INT. MOSS RESIDENCE FAMILY ROOM - DAY

An calender adorned with autumn leaves and pumpkins. October. On the 13th, 'Jeremy's Birthday'. The CRACKLING of fire.

NOEL (O.S.)

(whispering)

...7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12...

Mid-20's, shoulder-length black hair, functionally dressed - NOEL - wrinkles her nose as she looks at a calender above a fireplace. On the wall, on the fireplace - various pictures of a young man. Playing soccer, guitar, wearing a balloon animal hat...

NOEL

(whispering)

...13, 14, 15...

MRS. MOSS (O.S.)

He would have been 11 in a week.

Noel snaps out of it. 40's, glasses, hair in a bun - MOSS enters carrying two steaming coffee cups. Offers a sad smile. The warm room is full of pictures and antiques. Two couches around a coffee table.

Moss offers a cup to Noel. They sit on separate couches. A large window with blinds half drawn cast bars across the room. Moss crosses her legs, relaxed. Noel cups the mug in both hands, smelling it and holding in in front of her.

MRS. MOSS

He would have done great things. Made a difference in the world.

NOEL

Yes. Mrs. Moss, I wish more could have been done.

Moss shakes her head.

MRS. MOSS

Noel. I'm just so thankful for what you have done. For what you do.

Pain washes over Moss briefly, she maintains a smile. Noel raises her shoulders, tests her coffee.

MRS. MOSS (cont'd)

I'm so grateful. I had to tell you in person. With the murders. Missing people...

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel drives along the street. Laptop bag on the passenger seat. Tidy. Autumn leaves blow past. The car clock flashes 12:31.

MRS. MOSS (V.O.)

The police. The lawyers. I just don't know. I sometimes feel like -

EXT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel's car drives along the street. No other occupied cars. Things getting farther away.

MRS. MOSS (V.O.)

you journalists are the only reason the wheels of justice keep turning.

INT. MOSS RESIDENCE FAMILY ROOM - DAY

Noel and Moss are embracing near the door. Coffee still steaming. Clock stopped at 11:31 in the background. Moss has a cathartic expression.

NOEL (V.O.)

I'm sorry I can't stay longer.

Noel's expression - she is in another place.

MRS. MOSS (V.O.)

Not another case already?

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel drives along. Wrinkles her nose, flushing. Looks in the rear-view mirror.

Through the mirror, a leaf-strewn street getting smaller.

INT. PRISON CELL - DAY

Sun shines in through prison bars. Tired blue eyes, short blond hair, stubble. SPENCER JONES, 30-something, stares at himself in a small cracked mirror.

NOEL (V.O.)

There is always another case.

EXT. PRISON PARKING LOT - DAY

Noel drives into the leaf-covered lot as the gate closes. Few cars in the lot. One, a BLUE SUBARU - 365SMR. Noel parks.

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel checks her eyes in the rear-view.

NOEL (V.O.)

Stories that need to be told.

EXT. PRISON PARKING LOT - DAY

Noel walks into an imposing building.

INT. PRISON CELL - DAY

Spencer stares at himself in the mirror.

PRISON GUARD (O.S.)

Spencer Jones.

30's, unfit - GUARD stands, disinterested, across the bars. Spencer turns only his head to face him.

PRISON GUARD

It's time.

INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - DAY

Noel walks along a corridor lined with cells. Various prisoners look on in quiet interest.

One calls out a few times to try and get her attention. She walks along, holding her laptop bag against her torso. Looking ahead.

PRISONER

Hey...Hey, listen to me...

She walks along the corridor.

INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

Noel starts, eyes wide and alert. A man shouts out.

SPENCER (O.S.)

Hey!

Noel sits across from Spencer, who is cuffed to the table. He sits relaxed, left hand flat on the table, right hand balled up loosely. Her laptop open in front of her. A clock on the wall, stuck at 10:31.

SPENCER

You think there's a fundamental difference between you and me?

Noel wrinkles her nose, shoulders high as she focuses her eyes on her laptop.

NOEL

Mr. Jones, you stabbed your wife 31 times in the kitchen.

Spencer looks out a barred window. Holds his thumb in his left hand.

SPENCER

Yeah, well. I really don't know what else to say about that.

He looks back at Noel, who continues to focus on the computer.

