[Sven2]

---------------------------------------


(Bill is standing in his dressing gown, mug in hand, eyeing the staircase suspiciously. Zippy squaks)

Bill: (looking over slowly) Now why in the hell would I want to do that? At a surf contest I'd be as useful as tits on a goddamn nun. (another pause) Though, I could direct traffic I suppose. Just what I need: to end up in goddamn bracelets again. (Zippy squaks emphatically)

Bill: I need to be there you say. Well that's fantastic. Perhaps I'll strap on a board and paddle out. Bunch of goddamn hippies and hooligans if you ask me. (he loses himself in thought and returns to his mug)

Zippy: Squak

Bill: Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ! Excuse me for taking a moment to enjoy my tea and strategize her ladyship's rescue. But that's right, I'll put all my plans on hold, and do your immediate bidding. (he bows sarcastically) Don't think for a moment you're coming with me though; that kind of trouble I can do without.

--backinthegame

------------------------------------

At the street end of the driveway of the Snug Harbor Freddy is leaning down in the window of a seventies Town and Country style station wagon that is blocking the entrance.

Driver: Look mister, we're just here to see the sights and maybe get an autograph or two for the kids.

Freddy: How about I rip your fucking ear off and throw it in the back seat for your kids to look at? Do you suppose that will be some kind of sightseeing, and a souvenir they're gonna remember from their trip to IB?

The driver hastily grabs the column shift lever and throws it in reverse. The car careens back out into the street narrowly missing the front bumper of the Lexus.

--SpiritontheWater

----------------------------------------

Cut to Walkara's bluff -

Moana looks down at Adam and smiles.

Moana: What you gonna do brah, hold me back from throwing myself off this cliff? Or maybe you was just hoping to end up with this Hawaiian shirt?

Adam's eyes widen in sudden realization, he leans forward cautiously looking down the cliff and down to the highway.

Adam: Dude, do you know how much that would hurt?!

Moana begins to laugh a deep laugh shaking his head grinning. He gets up and grabs Adam by the hand lifting him to his feet.

Moana: Come on little brah, lets get back to town, I'll get you some breakfast.

Moana and Adam walk back across the mesa by the narrow trail leading to the path down the hill, Moana still laughing at Adam's words.

Adam: There's people I don't wanna see.

Moana: Don't you worry yourself little brudda, you're with Moana now. (Moana slips the plane ticket into his back pocket).

-- SpiritontheWater

-----------------------------------------

Just as Adam is about to step down into the descending path he sees out of the corner of his eye a chestnut stallion watching warily from the far corner of the mesa. Adam points to it and Moana looks too. Adam waves to it and the stallion raises his head, as if to match Adam's gesture, then lowers it and begins grazing.

Moana: His home brah.

Adam: (to the horse) Thanks! (to Moana) I like that horse!

Moana: Don't think he'll let you ride him little bruddah.

--SpiritontheWater

-----------------------------------------


Meyer pulls the Lexus into the driveway of the Snug Harbor and stops along side Freddy who doesn't move to give them room.

Meyer: (to Freddy) Problems?

Freddy: I got no problems I can't handle, but you guys got a shit load of 'em. (he motions up the driveway toward the office where a small crowd of people have congregated in the courtyard and in front of the office). Your night watchman should be the one standing here directing traffic but where the fuck is he? (Meyer shrugs, not understanding)

Ramon: I better get out and see to those folks, some of them don't look too happy. (before opening the car door he turns to the back seat and looks at Barry and the doctor). You gonna stay with Barry doc? (Dr. Smith looks at Barry)

Barry: I'm coming with you Ramon, I no longer require medical supervision. And it appears we are looking back into the not too distant past and are now given an opportunity to intervene and perhaps repair that which appears to be imminently broken. (Barry points ahead and they all look to the courtyard where two men have squared off and are shouting at each other. Barry opens his car door and gets out as do Dr. Smith and Ramon)

Meyer: (looking up at Freddy) Where should I park?

Freddy: Straddling the San Andreas fault!

Meyer: Perhaps I should leave the car here temporarily to prevent further congestion. (he shuts off the engine and opens the door but has to squeeze out to avoid hitting Freddy who is not moving out of the way) Perhaps I'll just lend my assistance to the others. (he motions toward the others and lowers his head as Freddy just stares at him as he inches his way along the front fender).

Freddy: (turning toward the road and walking out of the driveway and down the sidewalk) These people thinking the queer is something just spells more trouble for the boy. And I got a beatin' comin' for that monkey too just as soon as he climbs out of his tree.

--SpiritontheWater

----------------------------------------

Barry, Ramon and Dr. Smith approach the two men who are standing in the courtyard (on the shuffleboard court) facing each other. Each man is flanked by a woman who's arm is draped across the chest of a young child standing beneath her breast; one a boy, one a girl. The two children are smiling at each other obviously smitten.


Man on Left: You dismiss the reality before your very eyes!

Man on Right: And you see nothing but what you?ve been told to see!

Out of the corner of his eye, Barry sees the door to room 24 standing open and stops where he is, staring toward the lightless space within. The two men continue speaking in the background as Barry steps toward the room hearing a fading song. As Meyer walks up beside Barry he and Ramon follow Barry's gaze, and seeing the open door too they look at each other questioningly.

Man on Left: You wouldn't know a miracle if it bit you on the ass!

Man on Right: And you would have us all believe that a matter of nature is an act of God.

Dr. Smith stands before the two men somewhat stunned as he tries to figure out what the argument is about. He is mesmerized though by the scene and is drawn to the silent exchange he immediately notices between the boy and the girl. He laughs a muffled laugh with each line the men utter.

John stands obscured, looking out through the blinds in room 24. He sees Barry, Ramon and Meyer approaching.

John: Nature bit Barry on the ass.

Barry enters the room with Ramon and Meyer behind him, John is gone and the lights are on. The room is freshly renovated with beautiful Tommy Bahama furnishings and fabrics.

Barry: (looking toward the window) It must have been a play of light that had me thinking I saw someone standing in the window just now.

Ramon: I don't know how the lights got turned on.

Meyer: A miraculous transformation...this room. Tropicale Nuovo?

Barry: (looks around finally noticing the finished room, proudly) It is splendid isn't it? I shall make camp here for now Ramon. Mr. Dickstein, are were permitted residency?

Meyer: I don't believe there are any impediments to allowing occupancy as long as the rooms have been fully refurbished and the permits have been signed.

Barry walks over to one of the lithographs on the wall above the bed, it depicts a white sand beach backed with palm trees, a sea lion basking at the tides edge, a blue whale breaching in the shallows, and a seagull, wings outstretched, perched on a rock.

Barry: (smiling) I will camp here with my friends.

Ramon: (Raising an eyebrow) I'll go see to the campers outside.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

Camera faces Tina and Linc walking away from Butchie's room in the motel.

Linc:(laughing) Butchie's nest, eh?

Tina looks around at angry men in the courtyard, cars, parked everywhere, the hum of voices, a TV van with the parabolic antenna driving to the motel.

Tina: Let's find Shaunie. I'm worried....

Linc: ( trying to pull Tina closer to him) Nah, he could be anywhere. Smoking pot, surfing with groms, or shacking with a girl on the beach, Tina. Let's go to the hotel, you said you want to move to your new place tonight. Shaun is Butchie's heir, he will...

Tina:(turning abruptly, looking Linc in the eye) What a liar you are, Linc! Tell me, did you call for me just to get at Butchie? Is it what you wanted? You figured it right, I am your domesticated slut, isn't it what every CEO wet dream is, fucking a hot cleaned up porno queen? Playing little house on the prairie with you, is that what you want from me? You know what? I am not going anywhere with you! What you care for Shaun, he is just 14, he is just a boy alone in the fucking world, I left him alone...

She sees Meyer's Lexus left with the front door ajar. She gets in; the key is in the ignition. Tina starts the car.

Where Do I Begin

Tina drives around IB, we can see this town from a moving car, all the shots in the opening credits are taken again. Tina drives aimlessly - may be looking for her son, and may be for something else she knows she lost.
She arrives to the ocean, leaves the car and slowly walks along the sand.

--svengali2

----------------------------------------

Click - Look what you've done

Mitch stands in the living room looking at his trophies and the pictures on the wall around them. He smiles and shakes his head taking one picture in particular off the wall.

He rubs his hand across the picture to dust it off and continues looking down at it.

He walks out the back door and up the steps to his clubhouse. Entering the sanctuary he places the picture on the driftwood table where he looks at it again shaking his head. He walks over to the window and stands there staring out toward the elephant cage.

Mitch: (slight tears in his eyes) What is it for?

--SpiritontheWater

---------------------------------------

Cut to Jerri's cafe.

Jerri: (looking at Dwayne with amazement) Dancing? (She starts to laugh) Were the fuck? In the fucking furnace? Aren't you fucking beautiful, you dickwad, what the fuck have you lost there, your Linux or the fucking Unix?

She drags Dwayne to his computer station and pushes him in the chair. Confused Dwayne looks at her sideways, than gets drawn to the computer screen.

Jerri: (slapping him on the head) I didn't fucking turn you computer off, did I? Or your fucking exploding portal. Your rent goes up, dickhead, 20 a day.

She takes her T-shirt off and rudely wipes soot from Dwayne's head and face. Dwayne pays no attention, he just twists his head trying to see the images on the screen.

Jerri: (pushing his face into the computer) I called your fucking mother in Phoenix, she couldn't stop talking, you better pay the fucking bill. (She realizes that she is half naked and puts the T-shirt on).

Dwayne sits at the computer. Jerri stands behind him silent.

--svengali2

---------------------------------------

Dwayne looks back at Jerri shaking his head. A smear of dried blood still runs down the side of his face. Jerri stands close behind him. She looks bewildered and shrugs her shoulders.

Dwayne: You are an idiot. You don't have the slightest clue about what is going on, do you?

Jerri: (looks to the door as a large group of strangers come inside) When you tell me maybe we'll both know, asshole. Do you have any idea that I been waiting here for you like your fucking mother Mary? (She turns to the group of people as they scoot the chairs out around a large table and begin to sit down) You gotta order and pick up at the counter, we don't have table service (she walks over to the table and flips around a small sign that states the policy and points again to the counter)

Dwayne: Well I've just escaped with my life from being kidnapped by terrorists and if you'd bothered to look at the screen you'd have seen that.

On the screen is a streaming feed from Dwayne's laptop still in the room he was tied up in. Several men are seen walking back and forth in front of the camera. A close up of a man with a beard appears as he leans down to use the computer. The words he speaks are incomprehensible.

Jerri: We've been watching that thing for two days. How the hell are we supposed to know what the fuck we were looking at?

Dwayne: That man there, he is the one who gave the orders! There's something big going on here, very big. (they watch as several men approach the computer, look down at it and then back away. They are dressed in paramilitary gear and armed. In the background are several stacked wooden crates) This is huge.

A woman walks up to the counter and looks back at Jerri expectantly.

Jerri: Keep your bra on, I'll be there in a minute. What the fuck is going on Dwayne?

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

[Sven2]

Dwayne: I'm not sure but I think these guys are preparing for some kind of assault.

Jerri: Are they fucking watching us? We're watching them so they're watching us is that the way it works? They're gonna be able to find the fucking diner? Fucking Christ, Dwayne!

Dwayne: Calm down , they aren't looking at us. It doesn't work that way. They're just using the computer for something (he taps the keys vigorously) and if I'm right (a few more taps) they're using some programs that I should be able to bring up here...and see exactly. (he clicks enter and the screen shifts from the camera view to a set of maps that are being scrolled around. He smiles proudly at himself as Jerri walks over behind the counter to take orders. Dwayne continues to watch as the page shifts to a full screen view of the Stinkweed internet poster for the surf contest). Oh shit.

Jerri: (calling back to Dwayne) Shouldn't we call homeland security!

Woman at counter: I assure you miss, my guests are all legal.

Jerri: (gives the lady a blank stare) You thought I was talking about you because I was just paying so much attention to you and everyone you brought in with you. What can I get for you and your guests dear? And we're out of almond flakes.

Dwayne: (to himself) I dont think homeland security is going to get here in time. (he switches back to the video feed just as the man with the beard is reaching up and closing the laptop, the screen goes black) They're moving. (Dwayne gets up to leave and turns to Jerri) I'll be back.

Jerri: (shakes her head) Fucking Arnold Schwarzenegger. (the woman at the counter quickly turns to look at the door)

Woman at counter: Really?

Jerri: Oh yeah, he comes in here all the time. Iced mocha and a bear claw.

--SpiritontheWater

----------------------------------------

(Shaun skates up to cabin F with a large white paper bag in hand; he enters and sets the bag on the coffee table. He walks over to the wall to the adjacent cabin, and bangs on it with his fist)

Shaun: Wake up dad; wake up Kai; I got breakfast.

(There is no answer so he bangs on the wall again)

(Next door Butchie and Kai stir in bed)

Butchie: Alright, alright. Don't shit your fuckin' pants.

(Shaun starts unpacking the bag, taking out individually wrapped foil packages, and some ramekins of orange sauce, spreading them over the coffee table)

(Butchie comes thru the door, shirtless, scratching his balls, Kai in tow)

Butchie: Hey. Watch what you're doing there grom! I just spent half the fuckin' night cleaning this place.

Shaun: (Grinning)I know; I think I'm gonna be scarred for life! (Butchie who has picked out a shirt from a neatly folded pile, flicks Shaun with it).

Shaun: (Feigning hurt) Hey! Watch it.

(Butchie puts the shirt on. Despite having been folded, it is as dirty as ever)

Butchie: So what's the deal with all this, bud? (he gestures towards the food). The store run out of fuckin' Cheerios?

Shaun: Nuh uh. "That's what separates me from the rest of these fuckin' pussies. The beast eats like a man before a competition.". If you're gonna compete again dad, we've gotta do it right! "Chorizo, eggs and hot sauce that'll make you shit fire".

Butchie: How the hell'd you know about that? (Shaun nods over at Kai, who meets Butchie's gaze). Shit, what the fuck else did you tell him?

Kai: (grinning) Um... probably more than you can still remember!

Butchie: (looking down slowly, he mutters mostly to himself) Yeah, that wouldn't be too hard, I guess.

(He looks up and sees John thru the screen, standing outside the otherwise open cabin door)

Butchie: Hey Monad; come on in, we're having breakfast.

John (Entering) I can make toast. (he holds his hand out meaningfully).

Butchie: Not necessary my brother. Shaunie has it covered.

John: Shaun does have it covered. The judges aren't blind. The beach will be wiped clean. Bill knows what to do.

(he looks up slowly, looks down slowly, turns and heads back out the door. Butchie looks over at Shaun who just shrugs and goes back to eating his taco)

Shaun: (Standing up as he finishes his taco) So you guys about ready to go kick some butt?

Butchie: (through his mouthful) Fuckin' A'!

Kai: Fuckin' A'

(Shaun smiles and sets about gathering his gear)

--backinthegame

--------------------------------------

(Freddy is scowling at the world, arms folded. Palaka walks into the Snug Harbor and seeing Freddy, stops out of arms reach).

Freddy: Where the fuck have you been?

Palaka: (cowering) At the beach; I wanted to reserve us a spot.

Freddy: You don't think I can have any fucking spot I want? Why the fuck I don't kill you right now, I have no idea. If you wanted to make yourself useful then there's fuckin' crowd control. With the queer now, it's like the kid all over again. And besides, didn't I fuckin' tell you not to leave while the kid was still here.

Palaka: Yeah boss, but I figured...

(Freddy punches him in the gut)

Freddy: Don't fuckin' figure; the last thing the world needs is another fuckin' monkey thinking it's ready to evolve. I've got a bad feeling about today. Get the car ready, then go check on Butchie and the boy.

(Palaka nods agreement and bows past Freddy in one familiar motion running into the room)

--backinthegame

--------------------------------------

Meyer walks out of room 24. Next to it two children we saw with their mothers and arguing men sit on the asphalt, oblivious to the commotion around them. The boy is making engine noises moving a toy car in a circle. Small teddy bear sits in the bed of the truck. The girl with long braids tied with red ribbons catches teddy bear when it falls out.
Meyer turns his head and sees Daphne leaning on the wall. She has her high heels in her hands. Without them she is smaller than Meyer.

Meyer: Bubbele, what are you doing here? I thought...

Daphne: (noticing Mayer) Their mothers went to the office.

Meyer: What a chain of unforeseen events occurring lately, Daphne, do you agree?

Daphne: Meyer, I can't wear high heels , they are killing me. I am 39 and I dye my hair. Do you want me to be the oldest bride walking around under the chuppah? Another seven years and you will need help breaking the glass!

Meyer: (taken aback, he tries to button his coat unsuccessfully) I have surfer's muscles. (realizing what he just heard, he stands taller) I guess, now that I am gainfully employed...

Daphne: To a suicidal manic depressive prone to sudden disappearances, attracting accidents like a dog fleas, Meyer!

The children switch roles, now a girl is playing with the toy truck.

Meyer: I suppose tomorrow after the competition I can ask Ben Samuelson to draw a prenuptual contract.

Daphne: Yes, Thomas Mann, so I could get your unfinished novels, you schmuck.

Two women walk to their children.

1st woman: Thank you, ma'am.

2nd woman: Thank you, love.

--svengali2

--------------------------------------

click and minimize

Cass opens her eyes in the hotel room. The bedspread is strewn on one side, she is laying there uncovered, wearing a tank top and panties. John is standing next to the bed looking at her quietly.

Cass: You are here. I had a strange dream, John. Do you know I am afraid of heights? In the dream I was all dressed in my winter clothes, like in Minnesota. I was on a tower... then I stepped off of the ladder... I was walking in the air... lower and lower...then I landed...

John: We don't remember my father's words, Cass. You need your camera. My father has more big and huge for us today.

Cass: John, I tried to find this tower again and I couldn't. Some dream, eh?

John: I DON'T dream, Cass.

Cass: I know. We do, John.

John: (making grimaces he wrinkles his nose and squints his eyes, obviously trying to find the right words) My father is a genius on science! My father builds towers!

He extends his hand out to Cass. She smiles and gets off the bed.

--svengali2

---------------------------------------

Butchie looks over at John who is sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed.

Butchie: (swallows a large forkfull of chorizo and eggs and points to John with his fork) Looks like John's gone stealth on us. John! You still with us buddy? (John doesn't respond)

Shaun: He's travelin' (Shaun gets up and walks over to John smiling mischievously. He puts his finger in John ear)

Kai: I wouldn't do that Shaunie.

Shaun: I'm just messing with him.... OUCH! (Shaun quickly pulls his finger out and backs away) He shocked me! (Shaun rubs his finger and hand)

Butchie: Didn't I tell you not to stick your finger in a light socket?

Shaun: (shaking his hand and rubbing it, looking angry) no, Grams told me that.

--SpiritontheWater

-------------------------------------

The camera returns to Daphne and Meyer.
Daphne says something incomprehensible to Meyer who is busy carefully buttoning his coat. He seems not to hear it as two cars next to him start their engines at the same time. Daphne drops her shoes and comes very close to Meyer.

Daphne: Meyer, you need a drill.

Meyer: What?

Daphne: For your exostosis. You have it in both ears. (She unbuttons his coat) And a new suit. Now, that you are gainfully employed.

John: (appearing to the right of Daphne) One blow job rocked the Jew lawyer's world.

He smiles and looking at Meyer makes a left turn with the hand out to the side. Meyer follows the move exactly. Both trace a monad symbol on the ground with their feet and walk back to room 24.

Daphne: Meyer! (Meyer doesn't turn his head)

Daphne stands barefoot on the asphalt trying to understand what happened.

The camera takes a panoramic shot of the courtyard, then moving up shows a bird's view of IB ending with the beach full of people and the ocean.

--svengali2

--------------------------------------


In a dark cantina, south of the border, Erlemeyer sits at a table drinking a glass of orange juice. Across from him sits a large, middle aged Mexican man wearing a black shirt and jacket, his hand wrapped around a Tijuana Morena beer. Visible between his thumb and forefinger are three black dots.

Erlemeyer: I know you thought I had disappeared from your life Julio, and I am sure both of us would have been happier if I never had to come back into this city. But I am here, and I think you know why.

Julio: The favor you did for me was too great, Sr. Quimico. I knew one day you would need me to help you in return. I now no longer wonder when you will come. I await your words, a sus ordenes.

Erlemeyer reaches inside of the vest he is wearing and removes the plastic bag that Mitch has given him. He places it on the table between them and slides it across. Picking it up, Julio catches Erlemeyer's eye and gives a slight nod. He slips the bag into his jacket pocket.

Erlemeyer: It's not a simple favor, Julio. But then nothing ever is simple, is it?

--Skordamou

--------------------------------------

Taking a dive, camera zooms on the group of people gathered on the beach. They surround a big whale laying on the sand in distress.

1st man: The sonars and the pollution, and nobody gives a flying fuck!

2nd man: You must be one of 'em tree huggers, go kiss this fish!

A man in a Sikh turban dressed in long white clothes hurriedly walks to the whale. He is followed by a woman holding a baby and two boys. The boys drag a big cooler on wheels. People move out of their way, leaving a distance between them.

Boys roll the cooler to the ocean edge and flipping it on the side try to fill it with water. In a moment others, children and adults, join them. People pour water on the enormous body of the whale using all they have at hand - emptied coolers, buckets, toys. A boy sprays the whale out of his water gun. There are the boy and the girl that were playing in the motel courtyard and their parents.

Bill Jacks enters the scene. He is out of breath.

Bill: What is this nonsense now? This is ridiculous, what are you gonna do, push him in the water, for Christ's sake? The police should be involved! (Turning to a woman speaking on the cell phone) Can I borrow your damn phone? Excuse me, I lost my temper. (The woman gives him the phone) Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ! How do I dial the number?(Concentrating on the task he pushes the buttons) Anderson, Anderson, we have a clusterfuck on the beach, the situation is deteriorating!

--svengali2

[Sven2]

--------------------------------------

Dwayne: (walking quickly down the sidewalk) Dancing? Of course I was dancing. Who wouldn't finding their limbs free after twenty four hours of being bound? How were they free? Don't know. How did I end up on the beach? Don't know... Why was I kidnapped and strapped to a chair with duct tape? Don't know, but I got a theory.... I do know what the beach bum said though... and the thug guy, him I don't know about... but he's harmless I think... "Hearing is believing".

Passerby: You're talking to yourself buddy!

Dwayne: I know I am... got a few things to deal with right now! (He shakes his head turning suddenly and ducking down runs back into a vacant lot along side a fence behind a run down apartment complex) Better use the back door.

Inside Dwayne's bedroom we see the window slowly slide open and Dwayne's head slowly peek over the sill. He cocks his head side to side and listens. He jumps up and crawls inside. Moving quickly into the living room he sees that the place has been turned over. Everything appears to have been gone through and all his belongings are strewn across the floor.

Dwayne: (walks over to the corner of his small dining room where a small cabinet is overturned on the floor) I never liked those dishes anyway, sorry mom. (He pulls up the corner of the carpet and pulls it back to pull up a rectangle of plywood covering a secret compartment hiding an array of electronics. Lifting out a laptop he unplugs it and carries it over to the overturned table which he uprights. He sets the laptop on it and flips it open) Now let's see what you mother fuckers are up to now (he stops while the computer boots up and goes back over to the hidden stash and pulls out a small object) And hear!

As the screen comes to life Dwayne sees the scene at the beach and a large whale surrounded by people throwing buckets of water. He hastily inserts the sound card he retrieved and types in a few commands. Pulling up a cable lying on the floor he connects the sound card to his speaker system. The room is filled with an eerie sound of oscillating high to low pitch sounds.

Dwayne: That's whale speak! This is huge! (after watching and listening for a few more seconds he snaps shut the laptop and carries it back through the bedroom and crawls up and out of the window. He drops to the ground outside and seeing the field empty heads toward the street) This is big!

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------


Cut to Snug Harbor Motel

Barry walks out of room 24 and is immediately surrounded by people. A microphone is shoved in his face by a reporter.

Reporter1: Mr. Cunningham is it true that you have come back from the dead?

Reporter2: Are you related to Shaun Yost and didn't he also experience a miraculous recovery from fatal injuries?

One of the men who was previously seen in an argument reaches out past the reporters and touches Barry.

Man: Heal me Barry Cunningham!

Ramon and Meyer appear on either side of Barry and quickly pull him away and toward the office.

Meyer: Mr. Cunningham has no statements at this time and needs complete privacy and quiet to continue his most natural recovery from the injuries he most definitely suffered at the hands of an unknown source.

Ramon: (taking Barry by the arm along with Meyer) Come on Barry we need to get you out of here. I got some food in the fridge. Or maybe you'd like to make some waffles?

Reporter 1: (persisting) Mr. Cunningham, did your attack have anything to do with reports of your refusal to surrender the Snug Harbor land being appropriated by the San Diego City council exercising their authority of Eminent Domain?

Woman: Are you the Messiah?

Ramon and Meyer push back against the crowd as they lead Barry to the office. Several people are heard calling out for Barry to heal them.

-- SpiritontheWater

---------------------------------------

Cut to Beach


Bill Jacks stands a few feet away from the whale which is lying on it's side. He has one hand out toward a crowd of people gathering around.

Bill: Anderson if you'd shut up for a moment and think! Jesus Christ I don't know how the department gets anything done anymore! I've got half a mind to put my name in the upcoming election for Sheriff and wonder if youd listen to me then?... Well then why don't you get some of your subordinates down here and exercise some goddam crowd control... Yeah yeah, you do that! And after that if you can find the number in that mess you call an office, why don't you get on the phone to those people at Sea World and get them down here to take care of this behemoth before it rolls over on some little kid and his mother and kills them!.. thank you Anderson...that would be the right thing to do... I'll get back to you. (He looks at the cell phone and shakes his head handing it back to the woman he confiscated it from) I'd step on it to hang it up but I'm sure there is a better way. You may have this back now...thank you for supporting your local law enforcement in it's quest to provide you the safety and security youve so thoroughly come to take for granted.
(Bill turns around and takes a few steps closer to the whale. Leaning down to look under it's side he sees the large eye staring at him and stands up abrubtly) Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, the animal has got something to say.

Bill walks over to the kids gathering water to throw on the whale and begins directing thier efforts.

--SpiritontheWater


-------------------------------------

Cut to Snug Harbor Motel

Ramon closes the office door behind them. Freddy and Palaka appear on the other side pushing people away from the door.

Freddy: If you try that again I'm gonna shove that camera up your ass you fucking vampire.

Palaka: See boss, it ain't me you need to be worrying about. I got your back. I always got your back.

Freddy: Shut up you fucking moron. I can handle the door. Get your ass down there in the driveway and keep anymore of these fucking humps from comin' in. (Palaka pushes his way through the crowd) If I'd a not come back what the fuck. They'd be carrying him off to fuckin'... Judas! (folds his arms and shakes his head at a young boy trying to get close enough to look through the glass)

--SpiritontheWater

---------------------------------------

Bill watches as two small boys struggle to lift an ice chest full of sea water up as high as they can get it and dump it on the side of the whale. He steps closer as the flushing water drains over a small corroded tag attached to the whales side. On it he sees the number 14 over which are five red letters - USAWR.

Bill: (looks up and across the length of the beast) well what do you know about that, a god damn WMD.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

A man in uniform is seen standing next to a woman in a white coat looking out a window overlooking a large whale tank at the Sea World research compound. In an adjoining tank a large blue whale is seen breaching and blowing water over a short wall into the empty tank. Over the loudspeakers a piercing sound is heard.

Colonel Roman: I don't have to remind you doctor of the extreme importance of the project, nor, if this is indeed our whale, the unfathomable consequences should this asset expire.

Dr. Sanders: Don't lecture me on your imagined outcomes Colonel. It was understood and agreed upon that this research facility would not be held accountable for these unadvised experiments. We have provided you with the state of the art in monitoring from these facilities. Nothing beyond our capabilities was ever guaranteed or even suggested.

Colonel Roman: Perhaps not, but you did guarantee retrieval and that is exactly what is required of you now.

Dr. Sanders: From open water Colonel! Nobody ever said anything about what we could do if one of them ever beached itself!

As they watch, Cincinnatus slams himself against the wall between the tanks rattling the window and causing the ground to shake beneath their feet.

Colonel Roman: Can you do it or not!

Dr. Sanders: I've already sent the team, but there's no telling if she will survive.

Colonel Roman: She?

Dr. Sanders: That's right, number 14 is a female. Now if you are finished, I have to oversee the transport. And if you had ears to hear sir, you'd notice that she and her friend here are a little less than patient to see this process concluded.

Colonel Roman: What I hear, doctor, is nothing at all; computerized noise from a battle field. A battlefield, I remind you, that I am responsible for, and that this country is depending on for us to manage responsibly.

Dr. Sanders: (turns and picks up a phone along a long bank of monitors) Give me a break.

--SpiritontheWater

------------------------------------

Noah sets two drinks on the bar in front of Adam. Moana turns from looking out the blinds at the crowd in the courtyard.

Moana: (walks back over to the bar and sits down on the barstool next to Adam) Freddy?s got the twenty haoles up on him.

Adam: (taking a sip of his drink) What?s this? Put something in it dude! I ain?t no Roy Rogers boy!

Noah: (takes a bottle from the shelf and pours a tiny bit of rum in Adam?s drink) That?s all ya be needing now boy. You gotta be in voice today.

Moana: (takes a sip of his own and nods his head in approval) He gonna need more ?n that if the dog catcher come.

Noah: ?n he?ll have the noose around his neck if he?s stumbling off the curb.

Adam: I don?t need no help dodging that old man. I?m the coyote and I?ll bite him on his ass if he comes after me again.

Noah: Yeah well you better keep your head down for a day or two or you?ll find yourself in his trap again.

Moana: And it won?t be the moon you be wailing at little bruddah.

Adam: (downs his drink in one gulp and gets up and walks over to the door opening it to look outside) I just gotta get with my friends again and you guys won?t need to worry yourselves about me. (Noah and Moana look at each other)

Across the courtyard Shaun steps out of Butchie?s room and looks around.

Shaun: (leaning back inside) There?s a shit load of people out here. Something?s going on!

Butchie: Stay away from those fucking vampires Shaunie, they just want to suck you dry before the contest.

Shaun: (throws his skateboard down on the ground) I?m not afraid of reporters dad. They?ll never catch me. (he jumps on his board and rolls away) see you there!

Several reporters see him and frantically head toward him through the crowd in front of the office. Adam sees Shaun and steps out onto the landing waving. Shaun see?s him and heads his way.

Adam: (calls back into the bar) Catch you dudes later! (he jumps down the stairs and meets Shaun as he rolls up)

Shaun: (pounding fists with Adam) Let?s blow dude..

Adam: I?m with ya bro. Let's fly!

The two rush laughing down the driveway turning back and flipping off the reporters who pursue them shouting questions after them.

Moana: (at the bar looking at Noah) Big britches talk for the little bruddah. Small boy don't know no coyote.

Noah: That'd be where ya gone wrong bro, da boy's got many scars to be provin' he know the coyote.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

Cissy and Mitch are standing in the kitchen looking at each other as the sound of the helicopter begins to grow and starts to rattle the dishes and walls.

Cissy: (Leaning over the sink to look out the window) Jesus Christ are the troops taking the fucking beach now?!

Mitch: (walks over and opens the door stepping outside) What the fuck are these assholes doing now, they?re not supposed to be flying over IB!

Cissy follows Mitch outside and both look up to see a large double rotor coptor speeding overhead toward the beach.

Cissy: Goddam military! They?ll flatten the town with us in it, just to secure the fucking border. (she lights up a cigarette and blows a puff of smoke in the air behind Mitch, she waves her hand in the air to disperse it as Mitch turns toward her and recoils from the white cloud.)

Mitch: If we don?t get killed by some poison gas before then.

Cut to beach

Several four wheel drive police jeeps speed across the sand toward the whale and three teams of uniformed officers jump out to begin crowd control. The teams string out long lines of do not cross tape pushing the crowd back several hundred feet from the whale.

Having rushed down from the parking lot a team of researchers fan out around the whale. The leaders, who?s white coats are marked with the Sea World logo across the back, are placing various equipment next to the whale. Bill watches as one of them attaches an array of large wired patches along the animals side.

Bill: (Pointing to the scurrying officers) Got the crowd control working for you. Bill Jacks, acting representative of our counties finest at your service (he puts his hand out to one of the leaders who ignores the gesture)

Lead Researcher: You might want to get those people back a little further.

Bill: (turning to look at the cordoned lines) And you may want to work in a more cooperative manner if you want your wishes to be even slightly heard.

From the parking lot come a line of men looking like pall bearers carrying an extremely long rolled up sheet of heavy duty rubber. As they come along side the whale they quickly roll it out over the sand and drag it back close to the belly of the whale. Immediately following them comes an enormous tractor. It barrels over the curbs of the parking lot like a tank crushing the curbs and a trash can as it lurches down the bank onto the beach. In place of the shovel are a large set of parallel black rubber bumpers about fifteen feet long

Everyone on the beach looks up and points as the enormous blue Chinook helicopter appears over their heads and descends to a holding pattern just beyond the surf break.

Bill edges close to the two researchers who are examining the monitor.

Researcher: (shouts to be heard over the helicopter) She?s healthy! Heart is fine! We?ve got to hurry though, she can?t last much longer on her side!

Bill backs away and looks up at the helicopter as it ascends to a position high over the beach.

The tractor moves quickly in to position on the back side of the whale as the workers scramble to the corners of the sling attaching the cables. In a ballet of obviously well rehearsed maneuvers the tractor gently contacts the whale, slowly rolling it on its belly and on the sling as the four corners of the sling cables are gathered up to meet the descending cable assembly being carefully lowered from the helicopter. As commands are relayed via walky-talky to the operator above their heads the team below works together flawlessly and within a minute the whale is securely upright in the attached sling and beginning a steady ascent.

The crowd is awestruck as the huge beast is lifted from the sand and into the air high above their heads. The crowd cheers and applauds the sight as the helicopter begins its flight toward the research facility and the team on the beach hurriedly packs up and disappears out of the parking lot in a long convoy of large trailers and vehicles.

Bill stands at the edge of the parking lot watching as the police break down the cordon lines. He turns and sees in the far corner of the parking lot a man in a khaki uniform and sunglasses getting in a green Jeep. On the door of the Jeep is an insignia, an orange triangle with three black dots clustered in the center. He turns again and looks out to the spot where the whale's impression remains in the sand. Standing in the center is John who is tracing the monad symbol with his feet.

Bill: Got my eye on you. Now why am I not surprised by that?

Bill looks to his left as the crowd begins to disperse, still standing at the line, and also staring at John, is Linc Stark.

Linc: The end is near.

John: The end is near.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------


Bill walks back to his truck and gets inside starting the engine.

Bill: Time for oil and plugs. (he sits for a moment with the engine idling and watches as Linc walks down the beach to where John is standing)

Linc: What just happened John?

John: Big and huge has come with my fathers word.

Linc: Can we hear the word your father sent us?

John: Hearing is believing Linc Stark.

Linc: Have I heard?

John: You have heard. They're coming to surf with the beast.

Linc: Who's coming John?

John: (looks toward the sky) they are coming.

Bill pulls out of the parking lot and onto the street. He cuts off a motorist who honks his horn

Bill: Who can blame them for wanting a spectacle.(he puts his arm out the window to wave the motorist around) Like the time you rode the merry go round Lo, remember that? I'll never forget the colored lights on your laughing face... that was a night!

--SpiritontheWater

[Sven2]

--------------------------------------

Cut the office of the Snug Harbor Motel

Dr. Smith carefully pushes his way past Freddy opening the door to step inside the office. Freddy watches as the crowd follows the reporters out of the driveway on into the street.

Barry has fallen to his knees in the office and is covering his ears with his hands

Dr. Smith: They've gone Barry, they are gone. Something has happened on the beach. A stranded whale is being airlifted by Sea World Rescue.

Barry: (stands up and looks at Dr. Smith) Is that the sound that has just now crippled me? It must be! It was unlike a seizure so I was right to wonder was I not? I am sure of it now. A whale's cry I have heard before. (taking Ramon's hand he smiles) I did not recognize it Ramon, but now I do. How often we forget the sounds spoken so close to our hearts.

Ramon: I got a cd of whale song. Mi Abuela... My grandmother.. told me it was the voice the Almighty uses to speak to the sea. (he crosses himself)

Barry: (smiling) I have heard this voice Ramon. I did not understand. (Barry reaches in his pocket and pulls out his cell phone. He smiles as he looks from face to face, Ramon, Dr. Smith and Meyer Dickstein) I know a most remarkable woman, expert in her field of study.

--SpiritontheWater

-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------


Mitch and Cissy walk back in the kitchen.

Mitch: Look at this! Half of the county wants to see what is happening at the beach. And half of the city is at the motel, you couldn't squeeze a finger between cars parked here. Not a policeman around. I wrote to the city council suggesting they establish two or three new positions, instead they declared a hiring freeze.

Cissy: Yea, fucking Greenspan, Great Puba, they are dying for your advice!

Mitch: Cissy, Greenspan was the man that...

Cissy: (interrupting) Fuck Greenspan. I am not going to see Shaunie compete today. I fucking don't know if there will be a parking spot close to the pier, and I am not walking on the sand in my sleepers. (She goes to the kitchen table to light another cigarette.) Where is your fucking seer, Mitch, the Chemist? My foot is twice the size, didn't you notice? What the shit was in this vial?

Mitch: Chuck went to Tijuana to talk to someone who might help. Let me see your foot. Not twice, just swollen a little. May be you should stay home for the day, if it hurts, you know, give it a rest. Shaunie will be with Butchie and Kai, they will watch him. I will go there myself.

Cissy: What? No poultice from your fucking alternative apothecary, eh? Just "stay home"! Why don't you fucking leave now then, get there before Butchie.

Mitch: There will be a bunch of reporters from some national papers, they all want their piece of the story, like it's the story of their life. (He leans to kiss Cissy) You know, Cissy, if you quit smoking, your body will better fight infection.

Cissy: (turning her face away) Oh, now you are a fucking science guru, since when, Mitch? If I need advice, I'll ask a doctor.

Mitch leaves without saying another word.

Cissy: You are the story of my fucking life, moron.

She gets a new cigarette then slowly puts it back in the pack.

--svengali2

--------------------------------------

Joe heads back into the VFW bar

Joe: (to Ernie at the bar) Fucking helicopters; that brings back some memories.

Ernie: Sure does.

Joe: Military bullshit. It's not enough that we fucked up one generation. (he loses himself in thought)

(The car salesman who is sitting in the corner comes over to the bar)

Car Salesman: What do you want Joe?

Joe: Christ. Another friend of that frat boy! (he takes a big swig of the fresh whiskey Ernie has given him without asking)

Car Salesman: He's in country because he doesn't know any better, you're in country because you won't let go.

Joe: Oh yeah? And what would you know about that?

Car Salesman: You won't leave them behind, Joe.

Joe: Won't leave who behind?

Car Salesman: The ones you can save.

Joe: And who would that be?

Car Salesman: The innocents, the victims, those who never saw it coming.

Joe: I have no fuckin' idea what you're talking about.

Car Salesman: I think you'll find you already do.

(Joe returns to his drink in frustration)

Ernie: (to car salesman trying to break the awkward silence) Another whiskey sour?

--backinthegame

-------------------------------------

Cut to Yosts' kitchen. Cissy lights a cigarette.

John suddenly appears on the other side of the table.

Cissy: Aha, a man of means! What, you have an advice for me too?

John: Cissy gets knocked up. She is as big as Leona Helmsley.

Cissy: What did you just say, Batman? Who the fuck is Leona Helmsley?

John: John will soon be gone.

Cissy: Yeah, sure, what else is new? Just don't you fucking dream of taking Shaunie with you, Nostradamus!

--svengali2

-----------------------------------


Inside of a Learjet. It's lavishly appointed with antique furnishings that make it look as a room in the exclusive men's club. The sound of engines is not heard although the plane is in the air. Mr. White is seen in the comfortable leather chair. The bank of TV screens is on his left. In the back two men dressed in tuxedos stand at attention at the bar. Mr. White is perusing newspapers, occasionally glancing in the direction of the TV screens.

click and minimize


Mr. White: No turbulence tonight, an unexpected gift in times of cyclones. (He turns up the volume on a console attached to the chair and music of Blue Danube sounds in the cabin) Beautiful voices... A little twist of a dial and they turn into moans and screams of agony... A little twist, a little twist. Pull the falling down, push the arrogant up. Turn their stupid kindness into a fodder for politicians, find Salieri for every Mozart. Spread despair and disconnect.(He rubs his swollen fingers, massaging them one after another). My work is tedious. Sometimes a pleasing discovery of a great and able servant, there were quite few...(he snaps his fingers and one of the men at the bar comes with the drink. Mr. White tastes the liquid and slowly pours it down man's pants.) Too much Vodka. Change your clothes, Walter, you are dripping on the rug. But then, one must endure little pains in service to the grand design of the Great Master. I must not tire. (he looks through the cabin window) These ants are fast, little bastards, a quiet whisper in the dark and viola! new desert instead of a forest, new poison in their water. (He chuckles to himself) They are helping to set the stage.

Ms. Alabaster, who was sitting in the corner of the cabin working on a laptop comes to the chair.

Ms. Alabaster: We will be landing in ten minutes, messir.

Mr. White: Splendid, my dear. I am sufficiently rested.

--svengali2

---------------------------------------

Click, turn down low, and minimize

(Bill drives on, not listening to the music playing on the radio.)

Bill: Ah, Lo, what do I make of this? That beached whale was no ordinary fish. I mean the Zip is enough. I can't start chatting with the entire god damn animal kingdom! Pardon my mouth. It's just that ...that whale was trying to tell me something - there, I said it! Go ahead, let me have it, tell me I am off my rocker - that I am working too hard, again. I'll not defend myself.
Sometimes I don't know if I'm on land or sea. When are they going to come and lift me off of this beach?

I know this much: as long as I am here I am going to do my civic duty - mandatory retirement or not. And if that whale can shed some light on what's going on around here, then I am compelled seek out that information - am I not!"

