyler?

SCOTTY nods.

ANGELA - (CONT’D) No. I didn’t even know the Lumpkins.

LILLY - Did you notice anything unusual the night Tyler died?

ANGELA - Depends on what you mean by unusual.

SCOTTY - Anything that could of led to murder.

ANGELA - Well, my parents were beating him, but that was pretty usual.

LILLY - (shocked) Your parents beat Tyler?

ANGELA - All the time.

SCOTTY - (upset) And you didn’t think this was worth mentionin’ to the detectives back in ‘92?

ANGELA - I wanted to tell them, but I couldn’t.

SCOTTY - Why not?

ANGELA - Because my parents would of done to me what they did to him.

(FLASHBACK) INT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
MUSIC -- “You’re No Son of Mine” by Phil Collins -- It’s dinner time and younger MELINDA, younger DANIEL, and 12 year old ANGELA HAMPTON and TYLER are sitting around the table eating quietly. TYLER gets up and runs over to DANIEL.

TYLER - Dad, mom push me high on swing. I went whoosh!

DANIEL - (to MELINDA) What’s with the “mom” and “dad” talk?

MELINDA - I told him it was okay.

DANIEL - I thought we agreed. He’s not staying here, so there’s no point in getting attached. On his part or ours.
MELINDA - I’m not getting attached, Daniel. It just doesn’t look good in public, so I corrected him.

TYLER is oblivious to the impending argument, but he uses the confusion to start running around the dining room table making whooshing noises like he’s back on the swing from earlier that day.

DANIEL - (starting to get angry) I just don’t agree with this whole thing. Cut it out Tyler!

MELINDA - Let’s not argue at the dinner table, Daniel. And Tyler, please sit down.

TYLER is in his own little world. He starts running even faster. He’s laughing and carrying on. He approaches DANIEL during one of his runs around the table and DANIEL reaches out and grabs him. He starts shaking him.

DANIEL - (angry and yelling) Did you hear me?? Did you hear Mrs. Hampton?? What is wrong with you, boy?!

MELINDA - (distressed) Not at the dinner table, Daniel! The curtains are open!

DANIEL- He’s gotta learn, Melinda.

DANIEL takes TYLER into the other room off camera and we can hear TYLER crying. MELINDA is up closing the curtains. ANGELA just sits there are cringes each time TYLER yelps.

(BACK TO PRESENT) INT. ANGELA HAMPTON APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM

SCOTTY - So it was your Dad that hit Tyler.

ANGELA - That night.

LILLY - What about the night Tyler died?

ANGELA - I’m not sure. I was sleeping when Tyler’s crying woke me up. I put the pillow over my head and tried to go back to sleep.

LILLY - Did you?

ANGELA- I tried, but I ended up just letting my tears soak my sheets. And then, he just stopped.

SCOTTY - (concerned) Tyler stopped crying? Why?

ANGELA - I don’t know. But he turned up dead a few days later. You do the math.

[ruda]

I want more! ;D
great work!

[Disasterfreak]

TV FAn, this is really good. It's sometimes hard for me to get invested in scripts, I guess because since I can't read their "thoughts", I can't always tune into their feelings. Not in this case. I feel a terrible sympathy for the victim already (being a child, and an abandoned and beaten one at that), and a great deal of dislike for his foster parents, even before I knew they were beating him. You're painting a pretty good picture of a narcissistic (sp?) psychopath couple--the kind who would do anything to have the outer world think they're so perfect, when in reality they're far from it. Can't wait for more.
:smile39:

[r2k]

I can almost picture Tyler. He is the same age as my nephew. Keep this going. I like it. I really like how you do the image flash backs so we really know when they occur. And how you tell us whether it is outside or inside. And good choices for songs so far. Can't wait for more.

[TVFan]

Thank you very much ruda, disasterfreak, and R2K! I'm so glad that you guys are enjoying it so far. I'm also glad what I wanted to get across is actually getting across. Anyway, here's the next part. I probably won't be able to post again until Tues because I have company staying with me this weekend.


INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - NEXT DAY
The 1992 MELINDA is sitting impatiently at the table. LILLY enters the room holding a manila folder. MELINDA - 50, thinks she better than others - image flashes back to present day.

MELINDA - (annoyed) Where’s my husband?

LILLY - Talking to my partner.
MELINDA - Why are you people treating us like suspects?

LILLY - According to your daughter, you are.

MELINDA - (sighs) You’ve been talking to Angela.

LILLY - She seems to think you and your husband beat Tyler. The only question I have is how you can beat and kill a four year old boy?

MELINDA - (outraged) That’s preposterous!

LILLY takes the crime scenes photos from ‘92 out of the folder and lays them out in front of MELINDA. MELINDA looks away horrified.

