EXT. – COLORADO PRIVATE AIRSTRIP – EVENING
WIDEANGLE SHOT. EST. BAU JET
Camera zooms in, we are watching from the POV of one of the men standing at the edge of the airstrip. We don't know who it is at first. The light is dimmer, which makes identification more difficult as well.
PRENTISS steps off the plane first, followed quickly by MORGAN, ROSSI, REID, JAREAU and last, HOTCHNER. The camera zooms back to watching the dark-haired woman. Then:
POV widens to focus on the small group of law enforcement officials standing waiting for the team. We see GEN. HAMMON and DET. WINSLOW, as well as three other men—one dressed as a military pilot (COL. LOREN SEVILLE), and two in police uniforms. Two plain-clothed men also wait. Another military pilot is in the background.
We are unsure who the earlier POV character was.
Camera focuses on the team as they walk across the tarmac, though PRENTISS is the center of the camera's attention. PRENTISS is now beside HOTCHNER, with the rest of the team trailing behind. HAMMON steps forward to meet them.
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HAMMON
There's been another body.
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HOTCHNER
When?
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HAMMON
This morning, and it was inside the base lines. This guy is getting bolder and bolder.
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ROSSI
And the victim?
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WINSLOW
Female, as of yet unidentified. Around thirty-five, probably. White mark on the symbol.
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PRENTISS
What order where the black and white bodies found in? Which was first?
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WINSLOW moves closer to her, offers to take her bag by holding out one hand. PRENTISS shakes her head, tightening hand on her bag. But she smiles at the fortyish and attractive police officer.
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WINSLOW
Black, white, black, black, black, white, white, black, and now white.
Anything significant in that, ma'am?
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PRENTISS
Please, it's Agent Prentiss, or Emily. Not ma'am.
And we're not sure the significance of the pieces.
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HOTCHNER
That's what Prentiss is going to try to figure out. She's our best chess player.
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WINSLOW (To PRENTISS)
I'll admit I play, but not on this level. I'd be glad to help you in any way I can.
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PRENTISS
Thank you.
-
ROSSI, and HOTCHNER exchange slightly significant glances. JAREAU, MORGAN and REID are visible in the background as the team walks toward the three helicopters—one is a white and gray police chopper, the other two are black military birds. SEVILLE takes over the first black bird, in which PRENTISS and HOTCHNER enter. JAREAU and REID enter the police chopper with WINSLOW and several of the other men. The remaining men, including HAMMON, ROSSI, and MORGAN are in the police helicopter. The birds take off. Camera fades.
EXT. COLORADO MOUNTAIN MILITARY BASE – EVENING
WIDEANGLE. Lights are dim, but we still see low-built, crude buildings. They blend completely into the area around them. They look like a crude summer camp. Two black-cloaked men roll a canvas back at the north—and flattest—edge of the camp. The first helicopter lands. This action is repeated on two other landing zones around the camp.
The team and the local personnel soon meet up near the largest wooden structure. GEN HAMMON approaches a small non-descript electrical box, which he opens to reveal a keypad.
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HAMMON
We've issued each of you a temporary security code. Memorize it, and then
we'll take the cards back and destroy them. No one, I repeat, absolutely no one,
should know your code other than yourself.
-
A military private distributes small white cards to each team member without saying a word. Everyone—locals included—memorize their codes before handing the card back to the private.
-
HAMMON punches in his code, and the front of the building slides open to reveal a large concrete tunnel/entrance. No one speaks as they enter the tunnel. HAMMON repeats his actions once inside and the front wall re-descends.
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HAMMON
You're quarters are down this way. The first elevator to the sixth floor—the higher the number
floor the deeper into the mountain we are. I'm afraid you're doubling up, and for each three adjoining rooms
—there's one head off the back hallway. We simply don't have the space, and it's safer to keep
everyone together. It's vitally important that no one go wondering down here. There's things that
you are not cleared to see.
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HOTCHNER
My team understands, General. All we need to work are a few white boards,
access to a fax and photocopier, and a phone line connected to our technical analyst
back at Quantico. We'd be fine in one large conference room, and a smaller interview room.
Anything else we'll let you know as needed.
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HAMMON
That will make things simpler for us.
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HOTCHNER
One more thing—I want my team's rooms to be side by side. And Agents
Prentiss and Jareau in the middle one. Just to be on the safe side. Those
two are not to adjoin with anyone but my team. Understood?
-
PRENTISS and JAREAU look at HOTCHNER, confusion on their faces. ROSSI leans between the two.
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ROSSI (whispers)
We're on a military base, ladies, with approximately three hundred
individuals who've not had leave in a long time. And at least eighty percent
of them are male—you two would be like a red flag in front of a very
lonely bull. Hotch is just covering all the bases, so to speak. No easy access.
-
PRENTISS nods, JAREAU just looks apprehensive. Her hand tightens around her weapon.
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PRENTISS
We appreciate the thought. We'll be sleeping with a chair under our door.
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JAREAU
We do that, anyway.
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PRENTISS
Ok, so maybe…two chairs? We can never be too careful.
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HAMMON
Understood. There are also keypad entries on the doors, so only the agent
assigned to each room can open them.
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REID
Keypad entries can be worked around. Garcia told me that just by
feeling the wear and tear on a doorpad, a four-code entry can be
determined with a minimum of sixteen attempts. It often takes much less than that.
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ROSSI
So sleep with a chair under your door?
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HOTCHNER
Back on track, here? Can anyone think of anything else they'll need?
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PRENTISS
I'll need a large chessboard, with pieces. And a
white board. I have a game to play.
-
HOTCHNER looks toward HAMMON, who nods. The older man (Hammon) speaks into a radio, requesting the materials be brought to conference room D on the sixth floor.
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HAMMON
Private Lawson will show you to your rooms. Like I said,
no wandering around. It could be extremely dangerous.
I suggest you get a good night's sleep. The base closes
down for the night in thirty minutes, everyone in their
rooms except essential personnel.
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HOTCHNER
So we're essentially locked in after around ten at night?
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HAMMON
Until this guy is caught, yes. If the need arises, you're team will be
upgraded to essential.
-
HAMMON nods respectfully, first at HOTCHNER, then PRENTISS, then JAREAU, before excusing himself. The private leads them to their rooms, all without saying a word.
HOTCHNER pushes open the door to his and ROSSI'S room. As we cut to:
(next chapter)