EPISODE 13 ''DELIVERANCE, PART ONE''

THE SHOW OPENS. AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN AND TOM WALK THROUGH THE LAB DOORS AND APPROACH ED, STANDING AT A COUNTER. TOM IS WEARING BLACK PANTS, A LONG-SLEEVE BLACK POLO SHIRT, AND A GREY HEAVY-WEIGHT SHIRT, WITH BOTH THE SHIRT AND THE CUFFS UNBUTTONED, OVER TOP.

Sloan: Hey, Ed.
Ed: Oh, hey.
Sloan: What''s up?
Ed: Oh, I''m still working on the gene therapy.

ED WALKS ACROSS THE LAB TO ANOTHER COUNTER. A LAB TECH SITS BEFORE IT HOLDING A MONKEY ON HER LAP.

Ed: Just converted this little guy''s DNA to one-point-six, using Attwood''s synthesis of the tick''s one-point-six secretions.
Sloan: (awed) And he survived the transformation.
Ed: Yeah, so far.
Tom: Must mean he''s strong.
Ed: That ''s what I''m hoping. Now that I''ve converted him, I wanna bring him back.
Sloan: Then the door should swing both ways.
Ed: That''s the idea. If they can do it to us, maybe we can do it to them.

ED WALKS OVER AND SITS BEFORE A COMPUTER. SLOAN AND TOM FOLLOW HIM OVER.

Ed: Of course, that''s if my computer models hold up. They all indicate that this should reconvert the monkey to his base level of one-point-one.

ED PICKS UP A VIAL.

Sloan: How sure are you about the model?
Ed: Sure enough.

SLOAN GIVES HIM A LOOK, AND HE RETURNS IT.

Ed: Hey, we''re way beyond theory here. We have to do live testing.

THE TECH BRINGS THE MONKEY FORWARD AS ED READIES A SYRINGE. TOM EXHALES A BREATH AS ED INJECTS THE MONKEY''S ARM.

CUT TO A SCENE OF A NEEDLE BEING INJECTED INTO A MAN''S ARM. NIGHTTIME. CAR HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE SCENE. ATTWOOD STANDS BEFORE A TALL, ATTRACTIVE MAN, TAKING BLOOD FROM HIS ARM.

Attwood: I''ll be done in a second.

THE MAN LOOKS OVER ATTWOOD''S SHOULDER AT THE LIMO LADY, WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS.

Man: You''re enjoying this humiliation.
Limo Lady: This isn''t humiliation. This is a condition. Just as you had conditions for us.

ATTWOOD FINISHES TAKING HIS SAMPLE AND LOOKS UP AT THE MAN.

Attwood: The test only takes a moment.

ATTWOOD AND LIMO LADY START TO WALK OVER TO THEIR CAR.

Attwood: Would you care to tell me what this is all about?
Limo Lady: Let''s hear what the test says first.

THEY REACH THE CAR. ON THE HOOD IS VARIOUS EQUIPMENT, AND A LAPTOP COMPUTER. ATTWOOD PREPARES THE BLOOD SAMPLE TO BE TESTED. THE DNA DIFFERENTIAL PROGRAM LOADS ON THE COMPUTER. THE RESULTS COME UP.

Attwood: A one-point-six percent differential. He''s not human.
Limo Lady: Then he is what he says he is.
Attwood: Which is?
Limo Lady: A negotiator.
Attwood: For what?
Limo Lady: Peace.

ATTWOOD AND LIMO LADY LOOK OVER AT THE MAN, STANDING NEAR HIS VEHICLE.

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. IN SLOAN''S OFFICE. TOM STANDS AT THE WINDOW, STARING OUT THROUGH IT INTO THE LAB AREA. HE TAPS HIS FIST AGAINST HIS CHIN, PENSIVE. SLOAN ENTERS THE OFFICE.

Sloan: What are you doing?

TOM LOOKS OVER AT SLOAN.

Tom: Thinking.

(YOU KNOW WHAT I''M THINKING? I''M THINKING HE LOOKS DAMN GOOD. NICE BLACK PANTS. NICE SHIRT, BLACK AND JUST TIGHT ENOUGH. CHECK OUT THAT BELLY!)

Sloan: About what Ed''s doing?
Tom: Yeah.
Sloan: That this may mean the end of your species.

SLOAN SITS ON THE EDGE OF HER DESK AND LOOKS UP AT HIM.

Sloan: (softly) Isn''t that where we''ve been heading all along?
Tom: Yeah, but until now it never seemed possible.
Sloan: But you''ve helped us. You''ve made choices.
Tom: And I''m not going back on those.

TOM TURNS FROM THE WINDOW AND STEPS TOWARDS HER.

Tom: But it''s only going to get harder from here on in. You think the members of my species are gonna line up like they're gettin' a flu shot?
Sloan: No.
Tom: They''re gonna have to be rounded up. Forcibly altered. How do you think that''s gonna go?
Sloan: I don''t know. But from where I stand, it''s better them, than us.

TOM LOOKS DOWN ON HER, ARMS FOLDED ACROSS HIS CHEST. (WOW.) ED ENTERS AND SENSES THE TENSION. (AND HE''S NOT EVEN ONE-POINT-SIX!)

Ed: Uh, sorry.
Sloan: It''s ok. What''s up?
Ed: Just did the first blood test on the monkey. It''s working. He''s down to one-point-three differential.

ED BACKS OUT OF THE OFFICE. TOM LOOKS OVER AT SLOAN AND SHE LOOKS UP AT HIM.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. A LIMO DRIVES DOWN A WET CITY STREET. IT''S RAINING. (EL NINO AGAIN!!) ATTWOOD SITS IN THE BACK, LAPTOP COMPUTER IN FRONT OF HIM. LIMO LADY SITS ACROSS FROM HIM.

Attwood: Further tests confirm my flash report. He''s definitely one-six.
Limo Lady: As I suspected.
Attwood: And he wants peace? Is he like Tom, does he expect to work for us?
Limo Lady: No, it''s bigger than that. He claims to work for a faction of the species which is willing to negotiate for coexistence.
Attwood: Negotiate? I didn''t know that word was in your vocabulary.
Limo Lady: Well there''s a lot you don''t know about me, Walter.
Attwood: Why bring me into this?
Limo Lady: I need you. Working at the lab gives you good cover and gives us plausible deniability. I need to keep a certain distance from this and you''re the only way I can do that.
Attwood: I''m not sure I''m comfortable with this.
Limo Lady: Yeah, I understand that. If there was another way, believe me, I''d try it. You have to understand we're both at great risk here.
Attwood: I''d feel more comfortable if we could inform Sloan, Tom, Ed.
Limo Lady: (insistently) Sorry Walter, you can''t do that. I''m putting a lot of trust in you.
Attwood: (resigned) Okay.

NEXT SCENE

DAYTIME. AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. SLOAN SITS ON TOM''S BED/OVERSIZED CHAIR TALKING ON THE PHONE.

Sloan: Oh, that''s great news, Ed...Yeah...

A WIDE SMILE SPREADS ACROSS SLOAN''S FACE.

Sloan: I''ll call you later.

SHE HANGS UP AND LOOKS OVER AT TOM, SITTING ON A CHAIR IN THE DINING AREA, LOOKING AT THE FLOOR. HER SMILE FADES.

Sloan: The monkey is still reverting.

TOM LOOKS UP AT HER. SLOAN WALKS OVER AND SITS AT THE TABLE.

Sloan: Tom. You''re gonna have to face the reality of what's happening.
Tom: I am. And the reality is, if this therapy works we''re talking about social upheaval. Maybe even war.
Sloan: We''re headed in that direction anyway. What Ed is doing....it''s the lesser of two evils.
Tom: Maybe. But only if it actually works.
Sloan: Well that''s what we''re finding out right now.
Tom: On a monkey!
Sloan: (sitting back) Wait a minute--
Tom: We need to test it...
Sloan: Tom--
Tom: ...On me.
Sloan: No. Way. It''s too risky!
Tom: The risk is it might not work, and instead of converting my species, we could kill them. And I'm not willing to go down that road unless I take the first step myself.

(WOW, NICE EYE SHOTS HERE!)

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. IN ATTWOOD''S OFFICE. RAY STANDS NEAR A FILING CABINET, FACING ATTWOOD, WHO IS SEATED AT HIS DESK.

Ray: Coexistence? Look I just don''t buy it.
Attwood: Personally, or is it hard to believe that my superiors would entertain the concept?
Ray: Both! On the street it never paid off trying to get gangbangers to sit down and talk peace. All it did was give each of them a better look at their targets!

RAY SITS IN A CHAIR.

Attwood: That''s why I want you as backup.
Ray: I thought you had people for that.
Attwood: I do. But I prefer you.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. A CAR PULLS INTO A DESERTED PARK. CRICKETS CHIRP. THE DOMINANT FROM BEFORE STEPS FORWARD AND ATTWOOD AND RAY GET OUT OF THE CAR.

Dominant: (gesturing to Ray) Who''s he?
Attwood: My associate.
Dominant: Has he been cleared?
Attwood: I''ve cleared him.
Dominant: Alright. So where do we start?
Attwood: First I need the assurance, that you represent enough of your species to make this conversation worthwhile.
Dominant: There are tens of thousands who believe what I believe.
Ray: Which is?
Dominant: Which is that our attempts to eradicate your species are doomed to failure. That our innate aggression will undoubtedly lead to our own downfall.
Attwood: You understand, we''ll need to meet with someone with greater authority.
Dominant: Yes, of course. And we have conditions of our own.
Attwood: What is it you want?
Dominant: Safety for all of us. We won''t let history repeat itself, Doctor.
Attwood: What do you mean?
Dominant: The human race has such a long history of inflicting atrocities on those that they consider to be different.
Ray: Wait a minute, I''ve seen what you're capable of.
Dominant: (looking at Ray) That''s not the group I represent, alright? We consider those actions to be just as abhorrent as you do.
Attwood: So what is it you want?
Dominant; Recognition from the United Nations. We''re everywhere Doctor, in every country. We are citizens of the world, Dr. Attwood, and as such, we demand the same rights as all humans. Now is that really so much to ask?

RAY LOOKS OVER AT ATTWOOD

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. AT THE BIO LAB. ED SITS IN A CHAIR IN SLOAN''S OFFICE. HE FLIPS CLOSED A FILE, STANDS, AND LOOKS OVER AT TOM, STANDING NEAR THE DOORWAY.

Ed: I''m sorry, Tom. I just don''t think it''s a good idea for me to subject you to this therapy.
Tom: Well it''s working on the monkey, isn''t it?
Ed: Yeah, so far. But the experiment's not complete. I mean I''m encouraged, but we haven''t even come close to proving the treatment''s effectiveness.

ED BUSTLES OUT OF THE OFFICE.

Sloan: Yeah. Or it''s safety.

TOM LEAVES THE OFFICE AND FOLLOWS ED. SLOAN HURRIES AFTER TOM.

Sloan: Tom, there''s a huge differential between your DNA and that of the monkey!

ED STANDS NEXT TO MACHINE, WORKING ON SOMETHING. TOM STANDS NEARBY IN THE LAB AREA; SLOAN WALKS UP TO JOIN HIM.

Tom: Look, you''ve been excited about Ed''s research for weeks.
Sloan: Right! But that was before you started talking about rolling up your sleeve!

TOM SIGHS.

Tom: Ed, how long would it take you to run trials before you were ready to test it on me?

ED LOOKS UP FROM A CLIPBOARD.

Ed: A year. Pushing, I could do it in six months.
Tom: And the ramifications, if the therapy works as you hope?
Ed: Astronomical.

ED HURRIES OVER TO A COMPUTER. (HEY HE IS WORKING HERE, EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE IS!)

Ed: I mean the number of lives we could save by diffusing your species'' hostility would be incalculable.

TOM LOOKS AT SLOAN.

Tom: How can we wait?

TOM LOOKS AT ED.

Tom: How can we ignore this opportunity?

ED LOOKS OVER AT SLOAN, THEN STANDS UP.

Sloan: Ed.
Ed: He''s right, Sloan.

ED STARTS FIXING A SYRINGE. TOM STEPS FORWARD. SLOAN STARES AT TOM, MAJORLY WORRIED. TOM SITS DOWN IN A CHAIR NEAR THE COUNTER.

Ed: Can you pull up your sleeve?

(WOW, THAT SHIRT IS REALLY NICE.)
TOM DOES SO. ED LEANS OVER AND INJECTS TOM. SLOAN WATCHES, THEN TURNS AND RUNS OUT OF THE ROOM. TOM LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER AT THE TEST MONKEY IN HIS CAGE.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. A LIMO TRAVELS DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET. LIMO LADY IS IN THE CAR, TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE.

Limo Lady: I can't over-emphasize the importance of this...I understand it may be difficult but it''s time to pull strings. All of them. You have twenty-four hours....The United Nations never closes, do it! I have a man in a highly exposed situation who needs this. We all need this.

SHE HANGS UP WITH A HUFF.

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. IN SLOAN''S OFFICE. TOM SITS IN A CHAIR NEAR THE INTERIOR WINDOWS WHILE SLOAN SITS AT HER DESK, EATING CHINESE FOOD. SHE PICKS UP A CARTON AND OFFERS IT TO TOM. HE LOOKS UP.

Tom: (putting a halting hand up and shaking his head) No.
Sloan: You''re nervous, aren''t you?
Tom: Yeah, a little.
Sloan: So am I.

HE NODS A LITTLE AND GIVES A SLIGHT SMILE.

Sloan: Tom, I really don''t think--
Tom: Sloan, please. I had to do this. It''ll be alright.
Sloan: I hope so. You realize that if Ed''s gene therapy works, your life is gonna change.
Tom: (with a humorous smile) Any more than it''s already changed?
Sloan: You''ll be human. Who knows what that will mean?

TOM GIVES A SMALL LAUGH.

Sloan: Maybe you''ll finally understand the feelings you''ve had. And the emotions you were trained not to have.
Tom: Maybe.
Sloan: Whatever happens, I''ll always feel the same way about you.

TOM SUBTLY NODS HIS HEAD AGAIN AS ED APPEARS IN THE WINDOW. HE HAS A WORRIED LOOK ON HIS FACE. SLOAN LOOKS UP. ED WALKS TO THE DOOR AND STEPS IN.

Sloan: What''s the matter?

ED LOOKS AT HER, THEN QUICKLY DOWN AT TOM.

Ed: How you feeling?

TOM GLANCES AT SLOAN, THEN BACK TO ED.

Tom: Fine, why?
Sloan: What''s wrong?
Ed: The monkey. The one I gave the shot to, it''s dead.

TOM LOOKS DOWN, TAKING THIS IN, THEN UP AT SLOAN.

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. IN THE LAB AREA. SLOAN STANDS OVER A SLAB. THE DEAD MONKEY LAYS ON TOP OF IT, BEING EXAMINED BY A SEATED ED. TOM STANDS BY ONE OF THE COUNTERS, ARMS FOLDED, LOOKING DOWN AT THE MONKEY.

Sloan: What happened?
Ed: I noticed he was running a slight fever earlier this afternoon, otherwise he seemed fine.
Sloan: (disbelievingly) A slight fever and a few hours later he''s dead?
Ed: I''ll know more, once I get a look inside.
Tom: (quietly) Let''s do it.

ED LOOKS OVER AT TOM, THEN BACK AT SLOAN. HE BEGINS TO SLICE OPEN THE MONKEY.

Ed: Oh, my God.
Sloan: What?
Ed: His body cavity''s filled with blood. He must''ve been bleeding internally for hours.
Sloan: What would cause that?
Ed: I don''t know. Look, this is gonna take some time to figure out.
Sloan: We don''t have time!
Tom: It doesn''t make any difference.

SLOAN BLANCHES AT THIS STATEMENT.

Sloan: (to Ed) What do we do?

TOM STEPS OVER TO SLOAN AND PUTS HIS HAND ON HER SHOULDER AS HE WALKS PAST.

Tom: We wait.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. A DESERTED PARK AREA. LIMO LADY''S CAR IS PARKED, LIGHTS OFF. LIMO LADY AND ATTWOOD STAND IN THE HEADLIGHTS OF ATTWOOD''S VEHICLE. THEY WALK TOWARDS THE LIMO. ATTWOOD CARRIES A LARGE ENVELOPE.

Limo Lady: In here''s everything our contact with the new species requested.
Attwood: You cut through all that U.N. red tape in twenty-four hours?
Limo Lady: Mm-hmm. Less, actually. You sound surprised.
Attwood: Well...
Limo Lady: Don''t forget who we work for, Walker.

LIMO LADY STOPS IN FRONT OF HER CAR.

Limo Lady: Everyone takes my call.

ATTWOOD TURNS TO GO.

Limo Lady: Walter.

HE STOPS AND LOOKS BACK AT HER.

Limo Lady: Thank you.

WALTER GIVES A LITTLE NOD AND CONTINUES OVER TO HIS CAR. LIMO LADY GETS INTO HERS.

NEXT SCENE

AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. SLOAN ENTERS, AND TOM FOLLOWS HER IN. HE HAS HIS NICE MID-LENGTH GREY OVERCOAT PULLED TIGHT AROUND HIM. SLOAN RESETS HER ALARM AND CLOSES THE DOOR. TOM WALKS SLOWLY INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

Sloan: Are you okay?
Tom: Yeah.

HE PLOPS DOWN IN ONE OF SLOAN''S COMFY CHAIRS. SLOAN HURRIES OVER TO HIM.

Sloan: You don''t look like you''re feeling very well.
Tom: (looking up at Sloan with a smile) Keep telling me that and it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Sloan: I''m sorry, but--
Tom: (testily) I''m just tired.

SLOAN FEELS HIS FOREHEAD AND NECK. TOM PLACES A HAND ON HER WRIST AND GRIMACES AS SHE PAWS HIM.

Sloan: You''re burning up. How long have you been feeling like this?

TOM RAISES HIS EYEBROWS AND SHRUGS.

Tom: Coupla hours.

SLOAN STANDS AND TURNS.

Sloan: I''m calling Ed!

TOM GRABS HER HAND, HALTING HER.

Tom: No. What''s he gonna do?

HE GIVES HER HAND A TUG.

Tom: I''ll be alright.

SLOAN LOOKS DOWN ON HIM, WORRIED. HE DROPS HIS HAND.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. AT THE DESERTED PARK. RAY PULLS UP IN HIS DODGE AND PARKS NEXT TO ATTWOOD, DRIVER DOOR TO DRIVER DOOR. ATTWOOD LOWERS HIS WINDOW.

Attwood: You ready?
Ray: Yeah, I am. But you don''t look so sure.
Attwood: I''m not.
Ray: Well then what''re we doing out here?
Attwood: Taking a chance.
Ray: Is it worth it?
Attwood: Peace is always worth it. I''m just uneasy about the speed at which this all came about.
Ray: Then I should be in there with you.
Attwood: I can handle it myself. Keep at a safe distance so they can''t sense you. If there''s trouble, you come right in.

ATTWOOD STARTS HIS CAR AND DRIVES OFF.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. AT THE DESERTED PARK. A DURANGO PULLS UP NEXT TO ATTWOOD''S PARKED CAR. ATTWOOD GETS OUT, AS DOES THE DRIVER OF THE SUV. IT''S THE DOMINANT FROM BEFORE. HE WALKS AROUND TO ATTWOOD, STANDING BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES.

Dominant: It''s good to see you again, Dr. Attwood.
Attwood: It''s good to see you.
Dominant: I''m surprised that you''re back to me so soon.

THE DOMINANT HOLDS OUT HIS HAND. ATTWOOD SHAKES IT.

Attwood: You can take that as a sign of our sincere intentions.
Dominant: I do. Is this for me?

THE DOMINANT GESTURES TO THE ENVELOPE ATTWOOD HOLDS.

Attwood: (giving him the envelope) Yes. I think you''ll find that all of your demands have been met satisfactorily.
Dominant: (nodding as he looks at the contents) Looks that way.
Attwood: The next move is up to you.
Dominant: You want to meet with my superior.
Attwood: I want to meet with the man in charge.
Dominant: (softly) And who''ll be your representative?
Attwood: I will.

THE DOMINANT LOOKS UP AT ATTWOOD.

Attwood: Is that a problem?
Dominant: You''ll have to understand that we are expecting to move up the chain of command as well!
Attwood: And you have to be realistic. As much as I''d like to, I can''t pull the president or members of the cabinet into the middle of this. The story would leak and that would defeat our purpose.

THE MEN STARE AT EACH OTHER FOR A MOMENT.

Attwood: You can trust me, you know.
Dominant: I know that.

THE DOMINANT OFFERS HIS HAND AND THEY SHAKE AGAIN, THEN GET INTO THEIR VEHICLES.

NEXT SCENE

AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. TOM SLUMPS IN THE OVERSIZED CHAIR THAT DOUBLES AS HIS BED. HIS EYES ARE CLOSED AND A BLANKET COVERS HIM. HIS BREATHING IS LABORED. SLOAN WALKS DOWN FROM HER BEDROOM AREA AND OVER TO HIM. SHE BENDS DOWN AND FEELS HIS FOREHEAD, THEN QUICKLY TURNS AND ENTERS THE KITCHEN. SHE GOES TO THE FRIDGE AND RETRIEVES HER ICE CUBE TRAYS. PUTTING THE ICE INTO A DISHTOWEL, SHE WALKS BACK OVER TO TOM. SHE KNEELS ON THE CHAIR AND BENDS OVER TOM, APPLYING THE ICE. HE WAKES WITH A FEW GASPING BREATHS AND STRUGGLES TO OPEN HIS EYES, GLAZED WITH FEVER. SLOAN TOUCHES THE SIDE OF HIS FACE.

Sloan: (softly) Hi.
Tom: (confused and lethargic) Wher-where am I?

HE LOOKS AROUND DAZEDLY.

Sloan: You''re in my apartment. I need to get you to the hospital.
Tom: No, no hospitals.

HE GIVES HER A PLEADING LOOK. HIS SPEECH IS LABORED; HE MUST FORCE THE WORDS OUT.

Tom: I wanna-I wanna st-stay here...

HE STARTS CRYING.

Tom: Sloan....Sloan...

SLOAN LEANS CLOSER.

Sloan: Yes? What?

Tom: Thank you....for everything...
Sloan: Tom...
Tom: You trusted me, from the beginning, when you didn''t have to. I know it was h-hard.
Sloan: (tears in her eyes) It was worth it.
Tom: You protected me, you did....Never treated me like I was a monkey in a cage.
Sloan: That''s because I love you.
Tom: I love you....too. I-I do.

HE CLOSES HIS EYES WEARILY AND SLOAN SOBS AND RESTS HER HEAD AGAINST HIS.

Tom: (softly, losing consciousness) ....too...

(NO COMMENTS. JUST REWIND THAT.)

CUT TO LATER, IN SLOAN''S APARTMENT. TOM LIES IN THE BED, BENEATH THE COVERS, ASLEEP. SLOAN AND ED SIT ON THE BED ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM. ED FINISHES TAKING TOM''S VITAL SIGNS.

Sloan: His fever broke a couple of hours ago. He''s been asleep ever since.
Ed: I can''t believe he survived.

THEY GET UP AND WALK TO THE DINING ROOM TABLE. A LAPTOP SITS UPON IT. ED CARRIES THE SAMPLE OF BLOOD HE''S JUST TAKEN FROM TOM.

Sloan: Do you think he''s...
Tom: Well, he''s been through the fever, the roughest part, so, being cautiously optimistic, I''d say he''s...probably out of danger.
Sloan: (giving Ed a look) You wanna qualify that any more?
Ed: I know. I''m sorry Sloan, it''s my best guess.

ED STARTS WORKING ON THE COMPUTER. WE SEE THE DNA DIFFERENTIAL PROGRAM COME UP. THE RESULTS FLASH A DNA MATCH. ED STARES AT THE SCREEN.

Sloan: So?
Ed: (awed) It worked! His DNA matches the base sample.

THEY TURN TO LOOK AT TOM.

Sloan: (softly) He''s human.

WONDER SPREADS ACROSS THEIR FACES AS THEY CONTINUE TO STARE AT THE SLEEPING TOM. SLOAN LAUGHS IN JOY AND RELIEF.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. A WIDE ALLEY BETWEEN WAREHOUSES AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. ATTWOOD PULLS UP AND PARKS. HE GETS OUT OF HIS CAR (WHICH, STRANGELY ENOUGH, NOW HAS TOM''S LICENSE PLATE ON IT. I GUESS IT WAS STILL INTACT AFTER LYNCH-ALIKE BLEW IT UP. TOM DOESN''T NEED IT NOW, WHAT WITH NO CAR.) ANOTHER CAR APPROACHES FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND PARKS. THE DOMINANT FROM BEFORE GETS OUT AND WALKS TOWARDS ATTWOOD.

Dominant: Dr. Attwood.

THEY STOP.

Attwood: It occurs to me that I''ve never learned your name.
Dominant: Mark. Mark Ward.
Attwood: So.
Mark: So he''s here.
Attwood: I assume the majority of your species would not approve of what's about to take place here?
Mark: That''s an understatement.
Attwood: Have you thought about how to guarantee your own safety?
Mark: Yes, I have, and I realize that''s impossible. This is history, Doctor. My concerns, even yours, can''t stand in the way of that.
Attwood: Then let''s not waste any time.

MARK WARD TURNS TO LOOK BACK AT THE VEHICLE HE EMERGED FROM. A REAR DOOR OPENS, AND WE SEE A WELL-DRESSED MAN GET OUT. HE STARTS TO SLOWLY WALK TOWARD ATTWOOD AND MARK. MARK LOOKS DOWN, FLASHING ON AN IMAGE OF A SHADOWED MAN ON A ROOF. HE LOOKS BACK AT HIS LEADER.

Mark: Get down!

MARK DIVES FOR COVER AS HIS LEADER IS SHOT IN THE CHEST. ATTWOOD HURRIES FOR COVER BEHIND SOME CRATES AS GUNFIRE FILLS THE ALLEY. THE DOMINANT LEADER LAYS SPRAWLED IN FRONT OF HIS CAR. ATTWOOD MAKES IT TO HIS CAR, WHICH IS TAKING QUITE A LOT OF HITS FROM BULLETS. ONE FLATS OUT HIS FRONT TIRE. RAY SQUEALS TO A HALT BEHIND ATTWOOD''S USELESS VEHICLE.

Ray: (to Attwood) Get in!

ATTWOOD HURRIES INTO THE BACKSEAT AS RAY DRIVES OFF, HIS PRETTY RED DODGE BEING SPRAYED WITH BULLETS. GRACE IS GONNA BE TICKED!

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. AT THE DESERTED PARK. ATTWOOD TALKS ON HIS CELL PHONE, PACING.

Attwood: How the hell am I supposed to know what went wrong?! I was just trying to get out of there alive!
Limo Lady: (voiceover) I''m glad to hear that you''re safe but we have to stay calm.
Attwood: We are highly exposed here!

CUT TO LIMO LADY, IN THE BACKSEAT OF HER LIMO.

Limo Lady: Of course. Just tell me where you are.
Attwood: We are located somewhe--just east of the intersection of highway--

RAY COMES UP BEHIND ATTWOOD AND TAKES THE PHONE FROM HIM. HE TURNS IT OFF.

Attwood: (turning) What the hell are you doing?
Ray: Watching your back, like you told me to.
Attwood: (flabbergasted) What are you talking about?
Ray: You have no idea who may be listening in on your conversation.
Attwood: Ray, we need some help here!
Ray: We need to find out who was shooting at us. And right now I''m not sure whether it was them, or us!

ATTWOOD''S PHONE RINGS. HE GIVES RAY A LOOK, THEN TURNS AWAY AND ANSWERS IT.

Attwood: Yes.

CUT TO LIMO LADY, IN HER CAR.

Limo Lady: We got cut off.
Attwood: (voiceover) The reception''s terrible up here.
Limo Lady: Listen to me, Walter. We need to bring you in. Just tell me where you are.

CUT BACK TO ATTWOOD. HE LOOKS AT RAY.

Limo Lady: (voiceover) Walter, where are you?
Attwood: I''ll call you later.

HE HANGS UP THE PHONE.
CUT TO LIMO LADY, LOOKING DOWN AT HER PHONE IN DISBELIEF.

NEXT SCENE

DAYTIME. AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. SUNSHINE BRIGHTENS SLOAN''S BEDROOM AS TOM SLEEPS BENEATH THE COVERS. TOM OPENS HIS EYES AND BOLTS UPRIGHT IN THE BED. HE LOOKS AROUND A BIT, BREATHING HARD. SLOAN WALKS TOWARDS HIM AND SITS AT THE FOOT OF THE BED.

Tom: Is it morning?

SLOAN NODS, A SMALL SMILE LIFTING THE CORNERS OF HER MOUTH.

Tom: Am I....?
Sloan: Be careful what you wish for.

SLOAN SMILES AT HIM, AND HE LOOKS AT HER IN AMAZEMENT.

Sloan: How does it feel?
Tom: I don''t know. No different, I don''t think.
Sloan: Then get dressed.

HE GIVES HER A ''REALLY?'' LOOK AND SHE CLIMBS OFF THE BED, GIVING HIM A PLAYFUL PAT ON THE LEGS . SLOAN WALKS INTO THE BATHROOM AND TOM LOOKS AROUND THE APARTMENT.
CUT TO TOM AND SLOAN, LEAVING THE ENTRANCE TO HER APARTMENT BUILDING. TOM''S GOT HIS BLACK PANTS AND DIVINE BLACK SHIRT ON, AS WELL AS THE HEAVY GREY SHIRT/JACKET FROM BEFORE. THE CUFFS ARE STILL UNBUTTONED. HE STEPS DOWN ONTO THE SIDEWALK SLOWLY, LOOKING UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK. THEY START TO WALK UP THE STREET.

Sloan: How you feeling, are you tired?
Tom: Actually, no. I feel pretty good.

(GOTTA LOVE HOW HE SAYS THAT LINE!)
TOM, WHO HAD WALKED A FEW STEPS AHEAD OF SLOAN, TURNS AND LOOKS BACK AT HER.

Sloan: How''s it feel being human?

HE LOOKS AROUND, THEN CLOSES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM.

Tom: You know, I think I like it!

HE GRABS HER ARM PLAYFULLY, GIVING A CHUCKLE AS HE WALKS PAST HER. HE CONTINUES ON TO THE OUTDOOR STAND AT THE FLORIST SHOP. SLOAN FOLLOWS BEHIND, WATCHING HIM WITH A SMILE.

Tom: (gesturing) The colors, you know...

HE BENDS DOWN AND SMELLS SOME MUMS IN A POT. HE TURNS BACK TO LOOK AT SLOAN.

Tom: ...oh, and the smells.

DISTRACTED, HE BUMPS INTO A PASSERBY.

Tom: (with a broad smile) Sorry.

THE WOMAN SHRUGS OFF HIS APOLOGY AND SMILES. TOM AND SLOAN CONTINUE WALKING.

Tom: The sounds...for the first time, they''re not there for survival, they''re there for um...for life!
Sloan: Are you worried?
Tom: (wondrous) About what?
Sloan: Losing your survival instincts. Letting your guard down.

HE LOOKS AROUND A BIT.

Tom: It''s worth it, you know....Uh, things used to be so sharper, they were, they were almost painful. Uh, so much of my mental energy was misdirected. Now, I would willingly lose all those instincts for life to be so...heh...so vivid.

HE LOOKS ACROSS THE STREET THEN BACK AT SLOAN.

Tom: (with a swipe of his arm) Hey, come on! Come on!

SLOAN SMILES AT HIM AS HE RACES OFF, THEN FOLLOWS HIM WITH A CHUCKLE. (DAMN, HE''S CUTE!)

NEXT SCENE

IN AN ALLEY BETWEEN TALL BUILDINGS. RAY CROUCHES BESIDE HIS CAR, DIGGING OUT BULLETS. HE STANDS, LOOKING AT THEM, THEN SHAKES HIS HEAD. HE LOOKS UP AT ATTWOOD, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR.

Ray: You still thinking about which team pulled the trigger on us?
Attwood: Yes.

ATTWOOD RAISES HIS CELL PHONE TO HIS EAR.

Ray: Hunh. Take a look at these. I dug these out of the car.

HE OFFERS THE BULLETS FOR ATTWOOD TO SEE.

Ray: These are a combination of hollow point--
Attwood: And armor piercing.

ATTWOOD HANGS UP.

Attwood: You ever see bullets like this before?
Ray: Oh,yeah. In the service. Now this is government issue all the way. She set you up.
Attwood: Why?

ATTWOOD''S PHONE RINGS. HE ANSWERS IT WITH A SIGH.

Attwood: Yes...I agree.

HE HANGS UP AGAIN.

Ray: Your boss again?
Attwood: No, our friend from the meeting.
Ray: He''s still alive?
Attwood: He wants to meet with us.

NEXT SCENE

AT A TOWN SQUARE. TOM AND SLOAN WALK DOWN ONE OF THE PATHS. THEY''VE JUST FINISHED A SNACK. SLOAN FIDGETS WITH SOME NAPKINS AND TOM IS CHEWING. (HEEHEE)

Sloan: Okay, I''ve asked you a ton of questions today, but I've got one more for you.

HE LOOKS AT HER. THEY WALK TO A BENCH AND STOP. SLOAN FACES TOM.

Sloan: What about me?
Tom: What do you mean?

THEY SIT ON THE BENCH.

Sloan: Do you feel any differently toward me?
Tom: (brow furrowing in thought) Yes.

HE LOOKS AT HER AND GIVES HER THE CUTEST LITTLE GRIN.

Sloan: (laughing and looking down) O-kay. Uh, ok, come on, is that a good yes or a bad yes?
Tom: I thought you said this was gonna be your last question.

HE GIVES HER A WICKED SMILE, THEN NOISE FROM ACROSS THE STREET CAPTURES HIS ATTENTION. HE SEES A WEDDING PARTY EMERGING FROM A CHURCH, THE BRIDE AND GROOM ALL SMILES. HE STARES AT THE SCENE (AND LOOKS REALLY GOOD DOING IT! HEL-LO SCREEN CAPTURE!), THEN LOOKS DOWN. HE TURNS BACK TO SLOAN.

Tom: I um, never understood the feelings I had about you. When they were all wrapped up in confusion of who I was, and who I was supposed to be.

HE LOOKS AT HER AND GRABS HER HAND.

Tom: I understand ''em now.

HE TUGS AT HER HAND WITH EACH WORD, ELICITING A SMILE AND LAUGH FROM SLOAN. WE CAN TELL HE HAS A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE. (SHAME WE CAN''T REALLY SEE IT, AS WE''RE LOOKING AT SLOAN''S REACTION, BUT, AH WELL.) HE LAUGHS.

Tom: C''mere.

(DAMN HE''S SMOOTH.)
HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND SLOAN AND DRAWS HER CLOSER, HUGGING HER TO HIM. (COULDN''T YA JUST DIE!)

NEXT SCENE

A REALLY NASTY-LOOKING DESERTED PART OF TOWN. ATTWOOD, RAY AND MARK WARD STAND BENEATH A BRIDGE OVERPASS.

Mark: Look, I wish I could say what happened came as a surprise, but I was afraid of something like this all along.
Attwood: I guess I was naive. It never crossed my mind that my own people would betray me. Betray us. I''m sorry.
Mark: Look, I know you personally had nothing to do with what happened.
Ray: Where do we go from here?
Mark: We''re on the run, Detective. You see, I can't go back.
Attwood: Why not?
Mark: For the same reasons you can't. We''re marked men, Dr. Attwood. What happened today and what will happen tomorrow will be hung around our necks. My people will use this to convince any doubters that war is inevitable. Now, can you really say otherwise about those you work for?
Attwood: I don''t know. But I''m going to find out.

ATTWOOD WALKS TO HIS CAR AND THEY ALL DEPART.

NEXT SCENE

AT A PARK. TOM AND SLOAN WALK DOWN A SIDEWALK AS PEOPLE WALK, BIKE, ROLLERBLADE PAST. SLOAN HAS HER ARM LINKED THROUGH TOM''S AS THEY DESCEND SOME STEPS.

Sloan: I was thinking, we talked before about getting out of town. Maybe this would be a good time.

HE CONSIDERS HER SUGGESTION AS HE LOOKS OVER AT A SMALL BOY, GIGGLING AS HIS MOM TICKLES HIM. THEY DESCEND MORE STEPS.

Sloan: We both could use a break.

TOM HALTS ON THE LAST STEP, REELING, HAND TO THE BACK OF HIS NECK.

Sloan: What''s the matter?
Tom: I don''t know.
Sloan: Tom...It''s gonna be okay--
Tom: No, no...

HE SINKS TO HIS KNEES AS SLOAN LEANS OVER HIM.

Sloan: Tom...

SHE KNEELS BEFORE HIM.

Sloan: What is it?

TOM LOOKS AROUND, EYES WIDE. HE SEES A YOUNG COUPLE IN A GAZEBO, HAVE A NASTY ARGUMENT.

Sloan: (voice muffled and far-away) What''s the matter? Just tell me please, Tom.

TOM SEES THE IMAGE OF THE LAUGHING BOY AGAIN.

Sloan: Tom...Tom...

IMAGES FLASH AT TOM OVER AND OVER AS HE LOOKS AROUND WILD-EYED. THE ARGUING COUPLE, THE LAUGHING BOY, THE ROLLERBLADING TEENS, SLOAN, SMILING DOWN AT HIM IN THE TOWN SQUARE.

NEXT SCENE

NIGHTTIME. AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. SLOAN FIXES SOME TEA IN THE KITCHEN. SHE CARRIES IT TO TOM, SEATED IN ONE OF HER COMFY CHAIRS. (HATE TO INTRUDE, BUT HE''S BEEN WEARING THE SAME OUTFIT SINCE THE SHOW BEGAN...AT LEAST 3 DAYS HAVE PASSED. SURE HOPE HE KEEPS SPARE GUTCHIES AT SLOAN''S!)

Sloan: Feeling any better?
Tom: Yeah, thanks.

SLOAN SITS IN THE CHAIR NEXT TO HIM AS HE SIPS THE TEA.

Sloan: What happened back there?
Tom: I don''t know. Feelings overwhelmed me.
Sloan: Your feelings about--
Tom: Not mine. It was what everyone else was experiencing. The couple, arguing, the ones that passed us.

HE SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SMILES WIDE. (SIGH.)

Tom: The boy and his mother.
Sloan: And me holding you.

TOM''S SMILE FADES AND HE LOOKS DOWN, GIVING A SMALL NOD.

Tom: The power of what they were feeling...

HE LOOKS UP DIRECTLY INTO HER EYES. (WHOA NELLY)

Tom: ...of what you were feeling, was unimaginable to me until today.

A BUZZ SOUNDS AND SLOAN TURNS TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. SHE GETS UP AND WALKS TO THE MONITOR, DISARMING IT, THEN OPENS THE DOOR.

Sloan: That''s Ed. I called him after what happened.

TOM SETS THE CUP DOWN AND STANDS.

Tom: I want this experiment to run its course.

SLOAN TURNS AND LOOKS AT TOM. HE STARES BACK AT HER. SLOAN WALKS OVER TO HIM.

Sloan: We have to tell him.

ED WALKS IN AND REMOVES HIS COAT.

Ed: Hey, how you feeling?
Tom: I feel fine.
Ed: Alright, well, we gotta check your blood again. Every twelve hours. You know the drill.
Tom: Sure.

TOM LOOKS AT SLOAN AS HE PULLS UP HIS SLEEVE.

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. LIMO LADY WALKS DOWN A DIM HALLWAY WITH HER CELL PHONE IN HAND. SHE TUCKS IT INTO A POCKET AND TURNS A CORNER. WE SEE ATTWOOD PUSHING THROUGH THE OUTER GLASS DOORS. HE STOPS IN FRONT OF HER .

Attwood: Thank you for coming.
Limo Lady: I was glad you called.
Attwood: I''m sure you were.

THEY WALK INTO THE LAB.

Limo Lady: You realize you''re in danger here.
Attwood: Yes I do.
Limo Lady: My superiors are disappointed about what happened last night.
Attwood: Really?

ATTWOOD TURNS AND FACES LIMO LADY.

Attwood: Seems to me like everything went according to plan.
Limo Lady: I don''t understand.
Attwood: I know who those shots were aimed at, and I know who pulled the trigger.
Limo Lady: Don't tell me I underestimated you.
Attwood: Why''d it have to be this way?
Limo Lady: We''re at war. You have to understand on a certain level, you''re expendable. So am I. Our lives can''t stand in the way of the accomplishment of the greater plan.
Attwood: And that plan is to bring about a war between Homo sapiens and Homo dominant.
Limo Lady: That surprises you? That has always been the plan. What happened last night will enflame hatred on both sides.
Attwood: Whereas a bridge between the species would encourage reconciliation.
Limo Lady: Which would ultimately end in disaster, for us. Anyone who thinks we can coexist has not studied the evolution of man.
Attwood: Well, I have. And maybe it's not that simple.

HE STEPS AWAY FROM HER.

Limo Lady: It is for me.
Attwood: I''m sure the press would be quite interested in our government''s position on this.
Limo Lady: They'd be fascinated. Unfortunately, they''ll never know.

LIMO LADY GETS HER CELL PHONE OUT AND TURNS IT ON, DIALING. SHE PUTS THE PHONE TO HER EAR WITH A SMUG SMILE JUST AS RAY COMES UP BEHIND HER. ATTWOOD TAKES THE PHONE FORM HER AND SHUTS IT OFF. SHE LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER AT RAY WITH SHOCKED EXPRESSION AS HE DETAINS HER, GUN PRESSED INTO HER BACK.

Limo Lady: You''ll never get out of here.
Attwood: Yes we will. With your help.

ATTWOOD LEADS THEM OUT OF THE LAB AND DOWN THE HALL. RAY PUSHES LIMO LADY ALONG, THE GUN IN HER BACK, URGING HER FORWARD.

NEXT SCENE

AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. ED BUSILY TYPES ON A LAPTOP. TOM SITS IN A CHAIR IN THE LIVING ROOM, SLOAN PERCHED NEXT TO HIM ATOP THE ARM OF THE OVERSIZED CHAIR TOM SLEEPS IN.

Ed: This''ll just take a sec.

ED LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER AT THEM.

Ed: You sure everything''s alright?

THE BEEPING COMPUTER DRAWS ED''S ATTENTION BACK TO THE SCREEN. THE DIFFERENTIAL RESULTS FLASH 1.4%.

Ed: Trouble.

TOM TURNS AND LOOKS AT ED. SLOAN HURRIES OVER TO THE COMPUTER.

Ed: Tom''s reverting. He''s heading back to one-point-six.

SLOAN TURNS AND LOOKS AT TOM, STARING UP AT HER FROM HIS SEAT.

Sloan: I''m sorry.
Ed: (brightly) You know what, I can try a booster shot!
Sloan: No, Ed, that''s pushing it.

TOM HALTS HER WITH A HAND ON HER ARM.

Tom: Let him try. We have to do this.
Sloan: Is it really worth that much to you?
Tom: You should know the answer to that by now. You''re worth that much to me.

SLOAN STARES AT TOM, TEARS FILLING HER EYES.

Ed: I''m gonna head back to the lab.
Sloan: No, let me go. It''s better you stay and monitor Tom. In case something happens.

SLOAN GATHERS HER COAT AND PURSE AND HEADS TO THE DOOR.

Ed: Okay, everything''s back at the lab. The three vials. They''re all lined up, you can''t miss ''em.
Sloan: Right. Take care of him.

SLOAN LEAVES WITH ONE FINAL LOOK AT TOM. ED LOOKS BACK AT TOM, THEN STARTS TYPING AGAIN ON THE COMPUTER.

NEXT SCENE

WE SEE RAY''S CAR DRIVE DOWN A DARK WOODED ROAD. THE CAR HALTS.

Limo Lady: Why are we stopping?
Attwood: This is where you get out.

RAY GETS OUT AND OPENS THE DOOR. LIMO LADY GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND ATTWOOD GETS OUT AFTER HER.

Limo Lady: (indignant) You have no idea what you''re doing, Walter.
Attwood: Yes, I do. I''m trying to prevent your vision from becoming a reality. And this may help.

HE PULLS HER CELL PHONE OUT OF HIS POCKET. SHE STARES DOWN AT IT.

Limo Lady: What do you want with that?
Attwood: I want to know who you called, when you called them, it''s all in here. I''m sure the press will love following this trail.
Limo Lady: The press?! They won''t listen to you. They take their orders from the same people I do.
Attwood: (with a smug smile) Enjoy the walk.

RAY AND ATTWOOD GET BACK INTO THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, LEAVING LIMO LADY HARUMPHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

NEXT SCENE

AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN WALKS THROUGH THE OUTER DOORS TO THE LAB. SHE WALKS DOWN THE HALL AND PUSHES ON THE LAB DOORS. THEY DON''T BUDGE. SHE LOOKS THROUGH THE WINDOW IN THE DOOR AND SEES THE LAB, EMPTY. SHE PUSHES AGAIN, THEN TOUCHES AN ENTRY KEYPAD. A MAN WALKS UP BEHIND HER.

Man: What are you doing here?

SLOAN TURNS, STARTLED. SHE SEES A SECURITY GUARD BEFORE HER.

Sloan: I work here. Dr. Attwood must''ve put new locks on the door and forgot to give me the code. Can you let me in?
Guard: I''ll have to ask you to leave.
Sloan: I have clearance. Here''s my security card.

SHE SHOWS HIM HER I.D. BADGE.

Guard: I''ll take that.

HE DOES.

Sloan: Call Dr. Attwood. He runs the place.
Guard: Not anymore.

ANOTHER GUARD COMES DOWN THE HALL AND THE FIRST USHERS SLOAN AWAY FROM THE DOOR.

Sloan: There''s something in there that I urgently need!
Guard: I''m sorry. Let''s go.

THEY WALK HER THROUGH THE OUTER DOORS AS SLOAN STARES BACK AT THE LAB.

NEXT SCENE

AT SLOAN''S APARTMENT. TOM SITS ON THE BED AS ED PACKS UP HIS MEDICAL BAG ON THE CENTER ISLAND. TOM STANDS AND WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

Tom: Any bulletins?
Ed: (shaking his head) All your vitals are strong.

ED SITS ON THE STOOL NEXT TO THE ISLAND.

Tom: And getting stronger, I imagine.

TOM WALKS TO A CHAIR AND SITS DOWN WITH A SIGH.

Ed: Look, Tom, I''m sorry this didn''t work out.
Tom: It''s not your fault; you didn''t even wanna give me the shot.
Ed: I know but, I hoped it would take, we all have a lot riding on this.
Tom: Obviously you''re close. Don''t let this setback stop you. You''ll figure it out.
Ed: Do you think so?
Tom: Yeah, I do. And I''ll be ready to try it again when you''re ready.

SUDDENLY MEN WITH GUNS BURST THROUGH SLOAN''S APARTMENT DOOR. FOUR MEN RUSH OVER AND SUBDUE TOM WITH A STRANGLEHOLD, WHILE ONE RACES UP TO ED AND INJECTS HIM WITH SOMETHING. ED FALLS TO THE FLOOR, EYES STARING AT THE CEILING. THE MAN WITH THE INJECTOR HUSTLES OVER TO TOM, INJECTING HIM AS WELL. TWO MEN DRAG THE NOW-DAZED TOM OUT OF THE APARTMENT AND THE REST FOLLOW BEHIND, LEAVING ED LYING ON THE FLOOR.
THE MEN DRAG TOM OUT OF THE ENTRANCE TO SLOAN''S APARTMENT BUILDING AND OVER TO A WAITING VAN. THEY''VE ALSO CONFISCATED ED''S EQUIPMENT.
SLOAN PULLS UP IN FRONT OF HER APARTMENT JUST AS TOM IS DRAGGED ACROSS THE SIDEWALK. SHE GETS OUT OF HER CAR QUICKLY, CONFUSED AND FRIGHTENED. TOM, RESISTING BEING SHOVED INTO THE VAN, LOOKS BACK AT SLOAN, WHO RUSHES FORWARD. THE MEN MANAGE TO PUSH TOM INTO THE VAN, THEN THE VAN SPEEDS AWAY. SLOAN SHOUTS TOM''S NAME AS SHE RUNS AFTER IT. A CAR CUTS HER OFF, NEARLY HITTING HER, AND HALTS HER PURSUIT. SHE STARES AFTER THE VAN, STRICKEN.

CUT TO A SHOT OF THE LIMO LADY, SITTING IN THE BACK OF A CAR, GLARING.

CUT TO A SHOT OF A DARK ROOM. IT IS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR A CAGE. THE ONLY LIGHT IN THE ROOM SHINES DOWN INTO IT. THROUGH THE BARS WE SEE TOM, BARECHESTED. UNABLE TO STAND UP IN THE SMALL CAGE, HE''S HUNCHED OVER, HIS ELBOWS ON HIS THIGHS, HANDS CLASPED. A SHEEN OF SWEAT COVERS HIS FACE AND HIS HEAD DARTS THIS WAY AND THAT, LOOKING THROUGH THE BARS, CHECKING EVERY LITTLE SOUND. HE''S BREATHING HARD, AND HIS REACTIONS ARE LIKE A FRIGHTENED ANIMAL, A MONKEY IN A CAGE. THE CAMERA PANS BACK AND WE HEAR HIS BREATHING, LOUDER AND LOUDER. THE LIGHT SUDDENLY GOES OUT, AND THE SHOW ENDS.