C.S.I. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

"Show Me A Sane Man"

ACT ONE

Author's Note: There was simply too much to trim to an hour show, which, unfortuantely, makes this one unmarketable. But that is why we have fanfiction DOT net, huh?? Enjoy.

FADE IN:

EXT. LAKE MEAD RECREATION AREA - NIGHT

Jim BRASS pulls into a parking lot. The parking lot is bordered with squad cars, the coroner's van, one CSI vehicle, and a flatbed tow truck. Dozens of people are milling around, including a couple divers, firefighters, Assistant M.E. David, and another M.E.

CATHERINE, and LANGSTON stand back, watching a helicopter lower a car to the tarmac. The spot is illuminated by generator-powered work lights. Brass gets out and joins them.

The car is a pale blue 80's style 4-door car. Plants from the lake bottom hang from the tires and undercarriage. Water is draining from it. As soon as the car is down, men release it from the straps holding it, and the helicopter flies off.

Firefighters use the jaws of life to open the front and back doors. David and the other M.E. Move in while they work on the other side.

BRASS
That car looks a lot like--

CATHERINE
The car Nick said Miranda described.
No license plate though.

BRASS
I'll have them check the VIN.

Two bloated bodies are removed from the car onto tarps. Their water grave has not been kind to them. It's hard to tell much about their facial features. Catherine looks back when headlights flash across the crowd, seeing another CSI vehicle pulling up at the back.

DAVID
Catherine.

The CSI and Brass join him.

DAVID
You are never going to guess who this is.

He smiles up at her, holding it open for her. She pulls on gloves and takes it. Catherine swipes her finger across the driver's license to clear dirty water off it.

Langston and Brass both look over her arm at it. She is between relieved and happy to see the face.

CATHERINE
Nate Hutchins. We've been looking for you.

BRASS
I'd bet that other fella is Hugh.

Catherine nods.

Langston looks over his shoulder. NICK is at the second CSI vehicle, checking his kit before leaving with it.

LANGSTON
I think you should give this to Nick.

Catherine looks back at Nick.

CATHERINE
I was thinking that exact thing. I'll
let him know. Meet you back at the Denali.

Catherine heads toward Nick, Langston goes back to their vehicle. Catherine stops next to Nick.

CATHERINE
How are you fellas tonight?

Warrick pops up behind her, smiling. Nick glances at him, then her.

NICK
We're good. Glad to be working, that's
for sure.

He closes the door.

NICK
What do we have?

CATHERINE
A couple of fishermen found a car on
their fish sonar. Divers found two
bodies inside.
(holds up the license)
Look familiar?

Nick almost grabs the wallet bare handed. He drops his kit, pulls on gloves, and takes it.

NICK
That's Nate.

CATHERINE
Yeah. This one is all yours, Nicky.
Think of how good it'll feel to tack
on a life or two to Julia and Jeff's
sentence.

Nick laughs, nodding.

NICK
It'll feel pretty damned good.

CATHERINE
Now remember, one, you do not talk to
Warrick, ever, at a crime scene. Not
even if you think you're alone.

NICK
Yes, ma'am.

CATHERINE
Second, a CSI 1 has to--

CATHERINE AND NICK
Keep the supervisor informed on all
processes, review all findings, and
copy all communications.

She smiles when he chuckles.

NICK
Been demoted three days and you've
already drilled it into my head.

She pats his shoulder.

CATHERINE
And keep an officer with you at all
times. Have a safe night.

She walks away. Nick starts toward the car.

WARRICK
I am going to really enjoy this crime
scene. Course, any crime scene that
adds years to Julia and Jeff's
sentence is enjoyable.

NICK
(whisper)
Damn straight.

WARRICK
But you really need to hurry up. I
want cake.

Nick just smiles. He stops next to David and goes to work.

DAVID
Did you ever think you'd be here?
After all the stuff Julia put you
through?

Nick shakes his head, looking at the driver's license

FADE TO:

INT. JULIA'S OFFICE - RECEPTION AREA - DAY

Everyone's waited in a place like this. Starkly lit, receptionist half hidden behind a counter, uncomfortable connected chairs and magazines scattered on a center table.

There's a potted plant in one coroner and cheesy motivational posters around the room.

Nick enters, stopping at the front desk to sign in. He turns, looking at Nate Hutchins as he walks past. The man is reading a thin book and doesn't look up. Nick sits down and picks up a magazine, flipping through it.

MIRANDA (o.S.)
That's just the way it has to happen.
Can't be helped..

Nick looks over the top of his magazine at her.

MIRANDA sits diagonal to him, rocking in her chair and playing with a lock of hair. She's a paranoid schizophrenic who has been off her meds a little too long. Warrick sits next to her, whispering to her.

Nick shifts in his chair, glancing at Nate. He looks to his right at Hugh Kallen. Hugh's snarling expression would be menacing if he weren't wearing a suit, dress shirt, and tie. The door to an office opens and JULIA Green steps out.

JULIA
Nicholas Stokes?

Nick drops his magazine on the table as he stands. He slips past Miranda, glancing at Warrick. Miranda watches Warrick, not Nick, leave. He gives her a smile and a wink.

The two go into the office and the door is closed.

INT. JULIA'S OFFICE - DAY

This office feels more like a prison cell. There's a metal desk with a desk chair and laptop on it. In front of it is a comfortable looking wingback chair with a notepad and pens sitting on it.

The other chair in the room is an uncomfortable plastic chair. Julia motions to the plastic chair as she passes in front of Nick. She picks up her notepad and pen, and sits in the wingback chair. Nick sits in the uncomfortable chair.

JULIA
I am Julia Green. You will call me
Doctor Green.

She leans out, extending her hand. He's a little put off by the introduction, but musters a smile and hand shake.

NICK
Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

JULIA
Have we met before? You look familiar.

Warrick walks between them, sitting in the desk chair. Nick stays focused on Julia.

NICK
You might have done an eval on a case
I was working or something. You are a
police shrink.

JULIA
I don't appreciate being called a
shrink. May I call you Nick?

Her smile doesn't erase the bitter tone. Nick almost comes back with a snarling remark.

WARRICK
Relax, Nick. This has to happen.

Nick calms down.

NICK
Sure.

She settles back in her chair.

JULIA
This will be a two day evaluation
where I will determine if you are
mentally capable of returning to duty
following an attempt to strike a
supervisor. I understand you're seeing
a therapist outside of the department.

NICK
I am.

JULIA
I'll need you to sign a form to release
your session notes to me.

WARRICK
Maybe when hell freezes!

NICK
No way.

JULIA
Excuse me?

NICK
This is an evaluation. You don't need
any of that.

JULIA
(snarky)
I'm the psychiatrist, I'll determine
what I need.

WARRICK
I think we just found her button.

Nick glances at his dead friend, draws a breath and attempts to make peace.

NICK
I tell you what. I'll give you Greta's
phone number. I trust her judgment so
if she's comfortable with releasing
the notes, we'll do that. Is that a
fair trade?

JULIA
It sounds like you don't trust me.

Warrick appears behind Julia.

WARRICK
You've got our bitch radar going off,
lady. I'd tell Nick to walk, but he can't.

NICK
I'm not trying to insult you or
anything, but this seems a little out
of sorts for a psychiatric
evaluation. If you'd just--

JULIA
This isn't going to help your evaluation.

NICK
What?

JULIA
Not having that information means I
have to start from scratch. This will
take four weeks instead of two days,
and during that time I'm recommending
you be suspended. That way we can
focus on you.

NICK
I don't want to focus on me, Doctor
Green. I want to get back to work.

Julia doesn't offer a compromise or any indication she's changing her mind. Nick lifts a finger, prepared to lay into her.

WARRICK
Easy, Nicky. This has to happen. Take
a deep breath and roll with it.

Nick runs his hand through his hair and drops it.

NICK
Guess we'll get to know each other
real well for the next four weeks.

JULIA
Very well. Let's get started.

Warrick walks between them, going back to the desk chair.

JULIA
What was your childhood like?

Nick sighs and prepares to talk about bygone days.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE