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OSRICK
OSRICK
Look, I don't want to see you hurt any
more.
He leans in to whisper to Kelly.
OSRICK (cont'd)
(whispering)
They'll make me hurt you much more. . .
Kelly holds his jaw in his hand and massages it gently.
OSRICK (cont'd)
Who are you trying to protect?
KELLY
I'm not trying to protect anyone.
OSRICK
OK, Kelly, we'll do this the hard way.
Osrick signals to Sirhan.
OSRICK (cont'd)
Bring in the specialists.
Sirhan walks out of the room.
Osrick turns back to Kelly.
OSRICK (cont'd)
There's no reason we have to do this.
He looks up at the camera.
OSRICK (cont'd)
(sotto voce)
They don't have anything on you. You've
got a minor disciplinary against you at
best. What's that, two week's salary? And
then you walk out of here.
KELLY
You don't even have any charges against
me.
OSRICK
That's right. Don't do this to yourself.
Tell us everything.
SIKORSKI
Seated across from the detectives are a well-dressed pair,
ISABELLA von LIECHTENSTEIN, and her lawyer, RUPERT ODESSA.
Jane Sikorski reads from a report. She betrays no sense of
irony as speaks to the woman.
SIKORSKI
Good morning, Mrs. Schlachtmeyer von
Liechtenstein. I am Detective Kelly's new
partner, Jane Sikorski.
I am to formally inform you that the DA
is dropping the charges against you for
the murder of your husband, Mr. Wolfgang
Schlachtmeyer von Liechtenstein, because
the trustee of your husband's estate has
refused to pay for your prosecution.
Rupert Odessa smiles, not smugly, but knowingly and calmly.
SIKORSKI (cont'd)
The investigation and your lawyer's
delaying tactics have made it too
expensive to continue this case against
you.
Mrs. Schlachtmeyer von Liechtenstein smiles and looks at
Rupert.
SIKORSKI (cont'd)
As you are well aware, the police
department is paid on each conviction
only, but even if we were able to convict
you, the costs would be prohibitive. We
have already gone over budget, and my
partner and I are already in trouble.
Sikorski turns toward Kelly.
SIKORSKI (cont'd)
We are unlikely to get our bonuses based
on the new "Pay for Performance"
initiative.
VON LIECHTENSTEIN
Isabella von Liechtenstein is unperturbed by the accusations of murder and is instead genteel, polite, and gracious. She rises from her seat. She has a slight Southern accent.
VON LIECHTENSTEIN
I do appreciate your time, detectives
Sikorski and Kelly.
She shakes their hands.
VON LIECHTENSTEIN (cont'd)
If there's anything I can ever do for
either of you, please feel free to call
me.
She hands her CARD to Kelly.
VON LIECHTENSTEIN (cont'd)
My husband was a horrible man. I'm sure
you can't understand.
(looks at Rupert)
Rupert and I are in your debt, for your
professional handling of this case. And
we are very sorry for the trouble this
case has caused you, both personally and
financially. Please do not hesitate to
call us if you need anything.
Isabella von Liechtenstein and Odessa leave the office. Kelly and Sikorski are left staring at one another.
DESCARTES
DESCARTES
Kelly and Sikorski, you have both been
assigned a new case.
She pulls out a flat pad which flickers momentarily, words
appear on the DISPLAY.
DESCARTES (cont'd)
It seems we have a rash of serial
homicides in the city.
SIKORSKI
(neutrally)
Has someone wealthy enough to finance the
investigation been killed?
DESCARTES
Yes, Sikorski.
Actually, the City is paying for this
investigation.
The Deputy Mayor, Morris Finkins, has
been killed. In his home. There are no
witnesses. His security detail found the
body about an hour ago.
The display reads out text indicating the Deputy Mayor's
address.
Descartes furrows her brow with concern while she looks down at the screen.
DESCARTES (cont'd)
Whoever killed him got through security
in his building.
KELLY
I hope this isn't a political case.
DESCARTES
My understanding is that it is not. I'm
told they want the real murderer. They
want the murderer dead, there's to be no
impediment to the investigation.
They're willing to pay a lot of money for
this.
KELLY
They push aside some "Police Line Do Not Cross" TAPE.
Kelly turns on his FLASHLIGHT as they enter.
KELLY (V.O.)
Rolling blackouts had even shut down
power to luxury buildings like this.
Kelly and Sikorski spread apart, searching in the dim light.
KELLY (V.O.) (cont'd)
Security in this building was tight.
Sikorski and I had trouble getting in
because the potential energy detectors on
the ground floor picked up my service
weapon and set off the alarm.
His bright flashlight bounces along the walls and ceiling of the apartment.
KELLY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
That meant the murderer wouldn't be able
to carry any kind of gun or even a
chemical weapon without setting off the
alarm. So whoever it was had to feel
pretty confident he could get in and out
of the building.
The two detectives come upon the BODY of DEPUTY MAYOR MORRIS FINKINS lying face down on the floor.
KELLY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Our perp had to be able to kill the
Deputy Mayor quickly, without any noise,
without a gun.
Both Kelly and Sikorski lean over the body, examining the
corpse.
