M I L L E N N I U M
"BORROWED TIME"
Ep. # 3.10 [MLM-310 (6C10)]
Written by Chip Johannessen
Directed by Dwight Little
Edited by Chris Willingham, A.C.E.
[ Third Season ] [Complete Transcript]
U.S. Air Date: January 15, 1999
=====================================================================
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
We HEAR the steady beep of a monitor.
PANNING TO - A PRIEST looking down at a patient whom we
cannot see. He glances at his watch: it reads 9:50. He
picks up the amice, kissing it reverently before donning,
and begins to read from his bible.
PRIEST
"Almighty Father, to whom alone
belongs life and death, we knoweth
Thou will raiseth if it shall be Thy
pleasure to prolong her days here on
earth ... "
INT. TRAIN - CONDUCTOR'S ROOM - NIGHT
Aboard a moving train. The CONDUCTOR looks his watch:
10:15. He goes back to his book, which is entitled "The
Gift". Unbeknownst to the conductor, a HAND reaches in and
takes a set of keys hanging on the wall.
INT. TRAIN - HALLWAY
REVEAL a 30-year-old MAN, SAMIEL, clad in a black leather
jacket and black jeans. He has a cut on his lip. He flips
through the keyring until he finds the one he wants.
INT. TRAIN - COMPARTMENT
A BUSINESSMAN, a YOUNG WOMAN, and a MOTHER and her
DAUGHTER, who is around Jordan's age, are the occupants.
The adults read while the girl draws.
BUSINESSMAN
(to the girl)
So do you like this train?
YOUNG GIRL
(smiling)
Yeah, a lot.
Outside, the train suddenly switches to a different track,
throwing everyone off to one side. The passengers shakily
pick up their belongings.
MOTHER
(to her daughter)
It's gonna be okay, honey.
INT. SWITCHBOARD STATION
Several OPERATORS are manning a switchboard that shows
various trains and their locations as red blips on-screen.
We HEAR beeping and a red blip begins blinking rapidly.
The time on the switchboard reads: 10:16.
OPERATOR #1
What the hell is 108 doing? We've got
a situation here!
He reaches for a phone, while Operator #2 tracks the
train's location.
OPERATOR #2
How'd this happen? That switch isn't
supposed to move!
OPERATOR #1
(pointing to the
switchboard)
Bridge 12 is still out -- I've got to
get them off that track!
OPERATOR #2
(typing)
They're not responding!
INT. TRAIN - HALLWAY
CLOSE - On the wristwatch that Samiel is holding: it's
10:20. Above the frame of the compartment door is a
keyhole; he reaches up and locks it. Inside, the young
girl is the only one that notices him. Their eyes meet for
a moment -- Samiel smiles softly. Suddenly, the train
crashes, and we hear horrible screams that fades into the
next scene.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
The priest continues his ministrations.
PRIEST
" ... it shall be Thy pleasure to
prolong her days here on earth, let
her be an instrument of Thy glory.
Through this holy anointing and the
Lord in His love, heal you with the
grace of the holy spirit. For in His
infinite mercy, shall receive you in
those holy habitations."
The priest dips his fingers in the bowl of holy water and
moves toward the slumbering patient. It is JORDAN BLACK.
He touches her forehead.
PRIEST (CONT'D)
... His humble servant, Jordan Black.
ACT ONE
EXT. JORDAN'S SCHOOL - DAY
SUPERIMPOSED: "Two Days Earlier"
FRANK BLACK and Jordan are outside; the school bell hasn't
rung yet. Jordan looks a bit sickly. Frank puts a hand to
her forehead.
FRANK
You don't feel like you have a fever.
JORDAN
(pouting a little)
But I am sick. And it's not fair to
the other kids.
FRANK
(smiling)
What is it? A test? Long division?
Fishsticks?
JORDAN
I just don't feel well.
We HEAR the bell ring. Frank looks at his watch: it's
8:25.
FRANK
Well, Grandma and Grandpa are still on
vacation.
JORDAN
You could stay home with me.
FRANK
There's nothing that I'd like better.
I tell you what: if you're still
feeling crummy by lunch, I'll come and
get you.
JORDAN
(suddenly)
Will we always be together?
FRANK
Of course.
JORDAN
Forever?
FRANK
Well, nobody gets forever.
(grinning ruefully)
By the time you turn 13, it's gonna
feel like an eternity.
Jordan doesn't see the humor, the joke going over her head.
She goes to her father for a hug.
JORDAN
I love you.
FRANK
(teasing)
You sure? I love you, too.
JORDAN
Bye!
FRANK
Bye-bye.
As Frank leaves, Samiel appears from behind a tree and
watches Jordan follow her classmates inside. Sensing
someone, she turns and sees him. They stare at one
another.
EXT. PARK - DAY
SUPERIMPOSED: "Hall Memorial Park, Falls Church, Virginia"
The area is filled with parkgoers. In particular, a mother
is following her young son on a merry-go-round with her
videocamera.
MOTHER
(to her son)
Gimme a big smile! Around and around,
you go, where you stop, nobody knows --
Just past the boy, we see a MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN, GERTRUDE
EPSTEIN, get up from a bench, clutching her throat and
weaving. Still filming, the woman sees her and grabs her
son.
MOTHER (CONT'D)
Come here, sweetie.
They approach the woman, who collapses, making choking
noises.
MOTHER (CONT'D)
Oh, no ... Somebody call 911!
HALF A DOZEN ADULTS gather and stare in shock: water begins
bubbling from the woman's mouth and she dies.
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
AGENT EMMA HOLLIS is briefing Frank.
HOLLIS
We've got ourselves a weird one.
A woman expired in a public park with
a major release of body fluids.
Centers for Disease Control got called
in to evaluate the health hazard: they
say the fluid isn't her own.
FRANK
Where'd it come from?
HOLLIS
That's what they're asking us.
They stop at a window looking into the autopsy room.
A YOUNG MAN wearing a yarmulke, the victim's son, is
standing over his mother's draped body, his hands clasped
in prayer. A CDC EXAMINER stands off to the side
respectfully.
FRANK
Who's he?
HOLLIS
Her son. She was Jewish Orthodox, so
he's fighting the autopsy. He said
she's to be buried immediately within
24 hours of her death.
FRANK
It's their custom.
HOLLIS
Maybe there's something about her
death that he doesn't want us to
discover.
Frank has a FLASH of the victim, water spurting from her
mouth.
FRANK
She drowned.
HOLLIS
On dry land without any water nearby,
according to the CDC.
They enter. The young man stops praying and looks up.
YOUNG MAN
You from the FBI?
FRANK
Yes.
YOUNG MAN
(quietly insistent)
Will you tell them that this isn't
right, please? My mother was ready --
at peace with her god. They have no
right to interfere. No right.
FRANK
I'm very sorry.
The young man leaves, conceding he has done all he can.
The examiner pulls the sheet away from the victim.
EXAMINER
Gertrude Epstein, 48-years-old. Died
of a massive pulmonary edema, or so it
seemed. But the water in her lungs
had neither protein nor blood, which
indicates bodily fluids.
So basically, somebody pumped her full
of water.
FRANK
How?
EXAMINER
You tell me. After the cause of death
gets beyond a single cell, it's not my
department.
HOLLIS
Her death was caught on videotape:
right before it happened, there was no
one near her.
Frank has another flash of unidentified people drowning.
He turns to the examiner.
FRANK
Had their been other victims? The
same drowning circumstances?
EXAMINER
Not that we've heard about.
FRANK
I think you'll find there're others if
you send a bulletin to all hospitals.
Frank bends down, examining the victim's wrist, and sees
the imprint of a watch.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Her watch. It's missing.
HOLLIS
Paramedics said it was gone when they
picked her up.
EXT. TRAIN STATION - NIGHT
SUPERIMPOSED: "South Station. Boston, Mass."
Samiel is holding the same wristwatch: it reads 8:55. He
watches the mother and daughter from the Teaser board the
train. Shortly, we see them through the window of a
compartment. The young girl smiles at Samiel. He smiles
back, then notices a YUPPIE shoving his way rudely through
the crowd to board the train, then reappears in the same
compartment. Samiel looks perturbed at this.
INT. FBI ACADEMY
Frank is watching the videotape of the victim dying in the
park. We hear the mother shout: "Somebody call 911!" The
tape is timed at 9:15 a.m. Hollis approaches, setting a
thick folder next to Epstein's file.
HOLLIS
CDC sent this over. There was another
victim. Lisa Maher: dead on arrival
at Mercy Hospital, six hours before
this videotape was shot. Lungs full
of mystery water, just like this one.
Pretty thick medical history -- maybe
it is some weird disease.
FRANK
(glancing through the file)
Meningoencephalitis. It's a bacterial
infection of the brain. Adults rarely
survive it, at least not without brain
damage.
Hollis studies Frank closely, sensing that this is from
experience. He sighs.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Jordan had a brush with it when we
moved to Seattle. She was
hospitalized with a raging fever; a
day later, it just went away.
HOLLIS
Wow. But she's fine now?
FRANK
Yeah. We were very lucky.
HOLLIS
(off the files)
Well, the two victims have almost
nothing in common. Gertrude Epstein
had a masters in musicology; Lisa
Maher dropped out in eighth grade.
FRANK
Maybe they do have something in common.
He opens the file to a picture of a mangled car.
HOLLIS
What's this?
FRANK
Gertrude Epstein from the park --
three years ago had this car crash.
She said it changed her life, that it
was a kind of miracle.
He holds up the file of both victims for emphasis.
FRANK (CONT'D)
One had survived a car crash; the
other a fatal disease. Both victims
have cheated death before.
HOLLIS
(puzzled)
"Cheated death?" You really think
that has some bearing?
FRANK
Yeah, I do.
(pointing at the screen)
I need to enhance the faces on this
videotape. The killer may be there.
Watching.
(then, remembering something)
I have to go.
INT. JORDAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Jordan is asleep. Frank quietly comes in, places a
thermometer in her ear and takes her temperature. Jordan
stirs.
JORDAN
Dad?
FRANK
Shh. Just taking your temperature.
It reads 98.6.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Go back to sleep.
He covers up his daughter protectively.
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT - NIGHT
PANNING TO - The young girl, who is pressed up against the
glass window, looking into the hallway.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Samiel is walking through the hallway. He stops at an
apartment door marked "302" and looks at the same
wristwatch: 9:17. He simply pushes open the door to:
INT. APARTMENT
A studio apartment. A HISPANIC MAN, PATRICK VERA, is
asleep. Samiel approaches the bed and holds his palm a few
inches above the man's face. Immediately, water begins
bubbling from the man's mouth. Samiel looks almost
regretful while he we hear him quietly count:
SAMIEL (voice-over)
One ... two ... three ... four ...
five ... six ... seven ... eight ...
ACT TWO
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
Police investigators are all over the crime scene. Hollis
is listening to a handheld tape recorder. Frank enters.
HOLLIS
It's the 911 call came in late last
night from this apartment. What do
you think? Some kind of taunt? Why a
911 call for Victim #3?
FRANK
According to the landlord, the man was
basically a shut-in. Without the
call, the man would've been
undiscovered for days, and then only
by the smell. Calling 911 was an act
of compassion.
HOLLIS
Compassion and homicide.
Frank dons a pair of gloves and begins searching the
apartment.
FRANK
The woman in the park. He would've
stuck around long enough to make sure
he was taken of. Any progress on the
video?
HOLLIS
Checked a few people out. So far they
seem legit: joggers, parents with
kids, parkgoers. You really think
he's there?
FRANK
Of course I do.
HOLLIS
Frank, you said the first two victims
"cheated death", whatever that means.
For what it's worth, this guy didn't
have a history of anything like that;
in fact, he barely had any history at
all.
Frank picks up a flyer that reads "Remain in Light".
FRANK
A near-death experience group.
INT. REMAIN IN LIGHT MEETING - DAY
Hollis shows the GROUP COORDINATOR a picture of the
deceased man. In the next room, a group meeting is in
progress.
COORDINATOR
So Patrick's passed on.
HOLLIS
Patrick Vera.
COORDINATOR
Um, just Patrick. We go by first
names here.
FRANK
Have all these people here all had
near-death experiences?
COORDINATOR
Most. We're a support group for those
who have, but we do get some hangers-
on. People who are fascinated by
life after death.
Hollis shows the coordinator pictures of the witnesses from
the park.
HOLLIS
Could you take a look at these photos
and tell me if any of them were here?
In the next scene, we hear a FEMALE SURVIVOR narrating to
the group. Frank turns and stands in the doorway to
listen.
SURVIVOR
And that's when I heard those words:
"It's not your time." I mean, even
now, just thinking about it, I'm
amazed. My return to this world was a
pure gift. No haggling, no pleading.
Just the realization that life and
death are out of our hands, not our
decision. I also realized something
which seems so obvious to me now, that
the force that gives us life in the
first place ... of course, it has a
plan for what comes after! Nothing
bad will happen. When it's my time,
I'll go! It will be fine.
Frank has a FLASH of Jordan, her eyes closed, gasping in
fear. Frank is startled by this premonition. He absently
turns back to the coordinator who hands the pictures back
to Hollis before leaving.
COORDINATOR
I'm sorry, I can't help you.
HOLLIS
(to Frank)
Nothing with the photos.
FRANK
(not listening)
What?
HOLLIS
Nothing with the photos.
(concerned)
Are you okay?
We hear a cell phone ringing. Hollis pats her jacket, then
gestures to Frank.
HOLLIS
I think it's yours, Frank.
FRANK
(answering)
Yeah?
WOMAN
(on phone)
Is this Frank Black?
EXT. JORDAN'S SCHOOL - DAY
Jordan is perched on a lunchtable with her teacher, waiting
for Frank. She does appear genuinely ill.
FRANK
Hey, Supergirl. You feelin' kinda
crummy?
Frank thanks the teacher and takes Jordan's hand.
FRANK (CONT'D)
I'm gonna whip you up some homemade
chicken noodle soup. That's the
ticket.
JORDAN
You don't even know how.
FRANK
Yes, I do!
Frank looks up and sees Samiel a distance away. Samiel
raises his hand in a sort of wave and immediately, Jordan
passes out. Frank brings her to his arms, alarmed.
FRANK
Hey! Jordan!
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY
Jordan is on a gurney with Frank by her side. Wheeling her
into an exam room, medical personnel are barking orders:
"Shallow BP, 132. Get a line in!" "What's her
temperature?" "103?!" "What's the setting?" A
physician,
DR. CANTOR, takes the lead.
DR. CANTOR
Name?
NURSE
Jordan Black.
DR. CANTOR
Jordan? Can you tell me how you're
feeling?
(to Frank)
When did this start?
FRANK
She was fine in school.
Jordan moans.
NURSE
She's seizing!
DR. CANTOR
Okay, prepare a parallel-mark puncture
tray. What's the temperature?
NURSE
103.
FRANK
Please!
DR. CANTOR
Okay, we need to move her!
INT. HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM CUBICLE (TIME CUT)
Jordan is dressed in a hospital gown. Medical personnel
prepare a steel tub filled with cold water and ice. They
try to place Jordan in it, but she becomes frightened,
understandably, and fights them.
JORDAN
Daddy! Daddy!
NURSE
We have to get her temperature down!
FRANK
You're hurting her!
DR. CANTOR
Get him out of here! Mr. Black,
please ...
FRANK
You're hurting her! Stop it!
He grabs Jordan from them, but calms down after a moment,
knowing it has to be done. He nods to the doctor.
FRANK (CONT'D)
All right, I understand.
Still holding his daughter to his chest, his face flashes
in pain with what he must do, then lowers them both into
the ice water. Jordan clutches him fearfully, thrashing.
FRANK (CONT'D)
I've got you ... I'm here ...
JORDAN
Daddy, help! Daddy! Don't! Daddy!
FRANK
I know, I know ...
INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
SUPERIMPOSED: "Trenton, New Jersey"
The train is not moving. In the hallway outside of the
compartment, the yuppie predictably berates the conductor.
YUPPIE
You know this is exactly why nobody
takes trains anymore: I could walk
faster.
CONDUCTOR
Well, we're stopped, sir --
YUPPIE
Is that your idea of a joke? You're
supposed to get us from Point A to
Point B on time -- that's your
business! And let me tell you
something, if I ran my business the
way you ran your business --
CONDUCTOR
The other engine will get here soon.
YUPPIE
Soon? You told me that two hours ago!
What's your idea of "soon"? A day, a
week? You're wasting our lives here,
that's what you're doing! You're
wasting our lives!
The yuppie stalks away. The mother and daughter share
amused glances upon his departure, relieved. The YOUNG
WOMAN from the Teaser enters the compartment and smiles.
YOUNG WOMAN
Excuse me, is that seat taken?
MOTHER
Please.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
Jordan is asleep. Frank stares worriedly. The doctor
enters with a chart in her hand.
DR. CANTOR
Her temperature's normal, and her
basic signs have been stable for
awhile. I'd like to keep her for
observation, but I think we're out of
the woods for awhile.
FRANK
What's wrong with her?
DR. CANTOR
Well, she presented the classic
symptoms for meningitis: fever, stiff
neck, altered mental functioning. She
was hospitalized with meningitis
before?
FRANK
Yeah, in Seattle, I told you that.
What's wrong with her?
DR. CANTOR
Nothing diagnostic. It's an FUO.
FRANK
An "FUO"?
DR. CANTOR
I'm sorry: "Fever of Unknown Origin."
FRANK
You have no idea what's going on?
DR. CANTOR
In Seattle, the fever simply
disappeared, just like now, except for
one thing: in Seattle, there was an
underlying infection -- meningitis.
This time her white-blood cell count
is normal, her labs came back clean.
She has all the symptoms, but not the
disease ...
(diplomatically)
... Which makes you wonder if it's not
all in her head. Mr. Black, I'd like
to suggest a specialist. We have an
excellent one who treats only
children.
Frank suddenly has a FLASH of Jordan drowning in her
fluids, and we hear Samiel's voice: "One ... ". The
vision ends and Frank takes a sharp breath. He goes to the
window and looks down.
FRANK'S POV - Samiel staring back. Frank grabs his jacket.
FRANK
It's not in her head. Someone's doing
this to her. Stay here with her.
After a few moments, the puzzled doctor goes to the window
and sees Frank emerging from the hospital: there is no one
else outside.
EXT. HOSPITAL
Frank looks around the empty lot. He sees a wristwatch on
a bench and picks it up. Sitting down, he turns the watch
over in his hand and looks up at the night sky wearily.
ACT THREE
INT. OUTSIDE JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Jordan is asleep. Frank is with a COMPUTER TECH making a
composite of Samiel. Hollis approaches.
FRANK
Can you make the nose smaller?
The tech types a few keys.
FRANK (CONT'D)
That's it! Let's print some out.
HOLLIS
Frank? How's Jordan?
FRANK
Stable.
(pointing at the composite)
This is the man.
HOLLIS
What man?
FRANK
I need a security detail. This man
was on the grounds last night.
Hollis looks at Frank curiously and dismisses the tech.
HOLLIS
Who is this guy?
FRANK
I saw him for the first time outside
Jordan's school when she collapsed;
then I saw outside the hospital
window. He's stalking her.
HOLLIS
"Stalking her?" What are you talking
about?
FRANK
Stalking her.
HOLLIS
You requisitioned a monitor, video
equipment, a sketch artist -- McLaren
wants to know why. I come down here
and I find that Jordan's been
hospitalized.
(slightly hurt)
You could've told me.
FRANK
I told you that Jordan had meningitis
in Seattle -- a condition that's
normally fatal -- it just disappeared.
HOLLIS
(concerned)
Is it back?
FRANK
No.
(turning to Jordan)
She's one of them: like the three
victims. Jordan could've died in
those first days in Seattle -- should
have, like that woman in the park,
like the 911 call. She is living on
borrowed time. And now this man --
(pointing to the sketch)
-- is after her.
Hollis has never seen Frank this agitated before. She
tries to reason with him.
HOLLIS
Your daughter is sick. I know you're
very worried, but it has nothing to do
with this case.
FRANK
You're wrong.
HOLLIS
Frank, you see things even under
normal circumstances --
FRANK
Hey, wait a minute.
He gives Hollis the wristwatch: we see an inscription on
it.
FRANK (CONT'D)
This is not an apparition. Gertrude
Epstein -- "G.P.E." -- the woman who
collapsed in the park. That's her
watch; he had it and left it.
Hollis fingers the watch, unsure of what to believe. Frank
takes the sketch and puts it in Hollis' hands.
FRANK (CONT'D)
You wanna help me? Find him.
Somehow, he had contact with all of
the victims. And now he's after
Jordan. Help me find him. I can't
leave here: help me find him.
Hollis nods hesitantly and takes the sketch.
INT. REMAIN IN LIGHT MEETING
Hollis shows the composite to the coordinator.
COORDINATOR
He's not a regular, I can tell you that.
HOLLIS
But has he ever come by?
COORDINATOR
Look, we get a lot of curiosity-
seekers, hangers-on: 200 people
attended our workshop last spring.
HOLLIS
(expression falling)
That's okay, someone else thought he
might've been here, that's all.
Thanks.
Hollis moves to leave, then stops. She looks up slowly,
recognition in her eyes. REVEAL Samiel, who turns to meet
Hollis' stare. We HEAR Samiel's voice: "One ... two ... "
and jump to:
INT. FBI ACADEMY - INTERROGATION ROOM
" ... three ... " It is a tape-recording of Samiel's
voice. Hollis stops the tape and addresses her
uncooperative and strangely smug detainee.
HOLLIS
You were there.
SAMIEL
Where?
HOLLIS
(holding up a photo of Victim #3)
In the room, with this man when he
died. That call that came into 911,
that's your voice.
REVEAL Frank in the next room, watching through a one-way
mirror.
SAMIEL
That's not my voice.
HOLLIS
It sure sounds like it.
SAMIEL
Not to me.
HOLLIS
What is your name?
SAMIEL
It doesn't matter.
HOLLIS
(frustrated)
Actually, it matters quite a bit!
SAMIEL
(mock surprise)
You're angry.
HOLLIS
You were at that encounter group,
Remain in Light. Is that how you meet
people?
SAMIEL
I met you there.
HOLLIS
I circulated your picture up and down
the east coast to survivor groups: one
in Boston, one in Baltimore, one in
Philadelphia. They've all seen you!
Don't know your name, but they've all
seen you.
SAMIEL
Is that a crime?
HOLLIS
Murder is a crime.
We hear a knock. An AGENT comes in and hands Hollis the
analysis of the audiotape. Samiel turns to look at the
one-way mirror and winks. Still staring at Frank, he
addresses Hollis:
SAMIEL
It's not my voice, is it?
She grabs the file and opens the door.
HOLLIS
That's all for now.
Samiel stands and stares at Frank through the mirror for a
long moment. Hollis gestures impatiently.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Let's go.
Outside, Frank comes out of the adjacent room, grabs Samiel
and throws him hard against the wall. Hollis tries to stop
Frank.
HOLLIS
Frank!
FRANK
(fiercely)
Stay away from my daughter!
HOLLIS
Frank, that's not him!
Frank throws Samiel against the wall again.
FRANK
Yes, it is! This is him!
Hollis and other agents have to pull Frank away. Hollis
shows Frank the voice analysis.
HOLLIS
Look, it's not his voice on the 911
tape, it's not!
Frank angrily slaps the file out of her hands, knocking the
tape recorder on the ground. It comes on and we HEAR
Samiel's voice: " ... four ... five ... six ... seven ...
eight ... nine ... ten." Samiel dabs at his cut lip and
smiles insolently at Frank.
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT
The train is moving again. The young woman, the mother and
daughter look up and notice water steadily dripping from
the roof of the compartment.
YOUNG WOMAN
Did they issue a flood warning?
MOTHER
It's just, uh, coming from nowhere.
I think we should move.
They gather their things and enter the adjacent compartment
occupied by the BUSINESSMAN from the Teaser, who stands and
offers to help.
MOTHER
May we join you?
BUSINESSMAN
(pleasantly)
Please.
YOUNG WOMAN
Thank you; we had a little flood next
door.
INT. OUTSIDE JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Frank is studying the videotape from the park. We hear the
mother's voice: "Somebody! Somebody call 911!" He
freezes the frame: we see Samiel in the background. Frank
enhances the picture and we see Samiel holding something in
his hand. Hollis enters, agitated.
HOLLIS
You wanna talk about it?
FRANK
You let him go, didn't you?
HOLLIS
We had no evidence, and that's not
what I meant: you attacked him.
Frank stares at the screen. She tries to get his
attention.
HOLLIS (CONT'D)
Hey!
FRANK
What?
HOLLIS
You attacked a man in my custody --
forget that he's not pressing charges
-- I am obligated to report it.
FRANK
Then report it.
HOLLIS
(sighing)
I won't. Of course, I won't ... I am
worried about you, okay? Who is he?
FRANK
I told you.
HOLLIS
No, you gave me a picture and said
"Find him" and somehow I did.
FRANK
No, no, he found you. He's
responsible for three deaths.
HOLLIS
We don't know that --
FRANK
(loudly)
And now he's after Jordan!
HOLLIS
Frank! We thought it was his voice on
the 911 tape, so did I, but we were
wrong! You saw the report --
FRANK
Forget the report.
(off the screen)
Look at him, there he is -- right here.
HOLLIS
It looks like him. On the tape, it
sounded like him --
FRANK
He's in the park and look what he's
got in his hand. He's holding a watch
in his hand; it's the victim's.
HOLLIS
It could be anything from anybody.
FRANK
But it's not: look at him.
Frank slows the videotape: Samiel is in one frame and gone
the next.
FRANK (CONT'D)
He vanishes in one frame.
HOLLIS
So the tape was tampered with.
FRANK
But it hasn't been!
HOLLIS
He can't just disappear. Where did he go?
FRANK
He's after Jordan.
We HEAR a monitor beeping rapidly: Jordan has gotten out of
bed and is gasping for breath. Frank rushes to her side
while Hollis runs out, calling for help.
HOLLIS
Doctor! We need a doctor in here!
FRANK
Sweetheart?
He picks up his daughter. Water begins streaming from
Jordan's mouth.
TAG
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
The doctor places an oxygen mask over Jordan's mouth.
Frank stands nearby.
DR. CANTOR
Congested, but right now she's fine.
To be honest with you, I'm a little
confused. We can continue to treat
her symptoms; in fact, she couldn't be
in a better place.
FRANK
We're running out of time.
Frank has a FLASH of Jordan thrashing; then of Samiel. The
vision ends and he goes to the window: Samiel is standing
outside again, looking up.
DR. CANTOR
Mr. Black ... not facing what's
happening to your daughter won't make
her well. And saying someone is doing
this to her doesn't make those tough
therapeutic decisions go away.
FRANK
Someone is after her.
EXT. HOSPITAL
Frank runs directly to Samiel. This is as close to frantic
as Frank has ever been.
FRANK
Who are you? You were in the park
when the woman died. You were there,
and then you vanished, weren't you?
(throws the wristwatch at him)
What are you doing here?
(raising his voice)
Who are you?!
SAMIEL
(with a smirk)
I can't explain.
FRANK
(deadly)
Why are you stalking my daughter?
SAMIEL
(suddenly serious)
She received a gift.
FRANK
A gift?
SAMIEL
Of additional time on earth -- just
like the others. Now that time is
finished. And there are those who
need now what she needed then, to
continue living.
FRANK
So you intend to kill my daughter --
to save them.
SAMIEL
Your wife died so that your daughter
could live.
FRANK
She chose that.
SAMIEL
Did she?
FRANK
Yes.
SAMIEL
(softly)
Where was the choice?
FRANK
You're talking about the only great
thing that ever happened in my life,
do you understand that?
Samiel turns toward Jordan's room; Frank follows his gaze.
The doctor appears in the window and looks down: Samiel is
gone.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT
We pick up from the Teaser. The priest is here,
administering last rites. Outside the window, we see Frank
heading toward Jordan's room with Hollis not far behind.
PRIEST
"Almighty Father, to whom alone
belongs life and death, we knoweth
Thou will raiseth if it shall be Thy
pleasure to prolong her days here on
earth, let her be an instrument of Thy
glory.
(dips his hand in the holy water)
By this, Thy holy anointing -- "
Frank yanks the privacy curtain aside.
FRANK
(in an angry whisper)
What are you doing?
PRIEST
(trying to continue)
The Lord in His --
Frank slams his bible shut and waves him out.
FRANK
Shh!
HOLLIS
Frank ...
FRANK
Out!
(to Hollis)
What's he doing here?
PRIEST
(confused)
I was called here --
FRANK
(grabbing his arm)
She's not going to die, get out!
Hollis leads the priest outside quickly. Frank sits next
to his Jordan's bed, gathering himself. His face flinches
in pain as he reaches for his daughter's hand, the mere
thought of her receiving last rites too much for him.
EXT. TRAIN STATION
The young girl is at the window, looking out as Samiel
approaches the train.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Suddenly, we HEAR the monitors beeping. Frank looks up,
alarmed. Hollis comes back in.
HOLLIS
Frank!
The doctor and nurse rush to Jordan's bedside with crash
carts. The monitors show flatlines.
NURSE
Saturation's dropping.
DR. CANTOR
She's not moving any air.
NURSE
Okay, pulse is down to 90!
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT
The young girl watches Samiel walk by outside her
compartment.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
The medical personnel have inserted a tube to extract
liquid from Jordan's body.
DR. CANTOR
What's going on here?
NURSE
It's already full!
The doctor taps on Jordan's chest.
DR. CANTOR
She's solid water! Get me a chest tube now!
FRANK
(helplessly)
No ...
As the medical personnel engage in life-saving procedures,
Frank raises his head and pleads with God.
FRANK (CONT'D)
I tried ... oh, God, I tried to do
everything You asked me to do --
without knowing, without knowing why --
no expectations. Don't do this, I'm
begging You, please, don't take her
away from me. If anyone has to die,
let it be me ... Are You listening to
me?!
Hollis tries but cannot comfort Frank.
INT. CONDUCTOR'S ROOM
We pick up from the 2nd scene of the Teaser, and go back
and forth between the events on the train and the hospital.
Again, the conductor looks at his watch: 10:15. Samiel
steals the ring of keys.
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT
BUSINESSMAN
So do you like this train?
YOUNG GIRL
Yeah, a lot.
Outside, we see the train suddenly switching tracks and
everyone is thrown off to one side of the compartment.
INT. TRAIN SWITCHBOARD
We hear beeping and see the red blip blinking rapidly.
OPERATOR #1
What the hell is 108 doing? We've got
a situation here!
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
NURSE
Where is it all coming from?
DR. CANTOR
I don't know: it's impossible!
The tube from Jordan's chest to a container is vibrating
from the amount and force of the liquid inside her. The
container is filling rapidly.
DR. CANTOR (CONT'D)
Oh, my God ... she's drowning!
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT
Samiel looks at the wristwatch and locks the door while the
young girl watches his movements. Their eyes meet ... and
the train plunges into the river.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
NURSE
I can't keep her lungs drained!
Another monitor starts beeping.
NURSE (CONT'D)
Respiratory arrest!
DR. CANTOR
V-tack, call the code!
INT. TRAIN COMPARTMENT
The three adults are lying prone. The young girl,
seemingly unharmed, gets up and looks outside into the
hallway: it is rapidly filling with water. We see Samiel
float to the top; the water is pouring in unrelentingly.
He takes a deep breath and swims down to the compartment.
He and the young girl stare at one another. As Samiel
swims away, the young girl follows him worriedly until he
swims out of sight. Again, he goes up for air, struggling
for breath, and heads back down.
SAMIEL (V.O.)
"One ... two ... three ... four ...
five ... "
After awhile, Samiel stops swimming and his body goes limp,
sinking.
SAMIEL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
"... Six ... seven ... eight ... nine
... ten."
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
The doctor charges up the paddles and moves to place them
on Jordan's chest.
DR. CANTOR
Clear!
FRANK
(stopping her)
Wait!
We see that the monitor is showing life signs back to
normal again. Jordan stirs and turns to her father.
INT. TRAIN
We see Samiel's body floating lifelessly. The young girl
stares at him from inside the compartment, wide-eyed,
shaking her head.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
JORDAN
(weakly)
I saw ... Mommy ...
FRANK
(after a moment)
Shh.
(caresses her cheek)
Go back to sleep, okay?
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR
Hollis steps outside Jordan's room, stunned by what she had
just witnessed. She notices the hospital staff working an
emergency: we see the young woman, the businessman, the
mother and the young girl wheeled in. A PARAMEDIC is
speaking into his radio.
PARAMEDIC
Train car derailed into a river. What
a mess.
We see Jordan's doctor examining the young girl.
DR. CANTOR
She's looking good. Let's get her
into Exam One.
PARAMEDIC
(to the doctor)
These four wouldn't have made it, but
somehow their compartment door was
jammed air-tight until we got there.
It saved them.
DR. CANTOR
Lucky.
PARAMEDIC
Yeah. Except for that guy over there.
He nods to a draped gurney along the wall. Something makes
Hollis approach and pull back the sheet. REVEAL Samiel.
Looking down, she sees the wristwatch in his hand: it has
stopped at 10:35.
INT. JORDAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM
Frank is in bed with Jordan. She wakes and prods her
father.
JORDAN
Dad? Dad?
Frank stirs and turns to her.
JORDAN (CONT'D)
Mommy said she's fine. And she said
to tell you ... she chose. She made
the right choice. I don't know what
that means.
FRANK
It means she loved you ... very, very
much.
Jordan smiles, and nestles back into her father's shoulder.
END.
==============================================================
Ten Thirteen Productions
in association with
20th Century Fox Television (R)
A News Corporation Company
Co-starring
Eric Mabius (Samiel)
Amanda Tapping (Dr. Cantor)
Copyright (c) 1999
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
All Rights Reserved #6C10
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation is the author of this motion
picture for purposes of copyright and other laws.
The characters and names depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any
similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other
applicable laws, and any unauthorized duplication, distribution or
exhibition of this motion picture could result in criminal prosecution
as well as civil liability.
========================================================
Millennium
Copyright and TM, 1999
FOX Broadcasting Company
========================================================
Last Updated: May 08, 2003
Webmaster: Brian A. Dixon