Hunting Season

<Doo Mah>

[“The Northwest Territories”]
[the ‘MuskOx’, night; someone enters the lively bar and heads right for two men playing cards...patrons steer clear of the person]
Eddie: You’ve been dogging us for months. We told you all we know.
Man: You’re insane, you know that?
Eddie: We already said all we got to say.
Man: Now get the hell out of here. We want to drink in peace!
Eddie: Yeah!
Man: You haven’t got many friends here. Clear out.
[Man stands up, but stranger pulls his arm back behind his back and drops him to the floor, then throws Eddie across the room; stranger punches Man, then throws Eddie into their table; Bartender cocks a shotgun]
Stranger (Maggie McKenzie): You think you could? [drops hood]  You think you could shoot a woman?

Bartender: I’ve done worse.
Maggie: You might hesitate.
Bartender: Possible.
Maggie: [points revolver]  That might be something to consider.

[pause]

Bartender: Uh...I never cared too much for those boys anyway. [lowers shotgun]

Voice: That’s just like him...
Maggie: [to Eddie]  And it seems like you don’t have many friends here either. You’re gonna tell me what happened. [points revolver at him]
Man: You wouldn’t shoot us.
Maggie: Wouldn’t I?
Eddie: She would, you know she would. We don’t know nothing! We didn’t see nothing!
Maggie: Give it up, Eddie.
Eddie: Swear to God, I swear to God, we weren’t there! What-what we said to the Mounties? Th-th-that was what the Torelli’s told us to say!

[Maggie cocks gun]  

Eddie: [whimpers]  Oh, please, no... [looks closer at Maggie’s gun]  Hey, that’s not loaded.
Maggie: I was afraid of what might happen if it was. [pulls trigger]
Eddie: [cringes]  No! Oh, please mommy, no! Ah!

Maggie: Thank you very kindly for your help, boys. [exits]
Patron: Like to see more of that.

[municipal airport]

[Maggie waits on runway as a plane lands; it finally taxis to a stop and she runs to it, opening the door]
Pilot (Jake): I got nothing of value on board here.
Maggie: Relax, Jake, I just want a ride.
Jake: Yeah? Where to?
Maggie: Across the border.
Jake: Why’s that?
Maggie: I don’t want to answer a lot of questions, I just want to go. Will you take me?
Jake: Maggie, I got a quarter ton of head cheese piled up in the hold here, I can’t--
[Maggie pulls back her jacket, showing her gun tucked into her belt]
Jake: But of course, you know what they say about head cheese. It’s real durable.
[Maggie climbs inside; the plane turns and begins to take off]
Jake: You, uh, you never been away from home, have you?

[Maggie shakes her head]

Jake: So, why now?
Maggie: I’m going hunting.
Jake: Hunting. 

[Canadian consulate; Fraser is standing on the staircase railing, changing a light bulb in the chandelier (he’s holding the bulb in his mouth); Maggie enters]
Maggie: Hi.
Fraser: [mumbles around the bulb]  Mmm. Mmm! [falls off the railing...]

Maggie: [gasps]  Oh!

[...does a roll, and stands up, pulling light bulb out of his mouth with a pop]

Fraser: Hi, uh. [clears throat]  I’m a constable. [they shake hands]  Uh, well, obviously you are also a constable. My name is, uh...My constable name is Constable Benton Fraser.
Maggie: I’m Constable Maggie McKenzie, from Inuvik.
Fraser: Ah, McKenzie. The name...is familiar.
Maggie: Uh, well, your father and my mother were friends. I certainly know your name. You’re infamous in the north.
Fraser: Oh, yes, well... Um, so what is it that brings you to Chicago, business or pleasure?
Maggie: Neither. I’m on the trail of two men, and I thought you could help me.
Fraser: Ah.

[Fraser’s office; Maggie shows him a snapshot]
Maggie: These two men are killers. The Torelli brothers? I heard they were in Chicago and, uh, had some time off. Thought I’d come down and try and find them.
Fraser: Somewhat unusual, isn’t it? Pursuing something like this on your own?
Maggie: The-the third man, [points to the middle guy]  the victim, was a hunting guide. He’s uh, he was...one of the most decent, gentle men I’ve ever known. Sometimes a crime is just so bad you can’t let it go. You ever feel that way?
Fraser: Ah, frequently. It’s just that if these two men are murder suspects, it may be more prudent to pursue this through official channels.
Maggie: Officially, they had an alibi. But I know if I find them, I can prove they did it.
Fraser: I see. Uh. You see my position, I, um...
Maggie: I understand, I understand. You have no reason to get involved. Everything I’ve heard about you, thought you might be able to help. Thank you kindly anyway, Constable.
Robert Fraser: Don’t let her go, son.
Fraser: It’s none of your business.
Maggie: I guess I feel it is.
Fraser: Oh no-no. I didn’t mean you.
Robert Fraser: [voice echoes]  She looks just like her mother. God, it takes me back. I feel like a kid again. Well, fifty.
Maggie: Is there someone else here?
Fraser: In this room, you mean? No, no.
Maggie: I thought I heard someone.
Fraser: No, it’s just--
Robert Fraser: [echoing]  Wonderful woman, Ellen. Many’s the night I sheltered in her cabin. Long after your mother was gone, son.
Fraser: I have a...I have a friend – here, (let me) have your bag. [takes her duffel]  I have a friend in the Chicago police department. He, well, he may be able to help us.

[27^th precinct]
Ray: Sure, I mean anything. I mean anything at all. I mean, Fraser, we have always been here to cooperate with the Mounties, is that not right?
Fraser: Yes, Ray, we have always had a very good working relationship.
Ray: That is the thing, relationship. I mean you gotta know the person you’re working with. You know, like, go out for dinner and drinks...I mean later, naturally, after we, uh, find that stuff you need.
Maggie: Right.
[Dief grumbles]
Ray: [aside]  Fraser, what’s with the wolf?
Fraser: I think he feels unnaturally protective of Constable McKenzie.
Ray: Not the only one. [to Maggie]  Have you got a picture of these guys?
Maggie: Yes. Right here. [takes photo out of Stetson & hands it over]
Ray: You know the funny thing? I have never met a Mountie girl before.
Fraser: What about Inspector Thatcher?
Ray: What about her? Oh, yeah. Um.

[they arrive at Frannie’s desk; Kowalski starts hitting keys on Frannie’s computer]
Francesca: Hey, hey! Mitts off the hardware!
Ray: Uh, Francesca, meet, uh, Constable McKenzie.
Maggie: Hi.
Francesca: [stunned]  Hi.

[they shake hands]

Ray: She’s trying to get some info on a couple of guys.
Maggie: Mike and Mark Torelli? They’re brothers?
Francesca: Um, are you and Fraze friends from up north, and everything?
Maggie: We just met today.
Francesca: Oh, really? ‘Cause you look closer than that. [clears throat]  Um, how long you been a Mountie?
Maggie: Five years.
Francesca: Oh. I’m on the waiting list for the academy.
Maggie: Congratulations.
Francesca: Thanks. Yeah, the uniforms are nice ‘cause, you know, they’re black and that’s always slimming and elegant. Whereas your uniforms are... [gesticulates]  Kind of make a statement, you know?
Maggie: Yeah, they’re an attention-getter, all right.

Francesca: Yeah.

Maggie: Whether you want them to be or not.
Francesca: Kind of like when you’re having a bad hair day.
Maggie: Or trying to sneak past a cougar who’s standing between you and some drinking water.

[Fraser chuckles]
Francesca: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I hate that.
Ray: Wow, I just came out of my coma. Uh, can you do a little work, Francesca? [to Maggie]  So do you think you’re going to be transferred down here to the windy city of Chicago?
Maggie: No, no. I wouldn’t last a week in the city. In fact I’m finding it hard to breathe right here, right now.
[Kowalski & Fraser are standing very close to her]
Francesca: Well, that’s probably because you don’t have enough air. Why don’t you guys give her some air. Some air! [gestures for them to back off]
Fraser: Oh.
[they move back; Maggie leans in to look at the computer]
Francesca: Hmm, couple of cretins here. Done time for assault, armed robbery. Five years ago you would have found Mark in Joliet and Mike in Sing Sing, but there’s nothing current.
Maggie: What about an address?
Francesca: Well, according to this, they live in Green Bay.
Maggie: Green Bay. Damn.
Ray: I got an idea that might be good and, interesting. Um, why don’t you look up known associates in Chicago?
Francesca: [dryly]  Yes, that is good, Ray, and it’s already done. Tommy Ellis was a cellmate of Mark’s, and he’s living in a rooming house on Sherman.
Ray: Okay, let’s go rattle his chain.
Fraser: Well uh, Ray, there’s no-no reason for you to trouble yourself.
Ray: Fraser, it’s no trouble. In fact, it’s [sniff]  my duty.
Fraser: Yes, yes, but, uh, well, this is unofficial, and I’m sure you have other cases...
Francesca: No, no! Uh, he’s-he’s got nothing. He’s-he’s free!
Ray: Uh, my thoughts exactly.
Fraser: Right. Well, uh... Shall we?
Maggie: Thank you kindly.

[outside precinct; they all try to leave at the same time & get stuck]
Ray: So, uh, Yukon Territories. So what do you do up there at night to stay warm?
Fraser: You know, Ray, it’s the North-west Territory or the Yukon. I kind of thought you might have had that straightened around in your brain by now.
Robert Fraser: That’s it, son. She could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Don’t let the Yank cut in.
Fraser: Do you mind?
Ray: Mind? Look, Fraser, I’m more of a big picture kind of guy, okay?
Fraser: That is the big picture, Ray.
[Maggie goes to talk to a loitering woman]
Robert Fraser: You could do worse. The two of you could get some land, put up a cabin. Nothing like four walls to make a man feel trapped. Uh, happy and content.
Ray: What’s she doing talking to old Rosie? Is that some sort of Canadian thing?
Fraser: Well, I’m sure she’s not doing any harm.

Rosie: [in disbelief]  No!
Maggie: Know what? I’m going to come back later and show you how it’s done.

Rosie: Gee, thanks. Thanks, a lot. 

[Maggie leaves Rosie & rejoins the group]
Ray: You didn’t give her any money, did you?
Maggie: No.
Ray: That’s good. Look, I’m-I’m a charitable guy and all, it’s just that, old Rosie, I mean you give her stuff and it just encourages her. [opens car door]  And, uh, [Fraser gets in back]  she’d just go around, start asking people and, uh, [shuts car door]  some of them get annoyed and eventually we’ll have to ask her to leave.
Maggie: No, I just gave her advice.

[Fraser tries to open the car door from the inside]
Ray: Advice.
[Fraser tries harder to open the door]
Fraser: Sorry.
Ray: After you. [holds the door for Maggie]
Maggie: Thank you.

Ray: Welcome.

[apartment building hallway]

[Kowalski knocks at #4]
Ray: [shouts]  Tommy Ellis?
Ellis: [opens door]  Yeah?
Ray: [flashes badge]  Chicago PD.

[Tommy Ellis notices Fraser & Maggie (both dressed in red serge)]
Ellis: What’s that, the police band?

Fraser: Uh, no, sir. My name is Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my father. And this is--
Maggie: I heard that. I’ve never known if it was true.
Fraser: Well, I’m afraid it is, yes.
Maggie: Did you catch them?
Fraser: I did, yes.
Maggie: I have to tell you how much I admire that kind of determination.
Fraser: Oh, thank you. Thank you kindly.
Ellis: Are you working for, like, uh, World’s Weirdest Videos?
Ray: No. They’re, uh, Canadian.
Ellis: Oh.
Ray: Look, I’ve got a couple of questions I want to ask you. [shows him Maggie’s photo]  You know those guys?
Ellis: Yeah, I did some time with Marky. [points]

Ray: What for?
Ellis: Driving.
Fraser: Traffic violations?
Ellis: Yeah, speeding. Away from a bank job.

[Ellis & Kowalski chuckle] 

Ellis: Wrong place, wrong time. Who’s the other guy?
Maggie: The man they killed.
Ellis: Wouldn’t know about that. I haven’t seen him since I got out.
Maggie: I see.

[she approaches Ellis and takes his wrist; he pulls away]
Ellis: Hey, look, you got no right to touch me.
Fraser: I’m sure Constable McKenzie means no harm, Mr. Ellis. Just...relax.

[Maggie puts one hand to Ellis’ throat & takes his wrist again]
Ray: Scared, Tommy?
Ellis: Hell, no. It’s just that--
Maggie: You said you hadn’t seen them?
Ellis: That’s right. Not in years.
[sounds of a heartbeat]
Ellis: [pulls away]  Look, you know, this isn’t normal. None of you are normal. You want to take my pulse again, get a warrant. [slams his door shut]
Ray: I’m normal.
Fraser: In a pig’s eye.
Maggie: He’s lying.
Ray: No, I’m not.
Fraser: Very probably.
Maggie: Most certainly. I’m 99 point 4 percent accurate.
Ray: Accurate?
Maggie: I know when someone is lying.
Ray: What would that--
Fraser: It’s not surprising, Ray. I imagine you monitor pulse, galvanic skin response, respiratory rate, much like a polygraph?
Maggie: Better. Look at the eyes.
Fraser: Ah.
Maggie: So much to be learned from the eyes.
Ray: Hey, hey, eyes, I-I-I, you know, I--
Maggie: My mother taught me how to spot a liar.

Ray: Oh.

Maggie: The best question is, what are we going to do about it?
Ray: Well, seeing this is off the record, we won’t be able to get a warrant, But I might be able to pull a file in the morning and uh, see if I can squeeze him on... [checks his reflection, satisfied] ...on something. So, uh, are you hungry? [blocks her exit]
Maggie: Uh, I’m actually tired.
Ray: Oh, okay, well, I’ll give you a ride back to your hotel.
Maggie: Don’t have a place yet.
Ray: Oh, hey, I got a lot of room in my place--
[Fraser pushes Kowalski out of the doorway]
Fraser: Actually, Ray, I actually think she’d be more comfortable at the consulate.
Ray: Who’d want to stay at the consulate, Fraser?
Fraser: Well, I do.
Ray: I mean besides you.
Maggie: That’s fine, that’s fine. And thank you very much for your offer.
Fraser: Shall we?
[Maggie, then Fraser pass through doorway; Kowalski raises his fist as if to punch Fraser]
Fraser: [without turning]  Stop that.

[consulate, Fraser’s office]
Fraser: [pulling blankets from closet]  I’ll, uh, sleep out in the hallway. You can take the cot.
Maggie: Oh, no, no. I’ll take the hallway.
Fraser: No, I insist.
Maggie: I don’t want to put you out of your bed. I prefer the floor. You know, back home I like to sleep out whenever I get the chance. So that’s... [accepts blankets]  Thank you.
Robert Fraser: Stubborn. Likes sleeping on the ground, just like her mother. [voice echoes]
Maggie: I’m sorry?
Fraser: Sorry?
Maggie: I... Did-did you say something?
Fraser: I did? Oh, I did. Uh... Up with the sun. Up with the sun, I said.
Maggie: Up with the sun. Up with the sun! Always.
Fraser: Right. Good night.
Maggie: Night. [shuts door]

Robert Fraser: Good hearing, too. She’s got everything!
[Dief barks, wanting out]
Fraser: Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You’d keep her up all night with your snoring.
[Dief whines]

[Maggie lies on her pallet in the consulate lobby, deep in thought, playing with two rings on a thong around her neck; she gets up, leaves the consulate (in civvies), and walks to Ellis’ apartment building; she puts her gun into her belt & walks inside... a car pulls up outside]

[consulate, Fraser’s office; Fraser straightens his lanyard]

[Dief grumbles]
Fraser: Oh, thank you. [smoothes his eyebrow]  Right. [walks out]  Maggie? Constable McKenzie?
[Dief grumbles]
Fraser: Where? [checks his hair]  Oh, it is sticking up. Good God.
[Fraser pours water into a glass, wets his hand & presses his hair down; Maggie enters]
Maggie: Constable Fraser?
Fraser: Ah, morning, Constable McKenzie.

Maggie: Morning.

Fraser: I just, uh, I have, um, a head. I mean, I have, my hair is... Well, I mean I slept on my head. Well, not on my head, because... [sigh]  You know, in the words of Joe Obodiac, a hat can cover a multitude of sins.
Maggie: Joe Obodiac. From Eagle Creek.
Fraser: Why, yes. You knew him?
Maggie: Well, yeah, my mother used to tan a moose hide for him every winter.
Fraser: Ah. Terrific sense of fashion, for a blacksmith, old Joe.
Maggie: Yeah. [laughs]

Fraser: I see that you’re, uh, well, you’re out of uniform.
Maggie: I-I didn’t think it was appropriate under the circumstances.
Fraser: Ah, true enough, true enough. Well, perhaps, would you like to go out for, uh, for breakfast?
Maggie: I usually like to have pemmican.
Fraser: Oh, I wish, I wish. And you know, you would think that in a city of seven million souls that one of them might have had the presence of mind to desiccate a little meat, but no.
Maggie: [produces a pouch]  I happen to have some.
Fraser: Pemmican.
Maggie: Mm-hmm. Dried it myself last year.

[Fraser pulls a chunk out of the bag]

Maggie: [to Dief]  I think you’d like some, too. [gives Dief a piece]
Fraser: Oh. [savoring the treat]  Nothing tastes like that.
Maggie: You must miss home, eh?
Fraser: Oh, very much. You? Oh, well of course you...
Maggie: Just came from there.
Fraser: Just came from home.
[into Fraser’s office]
Maggie: I’m sorry, Constable, this must be a real inconvenience for you.
Fraser: No, no, not in the least. Not an inconvenience at all. [puts folded blankets back into the closet]  And you know, you don’t have to call me Constable, Constable, just call me Benton, or Fraser, that’s my name. Well, Benton is my name.
Robert Fraser: [coming out of the closet]  You’ll never get anywhere like that, son. I know it’s not easy, but try to relax and be yourself. In fact, try and relax and be someone else.
Maggie: Were you, were you just in the closet?

[both Frasers look stunned]
Robert Fraser: She talking to me?
Fraser: She seems to be talking to you.
Robert Fraser: You can see me?
Maggie: Yes, of course.
Fraser: Holy Moly.
Robert Fraser: Great Scott.
Maggie: My God. You look just like Bob Fraser. He looks like your... I mean, I only saw you a couple of times, but I’ve heard about you forever. But I guess you’re older, eh?
Robert Fraser: Old and dead. It doesn’t do a lot for you.
Maggie: You’re dead?
Robert Fraser: Not entirely alive.
Fraser: Oh, he’s quite dead.
Robert Fraser: It’s damned odd she can see me.
Fraser: Very odd, very odd.
Maggie: Have you seen my mum?
Robert Fraser: No. I was hoping to run into her. Never have.
Maggie: Pemmican?
Robert Fraser: No.
Fraser: You know, if I could suggest that we step into your office, Dad. Right this way.
[they enter closet/Robert’s office]
Turnbull: [voice]  Constable Fraser! Woo hoo!

 

[stairway]
Thatcher: Tea, Turnbull. Tea at 4:00. Sir Ellsworth-Smythe is arriving from London – England – this afternoon.
Turnbull: Wow, a knight right here in the consulate! How many for tea, sir? Will he be alone, or will he accompanied by his squire?
Thatcher: Get a grip, Turnbull. Elton John’s a knight, for God’s sakes, it’s not what it used to be.
Turnbull: Just the same, sir, I’ll wax the round table.

[Robert Fraser’s office]
Maggie: And then she sees the grizzly. She reaches down, grabs me by the hood of the parka, throws me up in the tree – I’m three. I’m hanging onto this rotten old branch with one hand, she’s down on the ground, right, right eye to eye with mama bear. It must’ve had some kind of understanding, because an hour or so later, she just let us be. Not a minute too soon, I couldn’t have hung on one more second.

[they all chuckle]

 

[hallway; Thatcher & Turnbull hear voices & laughter from Fraser’s office]
Fraser: [voice]  Like the time you turned up naked at the Inuvik--
Turnbull: [blocking Thatcher’s path]  Uh, uh, perhaps Constable Fraser is playing a book on tape and doesn’t want to be disturbed.
Thatcher: Constable Fraser was born disturbed, Turnbull. Now, get out of my way.

[she shoves past him; they walk to closet door & listen]
Fraser: [voice]  So we ran buck naked, straight into the middle of...with a bear chasing...

 

[Robert Fraser’s office]

Fraser: But it makes a fellow homesick.
Robert Fraser: Breaks your heart.
[knock knock knock]

[Dief growls]
Fraser: Oh, dear.
Robert Fraser: Duty calls, son.
[Thatcher pulls open the door... Maggie & Fraser are alone, standing face to face in the closet]
Thatcher: Constable Fraser.
Fraser: Inspector Thatcher. I’m...sorry.
Thatcher: For?
Fraser: I’m not sure. This is Constable McKenzie. Inspector Thatcher, Constable Turnbull.
Maggie: Pleased to meet you. Hi.
Thatcher: [pasted-on grin]  Are you here officially?
Turnbull: Or unofficially?
[Thatcher elbows Turnbull]
Fraser: Constable McKenzie is here on the trail of some suspects, sir.
Thatcher: In your closet?
Fraser: At the moment, yes.
Thatcher: [fake grin widening]  Why wasn’t I informed?
Maggie: It’s, uh, a personal matter, ma’am. Constable Fraser is just helping me out.
Thatcher: Personal. I see. I trust this won’t interfere with your duties?
Fraser: Oh no, sir.
Thatcher: Good.

[pause]

Maggie: Pemmican?
[Turnbull reaches for proffered bag]

Thatcher: I couldn’t possibly.
[Turnbull refuses, too; Thatcher goes to leave, but Turnbull is in the way... after dancing back and forth, Turnbull finally steps aside; Thatcher exits, and Turnbull waves goodbye]
Maggie: I see why you like her, she...
Fraser: Inspector Thatcher and I have a purely, a, a... We should get back on the case.
Maggie: Good idea. I have a lead.
Fraser: Oh, good. You do?
Maggie: Yes.

Fraser: Well, we should, we should follow that lead.
[they get stuck trying to exit the closet together]
Maggie: Sorry.

Fraser: After you.

[27^th precinct]
Ray: You did what?!
Maggie: I went back and talked to Tommy Ellis. He gave me the name of a man the Torellis work with.
Ray: And-and you think this was wise?
Maggie: I think he was less intimidated with me alone.
Ray: Less intimidated. That’s your point? I mean, what if he was so unintimidated that he put a bullet in your head and dumped you in the lake?
Maggie: I can take care of myself.
Ray: Yeah, sure, but--
Francesca: Hey, here he is! Franco Zeffirelli, a couple of convictions for bank robbery.
Ray: Bank robbery. Hey, all these guys are in the same club. Maybe the Torellis are setting something up. Where do we find him?

[outside precinct; Maggie approaches Rosie’s campsite]
Ray: Here we go again.
Fraser: Well, you know, Rosie does seem considerably more comfortable.
Ray: Yeah, but.... Okay, you’re right. You got a thing for her?
Fraser: For Rosie??

[Kowalski shakes his head] 

Fraser: Oh, for Maggie. It depends on what you mean by ‘thing,’ Ray.
Ray: Okay, well to be honest with you, um... I got some feelings for her.
Fraser: Then we both have feelings.
Ray: I knew it! I knew it. A great girl comes along, one that I could really get close to, and you’re after her like a mad, rabid Canadian dog.
Fraser: Ray, Maggie and I have a lot in common.
Ray: Yeah, you’re both Canadian and you’re both kind of odd.
Fraser: Well, I do feel oddly comfortable with her.
Ray: Oddly comfortable. That’s great. Love, Canadian style.
Fraser: You know, she might prefer you.
Ray: Oh yeah, she’s not gonna go for the good-looking freak who speaks the same language. She’s gonna go for the Chicago flatfoot with the experimental hair.
[Maggie finishes & walks to the car]
Ray: Ah, more advice?
Maggie: Teaching her a little bit about trapping.
Ray: Trapping? What does she mean by... Forget about it.
Fraser: Shall we?

[consulate, Thatcher’s office]

[Turnbull cleans the mirror, humming; Thatcher silently debates, paces, goes to phone, paces, picks up phone receiver, hangs up; Turnbull hurries over & cleans the receiver]
Thatcher: What are you doing, Turnbull?
Turnbull: I assumed the phone was unclean, sir.
Thatcher: Unclean?!
Turnbull: Well, dirty, yes. I noticed your hesitation towards--
Thatcher: My hesitation was due to moral, not physical concerns, Turnbull.
Turnbull: [smugly]  Oh?
Thatcher: [whispering]  (I was considering calling the Territories and checking Constable McKenzie’s credentials.)
Turnbull: (On the surface, sir, it hardly seems a moral issue.)
Thatcher: Yes, hardly. But the fact is... Well, I-I felt...
Turnbull: A certain resentment towards Constable McKenzie?
Thatcher: That’s very perceptive of you, Turnbull.
Turnbull: Thank you, sir.
Thatcher: So naturally, I don’t want to feel as though I’m acting on any petty...
Turnbull: Emotions?
Thatcher: No! Of course not! Any petty...pettiness. Or something.
Turnbull: Ah. I understand, sir.
Thatcher: You do?
Turnbull: No.
Thatcher: At any rate, you see my dilemma.
Turnbull: Might I be so bold, sir? Don’t make the call. You’ll feel better.
Thatcher: Is that your considered advice, Turnbull?
Turnbull: Yes, ma’am, it is.
Thatcher: Thank you, Turnbull.
Turnbull: Thank you, sir.
[pause]

[Turnbull picks up the receiver & hands it to Thatcher, then exits; Thatcher dials]

[run-down building]
Maggie: He lives here?
Ray: That’s what the computer says. Nobody home.
Landlord: Hey, you want to rent it?
Ray: Uh, no, we just want to get inside. [shows badge]
Landlord: Okay.

[he unlocks the door, and they all go in]

Landlord: Yeah, he left two weeks ago owing three months rent. Said he was gonna open up a store, but I never saw any sign of it. He lived upstairs. [Kowalski goes up the steps]  Flake like that, I should have known he didn’t have the balls for retail. Good location, huh? Prime retail space. You know you could-- Who am I trying to kid? Close the door behind you, will ya? [exits]
Fraser: Thank you kindly.
Ray: [coming downstairs]  There’s nothing up there. What do you got?
[Fraser & Maggie taste something off the floor]
Ray: Ahhh. I was hoping you wouldn’t do stuff like that.
Maggie: Like what?
Ray: Uh, taste stuff.
Maggie: Well, it’s the only way to know what you’ve got. [to Dief]  Hey.
Ray: What do you got?
Fraser: Mud.
Maggie: Right. Tracked in on the shoes of two different individuals.
Ray: Well that’s great! All we gotta do is find some mud and we got our guys.
Maggie: It won’t be that simple.
Fraser: Ah, no. There’s not just mud. There’s concrete mixed in with it.
[Kowalski’s cell phone rings]
Ray: Yeah?...When?...Right away. [hangs up]  We gotta go.

[consulate, Thatcher’s office; Thatcher is doing one-handed push-ups... she falls; her phone rings]
Thatcher: [answering]  Inspector Thatcher.
Mulligan: [voice, full of static]  Thatcher, Mulligan here.
Thatcher: Ah! Inspector Mulligan! You’re a hard man to reach.
Mulligan: [voice]  We were about 50 miles from a phone by dogsled.
Thatcher: Fifty miles by dogsled from a phone? Well, perhaps it wasn’t so terribly urgent after all.
Mulligan: [voice]  What?!
Thatcher: At any rate, now that I have you on the line, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about Constable McKenzie.
Mulligan: [voice]  Maggie?
Thatcher: Yes. Maggie.
Mulligan: [voice]  Can’t tell you much. She has been suspended.
Thatcher: She what?
Mulligan: [voice]  Suspended...

[Ellis’ apartment building; cops everywhere... a body is being carried out on a gurney]
Welsh: You talk to this Tommy Ellis yesterday?
Ray: Yeah, what happened?
Welsh: He got himself shot last night.
Ray: Last night?
Fraser: Constable McKenzie was here last night.
[Kowalski’s cell phone rings]
Ray: Yeah?... For you. [hands phone to Fraser]
Fraser: Hello?...Ah, Inspector....I see. Thank you kindly. [hangs up; turns to Kowalski & Welsh]  It would appear that Constable McKenzie’s status is something of a question mark.
[they look around, but Maggie has disappeared]

[27^th precinct]
Thatcher: Where is she?
Welsh: That’s what we’d like to know. She went to question the guy last night, he turns up dead today. And Constable Fraser’s wolf is also missing.
Thatcher: You know, technically she’s not a constable, she’s been suspended.
Ray: Suspended?
Thatcher: Well, she’s convinced the Torelli brothers killed her husband.
Fraser: Her husband?
Welsh: Those guys killed her husband?
Ray: Hang on, hang on a second. She came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of her husband?
Thatcher: Exactly.
[into Welsh’s office]
Welsh: You knew about this?
Fraser: Well, sir, I--

Thatcher: Well, there’s a lot she hasn’t been telling us. She’s been obsessed with these men, convinced they’re the killers, in spite of the fact that they both have air-tight alibis. Her behavior became erratic and her superior officers felt she was becoming a danger to the community. So they suspended her.
Welsh: We led a nutcase right to the guy she wanted to kill?
Ray: No, not exactly, sir.
Fraser: We were unable to locate the man she wanted to kill, sir, if indeed she wanted to kill him at all.
Welsh: So you’re too incompetent to lead her to the guy she wanted to kill, so you lead her to some other guy, who she whacks, is that about it?
Ray: Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, sir.
Welsh: How would you put it?
Ray: Well, sorta like that.
Fraser: We don’t know that she killed him, sir.
Welsh: We don’t know she didn’t. How could this happen, Constable?
Fraser: She seemed, uh...credible.
Welsh: You mean ‘cause of the uniform?
Fraser: And who she was.
Thatcher: In Constable Fraser’s defense, she did put up a very convincing front.
Welsh: You never checked out her story?
Fraser: No, sir. I’m sorry.
Thatcher: As commanding officer, I will be taking disciplinary action.
Ray: Oh, I bet you will.

[they exchange a look]
Welsh: Vecchio, you go find her, and find her quick. While you still have your shield.
Ray: Yes, sir.
[Fraser, Thatcher, & Kowalski exit]
Thatcher: I’m sorry, Fraser, but you have to learn people can’t be trusted. [walks out]

Fraser: Yes, sir.
Francesca: Hey! I got something. About your case. [pause]  Don’t all thank me at once. [shows paper]

Ray: The victim.
[Fraser takes the paper]

Fraser: The husband.
Francesca: The husband? I don’t know about that. His name is Casey Richmond, he’s an associate of the Torelli brothers. He’s another bank robber!
Ray: A cop married to a bank robber.
[Fraser & Kowalski exit in a hurry]
Francesca: You’re welcome.

[outside precinct]
Ray: Why can I not read women? I mean, I-I try, but I always get it screwy. And this one I liked.
Fraser: And you don’t like her now?
Ray: She lied.
Fraser: Well, possibly.
Ray: No possibly, Fraser. I mean, she-she-she played us like a couple of them sport fish that are-- Aw, Christ on a bike, you’re not really gonna eat those?
Rosie: Best-looking meat I’ve seen all year. [she’s cooking rats on a spit]  I mean, you can get pretty good veggies from the dumpster back of Multi-Mart, but the meat... Pfff, you wouldn’t wanna know.
Ray: Yeah, but those are--
Rosie: Yeah, tasty little buggers. So easy to catch you wouldn’t believe it. Would you like to try it?
Ray: No, thanks.
Fraser: You know, Ray, they’re chock-a-block with protein. And actually, the neighborhood could benefit from a little rodent control.
Ray: You always gotta look on the bright side of things, Fraser?
Fraser: Is that a defect?
Ray: No, but it’s kinda dumb.
Fraser: Well, possibly.
Ray: So, you still gonna try to protect her?
Fraser: Who, Rosie??
Ray: No, Maggie.
Fraser: Oh, yes, yes. Now more than ever.
Ray: But you don’t even know who she is.
Fraser: I intend to find out.

[consulate; newspapers are spread over a large table as Fraser & Turnbull research]
Fraser: Her father’s name is Matt Stern, a sometime geologist and prospector who was killed in a mine collapse in 1969, April.
Turnbull: The man she married called himself Casey McKenzie.
Fraser: So, is there anything to link him to Casey Richmond?
Turnbull: Nothing, sir.
Fraser: She didn’t know who he was.
Turnbull: Her mother was a trapper.
Fraser: Mm-hmm. She raised Maggie alone in the bush.
Turnbull: Her father?
Fraser: When he was working, he stayed close to the mine. The rest of the time he was off prospecting.
Turnbull: Hmm. Says here, she gave birth to Maggie alone in her cabin.
Fraser: She was resourceful. May I have a look at that? [takes the newspaper, then sets it down]  Would you please tear that article out?
Turnbull: Yes, sir. [carefully begins ripping newspaper]

Fraser: Would you please tear that article out a little more quickly?
Turnbull: Yes, sir. [continues ripping slowly]
Fraser: Would you please remove your hands from the article?
[Turnbull does so, and Fraser rips out the article in one swift motion]
Fraser: Thank you kindly.
Turnbull: Pleasure, sir.

[Fraser’s office; Fraser enters the closet]

Fraser: Dad?

[Robert Fraser isn’t there, so Fraser stops the record player from playing (music: “Watching the Apples Grow” by Stan Rogers)]

[Maggie breaks in through the office window, and gathers her duffel together; Fraser exits the closet & surprises her]
Maggie: I didn’t kill Tommy Ellis. I didn’t have any reason to. I didn’t kill him.
Fraser: Why did you leave the scene of the crime? Is it perhaps because you’re under suspension? You know, your husband knew the Torellis, and not just as a hunting guide or a fishing guide. He robbed banks with them.
Maggie: No, he didn’t.
Fraser: Yes, he did.
Maggie: No, he didn’t!
Fraser: Yes, he did. He knew them. They had motive. We can find out what actually happened.
Maggie: Casey didn’t know them. He told me he didn’t.
Fraser: He lied.
Maggie: [slaps Fraser]  He didn’t know them!!
Fraser: His real name is Casey Richmond. In 1987, he and the Torellis robbed the Kittery National Bank in Portland, Maine. Maggie, I’m trying to help you.
Maggie: [tearfully]  I...

[she exits, and runs out past Thatcher]
Thatcher: Stop her, Constable!
[Fraser stays]

[Thatcher’s office]
Thatcher: She’s one of us, but she broke the law. It was your duty to bring her in. You had her and you let her get away.
Fraser: Yes, sir.
Thatcher: This would be an appropriate time to offer some sort of explanation, Constable.
Fraser: There’s nothing I can say, sir.
[Dief barks]
Thatcher: I’m sorry, Fraser. [picks up a ceremonial knife & approaches Fraser]  But you give me no other choice.

[Fraser nods & bares his throat... she cuts Fraser’s lanyard; Turnbull gasps & Dief whines]
Thatcher: Take off that uniform, clear off your desk, bring me your files.
Fraser: Yes, sir.
Thatcher: Uh, you can continue to live here, if you like. Until you make some other kind of arrangements.
Fraser: Thank you, sir. [turns to leave]
Turnbull: Constable Fraser! 

[Fraser pauses]  

Turnbull: [tearfully]  Champs d’Elysées, mon ami. [subtitled: ‘A street in Paris my friend’]
Fraser: Thank-thank you, Turnbull.
[Fraser exits]

[Fraser’s office; Fraser takes off his belts & tunic, then enters the closet]
Robert Fraser: [pacing angrily]  Suspended! That woman has been trying since day one to get you out of your uniform!
Fraser: So *now* you show up.
Robert Fraser: This is serious business, son. Serious business.
Fraser: Yes, it is, it is indeed. What do you think I should have done? Arrested her?
Robert Fraser: Not unheard of. You are an officer of the law. At least you were.
Fraser: [consults ripped-out article]  She was born May 12, 1970.
Robert Fraser: Yes, she’s a young woman, and a mighty attractive one at that. But that’s no excuse for you not doing your duty. No excuse at all.
Fraser: Her father was killed April, 1969.
Robert Fraser: Son, son, you-you-you really disappoint me! When a man makes a mistake, there’s nothing more to do but to own up to it and pay the consequences! Here you are blithering on about dates or something.
Fraser: Her father died one year before she was born.
Robert Fraser: I’m not good at math.
Fraser: No, apparently not.
Robert Fraser: What are you saying?
Fraser: I’m saying I think it’s fairly clear that Matt Stern is not her father.
Robert Fraser: Ellen always said he was.
Fraser: Oh, when, when you were warming yourself in her cabin?
Robert Fraser: Yes.
Fraser: Yeah!
Robert Fraser: Great Scott!
Fraser: Great Scott.
Robert Fraser: You’re not saying--
Fraser: I am. Maggie can see you.
Robert Fraser: Well, Buck Frobisher can see me! I’m not his father.
Fraser: Are you sure?
Robert Fraser: Well, I’m pretty sure. Why didn’t Ellen tell me?
Fraser: Would you have stayed?
Robert Fraser: She used to say she didn’t want me to feel tied down.
Fraser: Well, obviously it didn’t.
Robert Fraser: My God. My kid. [sits, stunned]  I didn’t get to know her.
Fraser: You didn’t get to know me, either.
Robert Fraser: Yeah, but at least I knew you existed. You’ve got to find her, son.
Fraser: How?
Robert Fraser: She’s a hunter. Find her prey and you’ll find her.
Fraser: Great, Dad, thanks, thanks. Once again, that really... Bwooh... practical advice... [exits in a huff]

[27^th precinct]
Ray: Fraser.
Fraser: Ray.
Ray: In here.
[they go into the men’s room and hide in a stall (Dief too)]
Ray: [voice]  Look, Fraser, I don’t think this is the best place for you right now.
Fraser: [voice]  I’ve been suspended, Ray.
Ray: [voice]  I know, I know.
Fraser: [voice]  And I am no longer allowed to liaise with you as an official representative of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Ray: [voice]  I know, ‘cause you’ve been suspended.
Fraser: [voice]  Exactly my point, Ray.
[a toilet flushes, Welsh stands and peers over the divider]
Welsh: What he’s trying to say, Detective, is technically, as a private citizen, he’s free to come in here and liaise his head off.
Fraser: Ah, yes sir, technically.
Welsh: Good thinking.
Fraser: Thank you, sir.
[Welsh exits]
Ray: [voice]  You got something?
Fraser: [voice]  Mud.
Ray: [voice]  Again?
Fraser: [voice]  Well, we know the two of them were walking in it, and we know it was mixed with concrete.
Ray: [voice]  It was?
Fraser: [voice]  Oh yes.

[they leave the stall]

Fraser: You see, concrete has a very distinctive taste.
Ray: Oh yeah.
Fraser: And that suggests a construction site.
[they exit the men’s room & walk towards the bullpen]
Ray: There’s a lot of construction sites in Chicago, Fraser.
Fraser: Well, yes, Ray, but this one is probably located next to a bank.
Ray: [stops Fraser with a hand on his shoulder]  Which they were staking out.
Fraser: Right, and they got the mud on their shoes while they were checking out the bank.
Ray: [stops him again]  So we’ve got to find a construction site that’s near a bank.
Fraser: Yes, one in which the concrete has only recently been poured.
Ray: [stops him again]  Otherwise it wouldn’t have been upon their shoes.
Fraser: Yes, that’s right.
Ray: Frannie, cement mixers. Find the construction sites that just poured cement in the last two days, ones that are near a bank.
Francesca: Right now?
Ray: Yeah.

 

[GTO]
Ray: How’s she gonna find this place? I mean, we got computers and stuff. What has she got?
Fraser: She’s got intelligence, imagination, all the same information we have. And in addition, she’s determined.

