Épisode Taxi driver S04E20 - CSI : NY Saison 4

Résumé long :

L’épisode commence avec une émission de radio parlant du tueur au taxi. Les personnes de la radio libre se plaignent de la durée beaucoup plus longues de leurs trajets. Une femme dit « Nous avons 30 000 policiers dans cette ville et ils ne sont pas capables de trouver un tueur de taxi fou ? ».

Flack amène un homme au commissariat. L’homme fait glisser ses menottes sur ses pieds pendant que Flack ne le regarde pas et tente de s’échapper quand une porte de voiture s’ouvre. Flack est obligé de se décaler de la route à cause de la voiture en excès de vitesse, lorsque qu’un corps est poussé dehors depuis la porte de celle-ci. Flack court après le taxi, mais ne parvient pas à le rattraper. Lorsqu’il revient vers le corps, il découvre que c’est un policier, James Comitus. Il a des marques dans le cou et a manifestement été empoisonné par du monoxyde de carbone. Est-ce une nouvelle victime du tueur au taxi ?

Danny examine la scène de crime et trouve de l’huile moteur sur le sol, le conducteur a du percer son réservoir d’huile. Lorsqu’il remarque que des fourmis sont en train de se nourrir d’huile, il prélève un échantillon.

Au labo, Hawkes dit à Stella que l’huile est à base de graisse animale, ce qui explique que les fournis aient voulu la manger. Une seule compagnie de taxi utilise cette nouvelle huile : « The Five Brothers Cab Company ».

Lorsque Flack et Stella se rendent dans cette compagnie de taxis, les conducteurs leur disent qu’il n’y a aucun taxi endommagé ou manquant ; mais comme ce sont les seuls à utiliser ce type d’huile, Flack et Stella sont suspicieux.

Au labo, Lindsay a trouvé des traces d’ADN de singe transférées sur le corps, mais elle a besoin de temps pour trouver de quelle espèce elles proviennent. Sid examine l’inscription faite sur l’arrière du cou de la victime, et explique à Mac qu’elles sont aléatoires, ce qui ne correspond pas à celles des précédentes victimes du tueur au taxi. Autre différence, les marques n’ont pas été effectuées avec le même type de lame sur le corps du policier que sur les autres. Il y a aussi des hématomes de coups de poings, a priori faits par 3 personnes différentes, or le tueur au taxi travaille seul. Si ce n’est pas l’œuvre du tueur au taxi, Mac se demande comment l’imitateur connaissait le rituel des marques.

Le taxi a été retrouvé abandonné. Ils découvrent que la victime travaillait au noir comme chauffeur de taxi, il aurait donc abandonné sa propre voiture. Mac commence à douter que le policier soit le vrai tueur au taxi, mais n’arrive toujours pas à comprendre comment quelqu’un était au courant pour les marques dans le cou. Il évoque ses doutes à Stella lorsque Jordan des affaires internes arrive. Elle demande aux 2 enquêteurs comment de telles informations ont pu se retrouver sur un blog. Stella et Mac sont furieux d’être accusés. Stella découvre alors que le blog en question est celui de Reed Garrett. Mac dit à Stella qu’il est impossible que Reed ait vu les marquages, et part demander à Reed qui est sa source.

Reed refuse de parler à Mac, et celui-ci se met en colère. Il reproche à Reed d’avoir fait de Jimmy une cible en l’accusant sur son blog, et lui dit qu’il est indirectement responsable de sa mort.

Mac lit le blog de Reed et explique à Stella qu’il n’a pas voulu lui révéler sa source. Stella défend Reed, en lui disant qu’ils étaient pareils à son âge. Mac dit qu’il n’a pas le temps de comprendre, mais accepte de parler à Reed.

Lindsay dit à Stella que les traces d’ADN retrouvées sur le corps viennent plus probablement du dîner de quelqu’un, le singe rendant populaire la viande illégale. Elle lui explique qu’il y a des risques pour la santé à manger cette viande, car on peut attraper la variole du singe. Stella regarde une photo et constate qu’un chauffeur des « Five Brothers » l’avait.

Elle interroge l’homme et lui dit qu’ils ont retrouvés des traces de singe. Elle prend ses empreintes de poing, et l’homme avoue avoir tué Jimmy. Il explique qu’il l’a toujours trouvé bizarre et lorsque son ami a consulté le blog de Reed Garrett, ils ont vu qu’il l’accusait d’être le tueur au taxi. Ils ont alors décidé de le remettre directement à la police, mais ne savaient pas qu’il était flic.

Au labo, Mac regarde les preuves lorsque Quinn lui dit que le juge fera arrêter Reed s’il ne fournit pas sa source. Mac lui dit que ce ne sera pas nécessaire. Il appelle Reed et lui dit qu’il faut qu’ils se voient. Quinn souhaiterait savoir comment Mac et Reed se connaissent. Elle lui donne une heure pour avoir la source.

Mac attend devant l’immeuble de Reed mais celui-ci ne répond pas, Mac décide donc d’entrer. Il voit le sac de Reed posé sur le sol et les clés dans la serrure. Il ramasse le sac et de la poudre blanche tombe. Lorsqu’il appelle Reed, on voit la voiture avec la croix accrochée au rétroviseur. Le conducteur détient le téléphone. Il enlève la batterie, puis on voit quelqu’un ligoté dans le coffre. Lorsque la personne fait tomber le sac qui était posé sur sa tête, on s’aperçoit qu’il s’agit de Reed.

Le taxi attend près du trottoir et persuade une femme de monter, en lui donnant des arguments comme « J’ai 3 bouches à nourrir ». Après qu’elle soit montée, elle lui demande quel âge ont ses enfants. Le conducteur se retourne et lui dit « Je n’ai pas d’enfants ». Les portes se verrouillent, et la femme commence à crier. Le conducteur prend l’autoroute avant de s’arrêter à un arrêt. Il ouvre alors le coffre, jette le cadavre de la jeune femme à côté de Reed et le referme ensuite.

Mac dit à Stella que les parents de Reed ne lui ont pas parlé depuis hier, et Lindsay n’arrive pas à capter le signal de son téléphone. Stella voit soudain que Reed a posté un article sur son blog, disant à ses lecteurs qu’il se trouve en face du tueur au taxi et qu’il est chargé de délivrer son message.

On nous montre ensuite une scène où le tueur au taxi grave des marques dans le cou de sa dernière victime. Il demande à Reed s’il sait qui il est. « Pourquoi ne vois-tu pas qui je suis ?», lui demande-t-il. Reed est confus et ne sait quoi répondre, ce qui met le tueur en colère. Il dit qu’il veut qu’on le comprenne. Reed est effrayé et lui demande s’il va le tuer, ce qui rend le tueur encore plus en colère.

Retour au labo, où Lindsay tente de capter le signal du blog de Reed, pendant que Danny et Hawkes réalisent que la poudre blanche a du tomber lorsque Reed a été enlevé.

Reed poste à nouveau, et parle de la mort d’une femme nommée Claire. Stella pense qu’il essaye de faire passer un message à Mac. Quinn demande alors à nouveau à Mac ce que Reed est pour lui. Il lui explique alors que c’est le fils de Claire, sa défunte épouse. Danny appelle Mac à son poste de recherches, et lui fait alors écouter la cassette trouvée dans le sac de Reed, il s’agit de l’entrevue avec sa source. Nous comprenons que la source est directement le tueur, qui parle à Reed des marques trouvées dans les cous des victimes, en lui disant qu’il est certain que le tueur est Jimmy de la compagnie des « Five Brothers ». Mac comprend que cette interview était un test, et explique que lorsque Jimmy a été retrouvé mort, le tueur s’est rendu compte de l’influence qu’avait le blog de Reed.

Lindsay essaye toujours d’obtenir une localisation, mais ne parvient qu’à déterminer une zone quelque part sur la côte ouest.

Reed poste un nouvel article disant qu’il souhaiterait pouvoir retourner en Australie, le pays où il est né. Mac explique que Reed est né à Chicago, ce qui veut dire qu’il essaye d’envoyer un autre indice.

Danny parvient à trouver que la poudre retrouvée sur le sac est de la levure, ce qui n’aide pas beaucoup les experts, car elle peut provenir de n’importe où.

Reed a rédigé un autre article : « Qu’est-ce que Claire mangeait au petit déjeuner ? Corn-flakeD ? » Quinn dit que cela est peut-être une simple faute de frappe, mais Mac comprend que c’est encore un indice : Glacier, Comet, Corn Flaked et l’Australie sont tous les objets utilisés dans le brassage de la bière. Les experts trouvent alors une brasserie abandonnée dans le West Side, et un taxi y est abandonné à l’intérieur.

Une fois arrivés, ils découvrent le tueur avec « Claire », enveloppée dans une bâche. Il la contemple un instant, puis la jette et court. Mac court après lui, mais saute de l’immeuble sur le toit d’un camion. Stella appelle Mac car elle a besoin d’aide. Nous la voyons la main posée sur Reed, son cou a été tailladé et sa main est insuffisante pour arrêter les saignements. Mac s’approche et pose sa main sur le cou de Reed, le priant de rester avec lui.

Reed est dans l’ambulance sur le chemin de l’hôpital, il perd beaucoup de sang mais a toujours un pouls.

Retour dans le bâtiment, où Stella constate qu’il ne devait pas vivre ici, c’était simplement son « bureau ». Hawkes lui dit qu’heureusement, il est sorti de son bureau pour un certain temps. Jordan arrive et demande si Mac se trouve à l’hôpital. Elle est bouleversée de ne pas avoir été au courant pour Reed, et se demande également comment le maire expliquera que le tueur leur a échappé. Elle dit à Stella qu’il va confier l’affaire au FBI.

Lindsay et Danny, en inspectant la voiture, se rendent compte que le tueur utilisait les boutons de la radio pour laisser échapper le monoxyde de carbone. Une empreinte retrouvée sur le couteau qui a servi a taillader Reed correspond à une retrouvée dans la voiture de Jimmy. Danny comprend rapidement que les 2 hommes ont eu un accident et que le tueur a tué Jimmy afin que son taxi ne soit pas recherché.

A l’hôpital, Reed se réveille et Mac s’assoit sur le lit. Il a besoin de l’aide de Reed. Il dit que Reed les a amené à lui la première fois, et veut savoir ce dont il se souvient. Reed, ne pouvant parler, prend un papier et un stylo et écrit à Mac qu’il est resté dans la voiture 35 minutes avant qu’ils ne sortent et soient amenés dans le bâtiment. Il a pu voir un panneau d’affichage « Fendi » par la fenêtre. Ils sont restés là-bas environ 30 minutes, le tueur a pris une douche. Il écrit que ça sentait le maïs, et est sur de ce qu’il dit.

Quinn dit qu’il y a une fabrique à Fort Lee, NJ. Comme il n’a pas eu le temps d’aller si loin en 30 minutes, Stella explique que Reed devait être à Washington Heights, sous le vent de l’usine.

Lindsay dit qu’elle a trouvé un tuyau dans la voiture, manifestement usé. Il doit l’avoir trouvé dans l’immeuble où il habitait, qui se trouve être une vieille caserne abandonnée. Les flics entourent le bâtiment, puis entrent, et on voit le tueur assis sur son canapé, lisant la Bible. Il cite un passage, disant « Je suis Carn. J’ai dû le faire. Toutes les personnes qui sont condamnées doivent être mises à mort ». Mac dit que la citation est de Laviticus, verset 27-29. Cela explique les marques « L2729 » sur les victimes.

Mac sort ensuite Reed de l’hôpital, et appelle un taxi. Les deux hommes entrent à l’intérieur, en silence et sereins. Mac dit « C’était une bombe à retardement. Seul, les visages sur les panneaux publicitaires l’ont mis en colère. Ses victimes étaient des personnes qui avaient besoin de la rédemption. Il se voyait comme Carn, le passeur de la mythologie grecque qui donnait le passage à travers le Styx. Maintenant qu’il est enfermé à jamais, New York peut commencer à guérir. Nous pouvons tous commencer à guérir ».

Ce script appartient au site twiztv.com

***

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS/SUBWAY - NIGHT

MUSIC IN

[MONTAGE SEQUENCE - TRAFFIC ON THE STREET, PEDESTRIANS ON THE SIDEWALK. POLICE AT CHECK POINTS SEARCH TAXIS. COMMUTERS PACK ONTO SUBWAY TRAINS.]

LARRY DUNBY (V.O.)

The topic on every New Yorker’s mind, the monster the press has dubbed, “The Cabbie Killer,” A serial murderer who’s brought the city to its knees by creating commuter chaos not seen since the last transit strike. The phones are popping. Let’s go to Jason on line six.

[WALLA]

JASON (V.O.)

The mayor better get off his ass and do something pretty soon. People are angry. Buses are packed. The D train’s a joke. My twenty minute commute takes two hours now.

LARRY DUNBY (V.O.)

You and eight million others, Jason. Let’s go to Wendy on line three.

WENDY (V.O.)

We got 30,000 cops in this city, Larry. Why can’t they catch one crazy cabdriver?

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - 74

MUSIC OUT

[DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL AND DETECTIVE DON FLACK EXIT A CAR WITH PRISONER ROLAND JONES IN THE BACKSEAT]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Oh, he’s nasty. His breath smells. Makes prom night in the back of my father’s Caddy with Bianca DeFazio seem like it never happened.

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Back of your father’s Caddy?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Come on, Roland. Time to make the doughnuts. It was either that or my Pontiac Sunburst. [MUSIC IN] Let’s go, pal.

[ROLAND PUSHES FLACK AS HE EXITS THE CAR, HITS AT ANGELL. FLACK PUSHES ROLAND AGAINST THE CAR. A CAB SPEEDS FORWARD.]

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Flack!

[FLACK PUSHES ROLAND OVER THE CAR AND OUT OF THE WAY OF THE PASSING CAB. THE CAB SLOWS, PUSHES A MAN OUT OF ITS BACKSEAT AND SPEEDS AWAY. FLACK CHASES THE CAB AS IT CAREENS THROUGH AN ALLEY, UP ON THE SIDEWALK TO ESCAPE.]

PEDESTRIAN

Hey!

[WALLA]

[ANGELL LOOKS DOWN AT THE CAB’S PASSENGER LYING IN THE STREET]

TH PRECINCT - NIGHT

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

He’s dead.

[ANGELL PICKS UP THE VICTIM’S WALLET]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

I lost him.

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Don? Jersey City P.D. Think it was him? The Cabbie Killer?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Well, if it was, he just upped his game. The son of a bitch killed a cop.

[FLASHBACK]

[TO OPENING SEQUENCE]

THEME MUSIC IN

SHOW TITLE - OPENING SEQUENCES

OPENING CREDITS

END OF TEASER

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE - NIGHT

MUSIC IN

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - 74

[STELLA BONASERA TAKES PHOTOS OF THE VICTIM]

MUSIC OUT

MAC TAYLOR

You catch a license plate on the cab?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

No. Didn’t have any tags.

MAC TAYLOR

What about the car? Make, model, year?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

I don’t know, maybe Ford.

STELLA BONASERA

Any dents or distinguishing marks?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

He was going too fast. I was running.

MAC TAYLOR

Come on, give me something. Anything.

[WALLA]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Look, I know I sound like an idiot. It was a yellow cab. That’s all I got.

[FLACK WALKS TO DANNY MESSER, CROUCHED NEAR THE SIDEWALK WHERE THE CAB CUT INTO THE ALLEY]

TH PRECINCT - NIGHT

DETECTIVE DON FLACK (CONTINUED)

I get within twenty feet when he jumps the curb, cuts the corner and he’s gone.

DANNY MESSER

Got some motor oil. Must have cracked his oil pan. Can’t get far if he loses too much.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

I was this close. I could’ve seen his face.

[FLASHBACK]

[SQUEALING TIRES]

[BACK TO SCENE]

DANNY MESSER

Don’t worry about it. Have every cop in Manhattan looking for this cab. [DANNY SEES A LARGER OIL STAIN] What the hell? [ZOOM INTO ECS OF ANT MOVING THROUGH THE OIL] Ants? What, are you guys crazy eating this stuff? Yeah.

[DANNY TAKES AN ANT FROM THE OIL]

[ZOOM INTO ECS OF ANT]

[BACK TO STELLA AND MAC LOOKING AT THE DEAD COP]

MAC TAYLOR

Bright red blood.

STELLA BONASERA

Consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning. It certainly matches our Cabbie Killer’s M.O.

MAC TAYLOR

Right down to the carvings on the neck.

[ZOOM INTO ECS OF CARVINGS ON VICTIM’S NECK] They appear to be post-mortem.

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

Flack said he pushed him out of the cab while it was still moving.

[BACK TO SCENE]

STELLA BONASERA

It’s pretty brazen to kill a cop. But then to dump him out in front of the precinct?

MAC TAYLOR

The Cabbie Killer’s mocking us.

STELLA BONASERA

Or daring us to catch him.

MAC TAYLOR

Quinn. I see Jersey City sent its finest.

QUINN SHELBY

This is the Cabbie Killer’s handiwork, right?

STELLA BONASERA

It appears to be.

QUINN SHELBY

His first victim was from Hoboken. Now he’s killed a Jersey City cop? I’m working the case with you. The maniac’s killed six people.

MAC TAYLOR

Let’s hope this is the last one.

MUSIC IN

STELLA BONASERA

Did you work with him, Quinn? [QUINN NODS] I’m sorry.

MAC TAYLOR

No holster, no gun. Probably wasn’t carrying.

STELLA BONASERA

Cabbie Killer murders have been front page news for weeks. Why would anyone, let alone an unarmed cop get into a taxi in New York City?

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE - NIGHT TO DAY

MUSIC OUT

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - CORRIDOR - DAY

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

The motor oil Danny swabbed off the sidewalk where the cab jumped the curb? Guess why all the ants were lined up like it was a buffet.

STELLA BONASERA

I give up.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

It’s derived from animal fat. Yeah. It’s called G-oil, a brand new environmentally friendly motor oil.

STELLA BONASERA

Can’t be a lot of cab companies using it.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

There’s only one.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - DAY

[CLOSE ON TAXI CAB MOVING ON THE STREET]

INT. FIVE BROTHERS CAB COMPANY - DAY

[WALLA]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

All right, boys. Everything gets checked. If it makes you look twice, I wanna see it.

ARTHUR BODIE

We got company.

JEFF CONTE

What the hell is this?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

We have a warrant to search the premises.

JEFF CONTE

Now what? You guys are here every other week.

STELLA BONASERA

Uh, there’s a killer out there and he happens to drive a cab.

ARTHUR BODIE

And who you think is paying the price for that? Huh?

STELLA BONASERA

Whole city’s a victim.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Cab come in recently with a broken oil pan?

JEFF CONTE

No.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Anyone call for a tow last night, early this morning?

JEFF CONTE

No. Nothin’ like that.

STELLA BONASERA

Are your cars accounted for?

ARTHUR BODIE

Yes. Every single one.

STELLA BONASERA

Well now that’s odd. ‘Cause a man was murdered and dumped out of cab that was leaking G-oil. Yours is the only cab company in the city that uses it.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Care to explain that?

JEFF CONTE

You’re the detective. Ain’t that your job?

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Yes, it is. And I plan on staying here while every cab is processed and every log book checked and if I find out that either of you two are lying to me, you’re gonna find out just how well I do my job.

[MUSIC OUT]

EXT. NEW YORK CITY OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - TRACE LAB - DAY

[WALLA]

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

What have we got, Montana?

LINDSAY MONROE

Haven’t heard that in awhile.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

It just slipped out. Sorry.

LINDSAY MONROE

It’s okay. I kind a miss it. I, uh, I processed Officer Chameides’ clothing and I found--

[FLASHBACK]

LINDSAY MONROE (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

--a light brown smudge on the jacket that looked consistent with blood.

[BACK TO SCENE]

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

You run it through CODIS?

LINDSAY MONROE

Got nothing. Right now I’m just trying to narrow it down to a specific species.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

Species? It’s not human?

LINDSAY MONROE

The DNA came back as primate.

MUSIC IN

INT. M.E.’S OFFICE - DAY

[DR. SID HAMMERBACK PROCESSES THE ETCHED MARKINGS ON THE VICTIM’S NECK]

MUSIC OUT

MAC TAYLOR

These look random. They’re certainly not consistent with the markings on the previous five victims.

DR. SID HAMMERBACK

Also, these appear to have been made with a bladed instrument. The wound tracts on James’ neck are deeper--

DR. SID HAMMERBACK (CONTINUED)

--and much more clearly defined, and the wounds are absent the trace of sycamore, slate and ash I found in the others.

QUINN SHELBY

Are we looking at a copycat?

MAC TAYLOR

Information the cabbie’s victims had carvings on the back of their necks was never released to the press.

QUINN SHELBY

Whoever did this wasn’t just guessing.

DR. SID HAMMERBACK

I noticed some bruising.

[FLASHBACK]

[BACK TO SCENE]

QUINN SHELBY

He was beaten pretty badly.

DR. SID HAMMERBACK

The size and shape of the bruises indicate multiple sources.

MAC TAYLOR

We’re looking for three attackers.

DR. SID HAMMERBACK

Everything I’ve seen so far says the Cabbie Killer acted alone.

QUINN SHELBY

So he didn’t murder Jimmy.

MAC TAYLOR

No. But there are three guys out there who want us to think he did.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - HIGHWAY UNDERPASS - DAY

MUSIC IN

[WALLA]

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Patrol found the cab twenty minutes ago.

DANNY MESSER

Nice.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Give me your flashlight?

DANNY MESSER

A few more hours, somebody would have been living in it.

[FLACK LOOKS UNDER THE CAB, FINDS A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Oil pan’s cracked. Yep. That’s the cab.

DANNY MESSER

All right. I’ll have it towed back to the lab.

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Gloves?

DANNY MESSER

Flack. Five Brothers Cab Company.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

What? We seized every document in that garage. There was not a cab unaccounted for. Looks like our friends are trying real hard to cover their tracks.

DANNY MESSER

And missing paperwork doesn’t put ‘em at the scene.

DETECTIVE JESSICA ANGELL

Guys? This case just got a lot stranger. Our Jersey cop was moonlighting as a cabdriver.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

So Jimmy Chameides was dumped out of his own cab?

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - GARAGE - DAY

[MONTAGE SEQUENCE - DANNY PROCESSES THE CAB FOR FINGERPRINTS, TRACE EVIDENCE]

MUSIC OUT

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - CORRIDOR - DAY

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.)

We’ve been looking at Jimmy Chameides’--

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

--case the wrong way. We thought we had a dead cop. What if what we’re really looking at is a dead cabdriver?

STELLA BONASERA

Okay. So our cabbie is beaten up by three guys. But then they kill him with carbon monoxide and carve into his neck.

MAC TAYLOR

Maybe they gave him a taste of his own medicine. Jimmy was a cabbie. Cabbie’s been terrorizing the city, putting hacks out of business.

STELLA BONASERA

That’s why they dumped him in front of the precinct. They delivered him to us like a gift.

MAC TAYLOR

This is vigilante justice. It still doesn’t explain how the killers knew about the carvings on the back of the victims’ necks.

STELLA BONASERA

Or why they thought Jimmy Chameides was our Cabbie Killer.

JORDAN GATES

Can either of you help me explain to the mayor how sensitive information about an active serial killer case ends up [MUSIC IN] on an Internet blog?

STELLA BONASERA

What sensitive information?

JORDAN GATES

The existence of carvings on the victims’ necks.

MAC TAYLOR

Are you accusing this lab of leaking information to the press?

JORDAN GATES

I’m simply asking for your help. The investigation of this leak has landed in my lap.

MAC TAYLOR

Well, plenty of people, right on up to the mayor’s office, were privy to that detail, Jordan.

STELLA BONASERA

Did you question them or was it just easier coming in here and accusing us?

JORDAN GATES

That’s not fair, Stella. I’m looking for answers. I’m not pointing fingers. The last thing I would do is question the integrity of the two of you. But this administration’s at its breaking point. If this leak came from this office, I can’t help you.

STELLA BONASERA

Mac? It’s Reed.

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.)

Reed was at the scene. But from where he stood, he couldn’t have seen the carvings. He--

[BACK TO SCENE]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

--couldn’t have known.

[ZOOM INTO ECS OF REED’S PHOTO ON THE BLOG’S PRINT-OUT]

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - WEST VILLAGE - DAY

MUSIC OUT

MAC TAYLOR

Who’s your source, Reed? Who told you about the carvings on the neck?

REED GARRETT

I don’t know his name.

MAC TAYLOR

How do you get in touch with him?

REED GARRETT

He contacts me.

MAC TAYLOR

What’s he look like?

REED GARRETT

I can’t tell you that.

MAC TAYLOR

You can and you will.

REED GARRETT

Look, when I wanted a story, you stayed true to the code of your office and now I’m staying true to mine.

MAC TAYLOR

This is not a game. An innocent man is dead.

REED GARRETT

What are you talking about?

MAC TAYLOR

Your blog. You accused a driver named Jimmy of being the Cabbie Killer.

REED GARRETT

I didn’t accuse anybody. I reported the information that I was given.

MAC TAYLOR

Without confirming it. Jimmy, the cabdriver was also known as Police Officer James Chameides. He was moonlighting as a cabbie out of Five Brothers Garage.

REED GARRETT

No, wait a minute. I thought Chameides was the work of the Cabbie Killer. He was, he was dumped from a cab.

MAC TAYLOR

His own cab. After he was brutally beaten and murdered by three men, vigilante justice. Now, where do you think they got the idea that Jimmy was the Cabbie Killer?

MUSIC IN

REED GARRETT

You’re not blaming me for this guy’s death.

MAC TAYLOR

I’m blaming you for putting a target on his back.

MUSIC OUTEND OF ACT ONE

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE - DAY

MUSIC IN

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

[MAC READS REED’S BLOG]

MUSIC OUT

STELLA BONASERA

How’d it go with Reed?

MAC TAYLOR

How do you think it went?

STELLA BONASERA

Ah. I think you pushed and he got mad and refused to give up his source and then one of you stormed off.

MAC TAYLOR

Well, if you’d told me that before you could have saved me the trip.

STELLA BONASERA

Come on, Mac. He’s 23 years old. It’s his first real job. He just wants to succeed and can’t see beyond that. Is he really any different than you and I were at that age?

MAC TAYLOR

People are dying. I don’t have time for the understanding approach.

STELLA BONASERA

Okay. Well, Reed found out about those carvings. We need to find his source. Don’t let your pride get in the way.

LINDSAY MONROE

Hey, Stella. The, uh, primate DNA on Officer Chameides’ jacket? I traced it back to a rare species.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - CORRIDOR - DAY

(CONTINUOUS)

LINDSAY MONROE

It came from a white-throated monkey. Now, I noticed the sample was diluted and a lot of the cells had lysed, so it was most likely frozen at some point.

STELLA BONASERA

So it wasn’t transferred from a live animal?

LINDSAY MONROE

I’m thinking it was actually somebody’s dinner. White-throated monkey is a popular bush meat. It’s illegally imported from the jungles of Africa and Asia. In some cultures it has spiritual significance, in others it’s a delicacy. But there are health risks involved with ingesting the meat. C.D.C. has seen cases of intestinal parasites, Ebola, monkey pox. Problem is, I don’t think this gets us any closer to finding our cop killer.

[FLASHBACK]

ARTHUR BODIE

And who you think is paying the price for that?

[ZOOM INTO ECS OF ARTHUR’S AFFLICTED HAND]

[BACK TO SCENE]

STELLA BONASERA

Actually, Lindsay, it leads us right to him.

INT. NYPD - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

STELLA BONASERA

Looks like you had a pretty bad case of monkey pox awhile back. Common for someone who’s eaten illegal, tainted bush meat. The man you and your friends killed? He had DNA from a white-throated monkey on his clothes. See, we call that secondary transfer.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

And I’ll bet, when we get a search warrant for your house, that we’ll find bush meat in your freezer.

ARTHUR BODIE

Lots of people eat it.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Look, Artie, I’m not in a good mood here. A cop’s dead. Whoever killed him almost ran down me and my partner with a cab from your garage, the same cab you so smugly swore to me was not missing.

ARTHUR BODIE

I was mistaken.

STELLA BONASERA

No, you were lying. Make a fist.

ARTHUR BODIE

What is this?

STELLA BONASERA

I said make a fist. The men who murdered Office Chameides, they left very distinct bruises on his body. I’m about to match the size and shape of your knuckles to some of those bruises.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

You didn’t know he was a cop, did you, Artie?

ARTHUR BODIE

Chameides always kept to himself. Acted like he didn’t belong there. Like he was better than everybody else.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Whose idea was it?

ARTHUR BODIE

Jeff Conte pulled up a blog on his computer. [MUSIC IN] It said it was a driver named Jimmy at our garage. That was the killer. Everything pointed to him. The cops weren’t doing anything. We were starving for fares. People have to eat, you know? We thought we were delivering the Cabbie Killer. We did. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. We didn’t know. Please. You’ve got to believe me. Please.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

MUSIC OUT

QUINN SHELBY

I have a judge ready to issue an order of contempt if Reed Garrett doesn’t give up his source.

MAC TAYLOR

You what?

QUINN SHELBY

The source knew things that were never released to the press. He may know the killer.

MAC TAYLOR

No, don’t. Don’t go to a judge.

QUINN SHELBY

Why not? Mac, this Garrett kid is the only lead we’ve got. Uh, we can force him to tell us.

MAC TAYLOR

[INTO CELL PHONE] Where are you? I’ll be there in ten minutes.

QUINN SHELBY

You know him.

MAC TAYLOR

It’s a long story.

QUINN SHELBY

One I’m gonna need to hear.

MAC TAYLOR

Look. Just give me a couple of hours. Quinn.

QUINN SHELBY

One hour.

EXT. NYC BROWNSTONE - DAY

[WALLA]

[CAB DRIVERS HUSTLE FOR PASSENGERS]

INT. NYC BROWNSTONE - DAY

[MAC SEES REED’S BACKPACK AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS]

MUSIC IN

[FLASHBACK]

[BACK TO SCENE]

[HE SEES REED’S KEYS STILL IN THE DOOR LOCK. MAC DIALS REED’S CELL PHONE]

INT. MEDALLION CAB - DAY

[REED’S CELL PHONE VIBRATES. THE KILLER CABBIE REACHES FOR IT OFF HIS DASHBOARD, KNOCKS THE BATTERY OUT OF THE BACK.]

INT. NYC BROWNSTONE - DAY

MAC TAYLOR

[INTO CELL PHONE] Reed, where are ya? Call me back right away.

INT. MEDALLION CAB - FRONT SEAT/TRUNK - DAY

[REED IS BOUND AND GAGGED WITH DUCT TAPE, WITH A CLOTH OVER HIS HEAD AND IS STUFFED IN THE TRUNK OF THE KILLER’S CAB]

[MUFFLED SCREAMS]

MUSIC OUTEND OF ACT TWO

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE/CITY STREETS - DAY

MUSIC IN

INT. MEDALLION CAB - FRONT SEAT/TRUNK - DAY

CABBIE KILLER (OFF CAMERA)

Give you a lift?

MARY ANN D’AMICO (OFF CAMERA)

No, thanks.

INTERCUT WITH -

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET - BUS STOP - DAY

[WALLA]

CABBIE KILLER

Come on. Give a guy a break. I’m not gonna hurt ya. I’m just trying to make a livin’. I got three hungry little mouths to feed at home.

MARY ANN D’AMICO

I think I’ll just wait for the bus.

REED GARRETT

(MUFFLED SCREAMS)

CABBIE KILLER (OFF CAMERA)

I’ll get you home before the next bus even gets here. Chance are, it’s already gonna be packed and you’ll have to wait for the one after that.

MARY ANN D’AMICO

You’re probably right.

CABBIE KILLER

Let me guess. Upper East Side?

MARY ANN D’AMICO

Impressive. All right. Why not?

INT. MEDALLION CAB - DAY

MARY ANN D’AMICO

So, how old are your kids?

CABBIE KILLER

I don’t have any children.

MARY ANN D’AMICO

But you said you--. (OFF CAMERA) What are you doing? Stop the car.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREET/HIGHWAY - DAY

[THE CAB MOVES ALONG ON CITY STREETS]

MARY ANN D’AMICO (V.O.)

Don’t do this. No! No!

INT. MEDALLION CAB - TRUNK/INT. ABANDONED

FIREHOUSE - DAY

[REED SEES THE TRUNK OPEN. CABBIE KILLER PLACES THE DEAD MARY ANN INSIDE THE TRUNK NEXT TO REED.]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.)

He left his--

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

MUSIC OUT

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

--keys in the door, his backpack on the stairs. There’s no question this is foul play.

STELLA BONASERA

You call his parents?

MAC TAYLOR

They haven’t talked to him since yesterday.

STELLA BONASERA

You think someone’s trying to take revenge for the dead cop?

LINDSAY MONROE

I can’t get a signal. Reed’s cell is turned off. And there’s something wrong with it because even the phone company can’t turn it on.

MAC TAYLOR

We can’t help him if we can’t find him.

MUSIC IN

STELLA BONASERA

Hey, Mac? He’s posting on his blog.

MAC TAYLOR

[READS] “For weeks I’ve been investigating the Cabbie Killer murders with a certain morbid fascination.”

STELLA BONASERA

This is in real time.

LINDSAY MONROE

I’ll create a GUI interface using Visual Basic, see if I can track an IP address.

[MAC AND REED READ THE BLOG SIMULTANEOUSLY]

MAC TAYLOR

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

[READS] “What I never anticipated was becoming part of the story. At this moment I’m sitting face-to-face with a brilliant criminal who’s made the greatest city in the world his victim. He wants you to understand. He wants me to give you his message.”

STELLA BONASERA

Reed’s source is the Cabbie Killer.

MAC TAYLOR

Now the son of a bitch has him.

INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - LAIR - DAY

[MARY ANN’S BODY IS LAID OUT ON A TABLE. CABBIE KILLER CARVES INTO HER NECK.]

CABBIE KILLER

Why can’t you see who I am?

[REED, UPPER ARMS TAPED TO HIS SIDE, TYPES ON HIS COMPUTER]

REED GARRETT

I’m trying. Please, okay? I’m trying so hard. I just--.

CABBIE KILLER

The newly dead who have coins to pay for the ride must be taken across the river or they’ll wander the banks for a hundred years.

REED GARRETT

Okay. Do you want me to, do you want me to write that? Is that what you want me to say? Uh.

CABBIE KILLER

No! Don’t you see? They think I’m insane. They call me the Cabbie Killer. Use your words. Let them see me deliver the message, to the doomed. Make them understand.

REED GARRETT

You gonna kill me?

CABBIE KILLER

Only those who have the golden branch can cross the river while still aliveand return to this world. Type! Now!

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - A/V LAB - DAY

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

The pall of death is overwhelming as I watch him carve into her once-pristine neck. I don’t even know her name.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - TRACE LAB - DAY

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

This white powdery trace could be something.

DANNY MESSER

Maybe transferred from anywhere Reed stopped on his way home.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

It’s on the top of the backpack. Mac said some blew off when he picked it up.

DANNY MESSER

All right, so any other movement would have caused it--

[FLASHBACK]

DANNY MESSER (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

--to plume, so it must have fallen off of the backpack at the time Reed was abducted.

[BACK TO SCENE]

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

Yes.

[DANNY PICKS UP REED’S SMALL TAPE RECORDER]

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

QUINN SHELBY

What the hell is going on? I just heard he’s got Reed.

STELLA BONASERA

And another female victim.

[MAC READS A NEW POST ON REED’S BLOG]

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

Claire. I’ll call her Claire. No one should be written about with anonymity. But then she shouldn’t be dead.

STELLA BONASERA

If Reed’s using Claire’s name in his blog, he’s gotta be sending you a message, Mac.

MUSIC OUT

QUINN SHELBY

Mac. Who is Reed to you?

MAC TAYLOR

He’s Claire’s son, Quinn. [MUSIC IN] She gave him up for adoption before we met. When he came looking for his biological mother, he found me, unaware that she had died.

[DANNY WAVES TO MAC FROM THE TRACE LAB]

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - TRACE LAB - DAY

DANNY MESSER

Look, I know you’re busy, but you gotta hear this. This is Reed’s interview with the Cabbie Killer.

CABBIE KILLER (V.O.)

I’m not sure I should tell you. I got a family. If he finds out--.

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

Look, if you tell me what you know, then we can stop him, okay? They’ll take him away. He can never touch you.

MAC TAYLOR

Sounds like they’re in his cab.

CABBIE KILLER (V.O.)

He’ll know it’s me. I can’t.

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

Wait a minute. I was supposed to meet--

[FLASHBACK]

REED GARRETT (CONTINUED)

--someone on that corner and they never showed. That was you. That was you. You wanna do the right thing. You wanna tell me.

CABBIE KILLER

I can’t keep this inside anymore. He thinks they’re doomed, carves in the back of their necks.

[BACK TO SCENE]

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

What? What does he carve?

CABBIE KILLER (V.O.)

I don’t know.

[FLASHBACK]

CABBIE KILLER

It’s his message. What he, wants them to understand.

REED GARRETT

How do you know all this? You know him, don’t you? You know him. What’s his name? Tell me his name.

[BACK TO SCENE]

CABBIE KILLER (V.O.)

Jimmy.

[FLASHBACK]

CABBIE KILLER (CONTINUED)

That’s all I know. Drives for Five Brothers.

REED GARRETT

Are you sure that’s him?

CABBIE KILLER

Trust me. He’s your guy.

[BACK TO SCENE]

MUSIC OUT

DANNY MESSER

It stops after that.

MUSIC IN

MAC TAYLOR

The interview was a test. When James Chameides ended up dead within a matter of hours, the killer realized that Reed’s blog was a conduit to the world. With people everywhere as his captive audience waiting for the next post, he has the ultimate control.

DANNY MESSER

Explains why he took Reed. But, why would the killer wanna turn people against Jimmy?

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - A/V LAB - DAY

MAC TAYLOR

Where’s he blogging from?

LINDSAY MONROE

Somewhere in the city.

MAC TAYLOR

That’s all you’ve got?

LINDSAY MONROE

Reed’s typing, but it’s, it’s not streaming. He completes a whole post, then he hits enter. It travels in a matter of seconds. It’s happening too fast to get an exact fix on an IP address.

MAC TAYLOR

We’re running out of time, Lindsay.

LINDSAY MONROE

Here we go.

MAC TAYLOR

[READS] “Her eyes are vacant. There’s so much she’ll never get to see, the glaciers, the falling comet. Guess I won’t either.

LINDSAY MONROE

He’s picking a funny time to get creative with his writing.

MAC TAYLOR

[READS] “I always wanted to go back to Australia where I was born. I left so young.”

LINDSAY MONROE

He was born in Australia?

MAC TAYLOR

No, he’s from Chicago.

LINDSAY MONROE

So what does this mean? He’s blogging from somewhere in Midtown. Best I can do is the West Side.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - CORRIDOR INTO TRACE LAB - DAY (CONTINUOUS)

MAC TAYLOR

What have you got?

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

Processed the powder we found on Reed’s backpack. Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

MAC TAYLOR

Yeast. Could be from anywhere, a bakery, a brewery.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

(CONTINUOUS)

MAC TAYLOR

Please tell me how we can have all this technology at our disposal and we can’t get a location on Reed.

STELLA BONASERA

Well, as long as he keeps blogging, at least we know he’s alive.

MAC TAYLOR

That’s not enough. I should never have given him access to the case.

STELLA BONASERA

Mac, there is nothing you could have done to prevent this.

QUINN SHELBY

Look, another post.

REED GARRETT (V.O.)

He likes killing passively. Claire’s the passive one now. To think just hours ago she was having breakfast, like any normal day. Wonder what she had? Corn flaked, French toast.

STELLA BONASERA

Corn flaked?

QUINN SHELBY

Well, could be a typo.

MAC TAYLOR

Stella, scroll back up.

STELLA BONASERA

You got it. What do you see?

MAC TAYLOR

Hawkes found yeast trace on Reed’s backpack. It’s not corn flaked, it’s flaked corn. [MAC POINTS TO WORDS THAT “JUMP” OUT ONTO THE SCREEN] Glacier and comet are hops. Australia is a type of wheat malt. And flaked corn is an adjunct.

STELLA BONASERA

All ingredients used to brew beer. We’re looking for a brewery.

MAC TAYLOR

Quinn, find me a brewery in the West Side in Midtown. We’re heading in that direction.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - DAY

[MAC’S CAR RUSHES TO THE WEST SIDE]

QUINN SHELBY (V.O.)

Mac, I’ve got a location for you. Doohan’s Brewery, West Side Highway and Evergreen. It was closed down six months ago by the Health Department.

EXT. DOOHAN’S BREWERY - DAY

[FLACK, ANGELL, MAC, STELLA AND UNIFORMS ARRIVE AT THE LOCATION]

STELLA BONASERA

That’s the cab.

INT. DOOHAN’S BREWERY - DAY

MAC TAYLOR

Stop right there! NYPD.

[CABBIE KILLER DROPS A TARP-WRAPPED BODY, RUNS OFF AND IS CHASED BY MAC. MAC DODGES BEER KEGS AS THEY RUN UP THE STAIRS.]

INTERCUT WITH -

EXT. DOOHAN’S BREWERY - OVERPASS - DAY

[CABBIE KILLER JUMPS OFF THE OVERPASS ONTO A PASSING SEMI TRUCK BELOW]

[INSIDE, STELLA CHECKS A BLOODIED REED FOR A PULSE]

STELLA BONASERA

[INTO RADIO] Mac. (V.O.) I need you down here now.

MAC TAYLOR

Flack, get on your radio. I want every available unit. Shut down the West Side Highway, if you have to.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

[INTO RADIO] Central, I need a Level Three mobilization at West Side Highway and Evergreen in the vicinity of Doohan’s Brewery.

[CABBIE KILLER JUMPS OFF THE TRUCK]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK (CONTINUED)

Suspect is on foot. Dispatch aviation.

STELLA BONASERA

My hand. My hand is too small.

MAC TAYLOR

All right. Reed, hang in there, Reed. Don’t die on me.

STELLA BONASERA

Bus is on its way.

MAC TAYLOR

Reed. Don’t die on me. Come on. Reed.

MUSIC OUTEND OF ACT THREE

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE/STREETS - DAY

MUSIC IN

[AN AMBULANCE RUSHES TO THE HOSPITAL]

EXT./INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ENTRANCE - DAY

[WALLA]

[MAC WALKS ALONGSIDE REED ON A GURNEY INTO THE HOSPITAL]

EXT. DOOHAN’S BREWERY - DAY

STELLA BONASERA

[TO ND UNIFORM] This cab needs to go to the garage immediately.

INT. DOOHAN’S BREWERY - DAY

MUSIC OUT

STELLA BONASERA

There’s no bed or food here. And nothing that indicates this is where he lays his head.

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

Probably just his office. Picked a place of opportunity. Unfortunately for him, this place is no longer available.

JORDAN GATES

Where’s Mac? Is he at the hospital?

STELLA BONASERA

What can I do to help you, Jordan?

JORDAN GATES

Well, there’s a press conference in five minutes. I mean, how’s the mayor gonna stand out there before a panicked public and report that a killer, whose body count has reached seven, has eluded capture?

STELLA BONASERA

Well, I don’t know how to answer that. I guess he’ll just have to tell the truth?

JORDAN GATES

I’m not trying to give you a hard time here, Stella. Don’t make me the villain. I’m on your side. I just wish you were on mine.

STELLA BONASERA

What’s that supposed to mean?

JORDAN GATES

Why am I the last to know that Reed is practically Mac’s son?

STELLA BONASERA

It wasn’t my place to share that information.

JORDAN GATES

Look. The mayor plans to assign the FBI’s forensic team to the case.

STELLA BONASERA

Well, until he does, I got a lot of work to do. Hey, Jordan? Thanks for the heads up.

JORDAN GATES

Sure.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - GARAGE - DAY

LINDSAY MONROE

Try something else.

DANNY MESSER

Well we’ve tried everything else. Maybe it’s the presets on the radio. How ‘bout now?

LINDSAY MONROE

Nothing.

DANNY MESSER

What about now?

[CSI SHOT]

MUSIC IN/OUT

[BACK TO SCENE]

LINDSAY MONROE

Hold on. I think you got it.

MUSIC IN

[FLASHBACK]

MALE VICTIM

Pull over!

[BACK TO SCENE]

DANNY MESSER

Innocent people died right in the back of this cab.

MUSIC OUT

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - PRINT LAB - DAY

STELLA BONASERA

Hawkes?

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

The prints on the knife--

[FLASHBACK]

DR. SHELDON HAWKES (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

--used to cut Reed are in the system.

[BACK TO SCENE]

STELLA BONASERA

Did you get a name?

DR. SHELDON HAWKES

Huh-uh. Just a match to a set of prints Danny found in Jimmy Chameides’ cab.

STELLA BONASERA

All right. Proves a connection between Chameides and our Cabbie Killer. But it doesn’t explain why Jimmy got into the cab.

DANNY MESSER

You know what? I don’t think he did. Damage to the killer’s front fender and the paint transfer are a match to Jimmy’s cab.

STELLA BONASERA

They got into a car accident.

[REENACTMENT]

MUSIC IN

CABBIE KILLER

Buddy, yo. What are you doin’, man? I’m over here-.

[WALLA]

STELLA BONASERA (V.O.)

All right. So, Jimmy Chameides probably wanted to report the damage, but the Cabbie Killer couldn’t risk--

STELLA BONASERA (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

--that. I mean, police would have been all over his cab. Instead, he uses Reed’s blog to set Jimmy up as the Cabbie Killer.

[BACK TO SCENE]

DANNY MESSER

So we got a dead cop because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE - DAY

INT. HOSPITAL - ICU - DAY

MUSIC OUT

[HOSPITAL P.A. WALLA]

REED GARRETT

Hey, Mac.

MAC TAYLOR

Hey.

REED GARRETT

Hey.

MAC TAYLOR

Hey. Don’t try to talk. How’re you doin’? You’re gonna be all right. I need your help. I need to know what you remember. I know you can do this ‘cause you lead us to him the first time. Here.

MUSIC IN

[REED WRITES ON MAC’S NOTEPAD]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

You were in the trunk.

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

He abducted you outside your apartment in the West Village.

[BACK TO SCENE]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

And he drove. For how long?

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.)

Okay, so ten minutes of street driving and twenty-five on the highway. You heard gravel under the tires. He pulled into a building and he put the woman in the trunk?

[BACK TO SCENE]

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

You saw a Fendi billboard--

[BACK TO SCENE]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

--through high windows? How long were you there?

[FLASHBACK]

[BACK TO SCENE]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

Half hour? Wait. Water running for that long.

[FLASHBACK]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

He took a shower. That must be where he lives.

[BACK TO SCENE]

MAC TAYLOR (CONTINUED)

What else, what else did you see, hear, smell?

QUINN SHELBY (V.O.)

Candy corn?

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - CORRIDOR - DAY

MUSIC OUT

MAC TAYLOR

He was adamant [MUSIC IN] it was candy corn.

QUINN SHELBY

I knew someday there’d be an advantage to living in Jersey. There’s a candy corn factory in Fort Lee. I get nauseous every time I drive by it.

INT. NEW YORK CRIME LAB - MAC’S OFFICE - DAY

MAC TAYLOR

The brewery is where the killer carved them, but it’s likely the place that he stopped is home. Reed said the highway driving totaled twenty-five minutes.

QUINN SHELBY

West Village to Fort Lee, middle of the day? No way.

STELLA BONASERA

Well, he didn’t have to go to Jersey to smell it. Prevailing winds are eastward.

MAC TAYLOR

Washington Heights. So a Fendi billboard and a graveled road in or near Washington Heights.

LINDSAY MONROE

I processed the hose--

[FLASHBACK]

LINDSAY MONROE (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

--used to divert the carbon monoxide in the cab. It’s made from a durable woven cotton that’s consistent--

[BACK TO SCENE]

LINDSAY MONROE (CONTINUED)

--with the kind used in fire hoses.

QUINN SHELBY

He could have bought it or got it from a building.

LINDSAY MONROE

I don’t think so. It showed signs of stretching from repeated use. How often does a building use their fire hose?

QUINN SHELBY

Nobody’s gonna buy or sell an old, worn fire hose.

STELLA BONASERA

Well, it’s more like something that was left behind. Now, our Cabbie Killer seems to like buildings that are no longer in use. Here we go. An abandoned firehouse at Pineview and 181

EXT. ABANDONED FIREHOUSE - DAY

[FLACK, MAC, AND SWAT TEAM CONVERGE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD.]

st.

INT. ABANDONED FIREHOUSE - DAY

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Drop to your knees. Put your hands behind your head.

CABBIE KILLER

I am Charon, the son of Erebus and Nyx.

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

Yeah? Well, even the gods can’t help you now.

CABBIE KILLER

Don’t you see? I had to. All human beings that are doomed lose the right to be redeemed.

MAC TAYLOR

They must be put to death. Leviticus 27:29.

[FLASHBACK TO ETCHED MARKINGS ON VICTIMS’ NECKS]

[BACK TO SCENE]

DETECTIVE DON FLACK

L-2-7-2-9. Get up.

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.)

He was a ticking time bomb. Alone, delusional.

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

[MAC WHEELS REED OUT OF AN ELEVATOR]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

The faces on the billboards made him angry. He saw their slogans as false promises and lies.

INT. NYPD - JAIL - NIGHT

[CABBIE KILLER IS ESCORTED TO A JAIL CELL]

MAC TAYLOR (V.O.) (CONTINUED)

His victims were sinners who were doomed and in need of redemption. The only way to be redeemed was to be killed and then given passage across the River Styx. He saw himself as Charon, the Greek god, also known as ferryman. His duty was to offer that passage. The city was a hostage to fear, to panic, to turning against one another, all because of one man’s rampage. Now that he’s locked up forever, New York can begin to heal. We all can begin to heal.

EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

[MAC WHEELS REED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL]

MAC TAYLOR

Taxi!

INT. YELLOW CAB - NIGHT

[MAC AND REED RIDE IN SILENCE IN THE BACK OF THE CAB]

EXT. NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT

[MONTAGE SEQUENCE – OVERHEAD SHOT OF TRAFFIC NEAR TIMES SQUARE, PANNING SHOT OF STATUE OF LIBERTY, AND THE CITY’S SKYLINE]

TO BLACK

MUSIC OUT

SHOW TITLE

FADE OUT