LILLY - (intense) Not lookin’ so preposterous now, is it?

MELINDA still doesn’t look at the photos. LILLY walks over to her. She gets really close.

LILLY - (angry) Look at the pictures Melinda! Look at what you did to an innocent four year old little boy!

MELINDA looks at them and then turns away. Her image flashes to 1992 MELINDA.

MELINDA - (upset) Take them away!

MELINDA’s image flashes back to present day.

LILLY - Hard to look at, huh? Must be even harder to know you did it to him.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS
SCOTTY is interrogating DANIEL.

SCOTTY - You like hitting little kids, Daniel?

DANIEL - Melinda and I never laid a hand on Tyler.

SCOTTY - I got some photos that say you did.

DANIEL - No, you have photos that say the killer did.

SCOTTY - One in the same.

DANIEL - (annoyed) We never touched him! Check with child services if you don’t believe me. They made at-home visits. We never once had a bad mark.

SCOTTY - Then why’s your daughter sayin’ otherwise?

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - CONTINUOUS
LILLY is still interrogating MELINDA.

MELINDA - Because she’s angry with us.

LILLY - About what?

MELINDA - We cut her off, financially. She got her first degree, but wasn’t happy. So, she went back to school and started a second. Then, she decided she didn’t want to do that either. Now, she wants us to pay for a third change and support her lifestyle at the same time. We put our foot down and told her to get a job. She’s twenty five for crying out loud!

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS
SCOTTY continues to interrogate DANIEL.

SCOTTY - Didn’t look like she was hurtin’ for cash.

DANIEL - That’s because we have been paying her rent. We furnished her apartment and Melinda bought her an entire wardrobe. It just got to be insane.

SCOTTY - So, what, she frames you for murder cause you stopped buying her the latest fashion trend?

DANIEL - Yes.

SCOTTY - I’m finding that hard to believe.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - CONTINUOUS
LILLY continues to interrogate MELINDA.

MELINDA - You don’t know our daughter. She’s very vengeful.

LILLY - She heard Tyler screaming the night of his murder. What happened, things get out of control?

MELINDA - No, he was having another nightmare.

(FLASHBACK) INT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
MUSIC -- “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers -- Younger DANIEL is lying in bed reading a non-fiction book. Younger MELINDA enters from the bathroom dressed for bed. Suddenly, TYLER starts crying loudly. Both MELINDA and DANIEL walk out of their room and head toward TYLER’s room.

INT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - TYLER’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
MELINDA turns on the light on the dresser by the door. TYLER is sitting up on his bed crying.

MELINDA - (not very concerned) What is it, Tyler?

TYLER - Bad man hurt me.

DANIEL - (annoyed) That’s ridiculous. There’s no bad man trying to hurt you.

TYLER - Yes there is.

MELINDA - No there’s not. And if there were, we wouldn’t let him. Now go back to sleep.

TYLER continues to cry. MELINDA looks at DANIEL uncertain about what to do.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1
Resume present.

LILLY - He have nightmares a lot?

MELINDA - Most nights.

LILLY - Who was this “bad man” he was talking about?

MELINDA - I have no idea. He bounced off foster homes before we had him. I also heard his mother had him living on the street, so there’s just no telling.

LILLY - And he went back to sleep right after?

MELINDA - I stayed with him for a few minutes. But after I left he was quiet for a little while.

LILLY - (interested) What happened then?

MELINDA - Sounded like he had another nightmare. He cried out, but then he was quiet. Daniel insisted we let him be so he could work it out himself.

LILLY - And did he?

MELINDA - He was quiet. I can’t help but wonder now if that’s when whoever did this, took him.

LILLY - Any idea why they took him to the Lumpkin house?

MELINDA - I have no idea. Daniel and I have never been there, and we don’t know the Lumpkins. It wasn’t even near our house.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - HOMICIDE DIVISION - LATER
LILLY, SCOTTY, and STILLMAN are all sitting around the desks. JEFFRIES is working the phone.

SCOTTY - I still think the Hamptons are guilty. I’m just not buying the vengeful daughter act.

LILLY - But what’s their connection to the house?

SCOTTY - That’s the only piece that doesn’t fit - yet.

STILLMAN - What about this “bad man” that Melinda talked about?

LILLY - She seemed to dismiss it then, and now. Maybe it’s just a little kid’s nightmare.

STILLMAN - I remember Janie going through a period where she had a lot. Still, there could be something to it.

VERA enters.

LILLY - Maybe child services provided some clues.

VERA - Don’t count on it. They were as helpful as always.

LILLY - They have anything on the Hamptons?

VERA - Nope. Not a bad word on file. In fact, they love the Hamptons. They went on and on about how they wish they’d reconsider.

