HOMICIDE LIFE ON THE STREET Episode Ten: "Every Mother's Son" Teleplay by Eugene Lee Story by Tom Fontana & James Yoshimura FINAL DRAFT Prod. #310 September 29, 1994 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Barry Levinson Tom Fontana CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Henry Bromell SUPERVISING PRODUCER Jim Finnerty PRODUCER Gail Mutrux DIRECTOR Ken Fink Please note Episode #310, "Every Mother's Son," takes place in the Winter. All wardrobe, props, etc., should reflect the weather conditions of the Winter season in Baltimore. Also note that due to possible changes in the network schedule, any of the following episodes, #309 through #313, could air prior to Episode #308 (the Christmas episode). Excluding the Teaser, this episode begins in the day, continues through to the following day and ends that evening. CAST BEAU FELTON.........................Daniel Baldwin JOHN MUNCH..........................Richard Belzer FRANK PEMBLETON.....................Andre Braugher MEGAN RUSSERT.......................Isabella Hofmann MELDRICK LEWIS......................Clark Johnson AL GIARDELLO........................Yaphet Kotto KAY HOWARD..........................Melissa Leo TIM BAYLISS.........................Kyle Secor STANLEY BOLANDER....................Ned Beatty DAVID SAYERS........................ PATRICE SAYERS......................Rhonda Stubbins White RONNY SAYERS........................ JASON NAWLS......................... MARY NAWLS..........................GAY THOMAS THERESA COUSART..................... ALYSSA DYER.........................Harlee McBride STATE'S ATTORNEY MAGGIE CARTER......Helen Carey LARRY RUNYON........................ PENELOPE SMITH-HADDON............... JUDGE............................... SHERIFF............................. WOMAN #1............................ WOMAN #2............................ WOMAN #3............................ YOUNG GIRL #1....................... YOUNG GIRL #2....................... YOUNG MALE.......................... SETS EXTERIORS INTERIORS Braznell's Caribbean Braznell's Caribbean Kitchen Kitchen Cavalier The Daily Grind East Baltimore Homicide Unit Nawls Home "The Aquarium" "The Box" Giardello's Office Memorial Stadium Squad Room Mitchell Courthouse Medical Examiner's Lab Patterson Park Lanes Mitchell Courthouse Entrance Way Patterson Park Lanes Warehouse Police Headquarters The Waterfront Restaurant Hallway West Baltimore Lobby Sayers Home Processing Room Sayers Home Hallway Kitchen Living Room The Waterfront Restaurant TEASER FADE IN: EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM - NIGHT Packed stands. Pre-game. The BAND is PLAYING. CHEERLEADERS bounce from one end of the field to the other. The Baltimore Canadian Football League TEAM stands along one sideline. The Las Vegas POSSE of the CFL stands on the sideline across the field. A couple of huge Baltimore LINEMEN look down the sidelines, shaking their heads at KAY HOWARD, BEAU FELTON, STANLEY BOLANDER, JOHN MUNCH, MELDRICK LEWIS, FRANK PEMBLETON, TIM BAYLISS and AL GIARDELLO. A DOZEN UNIFORMS stand nearby as well. HOWARD Gee, what the hell are we doing here? We're Murder Police for crying out loud. This is ridiculous. GIARDELLO Detective Howard, this is the City's way of recognizing the hard working men and women of the Baltimore City Police Department. It's an honor really. LEWIS It's a joke. A photo-op and a joke. GIARDELLO It's a chance for the taxpayers to see their law enforcement personnel face-to-face. PEMBLETON Face-to-face? With what? An eight million power telescope? Those folks in the nose-bleeds can't tell me from Adam. GIARDELLO All right. Enough. We were ordered here. Now go with the flow. MUNCH walks behind the PLAYERS, tapping them on the shoulders and handing out business cards. MUNCH Hey, fellas. I just wanted to invite you and your friends to a great new bar. The Waterfront. We don't short pour and our wings are hotter than the cheerleaders. Come on down. FELTON stands next to a huge LINEMAN, smiling. FELTON Hi. How are you? The LINEMAN ignores FELTON. FELTON You know I played a little high school ball. Linebacker. The LINEMAN gives FELTON a disdainful look, walks away. BOLANDER sits on the end of the bench, elbows on knees, face in his hands, thick with sad memories. He doesn't even look up as BAYLISS sits down next to him with a water bottle. BAYLISS squirts some water in his mouth, splattering the front of his suit. BOLANDER Look at that grass. BAYLISS What? The grass? BOLANDER This soil is soaked with the sweat and blood of... Johnny Unitas... Alan Ameche... Tom Matte. Gino Marchetti used to flatten Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch right there on the forty- yard line. BAYLISS Stan, these guys play for us just like all your old Baltimore Colt heroes. Same city, same stadium, same game. BOLANDER (looks at BAYLISS for a moment) So young... So ignorant. BOLANDER reaches down and pulls a few blades of grass from the hallowed field and puts them in his pocket. Suddenly, the PA Announcer's VOICE BOOMS through the Stadium. PA ANNOUNCER (V.O.) Ladies and gentlemen, in the Baltimore CFL's continuing tribute to the special people who serve our city so well... We are tonight honoring those who keep Charm City safe. Would you please stand and give a big hand to the representatives of the men and women of the Baltimore City Police Department. GIARDELLO leads his PEOPLE in a home run trot through a channel of CHEERLEADERS. BAYLISS runs, smiling at EACH YOUNG LADY. The OTHERS follow behind, waving at the CROWD. Then there's BOLANDER, who trots out last in line, his hands in pockets, unable to forget his beloved Colts. As the CROWD roars its approval, FADE TO: MAIN TITLES ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. PATTERSON PARK LANES - DAY TINKLING SOUNDS. Maybe wind chimes. CU on a blue sphere. PULL BACK to REVEAL a bowling ball. PAN ACROSS to outstretched fingers, a wrist, an arm, a shoulder, onto the angelic FACE of a young thirteen year old Black male. His eyes open, surprised. An angry red pool of blood halos his head. ME ETCHES are pulling a body bag around the TORSO of the thirteen year old, watched by ALYSSA DYER, Assistant Medical Examiner. PATRONS, stunned, in shock, herded behind yellow crime scene tape. The TINKLING SOUNDS comes from automatic pin setting machines. PEMBLETON bends down to count shell casings. BAYLISS examines BODY. PEMBLETON Three shell casings. Twenty-two caliber. BAYLISS Powder burns. Close contact wound. Half-circle muzzle imprint. Someone jammed the barrel right up against this kid's head. PEMBLETON (beat, sighs) Serious intentions. DYER hands BAYLISS a wallet. DYER We found this on the boy. BAYLISS opens it, pulls out YMCA card, reads. BAYLISS Darryl