"Unraveling"
by Megan Reilly

			TEASER

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

A sunny day.

SOPHIE sits in the grass.  Daisies in her hand.  She looks good; her 
hair's been combed, a flower-print dress pulled down over her knees.

Reverse to her POV: a headstone.  White, plain, only one in a long 
line of others.

It reads:

LIEUTENANT THOMAS HOBBES
1970-1999

Suddenly, the sound of children.  Sophie turns.

Behind her, a little BOY and GIRL are yelling, chasing each other.  
Their MOTHER, all in black, is too overcome to tell them to stop.

Sophie almost manages to smile.  With a slight sigh, she places the 
daisies carefully against the headstone.

She has trouble getting to her feet.  The skirt of the dress clings 
to her pregnant stomach.

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

Sophie drives.  Absorbed in thought.  

On the seat beside her is a manila folder.  The edges of papers peek 
out, but we can't tell what they are.  There's also a plastic bag 
from a crafts store.

CD playing the Eagles' 'Girl From Yesterday':

"It wasn't really sad the way they said goodbye
Or maybe it just hurt so bad she couldn't cry
He packed his bags, walked out the door and drove away
And she became the girl from yesterday."

Sophie blinks, pulled from her thoughts.  She looks at the radio in 
horror, as though it's speaking to her.  Her hand hesitates over the 
button.

She turns it off.

Now we hear the HUMMING.

As it grows louder, Sophie leans over the steering wheel, looking up 
into the sky, trying to see where it's coming from.

As she straightens, her eyes lock on the rearview mirror.

A HELICOPTER, big and black, looming out the back window.

The speedometer creeps up past 50...

A SECOND HELICOPTER out the driver's side window.  The NOISE is 
almost deafening now.

In the rearview mirror, a large black sedan comes up on her bumper.

As a SPEED LIMIT 45 sign flies past, the speedometer pushes past 60.

The car behind doesn't waver.  The windows are tinted heavily, 
obscuring the driver.

Sophie braces herself and brakes hard, turning the wheel and pulling 
to a stop at:

EXT. GUARD STATION - DAY

A pair of uniformed Army officers emerge.

			OFFICER 1
	You all right there, ma'am?

			SOPHIE
	Yeah.

She glances in the mirror, but the car's gone.

			OFFICER 
	Gonna need to see your ID.

			SOPHIE
	Oh, sure.

She's freaked out, trying to be calm as she digs through her purse 
and withdraws a military ID card.

The guard looks at it, then moves into the shack.  He picks up the 
telephone, glancing at Sophie.

			SOPHIE
	Is there a problem?

The guard holds up one finger - wait a sec.

The black sedan appears again, speeding.  It doesn't even slow down 
for the guardhouse, zooming past.  We get a good view of its 
military issue license plate.

			OFFICER
	You may pass.

He hands her ID back to her.

			SOPHIE
	Was there a problem?

He's wonderfully stone-faced.

			SOPHIE
	The car that didn't stop -

			OFFICER
	Don't you worry about that.

His look is final.  Threatening in a very understated way.  

Sophie's hand trembles as she shifts the truck into gear and moves 
on.

			ACT ONE

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
HARSH REALM

EXT. OLD GOVERNMENT BUILDING

SOLDIERS, in Republican Guard uniforms.  They move like frenzied 
ants, trying to accomplish a task.  They're crating something up.

HOBBES, PINOCCHIO and FLORENCE lurk out of the soldiers' sightlines.  
Resting from some effort.  Watching the soldiers' movements.

Florence starts after them, but Pinocchio grabs her arm, holding her 
back.

Hobbes turns away in disgust.

A loud sound makes them all jump.  It's the sound of a gun...a 
staple gun.

A SCRUFFY MAN, stapling a flyer to a telephone pole.

Hobbes goes over there and looks at the flyer.

JOHN LOCKE FOR PRESIDENT it reads.

Hobbes looks to Pinocchio, who regards the poster with perplexed 
amusement.

			PINOCCHIO
		(to Scruffy man)
	Hey, you know this guy?

The Scruffy man moves on to staple another flyer.

The trio move to look at it.

ELECTION, it reads.

			HOBBES
	It's not a bad idea.

Pinocchio looks at him like he's lost his marbles.

			PINOCCHIO
	He's going to get himself killed.

The Scruffy man glances back at them.

Pinocchio rips down the "John Locke" poster and waves it. 

			PINOCCHIO
	Hey, you know this guy?

The Scruffy man moves off, so they follow him.

INT. DAYCARE - DAY

A bunch of little kids in small groups, playing, with a couple of 
TEACHERS supervising.

Off to one side is Sophie, rolling up the mats from naptime and 
staring into space.  Her heart really isn't in it.

PAT, one of the teachers, approaches Sophie, and puts her hand on 
her arm.  Sophie jumps, startled, and looks at her.

			PAT
	There's a telephone call for you.

Sophie drops the mat she was rolling.  Hopeful it's good news.

Pat looks at her disapprovingly.

