Scene: Gas station/truck stop, fairly late at night. Kate, Barry, Megan and Dan Russell are getting back in the car. This is a return trip from a political event. Barry has a drink and a plastic bag of food. Kate is driving, Dan on the passenger side. Barry is behind Kate, Megan behind Dan.

Megan: "What is that, Barry? Why did you buy some disgusting gas station food when we just came from a political dinner?"

Barry: "Rubber chicken isn't exactly a huge leap forward from truck stops. There were mushrooms in the sauce. I'm allergic, so all I ate was a measly little wilted salad. I'm hungry."

Megan: "I think I'd starve before I ate that stuff."

Barry: "Don't worry, I bought only the locally-sourced, organic, free-range hot dog."

Megan: "Free-range hot dog?"

Barry: "Don't you watch westerns? Driving the dogies across the range, little cocktail weenies scampering to keep up with the herd, playing songs on an Oscar Meyer wiener whistle..."

Megan: "But we live in the city in Pennsylvania, not the open range."

Barry: "So?"

Megan: "You are not on the open range. In fact, you have been 'de-ranged' for as long as I have known you."

Barry: "That's pretty bad."

Megan: "Kate's fault for making me ride in the back with you the entire trip. Kate, are we there yet?"

Kate: "Soon. According to my GPS, this little highway cuts 20 minutes off the trip. Judging from the low quality of humor in the back, every second counts."

Dan: "Yeah. Keep it up, and the DA's office will have to arrange for a proper 'pun'-ishment..."

Kate: "Oh, no. It's contagious. I should have worn a surgical mask."

Megan: "Too late. You thought Marburg was bad? Wait until the infection spreads, and you have a department full of Barrys."

Barry: "How does that compare to a team of Megans?"

Megan: "Less medical expertise, way more disgusting. However, Patient Zero won't be alive to spread the infection if he carelessly spills mustard on my dress."

Kate: "Same goes for up here. These clothes are expensive, and have to be dry-cleaned. I don't even want water on them. No more food and drink in the car on these trips. Slob."

Barry: "OK. Jeez..."

Kate: "It doesn't do my image any good to have campaigners trailing half a truck stop behind them. Shape up or stay home. Nobody is making you attend these events."

Barry: "Um, not strictly true..."

Kate: "What? You know perfectly well I would never use my position to coerce anybody in the office to campaign for me."

Barry: "Not you. Red Leader back here."

Kate: "What?"

Megan: "I might have suggested that it would be a way for us to spend some time together outside of the office. Don't worry, I already regret it. Won't happen again."

Kate: "I didn't say I didn't appreciate it. Just that I won't force anybody to come."

Megan: "After this, neither will I."

Barry (finishing hot dog): "Aw, I thought you twisted my arm because you had romantic notions of us together in the back seat..."

Megan: "Pig. Kate, can't you drive any faster?"

Kate: "Sorry, this road is a little winding. And somebody is tailgating me."

As they approach a bridge, the SUV behind them goes to pass, then veers in front and forces Kate off the road and down an embankment.

Kate: "Aah! Hang on! This is steep!"

They end up in a river. Barry unbuckles his seat-belt, reaches forward and hits the door unlock.

Barry: "Everybody remove their seat-belts."

Kate: "Is everybody OK?"

Barry: "Anybody unconscious, raise your hand so we can treat you."

Megan: "Jerk. Dan, are you OK?"

Dan: "For now. In case it escaped your notice, the car is sinking."

Kate: "What did you do to my door, Barry?"

Barry: "Unlocked all the doors before the wiring shorts out. If you close the air vents it might buy a little extra time."

Kate: "Got it. Can we get out now?"

Barry: "Not yet. The water pressure will make it tough to open the doors, and we don't know who just tried to kill us. Getting out and giving them a clear shot is not recommended."

Megan: "So what do we do, smart guy?"

Barry: "Find your cell phone and call 911. Face your phone down so nobody up there can see it. Kate, I'd kill the headlights and accessories."

Dan: "I've got bars. I'll make the call."

Barry: "Megan, help me find the bag from my snacks."

Megan: "Why? Going to build a raft out of Twinkies?"

Barry: "I don't have enough to build a raft. Good thinking, though. I just want the plastic bag."

Megan: "I don't think it's big enough for a flotation device."

Barry: "No, but it's big enough to hold my cell phone and gun, and keep them dry."

Megan: "Here it is."

Dan: "Emergency services says they have our location and can have a county sheriff out here within 15 minutes. Rescue services might take a little longer."

Barry: "Good. Everybody silence your cell. Last thing we need is for a phone to ring when we're trying to be sneaky. I wish I knew if there was anybody up there."

Cut to bridge. The SUV has stopped in the middle of the bridge. A figure looks into the water, takes out a gun, sees the lights die. No further indications of survival are evident as the car sinks lower in the water.

Back to car.

Kate: "I don't think we can stay in the car the whole 15 minutes. The water is already up past my ankles."

Barry: "It's not too deep here. Less than 15 feet, I'd say. Deep enough to provide cover if anybody up there has a gun, but we won't need a dive team to get out."

Dan: "Kate is right about the rising water. Looks like we'll have to leave the car. Can everybody swim?"

Barry: "Yeah."

Megan: "Sure."

Kate: "Not... not really."

Dan: "Not really?"

Kate: "I only had four lessons, and I didn't like it. Now I'm going to drown if they don't get here in time!"

Barry: "Nobody is going to drown. I'm a certified lifeguard. Or was, once. Pretty sure water hasn't changed that much."

Dan: "Good. You can help Kate, and Megan and I will swim to shore on our own."

Barry: "Bad idea. Swim to shore, you might get shot instead of drowning."

Megan: "Just a ray of sunshine, aren't you, Barry?"

Barry: "Can the folks in front make it back here? We should stay with the car as long as possible, and the air pocket usually forms in the back."

Kate: "I think I can make it back there..."

Barry: "Oh, if the ladies who were concerned about water on their dresses want to remove them and put them in a waterproof bag..."

Megan: "Not happening, pal. You are such a pig."

Barry: "Worth a shot. Also, remove necklaces, bracelets, any jewelry that might catch and get you stuck."

Kate: "OK, I'm in the back now. Dan, can you make it?"

Dan: "It's a little crowded, but better than breathing water."

Barry: "OK, when we get out of the car, stay as deep as you can while we're in the lighted area. Head for the center bridge support. Be as quiet as you can."

Kate: "I'm scared. I don't know if I can do this..."

Barry: "When we get ready to go, take a deep breath and hold it. Grab on to my shirt collar and don't let go. I'll do all the swimming, you just hang on. It will seem like forever, but it will probably only be 30 seconds to a minute. Be quiet if you can. Exhale through your nose and it will be less noisy."

Kate: "You're sure you're a lifeguard?"

Barry: "Yes. There is one thing I remember from the classes that I should mention."

Kate: "What's that?"

Barry: "The rule about not letting a single drowning become a double drowning. Some of the lessons included methods to escape a panicked person who grabs you in a choke hold instead of letting you help them. Kate, grab me too tight around the neck and I won't be shy about a shot to the solar plexus."

Kate: "Got it."

Dan: "I think we're running out of time. There's not much air left."

Barry: "You're right. Everybody ready for this?"

General chorus of 'yes'.

Barry: "Kate, hold on tight to my shirt or shoulders, because I'm going as deep as I can. Everybody take a deep breath on three and we'll open the car doors. 1, 2, 3..."

They open the car doors and swim for it. We see them surface under the bridge. Barry and Megan are fairly quiet, Kate and Dan less so.

Barry (holding on to bridge support, whispering): "Everything OK?"

(everybody has made it)

Barry: "I'll swim to the bank and see if they've left yet. With luck, they took off. Kate, you might as well come with me now, since you haven't let go of me yet. Dan, Megan, the police should be here soon. If shooting starts, just stay down until help arrives."

He angles to the shore, Kate in tow. He gets out of the water and helps Kate get out as well.

Barry (whispering): "Kate. Stay here and try to be quiet."

He takes his gun out of the bag and climbs up the bank, as quietly as a soaking wet person can be. He makes it up the bank, looks around. The SUV has left. Sirens can be heard approaching.

Barry: "OK, Kate, come on up if you can climb the bank in heels. How are you doing down there, Flotsam and Jetsam? Rescue services should be here soon. If you can wait, they'll make sure you don't end up a mile downstream."

Megan: "The water's cold. Tell them to hurry."

Barry: "I'll tell them you and Kate are in wet t-shirts. That ought to hurry things along."

Megan: "Pig."

Barry: "And no fooling around down there. Rescue guys will have searchlights and stuff. Kate's campaign doesn't need cell phone pics of you two in a compromising position after your moonlight swim."

Megan: "Shut up or you're going to have to survive two attempts on your life tonight!"

Megan (more to herself): "That guy is so annoying..."

Dan: "He's deliberately provoking you."

Megan: "Obviously. He lives for that."

Dan: "I think this time he's making sure you haven't succumbed to hypothermia. He wants you mad to keep you alert until help arrives."

Megan: "Well, if all I need is an annoying jerk to keep me alive, Barry would keep me going until I'm 100."

Barry: "It's getting mighty quiet down there, you two. I said no kissy face."

Megan: "Face it, Barry. The whole 'romantic time in the back seat of the car' thing is a bust. I'm getting a new boyfriend here."

Barry: "Oh. Dan?"

Dan: "What, Barry?"

Barry: "Just wanted to to give you a heads up. Megan came up with the idea to tag along on this little campaign trip. Her track record on planning other dates is pretty bad, too."

Dan: "Thanks for the warning. I'll do all the date planning. Right now, someplace warm sounds good. Where's the limo I called for?"

Barry: "Almost here. Can you guys make it another few minutes?"

Megan: "Sure. Since you abandoned me, I'll just cling to my new guy for body heat."

Dan: "Um..."

Megan: "Hey, he sounded kind of cold himself. Don't you think I should make him mad to keep warm, too?"

Dan: "Just leave me out of the crossfire."

Scene dissolves to the group standing around in blankets with EMTs and police.

Dan: "Since we don't have much evidence to go on, we don't know who was behind this. I'll get security details for all of you."

Kate: "Thanks, Dan."

Dan returns to discussions with police.

Barry: "I'll skip it. The police have better things to do than keep me out of trouble."

Megan: "More like there aren't enough police in the entire state to handle that detail."

Barry: "Harsh. No wonder we broke up."

Megan: "We did?"

Barry: "I won't stand in the way of you and Dan. Maybe I'll just get back together with my former flame, Kate. Since I kept her from drowning, she's probably madly in love with me out of gratitude. Kind of unavoidable, really."

Kate: "Not to sound ungrateful or anything, but.."

Megan: "...but face it, Barry. She'd rather die first."

Barry: "Oh. Hmmm... (considers) I suppose. If she insists..."

Kate: "What?"

Barry: "Necrophilia not really my thing. I can see how a couple of ME's might have developed a certain curiosity..."

Megan: "Ewww. Kate, why in the world did you hire this jerk?"

Kate: "I don't know. Apparently for those occasions on which he comes through for me. Like being able to swim when his supervisor can't. 'Dying first' was a looming possibility."

Megan: "Barry, you are such a suck-up. How many times do you think you can get away with saving people in the department in order to hang on to your job?"

Barry: "I'll go with 'as many times as necessary'."

Kate: "Good answer. I might even sign your paycheck this month. Let's get in the car, I'm freezing."

(Megan looks down.)

Megan: "Hey! Get me a CS tech over here! This looks like a fresh cigarette butt. Bag it and send it to trace!"

A CSU or deputy comes running up and bags it.

The three of them get in the back of a waiting police car. A police officer gets in the front.

Barry: "Back of a squad car, but at least I'm not handcuffed. That's a plus."

Megan: "Really? You're not disappointed?"

Barry: "What?"

Megan: "You've got a threesome here with two beautiful women in the back seat of a car. Knowing you, I figured handcuffs might be your next request."

Barry: "See, Megan, you need to think these things all the way through. I'm not against making out in the back seat of a car, but a police car is not the best choice. They have video cameras."

Megan: "Oh, yeah..."

Barry: "And no disrespect, but the two beautiful women have been in a more desirable state. Given that they currently look like half-drowned rats and smell of river water."

Megan: "Are you saying we stink?"

Barry: "I presume I do, too. Ask our chauffeur."

Officer: "I wasn't going to say anything, ma'am, but I was going to drop the vehicle off to be cleaned afterward. Immediately afterward."

Megan: "I'm insulted."

Barry: "I was going to offer my van as transportation so that you wouldn't have to stink up your nice car. If you want, we could all just go back to my place to clean up with a long, hot shower."

Megan: "No chance, buster. Not happening tonight."

Kate: "She's right. (wicked smile) At least until after the campaign..."

Megan: "Kate!"

(end scene)

Scene: Kate's office, later in the week. Kate, Megan, Barry.

Kate: "I wanted you to know that the investigation into who might have run us off the road has stalled for lack of evidence."

Megan: "They don't have any ideas?"

Barry: "Probably too many ideas. Where to start? Love-crazed stalker, the money launderers who lost their livelihood, Marburg virus sympathizers..."

Megan: "What about trace from the cigarette I found?"

Kate: "No trace, DNA hasn't come back yet. A small sample like that takes longer to process."

Megan: "Tell them it's a priority."

Kate: "It already is. The FBI is interested, too, given my political status."

Megan: "We don't know you were the target, Kate. I bet there's quite a list of people who would like to see Barry dead."

