EPISODE 1 ‘EXISTENCE’
Written by Willian Schmidt, Directed by Peter O'Fallon
Original Airdate: 15-JAN-1998
THE SHOW OPENS. A WELL DRESSED WOMAN IS GIVING A COLLEGE LECTURE AT A PODIUM IN A DARKENED ROOM.
Ann: Evolution. Natural selection. We’ve all heard these phrases our entire lives. But how many of us have ever really understood what they really mean? Or thought about their implications. Next slide.
CUT TO A DARKENED CORRIDOR. PIPES OF ALL SIZES LINE THE WALLS, AND A NUMBER OF COPS COME RUNNING DOWN THE HALL CARRYING FLASHLIGHTS. WE HEAR A VOICEOVER FROM A WOMAN DISPATCHER.
Dispatcher: Suspect Randall Lynch. White male, age 32. Five feet ten inches tall, 175 pounds. Shoulder length brown hair. Suspect Lynch is wanted in connection with multiple murders and rape.
WE SEE A LARGE MAN IN HIS LATE THIRTIES TO EARLY FORTIES. HE IS ONE OF THE POLICE DETECTIVES LOOKING FOR LYNCH.
Ray: (speaking into a portable radio) This is Detective Peterson. Look, there’s nothing here. Lynch must’ve gotten through the perimeter and I wanna know where that hole is. Unit one, whatcha got?
Unit One: (over radio) Unit one. Negative contact.
Ray: Unit two?
Unit Two: Unit two. We’ve hit a grate. We’re turning back.
Ray: Unit three?
Unit Three: Unit three. We got nothin’.
Ray: Wait a minute. I see something moving.
CUT BACK TO LECTURE AND SLIDESHOW.
Ann: Let’s take a look at what happened to Homo neanderthalis. Neanderthals were the undisputed master of their environment for over 300,000 years. They must’ve thought that nothing would stand in the way of their dominance.
HER LECTURE HAS BECOME A VOICEOVER AS WE CUT BACK TO THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AND DETECTIVE PETERSON. HE IS SEARCHING THROUGH A LARGE DIMLY LIT ROOM.
Ray: Yeah, Unit one, come in.
Unit One: Unit one here, over.
WE SEE RANDALL LYNCH CROUCHED ON A LEDGE HIGH ABOVE RAY.
Ann: (voiceover) Until we came along.
LYNCH LEAPS DOWN AND TACKLES RAY TO THE FLOOR. LYNCH BEGINS TO KICK AND PUMMEL RAY. CUT BACK TO THE LECTURE.
Ann: Next thing you know, Neanderthal’s were gone. Why?
CUT BACK TO RAY AND LYNCH’S FIGHT. LYNCH IS GETTING THE UPPER HAND, STRANGLING RAY. CUT BACK TO LECTURE.
Ann: Why? Because two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche at the same time.
CUT BACK TO THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING. A COP AIMS THE RED LASER SIGHTING OF HIS RIFLE AT LYNCH AND SHOOTS HIM IN THE CHEST. HE IS NOT DEAD, JUST STUNNED. LYNCH GETS UP AND CROUCHES IN FRONT OF RAY, WHO IS RECOVERING FROM BEING CHOKED. RAY HAS HIS GUN TRAINED ON LYNCH. LYNCH GRABS RAY’S HAND AND PULLS THE GUN TO HIS STOMACH.
Lynch: C’mon, do it. Come on. You just.....pull...the...trigger.
CUT BACK TO THE LECTURE.
Ann: From the dawn of time until today, a single biological imperative has ruled every species that has ever existed on this planet.
CUT BACK TO RAY AND LYNCH. RAY CANNOT SHOOT. LYNCH GIVES AN EVIL GRIN.
Lynch: That’s why you’ll never win.
THE COPS CLOSE IN AND WRESTLE LYNCH TO THE FLOOR, THEN HANDCUFF HIM.
Ann: (voiceover) Survival of the fittest.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN IS BICYCLING THROUGH CAMPUS. SHE ENTERS THE BIOLOGY BUILDING AND GETS HER SECURITY BADGE OUT OF HER BACKPACK. SHE WAVES IT IN FRONT OF THE GUARD AT THE DESK.
Guard: You’re late, Sloan.
Sloan: Thanks, Bob.
SLOAN WALKS DOWN THE HALL OF THE GENETICS LAB. THROUGH THE LAB DOORS WE SEE ANN COULTER, THE WOMAN FROM THE LECTURE, TALKING TO AN EXTREMELY DAPPER GENTLEMAN IN A NICE DARK SUIT. WE CATCH ONLY SNATCHES OF THEIR CONVERSATION AS SLOAN WALKS TO THE DOOR.
THEY TURN AND SEE SLOAN AT THE DOOR. THE MAN IN THE SUIT OPENS IT.
Sloan: Sorry I’m late, Ann.
Ann: That’s alright.
THE MAN IN THE SUIT LOOKS APPRECIATIVELY AT SLOAN AND GIVES A BIT OF A SMILE. HE IS ONE FINE-LOOKIN’ INDIVIDUAL. SLOAN WALKS PAST HIM.
Suit: (softly) Excuse me.
(To Ann) Thank you.
HE LEAVES. AS HE WALKS DOWN THE HALL, WE SEE HIM LOOKING BACK INTO THE LAB THROUGH THE WINDOWS IN THE CORRIDOR. SLOAN APPROACHES AN OFFICE AND POKES HER HEAD IN.
Sloan: Hey, Ed, how’s it going?
Ed: Uh, fine. You know, Coulter’s looking for you.
Sloan: I know. I’ve got to prep her for court but I promise I’ll be back in time to go over last week’s DNA differentials reports--
Ed: Sloan, it’s ok. They’re finished.
Sloan: Finished?
Ed: Stayed up all night. Kind of, got on a roll.
Sloan: Ed, you’re amazing! I owe you one.
Ed: I’ll see you.
SLOAN ENTERS ANN’S OFFICE.
Ann: You all ready for court, Sloan?
SLOAN OPENS A FILE ON THE DESK.
Sloan: Absolutely. Got the files right here. Randall Lynch. Raped three women, killed five men in the course of a week. Our DNA analysis has positively linked him to each victim. Nice for him to make our work so easy.
Ann: I wouldn’t categorize anything Lynch does as easy.
Sloan: What does that mean?
Ann: Let me ask you something. Did you notice anything distinctive about Lynch’s treatment of his victims?
Sloan: Other than the fact that he severed their heads?
Ann: Only the men. Don’t you think that might be significant? Let me ask you this. Why do you think he’d be so careless? He must’ve known the DNA would link him to the crimes. What does that tell you about his actions?
Sloan: I don’t know. That he wanted to get caught.
Ann: Or that he just didn’t care.
NEXT SCENE
LYNCH IS BEING DRIVEN TO COURT. LOTS OF COP CARS, REPORTERS, AND JEERING ANGRY CROWDS. RAY SEES LYNCH THROUGH THE CAR WINDOW AND LYNCH SEES RAY. LOOKS ARE EXCHANGED.
NEXT SCENE
INSIDE A COURTROOM. THE PROSECUTOR IS QUESTIONING DR. COULTER, WHO IS ON THE STAND.
Prosecutor: Dr. Coulter, as an expert in the study of DNA, have you formed an opinion within the bounds of reasonable scientific certainty...
THE CAMERA IS PANNING THE COURTROOM. WE SEE DETECTIVE PETERSON AND SLOAN IN ATTENDANCE.
Prosecutor: ....as to whether the defendant, Randall Lynch’s, DNA matched the blood and semen samples taken from each victim?
Ann: I have.
Pros.: What is that opinion?
Ann: In each instance, the DNA samples taken at the scene of the crime matched exactly those of Randall Lynch.
Lynch: I could’ve told you that.
A GROUP OF ‘LYNCH-GROUPIES’ LAUGH UPROARIOUSLY AT THIS.
Judge: (banging gavel) Mr. Lynch!
Pros.: And what is the likelihood that the DNA that you studied could’ve come from any individual other than the defendant?
Ann: Statistically, about one in eleven billion.
Lynch: You don’t know me.
Ann: Maybe I do.
Judge: (banging gavel) Mr. Lynch! One more outburst and you will be removed.
LYNCH IS STARING AT DR. COULTER; HE IS DETERMINING SOMETHING.
Pros: Well, Dr. Coulter, in your professional opinion, there’s no one else who could've committed these crimes.
Ann: That is correct.
Lynch: (standing up from the table) You think you’ve proven something?
HE WALKS TO THE STAND.
Lynch: You know nothing about me.
Judge: Bailiff, remove the defendant.
SLOAN RISES FROM HER CHAIR, CONCERNED AT THE THREAT TO HER MENTOR. THE BAILIFF TRIES TO APPREHEND LYNCH, BUT HE THROWS THE LARGER MAN OFF WITH ONE HAND. LYNCH GRABS DR. COULTER’S LAPELS AND PULLS HER TO HIM.
Lynch: (whispering in Ann’s ear) You will all die.
NUMEROUS BAILIFFS PULL LYNCH OFF DR. COULTER AND WRESTLE HIM TO THE FLOOR. THE JUDGE IS BANGING HER GAVEL.
Judge: Order! Order! Get him out!
AS RANDALL LYNCH IS CUFFED, HE STARES AT SLOAN.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. ANN AND SLOAN BURST THROUGH THE DOORS.
Sloan: Ann, what is going on? “You will all die”?
Ann: My guess is he means it.
Sloan: Seems like more than a guess. It looked like you expected everything that happened. You practically dared Lynch to come after you.
Ann: Let’s just say I wasn’t surprised.
Sloan: You’ve been evasive about Lynch all day. What’s going on?
WE SEE A GOATEED MAN PEERING THROUGH THE DOORS AT SLOAN AND ANN. IT’S DR. WALTER ATTWOOD.
Ann: (resigned) I’ve made a discovery about Lynch. There’s a genetic anomaly in his blood--
DR. WALTER ATTWOOD OPENS THE DOORS.
Attwood: Oh! Sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem.
Ann: Don’t we always?
Attwood: I need some of your time. I’m sorry to be a pain but we are down to the wire on this CDC grant application. Without the two of us going over these numbers I am never going to get it in.
Ann: Does it have to be tonight?
Attwood: Deadline is midnight. I’ve already gotten one extension. We do this now or we don’t get the grant.
Ann: (over her shoulder to Sloan) Duty calls.
ED WALKS UP BEHIND SLOAN
Ed: What was that all about?
Sloan: I’m not sure.
Ed: Grab a coffee?
Sloan: (shakes her head) Gotta work.
Ed: Errm, no, you look like you need some air.
CUT TO A COFFEE SHOP. ED AND SLOAN ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION OVER COFFEE.
Sloan: She was completely unfazed, and when I asked her about it, she said, “Let’s just say I wasn’t surprised.”
Ed: What? Wait, what are you saying? You think Ann knew Lynch was gonna go after her?
Sloan: It was weird. She didn’t even bat an eye.
Ed: What is that about?
Sloan: She was about to tell me when Dr. Attwood interrupted. She said it had something to do with his DNA. Did she ever say anything to you about that?
Ed: Sloan, please. She didn’t tell you, she didn’t tell anybody.
Sloan: Yeah, I guess. So what are you up to tonight?
Ed: Oh, think I’m gonna hit a movie. You wanna come?
Sloan: I wish. I gotta head back to the lab. I gotta make up for the day I lost in court.
SHE PATS HIS CHEEK AFFECTIONATELY.
Ed: I’ll see ya.
SLOAN LEAVES.
