Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye
3.17 - Mind Games
Original airdate: 08 May 2005 on PAX
Transcribed from Hallmark (UK)

Writers: Nickolas Barris & Kim Beyer-Johnson
Director: Larry McLean

Transcript by Hazel M
http://www.deanne-bray.net
E-Mail: hazel@deanne-bray.net

This transcript is intended for personal use only. Please do not reproduce without written consent.


Disclaimer
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"Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye" is owned and copyright © by Gary R. Johnson, Dave Alan Johnson, Pebblehut, Pax TV, Sony Pictures etc. This transcript is intended for personal and educational use only. This transcript has been written without the approval, authorisation or endorsement of Gary Johnson, Dave Johnson, Pax TV etc. Reproduction and/or redistribution of this transcript is prohibited, unless you have explicit, written permission from the transcriber.

You are free to use this transcript for your own personal use, as long as you do not alter the content, and you leave the headers and disclaimer intact.


Episode description
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A young woman called Beth Bruner reports having seen Senator Linda Ashton being murdered by a man in an alley. The Senator is supposed to be on a lone backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park, and nobody has had contact with her for at least a day. There is no body, and little to go on. When Jack and Sue go to ask Beth further questions, they are told by her parents that Beth is actually homeless and is diagnosed with schizophrenia. The team have to decide whether or not what Beth reported is actually true. Meanwhile, the team are introduced to their new supervisor, Wayne Morris. It quickly becomes evident that Wayne Morris is all about furthering his position in the FBI, and is not actually that interested in solving cases.


Transcript
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[ Bullpen - day ]

Lucy is pouring herself a cup of coffee and the others are standing around waiting for a case to work on.
Lucy: I had the weirdest dream last night.
Myles: Why do people insist on perceiving their dream stories with the adjective, "weird", as if a dream could be anything else.
Bobby: Some words have gotta be used in reference to certain things, or it just wouldn't be right.
Tara: Like… going clothes shopping with a girlfriend and calling everything you see, "cute".
Myles: Exactly. I'm sorry for whatever it is I started here… (To Lucy) What was your weird dream?
Lucy: You were in it actually.
Myles: Really?
Lucy: I said it was weird.
Myles: Well, what was my participation?
Lucy: You were a merman, and I was a mermaid, and we were living in the Potomac.
Myles: I have always been comfortable around… aquatics.
Lucy: (To Tara & Bobby) You and Bobby were fishermen, and you were trying to save me.
Tara and Bobby smile, amused.
Myles: From what?
Lucy: From you, the merman.
Bobby: Yeah? And did we?
Lucy: I don't know! You threw me this buoy, and I was swimming after it as fast as I could, and I couldn't get anywhere, but I kept swimming harder and harder, and just as I reached out to grab it… I woke up.
Bobby: Yeah, screaming, I reckon.
Lucy: (Laughing) Howling with laughter actually. The sight of Myles with a tail! Gave Levi a run for his money!
Myles rolls his eyes and turns to go back to his desk, but stops as Demetrius enters the bullpen and addresses the team.
Demetrius: Listen up, everybody. I've got some news. Our new supervisor's arriving this afternoon.
Sue: Are we looking at him?
Lucy: Can we officially remove the word, "acting", from your Acting Supervisor title?
Demetrius: Guess I wasn't the man for the job.
Lucy's smile disappears.
Bobby: And who do the powers that be think is the man for the job?
Demetrius: Name's Wayne Morris.
Jack: What do we know about him?
Demetrius: Ah, not much, except he's from Detroit, and he's young.
Lucy: As in how young?
Demetrius: 28 years young.
Myles: Well, one thing we know, he's ambitious.
Bobby: Too ambitious to be wasting his time in the field actually learning what real agents do.
Myles: Hey, it takes a lot of time and effort to suck up enough to move up the ladder that fast without any experience.
Tara smiles in amusement, and then the phone rings. She picks it up.
Demetrius: I appreciate the sentiment, but let's let the guy step foot in the building before we start hating him.
Tara puts the phone down.
Tara: Who's on deck for the next walk-in? We got a woman downstairs who says she witnessed a murder… she's not leaving until she speaks to an agent.

[ Interview room ]

Jack and Sue are questioning the woman who says she witnessed a murder. Her name is Beth Bruner.
Beth: They were arguing. I heard them as I came around the corner. I looked down the alley and saw them. That's when he hit her, and she fell back, and… she didn't move after that.
Sue: Could you identify the man?
Beth: I didn't see him very well. I was pretty far back, and he was in the shadows.
Sue nods and turns to Jack.
Jack: Are you sure that the woman was dead?
Beth: No, not totally, but… she didn't move. He leaned over her and felt for a pulse, and then he looked around to see if anyone was watching… he saw me. I thought he was gonna come after me, so… I ran. (Shrugging) I don't know what happened after that.
Jack: So why didn't you report the incident last night?
Beth: Well, I didn't say anything at first, because I was afraid.
Sue: You did the right thing.
Beth: Oh, thanks. She was a very influential woman, she didn't deserve this… no-one does, but…
Sue: You knew her?
Beth: (Nodding) Her name was Linda Ashton.
Jack: Linda Ashton, the Senator?
Beth: Yes.
Jack and Sue look at each other in shock.

[ Opening theme plays ]

[ Bullpen ]

Jack and Sue are getting the rest of the team up to speed about the alleged murder. Sue pins up a photograph of Linda Ashton onto the board in the bullpen.
Sue: This is a picture of Senator Linda Ashton, taken at a charity luncheon yesterday, six hours before she was allegedly murdered in an alley behind café Van Gogh.
Jack: We're saying allegedly because nobody's found a body yet… but we have an eyewitness who says she saw it all.
Sue: We've called the senator's office, and they haven't spoken to Senator Ashton, since she left at about six o'clock last night.
Jack: The Senator was supposedly headed to Shenandoah National Park on a three day solo backpacking trip, and we had her office try her cell phone, but there was no answer and she hasn't gotten back to them yet. Now, apparently her office says that she does this a couple of times a year… blow out the cobwebs and get away from it all. Sometimes she's out of cell phone range a couple of days at a time.
Bobby: Do we know who the last person to talk to her actually was?
Sue: Her husband, Jeffery Ashton. We just spoke to him. He said he got a call from her just after she left her office, saying she was getting on the road to Shenandoah.
Demetrius enters the bullpen. Following him is a young man.
Demetrius: Everybody, I'd like to introduce you to our new supervisor, Wayne Morris.
Myles smiles and starts straitening his tie.
Wayne: It's good to finally meet you all face to face.
Tara smiles and nods to him.
Wayne: I'm very impressed with the calibre of this team.
Myles reaches out to shake hands with Wayne Morris.
Myles: Well, we've all heard wonderful things about you too.
Wayne: That's nice to hear.
Tara starts smiling and exchanges glances with Lucy.
Wayne: I know how it looks. What's this guy, straight out of junior high doing coming over here, telling you all what to do, right?
Jack takes in a breath and turns his eyes towards the ground.
Wayne: Well, I'm actually just out of high school, not junior high, so you can put your minds at ease.
Myles laughs over-enthusiastically.
Wayne: Truth is, I actually do have a pretty good amount of experience working within, and managing high-octane teams… first, with my tactical assault team experience in the Air Force, and as part of the SWAT team in Detroit.
Myles: (Enthusiastically) Well, there's no denying the value of experience.
Bobby furrows his eyebrows.
Wayne: Now, what is this about someone saying they witnessed Senator Ashton being killed?
Jack: Well, we don't know much of anything right now. We're trying to get more details.
Wayne: Ok.
Bobby: And a body would help.
Demetrius: At this point, all we have is a woman who says she witnessed a murder.
Wayne: Well, if it's true, I'm gonna be in for quite the first day. (To Demetrius) Keep me posted.
Demetrius nods.
Wayne: In the meantime, I'd like to see all your other case files, so I can plug them into my active case matrix.
Tara nods.
Wayne: Carry on.
Wayne Morris heads out of the bullpen.
Myles: (Smiling) Air Force, SWAT team… not as egregious as we first pictured.
Tara and Lucy both smile and exchange glances again.

[ Alley where Linda Ashton was allegedly murdered ]

Bobby is inspecting the alley for any signs of foul play. Myles comes into the alley with a man.
Myles: This is Timmy Timmers. He's the busboy who was working last night. Claims he heard an altercation here in the alley.
Timmy: Actually, I'm not a busboy. I'm a tenor.
Bobby: As in… Pavarotti tenor?
Timmy: Singing - it's my art. My willingness to clear tables - that demonstrates my, my commitment to it.
Myles: Well, now that you've clarified your station in life, perhaps you could tell us where the two people were arguing?
Timmy: (Pointing) Err, there. (Indicating to the café across the street) I was in the kitchen unloading some dishes, working on my breathing exercises… You know, the power to hit the high notes comes from managing the diaphragm.
Bobby: Any chance you saw this woman last night?
Bobby shows Timmy Timmers a photograph of Senator Linda Ashton.
Timmy: Hair colour matches. I didn't see either of their faces. The man was around six feet tall, dark hair.
Bobby: Did you see the man hit or push the woman onto the ground?
Timmy: No, just heard them arguing. I had to get back into work. Anyway, I was scraping away and I heard these tyres squealing… I remember it was in the key of F, I have perfect pitch… Anyway, that's when I looked out the window. I saw the car whip out of the alley.
Myles: Any idea of the model or colour of the car?
Timmy: Oh, I'm not really a car guy… um, I remember it was dark, bigger… you know, like a four door.
Myles and Bobby turn around and look for signs of tyre tracks in the alley.
Myles: Hmm, no tyre marks.
Bobby: No blood, not to mention the body. Reckon we better find out what our alleged witness knows about this car.
Myles: Hmm.
Timmy: Are we done here? I'm on an hourly.
Bobby: Uh, is there another number where we could reach you if we need to?
Timmy: (Pulling out a card from his shirt) Yeah, this is my business number, err, I check it often.
Timmy hands the card to Myles, and Myles takes a look at it.
Myles: (Reading from the card) Timmy the Tenor Man? Providing your every operatic need.
Timmy: (In a singing voice) That's me.
Bobby: Cheers, Timmy, we err… we might be in touch, mate.
Timmy Timmers walks off back towards the café on the other side of the street. Bobby and Myles laugh lightly.

[ Beth Bruner's parents' house ]

Jack and Sue have gone to see Beth to question her further. They are talking to Beth's parents.
Mr Bruner: Beth doesn't live here.
Sue: She gave us this address.
Mr Bruner: She's been homeless for a little more than two years.
Jack and Sue exchange glances.
Mr Bruner: Did she report any kind of crime?
Sue: Yes. A murder.
Mr Bruner: Sorry you had to come out here and waste your time.
Mrs Bruner: The police have been here a number of times in the past as well. Finally, they stopped listening to Beth. Maybe that's why she came to see you.
Mr Bruner: Our daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 22. Uh… she hears voices and… sees things.

[ Bullpen ]

