BOTSWANA, AFRICA - 11:00 A.M.
Claire, Ando, Hiro and Matt are standing on a training mat and each has a bo staff held in their hands. Curtis stands in front of them, holding his own bo staff.
CURTIS: "You have all done well with your training over the past few days. Your time here is almost done."
ANDO: "Done? What happens next?"
CURTIS: "You will learn soon enough, my friends."
MATT: "Why can't you tell us? I mean, give us some answers! What is the point of all this?"
CURTIS: "It is not up to me to answer your questions. You all have your missions ahead of you, your own challenges to overcome. When the time comes, you will understand why you have been training here."
Curtis holds up his bo staff.
CURTIS: "Who would like to be the first to resume their training?"
Hiro steps forward and pushes his glasses back up onto his face with his index finger.
HIRO: "I'll give it a try."
CURTIS: "Very well, Hiro. Let's see how well you can do this time."
Hiro nods. Curtis swats his staff at Hiro and he quickly blocks it with his own staff.
THE COMPANY - NEW YORK - 10:00 A.M.
Angela Petrelli sits at her desk, holding her cell phone to her ear.
ANGELA: "Have you made it there?"
MOHINDER (on the phone): "I'm being escorted to the visitor's center now. I'll let you know when I have some answers."
ANGELA: "Do whatever you can to convince her to join with the Company, Mohinder. We'll need all the help we can get, especially now."
MOHINDER (on the phone): "I'll let you know when I have some answers. I'll call you back later."
Angela hangs up the phone. There is a quick double knock on her door and Angela turns around. An AGENT steps into the room.
AGENT: "Ma'am, you have a call on line two. It's urgent."
Angela picks up her phone from her desk and she holds it to her ear. She pushes the line 2 button.
ANGELA: "This is Angela Petrelli."
NOAH (on the phone): "Angela, it's me."
ANGELA: "Noah? Where are you?"
LIEBER PAPER FACTORY - AUSTIN, TX. - 9:00 A.M.
Near the ruins of the paper factory, Benson and Hanson stand on the sidewalk and look on at Noah. He has his cell phone held to his ear.
NOAH: "I'm at what's left of the Lieber Paper Factory. It seems that our masked friend managed to transport Agent Hanson, Agent Benson and I from Saturday morning to today with his space-time manipulation."
ANGELA (on the phone): "Then you three are the only survivors from that blast. We didn't find the remains of anyone else in that building."
Noah shuts his eyes and lowers his head.
NOAH: "I had a feeling you were going to say something like that."
ANGELA (on the phone): "Noah, stay where you are. We'll get someone to pick you up."
Noah turns around to the building. He stares at it in shock.
ANGELA (on the phone): "Noah?"
NOAH: "You might want to send some more men down to the paper factory, Angela."
Benson and Hanson notice the building too. They stare in disbelief.
NOAH: "You're never going to believe this."
Noah, Benson and Hanson stare at the remains of the Lieber Paper Factory. It has been suddenly rebuilt, as if it had never been destroyed at all. A portly AGENT peeks his head out of the building and notices the three agents standing outside and staring.
AGENT: "Are you guys going to come in or what? We've got work to do."
NOAH: "On second thought, Angela, forget about the extra men. It looks like you've got more than three survivors down here."
In his guest room at the Company, Peter Petrelli stands by his bed. He's wearing black pants and socks, but is shirtless. Bandages are wrapped around his left shoulder and around his ribs. Peter puts on a shirt slowly, carefully. He starts to button it up, and stops, grimacing. Caitlin walks over, stands before Peter and starts to button his shirt for him.
CAITLIN: "It's okay. I've got it."
Peter eyes Caitlin for a moment and then he turns his head aside. Caitlin gives him a puzzled look.
CAITLIN: "D' you want me t' stop?"
PETER: "It's not you. It's me. I mean, I'm used to healing in seconds and got so used to it that I just..."
He stops himself. Caitlin sets her hand on Peter's cheek and turns his head towards her. She looks Peter in the eyes.
CAITLIN: "I'm sorry. I know it's tough healin' without your powers. You've been through a lot."
MASKED MAN: "Compared to what lies ahead, he's been through nothing."
Peter and Caitlin turn around and they look at the eastern side of the room. The masked man stands by the doorway, wearing his usual hooded cloak and mask.
PETER: "It's you."
CAITLIN: "What do y' want?"
MASKED MAN: "To help."
The masked man walks over and stands before Peter. He sets his hands on Peter's shoulder and Peter grimaces. He GRUNTS and nearly falls down. She tries to pull the masked man off of Peter, but he doesn't budge.
CAITLIN: "Stop it!! Let go of him!!"
The masked man does what she says and Peter collapses to the floor. Caitlin crouches down and helps Peter sit up. He looks up at the masked man and glares angrily.
PETER: "What the hell was that?"
MASKED MAN: "I don't even get a thank you?"
Peter eyes the masked man in sudden realization, but Caitlin eyes the masked man angrily.
CAITLIN: "Y' bastard! What did you do to --?"
PETER: (cuts her off) "Caitlin, I'm okay."
Caitlin looks at Peter, puzzled. He grabs at the bandages around his waist and starts to unwrap them.
CAITLIN: "Peter, what are you --"
She stops as Peter takes his bandages off. He looks at his body. Peter's wounds have all healed, not even leaving a bruise or a scar. Even the stitches are gone. Peter and Caitlin look at the masked man. He sets his right hand down on Peter's shoulder and his left hand on Caitlin's shoulder.
CAITLIN: "Peter, you're healed!"
PETER: "How did you do that?"
MASKED MAN: "It's time, Peter."
PETER: "Time for what?"
They don't notice three Company agents run in from down the hall, wearing headsets and armed with guns.
AGENT #1: "FREEZE!!"
The masked man lowers his head. He suddenly vanishes, taking Peter and Caitlin away with him. The three Agents run into the room and stop. They look around and see no one.
