BODY OF EVIDENCE

BODY OF EVIDENCE 

by

Brad Mirman

(second draft)

Over the BLACK we hear the SOUNDS of two people making love. A

MAN'S VOICE MOANS passionately.

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

ANDREW MARSH lies on his back in bed. He is a frail-looking

man in his early sixties, with thinning gray hair. On top of

him is a much younger WOMAN. Although her back is to us, we

catch flashes of her face for a moment as she turns from side

to side. We see enough to know that this is a beautiful woman.

She moves wildly, grinding her hips into him, her head arched

back, her hands rubbing lightly over her breasts. She reaches

down, grabbing his hips and jerks them upwards, forcing him

deeper inside her. They move together -- faster -- and faster.

The CAMERA slowly begins to PULL BACK. As it does we see what

we are watching is on a TELEVISION.

Further back still. We see TWO UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS

standing before the television watching the act.

The CAMERA begins to pan around the room. Rain streaks down

the windows of the room -- LIGHTNING flashes outside. A VIDEO

CAMERA is set up on a tripod. More PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE,

looking, dusting, talking.

We continue to PAN. We can now see it is the same room on the

tape. ON the bed lies the naked body of ANDREW MARSH, a sheet

covering his lower torso. His face is ashen, mouth open, his

dull eyes looking out in a fixed stare. The last instant of

his life is etched upon a face frozen in pain.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT

LIGHTNING fills the night sky. THUNDER BOOMS overhead. The

wind whips the RAIN furiously against anything in its path.

The CAMERA moves slowly along rows of beautiful HOMES. At the

end is a cul-de-sac. Several POLICE CARS are in the driveway,

their RED LIGHTS FLASHING.

A four-door SEDAN pulls into the driveway. JOHN CARDENAS steps

out into the rain. He is a handsome Latin in his thirties,

with hard, chiseled features and black, slicked-backed hair.

He does not run through the rain -- he walks.

DETECTIVE REESE, a man who looks more like an accountant than a

homicide detective runs out to meet him.

2

CARDENAS

Is it Marsh?

REESE

Yeah.

Just a hint of sadness shows on Cardenas' face. It lasts an

instant, then it's gone.

REESE

Sir, do you mind if we get out of the

rain?

Cardenas doesn't move. He ignores the question.

CARDENAS

Who found him?

REESE

His Secretary. Joanne Braslow.

CARDENAS

She was here?

REESE

No. She stopped by to pick up some

papers.

CARDENAS

Show me.

Reese starts for the house. Cardenas looks up into the night

sky. A FLASH of LIGHTNING fills the SCREEN.

INT. HOUSE, BEDROOM - CLOSE ON CAMERA - NIGHT

Pull back to reveal a POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER snapping pictures of

Marsh in bed.

Cardenas enters followed by Reese. He moves through the

FORENSIC and MEDICAL TEAMS. Anything Cardenas feels about the

gruesome sight before him is hidden behind a mask of

indifference.

Standing by the bed is ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ROGER

TROXELL, a short, baby-faced man. Cardenas looks down at the

body, then over at the MEDICAL EXAMINER, DR. HENRY McCURDY, a

portly man with windblown cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

CARDENAS

How long?

3

MCCURDY

About three hours.

CARDENAS

Cause?

MCCURDY

Not sure. I'll have everything you

need tomorrow.

REESE

Take a look at this.

Reese points to the nightstand drawer and Troxell opens it. On

top of the nightstand is a box of tissues and a bottle of nasal

spray. Inside are ROPES, HANDCUFFS and an assortment of SEXUAL

AIDES.

TROXELL

This guy was into some kinky shit.

Cardenas looks at the various sexual devices, then walks out of

the room.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

JOANNE BRASLOW sits on chair. Her eyes are tired -- red from

crying. She is mid thirties -- attractive, but her looks come

more from effort than nature -- expensive hair cut -- the right

cosmetics. She has a corporate look to her.

Cardenas steps into the hall and walks over to her.

CARDENAS

Miss Braslow -- I'm District Attorney

John Cardenas. You arrived at what

time tonight?

JOANNE

A little after eleven.

CARDENAS

Why did you come by?

JOANNE

I had some papers to pick up.

CARDENAS

Do you know who Mr. Marsh was with?

JOANNE

I assume his girlfriend.

4

CARDENAS

Her name?

JOANNE

Rebecca Lawson.

CARDENAS

You wouldn't know her address, would

you?

JOANNE

No -- but I can get it for you.

CARDENAS

Thank you.

INT. HALLWAY, CITY HALL BUILDING - DAY

Cardenas walks down the corridor with McCurdy.

MCCURDY

Marsh wasn't alone. We found traces

of sperm on the sheets. The

toxicology report says there were

high levels of cocaine in his blood.

CARDENAS

What'd he die of?

MCCURDY

The official cause of death was a

cardiac arrest.

CARDENAS

The official cause?

MCCURDY

That's what my report will read.

CARDENAS

But there's more?

They reach a door and stop.

MCCURDY

It's speculative at this point.

Marsh had advanced Arterial disease.

His heart attack was induced by

excessive aerobic activity -- in

conjunction with the drug.

McCurdy enters the room. Cardenas thinks for a moment, then

follows.

5

INT. CARDENAS' OFFICE - DAY

Spacious and sparsely furnished. The walls are empty. No

commendations, plaques or photographs to add prestige to the

office. Cardenas steps into the room and looks at McCurdy who

is already seated next to Reese and Troxell.

CARDENAS

(to McCurdy)

What are you saying, Henry? That his

girlfriend fucked him to death?

MCCURDY

Yes.

A trace of a grin shows on Cardenas' face. He walks over to

the window and stares outside. Reese, Troxell and McCurdy wait

as he thinks. A beat. Cardenas turns back to the room.

CARDENAS

What can we prove?

MCCURDY

We know Marsh had a head cold. We

found cocaine mixed with water in a

nasal spray container on the

nightstand. The coke would contract

the nasal membrane the same as any

decongestant, but for a much shorter

time. He'd keep using more and more

-- never knowing what he was taking.

CARDENAS

Any prints on the nasal spray?

REESE

Marsh's and Rebecca Lawson's.

TROXELL

What if he did know what was in it?

A lot of users put it in nasal spray

bottles so they can use it in public.

MCCURDY

Cocaine is the last thing a man in

his condition would want.

CARDENAS

Can we put Rebecca Lawson at the

scene?

6

REESE

A man across the street from Marsh

saw her drive up about four thirty

Sunday afternoon. And her prints are

all over the place.

Cardenas stands and walks to a DART BOARD on the wall. He

gathers the DARTS, moves back and tosses one.

TROXELL

Marsh's Cardiologist told me that

after Marsh was diagnosed with heart

disease he quit smoking, quit

drinking and started exercising every

day. Does that sound like a guy

who'd start shoveling cocaine up his

nose?

CARDENAS

What did he say about Miss Lawson?

TROXELL

He can remember at least one occasion

-- and the receptionist can recall

two times when she accompanied Marsh

to the office.

Cardenas throws another dart at the board.

CARDENAS

So she knew about his heart?

TROXELL

Had to. I also interviewed three

women who were in past relationships

with Marsh. There's no evidence that

he had anything but straight sex

prior to meeting Miss Lawson.

CARDENAS

What about the will?

TROXELL

That's the best part. She gets it

all -- everything.

EXT. CEMETERY - MORNING

Gray clouds hang over head. A light drizzle falls. A GROUP of

MOURNERS hold umbrellas as they stand around the grave.

In the b.g. the PRESS is visible, held back my private SECURITY

GUARDS.

7

A WOMAN dressed in BLACK stands in the front of the MOUNERS,

her face hidden behind a hat and veil. RAYMOND SATTLER, a

tall, distinguished-looking man in his sixties stands beside

her. He supports his weight with the aid of a CANE. The

service concludes. Sattler along with several other PEOPLE

offer her their condolences. Joanne Braslow is there. She

does not go over to Rebecca.

CARDENAS AND REESE stand off to the side by a large oak tree.

Cardenas watches and waits. He steps forward as Sattler leads

the woman by.

CARDENAS

Miss Lawson?

The Woman stops. Her back is to Cardenas.

CARDENAS

I'm District Attorney, John Cardenas.

REBECCA LAWSON removes her hat and veil and slowly turns

around. She is in her late twenties. A deep pain fills her

face -- controlled, but evident. Her eyes are tired -- heavy

from crying -- but no tears show now. This is a woman whose

grief is private and not displayed for others. Although

emotionally drained she is still stunningly beautiful. So

beautiful that even Cardenas' usually cool demeanor cannot hide

how impressed he is.

SATTLER

I don't think that this is the time,

or the place.

CARDENAS

I just wanted to introduce myself and

inform Miss Lawson that there will be

an inquiry.

SATTLER

An inquiry into what?

CARDENAS

For starters I'd like to know why she

left the house and didn't report the

death?

SATTLER

Because he wasn't dead when she left,

and even if he was, not reporting a

natural death in a timely fashion

isn't a crime.

CARDENAS

Did I say it was a natural death?

8

Cardenas and Rebecca lock eyes. Rebecca stares at him

genuinely shocked by his accusation. Cardenas nods and walks

away. In the b.g. we see Joanne staring at Rebecca with

hostility.

INT. HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Large and homey. A fire roars in the fireplace. FRANK DULANEY

sits on his couch as he goes over some PAPERWORK. He is mid-

thirties, powerful, self-assured.

SHARON DULANEY enters. She is an attractive woman in her early

thirties. She kisses him on the cheek then pushes his

PAPERWORK aside and sits down on his lap.

SHARON

You're on vacation, remember? You're

supposed to be relaxing.

DULANEY

I am relaxing.

SHARON

(pushing the papers

aside)

This is not relaxing.

DULANEY

(playfully)

Really?

SHARON

Really.

DULANEY

(playing along)

And I suppose you're going to show me

how to relax?

SHARON

If you want me to.

DULANEY

I'm always open to learning new

things.

She kisses him -- soft, gentle kisses. Dulaney puts his arms

around her and kisses her harder.

DULANEY

I'm beginning to see what you mean.

Why don't we go upstairs and work on

the advanced course?