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Wednesday,
8 November 2000 Maria and Liz are walking into school. Maria asks Liz if she's OK, saying she looks as if her heart has been stomped on like Maria's has. Liz asks Maria if she's seen Max. She says she can't explain it, but she wants to know if he's OK without him knowing she's asking. Michael comes up to Maria and Liz leaves. Maria tries to walk away but Michael follows, saying he has something to tell her about Courtney. She says she's not interested but he insists she listen. She tells him "You listen to me. She made a play for you and you went for it. So what, now she's screwed you over and you've come to realise she's a cheap, manipulative tramp? Well this is not news to me". He tells her Courtney is a Skin. Michael, Max, Isabel, Tess and Maria are in an empty classroom. Michael is saying he knew there was something wrong with her, even before he found the photograph in Whitaker's office. Max asks where she is now and Michael says "I don't know. She went out the window. I tried chasing her but... " Maria finishes his sentence with "But it's hard to run, with your pants around your ankles?" Tess tells them to solve their personal problems another time and points out that Courtney was probably working with Whitaker. Isabel agrees and says if they were working together then Courtney knows everything about them. Michael notices that Max isn't paying much attention to the conversation, kicks his chair and says "Maxwell, are we disturbing you?" Tess tells him "Leave him alone... he's had a rough night". Michael says sarcastically "Really? Something you want to share with the class?" Max says "No" and refocuses on the subject at hand. He says the first question is, does Courtney know that Whitaker is dead? Maria notices a news report, playing on the TV in the classroom, that is about Congresswoman Whitaker and says "If she didn't before, she does now". The anchor explains that Whitaker, who took over her husband's seat in Congress when he died, was killed in a car accident yesterday, just outside her home town of Copper Summit, Arizona. Shocked, Isabel says emphatically "She died two weeks ago, I was there". Michael wonders how, someone who is dust, can die in a car accident. Tess wonders who is conveniently covering up her death for them. Isabel speculates that other Skins created the fake car accident so the Feds wouldn't get suspicious and check her background. At Whitaker's office, Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess are going through her files while Liz is answering a phone call about Whitaker's death, saying "Yeah, we're in total shock. No, we haven't set a date for the memorial service yet. Yes, I will let you know as soon as we do, of course. OK". Max wonders how the Skins found out about her death in the first place in order to cover it up and asks Liz what she's been telling people. Liz assures him she told everyone who asked that Whitaker was on vacation, just as they agreed. She is hurt he suspected her for the leak. Tess finds a letter from the Universal Friendship League postmarked Copper Summit, Arizona and stamped Personal. No one has heard of this organisation. Max opens it and reads the letter aloud "Dear Member, Your failure to report as scheduled, violates protocol. We must receive word by the 25th of this month or terminate your membership, effective that date". The 25th was the day she died. The letter is signed T Greer, Senior Co-ordinator Vilandra Project. Isabel inadvertently blurts out "Vilandra?" but denies knowledge of it when Max asks if it means something to her. Liz calls the number on the letter and tells the person who answers about Whitaker's death. The person is suspicious and rude but thanks her before abruptly hanging up. Max decides they should go to Arizona to check them out. Michael says he wants to find Courtney first and Max agrees he should stay and continue to look for her. That night, in the Jeep, Liz is driving. Tess is sleeping on Max's shoulder in the back seat. Isabel is remembering Whitaker's words to her about her past; that she is Vilandra and she betrayed her people, and herself, for the man she loved. She drifts off to sleep. Liz tells Max it's OK if he wants to sleep too. He replies "I haven't slept since I saw you with Kyle. Liz, I know you, and I don't believe that you would do that to me. It doesn't make sense. Tell me what happened". Liz remains silent. Michael and Maria break into Courtney's apartment. Maria is giggling outside the door, saying she feels like Scully and Mulder. They start looking around the apartment with the aid of flashlights. Maria scoffs at Courtney's choice of CDs. Michael tells her to find an address book or something similar. Maria derisively comments that Courtney is not going to list her hideout in her address book. Michael asks if she's just going to rag on him or help. She picks up something and asks "Michael, what is this?" Michael comes over to check it out and says "That's why they call them Skins. She's shedding". Maria is totally grossed out and quickly drops the piece of skin she was holding with her fingers. She asks Michael how he found out Courtney was a skin. He replies "I saw part of her skin come off". She asks accusingly "Which part?" Exasperated he says "When are you gonna get off this?" She's says not for a long time and he assures her there is nothing going on between him and Courtney. They continue to explore the apartment. Maria opens a closet door and screams. Michael rushes over to see what she screamed about. Inside is a shrine to Michael with lots of pictures and some of his personal items. Michael points out a shirt he lost at work and asks "What the hell is this?" Maria replies "It's Graceland and you're Elvis". Amazed, Michael says "Wow!" Maria says "Wow? Is that all you can say right now? She's obsessed with you. She's like an alien stalker. She's been spying on you for weeks. She's been dreaming about you, fantasising about you... " Michael interrupts her and points out that the pictures were taken from an apartment across the street from his building and waits for Maria to come to the same conclusion he did. Maria finally realises this is where she does her spying and must be where she is hiding now. Thursday, 9 November 2000 The next morning, Max pulls the Jeep up to the Stagecoach Museum in Copper Summit. Copper Summit is a small, old fashioned, western town. They ask a young man, standing by the open doors of the Museum (which looks like a converted barn) where the main drag is and he says they are on it. He is somewhat standoffish, telling them they are in the middle of nowhere, but brightens when Max mentions the Universal Friendship League. He says "Here for the Harvest then?" He becomes suspicious, however, when Isabel says "Harvest?" He tells them the Friendship League is for members only and that they don't like outsiders, especially with all the press around recently. Isabel gestures with the letter and tells him they've been invited. He's not buying it but tells them where to find the building. As soon as they leave, he goes inside the Museum, uses his cell phone to make a call, and says "Four on the way. Non-members". Max parks the Jeep outside the Universal Friendship League building. Max tells everyone that they have to watch their step, not to trust anyone but each other and not to go anywhere alone. He and Isabel get out of the Jeep and head for the building. Tess and Liz stay in the back seat of the Jeep. Tess turns to Liz and says "So, you and Kyle?" Liz says yes, admits that Kyle mentioned the he and Tess were getting involved and apologises. Tess says she shouldn't worry about it, that "all you did was sleep with him" and shrugs it off. She thinks for a minute then adds "How was he anyway?" Liz stumbles over her reply, then smiles, nods and says "It was great". Surprised, Tess smiles, nods and says "Noted!" Max and Isabel approach the building with some trepidation. Isabel knocks continuously on the door until Mr T Greer opens it. Isabel asks if they can come in and he tells them that the Universal Friendship League is a private organisation and that they ask all visitors to avail themselves of all the tourist attractions in Copper Summit but to respect the League's privacy. Max points out that there are no tourist attractions in town and Greer suggests they move on to Tombstone. He starts to close the door when Isabel asks "What's the Vilandra Project?" He stops and stares at her, then says "I wouldn't know". Max tells him they are friends of Congresswoman Whitaker and would like to pay their respects to the family. He tells them "That'll be the Crawfords. Two blocks down, turn left, red mailbox" and closes the door as Max is trying to thank him. Max pulls up to the red mailbox. Ida Crawford is outside picking up her mail. All four approach her. Liz, carrying a package, introduces herself and reminds her that they've spoken on the phone. Liz extends her sympathies to Ida for the loss of her daughter. Ida thanks her, then asks "What are you doing here?" Liz holds up the package and tells her she is delivering Whitaker's personal items from the office. Laying it on a bit thick, Ida exclaims "Oh, Honey, that is sooo sweet. Well you didn't have to come clear up here; my gosh, it must be 400 miles". She calls to her husband Walt and tells him to come out and meet their visitors. Walt comes out and Ida explains why the kids have come. Walt says "Well, why didn't they just send them?" Ida berates Walt for his insensitivity and then invites the kids inside. In the living room, Tess, Liz, Max and Isabel are sitting stiffly on the couch. Walt is sitting in a chair across from them; there is an awkward silence. There is an old, country music song (Back in the Saddle Again) playing in the background. Finally, to break the silence, Walt asks Max which highway he took and suggests a better one. Ida comes in with some food and tells Walt the kids came for Vanessa's funeral service. Liz tells Ida that Vanessa was special to all of them and Isabel adds "Like a mother". Ida is impressed. Isabel notices a teenage boy (around 14 years), peering into the room and says "Hi". Ida and Walt try to convince Nicholas to come into the room but he declines and leaves. Ida explains that he was very close to his sister and took her death hard. Max suggests they leave to find a hotel and Ida insists that they have to stay with them and they will all go to the service together in the morning. Isabel notices Nicholas staring at her again. That night, Michael and Maria are staring out his apartment window at the apartment window across the street. Maria is saying Courtney isn't going to stroll up to her hideout while they are watching. Michael says it was her idea and she denies it. He resignedly says "OK, so now it's my fault". Maria replies "Yes, you know what? Just to make things simpler, from now on, you should consider everything to be your fault, OK? OK". With futile hope, Michael says "Well, I know one way to make the time go faster". Maria scoffs and says "Funny!" Michael says "I know". Maria thinks Courtney left town and Michael says "No, no, she wouldn't do that. She's obsessed with me". Maria replies "Well, I guess that makes two of you, then, doesn't it?" Michael says "She'll show up sooner or later" and they both jump and turn when Courtney, who has sneaked up behind them, says "How about sooner?" It's her turn to jump when Michael instinctively raises his arm, ready to emit an energy surge. She puts up her hands and says "Whoa, hey, truce!" He keeps his arm up and says "Don't move!" She replies "Don't worry, I won't. You're watching the building? You figured out where I'd be from the pictures. That's very good Mikey G; you're everything I thought you'd be and more". Maria interjects "Oh please, do your lips not get chapped from all the ass kissing?" Michael tells her to sit down and when she does he finally relaxes and puts his arm down. Maria asks her why she is obsessed with Michael. Courtney replies "I'm not obsessed with him, OK? I follow him, in the political sense" She explains that their planet was on the brink of a golden age but it all fell apart and a civil war resulted. A renegade faction of the Skins felt Michael could have united the planet, pulling together the warring factions and wanted him to take the throne. But he remained loyal to Max and it cost them (the Royal Four) their lives. She says "Please, just don't let history repeat itself. You're the one we need. You're our leader, our salvation". Michael is stunned and somewhat uncomfortable with this information. Maria grabs Michael and screams into his ear "Michael, if you can hear me now, over the sound of your rapidly inflating ego, could you please tell me that you do not believe what this, this Michael worshiper here, has to say?" Michael tries to process what Courtney has told him, then shakes his head and replies "No, no, no way. No, this is just part of your plan to divide and conquer". Courtney says "I knew you weren't ready to hear this". He asks her what's in Copper Summit. She tells him he should stay away from there because there are no "Michael worshippers" there. Tess picks up a picture of Vanessa Whitaker in the Crawford living room. Flashes of her experience in the power plant with Whitaker and Isabel, come to her. Ida startles her when she comes into the room saying "A penny for your thoughts". Tess asks Ida to tell her about Vanessa when she was Tess's age. Liz is wandering down the main street of Copper Summit alone. Max catches up to her, berating her for being alone. Tense, she says "Fine!" and starts to head back. He stops her and says "Wait!" Knowing what he wants, she says "Max, look there's just... there's nothing left to say". Max replies "Except the truth". Exasperated, Liz says "We have already been through this". Angry and hurt, Max's voice continues to rise as he says "So far all I know is what I saw. And what I saw can't be true, because it means everything I felt in my heart for the last year, is a lie! And you owe me an explanation and I want it right now!" Liz replies "Please quit shouting Max. You're scaring me". Max counters with "That's a lie too! You're not scared... you're hiding something". Liz denies it. Max asks "What the hell is going on with you, Liz? We never lied to each other, never kept a secret from each other". Liz replies "You know, you have got me up on this pedestal, Max, and... I'm not this perfect person. I made a mistake. Look, Kyle and I made love... the end. I'm sorry". Devastated by her reply, Max walks away from her. Desolate, Liz watches him leave. Isabel is going through her purse in Whitaker's old bedroom. Nicholas comes in. He is shy at first. Isabel breaks the ice by extending her sympathies and asking if he got to spend much time with his sister. He tells her he was planning on visiting her next year in Washington DC to see the Air and Space Museum and that she would always make time for him when she had time to visit. She told him there was a whole wide world out there and didn't want him stuck in Copper Summit. She also told him stories "about this planet, in another galaxy, and how there was this war going on, like a revolution". Isabel asks "Did she ever mention Vilandra?" Surprised, Nicholas asks "How do you know about Vilandra?" Isabel replies "Vanessa told me some stories too". Tess comes in and Nicholas leaves. Tess closes the bedroom door and comes over to Isabel. She tells her that Ida told her that Vanessa was adopted. Isabel says that means Ida, Walt and Nicholas could be human. Tess continues, saying that the Friendship League is a civic organisation, like the Elks, and that they are handling all the funeral arrangements. Ida and Walt haven't even seen the body yet. Isabel says "Because there is no body" and Tess replies "Right, but, as long as the League handles everything, nobody has to know that. What about the kid?" Isabel replies "I don't know, you came crashing in before I had a chance to start a real conversation". Tess looks hurt at the rebuke. In the Jetta, Courtney is telling Michael and Maria that going to Copper Summit is a mistake. Courtney tells Michael her people arrived in 1950 and that she didn't spend 50 years looking for him so he could throw his life away due to misplaced loyalty. Maria jumps on the fact that she is about 70 years old, old enough to be Michael's grandmother. Courtney tells Maria that "husks", the skin she is wearing, doesn't age, so she's been a "babe" for the past 50 years. She asks Maria "What are you going to look like in 50 years?" Michael interjects with "Will you two let it go! You're giving me a headache. Now, what the hell is a husk?" Courtney explains that it is like a space suit, a shell that protects them from the environment. Earth's atmosphere is hostile to their race. The husk is a lifeform technology that they can genetically manipulate to resemble human bodies. Their relationship to it is essentially parasitic. Their skin is alive, like the trees are alive. Michael asks "So what's with the peeling?" She replies "They're good for... maybe 50 years. But the husks are dying". Michael says "Well, if all the Skins in Copper Summit are about to die, then all we have to do is, wait them out. If the husks die, we're home free, right?" Courtney doesn't answer. Maria says "OK, what are you not telling us?" Courtney takes in a deep breath and then says "The Harvest". Friday, 10 November 2000 The next day Max, Isabel, Tess and Liz are in the Universal Friendship League building for the funeral. Many people are milling about, including some with TV cameras. Tess doesn't understand why they are putting on such a big show and Max points out that after this there won't be any questions about what happened to Whitaker. Nicholas is standing at the doorway and motions to Isabel to follow him. Max is unhappy about Isabel leaving, but doesn't stop her. She follows him into the Stagecoach Museum and down into a hidden room in the basement. There are several large, glass containers holding, what appear to be, human beings in upright positions. They are replicas of Ida, Walt and others. Isabel is mesmerises as she walks by each one. She stops in front of Nicholas's replica. She is startled when he appears behind her. He tells her that he's glad she came, then sends an energy surge at her that knocks her to the floor. When she regains consciousness, Nicholas is gone but she sees a light coming from another room and heads towards it. When she opens the door, there appear to be endless rows of replicas in glass containers. Shocked, Isabel starts to back away and Nicholas comes up behind her and says "Hello Vilandra. It's been a long time". At the funeral, Max, Liz and Tess approach Whitaker's coffin. Her body appears to be intact and Tess says "Good looking pile of dust". Liz says it can't be possible and, with trepidation, reaches out and touches Whitaker's hand. The fake skin collapses and leaves a hole, which Liz covers up with some flowers. Max notices Greer, peeling skin off his face. He slowly turns around, telling Liz and Tess under his breath "Let's go". As Greer eulogises Whitaker, they head back up the aisle towards the door, noticing that Ida, Walt and all the other townfolk, including the cameramen, are scratching and peeling their skin. Liz whispers that the place is crawling with them and Tess whispers that they will never let them leave. Just as they get to the door, Greer notices the hole in Whitaker's hand. He calls out to them "Leaving so soon?" and uses his powers to close the doors before they can leave. He sends out an energy surge that knocks them all to the floor; then pulls his arm back, causing Max to slide, on his stomach, all the way back to the coffin. With difficulty, Max, Liz and Tess get to their feet. Greer walks towards them, saying "You mustn't be in such a hurry to leave us. It appears our long search for the Royal Four has finally ended. How convenient of you to deliver yourselves to us". Max, backing away from Greer, indicates Liz and says "She's not one of us, let her go". Ida says "She's a human who knows too much. It's a darn shame 'cuz she's awfully cute". Max has reached Tess and Liz. Greer identifies Max as the former king and Tess as his bride. With disdain, Tess says "That's right". Greer says "You won't remember me, but I remember you. This is a moment I've waited for a long time". He is about to send out an energy surge, when Max stops him with the force field. Greer asks "How long do you think you can hold out against all of us?" Max replies "As long as I have to". As Isabel nervously and furtively looks for a means to escape, Nicholas explains about the husk replicas. He tells her "It's taken 20 years, nursing them from spores to maturity, now they're almost ready to harvest. Don't worry, you're safe here with us, Vilandra". She replies "My name is Isabel". He tells her "For the moment, but when I looked into your eyes, it was Vilandra who looked back. Your destiny is with us, with Khivar. He's waiting to hear that we found you". She says "I don't even know..." and he finishes "who the hell Khivar is?" With disdain he continues "The Royal Four... if only the people could see you now. Clueless teenagers groping for their own identities. You'd lose some of that legendary aura, that's sprung up over the years". She asks "What do you want?" He replies "It's what you want, you just can't remember. I'm here to take you back to him, Vilandra. The leader of the rebellion. The man who currently sits on your brother's tarnished throne; the man for whom you sacrificed a kingdom; your lover, Khivar". She says "No!" and tries to leave. He knocks her to the floor with an energy surge and says "You're not going anywhere". He stoops down to her and says "You know, on our world, I was considered to be something of a ladies man. I even remember you giving me the eye now and again. But after spending 50 years as a teenage misfit and having all the women laugh at me, I've grown far less tolerant of the female sex". As he is "reminiscing" she spots a pipe on the floor and, out of his view, wraps her hand around it. He asks "Where's the granilith?" and she replies "I don't know what you are talking about". Michael, Maria and Courtney pull up to the Museum in the Jetta. They get out and run inside. Max is still trying to hold off Greer and the others. More townfolk join Greer and add their strength to his. It's becoming too much for Max to hold back. Tess leans in and says "I can help. Let my strength flow into yours". Isabel uses the pipe to knock Nicholas to the floor. He recovers before she can escape and says "OK, now I'm pissed" as he sends an energy surge out that knocks her to the floor. Michael arrives downstairs and sends and energy surge at Nicholas that sends him flying to the end of the room. Michael helps Isabel up and tells Maria and Courtney "Get her out of here". Nicholas recovers and approaches Michael saying "And who do we have here. That gleam of dull stupidity in the eyes... if I'm not mistaken, you must be the king's second in command. I killed you myself in your last life... ready to die again?" Michael responds "Bring it on". Max and Tess are unable to maintain the force field - it collapses. Greer says "Well, it's time for this little game to come to an end". Courtney is sneaking back downstairs in the Museum. She picks up a pipe and breaks the glass of one of the instruments maintaining the husk replicas. Nicholas puts his hands to his ears and starts to scream in pain. Courtney runs back upstairs. Michael starts to follow but stops when he sees Courtney's husk. The glass containers start to explode. At the funeral, Greer and the others are falling to the floor, holding their ears and screaming in pain. Max, Tess and Liz use this opportunity to escape. Tess uses her powers to open the doors and they run out and head for the Jeep. They meet Maria, Isabel and Courtney outside the Museum. Maria is asking where Michael is. Suddenly he appears, carrying a wrapped body. Courtney looks on with pleased amazement as he places the body in the trunk of the Jetta and Maria says "Is that what I think it is?" Michael, Maria, Isabel and Courtney take off in the Jetta; Max, Liz and Tess in the Jeep. The glass containers continue to explode and then there is a final large explosion. When the dust clears, the townfolk slowly approach the Museum. Inside, thousands of bits of skin flutter to the floor. When Greer realises the husks have been destroyed he says "Well, that's the end of it then. We're all as good as dead" and Nicholas replies "We may be as good as dead, but this is not the end". |
