4

Dawn breaks over Ianto's street. On cue, the sound of birds.

Ianto leaves the house, lost in thought. Hew is taking out the trash. "How's it going, Ianto?"

Ianto hardly acknowledges Hew. Pluto the dog fails to receive his usual pat. The wave from the Washington's across the street is also not returned.

Ianto motors down the street, switching on the car radio as usual.

"Don't forget to buckle up out there in radioland. It's another glorious... ..morrrninggg...innn... Torchhhhhh... Wooooo... oooooddddd... f...o...l...k...s..." The Announcer's voice slows down - now revealing itself to be a tape that has worn out. Ianto, perplexed, looks at the radio and pushes buttons in an attempt to find another station. He finds one.

A female voice emanates from the radio "...west on Stewart...he's making a right on Holden..."

Ianto glances up at the street signs along his route and finds that they correspond exactly with the streets quoted on the radio. Distracted, he almost bowls over an Old Lady on a crosswalk.

A voice bellows from radio "...God, he almost hit Marilyn! He's on the move again, passing the library..."

Ianto readjusts the radio as it starts to fade out. Suddenly, there is a piercing blast of feedback. He looks up and, as far as the eye can see, every Pedestrian, Motorist and Shopkeeper along the street suddenly winces in pain and holds their right ear at exactly the same moment.

The male voice from the radio, in distress himself yells "...Something's wrong. Change frequencies..."

Ianto tries to pick up the channel once again but without success.

Ianto sits in his car, drinking his coffee, taking in the recent incident. From inside the adjacent school, he hears the familiar, excited squeals and chatter of School Children. Ianto suddenly throws aside his coffee and sprints across the parking lot and into the school.

Ianto slams through the front doors into the reception area. It is deserted, no one stationed at the administration desk, the corridors empty. He runs down a vacant corridor, finally standing outside a classroom. The children's voices can still be heard from inside. Ianto bursts through the door.

The room is empty save for a large reel-to-reel tape recorder on the teacher's desk playing a continuous tape of children's voices. The recorder is attached to speakers on tall stands facing the ventilation ducts. Ianto stares at the machine in disbelief.

Ianto, still lost in thought, exits the school. He stops at the newsstand and picks up a magazine to resume his ritual search, but his heart is not in it. He replaces the magazine without taking a cutting - much to the surprise of the News Vendor.

Ianto starts his trek to work, pausing to stare at his reflection in the mirrored building, hoping that the Homeless Man will appear once again at his side. No one joins him.

Entering his own building with fellow Office Workers, Ianto remains in the revolving door and re-emerges on the street.

Ianto wanders aimlessly through a city park, observing. We sense, truly observing for the first time.

A young woman walks a pair of Afghan Hounds. An Old Man answers the incessant questions of his Grandchild. Nothing appears amiss, Ianto takes a seat at a small, outdoor café. He fidgets with his father's ring on his finger that contains one large stone, still looking for a false move.

A Delivery Man unloads boxes from the back of his truck and carries them into a store. Further down the street Construction Workers take their time tending to an electrical repair in an exposed manhole. A Postal Worker does his rounds. An Old Woman struggles with two heavy shopping bags.

Everybody appears natural, places to go.

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A DIMLY-LIT ROOM SOMEWHERE.

Saxon and his assistant Gwen stare into camera. Saxon leans forward and speaks. "...Everybody stay focused. Remember who you are."

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Ianto turns his attention to a group of Cuban-Looking Men at the only other occupied table at the café. We see extreme close-ups as Ianto scans the men's faces for any sign of phoniness. They are talking loudly, making suggestive comments to the Waitress. Their behavior passes the test… all seems genuine.

Then, Ianto notices two joggers out for a morning run, making their way down the street towards him. Ianto happens to glance at the sneakers of one of the joggers. He suddenly springs to his feet. Ianto blocks the joggers. "It's you...isn't it?"

The Joggers attempt to sidestep Ianto. "Excuse me."

"Remember? Two days ago I gave you my meatball sandwich in the park. You were in a wheelchair. Same sneakers."

The jogger looks down at his distinctive sneakers bearing the initials, "I.S.", and visibly blanches.

The other Jogger is coming to his companion's aid "Get the hell out of here."

The second jogger roughly shoves Ianto aside. Ianto calls out after the two men.

Ianto yells after them ironically referring to the Jogger's new-found mobility "It's a miracle!"

Ianto picks himself up, dusting dirt from his suit. He retrieves his briefcase and continues down the street with renewed purpose.

Wandering down the bustling street, Ianto suddenly bolts into a building at random.

An imposing office building clad in the kind of reflective glass that shields its occupants from the world - a building Ianto passes every day. A steady stream of employees and visitors enter and exit the building's high-ceilinged lobby past an intimidating security desk manned by two Uniformed Guards. Beyond security are banks of elevators, ferrying executives, clerical staff and delivery personnel to and from their floors of business.

Ianto abruptly enters reception and strides confidently past the security desk trying to look as if he belongs.

A security guard says to Ianto "Can I help?"

Sneaking a glance at the building directory, Ianto replies calmly "I have an appointment at, er...Gable Enterprises."

"They went bust."

The second Security Guard is rising from his seat to block Ianto's path to the elevators, but Ianto reads his mind and makes a dash for it - into one of the elevators.

A young woman in the elevator looks in horror at Ianto – the cause of her concern all too apparent. Looking beyond the woman, Ianto discovers that there is no back to the elevator car. The people Ianto has just witnessed entering other elevators are milling around a refreshment table, primping or sitting on folding chairs. Gradually, they all turn to gape at Ianto, who in turn stares back, appalled. Ianto's view is abruptly blocked as a rear panel is hastily attached to the elevator. A Security Guard pulls Ianto from the car.

"What's going on?" Ianto demands with confusion.

Glancing to the lights above the elevator, trying to appear innocent, the guard answers "Nothing."

Ianto observes the upward progress of the elevator via the light display above the doorway. Before he has time to make sense of it, the guards drag him away.

"You've got to leave."

The Guards frog-march Ianto out of the façade towards an Emergency Exit.

"Just tell me what's going on?" Ianto begs, beyond confused now.

"We're re-modelling."

"No, you're not!" Ianto is getting angry now "What were those people doing in there?"

"It's none of my business." He shrugs ushering Ianto off the property "None of yours, either."

Ianto is not going quietly "You don't tell me what's really going on, I'll report you."

Ianto continues to struggle as the guards usher him to the street. "For what? You're trespassing!"

Ianto continues to struggle as the guards unceremoniously dump him on the pavement. He picks himself up, head reeling, and starts to run along the street. He suddenly enters another building at random. An office block with a bank on the ground floor.

Ianto rushes to the elevators. The lights above the doors show the elevator on upper floors. Frantic pressing of the elevator button gets no response. A Receptionist rises from her desk. Ianto heads for the stairs, but is intercepted by a Bank Official barring his way.

"I want to..."

The Bank Official, the Receptionist, and a Bank Teller back Ianto towards the door. As the official asks "...Open an account?"

"Yes. Er, why not?"

"Savings or checking?" the receptionist barks.

"Let's go up to my office." The official barks over her.

Ianto hurriedly exits the bank.

Back on the street, Ianto feels the eyes of the pedestrians Is he simply drawing attention to himself by his behaviour? Ianto wheels around, trying to make eye contact with passersby. They shy away. He continues to run down the street.

Finally, Ianto finds himself standing in front of the window of an electronics store staring at his own face on a TV set. It is taking a feed from a camcorder aimed out the store window.

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A BATHROOM SOMEWHERE.

A man stares in a bath of stale water - a layer of soap scum on the top. "Don't look at me, pal."

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Ianto shudders at his video reflection. Further down the street, he notices Andy's van parked outside a supermarket.

The door of a vending machine is open. Andy, half inside the machine, loads a stack of Baby Ruth candy bars into one of the dispensing slots. The paranoid Ianto appears at his shoulder. "Andy…"

Startled, Andy jumps "Ianto, what are you doing here?"

Ianto looks nervously around him. Even the Store Owner's friendly nod from behind the counter is cause for suspicion in Ianto's mind. He whispers "I've got to talk to you."

"Sorry, I'm way behind."

"I'm onto something, Andy - something big."

"Are you okay?" Andy looks at him for the first time "You look like shit."

"I think I'm mixed up in something."

"Mixed up? Mixed up in what?" Andy gapes.

"There's no point in trying to explain it, but a lot of strange things have been happening - elevators that don't go anywhere, people talking about me on the radio, you know what I mean?"

Andy is bemused as he shakes his head "No. Ianto, if this is another one of your fantasies..."

"I think it's got something to do with my dad."

"Your Dad?!"

Looking around nervously, Ianto confides "I think he's alive. I'll tell you about it later. I'm definitely being followed."

Andy is now looking around, instantly protective "Who?"

"It's hard to tell. They look just like regular people." Ianto knows he sounds insane. He sounds like… like… Jack.

Referring to an old couple entering the deli, Andy points "How about them?"

"Could be. Beard looks phony." leaning closer to Andy seriously considering the possibility "It's when I'm unpredictable. They can't stand that. That's why we've got to get out of here. Can you come with me?"

Closing up the vending machine Andy sighs "I told you I can't."

"I've got to show you something." Ianto fixes Andy with a look of deadly seriousness.

Andy is weakening "Christ, Ianto. You're gonna get both our asses fired."

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Ianto hurries Andy up the school steps. The sound of children's voices continues to drift out from inside the building. Ianto and Andy storm into the school reception area - still empty.

Ianto and Andy stand outside the classroom, the source of the children's voices. Ianto throws his friend an "I-told-you-so" look and swings open the door with a flourish.

The once-empty classroom is now full of school children in an art class. A hush falls over the students and all eyes turn to Ianto and Andy.

Gesturing to two unoccupied easels the teacher asks "Would you care to join us?"

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Hand-over-hand, Ianto climbs the cliff he once scaled as a seven-year-old. Finally, he sits on the cliff top, staring out at the view his father had been so desperate for him not to see twenty-six years earlier. However, the deserted bay beyond is identical to its neighbour. Andy, labouring, crests the rise and joins his friend on the cliff top. "What're we doing here, Ianto?"

"This is where it started."

"What exactly?"

"Things. Things that doesn't fit." Ianto pauses as another thought occurs "Maybe I'm being set up for something. You ever feel like that, Andy? Like your whole life has been building to something?"

"No."

Ignoring the remark, Ianto continues "When you were hauling chickens for Kaiser Poultry, what was the furthest you ever went off the island?"

"I went all over but I never found a place like this." Andy smiles nodding to the setting sun "Look at that sunset, Ianto. It's perfect."

In a daze, Ianto replies "Yeah..."

Glancing heavenwards, Andy adds "That's the "Big Guy". Quite a paintbrush he's got."

"Just between you and me, Andy, I'm going away for a while."

"Really?"

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Ianto sits cramped on his sofa. Pulling wider, we discover the cause of his discomfort. He is sandwiched between Lisa on one side and Mother on the other. Mother, the family historian, a stack of photograph albums at her feet, turns the pages of the album on Ianto's lap. "We ought to be getting you back, Mother."

"Hold on a minute, dear." She sighs pointing out a photo in the album "Here are us at Mount Rushmore. You remember, Ianto… when Dad was still with us … that was quite a drive. You slept all the way there."

Ianto is taking an interest in the monument "It looks so small."

quickly turning the page she huffs "Things always do-when you look back."

Mother skips several pages in the album, finally stopping at a spread of wedding photos. Lisa gasps "Look, Ianto, there's my cousin Errol putting the bouquet down his pants – it was the happiest day of our lives.

Referring to Lisa, mother asks "Didn't she look beautiful, Ianto? She still does."

Mother turns to a blank page in the album. "And there's plenty of room for baby photos. I'd like to hold a grandchild in my arms…" dabbing her eye with a handkerchief "…before I go."

Lisa rises from the sofa and helps Mother to her walker. "I'll take you home, Mother. (referring to the album) Why don't you leave those with us for a while?

Kissing his emotional mother Ianto intones "Good night, Mother."

With a wink to Ianto Lisa whispers "See you in a minute, sweetheart."

Lisa departs with Mother. Left alone in the living room, Ianto slumps back down onto the sofa and switches on the television set - an old-fashioned model with rabbit-ears. He idly studies the photograph album as an over-earnest television host announces the upcoming program. "…Tonight's golden-oldies is the enduring, much-loved classic, "Show Me The Way To Go Home". A hymn of praise to small-town life where we learn that you don't have to leave home to discover what the world is all about and that no one is poor who has friends..."

However, when we turn our attention away from the television, we find that Ianto is peering intently at a wedding photograph of Lisa and himself taking their vows in a civil ceremony in a beachside gazebo. Under the scrutiny of a magnifying glass, he discovers that Lisa has her fingers crossed.

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A LIVING ROOM SOMEWHERE.

The Two Ladies sit on their sofa, a rug across their knees, sipping a night cap of hot chocolate. They stare at their screen.

"Remember at the wedding - that dog?" one asked "Started howling when they took their vows."

"And the plastic horseshoe fell off when they cut the cake." The other agreed shaking her head ruefully "They never had a chance."