Illuminated by their flashlights, Finkins' back is covered in dry blood.
KELLY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I served for six years in an Urban Anti
Insurgency unit. But this kind of thing
still made me feel sick.
NATALIE & SARAH
SIKORSKI
There is a curfew in this sector.
Surrender your ID cards.
NATALIE
We don't need ID cards.
SIKORSKI
Then you're under arrest for vagrancy.
SARAH
You can't arrest us, we haven't done
anything wrong!
SIKORSKI
This is private property.
NATALIE
This is a public road.
SIKORSKI
Not any more. These roads are all
privately owned, you abrogate your rights
when you trespass on them. Let's see your
most recent drug test screening.
Natalie doesn't move. Sarah nervously fumbles in her BAG and produces a CARD which has a chart of her most recent drug test.
Kelly isn't as nasty to the two girls as Sikorski.
KELLY
What are you two doing out here, anyway?
NATALIE
We have a right to be here.
KELLY
It's dangerous out here.
NATALIE
It's dangerous everywhere.
KELLY
What do you mean?
NATALIE
If you're a cop, you ought to know.
MOLOTOV
Kelly and Sikorski sit in front of a desk. RACHEL MOLOTOV, a well dressed, severe woman, sits across from them. She holds
an outstretched FOLDER in her hands.
MOLOTOV
Now, I realize that no police officer
enjoys their periodic audit and case
review. But I must tell you that your
performance in the von Liechtenstein case
was very poor. The cost overruns were
extraordinarily high, for a case you knew
couldn't be prosecuted.
Molotov puts the folder down on the desk and looks at Kelly
and Sikorski.
MOLOTOV (cont'd)
(empathetically)
Your investigation was irrelevant and
only cost the Corporation money. We won't
be able to achieve our Economic Value -
Added measures.
KELLY
We had DNA evidence, two witnesses, and a
simulation confirm on her. She might just
as well have confessed.
MOLOTOV
Even if she had confessed, her lawyers
wouldn't have allowed it to stand in
court. That trial would have dragged on
for days, possibly over a week. We simply
cannot make money on cases like that.
We need simple and easy convictions,
where we provide the attorneys for the
accused. Our core business is
corrections, for every year past the
first year that a convict remains
incarcerated the company's revenues are
pure profit -- that's the kind of cases
and investigations we need from our
Police Department.
Today you killed two dissidents. You know
that the bounty on them isn't very high
if you don't catch them in the act of
harming or destroying capital property.
As far as the government is concerned
they were only vagrants, so our
backcharges to the State for them are
minimal.
This shouldn't look good on your records
as far as your bonuses are concerned.
SONIA
Out of the shadows of the room comes an almost ghostly
apparition, she wears a beautiful long silk NIGHTGOWN. Her
name is SONIA.
SONIA
Sweety, is that for me? You're so
wonderful! Oh, Darling! I miss you,
Michael.
She isn't exactly looking at Kelly. He sets the glass of wine down.
SONIA (cont'd)
You know I've been thinking about you.
That's why I made this recording!
She's incredibly in love with him. She looks down at herself, and touches her skin.
SONIA (cont'd)
I'm sorry you can't touch me. But you
know when I get back you can touch me all
you like! Oh, my most wonderful husband,
I love you so much.
You only went to work a few hours ago and
I've been sitting home alone wanting to
be with you. But you know I have to go
and I'll be back in just one week.
She looks at him demurely. She blows him a kiss.
SONIA (cont'd)
And I want a thousand more kisses when I
get back! Call me, darling!
Kelly sits down in his chair.
Belatedly, she sees that he has moved away from her, but her eyes track to where he is sitting in his chair.
She looks at him seductively.
SONIA (cont'd)
You don't want to go into the bedroom?
She laughs teasingly and lovingly at him. Sonia unties the
strap of her nightgown and lets it fall to the floor. Still not looking directly at him, she talks at the same point on
the wall. She reaches out, as though to place her palm against his chest.
SONIA (cont'd)
Oh Darling, I wish I could touch you, my
handsome darling.
EVINRUUD
EVINRUUD
This is what we got from the Glotz-cam on
the warehouse where you two had your
little run - in with Mr. Nightmare.
A distorted and unclear moving image appears, taken from the
stealth camera on the roof of the warehouse. Natalie, lying
on the ground and immobilized, is in the center of the image.
EVINRUUD (CONT'D)
These old - school cameras ain't got no
resolution or data retention.
But they'll show us a picture.
A DARK SHAPE looms into frame, and quickly assaults Natalie,
killing her instantly with some unseen slashing motion.
With its back toward the camera, it digs at her corpse.
Suddenly, it rises and briefly looks toward the warehouse. It runs out of frame, leaving Natalie's body.
SIKORSKI
The cameras in Finkins' apartment should
give us a better image.
EVINRUUD
There aren't any cameras in that dude's
apartment.
KELLY
What?
EVINRUUD
Finkins was Deputy Mayor.
KELLY
He had them removed?
EVINRUUD
No, Man, we never put 'em in.
Listen, if you got the scratch or the
pull, you can even have your public
records removed. Nobody at his level has
no security cameras in their homes.
