(In Max and Original Cindy's living room, Original Cindy is finishing painting her nails.)

ORIGINAL CINDY (calling to the other room): Max, if we don't leave absolutely, positively right now, we won't get in.

(Max doesn't answer. Original Cindy heads toward Max's bedroom to check on her.)

ORIGINAL CINDY (muttering): Girl is always late.

(In the bedroom, Original Cindy sees that Max is wearing a clubbing outfit that shows some skin.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: My oh my.

MAX (lifting her hair): Can you see my barcode?

ORIGINAL CINDY (smiling): No, but shugga, the rest of you is comin' in loud and clear.

MAX: I'm done with being miserable.

ORIGINAL CINDY: It's about time.

MAX: And I'm through with feeling sorry for myself. And since you got love at the classiest club in town...

(Original Cindy makes a party noise.)

MAX: ...tonight we're gonna party like it's 2099.

(Later, Max and Original Cindy are waiting in a long line outside the club.)

MAX: Thought you said you were tight with the bouncer.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Boom Boom. He's gotta be around here somewhere.

MAX: Thought you said he was gonna get us in.

ORIGINAL CINDY: He will as soon as he sees that we're in line.

(A car roars up. Two guys and two girls get out, whooping and laughing, and head for the door.)

MAX: Oh. Looks like they're tight with Boom Boom, too.

(The four people, all of whom are wearing white makeup with darkened eyes, start walking in the door. A suited bouncer tries to stop them.)

ONE OF THE GUYS: Ha! To the Marrow, brother!

ANOTHER GUY: To the Marrow!

BOUNCER: Excuse me, we've got a reservation policy.

ONE OF THE GIRLS: We're the entertainment.

BOUNCER: You can't-- (To the other bouncer) Get Boom Boom.

(The other bouncer goes inside.)

(Inside the club, the four people weave through the dancing crowd, taking drinks out of their hands, bumping into them, and laughing.)

(Outside)

ORIGINAL CINDY: I'm gonna go up front and I'm gonna see what's going on. If I come back and find out that you bailed--

MAX: I'm not gonna bail. I'm here to have a good time.

ORIGINAL CINDY: Okay.

(Inside, one of the guys jumps onto the bar and does a flip.)

GUY ON BAR: Whoo! Have no fear, excitement is here! (Looking at the women in the crowd.) Oh, somebody pinch me. I think I've died and gone to heaven.

BARTENDER: Off the bar, buddy!

(The guy kicks the bartender in the head.)

GUY ON BAR: Not you, Mr. Serious.

(He pockets a bill from the tip jar and sits down on the bar, addressing a woman nearby.)

GUY ON BAR: Oh, hey there, creature of the night. (Pointing to different women) I want you. I want you. Oh, I want you. I want--hell, I want all of you. Concubinage.

(A man in the crowd approaches as if to get him off the bar.)

MAN: Come on, man.

(The guy on the bar kicks him. He whoops and goes back to walking around on the bar. Meanwhile, the other three members of the group are weaving through the crowd and stealing wallets and purses.)

GUY ON BAR: What a crowd!

(He drinks from a glass that was sitting on the bar and then hurls it against the wall. He does a backflip off the bar. The other three members of the group are still stealing money. Two of them kiss.)

(Outside, Original Cindy is talking to the bouncer, describing Boom Boom.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: Boom Boom. Big brother. Built like--just big. (The bouncer waves some other people in.) And gets real mean when his friends get left out in line!

BOUNCER: I know who Boom Boom is. Now, you're gonna have to wait like everyone else.

ORIGINAL CINDY: That ain't waitin' in line. That is doin' time.

(Inside, the guy who had been standing on the bar approaches a man in the crowd. The man is wearing a suit.)

GUY: Dude! Dude, I love your tie. Hey, can I have it?

(He punches the man, swings him around by the necktie, and lets him go so that the man slams into a table and falls to the floor.)

GUY: Never mind.

(One of the girls in the group, a brunette, kisses the man on the floor, then takes his money. The other girl, a blonde, goes up to the guy who knocked the man down and yells at him.)

BLONDE: What are you doing, Push? You lost it?

PUSH: You lost it. You're the one who's crashing.

(The other guy in the group joins them.)

SECOND GUY: Come on! Let's jack the house money and get gone from this dreck!

(He leaves, followed by the girls, and after a moment Push follows. He glances behind him to see two large bouncers headed their way--the second bouncer from outside, and a guy who must be Boom Boom. Push smiles.)

(Outside)

ORIGINAL CINDY: Just call Boom Boom.

BOUNCERS: You think every time that someone claims to know him, Boom Boom's just gonna come runnin' out the door?

(Suddenly, the door bursts open and Push throws Boom Boom to the ground. Several people scream. The other guy in the group smashes the suited bouncer's head into the glass of the ticket window, shattering it, then reaches inside. Max leaves her place in line and heads up front. Push kicks Boom Boom a couple of times, hard. The brunette walks out the door, followed by the other bouncer.)

ORIGINAL CINDY (rushing forward): Hey! Ghost face!

(The brunette shoves Original Cindy into the brick wall of the building. Max is still running up the line. The second guy waves some money.)

SECOND GUY: I got it! Let's go!

(Push is punching Boom Boom repeatedly. The blonde tries to restrain him.)

BLONDE: No! You'll kill him! Come on! Come on!

(Original Cindy sees barcodes on their necks.)

(The blonde manages to pull Push away, and all four of them run to their car and hop in.)

SECOND GUY: To the Marrow! Ha ha ha!

PUSH: To the Marrow! Whoo!

(They drive away, whooping. Max reaches the front of the line and kneels by Original Cindy.)

MAX: Are you okay? What happened?

ORIGINAL CINDY: Those line-jumpers...they had barcodes, Max.

INTRODUCTION: She was designed 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.

(In a clinic, the blonde approaches the check-in window. Her makeup is smeared, her hair is messed up, and she is hoarse and near tears.)

BLONDE: Please, um...I need help. I'm sick.

WOMAN AT THE WINDOW: Are you injured?

BLONDE: I said I'm sick.

WOMAN: Okay. Um, have a seat, fill this out, and somebody will be with you shortly.

BLONDE: You don't understand.

WOMAN: Honey, you're gonna have to wait just like everybody else, okay?

(The blonde takes the clipboard the woman hands her and sits down in the waiting room. After filling out the form, she puts her head in her hands.)

(Later, Dr. Shankar picks up a file and addresses the waiting room.)

DR. SHANKAR: Donna Stein?

(She approaches the blonde, whose head is still in her hands.)

DR. SHANKAR: Excuse me, are you Donna Stein?

(The blonde shakes her head. Dr. Shankar notices the barcode on her neck.)

(At Jam Pony, Max is signing a cast on Original Cindy's arm. Normal passes by.)

NORMAL: What are you doing standing around? Let's go. Back to work. Bip. Bip.

MAX: I'm really sorry about your arm.

ORIGINAL CINDY: It's not your fault.

MAX: Except for how it was me who opened the cages and let everybody out of the Manticore zoo.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You let 'em out 'cause you figured that they'd be smart enough to lay low and blend in. Sounds to me like somebody needs to smack some sense into 'em.

MAX: Believe me, if I can find them, I will.

ORIGINAL CINDY: You talk to Logan about it?

MAX: No. I've put him through enough mutant mayhem to last a lifetime. Not to mention if I sneeze on the poor guy, he drops dead. No wonder he's over me.

ORIGINAL CINDY: He's not over you. Not ever. He just needs some time, that's all.

MAX: Which is why I don't need to do anything to remind him that I'm not just a regular girl.

(Max's pager goes off. She checks it.)

MAX: Logan.

ORIGINAL CINDY: What are you waiting for? Go call him back.

MAX: I don't know.

ORIGINAL CINDY: It's what a regular girl would do.

(Max smiles and heads for the pay phone. Alec is on it, with his cell phone on his other ear.)

ALEC (into pay phone): I told you the merchandise would be in today, and it's in. (Into cell phone) It's in, right? Good. (Into pay phone) Look, why don't you meet me around noon? We'll make the excha--

MAX: Excuse me.

ALEC (into phone): Hang on. (To Max) Trying to do a little business here, Max, okay?

MAX: People need to use the phone.

ALEC: Just give me a sec. (Into pay phone) Hello?

(Max ends his call.)

ALEC (annoyed): You know what you just did?

(Max takes the phone and starts dialing.)

ALEC: I'll forgive you--this time. (Into cell phone as he walks away) Hello? Hello? Yeah, I don't know. He had to go. Little girl problems.

(Logan wheels over to the ringing phone and answers it.)

LOGAN: Hey.

MAX: Hey.

LOGAN: How you doing?

MAX (awkwardly): So, uh...how's your week been?

LOGAN: Slow.

MAX: Tell me about it.

LOGAN (after an awkward pause): Well, I thought you should know I've been getting all kinds of earplay about some kind of whacked-out gang.

MAX: Uh-huh.

LOGAN: Revved up. And, need I say it, barcodes.

MAX: Yeah, I heard something about that.

LOGAN: Well, they're drawing attention to themselves, which is not good, especially after the close call you had last week. Rumors are still flying about how the CDC had their hands on a real live transgenic.

MAX: Nice to know they miss me.

LOGAN: Well, there's more. Beverly Shankar does pro bono at the Helman Clinic. She just contacted me about a girl with a barcode who walked into the ER about a half-hour ago. I thought maybe we should check it out.

MAX: It's okay. I'll do it. I mean, what's the big deal? I go in there, show her my barcode to prove I'm simpatico, give her the "you gotta lay low" speech, and send her on her way.

LOGAN: Well, I got a funny feeling about this one, Max.

MAX: Don't sweat it, Logan.

LOGAN: I'm not sweating it. I just thought that--

MAX: Got it covered. Thanks for the tip, okay?

LOGAN: Okay.

(They hang up. Original Cindy approaches.)

ORIGINAL CINDY: Well?

MAX: He got a lead.

ORIGINAL CINDY: So much for being a regular girl, huh?

