Crossing Jordan Virtual Season 7

“For Whom the Bell Tolls”

Written by
Nynaeve

Art by
Harbor Runner

“Crossing Jordan Virtual Season 7” is a fan-based effort not intended to infringe on the rights of Tailwind Productions, NBC/Universal or any of the other copyright holders of “Crossing Jordan.” No money was made from the writing or posting of any content.

Jordan Cavanaugh
Woody Hoyt
Garret Macy
Nigel Townsend
Kate Switzer
Mahesh “Bug” Vijayaraghavensatanaryanamurthy
Lily Lebowski

Madeline Lebowski-Brandau
Matt Seely
Eddie Winslow
Annie Capra
Lois Carver
Roz Framus
Santana
Renée Walcott
Binky
Samantha Sharton
Bell Ringer (James Day)
Bell Ringer’s daughter (Debbie Howard)
Young Man (Ethan Muse)
Young Woman (Rebecca Rotter)
Uniformed officer
MegaMart cashier
Nursing home activities director
Nursing home patients

INTERIORS
MORGUE
   GARRET’S OFFICE
   HALLWAY
   JORDAN’S OFFICE
   TRACE
   AUTOSPY ONE
   AUTOPSY TWO
   CONFERENCE ROOM
   NIGEL’S LAB

JORDAN’S APARTMENT
   BEDROOM

PRECINCT
   BULLPEN
   INTERROGATION ROOM ONE

MEGA MART
   ENTRY
   PHARMACY AISLE
   CHECKOUT LANE

DR. SANCHEZ’S OFFICE
   RECEPTION

REHEARSAL ROOM

NURSING HOME
   FOYER
   DAY ROOM
   VARIOUS PATIENT ROOMS

EXTERIORS
MEGAMART
   FRONT SIDE DOORS
   PLANT DISPLAY IN FRONT OF STORE
   VENDING MACHINE ALCOVE

NURSING HOME

TEASER

Silver Bells - JoDee Messina

1. EXT. BASIC MEGA-STORE – EVENING, APPROX. 7:30 P.M.

A slight man dressed in warm clothing, wearing a jaunty Santa cap, stands next to a bucket hanging from a stand. He is ringing a bell and shouting, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” repeatedly. He is a seasonal BELL RINGER.

Shoppers hurry past him, in and out of the store. When he is able to make eye contact with one, the shopper usually dumps some change into the bucket. He glances down into the bucket. It is about half full –coins and some bills. He redoubles his ringing effort.

A woman, SAMANTHA SHARTON, hurries toward the entrance. She is pressing one hand to her head and frowning. If not for the obvious pain, she’d be pretty – shoulder-length blond hair, athletic build, medium height. Instead, with each clang of the bell, she winces. She approaches the BELL RINGER.

2. INT. LOBBY OF MEGA-STORE – CONTINUING

SAMANTHA hurries along, turning right toward the sign that says “Pharmacy.”

3. INT. PHARMACY SECTION OF MEGA-STORE – CONTINUING

SAMANTHA makes a bee-line for the headache remedies and selects an over-the-counter product for migraines. She turns around and walks away.

4. INT. CHECK-OUT COUNTER OF MEGA-STORE – CONTINUING

SAMANTHA sighs and rubs her temples as she watches the teenage girl, SALES CLERK, ring up her purchase.

5. EXT. BASIC MEGA-STORE FRONT – EVENING

The scene is silent. The stand with its kettle is in place, but the BELL RINGER isn’t in sight. There is a quiet groan and the camera pans slowly toward a shadowy corridor where vending machines and newspaper dispensers line the walls. The groan is coming from the BELL RINGER. He is lying face down and blood is seeping from his skull. His breath plumes white in the cold. One breath. Two. Three. Four. His body shudders and we see one more plume of breath which slowly dissipates.

END OF TEASER

Crossing Jordan Theme

ACT ONE

6 . EXT. BASIC MEGA-STORE – EVENING, AROUND MIDNIGHT

EDDIE WINSLOW is talking to a couple in their twenties. The YOUNG MAN is skinny, dressed in military surplus type clothing; he’s a little ragged around the edges, with pale, lank hair in a ponytail. The GIRL with him is dressed in jeans and a plain long sleeve shirt, covered by a dark hoodie, with the hood up. The YOUNG MAN’S arm is possessively around the GIRL. He gestures toward an area in front of the store entrance. The area is deeply in shadow, between a short outer wall and the wall of the store. There is a rank of the quarter and fifty-cent candy and novelty vending machines.

EDDIE and the YOUNG MAN watch her go. The YOUNG MAN has an anxious expression and he’s shifting from foot to foot.

EDDIE looks in it and shakes his head. He looks around, his eyes narrowing as he thinks through the potential situation.

EDDIE gives JORDAN a look and then leaves her swabbing the kettle.

7. EXT. FRONT OF MEGA-STORE – CONTINUING

The UNIFORMED OFFICER is holding apart the leaves of a poinsettia plant and pointing with his flashlight. EDDIE approaches.

EDDIE returns to JORDAN. She stands up, bagging the kettle swab.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Hem

9. INT. BUG’S LAB – MORNING

BUG is standing next to a microscope. He’s in full research mode: lab coat, instruments laid out, but his glasses have been flipped up on top of his head. He’s looking at NIGEL with one of those “You are truly certifiable” looks.

NIGEL is standing there, grinning, very enthusiastic, energy radiating out of him.

NIGEL stalks away, leaving BUG annoyed, perplexed and maybe the tiniest bit pleased to be included.

10. AUTOPSY ONE – MORNING

JORDAN is doing her autopsy of the BELL RINGER from the night before. She is probing the head wound, peering intently at it.

WOODY is leaning against the door jamb, watching her.

She rolls her eyes at him, but lifts her fingers up and pantomimes snapping a la “The Addams Family” theme.

He saunters over, looking down at the body on the table.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

GARRET is sitting at his desk, looking up at NIGEL with much the same expression we saw on BUG’s face. NIGEL is standing in front of the desk, looking hopeful, but not quite as energetic as before.

GARRET glares at him. NIGEL slinks away, not noting that GARRET is studying the list he’s been given and, rather than trashing it, places it on his desk.

12. INT. MORGUE HALLWAY – CONTINUING

NIGEL is standing in the hallway, looking indecisive. He brightens when he sees JORDAN coming his way.

JORDAN senses he’s still disappointed that she interrupted earlier. She puts a hand on his arm.

What Child Is This?- Charlotte Church

13. CONFERENCE ROOM – CONTINUING

LILY is sitting across from a woman in her mid-thirties. The woman is red-eyed from crying. She clutches a tissue in one hand, mopping at her nose from time to time. LILY has stretched a hand across the table to the woman and the woman is holding on to it with her free hand as if her life depended on it.

14. AUTOPSY ONE – MID-MORNING

JORDAN is finishing her autopsy on the BELL RINGER. She looks up as the door opens. It’s EDDIE WINSLOW.

LILY is watching the daughter of the murdered bell ringer leave. NIGEL stands aside to let the woman pass and then enters, grinning at LILY. While still enthusiastic, his cheeriness has taken a definite hit after his encounters with BUG and GARRET. But overall his look is hopeful. LILY smiles at him and slides a piece of paper in front of her.

16. PRECINCT INTERROGATION ROOM – LUNCH TIME

EDDIE WINSLOW is standing near the door. At the table a woman is seated. It’s the woman with the migraine, SAMANTHA SHARTON. She is pale, her eyes red and her face blotchy with crying. Her lips quiver.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

NIGEL looks up from one of his many “toys” as JORDAN enters. He flicks up his eyebrows in greeting. She gives him a head toss in acknowledgement.

JORDAN pushes through the door, ignoring him. He sighs.

18. INT. PRECINCT BULLPEN – SIMULTANEOUS TO HAIR ANALYSIS

Everyone seems to be in the bullpen, though no one is particularly busy. The detectives seem to be doing paperwork, ordering take-out or surreptitiously doing Sudoku puzzles. SANTANA gets up from her desk and wanders to the bulletin board. She is drawn by a bright green flyer and begins to read. When she speaks, it’s mostly to herself.

Father Christmas- The Kinks

19. INT. AUTOPSY TWO – CONTINUING

KATE is doing an autopsy. She is gowned, her hands are inside the cadaver and she’s annoyed because she’s had to stop recording her observations. She looks up from her work, glaring at NIGEL.

NIGEL sidles up behind her and lays a hand on her shoulder.

20. JORDAN’S OFFICE – CONTINUING

JORDAN is working on a file – the bell ringer’s file actually. She looks up as her door slams and a slight scowl crosses her face. The camera cuts to the person standing in front of her now closed door. It’s EDDIE WINSLOW, looking about as pleased as JORDAN.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

Let It Snow!- Andy Williams

JORDAN and WOODY are lying in her bed. JORDAN is wearing on old BPD t-shirt of his and we presume he’s wearing boxers as all we can see are his abs. They are lying on their sides, facing each other, talking.

He begins kissing her shoulder.

WOODY chuckles and then he moves back up her body. They kiss and slide beneath the covers together.

22 . INT. DR. SANCHEZ’S OFFICE RECEPTION – FOLLOWING MORNING

JORDAN is standing in front of the reception desk, waiting for the secretary to finish a call. JORDAN is fidgeting, checking her watch, glancing around the reception area where a couple other people wait. She is just starting to turn away, a look of relief on her face, when the secretary finishes her call.

JORDAN stands up and, pale, trembling slightly, heads toward the NURSE.

23. PRECINCT INTERROGATION ONE – CONTINUING

EDDIE is seated at the table, facing ETHAN. EDDIE is smiling at the young man, who isn’t quite as grungy today, though his blond hair still needs a good washing and maybe a cut, depending on your viewpoint. ETHAN looks mostly at ease.

24. INT. PRECINCT OUTSIDE INTERROGATION ONE – CONTINUING

25. PRECINCT INTERROGATION ONE – CONTINUING

EDDIE walks over and sits down across from ETHAN again. He pulls a piece of paper out of a file folder and slides it across to the young man.

FADE TO:

26. NIGEL’S LAB – ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATER

NIGEL is smiling as he picks up the phone.

27. INT. PRECINCT BULLPEN – A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER

EDDIE is sitting as his desk, writing up some paperwork. He looks up as some uniformed officers lead in the YOUNG WOMAN from the other night. He has a wry smile on his face as she’s led to one of the interrogation rooms. He stands up and starts to go in the same direction. He catches sight of JORDAN.

EDDIE chuckles and resumes his course toward the interrogation room. He waves at JORDAN over his shoulder. JORDAN smiles and resumes her own course.

28. INT. PRECINCT HALLWAY – CONTINUING

JORDAN is walking slowly, looking a bit anxious. She stops and knocks on WOODY’S office door. We hear him call out to come in.

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

WOODY looks up as JORDAN enters. He can’t help but smile at her as she takes the chair across from him. It doesn’t take him long to realize she’s nervous though.

WOODY stops immediately. He goes pale at the implications.

FADE to:

The Christmas Song- Aimee Mann

30. INT. GENERIC EMPTY ROOM – AFTERNOON

NIGEL is waiting, sitting on a stool near a piano. He is whistling. There is a clock behind him. He checks it. Then he checks his watch. He sighs.

NIGEL spins on the piano stool and as he does so, the hands on the clock spin around. An hour has passed. Now two. NIGEL looks dejected as he finally stands up and leaves.

31. INT. MORGUE HALLWAY – EARLY EVENING

NIGEL is on his way out of the morgue. He is wearing a Dickensian costume and looking glum. He passes his colleague’s office doors, all shut, and lights all still on. He considers knocking at each one, but stops, eventually squaring his shoulders. If they’re going to be that way about it…he’ll carry on all on his own.

32. EXT. NURSING HOME – AFTER DARK

NIGEL is walking, in his costume, toward the entrance to a nursing home. A woman, the activities director, rushes out to greet him.

33. INT. NURSING HOME FOYER – CONTINUING

NIGEL stops. His face is a mask of blank confusion. His eyes dart back and forth.

Rockin'Around the Christmas Tree- The Smithereens

NIGEL stops JORDAN

Laughing, they exit.

34. INT. NURSING HOME DAY ROOM – CONTINUING

The camera travels from character to character. They sing a mixture of carols, from the traditional to the more modern.

Someone suggests “Jingle Bell Rock.’ While singing, GARRET puts out his hand to RENEE, who accepts it and they add a little dance to the vocal entertainment. FRAMUS approaches BUG, but LILY gives her a warning look. FRAMUS grabs the next male she sees – EDDIE WINSLOW, whom she has to haul out to dance, but he does, to the laughter and smiles of the residents. Smiling and singing, we also see WOODY and JORDAN dancing. She shakes and shimmies and he holds her hand and watches, pulling her close during the chorus.

A resident requests “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause”. This is the perfect time to show off MADELINE, who looks like a Victorian doll. As the singing continues the camera slides toward the back of the group. WOODY and JORDAN have found a doorway with mistletoe over it and they are taking advantage of it.

Silent Night- Jewel

SLOW FADE to:

35. INT. NURSING HOME HALLWAY – CONTINUING

The group is walking down a hallway. The light is soft, almost misty, as they stop at various rooms.

36. INT. RUDOLPH ROOM - CONTINUING

This resident has her granddaughter visiting. The group sings ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with Binky taking center stage as Rudolph. KATE gives NIGEL a look that says “You’re gonna pay for this,” but then she breaks into a wide grin.

37. OLDEST RESIDENT’S ROOM - CONTINUING

The group sings a medley of traditional songs, starting with “Little Town of Bethlehem,” moving to “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” and sliding into “Silent Night.”

Everyone else goes quiet as JORDAN’S voice shines through and it becomes a solo. Her colleagues smile. LILY leans into BUG, who kisses her hair. GARRET and RENEE clasp hands. SEELY slips an arm around CAPRA and she lets him. Even EDDIE WINSLOW allows FRAMUS to lean on him. WOODY stands a little apart, watching JORDAN, enraptured by her. The scene blends so that WOODY’S face fades slowly and we are left with JORDAN’S face – perfectly content and at peace, if only for these few moments.

FADE TO BLACK

Next time on Crossing Jordan:

"Auld Acquaintance"