Barry: "Sure, throw that in my face. Watch me laugh when it backfires on you."

Megan: "Backfires?"

Barry: "Megan Hunt, M.D. rockets to the top of that list."

Megan: "Hmm..."

Kate: "That all you've got?"

Megan: "For once, he's right."

Kate: "Nothing like office comaraderie to speed up an investigation. Since you were all in my car, none of you could have have been the driver of the vehicle that ran me off the road. Megan's off the hook, unless she hired a hit on a car she was riding in."

Barry: "She loves me after all. So touching."

Megan: "You're not touching anything, buddy."

Kate: "OK, you two, neither one of you is a suspect. This time. I wanted to let you know that your police detail will be pulled by the end of the week unless we get more information or a credible threat."

Megan: "What am I supposed to do with my daughter? How am I supposed to protect her if I get called in to work?"

Barry: "Just out of curiosity, how were you going to protect her if you're home? Are you suddenly a martial arts master or something? I bet that works great with paresthesia."

Megan: "Shut up. It does prove my point, though. Lacey and I are pretty vulnerable if somebody is out to get us."

Kate: "They've promised an 'increased police presence'. I might get a little extra as a candidate for federal office, but since I haven't formally registered for that, it won't be much."

Megan: "I'm worried about my daughter."

Kate: "Sorry, there isn't a lot I can do."

Barry: "Make up the couch. I'll stay with you and Lacey until the heat is off."

Megan: "No way!"

Kate: "I have to admit, you could do worse."

Megan: "I have an impressionable daughter in the house! I am not having sleepovers with some guy for a few weeks!"

Barry: "It wouldn't have to be every night. Just random evenings so nobody can count on me not being there."

Megan: "Can't I just claim to have committed a felony so we can go into custody? Surely we have a couple of unsolved murders on the shelf."

Kate: "Nice try. As someone who may have helped put some of those folks behind bars, I don't see you being very safe in prison."

Megan: "Shoot. There's got to be something."

Kate: "Unless we get a lead, not much."

Megan: "I'll think about it. But you're not monopolizing the TV with sports!"

Barry: "I've got one of those gizmos at my house that lets me watch my channels somewhere else. I can just dial into that and watch on a laptop if I need to. I won't interrupt your fashion network or soap opera highlights or whatever you want to watch."

Megan: "I like watching those shows where some jerk gets voted off the island every week. For some reason, that resonates."

Barry: "I like the part where one person gets an exemption to being voted off, owing to his superior performance and extensive skill set..."

Megan: "Oh, brother. No exemptions for you! It's my couch. If you stay with Lacey and me, I can vote you off whenever I want."

Barry: "Hmmm... Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Megan: "What do you mean?"

Barry: "Well, if I'm not sleeping on the couch, it could either be like I missed my flight entirely, or I'm using my points to get an upgrade..."

Megan: "No points. No upgrade to my bedroom. Couch or nothing while my daughter is around, buster. I'm going back to work. I'll see you later. And bring your own toothbrush. You're not borrowing mine."

Barry: "OK."

He starts to smile a little deviously as she leaves.

Kate: "OK, what are you up to this time?"

Barry: "Why would you think I'm up to something?"

Kate: "Because you haven't denied it."

Barry: "Well, it did occur to me that if I'm staying in a house with a jumpy, over-protective mother, a little catnip spread around windows or trash cans could attract the neighborhood felines, so we'd have a little extra noise during the night."

Kate: "Sending her running into your arms, no doubt."

Barry: "Possibly."

Kate: "Get out, you evil pervert."

Barry: "You're going to rat me out, huh?"

Kate: "No. I just want plausible deniability. What you and Megan do is your own business. Draw her fire, my life is more pleasant. Get her so riled up that she's mad at everybody, I'll make you pay."

Barry: "Got it. Later, boss."

(end scene)

Scene: Megan's apartment, late at night. Megan is arriving home after having been called in to work. Barry is on the couch, clearly dressed for bed (gym shorts, t-shirt, whatever), watching a televised game.

Megan: "I'm home!"

Barry: "Lacey is in her room. She said studying, but I have a feeling it's more texting than studying."

Megan: "I'll pop my head in and tell her to get some sleep. Then I'll take a shower. I need to get the smell of decomp and formaldehyde off me."

Barry: "OK. Want me to scrub your back?"

Megan: "No! Quit acting like such a pig with my daughter in the house!"

Barry: "Don't you think it helps her emotional development to see her mother acting in a strong and empowered fashion, rebuffing my advances and managing her love life on her own terms?"

Megan: "I'm so tired that argument actually makes sense to me. I need some sleep. Why can't criminals work 9 to 5 like normal people?"

Barry: "Some do. Successful white-collar criminals make a mint. But those crimes rarely involve bodies."

Megan: "I'm in the wrong line of work. Are you staying up?"

Barry: "Until this game is over. It's in California."

Megan: "Thanks for pulling guard duty. See you in the morning."

(Barry watches TV and checks a laptop or tablet. Megan can be heard showering, then shower stops. The doorbell rings.)

Barry: "I'll get it."

(He goes to the front door. Megan comes out in a bathrobe as he opens it. It is Tommy.)

Barry: "May I help you, detective?"

Tommy: "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your evening..."

Barry: "You did so. You knew perfectly well that tonight I was going to demonstrate position 149 in the Kama Sutra to Megan."

Tommy: "I don't even know what that is..."

Megan (to Barry): "Doesn't matter. Not happening. How were you planning to demonstrate a position that involved me in my bed and you on the couch?"

Barry: "Photoshop?"

Tommy: "Trouble in paradise?"

Megan: "No paradise, and only the usual amount of trouble. Maybe less. Barry has been staying over some nights, sleeping on the couch, just to kind of watch out for us a little since we lost our police detail. Anything more than that is pure fantasy on his part."

Barry: "What brings you here this late at night, detective? That parking ticket I got last week was a mistake. I was on official business. You can't arrest me for that."

Tommy: "I'm not here to arrest anybody. Megan, I tried calling your office and was told you'd just left, so I figured you'd still be up. There's some movement on that traffic case of yours."

Megan: "Did they get the DNA result back?"

Tommy: "Yeah. Good job spotting that cigarette. We got a hit off CODIS. It belonged to a member of one of the gangs doing money laundering with our favorite county commissioner. We rounded up a few of them, and found the car that was used to run you guys off the road."

Megan: "That's a relief. Thanks for letting me know, Tommy."

Tommy: "You're not totally out of the woods yet. Other members of the gang might still try to go after any of the four of you as witnesses. That's why I thought I'd stop by and check up on you."

Barry: "Well, as you can easily see, she is in very good hands."

Megan: "True, I suppose. At any rate, your hands are not the part of you that causes the most concern."

Barry: "Oh? Dare I dream what part of me you actually are interested in?"

Megan: "Sure. It's whatever misfiring neurons are responsible for your delusions. I was a neurosurgeon, remember? I'm sure your disease-riddled pre-frontal cortex would make a fascinating study."

Barry: "If you don't mind, I'd prefer to wait a while before making it available. I use it on occasion."

Megan: "Go back to the couch while I say goodnight to the nice man who stopped by to check up on me and Lacey."

(He exits, she turns back to Tommy.)

Tommy: "Kind of an interesting character. Are you and he...?"

Megan: "Occasionally. We've gone on a couple of dates. Nothing serious. My dating pool is a little limited. Most guys I meet tend to be somewhat lacking in the life signs department."

Tommy: "You met him at work?"

Megan: "His specialty is forensic data recovery. I hadn't had a chance to introduce you, but he knows who you are. One of the other lab rats probably filled him in."

Tommy: "Megan, I can't tell you what to do, but some computer geek wouldn't be my first choice at keeping you safe from gangs. I can come by when I'm not working a shift. You need protection from a real officer, not some video gamer."

Megan: "That's sweet. You might want to ask around about him at the precinct before you assume he can't protect me, though. I think he could give you a pretty good run for your money."

Tommy: "Seriously?"

Megan: "He's a crack shot. He took out three professional assassins a while ago. And he's rigged up a bunch of hidden security cameras around when he thought I wouldn't notice. If you had been a gang member, he likely would have dropped you as you rang the doorbell."

Tommy: "Oh. Fine, I'll leave you two alone then."

Megan: "Don't pout. I'm sure he could use a break if you have any nights free this week. Same deal. Couch only."

Tommy: "You're sure it won't cause any friction?"

Megan: "We're not married. I'm kind of interested, and Lacey thinks the world of him, but it's pretty casual so far."

Tommy: "I wouldn't want to cause a problem."

Megan: "Sure you would, Tommy."

Tommy: "Ah, well..."

Megan: "You're cute when you're flustered."

Tommy: "OK, I have Thursday night free. Would you like me to come over then?"

Megan: "That would be very nice. I'll give my bodyguard the night off. Bear in mind that Mr. Gray has a surveillance background. If you try anything, he will undoubtedly find out."

Tommy: "Understood. I'll see you then."

Megan: "Thank you for stopping by, detective."

(She closes the door behind him as he leaves.)

(end scene)