SCOTTY - Reconsider what?

VERA - Taking in another foster. Apparently they decided not to when Tyler died.

STILLMAN - Too broken up?

SCOTTY - Or feelin’ too guilty.

LILLY - Any clues on Tyler’s “bad man?”

VERA - I pulled all his foster home files, but there weren’t any bad incidents. It seems like Tyler had a good run in the system, on paper at least.

STILLMAN - Then why move him around so much?
VERA - That’s the weird part. There weren’t any reasons given, and no one there had any idea. They weren’t losing any sleep over it, though.

LILLY - Maybe someone broke in like the Hamptons say.

SCOTTY - Doesn’t make sense. There was no ransom, no fingerprints, nothin’. Why take him?

STILLMAN - Just another piece that doesn’t fit.

JEFFRIES walks up.

JEFFRIES - I got one that does. I found Rebecca Killian - Tyler’s birth mother. She’s married now, that’s why we were having such a hard time finding her. She’s a lawyer at some high brow firm downtown. But here’s the interesting part, I pulled some death certificates when I couldn’t track Rebecca down. Her mother committed suicide shorty after Tyler’s murder.

LILLY - (surprised) Sounds like a guilty conscience.

[Tati]

TV Fan - this is great. I'm really glad you're writing again. I'm not having any problems with the script format, btw.

[ruda]

mmmmuuuuuaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh ;D
I want more...

[Disasterfreak]

Excellent, TV Fan. You´ve got everyone´s way of talking down really well, and the interrogation was totally realistic. Great twists in this chapter, but I still hate the Hamptons. They may not so obviously be the bad guys anymore, but my gut tells me otherwise. Guess I´ll have to wait and see, won´t I. Good job with this, can´t wait for next part.

[TVFan]

Thanks guys! :smile22: Anyway, here's the next part...


INT. ALLEN & WINSTON ATTYS AT LAW - REBECCA KILLIAN’S OFFICE - LATER
LILLY and JEFFRIES are wandering around this nice office with a view. They notice pictures of REBECCA, her husband, and her son. REBECCA - 32, looks older than her years - enters and shuts the door. She makes her way over to her desk.

REBECCA - Sorry to keep you waiting, detectives. I had a crazy client who wasn’t happy with his settlement. No matter how much it is, it never seems to be enough.

JEFFRIES - No it doesn’t.

REBECCA - Please, have a seat. My secretary tells me you’re looking into Tyler’s death again.

LILLY and SCOTTY sit down across the desk from REBECCA.

LILLY - We are, and we were hoping you could help us.
REBECCA - I wish I could, believe me. But I didn’t see Tyler the last two years of his life. He was living in foster homes.

LILLY - That must have been tough.

REBECCA - Hardest thing I ever did. But I had no choice.

JEFFRIES - Why not?

REBECCA - My father. When he found out I was pregnant, he flew off the handle. He gave me two choices - find a home for the baby or get out.

LILLY - But you had Tyler for two years.

REBECCA - An incredibly tough two years. I was staying with friends in the beginning and then it progressed to shelters until finally I wound up on the streets. I couldn’t get a job because I had nothing to do with Tyler. We were stuck. I finally realized the right thing to do was to turn Tyler over to child services.

INT. CHILD SERVICES 1990 - MAIN OFFICE - DAY
MUSIC -- “Release Me” by Wilson Phillips -- It’s a very busy office with people everywhere. A very dirty and rough looking 17 year old REBECCA is standing in line. She is quietly crying and a 2 year old TYLER is gripping her hand. REBECCA seems frozen and she can’t even look at TYLER. The case worker, Jodi Harris - 28, overworked, professional - finishes with the customer in front of REBECCA and REBECCA grows more uneasy as she walks up to the desk.

JODI - What can I do for you?

REBECCA - I, I need to turn over my...son.

JODI - What’s going on?

REBECCA starts sobbing and JODI realizes that this is not a typical case.

INT. ALLEN & WINSTON ATTYS AT LAW - REBECCA KILLIAN’S OFFICE
Resume present.

REBECCA - I guess she saw something in my face because that girl let me cry on her shoulder for hours after that. Signing those papers is still my biggest regret.

JEFFRIES glances at the pictures of her family.

JEFFRIES - (indifferent) You seem to have moved on.

REBECCA - I won’t lie, I got my life back. I finally finished school and started a career and family. But I will never fully move on. I love my family but they will never fill the void Tyler left.

LILLY - Your father just take you back?

REBECCA - He felt terrible. It’s his biggest regret. He still blames himself for what happened to Tyler. He’s spent the last fifteen years trying to make it up to me.

LILLY - What about your mom?

