17

Ianto shoves Frye away. Frye drops, his body quivering. Blood pours form his ears and nose. Frye spasms in a sickening dance of death.

Ianto reels away.

Coughing. Dizzy, he falls to his knees. He's gassed and knows it. Desperately, he rips at his Pant leg. A syringe taped to his calf.

ATROPINE.

He pulls it free and hesitates. A beat, then - He PLUNGES the long needle into his chest. Into his heart. Depresses the plunger.

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The F-169, flying north along the California Coastline, banks right and dive down onto San Francisco Bay.

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Ianto's world slows down.

Is he dying?

He sees images in SLOW MOTION…

Him and Lisa together … his parents … moments from his childhood...

Slowly Ianto's breathing normalizes.

He gazes up at the dawning sky.

Sees something shimmering in the distance.

Through the HEAT WAVES ...

THE SQUADRON OF F-16s

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PIER 39 COMMAND CENTRE

Sanchez, Director Hartman, and the F.B.I. Techs watch from the window as -THE F-16s wing across the Bay toward Alcatraz. Sanchez whispers "May god have mercy on their souls."

Alice's face is buried in her hands, then she reaches for her son and he burrows into her chest as she sobs "You can't do this, you can't let this happen."

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Ianto exits and kneels, reaching for his other pant leg. Pulls out his GREEN FLARES. He cracks the flares and fires them up.

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The F-16s fly under the span of bridge, just 50 feet off the water, shooting up a plume of water.

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Ianto in slow motion, waves the flares.

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The Lead F-16 Pilot speaks on this air-to-air mike. "Arm up."

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Alice watches the approach of the F-16s on Alcatraz in horror. Every second is excruciating.

F.B.I. Tec calls out "Ten seconds to the drop zone. And now counting eight, seven, six ... "

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A hilltop on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Has two spotters watching the action through Spotting Scopes. Spotter 1 watches the F-16s. Spotter 2, watching Alcatraz, nearly jumps out of his skin "Green smoke! It's... IANTO!"

A radio operator fires a message to command.

Sanchez screams "Abort. Abort immediately."

On come the F-16s, ROARING over Alcatraz. They're almost on top of Ianto now. It's too late. It's all over.

"ABORT, RED THUNDER, ABORT!"

The Pilot says into his mic "Abort. Abort."

The lead F-16 Pilot safeties the bomb release lever.

The Rear F-16 Pilot is wrestling with his release lever. It's stuck. He can't "safety" it. "Sir, something's wrong. I can't disengage... !"

"Then peel off..."

The four F-16s veer away from the island. But for the Rear Jet, the order came too late ... releases its Willy Peter canisters. They plummet to the island.

The Willy Peter Canisters land, detonating on impact in a monstrous infernal Explosion. The awesome concussion knocks Ianto off the New Industries Building pier into the bay.

Ianto, concussed in the water, tries to keep consciousness. He can't. He sinks.

Another form appears above him. It's Jack, swimming for Ianto. Jack gets under his arms and pulls him up.

Jack drags Ianto ashore.

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Sanchez, Director Hartman and the F.B.I. Techs stare out the window at Alcatraz, enshrouded in plumes of smoke. Total silence. Only Alice, weeping quietly in the corner. Sanchez puts his arm around her. Ushers her away. Suddenly a voice crackles "Pier 39 come in. Pier 39 ..."

Everyone freezes as Ianto's voice comes through. My god he's alive. Director Hartman grabs the mike. "Ianto, this is Director Hartman. Are the hostages alive?"

"Every one of em Ma'am"

"What about Jack?"

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Ianto stares at Jack, letting the question dangle.

"Ianto. Is Jack-alive?"

A pause. The question still dangling there.

Then: Ianto takes a deep breath and says "Just come and get me, Ma'am."

Silence as Jack keeps eye contact with the man he just saved.

"I'm tired." Ianto finally says, more to him than the audience.

"Name your vacation spot, Ianto." Sanchez barks "The Bureau will pay for it."

Ianto hangs up. The two men regard each other. "Jack, uhm, Jack I have something to tell you. You know that pardon contract you signed?"

"Hartman ripped it up, right?"

"You knew?" Ianto gapes "All this time?"

"I'm not a fool, Tiger."

"All I know is that whatever you did, you don't deserve to go back." Ianto sighs softly.

"Ianto. You know the meaning of your name?"

"Gift of God or God is Gracious" Ianto nods.

Jack smiles. Ianto smiles back.

There is an immediate tacit understanding.

Jack the whispers "And if you turn around I'll tell you a secret. One involving God's gifts."

Ianto, confused by this, gives Jack a look. Slowly turns around.

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Ianto is standing on the dock. Sanchez comes down the gangplank. "You surprised me, kid. Never thought you could do it."

"Neither did I sir."

F.B.I. Director Hartman demands rudely "Where's Jack?"

Vaporized" Ianto lies easily "Blown out to sea. He saved my life, Ma'am."

Is Sanchez going to accept this? Yes (smiles; acknowledges) "Poor son-of-a-bitch."

An F.B.I. Agent calls out "Sir, the White House calling. It's the President."

F.B.I. Director Hartman yells "I'll take it."

Hartman elbows past Ianto and Sanchez.

The F.B.I. Agent sputters "Ma'am uhm, actually it's for Ianto."

Hartman glares at Ianto, who takes the phone. "Ianto Jones, Mr. President."

"I am in your debt, Ianto, the country is in your debt. You're a hero, son.

"Thank you, Mr. President. The man you should be thanking is Jack Harkness"

"So I've been informed. Would you put the F.B.I. Director on please?"

"Director Hartman." Ianto hands the phone to Hartman. Hartman looks at the phone.

Slowly takes it. "I can explain all of this, sir ..."

"I don't want your explanation, Hartman. I want your resignation."

Hartman grimaces. Ianto, smiling to himself, turns away. .

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Epilogue

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A jeep motors up the Freeway. Passing a sign:VANCOUVER 30 MILES.

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Jack's voice can be heard softly whispering in Ianto's ear, his eyes closed as he listens on the rooftop of Alcatraz "St. Michael's Church, Fort Walton, Kansas. Front pew. Right leg. Hollow."

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A Jeep is driving across the desert. Jack and Alice. Alice driving. Father smiles. Daughter smiles back.

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A ROAD IN FORT WALTON, KANSAS

A beat-up Porsche Speedster exits a Baptist Church. Alice is driving again. Ianto next to Jack in the back. Jack opens a worn plastic canister. Spools out a reel of microfilm.

"Would you please tell me what this is all about... ?" Alice calls over her shoulder as she roars along, her son in the front passenger seat whooping with glee as he lifts his arms up.

"You want to know who really killed President Kennedy, honey...?" Jack asks only to be cut off as Ianto lunges for him and they kiss passionately as Stephen laughs and whoops some more.

THE END