Ruby - Act One

8/12/2019 Ruby - Act One

1/21

THE MENTALIST

"Ruby"

written by

Michael Andrew Arscott

Michael Andrew Arscott2403 Arborwood DriveValrico, FL 33596(863)399-0219


2/21


3/21

TEASER

EXT. LAPERIERE RESIDENCE - DAY

Lisbon and Jane stand outside an upscale, luxurious home.

LISBONWhat are you thinking? The husbandor the wife?

JANEWould have looked better in pearl.

Jane heads for the front door. Lisbon frowns.

LISBONPearl?

INT. LAPERIERE RESIDENCE - DAY

Marble and gold trim. Lisbon confronts the LAPERIEREs, ahusband and wife, clinched together, in their mid-twenties.

LISBONThe problem Im having is---

MRS. LAPERIERE---I told you a thousand times! Ihave nothing to do with my ex-husbands murder!

JANE (O.S.)A picture is worth a thousandwords.

All eyes on Jane, who steps out of the next room. He danglesa string of pearls from his hand.

JANE (CONTD)Thats even better, isnt it? Whydont you tell us why you did it---

MRS. LAPERIEREBut I didnt---

JANE---Not you...

(to Mr. Laperiere)Him.

THE MENTALIST - "RUBY" 1.

(CONTINUED)


4/21

Mrs. Laperiere looks up at her husband with a look ofdisdain.

JANE (CONTD)Im guessing you found out aboutthe affair she was having, yes? No

doubt with her ex-husband. Thatswhere you found the necklace.

Lisbon, dumbfounded, shakes her head.

MRS. LAPERIEREHow... Could you?

She turns and slaps him.

MR. LAPERIEREHow could I? How could YOU?

JANETold you.

Lisbon referees the bickering couple.

EXT. MECHANIC SHOP - DAY

Jane, Cho, and Grigsby interview a MALE SUSPECT, DALE ARNER,mid-thirties and brash looking.

Jane examines the mans posture and clothing.

CHOWhere were you Thursday night?

DALESorry, pals. Youve got the wrongguy.

GRIGSBYThen, why are you afraid to answerthe question?

DALE

Because Ive got cars to work on.

JANEIs that what you call it now?

DALEExcuse me?


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


5/21

JANEIs that what you called it when youworked on Mr. Callen with acrowbar?

DALE

What?

JANEI love it when they say what, andhe looks so dumbfounded. Tell me,did you actually practice that lookin the mirror?

Cho and Grigsby glance at each other.

DALEI didnt---

JANE---Yes... You did. Ten bucks saysyou had to buy a shiny new piece ofequipment to replace the murderweapon. Thats just a bad choice.

Jane and Dale... Staring contest.

JANE (CONTD)And you bought those new shoes withthe money you stole from hiswallet. Even worse choice... Iwouldve stuck with Adidas.

Dale looks over at Cho and Grigsby. He makes a run for it.

Jane holds his hands out with a smile.

JANE (CONTD)Ill see you back at CBI?

Cho and Rigsby take off after Dale.

INT. POLICE STATION - WITNESS ROOM - DAY

The room is dark and protected by a one-way see thru mirror.The witness, JANET, late twenties and demure, stands at themirror with messed up make-up.

A LAWYER, two COPS, and Lisbon stand close to her.

Seven SUSPECTS file into well lit room on the other side ofthe mirror.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


6/21

JANETThey cant see me, right?

LISBONNo. No way. All you have to do ispoint and say the number.

Jane enters the room with a file folder. He steps up besideLisbon.

JANE(whisper)

Nice manicure.

Lisbon frowns.

LAWYERLook, Janet, you were right there,and you saw what happened. Just

breathe deep.

Jane frowns. He looks down at Janets hands and smiles.

The witnesses take their spots, on numbers 1 thru 7.

Janet looks over them.

JANEWait.

Everyone looks at Jane.

LAWYERFor what?

JANEIm sorry, I meant eight.

LISBONJane, what are you doing?

JANEYour witness is the murderer. Toocool. Too calm. She was there

alright, and she definitelywitnessed the murder, but it wasntone thru seven. It was number 8,which I fondly refer to as thewitness. In this case, the womanwho did her nails in time to pointout a suspect, who was in the wrongplace at the wrong time. Shes yourwoman.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


7/21

Janet frowns. Her eyes scan everyone in the room.

JANE (CONTD)Excuse me.

Jane hands the folder to Lisbon and steps out.

Lisbon presses her lips together.

INT. CBI OFFICES. SACRAMENTO - DAY

Jane walks briskly toward the exit. Lisbon catches up withhim. She has the file folder in her hand.

LISBONWhats this?

JANE

A going away present.

LISBONVacation? Youre going on vacation?Now?

JANEThats what it says, right?

LISBONWhats going on?

JANENothing. Does something have to begoing on to take a vacation?

Lisbon stops him and confronts.

LISBONJane?

JANEIve been testing a theory.

LISBON

What theory?

JANEYou wouldnt---

LISBON---Try me.


CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)


8/21

JANECrime waves increase, especiallymurder, in accordance with theincrease of the... Crime fighting.

LISBON

Seriously? Thats not your bestwork.

JANEThats the point.

From out of nowhere, Grigsby pushes a picture up to Janesface. Its of a murder scene in bedroom.

GRIGSBYMale, 25 years of age, stabbedmultiple times, survived by hiswife, a---

JANE---She did it.

GRIGSBYWho?

JANEStabbed multiple times. Itspersonal and up close. The wife.Arrest her.

GRIGSBYUm. The wife is male. They were onvacation... From Massachusetts.

JANEEven better.

Grigsby nods and walks away.

LISBONLook. If this has anything to dowith RJ, you need to tell me.

JANERJ? Really? No, you look. It wontbe long. I just need a little timeaway. Thats all.

LISBONA little time away? You sound likeyoure quoting Hill Street Blues.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


9/21

Jane smiles.

JANELisbon. I recognize that look.Youre not actually going to missme, are you?

Jane walks on. Lisbon folds her arms.

END OF TEASER


CONTINUED: (2)


10/21

ACT ONE

I/E. JANES CAR - DAY

Jane drives.

His phone rings. He doesnt even look at it before heanswers.

JANEHello Lisbon.

INTERCUT

INT. CBI - OUTSIDE SEATING ROOM - DAY

Lisbon paces on her cell phone.

LISBONAre you sure you want to do this?

JANEI signed the paper, right?

LISBONAnd youre sure this has nothing todo with you know who?

JANEYoull be the first to know.

LISBONThats not comforting at all.

JANETrust me, Ill be back before youknow it.

LISBONI hope so, because I dont knowwhat Im...

A BEAT.

Lisbon stops pacing with a miserable glare.

JANEYoure going to be fine.


(CONTINUED)


11/21

LISBONBut, its such a long time.

JANEIve only been gone five minutes.

Cho steps out of the building and signals Lisbon.

LISBONFine. You just be careful.

JANEYoure the one still on the job.

Lisbon hangs up.

END INTERCUT

INT. LISBONS OFFICE - DAY

Lisbon paces by her desk with Cho and Rigsby.

CHOSo, Hes our prime suspect.

GRIGSBYLocal police have a positiveidentification on him. BrentWarner. Theres an A-P-B on him.

They stop talking. Lisbon still paces.

GRIGSBY (CONTD)The butler did it...

CHOIn the conservatory...

GRIGSBYWith a candle stick...

Lisbon frowns and looks up at Cho and Grigsby.

CHOIts barely been an hour. Have youtaken a break?

LISBONBarely been an hour? What are youtalking about?


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


12/21

GRIGSBYDenial.

CHOYip.

LISBONOh, come on guys. Im fine. Janedeserves vacation. Im glad he tookit. Hes such a Jane in the ass.

Grigsby chuckles.

GRIGSBYReally? That good huh?

CHO(to Grigsby)

Is it like this with you and Van

Pelt?

GRIGSBYHello... Marriage.

Lisbon waves her hands at them.

LISBONThats it. Were done here. Out,out, out.

Cho and Grigsby get out the door with their lives.

INT. CBI BATHROOM - DAY

Lisbon looks at herself in the mirror with her arms folded.She huffs and puffs.

Off to the side, VAN PELT smiles at her.

VAN PELTIf you stand a bit closer, themirror will actually fog up.

LISBONOh, its you.

VAN PELTSorry. Didnt mean to interruptyour quiet time.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


13/21

LISBONAre you going to take shots at menow?

VAN PELTWell, you do look like---

LISBON---Not another word.

Van Pelt walks up and leans on the counter.

VAN PELTFine then. You want some realadvice?

LISBONReally?

Van Pelt nods.

LISBON (CONTD)Anything.

VAN PELTIce cream overload. Chocolate.

LISBONI love chocolate.

VAN PELTI know.

Van Pelt walks out the door.

LISBONDid you just come in here to tellme that?

INT. JANES KITCHEN - DAY

An old Bobby Darin-esque tune plays on a radio.

Jane cooks. Bacon sizzles in a pan. Pancakes on anotherburner. Jane reaches in and flips the pancake.

He sips on water.

On the nearby counter, his phone lights up. Lisbon on CallerID, but no ringing.

Jane starts humming to the music.


CONTINUED:


14/21

INT. LISBONS OFFICE - DAY

Lisbon sits at her desk. Shes on her phone and slouchedlow, as if to hide herself.

She looks at her phone.

LISBONMonkey butt-scratcher.

She slams the phone on the desk, right beside a barrel ofchocolate ice cream. A long spoon sticks out of it.

Cho steps into the office.

LISBON (CONTD)I swear, if you even mention Janesname...

Cho looks at her with his hands in his pocket and a seriousgaze.

LISBON (CONTD)What?

OFF Cho.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD PARK - DAY

Police tape surrounds a large area. POLICE swarm.

Lisbon, Cho, and Grigsby stand just off of a big hole in theground, under a large tree.

A hoist pulls out a thick, clear plastic wrapping from theground. Its obviously wrapping a body. Theres rope tiedaround the bagging.

CHOPolice got another anonymous callfrom someone who wouldnt identifythemselves.

GRIGSBYThey claim they saw the body beingput into the hole and covered up.

LISBONAnother call? This isnt the firstone?


(CONTINUED)


15/21

GRIGSBYPolice say that the same caller ledthem to a body previously. It wasabout a month ago. That body wasidentified as Terry Collins, whowent missing nearly 2 years ago.

The hoist finally lays the bag down. Lisbon, Cho, andGrigsby move in.

CHOAccording to the report, the bodythey found before was wrapped justlike this one. Clear plastic withvelvet rope tied around it.

LISBONVelvet rope?

GRIGSBYLike Janet Jackson.

Lisbon unties the ropes. She unravels the bag, ever soslowly. When she pulls the bag outward, the decomposedremains are exposed.

GRIGSBY (CONTD)Ah, geez.

Grigsbys phone rings. He immediately steps away.

LISBONLet me ask you something.

Lisbon stands.

LISBON (CONTD)Is the caller a witness or asuspect.

CHOQuestion number one, I think.

GRIGSBY

Maybe we should just ask. That wasVan Pelt. She got a trace on thecaller.

LISBONHow?

GRIGSBYSomething about being a genius.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


16/21

OFF Grigsbys smile.

EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY

Lisbon and Cho get out of there vehicles and step up to the

7-eleven-ish store.

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - CASH OFFICE - DAY

Cho and Grigsby stand before LEWIS, the Manager.

LEWISLemme get this straight. You guysthink a killer made a phone callfrom my store?

GRIGSBY

Hes good.

CHOThursday at 2:15pm. From the landline, at the back of this store, tothe local police.

LEWISWell, I was on shift, and I thinkit was Lindsey and Jack that day.You dont think it couldve beenone of them?

GRIGSBYDo they have the day off today?

LEWISYeah.

CHOWell need their contactinformation and the tape recordingsfrom your surveillance cams.

LEWIS

Are we in any danger here? I mean,you think this was some kind ofkiller. Should we be worried?

CHORight now, we just need to find outwho made the call. Well have apatrol stay close, just in case.


CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)


17/21

LEWISOkay, good. Ill get the tapes,then.

GRIGSBYOh, one more thing. Youre out of

rice patties.

OFF Lewis. Lost for words.

INT. CBI HQ - VAN PELTS DESK - DAY

Van Pelt watches the video surveillance from the store, onher monitor. Three different views play from the storevideo. One shows outside the store.

Lisbon steps up behind her.

LISBONAnything?

VAN PELTYes. I think Ive got it. We knowthe caller made contact with thepolice at 2:15pm on Thursday. So, Ilooked at all the video for 10minutes surrounding that time.

LISBONAnd?

