A/N: Castle is my new favorite show. Ever. And that's saying something. Yet as I sat down to write fic... I realized it just didn't feel right in prose form. It's a show. I see the scene in my head like a scene on screen. So that's how I wrote it. As a screenplay!
I did my best to keep proper formatting throughout, but there's only so much I can do without a proper template. I hope it still reads well. I've never written a screenplay before, and it's a very different process. As dialogue is my favorite part of writing, I kinda like it, though.
THIS IS AN AU: imagine if Castle and Martha HAD NOT made it out of Cops and Robbers. Yeah. Heartbreaking, I know. I know. But this is what might have happened...
Words: 364
Characters: Beckett, Alexis (Ryan, Esposito)
Time: Cops and Robbers
Genre: Angst
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to whoever owns Castle. Not me.
EXT. BANK - DAY
Music in the background. The BANK is smoldering, completely in ashes, and it's obvious that no one in the building survived. BECKETT and ALEXIS stare while MUTED VOICES give orders and CSU and FIREFIGHTERS rush into the building.
ALEXIS
No… Dad, Gram… DAD!
She tries to RUN. Beckett grabs her. Alexis STRUGGLES, but Beckett holds on.
ALEXIS (CON'T)
Let me go! Let me go! Let go…
A FIREFIGHTER emerges. He shakes his head, and the implication is clear. There are no survivors.
ALEXIS (CON'T)
(panicked)
NO!
She COLLAPSES into Beckett's arms. Beckett's face is blank, except for her eyes.
BECKETT
(hushed, but firm)
Come on, Alexis. Let's go. Let's get you out of here.
Alexis's protests are weak. Beckett and Alexis leave the scene, looking at no one. RYAN and ESPOSITO watch, grief etched on their faces. Esposito grips Ryan's shoulder.
INT. BECKETT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Beckett leads Alexis to her room and helps her to the bed. Immediately Alexis curls up, clutching a pillow to her chest, but doesn't close her eyes.
BECKETT
If you need anything, anything at all, just let me know. I'll be right here.
Alexis nods blankly. Beckett opens her mouth as if to say something else, but closes it again and leaves the room slowly. Beckett places her gun on the counter and BRACES herself with her hands. Her face CRUMPLES. Her knuckles are white. But she is silent.
INT. BECKETT'S APARTMENT – DAY
Alexis walks into the room where Beckett is lying on the couch.
ALEXIS
Can I stay here?
BECKETT
(sits up)
Yeah. You can stay here. If you want to.
ALEXIS
For how long?
BECKETT
As long as you need.
ALEXIS
You don't mind?
BECKETT
No. I… want you to stay. I think… Castle would, too.
Alexis looks away. It's still too fresh.
BECKETT (CON'T)
I'll find them, Alexis. I promise you. I'll find them.
ALEXIS
I'm going to help.
Beckett, after thinking about it, nods slowly. She sees herself in Alexis. Alexis sits down beside Beckett.
ALEXIS (CON'T)
How do you do it? Keep going?
BECKETT
I don't know. But I do. You will, too. It just takes… time.