How i Died S3 E02: The Chain

Transcript: How i Died S3 E02: The Chain

This transcript is adapted from the episode’s original script, so the final audio may differ slightly.

INT. DR. KIM'S OFFICE – DAY

[A wall clock marks tense paces as Dr. Kim and LEO DRAZZER, 50s, stand in stunned silence. Leo shifts.]

Leo: Doctor Kim… are you gonna say anything?

Kim: I'm processing what you just told me.

Leo: It needed to stop.

Kim: And you understand what this means, Leo?

Leo: Of course.

Kim: You'll go to jail.

Leo: I should. But I won't.

Kim: Why? You can't possibly think I won't report this.

Leo: I know you will. But… alls I'm saying is: Do what you can to stop it. Now that you have names…

Kim: (distracted, thinking) Of course. They're all fired; immediately. You're fired. I need your badge. I need all of their badges. And to call Sheriff Fran… Jesus, Leo.

Leo: I know.

Kim: Why now? Is it Jimmy? Because of the meetings I called?

Leo: It's because… I don't know. It needed to stop. I needed to stop. And I don't think I could have.

Kim: God… Why did it ever start?!

Leo: It… made us feel better.

INT. FUNERAL HOME, BASEMENT – DAY

[Jon is putting away bottles on shelves in the funeral home preparation room when the door at the top of the steps opens. He turns.]

Howard: Good morning, doctor Spacer.

Jon: Hi Mr. Stiffs. I think it's just after noon now.

[Howard presses the lift button by the stairs.]

Howard: How time flies.

Jon: Who's your guest?

Howard: Excuse me?

Jon: Oh, um — You were on a pickup by yourself today?

Howard: I had some personal business to attend to in the area.

[Jon walks to the lift to help move the gurney off the lift.]

Jon: I didn't even hear about a call.

Howard: There was no call.

Jon: Got… it… I'm sure it's none of my business, but… why not?

Howard: You're right — It's not.

[Jon takes a clipboard from Howard.]

Jon: Do we have a viewing date?

Howard: His wife will be here in under an hour.

Jon: That's not much time to–

Howard: It's a personal favor, doctor Spacer. Not an official viewing. Do what you can.

Jon: Of course. (beat) Did you know him?

[Howard presses the lift button, going back up.]

Howard: It wasn't a favor to him.

Jon: If you can buzz me when the wife arrives… just so I can make any last-minute touches.

Howard: Mmmm.

[Howard closes the preparation room door. Jon walks the gurney over to the table.]

Jon: We can talk. Now that Howard's gone.

Leo: You saw me when I came in.

Jon: I did. Not many ghosts leave the hospital with their bodies. I wasn't sure if you were–

[Jon is busy putting gloves on, half-listening.]

Leo: I wasn't in the hospital.

Jon: Oh. You died at the scene of the accident?

Leo: It wasn't an accident.

[Jon unzips the body bag. He touches the body, lightly examining it.]

Jon: Heavy bruising around the neck.

Leo: I hung myself.

Jon: Hanged. Technically. (beat) Not important. (beat) Do you want to talk about it? I can pass on any message to your wife.

Leo: I don't. And while we're correcting people, she's my ex-wife.

Jon: Got it. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Leo: I did it on purpose.

Jon: Statistically speaking, most near- death victims of suicide end up regretting the attempt and never try again.

Leo: "Statistically speaking."

Jon: Seems my empirical evidence these days is skewed toward ghosts being glad it happened. I wonder if it's just the survivors who regret it…

Leo: That wasn't for me, right?

Jon: Sorry. No. Just… bad habit. I should just get started.

[Jon moves the body over to the autopsy table.]

Jon: (mid action) Some people don't like seeing what happens after death… if you want to go lie down, or–

Leo: I've seen my share. I wanna watch my own through.

[Jon slides a metal tray near the table.]

Jon: Of course. (beat) First I've got to clean your body. I hope it doesn't make you uncomfortable, umm…

Leo: Leo.

Jon: Leo. I'm Jon.

[Leo grunts. Jon dips his hand into a bucket and pulls out a dripping sponge. He starts washing the body.]

Jon: You mentioned you'd seen your share of death. You grow up here?

Leo: Yeah.

Jon: So you were here for the '89 storms? Terrible tragedy for the town.

[Leo grunts again.]

Jon: It's funny how many people stick around after a tragedy. You'd think after something happened, people would leave en mass–

Leo: (sharply) You don't know anything about me. Don't tell me what I shouldda done.

Jon: I'm sorry. I wasn't talking about you specifically. I just haven't heard of many people leaving.

Leo: I know you're not from round here. You grew up somewhere people probably leave. Here, we're tight knit. (beat) Or we used to be.

[ADD HERE if needed]

Jon: What did you do for work, Leo?

Leo: You really are as self-centered as people say, huh?

Jon: Excuse me? Do I know you?

[Jon plops the sponge back in the bucket.]

Leo: You should. I passed you a half dozen times on your way to Kim's.

Jon: Kim's? You were a patient?

Leo: Fuck you, kid. I worked in that wing.

Jon: You're an orderly?

Leo: Scrub nurse.

[Jon grabs the chart.]

Jon: Leo… Drazzer.

Leo: Also on my badge every day.

Jon: Are you related to Jake Drazzer?

Leo: Not anymore.

Jon: What does that mean?

Leo: He was my step-son. Before I got divorced.

Jon: I can't believe I never… realized his dad was right under my nose…

Leo: I can.

Jon: I'm sorry I didn't say hi to you in the hall or whatever, but I was kind of dealing with some bigger shit than remembering nurse's names. No offense.

Leo: "No offense."

Jon: I was busy keeping this a secret. And trying not to get fired. Which… didn't work as well.

Jon: Along with trying to solve what happened to victims in this town, including your son.

Leo: If I hear you talk about my family one more fucking time.

Jon: Look, I'm not trying to argue or insult you… I was dealing with some stuff, as I'm sure you were too.

Leo: Yet I found time to say hi.

Jon: Right. I know. (beat) I wasn't on your son's case, but I flagged him because I thought he was– (beat) Where are you going?

Leo: I'm leaving. How can I start the lift like this?

Jon: You'd have to use the stairs. That way. But I don't think you should leave…

Leo: Yeah? Why's that?

Jon: Because your son was the victim of a serial killer. And doctor Kim was involved, or knows something about it.

Leo: Bullshit. It was from the storms. He grew up with that shit in his blood, and then…

[Leo trails off. Jon takes a few steps towards him.]

Jon: Leo's body was flagged for investigation and then removed without being signed out. So I couldn't examine him directly. But I've seen three other bodies with similar causes of death, and I can tell you for certain that it's not a natural death. It's woman-made.

Leo: Woman made… The fuck does that mean?

Jon: Like man-made, but the killer is a- –

Leo: I get it. God. How dumb do you think I look?

Jon: I've said sorry more times in the past ten minutes than I have in a week. Can we just start over? I want to help.

Leo: You really don't think it was an accident?

Jon: I know it wasn't.

Leo: How can you know that?

Jon: I was working with the Sheriff's department on the case. Fran Crowley is on the trail of a killer who's doing this to people.

Leo: Kim wouldn't be involved.

Jon: Why do you think that?

Leo: They're too… good. I don't know. They got morals they won't go against.

Jon: I seriously doubt that. I've uncovered some–

Leo: They wouldn't!

[Jon is taken aback.]

Jon: Okay.

Leo: Kim wouldn't have… (thinking) Of they did do something like that, then… I can't… (starting to panic) I'm gonna throw up.

[Leo starts to gag. He can't actually throw up.]

Jon: Take a breath. Why is this bothering you so much?

[Leo takes sharp breaths, but doesn't calm.]

Leo: Because I'm dead for no reason if that's true! They wouldn't have turned me in for what happened if they were also fucking… killing people on the side. Right?!

Jon: Calm down! What are you talking about. What you did?

[Leo starts to slow his breath.]

Leo: I squealed on my friends. My boss. Everybody at work, about–

[Jon puts it together.]

Jon: About the abuse in the wing?

Leo: Fucking… they killed Jimmy. I know he did it, but… he wouldn't have killed himself if we didn't… And then I wouldn't…

Jon: I spoke to Jimmy, too. The abuse was messed up, but he wanted to die for a long time. He'd had a history of attempted suicide… He wasn't happy.

Leo: Well we fuckin didn't help.

Jon: No… I'm sure you didn't. But… you did the right thing by telling Kim. As long as they actually put a stop to it.

Leo: They did. That's the problem.

Jon: I don't follow.

Leo: I told Kim, and then quit. I got arrested and charged. So did the rest of the people involved… I got out on bail, we all did. And I knew what we were up against. 20 to life, and I don't have that many more good years left. Plus no more license. I was screwed and I knew it. But it's fine as long as there was some sort of justice for Jimmy… It's just– I couldn't be in jail for 20 more, you know? So I…

[Leo makes that sound people make as they mime hanging.]

Jon: But you think that if Kim was also involved in hurting people, they wouldn't have told the police on you and the abusers.

Leo: Exactly! If they did, they should've let me go.

[Jon laughs.]

Leo: Are you serious? You're laughing?

Jon: I don't follow your logic. I've seen criminals throw each other under the bus all the time. If Kim is a bad person, that doesn't mean they'd protect other bad people. Probably the opposite in fact. By turning you in, it throws the spotlight off of them for whatever other investigations might be poking around.

Leo: I could've testified in whatever case you have then. Gotten less years for being useful.

Jon: Did you know anything about it?

Leo: No. (beat) But I came forward on the other stuff.

[Jon sits in a stood nearby.]

Jon: Why did you?

Leo: Because it was screwed up. And I couldn't take it anymore… After Jimmy died…

Jon: You had a change of heart. You felt guilty and realized what you were doing was wrong.

Leo: I knew it was wrong. I wasn't always a bad person.

Jon: People make mistakes. We base our decisions around the information we have at the time…

[Leo scoffs.]

Leo: You can't really believe that. Once you pass a line… there's no coming back to the good side.

Jon: Then why confess? Why stop and punish the rest of the abusers?

[Jon leans in.]

Jon: That guilt you must've felt… that's the thing that brings you back. (beat) You're right. I do believe there are good and bad people. But good people can do bad things. What makes them inherently good is the actions that happen afterward. You stopped terrible things from happening to other people. And while it doesn't make what you did any less terrible…

[They're both silent for a while. Then a buzzer comes in overhead.]

Jon: That's Howard. Your wife must be here.

Leo: Ex-wife.

[Jon stands, going back to the table.]

Jon: I'm going to put some concealer over your neck. Ex or not, seeing you will be difficult without the bruises.

[He grabs a bottle off of the table and starts applying it.]

Jon: Leo…

Leo: It's fine, Jon. I'm a bad person. I know it. Jimmy knew it. My wife knows it.

Jon: Jimmy wasn't angry at what happened, or at you.

Leo: Jimmy wasn't the first, or the last. He wouldn't have been the last.

Jon: If not for you.

[Leo grunts again. Jon closes the bottle. The door at the top of the stairs opens.]

Howard: Doctor Spacer, are you ready for us?

Jon: Just a moment.

[Jon grabs a sheet nearby and lays it over Leo's body.]

Jon: (whispering) Are you ready?

Leo: No. (beat) But go ahead.

Jon: All set.

[Howard opens the door wider. He and Macy Drazzer start down the stairs.]

Howard: Mrs. Drazzer, this is doctor Spacer, our newest mortician. He can walk you through whatever you'd like done for the viewing.

Jon: Mrs. Drazzer; I'm so sorry for your loss.

Leo: It wasn't much of a loss.

Macy: Thank you. (beat) Is that him?

Jon: Mhm.

Howard: Whenever you're ready.

[Macy is sniffling and not moving.]

Leo: She didn't even like me that much. Especially not toward the end. I'm surprised she's even upset.

Macy: (through tears) He hung himself? Is it…

Jon: I covered up some of the bruising, but we'll do a more thorough covering for the viewing. You won't see anything that day. But… for now, there is still some sign.

[Macy takes a deep breath. She swallows and nods. They walk closer to the body, and Jon folds the sheet down, revealing Leo's head. Macy inhales sharply.]

Leo: God damn it…

Macy: Have you heard what they're saying about him?

Jon: Umm–

Howard: We haven't.

