Episode #4 Project – SCI003 DUE SOUTH “They Eat Horses, Don’t They?” by Stephen Neigher PUBLISHED DRAFT August 11, 1994 REVISED PINK –August 26, 1994 REVISED BLUE - September 1, 1994 REVISED GREEN – September 2, 1994 REVISED YELLOW –September 6, 1994 REVISED BUFF _ September 8, 1994 REVISED GOLDENROD – Sept. 8, 1994 Revised Pages (19): 1,2,7,11,11A,21,23,23A,25,34,34A,36,38,42,42A,46,52,52A Screenventures VII Productions Ltd. 940 Lansdown Ave. Bldg. #15 Toronto, Ontario M^H 4G9
PROLOGUE FADE IN: INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY On the vegetable aisle, RAY is completing a conversation with attractive, but cheap looking LORRAINE KALBRO, 27. She wears a hockey jersey. RAY: (handing her a business card) It’s my cell phone. I keep it on me twenty four hours a day. LORRAINE: Imagine, meeting someone over broccoli. RAY: I know, what are the odds? Ray then looks down the aisle toward the refrigerated section and sees FRASER holding a container of ice cream to his forehead. RAY: Oh, I got to go, my associates applying dairy foods to his body. Call me. ANGLE ON FRASER cooling his brow. Ray steps up. RAY: Fraser, Fraser, Fraser. What are you doing? FRASER: (really suffering from the heat) It’s 19 degrees cooler over here. RAY: I know you’re nostalgic for that glacier life style, but you’re missing the whole point of coming to a supermarket. FRASER: What do you mean? RAY: The modern supermarket is the place to meet women in the nineties. FRASER: Really? Fraser sniffs a pound of ground chuck as Ray points around the market. RAY: Absolutely! In a bar, you don’t know who you’re meeting. But in here you can tell a lot about a person just by the section you meet her in. If she’s near the vegetables, she cares about her body. Near the meat, an animal in bed. If she’s hanging near the Eskimo Pies, she’s given up, move back to the meat. Ray observes Fraser who’s nose deep in the chuck. RAY: (disgusted) Oh, no, you’re putting beef in your nose! Stop that! Fraser reaches for another, oblivious to the speck of meat on his nose. RAY: Really?? What a shame, because it looks so nice on you! Dab a little pork behind your ears. FRASER: So is this one. Fraser reacts to something happening at the front of the store: ANGLE ON CHECK OUT LINE. A frantic woman, MARGARITA GAMEZ, rambling in accented English, drops several stomach medicines on the check-out counter. A clerk, MIDGE TULE, has her own agenda, as she scans the items and rings up the purchases. MARGARITA: Please hurry. MIDGE: I’m going as fast as I can lady. MARGARITA: (anxiously) Mi hijo. Su estonago. Tiene fibre. MIDGE: (dismissively) That’s nice. (re: item that won’t scan) You know how much this was! MARGARITA: (despairing) No. No. Midge (into P.A. mic) I need a price check on three. Price check on three. MARGARITA can’t deal with it. MARGARITA: (frantic) Just forget that one. Midge puts down the bottle of medicine as Margarita throws some money down on the counter and rushes out. Midge picks up the money. MIDGE: Hey, this isn’t enough! ON CONVEYOR. tilt UP TO REVEAL Fraser. Fraser then picks up the bottle of medicine that Margarita had almost bought. He looks at it carefully, and then looks off toward the exit through which she’s just run. CUT TO: INT. GAMES APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – DAY It’s thrift store furnished, by neat. An elaborate display of family pictures adorn a bookcase. The youngest of her four CHILDREN surround Margarita as she drops the bag on the counter, struggling with the bottle cap, heading for her eight year old son Mario, who lies feverish on the couch. MARIO: (distressed and scared) Mama. Mama. CARMENCITA, 13, applies a cold compress to her brother’s head. CARMENCITA: He’s burning up, he’s so hot! Margarita feels Mario’s head. MARGARITA: He’s getting worse. Call 911! Call 911! At the front door, stands Fraser. FRASER: They’re on their way. As everyone reacts, FADE OUT: END OF PROLOGUE
ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITAL – WAITING ROOM – AFTERNOON Fraser waits along a wall. He winks at the Gamez children who sit on the sofas. Only the eldest doesn’t smile back. Ray exits a rest room and steps up to Fraser. RAY: Any news on the kid? FRASER: They pumped his stomach. I think they got to him soon enough, he should be okay. The cellular phone in Ray’s pocket rings. Down the hall a doctor steps up to speak to Margarita. RAY: That’s good… (slyly) Cause I got a feeling I’m gonna have to rush off here any moment on urgent business. (into his cell phone) Hello, Ms. Broccoli. (reacts) Mom, why are you calling me on my private line?! Yeah, I got the parmesan! Fraser who politely looks away. HIS POV – MARGARITA AND DR. HUGH DOLTON Dolton is in his late forties. DOLTON: There should be no permanent damage. MARGARITA: Oh, thank you, Doctor. Thank you. Dolton turns to a passing doctor and gloats. DOLTON: Elliot made Chicago all-stars in soccer. The other doctor gives him an impressed high sign. Dolton turns casually back to Margarita. DOLTON: We may never know exactly what caused it, but it looks like food poisoning. Probably from some meat that was left out too long. MARGARITA: No, that’s not possible. I would never do that. Just then, ADELAIDE MAINS, a harried, 30ish social worker enters and sees Dr. Dolton. ADELAIDE: I’M HERE. (THEN, RE SLIP OF PAPER) Are you Mrs. Gamez? MARGARITA: Yes? ADELAIDE: (to Dolton) Can we use your office? DOLTON: Just don’t be too long. MARGARITA: What does she mean? DOLOTON: I had to call Child and Family Services. They just need to talk to you about a few things. (to same passing doctor) The little guy scored three goals in the first half. Adelaide waves toward Margarita. ADELAIDE: This way. Margarita trails after her. Dolton heads off past the waiting area. Fraser intercepts him. FRASER: Excuse me, Doctor. I’m Constable Benton Fraser. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. DOLTON: What’s your connection here, Constable? FRASER: Just trying to help someone in trouble, Sir. RAY: (joining them) He does that a lot. FRASER: (to Dolton) I believe that you’re right about it being food poisoning, Sir, but not food that was left out too long. I believe the boy ate diseased meat. DOLTON: (incredulous) And why do you believe that? FRASER: Olfactory analysis. DOLTON: You smelled it? RAY: He does that a lot, too. Fraser pulls an empty styrofoam container from his pouch. FRASER: I took this out of the trash at Mrs. Gamez’ apartment. I thought if you could… DOLTON: (copping an attitude) There’s not enough here to analyze. Constable, I appreciate your concern, but frankly, I think we’re dealing here with a woman from South America, who’s used to a different level of hygiene…I had no choice but to make the call, both to protect the children and the hospital. Dolton heads off. FRASER: El Salvador. DOLTON: What? FRASER: They’re from El Salvador. DOLTON: I’m sure they are. And he’s gone again. Ray dials his cell phone. FRASER: What are you doing? RAY: Checking if he has parking tickets. CUT TO: INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE – AT THAT MOMENT A very nervous Margarita sits across a desk from Adelaide. Adelaide looks at a file folder and types while talking to Margarita. ADELAIDE: I notice that our office has been in contact with you before, Mrs. Gamez. MARGARITA: (weakly) That’s right. ADELAIDE: Three complaints from a Mr. Taggister. MARGARITA: The landlord; he’s trying to get us to move so he can rent my apartment for more money. ADELAIDE: (reading report) And you have three other children…Mr. Gamez is not in the house? MARGARITA: Margarita: No. ADELAIDE: (chummy) You must have your hands full. I just have two children and they make my head spin. MARGARITA: My oldest daughter helps me, she’s a very good girl… ADELAIDE: It’s certainly understandable that a mistake can be made. MARGARITA: I didn’t make a mistake. ADELAIDE: Your refrigerator’s broken? MARGARITA: Mr. Taggister won’t fix it. ADELAIDE: You realize that if you don’t keep meat cold… MARGARITA: I only buy enough to use each day. ADELAIDE: Why do you think your other kids didn’t get sick? MARGARITA: They ate at the neighbors. ADELAIDE: What did they have? MARGARITA: I don’t really know. I’m sure it was something good. Adelaide types furiously. ADELAIDE: Okay, that’ll probably do it for now. MARGARITA: (nervously) What do you mean “for now”? INT. EMBERGENCY ROOM Fraser and Ray stand beside the bed of young Mario who’s looking pretty darned good. He’s feeling much batter. MARIO: Thank you for helping me. FRASER: You’re welcome. RAY: (pulls out badge) I bet you’ve never seen a real detective’s badge up close. Mario is totally captivated by Fraser’s hat. MARIO: This hat is so cool. RAY: What about a taser? Through the curtain, Fraser spots Margarita. ANGLE ON MARGARITA She is trying to pull herself together. Fraser steps up. FRASER: What is it, Ma’am? Ray approaches. MARGARITA: They’re making it that I hurt my Mario. That I made him sick. Margarita can’t hold back the tears. FRASER: Ray…? RAY: (bemoaning) I just went to the market to get some cheese. Mrs. Gamez’s crying now starts to affect even Ray. He turns to Fraser. RAT: All right. I know somebody, who knows somebody…we’ll get a food inspector over to that market pronto. FRASER: Great. ADELAIDE (O.S.): I’ll meet you there. They turns to see the social worker standing there. She crosses away. Margarita is again very disturbed. FRASER: Ma’am, I promise you, nothing bad will happen. MARGARITA: Bless you. Ray hands her a business card. RAY: You can reach me or the world’s nicest person here through this number. CUT TO: INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY Fraser, Ray, and Adelaide watch as a FOOD INSEPCTOR checks out the meat in the case. Just behind him stands the supermarket owner, NORM PETIT. NORM: This is ridiculous. I’ve got twelve stores and I’ve never had a complaint about my meat. The food inspector, Vern, turns from the case toward everyone. VERN: He’s right. All of this meat is healthy. RAY: Are you sure about that? My friend’s nose has been in some strange places, but it’s never been wrong. VERN: I’m quite sure. Norm smiles and crosses away. The food inspector starts bundling up his equipment. Adelaide looks at Fraser and moves off. Fraser picks up some meat and sniffs it. FRASER: He’s right. This meat is okay…(Ray reacts) It’s also been changed. On Ray’s consternation.
OMITTED
EXT. BEHIND SUPERMARKET – EVENING Norm, the supermarket owner, locks up the back door for the evening, then climbs into his car and drives off. RAY AND FRASER slip out of Ray’s car and head toward the rear of the building. RAY: We have no warrant. A hundred pounds of ground meat does not just enter a supermarket and leave without a trace. Fraser eyes the dumpster. FRASER: Ah. Yes. RAY: (appalled) Ah. No. CUT TO: EXT. SUPERMARKET – EVENING Reveal Ray and Fraser standing waist deep in sticky trash in a Dempsey Dumpster. Ray is totally disgusted. RAY: You know, Fraser, When I was a little boy, I used to dream what it would be like to be a policemen when I grew up. You know, shooting bad guys, saving the girl; being knee deep in day old chicken heads looking for rancid meat was never part of that dream. FRASER: Check that container, there. RAY: Why: If they wanted to hide tainted meat, they wouldn’t have just dumped it in here. FRASER: Perhaps not this time. But garbage has a history, Ray. It always leaves something behind. RAY: Yeah, and most of it seems to be on me. You know what really annoys me? Why am I covered in crud, while you look like you just got back from a hand laundry?? Ray’s cell phone rings. FRASER: I can’t explain it. I’ve always been this way. RAY: (answering his phone in his best sensual voice) Hello. It’s Raymundo… Ma-a!…No, Ma, I didn’t forgot the lettuce, I’ve got it right here. (to Fraser) See any lettuce over there? Fraser notices some small, white, squiggly things on Ray’s jacket and starts to pick them off him. RAT: I gotta go, Ma, Fraser is picking lint off me again. Bye. (to Fraser) Thanks, but it’s not going to help. Fraser finds a baggie to put them in. FRASER: It might. RAY: What is it? FRASER: They’re parasites. RAY: Those were on me? FRASER: Yes. Ray scrambles out of the dumpster as if he’s on fire. RAY: AH! YA! GOD! OH! Fraser seals the bag. CUT TO: INT. VECCHIO HOME BATHROOM – LATER Standing in the shower, Ray attempts to scrub the skin off his body. RAY: These things wash off, right?! ANGLE ON FRASER standing at the sink, inspecting the baggie. FRASER: Parasites? Yes, of course. Fraser rummages through the medicine cabinet and finds eyebrow tweezers and a powered compact. Behind the curtain, Ray turns off the shower. FRASER: Though I suppose there is the chance they laid eggs. Instantly the shower turns on and Ray starts scrubbing. RAT: Gimme more soap. FRASER: (passing him a bar) I doubt it though. Most parasites only live on particular hosts. Fraser picks the parasite out of the baggie with the tweezers and places it on the open mirror of the compact. RAY: What? I wasn’t ‘gracious’ enough?! I should have offered canapes? FRASER: No, I mean…. Ray’s mother, MRS. VECCHIO, opens the door and enters. MRS. VECCHIO: (to Fraser) I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs. FRASER: If you made it, Mrs. Vecchio, I’m sure it’ll be delicious. RAY: Ma, you want to get out of the bathroom?! MRS. VECCHIO: (studies Fraser) You have very good posture. FRASER: Thank you, Ma’am. She turns to Ray, silhouetted on the shower door. MRS. VECCHIO: Look how he slumps. RAY: Can you see through here?! MRS. VECCHIO: Such a baby. RAY: Hey, it’s cause I’m wet! Mrs. Vecchio exits. During the following, Fraser puts together a makeshift microscope. He extends a large magnifying makeup mirror out from its wall mounting and holds the small compact containing the parasite up to it. He trains his flashlight on it to get a better look. FRASER: What I mean is, each type of animal has it’s own distinct parasites. Ray’s sister FRANCESCA enters with towels. FRANCESCA: (feigning surprise) Oh – I didn’t know you were in here. MARIA enters on her heels. MARIA: “Didn’t know”> She’s been standing at the door timing it so you’d be undressed. FRANCESCA: You are such a liar! RAY: I’m in here naked!! Does that mean anything to anyone?! MARIA/FRANCESCA: Oh, shut up. / Who cares? FRANCESCA (to Fraser) Here, use my towels. FRASER: Thank you, but I’m not taking a shower. FRANCESCA: Don’t be silly, it’s really no trouble. )yelling at Ray) Don’t use all the hot water! (sweetly/giving him the towel) I’ll wait for mine. MARIA (exiting with brush): Yeah, by the keyhole. FRANCESCA: (following her out) I’ve had enough of your mouth! Fraser turns the parasite over with the tweezers. FRASER: I could be wrong, but I’ve never seen this parasite in beef. Or pork for that matter. Maria’s husband, TONY, enters and turns on the faucet at the sink. TONY: I had a question for you. RAY: (scalded) AH! AH! (grabbing for the faucets) Turn that off! TONY (brushing his teeth): Whaddya you gotta do to become a Mountie. Well, Tony, there’s a battery of mental and physical tests you have to pass. TONY (mouth full of toothpaste) I could do that. MARIA (passing the open door) You can’t turn on the big screen without getting winded! TONY (exiting in pursuit): Who are you, Jane Fonda?! FRASER: (closes door, to Ray) In fact, the only animal I’ve ever seen this on…(realizes) It was horse meat, Ray. Mrs. Vecchio enters with a pot of meatballs. MRS. VECCHIO: My meatballs, they don’t taste quite right. Maybe it’s oregano or garlic…What’s it missing? Fraser sniffs the pot. FRASER: Beef. MRS. VECCHIO: You’re such a kidder. RAY: (with horror) Where’d you buy the meat, Ma?! MRS. VECCHIO: Where else? Petit’s Food Town. (lifting a meatball to her mouth) You know what I think it needs… RAY: Don’t eat that, Ma! It’s dog food! MRS. VECCHIO: Dog food? FRASER: Possibly diseased! MRS. VECCHIO: Madonna mia! Out of the way! Out of the – As she rushes to dump the meatballs into the toilet – RAY: No! Ma, it’s evidence! Don’t --! Mrs. Vecchio flushes the toilet. Ray reacts. MRS. VECCHIO: Now what am I going to do for dinner? Miffed, Mrs. Vecchio crosses out the door. Ray looks back quickly toward Fraser, who’s by the toilet. FRASER: I’m afraid I was too late to get a specimen. Ray grabs a towel and steps out of the shower. RAY: This meat could be everywhere. Ray’s cellular phone rings. He answers it. RAY: This is Vecchio. Yes, Mrs. Gamez, he’s right here. Hands the phone to Fraser. FRASER (with a look to Ray): Hello, Mrs. --….We’re on the way. OMITTED INT. MRS. GAMEZ’ APARTMENT – NIGHT Mario and his siblings, carrying bags of personal possessions are being led out of the apartment. Margarita cries her eyes out. Overseeing is Adelaide Mains, from Child and Family Services. Fraser crosses in. MARGARITA: Stop them! Please, stop them! Fraser approaches Adelaide. FRASER: Why is this happening? ADELAIDE: We did a surprise inspection. There’s no hot water… MARGARITA: The landlord won’t fix the heater! ADELAIDE: There’s evidence of vermin. MARGARITA: I begged him to call the exterminator! Please, don’t take my children. ADELAIDE: Mrs. Gamez, your boy could have died from that meat. Adelaide crosses into the hallway. Fraser follows her. CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS FRASER: I may be able to shed some more light on that. ADELAIDE: Frankly, we think her kids will be safer under our umbrella right now. (to Margarita) I’m sorry. Adelaide leads the kids away down the hallway. Fraser turns back to Margarita who stands in her doorway. FRASER: It’s going to be all right. MARGARITA: You said that before. You promised you’d help me! You didn’t. Inconsolable, Margarita exits back into the apartment. Fraser looks out the hallway window. FRASERS POV The wide-eyes fear on the children’s faces as a van drives away. END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. POLICE STATION -- BULLPEN -- DAY Ray talks on the phone, beside him on the desk is a half eaten jelly donut on a paper plate. Across from him Fraser sits engrossed in a large medical journal. RAY: (frustrated) I understand that, but she should at least be able to see her kids…Just how long will you be considering this? As Ray turns away, Dief pokes his head up, and takes the remainder of the jelly donut. RAY: (getting nowhere): Yeah, you have a nice day, too. He hangs up, sees his jelly donut is gone and spots Dief disappearing under the desk. RAY: Hey! (turning to Fraser) Your deaf wolf ate my Jelly Donut. FRASER: He doesn’t like donuts. RAY: Maybe not yours. Ray leans under the desk where Dief’s innocent face peeks out. RAY (enunciating clearly) I know you did it. Lt. Welsh steps up to Ray’s desk. LT. WELSH: How’re you doing on that drug store homicide on Pulaski? Ray quickly straightens. RAY: Well, sir, I’ve been assembling my preliminary findings and combing over them, looking for the tell-tale thread that’s gonna give up the shooter. LT. WELSH: So, would I be correct in saying that you haven’t done anything? RAY (caught): That would be accurate, sir. But there’s something else that’s come up— LT. WELSH (calling across the room): Huey! Louey! As they hurry over: GARDINO: It’s Louis, sir. LT. WELSH: You get the Pulaski case.’ HUEY: (with a smile): Yes, sir. RAY (to Lt. Welsh): Sir, I’m looking into this thing. Somebody is switching dog food for beef. LT. WELSH: Dog food, Vecchio? I assigned you a dog food case? RAY: Well no, Sir, but I believe we have a situation happening, LT. WELSH: Drop it. RAY: Yes, Sir. Welsh crosses out of the bullpen heading for the locker room. Ray is left looking at Huey and Gardino’s superior grins. GARDINO: (to Huey, with mock regret): Dog food…Jack, why is it that you and I never come up with great cases like that? HUEY: I don’t know, Louis. Guess we just don’t have the nose for it. GARDINO: Or perhaps we don’t stay low enough to the ground to sniff it out. RAY: Oh come on, guys, don’t sell yourselves short – you’re plenty low enough. GARDINO (angering): That right, Vecchio? RAY: Sure. I can’t imagine how else you get your noses that lovely brown color. Gardino starts to move in on Ray. GARDINO: Maybe you and I should get together after work. RAY: No thanks. I got dinner plans. Ray turns to Fraser, and they move off. RAY: You see, this is why I don’t like to help you. I get humiliated. FRASER: I am sorry about that, Ray. RAY: I am a police detective. I don’t know from horses! Give me pimps! Give me drug dealers! Give me something I know how to find! Elaine approaches Fraser. ELAINE: I heard you were asking about horses. I did some checking and there’s a major auction going on today at the grounds south of Arlington. Thought you’d want to know. FRASER: Thank you very much, Elaine. She exits. RAY: (continuing as if they’d never been interrupted) And what’s the one thing we’ve got to do on? A lousy little bug. Has it occurred to you that you may have been wrong? SAM MADISON, older research type, approaches Fraser. SAM: You were right, Fraser. I’ve never seen this particular strain before but it’s definitely some kind of Onchocerca Cervicalis. And it’s found only in horsemeat. FRASER: Thank you very much, Mr. Madison. Sam crosses away. Once again, Ray picks up his diatribe, unabated. RAY: But something tells me that we’re onto something here, and he’s not taking this one away from me. Ray finds Welsh who has returned and is removing a sandwich from his brown bag lunch. RAY: A moment of your time please, Sir. LT. WELSH: Forget it. RAY: (easily beaten) Yes, sir. Huey and Louey toss a satisfied look at Ray. FRASER: Excuse me, sir? Detective Vecchio believes we have the potential for a major health crisis here, and there’s strong indication of criminal intent. WELSH: (to Ray) You believe that? RAY: Yes, I do. WELSH: Then call the F.D.A. Welsh prepared to bite into his sandwich. RAY: (re Welsh’s sandwich) Sir, is that a meatloaf sandwich? WELSH: Yeah, why? ray: Nothing sir. I’m sure your wife doesn’t shop at Petit’s Food Town. Welsh studies his sandwich, then drops it in a trash can. WELSH: Okay, get on it. RAY: Thank you, sir. Ray turns and gives a smugly satisfied look to Huey and Louey. Fraser turns to Ray. FRASER: Nicely done. RAY: Thank you.. FRASER: You gonna check for priors on the owner of the supermarkets? RAY: On my way. FRASER: I’ll be at the auction. Let me know what you find out. OMITTED OMITTED INT. HORSE TRAILER – DAY A LOW DRAMATIC ANGLE of an extremely agitated horse – ASTRO (a beautiful animal with a distinctive marking on its forehead) – rearing up and pawing the air. ANGLE to see a worker, ABEL NANCE, attempting to pull the kicking horse out the door. ABEL: Get down here! Get down here! Another worker grabs the rope and pulls, with no success. EXT. PARKING LOT OF AUCTION YARD – CONTINUOUS Fraser hears the commotion and rushes to the trailer. He jumps up into it and tries to calm the horse. FRASER: Whoa, there, girl. Whoa, there. (to workers) Please drop the ropes and stand back. The workers oblige. Fraser presses his body along side the horse’s and the horse calms a little. Fraser then continues talking soothingly to Astro. FRASER: It’s okay. Everything is okay. Fraser removes his jacket and places it gently over the horse’s face, using it to cover his eyes. Holding it there with one hand, he grabs the loose rope with the other and is able to gently bring Astro down the ramp. FRASER: Here you go. She was just scared. ABEL (amazed): Thanks. FRASER: No problem. As Abel leads Astro away toward a pen, STEPHANIE CABOT steps up beside Fraser. STEPHANIE: Nice work. Fraser turns and sees her standing there. She’s thirtyish, tall and very attractive, wearing old denims with her hair in a short pony-tail. STEPHANIE: You just made it a whole lot easier for them to kill that beautiful horse. Stephanie walks off, passing out pamphlets. Fraser takes a beat then scurries after her. STEPHANIE: Stop the slaughter, save the horses. Stop the slaughter, save the horses. Each person she hands a pamphlet to rips it up or throws it away. FRASER: ( catching up) There’s nothing wrong with that horse. STEPHANIE: There’s nothing wrong with half the horses they’re auctioning. But they’re still going to be dog food by the weekend. Fraser notices everyone throwing away the pamphlets and stops to pick some of them up. STEPHANIE: Stop the slaughter, save the horses… Stephanie keeps marching on. Fraser tries to give her the pamphlets but more people throw theirs away and he backs up to get them. VINCENT LEGGETT TURNS AS HE HEARS HER COMING. He’s wealthy, but dressed casually. He smiles as he picks a pamphlet up out of the mud. LEGGITT: You have quite the printing budget, Ms. Cabot. STEPHANIE: Obviously not enough to stop butchers like you. LEGGITT: Well, then let me contribute. he removes a fifty dollar bill from his wallet and offers it to her. STEPHANIE: I don’t want your blood money, Leggett. Fraser catches up to her with the discarded pamphlets. LEGGITT: Ms. Cabot, how you do over-react. I’m a businessman. I provide a useful service. STEPHANIE: You also grind up people’s pets and use them for filler. LEGGITT: I’m just the buyer; not the seller. You might save some of your righteous indignation for them. STEPHANIE: Believe me, I do. Stephanie crosses away. Leggett turns to Fraser, as if he’s one of the boys. LEGGITT: You know what she needs, don’t you” FRASER (with a smile): Yes; a world where people don’t value life by the pound. Excuse me. Fraser heads off after Stephanie. CUT TO: INT. AUCTION BUILDING – CONTINUOUS Stephanie pamphlets the crowd with similar results. STEPHANIE: Stop the slaughter, save the horses. (as a person rips it) Thank you. Stop the slaughter, save the horses. As she moves off screen we see Fraser coming behind her, picking up the discarded pamphlets and catching stares. The auctioneer’s voice comes over the loudspeaker. AUCTIONNEER”S VOICE: The auction is starting, let’s settle in, folks. FRASER (re: moving their feet) Excuse me…Excuse me. Fraser looks ahead and sees TWO YOUNG ROWDIES grinning and eyeing Stephanie with mischief in mind. One heads for her and is about to grab her from behind when Fraser drops a shoulder into man’s chest, pin-balling the rowdy into the stands. FRASER (to rowdy): Excuse me, my fault. The rowdy stares after him, stunned. AUCTIONEER’S VOICE: Ladies and gentlemen. This horse weighs in at 1,088. Bidding starts at 50 cents a pound… Fraser stops as he sees Stephanie bidding from the rail, on the horse paraded around the paddock. AUCTIONEER: 50, 55, 60, 62… Fraser stands watching her a moment. AUCTIONEER: 62. No advance. Horse goes to Miss Cabot. Item number two…(etc) Fraser’s admiration is broken by Ray’s voice. RAY: Anybody seen a Mountie? Fraser turns to see. RAY some distance off, looking around the crowd for Fraser. (N.B. Bidding continues in voice-over during this). A grizzled fifty year old, ZALEB CARNEY, stands behind him, clearing his throat. Ray turns to the man. The man clearly wants something of Ray, but isn’t saying what. He just keeps clearing his throat. RAY: You oughta suck on something. ZALEB: You ought move your foot. A battle of wills has begun. RAY: Maybe I don’t want to move my foot. ZALEB: But if you don’t move your foot, I can’t get that horse patty. Ray looks down at his feet, then backup at Zaleb. RAY: Why would you want that horse patty? ZALEB: I’M NOT TELLING. ray: Tell me why you want that horse patty and maybe I’ll move my foot. ZALEB: Never. RAY: I’m a cop. ZALEB: So what? RAY: You want to serve time over a piece of manure? ZALEB: I’d rather go to the chair than talk. RAY: You know what I just decided? (Zaleb shakes his head) I just decided that you’re so nuts, I’m gonna let you have your patty. Ray gingerly walks away. He spots Fraser through the crowd. RAY: (calling) Yo, Sergeant Preston! I bring news from the trading post! ANGLE ON FRASER – MOMENTS LATER Fraser watches Stephanie bidding on a fourth horse as Ray fills him in. RAY: Turns out our supermarket owner doesn’t have a record. Squeaky clean. FRASER: I see. RAY: He has a chain of stores, but they’re barely breaking even. However he did just buy a million dollar house for cash. Fraser reacts. RAY: One other thing; Sam, the lab guy, wanted me to tell you that the bug you took off me only infects… FRASER/RAY: …wild horses. FRASER: I was afraid of that. RAY: Is that what these are? FRASER: No, wild horses would have a different angle of the foot, the hoof wall would be growing out and be chipped on the outside. RAY: Naturally. FRASER: And wild horses are protected. You can’t capture or sell them. RAY: So, what happened? One just crawled into that dumpster and passed away? FRASER: I don’t know, Ray. But it appears we’re not going to find he answer here. RAY: I’ll get the car, you say good-bye to the babe. FRASER (embarrassed): Babe? Oh, you mean…? RAY: Yeah. FRASER: Oh, there’s nothing between – Ray (walking off): I’m sure. FRASER (to a passing strangers): I barely know her. The stranger passes. Fraser hesitates, then approaches Stephanie at the rail. ON STEPHANIE In heated bidding against the others. The object of the bidding, Astro, the horse Fraser coaxed from the trailer earlier. Stephanie raises her card. FRASER (re: Astro): Isn’t that…? STEPHANIE (Raising her card): Yes. AUCTIONEER: We’re at 90 cents a pound. Ninety cents. On the far side of the rail, Leggett raises his card. AUCTIONEER: 95. Stephanie raiser her card. The auctioneer ignores her. AUCTIONEER: All bids in? STEPHANIE: (shouts) Ninety seven! AUCTIONEER: Sorry, Miss Cabot, you’re over your credit limit. STEPHANIE: (to Fraser) I’m out of money. AUCTIONEER: Ninety five twice. STEPHANIE: Take my car! AUCTIONEER: Cash only. Fraser pulls his cash out of his hat. FRASER: I have thirty… AUCTIONEER: Sold to Leggett Meats for ninety five cents a pound. STEPHANIE: Damn it! Auctioneer points to a very satisfied looking Leggett. Stephanie storms out, angry. Fraser follows her. CUT TO: EXT. PARKING LOT – LATER Stephanie heads for her car. Fraser catches up. Fraser: Do you mind if I ask how you can afford to--? STEPHANIE: Out of my allowance. FRASER: Oh, yes. Well, then, that would make you quite… STEPHANIE: Actually, it’s my father who’s quite…Fortunately, he approves of how I’m spending the money. She flings open the door of her Mustang convertible, drops into the seat and starts it. FRASER: And now you’re going…? STEPHANIE: To sell my car. Nice meeting you. FRASER: Excuse me, I was wondering….before you leave…could I ask you something? STEPHANIE: Yes. FRASER: --would you be able to get me a breakdown of the meat packers and how many horses they buy at auction? STEPHANIE (starts to laugh): You know. That’s the most unique come on I’ve ever heard. FRASER:…excuse me? STEPHANIE: I’ll look into it. She pops her car into gear and speeds off, spitting gravel and cutting off the cars lined up to exit. As she does, Fraser watches Leggett and his man load their purchases, including Astro, into trailers. Ray steps up beside Fraser. RAY: (re Leggett) That’s the guy who did it. FRASER: How do you know? RAY: He looks like that actor. FRASER: What actor? RAY: (taking this very seriously) You know how on Barnaby Jones you can always tell who did it because it’s played by an actor you see a lot? FRASER: …Yes. RAY: He looks like that actor. Fraser stares at Ray, speechless. RAY: Trust me, they haven’t been able to fool me once. Just then, Zaleb, the horse patty guy, drives by in an old pickup which has his name on it. as Ray’s eyes follow him. RAY: (suddenly suspicious) Or maybe he did it. As Fraser stares at Ray, then watches Astro, who glances back in his direction, we: END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE FADE IN: OMITTED EXT. RAY’S CAR – DAY Ray’s car pulls up in front of Mrs. Gamez’ apartment building. Kids play in the streets. Old people shuffle along. INT. RAY’S CAR – CONTINUOUS Ray’s in the driver’s seat, Fraser sits beside him. FRASER: I want to check on how Mrs. Gamez is doing. Fraser opens the car door to exit. RAY: I’ll see you later. FRASER: Oh, would you mind dropping in to my place and checking up on Dief. He’s been in the apartment all day. RAY: Oh, great. I can’t wait to see what I’ll find. Ray harumphs as Fraser exits the car and crosses toward the building. FRASER: Thanks, Ray. Ray starts the car. INT. MRS. GAMES APARTMENT – MOMENTS LATER Mrs. Gamez puts away a few things as Fraser talks. FRASER: How’s Mario doing? STEPHANIE: They tell me he’s feeling much better, thank you. I get to take them to the park today. FRASER: I understand there’s going to be a hearing? STEPHANIE: (very confidently) Yes, but everything’s going to be okay. I’m going to win and keep my children. Fraser looks at the bookcase and notices something. FRASER: I admire your spirit. It takes courage to fight for what is yours. STEPHANIE: Yes. Margarita attempts a smile but it isn’t quite a success. FRASER: I remember a story I learned when I was a little boy. It was about an Inuit warrior named Naacuk who became very afraid of another warrior, from a nearby village. So afraid, that he abandoned his home and every night would build a new hut to stay in. But, each of these one night homes was weak, he didn’t have the time to make it strong. And so, when the warrior he feared found him, Naacuk had nothing to protect him, and he was lost. MARGARITA: That’s a sad story. FRASER: Yes. If Naacuk had stayed and defended hi home, he would have been at his strongest. But instead, he chose to run… Fraser opens a closet door, revealing packed suitcases. FRASER: You cannot run. STEPHANIE: I’m so scared. I’m so scared they’re going to keep my children. I was going to take them. FRASER: I told you. I’ll help you. STEPHANIE: I can’t wait forever to have them back. I just can’t. FRASER: Justice will win out. You have my word, it will be okay. Fraser puts his arm around her. She looks up at him. STEPHANIE: How did you know? Fraser: Your family pictures were gone. I knew you’d have them with you wherever you went. CUT TO: EXT. VERY NEARBY STREET CORNER – CONTINUOUS Ray carrying a doggy bag and pooper-scooper begrudgingly walks Dief on a leash. Ray'’ disgruntled face unwrapping a cup cake. RAY: Don’t even think about it. Just do what you have to do, so I can get out of here. RAY: You know why you can’t go? All that sugar. (Dief looks up at him Remember that the next time you eat something of mine. This is what happens to bad wolves. Dief keeps walking. RAY: Come on. Think results, here. Go. Just then, Ray gets a Eureka quality idea. RAY: No. Changed my mind. We’ve got to go see somebody. Ray tries to tug the confused Dief toward the car. Dief looks quizzically up at him. RAY: Hey, your owner’s not the only one who can look at stuff on the ground and come up with genius. And they’re off to… CUT TO: EXT. BARN – DAY Ray’s car pulls up. Dief’s in the back. Outside the barn sits Zaleb’s pickup. Ray gets out of the car. INT. BARN – MOMENTS LATER Zaleb scooping up manure as Ray crosses over to him. RAY: Yo, Manure Man. ZALEB: Leave me alone. RAY: I came to apologize. I shouldn’t have said you were nuts. You obviously do this for a very good reason. Make a good living, do you? ZALEB: (thinks, then) You’re not going to get into this yourself? RAY: You mean scooping? Zaleb nods. RAY: I have no immediate plans. ZALEB: (fessing up) An excellent living. RAY: Really? ZALEB: I collect it and sell it for fertilizer. ray: So, you really know your…? ZALEB: Like nobody else. RAY: Where do you find it all? ZALEB: Stables. Pony rides. (then, conspiratorially) But they’re not my biggest source. RAY: (anticipating) Meatpacking plants? ZALEB: The mother lode. RAY: You wouldn’t have noticed any subtle differences in the product at any of these various plants, would you? ZALEB: I’ll check my data base. Ray hands him his card. RAY: Call me. And to show my appreciation, I’m going to point out that you missed something very nice just behind that rock. ZALEB: (calling after him) Thanks. DISSOLVE TO: INT. FRASER’S APARTMENT – DAWN CLOSE ON Diefenbaker’s sleeping face, his head on a pillow. PAN from Dief lying on the bed to Fraser in his sleeping bag on the floor. The clock reads 5:10 a.m. PEBBLES hit the window, waking Fraser. More pebbles, he goes to look out. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING STREET – DAWN In the middle of the street below, is Stephanie. Wearing English riding gear, she sits astride a beautiful horse and holds the reins to another horse, also saddled. STEPHANIE: You don’t have a phone. FRASER: (still somewhat groggy) Thank you. (beat) You came here to tell me that? STEPHANIE: No. I got that information you wanted. FRASER: Ah. Did you want to come up? (off her look: gets the obvious) Ohhhh. (disappears from the window. Reappears) I’ll be right down. He disappears again, as Stephanie contemplates what makes men morons. CUT TO: EXT. FRASER’S NEIGHBORHOOD STREET – MOMENTS LATER Fraser and Stephanie ride down the middle of the normally busy street. FRASER: So, were you just in the neighborhood? STEPHANIE: (suppressing a smile) More or less. I go for a ride every morning. FRASER: Are these yours? STEPHANIE: I’m getting quite a collection. Most of them I find homes for. Some are harder to give up than others. FRASER: You mentioned you had some information for me. STEPHANIE: Yes. I did. She clicks her tongue and the horse canters around the corner and out of sight. Fraser puzzles; he doesn’t quite understand this game. Oh, well. He kicks his horse and follows. CUT TO: EXT. FINANCIAL DISTRICT – EARLY MORNING STEPHANIE: My sources told me that the six major meat packers have had a pretty consistent purchase rate over the last several months. If someone is bringing in wild horses, they’re being very quiet about it. FRASER: They would be. Especially if they’re stealing them from protected ranges. STEPHANIE: But why would someone take a risk like that? FRASER: Thousands of pounds of free horse meat at two dollars a pound? STEPHANIE: Someone’s making a fortune. FRASER: Exactly. (an awkward beat, then, looks around) So. You come here often? Stephanie has to smile at the “pick-up” line. Fraser realizes what that must have sounded like and is embarrassed. FRASER: (trying to back-peddle) I didn’t mean that to sound like…what I meant is it’s an unusual place…not that there’s anything wrong with it… She can’t help but laugh and let him off the hook. STEPHANIE: Race you to the second light. Before Fraser can respond, Stephanie gallops off. He rides off in pursuit. ANGLE ON SECOND LIGHT Stephanie gallops up and turns her horse to look back: HER POV Despite the fact that there’s no traffic, Fraser sits one light back, looking back and forth, waiting for the light to change. It turns green and he rides again. STEPHANIE smiles at the sight. CUT TO: EXT. CANADIAN CONSULATE – DAY Fraser’s stands guard as usual. And here comes Ray. RAY: You got lunch in thirty seconds, lets go. (Ray starts off, Fraser doesn’t follow. Ray doubles back) Okay, I’ll tell you: Old Zaleb came through for us. He remembers detecting some very subtle changes in the horse manure at a particular plant. Want to hear which one? Does the word “Barnaby Jones” mean anything to you? (checks watch) Five, four, three…. The clock tower chimes and Fraser is instantly on the move, en route to Ray’s car. FRASER: (miffed) No matter what you say, you can not base an investigation on a theory developed from the casting of a television series. RAY: You’re just mad that I was right. FRASER: (really miffed) I’m not mad, it just doesn’t make any sense. RAY: And putting horse meat on your nose does? FRASER: That was different. RAY: You’re telling me. And they drive off. CUT TO: EXT. LEGGETT MEAT PACKING PLANT – NIGHT We CRANE DOWN to see Ray’s car parked about a hundred yards from the corrals outside of the Leggett plant. Through his ancient brass eyeglass, Fraser watches the horses mill around the paddock. A worker locks the gate and a GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR pastes a seal onto it and heads for his USDA van. RAY: Boy, it doesn’t get any better than this. Sitting in a car with Captain Hook, watching ill-fated horses swat flies off their back. (right to Fraser) Thank you my friend. FRASER: They just passed their inspection. No wild horses. FRASER’S POV – THROUGH THE EYEGLASS The USDA van drives away, revealing ASTRO as one of the horses in paddock. RAY: (V.O.) Hey, my source can look at palomino dung and tell you where he was born. He wouldn’t be wrong about something like this. FRASER lowers his eyeglass and considers the animals fate. RAY: They’ll be here. Just keep your eyes open. FRASER’S POV – ASTRO agitated. INT. RAY’S CAR – STILL SITTING THERE – LATER Ray is fast asleep, mouth open. Fraser hears the deep sound of engines rumbling and turns to look: HIS POV Two big rig trucks thunder up to the gate. Men appear from nowhere, dropping the tailgates before the trucks even stop. The paddock door, breaking the seal. BACK TO SCENE FRASER: Ray. Ray wakes to see: THEIR POV With whips snapping in the air, the wranglers quickly herd dozens of wild horses out of the trucks and into the paddock through a makeshift channeling system. WITH RAY AND FRASER FRASER: Those are wild horses THEIR POV The gate is slammed shut and a new seal slapped over it --- damn these guys are fast. men scramble for the moving trucks, others head for the plant as the big rigs disappear in a cloud of dust. FRASER: (V.O.) They wild horses come in uninspected. Their meat is mixed with a little beef, packaged and shipped to cooperating supermarkets… BACK TO SCENE RAY: Only some of the horses are diseased. FRASER: Can we get backup? RAY: On a dog food case? FRASER: Then we’ll do it ourselves. As Fraser opens his door and steps out. Dief jumps out. FRASER: Dief, stay! Dief stays as Fraser crosses toward the plant. RAY: (now worried) Do what? Whoa-whoa, where you going? But Fraser’s gone. Ray follows (leaving the window down). CUT TO: INT. MEATPACKING PLANT HALLWAY – MOMENTS LATER – NIGHT Fraser and Ray cross down the hallway and approach some stairs. They climb up the stairs. Besides the stairs is a procession of meat carcasses, moving slowly by, hanging on a moving overhead conveyor system. From the top of the stairs, behind the rack of animal parts, they look past some rowdies being paid and into the slaughter room. The room is an assembly line for slaughtering animals. On the far side of the room is a door looking through to the stables, where ill-fated horses wait. Workmen are preparing for the night’s work—turning on machines, donning white coats, and climbing into position. RAY: So, what’s the plan? We take some pictures, i.d. the bad guys and send out subpoenas, right? FRASER: When stop them. RAY: There are thirty guys! FRASER: (moving off) The tide always goes out, Ray. RAY: And I always get sucked right out with it. Ray follows Fraser to his new vantage point behind a meat rack, from where they see the wranglers take their cash and exit: twelve less men to deal with. Ray gives Fraser a look. RAY: Much better, now it’s ten to one, right in my zone of comfort. FRASER: But we have the element of surprise. At which point the rack is pushed away and the ROWDY pushing it spots them. Before he can react, Fraser decks him – but the falling rowdy knocks over a rack, alerting the others. Guns are pulled and bullets fly as Fraser and Ray scramble for the closest exit: RAY: Yeah! What was I worried about?! They run back down the stairs and try to escape down a long corridor. But men run toward them, men are coming down the stairs behind them, there is no way to turn. So, they rush into a darkened room. Fraser realizes the mistake a split second too late. FRASER: -- No! DISSOLVE TO: INT. DARK ROOM – CONTINUOUS Ray slams the door shut! RAY: Lock it!— ANGLE FROM OTHER SIDE OF DOOR – CINTINUOUS As the CREW CHIEF’S HAND slams a pin through the lock. INT. DARK ROOM – CONTINUOUS FRASER: --They just did. Fraser flips the light switch and we see they’re standing in a MEAT FREEZER, amongst slabs of fresh and frozen carcasses. As Ray reacts, we cut to… THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR As a half dozen ROWDIES run up to join the two guys at the door. CREW CHIEF: Get Leggett on the horn. As one of the rowdies scurries off to do just that, the Crew Chief turns down the thermostat and kills the main electrical switch. END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR FADE IN: INT. MEAT LOCKER – TWENTY MINUTES LATER Ray paces, freezing his ass off. Fraser seems quite at home, as he carefully examines the room for options. At the rear of the locker, is a rolling rack, from which hang large sheets of meat. RAY: How many you figure are out there? FRASER: I’d say all thirty. RAY: (it’s driving him nuts) Then why are they waiting?! FRASER: A mob can’t change directions without a leader, Ray. If he was here, they would have acted by now. RAY (pulling his gun): The hell with it, we’re breaking outta here. FRASER: I don’t think— BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Bullets dig into the metal around the handle as Ray empties the entire clip into the door. Fraser cups his hands over his ears from the deafening noise. Ray kicks the door with all his might. Nothing. He pulls out his back up gun and aims… FRASER: The metal is very— BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! All six shots hit the target. Ray kicks the door. Nothing. He leans down to look into the holes – they didn’t even go all the way through, turns to Fraser. RAY: We’re dead, right? FRASER: Not yet. We’ve been in here twenty minutes, the temperature is sub-zero and dropping steadily, I’d say we have….(calculates) thirty-seven minutes. RAY: Oh, then I’ll relax. I’m sure they’ll come shoot us before then. FRASER: The Inuit have ways of surviving in extreme conditions. Ruling out cannibalism, we have two options. RAY: I can’t wait to hear this. FRASER: (checking out rack of fresh meat) The first is close body contact. We hug each other as tightly as possible, transferring body heat. That would give us another ten minutes. RAY: And the second one? CUT TO: INT. MEAT LOCKER – ONE HOUR LATER Pan across the racks of formerly fresh meat, now frozen solid, until we find Ray and Fraser, sitting on boxes, faces frosted white, torsos completely wrapped in meat that has now frozen solid. Each wears two pieces of meat—one is like a shawl wrapped around them, tucked under the arms etc; the other is like a lap blanket, tucked around their legs and under their bums. Ray can barely move his mouth he’s shivering so much. RAY: Some people pass away in their sleep, others die while making love to a beautiful woman. I’m going to die wrapped in meat. FRASER: Don’t talk, Ray, you’re expending body heat. RAY: I’m gonna freeze to death inside My Friend Flicka. FRASER: Shhhh. Beat. Neither moves a muscle. RAY: (a scared little voice) …Fraser? FRASER:…Yes, Ray? Beat, no answer. EXT. LEGGETT MEATPACKING PLANT – NIGHT Leggett screeches up in his Cadillac and steps out, tucking in his shirt on the move. His Crew Chief and another rowdy walk him in. LEGGETT: This better be real important. CREW CHIEF: We’ve got a cop and a Mountie in the freezer. LEGGETT: I love the meat business. Every day brings something new. NORM, the supermarket owner waits for them by the door, very worried. LEGGETT: Getting nervous again, Petit? CREW CHIEF: He’s refusing to pick up his shipment. NORM: I have a whole chain of stores to worry about, I don’t need this. LEGGETT: Everybody needs a barrel of cash, Norm. And they’re through the door. CUT TO: INT. MEATPACKING PLANT – MOMENTS LATER LEGGETT’S POV through the tiny peep hole of the meat locker. You can’t see much, but what you can see is frozen white. We pull back to see Leggett and company. Norman hovers nervously in the background. LEGGETT: How long have they been in there? CREW CHIEF: Over an hour and a half. LEGGETT: They’re dead. Shoot them anyway and get ‘em out. As the Crew Chief searches his key ring, Leggett steps to Norm. LEGGETT: Problem, Norm? NORM: Sick kids, dead Mounties, yeah I’d say there was a problem! LEGGETT: You want out, Norm? NORM: Yeah. LEGGETT: Why not? There’s plenty of other supermarkets. NORM: (relieved) Thanks, Vince. LEGGETT: You got it. Without a heartbeat Norm is clubbed on the head from behind. As he hits the floor: LEGGETT: I love this business. (walking away) Give him and the copsickles a ride on the conveyor. (shouting) And how about doing some work?! Two rowdies carry Norm to the conveyor belt which brings hooked carcasses up the stairs. They put him on a hook and he’s on his ascent. CUT TO: INT. MEAT FREEZER – CONTINUOUS The door swings wide and the CREW CHIEF and three rowdies enter. It takes a minute for them to spot Fraser and Ray, chalk-white and stiff, amongst the other meat. YOUNG ROWDY: (taken aback) God. I have this dream about dying wrapped in frozen meat. CREW CHIEF: Two rowdies