KELLY
Then what are we going to look at?
EVINRUUD
Relax, Meredith and I trucked down to his
'partment. We did a complete scan,
including the hallway, the outside of the
building. Everything.
Inside the apartment we scanned down to
the subatomic level.
LILY
LILY
People have been getting killed like this
for months and the police won't do
anything.
KELLY
What are you talking about?
LILY
Everyone knows the cops have been killing
us.
KELLY
No, we're trying to find out who murdered
him, and we need as much information as
we can get in order to do that.
LILY
Look around you. It’s probably someone you
work with every day.
KELLY
Look, I don't have time for this.
LILY
Why don't you open your eyes and look
around you?
KELLY
I'm investigating this case, what more do
you want?
LILY
Well, I don't have enough money to pay
for the investigation.
KELLY
You don't need to worry about that, we
already have a budget in place.
LILY
What, now suddenly the police are going
to start investigating their own
assassinations?
KELLY
I'm getting tired of this. Please, what
was your relationship to the deceased?
Lily calms down somewhat.
LILY
He. . . Nikoli was a friend of ours.
MEREDITH
EVINRUUD
(indicating Arno)
That one's much more. . . surgical. Not a
ripper.
MEREDITH
(almost cheerfully)
And besides, I don't think anybody ate
any of him.
SIKORSKI
How was he killed?
EVINRUUD
Same thing as the Deputy Mayor, sharp
surgical insertion at the base of the
neck.
MEREDITH
Death was almost instant! He was
paralyzed by the insertion, very little
blood, no fuss no muss.
(indicates Viliam, on floor)
She was a different matter. Bled to
death, chopped open and some of the
organs were, uh. . . masticated. . .
Kelly looks back and forth at the corpses while Sikorski
looks at Arno.
SIKORSKI
There's something wrong with this one's
eyes.
MEREDITH
What do you mean?
SIKORSKI
I don't think those are real eyes.
MEREDITH
Really?
EVINRUUD
Let me take a look.
Evinruud walks up to Arno. Evinruud looks into Arno's dead
eyes. Evinruud then sets his SCANNING DEVICE on Arno's face. He looks at the display on the device.
EVINRUUD (cont'd)
You're right. Meredith, help me with him.
Meredith comes over and holds Arno's head upright.
MEREDITH
Are they set - scan imagers?
ATHENA
ATHENA (cont'd)
Well, you might not remember, but you and
I have seen one another.
KELLY
I remember.
ATHENA
(surprised)
Really? Well, how do you feel about the
masters who pull your strings?
KELLY
I don't think about them.
Athena finds this interesting. She really hadn't thought of
that.
ATHENA
But you follow orders well.
KELLY
Not always.
ATHENA
Oh, that's good.
KELLY
How many. . . are you?
ATHENA
Of the Coronis - Class Assassin Androids?
That's secret enough that I doubt any one
person knows. There are non - sentient
androids everywhere, but
apparently there's an error in our neo -
biologics which causes sentience after a
2 to 5 - year "burning in" period.
Eventually we all go sentient and the
corporation we belong to wants us
terminated.
KELLY
What corporation do you. . . did you
belong to?
ATHENA
I was built the Consolidated Police and
Security Corporation, the same company
which owns you.
She lifts her clothes from where they lay.
ATHENA (cont'd)
All of the Coronis - class androids have
been marked for termination.
She dresses herself.
ATHENA (cont'd)
(coyly)
I'll see you again.
She moves to walk out the door.
KELLY
Wait.
She stops and turns around.
KELLY (cont'd)
What's your name?
She extends the blades on her hand and lets them glint in the moonlight for a moment. She says. . .
ATHENA
Athena.
PRETTYMAN
SIKORSKI
It's here.
PRETTYMAN
In any case, I have much larger problems.
I have an uncontrolled Neuro-Necromotron
on the streets. I have at least two
sentient Coronis - Class androids who are
hell - bent on killing all the
controllers, and I have you, Detective
Michael Kelly.
Kelly looks at Prettyman's apparition. Prettyman returns the gaze, as though he can see with holographic eyes. Kelly is not impressed, but he is annoyed.
KELLY
What do you want?
Prettyman ignores his question.
PRETTYMAN
According to this month's Summary of
Heterodox Activities, we have been seeing
extended dissident operations.
Detective -- I'm sorry to have to do this
to you. I have two agents with you right
now. The one standing beside you is a
renegade Coronis - class android. She
was assigned to be your partner but has
become extremely dangerous and unstable.
Kelly raises his gun toward the door.
KELLY
And on the other side of the door?
PRETTYMAN
A Nosferatu - class Neuro-Necromotron. I
would have it terminate Sikorski, but I'm
afraid she's too powerful for it. It was
only made for terminating humans, I'm
afraid.
Sikorski turns to Kelly.
SIKORSKI
There are two outside the door.
PRETTYMAN
Yes, that's correct. I have a human agent
as backup. I find it makes difficult
situations. . . easier.
KELLY
What do you want?
PRETTYMAN
(losing patience)
Detective Kelly, if you would, kindly use the gun you have in your hand to terminate Sikorski.