OPENING SCENE
INVESTIGATIVE DAY 22
The old Kingfisher Sardine Factory sits out on a point of land on the south end of Sunrise. Currently it is a hotbed of activity as fire trucks, ambulances and a portion of the town have turned out to see the Investigators and an explosives team blow open the door of the mysterious vault discovered by Jeff the previous night while playing the Killer's game.
While preparations are being made, a pair of interested eyes watches from across the inlet with a concerned look. William Lambert stands in front of his house taking in the sight. Not far away, just down the road a camera clicks away, taking photographs of the events. Frank Kovick sits on a rock outside his boathouse, camera in hand, documenting all he sees. Across the inlet, Jeff comments that it's strange that Kovick isn't around, as he always seems to turn up at events like this.
An explosive expert hands Alan a small yellow detonator device and carefully explains the procedure for setting off the blast. Alan understands and when everybody is ready, he gives the pre-blast warning. "Fire in the hole!" he yells. A moment later an explosion emanates from the vault as the lock mechanism is successfully blown away from the door.
Those gathered begin to move in towards the vault. Duncan keeps the onlookers back at a safe distance as Angel puts on gloves and opens the eight-inch thick steel door, emblazoned with the OSL logo. He clicks on his flashlight and scans the roughly 8'X10" room. As the dust clears, the light settles on a disturbing object…a skeleton lying on the floor. "Oh my God," a shocked Angel whispers.
Jeff and Alan step into the room. Jeff begins coughing and covers his mouth. Alan scans the room with his light and begins counting… "One, two, three, four, five, six…" Duncan and the mayor now step up to see what they've found. Duncan repeats Angel's words of shock. Alan is counting skeletons. "…seven…eight. Eight bodies."
In interviews, Angel, Alan and Jeff each offer up their leading suspects. Angel thought… "I truly believe that Lambert may be the Killer. I may be wrong because the mage is still out of focus, but of the five that are left, I believe that Lambert may have done it."
Alan is less certain of his choice, "I'm stuck right now between Jimmy Tinker and Frank Kovick." Jeff, on the other hand is completely sure of who the Killer is, "It's Frank Kovick, without a doubt, I guarantee it."
Morning Briefing. Gary starts with the flaring tempers between Jeff and Angel from the night before. He appreciates the fact that they were able to put their differences aside and get the job done at the vault. Alan states, "After last night I think everybody calmed down and realized, hey, we're here to play the Killer's game, that they're going to be O.K."
The players next watch Katie's "Last Will & Testament" to determine the final lifeguard of the investigation. "My choice for Lifeguard is going to be Angel. Because Angel I think out of everybody is really, really, really into this game. First of all he's having a great time. But I think that Angel's heart is into this game more than anybody." Angel gives his reaction to this, "When Katie chose me as Lifeguard, what it meant to me was that I was out of danger. She gave me the chance to set things right."
Next, the group turns to their findings in the vault. Besides the skeletal, decomposed bodies of eight people, they also found the remains of a burnt newspaper article with a headline that reads, "Governor Orders Crack Down on East Coast Smuggling Amid War Fears!" Additionally, they found crates full of booze, tobacco and a white substance they believe is cocaine. All of the crates were labeled with the O.S.L. logo. All of the dead bodies were found handcuffed together. Gary asks the Investigators what that means?
Alan says they were held against their will and all agree that it points to a murder. Angel tells Gary that they believe the skeletal remains of the bodies found in the vault may be the Duchamps. The same family found in the photo recovered from the back of the painting from the motel room where the burnt man killed himself. By looking at the clothing on the skeletons, matches can be made with the people in the photo.
Two of the skeletons are wearing matching dresses, like the twin girls in the photo. The clothing on each body helps identify the sex. Matches can be made with eight of the nine members of the Duchamps. Flashing back to when the investigators are counting the bodies in the vault and keep coming up with eight bodies, rather than the nine that should identify the complete Duchamps family, Angel makes a key observation. "You're not going to find all nine. You know why? Because the little boy survived."
In the briefing room, all three Investigators think hard about this fact. Angel suggests that somehow the little boy survived or was spared. Gary asks, "Okay, who is he?" There is silence as they ponder this question. Then, Angel responds… "I remember when I was eight years old…" We see the burnt man film again as he continues Angel's memory of his words… "My earliest memory was in 1941 when I was eight years old. I remember running through a dark hallway filled with smoke. There were flames at my back chasing me…."
Gary asks Angel, "So you're saying it's the burnt man." Angel responds, "He witnessed the murder of his family." The flashback to parts of the burnt man film continues, "…The left side of my face had melted and my tongue had swollen. I couldn't do anything but run…." Alan states that he thinks that the burnt man was in the cannery when his family was killed. He suggests that maybe he got out of that vault somehow." The burnt man continues, "…I didn't see Sunrise again until I was a man."
Gary reads the forensic report. It says that the people in the vault died from asphyxiation and intense heat. Four of the bodies were adult male and one of those is missing two fingers. The four other bodies were female, two of whom were twins. One of the older women was suffering from a genetic condition that causes hair loss.
Angel begins to put it all together. Pointing at the suspect board he says, "Whoever killed those people, whoever killed Nate Flint, is copying that murder." Alan says that so far, every person murdered in town has represented someone in the Duchamps photo. The group proceeds to go through the Sunrise murder victims and match them specifically with the Duchamps.
Nate Flint is the man missing two fingers. Mary Elizabeth and Abby are the twins because they always acted so much alike. The woman with the hair loss condition matches Leita Rose Blodgett, whose hair was shaved off by the Killer. Thibodeaux represents the man on the far left, while General DeBeck fills the male spot in the middle of the photo. Carman doesn't fit, because she was an outsider. The Investigators feel she doesn't fit the Killer's plan, which is why her body was returned. Oscar Blodgett's body, which the Killer stole from the grave, is the final adult male in the photo.
All of these matches leave one remaining female, the one on the far left. Alan points out that someone else might be killed and Jeff wonders who they need to be concerned about. Before they can figure it out, the doorbell rings and a winded Mayor comes upstairs. He tells them the town is in a panic and getting out of control. He has called a town hall meeting for that afternoon and would like the investigators to come and speak to the townspeople, fill them in on the progress of their investigation and help calm their fears.
The three investigators arrive at town hall where a bunch of angry townspeople are not being allowed into being the building by the police. Inside, Angel reads from a written statement that he, Alan and Jeff prepared. "We believe that a town member may be involved in the murders in Sunrise. We've come to think that the person or persons involved may be a relative a family that once lived in Sunrise named the Duchamps. The Duchamps were a family of fisherman that worked independently for any one of the canneries, including Kingfisher. The murders that have recently occurred in Sunrise may be a copy of the Duchamps murder. At the beginning of our investigation we received a roll of film. On this film, the Killer identified himself or herself as one of 15 suspects. Please, we cannot disclose the identity of any of our suspects, so please don't ask."
As soon as he finishes the questions begin. Dr. Bowden wants to know what murders in the past have to do with the present. Kovick answers her, very excitedly pointing out that it was mass murder of the Duchamps, just like the mass murders taking place in town now. He gets even more heated saying the town of Sunrise was built on murder and that people are ignoring that. Lambert asks Kovick who knows that? More people jump in talking over each other and arguing. Finally, Rev. Rusty gets up and asks to say a few words. The room grows quiet.
"I think it's time for the people of the city of Sunrise to face our past and repent, because this killing will not stop until you all face your past and repent for your sins." With that, Rusty leaves. Duncan tells him he better stay in town.
Upon returning to HQ, the investigators find a small baby basket waiting for them at the front door. In it are a bunch of the little dolls that Leita used to make. Also in the basket are the red and black envelopes and a note that reads "For tonight."
Later that evening the group gathers for the red briefing, this time being held sooner than usual as it comes the day after they last played the Killer's game. Gary opens the red envelope and reads them the question that can allow them to clear another suspect.
"What year did my father die?" The Investigators talk it over. 1971 is the only year they can come up with. Angel says they believe that the burnt man is the killer's father, and they know he died in 1971. They are correct and the Killer clears the Reverend Rusty Crandall.
Next comes the selection of the black envelopes. There is no voting as there are only two eligible investigators left. Angel, as Lifeguard, lets Jeff and Alan choose their black envelopes. Alan's is sending him to the Flint House. Jeff's is sending him back to DeBeck's compound.
Gary then outlines the rest of the game. The time is drawing close when the two remaining investigators will have to make their choice for who the Killer is. In the event that they both choose the same person, the Last Will & Testament of the person eliminated tonight will break the tie. Alan and Jeff now enter the booth and record their final thoughts.
In the booth, Alan says simply that it's the last night and that it's going to be tough. He wishes both Angel and Jeff luck. As for Jeff, he feels that his luck has run out, stating, "I always have good hunches and I picked the wrong map. I know it. And I never feel that way, never."
Waiting to depart, Angel tells Alan that he's going to go with Lambert as his choice for the Killer. "You see, I'm going by the clue of the father, 1971. Lambert was born here in Sunrise, but raised in central Maine". He points out that Lambert has never identified his father. Tinker never said his father was dead, while Connor told them her father drank himself to death. Kovick said he was adopted.
Jeff, on the other hand, is convinced the Killer is Kovick. He doesn't believe that Frank was really adopted and feels it's just his ploy to keep people from knowing what he's doing. He feels the burnt man is Frank Kovick's father. Jeff is almost giddy with the self-assurance that he is right. "I solved this case!" he states firmly.
Alan rides to the Flint House with X-Ray. Jeff rides with Moe. Both feel they will not be coming back. Alan walks up the driveway and enters the house through the basement. As he climbs the stairs to the first floor he comments, "I'm going up, this could be it." He enters the kitchen and looks around. Meanwhile, Jeff enters DeBeck's compound through the courtyard, which is ablaze with oil drums on fire. He repeats his earlier comment that he has never felt this way before. He walks down a long hallway full of doors. Unlike his previous trips to play the Killer's game, when he yelled and shouted and kicked his way through the buildings, Jeff is very quiet and careful as he walks. "Let's do it Jeff, let's do it," he whispers to himself.
Back at HQ, Gary asks Angel who he wants to see come back up the stairs. Angel responds quickly, "Alan. Being that Jeff and I don't see eye to eye on anything, I feel that whatever he finds out there might not be shared. If Jeff happens to come up those stairs and he doesn't share that last clue with me, I'm going to go with Lambert tomorrow as my choice for the Killer."
Alan slowly heads up to the third floor of the Flint house and turns right towards C.R. Flint's former bedroom. At the same time, Jeff walks up some stairs and ahead of him, sees an office with a desk in the middle of the room. A large OSL logo hangs behind the desk and in front of this seal is a giant Lupine "X". Back at the Flint House, Alan too, sees a giant "X" of Lupine flowers, this one, leaning against the headboard of C.R. Flint's bed. Alan moves towards it.
Jeff, too, approaches the "X" and suddenly we see Jeff from behind. The picture glows green. As Jeff looks at the items on the desk, the Killer strikes. Jeff whips around. Flash. Bang. The eighth Investigator, Jeff, has been eliminated.
At Headquarters Angel pensively waits. Footsteps echo on the wooden stairs and Angel turns to look. A giant smile spreads across his face as he sees the familiar messy blond hair come into view. Alan has returned. "What's up big daddy?" Alan asks Angel with a smile. Angel reflects his thoughts of that moment. "The minute that Alan came up those steps, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder's. I felt my smile creeping back on my face and it felt great." Alan puts the clues he found on the table, another can of 16mm film and a piece of paper bearing the OSL logo.
Across the street above the diner, a restless C.R. Flint suddenly sits up in his bed. "Oh my God" he mutters in pain. Then, with a final breath, falls back on the bed.
INVESTIGATIVE DAY 23
Morning Briefing. Gary begins by breaking the news to Alan and Angel that C.R. Flint died of a brain embolism the previous night. It appears to be natural causes. Alan comments, "There goes any…questions we may have had about the OSL." Gary tells them that they may have some info on the OSL after all, and he plays back the wire recording the Jeff and Alan found a few days ago at the OSL headquarters.
"Gentlemen, come to attention please. On this final meeting of the Order of the Scarlet Lupine, pray to remain silent for the last reading of the roll call of the high officers. Merchant?" "Here." "Rose?" "Here." "Flint?" "Here." "Blodgett?" "Present." "Thibodeaux?" "Here." "DeBeck?" "Present." "Larabee?" "Here."
Gary asks the two investigators what this means. He writes down all the names read as Alan and Angel go through the list, matching each name read on the roll call with the corresponding names of their murdered relatives. But one matching name is missing. "Who does that leave us?" Gary asks. Angel answers, "Sam Larabee." Gary then asks what that means? Angel knows, "She's going to be his next victim."
With that, Alan and Angel quickly head out across the street to bring Samantha back to the safety of their Headquarters. But upon arriving they find a ransacked diner and a TV/VCR with a note that says to press play. They push the button and Sam Larabee's face comes up on the screen. She is bloodied and crying and reading from a note.
"Congratulations. You are seeing this because you have been successful in your investigation. That's because you have followed the leads I have left you. I am going to claim my last victim before the day ends. My work here will be finished and I will go back into the background. A wrong will have been righted and a terrible injustice revealed. Thank you. None of this would have been possible without you. I have enjoyed our game. I hope you have too."
Back at HQ, Gary asks for feedback. Angel is assertive. "Feedback is we have to catch this man today, or this woman. We have to ID them before he kills someone."
Gary agrees, but reminds them they have one more piece of evidence to look at, the killer clue film that Alan brought back last night. They watch the film. It is another segment of the burnt man film. Similar to the others, he sits in his motel room. This time, he holds up the now familiar photo of the Duchamps family. His family.
"This was my family in 1940 on Thanksgiving Day before the fire. Here I am…" (he points to the little boy) "…This is my grandfather and my father, he would have been your grandfather…" (He points first to the older man on the little boy's left, then to the man standing directly behind the boy.) "In 1941 they were working for the Order of the Scarlet Lupine, running cigarettes and booze out of Canada using the Kingfisher Sardine Factory as cover. Then the government started to crack down on smuggling and the officers at the OSL panicked. On their orders, Oscar Blodgett, Hayden DeBeck and Calvin Roosevelt Flint lit the match that covered up their crimes and burned our family alive, everyone, including a pregnant woman. I escaped the fire and came back to Sunrise after thirty years to take my revenge. Yesterday I started with Oscar Blodgett. But it hasn't eased the pain. I've not only been scarred by the fire, I've become a monster and I'm ending my life tonight. You're to little to understand, but I've seen to it that this will be sent to you long after I'm gone so that you might learn who your family was and who killed them and that you might know that your father loved you. Goodbye my son."
Gary asks for impressions. Alan says, "we know the Killer is a boy or a man because he says "my son" at the end." Gary asks who that eliminates? "Alan says Connor. She is crossed off the board. Angel then states that Jimmy Tinker is to young because he is 21 years old and wasn't yet born in 1971 when the burnt man recorded the film to his son. Tinker is crossed off the suspect board. That leaves only two suspects. Frank Kovick and William Lambert.
Gary says, "We know the clock is ticking. The killer has taken Samantha Larabee hostage and he said he's going to kill her and he's going to make his escape tonight. Up to now, both of you have been working as a team. But now it's time to work individually as Investigators and make your choice of who you think the Killer is. Now remember, you don't just rely on the evidence. That has a lot to do with it, but because our time is of the essence you're also going to have to rely a lot on your gut instinct and the training and experience you have up to this point. Are you guys clear?" Alan and Angel answer in unison, "Yes sir."
Angel and Alan spend the next hour reviewing the facts and clues preparing for their final choices. Angel says, "Maybe Lambert is not the person, but every part of my body is telling me it is, it is, it is." Both investigators comb meticulously through the evidence, agreeing that the Killer is completing the revenge that his father, the burnt man, began back in 1971, by killing the descendents of the members of the OSL who were responsible for the murder of his own family.
Alan expresses his thoughts, "I'm sure Lambert could have done it, but I, for some reason I'm just not thinking William Lambert. I was dead set on Frank Kovick for the simple fact that the burnt man said that his son was a little boy. He would have been younger at the time than William Lambert. Lambert would have been about 16 or so at the time and Kovick would have been about five."
Alan and Angel, their choices made, sit for the last time in the red briefing room facing Gary. In front of them is a sealed envelope with the photo of the suspect they have named as the Killer. Gary tells them, "Before you reveal your choices, this is your last chance to change your mind. So Angel, are you confident about the decision?"
Angel has his eyes closed and his head tilted back. He now drops his head into his hands. Weakly he responds, "Yeah, I'm confident." Gary moves on to Alan, "Alan, are you confident about your decision?" Alan answers, "Yes sir."
Angel is directed to stand up and reveal his choice for the killer. Angel stands, opens his envelope and pulls out a photo. "I believe Frank Kovick is the Killer." Angel then goes on to explain that he has changed his mind at the last minute and chosen Kovick instead of Lambert because of the final clue which he feels indicates that Lambert, at age 16 might be old enough to understand his father's message, while only a five year old, as Kovick would have been at the time, would be too young to understand. Angel's final thought, "I'm sure it's Lambert, but not that sure. Now I believe it may be Kovick and it's killing me, it's tearing me up. I can't believe I'm going to go against everything I've believed since the very beginning. I'm going to have to choose Kovick."
Alan next stands and reveals his choice. "I'm going to go with Kovick myself. The only personal evidence that we've collected throughout this investigation was at Leita Rose Blodgett's house and each suspect had a personal article left there, from Frank's game piece to something off Lambert's jacket. But the fact that Frank's game piece was lying beneath her blood made me stick with Mr. Kovick."
Choices now made, Gary reminds them that they have a hostage out there and that they can't concentrate their efforts on just one suspect. So they must turn to Jeff's Last Will & Testament to determine which investigator will pursue the suspect they named and which will follow the other suspect. In his LW&T, Jeff gives Alan the option to pursue his choice for the Killer. As he finishes, Jeff tells Alan… "Just pick Frank Kovick."
Alan admits that he had a gut feeling that Jeff would choose him because of the bad blood between Angel and Jeff. He says he thinks he now has a good shot at winning the game. Angel, on the other hand, says, "It's a horrible feeling," referring to Jeff choosing Alan. "And then to give this guy (Jeff) the last word, I didn't want it to come down to that."
Gary tells them he has checked with Duncan who told him that the most likely location for Kovick to be at is his boathouse, and for Lambert, to be at his home. So Alan will go to the boathouse in pursuit of Kovick, while Angel will travel to William Lambert's house. As these two locations are just down the road from each other, they will ride together with Duncan and be dropped off at a mid point in the road.
Gary gives them their final instructions. "I want you to go out there and try and find Sam Larabee and recover whatever evidence you can find to tell us which one of these men is the Killer. The one who finds the Killer and his lair, you will have won the Killer's game. Good luck both of you."
THE FINAL KILLER'S GAME
Hands in pocket, Angel casually walks south down the dirt road towards Lambert's house. At the same time, Alan heads in the opposite direction towards Kovick's boathouse. He walks down the steps towards the entrance, just off the water. Before entering, however, he bends over and picks up a long, thick piece of wood for protection. Cautiously he opens the door and enters. The first room is full of junk. There is one doorway leading into another room. Alan calls out, "Sam!" As he crosses to that passage there is a loud crash across the room. Alan turns, startled, then looks down and sees a trip wire.
Up the road at Lambert's house, Angel follows the driveway and enters through the garage. He opens a door from the garage and walks into a dark, empty living room. The only objects are two lit candles on a fireplace mantel and photos of each of the investigators tacked to the wall.
Back at the boathouse, Alan makes a shocking discovery. The main room of the boathouse has been turned into a museum of artifacts, all pertaining to the murder mystery. At the far end of the room hang two large bulletin boards covered in photos of both the murder victims and the investigators. All those who have died have a red X across their face. A large Lupine X, identical to the ones found on the Killer clues hangs in the middle. On the floor sits a scale model of downtown Sunrise, each building, carefully constructed in proper design and location out of wood. Newspaper clippings are everywhere.
At Lambert's house, Angel's attention turns, not towards the investigator photos, but rather, to a giant partition separating the living room from another part of the house. Light seeps through the cracks in the partition. "Hello, Sam?" Angel calls. Nobody answers.
"What are you doing here?" an exasperated Frank Kovick cries out. "What are you doing here? Don't you know where you should be?" Alan spins around, startled and comes face to face with Kovick. "What is all this?" Alan demands to know, pointing to the myriad of artifacts. "It's my work." Responds Kovick, "It's what I've been trying to tell you guys since the very beginning, I'm trying to figure it out just like you. Don't you get what he's doing?" Alan answers, "I know exactly what he's doing." Frank gets more frantic, "Don't you know who he has?" Alan does, "Yea, he's got Sam."
Kovick now starts to break down, "He has Samantha. He has my Sam." Alan stays calm, "Sam's here." "She's not here," Frank shouts, "She's with him at his place, and we need to get there now, so come on." But Alan won't move, "I think Sam is here, I want to go through here."
Angel continues to examine the partition that blocks his path. "Hello, Sam?" he repeats. And suddenly there is a sound, a barely audible response from the other side of the partition. Angel finally pushes open one end of the partition and gain entry into the kitchen area. Still in the dark, he scans the countertop with his flashlight and finds a bizarre and frightening sight. The kitchen area is a mess. Cooking pans, utensils and serving plates as well as a gruesome collection of medical paraphernalia are strewn everywhere, and all of it is covered in blood. Bottles of liquid, syringes, meat cleavers, and pans containing unidentifiable bloodied masses are everywhere.
A moaning sound now becomes clear. It sounds like a woman's voice. "Sam?" Angel calls out again. He pushes through another part of the partition which is sectioning off another part of the room. Now there is a loud and distinct scream followed by a cry, "Help me…help me!" A large curtain is all that now stands between Angel and this cry for help. He quickly tears the curtain aside to reveal the final horror.
Behind the curtain is a dining room set for a Thanksgiving meal. The recognizable image is clear immediately. It is an exact replica of the Duchamps 1940 Thanksgiving Day photo left by the Killer, complete, not only with food and settings, but with bodies arranged to create, or recreate, a gruesome tableau.
Angel acts quickly. Samantha is tied and blindfolded in the position on the far left. "Please…" she cries. Angel removes her blindfold and begins untying her arms. A loud sound whips Angel's head around. It is Chief Duncan, rushing in the front door and rounding the corner to the dining room where the horror is revealed to him. "Oh my God!" Duncan gasps.
He is stunned as he quickly scans the bodies. Thibodeaux; Nate Flint with two fingers missing; Hayden DeBeck; Leita Rose Blodgett, her head shaved; Abby Flint and Mary Elizabeth dressed identically; a decomposed skeleton that was Oscar Blodgett; all tied to posts in a standing position, arranged in spots that correspond exactly to the Duchamps photograph.
Now there is another noise and Duncan reels around to see William Lambert descending the stairs. "Hey…freeze…police!" Duncan shouts as he pulls his service revolver. Lambert turns and runs back up the stairs. Duncan gives chase.
Angel, undeterred, finishes untying the now hysterical Samantha who holds him tightly around his neck. "It's me, it's me, Angel," he says to comfort her.
Lambert, now upstairs, runs down a hall and turns right, through a doorway. Duncan is close behind and when he reaches the room, where Lambert is now trapped in front of a window, he yells again "Freeze!" But Lambert doesn't freeze and makes a move back towards Duncan. Bang! Bang! Duncan fires off two rounds catching Lambert square in the chest. The first shot forces him backwards. The second shot propels him backwards through the window.
From the outside of the house, we see William Lambert come crashing through the window, three stories above the driveway. His landing is abrupt as he hits a stone wall before falling the final few feet to the drive. Duncan walks slowly to the window and peers out. Lambert is lying dead; face down in the middle of the driveway.
Back downstairs, Angel now picks Samantha up in his arms as she sobs into his shoulder. Duncan joins them and says "Let's get her out of here." Before leaving, Angel turns around for one last look at the unbelievable scene.
Meanwhile, back at Kovick's boathouse, Alan is calling out for Sam, who he believes is really there. Frank is pleading with him that she's not. "Go upstairs if you want Alan, but we've got to go to Lambert's." Alan ignores him and continues to call out Sam's name and look around. Frank keeps trying, "I don't know what you want from me, I don't know how I can convince you that she's not here. I love her and I would never hurt her. You've got to believe me."
"Because why?" Alan asks Frank. Kovick's answer is soft and emotional, "Because she's carrying my child, Alan. I would never hurt her." Alan is still unconvinced, "Who else knows that?" he asks, then adds "I just want to go through here for a few minutes."
Kovick now gives up trying to get Alan to come with him. "Take all the time you want, I'm going." Alan tries to deter him, but Kovick is now heading out the door, "I'm going, I'll see you Alan." Alan calls out Sam's name again, but there is still no answer.
Up the road, Angel has now carried Samantha outside. He walks down the stone steps to the driveway. Duncan suggests that Angel put Samantha down. "Not here," he answers as he walks past Lambert's body, "Not here. Not near him". Angel continues to carry Samantha down the driveway and away from the scene.
Meanwhile, Kovick has apparently convinced Alan to join him and the two drive down the road together in Kovick's car towards Lambert's house. In voice over, Alan reflects back on that night. "I was dead set that Frank was the killer. I thought since I had picked his lair he wasn't going to be able to kill me, but he was going to take me somewhere and show me something. And boy did he ever."
Alan and Frank arrive at the house and join Angel and Duncan. Duncan hands Angel a black envelope he has taken off of Lambert's body. On the outside are of the envelope are written the words "In honor of my father". Angel removes the hand written letter inside and begins to read it. As he does, his voice is replaced with that of Lambert's.
"I was a child when you went away so in your eyes I never grew up. When my mother died I found your film and I knew what I had to do to become a man. Now I've completed your life's work. Your loving son, William."
Duncan throws a blanket over Lambert's face, then turns to Angel. "You did it man," cries Duncan as he hugs Angel, "you beat the killer at his game." Angel's response is a stunned "Unbelievable, unbelievable." He smiles at Duncan's embrace. Kovick has now joined Samantha and he hugs her tightly.
Angel reflects back on winning the Killer's game. "When I showed Gary the picture of Kovick and I said I believed that Kovick was the killer and he looked at me and he asked me if I wanted to change my mind, I wanted to yell out "yes" and just flip it aside and grab Lambert and hold it up. And you know what? I can't really understand why I didn't do it. Man, I came close to just giving it all away and losing. In the end, it's funny because I felt that Jeff had the last word, and after what we had gone through I really didn't want to give him the last word."
Alan's thoughts after the fact are generous. "I really don't feel like I lost anything. I'll take second place to a guy like Angel anytime."
Angel continues his reflections. "I did it! I know what it's like to turn on the Television, I know what it's like to be a TV detective."
The next day, Angel is honored at Town Hall by Mayor Bowden. "Congratulation Angel, you solved this murder and apprehended the Killer. In appreciation, the town of Sunrise would like to present you with this check for $250,000 and the keys to a new 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport." Angel responds with a big smile and a simple and heartfelt, "Thank you very much."
ONE YEAR LATER
Founder's Day. It is a bright, sunny, picture perfect day in downtown Sunrise as the townspeople gather to celebrate the 301st anniversary of their town. Water Street is lined with happy, smiling citizens watching the parade march by. Colorful floats drive past, followed by the high school marching band. Chief Duncan waves to the onlookers, which include a laughing Jimmy Tinker and a reserved Moe Zaleski, who is perched on a roof above the street. Prudence Connor waves from her truck as does X-Ray from his taxi. On the sidewalk, Samantha holds her baby and with her stands the proud father, Frank Kovick.
The final shot starts low on the street and begins to pull upward revealing the once again peaceful and idyllic town of Sunrise, Maine. Angel's voice offer's a closing thought over this beautiful scene. "It was a lot of fun, but I'm a firefighter, not an investigator. I tip my hat to those guys that do that for a living."
INVESTIGATIVE DAY 22
The old Kingfisher Sardine Factory sits out on a point of land on the south end of Sunrise. Currently it is a hotbed of activity as fire trucks, ambulances and a portion of the town have turned out to see the Investigators and an explosives team blow open the door of the mysterious vault discovered by Jeff the previous night while playing the Killer's game.
While preparations are being made, a pair of interested eyes watches from across the inlet with a concerned look. William Lambert stands in front of his house taking in the sight. Not far away, just down the road a camera clicks away, taking photographs of the events. Frank Kovick sits on a rock outside his boathouse, camera in hand, documenting all he sees. Across the inlet, Jeff comments that it's strange that Kovick isn't around, as he always seems to turn up at events like this.
An explosive expert hands Alan a small yellow detonator device and carefully explains the procedure for setting off the blast. Alan understands and when everybody is ready, he gives the pre-blast warning. "Fire in the hole!" he yells. A moment later an explosion emanates from the vault as the lock mechanism is successfully blown away from the door.