SLOAN IS BIKING DOWN A STREET AT NIGHT. PARKED CARS LINE THE STREET TO HER RIGHT. AS SHE PASSES ONE, IT STARTS UP AND FOLLOWS HER DISCRETELY. A MAN IS BEHIND THE WHEEL, BUT WE DON’T SEE HIS FACE. SLOAN BIKES UP TO THE LIFE SCIENCES/BIO BUILDING AND THE CAR PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT. SLOAN ENTERS THE BUILDING AND FLASHES HER SECURITY BADGE AT THE GUARD.
Sloan: (realizing it’s not Bob) Oh, hey. Where’s Bob?
Guard: Don’t know.
Sloan: Whatever. Uh, did Dr. Coulter leave yet?
Guard: Nope. She’s the only one still here.
Sloan: Thanks.
SLOAN LEAVES THE DESK. THE GUARD STARES AFTER HER. SLOAN ENTERS THE LAB. SECURITY ALARMS ARE GOING OFF. MONKEYS ARE SCREECHING AND HOPPING ABOUT THE ROOM. SLOAN IS CONFUSED. SHE LOOKS ABOUT THE LAB.
Sloan: Hi!
SHE PUTS ON HER LABCOAT AND LOOKS AT SOME READOUTS. A MONKEY HOPS ONTO HER SHOULDER, SCARING HER.
Sloan: (calling out) Ann! James is out. James! What are you doing out of your cage? James, come on. You know you’re not supposed to be out of your cage without your leash.
THE MONKEY IS AGITATED.
Sloan: Calm down, I’m not gonna bust you for this.
DISTRACTED BY THE MONKEY, SLOAN FINALLY ENTERS DR. ANN COULTER’S OFFICE. SHE PALES AS SHE SEES BLOOD SMEARED ON THE DOOR, THE WALLS, THE DESK. A MONKEY SITS ON THE BODY OF DR. COULTER, A SIGN AROUND ITS NECK READING ‘YOU WILL ALL DIE’.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. POLICE ARE TAKING PHOTOS OF THE CRIME SCENE. DETECTIVE PETERSON AND A UNIFORMED OFFICER ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION. WE SEE SLOAN SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN HER OFFICE, STUNNED AND IN SHOCK.
Ofc.: The glass is two inches thick, but it’s busted clear out. It’s the only way the killer could've escaped.
Ray: It’s two stories up.
Ofc.: I know but he didn’t go by the guard and there’s nothing on the security tape.
Ray: Check the hospital. Maybe he broke a leg or something.
RAY CONVERSES BRIEFLY AND SILENTLY WITH ATTWOOD, THEN ENTERS SLOAN’S OFFICE.
Ray: Dr. Parker, I’m Detective Ray Peterson. Do you think you could handle a few questions?
ED ENTERS WITH A GLASS OF WATER AND CROUCHES BESIDE SLOAN.
Ed: (looking up at Ray) Do you have to do this right now?
Sloan: It’s okay.
Ray: I’m real sorry you had to be the one who found the body.
Sloan: She’s not the body!
Ray: I understand you were close to Dr. Coulter. do you have any idea who might want to do this to her?
Sloan: Besides Randall Lynch?
Ray: My first choice too but he’s already in jail.
Sloan: No one would want to hurt Ann.
Ray: You’re sure.
WE SEE THE MAN IN THE SUIT FROM BEFORE WALK IN THE DOOR.
Suit: Detective Peterson.
Ray: (looking up) That’s me.
Suit: Tom Daniels, FBI.
Ray: I don’t remember calling in the Feds.
Tom: You didn’t.
HE LOOKS AT SLOAN.
Tom: Dr. Coulter had been doing some classified research for us.
SLOAN LOOKS UP AT THIS.
Tom: And I’m here to make sure that data isn’t compromised by your investigation.
SLOAN WONDERS WHAT HE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT.
Tom: I’ll have to take her files with me back to the Bureau. No offense.
Ray: Ok, just let me finish up here.
Tom: Don’t you think, maybe, the rest of your questions could wait until tomorrow?
HE APPROACHES SLOAN AND CROUCHES DOWN.
Tom: Looks like Dr. Parker’s been through enough for one day.
Ray: Alright. We can pick it up tomorrow if there’s anything else.
TOM HELPS SLOAN UP OFF THE FLOOR.
Ray: Thank you, Dr. Parker.
RAY LEAVES.
Tom: (to Sloan) Is there someone who could drive you home?
Ed: (lifting his hand) Um, yeah, I can.
Tom: Good. You get some rest.
TOM TURNS TO GO.
Sloan: Agent Daniels?
HE TURNS BACK TO HER.
Sloan: Thank you.
SMALL SMILE, THEN HE LEAVES.
Ed: Let’s get out of here.
NEXT SCENE
IN SLOAN’S APARTMENT. ED POURS WATER OUT OF A TEAPOT INTO A CUP. SLOAN IS CRYING SOFTLY.
Ed: I’m sorry, Sloan. I really am.
Sloan: Ann was the reason why I came here. Why I’m doing what I do.
Ed: Ahh, she was a great teacher.
Sloan: She was my friend. She was almost a mother to me.
Ed: Remember five years ago when we first met her?
Sloan: (smiles) I went up to her after class and corrected one of her lecture comments.
Ed: I could not believe you did it.
Sloan: Yeah, you would’ve done the same thing. I just beat you to it.
THEY SHARE LAUGHTER.
Ed: See Ann saw something in you Sloan. You were not just another promising scientist. I mean, look at the way she confided in you. Even today.
SLOAN NODS HER HEAD.
Sloan: I’m just gonna miss so much not having her to turn to.
A BIT LATER. SLOAN GETS INTO BED. SHE IS STILL DISTRAUGHT OVER ANN. SHE PICKS UP HER BAG FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BED AND PULLS THE RANDALL LYNCH FILE OUT OF IT.
NEXT SCENE
IT IS MORNING. SLOAN IS GETTING READY FOR THE DAY. SHE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS 411.
Sloan: Los Angeles, please.....FBI.
SHE GETS THE NUMBER AND DIALS IT. SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END ANSWERS HER CALL.
Sloan: Tom Daniels?
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN AND TOM SIT AT A COMPUTER DESK AT THE FBI BUILDING. HE’S IN ANOTHER YUMMY SUIT.
Tom: I really shouldn’t be letting you see Dr. Coulter’s files. The classified material hasn’t been removed yet.
Sloan: I really appreciate it. Ann’s notes were important to my research.
Tom: Take your time.
HE WALKS A BIT AWAY FROM HER, NO LONGER FACING THE SCREEN. SLOAN TYPES ‘LYNCH’ INTO THE FILE SEARCH BOX.
Tom: So Dr. Coulter was your mentor?
Sloan: That’s right.
Tom: That’s a good thing to have.
THE SEARCH COMES UP EMPTY. ‘NO FILES FOUND’.
Sloan: (distracted by the results) What?
Tom: A mentor. That’s a good thing.
Sloan: Right.
SHE TRIES TYPING IN ‘RANDALL LYNCH’.
Sloan: Umm, I was lucky to be in the same room as Ann.
TOM STEPS CLOSER TO SLOAN.
Tom: She felt the same way about you. She...spoke of you all the time. She had a lot of respect for you.
Sloan: Really?
Tom: Why do you sound so surprised?
Sloan: Uh, I didn’t know that Ann talked about me.
HE’S GRINNING. (COULDN’T YA JUST DIE?)
Tom: Actually I feel I know you quite well.
HE LOOKS AT HER COYLY.
Sloan: Well then you have the advantage.
Tom: Maybe we’ll get a chance to close the gap.
(DAMN HE’S SMOOTH.)
HER SEARCH COME UP ‘NO FILES FOUND’ AGAIN. SLOAN STARES AT THE SCREEN.
Tom: Is everything okay?
HE KNOWS IT IS NOT.
Sloan: (giving a bland smile) Yeah, everything’s fine.
NEXT SCENE
ON CAMPUS NEAR A FOUNTAIN. COLLEGE STUDENTS LOUNGE ABOUT IN THE SUNSHINE, STUDYING, TALKING, ETC. WE SEE SLOAN APPROACH ED.
Sloan: Ed!
Ed: Hey! Thought you said you were gonna take a couple days off.
Sloan: I was, but I went to the FBI today.
Ed: Why?
Sloan: To get Ann’s files on Lynch. Supposedly, Ann was doing classified research for the FBI, but when I went there, all her files on Lynch had been deleted.
Ed: So?
Sloan: So?!? So Ann’s doing research on Lynch. All her research data is gone and now she’s dead. Don't you think that’s weird?
Ed: Sloan, come on. If there’s a connection don’t you think that the cops would've figured it out?
Sloan: Well I think Lynch had something to do with Ann’s murder.
Ed: I’m sure they’ve already questioned him.
Sloan: Well maybe that’s not enough.
NEXT SCENE
A PRISON INTERROGATION ROOM. SLOAN IS SITTING AT A TABLE AS A GUARD BRINGS A CHAINED LYNCH IN AND SITS HIM AT THE TABLE.
Sloan: Thank you for meeting with me.
Lynch: (smugly) No, thank you.
SLOAN PRODUCES A PACK OF CIGARETTES AND OFFERS THEM.
Sloan: Cigarette?
Lynch: Clever. You want a DNA sample from my saliva. What happened to the sample you had?
Sloan: I need a new one.
Lynch: I can’t imagine. How hard it must be for you to talk to me. After all, you think I had something to do with the tragic death of Miss Coulter, don’t you?
Sloan: Well did you?
Lynch: How could I?
Sloan: You tell me.
Lynch: If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been detained. Are you scared?
Sloan: No.
Lynch: You should be.
Sloan: You don’t frighten me.
Lynch: Do you think you can stop the inevitable? You think bars and chains are gonna keep you from dying?
Sloan: I think they’ll keep you where you belong. Until they execute you.
Lynch: Is that what you think is gonna happen?
Sloan: I’m told it’s very painful.
Lynch: Will you be there to watch?
Sloan: If they’d let me, I’d push the plunger on the needle myself.
Lynch: I’d like that.
UNDER THE TABLE HE STROKES HER TOE WITH HIS OWN. SHE EXTRACTS HER FOOT.
Lynch: (turning to the guard) We’re done here.
HE GETS UP TO GO. AS HE DOES, SLOAN PULLS A HAIR FROM HIS FOREARM. RANDALL LYNCH SCREAMS HIS FRUSTRATION.
Lynch: (to Sloan) You’re dead.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN IS BACK AT THE LAB, TESTING THE HAIR FROM LYNCH. HER MEMORIES FLASH, INTERSPERSED WITH SCENES OF SLOAN WORKING:
SHE’S WITH ED AT THE COFFEE SHOP-- “SHE SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS DNA.”
LYNCH AT THE JAIL--”DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP THE INEVITABLE?”
OUTSIDE THE LAB OFFICES WITH ANN--”I’VE MADE A DISCOVERY ABOUT LYNCH.”
SLOAN SITS AT THE COMPUTER.
Computer voice: Ready.
Sloan: Create a new file for subject Lynch.
Comp: File open.
Sloan: Extract and analyze the DNA of base subject Lynch.
Comp: Analysis complete.
Sloan: Compare base subject Lynch to other known samples.
Comp: No match in comparison.
Sloan: Compare the sequence of nucleotides of the Lynch sample to all known ethnic populations.
Comp: There is no match.
Sloan: Run the DNA differential sequence program for all samples on file, including subject Lynch.
Comp: Analysis complete.
Sloan: Is there a DNA differential between me, Sloan Parker, and Ed Tate?
Comp: No. An exact match.
Sloan: Is there a differential between Sloan Parker and a chimpanzee?
Comp: Yes. One point one percent.
Sloan: So far so good. Compute the DNA differential between Sloan Parker and Randall Lynch.
Comp: One point six percent.
Sloan: Repeat analysis.
Comp: One point six percent.
Sloan: (typing it into the computer) Repeat analysis.
Comp: One point six percent.
SLOAN FLASHES ON AN IMAGE OF RANDALL LYNCH’S EYES.
Sloan: Oh my God. He’s not human.
NEXT SCENE
WE HEAR KNOCKING ON A DOOR AS WE SEE ED GETTING OUT OF BED. WE ARE AT HIS APARTMENT. HE’S ONLY WEARING A PAIR OF BOXERS. (MUST SAY, HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. MINOR ‘YOWZA’.)
Ed: (struggling to get free of the bed covers) Coming! Ok, coming!
Sloan: (from behind the door) C’mon open up!
ED LETS HER IN.
Ed: It’s three in the morning.
HE SNUGGLES ONTO HIS SOFA WITH A BLANKET FROM THE BED.
Sloan: Ed, what I’m about to tell you...it’ll change your life.
Ed: (sleepily) I like my life.
Sloan: I’ve discovered a new species.
Ed: Of what?
Sloan: Of us.
Ed: Sloan.
Sloan: Coulter was doing research. I think she was about to figure it out.
SHE HANDS HIM HER DATA AND FILES.
Sloan: Read it. Tell me I’m wrong. I thought maybe the DNA in the samples was contaminated. I tested it. I turned those samples upside down. Ed, it’s not human.
Ed: One point six percent different from us?
SLOAN NODS HER HEAD. ED SITS UP AS HE BECOMES ENGROSSED IN THE INFORMATION IN THE FILES.
Ed: It’s definitely not human. It took an ice age to cause the last speciation. Now, unless I missed something in the morning paper--
Sloan: Environmental disruptions, exactly! I’m thinking global warming.
Ed: That’s only a two or three degree change. It’s no where near enough.
Sloan: Why not? What if it’s more. What if the warming has occurred over the past hundred years, and not the past ten or twenty?
Ed: This could be huge. Unless....it’s an isolated incident. We need other samples. Lots of them.
SLOAN REALIZES ED BELIEVES HER.
Sloan: (excitedly) We can start right now. We’ve got reciprocal deals with most of the big labs. I’m sure they’ll help out.
Ed: Wait, wait, wait. Um, isn’t that too narrow a task group? All those samples would be criminals.
Sloan: Hey, that’s where Lynch came from.
NEXT SCENE
WE SEE SLOAN PACING ABOUT ON THE TELEPHONE IN ED’S APARTMENT. IT IS MORNING.
Sloan: Yes, hi, I’m Dr. Sloan Parker. I worked with Dr. Coulter. That’s right, Ann Coulter. Yes, it was a terrible shock, thank you.
WE SEE ED ON THE PHONE AT ANOTHER DESK. HE’S PLAYING WITH A BASKETBALL.
Ed: No, that’s perfect. Whatever you got.
CUT BACK TO SLOAN.
Sloan: Look, I’m following up on some of her unfinished work. I understand you have some DNA samples...?
CUT BACK TO ED.
Ed: A blood or hair sample would be fine.
Sloan: Whitney University in Pasadena. That’s right. Thank you.
Ed: No, no.
Sloan: (to Ed) They’re emailing it over to the lab. It’ll be there by tonight.
Ed: Great. I’ll be on hold.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SHE IS PACKING A BAG, AND THROWING ON A JACKET. A KNOCK COMES AT HER DOOR.
Sloan: Coming!
SHE OPENS THE DOOR. TOM DANIELS STANDS THERE. SHE IS A BIT SURPRISED TO SEE HIM.
Tom: Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I wanted to give you these.
HE PULLS SOME COMPUTER FILES FROM HIS OVERCOAT POCKET. (HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. OVERCOAT. SUIT AND TIE. SCARF.)
Tom: Dr. Coulter’s files from the computer. We’re through with them. I figured since you were closest to her...
Sloan: Thanks.
Tom: I was thinking um, maybe we could talk about Dr. Coulter.
Sloan: Sure, come on in.
HE DOES. TAKE HIS SCARF OFF AND FOLDS IT NEATLY.
Tom: You have a very nice home.
Sloan: I like it. I don’t get to spend enough time here, but...
Tom: Reflects your personality. Very warm.
THEY ARE AT HER FIREPLACE. HE PICKS UP A PICTURE.
Tom: Your sister?
Sloan: Yes.
Tom: Much older than you, right? She a scientist also?
Sloan: No, she’s a nurse. She’s got the hard job in the family.
Tom: How you feeling, Sloan?
Sloan: (she exhales) Well, ok I guess. I’m just doing the best I can. Thanks. So, have you gotten anywhere in your investigation?
Tom: (he sighs) Not yet I’m afraid to say. But uh, we’re doing the best we can.
VERY DELIBERATELY HE PLACES HIS SCARF ON THE ARM OF HER SOFA. THEN HE TAKES OFF HIS OVERCOAT AND LAYS IT OVERTOP.
Sloan: Well, you said you wanted to talk to me?
HE SITS ON THE OPPOSITE ARM OF THE SOFA FROM HIS COAT.
Tom: Yes, uh, I was hoping you would continue the work Dr. Coulter was doing for us.
Sloan: If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly was the work she was doing for you?
Tom: DNA research. Particular study involving a certain limited sample size. It’s complicated. I mean, for me it’s complicated.
HE SMILES AT HER. (DAMN HE’S SMOOTH.)
Sloan: I’m flattered.
Tom: She told us that she hoped that you would follow in her footsteps. And I guess I do too.
Sloan: Not without your help. I’m gonna need her files on Randall Lynch. The other day in the lab I noticed they were missing.
SHE GESTURES TO THE FILES
Sloan: I’ll check these again....
Tom: (laughing ruefully) Ann was right about you. You’re very sharp.
Sloan: So about those files?
Tom: I’m sure you understand, you have to sign on first. Look umm, maybe you just need some time to work through everything that’s happened to you.
HE STANDS
Tom: I’m sorry if I’ve pushed you.
Sloan: No, that’s okay. It’s just everything that’s happened this week--
Tom: No, I understand. Look, here’s my number.
HE GIVES HER HIS CARD.
Tom: You can call me anytime. Even if you just want to talk.
Sloan: I’d like that.
Tom: Okay.
ANOTHER KNOCK ON THE DOOR. SLOAN RUNS TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT.
Sloan: Ed.
Ed: Hey. You ready?
TOM SEES ED AND GATHERS HIS COAT. ED NOTICES TOM.
Ed: I guess not.
Tom: Look, I don’t want to hold you up. Umm, think about it, okay?
HE BRUSHES PAST ED.
Tom: (softly) Excuse me.
Sloan: (to Ed) Ready?
SLOAN GRABS HER BAG AS ED LOOKS A BIT CONFUSED OVER TOM’S APPEARANCE AND HASTY DEPARTURE.
Ed: Yeah.
THEY LEAVE.
NEXT SCENE
BIO LAB AT NIGHT. SLOAN IS TYPING ON HER COMPUTER. ED WALKS OVER TO HER DESK, CARRYING A DISK.
Ed: 12,000 samples downloaded and ready to access!
Sloan: Beats loading by hand.
Computer voice: Ready.
Sloan: Correlate and mark each new sample for identification.
Ed: So uh, what’d that FBI guy want?
Sloan: He wanted me to continue the work Ann was doing with him.
Ed: This being the same FBI you think deleted her files?
Sloan: He explained all that.
Ed: They always do have any explanation.
Comp: Samples marked.
ED MOVES AROUND TO HER CHAIR AND HUNKERS DOWN BESIDE IT.
Sloan: Search for samples that match base subject Lynch.
Ed: So what’s he like?
Sloan: Who?
Ed: Secret agent man!
Comp: There are five matches with subject Lynch.
SLOAN AND ED HAVE SHOCKED LOOKS ON THEIR FACES.
Ed: Lynch has company.
Sloan: Verify these finding with the Phylogenetic analysis program.
Comp: Please provide a name for the new species. Please provide a name for the new species.
WE SEE THE COMPUTER SCREEN LIST IN A FAMILY-TREE LIKE WAY THE DIFFERENT HOMINID SPECIES: AUSTRALOPITHICUS, NEANDERTHAL, HOMO SAPIEN, AND AT THE TOP, UNKNOWN.
Comp: Please provide a name for the new species.
NEXT SCENE
ED AND SLOAN RUSH OUT OF THE LIFE SCIENCES/BIO BUILDING.
Sloan: Man!
Ed: Never a dull moment.
Sloan: No kidding!
Ed: Sloan, you know that we gotta tell somebody.
Sloan: What?!? How? What are we gonna say?
Ed: I don’t know but--
Sloan: Look at Darwin. He waited 22 years before he announced his theory of evolution.
Ed: Sloan, it’s a new species. We’re not just talking about Lynch anymore. There’s six. How many more are there? And are they all killers like Lynch? Sloan. What you’ve done here is amazing. Ann would’ve been really proud of you.
Sloan: I know. But why me?
SHE GIVES A SMALL SMILE. HE HUGS HER.
NEXT SCENE
MORNING AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN WALKS INTO ED’S OFFICE.
Sloan: Ed? What’s going on?
Ed: You got me. Attwood just said he wanted to see us.
WE SEE ATTWOOD PACKING UP SOME BOXES IN DR. ANN COULTER’S OFFICE. HE POKES HIS HEAD OUT INTO THE HALL.
Attwood: I’ll see you both now. Come in.
THEY ALL ENTER THE OFFICE. SLOAN NOTICES IT IS BARE OF ALL OF DR. COULTER’S THINGS.
Att: Please, uh, sit down. I know this is hard for you. I’m moving into this office and it’s with great sadness that I do so.
Sloan: Does this mean that you’re gonna run the lab?
Att: Yes. And if I can do half the job Ann did, we’ll be in good shape.
Ed: So is that it?
Att: (sitting at desk) No. We need to talk about Randall Lynch.
ED LOOKS AT SLOAN.
Sloan: What about him?
Att: Ann told me what she knew.
Sloan: Why didn’t you say anything?
Att: Look what happened to Ann when she started telling people.
ED AND SLOAN SHARE A LOOK.
Sloan: Ann was researching Lynch for the FBI. They know.
Att: That’s one of the things I’m concerned about. Ann was not doing research for the FBI. She hadn’t even contacted them until last week. She wanted access to their DNA database.
Sloan: Last week? But Tom Daniels--
Att: Sloan, I’d be very careful. I think it’s possible Tom Daniels knows a lot more about Ann’s death than he’s telling us.
SHOCK REGISTERS ON SLOAN’S FACE. SHE LEAVES THE OFFICE.
Att: Ed.
ED TURNS TO HIM. HE’D BEEN WATCHING SLOAN LEAVE.
Att: Make sure you back up your findings to disk for safety’s sake.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN IS HURRYING DOWN A HALLWAY WITH A WOMAN TRAILING AFTER HER.
Woman: Miss, no one is allowed down there without an appointment. Will you stop please?
SLOAN ENTERS AN OFFICE.
Sloan: (to secretary) I need to talk to Tom Daniels now.
A MAN STANDS UP FROM BEHIND A DESK. HE WAS HIDDEN FROM VIEW BY THE SECRETARY. HE IS IN HIS LATE FORTIES.
Man: What can I do for you?
Sloan: I’m looking for Tom Daniels.
Man: That’s me.
SHOCK FOR SLOAN AGAIN.
Woman: I’m sorry Mr. Daniels.
THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE MAN’S FBI BADGE. WE SEE HIS PICTURE AND THE NAME ‘TOM DANIELS’. SLOAN LEAVES THE OFFICE.
Woman: Miss? Miss!
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN ENTERS HER APARTMENT. SHE IS STILL IN SHOCK FROM THE FBI MEETING. SHE WALKS PAST THE SOFA AND DROPS HER BAG ON THE BED. SHE LOOKS BACK AT THE ARM OF THE SOFA AND SEES A SCARF. TOM’S SCARF. SHE FLASHES ON TOM PLACING IT THERE EARLIER.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN OPENS A ZIPLOC BAG AND REMOVES TOM’S SCARF. SHE IS AT THE BIO LAB. UNDER A MAGNIFYING LENS SHE FINDS AND REMOVES A HAIR FROM THE SCARF. SHE READIES THE SAMPLE FOR A DNA TEST. SLOAN SITS AT HER COMPUTER.
Computer voice: New sample processed.
Sloan: Mark it Tom Daniels.
Comp: The sample is marked.
Sloan: Access all DNA samples, including the base sample for subject Lynch.
Comp: Accessing.
WE SEE THE PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES SCREEN AGAIN WITH THE UNKNOWN SPECIES AT THE TOP.
Sloan: Calculate the DNA differential between Sloan Parker and Tom Daniels.
CLOSE IN ON SLOAN’S EYES AS SHE STARES AT THE SCREEN.
Comp: One point six percent.
Sloan: Oh my God.
NEXT SCENE
SLOAN WALKS OUT OF THE LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING. SHE IS STILL SHAKEN AND IS LOOKING AROUND IN EVERY DIRECTION. EVERYONE SEEMS SUSPICIOUS TO HER. SHE MAKES HER WAY THROUGH CAMPUS ANALYZING EVERYONE SHE COMES ACROSS. WE CAN SEE THAT SHE IS SCARED, PARANOID. SHE FINALLY REACHES HER CAR. ANOTHER CAR PULLS UP ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS BEHIND HER AS SHE REACHES IN HER POCKET FOR HER KEYS. SHE GLANCES AT THE CAR, THEN FOCUSES ON GETTING INTO HERS.
Tom: Sloan?
SLOAN LOOKS UP TO SEE TOM. (HE LOOKS GREAT. BLACK T-SHIRT UNDER HIS DARK SUIT. DAPPER. TASTY.)
Tom: I need to talk to you.
HE IS WALKING TOWARDS HER. SLOAN TAKES OFF, WALKING BRISKLY AWAY, GLANCING BEHIND TO SEE IF HE’S STILL COMING. HE IS. HE STRIDES AFTER HER. STALKING HER. SHE QUICKENS HER PACE. SHE’S WALKING BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS, THEN COMES TO A LOCKED GATE. SLOAN BACKTRACKS A BIT AND ENTERS THE BUILDING TO THE RIGHT OF HER. SHE HURRIES DOWN THE HALL. SHE’S ALMOST RUNNING NOW.
WE SEE TOM DANIELS ENTER THE BUILDING, HIS PACE STEADY. HIS FOCUS INTENT. SLOAN COMES TO AN ELEVATOR, BUT IT DOESN’T OPEN FAST ENOUGH WHEN SHE PRESSES THE BUTTON, AND SHE TAKES OFF DOWN ANOTHER HALL. SHE TRIES THE DOORS LINING THE HALLWAY, BUT THEY ALL ARE LOCKED. TOM IS STILL COMING, STEADILY ON.
SLOAN COMES TO AN EXIT, AND RUNS INTO A HOMELESS MAN AS SHE RUNS THROUGH IT, KNOCKING THEM BOTH TO THE GROUND. THE MAN GRABS HER LEG AS SHE GOES PAST.
Man: He’s coming!
SLOAN IS SCARED WITLESS NOW. SHE BLINDLY RUNS AWAY. WE SEE TOM EXIT THE BUILDING. HE STILL FOLLOWS HER, HIS STRIDE EVEN, EATING UP THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM. HE’S CLOSING ON HER. SLOAN RACES ACROSS TO THE STREET, SCREAMING, TRYING TO STOP CARS.
Sloan: Stop! Stop! Please stop!
SHE SEES TOM DANIELS STILL COMING. HE’S AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NOW. SLOAN STEPS IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING BUS.
Sloan: (shrieking) STOP!
SHE LOOKS BACK AT TOM. HE IS CROSSING THE STREET. SHE POUNDS ON THE BUS DOOR.
Sloan: Open the door! Open the door!
SLOAN PRIES THE DOORS APART. TOM STOPS. SLOAN GETS AWAY ON THE BUS. TOM STARES AFTER HER.
NEXT SCENE
WE SEE SLOAN ON A PAY PHONE. SHE IS FRIGHTENED OF EVERYONE AND EVERY SOUND. WE HEAR THE PHONE RING.
(VOICEOVER)
Ed: This is Ed. Leave a message.
Sloan: Ed? Ed are you there? Pick up. If you’re there, pick up please!
SHE WAITS A BEAT, THEN HANGS UP THE PHONE.
NEXT SCENE
WE SEE SLOAN SITTING ON A BENCH IN THE POLICE STATION. RAY EXITS AN ELEVATOR, TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE. PEOPLE BUSTLE ABOUT.
Ray: Uh, no, just send a black and white over there. See what you can dig up. Yeah.
RAY SEES SLOAN WAITING FOR HIM.
Ray: I gotta go.
NEXT SCENE
RAY AND SLOAN ARE SITTING AT HIS DESK IN THE POLICE STATION.
Ray: So you’re telling me a guy posing as an FBI agent stole files from a police investigation, covered up evidence of a murder and may actually have been an accomplice to that murder?
Sloan: Yeah.
WE HEAR RAY LAUGH DISBELIEVINGLY.
Sloan: And one more thing.
Ray: Okay.
Sloan: I don’t think Tom Daniels is human.
Ray: Not okay.
Sloan: You're gonna have to trust me on this. It’s what I do.
Ray: Let’s define not human. What are we talking about? Personality? Eating habits?
Sloan: His DNA. It’s a different species of human. Or technically hominid. It’s evolution. Cro magnon, neanderthal--
Ray: Yeah, I know what evolution is.
Sloan: It’s not just Tom Daniels. Lynch is one also.
Ray: They look pretty human to me.
Sloan: That’s what scares me.
Ray: Ok. Alright. I’ll look into Daniels. Now how ‘bout you go home. I’ll send a couple of officers with you. You’ll be okay.
Sloan: I’m scared.
Ray: If any of what you just told me is true...
HE LEANS FORWARD.
Ray: ...you ought to be.
NEXT SCENE
WE ARE AT SLOAN’S APARTMENT. A UNIFORMED OFFICER IS CHECKING OUT SLOAN’S CLOSET WITH A FLASHLIGHT. NODS TO ANOTHER OFFICER THAT ALL IS CLEAR. MORE OFFICERS CHECK THE REST OF THE PLACE OUT.
Officer: Now ma’am, I’ll be right outside, ok?
SLOAN NODS.
Officer: So there’s no need to worry. You’ll be fine.
Sloan: Thanks.
THE UNIFORMED OFFICERS LEAVE AND SLOAN LOCKS THE DOOR BEHIND THEM. SHE KICKS OFF HER SHOES, REMOVES HER SWEATER, AND HEADS TO THE CLOSET. WE SEE THE SCENE FROM ABOVE AS SLOAN TURNS ON THE CLOSET LIGHT. A FIGURE IS CROUCHED ON THE SHELF IN THE CLOSET ABOVE THE CLOTHES RACK. SLOAN CANNOT SEE HIM. WE CAN TELL BY THE GORGEOUSLY SHINY HAIR THAT IT IS TOM DANIELS. HE IS WATCHING HER UNDRESS. WAITING. SLOAN WALKS AWAY FROM THE CLOSET AND REMOVES HER DRESS, TOSSING IT ON A CHAIR. SHE’S NOW CLAD ONLY IN A WHITE SLIP. SHE TAKES OFF HER EARRINGS AS SHE HEADS TO THE KITCHEN. SHE GETS A PITCHER OF ICED TEA FROM THE FRIDGE AND WALKS TO THE CENTER ISLAND. SHE’S TIRED.
SUDDENLY A HAND CLOSES OVER HER MOUTH. HER EYES WIDEN IN FRIGHT. TOM IS BEHIND HER. SLOAN GASPS AND STARTS TO STRUGGLE.
Tom: Don’t scream!
HE MANEUVERS HER AROUND TO FACE HER, HIS HAND STILL COVERING HER MOUTH. HE PINS HER TO THE ISLAND WITH HIS BODY.
Tom: If you’re quiet this will be easier. Less painful.
HIS FACE IS A MASK AS HE GAZES INTO HER FRIGHTENED EYES. SEEING HER ACCEPTANCE, HE NODS AND REMOVES HIS HAND.
Sloan: You killed Ann.
Tom: No I didn’t.
Sloan: Why did she have to die?
TOM GRABS SLOAN BY THE SHOULDERS AND SPINS HER ABOUT.
Tom: Because she was a threat. To our survival!
SLOAN IS GASPING AT BEING MANHANDLED. (I COULD MAKE A COMMENT HERE, BUT I WON’T ;-)
Tom: You know how evolution works. Homo sapiens wiped out Neanderthal.
Sloan: And you’re gonna wipe us out.
HE PUSHES HER TO THE FLOOR AND CLUTCHES HER THROAT.
Tom: Survival of the fittest.
Sloan: You don’t have to do this. You’re not a killer like Lynch, I know it. I know you.
HE PUSHES HER ROUGHLY AWAY FROM HIM AND SHE SPRAWLS ON THE FLOOR.
Tom: (forcefully) No you don’t!
SLOAN SCRAMBLES TO A SITTING POSITION. TOM HAS A ‘DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS’ LOOK ABOUT HIM. HE DOESN’T LIKE WHAT SLOAN IS SAYING.
Sloan: Then why did you leave your scarf here the other night? You knew I’d be able to get a DNA sample. You knew I’d be able to figure out what you are.
HE STANDS, SHAKING HIS HEAD. HE IS APPROACHING HER SLOWLY.
Tom: (softly) No.
Sloan: You wanted me to know.
Tom: No.
Sloan: You wanted me to tell.
Tom: No.
Sloan: You could’ve killed me a hundred times over but you didn’t.
HE REACHES FOR HER, GRABBING HER HEAD IN HIS HANDS. SLOAN IS SCARED, BUT CANNOT BACK DOWN OR LOOK AWAY.
Tom: It’s because you feel things. Emotions. It’s because you’re different.
Sloan: And you’re different. From those who sent you to kill me.
HE IS LOOKING AT HER INTENTLY. DIFFERENT EMOTIONS PLAY OVER HIS FACE: CURIOSITY, COMPASSION, PAIN, ANGER, CONFUSION.
Tom: But you betrayed me. You told the police.
Sloan: And you lied to me. When I trusted you. Now we both know the truth.
HE SEES A TEAR FALL FROM HER EYE.
Tom: (on an exhaled breath) Oh.
HE CATCHES THE TEAR WITH HIS THUMB AS IT FALLS AND STARES AT THE MOISTURE. WE CAN SEE HE IS TERRIBLY CONFLICTED. HIS BROW IS FURROWED. HE GIVES IN. TOM STANDS UP AND WALKS AWAY FROM HER. SLOAN EXHALES IN RELIEF. HIS BACK IS TO HER.
Tom: (over his shoulder) There are others out there. Many others. If I fail, they’ll still come after you.
Sloan: Then I’ll fight.
TOM SIGHS, RESIGNED. SLOAN RISES FROM THE FLOOR.
Sloan: Will they come after you?
Tom: (shaking his head sadly) Yes.
HE WALKS TO THE WINDOW.
Sloan: Will you fight?
HE RAISES THE WINDOW AND LOOKS BACK AT SLOAN OVER HIS SHOULDER.
Tom: (harsh, with conviction) Yes.
TEARS STREAM DOWN SLOAN’S FACE. TOM CLIMBS ONTO THE SILL, CROUCHING THERE, LOOKING DOWN AT THE STREET BELOW. HE GLANCES BACK AT SLOAN. SHE STARES AT HIM. (WHO CAN BLAME HER?) HE CLIMBS OUT ONTO THE FIRE ESCAPE.