From: N/A N/A Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 16:45:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Mangos by VixenXXIII Source: direct Title: Mangos Author: VixenXXIII (that's 10-13, not 23) Category: X, C, H (hopefully), A (just a little) Rating: Hm... I really don't know, maybe PG for language? Keywords: XF/Tropical Heat crossover, humor, script Summary: Mulder and Scully gets assigned a crazy case of missing mangos. They arrive in the Florida Keys and work with the local detective team, Nick and Sylvie. How will they stand each other's presence? Author's Notes: I don't know how many of you actually ever watched "Tropical Heat", but here's what prompted me to write up this little thing. The main characters of "Tropical Heat" are Nick and Sylvie. Nick is a loner who did things as he pleased until Sylvie came along and turned his world upside-down. As for Sylvie, she's a red- head who insisted on doing everything according to the book. I thought that the two characters really resemble M and S. I figured it would be funny if the two pairs ever met up, especially since both pairs have a tendency to have heated debates. So, I shall leave it at that and hope you enjoy my little attempt at humor. Disclaimer: None of the following characters are mine. All have been *ahem* borrowed from CC and creator of "Tropical Heat". Just having some fun to see what would happen if similar characters meet on the same show. No infringement intended. But if you want to give them to me to play with... *maniacal laughter* Feedback: Yes, desperately pleading! Email all flames, comments, criticisms, etc. to Pie@hotvoice.com. Pretty please, I'm not afraid to beg. Now...on with the show! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Mangos (Tropical Heat intro...) FLORIDA KEY MARIAH SPIDER'S BAR 1:00 PM (Nick and Sylvie sitting at the bar, drinking something that Spider mixed for them, loud baja music blaring in the background) NICK: Ah...this is the life. Just another day of peace... ... Well, as much quite as one can get around here. SYLVIE: I can't believe that I let you talked me into drinking this crap. Not trying to drug me, are you? NICK: Sylvie... you wound me. SYLVIE: Sorry Nick, you need help in the drama department. Not that I'm complaining about being safe from terror- ists, but if something doesn't happen soon, our busi- ness is going to go down the drain. NICK: What? We haven't been making money? What about that guy that we saved just last Monday? I figured we'd get quite a bit from him. SYLVIE: I'm surprised we got enough out of him to cover our expenses. Listen Nick, the next time you decided to break into someone's home, make sure the window doesn't have million-dollar glass panes, okay? NICK: Nag, nag, nag. SYLVIE: Who's that guy? NICK: What? What guy? Sylvie, I think you've been out in the sun too long. SYLVIE: (Sun shining brightly above) Riiiiight. Really Nick, that guy over there has been eyeing me for the past ten minutes. What do you think? NICK: I think he's probably trying to figure out how to get you out on a date. So, does he stand a chance against my charms? SYLVIE: What charms? I'm serious Nick, I think he wants something. NICK: What could he possibly want? (Mysterious man, later known as Mr. Kerst begins to approach Nick and Sylvie) MR KERST: Mr. Slaughter and Ms. Girard? NICK: Who wants to know? (Sylvie elbows him hard in his ribs) Ow...that hurt! Yes, I'm Nick Slaughter, did you want to talk to me? MR KERST: C. Kerst... I've heard that you run a detective business around here, kind of like a private eye? NICK: Actually, my partner here takes care of most of the busi- nesses. You'd have to take it up with her. SYLVIE: Yes, we do run a private detec- tive business. How may we help you? MR KERST: I've got a mango farm on this island but I've been having some problems with my farm. Now's the best mango picking season, except I've been losing-- NICK: Mangos? In the Florida Keys? SYLVIE: Shut up Nick, let Mr. Kerst finish his explanation. MR KERST: Thank you. As I was saying, now's the best time to pick mangos, but I've been losing half of my crop each day. I'd like to know what's going on. I can't keep losing my crop like this, I'd go bankrupt. SYLVIE: Sir, I don't get it. It sounds like a normal thievery. Why are you asking for private detectives? Shouldn't you be contacting the local police force? MR KERST: Do I look like a stupid man Ms. Girard? NICK: Do you want her to answer that? (Sylvie glares at Nick again. Nick promptly turns away.) MR KERST: I've contacted the local police force, but they can't catch the culprit, so they've recommended you two. They mentioned that you could be of more help. SYLVIE: We probably could help you solve this case, but you do realize that we run a business and there will be a fee required. Do you think you could afford us? MR KERST: Name your price and I'll pay it. SYLVIE: I'm sure we will be able to get this problem straightened out in no time. Shall we go over the particulars now? NICK: Ugh, better charge him big ones. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH MANGO FARM 11:00 PM (Nick and Sylvie hiding in the bushes at the edge of the mango farm. Nick has a pair of binoculars and is surveying the surrounding area. Sylvie looks impatient.) SYLVIE: Nick, just what the hell do you think we're going to accomplish by sitting here? NICK: Shh... Kerst said that he loses the mangos each day right? But no one actually saw the thief, so the thief must have done it at night. SYLVIE: Brilliant reasoning Sherlock, but have you considered that maybe the police have staked out before? Mr. Kerst did mention that he contacted the local police force and they couldn't do a thing about it. You really think you're going to be the one that gets this thief or whatever? NICK: Well, you never know what's happened with the local police force. For all we know, they might have fell asleep on the job. Common Sylvie, you know how irrespon- sible the PD is. SYLVIE: Yeesh, I hope you know what you're doing. (The two detectives continue to spy on the farm. Suddenly, a bright light flashes. A childish voice is singing "One, two, buckle my shoe...") (Nick and Sylvie wake up to see that they are in the middle of the mango farm and it is daylight.) NICK: What the hell...? (Xfiles intro...) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX WASHINGTON, D.C. J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 9:00 AM (Mulder and Scully sitting in their office in their respective places. Scully is reading over the file, occasionally glancing over towards Mulder. Mulder looks bored and is sharpening pencils and tossing them up into the ceiling. *Thwap* Another pencil is securely lodged in the ceiling.) SCULLY: Will you stop that, Mulder?! MULDER: Stop what? Look, you finished with the file yet? SCULLY: Yes, I'm finished. Now why are we going into this investigation? It's just another petty thievery. I can hardly call this an X-file. MULDER: Yeah, except the local PD is completely stumped by the incident. You'd think that they would be able to catch the culprit after all this time. What about the glowing light? Certainly doesn't sound like your normal thief. SCULLY: But still, Mulder, mangos? I don't think this needs any federal investigation. MULDER: Oh, come on Scully. We're going to Florida. Once we close the case, we might even get a chance to have our- selves a nice tropical vacation. Don't tell me you can resist a trip to the Florida Keys. SCULLY: Alright, alright let's go. I can resist the trip, just not your pout. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH AIRPORT 4:40 PM (Nick and Sylvie are standing in the airport, obviously waiting for someone to show up. Sylvie is wearing her usual light blue suit. Nick is wearing his usual casual wear of Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts with sandals. Nick seems bored and impatient.) NICK: Why are we here? I thought the local PD are the ones who deal with federal agents. SYLVIE: Look Nick, we were the ones who required federal help. The police only tolerate you because you're friends with the chief. Now the least we could do is deal with the agents ourselves and not give the police any more problems. NICK: Fine! (An airplane approaches. Steps are brought up against the door. Scully approaches first, wearing a dark suit. She walks down the stairs and Mulder follows. He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt with khaki shorts and tourist sandals. He has a pair of sun- glasses resting midway on his nose.) SCULLY: Agent Scully and... Agent Mulder, FBI. We're here to assist in the missing mangos case. MULDER: Ah...this is the life, Scully. Tropical islands, fresh air, blistering sun, and... beautiful women! (Sylvie and Nick stares at him in amazement. Scully clears her throat to get their attention.) SCULLY: I'm assuming you are Detective Slaughter and Girard? NICK: Please...Nick. This is Sylvie. Yeah, we're the local detectives. How's about a date? (Sylvie punches Nick hard in the ribs.) SYLVIE: Excuse my partner's behavior, Agent Scully. He's usually much more professional than this. Obviously, the heat is getting to his head. MULDER: Ah, the beautiful detective has spoken. It's our pleasure to be working with someone so professional about her work. (Scully rolls her eyes.> SCULLY: I'm sorry if my partner is being a complete ass. I'm sure it's the thought of being in Florida. He tends to get muddled when the heat's up. MULDER: Oooo...is that a come on, Scully? SCULLY: I'm not even going to dignify that with a response. Just remember, with all the innuendoes you've thrown over the years, I've got quite a sexual harassment case. Now, unless you're willing to have that, I suggest that you keep any more of those comments to yourself. MULDER: Now there's a mouthful. SCULLY: See what I have to put up with? SYLVIE: Only too well, too well. Wait 'till you know Nick better, then you'll know pain. NICK: Gee, Sylvie, guess you forgot who does the dirty work in this business. SYLVIE: Need I point out each case where I had to get the PD in order to save your sorry ass? (Nick hangs his head in defeat.) SCULLY: Hm...sounds like someone I know. (Mulder hangs his head as the implication sets in.) NICK: C'mon, the sooner you two get settled, the sooner we get to the case. (All four people start to walk towards the airport exit.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH KEY MARIAH HOTEL 5:30 PM (Mulder and Scully are sitting around a desk, both have their heads stuck in a file, obviously very intrigued with the case. Slowly Mulder raises his head and looks at Scully with a mischievous grin.) MULDER: Hey, Scully. Do you think that redhead was hot? SCULLY: What redhead, Mulder? MULDER: You know, the one that met us at the airport. Sylvie something. SCULLY: Detective Girard? Why? MULDER: Think I should ask her out? SCULLY: Why are we having this conversation, Mulder? MULDER: Oh, c'mon Scully, you know that this is just another excuse to get away from the damn basement! Why don't you relax a little for a change. It'll do wonders for your heart. (Scully glares at Mulder as if she was ready to rip him from limb to limb.) SCULLY: *There*. *Is*. *Nothing*. *Wrong*. *With*. *My*. *Heart*. MULDER: Give it a rest, Scully. Just look around you! We're in Florida for Christ's sake! Time to par-tay! SCULLY: I'm actually putting up with this. Okay, you win Mulder. We'll put the case away for now. But we still got to close this damn thing and the two detectives are waiting for a response tomorrow. MULDER: You know that they're slightly out of wack, don't you? (Scully eyes Mulder strangely.) No one in their right minds would want to voluntarily call on us. SCULLY: Glad you know, glad you know. (Fade out to black.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH DETECTIVE OFFICE 8:00 AM (Sylvie and Nick sits on one side of the desk, while Mulder and Scully sits on the other side. M&S are arguing in front of the two detectives and they look on slightly amused.) SCULLY: Damn it Mulder! Why the hell can't you just let it go? Not everything has to be aliens! MULDER: You explain it then! The flash of light and experience of lost time...that's all typical alien abductions! You want proof? Well, those two are proof! They experienced it! SCULLY: It could be all just an elaborate set up! Anyone could have knocked them unconscious when they got blinded by the light! That's not solid proof! (Nick looks slightly aghast that Scully could suggest he is incapable of looking out for himself even though the possi- bility of being knocked unconscious has crossed his mind.) MULDER: So what are you saying? They can't take care of them- selves? I think they're more than capable. SCULLY: That's not what I'm saying, so stop twisting my words. Besides, what would aliens want with a batch of mangos! MULDER: Stranger things have happened Scully... (Nick raises his hands and slowly stands up.) NICK: Guys, not to intrude, but we've got a case here and I personally would love to solve it within this millennium. So, I suggest, we drop the arguments and let's check out the mango farm. (M&S look at each other, then at Nick. Finally the two settle down, taking up on the suggestion.) SYLVIE: Amazing Nick, you actually churned out a reasonable plan from that numskull of yours. NICK: I'm hurt Sylvie. You are too cruel. SYLVIE: Cut the crap Nick. Let's get going. (All four rise and walk out of the office.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH MANGO FARM 11:00 AM (The four people are currently standing at the edge of the farm, next to a huge mansion. The looks on their faces suggest that they haven't found much interesting.) SYLVIE: Okay, Sherlock...now what? NICK: Nag, nag, nag. Ow, geez woman! Violent! MULDER: It's okay Nick. Plenty in the same boat. Ow! Sculleee! See? (Sylvie and Scully look at each other then shakes their head at the men's adolescent behavior. Scully heaves a sigh and Sylvie raises her hand toward the sky in a 'why me' pose. Both Nick and Mulder seem to be enjoying their annoyance immensely.) NICK: Well, I guess we should take a look into the house...er, mansion. SYLVIE: In case you haven't noticed, there's no one home. (Nick pulls out a lock pick kit from one of his many pockets. Sylvie looks disapproving, but Mulder obviously seems to be interested. Scully shakes her head, knowing she wouldn't be able to get a word in, since Mulder and Nick are obviously not going to follow the rules.) SYLVIE: Nick! We don't even have a search warrant! We can't just break in and search the place! That's breaking and entering. MULDER: Not by my book, it isn't. SCULLY: Mulder, we don't work by your book. We're suppose to follow the bureau's rules. This is against protocol. MULDER: When have we followed protocol? NICK: You know, I'm liking you more and more. MULDER: Got the lock picked yet? NICK: Damn! This one's harder than I thought. MULDER: Here, le'me have a go at it. (Mulder fiddles with the lock some more and opens the door. He waves his hands in a flourish.) MULDER: Ta-da. NICK: Impressive. Guess federal training is more efficient than being locked in your room for eleven years. SCULLY: Please Nick, don't indulge him. NICK: Sure, anything you say. (The four enter the mansion and sees a disaster area. Furniture has been overturned and papers were strewn everywhere. Sylvie walks around and picks up what seems to be the remains of a woman's underwear and makes a face.) SYLVIE: Geez, what the hell happened in here? NICK: Well, from what you've got in your hands, I'd say an orgy fest that got out of hand. SCULLY: So how does this help us? MULDER: Nick, you mentioned that you guys were employed by a Mr. Kerst? Where'd he go? NICK: I'm not sure. We haven't seen this guy since we agreed to take up the case. SCULLY: Do you mean to tell me that our only witness is gone?! NICK: Well, he isn't really a witness, more like our business partner. MULDER: Did he say if he lived on the mango farm? SYLVIE: Actually, he did. He said he lived for three months here because it gave him better access over the farm, and he could keep an eye out for thievery like this one. MULDER: Well, from the look of this place... I'd say someone or something is trying to torture Mr. Kerst. Stealing the mangos was only the first part of the revenge plan. SCULLY: Mulder? What are you saying? MULDER: I'm saying that the mangos were stolen because whoever stole them knew that it would drive Mr. K. bonkers. This isn't about getting the mangos, it's about revenge. (Fade to black.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDAH KEY MARIAH DETECTIVE OFFICE 2:30 AM (Sylvie is yawning, obviously not used to being waked up this early in the morning. Nick looks disgruntled but is paying attention to Mulder's rambling. Scully rubs her eyes due to the lack of sleep.) MULDER: I looked up on this Kerst guy. Seems like he's been friends with the federal government more than once. He's been charged with labor abuse on more than one case. See here? There's a list of all the workers that died on his farm. I'm thinking that our best bet is that one of the family of the deceased workers are planning this revenge plan. NICK: I don't believe this, I'm working for a abusive farmer. That's it, I'm dropping the case. SYLVIE: You can't Nick. NICK: What do you mean I can't? I can damn well drop a case when I want to. SYLVIE: No, Nick. You can't. We have a contract and we have to carry through. He can sue us if we back out now. SCULLY: Besides, now that we're involved, *we* can't just drop the case. We have to find out who it is and arrest him. He's breaking the law and we have to bring him in. NICK: What about you? Are you going to keep working on this case? (Mulder looks away, his jaws working overtime. Scully squeezes his hand reassuringly. He looks grateful for her support. Then looks sadly at Nick.) NICK: I don't believe this. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH SPIDER'S BAR 5:45 PM (Nick and Sylvie are sitting at their usual place, each sipping on their drink brooding over something. M&S appear in the entrance and both look slightly dejected.) NICK: Hey, how'd it go. MULDER: You want to take this? SCULLY: Sure. We found out some pretty disturbing information. It seems that one of the worker died on the mango farm due to exposure. But the worst part is, he was working extra shift so he could pay for his wife's hospital fee. She was expecting... the infant died in child- birth. The wife, Mrs. Johnson, feels that Kerst was somehow responsible for both her husband and child's death. SYLVIE: So she's our suspect? MULDER: Not really. We don't have any evidence. SCULLY: Mulder, I'm surprised, you actually require evidence? MULDER: Hey, I maybe out there, but even I know I can't arrest someone without some kind of evidence. They'd fry me if I did that. SCULLY: Haven't stopped you before. (Mulder doesn't respond and Scully drops the subject. The four people look grim.) NICK: I want to talk to her. SCULLY: It won't get you anywhere. NICK: Maybe, maybe not. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX KEY MARIAH JOHNSON RESIDENCE 6:30 PM (Nick is sitting across from Mrs. Johnson and has a notebook out, reviewing his notes. Mrs. Johnson looks nervous and con- tinuously looks around the room) NICK: So, Mrs. Johnson, let me get this straight. You believe that Mr. Kerst is responsible for your child's death because your husband died on his farm. JOHNSON: Well, yes, Mr. Slaughter. You realize that my child would never have died if my husband could make enough money to pay for the hospital fees. His death is a result of slaving for Mr. Kerst, who didn't even have the decency to give him a proper funeral! NICK: But you do realize that he is not subjected to paying anything toward his worker's deaths since they are covered by insurance. JOHNSON: Let me tell you a little something about that Mr. Kerst Mr. Slaughter! He is a twisted man who would squeeze every drop of blood out of his workers before he would even contemplate their well being. As long as he's making a profit off of his laborers' hard work, he won't give a damn! You hear me? NICK: Loud and clear. Yes, but there is no law that prohibits the manual labor for working more than the average working hours, provided that the workers were willing. Is it correct that your husband was doing this by his own choice? JOHNSON: I'm telling you, young man, my husband wasn't working because he wanted to. He had to support his family and the money that Kerst was paying wasn't cutting it! NICK: But he was paid above minimum wage... (Mrs. Johnson stands up and looks down upon Nick with furious eyes, effectively shutting him up.) JOHNSON: What does that have to do with anything?! Have you seen the prices around here? Have you ever considered the cost of living around this place? Because from what I hear coming from your mouth, it certainly doesn't sound like it! That's it Slaughter. You get out of my house, now! (Nick stands up and takes one last look around before stalking out of the house.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH POLICE STATION 8:00 AM (Nick, Sylvie, Scully and Mulder are in the police station. It seems that Nick and Sylvie are just standing around watching the action take place. Mulder is actively talking to the chief of police, while Scully tries to reign Mulder in from his crazy theories.) MULDER: Look, all I'm saying is that we've got a suspect but we don't have any evidence. If we stake out in front of her house, we'd catch her when she makes her move. This way, we'll arrest her and end the case. But we need man power. CHIEF: Wait a minute. So, you waltz in here, telling me that you you think some lady has the power to summon spirits to attack the living on comand and you expect us to provide you with the man power to prove this theory you have. MULDER: Actually, it's more of a hunch than a theory. She was extremely reluctant to give any information which makes me think she's somehow connected to the case. SCULLY: What Agent Mulder's trying to say is that she is the most likely suspect. She has obviously displayed an omnious attitude towards the missing Kerst. She is also convinced that Kerst is somehow connected to her hus- band's death, which is a probable motive of the suspect. CHIEF: Okay, I'll send a team out, but this thing better end today, you hear? MULDER: One day is all it'll take. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH JOHNSON RESIDENCE 12:00 AM (M&S comes in to relieve of the shift. As they are conversing with the local police, they hear a commotion inside the house. The police and M&S runs into the house and breaks the door down. Mulder enters first and sees a child like form holding Kerst by the collar, shaking him over and over. Objects were flying all around the room. Mrs. Johnson was rocking back and forth in the corner of the room, crying incoherently. Scully comes in just in time to see the body of Kerst flying across the room. The child form has vanished. Kerst's body crashed into Mulder just as the other two police enters.) POLICE 1: What the hell happend here? SCULLY: Everything's under control now. Think you can come with us for a few minutes? MULDER: I would greatly appreciate it if you would remove your weight from my torso in the near future. KERST: No need to be snappy. In case you haven't noticed, I've just suffered a very traumatic experience. POLICE 2: Okay lady, you need to come with us for a few minutes. We'll take it from here. MULDER: Care to explain to us what happend here sir? KERST: I'm not talking without my lawyer, so you can give up on that notion. I demand to talk to my lawyer! SCULLY: Sir, you aren't under arrest. We simply want to know what the detail of the entire inci- dent was. Your disapearance was rather hasty and we have reason to believe that Mrs. Johnson was indirectly related to the missing mangos on your farm. KERST: Well, let me tell you something, I don't have to say anything to *you*! MULDER: That went rather well. (Scully rolls her eyes and looks to the sky as if to ask 'why me?') XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX WASHINTONG, D.C. J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING 3:00 PM (Mulder is sitting in his chair throwing pencils into the ceil- ing again. Scully shots him an annoyed look and continues to type up the report.) SCULLY V.O.: As it has turned out, it would seem that Mr. Kerst was suffering from a mild hallucination. The police could not account for the mysterious happenings in the mango plantation, nor were the incidents ever repeated. It would seem that Kerst had been avoiding the federal government for a long period of time before the loss of the mangos. His records revealed his unethical business entreprenuership. However, in a free enter- prise economy, his methods could hardly be considered unfair or unjust. It is the basic survival in the economy which shapes America today. Yet his encounter with the supernatural forces must make one wonder whether this apathetic road which our nation choses is truely the best option available to the human kind. As for the local detectives, they are simply another link in the chain of which the people are constantly drawn along. Their involvement stems also from the free enterprise system, leading them to unwittingly help a cold hearted business man to further his abusive powers against the workers... (Scully rubs her eyes as Mulder lodges yet another pencil in the ceiling.) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FLORIDA KEY MARIAH SOUTH BEACH 3:00 PM (Nick and Sylvie are lying on the beach sunbathing, both wearing sunglasses.) NICK: God, I'm sooooo glad all of this is over. SYLVIE: Well, don't be too jubilant Nick. Just in case you for- got, we never received the pay check from Kerst. Not only did we lose more than $400 on transportation, we managed to lodge ourselves further in debt. NICK: One thing's for sure. I will never, and I mean never get myself into another one of those cases again! I'm not about to let some bloodthirsty business man take advan- tage of my good inentions again! SYLVIE: What good intentions? Nick, if you're thinking of jus- tice for all, you better remodel your philosophy. (Nick and Sylvie continue to bicker as a well dressed man ap- proach them.) WELL DRESSED MAN: Are you detectives Slaughter and Girard? NICK: Yes, we are they. What can we do for you? WDM: I was hoping you would take up one of my cases. It seems that lately I've been losing a huge part of my grapefruit crop. (Nick and Sylvie looks at each other and suddenly jump up and run away as fast as their legs would carry them.) THE END