REBECCA - (guarded) What about her?

JEFFRIES - You didn’t mention her.

REBECCA - She was consumed with her own problems.

LILLY - Problems that led to her suicide?

REBECCA - (nods) Depression. She suffered most of her life. I’m sure I didn’t help the situation.

LILLY - What about Tyler’s father?

REBECCA - I never told him. I know it’s wrong, but we didn’t really know each other well.

JEFFRIES - He have a name?

REBECCA’s image flashes to her 1990 one.

REBECCA - There’s no point dragging him into this after all these years.

REBECCA’s image flashes back to present day.

LILLY - We’d like to talk to him. He might know something.

REBECCA - (defensive) I told you he doesn’t know about Tyler. There’s nothing he can give you.

JEFFRIES - It’s better if we decide that for ourselves, ma'am.

REBECCA gets up and walks over to the door. She opens it to signal that the interview is over.

REBECCA - I’m sorry, I just can’t help you with that.
LILLY and JEFFRIES get the hint and get up and walk out.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - STILLMAN’S OFFICE - LATER
STILLMAN sits at his desk reviewing the files on the case. SCOTTY and VERA enter. SCOTTY’s carrying a piece of paper.

SCOTTY - Hospital just faxed over a copy of the birth certificate.

STILLMAN - What’s it say?

SCOTTY - Only lists the father as “ML.”

STILLMAN - Could be initials.

VERA - Great. We can all divide up the “Ls” in the phone book. And that’s assuming he’s listed and still lives here.

STILLMAN - Well, at least it narrows it down.

LILLY and JEFFRIES enter.

LILLY - Any luck pulling the birth certificate?

VERA - Yeah we got it narrowed down to like three million possible fathers.

VERA walks out of STILLMAN’s office.

JEFFRIES - No name?

SCOTTY - Just the letters “M” and “L.” Which could mean anything.

JEFFRIES - Maybe it’s nothing.

LILLY - Then why list anything at all?

JEFFRIES - Looks better than leaving it blank.

VERA re-enters.

VERA - Angela’s finally here.

STILLMAN - It’s about time. Scotty, you and Lil go talk to her again. Sort out the discrepancies.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - CONTINUOUS
ANGELA is sitting at the table annoyed. LILLY and SCOTTY walk in.
LILLY - We spoke with child services. They didn’t see a single mark on Tyler.

ANGELA - My parents were careful. They didn’t leave marks where they would be seen. What would the neighbors think?

LILLY - Your parents’ missing person report says someone broke in and took Tyler.

ANGELA - That’s what they claim. There were no signs of a break in.

SCOTTY - Well, it was August. It gets hot at night. The report said Tyler slept with his window open.

ANGELA - So did I, so I would have heard something.

LILLY - But you were buried under your pillow sobbing, remember?

ANGELA - No one broke in and took Tyler. I think we all know that.

SCOTTY - We heard you and your parents aren’t gettin’ along too well.

ANGELA - We’re not exactly speaking, so yeah, I’m mad at them.

SCOTTY - Mad enough to frame ‘em?

ANGELA - I didn’t frame my parents detective.

ANGELA’s image flashes to her in 1992.

ANGELA (CONT’D) - I told you what they did to Tyler.

ANGELA’s image flashes back to present day.

LILLY - Problem is, all we got is your word. No documentation, no pictures, no other witnesses.

ANGELA - You’ve got photos from the scene, right? Wasn’t he beaten badly?

LILLY - Yeah, but the killer could have done that.

ANGELA - (worked up) I know my parents beat Tyler the night he died, and I’m not the only one who saw it.

LILLY and SCOTTY both look intrigued.

LILLY - Who else was there?

ANGELA - I don’t know.

SCOTTY - Then how do you know someone else saw it?

ANGELA - (reluctant) I saw someone outside - watching. But I don’t know who it was.

SCOTTY - You just forgot to mention this earlier?

ANGELA - I didn’t see the point. My parents are the ones who killed Tyler, not some mystery person outside.

LILLY looks at SCOTTY and they start to walk out of the room. They stop.

LILLY - I think we just found Tyler’s “bad man.”

[r2k]

TV Fan, this rules. I can't wait to see how this one ends. Angela could easily give Brandi from "The Sleepoever" a run for her money.

[Tati]

This is really great, TV Fan. The mystery is well built, I have no idea who killed Tyler (I'm not betting my money on the mystery person yet).

[TVFan]

Thank you once again guys! Here's the final part...



INT. PPD CENTRAL - HOMICIDE DIVISION - LATER
LILLY is sitting at her desk looking over different pieces of the case. SCOTTY, JEFFRIES, and VERA are sitting on nearby desks while STILLMAN is standing at a huge white wipe-off board with a marker.

STILLMAN - Okay, we’ve got Rebecca and someone who’s encrypted with the letters “ML” and they have a son Tyler.

STILLMAN writes each piece of information out on the board and connects them together.

JEFFRIES - At two, Tyler’s turned over to child services and placed in a foster home.

STILLMAN writes this on the board as well.

VERA - His first of many. He moves from foster home to foster home. And we still don’t know why.

STILLMAN writes a question mark next to this latest piece of information.

SCOTTY - He ends up at the Hamptons.

STILLMAN - (while writing) Who may or may not have beat him.

JEFFRIES - He’s there two months and ends up dead in the Lumpkin house.

STILLMAN writes this last bit of information on the board.

SCOTTY - Why the Lumpkin house?

LILLY realizes something and gets up. She walks up to the group holding the newspaper article MARGARET FOSTER gave her in the beginning.

LILLY - I know why the Lumpkin house.

The others all turn and look at her.

LILLY (CONT’D) - The Lumpkins have a son - Mike. Mike Lumpkin is “ML.”

STILLMAN - It fits, but did they know each other?

LILLY - They went to different schools, but they’re the same age. It’s possible. And he seems pretty shaken up in this article.

STILLMAN - Why wasn’t he in the file?

SCOTTY looks through the file and finds something.

SCOTTY - He is, but there wasn’t much on him. He was away at college when the whole thing happened. Said he came back when he heard.

VERA - Rebecca had to know the connection. Tyler was found dead in his father’s house. Why didn’t she say anything?

LILLY - (realizes) She was covering for him. That’s why she was so insistent.

STILLMAN - Or, she was in on it.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - LATER
REBECCA sits nervously at the table. SCOTTY and VERA enter.

SCOTTY - We know about Mike, Rebecca.

REBECCA - (nervous) Who’s Mike?

VERA - Cut the act. We know about you and Mike Lumpkin. Thanks for the cryptic message on the birth certificate, though. Bet you didn’t think us dumb cops would figure that one out.

REBECCA - It wasn’t cryptic.

REBECCA’s image flashes to her younger one.

REBECCA (CONT’D) - I was trying to respect Mike’s privacy, but I also wanted to give Tyler a father.

REBECCA’s image flashes back to present day.

SCOTTY - What happened, Rebecca? You and Mike decide if you couldn’t have Tyler no one could?

REBECCA - I had nothing to do with Tyler’s death.

VERA - But good ole Mickey did, didn’t he?

REBECCA - (upset) Mike never knew. I barely knew him. We met through mutual friends and went out a few times. I never even told my parents about him, and I doubt he told his about me. There was no point in ruining his life too.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS
LILLY and JEFFRIES are interrogating MIKE LUMPKIN - 32, clean cut, average height and built. MIKE seems cool, calm, and collected a stark contrast to REBECCA.

MIKE - I never heard of Tyler Killian until he showed up dead in my parents house.

LILLY - Really, cause you seemed pretty broken up in the newspaper.

MIKE - Wouldn’t you be?

LILLY - If he was my child? Of course.

MIKE - I didn’t know. (defeated) I figured though. Rebecca was there and she didn’t even look at me.

JEFFRIES - Why’d this kid’s body find its way to your parents house?

MIKE - I don’t know. Some strange coincidence, I guess.

LILLY - Thing is Mike, I’ve found there really aren’t a whole lot of coincidences when it comes to murder. So Tyler’s body in your house, makes you look pretty guilty.

MIKE - The house was empty. Anyone could have put his body there.

JEFFRIES - But locked.

MIKE - Yeah, if you believe that realtor.

LILLY - And you had access to a key.

MIKE looks right at LILLY.

MIKE - I know what you’re tryin’ to do, but I had nothing to do with this.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION OBSERVATION - A LITTLE LATER
STILLMAN, JEFFRIES, VERA, SCOTTY, and LILLY are watching REBECCA and MIKE in their respective rooms. REBECCA still seems nervous. She’s tapping her nails on the table and looking around. MIKE is still calm. He sits there staring at the walls like he knows the detectives won’t be able to break him.

VERA - (looking though the glass) Can’t hold ‘em. We got nothin’.

SCOTTY - There holdin’ tight to their stories, that’s for sure.

LILLY - Well, Rebecca is a lawyer.

JEFFRIES - Probably called Mike right after we left. Coached him.

SCOTTY - Got their stories straight.

VERA - We gotta crack one of ‘em.

LILLY - How? They won’t even admit Mike knew about Tyler.

STILLMAN - Make one of them think they did.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - A LITTLE LATER
REBECCA sits still tapping her nails on the table. SCOTTY and VERA enter the room, and she jumps a little, but tries to act calm.

REBECCA - Can I go now?

SCOTTY - We were gonna let you go, but your story doesn’t match Mike’s.

REBECCA - (concerned) You talked to him?

VERA - He’s in the other room. And he can’t shut up.

SCOTTY - Keeps going on about how he knew about Tyler.

VERA moves in close to REBECCA.

VERA - Because you told him.

REBECCA looks up at both VERA and SCOTTY.

REBECCA - (annoyed) Classic tactic of trying to turn us against each other. It’s not gonna work, detectives.

REBECCA looks both of them right in the eyes.

REBECCA (CONT’D) - Because Mike - didn’t - know.

SCOTTY - Okay, fine. We’re bluffing. But let me ask you one last thing. Why couldn’t you look at Mike at the crime scene? I mean, if it’s me, I’m leaning on anyone I can for support. You don’t even talk to the father of your child? The only one who understands the pain you’re goin’ through?

REBECCA’s image flashes to her younger one.

REBECCA - Because I couldn’t.

REBECCA’s image flashes back to present day.

VERA - You’re full of couldn’ts, aren’t ya? Why not?

REBECCA doesn’t answer.

VERA - Because you were both hiding the same secret?

SCOTTY - Mike knew, Rebecca. Didn’t he?

REBECCA - (crying) Not at first.

REBECCA takes a moment to collect herself.

VERA - (impatient) When?

REBECCA - I used to check on Tyler. The case worker I turned him over to - she helped me. She felt bad for me, and we became friends. I never liked the foster homes he was in - nothing was ever good enough - so I would get her to move him to a different one. She always did it, except with the Hamptons. I never wanted to give Tyler up. I figured child services could find him a loving home. Anything would be better than living on the streets. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

INT. CHILD SERVICES 1992 - STAIRWELL - DAY
MUSIC -- “Walking on Broken Glass” by Annie Lennox -- A 19 year old REBECCA and case worker JODI are sitting on the top step of the stairwell. REBECCA is really concerned.

REBECCA - Why not?

JODI - Because I’ve moved him too many times. My superviser started asking questions.

REBECCA - (worried) What did you say?

JODI - Nothing, don’t worry. I just can’t keep moving Tyler. Besides, the Hamptons seem great.

REBECCA - I’m telling you, they’re not. I saw them hit him.

JODI - (annoyed) It’s always something, Rebecca. You didn’t like the Taylors because they had too many children and it seemed like a group home. You didn’t like the Johnsons because they worked too much.

REBECCA - This is different, Jodi. They’re abusive. Can’t you do something about it?

JODI - I’m sorry. My hands are tied on this one. Why don’t you just petition for custody of Tyler yourself?

REBECCA - You know I can’t.

JODI - I thought your Dad was okay with everything?

REBECCA - He is, I just have so much going on with school and work. I’m hoping to get him back once I get through everything. I want to be able to devote my time to him.

JODI - Well, we’ll keep an eye on him until then. We’ll be making at-home visits, so if anything is wrong, we’ll know it.

REBECCA - It’s not enough.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1
Resume present.

REBECCA - That’s when I called Mike. He was upset with me at first, but he wanted to help Tyler. I didn’t know what else to do.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION OBSERVATION - CONTINUOUS
LILLY, JEFFRIES, and STILLMAN watch REBECCA’s admission. LILLY look at JEFFRIES and they both exit.

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 2 - CONTINUOUS
MIKE is still sitting in the room at the table. He still seems to be as calm as before. LILLY and JEFFRIES enter.

LILLY - Shoulda talked first, Mike.

JEFFRIES - Big mistake.

MIKE - What are you talking about?

LILLY - We know Rebecca called you after she didn’t get anywhere with child services.

MIKE - (rattled) They wouldn’t listen to her!

LILLY - So what’d you do about it?

MIKE - Nothing. Not my responsibility, right?

LILLY - Funny, you don’t strike me as the type to just let that happen.

MIKE - You must have me all wrong, detective.

JEFFRIES - You didn’t want to help your son?

MIKE - She calls me out of the blue, tells me I have a son and he’s in trouble.

LILLY - And you came running. Because we both know I don’t have you wrong. A four year beaten and bruised...

JEFFRIES - And not just any four year old, your four year old.

LILLY - There’s no way you stayed at school and let that happen.

MIKE starts to lose the calm and collected demeanor he maintained throughout the interrogation. This last comment brought back all the emotion he was suppressing, and the real MIKE starts to come through.

MIKE - (upset) I tried to fix the problem myself.

JEFFRIES - You go to the Hamptons? Watch through the window?

MIKE - I kept an eye on things for a week or so. But I never saw them hit him, until that day. I called Rebecca and we both decided to get Tyler out of there.

