"THE JOKE'S ON YOU (1)"
TEASER.

FROM BLACK:

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

We are staring at a full moon resting peacefully over the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. After a few seconds, the camera pans down revealing a BURGLAR (Late teens, early 20s) who is facing the moon. He turns to face the camera and we see something in his eyes. Something menacing. He is wearing BLACK JEANS and a GREY WOOL JACKET. He pulls the HOOD up over his head and makes his move to the camera. He is heading toward...

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - MINUTES LATER

We are focused on the malicious glare of the burglar. We pan outward as he begins walking down the row of cars. For the first time, we see the CROWBAR in his RIGHT HAND. We can tell that he's hunting, on the prowl, for a vehicle to break into to rob. He passes several various cars and trucks before spotting a 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR MCLAREN ROADSTER.

The burglar gives a slight chuckle. This is too easy... he's thinking.

The burglar approaches the passenger's side window. He raises the crowbar and smashes in the window. The ALARM goes off instantaneously. Finally, a challenge...

He pushes the unlock button and we hear the doors click. The burglar rounds the car to the driver's side and climbs inside. He pushes a button on the dashboard, unlocking the trunk.

He exits the vehicle and moves to the trunk, pulling open the lid.

INT. TRUNK - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

The camera peers out at the burglar and he now has a look of sheer horror etched across his countenance. This is new for him. What happened to the malice? We do not see what he sees so we cannot answer this question yet.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

The burglar stands outside the trunk, unmoving. No word can describe the tone of what's happening other than ominous. What the hell is he looking at?

We hear the clacking of boots as a SECURITY GUARD (40s) comes running to the scene.

SECURITY GUARD

FREEZE!

He has a tazer gun pointed at the burglar. The burglar does nothing. We know that it's because of what he's looking at, not because the security guard told him to. The security guard hasn't figured it out yet.

SECURITY GUARD

Show me your hands.

Nothing. No response.

SECURITY GUARD

I said, show me your hands.

The burglar finally looks over at him. He slowly raises his hands. The security guard approaches him cautiously. He knows that he's in control of the situation, but he has learned from experience, not to underestimate any suspect.

He gets behind the burglar and handcuffs him. We can easily tell the personality change in the burglar will be sticking with him. Ever since looking in the trunk, he has gone from defying and overconfident to shaky and mortified.

The security guard shifts his gaze to the trunk. As he does, the camera follows. A woman rests inside. This is CASEY LARSON (Late 20s). She stares out at the camera with lifeless eyes and blood... lots of blood. The riddle of the persona swap has been solved.

SECURITY GUARD

Holy Mother of God...

He makes a cross in the air as most Christians do when faced with situations like this.

BURGLAR

(shakily)

God has got nothing to do with this...

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - LATER

DETECTIVE TRISTAN ADAMS (30s) is loading the burglar into his SQUAD CAR. Afterwards, he walks over to the scene where his partner, DETECTIVE JAY MEYER (30s) is questioning the security guard.

JAY

So, you heard the car alarm and came runnning. You found him and the vic here. Is that correct?

SECURITY GUARD

Yes, sir. She was just lying there in that pool of blood.

TRISTAN

Do you think he did it?

SECURITY GUARD

I did at first, but then I saw that there was no blood on him. I think he was just the unlucky soul who discovered the body.

The C.S.I. on the scene, SARAH TAYLOR (mid-20s), flags over the detectives.

SARAH

Detectives? I think I've got something.

They walk over to her after Jay thanks the security guard for his time.

JAY

Whatcha got?

As they kneel down beside her, she shows them something pinned to the inside of Casey's YELLOW LEATHER JACKET. It's a JOKER CARD.

SARAH

Look familiar?

TRISTAN

Son-of-a-bitch.

JAY

He got another one.

INT. BALTIMORE'S ELEVENTH PRECINCT - LIEUTENANT MARTIN HASKELL'S OFFICE - NIGHT - MINUTES LATER

We close in on MARTIN HASKELL (Early 50s). He is seated at his desk doing paperwork. Suddenly, the phone rings and he picks it up.

MARTIN

Haskell.

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

JAY

Lieu, it's Meyer. I need you to send Cain and Finn out ASAP.

INT. BALTIMORE'S ELEVENTH PRECINCT - LIEUTENANT MARTIN HASKELL'S OFFICE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

MARTIN

(jokingly)

Why's that, Jay? Something you can't handle?

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

JAY

(chuckling at first, then a serious tone)

Very funny. But this isn't a laughing matter. We got another one.

INT. BALTIMORE'S ELEVENTH PRECINCT - LIEUTENANT MARTIN HASKELL'S OFFICE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

MARTIN

Another what, Jay?

INT. GARAGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

JAY

Another victim of the Joker.