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.

3. Act Two

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

EXT. DOS SOL APARTMENTS - NIGHT

Ryan stops his car in front of the gated apartment building. Sitting in the passenger seat Chrissie watches him. He gets out and walks around, opening her door. She gets out and moves to kiss him. He pulls back, smiling.

CHRISSIE
Would you like to come up?

How does he tell her he isn't interested in her?

RYAN
I'd better not. I have work tomorrow.

An older car pulls up in front of his and sits idling. The driver, Jerry, appears to sending a text message on his phone.

CHRISSIE
Oh. Would you mind walking me to my door at least?

RYAN
Sure.

The two head into the apartment building. Jerry gets out and opens the trunk. He picks up a brown bottle and wets a cloth, then sticks the cloth in his pocket. He heads into the apartment behind them.

EXT. DOS SOL APARTMENTS – COURTYARD - NIGHT

Ryan follows Chrissie up the stairs near the gate and she stops at the first door. He patiently waits while she fishes for her keys in her purse.

CHRISSIE
I need to get a smaller purse, I think.

Ryan offers a smile when she glances at him. He notices she looks past him, down the stairs. He glances back. Jerry stands at the bottom of the stairs, having a difficult time lighting a cigarette. Ryan turns when he hears keys drop on the walkway.

CHRISSIE
I'm such a kluttz!

Ryan reaches down and picks them up. He stands up, starting to speak, but stops when he finds himself on the business end of Chrissie's revolver. She smiles lovingly at him.

CHRISSIE (CONT'D)
Don't call for help. If someone came, I'd have
to kill them. You wouldn't do that to someone,
would you, my pet?

RYAN
Who are you?

CHRISSIE
Me, my pet.

He starts to ask her name again, but realization hits.

RYAN
You're my stalker? You've been under my
nose this whole time?

CHRISSIE
I wasn't stalking you. I was looking out for you.
Someone had to. After all the horrible things
your co-workers have done and never been
suspended for, they had no right to treat you
like they did.

RYAN
I won't let you hurt them.

She laughs at him.

CHRISSIE
Ryan, I don't give a damn about your co-
workers or your friends or your family, for that
matter. I just... Want... You

RYAN
What is it you want from me?

CHRISSIE
Let's go somewhere else to discuss this.
Somewhere not so public. Back down the
stairs. Quietly.

Ryan starts to turn and reach for his concealed gun.

CHRISSIE (CONT'D)
Jerry has a short temper. You'd better just give
that to me.

Cigarette smoke wafts over Ryan's shoulder and he's suddenly aware of Jerry standing behind him.

Chrissie reaches into Ryan's jacket, presses her hand against his stomach, and runs it across him to his gun. Ryan tenses at her touch, but he doesn't move. She pulls his gun out and drops it in her purse.

CHRISSIE
Down the stairs, sweetheart.

He turns, and with Jerry walks down the stairs.

EXT. DOS SOL APARTMENTS - NIGHT

They come through the gate and he sees the old car's trunk sitting open. He isn't about to go without a fight. He suddenly bursts into a run, heading for the hedges across the street. Chrissie doesn't shoot, but Jerry runs after him, and he's much faster than Ryan.

Jerry tackles him in the street, forcing Ryan to the ground as he pulls the cloth from his pocket. Ryan turns to fight off his attacker and has the cloth shoved against his face. He tries to punch and claw, but Jerry is unaffected by the fight. Ryan quickly succumbs to the substance on the cloth. Jerry tosses it, then stands and slings Ryan over his shoulder.

He returns to the car where Chrissie is waiting. She's ecstatic and bouncing as Jerry puts Ryan in the trunk. Jerry steps back and lights another cigarette, watching her. She leans in, running her hand down Ryan's face, neck, chest.

JERRY
Are you going to ride back here with him too?

She turns, enlivened by the thought.

CHRISSIE
Do you mind?

He shrugs. She climbs in and lays down next to Ryan, hugging him. She's in heaven.

CHRISSIE
My pet.

Jerry smiles, shaking his head.

JERRY
Call me if you need anything, Chris.