Those gathered begin to move in towards the vault. Duncan keeps the onlookers back at a safe distance as Angel puts on gloves and opens the eight-inch thick steel door, emblazoned with the OSL logo. He clicks on his flashlight and scans the roughly 8'X10" room. As the dust clears, the light settles on a disturbing object…a skeleton lying on the floor. "Oh my God," a shocked Angel whispers.
Jeff and Alan step into the room. Jeff begins coughing and covers his mouth. Alan scans the room with his light and begins counting… "One, two, three, four, five, six…" Duncan and the mayor now step up to see what they've found. Duncan repeats Angel's words of shock. Alan is counting skeletons. "…seven…eight. Eight bodies."
In interviews, Angel, Alan and Jeff each offer up their leading suspects. Angel thought… "I truly believe that Lambert may be the Killer. I may be wrong because the mage is still out of focus, but of the five that are left, I believe that Lambert may have done it."
Alan is less certain of his choice, "I'm stuck right now between Jimmy Tinker and Frank Kovick." Jeff, on the other hand is completely sure of who the Killer is, "It's Frank Kovick, without a doubt, I guarantee it."
Morning Briefing. Gary starts with the flaring tempers between Jeff and Angel from the night before. He appreciates the fact that they were able to put their differences aside and get the job done at the vault. Alan states, "After last night I think everybody calmed down and realized, hey, we're here to play the Killer's game, that they're going to be O.K."
The players next watch Katie's "Last Will & Testament" to determine the final lifeguard of the investigation. "My choice for Lifeguard is going to be Angel. Because Angel I think out of everybody is really, really, really into this game. First of all he's having a great time. But I think that Angel's heart is into this game more than anybody." Angel gives his reaction to this, "When Katie chose me as Lifeguard, what it meant to me was that I was out of danger. She gave me the chance to set things right."
Next, the group turns to their findings in the vault. Besides the skeletal, decomposed bodies of eight people, they also found the remains of a burnt newspaper article with a headline that reads, "Governor Orders Crack Down on East Coast Smuggling Amid War Fears!" Additionally, they found crates full of booze, tobacco and a white substance they believe is cocaine. All of the crates were labeled with the O.S.L. logo. All of the dead bodies were found handcuffed together. Gary asks the Investigators what that means?
Alan says they were held against their will and all agree that it points to a murder. Angel tells Gary that they believe the skeletal remains of the bodies found in the vault may be the Duchamps. The same family found in the photo recovered from the back of the painting from the motel room where the burnt man killed himself. By looking at the clothing on the skeletons, matches can be made with the people in the photo.
Two of the skeletons are wearing matching dresses, like the twin girls in the photo. The clothing on each body helps identify the sex. Matches can be made with eight of the nine members of the Duchamps. Flashing back to when the investigators are counting the bodies in the vault and keep coming up with eight bodies, rather than the nine that should identify the complete Duchamps family, Angel makes a key observation. "You're not going to find all nine. You know why? Because the little boy survived."
In the briefing room, all three Investigators think hard about this fact. Angel suggests that somehow the little boy survived or was spared. Gary asks, "Okay, who is he?" There is silence as they ponder this question. Then, Angel responds… "I remember when I was eight years old…" We see the burnt man film again as he continues Angel's memory of his words… "My earliest memory was in 1941 when I was eight years old. I remember running through a dark hallway filled with smoke. There were flames at my back chasing me…."
Gary asks Angel, "So you're saying it's the burnt man." Angel responds, "He witnessed the murder of his family." The flashback to parts of the burnt man film continues, "…The left side of my face had melted and my tongue had swollen. I couldn't do anything but run…." Alan states that he thinks that the burnt man was in the cannery when his family was killed. He suggests that maybe he got out of that vault somehow." The burnt man continues, "…I didn't see Sunrise again until I was a man."
Gary reads the forensic report. It says that the people in the vault died from asphyxiation and intense heat. Four of the bodies were adult male and one of those is missing two fingers. The four other bodies were female, two of whom were twins. One of the older women was suffering from a genetic condition that causes hair loss.
Angel begins to put it all together. Pointing at the suspect board he says, "Whoever killed those people, whoever killed Nate Flint, is copying that murder." Alan says that so far, every person murdered in town has represented someone in the Duchamps photo. The group proceeds to go through the Sunrise murder victims and match them specifically with the Duchamps.
Nate Flint is the man missing two fingers. Mary Elizabeth and Abby are the twins because they always acted so much alike. The woman with the hair loss condition matches Leita Rose Blodgett, whose hair was shaved off by the Killer. Thibodeaux represents the man on the far left, while General DeBeck fills the male spot in the middle of the photo. Carman doesn't fit, because she was an outsider. The Investigators feel she doesn't fit the Killer's plan, which is why her body was returned. Oscar Blodgett's body, which the Killer stole from the grave, is the final adult male in the photo.
All of these matches leave one remaining female, the one on the far left. Alan points out that someone else might be killed and Jeff wonders who they need to be concerned about. Before they can figure it out, the doorbell rings and a winded Mayor comes upstairs. He tells them the town is in a panic and getting out of control. He has called a town hall meeting for that afternoon and would like the investigators to come and speak to the townspeople, fill them in on the progress of their investigation and help calm their fears.
The three investigators arrive at town hall where a bunch of angry townspeople are not being allowed into being the building by the police. Inside, Angel reads from a written statement that he, Alan and Jeff prepared. "We believe that a town member may be involved in the murders in Sunrise. We've come to think that the person or persons involved may be a relative a family that once lived in Sunrise named the Duchamps. The Duchamps were a family of fisherman that worked independently for any one of the canneries, including Kingfisher. The murders that have recently occurred in Sunrise may be a copy of the Duchamps murder. At the beginning of our investigation we received a roll of film. On this film, the Killer identified himself or herself as one of 15 suspects. Please, we cannot disclose the identity of any of our suspects, so please don't ask."
As soon as he finishes the questions begin. Dr. Bowden wants to know what murders in the past have to do with the present. Kovick answers her, very excitedly pointing out that it was mass murder of the Duchamps, just like the mass murders taking place in town now. He gets even more heated saying the town of Sunrise was built on murder and that people are ignoring that. Lambert asks Kovick who knows that? More people jump in talking over each other and arguing. Finally, Rev. Rusty gets up and asks to say a few words. The room grows quiet.
"I think it's time for the people of the city of Sunrise to face our past and repent, because this killing will not stop until you all face your past and repent for your sins." With that, Rusty leaves. Duncan tells him he better stay in town.
Upon returning to HQ, the investigators find a small baby basket waiting for them at the front door. In it are a bunch of the little dolls that Leita used to make. Also in the basket are the red and black envelopes and a note that reads "For tonight."
Later that evening the group gathers for the red briefing, this time being held sooner than usual as it comes the day after they last played the Killer's game. Gary opens the red envelope and reads them the question that can allow them to clear another suspect.
"What year did my father die?" The Investigators talk it over. 1971 is the only year they can come up with. Angel says they believe that the burnt man is the killer's father, and they know he died in 1971. They are correct and the Killer clears the Reverend Rusty Crandall.
Next comes the selection of the black envelopes. There is no voting as there are only two eligible investigators left. Angel, as Lifeguard, lets Jeff and Alan choose their black envelopes. Alan's is sending him to the Flint House. Jeff's is sending him back to DeBeck's compound.
Gary then outlines the rest of the game. The time is drawing close when the two remaining investigators will have to make their choice for who the Killer is. In the event that they both choose the same person, the Last Will & Testament of the person eliminated tonight will break the tie. Alan and Jeff now enter the booth and record their final thoughts.
In the booth, Alan says simply that it's the last night and that it's going to be tough. He wishes both Angel and Jeff luck. As for Jeff, he feels that his luck has run out, stating, "I always have good hunches and I picked the wrong map. I know it. And I never feel that way, never."
Waiting to depart, Angel tells Alan that he's going to go with Lambert as his choice for the Killer. "You see, I'm going by the clue of the father, 1971. Lambert was born here in Sunrise, but raised in central Maine". He points out that Lambert has never identified his father. Tinker never said his father was dead, while Connor told them her father drank himself to death. Kovick said he was adopted.
Jeff, on the other hand, is convinced the Killer is Kovick. He doesn't believe that Frank was really adopted and feels it's just his ploy to keep people from knowing what he's doing. He feels the burnt man is Frank Kovick's father. Jeff is almost giddy with the self-assurance that he is right. "I solved this case!" he states firmly.
Alan rides to the Flint House with X-Ray. Jeff rides with Moe. Both feel they will not be coming back. Alan walks up the driveway and enters the house through the basement. As he climbs the stairs to the first floor he comments, "I'm going up, this could be it." He enters the kitchen and looks around. Meanwhile, Jeff enters DeBeck's compound through the courtyard, which is ablaze with oil drums on fire. He repeats his earlier comment that he has never felt this way before. He walks down a long hallway full of doors. Unlike his previous trips to play the Killer's game, when he yelled and shouted and kicked his way through the buildings, Jeff is very quiet and careful as he walks. "Let's do it Jeff, let's do it," he whispers to himself.
Back at HQ, Gary asks Angel who he wants to see come back up the stairs. Angel responds quickly, "Alan. Being that Jeff and I don't see eye to eye on anything, I feel that whatever he finds out there might not be shared. If Jeff happens to come up those stairs and he doesn't share that last clue with me, I'm going to go with Lambert tomorrow as my choice for the Killer."
Alan slowly heads up to the third floor of the Flint house and turns right towards C.R. Flint's former bedroom. At the same time, Jeff walks up some stairs and ahead of him, sees an office with a desk in the middle of the room. A large OSL logo hangs behind the desk and in front of this seal is a giant Lupine "X". Back at the Flint House, Alan too, sees a giant "X" of Lupine flowers, this one, leaning against the headboard of C.R. Flint's bed. Alan moves towards it.
Jeff, too, approaches the "X" and suddenly we see Jeff from behind. The picture glows green. As Jeff looks at the items on the desk, the Killer strikes. Jeff whips around. Flash. Bang. The eighth Investigator, Jeff, has been eliminated.
At Headquarters Angel pensively waits. Footsteps echo on the wooden stairs and Angel turns to look. A giant smile spreads across his face as he sees the familiar messy blond hair come into view. Alan has returned. "What's up big daddy?" Alan asks Angel with a smile. Angel reflects his thoughts of that moment. "The minute that Alan came up those steps, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulder's. I felt my smile creeping back on my face and it felt great." Alan puts the clues he found on the table, another can of 16mm film and a piece of paper bearing the OSL logo.
Across the street above the diner, a restless C.R. Flint suddenly sits up in his bed. "Oh my God" he mutters in pain. Then, with a final breath, falls back on the bed.
INVESTIGATIVE DAY 23
Morning Briefing. Gary begins by breaking the news to Alan and Angel that C.R. Flint died of a brain embolism the previous night. It appears to be natural causes. Alan comments, "There goes any…questions we may have had about the OSL." Gary tells them that they may have some info on the OSL after all, and he plays back the wire recording the Jeff and Alan found a few days ago at the OSL headquarters.
"Gentlemen, come to attention please. On this final meeting of the Order of the Scarlet Lupine, pray to remain silent for the last reading of the roll call of the high officers. Merchant?" "Here." "Rose?" "Here." "Flint?" "Here." "Blodgett?" "Present." "Thibodeaux?" "Here." "DeBeck?" "Present." "Larabee?" "Here."
Gary asks the two investigators what this means. He writes down all the names read as Alan and Angel go through the list, matching each name read on the roll call with the corresponding names of their murdered relatives. But one matching name is missing. "Who does that leave us?" Gary asks. Angel answers, "Sam Larabee." Gary then asks what that means? Angel knows, "She's going to be his next victim."
With that, Alan and Angel quickly head out across the street to bring Samantha back to the safety of their Headquarters. But upon arriving they find a ransacked diner and a TV/VCR with a note that says to press play. They push the button and Sam Larabee's face comes up on the screen. She is bloodied and crying and reading from a note.
"Congratulations. You are seeing this because you have been successful in your investigation. That's because you have followed the leads I have left you. I am going to claim my last victim before the day ends. My work here will be finished and I will go back into the background. A wrong will have been righted and a terrible injustice revealed. Thank you. None of this would have been possible without you. I have enjoyed our game. I hope you have too."
Back at HQ, Gary asks for feedback. Angel is assertive. "Feedback is we have to catch this man today, or this woman. We have to ID them before he kills someone."
Gary agrees, but reminds them they have one more piece of evidence to look at, the killer clue film that Alan brought back last night. They watch the film. It is another segment of the burnt man film. Similar to the others, he sits in his motel room. This time, he holds up the now familiar photo of the Duchamps family. His family.
"This was my family in 1940 on Thanksgiving Day before the fire. Here I am…" (he points to the little boy) "…This is my grandfather and my father, he would have been your grandfather…" (He points first to the older man on the little boy's left, then to the man standing directly behind the boy.) "In 1941 they were working for the Order of the Scarlet Lupine, running cigarettes and booze out of Canada using the Kingfisher Sardine Factory as cover. Then the government started to crack down on smuggling and the officers at the OSL panicked. On their orders, Oscar Blodgett, Hayden DeBeck and Calvin Roosevelt Flint lit the match that covered up their crimes and burned our family alive, everyone, including a pregnant woman. I escaped the fire and came back to Sunrise after thirty years to take my revenge. Yesterday I started with Oscar Blodgett. But it hasn't eased the pain. I've not only been scarred by the fire, I've become a monster and I'm ending my life tonight. You're to little to understand, but I've seen to it that this will be sent to you long after I'm gone so that you might learn who your family was and who killed them and that you might know that your father loved you. Goodbye my son."
Gary asks for impressions. Alan says, "we know the Killer is a boy or a man because he says "my son" at the end." Gary asks who that eliminates? "Alan says Connor. She is crossed off the board. Angel then states that Jimmy Tinker is to young because he is 21 years old and wasn't yet born in 1971 when the burnt man recorded the film to his son. Tinker is crossed off the suspect board. That leaves only two suspects. Frank Kovick and William Lambert.
Gary says, "We know the clock is ticking. The killer has taken Samantha Larabee hostage and he said he's going to kill her and he's going to make his escape tonight. Up to now, both of you have been working as a team. But now it's time to work individually as Investigators and make your choice of who you think the Killer is. Now remember, you don't just rely on the evidence. That has a lot to do with it, but because our time is of the essence you're also going to have to rely a lot on your gut instinct and the training and experience you have up to this point. Are you guys clear?" Alan and Angel answer in unison, "Yes sir."
Angel and Alan spend the next hour reviewing the facts and clues preparing for their final choices. Angel says, "Maybe Lambert is not the person, but every part of my body is telling me it is, it is, it is." Both investigators comb meticulously through the evidence, agreeing that the Killer is completing the revenge that his father, the burnt man, began back in 1971, by killing the descendents of the members of the OSL who were responsible for the murder of his own family.
Alan expresses his thoughts, "I'm sure Lambert could have done it, but I, for some reason I'm just not thinking William Lambert. I was dead set on Frank Kovick for the simple fact that the burnt man said that his son was a little boy. He would have been younger at the time than William Lambert. Lambert would have been about 16 or so at the time and Kovick would have been about five."
Alan and Angel, their choices made, sit for the last time in the red briefing room facing Gary. In front of them is a sealed envelope with the photo of the suspect they have named as the Killer. Gary tells them, "Before you reveal your choices, this is your last chance to change your mind. So Angel, are you confident about the decision?"
Angel has his eyes closed and his head tilted back. He now drops his head into his hands. Weakly he responds, "Yeah, I'm confident." Gary moves on to Alan, "Alan, are you confident about your decision?" Alan answers, "Yes sir."
Angel is directed to stand up and reveal his choice for the killer. Angel stands, opens his envelope and pulls out a photo. "I believe Frank Kovick is the Killer." Angel then goes on to explain that he has changed his mind at the last minute and chosen Kovick instead of Lambert because of the final clue which he feels indicates that Lambert, at age 16 might be old enough to understand his father's message, while only a five year old, as Kovick would have been at the time, would be too young to understand. Angel's final thought, "I'm sure it's Lambert, but not that sure. Now I believe it may be Kovick and it's killing me, it's tearing me up. I can't believe I'm going to go against everything I've believed since the very beginning. I'm going to have to choose Kovick."
Alan next stands and reveals his choice. "I'm going to go with Kovick myself. The only personal evidence that we've collected throughout this investigation was at Leita Rose Blodgett's house and each suspect had a personal article left there, from Frank's game piece to something off Lambert's jacket. But the fact that Frank's game piece was lying beneath her blood made me stick with Mr. Kovick."
Choices now made, Gary reminds them that they have a hostage out there and that they can't concentrate their efforts on just one suspect. So they must turn to Jeff's Last Will & Testament to determine which investigator will pursue the suspect they named and which will follow the other suspect. In his LW&T, Jeff gives Alan the option to pursue his choice for the Killer. As he finishes, Jeff tells Alan… "Just pick Frank Kovick."
Alan admits that he had a gut feeling that Jeff would choose him because of the bad blood between Angel and Jeff. He says he thinks he now has a good shot at winning the game. Angel, on the other hand, says, "It's a horrible feeling," referring to Jeff choosing Alan. "And then to give this guy (Jeff) the last word, I didn't want it to come down to that."
Gary tells them he has checked with Duncan who told him that the most likely location for Kovick to be at is his boathouse, and for Lambert, to be at his home. So Alan will go to the boathouse in pursuit of Kovick, while Angel will travel to William Lambert's house. As these two locations are just down the road from each other, they will ride together with Duncan and be dropped off at a mid point in the road.
Gary gives them their final instructions. "I want you to go out there and try and find Sam Larabee and recover whatever evidence you can find to tell us which one of these men is the Killer. The one who finds the Killer and his lair, you will have won the Killer's game. Good luck both of you."
THE FINAL KILLER'S GAME
Hands in pocket, Angel casually walks south down the dirt road towards Lambert's house. At the same time, Alan heads in the opposite direction towards Kovick's boathouse. He walks down the steps towards the entrance, just off the water. Before entering, however, he bends over and picks up a long, thick piece of wood for protection. Cautiously he opens the door and enters. The first room is full of junk. There is one doorway leading into another room. Alan calls out, "Sam!" As he crosses to that passage there is a loud crash across the room. Alan turns, startled, then looks down and sees a trip wire.
Up the road at Lambert's house, Angel follows the driveway and enters through the garage. He opens a door from the garage and walks into a dark, empty living room. The only objects are two lit candles on a fireplace mantel and photos of each of the investigators tacked to the wall.
Back at the boathouse, Alan makes a shocking discovery. The main room of the boathouse has been turned into a museum of artifacts, all pertaining to the murder mystery. At the far end of the room hang two large bulletin boards covered in photos of both the murder victims and the investigators. All those who have died have a red X across their face. A large Lupine X, identical to the ones found on the Killer clues hangs in the middle. On the floor sits a scale model of downtown Sunrise, each building, carefully constructed in proper design and location out of wood. Newspaper clippings are everywhere.
At Lambert's house, Angel's attention turns, not towards the investigator photos, but rather, to a giant partition separating the living room from another part of the house. Light seeps through the cracks in the partition. "Hello, Sam?" Angel calls. Nobody answers.
"What are you doing here?" an exasperated Frank Kovick cries out. "What are you doing here? Don't you know where you should be?" Alan spins around, startled and comes face to face with Kovick. "What is all this?" Alan demands to know, pointing to the myriad of artifacts. "It's my work." Responds Kovick, "It's what I've been trying to tell you guys since the very beginning, I'm trying to figure it out just like you. Don't you get what he's doing?" Alan answers, "I know exactly what he's doing." Frank gets more frantic, "Don't you know who he has?" Alan does, "Yea, he's got Sam."
Kovick now starts to break down, "He has Samantha. He has my Sam." Alan stays calm, "Sam's here." "She's not here," Frank shouts, "She's with him at his place, and we need to get there now, so come on." But Alan won't move, "I think Sam is here, I want to go through here."
Angel continues to examine the partition that blocks his path. "Hello, Sam?" he repeats. And suddenly there is a sound, a barely audible response from the other side of the partition. Angel finally pushes open one end of the partition and gain entry into the kitchen area. Still in the dark, he scans the countertop with his flashlight and finds a bizarre and frightening sight. The kitchen area is a mess. Cooking pans, utensils and serving plates as well as a gruesome collection of medical paraphernalia are strewn everywhere, and all of it is covered in blood. Bottles of liquid, syringes, meat cleavers, and pans containing unidentifiable bloodied masses are everywhere.
A moaning sound now becomes clear. It sounds like a woman's voice. "Sam?" Angel calls out again. He pushes through another part of the partition which is sectioning off another part of the room. Now there is a loud and distinct scream followed by a cry, "Help me…help me!" A large curtain is all that now stands between Angel and this cry for help. He quickly tears the curtain aside to reveal the final horror.
Behind the curtain is a dining room set for a Thanksgiving meal. The recognizable image is clear immediately. It is an exact replica of the Duchamps 1940 Thanksgiving Day photo left by the Killer, complete, not only with food and settings, but with bodies arranged to create, or recreate, a gruesome tableau.
Angel acts quickly. Samantha is tied and blindfolded in the position on the far left. "Please…" she cries. Angel removes her blindfold and begins untying her arms. A loud sound whips Angel's head around. It is Chief Duncan, rushing in the front door and rounding the corner to the dining room where the horror is revealed to him. "Oh my God!" Duncan gasps.
