Narrator

Previously on The 4400:

Ryland

(when Tom first meets Diana)  This is where I give you the speech about how you’re my best field scientist, and Tom is my best lead investigator, and how together you’re gonna make a good team.

Kyle

(Tom’s home, around the dinner table, after meeting Alana)  Let me see if I’ve got this straight: you two met, fell in love, and spent eight years together in some kind of alternate reality.

Tom

Yeah.  (to Alana, as she prepares to take Kyle abroad)  What time is the flight?

Alana

Uh, noon.

Kyle

Say good-bye to Mom for me.

Diana

(to Tom at the bus terminal)  They arrested a suspect forty minutes ago.  Claim he’s our guy.

Nina

(in a car garage)  Roy Keith Marsden.

Tom

(in the office; to Alana on the phone)  Forget about the flight.  Bring Kyle home.  They just arrested a suspect in the Collier killing.

Shawn

(in his office; to Olivia who is blind)  It’s gonna feel a little weird, but when we’re done, you’ll be able to see again.

Olivia

When does it start?  When do I see again?

Shawn

(he has lost the ability to heal)  Just give me one moment, okay?

Tess

(at the Abendson Mental Facility)  Kevin’s a genius, you know.

Tom

(a scene after Kevin attacks Tom when he and Diana take Tess from the facility)  You’re saying that Burkhoff is the father of the 4400 technology.

Kevin

(to Dr. Clayton)  I can think again, too.

Diana

(in her home; to Maia)  You’ve got a real fever, young lady.  (in the NTAC Medical; to Dr. Hudson, referring to Maia’s rash)  I’ve worked at the CDC for seven years, and I never saw anything like it.

Lily

(to Richard in their apartment)  I was changing her.  She has these marks on her skin.

Richard

Marks?  Bruises?

Lily

No.  Like irritations.  Like someone had her hooked up to something.

Nina

(to the rioting male agents)  What did I just tell you?  (Park shoots her; after the situation ends, to Tom as she is placed in an ambulance)  You’re in charge until I’m relieved.  Whatever manpower is still up walking, start picking up the pieces.

Tom

I’ll handle it.  Don’t worry about it.

(opening scene: Tom’s home)

Tom

(moving boxes, to Kyle)  Okay.  Seriously.  My back is about to call it a day.  Okay?  Just come on.

Kyle

You’re not helping.

Tom

Where’s this going?  (Alana moves to help)

Alana

Right there.

Tom

(putting down the box, laughing)  Please say that was the last box.

Alana

That’s it.

Tom

(breathless)  Okay.

Alana

We’re officially living in sin.

Tom

Oh, really.  Well, I prefer to call it: “resuming our eight-year marriage.”  (he kisses her)

Kyle

Call it whatever you want, just don’t kiss in front of me again, okay?  That’s disgusting.  (he breaks into a smile)

Alana

Oh, your father thinks this is so romantic, but what he doesn’t know is the reason I’m moving in is to take down his tacky golf stuff.

Tom

What?  And replace it with what?  Oh, oh!  Paint splatters?  Maybe a picture of a triangle that sells for three grand?

Kyle

Kids!

Alana

It’s art.

Kyle

Kids!  Work out these decorating issues amongst yourselves.  But I’m dead serious about this kissing rule, okay?  It’s non-negotiable.

Alana

(Tom kisses her, and they both laugh)  Oh, Kyle, my allergies are bothering me again.  Could you write me another prescription before you go?

Tom

Uh, Alana.  Kyle’s only a doctor in the world you created for me, remember?

Alana

(double-takes)  I’m sorry.  Ah!  I had a brain freeze.  (she laughs it off)  Right.  (she leaves)

(scene change: hospital room; Diana tries to decipher Maia’s medical writeup)

Hudson

Trying to decipher my handwriting?

Diana

I was just on the verge of giving up, actually.

Hudson

Good.  Bad penmanship is the best way for a doctor to keep his mystique.  (he takes the paperwork from Diana)

Diana

There’s a page missing in there.  It goes from page four to page six.

Hudson

Sorry.  I’m breaking in a new nurse.  (Diana murmurs)  So, listen.  I think we finally know what’s wrong with your daughter.  Maia’s suffering from a type of pneumonia called pneumocystis jiroveci; it’s “PJP” for short.

Diana

I’ve never heard of it.

Hudson

It’s rare, but we can treat it.

Diana

(relieved)  Well, thank God!

Hudson

But this kind of pneumonia could be a symptom for something more serious.  Now, we’ve tested her for every virus: all negative.

Diana

So, where is it coming from?

Hudson

We don’t know, but we’re running more tests.  We’ll figure it out.

(scene change: 4400 Center)

Shawn

(to Lily)  It’s not that big of a deal.  You know.  I’ve just—I’ve been working real hard lately.  I think I got the flue or something.  Everybody gets that, right?

Lily

Sure.  It’s just—Shawn—you can’t heal.

Shawn

For now.

Lily

I think you should get it checked out.

Shawn

If I can’t kick it in a day or two, I will.  But—uh—until then, can you reschedule all my foundation appointments?  Tell them that it’s temporary.  (Lily murmurs)  Make sure they know that.  (as she starts to leave)  Lily, don’t tell anyone I can’t heal.

Lily

Sure.  (she starts to leave)

Shawn

Thank you.  (pause)  Lily, I mean it.  Nobody.  (after she exits, he rises)  Oh, God!  (he examines himself in a mirror; he is covered with the rash)  Ah!

(scene change: San Antonio, Texas: Rose Woodard [disappeared December 1, 1991] examines her arm with the same rash; Utica, New York: Matthew Lombard, a homeless man [disappeared May 30, 1977], coughs as he sits on a street; Frankfurt, Germany: Werner Loecher [disappeared April 19, 1973] is wheeled into an ambulance)

Tom

(scene change: NTAC; looking at a screen in the operations room showing a depiction of hundreds of people becoming sick)  How many are sick?

Marco

Three hundred—that we know of.  Medical says more calls keep coming in.

Tom

So, what is it?

Diana

Well, it’s some kind of immune system disorder, and it’s leaving the 4400 vulnerable to all kinds of diseases.

(scene change: NTAC helipad)

Agent

(to a female agent)  His plane landed at Seatac on schedule.  Chopper should be here any minute.  (he takes a folder from her; he looks at a Styrofoam cup)  What’s that?

Woman

They told me he likes green tea.

Tom

(in the operations room)  Is it contagious?

Diana

We don’t know.

Marco

Were they infected while they were gone?  Maybe they brought this back with them.

Diana

Well, maybe, we just don’t know.

Agent

(to Ryland)  The situation is fluid.  (he hands Ryland a folder)  But here’s a summary of what we know so far.

Woman

Uh, sir?  (she hands Ryland the green tea)  They told me you’d want this.

Diana

The numbers just keep getting bigger.

Marco

So, we’re recovering from an attack on this building, the Division commander’s still in the hospital, what are we supposed to do?

Ryland

(addressing the room)  We take to the field.

Garrity

Ryland?  Where did he come from?

Ryland

We’re gonna have every 4400 in this jurisdiction tested for this sickness by day’s end.

Tom

Dennis!  Is it good to see you!

Ryland

(shaking his hand)  Tom.  Diana.

Diana

What brings you to Seattle, Ryland?

Ryland

I’m assuming temporary command of this division.  My orders are to do something about the spread of this epidemic.  I’m gonna figure out a way to do just that.

Tom

(in Nina’s office, referring to Nina’s nameplate)  You might want to move that, unless you want people calling you “Nina.”  (he picks up the nameplate)

Ryland

(chuckles)  How’s Jarvis doing?

Tom

They set her collarbone.  Doctors said she should be back in two weeks.

Ryland

My guess: she makes it in one.

Tom

(sitting down)  Yeah.  So, how’s DC?

Ryland

Oh, it’s a lot of networking.  Lots of dinner parties.  Patty loves it.

Tom

And you?

Ryland

Well, the Pacific Northwest is the flashpoint.  I kind of feel like I was promoted out of the game.

Tom

A lot of guys here would trade places with you.

Ryland

I wouldn’t blame them.  A woman releases plague into the air; a terrorist attack on the building: some people I work for think you’re in the middle of a war.

Tom

I’m sure it looks that way on paper.

Ryland

Well, don’t get defensive.  I’m still preaching the gospel of Highland Beach.  I still believe the 4400 came back here to change things for the better.

Tom

Yeah.  And the people you work for?

Ryland

Don’t worry about them.  One day, this’ll be over.  We’ll go out for a beer.  We’ll kick back.  We’ll trade war stories.

Tom

Yeah.

(scene change: 4400 Center; Daycare Facility)

Ruth

(to Richard and Lily, referring to Isabelle)  She was a little cranky this morning.  I think she’s cutting another tooth.

Lily

They come in fast, huh.

Ruth

She’s at that age.

Lily

Bye-bye, Sweetie.

Ruth

We’ll see you tomorrow.

Richard

Thank you, Ruth.  (Ruth leaves; Lily checks Isabelle for a rash)  Lily, what are you doing?  I thought we agreed nobody was doing science experiments on our baby.

Lily

Just making sure.

(scene change: in Shawn’s office)

Matthew

(entering)  Shawn, we need to rearrange your healing schedule.  There’s something going on: some sort of illness spreading among the 4400.

Shawn

(feeling and looking very ill)  I know all about it.

(scene change: at home, Kyle reads about Marsden’s home being vandalized in the paper; he visits the home; Alison exits and sees the flat tires on her car)

Alison

(to Kyle)  You.  Did you do this?

Kyle

No, no.  It wasn’t me.

Alison

Then what are you doing here?

Kyle

I read about this place in the paper.  I just—I was curious.

Alison

Yeah, well be curious somewhere else, because people still live here, okay?  (she kneels down next to her car)

Kyle

Need some help?

Alison

What, are you a mechanic now?

Kyle

Well, I can change a tire.  (Alison sighs)  There’s probably a jack in the trunk, right?

Alison

Yeah.  I’m sorry I snapped at you.  I just—I’m in a hurry, and—uh—my boyfriend’s little brother is in the principal’s office again.  (she opens the trunk and tosses the jack onto the lawn)  And, he’s not here again.

Kyle

I guess he’s in a lot of trouble, huh.

Alison

Yeah.  Yeah, you could say that.

Kyle

Well, I mean, it’s none of my business.  I can just change the tire and go.

Alison

Please.  (Kyle picks up the jack)

(scene change: 4400 Center lobby; Alana visits)

Man

(to Alana)  Hi there.  Welcome to the Center.  Are you here to take the tour?

Alana

This is wrong.  It’s all wrong.

Man

Excuse me?

Alana

This is the Collier museum.  Where are all the paintings?  (later, Tom arrives)  Thomas.

Tom

Hey, Sweetie.  What’s going on?

Alana

I have a board of directors meeting, and they won’t let me go upstairs.

Tom

Yeah, yeah.  They called me.  They said you were a little mixed up.  Alana, this isn’t the Collier museum, Honey.  It’s the 4400 Center.

Alana

What are you talking about?  I come here all the time.

Tom

Look at me.  Look—Alana, the place you’re thinking of—it’s somewhere else.

Alana

(angry)  No.  No!  Why are you confusing me?

Tom

(he struggles with her)  Just calm down!

Alana

No!

Tom

It’s okay.  It’s all right.  (he finds the rash on her arm)

(scene change: NTAC medical; Alana is wheeled inside)

Ryland

(briefing his staff in the operations room)  The infection rate is eighteen percent.

Tom

One in five of them is already sick?

Marco

One in five today.  I mean, tomorrow—

Ryland

The National Institute of Health is worried that this illness—whatever it is—can mutate and cross over into the general population.

Marco

Whoa.  Would it even have to mutate?  There’s no guarantee that this is going to stay exclusive to 4400s.  And—uh—meanwhile we’ve got two dozen sick ones right downstairs.

Ryland

They’re not going to be there long.

Tom

Why?  What are we doing with them?

Ryland

DC wants to put all the 4400 back in Quarantine and keep them there for the rest of the crisis.  I know it’s a big move, people, but it’s the best one we’ve got at the moment.

Tom

Can we do that?

Ryland

According to Emergency Quarantine Order 74 we can.

Diana

But wait.  You’re just talking about the sick ones here, right?

Ryland

No.  All of them.  Every 4400 in the country is subject to this order.

Marco

Okay.  But that’s only half of them.  This thing’s worldwide, right?

Ryland

England and France are passing similar legislation.  We expect other countries to follow.

Diana

But why—why are you forcing them all to come in?

Ryland

Because the disease seems to be showing up at random.  Until we understand how it’s transmitted, we have to assume that every 4400 is a potential vector.

Tom

How much time are we giving them?

Ryland

We’ll be making the announcement in the morning.  They’ll have twelve hours to get to a local NTAC branch.  Then they’ll be transferred to Camp Dekker and the Quarantine Facility.

Tom

What if they don’t report?

Ryland

Then it’ll be our job to bring them in.  (he exits; later in a corridor; to Tom and Diana)  You’re not hearing me.  It’s temporary.

Tom

Can you be sure?  You already told me people in Washington think we’re fighting a war.

Ryland

Washington is full of opinions.  The town runs on them.

Diana

Listen.  The 4400 aren’t just names in some report, and they’re definitely not enemy combatants.  Now, you’re talking about my daughter, Tom’s nephew—

Tom

The woman I love.  (seeing Ryland’s stunned look)  I was going to tell you over that beer.

Diana

Now, what assurances can you give us that these people aren’t just being thrown down some hole permanently?

Ryland

You have my assurance, and that should be enough.  (Diana is doubtful)  I was the one who pushed to let them out in the first place, you remember?

Tom

We’re not trying to second-guess you, Dennis.  But people we love are sick.

Ryland

I get it.  But getting them all together in one place is going to make it a lot easier to find out what the hell this is.  When it’s over, everybody goes home.

Tom

We know you’ll fight the good fight, Dennis.

Diana

I just hope you can win.  (Ryland retreats to his office)

(scene change: in Maia’s hospital room; Diana reviews Maia’s chart; there are several lines blackened out)

Maia

Mommy?

Diana

You’re awake!  How are you, Baby?

Maia

I’m tired of being sick.  When can I go home?

Diana

Why don’t you tell me?  I was kind of hoping you had a vision about how all this will be over soon.

Maia

They’re not coming anymore.  I’m not seeing things.

Hudson

(entering)  My favorite patient is awake.

Diana

More awake than you look.

Hudson

Hmm.  (to Maia)  Open wide.  (he inserts a thermometer into her mouth; to Diana)  I do my best work when I eliminate sleep altogether.

Diana

Well, if you need someone to splash cold water on your face, you just let me know.

Hudson

Thanks.  (he removes the thermometer)  Do you mind?

Diana

(handing the chart to Hudson)  I noticed that missing page made its way back in.

Hudson

Oh.  Yeah.  I told you it’d be back.

Diana

What are those two lines blacked out for?

Hudson

Well, looks like we duplicated a test.  They cross it out, so we don’t read the same results twice.  (he writes the temperature results on the chart; to Maia)  Okay.  Let’s see how that rash is doing.

(scene change: in a park; Lily and Brian are walking and talking)

Lily

I’m fine, Brian.  Tell Heidi not to worry.  Richard’s fine.  Isabelle’s fine.

Brian

Well, the news is making like everybody’s sick.  People are terrified.  And, if normal people start getting sick—

Lily

“Normal people”?

Brian

Okay.  That came out wrong, but you know what I mean.  And listen, Lily.  Heidi’s not the only one that’s worried about you.  I am, too.

Lily

A year and a half ago, you welcomed me home with a restraining order.

Brian

(sighing)  I know.  I panicked when you got back.  Don’t think I haven’t lost sleep over what I did.  I just want you to know now that I’m there for you.  You, Richard, Isabelle.  You need anything; just call.

(scene change: 4400 Center)

Matthew

(to Tom and Diana)  Quarantine?  That’s an evocative word these days.  Conjures up images of secret prisons and—what’s the euphemism you’re using now?  “Coercion tactics”?

Tom

Let me ask you something: you have some doctors on staff here, right?

Matthew

Yes.

Tom

They having any luck getting to the bottom of this thing?

Matthew

Not yet.

Tom

Then get off your soapbox.  You want an image to hold on to, try this one: 4400s dying in droves.

Diana

I think what my partner means to say is that our two organizations need each other, and we should cooperate.

Matthew

And how exactly do we do that?

Diana

We want you to issue a public statement.  If the Center counsels the 4400s to go along with this order, things will go much more smoothly.

Matthew

And if we don’t?

Tom

Why are we talking to you, anyway?  Where’s Shawn?  Is he all right?

Matthew

Mr. Farrell is handling urgent business.  This situation requires his full attention.  Look.  I’ll have to run it by him, but I don’t see a problem advising any ill 4400s to seek medical care from NTAC.

Diana

Well, that’s a start.

Tom

What about the ones who aren’t showing symptoms?

Matthew

Uh, that issue’s going to require a little more thought.

Tom

Great.  You have twelve hours.  (Matthew walks away angrily)

(scene change: Marsden house; Kyle is painting the front door, obliterating the word “Murderer”)

Sam

What’s the point of painting it over anyway?  They’re just gonna do it again.

Alison

We don’t know that.  Look, Sam.  Kyle has been nice enough to come over here and help us out.  So, the least you can do is pitch in.  (she walks him to the door and hands him a paintbrush)  Oh, yes.  Very good.  Picasso.  I’m going to make sandwiches.  (she enters the house)

Sam

(to Kyle)  Okay.  Seriously, what’s your story?  Why are you helping us?  Kyle—whoever you are?

Kyle

My last name’s Bingham, and I don’t know.  I was just walking by here yesterday.  Alison looked like she could use a hand.

Sam

Yeah, well, if you were thinking about hooking up with her, forget it.  Alison’s gonna marry my brother as soon as he gets out of jail.

Kyle

I know.  I know.  She told me.

Sam

You should listen to her.  Roy didn’t kill this Collier guy.

Kyle

I believe you.

Sam

Yeah?  Well, you’re the only one.

Kyle

You and me.  And, when he does get out, I don’t think you want him coming home and seeing “murderer” written all over his door, do you?

(scene change: 4400 Center; Shawn’s bedroom; Richard and Matthew are in attendance)

Shawn

(lying down)  Richard.  You ready for a promotion?

Richard

Me?  A promotion to what?

Shawn

I’m trying here, man.  I want to lead us all through this, but I can’t do that right now.  (he tries to sit up; Richard gives him a hand)  Thank you.

Richard

I know I’m a 4400, but after that my qualifications are a little thin.  They didn’t even give me an ability.  To be honest with you, I’m not sure how long Lily and I were planning on staying here.

Matthew

So, it’s not a perfect fit.  But you’re articulate and a war hero, and you have the gravitas of a leader.  (to Shawn)  I think it’s a good idea.

Richard

But I haven’t given an order since 1951.

Shawn

I was in high school a year and a half ago.  I managed.  So will you.

Richard

But it’s only temporary, right?  As soon as you get better, I can go right back to being camera shy.

Shawn

Yeah.  (he lies back down)  Temporary.

Richard

What are you going to do?

Shawn

What I have to.

(scene change: Camp Dekker Quarantine Facility; Shawn and other 4400s are wheeled inside to a huge hospital room)

(scene change: outside the 4400 Center)

Richard

(addressing the staff and media)  This disease has everyone frightened, and that’s understandable.  But no one’s more frightened than we are.  And that’s because, in spite of all the rumors that you hear flying around, only 4400s are getting sick.  And, now the government wants us to head into quarantine.  They say cooperation is essential.  Well, here’s the best we can do: (Ryland watches from NTAC)  if you’re sick, the responsible thing is to report to NTAC.  Our best wishes and prayers go with you.  But if you’re well, if you’re showing no symptoms, we ask you to consider this: walking into quarantine is an easy step.  But walking out—(he shakes his head)—that might be considerably more difficult.  Thank you.

Ryland

Don’t they get it?  We’re trying to help these people.

Tom

All they hear is “quarantine,” Dennis.  You can’t blame them for being scared.

Diana

Maybe if we gave them another day, half a day even.

Ryland

Does it look to you like they haven’t made up their minds?  We tried being reasonable.  In ten hours we start rounding them up.

(scene change: Camp Dekker hospital ward)

Maia

(to Shawn)  Hi.

Shawn

(breathless)  Hey.

Maia

I know who you are.  You’re the one who fixes people.

Shawn

(nods)  Yeah.  Shawn.

Maia

How come you’re in here?  Why don’t you just make yourself better?

Shawn

I wish I could.  (he raises his hands)  They’re broken.  Kind of like the rest of me.

Maia

I used to see things: stuff that was gonna happen.  That’s gone now, too.

Shawn

It’s funny, huh?  When I found out I was different, all I wanted to do was be normal again.

Maia

Me, too.

Shawn

But you get used to it.  Now that it’s gone, I feel like I’m missing an arm.

Maia

It’ll come back, once we get better.

Shawn

Any idea when that’s gonna be?

Maia

Not exactly.  But my Mom told me everything’s gonna be fine, and I believe what she says.

Shawn

That must be a nice feeling.

Maia

Don’t you have someone to believe in?

Shawn

I used to.  But now I guess I’m just gonna have to believe in you.

(scene change: NTAC)

Kevin

(eating walnuts and spitting the shells into a waste basket; to Tom)  You’re the one I attacked at the hospital.

Diana

Oh.  We didn’t think you’d remember us.

Kevin

I remember.  I was very sick back then.  I’m better now.

Hudson

(approaching)  Diana.  You wanted to see me?

Kevin

Kevin Burkhoff.  (he rises to his feet)  I’ve been doing neurological research on the 4400s.

Hudson

Oh.  I’ve heard of you.  (he shakes hands)  Everybody here has.

Kevin

(hands a package to Hudson)  Here.  There’s some—uh—very interesting data on the blood work I’ve been doing.  Have a look.  See if it helps you figure out what’s going on with this disease.

Hudson

(looks at Tom)  Well, thank you.  I’ll comb through this.

Kevin

Good.  And, I can expect to see your work—when?  (Hudson hesitates)  I showed you mine.  You show me yours.  That is the way it works, isn’t it?

Hudson

Usually, but the research we do here is classified.

Diana

Max.  Max, if ever there was a time to bend the rules a little, I think it might be now.

Hudson

Well, it’s not a wink-and-a-nudge situation, Diana.  I give over classified documents, I go to jail.

Tom

Yeah.  And if you don’t, people might die.

Hudson

Are you implying we’re not doing everything we can?  We’ve got dozens of doctors working around the clock to try to solve this thing.  (to Kevin)  Now, I will look over everything that you’ve given me.  If I find anything that can help you, I’ll give you a call.  That’s the best I can do.  (he walks away)

Diana

(to Kevin)  I am so sorry.

Kevin

You know, I’m not interested in apologies.  I want to see that information.  (he starts to exit)  Or is NTAC not interested in curing these people?  (he leaves)

(scene change: in an elevator)

Marco

(to Tom and Diana)  I know you guys are kind of cavalier about putting your own careers on the line, but—uh—do me a favor: stop asking me to join in the fun, okay?  (they all exit the elevator)  I like what I do here.

Tom

They’re medical records, Marco, not national secrets.

Marco

Wrong.  They’re medical records and national secrets.  That is why they keep them in a database you need six passwords to get into.  And, that’s why sport-o wouldn’t give them to you.  (they enter the Theory Room)

Diana

All right.  Let’s just leave Max out of this.  He’s under a lot of pressure.

Marco

And he wants to keep his job.  I don’t blame him.  You know, I just opened up a 401(k).  Yeah.  Pretty sure the government stops matching donations once you commit treason.

Diana

Listen.  The government just turned down an offer of help from Kevin Burkhoff.  Remember him?

Tom

Yeah.  The future built a giant tower to wake him up.  I guess they think he matters.

Marco

If anyone in Washington read my report, they know he matters, too.  You know, it’s weird.  Hundreds of people are sick.  You’d think they’d want any help they could get.

Diana

Well, they’re gonna get his help.

Tom

Yeah.  Whether they want it or not.

Marco

Gotcha.

(scene change: 4400 Center Day Care Facility; Ruth takes Isabelle into the corridor)

Ruth

Yeah.  Is Isabelle ready to go for her walk?  Okay.  Let’s go have some fun.  (Lily is shadowing her)

Richard

(in a basement hallway)  How long has she been in there?

Lily

I don’t know.  Five minutes?  I came and got you as soon as I saw.  (Richard tries to open the door, but he is locked out)  What are they doing to her in there?

Richard

Step back.  (he breaks down the door; Isabelle is hooked up to a brain scan machine; Matthew is observing)

Matthew

(to the others)  Would you excuse us, please?

Richard

(to Matthew)  How long has this been going on?

Matthew

Richard, your daughter has never been in any kind of danger.

Lily

(angrily)  He asked you a question.

Matthew

Jordan was going to initiate these tests as soon as he convinced you to come back into the fold.

Richard

(upset)  What tests?  What have you been doing to her?

Matthew

All we’re doing is what you should have done a long time ago: trying to figure out who—or what—Isabelle is.

Lily

She’s our daughter.  That’s all you or anyone else needs to know.

Matthew

Your daughter is the Rosetta Stone for understanding what happened to the 4400, and yet you both cling to the illusion that she’s gonna go to preschool, first communion, the prom—

Lily

She’s not communal property.  We’re her parents.  We decide.

Matthew

Parents?  You are the stewards of the future, and—forgive me for saying so—but you’re doing a piss-poor job of it.

Richard

We have given up everything we have for that child.  (he closes in on Matthew)  Any chance we had of living a normal life—

Lily

—to protect her from people like you.

Matthew

Look, Richard.  This is no time for this conversation.  In two hours, the government is coming through the front door.

Richard

Yeah.  Well, you’re not gonna use my daughter as some kind of weapon against them.

Matthew

That was never my intention.

Lily

You’re never gonna have the chance.  We’re leaving now.

Matthew

That’s your choice.  But if you do, if we splinter now, they will round up the 4400 one by one, and this movement is over.  (Richard and Lily leave)

(scene change: Camp Dekker; Tom visits Alana)

Tom

(on the other side of a glass partition)  Hey.

Alana

Hey, Thomas.

Tom

Hey.  Hey.  They said you’ve been asking for me.  Shouldn’t you be in bed?

Alana

They’ll take me back soon enough.  I wanted to see you.

Tom

How do you feel, Baby?

Alana

They can’t get the fever down, but the worst part is my head.  Everything is so mixed up.

Tom

This illness: it affects people’s abilities.  Maia can’t see things, and—and Shawn: Shawn can’t heal.  And for you, Honey, I think the boundaries between this world and the one you created are breaking down.

Alana

It’s so confusing.  I don’t know what’s real anymore.

Tom

I know it’s scary.  You just have to hang on.  They’ll get this fixed.

Alana

What if they’re too late?  What if they can make my body right, but not my mind?  I don’t want to live like that, Thomas.

Tom

You’re not gonna have to.  You’re gonna get better.  You have to believe that, Alana.

Alana

Thomas.

Tom

Yeah?

Alana

I love you so much.  I wanted us to get married for real—in this world.  That’s all I wanted to tell you, before—before my mind goes, because I don’t know if it will be good again.

(scene change: in the Marsden kitchen)

Alison

(puttering around with food)  So, you’re sure I can’t get you a beer or something?

Kyle

(sitting at a table)  No, no.  That’s okay.  I don’t drink.

Alison

Okay.

Kyle

You know, this isn’t really necessary.  I just did a couple of chores.

Alison

Maybe it’s not a big deal to you, but I just haven’t seen a friendly face in a while.  (she sits down at the table)  Not since Roy went away.

Kyle

Um, no offense, but—um—the papers make him sound like the second coming of Lee Harvey Oswald.

Alison

Yeah.  Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it “fair and balanced coverage.”

Kyle

But he did have some monstrous gun collection, right?

Alison

Look.  I’m not saying that he was a candidate for higher office, and he sure as hell wasn’t the world’s greatest boyfriend.  But taking out two NTAC agents and shooting Jordan Collier?  Come on.

Kyle

Yeah.

Alison

Yeah.  Eat up.  (calling)  Sam!  Sam!  Come on!  We’re starting.

Sam

(sitting on a couch)  I’ll be right there.  (he looks through Kyle’s wallet)

(scene change: 4400 Center, exterior; staff is lined up in force to prevent the government from entering peacefully)

Marco

(holding a thick envelope; turns to an agent behind him)  Hey.  (no response)  Okay.

Kevin

(exiting the front door)  Are you Marco?  (he holds out his hands to take the envelope)  Thanks.

Marco

Don’t thank me.  Hire me.  (Kevin quickly exits)  I’m gonna need a job

(scene change: Richard’s apartment)

Lily

(to Richard as he enters; she is packing)  Where have you been?

Richard

Talking to Matthew.  Lily, he’s got an idea on how to handle this roundup.  I think it might work.

Lily

I’m sure he’s full of clever ideas.

Richard

We will deal with what Matthew did but not now.  The government is about to declare martial law on all of us.  We don’t have time to squabble.

Lily

All I want to hear is that you’re done with this place for good.

Richard

It’s not that simple.  We can’t just go off and hide in the woods somewhere.  It’s not going to work this time.

Lily

The Center betrayed us.  They betrayed our daughter.

Richard

And they learned about her, more than we did in almost a year.  Lily, stop!  Did you know Isabelle has connections between the right and left hemispheres of her brain that have never been seen before?

Lily

Even if that’s true, Richard, it’s not that they studied her; it’s how they did it.

Richard

Do you trust the government?  Because if we go into quarantine, Isabelle will end up right here or with them.  And if they find out what she can do, we’ll lose her forever.

(scene change: NTAC operations center; agents are gearing up to go)

Ryland

That’s it.  That’s the deadline.

Tom

Where do we start?

(scene change: outside the 4400 Center; the staff is ready for a showdown; NTAC agents arrive)

Ryland

I want everybody to holster their pistols.  My goal is to do this quietly, peacefully, and without incident.

Tom

What if they want an incident?

Ryland

Then, we’ll give them one.  (over the radio)  Is everybody ready?

Officer

Affirmative, sir.  We’re in position.

Ryland

Let’s go.  (he starts forward)

Agent

Moving in now.

Agent

(over the radio)  Copy that.  They’re on the move.  (the staff parts)  They’re spreading out, and letting us through.

Matthew

(to Ryland and company)  Welcome to the Center.  Did you come for the tour?

Ryland

You know damn well why we’re here.

Matthew

Out hunting, I’d guess.  Well, I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place.  You are welcome to look around, but there are no 4400s here.  (later, to Ryland, Tom, and Diana)  I have no idea where they went.

Ryland

(in NTAC)  You had a hundred and twenty 4400s taking shelter at your Center.

Matthew

That sounds about right.  I don’t have an exact figure.

Ryland

You just came downstairs, and they were gone.

Matthew

Until seven o’clock this evening, they were free citizens.  I had no reason to track their movements, and since I’ve broken no laws, unless you want to talk about lifting this quarantine order, we have nothing left to discuss.

Ryland

We’ll talk again.

Matthew

(as he exits)  I suspect your job is going to get rather ugly from here on out: kicking in doors and such.  If I worked at NTAC, I might spend a little less time trying to find missing 4400s and a little more trying to cure the ones I had.  (he exits)

Ryland

(to Tom and Diana)  So, tell me: have we got a list of 4400s who haven’t reported yet?

Tom

Yeah.  All the sick ones we know of are in.  And, as for the rest, we had about seventy-five percent compliance.

Diana

Nationwide, there’s about five hundred and twenty 4400s unaccounted for.

Ryland

Well, that’s not a few holdouts.  That’s an insurgency.

Tom

So, this is it, huh?  Us against them.

Diana

You know, it feels kind of like the war Jordan Collier always predicted.

Ryland

Predicted or provoked?

Tom

(hotly)  We declared martial law on them.

Ryland

(hotly)  We had no option!  I’m gonna pursue a policy of non-aggression as long as I can.  But if it come down to a choice between the safety of the American people and the welfare of the 4400, Tom!—that’s no choice at all!

(scene change: a safe house)

Richard

(to fellow 4400s in hiding)  Collier left behind thirty-seven safe houses throughout the country.  We liquidated the Center’s emergency slush fund this morning.  Should last for a while.  Any 4400 who contacts the Center for help will be given an E-mail address.  If we’re satisfied they’re legitimate, they’ll be told where to go.  Our goal is to get every 4400 who wants shelter to safety.

Lily

And then what?

Richard

Matthew will try to continue to end this peacefully.  But if we have to protect our own, we’ll be ready.  (seeing Lily walk away)  Excuse me.  Excuse me.  Sorry.  Lily.

Lily

You make a good speech, but this isn’t Korea.  And, those aren’t soldiers.  And, your daughter could get caught in the crossfire.

Richard

(Isabelle begins to cry)  You don’t think I’m worried about her?  And you, too?  Lily, I’m not looking for a fight.  But right now, we don’t have another option.

(scene change: Marsden home; Kyle walks up the front steps)

Kyle

(to Alison as she opens the door)  Hey.  Sam said he liked comics—

Alison

(angrily)  You son of a bitch!  (she slaps Kyle)  You lied to me!

Kyle

What?  Wait a minute!  It wasn’t like that.

Alison

Oh, really?  Kyle Bingham?  Your last name is Baldwin, and your dad works for NTAC.  So, what are you: his little spy?  Huh?  Did you think you were going to sleep with me?  I was going to tell you all about Roy?  You go, and you tell you daddy that he didn’t kill anybody.

Kyle

I know that.  I was just trying to help you.

Alison

Why?  (Kyle doesn’t answer)  You come off like you’re this really great guy, and all you were trying to do was use me.  You’re a lying prick!  (she reenters the house)

(scene change: on a street corner; Kevin talks to Tom and Diana)

Kevin

Okay.  Okay.  This thing that’s killing them: it’s not a disease.  It’s a side effect.

Tom

Doctor Burkhoff, just calm down.  What are you talking about?

Diana

A side effect of what?

Kevin

I don’t know exactly.  But I do know this: there’s a synthetic substance present in the blood of every 4400, all the ones I tested.  Every medical report you gave me: sick ones, well ones, doesn’t matter.  They all have it.  They even gave it a name.  They call it: “promicin inhibitor.”

Tom

Promicin?  What’s promicin?

Kevin

I have no idea.  And, I don’t know why anyone would want to inhibit it, either.  But whatever it is, it’s gathering in their lymph nodes, compromising their immune systems—

Diana

It’s what’s making them sick.

Tom

But NTAC’s been studying the 4400 every since they got back.  They should have known about this.

Kevin

They do know!  It’s all in here.  They know!

Tom

So, why haven’t they told anyone?

Kevin

That’s a very good question.  When you find out, won’t you tell me?  (he removes the thick envelope from under his jacket and gives it to Tom; he leaves)

(scene change: outside of a safe house; Lily is running away with Isabelle)

Brian

(waiting in a car)  Are you sure you want to do this?  (she gets into the car)

(scene change: NTAC; Tom and Diana’s office)

Tom

PI Dosage: it’s on memos, in every 4400 medical report.

Diana

It’s on the fifth page of every report.  It’s what Hudson had crossed out when I went to see Maia.

Tom

PI: promicin inhibitor.  Alana was getting it, too, and Shawn.

Diana

Everyone was getting it.  Every time they came to NTAC Medical.  Every checkup.  We did it to them, Tom.  We made them sick.

(to be continued)