117: Company Man

Transcription by Intrepid (intrepidly002@yahoo.com)

FADE IN:

[TITLE CARD: HEROES]

NARRATOR: (v.o.) Previously on Heroes ...



[SOLAR ECLIPSE]

VARIOUS CHARACTERS ONE AFTER THE OTHER – CLAIRE, NIKI/JESSICA, HIRO

NARRATOR: (v.o.) Ordinary people discovered extraordinary abilities.

(Nathan flies straight up in the sky to get away from Mr. Bennet and the Haitian.)

FADE TO WHITE:



[CLAIRE]

NARRATOR: (v.o.) An invincible cheerleader searched for answers.

VARIOUS CLIPS OF:
* Claire snaps her dislocated shoulder back into the socket.
* Claire runs into the train wreck to save a man.
* The firemen try to help Claire and find that she’s now injured.

ON CLAIRE:

CLAIRE: My dad lied to me about my entire life.

(Mr. Bennet and Claire hug.)

(Meredith Gordon shows Claire her fire-starting abilities.)

CLAIRE: (v.o.) My biological parents, my ability—



[MR. BENNET]

NARRATOR: (v.o.) What was the mystery behind her father?

(Mr. Bennet is on the rooftop looking down at Peter and Claude.)

(Cut to: Mr. Bennet sits behind Mohinder’s desk.)

ON MR. BENNET:

MR. BENNET: I’m just a paper salesman.

(Cut to: Mr. Bennet fires at Sylar.)

NARRATOR: (v.o.) And who did he really work for?

(Cut to: Mr. Bennet and the Haitian look at Sylar in the cell.)

(Cut to: Matt is strapped into the bed.)

MATT: What do you want with me?

MR. BENNET: We want to know more about you.

FLASH TO:



[TED SPRAGUE]

(Ted practices using his powers.)

[MATT]

NARRATOR: (v.o.) But two heroes have a grudge.

(Matt slams Mr. Bennet up against the paper rolls in the warehouse.)

MATT: He abducted people. He abducted me.

[MATT & TED]

(Matt and Ted meet in the cemetery with Hana Gitelman.)

NARRATOR: (v.o.) And tonight, they’re out to get the truth at any cost.

(Matt and Ted are at the Bennet residence. Matt holds the gun on them.)

MATT: I’m sure you have a lot of questions. We all do.

FLASH TO



[TITLE CARD: HEROES]

NARRATOR: (v.o.) And now, Heroes continues ...

FADE OUT.
END OF PREVIOUSLY ON.



FADE IN:

[CU: FRAMED PHOTO]

(A framed photo of the Bennet family – Sandra, Claire, Lyle and Mr. Bennet.)



[INT. (ODESSA) BENNET RESIDENCE – FOYER – DAY ]

CAPTION:
BENNET HOME
ODESSA, TEXAS

(The house is quiet. We move low on the floor from the POV of the foyer and turn toward the stairs. Mr. Muggles runs down the stairs. He barks and growls as he goes freely through the house.)



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE (STOCK) – DAY]

(Nice stock photo of the two-story Bennet home, green lawn and white fence.)

[EPISODE TITLE]
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"COMPANY MAN"



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – KITCHEN – DAY ]

(Mr. Muggles runs through the kitchen and heads for the back door. He stops and barks at the door. We hear fizzing and electrical sizzling sounds –

-- and the back doorknob smokes, turns bright hot and melts.)

(Mr. Muggles continues to bark.)

(The door opens. Ted and Matt walk in. Ted picks Mr. Muggles up.)

TED: I've had enough of that!

MATT: Don't, don't, don't!

TED: (scoffs) I'm not gonna nuke the dog. I wouldn't hurt, uh ... (He looks at the name tag.) ... Mr. Muggles, would I?

MATT: Yeah, well, you know what? If you wanted to hurt this guy, that'd be the way to do it. There are more pictures of dogs around here than there are of his kids.

(Matt looks around, then heads for the den. Ted follows him.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DEN – DAY]

TED: You don't really think that he's stupid and/or sloppy enough to leave incriminating evidence around the house. You know, he did just get raided by the FBI.

(Matt looks at the computer.)

MATT: We couldn't get a warrant for the house. So in the off chance that he is a little sloppy or stupid, I wanna poke around.

(He unplugs the unit.)

TED: So now we're jacking his computer?

MATT: You wanna sit around all day and download files? I don't.

TED: If we don't find anything on his PC, there is somewhere else we can look: inside his head!

MATT: I plan on that. We're gonna bag the smug son of a bitch at his paper factory. See how he likes it.

(Ted looks out the window and sees the Bennet’s SUV return home.)

TED: Maybe we can bag him here.

(Mr. Bennet and the others get out of the car.)

MATT: Oh, God. He's with his family.

TED: Family's a pretty good motivator.

MATT: No, no, no. I am not taking any hostages. We bag him at the paper factory.

TED: No, no, no. That was Plan A. Plan B is much better.

MATT: There is no Plan B. We leave ... now!

(Matt turns to leave. Ted grabs him.)

TED: How many times you gonna let this guy slip through your fingers?

(Matt hesitates as he sees Mr. Bennet just outside. Claire helps her mom.)

(Matt looks at Ted.)

(Ted heads out of the room. Matt reaches for his gun and follows him.)

(The Bennets reach the front door.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – FOYER – DAY]

(The anniversary clock reads: 6:25. The front door opens. Claire helps Sandra inside.)

MR. BENNET: Lyle, help your mother.

(Lyle and Sandra head up the stairs.)

(Ted is just inside the kitchen listening.)

MR. BENNET: Claire, talk to me!

CLAIRE: What's the point? Am I even gonna remember this conversation?

(He glances upstairs.)

MR. BENNET: Would you keep your voice down?

(Ted steps out in front of Claire.)

MR. BENNET: Lyle, take your mother and get out of the house right now!

(Lyle and Sandra head down the stairs. Matt steps out and blocks their path to the front door. He cocks his gun and points it at Mr. Bennet.)

(Mr. Bennet and Claire turn around.)

MATT: I'm sure you have a lot of questions. We all do.

SANDRA: Honey, what's happening?

CLAIRE: Yeah, Dad, what's happening?

VOICE: (v.o., thinking) Stay calm.

(Ted looks at his hands.)

MATT: Yeah. Let's just everyone stay calm. Okay, everyone stays calm, nobody's gonna get hurt.

MR. BENNET: This is Officer Parkman of the LAPD.

MATT: Formerly of the LAPD thanks to you.

MR. BENNET: What do you want from me? You come into my house with guns?

TED: (interrupts) Not guns. Gun. I don't need a gun, do I, Mr. Bennet? Not after what you did to me.

MR. BENNET: I don't know you.

(Ted steps closer.)

TED: If you insist on lying, you're gonna upset me. And you know what happens when I get upset. (He looks at Claire.) I get very bright ... and very hot.

(Matt puts his gun in his holster.)

MATT: No, no, no. Ted is gonna do us all a favor -- right, Ted -- and he's not gonna get upset. But you gotta help.

(He points to Mr. Bennet.)

MR. BENNET: I'm not who you think I am. I'm just a paper salesman.

TED: No. No ... you're not.

(And we ZOOM in on Mr. Bennet’s left eye for a close-up of Ted’s reflection in his glasses.)

DISSOLVE TO:



(We ZOOM back out from Mr. Bennet’s left eye – he’s not wearing any glasses.)



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – THOMPSON’S OFFICE – DAY (FLASHBACK)]

(Mr. Bennet sits in front of a desk, facing Thompson.)

THOMPSON: So tell me. How do you feel about paper?

CAPTION:
15 YEARS AGO

MR. BENNET: Wildly enthusiastic.

THOMPSON: Good. Because as far as friends and family are concerned, it's your life. Congratulations. (They both get to their feet.) You are the new regional manager for Primatech Paper.

(They shake hands.)

MR. BENNET: Nice cover.

THOMPSON: Sorry to make a liar out of you. (They both sit back down.) But it's part and parcel of what we do. Nobody outside the organization knows.

MR. BENNET: Well, they can't know. People are fragile ... like teacups. All around them, the world is changing and they simply don't wanna deal with it. They don't wanna know what's happening to us as a species.

THOMPSON: And they certainly don't wanna know the measures we take to keep them safe. Now you'll be asked to do things that fall into morally grey territory. Things that most would find cruel ... but men like you and I know to be necessary.

MR. BENNET: I'm comfortable with morally grey.

THOMPSON: Good. You will have a partner. One of them. That's how we do it here. Keeps us all honest.

MR. BENNET: Great! When do I meet him?

THOMPSON: He's already here.

(Thompson turns to the side. Mr. Bennet automatically looks behind him at the door. In front of him, Claude Rains materializes. He’s already seated on the edge of the desk.)

MR. BENNET: Is this a test?

(Mr. Bennet turns back and sees Claude. He’s surprised and surges to his feet.)

MR. BENNET: Oh shoot! How did you – h-h-how did -- how is that --

(Claude offers his hand.)

CLAUDE: It's a brave new world, friend.

(They shake hands.)

END OF FLASHBACK



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM/FOYER – DAY (PRESENT)]

(Mr. Bennet turns back and looks at Ted.)

TED: Go ahead. Tell 'em what you do. What goes on at that "paper factory" of yours, Mr. Bennet?

MATT: He abducts people! He -- he drugs us!

(Matt pulls his shirt collar away to show them the scar on the back of his neck.)

MATT: He injects us with I don't know what. (Matt turns to Mr. Bennet.) I lost my job and I am trying not to lose my wife. But you don't care about that, do you? You don't care about what you did to me. All you care about is that we think that nothing happened. Makes us forget.

SANDRA: How can he make you forget?

(Matt turns to Sandra. Before he can answer her, he hears an answer.)

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) The Haitian.

(Matt turns and looks at Claire.)

MATT: That's right. The Haitian.

(Mr. Bennet looks at Claire. Everyone looks at Claire.)

TED: She knows?

(Matt concentrates on Claire. Claire turns and glares at her dad.)

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) (accusing) This is your fault.

MATT: She knows this is his fault. He's got 'em all fooled except for her.

TED: Just when you thought plausible deniability was gonna save your ass.

(And then Matt is bombarded by Claire’s thoughts.)

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) The Haitian ...

MATT: The Haitian ...

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) -- made my mother forget...

MATT: -- made her mother forget ... and her brother but not ... (He turns and looks at Claire.) Why didn't he make you forget?

SANDRA: What is he talking about, Claire?

CLAIRE: I don't know anything.

(Matt looks at Mr. Bennet.)

MATT: You wanna put a stop to all this? All you need to do to keep your family safe, to keep us all safe, is just tell the truth.

MR. BENNET: I am telling the truth.

TED: No, this ...

(He holds his hands up and they glow.)

TED: ... is the truth!

(Claire turns and backs away from Ted.)

SANDRA: Oh, my God!

TED: This is what you did to me.

MATT: Settle down, Ted.

TED: We just wanna be normal again.

(Claire turns and looks at Matt.)

CLAIRE: He's not a paper salesman.

(Mr. Bennet looks at Claire. She looks back at him.)

TED: Guess she's not Daddy's little girl anymore.

CUT TO:



[TITLE CARD: HEROES]

FADE OUT.

(COMMERCIAL SET)



FADE IN:

[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE (STOCK) – DAY]

(We start from the road and move low up the driveway toward the front door.)

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM/DEN – DAY]

(Claire and Matt are in the den. The others – Mr. Bennet, Sandra, Lyle and Ted are out in the living room.)

MR. BENNET: What are they doing?

(Ted doesn’t say anything. Mr. Bennet gets to his feet.)

MR. BENNET: (shouts) Claire?

(Ted stands up and pushes Mr. Bennet back down into his seat.)

TED: He's getting inside your daughter's head.

CUT TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DEN – DAY -- CONTINUOUS]

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) I can run. Get some help. They can't hurt me.

(Matt can hear her.)

MATT: I know you're thinking about being a hero -- don't! Don't! This guy is serious. And he's really dangerous and I need your help to make sure that nobody gets hurt.

CLAIRE: You can read my mind.

MATT: Yeah, that's something your dad did to me.

CLAIRE: It didn't just happen?

MATT: I wouldn't be here right now if it just happened.

CLAIRE: Has my dad done this to other people?

MATT: Yeah. As far as I can tell, it's different with everyone. (sighs) I've seen some weird things. I'm sure you have too, like that stuff at your school.

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) Peter Petrelli.

MATT: Peter Petrelli? He can do what I can do. What do you know about him?

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) He can do what I can do.

(Matt looks at her.)

CLAIRE: He's different ... like you.

MATT: "Save the cheerleader." I read his mind, he read mine. He told me to protect you ... from someone who was killing people like me. Are you different, Claire?

(Claire doesn’t answer him. She walks over to the window. Matt is putting it together.)

MATT: Your blood was all over that crime scene. You didn't have a scratch on you. Why didn't you have a scratch on you?

(Claire turns and looks at Matt.)

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) I can heal.

(Matt is startled.)

CLAIRE: Did my dad make me this way?

(Matt shakes his head and doesn’t answer her.)

(Mr. Bennet sits outside in the living room waiting with the others.)

(We hold on Claire.)

CUT TO:



[EXT. (NEW YORK) DEVEAUX BUILDING – ROOFTOP – DAY (FLASHBACK)]

(Mr. Bennet and Claude wait just inside the building as they look out through the windows.)

MR. BENNET: What are they gonna do with the baby?

CLAUDE: I don't know. I wonder if they knew about little orphan Annie before they sent us over there to bag a bloody fire starter.

(Out on the rooftop, Thompson talks with a man carrying a baby. On the patio table is a ten-year-old boy playing a hand-held game.)

CAPTION:
14 YEARS AGO

MR. BENNET: Nah. They would've told us.

(Thompson motions for Mr. Bennet and Claude to join them outside.

(They step outside. Thompson walks up to Claude. The other man remains behind, his back to them.)

THOMPSON: Claude, a word please.

(Thompson and Claude leave. Mr. Bennet turns and looks at the little boy playing the hand-held game. He turns and approaches the man with the baby.)

(Mr. Bennet clears his throat.)

(Kaito Nakamura turns around. The conversation is in Japanese.)

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) No sign of the mother?

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) We think she died in the fire.

(They hear the video game beeping and turn to look at Hiro.)

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) You son?

KAITO NAKAMURA: Hmm. (subtitled) I understand you have no children.

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) That’s correct.

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) Having children changes a man.

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) I can only imagine.

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) You don’t have to imagine. You’re going to ... adopt the baby as your own.

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) I don’t think that’s a good idea.

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) It’s not a request. You and your wife have been trying to conceive. Yes?

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) Unsuccessfully. And frankly, I’m relieved. I don’t think I’d be a very good father.

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) Once again, not a request.

(Kaito steps forward and puts the baby in Mr. Bennet’s arms.

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) Don’t get too close.

(Thompson and Claude listen and watch from the room.)

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) You’re only her surrogate father. She belongs to us.

(Mr. Bennet looks at the baby, who has her hand on his chin.)

KAITO NAKAMURA: (subtitled) If she manifests, we’ll take her.

(Mr. Bennet looks at Mr. Nakamura. He nods.)

MR. BENNET: (subtitled) Of course.

(Mr. Nakamura nods and heads out. He walks past his son.)

KAITO NAKAMURA: (unsubtitled) Hiro! Iku!

(Hiro looks up and pushes his glasses up on his nose. He gets up and runs out after his dad. Mr. Bennet is left on the rooftop with the baby.)

(Claude walks out and smiles at Mr. Bennet.)

CLAUDE: (subtitled) Happy Father’s Day.

(Mr. Bennet looks down at the baby. The baby smiles back.)

CUT TO:
END OF FLASHBACK



[INT. (ODESSA) BENNET RESIDENCE – DEN / LIVING ROOM – DAY (PRESENT)]

(Claire glares at her dad.)

CLAIRE: Did you make me this way? Is that why you adopted me? Am I some sort of experiment?!

SANDRA: Don't talk to your father like that.

CLAIRE: He's not my father.

(On the side, Matt talks with Ted.)

MATT: They have nothing to do with this.

TED: He's the one who got 'em involved.

MATT: No, we did! You and me when we didn't leave this house when they came home. Look, no one's been hurt yet. What's he gonna do, go to the police? We can get out of here right now.

TED: We didn't get what we came for. We came for a cure. What if there isn't one?

(The Bennets wait.)

TED: (v.o., thinking) I'll kill us all.

(Matt heard that.)

TED: Just get inside his head and get some answers or we're all gonna have a really bad day.

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) (in Japanese)

MATT: That son of a bitch is thinking in Japanese.

TED: Why are you thinking in Japanese? Huh? We want answers! Who are you? And what did you do to us?

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) In the den ... the safe in the bookcase.

MATT: Ted, there's a safe in the bookcase.

(Ted heads for the den. A beat later, Mr. Bennet gets up and lunges for the revolver hidden under the fireplace mantle.)

(He grabs the gun. Matt turns around.)

MATT: No!

SANDRA: Oh!

(Matt punches Mr. Bennet in the face. Mr. Bennet drops the gun.)

MR. BENNET: Ah!

(Ted runs out of the den and picks the gun up. He starts kicking Mr. Bennet.)

SANDRA: (screams) Stop it! Stop it!

(Matt pulls Ted away from Mr. Bennet.)

MATT: Enough! We're done.

(Ted shakes Matt’s hold off him. He walks over to Sandra.)

TED: We are not done! I'm calling your bluff.

(He pulls Sandra away from the kids and points the gun at her.)

CLAIRE: Mom.

(Matt points his gun on Ted. Mr. Bennet gets to his feet.)

MATT: Ted ... Ted! Put the gun down. That's not gonna help anybody.

TED: He killed my wife. Only fair I kill his. And with his own gun too.

(Mr. Bennet takes a step toward Ted, causing Ted to point the gun at him.)

TED: Kinda poetic, don't you think?

CLAIRE: Tell him what he wants to know!

MATT: Come on! He's willing to kill us all.

CLAIRE: Leave her alone. She didn't do anything.

SANDRA: Claire, sit down.

(Claire stands in front of Sandra.)

CLAIRE: Shoot me if you're gonna shoot someone.

(Sandra pushes Claire away.)

SANDRA: No!

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Parkman, you have to trust me. Shoot Claire.

(Matt looks at Mr. Bennet.)

TED: I'm telling you someone's going to die. I'm sorry, Mrs. Bennet.

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Shoot Claire now. She can heal.

CLAIRE: (v.o., thinking) Shoot me!

TED: (to Mr. Bennet) You brought this on yourself.

CLAIRE: No!

(Matt turns and shoots Claire. She falls on the floor.)

(Sandra gets up and runs to Claire.)

SANDRA: No, no, no. Claire. (screams) Claire!

(She turns to Matt.)

SANDRA: (screams) What did you do?!

(We hold on Matt.)

FADE OUT.

(COMMERCIAL SET)



FADE IN:

[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE (STOCK) – DAY]

(We start from the road and move low up the driveway toward the front door.)

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Claire is on the floor. Sandra gets up and runs to Claire.)

SANDRA: No, no, no. Claire.

(She turns to Matt.)

SANDRA: (screams) What did you do?!

TED: (agitated) What did you do that for?

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Get his trust.

MATT: Now he knows how far we'll go.

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Right hook.

(Matt turns and looks at Mr. Bennet.

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Right hook coming.

(Mr. Bennet punches Matt in the face.)

MR. BENNET: Bastard! You killed my little girl!

TED: You -- you did!

(Sandra holds Claire’s body and cries. Mr. Bennet rushes over to her.)

SANDRA: (crying) Tell me it's not true. Tell me --

MR. BENNET: (to Matt) Don't leave her here!

MR. BENNET: (v.o., thinking) Move Claire's body before it heals.

MATT: They don't need to see her like this. We gotta move the body.



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – CLAIRE’S BEDROOM– DAY]

(The door opens. Matt enters. Mr. Bennet carries Claire into the room and puts her down on the bed.)

MATT: I had no idea it was gonna go this far. Believe me. He was going to kill your wife. I actually heard him pull the trigger in his mind.

MR. BENNET: Thank you for shooting first.

(Matt and Mr. Bennet wait. Claire coughs and picks the bullet out of her mouth. She gives the bullet to Matt.)

MATT: (amazed) Oh my God.

(Claire sits up.)

CLAIRE: Where's Mom and Lyle?

MR. BENNET: Downstairs.

CLAIRE: Are they safe?

MR. BENNET: No.

MATT: Wait, you made her indestructible?

MR. BENNET: I didn't make anyone. You don't have all your facts straight and I don't appreciate your confusing my daughter.

MATT: The facts are you work at some freak factory where you ruin people's lives.

MR. BENNET: You’ve been mislead, Claire. I will explain everything later. But right now, you have to do exactly what I tell you to do.

CLAIRE: I'm going to the police.

(Claire gets up. They stop her.)

MATT/MR. BENNET: No, no, no. Shh!

MR. BENNET: Wait, wait. Do not make the same mistake I did. Don't put your family at risk.

INTERCUT WITH:

[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Downstairs, Sandra and Lyle sit and wait. Ted paces.)

TED: Parkman?

(Matt shouts back.)

MATT: Yeah, coming!

MR. BENNET: (to Claire) The people I work for don't know about you. If they did, you wouldn't be here right now. They would've taken you months ago and we never would've seen you again. You said you want a normal life. That's what I've been fighting for.

(Matt concentrates on Mr. Bennet.)

MATT: He's telling the truth.

MR. BENNET: Hate me all you want, but right now, this has to be contained. Which means you have to stay put.

CLAIRE: You want me to play dead? I'm sorry. I'm not Mr. Muggles.

MR. BENNET: That man downstairs can generate a chain reaction which would be like dropping a nuclear bomb on this house.

MATT: And he'll do it too. Come on, we gotta go now.

MR. BENNET: (to Claire) Just do what I say so nobody gets hurt. (to Matt) And you.

MATT: Yeah.

MR. BENNET: Do what I think.

(Matt and Mr. Bennet leave the room. They close the door behind them.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Ted waits at the base of the stairs. Lyle runs up to him and is wielding a bat. He swings; he misses. Ted turns and pushes Lyle down on the floor. Lyle drops the bat just as Matt and Mr. Bennet return.)

MR. BENNET: Hey! That’s enough!

(Matt jumps down and grabs Ted away from Lyle. Sandra rushes forward to hold Lyle.)

MR. BENNET: No! That's enough!

MATT: We already got their attention. We're not gonna find anything here. What we want is at the paper factory.

TED: Really?

MATT: Yeah.

TED: Did he tell you that or think it?

MATT: There are records of the abductions -- what they've done. In exchange for his family's safety, he'll get them for us.

MR. BENNET: I don't want anybody else to die because of what I've done to you.

TED: Do all words coming out of your mouth sound like lies?

MATT: He's not lying. We'll have proof.

TED: No surprises at the factory.

MR. BENNET: Just the truth.

MATT: I'll stay with the family. You go.

TED: No. I'll stay with the family. I can do more damage here.

MR. BENNET: Whatever you say. You're in control.

(Mr. Bennet takes a step toward Sandra. Ted blocks his way with the bat.)

MR. BENNET: Sandra -- I'm gonna get us out of this.

(Matt turns and heads for the door. Ted looks at his watch.)

TED: It's 7:00 a.m. If you're not back in an hour, look for the mushroom cloud.

(Mr. Bennet turns and heads out of the house, leaving Sandra and Lyle behind.)

MR. BENNET: (PRE-LAP) (v.o.) I think my wife suspects something.

CUT TO:



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE – FRONT DRIVE – LATE EVENING (FLASHBACK)]

CAPTION:
14 YEARS AGO

(Mr. Bennet meets with Thompson out on the road in front of the house.)

MR. BENNET: She went through my bag. She found a gun and a sedation kit.

(Thompson closes the car door.)

THOMPSON: That's a particular kind of stupid on your part for letting her find them.

MR. BENNET: I know, I know. The baby's been keeping me up for days. It was sloppy. I think Sandra thinks I'm some sort of a serial killer.

THOMPSON: She's better off thinking you're a serial killer than knowing the truth.

MR. BENNET: I don't know what to do.

THOMPSON: That a new sensation for you, Bennet?

MR. BENNET: Is my wife in danger?

THOMPSON: If I said yes, what would be your next move? Would you pack up Sandra and little Claire and make a run for it or would you turn her over?

MR. BENNET: I'd do what I've always done--what I'm told. But you didn't answer the question. Is she in danger?

THOMPSON: Relax. Nothing's gonna happen to your wife because she's not gonna remember finding anything. There's a boy we discovered in Haiti.

MR. BENNET: He can make her forget?

THOMPSON: He's really something. He's mute. When we asked him to describe his ability, he drew a picture of himself pulling memories like little grub worms out of someone's head. I want to put it on the front of my fridge. When he's done, make sure you thank him for saving Sandra's life.

(Thompson heads back to the car.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – FOYER – EVENING (FLASHBACK)]

(Mr. Bennet opens the front door. A young Haitian walks in.)

MR. BENNET: She's upstairs.

(The Haitian nods and heads upstairs.)

(As he walks upstairs, he gets closer and closer to the camera – and we focus in on the SYMBOL, an amulet, hanging around his neck.)

CUT TO:
END OF FLASHBACK.



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY (PRESENT)]

(The door opens. The security guard lets Mr. Bennet and Matt inside. They head down the hallway.)

SHORT TIME CUT TO:

(The clock on the wall reads 7:20.)

MATT: We don't have time for this. In about 38 minutes, Ted's going nuclear unless we bring him back some hard evidence.

MR. BENNET: The only thing we're bringing Ted is a tranquilizer.

(Mr. Bennet swipes his card key in the lock.)

SHORT TIME CUT TO:



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – LAB – DAY]

(The light in the cabinet switches on. Mr. Bennet opens the cabinet door and takes the needle out.)

MATT: He deserves to know the truth.

MR. BENNET: He doesn't want the truth. He wants his wife back.

(Mr. Bennet closes the door.)

MR. BENNET: Short of that, he wants revenge of the good old-fashioned Biblical variety.

MATT: No, actually he doesn't.

(Mr. Bennet walks over to another cabinet and opens it. Inside are the vials.)

MR. BENNET: You said yourself he already pulled the trigger in his mind.

MATT: Okay, so that's it for him? What about me? You gonna send me back to LA with my wife and my baby and no idea this ever happened so you can pretend to have a happy family again?

MR. BENNET: I'm not sending you anywhere. You're the only one I can trust. (He closes the cabinet door and looks at Matt.) Look, here's the deal. I'll be honest with you. You be honest with me.

MATT: You just try lying to me.

MR. BENNET: I just signaled the Haitian.

(Mr. Bennet heads out.)

MATT: You said no one would know we're here.

MR. BENNET: Until I needed them to.

(Matt looks at his watch and follows Mr. Bennet out of the room.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(The anniversary clock reads: 7:25 a.m.)

(Sandra and Lyle sit on the couch as Ted sits on the floor and absently creates bursts of bright, white light as he opens and closes his right hand.)

(Up on the second floor, Claire hides behind the wall and watches.)

FADE OUT.

(COMMERCIAL SET)



FADE IN:

[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY]

(The Haitian walks through the hallway. He turns the corner and sees Mr. Bennet and Matt walking toward him.)

MR. BENNET: Guess who found out where I live. What do you think we should do with him?

(The Haitian doesn’t say anything.)

MR. BENNET: First, I have another "guess who." Guess who found out you can talk!

(Mr. Bennet grabs the Haitian and slams him up against the wall.)

MR. BENNET: Who have you been talking to? Who else knows about Claire?

THE HAITIAN: Just you and I. But that will change.

MR. BENNET: She wasn't supposed to remember any of this. I gave you specific instructions.

THE HAITIAN: I answer to someone whose instructions supersede yours.

MR. BENNET: In this company?

THE HAITIAN: In your daughter's life.

(Mr. Bennet is very quiet.)

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. CAR (MOVING) – DAY (FLASHBACK)]

CAPTION:
7 YEARS AGO

(Camera moves low and quick along the road.)

(Mr. Bennet is driving; Claude sits in the passenger seat.)

CLAUDE: What's the mission?

MR. BENNET: Looking into a security breech. That's all I know. That's all they told me.

CLAUDE: That's all they told you to tell me. But what you know is considerably more. You're not as good a liar as you think.

MR. BENNET: You're the security breech.

CLAUDE: Is that what they're calling me behind my back? I was hoping for something a bit more subtle or a pun at least. You Americans are usually good for a pun.

MR. BENNET: Is it true? Are you hiding one of them?

CLAUDE: By "them," do you mean people like me? Is that what you're accusing me of hiding? Well, the short answer's yes, isn't it?

MR. BENNET: You compromised what we're doing.

CLAUDE: Sorry. I mean, I know we're serving the greater good, but the vivisection started to keep me up at night. Seeing as you're raising one of us as you're own, I was hoping for a bit more sympathy.

MR. BENNET: Claire's not one of you.

CLAUDE: Not yet. But one day maybe. And don't tell me you haven't thought about it.

MR. BENNET: If she is, then they'll take her. It's done.

CLAUDE: Oh, just like that? Father of the year, you are.

MR. BENNET: I know who I work for.

CLAUDE: So do I. I was in your office when they told you to kill me.

MR. BENNET: Then why'd you get in the car?

CLAUDE: Evidently, I think you're a better man than they do.

(Mr. Bennet looks at Claude.)



[EXT. BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS (FLASHBACK)]

(Mr. Bennet drives out to the middle of a long bridge. He stops the car and sighs.)

MR. BENNET: Get out.

(They both get out of the car and walk along the bridge.)

CLAUDE: It's not the first time you've been told to kill a man, but is it the first time you've been told to kill a friend?

MR. BENNET: Tell me who it is ... and we can forget about the rest.

CLAUDE: You're just gonna do it? You just gonna off me like nothing?

MR. BENNET: It's not nothing! We find these people. That's what we do. And you buried one. You acted against the interest of the company.

CLAUDE: You ever stop to think what those interests are?

(Mr. Bennet takes out his gun and cocks it.)

MR. BENNET: Who is it?

CLAUDE: And what if it was Claire? That's why you're so distant from her. You know you're going to turn her in. You're preparing for it.

MR. BENNET: You used to believe in what we do.

CLAUDE: I used to believe in the tooth fairy.

MR. BENNET: We made a promise -- both of us.

CLAUDE: I will not hunt my own people. This isn't who you are. You have a choi --

BANG!

(Mr. Bennet fires and hits Claude in the shoulder. Claude falls backward. He clutches his shoulder and gets up against the railing, a look of utter surprise on his face.)

MR. BENNET: Why couldn't you just --

BANG!

(Claude is hit again. Bleeding, Claude tries to turn invisible.)

CLAUDE: Ah!

(He struggles.)

BANG!

(He turns invisible and we see his shimmering figure fall back over the railing as he vanishes from sight.)

BANG!
BANG! -- BANG!

(Mr. Bennet rushes toward the railing and looks down at the long fall to the ground below.)

FADE TO WHITE:
END OF FLASHBACK.



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY (PRESENT)]

(Mr. Bennet, the Haitian and Matt walk through the hallway on their way out.)

MR. BENNET: She's my daughter.

THE HAITIAN: You can't be trusted to put her safety before company interests.

MR. BENNET: I've been hiding her for months.

THE HAITIAN: That's the sort of thing that'll get you killed ... by someone like you. But it hasn't made your daughter any safer.

MATT: We're running out of time and we're not exactly dealing with a patient man.

MR. BENNET: All right, look. It's in Claire's best interest that we contain this and we keep her off the radar.

THE HAITIAN: She could run.

MR. BENNET: She's safer in plain sight.

THE HAITIAN: Not at the moment.

MATT: No one is gonna be safe unless you give Ted what he wants.

(We hold on Mr. Bennet.)

CUT TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(The clock on the table reads: 7:40. Ted twiddles his fingers as he waits. He grabs the clock and checks the time.)

(The upstairs door creaks – and closes.)

(Ted puts the clock down on the table and heads upstairs. He looks around.)

(Sandra struggles against her taped wrists, trying to get herself free. She looks up. The kitchen door opens and Claire enters. Both Lyle and Sandra are surprised to see her still alive. Sandra gasps.)

CLAIRE: Shh.

(Claire grabs a knife and runs over to them.)

SANDRA: Claire. Thank you, God.

(Claire cuts the tape.)

SANDRA: I prayed so hard.



[INT. SECOND FLOOR]

(Ted approaches the closed bedroom door.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM]

(Claire continues to cut the tape.)

CLAIRE: Shhh-

SANDRA: (muttering) Thank you. Thank you, God.



[INT. SECOND FLOOR]

(Ted opens the bedroom door. Mr. Muggles barks and runs out past his feet. Ted sighs. He looks inside the room. It’s Claire’s bedroom. The windows are open, the curtains billowing in the wind. He sees the sheet-covered body on the bed.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM]

(Claire works on the tape on Lyle’s wrists and feet.)

SANDRA: I prayed so hard and you came back.



[INT. SECOND FLOOR]

(Ted walks into the room and approaches the bed. There’s blood on the sheet covering the body.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM]

(Claire hurries and gets the tape off them.)

SANDRA: Is it you? Is it really you?



[INT. SECOND FLOOR]

(Ted lifts the sheet and finds nothing but stuffed animals underneath. He yanks the sheet away and hurries out of the room.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM]

(Claire finishes cutting through Sandra’s feet.)

SANDRA: Go. Hurry. Run.

(Claire and Lyle get up and start running for the front door while Sandra frees herself.)

SANDRA: Get out of here!

(Ted runs down the stairs and grabs Claire.)

CLAIRE: Ah!

(Claire struggles against Ted.)

CLAIRE: Run! Run, Mom!

SANDRA: Claire!

CLAIRE: No!

(Sandra hurries Lyle toward the back door.)

SANDRA: Go to the back!
SANDRA: Claire!

(Claire still struggles with Ted. Sandra and Lyle reach the back door. Sandra turns around to check on Claire.)

SANDRA: (to Lyle) Go on. Get outta here! Run!

(Lyle leaves.)

CLAIRE: Mom!
SANDRA: Go!

(Sandra turns back to help Claire.)

SANDRA: Claire.

CLAIRE: Go, Mom!

(Ted has his hand around Claire’s neck as he holds onto her. Having no intention of leaving her, Sandra walks up to them.)

CLAIRE: Mom!
SANDRA: Claire.

(Ted’s hand glows, burning Claire’s neck. He removes his hand to show Sandra the burned skin.)

SANDRA: (whispers) Claire.

(Right before their eyes, Claire’s neck heals. Sandra looks stunned.)

(We hold on Claire.)

FADE OUT.

(COMMERCIAL SET)



FADE IN:

[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE (STOCK) – DAY]

(We start from the road and move along the street in front of the house. A couple of kids run across the screen. We keep on the house.)

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Ted peels and rips a long strip of tape. Claire and Sandra are taped up together as he adds the tape around them.)

CLAIRE: You should've run.

SANDRA: I could never leave you, not after I just got you back. (Sandra looks at Claire.) I always thought you were a miracle. Didn't know how much of one until now.

CLAIRE: I'm not a miracle, Mom.

SANDRA: (duh) You were dead. Any time someone rises from the dead, I'd say that's a miracle.

CLAIRE: I don't know what I am. I don't know if God made me this way or someone else.

TED: God didn't make us this way.

SANDRA: God makes us all the way we are. (She remembers something.) "I walked through fire and didn't get burned." You were trying to tell me.

CLAIRE: I was trying not to tell you.

SANDRA: All this forgetting ... why I was in the hospital ... you think your father did that to me?

CLAIRE: I know he did. He said he was trying to protect us.

SANDRA: He's your father. He is coming back to get us out of this.

CLAIRE: He's lied to you your entire marriage. What makes you so sure he'll keep his word now?

SANDRA: Faith. What I've seen, what I've witnessed. I can't pretend it's the same world it was yesterday. (sighs) God gave you a second chance. Find it in your heart to give your father one.

TED: I'm curious about something. Did Parkman know when he shot you that you wouldn't die? Did your dad tell him that?

CLAIRE: I don't know.

TED: That explains why they were so chummy when they came down the stairs. What do you supposed they're up to?

(Claire doesn’t bother answering him. They hear the car doors slam shut.)

TED: Guess I'll just ask them myself.

(The front door opens. Mr. Bennet and Matt rush in. They stop when Ted steps out, his hands glowing.)

TED: Am I still in control, Mr. Bennet?

(Mr. Bennet has a thick file folder tucked under his arm. He sees Claire and Sandra taped in the living room behind Ted.)

MR. BENNET: You're still in control, Ted. No tricks. Just what you asked for -- the truth.

(He opens the file folder and shows Ted the photo and disk.)

MATT: We have what we want, Ted. We have the proof.

TED: Then why the theatrics with shooting the girl who can't die?

MATT: Well, it's better than shooting one who can. We didn't come here to hurt anyone.

MR. BENNET: If the people who I work for found out that I've shown this to you, they will kill me. Since I'm risking my own life, I would rather not risk my family's.

MATT: Do you want revenge or do you want the truth? You can't have both.

TED: I want the truth.

MATT: Then let them go.

(Ted puts his hands down. The back door opens and the Haitian walks in.)

MR. BENNET: Get them out of here.

TED: What is he doing here?

MR. BENNET: Just making sure my family's safe, that's all.

(The Haitian takes out a knife and cuts Claire and Sandra loose. Mr. Bennet slowly walks toward them. Claire and Sandra are free.)

THE HAITIAN: Go, go, go.

(They get up and head for the door. Mr. Bennet takes a step toward them. Ted stops him with a hand on his chest.)

TED: No, you stay. They can go.

(Claire stops and looks at her dad.)

CLAIRE: Dad!

MR. BENNET: Get out of here. Go!

(The Haitian urges Claire toward the door.)

THE HAITIAN: Come on, Claire. Let's go.

(Sandra stops and picks up Mr. Muggles. The Haitian steps out of the house. Sandra and Claire pause in the doorway to look back at Mr. Bennet.)

THE HAITIAN: Come on. Come on.

(They leave. The Haitian closes the door behind them.)



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DAY]

(The Haitian, Sandra, Mr. Muggles and Claire are out of the house.

SANDRA: Lyle!
LYLE: Mom! I called the police.

(Lyle runs and joins them.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Mr. Bennet shows Ted the file folder.)

MR. BENNET: We didn't make you this way. We took you three months ago ... to identify you. At the time, you were giving off low levels of radiation. You were harmless.

TED: And you did nothing to stop it.



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DAY]

(The Haitian, Sandra, Lyle and Claire wait outside and watch the house.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Mr. Bennet looks at Ted.)

MR. BENNET: There's no cure. We can't change the way you are. The only choice is to kill you.

TED: I wish you had.

(Unknown to them, the back door opens and Thompson slips into the kitchen.)

MR. BENNET: It was my goal. You had a life. Who was I to take it from you?

TED: Because you let me go, my wife is dead.

(Mr. Bennet meets Matt’s gaze.)

MR. BENNET: (to Ted) I'm sorry.

THOMPSON: So am I.

(Mr. Bennet, Matt and Ted turn around. Thompson raises his gun and cocks it. Mr. Bennet raises his hand to stop him.)

MR. BENNET: (shouts) No, don't! You'll set him off!

(Matt grabs Ted and tries to get him out of the way.)

BANG!

(Thompson fires and hits Ted in the shoulder.)



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DAY]

(Everyone outside hears the gunshot.)



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY]

(Matt knocks Ted to the floor, but it’s too late.)

(Ted’s hands start to glow. Matt looks at Ted. Uncontrollable fire burns in Ted’s eyes. He starts zapping electrical pulses. His face glows and he screams.)

TED: Ahhhhh!

(Ted emits a random electrical pulse, zapping Matt in the process. Matt goes flying backward toward the front door and lands on the ground hard.)

(Mr. Bennet watches Ted. Another pulse zaps out of Ted. Mr. Bennet goes flying backward on impact. He lands hard on the kitchen floor.)

(Ted screams.)

(The living room is on fire.)



[EXT. FRONT DOOR]

(Bursts of light flare through the front door texture glass. Ted’s screams are heard.)



[EXT. BENNET RESIDENCE – CONTINUOUS]

(Everyone stands outside watching. This is not good. Bursts of white light pulse through all the closed windows.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS]

(The living room is on fire. Ted can’t control his powers as it flares continuously.)

(Matt is still on the ground, a hand up to protect his head.)

MATT: (shouts) You gotta stop it! Stop!

TED: Ahhhhh!

(Matt gets up and runs to Ted to help him.)

MATT: Stop!

TED: I can't!

(Another pulse of energy sends Matt flying away from Ted.)

(Ted screams and writhes on the ground. Light and energy burst from his body. The living room around him is on fire. In the back, we see Thompson near the refrigerator door.)

(Matt grabs Thompson. Matt stops to look at Mr. Bennet, who is hidden behind the kitchen cabinets.)

MATT: We gotta get outta here!

MR. BENNET: No!

(Mr. Bennet digs into his jacket pocket and shows Matt the syringe. Thompson is near the door watching. He and Matt leave the house.)

TED: Ahhhhh!

(Ted screams as more energy builds up inside him.)



[EXT. FRONT DOOR – CONTINUOUS]

(Thompson and Matt exit the back gate to the front. Both men are coughing.)

CLAIRE: Dad? Dad.

(Claire runs up to Matt.)

SANDRA: Claire!

CLAIRE: Where's my dad?

(Matt points to the house.)

MATT: (out of breath) He's --

(Claire heads for the front doors. While no one is looking, the Haitian slips away. Claire ducks as a strong pulse of energy bursts through the closed door. She’s not going to be able to get in this way.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS]

(Ted and his surroundings are on fire.)

TED: Ahhhhh!

(His body jerks this way and that way as the energy continues to build and build in him.)



[EXT. FRONT LAWN – CONTINUOUS]

(Claire runs to the back of the house.)

SANDRA: Claire, don't!



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – KITCHEN – DAY]

(Ted screams. The inside of the house is being toasted, the walls blacken from the heat. There are patches of fire inside the house as items on counters and shelvings burn. Claire enters the house through the back door.)

CLAIRE: Dad!

(Mr. Bennet is filling the syringe with liquid.)

MR. BENNET: Get out!

(Claire rushes over to him.)

CLAIRE: Not without you!

MR. BENNET: Tranquilizer. Stay down!

(Mr. Bennet gets up and leaves Claire behind the kitchen counter to approach Ted, who is burning in the middle of the living room.)



[EXT. FRONT LAWN – CONTINUOUS]

(Matt watches the house burn and hears Ted’s screams. This isn’t who he is. He heads back into the house to help.)



[INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS]

(Mr. Bennet can’t get close enough to Ted. He runs back to Claire.)

MR. BENNET: I can't get close enough.

(There are burns on his arms.)

CLAIRE: Give it to me.

MR. BENNET: No!

CLAIRE: I'll be okay.

(Matt steps into the house.)

MATT: Hey!

(Claire takes the syringe from her dad.)

MATT: Hey!

(He makes his way back to Mr. Bennet and Claire.

MATT: Come on!

CLAIRE: (to Matt) Get him out of here!

(Mr. Bennet doesn’t want to leave. Matt grabs him and pulls him away from Claire. Claire pushes her dad toward the door and away from her.)

CLAIRE: Go! Go!

MATT: Come on! Go, go!

(Matt and Mr. Bennet leave Claire inside with the syringe. Claire looks at the syringe in her hand. Mr. Bennet stops by the door.)



[EXT. FRONT DOOR]

(The light and energy inside the house flicker through the textured glass in the front door.)

(Matt and Mr. Bennet are outside the house. They make their way to the front. Mr. Bennet coughs as he runs to join his family. Sandra runs up to him and they hug.)

TED: (o.s.) Ahhhhh!

(Lyle puts his arm around his dad.)



[CLAIRE]

(Claire is in the kitchen with the syringe. After a moment, she makes her move.)

(Ted is in the living room as stronger blasts of energy burst out from him. He’s on his knees, his head thrown back as he screams. The entire living room is engulfed in heat and flames.)

AUDIO FADES INTO BACKGROUND, THEN FADES OFF

(Claire approaches Ted from behind. She grits her teeth and forces herself to move forward.)



[FRONT LAWN]

(Mr. Bennet and Sandra watch the house. Mr. Muggles barks.)



[PORTRAIT]

(The portrait of Mr. Muggles burns.)



[CLAIRE]

(Claire continues to get closer to Ted. Her skin burns, blackens, peels and regenerates with every step she takes.)



[FRONT LAWN]

(Everyone watches the house.)



[PORTRAIT]

(The framed photo of the Bennet family – Sandra, Claire, Lyle and Mr. Bennet – burns.)



[CLAIRE]

(Claire reaches Ted. Her skin crusts black. She pulls her arm back to inject him.)



[FRONT DOORS]

AUDIO ON:

BOOM!

(The front doors explode outward, ripping completely off its hinges. Mr. Bennet and Sandra turn away from the force of the explosion. Matt puts an arm up to shield himself from the blast.)

MR. BENNET: CLAIRE!

(And the house is silent.)

(Mr. Bennet lets Sandra go and staggers toward the house.)

(And then, Claire steps out through the doorway. She’s completely burned. And alive. She walks across the lawn toward her dad.)

(Sandra and Lyle can’t believe their eyes.)

(Mr. Bennet walks toward Claire.)

(Behind them all, Thompson watches. As does Matt.)

(With every step she takes, Claire heals – her skin regenerates and clears back to a healthy color. Mr. Bennet takes his jacket off. Claire reaches him and he wraps the jacket around her, covering her. He holds her in his arms. Sandra joins them and tucks herself under his shoulder as he holds them both. Lyle hugs Claire and Mr. Bennet puts his arm around his son.)

(And still Thompson watches.)

(Mr. Bennet looks up and his smile fades when he sees Thompson standing there watching them, a half-formed smile on his face. Thompson turns and looks at Matt, who noticed the look between the two men.)

(Thompson looks back at Mr. Bennet.)

(Sirens blare in the distance and grow louder as police approach the house. Mr. Bennet closes his eyes and stands in the middle of the front lawn as he holds his family in his arms.)

FADE OUT.

(COMMERCIAL SET)



FADE IN:

[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY]

(Thompson and Mr. Bennet walk through the hallway. We join them mid-conversation.)

THOMPSON: It's a good thing you called me when you did. This sort of thing isn't taken lightly. You know well and good what the policy is on hiding them.

MR. BENNET: I'm well aware.

THOMPSON: It's a shame I have to kill another partner, especially one so useful to the cause.

MR. BENNET: Has he been located?

THOMPSON: The Haitian? Nah. He must've figured you'd turn him in.

(Thompson stops walking. He looks at Mr. Bennet.)

THOMPSON: How long was he hiding Claire? In plain sight too. You must feel like a fool.

MR. BENNET: I take it it's been months. She trusted him over her own father.

THOMPSON: Surrogate father.

(They continue walking.)



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – TED’S CELL – DAY]

(The cell lights turn on. Mr. Bennet and Thompson look at Ted inside the cell. He’s sedated and fully restrained to the bed in the center of the sparse cell.)

THOMPSON: Now that we have him, we'll keep Sprague sedated. Find out what gives him his spark.

MR. BENNET: And then?

THOMPSON: What do you think?

(Thompson turns and leaves. Mr. Bennet follows him out. The lights in the cell switch off.)

CUT TO:



[INT. PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY – MATT’S CELL – DAY]

(Matt is unconscious on a bed. Candace Willmer, a dark-haired assistant, writes on a clipboard. She steps away as Mr. Bennet and Thompson walk up to Matt.)

MR. BENNET: He was very helpful.

THOMPSON: Imagine working with someone like Parkman by your side. Knowing what everyone around you is thinking could prove quite resourceful. Certainly keep everybody honest.

MR. BENNET: She one of them?

THOMPSON: Very promising. She's gonna help us clean up the mess you made.

MR. BENNET: We done here?

THOMPSON: Just one more thing. When should we be expecting Claire?

MR. BENNET: I'll bring her in now.

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. CAR (MOVING) – DAY]

(Mr. Bennet is driving. Claire sits in the passenger seat. She looks out the window.)

CLAIRE: Where am I going?

MR. BENNET: I don't know.

CLAIRE: Will I see you again?

(He looks at her and doesn’t say anything.)

CLAIRE: Mom? Lyle?

MR. BENNET: I don't know. I wanted to protect you.

(She understands.)

CLAIRE: You're my dad.

MR. BENNET: I tried to be the best dad. (He swallows.) I couldn't.

CLAIRE: I know.

(Claire is crying. She turns and looks back out the window.)

DISSOLVE TO:



[INT. BENNET RESIDENCE – DINING ROOM – DAY (FLASHBACK)]

(Claire and Mr. Bennet sit at the table.)

CLAIRE: Let’s see?

(He puts on a pair of black-framed, square-shaped glasses. He poses for her as he waits her opinion.)

CLAIRE: Those are grandpa glasses.

MR. BENNET: Ouch.

(He removes the glasses.)

CAPTION:
3 YEARS AGO

MR. BENNET: Even though I am the same age my father was when he needed glasses. All right. How about these? Huh?

(He picks up another pair of glasses and slips them on. Claire laughs.)

MR. BENNET: What?

CLAIRE: Grandma glasses.

(He takes those off. He puts them back on the table and looks at the frames they have out.)

CLAIRE: Am I gonna need glasses too?

MR. BENNET: I don't know.

(Claire picks up a pair of glasses --

CLAIRE: Well, if you needed them and Grandpa needed them, won't I need them?

-- she slips them on and looks at him. She smiles at him, then takes the glasses off.)

MR. BENNET: (gently) Your mother and I were wondering when we were gonna have this conversation.

(He sighs.)

CLAIRE: What's wrong?

MR. BENNET: No, no, nothing's wrong. Just--

CLAIRE: Tell me.

MR. BENNET: I'm not your biological father. You're adopted.

CLAIRE: Then who are my real parents.

MR. BENNET: We're your real parents. We don't know who your biological family is but we're your real family.

CLAIRE: How can you be my real family if I'm adopted?

MR. BENNET: Well, what makes us real isn't where you come from. It's ... how much we love you. And we love you very much. I love you very much. You didn't grow inside your mother. You grew inside our hearts.

(Claire is quiet. He touches her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers.)

MR. BENNET: Claire ... talk to me.

(Claire picks out a pair of glasses.)

CLAIRE: Try these on.

(He slips the ‘horn-rimmed’ glasses on and looks at her.)

MR. BENNET: How do I look?

CLAIRE: Like my dad.

(He smiles at her.)

CUT TO
END OF FLASHBACK



[EXT. BRIDGE – DAY (PRESENT)]

(Mr. Bennet drives out to the middle of a long bridge. He stops the car and gets out.)

(He looks at the Haitian and nods.)

(Claire gets out of the car and closes the door.)

(They all move to the side. Mr. Bennet turns around and looks at Claire.)

MR. BENNET: This is good-bye.

(The Haitian takes his gun out.)

CLAIRE: You don't ... have to do this. (She looks at the gun.) There's gotta be another way.

THE HAITIAN: This is the best way. There can't be any doubt cast on your father.

(He looks at Claire and smiles.)

MR. BENNET: (to the Haitian) Right here. (He points to his left side.) Two inches higher and I'm dead. Claire, turn around. Cover your ears.

(Claire steps away. She turns around and covers her ears.)

(The Haitian aims and shoots Mr. Bennet. BANG!)

MR. BENNET: Ah!

(He falls back against the railing.)

MR. BENNET: God!

(Claire turns around and heads toward him.)

CLAIRE: Dad!

(The Haitian stops her. Mr. Bennet looks down at the blood staining his shirt. He looks at the Haitian.)

MR. BENNET: Go deep. Take anything that would lead them to her.

(Claire rushes forward and hugs her dad. She starts to cry.)

CLAIRE: I love you, Dad.

(She lets him go and steps back.)

MR. BENNET: I love you, Claire-Bear.

(Mr. Bennet and Claire look at each other. The Haitian steps forward and concentrates as he covers Mr. Bennet’s eyes.)

(We hold on Claire.)

FADE TO BLACK.