With Past Imperfect Part 1
*not mine. Author of this fanscript: Joni_Slade. Credit to her and characters from AIO*
[WHIT’S END. Whit is in the kitchen.]
WHIT:
(TO SELF) Ahh, let's see if we can get this ice cream put away before it melts completely.
[He turns on the radio, opens the freezer, and begins stacking ice cream in it. On the radio:]
REPORTER:
. . . suspect in what people are calling the "Five C's Fire" was apprehended last night in his apartment at Richfield's River Forest College and is being held in Odyssey to await trial. Odyssey Police are relieved.
QUINN:
Thanks to an anonymous tip, we discovered extensive evidence that the suspect was involved in the fire, including a detailed log of computer conversations he had with an allied party. We’re optimistic that the suspect will cooperate so that the information stolen from Campbell College Monday night will not spread any further.
REPORTER:
The suspect has a history of both arson and computer-related crimes, and is believed to have targeted Campbell College because of his previous expulsion from the institution.
[The phone rings.]
WHIT:
(CALLS) Nick! Could you get that? I'm a little busy.
NICK:
(COMING IN) Sure thing.
[Nick answers the phone.]
NICK:
Whit's End. (A BEAT) Uh, he's busy right now. Could I take a message? (A BEAT) Well, you mind holding a minute?
WHIT:
Who is it?
NICK:
Some guy who really wants to talk to you.
WHIT:
All right.
[Whit closes the freezer and picks up the phone.]
WHIT:
Hello?
RICHARD:
Mister Whittaker. It's . . . Richard Maxwell.
WHIT:
Richard? Well, this is a surprise. Are you in town?
RICHARD:
Uhh, yeah. Listen, Whit, I don't have much time. You seem to know everyone in town, and I need to get in touch with a good attorney. Really good. I thought you might know of one.
WHIT:
I might.
RICHARD:
Could you give me his name?
WHIT:
I'd be glad to. But . . . Richard, where are you calling from?
RICHARD:
. . . the police station. I've . . . been arrested.
[Musical transition to: CAMPBELL COLLEGE CAMPUS, OUTSIDE. Whit approaches the remains of the computer lab where Captain Quinn speaks with another officer.]
WHIT:
(TO SELF) Good grief, look at that building!
QUINN:
(CALLS) Hello, Mister Whittaker.
WHIT:
Captain Quinn. I called the police station and they said you were here.
QUINN:
It’s the scene of the crime, Whit.
WHIT:
I knew this was a big case, but I didn't realize you'd be investigating it personally. You, ah, have a particular interest in this?
QUINN:
There's been enough computer-related crime around Campbell College over the years that I thought I should check it out myself. Besides, it's a chance to get away from my desk for awhile. What can I do for you?
WHIT:
Well, er, could you tell me what happened here? I’m afraid I’ve been a little too busy to keep up with the news. I heard that the college’s computer lab burned down, but I didn’t realize it had been destroyed so completely.
QUINN:
They’d disabled the fire alarm, so by the time the firefighters arrived, there wasn’t much left to save. It took us hours to comb through the wreckage and figure out exactly what was stolen. In the end, there was one missing computer--one that contained some valuable research programs.
WHIT:
Seems like a lot of work to go to for someone to steal a computer. May I ask what makes you so sure that Maxwell is the culprit?
QUINN:
So you know who it is. We haven’t disclosed his name to the press.
WHIT:
That was kind of you. Richard called me. It seems he thinks he's innocent.
QUINN:
That's what he maintains.
WHIT:
You disagree?
QUINN:
The evidence against him is pretty overwhelming.
WHIT:
Well, did he have the missing computer?
QUINN:
No. More than likely, he's already delivered it to whoever hired him. The evidence is in the form of instant message logs which show that he discussed the entire theft and arson on the afternoon before it happened.
WHIT:
You're sure they're his conversations?
QUINN:
They’re on the computer we found at his place--a computer he admits is his own--and we had experts make sure the logs were genuine. They show an internet user name that Maxwell has used in the past. He claims not to know who the other screen name belongs to, though the log shows the two of them going over their plans together. We’re working on tracing the accomplice, but Maxwell isn't being very cooperative and I’m afraid this site hasn’t provided any leads.
WHIT:
You think the accomplice was here, too?
QUINN:
Campbell College security tapes weren’t pointing directly at this building, but they did catch two shadows not far away, entering and leaving the area just before the fire began.
WHIT:
And you think one of them was . . . Richard Maxwell, who hasn't been seen in Odyssey for years.
QUINN:
When he was here, Campbell College expelled him--reason enough to burn down the computer lab after he took what he wanted from it. It's not too long a drive to and from Richfield. He could have done it on Monday night and been back by Tuesday evening, which is when we caught him.
WHIT:
From an . . . anonymous tip.
QUINN:
That was enough for a search warrant, especially considering his previous record.
WHIT:
I see.
QUINN:
Is he a friend of yours or something?
WHIT:
Yes.
QUINN:
Sorry, Whit. I'm looking at all the angles, here.
WHIT:
Oh, I know, Captain Quinn. I appreciate it. You're only doing your job. I'm just having trouble believing this of Richard. You know, the last time he was arrested, he was very quick to confess. I wouldn’t expect him to lie about his innocence.
QUINN:
Well, did you want to talk to him?
WHIT:
I was planning on bailing him out.
QUINN:
Hmm. Sure you want to do that? He didn't resist arrest or anything, but he sure seems to think there's no reason for him to be here.
WHIT:
I'm sure.
[Musical transition to: Whit enters the lobby of the POLICE STATION. Tom is already there.]
WHIT:
Tom?
TOM:
Whit! You heard, too?
WHIT:
Heard?
TOM:
On the news. About “the suspect”.
WHIT:
Oh. Yeah, I heard that.
TOM:
When they described him, I knew who it must be and I came right away. I know he wouldn't have done this. Not after all he did to help Odyssey.
[Richard enters.]
RICHARD:
(TENTATIVE) Hiya, Mr. Riley.
TOM:
Well, howdy, Richard.
RICHARD:
And Mister Whittaker! It’s been so long.
WHIT:
Yes, it has. It’s good to see you again.
RICHARD:
Look, I didn't want to cause all this trouble. All I wanted was a lawyer; I mean . . . I mean, I can't believe you bailed me out, Mr. Riley.
TOM:
It's the least I can do, getting you out of here.
RICHARD:
It means a lot to me.
WHIT:
Let's go back to Whit's End. We have a lot of catching up to do!
[Musical transition to: Whit, Richard and Tom are in WHIT’S OFFICE.]
WHIT:
So, that's it. You've been a student at River Forest for awhile now. And you know absolutely nothing about the fire at Campbell College.
RICHARD:
I hadn't even heard about it until they arrested me for it.
WHIT:
Do you have any idea how the evidence made it onto your computer?
RICHARD:
Not a clue. If I really had been instant messaging an accomplice, do you think I’d’ve kept logs of it? They say they can tell that the logs were created on my computer, the afternoon before the fire. I was on the computer on Monday, but I was working on a program for class the entire time. It's due this Friday, but the police say they can't find it on there. Or any of the other work that should be there. They say the only recorded activity on my computer is that conversation. If I could just take a look at it, I know I could figure out what happened--but they won’t let me touch it. Evidence.
WHIT:
Hmm. Did you make backup copies of your school project? The timestamp on it would show that you were writing a program when they say you were in Odyssey.
RICHARD:
I'd uploaded a copy online for backup. I told the police where they could find it, but they said there wasn't anything there--not this project, not any of my others. Even if it was there, there's no way to show that I didn't write it earlier. I could have just changed the computer's clock to say it was Tuesday night when I saved it.
WHIT:
Ah, good point. (A BEAT) It seems like someone went to a lot of trouble to get rid of your alibi.
RICHARD:
Some alibi. Even if my project was there, it wouldn't prove I hadn't been chatting with my accomplice at the same time I was writing it. Why bother erasing it?
WHIT:
Maybe to make it look like you're lying about where you were on Monday.
TOM:
Well, did anybody see you in Richfield that evening?
RICHARD:
Not unless they were looking in my second-story window. I was working on homework all that night.
TOM:
Aww. Well, could you tell us what happened when you were arrested?
RICHARD:
Well, I was shocked, but it was embarrassing more than anything.
WHIT:
Embarrassing?
RICHARD:
I was having a few friends over to celebrate finishing our final projects.
[Jump cut to: RICHARD’S APARTMENT, where he and two others are dining.]
KIMIKO:
I can't believe we all got done this early. Job well done, eh?
LYLE:
Uh, well, yeah, good job, you two.
[Jump cut to WHIT’S OFFICE.]
TOM:
Who’re your friends?
RICHARD:
Kimiko Kai and Lyle Meeker. Classmates of mine at River Forest.
[Jump cut to APARTMENT.]
LYLE:
Good, uh, good job.
RICHARD:
Yeah--now we get a full two days to enjoy the fact that we’re done before realizing Friday morning that we missed the one essential component that'll make our programs run.
KIMIKO:
Only in your nightmares. I'm sure yours is brilliant, Richard. How about you, Lyle?
LYLE:
Mine's not exactly what I'd call finished. It's, you know. Halfway there.
KIMIKO:
Oh, Lyle. Even with my program as inspiration?
RICHARD:
What's that?
KIMIKO:
I gave him my beta version so he could take some of the code if he needed it.
LYLE:
Yeah, well, I'm having trouble fitting your code into my program.
KIMIKO:
(PITYING) Awww.
RICHARD:
At least you have two full days left. It's not a race, you know.
KIMIKO:
Yes it is. CS442 is going to rule the world. And the fastest one in CS442 is going to rule before the rest of you.
[Jump to OFFICE.]
WHIT:
CS442?
RICHARD:
Our class number. We sort of bonded--I don't know--something about writing more programs in one term than you'll ever use for the rest of your life.
TOM:
Sounds like a real bonding experience to me.
RICHARD:
Yeah, well . . . some of us are more into it than others.
[WHIT’S END. Whit is in the kitchen.]
WHIT:
(TO SELF) Ahh, let's see if we can get this ice cream put away before it melts completely.
[He turns on the radio, opens the freezer, and begins stacking ice cream in it. On the radio:]
REPORTER:
. . . suspect in what people are calling the "Five C's Fire" was apprehended last night in his apartment at Richfield's River Forest College and is being held in Odyssey to await trial. Odyssey Police are relieved.
QUINN:
Thanks to an anonymous tip, we discovered extensive evidence that the suspect was involved in the fire, including a detailed log of computer conversations he had with an allied party. We’re optimistic that the suspect will cooperate so that the information stolen from Campbell College Monday night will not spread any further.
REPORTER:
The suspect has a history of both arson and computer-related crimes, and is believed to have targeted Campbell College because of his previous expulsion from the institution.
[The phone rings.]
WHIT:
(CALLS) Nick! Could you get that? I'm a little busy.
NICK:
(COMING IN) Sure thing.
[Nick answers the phone.]
NICK:
Whit's End. (A BEAT) Uh, he's busy right now. Could I take a message? (A BEAT) Well, you mind holding a minute?
WHIT:
Who is it?
NICK:
Some guy who really wants to talk to you.
WHIT:
All right.
[Whit closes the freezer and picks up the phone.]
WHIT:
Hello?
RICHARD:
Mister Whittaker. It's . . . Richard Maxwell.
WHIT:
Richard? Well, this is a surprise. Are you in town?
RICHARD:
Uhh, yeah. Listen, Whit, I don't have much time. You seem to know everyone in town, and I need to get in touch with a good attorney. Really good. I thought you might know of one.
WHIT:
I might.
RICHARD:
Could you give me his name?
WHIT:
I'd be glad to. But . . . Richard, where are you calling from?
RICHARD:
. . . the police station. I've . . . been arrested.
[Musical transition to: CAMPBELL COLLEGE CAMPUS, OUTSIDE. Whit approaches the remains of the computer lab where Captain Quinn speaks with another officer.]
WHIT:
(TO SELF) Good grief, look at that building!
QUINN:
(CALLS) Hello, Mister Whittaker.
WHIT:
Captain Quinn. I called the police station and they said you were here.
QUINN:
It’s the scene of the crime, Whit.
WHIT:
I knew this was a big case, but I didn't realize you'd be investigating it personally. You, ah, have a particular interest in this?
QUINN:
There's been enough computer-related crime around Campbell College over the years that I thought I should check it out myself. Besides, it's a chance to get away from my desk for awhile. What can I do for you?
WHIT:
Well, er, could you tell me what happened here? I’m afraid I’ve been a little too busy to keep up with the news. I heard that the college’s computer lab burned down, but I didn’t realize it had been destroyed so completely.
QUINN:
They’d disabled the fire alarm, so by the time the firefighters arrived, there wasn’t much left to save. It took us hours to comb through the wreckage and figure out exactly what was stolen. In the end, there was one missing computer--one that contained some valuable research programs.
WHIT:
Seems like a lot of work to go to for someone to steal a computer. May I ask what makes you so sure that Maxwell is the culprit?
QUINN:
So you know who it is. We haven’t disclosed his name to the press.
WHIT:
That was kind of you. Richard called me. It seems he thinks he's innocent.
QUINN:
That's what he maintains.
WHIT:
You disagree?
QUINN:
The evidence against him is pretty overwhelming.
WHIT:
Well, did he have the missing computer?
QUINN:
No. More than likely, he's already delivered it to whoever hired him. The evidence is in the form of instant message logs which show that he discussed the entire theft and arson on the afternoon before it happened.
WHIT:
You're sure they're his conversations?
QUINN:
They’re on the computer we found at his place--a computer he admits is his own--and we had experts make sure the logs were genuine. They show an internet user name that Maxwell has used in the past. He claims not to know who the other screen name belongs to, though the log shows the two of them going over their plans together. We’re working on tracing the accomplice, but Maxwell isn't being very cooperative and I’m afraid this site hasn’t provided any leads.
WHIT:
You think the accomplice was here, too?
QUINN:
Campbell College security tapes weren’t pointing directly at this building, but they did catch two shadows not far away, entering and leaving the area just before the fire began.
WHIT:
And you think one of them was . . . Richard Maxwell, who hasn't been seen in Odyssey for years.
QUINN:
When he was here, Campbell College expelled him--reason enough to burn down the computer lab after he took what he wanted from it. It's not too long a drive to and from Richfield. He could have done it on Monday night and been back by Tuesday evening, which is when we caught him.
WHIT:
From an . . . anonymous tip.
QUINN:
That was enough for a search warrant, especially considering his previous record.
WHIT:
I see.
QUINN:
Is he a friend of yours or something?
WHIT:
Yes.
QUINN:
Sorry, Whit. I'm looking at all the angles, here.
WHIT:
Oh, I know, Captain Quinn. I appreciate it. You're only doing your job. I'm just having trouble believing this of Richard. You know, the last time he was arrested, he was very quick to confess. I wouldn’t expect him to lie about his innocence.
QUINN:
Well, did you want to talk to him?
WHIT:
I was planning on bailing him out.
QUINN:
Hmm. Sure you want to do that? He didn't resist arrest or anything, but he sure seems to think there's no reason for him to be here.
WHIT:
I'm sure.
[Musical transition to: Whit enters the lobby of the POLICE STATION. Tom is already there.]
WHIT:
Tom?
TOM:
Whit! You heard, too?
WHIT:
Heard?
TOM:
On the news. About “the suspect”.
WHIT:
Oh. Yeah, I heard that.
TOM:
When they described him, I knew who it must be and I came right away. I know he wouldn't have done this. Not after all he did to help Odyssey.
[Richard enters.]
RICHARD:
(TENTATIVE) Hiya, Mr. Riley.
TOM:
Well, howdy, Richard.
RICHARD:
And Mister Whittaker! It’s been so long.
WHIT:
Yes, it has. It’s good to see you again.
RICHARD:
Look, I didn't want to cause all this trouble. All I wanted was a lawyer; I mean . . . I mean, I can't believe you bailed me out, Mr. Riley.
TOM:
It's the least I can do, getting you out of here.
RICHARD:
It means a lot to me.
WHIT:
Let's go back to Whit's End. We have a lot of catching up to do!
[Musical transition to: Whit, Richard and Tom are in WHIT’S OFFICE.]
WHIT:
So, that's it. You've been a student at River Forest for awhile now. And you know absolutely nothing about the fire at Campbell College.
RICHARD:
I hadn't even heard about it until they arrested me for it.
WHIT:
Do you have any idea how the evidence made it onto your computer?
RICHARD:
Not a clue. If I really had been instant messaging an accomplice, do you think I’d’ve kept logs of it? They say they can tell that the logs were created on my computer, the afternoon before the fire. I was on the computer on Monday, but I was working on a program for class the entire time. It's due this Friday, but the police say they can't find it on there. Or any of the other work that should be there. They say the only recorded activity on my computer is that conversation. If I could just take a look at it, I know I could figure out what happened--but they won’t let me touch it. Evidence.
WHIT:
Hmm. Did you make backup copies of your school project? The timestamp on it would show that you were writing a program when they say you were in Odyssey.
RICHARD:
I'd uploaded a copy online for backup. I told the police where they could find it, but they said there wasn't anything there--not this project, not any of my others. Even if it was there, there's no way to show that I didn't write it earlier. I could have just changed the computer's clock to say it was Tuesday night when I saved it.
WHIT:
Ah, good point. (A BEAT) It seems like someone went to a lot of trouble to get rid of your alibi.
RICHARD:
Some alibi. Even if my project was there, it wouldn't prove I hadn't been chatting with my accomplice at the same time I was writing it. Why bother erasing it?
WHIT:
Maybe to make it look like you're lying about where you were on Monday.
TOM:
Well, did anybody see you in Richfield that evening?
RICHARD:
Not unless they were looking in my second-story window. I was working on homework all that night.
TOM:
Aww. Well, could you tell us what happened when you were arrested?
RICHARD:
Well, I was shocked, but it was embarrassing more than anything.
WHIT:
Embarrassing?
RICHARD:
I was having a few friends over to celebrate finishing our final projects.
[Jump cut to: RICHARD’S APARTMENT, where he and two others are dining.]
KIMIKO:
I can't believe we all got done this early. Job well done, eh?
LYLE:
Uh, well, yeah, good job, you two.
[Jump cut to WHIT’S OFFICE.]
TOM:
Who’re your friends?
RICHARD:
Kimiko Kai and Lyle Meeker. Classmates of mine at River Forest.
[Jump cut to APARTMENT.]
LYLE:
Good, uh, good job.
RICHARD:
Yeah--now we get a full two days to enjoy the fact that we’re done before realizing Friday morning that we missed the one essential component that'll make our programs run.
KIMIKO:
Only in your nightmares. I'm sure yours is brilliant, Richard. How about you, Lyle?
LYLE:
Mine's not exactly what I'd call finished. It's, you know. Halfway there.
KIMIKO:
Oh, Lyle. Even with my program as inspiration?
RICHARD:
What's that?
KIMIKO:
I gave him my beta version so he could take some of the code if he needed it.
LYLE:
Yeah, well, I'm having trouble fitting your code into my program.
KIMIKO:
(PITYING) Awww.
RICHARD:
At least you have two full days left. It's not a race, you know.
KIMIKO:
Yes it is. CS442 is going to rule the world. And the fastest one in CS442 is going to rule before the rest of you.
[Jump to OFFICE.]
WHIT:
CS442?
RICHARD:
Our class number. We sort of bonded--I don't know--something about writing more programs in one term than you'll ever use for the rest of your life.
TOM:
Sounds like a real bonding experience to me.
RICHARD:
Yeah, well . . . some of us are more into it than others.