420 "Time"
(Original Air Date: May 13, 2000)
Written by Carla Kettner; Directed by Mel Damski; (as "fanscribed" by Lynn from PAX-aired episode.)
Pictures for "Time" |
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Opening scene: L train passing by McGinty’s, shot pans to the bar, scene to Marissa and Gary in the office. Marissa is sitting at the desk; Gary is standing next to the desk with his coat on and holding a box of donuts.
Marissa: What smells like grease?
Gary: Me. There was a donut dipper malfunction over at Crusty Crumbs, it was gonna explode.
Marissa: First save of the day huh?
Gary: Yea. But there are fringe benefits. (places open box of donuts down in front of Marissa)
Marissa: MMMM donuts!
Gary: Custard Cream. Your favorite.
Marissa: Yum (grabs a donut). Hey, ah, Morris called you
Gary: Who?
Marissa: Morris, the archivist from the sun times. He said he needs to see you
Gary: What does he want?
Marissa: (through a mouth full of donut – mumbles) sd it wsss impttnt
Gary: Said what?
Marissa: He said it was important
Scene: Sun times exterior, change to Gary and Morris in archives walking to a table with a couple boxes on it
Morris: Got a call yesterday from this storage company down in Norridge…go have a seat….turns out Lucius Snow rented a locker some years back, lump sum – all in advance. Rent ran out a couple of days ago, Lucius didn’t leave any next of kin so the storage company contacted the Sun Times. Nobody upstairs much remembers Lucius anymore, so the boxes landed on my desk. I figured he’d paid good money to store something; I ought to at least take a look.
Gary: and?
Morris: Nothing much of value, this old pass book from Illinois Trust.
(Gary opens passbook)
Gary: 86 dollars
Morris: A couple of nice pictures (hands them to Gary) Never knew he liked the outdoors so much.
Gary looks at pictures: various shots of Lucius Snow younger, playing sports, boating, fishing – happy and smiling in all the shots.
Morris: also found these old photocopies… (hands them to Gary) Now, I’ve walked past the Sears tower every day for 20 years and I’ve never heard of no explosion.
(first photocopy headline says: Sears Tower Explosion leaves 12 dead)
(second photocopy headline: Ferry disaster – 90 passengers missing)
Morris: and best as I recall, Lake Michigan never had this ferry incident either.
Gary: Yea, Isn’t that somethin’.
Morris: No, I don’t recall any of these things happening…and I particularly don’t recall this. (pulls out another photocopy from box and lays it in front of Gary)
Headline: Indiana boy, 11, Killed (photo of boy with caption: Gary Hobson, age 11)
Morris: The boy in the story is you
Opening Credits: What if you knew…….
Back to archives: Gary still staring at the headline Morris gave him.
Voice over the intercom: Morris, would you pull the packet on the Baylor family and bring it up ASAP?
Morris: (in the intercom) On the way…. (to Gary) Lucius was a good man; he’d give you the shirt off his back or his last 50 cents.
Gary: Yea, I didn’t know him to well I’m…
Morris: just interested, I know. Well, when the paper switched over from hot lead type setting to electronic it took a toll on him, but that kind of thing shouldn’t affect the fundamentals of a man.
Gary: no
Morris: I can’t think of any good reason why he would have mocked up such terrible headlines. Do you have any explanation to offer Mr. Hobson?
Gary still staring silently at paper
Morris: Mr. Hobson?
Gary: No Morris, I. . . I don’t.
Morris: I don’t care what these mean…okay? I just want them out of here (pointing to boxes) they’re yours if you want them.
Gary: Thank you Morris
Morris leaves
Gary voice over: reading the story from Lucius’ paper while black and white scenes of account are shown briefly.
Gary: 11 year old Gary Hobson of Hickory Indiana was fatally struck by a pickup truck yesterday on the 500 block of Michigan Avenue…
{Gary picks up phone and makes a call, answering machine picks up on the other end}
Answering machine - Lois’ voice: Hello, you have reached Lois and Bernie Hobson. We’re not home right now but if you leave a message we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. BEEP
Gary: Listen mom, it’s me. I’m trying to remember something, ehh, I - I need your help. I need you to give me a call, call me as soon as you can you understand? As soon as you can.
Scene: Young girl walking down a hallway, addresses man on ladder fixing lights
Girl: Hey Albert, need some help?
