The Forgotten

The Forgotten

FADE IN:

INT: California highway Noon/Summer
The sun is shining on a California highway atop a ridge by the ocean. An old blue van is swerving in its lane as it rounds the ridge. A Highway Patrol (HP) squad car is following the blue van.

INT: Inside the HP squad car Noon
HP officer KELLY WALKER is driving the squad car, following the blue van and appearing worried as the van continues to swerve.

INT: California highway Noon
The blue van continues to swerve in its lane as the HP squad car follows. The side door on the blue van opens as it swerves.

INT: Inside the HP squad car Noon
Kelly Walker sees the van side door open and watches it cautiously.

INT: California highway Noon
SOPHIA STRONG, barefoot and wearing a torn and bloodied tee and shorts, jumps out of the side of the blue van, landing in a thin area of gravel between the van and the side of a mountain, and hitting her head on a rock as she falls. Her face is bruised and blood streams from her hairline. The blue van speeds away. The squad car pulls off to the opposite shoulder, parks, and Kelly Walker runs to an unconscious Sophia. Kelly recognizes Sophia, is worried, and quickly carries her to the safer side of the road, beside the squad car. He sits on his knees. He then lays her on the ground with her torso over his knees and checks for a pulse.

KELLY: (concerned) Sophie.

Kelly notices that Sophia’s shorts are torn and her legs and inner thighs are heavily bruised. As she lays unconscious, Kelly leans her toward him and embraces her with concern and comfort.

INT: Hospital emergency room Afternoon
Sophia Strong is unconscious in an emergency room hospital bed. She is attached to an IV pole, oxygen tubing, and a monitor that beeps at regular intervals and maintains Kelly’s attention. Sophia has a bandage on the left side of her forehead. Kelly Walker stands by her bedside holding her hand as DR. ALEX JOHNSON reviews her chart and two nurses, LAURA and VICKI, are in the room. Laura is preparing a syringe while Vicki is inputting data into a laptop computer. Dr. Johnson places the chart on a bedside table, as Sophia slowly begins to awaken.

KELLY: (still in uniform) Well, Dr. Johnson?

DR. JOHNSON: Long sigh. Officer Walker, Her physical wounds will heal, but… (shakes his head)

KELLY: What will your report say?

DR. JOHNSON: (quietly) Well, bruises, contusions, possible rape. No semen. No DNA. No broken bones. Minor concussion, probably from when you saw her hit her head on the rock after she jumped. We’ll know more when she’s conscious enough to answer some questions. How well did you know her?

KELLY: (notices Sophia trying to awake, and smiles with relief) You could say we were friends, I guess. We didn’t really know each other very well. She dated an officer I work with for a few months last year. (leans closer to Sophia, quietly) Hey, glad to see you’re waking up. How you doing?

Sophia tries to speak, but no sound comes out.

DR. JOHNSON: Ms. Strong, I’m Dr. Johnson. You’re in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Sophia moves her eyes to Dr. Johnson and then back to Kelly.

KELLY: Soph? Can you talk to me? (Kelly moves the hair away from the bandage on Sophia’s head)

INT: St. Mary’s nurse’s desk Afternoon
Police Officer MARK RUINS begins walking down the hall as police Officer BRYCE HALL stops at the nurse’s desk and speaks to NURSE #1. Nurse #1 looks at Bryce’s head.

NURSE #1: (distanced) We need to have that looked at.

BRYCE: (distanced) I swear these criminals are getting rougher every year.

INT: Hospital emergency room Afternoon
Police Officer MARK RUINS enters the room and moves toward the hospital bed. Sophia’s eyes move to Mark, she then expresses fear, begins screaming and fighting to remove the tubing and fights those trying to hold he down. Kelly holds Sophia down. Laura and Vicki quickly come to help hold her down.

DR. JOHNSON: (holding down Sophia’s shoulder) Ms. Strong, it’s alright. You’re safe here.

KELLY: (to Mark) Get out of here!

Mark Ruins leaves the room quickly.

DR. JOHNSON: (quickly fills a syringe and injects the IV) This will help calm her down.

Sophia quickly is unable to fight, and then falls unconscious again.

DR. JOHNSON: She’ll sleep for a while.

KELLY: What was that about?

DR. JOHNSON: The trauma was so recent, it could be the color of his hair, the color of his uniform, the shape of his nose, anything. Just let her rest for a while. She’ll be able to answer questions soon enough.

INT: HP Sergeant’s office Afternoon
Sergeant LEROY WOODSON does paperwork at his desk. Kelly Walker knocks on the open door.

KELLY: Hey, Sarge, you got a minute?

WOODSON: (fatigued) Sure, Kelly. Come on in. I tell you what, between your van girl, another car stolen off the side of the road, and a pileup on the 605, I think we’ve all had a long day.

KELLY: Yeah, uh, about that van girl, Sarge. There’s something I need to tell you about that.

WOODSON: I hope it’s that your report is already done and you’re about to give it to me.

KELLY: No, I’ll start on reports in a minute. Uh, that girl, Sarge.

WOODSON: How’s she doing? Was she able to tell you anything?

KELLY: No, Sarge. Doctor has a sedated for the time being. She never said a word to me. But, what I wanted to tell you, well, that girl, it was Sophia Strong.

WOODSON: (surprised, becomes quiet) Dear Lord. Does Bobby know?

KELLY: No. I don’t think anyone here knows. Hospital put a guard outside her room since we don’t know anything about what happened or who did it.

WOODSON: Good. (leans back in his chair) Haven’t they been over for quite a while now?

KELLY: Think so. Way I heard it, he broke up with her. Not sure about all the details.

WOODSON: Well, either way, we need to be the ones who tell Bobby. He won’t like it if he hears it from anywhere else. In the mean time, don’t be talking about this too much. There’s no reason for him to have to hear about it every time he turns around.

INT: HP break room Afternoon
Kelly Walker walks into the break room where Officer ERIC PAYNE is fixing himself a cup of coffee.

ERIC: Hey, Kelly. Listen, thanks for switching assignments with me today. Me and Bob had a chance to look a little further into those car thefts that have been happening lately, and we think we’re on to a really good lead.

KELLY: (nervously looking toward the door) Eric, I gotta tell you what happened today.

ERIC: Yeah, man, I heard you had some woman jump out of van. Sergeant made it sound like she was beat up pretty bad. You find that van yet?

KELLY: Forget about the van for a minute, Eric. That girl…

ERIC: Yeah? (takes a sip of coffee)

KELLY: … was Sophia.

ERIC: (stunned, lowers his coffee) Sophia Strong?

KELLY: Yeah.

ERIC: (nervously looks to the door, quietly) How bad is it?

KELLY: Bad. Real bad.

ERIC: (swallows hard, continues to look toward the door) Look, man, I don’t know if we should be telling Bob about this. At least not until we know something more, what really happened, you know.

KELLY: I was thinking the same thing. But, we can’t really keep it from him either. I mean, he has been seeing other people, hasn’t he?

ERIC: Yeah, but when anyone brings up her name, well… Let’s just keep it quiet for now.. until I figure out how to tell him.

Officer BOBBY TAYLOR enters the break room.

BOBBY: Hey, Payne, you’re writing up the reports for today, right?

ERIC: Yep, my day.

BOBBY: Great. I’ve got to go get ready. I’m picking Marcie up at 7.

KELLY: Hot date, huh, Bobby?

BOBBY: Hope so. (laughs and leaves the room)

Kelly and Eric look at each other wondering what to do.

INT: St. Mary’s Hospital Morning
A GUARD stands outside Sophia’s hospital room.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Morning
Sophia is beginning to awaken as nurse Vicki checks and documents her vitals.

VICKI: Good morning, Sophia. You probably don’t remember me from yesterday. I’m Vicki. I’m just gonna get your vitals this morning and then the doctor should be in later to check on you. How are you feeling?

Sophia is very groggy and barely awake as she watches Vicki the best she can.

VICKI: Readings are good this morning, Sophia. I’m going to change your bandages, too, while I’m in here. Okay?

Sophia blinks in response, focusing on breathing.

INT: Outside Sophia’s hospital room Morning
The guard is standing outside the door as Police Officer Mark Ruins and Officer SAM WATERS arrive.

GUARD: Everyone has to sign in before going in to the room.

MARK RUINS: Good thing until we know more about what’s going on.

Mark and Sam sign the log and then enter the room.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Morning
Nurse Vicki inputs the vitals into a laptop. Sophia’s eyes move toward Officers Mark Ruins and Sam Waters as they enter the room. Sophia’s face fills with terror and she begins screaming. Sophia grabs a tissue box and then a water pitcher from a bedside table and throws them at the officers as Vicki tries to hold her down and hit the nurse’s call button.

VICKI: Sophia. Stop.

Nurse Laura runs into the room, quickly fills a syringe, and then injects the IV with the syringe.

VICKI: (to the officers) You gentlemen really need to leave. She’ll be out cold in a second.

Sophia begins to be unable to struggle and then falls again into sleep as both officers leave. Both nurses are relieved as Sophia drifts into sleep.

LAURA: Vicki, be sure and document this.

INT: St. Mary’s Hospital Noon
Kelly Walker (in uniform) speaks with Vicki at the nurse’s station. Kelly holds a large vase of flowers.

KELLY: I thought they might make her feel a little better. Anyway, thanks for the information, Vicki.

VICKI: You’re welcome.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Noon
Kelly Walker enters the room and places the vase of flowers on a bedside table. He sits on the edge of Sophia’s bed and looks about the room at all the equipment.

KELLY: Sophia? Can you hear me? It’s me, Kelly. Soph?

INT: St. Mary’s Hospital Noon
Officer Mark Ruins meets with nurse Vicki at the nurse’s station.

VICKI: Are you really going to try this again today? Let her rest, Mark. We will call you when she’s able to give a statement.

MARK: Talk to my Sergeant, Vic. The longer it takes for us to get the information, the harder it’s gonna be to catch whoever did this.

VICKI: Hasn’t she been through enough?

MARK: I’ve got to talk to her. The sooner the better.

INT: Outside Sophia’s hospital room Noon
The Guard hands Officer Mark Ruins the log and Mark signs in as the Guard shakes his head in disbelief.

INT: Inside Sophia’s hospital room Noon
Kelly speaks quietly to Sophia as she slowly awakens. Sophia fades in and out of consciousness.

KELLY: Hey, nice to see you opening your eyes. I was hoping you’d wake up while I was here. I brought you some flowers. Thought they’d brighten up the room. (swallows hard) You’re gonna be alright, Soph. I called your office. So, they know where you are. They were really worried when they couldn’t get hold of you.

Officer Mark Ruins enters the room.

MARK: Hey, Kelly.

KELLY: Mark.

Nurse Vicki enters the room and checks a monitor near Sophia’s bedside. Sophia’s eyes dart to Mark. Again terror fills Sophia’s face and she begins screaming and struggling against Kelly. Kelly holds her down as Vicki fills a syringe and injects the IV bag with an expression of distaste.

VICKI: That’s enough, Mark. You need to leave. We’ll notify you when she’s able to take questions.

Mark exits the room.

VICKI: (continuing) I knew this would happen.

Sophia again is unable to struggle and drifts into sleep.

KELLY: What do you mean?

VICKI: She gets really upset anytime the police come in here. We keep sedating her just to keep her calm. It’s not really helping her. We can’t keep her awake long enough to try to talk to her ourselves.

KELLY: Has she said anything to anyone since she was brought in?

VICKI: Not a word. You guys in uniforms are the only visitors she’s had. What do you know about her?

KELLY: She’s a writer. Mostly crime fiction. She’s from Scotland. Comes here to LA once in a while to promote her books, work on a movie, that sort of thing.

VICKI: Oh.

KELLY: I’ve called her office and explained the situation. They may be calling for updates.

VICKI: Okay. Well, she’ll be out for a while. I’ve got to check on my other patients. (leaves the room)

INT: Bobby Taylor’s apartment Evening
There is a knock at the door. Bobby Taylor (street clothes) answers it, and it is Eric Payne (street clothes).

BOBBY: Hey, Eric. Come on in. I was just about to heat up something to eat and watch the game. Want to join me?

Eric enters the apartment and closes the door behind him as Bobby goes to find a channel on the television. Eric stands near the entranceway to the living room.

ERIC: (cautiously) Bobby, I need to talk to you about something.

BOBBY: (disinterested) Okay. This should be a really good game tonight. News said that Parker’s off medical restriction and expected to play tonight.

ERIC: Uh, yeah, Bobby, I need to tell you something.

BOBBY: (realizing Eric is serious) What’s going on?

ERIC: (clears his throat) I don’t really know how to tell you this, man. I’ve known for a couple days now. Just wasn’t sure if I should tell you or not. Wasn’t sure how you’d take it.

BOBBY: Okay.

ERIC: That accident that Kelly worked the other day, the one out on the coastal highway.

BOBBY: Yeah. I heard about that. Supposed to be really bad. Apparently the girl got beat up pretty bad, maybe even raped. But there was something about a lack of evidence and the victim couldn’t give a statement. Kelly was supposed to turn that over to the Sheriff’s Department.

ERIC: Yeah, well…

BOBBY: Kelly not letting it go? The man just lost his wife a few months ago in a traffic accident. It can’t be easy for him to work the highways every day.

ERIC: (cautiously) Bob, the girl was Sophia.

BOBBY: Sophia? (realizes as he says the name who Eric means) Sophia. (swallows hard and his eyes tear up)

ERIC: Yeah. We’ve been keeping an eye on her. Checking in to see how she’s doing. We thought you ought to know. We didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else.

BOBBY: (runs out past Eric) You should have told me, Eric. (slams the door behind him)

INT: Old cabin in the desert Night
There is an old television in the corner, sitting on some milk crates. DON BOGART is playing with an antenna trying to improve the picture. ROY BOLTON enters with two beers and hands one to Don.

DON: I didn’t think about the lack of reception out here.

ROY: I can’t even get cell phone service out here. Anything on the news?

DON: No. So far they’ve not mentioned the bitch at all. Bryce called from the city earlier. She’s still unconscious.

ROY: Good. Maybe we should help her stay that way.

Don is contemplative.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Night
Kelly Walker (in street clothes) is sitting on the edge of Sophia’s bed, reading to Sophia who is sleeping. Bobby Taylor slowly enters the room.

KELLY: (looking at the book) (sighs) Hospital library didn’t have the greatest of selections, Sophia. (lowers the book and turns to Bobby)

BOBBY: How is she? (sits on the edge of Sophia’s bed and begins carefully examining/touching her bandages and the bruises on her face)

KELLY: They’re keeping her sedated most of the time. She gets agitated and upset when she wakes up. They’re taking good care of her, Bobby.

BOBBY: Any idea what happened to her?

KELLY: No. All I know is what I saw when she jumped. She hasn’t spoken since then. (places the book on the bedside table) I thought maybe if I read to her she wouldn’t feel so alone. They think she can hear what goes on around her.

BOBBY: (focused on Sophia) Yeah, Kelly, that was a good idea.

KELLY: Well, um, I better get out of here. Anything I can get for you?

BOBBY: (whispers) No.

Kelly leaves the room.
Bobby gently uses his hands to smooth the sheets over Sophia’s torso. He leans in to Sophia.

BOBBY: Can you hear me, Sophia? (tearfully) I’m here. (he uses his hand to comb her hair behind her ear) I’m here, Soph.

INT: Outside Sophia’s beach house Morning
Eric Payne, Bobby Taylor, and Kelly Walker (all in uniform) walk up the path to Sophia’s beach house.

ERIC: But, Bobby, the police have already been through the house.

BOBBY: Well, maybe they missed something.

KELLY: We don’t even know if anything happened here. How do we get in?

Bobby punches in the four digit code and opens the door, knocking down crime scene tape in the process.

BOBBY: She always uses the same code.

INT: Inside Sophia’s beach house Morning
Bobby walks in, immediately followed by Eric and Kelly. In the center of the living room is an arc of open books and papers organized neatly on the floor, most of them splattered with blood. In the center of the arc is a pool of blood, beside which sits an evidence number, 1.

KELLY: Good Lord.

Bobby squats near a puddle of blood marked with evidence number, 2, and exhales audibly to remain calm.

KELLY: Mark said that the place was clean. No prints. Only real clue was some blood that they found that wasn’t Sophia’s.

ERIC: Probably used gloves. Sounds pre-meditated. Maybe it was about money.

KELLY: Her office never got any demand for money.

Eric follows a bloody path from the arc to the bedroom that appears Sophia was drug along the floor.
Kelly squats beside evidence number, 3, which has multiple spots of blood.

KELLY: I’m guessing this is where the fireplace poker was found. She fought, Bobby. She fought hard.

BOBBY: (quietly) I know.

INT: Inside Sophia’s beach house bedroom Morning
Eric is distressed as he looks at the bloody room and the bloody bed. He hears footfalls nearing the room, knows it’s Bobby, and tries to stop him at the door.

ERIC: No, man, you don’t need to see this.

BOBBY: (fighting Eric) Let me by, Payne.

Bobby breaks through Eric’s hold and enters the room as Kelly also enters. Bobby drags his hand over his face.

ERIC: She’s gonna be okay, man. You hear me? She’s gonna wake up and she’s gonna be fine.

BOBBY: (finds his strength) What do the police have so far?

KELLY: Not enough to go on. They’re waiting for Soph to wake up so they can get some more information. They’re hoping she saw the guys.

BOBBY: What about the blue van you saw?

KELLY: It was stolen a couple weeks ago from the police lot. It’s one of the vehicles they use for surveillance. So far, it’s not been found. There was a van that went off the ridge not far from where Sophia jumped, but it exploded on impact. Mark Ruins suspects that it’s the same van that Sophia was in that day. No prints. No DNA other than some blood on the fireplace poker.

ERIC: Where’s the dog?

KELLY: Mark told me the dog was killed, knifed on the back patio. He said they checked the dog’s nails and teeth for possible DNA, but got nothing.

BOBBY: Yeah, that dog’s never met a stranger. But, she did tend to bark and get agitated whenever she thought Sophia was at risk.

ERIC: You think this was someone she knew?

BOBBY: I don’t know. What about the neighbors?

KELLY: No witnesses. Mark said the neighbors didn’t see a thing.

ERIC: I thought Sophia went back to Scotland?

BOBBY: Uh, yeah, she did, about six months ago. She went on some book tour or something. I’m not sure.

KELLY: So she just kept renting the house when she wasn’t here?

BOBBY: I guess. I don’t know.

KELLY: So what now?

BOBBY: We keep digging. They’ve missed something. (walks out of the room purposefully and determined) I know they’ve missed something.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Afternoon
Dr. Johnson takes a syringe from Vicki and injects it in to the IV. Bobby Taylor sits on the bed beside unconscious Sophia. Kelly and Sgt. Woodson stand nearby.

DR. JOHNSON: This will bring her back to consciousness, but it may take a few minutes.

BOBBY: Okay. Thank you, doctor.

Sophia begins to open her eyes, but is groggy and has difficulty focusing.

DR. JOHNSON: Sophia? Take your time. You’re still in St. Mary’s Hospital. You’re safe here. Vicki, will you get a small glass of water.

Vicki pours some water in a small cup, puts a straw in it, and holds it to Sophia’s mouth. Sophia takes a small sip.

DR. JOHNSON: Take it slowly, Sophia. Just a little bit at a time.

BOBBY: (takes the cup from Vicki and helps Sophia drink) Here, I got it. Sophia, can you hear me okay?

SOPHIA: (groggy and very quiet) Yes.

Kelly smiles to Sgt. Woodson.

BOBBY: We’re all here. Okay. We thought you might want some company other than the doctor and nurses here. (smiles)

Sophia looks to Bobby with confusion.

DR. JOHNSON: Sophia. Can you tell me your name?

SOPHIA: (quietly) Sophia Strong.

DR. JOHNSON: Good. Do you remember my name?

SOPHIA: No.

DR. JOHNSON: That’s okay. I’m Alex Johnson. I’m the doctor that’s been treating you here at St. Mary’s. Do you remember how you got here to St. Mary’s?

SOPHIA: No.

BOBBY: Don’t worry, Sophie. It’ll come. You’re just waking up so you gotta give it a few minutes. Okay.

SOPHIA: Okay.

KELLY: You remember me, don’t you, Soph?

SOPHIA: (confused) No.

Kelly is confused.

DR. JOHNSON: Sophia, do you remember the other officers in the room?

SOPHIA: No.

BOBBY: (smiles) Well, you remember me, don’t you, Soph?

SOPHIA: I’ve never seen you before.

Bobby, disheartened and disappointed, stands and walks away so that Sophia doesn’t see his expression.

SGT. WOODSON: This is temporary, right, Doc?

DR. JOHNSON: Could be. We’ll have to wait and see. Sophia, can you tell me the month and the year?

SOPHIA: (pauses) June, 2013.

KELLY: (quietly to Woodson) Two years ago?

DR. JOHNSON: Can you tell me where you live?

SOPHIA: I live in Scotland, but I just came to California for a while. Thought new scenery would cure writer’s block.

BOBBY: Pets, Sophie. Do you have any pets?

SOPHIA: (still groggy) I have a Dalmatian puppy and two horses, but I’m not sure they’re out of quarantine yet. I can’t remember.

Bobby begins to speak, but Dr. Johnson stops him by raising an arm.

DR. JOHNSON: It’s important that you be careful what you say or ask. Otherwise, you risk giving her false memories.

BOBBY: (angry) Well what are we supposed to do? We have to find whoever did this to her.

DR. JOHNSON: Rush it and you could do more damage.

Eric enters the room nearly bouncing.

ERIC: Sophie! You’re awake! (he stands at the end of the bed)

SGT. WOODSON: (quietly) Eric, she doesn’t remember us.

ERIC: Doesn’t remember? Well sure you remember your good buddy, Eric?

Sophia looks at him in confusion and concern, and shakes her head no. Eric looks to Woodson, questioning. Woodson simply shakes his head no, as in not now. Bobby again goes to Sophia’s bedside.

BOBBY: Look, uh, I understand that you don’t remember anything, any of us, right now. But, you will. You’ll see. It’ll just take a little time. Just get some rest and do whatever Dr. Johnson says, and you’ll be fine. And, we’ll all be in to check on you from time to time. Okay?

SOPHIA: Do I know you?

Bobby looks to Dr. Johnson who shakes his head no with concern.

BOBBY: I, uh, I don’t think I’m supposed to answer that question right now. You see, you need to remember on your own so that we know it’s your memory and not just something I told you. (he wipes a tear from Sophia’s eye with the back of his finger) Hey, none of that, okay? (smiles) We’ll get through this. You just need a little rest and it’ll all come back to you, and I’ll be right here when it does. Okay?

DR. JOHNSON: Gentlemen, we need to let her get some rest. You can try a few more questions later.

Sgt. Woodson nods in understanding. Eric goes to Bobby and pats him on the back in support.

ERIC: Come on, man. The staff here will take good care of her. Sophia, I’ll see you later.

Kelly, Woodson, Eric, and Bobby leave the room.

DR. JOHNSON: Vicki, let’s check her vitals again now that she’s awake.

INT: St. Mary’s Hospital Afternoon
Woodson, Eric, Kelly, and Bobby speak near the nurse’s station.

SGT. WOODSON: She’ll probably remember in a day or so, Bobby. I wouldn’t worry about it yet.

ERIC: Can’t believe she doesn’t remember me.

BOBBY: Of course she doesn’t remember you. I introduced you to her, and she doesn’t remember me. Not even meeting me.

ERIC: She’ll remember, Bobby.

BOBBY: (shakes his head no) She blocked it all out.

KELLY: What do we do in the meantime, Sarge? The trail keeps getting colder.

SGT. WOODSON: Look, fellas, I know that she’s a friend of yours, but this isn’t our case. We’re not detectives.

BOBBY: Yeah, well the detectives don’t seem to be doing too good of a job.

SGT. WOODSON: Now, Bobby…

Bobby walks away.

KELLY: What happened with those two anyway?

ERIC: (hesitantly and sheepishly) It’s a long story. I gotta get some reports written. Catch up with you later. (walks away)

KELLY: You don’t have to be a detective to know he knows something.

SGT. WOODSON: (scoffs) Let’s get out of here.

Woodson and Kelly walk away.

INT: California Highway Evening
Bobby Taylor parks his squad car alongside the cliff, takes out police reports, and then walks with the reports to where Sophia hit her head. He squats and finds the blood on the rock, then stands and looks about the area. Again, he refers to the reports and begins to walk along the highway in the direction the van had gone.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Evening
Kelly Walker (street clothes) enters Sophia’s room carrying a book. Sophia is awake and laying in bed.

KELLY: Hey. It’s me, Kelly. Okay if I come in?

SOPHIA: Sure.

KELLY: (shows her the book) I don’t know if you heard me when I was reading to you. I just thought you might like to finish the book.

SOPHIA: I don’t remember, but thank you. It’s a very kind thought.

Kelly sits on the side of the bed.

SOPHIA: (continuing) They’ve given me a journal hoping that writing might help me recall some things, but they took the television out of the room because they thought it’d give me false memories.

KELLY: Written much?

SOPHIA: (smiles) Not a word. What was the book you were reading?