[Maggie walks; the GTO drives. Music: “Song for a Winter’s Night” by Sarah McLachlan]

[GTO]

Ray: You guys really connected, didn’t you?
Fraser: Yes, we did. In more ways than you think.
Ray: Well look, you can spare me the details.
Fraser: Ray, over.
[they park & spot two men getting out of a car]
Fraser: The Torellis.

[the men enter a bank, nervously looking around] 

Fraser: Let’s go.
[Fraser & Kowalski casually walk past the parked getaway car, then Kowalski pulls his gun and aims at the driver]
Ray: Hands on the wheel! Put your hands on the wheel!

[bank; the Torellis scope it out, then pull their guns]
Mike Torelli: Everybody down on the ground!

Mark Torelli: Now! Everybody down, nobody move!
[a woman (Maggie) stands unmoving at the teller’s window]
Mike: What are you, deaf, lady? I said ‘down’!
[Maggie turns & points her revolver]
Mike: You.
Maggie: You didn’t really think that I’d give up, did you?
Mark: Shoot her.
Mike: She’s got a gun.
Mark: So do you.
Maggie: Do you think you could kill a woman?
Mark: Shoot her!!
Mike: I think I could kill you.
Maggie: Like you killed my husband.
Mike: No, you killed him. We were gonna cut him in on a job, but he was gonna turn us in.

[Fraser quietly enters behind them]  

Mike: ‘Cause of you, ‘cause he was married to a cop. You killed him.
[Fraser grabs Mark’s shotgun & elbows him in the face]
Ray: Chicago PD, drop the weapon!
[Mike turns, and Maggie kicks shotgun out of Mike’s hand, then aims & cocks her revolver]

Fraser: Perhaps you should lower your weapon also, Maggie.
Maggie: What do you think they’d get for what they did? Twenty-five to life? Parole in ten, maybe twelve?
Mike: She’s gonna shoot me.
Fraser: Maggie, don’t do this. Don’t throw your life away.
Maggie: Haven’t you ever wanted justice?
Fraser: Many times.
Maggie: Did you ever care what happened to you?
Fraser: Not once.
Maggie: Then we’re the same.
Fraser: Yes, we are the same. We’re cut from the same cloth, you and I. I’m your brother.

[Kowalski, then Maggie, look at Fraser, stunned]
Maggie: You’re what?
Robert Fraser: It’s a shock, I know. And it’s probably 28 years too late to be dispensing advice. But you better let the law handle this.
Maggie: My brother-- If he’s my brother --
Mike: Who are you talking to?
Fraser: It’s none of your beeswax, Nosy Parker. [to Maggie]  I don’t want to have to visit you in prison.
Maggie: I just want him to say it.
Robert Fraser: Maggie--
Maggie: Say it!!
Mike: All right. All right. I pulled the trigger. I killed your husband.
Fraser: Now you don’t have to shoot him.
Maggie: I never intended to shoot him. I just wanted a confession.
Robert Fraser: That’s encouraging.
[Maggie shows the cylinder: it’s empty]

Maggie: It’s not even loaded. Thank you kindly for your help.
Ray: [to Mike]  Butt plate, on the ground. On the ground! Down!
Fraser: That was, uh...
Ray: Fraser.

[Fraser moves to Kowalski’s side]

Ray: [aside]  I know they do things a little differently up in Canada, but it’s sorta frowned upon down here to, uh, you know, crush your sister’s smokes.
Fraser: She’s a non-smoker, Ray. [exits, as Kowalski rolls his eyes]
[Fraser moves back to Maggie’s side, punches her on the shoulder & grins, as Robert Fraser looks on happily]

[27^th precinct; parking lot]
Ray: So, I guess you’ll be back for the Torelli trial. I’ll see you then.
Maggie: Aren’t forensics enough?
Ray: Uh, no, need motive. They overheard you talking to him and then he got whacked, so, uh...
Maggie: Right.
Ray: Besides, I owe you dinner.
Maggie: That’s true, you do. I want to take ‘em to Canada, try them there.
Ray: Well, we got ‘em first.
[Rosie is leaving, dragging all her possessions behind her]
Maggie: Hey, Rosie, where you going?
Rosie: Oh, heading east. Trapping’s better by the lake. Hey, thanks!
Maggie: Anytime.

Cabbie: [to Fraser] ...the airport? Sure.
Fraser: Thank you kindly. [loudly]  Maggie?
Ray: You know, I think I stood a better chance before you were his sister.
Maggie: Heh!

Ray: Fraser, stop. Turn around.

[Fraser does; Kowalski kisses Maggie on the cheek; Fraser turns back]
Maggie: Turn around again!

[he does; Kowalski kisses Maggie on the lips]
Fraser: You done?

[Kowalski exits, and Fraser turns back]
Maggie: So, if I need help tarring the roof of my trailer, will you come?
Fraser: Yes.
Maggie: What if my generator breaks down in the middle of the night and I’m cold and lonely. Can I call ya?
Fraser: Yes.
Maggie: What if I need advice on some unsolvable case or elusive criminal?
Fraser: Call me. And you know, if you need some advice, uh, say, about a relationship, or things of a female nature...
Maggie: Really?
Fraser: [cracks neck]  Don’t call me.
Maggie: Benton Fraser, I look forward to having you as a brother.
[they hug]
Fraser: Likewise.
Maggie: Thank you. [to Dief]  And you! Goodbye, you. [to Fraser]  Tell Dad I’ll be looking out for him.
Fraser: I will. Be good.
Maggie: I’ll try.
[the cab drives off; Dief barks softly]
Fraser: I know. I have a family.
Robert Fraser: I was a miserable father twice.
Fraser: Eh. You did what you could.
Robert Fraser: I never intended to stay away, son. It’s just that...back home, everywhere I looked, I saw your mother.
Fraser: I know, Dad.

End