Macy: He was arrested, apparently. A couple days ago. I got a call to bail him out.

Leo: I hadn't talked to her in almost a year before that…

Macy: They said he was abusing patients at the hospital. Do you think it's true?

Howard: We have no–

Jon: He was the one who reported the abuse to the police.

Howard: Doctor Spacer, if we can keep this strictly to the viewing procedures.

Macy: It's okay, Howard. How do you know?

Jon: I used to work at Springfield General. I know some people inside the Sheriff's department, too. He was the whistleblower.

Macy: But he was still involved, right? I mean… He killed himself. That means he was guilty…

Howard: Can I get you a class of water, Mrs. Drazzer? Doctor Spacer and I can leave you to saying your goodbyes.

[Howard starts to walk away. He motions for Jon. Jon hesitates and then starts walking away.]

Jon: Mr. Stiffs, I–

Howard: I value your thoroughness on the prep table, doctor Spacer. But do not for a moment think you can step outside of your capabilities with my guests.

Jon: Of course, sir.

Howard: You can wait in your office.

[Howard starts walking up the stairs. Jon opens a door to the side office.]

Jon: I'll be right through here if you need anything, Mrs. Drazzer.

[He closes the door behind him.]

INT. FUNERAL HOME, BASEMENT OFFICE – DAY

Jon: Regardless of what Howard says… Leo, if you want me to tell your ex-wife something, I can.

[There's silence. Leo is just looking through a window. Jon sits in a chair.]

Leo: She's just standing there.

Jon: She's probably just in shock.

[There's more silence. Jon starts going through papers.]

Leo: I know exactly when it happened.

Jon: When what happened?

Leo: When I felt myself… lose myself. Lose that good side of me that used to be there. Six years ago now, when Jake died. That's when Macy and I started fighting more. (beat) Jake was grown. Already out of the house. We'd dealt with empty nesting or whatever and gotten through it. But when he died… that was too much.

Jon: Parents aren't supposed to bury their children.

Leo: At his funeral… I lost it. I blamed her for not wanting to move away, years ago when we first got married. I didn't want to stay here. I could've worked in any hospital. She wanted to stay near her parents. And I blamed her for being in this fucking town when the storms hit. Like it was her fault. (beat) And when Jake eventually died, and was… (he chokes up) He was fucking purple. (beat) It's all I could think about. Those storms. Being here when she was pregnant with Jake. And how whatever we did, it didn't matter because he would've died from whatever blood disease it was anyway. The only thing we could've done was move almost three decades ago…

[Leo clears his throat.]

Leo: But now… you're telling me… that someone killed Jake. Not a fucking… disease. A person. (beat) Why?

Jon: We don't know why yet. We think they're trying to replicate the effects of Storm Shock. But to what end… We're not sure.

[Leo sniffles. He pauses, still looking out the window.]

Leo: Can you tell Macy I'm sorry? Explain to her what happened to Jake. And that I was an ass for blaming her?

Jon: Leo… I shouldn't know that you blamed her for anything. I can't explain any of the stuff you told me without raising some serious questions.

Leo: Think of something. You can work around that. Just tell her I'm sorry. It's not her fault.

Jon: It's possible that being here during the storms also changed your biochemistry. No one knows the effects it has on rage, or–

Leo: That was me. I blame my wife. I yelled and isolated her. I fucking hurt… sick people… because I'm a sick person. Not because of some storm.

Jon: I wasn't trying to excuse it.

[Jon opens the door to the office, exiting.]

INT. FUNERAL HOME, BASEMENT – DAY

[Macy is still sniffling in the background.]

Jon: Mrs. Drazzer…

Macy: Oh. Yes?

Jon: I hope I'm not overstepping, but… knew Leo… I worked at the hospital with him. We weren't close, but… He did mention that his biggest regret was blaming you for what happened to your son.

Macy: That's… a weird thing to tell someone you're not close to.

Jon: I think… he just really wanted to be a good person.

Macy: For most of our life together… He was. I wish I could tell him that.

Jon: You just did.

[Macy clears her throat.]

Macy: I should get to planning the details with Howard. (beat) Back up this way?

Jon: Mhm…

[She starts walking away. Jon covers Leo back up with the sheet.]