So Much for Honor…
I had to write an actual Law and Order SVU script for class and here it is. It's due in two weeks so if you see anything wrong, think I should change anything, or have any issues with it let me know, I'd welcome the critique. In any event just let me know what you think!
Its in script format but please give it a chance!
NOTE: O.S means off screen
ACT THREE
INT. DOCTOR'S LOUNGE-DAY
Benson and Danny are seated at the table.
BENSON
Danny are you sure you don't remember what the men looked like?
DANNY
Like police officers.
BENSON
Okay so they had the blue uniform and the hat?
DANNY
Yeah. And they were tall and one had a beard like my uncle Tim.
BENSON
A beard? Are you sure?
DANNY
Yes.
BENSON
Okay that's great Danny, do you remember anything else?
DANNY
No, I'm sorry.
BENSON
That's okay Danny you did great. I'll take you back to your dad now.
Benson escorts Danny out of the lounge and to the hallway—
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY-DAY-CONTINUOUS
To where his father is waiting. Danny runs over to him and Stabler approaches Benson.
BENSON
I don't think it's cops.
STABLER
You're right Fin just called. CSU went through every fingerprint on Leah's car and none were in the system. How did you figure it out?
BENSON
Danny said that one of them had a beard.
STABLER
NYPD officers have to be clean shaven.
Daniel Seager approaches them.
DANIEL SEAGER
Well?
STABLER
They're not real cops.
DANIEL SEAGER
How do you know?
BENSON
Well Danny said that one of them had a beard like his uncle and NYPD standards require that all men be clean shaven.
DANIEL SEAGER
Well if they're going around attacking women I doubt they'd abide by the shaving rules.
STABLER
Also our crime scene tech ran all the fingerprints off of your wife's car. All NYPD members' fingerprints are in a database. He didn't get any matches.
DANIEL SEAGER
So these guys are driving around pretending to be cops and raping women.
BENSON
It seems so.
DANIEL SEAGER
Are you gonna catch them?
STABLER
We're doing our best. We'll keep you updated.
INT. SVU SQUADROOM-DAY
Cragen, Munch, and Fin are regrouping.
CRAGEN
So we're back to square one.
FIN
We've got DNA.
MUNCH
But nothing to match it to.
CRAGEN
So we've got two scumbags wearing NYPD uniforms, pulling women over and raping them.
(beat)
Where are they getting the uniforms from?
FIN
You have to show your shield and ID to buy uniforms at the warehouse and the licensed shops.
CRAGEN
Go find out if some of our retailers are a bit lax in checking ID.
EXT. NEW YORK STREET-DAY
Munch and Fin approach a uniform shop on a busy New York street.
FIN
I never realized how many of these shops there are.
MUNCH
This is the last one.
FIN
Lucky number seventeen.
We follow them into—
INT. UNIFORM SHOP-DAY-CONTINUOUS
Fin approaches the counter while Munch looks around. BILL, an older man with white hair and a beer belly, is behind the counter.
BILL
What can I do for you?
FIN
I'd like to get some new uniforms, what've you got?
BILL
Can I see your ID first please?
Munch approaches them.
MUNCH
Very good you passed the test.
BILL
Excuse me?
They flash their gold shields.
MUNCH
Detectives Munch and Fin, SVU. We've got two rapists impersonating cops, we just wanted to make sure you checked ID before selling official NYPD uniforms.
BILL
Of course, I always do.
FIN
Know anyone who doesn't?
BILL
No, all the retailers I know are stand up guys.
(beat)
But there is this website...
INT. SVU SQUADROOM-DAY
Benson is on her computer and on the phone, Stabler is doing paperwork.
BENSON
Alright I'll check it out.
She hangs up the phone.
STABLER
What?
BENSON
Hang on a second.
She types on the computer.
BENSON (CONT'D)
Son of a bitch.
STABLER
What?
BENSON
Captain!
STABLER
Are you gonna tell me what's going on?
Cragen enter the squadroom from his office.
CRAGEN
What's going on?
BENSON
Take a look at this. This website is selling NYPD uniforms. No verification necessary.
CRAGEN
How can they do that?
Stabler leans in for a closer look.
STABLER
They're not real.
BENSON
But they'd look real enough to civilians.
CRAGEN
How can they do this?
STABLER
Welcome to the twenty first century.
BENSON
They've got hats, night sticks, even badges!
CRAGEN
Unbelievable. Find out whose running this site, we've got to shut them down.
INT. COMPUTER CRIMES-DAY
KRISTA VOITE, a computer crime technician, is going over the website with Stabler and Munch.
KRISTA VOITE
It's based out of China. They have hundreds of fake uniforms from cops to firefighters to the armed forces.
STABLER
Unbelievable. We can't let them get away with this.
MUNCH
We have no jurisdiction.
STABLER
They can sell fake NYPD uniforms to the scum of the earth in the city but because they're an ocean away we can't do anything to stop them.
MUNCH
Welcome to the age of technology.
STABLER
This sucks.
KRISTA VOITE
We'll keep an eye on them, see what we can do. But there's no way to trace who bought anything from them.
EXT. JACKIE LEWIS' HOME-DAY
Benson rings the DOORBELL. Jackie opens the door slightly to talk to her.
BENSON
Hi Jackie, how're you doing?
JACKIE
How do you think I'm doing.
BENSON
Can I come in?
JACKIE
Did you catch who did this to me?
BENSON
Not yet but we do have a break in the case. We know for sure it wasn't police officers who did this.
Jackie steps out of the house.
JACKIE
How do you know?
BENSON
We checked every fingerprint we found on your car and there were no matches in the system. All fingerprints of NYPD members are kept on file.
(beat)
And there was another attack by the same men.
JACKIE
Oh my God. Is she okay?
BENSON
She died.