Nawls. On PEMBLETON, gazing down at the dead BOY, CUT TO: EXT. ENTRANCE WAY/PATTERSON PARK LANES - DAY SERIES OF SHOTS: PEMBLETON and BAYLISS interviewing WITNESSES. PEMBLETON with YOUNG GIRL #1. PEMBLETON He came out nowhere? YOUNG GIRL #1 Uh-huh. PEMBLETON What's "nowhere?" YOUNG GIRL #1 He just walked in. CUT TO: BAYLISS with YOUNG MALE. BAYLISS You saw the shooter walk in? YOUNG MALE Just by himself. And he pulls out this bad ass piece from his waist. YOUNG MALE demonstrates pulling a gun from beneath his jacket at his waistband. BAYLISS He say anything to this Darryl kid? YOUNG MALE Nope. Just strolls up, pulls his piece out and Zip-Zip-Zip right into the kid's head. Right in his ear. Like an assassination or something, y'know. He was cold. CUT TO: PEMBLETON and BAYLISS with YOUNG GIRL #2, who is teary-eyed. PEMBLETON He was cold, huh? (beat) But this dead kid, Darryl, didn't have any enemies? You don't know anyone who was out to get him? YOUNG GIRL #2 We come here every Friday after school 'cause Darryl was teaching me how to bowl. PEMBLETON Darryl didn't run with any gang? YOUNG GIRL #2 Darryl ain't down with that stuff. He likes being himself, y'know. In the library with his stories. He liked to write stories. PEMBLETON He wrote stories? YOUNG GIRL #2 'Bout how he's gonna get himself out of East Baltimore. BAYLISS You never saw the kid who shot him before? YOUNG GIRL #2 Oh, yeah, I seen him before. Name's Ronny Sayers. On PEMBLETON and BAYLISS, exchanging glances, as PEMBLETON writes down the name, CUT TO: EXT. - THE DAILY GRIND - DAY MUNCH and LEWIS exit, each carrying a cup of coffee. They head toward The Waterfront. LEWIS has a folder of papers tucked under his armpit. MUNCH furiously stirs his coffee. LEWIS You musta dumped half a pound of sugar into that cup. I thought you hated sugar. MUNCH I need a glucose boost. LEWIS You're gonna end up with the sugar blues, John. MUNCH I'm gonna end up with a coronary if we don't get some decent beverage servers for our bar hired today. MUNCH pauses, drains half his cup of coffee, grimaces at the sweetness. He and LEWIS continue walking. MUNCH It's a watershed moment, Meldrick. We're taking on enormous responsibilities. We are on the threshold of becoming what I never imagined in my wildest dreams. We are about to become bosses. LEWIS We're hiring a couple of waitresses, John. What are you getting all wired out about? They arrive at the entrance of The Waterfront. INT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - DAY MUNCH and LEWIS walk in. A half-dozen WOMEN of various ages await them, sitting at tables just inside the door. MUNCH Good morning one and all. The WOMEN remain expressionless, eyeing MUNCH and LEWIS. MUNCH and LEWIS walk down to the end of the bar. MUNCH Remember. Who we hire directly reflects who we are. We proceed with all due care and consideration. LEWIS Right. LEWIS opens a folder, takes out copies of an employment application, walks over and hands them out to the WOMEN. LEWIS If you would be so kind as to fill out this paper. It concerns your previous employment history. WOMAN #1, a willowy, long haired brunette with translucent skin, her eyes deep with pools of poetry, turns to LEWIS. WOMAN #1 You got a pen? LEWIS Sure sure. LEWIS reaches into his pockets, searches for a pen. No pen. He looks back to MUNCH, motions for a pen. MUNCH searches through his pockets. No pen. LEWIS Anyone here have a spare pen or pencil? WOMAN #2, mid-twenties, raises her hand. WOMAN #2 I need something to write with, too. LEWIS Anyone else? The other remaining WOMEN all raise their hands. On MUNCH and LEWIS, as the business grinds to a halt, CUT TO: EXT. NAWLS HOME/EAST BALTIMORE - DAY BAYLISS and PEMBLETON approach a tiny rowhouse, BAYLISS holding the dead boy's wallet. FOUR LITTLE GIRLS, ranging in age from seven to ten, skip double-dutch on the sidewalk. BAYLISS RINGS the doorbell. The GIRLS stop and stare at BAYLISS. BAYLISS RINGS doorbell again, turns to take in the stares from the GIRLS. BAYLISS Howdy. GIRLS stand mute, staring holes into BAYLISS. PEMBLETON stands tiptoe and looks into front window of rowhouse. HIS POV: A small, battered color TV showing cartoons. PEMBLETON Somebody's home. PEMBLETON RAPS lightly on the window. HIS POV: JASON NAWLS, small ten year old boy, leans into view, stares at PEMBLETON for a beat, leans out quickly. BAYLISS Someone there? PEMBLETON A little kid. The door opens. JASON stands in the threshold. PEMBLETON Hi. The little BOY stands mute, staring hard, puzzled at BAYLISS. BAYLISS Is anyone else home? JASON No. PEMBLETON Your Mom or Dad here? JASON No. BAYLISS Do you know where they are? No response. PEMBLETON Where can we find your Mom? We need to talk to her about Darryl. JASON She's at work. BAYLISS How about your Dad? No response. PEMBLETON What's your name? JASON Jason. PEMBLETON Mine's Frank. This is my partner Tim. BAYLISS Hi, Jason. JASON stares at BAYLISS. PEMBLETON How can I talk to your Mom or Dad? JASON There ain't no Dad here. On PEMBLETON and BAYLISS, gazing at JASON, CUT TO: INT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - DAY MUNCH and LEWIS sit at table in the dining area. WOMAN #2 walks up to MUNCH and LEWIS, holding her employment application. She hands it to LEWIS. He scans the form. LEWIS Thank you. MUNCH Please. Have a seat. WOMAN #2 sits, nervously shifts around in her seat. LEWIS reads application. LEWIS You've had a lot of jobs. WOMAN #2 Uh-huh. LEWIS You've worked Duda's, John Steven's, Fletcher's... WOMAN #2 Just about every restaurant and bar in Baltimore. MUNCH (reading over LEWIS' shoulder) Is there any reason you've never worked any job longer than three weeks? CUT TO: WOMAN #3, grandmotherly-type, beehive hairdo. WOMAN #3 One rule I don't abide by is: The customer is always right. The customer is never right. MUNCH and LEWIS arch their eyebrows. CUT TO: WOMAN #1 has a canvas tote bag slung over her shoulder. WOMAN #1 I'm really not a waitress. MUNCH Oh? WOMAN #1 rustles through her tote bag, extracts a thick binder, hands it to MUNCH. WOMAN #1 I write. One-acts. MUNCH Hunh, one-act plays. WOMAN #1 Read them and we'll talk about them, okay? LEWIS You're a writer and you had to ask for a pen? WOMAN #1 My life is total irony. MUNCH And all in one act, huh? CUT TO: WOMAN #3 sits in front of LEWIS and MUNCH. WOMAN #3 At my tables, it's a two-drink limit. I tell 'em, you want more, there's the door. I do not tolerate boozers, especially those vodka drinkers. First drink, they're so tall. (holds hands over head) Second drink, they think they're some kind of John Wayne giants. When I hear, "Howdy, Pilgrim," I know it's time to haul out the baseball bat. As MUNCH and LEWIS stare at WOMAN #3, CUT TO: EXT. BRAZNELLIS CARIBBEAN KITCHEN - DAY PEMBLETON and BAYLISS exit the Cavalier. BAYLISS opens the rear door. JASON tumbles out of the rear seat, goes running for the entrance. INT. BRAZNELLIS CARIBBEAN KITCHEN - DAY A small, twenty-seat storefront establishment. Bob Marley Posters on the wall. A tall, thin Black woman, MARY NAWLS, late thirties, wipes down a table. She looks up at the SOUND of the door opening, sees JASON here. She spies PEMBLETON and BAYLISS following on JASON's footsteps. JASON Momma. These two guys are detectives. NAWLS (to PEMBLETON) Yes? PEMBLETON You're Mrs. Nawls, Darryl's mother? NAWLS I'm his mother. NAWLS looks to PEMBLETON and BAYLISS, reading their faces. BAYLISS glances away. NAWLS Where's Darryl? Is he in trouble? (beat, terrified) Is he okay? JASON comes around to NAWLS' hip. NAWLS Has he been in an accident or something? PEMBLETON Mrs. Nawls, I'm a Homicide Detective. NAWLS Homicide? What, homicide? NAWLS folds in at her waist as if her breath has been punched out of her On NAWLS as WE HEAR Muddy Waters PLAYING "Who Do You Trust", CUT TO: INT. MEDICAL EXAMINER'S LAB - DAY SONG CONTINUES. ATTENDANTS move about, preparing for the autopsy on Darryl Nawls. His BODY lies on a steel table, covered by a sheet. PEMBLETON raises the sheet to REVEAL Darryl's FACE. NAWLS forces herself to look at Darryl's FACE. NAWLS gently touches Darryl's eyes, turns and exits the room. PEMBLETON's POV: NAWLS walking out into the corridor, being met by JASON. JASON looks into the Examining Room. NAWLS shields his face from seeing Darryl's BODY. ON PEMBLETON, SADDENED, CUT TO: EXT. SAYERS HOME/WEST BALTIMORE - MAGIC HOUR SONG CONTINUES. PEMBLETON, BAYLISS and UNIFORMS in Kevlar vests, shotguns, sidearms drawn move quickly around the front and back of a rowhouse. Other UNIFORMS move to cordon off the area, redirect traffic, move PEDESTRIANS out of the way. NEIGHBORS stick their heads out of their windows to see what's going on. PEMBLETON crouches into a shooting position, KNOCKS on the door. PEMBLETON's POV: A PRESENCE throws a shadow across the window of the front door. A pair of eyes peek out of the front door's window. The door opens slowly. PEMBLETON leads the charge into the rowhouse. BAYLISS and UNIFORMS follow. INT. LIVING ROOM/SAYERS HOME - NIGHT SONG CONTINUES. A middle-aged woman, PATRICE SAYERS, is knocked backwards as PEMBLETON charges in, BAYLISS behind him. she SCREAMS. A UNIFORM pulls her out of the way. BAYLISS charges upstairs. UNIFORMS with shotguns burst into the bathroom. INT. HALLWAY/SAYERS HOME - NIGHT SONG FADES. Harshly lit, full of shadows. BAYLISS comes up the stairs. A SHADOW moves. BAYLISS instinctively jumps away, raising his drawn gun to aim at the SHADOW. A seven year old boy, DAVID SAYERS, appears. BAYLISS What are you doing? DAVID I have to get something. Unconcerned, DAVID walks past BAYLISS. BAYLISS Where are you going? DAVID To get my spelling. DAVID walks into the back bedroom. BAYLISS glances in, sees DAVID reach under a pile of papers on a nightstand and grab a schoolbook. BAYLISS You do good in spelling? DAVID Yes. (re: BAYLISS' drawn gun) I wasn't going to hurt you. BAYLISS I know that. DAVID comes out of the bedroom, pauses as he passes BAYLISS. DAVID No, you didn't. On BAYLISS, holstering his gun, CUT TO: INT. KITCHEN/SAYERS HOME - NIGHT PEMBLETON and BAYLISS with SAYERS. DAVID sits at kitchen table, doing his spelling homework. PEMBLETON Where's your son Ronny now? SAYERS He's with his friends. BAYLISS Where's his friends? SAYERS (to PEMBLETON) What did he do? PEMBLETON We want to talk to him about a shooting this afternoon. SAYERS A shooting? My Ronny? BAYLISS Where is he? SAYERS (to PEMBLETON) Is he okay? PEMBLETON We need to find him. SAYERS He's okay, though? BAYLISS He may be involved in the shooting of a thirteen year old boy this morning. PEMBLETON He was identified by several witnesses at the bowling alley where the murder took place. Where is he? SAYERS He said he was going over to his friend Henry's house after school and then they were going to play some basketball. How can my Ronny be involved in any of this? He's only fourteen years old. BAYLISS He's how old? SAYERS (to PEMBLETON) Fourteen. PEMBLETON When did you see him last? SAYERS This morning, here at the breakfast table. He had a bowl of cereal. Raisin Bran. He always has a bowl of Raisin Bran. Every morning. PEMBLETON Where does this friend Henry live? SAYERS (pausing) I'm not sure. PEMBLETON How can you not-be sure? SAYERS Over on Eutaw Street? I think it's on Eutaw Street. BAYLISS What's Henry's last name? SAYERS Crayton? Clawson? On PEMBLETON, frustrated, lighting a cigarette, CUT TO: INT. CAVALIER - NIGHT PEMBLETON drives, intent. BAYLISS rides shotgun. BAYLISS I had my gun pointed at that little boy back there. But for the grace of God... (pause) Could you slow down, Frank? PEMBLETON You don't like my driving? BAYLISS This isn't driving. This is hurtling. You're reckless. A threat to society. PEMBLETON Hey, you've got something against how I drive, you can take your turn at the wheel. And then I'll do the play-by-play critique and ride the rules of the road all over your ass. PEMBLETON slows down, exhales. BAYLISS All we gotta do is find this Henry kid and then we find our shooter. PEMBLETON stares straight ahead as he drives. BAYLISS Fourteen years old... When I was fourteen, jeez, I was in the ninth grade, and I don't remember much of what I was doing, but I know I was never thinking anything close to picking up a gun and shooting another kid. PEMBLETON How old should our shooter be? BAYLISS Not fourteen. PEMBLETON So if he's what, fifteen, -sixteen years old, it makes any more sense? BAYLISS No. PEMBLETON How old should he be then? What's the cut off age? Seventeen? Eighteen? BAYLISS I don't know. PEMBLETON When you find out, clue me in, awright? I'd like to know when any of this killing, at any age, from six to sixty, makes any sense. I love that line the papers and TV news always run about "senseless" violence. one time I want to hear about a murder that makes sense. Just one time. For any reason. BAYLISS I was so lucky tonight, Frank. On PEMBLETON, looking at BAYLISS, nodding, FADE OUT: END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: EXT. WAREHOUSE - MORNING An abandoned warehouse area next to the Proctor and Gamble Company. A dozen HOMELESS are clustered around a garbage can burning wood scraps. RONNY SAYERS, a small, skinny Black kid, dressed in a Starter's Jacket, rests fitfully against a wall, out of the wind. A hand reaches down to rouse RONNY. PULL BACK to REVEAL PEMBLETON hovering over him. BAYLISS stands to the side, a couple of UNIFORMS in the background, HENRY, another young Black teenager dressed in a winter parka, in their grasp. RONNY What do you want? PEMBLETON Ronny, we're police. RONNY sees BAYLISS blocking him in. RONNY scrambles to his feet, sees other UNIFORMS coming from all sides, encircling him. He then sees HENRY. RONNY Henry? HENRY shakes his head, looks to the ground. RONNY Henry, you gave me up? PEMBLETON C'mon, Ronny, let's go. RONNY Go where? I'm not going anywhere. RONNY pulls out a twenty-two caliber semi-automatic handgun from beneath his jacket. PEMBLETON and BAYLISS back away, reaching for their guns. RONNY What'd'ya gonna do, shoot me? Go 'head, shoot me. BAYLISS Easy, Ronny. No one's shooting anyone here. RONNY waving the gun around, yells at HENRY. RONNY How come you did this to me, man? You're my friend. PEMBLETON (his gun raised halfway) Ronny, you have to put the gun down. RONNY No. BAYLISS Please. RONNY What, you think I'm gonna shoot you? Okay, back up then. PEMBLETON No one's backing up. RONNY begins to wave his gun around at the UNIFORMS. RONNY What'd'ya want, huh? HOMELESS STRAGGLERS rouse themselves from their places watch transfixed for a moment, then move away as the UNIFORMS take cover. PEMBLETON No one needs to get hurt here, son. RONNY Is that right? RONNY puts the gun to his own head. RONNY I ain't going with you. PEMBLETON Whoa, whoa, easy. RONNY I can't go. You can't take me. PEMBLETON Put the gun down. RONNY Why? Cause I'm gonna hurt myself? What'd'ya care? (to HENRY) Henry, you turned me out, man. You ain't my friend. PEMBLETON (to RONNY) Tell us about Darryl. RONNY Who's Darryl? PEMBLETON You know. RONNY I don't know any Darryl. BAYLISS That's the kid who got hurt in the bowling alley. RONNY (pausing) His name is Basil. PEMBLETON Who? RONNY Basil. Some punk who said he was going to get me. PEMBLETON The kid who got hurt, his name is Darryl. RONNY I know who got hurt. Basil. BAYLISS (pausing) His name wasn't Basil. RONNY It wasn't? RONNY slowly lowers his gun, confused. PEMBLETON and BAYLISS rush in and grab the gun from RONNY and wrestle him to the ground. On RONNY, offering no resistance, INT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - DAY LEWIS and MUNCH follow Interior Designer LARRY RUNYON, thirties, who looks around bar, makes notes in notebook. MUNCH We don't want to go crazy with the renovations. LEWIS The place just needs some sprucing up... Right? RUNYON shakes his head, not impressed, as he walks around, making notations in notebook. MUNCH Talk to us, Larry. RUNYON Well, I love the glazed headers. LEWIS Excuse me? RUNYON (indicates back wall) The original brick work. They used glazed headers. It's fabulous. MUNCH Okay. Sure. Fabulous. What else? LEWIS You wanna know what I don't like? MUNCH Not really. LEWIS All this wood paneling. Makes the place so dark. MUNCH It's a bar. It's supposed to be dark. LEWIS It's a little depressing. MUNCH Didn't you just say "a little sprucing up"? LEWIS (re: RUNYON) John, we have a professional present among us. RUNYON (looks at walls) We could always paint the paneling. A nice eggshell semi-gloss. Elegant, yet warm... I'm gonna check out the facilities. RUNYON exits into bathroom as MUNCH calls after him. MUNCH If you start talking about brass fixtures and hanging ferns, you're fired. LEWIS (to MUNCH) We class up the joint, we broaden our customer base. MUNCH This is supposed to be a cop bar. Not some kind of cyber-singles hangout. LEWIS What're you saying, cops wouldn't appreciate a little class? RUNYON emerges. RUNYON We definitely gotta do something about the bathroom. It's like from the Civil War or something. I think we should rip everything out and start from scratch. The front door opens and PENELOPE SMITH-HADDON, genteel Baltimore County woman, fifties, enters. SMITH-HADDON Excuse me? I'm looking for the new owners. MUNCH You found two of them. SMITH-HADDON I'm from the Baltimore Landmark Preservation Society... This building is a historical landmark. I'm here to protect the integrity of the site. LEWIS What does that mean? The integrity of the site? SMITH-HADDON That means if you were planning on making any renovations, you should stop. Immediately. ON MUNCH AND LEWIS, CONFUSED, CUT TO: INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY CU on "The Board". "N-A-W-L-S" in RED under Pembleton's name. PAN to PEMBLETON and BAYLISS leading RONNY into the Squad Room. RONNY is wide-eyed with anxiety. BAYLISS intercepts GIARDELLO as PEMBLETON continues into "The Box" with RONNY. BAYLISS We've got the shooter, Gee. GIARDELLO looks into "The Box", studying RONNY. GIARDELLO My God, how old is he? BAYLISS He's supposed to be fourteen, but jeez, he looks so small. GIARDELLO Notify Juvenile. If this kid is the shooter, we have to step carefully. BAYLISS Right. BAYLISS grabs phone. GIARDELLO steps closer to "The Box". INT. "THE BOX"/HOMICIDE UNIT DAY GIARDELLO leans in. GIARDELLO Frank. PEMBLETON This is Ronny Sayers. GIARDELLO Hey, Ronny. RONNY This room smells funny. GIARDELLO turns to PEMBLETON. GIARDELLO I told Tim. By the numbers on this one. GIARDELLO exits. PEMBLETON You want anything, Ronny? RONNY glares at PEMBLETON. INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY BAYLISS hangs up phone. GIARDELLO comes up to him. BAYLISS The State's Attorney office is sending over Maggie Carter. He said held call Juvenile for us. SAYERS enters. SAYERS Someone called and said you have my son? Where is he? BAYLISS Ma'am, we've placed him in custody. SAYERS (to GIARDELLO) I want my son. GIARDELLO looks over at "The Box", SAYERS heads for it. INT. "THE BOX"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY SAYERS rushes in, BAYLISS and GIARDELLO behind her. RONNY and PEMBLETON look to door. SAYERS Ronny? BAYLISS reaches to restrain SAYERS from entering any further. SAYERS pushes his hand away. SAYERS Ronny. RONNY Mom? RONNY catches himself, resumes tough-guy attitude. RONNY You don't have to be here. SAYERS Where have you been? RONNY looks away. SAYERS Where have you been, dammit? RONNY Nowhere. SAYERS I've been worried sick. RONNY You can stop worrying, awright? SAYERS Your little brother's home with a fever. He didn't sleep all night. RONNY You should be at home with David then. I'm okay. SAYERS Come here, baby. SAYERS puts her arms around RONNY, who squirms to get out of her grasp. He motions to PEMBLETON. RONNY Does she have to be here? SAYERS I'm your mother, Ronny. RONNY bolts out of the chair, away from SAYERS. RONNY You can't help me. I don't want you in here, awright? I shot that kid. SAYERS You didn't do any such thing. RONNY (to PEMBLETON) I shot the wrong kid too, didn't I? SAYERS He couldn't have shot anyone. This is my son here. (to RONNY) You didn't do anything. Tell them. PEMBLETON Ronny, you've made an admission and I have to read you your rights. SAYERS What's wrong with you? Tell them you didn't shoot anyone. RONNY (to BAYLISS) Do I have the right not to have her in here? SAYERS He doesn't mean it. He doesn't know what he's saying. RONNY (to GIARDELLO) Do I? GIARDELLO You have that right. RONNY Then I want her outta here. SAYERS, crushed, lets herself be lead away by BAYLISS and GIARDELLO. PEMBLETON turns to RONNY. PEMBLETON Good move. RONNY Hey, it's my right, okay? PEMBLETON I'd've done the same thing. RONNY swings his feet up onto the table. PEMBLETON Comfy? RONNY I'm tired. PEMBLETON God knows. RONNY shrugs, smiles. PEMBLETON You must be some kind of ballbuster to sneak up behind someone and shoot him. RONNY When do I get to go home? PEMBLETON Two shots right in the back of his left ear. RONNY I didn't sneak up on him. I walked right up to him. PEMBLETON You shot him in the back of the head. RONNY If I had gotten who I meant to, I can see you coming down on me, but I shot the wrong kid. PEMBLETON You just made a mistake, huh? RONNY Hey, if you're driving a car and you hit someone you don't mean to, it's an accident. PEMBLETON (pausing) Ronny, you shot an innocent kid. RONNY Car accidents kill innocent people all the time, don't they? How's this any different then? PEMBLETON Get your damn feet off my table. As RONNY swings his feet from the table and lays his head down on it, CUT TO: EXT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - DAY MUNCH and LEWIS stand with SMITH-HADDON, looking at architecture of building. MUNCH Let me get this straight. We own this bar. But we're not allowed to renovate. SMITH-HADDON Renovate, yes. Preserve, yes. What you cannot do is anything that would destroy the historical value. LEWIS It's old. You want to keep it old. SMITH-HADDON Your restaurant is a piece of Baltimore history, Mr. Munch. It's assumed to be the second brick structure built in the City. It's over two-hundred years old. LEWIS If these bricks could talk, huh? SMITH-HADDON Surely you can understand our desire to protect that history, especially in connection to George Washington. MUNCH George Washington? SMITH-HADDON George Washington... In 1793, he was traveling from Mount Vernon to Philadelphia. He stopped here. MUNCH He stopped here? SMITH-HADDON Of course, it was a residence at the time... LEWIS George Washington slept here? SMITH-HADDON Well, no... MUNCH He had dinner? SMITH-HADDON No. LEWIS So what did he do here? SMITH-HADDON Apparently the President, just coming from a dinner party where he had consumed quite a bit of wine, was in something of a bind. He had no time to seek out a public chamber pot. MUNCH Are you telling us the reason we can't tear down the bathroom is that it's where George Washington once took a whizz? SMITH-HADDON, embarrassed, can only nod. LEWIS I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go... Even if you're the Father of our Country. On MUNCH and LEWIS, looking at The Waterfront with new respect, CUT TO: INT. "THE AQUARIUM"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY NAWLS is led into "The Aquarium" by BOLANDER. She has JASON in tow. JASON is carrying a comic book. BOLANDER I'll find Detective Pembleton for you. JASON I'm thirsty, Momma. NAWLS Wait until I talk to the detective, Jason. BOLANDER I can get him something. What do you want, Jason? JASON turns away, shy. BOLANDER C'mon, I'll show you where the soda machine is and you can help me find the detective for your mom. You can pick whatever soda you want. How about a Coke? JASON Yeah. NAWLS I don't like the caffeine in it for him. BOLANDER We have root beer and, I think, strawberry soda. (points toward Coffee Room) The soda machine is right over there. Your mom will watch you the whole way over. I like root beer. It's been my favorite since I was your age... JASON looks up into his MOTHER's face. NAWLS reaches into her purse. BOLANDER No, no. It's on the house. (to JASON) I know how to get all my sodas for free. I got a secret way. BOLANDER waves his hands "Houdini" style. JASON smiles, hands his comic book to his MOTHER, heads out of "The Aquarium" with BOLANDER. INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY BAYLISS and SAYERS pass by BOLANDER and JASON. SAYERS Don't let my son say he did anything. BAYLISS Mrs. Sayers, that's up to him, not me. SAYERS He's only a child. BAYLISS So was the other kid. SAYERS I have to be in there with my Ronny. BAYLISS I'm sorry. SAYERS You know he doesn't know what he's saying. BAYLISS sees Assistant State's Attorney MAGGIE CARTER entering from the Elevator Area. BAYLISS You'll have to excuse me, Ma'am. SAYERS watches BAYLISS go over and confer with CARTER. She stands, framed by "The Board", adrift. PICK UP BAYLISS and CARTER crossing the Squad Room, headed toward "The Box". BAYLISS The kid admits to the shooting. CARTER How'd you get this from him? BAYLISS He volunteered the information. CARTER You advised him of his rights before he confessed? BAYLISS We never got the chance. He beat us to the punch. His mother comes in there with him, he doesn't want her there, he cops to the shooting so she'll leave him alone. CARTER The mother's here? BAYLISS gestures to SAYERS as they cross the Squad Room. BAYLISS Right there. CARTER pauses, looks at SAYERS, continues into "The Box", BAYLISS on his heels. INT. "THE BOX"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY PEMBLETON sits across from RONNY as CARTER and BAYLISS enter. CARTER Frank. PEMBLETON nods a silent greeting to CARTER, who approaches RONNY. CARTER I'm Maggie Carter, an Assistant State's Attorney. PEMBLETON This here is Mister Bad Boy and all of fourteen years old. RONNY I did the shooting, didn't I? CARTER Ronny, I'm going to advise you not to say another word until we have someone here to represent you. RONNY Whatever. AS CARTER LOOKS AT PEMBLETON, CUT TO: INT. "THE AQUARIUM"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY SAYERS pushes through the swinging doors. NAWLS sits, clutching Jason's comic book tightly in her fist. SAYERS sits down, a few seats from NAWLS. SAYERS looks at NAWLS. They exchange a polite nod of the head. SAYERS'-POV: BAYLISS comes out of "The Box", exchanges a look with SAYERS as he passes by. NAWLS You okay? SAYERS My boy. NAWLS He's in trouble? SAYERS He was missing for a day and now... NAWLS But they found him alright? SAYERS turns to NAWLS, then sees the comic book. SAYERS What're'ya reading? NAWLS This is my little boy's comic. He's with one of the detectives. SAYERS He's in trouble, too? NAWLS Oh, no. He went to get a soda. (opens the comic book) I don't know what he reads these days. (reading the cover) What's this X-Men? SAYERS My littlest one reads that. He's home probably going through one of those right as we speak. NAWLS (glancing through the pages) Super heroes who fight Evil in the world. We could use some real X-Men in this town. SAYERS Don't I know it. SAYERS scoots over next to NAWLS, offers handshake. SAYERS I'm Patrice. NAWLS Mary. They shake hands. SAYERS motions to Squad Room. SAYERS This is the first time I've ever been in this place. I imagined it to be a lot noisier. NAWLS I thought it'd be bigger somehow. On SAYERS and NAWLS, shy smiles, FADE OUT: END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE FADE IN: INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY CARTER, GIARDELLO and BAYLISS huddle outside the open door of "The Box". THERESA COUSART, mid-thirties, Public Defender, comes up to them. CARTER Theresa. COUSART Ed. CARTER Al. Tim. This is Theresa Cousart, out of the Public Defender's office. GIARDELLO We've met. COUSART Is Juvenile here? CARTER Waiting on 'em. I put the call in. COUSART I'm on City pension before they get here. COUSART leans around them, peeks into "The Box". HER POV: RONNY, asleep, his head leaned back against the back of his chair. INT. "THE BOX"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY COUSART enters. GIARDELLO, CARTER and BAYLISS follow. PEMBLETON is leaning up against the mirror. RONNY slowly wakens, irritated. RONNY What? COUSART Ronny? Theresa Cousart. I'm a Public Defender here to provide you with legal representation. RONNY I was sleeping, y'know. COUSART (to GIARDELLO) I'd like some privacy to consult with my client. RONNY What for? I've already told 'em what they want to know. (to PEMBLETON) Clue the lady in, will ya? PEMBLETON (to COUSART) Ronny here has made a statement. COUSART Ronny, it'd be in your best interests not to say anything in front of these officers. RONNY My "best interests"? Ain't you too cool, lady. (to PEMBLETON) You tell her. PEMBLETON It's not for me to say, Ronny. RONNY Do I have to have her in here, too? CARTER Hey, kid, you've got a serious charge facing you. RONNY What, that I shot that kid? COUSART Ronny. RONNY Hey, what's the deal? I meant to shoot this other kid. I made an honest mistake. You can't blame me for that. As COUSART leans back, her work cut out for her, CUT TO: INT. "THE AQUARIUM"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY NAWLS and SAYERS sit side-by-side. SAYERS Where are all the men these days, that's what I'd like to know. NAWLS Well, there's Gerald, he lives two houses down from me. He's twenty- six. And then there's Marcus. He's gotta be eighty years old. That's it in my neighborhood. SAYERS I think there's one guy, maybe he's in his thirties, just around the corner, but I haven't seen him in awhile so I don't know, maybe something happened to him... How many kids you got? NAWLS (hesitates) Two. I had two. Darryl and Jason. SAYERS waits. NAWLS Darryl was shot. He was killed. Sympathy floods SAYERS' face. SAYERS I'm sorry... Was Darryl the oldest? NAWLS (nods) Jason's a quiet fella, but Darryl was the one for adventures. He says to me just the other day, "Momma, I'm gonna join up with something, the Army, the Navy, and I'm gonna see the World." He tells me he's gonna go see people in Japan and Ireland and Italy, see how they all live... SAYERS I'm trying to get my two boys out the city, but every place I can think of takes money. Ronny and David. NAWLS Excuse me? SAYERS That's their names. My sons. NAWLS Those are nice names. SAYERS Thank you. (beat, sighs) Maybe I could get Ronny and David to Canada. Get away from all this killing. NAWLS I've been to three funerals this year for Darryl's friends. It's almost like this is how we have our socials now. SAYERS nods, lost in thought. SAYERS My Ronny... He's a country boy living in the city. He teaches me how to tell if rain is coming. The leaves on the trees, especially the sugar maples, these leaves would turn over so's to take up all the rain so that the rain wouldn't fall onto the ground and wash away the topsoil. Pause. NAWLS Canada, huh? SAYERS I don't know a thing about it except it's supposed to have a lot of snow and cold. Maybe they don't kill each other so much up there. Maybe the cold keeps a lid on things. Do you think? NAWLS Could be. As SAYERS and NAWLS share a small smile, CUT TO: INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY PEMBLETON and BAYLISS lead RONNY out of "The Box". RONNY is now handcuffed. CARTER and COUSART huddle with GIARDELLO. CARTER He's fourteen, so he's at the magic cutoff point. He could go juvenile, but with this kid's attitude I'm strongly inclined to get him charged as an adult. COUSART Ed, he doesn't realize the severity of what he's done. He thinks he's innocent because he shot the wrong guy. CARTER He's given a "resgesti" statement. He's waived his rights. COUSART He doesn't know what he's saying. GIARDELLO So what are we supposed to do? Let him go? Then next week, next month, next year, we haul his ass back in here for another murder? PICK UP PEMBLETON and BAYLISS as they lead RONNY across the Squad Room. JASON passes them with BOLANDER, holding a bag of potato chips and a can of root beer. INT. "THE AQUARIUM"/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY SAYERS gets up with a startled expression as she spies RONNY being escorted by PEMBLETON and BAYLISS. NAWLS What's the matter, Patrice? SAYERS hurries out. INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY SAYERS hurries toward PEMBLETON, BAYLISS and RONNY, panicked. SAYERS Ronny. What's going on? (to PEMBLETON) Where are you taking my boy? NAWLS comes out of "The Aquarium". PEMBLETON (to SAYERS; without slowing his steps) Ronny is going to Processing. He's a big boy now. He's confessed to murder. NAWLS Detective Pembleton? I came to see you. JASON comes up to NAWLS, holding up potato chips and the root beer. JASON Momma, see what the detective got me? PEMBLETON Mrs. Nawls, it'll be awhile. BAYLISS We have to take him down for processing. SAYERS Ronny didn't shoot that boy. NAWLS What boy? THEY all pass through the swinging door. INT. LOBBY/POLICE HEADQUARTERS - DAY PEMBLETON and BAYLISS lead RONNY through the swinging door out of the Squad Room, NAWLS and SAYERS right behind them. NAWLS This is the bastard who killed my Darryl? (turn on SAYERS) He's your boy? Elevator doors open. BAYLISS and PEMBLETON lead RONNY into elevator. SAYERS gets on elevator, starts to face NAWLS again, quickly turns away. Elevator doors close. JASON Momma, momma, look what I got... JASON tugs at NAWLS' blouse, trying to get her to see his soda pop and potato chips. As NAWLS stares at the elevator doors, CUT TO: INT. GIARDELLO'S OFFICE/HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY NAWLS charges in, dragging JASON behind her, confronts GIARDELLO behind his desk. Her face is a mask of pure rage. NAWLS You the boss? GIARDELLO On a good day, yes. NAWLS I want him dead. Now. GIARDELLO Who? NAWLS That bastard that shot my son. GIARDELLO You're the mother of the boy Ronny Sayers shot? NAWLS I want him dead. Cold as my boy. Cold in the ground. GIARDELLO Ronny will have to stand trial. NAWLS What good are you people? You can't protect us, least you can do is make things right. I want justice. Kill him, do you hear me? JASON gapes at NAWLS, as she takes a swing at GIARDELLO. JASON Momma? NAWLS (in a rage) Kill him, kill him. Kill the sonofabitch-- BOLANDER, concerned, leans into the office. BOLANDER You alright, Gee? GIARDELLO waves BOLANDER away. NAWLS My son is dead. As JASON stares at NAWLS, clutching his soda and potato chips, tears in his eyes, CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY/POLICE HEADQUARTERS - AFTERNOON PEMBLETON leads RONNY toward the Processing Room as BAYLISS holds off a distraught SAYERS. SAYERS He didn't kill anyone. Tell 'em, Ronny. Explain things. Ronny, tell 'em. Tell 'em. RONNY remains stone-faced. They reach the Processing Room. PEMBLETON Mrs. Sayers, you're gonna have to wait here. SAYERS starts ripping at PEMBLETON and BAYLISS, claws at them to reach RONNY. SAYERS Give me back my boy. Give me back my boy. BAYLISS restrains her. On PEMBLETON, leading RONNY off, CUT TO: INT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON LEWIS and MUNCH sit around table, drinking beers. LEWIS George Washington. Huh. MUNCH So the guy who owns what used to be this house, Cumberland Dugan-- LEWIS Cumberland Dugan? That's his name? MUNCH Cumberland's sitting having dinner with his wife and kids and he gets a knock on the door. Who is it? It's George Washington. It's the President of the United States. And he wants to tap a kidney in his bathroom. That'd be kind of an honor, I guess. To have your porcelain christened by the pee of a prez. LEWIS Maybe we should have that printed on our napkins. "Come drink where George Washington drained." MUNCH (raises glass) Here's to George. LEWIS To George. And his lovely wife, Dinah. AS THEY CLINK GLASSES, DRINK, CUT TO: INT. PROCESSING ROOM/POLICE HEADQUARTERS - AFTERNOON A PROCESSING OFFICER wipes RONNY's fingers free of fingerprint ink. RONNY is then walked over to two Holding Cells. one is filled with three ADULT ARRESTEES. The PROCESSING OFFICER opens the empty cell. RONNY takes a step in. The PROCESSING OFFICER stops him, unbuckles RONNY's belt, takes it from him. PEMBLETON stands at RONNY's side. PEMBLETON We're gonna put you here in isolation, Ronny. Away from the adults. The ADULT ARRESTEES stir in the next cell. RONNY I ain't scared of them. O.C., the ADULT ARRESTEES laugh, send up CATCALLS and THREATENING GESTURES to RONNY and PEMBLETON. RONNY poses defiant to the ADULTS. PROCESSING OFFICER kneels next to him and removes RONNY's shoelaces. RONNY What'd'ya doing? Leave me my laces, man. PEMBLETON We don't want you trying to hurt yourself again. RONNY I should've done it when I had the chance. The PROCESSING OFFICER finishes removing RONNY's shoelaces, takes RONNY by the arm and sets him inside the cell, then closes the cell door. RONNY This is the "big time," huh? PEMBLETON Your life is over, Ronny. RONNY Naw. PEMBLETON Get clear, kid. This is no joke anymore. If it comes down that you're charged as an adult, you're gonna have to realize that you'll probably die in a cell just like this one. RONNY Better than on the street. PEMBLETON (pausing) You figure you're safer in jail? CUT TO: RONNY Well, ain't I? On PEMBLETON, looking away, CUT TO: INT. SQUAD ROOM/HOMICIDE UNIT - AFTERNOON As a HAND erases "N-A-W-L-S" in RED on "The Board" and rewrites it in BLACK, FADE OUT: END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. MITCHELL COURTHOUSE - AFTERNOON PEMBLETON and BAYLISS watch from back of courtroom. RONNY stands facing JUDGE with COUSART. CARTER also stands. SAYERS sits nearby, listening attentively. CARTER Your Honor, given the severity of the crime, and the fact that the defendant made a confession and shows no signs of remorse, State asks that he be denied bail. COUSART Your Honor, my client is only fourteen years old. We move that he be remanded to the custody of his mother. Given his age and his lack of financial resources, we do not consider him a flight risk. JUDGE studies papers, considers. JUDGE Despite the defendant's youth, the crime he's accused of committing is a capital offense. Defendant is hereby denied bail and will remain incarcerated until trial. SAYERS bows her head, defeated. PEMBLETON turns to BAYLISS. PEMBLETON I'll be right back. PEMBLETON walks over to RONNY, who's being escorted away by UNIFORMS. SAYERS also approaches. PEMBLETON Ronny. RONNY glances up. PEMBLETON looks at UNIFORMS, signals them to back away. PEMBLETON Mrs. Sayers, I'd like a moment alone with your son. SAYERS hesitates, backs off. RONNY What'd'ya want? PEMBLETON You kept me awake last night. I resent that. I need my sleep. RONNY Sorry for nothing. PEMBLETON I didn't sleep, but I had nightmares. Kids your brother's age singing "Ring Around the Rosey." Only they didn't have any faces. RONNY stares at his feet. PEMBLETON You know now, don't you? No response. PEMBLETON You got the fear, don't you? RONNY nods. PEMBLETON Keep to yourself. Don't be a politician. Don't be a warrior. You understand? RONNY nods. PEMBLETON You like to read? RONNY shrugs. PEMBLETON Then read. Go out with your mind. RONNY gives PEMBLETON a long look, then turns and walks to waiting UNIFORMS. SAYERS approaches. SAYERS Ronny? RONNY glances at her, all boldness gone, for once a fourteen year old boy. RONNY Goodbye, Momma. UNIFORMS lead him off. SAYERS gazes after him. On PEMBLETON, not sure where to put his feelings, CUT TO: EXT. MITCHELL COURTHOUSE - AFTERNOON PEMBLETON and BAYLISS walk down the front stairs. BAYLISS We should find out when Darryl's funeral is. PEMBLETON You know, the wife and I were talking the other day about children. About maybe having a kid. BAYLISS You, a father? PEMBLETON Something wrong with that? BAYLISS No. No, I think it'd be great. PEMBLETON How do I bring a child into this world when we have to charge children with first-degree murder? BAYLISS Ah, but it'd be different for you. PEMBLETON Different? BAYLISS Yeah. You... y'know... PEMBLETON What? They head off toward the parking lot. BAYLISS shrugs. BAYLISS You know... PEMBLETON Spit it out, Tim. BAYLISS You know what I'm saying. PEMBLETON But let me hear you say it. BAYLISS It would just be different. You have different... circumstances. PEMBLETON Because I don't live in the ghetto? 