Black Widow
This �screenplay� was born out of a list discussion about how we might discover that Grissom and Sara were together. It was written prior to the �ship being made cannon and was only the second thing I had written. The screenplay format seemed to fit well into my creative musings at the time. Many thanks to Joan for her beta reading and helpful suggestions.
Opening shot:
Night time Vegas montage, moving out from the city into the desert, where we see two kids making out in a car on deserted road. It is a starry night, the stars more visible because there is only a quarter moon. The car door opens and, clinging to each other in a passionate embrace, the couple falls out of the car.
Boy: There are no rest rooms out here. You�ll have to just go behind that scrub brush.
Girl: But I�m afraid. It�s so dark. And there are animals and stuff.
Boy: I�ll go with you and stand there until you�re done.
Girl: No! I�m not going to let you see me pee!
(He looks around, and then moves toward the scrub brush.)
Boy: I�ll go over there and make sure there�s nothing around. Then I�ll come back here and stand. I promise, I won�t look.
(As he moves toward the bush, he squints and begins focusing on something. We focus on�a dead, maggoty body. Creepy music as he stumbles backward and falls, then scrambles away.)
Scene 2:
Flash to a dark room. We hear a cell phone ringing, the light from the phone flashing. The light is just enough to give us a glimpse of Grissom sleeping on his side in bed. Grissom, eyes barely open and trying to focus on the clock, reaches for the phone. We see an arm still draped over his body. Someone is spooned up against him. Grissom reaches for the phone.
Grissom: Grissom.
Catherine: I know it�s early for you. But we�ve got a body covered in maggots. This has become your show.
Grissom: Where are you?
Catherine: Valley of Fire. 5
Grissom: I�ll be there in about an hour.
(We hear a groan and movement from the bed, indicating the occupant is trying to get up. Grissom stops them, tucking the covers around the form, preventing us from seeing who it is.)
Grissom: No, you stay and sleep. You need to rest. It�s just a bug call. I�ll see you after shift.
(He leans over and kisses the top of the head. He gets out of bed and turns on the small lamp at the side of the bed. As he reaches for his pants, we see a black lace piece of clothing fall to the floor. He picks it up and smiles, glancing over at the sleeping form.)
Opening credits.
Scene 3:
(Grissom walks up to the crime scene tape and is escorted to the body. Warrick is taking pictures as Grissom bends down to examine the body. )
Grissom: Do we have an ID?
(Grissom pulls a vial and tweezers from his pocket and begins extracting insects from the body)
Warrick: A wallet was found near the body, empty of money and charge cards. We assume it is the victim�s. Robbery may well have been the motive. The face is too decomposed to make a positive ID from the picture on the driver�s license. But my money says this belongs to the vic.
(As Grissom puts the cap on the evidence vial, he stands and Warrick hands the wallet to him. He opens it.)
Grissom: John Henry Sprat � 34 � Ely, NV
David: Can I have him now?
(David has been standing slightly away from the body. Grissom motions David forward.)
Grissom: Who found the body?
(Catherine motions toward the kids, who are standing near a police vehicle, obviously distraught)
Catherine: Jack Mellen and Jill Camp. They were out here doing what young couples do when she needed to relieve herself.
(Grissom looks puzzled. Catherine rolls her eyes.)
Catherine: They were making out, Grissom.
(The light comes on. Grissom nods.)
Catherine: Grissom, it�s been way to long for you. You need to get a woman. It would do us all a world of good. (Grissom gives Catherine a sideways look)
I�ve got all their information, but I don�t think they�re involved.
(Grissom turns toward the body.)
Grissom: David, cause of death?
(David looks up from the body)
David: Hard to say, considering the condition of the body. But there appears to be an incised wound mid torso.
Grissom: And the soil around the body looks like massive amounts of blood have soaked in. We need to take samples to determine if it all belongs to the victim. (To Catherine & Warrick ) Have you found a weapon?
Warrick: Not so far.
(Grissom takes a soil sample while Catherine and Warrick begin circling the body again, looking for a weapon. As they move outward, Warrick comes across a mound of charred debris, several yards away.)
Warrick: I�ve got something here.
(All gather around the debris. Warrick takes a stick and begins stirring. He finds a charred knife blade with the handle burned away and what appears to be several burned pieces of material. They look at each other. Warrick begins putting the debris in an evidence bag.)
Scene 4:
(Back at the lab, we see Grissom working with the bugs. There is a page for him and he heads toward the front desk. As he travels down the hall, Greg joins him.)
Greg: Grissom, have you seen Sara? I was hoping she would have some time to go over the information on the Dupont case with me. I�m prepping for court next week.
Grissom: Sara called in sick today, Greg. I�m sure she�ll help you when she gets back. You�ve got some time until your court appearance
Greg: Is she OK?
Grissom: I think she has the flu. She said she�d be back tomorrow.
Greg: Sara goes five years without taking a sick day. And within two months she�s off five days with strep throat and now the flu. Do you think there�s a connection?
(Grissom just looks at Greg, who looks sheepish and stops in his tracks, looking after Grissom as he continues on to the front desk. As Grissom questions Judy, Greg observes a dark haired woman he does not recognize go up to Grissom and touch his arm. Grissom, flustered, takes her to the side and talks quietly with her, his back to Greg. He takes something that appears to be a key from his pocket and gives it to the woman. After a bit more conversation, she throws her arms around him in an embrace. Grissom hugs back, and then looks around to see if anyone observed this exchange. Greg ducks back, hoping that he has not been seen. He has not. Grissom walks back to the lab as the woman walks out the door.)
Scene 5:
(David is prepping the body for autopsy. Warrick walks in.)
Warrick: Find anything, SuperDave?
David: Not much. A handkerchief, a pocket knife, some change, and a receipt from the Love Bug Wedding Chapel.
Warrick: You�re kidding, right? (Warrick picks up the receipt and examines it.)
Hah! The Love Bug. I loved that movie. It was outdated when I was born. But someone had donated a 16mm projector to the church my grandma attended and they had weekly movie night. They would rent these old movies on the 16mm spools. The kind where you had to change the spools several times during the movie. (David is clueless.) It was usually something inspirational, Like Raisin in the Sun or Lilies of the Field. But one week, they showed The Love Bug. And I was hooked. For years I wanted to be a race car driver. And my dream car was a Volkswagen. I�m sure it warped my sense of what constitutes manly transportation. And there is no comparison with the remake, which was a waste of celluloid. (Warrick ends his reminiscence and again looks at the receipt).
This receipt is dated April 13th, 10 days ago. (looking at the body) So this guy was a newlywed. The condition of the body, I�d say he was killed right after he was married. So, where is his new wife? There were no missing persons reports filed locally on him. A new wife has got to wonder where her husband is? We may have a second victim. Or a suspect.
Scene 6:
The Love Bug Wedding Chapel. This is a charming little building set back from the road. A picket fence surrounds a �front yard� area filled with ceramic insects of all types. Plastic flowers pounded into green asphalt enhance the landscape as well. An attempt at a little oasis in the hot dessert. It is reminiscent of the dream sequence from �Little Shop of Horrors�. Warrick and Catherine drive up and exit the car. The front door opens and a couple exits, smiling and waving their thanks to the proprietor, who has followed them through the door. As the couple leave, the proprietor turns to Warrick & Catherine.
Lancelot: What can I do for you folks today? Is love in the air for you, too?
(Catherine looks at Warrick, who looks down, uncomfortable.)
Catherine: I�m Catherine Willows and this is Warrick Brown. We�re from the crime lab. We�re investigating the murder of John Sprat. We need to ask you a few questions.
Lancelot: I�m happy to help if I can. But I�m afraid I don�t know a John Sprat.
Warrick: Mr�?
Lancelot: Lancelot. Arthur Lancelot. I�m the owner and officiator of the chapel.
Warrick: Mr. Sprat was married here 10 days ago. We were hoping you would be able to give us some information about him. Do you perform all of the ceremonies here?
Lancelot: Yes, I do. But I�m afraid I�m not very good with names. I rarely remember the names of those I unite in bliss. (Warrick pulls out the receipt and shows it to Lancelot.)
Warrick: Is this your signature?
Lancelot: Yes, it is. (He ponders for awhile.) This would have been a Thursday. I think I remember this couple. They came in about 10:00 PM. I was watching the news. He was�happy. Had obviously been drinking heavily. Not uncommon in this business. She smelled of alcohol as well, but seemed to have her wits about her. Nothing really unusual about them.
Catherine: What was her name?
Lancelot: As I said, I don�t remember names very well. I�ll have to go dig through my records. I�m sure it�s on file. Everything is filed by date, so it shouldn�t take me long to find it.
(They all enter the house. The �50s retro motif continues inside. Plastic flowers abound and insect mobiles hang from the ceiling. As Lancelot digs through the files, Catherine�s phone rings.)
Catherine: Willows.
Grissom: Where are you?
Catherine: At the Love Bug Wedding Chapel.
Grissom: Out on Durango?
Catherine (surprised): You�ve heard of it?
Warrick: (snickers ) Why am I not surprised?
Grissom: I pass it on my way to the Art Museum. Insects aren�t very realistic. Why are you there?
Catherine: Seems our vic was married 10 days ago. We�re trying to get the name of his bride.
Grissom &
Lancelot (together): Mary Lamb
(Catherine looks at the proprietor and the phone, incredulous. Warrick continues to take down the information from Lancelot.)
Grissom: I had Brass call Ely to see if anyone had filed a missing persons report on our vic. His new wife, the former Mary Lamb, reported him missing 7 days ago. His car was found abandoned near their home. She�s on her way to Las Vegas. You�ll need to go to Ely and process the vehicle. We need to find out how and why our vic was in the Valley of Fire.
Catherine: That�s a 5 hour drive. I�d be gone a full day. Lindsay has a conference at school. I�d never make it back in time. I suspect Warrick�s new wife will not be happy to see him gone for a day. Is there someone who doesn�t have home responsibilities that can go?
Grissom: I�ll have Nick or Sara do it.
Catherine: Sara�s sick.
<flashback(just cause we haven�t seen Sara yet, and I miss her): Catherine with Sara bending over a toilet throwing up. �Sara, you need to go home. You go on. I�ll tell Grissom.�>
Ask Nick to do it. (She hangs up.) Grissom found the wife in Ely. She�s on her way to claim the body. Husband was reported missing, car abandoned. Grissom wanted us to go up there to process the vehicle. I talked him in to sending Nick. I wish Grissom had a relationship. Then maybe he�d realize that the rest of us have a life outside of work.
Lancelot: Grissom? I performed a ceremony for a Grissom several months ago. I didn�t know there were so many of them around here.
(Warrick and Catherine both look at Lancelot.)
Warrick: I thought you said you don�t remember names?
Lancelot (embarrassed): I don�t, usually. But I�m originally from Spencer, Indiana. Hometown of astronaut Gus Grissom. (emphatically) Gus Grissom is the greatest American hero of the space program. (points to a small shrine with a picture of Gus Grissom) He�s been my hero all my life. So I remember that name. And this one really stuck in my head because the guy�s name was awfully close to Gus. It was Gil. Gil Grissom.
Scene 7:
(We see Doc Robbins examining the body. Grissom enters.)
Grissom: What have we got, Al?
Robbins: Victim died from one deep stab wound to the aorta. <flash: cool CGI graphics showing the knife tearing through>>Bled out within minutes. There was a lot of blood at the scene of this crime.
Grissom: Yes, the ground around the body confirms that. The killer must have been very strong for the blade to pierce that deeply.
Robbins: Unless the victim was already lying on the ground, patiently waiting to be stabbed, which is unlikely. Although we can�t be sure since there was no evidence of defensive wounds. The body�s condition precludes any evidence of bruising.
Grissom: (nodding)Our vic was in the desert for awhile. (shakes his head in puzzlement) How did he get there? He was married in Vegas, took his wife home to Ely 250 miles away, but turns up in the desert again, 60 miles outside of Vegas. Why would someone abduct him and bring him back to the Vegas area to murder here when there is plenty of desolate desert between here and there?
Scene 8:
(Catherine & Warrick enter the lab and see Grissom walk toward them. They are uncomfortable.)
Grissom: Cause of death was just confirmed as stab wound. Knife blade we found matches. There we no prints on the knife blade, as we suspected. Hodges has results from the trace collected at the scene. Check in with him. I�m still working on a timeline with the insects. Let me know what you find out.
Catherine: We need some coffee first.
(Grissom nods and continues down the hall. Catherine & Warrick turn into the break room.)
Catherine: You know, it�s his business and if he wanted us to know, he would have told us.
(She pours 2 mugs of coffee.)
Warrick: I know. But you�re his best friend. I would have thought he�d tell you.
(Catherine shrugs and leans against the table, obviously hurt by the realization)
Catherine: I guess he has a new best friend.
(Greg enters the break room. He looks around to see who is listening.)
Greg: What do we know about Grissom�s new woman? (Catherine & Warrick are dumbstruck.)
I saw them together earlier. (Greg pours himself some coffee) Who would have thought something so fine would be interested in Grissom?
