(In his basement, Joshua is scratching himself all over. An aerosol can labeled "FLEA BOMB" stands nearby.)

JOSHUA: Ahh! Damn fleas!

(He reads the label on the can.)

JOSHUA: "Depress tab to activate and immediately leave area."

(Joshua presses down on the tab, and the can sprays up into his face. He runs upstairs, leaving the can to continue spraying. In the living room, Max is standing near a similar can and scratching her leg.)

MAX: Did you set it off?

JOSHUA: Yeah.

MAX: Okay. Let's do the other two and get out of here before these little buggers eat us alive.

JOSHUA: Yeah.

(Joshua goes into the kitchen, where another can stands waiting. He and Max stand with their fingers on the tabs.)

MAX: Hold your breath. Ready? On three. One...two...three!

(They start the cans spraying and then run out onto the porch, closing the door behind them.)

MAX: That was close.

JOSHUA (scratching): Thanks for bringing the...for the bombs.

MAX: No problem. You're gonna have to stay out of there for a couple hours.

JOSHUA: Yeah. Stay right here with my little fella.

MAX: Oh. Um, actually, I gotta bounce. I'm meeting Logan at Crash.

JOSHUA: Oh.

MAX: I wish you could come. You know that. Tomorrow maybe I'll get some time off from work...hang.

JOSHUA: Okay.

MAX: I got some flea powder. (Hands him a jar) Douse yourself with it before you go back in there, or else you'll be right back where you started. Okay? Good night.

JOSHUA: Okay. Night.

(Max leaves. Joshua dumps the entire contents of the jar over his head.)

(At Crash, Logan is sitting at a table, making notes on a napkin. Down the left side of the napkin is written "Cult powers, FAMILIARS, Ames White, Wendy 'chosen', 2 babies killed, Ray, cult." Down the right side of the napkin is written "Genetic engineering, MANTICORE, Sandeman, Joshua #1, Lydecker, MAX, X5 SERIES." At the bottom, the columns are joined with "MAX IMMUNE?")

MAX: This seat taken?

LOGAN: Oh, hey.

MAX: Sorry I'm late. Had to stop by Joshua's. Whatcha doin'?

LOGAN: Oh, just trying to piece a couple things together.

MAX: That's cool, but...here?

LOGAN: Yeah, no one's looking. Can I see the cut on your hand for a second? (Max gives him a funny look.) Come on.

(Max briefly removes one glove and shows Logan her palm.)

LOGAN: Mmm. It's fading fast. You said all of White's cult pals have one?

MAX: Yep. Right here. (Points to her forearm) I saw it when they were saluting their holy snake god, or whatever the hell it was.

LOGAN: Looks like a modified version of a caduceus, the symbol of medicine. (He draws the symbol on his napkin.)

MAX: You know what? All work and no play makes Logan a dull, dull boy.

(Alec sits down at the bar and orders a drink. He glances down at the other end of the bar and sees Asha talking to a guy. Asha notices Alec.)

ASHA (quietly, to the guy): I'll talk to you later, okay?

(Alec moves and sits down next to Asha.)

ALEC: Hey.

ASHA: Hi.

ALEC: Long time, no see.

ASHA: I guess so.

ALEC: Yeah. You avoiding me?

ASHA (shaking her head): No. But I gotta say that I'm really glad that nothing happened that night.

ALEC: Yeah, me too.

ASHA: Probably works for days, huh? Your whole "Time is short, gotta put your heart on the line, baby I want you" speech?

ALEC (smiling briefly): Look, you don't want to get involved with me. I was made in a lab. You know? I spent my formative years learning the fine art of assassination. There are guys out there right now looking to kill me, and I'm sure someday they'll probably succeed.

ASHA: Spare me the drama. You're just to scared to let go and actually care about somebody.

ALEC: Right, because the last time I let go, somebody got caught in the crossfire and died.

ASHA: I'm sorry. I didn't--

ALEC: Just do yourself a favor, Asha. Leave me alone.

ASHA: Alec--

ALEC: Beat it.

(Alec turns back to his drink. After a moment, Asha walks away, passing Max. Max approaches the bar and sets an empty pitcher on it.)

MAX (to bartender): Can I get another beer? (To Alec) So, what'd you do now?

ALEC: Why am I always the bad guy with you, Max?

MAX: Whatever. You want to blow your shot with her, be my guest.

ALEC: Oh, right, yeah, 'cause I could be this charming, sweet guy and score myself a really nice girlfriend but, unlike you, I'm actually trying to do the right thing.

MAX: And what is that supposed to mean?

ALEC: Oh, you think the only problem you and Logan have is some genetically-engineered virus that'll kill the guy if you touch him?

MAX: Yeah, that takes a front seat.

ALEC: Mmm. Max, we don't belong with 'em. Okay? We're a danger to them. When are you gonna finally see that?

MAX: Me and Logan are none of your business.

ALEC: Why don't you just open your eyes and--

MAX: You're just--

LOGAN (approaching the bar): Hey, guys, what's going on?

MAX (after a pause): Nothing.

ALEC: Yeah. Right. Nothing. (Walks away)

LOGAN: Max?

MAX: I'm beat. I'm gonna...I'm gonna go.

(She starts to walk away, but Logan steps in her way.)

LOGAN: What was that all about?

MAX: Nothing, it was just...I'm tired. (Starts again to walk away)

LOGAN (grabbing her arm): Hey--

(Max shakes off his hand, horrified. Logan looks at it, alarmed himself.)

(Logan is lying on the ground, unconscious, as Alec and other Crash patrons try to revive him. The paramedics come.)

(Max watches through the window of the emergency room.)

(In a hospital room, Logan lies unconscious and broken out in hives. Max stands in the doorway, staring into space. Dr. Shankar, who is attending to Logan, attempts to get her attention.)

DR. SHANKAR: Max? Max? (Approaches Max) You okay?

MAX: How's he doing?

(Dr. Shankar sighs.)

MAX: Don't let him die. Please.

DR. SHANKAR: From what I can tell, the virus is a mutated strain of a biowarfare agent called Zycinor. There's no known cure.

MAX: Manticore made us immune to a bunch of germ-warfare bugs. I'm pretty sure this is one of them.

DR. SHANKAR: That'd explain how you can be a carrier and not be affected. You've got antibodies.

MAX: So what about a transfusion?

DR. SHANKAR: You'd just reinfect him.

MAX: No, not my blood. Another transgenic.

DR. SHANKAR: It's worth a try. We've got nothing to lose.

(Alec is still at Crash. His cell phone rings.)

ALEC (into phone): Yeah.

MAX: It's me. I need you to come to the hospital, now.

ALEC: Yeah, you got it, Max. I'll be there as soon as I can.

(Alec heads for the door. A man sitting at the bar watches him go and then speaks into a hidden microphone.)

MAN: He's coming your way. Get ready.

(As Alec leaves the bar, he finds several policemen pointing guns at him. Alec starts to step back toward the door, but the man who alerted the police comes out and puts a gun to Alec's head.)

MAN: Don't even think it. You're under arrest.

INTRODUCTION: They designed her to be the perfect soldier--a human weapon. Then she escaped. In a future not far from now, in a broken world, she is haunted by her past. She cannot run; she must fight to discover her destiny.

(At his headquarters, White steps into a room. Inside, the transgenic Sketchy saw is polishing several pairs of shoes.)

WHITE: So I hear you're feeling better.

TRANSGENIC: I'm working hard. Doing what the men tell me.

WHITE: Doing a good job. (He steps closer and the transgenic backs away.) It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, Mule.

MULE: You cut me...and put the snake blood in me and said it would kill me.

WHITE: You didn't tell anybody about that, did you?

MULE: You told me not to.

WHITE: Good. See, I figured you were a solid guy. I'm sorry I had to do that to you, you know, but it was the only way. Sort of like a...like a test, you know? Don't worry, you passed. Remember, though...see, that, uh...(lowers his voice)...that is between you and me.

(Mule nods. White leaves the room.)

(At the hospital)

DR. SHANKAR: If we're going to do this, your friend better get here soon.

MAX: He's coming. He knows how serious this is. He's...(sighs)...a completely unreliable jerk.

DR. SHANKAR: Is there anybody else you can get? Because right now this is the only shot Logan has.

MAX: I'll be back.

(On his porch, Joshua is taking a nap. A guide dog approaches and licks Joshua's face. Joshua laughs, still half-asleep. The woman holding the dog's harness speaks.)

WOMAN: Is someone there?

(Joshua wakes up and ducks, hiding his face.)

WOMAN: Are you hurt?

JOSHUA: Uh...no, I--I'm not hurt.

WOMAN: Billie's never done this before. She just pulled me off the sidewalk and up these steps.

JOSHUA (petting the dog): Hi, Billie.

WOMAN: Guess she just likes you.

(Joshua takes a look at the woman and notices she's blind. He waves a hand in front of her face to be sure.)

JOSHUA: She helps you.

WOMAN: She leads me around. Makes sure I'm safe.

JOSHUA: Makes sure you don't bump into things.

WOMAN: I guess so. (Chuckles)

JOSHUA (petting the dog): Good Billie. Good Billie.

WOMAN (offering her hand): I'm Annie. Annie Fisher. I live up the street.

JOSHUA (shaking it): I'm Joshua. I'm, uh, from...(starts to point at the house, then thinks for a second)...not...here. Not here. I mean, I'm visiting.

ANNIE: Oh, from where?

JOSHUA: Manti-- (catches himself) ...uh...coro.

ANNIE: Mantia Coro.

JOSHUA: In France.

ANNIE: Your English is very good.

JOSHUA: Merci beaucoup.

ANNIE (laughing): Well, we should probably be going. Come on, Billie. Come on.

(Joshua watches as she walks away. Once at the sidewalk, she stops to call back to him.)

ANNIE: It's nice to meet you, Joshua.

JOSHUA: Nice to meet you, Annie.

(As Annie leaves, Max pulls up on her Ninja.)

MAX: Joshua! I need your help!

(In the hospital, Max is pulling a gurney through the hallway. The person lying on the gurney is covered by a sheet. Original Cindy approaches.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: Hey.

MAX: Hey.

ORIGINAL CINDY: I came as soon as I heard.

JOSHUA (from under the sheet): Hi, Original Cindy.

ORIGINAL CINDY: That doggie-dog under there?

(Max nods. Dr. Shankar joins them in the hallway.)

DR. SHANKAR: Did you find someone?

(Max lifts the sheet a little bit to reveal Joshua's face.)

MAX: He has a little...canine DNA.

DR. SHANKAR (briefly taken aback): Right. Well...okay, so long as he's got the antibodies.

MAX (to Original Cindy): Be right back.

(Shortly afterwards, Joshua sits at Logan's bedside, transfusing him. He touches Logan's face.)

JOSHUA: Logan'll get better now.

(At the police station, a woman stands before a two-way mirror, looking into a lineup room. The man who arrested Alec joins her.)

MAN: We're ready when you are, Mrs. Ryan.

(She nods. He speaks into an intercom.)

MAN: Bring 'em in.

(Alec and four other guys enter the lineup room.)

MRS. RYAN (indicating Alec): Him. He's the one.

(The man steps over to Alec as the guys leave the room.)

ALEC: Hey, I gotta be somewhere, pal. Can I go now?

MAN: You've been I.D.'d.

ALEC: For what?

MAN: For the murder of Timothy Ryan.

(At the hospital, Max and Original Cindy sit in the hallway.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: It's gonna be all right. You'll see. He's a fighter. He's gonna hang on.

(Dr. Shankar emerges from Logan's room.)

DR. SHANKAR: The antibodies in your friend's blood are neutralizing the virus, keeping it from replicating. He's gonna make it.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You hear that? He's gonna be okay.

(She and Max hug.)

DR. SHANKAR: He asked to see you. (Walks away)

MAX: I can't go in there.

ORIGINAL CINDY: He's asking for you.

MAX: I can't see him. Not now. Not ever again.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You're just saying that 'cause you're upset. You heard the lady--he's gonna be fine.

MAX: This time. But what about next time? No, this has to stop. Tell him I'm glad he's okay.

(Original Cindy watches as Max turns and walks away.)

(At Jam Pony the next day)

NORMAL: Alec! (To a couple of messengers) Any of you reprobates seen Alec?

(They shake their heads and Normal walks around, muttering.)

NORMAL: Isn't here, doesn't call, thinks only of himself, always hurts the one... (To Sketchy) Hey, you--crustacean--you seen Golden Boy?

SKETCHY: No.

NORMAL (raising his voice): Let's go, people. Mission bells are ringing. Let's go. Hear it? Bip, bip, bip!

ORIGINAL CINDY: Logan kept asking where you were. I didn't know what to say.

MAX: It's okay. It's not your problem. (Her pager goes off)

ORIGINAL CINDY: Is that him?

(Max checks it and nods.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: If you're serious about this, you owe the man an explanation.

(Max calls Logan.)

LOGAN: Hi, stranger.

MAX (hesitantly): Hi.

LOGAN: You missed it. I wandered all over the hospital looking for you with the back of my gown open.

MAX: Yeah. Uh, sorry about that. Listen--

LOGAN: I'm feeling pretty good, actually. Must be all that transgenic blood.

MAX: We need to talk.

LOGAN: And, you know, I pulled out an old board I had lying around, and put up all the doodlings I made at the bar the other night. It's kind of my, uh, wide-screen version, you know?

MAX: Logan--

LOGAN: Don't, Max.

MAX: I can't do this anymore.

LOGAN: Look...I'm fine. Everything turned out okay.

MAX: We got lucky again. I mean, how many miracles do you think we're going to get?

LOGAN: Do I get a vote? It is my life on the line.

MAX: So, what, you end up dead and I get to spend the rest of my life knowing it was my fault? (Softly) I pass.

LOGAN: I've been where you are, remember? Thinking it was all too hard. But I realized being away from you was worse.

MAX: I have to hang up now.

LOGAN: Max...

(Max hangs up and rests her forehead on the pay phone.)

(In an empty parking lot, White and the Familiar priestess meet.)

WHITE: Fe'nos tol.

PRIESTESS: Fe'nos tol.

WHITE: I tested the transgenic. The damn thing got sick, but it pulled through.

PRIESTESS: Then that girl's survival wasn't just a fluke.

WHITE: I'm afraid not. Though there is something different about 452. She never exhibited any symptoms.

PRIESTESS: What should I tell the Conclave?

WHITE: I think it's time to accept the possibility that Sandeman made the Manticore transgenics immune. This changes everything. It's time to make a move.

(At Joshua's house, he opens the front door to find Annie standing on the porch.)

ANNIE: Joshua?

JOSHUA: Annie.

ANNIE: It's the funniest thing. We were just walking past, and Billie just veered up your steps again. She really likes you.

JOSHUA: I like her, too.

ANNIE: She's usually a really good judge of character. (Takes a deep breath) I hope you don't think I'm being forward, but I wanted to invite you to dinner.

(Joshua sees a woman on the sidewalk passing the house, and ducks out of the doorway so she won't see him.)

ANNIE: Are you there?

JOSHUA: Yeah, I'm here.

(He checks to make sure the woman is gone, then stands in the doorway again.)

ANNIE: I thought, with you being new in town and all... (Losing her nerve) That's okay. You're probably really busy.

JOSHUA: I--I'd love to.

ANNIE: What?

JOSHUA: Love to have dinner.

ANNIE: Great. I live down the street, across from--

JOSHUA: No, here. (Tries to think of a reason) Because I love to cook. Do you like macaroni and cheese?

ANNIE: It's my favorite. (Sniffs) Is that turpentine?

JOSHUA: Yes. I--I paint.

ANNIE: You're a painter.

JOSHUA: Yes.

ANNIE: Wow. A painter from Mantia Coro, right here on my little street. I'll see you around seven, okay?

JOSHUA: Okay.

(At Crash)

ORIGINAL CINDY: So you did it. It's over.

MAX (moping at the bar): Yeah. It's over.

(Sketchy approaches the bar and sets an empty pitcher on it.)

SKETCHY: Ladies, did you hear what happened to our buddy Alec?

MAX: Don't care.

SKETCHY: He's in jail.

MAX: Whatever.

SKETCHY: You know Hummer, the bartender from last night? Saw him get pinched right outside of here. Kind of makes you wonder what he did, huh?

MAX: Not really.

(Sketchy walks away with the refilled pitcher.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: You're not gonna go help?

MAX: I got my own problems. Alec can take care of himself.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Now, you know you gotta come correct on this. Suppose they tip to his barcode? Exposure. Bad for Alec, bad for you, bad for Joshua, bad for everybody.

MAX: Not like saving his butt isn't already my full-time job. Thanks for the beer. (Leaves)

(At the jail, a cop escorts a handcuffed Alec into an interrogation room. Max, dressed in a suit, stands up.)

MAX: Whitney Mann, public defender's office. I'll be handling your case.

ALEC: Pleasure.

(The cop shoves Alec into a chair at the table.)

COP: You need anything, I'm right outside. You got five minutes.

MAX: Thank you.

(The cop leaves. Max sits down at the table, across from Alec.)

ALEC: Max, I'm sorry, I was on my way to the hos--

MAX: Shut up. I came down here to bail your sorry ass out, 'cause I figured you got grabbed up off of one of your scams going sideways. But the officer just told me you killed somebody!

ALEC: I didn't do it.

MAX: You got I.D.'d. There's a perfect DNA match.

ALEC: I'm telling you--

MAX: Don't tell me anything, all right? I'm sorry I let you out of Manticore. I'm sorry I inflicted you on the world. Screw exposure. I'm leaving you here for White to deal with.

(Max gathers up her briefcase and starts to leave.)

ALEC: Max, I swear, I'm innocent.

MAX: Tell that to Ames. And, uh, give him my regards.

ALEC: You really think I could do it? You think I could murder someone in cold blood?

MAX: Yes, Alec, I think you could.

ALEC: Guy's teeth were pulled from his head, for God's sake!

(Max stops in her tracks.)

MAX: Ben...

(Max remembers seeing a toothless body in the morgue, a napkin full of bloody teeth, and Ben in the church.)

MAX (in flashback): Ben, why are you doing this?

BEN (in flashback): You know why.

(In the present day)

ALEC: Come on, Max! You know, no matter what you think, there's no way it could've been me. That guy was killed over a year ago. I was at Manticore.

(The cop walks into the room.)

COP: Time's up.

(Max knocks the cop out and takes his keys. She uncuffs Alec and they sneak down the hall.)

ALEC: Hey, Max, I'm not complaining, but what made you think I didn't do it?

MAX: Shh.

ALEC: I mean, I'm just curious, you know? Was it the sincerity in my eyes? Some people say I have sincere eyes.

MAX: Quiet. (Points at a door) Here.

(They go into a room and Max looks out the window. In the alley below, some cops are talking near their cars, and a short distance away sits Max's motorcycle.)

ALEC: It was the teeth thing, wasn't it? I mean, come on, I can hardly stand going to the dentist.

MAX: Shut up, okay?

ALEC: Why are you taking this so personally?

(Max and Alec climb out the window onto a narrow ledge. They begin to shuffle over to a drainpipe, checking to make sure the cops.)

MAX: Because it was Ben.

ALEC: Ben? My Manticore twin, Ben?

MAX: He killed Timothy Ryan and ten other people. Same M.O.

ALEC: Whoa. They told me back at Manticore that he'd gone nuts, but...(whistles)...serial killer?

MAX: One more word and I shove you off this ledge.

(They reach the drainpipe. Max climbs down it a little ways.)

ALEC: Max, tell me you got a plan.

MAX: Hang on.

ALEC: What are you doing? No, no, no, no!

(Max presses her foot against the wall so the drainpipe pulls away from the building and falls over, with Max and Alec on it. The cops look up.)

COPS: Hey, what's going on?

(At a point below Max and Alec, the drainpipe comes to rest on top of an electric fence. Sparks fly. The cops duck. Max sees a police car directly below.)

ALEC: This is your plan?

MAX: Jump!

(They let go of the drainpipe and drop onto the roof of the car. The cops start shooting.)

COPS: Freeze!

(Max and Alec jump off the car and duck on the other side of it to avoid the gunfire.)

ALEC: I should've stayed where I was and taken my chances.

(Max sees that her Ninja isn't far away. The drainpipe sparks on the fence again, momentarily distracting the cops.)

MAX: Come on!

(She and Alec run for the Ninja and hop on, driving away from the continuing gunfire.)

(At Max's apartment)

ALEC: So the thing that's got me worried is I can't exactly use "Well, I was locked up in a secret government facility" as my alibi.

MAX: Guess not.

ALEC: Hey, maybe Logan could pull one of his little, uh... (Remembers) Oh my God- -Logan. Is he all right?

MAX: He's fine. Joshua came through.

ALEC: Oh, good. Logan could use a little canine plasma to loosen him up. (Chuckles)

(Max gives him a look and starts making coffee.)

ALEC: Just kidding, Max. Come on, you know I love Logan. I mean, not the way you love him, it's just...well, he's okay. Right?

(Max nods uncomfortably.)

ALEC: So what's the problem?

MAX: I'm not going to see him anymore.

ALEC: Any more this week?

MAX: Ever. I can't risk it. And I don't want to hear an "I told you so."

ALEC: No, I wasn't going to.

MAX: Coffee?

ALEC: Yeah, sure. (Pauses) Listen, since we're already knee-deep in painful subjects...tell me about him. About Ben.

(As she speaks, Max remembers young Ben at Manticore. In the flashback, Ben is making butterfly shadows on the wall, and Max is watching and smiling.)

MAX: When we were kids, back at Manticore, he always wanted answers for everything. You know? Why we were there, what was outside. So he would make up these fantastic stories to explain things. Somehow it made us feel...loved. Like we weren't all alone.

ALEC: Sounds like a nice kid. What went wrong?

MAX: After we escaped, it was like there were too many things in this world he didn't have answers for.

(Max remembers young Ben leading the hunt through the woods.)

BEN (in flashback, in the Space Needle): We never should've left. Everything made sense there.

MAX: I don't know. He just...lost it.

(Max turns to get a couple of coffee mugs, then stares into space.)

ALEC: Hey, you okay?

(She remembers sobbing over Ben's body in the woods.)

MAX: I'm fine.

(She sits down. Alec sees she is clearly not fine and rounds the island counter to stand next to her.)

ALEC: Max, what is it?

MAX: We were in the woods. He was hurt. Manticore was closing in on us. He didn't want to go back there.

ALEC: Reindoctrination. Or worse.

MAX: I killed him.

(Alec looks surprised.)

MAX: He asked me to, so I did. (Her voice breaks and her eyes tear up) And then I ran. I saved myself. And I just left his body there for them to take away.

(Tears run down Max's cheeks. Alec puts an arm around her shoulders and kisses the top of her hair.)

ALEC: Max, I'm sorry.

(At Joshua's, he and Annie are eating dinner.)

ANNIE: It was an outbreak of measles after the Pulse hit. Everything was such a mess. The only place to get medicine was the black market, and my parents just didn't have that kind of money. I almost didn't pull through. And when it was over, I couldn't see anymore.

JOSHUA: But you have Billie.

ANNIE: Mm-hmm. She's a good friend. But I still remember what some things look like. Colors...my mother's smile. (Pauses) You're not like most people, are you?

JOSHUA: Uh...

ANNIE: What I mean is, sometimes people feel sorry for me. I can hear it in their voices when they talk to me. I guess it's 'cause I can't do everything they do.

JOSHUA: But you can go out, and you can talk to people. You could go to Crash, and party, and dance...

ANNIE: I know. But... (trails off)

JOSHUA: You should do that.

ANNIE: Maybe you could come with me.

JOSHUA (looking down): Maybe.

ANNIE: I wish I could see your paintings. I'm so curious. I bet they'd tell me everything there is to know about you.

(Joshua guides Annie's hand over one of his paintings as she feels it.)

JOSHUA: Blue, like the sky. And this is green, like your eyes.

ANNIE: It's beautiful, Joshua.

JOSHUA: Thank you.

ANNIE: No. Thank you.

(In the room at White's headquarters, Mule is lying on a bench. He sits up as White enters.)

WHITE: Guess what, Mule? You're gettin' out of here.

(In his apartment, Logan is pacing back and forth, phone in hand and looking agitated. Finally he makes a decision and grabs his car keys.)

(Max and Alec walk out of Max's apartment building.)

MAX: You better lay low until we get this whole mistaken-identity thing sorted out.

ALEC: Yeah, maybe I'll crash at Joshua's. Think he'll mind?

MAX: Are you kidding? He'll love it.

ALEC: Well, thanks for saving my butt, again. Must be hard, huh? Having me around? Some guy with Ben's face, making you think about things you'd rather forget?

MAX: Yeah. That's probably why I'm such a bitch to you sometimes.

ALEC: Maybe.

(Logan gets out of his car and starts to head for the building, sees Max and Alec in the distance, and stops. Alec looks up and puts his arm around Max. Logan sees it.)

ALEC: Or, you know, maybe 'cause I'm such a pain in the ass sometimes.

(Max smiles as Alec starts to walk away.)

MAX: Be careful.

ALEC: Always.

(Hurt, Logan turns back to his car.)

(In his living room, Joshua is painting a portrait of Annie. Offscreen, Alec enters the house and calls out.)

ALEC: Josh!

(As Alec walks around looking for him, Joshua quickly sets the canvas aside.)

ALEC: Where you at, pal? Josh? Josh, you around?

(Alec walks into the living room.)

ALEC: Hey hey, roomie.

JOSHUA: Roomie?

ALEC: Yeah. Yeah, I need to hang out for a little while 'til the heat's off my place. It turns out my, uh, dead twin brother was a psycho killer. Go figure.

JOSHUA: Oh.

ALEC: Yeah. Where's your TV?

JOSHUA: No TV. (Takes a book from the bookcase and bops Alec lightly on the head with it before handing it to him) Book. You can read.

ALEC (laughing): What are we living in, the Dark Ages? Come on, pal. I need my boob tube. You know? The hot medium. The vast wasteland. (Joshua shakes his head.) Well, that's all right. You know what? I think I know where I can score one.

(Alec pulls out his cell phone and dials. While it rings, he catches a glimpse of the painting, despite Joshua's best efforts to stand in front of it.)

ALEC: What you got there? That a new work?

JOSHUA: Uh...

ALEC: Joshua #320?

JOSHUA: Uh... (Sighs and steps aside) Annie.

ALEC (hanging up): Annie?

JOSHUA: Annie. Yes.

ALEC: Who exactly is Annie?

JOSHUA: Uh...the girl who lives down the street.

ALEC (sighing): Listen, Josh...

JOSHUA: Alec, she can't see. No running, no screaming. It's okay.

ALEC: Oh, boy. Uh, I think we need to have a little talk about your friend Annie.

JOSHUA: I don't want to have a little talk. I know I have to lay low. I'm tired of laying low, Alec.

(At a busy marketplace, White's car pulls to a stop. Inside, White is in the driver's seat and Mule is ducking in the back seat.)

WHITE: Mule. (Mule sits up, looking nervous) All right, do you see that fence?

(He indicates a fence behind the car with a sign on it that says "MUNICIPAL VEHICLES ONLY - SECTOR 8")

WHITE: All you have to do is get over it, and you'll be safe.

MULE: Okay.

WHITE: But you have to watch out for enemy soldiers, 'cause if they see you, they will try to kill you. They'll be wearing helmets, carrying guns, and they'll have badges that say "Sector Police."

MULE: "Sector Police."

WHITE: That's right. Good luck.

MULE: Thank you....for everything.

(Mule puts his hood up and gets out of the car. White watches in the mirror as Mule slowly walks toward the fence. Passersby comment on how freaky he looks and pull their children away.)

(As a crowd gathers round and stares at him, Mule pulls on the fence gate. When it doesn't open, he puts his hood down to see better and yanks on the gate. It comes off the hinges. An alarm sounds and a police hoverdrone approaches.)

HOVERDRONE: You have violated checkpoint security. Stay where you are.

(Two police cars pull up. Some cops get out and take aim at Mule.)

FIRST COP: Freeze!

SECOND COP: On your knees, freak.

THIRD COP: On the ground! Now!

FOURTH COP: Down! Now!

(Mule stands there, overwhelmed. The cops begin beating him. Eventually he starts fighting back, hurling one cop into the fence and another into a dumpster. The others start shooting him. After six shots, he finally goes down.)

(In Joshua's living room, Alec is watching a rap video on TV. The TV is labeled "PROPERTY OF HARBOR LIGHTS HOSPITAL." Joshua is sitting in an armchair across the room, trying to read a book.)

JOSHUA: Alec, the boob tube is too loud.

ALEC: Well, that's the only way to enjoy it. Why don't you come over and have a look?

(Joshua joins Alec and watches for a moment.)

JOSHUA: Tricks and treats.

ALEC: Welcome to the world of attention deficit.

(The video is interrupted by a screen that says "KIPH 3 SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN.")

ANNOUNCER: This is a Channel Three news break.

(An anchorman speaks as the TV shows Mule throwing the cops.)

ANCHORMAN: A hoverdrone recorded this shocking footage. Authorities are refusing to comment on the nature of the assailant. But, as you can see for yourself, the attacker has what can only be described as superhuman strength.

ALEC: This is bad. This is so, so very bad.

ANCHORMAN: The subject, who was described by witnesses as a mutant, refused to comply with police officers on the scene. He is believed to have escaped from what is purported to be a covert government project known as Manticore.

(At Jam Pony, Normal and all the messengers are gathered round the TV, solemn and amazed.)

ANCHORMAN: Authorities have denied all knowledge of Manticore, but so far no one has been able...

SKETCHY: Dude, that's the thing I saw in the sewer last week.

NORMAL (murmuring): Whoa, Nellie. Look at that sucker.

(Max and Original Cindy exchange a worried glance.)

(In his apartment, Logan is watching the same newscast.)

ANCHORMAN: ...obvious physical prowess. One of the officers was seriously injured before others opened fire. Some eyewitnesses claim that it took police six shots to bring down their attacker, but Channel Three can neither confirm nor deny...

LOGAN (clearly worried): Max.

(He dials his cell phone.)

(At Joshua's, Alec puts on his jacket and gets ready to leave.)

JOSHUA: Lay low, Alec.

ALEC: Lay low? Is that all you have to say to me, Josh?

(They hear a knock on the door.)

ANNIE (from outside): Joshua? It's me, Annie.

ALEC (in a low but urgent voice): Send her away. You can't be with her now. All right? (Points at the TV) You see that. You see what's going on.

JOSHUA: Alec, she's...

ALEC: Send her away, Josh. All right? Let her go before she falls in love with you, before she wants you to meet her family, before you get yourself killed, before you get her killed. Send her away.

(Joshua sadly opens the door. Alec stands a short distance away.)

ANNIE: Billie and I were going to take a walk to the store. Thought maybe you'd like to come.

JOSHUA: Uh...Annie...

ANNIE: What's wrong?

JOSHUA: The news...

ANNIE: What news?

JOSHUA: News from back home. I have to go.

ANNIE: When?

JOSHUA: Today.

(Annie struggles to remain calm, wiping a tear from her eye.)

ANNIE: I'll miss you.

JOSHUA: I'll miss you, too. Goodbye, Annie.

(Annie starts to walk away and Joshua starts to close the door. Annie stops.)

ANNIE: Joshua?

(Joshua opens the door wider and Annie turns back to face him.)

ANNIE: Can you do something for me? (Holds up her hand) I just...I want to remember you.

(Joshua looks at her for a moment, then glances back at Alec, asking silently. Alec understands and quietly steps forward until Annie's hand brushes his jacket. She reaches up and feels his face. Joshua's eyes tear up as he watches.)

(At Jam Pony, everyone is still watching the news.)

ANCHORMAN: You can see it right there--the barcode. Unconfirmed reports suggest these tattoos were used to keep track of the various soldiers involved in the program. The mutant's body was rushed from the scene based on officials' concerns regarding a potential biohazard.

(Max's pager goes off. She checks it and calls Alec. Joshua is sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room, sadly looking at Annie's portrait.)

ALEC: Hey. Thanks for hitting me back.

MAX: So I take it you've seen the news.

ALEC: Yeah, but that's not why I'm calling. I need you to get over here.

(Shortly afterwards, Max consoles Joshua.)

MAX: I know you're sad, but you did the right thing. Remember we talked about how we're not like other people, and we need to stick together? Right now that's more important than ever.

JOSHUA: Annie's not like other people. She's different. She's--

MAX: She's not like us, either. And when you care about someone, you have to do what's best for them, even when it hurts.

JOSHUA: Love sucks.

(Joshua lets go of his pendant, which he had been fingering. As it falls back to his chest, Max sees the Familiars' symbol engraved on it.)

MAX: Joshua, where did you get this?

JOSHUA: Father gave it to me.

(Max removes one of her gloves and compares the symbol on her palm to the one on the pendant. They match.)

(Max sneaks into Logan's darkened apartment. She goes over to the whiteboard Logan had set up and hangs the pendant on it. With a marker, she circles the pendant and draws a connecting arrow between the words "SANDEMAN" and "BREEDING CULT.")

(Suddenly the lights and the computer equipment go on. Max turns to find Logan sitting at the kitchen table, having just pulled the switch. He has been drinking.)

LOGAN: Hi there!

MAX: The lights were out. I didn't know you were home.

LOGAN: 'Cause if you did, you wouldn't have come, huh?

MAX: I found this around Joshua's neck. He said Father gave it to him. It's the same symbol the breeding cult uses.

LOGAN (pouring another drink): So Sandeman is one of White's cult loonies, huh? Woo-hoo.

MAX: Logan, there's a connection between the breeding cult and Manticore.

(Logan stands up and starts walking toward Max.)

LOGAN: Maybe I oughta do an Eyes Only hack, huh? I mean, this is a big news day. In case you hadn't noticed, I tried paging you. Wanted to talk to you, but, uh...guess you were busy.

MAX: I'm going. I just thought you wanted to know.

(Max turns to leave, but Logan rushes over and gets in her way. She tries several times to go around him, but each time he blocks her.)

MAX: Cut it out.

LOGAN: I could keep you here all night.

MAX: Come on, Logan.

LOGAN: At least 'til I drop dead.

MAX: I've said everything I needed to say.

LOGAN: I don't think so. I think there's something else.

MAX: Logan...

LOGAN: Or is it someone else?

MAX: What?

LOGAN: I needed to talk to you, so I came by your apartment...and I saw him leaving.

(Max doesn't say anything.)

LOGAN: I--I mean, if I've got it wrong, just say so.

(Max says nothing.)

LOGAN: Tell me it's not true.

MAX: I can't. (After a pause) It's over. We're done. Get used to it.

(Max walks around him and leaves the apartment. Logan doesn't move.)

(Later, Max is sitting on the Space Needle. Alec comes and stands next to her.)

ALEC: Hey, Max. Thought I'd find you here.

MAX: I come here to be alone.

ALEC: Yeah, I know, but considering everything that went down today, I figured we could both use a friend right now.

MAX: Sit down.

(Alec sits.)

ALEC: So, you got any deep thoughts you want to share? Any, uh, profound realizations about life?

MAX: Yeah. Love sucks.

(Fade out as they sit there in silence.)