Case Files: Roosevelt

[Upon the shooter's deaths, all deaths involved in the Roosevelt High Massacre case entered purgatory. After expected initial shock in realizing they are dead and in the afterlife, CECIL TRAN turns on EMMETT MAUR and SAMUEL ANDERSON.]

CECIL: So. no one else is going to ask, so I guess its up to me.

CECIL: why? why would you ever, EVER do this?

[There is a long pause while CECIL waits for either shooter to answer him.]

CECIL: Well?

EMMETT: Does it matter?

[HAROLD CULLEN steps forward, placing a hand on CECIL's shoulder.]

HAROLD: How could you say that?

HAROLD: You killed 10 people. Classmates. Teachers. Human beings.

HAROLD: We have the right to ask, Maur. to Know.

[SAMUEL begins to walk away, EMMETT following. HOWARD comes forward, grabbing EMMETT and turning him back around. The gathered victims stiffen, watching SAMUEL and EMMETT warily.]

HAROLD: You can't change what happened. But we're all here, together. We at least deserve that closure, Maur.

EMMETT: There's nothing to say.

CECIL: No one shoots up a school for no reason, man.

HAROLD: If someone was giving you two trouble, you could have come to me-

SAMUEL: We took care of it ourselves.

[STEVIE ROOST tries to move forward, being held back by CECIL.]

STEVIE: You call shooting into crowds 'taking care of it'? Are you fucking [R-SLUR]ed or just psychopaths?

SAMUEL: Get. Over. It. 

HAROLD: You can't tell dead children to get over it, Anderson. We just want a reason.

EMMETT: Why? You think it'll change anything if you were targets or just shot for fun? Will it make you feel better to think we're just crazy? Or that it was revenge?

EMMETT: [growing louder] Do you want a sob story? Wanna lay me down on the therapy couch while i tell you about my childhood? Well you're not getting it. You will NEVER get it. It doesn't MATTER.

EMMETT: All that shit died with us.

SAMUEL: Emmy, we're leaving.

[EMMETT turns to follow SAMUEL again. STEVIE ROOST scoffs from behind them.]

STEVIE: yeah, sure, run away, [F-SLUR].

HAROLD: Roost, that is not-

STEVIE: You can't handle the heat? a couple questions? that why you blew your brains out ten bodies in?

CECIL: Stevie, stop-

[EMMETT stops SAMUEL, roughly pulling the rifle from SAMUEL's back and turning it on STEVIE. SAMUEL stands beside him.]

EMMETT: Say it again.

STEVIE: Say what?

EMMETT: Fucking say it again, Roost.

STEVIE: What? that you and your boyfriend are fucking cowards? Wannabe trenchcoat mafia cocksuckers?

EMMETT: [Glares at STEVIE, tightening his grip on SAMUEL's rifle.] I put a round through your skull once, I'll do it again, hick.

[SAMUEL grabs the gun away from EMMETT, shouldering it and punching EMMETT lightly on the shoulder.]

SAMUEL: Don't fucking look for us. If we see you again, we'll shoot again.

SAMUEL: Let's go, Em.

[EMMETT nods and follows after SAMUEL, shouldering through the victims and heading toward the fields outside the nearest Purgatorian city.]

[EMMETT and SAMUEL would not be seem again for six months.]