Richard tears down the stairs, through the courtyard and out the gate.
EXT. FRENCH QUARTER - NIGHT
Richard reaches Bourbon Street. It's congested with Mardi Gras REVELERS. He pulls his cell phone from his coat pocket, opens it. He attempts a call, but the surrounding clamor is deafening. He spots a phone booth.
INT. PHONE BOOTH - NIGHT
Richard breathes heavily. He wipes the sweat from his forehead, picks up the receiver and dials.
EMERGENCY OPERATOR (V.O.)
(on phone)
911. What is your emergency?
Richard hesitates.
EMERGENCY OPERATOR (V.O.)
This is Emergency Services.
RICHARD (ON PHONE)
There's been an accident. 914 St. Ann. Apartment 3.
Richard hangs up. He wipes the receiver with his coat sleeve, opens the door and exits.
BOURBON STREET
Richard disappears into the loud, densely packed CROWD.
INT. RICHARD'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Richard lies awake on top of the covers, still in the clothes from the night before. He grimaces as he rises off the bed, approaches a mirror. He pulls back his bloodied shirt, examines his wound. He runs water in the sink, wets a washcloth, wipes the dried blood from his abdomen.
EXT. STREET, FRENCH QUARTER - DAY
Richard walks along the sidewalk in front of Chan's apartment building. He slows as he approaches the wrought iron gate, glances in as he passes. The courtyard is quiet, empty. Undisturbed. Richard picks up the pace, continues down the street.
INT. RICHARD'S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
The PHONE's ringing as Richard enters. He answers.
RICHARD (ON PHONE)
Hello?
ALBERT (V.O.)
(on phone)
Richard, it's Al. Have you heard?
A beat.
RICHARD (ON PHONE)
Heard what?
ALBERT (V.O.)
The stay's lifted. Richard? Are you there?
EXT. LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY, ANGOLA - NIGHT
PROTESTERS surround the front gate as the patrol car enters.
INT. EXECUTION BUILDING - NIGHT
Richard, Staley and the other witnesses stand in silence. The GUARD pulls back the curtain. Danny Wells again lies strapped to the gurney.
STALEY
(mutters, to no one in particular)
No stay this time, boy.
DANNY WELLS
(calling out)
Mama? Are you there?
SHIRLEY WELLS (O.S.)
(crying)
I'm here, son.
DANNY WELLS
I love you, mama.
SHIRLEY WELLS (O.S.)
I know. I love you, too.
The executioner begins the injection process.
DANNY WELLS
Chandra? Where are you, Chandra?
Richard jumps at the name.
SHIRLEY WELLS (O.S.)
She's not here, son.
DANNY WELLS
Not here? I don't understand. Where's my baby sister, mama? Where's Chan?
SHIRLEY WELLS (O.S.)
I don't know. She's gone missing!
Richard rips open the partition curtain.
DANNY WELLS
(very softly)
Mama? Mama?
Shirley Wells sobs as her son's soul departs.
EXT. EXECUTION BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER
Richard rushes out, Staley behind him.
STALEY
What's wrong, man? What was that all about?
Richard and Staley climb into the patrol car.
INT. PATROL CAR - NIGHT
Richard reaches into a leather bag, pulls out a copy of "The Crescant City Murders". He opens it to the photograph section, flips past the first few pictures. He stops on a particular photo, now more than a decade old:
-- Shirley Wells on the steps of the courthouse holding the hand of her eight-year-old daughter.
The caption beneath the photo identifies the girl: Chandra Wells.