Claudia: Felines are snobbish and have a problem even with half-breeds. The wannabes are treated as if they were invisible. John: But all felines I have met have been very friendly. Claudia: Of course. They have no problem with other kinds of people as long as those others are not trying to sneak into their own little world by pretending to be one of them. John: You said felines have a problem with half-breeds. You're a half-breed... Claudia: I'm half-canine, so I'm not their problem. And our community is totally different in that respect. We don't get wannabes, but half-canines are accepted as full members of the community. You know, the more, the merrier. John: No wannabes? Claudia: It's not fashionable at the moment. There was a time when there were some loonies who thought they were werewolves, but that passed around the same time as Lon Chaney Jr. did.
John: You know, all the half-breed people I've seen so far have been half like me and half feline or canine. Are there... people who are half feline and half canine? Claudia: No. John: I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have asked... Claudia: I said you can ask. It's just... well, we don't usually talk about that. There are couples... but they never have biological children. It's some sort of incompatibility. Nowadays there is of course IVF and such, but the common wisdom is that what doesn't occur naturally shouldn't be done artificially either. You know, Mother Nature knows best. John: Well, I guess I now know one subject to avoid. Not that I expect it to come up very often. Claudia: It won't.
Claudia: Tell me something about yourself. I know you grew up in the countryside. How did you end up in the FBI? John: I wanted to get away, and it seemed like a good idea. You know, traveling around, catching bad guys... Claudia: Being a hero. John: Yeah, that too. Not anymore, though. I've learned my lesson. Claudia: Can't catch them all, huh? John: No, can't catch them all. This guy... Have you seen the newspapers? They're calling him the Handman. Who comes up with these stupid names? Claudia: Good taste isn't one of their strong points. By the way, nice work keeping it under wraps so long. I'm sorry it had to be one of ours who...
John: It had to happen some time. It's too good for people not to talk about it. You know, makes you feel important when you know a huge secret, and finally you feel you just have to talk about it or you'll burst. So, why not talk to somebody who's willing to pay for it? Claudia: How about because you'll end up as a meter maid? John: Is that what Maria did to her? Claudia: Not yet, she's still thinking about it. I would kick her out for good. John: Meter maids are important for meeting the budget. It would be a shame to waste all that training.
Claudia: What you have told me about this guy makes it look like he's no rocket scientist. So how come you haven't caught him already? I'm not trying to criticize... John: Don't worry, it was a valid question. So far he's been lucky. It's hard to find a guy who has no connection to his victims and moves around as much as this one does. Claudia: At least you know the victim profile now. John: Yes, but do you have any idea how many burglars have been killed by felines in this country? We got the figures yesterday and I couldn't believe my eyes. Claudia: They're probably doing everyone a service, cleaning the gene pool. You know, weeding out the criminally stupid ones. John: I guess that's one way to look at it.
Claudia: Well, we got almost to the end. There's another one. - Too bad about the cookies. John: Take them with you. I'll drive. Claudia: Thanks. I love chocolate chip cookies. John: Let me just pay the bill and then we can go. Claudia: I'll pay half of it. John: Nonsense, FBI will pay. The credit card's one of the real perks of the job, and I don't get to use it nearly often enough. Claudia: And what will be the explanation for this expense? John: Improving communication between the FBI and local law enforcement or some other BS like that. Could also be background research. I'll think of something. Claudia: All right then.
Claudia: Where's the body? Gustav: No body. She's still alive. The paramedics said she's going to be all right. Just superficial wounds. Claudia: If she's alive, this should be your case. Why did you call me? Gustav: All attacks on female felines are being treated as if it's your guy until proven otherwise. Claudia: All right. What happened? Gustav: The guy did shoddy background work. Claudia: What's that supposed to mean? Gustav: The girl said... let me see.. word for word, she said: "I decided that if we had to die, he was coming with us." And then she sank her teeth into his neck, and he screamed and ran. Claudia: We? Gustav: She's pregnant. Doesn't really show yet, but the teeth do, hehe.
John: There's a lot of blood on the back door. Claudia: It's the attacker's. With some luck, we've got our guy's DNA now. Gustav, did the canine unit go after him? Good. Either he didn't get very far or he'll need a doctor fast. We'll inform all hospitals and get officers to check all the unlicensed guys working in the area. John: If they're unlicensed, how will you find them? Claudia: We know them all. We just turn a blind eye most of the time. Otherwise, they'd just hide better and we'd have more trouble finding them when something like this happens. John: So they'll be likely to tell you about this one? Claudia: Oh yes. He's an outsider. They have no reason to protect him.
John: How badly do you think he's hurt? Claudia: If we're lucky, he's dead by now. We'll get him this time. John: Not that we can take credit for that. Can you imagine what she did? Claudia: Of course. I thought Maria showed you those photos. John: What's that got to do with this? Claudia: A baby is a baby, even if it hasn't been born yet. And did you notice the photos in the hall? John: Sure. Family portraits. Parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, the usual stuff. Claudia: All big cats. Gustav was right. Really bad background work. Which is, of course, lucky for us. - I guess we better check Wilkins. Just in case.
Gustav: I found this in the hall. Looks like it is your guy and he left his tools behind. Claudia: Not very professional, but I guess it's hard to be professional when you've had sharp fangs sunk deep in your neck. Gustav: I'd give a lot to see just what happened. Claudia: You know, Gustav, I've heard of guys with a feline fetish. Gustav: So? Claudia: Any first hand experience? Gustav: What? No, of course not. I just happen to admire women who know how to defend themselves.
Officer: You can't go in there! Miss... Purrl: Get out of my way! Where is she? Where's Debbie? I need to see... Claudia: You can't come in here. Who are you? Are you family? Purrl: A friend. My name is Purrl. Where's Debbie? Is she...? Claudia: She's alive. The paramedics took her to the hospital, and she's going to be all right. Purrl: But all that blood... Claudia: We think it's mostly from the guy who attacked her. Purrl: Good. Is he dead?
Claudia: Not to our knowledge. Would you please leave? This is a crime scene, and you shouldn't be here. Purrl: All right. Sorry. I just... I thought she was... I suppose I better go to the hospital. Claudia: I think that would be best. Please give the officer your name, address and telephone number. We may want to ask you some questions later. Purrl: And you'll find the guy who did it? Claudia: The canine unit is after him. He won't go far. Purrl: I hope he's dead.
Later: Claudia: It's hard to believe it's really him. He's looks so... normal. Gustav: I know. I was expecting at least Hannibal Lecter, but this kid... Still, his little collection we found at his home proves he's the one. The DNA also matches and so does the wound in his neck. Pity, a little to the left and we would have saved a lot of money and trouble. Still, that girl knew what she was doing. It was one big chomp. You went to see her. Did you notice the teeth? Claudia: Yes, very impressive. She's a nice girl. She and her baby will get a good start in life with the reward money. John referred to it as "a little cheque," but it turns out to be my five years' salary. Gustav: She deserves every cent of it. Claudia: What did the doctor say? About him? Gustav: They patched him up and asked us to take him away from wasting more of their time.
Claudia: So, Mr... Smith? You're not trying to make me believe that's your real name, are you? James: I want a lawyer. And I want my shirt back. Claudia: All in good time. You have no idea how delighted I am to have you as our guest. Unfortunately your shirt is now evidence. Your blood, her blood and somebody else's blood. Whose? You might as well tell, because we will find out. By the way, how's the neck? Sore? James: That bitch! Claudia: Now, now, let's not be too grumpy. I'm sure you know the law. You broke into her house. You're lucky to be alive. James: The law is not fair! Claudia: So we should just let a low-life like you break into people's homes and murder them without any consequences? That is what I would call not fair.
James: I wasn't murdering anybody! Claudia: Oh, you weren't? What was all that cutlery for then? By the way, did you know that you can never clean that stuff entirely? Something always gets inside the handle. We're taking it all apart and analyzing everything. And I really mean everything. Everything we can find in your car, apartment and the warehouse you're renting. James: You can't! Claudia: A very nice judge told us we definitely can. You're lucky if you're alive after this is all over. I mean, you do know this state has a death penalty? I'm sure the others will be glad to let us take care of you. James: Death penalty? Claudia: Didn't you know? You really are bad at doing the background work. However did you manage to avoid capture this long? - You see, there is this tendency to change the laws once in a while. We reintroduced the death penalty after we had to put up with a guy like you serving a life sentence until he was 101. I'm sure he did it just to spite us.
James: I want to see my lawyer! Gustav: Calm down. You'll get your lawyer. Everybody gets one, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. Claudia: Fortunately, all a lawyer can do in this case is to maybe get a death sentence reduced to life without parole. That's the best you can hope. You see, we have all the evidence we need and, at the moment, you're much safer in here than you would be outside. You're all over the news. This is your 15 minutes of fame. James: You... you did it, because you're one of them! Gustav: Calm down. Claudia: I don't need to call the press, they can smell the blood. Haven't you ever noticed that all the best ones are canine? And you really are pathetic. You can't even tell us apart. - Come on, Gustav. We're done for now. We'll wait for his lawyer and then we'll continue. Gustav: All right.
Claudia: ...and I wanted to tell you the good news myself... Belle: I'm home! Girls! You'll never believe what happened... Oh, hi Claudia! Dana: I think we will. What happened? Belle: I guess Claudia has already told you. They got the guy. And I saw him! He was badly bitten. Colleen: I'm not sorry for him. He deserved it. Claudia: You work at that hospital? Belle: Yes. I know it's unprofessional, but I refused to go anywhere near him. When the doc heard why, he said he wouldn't let me near the guy anyway, considering all the sharp objects available. Wouldn't look good in the press, a nurse stabbing a patient, even if the patient happened to be a murderer. - You know, he recognized me. He saw me and I could tell he knew who I was.
Colleen: What did he look like? Belle: He's just a kid. I thought he would look... evil, but he looks just normal. Dana: So, Claudia, what happens next? Claudia: Lot of wrangling about who gets the first go at him. One thing that is sure, however, is that he'll spend the rest of his life behind the bars. However short that life may be. Dana: How is the girl who survived? Claudia: She's fine and so is the baby. I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of her in the news. Colleen: Some reporters have been calling us. Belle: But we're not interested. We just want to forget it all and continue with our lives. Colleen: We did give one an exclusive interview. You know, just to get it over with. Claudia: About forgetting it... Have you thought about what I asked Dana? I guess it would make it harder to forget all that's happened.
Belle: We've thought about it, and we think it's an excellent idea. Colleen: It's so hard to know who's reliable... I think it would make me feel safe. Dana: And our landlady was absolutely delighted about it. Her husband was a police officer, and she's involved in some charity for policemen's widows. Claudia: Is that yes? Belle: Yes. When will you move in?
Some days later: Maria: Excellent work! And the evidence is clear? All done by the book? Claudia: Yes. We were very careful with that. He's not getting out on any technicality. Maria: Good. How about the girl? Claudia: She's fine. They just let her home from the hospital. They kept her there this long because of the baby. Maria: Yes, the baby. It's always about babies. I guess he couldn't know. Claudia: Didn't follow her closely enough. She visited a maternity clinic day before the attack. Maria: I told that director jerk that these guys are no geniuses. Claudia: What? Maria: I'll tell you about that some other time.
Claudia: I see Gustav has brought you some samples. Maria: Yes. It seems that the guy experimented with some... um, harder to remove body parts before deciding to collect hands. Claudia: The shrinks are going to have a field day with him. - Do we get to keep him? Maria: The DA is sorting things out. We'll just have to wait and see. Claudia: How about the reward? Is that being sorted too? Maria: Yes. She's going to get it. The parents who are paying it will fly here to hand it to her personally. Claudia: You know, that girl is going to be famous. She said she's getting so many requests for interviews that she can't do them all. I told her to hire an agent and make the most of it. Financially, I mean. Maria: Not really part of your job. Claudia: What? Helping a victim to deal with the aftermath of a horrible crime? Why not?
Maria: You like her. Claudia: Who wouldn't? Well, "Mr. Smith" of course, but his opinion doesn't count. Even the boyfriend, who dumped her when she got pregnant, suddenly returned and is begging her to forgive him. Maria: I bet he's thinking of the reward money. Claudia: Probably. I think he's in for a surprise. The last time I went to see her in the hospital, there was this very handsome young doctor in her room. Not her doctor, just a doctor, and her kind. I wouldn't be surprised... Maria: Yes, now she's got a lot more to choose from. It doesn't even matter that she's already pregnant as long as the baby is all feline.
Claudia: And there it goes! See you in court, "Mr. Smith." John: All finished? Claudia: Oh, hi! I didn't hear you coming.
John: It seems like our cooperation ends here. It's all out of my hands, and I've already got the next case waiting for me. Claudia: It was a pleasure working with you, agent. John: I was thinking... Claudia: Yes? John: Well, the new case doesn't take me that far, and I live in this city. So maybe you could give me a few more lessons on feline and canine behavior. Over a dinner, preferably. Claudia: Or maybe breakfast. Call me.