LILLY - But something went wrong.

MIKE - I snuck in through Tyler’s open window, but he woke up and started screaming. I rushed back out to Rebecca and we waited for the Hamptons to go back to bed.
(upset)
They started hitting him again...because they thought had a nightmare. I wanted to go in there, but Rebecca made me wait until they left the room.

EXT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - FRONT YARD - NIGHT
MUSIC - “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (again) -- REBECCA and MIKE are hiding in some woods in the front yard. The light in TYLER’s room goes out.

REBECCA - (whispering) You think it’s safe now?

MIKE - Looks like they went back to bed. I’m going to get him.

REBECCA grabs MIKE’s shoulder. He turns around.

REBECCA - Be careful. He can’t scream again.

REBECCA watches as MIKE makes his way over to TYLER’s ground level bedroom window. He crawls in it.

INT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - TYLER’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
MIKE walks over to a sleeping TYLER. He leans over and picks him up, but he’s sure to cover TYLER’s mouth just in case. TYLER wakes up and tries to scream. MIKE hurries out of the window carrying TYLER.

EXT. HAMPTON HOUSE 1992 - FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS
MIKE runs over to the patch of woods where REBECCA is hiding. The light in the HAMPTON’s bedroom turns on.

REBECCA - (concerned) What did you do?? They heard you!

MIKE - Just be quiet!

TYLER starts crying.

MIKE - Shh. It’s okay. We’re here to help you. We’re gonna make sure they don’t hit you anymore.

MIKE takes his hand off of TYLER’s mouth. TYLER is still crying, but softer.

TYLER - Bad man!

MIKE and REBECCA freak out because Tyler won’t be quiet. They’re afraid the HAMPTONs will hear him. REBECCA takes TYLER and starts rocking him, but he is still crying.

REBECCA - Don’t you remember me, Tyler? It’s Mommy. It’s gonna be okay as long as you’re quiet.

TYLER starts getting hysterical and REBECCA hands him back to MIKE.

REBECCA - (panicked) Do something Mike!

MIKE - What do you want me to do?

REBECCA - Anything to make him quiet!

MIKE takes his shirt off and crumples it up. He takes it and covers TYLER’s mouth, but also his nose accidently. TYLER starts struggling, but they think it’s because he wants to get away. Suddenly, he stops. MIKE pulls his shirt off of him. The light in the HAMPTON’s room turns off.

MIKE - Oh my God!

REBECCA - What?!

MIKE leans his head to TYLER’s mouth and nose.

MIKE - He’s not breathing.

REBECCA - (panicked) What do you mean he’s not breathing??

MIKE - I mean, he’s not breathing!

REBECCA - What did you do??

MIKE - I covered his mouth to make him quiet!

REBECCA starts sobbing as she realizes what just happened. MIKE starts crying as well.

MIKE (CONT’D) - I was trying to help.

REBECCA pulls herself together. And she realizes they need to do something fast.

REBECCA - We need to leave him somewhere he’ll be found.

MIKE - (shocked) We need to go to the police, explain what happened.

REBECCA - They’ll never believe us.

MIKE - Yes, they will. We’ll tell them what happened with the Hamptons. They’ll believe us then.

REBECCA - What, like the way child services believed us?

MIKE realizes that REBECCA is right.

MIKE - What should we do then?

REBECCA - (thinking) Take him to the house where you grew up. You were happy there, right?

MIKE - (confused) Yeah.

REBECCA looks at TYLER.

REBECCA - He deserves some happiness.

The CAMERA zooms out above the scene.
DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LUMPKIN HOUSE 1992 - LIVING ROOM - LATER
TYLER’s body is gently placed on the floor in the empty room.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 2
Resume present. MUSIC -- “I’m Free” by Jon Secada --

“Do you see what I see
A rainbow shining over us”

LILLY and JEFFRIES cuff a crying MIKE and lead him out of the interrogation room.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PPD CENTRAL - INTERROGATION ROOM 1 - CONTINUOUS
MUSIC -- same --

“In the middle of a hopeless storm
Sometimes I blinded by my feelings
And I can’t see beyond my troubled mind”

SCOTTY and VERA arrest a crying REBECCA and lead her out of the interrogation room.

CUT TO:
INT. PPD CENTRAL - HOMICIDE DIVISION - CONTINUOUS
MUSIC -- same --

“Afraid of what I’ll find
The story of our lives
But there’s tomorrow”

REBECCA and MIKE see each other outside the interrogation rooms. They each look at each other, realizing all the emotions of what happened have been brought back to life. MIKE mouths the words “I’m sorry” and his image flashes to 1992 and back to present day. LILLY and SCOTTY lead them both away.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PPD CENTRAL - STORAGE - LATER
MUSIC -- same --

“Cause I’m free. I’m free
And things are only as important
As I want them to be”

JEFFRIES writes closed on the case box and files it away.


DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SOCIETY TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE CHARITY EVENT - LATER
MUSIC -- same --

“We’ll have a breath of sunshine
When the rain goes away
I pray, I pray”

MANDY WHEELER is greeting guests and playing hostess. She suddenly sees LILLY waiting in the doorway. She walks over to her and LILLY starts talking to her. MANDY has a bittersweet smile.

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HAMPTON HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - NEXT DAY
MUSIC - same --

“Do you need a friend right now
In the road that you’re going to”

STILLMAN and VERA arrest MELINDA and DANIEL HAMPTON.

CUT TO:
INT. PPD CENTRAL - HOMICIDE DIVISION - LATER
MUSIC -- same --

“If you get lost just call me I’ll be there
Yes I’ll be right there”

ANGELA sits at the desk with SCOTTY and gives her statement.

DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LUMPKIN HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
MUSIC -- same --

“Cause though I may not have the answer
At least I know what I’m looking for”

LILLY sits in MARGARET FOSTER’s living room, the same room where TYLER was found, and talks to MARGARET. They stand and embrace. LILLY turns to leave.

CUT TO:
EXT. LUMPKIN HOUSE - FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

“Yes I can do without the sorrow
There’s a day after tomorrow
So, I’m leaving behind”

LILLY walks out the door. She walks over to her car.

“I’m free, I’m free
And things are only as important
As I want them to be”

LILLY stops just as she reaches her car. She turns and looks at the house one last time.

“We’ll have a breath of sunshine
When the rain goes away
I’m free, I’m free
I’m free, I’m free”

LILLY “sees” TYLER . He is running around and laughing. LILLY smiles to herself and turns to get into her car.

[Disasterfreak]

:smile39: I just read your last 2 installments in one sit. Great stuff, TV Fan! Could very well be an actual episode. The interrogations (complete with little snide remarks from Scotty and Lilly) were dead on, the twists were great, kept me guessing till the end, and way Tyler finally died was sad and unfortunately believable. The only thing that rang a bit strange was the parents' reason for leaving him in Mike's house--too risky--but, given the situation, can't really expect them to have all their wits about them.

Great script, excellent casefile, TV Fan. More soon? :smile49:

[r2k]

That was a good ending. Never expected it. And in the end, you didn't think it was Mike or Rebecca but it was. I liked how it was an accident and hope these two don't get it too hard. They really had Tyler's best interests at heart. The other two deserve the punishment for what they did.

[Tati]

Really great ending, TV Fan! I never thought it could be Mike or Rebecca. Actually, I'll admit, I was betting my money on the Hamptons, because this fic reminded me of an episode on Law & Order: SVU in which the foster father killed a young boy accidently in this very same way (is there any relation?).

[TVFan]

Thanks guys. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have a few ideas floating around for another one, so hopefully I'll get a chance to write again soon.

this fic reminded me of an episode on Law & Order: SVU in which the foster father killed a young boy accidently in this very same way (is there any relation?).

Tati - Not intentionally. I've seen almost every episode of SVU, but I can't remember that one in particular. Did the foster father accidently smother the child? Very weird. The idea came from the ending song. I had been tossing around some ideas for a story, but I hadn't settled on anything yet. I heard "I'm Free" by Jon Secada on the radio randomly one day and it sounded like a song the real CC would use. The first thing that popped into my mind was a tortured child, but I didn't want it to be too similar to "The Sleepover" or "Wishing" or even "Glued," so I decided to make the child very young - younger than any Cold Case victim. The rest of it fell into place as I started the pre-writing phase.

[Tati]

TV Fan - The episode is "Careless", from the 5th season. From what I remeber, it goes like this: a little boy (4 or 5 years old) dies, at first, from a phisically violent church exorcism. The kid had epilepsy (or some disease like that) so he used to have a few "crisis". Further investigation revealed that the kid had died prior to the exorcism. From the beginning the foster parents were the main suspects. The kid, due to the disease was problematic and went from one foster home to the other. The real mom also came into the picture but she didn't play a crucial role. Then, it came up that the foster mom (who was the "bad one") was getting paychecks for kids that weren't with her anymore. Another foster kid confirmed that kids were abused in the house. In the end, it turned out that the foster father (who was actually nice) was at home alone with the boy and he went into crisis. The man tried everything to calm the boy down without success, so he ended up using the pillow to make him quiet, and accidentally killed him.

[TVFan]

Now it's sounding familar Tati. Thanks for the recap!

[ruda]

very very good ending. I'm in a little shock...
great job!