From the Mercy of Strangers
Disclaimer: I in no way own any of the characters in this story
Setting: Set in the 3rd-4th Season of Law & Order, after Briscoe and Logan became partners
Situation: The story surrounds the shooting of young boy at a city park, was the attack hate motivated or a simple misunderstanding, the detectives need to find the reason before the media blows the case all out proportion.
Overlay: Garrow park; 8:15pm
(1) Exterior shot: Urban basketball court- night
[A far-shot of a dimly lit basket ball court, hip hop music plays in the background, 3 young teenage boys have fun taking turns shooting hoop.]
1rst Youth: " I could do this all night" (makes rim shot)
2nd youth: "Yeah, I hear that " (Takes shot misses)
3rd Youth (OS): "Damn man, they way you 2 are shooting, we better have all night "
[Full shot of 3rd youth laughing, while listening to toons, kneeling down fiddling with boom box. View to changes to 1rst and 2nd youth.]
1rst Youth: "Is that right?" Holding ball irritated.
3rd Youth: "Hell, my sister can shoot the rock better than either of you two?"
1rst Youth: "Yeah right"
2nd Youth: "Nah, Angela is pretty good", agreeing with the 3rd youth.
1rst Youth: "Whatever, let see Whatcha got Laetrile
[3rd Youth, wearing a New your Nick's jersey stands up and catches the ball, from friend and 2nd Youth laughs, far shot of 2 kids walking up from across the street.]
3rd Youth: "He Now, No one disses my Nicks, okay" bouncing the ball.
2nd Youth: "I could call Angela if you want Matt!" Pulling a cell phone out of sweat top pocket. 1rst Youth: "Just take the shot, okay"
[Long shot across the court, 2 young kids stand in the shadows arguing, while pushing something between them.]
Music raises slightly 3rd Youth: "All net!" Make shot clean, raising arms in mock celebration.
1rst Youth: "Lucky shot" taking ball from friend and shooting.
3rd Youth: "Skill my friend, all skill "
[Mid shot of 2nd Youth smiling and looking past friends to a young kid pointing something at them from across the court.]
Voice raises over the music that is pounding out a strong beat
2nd Youth (OS): "Hey guys"
[The 2 youth's laugh looking at friend and then to where he was frantically pointing, as a shot cracks off, then a 2nd and 3rd, both friends dive to the ground. Timed to the sporadic piece of music]
1rst Youth: "Aw shit?" Looking up from the ground scared and frightened.
2nd Youth: "Who the hell?" crawling across the court going for the cover of the benches.
[Long shot of shooter raising up gun again, the 2nd pulling him away, both leave scene. Dogs bark in distance, as people look out of nearby windows. Music lowers, the 1rst and 2nd boy look up seeing the coast Is clear.]
2nd Youth: "Matt, Carl you guys okay?"
1rst Youth: "Yeah, you? Looking around
2nd Youth: "Okay, Matt what's wrong? Leaning over to check friend
3rd youth does not answer
1rst Youth: "Probably pissed his self"
[Close up shot of frightened young kid scooting away from prone friend, holding up blood stained hand, the boys look at each other and then at still friend bleeding steaming up from body.]
Pull back to far shot of 2 friends kneeling around friend lying on ground, fade to black.
(Insert Show credits)
Theme music lowers
(Overlay: City Memorial hospital, 8:15am)
(2) Interior shot: Emergency room, frantic activity, glaring fluorescent lights Nurses and orderlies tend to patients; Intern walks through ward with 2 detectives in winter coats, younger one sip's coffee, older detective writes in note pad.
Intern: (directed to nurse) "Take him to examining room 3" (looking and then signing chart)
Nurse: "Yes doctor"
[Nurse waves to orderly, as the young Intern and detectives continue through the ward, Logan smiles at nurse following his partner. The intern is late 20's wearing glasses and looks tired.]
Briscoe: "And you were saying about the victim doctor.."
Intern: "Yes, well he was admitted at 7:00pm, shortly after the start of my shift."
