Episode Thirteen

Text Only Version

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.

Part Two

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