SPENCER (cont'd)

They got my confession. I killed someone...

EXT. SPENCER RESIDENCE - DAY

A picture-perfect house. Tidy. Colorful. Ornate shrubs. Flower garden. Getting closer.

SPENCER (V.O.)

It wasn't my wife. It's hard to explain, but I am her husband. I...

INT. SPENCER RESIDENCE - FAMILY ROOM - DAY

White eggshell walls. Bright red art on the walls. The blinds partially drawn cast repeating shadows. Minimalist furniture. TV. The distant hum of a fan.

Spencer stands, partially shaven. Covered in blood. Light flooding in from the kitchen door. He is on the phone.

SPENCER (V.O.)

I had to do it. I was horrified. She was replaced.

INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

Noel looks up at Spencer, who matches her gaze.

SPENCER

I could just feel it. You can tell when you've been with someone for so long.

Noel nods slowly.

NOEL

So you felt this way for a while, Jones?

Spencer shakes his head.

SPENCER

No. I... Sure I had some troubling thoughts. But, you can't tell anyone. You know? I was afraid. You try not to think about harmful thoughts, but it's just impossible.

Spencer grimaces, tensing up.

SPENCER (cont'd)

You can't tell anyone. They'd just lock you away. You can't talk about...

Spencer trails off. Noel closes her eyes for a moment.

SPENCER (cont'd)

What does anyone else do? I took a chance on the internet.

Noel cocks her head, regains eye contact.

NOEL

This wasn't in the reports.

Spencer shakes his head, eyes more lively.

SPENCER

No. This is only for you. Only for you. I read your work lots. I mean, who isn't fascinated by this stuff? So, incognito. I'm searching all sorts of depraved stuff. Can I release it vicariously? Maybe others have solutions. It didn't help.

Spencer looks in despair. Noel softens briefly.

Then he is energized again.

SPENCER (cont'd)

So I got an email. Thought this would be my ticket. Can't fix them all, you know. Not Gods... Not gods...

Noel looks up from typing, crosses her arms.

NOEL

Police went through your computer. There were no relevant emails.

SPENCER

Of course there weren't. These people are capable. She is helping people. They listen. Not reactive. Not before it is too late.

Noel nods, letting the silence linger. Fingers typing.

SPENCER (cont'd)

Crowds painted with the face of God. I am an accountant. A painter. A Son. A husband. I'm reduced to a single thing. An object of violence. 31 years summed up by 31 seconds.

Noel wrinkles her nose. Looks up from her computer.

NOEL

These people who took you in. You didn't work alone.

Spencer nods, smirking.

SPENCER

Well, I wasn't there long. So I never seemed to be in the inner circle there. But the others, they seemed really familiar. And I was grateful to be there. She helps these people.

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel drives along the road, bag in passenger side.

NOEL (V.O.)

Some self-help group for killers?

SPENCER (V.O.)

Hey! Careful what labels you place on others.

EXT. NOELS WORK - DAY

Noel pulls into the parking lot, parks. A garish strip mall.

SPENCER (V.O.)

I still believe Rachael Vandis is helping people.

INT. NOELS OFFICE - DAY

A clean, organized room with desk and computer in the middle of the room. The rest of the space bare. A single picture on the desk, facedown.

Noel enters with her bag, sits at her desk. Begins rifling through a drawer.

SPENCER (V.O.)

I want you to have this.

INT. INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY

Spencer opens his right hand, revealing a small picture of himself. It is free of blemishes. Looks somehow uncanny.

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel stares at the photo, turns it over in her hand.

On the back - 'You aren't who you will be. You matter. And your actions change the world. Love Rachael'

INT. NOELS OFFICE - DAY

Noel retrieves a few batteries from her drawer. She pulls out a charging hub. Swaps the batteries with those in her bag.

BRINNER - 70, grizzled, eternal bender - KNOCKS on the doorframe. Noel looks up from placing batteries on the charger.

BRINNER

Well, what do you think?

Brinner flashes a smile. Noel crinkles her nose.

NOEL

Brinner, I don't understand why he requested me, but I am grateful. This isn't another monster. He's from some kind of killer self-help group.

BRINNER

You sure?

(beat)

Well, don't thank me. Apparently the good doctor steered him your way.

Brinner is pleased with himself. Hovers around the door. Noel, finished with the batteries, grabs her bag again.

NOEL

What? Dr. Kzynmir? This isn't the kind of case he would take.

Brinner shrugs.

INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

A generic police station. Rows of desks stacked with files.

An ATTENDANT working the front desk. Along one of the walls near the entrance, dozens of missing person posters. Mostly men.

Noel enters, and is greeted with a wave by the attendant.

ATTENDANT

Noel. Not a great day for this.

Noel smiles knowingly.

NOEL

Right, tell me when that day comes.

OWENS (O.S.)

Get out of this precinct.

OWENS - 40s, seen too much, suspenders - walks briskly along the missing person wall to the front.

NOEL

Owens, people have a right to -

OWENS

Don't come into our building and tell me what you are owed. You stay away from the site. You keep outta my way.

Owens folds his hands, brow furrowed. Chin raised.

NOEL

Take it easy. People have a right to know. Justice is blind, not mute. This is impor -

OWENS

What is important is keeping people safe. You share too much, people get hurt. Things don't stick, Noel.

Noel scrunches her face, flushes. Owens starts to storm off.

NOEL

People have a right to information. They need to know.

She shakes her head. Watches Owens storm off. Looks at the missing persons wall.

ATTENDANT (O.S.)

Jesus. Noel, I'm sorry. He just cares. That last case... And the missing people lately.

Noel looks at all the missing people, a sad look. Scans the faces. Man after man.

She looks quizzically. Moves slowly along the wall.

ATTENDANT

Here, Brinner was in touch.

The attendant hands Noel a file with some notes.

ATTENDANT (cont'd)

We're not all against the press here, you know.

Noel smiles slightly, takes the file.

NOEL

Thanks Martin.

She turns, heading along the wall for the door.

Stops abruptly near the edge of the wall. Focuses on the picture of a young woman. Long brown hair. Shining eyes. A broad smile. Missing. RACHAEL VANDIS.

NOEL (cont'd)

Can I have one more favor?

The attendant looks up from his computer.

INT. NOELS CAR - DAY

Noel drives along. Breathing slowly. Lost in thought.

Her bag lies open on the passenger seat. Two folders sticking out, don't quite fit. The top one reads partially - 'Vandis, Rachael'.

EXT. PSYCHIATRISTS OFFICE - DAY

Noel pulls up to a fancy office building. In the parking lot among the other cars, a blue Subaru - 365SMR. Birds chirp. Wind moves leaves.

INT. KZYNMIR'S OFFICE - DAY

An spacious office with various abstract art and busts lining the walls. The centerpiece of the room is a few couches and an ornate desk.

Behind the desk sits DR. KZYNMIR - bald, bespeckled, your second-favorite step-uncle. Drawn blinds cast bars on the room. A clock stuck at 10:31.

A KNOCK on the door causes Kzynmir to look up, curious.

KZYNMIR

Yes, come in.

Noel enters the room, closing the door behind her.

Kzynmir stands as she approaches, smiling.

NOEL

Doctor.

Noel focuses on art as she approaches.

KZYNMIR

Noel! What brings you in? It's been quite a while, hasn't it?

NOEL

Yes, well. The goal was to not need to see you anymore.

Noel looks at him, arms wrapped partially around herself. Kzynmir nods.

KZYNMIR

Well, that is one way to frame it. I keep up with your writing, you know.

Kzynmir looks concerned.

KZYNMIR (cont'd)

You won't let yourself rest until there are no more violent offenders, will you Noel?

Noel gazes past Kzynmir, out the window.

NOEL

You seem surprised. I am here because you recommended I meet up with Jones.

Kzynmir squints, folds his arms. Tilts his head.

KZYNMIR

I've heard of the Spencer Jones murder, of course. But Noel, I certainly haven't been in touch with the man. You know I only deal with victims.

Noel scrunches her face. Folds her arms.

NOEL

Brinner said... Something strange is going on here.

(beat)

Sorry to take up your time, Dr. Kzynmir.

Noel turns to leave. Kzynmir rounds his desk.

KZYNMIR

Noel. Listen, I know it must be hard. With the similarities. If you need some support.

Anguish flashes over Noels face briefly.

NOEL

No, thank you. I'm fine. I just have to keep going.