(beat)
Her six year old son was with her. He told us that one of the men had a beard. Police officers have to be clean shaven.
JACKIE
That poor little boy...
(beat)
So how are you going to catch these guys?
BENSON
I have an idea...
INT. SQUADROOM-DAY
Benson, Stabler, Munch, Fin and Cragen are going over the evidence board.
BENSON
Let me go undercover. Use me as bait.
STABLER
No.
BENSON
Captain?
CRAGEN
What are the odds of them finding you?
MUNCH
We can use multiple cars in the area. Better odds.
BENSON
You guys can be driving around in unmarked cars close by.
Cragen considers it for a moment.
CRAGEN
Are you sure about this?
BENSON
We have nothing to go on, it's our only shot.
EXT. 16TH PRECINCT-NIGHT
RILEY, blonde female cop in her mid twenties, BURNS, brunette female cop in her early thirties, and Benson put in their earpieces and get in their decoy cars. Stabler and Cragen get into a car and Munch and Fin get into another.
STABLER
(through the open windows)
If you see anything suspicious we'll be right there.
CRAGEN
(through the open windows)
Keep your eyes open.
They drive off and we arrive at—
EXT. DESERTED STREET-NIGHT
The three decoy cars split up and drive in different directions. The men drive around slowly checking out the area.
INT. MUNCH/FIN CAR-NIGHT
Fin is driving, Munch is in the passenger seat.
FIN
It's like a ghost town around here.
MUNCH
(talking into his earpiece)
Anyone see anything?
RILEY (O.S.)
Nothing.
BURNS (O.S.)
Nothing here.
INT. BENSON'S CAR-NIGHT
She discreetly looks around, not wanting to look suspicious.
BENSON
Nothing yet. I'm gonna go over by the underpass.
INT. CRAGEN/STABLER CAR-NIGHT
Stabler is driving, Cragen is in the passenger seat.
STABLER
Don't go too far, I don't know how far our signals reach out here.
INT. BENSON'S CAR-NIGHT
She drives towards the bridge.
BENSON
I have my gun, El. Relax.
INT. MUNCH/FIN CAR-NIGHT
They are tailing Riley's car from a long distance. They see a black car approaching hers.
FIN
Riley, you've got company.
The car drives past her without even slowing down.
FIN (CONT'D)
False alarm.
INT. BENSON'S CAR-NIGHT
As she drives under the underpass she sees a women staggering.
BENSON
(into her earpiece)
I see a woman staggering by the bridge. It might be another victim.
STABLER (O.S.)
Stay in the car we'll be right there.
BENSON
I'm getting out.
STABLER (O.S.)
Liv! Stay in the car!
Benson stops the car and jumps out leaving her gun on the passenger seat.
EXT. DESERTED STREET-NIGHT-CONTINUOUS
She runs over to the woman, KEISHA, young African American in provocative clothing.
BENSON
Are you alright?
KEISHA
(drunkenly)
Bitch get away from me.
ELLIOT (O.S.)
What's going on, Liv?
BENSON
(to Keisha)
I'm a police officer.
KEISHA
I didn't do nothing. Just trying to earn a living. Step off.
BENSON
(into earpiece)
False alarm. She was a pro.
Keisha drunkenly walks away from Benson. Benson turns to go back to her car when she sees a black sedan with a red police light has pulled up behind it.
BENSON (CONT'D)
(into earpiece)
Crap.
ELLIOT (O.S.)
What?
BENSON
(into earpiece)
I've got company.
The two men from the black sedan, both in uniforms, approach Benson. BRIAN, tall, white in his mid thirties with a beard, and MASON, tall white mid thirties.
BENSON (CONT'D)
Can I help you guys?
BRIAN
What're you doing out here at this time of night?
BENSON
Just on my way home.
(beat)
Did I do something wrong?
MASON
Left your car in the middle of the street.
BENSON
There's no one around.
BRIAN
We are.
BENSON
Sorry about that, I'll just be on my way.
INT. CRAGEN/STABLER CAR-NIGHT
Stabler is rushing to get to Benson.
STABLER
Where is she?
CRAGEN
She said she was by the underpass.
STABLER
I told her not to get out of the damn car.
(on the earpiece)
We're coming, Liv!
EXT. DESERTED STREET-NIGHT
Benson goes to get back in her car but Brian stops her.
BRIAN
Where do you think you're going?
BENSON
Home.
MASON
I don't think so.
BRIAN
You're gonna have to pay a fine.
They are in her face now. She looks towards her car with the gun in the front seat. Mason goes to grab her and she punches him in the face and takes off running. She trips and Brian grabs her by the waist. She kicks and SCREAMS but cannot get away from him. Mason opens the back door of her car and Brian throws her inside. He tries to get on top of her but she is flailing around to much. She lands a kick to his groin and he falls back moaning. Then Mason gets in and overpowers her. He has her arms pinned over her head.
MASON
You're gonna pay for that.
Benson screams and tries to get away but she is stuck.
INT. CRAGEN/STABLER CAR-NIGHT
Stabler approaches where the fight is taking place and barely puts the car in park before he jumps out and runs towards the fight.
EXT. DESERTED STREET-NIGHT
Stabler grabs Mason by the shoulders and hurls him out of the car. He jumps on top of him and starts punching him repeatedly. Benson jumps out of the car and immediately restrains Brian.
BENSON
Elliot! That's enough!
Stabler keeps punching Mason until Cragen gets to them and pulls him off.
CRAGEN
You got him, you got him.
Cragen shoves Elliot off and handcuffs Mason. Munch and Fin pull up and get out of their car.
FIN
You guys okay?
Benson and Stabler look at each other.
BENSON
(out of breath)
Yeah.
STABLER
(out of breath)
Yeah.
END OF ACT THREE
