Outburst Screenplay by Peter Stass Story by Peter Stass & Divi Crockett

Peter Stass 25-45 23rd St. #3 Astoria, NY 11102 Peterstass@hotmail.com WGA East: 0327564

INT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT A formally-dressed AUDIENCE awaits a performance. A few excited WHISPERS, the SHUFFLING of programs. UPSTAGE a large ORCHESTRA prepares to start. At CENTER STAGE is a grand piano. INT. GREEN ROOM - CONTINUOUS LESLIE BARRETT (13) sits on a sofa looking up at her parents as they pace before her. Her hair is curled, her dress is elegant, but her pretty face is pale and worried. LESLIE I dont feel good. JIM BARRETT (O.C.) Well, how do you feel, honey? LINDA BARRETT (O.C.) Stop babying her. Its just nerves. LESLIE Its not nerves. Its different. LINDA BARRETT (O.C.) Then what is it? I dont know. LESLIE

LINDA BARRETT (O.C.) Leslie, this is a very important show and youve come a long way to get here. Youre not going to quit now and make a fool of us. INT. CONCERT HALL - MOMENTS LATER The HOUSE LIGHTS DIM and the audience quiets. Leslie walks out of the wings and the Audience erupts with APPLAUSE. She is nervous and a bit disoriented. She smiles and takes a bow. Someone SNAPS A PICTURE with a FLASH and Leslie blinks, almost losing her balance. (CONTINUED)

2. CONTINUED: She regains herself and takes a seat at the piano. As the applause quiets, the CONDUCTOR (60s) gives a cue and Leslie positions her fingers at the keys. But its purely mechanical. She doesnt seem to know where she is or what shes doing. The Conductor looks at her with concern. Leslie looks out into the audience. All she sees is blackness and FLASHING LIGHTS. POP. POP. POP. Leslies EYES GO DEAD and she starts to CONVULSE. She opens her mouth to scream, but what we hear is a clap of THUNDER. EXT. MANHATTAN - NIGHT THUNDER and LIGHTNING explode over the upper west side as a storm begins. A post war apartment building with a fire escape. A LIGHT in a kitchen window on an upper floor. INT. LESLIES KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS LESLIE (now 30s) pulls the window shade down and steps back fearfully. Shes still pretty, still pale, and we can see in her eyes that shes had a hard life. OCTOBER, a black cat, wraps herself around Leslies ankles, PURRING. Leslie reaches down to pet her. LESLIE You just ate, you little bum. The DOOR BUZZER sounds from O.S. Leslie goes out. INT. LESLIES APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS Leslie walks through a small dining area and a living room. The curtains are closed throughout. There is an upright piano against the wall with pictures of her and her parents when she was a child. Simple furnishings, lots of records and cds and a stereo and outdated TV which look like they havent worked in years. Leslie goes to an intercom panel near the door and presses the button. (CONTINUED)

3. CONTINUED: Hello? LESLIE

STATIC. She presses it again. Hello? LESLIE (CONTD)

With a SIGH, Leslie holds down a second button for a beat, then goes to the dining area to clear away the dishes from the table, which has been set for one. INT. LESLIES APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER Leslie opens the door to reveal DANA DRAKE (13) as she removes her dripping rain coat and galoshes. She is bright but awkward. DANA Youve gotta get your buzzer fixed. LESLIE The guy just fixed it. DANA Well maybe he needs to replace it. LESLIE I told you. Electronics dont like me. Look around. This place is like a cemetary for appliances. Dana looks around the small apartment. A dead microwave here, a broken VCR there, etc. INT. LESLIES LIVING ROOM - LATER Leslie listens as Dana plays Chopins Nocturno. She is very talented. After a bit, she stops playing and looks at Leslie. DANA Can I ask you a question? Sure. LESLIE

DANA Do you believe in God?

(CONTINUED)

4. CONTINUED: (laughs) LESLIE

What?

DANA A girl at my school died. Oh. LESLIE

DANA She was out for a long time with some kind of infection. The principal made an announcement that she died today. LESLIE Did you know her? DANA Not really. Just by face. LESLIE Did it scare you? I dont happens doesnt anyway. you? Sure. DANA know. I asked my mom what when we die. She said it matter cause were dead But I think it does, dont LESLIE

DANA Well, what do you think happens? LESLIE Well, Im not very religious and I dont believe in ghosts. But I do believe in energy. Energy? DANA

LESLIE They say our bodies are just concentrated energy. And theres energy all around us. In the earth, the air, even in space. So in a sense, life is energy. Maybe when we die, we just flow back into the stream. (CONTINUED)

5. CONTINUED: (2) DANA But what if we dont? I mean, what if were just...gone? Suddenly the power goes out, plunging the apartment into darkness. LESLIE (laughs) Must be the storm. Ill go check the fuse box. Leslie goes down the hall. A CRASH OF THUNDER outside followed by a BURST OF LIGHTNING and Dana jumps. October pulls her legs and tail in tightly around herself beneath the sofa, her eyes reflecting in the darkness. Dana walks to the window and opens the curtains, letting the light in from the street lamps below. Leslie walks back in and hurries to the window. LESLIE (CONTD) Honey, you shouldnt do that. She tries to close the curtains but they catch on one side. She tugs too hard and it slips off the rod. Another thunderous BOOM and a FLASH OF LIGHTNING. Leslie staggers back, blinking. Dana watches her in confusion. Leslie EYES GO DEAD and she starts to CONVULSE, letting out a slow and steady SCREAM which builds in volume until it fills the whole room. She falls on the ground in an epileptic fit, striking her head against the hardwood floor. Leslie! DANA

She runs over and cradles Leslies head as she continues shaking, making strange coughing noises. Dana looks at her hand and sees something DARK and WET. Another flash of LIGHTNING strikes, revealing BLOOD on her hand, and a slowly spreading pool on the ground. Dana SCREAMS.

6. EXT. LESLIES BUILDING LOBBY - LATER As the rain falls, two PARAMEDICS (20s) roll Leslie out on a stretcher, past curious TENANTS and into a waiting ambulance. Leslie is awake, but in a daze. Her head is bandaged and there is a brace around her neck. Dana follows close behind, in tears. She has forgotten her raincoat and is getting soaked. PARAMEDIC ONE Did you know she was epileptic? DANA Yes...but Ive never seen it before. Dana! MRS. DRAKE (O.S.)

Dana turns to see her parents, MR. and MRS. DRAKE (40s) standing under the building awning. They are Upper West Side Yuppies, liberal but overprotective. MRS. DRAKE (O.S.) (CONTD) Get out of that rain right now! Dana watches as they lift Leslie into the ambulance and then reluctantly joins her parents under the awning. MRS. DRAKE (CONTD) Where is your raincoat? Who cares? DANA

MR. DRAKE Dont talk to your mother like that. INT. AMBULANCE - CONTINUOUS Paramedic One stands over Leslie. PARAMEDIC ONE Can you tell me your name? LESLIE (dazed) Ill have to get back to you on that.

7. INT. HOSPITAL RADIOLOGY ROOM - LATER Leslie lies in the center of a donut-shaped M.R.I. machine, cringing under the THUNDEROUS SOUND as it takes photos of her skull. ANGLE ON A SERIES OF X-RAY IMAGES OF HER SKULL. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING The room looks out onto the city. The sun is shining but Leslie is miserable as she stares out from her bed. The tubes and neck brace are gone now, but she still wears the IV in her arm. Her eyes are red and swollen. DR. ROBERT NEWTON (40s) stands at the foot of her bed holding her MRI results. Hes a nice-looking guy with a light touch. We can see that he cares about her. DR. NEWTON How do you feel? LESLIE Everything hurts. Even my tongue. DR. NEWTON Yeah, looks like you chewed it up pretty good. Luckily, there are no fractures anywhere. Just a laceration in your scalp. Weve got some stitches in there. I noticed. LESLIE

DR. NEWTON I noticed you werent wearing your I.D. bracelet. LESLIE I was in my own home. DR. NEWTON It doesnt matter. You should wear it all the times. LESLIE It makes people treat me like a mental patient. Makes it heard to find students. Much less friends.

(CONTINUED)

8. CONTINUED: DR. NEWTON I understand, but its got important information on it like the drug you take, emergency contact information-LESLIE When do I get to go home? DR. NEWTON (beat) Well, Id like to watch you for a few days, check your levels. LESLIE Whats the point? DR. NEWTON To see if theres been a change in your disorder. Maybe we need to make an adjustment. LESLIE Make an adjustment? Theyve been making adjustments all my life. Lets be honest. Nothing works. Im fine for a while and then I fall down and crack my head open again. The problem is I keep getting up! She starts to cry. DR. NEWTON But there could be something we havent tried that could help you better. LESLIE Every time we change my meds, its new side effects and more seizures. Im not going through that again, you hear me? Im done. (beat) Lets just keep things the way they are. Dr. Newton pulls up a chair and sits down beside her. DR. NEWTON Weve been working on this together for a long time, Leslie. And I want to see you get better almost as badly as you do. (beat) (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

9. CONTINUED: (2) DR. NEWTON (CONT'D) But Im not gonna press you on this now. Lets just take a break, rest for a while and well talk again later, okay? Okay. LESLIE

Dr. Newton gets up and starts to leave. LESLIE (CONTD) There is one good thing about this, Robert. He stops and smiles. DR. NEWTON And whats that? LESLIE It got me out of the house. He smiles and goes out. A VIDEO MONTAGE It is silent footage of various PATIENTS having seizures. Some of the clips are older and grainier than others. Over this, we hear a womans voice: SUSAN PROCTOR (O.S.) Over fifty million people suffer from some form of seizure disorder worldwide. Though some can be controlled with medication, most cannot and there is no cure. The montage ends and we pull back to reveal a white video projection screen above a large stage. A huge banner above the screen reads: Meditech: 21st Century Health. INT. A UNIVERSITY LECTURE HALL - CONTINUOUS SUSAN PROCTOR, (40s) stands center stage making an impressive sales pitch. Everything about her is poised, polished and to the point. Two men in lab coats are seated downstage, DR. CLARKE and DR. HEINLEIN (50s). They look like they dont get out of the lab much. (CONTINUED)

10. CONTINUED: SUSAN PROCTOR In fact, despite years of research, we still dont even know what causes this condition. IN THE AUDIENCE Dr. Newton sits among a large group of MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) But we do know what happens during a seizure. The projection screen comes alive again with a computer animation showing how a seizure occurs in the human brain. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) A misfiring of neurotransmitters which send electrical impulses between the brain cells. The result is a kind of neurological storm. (beat) So how do we fight it? The same way weve been doing it for over a hundred years, with drugs designed to dampen the electrical activity in the brain. The results? Occasional success, along with a host of side effects which are often just as debilitating as the condition itself. At this rate, we might as well send in the priest to perform the ancient rite. Image switches to a painting of Jesus curing a man possessed by demons. Some irritated MUMBLING among the audience. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) Ladies and gentlemen, its time to step out of the dark ages and into the light. The STAGE LIGHTS come up. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) After years of research and development, Meditech is proud to announce the end of the seizure disorder as we know it. (beat) (MORE) (CONTINUED)

11. CONTINUED: (2) SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) To tell you about this technology, Id like to introduce one of the men who designed it, Dr. David Heinlein.

The Audience APPLAUDS as Dr. Heinlein awkwardly takes center stage. Brilliant but socially lacking, hes unaccustomed to public speaking and is quite nervous. DR. HEINLEIN This is a one time procedure that involves two parts, one chemical and the other electrical. First, the patient is seated into a device called the neuroaccelerator. ON THE PROJECTION SCREEN A computer generated PATIENT sits into a futuristic looking device that resembles a reclining pilots seat with a footrest and a helmet which fits over the head. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) Here, they are injected with a patented artificial neurotransmitter of my own design called Synthetran which delivers a perfectly balanced electrical impulse between the brain cells. The Patient is injected. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) Next, the nueroaccelerator stimulates the Synthetran with an electromagnetic charge, binding it to the brain cells and replacing the old ones. The Patient rises from the chair and is reborn. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) The result is a normally functioning nervous system, free of seizures forever and a whole new life for the patient. Susan takes the mic from him, resuming center stage. SUSAN PROCTOR Now were ready to bring this technology to the patients. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

12. CONTINUED: (3) SUSAN PROCTOR (CONT'D) Thats why were reaching out to you in the medical community to bring us a suitable candidate for this life-changing procedure. Lets conquer these disorders once and for all and give the gift of health to millions of suffering people throughout the world. Thank you.

The Audience APPLAUDS. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Leslie sits up in bed talking to Dana. There is a bouquet of flowers and a get well balloon on the bedside table. Dana wears the uniform of a private school. DANA I never heard anybody scream like that. I thought you were dying. LESLIE Its just an involuntary reaction. I cant feel a thing when it happens. Of course, the next day I feel like Ive been beaten up by a gorilla. DANA I wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for me. LESLIE You didnt know. Besides, I was having auras all day. It might have happened anyway. Whats that? DANA

LESLIE Kind of a funny feeling in the head. Like everythings speeding up and slowing down at the same time. DANA What does the lightning do to you? LESLIE Its called photosensitivity. Flashing lights overstimulate a part of my brain. (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

13. CONTINUED: LESLIE (CONT'D) They dont know why. But my seizures can be caused by a lot of things. Stress, hormones, anything that puts me over the edge. Sometimes I even have aftershocks. Im like a walking earthquake.

She winks and Dana laughs. DANA Can they help you? LESLIE Doctors cant really do much. They just give you a bunch of drugs. DANA Well, Im glad youre alive. Me too. They embrace. INT. DR. NEWTONS OFFICE - DAY Leslie speaks with Dr. Newton. DR. NEWTON Well, we both agree that your condition is getting worse. And I know youre not interested in changing meds again. But I just attended a presentation for something new I thought you should know about. LESLIE Like an investigative therapy? DR. NEWTON Sort of, but its unlike anything Ive ever seen. Its a nonsurgical, one time procedure. LESLIE Is it a brain transplant? DR. NEWTON Not exactly. They replace your brains neurotransmitters with synthetic ones. LESLIE

(CONTINUED)

14. CONTINUED: LESLIE They can do that? DR. NEWTON Apparently. Theres been a lot of research in this direction for years now and it looks like theyve made a breakthrough. LESLIE So whats the catch? DR. NEWTON The catch is they havent tried it on an actual patient yet. Theyre looking for candidates, ones with particularly hard to manage disorders. LESLIE People like me. DR. NEWTON I dont recommend this lightly because it is so radical. But I want you to have every chance at getting better and if this works, it could be the answer weve been looking for. EXT. AN OUTDOOR CAFE - AFTERNOON It is a popular upper west side brunch as always. Leslie sits across from her JIM and LINDA BARRETT (60s). They are suburbanites. Leslie wears her medical spot and crowded mother and father, conservative ID bracelet.

There is an electric heating tower near the table. LINDA Absolutely not. Im not going to have my daughter be used as a human guinea pig. LESLIE Im not asking for your permission, mom. Im just asking for advice. LINDA BARRETT Well, I advise you to forget it. Your problem is controllable. You just need to remember to take your pills. (CONTINUED)

15. CONTINUED: LESLIE I take my pills. LINDA BARRETT How can you be so sure? They impair your judgment. LESLIE Here we go again. JIM BARRETT Well, maybe it would be better if you didnt live all alone, honey. With no support system-LINDA BARRETT We want you to come live with us. Well hire someone to take care of youNo! Why not? LESLIE LINDA BARRETT

LESLIE Im aware of my situation but I want to take care of myself for as long as I can. LINDA BARRETT You pay eighteen hundred dollars a month to live in a shoebox. Most of which comes from us. LESLIE Is this about money? LINDA BARRETT Its about responsibility! Some PATRONS around them turn at her outburst and she lowers her voice. LINDA BARRETT (CONTD) Do you ever think about what its like for me? Wondering if youre lying face down in the street somewhere? Or drowned at the bottom of your bathtub? LESLIE Id be the one in that tub, mom. Not you. (CONTINUED)

16. CONTINUED: (2) LINDA BARRETT Well, Im the one who has to live with it! LESLIE I live with this every fucking day! I dont have a husband! I dont have a child! I cant even drive a fucking car! LINDA BARRETT Thats great! Just let everybody know our business! JIM BARRETT Lets everyone just calm down, okay? LESLIE I know Im an embarrassment to you, mom. Im sorry I didnt grow up to be the star you wanted me to be. Im just a cripple who falls down and pees her pants. Shut up! LINDA BARRETT

LESLIE You loved me when I played. Now all you want to do is hide me. Shut up! LINDA BARRETT

She SLAPS Leslie across the face and then seems shocked by her own action. Leslie gets up to leave but she gets woozy and clings to the table for support. Jim and Linda get up and try to help her as several Patrons rise from their seats as well. Shes okay. LINDA BARRETT (CONTD)

JIM Shes fine, thank you. Leslie breathes deep, her legs wobbly, fighting to avoid a seizure as her parents hold her on either side. The heating tower gets HOTTER and HOTTER.

17. INT. HOSPITAL MEETING ROOM - DAY Leslie sits at the end of a conference table examining some documents. After a beat, she looks up at the faces of Dr. Newton, Dr. Heinlein, Dr. Clarke and Susan. Is it painful? LESLIE

DR. HEINLEIN Its designed to be as comfortable as possible. LESLIE And what would happen if my brain rejected the... DR. CLARKE Synthetran. We dont expect it to. But if it did, your nervous system should be the same as it was before. No better but no worse. LESLIE And youve tested this on animals so far? DR. HEINLEIN Thats correct. LESLIE So what are we talking about here? Dogs? Cats? Chickens? DR. HEINLEIN Uh...primates, mostly. LESLIE Well...my whole lifes been sort of a medical experiment anyway. So if it works for you, Id like to do it. INT. HOSPITAL - DAY Leslie is subjected to an increasingly unpleasant battery of tests: EEG, MRI, spinal tap, blood sample, urine sample, tissue sample, hair sample, etc. INT. LESLIES APARTMENT - DAY Leslie stands at the door with several packed bags as she says goodbye to Dana. (CONTINUED)

18. CONTINUED: October follows her to the door, sniffing at her feet. LESLIE The number for the vets on the fridge and theres plenty of food. DANA Call me as soon as you can. LESLIE I will. And thanks again. Leslie embraces her and exits. EXT. LESLIES APARTMENT BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER Leslie steps out of the lobby to find a white SUV waiting for her. A driver, CARL (30s) gets out and approaches her with a smile. He is dressed in khakis, a windbreaker and a baseball cap which bears the logo Meditech. Ms. Barrett? Yes. CARL LESLIE

CARL Im Carl. Ill be your driver. He shakes her hand, then takes her bags and loads them into the back of the truck. He opens the rear passenger door for Leslie and she steps inside. EXT. WEST SIDE HIGHWAY - LATER The White SUV takes an exit towards New Jersey. EXT. A RURAL AREA - LATER The White SUV drives down a quiet road with nothing but miles of undeveloped land on either side. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - LATER The SUV drives towards a small complex of buildings in the middle of nowhere, enclosed in a high fence topped with razor wire. One of the buildings looks industrial and is still under construction. The other is more residential-looking. (CONTINUED)

19. CONTINUED: A sign out front reads Meditech. The truck pulls up to a check point at the entrance staffed by two ARMED GUARDS (30s). One of them approaches Carl, who shows him an ID and is admitted. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - CONTINUOUS The SUV pulls up to the residential building. There is a small garden out front but it still has the sterile feel of a hospice. Carl gets out and goes around the back to fetch Leslies bags. As he leans over, we see that he wears a GUN. Leslie steps out and looks around. LESLIE Sure got lots of security around here. CARL Yeah, well theyve got lots of expensive equipment too. Lets get you checked in. INT. LESLIES RECOVERY ROOM - NIGHT Leslie lays in bed staring out the window at the desolate grounds of the facility. She is too restless to sleep. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - MORNING The neroaccelerator sits on a pedestal beneath a pool of lights. The crown piece is flipped up. A small team of TECHNICIANS swarm around making last minute adjustments. An observation booth looks in through a large window. An automatic door opens and Dr. Heinlein and Dr. Clarke lead Leslie inside. She wears a hospital gown and a kind of skull cap lined with wireless electrodes. She looks like shes been up all night. DR. CLARKE How do you feel?

(CONTINUED)

20. CONTINUED: LESLIE Like Im walking the green mile. DR. HEINLEIN Your latest vitals show you to be well within an acceptable level of distress. They lead her up to the chair and she sits. She looks a bit like Maria in her throne in Metropolis. An ASSISTANT (20s) lowers a safety arm over her chest and locks her into place. Her wrists and ankles are secured. She looks questioningly at the scientists. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) We just need you to be as still as possible. DR. CLARKE Well be watching from the booth in case you get into any trouble. Thanks. LESLIE

He gives her hand a squeeze. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER Heinlein and Clarke sit before a control panel with built in monitors which display Leslies vitals and a live video image of her. They wear headsets. Seated behind them is Susan. DR. CLARKE (to Dr. Heinlein) She doesnt look good. DR. HEINLEIN Her EEG looks fine. DR. CLARKE Yes, but she doesnt. He indicates the video monitor where we can see Leslie looking a bit hazy, sweat breaking out on her forehead. Heinlein looks from this to her EEG monitor. DR. HEINLEIN Youve got to trust the data. (CONTINUED)

21. CONTINUED: Susan leans over to the scientists. SUSAN PROCTOR Is everything alright? DR. HEINLEIN Everythings fine. SUSAN PROCTOR Then lets get going. Were already an hour behind schedule. DR. HEINLEIN (into headset) Dr. Pierce, please administer the Synthetran. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS At the back of Leslies chair is an opening allowing access to the back of her neck. DOCTOR PIERCE (40s) prepares a very large syringe with a semi viscous fluid in it. DR. PIERCE (to Leslie) Youre going to feel some discomfort. He swabs the back of her neck with an alcohol pad, then sticks the needle into the base of her spine. She SCREAMS and the sound rings through the chamber. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Dr. Clarke is disturbed, Dr. Heinlein seems unmoved. Susan shifts nervously. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS The crown is lowered onto Leslies head. Numerous lights across its surface illuminate as it connects with the electrodes. A nearby monitor comes to life, displaying Leslies brain wave activity. Tears roll down her cheeks. Sweat beads on her upper lip.

22. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Dr. Clarke watches Leslie on the video monitor as Dr. Heinlein observes her brainwaves. Heinlein looks from Leslies video image to her EEG monitor, which shows a calm pattern. DR. HEINLEIN (into headset) Mr. Asher, are you ready? INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS ASHER (50s), the chief technician, speaks into his headset, his hand on a dial. ASHER Ready when you are. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS DR. HEINLEIN Prepare to power up on my command. Ten...nine...eight...seven... INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Leslies knuckles are white as she grips the arm rests. Sweat drips down her face. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS DR. HEINLEIN ...three...two...one. Power up. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Asher turns the dial and a steady HUM emits from the neuroaccelerator as it comes to life. Leslies body stiffens and her teeth clench as the energy begins to flow through her. An indicator bar on the side of the machine begins to build towards full power. The Technicians and Doctors monitor their instruments.

23. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Clarke and Heinlein watch the monitors with apprehension. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS The HUM rises in pitch and intensity as Leslies head tilts back, her back arching. The machine hits MAX POWER. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Leslies vitals and EEG suddenly go off line. Clarke and Heinlein note this with alarm. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Leslies head comes forward. Her EYES HAVE GONE DEAD. She SCREAMS, the sound of it blending with the SCREAM of the machine. Several computers and other hardware throughout the room begin to overload, SHOOTING SPARKS. The Technicians look around in confusion. Suddenly they grab their heads, SCREAMING in agony. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Heinlein and Clarke feel the feedback through their headsets. They whip them off and throw them down. SUSAN PROCTOR What the hell is this? I dont know! DR. HEINLEIN

INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Suddenly a BURST of ELECTRICAL ENERGY EXPLODES from Leslies helmet, shooting BOLTS OF LIGHTNING into every human brain and machine in the room, destroying them all.

24. INT. OBSERVATION BOOTH - CONTINUOUS Susan, Heinlein and Clarke watch in horror as the technicians die, their brains cooked in their skulls. The storm subsides and they fall dead like puppets whose strings have been suddenly cut, black smoke curling from smoldering eye sockets. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Leslie slumps in her seat, unconscious. Smoke flows from the crown of the ruined machine. Absurdly, a sprinkler system kicks in, showering the room. INT. OUTSIDE NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Susan, Clarke and Heinlein peer in through the window at the horrific sight. DR. CLARKE Theyre all dead. Dr. Heinlein sees Leslie begin to stir in her chair. DR. HEINLEIN No, look! Shes alive! Shes alive! SUSAN PROCTOR Well dont just stand there, you idiots! Open the fucking door! Dr. Heinlein sticks an electronic card key into a slot in the door but it doesnt respond. DR. HEINLEIN The powers out. The scientists barely have time to move out of the way as a hatchet SMASHES into the glass. They turn to see Susan, looking half-crazed and wielding a hatchet from a nearby emergency fire box. SUSAN PROCTOR Get outta my way! She continues SMASHING through the glass as a small Meditech SECURITY TEAM arrives.

25. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - LATER Emergency vehicles, a sheriffs cruiser and a morgue truck sit outside the industrial building as PARAMEDICS carry bodies out in plastic bags. INT. SUSANS OFFICE - SAME TIME SHERIFF COOKE (50s) takes a statement from Susan. Shes tearful and distraught. SUSAN PROCTOR I wish I could provide more details. It was all so confusing. SHERIFF COOKE I understand. You could have been killed yourself. Should I send in one of the EMTs? SUSAN PROCTOR No, thats not necessary. SHERIFF COOKE Well, maybe this isnt the best time to talk. Here. He hands her a business card. SHERIFF COOKE (CONTD) Contact my office and well arrange an interview. In the meantime, you should probably go home and get some rest. SUSAN PROCTOR Thanks, Sheriff. But I think Ill stick around in case they need me here. SHERIFF COOKE (smiles) Youre a trooper. INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS Heinlein and Clarke linger nervously outside the door as Susan walks Sheriff Cooke out of the office. When he is out of earshot she drops her traumatized victim routine.

(CONTINUED)

26. CONTINUED: SUSAN PROCTOR What a fucking nightmare. DR. CLARKE I think the girl should have remained under our care. SUSAN PROCTOR Are you kidding? If she dies, I sure as hell dont want it happening here. You two have enough blood on your hands for one day. INT. AMBULANCE - SAME TIME Leslie sleeps on a gurney as the ambulance speeds along, SIREN BLARING. She is poorly strapped in and is jostled violently at every bump and turn. Loud HIP HOP MUSIC plays on the Drivers radio. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Clark and Dr. Heinlein speak in private. DR. HEINLEIN I dont see how delaying could have made a difference. DR. CLARKE Well, it would have been nice not to have my professional opinion overruled by the company rep! DR. HEINLEIN Shes the project manager. DR. CLARKE Well, shes not a scientist! You and I developed this thing together. Leslie is our patient and this is our project. DR. HEINLEIN And her job is to protect it. I suggest we let her do that. And lets you and I focus on figuring out what the hell happened. DISSOLVE TO:

(CONTINUED)

27. CONTINUED: A BLURRY POV on a BLACK, ROUND SHAPE surrounded by white light. A DRONING, INCOHERENT SOUND comes from it as other noises buzz in the background. The shape slowly sharpens until it becomes the round, black face of NURSE BAXTER (40s). The sound becomes her voice, counting down backwards in a West Indian accent. NURSE BAXTER Repeat after me. Five, four, three, two, one... Reveal Leslie lying in a hospital bed, staring sleepily. The electrodes are still glued to her head. She blinks her eyes, becoming more awake. NURSE BAXTER (CONTD) Can you tell me your name? LESLIE Leslie. Leslie Barrett. NURSE BAXTER Do you know what day of the week it is? LESLIE Wednesday, I think. Where am I? Pull back to reveal-INT. KINGSTON EMERGENCY ROOM - CONTINUOUS It is overcrowded and chaotic. Unattended PATIENTS scream for help as overwhelmed STAFF run around. A disgruntled HOMELESS MAN (60s) hooked up to an I.V. storms out with a female VOLUNTEER (20s) in pursuit. NURSE BAXTER Youre at Kingston Medical Center in Patterson New Jersey. LESLIE How did I get here? NURSE BAXTER I dont know, maam. But I need to get some basic information from you. Do you have a health care provider?