KELLY: Oh, uh, Pride and Prejudice. It was my wife’s favorite. Sounds kind of crazy, I guess, but she used to like for me to read to her. This was her favorite book.

SOPHIA: Was?

KELLY: She died a few months ago. Car crash. It was instant. She didn’t suffer. I’m glad for that.

SOPHIA: I’m so sorry for your loss.

KELLY: Yeah. (intentionally changing the subject) So, anyway, I thought you might like to read since you probably don’t feel much like running around the hospital. (hands her the book)

SOPHIA: (takes the book) Thank you.

KELLY: You’re welcome. How you feeling?

SOPHIA: A bit lost, actually. Just sitting here trying to remember thoughts that won’t come.

KELLY: I hope you’re not in any pain.

SOPHIA: Oh, no. They keep this IV filled with some cocktail that keeps the pain at bay. (pause) So, how was your day? (chuckles)

KELLY: (laughs) Oh, you know, a few speeders, a couple fender benders, and one guy walking along the freeway who thought he was Superman.

SOPHIA: (smiles) So, just another day at the office?

KELLY: Yeah, something like that. There’s some things the academy just can’t prepare you for.

SOPHIA: Guess not.

Nurse Laura enters the room.

LAURA: Hey, Kelly. I’m here to give Sophia her sleeping pill.

Laura hands the pill in a small white paper cup to Sophia who swallows it and hands the empty cup back to Laura.

LAURA: Anything I can get for you?

SOPHIA: No, thank you.

LAURA: Okay. (leaves the room)

KELLY: At least they didn’t wake you up to give you the sleeping pill.

SOPHIA: True. I figured it was in the IV cocktail. Time release or something.

KELLY: If you want, I could read to you till you fall asleep.

SOPHIA: (pause) That’d be nice. Thank you.

Kelly takes the book and opens it. Sophia has a long, quiet sigh.

INT: Old cabin in the desert Morning
Don is on the phone as Roy stands impatiently nearby.

DON: Um-hum. (pause) (he fingers for Roy to wait) Everything? (pause) Yeah, well, we found we can only get service if we stand by the television, but it still goes in and out sometimes. But, you know where to find us. (ends the call)

ROY: Well?

DON: Boss says that there’s good news and bad news. Bad news is she’s awake. Good news is she doesn’t remember a thing.

ROY: Nothing?

DON: Nothing. Our orders are to wait here until we know our next move.

ROY: Don, if she remembers us, if she can identify us…

DON: Don’t worry about it, Roy. She won’t.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Morning
Bobby Taylor (street clothes) enters the room with flowers, and places them by Sophia’s bed. He also carries a backpack. Vicki is checking Sophia’s vitals. Sophia is awake.

BOBBY: Morning.

SOPHIA: Morning. They’re beautiful.

VICKI: Morning, Bobby.

Sophia mouths the word Bobby to help remember it.

BOBBY: Yeah, I thought you might like them. (he places the backpack at the end of the bed)

SOPHIA: I think these nurses work round the clock.

VICKI: (teasing) Oh, we do, we do.

SOPHIA: They do do a wonderful job.

VICKI: Always love to hear that! Breakfast will be up soon, Sophia.

SOPHIA: Okay.

Vicki leaves the room.

BOBBY: (sits on the bedside) You think you feel up to a little trip this morning?

SOPHIA: A little trip?

BOBBY: Yeah, I came by last night but you’d already gone to sleep. Talked to Dr. Johnson and he gave me permission to take you out of here for a few hours today. I thought maybe if I take you to, well, uh, to the place you think you just moved in to, that it might jog your memory. I’ll be with you the whole time. Dr. Johnson said it’d be okay as long as I didn’t tell you any information. You’ve got to remember it on your own. But, maybe just seeing some familiar places will help.

Sophia appears uncertain.

BOBBY: (continuing)(moves the backpack closer to her hand) I even took the liberty of going by your place and getting some clothes for you.

Sophia looks at the bag oddly.

BOBBY: (continuing) You really need to change your security code.

SOPHIA: Apparently so.

INT: Redman Horse Ranch Morning
Bobby drives Sophia into Redman Horse Ranch and parks his red 4-door truck along the fence. Sophia is excited to see her horses as they drive along the dirt road. The horses run to meet them.

SOPHIA: (voice over) They’re here!

BOBBY: (voice over) (laughs) And, they’ve been waiting for you.

Sophia jumps out of the truck and goes to the fence where the two horses have run to meet her.

SOPHIA: Wildfire! Bonnie! (she hugs and pets them both) Oh, it’s so good to see you. I hope you’ve been behaving yourself. (laughs)

BOBBY: Mr. Redman loves having them here, but he tells me often that he’s never bored. Between Wildfire knowing how to open the gate and Bonnie acting like she’s laughing at him… there’s never a dull moment. (Bobby pets the horses) He does wish Wildfire would learn to close the gate, though.

SOPHIA: So do I! (laughs)

BOBBY: Hey, come on, let’s go over and say hello. Do you remember them?

Bobby leads Sophia to the front porch of the house where HAROLD REDMAN and, his wife, SALLY REDMAN, are standing.

SOPHIA: Of course. That’s Harold and Sally Redman. They own the ranch. They take care of the horses.

Wildfire opens the gate and, with Bonnie following, walk to meet Sophia and Bobby, Harold and Sally. Sally comes to hug Sophia.

SALLY: Honey, I am so glad you’re okay. Bobby told us you’d been in the hospital.

SOPHIA: Uh, yeah, but I’m feeling much better.

SALLY: Glad to hear it.

HAROLD: Those horses there think they’re human.

SOPHIA: I know.

HAROLD: The other day I saw Wildfire just jumping. She’d stop, and then she’d jump again. I went over there to try and figure out what was going on, and that dang horse was imitating a frog! Frog would jump, then Wildfire would jump.

Bonnie mocks a horse-laugh at Harold.

HAROLD: (continuing) And, that one. I just don’t get that one at all. And, you swear you’ve not trained them to do tricks?

SOPHIA: Never. They’ve both been very unique since they were born.

BOBBY: I’m gonna take Sophie for a walk around the place. Maybe for a ride later, if she feels up to it.

Wildfire shakes her head yes. Sophia laughs.

HAROLD: I’ll go ahead and get the horses saddled.

SALLY: Oh, Sophia, I meant to tell you that I just finished reading A Piece of Cloth. It’s wonderful. I was hoping you’d sign it before you left today. I want to send it to my daughter out in Montana.

Sophia is confused. Bobby realizes she doesn’t remember the book. Harold doesn’t understand Sophia’s reaction.

SOPHIA: Uh, good, great. Um, sure, I’d be glad to sign it before I go.

SALLY: I’ll get it and it’ll be here when you get back from you walk and ride.

BOBBY: Come on. (leads Sophia away from the porch)

SOPHIA: (disheartened) What’s A Piece of Cloth, and please, please don’t tell me again that you’re not allowed to answer the question.

BOBBY: (hesitant) It’s a book. It’s a book you wrote. It was released last fall.

SOPHIA: (trying to maintain her composure) I’m a writer. I write for a living. And, you’re telling me I’ve forgotten and entire book? I, I just wiped an entire book out of my memory bank? What all have I forgotten? And, why?

BOBBY: Look, try not to get too upset about it, Soph. It’ll all come back. We just have to work at it, jar your memory a bit. That’s what we’re here for today. You haven’t been conscious for very long. Give it time.

SOPHIA: (long pause) Okay. (pause) Okay. (long sigh) Will you at least tell me if it was a good book?

BOBBY: (smiles) One of your biggest sellers.

SOPHIA: Well, that’s good to know. Will you at least tell me what it was about?

BOBBY: (teasing) Uh, I’m not allowed to answer that question.

SOPHIA: (humorous scoff, then laughs) Maybe if I hit my head again, it will all come back to me.

BOBBY: (laughs) We’re not that desperate yet.

INT: Redman Ranch Noon
Bobby and Sophia ride horses across the countryside and alongside a river. They then come upon fencing and follow it up to a house. While still on the horses, they stop and look toward the house. In the front of the house are two fenced in areas with horses.

SOPHIA: I know this place. I live here. Or, at least I did. I think. It didn’t look like this. All the horses weren’t here. The fences weren’t here. But, I remember being here.

BOBBY: Let’s take a look around. (dismounts and ties the horse to the fence post)

Sophia dismounts and lets Wildfire go untied. TOM HARPER comes out of the barn and greets Sophia and Bobby.

TOM: Hey, Bobby, Sophia. How you doing?

SOPHIA: Mr. Harper! How are you?

BOBBY: Hey, Tom.

TOM: How do you like the place now? I followed some your suggestions, and you were right. The place is a smash.

SOPHIA: My suggestions?

TOM: Yeah. It may not be the working farm that my father had, but it’s getting me out of debt and lets me hold on to my family’s land. (his cell phone rings) Excuse me just a minute. (walks a few feet away)

BOBBY: What do you remember?

SOPHIA: (looking around) I remember I just moved here a few days ago. I rent the place from Mr. Harper there. He’s planning on building these fences so I can move the horses over here. By the looks of things, I haven’t lived here in quite a while. Have I?

BOBBY: (gently) No.

TOM: (returns) Got a church group coming next week.

SOPHIA: So, tell me about the changes, Mr. Harper.

TOM: Well, like you said, it’s a great location for people wanting to get out of the city for a while. So, we’ve got guided trail rides. We’ve got hang-gliding. ATV rides. Kayaking. Outdoor stuff, you know. Right now, on the back part of the property, I’m building a zip line. That should bring in a lot of people. The house operates as a B&B. And, we’re thinking about building a few small cabins next year. We’ve got a large house garden here, so that most of the meals are made with local, real local, fruits and vegetables. Haven’t completely given up on the farming though. I rent out part of the land to a young man who’s doing some organic farming on a few acres.

SOPHIA: Well, I’m certainly glad you’ll be able to hang on to the place.

TOM: Well, anytime you want to come out, come on. You’ve got a free pass for life.

SOPHIA: So, how long did I stay here?

TOM: (confused) What do you mean?

BOBBY: Uh, Sophia hit her head recently. Some dates and times have gotten a little confused in her head.

TOM: You okay?

SOPHIA: Oh, yeah. I was just wondering how long I stayed here.

Bobby tries to stop Tom but isn’t fast enough.

TOM: You were here about six months, give or take, and then you went back to Scotland. You were here from, oh, I don’t know, June to the first part of January.

SOPHIA: So, I was here June of last year?

Bobby’s uncertain what to do.

TOM: (confused) No, it was about two years ago now. So, what exactly happened to you, Sophia?

BOBBY: Uh, it’s a long story. And, we’d best be getting back to Redman’s.

TOM: Okay, well, I hope you get to feeling better. And, remember, any time you want to come out and hang glide, come on over.

SOPHIA: Thanks, Mr. Harper.

Bobby and Sophia mount the horses and trot back toward Redman’s.

INT: Waterside Restaurant Afternoon
Bobby and Sophia sit at a booth as the waitress, TERI, comes to the table. There are a few other CUSTOMERS at tables in the restaurant.

TERI: Goodness it has been a long time since I’ve seen the two of you in here. Must have been a couple years now. I remember when you two were in here on a regular basis. Wait until I tell Cook that Bobby and Sophia are back in attendance. How are you doing?

BOBBY and SOPHIA: (together) Fine.

TERI: Can I get you the usual lunch order?

BOBBY: (looks to Sophia and nods) That’d be great.

SOPHIA: Thanks.

TERI: Okay, I’ll be back with your drinks in just a minute. (begins to walk away) Cook!

SOPHIA: So the two of us used to come here quite often?

BOBBY: Yeah. Yeah, we did. Usually for dinner. Once in a while for lunch. I thought you might like to eat something other than hospital food. This seemed like a good choice. The food here is great. Consistent. It’s typically casual around here for lunch, and then around dinner time they spruce up the dining room and people usually dress up. It’s a nice place. Same couple has owned it since it was opened.

SOPHIA: (struggling) Why did we come here?

BOBBY: Great food.

SOPHIA: No, I mean…

TERI: (places their drinks on the table) Cook plans on coming out to say hi to the two of you here shortly. He wants to tell you about his new halibut entrée he started making last week. You’ll love it. It sure is nice to see that you two haven’t forgotten us here at Waterside. Your food should be ready shortly. Let me know if you need anything. (begins to walk away)

BOBBY: Thanks, Teri. (long pause, both Bobby and Sophia are uncomfortable) (hesitantly continuing) Maybe we can take a walk around the lake after lunch. It’s not very long. It…

SOPHIA: We weren’t just acquaintances, Bobby, were we?

BOBBY: (hesitantly) No.

SOPHIA: Are we still a couple?

BOBBY: (hesitantly) No. Look, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to read between so many lines. You need to try to remember. Until you remember, we won’t be able to know what happened to you

SOPHIA: What happened to me? Why I ended up in the hospital?

BOBBY: (frustrated, but trying) Soph, you need to remember. Somehow. Did today bring back any memories?

SOPHIA: No.

BOBBY: What’s the last thing you remember before you woke up in the hospital? Close your eyes and try to remember.

Sophia exhales deeply but silently, closes her eyes, and pauses.

SOPHIA: (with her eyes closed) I’m flying.

BOBBY: Good. Now, what do you mean by flying?

SOPHIA: (with eyes closed) It’s a feeling. I was flying. I don’t see anything, but I remember the feeling. Flying. (opens her eyes) Back in Scotland, I used to hang glide quite often. Every chance I got, really. Maybe that’s what I’m remembering.

BOBBY: You used to say it was like meditating to you. Do you recall anything else?

SOPHIA: No. That’s it. Just that feeling. Flying.

BOBBY: Okay. Well, it’s a start. We’ll keep working on it. Okay?

SOPHIA: (smiles) Okay. Bobby, thank you for today.

BOBBY: (smiles) You’re welcome. You’re not in this alone, Sophia. Don’t think for a minute that you are.

INT: Sophia’s hospital room Morning
Dr. Johnson looks over a chart as he speaks to Sophia who is sitting up in bed.

DR. JOHNSON: Well you certainly are doing better. What concerns me is that your memory isn’t coming back, even with your outing yesterday.

SOPHIA: Everyone keeps telling me it will come back in time. Let me go home, Dr. Johnson. I can not-remember there as well as I can here, and physically I’m healing.

DR. JOHNSON: (concerned) Sophia, when you do remember whatever it is that you’ve forgotten, there’s no way to know how you’ll react. It could be traumatic. I don’t want you remembering when you’re home alone. It could be dangerous.

Kelly Walker (street clothes) enters the room and stands by Sophia’s bedside.

SOPHIA: I have people I can call if that should happen. But, really I think I’ll be okay. Maybe being at home will help me remember something.

KELLY: Are you going to be discharged soon?

SOPHIA: That’s what we’re discussing. Dr. Johnson here is worried that if my memory comes back and I’m alone that I’ll experience trauma all over again.

DR. JOHNSON: It could be dangerous.

KELLY: Well, we’d all be checking on her every day. She probably wouldn’t be alone too much of the time, and she could always call one of us if she needed help.

SOPHIA: And, according to what I’m told, I’m no longer staying out in the country, so I won’t actually be that far from the hospital.

DR. JOHNSON: Okay, we’ll give it a try. But, I want you to continue meeting with the psychiatrist. I think that’s very important.

SOPHIA: Agreed.

KELLY: Great. When can I take her home?

DR. JOHNSON: (smiling) I’ll have her paperwork signed shortly.

Dr. Johnson leaves the room. Kelly sits on the bedside.

SOPHIA: Oh, it will be good to see something other than these four walls. Hello, by the way.

KELLY: Hello. I just came by to check on you. Guess I got here just in time for the good news.

SOPHIA: Are you sure you can wait until he signs the papers? Sometimes these things take a while.

KELLY: Yeah. It’ll be fine. I’m off today. Bobby said you didn’t remember anything yesterday.

SOPHIA: No, but I will. (pause) I hope. Whether I do or whether I don’t, I can stay here in limbo.

KELLY: Did you do any hang-gliding yesterday?

SOPHIA: No, but soon. That will certainly do me good. Nothing relaxes me better than that.

KELLY: Maybe we could go one afternoon this week.

SOPHIA: You hang-glide?

KELLY: Hang-gliding, parachuting; my mother has always told me I’m part bird. I guess I’d rather have my head and my feet in the clouds.

Sophia laughs.

INT: St. Mary’s Hospital hallways Morning
Kelly Walker (street clothes) and Sophia (hospital clothes) slowly walk the hallways. PATIENTS and NURSES are also in the hallway.

SOPHIA: Did you grow up here in Los Angeles?

KELLY: Yeah, just outside of the city. My father was in in the army and my mom taught school.

SOPHIA: Did you have to move around a lot?

KELLY: No. We were pretty stable. My parents still live in the same house they bought when I was five. It was good. You know. No complaints. They were good parents. I didn’t get in (smiling) too much trouble as a kid. I’m still friends with a bunch of the people from high school. We even get together to play basketball from time to time.

SOPHIA: Oh, so that was your sport of choice?

KELLY: Basketball, track, and baseball. Track was my favorite. Anything where I could run.

SOPHIA: What’s so great about running?

KELLY: It’s just a feeling you get when you know that there’s no bat or ball or team to cover your weakness. It’s you. Just you. Running. Competing mostly with yourself, with your own time and stamina. And, if you run long enough, sometimes, you get this strange feeling like you’re almost flying, as if you could will yourself up in the air.

SOPHIA: See, I’ve never had that feeling when I run. Nope, never have.

Sophia and Kelly both laugh.
Sophia and Kelly round a corner into another hospital hallway.

KELLY: So, that’s why you became a writer?

SOPHIA: I guess so. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

KELLY: Your parents must be really proud of you? Being a successful author and all.

SOPHIA: (noticeable pause, confused) They died when I was small. I don’t really remember them. (long pause) Wow. Why is it I suddenly can’t remember her name?

KELLY: Who’s name?

SOPHIA: (long pause, then suddenly) Beatrix! That was it! It was Aunt Beatrix who raised me, and she’s always been really proud. She’s got a lot of spunk, Aunt Beatrix. Lived a lot of life, too. Now, that is someone who could make a great writer. I’d love to read her autobiography.

KELLY: How old were you when you went to live with Beatrix?

SOPHIA: (long pause, confused) Uh, only a year or two. Still a baby. She told me about my parents, and of course I have pictures, but no real solid memory of them. So, it was just me and Aunt Beatrix.

KELLY: She wasn’t married?

SOPHIA: No, she’s never married, never had kids of her own. To hear her tell it, I could be a handful at times. But she loved me. I was really lucky to have her. Besides, she was fun, and we had fun together.

KELLY: So what part of Scotland did you grow up?

SOPHIA: (long pause) Whew! I didn’t realize I was having trouble remembering this stuff until now. Uh, (stuttering) Edinburgh. Yeah, that was it. I grew up in Edinburgh. (struggling to remember) On 11th Street. And, Aunt Beatrix had a beautiful flower garden in the front of the house. Yes, that’s right. Thistles. (quietly) It was Thistles.

Mark Ruins rounds a corner and heads toward Sophia and Kelly. Sophia begins breathing heavily and begins to panic. Kelly notices the sudden change.

INT: Outside Sophia’s beach house Morning
Bobby Taylor and Eric Payne (both in uniform) walk up to the front door. Eric carries a black light.

ERIC: What are we doing here, man?

BOBBY: Walker called and said they’re discharging Sophia this morning. I want to make sure that the police have sent the cleaners in. I don’t want Sophia walking in and seeing all that blood.

Bobby punches in the code and opens the door.

INT: Inside Sophia’s beach house Morning
Bobby Taylor and Eric Payne (both in uniform) enter the house. The blood is no longer there.

ERIC: Well, that’s a good sign.

BOBBY: (reaching for the black light) Here, let me see that. Will you lower those blinds, Eric?

Eric lowers the blinds as Bobby turns on the black light and shines it on the area where the books still lay on the floor. He sees no blood on the floor, but the black light reveals splotches on the book pages. Eric walks to the books.

ERIC: Looks like they did a good job with the floor. What do we do about that?

BOBBY: (sighs) I don’t know. Once the lights are out, the residue on those books will light up like neon. (he walks to the bedroom)

ERIC: (bending to the floor and turning a few pages) Do you happen to know what she was working on?

BOBBY: (shakes his head no) (pauses) But, I know what I’m going to do with them. (begins closing the books and putting them in a pile against the wall)

ERIC: Hey, Bobby, do you really think that’s a good idea? Seeing these books laying on the floor might trigger her memory.

BOBBY: I don’t want her memory triggered by panic. I’ll show her the books later when I’m here to help her through it if she does remember.

ERIC: (cautiously) You never got over her, did you?

BOBBY: (grabbing the black light) I’ll check the bedroom. (walks away)

INT: Outside eatery table Noon
Bobby Taylor and Eric Payne eat burgers and fries at the table.

ERIC: So what did happen?

BOBBY: (hesitantly)(sighs) I just couldn’t take it. Her fame. I just didn’t know what to do with it or where I fit in to it. She seemed to handle it just fine; never went to her head. But, I just… (shakes his head) And, then, (swallows hard) then one night I ran into Christine and, one thing led to another. I thought Christine was going to be something special. I told Sophia about Christine the next day. Told her I didn’t think it was working out between us.

ERIC: Wait a minute, you broke up with her? All this time, I thought she left you.

BOBBY: I know. After a while, it was just easier to let you think that. It was easier just to let her take the blame.

ERIC: I don’t remember you dating Christine for very long.

BOBBY: No, I didn’t. A few days after I last saw Sophia, I went over to Christine’s apartment. Thought I’d surprise her on Thanksgiving Day. We were supposed to get together later that night anyway. I got there a few hours early, and I was met at the door by another guy wearing nothing but a towel.

ERIC: Ouch.

BOBBY: Yeah.

ERIC: So, that’s it?

BOBBY: What more do you want to know, Payne? I knew I’d hurt her. I just didn’t know I’d hurt her so much that she’d completely block me from her memory.

ERIC: You still love her.

BOBBY: I don’t know. I never thought I’d see her again, and then I did, and she…

ERIC: That wasn’t a question, Bobby.

INT: Sgt. Woodson’s office Afternoon.
Sgt. Woodson sits at his desk when Bobby Taylor, Eric Payne, and Kelly Walker (all in uniform) enter.

ERIC: You rang, Sarge?

SGT. WOODSON: Hey, how’s that friend of yours doing?

BOBBY: Better. Kelly took her home yesterday and I spent some time with her last night. It’s like nothing happened.

KELLY: She didn’t remember the house at all when I took her home.

BOBBY: No. She was still trying to find things in the kitchen last night. She didn’t know where anything was. But, she seems absolutely fine. Sarge, we saw blood all over that house and Sophia’s walking through there like it never happened. Not a twitch. Not a memory. Nothing.

SGT. WOODSON: Whatever happened, she’s buried it deep.

KELLY: I’m taking her hang-gliding tomorrow afternoon. Maybe if she’s relaxed enough, she’ll remember something.

BOBBY: Wh… (Bobby looks to Kelly with upset, begins to speak, but Eric speaks instead.)

ERIC: I don’t know, Kell. What if she remembers something while she’s up in the air? That could be dangerous.

KELLY: I’ll be right there with her. First sign of any problem, I’ll get her to the ground.

SGT. WOODSON: Well, there’s a bigger problem right now. Bob, I called the Sergeant on duty over at the police department this morning. Asked him some of the questions you had about the investigation, offered our services.

BOBBY: And?

SGT. WOODSON: (obviously nervous) The evidence they collected, it’s gone.

BOBBY and ERIC: (together) Gone?

KELLY: What do you mean gone?

SGT. WOODSON: I mean they’ve lost it. Sergeant looked for it after our call. As far as he can tell, it’s just gone.

KELLY: You mean someone checked it out, right? Maybe review it?

SGT. WOODSON: No one checked it out. They have a record of it being logged, and now it’s not there.

BOBBY: All of it?

SGT. WOODSON: All of it. Everything.

ERIC: And, that includes the blood from the beach house that wasn’t Sophia’s? The fireplace poker?

SGT. WOODSON: (nods his head yes) Police said they’d start a search for it, but they don’t think it got misplaced.

BOBBY: What are they doing next? What’s their next step toward finding out who did this?

SGT. WOODSON: I asked that same question, Bobby, and was told that unless Sophia remembers something specific they have nothing to go on.

BOBBY: (upset) So they’re just giving up on looking for these guys? Just like that?

SGT. WOODSON: Look, fellas, I don’t want any of you going out there and doing anything stupid. You interfere with their investigation…

BOBBY: There is no investigation!

SGT. WOODSON: …it could mean disciplinary action. So, please, make your decisions carefully.

BOBBY: (angrily) Which is your way of saying just sit around and do nothing, maybe even let these guys come back and kill her this time.

SGT. WOODSON: Bob…

Bobby leaves in a rush.

SGT. WOODSON: You two keep an eye on him.

ERIC: Yeah, we will. But, who’s gonna keep an eye on us?

Woodson appears frustrated. Eric and Kelly walk out of the office.

INT: HP break room Afternoon
Bobby is getting a cup of coffee when Eric and Kelly walk in.

ERIC: I don’t know how, Bobby, but we’re gonna catch these guys. One way or another.

KELLY: Absolutely. And, in the mean time, we know she’s safe. PD is making extra rounds past her beach house and we’re all checking on her every day.

BOBBY: You know what I keep going back to? They killed the dog. They killed the damn dog. That tells me they not only planned this, but they probably mean to finish what they started.

ERIC: We don’t even know what that is.

KELLY: At least the media is keeping quiet about the whole thing. If she goes out for milk she won’t have everybody after her.

ERIC: Maybe we need to move her somewhere else.

KELLY: You think she’d agree to that?

BOBBY: She might. She tends to be hardheaded at times. We’d have to present it to her just right.

INT: Police department hallway Afternoon
Officer Mark Ruins speaks to an unseen officer in the evidence room.

MARK: Sarge wants a thorough search. Go through every item we have in there, check the label against the log, and make sure it’s where it’s supposed to be. If the Strange case evidence is in there, we’ll find it. If it’s not, we’ll have a PR storm on our hands. It’s got to be in there somewhere.

Mark walks away and down the hall, passing janitor JOHN PLAINS as he mops the floor. Near John is a cart holding toilet paper, a large waste can, and various cleaning objects. John watches Mark as he walks by and then turns his head toward the evidence room.

INT: Outside the beach house/on the beach Night
Sophia and Kelly (street clothes) sit on the beach watching the waves.

KELLY: We were college sweethearts. Getting married just seemed the natural thing to do.

SOPHIA: You must miss her terribly.

KELLY: Some days are harder than others. Some days, I don’t think about it and then, all of a sudden, it hits me when I unlock the door that she’s gone. Have you ever lost someone?

SOPHIA: Not like that.

KELLY: I hope you never do. (pause) Care to walk down the beach a ways?

SOPHIA: Sure.

INT: Sophia’s beach house Night
Bobby Taylor (street clothes) walks up to the front door and knocks three times. He sees the light on, and then punches the code and enters.

INT: Inside Sophia’s beach house/living room Night
Bobby Taylor enters the room.

BOBBY: Sophia? (pause, walking further in) Sophie?

Bobby opens the back door and sees no one on the porch or the beach. He removes his cell phone and dials.

INT: Outside Sophia’s beach house/on the beach Night
Kelly and Sophia walk toward the beach house where Bobby is waiting on the porch.

SOPHIA: It’s a beautiful night. Sure you don’t care to walk?

BOBBY: Not tonight. And, you’re supposed to be taking it easy.

SOPHIA: I don’t know how much easier I can take it.

BOBBY: I wanted to talk to you about something.

SOPHIA: Okay.

Sophia, Kelly, and Bobby sit on the porch.

BOBBY: It’s about your staying here. I think it might be safer if you stayed somewhere else.

SOPHIA: Why?

BOBBY: Because until we know what happened and who did this, I can’t be sure that they won’t come back here and try something again.

SOPHIA: Come back here? Something happened here?

BOBBY: (frustrated) What I mean is that it would be safer for you if you were someplace where no one expected you to be, where no one could find you.

SOPHIA: Something happened here?

KELLY: Sophia, uh, we don’t know what happened and you can’t remember. So, until you do remember, why take any chances?

SOPHIA: Bobby, please, tell me.

Bobby is frustrated and looks away in hesitation and uncertainty.

SOPHIA: (long pause) (quietly) No. I may not remember what happened, but I’m not going to leave. That’s just letting the bad guy win.

BOBBY: Soph, please.

SOPHIA: No, I won’t do it. I already have police surveillance around the clock. Nobody can get in or out of this place without being seen. No. I’m staying here right.

INT: HP break room Morning
Bobby, Eric, and Kelly (all in uniform) are in the break room.

ERIC: I’ll talk to her. Maybe she’ll listen to me.

BOBBY: Won’t do any good, Eric.

KELLY: Maybe we just need to find her a place she likes better. Someplace near her horses or something like that. Make her see the positives for leaving the beach house other than her own safety.

ERIC: Hey, that’s a good idea.

BOBBY: Yeah, since you know her so well, why don’t you do that?

KELLY: I’m just trying to help, Bobby.

BOBBY: Yeah, I see how much you’re trying to help.

KELLY: What’s that supposed to mean?

BOBBY: That means Sophia is not your ticket to finally get to say goodbye to your wife. Look, you just lost her a few months ago. Okay?

ERIC: Whoa, wait a minute, Bobby.

KELLY: What make so sure this is about my wife?

Eric keeps trying to interrupt.

BOBBY: You’re grieving, on the rebound, whatever you want to call it. I get it. You didn’t get to say goodbye. Well, Sophia’s not your chance to do that. She doesn’t deserve to be hurt again.

KELLY: You’re over the line, Taylor. Soph and I are just friends. We talk. That’s all. There’s nothing more to it. But, even if there was, you two broke up. So, what do you care?

ERIC: Gentlemen, let’s calm down for a minute. Let’s just look at this as solving a case and…

BOBBY: I’m getting a headache.

Sgt. Woodson enters the room.

SGT. WOODSON: Is there a problem here?

ERIC, KELLY, and BOBBY: (together) No, Sarge.

ERIC: We were just talking about how to handle Sophia’s case… which of course we’re not working on because that’s not our jurisdiction.

SGT. WOODSON: Exactly. How is she?

ERIC: Calm as she can be.

SGT. WOODSON: Still not remembering anything, huh?

BOBBY: (quietly) No.

SGT. WOODSON: Do you think she’d agree to be hypnotized?

ERIC: Hey, yeah, hypnosis. People remember everything under hypnosis.

SGT. WOODSON: I don’t know about the legal use of anything she remembers. I don’t know if it’d be admissible in court. But, might be worth talking to her about.

BOBBY: Yeah. She might go for that. I’ll talk to legal about it first. Get their perspective.

SGT. WOODSON: Just a thought.

ERIC: Good thought, Sarge. What made you think of it?

SGT. WOODSON: My brother is using it to stop smoking. Something about hypnotic suggestion or something. Let me know if you need anything. (leaves the room)

KELLY: Hypnosis. Yeah. That might really work.

BOBBY: Yeah, she’s always been in to that alternative stuff, acupuncture and herbal remedies and whatnot. Hypnosis is probably right up her alley.

KELLY: Must have been her Aunt Beatrix who turned her on to all that alternative stuff.

BOBBY: Who?

KELLY: Her Aunt Beatrix, the lady who raised her.

BOBBY: What are you talking about?

KELLY: Sophia’s Aunt Beatrix. In Edinburgh. The one who raised her after her parents died.

ERIC: Oh, I didn’t know.

KELLY: Yeah, she was just a toddler at the time. She doesn’t remember anything about them. Apparently, they spent a lot of time in Beatrix’s flower garden tending to the Thistles.

BOBBY: (very confused) She told you this?

KELLY: Sure. Like I said, Bobby, we’re friends. We just talk.

ERIC: What is it, Bob?

BOBBY: (confused) She doesn’t have an Aunt Beatrix that I’m aware of, and her parents didn’t die when she was a toddler.

KELLY: Why would she lie about something like that?

BOBBY: Sophia doesn’t lie. I don’t know why she’d say something like that. Maybe as long as her mind was forgetting recent trauma, she decided to forget past traumas as well.

KELLY: Well, it certainly seemed like she was telling the truth, and I spot liars for a living. She likes to talk about the times she and Beatrix had together.

BOBBY: Is this Beatrix still living?

KELLY: As far as I know.

BOBBY: Can you try and find out? Just don’t draw attention to what you’re doing.

KELLY: Sure. Not a problem. (leaves the room)

ERIC: Why would she make up stories to tell Walker?

BOBBY: She wouldn’t. And, she wouldn’t make up stories to tell me, either.

ERIC: Maybe it’s got something to do with her hit to the head.

BOBBY: Maybe. I know how to find out.

ERIC: Hey, listen man, what exactly is going on with you and Sophie?

BOBBY: Nothing. Why do you ask?

ERIC: Your expression every time Kelly talks about her. Maybe I should stay out of it but, Bobby, you better be sure of what it is you’re doing. You left her before because it wasn’t what you wanted. And, it hurt her. So, what now? Are you looking for a second chance? Have her fall for you again? Then what? You hurt her again? That’s not fair to her either. Or is it that you can’t stand the fact that instead of falling for you, she might be falling for someone else? ‘Cause what about happened here today, this team doesn’t need that, man.

BOBBY: You’re right. You should stay out of it. (pause) I gotta get back on the freeway. (leaves the room)

Eric exhales sharply, and is worried.

INT: Old cabin in the desert Night
John Plains walks in as Don Bogart and Roy Bolton drink beers and play cards at a table near the television.

DON: Just enjoy the time. At least you don’t have to go back to that laundry job.

John walks in.

ROY: John! Well?

JOHN: They did a full-on search. They don’t have a clue. (sits)

DON: (laughs) Our tax dollars at work.

ROY: Does that lady remember anything yet?

JOHN: No, but I overheard a conversation, and they’re going to try hypnosis.

ROY: Oh, no. She’ll know it was us!

JOHN: Stop worrying, Roy. The attorney that works with the cops said they wouldn’t be able to use anything that writer remembers. Boss doesn’t think there’s any reason for you guys to hide out here any longer. Whole thing’s over.

DON: We took a lot of risks, and we never did our money out of it.

ROY: Oh, yeah, that’s right.

JOHN: Nothing on this caper went as planned. I don’t have to tell you that. None of us will get any money like we’d planned.

DON: And we thought we had it planned so well. Kidnap the writer. Hide our identities. Get the ransom. Set her free and call the police with her whereabouts while we make our anonymous getaways. (scoffs) I’ll never work a job with the Boss again. Too much danger. Not enough reward.

JOHN: Well there was no way for us to know a writer would put up such a fight. Geez.

DON: So, Boss thinks we’re in the clear, huh? Just like that. With my wrap sheet, I could go to prison for life if they use anything she says.

JOHN: Yeah, well, he thinks it’s over. Even if she does remember something, it’s of no use to the cops. We destroyed all the evidence and the van. There’s nothing to tie us to any of it. (goes to the mini-fridge, gets a beer, and begins to leave)

ROY: You think you’ll ever work another caper, John?

JOHN: (pauses) I did more than a few when I was younger. Did some time in the penn for a while. I only did this one cause the Boss talked me in to it. He needed me because no one stops to think about the access janitors have to everything. So, he fixed my application and the records check so I could get the janitor job, get in position to help him. He made the money sound really good, too. Mostly, it was the money, I guess. One more caper, I thought, and I’d be set in my old age. (pause, takes a drink) Guess not. I think I’m done with it for good now. (smiles) Unless somebody comes up with a really good plan. I think I’m headed for the east coast. Somewhere far away from here. Roy, Don, take care of yourselves. (he leaves)

DON: All this for nothing.

ROY: Seems like it was such a waste. What do we do now?

DON: I for one want my money, and I think the Boss is the one who owes it to me. Besides, until that bitch is dead, we’re still at risk of prison. I don’t care what the Boss says.

INT: Sophia’s beach house/living room Morning
Hypnotist, DR. KRUEGER, is talking to Bobby Taylor in one corner. Eric is standing near a recliner where Sophia is sitting. Kelly kneels by the recliner reassuring to Sophia. All officers are in uniform. There is a hard backed chair near Sophia and a metronome sits on an end table nearby.

KELLY: We’ll all be right here. You’re perfectly safe.

SOPHIA: (nervous) I can do this. I can.

ERIC: Bob, are we ready?

BOBBY: (quietly, to Dr. Krueger) But, she believes it. (turns to Eric) Uh, yeah, I think we’re ready.

DR. KRUEGER: (quietly, to Bobby) Let’s just see how this goes first. If I can approach the subject, I will.

Bobby and Dr. Krueger go to the others. Bobby stands near Eric, watching Sophia. Dr. Krueger sits in a hardback chair that he pulls closer to Sophia.

ERIC: Dr. Krueger, we were telling Sophie that everything’s going to be kay.

DR. KRUEGER: Yes, Sophia. If you begin to become anxious, I’ll bring you out of it. You may not even go under. Some people don’t. Let’s just see.

SOPHIA: Okay. I’m ready when you are.

DR. KRUEGER: Okay, lean the recliner back and relax. Close your eyes and listen to the metronome. (he leans over to a table and turns on the metronome)

A metronome begins ticking rhythmically and slowly, like the second hand of a clock.

DR. KRUEGER: (continuing) Just concentrate on the sound of my voice and the rhythm of the metronome. And breathe. In and out. Know that you’re safe here. You may remember situations, places, but you are here and safe. They are only memories. They cannot harm you. Can you hear me, Sophia?

SOPHIA: Yes.

DR. KRUEGER: Good. Now, I want you to remember back to when you woke up in the hospital. (pause) Are you there?

SOPHIA: Yes.

DR. KRUEGER: Good, Sophia. What’s happening around you?

SOPHIA: (calmly) There’s machines being hooked up to my body. Kelly is there calling my name. I want to speak but I can’t.

DR. KRUEGER: Why can’t you speak, Sophia?

SOPHIA: (calmly) My mouth won’t move, my voice won’t come.

DR. KRUEGER: How do you feel there in the hospital?

SOPHIA: I don’t understand what’s happening. I want to ask, but I can’t.

DR. KRUEGER: Okay. Everything is okay, Sophia. Remember that you’re safe. Remember back shortly before you woke up in the hospital. What’s the last thing you remember before waking up in the hospital?

Sophia has a long pause.

DR. KRUEGER: (continuing) Sophia? What’s the last thing you remember before waking up in the hospital?

SOPHIA: (long pause, begins to shake and express anxiety, which increases) No. (pause as anxiety increases) No.

Bobby becomes very worried.

DR. KRUEGER: Sophia, you are only remembering. You are safe.

SOPHIA: (anxiety still rising) No.

BOBBY: (leans quickly toward Sophia) Sophie, go somewhere safe!

Sophia immediately becomes peaceful and quiet.
Dr. Krueger looks to Bobby with anger. He quietly pulls Bobby to the side.

DR. KRUEGER: (whispering intensely) Do you not remember what I told all of you? That little sentence that you said could be very dangerous to her.

BOBBY: I’m sorry. I just can’t let her suffer like that.

Dr. Krueger: (understanding, calms down quickly and pats Bobby’s arm and nods, then returns to the chair and Sophia) I’m going to bring you back to consciousness. Focus on the sound of my voice. I’m going to count to five. When you hear the number five said, I want you to be fully awake and aware and you will remember everything from this session. One (pause), two, you’re becoming more aware of present time, three (pause), becoming more conscious, four, (pause) five.

Sophia opens her eyes and looks to Dr. Krueger.

SOPHIA: Did I remember anything?

DR. Krueger: No, Sophia. You became upset when we tried. I’d like to try another session, but you should rest a bit first.

KELLY: When can we try again, Doc?

DR. KRUEGER: This afternoon. Until then, Sophia, just try to keep your mind relaxed.

INT: Sophia’s beach house/beach Afternoon
Bobby and Sophia sit on the sand. (all officers still in uniform)

SOPHIA: I will remember, won’t I?

BOBBY: I believe you will. Whatever you do remember, you’ll be okay. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.

SOPHIA: I guess so. I managed to protect myself by blocking out a couple of years of my life.

BOBBY: Yeah, I… (interrupted by Kelly who walks on to the porch)

KELLY: Dr. Krueger’s ready to try again.

INT: Inside Sophia’s beach house/living room Afternoon
Dr. Krueger is again in the hardback chair, Sophia in the recliner, Bobby and Eric sit on the couch and Kelly is on a couch near Sophia.

DR. KRUEGER: Alright, Sophia. Let’s begin. (turns on the metronome) Focus on the rhythm of the metronome and my voice. You are safe. Nothing you remember can harm you. You are safe. Can you hear me, Sophia?

SOPHIA: Yes.

DR. KRUEGER: Good. I want you to remember back to when you first remembering seeing this beach house, Sophia. (pause) Tell me what is happening.

SOPHIA: Kelly brought me here. He said I lived here now. I had been in the hospital.

DR. KRUEGER: Good, now remember to the last time before that that you had been in this beach house.

Sophia has a long pause.

DR. KRUEGER: Sophia? What do you remember about the last time you were in this beach house? The time before Kelly brought you here.

Sophia has a long pause.

DR. KRUEGER: Sophia? Can you hear me?

SOPHIA: No.

DR. KRUEGER: (confused) Sophia, can you hear me?

SOPHIA: She cannot.

DR. KRUEGER: Sophia cannot hear me?

SOPHIA: I will not let her.

DR. KRUEGER: Who are you?

SOPHIA: I am Beatrix.

Eric, Kelly, and Bobby are aghast. Dr. Krueger is concerned.

DR. KRUEGER: Who are you to Sophia, Beatrix?

SOPHIA: I am her mother, her child, her sister; I am her past and her future. I am her guardian, her protector, the gatekeeper; I am her inspiration, her poet, her hope. I am a part of her. I do not exist without her, yet I only exist because of her.

DR. KRUEGER: How long have you been with Sophia?

SOPHIA: I was born here, in this very room, when she was traumatized, as you say.

DR. KRUEGER: Do you remember what happened to Sophia? Why she ended up in the hospital?

SOPHIA: I know all.

DR. KRUEGER: Does Sophia know you exist?

SOPHIA: No. Sophia knows only what I allow her to know.

DR. KRUEGER: But, Sophia doesn’t remember the (pause) trauma.

SOPHIA: I keep this from her. The pain was too much for her. Far too much pain.

DR. KRUEGER: And, you’re keeping other information from her, information about her life, her past?

SOPHIA: Too much pain.

DR. KRUEGER: (long pause) Are you filling the gaps of Sophia’s memory with information?

SOPHIA: Change the past and you can change the present.

DR. KRUEGER: (long pause, uncertain) What happened to make you so sure that Sophia can’t handle the knowledge of what happened to her?

SOPHIA: Too much pain.

DR. KRUEGER: (long pause) Beatrix, are you creating false memories for Sophia to remember?

SOPHIA: Yes.

DR. KRUEGER: You must stop, Beatrix. You must stop immediately. Sophia must remember only truth.

SOPHIA: Truth is relative. Too much pain.

DR. KRUEGER: (frustrated, uncertain) What if…

Bobby leans to Dr. Krueger and whispers inaudibly to him.

DR. KRUEGER: Okay, Beatrix. Will you tell us what happened to Sophia?

SOPHIA: Yes.

INT: Police department hallway Afternoon
Bryce Hall is doing paperwork as he stands behind the evidence room desk. Mark Ruins walks up to the desk.

MARK: Hey, BRYCE.

BRYCE: Hey, what’s up, Mark. Still working that Strange case?

MARK: That case is being filed in the drawer for open cases we’re no longer working on.

BRYCE: (laughs) Oh, one those. You know those are the cases that end up on television as unsolved mysteries thirty years from now. They’ll interview you about what all you’ve done on the case and why it went unsolved.

MARK: (laughs) Probably so. Guess they’ve really tightened down on security since the evidence went missing, huh?

BRYCE: Not really tightening down. Just finally enforcing the rules we’ve always had. We just got lax them for a while. Too bad that evidence was lost, but at least we’re on the right track again.

MARK: Yeah. (drags his finger along the table and then looks at it) This place is dirty. (looks around) What happened to that new janitor we had?

BRYCE: Called in and quit.

MARK: Didn’t the laundry guy do the same thing a few weeks ago?

BRYCE: Yep. And the two before him stayed less than a couple of months. We just can’t keep people around here.

MARK: (taps his fingers on the desk repeatedly) Hm.

BRYCE: What?

MARK: There’s just something about the whole Strange case I just can’t quite figure out.

BRYCE: You have no evidence and you have to statement. What exactly are you trying to figure out?

MARK: (hesitant to begin) Why… (pause) oh, it doesn’t matter anyway. Never mind. (walks away, frustrated)

Bryce appears confused, but then worried.

INT: Bobby’s apartment/living room Night
Bobby, Eric, and Kelly (street clothes) sit in the living room, concerned.

BOBBY: Mark Ruins is on his way over. We have to tell him what Sophia said. What Beatrix said. What…..

KELLY: I just don’t know that we’re doing the right thing by not telling Sophia.

ERIC: And, I can’t stop wondering if it’s legit since it came from Beatrix and while under hypnosis. How do we know this really happened this way?

BOBBY: We don’t. (goes to look out the window) I keep asking myself if I somehow created Beatrix when I interrupted the session and told Sophia to go somewhere safe. Maybe that’s the only place she felt she had to turn.

ERIC: Hey, man, this wasn’t your fault.

KELLY: Of course not, Bobby. Beatrix was there long before the hypnosis. That’s why Sophia was having so much trouble remembering her childhood when we’d talk. She’s just suddenly remember it because Beatrix somehow just popped it in to her mind.

BOBBY: (turning back to Kelly) Yeah, well, how do we undo all this? How do we help Sophia to remember the truth herself and be able to distinguish between what really happened and what some imaginary aunt tells her?

KELLY: (calmly) Maybe we start by telling her about Beatrix and everything Beatrix said.

ERIC: Either way, her legal case is out the window. No judge or jury is ever gonna give any cred to someone who gives a statement under these circumstances.

BOBBY: Maybe Kelly’s right. Maybe we should tell her.

ERIC: Hearing something like that. That’d be enough to kill me. Would we really be doing her a favor?

BOBBY: What other option do we have? Yes, it’s going to hurt her. It’s going to traumatize her all over again. She may not even believe us. But, Beatrix is never going to step aside and let us get to Sophia any other way.

KELLY: Mark will be here soon. Maybe he’ll have an idea. It’s just so unfair that these guys will never see the inside of a prison for what they’ve done. They deserve worse than that.

BOBBY: For what they did, they need to be under the jail. All for money. Just when you think you’ve heard it all.

ERIC: Yeah, all for money that didn’t get.

KELLY: What are you thinking, Payne?

ERIC: They didn’t get the money they wanted from all this. And, they probably know Sophie is a wake, even if they don’t know the rest of it.

KELLY: That’s why Sophia’s had extra surveillance. Nobody’s been seen anywhere near her place.

ERIC: But, what if we could find a way to lure them there, make them think that Sophia remembered everything.

KELLY: I don’t want to put Sophia in that position!

BOBBY: Neither do I! She’s been hurt enough. I’m won’t have her put at risk.

ERIC: Who said we had to?

INT: Sophia’s beach house/living room Night
The living room is dark as Bryce Hall, dressed all in black and with a black mask pulled over his head, quietly moves through the living room. He carries a handgun at his side.

INT: Sophia’s beach house/bedroom Night
The bedroom is dark, but Bryce Hall, dressed all in black and with the mask over his head slowly opens the door. There appears to be a person lying in the bed with the covers over them. From the doorway, Bryce raises a gun with a silencer on it, and fires three times into the bed. Mark Ruins comes up from behind Bryce and tackles him. The gun fires two more times. Mark and Bryce struggle, Bryce manages to turn over and face Mark, and Mark hits Bryce in the head with a fist. Eric Payne steps out of the closet and kicks the gun out of Bryce’s hands while Bobby and Kelly enter the room through the door quickly, turn on the lights and help Mark with subduing Bryce. Bryce stops fighting, and is bleeding heavily from the head. (all officers in uniform)

BRYCE: Okay, okay. (breathing heavily)

Mark pulls the mask off of Bryce and then nods his head.

MARK: I didn’t believe them, Bryce. I called them liars, accused them of trying to vilify a good officer, an officer I’d worked with since we both went to the academy together. (nods his head) Turn over and put your hands on your head.

Bryce turns over and puts his hands on his head. Mark cuffs Bryce and then forcefully stands him up. When Bryce stands, he sees Sophia standing at the door with Sgt. Woodson.

SOPHIA: That’s one of them.

Sgt. Woodson moves Sophia out of the doorway safely and Mark leads Bryce out of the room. Eric, Bobby, and Kelly follow.

INT: HP break room Night
Mark, Bobby, Eric, and Kelly are in the break room with Bryce Hall, still handcuffed, and sitting at the table.

MARK: We have her statement, Bryce. Descriptions of all four of you. Everything that happened.

BOBBY: We’re paying you the courtesy as a former fellow officer of talking to you here instead of at your own precinct so that everyone there doesn’t have to see you taken in in cuffs. But, don’t think we’re not serious about this.

MARK: John Plains, our former janitor, was stopped by the highway patrol on his way out of town. He’s down at the police station talking up a storm to try to keep his own self out of prison. Won’t happen, but if he wants to talk we’ll listen. You know how the game is played.

BOBBY: So, we’ve got her statement and his statement. There are APBs out for your other two partners in crime. The state Bureau is searching your apartment, that old cabin your parents left you, your vehicles, and even your police locker right now with a warrant obtained by Judge Hardiman.

ERIC: In other words, Bryce, you’re dead in the water. So, the way we see it, you only have two choices. You can say nothing, and ride this out, see what happens. Or, you can give us your own statement and hope to get a little bit of mercy because you have no record and you’ve spent your life in public service. Most of it, anyway.

KELLY: (after a long pause) So, what’s it going to be, Bryce?

BRYCE: (after another long pause) I want to speak with an attorney.