The team's new supervisor, Wayne Morris, is showing the team a colour-coded diagram of the open cases they have.
Wayne: I've done a case load analysis of the team's output for the last year, and I found that we could be operating more… efficiently. It's not a reflection of how successful you might have been in the past. What we're trying to achieve is how much better we can be in the future. It's all about having a systematic strategy. For example… given the new information regarding our supposed witness, and the fact that we have so little evidence to support the idea that an actual crime was committed, (he indicates on the diagram) I've moved the Senator Ashton case to goldenrod, or… lowest priority. However, I've moved the Capital Union Bank robbery to red, high priority section, since it's an active, high profile case.
Jack: The Capital Union Bank robbery is New Jersey's case. We were just interviewing some potential suspects for them because they happened to live in the DC area.
Wayne: We have a foot in the door… which means that we have an opportunity to wind up with at least partial credit when it's solved. I think if we pursue that…
Jack: How to get credit?
Wayne: Solving the case would be a more productive way for us to spend our time, than chasing wild accusations made by someone who hears voices in her head.
Demetrius: Until the Senator shows up, we're not really ready to ignore our witness. If it turns out she did see something, we'd be better off having investigated it now, rather than when it's colder later.
Wayne, looking a little annoyed approaches Demetrius.
Wayne: We have no body, and since the Senator isn't due back in DC for another two days, combined with the fact that she's done this before… I say it's goldenrod. (Addressing the whole team again) This is a perfect example of the value of systematic case ranking. Give it a chance to work. Once you work within the system, you'll see the beauty of it. Trust me, ok.
Wayne heads out of the bullpen. The team all look glum.
Tara: Anybody know where the hall pass is? I just had a flashback to third grade.
Myles cuts in. He is standing in front of the board with Wayne's diagram on it.
Myles: I'm not saying I agree with the style of his presentation, but uh… the ranking of the cases from a, a mackerel point of view makes some sense.
Demetrius doesn't look convinced.
Myles: Plus, I like his sense of colour. It's quite visual and the individual colours correspond to the appropriate… emotion.
Lucy: (Completely disregarding Myles' opinion) D, can't you appeal and still get the job?
Demetrius shrugs, shaking his head.
Lucy: I mean, he made me go back and change the ECs for the last three months because he didn't like the font.
Demetrius shakes his head in disbelief. Bobby enters the bullpen and immediately notices Wayne's diagram.
Bobby: Colourful. What is it?
Lucy: How to become an FBI agent in six, easy colours.
Bobby looks confused.
Jack: Just stick with our new, fearless leader and it'll all come clear.
Bobby nods slightly.
Bobby: Couple of interesting titbits just came in. I talked with the Senator's office. They're now a bit concerned. She's never been out of contact this long. And, even more interesting, Timmy, our tenor busboy… just got his career cut short. Seemed he was the victim of a hit and run accident.
Tara: Hit and run on purpose?
Bobby nods slightly.
Sue: Do we have a license plate, or a description of the driver?
Bobby: Only one witness… says the car was a dark four door. Didn't get any more specific than that.
Bobby hands the file to Demetrius.

[ Alley - night ]

Jack and Sue find Beth Bruner sleeping in an alley. Sue wakes her up.
Sue: Beth.
Beth looks up, looking paranoid.

[ FBI Interview room - day ]

Jack and Sue are asking Beth Bruner some more questions. Beth looks very rough and nervous.
Sue: Did you see a car in the alley on the night you say Senator Ashton was murdered?
Beth: (Speaking fast) No, it's not what I say. It happened. He killed her.
Jack: We understand that, but we're asking about a car… do you remember seeing a car?
Beth looks behind her, looking very paranoid.
Sue: Beth?
Beth looks back towards Sue quickly.
Beth: What?
Sue: You saw them in the alley, right?
Beth ignores Sue's question, and eyes the tape recorder on the table.
Beth: All my words… they're being monitored, aren't they?
Sue: Yes. They're being tape recorded.
Outside the interview room, in the viewing room, Bobby and Demetrius are watching. Wayne Morris enters.
Wayne: I thought I was very clear about where this woman stood and the colour coding system. She's goldenrod.
Demetrius: The Senator's never gone this long without being in contact with her office. They're very concerned.
Bobby: And a busboy ends up conveniently dead, right after we interview him, regarding the Senator's alleged murder.
Wayne nods mockingly.
Wayne: Let's review. Someone dies in an accident, and a crazy lady reports a murder… which she seems to have made a career out of, I might add. So, tell me… what colour is the Senator?
Bobby: This isn't the Crayola colour factory, mate, ok? We actually…
Demetrius puts out his arm to stop Bobby advancing towards Wayne any more.
Demetrius: Goldenrod. The Senator's goldenrod.
Wayne: Which means?
Demetrius: Low priority.
Wayne: Thank you.
Wayne leaves the viewing room, closing the door behind him.
Bobby: If he wants a war, mate, I say bring it on.
Demetrius: With guys like him, the best way isn't through. It's around.
Back in the actual interview room, Sue and Jack are still questioning Beth.
Beth: (Putting her hands over her ears) Oh, not so loud! Not so loud!
Sue: Beth, are you alright?
Beth stands up and backs away towards the wall, looking around in a paranoid manner.
Beth: I know what you're doing.
Sue: (Comfortingly) We're not doing anything.
Beth: No, no, no. It's not you. (She eyes Jack) It's him.
Jack looks confused.
Beth: I can see the look in his eye. Can't you see it? (Sue looks worried) He's filled that thing with microwaves! (She backs into the corner) They're invading my body right… right now.
Beth starts to look increasingly panicky, and tries to push her back closer to the walls.
Jack: Beth, calm down.
Beth has started to edge her way along the wall towards the door.
Beth: No, no, no, no. I'm not listening to you anymore. You're taking away my ???, aren't you? Well, I won't let you do it. I won't let you drain me!
Beth then quickly opens the door and runs out.
Sue: Beth!
Sue and Levi run out after Beth into the corridor.
Sue: Beth! It's just me!
Beth stops in the corridor.
Sue: He's gone.
Beth: (Covering her ears) They're controlling me. They're sending me thoughts.
Sue: No, Beth, Jack was just asking questions.
Beth: (Speaking fast) That's how it starts. They draw you in, then they fill you with poison. They control your brain, oh, they make you do things. I can't tell them what I know. They'll use it against me.
Sue: Tell them what?
Beth: Bora-Bora made them crazy.
Sue: Bora-Bora? Beth, I don't…
Beth: Ssshhh! They'll hurt us.
Sue: Nobody wants to hurt you.
Beth: I have to leave. Uh-uh, it's not safe here.
Beth turns to leave, but Sue puts out her arm indicating her to stop.
Sue: Beth, please…
Levi groans and Beth stoops down to pet him.

[ Later in the corridor ]

Sue is talking to Jack and Demetrius about Beth.
Sue: She needs a doctor. We've gotta help her.
Jack: We can't unless she asks for it. Like it or not, it's the law. As she's a witness, we can subpoena her to testify, but we can't hold her.
Demetrius: She hasn't done anything illegal. If she wants to leave, we can't stop her.

[ Bullpen ]

Lucy enters the bullpen and approaches Jack, Demetrius and Tara, who are all gathered at Jack's desk.
Lucy: I just picked up a little Intel about our new friend, Wayne. Turns out he was in the Air Force, but he wasn't a fighter pilot making periless flights through the hot zone. He was a cargo loader for transport planes. But he did have two other loaders working under him.
Tara: (Sarcastically) Can't say he wasn't a supervisor.
Demetrius: I know. I talked to Simonson of the SWAT team over at Detroit. He said that the closest Wayne ever got to SWAT action was making coffee runs for the team in global command post.
Jack: No…
Tara: You'd think a guy could be a little smarter about the stories he tells. After all, we are trained in investigative techniques.
Demetrius: Which, apparently, is not his forte. He's been with the Bureau three years, he's never solved a case.
Sue approaches the group and hands Jack a file.
Sue: You might wanna check this out. A copy of Jeffery Ashton's drivers license and registration.
Demetrius eyes Sue.
Sue: Not that I'm working on the Senator's case.
Demetrius gives a slight smile. Tara is looking over the file.
Tara: Fits the description the busboy gave of the man he saw in the alley. And… he drives a dark grey four door.
Sue: (To Jack) Don't we have business on a red case that just happens to be in the vicinity of the husband's office?
Jack: I've always loved honing my interviewing skills on my lunch hour. How about you?
Jack gets up from his desk and Sue smiles.

[ Jeffery Ashton's office ]

Jack and Sue are questioning Jeffery Ashton, the Senator's husband.
Sue: Do you have a system in place to reach your wife in case of an emergency?
Jeffery Ashton: No, except for calling her cell.
Jack: And of course, you've done that..?
Jeffery Ashton: Yes.
Sue: And you're not worried?
Jeffery Ashton: Well, a bit. The park that she's backpacking in is very remote. Sometimes, there is no reception. It's her way of getting away, and reflecting on everything… We're both pretty independent people.
Jack: Would you characterise your relationship as a distant one?
Jeffery Ashton: No, not at all. We're like every other couple. We have our rough spots, but we work through all that.
Jack: When was the last time you saw your wife?
Jeffery Ashton: At a charity luncheon yesterday, held by Larry Prince… You know, the mystery writer.
Jack: So you spoke to her a little after six that night?
Jeffery Ashton: Yes, that's right.
Sue: Have you ever had dinner at a place called Café Van Gogh?
Jeffery Ashton: Linda and I used to go there all of the time. If your next question is, "Were we there around seven o'clock of the night that you think she went missing?" The answer is, "no".
Jack: So, where were you at that time?
Jeffery Ashton: Well, do I need to have my lawyer present for this?
Jack: I don't know. Do you?
Jeffery Ashton: I was out jogging last night.
Jack: Alone?
Jeffery Ashton: Yes, like always. I love my wife. If you're implying I'm somehow involved in her disappearance… You're way off base. Our marriage has never been better. As a matter of fact, we're renewing our vows. I just purchased the tickets for our vacation. We're going next week. We're going to Bora-Bora.
Jack: Bora-Bora?
Jeffery Ashton: It's where we went on our honeymoon. Is there a problem with that?
Jack: No, no problem at all. As long as your wife goes with you.

[ Street ]

Jack, Sue and Levi are headed back to the car.
Jack: Beth mentioned Bora-Bora before.
Sue: You have an idea how it connects?
Jack: I was hoping you might.
Sue shakes her head. As they reach the car, a man turns to face them, having just put a note under the front windscreen wiper. When he sees them look funny at him, he looks uneasy.
Man: Err, this your car?
Jack: No, it's the FBI's.
Man: Are you serious?
Jack: 'Fraid so.
The man starts laughing a little nervously.
Man: Guess it doesn't pay to swerve for squirrels, does it?
Jack now realises what the man is saying and a look of "oh, no" comes over his face.
Man: There's not too much damage. I think it looks a lot worse than it actually is.
Jack goes around to the passenger side of the car to look and his expression gets worse.
Man: If it makes you feel any better… the squirrel got away.

[ Bullpen ]

Jack is getting told off by Wayne Morris, the new supervisor.
Wayne: This is unacceptable behaviour.
Jack: The guy had insurance, nobody got hurt.
Wayne: I'm not talking about the car, I'm talking about what you were doing when it happened! The accident occurred in front of Jeffery Ashton's office. The Senator's case is goldenrod, how complicated is that to understand?!
Getting annoyed, Demetrius now approaches Wayne.
Demetrius: It's not complicated, just doesn't make sense!
Wayne: Are you questioning my investigative instincts?
Demetrius: I don't need to question them. I've already come up with that answer.
Wayne: Because I'm one of the youngest supervisors in the FBI, or because I got the job you wanted?
Demetrius: Because you don't deserve to be in this bullpen with real FBI agents. You're a fraud. Hey, we know you were only a cargo loader in the Air Force, and anything you ever saw in the SWAT team was a phone on a desk inside the command centre!
The rest of the team are starting to look a little worried about Demetrius' confrontation with Wayne.
Wayne: You wasted man hours investigating me? Is that before or after you started your little mutiny? (He smiles cruelly) This isn't gonna work. I thought you were a professional. Professional enough to forget about your petty little insecurities and follow authority! But now I see you need to go. The Applicants Division should be something you can handle. And who knows? You might even stand out in a room full of rookies.
Demetrius: I was hoping my instincts were wrong about you… but they weren't.
Wayne looks very pleased with himself, and heads out of the bullpen.

[ FBI building corridor ]

Jack is comforting Demetrius about Wayne's threat.
Jack: He's an empty suit! You just said what needed to be said. He doesn't have the power to get you outta here.
Demetrius doesn't look entirely convinced.
Demetrius: He might. Special agent in charge could feel forced to go along with it, just to respect the chain of command.
Jack nods slightly. Lucy approaches them.
Lucy: Jack, D. Metro PD just called. They just found Senator Ashton's body in a dumpster half a mile from Café Van Gogh.
Jack and Demetrius exchange glances.

[ Bullpen ]

Wayne is talking to the team about the Senator Ashton case, which he now seems very enthusiastic about.
Wayne: Media Relations has gotten calls from most of the Senate, and every major paper which covers US politics. We are under the microscope here, and I have a meeting in five minutes to update the higher-ups of where we stand on solving the murder of Senator Linda Ashton.
Wayne looks to the team for updates. Nobody responds. As everybody stays silent, Jack takes in a breath, gets up and walks over to the board which has Wayne's case priority diagram on it.
Jack: Well… Since the Senator Ashton case is a (he indicates on the diagram) goldenrod… I'm afraid we're just not going to be able to get to it. (He indicates to the red cases) That is, unless we solve all of our more urgent cases, in a colour coded manner of speaking.
Jack goes back to where he was sitting.
Wayne: I know we've had a difference of opinion about this case, because you didn't have anything to go on… but that doesn't mean I ever wanted to drop it completely. I mean, now that we're actually onto something, I'm confident that I can keep it all on track. So, do we have any updates? Anything I can take upstairs?
The team remains silent. Sue clears her throat and looks to Demetrius for approval. Demetrius nods.
Sue: The forensics report came back on Senator Ashton. Err, she died from a blow to the temple, which caused a brain bleed.
Wayne: You investigated the crime scene… and you didn't find any blood after she died from a blow to the head?
Sue: There was nothing to find. Err, the Senator's external injury was minor… just a small cut. The coroner confirms there could have been no blood at all.
Sue looks to Jack for him to continue.
Jack: Except, maybe on the murder weapon.
Wayne: Ok, and we don't have that. What else do we know?
Tara: There were two types of particles found in the Senator's wound… Cement, which wasn't found in the alley from behind Café Van Gogh, and err, pavement fragments that are consistent with the alley.
Wayne nods.
Sue: Forensics point to the idea that the Senator was killed in that alley, which confirms Beth's account.
Wayne: Then I think our next move is to get her back in here as quickly as possible.
Demetrius looks amused at Wayne's stating the obvious.
Sue: We've been looking since last night. Metro PD as an APB out on her, but so far… we haven't found her.
Wayne: (Enthusiastically) Well, keep looking!
Sue doesn't look amused at being spoken to in that way.
Tara: We also know that the last call made on Senator Ashton's cell phone was to her husband, no other calls were made. And she didn't purchase anything on her credit cards after she left her Senate office.
Lucy approaches the group and addresses Wayne.
Lucy: The guys from upstairs just called. They're ready for you.
Wayne nods and straightens his jacket.
Wayne: Ok, alright. Alright, you guys keep lining them up and I'll keep knocking them down.
Jack rolls his eyes.
Wayne: (Indicating on the case diagram) And err, obviously, move this up to red on the matrix.
Jack: Good instinct.
Wayne: Yeah.
Wayne leaves the bullpen. Everybody looks annoyed.
Lucy: (To Sue) I've been doing the background work on Jeffery Ashton you wanted…
Sue nods.
Lucy: Turns out Senator Ashton and her hubby weren't as solid as he led us to believe. She filed for divorce three months ago.

[ Jeffery Ashton's house ]

Jack and Sue have gone to talk to Jeffery Ashton about Linda Ashton filing for divorce.
Jack: It's come to our attention that Linda had filed for a divorce, against your wishes. We were wondering why you hadn't mentioned that?
Jeffery Ashton: I told you we had some rough spots.
Jack: You still own a black BMW?
Jeffery Ashton: Yes.
Jack: Mind if we have a look at it?
Jeffery Ashton: If this is your way of saying that you suspect me of my wife's murder, and this has turned into an official investigation… I think we're done here. You can contact my attorney for anything further.

[ Street ]

Sue and Lucy, along with Levi, are exiting a coffee shops with hot drinks.
Lucy: When anybody lawyers up that quickly, it's never a good sign.
Just then, Beth comes up behind Sue and Lucy and taps them both on the shoulder. They turn around.
Beth: He's after me!
Sue: Who's after you?
Beth: The shadowed man!
Sue and Lucy exchange glances.

[ Sue & Lucy's apartment - night ]

Jack has come over to ask Beth a few questions. Jack shows a photograph of Jeffery Ashton to Beth.
Jack: Is this the man that you saw in the alley?
Beth doesn't really look up from the food she's eating.
Beth: I told you before, he was in shadow, I couldn't see him clearly.
Jack: Well, how can you be sure it's the same man if you didn't see him well?
Beth: Because it was. I could feel him. He's always the same, and nobody knows who he really is.
Jack and Sue glance at each other.
Beth: You're a really good cook, Lucy. Crock-pot dinners. Oh, I like them. (To Sue) Hmm, and I really like the clothes you gave me too. You've been nice. Most people… they treat you know, people like me… we're invisible.
Beth laughs to herself a little, and then continues to eat.
Jack: Beth, what do you know about Bora-Bora?
Beth: It's a pollinated island.
Sue: You've mentioned before that it was the key. The key to what?
Beth looks alarmed, and puts up her hand.
Beth: I can't talk about that.
Sue: Why not?
Beth: (In a hushed tone) I told you, they're watching. (Looking toward the ceiling) And he's… he's watching with them.
Jack glances up at the ceiling.
Beth: Oh, he's evil. We can't let them think we know. I've gotta go. I've gotta go before they start listening in.
Beth stands from the table and starts to walk towards the door. Sue gets up and puts out her hands to stop her. Beth darts back away from her, raising her hands to her ears. Sue puts her hands up to show Beth she doesn't mean any harm.
Sue: Please, don't go. I'm sorry. We won't ask you anymore questions, not tonight. We want you to come with us now. We'd like to take you to a hotel… give you a nice place to sleep, and it'll be warm.
Paranoid, Beth looks behind her, then turns back to Sue.
Beth: (In a hushed tone) Is it safe?
Sue: Yes, it's safe.

[ FBI building corridor - day ]

Jack and Sue are headed towards the bullpen. Wayne sees them and stops them.
Wayne: Sue, Jack, hold it a minute. I heard you had Beth Bruner in your custody last night and you let her go?
Sue: We didn't "let her go"…
Jack: We put her up in a hotel. She's a witness, not a criminal. If she wants to leave of her own accord, we can't stop her.
Wayne: We can now. An old friend has a brother who works Metro PD. He heard I was working the Senator's case. He called to tell me that your Beth has a violent history. She nearly killed a man two years ago by hitting him over the head with a brick from an alley. You ever consider that maybe she's been playing you, she reported the murder to put you on the wrong trail, because she's the one who committed it? Hmm?
Jack: (Sounding annoyed) She's a homeless schizophrenic, who comes and goes everywhere without anyone noticing. I hardly think she would alert us to a crime that no-one would ever suspect her of in a million years, Wayne.
Wayne: Your opinion. Either way, we need to talk to her. Pull everyone from the team off of what they're doing. Find her. Bring her into custody before the day is up, ok?
Wayne turns and walks off in the opposite direction from the bullpen. Jack and Sue both look annoyed, but turn and head for the bullpen.

[ An alley - night ]

Bobby and Myles are asking a load of homeless people in an alley if they've seen Beth Bruner. Bobby approaches a couple of older people. He shows them Beth's photograph.
Bobby: I'm uh, looking for this woman. Guy told me that uh, we might find her over here.
The older woman points down the alley.
Woman: She lives over there.
Meanwhile, Myles is showing Beth's photograph to a middle-aged person. They shake their head. Myles pulls a sandwich out from a bag he's carrying, and hands it to the person.
Myles: Would you uh, would you like a sandwich?
The person takes the sandwich. Bobby and Myles walk over to each other.
Bobby: Hey.
Bobby points towards an old car that is sitting in the alley.
Myles: Dark four door.
Bobby: Yep. The door's open, saves us the trouble of getting a warrant.
Myles' cell phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket to answer it as he and Bobby approach the car.
Myles: (Into the phone) Leland.
Bobby has pulled out a flashlight and is looking inside the car.
Myles: (Into the phone) Ok.
Bobby finds some clothes on the backseat of the car.
Bobby: The clothes Sue gave Beth.
Myles: Well, we're not gonna find her around here. Metro PD just arrested her over at a convenience store south of the capital. She tried to attack the cashier.
Bobby picks up a block of cement from the backseat of the car and takes it out. He shines the flashlight onto it, revealing what looks like blood on it.
Bobby: Check this out.
Myles: Is that blood?
Bobby: If it is, we might have just found the murder weapon.

[ Half-way house, Beth's room ]

Jack and Sue have come to talk to Beth.
Sue: Hi Beth.
Beth: Hi.
Beth sounds weary.
Beth: Everything's gonna be alright now. I know who did it.
Sue: Did what?
Beth: Killed the Senator. The man at the store, he tried to stop me, but… I got it anyway. Look, it's right there. (She glances towards the nightstand) In the drawer.
Jack goes over to the nightstand and opens the drawer. He picks up a page from a newspaper from inside.
Beth: See, I figured it out.
Sue looks over at the newspaper article. It's about Prince Charles, and has a picture of him on it.
Beth: It's the Prince. The Prince killed the Senator.
Jack and Sue both look a bit disappointed.

[ Street outside the FBI - day ]

Wayne Morris is doing a press report about the investigation of the Senator's death.
Wayne: Last night, I ordered an FBI initiative, resulting in the apprehension of a woman we believe to be the murderer of Senator Linda Ashton.

[ Bullpen ]

The team are watching Wayne's press report on the television screen in the bullpen.
Wayne: The murder weapon was found in possession of Beth Bruner, a transient, with a violent record. As supervisor on this case, it is important for the people of Washington to know that I am personally committed in ensuring switch justice for this heinous, and heart-breaking crime. That's all I have to report for now. Excuse me.
The team do not look impressed.
Bobby: I'm surprised he didn't drape himself with the flag and hire himself a marching band to play the national anthem to serenade that self-promoting diatribe.
Wayne enters the bullpen about half-way through Bobby speaking his opinion. He waits for him to finish before letting his presence be known.
Wayne: Aren't those tape delayed broadcasts a marvel of modern technology?
Jack: Think you might be rushing your judgement a little quickly?
Wayne: Forensics confirmed that the blood on the cinder block found in Beth's car matches Senator Ashton's DNA. I've already delivered the case to the Assistant US Attorney. It's in the hands of justice now.
Wayne smiles smugly and leaves the bullpen. The team watch the door of the bullpen in silence for a few moments. Sue clears her throat.
Sue: His case against Beth is circumstantial at best. Anybody could have planted that cinder block in her car.
Myles: Yeah, however, by Beth's own admission, she was at the scene of the crime. I mean, her car matches the description given by the busboy, the murder weapon was found in her car, and she has a violent history. Circumstantial evidence all perhaps, but people have been convicted on less.
Bobby: Hmm.
Jack: Ok, what's the motive?
Myles: She has paranoid delusions. She's convinced someone is after her. She could've been convinced that Senator Ashton was after her at one time too. How much more motive does she need?
Tara: She did say that the voices inside her head make her do things. Maybe murder was one of them?

[ Psychiatrist's office ]

Sue has gone to talk to a psychiatrist who treated Beth.
Psychiatrist: Beth does have some serious mental health issues, but violence is not one of them.
Sue: Then how do you explain the police report?
Psychiatrist: Beth was attacked by another homeless man who tried to rob her. She acted purely in self defence. The truth is, Beth was lucky he didn't kill her. Trust me, I've been treating Beth off and on for several years now. She's not a murderer.
Sue: Should I believe what she told me she saw?
Psychiatrist: Beth experiences her delusions as reality. She believes what she's been telling you, but… can you trust it? That's up for grabs. Depends on the day, whether she's been taking her meds, and a whole host of other factors none of us can predict.
Sue: She staying very consistent with her account of the murder. She continued talking about a shadowed man as being the murderer. But then, just recently, she accused Prince Charles of the same crime.
Psychiatrist: I can't explain Prince Charles, but "the shadowed man" makes all the sense in the world, given who Beth is.

[ Bullpen ]

Sue is explaining what she spoke about with Beth's psychiatrist to the team.
Sue: The shadowed man is a metaphor!
Myles: It's true that schizophrenics sometimes speak in metaphors, and even get locked in these almost literary illusions. I remember it well from my days of studying abnormal psychology.
Lucy: That wasn't a self-examination course by any chance, was it?
Myles smiles at Lucy sarcastically.
Bobby: Translated into English, what you just said means…
Myles: Well, take for example, a guard dog. You or I might call it simply that: "guard dog", but a schizophrenic might overlay a metaphor onto it, like… "protector".
Tara: So, if you showed a picture of that guard dog to her, she'd call it a protector, instead of a dog?
Myles: Precisely.
Sue: Beth says she couldn't see the man because he was in the shadows…
Myles: That could be it. It's Jungian.
Sue looks confused.
Myles: Well, Carl Jung believed that uh, everyone's personality contained a dark side. In other words, the shadow.
Sue: So, if Beth saw a man who was enraged, someone who's dark, evil side was coming to the surface, she might call him, "the shadowed man".
Jack: Which means maybe she did see the man, and maybe she could identify him again.
Sue: I think Beth's been giving us good information in her own way from the very beginning.
Bobby: So, how does the photo of Prince Charles fit in?
Demetrius: Maybe the killer resembles him?
Myles: It's possible, but chances are, it's more complex than that.
Jack: Ok, so the photo is a metaphor, a symbol of some kind?
Demetrius: Symbols of… he's powerful, a figurehead?
Tara: What about royalty?.. The American version of it. Maybe the killer has a pedigree, or he's famous?
Jack: Wait a minute, wait a minute… Maybe it's not the person or the picture at all. Maybe it's the title.
Sue looks at Jack questioningly.
Jack: Where was the last place Senator Ashton's husband saw his wife?
Sue: At a benefit, hosted by Larry Prince.
Tara: And we know that Prince was in contact with the Senator the day she was murdered.
Jack claps his hands together in triumph.

[ Larry Prince's house ]

Jack, Sue and Tara have gone to question Larry Prince, the writer, about Senator Ashton's death.
Tara: We looked into your cell phone records, Larry. They show you placed over a hundred calls to Senator Ashton in the last year.
Jack: That's a whole lot of reaching out and touching somebody.
Larry Prince: So I called Senator Ashton, she called me too. Linda and I travelled in the same circles. We were pals.
Jack: The Senator was murdered out back of Café Van Gogh… which happens to be right next door to the bed and breakfast that you were staying at the night that she died. Matter of fact, you stayed at that B&B quite often… with the Senator.
Larry Prince: This is a very fascinating look at FBI procedure. I'll have to use it in my next book.
Jack: We're gonna spin you a little story… you like stories, don't ya?
Larry Prince laughs.
Larry Prince: It's my business.
Tara: In this story, you meet Senator Ashton at your cosy little B&B, but, unlike other nights, things don't work out exactly the way you planned.
Jack: Senator Ashton, or should I say, Linda… tells you she's getting back with her husband, and then she leaves.
Tara: None of this sits very well with you. You follow her, out of the back door of the B&B, which is the entrance she always used, so no-one would see her… but, of course, she's a Senator, so on occasion, some people do notice… they just needed to be asked by the right people to admit it.
Sue: The door leads into an alley… the same alley our witness says she saw the Senator fighting with a man.
Tara: You try to convince her she shouldn't patch it up with her husband, but she doesn't listen… In fact, she tells you they're taking a trip together, a second honeymoon, to be exact, on a nice little island called Bora-Bora.
Jack: That makes you real mad.
Tara: The argument escalates, gets way outta hand…
Sue: That's when you pushed her.
Tara: Right here, we're a little unclear whether you mean to kill her or not, but any way you cut it, the ending's always the same… she dies.
Larry Prince: You should consider becoming authors, you've got a real knack for fiction.
Sue: We think it's a non-fiction.
Jack: Our witness is back on her medication, and she's positively identified you as the man she saw pushing Senator Ashton in the alley the night she died.
Larry Prince: Like I said, nice little murder mystery. But if I were writing it, the protagonist would lose the case. Everyone knows, eyewitnesses get blown away in court more than any other form of evidence.
Larry Prince smiles.
Tara: We agree. Eyewitnesses don't count for much… except when it comes to getting warrants.
Sue: For things like your dark blue Catalac.
Jack: Expensive car like that, probably like to take care of it, don't ya?
Larry Prince: I try.
Tara: It was washed and waxed very thoroughly when we took a look at it…
Jack: The thing is, you might wanna consider tipping those guys at the car wash a little extra next time… the job they did on the undercarriage, left a little something to be desired.
Larry Prince now looks a little worried.
Tara: We're not saying you didn't try. It's just that busboy hair fragments and DNA… that stuff's always so hard to get off.
Sue: You missed a little in the trunk too.
Jack: And we know the Senator's wound didn't bleed very much, but those forensics guys are really good at what they do.
Jack starts pulling a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.
Jack: You're under arrest, Larry.
Tara: Look on the bright side! Prison's gotta be fertile ground for story ideas.
Jack starts handcuffing Larry Prince.

[ Sue & Lucy's apartment ]

Sue, Lucy, Jack, Beth and Levi are all sitting in the living room. Beth is petting Levi.
Lucy: Once you start petting him, he'll never let you stop.
Beth: I don't mind.
Jack: So, what are your plans?
Beth: Well, I'll be living at the half-way house for a while, and after that… I'll just take it day by day.
There is a knock at the door. Levi barks and runs to the door. Sue and Lucy exchange glances, and Lucy gets up to answer the door. Beth looks at Sue questioningly.
Sue: There are a couple of people, who are really anxious to see you.
Lucy gets to the door, but waits for Sue to give her the ok.
Beth: My parents?
Sue: They've been waiting for the opportunity to help you, for a long time.
After a few moments, Beth nods to say it's ok. Sue nods to Lucy for her to let Beth's parents in. Lucy opens the door, and Beth's parents enter. Beth stands to greet them. After a few moments of taking it all in, Beth and her parents group hug. Lucy and Sue smile watching them, and then Sue looks at Jack, who smiles too.