'Cause I'm not living in Ronny's neighborhood? BAYLISS Well, don't you have the means to give a child a better chance? PEMBLETON My kid would be safe. That's what everyone believed about drugs. It won't happen in my neighborhood. AIDS came along, same thing. It won't happen in my neighborhood. They pass a County Prison Bus parked by the side entrance of the courthouse, a line of PRISONERS in County Jail jumpsuits boarding. They're locked down in hand and leg irons and attached to a chain. A County Jail OFFICER pushes RONNY onto the bus. SAYERS watches from the side entrance. PEMBLETON That ain't a school bus Ronny's going on. As RONNY stares back at SAYERS, EXT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - NIGHT Establishing. A crudely-lettered "Under New Ownership" sign is posted on one of the windows. INT. THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT - NIGHT Stacks of cocktail napkins, beer coasters, jars of maraschino cherries and green olives line the bar. The bar has been polished. The floors have been washed down. A liquor DELIVERY MAN trucks in cases of beer and bourbon. MUNCH and LEWIS are in casual day-off clothes. They push selection buttons on the jukebox. MUNCH This place doesn't need renovation. It needs a theme. LEWIS A "theme"? This is a bar, not a prom night. MUNCH I've asked the fellas on the Unit and they voted for Country 'n Western on the jukebox. That could very well be the determining factor on what the theme of this bar is. LEWIS I ain't having my jukebox in my bar play any cracker-assed music. MUNCH Hey, my sentiments exactly, but business is business and Country 'n Western, that's what punches up the old cash machine in this town. BAYLISS enters, stops, smiles, stunned by the progress of the bar. BAYLISS Hey, we're almost ready for the grand opening. Everyone wants to come. I heard even the brass. Gee says to save him a seat at the bar. MUNCH Glad you could join us, Tim. LEWIS We're discussing musical selections for the jukebox. BAYLISS How 'bout maybe a little blues, a little Koko Taylor, maybe some Billie Holiday, Etta James or Buddy Guy? MUNCH We need songs which remind our customers that it's better to be in here than out there. We need someone singing ditties about a cheatin, wife. We want our customers crying into their beers. (beat, brightens) Whatever the music, we play it loud. BAYLISS I don't want our place to turn into a headknocker's bar. MUNCH The louder the music, the more people drink. I've done my research. LEWIS (beat, smiles) Well, then we'll crank up the speakers until their ears bleed. A Deputy City SHERIFF enters, mid-thirties, the workout king of Baltimore, fit and tanned. SHERIFF Evening. May I speak to the owners, please? LEWIS You're looking at all three of 'em. SHERIFF walks over to the bar. SHERIFF You're the owners? MUNCH We're the new owners. Bright-eyed- and bushy-tailed. SHERIFF Well, I got old news for you new owners. I'm gonna have to shut you down. SHERIFF extracts an inch-thick envelop of documents. SHERIFF I'm the Deputy City Sheriff and I'm here to serve papers of delinquency on back taxes on the building. MUNCH Back taxes? But we complied with every rule and regulation in the contract. SHERIFF Well, I don't know what to say to you boys, but obviously someone didn't do a thorough enough search on the property for you. LEWIS Look, we're Police officers, just like you. Maybe there's some way you could help us out on this... SHERIFF You're cops? The three of you? MUNCH We work Homicide. SHERIFF Well, then you have no excuse. You're detectives and you should have investigated the building more aggressively. BAYLISS We have our life savings invested in this bar. SHERIFF gestures to framed liquor license. SHERIFF That'll have to come down. You'll have to hand it over to me. MUNCH Have a heart. SHERIFF I do. This pains me to no end, 'specially knowing you guys are fellow officers, but I got my job. You go down, settle with the City Property Tax Division, and you're back in business in a month, six weeks. MUNCH By that time, the tourist season is over. SHERIFF You have a point. You really do. (beat, smiles) But it's so much nicer when them tourists ain't around. Tell me that's not the truth. On MUNCH, BAYLISS and LEWIS, blood pressure rising, CUT TO: INT. BRAZNELL'S CARIBBEAN KITCHEN - DAY Filled with DINERS. A fresh fruit display of mangoes and melons graces the counter. NAWLS clears a table of dirty dishes. JASON wipes the table down, setting silverware and paper placemats. REVEAL SAYERS walking in, her son DAVID at her side. NAWLS looks up, sees SAYERS. NAWLS picks up dirty dishes, busing them to the counter. Pause. SAYERS I asked the detectives how I could find you. NAWLS says nothing, keeps working. JASON and DAVID eye each other. SAYERS I wanted to tell you how... "Sorry" isn't enough of what I need to say to you... NAWLS (beat) I thought you'd be in Canada by now. SAYERS Oh no. I'm stuck here in Baltimore... The moment is broken by laughter. SAYERS and NAWLS look up to see JASON and DAVID goofing around with the fresh fruit display. JASON holds up a mango, places it on his head, trying to balance it. DAVID laughs, imitates JASON, picking up another mango and holding it on his head. NAWLS He's a fine-looking boy. SAYERS Thank you. JASON and DAVID begin to wrestle playfully. SAYERS looks at them, alarmed. SAYERS David what are you doing? DAVID pauses. SAYERS Stop it. You tell that little boy you're sorry. DAVID We're only playing, Momma. JASON We're not fighting, Momma. SAYERS grabs DAVID by his collar, hauls him away from JASON. SAYERS You don't play rough. (to NAWLS) He didn't mean it. NAWLS No, it's okay. Kids are kids and kids hafta play... SAYERS lets go of DAVID. He drifts back toward JASON. NAWLS How's your son Ronny? SAYERS I don't know. They won't let me see him 'til Sunday. I'll take him some food. SAYERS reaches into her jacket pocket, pulls out a wide envelope, holds it out to NAWLS. SAYERS I bought this Mass card for your Darryl. NAWLS doesn't know what to say. SAYERS Take it. Please. NAWLS takes the card, gazes at it. NAWLS I know my son is in a good place. It's not Canada, but still... I don't think they shoot each other in Heaven. The TWO WOMEN look deep into each other's eyes. NAWLS Thank you for the mass card. Again, the sound of laughter. JASON and DAVID toss a melon back and forth, pretending to shoot three-pointers with it. NAWLS They like-to play with each other, don't they? SAYERS (pausing) They do. NAWLS (calling to JASON) Jason, we've got tables to clean. NAWLS turns to clear another table of dirty dishes. SAYERS Maybe they could get to know each other. NAWLS And what would they do if they did that? What would happen if they got to know about each other's older brother? NAWLS turns and walks off. SAYERS David, let's go. I mean it. SAYERS walks to the door. DAVID trots after her. On JASON and DAVID, exchanging smiles and laughs, making goofy faces at each other as the distance grows greater between them, FADE TO BLACK: THE END