NO TURNING BACK

(Nathan is sitting on a small couch, alone in Peter's apartment. He has been staring at a picture of himself with Peter; in the photo, they are smiling, Nathan has his arm around his little brother's shoulders. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and looking away. Suddenly, he stands up, pulling out his cell phone; it is 11:30 a.m., November 5. He dials a number. He waits for a second before his wife answers, sounding tired.)

Heidi: Hello?

Nathan: Have you heard anything new?

Heidi: You mean since you called twenty minutes ago-?

Nathan: Heidi!

Heidi: (sighs) No, honey, I haven't… I wish you would just relax and come home. You need to sleep.

Nathan: No, I need to find my brother (glances back at the photo) before…

Heidi: …Before?

Nathan: (suddenly irritated) Before he destroys my whole campaign!

Heidi: Nathan, Peter is an adult. He can handle himself; you need to worry about you right now.

Nathan: (holding his forehead) Heidi, you know Peter. He can't handle himself.

Heidi: Nathan-

Nathan: Look, just call me if you hear anything new, okay?

Heidi: Natha-

Nathan: Please! Heidi, just do it.

Heidi: Fine. Goodnight, Nathan.

Nathan: Yeah. (Hangs up)

(He shoves his phone into his pocket and takes his head in his hands again, turning back to the picture…he watches it for a second, before moving to it and taking it off the wall to hold it.)

Nathan: (to his brother's picture) Why are you doing this? Huh? (Waits for a second) You really believe this shit, don't you? Saving the fucking world… (Laughs softly at himself) And here I am, talking to myself. Fucking beautiful…Goddamit, Peter. (as he moves to put the photo back on the wall, his cell phone rings)
Nathan: Hello?

Meredith: (sounding distressed) Nathan? Nathan, she's missing-

Nathan: Excuse me? Is-is this Meredith?

Meredith: Yes… It's Claire; she's missing.

NEXT SCENE

(Claire and Gabrielle are still on the bus, but they are clearly already more comfortable with each other. They are laughing and talking.)

Intercom: We will be arriving in the New York City terminal in about 1 hour.

Claire: So…where are you going when we get off?

Gabrielle: (the smile that she had previously worn quickly fades and she leans back in her seat) I, uh… don't really know. I never really had a plan…

Claire: But… there must've been a reason you came?

Gabrielle: (looks out at the darkening sky) Uh… not really. I just… I don't know, felt this like, magnetic pull. (Pauses for a second then looks back at Claire) I originally got on the bus because it happened to be leaving San Francisco at the time I bought the ticket, but I didn't ask where it was going… I just kind of felt the need to ride 'till the end of the line.

Claire: Huh…

Gabrielle: And you? I never really asked who this person is you're meeting… are they waiting at the terminal for you?

Claire: (laughs a little at herself) No… honestly, I don't even really know if he's in New York.

(Gabrielle gives her a puzzled look)

Gabrielle: What?

Claire: Again… long story… I don't know if he's there. I don't even really know him at all.

(Again, Gabrielle gives her a rather quizzical look)

Gabrielle: Okay… so you don't know this guy, and you don't even really know where he lives, but you're willing to travel clear across the country to see him… by yourself?

Claire: Well… I need to see him. It's important.

Gabrielle: (still giving Claire 'the look') Internet boyfriend?

Claire: (laughs) God, no.

Gabrielle: Then what? Seems like a lot of trouble for just some guy

Claire: Maybe… but I guess it's too late to turn back now.

Gabrielle: I guess… but I still think you're crazy.

(They sit in amused silence for a second, both lost in thought)

Claire: So, you don't have anywhere to go? No friends or family there? … In New York, I mean.

Gabrielle: …no. And clearly you don't either… Not exactly the brightest pair, are we?

Claire: Your parents… they let you just… run off?

Gabrielle: (looks down at her hands) No…not really.

Claire: Not really?

Gabrielle: Yeah… I don't have parents… not really anyway. My biological parents died when I was a year old.

Claire: Oh my god… I'm sorry. You adopted?

Gabrielle: I wish… I've been in foster care my whole life. Had a few different families, some good, some bad… but all temporary.

Claire: (looking guilty) I'm so sorry, I had no ide-

Gabrielle: Don't worry. It's cool. (Smiles at her)

Claire: I was adopted when I was a baby… I never knew my biological parents until recently… and to be honest… I don't know how I feel about them.

Gabrielle: Why? Baby-eaters?

Claire: (laughs) No! … not exactly, anyway. My mother seems great...but...Just… this guy that said he's my dad, he's not what I was hoping.

Gabrielle: (nods in sympathy) That's too bad… you like your adoptive family?

Claire: (thinks for a second) It's complicated.

Gabrielle: (shakes her head as she takes a swig out of a bottle of juice) I will never really figure you out, will I, Ms. Claire?

Claire: (to herself) You have no idea.

NEXT SCENE
(Peter and Claude are still in the messy abandoned apartment, which they have taken over. Claude is standing in a corner watching Peter intently as he 'focuses,' Peter's reflection flickers momentarily in the mirror, then disappears once more)

Claude: Well, you seem to be doing it more frequently… but you can't keep it.

Peter: Look, I'm trying-

Claude: Don't be so defensive, Kid… Your empathy is growing… but you need to keep trying harder to focus it… or do I need to kill you again?

Peter: (steps back from the mirror and rubs his forehead, sitting on a milk carton, glaring at Claude) That's what I've been doing… it just won't work.

Claude: (moving to Peter) I know, Kid… and you're doing fine. You're just not there yet.

(We hear a soft buzzing, and Peter reaches in his pocket to pull out his cell phone. He glances at the name, then puts it back in his pocket)

Peter: Mom again… That's the twelfth time in two days. I feel bad.

Claude: I told you to turn that off already. It's just another distraction.

Peter: I can't… it's nice to know they're worried… course, it's probably just because Nathan thinks I'm out there going crazy and threatening his campaign.

Claude: Yet, you keep the phone on.

Peter: (smiles) Yeah… kind of pathetic, I guess.

Claude: I already told you that.

(They both laugh, but are interrupted when there is a loud knock on the door. They both look up, surprised)

Claude: (raises a finger to his lips, signaling for Peter to remain silent)

(The knock continues, getting louder)

Peter: (whispering) I thought this whole building was abandoned!

Claude: (whispering) It is…

(The loud knocking stops for a second, both men stare at the door, anxious. But soon the door is unlocked and opened. Claude and Peter jump up as two men, one very tall and dark skinned, the other shorter and wearing horn-rimmed glasses, enter)

Peter: (whispering) That's Claire's dad!

Claude: Who?

(The two men look up, as if they've heard something.)

Mr. Bennet: He's here. (Steps further into the room, and gazes around)

Haitian: Wait… there's another.

Mr. Bennet: Another?

Haitian: Yes…(walks towards the spot where Claude and Peter stand, they back up slowly and look at each other. Peter looks panicked and confused. Again, Claude motions for him to remain silent)

Mr. Bennet: How can you tell?

Haitian: (holds up his hand to quiet him) I just can…. Sir.

(Mr. Bennet looks slightly irritated, but stops talking. The Haitian continues walking around the area, right near where Claude and Peter stand, silent.)

Haitian: They're close…

(He steps closer and Peter, we hear static noises, and suddenly, they both grab their heads, wincing in pain. Peter's invisibility fails, and he flickers back to visibility)

Claude: Peter!

Peter: (still holding his head, doubling over in agony) No! Oh… God!

Mr. Bennet: There he is! Grab him!

(The Haitian, like Peter, looks to be in a great deal of pain, and doesn't move)

Mr. Bennet: Dammit! (Leaps to grab Peter himself, but Claude interferes. They struggle for several moments, but Bennet soon overpowers him when he swings his hands wildly, pushing Claude back. He stumbles on a large paint can, and falls back, hitting his head and becoming unconscious. In his unconscious state, he too becomes visible.)

Peter: (seeing Claude) No!

Haitian: (regains his composure, and moves to grab Peter as Bennet nurses a bleeding lip) Got him.

(As Peter struggles in the Haitian's grip, Bennet turns and smiles at him)

Mr. Bennet: Not quite in control of our powers, are we?

Peter: Why the hell are you doing this?!

Mr. Bennet: Well, Mr. Petrelli, I want to find out why you are the way you are.

Peter: What?

(Bennet moves in swiftly, grabbing Peter by the collar)

Mr. Bennet: Like, how you fell from the top of a certain high school gymnasium and walked away from it, without a scratch. And why you were invisible to us just a few moments ago, and why my partner here was in such pain when he first stepped near you-

Peter: I didn't do it on purpose!

Mr. Bennet: Oh, Mr. Petrelli, that is exactly my point. You are a danger to yourself and those around you. You don't deserve these gifts-

Peter: Stop!

Mr. Bennet: And when I find out why you can do what you can do, I'll find out how to ensure you are no longer any danger to anyone.

(As Peter struggles, the Haitian looks almost sympathetic, but renders him unconscious when Bennet signals for him to do so. Peter falls to the ground, limp)

Mr. Bennet: I still don't understand… how could we not have been aware of him before all this...?

Haitian: I don't know, Sir. But it doesn't matter now that we have him.

Mr. Bennet: (looking down at Peter's cataleptic form) Indeed…

NEXT SCENE

(Hiro and Ando are racing through La Guardia, Ando looks exhausted and irritated, but Hiro looks anxious)
Hiro: we need to get the sword back.

Ando: (sarcastically) Yes, then lets get on another plane.

Hiro: (ignoring him) we need to find Simone and Mr. Isaac… and flying man.

Ando: Flying man? Mr. Petrelli?

Hiro: Yes. Then, we find Peter Petrelli, then, we stop the exploding man.

Ando: Can't we just get some food then go find a place to sleep? (They exit the terminal and Hiro waves his hand maniacally about, trying to get a cab. One finally stops, and they both get in.)

Hiro: Take us to 215 Reed Street… please.

Ando: What if he is not there?

Hiro: He'll be there… I hope.

(The next thing we see, Hiro is knocking on Isaac's apartment door, and Ando is standing beside him, peering in a window. When the door opens, it is Simone. She smiles with relief.)

Simone: There you are! (steps aside and lets them in) I was worried when I heard you never got on the plane to Vegas.

Hiro: Yes, we were… held up.

Simone: Oh… (calling behind her) Isaac, Dr. Suresh! They're here!

(Isaac emerges from the side-room, covered in paint. He smiles warmly at them. Mohinder follows, holding a piece of computer paper and looking at them in curiosity)

Isaac: Good! Did you get the sword?

Ando: Yes…but then we lost it (looking at Mohinder) Hello.

Mohinder: (reaching to shake his hand) Hello, Mohinder Suresh.

Ando: I am Ando Masahashi, and this is my friend, Hiro Nakamura-

Isaac: Apparently, his father was studying… people like us.

Mohinder: Wait, (looks at Ando and Hiro) Hiro Nakamura? From Tokyo, Japan?

Hiro: Yes! How you know?

Mohinder: (shows them the paper he is holding; it is a copy of The List. He points to Hiro's name) My father believed you may posses special abilities… tell me, was he right?

Hiro: (leaning in, he smiles proudly) I bend time and space. (Mohinder looks bewildered)

(Isaac has moved to an endtable, and is picking up a notebook. He looks at it for a second, then shows it to Hiro. It is a rough sketch of Hiro and Ando, escaping from five large men with guns pointed at them)

Isaac: I drew it a little after you left… did it happen?

Hiro: (points at it excitedly) Yes, yes! You see future again!

(Isaac smiles to himself, then puts the notebook back on the table)

Hiro: (looks around) Where is fl- Nathan?

Simone: (looking slightly annoyed) He's, uh… at Peter's apartment. He threw Mr. Suresh and I out… he's very irritable.

Hiro: (looking at Mohinder) You know Mr. Petrelli?

Mohinder: Yes… I wanted to help him find his brother, Peter. I think his genetic code may have the answer as to why this evolutionary state is occuring… and how… But, he has disappeared.

Ando: Peter Petrelli is gone?

Isaac: He's not gone… just… missing. (he moves to the sideroom, which is full of finished and unfinished paintings, as well as empty canvases. The others all follow) I was trying to paint something that might tell us where he is… but I'm still not getting anything. ( he stops in front of an empty canvas and crosses his arms, focusing on it)

Hiro: You must keep trying. We need Peter Petrelli.

Isaac: I-I don't know that I can. I can't really control it yet.

Hiro: You are a hero. Heroes don't give up. Eh? (smiles encouragingly)

(Isaac nods and focuses for several seconds. Suddenly, his eyes glaze white, and he starts furiously painting on the canvas before him. Hiro and Ando watch hopefully, and Mohinder and Simone watch in mixed wonder and fear.)

NEXT SCENE

(Claire and Gabrielle follow the other bus passengers into the station terminal, carrying their bags. Claire looks up and, flying above them, is a hawk. As she steps off of the bus, she takes a deep breath, and hurries her steps. Gabrielle runs to catch up)

Gabrielle: Hey! Wait! Where are you going?

Claire: (glancing up at the bird, which is still focused on her) Nowhere… Lets go. (she turns and hurries into a nearby coffee shop, sitting down at a table, where she watches the hawk fly off. Gabrielle sits across from her)

Gabrielle: Geez, woman.

Claire: (starting to relax) Sorry… just, a little overwhelmed by such a huge city.

Gabrielled: (laughs as she places her messenger bag at her feet) We've only been here for, like, two minutes… I hate to tell you this, but you're in trouble.

Claire: (smiles) I'll be fine.

Gabrielle: Right.

(A waitress comes and asks if they'd like anything. They each order a drink, and she moves on)

Gabrielle: I cant wait to sleep in a real bed-

Claire: Why are you really here?

(Gabrielle stops talking and looks at her quizzically)

Claire: I mean, it seems unlikely that someone who's never been truly out on their own before would just take a bus across the country for no reason… why are you here?

Gabrielle: (smiles and looks down) You've figured me out Claire… You're right. I didn't just decide on a whim. (she reaches down into her bag and pulls out a small photo, handing it to Claire. It's of two small children, one an infant girl, the other is a little boy about 3 or so.)

Claire: What's this.

Gabrielle: (points to the infant) That's me.

Claire: Aww! Adorable.

Gabrielle: Thanks. And that (points to the toddler) is my brother.

Claire: (looks up) Brother?

Gabrielle: (takes the photo back) Yeah… I learned I had a brother when I was thirteen years old. He'd been adopted by some family in Seattle or something when our parents first died.

Claire: How'd you learn about him?

Gabrielle: From my file-

Claire: I thought those things were confidential?

Gabrielle: (smiles) They are.

Claire: (smiles knowingly) Oh.

Gabrielle: (putting the picture back in her bag) Anyway, I asked about him. But all anyone said was that they werent allowed to divulge information like that to me; that even if they wanted to, they'd lost track of his family. They move a lot, I guess. So I gave up.

Claire: And yet, here you are.

Gabrielle: Yeah, well… I'm older now. And, as long as I know that out there somewhere I have family, I cant just sit around and accept things as they are.

Claire: I understand that… but, why New York?

Gabrielle: (shrugs) I don't know. This was one of the places his file said his family had lived, and I just had to come.

Claire: Aren't there, like, nine and a half million people living in this city?

Gabrielle: (laughs) I guess… Yeah, Im crazy.

Claire: Nah, just determined.

Gabrielle: Right.

(The waitress brings their drinks, and they sit enjoying their beverages in silence for a few moments)

Claire: Listen, neither of us has anywhere to go, right?

Gabrielle: (intrigued) Yeah.

Claire: Well, I was thinking… maybe we could help each other.

(Gabrielle just stares, waiting for Claire to continue)

Claire: Well… I have to find this guy amongst all these millions of people and so do you… help me find my guy, and I'll help you find yours.

Gabrielle: (thinks for a minute) Okay… who is this guy you're looking for anyway?

Claire: Peter… Peter Petrelli.

Gabrielle: Petrelli?

Claire: Yeah… why?

(Gabrielle points out the window beside their table, and Claire looks to see what she is looking at. In her haste to escape the hawk, she hadnt noticed a huge election poster on a building across the street reading "Vote Petrelli" with a picture of a man she had never seen before.)

Claire: (still staring) Huh.

NEXT SCENE

Nathan: Missing? What do you mean, 'missing?'

Meredith: About th-three days ago, she was supposed to come talk to me… about you, actually… she never showed up.

Nathan: Well, maybe she decided not to go-

Meredith: That's what I thought at first… I mean, finding all of this out must've been such a shock for her… but, today her adoptive mother called me, crying, saying that Claire was missing and that my number was in her phone. She asked me if I knew anything. I think she thought I was some pervert or something-

Nathan: Meredith… I can't do this, I told you. Call someone else-

Meredith: Nathan, there is no one else!

Nathan: (looking frustrated) Well… what can I do?

Meredith: Do the letters 'TLG' mean anything to you?'

Nathan: No… why?

Meredith: After I got off the phone with her, I was going to go out and drive around to see if I could find anything that might lead me to Claire… but on my porch was this-this letter.

Nathan: (sits on the couch, holding his chin looking disturbed)

Meredith: It says 'Ms. Gordon, this is a letter regarding a certain Claire Bennet, who, unless we are mistaken, has recently regained contact with you. It is of utmost importance that you do not see or talk to Ms. Bennet again, and it would do well that you tell Nathan Petrelli the same.Don't try looking for her- you wont find her.' It's signed 'TLG'

Nathan: What does it mean?

Meredith: I don't know! But… I think-I think someone is going to try to hurt her.

Nathan: Well… what do you want me to do?

Meredith: I don't know, Nathan! I just… I need your help. The police are looking for her… but I have this awful feeling that they wont find anything.

Nathan: Look, Meredith… I just can't help you-

Meredith: Nathan! I understand that you're in the middle of an election and you already have a lot on your plate… but she's your daughter, and she could be in trouble.

Nathan: (sighs) Fine… I'll see what I can do.

Meredith: Thank you… thank you so much, Nathan.

Nathan: Yeah, I'll call you back…bye (hangs up)

(He leans back and sprawls out on the couch of Peter's living room when his cell phone rings. He is clearly startled, and sits up quickly. When he sees it is his only his phone, he sighs, rubs his forehead, and answers it)

Nathan: (to himself) Dammit (into the phone) Hello?

Hiro: Mr. Petrelli?

Nathan: Who is this?

Hiro: Hiro! Hiro Nakamura!

Nathan: Ohh… right, hi… Look, I can't really talk-

Hiro: Mr. Petrelli, you must get to the apartment of Mr. Isaac. It very important.

Nathan: Wait, what? Why?

Hiro: It's your brother. He-

Nathan: (suddenly very alert) Peter? Is, is he there? Is he okay?

Hiro: No, no… he is not here. Mr. Isaac… he painted the future, and your brother.

Nathan: (leans back into the couch, frustrated) I'm sorry, I can't-

Hiro: You must!

Nathan: No, I-

Hiro: We need you! Your brother needs you!

Nathan: (opens his mouth to protest, but upon Hiro mentioning Peter, stops)

Nathan: (to himself) I can't believe this. (To Hiro) Fine. I'll be there soon. Bye. (he hangs up)

(The next thing we see is Simone answering the door to Isaac's apartment. Nathan is leaning in the doorway, a bodyguard standing behind him. He leans in and whispers to her)

Nathan: This had better be damn good.

Simone: (taking a step back and motioning down to the sideroom) They're all in there.

Nathan: (to the bodyguard) Wait here.

(Nathan moves past Simone, and she shuts the door, following him into the room. We see Hiro, Ando, Isaac, and Mohinder all standing around a painting that is, at this point, not viewable to us. As Nathan enters, however, they notice him and move to the side)

Mohinder: Mr. Petrelli-

Nathan: (he pales slightly as he sees the painting, bringing his hand to his mouth; whispers) Oh, God.

(We can now see the painting. It is the back of a man, white with brown hair, looking into a window. He is looking into a room where another man, apparently Peter, is unconscious in a hospital gown, on a white bed, hooked up to countless moniters. The man who is watching him is holding a file reading "PETRELLI, PETER", and a yellow sticky sheet is attatched to the front, with a logo reading "PrimaTech Paper Co.")

Nathan: (moves to sit in a chair by the wall. A few seconds pass before he can bring himself to talk) So, uh… this painting. (he motions to it) Is this… the future?

Isaac: Honestly? I never really know. I just paint.

Nathan: So, why the hell am I here? Do do even know where this is happening?

Mohinder: Presumably at this PrimaTech Paper place. (he hands Nathan a small business card reading " : US toll-free number 800-PRIMA16") A man gave this to me; said he wanted to work with me to help people like you-

Nathan: people like me?

Mohinder: People with abilities.

Nathan: (reads over the card then hands it back to Mohinder) What does it mean?

Simone: When Isaac first painted it, we immediately began looking for information. This place, PrimaTech, its in Odessa, Texas. Apparently not long ago, some temp. FBI agent got this 'hunch' that something weird was going down, so they go to check it out and find nothing.

Nathan: Okay… so doesn't that mean your painting is wrong?

Isaac: No… This cop guy, he seems to adamantly believe that they didn't search deep enough; that the illegal stuff is way deep in the building…

Nathan: (exasperated) And?

Simone: Well, we think Peter is there… and we're trying to get a hold of this cop, Matthew Parkman. He can tell us why he suspects Prima Tech… and he's on The List.

Nathan: The list?

Mohinder: (handing the list to Nathan) My father compiled a list of people who he believed are evolved humans.

Nathan: (notices his own name and quickly hands the paper back)

Nathan: (laughs in disbeleif, standing up and starting to leave) This is crazy, you are all crazy.

Simone: (grabbing his arm) We need your help. We need you to use your contacts to find out how we can get ahold of this Parkman guy.

Nathan: And why would I risk my entire career for you?

Simone: Not me. Not us. Peter. We might not be able to find him if you don't help us.

Nathan: (looks around at all of them before speaking)

Nathan: (to himself) Why, God? Why now? (to Simone, as he pulls his arm away) Fine. (turns to Mohinder) But you take my name off that list… immediately. (turns and exits the room)

NEXT SCENE

(At first we see only the back of Bennet's head as he surveys Peter's unconscious body in the window. It looks exactly like Isaac's painting. However, as the camera pans out, we see the Haitian and Hank the Medical Employee standing beside him)

Bennet: (angry) What the hell do you mean you can't run tests yet? The other test subjects were obtained in the same manner and you had no trouble with them.

Hank: Sir, it seems his body has endured some serious trauma recently, and he isn't quite stable yet. We risk killing him if we do anything immediatly.

Bennet: Fine. (slams the file against Hank as he hands it to him) Monitor him closely. As soon as he is stable, begin testing.

Hank: Of course, Sir.

(Bennet watches Peter for another second before entering a door just beside the window and moving to his bedside.)

Bennet: Ahh, Mr. Petrelli. I am sorry it has come to this. Afterall, you did save my Claire… Still, I've seen what you can do. There has only been one other who showed signs of possesing more than one… ability, and he is a monster.

(He pauses for a second. We see Peter up close, now. He is very pale, and has a cut above his forehead. He is sweating a little, and looks to struggle for each breath)

Bennet: And I can't allow you to become one as well. You will serve your purpose by giving us the information we need, but as soon as you do, well, I'm afraid you'll be done away with.

(He rests his hand on Peter's forehead, almost sympathetically)

Bennet: I'm sorry.

(He stands there for a second before turning and leaving the room)

NEXT SCENE

(Claire and Gabrielle are walking down a near-empty sidewalk; it is beginning to get dark outside)

Claire: Okay, we have a room and two very welcoming beds, why are we out walking?

Gabrielle: Well, because we traveled a hell of a long way to get here, and we are going to enjoy it.

Claire: (laughs) Okay.

(They keep walking, as they do, fewer and fewer people seem to be out walking)

Claire: hey, maybe we should head back.

Gabrielle: (sighs but nods) Yeah… it's a little creepy here.

(As they turn to leave, however, they turn to see two men standing right behind them, smiling menacingly)

Claire: Oh God

Guy 1: Hey, ladies.

(The men take slow steps toward them, pulling their coats back slightly, revealing 2 guns. The girls gasp, and Claire looks at Gabrielle to find her looking petrified)

Guy 2: Don't scream.

(As he finishes, he and Guy 1 lunge at the girls, pulling them kicking and screaming into a nearby alleyway. Somehow the girls manage to wriggle free and run several feet deeper into the alleyway, as the men are blocking the entrance to the street)

Claire: (screams) Help! Hel-

Guy 2: I said, don't scream! (he pulls out his gun and aims at her)

Gabrielle: No!

Guy 1: (Pulls out his gun and points it at Gabrielle) Oh, come on. It would be such a shame to waste a pretty thing like you.

(the men take several more steps toward the girls, who, in turn, take several more steps back)

Claire: (raising her hands slightly) Please-

Guy 2: Shut it, bitch.

(As he finishes, Claire notices a light in a window about 7 stories above them come on and thinks she sees the drape move. Impulsively, she screams)
Claire: Help! Help! Hel-

(before she can finish screaming, Guy 2 has fired off two shots; one hits her in the shoulder and stays, and the other goes straight through her chest. She falls to the ground, dead.)

Gabrielle: (stares at her friend in disbeleif for a moment before attempting to scream) No! Cla-

(before she can finish, however, the two men grab her, pushing her against the wall, and covering her mouth to keep her from screaming. One holds his gun to her head, and the other whispers in her ear)

Guy 2: Shh. Don't want to end up like your friend, do you?

(Gabrielle cries and watches Claires body for several seconds while the men hold her firmly as they watch the window until the light shuts off again)

Guy 1: You can always count on people being too scared to do a damn thing (sniggers)

(Gabrielle is still watching Claire's body when it moves. Her eyes widen as Claire moves slowly, regaining consciousness. Eventually, the hole where the bullet had peirced her chest fills itself up, and she reaches to pull the other bullet out of her arm. She moves silently, partially due to the whole healing process, and partially to avoid drawing attention from the thugs. Guy 1 notices first; he looks as though he's seen a ghost and is speechless for a second)

Guy 1: (whispers) Oh, dear God.

(Guy 2 looks and freezes momentarily before aiming his gun at Claire once more as she stands up, shakily)

Guy 1: How the Hell-?

Claire: You can't kill me.

Guy 2: Wanna bet, bitch? (he cocks the gun)
(an instant after we hear the 'click' of the gun, we hear a loud 'zap!' sound, and the single lamp lighting the alleyway explodes in a burst of electricity; the men are each thrown to the sound, looking as thought they've just been tazered.)

Gabrielle: (runs to a speechless Claire and takes her hand) Hurry!

Claire: (looking at the men) But, how?

Gabrielle: Just run!

(Claire stares in disbeleif before Gabrielle takes her hand and takes off down the street)

END