MAX: Come on. I'll take you home.

NORMAL: Hot run, 457 Slattery.

(He tosses a package at Original Cindy. She doesn't catch it and it drops to the floor.)

MAX: Can't you see she's hurt?

NORMAL: Oh. In that case, here you go. (Picks up the package and hands it to Max.)

MAX: Get someone else to do it. I'm taking her home.

NORMAL: No, there is nobody else.

(Alec walks by.)

MAX: Oh, sure there is.

(Max hands Alec the package, and she and Original Cindy leave.)

ALEC: Oh, I'd love to help you out with this, boss, but I, uh--

NORMAL: No buts. We're short-handed.

ALEC: No, I really can't. I--

NORMAL: Here, take these too. (Hands him several more packages.)

ALEC: I'm gonna be late for an appointment. I--

NORMAL: Well, get somebody to cover you. It's no skin off my nose.

(Normal walks away. Alec talks to coworkers passing by.)

ALEC: Sky. Buddy, pal. Hey.

SKY: Don't even think about it.

ALEC: Okay. Sketch, my man.

SKETCHY: No, dude, I can't.

ALEC: Somebody? Anybody?

(At Joshua's)

JOSHUA: Money? For me?

ALEC: We'll go fifty-fifty on my salary, and the tips you can keep.

JOSHUA: Rather paint.

ALEC: Come on, come on, this isn't for me. This is--this is for you. You know? A chance for you to get out there, see the world. I thought your kind liked to take walks.

(Joshua growls at him.)

ALEC: Okay. All right. You know what? You can take my bike.

JOSHUA (interested): Bike?

ALEC (smiling): Huh? Ha ha.

JOSHUA (shaking his head): Max...

ALEC: You know, Max is a worrywart, and she treats you like a pet. Now do you want to be dependent on her for the rest of your life? You think she wants that?

JOSHUA: People afraid...of things they don't understand. Screaming...running...dog--

ALEC: Well, I got you covered. (Holds out a helmet.) Safety first, my friend. Try it on.

(Joshua puts on the helmet. The lower part of his face is covered.)

ALEC: Oh, it's perfect. I mean, no one would ever know there was a dog-boy under there. Now, here's your packages, all right? Great? (Hands his backpack to Joshua.) Here's your map. (Hands him a map.) Don't lose that. And remember, a messenger is friendly, courteous, and kind.

JOSHUA: Friendly, courteous, and kind.

ALEC: That's right. And always get a signature.

JOSHUA: Signature.

ALEC: Yeah. And no matter what happens, don't take the helmet off, okay?

JOSHUA: Safety first.

ALEC: Safety first. (Laughs) I'm so proud of you. (His cell phone rings.) Now I gotta go. Uh, meet me back here tonight. (Into phone) Hello? Yeah...

JOSHUA (as Alec leaves): Goodbye.

(At the clinic, the blonde is sitting in a chair with her eyes closed. She opens them and slowly focuses to see the other members of her group sitting nearby, watching her. She gets up and runs into the hallway.)

PUSH: Not thinking of leaving us, are ya?

(They catch her. Push holds her against the wall as she struggles.)

BLONDE: No! Let me go!

PUSH: Dumbass play, Lida. I can't believe you wanna go belly-up in a freakin' hospital bed.

LIDA (to the brunette): I trusted you, and you sold me out.

BRUNETTE: No. No.

SECOND GUY: Lida, relax.

BRUNETTE: Come with us. It's not too late.

PUSH: Marrow will help you. He's the only one who can, and you know that!

LIDA: I'm not going back!

SECOND GUY: Let's go.

(Max is walking down the clinic hallway with Dr. Shankar. They see the four walking away.)

DR. SHANKAR: There they are.

MAX: Hey!

(Max runs after them. They hurry outside to their car.)

SECOND GUY (supporting Lida): Get the door. Get the door.

(The brunette opens the door. The second guy helps Lida into the car.)

SECOND GUY (to Lida): You'll be okay. You'll be okay. You'll be all right. Watch your head.

(Push and Lida get in the car. Max comes out of the building and calls to them.)

MAX: Hey! Uh, children? We need to chat.

PUSH: Hey, what's with sweetpants over there?

SECOND GUY: Just get rid of her.

(They laugh. The brunette approaches Max.)

BRUNETTE: Who the hell are you?

MAX: Let's skip the Manticore handshake and cut to the chase. You and your playmates have been naughty little transgenics, not to mention stupid. Maybe I should just bend you over my knee.

BRUNETTE: Oh, yeah?

(The brunette takes a swing at Max. Max blocks the punch and knocks her to the ground.)

MAX: That was for my friend.

(The brunette gets up and takes another swing. Max kicks her in the gut and she falls to the ground again. She gets up and rushes at Max, who flips over her and kicks her into the side of the building.)

MAX: All that clubbing's slowed you down, hon.

BRUNETTE: I am gonna kill you, you bitch!

(She rushes at Max again. Max holds out her hand so the girl runs into it, face-first, and collapses.)

MAX (to the others): Who's next?

PUSH: Come on, sweetheart.

(Push starts to climb out of the car, but stops when Logan's Aztek roars in and comes to a sudden stop in front of their car. Push puts the car in reverse and backs up, then turns the car around and drives away. Logan gets out of his car and walks over to Max.)

MAX: What are you doing here?

LOGAN: Well, like I said, I thought you might need a hand.

(Max pins the brunette's arm behind her back.)

MAX: Guess you missed some training, sweetie. What are you? X-5? X-6?

BRUNETTE: X-what? What the hell are you talking about?

(Max pokes the brunette's barcode. The girl yelps in pain.)

BRUNETTE: Ow! Hey! Hey, hey! I just had it done! Take it easy!

MAX: What?

BRUNETTE: My tattoo.

(Max and Logan look surprised.)

LOGAN: She's not Manticore.

(Joshua walks down the hallway of an apartment building, wheeling Alec's bike and muttering to himself.)

JOSHUA: Friendly, courteous, kind. Friendly, courteous...(finds the door he's looking for)...kind. (Knocks.) Jam Pony messenger!

(A woman holding a cat opens the door and smiles.)

WOMAN (excitedly): Oh, my God. My Franklin Mint plate collection. I can't believe it's here already.

JOSHUA: Sign here, please.

WOMAN: Here, you hold Leo. (Takes the clipboard and hands him the cat.)

JOSHUA: Uh...

WOMAN: You just made my year. Now hang on--you deserve a tip and a half.

(Joshua looks at the cat warily. The woman returns the clipboard after signing and ducks into the apartment to fetch Joshua's tip. The cat hisses at him.)

JOSHUA: Nice kitty.

(The cat growls and scratches him.)

WOMAN: What's going on out there?

(Joshua puts the cat inside the apartment and closes the door.)

JOSHUA (panicky): No tip. Keep the cat.

(He stops for a moment to recover, then heads down the hallway. A guy passes by, also wheeling a bike and carrying a backpack.)

GUY: Hey, man, how's it going?

JOSHUA: Made a delivery and the cat scratched me.

GUY: Oh, Leo. So you must have made chow mein out of that little rat, huh?

JOSHUA: Chow mein.

GUY: Yeah. He get you bad?

JOSHUA (showing him his scratched hand): Pretty bad.

GUY: I got just the thing. Little herb, you'll be feeling no pain.

(The guy digs into his backpack and hands Joshua a pipe.)

JOSHUA: Like father's pipe.

GUY: There you go. Like father, like son. (Pulls out a lighter.) Toke up, dude.

(Joshua puts the pipe in his mouth, behind the helmet, and the guy lights the pipe.)

(In Logan's living room, the brunette is sitting in an armchair while Max and Logan talk to her.)

LOGAN: Well, it looks like she's on something. Pupils are dilated. (To the brunette) And you're a little jumpy.

MAX: What's got you all revved up? Steroids? Amphetamines?

BRUNETTE: What's it to you?

MAX: Where'd you get the barcode?

BRUNETTE (smirking): Why, you want one?

MAX: I already got one.

(Max lifts her hair and shows off her barcode. The girl looks a little disturbed.)

BRUNETTE: Where'd you get that?

MAX: You tell me, I'll tell you.

BRUNETTE: No. No, I'm out of here. (Gets up.)

MAX: I don't think so, girlie. (Shoves her back into the chair.)

LOGAN: Look, you don't have to be scared.

BRUNETTE: I'm not scared of anything.

MAX: Maybe you should be.

BRUNETTE: Maybe you should be.

MAX: Why? You gonna hit my fist with your face again? Why don't you be a good little bad-ass and tell us what we want to know.

BRUNETTE: No need for that. You'll find that out from Marrow when he comes for me.

MAX: Marrow? Who the hell is Marrow?

(In a large building that used to be a church, we see a man with a barcode on his neck. The other three members of the group are in the room with him, along with two other people. Lida is lying on a couch. The man, whom we assume to be Marrow, is holding a church donation basket.)

MARROW: So tell me about this little firecracker you ran into.

(He holds out the basket and everybody puts money into it.)

PUSH: All I know, man, is she wasn't normal. She was amped up on something.

SECOND GUY: She took out Rain in, like, two seconds and said something about...what...uh, Mantle something? Push?

PUSH: Yeah, yeah, it was, um...Manticore?

MARROW (after a pause): Whatever. (To Lida.) They were helping you. Taking care of you. Now we've lost Rain.

LIDA (weak and crying): I made a mistake. I know that now. Please. I just wanted to try and make it on my own. I'm sorry.

MARROW: You're sorry? (To Push) She's sorry.

(Push chuckles. Marrow hands him the basket and approaches Lida. He pulls out from his jacket a glass pipette, narrow at one end and wide at the other.)

MARROW: Let me ask you something. What were you before I gave you this incredible life that you're leading now?

LIDA (quietly): I don't know.

MARROW: What? I didn't quite catch that.

LIDA: I--I was ordinary.

MARROW: Ordinary. Lida, darling, you were a shadow. You were like the grass that grows too close to the fence to be cut, or the water gathering in an abandoned tire.

LIDA (still crying): Please. I hurt.

MARROW: Ordinary? You weren't even close. And then I made you strong. I made you special. It is a world gone Darwin out there, baby, and I jacked you up into the tribe of the alive. All of you! And...you betrayed me.

LIDA (shaking): I need to sip.

MARROW: Well, of course you do. I told you. I told you that this was forever, didn't I? (Kneels next to her and speaks softly.) Look at you. You know what the shaking means. Even if I helped you, you know it's too late.

LIDA: Please. Make it stop.

MARROW: I wish I could.

(He nods at one of the other people.)

(Upstairs, a door slams shut as Lida is locked into a room. She bangs on the door.)

LIDA: No! Please!

(Lida looks around and sees robes hanging and a statue propped up. She gasps, sinks to the floor, and continues sobbing.)

(At Logan's apartment, Rain is breathing heavily and staring into space as she mutters quickly.)

RAIN: May I live my life to the Marrow.

MAX: This is just great.

(Rain nearly collapses. Max props her up.)

MAX: Hey! You okay?

RAIN (urgently): You gotta let me go.

MAX: Tell me about the barcode.

RAIN: We only got them to be like him, okay?

MAX: Like who? This Marrow guy?

RAIN: I gotta go back. Please.

MAX: Looks like you're going through some kind of withdrawal. (Rain continues to pant. Max feels her cheek.) She's burning up.

LOGAN: Get her jacket off. I'll call Shankar and see if she can swing by and take a look at her. (Dials his cell phone)

RAIN: May I live my life to the Marrow. Strive. Reach.

MAX: Come on. Arms out. (Max takes Rain's jacket off.) What are you on?

RAIN: May I live life to the Marrow. Strive. Reach. Take.

(Max reaches into Rain's jacket pocket and pulls out a church donation envelope. It is full of cash and a little jewelry.)

RAIN (still muttering quickly): The true test of anyone's worth is...

LOGAN: She's on her way.

MAX (pocketing the envelope): Keep an eye on her. I'm gonna go.

LOGAN: Where?

MAX: To church.

RAIN: May I live life to the Marrow...

(Joshua and the guy he met in the hallway enter a building called Jah Bone. Mountain bikes and their parts hang from the walls and ceiling, and a guy and girl are seated at one of the tables.)

GUY: Guys, hey.

OTHER GUY: Hey.

FIRST GUY (to Joshua): Over here, Josh. (They approach the table.) Janis, Kurt, this is Josh. He works over at Jam Pony.

(The first guy sits down at the table. Kurt waves at Joshua. Joshua waves back.)

KURT: Sit down, man. You're like eight feet tall, dude. You're freaking me out.

(Joshua sits down.)

JANIS: You hungry, mystery man?

JOSHUA: Hungry. Like, a lot, dude.

JANIS: Great. We got some buffalo wings coming.

JOSHUA: Buffalo wings?

JANIS: Chicken wings.

JOSHUA: Ah, chicken with buffalo in his cocktail.

(The others laugh.)

FIRST GUY: Want some pretzels while we wait?

(He hands Joshua a bowl of pretzels. After trying to figure out how to eat them with the helmet on, Joshua raises the bowl and pours the pretzels behind the helmet into his mouth. The others laugh. After a moment, Joshua laughs too.)

FIRST GUY: You're all right, Josh.

(In the upstairs room, Lida is lying on the floor, shaking and moaning. Marrow kneels next to her and strokes her face.)

MARROW (softly): You brought this on yourself.

LIDA: I don't want to die.

MARROW: You should have thought about that before.

LIDA: I'm begging you.

MARROW: I'm not a cruel man. It pains me to see you suffer. Relief is here.

(He smothers her with a cloth.)

(Shortly afterward, Max silently enters the building and watches from a balcony. Marrow brings Lida's body, eyes still open, into the main room and lays it on the couch, as the others stand and watch.)

MARROW: She was our sister. Beautiful, devoted, passionate...a promiscuous advocate of mischief.

(He closes Lida's eyes.)

MARROW: It didn't have to end like this. Her death...senseless. She knew the covenant. She knew what we all know, that this...(holds up the glass pipette)...this is forever. Still she left, knowing that she couldn't survive without this.

(Marrow sits on a couch and rolls up his sleeve. He stabs his own arm with the narrow end of the pipette. As he flexes his wrist, the pipette fills with blood. One by one, the others sip from it.)

MARROW: You've all found what everyone else is searching for: strength in a fear-stricken world. And I've found you.

(Max hears a floorboard creak behind her. As she turns around, someone knocks her out.)

(Later, Max stands handcuffed to a column. Marrow sits a short distance away, watching her.)

MARROW: What are you doing here?

MAX: Came to light a candle.

MARROW: You shouldn't have come. This isn't your business.

MAX: You're Manticore; that makes it my business. What's your deal, anyway?

MARROW (smiling): What's my deal? I'm the Red Cross. I'm the motha of all blood brothas. I'm the bank of Sangria. Our good friends and neighbors at Manticore gave you the perfect body; they gave me the perfect blood.

MAX: Please. We're all universal donors.

MARROW: What? Please, that tap water you got in there? Uh-uh. No, this is the high-test stuff. Chock-full of endorphins, and coagulants, and all sorts of feel-good enzymes.

MAX: And you got those kids out there hooked on it. They don't know who you really are. They think you're some kind of holy vampire.

MARROW: They know what I give them. Temperament...vida...life.

MAX: Oh, really? What about that poor girl out there on the bench?

MARROW (standing up and screaming angrily): There is no out! She knew that! I am the only out!

(Max doesn't even flinch. Marrow calms down.)

MARROW: Gods. I make them gods. They get a taste of superiority, what it means to be like...us.

MAX: Us?

MARROW: Miss...I'm sorry, I never got your name.

MAX: Kiss my ass.

MARROW: You're cute. You're also a freak. You are a mutant, with tangled genetics and a barcode...just like me. The only difference between you and me is that you're still hunted, and I'm in demand. See, you are fooling yourself if you think you can go on hiding. Sooner or later, the world is going to realize that we are out there, and that we are better than they are. The time will come when they will declare war on our kind, and when they do, I'm gonna have my own private army to protect me. See, those kids out there...they'd do anything for me. Fight...kill...even die. They love me.

MAX: Love you?

MARROW: Well, they can't live without me. Isn't that the same thing? (Uncuffs her.) Now, I really should kill you, but I want my Rain back. So I am going to let you go and hope that you send her back to me because if you don't, she'll die. And you can spin that any bloody way that you want, but at the end of the day, whose fault will that be?...Get out.

(At Jah Bone)

KURT: Where'd you say you came from, J-man?

JOSHUA: The basement.

(The others laugh. Joshua laughs along with them.)

FIRST GUY: I dig you, J-man. I dig your scene. You're, like...worldwide, man. You know?

(Janis sits in Joshua's lap.)

JOSHUA: Oh.

JANIS: You got a hottie stashed somewhere, mystery man?

JOSHUA: Hottie?

JANIS: A girl. You know, a little friend.

JOSHUA: Friend. Uh...Max--Max and Cindy friend.

KURT: What, two? You dog, you!

(They laugh.)

FIRST GUY (to Janis): Sorry, girl, doggie's got a kennel club and you're not invited.

JOSHUA: Oh, no, everyone invited to J-man's.

(Janis sticks out her tongue at the first guy.)

JANIS: My hero, my big dog. (Climbs off his lap.)

JOSHUA (nodding): Joshua dog.

(They laugh. Kurt howls and barks. Joshua looks startled. The others break out into more laughter and Joshua laughs along.)

JOSHUA: Messengers rock!

FIRST GUY: Tell it, doggie!

JOSHUA: Friends--they like the...the doggie's dog.

(They're still laughing.)

KURT: Solid, baby-J. Solid.

JANIS: We love you, Josh.

(Kurt howls again.)

(The first guy sips his beer, and Kurt & Janis kiss. Nobody is looking at Joshua. Joshua takes off his helmet.)

JOSHUA: Joshua dog-boy.

FIRST GUY (still focused on his beer): A-freakin'-men. Joshua dog... (Looks up)

(Moments later, Joshua runs outside as we hear screams coming from inside. He grabs Alec's bike and runs home.)

(At Logan's, Rain is lying on the couch, panting and moaning. An I.V. hangs from the coatrack. Dr. Shankar is wiping Rain's neck with a cloth. Max and Logan watch from a short distance away.)

LOGAN: His blood? That's what they're amped on?

MAX: What can I say? Once you've had transgenic, you never go back.

LOGAN: The girl at the hospital?

MAX: She didn't make it.

RAIN (crying out): Oh! It burns!

(Logan approaches.)

DR. SHANKAR: She's postictal. Her heartbeat's arrhythmic, cardiac output weak...

LOGAN: We gotta do something.

DR. SHANKAR: At this rate, she might not survive the night. Unfortunately, this one of those that I've never seen before.

RAIN (moaning): Please. Please, you gotta help me.

LOGAN: Rain, we're doing everything we can.

RAIN: I'll die without his blood. But it's not too late. Just take me to him. Okay?

LOGAN: It's not too late? How do you know?

RAIN: He told us. Marrow. Up front. He tells everyone up front. Once the shaking starts, you're gone.

(She moans again. Logan walks back over to Max.)

MAX: I can't believe I let something like him out there in the world.

LOGAN: You didn't know.

MAX: It's sick. The whole thing is sick.

(She watches Rain a moment.)

MAX: It's no use. There's nothing we can do.

LOGAN: I'll take her back.

MAX: Thanks. I just can't look at that guy again. I'm going to Joshua's.

(At Jam Pony)

ALEC (to Sketchy): Oh, yeah, I cleared like two grand on the deal.

NORMAL: Well, well, well. If it isn't God's gift to messengers.

SKETCHY: What's up?

NORMAL: I said God's gift, not God's blunder, moron. (To Alec) I got three people called say they didn't get their packages, huh?

ALEC: No, that can't be.

NORMAL: Let me see your signatures.

ALEC: The...yeah. (Digs around in his backpack.) Where's my clipboard? (Normal sighs.) Where's my clip--I left it at my last run.

NORMAL: Honestly, you young people would lose a large intestine if it wasn't attached to you. Go. Go get your clipboard.

ALEC: On it.

NORMAL: Bip. Bip. Bip. Bip.

(At Joshua's house, Max walks around looking for him. Suddenly he runs in the door, panicky and moaning. He dives into an armchair and covers his head with a blanket.)

MAX: Joshua! Where the hell have you been? Joshua, are you okay? Are you hurt? Hey. (Removes the blanket.)

JOSHUA: Dudeheads said they were cool, but they weren't cool at all.

MAX: I don't understand.

JOSHUA: Tried to go outside with outside people. Made delivery for Alec.

MAX: What? Alec? (Sniffs his hair) Have you been smoking?

JOSHUA: Got baked with dudeheads.

(Max groans.)

JOSHUA: Ate winged buffaloes. (Imitating Janis) "My hero, my hero." Lying hottie!

MAX: These "dudeheads"...did any of them try to follow you home?

JOSHUA (eyes widening): No! (Covers back up and moans) No!

MAX: It's okay.

(In Logan's car)

RAIN: So what's her problem, anyway, huh? She's special, like Marrow. They're the same, except that she's just...trying to ruin what we have.

LOGAN: Not quite.

RAIN: She's just jealous of him because we love him and he cares for us.

LOGAN: Rain, he owns you.

RAIN: He made me better than I was.

LOGAN: So you think he's special, then? That he's born to some kind of glorious destiny?

RAIN: What do you know, anyhow?

LOGAN: I do know he was genetically engineered by a government agency called Manticore. They designed him in a lab, and they brainwashed him with the same kind of lies he's been using on you...that you don't exist apart from the family.

RAIN: I don't believe it.

LOGAN: But he believed it. They all did...except for Max, and eleven of her brothers and sisters. They wanted out so much they escaped, and they've spent the last eleven years defending their freedom with their lives. That barcode on the back of their necks? That was put there to keep track of them, like a brand. So when she sees someone like you, eager to be a slave, wearing it...it kills her inside. (Quietly) And you think they're the same. What do I know.

(Pause)

RAIN: It's just up here in the middle of the block.

(Logan stops the car and Rain starts to get out.)

LOGAN: Good luck. You're gonna need it.

RAIN: You know, even if I wanted out, I can't leave. You said so yourself...he owns us.

(At Joshua's)

MAX: What happened to the good old happy Joshua we all know and love?

JOSHUA: Good old happy Joshua should've listened to Max. People are scared of things that are different.

MAX: I know. But you didn't...

(Joshua speaks quickly, obviously upset.)

JOSHUA: Joshua's different, different...not meant to be with outside people. Not meant to be...

MAX: It's okay.

JOSHUA: I thought they would understand. So I took off my helmet, and they didn't understand, Max. (Logan enters.) They were just like, "Ahhh! Ohh! Oh my God, dude, look at him! He's got a dog face! He's got a dog face! I'm trippin'! Are you trippin'? I'm trippin'!" "Sorry! Sorry!" "I'm trippin'! Oh my God!"

(Logan bends down and picks up Joshua's helmet off the floor. Joshua is still breathing heavily and yelling, and Max tries to calm him down.)

MAX: It's over. It's over. It's over. (Joshua stops yelling.) It's okay. It's okay. It's all over . Okay?

LOGAN: Hey, guys. What's going on?

JOSHUA: My head is gonna fly off.

MAX: He's stoned.

JOSHUA: Father's pipe.

MAX: Some idiots pumped him full of weed.

(Joshua grabs the helmet out of Logan's hand.)

JOSHUA: See? Safety first, right? (Lets the helmet drop to the floor.) Kind, courteous, friendly. Signatures. And...(imitates cat hissing and dog barking)...Bad Leo!

LOGAN: Joshua! Joshua! Listen! (Joshua stops.) It's just the drugs. It's just the effect of the drugs, okay?

JOSHUA: Joshua not worldwide. That's not the plan.

LOGAN: I know. That is not the plan, is it?

JOSHUA: Flying buffaloes inside my stomach...

LOGAN: Joshua, it's all inside your head.

JOSHUA (calming down): Flying buffaloes...inside my head?

LOGAN: All of this is just inside your head.

(Max has a series of flashbacks.)

RAIN (in flashback): It's not too late. Just take me to him.

MARROW (in flashback): There is no out! I am the only out!

MARROW (in flashback): It didn't have to end like this.

MARROW (in flashback): This is forever.

RAIN (in flashback): I'll die without his blood.

MARROW (in flashback):Whose fault will that be?

(Back in the present day)

MAX: I gotta go.

(At Marrow's, Rain is lying on a couch, shivering and panting.)

MARROW: Sweetheart, did the shaking start yet? (Rain shakes her head.) Thank God there's still time. Don't be afraid. You're here, you made it back to us, and I can save you.

(Marrow jabs the pipette into his arm. Rain sits up a little to get closer to the pipette.)

MARROW: Now sip, Rain.

(Rain flashes back to her conversation with Logan in the car.)

LOGAN (in flashback): He owns you.

MARROW: Sip your troubles away.

LOGAN (in flashback): They designed him in a lab.

MARROW: Rain, come on.

RAIN: I'm shaking.

MARROW: Rain, you are going to die if you don't let me save you. Sip. Now.

LOGAN (in flashback): ...and they brainwashed him with the same lies he's been using on you.

(Rain lies back down.)

MARROW (sternly): Rain!

(She continues shaking and panting.)

MARROW: Rain, sip. Please.

(Suddenly Rain stops shaking and panting. She takes a moment to catch her breath, then looks at Marrow, realizing.)

RAIN: You lied to us.

(Marrow angrily removes the pipette from his arm, then turns around and speaks calmly.)

MARROW: So you've found out my little secret.

RAIN: Please. Please, just let me go.

MARROW: I wish I could. I mean, you're a real kick to have around. But I have a...tactical imperative here. What if you tell the others?

RAIN: I won't. I won't.

MARROW: But you will.

RAIN: No. No, I won't.

MARROW: You will. There's nothing worse than a nagging conscience, know what I mean? I'm sorry.

(Marrow starts to stab Rain with the pipette. He is interrupted by a crash as Push is thrown through the door into the room.)

(In the main room, Max finishes subduing the other members of the group. Marrow steps into the room.)

MAX: Oh, hello. You might want to whip up another batch of plasma milkshakes for these guys. You don't look like a very happy vampire. What'd you do with Rain?

MARROW: I think you should be more concerned with what I'm going to do to you.

MAX: Bring it on.

(He tries to stab her; she blocks him. They begin to fight. Rain runs into the room.)

RAIN: Stop! You guys, he's totally been lying to us.

MARROW: Rain!

RAIN: We don't need him.

SECOND GUY: What is she talking about?

RAIN: He tried to kill me.

MARROW: Rain, that is enough.

RAIN: Because I found out the truth.

MARROW: Shut up! Rain, I told you that it was forever, and I meant it.

RAIN: You guys, it's all a lie.

MARROW: Ungrateful little bitch.

(Marrow throws Rain across the room, onto a couch. He starts to run after her, but Max blocks him with a head-butt. He falls backwards and lands on the spike of a large candlestick, which spears through his chest. He dies.)

MAX (helping Rain up): You all right? (Rain nods.)

SECOND GUY: He's dead.

PUSH: So are we. (To Max.) You killed him; now we're all gonna die.

MAX: No you're not.

RAIN: It's true, you guys.

PUSH: No, no. He--he told us this was forever.

RAIN: Well, he lied.

PUSH: Yeah, how do you know?

RAIN: Because I didn't sip.

SECOND GUY: What do you mean?

RAIN: I didn't sip, and I made it through without him.

PUSH: What about Lida?

MAX: He killed Lida, because he wanted you guys to think you'd die without him. You're gonna be okay. All of you.

RAIN: Thanks. You know, um, who told me about you?

MAX: Who?

RAIN: Your friend. It must be nice to have somebody like that. And, you know, he's right...(Indicates Marrow)...You're nothing like him.

(The next morning, Joshua is asleep in an armchair. A scent wakes him up, and he opens his eyes to find Max waving a box in front of his nose and smiling.)

MAX: Rise and shine, big fella. It's a new day.

(They sit at the kitchen table and eat breakfast.)

JOSHUA: New day...same problems.

MAX: Not for Alec, especially when I get my hands on him. (Waves her fork to imitate hitting) Whack, whack.

(She notices Joshua doesn't smile.)

MAX: Hey, cheer up.

JOSHUA: Joshua sees life go by through window. Life looks back and screams at Joshua.

MAX (smiling, after a pause): I know who you are. I love who you are. That matters. At least, I hope it does.

JOSHUA: Max is worldwide.

MAX: What?

JOSHUA (chuckling): It matters.

(Max's pager goes off.)

MAX: It's Logan. It's urgent.

JOSHUA: Thank you. Go.

MAX: You sure?

(Joshua nods.)

MAX: Okay.

(Max gets up, kisses the top of his head, and leaves.)

(At Logan's apartment)

MAX (urgently): Logan, what happened? What's up?

LOGAN: "Up" is right. That thing flies.

MAX: What flies?

LOGAN: Another creature.

MAX (groaning): Oh, no.

LOGAN: Yup. Wingspan of a jet. The thing breathes fire. Titanium claws. Some kind of screeching thing that makes people's heads explode...

(Max realizes he's putting her on, and they both laugh.)

LOGAN: I just thought you'd want to know about the group. Shankar says they're in the clear.

MAX: Well, that's good.

LOGAN: And I don't think we have to worry about exposure. They'd just as soon forget they ever met a transgenic.

MAX: We hope.

LOGAN: Well, you're off the hook, at least for today.

MAX: Great. I'll just kick it and be a regular girl, then.

LOGAN: A regular girl...what fun is that?

MAX: Hey, I'll take what I can get.