Season 2, Episode 2

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Previously, on CSI: Excolo

HERMIA in hospital, looking at a bunch of flowers.
CUT TO HERMIA in bar, speaking to VALMONT.
HERMIA: do you want to check out that new Indian restaurant on Severin Ave sometime?
VALMONT: yes, I'd like that.
CUT TO
SIMON and GLASS in morgue, working on the corpse of ROBERT REAVES. Voiceover of MAB talking about Reaves' death.
CUT TO the Diabolique, where GLASS is talking to DORIAN.
DORIAN: I have the evening off later this week. Usually spend my time in chinatown, but... I'll call you, all right?
CUT TO WANDA leaving with GLASS, QUICK CUT TO MIAO watching.
CUT TO SIMON, in bed with FAITH.
FAITH: You ever married?
SIMON: She died, while I was away.
CUT TO DANIKA's apartment.
DANIKA: I like you.
She leans forward and kisses TEZ.
CUT TO limo, where LILY is sitting on AL's lap.
AL: It only took a single bullet.
CUT TO LILY receiving a list of names from JEWELS. Close up of her slipping it into her purse.

OPENING CREDITS

EPISODE 2: TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

SETTING: City Hall, the Civic Ballroom. One week after Episode 1. Friday night.

CAMERA PANS OVER banner outside hall which reads: First Annual Robert Reaves Civic Pride Awards and Robert Reaves Memorial Gala Dinner and Ball

I adjust my cufflinks in the car and smooth down the lapels of my tuxedo.

"We're here, Mr Shairan," says Granger through the intercom. The car doors are opened and Lily and I step out. Cameras flash, and we of course take a moment to pose on the red carpet and smile before heading inside.

We get quite a few shocked or angry looks on our way in. I smile serenely. When I discovered that invitations to this ridiculous affair could be secured by donations of $50,000, well, of course I felt I should donate. Who does not want to support civic pride? Lily and I will now be sitting at one of the VIP tables, which is marvellously amusing, considering the circumstances.

Of course, not everyone has paid to be here. The recipients of these awards have been invited, so I imagine we shall have to sit through several old ladies receiving prizes for how they improved flower gardens or washed off graffiti. Tedious. It will be more interesting to see the police awards - injury in the line of duty and so on. I am particularly looking forward to seeing which politicians will have got themselves awarded prizes, too.

Some light jazz is playing, and I take a champagne glass from a passing waiter and look around the room. There are one or two reporters wearing press passes, and a few uniformed officers patrolling. I wonder what they expect to find tonight.

[OPEN]