raise their guns. Suddenly Fraser bursts out of the frozen wrapping and lunges, knocking them back into the racks of meat. Fraser takes out one with a right to the jaw, another with a blow to the abdomen. He topples a cart to knock back the other two. Fraser swings round and back to Ray and rubs his face. FRASER: Ray! Ray’s frosted eyebrows open. [it really says eyebrows] FRASER: Move around. Move around. RAY: (miserable beyond words) Kill me. Kill me. The Crew Chief pulls himself out from under the rack and fires! The first bullet misses and ricochets around the room. He gets a bead on Fraser. Fraser grabs Ray and swings him around to act as a shield as the Crew Chief SHOOTS! THUNK! – the bullet hits Ray square in his meat-covered back! Fraser grabs a rack and topples it onto the Crew Chief before he has a chance to fire again. As the bad guys try and dig themselves out: RAY: (stunned) He shot me! FRASER: The bullet couldn’t penetrate the frozen meat. Come on! Fraser grabs Ray and runs him out of the freezer. ANGLE FROM OTHER SIDE OF FREEZER DOOR – CONTINUOUS They make it out the door just a hair before the bad guys and Fraser slams the door on them, locking them in. they slam on the door, but the noise can’t be heard above the din in the plant. Fraser quickly checks around – the other bad guys are occupied a short distance away and haven’t noticed. Fraser and Ray hug the wall. RAY: (teeth chattering) You used me as a human shield! FRASER: Shhhh. RAY: I can’t believe you did that! Fraser sees Norm on a hook, disappearing up and into the slaughter room. FRASER: Stay here. And Fraser takes off. RAY: Hey! Fraser runs back in. FRASER: Sorry. Fraser helps Ray out of his frozen meat jacket. CUT TO: INT. SLAUGHTER ROOM – CONTINUOUS Some rowdies take Norm off and put him on a stainless steel conveyor belt along with several large chunks of meat. At the end of the meat is a grinder, through which ground meat can be seen extruding. CUT TO: INT. PLANT – CONTINUOUS Fraser entreats Ray. FRASER: Just keep moving. Ray robotically tries to comply. Fraser grabs a frozen slab of beef and takes off, leaving Ray to jump up and down like a frozen stick. RAY: (shivering) Oh-h-h-h God, oh-h-h-h God. Fraser heads for the stairs. CUT TO: INT. SLAUGHTER ROOM – CONTINUOUS Norm moves down he conveyor belt towards his death. Fraser enters from the stairs and rushes toward the conveyor belt towards his death. Fraser enters from the stairs and rushes toward the conveyor, but several rowdies quickly block his way. Fraser takes his frozen meat club and bashes one of the rowdies, sending him into a large vat of horse innards. The other rowdies stop threateningly toward Fraser. He bashes one with a carcass which is traveling by on a hook. As Norm continues his perilous journey down the conveyor, the other rowdies force Fraser to the corner and surround him. Quick-thinking, Fraser grabs hold of a rope pulley which immediately lofts him above his menacers. He then grabs onto a T-bar slide device and, hanging on with feet dangling, slides down toward two of the bad guys. He’s able to use his feet to kick each of them into one of the huge holes in the floor which collect animal parts and funnel them to a huge augur below. Fraser then turns to shut off the conveyor, but is grabbed from behind by still another rowdie. Fraser flips him over his shoulder, ties him to a seat/lift contraption and sends him airborn to the elevated wash area. Once at the proper height, Fraser pushes a button and the rowdie is blasted by a hot steam spray. All that accomplished, Fraser rushes to the conveyor and shuts it off, saving Norm from becoming chuck. Then however, Leggett gets the drop on him from behind. LEGGETT: That’s it! You’re dead. Fraser turns and sees Leggett standing there with a shotgun pointed at his back. From behind them, the voice of a shivering Ray. RAY: (V.O.) I…d.d..don’t..th..think so. They turn and see a shivering Ray standing there holding the huge counter-weighted bandsaw. With one expertly aimed motion, Ray cuts the shotgun in two at the handle. Leggett reels and drops both pieces of the now useless shotgun. He scrambles for his feet and runs for the door. ANGLE ON DOOR Leggett flings open the door to escape but… DIEFENBAKER is waiting and leaps at him. LEGGETT: AHHHH! Dief hits him chest high and knocks him to the ground as Ray and Fraser run up. LEGGETT: Get this thing off me!!! FRASER: You should be nicer to animals. (calls) Dief! Dief trots to Fraser’s side as Ray slaps on the cuffs. DISSOLVE TO: INT. HALLWAY-FRASER’S APARTMENT BUILDING – DAY Margarita and Stephanie are painting the foyer of the Gamez family’s new apartment. Inside the apartment, Ray and Mario are talking as they pill up some painter’s tape from around the fireplace. Carmencita, followed by Fraser carry some small cardboard boxes. Carmencita enters the apartment and Fraser’s about to. FRASER: That’s the last of it. (smiling) Neighbor. MARGARITA: Let me take it. FRASER: No, I’ve got it. Fraser into the apartment. Margarita turns to Stephanie. MARGARITA: I want to thank you again for making this possible. STEPHANIE: It was no trouble. MARGARITA: I want to thank him for everything he’s done…In fact, I want to give him a big hug, but I’m afraid I’ll wrinkle him. STEPHANIE: I know what you mean. Fraser comes back out, work done. FRASER: I put your photographs on the mantle. Just then DENNIS ARGYLE, the Superintendent, crosses by. He stops at Margarita. ARGYLE: Don’t forget, it’s $425 by the first of the month. FRASER: You said $375. ARGYLE: Well, I was adding in utilities and… FRASER: You said utilities were included. ARGYLE: (phumphering) Yes, well, I…Goodbye. The landlord crosses away. Margarita can no longer resist. MARGARITA: Thank you. Thank you for my children. FRASER: They’re where they should be. (calling into apartment) Ray, we have to get the trailer back. RAY: One second. (Ray and Mario start toward Fraser) Can you believe it? MARIO: He used you as a human shield? RAY: There was only two inches of frozen pinto between me and a bullet. MARIO: Wow. I only wish I could hear more of your adventures as a police officer. RAY: Yeah? Well, maybe another time. Ray crosses by Fraser and out into the hall. Fraser turns to Mario. FRASER: (to Mario) Thanks. I’m sure you made his day. MARIO: It’s okay. He actually was interesting. Fraser turns to Stephanie. FRASER: Well, goodbye. STEPHANIE: I’m going for a ride tomorrow. You up for it? FRASER: …You mean to discuss your testimony. STEPHANIE: …Yeah. FRASER: I’d love to. Fraser crosses down the hallway, at the end of which stands Ray. As they head down the stairs: RAY: I still don’t believe you did that. FRASER: It was perfectly safe, Ray. RAY: Really? You practice it on your last partner, did you? Billy “Swiss Cheese” McCallister. FRASER: Granted it was an unusual tactic. I got the notion from a young cadet who lashed a caribou to his chest. Unfortunately it was unrelated to police work. RAY: Get out. FADE OUT: END OF SHOW