VAN PELTI had a problem. The cameras in thestore arent pointed directly atthe phone that was used. So, Iwatched the front door.

The screen shows a PERSON in a baseball cap and sweat shirt,entering the store at 14:14.

LISBONHeaded right for the phone.

VAN PELTRight. Theres two customers inthe store right now, one of them ismale. The other... Take your pick.However, at 2:15, we get this.

The screen shows a LARGE SET MAN leaving the store.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


18/21

LISBONNow theres only one customer.

VAN PELTRight again. Flash forward to2:18pm. Which is the approximate

time the phone conversation endedwith the police and the caller.

The screen shows the outside of the store. The PERSON withthe baseball cap gets into a blue sedan and drives awayquickly.

LISBONThats our guy. Get a plate.

VAN PELTAlready did, and an address.

Van Pelt hands over a piece of paper to Lisbon.

Cho steps in with a workup sheet in hand.

CHOThe victim we pulled out of theground is identified as MargaretStevens. She went missing 3 yearsago after a foreclosure on herhome. It was assumed she took tothe streets.

LISBONAnother missing person.

CHORight, heres the thing. Shes onlybeen dead for 3 weeks.

LISBONSo, she was killed long after shedisappeared. Is someone killinghomeless people?

Lisbon heads out with Cho on her tail.

VAN PELT(mocking Lisbon)

Nice work, Van Pelt.

INT. THE CARROLL RESIDENCE - FRONT FOYER - DAY

Someone knocks on the front door.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


19/21

DAVID CARROLL, dressed like a golfer in his forties, rushesto the door and opens it.

Lisbon, Cho, and Grigsby stand there. Lisbon flashes herbadge.

LISBONAgent Lisbon, CBI. We need to enterthe premises.

DAVIDWhoa whoa whoa, you cant just---

Grigsby hands over a search warrant.

CHOYeah, we can.

David leads them into the house.

DAVIDHoney! Where are you?

MARTHA CARROLL, a slender 45-year-old woman with red hair,steps out of the kitchen, right to Davids side.

MARTHAWhats going on?

LISBONAre you the owner of the blue sedanoutside, sir?

MARTHAThats Lisas car. What is goingon?

LISBONCan we speak to Lisa?

DAVIDNot until we figure out whatsgoing on.

LISBONLisa may be a witness in a case.

MARTHAOh, Jesus. Not again. I told youshe was obsessed, David!

LISA (O.S.)Yes. Again.


CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)


20/21

Everyone looks up at the top of the stairs. A pale white,almost albino looking girl of 19 years, LISA MILLS-CARROLL,walks down. She steps right up to Lisbon.

LISA (CONTD)Im the one youre looking for. I

called the police.

David reaches out and takes Lisas shoulders. Martha staysback with a scowl.

LISBONI see. How old are you, Lisa?

DAVIDShes 19.

MARTHAOh, for Gods sake, she can answer

for herself.

LISBONLisa? Why did you make those calls?

LISABecause I had to. No one wouldlisten, but... You did findsomeone, didnt you?

No answer.

DAVIDWait. What are you saying?

CHOYour daughter may be a witness totwo murders in the county.

LISAI only saw the bodies being buried.

LISBONLisa? How did you see them?

LISAIn my sleep.

Lisbon looks over to Cho.

LISA (CONTD)I saw them in my sleep. I didntmean to, but I cant make it stop.


CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)


21/21

LISBONYou mean, you were sleepwalkingsomehow and just bumped into thesituation?

LISA

No, I was asleep. I was in my bed,but I saw them in my mind.

MARTHAFor crying out loud, she thinksshes a psychic or something.

Lisbon eyes some bruises on Lisas wrists. She looks up atMartha, who looks dumbstruck.

LISBONOkay. Lets all take a seat.

Cho and Grigsby usher the Carrolls into the next room.Lisbon picks out her phone from her coat pocket and dials.

INT. JANES BATHROOM - DAY

Jane soaks in the bathtub full of suds with his eyes closed.

He frowns and opens his eyes. His phone lights up on theedge of the bathtub. He reaches up for a towel and dries hishands before grabbing the phone.

JANELisbon?

Jane listens. His frown deepens more and more.

JANE (CONTD)What? In her sleep? Okay... Ill beright there.

OFF JANE as he pushes the end button

END OF ACT ONE


CONTINUED: (3)

Documents

Ruby - Act One