PARTMENT - DAY
Townshend's at his desk. Gladys sits across. Townshend flips through the envelope's contents.
GLADYS
Karl told me to take it to the man on the card, Willie Williams. But after all that's happened... well, I thought it best that I bring it here instead.
TOWNSHEND
(smiles)
You did the right thing, Mrs. Pasternak. I'll take very good care of this. Don't you worry.
Townshend stands, shows Gladys out, then returns to his desk. He feeds the envelope's contents directly into a shredder, picks up the telephone.
TOWNSHEND (ON PHONE)
Governor Broussard.
EXT. FRONT STEPS, GOVERNOR'S MANSION - DAY
A press conference.
Broussard's at the podium, Barbara and Chloe at his side. REPORTERS and CAMERA CREWS pack in tightly around them.
BROUSSARD
... the apparent murders of Former District Attorney Albert Collier and Chief Medical Examiner Karl Pasternak. And, of course, the deaths at the plantation house in Vacherie.
Broussard adjusts his microphone.
BROUSSARD
Look folks, we are in the earliest stages of this investigation. We simply don't know yet what happened. Rest assured, I will continue to personally oversee this matter. I'll take a few questions.
REPORTER
It's been reported that Richard Haggerty told the police the killings last night are somehow tied to the murders of your late wife Sophia and daughter Macy.
BROUSSARD
I can't comment on any part of an ongoing investigation.
REPORTER
He alleges that you, in fact, are responsible for their murders. And you have no comment?
Broussard bristles.
BROUSSARD
Here's my comment on that.
INT. TERMINAL, SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY
Richard, Steven and Mia deplane, march together through the busy terminal. Steven's holding Richard's hand.
BROUSSARD (V.O.)
Richard Haggerty accuses me of murdering my wife and daughter? Well I say, "Where's the evidence, counselor?" This kind of wild accusation is pretty easy to make when everyone who could testify against it just conveniently ended up dead.
EXT. BOOKSTORE, WEST HOLLYWOOD - DAY
A line of ANXIOUS CUSTOMERS winds its way along the sidewalk and into the store's front entrance.
BROUSSARD (V.O.)
I think maybe Mr. Haggerty is just trying to rustle up some free publicity for that next book he's planning to write.
INSIDE THE BOOKSTORE
Richard signs copies of his latest best-seller, "Remembrance Photo."
EXT. FRONT STEPS, GOVERNOR'S MANSION - DAY
BACK TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
Broussard clears his throat, stiffens his back.
BROUSSARD
Now, I know you all in the media love to report this kind of nonsense, but to bring it up here, in front of my wife...
He pulls Barbara next to him.
BROUSSARD
... and daughter.
He reaches for Chloe. She's not there.
BROUSSARD
You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves. That's it. No more questions!
Broussard and his wife retreat into the house.
INT. BEDROOM, GOVERNOR'S MANSION - NIGHT
Broussard's getting dressed. He pulls open the top drawer of his mahogany dresser, fishes around inside. The revolver is gone.
BROUSSARD
(under his breath)
Goddamn cuff links.
(calling out)
Mabel!
He slams the drawer shut, opens another. Someone enters the room. Broussard turns. GUNSHOTS ring out suddenly, bullets fly randomly in all directions. Broussard flinches, ducks. A single SHOT hits him in the chest. He collapses to the floor. Blood pools around his torso.
Barbara Broussard enters, spots her husband. She rushes to him, drops to her knees, shakes uncontrollably. She looks up.
BARBARA BROUSSARD
Oh, my God! What did you do? What did you do?!
Chloe stands at the foot of her step-father's lifeless body. She rubs the pendant hanging around her neck with the fingers of her left hand.
She holds the revolver in her right.
THE END
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