[ FBI building - next day ]

Wayne Morris comes out from the elevator, looking at his cell phone screen. Myles sees him and runs towards him.
Myles: Wayne! May I have a moment? Uh, I wanted to speak to you about the final report you submitted on Senator Ashton.
Wayne: As supervisor, I have the full authority to write the report as I see it from my perspective.
Myles: But claiming you arrested the wrong person in order to draw the real killer out of hiding…
Wayne: I don't have to answer to you.
Myles: …Was a brilliant move. I mean, I trained in management strategy at Harvard, and even I didn't see that one coming. May we be forthright with one another?
Wayne: 'Course.
Myles: Well, not to completely degrade my fellow agents, but err, in regards to their opinion of you… well, suffice to say, I think that the age old green envy monster has reared his ugly head. I, however, am not among their rank. On the contrary, I see your presence here as an opportunity to learn, and, and… to grow.
Wayne: That's very open-minded of you, Leland.
Myles: Well, I know you're a busy man, but… I have a report I'm working on, that is a bit of a sticky widget. I was hoping, perhaps you could give me some tutelage in the art of embellishment?
Wayne: Come with me.

[ Empty conference room ]

Wayne Morris has taken Myles to an empty conference room to give him some ideas about how he can write his report.
Wayne: It's all about appearances. The information that goes into the report is important, but what's every bit as important… is how that information is presented.
Myles: Oh… (Smiling) You're not saying that you actually fictionalise reports to your own advantage?
Wayne: Oh, I prefer to use the word, "shape".
Myles laughs.
Wayne: It's important you make sure that your contribution is clearly spelled out.
Myles: Right.
Wayne: In a manner your superiors can't possibly miss… because if it's possible for the morons to miss it, they will. And they almost never know what's going on below them… only what you tell them.
Myles: (Standing) Well, this has all been most impressive.
Myles unclips a tiny microphone from his jacket.
Myles: And I'm glad we got it all properly recorded for prosperity.
Wayne's smile drops.
Myles: Now, with your limited experience in the field, you may not be familiar with these handy little microphones, but they really do work remarkably well.
Demetrius, Jack, Bobby, Sue, Tara and Lucy all enter in the door. Demetrius holds up the receiver for Wayne to see.
Demetrius: I think even the morons upstairs will be able to figure out what your contribution to the bureau has been. You spelled it out so clearly, in your own words.
Wayne: What do you want?
Jack: Want?
Wayne: What do I have to do to ensure that this stays between us? I can pull some strings for ya, huh?
Jack: No, no, no, we don't want any help from you. But we'll take your resignation as supervisor of this unit.
Bobby: And just to show you that we're not entirely vindictive people, we've got a new position already staked out for ya.
Sue: This job is much more… suited… to your advanced administration skills.
Lucy: Ideal for your special skill set.
Tara: A place where… colour coding can be raised to a whole new level.
Jack: I think you're gonna really like your new boss. In fact, he reminds me a lot of you.

[ Bullpen ]

Wayne Morris has been introduced to his new boss and job. His new boss is the dreaded Randy Pitts.
Randy: I want these folders filed, tabbed, and organised, in the manner I specified, and in the next thirty minutes, or there will be severe consequences.
Wayne: But the colour coding system you devised, it doesn't make…
Randy: Zp! You are not trying to question the way I run my department?
Wayne: Well, as a matter of fact…
Randy: Zp! Because you are looking at the person solely responsible for keeping this entire building humming for the past fifteen years.
Lucy laughs under her breath. Seeing, Tara also laughs quietly.
Randy: Now, the last person on earth I need to take advice from is an underling, who is unaware of his position here at the FBI. Now, I suggest you make note of my title: Vice President of Management Services. Now, you, are substantially less than Vice President of Management Services…
Sue is watching Wayne struggle to pile all the folders into his arms. Randy notices that everybody is looking in his and Wayne's direction.
Randy: May I be of some help with something?
Demetrius puts up his hands in surrender.
Demetrius: You already have!
Randy: Oh! (To Wayne) Come on, let's go!
Randy strides purposefully from the bullpen. Wayne lingers, struggling to keep all the folders he's carrying balanced. Sue slides her chair over to the desk he's been taking the folders from, and picks up a red folder.
Sue: Oh! You missed one! It's red, top priority. Wouldn't wanna leave this behind.
Levi takes the folder from Sue in his mouth and walks over to Wayne. He sits down and waits for Wayne to take the folder. Wayne struggles to reach for the folder Levi has, while being careful he doesn't drop the rest.
Demetrius: (To Wayne) Hey, let me help you with that.
Demetrius takes the folder from Levi and drops it onto the top of the rest that Wayne is holding. Wayne leaves the bullpen, struggling to keep hold of all the folders.
Demetrius: (To Sue) You just made my day.
Demetrius and Sue do a high five.
Lucy: (To Sue) You just made my day. I can't stand filing. Hey, Levi, the job's all yours now, buddy.
Sue: That could be a problem. They say dogs are colour blind.
Jack: Good. Then he's got the job.
Sue grins at Jack, and then leans down to kiss Levi on the head.

[ Closing credits play ]

[ Extra credits given after the opening theme plays ]

Joel Keller
Deborah Pollitt

[ Credited actors/actresses at the end ]

Levi (the dog) … Jesse Renfro
Timmy The Tenor Busboy … Dylan Roberts
Karen Bruner … Joan Gregson
Greg Bruner … Ron Payne
Jeffery Ashton … Lindsay Merrithew
Man … Jim Annan
Homeless Woman #1 … Hazel Gorin
Nicole … Elizabeth Lennie
Larry Prince … Donald Burda
Randy … Ed Sahely