AGENT #2: "Damn it! We lost the target!"
ANGELA (on headset): "What's happening?"
AGENT #3: "They're gone, Mrs. Petrelli! Your son and Caitlin are both gone!"
In the Company, Micah sits at a desk. He is looking at a computer screen. Micah is printing off content from a web site page with the printer. Tracy steps in the room and holds a styrofoam cup of water in her hands.
TRACY: "You still hard at work? Shouldn't you be resting?"
MICAH: "I'm fine. I'm just doing the last print outs on the files that Mrs. Petrelli wanted. How's Monica holding up?"
TRACY: "She's still training with the agents. They're showing her some fighting moves to copy and protect herself with."
Tracy looks at one of the printed-content pages. Micah notices.
MICAH: "Careful. The ink's still wet."
Tracy notices that spoilers from the 9th Wonders message board is on the page.
TRACY: "9th Wonders spoilers? This is the important news that the Company wants?"
MICAH: "The spoilers are from a board member code-named superhero38. He's been known to put up spoilers about 9th Wonders in the past. He's been absent from the site for weeks, until the new limited series issues came out. He has eighteen spoilers every week until the series ends. He confirms nine of the spoilers will happen in 9th Wonders!, and nine are just made up."
TRACY: "So why is this guy on Angela Petrelli's list of people to check out and find?"
MICAH: "Because every real spoiler he's written out has actually happened in 9th Wonders. Check out what he wrote last Tuesday, when you were at the Beeman Warehouse."
Tracy looks at the spoilers that superhero had typed up. Spoiler #1 reads: THERE IS A HUGE EXPLOSION AT THE BEEMAN WAREHOUSE THAT RESULTS IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FOUR HEROES. Spoiler #4 reads A MYSTERIOUS MASKED MAN WILL POP UP FROM TIME TO TIME TO HELP THE HEROES PREPARE FOR A MYSTERIOUS NEW MISSION.
Tracy's eyes narrow as she notices spoiler #6: TRACY STRAUSS WILL LOSE CONTROL OF HER POWERS AND DIE, BUT WILL BE RESURRECTED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS BY THE MASKED MAN.
Tracy looks over at Micah.
TRACY: "You got anything on this superhero whatever's real name?"
MICAH: "Nothing. I've been checking the internet, but there's no records of registration to the message board, no e-mail address, nothing. It's like the guy doesn't even exist."
TRACY: "Keep looking. If anyone can find anything out about this guy, it's you."
Micah looks at Tracy. He gives her a sad smile.
TRACY: "What?"
Micah shakes his head.
MICAH: "Sorry. It's just that, for a minute there, you sounded like... my mom."
Tracy gives him a sad smile. Micah looks back at the computer and resumes typing.
PRISON COMPOUND
Mohinder Suresh sits at a table for two. Two POLICEMEN stand watch at either side of the door, keeping watch. Mohinder looks up at the clock on the wall, and then he glances at the door. He hears the door unlock from out in the hall and the door opens. A third POLICEMAN steps inside and looks at Mohinder.
POLICEMAN #3: "You get fifteen minutes. Don't waste any time with what you have to say."
MOHINDER: "I understand, thank you."
The door swings open. D.W. is escorted in by two Guards. After she steps in, the two escort Guards step out, shut the door behind them and lock it from the outside.
MOHINDER: "Are you Doris Williams?"
D.W.: "How do you know my name?"
MOHINDER: "I'm Dr. Mohinder Suresh. I came to speak with you about your daughters."
D.W.: "What do you know about my girls?"
MOHINDER: "I'm afraid I have some bad news. Your daughter, Dawn, was attacked by an unidentified man at her work."
D.W.: "What?!? Is she all right?"
MOHINDER: "She's safe. She's in protective custody. Your other daughter, though, is another matter."
D.W.: "What's she done now?"
MOHINDER: "She's responsible for the disappearance of a medical doctor... as well as linked to the deaths of sixty people in downtown Austin."
D.W. looks grim.
D.W.: "Dr. Suresh, is it?"
Mohinder nods.
D.W.: "I think we need to have a long talk about what's happening."
MOHINDER: "I was hoping you'd say that."
BOTSWANA, AFRICA - 4:45 P.M.
Claire is training with Curtis, while Matt, Hiro and Ando sit on a nearby mat watching them face-off. The two swat their staffs at one another. Claire strikes at Curtis three different times, but he blocks each attack effortlessly. She strikes at Curtis, but he blocks and counterattacks. Claire's counter-strike move disarms Curtis and his staff hits the ground. Curtis smiles.
CURTIS: "You have improved much, Claire."
Claire smiles. She nods and holds her hand out to Curtis. With a quick move, Curtis's left hand smacks the staff out of Claire's hand and Curtis catches it with his right. A startled Claire is then knocked down with a jab to her gut by the staff and she lands flat on her back. Curtis holds the bo staff down at Claire's neck and he smiles.
CURTIS: "But you still have a few tricks left to learn."
He holds his hand down to Claire. Claire takes Curtis's hand and Curtis helps her up to her feet. Usutu walks into the tent and walks over to Curtis. He is holding a painting in his hands.
CURTIS: "Is it time to stop?"
USUTU: "Yes. We haven't much time. He is coming."
MATT: "What are you talking about? Who's coming?"
USUTU: "Your next opponent, Parkman. An enemy with great powers."
CLAIRE: "What enemy? Who are you talking about?"
USUTU: "This man."
Usutu turns the painting around to face the four heroes. It is a painting of Jerry, walking through the desert. He is approaching Usutu's tent. The four heroes exchange puzzled looks.
HOTEL - NEW YORK - 11:30 A.M.
Dawn sits in the living room, watching television. An attractive BLONDE NEWS REPORTER is standing in front of a diner, holding a microphone. The area behind her has caution tape around it and there are pools of blood stained on the sidewalk. Two of the windows have been shattered, a door is knocked off its hinges, at least two chairs are visibly broken, and several tables have been turned over.
BLONDE REPORTER: "This was the scene just four hours ago, where the bodies of three scientists, two men at the cash registers and two F.B.I. agents were discovered. Eyewitnesses claim that a masked man stormed the diner, cut the security cameras, and started attacking people at three different tables. When two of the employees tried to interfere, the attacker snapped their necks. Those who saw the attacks claim they saw gunshots hit the man in the chest, but the bullets were broken by a special coating of lightweight body armor. There's no word on which way the masked man got away, but police have a description of the masked man's uniform from sketch artists."
Dawn turns as the door unlocks from the outside. The door opens and Julie steps into the room. She smiles at Dawn.
JULIE: "You doing all right?"
DAWN: "As good as can be expected, I guess."
JULIE: "Don't worry about a thing. I've kept you alive this long. I just need to watch you for a few more days and then I'll be out of your hair."
DAWN: "But you still haven't found that guy that was after me, have you?"
Julie frowns. She SIGHS.
JULIE: "No. Not yet. But we'll catch him, Dawn. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."
Dawn lowers her head, unconvinced.
BIXBY HOME - AUSTIN, TEXAS - 10:30 A.M.
David lies asleep on his bed, tucked under a blanket. He is sweating and looks pale. The clock on David's bedside table reads 10:29 A.M. When it hits 10:30, the alarm blares loudly. David grimaces, awakens and taps the alarm on his bedside.
DAVID: "All right, all right... I'm up, already."
David sits up and MOANS. He rubs his left shoulder and hears the door swing open. David smirks.
DAVID: "Good morning, Mom."
David's mother, LAURA, enters the room. Mrs. Bixby walks over to David's bed.
MRS. BIXBY: "Hey, honey. How are you?"
DAVID: "I'm okay, thanks."
Laura gets to David's bedside and her smile fades. She gives him a concerned look and crouches in front of him.
MRS. BIXBY: "David..."
She feels her son's forehead. He gives her a weak smile.
DAVID: "I'm fine."
MRS. BIXBY: "You're not fine."
DAVID: "I feel fine..."
MRS. BIXBY: "Don't lie to me, David. You're sweating and you feel like you've got a fever."
DAVID: "You worry too much."
MRS. BIXBY: "You need to get some rest. I'll call the comic book store and tell them you're too sick to..."
David's eyes widen at the word "sick".
DAVID: "Mom, you're getting hysterical. I'm all right, really."
MRS. BIXBY: "The last time you went in when you were sick, you collapsed behind the counter and could barely move. I want you to call in sick."
DAVID: "I've got just a few hours at work, Mom. Just noon to three. If you let me work, I promise I'll get my medicine when I get home, lie down the rest of the day and take tomorrow off. Okay?"
Mrs. Bixby gives her son a grim look. She SIGHS and shakes her head.
MRS. BIXBY: "Go ahead. But you ARE calling in sick tomorrow."
DAVID: "I will. I promise."
David kisses his mother's cheek and gets up from his bed. Mrs. Bixby watches David as he walks away and she gives him a sad smile.
BOTSWANA, AFRICA - 6:00 P.M.
Back in Africa, Jerry walks bare foot on the sandy ground. He is wearing a small earpiece in his right ear. Jerry walks over and notices the tent nearby.
JERRY: "This must be the place. How bad do you want them roughed up?"
DISTORTED VOICE (on earpiece): "We don't want them dead, Jerry Lee. But then again, the Boss isn't too picky on how badly you can hurt them either. I trust you'll know when to stop."
Jerry smirks and walks towards the tent. He hears a rustling sound from inside.
JERRY: "Hang on. Sounds like someone's coming outside. We'll continue our chat later."
Jerry turns off his earpiece and watches as Usutu steps outside. Usutu leans on his walking staff.
USUTU: "We've been expecting you. You're taller than I thought you'd be."
JERRY: "You know me?"
Claire, Matt, Ando and Hiro step out of the tent and notice Jerry ahead of them. Usutu nods at Matt and he steps back into the tent.
MATT: "Wait! Where are you going?"
Usutu simply closes the tent. Matt looks at Jerry and he CHUCKLES at Matt.
JERRY: "You must be the folks I came here to see."
MATT: "And you are?"
JERRY: "Let me introduce myself. Here's my card."
Jerry taps his foot. After his foot has tapped the ground, there is a sudden ripple of sand that shoots up from across the ground in a straight line. The line of sand brushes by the heroes and sprays over them. Claire steps back, Hiro wipes some sand out of his glasses as MATT COUGHS out sand.
MATT: "What was that? Sand manipulation?"
JERRY: "Yeah, something like that, but much more too."
Jerry waves his hand forward, taunting them to come forward.
JERRY: "Wanna play?"
Hiro pushes his glasses back onto his face and holds up his bo staff with his left hand. JERRY CHUCKLES and folds his arms over his chest.
JERRY: "Okay. I'll let you have a free shot. Come on, kid."
Hiro gives a BATTLE CRY as he charges at Jerry and then he swats him on his side. The bo staff breaks in half as it hits Jerry and Hiro looks down at the half of the bo in his hands. Jerry shrugs and Hiro grimaces at Jerry.
HIRO: (subtitled from Japanese): "Oh, $#!^."
WHAM! Jerry punches Hiro in the gut and HIRO CRIES OUT as he's pushed back a good thirty feet. Hiro hits the ground, hard, and GRUNTS with pain. Ando drops his staff, crouches next to Hiro and helps his fallen friend sit up.
ANDO: "Hiro!"
Matt and Claire look down at their own staff and then look up at Jerry. He moves forward to the heroes, one step at a time.
JERRY: "Think you can hit me?"
Claire charges at Jerry next to attack.
MATT: "Claire, no!!"
Claire gets about a dozen feet near Jerry, when a sudden breeze of sand brushes by. The wave of sand pushes Claire back and it circles around Jerry like a small, sand-made tornado. She tries to rub the flying sand away from her eyes and Jerry smirks. Jerry punches Claire in the gut and she GRUNTS as she collapses near Hiro. Ando and Hiro turn to Claire and she GROANS as she sits up. Matt looks up at Jerry and Jerry nods at him.
JERRY: "Uh-huh. You're next, tubby. Show me what you've got."
Matt charges at Jerry, but the sand tornado blowing through the air pushes him back a few steps. Matt steps forward slowly to Jerry and tries to reach him. Matt swats his staff out blindly and hits Jerry on the side of his head. The impact merely knocks sand out of Jerry's ears and out of his nostrils, while the staff breaks from the impact. Matt looks at the broken staff and notices Jerry's sneer.
JERRY: "You through?"
Matt tries again, but Jerry decks Matt across the jaw. He's knocked down and rolls to a stop on the sandy ground. Claire looks at the ground and notices Jerry's bare feet. She notices that some of the sand is disappearing beneath his feet.
CLAIRE: (whispers) "You guys see what I see?"
Hiro and Ando look at Jerry's feet. They see it too.
ANDO: "Matt!"
Matt sits up and rubs his aching jaw. He looks at Jerry's feet and notices the heroes looking at his feet. Jerry shakes his head.
JERRY: (in a mocked whining tone) "Aw! Ya peeked!"
Jerry holds up his right hand, palm out, and shows them a bloodless slit in his palm. He sets his right hand down on the floor and the sand is vacuumed slowly into his palm. As he vacuums in the sand, Jerry visibly gets more fit and muscular.
CLAIRE: "We didn't have any training for that."
Jerry grins and stands up.
JERRY: "So, which one of you is the fight instructor, anyway? Is he in your little camping tent over there?"
MATT: "How do you know about that?"
Claire notices the small earpiece in Jerry's ear.
CLAIRE: "And who were you talking to on that?"
JERRY: "Huh? Uh... that's need-t'-know only, kid!"
The four heroes step forward to Jerry and he sets his hands on the ground.
JERRY: "Listen, I'm supposed to be having fun with you guys, but I was clearly expecting more out of you guys. Don't you have any other tricks?"
Ando looks at Hiro and he nods at Ando. Ando puts his hands together.
ANDO: "How about THIS?!?"
Ando fires a red energy blast from his palm, and it hits Jerry in the gut. The impact knocks Jerry down and he GRUNTS as he hits the ground. Ando smirks and Hiro pats him on the back.
CLAIRE: "So he can be hurt."
HIRO: "Why didn't you do that before?"
JERRY GRUNTS and he sits up. Jerry glares angrily at the four heroes. Hiro steps back.
HIRO: "Now look what you've done."
Ando quickly looks at Hiro.
ANDO: "Me? What happened to 'why didn't you do that before?'"
JERRY: "All right...now it's MY turn."
The pupils vanish from Jerry's eyes and his eyes go completely white. The white of Jerry's eyes is quickly replaced with sand and then Jerry closes his eyes. The ground starts to rumble softly. It slowly builds, getting stronger.
CLAIRE: "What's happening?"
Matt looks at the ground and then at Jerry in realization.
MATT: "Guys... Don't you remember that sketch I made last week? The one of us in the desert?"
A sand storm is building from behind Jerry. The four heroes move back, one step at a time.
MATT: "RUN!! NOW!!"
The four heroes turn and run away. Jerry nods his head and the sand storm moves forward. It brushes past Jerry and he stays on the ground. The sand storm follows after the four heroes and quickly catches up to them. Ando is starting to slip back, as the force of the sand storm builds to the force of an F-4 tornado.
ANDO: "I can't... move..."
The sandstorm instantly changes into an F-4 tornado made of sand. Ando gives a STARTLED YELL as he's quickly thrown backwards and soars up into the air. HIRO SCREAMS as he too is quickly sucked into the sand-made tornado. Claire looks over her shoulder as she runs and she notices that Hiro and Ando are spinning around within the sand tornado.
CLAIRE: "NOOOOOOO!!"
She is cut off as she too is sucked backwards and soars up into the tornado. Matt is able to outrun it a bit longer. He suddenly stops and looks startled.
USUTU (telepathically): "Stop."
Matt turns around and looks at the tornado.
USUTU (telepathically): "Stop, Parkman. Let it come to you."
Matt looks at the tornado as it gets closer. Matt closes his eyes and lets the tornado lift him up. CLAIRE SCREAMS as she spins around, and HIRO YELLS as he heads right for Ando. The two bonk into each other, Hiro shuts his eyes, and then, everything stops. The tornado doesn't move. Matt and Claire are frozen in place. Ando looks at Hiro and smiles with relief.
ANDO: "Hiro! Look!"
Hiro opens an eye and looks around. He opens his other eye and smiles. Hiro lifts up his arms with excited victory.
HIRO: (subtitled from Japanese) "I DID IT!!"
MASKED MAN: "Yes, you did."
Hiro and Ando notice the masked man is nearby. He flies down from the sky, into the frozen sand tornado and he hovers before Hiro and Ando.
ANDO: "Who are you?"
MASKED MAN: "Just a friend."
Hiro gives him a puzzled look.
HIRO: "Why are you here? What do you want?"
MASKED MAN: "To show you what's happening... or rather, what will happen."
HIRO: "I don't under..."
MASKED MAN: (interrupts) "Hold your breath."
The masked man grabs Hiro and Ando by their arms and then they vanish, teleported away. The masked man turns around and flies over to the other side of the sand-made tornado. The masked man looks at Matt and Claire.
MASKED MAN: "Kirby Plaza. Midnight."
The masked man grabs onto Matt's shoulder and Claire's left arm. He lowers his head and the two vanish, teleported away. The masked man is left hovering alone. The masked man turns around and looks down at Jerry Lee. The masked man flies down and lands in front of the frozen Jerry.
MASKED MAN: "You do not belong here. You need to go."
The masked man places a hand on Jerry's shoulder and he is teleported away. The masked man lowers his head and time unfreezes. The sand tornado spins around on the sandy ground for a few moments and then, with Jerry now absent, it disappears. Usutu walks over with Curtis and the two stand before him. Usutu sets his hand on the masked man's shoulder.
USUTU: "Come, my friend. You need to rest."
MASKED MAN: "I know... It's almost time."
The masked man looks up and at the sky.
BRANDON'S APARTMENT - AUSTIN, TEXAS - 1:45 P.M.
Brandon sits at his dining room table, with an open box with six pieces of Church's Chicken original fried chicken inside. Set on the table are a few more, smaller boxes, and two large bowls of mashed potatoes. Brandon has a bottle of Coca-Cola set next to his paper plate, with two pieces of fried chicken and mashed potatoes set on it. An empty paper plate and a bottle of Coca-Cola is set on the other side of the table. Brandon smiles as a lean man with dark brown hair, MARK SAMSON, walks towards him. Mark sits on the seat across from Brandon's and Mark smiles at his friend.
MARK: "I see you saved me a seat."
BRANDON: "You're late, you know."
Mark shrugs sheepishly. He pours some french fries out from an open box and onto his plate.
MARK: "Sorry about that. I had some places to go around today."
BRANDON: "Still no luck getting a new job then, eh?"
Mark pulls out three pieces of fried chicken from the box and he sets the pieces down on his plate.
MARK: "Please. You were lucky you even got that part-time job at the diner."
BRANDON: "I know. It's not all bad, though."
MARK: "Yeah. Decent pay, stable hours..." (smiles) "Cute waitresses."
BRANDON: "What?"
Mark sips his bottle of Coca-Cola and then he smiles at Brandon.
MARK: "Who is she?"
BRANDON: "Who?"
MARK: "The blonde with the Jessica Simpson physique you kept making goo-goo eyes at last night."
BRANDON: "You're a jerk, you know that?"
MARK: "I saw you staring when I went with my friends to see you. Come on, cough up a name. Who is she?"
BRANDON: "She's just a friend."
MARK: "Uh-huh."
Mark eats one of his french fries.
BRANDON: "She doesn't even know I like her."
Mark swallows his food and raises an eyebrow, unconvinced.
MARK: "So she's a hot, blind waitress?"
BRANDON: "Mark, come on..."
MARK: "Just a name. It doesn't even have to be her whole name. Just a first name, okay?"
Brandon stares at Mark, dismayed. Mark shrugs innocently and then sips from his Coca-Cola bottle.
BRANDON: "Fine. Her name is Sarah."
Brandon smirks and picks up a fry to eat it.
MARK: "Was that so hard?"
BRANDON: "You have no idea."
Mark smiles and eats his french fry. Brandon takes a sip from his Coca-Cola.
BRANDON: "Are you still coming by tonight to watch the film?"
MARK: "I can't. I've got my cousin coming by tonight for a visit."
BRANDON: "I didn't know Kerri was dropping by."
MARK: "It's not Kerri. Josh is coming over."
Mark takes a bite out of his fried chicken drumstick. He chews his bite and then swallows it. Mark notices Brandon's dismayed look.
MARK: "Brand, don't."
BRANDON: "You said he wouldn't come by again. Last time he came to visit, you bailed him out of jail. You know how much trouble he can get into."
MARK: "This time will be different. I promise."
Mark takes another bite from his drumstick. Brandon gives him a worried look.
BRANDON: "I hope so."
Brandon eats a forkful of his mashed potatoes. Mark eyes his friend a moment, and then resumes eating his drumstick.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Inside his hotel room, the Invisible Man is visible and standing by his bed. His entire head and face is covered with a mask, and a visor with a lens as dark as sunglasses covers his eyes. His hands are covered with gloves and he's wearing a trench coat over his clothes, leaving no trace of his skin or his hair exposed. The Invisible Man is wearing a headset.
INVISIBLE MAN: "Is my back-up on the way?"
BOSS (on headset): "You should be resting, you know."
INVISIBLE MAN: "Not a chance. Once I catch up to that Norton guy, it's payback time for whatever he did back at the hotel room."
BOSS (on headset): "Take all thoughts of revenge and violence out of your head, young man. You need to have a clear head and take him back to base, unharmed. But just in case, I do have several containment agents en route to assist you."
INVISIBLE MAN: "All right. I'll get the job done your way. But if he rejects your offer..."
BOSS (on headset): "Let's hope he doesn't reject it... for his sake."
KNOX WAREHOUSE - SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
The Boss sits behind his desk and has his headset on.
BOSS: "Remember, you have until six o'clock. After that, you fall back."
INVISIBLE MAN: "Fall back? Are you kidding me?"
BOSS: "I've told you what happens later today. You will need to do whatever's necessary to stay alive from six o'clock until the eclipse ends."
INVISIBLE MAN: "Yeah, yeah. I hear you. I'll report back later. Agent out."
The headset is shut off. There is a double knock on the Boss's door from out in the hall.
BOSS: "Enter."
The Boss's mid-20s, blonde secretary, GWYNETH, walks in the room and stands before his desk. She's holding a file in her hands and looks nervous.
BOSS: "What's wrong, Gwen?"
GWYNETH: "Sir, we've just got security footage you wanted. We've finally got a visual confirmation on the target."
BOSS: "Then why do you look so scared about it?"
Gwyneth hands him the file. Her hand is shaking.
GWYNETH: "It's best you see this for yourself, sir."
The Boss takes the file and opens it. He looks at the photos in the file. The Boss looks completely stunned.
BOSS: "It can't be..."
He looks up at Gwyneth.
BOSS: "Are you certain?"
GWYNETH: "Yes, sir. We've matched the records, the photos, the signature... everything is a match."
The Boss looks at the photo.
BOSS: "They found my daughter."
Back at the large prison compound, Suresh shakes D.W.'s hand.
SURESH: "Thank you for everything."
D.W.: "Thank you, Doctor. You'll make the necessary arrangements for me?"
SURESH: "They should be done shortly. I'll be back tomorrow for our next discussion."
D.W. nods and Suresh gets up. A Guard unlocks the door and opens it for Suresh. Suresh nods at the guard.
SURESH: "Thank you."
Suresh walks out and into the hall.
As the door closes behind him, Suresh walks down the long hallway and picks up his cell phone. He hits redial and then he holds the phone to his ear. Suresh hears the other end pick up.
SURESH: "It's me. I've got some good news about Mrs. Williams."
ANGELA: "I've been trying to reach you."
SURESH: "Why? What's happened?"
Angela sits in the back of her limousine, with Geoffrey and the Haitian seated at either side of her. She's holding her cell phone to her ear, while the driver parks at a stop light.
ANGELA: "Peter's gone. So has Caitlin. That masked man came back and took them away."
SURESH: (on the phone) "What? When?"
ANGELA: "Not long after you called. I've got agents searching the city for them, but with that stranger's powers, they could be anywhere by now."
SURESH: (on the phone) "Or whenever. He has Hiro's ability. He could be from the past or from the distant future."
Angela closes her eyes and SIGHS deeply. She opens her eyes, looking tired.
ANGELA: "I know. I'm heading to the subway to meet a new recruit now. Where are you?"
Outside of the prison compound, Suresh walks down the parking lot and heads to his parked car.
SURESH: "I'm just leaving the compound. I'm making arrangements for Mrs. Williams to get temporary custody into our care. It won't be long now until we get everything ready."
ANGELA: "When you go back to the Company, stay there. I'm sending agents to guard you for the rest of the night."
Mohinder opens his car door and then suddenly freezes as he hears Angela's latest reply.
MOHINDER: "Why? What's happened?"
ANGELA: "You didn't hear, did you? The eclipse is scheduled to occur tonight, at six o'clock."
MOHINDER: "Six... No. No, the comic book said at Kirby Plaza, at midnight. Unless..."
ANGELA: "Unless what?"
Mohinder pauses.
MOHINDER: "What if the comic wasn't referring to the eclipse? What if at midnight... something else happens?"
ANGELA: "Like what?"
MOHINDER: "I'm not certain. I'll call you back as soon as I can."
He hangs up his cell phone.
DENVER, COLORADO - 1:45 P.M.
MICHAEL DARREN REESE - 25 years old, with red hair, a goatee and a lean physique - is seated on his couch. He's clad in a T-shirt, jeans, socks and sneakers. Michael looks down at his hands and SIGHS. There is a knock on the door. Michael stands up, walks to the front door and looks out of the peep hole. Michael smiles, relieved.
MICHAEL: "It's him."
Michael opens the door and steps aside. A man with a fedora hat and coat steps inside.
MICHAEL: "Oh, thank you for coming over so quickly. I hope you don't mind, but I ordered us some lunch. You like Chinese food, right?"
MAN: "I like it just fine."
MICHAEL: "I must admit, I was glad to get your phone call. You said you could help me get rid of this?"
MAN: "Oh, yes. I've seen people like you before. Don't worry."
The man looks over at Michael and tips his fedora hat from his face, revealing the familiar face of Sylar. Sylar lets out an evil smile.
MAN/SYLAR (CONT'D): "I know just what to do with you."
AUSTIN, TEXAS - 2:50 P.M.
Kristen sits at a table in the cafeteria, with the crumbs of what was her sandwich on her plate. She has a small bag of Lay's chips by her plate and a half-full glass of milk. Harvey is seated at the other side of her table, with a half-liter bottle of Diet Coke next to his plate. He bites into his double decker sandwich, which has been half eaten.
HARVEY: "Thanks for eating lunch with me."
KRISTEN: "No problem. I'm just sorry our work hours have been shrinking and our lunch time has been getting later in the day and has been cut shorter."
HARVEY: "Tell me about it. Irene had to cancel on me...again. Ever since her boss got the flu, she's been missing dates left and right."
KRISTEN: "I'm sorry to hear that."
HARVEY: "You know, me and my buddies are going out to see that new sci-fi flick and I've got two extra tickets. You and Dave want to join us?"
KRISTEN: "I can't. David's birthday is tomorrow and I have some last minute preparations left to do for the party."
HARVEY: "David's birthday is tomorrow? How old is he gonna be?"
KRISTEN: "Twenty-seven. I got him a few gifts already, including an old Spider-Man comic signed by Stan Lee. He's going to flip once he sees that."
HARVEY: "Wow. You speak human and geek. I tip my hat to you, Kris."
Kristen smirks, takes a Lay's chip out of her bag and eats it. She stops as she notices the TV set.
KRISTEN: "Hey...What's up with that?"
Harvey turns around and notices the TV screen. A portly NEWS REPORTER is on the TV screen.
PORTLY REPORTER: "We've got breaking news on our latest story. It has just been confirmed that a solar eclipse will occur later today and that it should last for a few hours. Astronomers are trying to discover why another eclipse is taking place, after the previous solar eclipses that happened a few years ago."
HARVEY: "Another eclipse? Seriously?"
The TV screen changes from the reporter to a stilled image of the eclipse. It looks the same as it was illustrated in the 9th Wonders! comic book. Kristen looks at the screen in realization. Kristen's cell phone rings and she looks down. She reaches into her pocket, pulls out her ringing phone, and she eyes the number on the screen. Kristen pushes the talk button and holds her cell phone to her ear.
KRISTEN: "Hey, it's me. Are you watching what I'm watching?"
In the diner, Sarah is in the back room and looking at the TV screen. She's looking at the photo of the eclipse on the screen.
SARAH: "The news is showing photos of what the eclipse should look like. It looked just like the illustration in the comic that David and E.S. showed us."
KRISTEN (on the phone): "I know. First you saw that drawing of you looking out of the window, and then they showed us the other pages. What do you think this means?"
SARAH: "I don't know. I've been trying to reach E.S., but he hasn't picked up yet. I tried to talk to David next, but he was busy at work."
Craig peeks into the back room and looks at Sarah.
CRAIG: "Hey, Sarah! Table two's ready to order!"
SARAH: (turns to Craig) "Okay, I'll be right there."
Craig nods and steps out, heading back to the kitchen. Sarah looks at the TV and shakes her head.
SARAH: "This whole thing is getting too weird. I wish I knew what was going on."
KRISTEN (on the phone): "We'll figure this out. I've got to get going, though. My lunch break's almost over."
SARAH: "Yeah, I know. I had mine an hour ago. I'll see you later tonight when we go shopping for the party, okay?"
KRISTEN (on the phone): "Okay, I'll see you later then. Bye."
SARAH: "Bye."
Sarah hangs up the phone. She gives the TV a last glance and then she turns and exits the back room.
In an old prison, LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON - mid-40s, bald and lean-muscled - walks down the long hall of the sub-basement with Geoffrey, Angela and the Haitian.
ANGELA: "When did this happen?"
RICHARDSON: "Three days ago. We had a prisoner transferred into our prison and we were ordered to hold her down here."
GEOFFREY: "Why? What for?"
RICHARDSON: "I can't talk too much about it. It's classified information, including the prisoner's real name."
ANGELA: "How many officers were killed?"
RICHARDSON: "Three, including the old lieutenant. I was promoted after he died."
Richardson stops and stands at a large metal door. He unlocks it with his key.
RICHARDSON: "This is what we found when we came in."
The door opens and they step into a familiar chamber. It is the same cellar with the electric chair we saw before. Only now, there are electrical burns on the wall, the lights have been shattered and there are small blood stains on the ground.
RICHARDSON: "When we came in the room, the three policemen had severe electrical burns and the prisoner escaped. We don't know where she is or if she survived."
ANGELA: "She?"
RICHARDSON: "Yeah, we had to call her Jane Doe. We were told to electrocute her with the electric chair and then return her to the cell afterwards for pick up."
GEOFFREY: "Who was going to pick her up? What for?"
RICHARDSON: "I told you. It's classified."
HAITIAN: "Do you know what caused this accident?"
RICHARDSON: "We thought that there was a short with the electric chair, but the electrical interference affected the whole building. The power didn't return to the prison until ten minutes later. We still don't know why the policemen were electrocuted. There was no cause of electric emission from anywhere in the room."
Angela looks at Richardson sternly.
ANGELA: "Who do we talk to in order to get information about this case? It's important that we know everything that happened here."
DENVER, COLORADO
Sylar sits at Michael's dining room table. Michael eats a forkful of rice and then he looks up at Sylar. Sylar is staring at Michael.
MICHAEL: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
SYLAR: "You look sick. You've started sweating again."
Michael rubs the sweat off his brow and shakes his head. Sylar eats a forkful of noodles.
MICHAEL: "I really hate this. It's been such a burden all this time."
SYLAR: "I understand that you were originally targeted by Danko and his men. You say you managed to avoid capture?"
MICHAEL: "Yeah, just barely. I was able to knock a couple of those gunmen aside and I laid low in Puerto Rico for several weeks. My own brother had to come fly down and tell me that the Hunter's project had been shut down and it was safe to go home."
SYLAR: "Your brother? Is he like you?"
MICHAEL: "He isn't... thank God. He shouldn't have to be cursed with this thing."
SYLAR: "Why do you say cursed? Some people think what you have is a blessing."
MICHAEL: "What I have isn't a blessing."
SYLAR: "Let me decide that. Show me what you can do."
Michael looks over at Sylar sadly. He shakes his head.
MICHAEL: "Don't make me do this."
Sylar smiles warmly at him.
SYLAR: "Michael...if you want me to help you be rid of this, I have to know what I'll be dealing with. Please... show me."
Michael gives Sylar a sad look. He holds his right hand out to Sylar.
MICHAEL: "Take my hand."
Sylar holds out his hand and Michael takes it. Sylar suddenly stiffens and drops onto the table. Michael is nearly in tears. Sylar doesn't move, doesn't blink. Michael sets his left hand down on Sylar's cheek and Sylar blinks. He sits up and looks at Michael, puzzled.
SYLAR: "What was that?"
MICHAEL: "Apparently, I induce paralysis on any person or any animal I touch. The longer they're paralyzed, the harder it is for me to unfreeze them. I discovered it when I was kissing my girlfriend and I nearly killed her. She ran out of the apartment and was the one who reported me to the police. I had to run off, changed my name to Michael Allen and start my life all over again."
SYLAR: "What was your name before Michael Allen?"
MICHAEL: "Well, my real last name is Reese. My brother, Steven, lives in Jersey now. I was supposed to meet him today, but I moved my visit to next week after I got your call. Can you take care of me?"
SYLAR: "Of course I can. I'll be more than happy to rid you of your little problem. Is anyone else at home in the building?"
MICHAEL: "Just Mrs. Collins on the top floor. But trust me. You could be shooting a cannon two feet outside of her front door and she'd never hear you."
Sylar smiles. Michael's chair is knocked over as Michael suddenly goes flying backwards. He GRUNTS as he hits the wall back-first and is pinned in place. Sylar stands up and walks over to Michael. He stands in front of him.
SYLAR: "That's just what I wanted to hear."
Michael tries to talk, but GASPS in air. Sylar lifts his finger up and Michael lets out GARGLED SCREAMS as Sylar starts to slice his skull open.
COMIC BOOK STORE - AUSTIN, TEXAS - 4:08 P.M.
David sits at the register. He looks tired, his eyes are closed and he flinches as he rubs the side of his head. The bell above the door rings softly as the door opens and E.S. steps inside. E.S. walks over and gives David a puzzled look.
E.S.: "Dave? You okay?"
David doesn't notice. He grimaces, and has broken out into a cold sweat.
E.S.: "David?"
David opens his eyes and looks at E.S., caught off guard.
DAVID: "E.? When did you get in here?"
E.S.: "You didn't hear me come in? You know, you don't look so good."
Charles walks into the main room and stands by the counter.
CHARLES: "You noticed it too, huh, Morris?"
E.S.: "You look really sick, man. Maybe you should go home."
DAVID: "I'm fine, really."
CHARLES: "That's the same thing you told me half an hour ago back when you nearly fell over."
E.S.: "Okay. No more crapping around. You need to go home and I'll drive you."
DAVID: "I'm fine. I don't have much longer to work, anyway. I just need to sit for a few minutes, that's all."
CHARLES: "That's the other thing you told me half an hour ago." (turns to E.S.) "Why did you come by, anyway?"
E.S.: "Well, with no disrespect to my best buddy here, I actually came by to see you, Mr. Talbot. Can we go in the back?"
CHARLES: "Yeah, sure, just a second."
Charles and E.S. notice David looking pale. He rubs the side of his head and flinches.
CHARLES: "You sure you're okay?"
DAVID: "Never better. Go on. I'll be right here."
CHARLES: "Okay. We'll be back in a few minutes."
E.S. and Charles walk off down the room. David grimaces and rubs his aching head.
THE COMPANY - 6:00 P.M.
In her office, Angela stands by her window and the Haitian stands beside her. She looks at the Haitian, a bit nervous.
ANGELA: "Have the preparations been made?"
HAITIAN: "It's been taken care of. Where is Officer Hart?"
ANGELA: "He's headed back to the police station. I think he's found some news that could help us."
Angela notices the sky go dark. Angela and the Haitian look out of the window.
MIDTOWN, NEW YORK
In the sky above, the solar eclipse has started. Some people walking by slow down and stop. They look skyward at the eclipse.
NEW YORK POLICE STATION
Geoffrey steps out of the police station, holding a briefcase in his hands. He stands at a sidewalk and he notices the eclipse. He stares up at the eclipse.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "Everyone has a story to tell."
HOTEL - MIDTOWN, NEW YORK
Dawn looks out of the window of a room on the third floor and stares at the eclipse.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "Everyone has a purpose, a certain role to play in their lifetime."
COMIC BOOK STORE - AUSTIN, TEXAS
E.S. stands outside, looking up at the eclipse. David walks over and stands beside him to watch. David smiles at the eclipse.
Elsewhere, at the Diner, Sarah stands outside, near Kristen's car. Kristen stands next to her. They both stare up at the sky, watching the eclipse.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "For some new friends, their stories are about to be told. "
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
The solar eclipse shines above a farm. The footsteps of the Invisible Man appear on the as he walks away from the barn. The Invisible Man becomes visible due to the eclipse, but as he's still in his mask, dark goggles, coat and clothes, we still don't know who he is.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "And for some old friends, their stories are about to come to an end."
DENVER, COLORADO
In Michael's apartment, Sylar is seated at a table. He has a paper set on the table, with a list of names written on it in black ink. Sylar holds up a pen and goes down the list of names, each with an address. The first three names written on the list are DANIEL BURNS, AMANDA CARTMAN, and NED DREYFUSS. The first three names have been crossed out. Sylar stops at the fourth name on the list, MICHAEL REESE. He draws a single line through the name and he looks down at the next name on the list. The next line reads DENISE LARSON. Sylar smiles. He notices the dim sky and looks up. Sylar's smile fades as he notices the eclipse has started.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "At a moment's notice, anyone's life can change, for better or worse."
Sylar stands up and walks over to the window. He looks outside and at the eclipse. There is a double knock on the door and Sylar looks at the doorway.
MAN (in the hall): "Mr. Allen! This is the police! Open the door!"
Back in Austin, Noah, Hanson and Benson stand outside and look up at the sky. Benson eyes the eclipse, puzzled.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "There are those that do not believe in destiny, that try to make their own fate."
THE COMPANY - NEW YORK
Back in his guest bedroom, Micah Sanders sits at the end of his bed, sending a text message. Micah stops texting and he looks up at the open doorway, noticing Tracy is standing and watching him. He smiles at Tracy and she returns the smile.
MOHINDER (NARRATES): "And then, there are times when our fates have been chosen for us."
DESERT - AFRICA - 10:00 A.M.
It is now daytime. There is no solar eclipse in progress. Peter Petrelli is on his knees and he COUGHS out sand. Caitlin crouches next to Peter and she helps him stand up.
CAITLIN: "Are you all right?"
PETER: "Yeah... Yeah, I think so. Where are we?"
CAITLIN: "I don't know."
Peter looks around and notices they are alone in the desert. They are now sweating from the intense heat of the sun. There is no water, no food, and nothing but sand that stretches out for miles and miles.
CAITLIN: "Where did the masked man go?"
Peter takes a few steps forward, noticing a sand dune nearby.
PETER: "Where are you?"
Peter looks left and then right. There's no one else in sight.
PETER: (shouts angrily) "WHERE ARE YOU?!?"
His angry yell echoes through the desert. Peter looks around for a few moments. He turns around to face Caitlin and she gives him a nervous look. Peter turns around, looking nervous.
PETER: (whispers) "What's happening?"
He lowers his head, sweating from the heat.