(Catherine looks at Warrick)
Catherine: She was here?
Greg: Yes. Judy paged him to the front desk for her. He gave �Ms. Hottie� something, a key I think. And then they kissed. Or maybe they just hugged. Anyway, what do you know about her?
Catherine: Only that they�re married.
Greg: What?
Warrick: (Looking pointedly at Catherine) I thought this was his business?
Catherine: That was before he brought her into the lab.
Greg: Well, I got the impression that she came unexpectedly. It seemed like he was trying to hide her. (Warrick & Catherine look at Greg puzzled.) (Greg cowers guiltily) I wasn�t exactly right there. I was in the hall and saw them.
(Warrick looks more uncomfortable)
When did they get married?
Catherine: Several months ago, apparently. We were investigating the dead body from the Valley of Fire and went to the Love Bug Chapel. The owner remembered Grissom.
Greg: Did you get her name?
(Catherine shakes her head)
Warrick: I think we were both in shock. The proprietor has his records by date, not name. So without the exact date, it would have been awhile for him to find the marriage license.
Catherine: Besides, he already knew we were there on another case. It would have been awkward to admit we were just being nosy about a coworker. (hurt) Most people are aware when a coworker gets married.
Greg: Well, wouldn�t it be recorded at the courthouse? We could go look there. It�s public record.
Warrick: I don�t feel comfortable about this. Grissom is a very private person. If he wanted us to know, he would have told us. I think we should just drop it, pretend we never heard it. Not to mention, we�re on the county dime. Investigating personal information is not something we want to get written up for (he looks pointedly at Catherine). I�m going to trace. Are you coming?
(Brass comes in just in time to hear Warrick�s comment)
Brass: Well, one of you will want to talk to the bereaved widow. She just arrived.
Scene 9:
Conference room. Mary Sprat is sitting at a table, tissue to her nose. Catherine sits across from her.
Mary: I don�t understand. Jack was going to town to get some beer. I found his truck abandoned just up the road. How could he be in Las Vegas?
Catherine: Actually, he was found at the Valley of Fire State Park. (Mary looks confused) It�s a bit out of the way, but between here & Ely.
Mary: When can I see him?
Catherine: Mrs. Sprat, he�s been dead, exposed to the desert elements, for 10 days. You can�t see him.
(Mary seems a little surprised, but relieved)
Mary: But don�t I have to identify the body?
Catherine: We have a positive ID from his dental records. Is there anyone that might have wanted to kill your husband?
Mary; Ms. Willows, we were only married for a few days. We�d only known each other a few more. I didn�t know any of his friends in Ely. Or enemies, if he had them. It�s embarrassing to say I knew nothing about my husband. Except that I loved him. Please, find out who did this to him.
Catherine: We�re trying our best, Mrs. Sprat.
Scene 10:
Warrick enters trace.
Hodges: I�ve had your results for awhile.
Warrick: Yeah, we had to get some coffee. What �cha got?
Hodges: The majority of the material was too burned for analysis. But some pieces were intact and I was able to determine that most of it was cotton/polyester blend consistent with low end bed linens. There also was a limited amount that was a cotton fiber consistent with high end clothiers, mostly casual wear. And there were biologicals on one of the pieces. I sent it down to DNA. I�m surprised you didn�t catch that.
Warrick: Biologicals? So we could have DNA evidence of the killer?
Hodges: Not for me to say. That�s Mia�s job.
Scene 11:
(Sofia enters Grissom�s domain. He continues to work on the bug timeline.)
Sofia: I know Catherine is the lead on this case, but I couldn�t find her.
Grissom: She�s been out following up on a lead, but I thought she was back. The victim�s wife just arrived. She may be with her.
(Sofia looks at the insects)
Sofia: You know, we�ve already established that the vic was married, and so alive, on the 13th and reported missing on the 16th. Do we still need the timeline?
Grissom: The insects will give us a precise time and confirm all other evidence. What do you have?
Sofia: Got some more information on your vic. Seems Mr. Sprat was a big winner at the Lucky Diamond just before his death. Won $186,432 on the double diamond $5 slot. The pit boss remembered him because after he cashed in, a woman began following him. <flashback: montage of big win, woman following, drinks, leaving> Security watched them for awhile. But after a few drinks, she left the casino and he went to his room. They didn�t see him after that.
The maid went in two days later and found that he had vacated the room without checking out. In itself, not unusual in this town. But it is unusual for a big winner to leave without checking out. They�re usually still celebrating and boasting about their win. Since the room is complimentary to winners, they only need to pay for any additional charges. The Lucky Diamond had his credit card, so just processed the charges on that. Nothing else was unusual.
I�m thinking the woman was the lead in a scam, gaining information for an accomplice to use to steal the money later. And the hit went bad.
Grissom: When did he hit the jackpot?
Sofia: On the 12th.
Grissom: The day before he was married. (Grissom shakes his head) If this was a hit for his winnings, it would have happened within the next few hours. He was alive enough to get married the next evening. (Grissom thinks) Maybe this woman was his future wife. Don�t they have surveillance tapes at the Lucky Diamond?
Sofia: Already requested. They�re sending them over.
Scene 12:
Catherine knocks on door of hotel. This is a nice hotel. Mary Sprat answers the door.
Mary: Ms. Willows. Do you have some news on Jack�s killer?
Catherine: Mrs. Sprat, your husband hit the jackpot at the Lucky Diamond right before you were married.
Mary: Yes. (smiling) he said he hit the jackpot twice in Vegas. The money and me. (the smile fades) I would trade every cent to have him back.
Catherine: How exactly, did you meet your husband?
Mary: I was on vacation from Cleveland, having a drink in the bar at the Lucky Diamond. Jack had just hit on the slots and was celebrating. He bought me a drink to help him celebrate. He was so sweet I couldn�t resist. We talked for a long time and he asked me to have breakfast with him the next day. We spent the day together and went out that evening. We had a little too much to drink and one thing led to another. It was a big step for me. But I was excited at the prospect of a new life with Jack. (Sadly) I�m from Cleveland and Jack brings me to a small western town as his bride. With no friends there of my own, I�m going home to Cleveland as soon as I get Jack�s estate settled in Ely.
Catherine: When you returned to Ely, who else did Jack tell of his windfall?
Mary: No one. I don�t think anyone even knew we were back yet. We were still on our honeymoon, really. We weren�t anxious to let anyone know we were home yet. I needed time to adjust. (Pondering) Wait. There was one man, appeared to be a friend of Jack�s. He came by one morning. Jack went out to his truck to talk to him. I heard Jack invite the man in, but he said he was on his way to work. Jack pulled out his wad of money � Jack had put a bunch of hundred dollar bills into a roll. He said it made him feel rich. I assumed he was telling his friend about the winnings.
Catherine: Do you remember the man�s name?
Mary: (thinking hard, shakes her head) No. I�m sure Jack probably told me, but I don�t remember. He was driving a blue Ford pickup, if that helps.
Catherine: It does. Thank you. We�ll be in touch. (leaves the room with cell phone in hand) Grissom. We might have a suspect. Wife remembers the vic flashing his money to a friend in a blue Ford pickup. Doesn�t remember the man�s name. I think we should have Nick see if he can track him down while he�s in Ely.
Scene 13:
Ely, NV.
Nick enters police headquarters. He locates Sheriff Nottingham.
Sheriff: Any luck with Jack�s pickup?
Nick: (shaking his head) No. Whoever took him was careful not to leave any evidence.
Sheriff: Doesn�t surprise me. Somehow, I didn�t think you�d find anything.
(Nick scrutinizes the sheriff, trying to understand the emotions behind that statement)
Nick: Mrs. Sprat told one of our criminalists that a man in a blue pickup had stopped by their place. She didn�t know the name, but was sure it was one of Mr. Sprat�s friends. Do you know any friends with a blue pickup?
Sheriff: (ponders, then shakes his head).Only Hank Thomas. And he�s been laid up in the hospital for the past 4 weeks. Fell out of a tree hunting and broke his hip.
I�ve been real uncomfortable about this whole deal. Jack Sprat was a fellow Elk. I thought it was real odd when this woman shows up saying she�s his wife. He never mentioned even dating anyone before. To be honest, I was beginning to think�(sheriff shakes his head and shrugs it off). But the woman had a marriage license, so I had no reason to doubt it. Vegas romance is not a new thing. But she�s been real busy buying stuff at the local Wal-Mart. Says she�s remodeling. I haven�t been to his place to see. I do know it�s cleaning out his bank accounts.
Scene 14:
Sara is examining the casino video as Sofia enters the room.
Sofia: I heard you were ill. Are you feeling better?
Sara: Still a little nausea. (she lifts a cracker) But I�m coping. I have a doctor�s appointment tomorrow - at Grissom�s insistence. But I�m sure I�ll be fine.