He shuts the trunk on them and gets in. Jerry starts the engine and drives away.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - DAY

The apartment is dark. On the answering machine the light flashes a 20. The phone starts ringing until the machine picks up.

CALLEIGH (ON PHONE)
Ryan? Are you there? Pick up if you're there.
Natalia is on her way over. You're three hours
late. Ryan? Are you there?

The machine beeps as the door opens. The MANAGER lets NATALIA into the apartment.

NATALIA
Thank you.

MANAGER
He was supposed to pick Jake up last night.

NATALIA
Jake?

MANAGER
His dog. When he goes out he leaves him with
us. But he never came back to pick him up. I
just figured he got lucky.

NATALIA
Thank you.

The man nods, leaving the door. Natalia turns back to the apartment.

NATALIA
Ryan?

She moves slowly from room to room, but there's no sign of her co-worker.

INT. CSI MIAMI - CORRIDOR - DAY

Horatio is talking to a police officer and he notices Calleigh coming out of a lab talking on her cell phone. She closes it before she reaches him and waits for the officer to leave.

CALLEIGH
No. No sign. She said the manager told her
Ryan was supposed to pick up his dog at
eleven but he never did.

Horatio makes a call on his cell phone.

HORATIO
Eric. Last night Ryan had a date with the
delivery girl from On Time Delivery. Go to
their office and speak to her.

TRIPP comes around the corner, approaching Horatio.

DELKO (ON PHONE)
I'm on it.

He hangs up.

TRIPP
We found his car. Wasn't locked, and the
patrolman found this in the street.

Tripp hands a bag with Jerry's cloth in it to Horatio.

TRIPP
Smells like alcohol.

Horatio takes it, looking it over, and then hands it to Calleigh.

HORATIO
Run it.

She grabs it and rushes off.

INT. ON TIME DELIVERY OFFICE - DAY

Delko enters the office. STACEY, a college-aged employee, stands behind the counter. They exchange a smile, until Delko flashes his badge to her.

DELKO
I need to speak to one of your employees. I
know her first name is Chrissie, she has long
brown hair, and--

STACEY
She was fired yesterday.

DELKO
Fired? For what?

STACEY
She was billing client's accounts for personal
packages she was delivering to her boyfriend.
Some guy that works with you.

Eric's smile fades.

DELKO
Did she ever mention his name?

STACEY
Just all the time. Ryan, uhm...

DELKO
Wolfe?

STACEY
Yeah. That's it.

DELKO
Did she say how long they'd been dating?

STACEY
I think she said for two years. She'd go on
forever about him if you let her. The woman
was totally all about him.

DELKO
I need her address.

STACEY
I don't think I can give that out.

DELKO
Then get me someone who knows I can have it.

The girl hurries off to find her supervisor. Delko dials his cell phone.

DELKO (CONT'D)
H, Chrissie was fired from here yesterday and
has been telling everyone she and Ryan have
been dating for two years. She has to be his stalker.

HORATIO (ON PHONE)
Are you getting her address?

Stacey and her supervisor come in.

DELKO
Yeah. I'll call you back.

INT. CAR TRUNK - DAY

Ryan comes to, finding his mouth covered with duct tape and his hands are tied behind him with duct tape. He can hear people talking and working outside. He tries to call out but can't yell loud enough over the gag.

He rolls over, trying to find something, anything, to cut the duct tape. He hears someone slam the car door.

JERRY (O.S.)
Chrissie, you lover's awake.

The trunk opens. He stares up at Chrissie sitting on the edge. She has a small vial she's drawing liquid from into a syringe. From his angle, all he can see is the high ceiling of a warehouse.

CHRISSIE
We'll be on our way soon, Ryan. But, I have
some buyers coming here in a few minutes,
and if they find out you're a cop, they'd kill you.
This will help you sleep through it, okay?

She looks down at him, as if she's really expecting him to agree. Ryan tries screaming at her.

CHRISSIE
I knew you'd understand.

She lowers the needle toward him and he tries to get away, but she gets him pinned in a place he can't escape. She injects it into his neck and then stands. He fades to sleep as she closes the trunk.

CHRISSIE
Sweet dreams my pet.

INT. CHRISSIE'S APARTMENT - DAY

The front door of the small apartment opens slowly. The manager that opened it quickly moves back with Natalia, letting Calleigh and the police in. Natalia starts talking to the man. Calleigh and the police go through the sparsely furnished apartment.

The bathroom doesn't even have a shower curtain. The bed in the first bedroom is stripped. They reach the last door at the end of a hall. Calleigh waits for an officer to cover her and then opens the door.

Light reveals a shrine to Ryan. Articles and photographs cover the room. There are some photographs that are from crime scenes -- pictures no civilian should have. Natalia comes into the room.

NATALIA
The manager said...

Natalia stares at the room.

NATALIA
This is... Not good.

Calleigh shakes her head.

NATALIA
It gets worse.

CALLEIGH
Is that even possible?

NATALIA
Yeah. The manager told me Chrissie was
placed here by the rehab center The Village.

CALLEIGH
You can't be serious.

Natalia nods.

CALLEIGH
So Chrissie is either a serious drug addict or
mentally unstable.

NATALIA
Or both.

The women stare at the disturbing shrine.

INT. COFFIN - DAY

Ryan comes to and hears sounds like a shipping yard. The seam around the coffin has been removed to let air in, but allows very little light.

BAD GUY (O.S.)
Hurry up with those cadavers. We have to be
on the road with them in an hour.

Ryan isn't gagged anymore, but his ankles and wrists are tied to the sides of the coffin with zip ties through eyescrews.

WORKER (O.S.)
You try stuffing forty keys into a dead man's
stomach, man!

BAD GUY (O.S.)
Stop your complaining. This one looks fine.
Get him in a coffin and let's get this boat on
the road.

Ryan struggles against his bonds.

BAD GUY (O.S.)
Chris, I think your pet's awake again. You
want me to give him another shot?

CHRISSIE (O.S.)
Naw. I've never seen a cop run away in a
coffin, have you?

There's a chorus of laughter. Ryan jumps when he hears something hit near him and slide in. A car door slams shut at the foot of the coffin. Bad Guy and Chrissie's voice is nearby this time.

BAD GUY (O.S.)
Okay, girl, you and Jerry are ready to go. See
you guys at Mount Charleston. Don't be late.

CHRISSIE (O.S.)
I've already booked the church. I won't be late.

Car doors close and he hears the engine start.

CHRISSIE (O.S.)
You'll never see Florida again, Ryan. Be sure
to say good-bye.

The vehicle rumbles to life.

RYAN
LET ME OUT OF HERE!

CHRISSIE (O.S.)
When you've learned to be good, I will. Until
then, you're just going to have to get used to it.
Now be quiet, Jerry has a headache.

He struggles harder. The vehicle moves with a slight jolt and he hears the tires crunch on gravel.

RYAN
Horatio will find you.

He hears a man say something, but it doesn't stop him.

RYAN
You will not get away with this, Chrissie! He will--

The car stops suddenly. He hears doors open and close, then the lid opens. This time it's Jerry with a syringe. He jams it into Ryan's neck and the CSI is asleep before the coffin lid slams shut.

INT. CSI MIAMI - A/V LAB - DAY

Delko, Horatio, Natalia, and Calleigh stand around the table. Delko enters in Chrissie's information and the screen quickly populates.

HORATIO
Have Chrissie and Ryan ever met before, Eric?

Delko scrolls and stops.

DELKO
Yeah. Here. He arrested her for speeding and
grand theft auto when he was still on patrol. It
says she escaped The Village that morning
and he noted in the report she appeared to be
high on coke or heroin.

NATALIA
So did she just pick the first man she came
across? This seems like a random act.

Horatio's eyes narrow.

HORATIO
I think she was already on the edge, and
something happened during the arrest that
set off her obsession. Something Ryan did
without even knowing it. Eric, get us a warrant
to release her medical records from The Village.

Delko left to do as he asked.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Ms. Boa Vista, pull up the report of his arrest.
See if you can find anything that sounds
unusual about it.

NATALIA
I'll let you know what I find.

Horatio and Calleigh are left at the monitor. Horatio touches the touchpad, moving through a long list of drug related charges and arrests.

HORATIO
Chrissie Mandais... You are a very busy drug dealer...

CALLEIGH
Maybe this was always about drugs.

HORATIO
No. This was always about Ryan. But drugs do
explain the monetary gifts.

CALLEIGH
There was no drug trace on the bills, and none
of the serial numbers came back stolen.

HORATIO
Then that means Chrissie is a very well
connected woman.

Calleigh turns to him, lowering her voice.

CALLEIGH
A mentally unstable woman with drug ties like
this is a deadly combination, Horatio. We're
never going to see him again.

Horatio looks up at her, holding her eyes.

HORATIO
We aren't going to believe that, are we? We
will believe we will find him. Somehow.

She looks back at the rap sheet. She doesn't believe Horatio's encouraging words.

EXT. MIAMI SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

Horatio pulls up to the house and goes in. Tara is in the living room kneeling next a woman who's been shot. The M.E. is staring out the patio doors, in some other place. Horatio stops next to her, taking off his sunglasses.

SUPER: Present

HORATIO
Is there something wrong, Tara?

She looks over her shoulder, but not at him.

TARA
I was just thinking... Today Ryan would be
here, not you. I think that every Monday and
Thursday when you're work cases he would have.

Horatio doesn't answer right away.

HORATIO
He'll be back soon.

She looks up at him.

TARA
It's been four and a half weeks. He's not
coming back, Horatio.

Horatio looks into her eyes.

HORATIO
I don't believe that. We have a corpse to
discuss, don't we?

Tara sighs, and then turns back to the body.

TARA
It looks like a through and through to the
chest. The bullet wound--

Horatio's cell phone starts ringing and he answers it.

HORATIO
Horatio.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
Horatio Cane?

HORATIO
I am. Who am I speaking to?

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
This is Catherine Willows, of the Las Vegas crime
lab. We worked a case together a while back.

HORATIO
I recall, however, I'm in the middle of a crime
scene right now. Let me call you back.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
We need to talk now, Horatio. It's about your
missing CSI.

HORATIO
Tara, I need to take this. I'll be right back.

He goes outside as Calleigh and Delko arrive. He stops on the steps, watching them approach.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
You know where Ryan Wolfe is?

Calleigh and Delko are surprised at the mention of his name.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
Not really. We found a coffin and ran DNA
from blood found in it. We gotta hit on him.

HORATIO
You found him in a coffin? How long was he buried?

The question upsets Calleigh. Eric's jaw tenses with anger.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
No. It's not like that. The coffin was in a hearse
at the bottom of a cliff. We have evidence he
was in it, but we don't have a body.

HORATIO
Do you think he survived the accident?

That returns hope to both the CSI.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
There are signs to indicate a high probability
he did, but he wandered away from the crash
site. The canyon the accident was in has only
two ways out: up or out into the desert. Few
people live out there and if he's injured, the
odds of surviving for long are stacked against him.

HORATIO
We'd like to come to Nevada and help with the search.

CATHERINE (ON PHONE)
I'd expect nothing less. Could you bring the
case files on his kidnapping too?

HORATIO
We will bring everything we have. I'll let you
know when we can be there.

Horatio hangs up and Delko and Calleigh start talking.

DELKO
Is Ryan dead or alive?

CALLEIGH
How did he get to Nevada?

DELKO
We need to go with you, H.

He waits for them to stop talking.

HORATIO
We don't know anything yet, but there's a
chance he is alive. I planned on you two
going, but I have to make arrangements to
cover our shifts. As soon as I do that, we can
leave. In the mean time, I need you to start
working the crime scene inside.

The two nod.

CALLEIGH
Why do you think Chrissie left him in Nevada?

Horatio puts his sunglasses back on.

HORATIO
That's where Chrissie's delusions met reality.

Horatio heads for his Hummer.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO