Episode 10: "A Track of Blood" – The Sheridan Tapes
Script
Outtakes
Transcript
CONTENT WARNINGS: Police/gun violence, some strong language, depiction of a car crash, disturbing elements and sounds
Cold Open
[Door swings open, shuffling is heard]
[A man begins to vocalize as he shuts the door]
[His voice distorts and fluctuates as he talks, a chittering and squelching sound accompanies him]
Man
Li– [cough] Lice– [cough] License and registration
[Squelching, distorted noises]
License and registration please. License and registration please. Alright. Let’s have a bit of fun, shall we?
[Footsteps]
[Cassette player motor whirs, stops]
[Main Theme]
Recording Begins
[Cassette player whirs to life]
[Keyboard keys clacking]
[Beep]
[Sam’s voice is distorted as it plays back]
Sam Bailey
Do you have any idea what time it is–
What? What? Hello? I can barely hear… Who is this?
[Distortion becomes overwhelming]
You… It can’t be… You’re…
Sheridan?
[Beep]
[The recording cuts out. Sam turns in his chair]
Sam Bailey
Well?
Bill Tyler
Well what?
Sam Bailey
What do you think?
Bill Tyler
[Sighs]
I don’t know, Sam… If I could actually hear anything on the recording, then maybe, but…
Sam Bailey
Look, if Sheridan’s still alive…
Bill Tyler
That’s a really big if, Sam.
Sam Bailey
But if she is alive and hasn’t made contact with anyone in six months, then she probably can’t.
Bill Tyler
What, you think she’s been kidnapped or something?
Sam Bailey
I don’t know… Maybe. But whatever the case, there’s a time-sensitive element here. If she’s in danger, then we need to…
Bill Tyler
Look, even if I believed it was really her — What am I supposed to do about it?
Sam Bailey
I… I need you to talk to the Chief. Convince him to put more officers on this case.
Bill Tyler
He already tried that. Had a full team on the case for months before they had to give up.
Sam Bailey
But maybe if you asked him…
Bill Tyler
Look Sam, I tried to give you a chance to socialize with the rest of the team, and you didn’t take it. Don’t ask me to climb the ladder for you now.
Sam Bailey
I’m… I’m not following.
Bill Tyler
Robert’s birthday. Karaoke. Half the department was there, including the Chief. You could’ve made some friends, if you’d just shown up.
Sam Bailey
Oh. Right. Listen Bill, I’m really sorry about…
Bill Tyler
Look, if you really want to be left alone, that’s fine. Just don’t make any more promises you can’t keep. Least of all to Rob.
Sam Bailey
Bill, I’m sorry, I really meant to go, it’s just — it fell on a bad day, and I wasn’t feeling very well, so…
Bill Tyler
Huh. You don’t look so good now. Maybe you should get out, get some fresh air. I think the coffee shop on main might be open by now. You know, if you felt like making it up to him.
Sam Bailey
That… that might not be a bad idea.
You want anything?
Bill Tyler
No, I’m fine. I don’t think Robert would say no to a caramel macchiato, though.
Sam Bailey
Right. Caramel macchiato. With almond milk, right?
Bill Tyler
Coconut, actually. But yeah.
Sam Bailey
Great. Uh, back in a bit.
[He rolls his chair back]
[Beep]
Tape 2-6-215-1-2
[Click]
[Hiss of static, then fades]
[The sound of a quiet car engine]
Sam Bailey
[Rustling as he secures the recorder]
Alright… Detective Sam Bailey, recording live on the way to Oslow Joe’s, April Fifteenth, 2019 at 6:45 am.
I’m using one of Sheridan’s old blank tapes… number 2-6-215-1-2, I think. Trying to get back into the habit of recording: if this case is about to kick off, then I need to keep a record of what’s happening in the field, not just the office. My memory’s… Well, it’s not what it used to be, let’s just say.
Thankfully it’s still pretty quiet out here, though there’s quite a bit of fog hanging around this morning. Making it difficult to see — I think Bill might kill me if I take too long…
[Police siren]
Oh, what the hell, I was barely doing 40. God, they must be really bored this early.
[He pulls off to the shoulder. The car turns off]
[The other car’s door opens]
[Rolls his window down]
[Footsteps approach, crunching over gravel]
LT. De Witt
License and registration, sir.
Sam Bailey
Haven’t seen you around the station, Lieutenant. New in town?
LT. De Witt
License and registration.
Sam Bailey
I’ll do you one better. Oslow County PD, badge number 2-101 — Bailey, Samuel Isaac, Detective First Class.
[Fabric rustling, he pulls out his badge]
LT. De Witt
Do you know how fast you were driving, Mister Bailey?
Sam Bailey
Just about 35. This is a 40 zone, right?
LT. De Witt
I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the car, please.
Sam Bailey
May I ask why, Lieutenant… sorry, what’s your name?
LT. De Witt
De Witt. And no, you may not. Exit the vehicle now, sir.
Sam Bailey
Alright.
[A click as he undoes his seatbelt]
Just so you’re aware, I am carrying my sidearm at the moment, so don’t be alarmed when I step out of the car.
[A click as he lifts his door handle]
LT. De Witt
Sir?
Sam Bailey
I’m still on duty, Lieutenant.
LT. De Witt
Please remain in your vehicle, sir, I need to call this in.
[De Witt walks back towards his car]
[Sam sighs, then reaches over his seat]
[De Witt goes back inside his vehicle]
Sam Bailey
Uh, 2-101 to dispatch.
[The beeps and static of a walkie talkie conversation]
Dispatch
10-2, 2-101, this is dispatch.
Sam Bailey
Dispatch, are there any officers on patrol in the north Walford area?
Dispatch
That’s a negative 2-101.
Sam Bailey
Dispatch, I’ve just been pulled over by a patrol officer, last name De Witt, no first name given. Could you run that name, please?
Dispatch
10-4 2-101. Standby.
Negative, there are no officers matching that description. Standby for confirmation.
Sam Bailey
10-4 dispatch. I also have eyes on a potentially stolen patrol car, license number AB1-1…
[De Witt’s vehicle starts up]
[The patrol car races past Sam’s still open window]
Dispatch, suspect vehicle is fleeing the scene.
Dispatch
10-4 2-101… what’s your 20?
Sam Bailey
Myers Avenue, just outside city center.
Dispatch
10-4, additional units en route to your 20, stand by.
Sam Bailey
He’s heading out of town at speed, dispatch. Recommend immediate
pursuit.
Dispatch
Negative, 2-101. Stand by for additional units.
[Sam grumbles and sighs]
Sam Bailey
Ah, screw it.
[Sam starts his car and roars after the patrol car.]
[Sirens]
Dispatch, be advised: pursuing suspect vehicle north on Myers Avenue.
Dispatch
Negative 2-101, stand down.
Sam Bailey
Visibility is dropping fast out here, dispatch. We’ll lose him if I wait.
Dispatch
2-101, proceed with caution.
Sam Bailey
10-4.
[Sam drops his radio, gunning it.]
You’re not getting away that easy.
[Wheels screeching.]
[The radio crackles again.]
Bill Tyler
2-101, this is 5-540 en route to your 20.
Sam Bailey
10-4 5-540. Still moving north on…
Bill Tyler
Sam? Is that you?
Sam Bailey
Oh Jesus… 10-4, Bill.
Bill Tyler
Guess the coffee run didn’t go as expected?
Sam Bailey
No, it didn’t. You’re approaching from the station?
Bill Tyler
10-4. Turning left onto South Walford…
Sam Bailey
Take the 361 on-ramp: you should be able to cut him off at the Kaiser Boulevard exit.
Bill Tyler
You sure?
Sam Bailey
He’s driving the same car we are. We can’t beat him for speed, so we have to outmaneuver him. Trust me, and get to the exit.
Bill Tyler
10-4, Sam.
[Sam drops the radio and guns it]
Sam Bailey
Come on, just drive… Whoah!
[The tires screech slightly]
What the hell is he doing on the wrong side of the… No. It’s nothing. There’s…
[Car horn in the distance]
Shit!
[The tires screech again, and Sam barely manages to wrestle it back]
Okay, I definitely saw another car then. But… No.
There’s no one here. What the hell’s happening, I…
[Car horn sounding fairly close]
Jesus!!
[Sam cranks the wheel, and the car skids to a stop on the soft shoulder]
[His sirens are still sounding]
Sam Bailey
Oh, for the love… Oh, you’re still recording? Good. I was just about run off the road by a crazy truck driver who just…
Yeah, just vanished like the other two. Right into the fog. Which is getting much worse. I can barely see anything out here.
[Sam throws the car in reverse, then first, and guns it after the other patrol car]
Sam Bailey
Okay, keep on him. Just keep on him. Can’t lose him if I just stay on Walford. There are no turn offs until Kaiser, so… Wait, no, there are turn offs, of course there are, I’m in the middle of downtown. I need to…
[The wheel drifts, then comes back with a sharp squeal of tires]
Sam Bailey
What am I saying? No, I’m on 361. I need to get to the Kaiser exit, which should be pretty… Well I don’t know, I can’t see any signs in this fog. Maybe it’s… Maybe I passed it already. Maybe I should…
[Radio distorts and then beeps]
Bill Tyler
Sam? Come in Sam, I’m…
[The radio crackles a bit, and Sam grabs it]
Sam Bailey
10-1 Bill, please repeat.
Bill Tyler
Repeat, I’m at the Kaiser exit, turning south on Myers to intercept.
Sam Bailey
No, that’s not right, I’m… No wait, you’re supposed to be… And I’m…
Bill Tyler
10-9 Sam, I didn’t quite get that.
Sam Bailey
It’s nothing, I’m just feeling a little light-headed.
Bill Tyler
Not up for the hunt, old man?
Sam Bailey
[Sighs]
I’ve lost visibility completely. You’ll have to stop him the moment you see him. I’ll try to slow him down if I can.
Bill Tyler
Happy hunting.
[Sam’s car accelerates, the engine protesting.]
Sam Bailey
Come on, just a little bit more, just give me a little bit more…
There you are, you son of a… BILL!
[Tires screeching, a collision… and then another.]
[Click]
[Silence]
[Click]
[Faint sounds of rural area]
[Someone tinkering with an engine]
[The car’s hood slams shut as someone picks up the recorder]
Sam Bailey
Alright, give that a try.
Bill Tyler
What’s this?
Sam Bailey
What?
[The recorder jostles]
Oh, just one of Sheridan’s blank tapes.
Bill Tyler
Why do you have it here?
Sam Bailey
Um, I was… just recording. Keeping a record of… What I’m doing.
Bill Tyler
Getting coffee?
Sam Bailey
Just try it again, will you?
[Keys rattling]
[The engine whines, then dies]
Bill Tyler
“That’s all she’s got, cap’n.”
Sam Bailey
Dammit.
Bill Tyler
Relax, Sam. Rest of the guys should be here soon.
Sam Bailey
Maybe we can try his car… See if we can get it started…
Bill Tyler
Re—lax, Sam. Jeez, you’re normally not this jumpy.
Sam Bailey
I’m not…!
[Sighs]
Look, I’m just worried about him. What happens when he wakes up.
Bill Tyler
Who, De Witt? What’s he going to do like that, bleed on you?
Sam Bailey
It’s just… something weird happened when we were chasing him. I’m still not sure what to make of it.
Bill Tyler
Weird how?
Sam Bailey
Weird like, I was nearly run off the road by three different cars that appeared out of nowhere and then vanished the moment I wasn’t looking at them.
Bill Tyler
Well, the fog is pretty thick…
Sam Bailey
Then after the last one, I started to get… confused about where I was, what I was doing. I thought I was on 361 for a second there before you called in.
Bill Tyler
That’s… odd. But I don’t see what that has to do with De Witt.
Sam Bailey
[Heavy sigh]
Me neither. Not yet.
[De Witt coughs in the distance as he awakes]
Bill Tyler
Well, looks like we’re about to find out. He’s awake.
Sam Bailey
Damn. Where are those other cars?
Bill Tyler
Probably taking it slow through the fog.
[Car doors open and close
[Footsteps]
Is it just me, or is it getting worse?
Sam Bailey
Might be.
[Footsteps stop]
Bill Tyler
Good morning, sir. Sleep well?
[De Witt growls]
[Sam pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket]
Sam Bailey
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you…”
LT. De Witt
Stuff it. I know my rights. And you’re already recording me anyways.
Bill Tyler
No we’re… oh. I suppose we are.
Sam Bailey
Well, if you know your rights… care to tell us what your name is?
[Jangling in the background]
LT. De Witt
Lieutenant De Witt. Says it on the badge, see.
Bill Tyler
Your real name, ass hat.
LT. De Witt
[Laughing]
Oh, he’s a fun one, isn’t he? Bet you two are best of friends.
Sam Bailey
Just answer the question.
LT. De Witt
Hold on, I’m confused. Which of you’s supposed to be the bad cop here? Right now I’m just getting “vaguely incompetent cop” from both of you.
Sam Bailey
Bill, did you check if he’s got any ID on him?
Bill Tyler
Yeah no, he doesn’t.
LT. De Witt
I’ve got ID. Right here…
De Witt, Lieutenant. Oslow County Police Department, Homicide
Division.
Bill Tyler
That so? You got a first name to go with that?
LT. De Witt
Yeah. Lieutenant.
Sam Bailey
Oh for…
Bill Tyler
Look, if you don’t want to give us your name, fine: we’ll take you to the station and get it anyways. And trust me, this will be a lot easier for you if you cooperate.
LT. De Witt
[Scoffs]
You really think you can find out who I am? You clowns?
[Chuckles]
You don’t even know if Sheridan’s alive or dead.
Sam Bailey
What did you just say?
LT. De Witt
Oh right, I’m not supposed to know about that, am I? Don’t worry: I won’t tell anyone.
Sam Bailey
What do you know about Sheridan?
LT. De Witt
Uh uh. Nope. My word’s my bond, so… My lips are sealed.
Sam Bailey
Fine. Like he said, we’ll get it out of you at the station when…
LT. De Witt
[Chuckles]
You won’t get shit. Even if your friends make me sing, you won’t be in the cage when it happens, and no one’s going to tell you what they heard.
Sam Bailey
That so, huh? Well then maybe…
Bill Tyler
Take it easy Sam, we don’t want to…
Sam Bailey
Stop the recorder.
Bill Tyler
What?
Sam Bailey
I said turn it off!
Bill Tyler
I… No, I won’t.
Sam Bailey
Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be…
[Sam unholsters and cocks his gun.]
Sam Bailey
…Tell me what you know, or I’m going to have to make a mess of things here and now.
Bill Tyler
Sam!
LT. De Witt
[Chuckling]
Well well well… Someone’s feeling bold all of a sudden.
Sam Bailey
Where. Is. Sheridan?
[De Witt begins to laugh]
Bill Tyler
Sam! Stand down!
LT. De Witt
What good would “where” do you right now? You don’t even know where you’re standing.
[De Witt laughs, it echoes oddly on the tape.]
Sam Bailey
What are you talking about, I… No, I… I do know, I mean… I can see you. I’m… I’m pointing my gun at you.
LT. De Witt
Are you, now?
Bill Tyler
Sam! Stand Down!
[De Witt laughs again]
[Sam drops his gun]
Sam Bailey
Bill, drop your gun.
Bill Tyler
What?
Sam Bailey
We can’t trust what we’re seeing. I don’t know how, but he’s… Look, you need to drop it.
Bill Tyler
Like hell I do.
Sam Bailey
Bill, listen to me — I don’t know what you’re seeing right now, but you’re not pointing it where you think. Drop it.
[Hesitation, then Bill drops his gun]
[Squelching sound and metallic click in background]
Bill Tyler
Okay, now what… OOF!
[De Witt runs into Bill, knocking him into the side of the patrol car before running off]
Sam Bailey
Bill! Are you okay?
Bill Tyler
Son of a bitch hit me…
Sam Bailey
Are you…?
Bill Tyler
Yes! Don’t worry about me, he’s getting away!
Sam Bailey
Oh, shit… Hey! You! Stop right now!
[Sam runs a few paces, then stops]
Sam Bailey
Where is he?
[Sam’s footsteps stop]
[Bill stands up and cocks his gun]
Bill Tyler
He’s right over there, the skinny little prick.
Sam Bailey
Whoah! Bill!
Bill Tyler
Don’t worry — just going to clip his wings a bit…
Sam Bailey
No! I need him alive! He knows something about Sheridan, I just know he…
[An echoing gunshot from far off]
[De Witt grunts and falls]
[Silence]
Sam Bailey
Stop the recorder, Bill.
[Clack and clatter as tape ejects]
Tape Paused
[Quiet office noises in the background]
Bill Tyler
Shit.
Sam Bailey
[Sighs]
Yeah. They figured out who he was yet?
Bill Tyler
No. They’re running his prints and dental records, but nothing so far.
Sam Bailey
I doubt they’ll find anything. Do you know who took the shot?
Bill Tyler
One of the SWAT guys, I’m guessing. Not that they’ll tell us which one.
Sam Bailey
Isn’t that convenient. What the hell were they even doing
There?
Bill Tyler
Huh?
Sam Bailey
De Witt, or whoever he was — he was down. The situation was under control. Why would dispatch send a SWAT team?
Bill Tyler
They were probably closer than anyone else. And we didn’t know if De Witt was armed or not.
Sam Bailey
Maybe… who do you think he was?
Bill Tyler
De Witt? Oh, probably just some psycho who bought an old interceptor secondhand. It’s not as hard as you’d think.
Sam Bailey
And… everything else he did?
Bill Tyler
He didn’t do anything. Like you said, that fog made it impossible to see anything. You just got a little disoriented and worked up, that’s all.
Sam Bailey
Right. I’m… I’m sure that’s it.
Bill Tyler
Anyway… Chief told me to tell you we’ve got the rest of the day off. I think you’d better go get some rest.
Sam Bailey
Oh. Right. Sure thing. I’ll uh, see you later.
Bill Tyler
Alligator.
[Footsteps]
[The door shuts behind Bill]
Sam Bailey
[Heavy sigh]
Someone just died in front of him. You’d think that would finally be enough to dampen his mood.
[Sam picks up the tape]
I wish that was the most disturbing thing on here but… there’s more. I didn’t play it with Bill in the room — I don’t know how much I can trust him after this. But… Sheridan’s tape wasn’t empty.
Not completely. There was a little bit right at the very end. I recorded over most of it, but…
[Rustling]
[Click]
Tape Resumes
[Hiss of static, then fades]
Anna Sheridan
…seen, whatever you’ve heard, it’s all true. All of it. And I am alive, no matter what anyone says. I’m alive, and I need help.
Whoever’s listening to this, whoever you are… Find me.
[Clack and clatter as tape ejects]
Homestead on the Corner 