EPISODE 12 ‘PROGENY’
Written by Donald Marcus, Directed by Terence O'Hara
Original Airdate: 02-JUL-1998
THE SHOW OPENS. TWO BOYS RIDE BIKES DOWN A SUBURBAN STREET, TURNING INTO A SMALL PARK. THEY RIDE PAST THREE YOUNG TEENAGE BOYS AT A PICNIC TABLE.
First Boy: ...so then his mom opens up the door, and it all falls on top of her!
HE LAUGHS AS WELL AS THE SECOND BOY.
Third Boy: Well, what’d you do?
First Boy: Nothing, stupid. Except laugh.
Second Boy: Oh, hey look!
WE SEE A YOUNG BOY OF ABOUT NINE OR TEN WALKING UP THE PATH. THE BOYS ON THE BIKES BARELY MISS RUNNING HIM OVER, AND TAUNT HIM AS THEY GO PAST.
First: Oh, it’s little Kevin. Little Mr. Weirdo. Hey, Kevin! Hey, why don’cha come over here and hang out with us?
Third: Yeah Kevvie, be our bud!
THE YOUNG KEVIN TAKES OFF ACROSS THE FIELD TO AVOID THE OLDER BOYS. THE BULLIES STAND AND GO AFTER HIM, INTENT ON INTERCEPTING THE YOUNGER BOY.
First: Hey, where ya going, Kevvie?
Third: Yeah, did your mommy call?
THE OLDER BOYS SURROUND KEVIN.
First: Yeah, is it time for you to go back to that special school for young freakoids? Answer me!
Kevin: No.
First: Then why don’t you hang with us?
Kevin: ‘Cause you're loud, stupid, and boring.
KEVIN STARTS TO WALK OFF.
First: Hey!
THE FIRST BOY GRABS KEVIN BY THE SWEATER AND PULLS HIM CLOSER.
First: You’re gonna be sorry for that, worm!
THE OLDER BOYS START TO PUSH KEVIN AROUND, BOUNCING HIM OFF ONE ANOTHER, WHILE THEY LAUGH MALICIOUSLY. THE FIRST BOY PUSHES KEVIN TO THE GROUND.
First: Oh, I’m so sorry.
HE OFFERS HIS HAND.
First: Here, let me help you up.
HE BRUSHES KEVIN OFF WHILE THE THIRD BOY, UNSEEN BY KEVIN, LAYS ON THE GROUND BEHIND THE YOUNGER BOY.
First: Well, hey, at least you didn’t get your clothes all dirty now. Time for your bath!
THE FIRST BOY PUSHES KEVIN AND HE FALLS OVER THE THIRD BOY AND INTO A MUD PUDDLE. THE OLDER BOYS LAUGH AND CONGRAT EACH OTHER WHILE KEVIN LOOKS UP AT THEM MENACINGLY.
First: Let’s go guys. I’m starving.
THE OLDER BOYS STRUT OFF. KEVIN SLOWLY GETS UP, MUD COVERING HIM. HE SEES A LARGE BRANCH LYING ON THE GROUND. HE PICKS IT UP, BRANDISHING IT LIKE A CLUB. HE IS INTENT ON HIS PREY, WALKING OFF UNAWARES. KEVIN GROWS ANGRIER AND ANGRIER AS HE FOLLOWS THE BOYS, FINALLY UTTERING A LOUD CRY AND CHARGING THEM. THE OLDER BOYS TURN WITH SHOCK AND FEAR AT HIS CRY. THEY SEE HIM RAISE THE BRANCH.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. IN ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. ATTWOOD, SLOAN AND TOM STAND WATCHING A TV REPORT. TOM IS LOOKING PENSIVE, HAND TO HIS LIPS. HE’S WEARING, BRACE YOURSELF, BLACK CORDUROY PANTS (VERY IN STYLE AT THE TIME BUT NOT FLATTERING!), A BLACK V-NECK SWEATER, MUCH TOO BAGGY BUT WORKABLE, AND A BLACK T-SHIRT WITH BRIGHT BLUE PIPING AROUND THE CREWNECK COLLAR. SEPARATE, THE T-SHIRT AND THE SWEATER WOULD BE FINE. BUT TAKEN TOGETHER, YUCK. WHAT WAS THE WARDROBE PERSON THINKING? RANT DONE.
Reporter: According to police reports, the youths were literally beaten unconscious in this savage attack by this nine year old boy.
Sloan: (to Attwood) When did you see this?
Attwood: Last night’s news. The nine year old’s name is Kevin Taylor.
CUT BACK TO THE REPORTER
Reporter: One of the most shocking aspects of this case is that the attacker, a third grader at the Kenwood school, is nearly a foot shorter and thirty pounds lighter than any of his victims. Police...
ED WALKS INTO THE OFFICE.
Ed: What’s up?
HE LOOKS AT THE SCREEN, THEN SITS ON THE EDGE OF ATTWOOD’S DESK.
Ed: Oh, yeah, I saw this.
CUT BACK TO THE REPORTER
Reporter: ...And so three families continue their vigil, watching, waiting, and praying. At Memorial Hospital, this is Lydia Holcomb.
ATTWOOD SWITCHES OFF THE TV.
Attwood: This has all the earmarks of the new species. Tom?
Tom: Well, I’m not so sure. If these children were members of the new species, they’d be groomed to blend in.
ATTWOOD SITS AT HIS DESK.
Attwood: In the last six months violence at the elementary level has risen five hundred percent statewide.
Sloan: I’ve seen that in the papers.
Ed: Could be something like the juice boxes. Y’know where they’re attacking the kids behavior controls.
Attwood: Perhaps, but there’s a type of violence here we’ve never seen before. Smaller children targeting larger ones.
Tom: Maybe they’re being mainstreamed to create a societal disturbance.
Sloan: Which would mean the parents...
Tom: ...Are members of the new species too.
Sloan: So that’s where we’ve got to start. With the parents.
Attwood: It’s going to take some doing. They’re under siege from the media. However, I have spoken to the director of the Kenwood school, where the boy is a student.
Ed: Isn’t uh, isn’t Kenwood a private school?
Attwood: Special education for kids with learning disabilities and emotional problems.
Sloan: Let’s get over there.
Attwood: Yeah.
Ed: Ah, I’m staying here. I’m making progress and I’d hate to break it off.
Sloan: With the gene therapy, really?
TOM STARES AT ED.
Ed: I’m thinking we may be able to alter their DNA, make it identical to our own. If I can perfect the gene delivery system.
Attwood: (with a smile) Keep at it.
ATTWOOD, SLOAN AND TOM LEAVE THE OFFICE.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE KENWOOD SCHOOL. A SECRETARY GUIDES SLOAN INTO AN OFFICE. THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR STANDS AND HOLDS HIS HAND OUT TO HER.
Director: Ah, Dr. Parker.
SLOAN SHAKES THE MAN’S HAND.
Director: Please, sit down.
Sloan: (sitting) I really appreciate you meeting with me.
Director: Well I admit, I was reluctant. As you can imagine, I’ve had numerous requests from the media.
Sloan: I understand Kevin has been attending school here for three years. Why did he come to Kenwood?
Director: Hew was unable to control his behavior. He just...took what he wanted. And if any child slighted him, Kevin attacked. Of course, we’ve never had an incident as serious as this one before.
Sloan: Could his problems be neurological, or chemical?
Directory: At this age, it’s difficult to determine the precise nature of the behavioral issues.
Sloan: How can you account for his ability to beat these older, stronger boys?
Director: I can’t.
Sloan: What about the parents?
Director: The Taylors? They’re the most concerned parents I have ever met. They’ve made real sacrifices to send Kevin here. Mortgaged their home more than once.
Sloan: I’d love to talk to them. Could you help arrange that?
Director: (reluctantly) I don’t know, they’re under terrible pressures right now.
Sloan: We might be able to alleviate some of those pressures. And we really do wanna help.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE KENWOOD SCHOOL. TOM AND SLOAN WALK BRISKLY DOWN A SIDEWALK OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.
Sloan: If his parents are members of the new species, they’d never send their child to some special school, they’d be proud of his behavior, wouldn't they?
Tom: Probably.
Sloan: I think it’s gotta be something like the juice boxes. Maybe they found a way to suppress impulse control mechanisms in these kids.
SLOAN AND TOM WALK TO ATTWOOD’S CAR. ATTWOOD STANDS NEXT TO IT, TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE.
Attwood: Believe me Mr. Taylor, you’re doing the right thing. We’ll be there as soon as possible.
ATTWOOD HANGS UP.
Attwood: (to Sloan) I just spoke to his parents. The director of the school went to bat for you. They’ve agreed to meet with us.
ATTWOOD, SLOAN AND TOM GET INTO THE CAR.
NEXT SCENE
A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD. POLICE CARS AND TV TRUCKS LINE THE STREET IN FRONT OF A LARGE THREE-STORY HOUSE. REPORTERS AND ONLOOKERS STAND IN THE FRONT YARD. ATTWOOD DRIVES DOWN THE STREET.
CUT TO ATTWOOD, SLOAN AND TOM ENTERING A BACKYARD THROUGH THE GATE OF A HIGH FENCE.
Sloan: What a zoo.
Attwood: That’s why Mr. Taylor suggested we come in this way.
ATTWOOD CONTINUES ON UP THE BACK PORCH STEPS AS TOM AND SLOAN PAUSE IN THE BACKYARD.
Sloan: Maybe you shouldn’t go in. We know so little about this kid, we have no idea how he’d react to you.
Tom: (putting his hand on her arm) Sloan.
Sloan: Please. We gotta get these people down to the lab.
Tom: Okay.
Sloan: (softly) Okay.
SLOAN WALKS UP THE BACK STEPS. TOM TURNS AND LOOKS AROUND IN THE BACKYARD. HE PAUSES AT THE SIDE OF A SWINGSET. THIS IS A BETTER LOOK AT TOM’S AWFUL OUTFIT. WHAT WAS THE WARDROBE PERSON SMOKING?? TOM GETS A SENSE OF SOMETHING AND LOOKS UP AT A SECOND STORY WINDOW. WE SEE A CURTAIN FALL ACROSS IT.
NEXT SCENE
INSIDE THE TAYLOR HOUSE. ATTWOOD SITS IN A CHAIR, MR. AND MRS. TAYLOR ON A SOFA NEXT TO HIM. SLOAN SITS IN A CHAIR ACROSS FROM THE PARENTS.
Attwood: We’d like to start by asking you some questions.
Mr. Taylor: Alright.
Sloan: You're both Kevin’s natural parents is that right? He wasn’t adopted or--
Mr. Taylor: No, that’s right.
Mrs. Taylor: Why do you want to take Kevin into your lab for tests?
Sloan: Well actually, we’d like all three of you to come down.
Mrs. Taylor: All three of us?
Attwood: Mrs. Taylor, as you may have heard, there’s a new species living among us. We believe they’re out to destroy us.
Mrs. Taylor: What does this have to do with my family?
Sloan: We don’t know. Maybe nothing.
Attwood: Some of their methods have been aimed at children.
Mr. Taylor: Did they do something to Kevin?
Sloan: A few simple tests will tell us a lot.
Mrs. Taylor: No, no he’s already been through so much, I can’t subject him to another ordeal.
Mr. Taylor: Rachel, Rachel this may help!
Rachel: (angrily) Honey, he has got assault charges hanging over his head; these people don't care about Kevin!
Sloan: Mrs. Taylor, we do.
Attwood: I’ve gotten the D.A. to delay any decision about indictment.
Rachel: Does that mean that, they may not try Kevin?
Attwood: I can't promise you that, but I’ll do whatever I can.
Sloan: Will you bring Kevin down to the lab?
Rachel: Alright.
Sloan: Thank you. It might be a good idea for me to see Kevin, just for a minute, so there’s a friendly face when he comes?
Rachel: Sure.
RACHEL STANDS AND LEADS SLOAN OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM. THEY CLIMB THE STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR. RACHEL ENTERS THE DOORWAY OF A ROOM.
Rachel: Kevin?
KEVIN SITS UP FROM WHERE HE WAS LAYING ON HIS BED, READING A BOOK.
Rachel: This is Dr. Parker. She’s trying to help and she’d like to talk to you.
KEVIN STANDS AND HOLDS OUT HIS HAND AS SLOAN WALKS OVER TO THE BOY.
Kevin: (eagerly) Okay! Hello, Dr. Parker.
Sloan: (with a smile) Hello, Kevin.
Rachel: (to Sloan) I’ll be downstairs if you need me.
Sloan: Okay.
KEVIN SITS BACK DOWN ON THE BED. SLOAN BENDS DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM.
Sloan: What are you reading?
Kevin: The biography of Robert E. Lee.
Sloan: That sounds interesting.
Kevin: He was our greatest general. Opposed to slavery, but he was loyal to his homeland. Wanna see something?
Sloan: Sure.
KEVIN HOPS OFF THE BED AND RACES OVER TO A TABLE SET UP WITH TOY SOLDIERS. SLOAN JOINS HIM AT THE TABLE.
Kevin: Here. Battle of Fredericksburg. December 13, 1862. Lee held off Burnside’s attacks.
Sloan: Wow, this is really impressive, Kevin.
Kevin: Thanks.
SLOAN STANDS AND WALKS OVER TO A DRESSER TOPPED WITH BOOKS.
Sloan: You read a lot, huh?
Kevin: I like to read, especially now. I can’t really go out any where.
SLOAN TURNS TO LOOK AT THE BOY, THEN SLOWLY WALKS BEHIND HIM.
Sloan: Because of what happened with those boys.
Kevin: Yeah, It's not fair. They attacked me, I just stopped them.
Sloan: They say you kept hitting the boys even after they’d given up...
KEVIN’S FACE TIGHTENS INTO AN EVIL MASK.
Sloan: ...That you wanted to hurt them. Is that--
SLOAN PUTS HER HAND TO HER BROW, LOSING HER TRAIN OF THOUGHT, HER EYES GLASSY. KEVIN SMILES A LITTLE, THEN TURNS AROUND.
Kevin: So, Mom said you wanted to help me.
SLOAN LOOKS AT THE BOY, HER SPELL BREAKING.
Sloan: We do. Uh, some friends of mine and I. We’d like to run some tests.
Kevin: Will they hurt?
Sloan: Not really, we just, just need to take a little blood is all, at our lab.
Kevin: (excitedly) You mean like a real laboratory? With imaging equipment and cyclotrons--
Sloan: (amusement in her voice) Exactly. Would you like to come?
Kevin: Sure!
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. IN ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. KEVIN STANDS NEAR HIS PARENTS, SEATED IN THE CHAIRS BY THE WINDOW, AND SLOAN SITS BEFORE THEM ON THE EDGE OF ATTWOOD’S DESK. ATTWOOD ENTERS THE OFFICE.
Attwood: Just a few more minutes, we’ll have some results.
Sloan: Kevin, if it’s ok with your parents, would you like to look around?
Kevin: Cool!
Rachel: Okay, sweetie, but you be careful. Don’t touch anything okay?
Kevin: Okay, I won’t.
KEVIN HURRIES OUT.
Sloan: May I ask when the problems with Kevin first started?
Mr. Taylor: As soon as he started being with other children.
Rachel: At first we thought it might be developmental. But his doctors found his intelligence to be normal, it was high even. And there were no neurological problems.
Mr. Taylor: It’s not just kids either. He’s fought with adults as well. Sometimes, physically.
Attwood: Including the both of you?
Rachel: (a bit ashamed) Yes.
CUT TO KEVIN, IN THE LAB AREA, EXPLORING. HE WALKS AROUND, LOOKING AT ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS. HE WALKS FROM THE LAB AREA ACROSS THE HALLWAY TO THE MONKEY CAGES. HE BENDS DOWN NEAR ONE.
Kevin: Hey, monkey.
THE MONKEY SCREECHES AND HOPS AROUND THE CAGE. KEVIN RISES AND LOOKS DOWN A HALLWAY.
CUT BACK TO ATTWOOD’S OFFICE.
Sloan: So these incidents continued, even at Kenwood.
Rachel: Oh, yeah. We were afraid they were gonna kick him out.
ED APPEARS IN THE WINDOW OF THE OFFICE. HE GETS SLOAN’S ATTENTION.
Sloan: Excuse me a moment.
SLOAN EXITS THE OFFICE.
Sloan: (to Ed) What is it?
ED PULLS SLOAN OVER TO ONE OF THE COUNTERS.
Ed: The results of the DNA testing.
Sloan: I cannot believe that these people are members of the new species.
Ed: They’re not. At least the parents aren’t. I mean, their DNA’s as normal as ours.
Sloan: And Kevin?
Ed: His DNA has the one-point-six differential. He is one of ‘em.
CUT BACK TO KEVIN, WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY FROM THE MONKEY CAGES. HE ENTERS A DOORWAY AND STOPS. TOM IS IN THE ROOM. TOM TURNS AND LOOKS AT KEVIN, BROW FURROWING. (HE LOOKS SO YOUNG HERE!) THANK HEAVENS HE HAS CHANGED OUT OF THAT AWFUL T-SHIRT. HE’S GOT A BLACK BUTTON UP SHIRT ON NOW, UNBUTTONED AT THE COLLAR. MAJOR YOWZA. MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR. KEVIN ENTERS THE ROOM, MOUTH AGAPE. HE STARES AT TOM AND TOM STARES DOWN AT THE LITTLE BOY.
Kevin: You’re just like me.
TOM IS TAKEN ABACK BY THIS STATEMENT.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. ED EXITS HIS OFFICE AND WALKS TO THE LAB AREA WHERE ATTWOOD, SLOAN AND TOM STAND NEXT TO A COUNTER.
Attwood: (to Ed) You sure about the test results? One-point-six percent?
Ed: Positive. I ran everything three times.
Sloan: How do we explain this?
Ed: Well, something like the tick maybe. I mean if Kelly was an abortive experiment, Kevin’s a successful one.
Attwood: Experiment or not, he’s still one of them.
Tom: The boy knows it too. He sought me out just now and somehow he knew we’re the same.
Ed: Did you say anything to him?
Tom: No, but he’s going to come back to me. He wants to know who he is. Now we have to take into consideration the fact that this boy, he may not be a victim. He may be a predator.
SLOAN LOOKS DOWN, THEN OVER AT ED, WHO DUCKS HIS HEAD. TOM TURNS AND LEAVES. MAN, HE LOOKS HOT. EVEN IN THOSE AWFUL PANTS.
Sloan: I’d better tell his parents.
Ed: (halting her) Sloan. We have to know about Kevin’s DNA, y’know, when it was changed.
Sloan: That means a thorough blood history.
Ed: Gong all the way back to his birth.
Sloan: I’ll see what I can do.
SLOAN WALKS TO ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. FROM ED AND ATTWOOD’S VANTAGE POINT WE SEE HER TALKING TO THE TAYLORS IN THE OFFICE. RACHEL PUTS HER HANDS TO HER FACE AND SHAKES HER HEAD AS MR. TAYLOR PULLS HIS WIFE INTO HIS ARMS.
CUT TO THE LIBRARY ROOM AT THE BIO LAB. TOM SITS AT A TABLE, LOOKING SO FINE, AND A BIT NERVOUS, WITH KEVIN ACROSS FROM HIM.
Kevin: I just have these...instincts sometimes. When I’m with other kids, I’d do anything to make them go away.
TOM NODS HIS HEAD SLIGHTLY IN UNDERSTANDING.
Kevin: You ever feel like that?
Tom: Yes.
Kevin: Why do I feel that way?
TOM TAPS HIS (REALLY NICE) FINGERS ON THE TABLE.
Tom: You're different.
Kevin: I know that but, I don’t know how.
Tom: Umm...
TOM STANDS, THEN EXHALES A LONG BREATH AND TURNS TO FACE KEVIN.
Tom: Do you know what a species is?
Kevin: Taxonomy, sure. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
(WHY WON’T HE TAKE THAT SWEATER OFF??)
Tom: (nodding slightly) Well, you’re a member of a new species.
Kevin: You mean different than Homo sapiens?
Tom: That’s right.
Kevin: I-Is that good?
TOM LOOKS AWAY AND WALKS BACK TO HIS CHAIR.
Tom: Um, it’s not a question of good or bad.
Kevin: So feeling the way that I feel, wanting to do these things that I want to do, that, that could be the way I'm supposed to feel?
Tom: Yes.
TOM LOOKS UNCERTAIN. (THEN DEAR LORD HE BITES HIS LIP!! GOOD HEAVENS, I COULD JUST DIE! SUCH A CUTIE.)
NEXT SCENE
AT THE TAYLOR’S HOUSE. RACHEL CLIMBS THE STAIRS, SLOAN FOLLOWS.
Rachel: I cannot believe I have to sneak into my own house.
Sloan: The further we stay away from the press, the better.
THEY ENTER KEVIN’S ROOM.
Rachel: Let’s see it should be in one of the photo albums.
RACHEL WALKS TO A BOOKCASE.
Sloan: You keep it in Kevin’s room?
Rachel: Yeah, he loves looking through them. Over and over again.
SHE GETS OUT AN ALBUM AND FLIPS IT OPEN.
Rachel: This should be the first year, yes.
BOTH WOMEN STARE DOWN AT THE BABY PICTURES ALL GOOGLY-EYED. RACHEL STARTS TO CRY. SLOAN COMFORTS HER.
Rachel: I just can’t stand to think of what Kevin really is.
SHE STARTS SOBBING.
Sloan: C’mere, c’mere, sit down.
SLOAN LEADS RACHEL TO A TOY CHEST AND THEY BOTH SIT.
Sloan: Not all of the new species is out to destroy us. One of them saved my life. Several times.
RACHEL OPENS THE ALBUM AGAIN AND FLIPS TO A PAGE. SHE PEELS UP THE COVERING AND REMOVES A LOCK OF HAIR.
Rachel: I remember the day I cut this. Can you really tell about his DNA through his hair?
Sloan: (nodding) Yes.
RACHEL HANDS HER THE SAMPLE.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. TOM STRIDES DOWN THE HALL AND ENTERS THE LAB. OOH, BABY HE LOOKS GOOD. ‘CEPT FOR THOSE PANTS. HE PURPOSEFULLY WALKS THROUGH THE LAB AREA AND TOWARDS SLOAN’S OFFICE. KEVIN, UNSEEN, CALLS TO HIM.
Kevin: Tom!
TOM, BEAUTIFUL MAN THAT HE IS, TURNS TO LOOK AT THE BOY. HIS CLOTHES ARE WAY TOO BAGGY. TOM’S. NOT KEVIN’S. OBVIOUSLY. KEVIN STEPS FORWARD.
Kevin: I want to thank you.
Tom: For what?
Kevin: For all the things you said. Everything’s gonna be okay now. I know that.
Tom: Kevin...
Kevin: When kids called me a freak, I secretly agreed with them. But I never will again because of you.
TOM LOOKS DOWN ON THE BOY WITH A PLEASANT LITTLE SMILE. (SIGH.)
Kevin: And I want you to know, I’ll do anything you ask of me, Tom.
KEVIN BRINGS HIS RIGHT HAND FROM BEHIND HIS BACK AND LIFTS UP THE LIMP BODY OF ONE OF THE LAB MONKEYS. TOM STEPS FORWARD, LIPS PARTED IN SHOCK, AND TAKES THE CREATURE FROM THE BOY. HE PLACES IT IN A SPECIMEN BOWL AND TURNS SLOWLY BACK TO KEVIN.
Tom: There are some things you need to hear, Kevin.
Kevin: (eagerly) Oh, I’d love to hear everything. Teach me, please.
TOM SLOWLY CROUCHES (!) BEFORE THE BOY. (I’M JUST SAYING ONE THING HERE--YOWZA!!)
Tom: You know that sense that you can do whatever’s necessary to survive, and that you have the right to do it...
Kevin: Yes!
Tom: ...And that no creature should be allowed to interfere with that?
Kevin: Yes!
Tom: Well those thoughts, those instincts, they’re not necessarily right.
Kevin: (indignantly) Yes they are! You said--
Tom: Look, everyone, regardless of his species, has all kinds of instincts, and impulses. And part of growing up is learning which to obey and which to ignore.
Kevin: You're just like them!
Tom: No, Kevin...
KEVIN STARTS TO BACK AWAY AND TOM GRABS HIM, TRYING TO KEEP HIM THERE.
Kevin: No! NO!
SLOAN APPROACHES AND LOOKS THE THE SCENE FROM THE HALLWAY. THE BOY IS STRUGGLING TO GET AWAY FROM TOM.
Tom: Kevin, Kevin, Kevin.
Kevin: Stop! Let go of me! No!
KEVIN TWISTS FROM TOM’S GRASP AND RUNS OFF. (SILLY BOY! HEL-LO, NO BETTER PLACE TO BE!) SLOAN RUSHES INTO THE LAB.
Sloan: Tom, what happened? Why--
SHE STOPS AND STARES AT THE DEAD MONKEY.
Sloan: Oh, my God.
TOM LOOKS UP AT HER, THEN STANDS.
Tom: Kevin snapped it’s neck. To show me that he’s truly one of us.
TOM SITS ON A STOOL AND LOOKS UP AT SLOAN.
Sloan: OH, God.
Tom: The strange thing is, I um, feel badly for him.
SLOAN MOVES TO COVER THE MONKEY.
Tom: He’s so confused right now and I didn’t help.
SLOAN TURNS AROUND TO LOOK AT TOM.
Sloan: I’m sure you did the best you could.
TOM RAISES HIS EYEBROW AND LOOKS IN THE DIRECTION KEVIN RAN OFF IN. SLOAN STEPS FORWARD.
Sloan: Hey.
SHE STARES DOWN INTO HIS EYES AND STROKES THE HAIR AT HIS TEMPLE. TOM SHAKES HIS HEAD DEJECTEDLY. KEVIN PEEKS HIS HEAD AROUND FROM ATTWOOD’S OFFICE AND SPIES ON THE COUPLE. ED ENTERS THE LAB AREA AND CALLS TO SLOAN.
Ed: Sloan!
SLOAN TURNS AND DROPS HER HAND.
Ed: I got the results on the DNA test on Kevin’s hair.
SLOAN STEPS TOWARDS ED AND TOM STANDS.
Sloan: And?
Ed: And, the kid’s always been one-point-six. He was born that way.
SLOAN LOOKS OVER AT TOM, WHO LOOKS AT HER, THEN SHE LOOKS BACK AT ED.
Ed: Um, there’s something else.
HE HANDS SLOAN A REPORT. SHE READS IT, THEN SLOWLY LOOKS UP AT ED.
Sloan: Frank isn’t Kevin’s father.
STUNNED LOOKS ALL AROUND FOR OUR HEROES. KEVIN, OVERHEARING THE CONVERSATION, GIVES A MALEVOLENT LOOK, THEN WALKS AROUND THE CORNER AND DOWN A HALL.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN LEADS RACHEL INTO HER OFFICE. SLOAN SITS ON THE EDGE OF HER DESK, WITH RACHEL IN A CHAIR NEAR THE DOOR.
Sloan: I thought it might be better if we spoke alone.
Rachel: Did you run the test on Kevin’s hair?
Sloan: Yes, his DNA has been the same since birth.
Rachel: How can that be?
Sloan: We finished the blood work on you and Frank. Rachel, he isn’t Kevin’s father.
Rachel: Well, that’s impossible.
Sloan: Was there anyone else? Another man?
Rachel: I don’t have to talk to you about this.
RACHEL GETS UP AND GOES TO THE DOOR. SLOAN HALTS HER.
Sloan: Please.
Rachel: No, just leave me alone.
Sloan: You can’t keep this secret. You’ve got to help us. You’ve got to try to help Kevin.
RACHEL TURNS FROM HER AND PACES ACROSS THE ROOM.
Rachel: (starting to cry) Alright. There was someone else. But I never told Frank. I didn't want to hurt him, he’s such a wonderful husband. He’s a wonderful father.
Sloan: And this other man is Kevin’s real father?
Rachel: Well, he has to be, there wasn't anybody else.
Sloan: What do you know about him?
Rachel: Umm, I met him at a club. It was a week before my wedding. He just came over and started talking to me.
Sloan: What was his name?
Rachel: Richard Allen. He was gorgeous and really nice and so sweet, y’know, not macho. There was no posturing.
Sloan: Do you know anything else about him?
Rachel: Oh, I had this picture, that the photographer at the club took of him. He wrote his number on the back of it for me.
Sloan: Do you still have it?
Rachel: No, I lost it. It was like a fantasy that came true. I just got carried away but I never saw him again, ever.
FRANK QUIETLY STEPS INTO THE DOORWAY FROM ED’S OFFICE.
Sloan: And you weren't using any birth control.
Rachel: Well, that’s, that’s what’s so weird about this. I was. I was on the pill.
RACHEL LOOKS TOWARDS THE DOOR AND SEES FRANK STANDING THERE. HE LOOKS WOUNDED.
Rachel: Oh!
FRANK TURNS AWAY, IN ANGUISH.
Rachel: Frank!
HE LEAVES THE OFFICE. SLOAN COMFORTS RACHEL.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. IN ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. ATTWOOD WALKS OVER TO HIS DESK. ED AND SLOAN STAND BEFORE IT.
Attwood: So she was seduced by one of them, who got her pregnant.
Sloan: And the child is a one-point-six.
ED SITS IN ONE OF THE CHAIRS.
Ed: So, if one of their men has sexual intercourse with one of our women and impregnates her, the child will be one-point-six?
Sloan: In this instance at least.
Attwood: Yet another plan of attack.
Sloan: This makes your gene therapy work even more important.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. IN SLOAN’S OFFICE. KEVIN FLIPS THROUGH A MAGAZINE. RACHEL LOOKS INTO THE ROOM THROUGH THE WINDOW, AND SMILES DOWN AT HER SON. SHE GATHERS HER STRENGTH, THEN POKES HER HEAD INTO THE OFFICE.
Rachel: Hey, Kevin.
RACHEL WALKS OVER AND RUNS HER HAND ACROSS KEVIN’S HAIR, WHO TURNS AND LOOKS UP AT HER, COLDLY.
Kevin: So who is my real father?
Rachel: What?
Kevin: I know what’s going on here. I‘m not a baby anymore.
Rachel: Oh, honey you shouldn’t eavesdrop.
Kevin: (angrily) But I did. And I know. Who is he?
RACHEL SITS IN ONE OF THE CHAIRS AND LOOKS UP AT THE BOY.
Rachel: He said that his name was Richard Allen. I haven’t seen him in over nine years, honey.
KEVIN PULLS A PICTURE OUT OF HIS JACKET POCKET AND SHOWS IT TO HIS MOTHER. IT’S A PICTURE OF HER, YOUNGER, AT A TABLE WITH AN ATTRACTIVE MAN.
Kevin: Is this him?
RACHEL TAKES THE PICTURE. SHE LOOKS AT IT, THEN UP AT KEVIN.
Rachel: Where did you get this?
Kevin: I found it in your drawer.
Rachel: You stole it!
Kevin: Is that my father?
Rachel: Yes. Honey--
KEVIN RIPS THE PICTURE FROM HER HANDS AND STALKS OUT OF THE OFFICE. RACHEL SIGHS AND COVERS HER FACE WITH HER HANDS.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN WALKS ACROSS THE LAB AREA READING A REPORT. SHE SITS AT A COMPUTER AND KEYS IT UP. KEVIN APPROACHES QUIETLY. SLOAN TURNS WHEN SHE HEARS HIS VOICE.
Kevin: My mom just told me about my real father. She said it’s better that I found out from her than see it on TV.
Sloan: That must be hard for you.
Kevin: It's okay. Now I understand better.
Sloan: Kevin. It seems like Frank has been a wonderful father to you.
Kevin: He’d do anything for me.
KEVIN TURNS AND LOOKS AT SOME DISSECTION EQUIPMENT ON THE COUNTER.
Sloan: I know he loves you--
Kevin: It’s ok. You don’t have to try to make me feel better.
KEVIN FINGERS A SHARP INSTRUMENT, A SCALPEL, THEN TURNS AROUND AND LOOKS AT SLOAN.
Kevin: Tom likes you.
SLOAN SMILES.
Sloan: We like each other.
Kevin: I saw the way he looked at you. You’re very pretty. I love your hair, the way it curls.
Sloan: I think, umm, I think I should go talk to your mom.
SLOAN STANDS TO LEAVE. KEVIN GLARES AT HER AS SHE PASSES HIM. SLOAN ONCE AGAIN GETS A GLASSY-EYED, FAR-AWAY LOOK ON HER FACE. SHE STOPS WALKING. KEVIN TURNS AND PICKS UP ONE OF THE SCALPELS. HE STARES AT IT, THEN SLOWLY WALKS OVER TO SLOAN, WHO IS FROZEN IN PLACE, UNSEEING. KEVIN LOOKS AT THE SCALPEL AGAIN, THEN UP AT SLOAN. SUDDENLY TOM (OUR HERO!) APPEARS IN THE DOORWAY AND PUSHES THROUGH THE GLASS DOORS.
Tom: Sloan!
KEVIN HIDES THE SCALPEL AND TURNS AND LOOKS AT TOM. TOM PAUSES IN FRONT OF KEVIN AND SLOAN.
Tom: What’s going on?
Kevin: (spitefully) You’d hate to lose her, wouldn’t you?
KEVIN TURNS AND RUNS OFF. SLOAN BLINKS, AND PUTS HER HANDS TO HER TEMPLES. TOM WALKS TO HER, CONCERNED.
Tom: You alright?
SLOAN LOOKS AROUND IN SHOCK AND CONFUSION.
Sloan: I don’t know. I was talking to Kevin, and it’s, it’s like I lost my train of thought, I couldn’t remember what I was saying. This has happened before!
Tom: Well, maybe he’s blocking you. If I can sense your energy, your emotions, maybe he’s able to take it one step further, interfere with the electrical impulses in your brain and scramble what’s going on in your head.
SLOAN STANDS STUNNED, THINKING ABOUT THIS AS ATTWOOD WALKS FROM HIS OFFICE AND OVER TO THEM.
Attwood: There have been some developments. One of the boys Kevin attacked has died.
CUT TO RACHEL, IN ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. SHE’S JUST BEEN TOLD THE NEWS. SLOAN SITS NEXT TO HER.
Rachel: Oh, my God!
FRANK STANDS NEAR ATTWOOD’S DESK, ATTWOOD BEHIND IT. TOM STANDS NEAR THE DOOR.
Frank: So, what happens now?
Attwood: I can’t stop the judicial process. The D.A.’s under too much pressure from the press and from the families of the boys.
Franks: What’s gonna happen to Kevin?
Attwood: The terminology is different, but the process is pretty much the same as in an adult case. There’ll be a hearing, an arraignment, then an adjudication, by a judge, not a jury.
Frank: Will Kevin be able to stay with us?
Attwood: I’m afraid not. The D.A.’s office told me he’ll be sent to a juvenile hall until the judicial proceedings are finished.
Rachel: What happens if he’s convicted?
Attwood: Most likely he’ll be sent to a group home, or a community placement camp.
Rachel: But he’s only nine years old! Isn’t there any way you can treat him and make him better?
Sloan: Actually, we are working on something.
Attwood: Mrs. Taylor, I’ve been told that Kevin needs to report to the D.A. immediately.
RACHEL STANDS UNCERTAINLY.
Rachel: I-I’d better...go tell him.
RACHEL LOOKS UP AT FRANK, WHO DOESN’T MEET HER EYES. RACHEL LEAVES THE OFFICE.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. FRANK SITS AT A TABLE IN THE LIBRARY ROOM, LOST IN THOUGHT. HE LOOKS UP TO SEE KEVIN THROUGH THE WINDOW IN THE HALLWAY. KEVIN ENTERS THE ROOM.
Kevin: (voice full of emotion) I don’t care what they say. You’ll always be my dad. My real dad.
FRANK MOTIONS KEVIN OVER, CHOKING BACK TEARS.
Frank: C’mere.
KEVIN RUSHES INTO FRANK’S ARMS.
Frank: That’s the way I feel too, Kevin.
FRANK PULLS BACK AND LOOKS AT THE BOY.
Frank: Hey, so did Mom tell you what has to happen now?
Kevin: They’re gonna take me away and put me in some kind of jail thing. And I’m not gonna be able to see you.
Frank: Hey, it’s not gonna be that bad.
Kevin: I’m just so scared. Please don’t let them take me!
Frank: Kevin--
Kevin: Please!
Frank: I don’t know what else to do.
Kevin: W-we can...run away some place. Just you and me.
Frank: We cannot do that to your mother.
Kevin: Please Dad, don’t let them take me, please!
FRANK GRABS THE BOY INTO ANOTHER BIG HUG.
Frank: Gonna be okay.
KEVIN SMILES EVILLY OVER FRANK’S SHOULDER.
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. IN ED’S OFFICE. ED SITS AT HIS DESK, LOOKING OVER REPORTS. SLOAN APPROACHES HIM.
Sloan: Why don’t you pack it in for the night, get some sleep?
Ed: I can’t. Lost a whole day of work on the gene therapy, but I am close.
Sloan: I just pray that you can help Kevin.
RACHEL RUSHES INTO THE OFFICE. THE SCIENTISTS LOOK UP AT HER.
Rachel: They’re gone!
Sloan: (standing) What are you talking about?
Rachel: Kevin and Frank, they’ve run away!
NEXT SCENE
AT THE BIO LAB. SLOAN AND RAY WALK DOWN A HALLWAY QUICKLY.
Ray: How long ago did you notice they were missing?
Sloan: Maybe a half hour ago.
THEY WALK INTO ATTWOOD’S OFFICE. TOM SITS IN A CHAIR FACING THE DOORWAY. ATTWOOD IS PERCHED ON THE CORNER OF HIS DESK.
Ray: Any idea where they could’ve gone?
Attwood: I’ve had a man watching their house, they didn’t go back there.
Tom: (standing and handing Ray a piece of paper) I got the license plate number from Rachel.
Ray: Ah, that’ll help. Let me get the word out.
RAY TURNS TO LEAVE AND TOM STEPS FORWARD.
Tom: I’m gonna go with you.
Ray: Fine.
THEY LEAVE. SLOAN STARES AFTER TOM AS HE GOES.
NEXT SCENE
NIGHTTIME. AT A LARGE MOTEL, THE STAY N SAVE MOTOR INN. INSIDE ONE OF THE ROOMS WE SEE THE BACKSIDE OF THE PHOTO OF RACHEL TAYLOR AND RICHARD ALLEN, A PHONE NUMBER AND NAME CLEARLY WRITTEN. KEVIN FLIPS THE PICTURE OVER AND THE CAMERA PANS UP TO SHOW HIM ON THE TELEPHONE.
Kevin: Okay....Okay...I understand...You can count on me, I’ll be there.
HE HANGS UP. FRANK WALKS IN FROM ANOTHER ROOM.
Frank: Hey, Kev. I been thinking about where we should go. We can get into Canada without much problem. You remember my friend Dave there--
Kevin: I can’t go anywhere with you.
Frank: You mean you can’t leave Mom.
Kevin: I mean, I’m not going with you. I’ve something important to do.
Frank: (confused) Wh-what are you talking about?
HE SEES THE PICTURE ON THE BED.
Frank: (leaning over to pick up the photo) Who is this?
KEVIN WALKS TO THE SIDE OF THE BED, GLARING AT FRANK. HE REMOVES THE SCALPEL FROM THE LAB FROM ITS HIDING PLACE ON THE BED BENEATH HIS JACKET. FRANK IS STILL STARING AT THE PHOTO.
Frank: Kevin, where did this come from?
Kevin: (sweetly) Daddy?
FRANK TURNS AND SEES KEVIN, BRANDISHING THE SCALPEL. HIS EYES WIDEN IN FEAR AS THE BOY’S ARM SLICES DOWN.
NEXT SCENE
NIGHTTIME. AT THE STAY N SAVE INN. A CAR PULLS INTO THE PARKING LOT. INSIDE FRANK’S ROOM, WE SEE HIS BODY ON THE FLOOR, FACEDOWN. RAY UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND OPENS IT, TOM FILLING THE DOORWAY BEHIND HIM. THEY HALT IN THE DOORWAY, SEEING THE BODY.
Ray: Oh, my God.
NEXT SCENE
AT SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SLOAN STANDS IN HER KITCHEN IN HER SLIP (WAITIN’ FOR TOM?) DRINKING FROM A COFFEE CUP. SHE LOOKS THROUGH HER MAIL, BILLS, THEN LOOKS UP AS SHE HEARS A LITTLE KNOCK ON HER DOOR. THE KNOCK IS REPEATED AND SHE SETS HER CUP DOWN AND WALKS TO THE DOOR. SHE PEERS THROUGH THE PEEPHOLE THEN HURRIEDLY DISARMS THE MONITOR. SHE OPENS THE DOOR.
Sloan: Kevin!
KEVIN RUSHES FORWARD AND THROWS HIS ARMS AROUND SLOAN’S WAIST.
Kevin: (tearily) Frank took me! He’s gonna make me run away from my mom and my life and my house...
SLOAN BACKS AWAY AND CROUCHES BEFORE THE BOY.
Sloan: (in a calming tone) Wh-where is Frank now?
Kevin: I don’t know. I ran away from him.
SLOAN STANDS SLOWLY.
Sloan: How did you know where I live?
Kevin: I remembered your address from one of your journals.
CUT TO TOM, BACK AT THE MOTEL, CROUCHING (!) IN FRONT OF THE BODY. HE SEES SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR AND WALKS OVER TO IT. HE CROUCHES (!) NEXT TO THE BED AND PICKS UP A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER, HALF HIDDEN BY THE BEDSPREAD, AND READS IT. WE SEE IT IS A LABEL FROM A MAGAZINE WITH SLOAN’S ADDRESS ON IT. (DR. SLOAN PARKER, 202 EAST LA LONA ROAD, PASADENA CA, 91106-2607. AH, TRIVIA!) TOM STANDS AND LOOKS AT RAY, WHO STEPS FORWARD. TOM HANDS HIM THE LABEL.
CUT BACK TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SLOAN CLOSES AND LOCKS THE DOOR, THEN LOOKS DOWN AT KEVIN. THE PHONE RINGS AND SLOAN GOES TO PICK IT UP. SHE HESITATES, STOPPING AND PUTTING HER HAND TO HER BROW. KEVIN GLARES AT HER.
CUT BACK TO THE MOTEL. TOM STANDS WITH THE RECEIVER TO HIS EAR.
Tom: Pick up the phone, Sloan. Pick up the phone!
CUT BACK TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. THE PHONE CONTINUES TO RING. KEVIN SMILES EVILLY AT SLOAN’S BACK.
CUT BACK TO THE MOTEL. TOM HANGS UP THE PHONE AND LOOKS OVER AT RAY.
Tom: Come on.
HE RUSHES OUT OF THE ROOM AND THE FORMER DETECTIVE FOLLOWS HIM. (GUESS THEY’RE JUST GONNA LEAVE THE DEAD GUY ON THE FLOOR.)
CUT BACK TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SLOAN DROPS HER HAND, HER HAZE CLEARING. KEVIN STEPS TOWARDS HER. SLOAN TURNS SUDDENLY. KEVIN IS STANDING NEAR HER CENTER ISLAND. HE POINTS TO HER CUP.
Kevin: What’s this?
Sloan: Umm, tea.
Kevin: May I have some?
Sloan: (distractedly) Alright. You stay in the kitchen, I’m gonna go put on a robe.
SLOAN TURNS TO HER BEDROOM WITH A VAGUE SMILE.
Kevin: Don’t change for me.
SLOAN TURNS BACK TO LOOK AT THE SMARMY LITTLE BOY, THEN WALKS TO HER BEDROOM, SLIDING HER PORTABLE PHONE OFF THE ISLAND AND INTO HER HAND AS SHE PASSES IT. KEVIN GLARES AFTER HER, THEN WALKS OVER TO THE DOOR AND CHAINS IT.
NEXT SCENE
RAY DRIVES QUICKLY DOWN A ROAD. HE’S ON HIS CELL PHONE. TOM SITS NEXT TO HIM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. (POOR TOM DOESN’T HAVE A CAR ANYMORE. IT GOT BLOWN UP. HE’S GONNA BE BUMMING RIDES FROM NOW ON. HIS FRIENDS ARE GONNA BE TICKED IF HE DOESN’T PONY UP SOME GAS MONEY...)
Ray: (on phone) We found Frank’s body at the Stay N Save Inn....Oh, and thanks for getting the i.d. on the plate. Right.
HE HANGS UP.
CUT BACK TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. KEVIN REMOVES A LARGE KNIFE FROM SLOAN’S BUTCHER BLOCK. HE STARES AT THE BLADE.
CUT TO SLOAN, TUCKED BEHIND THE DOOR OF HER BEDROOM AREA. SHE QUICKLY DIALS HER PHONE. MEANWHILE, KEVIN STRIDES OVER TO THE PHONE BASE WITH THE KNIFE, AND SEVERS THE CORDS. SLOAN STARES AT THE PHONE AS IT GOES DEAD, THEN TRIES RE-DIALING.
CUT BACK TO RAY’S CAR.
Ray: Do you really think Sloan could be in danger from a little kid?
TOM TURNS FROM THE WINDOW AND JUST LOOKS AT THE FORMER DETECTIVE POINTEDLY. RAY SHAKES HIS HEAD IN WONDER AND DISBELIEF.
CUT BACK TO SLOAN’S APARTMENT. SLOAN WALKS FROM HER BEDROOM IN A LONG BLUE SATIN ROBE. SHE SEES KEVIN STANDING IN HER KITCHEN, NEXT TO THE ISLAND. SLOAN WALKS TOWARDS HIM WITH A SMILE.
Sloan: We need to call your mother.
SHE WALKS TO HER BAG, SITTING ON A DINING ROOM CHAIR. KEVIN WALKS OVER TO HER.
Kevin: What about my tea?
SLOAN GETS HER CELL PHONE OUT AND STARTS DIALING.
Sloan: She’s worried sick, I know it.
Kevin: I couldn’t help it, Dr. Parker. My dad just took me.
Sloan: (distractedly) Mm-hmm.
KEVIN GLARES UP AT SLOAN, AND HER EYES GLAZE OVER. SHE LOWERS THE PHONE FROM HER EAR, THEN DROPS IT ON THE FLOOR. KEVIN BRINGS THE BUTCHER KNIFE UP AND WAVES IT IN FRONT OF HER UNSEEING EYES. HE STARES AT THE BLADE, THEN LOOKS TOWARD THE DOOR, SENSING SOMETHING. SLOAN’S SPELL IS BROKEN AND SHE LOOKS DOWN AND SEES KEVIN HOLDING THE KNIFE. SHE GIVES A CRY AND GRABS FOR IT. SLOAN STRUGGLES WITH THE BOY, THEN MANAGES TO SLAM HIS WRIST DOWN ON THE ISLAND. THE KNIFE FALLS WITH A CLUTTER. SLOAN TRIES TO GET HOLD OF THE EVIL SPAWN BUT HE USES HIS LITTLE ONE-POINT-SIXER STRENGTH AND PUSHES HARD. SLOAN FLIES ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM AND LANDS IN FRONT OF HER OVERSIZED CHAIR. KEVIN QUICKLY PICKS UP THE KNIFE AND STALKS TOWARDS HER. WE HEAR MOVEMENT OUTSIDE AND TOM CALLS TO HER THROUGH THE DOOR.
Tom: Sloan!
SLOAN TURNS TO LOOK AT THE DOOR.
Sloan: Tom!
KEVIN RACES OVER TO THE FUSE BOX AND SHUTS THE POWER DOWN, BLACKENING THE ROOM JUST AS TOM BREAKS THROUGH THE DOOR. TOM GLANCES AROUND IN THE DARK, THEN TAKES A STEP FORWARD, INTO THE LIGHT FROM OUTSIDE. HIS BEAUTIFUL FACE HANGS IN THE DARKNESS.
Tom: Stay where you are, Sloan.
TOM SLOWLY MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH THE APARTMENT.
Kevin: It’s not over, Tom.
WE HEAR KEVIN’S SCAMPERING FEET AS TOM REACHES THE FUSE BOX. HE FLICKS THE SWITCHES UP AND THE LIGHTS COME ON. (DON’T YOU JUST LOVE A MAN WHO CAN FIX THINGS!) SLOAN STARES UP AT HIM FROM THE FLOOR, STILL IN SHOCK. TOM LOOKS AROUND FOR KEVIN, THEN RUSHES OVER TO SLOAN. HE TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS AND STROKES HER HAIR.
Tom: Hey, you alright?
SLOAN NODS.
Tom: You sure?
Sloan: Yeah.
HE LEANS FORWARD AND KISSES HER FOREHEAD (!!!), THEN HUGS HER TO HIM.
NEXT SCENE
DAYTIME. IN FRONT OF THE LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING. ATTWOOD STANDS AT A PODIUM. HE’S GIVING ANOTHER STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA, WHO CROWD THE SIDEWALK BEFORE HIM.
Attwood: Since Dr. Parker uncovered the existence of the new species, we’ve worked to discover the nature of its intent, as well. I’m saddened and disturbed to report today that its intent is hostile. Its ingenuity, limitless, and the threat its members post to our continued existence on this planet is very real. This species possesses superior strength and intelligence.
CUT TO A SCENE OF KEVIN, WALKING DOWN A SUBURBAN SIDEWALK WITH A SMALL SUITCASE. ATTWOOD’S PRESS CONFERENCE HAS BECOME A VOICEOVER.
Attwood: (voiceover) They’re able to sense our presence and read our emotions. There is even evidence that the latest generation is able to scramble our brain waves and control our thought.
CUT BACK TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE. WE SEE SLOAN AND ED, NEXT TO THE PODIUM, LISTENING TO ATTWOOD.
Attwood: In addition, we’ve uncovered the systematic training of dozens of operatives skilled in the techniques of modern terrorism...
CUT TO TOM, STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE CROWD OF REPORTERS, LISTENING, WEARING (THANK HEAVENS!) BLACK PANTS, A BLACK V-NECK SHIRT AND A LONG BLACK OVERCOAT. (TWO WORDS THIS TIME. HUBBA-HUBBA!)
CUT BACK TO KEVIN, REACHING THE CORNER OF THE BLOCK. MORE KIDS WITH BAGS JOIN HIM.
Attwood: (voiceover) ...And now at work in North America. The new species has also engineered a campaign to destroy the immune systems of school children, making their early deaths inevitable. The species has been able to place an implant in a young woman that partially converted her DNA, and resulted in her death at the age of twenty.
THE KIDS CROSS THE STREET, GAINING EVEN MORE NUMBERS NOW.
CUT BACK TO ATTWOOD AT THE PODIUM.
Attwood: The new species has successfully exhumed a living sample of the deadly Spanish influenza virus. They intended to immunize themselves against the virus, and unleash it on the earth’s human population. You already know about their successful cloning of the homicidal Randall Lynch, and now we’ve discovered the most disturbing thing of all.
CUT BACK TO KEVIN AND THE KIDS, WALKING DOWN ANOTHER SIDEWALK.
Attwood: (voiceover) We have reason to believe that if a member of the new species procreates with a member of our own species, the issue of that union would be a purebred member of that new species and dedicated to the annihilation of our own.
CUT BACK TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
Attwood: These programs are only the beginning and undoubtedly there are more already underway, as yet undetected. And today I want not only to alert the general public to this present danger, but to name this new species as well. To us, that name seems self-evident. The species shall henceforth be known as Homo dominant.
CUT BACK TO KEVIN AND THE KIDS, STILL TROOPING DOWN A SIDEWALK, ABOUT TEN STRONG NOW. THEY MEET UP WITH ANOTHER LINE OF KIDS WITH BAGS, AND FILE INTO A BUS.
CUT BACK TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
Attwood: The looming question that now confronts us, is clear.
CUT BACK TO THE BUS. KEVIN STARES OUT THE BACK WINDOW WITH AN EVIL SMILE.
Attwood: (voiceover) What will they do next?
THE BUS DRIVES AWAY, CARRYING ITS LOAD OF DOMINANT CHILDREN.