The following is a spec script I wrote in 2015 for a screenwriting class. This script is best positioned during the first half of Season 1 of Blindspot, a TV show created by Martin Gero that aired on NBC from 2015-2020.
FADE IN:
EXT. MANHATTAN’S UPPER EAST SIDE – NIGHT
A SERIES OF SHOTS
City life
— Manhattan skyline
— Manhattan’s Upper East Side from above
— City street with light traffic
EXT. “BLUE LOTUS” JAPANESE TEA ROOM – NIGHT
A neon “Open” sign illuminates the front of the Blue Lotus Tea Room.
INT. “BLUE LOTUS” JAPANESE TEA ROOM – NIGHT
A beautiful GEISHA performs a traditional Japanese dance on a small stage. A JAPANESE MAN sits to the side with legs crossed playing a pipa (Japanese lute guitar).
The music starts slow. The smoky room is filled with middle-aged MALE BUSINESSMEN, all enthralled with the performance. The TEA SERVERS, all female, flit around the room silently refilling cups.
One-by-one the men in the room fall to the ground, first for unknown reasons, then the camera zooms in on a small dart as it hits another man. (It’s origin is a fukiya – Japanese blow gun although the person firing it is unseen). The performers continue undeterred as do the servers. The music picks up as more bodies fall. The scene ends when the song and dance end.
After an uncertain passage of time, the room is now empty save the dead men. In a dark corner towards the back of the room stands a young, beautiful JAPANESE WOMAN. It is unclear who she is or why she’s there.
EXT: CITY – TRANSITIONS FROM NIGHT TO DAY
INT: JANE’S BEDROOM – EARLY MORNING
JANE is seen in bed seemingly having a nightmare. She awakens suddenly, relieved to realize it was just a dream. She gets out of bed and goes to the KITCHEN for a glass of water.
KITCHEN
JANE sits at the table and starts looking through a copy of her FBI file. She finds a photo of Weller and studies it. After a few moments there is a knock on her door. She looks up with both expectation and regret, knowing another clue or case has come up.
INT: WELLER’S KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING
WELLER sits at his kitchen table reviewing JANE’S FBI file. He finds a photo of her and studies it. After a few moments, his phone rings. He looks at the picture for a moment longer before answering the phone.
WELLER
Weller.
EXT: JANE’S APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING
JANE walks out the front of her apartment, locking it behind her. An FBI AGENT meets her.
FBI AGENT
The car is just around the corner.
FBI AGENT
(The FBI AGENT puts his finger to his ear and puts an arm out to stop her from walking any further.)
Just a minute, ma’am.
JANE looks concerned.
A car pulls up and the passenger side window rolls down.
FBI AGENT
Your ride is here.
JANE squints at the car. WELLER is driving. She gives a nervous smile and nods at the FBI AGENT before walking down towards the car.
EXT: “BLUE LOTUS” JAPANESE TEA ROOM – DAY
A SERIES OF SHOTS
— Crime scene tape
— Police and unmarked cars out front
— Police perimeter out front
— UNIFORMED POLICE stand outside perimeter and entrance, guarding it
— A SMALL CROWD including onlookers and media stand outside the perimeter trying to get a better look
INT: “BLUE LOTUS” JAPANESE TEA ROOM – DAY
A SERIES OF SHOTS
— Bodies lay on the floor, covered by sheets
— A CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER is seen taking pictures
— A FEMALE DETECTIVE talks to READE and ZAPATA as WELLER and JANE enter. The detective walks away and READE and ZAPATA walk to meet WELLER and JANE at the center of the room. WELLER and JANE look around the room, surveying the scene.
JANE
What happened here?
READE
Seven businessmen visiting from Tokyo were killed sometime last night.
WELLER
How?
ZAPATA
Poison dart.
JANE
Poison what?
Everyone looks surprised. ZAPATA holds up an evidence bag with a small dart inside.
WELLER studies it before handing it to JANE.
WELLER
Any witnesses?
READE
Not that we can find. All the employees are missing.
WELLER
All of them?
READE
Well, it appears all the employee records are fake – names, addresses… And it’s unclear who was actually here last night.
JANE
Does this have something to do with one of my tattoos?
ZAPATA
We don’t know yet, but we did find this.
ZAPATA hands JANE a picture. WELLER looks over her shoulder at it. The picture is of JANE smiling with the JAPANESE WOMAN seen lurking in the shadows of the tea room in the first scene of the episode. The two appear to be friends.
JANE
Who is she?
ZAPATA
We were hoping she’d look familiar to you. There’s a witness who saw her enter here late last night. She’s not among the dead, so she could be our killer.
JANE turns it over and the words “Owl Ashtray” are written on the back. JANE and WELLER both look at ZAPATA in confusion.
ZAPATA
It’s an anagram.
JANE
An anagram for what?
ZAPATA READE
Taylor Shaw. Taylor Shaw.
Everyone looks at each other wondering where this latest clue will lead.
EXT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING – DAY.
A SERIES OF SHOTS
City life
— Cars driving by
— People and dogs walking
— Birds flying
INT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING, PATTERSON’S CONTROL ROOM – DAY.
PATTERSON stands in front of several computer screens ready to brief the team on what she’s learned. MAYFAIR, WELLER, READE, ZAPATA, and JANE huddle around her. Other FBI agents in white lab coats are seen working in the background.
On the computer screens are various images- some of JANE’s tattoos, one has an image of the JAPANESE WOMAN from the photo, one of a blue lotus flower, another of an owl ashtray.
PATTERSON brings up images of the different victims.
PATTERSON
Okay. All of the victims were board members with the Japanese company, Mizuchi – a boat manufacturer. All were in town for the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference.
WELLER
Is there anyone else from their company on the trip who is still alive?
PATTERSON
Yes, a woman.
PATTERSON looks at JANE who looks at her expectedly.
PATTERSON
Not the woman from your photo. Sorry.
PATTERSON brings up a photo of a middle-aged Japanese woman.
PATTERSON
This is Mika Tatsumaru. She’s the company’s embattled CEO. News reports indicate her board was about to give a vote of no confidence and replace her with this guy – Akio Saitō.
PATTERSON shows an image of a middle-aged Japanese man.
PATTERSON
Both are reportedly in town, but they’re a no show at the conference and at their respective hotels so far.
MAYFAIR looks at PATTERSON.
MAYFAIR
Push their photos out to NYPD. Zapata, Reade – Dig into their histories. Let’s find out where they’ve each been since they arrived and who else they might know in the area.
WELLER
What do we know about the woman from the photo?
PATTERSON brings up the photo of the woman and JANE.
PATTERSON
Not much. She’s not in any of our databases. I even ran online facial recognition software…
PATTERSON pauses feeling guilty and then mumbles,
PATTERSON
Privacy rights be damned,…and nothing popped.
MAYFAIR
I have a contact at Naichō. I’ll reach out and see if he knows anything about this mystery woman or our missing executives.
JANE looks confused.
WELLER
Naichō is Japan’s equivalent to the CIA.
JANE
Is there anything from my tattoos that connects to any of this?
PATTERSON
Not that we know of, but we’ve added new variables from the case into the system. We’ll see if it triggers something.
MAYFAIR, ZAPATA and READE leave the room.
One of the computers in the room beeps and a box appears on it.
PATTERSON walks over to a computer screen.
PATTERSON
I don’t believe it!
WELLER and JANE walk closer to the computer.
JANE
What?
PATTERSON
When our databases came back with nothing, I tried a new feature I developed in the facial recognition software.
PATTERSON continues studying the computer screen, lost in thought. JANE and WELLER shift impatiently and she continues.
PATTERSON
I entered an algorithm to look for similar genetic markers between Jane’s mystery friend and anyone else who is in our database.
WELLER
And?
PATTERSON
And, I got a match. Or a partial match – like 60%. And the algorithm is only 85% accurate, so it could be nothing.
WELLER
Forget the numbers, Patterson. What did it say?
PATTERSON looks amused.
PATTERSON
Telling me to forget the numbers is like someone telling you to forget your serious face.
WELLER looks back with his serious face and says nothing. JANE smiles a little and tries to suppress it. PATTERSON quickly brings up an image of a woman.
PATTERSON
Okay. This woman is a 60% match to the mystery woman using genetic markers, which suggests she could be a blood relative.
WELLER and JANE both look at her closely. WELLER and PATTERSON then look at JANE to see if she recognizes her. Jane just shakes her head indicating she does not recognize her.
WELLER
What do we know about her?
PATTERSON clicks a few buttons and brings up a recent driver’s license photo of the woman.
PATTERSON
Okay. Anna Soto, age 53, engineering professor at NYU, lives on Staten Island.
PATTERSON raises her eyebrows.
PATTERSON
According to this, Ms. Soto is assisting INTERPOL with an investigation, but it doesn’t say which one.
PATTERSON keeps reading.
PATTERSON
She’s also currently the conference chair for, guess what? (pauses) The International Boatbuilders’ Conference. And she’s scheduled to deliver the keynote in 30 minutes.
WELLER and JANE walk out while PATTERSON continues working on the computer.
EXT: CITY – DAY
A SERIES OF SHOTS
City life
— People walking, kids, dogs
— City workers picking up trash or cleaning the street
WELLER and JANE exit an FBI vehicle and walk towards a large building. WELLER holds the door open for JANE as they walk in.
INT: ATRIUM- CITY BUILDING – DAY
WELLER walks up to a check-in desk with JANE in toe. An OLDER WOMAN wearing a lanyard sitting in front of name tags and canvas conference bags greets them enthusiastically.
OLDER WOMAN
Hello! Name, please?
WELLER ignores her question.
WELLER
We’re looking for this woman.
WELLER holds up a picture of ANNA SOTO.
The OLDER WOMAN puts on her glasses and looks carefully at the picture. She keeps the same enthusiastic tone in her voice.
OLDER WOMAN
I’m afraid I’m going to need your name, please, sir and then I can help you.
WELLER pulls out his FBI badge impatiently.
WELLER
Kurt Weller, FBI. This is my associate, Jane…uh, just Jane. It’s important we speak with this woman right away. Where can we find her?
OLDER WOMAN jumps up and acts excited to learn he’s with the FBI.
OLDER WOMAN
Oh my, well, Mr. Weller, No, A-GENT Weller. I can take you right to her. BEEEECKY!!!!
OLDER WOMAN hollers to her associate sitting the next booth over.
OLDER WOMAN
Watch my booth, would you, darling? I have a mission, oh, um, I have something I need to do.
OLDER WOMAN winks at WELLER and skips away with WELLER and JANE behind her. JANE looks amused. WELLER does not.
INT: FBI OFFICE – DAY
READE and ZAPATO sit at computers researching.
READE
Mika. ME-KA Tat-SU-MAru.
ZAPATA rolls her eyes.
READE
What? It’s fun to say. ME-KA.
ZAPATA
Shut-up…She could be lying dead somewhere while you sit there repeating her name.
READE
Hey, my computer is loading something.
READE hits his computer like it will help speed it up.
ZAPATA
Funny how my computer never seems to load slowly. See, it respects me. It appreciates me.
READE computer beeps and he sits up to read what he’s been waiting for.
READE
Okay, Miss Mika Tatsumaru show me where you’ve been the last week…credit card shows purchases for a car service, restaurants, hotel fees,…BOOM. Her hotel is only three blocks from the Blue Lotus.
ZAPATA looks unimpressed.
READE
Okay. What do you got?
ZAPATA (sarcastically)
Well, nothing as impressive as that.
READE rolls his eyes.
ZAPATA
Mr. Akio Saitō’s credit card was used two days ago to purchase something at a place called Dragon Lair, which specializes in Japanese collectables. Collectibles like…
ZAPATA looks at READE waiting for him to respond.
READE
Japanese dart guns?
ZAPATA
Boom.
They both get up to leave.
INT: CONFERENCE HALL – CITY BUILDING – DAY
WELLER and JANE are led into a large conference room. Anna Soto is being introduced by a distinguished-looking, older AFRICAN-AMERICAN man.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN
…and distinguished professor at the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University. It’s my honor to introduce Dr. Anna Soto, this year’s conference chair.
The crowd applauds as Dr. Soto slowly approaches the microphone. She moves with the struggle of a much older woman. She pulls down the microphone so she can speak into it and laughs a little at the height difference between herself and the man who introduced her.
DR. ANNA SOTO
Thank you, Terrance. Can everyone see me? I might need a little stool to stand on.
The crowd laughs good-naturedly. All seem interested to hear her speak.
WELLER and JANE put communication devices into their ears at the back of the room. WELLER whispers to JANE.
WELLER
Keep your eyes open for your mystery woman or either of the executives.
WELLER and JANE break off and each take a different direction of the room, scanning it for familiar faces.
The crowd laughs at an unheard joke from Dr. Soto.
After about ten seconds of looking, a gasp is heard from the audience collectively as Dr. Soto falls to the ground. WELLER and JANE run towards the stage as the room erupts in chaos and find her lying unconscious with a dart in the side of her neck. WELLER and other SECURITY OFFICERS pull their guns and look around frantically for the perpetrator.
They spot a woman in a jade hooded cape coat running towards Dr. Soto – her face concealed, but the person stops when she sees Dr. Soto is dead and slowly backs away before running towards an exit.
JANE
Hey!
WELLER
Stop! FBI!
JANE and WELLER pursue her on foot, running through crowds, over vehicles and ultimately up a fire escape to a rooftop where the woman is able to jump surprisingly far to another building. Jane goes to make the same jump, but Weller stops her. She resists.
WELLER
Jane! No!
JANE
Let me go! She’s getting away.
Once safely on the other roof, the hooded woman looks back at them and smiles, satisfied she got away. JANE and WELLER see she is the mystery woman in the photo with JANE. JANE gets anger and acts like she might try to make the jump.
WELLER
Stop!
JANE
She knows something. We have to catch her!
WELLER
We will, but not like this.
They both look down at the alley below to see if there’s another way, but the woman is already several buildings away.
EXT: DRAGON LAIR STOREFRONT – DAY
READE and ZAPATA are seen walking into the front entrance. READE approaches an older male Japanese CLERK behind the counter and pulls out his badge. ZAPATA becomes distracted by the Japanese weapons on display nearby.
READE
Good afternoon. I’m Agent Reade and this is Agent Zapata…who is testing the merchandise, I guess.
ZAPATA shrugs and continues browsing.
READE turns back to the CLERK.
READE
Were you working here on Wednesday afternoon?
The CLERK nods.
READE holds up a picture of AKIO SAITŌ.
READE
Do you recognize this man?
The CLERK puts on his glasses and looks closely, then shakes his heads.
READE
Are you sure? He was in here on Wednesday around 3pm.
The CLERK shakes his head again. ZAPATA walks up holding a Japanese blow gun in her hand.
ZAPATA
He purchased one of these.
CLERK
Fukiya.
READE
Excuse me?
CLERK
Fukiya. Japanese blow gun. Someone did purchase one on Wednesday, but it was not a man.
ZAPATA pulls out her phone, brings up the picture of Jane and the mystery woman, and holds it up to the CLERK.
ZAPATA
Is this the woman?
The CLERK squints and shakes his head. ZAPATA swipes her phone to reveal a picture of MIKA TATSUMARU and shows it to the CLERK. He squints again.
CLERK
Could be. I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look.
READE
Did she buy anything else?
CLERK
Fukibari – darts.
The CLERK pulls out a box and sets it on the counter. READE pulls out his wallet to buy both the dart gun and the darts. ZAPATA throws some Pocky on the counter and smiles at READE.
ZAPATA
Thanks, buddy.
READE looks annoyed, but buys the candy and weapons.
EXT: DRAGON LAIR STOREFRONT – AFTERNOON
A SERIES OF SHOTS
City life
— Cars parked and driving by
— Children walking home from school
READE and ZAPATA exit the store and walk towards their car.
READE
I know it looks bad, but if Saitō is our killer, do you really think he’d use his own credit card to buy the murder weapon?
ZAPATA
No way. Someone’s definitely setting him up.
READ
I know one person who has a clear motive to dispose of both the board and Saitō.
ZAPATA (mimicking READE)
Meee-KA Tatsumaru.
EXT: LARGE CARGO SHIP – EARLY EVENING
INT: LARGE CARGO SHIP – EARLY EVENING
A WOMAN’S legs are seen walking down a set of stairs leading to a boiler room. A MAN in a suit is shown tied a chair. Neither person’s face is shown yet. A mobile phone rings.
WOMAN
You are a popular man, Mr. Saitō.
The MAN looks up, face bruised. It is AKIO SAITŌ. His mouth is gagged so he cannot speak.
WOMAN
By now the cops would have noticed that credit card charge on your account for Dragon’s Lair. They’ll have searched your hotel room and found evidence of your murderous plan. And soon, the murder weapon will be found with your fingerprints and saliva.
The woman walks over to AKIO SAITŌ and forces the blow gun into this hands. She then removes the gag. The man screams hoping someone will hear, but the woman the blowgun against his lips and then replaces the gag in his mouth.
WOMAN
Thank you, Mr. Saitō. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.
She walks away and her face is never shown to the audience.
EXT: FBI BUILDING – EARLY EVENING
A SERIES OF SHOTS
City life
– Heavy traffic
– Street vendors
– People on bikes and walking
INT: FBI BUILD – CONFERENCE ROOM – EARLY EVENING
PATTERSON, READE, and ZAPATA sit around the table. JANE and WELLER stand at opposite ends of the room. MAYFAIR walks in.
MAYFAIR
Well, the news is having a field day and the director isn’t happy. We’ve got eight murders in the last 24 hours and three potential suspects still at large. Are we any closer to finding Mika Tatsumaru or Aiko Saitō?
READE
We’re pretty sure Saitō is being set-up, most likely by Mika Tatsumaru. His credit card was used to purchase one of these and some darts.
READE holds up the blow gun they bought.
PATTERSON
The toxicology report shows the darts were laced with batrachotoxin. The victims were dead within 3 minutes.
PATTERSON turns her tablet to show the chemical properties of batrachotoxin on the screen.
MAYFAIR
What is batrachotoxin?
PATTERSON
It is an extremely potent neurotoxin and cardiotoxin usually found in certain frog species, melyrid beetles, and birds. It causes muscle and nerve depolarization, fibrillation, arrhythmias, and heart failure.
MAYFAIR
Where could someone get their hands on it?
PATTERSON
South or Central America.
JANE
What about zoos or labs here in the States?
PATTERSON
There are some “dart frogs” as they’re known found in the U.S., but they actually don’t produce the toxin while in captivity. They probably get it from eating the beetles when in the wild, but they aren’t given them in captivity, for obvious reasons.
A few museums have the beetles, but its unlikely enough poison could be extracted from the couple of beetles held in any one museum’s collection. We’ve called around and no one has reported any missing. Most likely the poison was purchased on the black market.
MAYFAIR
What else do we got?
ZAPATA
Agents found a note in Saitō’s hotel room with the address of the Blue Lotus written on it.
MAYFAIR
Anything in Mika Tatsumaru’s hotel room?
ZAPATA reads from her notepad.
ZAPATA
Her personal items are still there and there are signs of a struggle – a lamp knocked over, a few broken wine glasses, clothes on the floor, but no blood. CSU is still processing.
MAYFAIR
So, Mika killed her board to save her job and then framed her rival. Somehow, she found out Dr. Soto had intel on her, but how? And what does the mystery woman have to do with it?
WELLER clears his throat and looks at JANE who is visibly annoyed.
WELLER
We don’t know yet.
JANE
It’s too bad we let her go.
JANE looks at WELLER who protests in an even voice.
WELLER
Jane. It was too far. You wouldn’t have made it.
JANE
It wasn’t too far for her.
READE
So maybe Mika and the mystery woman are working together. Mystery woman is the hitwoman. Mika is pulling the strings.
JANE says to herself
What does all this have to do with me? How did I know this woman?
READE
Someone wanted us to get involved. JANE’s name is on the back of the photo. The question is why?
WELLER looks at PATTERSON.
WELLER
Still nothing in the tattoo database?
PATTERONS shakes her head.
A woman knocks on the door, walks in and hands a file to MAYFAIR which she browses quickly through.
MAYFAIR
Well, my contact at Naichō finally got back to me. Turns out Mika’s company, Mizuchi, is being investigated for supposedly using their boats to traffic people across international waters in Southeast Asia and then using the victims for sweatshop labor.
PATTERSON
Dr. Soto was assisting INTERPOL with an investigation, but we didn’t know which one. That was probably it.
MAYFAIR continues reading the file and nods.
MAYFAIR
This says Dr. Soto contacted INTERPOL last week to say she had evidence against the company.
PATTERSON
And now she’s dead.
JANE
Anything about the mystery woman in there?
MAYFAIR looks at the file for a few seconds.
MAYFAIR
No, he didn’t have anything on her. She’s a ghost.
JANE looks again at WELLER and walks out of the room. He follows.
CORNER OF A HALLWAY
JANE paces, clearly agitated. WELLER walks over to her.
JANE
We could have had her. You shouldn’t have stopped me from jumping.
WELLER looks at Jane for a few seconds.
WELLER
Maybe you could have made that jump, but maybe not. I wasn’t willing to take that chance.
JANE looks back at WELLER and softens her expression.
JANE
You have to stop trying to protect me all the time.
WELLER shakes his head.
WELLER
That’s never gonna happen.
They look at each other equal parts stubbornness and care for each other.
ZAPATA walks out to the hallway and sees them standing close together.
ZAPATA
Hey guys, sorry to interrupt, but the murder weapon just turned up at the hotel where Saitō is staying. CSU sent over finger print and DNA evidence for analysis. Patterson’s running it now.
WELLER and JANE look at each other and then walk back towards the control room.
INT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING, PATTERSON’S CONTROL ROOM – NIGHT.
PATTERSON stands in front of several computer screens ready to brief the team on what she’s learned. MAYFAIR, WELLER, READE, ZAPATA, and JANE huddle around her. Other FBI agents in white lab coats are seen working in the background.
PATTERSON
We have one set of fingerprints and some DNA evidence on the blow gun. I’m running the fingerprints now to see if they match Saitō’s or Mika’s.
JANE
How did you get their fingerprints?
WELLER
CSU pulled them from their hotel rooms.
JANE nods slightly and looks away.
WELLER
Where was the blow gun found?
READE
Men’s locker room along with some darts.
PATTERSON
I’ve already confirmed the darts are laced with the same poison that killed the victims.
The computer beeps. PATTERSON looks surprised.
READE
Let me guess, they’re Saitō’s?
PATTERSON
No, actually. They belong to Mika.
Everyone looks confused.
ZAPATA
If Mika’s the one setting up Saitō, you’d think she wouldn’t slip up and have her own fingerprints on the murder weapon?
JANE
Maybe she isn’t the one doing all this. Maybe it’s the mystery woman. She was at the Blue Lotus the night everyone died, my picture with her is left at the scene, and she was there when Dr. Soto died.
A woman in a lap coat walks over to PATTERSON and hands her a tablet. PATTERSON reads it and jumps in excitement.
PATTERSON
Okay…okay…what does this mean.
Everyone looks on in anticipation.
PATTERSON
We finally got a hit in the tattoo data base. It triggered once the information on the poison was entered as a variable in the system.
She pulls up an image on a large TV for everyone to look at.
PATTERSON
The chemical formula for batrachotoxin is C31H42N2O6. The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 are all located in different parts of the Jane’s body – seemingly unrelated. However, the letters C, H, N, and O connect to form a perfect, 360 degree square and the numbers are located within that square.
ZAPATA
We already know the name of the toxin though.
PATTERSON
Right. There must be something else within the square that we’re meant to find…That’s a lot of ground to cover.
JANE
Hey!
PATTERSON feels terrible and speaks quickly.
PATTERSON
I just meant there are a lot of tattoos in that space and it may take a while to sort out how any of them are related to the toxin or any other elements of this case.
JANE is pacified.
MAYFAIR
Okay, everyone. It’s been a long day. Let’s let Patterson’s team do their work and we’ll call you if we find anything new.
JANE walks by WELLER, but doesn’t make eye contact. ZAPATA, READE, WELLER, and JANE leave the room.
EXT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING – NIGHT
JANE walks out of the front door and is met by her SECURITY DETAIL. Her phone rings – unknown caller and she answers.
JANE
Hello?
MYSTERY WOMAN
I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. I thought you’d be further along by now.
JANE
(JANE looks confused.)
Who is this?
MYSTERY WOMAN
I mean, Mika Tatsumaru basically hands you Akio Saitō on a platter. You have her fingerprints on the murder weapon – I made sure of that. Why haven’t you arrested her yet and rescued poor Mr. Saitō?
JANE
We’re trying, but we can’t find them.
MYSTERY WOMAN
I wonder why. Seems to me you’re spending far too much time worrying about me and too little time finding a killer.
JANE
Who are you?
MYSTERY WOMAN
See what I mean?
JANE
Where is Mika Tatsumaru?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Think about it. Where would she be most comfortable?
JANE thinks for a moment.
JANE
Around ships…her company probably has some docked here or she knows people who do.
But, that could be like finding a needle in a haystack.
MYSTERY WOMAN
You have what you need already. Just put the pieces together. Focus on finding Mika. She needs to be found.
JANE
You can’t find her, can you? You need us to…and then what, you kill her? Hasn’t there been enough death already?
MYSTERY WOMAN
There’s so much more to this than seven dead Japanese men.
JANE
And Dr. Soto? What about her? Who is she to you?
The MYSTERY WOMAN is silent for a few seconds.
MYSTERY WOMAN
She’s an unfortunate causality. I was too late to save her, but there are others, so many others that need to be saved. As I said, you have everything you need already. Follow the tattoos.
The MYSTERY WOMAN hangs up and Jane rushes back into the building.
INT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING – NIGHT
JANE rushes from the elevator into PATTERSON’S Control Room where READE, ZAPATA and PATTERSON stand reviewing something on a computer.
JANE
I think Mika’s somewhere near the water.
PATTERSON looks up from her computer.
READE
That narrows it down.
JANE
I just got a call from the woman from the photo.
WELLER walks in just as JANE says this.
WELLER
Wait, what?
JANE
She called me.
READE
How did she even get your number? We change it like every week.
JANE
I don’t know. But, she told me Mika would be where she’s most comfortable and that we had everything we needed. She also said there were a lot more people to save.
ZAPATA
What does that mean?
JANE shakes her head.
PATTERSON
If she’s most comfortable by the water, she’d probably be on a ship of some sort, but there are no ships registered to her or her company in the port.
WELLER
What about known associates?
PATTERSON
Nothing’s come up…but… Maybe it’s not a ship at all…
PATTERSON stand and walks over to a larger computer screen and types something into her tablet.
PATTERSON
This sequence of letters and numbers is located within the tattoo zone we were searching for. S64I36O. We ran variations on it and one is ISO6346, which is the international ID system for shipping containers.
I’ll cross reference all the known shipping containers with the variables in our database and…(pauses)…let’s see who was paying attention in class. Who remembers the chemical formula for batrachotoxin – the poison our killer used?
ZAPATA and READE compete to say it faster, but it’s clear neither remembers exactly. PATTERSON is amused.
PATTERSON brings up a map of shipping containers which zeroes in on the one of interest.
PATTERSON
Close. Batrachotoxin is C31H42N2O6. The container ID for this shipping container starts with CHNO followed by 314226 – our chemical formula. This container is currently on a ship at the Globals Terminal Bayonne at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
WELLER
We’ll take a copter to the island. Meet on the roof in 5 minutes.
EVERYONE starts to leave the room. PATTERSON yells after them.
PATTERSON
I’ll send the location to your phones.
EXT: FBI OFFICE BUILDING ROOF – NIGHT
READE, ZAPATA, JANE, and WELLER are in tactical gear and seen climbing onto a helicopter which then takes off and flies over the city towards Staten Island.
EXT: GLOBALS TERMINAL BAYONNE – STATEN ISLAND – NIGHT
The helicopter lands and READE, ZAPATA, JANE, and WELLER climb off. WELLER directs ZAPATA and READE to take the left side while he and JANE go to the right.
They move discreetly towards the ship with guns drawn and carefully board it. After clearing the deck, READE starts down the same stairs shown earlier in the episode. ZAPATA follows. They find MR. SAITŌ still bound, but alive in the boiler room, clear the room, and untie him. READE tends to him and says to ZAPATA.
READE
I got him. Go ahead.
READE calls in for medical attention and back up. ZAPATA runs back out to help clear the rest of the ship.
Meanwhile, WELLER and JANE move along the main deck. They are shot at from the bulkhead by a figure in black. They fire back before running after the shooter periodically taking cover. They come to place where they have to decide whether to jump down to the bulkhead or take the long way and probably lose the shooter. JANE and WELLER look at each other. WELLER nods at Jane and they both jump.
They have a rough landing, but both get to their feet and run after the shooter.
WELLER
You okay?
JANE
Yeah. You?
The shooter continues shooting at them, but runs out of bullets, discards the weapon, and keeps running. WELLER and JANE corner the shooter at the edge of the ship. The shooters face is concealed, although it’s clear it is a woman. She climbs up on the edge of ship, holds her arms out to the side, and falls backwards off the ship to her death. WELLER and JANE run to the edge and see a body floating in the water.
ZAPATA catches up with them.
ZAPATA
What happened?
JANE
She – she just jumped.
ZAPATA
Is it Mika?
WELLER
We don’t know.
ZAPATA
I found something you’re gonna want to see.
WELLER and JANE reluctantly leave the edge of the ship and follow ZAPATA to the cargo hold.
ZAPATA
This is the shipping container with the ID tag PATTERSON identified. Let’s see what’s inside.
WELLER and JANE draw their weapons as ZAPATA slowly opens it. The doors open wide and the container is full of people, huddled together in fear.
EXT: GLOBALS TERMINAL BAYONNE – STATEN ISLAND – NIGHT
A SERIES OF SHOTS
– NYPD, PORT AUTHORITY, FBI and MEDICAL PERSONNEL are all on the scene.
– The woman’s body is pulled from the water.
– The people from the cargo hold and receive medical care.
-READE is shown talking to AIKO SAITŌ who sits with a blanket around him.
The woman’s body is placed on a gurney and WELLER and JANE see it is MIKA TATSUMARU. ZAPATA walks up.
ZAPATA
There were 27 people inside that container, including 9 children. Some of them are in pretty rough shape, but looks like everyone is going to make it. Reade is getting Akio Saitō’s statement.
They turn to look at him and the people getting care.
JANE
They must have been so scared.
ZAPATA
Only one person speaks any English, but it looks like someone from Mika’s company promised them good jobs and safe passage to the U.S. We’ll get more once we can get some interpreters and can take everyone’s statement.
JANE
Maybe I can help.
ZAPATA
I’m sure you can, but you need to get looked at too. Both of you.
WELLER and JANE look at themselves and notice scrapes and torn clothes. JANE moves her arm and noticed her shoulder is sore. They give each other a slight smile and walk slowly over to the medical personnel – WELLER is limping.
INT: FBI VEHICLE – NIGHT
WELLER is driving and JANE is in the passenger seat as they pull up to her apartment. JANE’S arm is in a sling and WELLER’s face is bandaged.
JANE
Today was fun.
They both laugh a little.
JANE
We should do it again sometime.
They look at each other with genuine affection. A security officer approaches the vehicle ready to escort JANE from the street to her apartment. JANE reaches to unbuckle her seat belt, but winces at the motion. WELLER reaches across her to unbuckle it. The security officer opens the door for her. Weller whispers.
WELLER
Good night, Jane.
JANE turns toward to WELLER and kisses him on the cheek spontaneously.
JANE
Good night, Kurt.
EXT: JANE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
JANE walks towards her apartment turning to smile at WELLER one more time before she enters through the front door.
INT: JANE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
JANE throws her keys on the counter as she walks in and removes her jacket. She turns on the shower and walks into her bedroom unseen by the camera. Camera shots suggest someone is watching her. JANE comes out wearing a towel and walks into the bathroom to shower. The MYSTERY WOMAN is seen lurking in the shadows.
JANE finishes the shower and walks into her bedroom coming out a short time later in comfortable clothes and wet hair. She looks into a mostly empty fridge and settles on cheese, crackers, and wine.
She sits at the counter thumbing through the case file. She holds up the image of herself and the MYSTERY WOMAN. A WOMAN speaks from close by.
MYSTERY WOMAN
Not my best photo.
JANE jumps, but before she can stand she is shot in the neck with a dart and falls hard to the ground.
JANE awakes to a blurry room – her bedroom. Her wrists and legs are bound. She finds that she can’t move. The MYSTERY WOMAN sits on her bed thumbing through the case file, looking amused, but tired.
JANE is foggy from the drugs and strains to talk.
JANE
What do you want?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Oh, just a few loose ends to clean up. I see you guys got your heads out of your asses long enough to find Mika and rescue those people.
JANE
Who are you?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Oh, I’m hurt you don’t remember me. And to think, I came all this way to see you again.
JANE looks angry. The MYSTERY WOMAN stands up and paces around the room, snooping at JANE’S few personal items and then says sarcastically.
MYSTERY WOMAN
I see you’ve really settled into your new life here. New hair, new clothes, new boyfriend.
JANE
He’s not my boyfriend.
MYSTERY WOMAN
That’s not what I saw…But, who cares. Let’s get down to business.
JANE
Yes, let’s.
MYSTERY WOMAN
I have one more job for you.
JANE
I don’t work for you.
The MYSTERY WOMAN laughs.
MYSTERY WOMAN
Oh, of course not, but you do go wherever the tattoos lead, don’t you? You work for them.
JANE says nothing.
MYSTERY WOMAN
But, in this case, I’ve grown impatient with you. The mission isn’t over just because you found one shipping container filled with people. There are a hundred others like them. You do want to find them, don’t you?
JANE nods.
MYSTERY WOMAN
Good. Then listen up. My dear ol’ aunt, Dr. Soto, stumbled into some pretty messy business on her last research trip to Japan. And it got her killed.
Well, I want to make sure everything comes to light. Mika wasn’t the only one at that company luring people to a life of slavery with promises of a promised land. They all must be stopped. But, to do that, I need something from you first.
JANE
What?
MYSTERY WOMAN
After my aunt died, the FBI searched her home and confiscated many of her research files. Among them are coded messages identifying not only the other individuals involved in the human trafficking ring, but details on locations where the victims are being held. She kept them hidden even from me.
JANE
Why would she do that?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Let’s just say she didn’t exactly approve of my methods. I need your team to finish decoding the list of names and share with INTERPOL so they can make some arrests and rescue some people.
JANE
That’s it?
The MYSTERY WOMAN smiles.
MYSTERY WOMAN
It’s easier to shoot fish in a barrel.
JANE
Wait…you shot me with a dart, but we recovered the murder weapon…unless…
JANE looks at the mystery woman in shock.
JANE
You killed all those men! And what about the workers at the Blue Lotus. What did you do to them?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Oh, them. They were victims of that company’s slave labor. They gladly played along. They’re finally free and living well…elsewhere…
JANE
Since you’re obviously capable of it, why didn’t you just kill MIKA?
MYSTERY WOMAN
Oh, I would have, but I wanted evidence of what she’d done to come to light first. And now it has. Nothing like a live killer on the loose to motivate the F.B.I. Public examples are great deterrents for other companies tempted into this filthy business.
So I played nice with her for awhile. Agreed to do her dirty work – stopped by the Blue Lotus, framed poor Mr. Saitō. I would have chosen a different ending for her, but…
JANE
And your aunt? What was she? An unfortunate causality?
The MYSTERY WOMAN gets angry.
MYSTERY WOMAN
She was a warrior! She only had months to live through the rest of a very painful disease. I ended her suffering! I used her death to further our cause!
Oh, don’t act so surprised. It’s nothing you haven’t done before.
JANE
What do you mean? What do you know about me!?!
The MYSTERY WOMAN shakes her head.
MYSTERY WOMAN
What? And spoil all the fun?…Just get those names and locations decoded or I’ll come back with more than a drugged dart.
The MYSTERY WOMAN exits and JANE is left tied to the chair struggling to free herself.
FADE OUT:
-END-
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