Sofia: Have you found anything?
(both women look intently at the screen)
Sara: Just got started. I think this is the vic.
(We see the video. A long shot of the slots as Sara points to one of the players. Fast forwarding, we see the win, the hoopla, the presentation of the check. A different shot shows the vic with a woman at a bar table. Sofia squints at the screen.)
Sofia: Can we get a close up of that woman? She seems familiar.
(Sara does her magic and we see a close up of the woman. It is Mary Sprat.)
Sofia: I know her. Last year, when I was CSI on day shift, this woman�s husband fell down the stairs and broke his neck. His blood alcohol was .25. It seemed obvious he had just been to drunk to negotiate the stairs. She was distraught. I remember because it seemed sad that they had just gotten married and they had their whole life ahead of them. He had won big at the slots, too. (Sara and Sofia look at each other.) I�ll go pull the file.
Scene 15:
Sara and Grissom meet in the hall.
Grissom: Did you find anything in the tapes?
Sara: I think so. Sofia recognized the woman from a case she worked with Ecklie. The woman�s husband had fallen down the stairs drunk and broke his neck. They were recently married and he had just won at slots. Sofia is pulling the file.
(Sofia comes from the opposite direction.)
Sofia: I�ve got it. The vic was Henry Lamb. His wife was the former Mary Gumble.
(Grissom gets that look on his face. As he ponders, Greg comes down the hall.)
Greg: Sara, are you free to go over the Dupont case with me?
Grissom: No time now, Greg. I want you to go down to the Courthouse and pull all marriage licenses in the last five years with the name �Gumble�. Call me if you find anything and do not leave until I tell you. There may be more you�ll need to do.
(Greg looks askance at Grissom)
Greg: Gumble? With a �g�?
Grissom: Yes. (Exacerbated) What are you waiting for?
Scene 16:
<<Author�s note: Processing DNA is an extremely complicated process and it takes weeks to receive the results. You know that. I know that. The writers and producers of CSI know that. But just as they do, I will suspend reality for the sake of a neat and tidy storyline and pretend the results are virtually instantaneous.>>
(DNA lab. Mia is looking into a microscope. Warrick enters.)
Warrick: I got your page. Tell me you found something on the material Hodges sent over.
Mia: The material was not in the best of shape. I can�t usually get much from something burned that badly. The heat does too much damage. Luckily the garment was wadded up and some of the surface area was protected from the fire. I was able to pull some blood stains off that match your vic. I was also able to pull some epithelial from the other side of the fabric. We just need something to compare it to.
Warrick: SCORE!
Scene 17:
Catherine is again in the hotel with Mary Sprat.
Catherine: Ms. Sprat. When was the last time you saw your husband?
Mary: About 6:00 on Sunday night. When he wasn�t back by 8:00, I got in the car and drove toward town to find him. That�s when I found the truck.
Catherine: I�m trying real hard to figure out who could have killed your husband. I understand that you just met your husband a few days prior to your marriage?
Mary: Yes.
Catherine: But he wasn�t your first husband, was he?
(Mary is taken aback)
Mary: No, Jack was not my first husband. My husband Henry died about a year ago in Las Vegas. He fell down some stairs and broke his neck.
Catherine: Henry Lamb. (Mary is flustered.) One of our detectives remembered the case. Tragic.
(Mary becomes uneasy)
Mary: Yes. As the anniversary of his death drew near, I was depressed. I realized I had to face what was causing the depression. So I went back to Vegas. Henry enjoyed playing the slots at the Lucky Diamond. So I went there, to confront his ghost, in a manner of speaking. And that�s where I met Jack. He was so kind. He had just won big on the slots and he saw how depressed I was. He bought me a few drinks and listened to my pathetic ramblings about how much I missed my husband. He offered to take me to dinner the next day. I was reluctant, so he gave me his phone number if I decided I wanted to go. Obviously, I went. Jack was the kind of guy you just fell in love with. He was such a great listener and he totally understood how I was feeling. When he proposed, I was a bit shocked. It was so fast. But I knew it was right.
Catherine: But then, you were used to the fast proposals, weren�t you? (Mary becomes apprehensive). You had also just met your husband Henry when he proposed to you. And he wasn�t just playing the slots at the Lucky Diamond. He had won big. (Mary is now suspicious.) When you met Henry, were you also at the Lucky Diamond to mourn the loss of your first husband, Patrick Gumble?
Mary: How did you�?
Catherine: We followed the marriage license trail. How did you meet Patrick?
Mary: (Unsure how much is already known) Patrick and I were here at the Cheese Tasters Convention in Las Vegas. He was from Detroit and I was from Cleveland. We were in several workshops together and so started going around outside the convention. Rick hit the jackpot at the Lucky Diamond and we got drunk celebrating. When we woke up we had a hangover - and a marriage license. Although it was not thought out, we decided to give it a try. We had been back in Detroit for about 3 months when Rick was killed in a car accident. I moved back to Cleveland. I was miserable and thought I�d go back to the one place I had been happy � Las Vegas. I saw Henry at the slots and was mesmerized at how much he looked like Patrick. And when he hit the jackpot, just as Rick had done, I thought it must be fate that had brought me to him.
Catherine: But then he fell and broke his neck.
Mary: Yes. It was unbelievable. My second husband is killed even before we could start our marriage. I hadn�t even met his family yet. I had to accompany the body back to Hillsboro and explain to his family what had happened. A total stranger brings them a dead son. It was a nightmare, for all of us. (She hangs her head in sorrow)
Catherine: But lucrative. (Mary raises head abruptly) Detective Curtis discovered that Mr. Lamb had considerable holdings within the county. And you liquidated them all before you returned to Cleveland.
Mary: I had to return to my family for the comfort that Henry�s family couldn�t provide. I couldn�t administer the property from Cleveland, so I sold it all.
Catherine: At a handsome profit. This in addition to the remainder of the slot winnings.
Mary: Ms. Willows, if you are implying that I killed my husband for his money, you are an insensitive woman � and wrong! The Las Vegas police investigated and ruled his death an accident.
Catherine: Yes. But now we�re investigating the death of your third husband in 4 years, Mrs. Sprat. And although you claim that you and your husband returned to Ely 11 days ago, we can find no one else who has seen your husband in that time. It doesn�t make sense that your husband was abducted in Ely and then driven 5 hours toward Vegas to kill him. And you�ve been easing your worry about your husband by making extensive purchases on his checking account at Wal-Mart � where the items can be returned for cash as soon as the check clears.
I don�t think your husband ever made it to Ely. I think you somehow got him to stop at the Valley of Fire on your way back to Ely, where you stabbed him to death and tried to burn all of the evidence of the crime. <flashback: Jack spreads out a blanket and they begin making love. Jack rolls onto his back, pulling Mary on top. She leans back and reaches into the bag the blanket was in and pulls out a knife. Jack is so surprised he offers no resistance as she stabs him deep in the chest. We see her, in her underwear, wiping blood off her body with the discarded clothing, which she throws onto a fire> But you didn�t stay to make sure it all burned. And a small piece of material with DNA evidence was left intact. I�m sure the DNA we get from you will match what we found at the crime scene. (Mary looks around as if trapped) And in case you�re reluctant to give us a sample, I have a court order. Open your mouth, please.
Scene 18:
Greg and Catherine are assembling marriage documents. Nick enters.
Nick: Man, it is a long drive from Ely. And all for nothing, since he was never abducted from the truck. What are you two working on?
Catherine: We were just documenting the marriage license trail. Mary Andrews married Patrick Gumble, then Henry Lamb and finally John Sprat. For these men, their marriage license was also their death warrant. (Nick looks at the licenses, squints at one and picks it up with a quizzical look at Catherine, who raises her eyebrow and nods.)
Scene 19:
In break room, Grissom is making tea and coffee.
Grissom: The DNA Catherine collected from Mary Sprat is a match to the epithelial evidence. We�ve got our killer.
Sara: But why? Why marry someone just to kill them off?
Grissom: After the death of her first husband Mary inherited a considerable amount of money, between life insurance, real estate, and the remainder of the jackpot winnings. My theory is that she suffers from Trump Syndrome*, in which large sums of money substitute for adequate expression of personal worth. She came back to Vegas to relive the thrill of the win and stumbled onto another winner at the Lucky Diamond.<flashback montage: Mary wandering in casino, sees Henry win, they�re getting drunk, she wakes up naked in bed>. But Henry wasn�t the soft heart her first husband was. Police reports from Hillsboro, NC indicate that Henry had two arrests for assault for beating his girlfriend, and one for soliciting indecent sex acts. I suspect Mary quickly learned of Henry�s disposition<flashback of Mary kneeling in front of Henry who is pulling her hair and yelling �it�s a wives duty�> and when the opportunity presented itself, she got rid of him.<flashback: Henry staggers drunkenly through the doors onto the landing of the stairwell yelling �damn elevators are to slow�. Mary, hesitating only slightly, pushes him down the stairs.> When Henry�s estate proved to be extensive as well, it whets her appetite to add more to her earnings. Jack Sprat thought he was lucky hitting that jackpot. But the jackpot bells were his death knell.
(Grissom hands the tea to Sara. Indicating the cracker she is nibbling)
Grissom: Still nauseous?
(Sara shakes her head)
Sara: Not at the moment. If I eat these, it seems to keep the nausea at bay.
Grissom (sipping his coffee): Don�t forget to take that paperwork with you to the doctor. We�ll need it to document your time off.
(Sara gives him one of those you-think-you�re-pulling-one-over-on-me, quirky smiles.)
Sara: Would you like to go hand it to him yourself?
(Grissom returns an I-know-you-think-I�m-an-idiot-but-I-know-what-I�m-talking-about looks and starts to speak. He is interrupted by Catherine�s entrance.)
Catherine: Grissom, there you are. We�ve got new evidence in the Valley of Fire case. It�s in my office. (She heads out the door, then turns to see why he is not coming.) Come on. You too, Sara. You�re not going to believe it. I know we didn�t.
(Grissom and Sara look at each other and get up.)
(The three walk down the hall)
Catherine: Something that the guy at the Love Bug chapel said just didn�t add up. I checked it out, but it still doesn�t really make sense to me. I think you might be able to explain it.
(As they round the corner into Catherine�s tiny office, we see Nick, Greg, & Warrick standing around something, obviously trying to hide it from view. The guys step into a line revealing a one layer cake with a wedding topper on it. They are holding a computer sign that reads �Congratulations Gil & Sara�. There are plastic bugs scattered around the cake. Sara & Grissom look around as if examining a crime scene. After a moment, Sara turns to Grissom)
Sara: You told Catherine.
Grissom: That�s a classic deflection tactic. The perpetrator tries to allay suspicion by accusing someone else. You told Greg.
(Sara begins to argue, but is interrupted)
Catherine: Relax. You both still hold membership in the Zipped Lips Society. Mr. Lancelot heard me talking to you and mentioned that you had been there.
Grissom: Mr. Lancelot?
Sara: From Mitchell, Indiana. �Gus Grissom is�(Grissom, Catherine & Warrick all join in)�the greatest American hero of the space program.�
(They all laugh.)
Greg: And when I was at the courthouse searching through the �Gs� for Gumble, I ran across one for Grissom and Sidle. What I want to know is, who was that hot woman in your arms the other day?
(Sara looks suspiciously at Grissom)
Sara: I want to know that, too.
(Grissom looks confused.)
Greg: She was at reception. You gave her something, a key I think, and she threw her arms around you.
(Grissom, the light having gone off turns to Sara) Cindy Simon (to everyone else) our real estate broker. Neither of our apartments is big enough for the two of us, so we�ve been looking for a house. We�d been looking around, trying to decide what we wanted before putting my townhouse on the market. But circumstances have led us to need more room, fast. So Cindy is showing the townhouse now, in hopes of a quick sale. I told Cindy, and she was expressing her happiness. She�s very expressive.
Catherine (with sudden realization): Sara�s pregnant!
(Grissom & Sara look at each other, smiling.)
Catherine: OK, now I�m really confused. You keep this marriage a secret for three months, obviously not wanting us to know. But then you get pregnant? That is not the way to keep a secret.
Grissom: Well, the pregnancy was not planned.
Sara: When I had strep throat last month, we forgot to account for the fact that antibiotics make the pill ineffective.
Catherine: (Smirking) So the great Gil Grissom forgets all about the science while in the throws of passion. (Grissom blushes, sheepishly. Catherine gives him a hug.) Welcome to the human race, my friend.
Nick: Enough jabbering. Kiss the bride and cut the cake!
(Grissom looks at Sara, takes her in his arms, and we see our first kiss. Everyone applauds.
Fade to black and credits.)
*Yes, I made it up. But I suspect a large portion of stuff on CSI is made up �cause they know we�ll never check it out.
<another author�s note: I think the whole thing is plausible as an episode until the end. I foresee the producers eventually hooking up G&S. They might even let Sara and Grissom get married. But pregnant is over the top. Doesn�t stop my romantic heart from wishing.>