ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. BROOKE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NOON
Brooke is sitting up in bed picking at her lunch tray when
Harrison comes in.
BROOKE
Hey, stranger. I haven't seen you
in, oh, a couple hours.
HARRISON
Are you trying to tell me I've
already worn out my welcome?
BROOKE
Never. Sit.
Harrison sits by Brooke's bed and looks over her lunch.
HARRISON
Okay, there is definitely
something wrong here. When I was
in here, all I ever got to eat
were unidentifiable green lumps.
BROOKE
(playfully)
Well, the answer is obvious—I'm
prettier than you are.
HARRISON
That's definitely true.
Brooke takes a bite of her sandwich.
BROOKE
Hey—do you happen to know what the
first animal was?
Harrison furls his brow in thought.
HARRISON
Sorry—I got a C-minus in biology.
Why?
Brooke reaches down and pulls up a large crossword puzzle
book.
BROOKE
Jane thought I might get bored.
Anyway, I need an eight-letter
word for "first animal" that ends
in "K".
HARRISON
Sorry. Aren't the answers in the
back?
BROOKE
Harrison! That would be cheating!
HARRISON
Somehow, I'm glad you weren't with
us when we had our chemistry
final.
BROOKE
I still can't believe you guys did
that.
HARRISON
Hey, it was survival of the
desperate. Besides, I'd much
rather be here than in summer
school every day.
BROOKE
Well, I'm glad you'd choose me
over Miss Glass.
Harrison takes her hand and squeezes it, and for a moment they
share a look—and then Sam breezes into the room, and he pulls
his hand away awkwardly.
SAM
Hey, guys.
Sam takes a seat on the opposite side of Brooke's bed.
SAM (CONT'D)
(pointing)
What's this?
Brooke takes another bite of her sandwich.
BROOKE
(munching)
Tuna fish.
SAM
Eww. You sure you don't want me
to smuggle in a pizza or
something?
BROOKE
It's actually not bad.
Sam and Harrison glance at each other across the bed.
HARRISON
I guess her taste buds were
injured.
SAM
Obviously.
Brooke looks from one to the other, groaning.
BROOKE
Come on, you guys aren't gonna get
on me for liking tuna fish, are
you?
Sam and Harrison look at each other again. Finally he shrugs.
HARRISON
I guess we'll let it pass.
BROOKE
THANK you.
(to Sam)
So...I guess you were at the
courthouse this morning.
SAM
You should see the prosecutor—she
barely looks any older than we do.
BROOKE
I know. She came to see me a few
days ago. She might look young,
but she's really smart.
SAM
Yeah—her opening speech was dead
on. She really had the jury
going.
HARRISON
(suddenly)
Aardvark.
The girls look at him strangely.
SAM/BROOKE
What?
HARRISON
The first animal. Like in the
dictionary. Aardvark.
BROOKE
Oh!
Brooke takes a pencil, pulls up the book and fills the word
in.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
(grinning)
Thanks.
SAM
Mom got you that, didn't she?
BROOKE
Uh huh.
SAM
(reminiscing)
Mom and Dad used to do the puzzle
in the paper every morning at
breakfast.
Brooke touches Sam's arm sympathetically.
SAM (CONT'D)
She always wanted to pass on the
interest...but, crosswords just
aren't my thing.
HARRISON
You know, I never understood that.
You're such a wordy person.
Sam gives him a deadpan look.
SAM
Gee, thanks, Harrison. I guess I
just like my words in complete
sentences.
Just then, Alicia Jones, the prosecutor, knocks on the open
door and walks in.
BROOKE
Hi, Miss Jones.
JONES
Good to see you again, Brooke.
(to Sam)
And good morning again, Ms.
McPherson.
BROOKE
(gesturing)
This is Harrison John.
Harrison hastily gets up and offers his hand.
JONES
(shaking Harrison's hand)
Ah, so you're Mr. John. I was
hoping to find you here.
HARRISON
(surprised)
Y-you were?
JONES
(to Brooke)
I was in the building—I have a
couple of your doctors on my
witness list, testifying about
your injuries—and I just wanted to
stop by and let you know that
things started well for us.
BROOKE
Thank you, Miss Jones. I'm really
sorry that I can't do more—
JONES
I already told you, don't sweat
that. I have more than enough to
hang Ms. Julian with.
(to Sam)
Ms. McPherson, I'd like you to be
ready to come down to the
courthouse...oh, in two or three
days. I should be through with
the technical witnesses by then.
SAM
Technical witnesses?
JONES
The doctors, forensic specialists,
other experts... Anyway, my
office will give you a call
beforehand.
SAM
(nodding)
Sure.
Finally she turns to Harrison.
JONES
And Mr. John, I'd also like you to
be ready to come down sometime in
the next few days. Even though
you didn't witness the crime, or
anything leading up to it, I'm
still going to try to get you in
as a kind of character witness—
that is, to help paint a picture
of Ms. Julian's character. I'll
need you to be ready for a call
from my office, too.
HARRISON
Uh, yeah. Of course.
Jones nods in satisfaction and turns back to Brooke.
JONES
Well, that's all I wanted...I'll
let you get back to your friends
now.
She leans over and takes Brooke's hand.
JONES (CONT'D)
And remember—you just concentrate
on healing. Let me sweat the easy
stuff, like putting Ms. Julian
away for the next decade or two.
BROOKE
(smiling)
Thank you, Miss Jones.
JONES
Jones nods acknowledgement to Sam and Harrison, and walks out.
HARRISON
You weren't kidding about her
looks.
SAM
But she really seems to know what
she's doing.
(checks her watch)
Listen, Brooke, I hate to bail on
you so soon, but I promised lunch
to Lily. She's got some
demonstration she wants me to help
her with—
BROOKE
(waving)
Go.
Sam leans over and hugs Brooke.
SAM
I'll be back later. Is there
anything you need?
BROOKE
Naw—I've got Errand Boy here if I
think of anything.
Harrison puts up his hand.
HARRISON
That's me.
Sam walks around the bed, and Harrison rises long enough to
kiss her goodbye. After she leaves, he settles back into his
chair and looks curiously at Brooke, who is staring off into
space.
HARRISON (CONT'D)
Brooke?
Brooke starts.
BROOKE
Hmm? Oh...
(shakes her head)
There's just...something I can't
get out of my head.
HARRISON
Look, if you're still feeling
guilty about not being able to ID
Nicole, don't.
It was dark, you were blinded by
her headlights... Plus, there
was the whole getting hit by the
car thing.
BROOKE
I know, I know. The thing is...I
knew it was Nicole.
HARRISON
(shaking his head)
What do you mean?
BROOKE
When I woke up here in the
hospital... I knew it was her,
even before you told me.
HARRISON
(shrugs)
Maybe you just figured she was the
most likely suspect.
BROOKE
(laughs shortly)
I still can't really believe Nic
would stoop to murder, even stone
drunk.
(reflectively)
And yet...I knew it was her. I
KNEW it—but I don't know HOW I
knew. Isn't that weird?
Harrison shrugs helplessly.
CUT TO:
INT. LILY'S KITCHEN - LATER
Lily and Sam are eating at her tiny kitchen table. At least,
Lily is eating—Sam is in the middle of a giggle fit.
LILY
Stop laughing—I'm serious!
SAM
I'm sorry, Lily, I just—I can't
picture Mary Cherry as some kind
of sign-toting militant
demonstrator.
LILY
Well, maybe she won't be. But,
frankly, I think pretty much
anything would be an improvement.
SAM
True.
A couple of moments later, Lily catches Sam looking at her
strangely again.
LILY
What?
SAM
I don't know—are you sure Mary
Cherry isn't becoming, like, some
kind of project for you?
LILY
No! Look, she needs my help,
that's all.
SAM
Yeah, she seems to be in that
position a lot lately.
LILY
Better she turns to me than to
Nicole, like she used to.
SAM
Okay, okay, yeah, but still...
How much do you really think you
can do?
LILY
Hey, do you remember when I asked
you to demonstrate against clear
cutting in the Sierras? You said
that there'd always be more trees,
and there was no way you were
going to march around with a bunch
of enviro-freaks.
SAM
(defensively)
I was eleven years old! What did
I know?
Lily folds her arms and cocks an eyebrow at Sam.
SAM (CONT'D)
(throwing up her hands)
All right, I give. If you can
turn Mary Cherry into a socially
conscious person, more power to
you.
She takes a sip of her drink.
SAM (CONT'D)
I'll still believe it when I see
it.
CUT TO:
EST. THE INSTITUTE - EVENING
The sun setting over the Pacific.
CUT TO:
INT. LAB ROOM
Josh is still at the computer, making just a little better
time. Dr. Bennett walks in.
BENNETT
You know, you can call it a day
now. Especially considering how
early you got here.
JOSH
Yeah, I'm almost done.
The phone rings, and Dr. Bennett picks it up.
BENNETT
(into the phone)
Hello...? It's me... I'm
wrapping up... I'll send him
over.
She hangs up the phone and turns to Josh.
BENNETT (CONT'D)
Dr. Rutherford wants you.
JOSH
Oh, ah, all right.
Josh taps a few more keys, and stands up.
BENNETT
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
JOSH
Good night, Dr. Bennett.
BENNETT
Good night, Josh.
Josh and Dr. Bennett walk out different doors.
CUT TO:
INT. DR. RUTHERFORD'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Dr. Rutherford, working at his desk, looks up when Josh raps
on the open door.
JOSH
You wanted to see me, Dr.
Rutherford?
RUTHERFORD
(putting down his papers)
You used to be a football player,
Mr. Ford?
JOSH
(cautiously)
Ah—yes. Used to be.
RUTHERFORD
Can you lift forty pounds?
JOSH
(shrugs)
Sure.
RUTHERFORD
Good. There are a few boxes
marked "testing equipment" that
the delivery people left in the
garage, by the service entrance.
They need to be put in the
crustacean studies center—
JOSH
(puts up his hand)
No problem. I'll get on that
right now.
Dr. Rutherford grunts, and goes back to his papers. Josh
waits for a moment, possibly expecting a "thank you", then
backs out of the office.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE INSTITUTE PARKING LOT
Dr. Bennett, carrying a briefcase, walks to her car, opens the
trunk, and puts her briefcase in. As she closes the trunk, a
convertible pulls into the lots and screeches to a halt behind
her. Inside are three kids: Jake Carlin and two of his
friends. All of them are cut from the same rich, spoiled,
suburban cloth. They all jump out of the car and approach Dr.
Bennett, who looks at them severely.
BENNETT
You're not supposed to be on
Institute property, Jake.
JAKE
(snidely)
Aw, c'mon, Doc. We were just
cruisin', and happened to end up
here.
He leans in and leers threateningly, as his friends loosely
encircle her.
JAKE (CONT'D)
You know, you used to be a lot
friendlier, Doc.
BENNETT
(accusingly)
You're high.
JAKE
Naw, a little E. Want some? Make
you friendly again.
ANGLE: THE INSTITUTE DOOR
Josh comes walking out, and eyes the scene.
JOSH
Hey!
He jogs over, as the kids turn to look him over.
JOSH (CONT'D)
(to Dr. Bennett)
Are you okay?
JAKE
(sneering)
Yo, prep. You weren't invited to
this party.
Josh turns to Jake and matches his expression of contempt.
JOSH
Yo, scrub. Your mouth is too
big—you oughta watch where you
open it.
JAKE
(snorts)
You don't know what you're lettin'
yourself in on, prep.
JOSH
Yeah? From what I see—it's not
much.
Jake takes a threatening step towards Josh.
JOSH (CONT'D)
Step off, man. You don't wanna
make me open up a can on you.
JAKE
Let's roll, then.
JOSH
You wanna do this mano a mano?
(nods towards Jake's friends)
Or you need them to even the odds
for you?
Jake takes another step forward, but then one of his friends
grabs at his sleeve and points. They turn to see a security
cruiser turning into the lot, and Jake and his friends back
away towards his car.
JAKE
(pointing at Josh)
Later.
They jump into the convertible and roar off; a moment later,
the cruiser pulls up. The passenger-side window rolls down,
and the security officer leans across the front seat and peers
at them suspiciously.
OFFICER
Everything all right, Doctor?
BENNETT
Everything's fine now. Looks like
Jake's still determined to cause
trouble.
OFFICER
I'll tell the other shifts to keep
an eye out.
The window rolls back up, and the cruiser moseys away.
JOSH
You know those clowns?
BENNETT
Jake Carlin was an intern here
last summer.
JOSH
(sniffs)
He doesn't seem like the type.
BENNETT
So we discovered. Dr. Rutherford
fired him after a month.
JOSH
That's the problem you were
talking about before?
BENNETT
(nods)
After that there was some
vandalism, but we couldn't prove
it was him. That's why the
security cameras were installed in
the labs.
JOSH
And that's why he doesn't like me.
BENNETT
Josh, I know Dr. Rutherford.
Ultimately, he's a fair man.
He'll come to see that you're not
another Jake.
Josh claps his hands together.
JOSH
Well... I'd better get out to
the bus stop.
Dr. Bennett puts her hands on her hips.
BENNETT
Oh, I don't think so. The least I
can do is give you a ride.
JOSH
Dr. Bennett...
BENNETT
Besides, you don't really want to
be standing out there if Jake and
his pals decide to come around
again.
JOSH
(considering)
Yeah, you're right. Okay.
CUT TO:
EXT. A MOTEL - LATER
Dr. Bennett's car pulls up in front of a low-rent, ramshackle
motel.
BENNETT
(thumbing)
This is where you're staying?
JOSH
(embarrassed)
Yeah, well, it's cheap.
BENNETT
Josh, I pass right by here every
day! There is absolutely no
reason why wasting your money on
the bus. From now on, you're
hitching a ride with me.
JOSH
Dr. Bennett, I don't want to be a
bother—
BENNETT
Hey, did I not just say that I
pass right by here?
JOSH
Well—
BENNETT
(firmly)
No arguments. I'll see you in the
morning, right here. Quarter to
eight.
JOSH
Okay.
Josh climbs out of the car, and Dr. Bennett drives off.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO