But Not Forgotten S

by Rhea's Teleplays

When the CSI in Las Vegas discover a victim they're looking for may be a kidnapped CSI from Miami, the case becomes cross jurisdiction as both teams search desperately to find the victim and his abductor.

2. Act One

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. CSI NEVADA - DNA LAB - NIGHT

Greg is pulling bits of skin from duct tape when Nick enters. He is carrying a camera and evidence bag, and a couple swabs that he sets next to Greg.

GREG
What are the swabs from?

NICK
SAR found a jacket with blood on it a little ways
down the canyon. It had been torn pretty bad
and there's a sleeve missing. Maybe the
person in the coffin used it for a bandage?

GREG
Maybe.

Greg nods, watching him leave. He starts the skin processing, then starts working on the swabs.

INT. CSI NEVADA - GARAGE - NIGHT

Catherine and LANGSTON both don overalls when they enter the garage. They stop and stare at the crushed hearse with the charred coffin inside of it.

LANGSTON
We are assuming someone walked away from
a car fire, in a coffin?

CATHERINE
Until we find a body, yeah.

LANGSTON
Las Vegas luck at its best.

She smiles, walking around to the back.

CATHERINE
Do you want the hearse or the coffin?

LANGSTON
I get to chose?

CATHERINE
Naw. I'll pull rank. You take the hearse.

LANGSTON
Shall I pull degree?

Catherine just chuckles. The two pull the coffin out and set it on two sawhorses near a workbench. Langston picks up a flashlight, pulls on gloves, and starts working his way through the hearse.

Catherine opens the lid and for a moment, stares at the inside. The foot of the coffin has dried blood and brain matter. There is blood spatter throughout the coffin, but there's a rough shape where a body blocked some of the spatter

She picks up fingerprint dust and starts dusting the inside.

INT. CSI NEVADA - PRINT LAB - NIGHT

Catherine walks in with two handfuls of fingerprints. MANDY looks up from her computer and lets out a disbelieving laugh.

MANDY
Either you've forgotten to drop off evidence or
I'm going to really hate a new case.

CATHERINE
You're going to hate a new case. These all
came from the inside of a coffin.

Mandy takes them.

MANDY
Is this from the suicide corner hearse?

CATHERINE
Yep, and those prints are just from the foot off
the coffin. I'll be back with more.

MANDY
Who on earth would steal a hearse? Or a coffin
for that matter?

Catherine walks out as she answers:

CATHERINE
Nothing is sacred these days.

Mandy nods. She starts scanning prints into the computer.

INT. CSI NEVADA - DNA LAB - NIGHT

Greg has returned to the duct tape and is pulling grains of sand from the tape. He prepares them on a slide and puts them under a microscope.

CSI POV

The scope reveals the sand is high in silica and light colored with bits of crushed shell.

BACK TO SCENE

GREG
You're not from Nevada. Where did you come from?

Behind him a computer beeps and the printer ejects a piece of paper. Greg rolls across the room to the printer, pulling off a sheet. Nick comes back in with more evidence to run for DNA.

NICK
Anything good?

GREG
Good chance our person from the coffin was
male. But they don't match. The donor on the
jacket was different from the one on the tape.

NICK
No relation?

GREG
Nope.

Greg turns to the computer.

GREG (CONT'D)
Oo! But I have a hit in CODIS from both of them.

Nick starts preparing his samples for DNA testing.

GREG (CONT'D)
The bleeder that was at the foot of the coffin is
wanted in Iowa and I don't think there's a drug
charge this guy doesn't have on his record. He
loved his drugs!

Nick laughs.

GREG (CONT'D)
And our next contes... tant.

Nick looks up, watching Greg. Greg has lost his humor and is staring at the computer monitor.

GREG (CONT'D)
(to himself)
This can't be right. This has to be a mistake.

Suddenly he starts typing and mouse clicking, changing screens fast.

NICK
Who is it?

Greg doesn't answer, he keeps working. He stops suddenly, reading what's on the screen.

NICK
Greg? Who is it?

Greg jumps up and runs out of the lab. Nick walks over to the monitor to read what's on it. The more he reads, the angrier it makes him.

INT. CSI NEVADA - GARAGE - NIGHT

Langston and Catherine stand around the coffin, which is brightly lit with reactive luminal.

CATHERINE
That was a light coating ten minutes ago. I
haven't put anything under florescent, yet,
but...

LANGSTON
You believe this case just went beyond
attempted murder, don't you?

She nods. They turn when Greg runs in.

GREG
Catherine, I gotta CODIS hit on DNA from the
duct tape we found in the coffin. He's Miami
Dade CSI, Ryan Wolfe. As of today, he's been
missing for 32 days.

Nick walks in, standing next to Greg. Catherine looks back at the coffin.

CATHERINE
Ray, finish up in here. I have to call his supervisor.

Catherine leaves. While he's not one of theirs, it's still a blow to the team.

EXT. NEVADA CANYON - DAY

RYAN Wolfe limps down the canyon. He has a swollen black eye, bruised face, split lip. He made a makeshift sling with the torn arm from his jacket. His body and clothes are torn. The bottom of his pants is soaked with blood that has dried and crusted. Ryan trips over a root and falls, landing on his arm.

He lets out a cry, quickly rolling onto his back. Slowly he picks himself up and limps into the shade of the canyon wall. He finds a sandy spot and eases himself onto it. He lays his head against a rock and is asleep in seconds.

EXT. NEVADA CANYON (AERIAL) - DAY

Overhead a search and rescue helicopter pass over him, but the people in it can't tell him from the rocks he's sitting among.

Omitted

Omitted

EXT. MIAMI (STOCK)

To establish.

EXT. CSI MIAMI BUILDING - DAY

Establishing locale.

INT. CSI MIAMI - LAB

SUPER: One Year Ago

CALLEIGH is working in a lab. She looks up when RYAN enters and smiles. Fate hasn't come looking for him yet. He returns her smile.

CALLEIGH
Hey, Ryan! Welcome back.

RYAN
Thanks. And I'm looking for something to do.
Got anything for me to start on?

CALLEIGH
I sure do.

She turns and picks up a box. It rattles like cornflakes as she sets it on the counter in front of Ryan.

RYAN
What's this?

CALLEIGH
We had a multiple gang shooting yesterday.
These are all the spent rounds mixed with
some bullets. You can run all of them through
IBIS for me.

Ryan looks at her. She's gotta be joking.

RYAN
All of them?

CALLEIGH
That's right.

RYAN
How many are in here?

CALLEIGH
I dunno. I stopped counting at three hundred.

Ryan sighs, picking up the box. The CSI receptionist, LAURA, comes to the door, holding out an On Time Delivery envelope.

LAURA
Ryan, this just came for you.

Ryan turns. He takes the envelope.

RYAN
Thanks.

Laura flashes a smile as she leaves. Ryan sets the box down and opens the envelope. There's another, smaller, envelope inside. He opens it and pulls out a card.

CALLEIGH
What is it?

He opens it and two tickets fall out of it. He picks up the tickets. This is a very confusing surprise.

RYAN
(reading card)
I'm happy to hear your back to work. These
should help you get some relaxation on
your day off.

CALLEIGH
What's wrong?

RYAN
I think someone has me confused with
someone else.

Calleigh moves around next to him, taking the tickets he hands to her.

CALLEIGH
Lower prime tickets to the Miami Dolphins.
Those things cost a fortune! Who sent them?

RYAN
It's just signed Me.

Calleigh slowly sets the tickets down on the counter. She watches his face for a moment.

CALLEIGH
Ryan... I know you really like the Dolphins and
those are really amazing seats, but...

RYAN
But after everything that's happened I
shouldn't because I'm under a microscope
right now.

CALLEIGH
Yeah. Take this to Horatio. Right now.

Ryan doesn't comment.

CALLEIGH (CONT'D)
Have you even spoken to him this morning?

RYAN
No. I just wanted to get back to work.

Calleigh can understand that.

CALLEIGH
Well, why don't you take this to him and see
how the conversation plays out. You don't
want this to come back to haunt you. And the
bullets can wait.

He slips the tickets and card back in the envelope.

RYAN
I'll be back for them.

CALLEIGH
They'll be waiting.

Ryan leaves the lab.

INT. CSI MIAMI - HORATIO'S OFFICE - DAY

Horatio is reading a case file when Ryan comes to the door.

RYAN
H?

Horatio looks up at him.

HORATIO
Good morning, Mister Wolfe. I don't have a
case for you yet, if that's what you're here for.

Ryan smiles.

RYAN
Calleigh has some work for me. Do you gotta moment?

Horatio sets the file aside.

HORATIO
I do.

Ryan walks in and sets the card down on Horatio's desk.

RYAN
Someone sent this to me. I don't know who,
but... I think maybe you should look into it for me.

Horatio pulls out the card and removes the tickets so he can read the card. He sets both items back on his desk.

HORATIO
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll
have Eric to run them for us.

RYAN
Thank you.

There's a moment of silence.

HORATIO
Isn't Calleigh waiting?

RYAN
Yeah.

Ryan turns and leaves, passing Delko coming in with a fat case file.

DELKO
Welcome back.

RYAN
Thanks.

Delko walks up to Horatio's desk, setting the case file on it.

DELKO
Finally finished with the B&E evidence. It was
the husband staging it to look like a B&E, all
for insurance.

HORATIO
Good work. Do you have gloves on you, Eric?

DELKO
Yeah. Why?

Horatio points at the envelope and tickets.

HORATIO
I need you to process these.

Delko pulls gloves out of his hip pocket.

DELKO
Another death threat? Which of us is it this time?

HORATIO
On the contrary, this one is welcoming Ryan
back to his job, with some very expensive
Dolphin tickets.

Delko picks up the items.

DELKO
Have you told Ryan about the death threats?

HORATIO
They haven't been aimed at him, so no.

DELKO
We were getting them because he was
suspended. He should be told, H. I mean, now
that he's back, who's to say--

HORATIO
For all we know, the threats may have been
idle, so let's not jump to conclusions until we
have evidence that we need to.

DELKO
Couldn't this card be from the same person?

HORATIO
We need proof that it is. Until then, I am not
going to worry Mister Wolfe. And neither will
you. Understood?

Delko doesn't like this decision, but he'll obey his boss.

DELKO
Yeah. Understood. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Horatio watches him go and then looks out his window. In private, he'll let his concern about the matter show.

EXT. MIAMI (STOCK)

To establish.

INT. CSI MIAMI - RECEPTION - DAY

SUPER: Five Weeks Ago

Ryan comes around the corner. CHRISSIE, a delivery girl for On Time Delivery, stands in front of the desk holding an envelope. She sees him and smiles, holding out her signature device.

CHRISSIE
Your girlfriend's been busy today. This is
what... The sixth one in five hours?

Ryan chuckles as he signs it.

RYAN
You know this isn't a girlfriend, Chrissie.

CHRISSIE
I think it's an ex.

RYAN
I hope not. Otherwise I'll have to arrest her for harassment.

Ryan hands the device back.

CHRISSIE
(bashful)
So if I were to ask you out to dinner, again,
today, before I leave, would the answer
still be no?

Ryan doesn't see Laura look up and smile. She's looking somewhere else when Ryan glances at her.

RYAN
My own personal delivery girl is leaving?

Chrissie laughs, nodding. Ryan looks at the envelope, and makes a definitive decision.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Let's do dinner. Give me your address and I'll
come by around six thirty.

CHRISSIE
You can pick me up from work. I give off at sixish.

RYAN
Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can.

She smiles, hugging the signature device.

CHRISSIE
See you then.

Ryan nods, watching her leave. Laura clears her throat. Ryan turns to her, meeting her eyes as he walks past.

LAURA
Over a year later he finally says yes.

Ryan shakes his head. He opens the envelope and reaches in. He stops short, staring at the stack of cash in his hand. He lets out a frustrated breath

INT. CSI MIAMI - HORATIO'S OFFICE - DAY

Ryan sits in front of Horatio's desk, staring at the stack of cash. Horatio walks in behind him, stopping next to him and also staring at the cash. Horatio carries a piece of paper with DNA results.

RYAN
This was delivered about forty minutes ago.
Eric and Calleigh ran all the bills. None of it's
stolen, there's no trace, and no prints. And
this is the sixth one today.

HORATIO
Me has been persistent today.

RYAN
H, that's ten thousand dollars. I now have over
a million dollars sitting in the vault from my
stalker. A million dollars, H! Do you have any
idea how this looks?

HORATIO
It looks like you haven't let your stalker
persuade you into accepting any bribes.

Ryan sighs, scrubbing his fingers over his forehead. Laura comes into the office, holding another package.

LAURA
Ryan... Chrissie dropped off another package.

Ryan closes his eyes. Seeing his CSI's frustration, Horatio takes the package.

HORATIO
Thank you.

Laura leaves. Horatio sets the package down and sits down in the chair next to Ryan. Horatio gives Ryan the results, but Ryan doesn't know what to make of it.

RYAN
What is this?

HORATIO
I'm afraid I've withheld information. I didn't
want to jump to conclusions of a connection
until there was one.

RYAN
What information?

HORATIO
While you were suspended it would appear
your stalker sent everyone in the department
death threats. I didn't want to tell you until we
had some evidence linking the threats with
your stalker, which Eric found today. Whoever
licked one of the envelopes yesterday was the
same male contributor that licked all of the
death threat envelopes.

Ryan isn't angry with Horatio.

RYAN
I'd like to look through those tomorrow.

HORATIO
We can do that. For tonight, why don't we set
you up with some police protection?

Ryan grimaces, leaning forward.

RYAN
I... Couldn't we wait for one more day? This
person hasn't tried anything and... I'd like to
wait one more day.

HORATIO
Your stalker has been escalating this week.
The increase of gifts is proof that this person is
planning to make a move soon.

RYAN
I know, but... Just one more day.

HORATIO
Why?

Ryan laughs a little.

RYAN
Because I'm going on a first date and I don't
want to scare when I explain why I have a
policeman following me around.

Horatio smiles. He can understand the young man's reluctance of an escort on a first date

HORATIO
So you have finally taken the delivery girl's
invitation up.

RYAN
She has been asking forever, and she said
she's moving this week, so... I agreed to
dinner. It's not her fault this pyscho uses her
company to send packages.

HORATIO
I agree. I'll request it to start tomorrow, but keep
your guard up, Ryan.

RYAN
I will. See you in the morning.

HORATIO
Bright and early.

Ryan leaves.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE