Enter the Official's office.
The door opens as Darien walks in and plops himself down in a chair. The Official is sitting at his desk looking over some documents…Eberts is hovering over his shoulder.
Fawkes:
"You wanted to see me?"
The Official:
"I briefed Hobbes while you were in the Keep…The two of you are assigned to protection duty for the time being."
Fawkes:
"And Hobbes couldn't tell me that?"
The Official:
"There's something else…"
Darien interrupts.
Fawkes:
"(sarcastically) And the other shoe drops…"
The Official:
"Fawkes."
The Official gives Darien a menacing stare.
The Official:
"What I have to tell you is for your ears only……Understood?"
Fawkes nods in acknowledgement.
The Official:
"The threat to this boy's life may be far greater than first presumed….And if so, you have my full authorization to do what you need to do."
Fawkes:
"I'm not quite sure what you mean."
The Official:
"You may be called upon to do….certain activities that could be classified as…."
The Official is searching for a word. Darien interrupts.
Fawkes:
"Illegal?"
The Official:
"(muttering to himself) Well that's not how I would have phrased it….but yes."
Fawkes:
"So why exactly can't I let Hobbes in on this part?"
The Official:
"For one thing, Hobbes doesn't have a criminal mind. You do. And second, deniability if you fail."
Darien's gaze fixes to the ground.
Fawkes:
"So you're tell'n me that if everything goes to hell then I'm on my own?"
The Official:
"I'm sorry…but that's the way it has to be."
A brief silence ensues.
Fawkes:
"So how will I know if I have to do this?"
The Official:
"Believe me…you'll know……And if things do take a turn for the worst we will try to maintain a degree of contact with you."
Fawkes:
"(agitated) A degree of contact?"
The Official:
"It's the best that I can do."
Darien gets up and leaves. The Official watches him as he leaves.
The Official:
"(to himself) Good luck."
Enter the Keep.
Claire is looking Michael over while Hobbes is off playing with some lab equipment. The door slides open. Darien enters.
Hobbes:
"For cry'n out loud, what took you so long Fawkes?"
Fawkes:
"Oh noth'n…just had to get my butt chewed out by the Fat Man."
Darien looks towards Claire and Michael.
Darien:
"So how's he do'n?"
The Keeper:
"He's in perfect health."
Claire looks down at Michael and helps him off the examination table.
Fawkes:
"Well, we'd better scat. Thanks for the help Keep."
The Keeper:
"Any time."
Darien, Hobbes, and Michael start heading for the door.
The Keeper:
"(waving) Goodbye Michael."
The door to the Keep slides shut.
