Willie sits among piles of books and documents at a table tucked away in a quiet corner of the stacks. He examines one of the historical photos:
-- a row of ramshackle storefronts along a rutted red clay street. The sign on one storefront, cut off by the end of the photo: "VACH".
MARGIE announces over the public address:
MARGIE (V.O.)
The library will be closing in ten minutes.
Willie picks up a stack of books, starts for the front counter. He stops at the end of a bookshelf, peeks around the corner.
AT THE COUNTER
Albert argues with Margie. He's holding a large manila envelope.
MARGIE
The rules are clear. Nothing is to be removed without prior approval of the dean.
ALBERT
I'm just taking out what I brought in.
MARGIE
I saw you, sir. You removed that envelope from the Crescent City files.
ALBERT
Do you know who I am? I'm Professor Collier.
MARGIE
I don't give a rat's pink behind who you are. You're not taking that out of here while I'm on duty. Now, do I have to call security?
ALBERT
(exasperated)
But I used to be the District Attorney!
Margie picks up her microphone.
MARGIE
(over the P.A.)
Security to the stacks front desk.
Albert tosses the envelope onto the counter, storms out.
MARGIE
(over the P.A.)
Cancel that.
Margie picks up the envelope, disappears into the stacks.
IN THE STACKS
Margie marches past endless rows of bankers boxes stacked neatly on grey metal shelves. Willie follows at a distance. Margie stops, leans into the shelf, adjusts her glasses, examines the label on a particular box. She lifts the lid, tosses the envelope in, marches away.
Willie approaches the box. He checks both directions. He's alone. He opens the lid, removes the envelope, dumps out the contents. He picks each item up, one by one:
-- A small brown glass vial. On the label:
"Forensic Evidence. Semen. Victim: M. Broussard."
-- A lab report: "DNA Test. Semen. Victim: Macy Broussard."
Willie flips to the report's second page. At the bottom:
"Match : Daniel Wells."
Willie notes the signature at the bottom:
"Karl Pasternak, M.E."
-- A cassette tape.
Willie examines both sides of the cassette. On the back label: