Synopsis: On the drive down to town, Sheriff Tarr radioed ahead to instruct local police to start a search and rescue operation. He and Laura arrive at the police department shortly thereafter and await Lynden Dale who had been notified of their arrival. Lynden soon arrives and feels moved to comfort our distressed Laura, to which the sheriff shows some dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Glenwood has heard of the situation, arrives at the precinct and demands to see Laura. The sheriff and Lynden have a private conversation and then as Laura's relatives and defense attorney arrive, the sheriff decides to release Laura into their custody.
Setting: Saturday November 30th, 2002: Also around 3pm The Jasonville police department. Located in the business district in central Jasonville near the Guy County superior courthouse, city hall and several law offices including those of prosecuting district attorney Lynden Dale and defense attorney Lannie Ross.
Characters: Sheriff Michael Tarr (Shawnm626), Laura Lynn (Nivyan), Lynden Dale (Jeremyguy), an officer and Elizabeth Glenwood (Noss).
Open with Sheriff Tarr and Laura Lynn in an enclosed questioning room in the police department awaiting the arrival of Lynden Dale. Laura is obviously distraught. The sheriff seems to show little compassion for her state of mind.
Sheriff: (Standing near the door as Laura sits in a chair nearby, teary eyed) �Just sit tight Ms. Lynn, the D.A. should arrive shortly. We will wait for him to arrive before we proceed.�
Laura: �Sheriff please, we shouldn�t be here! [sniffling between words] My best friend is somewhere out in those woods and could be hurt! We should be out there looking for her before it gets dark!�
Sheriff: �You shouldn�t concern yourself with that right now miss Laura, as you know I already radioed ahead and as we speak the search and rescue team along with detective Wise are out looking for her.�
Laura: (Still sniffling) �Yes sheriff, I know, but I was there. Shouldn�t I be there to show them where I last saw her?�
Sheriff: (Seeming a little impatient) �Detective Wise is more than capable of determining what happened by examining the scene Ms. Lynn. Besides I think it would be best if she were to determine what happened by viewing the evidence at the scene. I don�t want the issue clouded by sentimentality.�
Laura: (Feeling helpless) �But sheriff, I might be able to help her by explaining exactly what happened and show her where we were.�
Sheriff: (A bit annoyed) �I�m sure she will be able to determine that without your help miss Laura. She is an expert at such things. I�m sure by examining footprints and such she will be able to recreate the events that have transpired. After she is done with the initial investigation you will have a chance to tell her what you know.�
The door begins to open and both Laura and the sheriff turn to look. In walks D.A. Lynden Dale dressed in a suit and carrying his briefcase.
Sheriff: �Ah, Mr. Dale. [reaching to shake Lynden�s hand] Thank you for joining us.�
Lynden: (Setting his briefcase down to accept the handshake) �My pleasure. Miss Laura. [acknowledging her by graciously nodding her way] So what is it that we are here to discuss?�
Sheriff: �Well Mr. Dale, it seems we have a mysterious situation on our hands. [walks over to sit at the table] Miss Laura here tells me that her and Elizabeth Springer were hiking up in the hills when she suddenly feinted, only to wake up hours later to find miss Elizabeth gone.�
Lynden: (Also moving to sit down, looking to Laura with a look of compassion) �Is that so miss Laura?�
Laura: (A bit frantic) �Yes Mr. Dale. We were up at Buena Vista to look at the view. I must have exerted myself too much. I began feeling dizzy and after I went to sit down, I must have feinted. When I woke up Elizabeth was gone!�
Lynden: (In a gentle tone) �And you have no idea where she may have gone?�
Laura: (Seeming to calm a bit in response to Lynden�s kindness) �No Mr. Dale. But she would never have left for so long. She must have gone to get help for me, but something terrible may have happened. [begins to get frantic again] She must still be up there somewhere and may be hurt!�
Lynden: (Gently takes Laura�s hand in his own, speaking softly) �Shhhhh. Now try to keep calm miss Laura. I assure you, there are a lot of people out looking for her right now. [gently brushes her cheek] Try not to worry so.�
Laura: (Becomes much calmer) �O.k., I�ll try. I just love her so much and feel like this is all my fault. [bows her head in remorse] If I hadn�t feinted none of this would have happened!�
Lynden: �Now, now. It won�t help to get yourself all worked up into a state. You have to be strong.�
Laura: (Looking back up at him) �I�ll try.� (sniffs)
Sheriff: Look, Mr. Dale. I don�t mean to break up your little pity party, but we can�t blind ourselves to other possibilities. [looks sternly at Laura] It is possible that our seemingly innocent miss Laura would have much to gain if her business partner were to suddenly disappear.�
Lynden: (Looks at Michael discerningly) �Yes, that�s true. [glances at Laura with assurance] But that doesn�t mean we have to take an alarmist position. Tell me, what is being done so far in the matter?�
Sheriff: �Well I radioed to the precinct as I was driving miss Laura to town to send out the search and rescue team led by Detective Wise. They are up there combing the hills and investigating the scene now.�
Lynden: �Well then, it seems everything that can be done is in order.�
Suddenly from outside the door a raised voice can be heard.
Elizabeth G: (From just outside the door) �I don�t care what you say! The only way you will keep me from entering that room is to arrest me!�
The door opens and one of the department officers enters to address the sheriff.
Officer: �Sheriff, there is a Ms. Glenwood here. She is demanding to see the young lady.
Sheriff: (Annoyed) �Well tell Ms. Glenwood we will be with her shortly!�
Lynden: (Interjecting) �No officer, that�s all right. Please show Ms. Glenwood in.�
Officer: (Opening the door fully) �Right this way Ms. Glenwood.�
Elizabeth G: (A bit huffy) �Well it�s about time!� (Sees Laura and rushes to her side) �Laura! Are you all right!? They aren�t mistreating you are they?�
Laura: (Tearful, but happy to see Elizabeth G) �No Elizabeth, I�m all right. [grasps Elizabeth�s hand] Mr. Dale has been very kind to me. The sheriff [looks to the sheriff, feeling a bit intimidated] is only doing his job.�
Lynden: (Gets up from his chair) �Ms. Glenwood, so glad you could join us. We were just trying to get a better idea of the situation by asking Laura here some questions.� (Reaches out to take Elizabeth�s hand)
Elizabeth G: (Places her hand out to Lynden who graciously accepts and kisses it) �Well, it�s good to see someone around here has some manners!� (Glares at the sheriff coldly as he remains in his chair)
Sheriff: (Glaring back at Elizabeth) �Ma�am.� (Nods smugly her way)
Lynden: (Looking to the officer who is still at the door) �Thank you officer, that will be all.�
Officer: �Yes Mr. Dale.� (Officer exits and closes the door)
Elizabeth G: (Sits next to Laura, holding her hand) �Oh Laura, I just heard from Barbra at the lodge what happened. I was in the area and as soon as she called me I rushed right over. Are you alright?�
Laura: �Yes Elizabeth, I feel fine now. But I am very worried about Elizabeth S.�
Elizabeth G: (Hugs Laura) �Yes, me too Laura, me too.�
The sheriff gets up from his chair and looks toward Lynden.
Sheriff: �Mr. Dale, can I see you outside?�
Lynden: (Eyes Michael with a raised eyebrow) �Certainly. [looks to the girls] �Ladies, if you will excuse us for a moment?�
Elizabeth G: �Of course. I will stay here with Laura.�
Lynden: �Very good, we will return momentarily.�
Lynden and Michael exit the room and enter the observation room next door where they can view the ladies in the questioning room.
Lynden: �So Michael, what is it?�
Sheriff: (A bit gruff) �It sure seems to me that you are laying it on a little thick. But then, you always did have a way with the ladies, didn�t you?�
Lynden: (With composure) �Well I see no reason to badger the poor girl. But then, you always did like being the tough guy.�
Sheriff: �So what happens if the evidence implicates her and you have to go through with prosecuting this girl? Will you still be so kind to her?�
Lynden: (Meeting Michaels stern gaze) �If it comes to that I will do what must be done. But for now there is no reason to make the poor girl feel any worse than she already does.�
Sheriff: (Seemingly amused) �Well Lynden, you better be careful on this one. I think this time you might be over your head, and no amount of charm and grace will get you out of it.�
Lynden: (Raising an eyebrow coolly) �Why sheriff Tarr, I�m sure I have no idea what you�re talking about.�
Sheriff: (Even more amused) �Sure, go ahead and play your games. Point is, I know you pretty well and I just know you�re up to something.�
Lynden: (Smiling confidently while looking through the two way mirror at the girls) �Well, it would seem we understand each other sheriff. I see no point in discussing anything further on the matter.�
Sheriff: (Looks Lynden over as if sizing him up) �I suppose not. For now anyway.�
Lynden: �Well then, shall we return to the ladies?�
Michael shrugs and heads out the door, followed by Lynden. As they begin entering the questioning room the officer that spoke to them previously, approaches them.
Officer: �Sheriff, Ms. Royalton, Ms. Doe, Mr. Byron and Ms. Ross are all here to see Ms. Lynn.
Sheriff: (Looks at Lynden, nods, then looks back at the officer) �Very well. Have them wait in the reception area for a moment.�
Michael and Lynden enter the questioning room.
Sheriff: (Addressing Laura in his usual stern tone) �Miss Laura, your aunts and uncle are here to see you. I have decided to have you fill out a report with one of the officers and release you for now into their custody.�
Laura: (A bit meek) �Thank you sheriff Tarr. I�ll try to remember as best I can what happened.�
Sheriff: �Well just make sure you stay in town. We may have to have you in for further questions.�
Laura: �Yes sheriff.�
Lynden: (Moves aside to allow the ladies to leave the room) �Try not to be too concerned for now ladies. [Kissing each of their hands and addressing them as they exit] Miss Laura, Ms. Glenwood.�
Fade out as the ladies head for the reception area, leaving Lynden and Michael standing by the questioning room.
end of scene 4
