TAG
FADE IN:
EXT. DOCTOR SPRINGER’S OFFICE – DAY
Hardcastle walks up the sidewalk and turns toward the door.
INT. THE WAITING ROOM – DAY
Hardcastle enters, glancing around. It’s quiet, with no other patients except McCormick, who’s sitting in a chair along the wall holding an ice bag to his head. His feet are up on a coffee table and he’s leaning back with his eyes closed. Hardcastle clears his throat. McCormick startles and his eyes pop open.
HARDCASTLE
McCORMICK
My head’s harder than Kooms’.
(glances off toward the door to
She said it wasn’t as if Eve was really
much of a mother to her – still . . .
The door to the back opens and the nurse emerges, holding a sheet of paper.
NURSE
They’ll be out in a moment.
(to McCormick, brusquely)
Here are the head injury instructions.
(starts to hand him the paper)
Someone needs to wake you up and
check you for these symptoms every
Hardcastle waves a hand, intercepts the paper, and glances at it.
NURSE
We advise no driving or hazardous activities
for twenty-four hours after the injury
McCORMICK
The nurse gives him a hard look. The back door opens again and Springer emerges, escorting McCray and appearing very solicitous, maybe even apologetic. He sees Hardcastle and opens his mouth to speak but doesn’t have the chance to say anything.
HARDCASTLE
McCRAY
(hesitates, she’s really thinking
Well, maybe not okay, but I’m going to be.
It’s better than not knowing.
(steps away from Springer but gives
him a quick acknowledging nod)
HARDCASTLE
(heaves a breath, then to McCray
Thought you might wanna know how things
McCray nods.
HARDCASTLE
I made sure they read him the Miranda off
the card, but he was ready to talk.
Did you know he and Eve were an item?
McCray shakes her head. Springer and the nurse look equally surprised.
HARDCASTLE
He said she wanted to leave – go to
San Francisco. He got upset with her and the
next thing he knew, she was dead. He put her
in the cooler. Hell, he even embalmed her.
(shakes his head slightly)
Kooms found out, of course, and started
taking advantage, threatening to tell the sheriff
Anyway, Lovell knew he couldn’t keep the
Then your grandma had her fall, and took ill
and died – that really was natural causes, by
the way – and he thought it was a perfect
McCORMICK
Two for the price of one.
The nurse casts him a disapproving look.
HARDCASTLE
He never would have taken the risk if
there’d been anything suspicious about
Then you come home and start raking it
McCRAY
HARDCASTLE
Didn’t want you messing up his cozy
arrangement, though I’m not sure it ever got
as far as blackmail. He thought he could
pester you back into a locked ward, or at
least make folks around here think
Then he pushed Lovell too far.
McCORMICK
Got a confession on that part yet?
HARDCASTLE
Even the part where he bashed you over
McCORMICK
That’ll be good for another thirty days on
Hardcastle snorts.
McCORMICK
(starts to get up, winces at the
Just as long as I’m not a ‘person of interest’ anymore.
McCRAY
And we know the truth . . . about everything.
Hardcastle nods. She starts for the door. He and McCormick wait for her to pass by them, then follow her out. The door closes behind them. Hold, and,
CUT TO BLACK
THE END