He is stunned as he quickly scans the bodies. Thibodeaux; Nate Flint with two fingers missing; Hayden DeBeck; Leita Rose Blodgett, her head shaved; Abby Flint and Mary Elizabeth dressed identically; a decomposed skeleton that was Oscar Blodgett; all tied to posts in a standing position, arranged in spots that correspond exactly to the Duchamps photograph.
Now there is another noise and Duncan reels around to see William Lambert descending the stairs. "Hey…freeze…police!" Duncan shouts as he pulls his service revolver. Lambert turns and runs back up the stairs. Duncan gives chase.
Angel, undeterred, finishes untying the now hysterical Samantha who holds him tightly around his neck. "It's me, it's me, Angel," he says to comfort her.
Lambert, now upstairs, runs down a hall and turns right, through a doorway. Duncan is close behind and when he reaches the room, where Lambert is now trapped in front of a window, he yells again "Freeze!" But Lambert doesn't freeze and makes a move back towards Duncan. Bang! Bang! Duncan fires off two rounds catching Lambert square in the chest. The first shot forces him backwards. The second shot propels him backwards through the window.
From the outside of the house, we see William Lambert come crashing through the window, three stories above the driveway. His landing is abrupt as he hits a stone wall before falling the final few feet to the drive. Duncan walks slowly to the window and peers out. Lambert is lying dead; face down in the middle of the driveway.
Back downstairs, Angel now picks Samantha up in his arms as she sobs into his shoulder. Duncan joins them and says "Let's get her out of here." Before leaving, Angel turns around for one last look at the unbelievable scene.
Meanwhile, back at Kovick's boathouse, Alan is calling out for Sam, who he believes is really there. Frank is pleading with him that she's not. "Go upstairs if you want Alan, but we've got to go to Lambert's." Alan ignores him and continues to call out Sam's name and look around. Frank keeps trying, "I don't know what you want from me, I don't know how I can convince you that she's not here. I love her and I would never hurt her. You've got to believe me."
"Because why?" Alan asks Frank. Kovick's answer is soft and emotional, "Because she's carrying my child, Alan. I would never hurt her." Alan is still unconvinced, "Who else knows that?" he asks, then adds "I just want to go through here for a few minutes."
Kovick now gives up trying to get Alan to come with him. "Take all the time you want, I'm going." Alan tries to deter him, but Kovick is now heading out the door, "I'm going, I'll see you Alan." Alan calls out Sam's name again, but there is still no answer.
Up the road, Angel has now carried Samantha outside. He walks down the stone steps to the driveway. Duncan suggests that Angel put Samantha down. "Not here," he answers as he walks past Lambert's body, "Not here. Not near him". Angel continues to carry Samantha down the driveway and away from the scene.
Meanwhile, Kovick has apparently convinced Alan to join him and the two drive down the road together in Kovick's car towards Lambert's house. In voice over, Alan reflects back on that night. "I was dead set that Frank was the killer. I thought since I had picked his lair he wasn't going to be able to kill me, but he was going to take me somewhere and show me something. And boy did he ever."
Alan and Frank arrive at the house and join Angel and Duncan. Duncan hands Angel a black envelope he has taken off of Lambert's body. On the outside are of the envelope are written the words "In honor of my father". Angel removes the hand written letter inside and begins to read it. As he does, his voice is replaced with that of Lambert's.
"I was a child when you went away so in your eyes I never grew up. When my mother died I found your film and I knew what I had to do to become a man. Now I've completed your life's work. Your loving son, William."
Duncan throws a blanket over Lambert's face, then turns to Angel. "You did it man," cries Duncan as he hugs Angel, "you beat the killer at his game." Angel's response is a stunned "Unbelievable, unbelievable." He smiles at Duncan's embrace. Kovick has now joined Samantha and he hugs her tightly.
Angel reflects back on winning the Killer's game. "When I showed Gary the picture of Kovick and I said I believed that Kovick was the killer and he looked at me and he asked me if I wanted to change my mind, I wanted to yell out "yes" and just flip it aside and grab Lambert and hold it up. And you know what? I can't really understand why I didn't do it. Man, I came close to just giving it all away and losing. In the end, it's funny because I felt that Jeff had the last word, and after what we had gone through I really didn't want to give him the last word."
Alan's thoughts after the fact are generous. "I really don't feel like I lost anything. I'll take second place to a guy like Angel anytime."
Angel continues his reflections. "I did it! I know what it's like to turn on the Television, I know what it's like to be a TV detective."
The next day, Angel is honored at Town Hall by Mayor Bowden. "Congratulation Angel, you solved this murder and apprehended the Killer. In appreciation, the town of Sunrise would like to present you with this check for $250,000 and the keys to a new 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport." Angel responds with a big smile and a simple and heartfelt, "Thank you very much."
ONE YEAR LATER
Founder's Day. It is a bright, sunny, picture perfect day in downtown Sunrise as the townspeople gather to celebrate the 301st anniversary of their town. Water Street is lined with happy, smiling citizens watching the parade march by. Colorful floats drive past, followed by the high school marching band. Chief Duncan waves to the onlookers, which include a laughing Jimmy Tinker and a reserved Moe Zaleski, who is perched on a roof above the street. Prudence Connor waves from her truck as does X-Ray from his taxi. On the sidewalk, Samantha holds her baby and with her stands the proud father, Frank Kovick.
The final shot starts low on the street and begins to pull upward revealing the once again peaceful and idyllic town of Sunrise, Maine. Angel's voice offer's a closing thought over this beautiful scene. "It was a lot of fun, but I'm a firefighter, not an investigator. I tip my hat to those guys that do that for a living."
LEITA ROSE-BLODGETT
Owner, Sunrise Mail Center
EMERSON BOWDEN
Mayor, City of Sunrise
DREW CHAMBERS
Owner, Sunset Club
PRUDENCE CONNOR
Owner, Connor's Garage
REV. RUSTY CRANDALL
First Church Of Sunrise
GEN. HAYDEN DEBECK
Leader, Mind/Science Inc.
DUDLEY DUNCAN
Chief of Police
DEANNA HARRIS
Attorney At Law
FRANK KOVICK
Reporter, Sunrise Herald
WILLIAM LAMBERT
Flint's Business Partner
SAM LARABEE
Owner, Larabee Diner
MARY-ELIZABETH MERCHANT
Abby Flint's Best Friend
G.D. THIBODEAUX
Ferryboat Captain; Former Flint Employee
JIMMY TINKER
Abby Flint's Boyfriend
X-RAY
Owner, Sunrise Taxi
Owner, Sunrise Mail Center
EMERSON BOWDEN
Mayor, City of Sunrise
DREW CHAMBERS
Owner, Sunset Club
PRUDENCE CONNOR
Owner, Connor's Garage
REV. RUSTY CRANDALL
First Church Of Sunrise
GEN. HAYDEN DEBECK
Leader, Mind/Science Inc.
DUDLEY DUNCAN
Chief of Police
DEANNA HARRIS
Attorney At Law
FRANK KOVICK
Reporter, Sunrise Herald
WILLIAM LAMBERT
Flint's Business Partner
SAM LARABEE
Owner, Larabee Diner
MARY-ELIZABETH MERCHANT
Abby Flint's Best Friend
G.D. THIBODEAUX
Ferryboat Captain; Former Flint Employee
JIMMY TINKER
Abby Flint's Boyfriend
X-RAY
Owner, Sunrise Taxi