CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

"But Not Forgotten"

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. LAS VEGAS (STOCK) - NIGHT

To establish.

EXT. SPRING MOUNTAIN - NIGHT

It's drizzling. On a bridge spanning a canyon, there are fire trucks and police cars blocking the road from both directions. Not that there's any traffic at this time of night to divert on this remote road.

EXT. NEVADA CANYON HIGHWAY - NIGHT

CATHERINE is speaking to a fireman. She leaves him and goes to the edge of the canyon. NICK, GREG, and Search and Rescue members are repelling down the canyon wall. At the bottom of the canyon she can see the headlights of a vehicle but nothing else.

State Patrolman STEVEN walks up to Catherine, staring at the bottom also.

STEVEN
This is a waste of time.

CATHERINE
We'll know when they get there.

Her cell phone alerts her of an incoming call. Nick's voice comes across it like a walkie-talkie.

NICK (ON PHONE)
It's a hearse, Catherine. And there's a coffin
inside. No plates though.

She moves a little closer to the edge as she pulls the phone from her belt.

STEVEN
A hearse is different.

CATHERINE
(into phone)
Is there a body inside?

NICK (ON PHONE)
We're still trying to figure out how to get it out.

Catherine waits. Two work lights come on and expose the accident scene. Even from this height she can see the hearse is badly damaged.

NICK (ON PHONE) (CONT'D)
The hearse was on fire at some point. Looks
like the outside of the coffin's been burned
pretty badly too.

STEVEN
Could be a murder cover up.

CATHERINE
Anything's possible.

GREG (ON PHONE)
Catherine, the inside isn't burned, but it looks
like someone was kept in here. There are eye
screws on the side and cut plastic ties. It looks
like something blunt cut them. A rock maybe?
There's a lot of blood and brain matter at the
foot. It's a mess in this thing.

CATHERINE
(into phone)
We'll sort it out later. Cover everything until we
can get it lifted out of there.

STEVEN
Do you really think someone could have walked away from that?

Catherine looks in the direction the canyon exits to the Mojave Desert.

CATHERINE
If they did, in four hours they're going to know
what it's like to go from the frying pan to the fire.

Steven looks in the same direction.

SMASH CUT:

OPENING CREDITS.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER