SCENE NINE: SPY CAM
EXT. HOLLYWOOD STUDIO – MID-DAY
*The scene begins outside the Hollywood studio, with police cars and an ambulance sitting outside with their lights blaring. A shocked Dewey approaches and looks at the chaos, running up to a police officer who is busy keeping onlookers away.*
DEWEY: Excuse me, what the hell is going on?
OFFICER: I'm not at liberty to share that information, sir.
DEWEY: I'm a cop, damn it! Has there been an accident?
OFFICER: Sir, I'm not at liberty…
DEWEY: Liberty be damned! My wife is in there!
DREW (O.S.): Your wife, you say? Quick Draco, over here!
*The police officer is pushed out of the way as Drew Thompson (Neil Patrick Harris) rushes over to Dewey with his cameraman Draco Mallar (Dave Franco) behind him, camera at the ready. Drew pushes a microphone in Dewey's face and after brushing his hair slightly, smiles and turns to the camera.*
DREW: Survivor…legend…hero…these are words that are thrown around far too easily for this reporter's liking. However, all can be used to describe the man standing right next to me right now. Dwight Riley, it is an honour…and a privilege.
DEWEY: Uh…excuse me…I'm trying to…
DREW: Tell me, Mr. Riley…what is it like to be back in the midst of a killer?
DEWEY: I don't know what you're talking about…
DREW: What is it like to be on the trail of yet another Ghostface murderer?
DEWEY: We don't even know if there is another killer yet…
DREW: And most importantly, how does it feel to lose another wife to this sick tradition?
DEWEY: Lose another wife?
DREW (amused): Don't you watch the news…with me…Drew Thompson?
*Dewey tries to push past Drew, who blocks him. Draco is smiling, and filming the whole thing.*
DEWEY: Get out of my way.
DREW: Not until I get my interview, Mr. Riley. All I want is three minutes of your…
DEWEY: I said out of the way!
DREW: One last question for our viewers at…
*Dewey socks Drew in the stomach, and he falls to the ground with a thud. Dewey runs past him and into the studio.*
DREW: Gah…ow!
DRACO: Are you OK?
DREW (coughing): Did you get that?
DRACO: Every single bit, boss.
DREW: Good…real, physical drama. That's called commitment to the cause, wouldn't you say?
DRACO: Definitely, sir.
DREW: I'll get that darn Pulitzer even if it kills me…
*Dewey runs into the open set area, and looks up onto the stage. Forensics are standing over a body, examining it closely. Dewey jumps up onto the stage and pushes the tallest, a solidly built man away.*
DEWEY: Hey! Get away from her!
ERIC: Relax, sir. I'm just doing my…
*Surprised looks cross the faces of both men as they recognise one another. Looking into Dewey's eyes is Eric Hodges (Michael C. Hall).*
ERIC: …job.
DEWEY: What the hell are you doing here?
ERIC: I don't like responding with the same answer twice, Mr. Riley…though I would like to extend the same inquiry to you.
*Dewey's shock disappears as he kneels down and stares into Sabrina's dead eyes.*
DEWEY: Ah, geez…Sabrina…Sabrina…I was too late.
ERIC: If it's of any consolation, she didn't suffer for long.
DEWEY (wiping away tears): Can you tell me what happened?
ERIC: Of course…follow me.
*Eric walks over to the edge of the stage, and Dewey follows sullenly. Eric points at a spot on the floor, marked with an orange cone.*
ERIC: According to the witnesses, Sabrina was standing here when the killer slowly walked towards her…then she panicked, realising it wasn't who it was supposed to be under the cloak. She dodged his initial swing, and ran this way…
*Eric walks towards the base of the stairs, and Dewey follows, looking around for clues.*
DEWEY: And then?
ERIC: She did what any good actress would do in such a clichéd horror situation…she ran upstairs…signs of a visible struggle…
*Eric points to the broken pot plant, and walks Dewey to the spot where Sabrina was stabbed.*
ERIC: Leading to here…the location of death. He grabbed her from the front, pulled her close, and…
*Eric imitates stabbing motions, and then throwing somebody out of the window.*
ERIC (turning to Dewey): Based on the wounds, I'd say the second or third stab pierced her heart…she bled out in seconds…poof.
DEWEY: Then why throw her out the window?
ERIC (smiling): The question you should be asking is why kill her in front of dozens of people when it would be so much simpler to do it in the confines of her dressing room…like that poor soul.
*Dewey looks out of the house to see the body of Casey being taken from the set in a body bag.*
DEWEY: I…I don't know…why?
ERIC: Look at where we are.
DEWEY: Hollywood?
ERIC: A theatre…for life's experiences to be captured on film and sent to all corners of the globe.
DEWEY: A theatre? Do you think whoever did it is after attention?
ERIC: I'm just a coroner, Mr. Riley…I dissect bodies, not mysteries.
*Eric turns to leave, but Dewey grabs him by the shoulder in desperation.*
DEWEY: Eric…come back with me.
ERIC: Excuse me?
DEWEY: Sabrina being killed has just confirmed what I already knew…the killer is targeting people who were at the execution…which means that you are in danger too.
ERIC: I have been watching the news…and yes, certain patterns have been emerging. But I don't see how going anywhere with you would help my chances of survival.
DEWEY: He's killed all over the country…you won't be safe anywhere.
ERIC (chuckles): Why can't we just be honest with each other, Mr. Riley? You want me to come with you because you suspect me.
DEWEY: Don't tell me you don't think the same of me.
*Eric looks Dewey up and down, seemingly in deep thought.*
ERIC: I don't think it was you.
*He begins to walk towards the stairs.*
DEWEY (desperately): Then you have no reason not to trust me!
ERIC: I'm sorry, but I work alone.
DEWEY: We might need you! There might be more bodies!
*At the mention of the word 'bodies', Eric stops and shudders slightly, grabbing the banister in sick pleasure.*
ERIC: More bodies?
DEWEY: And we could definitely use your knowledge to match the wounds if necessary.
ERIC (thinking): I suppose I could get Sabrina's body moved to a different facility…somewhere local and convenient…if I came.
DEWEY: It will have to be moved for her funeral, anyway.
*Eric smiles, and nods at Dewey.*
ERIC: You have a deal, Mr. Riley.
DEWEY: You won't regret this.
*The two men shake hands, and walk down the stairs. As they walk out of the house, Draco slides out from behind the couch and examines the footage on his camera which he managed to snare whilst hidden.*
[DEWEY]: Come back with me.
[ERIC]: Excuse me?
[DEWEY]: Sabrina being killed has just confirmed what I already knew…the killer is targeting people who were at the execution…which means that you are in danger too.
[ERIC]: I have been watching the news…and yes, patterns have been emerging. But I don't see how going anywhere with you would help my chances of survival.
[DEWEY]: He's killed all over the country…you won't be safe anywhere.
[ERIC] (chuckles): Why can't we just be honest with each other, Mr. Riley? You want me to come with you because you suspect me.
[DEWEY]: Don't tell me you don't think the same of me.
*He closes the camera, and runs outside quietly. Drew walks up, head down, and looks at the footage on the camera, and smiles.*
DREW: Jack-pot, baby.
DRACO: What do you think we should do? Should we send this in to the cops?
DREW: No…no…rule number one in this game, kid…always go where the story goes…regardless of the consequences. Trust me; we follow these chumps and break this story…I'll be a mega-star.
*Drew skips off, whistling to himself. Draco follows slowly, looking unsure.*
DRACO: Yeah…and I'll be the dead cameraman.
END SCENE