The Ruse (A work in progress 1)

by gdedwards11

A court room drama. Imagine someone takes your child because they think they can give your child a better home. But one day the child shows up again. Only she's 24 years older. A mother knows, she may look completely different from when she was a child but a mother knows. And it takes a family to figure out why and a court room to tell the whole story.

Page 279 of 279

Written by: Geoffrey D. Edwards

Writers Guild Of America – Copywrited: Unsolicited – Not asked for

Screen Play

Possible Actors:
Lacey Chabert as Pos. Linda Michelle Rodriquez
Definitely as Ramis Kimberly Elise as Pos.
Londa or Ramis Scarlett Johanssen as
Susie Mhairi Calvey As Pos. Susie As Pos.
Clay Houston

For Clarification:

This entire production is open to Direction.
Positions, sets, props, etc., are (Only
Suggested)

(Only Suggested) – The Director and movie
personnel are able to put in their own ideas.

V.O. – Voice Over – On a telephone or radio
O.C. – Off Camera – Present but heard only
C.S. – Changes the Subject
INT: - Interior shot
EXT: - Exterior shot – Out doors
POV: - Point of View – Viewed from the characters eyes
C.U. – Close Up
(Choreography) means choreograph a fight
scene. (Only Suggested) It also means
that good Choreography needs to be put in
this scene.

(Some Camera shots are suggested) Again,
only suggested.

The Ruse

Begin Lines

Int: 1970's

Cut:

Current time:

Int: Building – Financial District – Wheaton –
Morning – Sunny

JESSE COLBURN is at HIS DESK writing ORDINANCES
and the like in proper format. He gets a call from HIS
MOTHER. (Sarah Colburn)

Jesse
Devon Auditing, this is Jesse.

Int: Basement hall – Elevator area – Dim lighting

The ELEVATOR DOOR opens. Jesse steps out.

(The Camera follows him down THE HALL to a COMPUTER
ROOM).

INT: Basement – Devon

The DESK GIRL hands him A SMALL PRINT-OUT.

Desk Girl
Sign here.

Jesse
Ok.
He signs, picks up the print-out
Thanks.

Desk Girl
Your welcome.

Jesse leaves.

Ext: Basement hall again

When he enters the BASEMENT HALLWAY again,
we see the BLURRED FIGURE OF A GIRL in the
background behind him. He's looking the other
way but senses something and stops. He turns
around. Just as he does, the girl walks into a room
pushing A CART WITH FILE BOXES on it. Jesse
watches her.

Then he turns around, thinks, shakes his head
as if he's just seen something unusual.

Turk
How's Linda?

Jesse
Very pregnant.

Turk
She's due, like… anytime, next Friday or something
right?

Jesse
Yep.

Turk
Go home, take care of her. I'll see you Monday.

Jesse
Thanks Turk
Alright.
Gets up
And don't worry, they'll be done.

Turk
I'm going to worry. I'll stop worrying on Wednesday
when those Ord's are done.

Jesse
Laugh's a little
Oh, well, try not to worry anyway.

Cut:

Time passes:

Int: Waiting room – Late afternoon

Jesse walks into the waiting room. Turk is sleeping.
Turk awakes. He jumps up, then stops.

Turk
Hey.

Jesse
Calmly
Six Pounds, four ounces.

Turk
Laugh's Loudly
What did you…

Jesse
Girl… Jessica.

Turk
Gir… Jessica, how cool.

Turk gives Jesse a big hug.

Jesse
Oh… ok, thanks.

Turk
Jessica, how cool is that?

Jesse
Pretty cool.

INT: Linda's room – Early evening

Linda
Holding the baby
How's Turk?

Jesse
He's fine. He's milking it.

Linda
Laughs a little as she pears at the baby
Good for him.

Jesse
Looks on
Wow, she's… pretty cool.

Linda
To the baby
Yeah… she is.

Jesse
To the baby
What are you going to be when you grow up?

Linda
Oh, man… let's just get through tomorrow.

Jesse
Yeah, good idea.

Int: Monday – Morning – Jesse's Cubical

Turk is waiting for Jesse at his cubical. Jesse sees
him. He approaches Turk. Turk has a very somber
look on his face.

Jesse
Hey Turk.

Turk
Serious
I got another email this morning.

Jesse
Yeah.

Turk
Your friend Pepper died late last night.

Jesse
Jaw drops… tears form
What?

Turk
Pats him on the shoulder
I'm very sorry man.

Jesse
Covers his face with his hands
…Thanks… It's ok.
Pauses, looks up
Hey he had this girl to replace him. Can I go check
on her?

Turk
Yeah, of course.

Jesse Leaves.

INT: Basement – File room

Susie is in tears but she continues to work. Jesse
walks in.

Susie
Oh…Hi.

Jesse
Susie… my god, are …you …

Cut:

INT: Jesse's apartment

Jesse and Linda sit at the dinner table, he eats,
she FEEDS THE BABY.

Linda
When's his funeral?

Jesse
Tomorrow.

Linda
Can we all go together?

Jesse
Yeah, that'd be great. Pepper would have wanted you
to come.

Linda
Good. You seem pre-occupied, are you sad.

Jesse
Um, yeah, I guess. There's this girl…

Linda
…Wow, cheating on me already?

Jesse
Laughs a little
No… no point in cheating when you've got the best
there is.

Linda
Ooh, you're scoring points tonight, we can't
have sex for another month.

Jesse laugh's a little.

Linda Cont.
So, what about this girl?

Jesse
She's taking over for Pepper. I guess she's smart.
Very strange though.

Linda
Hm, something wrong with her?

Jesse
Pepper even said she was a little strange.

Linda
Playing with the baby
Attractive?

Jesse
…No… not really. Tall, thin, very pale. No makeup…

Linda
Pale, sounds like she's sick or something.

Jesse
She looks sick. We shook hands the other day
and I jumped back.

Linda
Why?

Jesse
I've been asking myself that question since
then but I just don't know.

INT Jesse's cubicle – Next Morning – (Back to
Camera)

Phone rings.

Jesse
Jesse Colburn.
Pause
…Oh, hi mom…
Pause
…Yeah sure… can we just meet in the cafeteria
here, I'm taking shorter lunches until I get
caught up…
Pause
…Yep, she's fine…
Pause
…Jessica is fine too…
Pause
Ok… I'll see you at noon.

Bob V.O.
Well, don't you think she looks like you?

Jesse
No!

Bob V.O.
Jesse, she looks exactly like you!

Jesse
Perturbed
Hey man, if you say so. Should I be insulted?

Bob V.O.
Why… no, no, I didn't mean it that way.

Jesse
Good, anything else, I'm really busy.

Bob V.O.
No… I'm sorry, it's just…
Pause
…The resemblance, it's…

…Jesse hangs up and shakes his head.

Int: Noon – Cafeteria

Jesse and Sarah are eating. Sarah is very quiet.

Jesse
What is it this time?

Sarah
I want you father to retire.

Jesse
Doesn't he want to?

Sarah
No, he thinks he's going to work until
he's dead.

Jesse
I guess some guys are like that.

Jesse sees Susie sit down to lunch at a table behind
Sarah.

Jesse
Hey mom, I want you to meet someone.

Sarah turns to see who Jesse is looking at.

Jesse Cont.
She's the girl that I told you about. She's the
one that's replacing Pepper.

Sarah
Gets up
Lets meet her.

JESSE and Sarah walk over to where Susie is
sitting.

Jesse
Hey Susie, this is my mom.

SUSIE looks up. SARAH makes eye contact and
is about to say hello when her face turns to sadness
and shock. Sarah's eye's begin to well up.

Susie
Oh… Hi.

That's all Sarah needs is to hear Susie's voice.
Sarah goes into a panic.

Sarah
(Improvise)
Oh… oh my God…

Jesse
I… Mom?

SARAH is looking at Susie but she starts to back
away. Susie is watching her but doesn't
understand.

Sarah
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!

Jesse
Mom… what's wrong…

SARAH watches Susie for another second and
then turns away. She runs off crying loudly in
a panic!

Jesse Cont.
Mom! Mom, where are you… Mom!

Jesse
Looks at Susie
I'm… sorry… I don't know what that was all
about.

Susie
Oblivious
Oh, that's ok.

Cut:

Sarah
Jesse… it was that girl… oh my God that girl!

Jesse
Shocked
What girl… you mean Susie?

Sarah
Oh my God, is that really her name?

SARAH crumbles and sobs again.

Jesse
Braces her back
Mom, mom, get a grip! I know she's a little
strange but…
Pause
Oh… oh no…

Sarah
Desperate
Jesse, don't you see it… don't you see who she is…

Jesse
…No… no mom, no, no, no, no. Do you think…

Sarah
…Jesse… that girl, She's your…

Jesse
…No, no, no mom…

Sarah
Angry now
Jesse, she's your sister! She's my daughter,
she's Susie!

Jesse
Mom, oh mom, I…
Pause
…Mom… she's… she's not!

Sarah
Angry
Yes she is. I would know my own daughter! I
told you, you wouldn't believe me!

She turns away from him.

Jesse
Mom… Oh mom…
He pulls her in and hugs her
Mom, I know… I know how much you miss her.
I understand that…

Sarah
…No Jesse, I know… a mother knows!

Jesse
Ma… mom, don't you see…

Sarah
…Don't you see Jesse!

Jesse
Grabs her tightly
Mom… She's not my sister! She's not Susie!
Don't you hear yourself? Mom…

Sarah
No, no Jesse, there's nothing wrong with me!

Jesse
Ma…
Stern
Yes there is!

Sarah
NO THERE ISN'T!

Jesse
Mom… hey… maybe… maybe… that was
Susie.
Pause
Do yourself a favor, do me a favor… b
e sure… go see your doctor tomorrow.
He'll be able to tell you…

Sarah
Angry
…What Jesse, if I'm nuts or not?

Jesse
Pauses
Yeah mom, he'd be able to tell if you're nuts
or not. Frankly, I think he's going to tell
you that you're completely off your nut!

SARAH looks at him, then she smiles, then she
jokes

Sarah
He better tell me something I don't know…
Dog gone it, I pay a lot of money into my
insurance!

They both laugh.

Sarah Cont.
Oh Jesse, maybe I am nuts.

Jesse
You're not nuts mom…
Thinks
…You want your daughter back. Anyone would
understand that. You were her mother,
I understand that. Hell, I miss her too. I think
about her all the time.

Sarah
Relents
Ok… I'll see my doctor.
She looks at him
Yeah… now that you mention it, it sounds
pretty crazy.

Jesse
Reasons
Mom, she'd be… twenty-eight now. She would
look very different.

Sarah
Yeah, I guess.

Jesse
Serious
Mom, you guys buried her. Twenty-four years ago.

Ext: Friday – funeral – cemetery – Cloudy
Morning – Cold

JESSE AND LINDA stand together with the baby
at the back of the crowd. There are LOTS OF
PEOPLE around. JESSE, LINDA and the Baby
are watching.

SPEAKER (OLD GUY)
…Pepper was my best friend. My wife is gone
and now my friend is gone…

Jesse
To Susie
Can I talk to you for a minute?

Susie
Sure.

Jesse
Susie… have you ever had… has anyone ever
taken a sample of Blood from your arm?

Susie
Um… yes. That's a strange question.

Jesse
Looks back
Well, we, I have a good reason for asking.

Susie
Ok.

Jesse
Does having blood drawn bother you? Could
you do it?

Susie
…Um… yes… I guess.

Jesse
Looks back again
Susie, I'm going to tell you something that
you might think very strange. It might
even make you mad.

Susie
Oh, that's ok.

Jesse
Susie…
Points to the group
…Me… and these people that are with me, they
think, we think, that you might be my… sister.

Susie
Frowns
Oh no, I don't have any brothers.

Jesse
Looks back again
Susie, do you know what DNA is?

Susie
Ponders
Um… yes… I think so.

Jesse
We… we want to have some doctors look
at your DNA. And they want to look at
mine to.

Susie
Oh… why?

Jesse
Because… some of us, some people think
that I might really be your brother.

Susie
No… no I don't have a brother.

Londa
Steps up
…Susie, were you adopted?

Susie
Well, yes… I was.

Londa
Who is your m
ther?

Susie
My mother is Carol Crandall, and I'm Susie
Crandall.

Jesse
Susie, we need you to come with us
and get a DNA blood test. We're all going
to drive over to the Doctors office together,
would you like to ride with us, or take your
own car?

Susie
I really don't like driving. Can I ride with you?

Jesse
Looks around
Sure, of course, we have lots of room. Would
you mind if we all go now?

Cut:

EXT: Du Page Professional Health Building –
Façade – Day – Morning – Sunny

Jesse
But…

Londa
But…
Looks at Jesse
Why?

Jesse
Why what?

LONDA changes the question.

Londa
Who Jesse?

Jesse
Oh, I see what you're getting at. So are you
thinking that… maybe someone is still doing
this?

EXT: Jesse's apartment – Mid day – Parking lot

JESSE, LONDA, LINDA, AND SUSIE are about to walk
up to their apartment when they're approached by A
GROUP OF PEOPLE. (FBI Agents)

Londa
Can we help you?

CLAY
Maybe, one of you…
Reads from a paper
Detective Jeffers?

Londa
Yeah, that would be me. Or that was me.

Clay
I'm Clay Houston with the FBI.
Shows his ID
We were hoping to talk to you.

Londa
Looks at Jesse
Um…

Jesse
Sure… come on up.

They all walk up to the apartment. All Seventeen of
them.

Int: Jesse's apartment – Living room

Linda
Can I get you all something to drink.

Clay
Everyone here drinks coffee.

Linda
Coffee it is.

Clay
To Jesse
I heard that you did pretty good last night
yourself?

Jesse
I don't know.

Londa
Jesse you were fantastic.

Jesse
Thanks.

Clay
To Londa
Actually it's you we want to talk to.

Londa
Now what did I do?

Clay
Laughs
Nothing, just the opposite. We heard that
you'd been dismissed from your job.

Londa
You heard that ha?

Clay
Yep.

Londa
What did you hear?

Clay
It doesn't matter, and we didn't believe it.
Sounds like you were a victim of some political
scheme.

Londa
I'd say that was pretty accurate.

Clay
There something we should know about?

Londa
Looks down
When I first got to the department, like twenty
years ago, I got accused of sleeping around to
make rank.

Clay
So?

Londa
So… I might have.

Jesse
Lo… really?

Londa
…Maybe.

Clay
You have a perfect record. Twenty perfect years
with the police. What you might have done
twenty years ago, I'm not concerned about.

Londa
I appreciate that.

Clay
To Jesse
Where's you sister Jesse, this…
Looks at a paper
…Susie?

Jesse
I, don't know, I think she's at work.

Linda
Yeah, she went to work today.

Clay
This investigation got the attention of the
FBI.

Londa
Really?

Clay
Very much so. It was brought to me by
one of our investigators. I read up on it.
It sounds very serious, it sounds politically
wrapped up, and if there's anything I
hate it's crooked police and crooked politics.

Londa
Ok.

LINDA brings coffee.

Clay
Thank you… so, we don't think this case
should be closed. We want it to continue but
I think we need your assistance.

Londa
Really?

Clay
You need a job?

Londa
Well, yeah, I do.

Clay
We've all read your bio. I think you'd make
a great addition to our team.

Londa
You want to hire me?

Clay
Hire you, bring Jesse in if he wants to help
and continue this case.

Londa
Wow… the FBI. There a paycheck involved.

Clay
Twice what you were making with the State
Police.

Londa
Dang, I'm in.

CLAY gets up.

Clay
Stand up and put up your right hand.

She does.

Clay Cont.
Repeat after me. I…

Londa repeats

Londa Jeffers…
Do solemnly swear…
To uphold the law…
Protect the United States Government…
Adhere to the processes of the FBI…
Keep all secrets unto death…
Serve with the FBI…
and take orders from the president…
of the United States if necessary…

Clay
I accept employment with the FBI fully and confidently…

Londa
I accept employment with the FBI fully and confidently…

Clay
To Londa
Are you sure you want to do this?

Londa
I am.

CLAY reaches into a briefcase, pulls out A BADGE
and AN ID CARD. He hands them to her.

Clay
As the Senior member of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, I do hereby pronounce you an
official Agent of the FBI.

They shake, everyone claps.

Londa
Where did you get the ID?

Clay
I hoped you'd join.

LONDA looks at the badge and the ID.

Londa
Where'd you get my photo?

Clay
You're kidding right?

Jesse
Londa, that's great, screw the State Police,
you're FBI now!

Clay
Yep.

Londa
No training?

Clay
You've been trained and you have Twenty years
experience. That's good enough for me. You'll
learn the rest as you go. Most of what we
do is similar to what you did as a police
officer.

Londa
Wow, great!

Clay
Congratulations Londa.

Londa
Tears in her eyes
Thank you.

Clay
Looks at Londa
So… agent Jeffers, what's our next move?

Londa
Looks at Jesse
What's our next move Mr. Colburn?

Jesse
Thinks
…Cuba I guess.

Clay
Cuba?

Londa
Jesse can you fill our new boss in?

JESSE looks at Clay.

Cut:

Second floor – hot – buggy – dark

They carefully make their way down ANOTHER
CORRIDOR, checking OFFICES as they go.
Eventually they come to A LARGER ROOM
WITH CONNECTING ROOMS ALL AROUND.

As LONDA opens the doors, SURGICAL ROOMS
of a sort avail themselves. All the rooms are
set up for some sort of surgery. JESSE takes
off his mask and throws it down.

Jesse
That's not helping me at all.

Londa
Throws hers off
Sorry, it was the best I could do at a moments notice.

Jesse
It's ok.
C.S.
What the hell, they look like… I think this was
some sort of Hospital.

Londa
Pauses
It's… it's a lab.

Jesse
A la… for what?

Londa
You're the guy that found this on the Internet.
I hate to think what it was used for.

Jesse
You think?

Londa
What else would it be?

Jesse
I don't know but I… Oh man, I think you might
be right.

Londa
I think…
Thinks
…They used drugs…
Looks around
…On their patients and then autopsied them
to see what affect the drugs had on their
bodies.

Jesse
Oh my god…
Pauses
…Autopsied… so they were dead before they did
the autopsy?

Londa
Probably, but someone had to make them dead
if they weren't.

Jesse
Oh man?

Londa
Men are capable of such atrocities.

She takes pictures.

Jesse
Hey, where's Susie?

Linda
Well… her mother called…

Jesse
Oh…

Linda
So, Susie finally took the call.

Jesse
And?

Linda
And… her mother talked her into going over
there.

Jesse
Didn't you…

Linda
…I tried to talk her out of it but she insisted.

Jesse
Really?

Linda
She was visibly concerned but she packed a
few things and off she went.

Jesse
…Well we can't stop her. Did she say if she was
coming back?

Linda
She did say she'd be back, she didn't say when.

Jesse
Oh… well…

LONDA knocks. DR. EGAL'S answers.

Dr. Egals
Yes?

Londa
Pulls out her ID
Dr. Egals?

Dr. Egals
Yes?

Londa
I'm Agent Jeffers with the FBI, this is Jesse
Colburn, he's assisting us with our investigation.
Would you mind if we ask you some questions?

Dr. Egals
…Well …I guess.

Londa
We're investigating some kidnappings that
happened several years ago. Are you at all
familiar with a medical facility on an island
just off the Northern coast of Cuba?

Dr. Egals
Laughs a little, nervous
…Are you kidding?

Londa
No sir.

Dr. Egals
…I …no… I've never heard of that?

Londa
Hands him a paper
This is a list of all the suspects involved in
our investigation. Notice your name…
Points to it for him
…on it, right… there? Do you…

Dr. Egals
…Is this some sort of joke?

He looks around as if looking for a hidden camera
somewhere.

Londa
No sir, do you recognize any of the names on
the list I just gave you?

He reads it.

Dr. Egals
No… no I really don't? Should I be getting an
attorney?

Londa
Yes.

Dr. Egals
Really?

Londa
Yes, but I do have a few more questions for
you sir.

Dr. Egals
I really think I should consult an attorney first.

Londa
Looks at Jesse
That's fine sir. Can I assume you're not
going to answer any more questions at this
time?

Dr. Egals
That's correct. And can I have your information
Agent, I might need it when I talk to my Lawyer.

As if that is going to intimidate Londa. She hands
him a card and shows her ID again.

Londa
Hands him the Subpoena
This is a Subpoena, you are to appear at a
hearing, Friday morning at Ten O'clock in
Springfield Illinois.

Dr. Egals
Nervous laugh
…Are you serious?

Londa
Don't show and you'll be in contempt of
court and you'll be arrested and extradited
to Illinois for a later hearing.

Dr. Egals
I… I don't see what good this will do, I
told you, I don't know what you're talking
about!

Londa
That's fine sir, you've been served. You can
tell the Judge on Friday morning.

Dr. Egals
Angry
Fine!

He slams the door. JESSE AND LONDA leave.

Fade out:

Int: Carol Crandall's home – Morning – sunny
– kitchen – kitchen table

SUSIE comes into the kitchen, obviously having
just woke up.

Carol
Good morning sweetheart.

SUSIE sits at the table.

Carol Cont.
How did you sleep?

Susie
Ok I guess.

Carol
Oh… ok… would you like some breakfast?

Susie
Yes, do you have any Coco Puff's?

Carol
Well, no… those aren't good for you honey.

Susie
Well that's what I eat for breakfast.

Carol
Coco Puffs, those are all sugar, let me make
you some eggs and…

Susie
Loud, sharp!
…No!
Calms down
…I only eat Coco Puffs.

Carol
Ignores her outburst
Oh, well, I don't have any of those.

Susie
Tired
That's ok.

Carol
Sits down
Susie, can I ask you something?

Susie
Ok.

Carol
Those people that you're staying with, your
new… family, have they said anything to you
about me?

Susie
No, not really.

Carol
If they did would you tell me?

Susie
Maybe.

Carol
Oh… well, honey, if you're going to stay
with me, I'm going to have to keep my
job. Otherwise I won't be able to have you
live in this nice house with me. Now
I'm a very important lady, but if people
find out…

Susie
Cuts her off, sharp
…What… what mother… you mean, what
you did to me?

Carol
Trying to maintain calm
…What I was… accused of, they won't vote for
me and…

Susie
Stands up in rage
…You don't care about me! All you care about
is getting re-elected!

Carol
Stays calm
Now honey, that's not true, I…

Susie
Raging
…Yes it is! You never cared about me! You
hated me! You sent me away to some horrible
place!

Carol
Still maintaining calm
Now dear, I only sent you to camp, and you…

Susie
Raging
…No mother, it wasn't camp. Where-ever
you sent me, it was a terrible place. I
don't remember but you didn't send me
to camp!
She starts crying
…I …I was… supposed to…
Cries more
…I was supposed to have a baby!

Carol
What?

Susie
I know I was going to have a baby, but then…

Carol
Shocked, goes to her side
What, what happened honey?

Susi
Defeated
Then… the baby was… gone.

Carol
Taken aback
Oh my god, Susie… I didn't know they…

Susie
Raging again
…Didn't know what mother… you didn't
know they would take my baby? That
they would hurt me! What didn't you
know?
Pauses
You bitch!

Carol
Crazy sounding, tries to pity Susie
…I …no honey… nothing… Susie, I was a good
mother to you, I worked hard and…

Susie
Raging, getting up to leave
…No mother, you weren't a good mother. You're
not my real mother! I hate you… I hate you, you
bitch! I hate you!

Carol
Angry now
Look, I took care of you! You owe me…

SUSIE slaps Carol in the face, hard! CAROL is
stunned.

Susie
Screaming
I don't owe you anything! You owe me!
You owe me for four years of my life!

SUSIE is almost out the door.

Susie Cont.
I don't know where you sent me, Cuba or
something but I'm going to find out
and when I do, I'm going to have you put
in Jail!

Carol
Tries to stop her
Susie… I…

Susie
Raging
…Don't call me… you're not my real mother
and I hate you!

SUSIE slams the door behind her. CAROL looks
sad but not as sad as she should.

Fade out on Carol:

Susie
I remember getting sick.

Jesse
Yeah, they said you had a heart problem.

Susie
…Maybe… I… I remember the doctors name.
She was always giving me shots. Kie…

Jesse
…Keiser?

Susie
Yes.

Jesse
We can't find her.

Susie
Oh… you know I was young and I don't remember
a lot but one thing… I always thought I
imagined it but… I'm sure I didn't start
getting sick until after she started giving
me shots.

Jesse
Hm… I guess she could say that you were
sick before she started giving you those shots.

Susie
I don't think so…
C.S. Pause
…I have dreams.

Jesse
Yeah, of what?

Susie
People… screaming! It's hot. I can smell things,
they smell bad!

Jesse
Smell, in your dreams?

Susie
Oh yes!

Jesse
People screaming, wow?

Susie
Yes, and I was very sick. People kept
giving me shots! But it's only in my dreams.
Pause
Jesse?

Jesse
Yeah?

Susie
I don't want you to be mad at me…

She starts crying.

Jesse
Susie, I won't, you've been through so
much. What ever happened… why do
you think I'd be mad at you?

Susie
…I don't really remember but I think…
I think… I was going to have a baby!

Jesse
Totally shocked
Oh… man!
Sits stunned a second
Geese… oh… Susie… you… don't remember for
sure though?

Susie
Not for sure… but… it was real Jesse, I know it
was real.

Jesse
Hm… So where… did you have the baby?

Susie
I… I don't really remember but I don't think
I actually had it. I just… I… just… one day…
Cries again
…the baby was… gone… not in me anymore.

Jesse
Susie…
Holds her tight
…Susie I hope it was just a dream.

Susie
Yes, but I don't think so.

Jesse
Still holding her
Susie… that's… terrible.

Susie
Yes, I think so.

Jesse
Susie, this is great stuff…
Pulls back a little
…Susie, I'm not mad at you. I'm sad for
you. And I hope this baby dream isn't real.

Fade out:

Int: courtroom – Springfield Illinois –
morning

There's a lot of hubbub in the room. All is
about the case. Finally the Bailiff stands up

Bailiff
Excuse me everyone. The judge is ready for court. Please sit down and remain quiet.

Judge (Felecia Stanford)
Ok, the purpose of this court is to determine
the guilt of the people listed on the
document before me. We will hear
the testimony of several witnesses. We
will determine whether or not all these
people are guilty of crimes against
humanity, specifically, human drug testing,
human viral testing, kidnapping and murder.

I would like to call the first witness to
come forward. One Doctor Joseph Cannon.

No one moves for a second. Then a middle aged
man and an older woman walk forward.

Edward Steel (Lawyer for Mrs. Cannon)
Your honor, I'm Edward Steel, council for
Mr. Cannon and this is Mrs. Cannon.

MRS. CANNON is sobbing.

Judge
Ok, where is Mr. Cannon?

Lawyer
Judge, Mr. Cannon committed suicide this morning
about two am.

Judge
Stunned
Oh… I am sorry Mrs. Cannon.

Lawyer
He did however, leave THIS LETTER which
is actually addressed to the plaintiff's, in
this case a Mrs. Londa Jeffers and a Jesse
Colburn.

Jesse, you were one of about one-hundred
fortunate people to actually be re-united
with one of your siblings. When the facility
was dissolved, about one-hundred subjects
were taken back and left somewhere or to
the best of my understanding.

The rest were buried in mass graves on
the Eastern side of the island.

The following persons were members of
the IvanKov and are quite guilty.

Dr. Allen Cole, Dr. Craig Allen, Dr. Wendy
Brisbane, Dr. Keith Atherton, Dr. Kent Hurst,
Dr. Eric Flathe, Dr. Pete Williams, Dr. Joseph
(Joe) Cannon*, myself, Dr. Rod Spellman,
Dr. Lons Lerch, Dr. Cindy Hamlin, Dr. Linda
Keiser*, Dr. Chris Ellers (Male), Dr. Rojer
Egals*, Dr. Friedrich Zeene, Dr. Mark
Burman, Dr. Gates Fadden (Male), Dr.
Denny Kesselman*, Dr. Robert Sanders,
Dr. Jeff Himmler, Dr. Festus Gates, and Dr.
William (Wil) Morman

Again, forgive me. And good luck in your
investigation, I hope this helps.

God Bless

Dr. Joseph Cannon"

Int: Jesse's Apartment – Early Evening – Still
light out

SUSIE is alone with Jessica, Linda is at the
store. The doorbell rings. SUSIE puts the baby
down and answers the door. When she opens
it, a tall slender, older man is there, It's Dr. Egals.

Susie
Oh… hello, can I help you?

Dr. Egals
Are you by chance, Susie Colburn?

Susie
Concerned
Well… yes.

Dr. Egals
Is anyone else home?

Susie
Linda is at the store, she'll be home
soon. Jesse is in Springfield.

DR. EGALS pulls a gun.

Dr. Egals
Scream and I'll shoot you dead.

Susie
Panicked
What do you want?

He grabs her and pulls her out!

EXT: Apartment balcony – early evening –
dusky

DR. EGALS has Susie by the arm.

Susie
You're hurting me!

Dr Egals
Looking around dartingly
Shut up!

He pulls her down the apartment steps and
pushes her into his car. He runs around and
takes off.

Int: DC – Early evening – Clays Office

Several of the Agents are with him.

Clay
Ok, we got Kesslinger, Londa and Jesse are
bringing Dr. Keiser.

Londa
Ok, thanks Clay.

Londa hangs up and points at Dr. Keiser

Londa Cont.

You… do not move!

She gathers the other three agents and they
move out of hearing range of anyone.

Londa Cont.
Alright, that was Clay. Seems the Russians are
involved.

She pulls her extra pistol from the holster on her
leg and hands it to Jesse.

Londa Cont.
Hide it, Clay called for airport security but he
said be ready for anything.

They all sit back down.

Cut:

Ext: Rhode Island – Newport – Mid afternoon
– Sunny

The FBI Suburban's pull up in front of Dr. Kesslinger's
VACATION HOME IN NEWPORT. Nice place. They all
get out. CLAY talks to the head police officer. They
go up to his door and knock. DR. KESSLINGER opens
the door. The police pull him out, frisk him and cuff him.
(We hear someone reading him his rights).

He's a whiner, he's all mad. HIS WIFE comes out shocked
and wondering what's going on.

Clay
Walks up to him
SHUSH!

Kesslinger shuts up.

Clay cont.
We're going to ask you some questions.

Kesslinger
What questions… about what?

Clay
I'll tell you when we get back to DC.

Kesslinger
As they're hauling him away
DC, wait a minute, I demand to see my lawyer…

Cut:

Londa
Writes
Ok, so you… faked the girls death?

Dr. Keiser
Yes, and nine other children.

Londa
Na… Nine? Where are they?

Dr. Keiser
Yes and I have no idea.

Londa
How?

Dr. Keiser

How… oh…Tetrodotoxin.

Tetrodotoxin – is the main drug that is taken from the ever docile Puffer Fish. It is a neurotoxin. It has to be modified with other chemicals/drugs but it is thought to be able to be used to mimic death. It slows down the heart rate, breathing, and brain activity.

The antidote is thought to be a secretion from a toad called Bufo Marinus. It is poisonous but again, if modified with other chemicals/drugs, it is said to actually revive people who are under Tetrodotoxin.

Londa
Tet…

Dr. Keiser
Tetrodotoxin. It's a modified drug that comes from
the Puffer fish. The Chinese discovered it about a
thousand years ago.

Londa
Can you write that down for me?

Dr. Keiser writes down the name of the drug
and talks at the same time.

Londa
Dr. do you know how the whole Cuba, Plum Island
thing fits into this?

Dr. Keiser

Cuba… Plum Island… no… I'm sorry, I didn't know
that those places had any involvement. I was just
part of the Kidnapping scheme.

Londa
Looks at her
Thank you Dr. Keiser.

Fade out:

Londa
Good, I have a name.

Clay
Oh, ok, what is it?

Londa
I want to call it… The Ruse.

Clay
The Ruse, yeah, that's a good name. I'll call
the records office and have that put on the
case cover.

Londa
Good… thanks.

Cut:

JESSE sees a large plywood crate that doesn't
look dirty like it's been sitting there for awhile.
He starts towards it.

Jesse
What about this one here?

No response, JESSE turns around and sees
Big Jake laying on the floor out cold.

Jesse
Ah-oh.

As Jesse starts towards the downed Forklift driver,
DR. EGALS comes out from behind a pillar of sorts,
grabs Jesse around the neck. JESSE can feel a gun
to his head.

Dr. Egals
Low tone
I have absolutely no reason to keep you alive. Call
out and I WILL kill you.

Jesse
Constricted
I'm good with that.

Dr. Egals
Move!

DR. EGALS AND JESSE move carefully down the
stairs. Eventually everyone sees them and stops.
They reach the floor.

Dr. Egals
Calls out

I do not care about this man one iota. Anybody
moves suddenly, I'll blast him in his head!

Willie (Freight Manager)
To Danny who is standing next to him
Danny!

Dr. Egals
Get that plane loaded and get it moving or this
man becomes a martyr!

Danny is hiding, taking cover.

Danny
What?

Willie
Start loading the plane!

Danny
What?

Willie
Do it!

Danny
Ok…

DANNY hesitantly climbs on his forklift and starts to
load freight onto the 747. Suddenly, machine guns
and rifles fire from all over. Ground level and from
the balcony. The Russian insurgents were secretly
positioned.

Three police are shot. Everyone else takes cover. DR.
EGALS sees an opportunity and begins to move Jesse
toward the door where they were loading the plane.
All the forklift drivers have hit the deck.

Soon, everyone is firing back! CLAY watches as Dr.
Egals is moving Jesse. No one is shooting at them.

Willie
Wasn't Big Jake up there with that guy from
the FBI?

Danny
Thinks
…Yeah, I think he was.

Willie
Think he's alive up there?

Danny
I don't know.

Willie
Musters a chuckle
If he's still alive up there, well, you know Big
Jake.

Danny
Chuckles
Yeah, as a matter of fact.

WILLIE nudges a policeman who is very preoccupied
with the fire fight.

OFFICER1 (KENT HOWARD)
Kind a busy dude!

Willie
Hey, we got a man up there!

Kent
Can't help ya right now. He's probably dead
anyway.

Willie
Maybe but he used to be a Marine. Twelve years I
think. Raised on the Streets.

Kent
Looks at Willie
Where?

WILLIE points to the balcony.

Willie
Up there, behind that guy with the machine gun.
I think he's just unconscious.

Kent
Gets on his radio
This is Howard, Chief you read me?

Pause.

Chief V.O.
Yeah, what's up Howard?

Kent
We might have a man in the balcony, south wall.
But I think he's unconscious.

Chief V.O.
Sarcastically
Well wake him up!

Kent
Ten-Four.
To Willie
Wake him up if you can.

Willie
Danny, give me your phone.

Danny
You chirp him and the machine gun guy will
hear it.

Willie
Big Jake always keeps his phone on vibrate
doesn't he?

Danny
Thinks
…You know, I think he does.

WILLIE chirps Jake.

BALCONY

Jake is out cold. (Camera gets a C.U. on Jakes
phone hooked to his belt). It vibrates… No answer

Williechirps him again.

Willie
Jake… you there!

Shooting is going on everywhere!

BALCONY

Jakes phone vibrates again.

Willie O.C.
Jake… you up there, you still alive?

JAKE starts to wake up. He can hear shooting
all around him. It's loud, his phone buzzes again.

WILLIE O.C.
Jake… You there!

BIG JAKE carefully reaches down and unhooks it.

Big Jake
Fearful, he barely moves
Yeah.

WILLIE

Willie
Got him!
C.S.
Jake, you ok?

BALCONY

Jake
Yeah, I think so.

WILLIE

Willie
Jake, there's a guy with a machine gun by
you. He's over by the balcony railing, can you
see him?

BALCONY

Jake
Lifts his head up slowly then back down
again
Yeah, I see him.

Willie V.O.
Jake, you were a Marine once, can you get him?

Jake
Hell no!

Willie V.O.
…C'mon man, you're always talking about being
a street kid, how tough you are man. Are you
tough or not?

Jake
Thinks
It's really loud!

WILLIE

Willie
Exasperated
Jake, c'mon man, you could change everything
here! You gotta get that guy!

BALCONY

Jake
Thinks
Oh… ok. I'll get em.

WILLIE

The three of them watch.

Kent
Into his phone
Hey, keep your eye's on the south balcony!

BALCONY

JAKE carefully clips his phone back on and cautiously
starts to get up. Clay and the officers and agents
around him are watching. The fire fight is still going
mad.

BALCONY

JAKE sneaks up behind the Russian man. Jake stops
for a second, looks around himself and then charges
the Russian! JAKE is huge and strong. He smashes
the Russian against the rail. He hits the Russian so
hard that he knocks the wind out of him.

Jake takes the machine gun out of his hand, moves
back a little and knocks the Russian out with it.

WILLIE

They see Jake, he's jumping up and down, excited
about getting his man and the gun.

BALCONY

JAKE notices the man coming around so he picks the man up and throws him over the balcony. He looks down to see where his man landed. Shots glance off things near him. He jumps down.

WILLIE

Willie
Jake… Jake!

BALCONY

Jake
I'm ok, give me a second.

WILLIE

They all sigh relief.

BALCONY

Two cops run up the stairs. They try to get by Jake but one of them takes a bullet and goes down. This tics Jake off. JAKE turns the machine gun and from the prone position, begins firing at the Russians. The cop checks his buddy.

Jake
He ok?

Policeman2 (Tim Jensen)
Dead!

Jake
Damn!

JAKE starts to fire again. The cop next to him
has an M-16 and is also firing. JAKE isn't having
much effect with the Uzi. It runs out of ammo.
JAKE looks around. The other officer had an M-16
also. JAKE crawls over, gets the rifle and a couple
of ammo clips. He crawls back. Looks at the M-16
and kisses it.

Jake cont.
Haven't felt one of these in years. This I can
handle.

Tim
You like that?

Jake
Hell ya!

Tim
Good… use it!

JAKE looks around and finds a shooter. He aims
and fires. JAKE kills the shooter. He takes aim
again and kills another one. JAKE AND THE
OFFICER have to move back as other shooters
have them targeted now.

CLAY

Clay
To the Chief
We need a diversion, that guys good!

Ahren
Into his mic
Concentrate fire on the North wall, concentrate
fire on the North wall!

Soon all the officers and agents are firing on
the North wall. THE RUSSIAN GUNMEN are
trying to shoot back.

WILLIE

Willie
Jake!

BALCONY

Jake gets his phone.

Jake
What?

Willie V.O.
You're open again, start firing man!

Jake
Looks around
Gotcha!

JAKE low crawls to the railing and takes aim again.
One down, two down, three down. His accuracy
with the M-16 is uncanny. Four down, five down,
six down…

CLAY

Clay
Into his phone
Londa!

Londa V.O.
Yeah clay.

Clay
You, Ramis and Smith, carefully… head out
to the tarmac where the plane is, I'm
guessing there's more out there. Don't let
that plane leave!
Pause
And don't get Jesse killed!

Soon the Russians are dwindling. Two come
at Jake and Tim from the balcony. TIM sees
them but it's too late, the two Russian men
gun him down.

JAKE turns and fires killing both the Russians. He
looks at the officer.

Tim
I'm ok, I'm ok, keep going!

JAKE aims and fires again and again, killing almost
everyone he shoots at. Soon the gunners that
were shooting from other positions on the balcony
are none. The remaining gunners on the ground
level are firing back but the police and agents
come out in force. Before long, the inside fire fight
is over.

EXT: Outside the Freight Terminal – Late Afternoon
– By the 747.

LONDA makes her way around from the East. RAMIS
AND SMITH make their way around from the West.
DR. EGALS has moved Jesse out side and is working
his way to the plane. LONDA sees them but can't get
a clean shot.

INSIDE

ABOUT ONE-HUNDRED MORE POLICE show up and
assist in the clean up inside. CLAY, SOME OF THE
AGENTS AND POLICE move carefully outside.

Clay
Into his mic
Chief, get those dogs ready.

Ahren V.O.
Ten-Four.

Soon MORE RUSSIANS hiding near the plane come
out shooting. A couple more police are downed but
the fire fight is on again, outside.

Dr. Egals
Calls out to the Russian insurgents
Get me on that plane!

Londa
Terrified
Jesse!

Dr. Egals
Back off bitch or this one's dead!

Clay
To the Chief
Call em off Chief, back em up.

THE CHIEF calls his men, they stop firing and
back up. The FBI agents catch on and do the
same.

Clay
Calls to Dr. Egals
Ok doc, we just want the girl. Tell us where
we can find her and we'll leave you alone.

Dr. Egals
Laughs a little
You… you really think I'm that dumb?

Clay
To himself
Yes.

Dr. Egals
That girls my ticket out of here.

Soon the whole police force is out by the 747.

Jesse C.U.
Struggling to breath
Excuse me Doc…

Dr. Egals
Shut up!

Jesse
I… can't breath! I'm gonna… pass out!

Dr. Egals
Pushes the gun into his head
I don't care!

Jesse
If you could just move to my right a little…

Dr. Egals
Exasperated
Oh ok, I can't have you passing out now.

He adjusts for Jesse.

Dr. Egals Cont.
That good?

Jesse
Yeah, that's perfect!

JESSE quickly reaches up with his left hand and
grabs Dr. Egals right Elbow. He then pulls forward
and bends over pulling with all his might.

In slow motion:

JESSE flips Dr. Egals. It's a perfect flip and Jesse has
his gun arm in such a position that the Dr. can only
fire up. DR. EGALS squeezes off several shots! But
CLAY is on him in no time flat. He uses his foot and
slams Dr. Egals in his chest, down to the ground,
Clays gun pointed right between the Dr's eyes and
only an inch from his head.

Clay
Pull that trigger one more time asshole and
I'll cap your brains!

Simultaneously the rest of the police and agents
start firing at the Russians again. There's too many
police. They gun down several more Russians. The
rest give up.

JESSE lets Dr. Egals go. The police subdue him
quickly. LONDA jumps into Jesse's arms almost
knocking him over. She gives him a big kiss on
the lips.

Londa
I was so afraid for you!

Jesse
Just waiting for the right moment.

Clay
To the Chief
Get those dogs in that plane!

They move with the dogs up into the plane.

Clay
To Jesse
You did good man… really good.

Jesse
Still holding Londa
Thanks.

RAMIS AND SMITH walk up. Some of the other
agents join them.

Clay
To Ramis
See, I told you… Jesse was in control the whole
time.

Ahren
Hey… we got something here!

They all run over to the plane. JESSE sees the clean
crate that was on the balcony when everything started.

Jesse
That crate… right there, I'm sure that's the
crate I was asking big Jake about on the
balcony.

THE CHIEF uses a crow bar and pry's open a crate.
Susie sits inside, unconscious. JESSE swoops in and
scoops her up cradle style. Everyone is gleeful now.

Clay
There's an ambulance out front, I can call em
back.

Jesse
No, I'll carry her out.

CLAY leads the way. As they get out front of
the building SUSIE regains some consciousness.

Susie
While Jesse is carrying her
Hi Jesse, I knew you'd find me.

Everyone claps and cheers a little.

Jesse
Me to sis, me to.

(Camera pans back a little. There are fire trucks
and cop cars everywhere. People putting the injured
in ambulances and taking them to the hospital).

(The Camera pulls back and zooms out slowly. The
mass of people, equipment and vehicles is huge).

(Same angle)

Jesse lays Susie on a gurney. They put her in, Jesse
climbs in with her. They close the doors and are off.

Fade out slowly:

Next Day:

The police bring Carol out in hand cuffs. They escort
Carol over to one of the squad cars. As she passes
by Jesse and Londa who are smiling as she goes by…

Carol
Wait.
They stop, she yells to Jesse and Londa
You can't prove anything, I have very powerful
friends, you'll regr…

Londa
…You referring to one Senator Rothenberg?

CAROL stands looking at Londa but silent.

Londa Cont.
They put him away yesterday.

Carol
Defeated
Oh.

Jesse
You'd know that if you read the paper this
morning. All kinds of scandal surrounding him and
Plum Island.

Carol
Plum what?

Londa
Surprised
You sent her to that horrible place, what the
hell is wrong with you?

Carol
Angry
I don't know what the hell you're talking
about, I just sent her away. I don't know anything
about no Plum!

Jesse
Dr. Egals did…
Carol looks at Jesse with some disdain
You know Carol, we really didn't want to pull
you in until we were one-hundred percent
sure. I haven't seen the actual proof yet but
they must have something good on you.

Carol
Angry
Yeah… What Jesse Colburn… I'm the political
official, you're not even a Lawyer yet!

Jesse
You're right Carol but when I am, I'm gonna
convict you.

They start to haul her away, she struggles, still
yelling…

Carol
Convict me… What did I do? I took Susie and
gave her a good home! I know your father
is a Lawyer. My husband and I would have
given Susie a better life! We were better for
her! Better than your lousy family! They failed!
They failed with you and they were about to fail
with Susie!

My husband and I were pillars of society! You're
family was nothing.

They're fighting to get her in the back seat of the car.
She's still yelling.

Carol Cont.
Jesse Colburn! You're low-life parents should
have stopped having children after you. No low-life
families should be allowed to have more than
one child! We were the cream of this community,
the cream, you fool!

They slam the door on her, cutting off her
ranting. LONDA goes up to the window of
the squad car. The officer driving rolls down
the window a little.

Londa
Mrs. Crandall, I…

Carol
…You shush, I don't even know how you got
an education! Your people couldn't handle it.
Someone gave you your degree!

The government! The government will lead the
people! The government knows what's best
for everyone. We have the money, we
have the power! You people are nothing without us!
You're people are…

Londa
I guess I'm stupid cause I'm black… but I
got you didn't I?

The window closes. They drive away. CAROL
is still ranting in the car as they leave. LONDA
looks at Jesse.

Londa cont.
You ok?

Jesse
Yeah, you?

Londa
Fine.

Jesse
I knew she was crazy, Susie told me.
I figured I'd just let her hang herself.

Londa
And she did.

Jesse
I think so.

Londa
Jesse, there's only a few like you in the world.

Jesse
To Londa
You're one of them. You're one of them Londa.

Londa
Thanks Jess.

Fade out:

Time Passes:

Fade in:

Several Months pass:

INT: United States Supreme Court Room –
Morning

The court room is abuzz. (Camera 1st shows the
Defendants, then different people around the room,
Carol Crandall, Rojer Egals, etc.)

(Then the camera shows the Plaintiffs, Clay hob
nobs with the federal lawyers).

Zoom out but not too fast:

We see (the whole court room)

Cut to Judges Bench:

Then Cut to:

JESSE, LONDA, LINDA holding Jessica, Susie,
Jesse's brother Zack, Jesse's family and the
rest of the FBI agents:

Clay
Leans over to Jesse
How's Law school going? Where are you
going?

Jesse
Kent in Chicago, and it's going great.

Londa
Tough?

Jesse
Yeah, it's tough. There's just so much!

Clay
Yeah, I'll bet.

Cut to Bench:

THE BAILIFF stands.

Bailiff 2
Here ye all present. Please stand and remain
standing until the Judge releases you to sit.
Judge Elaine Basset (African American
Woman), United States Supreme Court
Justice preceding.

All clap. JESSE, LONDA and some of the others
don't realize the tradition and begin clapping as
well. Clay's been here before and knows the routine.
The clapping subsides.

Bailiff 2 Cont.
Please remain silent during these precedings.
The court shall remain in order.

Judge
Sits down
You can all sit.

Everyone sits. The judge breathes a sigh of relief.

Judge Cont.
I have been preparing for these preceding for
a month now. I have been working alongside
Federal Politicians, Federal Lawyers that represent
both the United States Government and the
defendants. I have worked with state and local
authorities, other people involved and our
illustrious FBI who has in fact brought this whole
investigation to fruition.

A month is not nearly enough time to put all of
this together but… I think I'm ready. I think I
understand things pretty well.

This may take a while to explain but for the
benefit of both the plaintiffs and the defendants
I will try. Some of the defendants may find this
interesting as well.

And interesting it is. Fascinating to say the least.
It has gained world recognition. Media from
around the world have put this investigation on
the Front Page.

What many don't know, is that I have
determined that there are actually two cases here.

Mumbling.

Judge Cont.
Two sides to this investigation. Two separate
stories to be told. And only… two… people
in this room that tie this whole thing together.

They both sit before you in this court room
today. One good, one bad.

These stories need to be told so that future
generations will not allow this to happen again.
Yes people, these two stories have certain
attributes in common. They both involved
great tragedy, for one… pain, suffering,
prejudice, pontificating, death, murder and
most of all, deep sadness.

All this… these two stories are not too
unlike what the Jews suffered and endured
in Hitler's camps. Sadness abounding.

She pauses and looks over the room.

Judge Cont.
Our first story starts way back in the seventies.
It starts in the great state of Illinois. It starts
with a certain Senator. A young man by
the name of Jeremy Rothenberg. He's not here
today. He was recently released by authorities
on his own recognizance. But he disappeared.

Judge cont.
Smiles a little
We're waiting to hear back from the Russians
but they almost never tell our government
when they have an American citizen in captivity.

JESSE'S clan smiles a deceitful smile.

Judge Cont.
It all started out innocent enough. The Senator
was young, well educated and on fire for the
people of Illinois. He was stern but compassionate.
He was going to help them or die trying.

But… not long after he took office did he discovered
one of the first challenges on his agenda.
There were actually two problems that the
state had. One… over crowded orphanages.
And two… a lot of families around the state
that were unable to have children. And
they wanted children desperately.

So he campaigned and before long had
the childless families of Illinois, pared up
with needy children. Over Nine-Thousand
children in these institutions. This great
Senator found homes for over Seven-
Thousand of them. And for a time, made
a real name for himself.

But his fame would be short lived. Forty-One
of the families that had taken in these children…
had become… disenchanted. Many of them
were friends, colleagues and fellow politicians.
Some even government officials. They were…
shall we say, well-to-do. Upper-class, they
came from… a better Gene pool.

They became angry with the Senator and demanded
that children be RETURNED! Forty-One couples
as best we can determine, wanted to return
their adopted children to the adoption
agencies. Back to the orphanages.

Returned like… DAMAGED GOODS to Wal-Mart.
Traded in like used cars. I have been a
supreme court justice for eleven years
and I have never heard of anything as APPALLING
as this.

All the baggage that they come with. Not
under any circumstances have children ever
been returned. Forty-One families demand
the Senator take the children back. So the
Senator, regardless of the children's feelings,
got it voted in by a slim majority to make
concessions for these Forty-Three families.

Fifty-Three children all thinking that someone
was going to finally love them. Fifty-Four
children thought they finally had a real home
and real parents.

The Senator tried to return the children to their
prospective Orphanages but the agencies almost
all showed anger at this. They refused in spite
of the Illinois state legislature concession.

All but three. Three agencies… specific agencies
took the children in. Overcrowded, under staffed
and under financed, they took the Fifty-Four
children in.

Of Course those three agencies have been
closed down for years. No documentation
has been found. A further investigation is under
way to find the administrators of these
three agencies but so far, they have not been
found.

Needless to say, all Fifty-Four children were
devastated to say the least.

But that's not all. Nineteen of the Forty-One families
still wanted children to adopt. They were
relentless. The Senator tried to find children
that fit the needs of those families. Children of a
better Gene pool. But he was unable to. The
Senator suffered much scrutiny over
this and new that if he wanted to get re-elected,
he would have to find children for these high
class families who seemed to have much
influence on whether or not he could run again.

About a year later or as best we were able to
determine, the Senator attended a seminar
for education in Illinois. He learned that many
children were failing academically. The Senator
was outraged. He felt that it was the responsibility
of the parents of these children to see to
their success which I do tend to agree with.

He also found out that many of the parents of
these failing children were well educated
themselves successful people. And these parents
had the NERVE to have more children!

The Senator was again enraged. Enraged that
these well rounded parents would bring more
children into this world to suffer the same
academic fate as their older siblings. It should
be against the law!

But he put two and two together and came up
with a plan. These new born children, though
about to become failures in society, were
from a strong Gene pool. Their parents were
well educated, successful people so these
younger children had potential.

These children would be perfect for his
Nineteen families that wanted… better
models.

But how? How could this possibly be accomplished?
He finally decided to call an old friend and
college roommate of his, that just happened
to be studying to be a doctor at the time.

He told his old friend of his predicament and explained
what he had learned at the education conference.
The Senator also explained to his doctor
friend that the people who wanted the
children were willing to pay handsomely for
them.

Again, greed ruled the day. About a month
later the doctor called the Senator with a possible
solution.

"Have you ever heard of a chemical called
Tetrodotoxin? No the Senator replied. Tetrodotoxin
was a chemical derived from the Puffer fish.
Properly mixed with other chemicals, it
could be used to simulate death.

We guess that the good Senator asked
how dangerous it was. The Doctor must
have told him it was safe because they used
it quite successfully.

The drug, Tetrodotoxin, administered in small
portions by a professional, would simulate
sickness, and then over a period of time
they would finally administer the fatal dose,
all the time convincing the parents that the
child was suffering from a heart ailment and
they were doing they're best to help the
child. They were obviously very convincing.
And probably paid well.

THE JUDGE looks at Dr. Egals.

Judge Cont.
Am I getting this right Dr. Egals?

She looks at the attendees.

Judge Cont.
Oh, I'm sorry, that's him right over there.
The doctor that came up with this ruse as
this investigation was so aptly named.

DR. EGALS reacts with even more frustration and
humiliation.

Judge Cont.
So the children of these deeply saddened families
appeared dead.

The child was then rushed to the hospital
where he or she is pronounced dead by some
unsuspecting doctor. The parents see the child
one more time before they are convinced that
an Autopsy is necessary. The child is then
switched in the morgue by who knows
who but well paid I'm sure, with someone else's
real dead child.

The Funeral is closed casket because of the autopsy.
The real dead child is buried and the live
child is transported to one of the three
infamous orphanages that I mentioned earlier
and revived.

Revived by the same doctor that administered
the Tetrodotoxin.

The good doctor finds more doctors willing
to participate in the ruse. And the crime continues.

Nine-Teen children, Nine-Teen families suffering
from the loss of their children. All because
they're children weren't good enough for
their own parents. Taken, stolen, torn, ripped
from their families and the families torn apart
because of it.

No, maybe these parents weren't doing the
best by their children. But were they so evil that
their children should be taken from them?

The good Senator didn't care. He was almost
completely removed from the process. He
never saw any of the children sick, or dead,
or taken, or revived and given to people
of a better Gene pool. No one even knew
he was involved and he… never knew who
was involved. All he saw was a need… and
money.

His rich upper class friend had what they
wanted. They praised him for it. Come
time for re-elections, he was in! And his rich
friends could raise their new children so
that they could be shown off to other well-to-do
families. Displayed like expensive merchandize
at a store on Rodeo Drive.

They could now do… what the Jones do. And the
children would become high class citizens like
their adoptive parents.

When the children were healthy enough, they
were earmarked for specific parents who
would get them… knowing… knowing… how the
children came to be.

Remember you ask? Wouldn't the children
remember? No… most of them were too young.
But if they did remember, they were told that their
new parents would give them lots of great things,
gifts, money, etc. Very convincing, a very successful
ruse in deed.

The whole process hidden behind the cloak of
corrupt Illinois politics.

But oh… my friends… there is more! Yes…
much more.

You see, of the Nineteen families, that got
new children, children with potential mind you…
four… I say four… of the adoptive parents…
still weren't satisfied.

These four families were not having any luck
raising these children because the children
were not actually, completely healthy in mind.
Yes my friends, those four families wanted to return
yet more children.

THE JUDGE looks at Carol Crandel.

Judge Cont.
Not satisfied with your daughter Mrs. Crandel?
She just wasn't what you wanted. Couldn't
get re-elected with a child like that around the
house?

Oh, that's Carol Crandel over there. She was one
of the parents that wanted her child returned… once
again.

Carol put on a good show but she really hated
her little girl. Her husband loved the little girl
but he died and was left to raise this girl on
her own.

Carol Crandel wanted desperately to get rid of
this extra baggage.

CAROL bows her head in shame.

Judge Cont.
Carol threatened the doctor and Senator. But,
believe it or not, to no avail. She was stuck with this
useless child.

This little business was profitable. Beyond
anyone's imagination. So the doctor and
the Senator continued their little business.

The Senator was up for re-election but began
to get noticed. Controversy began to surround
him. In 1974 the Senator resigned from Illinois
and moved his family, his wife and three daughters
to the state of Maine. Though we can only
speculate as to the exact reasons why.

When the Senator moved away, the doctor, Dr.
Egals was without support and rather than
take the risk, he discontinued their Ruse.
Everyone was paid off and the doctor moved.

The Senator Campaigned for re-election to
the Federal Government. In 1976, he became
a Federal Senator to the State of Maine for
which he has remained a Senator to this day.

And Senator Rothenberg was put as the
main US government charge over Plum Island.

Dr. Egals moved to the state of Connecticut
where he took up employment with a
government organization on the Illustrious Plum
Island. There they tested domestic animals,
were tasked with finding cures for livestock
viruses and diseases.

Pauses, breathes.

Judge Cont.
Now…
Pause
…I'm going to end that story for now and I'm
going to tell you another story. But don't
worry, I'll get back to the first one.

This story starts back in 1940 when Adolf
Hitler came into power. Hitler reigned during
the second world war and a new scandal was about
to unfold.

For some reason, Adolf Hitler had become
enraged with the Jews. Hitler hated everyone
from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg,
France, Switzerland, Austria, The Czech Republic,
Poland, Denmark, Italy, Romania, Finland,
Sweden, Ireland and England. And the
United States I'm sure. But for some reason,
he developed a true hatred for the Jews. Only
theories as to why.

In fact he had become enraged with anyone
who didn't share his… image. The white, blue
eyed boy child that would grow and reproduce
into the perfect Aryan Race.

God's chosen were to be once more persecuted
by evil men. At first Hitler had all of the Jews
in the surrounding countries rounded up and put in
Ghetto's in Berlin.

But as his hatred for others grew and his desire
for the perfect child grew, were the Jews soon
to be the target of great suffering.

Hitler brought in doctors from all over the world.
About One-Hundred, though that number
is undocumented. Africa, Russia, Europe,
The Gulf Region, Germany and it is speculated
that he even recruited doctors from America,
though this is also undocumented.

Imagine that!

Hitler paid them all well and gave them all supreme
accommodations.

The Doctors were tasked with, as you might imagine,
creating the Aryan child. They started with people
in Brazil. But when the Brazilian government found
out they were doing human testing, they pulled their
people out.

The doctors needed human lab rats. So, naturally,
Hitler began funneling Jewish men and
women out of the ghetto's and into the labs
of his doctors.

Eventually the ghetto's of Berlin were emptied
out. The Jews were all arrested and put into
concentration camps. They were screened weekly
by the very doctors Hitler hired.

The ones that were good for experimentation
were screened out. The rest were taken to
other concentration camps and either made
slaves to labor, shot, or even burned alive. They
were exterminated. There is some belief that
one woman, pregnant, and about to
enter the end of her ninth month, was strapped
down to a table, they lay her open with a
scalpel, awake and alive. It is said that she
died eventually.

Hitler never reached his goal. The American's
stormed Europe and eventual Berlin was taken.
Hitler committed suicide. Many of his high
ranking officers were killed or taken prisoner
to stand trial for war crimes. Many of
the infamous doctors met with the same
fate.

But… some… of the doctors escaped. It is
believed about thirty in all. They were
given asylum in Russia. The Russians needed
doctors to work in their socialist clinics.

Hitler's doctors stayed together. Eventually they
would decide that even though they were
unable to create the perfect boy, they were
able to learn a great deal about the human anatomy.

For the first time, there was medical data that
would help cure many of the diseases that
plagued human kind. For the first time, heart
ailments could be cured, people that were
once diagnosed with mental illness could be
helped or weren't considered crazy. Yes, much
good came from their knowledge but at what price?

They compiled all their knowledge into a
book. Doctors from all over the world
would pay millions for this information,
Millions!

Eventually they decided that they could
make even more money but… they
needed more subjects. They gave themselves
a name. The direct translation of the name
was unknown but the meaning was something
to the effect of, H I S. Human Inception Supply.

One of them came up with a brilliant idea.
Take unsuspecting people from the Socialist
Clinics. So they did and… they continued their
experiments.

They eventually wrote another book which again
was sold for millions. It is said that the
Americans even bought one. They revised
it a little. I believe it's known now as Gray's
Anatomy.

They were rich! Rich even by today's standards.
Russian citizens were disappearing. Men, women
and children.

And, as always, eventually someone found out
and reported it to the Russian government. Though
the Russians were considered corrupt in their
communist style, the Russian government was
still appalled at what these doctors had
done. Many of them were imprisoned or killed.

But… as always, a few escaped. Now this
is years later. The original doctors were old.
New members of this organization would be
brought in, swayed by the money.

The only problem was… they didn't have a place
to practice. Eventually one of them heard
about a place in America that was surrounded
by controversy. A place called Plum Island.

Although Plum Island was said to have been a
government research institution, it was said
that they didn't abide by safety regulations. That
many of the diseases that were brought to
the Island for testing, escaped and infected
much of the livestock in the surrounding states.

It was all covered up. Also covered up was the
claim that they were doing biological testing for
the military.

A ripe environment for our Human testing
organization. So they went there. They
went to the top of the organization, to a Dr.
Breeze. But believe it or not, Breeze
wouldn't have any part of it. He ushered them
off the island.

Unfortunately for many children, Dr. Roger Egals
caught wind of the plea by the Russian
doctors and spoke to them about a place
in Cuba where there was supposed unethical
practices going on.

The Russians checked into it, found out that it
was perfect for their experiments. The Cuban
government let them in provided they would
be compensated. The Cuban's deny this
emphatically.

Dr. Egals convinced several of the Doctors
and Scientists at Plum Island to go with
him. And so, they moved to Cuba. An island
to be exact. The Isle De La Juventude,
shrouded in secrecy for years. The doctors
were back in business.

But… They needed subjects. The Cuban's supplied
some but it was later discovered that Children
were the best test subjects for their experiments.
The Cuban's declined their wishes but allowed
them to continue their operations if they could find
children somewhere.

They hired thugs, Cuban and American thugs, to
kidnap American children. In the seventies
and early Eighty's there was a rash of
kidnappings. No one knew where the children
were taken.

Dr. Egals and the Senator though, now
had a place to dispose of the four children
that were plaguing them.

America was catching on, so the kidnapping
in America dwindled and children began
to disappear from other parts of the world.

And… as always… they were found out once
again. A reporter by the name of Rick Peace
was investigating these atrocities. He uncovered
much. So much so, that he was silenced
by someone, somewhere along the way. The
damage was done. The news got out and the
American government began to investigate
the Cuban Island.

The Human guinea pig operation was disbanded,
once and for all… presumably.

Of the over Three-Thousand children that
were processed through the island medical
facility, only about One-Hundred survived,
One-Hundred children. They were brought
back to their prospective homelands around
the world and the parents contacted. Why
we don't know, but we have found about nine
children in the United states and we have or
are attempting to pare them up with their
families. We are also trying to help other
countries pare up children with their families.

The rest were killed by the drug testing.
They were buried in mass graves on the
East side of the island.

One of the children that survived is here with
us in this courtroom.

THE JUDGE points.

Judge Cont.
I was given permission by this young lady
to tell you a little of her story. Her name is
Susie Colburn.

All stand and clap for several minutes.

Her mother discovered her through her sons
place of employment. DNA tests proved that
Susie Crandall was actually Susie Colburn,
the daughter of a John and Sarah Colburn.
Sister to her older brother Jesse and her younger
brother Jake, who sit next to her.

All clap. The Judge comes down from her bench.

Judge Cont.
Susie, would you come up here.

SUSIE walks up by the bench and faces the
audience. All stand, clap and cheer again.

Judge Cont.
Susie was… can I say it?

SUSIE nods yes.

…was pregnant. Possibly several times.

Mumbling.

Judge Cont.
Presumably the babies were aborted. Thankfully
she doesn't remember much.

Susie was drug tested many times and has suffered
greatly. She has suffered some ill effects but seems
to be getting along fine.

THE JUDGE looks at Susie in praise.

Judge Cont.
Susie is a college graduate, and holds a job
with a company called Devon. And she has some
other good news.
To Susie
Would you like to tell everyone?

Susie
Sure.
The Judge gives her the floor
I met a real nice man and we recently got
married.

All clap.

Judge Cont.
I also found out just a week ago, that I'm
pregnant.

All stand, clap and cheer.

Judge
To Susie
Go ahead and sit down.

SUSIE sits.

Judge Cont.
There is no way for us, the government, to
aptly repay the Coburn's for their misfortune.
But the United States government has put
together some funding for the victims of these
crimes.

To the Colburn family, a check for One-Million
dollars.

All clap. THEJUDGE looks at Jesse.

Judge Cont.
Jesse would you stand up for a moment?

JESSE stands.

Judge Cont.
To Jesse Colburn, Susie's older brother, who
helped the FBI with the investigation. Without
Jesse's brilliant drive and attention to detail,
the FBI would have never solved this case.
To Jesse, his wife and new daughter, a check
for One-Million dollars.

All clap. THE JUDGE changes her demeanor to
one of somber.

Judge Cont.
And to Susie. Susie, you have suffered the most.
I have two gifts for you. One, all of the people
in this courtroom, who were involved, most
likely in this case, all of the conspirators, will
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and will
be imprisoned for life.

All clap.

Judge Cont.
And Susie, I again say, there is no way to
repay you for what you have suffered but
the government has given it to me to give you
a check in the amount of Five-Million dollars.

All stand, clap and cheer. THE BAILIFF calls
everyone to order. The room quiets.

Judge Cont.
Will the defendants please stand?

The defendants stand.

Judge Cont.
You are all committed under the authority of
the Federal Courts to be taken immediately to
a federal prison where you will remain for
the rest of your years. You are charged with
crimes against humanity. You may enter your
plea's at the adjournment of this court but I
can guarantee you, you will not get off. The
evidence of this investigation is iron clad.

Anyone wishing to make a statement at this
time may.

No one.

Judge Cont.
I speak on behalf of the United States government
and extend our deepest apologies to Susie and
the Colburn family for these atrocities and hope
that this money will offer some solace.

She pauses.

Judge Cont.
Court Adjourned!

Her gavel goes down. All stand, they rally
around the Coburn's and the FBI, clapping
and cheering. Everyone is shaking hands or
hugging.

(The camera starts up over everyone. The
camera pans back and up to show the whole
room. The camera eventually stops backing.
Watches everyone for a moment and fades).

Fade out slowly:

Ext: Plum Island – High above – Day – Sunny

(The camera pans back and up from there).

They open the envelopes. They begin cheering
and waving the letters around, leaping and
jumping as they run toward the ferry dock.

(Camera pans back and up from there. Eventually
showing the whole of Plum island).

End

Credits roll.

Eventually the beginning music plays and the credits roll again against a black screen.