			PAT
	You couldn't take care of this while you 
	were off this morning?

			SOPHIE
	I'll make it fast.

INT. DAYCARE OFFICE - DAY

Sophie slips inside and pushes the door closed.  She takes a deep 
breath before picking up the phone.

			SOPHIE
	This is Sophie Green.

INT. INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE - DAY

On the other end of the line is CHUCK WEBSTER.  He's over 40. More 
Colombo than Magnum.

			WEBSTER
	Ms. Green, this is Chuck Webster. The 
	private investigator you hired to find -

INT. DAYCARE OFFICE - DAY

Sophie clutches at the phone.

			SOPHIE
	You've found something.

INT. INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE

			WEBSTER
	Actually, Ms. Green, that's why I'm 
	calling.  I haven't found anything.  And 
	your deposit's long gone.  If you want me 
	to keep after leads that aren't there, I'm 
	gonna need some more money.

INT. DAYCARE OFFICE - DAY

Sophie's silent.  Upset.

INT. INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE

			WEBSTER
	You there, Ms. Green?

INT. DAYCARE OFFICE - DAY

			SOPHIE
		(softly)
	Yes, I'm here.

A long moment passes.  She has to decide.

			SOPHIE
	Stop investigating.  Send me the bill.

She puts down the phone and slumps down in the chair, putting her 
head into her hands.  

After a moment, she picks herself up and heads back out to work.

INT. PROJECT HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT

A meeting in shadows.  

We can only see some of the people sitting around the conference 
table.  The LIEUTENANT COLONEL (from "Leviathan"), the Red-Haired 
Man (from "Inga Fossa").  

And INGA FOSSA herself, sitting away from the others, near the part 
of the room where the shadows fall.  It's the midst of a debate 
they've had before.

			LT. COL.
	We've lost control of the project.

			RED HAIRED MAN
	We can't keep sending people in. 
	 Somebody's going to notice sooner or later
	 than soldiers are disappearing -

			LT COL
	Then we should shut it down.  Cut our 
	losses.

			MAN IN CHARGE
	No.

The strong voice stops them.  The man in charge (Lance Henriksen, 
from the pilot), rises from his seat in the darkness, putting his 
hands on the table and leaning forward so his face is in the light.
	
			MAN IN CHARGE
	We can't stop it now.  Not when we're this 
	close.

			RED HAIRED MAN
	With all due respect, sir, this close to 
	what?

But the man in charge doesn't have to explain himself.

In a covert, barely noticeable exchange, he looks to Inga.  She nods 
slightly, as though she agrees with him.

			LT COL
	People are asking questions.  We can't keep 
	this a secret forever.

			RED HAIRED MAN
	Plausible deniability has been established.

			LT COL
	I'm not talking about Cokie Roberts asking 
	the President about Harsh Realm.  I'm 
	talking about --

			MAN IN CHARGE
	The Sophie Green problem.

			LT COL
	She's a liability and a risk.

			RED HAIRED MAN
	She can be taken care of.

			MAN IN CHARGE
	No.

They look to him for answers. But he's the man in charge.  He 
doesn't have to provide answers.

			INGA FOSSA
	Control her, and you control Tom Hobbes.

The Man in Charge looks approving.  The Lt. Col. And the Red Haired 
Man just look frustrated.

			LT COL
	Something has to be done about her.

			MAN IN SHADOW
	I'll take care of it.

We know that voice from somewhere...

The man in charge looks at him.

			MAN IN SHADOW
		(amending himself)
	Of her. I'll take care of her.

Man in Charge nods.  Takes his hands off the table.  The matter's 
settled.  Meeting's over.  He walks out, and Lt. Col and Red Haired 
Man follow.

Inga lingers, her eyes on the Man in Shadow.

EXT. MILITARY HOUSING - NIGHT

Establishing shot of Hobbes & Sophie's house.

INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

She's sitting on the couch.  

DEXTER's head is resting on her feet.  He's sleeping.  

It's so quiet.

She's knitting, or so it seems at first.  As we move in closer, we 
see she's actually unraveling something she's knitted out of yellow 
yarn.

Dexter lifts his head, his eyes narrowed, looking at the door.  He 
gets up and goes to the door.

Sophie pats the seat next to her, but the dog doesn't return.

			SOPHIE
	Dexter.

Dexter continues standing in front of the door, and she goes back to 
her work.

A knock at the door EXPLODES through the silence.

Sophie drops her knitting on the floor and tries to pick it up as 
another knock comes.  She leaves it on the floor.

			SOPHIE
	Who is it?

A MUMBLE comes through the door.

She goes to it and pauses to look at Dexter before she takes the 
chain off the door.  He doesn't look impressed.

She opens the door.  

Her reaction is immediate - shock and happiness.  She puts her hand 
over her mouth, like the surprise is something she has to hide.

			SOPHIE
	I didn't think I was ever going to see you 
	again.

She holds her arms out, inviting a hug from her unexpected, welcome 
guest:

WATERS.


			ACT TWO

INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Sophie still standing there, her arms outstretched. She's actually 
smiling.

			SOPHIE
	Well?

Waters, in casual clothes, puts his hands on her shoulders, holding 
her away from him.

			WATERS

	Look at you.

He stares for a good, long moment and her hands nervously go to her 
belly.  He puts his arms around her and holds her.

			WATERS
	I heard about Tom.

She puts her face against his shoulder.

			WATERS
	I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier.  To his 
	funeral.  I could tell you where I was, 
	but-

He trails off.  We all know the familiar ending anyway: but then I'd 
have to kill you.

			SOPHIE
	It's okay.

She picks up her head now and her eyes are wet.

Waters has her hand on her hair, gathering it out of her face.

			WATERS
	It's not okay.  It must be terrible for 
	you.

Sophie pushes away from him, wiping her eyes quickly with the back 
of her hand.  She busies herself picking up the knitting she 
dropped.

Dexter hangs back warily as Waters closes the door and comes inside.

			WATERS
	A baby.  Wow.  I just can't get my mind 
	around it.

He runs his fingers through his hair, looking astounded and 
befuddled.

Sophie sits down on the couch and looks up at him.  He sits down 
next to her.

			WATERS
	Do you want to talk about it?

She doesn't say anything.

Awkwardly he looks around the small, tidy house.  At the photos 
displayed on the end table.  He picks one up.

CLOSE ON PHOTO:

Waters, Sophie and Hobbes sitting around a restaurant table.  
Grinning like they're having a great time.

			WATERS
	Those were the days.  My biggest mistake 
	was introducing you to him.

He reaches past her to set the picture down.

			WATERS
	I never had a chance with you after that.

			SOPHIE
	He's not dead.

He's surprised.

			WATERS
	Sophie -

She looks at him stubbornly.

			WATERS
	I know you don't want to believe it.  But 
	you have to.

			SOPHIE
		(deciding to trust him)
	There was a woman, Mel.  And she told me 
	I'd been mislead. That the government was 
	lying to me about Tom.

			WATERS
	A woman? Who?

Sophie says nothing. What can she say? She doesn't know.

			WATERS
	The government wouldn't lie -

			SOPHIE
	Unless they had a good reason.

He looks at her.

			WATERS
	Because the truth is out there? Trust no 
	one and all that? Come on, Sophie, you know
	better than that.

She says nothing.

			WATERS
	I can see how this whole thing might make 
	you a little crazy, but you've got to 
	accept it.  He's gone.  And at least you 
	had a body to bury.

She looks at him sharply.

			WATERS
	I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

We can see the wheels turning.

			SOPHIE
	No, it's okay.

She gets up.

			SOPHIE
	Let me get you something to drink.

She moves into the kitchen and Dexter remains, eyeing Waters like he 
doesn't trust him.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

An encampment. People sitting around a campfire.  You can almost 
smell the meat cooking on the spit.

Hobbes, Pinocchio and Florence are lurking some distance away.

Hobbes picks up Dexter and holds him safely.  Looks to Pinocchio.

Pinocchio motions - let's wait and see what happens.

A man comes out. He's dressed plainly, in jeans and a flannel shirt, 
and sits down on a log by the campfire.

			MAN
	Life is what we make of it.

Seems obvious, but his listeners are silent.  Waiting for more.

			MAN
	Reason is the only thing worth fighting 
	for. It's the only government that makes 
	sense.  A man who rules by oppression does
	not rule at all.

Now the crowd makes little mumbling agreement noises.

			MAN
	An absolute ruler brings no more insight or 
	control than anarchy.  The only government 
	can be by consent.  We agree to give up 
	some freedoms in order to live with other 
	men by rules we have all agreed upon.  If 
	we have not agreed, there can be no freedom 
	at all.

Shouts of "YEAH!" and "DOWN WITH SANTIAGO!"

Hobbes looks at Pinocchio to see how he's taking this.  Pinocchio 
doesn't look too happy.

			MAN
	Now let's talk about ideas.

Quiet again.  Some shifting closer.  Like now he's getting to the 
good part.

			MAN
	The world around us is only a 
	representation of our ideas.  Because we 
	perceive it, we assume that it exists.  But 
	it's possible there is a world, beyond this 
	world, where freedom hasn't been forgotten.

He's looking directly at Hobbes and Pinocchio.

INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Sophie and Waters stand at the door.  Delaying goodbye.

			WATERS
	It was good to see you again, Sophie.  But 
	not like this.

She smiles faintly, and nods her head.

			SOPHIE
	Don't be a stranger.

			WATERS
	You take care of it in there.

He reaches out to touch her stomach, but stops himself.  

She takes his hand and places it against her.  

He smiles.  

She leans over and gives him a friendly kiss on the cheek.

			SOPHIE
	I miss him so much.

			WATERS
	I know.

He moves away, turning back to wave.  

She closes the door.  Alone again.  Her entire facade drops, her 
shoulders sagging.

After a second she picks herself up. Yawns, stretches.  Pats Dexter 
on the head.

The telephone RINGS. Sophie frowns and looks at the clock, which 
reads 11:30.

			SOPHIE
	Hello.

There's no one on the line.

			SOPHIE
	Hello?

A series of ominous clicks.  She slams the phone down, her eyes wide 
with fear as she stares as though it could attack her.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

The trio has settled down in the woods for the night.

The Man moves stealthily toward them in the darkness.  

Pinocchio draws his gun, and the man smiles as he raises his hands.

			MAN
	You could join us, you know.

			PINOCCHIO
	John Locke, I presume.

Locke nods, a confirmation.

			PINOCCHIO
	You're going to get them all killed.

But he puts his gun away.

			HOBBES
	What you were saying - about another world-

			PINOCCHIO
		(warning)
	Hobbes -

Locke looks surprised.  Amused.

			HOBBES
		(reigning himself in)
	I found it interesting.

He puts his hand out to shake.

			HOBBES
	I'm Tom Hobbes.

			LOCKE
	I know your work.

Hobbes looks surprised.

			PINOCCHIO
	Great. Philosophy humor.

He gets up, ready to walk away.

			HOBBES
		(earnestly)
	I'd like to know more.

			PINOCCHIO
	I'd like to know why you don't think 
	Santiago's gonna show up and blow you to 
	kingdom come.

			LOCKE
	He will.

			HOBBES
	That's what you want?

			LOCKE
		(shrugs)
	I want him to know what he's doing is 
	wrong.  And I want people to know they have 
	a choice.

			PINOCCHIO
	There won't be an election.

			LOCKE
	We'll see.

He moves to return to camp.  Notices Florence, makes a gesture as 
though he's raising an invisible hat to her.  She looks to 
Pinocchio, then back to Locke.

INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Dexter's facing the windows.  At attention.  Watching for something.

Sophie notices and goes to peek out the window.  She moves the 
curtain aside and jumps, startled.

She rushes to the door and pulls it open.  INGA FOSSA stands there, 
impeccably dressed as always, not looking tired at all despite the 
late hour.  

Sophie looks at her wildly, not even knowing where to begin to ask 
for answers.

			INGA
	I'm sorry I frightened you.  I was trying 
	to decide whether to knock.

			SOPHIE
	Why are you here?

Inga glances past her, into the apartment.

Sophie holds firm, not inviting her inside.

			SOPHIE
	What do you want from me?

			INGA
	Have you given up?  Done what they want you 
	to do?

			SOPHIE
	Someone was following me today.
		(beat)
	Do you know anything about that?

Inga says nothing.

			INGA
	You think you want answers.

			SOPHIE
	I want answers from you.

			INGA
	You can let them win.

			SOPHIE
	Win what?  What is going on here?  Why 
	won't you tell me the truth?

Inga glances over her shoulder. Not particularly nervous, but as 
though she heard something behind her.

			INGA
	I shouldn't be here.

She leaves abruptly, seeming to disappear into the blackness of the 
night.  Absorbed into it.

Sophie stares out for a moment, still wondering what the hell is 
going on.  Then she closes the door.  Looking completely beaten.

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Hobbes sits, thinking hard.  

Pinocchio is not really playing with the dog, but perhaps teasing 
him companionably with bits of food.  

Florence watches into the night uneasily.

Hobbes reaches a decision. He gets up.  Gathers his stuff.

			PINOCCHIO
	Where are you going?

He gets up to block Hobbes' path.

			HOBBES
	I'm going to help him.

			PINOCCHIO
	It's suicide.

			HOBBES
	It's the right thing to do.

Pinocchio scoffs.  Hobbes looks eager to fight him on this.  

Pinocchio softens his tactics:

			PINOCCHIO
	When has suicide ever been the right thing 
	to do?

Hobbes isn't backing down.

Florence observes the two men.  She's going to have to choose who to 
follow.

			HOBBES
	I serve my country with pride.

He starts to walk away.

			PINOCCHIO
		(calling after him)
	The same country that abandoned you to this 
	hell?

Hobbes doesn't turn.

Dexter looks anxiously to Pinocchio, who looks vexed by this turn of 
events.

Hobbes disappears into the woods.

			PINOCCHIO
		(to Florence)
	No good will come of this.

She nods.  But they begin to disassemble camp, to follow Hobbes.

INT. PROJECT HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT

The Man in Charge is going over paperwork. (paperwork?!?)  He looks 
up as:

Inga Fossa slithers into the room.

			MAN IN CHARGE
	What has she decided?

			INGA
	She doesn't know.

He looks at her like, what the hell does that mean?

			INGA
	She's confused. Emotional.

			MAN IN CHARGE
	That's not going to change for some months.

Almost dismissively he returns to looking at his papers.  Inga 
waits.

			MAN IN CHARGE
		(not looking up)
	I want the child.

			INGA
	You don't have to do that.

No response from the man in charge.

			INGA
		(getting upset)
	I can take care of her. She's no threat to 
	the project -

She hears the passion in her own voice and stops herself.  Regains 
her composure.

			INGA
	There are other ways.

The Man in Charge regards her.

			MAN IN CHARGE
	I want that child.

The matter seems to be closed.  Inga turns angrily and flounces out.


			ACT THREE

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

The sun's just barely come up.

Driving with one hand, Sophie's dialing her cell phone with the 
other.  

			SOPHIE
	Pat, hi, it's Sophie Green.  I, um, I don't 
	think I'm going to make it in to work 
	today.

			PAT
		(through the phone)
	You missed most of yesterday.

			SOPHIE
		(lying badly)
	I, uh, yeah, I think it's morning sickness 
	or something again. . .

There's a long silence, and then Pat sighs.

			PAT
	Look, Sophie -

			SOPHIE
	I know what you're going to say -

			PAT
		(talking over her)
	You're not a bad girl. And you're a good 
	teacher.  I know you've lost your - the 
	baby's father.  But I think what you need 
	right now is to work.

			SOPHIE
	I - I can't. Not right now.

			PAT
	Sophie, it's been four months. Almost five.

			SOPHIE
	I know. It's just -

She falls into a frustrated silence.

			SOPHIE
	I need this time.

			PAT
	You've used your last sick day.

Sophie says nothing.

			PAT
	I'll see you tomorrow.

Sophie can't help smiling that she's gotten away with it.

			PAT
	Drive safely.

Pat hangs up.  Sophie frowns. Maybe she hasn't gotten away with so 
much, after all.  

She tosses the cell phone into the front seat.  

The folder from the previous day is still there.  Untouched, a 
little more rumpled from having sat in the car.  Her glance lingers 
on it for a second.

She jumps as the cell phone RINGS.

Sophie grabs the phone, clicks it on.  Almost expecting it to be  
Pat.

			SOPHIE
	Hello?

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

SARAH GREEN, polished and cosmopolitan in sunglasses and stylish 
business wear (slacks and a jacket), stands near a street corner 
holding a cell phone.

			SARAH
	Sis.  My business meeting just evaporated 
	and I'm in the city. I want to see you.

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

			SOPHIE
	Sarah!

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

			SARAH
	Can you meet me?  Early lunch.

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

			SOPHIE
	I'm not sure I can -

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

			SARAH
	I'm only in town today. No one's heard from 
	you in months.

She's worried but her rapid-fire style doesn't really let it show.

			SARAH
	Where are you?

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR

			SOPHIE
	I've got an appointment.

There's a long silence as the guilt over the half-truth sinks in.

			SOPHIE
	I'm almost to Long Island.  What time do 
	you want to meet for lunch?

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

			SARAH
	What are you doing on Long Island?

INT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

			SOPHIE
	It's a long story. I'll tell you when I see 
	you.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Hobbes is painting a banner sign, using some sort of homemade 
watercolors in a plastic jar.

He finishes and contemplates his work.

The sign reads: ELECTION TODAY.

He dips his finger into the paint jar and tastes it.

At his feet, Dexter begs for attention. Hobbes flicks some of the 
liquid in his direction.  Hobbes grins.

BEYOND HIM, Pinocchio's got his sleeves rolled up.  Crushing berries 
with a wooden pestle and mixing them with water to make more paint.

Hobbes lifts the sign to show him, still grinning.

			PINOCCHIO
		(muttering sarcastically)
	You're an artist.

EXT. SOPHIE'S CAR - DAY

The car glides to a stop on a quiet two-lane road.

As the shot widens, we find ourselves:

EXT. CEMETERY ENTRANCE - DAY

It's a national cemetery, with identical white markers flowing in 
rows as far as the eye can see.  

Sophie emerges from the truck.  Heads determinedly into the 
cemetery.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

She's got a scrap of paper in her hand and she consults it as she 
walks along, glancing at the graves.  The white markers belong to 
soldiers, most who died young.

One for John Cabot (from "Leviathan.").  Sophie stops, backs up.  
Looks around as though checking landmarks.

			SOPHIE
		(whispers)
	It's not here.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

The sign now hangs proudly over a tree stump in the clearing.  On 
top of the stump is a simple wooden box with a slit cut into the top 
of it.  

Next to the box are a stack of ballots.  They're simple, with two 
large checkboxes next to a pair of names in large type.  One, John 
Locke. The other, Omar Santiago.  A couple of pathetically stubby 
pencils rounds out the set.

A small crowd has gathered.

Locke checks his watch, then the sun. He's sweating. It's time.

He approaches the stump.  Has to lick his fingers to separate out 
one of the ballots. Drops his chosen pencil.  Picks it out of the 
grass triumphantly and makes his mark.  Folds the ballot in half 
once and shoves it into the box.

Turns and grins.  

The crowd applauds.  

We see now that Pinocchio's not with them.   He's in the background, 
leaning against a tree, his arms folded.  Not quite scowling, but 
close enough.

Others in the crowd begin taking their turns to vote as Locke moves 
away.  Some of them grin at him, pat him on the shoulder.

Hobbes approaches him.

			HOBBES
	Quite a turnout.

			LOCKE
	I'm proud to see everyone here today.

But he doesn't stop walking.  Hobbes watches as Locke settles 
against the tree next to Pinocchio.

			PINOCCHIO
	What do you think you're going to prove?

			LOCKE
	I could ask you the same question.

			PINOCCHIO
	I don't like to play games I can't win.

He looks almost pained as he realizes the real irony of his words - 
he's stuck inside a game he can't win.

			LOCKE
	Sometimes the winning's in how you played.

Pinocchio turns his head away. He doesn't want to have this 
conversation.  He doesn't want to be involved.

			PINOCCHIO
	You'd better watch for the Republican 
	Guard.

			LOCKE
	Their notice would be a good sign.

			PINOCCHIO
	Today's as good as any to die.

He looks at Locke.

			PINOCCHIO
	Why are you doing this?

			LOCKE
	I think you know.

And he walks away, leaving Pinocchio to stare after him like he's 
lost his mind.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

A CARETAKER approaches Sophie.  He's elderly, but fit, with a rake 
or some such gardening implement in his hand.

			CARETAKER
	Nice day for it.

			SOPHIE
	Sure is.

She doesn't quite make it to upbeat.

			CARETAKER
	There's somebody you're looking for.

			SOPHIE
	A man - a soldier - who served with these 
	other men, as far as I can tell.  I thought 
	he died with them, but I don't see a 
	marker.

The caretaker peers over his glasses to see where they're standing.

			CARETAKER
	Oh, yes, these are just memorial stones.  
	K.I.A, but no bodies were ever found.

He stops a moment to look Sophie over, taking notice of her 
condition.

			CARETAKER
	What did you say your friend's name was?

			SOPHIE
	Pinocchio.  Mike Pinocchio.

The dog tags Inga gave her in "Leviathan" come out of her pocket and 
she starts rubbing the metal unconsciously.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Everyone at the polling place is having a nice time. It looks almost 
like a happy picnic on a summer day in the real world.

The RUMBLE of Humvees and Jeeps casts an instant pall over the 
festivities.  Everyone freezes, wondering whether to scatter or stay 
and fight.

Pinocchio draws his gun, ready to fire.  

Hobbes and Florence move toward him, ready to back him up.

The cars pull to a halt and MEN in uniforms emerge.  They look at 
the sign menacingly.  But they don't rip it down. As the crowd 
parts, they approach the ballot box.

One by one, they make big, dark marks through the checkbox for 
Santiago.

And then they return to their vehicles.  But they don't get inside.  
Hands on their rifles, they wait.

INT. CEMETERY OFFICE - DAY

The caretaker rounds his desk, pulling out an oversized book and 
working his way through it, reading down columns with his finger.

			CARETAKER
	We're supposed to get computerized next 
	month.

Sophie smiles, and waits.

			CARETAKER
		(sadly)
	Such a lot of names.

He glances at her knowingly.

			CARETAKER
	Was he, uh, your young man?

			SOPHIE
	No.  He's someone - a friend of a friend.

The caretaker snaps the book closed, his eyes suddenly blazing. 
Sophie's taken aback.

			SOPHIE
	What is it?

			CARETAKER
	He's not here.

			SOPHIE
	He's not dead?

			CARETAKER
	I said, he's not here.  Across the street.

His eyes narrow in on the dog tags she's still fingering.

			CARETAKER
	With the civilians.

He closes his mouth, and will say no more.

Sophie looks at the tags in her hand and clutches them more tightly.  
Turns and leaves the office.

EXT. CARETAKER'S OFFICE

Sophie stops just outside, squinting in the sunlight. She looks 
uncertainly to the cemetery across the street.

Behind her, we see the shadow of a man who is watching her.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

The day is done.  Locke picks up the box and turns to survey the 
waiting faces of the crowd.  

He can't avoid looking at the soldiers, who are still waiting, 
although they look bored now.

Locke hands the box to Pinocchio, whose eyes light with surprise.

			LOCKE
	Count them.

Pinocchio raises an eyebrow - "me?"

			LOCKE
	You'll be fair.

			PINOCCHIO
		(muttering)
	Fair.

But he takes the box.  Locke removes his hands from it with a 
significant look into his eyes.

Pinocchio sits down at the makeshift table and opens the box, 
pulling the folded ballots out. There's quite a lot of them.

He goes to work, unfolding them and putting them into two piles, 
aware he's being watched.

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Sophie walks through. Looking, but not finding. The dog tags are 
still in her hand.

And we see the shadow of the man who is following her.

Finally she comes to a stop, in a secluded corner of the graveyard.  
There's a flat stone and the grave is unkempt, forgotten.  One word 
carved into the stone: PINOCCHIO.

Sophie frowns, kneels down by it.  Traces the name with her fingers, 
then looks down at the dog tags.  Comparing.  

She turns, to look at the surrounding stones, and jumps at the 
shadow of the man.

The Caretaker.

She looks at him crazily.

			SOPHIE
	Do you know more?  About this grave?

He eyes the dog tags again.

			CARETAKER
	Shouldn't you know?  Friend of a friend?

Sophie glances around, suddenly realizing she's in a secluded place 
with a man who doesn't seem so little and old any more.

			SOPHIE
	Could you tell me, please? It could be very 
	important.

He makes an unhappy face.

			SOPHIE
	Why isn't he in the military cemetery?

			CARETAKER
	I don't know how he died.  But there was no 
	honor in it.

Sophie looks at him.

			SOPHIE
	Is there a body in this grave?

The caretaker looks startled.

			CARETAKER
	I've said enough.

He turns and bolts. 

Sophie starts after him, but he's too quick, and she stops, 
breathing hard.

Behind one of the tall stones, another shadow moves.

Sophie freezes, instantly alert.  Though she waits, no one emerges.

			SOPHIE
		(tremulous)
	Who's - Who's that?

There's only silence.

Sophie turns and runs, fleeing into the woods, searching for a 
shortcut to her car.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Pinocchio sets the stacks of paper down.  He's finished counting.

A survey of faces, people waiting for the answer.  Hobbes. Florence. 
The Republican Guardsmen.  Locke.

			PINOCCHIO
	Locke.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Sophie, running.

Heavy footsteps pursuing her.

She turns but cannot see him.

Gunshots ring out. She screams and ducks as they whiz past her.

Now she's running in earnest.

Behind her, left behind, the silver of the dog tags glint from where 
she dropped them.

Large, heavy, military style boots come to a stop.  The man who was 
following her bends down and picks up the dog tags.  We never see 
his face.


			ACT FOUR

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Sophie comes out of the woods, running like mad.  She trips and 
falls down as she approaches the truck.  

Looking behind for her pursuer, she picks herself up. Both her knees 
are skinned but she doesn't notice.

She runs for the truck and locks herself inside.

Takes a moment and looks around.  The world outside the truck is 
peaceful.  No one is there.

Maybe she imagined it all.

She reaches to put her key into the ignition.  Hesitates.

Then again, maybe he did something to her truck.

She swallows hard, and turns the key in the ignition. Flinches as it 
roars to life.

Nothing bad happens.

She stomps on the gas and roars away.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

It's upscale, filled with men in business suits and women with their 
hair pinned up.  Some with shopping bags, others with laptops and 
cell phones.

Sarah is waiting, sipping her drink.  Bored.  She gets to her feet 
as Sophie approaches.  

			SARAH
	You look like you've been through the wars.

Sophie's look is pained as she sits down.

			SARAH
	Sorry.  What happened to you?

			SOPHIE
	Someone's trying to kill me.

Sophie waits almost desperately for a response.

Sarah doesn't know what to say.

			SARAH
	I'd say your imagination always did run 
	away with you but you've never had any 
	imagination, Sophie.  What the hell is 
	going on? You're bleeding.

She touches her sister's scratched cheek.

			SARAH
	You're shaking. Sophie, you're scaring me.

			SOPHIE
	I'm scared, Sarah.  Ever since Tom...I 
	don't know what my life's become.

Sarah's stunned. And her citified manner should let us know she's 
hard to stun.

			SOPHIE
	There's this mysterious woman who told me 
	Tom's not dead, that the government's 
	hiding something -

Sarah nods.  Trying to encourage her.

			SARAH
	That's why the inquest?

			SOPHIE
	Someone followed me yesterday, in my car.  
	And then this morning someone chased me 
	through the woods and shot at me.

Sarah nods.

Sophie scrapes her hair back.  Takes a deep breath.

			SOPHIE
	I don't know. Let's eat.

Sarah's wide-eyed at the sudden turnaround, but she picks up her 
menu and raises one hand to signal the waiter.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

The Republican Guard start shooting. They don't even move from 
leaning on their car, firing into the crowd.

A woman gasps as she's shot, and falls.  Blinks out.

Pinocchio grabs Locke's arm.  Hobbes is right there.

			PINOCCHIO
	We have to get him out of here.

He relinquishes custody to Hobbes, who moves away with the 
politician as Pinocchio covers him, firing back at the Republican 
Guard.

He kills one of them.

The other two give up their pursuit of the scattering crowd and 
focus on him.  Pinocchio grits his teeth. He's distracted them from 
Locke, but he never exactly wanted to give his life for that cause.

He runs, firing back at them.  Dodging.  Leaps over the hill Hobbes 
and Locke are hiding behind.

			PINOCCHIO
	Was this the plan?

Locke stands up.

			HOBBES
	Are you crazy?! Get down.

			LOCKE
	The people have spoken against tyranny.

Like the soldiers care.  They shoot him about 57 times.

Pinocchio and Hobbes are on their feet. Facing the soldiers.  Not 
about to die.

For a moment, the sets of men look at each other.

Gunfire is exchanged.

The two soldiers blink out of existence.

Pinocchio looks at Hobbes.

			PINOCCHIO
	I told you this was a bad idea.

Hobbes is shaken, but speaks with conviction.

			HOBBES
	I don't agree.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Sophie and Sarah are now eating.

			SOPHIE
	Mel came over last night.

			SARAH
	Mel *Waters*?

Sophie nods, eating.

			SARAH
	You're not going to get involved with him 
	again.
			
			SOPHIE
	I was happy to see him.

			SARAH
		(torn)
	I want you to move on, and be 
	happy, Sophie, but -

			SOPHIE
	I never understood what you had against 
	him.

			SARAH
	You can't be serious.

Sophie is.

			SARAH
	Soph.  Stay away from him.

			SOPHIE
	He introduced me to Tom.

			SARAH
	That's fine, but don't get involved with 
	him again.  He's got wifebeater's eyes.

Sophie just looks at her.

Sarah picks up her bag.

			SARAH 
	You ready?

EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Sarah walks Sophie to her car, then lingers.

			SARAH
	Tell me about the baby.

Sophie produces the manila folder, opening it and handing it to 
Sarah.

Ultrasound pictures.

			SOPHIE
	I heard her heartbeat.

			SARAH
		(breaking into a wild grin)
	Her?

The sisters grin at each other.

			SARAH
	I'm so happy for you.  

			SOPHIE
	I only wish Tom could be here.  To know 
	about her.

Sarah puts her hand on Sophie's shoulder.
			
			SARAH
	Are you going to be all right?

Sophie smiles tightly and nods.

			SARAH
	Mom and Dad would love to spoil you rotten. 
'	Again.

			SOPHIE
	I was never the spoiled one!

			SARAH
	I mean it. Maybe it would be good for you.
 	Get away from - all of this. The bad 
	memories.

Sophie nods, but doesn't say anything.

			SARAH
	You know you'll always be safe -

			SOPHIE
		(choked up)
	I know.

She nods, now trying not to cry.

			SOPHIE
		(again)
	I know.

			SARAH
	Oh, I didn't mean to -

She reaches to try to wipe Sophie's tears away, and then just hugs 
her sister instead.  A hard, tight hug, conveying just how worried 
she is.

They move apart.

			SARAH
	Sophie. Come home.

She doesn't protest.  Nor does she agree.

			SARAH
	Think about it.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

Angle on Sophie from a distance as she gets into the truck.

A man's hand on the steering wheel of the dark car from the teaser.

The brake and backup lights light up on Sophie's truck.

The hand of the man in the car, holding up the dog tags.  The light 
glints blindingly off them for a second as they twirl in the sun.

Sophie's car pulls out onto the road.

The hand opens the glove compartment and pulls out the handgun 
stashed inside.

A moment.

Then the gun goes back in and the glove compartment slams closed.

Sophie's truck is gone.

The dark car starts up and pulls out, turning in the direction 
opposite the one Sophie went.

INT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - DAY

She comes in.  Tosses her purse and stuff down, then lies down on 
the couch.  She's completely exhausted.

Notices the message machine light is blinking.

Sighing, she gets up, walks over, presses the button.

			MACHINE
	If you'd like to make a call, please hang 
	up and try again...

Then it goes to a fast busy signal.

Sophie looks at the telephone.  It's hung up properly. She looks 
back to the answering machine, then turns and looks at the house 
with a critical eye.

But there's no evidence anyone has been there.

She resets the answering machine.  Now she's nervous. She can't 
rest.

She picks up the telephone and starts to dial, then puts it down.

She goes to the door, opens it.  Looks out.

There's a car parked on the street.  We might recognize it as Inga 
Fossa's car from 1x3.

EXT. SOPHIE'S HOUSE - DAY

Sophie storms out there, and pounds on the window with the flat of 
her hand.  Angry.

The window slides down.

			INGA
	It's not safe for you to be seen with me.

			SOPHIE
	I don't care!  Why are you watching me?  
	Who's been inside my house? Leave me alone!

She stomps away.

Inga emerges from the car.

			INGA
	Sophie.

Sophie stops, glares at her.

			SOPHIE
	I saw his grave.  Mike Pinocchio.

Inga is visibly affected.

			SOPHIE
	Someone must have cared about him, once.  
	Was it you?

Inga's not gonna touch that one.

			INGA
	You need to be careful.  Very careful.  
	There are powerful men -

			SOPHIE
	I want you to tell me what's going on.  

			INGA
	You almost got yourself killed today.

			SOPHIE
	Do you know who -?

			INGA
	Do you think they're going to stop?

Sophie just looks at her.  Fear overtaking her anger.

			SOPHIE
	What - What am I -

			INGA
	You can't walk away now.  Whatever you
	choose.

She gets back into her car.  Starts the engine.  And drives away.

Leaving Sophie standing in the middle of the road.  Looking lost.  
And vulnerable.

After a moment, Sophie shakes her head and goes back into her house.

What she didn't notice before is another car.  Parked across the 
street.  A man inside who saw the entire scene.

It's the Man in Charge himself.

End. 

    Source: geocities.com/agentm119