From the Mercy of Strangers
Chapter: 2
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.
(4) Exterior City street -day People pass by each other on the way to work, cars honk & a city bus drive by, a Sabrett's vendor serves steaming coffee. Vendor: (To Logan) "That'll be $6.75," the vendor says handing the coffee 's "
Logan: "Thanks "
Logan hands money to vendor, giving Lennie his coffee as they turn to leave. Briscoe: "$6.50? Did you ever think we were in the wrong business?" he says sipping hot coffee.
Logan: "Yeah, but you know the long hours the cold, dealing with the people, who needs it"
Briscoe: "I'll remind you next time it's your turn to pay"
Logan: "Sure " sipping coffee and eating breakfast (bagel)
(Lennie and Mike walk down the street to where their car is parked, Mike drives as Lennie quietly observes some kids and a parent in a park, as they slowly drive by. Camera view shows bundled up kids playing in a small urban park; the parent tends to a stroller as she sits at the bench)
Logan: "You okay Lennie?" Mike asks as he turns down the police scanner a bit
Briscoe: "Yeah, they just grow so fast, one moment your changing diapers next their walking"
A look in direction his partner was watching, nods while driving, doesn't answer Lennie.
Briscoe: "The 2am Feedings, the diapers, the colic"
Logan: " One of the reasons I'm not married"
Briscoe: "Well, don't worry you will "
(Squawk on the police scanner (OS) Mike observes partners quiet somber mood.
Logan: "Thinking about the Kid"
Briscoe: "What if it was one of my daughter's, a parents thinks about it "
Logan: "Doc say's hell be okay, good as new "
Briscoe: "Yeah, doesn't stop the worry any though"
Logan: "I guess, you going to be okay with it?"
Briscoe: "Yeah, Good as new Mike, good as knew"
(Camera pulls from a mid shot of the Detectives to a low full shot of a toddler walking towards her mother)
Fade to Black
(5) Exterior Apartment building -day Overlay: Robert and Kathryn Carlen apartment, 10:45am Tuesday. A woman in mid 30's gathering mail walking up the apartment stoop, while talking to Logan and Briscoe, kids rush out of the apartment building.
Kathryn Carlen: "Slow down, slow down and don't slam the door!" she says as kid rush by, the door slamming a second later.
(The detectives walk into entree hall of an old well used apartment building following the woman; sounds of TV, music and kids running about upstairs are heard) Logan: "If there was anything you could add Mrs. Carlen"
"Kathryn, and as I said I don't know what more we can tell you, I mean Carl told the officers all he'd seen" walking to door at the end of the hall.
Briscoe: "Yes, but if there is anything else you can add, it would really help with the case "
Kathryn Carlen: "Well." she says as she pulls out a ring of keys in front of the door to apartment 1C.
Logan: "Was there anyone causing trouble in the neighborhood? Someone at school giving the boys a hard time?"
Kathryn Carlen: "Our neighborhood has its problem's, gang's the drugs, but I mean whose doesn't. I just don't know of anyone who would want to shoot my boy." She says pulling out keys to open door.
(The detectives stand by the door as it abruptly opens, two smiling young girls laughing and smiling open the door, walking out)
First Girl: (walking by) "Morning Mrs. Carlen" talking to the mother and then looking at the 2 detectives.
Kathryn Carlen: "Cerrisa" she says to the first girl looking at the second skeptical
Second Girl: "Later Mom, Cerrisa and me are heading to her house, see yah!" attempting make a quick exit. Kathryn Carlen: "Okay, but tell Cerrisa's mother to call me when you get there "
Second Girl: "Mom! (Whiney) please"
Kathryn Carlen: "And be back by 6:00pm, dinners at 6:30pm"
Second Girl: "How about 7:00, I'll eat at Cerrisa's"
(The mother gives her daughter "the stare", which goes unnoticed by Mike, but makes Briscoe smirk.)
Transition dissolve left to right
(6) Interior- Apartment 1c. Robert & Kathryn Carlen The small apartment is crowded, but looks homey, numerous finger painted drawings and construction paper turkeys cover the refrigerator door, a small boy sits at a kitchen table in the back ground, eating cereal and kicking his feet back and forth. The mother enters motioning the officers in and shutting the door and 2 of the 3 deadbolts subconsciously.
Briscoe: "Things never change do they?"
Kathryn Carlen: "No, You have Kid's detectives? Please don't mind the mess"
(Logan shakes his head no, walking into the apartment, the boy smiling at Mike and Lennie)
Briscoe: "I have 2, girls, they live with my ex"
Kathryn Carlen: "Then you know" walking through hall to small living room, picking up toys, folding newspaper left on couch, she motions for the detectives to sit.
Briscoe: "Yeah, you try to know where they are, and who they are with "
Kathryn Carlen: "But once they step out that door." She looks over at the little boy, then to the locked door. The little boy runs up and jumps on his mother laugh, turning to see the 2 men he did not know.
Briscoe: "Your Youngest? Looking at the boy.
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob, jay to us" she says smiling and hugging the little boy, that giggles and wiggle staying in his mothers lap.
Jacob: "Hi! Said softly and half-giggling from mothers hugging.
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob's only 4 ½, he looks up to his brother, always has"
Jacob: "My Brother, his friend, he's really sick, mommy says he sleeping at the hospital"
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob, can you go and play in your room? Mommy needs to talk with the nice men"
Jacob: (looking at Mike Logan) "You want to see my room? Mommy can I?"
(Logan looks at his partner and then to the mother as he gets up and walks with the hurried little boy.) Logan: "Okay, yeah " Mike says walking out of the room (Os)
Kathryn Carlen: "If it's no problem? Its right down the hall to the left"
Kyle: "Come one, it's over here, My brother an I have play station, do you have play station?"
(The little boy scampers down the hall, Detective Logan in tow, the sound of the kid's voice getting softer. Camera view pans from shot of Logan walking down hall to Briscoe and women in living room)
Kathryn Carlen: "Your partner is Sweet"
Briscoe: "Please what ever you do don't tell him that, I have to work with him " Lennie smiles.
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, Kyle loves to show off his games, Carl and Kyle can just play for hours"
Briscoe: "Little after my time I'm afraid" He say's noticing a collage of family pictures.
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, you know one kid gets a system, and soon all the kids want one"
Briscoe: "I noticed the large collection of photo's you have, do you mind" Lennie says getting up to the wall and cub-board, noticing several group shots of numerous kids."
Kathryn Carlen: "No please, I guess I end up with all the photo's, what with the basketball games Bob is always taking the kids to, " she says as she walks to the table beside Lennie.
(Briscoe notices the mother looking at her children's pictures, eyes getting a little teary eyed)
Briscoe: "It is tough enough to have a kid hurt or sick but have one shot, that's rough"
Kathryn Carlen: "Yeah, I could imagine, Mike & Claire must be worried sick, have you spoken with them? She asks not looking at Briscoe.
Briscoe: "Yes, we just came from the hospital, you could imagine" he said looking at a wall of family pictures. he sees a picture of the 3 young kids with a older boy wears an identical New York Nicks jersey .)
Kathryn Carlen: "I know and after losing Tommy 3 month's ago, I'd be a total wreak." She says looking at some pictures of her boys.
Briscoe: "The Harper's recently lost another child? Looking to Kathryn jotting down in his note pad. Kathryn Carlen: "Yes, it was sad, the boy was all state for basketball, This is him Tommy Harper, such a nice kid" pulling the photo down that Lennie had been looking at.
Briscoe: "Accident or something? "Asks looking at the photo of the jersey- wearing Teenager surrounded by young kids.
Kathryn: "He was shot at the Bodega down on the corner, tried to stop a robbery or something, and was shot."
Briscoe: "Mind if I borrow this picture Kathryn?"
Kathryn Carlen: "No, no problem if you think it will help "
Briscoe: " I hope so, well thank you Mrs. Carlen you have been really helpful"
(The sound of noise from the back room is softly heard (OS) Logan walks in form (OS)
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, if there is anything else we can do please call "
Briscoe: "Thank you, please do, this is my number at the prescient" he shakes her hand and gives her a car with his phone number.
Logan: "Bye " he says to Mrs. Carlen and then to Kyle in his room
Kyle (OS): "Bye Mike!" the little boy yells from his room
Transition out of the Apartment to the street below.
Logan: "Anything Lennie" he says walking to the curb and around car.
Briscoe: "Perhaps, look familiar?" Handing him the photo of the kids.
Logan: "The Kids were the one's from the shooting?"
Briscoe nods getting into the car Briscoe: "Odds will get you 2 to 1 that the jersey, is the same one Matt Harper was shot in"
Logan: "A connection? "
Briscoe: "Maybe, at least worth the time pulling the sheet."
(The Camera view pulls out from a full shot of car, to rear shot as the car merges into traffic, it then pans 180 degrees, catching a image of a little hooded boy bouncing a basket ball on the curb across the street. Low shot of the boy watching the detective's car drive off, and then the view changes to that of the apartment building. Final image is a Long shot of Mrs. Carlen holding Kyle, looking out window and then backing out of shot. Boy walks away bouncing ball (OS)
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.
(4) Exterior City street -day People pass by each other on the way to work, cars honk & a city bus drive by, a Sabrett's vendor serves steaming coffee. Vendor: (To Logan) "That'll be $6.75," the vendor says handing the coffee 's "
Logan: "Thanks "
Logan hands money to vendor, giving Lennie his coffee as they turn to leave. Briscoe: "$6.50? Did you ever think we were in the wrong business?" he says sipping hot coffee.
Logan: "Yeah, but you know the long hours the cold, dealing with the people, who needs it"
Briscoe: "I'll remind you next time it's your turn to pay"
Logan: "Sure " sipping coffee and eating breakfast (bagel)
(Lennie and Mike walk down the street to where their car is parked, Mike drives as Lennie quietly observes some kids and a parent in a park, as they slowly drive by. Camera view shows bundled up kids playing in a small urban park; the parent tends to a stroller as she sits at the bench)
Logan: "You okay Lennie?" Mike asks as he turns down the police scanner a bit
Briscoe: "Yeah, they just grow so fast, one moment your changing diapers next their walking"
A look in direction his partner was watching, nods while driving, doesn't answer Lennie.
Briscoe: "The 2am Feedings, the diapers, the colic"
Logan: " One of the reasons I'm not married"
Briscoe: "Well, don't worry you will "
(Squawk on the police scanner (OS) Mike observes partners quiet somber mood.
Logan: "Thinking about the Kid"
Briscoe: "What if it was one of my daughter's, a parents thinks about it "
Logan: "Doc say's hell be okay, good as new "
Briscoe: "Yeah, doesn't stop the worry any though"
Logan: "I guess, you going to be okay with it?"
Briscoe: "Yeah, Good as new Mike, good as knew"
(Camera pulls from a mid shot of the Detectives to a low full shot of a toddler walking towards her mother)
Fade to Black
(5) Exterior Apartment building -day Overlay: Robert and Kathryn Carlen apartment, 10:45am Tuesday. A woman in mid 30's gathering mail walking up the apartment stoop, while talking to Logan and Briscoe, kids rush out of the apartment building.
Kathryn Carlen: "Slow down, slow down and don't slam the door!" she says as kid rush by, the door slamming a second later.
(The detectives walk into entree hall of an old well used apartment building following the woman; sounds of TV, music and kids running about upstairs are heard) Logan: "If there was anything you could add Mrs. Carlen"
"Kathryn, and as I said I don't know what more we can tell you, I mean Carl told the officers all he'd seen" walking to door at the end of the hall.
Briscoe: "Yes, but if there is anything else you can add, it would really help with the case "
Kathryn Carlen: "Well." she says as she pulls out a ring of keys in front of the door to apartment 1C.
Logan: "Was there anyone causing trouble in the neighborhood? Someone at school giving the boys a hard time?"
Kathryn Carlen: "Our neighborhood has its problem's, gang's the drugs, but I mean whose doesn't. I just don't know of anyone who would want to shoot my boy." She says pulling out keys to open door.
(The detectives stand by the door as it abruptly opens, two smiling young girls laughing and smiling open the door, walking out)
First Girl: (walking by) "Morning Mrs. Carlen" talking to the mother and then looking at the 2 detectives.
Kathryn Carlen: "Cerrisa" she says to the first girl looking at the second skeptical
Second Girl: "Later Mom, Cerrisa and me are heading to her house, see yah!" attempting make a quick exit. Kathryn Carlen: "Okay, but tell Cerrisa's mother to call me when you get there "
Second Girl: "Mom! (Whiney) please"
Kathryn Carlen: "And be back by 6:00pm, dinners at 6:30pm"
Second Girl: "How about 7:00, I'll eat at Cerrisa's"
(The mother gives her daughter "the stare", which goes unnoticed by Mike, but makes Briscoe smirk.)
Transition dissolve left to right
(6) Interior- Apartment 1c. Robert & Kathryn Carlen The small apartment is crowded, but looks homey, numerous finger painted drawings and construction paper turkeys cover the refrigerator door, a small boy sits at a kitchen table in the back ground, eating cereal and kicking his feet back and forth. The mother enters motioning the officers in and shutting the door and 2 of the 3 deadbolts subconsciously.
Briscoe: "Things never change do they?"
Kathryn Carlen: "No, You have Kid's detectives? Please don't mind the mess"
(Logan shakes his head no, walking into the apartment, the boy smiling at Mike and Lennie)
Briscoe: "I have 2, girls, they live with my ex"
Kathryn Carlen: "Then you know" walking through hall to small living room, picking up toys, folding newspaper left on couch, she motions for the detectives to sit.
Briscoe: "Yeah, you try to know where they are, and who they are with "
Kathryn Carlen: "But once they step out that door." She looks over at the little boy, then to the locked door. The little boy runs up and jumps on his mother laugh, turning to see the 2 men he did not know.
Briscoe: "Your Youngest? Looking at the boy.
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob, jay to us" she says smiling and hugging the little boy, that giggles and wiggle staying in his mothers lap.
Jacob: "Hi! Said softly and half-giggling from mothers hugging.
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob's only 4 ½, he looks up to his brother, always has"
Jacob: "My Brother, his friend, he's really sick, mommy says he sleeping at the hospital"
Kathryn Carlen: "Jacob, can you go and play in your room? Mommy needs to talk with the nice men"
Jacob: (looking at Mike Logan) "You want to see my room? Mommy can I?"
(Logan looks at his partner and then to the mother as he gets up and walks with the hurried little boy.) Logan: "Okay, yeah " Mike says walking out of the room (Os)
Kathryn Carlen: "If it's no problem? Its right down the hall to the left"
Kyle: "Come one, it's over here, My brother an I have play station, do you have play station?"
(The little boy scampers down the hall, Detective Logan in tow, the sound of the kid's voice getting softer. Camera view pans from shot of Logan walking down hall to Briscoe and women in living room)
Kathryn Carlen: "Your partner is Sweet"
Briscoe: "Please what ever you do don't tell him that, I have to work with him " Lennie smiles.
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, Kyle loves to show off his games, Carl and Kyle can just play for hours"
Briscoe: "Little after my time I'm afraid" He say's noticing a collage of family pictures.
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, you know one kid gets a system, and soon all the kids want one"
Briscoe: "I noticed the large collection of photo's you have, do you mind" Lennie says getting up to the wall and cub-board, noticing several group shots of numerous kids."
Kathryn Carlen: "No please, I guess I end up with all the photo's, what with the basketball games Bob is always taking the kids to, " she says as she walks to the table beside Lennie.
(Briscoe notices the mother looking at her children's pictures, eyes getting a little teary eyed)
Briscoe: "It is tough enough to have a kid hurt or sick but have one shot, that's rough"
Kathryn Carlen: "Yeah, I could imagine, Mike & Claire must be worried sick, have you spoken with them? She asks not looking at Briscoe.
Briscoe: "Yes, we just came from the hospital, you could imagine" he said looking at a wall of family pictures. he sees a picture of the 3 young kids with a older boy wears an identical New York Nicks jersey .)
Kathryn Carlen: "I know and after losing Tommy 3 month's ago, I'd be a total wreak." She says looking at some pictures of her boys.
Briscoe: "The Harper's recently lost another child? Looking to Kathryn jotting down in his note pad. Kathryn Carlen: "Yes, it was sad, the boy was all state for basketball, This is him Tommy Harper, such a nice kid" pulling the photo down that Lennie had been looking at.
Briscoe: "Accident or something? "Asks looking at the photo of the jersey- wearing Teenager surrounded by young kids.
Kathryn: "He was shot at the Bodega down on the corner, tried to stop a robbery or something, and was shot."
Briscoe: "Mind if I borrow this picture Kathryn?"
Kathryn Carlen: "No, no problem if you think it will help "
Briscoe: " I hope so, well thank you Mrs. Carlen you have been really helpful"
(The sound of noise from the back room is softly heard (OS) Logan walks in form (OS)
Kathryn Carlen: "Well, if there is anything else we can do please call "
Briscoe: "Thank you, please do, this is my number at the prescient" he shakes her hand and gives her a car with his phone number.
Logan: "Bye " he says to Mrs. Carlen and then to Kyle in his room
Kyle (OS): "Bye Mike!" the little boy yells from his room
Transition out of the Apartment to the street below.
Logan: "Anything Lennie" he says walking to the curb and around car.
Briscoe: "Perhaps, look familiar?" Handing him the photo of the kids.
Logan: "The Kids were the one's from the shooting?"
Briscoe nods getting into the car Briscoe: "Odds will get you 2 to 1 that the jersey, is the same one Matt Harper was shot in"
Logan: "A connection? "
Briscoe: "Maybe, at least worth the time pulling the sheet."
(The Camera view pulls out from a full shot of car, to rear shot as the car merges into traffic, it then pans 180 degrees, catching a image of a little hooded boy bouncing a basket ball on the curb across the street. Low shot of the boy watching the detective's car drive off, and then the view changes to that of the apartment building. Final image is a Long shot of Mrs. Carlen holding Kyle, looking out window and then backing out of shot. Boy walks away bouncing ball (OS)
Fade to commercial.