Episode Nine
Collaboration
Part Three
NEXT SCENE
AT SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SHE ENTERS WEARING TOM’S JACKET, AND FLIPS ON THE LIGHT. TOM REMAINS IN THE HALLWAY. SLOAN DISARMS THE ALARM SYSTEM AND TAKES OFF HIS COAT. SHE NOTICES HIM STILL STANDING OUTSIDE.
Sloan: (smiling at him) Aren’t you gonna come in?
Tom: No.
Sloan: (crestfallen) Oh.
SHE WALKS TO THE DOOR AND HANDS HIM HIS JACKET.
Sloan: Thanks, I would’ve frozen without it.
Tom: Sure.
Sloan: Good night.
AFTER A MOMENT’S HESITATION, SLOAN QUICKLY STEPS FORWARD AND GIVES HIM A SMALL KISS ON THE LIPS, THEN STEPS BACK AND CLOSES THE DOOR ON HIS INQUIRING EXPRESSION.
CUT TO TOM, PUTTING HIS JACKET ON AS HE LEAVES THE ENTRANCEWAY TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. HE FLASHES ON AN IMAGE OF SHANE, STANDING IN FRONT OF A VEHICLE. TOM WALKS AROUND A BLACK SUV AND SEES SHANE.
Tom: Shane. What are you doing here?
Shane: I’ve got a name. I found out who created the nanite. How to transmit it, a place to test it, the people who run it, everything.
Tom: Who is it?
Shane: A doctor, named Copeland. Dr. Ian Copeland.
TOM STARES AT SHANE IN SHOCK.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. COPELAND SITS BEFORE ED’S COMPUTER, ERASING ALL THE FILES. ED WALKS IN CARRYING TAKEOUT FOOD. (HE MUST ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT FOOD. HE SURE DOES WALK IN WITH TAKEOUT A LOT.)
Ed: It’s gonna be a long night. Now that we can actually stop this thing all we have to do is--
HE TURNS AND LOOKS AT DR. COPELAND.
Ed: What the hell are you doing?
Copeland: (coldly) Sit down, Ed. I’ll be through in a minute.
ED RUSHES OVER TO THE COMPUTER. COPELAND MOVES TO THE SIDE AS ED SITS AND STARTS TYPING AT THE KEYBOARD.
Ed: Why would you do this?
Copeland: Mainly because I underestimated you. I didn’t think you could possible figure out how to stop what was happening.
Ed: (engrossed in the computer screen) I don’t understand.
Copeland: Well, it’s like you said, Ed. Five years ago things were different. My job then was to establish myself as a doctor, professor, mentor. Things have changed.
ED TURNS AND LOOKS UP AT DR. COPELAND.
Ed: So you're one of them. A killer.
Copeland: (with a laugh) No, my job is to help my species survive. We’re no different.
Ed: Like hell. See I am trying to save the lives that you are destroying.
Copeland: I’m confident that soon I’m going to have to try and save the lives that you destroy. Unless....
Ed: Unless what?
Copeland: You join me. Help me. You're a brilliant scientist, I could use your help.
Ed: No thanks.
Copeland: There’s so much I would love to show you.
Ed: (firmly) It won’t happen.
COPELAND GIVES A NOD OF ACCEPTANCE AND MOVES AROUND THE BACK OF ED, WHO HAS BECOME FOCUSED AGAIN ON RETRIEVING HIS LOST FILES. HE DOESN’T SEE COPELAND PULL OUT A SYRINGE.
Copeland: We’ll see.
COPELAND STICKS THE NEEDLE INTO ED’S NECK. ED RISES FROM THE CHAIR AND TRIES TO GET AWAY, BUMPING INTO THE COUNTER IN THE PROCESS. HE SLUMPS TO THE FLOOR.
NEXT SCENE
AT SLOAN’S APARTMENT. TOM BURSTS THROUGH HER DOOR.
Tom: Sloan!
SLOAN EMERGES FROM HER BEDROOM AREA AND WALKS TO TOM.
Sloan: (warmly) I’m glad you came back.
SHE NOTICES HIS INTENSE EXPRESSION.
Sloan: What’s the matter?
Tom: Where’s Ed?
Sloan: At the lab, I guess. Why?
Tom: I know who created the nanite. It’s Dr. Copeland.
Sloan: Oh my God.
SLOAN RUSHES OVER TO THE PHONE AND DIALS. TOM LOOKS AT HER, THEN TOWARDS THE DOORWAY. SHANE ENTERS. SLOAN TURNS.
Sloan: He’s--
SLOAN SEES SHANE.
Tom: Sloan, this is Shane.
SLOAN LOOKS AT THE BOY, THEN DIRECTS HER ATTENTION BACK TO THE PHONE.
Sloan: (her panic rising) He’s not answering. We-we’ve gotta get over to the lab.
SLOAN RACES ACROSS THE ROOM AND TOM TURNS TO SHANE.
Tom: You stay here until we get back. You don’t move, you don’t answer the door, nothing. You just stay here.
Sloan: Let’s go.
Tom: (to Sloan) I’m leaving him here.
Sloan: Fine.
THEY HURRY OUT THE DOOR.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING. TOM PULLS HIS CAR INTO A PARKING SPOT OUT FRONT AND HE AND SLOAN GET OUT.
Tom: I’ll try masking myself but Copeland may know I’m coming like Lewis did. Just in case, you might create a distraction so I can get to him.
Sloan: Don’t worry, I’ll distract the hell out of him.
CUT TO TOM AND SLOAN, WARILY ENTERING THE BIO LAB.
Sloan: Ed wouldn’t leave without locking the lab.
TOM MOTIONS HE IS GOING TO CHECK OUT THE OFFICES. SLOAN WALKS ACROSS THE LAB AREA. SHE STANDS IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER, ITS SCREEN SAVER A DARK BLUE PATTERN. SHE TOUCHES A KEY AND THE SCREEN COMES UP, ‘All files on this drive have been erased’. SLOAN LOOKS AROUND.
Sloan: Tom!
TOM LEAVES ED’S OFFICE AND WALKS OVER TO SLOAN, SEEING WHAT SHE’S STARING AT. THE TAKEOUT FOOD IS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR BY THE COUNTER ED FELL AGAINST.
CUT TO LATER AT THE BIO LAB. ATTWOOD APPROACHES TUGGING ON HIS GOATEE.
Attwood: I’ve contacted the local authorities. They’re aware that Ed’s missing. I’ve sent them photos of both Ed and Copeland.
Sloan: We should call Ray.
Attwood: It’s already done. He was on his way in anyway. He said he had a new lead about the juice boxes.
SUDDENLY RAY SPRINGS AROUND THE CORNER, OUT OF BREATH.
Ray: Look, I got here as fast as I could.
Attwood: I suppose now it’s a waiting game.
Ray: Well, maybe not. Now that we know Copeland is one of them, some things are starting to make sense. After the school principal talked with Tom, she made one phone call. Principal Cook called Copeland.
SLOAN TURNS TO TOM, SHOCKED.
Sloan: She is working for them.
TOM GIVES HER A SMALL NOD.
Sloan: Best tactic of all. Get us to turn on ourselves. She may know where to find Copeland. And maybe Ed.
SLOAN GRABS HER COAT AND HEADS FOR THE DOOR.
Sloan: I’m going back out there to talk with her.
Ray: No, we’re going back.
Sloan: (turning to Tom) You coming?
Tom: No. I think I should go back to your place.
Sloan: Right. I’ll see you later.
Tom: (nodding) Mmm.
SLOAN AND RAY LEAVE.
NEXT SCENE
TOM DRIVES DOWN A DARK STREET. HE TURNS TO SHANE, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
Tom: I never had this chance. Take it.
Shane: I don’t know where to go. Why can't I stay with you?
Tom: If you stay we’re both at risk.
Shane: The government will protect me.
Tom: Until it’s not in their best interest.
Shane: So why did I risk my life? Why was I trying to prove myself to you?
Tom: It’s not about me, it’s about you. I wanted you to see that you could live you own life on your own terms. And now you know you can be free.
Shane: Why don’t you leave? Go somewhere they can’t find you?
Tom: I have reasons to stay.
SHANE DUCKS HIS HEAD AND GIVES A SHY SMILE.
Shane: Dr. Parker.
TOM TURNS TO LOOK AT SHANE.
Tom: Yes.
Shane: You’re lucky to have someone.
Tom: I know you’ll find a life for yourself. You’re not going to be alone.
TOM PULLS UP TO A BUS STOP. HE PUTS THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNS TO SHANE.
Tom: Bus is gonna come through here in about fifteen minutes. You stay on it until the last stop.
HE OFFERS SHANE AN ENVELOPE.
Tom: There’s some money in here. Enough to keep you going for at least a month. When you’re near to running out you give me a call at the lab. By then I’ll come up with a safe place to stay.
Shane: Thanks. Hope to see you again some day.
Tom: I do too.
TOM THUMPS SHANE ON THE CHEST AND SHANE GETS OUT OF THE CAR. HE TURNS BACK AND LOOKS IN THE WINDOW AT TOM, THEN GIVES HIS A CASUAL WAVE. TOM DRIVES OFF.
NEXT SCENE
DAYTIME. AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL COOK WALKS ACROSS HER OFFICE TO HER DESK. RAY ENTERS AND COOK LOOKS UP. SLOAN IS BEHIND HIM. PRINCIPAL COOK STANDS AND FACES THEM.
Ray: Mrs. Cook, we’d like to talk to you.
Cook: What do you people want now? Why can’t you leave me alone?
Sloan: We know you're cooperating with Dr. Copeland.
Cook: I don’t understand.
Sloan: We know you called him. You’re cooperating with them, aren’t you?
Cook: (after a thoughtful pause) Yes, I am.
Sloan: (incredulous) Why? Why would you harm these children?
Cook: The world they know isn’t going to exist much longer. We’re not strong enough to fight this, you should know that better than anyone. You’ve seen what they can do, they’re stronger, ruthless. More determined to win. And they’re everywhere.
Sloan: So because you’re afraid, you’re willing to let all these children die?
Cook: (another thoughtful pause) Yes.
SLOAN’S EYES WIDEN IN SHOCK AT THE WOMAN’S COLD ANSWER.
Cook: But you don’t understand, you see they needed me. They needed someone to manage this test project. Report the results. Someone had to watch the children.
Sloan: To make sure none of the kids got sick. So that no one would find out.
Cook: They needed me.
Ray: Where do we find Copeland?
Cook: I don’t know.
Sloan: (insistently) He’s got a friend of mine.
Cook: I have no idea where he is. We spoke on the phone periodically.
RAY TURNS FORM THE WOMAN. SLOAN LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER AT HIM, THEN HUSTLES OVER TO HIS SIDE.
Sloan: We can’t let her go!
Ray: We have no choice. Attwood is having the grove and the orange juice company destroyed. Even if I were to arrest her, we have no evidence. I’m not sure there’s even a crime.
Sloan: What she did to these kids can’t be reversed. That’s a crime!
Ray: Sloan, there’s nothing we can do with her.
SLOAN PURPOSEFULLY STRIDES OVER TO PRINCIPAL COOK.
Sloan: One thing about collaborating with the enemy, Miss Cook. Sometimes, they turn on you.
COOK GIVES THEM A SMUG LOOK AND SLOAN AND RAY LEAVE. THEY WALK ACROSS THE PLAYGROUND. CHILDREN SQUEAL WITH DELIGHT AS THEY PLAY.
Sloan: What better person to have on your side than someone as trusted as a school principal.
Ray: The problem is, I’m starting to think they have even more trustworthy, even more important people on their team.
A LITTLE BLONDE GIRL RUNS UP TO SLOAN.
Girl: Hi! Remember me?
SLOAN TURNS AND SEES THE GIRL FROM THE HOSPITAL.
Sloan: I sure do! How’s your throat?
Girl: The doctor says I’m all better. Bye!
SLOAN’S SMILE DISAPPEARS AND SHE WALKS THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK FENCE.
Sloan: Let’s get out of here.
NEXT SCENE
NIGHTTIME. TOM DRIVES DOWN A DARK ROAD. HE PULLS UP NEXT TO LIMO LADY, IN THE BACKSEAT OF HER LIMOUSINE. SHE LOWERS HER WINDOW. (THESE ARE GOOD TOM SCENES! LOOKS GREAT.)
Limo Lady: I’ve been waiting to hear from you. How did our boy do?
Tom: I don’t know, he never came back.
Limo Lady: So discovering Copeland’s identity was pure coincidence?
Tom: Looks that way.
Limo Lady: Where is he?
Tom: I told you, I don’t know.
Limo Lady: He was a valuable resource. You shouldn’t have let him go.
Tom: Like I said, he disappeared.
Limo Lady: It’s alright. There’ll be others.
LIMO LADY GLARES AT TOM THEN RAISES HER WINDOW. SHE’S DRIVEN OFF. TOM SITS FOR A MOMENT, THINKING. (GREAT PROFILE. THAT’S NOT WHAT HE’S THINKING. THAT’S WHAT I’M THINKING. DON’T WANT YOU TO BE TOO CONFUSED...)
NEXT SCENE
AT SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SLOAN ENTERS AND TOM FOLLOWS HER IN. (MAJOR YOWZA! HE’S WEARING HIS BLACK OVERCOAT OVER A GREY V-NECK SWEATER AND WHITE T-SHIRT. BLACK PANTS AND BLACK SHOES.) THEY BOTH REMOVE THEIR COATS AND SLOAN SITS DOWN ON HER LOVESEAT. TOM WALKS OVER TO HER, CROUCHES BEFORE HER (!), AND EXTENDS HIS HAND TO HER. SHE PLACES HER OWN IN HIS.
Tom: If it makes you feel any better I don’t think Ed’s been killed. If that’s all Copeland wanted he would’ve left his body at the lab.
HE PLACES HIS OTHER HAND ON TOP OF HERS.
Sloan: I guess. If he’s alive, we-we can find him.
SHE LOOKS AT TOM FOR REASSURANCE, THEN TURNS AND LOOKS AT HER ANSWERING MACHINE ON THE TABLE NEXT TO HER. SHE PRESSES A BUTTON AS TOM STEEPLES HIS HANDS. A DIGITALIZED VOICE RESPONDS ‘No Messages’.
Sloan: (worry filling her voice) If Ed’s alive he’ll contact me, I know he will.
TOM SITS NEXT TO SLOAN ON THE LOVESEAT. HE PUTS HIS HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS.
Tom: C’mere.
SHE TURNS TO LOOK AT TOM AS SHE LETS HIM PULL HER INTO HIS ARMS. (OH MY.) HE STROKES HER HAIR.
End Episode 9
Part Two
Part One
Return to Main Transcript Page