MARK: Okay. I know you know your rights. So, let’s get him down town, booked, and in the holding tank with the other criminals where he can wait for his attorney.

BRYCE: The holding tank? Do you know who will be in there?

MARK: No. But, I’m sure you will.

Mark stands up Bryce (still handcuffed) and leads him from the room.

INT: Sgt. Woodson’s office Night
Sgt. Woodson and Sophia sit in his office. Bobby enters, and Woodson looks to him with question. (all officers are in uniform)

BOBBY: He didn’t say anything, but we really didn’t expect him to. (he sits)

SOPHIA: So what happens now?

BOBBY: Within a few hours, all four of them will be behind bars. John Plains admitted in his statement that Bryce hired him, gave him the evidence, and told him how to destroy it. His story matches up with Roy Bolton and Don Bogart. The D.A. has agreed to try to prosecute based on the statements, but it may be tricky.

WOODSON: The problem being that there’s no physical evidence to tie Bryce Hall to that particular crime. But, he will be changed for what he did tonight.

SOPHIA: So, we have to wait and see how this plays out in court.

WOODSON: Yeah. It’ll be interesting to see how they all plea. The three with criminal histories are likely to plead guilty if the D.A. will reduce their sentence.

SOPHIA: So, they could be out of jail in a few days.

BOBBY: (reluctantly) Yes, but you’ll be safe. I promise you that. (smiles) Hey, I had them put pillows in your bed instead of you, didn’t I?

SOPHIA: (smiles, then exhales seriously) So, when you plan on telling me what this Beatrix character said.

BOBBY: It’d be best if you remembered on your own, Sophia. I thought maybe if we told you about this Beatrix it might help.

WOODSON: Your remembering could be the difference between the charges sticking or not. Seeing Bryce didn’t trigger anything?

SOPHIA: No. Felt some anxiety, but nothing other than that. Of course, all of you were there. I knew I was safe. I’ll try the hypnosis again, Bobby, if that will help.

BOBBY: We’ll see. (kisses her on the forehead) We’ll see. (embraces her)

INT: Redman Horse Ranch Morning
Sophia is riding a horse, barrel racing, except that horse always stops at the barrel instead of circling it. Bobby drives up the road, parks, and then walks to the fence.

BOBBY: (hollering out) I think the general idea is to get the horse to run around the barrel.

SOPHIA: I know that and you know that, but Wildfire doesn’t seem to know that. (she rides over to the fence) (teasing) Here to exercise your horse, officer?

BOBBY: I was hoping to see you, too. (pats Wildfire) How are you?

SOPHIA: I’m good. Really. I’ve been staying out at The Harper place the last few weeks. Still working with the psychiatrist, trying to deal with everything Beatrix had to tell me. Beatrix is being integrated or minimalized, depending on how you look at it. I’ve been spending my days writing and riding and hang-gliding. What happened in court?

BOBBY: Well, after all the postponements, they all pled guilty. Bryce is being kept away from the general population since he helped put quite a few of them in there before he was assigned to the evidence room. I don’t think any of them will be getting out any time soon.

SOPHIA: So, how have you been?

BOBBY: Busy. Working. Worried about you. Thought I should give you some space. I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me.

SOPHIA: (long pause) Care to go for a ride?

BOBBY: (smiles) Sure.

INT: Redman Horse Ranch Morning
Sophia and Bobby ride cross country.

THE END

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to situations or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional.

The Journey of Eternity

The alarm rang five a.m.

Lita sighed as she reached her arm over to silence the ring and then ran her hand over her face. As her fingers reached her hairline, she gently pulled loose strands of hair off of her cheeks. Her eyes darted back and forth across the room and a smile enveloped her face as she remembered the event for the day.
With a deep breath and a wonderful sense of anticipation, she rose, stretched her arms high toward the ceiling and released a long, luxurious sigh of happiness. In a flash, she got out of bed and found her slippers, nearly skipping throughout the room before she quickly made the bed with hospital corners and decorative pillows. Lita stood in the center of the room. “This,” she whispered to herself, “is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Lita savored every moment that passed. She felt the hot water as it flowed across her shoulders, she danced in place as she rinsed her teeth with mouthwash, and she felt the relaxing tingle of her scalp as she brushed her hair. She dressed in her favorite clothes, closely observed the colors of the fabrics and noticed how the clothes felt against her skin. “This,” she whispered to herself as she inhaled deeply, “is the best day of my life.”

The kitchen was already clean, if not vacant of the usual signs of life. The sink was empty of dirty dishes and the countertops free of clutter except for one aged cookie jar that sat faded but regal in a corner. Eagerly, Lita went to work on breakfast, and soon feasted on bites of biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs, and pancakes with strawberry syrup before cleaning the room so that it appeared as it had before.

With her stomach full and her mind at ease, Lita went to work on the simple daily chores that needed completing. Trashcans were emptied, laundry was washed and dried, and foods at risk of spoiling were placed in sealed containers in the refrigerator or the freezer.

When she felt the time was right, Lita sat on her bed and placed two glasses of milk, one small, one large, on the table beside her bed. Carefully she opened five small boxes meticulously, placed the plastic and the foil in a neat pile beside the recyclable cardboard, and placed the pills in a circle.

Retrieving the trashcan from the bathroom, Lita began her process of opening capsules and pouring the grainy contents into the small glass of milk until the liquid was a sandy glob. With difficulty, she drank the thick milk, and then used the milk that remained to swallow more capsules.

Lita soon felt sleepy and dizzy, her head spinning around the room while her body became increasingly unable to move. She laid down on the bed, stretched her feet out before her, closed her eyes, and sighed a final sigh.

As the pain intensified, Lita felt herself beginning to sink in a spiral of darkness. From within her soul, she heard her own screams and cries endlessly echoing from the past as if they were being shouted directly beside her ear while a chorus of distant laughter, sadistic and sarcastic, grew closer. Lita continued to spiral downward, falling uncontrollably and alone, unable to see anything about her in the darkness. As the volume of the screams, cries, and laughter strengthened, they wove together a tapestry of torment. Then, there was silence.

Lita found herself lying on a floor of air, nothing below her resembling structure, nothing above her except clouds that melted from one color into another, and nothing around her but endless horizons of white. Her clothes were those that she had worn at her death, and she carried with her the body that she had known in life.

Near where Lita had fallen, a young black man dressed in a crisp black suit played a bluesy rhythm on a wooden guitar, a sound that faded into being as his image came into view. He sat in a straight-backed chair that leaned against air as strongly and as surely as if it were leaning against a wall.

“Howdy,” he cheerfully said with a smile as he noticed Lita there. He continued playing.

Lita pressed about the air with her hands and wondered if she could stand. Momentarily, with assurance found in the smile of the blues man, she rose and eased closer. “Hi,” she said quietly. “Is this Heaven?”

The man laughed politely. “No, ma’am, not exactly. Heaven’s down the road a ways, I guess. I haven’t been there. No, ma’am, this is where people come to be judged, just over there, you see,” he nodded.

Lita looked in the direction of the man’s nod, noticing the blue shadow of an old man standing some distance away. “Who is he?”

“It’s not who he is that you need to be concerned with, but he’s not God, if that’s what you’re wondering,” he continued to strum as he spoke. “No, that there be the man who judges, the one who allows people entrance into Heaven or sends them down below.”

Lita studied the man as he sat there playing his guitar, a sense of enjoyment upon his face with each chord and, at times, humming a little tune. “So, who are you,” she asked curiously.

“Oh, I’m just another soul, ma’am. I reckon I’ve been playing this guitar right here in this chair for, well, must be over a hundred years now.”

“Why,” Lita asked as she stepped closer to him.

The man laughed politely. “Well, ma’am, it seems the good Lord likes my playing, so He lets me stay right here and strum. Besides, as long as I’m playing right here, ain’t no Hell Hounds that can get to me and, well, I’ll stay right here in this chair and play for all eternity if it’ll keep me from being judged that long.”

“Why don’t you want to be judged? Is it painful?”

“Um, probably only if you don’t make it past the gatekeeper, there. And, well, I figure once they find out how I learned to play this beautiful old piece of wood, they might not let me in. But, I’m thinking maybe, just maybe mind you, if I keep right on sitting here and playing this old guitar and making beautiful sounds for them to listen to, well, maybe when it’s my time to be judged they’ll keep that in mind and let me in anyway.” He paused as he strummed, looked at his finger placement momentarily and began again to hum along. “What about you, ma’am? You got a bargaining chip?”

“Bargaining chip,” Lita wondered aloud.

“You know, you play guitar or something?”

“No, sir,” Lita said slowly as she lowered her head, “no bargaining chip. I guess I just have to take what’s coming to me.”

“Well,” the young man said sorrowfully, “I wish you best of luck ‘cause your eyes say you got a tired and troubled soul.”

Lita shook her head in agreement as she turned to walk toward the old man in the distance. After a walk that seemed to take both forever and only a single moment, she stood before him.

The man was dressed in long white robes with ancient symbols etched in gold along the front and with a golden rope hung loosely about the waist. His hair was white and long, his hair and beard nearly reaching the airy floor below. His eyes were crystal blue. His sandals were of diamonds and he carried an emerald staff wrapped in a golden serpent, its body etched with the same ancient symbols as the robe.

“We’ve been waiting for you,” the man quietly said with a smile, his voice echoed.

“Yes,” Lita answered as she stood before him. “If I’m here, does it mean I’m going to Heaven?”

The man gently laughed. “No, child. Everyone comes here first to be judged, whether they are accepted into the kingdom of Heaven or not.”

“And, you are the judge?”

“Yes, child,” he quietly said, “I am the judge.”

Lita looked toward the airy floor, continuing to wonder how they were standing upon air, upon nothing, and looked about wondering how they could be standing within such nothingness and yet within everything.

“That is not for you to know, child,” the man said. “I know what you’re thinking. I know when you speak the truth. But, the questions that you ask are questions requiring great knowledge, and that knowledge is reserved for God and for God alone. The most ancient questions of the world, child, the most ancient knowledge, is in God, but God sees no reason to weight humans with such tremendous responsibility.”

Lita paused. She wondered what questions would be appropriate, but realized the old man would know her thoughts just the same. “Why didn’t God ever help me? I asked Him for help.”

“Yes, child, but some things you must discover for yourself. God gives you obstacles to make you stronger, not just to spite you. But, you didn’t become stronger; you grew weaker. God gives you unconditional love as long as you obey, as long as you remain faithful.”

“But, can’t God stop bad things from happening, stop pain?”

“Yes, child,” the man said quite calmly, “but if He simply stopped all bad things from happening, humans wouldn’t learn, wouldn’t grow. If all things are given easily, what’s the point of faith? God is everywhere. He has seen each moment of each day of your life. He knows what you have suffered, but he wanted you to grow. You failed.”

Lita lowered her head, saddened and unfulfilled by the answers. “Will I go to Heaven?”

The old man paused, brushing his hand over his beard as his blue eyes twinkled. “No, child, you will not,” he said, trying to hide a smile.

“The cardinal sin,” Lita asked.

“The most precious gift God bestows upon mankind is life. That life belongs to God. Only He can decide when it begins and when it ends. But, you took your own life, and took that right away from God. There is no entry into Heaven for those who feel they have more power than God.”

Lita looked into the old man’s blue eyes. “But,” she quietly asked, “doesn’t he know what my life was like, that I asked for help and never received it. Doesn’t he know what I went through every day?”

“Yes,” the man quipped.

“Doesn’t that matter?”

“No,” the man quickly responded.

“So,” Lita began, but knew not what to say or ask.

Lita felt her eyes again drawn to the old man’s eyes.

“You’re not welcome here,” he said sternly. “We have no use for you here.”

“You have no use for me,” Lita asked, uncertain what it was to mean.

“It means that God wants people on his team who will serve Him well and uphold His name. Only those people shall be allowed to pass through the gates and enter the kingdom of Heaven. But, you,” he snarled, “you would not serve His name well.”

“But,” Lita asked quickly, “other than deciding when my own life shall end, did I do anything wrong, anything that was so terrible that I couldn’t pass through the gates?”

“Not that I remember,” he said quickly with a sarcastic smile before returning to an expression of power and anger. “But you are worthless here! Be gone!”

And, quickly, the old man waved the emerald staff in the air and Lita began to fall through a sense of nothingness, an empty source of darkness without signs of life above or below or within. Frightened and alone, Lita continued to fall, unaware where or if she would land. But, then, Lita began to hear the most beautiful music.

He sat there on his thrown, a peaceful smile across his face as he played the violin, strumming it tenderly with his eyes closed so as to relish every note.

Lita studied him quietly from her position on the ground, his face reddened, chiseled and large like that a goat with two large horns emanating from the sides of his head. His torso appeared larger than human, strong and muscular, though it was the form of a man. And though, at first glance, one would consider the being ugly and frightening, when he played the violin Lita saw something beautiful within him, quiet, peaceful, and full of light.

As she began to sit upright, she felt the warmness of the soil beneath her and looked about where she had fallen. This was no room with walls or ceilings, no prison, no pit, no fire; rather, it seemed to be comfortably small but endless, warm but not hot, with clouds hovering above that would change colors and burnt soil for a floor that held inscriptions in ancient languages that Lita did not understand and could not translate.

Lita stood where she had fallen, watching him play effortlessly, his head leaned a bit over the violin as if nearing his ear to the birthplace of the beautiful sounds. He sat regally on a thrown made of elm and alder, tied together with the branches of willows. Then, his head began to rise upward as the music began to slowly end, and as he opened his eyes he sniffed the air repeatedly with a vulgar, disapproving expression of offense.

“Hum,” he quickly said. A bit of smoke exited his nostrils in anger as he fully opened his eyes and glared at Lita. He continued to sniff the air, leaning forward slightly to receive the news of her arrival.

In anger he stood, balancing on one leg that was that of a goat and one leg that was human but burnt red like the soil. He violently raised his fist and, looking upward, began to rage, his voice echoing throughout the universe.

“You dare to send me your table scraps!” He exhaled a plume of white smoke. “Take this one back!”

A rush of fear raced through Lita as she stepped backward.

Turning to Lita, he yelled less forcibly from his thrown as he began to pace. “Go away! You are no use to me!”

Quietly, Lita spoke. “But, where do I go? I don’t really know how I got here. Is this Hell?”

He ceased his pacing to look at her, his eyes changing colors until they rotated through each blaze of the rainbow. Silently, he bowed his head, contemplating the question before raising his head and calmly speaking. “Not exactly. It’s sort of the foyer, you might say. It is here where people come to be judged.”

“People are judged before entering Hell,” Lita asked. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t ask such a question.”

He quietly smiled at her, a knowledgeable kindness in his eyes as he took his seat, his voice calm but deep and riveting. “Yes, child. People are judged before entering Heaven,” he snarled as he looked upward and pointed, but regained his kindness as he resumed speaking, “so why wouldn’t they be judged before entering Hell?”

“I guess I just never thought about it. I’m sorry if I was out of line.”

“Not out of line, child, just,” he exhaled as he leaned back on his thrown, “just, well, a bit one-sided. You’ve heard all the stories of how to live your life to get into Heaven when you die and, as the stories say, if you don’t get into Heaven, you automatically get into Hell. Why should God be the only one with any say-so over who gets in to his kingdom? Don’t all kings wish to control who enters their gates?”

“I guess so,” Lita responded, her voice becoming a bit stronger, her body more at ease as it stood before the thrown.

“At least I do my own judging. That’s more than I can say for God. He just sends out representatives to do his bidding. Hum,” he grunted, “hope none of them turn against him. He might not like who gets in up there.”

“So, you’re the devil?”

“I go by many names, that is but one of them. I don’t like that particular one, though. God has convinced you humans that the devil is bad, completely and utterly evil. Like humans, God and I are much more complicated than that.”

Lita paused, thinking before speaking. “But, doesn’t a person have to go to one or the other, Heaven or Hell? Where else could there be to go?”

“I guess you’re going to find out first-hand, child, because you do not belong here and I shall not grant you access.”

“Why, if I may be so bold as to ask?”

He sat in silence for a moment, and raised his hand to his chin in contemplation. Long pointed claws gently scratched his cheek and a finger brushed up against an upper tooth resembling a wolf’s fang. Finally, he leaned forward, compassion in his colorful eyes as he searched Lita’s soul for the truth he already knew.

“Child, dear, child, if there were an easy answer to that question I would give it to you. Look about you at these words engraved into the Earth beneath you. Old, old words, they are. They’ve been here since the beginning of time. Within those words are all of the secrets of the universe, every question in the world answered. It’s all there. There’s nothing missing. Some of those that enter into my kingdom can interpret those words, some cannot. But, some, like yourself, wouldn’t know what to do with that knowledge if you had access to it and more probably would do nothing at all.”
Tears began to swell. “I was sent here because I wasn’t worthy to enter the gates of Heaven. Now you’re telling me I’m not worthy to enter the gates of Hell either?”

“God and I have a few things in common, child. One of which is that we seek out soldiers who will fight for us. I’m a bit more active about the seeking, you might say.” With a long exhale, he leaned back against his thrown. “But you, well, I never sought you out. While alive, your sadness prevailed, it surrounded you like a thick blanket of mud and muck. I didn’t fight for you because I have no use for you. You would not be a good soldier. People would not follow your lead. You would not do well to enrich my name.”

Tears began to fall as Lita stood before the thrown.

“Now, now, child,” he said as he reached for his violin and began to play. “I know how much you’ve been hurt. Listen and this shall soothe you. There is not a more beautiful sound in the universe.”

And, as he played, music enveloped Lita in measures of quiet comfort.

“What did I do,” Lita asked, “to deserve the life I had, to deserve this now?”

He withdrew his bow, gently placing the violin in his lap. “Life is but a game, child, a game played by the kings of the universe. Winner takes all.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You see, God plays games, creating difficulties in people’s lives, to see if you’ll rise above, specifically to see if you’ll rise above in His name, in His faith.” He lifted the violin back to his chin, but set it back down in his lap and looked again towards Lita. “You humans call me the trickster, but you forget I learned from the master. He wants, He expects His people to suffer. Now, what kind of God is that? What kind of God allows such horrible things to occur when he has the power to stop them, to prevent them from ever occurring?”

“But, didn’t you serve him once?”

“Serve is a term to be used loosely in this instance. I became tired of and enraged by His games. Foolishness, they are, and the cause of useless suffering. When all of the Deities work together, there is no suffering because there is give and take, honor and respect in all directions.”

“So, do you play games,” Lita asked inquisitively.

He laughed. “Well, I have been known to play a game or two in my time, but only in response to God’s games or,” he frowned, “when I am not paid the appropriate respect for my assistance.”
Lita’s heart sank. “I meant no offense.”

“I know,” he simply stated as he began to play, “I know when you speak the truth.” The music traveled about the area as if it had a life of its own, flying to and greeting each part of the area with its presence. “But,” he said as he played, “back to your question.”

“Can’t I stay,” Lita interrupted. “I can learn. I have no place else to go.”

The music ceased again as he gently placed the violin beside his thrown. “No, child. I could never trust you.”

“But, I can change.”

“No child. I don’t think I could stand the weight that you carry upon your shoulders. It’s a pain I can’t bear to see and one I do not wish to carry myself.”

“So, what will happen to me? If this is a game, and there has been a draw, and neither God nor you will take me in, where will I go?”

Graciously, he stood, walked to Lita, put his claws upon her shoulders and gently brushed her hair with his hand. In nearly a whisper, he spoke. “That is not for me to decide, child. But, it is now your time to continue on.”

Slowly, again, Lita began to fall, drifting through a space of dark nothingness without heat or cold, without time, without sound or silence, without the ability to move or to stop.

Her body landed hard against the stone slab, its jagged edges piercing into her body painfully but drawing no blood. Toward one direction was nothing but a series of stones that reached out into eternity and, in the opposite direction, nothing but water of the purest blue that reached out equally as far. Above her, a dark night with a sparkling full moon spread out over half of the water and stones, the other half immersed in bright sunlight with a full and glorious sun.

Alone once more, Lita sat upon the slab and looked out over the water. “What a strange but beautiful place,” she thought to herself.

A large snake with eyes as black as coal and luminous skin made its way out of the water onto the rocks to bask in the sun. Slowly, it raised its head towards Lita. “Yes, dear, this is a beautiful place. This is the edge of the universe.”

“Will I stay here forever,” Lita asked.

The snake looked towards the water. “People do not come here to stay,” it said, and returned its gaze to Lita, “people come here for a single moment to gain direction or instruction. No humans can stay here. This place is much too powerful.”

Lita thought she dare not ask about the type of power existed in this magnificent location, and instead carefully she chose her words. “If I can’t stay,” she began, “where do I go and how do I get there.”
The snake nodded its head up and down and smiled at Lita as it continued. “Yes, you are wise, child, not to ask about certain things. You were sent here by a powerful being, and I know you are here for assistance.”

“You already know?”

“Yes, child,” the snake lowered its head to the ground, rotating it in the relaxing warmth of the sun. “I know all, all that has happened, all that is, and all that will become one day. I know of the journey you have made thus far and of the journey you must take. However, the future holds possibilities, and your choices shall determine your destination.”
Lita looked across the water, contemplating birth and death and all that comes between, reward and consequence and penance. “Is there really such a thing as purgatory,” she asked the snake as she looked over the water, wondering if forgiveness would ever come.

“Yes,” the snake began, turning its head to look out over the water, “but beware, child. Purgatory holds no guarantees. Who shall decide what is and is not deserving of punishment and how much that punishment shall be? Who will guarantee a change in sentence when purgatory is over? No, purgatory is not a place but a riddle, and the riddle maker can change the answer once you think you’ve solved the question. Do not count on it to meet your wishes for purgatory may be best described as life. The answers to the questions you seek are already within. Look there to proceed. That, my child, is the best advice I can give you.”

“But,” Lita began, “how do I do that?”

“Go to sleep, child,” the snake spoke quietly, “and I will see that you wake up in the forest, a purgatory of your own. You will recognize your lesson as it approaches, but be wise enough to know the questions. Should you serve well, you will be rewarded with answers. Should you not learn well, well, your punishment shall be likewise.”

Lita’s body tired as she leaned against the stone slab and closed her eyes. Lita awoke on the forest floor.

From where Lita lay, she saw a small cottage, simple and plain, sitting alone in a small clearing. The house, tiny and unpainted with small windows was surrounded by forest on all sides. A large pile of wooden logs as tall as the trees sat just outside the wooden fence. Lita was alone, and though no voice spoke to her, Lita knew that she was to move the pile of logs in silence to a location just inside the fence. And, so Lita went to work, silently lowering one pile and creating another one small log at a time.

When finished, Lita looked towards the gate and saw a fox holding up its paw. Though no voice spoke, Lita knew that she was to silently aid the little fox. Lita poured some water into a small vessel for the fox and gathered fallen leaves from the forest floor for the animal’s pallet. She gently lifted up its paw to examine the problem and removed a thorn. Lita petted the kind little animal until it fell asleep and then, as it slept, she watched the fox simply disappear.

Lita felt herself drawn to the cottage. Entering slowly through the door, she found the home deserted and with little furnishings other than a small table without chairs, a small locked cabinet in the corner with no key to be found, and cast iron fireplace at its center. A few iron kettles with long handles sat beside the fireplace, lined up neatly against the wall. The tiny cottage had only three walls, its rear wall missing and a ceiling that never existed at all.

The toils continued endlessly, and Lita silently, peacefully, followed the voiceless instruction. She made a broom from forest branches and went directly to work, sweeping and cleaning and brightening the little cottage, all in silence. From a nearby creek, she gathered water one glass at a time and scrubbed the planks and the windows and the floors. She moved the pile of logs back again, mended fences, planted, and harvested. Lita worked hard and continuously, but always in silence. When Lita was in need of food or drink, food or drink was provided, suddenly appearing as if by magic. When Lita was in need of rest, a hammock made of rope would suddenly appear beneath the shade of a forest tree.

One day, as many previous days, Lita was voicelessly instructed to dust the small table in the little kitchen. Grabbing her trusty rag and vat of water, Lita went to work on the table, but found that the dust would not be moved. Lita scrubbed harder, and yet the dust would not release itself from the table. She tried the broom, yet still found no success. She scrubbed at the table with all her strength and began to worry. Still, the dust would not move. Lita looked about the small cottage for how to accomplish this task that now proved more difficult than it had in the past.

Dust began to rise from the small table sitting in the kitchen as if called to attention, winding its way about Lita as she tried to wave away the dusty cloud that reached out for her. Lita tried to move, to step away from the dust, to leave the little cottage, but her feet felt as though they were held down to the floor. Lita sneezed, a sound that vibrated through the tiny cottage and echoed throughout the forest.

Lita lifted her head in a sense of surprise, of fear, and quickly began to feel herself falling again, this time at a lightning fast speed, branches, stones, and soil scratching and piercing the skin relentlessly as she fell, and in her ears was the cold, harsh screaming laughter of sadistic glee.

Suddenly, Lita’s body was still. The falling had stopped and the screaming laughter had ceased. Once again in complete silence, Lita slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in the grave in which she had been buried, awake, alert, and unable to move.



This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to situations or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional.