Castle: Episode 1x02 Nanny McDead
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ACT ONE
[00:24, INT. PRECINCT, CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY]
Castle sits at a conference table, his phone on the table, looking over a stack of documents. Across from him is a humorless, suited lawyer.
LAWYER
Mr. Castle, be advised, if you get injured following Detective Beckett to research your next novel, you cannot sue the city. If you get shot, you cannot sue the city. If you get killed...
CASTLE
My lifeless remains cannot sue the city.
LAWYER
Your heirs, Mr. Castle.
BECKETT
Do I have to wait for him to sign or can I shoot him now?
LAWYER
Mr. Castle, these waivers are serious business. Perhaps you’d feel more comfortable by referring the
matter to your attorney.
CASTLE
What, are you kidding? He’d never let me sign these. But, fortunately, it's his job is to get me out of trouble, and not to prevent me from getting into it.
[Beckett's cell phone rings.]
BECKETT (on phone)
Beckett... Yeah. Where? Alright, I’m on my way.
[Beckett heads toward the door.]
CASTLE
Whoa, wait... Where are you going?
BECKETT
I have work to do.
CASTLE
What? We have a case?
BECKETT
No. I have a case. You have paperwork.
[1:11, INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - DAY]
Beckett enters, finds Ryan and Esposito standing beside the now open dryer. An older woman, 70s, sits in a folding chair with a female Uniform and an EMT tech attending her, supplying portable oxygen.
BECKETT
So?
RYAN
Mrs. Rosenberg. 9-E here. Comes down to put her clothes in the dryer, finds it’s occupied. Comes down a half an hour later and she’s had enough. Decides to take matters into her own hands.
BECKETT
Come on. You’re telling me that an old lady killed someone over a busy dryer?
RYAN
What? No. She's just tired of waiting around. So, she opens up the dryer, to take the person’s clothes out,
[Beckett and Ryan reach the open dryer, we see the body of a woman, 20s, fully clothed - jeans, T-shirt - cramped awkwardly inside, along with a load of a little boy’s clothing.]
RYAN (CONT'D)
finds Miss Fluff-and-Fold instead.
[Beckett leans in for a closer look. No blood.]
ESPOSITO
Now if that’s not a cautionary tale about poking through someone else’s laundry, I don’t know what is.
RYAN
Dude, there is an etiquette involved. If the clothes were dry, Mrs. Rosenberg had every right to put them in a basket. Now, if you’re gonna tell me she folded them, then it gets a little creepy.
ESPOSITO
I'm sorry, someone starts rooting around my underwear without an invitation? I’m taking that as a serious breach of hygiene.
BECKETT
I thought you went commando, Esposito.
ESPOSITO
Well, it's a seasonal thing.
BECKETT (re: victim)
Alright, let’s get her out of there with a some dignity. I'm gonna need C.S.U. to come down here, and the bleach bottle will have to go down to the lab, and probably prints and photographs, although I don't know if it's gonna do us much good in a public area. I'm guessing she lived here?
RYAN
Worked. 12-F. She’s the nanny.
[02:19, EXT. 12TH FLOOR, HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER]
Elevator doors open on the 12th Floor, revealing Castle leaning against the wall, seemingly waiting for Beckett.
CASTLE
Thought you ditched me back at the precinct, didn’t you? Come on. Nanny McDead is found on spin dry. You don’t think the Captain's gonna let me in on that story?
BECKETT
You’re right, Castle. My bad.
[Beckett begins walking down the hall, but Castle clears his throat. Beckett turns and Castle holds out his arm toward the correct room in the opposite direction.]
BECKETT
Exactly how much longer do I have to expect you to be shadowing me on my cases like this?
CASTLE
Hard to say. When I'm writing a new character, there’s no telling when inspiration might strike.
BECKETT
I thought I was your inspiration.
CASTLE
Oh you are, Detective, and in so many ways.
BECKETT
Yeah, well, then your inspiration might strike you sooner than you think.
[Beckett knocks on the door to 12-F.]
CASTLE
Nanny’s name was Sara Manning. She worked for the Petersons about two years. Doorman is a huge fan of my work.
[Claudia Peterson, 38, pencil skirt, silk blouse; professional appearance - minus the heels now that she’s home with the kid - answers the door.]
BECKETT
Mrs. Peterson? Detective Kate Beckett. NYPD. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about Sara Manning.
CLAUDIA
Of course. Please come in.
[Claudia opens the door, Beckett enters, Castle follows.]
CASTLE
Richard Castle. Just... NY.
--
[03:23, INT. PETERSON APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER]
Beckett and Castle are in the living room, with Howard Peterson, 40, while Claudia speaks to her son, 8, through an open door to his bedroom.
CLAUDIA
Sweetie, Mommy and Daddy need to talk to some people, but we’ll be right out here.
[She closes the door.]
CLAUDIA
We still haven’t told him what happened. We just don’t know how.
HOWARD
Sara was very close with him. She just has a gift with kids, you know?
CLAUDIA
She was such a lovely girl.
BECKETT
I’m very sorry.
CLAUDIA
The school called me at my office when Sara didn’t come to pick up Justin. I tried her cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail. Then I tried here, but the machine picked up. So I hopped in a cab and went to the school. When we got home, the police were already here.
BECKETT
When was the last time you saw Sara?
CLAUDIA
My husband saw her last night when he got home.
HOWARD
We take Justin to school every morning, so we’re usually gone by the time she gets here.
BECKETT
And what time is that?
CLAUDIA
Today it would have been eleven. Sara straightens up, does Justin’s laundry and then picks him up from school about two. One of us is then home for dinner. Last night it was my husband's turn.
BECKETT
So then you were the last one to see Sara?
HOWARD
I guess so.
CASTLE
Did she mention any problems she was having, maybe a boyfriend?
[Beckett shoots a look. Claudia’s a little unnerved.]
CLAUDIA
Sara’s boyfriend?
HOWARD
The-- the doorman said the police told them it was a break-in, which usually means a stranger did it.
BECKETT
We can't be sure what happened.
CASTLE
Well, maybe not, but statistically speaking, much greater likelihood that it was someone she knew.
CLAUDIA
Oh, my god.
BECKETT
Again, we can't be certain who was involved.
CASTLE
But she had a boyfriend.
HOWARD
Brent. But they broke up.
CASTLE
And when was that?
CLAUDIA
About a month ago, but Sara never said there was any trouble or anything like that.
BECKETT
Brent, that was his name?
CLAUDIA
Yes.
BECKETT
Do you know his last name?
CLAUDIA
Uh, I don’t think Sara ever mentioned it.
HOWARD
Not to me, either.
BECKETT
Thank you both so much for your time.
CLAUDIA
Of course.
BECKETT
Castle, let’s go.
CASTLE
But that’s it?
BECKETT
That’s it. (to Petersons) Oh! Do you know of any way I can reach Sara’s parents?
CLAUDIA
Oh, god. I hadn’t even thought of that. I-- I’m sorry. We don’t have their number.
HOWARD
Yeah. They live in Atlanta. Sara was with them over Christmas.
BECKETT
What about Sara's things?
CLAUDIA
There’s her bag and her jacket.
BECKETT
Maybe I could take it and check her cell phone?
--
[05:25, INT. ELEVATOR - MOMENTS LATER]
Beckett has the bag and jacket, looking through both.
CASTLE
Why couldn’t we stick around? I had a lot more questions.
BECKETT
Because I actually like to investigate things myself first. Besides, neither of them is going anywhere. (re: purse) Well, there’s no cell phone in here.
CASTLE
Maybe it's in the laundry room or in the dryer?
BECKETT
Well, if it is, C.S.U. will find it.
[Beckett opens a wallet: Sara Manning’s driver’s license.]
BECKETT
She's still got her Georgia license.
CASTLE
And you really the one who has to call her parents?
BECKETT
Easier to write about than to live through, huh, Castle?
--
[05:52, INT. PRECINCT, BULLPEN - NIGHT]
Castle and Beckett enter, find Montgomery, Esposito and Ryan gathered around two monitors.
CASTLE
Three men huddled around a computer. That better not be porn. And if it is, I want in.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Esposito and Ryan pulled security tape from an elevator in the rear entrance.
RYAN
Front door has a twenty-four hour doorman.
[Esposito motions to monitor depicting the inside of elevator.]
ESPOSITO
This is the elevator’s cam. Our victim gets on the elevator with the laundry basket. Takes it down to the basement to put the kid’s laundry into the washer.
BECKETT
Mmm-hmm.
ESPOSITO
Few minutes later, gets back on, goes all the way back up to the apartment. Then about forty minutes later, rides the elevator back down to the basement again.
RYAN
We figured probably to take the kid’s clothes out of the washer, put them in the dryer.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Camera never picks her up again.
RYAN
Only other person to ride the elevator down all the way to the basement during the next hour was the old lady who found the body.
ESPOSITO
Mmm-hmm.
BECKETT
So, whoever attacked her must have used the stairwell, otherwise the camera would have caught him.
RYAN
(picks up file)
We got three maintenance workers on duty that day. We’ll run their names tonight.
CASTLE
Why only run the worker's names? Why not run all the neighbors' names?
BECKETT
What are you basing that on?
CASTLE
I’m basing that on, the neighbor would make a better story.
[They roll their eyes a little, Ryan snickers.]
CASTLE
No, come on. What do any of us know about our neighbors in this city? You think the guy living next door to Son of Sam knew he was living next door to the Son of Sam?
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
He’s right. Neighbors in Berkowitz’s building had no idea he was the Son of Sam killer.
CASTLE
Thank you. What about the guy in 8-B?
BECKETT
Who?
CASTLE
8-B. Quiet guy. You see him every day, only you never notice him. But he noticed Sara. She's young, beautiful. The kind of girl that a guy like him would never have a chance with.
[Castle looks at Beckett. ]
CASTLE (CONT'D)
We all know girls like that, don't we?
[Beckett rolls her eyes and sees the three, Esposito, even Captain Montgomery drawn in. And all of them looking at her. ]
CASTLE (CONT'D)
Well, at first it's just a game. Figure out her schedule. When does she do her laundry? When is she alone? Until it becomes something more, something that he can’t control.
CASTLE
Well, he uses the stairs, obviously, to avoid the elevator’s cameras. And then he just waits, concealed in the shadows. And when she comes into that laundry room, he pounces. When he looked into her vacant, lifeless eyes, he wanted to tell her, he never meant to kill her. All he ever wanted was to be noticed. That’s when he felt the heat of that dryer on his skin. So, he picks up her limp body in his arms and gently places it inside. He almost smiled at his good fortune when he found the quarter in his pocket, slipping it into the slot. Buying the time to do what he does best. Disappear.
[You can hear a pin drop now. But Castle’s only been messing with them and suddenly shifts gears. Pops back to affable.]
CASTLE (CONT'D)
Just saying, better story. Coffee?
[Beckett can’t hide her smile, as Castle walks away.]
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Let’s see what we can find out about those neighbors. And someone better tell me who the hell lives in 8-B.
--
[08:35, INT. CASTLE LOFT - NIGHT]
Castle arrives. There’s a light in the kitchen. Alexis is there. She’s cleaning dishes, loading the dishwasher. The place looks like Caligula just held a feast. It’s a mess.
CASTLE
Let me guess. Gran cooked.
ALEXIS
Chicken masala.
CASTLE
And where is Hurricane Martha?
ALEXIS
In her room, taking a dramatic pause.
CASTLE
Leaving the mess for everyone else to clean up, as usual.
[Castle grabs stuff to help the cleanup.]
ALEXIS
I don’t mind. Dinner was fun.
CASTLE
Well, it's our room, not hers. Just remember. Even despite that hideous bedspread she bought.
ALEXIS (chuckles)
If you’re hungry, there are lots of leftovers.
CASTLE
Oh, thank you. I grabbed a slice on the way home.
ALEXIS
You really are turning into a cop.
CASTLE
Yeah? Do you think?
ALEXIS
So, who got killed today?
CASTLE
The nanny.
ALEXIS
Do they know who did it?
CASTLE
Well, apparently in an actual homicide, they don’t know who did it until after the guy gets caught.
ALEXIS
How come we never had a nanny?
CASTLE
Well, your mother and I decided if someone was gonna screw you up, we wanted it to be me. Only you managed to turn out just fine somehow anyway.
ALEXIS
Surprisingly
[Martha enters.]
MARTHA
Is that the prodigal son I hear, returned from working the night shift? Catch any perps today, kiddo? I did an NYPD Blue once, remember?
ALEXIS
You were the crazy homeless woman.
CASTLE
And some might say, still are.
ALEXIS
I was just asking Dad how come we never had a nanny when I was little.
CASTLE
I spared her any stories of my own personal experience.
MARTHA
I had a real job as a working actress. You know, not everybody can sit at home in front of a laptop and claim to be employed.
ALEXIS
Really? You had a nanny?
CASTLE
Yeah, only we didn't call them nannies then.
ALEXIS
What were they called?
CASTLE
Oh, I don’t know. Um, alcoholics? Raving lunatics? No, no, no, wait. Uh, completely irresponsible middle-aged women who, instead of looking after me while you were acting, like they were supposed to, instead watched daytime television.
MARTHA
Oh, stop your whining. You didn’t turn out half bad. And don’t forget, the good half are my genes.
CASTLE
Well, that's just something we'll have to take your word for, isn’t it? But I'm not asking for an apology, Mother. Actually, I got the plot of my first novel by watching One Life to Live.
MARTHA
There you go.
[Castle’s cell phone rings.]
CASTLE (into phone)
Detective Beckett, did you miss me already?
MARTHA (to Alexis)
Which means I am one-quarter responsible for your success as well.
CASTLE
Really? Do they do those at night? (checks his watch) No, for sure. I’m just... I'm just touched that you thought of me. Oh, ordered to call me. (chuckles) I see. Well, either way, I, uh, can leave right away. Okay.
[Castle ends the call. Comes to Alexis.]
CASTLE
Gotta go. I would say don't wait up, but you’ll be asleep by eleven. (kisses Alexis)
ALEXIS
Ten thirty. It’s a school night.
CASTLE (to Martha)
Are you sure she's got either one of our genes?
MARTHA
Ah, well.
[Kisses his mother.]
CASTLE
You will help her with the dishes?
MARTHA
Alright. Be careful, flatfoot.
--
[11:05, INT. CITY MORGUE - NIGHT]
Beckett leads Castle toward the examination room. She’s wearing a paper smock over her clothes and putting a plastic glasses on, while she hands both to Castle.
BECKETT
Here, put these on.
CASTLE
Really? I thought cops just stood around the body eating ham sandwiches and cracking jokes. You
know, hardcore gallows humor.
LANIE
The head trauma definitely contributed to the death. The force of the blows resulted in significant cerebral hemorrhaging.
LANIE
Mr. Castle, nice to see you again.
CASTLE
I wish I could say the same, but my glasses are all scratchy. How often do they let you replace these?
BECKETT
Not everybody has your budget, Castle. So what killed her?
LANIE
I’d say she was struck in the head with the bleach bottle, then fell forward, hit her temple on the
edge of the table. That caused temporal bleeding. Without medical attention, she didn’t stand a chance. But what I thought you might find really interesting is the fact that she had sex within the hours before her death.
BECKETT
Sex?
CASTLE
I’ll explain how that works later.
LANIE
Might have even been within a few minutes of the murder. The heat from the dryer makes it hard to pinpoint.
BECKETT
So you’re saying she was raped?
LANIE
Hard to determine. There were no vaginal lacerations or presence of any semen.
BECKETT
So what's the evidence of sex?
LANIE
Traces of a spermicide. The guy wore a condom.
CASTLE
Boy, it really has been a long time for you, hasn’t it?
LANIE
I mean, it could've been a rape, but my best guess is--
BECKETT
She knew the guy.
--
ACT TWO
[12:33, INT. PRECINCT, BULLPEN - DAY]
Castle, Beckett, Esposito and Ryan debate the merits.
BECKETT
Without evidence of trauma, I’m not ready to buy our attacker is a sexual predator, especially with him using a condom.
ESPOSITO
Could be he's trying to hide DNA.
RYAN
Dude, someone smart enough to hide DNA would have been smart enough not to have sex in the laundry room.
CASTLE
No, you’re missing the point. The laundry room afforded opportunity. It wasn’t an accident she was killed there.
[Montgomery enters.]
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Esposito, where are we on her cell phone?
ESPOSITO
I pulled her records, had her service provider ping it. Triangulation puts it at or near the building.
[Esposito hands the file to Montgomery.]
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Yeah, well, maybe he took it so she couldn’t call for help, then dumped it somewhere close by. What about her ex-boyfriend?
RYAN
We have the first name, Brent. But if we had her cell phone, he might be in the address book.
BECKETT (off file)
What about these calls?
CASTLE
What calls?
BECKETT
Last two months, there’s dozens of incoming calls from the same number.
ESPOSITO
Right. We’re still running that down, but the number’s a prepay. Besides, those calls stopped coming a couple weeks before she was killed.
BECKETT
Yeah, but the outgoing calls to that number stop even before that. Whoever it was, she didn’t want to talk to them.
CASTLE
She was letting it go to voicemail.
MONTGOMERY
Find this kid, Brent. Bring him in for questioning.
--
[13:31, INT. PRECINCT, HALLWAY - DAY]
Castle follows Beckett to the interrogation room. Beckett pauses at the door and turns to Castle.
BECKETT
You're here by invitation only. Got it?
CASTLE
Got it.
BECKETT
Good.
[INT. PRECINCT, INTERROGATION - DAY]
BRENT JOHNSON, 20, nervous, sits waiting with a Uniform, when Castle and Beckett enter. Uniform then exits.
BECKETT
Brent Johnson?
BRENT
Yeah.
BECKETT
I'm Detective Kate Beckett. This is Mr. Castle. I suppose you know why you’re here?
BRENT
Um, the cops that picked me up at my job said you had some questions about what happened to Sara.
BECKETT
I understand that the two of you were dating?
BRENT
Yeah. ‘Til about a month ago.
BECKETT
A month ago? What happened then?
BRENT
Nothing. We broke up.
CASTLE
Whose idea was that?
BRENT
It was a mutual thing, I guess.
BECKETT
A mutual thing?
[Beckett takes out a small digital recorder. Hits “play.”]
BRENT (ON RECORDER)
Hey, Sara, it’s me. Look, just call me back, okay?
(BEEP; new call)
You can’t just not call me back, Sara. Don’t be a bitch.
(BEEP; new call)
Come on, Sara. I just want to talk to you. Look, I-- I don't know why you can’t just tell me who this other guy is. You know... You know what? You’re just a little slut.
[Beckett clicks “off.”]
BECKETT
There’s plenty more of those.
CASTLE
Yep, they make Alec Baldwin’s messages sound like rainbows and unicorns...
BRENT
How did you get those?
BECKETT
From your service provider.
CASTLE
A little advice, when you a buy a prepaid phone, don’t use your credit card. Makes it totally traceable.
BRENT
I wasn’t trying to hide anything.
BECKETT
No? Then why did you just lie to me?
CASTLE
‘Cause no man likes getting dumped. Am I right? Our egos can’t handle it. This one time I had this ex-girlfriend cheat on me, I drank every meal for a week. And I didn't even liked her. If I’d loved her? Wow. I don’t know... (Castle sees Beckett's look) what I would’ve done.
BRENT
No, no. No way. It wasn’t like that.
BECKETT
Oh, no. So then how did you find out about Sara if you two broke up a month ago?
BRENT
From a friend.
(off her look)
Chloe. Chloe Richardson. Alright? We all went to college together. Chloe’s the one who got Sara her job.
BECKETT
And how did this friend find out?
BRENT
Chloe nannies for another family in the building. The two of them are pretty close.
BECKETT
So then where were you the day that Sara got killed?
BRENT
I was where those other cops found me, at my job. Look, we have video cameras there and a sign-in sheet. Look, I didn’t have anything to do with this. Am I under arrest of something?
BECKETT
No. You can go. But just don’t leave town until we speak again. Do you understand?
BRENT
Yeah. Yes, ma’am.
[Brent gets up, beats a hasty retreat.]
CASTLE
Don’t leave town? Don’t you need probable cause for something like that?
BECKETT
Only he doesn’t know that, does he?
CASTLE
You can lie like that? That is so cool.
BECKETT
Castle.
--
[16:15, EXT. PARK - DAY]
The playground: ground zero for the Manhattan nanny. Kids on swings, sandboxes, etc.
BECKETT
Doorman told Esposito that this is the playground that all the nannies for the building go to, so hopefully we find Chloe here.
CASTLE
That brings me back a bit.
BECKETT
A bit? I’m thinking it’s a little more than that, Castle.
CASTLE
I'm not talking about when I was a kid. I'm talking about when I used to take my daughter to the park.
BECKETT
You used to take your daughter to the park?
CASTLE (scoffs)
Spring, summer, fall. We were here every day. Alexis’s mom was doing community theater. She was on the road a lot, so I had custody. What?
BECKETT
Nothing. I just never figured you for Mr. Mom.
CASTLE
Some of the best days of my life.
BECKETT
It's actually kind of nice.
CASTLE
Yeah, tell me about it. Do you know how many lonely single mothers there are on a Manhattan playground? And there I was between marriages.
BECKETT
Exactly how many times have you been married, Castle?
CASTLE
Twice.
BECKETT
That’s it?
CASTLE
Isn’t that enough? How ‘bout you?
BECKETT
Me? No. Never been.
CASTLE
Really?
BECKETT
Yep.
CASTLE
You’d be good at it. You’re both controlling and disapproving. You should really try it.
BECKETT
I’m not an “if at first you don’t succeed” kind of a girl, Castle. When it comes to marriage, I’m more of a
"one and done" type.
CASTLE
Hmm. Any serious candidates?
CHLOE
Becca! Becca, don't wander away. Becca!
BECKETT
The doorman said she'd have a red vest on. That might be our girl.
[Beckett heads over to young woman, Chloe Richardson, 20s, with a little girl, Becca, 5, climbing the jungle gym.]
CHLOE
Go, go, go!
BECKETT
Chloe? I'm Detective Beckett. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about Sara Manning?
CHLOE
Um, right now?
BECKETT
Yeah, it won’t take long.
CHLOE
Yeah. Uh, Maggie? Can you watch Becca for a sec?
[EXT. PARK, BENCH - MOMENTS LATER]
Chloe, Beckett and Castle sit on a park bench.
BECKETT
Sara’s boyfriend told us that you helped her get her job.
CHLOE
Oh, you talked to Brent?
BECKETT
Mmm-hmm.
CHLOE
Yeah, wh-- when we got out of school, Sara couldn’t find work. She was temping all over town. I nanny for a family in the same building and heard that the Petersons were looking for someone.
CASTLE
When was the last time you saw Sara?
[Chloe looks away.]
BECKETT
I know what it feels like to lose somebody, Chloe. But we need to ask you these questions.
CHLOE
Yeah. Um.. Sometimes we’d meet up before work, get a coffee on Columbus and then walk over to work together.
BECKETT
Did you get coffee that day?
CHLOE
Yeah.
CASTLE
Did she say anything to you? Did she seem upset? Or...
CHLOE
Upset? Upset about what?
BECKETT
Brent gave us the impression that Sara was seeing someone else.
[Chloe looks away again.]
CASTLE
You know who it was, don’t you?
CHLOE
Um... Sometimes Sara would stay late.
BECKETT
Stay late where, at the Petersons?
[Castle mouths to Beckett, behind Chloe’s back: “Told you.”]
CHLOE
Yeah, we got off work around the same time, so we’d take the train home together. I live with a roommate, a couple blocks from Sara. Only the last few months, she'd been staying late. Mr. And Mrs. Peterson kinda take turns coming home for dinner, you know?
BECKETT
Yeah, Mrs. Peterson told us.
CHLOE
God, I-- I don’t want to say something and then... I mean-- I mean, he’s married.
BECKETT
Wait a minute. Sara told you about him?
CHLOE
No. No, not exactly. It’s just... The nights Mrs. Peterson didn’t come home for dinner? Those were the
only nights Sara stayed late.
--
ACT THREE
[19:39, INT. LOBBY - DAY]
Castle and Beckett enter a lobby.
CASTLE
I told you we should have asked the husband more questions that day.
BECKETT
And I told you that I like to question my most likely suspects after I know more about them. That way they're tied to more specific answers.
CASTLE
You suspected him, too?
BECKETT
The husband? Duh.
CASTLE
You would really clean up at my poker game.
BECKETT
Right. You, James Patterson, and the rest of the Times best seller list? No, thank you, Castle. Little too rich for my blood.
CASTLE
We could always make it strip poker.
BECKETT
Sorry, but I prefer mystery to horror.
[Castle smiles, as they come upon Howard on his phone, roaming a space.]
HOWARD
No, yeah. I’m in the space right now, but like I told you guys, I'm gonna need at least twenty thousand square feet. I...
[Beckett indicates he should rap up his call. Now.]
HOWARD
Listen, I’m gonna give you guys a call back. I'll let you know if the client is interested, okay? Thank you.
BECKETT
Hi. Remember us?
--
[20:17, EXT. NEW YORK, STREET - DAY]
Beckett, Castle and Howard Peterson walk and talk.
BECKETT
When was the last time you saw Sara, Mr. Peterson?
HOWARD
The night before she was killed. I told you that.
CASTLE
Which was your night to be home for dinner, right?
HOWARD
Right. Why are you asking?
CASTLE
Well, Mr. Peterson...
BECKETT
Eh. Eh. Eh.
(to Peterson)
We have information that suggests that Sara Manning was having a relationship.
HOWARD
Right. She had a boyfriend.
BECKETT
Someone else.
HOWARD
Someone else? Who?
[Castle looks at Peterson and clears his throat.]
HOWARD
Me? You think I was having an affair with Sara?
CASTLE
Bingo.
HOWARD
That is... That’s crazy.
BECKETT
Is it? We know that she stayed late some nights.
HOWARD
Right. She helped us make dinner.
BECKETT
Us? Well, what we heard was that she helped on the nights that your wife wasn’t home.
HOWARD
First of all, it’s not what you think.
CASTLE
When is it ever?
HOWARD
And, yes, I was having an affair.
BECKETT
So, what happened?
HOWARD
What do you mean, what happened? I cheated. I strayed. Whatever you want to call it.
BECKETT
I mean in the laundry room.
HOWARD
What?
BECKETT
You just said that you--
HOWARD
Yes, I was having an affair, but it wasn’t with Sara, for god sakes. It was with another woman in my office. Look, every night that I was supposed to be home having dinner, I wasn’t. You can check the landlines from the apartment. I called to make sure that Sara was okay every night. You can-- you can check cell phone records, right?
CASTLE
Don’t leave town?
--
[21:48, INT. PRECINCT, BULLPEN - DAY]
Beckett and Castle return. Ryan and Esposito are working.
ESPOSITO
Hey, what happened with the husband?
BECKETT
Oh, he was cheating, just not with our victim. Here, I need you to run it down. This is her name.
[Beckett hands a paper to Esposito.]
RYAN
I’m telling you, true commitment's a thing of the past. I mean, name one happily married couple.
CASTLE
DeGeneres and De Rossi.
ESPOSITO
Oh, I think he got you there, bro.
BECKETT
What is this, The View? Where are we on the boyfriend?
ESPOSITO
His story checked out. Video and a sign-in sheet.
BECKETT
Great. So now all we have is a cheating husband with a possible alibi and no cell phone to run the perp’s fingerprints.
RYAN
I got something better.
BECKETT
Please tell me it’s that the mayor wants him out of here.
CASTLE
You ever noticed how she gets a little grumpy when she doesn’t have a suspect?
RYAN
We got one now. Guess who wasn’t where they said they were the day Sara Manning was killed?
BECKETT
Who?
[Beckett reaches for the paper, but Ryan pulls it out of reach]
RYAN
Come on, you got to guess.
BECKETT
Ryan. Ryan. I’m not guessing.
RYAN
You’re a killjoy, you know that?
CASTLE
Exactly what I’ve been telling her.
[Ryan hands her the note. She looks at the name. Then looks up at Ryan, who’s grinning at her.]
BECKETT
No way.
RYAN
Pretty good, huh? Told you, you shoulda guessed.
--
[22:46, INT. 12TH FLOOR, HALLWAY - DAY]
Beckett with Castle knocks on an apartment door: 12-F. Only it’s Claudia Peterson who opens it.
BECKETT
You weren’t at the office the day Sara Manning was killed, were you? You lied to me, Mrs. Peterson.
[INT. PETERSON APARTMENT, DINING ROOM - DAY]
Claudia Peterson, with Beckett and Castle.
BECKETT
Detective Ryan checked with your son’s school. The day they called about Sara not showing up, your assistant said that you were unreachable.
CLAUDIA
What are you talking about?
BECKETT
I’m talking about Sara Manning, Mrs. Peterson. We’re talking about why you lied about where you were
the day she was killed. And we know you weren’t in your office.
CASTLE
It would have been easy to sneak into the building. Doorman could have been outside hailing a cab, taking a delivery.
CLAUDIA
My husband is having an affair. Did you know that?
CASTLE
Actually, we did.
CLAUDIA (scoffs)
All these months, I had no idea.
BECKETT
But then you found out.
CLAUDIA
Yeah, Sara told me a few weeks ago.
BECKETT
Sara told you about the affair?
CLAUDIA
Yes, and she’d been an absolute wreck about keeping it from me.
CASTLE
Yeah, I bet she was.
CLAUDIA
Did you know he was paying her extra?
BECKETT
No, he didn’t mention that.
CLAUDIA
Imagine putting Sara in the middle of something like that.
BECKETT
Something like what?
CLAUDIA
Well, using Sara to cover for himself. I mean, it’s disgusting.
BECKETT
I don’t understand, Mrs. Peterson. If you had nothing to do with Sara’s death, then why would you lie?
CLAUDIA
Because my cheating husband has no idea I’m about to serve him with divorce papers. I lied because I was at my lawyer’s that afternoon. Howard's not the only one who can keep a secret.
--
ACT FOUR
[24:10, INT. CASTLE LOFT, CASTLE’S OFFICE - NIGHT]
Castle is in his home office looking over the elevator cam videos on two different monitors. We see Sara Manning on both monitors: different shots. Time clocks running on screens. Martha enters.
MARTHA (singing)
Don't be / you... Hello there! What are you up to?
CASTLE
Nothing.
MARTHA
oh. You’re not webcamming again, I hope.
CASTLE
I burned a DVD from security cameras that the police are looking at. And I've never webcammed.
MARTHA
That’s your story, and you’re sticking to it, huh?
[Martha leans over his shoulder, looks at monitors.]
MARTHA
The police just let you burn a DVD? You do realize you’re gonna have to stop stealing evidence, right? I thought the whole purpose of following this detective around was to help you to write.
CASTLE
That’s called research, Mother.
MARTHA
Ah. Well, you'd better hope this last Derrick Storm book sells, lover boy, because research don’t pay the bills. Is that the nanny?
CASTLE
Mmm-hmm.
MARTHA
What married woman in her right mind invites a girl that pretty into her own home?
ALEXIS
Hey.
CASTLE
Hey.
ALEXIS
What are you guys watching?
CASTLE
I’m watching. She’s butting in. The police can’t find the nanny’s cell phone. They were hoping to lift some fingerprints from it. I just thought I could see if she had it with her when she went down to the laundry room.
MARTHA
And?
CASTLE
It’s in her hand the first time she brings the clothes down to the wash, but then she doesn’t have it when she goes down to use the dryer.
ALEXIS
So? She probably left it upstairs in the apartment where she worked.
CASTLE
They say they can’t find it. Wait a sec.
ALEXIS
What?
CASTLE
There’s a five second time difference.
MARTHA
A five second time difference in what?
[Castle takes it back. Fast forwards until she gets off. Then goes to the other monitor. Fast forwards again.]
CASTLE
She rides the elevator twice to the basement. The first time to put the clothes in the washer, the second time to put them in the dryer. Only the second time, the trip takes her five seconds longer.
ALEXIS
Why would it take her longer to travel the same distance?
CASTLE
It wouldn’t.
--
[25:46, INT. ELEVATOR - DAY]
Castle and Beckett are in the elevator. Castle is timing it on his watch.
BECKETT
I’m not quite sure where you’re going with this, Castle.
CASTLE
Up. Alright, 32 seconds.
[Elevator doors Open on 12th Floor.]
CASTLE
It takes 32 seconds to get from the basement to the twelfth floor.
BECKETT
Great. I’ll alert the media.
[Castle hits “door close.”]
CASTLE
Only the second time, it took her 37 seconds.
BECKETT
Why would it take her five extra seconds?
CASTLE
Because the second time, she wasn’t coming from twelfth floor. She was coming from the...
[Doors open on the 15th floor.]
BECKETT
Fifteenth floor?
[Castle exits, with Beckett right behind him.]
BECKETT
This doesn’t make any sense. The Peterson’s live on twelve.
CASTLE
Yeah, but I bet the guy who wears that condom lives on fifteen. By the way, that whole elevator thing? I just did that 'cause you smell nice.
[Castle knocks on a door.]
BECKETT
Castle, you can’t just knock on people’s doors.
CASTLE
Why not?
ELDERLY MAN (O.S.)
Who is it?
BECKETT
Because you’re gonna freak them out. Police!
[Door opens. An elderly man, 70s stands there.]
ELDERLY MAN
You’re the police?
CASTLE
Uh, she is.
[Beckett shows him her badge]
CASTLE (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. Do you live here alone?
ELDERLY MAN
Yeah. Why you wanna know?
CASTLE
Uh, don't worry about it. You’re not young enough.
ELDERLY MAN
Young enough for what?
CASTLE
To have sex.
ELDERLY MAN
Uh, what kinda cops did you say you were?
BECKETT
He’s not a cop. I’m a cop.
ELDERLY MAN
And you’re looking for someone to have sex with?
[Just then -- a door opens down the hallway. a woman, Diana Harris, 38, exits an apartment with a little girl, Becca, the girl we saw in the park with Chloe Richardson.]
BECKETT
Castle, look.
[Castle turns. Sees them.]
BECKETT (to Elderly Man)
So sorry to bother you.
ELDERLY MAN
Seventy-seven ain't beyond the realm of possibility, you know?
[Beckett approaches the Diana and Becca.]
BECKETT
Pardon me, is this little girl Becca?
--
[27:08, INT. HARRIS APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER]
Castle is looking around the apartment, while Beckett questions Diana Harris, who’s re-entered the apartment.
DIANA
I'm sorry. I’m not sure I’m following.
BECKETT
Prior to her murder, we believe that Sara Manning was coming from this floor.
DIANA
Well, I don’t know anything about that. I was at work. Maybe she came up to see Chloe?
BECKETT
Chloe Richards?
DIANA
She and Sara were friends, and our kids get together sometimes for play dates.
[Ian Harris, 38, enters from the bedroom.]
IAN
Hey, babe, what’s goin’ on? I thought you were going out.
DIANA
It’s the police.
IAN
Police?
DIANA
They think Chloe’s friend Sara might've been up here the day she was killed. Wait. You were home
that day, right?
IAN
Um, what-- what day was that?
BECKETT
Tuesday.
IAN
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I was-- I was here.
BECKETT
So, did you see Sara?
IAN
I don’t think so. No.
BECKETT
You don’t think so?
IAN
No.
CASTLE
Mind if I use your bathroom?
[Beckett looks at him.]
CASTLE (CONT’D)
People never think about that. When do cops use the bathroom?
DIANA
It's right there.
CASTLE
Thank you.
BECKETT (IN B.G. to Ian Harris)
So... Tuesday.
IAN (O.S.)
Oh, yeah, yeah. Let me think a minute. Um...
[Castle closes bathroom the door. Goes to the medicine cabinet. Searches. flushes. Keeps searching: finds what he’s looking for: a box of condoms. Castle re-enters the living room.]
BECKETT
So, you’re saying that you can’t say one way or the other?
IAN
After Chloe got here to take care of Becca, I went inside to take a nap. I work most nights.
[Castle walks behind Beckett]
CASTLE (whispers)
Condoms.
[It unsettles Beckett.]
BECKETT
And what is it that you do, Mr. Harris?
IAN
Oh, I’m a musician.
[Castle crosses behind Beckett again.]
CASTLE (whispers)
Condoms in the bathroom.
IAN
So, anyway, it's-- it’s possible that Sara was up here. I just... I couldn't really say for sure.
DIANA
You know, maybe you should talk to Chloe about this.
BECKETT
I already have.
DIANA
And what did she tell you?
[Castle takes his phone out, surreptitiously dials a number.]
BECKETT
She said that she saw Sara earlier in the day, but she didn’t say anything about Sara being in your apartment.
DIANA
What else would she be doing up here?
[Just then in the background: the music tone from Sara Manning’s cell phone.]
DIANA
What is that?
CASTLE
That sounds like somebody’s cell phone.
[Beckett looks over at Castle, knows he’s up to mischief. Ian Harris is caught. His Wife realizes it now, heads into the bedroom. Diana walks around to the other side of the bed. And there’s the cell phone on the floor, under the edge of the bed.]
DIANA
Ian, who the hell’s phone is this?
--
ACT FIVE
[29:30, INT. PRECINCT, INTERROGATION - EVENING]
Castle and Beckett are in with Ian Harris, Sara’s phone on the table.
BECKETT
Why was her phone in your bedroom?
IAN
Maybe she dropped it. I don-- I don’t know.
BECKETT
You told me you went into the bedroom to take a nap. How could she go into the room, drop the phone, and you not see her?
CASTLE
She’s right. It doesn’t make sense when you think about it.
BECKETT
We’re running a test on the condoms we found in your medicine cabinet.
CASTLE (laughs)
Now there’s something you never wanna hear.
BECKETT
If the spermicide’s a match, you’re facing a murder charge.
IAN
Well, I-- I didn’t kill Sara.
CASTLE
But you were sleeping with her.
IAN
Look, we had sex, okay? But when Sara left my place, she was fine.
BECKETT
You followed her down to the basement, didn’t you? You followed her in the basement, and then you killed her.
IAN
No! I wouldn't hurt Sara.
BECKETT
You wouldn’t hurt her? You’re a married man sleeping with her in your own bed.
CASTLE
What time did she leave your apartment?
IAN
A little before one.
CASTLE
How can you be sure?
IAN
Because Chloe gets back from the park with Becca everyday around one o'clock to give her her lunch. And Sara left maybe ten minutes before Chloe got back. Look, you ask Chloe. She will tell you I was there. There’s no way that I could've killed Sara.
[A lawyer, Frank Garrison, appears.]
GARRISON
Detective Beckett? Frank Garrison. I’ve been retained to represent Mr. Harris, and I’m directing him not to answer any more of your questions.
BECKETT
Your client can answer my questions here or he can answer them in front of a grand jury.
GARRISON
If you've got enough charge him, do it. Otherwise, he’s coming with me.
GARRISON
Let’s go, Mr. Harris.
[They walk out.]
CASTLE
Guess it's a lot tougher when they actually know the rules, huh?
--
[31:09, INT. PRECINCT, BULLPEN - EVENING]
Beckett, Montgomery, Ryan and Esposito kick it around. Ryan’s getting off the phone.
RYAN
Thank you. Lab says condoms are a match.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
So, we can prove they had sex.
[Castle enters the bullpen area.]
BECKETT
Look, if Chloe got home by one o’clock, then there’s no way he had time to get down to the basement, kill Sara and make it back upstairs.
ESPOSITO
Maybe we ought to pick Chloe up, see if she backs his story.
CASTLE
We don’t have to.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Why not?
BECKETT
Because the elevator cam had a time stamp.
--
[31:29, INT. PRECINCT, CONFERENCE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER]
Castle, Beckett, Ryan, Esposito and Montgomery are gathered around a bank of monitors - a video tech sits at the controls. Beckett checks her notes.
BECKETT
Our suspect says that Sara left his apartment about 12:45 and the camera in the elevator puts her on it headed towards the basement at 12:48.
RYAN
We think she was murdered maybe ten minutes later.
VIDEO TECH
So what are we looking for?
ESPOSITO
The nanny who worked for the guy. We're just trying to check out his story.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
He claims she got home at one, and that he never left his apartment again.
[Video tech fast forwards. We see Chloe. Time stamp: 12:54.]
RYAN
There she is. 12:54.
CASTLE
Okay, that's six minutes after Sara Manning got on the elevator.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
So, I guess Harris was telling the truth.
BECKETT
Wait.
CASTLE
What?
BECKETT
Wait, where’s the kid?
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Where’s what kid?
BECKETT
Becca. The little girl that Chloe takes care of.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Maybe she left the kid in the playground with one of the other nannies.
BECKETT
Harris said that she came back with his daughter at the same time every day.
RYAN
What difference does it make?
CASTLE
The difference is that there are no coincidences, not when murder's involved.
BECKETT
Chloe would've known Sara’s schedule, and Chloe would've known that Sara was in the basement at that time.
CAPT. MONTGOMERY
Pick her up.
--
[32:16, INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT]
Castle and Beckett at Chloe Richardson’s apartment. Beckett knocks. Bethany, 20s, answers.
BETHANY
Can I help you?
BECKETT (badges)
Does Chloe Richardson live here?
BETHANY
Yes. But she’s not here right now.
CASTLE
Where did she go?
BETHANY
Into the City.
BECKETT
Do you mind if I take a look for around?
BETHANY
No.
[Beckett enters, quickly looks around. Castle follows.]
BETHANY
But I’m telling you, she's not here. She left about an hour ago.
[Castle spots a photograph on a sidetable, picks it up.]
CASTLE
Detective.
BETHANY
That’s the family that Chloe works for.
CASTLE
Not exactly the whole family. She cut the mom out of the picture.
BECKETT
Where in the city did Chloe go?
BETHANY
To their apartment. She said that they needed her to babysit tonight.
BECKETT (to Castle)
Chloe must've found out that I took Harris in for questioning.
CASTLE
If she talked to his wife, she'd know he'd been released. And we both know what she does to people she doesn't like.
BECKETT
She's going after Ian Harris. We better find her before she finds him.
--
[32:59, EXT. BUILDING, STREET - NIGHT]
Beckett arrives with Castle. Lights flashing. Ryan and Esposito are already there; they approach.
ESPOSITO
No answer in the apartment when the doorman called upstairs.
RYAN
But he’s sure Chloe’s there. He says Ian Harris is up there, too. Came home about an hour ago.
CASTLE
Which means Chloe would've been there waiting for him.
BECKETT
Alright, we don't have time to wait for emergency services. We’re gonna have to go in on our own.
ESPOSITO (re: Castle)
Whoa. What about him?
BECKETT
He stays here.
CASTLE
Whoa! No! Come on! Come on! I already signed my life away. What more do you want?
BECKETT
Okay, Castle. But it’s accompany and observe, not participate and annoy. Got it?
CASTLE
Participate and annoy is a lot more fun, but alright.
BECKETT
Stay behind us in the hallway, and don’t move unless I tell you.
CASTLE
Hope to die. You know what I mean. It's...
[Beckett turns, heads into the building, the team behind her.]
--
[33:36, INT. 15TH FLOOR, HALLWAY - NIGHT]
Beckett, Ryan, Esposito and Castle exit the elevator onto the 15th floor. They make their way to the Harris apartment. As they approach, Beckett sees the door is slightly ajar. She peers through the open door; sees: the sliver of an image of Ian Harris lying on the floor.
BECKETT
Open door. I got a victim down, guys. Stack them up.
[Beckett bursts into the apartment with Esposito and Ryan right behind, guns raised, button-hooking around her.]
BECKETT
Police! New York City Police!
DIANA (O.S.)
We’re here! We’re here!
BECKETT
Mrs. Harris?
DIANA (O.S.)
In here! l locked us in the bathroom!
[We now see: Ian Harris, unconscious, on the floor. No sign of Chloe. Yet.]
RYAN
Room all clear!
BECKETT (to Ryan, re: Ian Harris)
Check him!
[Beckett then cautiously proceeds toward the bedroom, with Esposito carefully checking other areas, as they move.]
BECKETT
Mrs. Harris, are you okay? Is your daughter with you?
DIANA (O.S.)
Yes. Yes, we’re okay.
RYAN (yells; re: Ian)
He’s still alive.
BECKETT
Mrs. Harris, is Chloe there?
DIANA (O.S.)
No. No, i-- it’s just me and Becca.
ESPOSITO
Apartment's all clear. Chloe's not here.
BECKETT
You can come out now, Mrs. Harris.
[Mrs. Harris comes out with her daughter. Beckett holsters her gun]
BECKETT (CONT'D)
Where's Chloe, Mrs. Harris?
DIANA
I don't know. She must've used her key. I was just giving Becca a bath. I didn't even know she was here.
[A wall phone by the front door buzzes.]
DIANA
That’s the doorman from downstairs.
BECKETT
Answer it.
[Castle picks up the phone, as Diana finds her husband.]
CASTLE (into phone)
Hello. Thank you. I'll tell her.
(ends the call)
Doorman says a tenant called. There’s a girl in the laundry room, and she's got a knife.
--
ACT SIX
[34:36, INT. BASEMENT, OUTSIDE LAUNDRY ROOM - MOMENTS LATER]
Beckett, Esposito and Castle exit the elevator onto the basement floor. Three tenants and two workers are in the area just outside the laundry room.
ESCPOSITO
Where's the girl?
WORKER
She’s inside, just sitting there.
BECKETT
Esposito, get these people out of here.
ESPOSITO
Let's go. Everybody up the stairs. Come on, let’s go.
[Esposito ushers everyone up the stairwell, while Beckett draws her weapon to a low-ready position.]
CASTLE
So, what’s the plan?
BECKETT
To get everyone out of this alive.
CASTLE
Good plan.
BECKETT
You don’t go in. Do you understand?
CASTLE
Yes.
BECKETT
Okay.
[Beckett raises her weapon, comes to the open door of the laundry room, peers inside cautiously, revealing Chloe, sitting on a folding chair in front of the dryer, where Sara Manning’s body was found, holding a butcher knife.]
BECKETT
Chloe? Chloe, it’s Detective Beckett. Do you remember me?
CHLOE
Please just go away.
BECKETT (enters the laundry room)
I’m sorry, Chloe, but I can’t do that.
[Chloe presses the knife against her leg. Beckett can see blood seeping through Chloe’s pant leg.]
BECKETT
Look, Chloe, you’re hurt. Why don't you put the knife away, and let me help you?
CHLOE
Why don’t you just shoot me?
BECKETT
Hey, look at me. Look.
[Chloe turns to her.]
BECKETT
No one’s gonna shoot anyone. Okay?
[Beckett crouches and lowers her gun. The door closes behind Castle]
BECKETT
Unless it’s you, if you take another step inside, Castle.
CHLOE
He was sleeping with Sara.
BECKETT
I know.
CHLOE
Only the whole time, he was sleeping with me. And he was telling me that he loved me, that he was going to leave his wife for me.
BECKETT
Guys can be like that sometimes, Chloe. They can lie, and I know when you find out, how much it can break your heart.
CHLOE
I’m pregnant.
BECKETT
Well, that even more reason for us to get you some help. Right?
CHLOE
Look, I... I just wanted to talk to her. That's all. I just wanted to tell her that Ian and I were in love.
BECKETT
I know what happened to Sara was an accident, Chloe. I know that.
CHLOE
I left Becca in the park, and I went up to the apartment just to see if it was true, 'cause... I'd seen the way he was looking at her. As soon as I saw Ian’s bed, I knew. He went to take a shower, so I-- I came down here, just to talk to Sara.
BECKETT
I know you didn’t mean to kill her, Chloe.
CHLOE
She was my friend, you know? But she just... She didn’t... She didn't get it. She didn't get how we felt about each other. So when... when she turned around, I just grabbed the bleach, and I hit her with it. And she fell. And I was so scared, I didn’t... I didn't know what to do, so I j... I put her in the dryer. I was so angry! You know, just so mad.
BECKETT
Chloe, put the knife down, okay? Let me help you. Just put the knife down. Come on.
[Chloe drops the knife. Beckett moves in and kicks away the knife.]
CHLOE
I’m so stupid.
BECKETT
It's okay.
--
[38:33, EXT. BUILDING, STREET - NIGHT]
Ian Harris, conscious, on a gurney being loaded into an ambulance. Chloe, handcuffed, is placed in a police car. Diana stands behind the apartment glass doors.
CASTLE
So, looks like I managed to make it through the case without getting injured, shot or killed.
BECKETT
Yeah, well, maybe tomorrow.
CASTLE (chuckles)
By the way, I really liked that whole, uh, sisterhood thing you ran back there.
BECKETT
I wasn’t running anything, Castle. What that guy did has consequences. Only he’ll get to just walk away.
CASTLE
Well, not scot-free. I mean, I sense a pretty big divorce settlement in his future.
BECKETT
Whatever it is, it won’t be enough.
--
[39:23, INT. CASTLE LOFT, CASTLE’S OFFICE - NIGHT]
Castle is in his home office, writing on his laptop. CU - on laptop and its text: “Nikki Heat had been in love. That was obvious. But what he didn’t know until that very moment was... her heart had once been broken. Just then Alexis stops by, sticks her head in the door.
ALEXIS
So, did you guys get him?
CASTLE
On their way up the river as we speak.
ALEXIS
Cool. Was it who you thought?
CASTLE
Actually, it wasn’t.
ALEXIS
Wow. It must’ve been a pretty good story to surprise you.
CASTLE
Mmm-hmm.
ALEXIS
You know, you better be careful or you’ll turn into one of your readers.
CASTLE
Okay, you just ruined it.
ALEXIS
You know, it’s okay to be surprised sometimes. That’s the fun.
CASTLE
You surprise me, all the time.
[Alexis chuckles and kisses him on the cheek]
ALEXIS
I'll see you in the morning, Dad.
CASTLE
G'night, Pumpkin.
[Castle looks at his laptop; Alexis then stops.]
ALEXIS
Dad?
CASTLE
Mmm-hmm?
ALEXIS
Thanks for being my nanny.
CASTLE
No sweat, kiddo.
[Alexis moves off. Castle closes the laptop and opens the top drawer looking for something. It’s not there, so he opens another drawer. Finds it: a small framed photograph of Castle and Alexis, when she was 4, in a park, walking hand-in-hand, away from camera, their backs toward us.]
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Note: Some of the transcript descriptions are based off of these scripts, which are possibly early drafts of the episodes.
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