(CONTINUED)

28. CONTINUED: What? LESLIE

NURSE BAXTER A health care provider. Do you have insurance? INT. MEDITECH FACILITY - LATER The front gate opens and a BLACK SUV rolls in. WILLIAM WARNER (60s), CEO of Meditech steps out, along with a PERSONAL ASSISTANT (30s) and a LAWYER (40s). INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER An emergency meeting is in session between Susan, Warner, his lawyer and the scientists. DR. HEINLEIN We dont know what happened in there. We were nearly killed ourselves. MR. WARNER Well, we just went from a multimillion dollar investment to a room full of dead bodies so youre going to have to do better than that! SUSAN PROCTOR Unfortunately we lost our chief technician in the accident. MR. WARNER Great. (to his lawyer) So how do we minimize the damage from all this? WARNERS LAWYER Well, the good news is theres only living witness outside of the organization. Whats her condition? DR. HEINLEIN She was flat-lining right before the incident. Shes probably brain dead.

(CONTINUED)

29. CONTINUED: WARNERS LAWYER Where did they take her? SUSAN PROCTOR Kingston Memorial. Warners Lawyer LAUGHS bitterly. What is it? DR. CLARKE

WARNERS LAWYER Kingstons one of the worst hospitals in the state. If your experiment didnt kill her, they probably will. INT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL - LATER It is a semi-private room. TODD (30s), stands at the foot of a bed in a white coat. He is eager but clueless. TODD Mrs. Rodriguez? Leslie looks up from the bed, now awake and in pain. What? LESLIE

TODD Are you Gladys Rodriguez? LESLIE Do I look like Gladys Rodriguez? Shes in the next bed. Todd pulls a curtain aside to reveal GLADYS RODRIGUEZ (80s) sleeping or perhaps dead in the next bed over. TODD Oh, I see youre right. I had my charts mixed up. You must be Ms. Burnett. LESLIE Barrett. Leslie Barrett. Todd makes the correction with a pen. TODD It says here you had a seizure.

(CONTINUED)

30. CONTINUED: LESLIE I dont know what happened. This morning I was at the Meditech facility being prepped for a treatment. The next thing I knew I was in the emergency room. Then they brought me here. I havent seen a doctor yet. TODD I apologize. Weve been a little backed up today. Are you experiencing any symptoms at the moment? LESLIE Yes. My head is pounding and I feel numb in my hands and feet. Ive never had that after a seizure. He comes over and examines her electrodes. TODD What kind of procedure was this? LESLIE Something new. Experimental. TODD Well, well have the doctor contact the facility. LESLIE (beat) I thought you were the doctor. TODD Oh, no. Im Todd, Im a resident. Doctor Sheppard will be making his rounds in about an hour. LESLIE (beat) I need you to tell him to contact Dr. Clarke or Dr. Heinlein at Meditech and find out what happened. INT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL RECEPTION AREA - NIGHT RAYMOND (20s) looks up from a ledger on his desk. Hes underpaid, poorly trained and doesnt give a shit. (CONTINUED)

31. CONTINUED: RAYMOND Theres nobody here by that name, sir. Reveal Jim and Linda Barrett standing before the desk. JIM BARRETT There must be a mistake. Could you check it again, please? RAYMOND Ive checked it several times, sir. Theres no Leslie Barrett listed in here. LINDA BARRETT They told us she was taken here. Why dont you check the computer? RAYMOND The computer is down at the moment. JIM BARRETT Do you have a supervisor or someone? RAYMOND My supervisor is currently on break. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow. LINDA BARRETT Tomorrow? We drove here from Connecticut. RAYMOND Im very sorry, maam. But Im doing the best I can to assist you. Jim takes out a business card and hands it to Raymond. JIM BARRETT This is my cell number. Please have your supervisor call me when he comes back. LINDA (to Jim) I told her this whole thing was a mistake.

32. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Mrs. Rodriguez stares at a Spanish language variety show on TV, though were not sure if she can see or hear it. On the program, slovenly middle aged men slobber over sexy young women in bicycle shorts and halter tops. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CURTAIN Desperate and disoriented, Leslie presses a button on the intercom device beside her bed. Hello? Yes? LESLIE NURSE RITCHIE (O.S.)

LESLIE I need my medication. (beat) Hello? After a moment, the door opens and NURSE RITCHIE (30s) sticks her head in. She has the weathered, bitter quality of a one time head cheerleader who has gone to seed. NURSE RITCHIE Whats the problem? LESLIE I take a medication for my seizures. Its called Praxalide. It was in my purse but now its gone. NURSE RITCHIE Any medications you had with you would have been confiscated at the time of your admission. What? LESLIE

NURSE RITCHIE Any drugs taken on these premises have to be approved and administered by hospital staff. Leslie shows the nurse her medical I.D. bracelet. LESLIE Look. It says it right here. I take it twice a day and Ive already missed a dose. (CONTINUED)

33. CONTINUED: NURSE RITCHIE (not looking) Are you sure you had the drugs with you? LESLIE Of course. I take them everywhere I go. NURSE RITCHIE Ill leave a note for the day shift nurse. LESLIE I cant wait that long! NURSE RITCHIE Dont be raisin your voice to me! LESLIE Im sorry but I feel something coming on. Im scared, you understand? I need my medication. She starts to cry. NURSE RITCHIE Ill talk to Dr. Sheppard. In the meantime you should lie down for your safety. She goes out. INT. NURSES STATION - LATER Nurse Ritchie flirts with JAKE (30s), a big, burly security guard who looks like he would be more suited to a prison environment, preferably as an inmate. At the end of the hall, CECELIA (40s), a Hungarian cleaning lady, mops the floor. JAKE (to Nurse Ritchie) Well, if hes serious then how come he aint put no ring on your finger? NURSE RITCHIE How come you aint got yours on? JAKE We aint talkin about me. (CONTINUED)

34. CONTINUED: He smiles and they both LAUGH. The intercom BEEPS and Ritchie answers it. NURSE RITCHIE Hello? (beat) Hello. (to Jake) I dont know whats wrong with this fuckin thing. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME TIME Leslie speaks into the intercom. Hello. (beat) Hello! LESLIE

She hears only STATIC and drops it, getting out of bed. Confused and cloudy, she starts to pace. Mrs. Rodriguezs TV show continues on the other side of the curtain. Whenever Leslie gets near the curtain, THE PICTURE ON THE TV SCREEN TURNS TO STATIC, clearing up again when she wanders away. The lights begin to FLICKER. INT. NURSES STATION - CONTINUOUS Nurse Ritchie looks past Jake to see Leslie stagger out of her room and down the hall in her gown. The overhead lights begin to FLICKER here as well. NURSE RITCHIE (to Leslie) What do you think youre doing? Leslie ignores her and Nurse Ritchie goes over and grabs her by the arm, spinning her around. Hey! NURSE RITCHIE (CONTD)

Leslie looks at her as if she does not recognize her.

(CONTINUED)

35. CONTINUED: NURSE RITCHIE (CONTD) Get back to your room, you understand? The doctor is on his way! She starts to lead Leslie back to the room. Leslie suddenly tears away from her. No! LESLIE

Nurse Ritchie feels a SHARP PAIN in her head and grabs it as if stricken. Leslie continues out. Jake goes over and grabs Leslie roughly by the arm, yanking her off her feet like a rag doll. JAKE Come on, lady. Lets go. Leslie goes limp in his arms and her EYES GO DEAD. JAKE (CONTD) (to Nurse Ritchie) Holy shit! Whats the matter with her? NURSE RITCHIE I dont know! Just get her back to her room! Leslie starts to let out that slow and steady SCREAM and a BURST OF ELECTRICITY EXPLODES from the electrodes in her head, shooting LIGHTNING-LIKE BOLTS into the eye sockets of Jake and Nurse Ritchie. They SCREAM and CONVULSE as their brains are cooked in their skulls. The overhead light fixtures EXPLODE, SHOWERING SPARKS. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS The lights FLICKER and Mrs. Rodriguezs TV begins to change channels on its own. INT. NURSES STATION - CONTINUOUS Nurse Ritchie and Jake fall dead, black smoke curling from blown out eye sockets and gaping mouths.

36. INT. LESLIES HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS The lights stabilize and Mrs. Rodriguezs TV has landed on an episode of Growing Pains. INT. NURSES STATION - CONTINUOUS Leslie is slumped against the wall in a daze, smoke rising from the electrodes in her head. A woman SCREAMS from O.S. and Leslie turns groggily to see Cecelia watching her from the end of the corridor, frozen with terror. Leslie puts her hands to her head, then pulls them away from the hot electrodes. She becomes aware of the fallen bodies around her and is horrified. She struggles to her feet and starts to stagger towards Cecelia, reaching out to her. She tries to speak but can only manage an incoherent MOAN. Ceiling lights FLICKER as she passes them. Cecilia SCREAMS in terror and runs off. A few other PATIENTS wander sleepily into the hallway and start to panic. INT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL RECEPTION AREA - MOMENTS LATER Cecelia comes tearing out of a stairwell, hysterical and stammering in HUNGARIAN. Raymond pulls the Ipod headphones from his ears as she reaches him. She grabs him by the shoulders, trying to tell him what has happened. RAYMOND I dont understand you! Cecelia looks at the security monitor, which is divided into multiple images depicting the various floors. She points out one which has GONE BLACK. She continues to scan the images for Leslie as Raymond grabs a walkie-talkie and goes into the stairwell. Cecelia runs after him, trying to warn him. (CONTINUED)

37. CONTINUED: After a beat, Leslie staggers of the opposite stairwell, still disoriented. The lights in the lobby start BLINKING on and off. The automatic doors open and she goes out into the parking lot, the lights going back to normal in her wake. EXT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS Leslie staggers past a row of parked cars. As she does, the alarms and automatic doors in her path are activated. She stops at a battered SUV and opens the rear door. The backseat is a mess of clothes, fast food packaging and other junk. She lies down amidst it all and falls fast asleep. The door locks and all the car alarms cease. INT. NURSES STATION - SAME TIME Raymond stands over the dead bodies as frightened Patients and several STAFF swarm around in a panic. He shouts into his walkie-talkie. RAYMOND This is Raymond to security. We got a fatal situation at the ICU! Come to the ICU immediately! EXT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER A visibly shaken Cecelia gets into a battered SUV and drives off. EXT. NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE - MOMENTS LATER The battered SUV makes its way down the road. INT. BATTERED SUV - CONTINUOUS As Cecelia drives, Leslie suddenly sits up in the backseat, shaking her head to clear her mind. Cecelia sees her in the rearview mirror and SCREAMS, losing control of the car.

38. EXT. NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE - CONTINUOUS The SUV swerves, scraping against the metal barrier at the edge of the road and sending SPARKS FLYING. INT. BATTERED SUV - CONTINUOUS Calm down! LESLIE

Cecelia keeps SCREAMING. The car keeps SWERVING. Finally, Leslie lunges over the front seat and grabs the steering wheel. Cecelia slaps and tries to bite her but Leslie pushes her off. Stop it! LESLIE (CONTD)

Cecelia feels a SHARP PAIN in her head and lets go. Leslie manages to straighten out the car as Cecelia stares at her in fear, grabbing her head as the pain slowly ebbs. LESLIE (CONTD) Im sorry I scared you but I dont know how I got in here! (beat) Do you speak English? Cecelia shakes her head. Great. (beat) I cant drive! LESLIE (CONTD)

Leslie spots an off ramp and VEERS across several lanes of traffic. Cecelia SCREAMS again as other cars HONK their horns and try to avoid her. They barely make it to the off ramp. EXT. SERVICE ROAD - CONTINUOUS Leslie brings the car onto a shoulder and they come to a abrupt stop. On either side on the road is nothing but miles of dark, swampy marshland. INT. BATTERED SUV - CONTINUOUS Leslie and Cecelia both take a DEEP SIGH OF RELIEF. (CONTINUED)

39. CONTINUED: LESLIE I need a phone. (miming) Do you have a phone? Cecelia glances over at her handbag on the passenger seat. Leslie reaches for it. Is it in here? LESLIE (CONTD)

Cecelia nods and Leslie digs through her bag and finds a phone. She dials a number and waits. LESLIE (CONTD) Hi. Im trying to get a number for a Doctor Robert Newton in New York City. Hes a neurologist. (beat) Hello? Hello? (to Cecelia) I lost the signal. (beat) Im gonna get out for a moment, okay? Cecelia nods. LESLIE (CONTD) Ill be right back. Leslie gets out. Cecelia FLOORS THE PEDAL and TEARS OUT, the door still hanging open. No! LESLIE (CONTD)

She starts chasing after but the car quickly accelerates. Please! LESLIE (CONTD)

After a few seconds, she gives up, her chest heaving. God damn it! LESLIE (CONTD)

She throws the phone deep into the marshes. She immediately regrets this decision and dives into the tall grass in search of it.

40. EXT. MARSHES - MOMENTS LATER Leslie searches in vain. The foliage is too dense and its too dark to see anyway. She gives up and turns to walk back to the road. After a few yards, she realizes she has become turned around somehow and starts off in another direction. EXT. MARSHES - LATER Leslie slogs through mud, completely lost, her bare feet sinking in up to the ankles, the tall, course grass slashing at her face and hands. She slips and falls, landing face down. She gets up and wipes the mud from her face, spitting out more and looking around in disgust. Finally, she looks to the heavens and screams. LESLIE You want to kill me? Get it over with! She starts to cry. Just then, she sees something in the distance: a light. She starts off in that direction, clearing away the brush, and sees the outline of a tiny house on the horizon. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER Leslie is a mess of sweat and mud as she reaches it. There is a tire swing hanging from a tree. The grass out front is overgrown and littered with childrens toys. She steps closer when she suddenly hears a GROWL. She turns to see GINGER, an enormous rottweiler, come running towards her. As it reaches her, Leslie puts her hands up protectively but the dog suddenly stops, sensing something strange and sniffing the air around her. Leslie stares at her in wonder. Whos there? A WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

(CONTINUED)

41. CONTINUED: She turns to see REBECCA (60s) silhouetted in the doorway. LESLIE I need help. Im lost. Suddenly TOBY (5) sidles up beside Rebecca in his pajamas, rubbing his sleepy eyes. TOBY Shes all dirty, grandma. She got no shoes. REBECCA (beat) Why do you look like that? LESLIE Its a long story. REBECCA Well youre trespassing on my property. I think you better tell it. LESLIE I was at the hospital. Kingston. REBECCA Youre better off lost. What were you doing there? LESLIE I dont know exactly. I dont think they do either. REBECCA That doesnt surprise me. They wouldnt know their ass from a hole in the wall. How the hell did you get all the way out here? LESLIE I dont know. I woke up in the back seat of a complete strangers car. She got pretty scared when she saw me and left me on the side of the road. REBECCA Can you blame her? LESLIE No, I guess not. (beat) (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

42. CONTINUED: (2) LESLIE (CONT'D) I just need to call someone to come get me. Can I use your phone, please?

Rebecca considers it for a moment. REBECCA (to Toby) Go get the kitchen phone. Toby dashes inside and comes back a moment later with a cordless phone which he hands to Leslie. Leslie dials and listens for a moment. LESLIE Hi. I need the number for Doctor Robert Newton in New York. Hes a neurologist. INT. REBECCAS KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER Leslie sits at a small table gobbling a sandwich and milk. Rebecca sits across from her, Toby sleeping in her arms. We can now see that Rebeccas pale blue eyes are sightless. LESLIE (between bites) Is it just the two of you here? REBECCA Since my husband died about a year ago. Tobys mom is trying to get herself straightened out. He never knew his dad. LESLIE (beat) If you dont mind my asking-REBECCA I started going blind around four years ago. Diabetes. There wasnt much they could do about it. I figure Ill be okay as long as Ive got my legs. LESLIE Could you lose those too? Sure. REBECCA

(CONTINUED)

43. CONTINUED: LESLIE How do you deal with it? I mean, arent you scared? REBECCA (beat) I used to be. I was terrified at the idea of not knowing what was coming at me. But when my husband died last year I realized I never really did. So the best I can do is just enjoy what I do have and take it as it comes. INT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL - SAME TIME Sheriff Cooke stands over the dead bodies of Nurse Ritchie and Jake as a pair of MORGUE WORKERS (20s) zip them into body bags. Raymond stands by, along with his supervisor, MR. MICHAELS (30s). MR. AVERY (30s) a hospital administrator, does his best to reassure frightened Patients as several other SECURITY GUARDS try to block them from getting too close. MR. AVERY Its all under control. Please go back to your rooms and go to bed... MR. MICHAELS (to Sheriff Cooke) Weve got video cameras throughout the building but we must have lost this one in the accident. SHERIFF COOKE Did anyone see it happen? RAYMOND I think Cecelia did but she dont speak English so Im not sure. Wheres she? She went home. SHERIFF COOKE RAYMOND

SHERIFF COOKE Well, Ill need to get in touch with her.

(CONTINUED)

44. CONTINUED: MR. MICHAELS Weve been trying to reach her but shes not answering her phone. MR. AVERY Theres a patient who might have seen it too. SHERIFF COOKE Can I talk to him? MR. AVERY Um, we dont exactly know where she is. SHERIFF COOKE What do you mean? MR. AVERY Well, it looks like she wandered out of the building in all the confusion. EXT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER Sheriff Cooke stands at his squad car, speaking into his radio. SHERIFF COOKE You know that accident we had over at Meditech this morning? (beat) Well, it looks like its got legs. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/BATHROOM - LATER It is small and lit only by a single raw bulb. Leslie looks at herself in the mirror for the first time since this all began. She looks like a nightmare: dark circles around her eyes, her face streaked with mud, her hair matted. As she examines her scalp more closely, she discovers that the electrodes are fused to her scalp. She starts to get upset and the light begins to FLICKER. As it does, violent memories of what happened at the hospital FLASH through her mind. She sees the BURST OF ELECTRICITY EXPLODE from the electrodes in her head, shooting BOLTS into the eye sockets of Jake and Nurse Ritchie. (CONTINUED)

45. CONTINUED: They SCREAM and CONVULSE as their brains are cooked in their skulls. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS The light bulb EXPLODES. Leslie backs against the door in horror, then turns and tries to get out, fumbling with the latch. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Leslie finally rips open the door and nearly collides with Rebecca who CRIES OUT, staring at her and backing up against the wall. REBECCAS POV On Leslies form as she runs past her and down the hall. She looks like a SHIMMERING MASS OF MULTICOLORED LIGHT surrounded by darkness. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/PORCH - CONTINUOUS Leslie bolts out of the house and collapses on the lawn in tears. A moment later, the door opens again and Rebecca comes out, staring at Leslie in awe. She steps off the porch and walks over to Leslie. As she gets to her, she cautiously reaches out to touch her. REBECCAS POV ON LESLIE - CONTINUOUS As she makes contact with Leslie, that MULTICOLORED LUMINESCENCE begins to spread into Rebeccas hand, slowly creeping up her arm. ...my God. What is it? I can see you. REBECCA LESLIE REBECCA

(CONTINUED)

46. CONTINUED: She pulls her hand away and watches it FADE from view as the GLOW SLOWLY DISAPPEARS. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS LESLIE What do I look like? REBECCA Light. Radiant, colorful light. Its the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen. REBECCAS POV - CONTINUOUS Leslie SLOWLY FADES FROM VIEW. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS Its fading. REBECCA

LESLIE I have to tell you something. (beat) I have a seizure disorder. These doctors at a place called Meditech gave me a treatment that was supposed to cure me but something went wrong. (beat) Its not safe for me to be here. Leslie gets up and starts to leave. Wait! Leslie stops. REBECCA (CONTD) Let me help you. INT. DR. HEINLEINS OFFICE - LATER Heinlein and Clarke pull an all-nighter, reviewing data relating to the mornings accident. A full pot of coffee sits nearby along with fast food packaging. The smooth sounds of Kenny G play through the office speaker phone as they wait on hold. (CONTINUED) REBECCA

47. CONTINUED: Suddenly, the voice of an OPERATOR breaks through. Hello? OPERATOR (V.O.)

DR. HEINLEIN Hi. Im waiting on the status of a patient there, Leslie Barrett. Ive been calling all day. OPERATOR (V.O.) Im transferring you now. Another snippet of Kenny G and then the voice of Todd comes on. TODD (V.O.) Hi. Is this Doctor Heinlein? Yes. DR. HEINLEIN

TODD (V.O.) Theres been an accident at the hospital and, uh, it looks like shes gone missing. DR. HEINLEIN What kind of an accident? INT. KINGSTON MEMORIAL/MORGUE - LATER The burnt, disfigured features of Jake stare up from a morgue cabinet. Portions of his eye sockets and teeth show through the charred flesh. Susan turns away in disgust. Jesus Christ! SUSAN PROCTOR

She stands there with a MORGUE ATTENDANT, Mr. Avery, Heinlein, Clarke and Todd. DR. HEINLEIN (to Morgue Attendant) Can we see the other one as well? SUSAN PROCTOR What for? Its gonna be the same God damn thing! If I have to look at another crispy critter today, Im gonna puke all over the place! (CONTINUED)

48. CONTINUED: The Morgue Attendant closes the drawer and opens the next one. The scientists peek in and Heinlein turns to Todd. DR. HEILEIN What was Leslies condition when you visited her room? TODD She complained of a headache and some numbness in her extremities. Was there anything unusual about the seizure she had? The seizure? DR. HEINLEIN

TODD (beat) Thats what it said on her admission form. SUSAN PROCTOR Right. Of course. She stares at Heinlein deliberately. DR. HEINLEIN Oh, yes. Well, there was nothing immediately unusual, of course the phenomena itself is so unpredictable I suppose anythings possible. (beat) You said you had some footage of Leslie leaving the building. Is that right? MR. AVERY Yes, but it doesnt look too good. DR. HEINLEIN Id like to see it anyway. INT. MR. MICHAELSS OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Susan, Clarke, Heinlein, and Michaels stand over a monitor. ON THE MONITOR SCREEN We see grainy footage of Leslie emerging from the end of a darkened hallway. As she staggers forward, the overhead light fixtures BLINK ON AND OFF. (CONTINUED)

49. CONTINUED: As she approaches the camera, THE IMAGE TURNS TO STATIC, CLEARING UP AFTER SHE PASSES. The image cuts to a lobby cameras POV as Leslie staggers out of the stairwell, causing the same disruption to both the lights and the camera. INT. MR. MICHAELSS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Dr. Heinlein stares at the screen, his throat dry. Its her. DR. HEINLEIN

SUSAN PROCTOR What do you mean, its her? DR. CLARKE Shes the source of the event. SUSAN PROCTOR (to Mr. Michaels) Excuse us a minute. INT. CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER Susan and the scientists step into the hallway and she turns to them. SUSAN PROCTOR What the hell are you talking about? DR. HEINLEIN I thought it was the machine at first, but its Leslie. She seems to be the source of some...strange electrical phenomena. Thats why she survived the incident at the lab. Thats why the lights and cameras were disrupted when she came near them. DR. CLARKE That also explains why all her vitals flat-lined this morning just prior to the discharge. She mustve shorted out the equipment. SUSAN PROCTOR (beat) What are you telling me here? She caused this? (CONTINUED)

50. CONTINUED: DR. HEINLEIN Well, the procedure must...triggered something in her. Something weve never seen before. SUSAN PROCTOR Well Ill tell you one thing, Dr. Science. If thats true, then weve got a very big liability on our hands. And right now its just wandering around out there somewhere doing God knows what. So we better find her because whatever she does is going to lead right back to us. INT. MR. MICHAELSS OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Susan enters with the two scientists. SUSAN PROCTOR (to Mr. Michaels) Did anybody see this? MR. MICHAELS Cecilia. Shes a member of our cleaning staff. SUSAN PROCTOR Its very important that we speak with her. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/BARN - SAME TIME Rebecca slides open the door and Leslie peers into the darkness: sawdust, haystacks and a rusted tractor. Leslie wears clean, warm clothes and a head scarf. She carries a rolled up sleeping bag under her arm. REBECCA Welcome to the guest room. Sorry for the mess but we havent done any actual farming out here for a long while. LESLIE Thats okay. Its actually nicer than the hospital. REBECCA (laughs) You should sleep down here. (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

51. CONTINUED: REBECCA (CONT'D) There are some bats up in the hayloft and they make a racket if theyre disturbed. LESLIE (looks up fearfully) Ill give them all the space they need. EXT. RUN DOWN NEIGHBORHOOD - LATER A brand new white Lexus pulls up in front of a low-income apartment complex and Susan and the scientists get out and look around cautiously. There are several scarylooking STREET PEOPLE lurking around. INT. TENEMENT HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER An apartment door opens to reveal ILONA (16), surly, beautiful and physically mature beyond her years. She has just crawled out of bed and wears nothing but her underwear. The scientists mouths are agape. SUSAN PROCTOR Hi. Im sorry to disturb you at this hour but is your mother at home? ILONA (Hungarian accent) Shes sleeping. So am I. She starts to close the door but Susan stops her. SUSAN PROCTOR Im from Kingston Hospital, where your mother works. There was an accident tonight. ILONA She didnt say anything. SUSAN RICH Well it was very serious. Some people were killed and we think she may have seen it. ILONA Come back tomorrow.

(CONTINUED)

52. CONTINUED: Wait-Ilona slams the door. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) (to the scientists) Can you believe this little bitch? DR. HEINLEIN (stunned) Uh...no. Suddenly the door opens and there stands Cecelia. She hasnt slept a wink. INT. CECELIAS HOME - MOMENTS LATER Susan and the scientists sit on a plastic-covered sofa amidst clutter as Ilona, now wearing a robe, translates for her mom. SUSAN PROCTOR Can you tell us exactly what happened? Ilona translates the question to her mother and Cecelia responds in Hungarian, becoming very emotional. Ilona cant believe what shes hearing and they start to argue. Susan and the scientists look at each other. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) (to Ilona) What is she saying? ILONA She say there is lightning coming from the girls head and going into the others. They are electrocuted and screaming. She can smell them burning up. Mother and daughter go back and forth some more as Susan and the scientists worst fears are confirmed. ILONA (CONTD) (to Susan) She say the girl get into her car. My mother give her a phone to make a call and then drive away. DR. HEINLEIN Where did this happen? (CONTINUED) SUSAN PROCTOR

53. CONTINUED: Ilona asks her mother. Her mother gives a brief answer. ILONA She dont remember. She was too scared after. Cecelia tells her something else. ILONA (CONTD) (to Susan) She says the girl was also scared. She doesnt think she knows what she has done. SUSAN PROCTOR (beat) I see. And thats why its very important not to tell anyone else what you saw today. Like the police. If they find this girl, they wont know what to do with her. Chances are theyll just put her right back in the hospital where she can hurt other people. Do you understand? Ilona relays the message to Cecelia, who nods her head. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) Were scientists. We know how to help her so we must be the ones to find her. Clarke shoots Heinlein a look. Ilona translates and her mother nods her head. Good. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD)

DR. HEINLEIN (to Ilona) I have a question. Is your mothers phone the kind that can be located in case it gets stolen or lost? EXT. MARSHES - LATER Filthy and exhausted, Susan and the scientists search the marshes with flashlights, their feet sinking deep into the mud.

(CONTINUED)

54. CONTINUED: DR. CLARKE I think we should have gone to the police. SUSAN PROCTOR And tell them what? Weve created a monster? Please help us find it? DR. HEINLEIN (to Clarke) Shes right. It would only complicate matters. DR. CLARKE I think its safe to say that matters are already considerably complicated. (beat) This woman put her life in our hands. SUSAN PROCTOR And thats why were here trying to find her. Im wearing five hundred dollar Manolos for fucks sake. (to Heinlein) How quickly does that sedative work? DR. HEINLEIN No more than a few seconds. Of course, the very act of subduing her might set her off again. DR. CLARKE Maybe we should try back in the morning. DR. HEINLEIN Technically, it is the morning. SUSAN PROCTOR Why dont you both shut up? (beat) She could be five feet away from us for all we know, listening to our every word. They look out into the dark, silent woods fearfully. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) (calls out) Leslie? (beat) (MORE)

(CONTINUED)

55. CONTINUED: (2) SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) If youre here, just let me know. We want to help you.

Suddenly, a SHRIEK rings out. An owl? Maybe, but whatever it is, it is enough to make them all jump. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) Why dont we try back in the morning. The scientists silently agree and the three of them start heading back to the road. INT. REBECCAS BARN - NIGHT Leslie wakes up in her sleeping bag. She looks at the strange surroundings and it takes a moment to remember where she is. Shes not wearing her head scarf. She looks up into the dark recess of the hayloft. No sign of bats. No sign of anything. EXT. REBECCAS BARN - MOMENTS LATER Leslie staggers outside. From the house, she hears the sound of a CLASSICAL PIANO playing. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS The kitchen door is slightly open. Leslie steps up onto the porch and nudges it further. Rebecca? LESLIE

INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Leslie enters. The room is empty. Perhaps the music is coming from the living room? INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie enters but this room is also empty. Now she realizes that the music is coming from upstairs. She goes to the staircase and calls out. Rebecca? LESLIE

(CONTINUED)

56. CONTINUED: She starts up. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/SECOND FLOOR - CONTINUOUS Leslie arrives at the landing to see a couple of closed doors. The first appears to be Tobys bedroom. She puts her ear to the door but the music seems to be coming from the second room. Leslie KNOCKS on the door but there is no answer. She KNOCKS HARDER. Finally, she decides to open the door. The MUSIC IS BLASTING but the room is dark. Leslie finds a light switch near the door and turns it on. The MUSIC SUDDENLY CUTS OUT. Lying on the bed are TWO CHARRED, BLACKENED SKELETONS, a grown one with a child in its arms. Leslie SCREAMS in horror. INT. REBECCAS BARN - NIGHT Leslie wakes with a start. It was just a horrible, vivid nightmare. She weeps. INT. SHERIFF COOKES OFFICE - MORNING Jim and Linda Barrett sit across from Sheriff Cooke. Jim is shaken, Linda is livid. LINDA BARRETT What kind of hospital is this? SHERIFF COOKE Apparently, the situation was very chaotic after the accident. LINDA BARRETT So they let my daughter just wander out? SHERIFF COOKE Were doing everything we can to find her, Mrs. Barrett. LINDA BARRETT Shes probably lying dead somewhere! (beat) (MORE) (CONTINUED)

57. CONTINUED: LINDA BARRETT (CONT'D) Were suing that hospital, thats for sure... SHERIFF COOKE Do you have a recent photo of Leslie? Linda starts digging through her purse. LINDA BARRETT This is unbelievable. Youve got people dying and patients just wandering out the door... She finally comes up with something, takes it out and stares at it for a moment. LINDA BARRETT (CONTD) All I have is this, but she was so young. ANGLE ON PHOTO Leslie is eleven and posing with her parents against a mountainous backdrop on vacation somewhere. It is a happier time for all of them. SHERIFF COOKE Ill see what I can get through public records. INT. REBECCAS BARN - LATER Leslie wakes up and looks around. Sunlight filters through missing slats in the roof. She notices a small, black shape lying in the hay nearby and picks it up. It is a DEAD BAT. She throws it down. Then she notices another one. And another. She is surrounded by them. She gets to her feet with mounting panic. Leslie! REBECCA (O.S.)

Startled, she turns to see Rebecca standing in the doorway with the phone in her hand. REBECCA (CONTD) Its your doctor.

58. A NEWS CLIP Reporter TABITHA HONG (30s), a second generation Asian American, stands outside of Kingston Memorial Hospital with a microphone. TABITHA HONG Though police have not identified the cause of these deaths, they have closed off the section where the accident occurred. Meanwhile, they are searching for this woman. A grainy, awful-looking, state I.D. photo of Leslie appears on screen. TABITHA HONG (CONTD) Leslie Isadora Barrett is an epileptic patient whos believed to have wandered out of the hospital around the time of the accident and may have been harmed as well. Leslie must take daily medication to prevent seizures and officials believe she is without it. Anyone with information as to her whereabouts is asked to call the number on the screen... INT. DANAS APARTMENT/LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME Dana stares in shock at the TV as the clip plays on. The apartment is large, comfortable and modern. Mr. And Mrs. Drake prepare for work in the background. Mr. Drake notices what Danas watching and wanders over. MR. DRAKE What are they talking about? DANA Leslie. My piano teacher. Dana turns up the volume as Mrs. Drake wanders over. What happened? Shh! MRS. DRAKE DANA

MR. DRAKE Dont shush your mother. (CONTINUED)

59. CONTINUED: The kitchen phone RINGS. Mrs. Drake wanders over to it, her eyes still on the TV. INT. DANAS APARTMENT/KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Mrs. Drake picks up the phone. Hello? MRS. DRAKE

INT. DR. NEWTONS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS Dr. Newton speaks on his office phone. DR. NEWTON Hi. Is this Mrs. Drake? Yes. MRS. DRAKE (O.S.)

DR. NEWTON I think we may have met. Im Doctor Newton. Im the physician for Leslie Barrett, your daughters piano teacher. INT. DANAS APARTMENT/KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS MRS. DRAKE Oh, right. (beat) Yes, hold on. Dana! INT. DANAS APARTMENT/LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Dana turns away from the TV. MRS. DRAKE (O.C.) Its Leslies doctor! INT. DANAS APARTMENT/KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Dana comes over and takes the phone. INT. DR. NEWTONS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS DR. NEWTON Hi Dana. Im glad I caught you. (CONTINUED)

60. CONTINUED: CUT BACK AND FORTH AS NEEDED DANA Did you hear about what happened? DR. NEWTON Yes. Ive spoken to Leslie and shes fine but she needs me to get something from her apartment. She said youd have the key. DANA Sure, Im headed over there right now. I can meet you. INT. LESLIES APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER The front door opens and Dana and Dr. Newton enter. DR. NEWTON I would have gone through the hospital pharmacy but Leslies on a pretty strong barbiturate and it takes some red tape to get a hold of, even for me. DANA How come she cant come get it herself? DR. NEWTON (beat) Shes sort of in a bad way. DANA I thought you said she was alright. DR. NEWTON Well she is, shes just...to tell you the truth, Im not exactly sure whats going on. I just know she needs her pills. (beat) She said theyre in the bedroom. Top drawer. Dana goes into the bedroom and comes out a few seconds later with a bottle of pills. She hands them to Dr. Newton and he examines the label. Thanks. DR. NEWTON (CONTD)

(CONTINUED)

61. CONTINUED: He pockets the bottle and starts towards the door. Where is she? DANA

DR. NEWTON She made me promise not to tell. She said you should put the keys in the mailbox when youre done today. Her parents will come for the cat. Dana watches him leave with fear and sadness in her eyes. DR. NEWTON (CONTD) Dana, Im sure shell be alright. Ill keep you posted. He goes out. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - LATER Susans white Lexus pulls up to the front of the house. EXT. REBECCAS BARN - CONTINUOUS Leslie starts to emerge from the barn as she watches the car pull in. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS Susan Proctor and the scientists get out of the car, now in a clean change of clothes and looking very official. EXT. REBECCAS BARN - CONTINUOUS Leslie ducks back into the shadows and watches as they head towards the house. INT. REBECCAS KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Rebecca goes to the door, calling out to her grandson. Toby! REBECCA

62. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/PORCH - CONTINUOUS As Susan and the scientists approach the house, they see a trail of dried, muddy bare footprints leading up to the front door. As they mount the porch, they find Rebecca and Toby waiting for them behind the screen door. SUSAN PROCTOR (beat) Hi. Im sorry to bother you, maam, but I was wondering if you could help us. TOBY Theres three of them, grandma. One lady and two men. He tugs at Rebeccas housedress and she leans down so he can whisper in her ear. TOBY (CONTD) She looks like the mean lady from the court. SUSAN PROCTOR (beat) Im sorry. I didnt realize that you were uh... REBECCA Blind? Its okay, as long as youre not selling encyclopedias. How can I help you? SUSAN PROCTOR Were from Kingston Hospital. Were looking for a patient who went missing last night. We were wondering if anybodys seen her but... REBECCA I obviously cant see anything. TOBY But momma. What about the lady--? Toby! REBECCA

He stops, shocked. She kneels down to him.

(CONTINUED)

63. CONTINUED: REBECCA (CONTD) Whats that smell? What smell? TOBY

REBECCA Did Ginger have an accident? No, grandma! TOBY

REBECCA (sniffs the air) If that dog had another accident in this house, youre gonna get it! Toby sniffs. Now hes not so sure. He runs off to check. REBECCA (CONTD) (to Susan) I apologize, miss. But we havent had anyone like that come around here. But Ill keep my eyes open! (laughs) Would you like to leave a card? (beat) SUSAN PROCTOR

Sure.

She pretends to search her purse and come up empty. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) You know what? It looks like Im fresh out. But it doesnt matter. Just have her call the hospital and ask for a Doctor Shepard. Everybodys looking for her. Shell have no trouble getting through. Will do. REBECCA

SUSAN PROCTOR Thanks for your time, maam. REBECCA My pleasure. And good luck. She closes the door.

64. EXT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS Susan and the scientists start to search around the property. Dr. Heinlein hears a sound from the barn and turns in time to see the door move. He motions to the others and they start towards it. EXT. REBECCAS BARN - MOMENTS LATER Susan and the scientists peer inside. Dr. Heinlein pushes the door open and it CREAKS LOUDLY. Susan grabs it and gently opens it. As the light pours in, they see a sleeping bag and pillow on the ground. INT. REBECCAS BARN - CONTINUOUS They quietly step inside. Dr. Heinlein notices the small, black shapes littering the floor. He picks up one of the dead bats and flips it away in disgust. He looks around and sees many more. Heinlein reaches into his pocket, pulls out a syringe and pops the cap. Birds SOFTLY COO from the rafters and they all look up towards the hayloft. Susan sees a ladder leading to it and silently directs the men to start climbing. They start to ascend, Dr. Heinlein in the lead. INT. HAYLOFT - CONTINUOUS The old wooden ladder disappears into darkness at the top. The rungs CREAK as the scientists carefully ascend. Just as Dr. Heinlein reaches for the top rung---LESLIES FACE appears out of the shadows. He startles in fear and misses the rung, nearly falling off. When he tries to regain it, it breaks off in his hand. He tumbles down on Dr. Clarke, and the two of them land painfully on the ground. Susan runs over to help them, looking up at the hayloft but seeing nothing. Just as the men begin to untangle, a GROWLING SOUND from O.S. (CONTINUED)

65. CONTINUED: They turn to see Gingers bulk in the doorway. Holy---shit. DR. HEINLEIN DR. CLARKE

As the three of them try to figure out what to do next, Toby shows up behind Ginger, followed by Rebecca. TOBY (pointing) In there, grandma! The ones from before! REBECCA You guys get lost or something? SUSAN PROCTOR (brushing herself off) No, maam. We just thought we heard a noise coming from in here and wanted to make sure the patient hadnt wandered in without your knowing. REBECCA Oh, nothing happens around here without my knowing about it. SUSAN PROCTOR I can see that. REBECCA Well then I guess you guys better be going, huh? (beat) Yes, maam. SUSAN PROCTOR

EXT. REBECCAS BARN - CONTINUOUS Susan and the scientists delicately slid past Rebecca, Toby and Ginger. REBECCA I figured you might still be here since I didnt hear your car leave. Im blind, not deaf.

66. INT. SUSANS CAR - MOMENTS LATER Susan drives, the scientists riding in the backseat. DR. HEINLEIN We know shes there but how do we get her? SUSAN PROCTOR There may be someone on our security team who can help us. He used to work for one of those private firms that provided security for civilian contractors in the Middle East. DR. CLARKE You mean one of those notorious firms? SUSAN PROCTOR Dont be so judgemental, Dr. Clarke. After recent events, you might be considered pretty notorious yourself. EXT. REBECCAS FARM - LATER Dr. Newtons car pulls up to the house and he gets out. Rebecca opens her front door with Toby. Whos there? REBECCA

Leslie comes running over. LESLIE (O.S.) Its alright! Its Doctor Newton! Her instinct is to run to him, but she suddenly holds back, afraid to get too close. Newton is shocked by her appearance and he comes towards her. DR. NEWTON What did they do to you? Leslie feels like a monster, backing away. LESLIE Ill explain along the way. Did you bring my pills? (CONTINUED)

67. CONTINUED: He hands her the bottle. She shakes a few pills out and swallows them dry. After a beat, she swallows a third. DR. NEWTON Hey, those arent Tic-Tacs, you know. LESLIE I need all the protection I can get. DR. NEWTON What the hell is going on here? LESLIE Ill explain in the car. I promise. I just need to get away from here as soon as possible. Reluctantly, Dr. Newton gets into the drivers seat. LESLIE (CONTD) Rebecca, thanks for your help. REBECCA Just take care of yourself, honey. LESLIE I will. Goodbye, Toby. Goodbye, lady. TOBY

INT. DR. NEWTONS CAR - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Newton tries to get his mind around something thats just too incredible to be true. DR. NEWTON You say this...outburst happened during a seizure? LESLIE I think the outburst was the seizure. It had all the signs leading up to it. But the main difference was that when it happened, I was conscious. It was like a rush of something flowing out of me and connecting with everything around me. The air, the lights. Then the people. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

68. CONTINUED: LESLIE (CONT'D) And although I could see what was happening to them-they were dying and it was violent-I wasnt afraid or even repulsed. In fact, I felt...strangely euphoric. DR. NEWTON (beat) I spoke to Susan Proctor earlier. She said you had a seizure and they sent you to a local hospital. Thats all. Shes lying. LESLIE

DR. NEWTON Well its clear something happened. The question is what. LESLIE Do you think Im making this up? DR. NEWTON No. But I also know youre on a very powerful barbiturate and you have had hallucinatory symptoms in the past. LESLIE Did I imagine this? She pulls off the head scarf, revealing the electrodes fused to her skin. LESLIE (CONTD) And why are they coming after me? DR. NEWTON (beat) Why dont I take you back to the hospital in New York and examine you? LESLIE No! Im not setting foot in another fucking hospital. Besides, its too dangerous. DR. NEWTON Then where are we going?

(CONTINUED)

69. CONTINUED: (2) LESLIE I dont know. I cant go home. Its too dangerous. I just need time to think. DR. NEWTON (beat) Ive got a place in Long Island. Its on the beach but its pretty quiet this time of year. You can stay there for the night if youd like. INT. JIM AND LINDA BARRETTS HOME - MOMENTS LATER Linda Barrett is worried as she talks on the phone. LINDA BARRETT Will you at least tell me where you are? EXT. GAS STATION - CONTINUOUS Leslie talks to her mom on a pay phone. LESLIE I cant, but Im safe. I promise you. Can you please put dad on the phone? INT. JIM AND LINDA BARRETTS HOME - CONTINUOUS Mrs. Barrett is concerned but also irritated. She calls her husband over, the phone to her chest. Jim! LINDA BARRETT

(to Leslie) Ive been through hell today and I want some answers! CUT BACK AND FORTH AS NEEDED LESLIE Just put him on! A BURST OF STATIC burns Lindas ear and she pulls the phone away. Mr. Barrett grabs it from her. JIM BARRETT Are you alright, honey? Should we come and get you? (CONTINUED)

70. CONTINUED: LESLIE No, I mean, Im fine but I need you to do me a favor. If you dont hear from me in a few days, I need you to go and get October and take her home with you, okay? JIM BARRETT What are you saying? LESLIE Just promise me you will. I dont want her to starve to death. JIM BARRETT Okay, okay. I will. But where are you? LESLIE I love you, dad. And tell mom I love her too. EXT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE - LATER Its small but pretty, with large bay windows that look out on the Long Island Sound. Dr. Newton pulls into the carport. He and Leslie get out and start towards the house. LESLIE Can you feel that? What? DR. NEWTON

LESLIE Its coming from the water. Its so strong. Cant you feel it? Just the wind. DR. NEWTON

Leslie takes off running towards the water. Dr. Newton follows her. EXT. BEACH- MOMENTS LATER Leslie arrives at the shoreline. There are tears in her eyes. Dr. Newton arrives right behind her.

(CONTINUED)

71. CONTINUED: LESLIE My God, its almost overpowering. (laughs) It tingles. She pulls off her head scarf and spreads out her arms, tears of joy streaming down her face, her hair blown by the wind. Dr. Newton is touched by the child-like purity of her emotions. Hes never seen her like this. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Leslie and Dr. Newton enter a spacious living room with a skylight. It has a grand piano and a fireplace. LELSIE (impressed) I should have been a doctor. DR. NEWTON We hardly ever use the place. Were always so busy. Leslie sees a picture on an end table of Newtons wife, son and daughter. She picks it up. LESLIE Theyre beautiful. Thanks. DR. NEWTON

She puts the photo down and looks at the piano. LESLIE A Steinway. Nice. Do you play? DR. NEWTON No, it came with the place. None of us are musical. I just keep it around to look sophisticated. Leslie sits down at it. LESLIE Do you mind if I play? DR. NEWTON Please. Its probably out of tune though.

(CONTINUED)

72. CONTINUED: LESLIE Thats okay. Im out of tune myself. She starts to play Love Dreams by Franz Liszt. DR. NEWTON Thats beautiful. LESLIE Thanks. I wrote it. Really? DR. NEWTON

LESLIE (laughs) Of course not. Its Franz Liszt. Whats wrong with you? DR. NEWTON Hey, dont pick on me. Im a doctor, Jim, not a musician. (beat) Do you ever miss playing professionally? LESLIE No. I always felt like a show pony when I was a kid. I was always competing for some prize so my mother would have something to feel good about. Now I just play for myself. Of course with all the drugs I take, I cant play like I used to. DR. NEWTON Well, it sounds great. (beat) Theres no food in this place. Are you hungry? Starving. LESLIE

DR. NEWTON Why dont I go get you some groceries? He stands up to leave and Leslie stops playing, feeling nervous.

(CONTINUED)

73. CONTINUED: (2) DR. NEWTON (CONTD) Youll be okay. Its just up the road. Leslie slowly settles down and smiles with embarrassment. LESLIE You must think Im a coward. DR. NEWTON No. Actually I think youre incredibly brave. Youve been through a hell of a lot. INT. SUSANS OFFICE - SAME TIME Susan sits across from someone we cannot see. SUSAN PROCTOR I know this is an unusual request, but youll be appropriately compensated, of course. Reveal Carl sitting across from her, cheerful as always. CARL That sounds fine, Miss Proctor. Just give me the details and consider it done. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE/KITCHEN - LATER Dr. Newton and Leslie eat sandwiches as they talk. LESLIE Whats it like being married? DR. NEWTON Its easy. We never see each other. LESLIE Do you love her? DR. NEWTON Of course. Shes my wife. LESLIE Im sorry. I spend so much time alone sometimes I forget how to talk to people. Ive gone days without leaving the house at all. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

74. CONTINUED: LESLIE (CONT'D) Its ironic really. Now Im afraid to go back there. DR. NEWTON I wish Id never told you about this damn thing. LESLIE Dont feel guilty. It was my choice. I didnt have much of a life anyway. I figured I wasnt risking much. DR. NEWTON You shouldnt say that. Im sure there are a lot of people who would miss you if you were gone. LESLIE Like who? My parents? My students? I dont owe them anything. My life is my own. And I can end it too if I want. People dont like to hear that but when you live with a chronic condition, so much of your life is beyond your control. You savor the few things that arent. DR. NEWTON (beat) Well, theres no telling what could happen. Maybe someone can fix this. LESLIE They couldnt fix my epilepsy, how the hell are they gonna fix this? DR. NEWTON Look Leslie, do me a favor. I know you dont owe me anything but if youre getting any ideas about offing yourself, please dont do it at my beach house. Its bad manners. (smiles) You got it. LESLIE

75. INT. REBECCAS PORCH - NIGHT Ginger is roused from sleep by a rustling sound in the woods. She follows her nose to the edge of the property and stares into the darkness, sniffing for trouble. POP! Ginger rears up with a painful YELP as something strikes her. She does her best to bite at a dart which protrudes from her flank, but its out of reach. The tranquilizer works quickly and she soon falls asleep. Carl steps stealthily from the darkness with a rifle, now looking more like a hunter than a friendly chauffeur. He heads towards the barn. INT. REBECCAS BARN - MOMENTS LATER Carl slips in and looks around. No dead bats, no sleeping bag, no sign of Leslie. He starts ascending the ladder to the hayloft. INT. REBECCAS BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Rebecca wakes with a strange feeling and gets out of bed. INT. TOBYS BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Rebecca enters to check on him. He sleeps peacefully. INT. REBECCAS FARMHOUSE/LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Rebecca enters with a rifle in her hands, listening carefully for trouble. INT. REBECCAS KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER Rebecca enters and listens here as well, feeling her way across the room. Reveal - Carl standing in the corner, watching her. Rebecca knows there is something wrong but cannot pinpoint it. Carl starts to move towards her when she suddenly turns in his direction, the gun pointed at his chest. Carl holds very still as she inches forward, the barrel nearly touching him. (CONTINUED)

76. CONTINUED: In one swift move he disarms her, pinning her arm behind her back and placing a gloved hand across her mouth. CARL (whispering) Im looking for Leslie Barrett. Ive already searched the house so I know she isnt here. Where did she go? Rebecca shakes her head emphatically. CARL (CONTD) I know she told you. Where did she go? He takes his hand away and she GASPS for air. REBECCA She didnt say. CARL If youre lying to me, Ill kill the boy. Ill kill you both and burn this place down, you understand? REBECCA She left with a doctor. Thats all I know. Carl sees a caller I.D. box near the phone and drags her over to it. He picks it up, scans the list of incoming calls and sees a 212 number for Lennox Hill Hospital. He places Rebecca on the ground and binds her hands behind her back with plastic flexi-cuffs. He rips a strip of electrical tape off a roll and presses it across her mouth. Carl dials the phone and hears a RECORDED MESSAGE: WOMANS VOICE (V.O.) Youve reached the office of Doctor Robert Newton. He is currently unavailable. If this is a medical emergency-He hangs up and turns to Rebecca. CARL Now be a good girl and I wont come back. He leaves.

77. EXT. LENNOX HILL HOSPITAL - MORNING Dr. Newtons car pulls out of the underground parking lot and into the flow of Manhattan traffic. A short distance away, a used-looking Ford pulls away from the curb and follows him. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE/BATHROOM - LATER Dr. Newton draws some blood from Leslies arm. EXT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER Leslie says goodbye to Dr. Newton at the carport. DR. NEWTON Im going to take these vials to the lab and see what I can learn. In the meantime, Ive turned on the house phone. Call me if you need anything. Thanks. LESLIE

She gives him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. He gets into his car and drives away. EXT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE - DUSK Leslie sits on the patio watching the SUN SET. She wears a loose-fitting house dress. On a little table before her is a bottle of wine, now empty. She takes a final swig from her glass and sets it down. She closes her eyes as the ocean breeze washes over her. Leslie gets up and walks towards the water, soaking in the energy. She gets closer and closer, letting it seep into her body until the tears of joy return. In a burst of inspiration, she pulls off her house dress and lets the wind carry it away. EXT. THE WATERS EDGE - CONTINUOUS As Leslie reaches the surf, she rips the medical I.D. Bracelet from her wrist and throws it into the ocean with defiance. Shes never felt so free. (CONTINUED)

78. CONTINUED: We hear a faint POP in the distance and she lets out a CRY as something strikes her between the shoulder blades. She tries in vain to reach it. EXT. FURTHER DOWN THE BEACH - CONTINUOUS Carl lies across the sand watching her through the scope of his rifle. EXT. WATERS EDGE - CONTINUOUS The blue, fuzzy flight of a dart protrudes from Leslies back as she turns to see Carl crouching in the distance with his rifle in hand, ready to fire again if needed. Leslie runs toward the beach house, but it now seems miles away as the tranquilizer dart does its work. She barely makes it to the steps of the patio when she collapses in the sand. Carl calmly walks over to her, his rifle slung across his shoulder. He checks her out and sees that she still alive. He scans her naked body for a moment before scooping her up and carrying her away. INT. USED FORD - MOMENTS LATER Carl drives as Leslie sleeps in the backseat, wrapped in a blanket. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE/KITCHEN - THE NEXT DAY The phone RINGS and RINGS, unanswered. INT. DR. NEWTONS CAR - CONTINUOUS Dr. Newton on his cell phone as he drives. We hear it RINGING FAINTLY on the other end. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Newtons enter and looks around. Leslie? DR. NEWTON (CONTINUED)

79. CONTINUED: He goes upstairs. Leslie! DR. NEWTON (O.C.) (CONTD)

He comes back downstairs and sees the open patio door and the empty wine bottle on the table. He runs past it and out onto the beach. EXT. BEACH - CONTINUOUS He sees something near the water and runs over to pick it up. Its the housedress Leslie was wearing. Oh, no. DR. NEWTON (CONTD)

He goes closer to the water, looking for any sign of her. A tiny bit of white plastic protrudes from the wet sand near the water. Dr. Newton knows what it is even before he reaches it and his heart sinks. He picks it up and wipes off the sand to reveal Leslies name and other information printed on her I.D. bracelet. He continues to scan the water but it is calm, clear and hopelessly devoid of any signs of life. INT. DR. NEWTONS BEACH HOUSE/KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Newton talks on the phone to a 911 operator. He is in a state of shock. DR. NEWTON I want to report a possible drowning. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - NIGHT There are more SECURITY GUARDS now than before. A MEDIVAC HELICOPTER sits on a landing pad. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - SAME TIME It is DARK. MUZAK plays softly from somewhere. A FIGURE sits up groggily in a bunk. (CONTINUED)

80. CONTINUED: As the LIGHTS COME ON we see that its Leslie. She has a buzz cut. The electrodes have been removed, strips of gauze in their place. She wears a kind of bodysuit made of a neoprene type material. She gazes around with slowly dawning fear. The room is 12 square and is lined with rubber padding. It is barren except for the bunk and a sophisticated-looking lightning rod built into the ground at the center of the room. There is also a kind of scanning device descended from the ceiling like an antenna. Security cameras are set back into the four corners of the ceiling behind thick plexiglass shields. SUSAN PROCTOR (O.S.) Leslie, can you hear me? Leslie turns to see Susans face on a flatscreen monitor built into the wall behind another sheet of plexiglass. Where am I? She feels her head. LESLIE (CONTD) What did you do to me? She tries to get up but quickly learns her bodys not ready to do that as she falls to the floor. The music CUTS OUT. SUSAN PROCTOR We shaved your head to remove the electrodes. As for the room, it was custom built with your condition in mind. The padded walls are shock proof and fire resistant, as is your bodysuit. The steel tower is designed to absorb a potential electrical discharge. It may be a bit bleak but right now its the safest place for you to be. LESLIE Safe? The last thing I remember, I was shot! SUSAN PROCTOR Carl had to sedate you for safety reasons. (MORE) (CONTINUED) LESLIE

81. CONTINUED: (2) SUSAN PROCTOR (CONT'D) Perhaps it was a bit crude but were all having to improvise here. LESLIE I was tranquilized like an animal! This is kidnapping! SUSAN PROCTOR We could argue that we did it to save lives, including your own. LESLIE LET ME OUT OF HERE! The picture on the flatscreen DISTORTS for a moment. SUSAN PROCTOR You have got to calm down. If you go off again, you could short out the monitors and we wont be able to communicate. Leslie tries to keep herself together. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) I dont know how much youre aware of but theres been an accident. A lot of people have died. LESLIE Because of your experiment. What did you people do to me? Susan gestures to someone off camera and then steps away to be replaced a moment later by Dr. Heinlein. DR. HEINLEIN Were not exactly sure what happened but we have some ideas. (beat) It seems you had a seizure while the machine was stimulating the Synthetran. Its possible that your brain reached a point of critical mass and the surplus energy was expelled. Instead of eliminating the storm, weve simply turned it inside out. And due to the conductive nature of electricity, that storm grew exponentially throughout the event, drawing power from the hardware in the room, perhaps even the air around you.

82. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Dr. Heinlein speaks with Leslie through his desktop computer, watching her on the screen as Susan hovers nearby. Dr. Clarke watches a series of monitors which read Leslies vitals and brainwave function through the antenna in her safe room. DR. HEINLEIN Of course thats just one theory. The others a bit more esoteric. (beat) Nobody ever knew what caused your seizures to begin with. The disorder itself is still such a mystery even to the best minds in the field. Its possible that weve simply found that cause and released it in its full potential. Like a Pandoras box. LESLIE So much for your miracle cure. DR. HEINLEIN We could have never predicted this. Not in our wildest dreams. LESLIE How long have I been here? DR. HEINLEIN Two weeks. There doesnt seem to be any neurological damage, of course your body has become so sensitized electrically that accurate readings are difficult. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS DR. HEINLEIN (O.S.) I believe well know more after we can recreate the event. What? LESLIE

DR. HEILEIN Well have to try and record one of these outbursts so that we can study it.

(CONTINUED)

83. CONTINUED: LESLIE Oh, no. Im not going through that again. DR. HEINLEIN Im afraid youll have to. Dr. Heinlein is pulled out of the frame and replaced by Susan. SUSAN PROCTOR We lost millions of dollars worth of equipment during the initial outburst. Any additional work is going to require significant funding which needs the approval of upper management. Theyll have to see this with their own eyes before theyll be willing to do that. LESLIE And what about all those people who died? What does upper management think of that? SUSAN PROCTOR Were trying our best to prevent more deaths. Thats why we need to do this. LESLIE (beat) Well, what choice do I have? All you have to do is cut off my medication and stress me out, which youre doing a pretty good job of already. SUSAN PROCTOR Weve actually started taking you down on your Praxalide while you slept. Right now, youre at about half your dosage. (beat) Wed like to do the test tomorrow. LESLIE Great. So what do I do in the meantime? SUSAN PROCTOR Just try and relax. The MUZAK switches back on. (CONTINUED)

84. CONTINUED: (2) LESLIE What the hell is this? SUSAN PROCTOR Its supposed to be therapeutic. You responded to it quite well in your sleep. LESLIE Well, Im awake now so please shut it off. I feel like Im in the waiting room from hell. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan smiles as she turns off the music. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - LATER Leslie lies in bed staring at the ceiling when she hears the sound of the door being unlocked. Dr. Clarke enters with a food cart. Its metal parts are rubber padded. Leslie sits up. LESLIE Dont they have orderlies to do that sort of thing? DR. CLARKE Were keeping staff to a minimum these days. He brings the cart to her bedside. LESLIE You mean everyone else is afraid to come in here. That too. DR. CLARKE

LESLIE How come youre not? DR. CLARKE Because youre my patient. If anyones going to be at risk, it should be me.

(CONTINUED)

85. CONTINUED: LESLIE So whats your take on all this? DR. CLARKE I think everyones doing the best they can. Leslie glances at the cameras around the room. LESLIE But you wouldnt tell me if you felt different, would you? DR. CLARKE Leslie, the truth is you know just as much as we do. Im scared too. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan watches them on the monitor with concern. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - MORNING The front gate opens and a BLACK SUV rolls in. A DRIVER (30s) gets out, goes around the back and opens the door for Mr. Warner, his Lawyer and his Assistant. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Leslie sits on the ground with her legs folded, staring at the lightning rod in the center of the room, breathing deeply and looking pale. Sweat beads on her forehead. Dr. Heinlein speaks with her through the flatscreen. DR. HEINLEIN (O.S.) Youre definitely in the zone now. I can feel it. LESLIE

INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Heinlein and Clarke observe her vitals and brain function. Heart rate and respiratory are rising, brain waves are spiking.

86. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - SAME TIME It is comfortable and well-appointed. Warner and his staff sit at a large glass table sipping coffee and watching the test on a flatscreen TV. Susan activates a DIMMER with a remote. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS DR. HEINLEIN (O.S.) (to Leslie) Im going to start with the lights now. LESLIE (shakily)

Okay.

The lights begin to STROBE. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Warner, Susan and the others watch the BLINKING IMAGE on the screen, as Leslies distressed face appears and disappears. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie is trembling, trying to will this to happen. Subsequently, it is not. Tears and sweat roll down her face. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Heinlein focuses on the instruments as Clarke watches Leslie on the monitor. DR. CLARKE Its not happening. It will. DR. HEINLEIN

He taps a button and a TEMPERATURE DISPLAY climbs up to 90 degrees, 95, and beyond.

87. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie continues to struggle, her whole body shaking with the effort. Her face is pale and drenched in sweat. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS DR. CLARKE Forget it. All were doing is torturing her. Keep going. DR. HEINLEIN

DR. CLARKE No! Look at her heart rate, for Gods sake! Shes about to go into cardiac arrest! DR. HEINLEIN (beat) Okay, Leslie. Were going to start shutting down now. Just try to relax. Clarke and Heinlein shut off the lights in her room and start bringing down the temperature. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS It is quiet. Susan is embarrassed as she starts to turn up the lights. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie leans forward, her head in her hands. DR. CLARKE (O.S.) Its okay, Leslie. Just try and relax. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslies darkened silhouette on the flatscreen. Leslie. DR. CLARKE (O.S.)

88. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Clarke and Heinlein watch Leslie on the screen. Leslie? DR. CLARKE

INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie takes her hands from her face. HER EYES HAVE GONE DEAD. She starts to SCREAM. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Warner and his staff watch as Leslies SCREAM continues. Susans eyes widen with hope. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS A TRICKLE OF LUMINOUS ENERGY begins to flow from the center of Leslies forehead and into the lightning rod. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Warner and his staff watch in disbelief. Susan CLAPS FOR JOY. Warner shoots her a look and she checks herself. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS The energy flows from Leslies mind more powerfully, violently. All the buildup has caused it to gush more strongly than ever before. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS The scientists watch a DIGITAL DISPLAY which measures the power output in the Leslies safe room as the numbers climb. DR. HEINLEIN This is incredible. DR. CLARKE This is dangerous.

89. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Suddenly, the lights in Leslies room begin to FLICKER. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslies image on the monitors start to DISTORT and the lights in here begin the FLICKER also, followed by the instrument panels. The scientist pull off their headsets. DR. CLARKE Shes drawing power from the rest of the building. DR. HEINLEIN The circuit breakers should kick in. All the monitors suddenly CUT OUT. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) Ill go cut the power. He runs out, followed by Dr. Clarke. INT. MEDITECH MEETING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan and the others look around as the lights begin to FLICKER here too. INT. ELECTRICAL ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Heinlein enters and runs to the power grid. All the lights are BLINKING RAPIDLY. He hastily examines the various switches, trying to figure out what to do when suddenly ALL THE LIGHTS STEADY. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER A SECURITY GUARD unlocks the door for Dr. Clarke as Dr. Heinlein comes tearing out of the stairwell. Dont! DR. HEINLEIN

The door opens and a BLAST OF ELECTRICALLY CHARGED AIR blows out a shock wave, knocking Dr. Clarke and the Guard to the ground. Dr. Heinlein runs over to them. (CONTINUED)

90. CONTINUED: The three of them look in on Leslies safe room and see her lying on her back, TWITCHING. Smoke rises from the lightning rod. DR. HEINLEIN (CONTD) The air is still heavily ionized. Give it a minute. They watch as her TWITCHING slowly ceases. INT. MEDITECH ICU - LATER Susan paces in a small lobby area smoking a cigarette. A moment later, Heinlein and Clarke emerge with Dr. GUPTA (50s). He panics at the sight of Susans cigarette. DR. GUPTA You cannot smoke that here! Please! Susan throws the cigarette down and stamps it out. SUSAN PROCTOR Sorry. Im under a lot of stress lately. Just tell me whats going on. DR. GUPTA The patient has had a mild heart attack but shes starting to stabilize. SUSAN PROCTOR Good. Keep an eye on her and tell me if anything changes. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - THE NEXT DAY Leslie slowly wakes to the sight of Susan and Dr. Heinlein sitting at her bedside. DR. HEINLEIN Good morning, Leslie. SUSAN PROCTOR How do you feel? LESLIE Tired. My throat hurts. Susan hands her a glass of water from a bedside table. Leslie is very weak and Susan helps her sit up.

91. INT. CONTROL ROOM - SAME TIME Dr. Clarke monitors Leslies vitals and brainwaves as she speaks to Susan and Dr. Heinlein. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS SUSAN PROCTOR Do you remember what happened? LESLIE (beat) I let it out. It was so strong. Too strong. So I tried to hold it back. Then I guess I blacked out. SUSAN PROCTOR Thank God youre alive. We thought we lost you there for a while. LESLIE Did they see it? The people in charge? SUSAN PROCTOR They saw everything. LESLIE Well, what did they say? SUSAN PROCTOR Theyll give us whatever we need. LESLIE Thats good. So what comes next? DR. HEINLEIN Well despite what happened, I think yesterdays demo proved something crucial. That you could control this thing yourself. Without medication. And I believe that with training you could learn to do this permanently. SUSAN PROCTOR We want to work with you for as long as it takes. You would never have to depend on drugs again. No more seizures. No more outbursts. Youd be free. LESLIE You could do that? (CONTINUED)

92. CONTINUED: SUSAN PROCTOR Yes. But in exchange, we need you to do something for us. What is it? LESLIE

DR. HEINLEIN This thing that occurred, this energy, I dont know where it flows from but weve got to find out. Theres so much we could learn from this, not just about neurological disorders, but the nature of the mind itself. SUSAN PROCTOR Wed like to invite scientists from around the world to come here and meet you-LESLIE And study me. Like a specimen. SUSAN PROCTOR No. Like a woman with an extraordinary gift. LESLIE This gift kills people. It almost killed me. DR. Thats because we it yet. Its like of power. It just harnessed. HEINLEIN dont understand any other form has to be

LESLIE I put my life in your hands and you made me worse than I was before. And now you expect me to help you turn your mistake into your next million dollar discovery? SUSAN PROCTOR All were trying to do is take a bad experience and find the good in it. For everyone. LESLIE Bullshit. You dont care about me or any of those people who died. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

93. CONTINUED: (2) LESLIE (CONT'D) Youre only thinking about yourselves. SUSAN PROCTOR Do you know what Ive gone through for you in the past few days? Im risking my life just being in here! LESLIE Then send me home. DR. HEINLEIN What can we do to make this work for you? Just tell us what you want. LESLIE All I want is what every patient wants. To be treated like a human being! SUSAN PROCTOR Its the only way theyll do it, Leslie. Just take what were offering. No! LESLIE

Leslie lets out a mild discharge, but its enough to knock Susan to the ground. She grabs her head in pain as Dr. Heinlein stares in horror, backing away from Leslie. LESLIE (CONTD) Im going home tomorrow, you understand? And no ones going to stop me. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - LATER Susan smokes a cigarette as Dr. Heinlein broods. SUSAN PROCTOR As far as the world is concerned, shes dead anyway. No one outside of the company knows shes here. (beat) Well just have to find some appropriate way to kill her. DR. HEINLEIN Some appropriate way? (CONTINUED)

94. CONTINUED: SUSAN PROCTOR We cant let her leave. Well all be ruined. (beat) Dont pretend to be shocked. We both knew it might come to this. Doctor Heinlein stares off for a long beat. DR. HEINLEIN I want to keep her brain intact. For research purposes. SUSAN PROCTOR (beat) Wow. I thought I was practical. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER The door is unlocked and Dr. Clarke enters with Leslies medication in a syringe. LESLIE I dont want it. DR. CLARKE You need it, Leslie. LESLIE Ill take my own medication when Im home. I dont trust this place. DR. CLARKE You cant risk another breakthrough in the state youre in. It could kill you. Reluctantly, she opens a flap in her neoprene sleeve, revealing a plastic shunt in her arm. Dr. Clarke injects her. INT. CONTROL ROOM - LATER Clarke and Heinlein sit at the console monitoring Leslies functions. All is stable. Leslie sleeps peacefully on the monitor in GREEN, PHOSPHOROUS NIGHT VISION. DR. CLARKE Youve been very quiet.

(CONTINUED)

95. CONTINUED: DR. HEINLEIN There isnt much to say. DR. CLARKE Well, what happens tomorrow? DR. HEINLEIN You heard the conversation. We send her home. DR. CLARKE Do you think thats such a good idea? DR. HEINLEIN What choice do we have? We cant keep her here indefinitely. DR. CLARKE I want to talk to her. DR. HEINLEIN We tried that. You saw how she reacted. DR. CLARKE Well, we cant just send her home in her condition. DR. HEINLEIN (beat) If you think itll help, talk to her in the morning. Dr. Clarke gets up and grabs his coat. DR. CLARKE I need to get at least a few hours of sleep tonight. How about you? DR. HEINLEIN Im going to stick around. Shes still delicate. I want to keep an eye on her. Dr. Clarke starts out the door but he looks a bit worried as he takes a last glance at Leslies sleeping image on the monitor. DR. CLARKE Call me if anything changes. He goes out.

96. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - DUSK The sky darkens as a STORM BREWS overhead. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - NIGHT Leslie sleeps. Suddenly, she COUGHS. After a moment, she starts COUGH HARDER and it wakes her up. She takes a drink from a tumbler of water beside the bed. She hears a FAINT HISSING noise coming from somewhere and she gets up to investigate. Still COUGHING, she realizes its coming from a vent in the wall near the ceiling. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan and Dr. Heinlein watch Leslie on the monitor as she continues to choke on poisonous gas which fills her room. DR. HEINLEIN (to Susan) Carbon monoxide. Its quick-acting and fairly painless. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie realizes what is happening and tries to find a way out, POUNDING on the walls and door. LESLIE Help! Help me!! INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS A SECURITY GUARD (20s) sits outside the soundproof room, oblivious. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Leslie can be heard CHOKING and GAGING through the monitor. Dr. Heinlein reaches over and switches off the sound. Heinlein and Susan watch as Leslie gets on the floor, trying to buy herself some time but growing weaker. She crawls into the corner and huddles there. (CONTINUED)

97. CONTINUED: Susan reaches over and turns on the microphone. SUSAN PROCTOR Its not too late, Leslie. I can make this stop if you agree to our terms. Dr. Heinlein looks at her like shes crazy. He tries to grab the mic but she pushes him away. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) Please dont make me do this, Leslie. Through red, stinging eyes, Leslie starts to concentrate on the lightning rod at the center of the room. DR. HEINLEIN What is she doing...? INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS Dr. Heinlein switches on his microphone. DR. HEINLEIN Leslie, dont do that! Youll ignite the fumes! She mouths a SILENT SCREAM. The air catches and the screen FLASHES WHITE. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS KA-BOOM!!! The door is BLOWN OFF its hinges by a BLAST OF FLAME, sending the Security Guard flying from his chair. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS The vent. INT. THE AIR SHAFT - CONTINUOUS A WALL OF FLAME rushes through it with a WHOOSH!

98. INT. SUPPLY ROOM - CONTINUOUS A vent in the wall with a hose leading from it to a COMPRESSED GAS TANK one of many which are lined against the wall. INT. CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS shakes the entire building, throwing Susan and Dr. Heinlein to the ground. Heinlein lands on top Susan and she throws him off with disgust. INT. SUPPLY ROOM - CONTINUOUS It is engulfed in FLAMES. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - CONTINUOUS It is raining now as an EMERGENCY HORN BLARES. Personnel start to scramble. INT. STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS Susan and Dr. Heinlein nearly fly down the stairs. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan and Dr. Heinlein emerge from the stairwell and see the ruined door lying near the body of the dead guard. They start towards the room. DR. HEINLEIN She was killed in the blast. She had to be. Suddenly, they both get the same thought and stop. Susan grabs an intercom phone on the wall and makes an announcement. SUSAN PROCTOR All security personnel report to the I Ward immediately! Repeat: All security personnel to the I Ward! This is a code red emergency!

99. EXT. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING - CONTINUOUS Dr. Clarke steps emerges to see dozens of armed Security Guards pile into the Industrial Building. He tries to follow them but is stopped. DR. CLARKE What the hells going on in there? ARMED GUARD I dont know, but I cant let you in, doctor. Its too dangerous. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Carl arrives with his men as smoke begins to creep into the hallway. He sees his fallen comrade outside the safe room and calls out to Susan. CARL What happened to him? SUSAN PROCTOR Its Leslie! Im going in there but I need you to cover me! Carl signals to his men and they line up along the hallway as he, Susan and Dr. Heinlein carefully approach the Safe Room. INT. LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan leads the way as the three of them reach the doorway and carefully look inside. The flame-resistant walls are unscathed. The lightning rod is intact. We cannot see Leslie, but the bunk she slept in is now overturned and leaning against the corner where she cowered earlier. Dr. Heinlein is afraid to move. Susan pushes him aside and approaches the overturned bunk. Carl comes up beside her and points his gun at it. Susan holds her breath and shoves the bed aside-Theres no one there. Susan lets out her breath when suddenly there is a SCREAM from outside somewhere - Leslies scream. The POWER goes out, plunging the building into DARKNESS.

100. INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE LESLIES SAFE ROOM - CONTINUOUS Susan, Carl and Dr. Heinlein emerge to the sound of a commotion at the other end of the hall. The Guards turn on their FLASHLIGHTS and shine them down the hall to reveal Leslie standing there in her bodysuit and shaved head, blinking in the glare of the BRIGHT LIGHT. For many of them, this is the first time theyre seeing her. Kill her! The men are confused. SUSAN PROCTOR (CONTD) Carl, order your men to shoot before its too late! A few of them raise their weapons as Leslie lets out another SCREAM and a BLAST of ELECTRICAL ENERGY strikes the nearest one, FRYING HIS BRAIN and ZIGZAGGING down the hall from one man to the next as they form a human circuit, killing them all. Carl watches in horror as the wave of death draws nearer. Susan grabs him at the last second and pulls him into Leslies Safe Room along with Dr. Heinlein. A second later Carl emerges again with a BLAST OF AUTOMATIC FIRE towards the spot where Leslie stood. But she is gone. The flashlights of the dead men roll around on the floor, casting strange patterns of LIGHT and SHADOW through the smoke, which continues to thicken. Carl moves down the row of fallen bodies, slowly processing the fact that his entire security crew has just been wiped out in one shot. The WALKIE-TALKIE on his belt goes off and his heart jumps. MUNSON (O.S.) Carl, this is Munson. Do you read me? Carl picks up the radio. CARL This is Carl. Go ahead. (CONTINUED) SUSAN PROCTOR

101. CONTINUED: MUNSON (O.S.) Weve lost power to the main gate. Weve lost power everywhere. What the hell is going on in there? CARL Just hold tight and stay on that gate. Theres an assailant in the facility and shes using some kind of an unknown weapon. Shes wearing a black bodysuit and shes got a shaved head. If you see her, shoot to kill. Repeat: shoot to kill. Susan and Dr. Heinlein join him in the hallway. She picks up an AUTOMATIC WEAPON from one of the fallen men. CARL (CONTD) You dont know how to use that. Susan aims it down the hall and tries it a few times until it FIRES. Carl and Dr. Heinlein look at her. SUSAN PROCTOR That wasnt so hard. She grabs a WALKIE-TALKIE off the same dead guard. INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER Susan, Carl and Dr. Heinlein emerge from the stairwell to find more smoke. Dr. Heinlein tries the automatic doors but they wont open. DR. HEINLEIN Theyre electric. Were stuck. SUSAN PROCTOR Good, that means shes stuck in here with us. Lets go find her. DR. HEINLEIN What about the fire? Susan ignores him, turning to Carl. SUSAN PROCTOR Ill go up to the top floor work my way down. You start here and well cut her off. (CONTINUED)

102. CONTINUED: She runs back into the stairwell and Carl goes off to search the ground floor, leaving Heinlein alone and scared. Dr. Clarke runs up to the front door and BANGS on the glass. David! DR. CLARKE

Dr. Heinlein runs over to the window. DR. HEINLEIN The powers out! Im stuck! DR. CLARKE Find something to break the glass! DR. HEINLEIN I cant! Its shatterproof! INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/SECOND FLOOR - CONTINUOUS Susan stalks down the hall, checking all the doors, but most of them are automatically locked and wont open. She tries shooting the lock off of one of them and peers in. Its empty. INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER Dr. Heinlein sees something coming towards the front doors and dives for cover as Dr. Clarkes car comes CRASHING INTO THE LOBBY, sending shatterproof glass flying. INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/FIRST FLOOR - CONTINUOUS Leslie hears the sound of the crash and turns around. As she does, she spots a closed off area at the end of the hall which looks familiar. INT. THE NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - MOMENTS LATER Leslie climbs past a makeshift barricade and into the room. In the center, she sees the machine which started this all, the one she hung her hopes on. Now, its a scene of tragedy and even in the dim light she can still see the BURN MARKS on the floor marking the spots where the technicians died. (CONTINUED)

103. CONTINUED: The shattered window which looks into the room has now been completely removed. In this place stands Carl watching Leslie silently, his gun raised. In a second this will all be over, but still he must be careful. His weapon is powerful but so is she and hes seen what she can do. He takes aim. Then he SCREAMS in pain, reeling up as something strikes him between the shoulder blades. Leslie turns around to see Carl struggling to remove a hatchet which is lodged in his back. Dr. Clarke cowers against the wall as Carl turns around, the hatchet sticking out of his back. Leslie fires a CONTROLLED BLAST at Carl. He comes crashing down on Dr. Clarke, still alive though mortally wounded. Dr. Clarke manages to push him off and get to his feet. Leslie comes over to Carl. She fires another CONTROLLED BLAST and his head EXPLODES. INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER It is now consumed with smoke as Susan BURSTS from the stairwell, COUGHING and CHOKING. She sees Dr. Clarkes car sitting in the ruined lobby, but no sign of anyone. Out in the parking lot, she sees the Medivac on the landing pad. INT. NEUROACCELERATOR CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS Dr. Clarke and Leslie try to make their way out through the smoke and darkness. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - MOMENTS LATER Its raining harder now as Susan runs out to Munson at the gate. She motions to the medivac, calling out. SUSAN PROCTOR Do you know how to fly that thing? (CONTINUED)

104. CONTINUED: MUNSON Yeah, but the storm! Its too dangerous! SUSAN PROCTOR Its the only way out of here! Lets go! INT. INDUSTRIAL BUILDING/LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER Leslie and Dr. Clarke arrive to hear the ROTORS of the chopper outside as it prepares to take off. Just then, Dr. Heinlein emerges from behind a car and runs towards the chopper. Wait! DR. HEINLEIN

EXT. LANDING PAD - CONTINUOUS The chopper lingers and Susan appears in the doorway. In the distance, she sees Leslie emerge from the building and start heading towards her. She closes the door and directs Munson to take off. Heinlein grabs one of the skids as the chopper leaves the ground and it carries him off. Leslie stops running as she sees the chopper gain altitude. Its too far out of reach. INT. MEDIVAC CHOPPER - CONTINUOUS Susan watches Leslie on the rain-slicked ground, growing smaller and smaller as the chopper ascends. She breathes a SIGH of relief. EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - CONTINUOUS Leslie watches the chopper climb into the stormy skies. She starts to focus on it in the same way she focused on the lightning rod earlier. It takes all of her effort and she trembles, turning red in the face.

105. INT. MEDIVAC CHOPPER - CONTINUOUS Susan sees Leslie and realizes what shes doing. Oh my God. SUSAN PROCTOR

EXT. MEDITECH FACILITY - CONTINUOUS From the electrified air comes a BOLT OF LIGHTING which BLOWS UP THE CHOPPER. Leslie falls to the ground as he FLAMING WRECKAGE tumbles from the sky like a cigarette butt. Dr. Clarke runs over to Leslie. She is very still, eyes closed and peaceful-looking, the rain washing down on her. EXT. CEMETARY - DAY The sky is overcast. A funeral service comes to an end. The PREACHER (60s) closes his prayer book and the MOURNERS begins to disperse from the grave site. Among them are Leslies parents, Dana and Mr. And Mrs. Drake. Dana looks about a year older now, more mature. She doesnt seem sad like the others, but skeptical. The name on the headstone reads Leslie Isadora Barrett. As Mr. and Mrs. Barrett head towards a waiting limousine, they pass Dr. Newton. He looks at them but they avoid his eyes as they pass. INT. LIMOUSINE - MOMENTS LATER Jim and Linda Barrett drive home from the funeral. Jim stares out the window. JIM I think we made a mistake. With what? LINDA

JIM Putting an empty box in the ground under our daughters name. I dont feel any closure. It just feels like some strange performance. (CONTINUED)

106. CONTINUED: LINDA Its been a year now, Jim. I need this. We both need this. He goes back to staring out the window. INT. REHEARSAL STUDIO - NIGHT Dana plays a baby grand in a small rented space. It is Chopins Nocturno. Its after hours and shes alone. Suddenly, the lights begin to FLICKER and she looks around. She gets up, goes to the door, and peers out into the hallway. Its dark there too. INT. REHEARSAL STUDIO CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS As Dana steps out, the light panel overhead suddenly ILLUMINATES. She steps forward and the next one does the same. As she stares at it in wonder, the panel at the end of the hallway LIGHTS UP. Standing under it a woman in a head scarf and sunglasses. She takes off to reveal that it is Leslie. Her hair has grown back and she looks beautiful and healthy, like weve never seen her before. Hi Dana. LESLIE

DANA (beat) Leslie? Is that you? LESLIE Im sorry I stayed away for so long. I was very sick for a while but Im better now. Better than Ive ever been. Dana starts to run to her and then stops, suddenly becoming scared. Is this real? DANA

(CONTINUED)

107. CONTINUED: LESLIE (smiles) You know I dont believe in ghosts. Leslie holds out her hand. Dana touches it. Its solid. They embrace. FADE OUT.