"LAW & ORDER"

"ACCOUNTABILITY"

 

Written by

Justin McFarr

 

Stick A Fork In Me Prods.

Registered: WGAw

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"LAW & ORDER"

 

"ACCOUNTABILITY"

 

TEASER

 

FADE IN

INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY

EDGAR MILCHOVICH, a heavy-set, unshaven man in his late forties, stands at a doorway. Inside the apartment, HARRIET YILAN, an insufferable seventyish hausfrau, cradles her toy poodle.

 

MS. YILAN

His name Buchkess, not "Butch," Mr. Milchovich.

 

MILCHOVICH

That's really special, Ms. Yilan, but I've got --

 

MS. YILAN

Buchkess, it is Greek, like me. Butch is so... vulgar. It lacks

poetry of my ski'los' name.

 

As she showers the mutt with kisses, Milchovich attempts his escape down the hall.

 

MILCHOVICH

All well and good, Ms. Yilan. Gotta go now.

 

MS. YILAN

Do you know significance of name --

 

Milchovich moves down the stairwell.

 

MILCHOVICH

I can't hear you anymore, Ms. Yilan.

 

The poodle begins to yap as Milchovich reaches a door on the lower floor.

 

MILCHOVICH

(muttering)

Rat dog. I'll Buchkess you -- with a cleaver.

 

He knocks on the door of apartment eight. No answer.

Removes his ring of keys, picks one out and turns the lock.

 

MILCHOVICH (Cont'd)

If you're here, Miss Miller, it's just me, come to fix

your faucet.

 

As he opens the door, an offensive odor hits him. He winces, then steps gingerly inside.

 

MILCHOVICH (Cont'd)

Miss Miller?

 

As he reaches the living room --

 

MILCHOVICH (Cont'd)

Oh my God.

CUT TO

 

INT. VALERIE MILLER'S APARTMENT - DAY

BRISCOE and CURTIS arrive on the scene, putting on latex gloves. OFFICER HERNANDEZ intercepts them as they enter. CSU officers are scattered about the small, disorderly apartment.

 

OFFICER HERNANDEZ

Victim's one Valerie Miller.

(hands Briscoe her I.D.)

Lives alone. Been dead two or three days.

 

BRISCOE

I can smell that. Anybody crack a window?

 

OFFICER HERNANDEZ

Windows are nailed shut.

 

BRISCOE

Nailed? Wonder if she did it herself. Real worried somebody

might want in?

 

CURTIS

Any sign of forced entry?

 

OFFICER HERNANDEZ

Not readily apparent. But the place was definitely trashed.

He leads them to a woman's body, splayed in the middle of the living room. Her head is turned away from them, blood congealed in her hair and the carpet underneath.

 

BRISCOE

(over the body)

My guess is she didn't do that to herself.

 

OFFICER HERNANDEZ

We got a lamp, blood on it, looks to be the murder weapon.

 

As Curtis leans over the body for a closer look, Briscoe moves to the lamp, which is already tagged and wrapped.

 

CURTIS

Her hands are bagged. Any evidence of rape?

 

OFFICER HERNANDEZ

Undergarments are intact. But her clothes are tattered up.

 

CURTIS

More dried blood on her face. Looks like someone gave her

a real working-over.

 

BRISCOE

All work and no play makes our boy sicko employee of the month.

 

As he and Curtis stare at the body --

 

FADE OUT

 

END OF TEASER