1-10 Better Part Of Valor

1-10 Better Part Of Valor

Better Part Of Valor

By the way, I was faking it.

Miss Parker

Better Part Of Valor

By the way, I was faking it.

Miss Parker

Original air date: January 11, 1997

Written by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Directed by: Anson Williams

Jarod looks into the death of a fellow firefighter who died in a warehouse fire that was deemed arson, and Miss Parker tries out a new method for tracking Jarod.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Insta-Cheese

Jarod’s Occupations: FireFighter, Accountant, Short Order Cook

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod O’Leary, Jarod Vronski

 

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Jarod uncovers the truth about a firefighter who died while battling a blaze inside a warehouse. 

 

As a DSA plays, Young Jarod views footage of an uprising in Uganda.  The boy tells Sydney that the protestors are angry because their trust has been violated by someone they once respected.  In the presents day, Jarod, now a firefighter named Jarod O’Leary, rescues a child from a burning apartment building.

Back at the Centre, Miss Parker utilizes the special talents of Angelo in her effort to locate Jarod.  Sydney describes Angelo as someone who has no personality of his own, but can absorb personality data given him.  It is hoped that by studying newspapers from throughout the country, Angelo can establish a link between Jarod’s selection process and his movements, thereby predicting his next move.

At the firehouse, Jarod gathers with his coworkers, Roy and Lieutenant Gleason.  When Jarod attempts to place his belongings in a locker, it raises Gleason’s ire.  Gleason asks him to place his clothes anywhere else.  Jarod realizes that the locker belonged to Tamara Copeland, a firefighter who died while battling a blaze.  Soon after, Harrigan approaches Jarod about meeting with reporters, who are anxious to question him about his earlier act of heroism.

Miss Parker reacts with uncharacteristic enthusiasm when an old friend, Michael Patrick, approaches her table as she dines with Sydney at a restaurant.  Michael, who works as a traveling sales representative for a pharmaceutical company, arranges to meet Miss Parker at the restaurant’s bar for drinks.

Jarod approaches arson investigator John Zimmerman as he searches the burned-out apartment building for signs of foul play.  Jarod presents his own scenario, but Zimmerman quickly shoots it down, labeling the blaze the result of an electrical fire caused by an overloaded outlet.  Later, Jarod cooks for his fellow firefighters, who react with disgust when they taste his “optimized nutritional supplement.”  Using a can of Insta-Cheez, they doctor the meal, making it palatable.

After pouring over old records, Jarod notes that Harrigan has made a habit of not allowing his team to battle warehouse fires, preferring instead to let them burn.  Roy tells him this is because the structures were not worth saving.

Miss Parker and Michael retire to the floor of Miss Parker’s living room, where they enjoy having sex.  Later, Sydney warns Parker that Michael’s lifestyle seems of a transient nature…and warns that having recreational sex is not free of emotional repercussions.

Lieutenant Gleason drops by a restaurant called Herb’s Grinders, where she speaks with the owner, Herb (who is Tamara Copeland’s father).  Herb explains that his regular cook phoned in sick…and Jarod has volunteered to take his place.  After Gleason leaves, Herb tells Jarod that Gleason behaves as if she were somehow responsible for his daughter’s death.  Later, Harrigan tells Jarod that Tamara was overly heroic, and ran inside the burning building when she thought she heard screams coming from within.  Harrigan followed her inside, but was pushed back by the flames and smoke.

Jarod approaches Zimmerman with a photograph of the aftermath of a blaze and asks him to identify whether or not it had been intentionally set.  Zimmerman looks at the photo and labels it an arson.  Jarod then drops a bombshell: Zimmerman had earlier ruled it an accidental electrical fire, the one Tamara died fighting.  Jarod believes Zimmerman and Harrigan were working together, setting fires for insurance payoffs.  Zimmerman was accidentally burned in the warehouse fire, and upon hearing his cries, Tamara ran inside to save him.  Zimmerman picks up the story, describing how Harrigan followed her inside and knocked her unconscious with a crowbar.  Harrigan told Zimmerman he had no intention of going to jail for participating in the arson.  The two men left Tamara to die in the blaze.

Broots contacts Miss Parker with word that Angelo pinpointed Jarod’s whereabouts at a smokehouse in Pittsburgh.  Shortly thereafter, Miss Parker discovers a photograph of Michael’s family inside his wallet.  She then ends their affair.  Later, Parker and Sydney make their way to the smoke house, where they speak with a man named Dmitry.  He tells them that an unidentified man showed up at the facility a short time earlier and took a red notebook that Jarod had left behind.  Sydney believes that Broots is the only other person who knew about the smokehouse.  Shortly thereafter, Broots contacts the pair with Jarod’s current location.

Jarod handcuffs Harrigan inside his recreation room, then uses the firehouse’s Dalmatian, Ember, to start an electrical fire.  Jarod explains that he treated the wiring throughout the house with accelerant.  As Harrigan begs for the key to the handcuffs, he admits he killed Tamara so he could collect payoff money.  His confession is broadcast over the radio…and heard by his colleagues.  As Jarod walks off, he encounters an armed Michael.  With some help from Ember, Jarod distracts Michael and knocks him to the ground.  He then makes a getaway, moments before Sydney and Miss Parker arrive.  Miss Parker confronts Michael, who confirms that he is working for the Centre.  Later, Jarod works as a vendor at “roach coach.”

1-10 Better Part Of Valor

Better Part Of Valor Transcript

 

Sydney   What are you seeing Jarod?
Young Jarod   I’m not sure.
Sydney   Come on, think. Think Jarod. What does it mean?
Young Jarod   These people, some are angry, some are sad. But all for the same reason.
Sydney   And that is?
Young Jarod   Their trust has been violated Sydney… by someone they look up to. And now they can’t trust him.
     
     
    Fairfax Apartments, Pittsburgh, PA
Gleason   Captain Harrigan.
Harrigan   Are we clear.
Gleason   O’Leary’s still in there.
Harrigan   O’Leary, get the hell out. That place is gone.
     
Harrigan   O’leary, report. What the hell are you doing in there?
     
Gail   Mommy, where are you? Somebody help me.
Jarod   It’s okay, you’re gonna be all right.
Harrigan   Damn it o’leary Get the hell out of there now.
Gleason   Sir.
Mother   That’s my baby! That’s my baby! That’s my baby! That’s my baby! Gail, oh Gail. Thank you.
Jarod   Just doing my job ma’am.
     
     
    intro
     
     
Miss Parker   So Mr Raines loaned him to us?
Sydney   Yes, Miss Parker.
Miss Parker   You wanna tell me why?
Sydney   Bear in mind that Jarod’s modus operandi thus far has been to collect newspaper stories.
Broots   So if we can establish a correlation between his selection process and his movements we may be able to predict his next move by scanning the local and nationally press for stories which may interest him.
Miss Parker   And Cousin It is your man for the job?
Sydney   Please don’t trivialise this Miss Parker. His name is Angelo, he’s very special.
Miss Parker   Oh, I can see that.
     
     
Roy   Man, Jarod. You barely get your boots unpacked, you’re already king of the hill. You know, I thought that place was a goner. I cant believe you just walked right through that inferno.
Jarod   Well, I wouldn’t recommend trying it at home.
Roy   Actually, it’s safer on the job.
Jarod   Safer?
Roy   68.6% of you serious injuries occur at home. You run the numbers, it’s a bigger risk taking a bath than it is fighting a fire.
Jarod   The truth is, I was just following the exit signs. Hey, can you show me where I can stow this gear?
Roy   Yeah, follow me. You take any locker you want, just make sure it doesn’t have a name on it.
Gleason   Any one but this one.
Jarod   I’m sorry, I didn’t know… Lieutenant Gleason?
Roy   Sorry man, I should have warned you. That’s Tamara Copeland’s locker.
Jarod   The firefighter that was killed.
Roy   Mn-hmm. She and Gleason were tight. I guess you coming in here kind of, you know, closes the door on all that.
Jarod   Or opens a wound.
Harrigan   Jarod, there you are. One day on the job with us and you’re kicking ass like a 20 year veteran. I want you to take a good look at this guy Roy. Guts, brains and a touch of the crazies. That’s what the Fighting 16th is all about. Listen, Jarod, the uh, reporters are ready to get up close and personal with you.
Jarod   Uh, sir, I don’t want any publicity.
Harrigan   Jarod, you are now a member of the best damn fire-fighting unit in this city. You should be proud of that. Besides, it’s good for the team.
Jarod   Yes sir.
Roy   Smile pretty.
     
     
    Restaurant
     
Miss Parker   And how long are we going to have to wait until your savant zeroes in on Jarod’s location?
Sydney   Angelo is not a savant Miss Parker. Actually we don’t have a classification for what he is. But think of him like a sponge, if you will. He has no personality of his own but he can absorb the personality data that we give him. And he has read every scrap we have on Jarod.
Miss Parker   So now he’s another Pretender?
Sydney   No. He could never make a moral judgment of his own. Also, he would never run away.
Miss Parker   Where have I heard that before?
Michael   Parker?
Miss Parker   Michael?
Michael   Come here. I can’t believe this. How long has it been?
Miss Parker   Too long. What are you doing here?
Michael   Short business trip. I’m a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company now. This is a part of my territory. What about you?
Miss Parker   I, uh, have a mid-level position with a local firm, nothing very exciting I’m afraid.
Michael   I cannot get over how terrific you look.
Miss Parker   Despite the lack of good sex. Michael Patrick, this is Sydney, my assistant.
Sydney   Michael.
Michael   Sydney. Anyway, I uh, I would like to ask you to join me for a drink at the bar but I can see that you’re both uh…
Miss Parker   Oh, Sydney was just leaving.
Sydney   Yes, apparently Sydney was just about to leave.
Michael   Oh, great. I’ll be at the bar.
Miss Parker   See you at the office, Syd.
     
     
    Fairfax Apartments, Pittsburgh, PA
Zimmerman   Let’s see. I’m doing my nails, washing my hair, smoking a cigarette
Jarod   And you’re talking to yourself.
Zimmerman   Yeah, so what? That what arson investigators do.
Jarod   Jarod O’Leary. I’m with the 16th.
Zimmerman   Yeah, I heard all about you. You’re the guy who saved the little girl in this building. Harrigan must be doing back flips over you.
Zimmerman   John Zimmerman.
Jarod   Oh, I know who you are. You caught the North Hills arsonist, pretty impressive work.
Zimmerman   Yeah, well, it didn’t get me any dates. It’s glory boys like you that get all the play. I bet you could tell me some tales, huh?
Jarod   Well, I do know this one about this little monkey and this man in the yellow hat.
Zimmerman   Yeah, I can take a hint. Nobody want to talk to guys like me, unless there’s a fire. Then it’s questions, nothing but questions.
Jarod   Well, if you’re so unhappy, why did you pick this line of work?
Zimmerman   I didn’t have any choice really. Most guys wanna be this close to a fire… they either set ’em, or fight ’em. I fall in the latter category. Ahhh.
Jarod   Are you okay?
Zimmerman   Oh, bum knee.
Jarod   Sports injury?
Zimmerman   Is that some kind of a joke?
Jarod   I… I didn’t mean anything. Do you mind if I take a stab at this?
Zimmerman   Feel free.
Jarod   Well, we know that the occupant was a smoker. She was smoking a cigarette, doing her nails. So my guess would be that she fell asleep, dropped the cigarette and… ignited the fluids.
Zimmerman   That’s good. Real good. Also wrong. Electrical fire.
Jarod   Really? What makes you so sure?
Zimmerman   Well, see the outlet was overloaded. The burns are mostly concentrated on the walls. The fingernail polish fluid ignited much later. Oh, another needless catastrophe solved.
Jarod   Impressive.
Zimmerman   Eh. You know, the saddest thing is…
Jarod   Hmm?
Zimmerman   This singed mattress, this is the closest I get to sex.
     
     
    The Centre
     
Sydney   Long lunch, Miss Parker.
Miss Parker   Not boring for once. Any progress?
Broots   Well, slow but steady. Although I can say with 90% certainty that Jarod is due to land somewhere east of the Mississippi. Angelo has eliminated everything west of that. We are definitely closing in.
Miss Parker   You don’t get out much, do you Broots? Page me if you have a breakthrough.
Sydney   Where will you be?
Miss Parker   Out.
Broots   What was that all about?
Sydney   It appears that Miss Parker has taken a sudden interest in the pharmaceutical industry.
     
    Station House
Roy   Don’t worry, Ember growls at all strangers. How long do I gotta keep stirring this mess?
Jarod   Just until it coagulates.
Roy   That’s a good word for it. He thinks you’re a dog.
Jarod   He does?
Roy   Yeah, you’re a stranger in this place, he’s just trying to establish dominance.
Jarod   Really?
Roy   What, you never had a dog before?
Jarod   No, I did drive a chimp through the Amazon once.
Roy   Here you go. He’ll love you in no time. Dogs are amazingly loyal creatures. You keep their bellies full, they’ll do anything you ask.
Harrigan   Quit screwing around with that stupid mutt, we’re waiting for lunch.
Jarod   Coming right up sir.
Roy   Now we know why you had to transfer from your last assignment.
Jarod   Bon appetit.
Harrigan   What is this slop?
Jarod   It’s optimised nutritional supplement. Hearts of palm, wheat grass and asparagus stewed with tomato. I grew up on this stuff.
Gleason   Threw up is more like it.
Harrigan   People, there’s only one thing that can save this disaster.
Roy   Inst-Cheez!
Harrigan   Haven’t had a decent meal around her since Copeland died.
     
     
    Tri-River Warehouse
     
    Herb’s Grinders
     
     
    Restaurant
     
Miss Parker   So, he’s on the floor, I’m on top of him, we’re both spent, covered in sweat.
Michael   And you’re still doing this?
Miss Parker   At least three times a week.
Michael   Isn’t it hard to maintain that level of intensity?
Miss Parker   Not if you’re doing it right. Hmmm, you’re not doing it at all, are you?
Michael   No, truth is… I gave up fencing after college. Besides, I never found an opponent as formidable as you.
Miss Parker   Never will.
Michael   You still have that look in your eye, half invitation, half intimidation.
Miss Parker   So which do you want?
Michael   Don’t tempt me Parker.
Miss Parker   Too late.
Michael   Uh, check please.
     
     
    Station House
     
     
Jarod   Aerosol cheese-like imitation food product.
Roy   Official food of the Fighting 16th.
Jarod   According to these ingredients, there’s absolutely no nutritional value.
Roy   Hey, tastes great and it makes me sleep like a baby.
Jarod   Well, I doubt I’m going to be getting much sleep around here.
Roy   Oh, the beds are pathetic, I know. You’ll get used to it.
Jarod   No, I mean, I’ve been going over some of these old records. Boy you guys are good.
Roy   92% knockdown rate. That makes us the most efficient company in the city.
Jarod   I just hope I can live up to your standards.
Roy   Well, you follow Harrigan, you’ll be fine. I watched him lead a response with one pumper. He put out a six-alarm fire before the other five even got there.
Jarod   Sounds like he takes a pretty aggressive approach. Except for these warehouse fires. The company arrived before the structures were completely engulfed. Yet each time, Harrigan pulled them back.
Roy   Yeah, they were NWS’s.
Jarod   NWS?
Roy   Not worth saving. Harrigan decided they were too volatile to risk his men.
Jarod   Live to fight another day.
Roy   Right. Look, Jarod, you’re gonna fit in fine here. It’s like I said, you trust Harrigan;’s lead, he’ll take care of us.
     
     
    Miss Parker’s House
     
Michael   Nice place you got here Parker.
Miss Parker   How do you know? You haven’t even seen the bedroom yet.
Michael   At this rate I never will.
Miss Parker   How about a drink?
Michael   Don’t tell me you’re tired.
Miss Parker   I’m just getting warm.
Michael   I’ll definitely be wanting that drink.
Miss Parker   I can’t believe you let all this energy go to waste on a sales job.
Michael   Don’t forget, if it weren’t for that job, I wouldn’t be here.
Miss Parker   When do you leave?
Michael   I thought you weren’t done with me. I’ll be here for two days.
Miss Parker   Then let’s not waste any time.
     
     
    Herb’s Grinder
     
Herb   Here we are gentlemen. Eat in good in good health.
Customer   Thanks,
Gleason   Hey handsome.
Herb   Nancy, what are you doing here?
Gleason   I was in the neighbourhood, though I’d off your work shirts.
Herb   You don’t have to do this.
Gleason   I know, I want to. Business looks good.
Herb   Oh, since breakfast this morning, on top of which, Manny calls in sick.
Gleason   Manny is sick? Well, who’s cooking?
Jarod   Hey Herb, what should I do with these balls of meat?
Herb   I think you two know each other. I’ll take care of the meatballs, if you’ll finish up, okay Jarod?
Jarod   Sure. Careful, it’s hot.
Herb   Okay, thanks.
Jarod   Great guy.
Gleason   You have no right to be here.
Jarod   I came by to pay my respects and the cook called in sick, so I offered to help. You would have done the same thing.
Gleason   What do you want?
Jarod   A truce would be nice. Look, Lieutenant, I know we haven’t gotten off to a very good start. I just want you to know that I understand how you must be feeling.
Gleason   Really?
Jarod   Tamara Copeland was your best friend. I’m not trying to take her place. I just wanna do my job. Grab those plates, would you?
Gleason   You’re not gonna make this easy, are you?
Jarod   What?
Gleason   Me hating you.
Herb   Thanks Nancy.
Gleason   See you later.
Herb   I worry about that girl.
Jarod   What do you mean>
Herb   It seems like she can’t let go of what happened. It feels likes she blames herself for Tamara’s death.
Jarod   It was an accident, wasn’t it?
Herb   My daughter was a great firefighter. And I loved her more than anything in this life. But she knew this was dangerous work and people die. I gotta go check on the meatballs.
     
     
    The Centre
     
Sydney   Broots, another possibility from Angelo.
Miss Parker   Sydney, Broots.
Broots   I’m confident it’s a landlocked state, either Pennsylvania or West Virginia. This isn’t an exact science. It’s an experimental technique with a huge human element involved.
Miss Parker   Been up all night, haven’t you?
Broots   Uh huh.
Miss Parker   Let me get you some coffee. Maybe that might help.
     
     
    Harrigan’s House
     
Harrigan   Oh, man. Who brought that damn mutt?
Jarod   Guilty sir.
Harrigan   Well, keep him out of the house, will you? Hey Hank, off with the shoes, house rules. That Italian slate cost me $20 a square foot to put in.
Zimmerman   You heard about a king in his castle?
Harrigan   Between that mutt and these slobs, I’m gonna have to build a moat.
Roy   Cap’s a regular Bob Villa. He built the bar.
Harrigan   I’m gonna build a garage this summer.
Jarod   A remodel this beautiful has to be expensive.
Harrigan   Well, there’s a lot of sweat equity.
Roy   Yeah. Our sweat, his equity.
Harrigan   Check the hamburgers Roy. And don’t let ’em burn. Good kid. Can’t handle a belt sander to save his live, but he’s a good kid. You know, this railing, 1934 ladder track. The very first one the Fighting 16th ever had.
Zimmerman   Harrigan’s used that railing a lot, and I don’t mean in the line of duty.
Harrigan   You know, you landed yourself in a very special unit, Jarod.
Jarod   Historical is more like it. This is the first unit in the city with two female firefighters.
Harrigan   Yeah, with Gleason and Copeland there, it felt like a real family.
Jarod   Nancy misses Copeland very much.
Harrigan   We all do son.
Jarod    Must’ve taken a lot of guts for Copeland to run into that burning warehouse.
Zimmerman   Yeah, electrical fire like that. That place must’ve been hotter than Satan’s armpit.
Harrigan   Copeland was good, but she had an overzealous sense of the heroic. I told everybody to hang back. She thought she heard screams and went inside half-cocked.
Jarod   Really? That wasn’t in the papers.
Harrigan   Copeland did outstanding work on this team. I wasn’t about to let her be disgraced over one mistake. I called the hose crew in to bring in a line and went in after her. By the time I got inside, she was sucked into the smoke and flames. I never found her.
Jarod   That was very brave.
Harrigan   Truth is, bravery had nothing to do with it. As long as I’m in charge, this team will never leave one of its own hanging.
     
     
    The Centre
     
Miss Parker   You’re not going to accept this as a passing good mood are you?
Sydney   I know you too well.
Miss Parker   Don’t be so sure.
Sydney   But I’m concerned. Mr Patrick seems awfully transient.
Miss Parker   What I do for recreation is my business. Besides, I like him.
Sydney   Ask yourself this then. Are there enough healthy relationships in your life to compensate for what you’re doing for recreation? These… entanglements… they’re not free from emotional repercussions, you know.
Miss Parker   Let me give you a nickel’s worth of free advice, syd. You only know as much about me as I want you to know. And your concern, though touching, is wasted on me.
     
     
    Station House
     
Harrigan   I’ll tell you what Jarod, this is the best meal we’ve had around here in months. So how did you become Martha Stewart overnight?
Jarod   Insta-Cheez. Actually, it was an old recipe of Tamara Copeland.
Gleason   Excuse me.
Jarod   Nancy, I… Oh man, I was trying to do something good.
Harrigan   I think you did. I think cooking one of Copeland’s meals helps to keep her here among us. We don’t wanna ever forget her.
Jarod   No, we sure don’t.
     
     
    DSA: 2nd November, ’73
Sydney   What are you seeing Jarod?
Young Jarod   I’m not sure.
Sydney   Think Jarod. What does it mean? Focus on the faces.
Young Jarod   These people, some are angry, some are sad. But all for the same reason.
Sydney   And that is?
Young Jarod   They were betrayed by Amin. He killed his own people.
Sydney   Yes, and?
Young Jarod   They could no longer trust their own leader.
Sydney   What are you seeing Jarod? What does it mean? Think Jarod. What does it mean?
     
     
    Jarod’s Lair
     
Jarod   Nothing like a Grinder at Herb’s.
     
     
    Herb’s Grinder
     
Zimmerman   Now that will get you talking to yourself..
Jarod   They are good.
Zimmerman   So, you buying me a turkey sandwich, if you’re hoping to get lucky, you’re not.
Jarod   Lucky?
Zimmerman   It’s a joke.
Jarod   Oh. Well, I was hoping I might ask you a few questions.
Zimmerman   Figures.
Jarod   You see, I’m trying to get a grasp of this burn pattern thing. And I have a bet with Roy that this was an accidental electrical fire.
Zimmerman   Yeah, well, you better pay him.
Jarod   Really? Why is that?
Zimmerman   See, the char trail leads from the middle of the room, travels our it a web patter? All the flames are below the electrical fixtures. It’s a planned torching.
Jarod   Arson.
Zimmerman   You gonna eat that pickle?
Jarod   So if it was ruled an electrical fire
Zimmerman   Whoever did it was a moron.
Jarod   Hmm. Well, I guess that moron would have to be you. Because it was your ruling from the Tri-River warehouse fire. You remember that one. She died in it trying to save your life.
Zimmerman   You don’t know what you’re saying.
Jarod   I know you checked into St Joe’s Hospital the night she died with a third-degree burn on your back. And I also know that Harrigan let three other warehouse fires burn to the ground, fires that you ruled accidental. Insurance payoffs. Is that why she’s dead?
Herb   Gentlemen. How do you like those sandwiches?
Jarod   They were terrific. How much do we owe you?
Herb   Hey, your money’s no good here. You guys are family.
     
     
    Tri-River Warehouse
     
Zimmerman   An empty warehouse goes up, a mini-mall gets built.
Jarod   Insurance pays for it all, nobody get’s hurt.
Zimmerman   That’s the way it worked until that night. All I had to do was spread an alcohol-based propellant around the floor and bust a couple of pipes, make it look electrical. Once the fire was burning stead, I started to beat it out of here, but my knees gave out and I couldn’t hardly move.
Jarod   Is that how you got burned?
Zimmerman   Yeah. Flames were everywhere. They caught my shirt. The damn pain was so bad, I must have let out a shriek.
Jarod   Tamara Copeland heard you.
Zimmerman   Yeah. I tried to crawl over to an exhaust vent I’d rigged up to get past the fire crews. But the smoke was searing my lungs, and I collapsed and I thought I was a goner for sure. Then I looked up and saw her emerging through the fire.
Jarod   She must’ve recognised you.
Zimmerman   Yeah. She knew I’d done this, but it didn’t stop her. She just went about her job. Instead of saving her own life… she started to save mine.
Jarod   And then Harrigan came in.
Zimmerman   He hit her with a crowbar. Told me to get away. Said he wasn’t going down for the fire. He took her oxygen and handed it over like it was nothing.
Jarod   All she wanted to do was save your life.
Zimmerman   Instead she died in that fiery hell.
     
     
    The Centre
     
Angelo   Jarod.
     
     
    Miss Parker’s House
     
Michael   Parker?
Miss Parker   What?
Michael   Are we ever gonna make it to your bedroom?
Miss Parker   Getting there is half the fun.
Michael   Don’t.
Miss Parker   I have to. What?
Broots on phone   We have a confirmed hit Miss Parker.
Miss Parker   Angelo.
Broots   Oh, the guy’s amazing. He narrowed it down to five clippings. The winner’s a place called the Borodin Smoke House in Pittsburgh. They confirmed that Jarod was there until recently and his trail is probably still hot.
Miss Parker   Borodin Smoke House, Pittsburgh. Get Sydney on the horn and get transportation ready. I’ll be right over.
Broots   Yes ma’am.
Miss Parker   Pretty family. Time to go see them. Your business trip just ended.
     
     
    Station House
     
Gleason   Yeah?
Jarod   Lieutenant.
Gleason   Yeah.
Jarod   Can I show you something?
Gleason   Sure, come on in. This is a duty roster.
Jarod   From the night that Tamara Copeland died.
Gleason   If that’s some sick joke, it’s not funny. And if it’s a reminder, I do not need one.
Jarod   You were supposed to work the shift the night she died. But she filled in for you, didn’t she?
Gleason   It should have been me.
Jarod   I know that you feel that way. But maybe you could allow yourself to see the other side of the coin.
Gleason   They’re more duty rosters.
Jarod   From the shifts you filled in for her over the years. Nancy. We all know the risks, you can’t blame yourself.
Gleason   I wasn’t there for her.
Jarod   Maybe you feel you weren’t there for her that night. But you can be there for her now.
     
     
    Borodin Smoke House, Strip District Pittsburgh, PA
     
Mr Borodin   That Jarod Vronsky was a godsend. I didn’t thing we were going to survive after my father died.
Sydney   Did Jarod leave anything behind?
Mr Borodin   Oh, he increased productivity, restructured our investment strategy and organised a dental plan. All he asked in return was to sit in there.
Miss Parker   Now why would Stepford Boy want to sit in a smokehouse?
Sydney   Jarod thinks in metaphors. He could be anything from smoke jumper to sideshow fire-eater.
Mr Borodin   Oh, he loved smoke. Said he wanted it in his pores.
Sydney   Mr Borodin, did Jarod leave anything behind like a red notebook?
Mr Borodin   Same as before. I don’t have it.
Miss Parker   Same as before?
Mr Borodin   I have hams to stow.
Miss Parker   How many of your employees would have to return to the Ukraine if the INS were to sweep this place?
Mr Borodin   I gave it to the other man.
Miss Parker   Who?
Mr Borodin   A man came here less than an hour ago. He knew many things about Jarod. He said that others would come. The others that would want to hurt Jarod.
Sydney   Broots is the only other one who knows.
Miss Parker   What?
Broots on phone   Uh, Miss Parker. I got him. I know exactly where Jarod is.
     
     
    Jarod’s Lair
     
Jarod   Okay Ember, it’s showtime. Come on, you can do it. It’s easy. Come on, you can do it. It’s easy. Watch. Like this. Come on, you can do it. Come on. Come on. Ember, come on. Come on, come on boy.
     
     
    Station House
     
Harrigan   Anybody seen Zimmerman? He’s been paging me all afternoon.
Gleason   Yeah, he just pulled out of here. He looked kind of strange, excited.
Harrigan   He say where he was going?
Gleason   No, oh, he left you this. Anything wrong Cap?
Harrigan   No.
     
     
    Harrigan’s House
     
Harrigan   Zimmerman? You here, Zimmerman? Why, you little bastard.
Jarod   Harrigan. Is this any way to treat a dog?
Harrigan   What the hell are you doing?
Jarod   I wanna show you this neat trick I taught Ember.
Harrigan   I don’t care about that stupid mutt. Uncuff me.
Jarod   Hey. He’s not stupid. He’s man’s best friend you know. And I’ve learned that if you just keep him well fed he’ll do just about anything for you. His food of choice, as is yours, is Insta-Cheez. It’s not very good for you, but, what the hey, it does taste good.
Harrigan   O’Leary, if I get out of here, I’m gonna break your neck.
Jarod   Then I better not let you out. Now about that trick. Ember, light this place up. Come on boy, come on. Good boy. Neat little trick, huh, Harrigan? But watch, there’s more.
Harrigan   What the hell are you doing?
Jarod   Oops, electrical fire. Started by a dog. Terrible accident.
Harrigan   Put it out!
Jarod   I’d like to, but I don’t know how. You see, I’m not really a fireman. Oops, there goes another one.
Harrigan   Take the damn cuffs off me now!
Jarod   Can’t. Gotta make a phone call.
     
Roy on phone   Company 16.
     
Jarod   I’d like to report a fire please. 16309 Ellsworth Terrace. Thank you. Well I sure hope that the Fighting 16th gets here on time. The flames are spreading pretty fast in these walls. But that’s not really a surprise. You see, I’ve treated the wiring throughout the house with this accelerant. That way the flames and the fire spread completely. And it looks like an accident. No one will ever know.
Harrigan   What about me?
Jarod   Well, even the best arsonists make mistakes… don’t they Chief?
Harrigan   Oh no! Give me the key!
Jarod   He looks pretty scared, doesn’t he Ember? I bet Tamara Copeland looked pretty scared too the night of the Tri-River fire. But she had you there to back her up. Someone she trusted to protect her. Go wait outside Ember. I’d hate to see you get burned.
Fireman   Lieutenant!
Gleason   Hold it guys, there’s something you need to know first.
Jarod   Well, I’ve got to go now. It’s getting pretty stuffy in here.
Harrigan   O’Leary, you can’t leave me here to burn!
Jarod   Why not? You left Tamara Copeland, didn’t you?
Harrigan   Yes, I left her!
Jarod   You left her to burn. So you could collect the payoff money. So you could buy this Italian slate tile. Or that 1934 ladder truck railing around your wet bar that you’re so proud of.
Harrigan   Yes, I left her, now give me the key please.
Jarod   This key?
Harrigan   Yeah.
Jarod   Sure. Hope you don’t burn.
Harrigan   O’Leary! O’Leary! My house! That son of a bitch burned my house! Put it out. Put it out!
Gleason   Hang back. This place is definitely NWS.
Harrigan   Come on guys. I built that house. Don’t let it burn like that. I’m your captain. I’m your damn captain! To hell with you.
     
     
    Station House
     
Michael   You must be Jarod.
Jarod   Who are you?
Michael   Uh, you’re really not in a position to ask. Now put your hands up and turn around.
Jarod   Goodbye, goodbye. Thank you very much. I have to go. It was very nice to meet you.
Miss Parker   You cover the back, everyone else with me. Who’re you working for?
Michael   I told you Parker. I’m a sales rep for a… Ohhh! You bitch!
Miss Parker   You don’t know the half of it. Who’re you working for?
Michael   All right, all right. The Centre. Mr Raines.
Sydney   Don’t Parker. Don’t. There might be repercussions.
Miss Parker   By the way, I was faking it.
     
    Dodgy Diner
Man   Hey, I can’t eat this. I wouldn’t give that crap to my dog.
Jarod   Oh, no problem. I can fix that. Bon appetit.

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