DREAM SEQUENCE
(Miss Parker and her mother sit on a picnic blanket under a tree. They are surrounded by trees and long grass. There is a picnic basket open beside them. They sit facing each other.)
Parker: Tell me about love, Momma.
Catherine: What do you want to know?
Parker: Will I ever find someone to love, like you found Daddy?
Catherine: I think you will.
Parker: How will I know when I'm in love?
Catherine: Well, it's different for everybody. I used to get light-headed when your father looked at me.
Parker: Was Daddy very handsome?
Catherine: Um, handsome. Yes. Beautiful. But don't ever tell him I said so because I certainly wouldn't want his head to swell. (They both laugh.)
Parker: I hope the man I fall in love with makes me feel light-headed.
Catherine: I hope so too baby. But until then you're all mine. (She reaches out to tickle her daughter but the Miss Parker stands and runs, giggling.)
Parker: Momma, what are we… (She looks back but her mother is gone.) Momma? Momma? Momma? (She looks around hoping to catch a glimpse of her mother. Instead she finds a double gravestone - one blank, the other with her mother's name and date of birth and death on it.) Don't leave me! Momma, don't leave me! Momma! Miss Parker's Bedroom
Present
(Parker wakes up from the dream with a groan. She sits up and pushes the hair from her eyes. She spots Thomas' red flannel shirt. Reaching out she picks it up, holds it up to her face taking in the aroma of it before hugging it to her chest.)
Flashback (Miss Parker stands at the stove in Thomas' kitchen preparing a cup of tea. She is wearing a red silken bathrobe and her hair is piled on top of her hair. Thomas joins her in the kitchen.)
Thomas: Come with me Parker.
Parker: To Oregon?
Thomas: Why not?
Present
(She gets up and dons a white terry robe and enters the bathroom where the shower is running.)
Parker: Use all the hot water and I'll kill you. (She turns to the vanity mirror and stares at her own reflection.)
Flashback
Parker: Momma, will I ever find someone to love, like you found Daddy?
Catherine: I think you will.
Present
(She continues to stand before the mirror but talks to Thomas.)
Parker: I know it isn't easy living with somebody like me. More baggage than an airport. But I want this to work. I'm committed . . . to making you and me work. So, if you still want me to come to Portland with you, I will. I want to. (There is no response.) I just poured my guts out all over the imported Italian tile. The least you could give me is a grunt. Tommy? (She pulls back the shower curtain to find the shower cubicle empty.) Tommy? (She leaves the bathroom.) Thomas? (She is surprised to find that the living area has been ransacked. Noticing the front door is open she ties the belt around her robe and goes to the door. Her bare foot slips on the floor near the door. She looks down to see a smear of blood. She crouches and puts her fingers to the puddle.)
Parker: Oh my…Tommy? (Alarmed, she runs onto the front verandah and then moves around to the side where she sees Thomas sitting propped against the wall, blood over one side of his head.) Oh my God, oh my God. Tommy! Tommy! (She runs to him and crouches beside him.) Can you hear me baby? (His eyes are wide open. Parker puts her hand over his lids and closes them.) Oh, my God. No, no, no, no this isn't happening. It's okay. I'm here. It's okay. Oh my God. (From below her a man yells to her. He is standing beside a small truck loaded up with what looks like old furniture. He is holding a cellular phone.)
Lester: What are you doing up there?
Parker: Please I need help here! (She closes Tommy's eyes.)
Lester: (He talks into his cell phone.) Police?
Parker: (She stands and runs to the edge of the verandah, waving her hand in negation.) No, wait. No, wait. Wait!
Lester: (Backing away and still talking on the phone.) There's been a murder up on Briar Road.
Parker: Wait you don't understand!
Lester: Just sent somebody! Nah! I'm not giving my name. (He moves quickly to his truck, gets in and drives away.)
Parker: (She goes back to Thomas and hugs him to her. She sobs.) No. Oh, don't leave me. Please don't leave me.
Police Station
(Parker sits in Detective Miller's office. She has put on a casual outfit but wears no makeup. She looks shocked, sits unmoving, answering the detective's questions in a whisper.)
Miller: How much time passed between the time you found Mr Gates' body and this Mr Trash Man called 911? (He sits at his desk.)
Parker: I've told you. It was just a couple of seconds.
Miller: You say you never saw this man before?
Parker: Never. He was a white, 5'10", 170 pounds. He had a truck full of trash, junk.
Miller: What colour was the truck?
Parker: Green . . . maybe brown.
Miller: (He writes it down but sounds doubtful.) Green, maybe brown.
Parker: Well I did have other things on my mind.
