*SNEAK PEEK* The Lives They Kill S1EP1

This is a sneak peek for the upcoming Season 1 premiere The Lives They Kill. Here is a ten minute sneak peek. For sneak peeks of episodes, the sneak peek will normally be the first act.

## * SNEAK PEEK\* The Lives They Kill

### Writer

J. Vaughn
George Adams

### Director

J. Vaughn

First Act of The Lives They Kill. The full episode will premiere on September 21, 2023.

## Cast | In Order of Appearance

* J. Vaughn as Detective Patrick Jones
* Brent McCognay as Sergeant Michael Turner
* Courtney Jackson as Detective Aubrey Williams
* Luke Maxwell as Thomas Avery
* Richie Stevens as Mr. Avery
* Danielle Hunter as Mrs. Avery
* Dhruv Singh as Medical Examiner Sacha Patel

## Episode

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. – BUSY 20th PRECINCT – NIGHT

DETECTIVE PATRICK JONES, 31, is walking around the precinct with a box in his hand. He is looking around. A Black man. He was tall, around 6’7. He is wearing a grey sweatshirt with some blue jeans and his gun and badge on his right side of his waist. He was confused, this was like nothing he saw before.

JONES

Hello? Sergeant Michael Turner??

The precinct was in chaos and he finally found who he was looking for. SERGEANT MICHAEL TURNER, 50, spotted him and noticed him. He walked towards him. Turner was white with black/greying hair.

JONES (CONT’D)

Hi, Sergeant Turner? I am Detective Patrick Jones, the transfer from the Queens homicide unit?

TURNER

Yes, we spoke on the phone.

JONES

Yes.

TURNER

You chose one heck of a first day. I apologize, but this introduction is going to be quick. There was just a call and we need to be there ASAP. A teenager fell from a balcony. I’ll introduce you to your partner.

Jones nods but Turner doesn’t notice. Turner begins looking around.

TURNER (CONT’D)

Williams! Over here.

DETECTIVE AUBREY WILLIAMS, 31, quickly walks towards them, confused. Williams was a pretty black woman with her long hair in a bun.

WILLIAMS

Yes, Sergeant. Who’s this?

TURNER

Your new partner. Patrick, this is Detective Aubrey Williams. Aubrey, this is Detective Patrick Jones.

WILLIAMS

Hi there. Pleasure to meet you.

JONES

Likewise.

They finish shaking hands and Jones begins to ask questions.

JONES (CONT’D)

Sergeant, where do you want us to be?

TURNER

The Ronald Evergreene building in Brooklyn. Apparently someone fell from a balcony there.

WILLIAMS

Oh my, let’s go, Patrick.

JONES

We’re on it, boss.

Jones and Williams rush to the location. As Jones is driving, he turns on the sirens and introduces himself to Williams.

INT./EXT. – CAR – NEW YORK CITY STREET - NIGHT

JONES (CONT’D)

So, I am Patrick. I want to get to know you more, but let’s answer this call first.

WILLIAMS

We can do that once we we’re back at the station.

JONES

You work a case like this before?

WILLIAMS

Not really, in this sake. To be fair, we don’t even know if it was murder.

JONES

You right, you right. It could be accidental or suicide? I mean he was a teenager. Suicide is common around his age, sadly. Teenagers also cause accidents, too.

WILLIAMS

It’s really unfortunate.

The detectives arrive at the scene.

EXT. – CRIME SCENE AT THE EVERGREENE BUILDING – NIGHT

Paramedics and police vehicles are there at the scene. Many of the residents were in their nightwear and looking at everything that happened. Jones looks to his left and sees the new interviewing residents.

JONES

Shit, you’ve got to be kidding me. The news is here.

WILLIAMS

Damn it. Let’s go see our victim.

Jones and Williams look at the corpse. They look at his license. 17-year old Thomas Avery.

WILLIAMS

Our John Doe is named Thomas Avery.

JONES

17 years old? This isn’t good. This really isn’t good.

They look at the corpse one last time, then look at each other.

WILLIAMS

This will be a lot of problems.

FADE OUT FOR THEME SONG:

--THEME SONG SEQUENCE PLAYS—

JONES

Aubrey, look over there.

They find a couple crying. They quickly walk up to them. They pull out their badges.

JONES

Hi there. We’re NYPD Detectives Aubrey Williams and Patrick Jones, she’s Williams, I’m Jones. What happened here?

Thomas’ MOM and DAD, both 46, are sniffling. His dad speaks up first, with tears rolling down his eyes. The Avery family was Black with ancestry from the Caribbean islands.

MR. AVERY

Well, our-our. Oh my- oh my-. Our son fell off the balcony. We were asleep and-

WILLIAMS

Hey, it’s okay. We are so sorry for your loss.

MRS. AVERY

How could this ha-oh.

Mr. Avery puts his hand on his wife’s shoulder to comfort her. He looks back at the detectives.

MR. AVERY

I’m Jackson Avery, this is my wife, Alissa. Our son Thomas- he- this is unreal.

JONES

I am sorry. There are no words that my partner and I can say that will make this any better.

MR. AVERY

You’re right. I can’t- oh my- our younger children are- they’re asleep. They don’t even know they lost their-

WILLIAMS

Hey, you must stay calm. For your son.

MR. AVERY

Thank you, detective.

JONES

Well, then whenever you’re ready. We’ll go talk to some of the other officers on the scene.

MRS. AVERY

Wait! We’re ready.

Williams shoots Jones a sad look.

JONES

Okay, ma’am. What happened?

MRS. AVERY

Well, my husband and I were asleep. When it happened. We woke up to the sounds of fighting or yelling.

Jones looks at Williams.

WILLIAMS

(confused)

Fighting?

MR. AVERY

Yes, detective. We heard some brawling just before *it* happened. But that could have easily be the residents trying to see what happened.

JONES

How do you think he died?

MRS. AVERY

We don’t think it was suicide. He was the happiest ever. He’d never do that to himself, especially after he scored the girl of his dreams.

JONES

What’s her name?

MR. AVERY

Stacy. Stacy Morris, they were dating for 3 months before he died. They were in love.

Mr. Avery let out a sad chuckle.

MR. AVERY (CONT’D)

They reminded me of Alissa and I. So happy.

JONES

What was Thomas like as a person?

MRS. AVERY

(sniffling)

The most pleasant person you could be around. He was popular, the football captain. The greatest son, the greatest brother and friend.

MR. AVERY

We don’t know what he was doing *here*.

WILLIAMS

What do you mean?

MR. AVERY

He went over for a sleepover, at his friend Damon’s house. We were set to pick him up tomorrow morning.

JONES

What is his full name?

MRS. AVERY

Damon Xavier. He lives in Queens.

JONES

Do you think he lied? Maybe went somewhere else?

MRS. AVERY

Obviously, it’s just confusing. He’d never lie to us.

WILLIAMS

Did he have any foes?

MR. AVERY

Of course not. He was respectable, responsible, he really loved this world, even with how corrupt it is. I mean unless he lied about having bullies, then I guess he did have foes. But I really doubt it. He was tall, muscular teenage build.

JONES

The commotion you heard earlier. Do you think that may have been him fighting from trying not to fall off the balcony?

MRS. AVERY

Honestly, I am not even sure. Violence is common around this neighborhood, unfortunately.

JONES

How common?

MRS. AVERY

(MORE)

Very. There’s always gunshots going off, people being attacked. It isn’t safe. The local police here try their best, but they’re not very effective.

WILLIAMS

Our team is, don’t you worry. My partner and I will go to some of the officers on the scene. We’ll also talk to some of your neighbors.

MR. AVERY

Thank you both so much.

JONES

You’re welcome. Let’s go, Aubrey.

The detectives head over to a group of officers writing notes. One of the officers noticed them. He was Mexican.

JONES (CONT’D)

Hi, Detectives Williams and Jones, she’s Williams and I’m Jones. What have y’all gathered so far?

OFFICER

Hey, Officer Alexander. We spoke to all of the residents and gathered some intel from what they knew. Apparently two heard our victim yell “mom and dad”.

WILLIAMS

Really? Did either of them come out to check?

OFFICER

Well, one of them did. But he heard from the floor above *his* apartment, so he was too late. He heard them fighting, sounded like Thomas and another person he couldn’t identify.

JONES

So, here’s my theory. Thomas lies to his parents, leaves his friend’s house, comes back here, gets into a fight, then- well, this.

WILLIAMS

You may be right, Patrick. We need to figure out where he really went and figure out who he was fighting. We’ll have to interrogate a lot of people.

OFFICER

Precisely, detective. M.E Patel is just over there. He started conducting a mini autopsy.

WILLIAMS

Awesome.

Williams turns to Jones.

WILLIAMS (CONT’D)

He works at our precinct. I’ll introduce you two.

Jones and Williams arrive to Patel. M.E SACHA PATEL, 35, notices the two and walks up to them. He was an average heighted guy and wore his Forensic clothes. Patel’s parents immigrated from India to New York City in the early 70s.

PATEL

Hey, Detective. Who is this?

JONES

Hi, I’m Detective Patrick Jones. I just transferred to your precinct.

PATEL

Ah, well welcome to the 2-0. I am Medical Examiner Sacha Patel. I just finished conducted a brief examination of Thomas’ body. If you’ll allow me.

WILLIAMS

Of course, M.E Patel.

PATAL

Thank you, I got some DNA samples of his spit, I’ll examine that at my lab back at the precinct. He had some big bruises on his chest and legs, I’ll see whose DNA it is. This corroborates with the theory of him getting into a fight.

JONES

It does.

PATEL

Anyway, I need to finish my examination in the lab so I can do a better autopsy. He also had a large crack at the back of his skull, but uh- we unfortunately know how.

WILLIAMS

He was so young, how unfortunate. We’ll meet you back at the station, Sach.

PATEL

Okay, detective. I’ll stay here and try getting a little bit more samples. It was a pleasure meeting you, Patrick.

JONES

Likewise. Aubrey, let’s report back to Turner.

WILLIAMS

Yes, he’d love to hear this. You drive.

JONES

Of course. Let’s get going.

Jones and Williams leave the crime scene and enter their unmarked police cruiser.

FADE OUT FOR COMMERCIAL:

END OF ACT ONE