Logan: "We all have long shifts"
Intern: "It's only the beginning, 2nd years we never sleep" (looking at chart)
Briscoe: "Good to know, you were saying"
Intern: "Okay, Mathew Harper 16, has a gun shot in the lower abdominal, looks like a 9mm."
Logan: "Just what you need in the morning"
Briscoe: "Right, 9mm the bullet of choice for the elementary schools Intern: "Well, the Kid's pretty lucky, bullet went clean through"
Logan: "Well we will pass on your regards, can we see him?"
Intern: "Sure he's out of ECU and resting, his parents are with him, room 201.
Briscoe: "We'd like to get a statement, if we could."
[Intern stops are room #201, puts chart into hanging folder pockets pen in coat.]
Intern: "Well, he's still a little woozy, so make it quick."
Logan: "Thanks"
[Intern walks out of scene, pull to mid shot of Briscoe and Logan in the hall, looking (OS)]
Brisco & Logan walk off screen into room #201
(03) Interior shot-Day: Room #201 City memorial hospital The Semi private room has 2 bed areas divided by sheet, a small television plays (volume low), a working class couple in their late 40's, and sit to either side of a young man. The teenager is hooked to an IV and a monitor, mother is emotional and father seems strangely dispassionate. Briscoe & Logan enter from off screen. Mother: "Well just see about that Mathew"
Briscoe: "Excuse me, I am Detective Briscoe, and this is my partner Detective Logan"
Father: "Michael Harper, I'm Mathew's father and this is my wife Claire"
(He puts out hand, each of the detectives shake it and stand beside the bed; the boy watches the TV silently.) Logan: "We'd like to have a word with Mathew, if you wouldn't mind"
Mother: (looks at Husband then son) "He's really tired, could we do this later maybe?"
Briscoe: (stepping forward slightly) "Well be real quick, we just need a few details, about what happened"
Claire Harper: "What happened? My boy's been shot, can't you see that?"
(Husband comforts wife, Mathew looks at mother, than back to TV avoiding s eye contact with detectives. Mathew clicks the remote; Brisco looks at TV seeing it has been changed to ESPN sports center.)
Briscoe: "You a Nick's fan?"
Mathew: "Hell yeah, dad and I don't miss a game, Letrel even signed my Jersey."
Mother: "He could not stop talking about it" smiling for the first time.
Briscoe: "My kid's the same way, but for her it was music, the rock and roll bands."
Mother: "Mike Took Matthew to his first game at 7, he has been hooked ever since"
(Mother puts hand on her son's arm, husband looks to detectives)
Father: "Do know who did this to my boy, I mean he's only 16, for god sake."
Logan: "If you can tell us what happened Mathew"
(Seeing his son distracted with the TV, the father grabs remote turns off TV, son looks irritated)
Mathew: "My friend's and me, we'd just you know shoot some hoops, and then bamm so one goes all gangster on us, and here I am."
Briscoe: "Did you see anyone? Hanging around where you were?
Mathew: "No, I had my back to them, I didn't see anyone.
Briscoe: "The 911 dispatcher has a Brad Carlen calling this in?" consulting note pad
Voice from behind Mother: "Brad's Matthew's friend, he and Carl all go to the same school, St. Dominique's.
Father: " Brad and Carl live near us, Claire do you have the numbers?"
Mother: "Yeah, I think, I think so, it's in my purse somewhere"
(Claire goes through purse, pulling out and going through a small phone book.)
Logan: (directed at Mathew) " The officers at the scene reported that witness saw 2 small kids running from the scene, after 1 or more gun shots were fired."
Mother: "Children? My son was shot by children"
(Hand to mouth looking at husband)
Father: "Any idiot can fire a gun Claire, were just glad Mathew's a live
Briscoe: "I know this is difficult Mathew, but if there is anything, anything at all, call."
Mathew: "Okay, yeah sure " (looking nervous)
(Brisco pulls a card from pocket, giving it to Mr. Harper, who looks at it and shakes their hands.) Mother: "I just cant believe this, I mean sure this is the city, and things happen everyday, but not like this not to us."
Father: (directed to Brisco and Logan) "If Mathew remembers anything well call you"
Mother: "Yes, thank you"
Fade to commercial
Setting: Set in the 3rd-4th Season of Law & Order, after Briscoe and Logan became partners
Situation: The story surrounds the shooting of young boy at a city park, was the attack hate motivated or a simple misunderstanding, the detectives need to find the reason before the media blows the case all out proportion.
Overlay: Garrow park; 8:15pm
(1) Exterior shot: Urban basketball court- night
[A far-shot of a dimly lit basket ball court, hip hop music plays in the background, 3 young teenage boys have fun taking turns shooting hoop.]
1rst Youth: " I could do this all night" (makes rim shot)
2nd youth: "Yeah, I hear that " (Takes shot misses)
3rd Youth (OS): "Damn man, they way you 2 are shooting, we better have all night "
[Full shot of 3rd youth laughing, while listening to toons, kneeling down fiddling with boom box. View to changes to 1rst and 2nd youth.]
1rst Youth: "Is that right?" Holding ball irritated.
3rd Youth: "Hell, my sister can shoot the rock better than either of you two?"
1rst Youth: "Yeah right"
2nd Youth: "Nah, Angela is pretty good", agreeing with the 3rd youth.
1rst Youth: "Whatever, let see Whatcha got Laetrile
[3rd Youth, wearing a New your Nick's jersey stands up and catches the ball, from friend and 2nd Youth laughs, far shot of 2 kids walking up from across the street.]
3rd Youth: "He Now, No one disses my Nicks, okay" bouncing the ball.
2nd Youth: "I could call Angela if you want Matt!" Pulling a cell phone out of sweat top pocket. 1rst Youth: "Just take the shot, okay"
[Long shot across the court, 2 young kids stand in the shadows arguing, while pushing something between them.]
Music raises slightly 3rd Youth: "All net!" Make shot clean, raising arms in mock celebration.
1rst Youth: "Lucky shot" taking ball from friend and shooting.
3rd Youth: "Skill my friend, all skill "
[Mid shot of 2nd Youth smiling and looking past friends to a young kid pointing something at them from across the court.]
Voice raises over the music that is pounding out a strong beat
2nd Youth (OS): "Hey guys"
[The 2 youth's laugh looking at friend and then to where he was frantically pointing, as a shot cracks off, then a 2nd and 3rd, both friends dive to the ground. Timed to the sporadic piece of music]
1rst Youth: "Aw shit?" Looking up from the ground scared and frightened.
2nd Youth: "Who the hell?" crawling across the court going for the cover of the benches.
[Long shot of shooter raising up gun again, the 2nd pulling him away, both leave scene. Dogs bark in distance, as people look out of nearby windows. Music lowers, the 1rst and 2nd boy look up seeing the coast Is clear.]
2nd Youth: "Matt, Carl you guys okay?"
1rst Youth: "Yeah, you? Looking around
2nd Youth: "Okay, Matt what's wrong? Leaning over to check friend
3rd youth does not answer
1rst Youth: "Probably pissed his self"
[Close up shot of frightened young kid scooting away from prone friend, holding up blood stained hand, the boys look at each other and then at still friend bleeding steaming up from body.]
Pull back to far shot of 2 friends kneeling around friend lying on ground, fade to black.
(Insert Show credits)
Theme music lowers
(Overlay: City Memorial hospital, 8:15am)
(2) Interior shot: Emergency room, frantic activity, glaring fluorescent lights Nurses and orderlies tend to patients; Intern walks through ward with 2 detectives in winter coats, younger one sip's coffee, older detective writes in note pad.
Intern: (directed to nurse) "Take him to examining room 3" (looking and then signing chart)
Nurse: "Yes doctor"
[Nurse waves to orderly, as the young Intern and detectives continue through the ward, Logan smiles at nurse following his partner. The intern is late 20's wearing glasses and looks tired.]
Briscoe: "And you were saying about the victim doctor.."
Intern: "Yes, well he was admitted at 7:00pm, shortly after the start of my shift."
Logan: "We all have long shifts"
Intern: "It's only the beginning, 2nd years we never sleep" (looking at chart)
Briscoe: "Good to know, you were saying"
Intern: "Okay, Mathew Harper 16, has a gun shot in the lower abdominal, looks like a 9mm."
Logan: "Just what you need in the morning"
Briscoe: "Right, 9mm the bullet of choice for the elementary schools Intern: "Well, the Kid's pretty lucky, bullet went clean through"
Logan: "Well we will pass on your regards, can we see him?"
Intern: "Sure he's out of ECU and resting, his parents are with him, room 201.
Briscoe: "We'd like to get a statement, if we could."
[Intern stops are room #201, puts chart into hanging folder pockets pen in coat.]
Intern: "Well, he's still a little woozy, so make it quick."
Logan: "Thanks"
[Intern walks out of scene, pull to mid shot of Briscoe and Logan in the hall, looking (OS)]
Brisco & Logan walk off screen into room #201
(03) Interior shot-Day: Room #201 City memorial hospital The Semi private room has 2 bed areas divided by sheet, a small television plays (volume low), a working class couple in their late 40's, and sit to either side of a young man. The teenager is hooked to an IV and a monitor, mother is emotional and father seems strangely dispassionate. Briscoe & Logan enter from off screen. Mother: "Well just see about that Mathew"
Briscoe: "Excuse me, I am Detective Briscoe, and this is my partner Detective Logan"
Father: "Michael Harper, I'm Mathew's father and this is my wife Claire"
(He puts out hand, each of the detectives shake it and stand beside the bed; the boy watches the TV silently.) Logan: "We'd like to have a word with Mathew, if you wouldn't mind"
Mother: (looks at Husband then son) "He's really tired, could we do this later maybe?"
Briscoe: (stepping forward slightly) "Well be real quick, we just need a few details, about what happened"
Claire Harper: "What happened? My boy's been shot, can't you see that?"
(Husband comforts wife, Mathew looks at mother, than back to TV avoiding s eye contact with detectives. Mathew clicks the remote; Brisco looks at TV seeing it has been changed to ESPN sports center.)
Briscoe: "You a Nick's fan?"
Mathew: "Hell yeah, dad and I don't miss a game, Letrel even signed my Jersey."
Mother: "He could not stop talking about it" smiling for the first time.
Briscoe: "My kid's the same way, but for her it was music, the rock and roll bands."
Mother: "Mike Took Matthew to his first game at 7, he has been hooked ever since"
(Mother puts hand on her son's arm, husband looks to detectives)
Father: "Do know who did this to my boy, I mean he's only 16, for god sake."
Logan: "If you can tell us what happened Mathew"
(Seeing his son distracted with the TV, the father grabs remote turns off TV, son looks irritated)
Mathew: "My friend's and me, we'd just you know shoot some hoops, and then bamm so one goes all gangster on us, and here I am."
Briscoe: "Did you see anyone? Hanging around where you were?
Mathew: "No, I had my back to them, I didn't see anyone.
Briscoe: "The 911 dispatcher has a Brad Carlen calling this in?" consulting note pad
Voice from behind Mother: "Brad's Matthew's friend, he and Carl all go to the same school, St. Dominique's.
Father: " Brad and Carl live near us, Claire do you have the numbers?"
Mother: "Yeah, I think, I think so, it's in my purse somewhere"
(Claire goes through purse, pulling out and going through a small phone book.)
Logan: (directed at Mathew) " The officers at the scene reported that witness saw 2 small kids running from the scene, after 1 or more gun shots were fired."
Mother: "Children? My son was shot by children"
(Hand to mouth looking at husband)
Father: "Any idiot can fire a gun Claire, were just glad Mathew's a live
Briscoe: "I know this is difficult Mathew, but if there is anything, anything at all, call."
Mathew: "Okay, yeah sure " (looking nervous)
(Brisco pulls a card from pocket, giving it to Mr. Harper, who looks at it and shakes their hands.) Mother: "I just cant believe this, I mean sure this is the city, and things happen everyday, but not like this not to us."
Father: (directed to Brisco and Logan) "If Mathew remembers anything well call you"
Mother: "Yes, thank you"
Fade to commercial