Chapter 2, Episode 1

Transcript: Chapter 2, Episode 1

Blaze leans forward, looking distraught with handcuffs around his wrists. He wears his beige tunic shirt but is missing his jewelry and gloves. He yells, “All I did was discover the body!”

Detective Marsh, a stocky policeman with sandy brown hair, lunges forward and yells in Blaze’s face, “THEN WHY ARE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ON THE MURDER WEAPON???”

The view zooms out to show a dim interrogation room with a harsh spotlight at the center. Blaze sits in a folding chair at a large metal table. Officer Marsh smacks the metal table and yells in Blaze’s ear, “WELL?” Blaze flinches. Standing beside the table with folded arms is Detective Williams, an older black woman with short gray hair. Both detectives wear blue button-down shirts, black ties, black pants, and Chicago police badges. Marsh has an indecipherable tattoo on his forearm in shades of red, white, and blue.

Looking hesitant, Blaze bites his lip and says, “… I was checking it for spiritual energy…” Detective Marsh hovers over him, looking skeptical. He asks, “You were what?”

Blaze gestures with his hands and says, “You see… when you asked me what I did for a living… and I said I was a therapist…” Williams interjects, “You lied.” Blaze cries, “No!”

Blaze awkwardly explains, “I am a therapist. My clients just happen to be dead.”

The detectives look skeptical and unimpressed as Blaze says, “I’m a spirit medium.”

Framed by the silhouettes of the detectives, Blaze says, “Anyway… uh… Am I under arrest? You never read me my rights.”

The detectives say nothing, and Blaze leans forward, holding his hands up imploringly. He asks, “Can you at least un-cuff me? I’m cooperating!”

Marsh holds a lighter in front of Blaze’s face and says, “COOPERATING? You said you were unarmed, but we found a weapon when we patted you down.” Blaze replies, “That’s not a weapon! I use it for my spirit work.”

Holding the lighter up, Marsh says, “And for arson, I bet. You killed a guy, then you planned to trash the church and burn it down.” A polaroid of the broken arm of a baby statue is shown, and Marsh continues, “You even vandalized a holy statue.”

Marsh continues, “Tell me… You got a problem with people of faith?” With wide eyes, Blaze yells, “I don’t have a problem with anyone!” Marsh replies, “Hmph. Sure.”

Marsh flicks the lighter on and looks down at the flame with a cocky smile. He says, “It’s a nice lighter, though.” He holds a cigarette up to his face and asks, “Mind if I smoke?”

Blaze stares silently and intensely at the lighter. Twin flames reflect in his eyes.

As Marsh lights his cigarette, the smoky ghost of a thin, long-haired woman in a bra top and 2000s era low-rise jeans appears beside Detective Williams. With one hand on the detective’s shoulder, she looks at an open file folder in Williams’s hands and says, “Victim was impaled by a 100lb metal cross with a blunt edge. What are you? A buck twenty?”

The ghost looks up, smiling, and says, “No offense, hon, but I don’t think you could…” She fades out as the lighter snaps shut.

Blaze wears an innocent smile and says to the detectives, “Come on, look at me. You know I’m not strong enough to shove that giant cross through someone’s rib cage. And I have no blood on me.”

While Marsh stands with folded arms, Williams holds up the file folder and asks, “So you just happened upon a dead body in a church you don’t even go to?” Blaze replies, “I pass that church all the time on my way to the bus stop. I felt the deathblow when it happened. It’s because of… my ability.”

The view zooms in on Marsh’s face as he narrows his eyes and says, “Right. Your ability…”

Marsh leans forward with his hands on the table near Blaze’s. He sneers and asks, “If you’re really a medium, why not call up the murder vic’s spirit right now? Have him clear your name?” Blaze says firmly, “That’s not how I use my powers.” Marsh replies, “How convenient.”

Detective Williams cocks her head and asks, “Then how do you use them?” Blaze explains, “I offer spirits friendship and a listening ear, and I help them pass into the light. I don’t force them to solve mysteries or answer our questions.”

Williams looks displeased as she asks, “You’d let a murderer go free? You’d let the families go the rest of their lives without closure?”

Blaze replies, “Those are problems for the living, not the dead.”

While Williams stands beside the table with her hands on her hips, Marsh looms over Blaze and leans in with a hand on his back. Blaze leans away from him, looking apprehensive. Marsh says, I think you know more about this murder than you’re admitting. What I should do… is keep you here overnight… just us two… until I wring the whole story out of you.”

Marsh squeezes Blaze’s shoulder tightly, while Blaze glares at him with clenched fists. Marsh continues, “Unless… you can summon the victim’s spirit for us. Right now. Let’s see you prove you’re a medium.”

End of episode.

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