Message-Id: <9305201439.AA08075@hardrock> Date: Thu, 20 May 1993 07:40:44 -0800 To: alt-ql-creative@cisco.com From: mav@isi.com Subject: And A Child Shall Lead Them - Act III, Part I ACT III INT. QL RECOVERY ROOM - DAY Donna sleeps with one hand in the crib where John naps. PULL-BACK to see Sam standing in the doorway. Watching. Waiting. Verbena comes up behind him. SAM (wearily) I don't know how Al did it all these years. VERBENA What's that? SAM Wait. The endless waiting while I was in some life- threatening peril. VERBENA (surprised) This from a man who's known him for years? SAM But they were years in research. Or business trips. It wasn't until I leaped that I really discovered who he was. Where he came from. VERBENA And now you're worried about losing him? SAM Me? Worried? Verbena puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and a squeeze. A small cry emits from the crib. Sam looks expectantly over. VERBENA Doctor Beckett, worrying's my department. Enjoy your family. We'll alert you if...the situation changes. SAM Promise? VERBENA (nodding and holding up Girl Scout salute) Promise. Verbena leaves and Sam quietly picks up his son, rocking him gently. Donna wakes up with a start. Even after giving birth, Donna is a marvel of beauty. SAM It's all right, Honey. He just needed a hug. DONNA So do I. SAM Sorry, fresh out of hugs. Will a kiss do? DONNA Oh, I suppose I could settle for one. He sits on the edge of the bed, and gives her a good morning wake-up smooch. John gets redeposited into the bed. Sam idly toys with her hair. DONNA (knowingly) You're worried about Al. SAM What is this? A female conspiracy? How can you tell? DONNA I've known you longer than Al has. What's his condition? SAM He's...he's in a coma. DONNA (upset) What does Ziggy say his chances are for pulling through? SAM (embarrassed) I haven't...I couldn't... Donna grabs his wrist band link, pushes buttons. DONNA Ziggy? ZIGGY Admiral Calivicci's has a 23 percent survival ratio. Sam turns away so Donna won't see his distress. DONNA Sam, you've pulled through worse. SAM I have. Not Al. He's so vulnerable. Sam gets up and paces, then finally opens up in a way we've never seen. SAM Donna, I don't think I can do it all. You. The baby. Al. The Project. Tom. Katie. Mom. It's too much. DONNA (soothing) And no one expects you to do it all, Sam. Remember, you almost died back there yourself. SAM I worry because I do remember. I know what he's going through. DONNA Just do what you can. God won't give you anything you can't handle. I promise. She hugs him tight, but it is short-lived when Tina shows up at the door. It takes a moment for Tina to compose herself. It appears to Tina like Al is being love-hugged by Donna. TINA Doctor Beckett. Excuse me, but Doctor Beeks says it's urgent. She said to say it's a 'good urgent.' DONNA Told you. SAM (to Donna) I'll be back. DONNA I know. Sam dashes out the door followed by Tina. INT. CONTROL ROOM Verbena, Gooshie and some other techs work frantically over computers and printouts. GOOSHIE Good. Sam, we have the latest information. (pauses dramatically) Al's out the coma. VERBENA Looks like the vaccine kicked in. Sam 'whoops' it up hugging everyone around. GOOSHIE Oh, and here. We knew you wouldn't have time to get 'em. He hands Sam a cigar that reads, "Oh, boy. It's a Boy!" SAM (hugging Gooshie) I know who got these, but how did he...? GOOSHIE Ultra-sound. Al was the only one besides Verbena who knew it was going to be a boy. Donna asked them not to tell her. They wouldn't even tell me! SAM That little devil. VERBENA We need you to check on him again. Sam nods, grabs a handlink and darts for the Imaging Chamber. He turns briefly at the entrance. SAM Thanks. CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - MORNING It's an overcast morning. Al is the same as Sam left him, except his eyes blink and stare at a vacant bed - where Eric use to be. It's stripped, but not remade. Sam enters through the door, excited and smiling. He thrilled to see Al alive even though he does not look better. Following Al's gaze, he sees the bed and makes a connection. SAM When? When did he die? AL He didn't. SAM What? OBSERVER His parents finally showed up. Took him away. SAM That's great. OBSERVER I made him call them. We talked. SAM You and Eric? OBSERVER It was raining early this morning when I woke up - realized where I was. Eric had been talking to me for hours. Everything from basketball to rainbows. SAM Rainbows? OBSERVER He wanted to know, scientifically of course, if rainbows were reflections of light on water, how come we couldn't see them when we cried? (beat) They came and...he told them an angel said he was going to Heaven. Told them he wasn't scared any more. You did a wonderful thing for that boy, Sam. Sam is at a loss, but content. He checks the handlink. SAM So did you. (looking at handlink) Says he died at 3 PM February 21, 1984. OBSERVER In one hour. SAM At least he doesn't die alone. (pause) I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. OBSERVER (shirks him off) How is the little guy? SAM Sleeping. Adorable. OBSERVER (disgusted) A Beckett. SAM Donna sends her love. We all do. OBSERVER Enough. I'll O.D. on mush before the disease gets me. SAM Oh, you won't get it. Verbena says the vaccine... OBSERVER Is neutralized. SAM (panicked) What? Sam looks at the chart and punching the handlink. SAM (continuing) Why didn't' you stop them?! OBSERVER I was out of it, if you recall. Besides, if it's my time... SAM (guilty and frantic) It's not. Ziggy, we need a solution here. OBSERVER Sam, calm down. Sam's edge is stifled momentarily. Al calming him down? OBSERVER (continuing) After talking with Eric, after listening to you, I've made my peace with God. What ever happens, it's OK. SAM (serious as a heart attack) If God takes you - it won't be OK with me. I'll be back. Don't move. Al starts laughing at this. Sam goes through the door. Once he's through, Al's labored breathing takes over. The vaccine is not working; in fact, his condition is getting worse. INT. CONTROL ROOM As Sam explodes from the Imaging Chamber, he's intercepted by Verbena. The Control Room is filled with a busy mix of military and scientific personnel. VERBENA What's happening? Ziggy says Al's odds have dropped to almost nothing. SAM They gave him hydropenthal. He doesn't care if he lives or dies. TINA It's all my fault. SAM (with a take charge attitude) It's nobody's fault. He expects to die. And if he thinks this is the way it's supposed to be, he's got another thing coming. Gooshie, Tina keep monitoring him. On second thought, you two stay away from each other. Tina go relieve Brenda in the Waiting Room. Verbena, we have some work to do. INT. QUANTUM LEAP OFFICE Sam and Verbena are rifling through papers. SAM You're sure the files are current? VERBENA Positive. Here it is. SAM (reading) Theresa. Have you done the follow-up interview? VERBENA My team's current with all former Leapers. SAM Contact her. Explain the situation. Says here she's still in Arizona. That's close by. I want a helicopter ready for transport. In the meantime, what's been done with Ray, the boy Al leaped into? VERBENA With no symptoms, we were reluctant to start treatment. SAM Start it now. There's a 24 hour period he should be watched during incubation, and Al doesn't have much time. VERBENA We're leaping Ray back? SAM We've done pinpoint leaping before. I need him ready for it. Has anybody talked to him about where he is? VERBENA Just the standard speech. SAM I'll need to talk to him. He should be prepped for what might happen. I want to make sure it's OK first. VERBENA But he's just a child. SAM Don't you know? Dying children are the oldest souls on Earth. If you need me, I'll be stopping by the nursery before seeing Ray. He gets up and dashes out leaving Verbena with an important phone call. INT. NURSERY (redressed delivery room) Sam has paused a moment in front of his child's crib. A smile comes to his lips. From behind him, Donna wraps her arms around his waist. SAM (teasing) Is that you, Doctor Beeks? DONNA (nuzzling Sam's neck) No - Gooshie. SAM (chuckles and turns into her embrace) Donna, I can't stay. But... He sighs heavily. DONNA Verbena explained it all. You know we'll be here for you. SAM And Al calls me a 'saint.' DONNA (cartoon voice) He don't know you very well, do he? Sam hugs her even tighter. SAM You fill me up, Donna. This poor scientist starved for affection. (beat) If this works, I may be out of here in less than a day. He kisses her like he'll never see her again. DONNA Please! Not in front of the children. SAM (laughing) I won't tell his parents if you won't. DONNA Deal, Big Daddy. A final moment and he reluctantly releases her. CUT TO INT. WAITING ROOM Tina is playing a game of checkers with Ray who is dressed in the white Fermi suit. He is alive - laughing, moving. Sam enters cautiously. SAM Hi, Tina. Hi, Ray. Ray gives Sam a off-handed wave. RAY Just a sec. I've almost got her. TINA For the third time. SAM Tina, has he seen himself? Tina shakes her head 'no.' Ray leaps his checker over several pieces landing in the king spot. RAY Got 'cha. (seeing Sam) Who are you? (before Sam can answer) Forget it. No one answers that question. SAM Tina, could you step outside for a moment? Tina does and Sam sits close to his doppleganger. SAM Ray, do you know where you are? RAY Heaven? SAM Let me show you something. And you don't have to be afraid. Do you trust me? RAY Sure. You guys made me better. He leads the boy to a mirror. CLOSE UP Mirror effect of Sam and Ray looking into the mirror. Reflected is the images of Al (the aura around Sam) and Sam (the aura around Ray). Sam's image gets slightly frightened. SAM Kind of funny, huh? RAY What's happening? Is this like re-carnation? They sit back down. SAM Your body got very sick and a special man, who looks like me, has taken your place in the hospital. RAY I don't want to go back. SAM What if we made you better before you went back? RAY That would be OK. Will it hurt? SAM Naw. Just one hypo... RAY Like "Star Trek"? SAM Exactly like "Trek". RAY Awesome! Suddenly, a leap effect starts taking place, surrounding both the boy and Sam. Sam is on his feet immediately, holding his head, screaming in realization. His every fiber fights the effects. SAM NO!! -------------------------------------------------- Christina Mavroudis Integrated Systems Inc.