Miller: I can imagine. You sure you don't want a lawyer, Miss Parker? It is your right.
Parker: I have nothing to hide.
Miller: Were you and the victim sleeping together?
Parker: Excuse me.
Miller: It's a simple question. Were you and the deceased having sexual relations?
Parker: (She is too shocked to even get angry.) Tommy and I were committed to each other. We were going to spend our lives together.
Miller: Then how do you explain the one-way ticket to Oregon in his jacket? (He places a plastic evidence bag on the desk between them.)
Flashback
(The scene in Thomas's kitchen continues.)
Thomas: Come with me, Parker.
Parker: To Oregon?
Thomas: Why not?
Parker: Well, first of all, I have a career.
Thomas: Right, the same career that gave you an ulcer. Look, I learned a long time ago, the corporate ladder is a dead end.
Parker: It's not just the job. My family.
Thomas: You buy a plane ticket, you visit.
Parker: You don't know my family. Look it's just not a decision I can make right now, here, in my bathrobe. (She turns to leave.)
Thomas: What are you scared of?
Parker: Nothing. (She turns back to face him.)
Present
Parker: Tommy was planning on renovating a house and I was planning on meeting him later. You know, it's clear. Someone broke into my home. Tommy heard them. He followed them outside and they shot him.
Miller: Well that's…that's one way it could have happened.
Parker: (She shows the first sign of anger.) What other way? (There's a knock on the office door. Miller gets up from his desk to answer it.)
Miller: Excuse me. (He is handed an object in plastic bag from another detective, then turns back to Parker.) Do you own a gun, Miss Parker?
Parker: What?
Miller: (He drops the bag on the desk in front of Parker.) We found this empty holster in your living room. Do you own a firearm, madam? (He sits down opposite her again.)
Parker: Yes.
Miller: What kind?
Parker: Smith and Wesson, nine millimetre.
Miller: It's a nice piece. Why would a woman like yourself need a weapon like that?
Parker: I work as a consultant for an international corporation. I travel. It makes me feel safe.
Miller: You work out at that complex outside of town, don't you? What's it called?
Parker: The Centre
Miller: The Centre. I've always been curious about the kind of work you people do out there.
Parker: It's a think-tank.
Miller: I'll be damned. And just what kind of stuff are you people thinking about?
Parker: You know, I don't see how this has anything to do with Thomas' murder.
Miller: The preliminary coroner's report says that Mr Gates was killed by a single gunshot to the head. (Miss Parker fights back the tears.)The wound appears to have been made by a nine-millimetre handgun and as of now your weapon is missing in action. Are you positive about that lawyer? (She seems to be shocked by the realisation that she is the police's prime suspect in the murder of Thomas.)
Outside the police station
(It is now night. Miss Parker exits the police station with Sydney, Broots and Lyle.)
Broots: Miss Parker, we're really sorry about Thomas. He was, I mean he seemed like a really nice guy.
Sydney: This way. (He indicates the direction of their car.)
Lyle: I can't believe you did this. (He receives a number of surprised looks from his companions.) I meant let the local authorities get involved in Centre business. Look. No disrespect intended but we both know the danger of exposing the Centre to outsiders…
Parker: It wasn't my decision. Someone else called the police.
Lyle: Who?
Parker: A trash man. He was outside my house.
Sydney: I'm sorry you had to go through this alone. (They arrive at the car.)
Parker: Did you find my father?
Lyle: He was in Montreal, on business, but he caught the first plane home. He should be on the ground as we speak.
Sydney: Parker, can we get you something?
Parker: I want Tommy back. (Sydney opens the door and Miss Parker gets in.)
Jarod's Lair
(Jarod is sitting at a workbench, dressed as usual in black but wearing protective eyeglasses. He is carefully cutting coloured glass. The television is on:) Matt: Our own Ken Johnson will have tomorrow's complete weather forecast coming up later in the ten o'clock hour. We now switch to Kate Scofield with a report on an incident from earlier today. Kate: Our News 7 Team was on the scene of an apparent homicide in the exclusive community of Blue Cove. (Jarod's head snaps up at the mention of Blue Cove and he starts to pay more attention to the news broadcast.) Details are sketchy but what we know is there was an apparent robbery attempt that ended in the death of a 36-year-old white male identified as Thomas Gates. (Jarod watches the footage of Thomas' body being moved into an ambulance, and Miss Parker being led to a police car.) The owner of the house has yet to be identified. Also police have not confirmed any eyewitnesses to the crime and have told us that the investigation will continue throughout the night. We hope to have more details on tonight's news at eleven. Back to you, Matt.
(Jarod abandoning the stained glass, gets up and leaves.)
Parker's Home
(It is night. Miss Parker sits on the couch in front of the fire. It is the only light in the room. She adopts various positions on the couch and the floor, clutching Thomas's red flannel shirt. Eventually she ends up sitting on the floor in front of the couch, her head and arms resting on the coffee table, hugging the red flannel shirt and sobbing.)
Flashback
(Thomas's head appears around a doorway.)
Thomas: Honey, have you seen my red, flannel shirt?
Parker: (She replies from behind a closed door.) I need more information.
Thomas: Uh, red…flannel…
Parker: (She opens the door, smiling. She's wearing the red flannel shirt and possibly nothing else.) Hm, doesn't ring a bell.
Thomas: (He chuckles.) You always wear my shirts. How come?
Parker: 'Cos they smell like you. I like that.
Thomas: Well, I need something to wear to work.
Parker: So take it, if you think you're man enough. (He grabs her and spins her around so that he is hugging her from behind. She laughs.)
Thomas: I'll tell you what, I will make you a deal. (He starts to unbutton the shirt.)
Parker: Hm, I'm open for negotiations.
Thomas: Yeah? When I die, I'll leave you all of my shirts, okay? (Her smile vanishes and he feels her body stiffen. He turns her around to face him.) Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Okay? (They kiss.)
Present
(Parker's cell phone rings and she puts the red, flannel shirt over her shoulder and wipes her tears before answering it.)
Parker: Hello.
Jarod: I saw the news report about Thomas. Are you okay?
Parker: It's too soon to tell.
Jarod: They said it was an unsolved homicide. Do the police have any suspects?
Parker: One, if you include me. You must be close if you saw the local report on television.
Jarod: Always the hunter, Miss Parker.
Parker: I barely have enough energy to sleep, let alone chase you around. I appreciate the call Jarod, but if you don't mind, I have a lot to think about.
Jarod: Like finding out who did this. You might want to take a closer look at the people around you.
Parker: (She raises her eyes in exasperation.) And what exactly am I looking for?
Jarod: Missing pieces, Miss Parker. (He lifts an irregular piece of coloured glass up and looks at it.) Missing pieces.
(Parker turns the phone off. The doorbell chimes. She hides the shirt under a cushion before moving to the door. She bends to peer through the spyhole and lets out a little gasp of annoyance as she sees who is there. She opens the door to her father and Bridget.)
Mr Parker: Angel, we came as soon as we could. (He embraces her as Bridget watches, lollipop in hand.)
Later
Mr Parker: (He places a cup of tea on the coffee table in front of Miss Parker who is once again sitting on the sofa.) Chinese tea with lemon and honey, the way you liked in when you were little.
Parker: Maybe later, Daddy.
Mr Parker: Oh, you betcha. (He sits on the armchair beside her.)
Bridget: You can't imagine the shock when we heard the news. And then to find out that the local police got involved.
Parker: I explained that.
Bridget: Right, right. The mysterious trash man. (She sounds doubtful as to his existence.)
Mr Parker: Lyle says it looks like a screwed-up robbery.
Parker: It looks that way…
Mr Parker: You don't believe that.
Parker: There's still some . . . missing pieces to put together.
Bridget: I find it hard to believe that somebody breaks into your house, rifles through your drawers, then shoots you lover point blank in the head, and you don't hear a sound.
Mr Parker: Well, the shock took away her edge. You know it happens.
Bridget: To a trained professional? (He looks away, unwilling to take sides.)
Parker: (She stands, finally angry.) You got something to say lady? Say it.
Bridget: Emotions are making you soft.
Parker: What would you know about emotions? (Mr Parker looks on the exchange with an expression of disgust.)
Bridget: At least I know how to protect the ones I love. (She smiles sweetly before putting the lollypop back into her mouth.)
Mr Parker: That's enough.
Parker: That's right. The Triumvirate says jump, and you say 'on who?'
(Parker shoves Bridget and prepares to fight.)
Mr Parker: (He stands between the two ladies.) I said, that's enough!
(The front door opens revealing Detective Miller. He has seen Parker and Bridget poised to attack each other. When they see him they immediately drop the poses and Mr Parker wraps an arm around each woman.)
Parker: Detective Miller. (She walks over to the door.)
Miller: It's always nice to have family at a time of need.
Parker: What can I do for you?
Miller: I thought you might like to know we caught a man about a mile from here.
Parker: A man?
Miller: He was carrying a nine millimetre Smith and Wesson and was covered in blood. Thomas Gates' blood.
(Miss Parker looks over her shoulder to where Mr Parker and Bridget (still sucking on the lollypop and leaning into Mr Parker for protection) are still standing. The detective walks past her into the living room.)
Police Station
(Parker and Miller watch from an observation room as a bedraggled young man is questioned by a police officer.)
Miller: His name's Wade Dawson.
Parker: He has a criminal record?
Miller: Going back to his teens. Dawson's a small-time drug dealer, street corner stuff. I've busted him half a dozen times for B&E myself. When we picked him up he had this in his backpack. (He hands Parker a plastic bag containing her gun, including detached silencer. They are splattered with blood.)
Parker: My gun.
Miller: Dawson claims he's never seen it before. Truth is he was so wasted when we found him, he barely knew his own name.
Parker: You said he had Thomas' blood on him?
Miller: That's right, the same as on the gun. There's something else you should know, Miss Parker. When we went through Dawson's stuff, we found these. (He hands her blown up black and white photographs of Thomas and Parker together. At dinner and in bed.)
Parker: He was watching us?
Miller: Dawson was probably just out for a thrill. Then he saw the opportunity to rob your place and Gates…Thomas was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
(Parker turns a switch and they are now able to hear voices from the other room.)
Dawson: Look man, I'm trying to cooperate. Just tell me what you want to know…
Officer: Good. (Miss Parker's reflection can be seen in the window. She is clasping the photographs to her chest.)
Dawson: What do you want to know?
Officer: Okay. Tell me again about the woman in the pictures.
Dawson: I didn't draw no pictures man. D'you think you could help…d'you think you could help a brother out with a little situation and a…?
Officer: (He sits opposite him.) When's the last time you fixed?
Dawson: Um, an hour. I mean…I…I mean…a…a year. Listen man I will tell you whatever you need to know - and hear - if you just help me out just a little bit. 'Cos I can't go from grade A juice, man, to nothin', okay, 'cos it's not human.
Officer: I'll tell you what. You tell me about that guy you popped. I'll see what I can do.
Dawson: Popped? I didn't pop no guy. You got the wrong man, man.
Officer: (He stands.) Really? The murder weapon was found in your backpack. You had the victim's blood all over your coat. (He grabs the junkies face to grab his attention.) You listen to me. Now you either start working with me or I swear to God you will spend the rest of your life in prison.
Dawson: Can I ask you something man?
Officer: What?
Dawson: Do you think that they have the Playboy Channel up there in prison? (He begins to laugh.)
Parker: Son of a bitch. (She grabs the door and flings it open.)
Miller: Miss Parker, no!
Parker: I'll kill you myself! (She's in the other room before Miller can stop her. She grabs Dawson by the throat and pushes him onto the floor, trying to throttle him.)
Dawson: Get her off!
Police: Get off!
Miller: Alright, alright, alright! Alright!
(Reinforcements arrive and Parker screams at Dawson as two officers struggle to pull her from him. Dawson is taken from the room as Miller and the officer hold onto Parker.)
Parker: Tell the truth! Tell the truth!
(The officers let her go and she slumps to the floor. She curls up into a ball and starts to sob.)
Funeral
(There is a small crowd, including Raines, Lyle, Mr Parker, Bridget, Broots and Sydney all dressed in various shades of black standing in a group to one side of the coffin. Miss Parker stands a little in front of the rest of the group as she listens to the priest's final prayer. She holds a single red rose.)
Priest: As we grieve we must remember that death is not the end but the beginning and so we commit the body of Thomas Gates to the earth and release his soul to heaven. May his Heavenly Father hold him and love him for eternity. Amen.
(Miss Parker steps forward at the priests signal and addresses the group.)
Parker: Thomas didn't have any family. His parents died when he was in college, so it's my honour to say a few things about him. Tommy…he was a…he was a good man. A caring man. In the short time I knew him I never ceased to be amazed by the unselfish way he lived his life. He didn't have many material possessions. He used to say that we didn't own material things, that they own us. But he was rich in so many other ways, in ways that only a loving human being can be. He saw the best in people and he embraced it. He made people feel special, like…like they were the most important person in his life.
Flashback
(She and Thomas are in bed. He gently strokes her on the shoulder.)
Thomas: I wish I would of met you when I was a little boy.
Parker: (She rolls over to face him.) And why is that?
Thomas: Because my whole life, everything that I've ever done or felt up until this moment was wasted because you weren't a part of it. (She smiles.) I love you Parker. (The smiles slowly fades. They kiss and embrace.)
Present
Parker: I will think of him often and I will love him forever. Sweet dreams my love. (She kisses her fingers, then touches them to the casket. She places the red rose on the casket and then walks away followed by the other mourners.)
Song
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance,
For a break that would make it okay.
There's always some reason to feel not good enough,
And it's hard at the end of the day.
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release,
Memory seeps from my veins.
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight.
Bar
(A fire burns in a grate, the flames lending a yellow glow to the earthy and timbered room. Miss Parker sits at a booth, drinking. A man, unseen, walks up beside her.)
Man: Is there anything else I can get you?
Parker: (She lifts her glass.) Another round and, uh, and a time machine.
Man: (He moves to the seat opposite her and sits down. He smiles. It's Jarod.) Actually I was thinking more along the lines of a cup of coffee and a cab.
(Parker laughs.)
Jarod: What's so funny?
Parker: This. (She is affected by the intake of too much alcohol and grief.) You and me. I spend eighty percent of my life hunting you and the second I stop you sit down in my lap.
Jarod: Well, I guess as much as we both like to deny it, we're both just two pieces of the same puzzle.
Parker: And quite a grotesque little puzzle it's turned out to be. Have a drink with me, Jarod, while I'm still buying. (She raises her voice and her glass, turning towards the bar.) Another round here for me and…
(Jarod indicates to the barman to ignore her order.)
Parker: Oh come on, good buddy Jarod. Boy genius. (She laughs.)
Jarod: I realise you're in pain and I'm very sorry for what has happened. But if you're going to find out who really killed Thomas, you're going to have to keep your wits about you.
Parker: You see, you're not so smart after all. 'Cos they caught the guy. So there are no more missing pieces. We just need to get him to spill his guts and then we all live happily ever after. (She takes another drink to hide her tears.)
Jarod: Listen to me. Their suspect isn't going to talk.
Parker: What do you mean?
Jarod: The man the police think killed Thomas Gates died of a drug overdose in his cell less than one hour ago. (While Parker looks stunned by the news Jarod gets up.) Missing pieces, Miss Parker. Missing pieces. (He leaves.)
The Centre
Main Concourse
(Broots and Sydney walk with Miss Parker towards the elevator.)
Broots: Look at the positive side. At least you don't have to go through the pain of a trial.
Parker: Don't you get it? Dawson ended this on his terms. I wanted to look him in the eye when they sentenced him to death, to have my face be the last thing he saw before he was sent to Hell. (Her anger turns to tears.)
Sydney: I think that you should speak to someone about this feeling.
Parker: You mean a shrink don't you? Thanks Syd, but I'll leave the mental masturbation to someone else. (She watches Raines walking with another man.) What I need now are answers.
Broots: What sort of answers?
Parker: Dawson's a life-long junkie. He takes drugs like we breathe air and then suddenly… suddenly he overdoses while in police custody?
Sydney: Hmm mm. What next?
Parker: Miller told me Dawson lived in a shed down by the railroad tracks.
Broots: Oh, you're not going to go snooping around his place are you?
Parker: No. We're going to go snooping around his place. (The elevator opens and she pushes Broots into it before following him with Sydney and selecting the floor. The doors close on a stunned looking Broots.)
Dawson's Residence
(Dawson's home is an old, small stone cottage with piles of junk stacked in front of it. Parker, Sydney and Broots enter the hovel. There is dust, grime and rubbish everywhere and the buzzing of a fly can be heard.)
Broots: Oh man. It smells like a toilet in here, Miss Parker. (She kicks at a discarded box on the floor and sends a spray of dust into the air. Broots has moved to a wall where a naked mannequin has been propped. It is complete with wig and sunglasses and a screwdriver that has been stuck into it at the approximate location of the heart. He pulls the screwdriver out part way before allowing it to fall back into place.) Oh. There's some pretty sick stuff going on in here.
Sydney: Unorthodox lifestyle.
Broots: How does a human being live in a place like this?
Parker: Whatever lived here was not human. (She finds a box and upends its contents) Syd. What is it?
Sydney: (Using a handkerchief, he picks up one of the small glass bottles and reads the label.) Pharmaceutical grade morphine. Hundred percent pure.
Broots: (Finding another box.) There's some more.
Parker: Detective Miller said Dawson was a two-bit hustler, a sidewalk dealer.
Broots: So?
Parker: So the kind of drugs that we're looking at are next to impossible to find on the street. Look at this place. Dawson slept in his own filth. There's no way he'd know where to score this stuff.
Sydney: He had a supplier.
Parker: One with powerful connections. Broots, I want you to take these vials back to the Centre, see if you can blow any prints off them. (She puts the bottles into the box and hands it to Broots.)
Broots: Okay. I'm outa here.
(Broots leaves but Parker remains, looking around the filthy room.)
Sydney: What are you looking for, Miss Parker?
Parker: Missing pieces.
Miss Parker's Office
(She sits on the sofa looking at a photo of her mother, the one that depicts a smiling Catherine Parker holding Miss Parker as a baby. It triggers a flashback to when Thomas found her looking at the same photo from her bed.)
Flashback
Thomas: You never talk about her.
Parker: She was my whole life. It's a long story.
Thomas: My folks died when I was twenty. (She turns and sits up, facing him.) You know, I was so angry I just walked away. I don't have any photos of them. I wish now that I did.
Parker: It's just a picture. It does make me feel connected to her, like she's protecting me.
Thomas: Yeah.
Parker: I'm sorry baby. (She holds him and kisses his forehead.)
Present
Broots: (He enters unannounced.) Miss Parker. (She hastily puts the picture up and stands up.) Excuse me. I finished checking the drug vials for prints.
Parker: And?
Broots: Other than Dawson, the only thing I could get was a smudged partial.
Parker: Any chance of isolating it?
Broots: No, I'm afraid not. I'm sorry. (He waits a moment, then turns to leave.)
Parker: Hey Broots. (He spins back toward her quickly.) Thank you.
(Broots takes a breath, then leaves. The phone rings.)
Parker: What?
Jarod: (He is clothed in a white lab jacked, a green light giving the room and eerie feel. He stands before an autopsy table, the drawers for the dead behind him.) It feels like the big picture is beginning to come into focus.
Parker: Then why do I feel so blind?
Jarod: What did you find at Wade Dawson's place?
Parker: How did you know we went?
Jarod: What did you find?
Parker: A zoo no animal would live in.
Jarod: Is that all?
Parker: There were drug vials, pharmaceutical grade narcotics.
Jarod: Morphine.
Parker: That's right. Jarod, what are you trying to tell me?
Jarod: That Wade Dawson was murdered. (He zips up a body bag, sealing a cadaver inside.) The autopsy showed morphine in his blood.
Parker: He OD'd. The police told me that.
Jarod: There was also traces of Strychnine. Fatal traces.
Parker: They killed him before he could talk. Jarod, how could you possibly know this?
Jarod: I have a close contact on the inside. Remember Miss Parker, missing pieces.
Parker: Jarod, don't hang up. Jarod… (He already has.) Damn.
Sydney: Annoying isn't it, Miss Parker? (He has entered her office unannounced.) He has a habit of disappearing in the middle of a conversation.
Parker: Jarod says that Dawson was murdered.
Sydney: By whom?
Parker: He didn't say. (She grabs her coat.) Your boy's really starting to piss me off.
Sydney: Where are you going?
Parker: I…I set up a meeting with Detective Miller. He's going to meet me at my house in twenty minutes.
Sydney: What makes you believe you can trust him?
(She walks back to her desk and hands Sydney a folder. Inside he finds photos of Miller and his family, and a lot of text information.)
Parker: Ronald Miller. 23 years on the force, six meritorious citations. He's got four kids and he's still married to his high-school sweetheart. From where I stand he's the only person in this entire situation who doesn't have an agenda. (She walks out.)
On the Road to Miss Parker's Place
(Parker drives through the night towards her home. The roads are wet and steam rises from them. It is a country road with no lighting. She slows and stops where the road is blocked by police and emergency services. She gets out of her car and moves to where another onlooker stands. They watch as sparks fly as a badly damaged car is cut open.)
Parker: What happened? Onlooker: Some guy lost it on the curve. Pulled a Kamikaze into the tree.
Parker: Do they know who it is? Onlooker: I didn't get a name but the tow truck driver said it was a cop.
(Parker's disinterest turns to horror as she turns back to the accident. The body of the victim is finally pulled from the car. She sees his badge, and then his face - Detective Miller. She gasps and hears Jarod's words again.)
Jarod: Missing Pieces Miss Parker. Missing pieces.
Wrecking Yard
(Parker examines the wreck of Miller's car, still perched atop the truck it was brought back on. She opens the file on Miller and looks at the photograph of the detective with his family.)
Jarod: (He steps up behind her.)The true casualties of war are always the innocent.
(Jarod is dressed in a mechanic's uniform.)
Parker: War. Is that what this is? (She shows Jarod the photo.) He had four children and a wife. I just can't help but feel responsible.
Jarod: We're all responsible. But not for this. (He shows her a still-dripping section of tube.) This is the brake line from Miller's car. It was cut. Deliberately. (He throws the evidence aside.)
Parker: Someone sabotaged it?
Jarod: Ron Miller was a good cop. He was just trying to find the truth behind Thomas' murder. That's why he and Dawson were silenced. So that…
Parker: (She turns away.) So that no tracks would lead back to the Centre.
Jarod: (He takes out a cloth and starts wiping his oily hands on it.) That is what they do. They kill anyone who's remotely interested in the truth. And then they take away the people that we love the most.
Parker: Why?
Jarod: To control us. To use us to do their dirty work. For me it was my parents, my brother. For you, your mother. And now Thomas. You ever wonder how a man in prison got his hands on pharmaceutical grade morphine? I do.
Parker: How do I stop them?
Jarod: With the truth.
Parker: Missing pieces. Jarod - (She turns back, about to talk to him, but he's gone. She looks around briefly for him, then pulls out her phone.) Broots, I need you to do something for me.
The Centre
Sim Lab
(Broots, Sydney and Miss Parker step through the doorway. The sliding door closes automatically behind them. He moves to his workstation and sits down.)
Broots: Luckily, the Blue Cove police use the same monitoring equipment that we do. I was able to hack into their tape archives and find the video footage of the prisoner surveillance area…
Parker: Skip the tram ride Broots. Did Wade Dawson have contact with anyone during the time he was locked up?
Broots: Just one person.
(Broots taps at his keyboard and video footage appears on the monitor. It shows Dawson in prison, being visited by another man.)
Parker: I can't see his face.
Sydney: Other camera angles?
Broots: None. But he turns slightly towards the lens as he gets up to leave.
(The visitor on the screen drops something white onto the floor, then puts his foot on it and pushes it towards Dawson.)
Parker: That has to be the poison drugs.
(Dawson's shoe goes down on the white object, then lifts and withdraws. The white object is gone.)
Broots: Dawson must have used chewing gum or glue to make it stick to the bottom of his boot.
Sydney: What about the mystery man?
Broots: Oh, he's coming up.
(On the monitor a guard comes and tells Dawson his time is over. Dawson is led out. The visitor looks briefly up at the camera as he leaves.)
Parker: Wait. Go back. Go back. Freeze there.
Flashback (The man in the video is Lester, complete with beanie.)
Lester: There's been a murder up on Briar Road.
Present
Parker: The trash man.
Sydney: Who?
Parker: The same man that was outside my house. Run a check on him. I want to know who that is and where I could find him. Missing pieces.
Mechanic's Shop
(Miss Parker and Sydney enter the service area of the mechanic's shop. They are greeted by one of the mechanics.)
Mechanic: Well howdy folks. How can we help you today?
Parker: We're looking for someone. He may be working here? (Sydney hands the mechanic a mug shot of Lester.) Look familiar?
Mechanic: Why y'all looking for this fella?
Sydney: We represent a trust account and we have reason to believe that the man in the picture is owed a large sum of money.
Mechanic: Unlucky Lester hit the jackpot?
Sydney: Quite possible.
Parker: Where can we find Unlucky Lester?
Mechanic: Why, he's right in the back there.
Parker: Hmm. Thank you.
(Parker and Sydney walk out of the shop into a yard filled with cars. Parker gets directions from another mechanic and soon finds a man on his back under a car.)
Parker: Lester?
Lester: Who wants to know?
Parker: We need to talk to you.
Lester: I'm kinda busy right now. I just… (Parker takes out her gun then grabs his leg and pulls him out from under the car. She pushes the gun below his head.) Ah!
Parker: Give me another reason to shoot you.
Lester: Wh…what do you want?
Parker: Remember me?
Lester: No, no.
Parker: Sydney, step back, I wouldn't want you to get brain matter all over your new suit.
Lester: Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. I only do what the guy asked me to do. I thought it was a prank.
Parker: Get up. (He hesitates.) Get up! (Lester quickly rises, holding his hands up.) Who told you to come to my house that morning?
Lester: I don't know. It was just a voice on the phone. He offered me a thousand dollars to be in the woods that morning. He said all I had to do was call the cops and take off. I swear. I swear! I thought it was a stunt!
Parker: (She advances on him and grabs his collar threateningly.) Does that include passing drugs to people while they're in jail?
Lester: I…I needed the money.
Parker: I bet you did. What about Miller?
Lester: Who?
Parker: The cop whose car you sabotaged.
Lester: I don't know what you're talking about.
Parker: You're lying and you're dying. (She taps him on the cheek, stands back and raises her gun again.)
Lester: Hold it, hold it.
Sydney: (He steps up beside her.) Trash man is our only link to Thomas' killer. Dead, he'll be of no other help.
(Parker considers this for a few seconds.)
Parker: Do you think you could recognise his voice if you heard it again?
Lester: Yeah! Uh, I guess. Uh, but, uh, that'll cost ya.
Sydney: Go on.
Lester: Well, uh, whoever this guy is, he'd not real fond of leaving loose ends, if you know what I mean.
Parker: What do you want?
Lester: Uh, uh, four, five hundred thousand dollars. That's the deal. You take it or shoot me right here. Either way I'm finished.
(Parker lowers her gun.)
Mr Parker's Office
(Mr Parker is leaning on the edge of his desk. Miss Parker paces backwards and forwards in front of him.)
Parker: Dawson was framed. They planted my gun on him and pumped him so full of pure morphine that even he wasn't sure if he pulled the trigger or not, Daddy. (She stops in front of him.) Don't you see? This man at the garage is the only person who can identify Thomas' killer.
Mr Parker: Half a million dollars is a lot of money. (He sees her look away and his voice softens.) I'd pay ten times that if I thought it'd ease your pain. If the Centre is involved, we'll keep it internal. No outside agencies. Clear?
Parker: Crystal.
Mr Parker: You'll find him, bring him back. It's time we end this mess once and for all.
(Parker holds his face and kisses him, then walks out, obviously relieved. Behind her Mr Parker blows slowly out and looks thoughtful.)
Garage
(It's night. Parker, Broots and Sydney attempt to enter the Garage where they'd earlier found Lester.)
Broots: Door's locked. (He raises voice.) Hello?
(Parker leads them to another door, which she slides opens, and they enter.)
Parker: Stay behind me. Lester! (She is carrying her gun.) Broots, give me the flashlight.
Broots: What's that noise? The car's running.
(Parker shines her light onto a thick hose running under the car before them.)
Parker: Oh my God. Broots, kill the engine.
Broots: (He moves quickly to the car and tries the door.) The door's locked. The window's closed.
Parker: Out of the way, out of the way. Hold this. (She hands him the flashlight.) Back off. Give me some light. (She grabs a nearby tool and breaks the window of the car, reaches in and turns the engine off. She pops the boot then hurries to the back and opens it. Inside is Lester's body staring sightlessly to the heavens.)
Sydney: He's gone.
Broots: Let's get out of here.
(The lights suddenly come on. They turn to find Lyle at the entrance, closely followed by Bridget and Mr Parker.)
Parker: Daddy. What are you doing here?
Mr Lyle: It was my idea. When I heard what you were up to, we were concerned for your safety, so we followed you.
Bridget: It's a dangerous world little lady. Can't be too careful.
Mr Parker: She's right. These people are nothing but scum. They'd kill you as soon as look at you.
Parker: Daddy, this man was the last link in proving who killed Thomas. Mr
Parker: (He looks into the boot, unaffected by the gruesome sight of the body jammed in it.) Well, this breaks the chain for good. (He slams the boot shut then turns to Lyle.) Get a cleaner team in here. I don't want any trace of Centre involvement.
Lyle: Yes sir. (He talks into his phone.) Yeah, this is Lyle.
Parker: That's it? That's all you're gonna do?
Mr Parker: Uh, I know how hard it is to lose somebody you love. Stop searching for fixes, answers that may not exist. The only way to survive is get on with the business of living. Sorry, Angel. It's a hell of a thing. (He sighs, then turns and walks out. Bridget gives Parker a bright smile before following.)
Cemetery, beside Thomas's grave
(The grave is covered in yellow roses. The Headstone reads: "In loving Memory of Thomas Gates July 5, 1962 - May 8, 1999" Parker's phone rings.)
Parker: What?
Jarod: You spend way too much time in cemeteries, Miss Parker.
Parker: They killed them all. And for what? Power? Control?
Jarod: What will you do now?
Parker: I'm going to grieve. I'm going to stand here and remember all the good things I had.
Jarod: And then?
Parker: (She sees images of Thomas' body, of Bridget, of Lyle, and of Raines.) I'm going to wait until they think it's all forgotten, find out who did this and make them pay.
Jarod: (He looks unsurprised.) Look under the tree next to you. I left you a little present. Don't stop searching for those missing pieces, Miss Parker. If you do, you'll never find what you're looking for.
(She sees a large rectangular package, wrapped in brown paper, against a tree. She opens it to find a lovely stained glass picture of herself, or her mother. There is a missing piece of glass, in the shape of a heart, outlined in the lead.)
Song
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance,
For a break that would make it okay.
There's always some reason to feel not good enough.
And it's hard at the end of the day.
Flashback
Parker: Tell me about love, Momma.
Catherine: What do you want to know?
Parker: Will I ever find someone to love, like you found Daddy?
Catherine: I think you will.
Song
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release,
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie.
You're in the arms of the Angel,
May you find some comfort here.
You're in the arms of the Angel,
May you find some comfort here.
(Parker leaves the picture by the tree for the moment and kneels back at Thomas' grave. She remembers scenes from their past together, kissing, laughing, embracing. She hears his words again.)
Thomas: I love you, Parker.
