Coming soon – The untold story of Serial Killer Charles H. Schmid, The Pied Piper of Tucson

Using recently uncovered new information and many unpublished photographs, the full story behind the gruesome killings that gripped a Nation can finally be told.

‘The Unfinished Man’ takes it’s title from a poem written by Schmid while serving a life sentence for his horrific crimes. The book will feature many of the poems written by this cold-blooded killer, as well as never-before-seen photographs of the trial, the shallow graves where the victims were buried, Schmid’s artwork and much more.

A personal tour that will visit every location connected with the Schmid murders.

Charles. H. Schmid Jr. was a cold-blooded killer who took the lives of 3 young girls just for kicks. It’s rumored, and he himself boasted, that he took the life of at least one other girl too. The tragic murders shocked this desert city and sent chills of horror down the streets and spines of Tucson’s easygoing community. This tour is factual and authentic. Take a trip back in time to see what Tucson Arizona was really like in the 1960’s. Visit the actual locations where Charles. H. Schmid Jr, or Smitty to his friends, perfected his craft.

Find out more about Tucson True Crime Tours and make a reservation here

The Unfinished Man – Teaser Promo

The original version of “Smitty” was recorded by Johnny Legend, birth name Martin Margulies. Johnny has a really interesting story….

Read about Johnny Legend

Johnny’s been in some movies too.

Johnny’s Original recording of “Smitty” from his “True Murders” LP

The Unfinished Man

Episodes – First Draft

Episode 1: Welcome To Paradise

Detective Robert Wilhelm in his office. He’s in his 50’s, white hair, stocky, rugged, determined. The kind of cop who’s seen too much of the wrong stuff. On his desk is a photo of his wife and daughter, a phone, a lamp, a calendar shows the year 1964. On the wall is a map of Tucson.

The door opens and a fresh-faced cop pokes his head in.

Cop: Hey, Wilhelm. I got this lady outside. Says her kid hasn’t come home in a couple of days. She’s worried, keeps going on about this gang of hoodlums says her kid has been running around with, and some sort of sex club. Want I should bring her through?

Wilhelm nods, the cop leaves and Wilhelm pulls the last cigarette from a crumpled pack. He slowly rolls it between his fingers. The door opens and Norma Rowe enters.

Wilhelm: Detective Wilhelm, Missing Persons. (He places the cigarette in his mouth but doesn’t light it) Please, take a seat Mrs…?

Norma Rowe: My name is Norma Rowe. My Daughter, Alleen hasn’t been home and I’m worried sick.

Wilhelm: When was the last time you saw her?

Norma: Two nights ago. I have the night shift and I was going to work. Alleen was putting curlers in, she has such pretty blonde hair, and was wearing a bathing suit. I asked if she was going out and she told me her friend Mary was calling and they were going for a swim to cool off.

Wilhelm: You have a surname for Mary?

Norma: Mary French.

Wilhelm writes in his notebook. He takes the cigarette and gently starts rolling it between his fingers.

Wilhelm: And that was the last time you saw her?

Norma: Yes. I told her to be careful, that girl Mary runs around with a bunch of creeps, and she told me once about a club they were members of. Said it was a ‘sex club’ and that all the ‘in’ kids were a part of it. I tell you, it’s all the fault of that terrible book by that Helen Gurley Brown woman, ‘Sexy Single Girl’! Shameful! I mean, what kind of a name is Gurley anyway?

Wilhelm: I think you mean ‘Sex and the Single Girl’ Mrs. Rowe. Now, tell me about these other people. You called them creeps…

Norma: Real creeps! Can’t say that I know too much, but I see Mary and another smaller guy who walks with a limp, I think those two might be dating, and there’s another taller guy, and I see them with drugs and I know they’re no good. You can just tell sometimes, Y’know?

Wilhelm: Did you ever catch any of the men’s names?

Norma: Don’t know the tall fella, but I think I hear the little one being called Smithy, or Smitty or something like that.

Wilhelm: (taking notes) Now, you mentioned some sort of sex club?

Wilhelm places the cigarette behind his ear.

Norma: Well, Alleen told me once that lots of the kids in town were going to these big parties and doing all kinds of wild things. Listening to all that music with all that long hair, doing drugs, sleeping with whoever they like! It’s not right, what these young people get up to these days. Just look at them, rioting at the colleges and in the streets, tearing up their draft cards, fighting with the police! It’s shameful. Goldwater better get elected President is all I can say. Oh, I do hope my precious Alleen hasn’t got herself mixed up with some of these Communists.

Wilhelm: Well, I don’t know much about much of that stuff, Mrs. Rowe. I do know we need to find your daughter. Is there anything else you can tell me that might help? Any idea where this sex club was, or where I might find any of these people you mentioned? Did you ever see them in a car?

Norma: Well, now you mention it I did see them pull up in a car. I don’t know what kind but I think it was a gold color, and I know that Norma had been to to that new restaurant on Broadway with Mary and some others. The one that’s done up all exotic-like inside. Pretty fancy from what I can tell.

Wilhelm: I think you must mean Kon Tiki, yes?

Norma: That’s the one!

Wilhelm: I do hear it’s a pretty swell place. (Writes in notebook) Do you have a recent picture of Alleen?

Norma produces the Yearbook she’s been holding, puts it on the desk and goes to the page with Alleen’s photo.

Wilhelm: Excellent. Do you mind if I hold on to this until we can make a copy of the picture?

Norma: Just so long as you take good care of it.

Wilhelm takes the cigarette from behind his ear and places it on the desk.

Wilhelm: I promise. I’ll call you when we’ve done with it. Probably a couple of days. Did you leave a number and address where I can find you if I get any news?

Norma: I left it with the other policeman.

Wilhelm: Well, unless there’s anything else you can tell me, I guess that wraps things up for now.

Norma: I do have a question. Do you ever light those things (pointing to the cigarette).

Wilhelm: (picking up the cigarette and returning it to the pack) Trying to quit. I read a story in a magazine that they’re bad for your health.

Title Sequence: Montage showing Newspaper headlines, images and footage from 1964: Race Riots, Demonstrations, Protests, Barry Goldwater, Civil Rights, KKK, Malcolm X, MLK, Vietnam, ‘Choices’ film. 1964 Was a turbulent year!

Titles

[justified_image_grid ids=”399,400,401″]

Wilhelm walks into Kon Tiki. See the sign above the door ‘Welcome To Paradise’.

(Insert edited scene already filmed at Kon Tiki)

Episode 2: The Pussy Kat Klub

Wilhelm enters The Pussy Kat Klub. Slow, sleazy bump n’ grind music playing. A girl dances carelessly on stage, one lone customer watches her. Wilhelm approaches the bartender.

Wilhelm: Who’s in charge here, Miss?

Bartender: (Yelling) Hey, Mr. L! Some cop is here looking for ya.

Lorenzo enters from a back room. He’s a small, thin man with slick black hair chewing on a cigar. As he walks past the dancer he pauses to watch for a few seconds. She’s really not trying, she’s even chewing gum as she gyrates, and Lorenzo shakes his head disapprovingly. He sees the customer nursing an almost-empty glass and taps his shoulder.

Lorenzo: Drink up pal, this show ‘ain’t free. Though God knows, it should be.

Lorenzo continues to the bar.

Wilhelm: You the guy in charge?

Lorenzo: Depends who’s asking.

Wilhelm: Detective Robert Wilhelm. I’m looking for a kid from around here. Hasn’t come home in a while.

He shows Lorenzo a picture of Alleen Rowe.

Wilhelm: You seen her?

Lorenzo: We don’t let kids that young in here, what kind of a joint do you think we’re running?

Cut to shot of dancer, still at it, as she blows a bubble from the gum she’s chewing.

Wilhelm: A joint with pretty low standards, far as I can see. A joint that might not care too much who comes in.

Lorenzo takes a draw on his cigar and slowly blows smoke in Wilhelm’s direction…

Lorenzo: Yeah, some nights we even let cops in.

Wilhelm: Listen, pal. I got better things to do than drop by here some night and start checking ID’s, and I’m pretty sure your customers don’t want me showing up and asking them too many questions either. How about saving both of us the worry and take another look at the picture?

Lorenzo: (looks at picture again) I tell you, I ain’t seen her. Maybe Nancy can help you out, she’s in the back room changing. But I warn ya, getting anything out of her ain’t gonna be easy if yer not willing to pay. No matter if you’re a cop or not, Nancy’s all business.

Wilhelm walks over to the back of the Pussy Kat Klub.

Cut to Nancy in the changing room of the club. She’s a long-legged beauty, wearing high heels, a thigh length coat, and very little else. She’s putting on makeup, looking in a mirror. Wilhelm enters.

Wilhelm: You must be Nancy.

Nancy: (without looking up) I’ll be anyone you like, honey. So long as you’re paying. You a cop?

Wilhelm: I’m not here for that. And yeah, (flashing his badge) I’m a cop. Looking for a girl that’s not come home, wondered if you might have seen her. Or maybe this guy who goes by the name of Smitty?

At the mention of Smitty, Nancy gives a nervous glance. Wilhelm notices.

Nancy: (still applying makeup) Tell you what. Why don’tcha take a seat over there and little Nancy will be right with ya?

Wilhelm sits in a chair.

Wilhelm: Seems like this Smitty character struck a nerve with you, Nancy.

Nancy: (Getting up from makeup mirror and walking over to Wilhelm) Look, I ain’t seen your girl, and that Smitty cat is bad news, trust me. But if you want anything more you gotta buy a dance, just like everyone else. Don’t fear none, I won’t bite. Unless you pay the extra, of course.

Wilhelm reaches into his jacket pocket, pulls out his wallet and hands Nancy some money. She takes the cash and tucks it in the top of her stocking.

Nancy: Attaboy. That’s how we do business. Now, what were you asking me about?

Wilhelm: Smitty. Tell me what you know about this Smitty character.

Nancy begins to slowly gyrate her body in front of Wilhelm. She closes her eyes as she dances.

Nancy: You seem like a decent kinda guy, for a cop. You married?

Wilhelm: Happily so, with a teenage girl of my own, who loves me and calls me Daddy. But we’re talking about Smitty now, remember?

Nancy: Well ‘Daddy’, I do recall a guy who goes by that name. He comes here sometimes, with that crew of his. Weird little guy, but pretty good looking. Walks with a limp, which I heard him tell he got from tangling with some gangsters. I swear he wears makeup, even has a beauty mark sometimes. Right ( Nancy strokes Wilhelm’s cheek as she says) here… Always looking for a good time, and always with plenty of cash. The kid has a gig, plays guitar at some joint downtown, the Flamingo maybe. Thinks he’s Elvis, but from what I seen in here, the only thing he’s got in common is his ‘medications’ if you catch my meaning.

Wilhelm: I catch it, I catch it. Tell me more about this crew of his.

Nancy continues to do her lap dance routine. She sees Wilhelm’s handcuff pouch on his belt.

Nancy: What do you keep in your pouch, Daddy?

Nancy pops open the snap and pulls out Wilhelm’s cuffs.

Nancy: You ever been on the other end of these, Detective Daddy? Given the right atmosphere, they don’t always hurt.

Nancy quickly cuffs Wilhelm’s wrist to the chair.

Wilhelm: Hey, cut that out! You can’t…

Nancy: (putting a finger on his lips) Shhh….Now Daddy is going to be nice, and his little Nancy is going to continue to tell him what he wants to know. We were talking about Smitty and his crew…

Nancy stands in front of Wilhelm, raises her leg and puts her foot delicately on his thigh.

Nancy: Let’s see…there’s Richie, tall lanky guy, always dressed very sharp. He and Smitty seem to be real…tight. (As she says ‘tight’ she pushes her heel down into Wilhelm’s thigh. Wilhelm loosens his tie with his free hand) Getting a little hot for you, Daddy?

Wilhelm: (ambiguously) Please, continue…

Nancy: The other one has real big ears, creepy looking guy. I think he’s called Johnny. They usually have a girl with them, a real moody piece of work, always scowling at Smitty. I think she has a thing for Johnny. (Nancy’s heel moves slowly up Wilhelm’s thigh toward his crotch)

Wilhelm: (looking down) I think that will be all for now, Nancy.

Nancy: (Digging her heel in again, and pointing the tip of her toe close to Wilhelm’s crotch) Are you sure that’s all?

Wilhelm: For now, yes.

Nancy slowly removes her foot from Wilhelm.

Wilhelm: Now, if you could release me from this chair.

Nancy: I’ll need a key, I think.

Nancy straddles over Wilhelm, reaches into his pocket and pulls out the keys. She uncuffs Wilhelm and walks away holding the cuffs, stopping at the door to the dressing room.

Nancy: I do hope you got what you needed from me, Mr. Detective. You’ve been a real sport, and if you ever need anything else…well, you know where to find me.

Wilhelm slowly rises from the chair and exits the dressing room and goes back into the bar, where he sees Lorenzo.

Wilhelm: You were wrong about Nancy. Getting her to open up really wasn’t too hard at all. I think it was harder on me.

Wilhelm turns and walks to the exit, as Lorenzo smiles, and the smile becomes a laugh.

Episode 3: Flamingo A-Go-Go

Night. Car driving fast along Speedway Blvd. C/U tires, front grill. Camera moves up and over hood. We see Smitty driving with Richie Bruns. Both are dressed sharp. Richie checks himself out in mirror.

Smitty: Fuck, I look good! I mean real good! Do I not look real good tonight, Richie?

Richie: You’re looking good, Smitty.

Smitty: Soon as I get this gig done, what say we grab the girls and head up to ‘The Old Drinking Spot’ on the North side and see if we can find us some trouble?

Richie: Heh, we don’t usually have to look too hard.

Smitty: (smiling) Hey, man. I tell you ’bout this crazy dream I had the other night? I mean cray-zee. It was at my place, and I’d picked up this real fine chick. Long, blonde hair she wore up high but let all fall down to just around the curve in her back. Fine, ruby red lips around a mouth you just know knows what to do. Big, deep brown eyes, the kind that cut through the crap and burn their way deep into your soul.

Richie: Sounds like quite a doll.

Smitty: And her neck. Her neck was so long and slender and inviting, just waiting to be held. To be touched. And as we sat there on the couch I was transfixed by the grace of that neck. She wore a necklace with a little locket in the shape of a heart, and it hung down and just touched the top of her…what’s that bit called where the tits join?

Richie: Her cleavage.

Smitty: Yeah, it touched the top of her cleavage. And as she breathed in and out the little heart moved up and down, and I stared at it and then looked up at that long neck and wondered what it would be like to put my hands around it and squeeze it and squeeze it and keep squeezing it until the necklace stopped moving. Just knowing that I had that power in the palms of my hands. The power to stop a heart from moving.

Richie: Holy shit! You mean you killed her?

Smitty: Yeah. Killed her dead.

Richie: But this was a dream, right?

Smitty: (smiling) Yeah, Richie. Pretty sure it was a dream.

The car screeches into the parking lot of the Flamingo Hotel and pulls to a stop. Doors open and we see c/u of Smitty’s boot exit car and hit ground. Smitty grabs his guitar, closes the door and he checks himself in the wing mirror

Smitty: Hang on a sec…

Smitty quickly crouches down by the tyre, reaches underneath and gets a drop of grease. He dabs his finger on his cheek and creates a beauty mark.

Smitty: Now I look crazy-good!

They walk towards the door of The Flamingo.

Cut to Smitty on stage, playing guitar. We see Richie at a table close to stage with his arms around a couple of girls, all watching Smitty. Cut between shots of Smitty playing and girl bopping her head, tapping foot, snapping fingers, in time with the music. C/U of fingers on strings, Smitty’s face, camera slowly moves down from girl’s face to her neck. Smitty finishes his set and jumps off the stage to join Richie and the girls. He puts his arm around one, aggressively throwing Richie’s arm away. He whispers in the girl’s ear and she laughs.

Girl: Wow, Smitty. You’re nearly as good as Elvis! I mean, hell, you’re better, ‘cos you’re actually really here! (She laughs)

They all laugh, and Smitty pulls up the collar of his jacket like Elvis and whispers in her ear again. She smiles and gives him a seductive look, putting her hand on his thigh.

Smitty: Let’s blow this scene and hit a joint where they know how to make a real drink. And I got some little friends who’ll come along for the ride too.

He opens the palm of his hand to show a pile of pills. He stands, grabs the girl’s hand and pulls her up out of her seat. They head off towards the exit, Richie and the other girl get up to follow them, and Richie sees Smitty’s guitar on stage. He grabs it and he and the girl leave.

Parking Lot: Smitty holds open the door of his car (’64 Ford Falcon) and his girl climbs into the back. He slaps her behind as she does so. He gets in, checks himself in the mirror and starts the engine. Turns around and hands his girl a pill, then pops another into his mouth.

Smitty: You ever done Speed before, baby?

He revs the engine.

Girl: (shaking her head) What’s it do?

Smitty: (revs engine again) Revs you up and blasts you into outer space.

He hits the horn and yells at Richie, walking across the parking lot.

Smitty: C’mon man, we haven’t got all night. This rocket ship is fueled up and ready for blast off!

Richie and his girl get in the car.

Richie: I grabbed your guitar, you’re welcome. Looks like you busted a string, by the way.

Smitty: Who cares about a busted string? I got plenty more. We gotta hit The Tiki and get us a Scorpion.

Girl: What’s a Scorpion?

Smitty: Only the best drink in town, is all! They make it big and they make it strong.

Girl: (laughing) Sounds like my kind of man!

Smitty: Now you’re talking, baby!

Smitty leans his head back and laughs. C/U of his foot hitting the gas, types spin and the car peels out of the parking lot fast.

Smitty VO: Now you’re talking…

Episode 4: Enter The Scorpion

Night. Smitty’s car peels into the parking lot at Kon Tiki. Low angle, door opens and Smitty, Richie Bruns and 2 girls get out. Smitty has a noticeable limp. We keep low angle, and see the big illuminated Kon Tiki sign above him as he speaks.

Smitty: Well, this is it ladies…Kon Tiki, the home of The Scorpion!

As he says ‘Scorpion’ he makes his hand into the shape of a claw and gives his girl a big pinch on the ass.

Girl: Ow! Cut it out Smitty!

Smitty and the others laugh and they all head into the bar. They pass a large aquarium near the door.

Smitty: Y’know they got piranha’s in there? You know what piranhas do, baby? They get together in big gangs and attack other fish. They nibble away at the flesh, And they strip ’em clean as a whistle with their razor sharp teeth. Hundreds at a time, hell, probably thousands! They’d do the same to your lovely little hand if you put it in there with ’em. They’d come rushing at it, and soon as one had taken a little nip, there’d be blood in the water and all the others would come swimming over just as quick as they could and they’d all be nibbling away at your fingers with them razor sharp teeth they got. They’d nibble and nibble and nibble some more ’till there was nothing but bone left.

Richie’s girl looks disgusted, but Smitty’s Girl looks excited.

Smitty’s Girl: Wow! That’s pretty cool. But I wanna keep my fingers, Smitty. Maybe we try it on someone else, eh?

Smitty: Ha! You’re all right, babe. You are all right! Now, let’s get us a table and a damn drink!

They all walk over to a table and sit.

Smitty: Y’know what we should do? We should get a whole lot of piranhas and take ’em up to the Swimming Hole where all the little kids go, and we should put ’em in the water and when the next lot of kids go swimming in that nice water to cool off they’ll get a lot more than just a cooling off. They’ll get a whole lot of skin coming off!

Richie’s Girl: That’s pretty messed up.

Smitty: (menacing and immediately in her face) Who you calling messed up?

Richie: (quickly trying to calm Smitty down) Nobody, Smitty. She wasn’t calling nobody messed up. She was just saying that putting your fish in the lake was a bit messed up. That’s all. Isn’t that right, hon?

Richie’s Girl: (nervously) Yeah…that’s right.

Smitty’s girl throws her arm around Smitty, helping to distract him.

Smitty’s Girl: Hey, what about those drinks you were talking about?

Richie: Yeah, where’s the cocktail girl?

Smitty: (Still eyeing Richie’s girl suspiciously) Yeah, where is she? (He yells) Hey, can we get a damn drink over here!

The cocktail waitress walks up to the table

Waitress: Hi Smitty. Sorry, I didn’t see and your friends come in.

Smitty: Hey Jackie! How about parking yourself right here for a minute?

Smitty slaps his knee, and Jackie sits on it. He puts his arm around her waist. His girl notices and glares at the waitress.

Waitress: (removing his hand) Now you cut that out Mister Charles Schmid. I’m still working. What can I get you, the usual?

Smitty: Yeah, bring us a Scorpion, Jackie. And give it an extra sting.

The waitress gets up from Smitty’s knee and turns to leave. Smitty gives her a slap on the ass as she walks away. His girl glares at him. Richie diffuses the situation again…

Richie: Did you ladies know that Smitty here was a whiz at Gymnastics in High School? Best damn guy in the whole State one year! Ain’t that right Smitty?

Smitty: Damn right I was. Ain’t nobody could touch me. I got stronger muscles than anyone else around. Here doll, feel this.

Smitty takes his girl’s hand and puts it on his thigh.

Smitty: You just feel those Quads. Don’t that make you feel kinda horny?

Smitty’s Girl smiles.

Smitty: Damn straight. Maybe later, if you’re lucky, I’ll show you some of my other muscles (winks).

Smitty’s Girl: If you’re lucky, maybe you will. Say, what gives with the gimpy leg? You have some sort of accident with all the gymnastic stuff?

Smitty: Nah, it wasn’t no accident. I was doing this delivery job for some fellas who own a huge spread on the East side. Supposed to take extra special care of this particular package, a damn cute little brunette if I remember right. Well, things got a bit out of hand and, cut a long story short, the package got a bit damaged. The people I was working for don’t take too kindly to ‘damaged goods’ and they let me know it, with the help of a pair of bolt cutters on my big toe. Never quite walked right since.

Smitty’s Girl: (horrified) That’s horrible!

Smitty: Nah, s’okay really. The guys I was working for figured I’d learned my lesson and have kept me busy ever since. Aha! Here she comes…

Jackie arrives with the Scorpion. It’s a big drink in a large fishbowl-sized glass. Four long straws hang from the rim of the glass.

Jackie: Here you go Smitty. One big Scorpion, with a little extra sting. (Quietly) I added some extra rum in there like you asked, but don’t tell the boss.

Jackie winks at Smitty, and Smitty winks at Jackie. Smitty offers a straw to his girl.

Smitty: Here baby, try this.

Smitty’s girl sucks on the straw

Smitty’s Girl: Wow! Strong! Yummy!

She takes another sip, and Richie and his girl lean in and start drinking too.

Richie stands up.

Smitty: You all continue working on that, I’ll be right back.

Smitty heads towards the bathroom. Notice his limp.

Richie: Smitty’s pretty proud of that bolt-cutter story. Must have bled like a stuck pig! Funny thing, last time I heard him tell it I coulda sworn it was a blonde.

Richie smiles.

Smitty enters the bathroom. There is somebody washing their hands. Smitty stands next to him and checks himself out in the mirror. Pulls out a comb and does a little hair grooming. We notice how short Smitty is, compared to the man next to him. Man leaves, and Smitty looks around, goes into the stall, locks the door, puts the seat down and sits on the toilet. He pulls off his boot and out falls a pile of crushed cans, cardboard and rags. He rubs his foot and we see his toes are all perfectly fine. Smitty takes one of the rags and re-wraps it around a can. He shoves everything back in his boot, puts it back on, stands and flushes the toilet. He limps out of the bathroom and back to the table.

Smitty: How’s that Scorpion going down? Man, you guys barely dented it!

Smitty leans in and takes a big, long suck on the straw. The others do the same, and they all finish the drink.

Smitty: Aaahhh! Good stuff, right?

Smitty sits back, puts his feet up on the table. See his boots.

Smitty: Let’s have another. (Calling towards the bar) Jackie…!

Episode 5: Medium Cool

Wilhelm at his desk. On his desk are police reports, photos, maps, newspapers. He’s playing with a cigarette, trying to balance it on it’s end. The phone rings. Wilhelm picks it up.

Wilhelm: Wilhelm.

Psychic: Hello Detective. I’ve been reading all about you in the newspapers.

Wilhelm: Who is this?

Psychic: This is a friend. Indeed yes, a friend. Isn’t it funny how a friend is so very close to a fiend? It’s just missing an r. I wonder if that’s intentional?

Wilhelm: Who is this?

Psychic: I told you, a friend. A friend who can help you find what you’re searching for. I’ve helped others. I have. Others like you. And now I can help Detective Wilhelm of the Tucson Police Force.

Wilhelm: Just how is it that you can help me?

Psychic: I’ve seen her.

Wilhelm: You’ve seen who?

Psychic: Seen the girl you’re looking for. The one in the newspapers. The one that’s missing.

Wilhelm sits up in his chair and grabs a pencil and his notepad.

Wilhelm: Waitaminute…you say you have information about Alleen Rowe?

Psychic: That’s the one. Like I said, I’ve seen her. She came to me.

Wilhelm: Came to you where? I mean, where are you? Is she ok?

Psychic: She’s gone, Detective Wilhelm. I’m afraid she’s gone.

Wilhelm: Well where is she now? Her Mother is worried sick about her.

Psychic: I’m afraid she’s gone to a place from which she won’t be coming back.

Wilhelm: What are you talking about? I warn you, if you’re withholding information from the Police there will be severe consequences.

Psychic: I’m not withholding anything, Detective. Like I said, I can help you find Miss Rowe. Her spirit spoke to me two nights ago. She told me where her body has been left to rot and ruin.

Wilhelm: Ohhh, (putting down the pencil and picking up the cigarette) are you one of those Psychic’s like Jeane Dixon? The woman who predicted the assassination of the President last year?

Psychic: Some call me a Psychic, others call me a Medium. Personally I prefer the term ‘clairvoyant’, and Jeane and I do share similar talents, although my speciality is communicating with the recently deceased, rather than the soon-to-be-deceased. I’ve helped many Policemen across the country locate the bodies of unfortunate victims such as your Miss Rowe.

Wilhelm: (disinterested) Well, tell me what it is you think you know Mrs…You know, it would help lend some credibility to your story if you told me your name.

Psychic: I’m Allison, Dorothy Allison. If you call the precinct in Nutley, New Jersey and ask around about me, they’ll tell you about the case I helped them with earlier this year. A poor Little Angel who’d been missing for 7 months.

Wilhelm: I’ll do that. So what can you tell me about Alleen Rowe?

Dorothy: Your own Little Angel came to me in a dream, Detective. (Maybe do this next part as flashback or Saul Bass style animated sequence?) I saw lots of holes, and pretty little flowers in a big green field. Then the holes became tubes, and spikes grew out of them. There were some flags and the sound of somebody playing a guitar. The guitar string broke and was pulled tightly around the poor girl’s neck, but she broke free and ran. Somebody ran after her and pulled her to the ground. A big rock came crashing down and alas, the Little Angel was no more.

Wilhelm makes notes in his book and fiddles with his cigarette some more.

Wilhelm: Did she tell you where this big green field was? We’re in the desert here and green is hard to come by. Green….

Wilhelm gets up from the chair and walks over to the large map on the wall. He looks back in his notebook and finds Alleen Rowe’s address. Mumbles it under his breath, puts his finger on the spot on the map then looks around the area until he finds the nearby golf course.

Wilhelm: (to himself) It’s a Golf Course! (Or just pan camera across map if ‘Golf Course’ is labeled)

Dorothy: (voice on phone) Hello? Hello, Detective? Are you there?

Wilhelm returns to the phone

Wilhelm: Mrs. Allison, could Alleen have been on a golf course?

Dorothy: I suppose she could, yes. That explains the holes and the flags, doesn’t it?

Wilhelm: Now, did Alleen tell you who she was with on the golf course? Did she say anyone’s name?

Dorothy: No, she just said she was being dragged, so there must have been somebody else there.

Wilhelm: Exactly right. So is there anything more you can tell me about this dream?

Dorothy: I think I’ve told you everything, Detective. I do have a favor to ask of you, however. When you find the poor girl’s body please make sure to tell the newspapers that I helped you.

Wilhelm: If we discover anything useful I’ll bear that in mind Mrs. Allison. But I’ll be honest, in my estimation that’s a pretty big if. Goodbye.

Wilhelm puts the phone down, walks to the door, opens it and calls out.

Wilhelm: Sergeant Walker! Get your shovel, we’re going golfing!

Wilhelm and Sgt. Walker arrive at golf course to search for body of Alleen Rowe. A few shots of them walking around golf course.

Walker: (Taking off his hat and wiping his brow) Well, we’ve walked over this entire place and I don’t see no signs of anyone being buried here. It’s all as clean as a (whistles) …whistle.

Wilhelm: Yeah, I guess my Clairvoyant Psychic Medium friend wasn’t as hot as I’d hoped. I tell you Walker, if I don’t get a break in this case soon I’m going to start breaking some heads instead.

Camera pulls up and high as Wilhelm & Cop walk out of frame. Camera continues up and over to nearby wash and then comes down until we see the partially buried body of Alleen Rowe with a hair curler visible.

Episode 6: In Your Heart You Know He's Right

Motel exterior. A car is parked in the lot with Goldwater campaign stickers on it. Wilhelm knocks on a room door. Muffled voices from within.
Wilhelm: Open up, this is the police! A scream rings out. Wilhelm puts his shoulder to the door and breaks it down. Sitting on the edge of the bed is a young (not too young!) girl, partially clothed. A noise comes from the bathroom, the girl looks towards the door and Wilhelm races over. A man is trying to climb out of the window, and Wilhelm pulls him back inside and roughly pushes him back into the bedroom, throwing him onto the bed, face down. There is a “Goldwater in ’64” hat on the bed and a pile of posters from the Goldwater campaign (“In your heart, you know he’s right” slogan). Wilhelm crouches down and addresses the girl
Wilhelm: Are you alright, Miss?
The girl slowly nods her head. Wilhelm walks over to the bed and rolls the face-down man onto his back.
Wilhelm: Now, let’s see who we have here…well, hello Councilman! I see you’re working hard on the Goldwater campaign these days. Care to explain to me who the young lady is?
Councilman: Look, it’s not what you think….
Wilhelm: Isn’t it?
Councilman: She was brought here by a guy. Said it was ok. Said she was up for it.
Wilhelm: (grabbing the Councilman) What guy? Give me a name.
Councilman: Charlie Schmid, but most people know him as Smitty. He’s well known as the man who can hook you up with whatever you need…girls, dope, He’s got connections with the people who really make things happen in this town.
Wilhelm: Where do I find him?
Councilman: He’s usually at one of the clubs on Speedway, always with some girls and that friend of his, Richie.
Montage sequence (music over): Shots of Smitty giving girls pills, dancing, flirting, leaving with girls on his arm, Neon signs, Wilhelm (with Backup?) at clubs, flashing his badge, showing picture of Alleen Rowe and Smitty, grabbing gangsters, ‘sex club’ stuff, kicking down doors, arresting mobsters. Finish this sequence with Smitty entering a mob hangout with girls on his arm and Richie Bruns in tow. Seated at a booth in the bar are a few mobsters, drinking. They see Smitty enter and one of them beckons him over.
Smitty: (unhooking the girls from his arms) Richie, why don’t you get these two dolls a drink? I’ll be with you in a minute.
The girls walk off with Richie and Smitty walks over to the booth. One of the mobsters stands and motions Smitty to take a seat. Smitty sits and the mobster does the same, sandwiching Smitty between him and a second man.
Articulate Mobster: Ahhh, Mr Schmid! Just the Gentelman we were conversing about.
Smitty: Hey fellas. You see those two I just brought in?
Mobster 2: Very nice, Smitty, very nice. You always find us the cutest dolls.
Articulate Mobster: Indeed, you are truly scoring top marks in that department. Unfortunately your overall score has taken a bit of a downturn as of late, I am afraid to say.
Smitty: What are you talking about? What’s happened?
Articulate Mobster: We have recently been subjected to numerous invasive visits by the local law officers of this town, specifically a Detective Robert Wilhelm. He has been disrupting our various enterprises, asking a lot of questions about a missing girl, and also about you, Mr. Schmid.
Smitty: About me?
Articulate Mobster: About you. Very specifically, about where he might locate you, and I can only assume his motivation is not borne from a love and concern for your well being.
Smitty: Yeah, I guess not. Who’s the girl he’s been asking after? Is she one of the ones I brought you?
Articulate Mobster: I am relieved to say that the young lady Detective Wilhelm is so diligently hunting for is not one of ‘ours’. I believe her name is Alleen Rowe. I checked all our ledgers and her name did not appear anywhere.
Smitty: You keep ledgers of all the girls?
Articulate Mobster: Indeed we do, Mr. Schmid. In running a business such as ours it is imperative to know exactly who is on our payroll, and also who their family members are, in case of any ’emergencies’. You are in our ledgers, Mr. Schmid. And right next to your name is that of your Mother, and the address of the Nursing Home she runs.
Smitty: Ma doesn’t have anything to do with this!
Articulate Mobster: Look, Smitty. I like you, I really do. You’re a good kid and you do good work for us here. I do not care why the police are so interested in you, all I care about is the fact that you’re attracting far too much attention. We cannot have them busting down doors, harassing our employees, asking questions and, sticking their Goddamn big noses into places they are likely to get cut off! It’s bad for business, and if it continues it’ll be very bad for your health.
Smitty: What am I supposed to do?
Articulate Mobster: I suggest you and Mr. Mancini here take a nice relaxing vacation. Maybe go to Mexico, see the ocean, drink a pinafuckingcolada. I really don’t care, just as long as you get far away from here.
Mobster 2: Yeah, Smitty. You and me are going to take a nice drive south and cool off in the water, maybe find us a pair of sen-yor-eetas to help pass the time. Don’t that sound nice?
Smitty: I need to run back to my pad and grab a few things, like my bathing suit. Seeing as how me and Mancini are going swimming. When are we taking off?
Articulate Mobster: Tonight. I need you gone tonight.
Smitty: Right. There’s a thing I gotta take care of, won’t take long. See you here in a couple of hours.
The Articulate Mobster stands to let Smitty out of the booth. Smitty rises and walks across the bar towards Richie Bruns and the girls. He walks up to Richie, puts his arm around his shoulder and leans towards his ear
Smitty: Let’s jet! I gotta talk to you… in private.
Richie: Uh, ok.
Smitty and Richie leave the bar and walk outside to the parking lot. Once outside, Smitty grabs Richie and violently spins him around. Throws a punch, putting Richie on the ground. Smitty stands over Richie.
Smitty: Listen to me, you asshole, and listen good! The cops are snooping around, asking about me and that Alleen Rowe broad. I haven’t told anyone about what happened with her, apart from you. You been talking to the cops, Richie? You been opening that big mouth of yours to the pigs?
Richie: No Smitty! I ain’t said a thing about nothing to nobody! Promise!
Smitty: Maybe you been letting things slip to that girl of yours while you’re trying to get in her panties? Is that what you did? I bet she’d tell the cops. That bitch has it in for me, I know it. The way she looks at me, all ‘superior-like’ as if she’s too good for me. I’ll fucking kill her if she’s been talking, you know I will…
Richie: No! I haven’t said a thing to her! She doesn’t know anything about it…
Smitty: We’ll see about that…
Smitty storms off and goes to his car. Gets in, starts the engine and screeches out of the parking lot. Richie gets to his feet, watches the car speed off and says quietly…
Richie: Fuck.

Episode 7: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Night. Exterior of Kathy Moranth residence (Girlfriend of Richie Bruns). Richie arrives in a hurry, walks to the front door and starts pounding on it furiously and ringing the bell. He’s carrying a baseball bat. A neighbor hears the pounding and starts watching from behind the curtains. After a while Kathy opens the door.

Kathy: Hi lover! What’s with the bat?

Richie: Pack a bag, baby. We gotta get away for a spell.

Kathy: What are you talking about?

Richie: It’s Smitty. He’s flipped out. Thinks you’ve been talking to the cops.

Kathy: What are you talking about? Why would I be talking to the cops?

Richie grabs Kathy and shakes her.

Richie: Look, I don’t know what’s going through that crazy mind of his, but he’s hopping mad and out for blood, and I’m getting you out of his way.

Kathy: OK, but it’s gonna take me a few minutes to get some things together.

Richie: Step on it! I’ll hang out front in case he stops by.

Kathy closes the door and Richie heads to the sidewalk, looking around as he walks. He begins pacing up and down in front of the house, wielding the baseball bat. He swings the bat at some plants. A neighbor sees him patrolling and after watching for a few moments, picks up the phone and dials the police.

Neighbor: Hello, police? There’s a man walking up and down the street with a baseball bat. He’s threatened the girl in the house across the way and now he’s destroying the plants!

Cop on phone: Give me an address and we’ll send a patrol car over.

The neighbor gives the address on Malvern St. Cut to street sign with patrol car swerving around corner (if we get a running car from Truly Nolan). Cut to Richie, who spins his head round as he hears the car.

Richie: Shit! Smitty!

The cops pull up outside Kathy Moranth’s house. Cops get out and approach Richie. One (cop 1) is older than the other (cop2).

Cop 1: Why don’t you put the bat down, fella? Nice and easy, like.

Richie: Ok, ok. I’m cool.

Richie puts the bat on the sidewalk and starts to walk towards the cops.

Cop 2: (yelling) Hey! That’s close enough punk.

Cop 2 draws his gun and points it towards Richie. Richie quickly puts his hands in the air and stops walking.

Richie: Woah, woah, woah! I ain’t meaning any trouble!

Cop 1 reaches over to the drawn gun, puts his hand on it and gently lowers it.

Cop 1: Take it easy, Frank. This guy isn’t going to give us any worry, are you pal?

Richie: No. No I ain’t. No worry at all.

Cop 1: Why don’t you just sit down there (motions to curb) and tell us what the story is?

Richie sits on the curb and the cops stand over him.

Richie: I gotta say, I’m glad it’s you that turned up.

Cop 1: Who were you expecting?

Richie: S-Some other guy.

Cop 1: This other guy have a name?

Richie: I can’t. (Lowering his head) He’s my pal.

The front door of the house opens and Kathy comes running down the path towards Richie and the cops. Cop 2 draws his gun and points it in Kathy’s direction.

Cop 2: Freeze!

Cop 1: Will you stop pointing your gun at everyone! Anyone with a good pair of eyes can see these kids aren’t going to give us any trouble. For crying out loud, what kind of training are they giving you recruits these days?

Cop 1 again pushes the gun down and Cop 2 holsters it. Kathy runs over to Richie.

Kathy: What’s going on? Richie, you in trouble?

Cop 2: We got an eye-witness report that this fella threatened you, roughed you up some. Then, to make things worse, took to destroying some of your beautiful plants there (motions to the plants Richie hit with the bat).

Kathy: That’s crazy! Richie never laid a finger on me ever. He’s just scared that Smitty is gonna do something bad.

Cop 1: Smitty? I’ve heard that name before somewhere.

Kathy: I’ll bet you have. Smitty’s mixed up in all kinds of trouble. Walks around like he’s so damn cool. Tells folk he…

Richie: Put a lid on it, Kathy. (To the cops) She doesn’t know anything, really. She’s had it in for him from day one. Always saying I’m spending too much time with him instead of her.

Cop 1: Say, (to cop 1) isn’t that the guy that Wilhelm’s been looking for?

Cop 2: Yeah, I think you’re right.

Cop 1: You wanna tell me more about this Smitty character?

Richie: Leave Kathy out of this. You promise she’ll be safe and I’ll tell you some stuff.

Cop 1: Why don’t you come downtown with us? I think our Detective Wilhelm will be anxious to talk to you. Kathy, why don’t you go inside, lock the doors and if this Smitty character comes by, just give me a call. I’ll send a patrol car right over.

Richie: (To Kathy) Go ahead doll. I’ll be OK. It’ll be cool.

Richie gets up and walks to the police car. He and the cops get in, Kathy watches, then walks to the house and enters. Richie sees her close the front door.

Richie: OK. Let’s go.

Kathy puts the chain on the door. Cut to Smitty at his house. He’s frantically packing a case for his forced trip to Mexico. As he packs he’s mumbling under his breath.

Smitty: Fucking bitch. I’ll show her…blabbing that big mouth of hers…I’ll slice her good.

He opens a drawer on a side table and pulls out a switchblade which he puts in his pocket. On top of the table is a framed photograph of his Mother. He picks it up and looks at it.

Smitty: Why can’t these damn broads be more like you, Ma? You always looked after me, treated me nice. Didn’t kick up a fuss if I used your things. Now I get women who just cannot be trusted with anything. Running their mouths off, watching every little thing you do, giggling among themselves like they got the goods on ya….Fuck! Gretchen and that Goddamn Diary!

He goes into the bathroom, taking the photo with him, and carefully puts the frame down on the vanity. He opens the medicine cabinet and grabs a bottle of blonde hair dye. We see other jars of grooming products more associated with a woman’s makeup collection.

Smitty: Don’t you worry, Ma. Once I’ve gone over to Gretchen’s and sorted a few things out, I’ll be away for a spell, going down to Mexico. They have a beach down there that’s outta sight! Crystal clear waters, golden sand, and just crawling with girls. Not blonde ones the way I like, but I got a remedy for that. He closes the cabinet and holds the bottle of dye in front of the photo.

Smitty: See, Ma! I can make a girl look just right!

Smitty looks at himself in the mirror. He examines himself carefully, opens the cabinet again and takes a jar of foundation makeup and carefully applies it to his face. Then he takes an eyelash pencil and gives himself a beauty mark. He looks himself over once more with an approving eye.

Smitty: OK bitch, I’m coming for you now.

Shadow Wolf (Extra Scene)

SHADOW WOLF

Wilhelm enlists the aid of Shadow Wolf. He’s an Indian tracker who specializes in hunting down drug smugglers who come across the desert from Mexico. Tall, slender build, long straight hair, wears a cowboy hat that casts a permanent shadow over his eyes. Wilhelm can phone him and we can hopefully have DDD record his side of the conversation at a later date. We should take reference film of DDD from behind and take photos for continuity in case we need to use a body double to film his side of the conversation.

Wilhelm: There’s a guy I know, Indian tracker. We served together in the war. Saved his ass from the Japs at Guadalcanal. Or maybe he saved mine. It’s been 20 years and we’ve both done a lot of saving since, so things get kinda fuzzy. He works out in the desert, hunting drug runners for the Res Police. Best damn tracker in the whole County. Goes by the name ‘Shadow Wolf’. He helped me before on a case. Guy has a spooky kind of instinct when it comes to finding things out in that damn desert. I’m gonna call his boss and see if I can get his help.

Wilhelm arranges to meet DDD out on the far West side of town. Wilhelm arrives in a car (we can shoot that later). Middle-of-nowhere kind of landscape. He tracks across rocky terrain and arrives at a small hill with a rusty, beaten up pick-up truck at the top. Next to the truck, silhouetted against the sky is DDD, his back to us.

Wilhelm approaches DDD. He removes his hat from his head and mops his brow. DDD is looking through a pair of binoculars. Wilhelm approaches but stays back about 10ft.

Wilhelm: What you looking at?

DDD: See that building? That’s the old Indian School. The Church built it in 1888 and they spent 70 years teaching my people how to hoe a field, and how to shoe a horse, and how to cook a meal and darn a sock, and how to worship your God. Closed it a couple of years ago, but not before they trained two generations of my tribe how to better serve the white man. Not a whole lot wrong in that, if all you need from your Indians is to keep them on their reservations.

Wilhelm mops his brow again.

DDD: I was lucky. My Father taught me how to track. That’s a thing even you policemen respect, and it’s the only thing that’s brought your ass all the way out here, right?

Wilhelm: (Walking closer to Shadow Wolf, sarcastically) It’s nice to see you too, Shadow Wolf.

DDD lowers the binoculars and the two men shake hands. The deep shadow cast from DDD’s hat hides his eyes.

DDD: The only time you cops come out here is when my Brothers cause trouble in town or when you need my help. You’re from the department that tracks down the missing white people, Wilhelm, so it’s the skills my Father taught me, not that school, that you’ll be needing.

Wilhelm: Your Father was a wise man.

DDD: So just what is it you do need of me?

Wilhelm: I’m working a Missing Persons in town and I think we may be turning up a corpse. Been missing far too long for the outcome to end well.

DDD: I’d like to help you Wilhelm, but as of tomorrow I’m being re-assigned to a protection detail.

Wilhelm: Who you protecting?

DDD: Goldwater is holding a rally up in Phoenix. Trying to get the ‘Native’ vote. Powers that be, they think it’ll look good if a red man’s face is part of his security detail.

Wilhelm: (incredulous) Barry Goldwater is courting the Indians now? The same Barry Goldwater that has the support of the Ku Klux Klan, and is running for President of The United States Of America!?

DDD: The very same.

Wilhelm: These politicians sure will say anything to get a few extra votes!

DDD: Strange as it may seem, Goldwater has been a good friend to the Tribes. He respects our ways and traditions and he’s taken photographs of many of us. Even published them in a book, which he’s now selling for $1500 to raise money! How’s that for good old American Capitalism?

Wilhelm: (Sarcastically) Shadow Wolf, I had no idea you were so clued-in!

DDD: A Man has to seek out his own knowledge because it isn’t going to be handed to him on a plate, and it sure as hell isn’t going to be taught to him in a school. These days, only a fool relies on what he’s told to believe by others.

Wilhelm: So where’d you learn about this $1500 book?

DDD: I read about it in the New York Times.

Wilhelm bursts out laughing and puts his arm around Shadow Wolf’s shoulder.

Wilhelm: You sure are one crazy Indian sonofabitch!

DDD: (laughing) White Man’s education was good for something!

Charles ‘Smitty’ Schmid

Richie Bruns

Mary French

Norma Alleen Rowe

John Saunders

Wendy Fritz

Gretchen Fritz

Communist Children Campaign Ad

Immorality Campaign Ad

Barry Goldwater Quotes

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

If everybody in this town connected with politics had to leave town because of chasing women and drinking, you would have no government.

I won’t say that the papers misquote me, but I sometimes wonder where Christianity would be today if some of those reporters had been Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.

To disagree, one doesn’t have to be disagreeable.

I wouldn’t trust Nixon from here to that phone.

I certainly believe in aliens in space. They may not look like us, but I have very strong feelings that they have advanced beyond our mental capabilities… I think some highly secret government UFO investigations are going on that we don’t know about—and probably never will unless the Air Force discloses them.

I could have ended the war in a month. I could have made North Vietnam look like a mud puddle.

You’ve got to forget about this civilian. Whenever you drop bombs, you’re going to hit civilians.

Today’s so-called ‘conservatives’ don’t even know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.

Defoliation of the forests by low-yield atomic weapons could well be done.

By the time the convention opened, I had been branded as a fascist, a racist, a trigger-happy warmonger, a nuclear madman and the candidate who couldn’t win