My Without A Trace Story

---WITHOUT A TRACE--- One Bad Thing Leads To Another
FADE IN: 
(EXT.-STEPS OF WESTRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL-AFTERNOON)
(HAZEL is exiting the school building. MELINDA, who is behind her, taps her on the shoulder. HAZEL stops at the bottom of the steps and turns around.)
MELINDA: Hey, I'm sorry about what happened today at lunchtime. My boyfriend was being a jerk.
HAZEL: (softly) It's ok.
MELINDA: You should be proud of who you are. Don't ever let anyone let you down, ok?
HAZEL: Ok.
MELINDA: Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then. Bye.
HAZEL: Bye.
(HAZEL turns around and walks away. When she exits the gates of school, she vanishes.)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
DISSOLVE TO:
(EXT.-NEWYORK CITY (STOCK)-DAY)
--LEGEND—14 HOURS MISSING
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-COMPUTER ROOM-DAY)
(JACK walks in. SAMANTHA goes to him.)
SAMANTHA: Hazel Rojas, freshman at Westridge High School, 15 years old. Very quiet and shy, keeps to herself, and very hard working student.
JACK: Family?
SAMANTHA: (looks at her notepad) Older sister Carman Rojas, 18 years old, senior t Westridge High School; father’s a plumber, and step mom’s a housewife.
JACK: (goes to Danny): Anything on the father?
DANNY: (spins in his chair and faces Jack) Arrested 3 months ago for DUI and arrested 5 years ago for throwing a glass mug at his wife.
SAMANTHA: Hazel’s mom?
DANNY: (turns to computer) No. Step mom. And he was released 7 months ago. (turns to Jack)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
DISSOLVE TO:
(INT.-FBI-INTERVIEW ROOM-EVENING)
--LEGEND—28 HOURS MISSING
CUT TO:
(MARTIN and JACK are interviewing MR. ROJAS, HAZEL’S father.)
MARTIN: You were arrested 5 years ago for throwing a glass mug at your wife. Is that right?
MR. ROJAS: What does that have to do with finding my daughter?
JACK: Answer the question Mr. Rojas.
MR. ROJAS: (stares at JACK for a few seconds) Yes.
JACK: Thank you.
MARTIN: Does Hazel have any problems in school?
MR. ROJAS: (turns to MARTIN) No.
MARTIN: At home?
MR. ROJAS: N-no.
MARTIN: Does she have a boyfriend?
MR. ROJAS: No.
MARTIN: Any friends?
MR. ROJAS: No.
MARTIN: That’ll be all for today. Until next time.
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
(INT.-CARMAN’S ROOM-EVENING)
(SAMANTHA and VIVIAN are talking with CARMAN, HAZEL’S older sister. SAMNATHA is looking around the room.)
VIVIAN: Are you and your sister very close?
CARMAN: Yes.
VIVIAN: (nods) When was the last time you saw her?
CARMAN: Thursday morning. We were walking to school.
VIVIAN: Any unusual behavior?
CARMAN: Um…Well, she did kind of snapped at me yesterday.
(EXT-OUTSIDE-DAY)
(QUICK FLASHBACK to CARMAN and HAZEL walking to school together.)
CARMAN: There’s these two girls in my classroom who are lesbians and yesterday I saw them kissing. Almost everyone my class were staring at them. Disgusting.
HAZEL: (angry and annoyed) I don’t care, Carman.
CARMAN: What’s your problem?
HAZEL: (calming down) Nothing. Let’s just change the subject.
CARMAN: Ok. I’m sorry.
(End of flashback. Resume to present.)
VIVIAN: Do you have any idea why she would want to change the subject?
CARMAN: No.
(VIVIAN nods. SAMANTHA stares at the black and blue on CARMAN’S wrist. CARMAN looks at SAMANTHA and pulls her sleeve to cover the bruise on her wrist.)
SAMANTHA: (looks at CARMAN) Is their anything else you would like to tell us?
CARMAN: No.
SAMANTHA: Are you sure.
(CARMAN nods and looks down. SAMANTHA and VIVIAN both look at each other.)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
DISSOLVE TO:
(INT.-WESTRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL-DAY)
--LEGEND—33 HOURS MISSING
CUT TO:
(JACK and VIVIAN are interviewing HAZEL’S teacher, MR. RILEY.)
JACK: How was Hazel’s behavior on Tuesday?
MR. RILEY: I wasn’t here on Tuesday, but the substitute sent me a complaint that a couple of students were cursing at a girl. But, I’m not sure if that was towards Hazel.
VIVIAN: Do you mind if we have a word with your class?
MR. RILEY: No, sure. Go ahead.
(Camera shows JACK, VIVIAN, and MR. RILEY entering the room. They face the students.)
MR. RILEY: (clears throat) Class, I would like you all to stop what you’re doing and listen to what the detectives have to say.
(The class is silent and they all look at JACK and VIVIAN. JACK nods thank you to MR. RILEY and he nods back.)
JACK: (faces the students) I know you all know about Hazel’s disappearance... I’d just like to say that if anybody knows any information on where she might be or what might have happened to her; please…do not be afraid to speak up... Thank you.
(JACK turns to MR. RILEY and nods)
CUT TO:
(INT.-SCHOOL HALLWAY-DAY)
(JACK and VIVIAN are walking in the halls of school. TAYLOR runs towards them)
TAYLOR: (exclaims) Wait!
(JACK and VIVIAN stop and turn around.)
TAYLOR: I don’t know if this info will do any help, but…
(QUICK FLASHBACK to HAZEL’S class. HAZEL is reading a book. A girl named SANDRA turns to HAZEL.)
SANDRA: Hey Hazel. Is it true that you’re a lesbian?
(HAZEL ignores her and continues reading her book.)
SANDRA: (snatches the book away from HAZEL) I asked you a question?
(HAZEL says nothing and looks at the edge of her desk. Another girl named DARCY, who is sitting in front of her turns around in her seat and faces HAZEL.)
DARCY: Didn’t you admit to Edwin that you were a lesbian?
(HAZEL says nothing.)
SANDRA: Why aren’t saying anything? You admitted to being a faggot to Edwin. Why can’t you admit it to the whole class?
(A tear comes out of HAZEL’S left eye.)
DARCY: Why are you crying? Because you know, it’s true?
SANDRA: (repeatedly) Faggot, faggot, faggot, faggot, faggot, faggot, faggot.
(DARCY joins in the name-calling and so do three other girls. HAZEL is crying. Camera goes to TAYLOR who is staring at HAZEL.)
(End of flashback. Resume to present.)
VIVIAN: Do you know why they were calling her that?
(TAYLOR shakes her head no.)
JACK: Thank you.
TAYLOR: You’re welcome.
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-INTERVIEW ROOM-AFTERNOON)
(VIVIAN and SAMANTHA are interviewing SANDRA.)
SAMANTHA: Any idea on what might have happened to Hazel?
SANDRA: (shrugs) No.
VIVIAN: You seem not to care.
SANDRA: I don’t even know her.
SAMANTHA: Is it true that you were calling Hazel a…faggot…on Tuesday?
SANDRA: (shrugs) Yeah, so?
VIVIAN: You think its fun making fun of others?
(Sandra shrugged her shoulders.)
VIVIAN: Would you like it if someone called you a faggot?
SANDRA: No.
VIVIAN: Then why were you calling Hazel one?
SANDRA: Because its true.
SAMANTHA: How do you know?
SANDRA: On Tuesday, at lunchtime. I was at the store with my friend Darcy and we heard all the commotion outside.
(EXT.-OUTSIDE STORE-AFTERNOON)
(QUICK FLASHBACK to SANDRA in the store with her friend. She picks up a bag of chip when she hears arguing outside the store.)
EDWIN: (o.s.) Admit it you faggot!
MELINDA: (o.s.) Edwin, stop!
EDWIN: (o.s.) (turns to Melinda) Stay out of this Melinda!
(EDWIN turns to HAZEL, trying to catch up with her.)
EDWIN: (o.s.) Admit it! You like my girlfriend!
(HAZEL stays quiet wishing that he would just go away.)
EDWIN: (o.s.) Faggot! Why don’t you just admit that you’re a faggot?!
HAZEL: (o.s.) (stops and turns around with tears in eyes) Yes! I like your girlfriend! I’m a lesbian! Are you happy?! What prize do I win for admitting it?!
(HAZEL turns back around quickly and walks away crying. Camera show SANDRA and DARCY coming out of the store holding a bag. They both look towards HAZEL.)
SANDRA: (v.o.) And that’s it. She just left.
(End of flashback)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
DISSOLVE TO:
(EXT.-FBI-NEW YOUR CITY (STOCK)-AFTERNOON)
--LEGEND—37 HOURS MISSING
CUT TO:
(INT.-EDWIN’S LIVING ROOM-AFTERNOON)
(SAMANTHA and MARTIN are questioning EDWIN.)
MARTIN: Have you seen Hazel?
EDWIN: No. Why?
MARTIN: She’s been missing and last seen leaving school.
SAMANTHA: Do you know why she went missing?
EDWIN: (shakes head) No.
MARTIN: Why were you forcing Hazel to admit that she was a lesbian?
EDWIN: Cuz, she was hittin’ on my girl.
MARTIN: And that’s a problem?
EDWIN: Yeah.
SAMANTHA: Do you mind telling us what happened on Tuesday, at lunchtime?
EDWIN: Yeah.
(SAMANTHA gives MARTIN a look. Then turns back to EDWIN.)
SAMANTHA: How well do you know Hazel?
EDWIN: I don’t. I just know she was in my homeroom class last year. Melinda knows her, I think. They both were in the same class for 8th grade.
MARTIN: Do you mind if we talk to your…girl?
EDWIN: No.
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-INTERVIEW ROOM-EVENING)
(VIVIAN is interviewing MELIDA.)
VIVIAN: You and Hazel were in the same class in 8th grade, right?
MELINDA: Yeah...Yes.
VIVIAN: Was her behavior always the same? Was she shy?
MELIDA: She’s always been shy. She can stay quiet for a whole day and not say anything to anyone. I feel bad for her, though.
VIVIAN: Why?
MELINDA: Well, she was always getting picked on. And what made me so mad was that she never stands up for herself. But, I was always their to defend her.
VIVIAN: Do you know why she’s always shy?
MELINDA: No, not really. She would always come to school quiet and leave quiet. It’s like she’s hiding something.
VIVIAN: Have you ever seen any bruises on her?
MELINDA: Yeah.
VIVIAN: When was the last time you saw her with a bruise?
MELINDA: Last week. She’s in my last class and she sits next to me. She was coming in the class…
(QUICK FLASHBACK to HAZEL entering the class. She sits in her seat next to MELINDA. MELINDA turns to her.)
MELINDA: Hi, Hazel. What’s sup?
HAZEL: (shrugs) Nothing.
(HAZEL opens her textbook and starts turning pages. MELINDA notices a black and blue under HAZEL’S eye.)
MELINDA: What happened to your eye?
HAZEL: N-nothing.
MELINDA: Were you in a fight?
HAZEL: No.
MELINDA: Then what happened to your eye?
HAZEL: (snaps) Nothing, ok?
MELINDA: (surprised that HAZEL raised her voice at her.) Sorry. I was just asking. Didn’t mean to get you upset.
(HAZEL nods and starts writing in her notebook.)
MELINDA: (v.o.) That was the first time I ever saw her in bad mood.
(End of flashback. Resume to interview.)
VIVIAN: She didn’t tell you how she got that bruise?
MELINDA: No.
VIVIAN: (nods) Can you tell me what happened on Tuesday with your boyfriend?
MELIMDA: I was walking with my boyfriend. We were trying to decide where to have lunch.
(QUICK FLASHBACK to MELINDA walking with EDWIN.)
MELINDA: You wanna go to the pizzeria instead? I wanna get a pizza.
(EDWIN wasn’t listening to MELINDA. He was staring at HAZEL across the street who kept glancing over to look at MELINDA.)
MELINDA: Edwin?
(MELINDA looks across the street to see HAZEL. HAZEL turns her head away and looks at the ground.)
MELINDA: Edwin, why are you staring at Hazel?
EDWIN: Hold on.
(EDWIN looks both ways and then crosses the street.)
EDWIN: Hey, yo! Hazel!
(Startled, HAZEL turns to see EDWIN walking towards her followed by MELINDA.)
EDWIN: I know why you keep starin’ at my girl, you little faggot!
HAZEL: (surprised) I...I wasn’t staring at her.
EDWIN: Why you lying? Every time I’m walking with Melinda, I always gotta see you either behind us or across the street from us. What are you a stalker?
HAZEL: N-no. I was just walking to the store. I always walk this way.
EDWIN: You’re a liar. You could walk any other way. There are a lot ways you can get to the store. You keep hittin on my girl. Are you a lesbian?
(HAZEL doesn’t say anything.)
MELINDA: Edwin, will you stop?
EDWIN: (at MELINDA) Nah, hold up. (to HAZEL) Answer me. Are you a lesbian?
(HAZEL looks down, then turns and walks away.)
EDWIN: Don’t walk away when I’m speaking to you!
(EDWIN advances towards HAZEL. MELINDA follows.)
MELINDA: Edwin!
EDWIN: (turns to MELINDA) Shut up, Melinda! (turns back to HAZEL) Hey, faggot! Come back here! I’m talking to you!
MELINDA: Edwin!
HAZEL: (stops and turns around) You can stop defending me Melinda. I’m not in elementary school anymore!
(HAZEL turns back around and continues walking. EDWIN keeps following her.)
EDWIN: Admit it you faggot!
MELINDA: Edwin, stop!
EDWIN: (turns to MELINDA) Stay out of this, Melinda!
(EDWIN turns to HAZEL, trying to catch up with her.)
EDWIN: Admit it! You like my girlfriend!
(HAZEL stays quiet wishing that he would just go away.)
EDWIN:  Faggot! Why don’t you just admit that you’re a faggot?!
HAZEL:  (stops and turns around with tears in eyes) Yes! I like your girlfriend! I’m a lesbian! Are you happy?! What prize do I win for admitting it?
(HAZEL turns back around quickly and walks away crying. SANDRA and DARCY step outside and look towards HAZEL. MR. ROJAS also steps out of the store, surprise at what he just heard. He also looks towards HAZEL.)
(End of flashback. Resume to interview.)
VIVIAN: Mr. Rojas was there?
MELINDA: Yeah…I guess he heard the whole thing. He came out of the store and saw her leave.
VIVIAN: Did he go after her?
MELINDA: No, he went back into the store.
(VIVIAN nods.)
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-INTERVIEW ROOM-SUNSET)
(VIVIAN and SAMANTHA are re-questioning MR. ROJAS)
VIVIAN: What happened after you saw Hazel leave?
MR. ROJAS: I went back into the store.
VIVIAN: Do you know why she left so upset?
MR. ROJAS: Yeah. That boy made her admit that she was a lesbian.
VIVIAN: What was your reaction?
MR. ROJAS: I don’t know…I…
SAMANTHA: Were you angry?
MR. ROJAS: No…no…I...I was concerned about her.
VIVIAN: Did you see her after school?
MR. ROJAS: No.
VIVIAN: Do you think she ran away because she was afraid to tell you that she was a lesbian?
MR. ROJAS: (shrugs) I guess so.
SAMANTHA: Can I ask you a serious question?
MR. ROJAS: Yeah, sure.
SAMANTHA: Do you physically abuse Carman and Hazel?
MR. ROJAS: (sits up nervously) What? No…No…Why do you ask for?
SAMANATHA: Well, we were interviewing Carman and I saw bruise on her wrist.
VIVIAN: Do you know how that bruise got there, Mr. Rojas?
MR. ROJAS: Uh…she fell.
VIVIAN: She fell?
MR. ROJAS: Yeah, she fell down the stairs and hit her wrist on the railing.
(Camera shows JACK and DANNY outside the interview room.)
DANNY: Do you believe is alibi?
JACK: No.
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-INTERVIEW ROOM-DAY)
--LEGEND—58 HOURS MISSING
(SAMANTHA and JACK are interviewing HAZEL’S step mom, MRS. ROJAS.)
SAMANTHA: We’d just like to ask you a few questions.
MRS. ROJAS: (takes a puff of her cigarette) Ok.
JACK: We know that 5 years ago your husband threw a glass mug at you. Why?
MRS. ROJAS: He came home drunk. We had an argument. And…you know how it goes…
JACK: K. Did you know about Hazel being a lesbian?
MRS. ROJAS: No.
JACK: You don’t seem to care, do you?
(MRS. ROJAS shrugs her shoulders and takes another puff of her cigarette.)
SAMANTHA: (angry, she leans forward) Do you even care that Hazel’s missing?
MRS. ROJAS: No, she isn’t my daughter.
JACK: But, if she were your daughter would you care?
MRS. ROJAS: She isn’t my daughter.
JACK: I know that Mrs. Rojas. I’m asking you that if your daughter were missing, would you care? Would you be worried?
MRS. ROJAS: I don’t have a daughter.
(SAMANTHA shakes her head in disbelief.)
JACK: (getting annoyed) Just answer the question. Yes or No?
MRS. ROJAS: Uh…yes?
SAMANTHA: (rolls eyes) Have you ever seen your husband hit Carman or Hazel?
MRS. ROJAS: No.
JACK: Do you know how Carman got the bruise on her wrist?
MRS. ROJAS: No, I mean yes.
(JACK waits for an explanation.)
SAMANTHA: Well? How did she get the bruise?
MRS. ROJAS: Oh…Uh…she uh…told that she slammed her locker door on it… (nods)
JACK: That’s strange.
MRS. ROJAS: (a little scared) What’s strange?
JACK: Your husband claims she fell down the stairs and hit her wrist on the railing.
MRS. ROJAS: (under her breathe) Crap.
SAMANTHA: What was that?
MRS. ROJAS: Uh…she…she lied?
(SAMANTHA nods and gives a look at JACK. JACK gives her a she’s lying look and nods.)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
(INT.-FBI-MISSING PERSONS UNIT-DAY)
--LEGEND—64 HOURS MISSING
(Camera shows MARTIN writing on the whiteboard timeline. A picture of Hazel shows. Camera shows DANNY coming in talking in his cell phone.)
DANNY: (on the cell phone) Yes…ok...thanks.
(DANNY turns to MARTIN and SAMANTHA.)
DANNY: (serious) They found Carman’s jacket in a nearby woods, a few miles away from where the Rojas’s live.
(MARTIN and SAMANTHA turn to DANNY.)
DANNY: The jacket’s stained with blood.
MARTIN: Did they say if it was Carman’s?
(DANNY nods.)
CUT TO:
(EXT.-WOODS-AFTERNOON)
(DANNY, MARTIN, and SAMANTHA step out of their car and meet with JACK and VIVIAN. JACK shows them CARMAN’S bloody jacket. Camera shows them searching through the woods. DANNY finds CARMAN’S body.)
DANNY: I found her!
(DANNY checks her pulse, looks up a JACK, and shakes his head. SAMANTHA’S sees CARMAN’S body and covers her mouth in shock.)
CUT TO:
(INT. OUTSIDE OF ROJAS’S HOUSE-AFTERNOON)
(JACK has MR. ROJAS handcuffed. He is escorts him into the police car. MARTIN comes in holding MRS. ROJAS, who is also handcuffed and escorted to the police car.)
MRS. ROJAS: Why do I go to jail? What did I do?
MARTIN: We found your prints on Carman’s arm. It seems to me that you tightened her arm.
MRS. ROJAS: But, I didn’t kill her.
MARTIN: No, but you accompanied your husband to drop her body off.
(MRS. ROJAS doesn’t say anything and gets into the car. JACK sits next MR. ROJAS in the police.)
JACK: I'm gonna ask you once...and I expect an answer...What did you do to Hazel? Where is she?
MR. ROJAS: Look, she came out of school...
(QUICK FLASHBACK to HAZEL coming inside the house. MR. ROJAS advances towards and strikes her across the face making her fall to the ground.)
MR. ROJAS: When were you gonna tell me?!
HAZEL: (covers her cheek) T...tell you what?
MR. ROJAS: That your a lesbian!
(HAZEL says nothing. Tears streaming down her face.)
MR. ROJAS: You thought I wouldn’t find out, huh?! (he kicks HAZEL making her scream and cry out.)
MR. ROJAS: Get up! Get up!
(HAZEL slowly gets up. MR. ROJAS grabs her by the arm.)
MR. ROJAS: You thought I wouldn’t find out! Well, you thought wrong! Wrong!
(He throws her to the floor and looks down at her. He spits in her face.)
MR. ROJAS: (shakes head) You disgust me! (he kicks her again)
(MR. ROJAS pulls her up and pushes her into the room slamming the door behind her, locking it.)
(End of Flashback. Resume to questioning.)
MR. ROJAS: When I went to check on her in the morning, she was gone.
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
--LEGEND-- 74 HOURS MISSING
(SAMANTHA and DANNY are searching the ROJAS'S house. DANNY goes into the master bedroom. Camera follows SAMANTHA going into CARMAN’S room. SAMANTHA searches the room. She looks at CARMAN’S dresser and picks up a picture of CARMAN and HAZEL together smiling. A tear falls out of SAMANTHA’S eye as she looks at the picture. DANNY comes in the room.)
DANNY: Need any help?
(SAMANHA looks away, quickly wiping her tears away.)
DANNY: Hey, it wasn’t your fault, you know.
SAMANTHA: (sighs) I know….I just feel responsible….I shouldn’t of ask Mr. Rojas if he…
DANNY: No one knew what he was going to do. You were just doing your job.
(SAMANTHA nods and looks at CARMAN’S bed. She sees a paper on the bed, so she picks it up and opens it. Then she turns to DANNY.)
SAMANTHA: I think I found a suicide note.
(DANNY goes to SAMANTHA and looks at the note.)
SAMANTHA: (reads from the note) Dear Carman, I’m sorry I ran away. I’m sorry that I left you behind. My whole life is crumbling and I can’t take it anymore. I can’t handle the pain…it hurts too much…I’m tired of dad always hitting me…If you want you can join me….you know where to find me…But, if you don’t that’s ok…Remember when mom asked you to take a good care of me before she died….You did a great job…Just remember…I’ll always love you…
(SAMANTHA chokes back tears.)
SAMANTHA: (continues reading) I guess that’s why I decided to go their. The place where we were free...where are dreams were at…But, now I know…that dreams, like everyone else….just dies…I wish their was another way out…but there’s nothing I can do in this life anymore…I’ll miss you Carman….I’m sorry…Hazel.
(SAMANTHA looks at DANNY. They both have a tear in their eye.)
DANNY: Do you know where she might have went?
(SAMANTHA grabs the picture of CARMAN and HAZEL. She looks at it closely. Behind HAZEL and CARMAN is a tall tower.)
FADE OUT:

FADE IN:
CUT TO:
(EXT.-TOWER-NIGHT)

(JACK, VIVIAN, and MARTIN get out of their car and join SAMNATHA and DANNY. The detectives look up to HAZEL on top of the tower looking down with her back facing them.)

DANNY: I’ll go up.

SAMANTHA: Me, too.

(DANNY starts climbing the ladder followed by SAMANTHA. When they get to the top, they see HAZEL over the railing looking down. DANNY walks towards her.)

DANNY: Hazel?

(HAZEL turns her head to DANNY who touches her on the shoulders. She turns away in fear.)

HAZEL: Don’t touch me…please…I’ll jump. I swear to God…I’ll jump.

(SAMANTHA goes to DANNY and HAZEL.)

SAMANTHA: (to DANNY) Mind if I talk to her?

(DANNY nods and steps aside. SAMANTHA turns to HAZEL.)

SAMANTHA: Hazel, I know your hurt. I’m sorry for what your father put you through. But, please think about what you’re doing….Your…Your not thinking straight.

HAZEL: Y-Yes, I am.

SAMANTHA: Hazel, this won’t solve anything. People care about you.

HAZEL: no, they don’t…anyone cares about me…

SAMANTHA: Carman cared about you.

HAZEL: (sobs) I…I know. B-but she’s gone…Don’t you get it? I don’t have anybody…

SAMNATHA: How did you know about Carman?

HAZEL: I…I went back to the house…to drop off the note. I sneaked into Carman’s bedroom from the window…

(QUICK FLASHBACK to HAZEL entering Carman’s bedroom from the window.)

HAZEL: (v.o.) I was dropped the note on the bed and then started to sneak back out the window…

(Camera shows HAZEL dropping the note on CARMAN’S bed and then sneaking back out the window. But then she stops.)

HAZEL: But, I stopped when I heard Carman and dad yelling. So, I went to check it out.

(HAZEL sneaks back in and opens CARMAN’S door slowly and peeks out to see the kitchen.)

MR. ROJAS: You told them didn’t you?!

(Camera shows MR. ROJAS going towards CARMAN.)

CARMAN: N-no, I didn’t…I promise.

MR. ROJAS: (puts a knife near her throat) Don’t lie! You told them that I hit you!

CARMAN: (cries) No…please! I didn’t…I didn’t tell them…please.

(HAZEL gasps)

MR. ROJAS: How did they know then?! Huh?! Explain to me how they know?! (puts knife closer to her throat)

CARMAN: I swear! I swear!

MR. ROJAS: Don’t lit to me, Carman! You know what I do to liars.

CARMAN: No, I swear…Oh, please…

(Camera shows HAZEL is sweating in fear wishing she could do something.)

MR. ROJAS: (o.s.) That’s for lying.

(HAZEL peeks through the door again. She gasps when she sees CARMAN in the ground, blood on the floor.)

MR. ROJAS: (to MRS. ROJAS) Get her up!

(MRS. ROJAS grabs her tight by the arm and helps MR. ROJAS carry her out the door. HAZEL closes CARMAN’S bedroom door and drops to the ground and leans against it. She covers her face and starts sobbing.)

HAZEL: (v.o.) Their was blood…blood everywhere...

(End of Flashback. Resume to present.)

SAMANTHA: (with tears in eyes) It wasn’t your fault, Hazel.

HAZEL: (sobs) Y-yes it is…I…I let her die…I could’ve done something…b-but I didn’t…I let her die…I killed her!

(SAMANTHA turns around to see JACK coming up the ladder. She turns to DANNY.)

DANNY: (mouths) Keep her talking.

(SAMANTHA nods and turns back to HAZEL. She places her hand on HAZEL’S shoulder.)

SAMANATHA: Hazel, I’m sorry about what happened to Carman.

HAZEL: No, your not…your just saying that…you just don’t want me to jump…

SAMANTHA: Hazel, I really am. I know you feel like no one care’s…I care about you.

HAZEL: How can you care about me? You don’t even know me…Besides…I don’t have anywhere else to go…

SAMANTHA: Yes you do…you can come with me…Hazel, please…Think about what you’re doing. You have your whole life ahead of you.

(HAZEL doesn’t say anything but continues crying. JACK is walking towards her. With help from DANNY, they both quickly grab her and carefully pull her up to safety. HAZEL struggles to break free.)

HAZEL: No! Let me go!

(JACK and DANNY let her go.)

JACK: There, your let go.

(HAZEL looks down at her feet. She then turns to SAMANTHA and burry’s her face in SAMANTHA’S arms. SAMANTHA looks up at JACK in shock. She turns to DANNY who is wiping his tears away.)

JACK: You did a good job, Samantha.

(SAMANTHA nods a thank you and hugs HAZEL tightly.)

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

CUT TO:

(INT.-MISSING PERSON UNIT-NIGHT)

(SAMANTHA takes the picture of HAZEL from the whiteboard timeline. Camera looks at the picture of HAZEL.)

FADE TO BLACK


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THE END
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