INT. SECURITY OFFICE - COLLEGE

            Brian and Josh are both in security uniforms, looking
            carefully at each other.  Neither one looks very happy.

                                BRIAN
                      I know what you're doing.

                                JOSH
                      I don't know what you're talking about.

                                BRIAN
                      Just stop the bullshit!  Leave it alone.

                                JOSH
                      Leave what alone?

                                BRIAN
                      Quit messing with me.  I'm trying to be
                      nice.  Just cut out the letters.  They're
                      not working.

                                JOSH
                      Don't worry about it.  It's out of your
                      hands.

                                BRIAN
                      No, it's not.  You'll see that.

                                JOSH
                      Just deal with it.

                                BRIAN
                      Mind your own business and stay out of
                      ours.  Final warning.

                                JOSH
                      Is that a threat?

            Brian can't help but notices that Josh has taken a sinister
            tone.  But before he can say anything, Mitch walks up to
            them.  The anger quickly fades from their faces.

                                MITCH
                      Hey guys.  I didn't know you were working
                      here.

                                JOSH
                      Gotta pay for college somehow.

                                MITCH
                      Are both of you going into law
                      enforcement?

                                BRIAN
                      Maybe.

                                JOSH
                      Not sure.

                                BRIAN
                      Did you need something?

                                MITCH
                      Oh yeah.  My keys are locked in my car. 
                      You have a slim jim or something like
                      that?

                                JOSH
                      I think so.

                                BRIAN
                      This job is so exciting.

            Josh goes in the back to look for the slim jim.

                                MITCH
                      How's Claudia doing?

                                BRIAN
                      Better I guess.

                                MITCH
                      That's good.  How are your profiles
                      coming?

                                BRIAN
                      Still doing research.

                                MITCH
                      Good.  Then I'll be expecting something
                      great.

                                BRIAN
                      And you'll get it.

            Josh comes back with the slim jim in hand.  

                                JOSH
                      I think this'll do the trick.  Let's see
                      if we can break into your car.

            INT. KITCHEN - MITCH'S HOUSE

            Anna is balancing her checkbook at the kitchen table, looking
            frustrated.  She doesn't even hear Mitch walk in.

                                MITCH
                      Hello.

            She looks up with a start and then grins sheepishly.

                                ANNA
                      I didn't hear you come in.

                                MITCH
                      Money troubles?

                                ANNA
                      I just can't get the damn thing to come
                      out right.

                                MITCH
                      It happens.  I haven't met a single
                      person who can balance one to the penny.

                                ANNA
                      I'd like to be the first.

            Mitch walks to the sink and takes his wedding band off.  He
            sets it on the counter and begins washing his hands.

                                ANNA (cont'd)
                      Are you home for dinner tonight?

                                MITCH
                      Nope.  I have to go back to the office
                      and do some things.

                                ANNA
                      Can you go to the store for me later? 
                      I've got a ton of things to do tonight,
                      and I have to get up early.

                                MITCH
                      What time?

                                ANNA
                      Ten?

                                MITCH
                      I should be back by then. Leave a list on
                      the table, okay?

            Mitch finishes washing his hands and turns the water off.  He
            wipes some water on his face, and then dries them on a towel.

                                ANNA
                      Are you all right?

                                MITCH
                      Yeah.  Just a lot of work.

                                ANNA
                      Okay.

            He kisses her on the cheek and starts out the door when Anna
            clears her throat.  Mitch turns around and sees that her eyes
            are on the counter where his wedding band still lies.

                                MITCH 
                      Oops.

            He picks it up and puts it back on his finger, gives her one
            more look, and then walks out the door.

            INT. POSH RESTAURANT - NIGHT

            Mitch and Laura are seated across from each other near a big
            picture window showing the illuminated city.

                                LAURA
                      Nice place.

                                MITCH
                      I'm glad you like it.  I kind of guessed. 
                      I don't eat out very often.  Unless you
                      count takeout.

            Laura smiles, her eyes glowing like candles.

                                LAURA
                      Well you did good.

            The WAITER comes over and hands them both menus.  

                                WAITER
                      Would you care for some wine before you
                      order?

                                MITCH
                      No thank you.  Water's fine.

                                LAURA
                      I'll have a glass of Chablis.  You're not
                      having any Mitch?

                                MITCH
                      No, I'm fine.

                                LAURA
                      Oh c'mon, live a little.  One glass isn't
                      going to kill you.

            Mitch doesn't like where this is going and he takes on a firm
            tone.

                                MITCH
                      No thank you.

            Laura catches the hint and waves the Waiter away.

                                LAURA
                      I'm...I'm sorry.  I was acting like an
                      idiot, and-

            Mitch cuts in with a soft gentle voice.

                                MITCH
                      No you weren't.

                                LAURA
                      I should have known-

                                MITCH
                      How could you have?

                                LAURA
                      Because I'm very good at picking things
                      up.

                                MITCH
                      It's okay.

                                LAURA
                      Somebody told me a long time ago and...

                                MITCH
                      Who?

                                LAURA
                      Professor Smith.

                                MITCH
                      That dirty bastard...

            Laura calms from her embarrassment, and she becomes very
            tender.

                                LAURA
                      When I meet a man for the first time, I
                      usually know everything about him in
                      thirty seconds.  But you...I couldn't
                      read you.

                                MITCH
                      Am I that mysterious?

                                LAURA
                      No, it's nothing like that.

            The Waiter returns with her wine, but she shakes her head at
            him.

                                WAITER
                      Here's your wine, ma'am.

                                LAURA
                      I'm sorry.  I uh, changed my mind.  I'd
                      like a Pepsi if you don't mind.

                                MITCH
                      Pepsi...Pepsi sounds good.  Make that
                      two.

            The Waiter whisks the wine away, rolling his eyes.

                                WAITER
                      I'll have it right out.

            INT. HOMICIDE DIVISION - POLICE STATION

            Wes hunches over at his desk looking over files.  He doesn't
            notice Kemper approach him.

                                KEMPER
                      Working late?

                                WES
                      What?  Oh, it's you.

                                KEMPER
                      I'm a late worker myself.

                                WES
                      What do you need?

                                KEMPER
                      Just some information.

                                WES
                      Such as...

                                KEMPER
                      I need you to be honest with me.

                                WES
                      I am a cop.

                                KEMPER
                          (laughing)
                      That's a good one.  Look, I'm playing on
                      a hunch here.  I think Mitch Johvas knows
                      more than he's telling me.  Do you know
                      anything about that?

                                WES
                      What could Mitch possibly know about all
                      this?

                                KEMPER
                      I've just got a feeling.  You see, Mitch
                      and I go way back.

                                WES
                      At the FBI.  Yeah, I know.  You were both
                      agents in the profiling unit.

                                KEMPER
                      And I still am.

                                WES
                      I gathered that.

                                KEMPER
                      Mitch and I weren't that fond of each
                      other and I'm afraid he might be keeping
                      information from me because of our past.

                                WES
                      If he knows anything, he's not talking to
                      me about it.

                                KEMPER
                      I'm sure.  But if he does and you don't
                      tell me, I'll have you both brought up on
                      charges.  Understand?

                                WES
                      Perfectly.

            Kemper leaves and Wes' face becomes troubled.  He calls out
            after Kemper.

                                WES (cont'd)
                      Wait!

                                KEMPER
                      Yes?

                                WES
                      Look, Mitch is in way over his head.  I
                      only want to help him.

                                KEMPER
                      As do I.

            INT. KITCHEN - MITCH'S HOUSE - NIGHT

            Anna sits at the table looking impatiently at the clock on
            the wall.  It reads: 10:59 P.M.  She checks her watch against
            it.

            EXT. DRIVEWAY - MITCH'S HOUSE - NIGHT

            Anna gets in her car and drives away with a burst of angry
            speed.

            EXT. LAURA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

            Mitch and Laura walk up the front steps to her house.  Laura
            turns around to face him.

                                LAURA
                      I had a wonderful time.

                                MITCH
                      Me too.  It's been a long time since I've
                      felt this comfortable.

                                LAURA
                      I'm not sure I want it to end yet.

                                MITCH
                      I don't know what to do. I've never been
                      in a situation like this before.

                                LAURA
                      Don't ask me.  I'm in it for selfish
                      reasons.

                                MITCH
                          (amused)
                      Selfish reasons?

                                LAURA
                      There's just something about you...we
                      make a good team.

            They are move closer to each other.

                                MITCH
                      I can agree with that.

                                LAURA
                      Can you agree with this?

            They kiss, slowly and tenderly at first, but then it turns to
            passion.  They break, and Laura takes Mitch's hand and leads
            him towards the door.

            INT. HOTEL ROOM - LEXINGTON INN

            The room is very elegantly decorated.  LARRY, a middle-aged
            business man wearing an expensive suit, checks his tie in the
            mirror.

            JENNY, his escort comes out of the bathroom and wraps her
            arms around him from behind.

                                JENNY
                      Are you ready honey?

                                LARRY
                      I'm always ready.

            Jenny begins unbuttoning her blouse.

                                LARRY (cont'd)
                      You are a very beautiful woman.

                                JENNY
                      You ain't seen nothing yet.

            Suddenly the Killer bursts out of the door from the adjoining
            room wielding a wicked knife.  The Killer grabs Jenny and
            throws her across the room, slamming her head against the
            wall.

            She falls down, unconscious.  Larry fearfully tries to run,
            but the Killer grabs him.

            EXT. LEXINGTON INN - NIGHT

            All the rooms are quiet.  Then Larry's arm crashes through
            the window.  His screams are silenced by the Killer, who
            pulls him back inside.

            With a quick motion, the Killer closes the curtains.

            EXT. MITCH'S HOUSE - MORNING

            Mitch walks up to the door, noticing a familiar car in the
            driveway, but Anna's car is missing.

            INT. LIVING ROOM - MITCH'S HOUSE

            Mitch steps inside and is surprised to see Wes sitting in a
            chair looking somber.

                                MITCH
                      Wes, what are you doing here?  Where's
                      Anna?

                                WES
                      Mitch, sit down,

            Mitch is starting to panic, looking for any sign of hope in
            Wes' eyes.

                                MITCH
                      No.  What the hell's going on?

                                WES
                      Take it easy.  Sit down.

                                MITCH
                      TELL ME!!!  TELL ME NOW!!!

                                WES
                      There was an accident.

            Mitch stumbles and props himself up on the couch.

                                MITCH
                      What?

                                WES
                      Anna's dead, Mitch.

                                MITCH
                      What? Oh no...

            Tears begin to form in his eyes.

                                WES
                      She was in a car wreck.  She died
                      instantly.

                                MITCH
                      Oh God!

                                WES
                      I'm sorry Mitch.

            Mitch sits on the couch and puts his head in his hands.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            EXT. MITCH'S HOUSE - DAY

            Laura walks up the steps, noticing that Mitch's car is parked
            half off the driveway, on the lawn.

            She knocks softly on the door.

                                LAURA
                      Mitch?

                                MITCH (O.S)
                      Go away!  No one's home!

                                LAURA
                      Mitch, it's Laura.

                                MITCH (O.S.)
                      Who?

            Puzzled by that reply, Laura steps inside.

            INT. LIVING ROOM - MITCH'S HOUSE

            The place is a wreck.   Books that lined the walls are strewn
            everywhere.  Laura sees Mitch, sitting in his chair, half
            dressed and chugging down a bottle of whiskey.

                                LAURA
                      Mitch?

            Mitch strains to see her through blurry eyes.

                                MITCH
                      Laurie?  Is that you?

                                LAURA
                      Yes, it's me.

                                MITCH
                      What the hell are you doing here?  My
                      wife will be home any second.

            Laura notes that his bottle is almost empty.

                                LAURA
                      Mitch, are you drunk?

            A cheerful belch is her reply.

                                LAURA (cont'd)
                      I know what happened.

            His voice turns downright mean.

                                MITCH
                      You don't know shit!

                                LAURA
                      You don't have to do this.  I know you're
                      hurting.

                                MITCH
                      What the fuck do you know?

                                LAURA
                      Just give me the bottle and we'll work
                      through this.

            She approaches him slowly.

                                MITCH
                      Are you gonna tell me what to do too?

            He stands on wobbly legs, taking the bottle with him.

                                LAURA
                      No, I just-

                                MITCH
                      You think you can just come in here and
                      boss me around?

                                LAURA
                      Mitch-

            He hurls the bottle across the room, shattering it against
            the wall.  Whiskey drips down the wall like blood.

                                MITCH
                      FUCK YOU!!! FUCK  YOU!!

            He raises his hand to slap her, but when he sees her cowering
            away, he turns into a baby.

                                MITCH (cont'd)
                      Oh Jesus!  Oh sweet Jesus!

            He sinks to his knees and begins sobbing uncontrollably. 
            Laura kneels down with him and takes him into her arms.

                                MITCH (cont'd)
                      I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...

                                LAURA
                      It's okay.

            He grabs on to her for dear life, and she holds him tight.

                                MITCH
                      I just wanted to tell her I was sorry. 
                      It woulda only took a few minutes.

                                LAURA
                      I know.

            Laura cradles and rocks him like a mother holding an infant.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            INT. BEDROOM - MITCH'S HOUSE - LATER THAT NIGHT

            Mitch is laying fully clothed in the bed, with Laura draped
            over him like a blanket.  She strokes his hair gently.

                                MITCH
                      I didn't treat her right...I let my job
                      take me over.

                                LAURA
                      Is that when you started...drinking?  

                                MITCH
                      I know it's not an excuse.  Plenty of
                      guys do my job and they're fine.  I
                      couldn't take all the death I saw, day in
                      and day out.  So much death and
                      cruelty....I become a different person
                      when I drink...I hit her twice.  You know
                      what the worst part is about that?  I
                      don't even remember doing it.  I was so
                      drunk and feeling sorry for myself, I
                      don't even remember...we were never the
                      same after that.  Even after I quit the
                      bureau and stopped drinking, it wasn't
                      the same.  I tried everything, I did the
                      meetings...the damage was already done. 
                      There's just some things that can't be
                      forgiven...

            He falls into an exhausted sleep, and Laura lays holding him,
            wide awake.

                                                            DISSOLVE TO:

            EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY

            A cold rain falls over the group surrounding Anna's grave.
            The cemetery is surrounded by trees making it somewhat of a
            tomb itself.

            Mitch stands near the grave, tears streaming from his eyes. 
            Laura is comforting him.

            A PREACHER is in the middle of his eulogy.

                                PREACHER
                      And even though Anna is gone from this
                      world, her presence will always surround
                      us, and she will be with us for all time. 
                      Her generous nature will come through in
                      all who loved her...

            As the Preacher continues talking, Mitch steps forward and
            pulls a rose out of his jacket.  He tenderly lays it on top
            of the coffin, and whispers, barely getting the words out.

                                MITCH
                      I'm sorry Anna.

            Another wave of tears hits him, and he stands on wobbly legs,
            Laura helping him up.

                                PREACHER
                      ...be with you, and with the Holy Spirit
                      forever.  A-men.

            The small crowd disperses, talking to one another, but no one
            comes up to Mitch.

                                LAURA
                      Come on. Let's go.

            Mitch looks up through the trees, and sees a FIGURE in the
            back of the forest, looking at them! 

            Mitch's instinct tells him that this is Gabriel.

                                MITCH
                      I'll be right back.

                                LAURA
                      What?  Mitch, where are you going?

            Mitch walks quickly across the graveyard towards Gabriel.  He
            still can't get a good look.

            Gabriel suddenly turns and runs through the forest, with
            Mitch giving chase.

            Trees whips by Mitch's face as he desperately tears through
            the brush.  He can see Gabriel's black cloaked frame in the
            distance.

            Gabriel turns a corner and Mitch loses sight of him.  The
            trees break into a clearing and Mitch looks all around, but
            Gabriel has vanished.

                                MITCH
                      What do you want from me?

            The only sound is the rain falling.

            EXT. OUTSIDE GRAVEYARD - DAY

            Laura is standing by her car.  A light drizzle still falls. 
            Relief floods over her face when she sees Mitch.

                                LAURA
                      What happened?  Are you all right?

                                MITCH
                      I'm fine.

                                LAURA
                      Where did you go?

                                MITCH
                      It's not important.  Look Laura, I'm not
                      sure how to say this.

            She takes his hand, but he slides it away from her.

                                MITCH (cont'd)
                      I don't think we should see each other
                      anymore.  Not for a while.

                                LAURA
                      Mitch, let me help you through this.

                                MITCH
                      You can't.  I'm a....I was a married man,
                      and I did a horrible thing.  Jesus, I
                      practically killed her myself.  Anna and
                      I weren't okay, not for a long time, but
                      what I did was still wrong.  And if I'm
                      with you, then I've ignored it.

                                LAURA
                      Mitch, please.

                                MITCH
                      I'm sorry.

            He walks away from her.  The raindrops on her face mix with
            her tears.

            INT. LIVING ROOM - MITCH'S HOUSE

            Mitch is sitting on the couch looking at a picture of Anna. 
            The phone rings and he picks it up.

                                MITCH
                          (into phone)
                      Hello?

                                GABRIEL
                          (over phone)
                      Hello Professor.

                                MITCH
                      Gabriel?

                                GABRIEL
                      Did you go to the Cheshire Inn?

                                MITCH
                      You know I did.  Why were you at my
                      wife's funeral?

                                GABRIEL
                      To offer my condolences.  I didn't expect
                      to be seen.

                                MITCH
                      As long as you're telling the truth...why
                      me?  Why do you think I can help you?

                                GABRIEL
                      You're against Proposition 55.  I saw
                      your editorial in the paper, and it
                      affected me.  I don't want to kill
                      anymore.  I don't think I should be put
                      to death for murders I don't remember
                      doing.  

                                MITCH
                      But you have to take responsibility for
                      them. 

                                GABRIEL
                      And I intend to.  But I have to know
                      what's wrong with me first. 
                      I have to go, and I hate to do
                      this....Lexington Inn, room 402.

            Mitch closes his eyes and sighs.

                                MITCH
                      Are you bragging, Gabriel?

                                GABRIEL
                      No!  I am not proud for what I've done.  

                                MITCH
                      I can try to help you, but if this is a
                      game, I'll pour the pellets in the gas
                      chamber myself.

            The phone goes dead.  Mitch thinks for a moment, then gets up
            to leave.

            EXT. LIBRARY - DAY

            Mitch walks inside a huge old library, guarded by statues of
            angels.

            INT. LIBRARY - DAY

            MONTAGE of Mitch doing research.  He goes to various aisles
            and takes psychology and crime books.  It ends with Mitch
            looking at a legal pad.

            At the top it reads: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer.  By
            Mitch Johvas.  He looks over it one last time, wads it up and
            throws it in the trash.

            He goes back to his other legal pad, working on a profile of
            Gabriel.