Albert: Hey Lindsey. Shouldn’t you be in school?
Lindsey: Teacher training day
Albert: Lucky you
{Lindsey walks up to elderly lady walking down the hall with walker}
Lindsey: Hey Bella. What’cha doin’?
Bella: Staking out my spot
Lindsey: What’s on today?
Bella: Sentencing those Kleinschmidt Smith twins. You know those beasts that ran that boiler – room scam? The prosecuting attorney’s that nice looking Mr. Shearer.
Lindsey: You like him don’t you?
Bella: Well, he gives a very nice closing. (chuckles)
Lindsey: you gonna ask him out?
Bella: Ohh, Lindsey Romick
{Man runs up and grabs Bella’s purse and runs away}
Lindsey: Hey you!
Bella: Lindsey!
{Thief runs down hall towards stairs, knocking over several people as he goes – Lindsey catches up to him at the top of the stairs grabs purse and gets into tugging war with thief}
Thief: Let go!
{Thief jerks bag back and forth and flips Lindsey over the top banister of the stairs, she hangs on the top railing – onlookers standing watching, stunned by none helping – Gary comes running up the stairs from the other side of the hall}
Crowd: OH. . . AHH, OH!! Hang on sweetie!
Lindsey: Stop him!
{security guard tackles thief at the bottom of the stairs –
{Gary reaches Lindsey at the top grabs her and pulls her back over to the top landing}
Gary: I got you
Man in crowd: She alright?
Gary: You alright?
Lindsey: Yeah (looks down over the railing) Thanks
Gary: (looking around) Look, kid, wh-who’s looking after you here?
Lindsey: If you’re going to grill me I have a right to council
Gary: Come on, who’s in charge of ya?
Lindsey: My grandpa
Gary: Well come on, let’s go find him
Lindsey: But…
Gary: Come on {grabs her arm and starts to walk}
Scene to inside of a courtroom: prosecutor and defense council both standing, Judge sitting at bench looking bored.
Prosecutor: It was an inventory search, your honor.
Defense council: It was a fishing trip
(Both talking over each other)
Defense council: They were looking for a gun
Prosecutor: …to check the defendant’s valuables prior to towing
Defense council: People vs. Wells, an inventory search must not be a ruse for general rummaging in order to discover incriminating evidence
{Gary and Lindsey walk in and sit down in back}
Prosecutor: South Dakota vs. Opperman your honor…inventory searches of automobiles are consistent with the forth amendment
Judge: (knocks gavel) Enough!
Gary: (to Lindsey) that’s your grandfather?
(Lindsey nods)
Judge: Now let me be sure I understand - - In the middle of investigating a homicide your detective just happens to notice Mr. Baylor’s BMW parked in front of a fire hydrant?…
{Detective Armstrong is shown sitting behind the prosecutor}
Judge: deeply influenced, one must assume, by a childhood bond with Smokey the Bear, the detective impounds the BMW. Concerned for the security of Baylor’s small change, he conducts a good will inventory search and just by coincidence finds a murder weapon in Mr. Baylor’s glove compartment. My goodness Detective you must be the luckiest man on earth
Detective Armstrong: Your honor if you toss the gun there is no way to make the case
Gary: (quietly) Armstrong
Judge: Sit down detective or have you cited for contempt
Lindsey: You know that guy?
Gary: Yeah, kind of
Prosecutor: In United States vs. Judge the court held that the constitution does not require...
Judge: do you have any aspirin in your bag Ms. Chevalier?
Prosecutor: Yes
Judge: Take it and sit down. (she sits) I’m aware of you precedent Ms. Chevalier, but I don’t like it.
{Gary checks paper headline: Baylor released; charges dropped
Prosecutor: Your honor, if you will just listen to the testimony...
Judge: Take it up with the appellate court, the defenses motion to suppress is granted.
(Addressing Armstrong) Funny thing about short cuts, Detective, 9 times out of 10 you
wind up lost.
Scene change to Judge’s chambers. Judge, Lindsey and Gary present
Judge: Your name is Robson? Hobson… sorry.
Gary: Gary Hobson…yes
Judge: I understand you saved my granddaughter Mr. Hobson
Gary: Well, I – I gave her a hand
Judge: and what did you do to be saved young lady? What mischief were you into this time?
Lindsey: It wasn’t mischief grandpa
Gary: she – she was, ah, she was chasing a purse snatcher actually your honor
Lindsey: He stole Bella’s purse Grandpa. What he did was wrong.
Judge: (chuckle) sometimes I think we just should give her a badge and a gun and be done with it. You are so grounded.
Lindsey: Objection
Judge: (bangs gavel) Overruled.
Gary: I should get going (to Lindsey) keep up the good fight
Judge: Oh she will. She can’t help it.
Scene: Gary leaving courthouse down front steps – Outside. Armstrong comes up behind him
Armstrong: Hey Hobson, what were your doing in there?
Gary: Uh, well, this kid…Uh, it’s a really long story. Bad day, huh?
Armstrong: We got the murder weapon; any other judge would have kicked the motion to suppress in a heartbeat
Gary: Well, Romick seems like a good enough guy.
Armstrong: Sure if you’re a high price defense attorney with a wealthy client. William Baylor has been kicked out of 2 prep schools, 3 colleges, one assault charge after another, 3 DWIs, but daddy’s rich and powerful, so the creep kills his girlfriend and all anybody cares about is why I looked in the glove compartment.
Gary: Well, maybe you’ll win the appeal
Armstrong: Yeah, and maybe I’ll win the lottery too. I’ll let you in on a little secret Hobson.
Gary: What’s that?
Armstrong: Sometimes the last place you’ll find justice is in a court of law.
Scene: Gary walks in to his apartment carrying the boxes Morris gave him and finds his mother pacing the floor
Lois: Gary?
Gary: Mom, what are you doing here?
Lois: Well that message - - It was so strange. I didn’t even wait for Bernie to get home, I got in the care and I came straight here.
Gary: Message? No mom, I – I just wanted to ask you a question, that was all
Lois: Well, what question?
Gary: Listen….Did we ever come into Chicago when I was 11?
Lois: (thinking for a few seconds) 11?
Gary: Yeah
Lois: Ah, That was the year that you were a finalist in the bicentennial essay contest, remember?
Gary: The essay contest…that’s right I won a trip to the Sun Times
Lois: That’s why you called me?
Gary: Listen to me mom, listen to me closely. I need you to try to remember for me everything that happened the day of that contest
Lois: Why, what’s so important about that?
(Gary reaches into box and pulls the photocopied headline out and gives it to his mom)
Lois: What?
Gary: It was the day I was supposed to die
Lois: Oh Gary, this can’t be right
Gary: Apparently if it hadn’t been for Lucius Snow, I would have been dead 24 years ago.
{Lois still holding paper on the verge of tears hugs Gary}
Scene: Chicago fading into night, Gary’s apartment: Lois sleeping in Gary’s bed, Gary on the couch, both asleep
(Gary dreaming: Flashback to 11 year old Gary and his mom, mom is running up to him outside school excited.)
Lois: Gary, Gary you won! The essay contest, you won!
Young Gary: I did?
Lois: Well you’re a finalist but that’s the same as winning, right?
(Squeezes Gary in a hug)
Young Gary: Mom, you’re crushing me
Lois: Look, official letterhead and everything (pulls out a letter)
Dear Mr. Hobson, that is so cute the way they call you Mister, Oh behalf of the Chicago Sun-Times we are pleased to inform you that you are a finalist in the Sun-Times bicentennial essay contest. You and your family will be treated to an all expense paid trip to Chicago the weekend of May 14! Oh Gary, you’re going to get to read your essay in front of everyone!
Young Gary: Maybe you should read it?
Lois: Me, why should I read it?
Young Gary: Because you wrote it
Lois: I did not write it, I consulted. Besides don’t split hairs young man, we’re going to Chicago.
{Fade back to Gary sleeping on sofa, opens his eyes and sees Lucius Snow sitting chair across from him staring at him, Gary sits up immediately, turns and reaches behind him to turn on the lamp but chair is empty when he turns back}
Scene: Kitchen at McGinty’s
Lois: Are you sure it was Lucius Snow?
Gary: I am
Lois: Gary, maybe…
Gary: He was sitting in my chair and he was staring at me. I mean, there’s gotta be a reason for that. And I think maybe…maybe the reason might be he wants me to remember what happened that day.
Lois: But why?
{Gary tosses hands in an “I don’t know” gesture}
Lois: Make sense Gary…unless there’s something you’re not telling me…there is isn’t there?
Gary: Look, Lucius’ paper, the date, May 15… well May 15, tomorrow just happens to be the... it’s the anniversary of the day I was supposed to…..die
Lois: Okay, I’ve heard enough. We’re going to go get in my car and I’m going to drive you home so you can rest for a couple of days.
Gary: Well I can’t do that…you know I can’t do that
Lois: Where are you going?
Gary: Well, I’m... I’m
(picks up paper and sees headline: Detective suspended on harassment charges)
Gary: I’ve got…work to do, (turns and starts to leave) that’s what I got to….
Scene car pulled over the side of road, Detective Armstrong standing at driver’s window, William Baylor in car
Baylor: What’s the problem officer?
Armstrong: Hands on the wheel
Baylor: Hey...
Armstrong: NOW! (Baylor begrudgingly obliges) You ran a stop sign
Baylor: Give me a break
Armstrong: License and registration
(Baylor starts to moves hands to glove compartment to get info)
Armstrong: Keep your hands where I can see them!
Baylor: you just told me to…
Armstrong: I smell liquor... you been drinking Mr. Baylor?
Baylor: no
Armstrong: get out of the car now. NOW!
(Baylor opens door and starts to get out, Armstrong trips him)
Armstrong: You are drunk, can’t even stand up straight, huh?!
(slams Baylor up against car)
Baylor: I know what you’re doing man…
Armstrong: Just spread em! (starts to frisk Baylor)
Baylor: Be sure you check in the front pocket…I got more money in there than you make in a year
(Armstrong grabs Baylor and turns him around to punch him – Gary runs up behind Armstrong and grabs his arm and pulls him off Baylor)
Gary: Armstrong! Take it easy, Take it easy!
Baylor: Police brutality, man; you saw it. I’m calling my lawyer!
Scene Judge Romick’s courtroom
Judge: I’m not going to issue a restraining order against a police officer and you know it council.
Defense lawyer: The man is a vigilante
State’s Attorney: Detective Armstrong is an outstanding police officer with 120 felony arrests, 10 citations for bravery and not one citizen complaint.
Defense lawyer: you heard this man’s testimony, he saw the whole thing.
Gary: I said it was an accident
Judge: Quiet. Believe me Detective Armstrong protecting Mr. Baylor’s rights gives me no great joy… be that as it may. Your case against him went bad by your own doing and that gives you no excuse for police misconduct.
Armstrong: I understand your honor, but this gentleman… (referring to Gary)
Judge: Considering you record, I’m letting you off with a slap on your wrist. Captain, I want him off the case and out of my courtroom.
Defense attorney: Your honor?!
Judge: restraining order denied
(Armstrong gives Gary a not so friendly sideways glance)
Scene: Armstrong walking down stairs inside courthouse, Gary comes behind and catches up with him
Gary: Listen Armstrong, I had to tell them the truth.
Armstrong: The truth. The truth is that Baylor is a murder Hobson. He killed a 20 year old girl and he got away with it.
Gary: Well listen, I had to tell them what I saw.
Armstrong: Well aren’t you the good little boy scout.
Gary: Look Armstrong I’m sorry, alright?
Armstrong: Yeah, well I’m sorry too (leaves Gary standing there)
(Gary notices Baylor banging on vending machine in the hall)
Defense lawyer: Hey, take it easy Bill
(Baylor bangs front of machine again)
Defense lawyer: Come one let’s go (they leave)
(Gary staring at vending machines: a snack machine and a Pepsi machine; camera pans across machines to Gary and back to machines that now appear as they would have looked when Gary was 11 – flashback to young Gary and a young girl (with glasses) at the machines)
Girl: Oh come on, please don’t eat my last quarter
Young Gary: the machine’s broke
Girl: It can’t be
Young Gary: Why not?
Girl: I need food, I’m nervous. When I’m nervous, I eat. Hey, you’re in that essay contest aren’t’ you?
Young Gary: Yeah. I’m Gary
Girl: Happy Birthday America
Young Gary: It would have been 102 pilgrims and a couple of turkeys, but…my mom didn’t go for it
Girl: I’m Jessica
Young Gary: 1776…Nothing‘s broken we can’t fix?
Jessica: It all rhymes
Young Gary: The whole 2000 words?!
Jessica: Yeah
Young Gary: wow
Jessica: I was practicing, figuring out where to stop for breaths, but I got so nervous, I needed Cheetos.
Young Gary: You have to plan where to breathe?
Jessica: I’m not too good under stress
Young Gary: Wow, you must want this bad
Jessica: Bad? This is the first time my parents have actually noticed I exist
Young Gary: Mine are all over me like a blanket. I’m an only child
Jessica: I’m number four…prom queen, quarterback, piano prodigy, nerd. The ugly afterthought after a long line of perfect
Young Gary: You’re being a little hard on yourself, don’t you think?
Jessica: I’m quoting my mother
Young Gary: Oh.
Jessica: this contest is my last chance. I need cheetos.
Young Gary: Well, if it’s an emergency…
(Gary knocks and kicks machine and cheetos come out)
Jessica: Oh my God, you saved my life
(Jessica fumbles opening the bag, Gary takes it from her)
Young Gary: here (opens bag)
Distant voice off screen: Jessica
Jessica: I gotta go…thanks Gary.
Young Gary: See ya tomorrow, good luck
(Jessica walks away, camera pans back across vending machines back to grown up slightly grinning Gary)
Scene McGinty office
Gary: I remember a girl named Jessica, but I don’t remember why I ran into the street
Lois: Well, maybe you blocked it; that happens to people in trauma
Marissa: Are you sure you want to know?
Gary: Well of course I want to know, that might explain why all this is happening
Marissa: Alright, well here’s a thought. Why don’t you get the actual paper from May 15, 1976, see what’s changed in Lucius’ paper and maybe it will tell you something.
Gary: That’s a good idea
Scene, Gary walking into the Sun-Times building, up to information desk
Gary: Gary Hobson here to see Morris Sanford
(group of school kids on a tour in the lobby behind Gary – guide is giving them general information about the paper – Gary notices them. Flash back to young Gary in the lobby with group of kids on tour from the 1976 essay contest)
(1976)Tour guide: The Sun-Times now has 10 presses, which can run at a top speed of 17 miles per hour, we use 7200 gallons of ink each week and about 2500 rolls of newsprint. That’s enough news print each year to circle the earth about 30 times
(Young Gary and Jessica standing next to each other in group, another boy standing behind them)
Boy: Happy Birthday America? Huh, man talk about hick from the sticks. Bettcha stayed up nights thinking up that one.
Young Gary: We’re trying to listen Okay.
Boy: What you and your seeing Eye dog here
Young Gary: Shut up!
Tour Guide: So if you’ll follow me, the moment you have all been waiting for, the pressroom
(Group now located in the press room)
Tour Guide: After the paper is printed on both sides it is sliced into pages, assembled and folded, then carried by the conveyer to the mail room at a rate of up to 50,000 newspapers per hour per press.
(Gary looking around the press room notices a man walking up stairs, he stops for a second, sees Gary and grins at him, then continues up stairs – man is younger Lucius Snow)
Tour Guide: From there, the paper is loaded on to trucks and taken to distribution centers…
Boy: (to Jessica) nice glasses, you blind or something?
Young Gary: ignore him
Boy: what are you her boyfriend?
Young Gary: (somewhat loudly) would you shut up already!
Tour Guide: Excuse me, Mr. Hobson?
(Switch back to present day, Gary standing in the press room, appears lost in thoughts)
Morris: Mr. Hobson? Mr. Hobson, what are you doing in here?
Gary: I was just looking around
Morris: I cleared it for you in microfilm
(Gary looking at newspapers pages on microfilm finds the page from the May 15, 1976, compares it to the photocopy from Lucius box. The actual paper does not have the story of Gary being killed and the story below that is changed from Lucius paper:
Lucius paper: Ross convicted
Actual Paper: Ross granted mistrial)
{sound of gate rattling in background, Gary looks at the gate and sees nobody there}
Gary: Morris?
{Gary looks back at the microfilm paper then back at the gate, this time, a boy (young Gary) standing behind gate hidden in shadow, staring back at Gary. The sound of the microfilm flipping out of the reel as it runs out distracts Gary attention for second and he looks away, when he turns back to the gate, again no one is there}
Many thanks to Lynn for sharing her fanscription of "Ep Title" – Thank you!
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