(Bill pauses and listens to the music on the radio.)

"I got my eye on him, he's got his eye on me. Both of us standing there with our eye on that whale. Oh, I can talk to a Zippy all day, but I can't understand this kid's parrot talk."

(Pause/music)

Bill: (Sarcastically) That's it, Frank, rub it in. (Pause/music) Sea World... Jesus, Mary and Joseph! (Pause/music) Lo, I have said some stupid things in my life, but I love you was never one of them....as for the intentions of that fish, I can't be sure.

--Waxon

--------------------------------------


Bedroom in Emma Borden house. She flips the cell phone closed, comes to the bed where Luke is asleep and puts her hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently.

Emma: Rise and shine, sleepy head.

Luke: What? It's Sunday, we are off today.

Emma: Will you go with me to the surfing competition in IB?

Luke: Remind me what we are chasing there? Has-been celebrities or miraculous healings?

Emma: A sax and a harmonica playing in the night... Luke, how long have we worked on assignments together?

Luke: 8 years, I think. Why are you asking?

Emma: Did I tell you that I sent my resume to a friend in our network in Atlanta?

Luke: Seriously? No, you didn't.

Emma: I have an interview scheduled.

Luke: So you are leaving. When?

Emma: Probably never. I can't go now. I have to see what will happen with this family, the Yosts. And this man, John.

Luke: Who is a retard, as Mitch Yost himself said.

Emma: Luke, do you know what is it, this God particle?

Luke: Since when do you read about physics? A better name would be "goddamn particle". I took a few science courses in college.

Emma: Tell me about it. Gosh, I need a cup of coffee!

Luke gets up and walks in the bathroom.

Luke: It does not exist, kid. Oh, well, now we are ghost hunters! Soon to be unemployed most likely...

--svengali2

[Sven2]

-------------------------------------

click and minimize

Cass gets in her Porsche and turns the radio on. John opens the door on the passenger side and sits next to her.

Cass: Wow, John, you can open a door, I never saw you do it!

John: Live and learn. The door is open, Cass.

Cass: Easy for you to say.

John: (smiling in agreement) Easy for me to say. I am not underpowered.

Cass: Where are we going, John, tell me.

John: We need El Camino, Cass.

Cass: Linc's car?

John sits there smiling, his eyes are closed.
Cass shakes her head and starts the engine.

-svengali2

------------------------------------

After Julio leaves the cantina, Erlemeyer sits examining his hands. Then he rises, exits the cantina and looking quickly to his left and right, crosses the street in the middle of the block. He walks hurriedly, and turns into narrow side street, where stops in front of a wooden door. He rings a bell.

An old woman opens the door, seeing Erlemeyer she gives a wide and nearly toothless smile.

Erlemeyer: Buenas dias Dolores, I am pleased that you are well. Estoy aquí para ver el curandero. Is he here?

Delores: Si, come, he is inside.

She beckons Erlemeyer in to the room and shuffles towards the far end of the darkened room where an old man sits with the palms of his hands pressed down onto the surface of the wooden table. He turns as Erlemeyer approaches, we see his eyes are opaque with the milky whiteness of advanced cataracts.

Erlemeyer: We meet again, Don Bernardo.

Don Bernardo: Sí, it has been many years, we survive. We are not finished in this world yet.

Erlemeyer: And that is why I am here, Don Bernardo. I believe that that which you foresaw is now coming to pass. There are forces at work beyond our understanding.

Don Bernardo: Sé que es verdad. Yes, I can feel this. Those that walk the path without heart are becoming strong. The petty tyrants are growing restless with the power of their righteousness. And yet gracias a Dios-they have not overtaken the hearts of all men.

Erlemeyer: No, and we must not let that happen. And I, so long detached from the world of men, feel as if I have been called. Perhaps you know this. There are others, and I believe we have a something- a force  a power- working with us.

Don Bernardo: The powers of light and dark may be equally matched, but those who follow pride will lose their footing.

Erlemeyer: I have seen Julio, I have asked for his help. He has connections on the inside.

Don Bernardo: Julio knows many things, and he can help you, but you must beware, tenga cuidado, my friend. His allegiance may lie with those that can make him into the big man he imagines himself to be.

Erlemeyer: I understand that, Don Bernardo. But right now I need Julio. Unlike me, he never severed his ties with our former business associates in the military. If there is information to be gotten, Julio will get it. And more importantly, he is the only one I know that can get into the elephant cage.

--Skordamou

------------------------------------


Dr. Sanders stands at the waters edge shielding her eyes as the huge helicopter hovers overhead. Her team of divers stand ready across the tanks compound waiting her instructions. She shouts into the walkie talkie to the pilot as the he steadily lowers the whale down in to the tank. As soon as it reaches the water the divers jump in en masse on her command. Colonel Roman watches through the windows as his team finishes setting up their computers. A three man team in wetsuits holding several suitcases of equipment stand at his side.

Colonel Roman: (to the team leader) This is a government asset lieutenant, I want to be up and running in ten minutes, her divers on one side and your team on the other. Time is of the essence. (the three men turn and exit the building in front of Dr. Sanders who is forced to hold the door for them as they leave)

Dr. Sanders: (angrily entering and walking up to the colonel) What are you doing? My team is to be given priority until she is acclimated.

Colonel Roman: Intelligence, Ms. Sanders, has no higher authority nor priority. My team will not interfere with yours unless facts determine its necessity.

Dr. Sanders: Facts? You mean military interpretations of facts, adjusted and edited to fit some short sighted end game already scripted and encrypted in your machinery! (she waves her hand at the array of equipment his men are hurriedly setting next to her own)(exasperated) I don't have time for this. If this poor creature dies you will have no facts at all! (she turns and walks over to a line of researchers sitting in front of several monitors just in front of the windows, The whale is completely submerged but still in its harness which the divers are beginning to detach. She puts her cell phone to her ear looking back to see that the colonel is out of earshot) Mr. Cunningham, are you still there?


Cut to Snug Harbor

Barry is standing in the courtyard surrounded by people noisily talking and some clamoring to get his attention. He puts his finger in his ear to better hear the voice in his cell phone.

Barry: Yes Evelyn I am still here, it is a pleasure to hear from you. Do you have a message for me? (He struggles to listen for a moment and then looks at his phone and presses the end button. Looking alarmed he turns to Meyer Dickstein) I am needed. Might I prevail on you, Mr. Dickstein, transport to Sea World?

Meyer: (surprised) Sea World, now? Don't you think you should rest?

Barry: I am feeling strangely revived. A matter of some urgency requires it. Since you have so expertly provided today, as captain, I would ask that you continue our passage. Ramon, I trust you and the good doctor will see to the accommodations of our very many guests?

Ramon: (baffled) I don't know that we got rooms for everyone here.

Barry: There is always room enough at the Snug Harbor. A motto perhaps?

Ramon: I'll write that down when I get back in the office.

Meyer: Might not be defensible if used for advertising I would caution.

Daphne: (Standing behind Meyer) Have you looked for the Lexus lately?

Meyer: (turning around and looking down the driveway) Not now Daphne, my services are required in a matter of importance and why would I look for the... (turns back to Barry and Ramon and the Doctor) Gentlemen, my car is missing.

Ramon: Maybe the hippies borrowed it.

Meyer: I was thinking more the likes of Butchie's acquaintance.

Barry: (pulls his keys out of his pocket and dangles them before Meyer) If my memory is not completely of another realm I believe my vehicle should be parked around here somewhere.

Ramon: It's beside the office, (smiling) I washed it.

Barry: (looks at Ramon warmly) Thank you Ramon. (they turn toward the office and Barry turns to face the people around him) Please make your needs known to my faithful first man Ramon. He will arrange your accommodations. I will return soon and we can all enjoy each others gift of company. I have a tale I may regale you with under the light (he looks up at the lighthouse atop the flagpole) tonight.

Ramon opens the passenger door and as Barry leans down to get in he sees Teddy buckled in the seat.

Barry: Teddy!

Ramon: He didn't want to be left behind.

Barry: (sitting down and taking Teddy to his lap) Teddy has a way of getting what he wants.

As Meyer and Barry back out carefully to leave Ramon and Dr. Smith direct people to stand aside. The car makes its way down the driveway and out onto the street.

Ramon: Which ones get the new rooms, there's only a few?

Dr. Smith: (suddenly remembering) I took a reservation, for nine rooms!

Ramon: (looking curious at Dr. Smith) You did?

Dr. Smith: Just a minute ago, I felt compelled suddenly, and stepped in the office just as the phone rang. A strange call. They asked for Barry by name. The Monads, vacationing from Cincinnati.

Ramon: Must be some friends of his. Nine Rooms! Exactly how many we got renovated plus Butchie's and yours.

--SpiritontheWater

-------------------------------------

Shaun jumps the curb on his skateboard as he and Adam arrive at the pier. Seeing Linc walking down the pier toward them Shaun waves and they walk up the pier a ways to meet him.

Shaun: (to Adam) Do you hear that weird noise?

Adam: I been hearing it all morning, I thought it was in my head.

Linc: Where you been buddy? You missed all the action, they just hauled one big mother of a whale outta here.

Shaun: We saw it. What are they gonna do with it?

Linc: Sea World is trying to save it.

Shaun: That's cool.

Linc: (puts a hand out to Adam) Hey, I'm Linc Stark, do you surf?

Adam: (reluctantly takes his hand) When I can.

Linc: I'll have to take a look at you sometime. So, Shaunie, is your dad here yet, we're gonna start the junior heats in about an hour.

Shaun: He'll be here. He's havin' breakast. Have you seen my Grams and Gramps?

Linc: Not yet.

Shaun: Do you hear that weird sound?

Linc: (looking back up the pier) Sound? (he listens for a moment and shakes his head) I don't hear anything but the sound equipment has been busting my balls all morning. We had to hard wire everything cause the wireless is dead.

Shaun: Anyway, we're headin' down to the tents. (turns to Adam) let's go.

Linc: Get loosened up before you hit the water. And watch what you say to the vampires! Tell it on the waves!

Shaun raises a shaka back to Linc as they jump down to the sand and start to walk toward the tents.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

Shaun and Adam walk into a tent displaying the rainbow lightening bolt logo of Electric sunglasses.

Shaun: (takes a pair off the rack and puts them on looking at Adam) Hifi's ,volt, grey fade. These are nice.

Adam: They're cool. I like Arnettes

Shaun: They'll have a tent here.

Vendor: Hey dudes, what up?, (recognizing Shaun) Hey, it's Shaun Yost the miracle man! ( Shaun looks at Adam and rolls his eyes) Dude, you're awesome! Man, you like those HiFi's? They look good on you. Take 'em dude they're yours. Take a pair for your bro too.

Shaun: Really?

Vendor: Dude, nothing would make my boss happier than to see you sporting those this weekend.

Adam: You mean for free? (He starts trying on different pairs)

Shaun: Cool.

Adam chooses a pair and looks at Shaun for approval

Shaun: Definitely.

Vendor: Black and red VHF's, nice choice bro!

Shaun:(Looks at Adam and they both nod at each other) Well, thanks dude, we're gonna head on. Catch you later.

Vendor: Awesome man, Hey, good luck today, can't wait to see you tear it up! The honeys are everywhere today.

Shaun smiles. He walks out next to Adam who is looking up at the sky, Shaun looks up as well.

Adam: UV dude. This is awesome, do you get hooked up with free shit all the time?

Shaun: (shrugs) I don't know. Do you hear that?

Adam: What, again? Dude!

Shaun: No not that, the blat blaat.

Adam: (turns his head to the side) Yeah, sounds like someone's bustin out the Mac Ten. It's coming from there. (he points to a double wide tent of black and grey camouflage vinyl)

Shaun and Adam walk around the front of the tent and stop suddenly as they see two fully geared paramilitary soldiers standing like guards flanking the opening. Inside the darkened tent they see several large flat screen monitors flashing with the action of explosive gunfire and explosions.
Above the entrance is a large logo of what looks like a spade or spear tip in a hexagon, beneath it the name OPSGEAR.COM. On the back wall behind the men behind the table is a triangle with an upright sword dividing it's center. Beneath it, the words Urban Warfare Center.

Adam: Cool!

Adam steps inside and doesn't notice as Shaun is pulled back by a hand grabbing the back of his t-shirt. Shaun spins around and sees it is Mitch who grabbed him.

Mitch: I don't want you going in there Shaunie. (Mitch looks at one of the soldiers) I don't know who let you guys set up here but this is a surfing contest in case you didn't notice.

Shaun: I just wanted to watch the video.

Mitch: Yeah right, you watch the video and the next thing they got you signing up. You're here to surf. That's what you wanted right? Have you checked in yet? Do you even have any of your gear Shaun?

Shaun: (pulls back from Mitch readjusting his t-shirt on his shoulders) It's too early to check in! Sammie's bringing my boards down in his dads car. I'm meeting him.

Mitch: Well you don't need to be distracted by this bullshit.

Opsgear soldier: Sir!

Mitch: (angry) Back off, I make the decisions for this minor. You guys need a few good fourteen year olds now, is that what you're down too? (he pulls Shaun away and leads him by the arm toward the grandstand) Don't let your mind be clouded Shaun, focus on the water, the air, the waves. Have you even looked at the break yet? Go over and check in now. Then take some time and find a place to meditate like I showed you.

Shaun: (angry) I was just hanging with my friend Adam...where's Grams?

Mitch: Your grandmother is not feeling well and may not even make it down here today. Just do what I say. I suppose Butchie isn't here either. And wher'd you get the sunglasses, let me guess, some two bit tent carnie gave 'em to ya, Right?

Shaun: (he puts his hands up to his sunglasses) So. May dad's coming, he's eating breakfast I got him.

Mitch: You got him? That figures. That should be his job shouldn't it...

Shaun: (pulls his arm away from Mitch) I can check in by myself. (Mitch stops and Shaun walks away angry) and I can buy my dad breakfast if I want to... You should try it sometime.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

[Sven2]

Inside the tent Adam looks between the different monitors, videos of various training sequences show paramilitary units clearing streets in an urban landscape, he watches as they enter buildings shooting men and women in stairways and doorways and being shot at through windows and skylights.

Man behind table: (tosses a t-shirt at Adam who catches it and holds it up to see the Urban Warfare Center logo) Step on up soldier! Fill out this card and you can go inside (he motions to his right and Adam sees a curtained entrance to the other room where he hears voices and more video gunfire) We got Call of Duty Four online right now, ever play that?

Adam: Not four, (he looks down at the card and steps up to the table, the man hands him a pen. Adam writes a name and pulls a slip of paper slightly out of his pocket with the number of Jacks Pizza on it. He writes that number next to his name, he hands it back to the man)

Man behind table: Good enough... Adam... Corolla is it? Welcome to Opsgear.

Adam draws aside the curtain and steps into the other room. Along one side is a long table set up with several computers being played by a group of boys with several others standing behind them laughing and shouting at the screens as some win and some lose. Out of the speakers come computer generated bursts of gunfire, RPG launches, screams and shouts from soldiers and their commanders as they mount repeated assaults through the urban street scenes of Afghanistan and Iraq. He is startled as on the other side of the dark room he hears another loud burst of gunfire and sees a fully geared soldier firing a weapon at a target on the far end of the room, he sees the bright colors of the paint balls exploding across the silhouette of a man.

Man with Gun: (surrounded by several older boys) Designed to replicate the actual weapon in every way except the round it fires, you'll be training with this exact model. Even the weight is the same so your arm and body experiences the same pressures save the recoil. But we give you that on the live range ( the older boys smile at each other)...

Adam turns around looking for Shaun and seeing he's not there quickly exits the back room and walks out the front to the sand. One of the men behind the desk calls after him.

Man behind table: Don't worry about the wait, rotation is mandatory!

Adam: (looking up and down the path and through the growing crowd of people walking along the long row of tents he sees Palaka, animated in a conversation with one of the vendors. He quickly turns around and ducks back around the corner walking back in front of the Electric tent, a couple of girls are trying on sunglasses. Looking down the row he sees the Arnette logo three tents down and heads for it.) Fuck Shaun, ditch me why don't you, where the fuck did you go?

Shaun walks toward the check-in tent and is suddenly surrounded by a group of kids, mostly girls, who've been waiting in the area for autographs, several small pads and pens are thrust in front of him and he begins signing. He smiles as one girl caresses his arm, another reaches up and touches his hair. He hands back an autograph to a boy his age who puts out hit fist for Shaun to pound, he does.

Boy: Thanks dude!

From behind he feels an arm reach around and hug him across his chest, the other hand reaches out and pushes away the remaining pads and pens and pulls him back into the tent.

Shaun: (twisting his head back to see who it is) Mom! You came!

Tina: Of course I came Shaunie, I wouldn't miss this day for the world. (she turns him around looks down at his smiling face) I saw you and Mitch just now, I was going to come over but it looked like he was getting on your case about something.

Shaun: Yeah, what else is new.

Tina: He loves you Shaun.

Shaun: Funny way of showing it... Dad will be here pretty soon!

Tina: With his girlfriend?

Shaun: Kai? (he looks down) I got 'em breakfast, she leaves on tour today (he looks up at her) you know she's a pro?

Tina: A pro?

Shaun: Yeah, Pro Surfer, she got a ride on the Billabong circuit. She'll be gone for about three months I think, wish I was goin.

Tina: That sounds like a good thing... well maybe not for Butchie... (they look at each other, then away awkwardly, she motions toward the desk where officials are checking in several young surfers) Do you need to tell them you're here or something?

Shaun: Yeah, I might as well, do you want to help me? (big grin)

Tina: Sure I do Shaun.

--SpiritontheWater

------------------------------------

Cut to Yost's house

Cissy walks to the couch slightly limping. She sits on the couch, then gets up and starts to look for something around the room, moving things and getting angrier by the minute.

Cissy: Where is this fucking remote! (She finds it on the bookshelf and settles down on the couch, turning a small TV on. After switching few channels she smiles to herself). Yeah, jerks, do something useful for a change.

Excited voice of an announcer is heard from the TV

TV voice: We have our field team on the spot were a stranded whale was airlifted to the Sea World.

Reporter: The sheer size of the animal makes it an unusual event in the otherwise customary beaching of whales in California as of late. Despite the bill recently signed into effect, the sonar use by the Navy?

Cissy's face shows sudden shock. She stands up and for a moment loses her balance. She stands still, than shakes her head.

Cissy: (confused, she speaks out loud, as someone who can't hear oneself) Shit, now the fucking ear infection!

She leaves the house, grabbing the car keys from the counter.

--svengali2

------------------------------------

Erlemeyer stands before an iron gate and lifts the heavy brass knocker that is molded in shape of a hand. As he is about to knock for the third time a woman's voice calls from within,  ¿Que es?

Erlemeyer: It's Chuck, Flor. Come let me in.

The door is opened by an attractive woman of about fifty. There are silver streaks in her dark hair, which is plaited into a single braid hanging across her right shoulder, reaching nearly to her waist. She wearing a paint smeared smock, there are smears of yellow paint on her flushed and sweaty face. Seeing Erlemeyer, she smiles, and, nervously,, her left hand reaches for her braid, leaving streaks of paint in her hair. She looks down at her hand, then at her braid, then at Erlemeyer and begins to laugh.

Flor: ahhhh Chuck Erlemeyer. I should be surprised.

Erlemeyer (smiling) And yet you are not.

Flor: Come in, come in, I am happy to see you, Chuck.

They enter Flor's courtyard, a large open space with a large lemon tree in the center, surrounded by various citrus trees in large pots, large green plants and flowers of every color. An aged wooden table, holds Flor's art supplies and a stack of paintings An easel is set up next to the table. On the easel is a half finished portrait of the large African Gray parrot that sits on a perch between the table and the house. Around the periphery of the courtyard are several wooden and metal perches of varying sizes and heights. On each sits a bird. Several other birds are flying free.

Erlemeyer: Flor, you know how I feel about this city. And yet, here I am. I am now a part of something that I do not fully understand. I need to speak with Pablo about these things. And you, too, Flor.

Flor (her smile fading): Uh, Chuck, Pablo and I are no longer together. He's gone off to New York, with one of his students, long story. It's been eight months, the painting helps.

Erlemeyer: Birds, I see.

Flor: Well, I have always loved birds. Pablo did not care much for them, said they were dirty and too much work. The first thing I did when he left was to get Dodi, the African Gray. I didn't buy the others, they just flew in here. And stayed.

Erlemeyer:Hmmm, they stay in this courtyard all the time?

Flor: Oh no. They leave and come back. There are many others that are not here now. They stay for a while, leave, come back. I don't know for sure what they do when they leave here, (she smiles a self conscious smile) but they tell me that they are off doing good works.

Erlemeyer walks over to the table and starts looking through the stack of paintings.
He stops, staring, when he comes to a painting of a bird that looks exactly like Zippy.

Erlemeyer: I'm sure they are, Flor.
I'm sure they are.

He turns and looks at Flor

Erlemeyer: Do the birds tell you anything else, Flor?

Flor: (looking at Dodi) Yes, the young ones tell me that they are afraid. The bigger ones tell me to hurry.

Listen: Manu Chao: Mr. Bobby

--Skordamou

------------------------------------

Street in the back of Dwayne's apartment.
Dwayne takes the laptop under his arm, looks around and seeing no cause for the alarm walks back the same way he came in, along the fence surrounding a vacant lot covered with debris and weeds. He turns into an alley between two buildings with big trash containers on both sides of the path.

Dwayne: Where were these motherfuckers hiding? If only I could see it. I know what the place looks inside, but where is it!

He is startled by the sudden appearance of a dog who jumps in front of him from the top of a trash container. It's a big mongrel; he looks emaciated. The dog holds something in his jaws and lifts his head looking at Dwayne.

Dwayne: Hey, what you got, shouldn't eat this stuff, it's rotten 'cause of the heat.

The dog walks closer and takes his place at Dwayne's left side.

Dwayne: They threw you away, eh? But you are definitely trained... Wish I could take you to the pound, but not now pal, I got something serious to do.

The dog follows alongside still holding something in his mouth, then he barks and turns to the right, blocking Dwayne.

Dwayne: (he almost falls over the dog) Shit, what if I've dropped my computer, you stupid mutt! You are just the ugliest dog ever!

The dog growls and lowering his head pushes something on the ground to Dwayne's feet.

Dwayne: OK, OK, what is it, let's see. (He bends his knees and looks at the thing the dog dropped.) That is something I've seen. ... There. ... That bearded man was walking with it. ... If you could talk, eh? But you can't. ...

The dog makes whining sound and walks back to the left of Dwayne, taking the same position as before.

Dwayne: Is that what I am thinking? You want to show me? Thanks, doggie.
(He leans to pet the dog. Moving his hand he sees a narrow chain collar with the small metal plate attached, hanging lose on the dog's neck) Bitzy, #1491. ... Alright, Bitzy, we'll find this place, but first let's go somewhere else. You will get a few bites there, I promise.

--svengali2

-------------------------------------


On the highway inside Luke's Isuzu Rodeo.

Emma: I like it when you are driving.

Luke: 'Cause you are a terrible driver.

Emma: No, 'cause you have to listen to me, and can't jump out.

Luke: Talk all you want, just don't ask me to answer.

Emma: You know who called when you were sleeping?
Linc Stark, the deposed Stinkweed boss.

Luke: Not this trickster.

Emma: He asked me to work for his new venture. As a voice over, with Cass.

Luke: You agreed I am assuming. He is loaded. (after a pause) And a charmer, I heard.

Emma: I am afraid to say yes, Luke. I don't have a "voice", not anymore.... What I was saying all these 8 years, was like going through the motions, I didn't have to think, I could've done it half asleep. Now whatever I do, wherever I go, those last days are on my mind. No, in everything.... I almost can taste it, smell it.... the presence, the sea....

Luke: I noticed. It borders on obsession. You are losing it, kid.

Emma: You are the only one who calls me kid, Luke. I hate it, I know you are making fun of me... What if I tell you that I feel like a kid these days - everything is so sharp and fresh, full of promise.

Luke: Not for me. A promise of a good night sleep is all I am hoping for. You run ahead, my friend...

Emma: Come on, Luke, I said to Linc I'll only accept his offer if you work with me. Please, I am not only your friend, say it!

Luke: (teasingly) Say what? Of course, you make pretty good chili, I have to give you that.

Emma: Oh, alright.... What if we see something strange and wonderful? A miracle? I am afraid I'll just scream or cry, you know.

Luke: My eyes are always on the viewfinder, and honestly my camera never recorded anything even close to miraculous.... May be Mitch Yost in the palm tree, although there is a perfect rational explanation for that too. And, I gotta tell you, kiddo, don't cry on camera, you don't look too hot when you do.

Emma: (she decides what to say and ends up laughing) Thanks, who needs enemies.... (she looks up and all of a sudden grabs Luke's right hand that is holding the wheel) Luke, no, no, don't you see it? (the Isuzu starts careening to the right, Luke tries to bring the car to the center of the line turning the steering wheel to the left. The speed and inertia take control of the car, it turns over once and again. When it comes to a stop, Luke and Emma are seen hanging in their safety belts, in shock, very uncomfortable but seemingly unhurt).

Emma: Luke, are you OK?

Luke: I don't know, my left arm is stuck in the wheel. What did you do? Why?

Emma: You didn't see? The big bird right in front of the windshield? Very big, white....

Luke: (slow, thinking back, trying to remember) No, I would've seen it, no....

Emma: I swear there was a bird, Luke....(she shakes her head, as if trying to dislodge something) Do you hear it? A very low hum, like an infrasound....

Luke: No, I hear sirens, police and ambulance. We are in deep shit.

--svengali2

[Sven2]

-------------------------------------

In the dark Tijuana cantina, Erlemeyer sits at a table, his hands flat on the table?s surface. Julio enters and takes the seat across from him. Julio orders a beer for himself and an orange juice for Erlemeyer. When their drinks arrive Julio shoos the server away and leans in close to Erlemeyer.

Julio: I have the information Señor Quimico.

Erlemeyer: You were very fast, Julio. I hope you used your powers of persuasion and not those of coercion.

Julio: I used the techniques we were taught, señor

Erlemeyer: I trust you are not referring to that which employs both water and a board.

Julio: But that is exactly what I knew would work. Jimenez does not talk freely.

Erlemeyer: Julio, many times I have let it be known that I do not condone torture. There are those who deny that water boarding is torture, but we both know what it does to a man, isn't that true, Julio?

Julio: (grinning): Señor, I said that my technique involved water and a board. I never said nothing about torture.

Julio pauses, picks up his beer, takes a long swig. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and the big grin returns to his face.

That is, unless you think that surfing is a form of torture.

Erlemeyer: (smiling) Of course. Forgive me Julio. It's been a long time. I had nearly forgotten how clever you are. I must remember that, and to trust your creativity. It is always best when one uses wits before weight.

Julio: (shrugs) The only creative part was the timing .Getting the chum in the water, knowin? where to put it. Shit, I knew the minute that marica Jimenez saw the fins he?d lose it. Wouldn?t even put his hands in the water to paddle, I had to push his board all the way to shore..

Julio picks up his beer, but does not make eye contact with Erlemeyer.

Señor, me and Jimenez, we made a little deal. A gentlemen?s agreement, you might say. I won?t tell how the famous pussy General Jimenez got so scared he screamed like a baby for his mama and shit his wetsuit. In exchange, we get a man inside.

(Julio snorts) Looks like I broke my side of the bargain.

Erlemeyer: What do I care what problems that man carries? It is not my concern. But I never knew. I surfed with Jimenez. Years ago. We called him Jefe, he was always shouting orders. Not a popular man. He knew some moves, but was a weak swimmer. The way he jumped right into the water back then, I never would have guessed he had a shark phobia. I would remember that, I'm certain.

Julio: I will tell you something I know. It is helpful for a man to learn the habits and fears of his enemies. Years ago, after you?d left, there was an incident down in Nicaruagua. Jimenez has never been the same. Did you know that they have fresh water sharks in Lake Nicaruagua? They?re just bull sharks. Little things, but I hear they get pretty damn hungry.

Erlemeyer: Hmmm? so much I missed. So little I care. But I do care about the Yosts, and this business of their son, and the strange happenings with the birds. Changes are coming, and I feel I am a part of this for a reason. I have a job to do. So now we must talk business, amigo mio. Tell me, what did you learn, Julio?

Julio: It is something bigger than Jimenez, Señor Quimico. Much bigger. Es enorme. We need to get somebody in there, somebody who knows what to do. Jimenez says each department knows its own operations, nothing more. But it sounds to me that the boys are up to their old tricks.

Erlemeyer: Are you saying there is covert testing going on? How could that be? How would anyone allow that to happen again after the last time?

Julio: No sé, but I wouldn't be surprised by anything they do. I hear stories on the street that line up with what Jimenez said. And the poor suckers telling the tales were illegals. Ones who?ve been deported back.

Erlemeyer: What does any of this have to do with the Yosts? They?ve had some hard times, but they are good people. I just don?t understand, I feel that something is very much out of balance, something we can not control.

Julio: Yeah, maybe we can?t control it, but the more we know the better off we?ll be when the shit hits the fan.

--Skordamou

---------------------------------------
The camera shows a view of the highway: a pileup of a dozen cars behind Luke's Rodeo, patrolmen directing traffic, police cars and ambulances surrounding the place of the accident.
The car directly behind Luke's Isuzu is a small Toyota. Its front end is smashed from the impact; there is blood and shards of glass on the road. Paramedics are working on stabilizing an unconscious woman on a stretcher on the asphalt next to the car. It's a beautiful woman; exotic in appearance with long dark hair. She is dressed in a gray suit and gray stockings that look out of place in blistering summer heat. Her hair and the suit are smeared with blood.

Two uniformed highway patrolmen are checking the car inside through the open doors.

1st patrolman: Look, two passports for the same name, Redwood and Caoba. Why you'd need two? That spells a drug operation to me.

2nd patrolman: Gees, Tommy, she came here for the expo. That's a printout of the Internet ad, and the map of IB.

1st patrolman: No, not that simple. You see that? (he shows his partner a gun with the silencer and a laminated key card. On the face of the card is a symbol - an orange triangle with three black dots in the center.

2nd patrolman: That's something new... La eMe went high tech...

1st patrolman: That could be the lead... Let's wait and see if she survives. Didn't have her seat belt on... she had a better chance playing Mega Millions, to live through this.

A Porsche with Cass and John inside is driving slowly past the ruined Toyota.

John: (with quiet conviction) My father runs Mega Millions.

Cass: (exasperated) Abracadabra, John.

--svengali2

-------------------------------------


The surfing competition in IB is at hand. The camera pans one trailer after another where the big name surfers are preparing for the event. Then we see a white tent and enter. This time its Butchie in the tent with a host of other surfers. He sits, nervously with his board across his knees as some of his younger competitors awkwardly approach him for his autograph. Looking to his right he catches a glimpse of a couple of them snickering. Looking directly at them he gives them a peace sign and then raises it to his mouth and sticks his tongue between his two extended fingers. Intimidated, the two quickly turn away. Butchie smiles to himself. But his expression changes to one of concern. Realizing he is the center of attention in a place he doesn't really belong, he begins to feel awkward. Then he stands up.

Butchie:The beast is ready! Last chance to turn back for anyone not ready to face their demons.

Voice: I thought the beast had horns!

Butchie: You know, I think I lost one in your mother's cunt....and I'm pretty sure the other is in her ass...When you see her tonight would you try to find them for me?

The other surfers are speechless and Butchie proudly exits the tent.
Outside the tent, Butchie is taken back by the size of the crowd, the media, and the hoopla going on surrounding the event. A number of reporters rush him, but in the distance Butchie spots Shaun and brushes past the reporters.

Butchie: Sorry guys, nature calls.

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

As Butchie approaches Shaun he notices Shaun is talking to a female reporter. Stepping between them and interrupting, Butchie puts his arm around Shaun and begins to walk him away from the reporter.

Butchie: (to the reporter) Sorry, father-son talk!

As they walk away from the reporter we see her instruct her camera man to follow Butchie and Shaun.

Butchie: (lowers his voice) How ya doin, pal?

Shaun: I'm doin OK.

Butchie: I thought I told you to stay away from those vampires.

Shaun: We were just talkin...she's nice.

Butchie looks back at the reporter standing a few yards away.
Butchie: Yea, she's smokin hot, buddy. (Butchie makes eye contact with her) SHAUNIE YOST! TAKIN AFTER THE OLD MAN! A CHIP OFF THE OLE BLOCK!"
(Turning back to Shaun) Where's Link?

Shaun: He's up at the road talking to Gramps.

Butchie: (puzzled) What about?

Shaun: He wants Gramps to wear a Stinkweed wetsuit.

Butchie: Why?

Shaun: I don't know.

Butchie: Well, where is John? Shaun points to the water with his arm fully extended. Turning to look, Butchie sees John surrounded by reporters and cameras.

Butchie: "Fuck me! (to Shaun) Go get Link!
Butchie rushes toward John, breaking through the crowd of reporters,

Reporter: (asking John) Are you saying Mitch Yost is going to surf in the competition today?

John: Mitch Yost is back in the game!

Now aware of Butchie's presence the reporters turn on him, microphones are shoved in his face and questions are coming from everywhere. He feels trapped in the frenzy. Unable to speak and surrounded on all sides he feels helpless - as though walls are closing in on him.

Butchie: Do something, John!

John: See God, Butchie.

Suddenly, the commotion is silenced in Butchie's head. He looks around seeing the faces of the reporters and camera's but hears nothing. He begins to feel lightheaded and a burning sensation in his implants. Smoke is rising from his head. The reporters are shocked and take a few steps back. Butchie starts to fall but John catches him, lifts him as though he is carrying a small child and walks out into the surf until the water and waves are waist high. The reporters remain in the dry sand. Butchie floats on the water in John's arms. After a few moments, his eyes open. Looking up he sees John.

As the camera pans back from the scene we see an image John standing in the water with Butchie partially submersed in his arms.

Butchie: (Still floating on his back and struggling to regain his senses) Fuck Me!

John: Fuck you.

As Butchie regains his composure and stands in the water, he looks back to the shore where Link has arrived and is talking the the group of reporters. Butchie and John swim a short distance down the shoreline before emerging from the surf.

Butchie: What the hell just happened, John?

John: I don't know Butchie instead.

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

Butchie and John continue to make their way back to the competition with Butchie taking precautions not to be noticed.

Butchie: I gotta call Kai...

John: Mother of God.

Butchie: (stops and grabs John by the arm) What the fuck did you just say?

John: (with an apologetic look) I'm off line now.

Butchie: What did you mean, John ... mother of God? Were you fucking online or offline when you said that?

John: I don't know Butchie, instead.

Butchie: (releasing John's arm and throwing his hands in the air) Fuck! I hate when you do that!

John follows Butchie along the sand. They approach the line of trailers belonging to vendors and surf companies.

Butchie: (sarcastically) How about a trailer, John. You got one of those in your pocket?

Just then they see a black trailer with a giant monad painted on the side being parked in line with the other trailers. As they approach it, Jake steps out of truck.

Jake: Sorry I'm late. Traffic is terrible - bad accident.

--Waxon

---------------------------------------

Butchie: (to Jake) Yeah, I use that line half the time myself.

(Jake is about to respond, but is interrupted by the arrival of Mitch & Linc)

Mitch: (to Butchie) About fucking time you showed up. You're lucky Shaun isn't off riding waves in fucking Iraq.

Butchie: What? I've fuckin been here.

Mitch: Those fucking vultures. Trying to make the whole damn mess look glamorous and cool. Their asshole tactics make Linc here look like a fucking saint.

Linc: (under his breath) Fuck you too Mitch.

Mitch: ...they've got plenty of fucking money to blow shit up, but half the days the water here's too fucking poisonous to surf.

(he trails off as Shaun arrives)

Shaun: (Eyeing the trailer) Hey, cool ride...

John: "All aluminum, twin axles. The Eagle is the best trailer money can buy!".

(Jake glares at John)

Butchie: Not looking to buy, John. So Shaunie, how much time do we have, bud?

Shaun: Um, half an hour I think

Jake: Wetsuits are in the trailer.

Butchie: (grinning, he bows and swoops his arm towards the truck) You're up pops!

Mitch: As I just got done telling fucking Linc, there's no way in hell I'm wearing one of those fucking clown suits. For one, I'm not surfing and even if I was, I wouldn't wear that shit. It used to be about the rider and the waves rather than who's wearing what shit. And what is it with the fucking camo anyways? You gonna be surfing any jungles any time soon? (to Linc) perhaps you might want to flog a few to those army fuckers down the beach.

Shaun: I think they're cool (under his breath) and so are the fucking shades

(he heads into the trailer to change)

Butchie: (to Linc) I gotta call Kai, can I borrow your phone?

Linc: Sure. (Butchie takes the phone and walks away)

Mitch: (to Linc & Jake) So as long as I'm selling my soul, what do you want me to do?

Jake: We're going to be setting up a tent down on the beach, we've got gear to sell, and pictures of you, Butchie and Shaun to autograph.

Linc: Just try not to bitch too much, alright? It's bad for business.

Mitch: Yeah. I know what you care about.

--backinthegame

-------------------------------------

[Sven2]

Morning in a bright and airy bedroom, shuttered windows are thrown open to reveal several brightly colored birds in the branches of the tree just outside the window. In the center of the room is a large, heavy wooden bed with canopy, its sides enclosed by mosquito netting. The netting parts, Chuck Erlemeyer swings his bare legs over the side of the bed. He walks to the open window.

Erlemeyer: Do they always do this, Flor? There must be a dozen birds here in this tree.

(Flor opens the mosquito netting, but stays sitting in the bed)

Flor: No, they usually stay down in the courtyard, I guess they thought something interesting was going on in here, y tenían razón, Chuck.
(She smiles) Dodi has gotten quite protective of me, if he didn?t like you he would never have let you spend the night.

(Erlemeyer looks directly at Dodi, raises his hand and gives the bird a shaka sign. Dodi hops and bobs his head.)

Erlemeyer: Psittacus erithacus. Interesting species of parrot, intelligence that is nearly human.

Dodi: (mimicking John's voice) Some things I know, some things I don't.

Erlemeyer: Uh? Flor... I think your friend Dodi has been visiting IB.

Flor: Sé que este. Many of these birds have been there in recent days.

Erlemeyer: Well, the birds may be one part of the story, but there is some heavy shit going on up there. Some of it's very good, miracles and all, but I have a gut feeling that if we don't pay attention, it could go the other way.

Flor: I only know that I am glad you are here. We need your strength.

Erlemeyer: I'm afraid that my powers are no longer strong. Don Bernardo was a fine teacher, the best, but I was not born with the gift, as he was. With my own eyes, Flor, I have seen what he can do.

Flor: Yes, I have heard. Pablo was always writing about the mysterious Don Bernardo.

Erlemeyer: Are you missing Pablo, Flor?

(Flor gets up, walks behind Erlemeyer and puts her arms around him)

Flor: No, I am not missing him. He was gone to me long before he moved out.

Erlemeyer: (sighs) All right then. We are in this together. And we have work to do.

(Flor springs away from Erlemeyer and awkwardly flaps her elbows as wings)

Flor: As another bird in another place once said (she squawks):
"Here and now, boys, here and now!"

Erlemeyer: (laughing) Here we are. Let's get going, woman.

--Skordamou

---------------------------------------

Cissy walks to her Stingray. She opens the door and holds on to it feeling dizzy. She can hear the tide and sea gulls, distant children's voices and wind ruffling palm fronds, an old country song playing on the radio somewhere, it all comes at her at once, every sound magnified and echoed.
Then another wave hits her - a multitude of smells, exhilarating and pure, unpleasant and stinky, everything from the heady jasmine to exhaust fumes and the smoke of wildfires burning in the canyons.
She blinks rapidly trying to bring things into focus, takes a few deep breaths then gets in the car. She is sitting there in the heat of the rising sun unsure of herself and her surroundings.

A man in a Hawaiian shirt comes to the car.

Car Salesman: May I offer you a ride, ma'am?

Cissy: I don't want.... What ride? You got no car.

Car Salesman: You're lost in the details, Cecilia. What's the destination, you may want to know...

Cissy: Fuck, I just got a car, don't you turn your tricks on me, asshole. Who are you? A stalker? How do you know my name?

Car Salesman: Details. It doesn't matter... least of all your name.

Cissy: Are you one of Mitch's friends? ...He is not here.... again.... they all left.... (she closes her eyes and puts her head on the steering wheel fighting another bout of dizziness. When she looks up, the Car Salesman has disappeared and John is sitting in the car next to her)

John: What do you want, Cissy Yost?

Cissy: Hey, my favorite Martian.... With the million dollar question.... Do you have a magic eraser, eh? All my screw ups gone, puff.... (she laughs and bites her lips) Why is that I know that if I tell you a single word it'll be recorded... stamped and delivered...

John: (nodding) Stamped and delivered. My birthday is the same as my father...(he stops for a moment) I listen to my father's words. Cissy gets knocked up...

Cissy: Here you go! Think I want to turn the fucking clock back? Shit, no! I'd fuck it up again, thank you very much! You better hop in in your flying saucer, or whatever the fuck you are riding in, and just let me be.... (she turns her face away and speaks under her breath) let me love them, my boys.... till the end.

John: (nodding empathically) Show them how to do it, to love not in word.

Cissy: What the fuck, are you gonna teach me how to love now, space cowboy?

John: I'm gonna teach you.

Cissy: What about some love for my foot, eh, miracle worker? It fucking hurts...

John: Cissy has centuries of ball-busting left in her .

Cissy: (she smiles, suddenly feeling better) Eavesdropping again, aren't you?
She lifts her head and looks to the clear sky. She is alone in the car.

--svengali2

--------------------------------------

Cut to Snug Harbor Motel. The whole place has quieted down without reporters, TV crews and the crowd. The remaining cars are parked along the perimeter of the building. There are 9 empty parking spaces in a row.
Ramon is standing in the courtyard, watching Dickstein and Barry leave in the Prius.

Ramon: (muttering to himself) First time in ten years, reservations.... all rooms taken... de milagro.... Gotta get some flowers, for every room.... roses. Shoulda thought about it yesterday, stupido, shoulda called cousin Hector... For Barry's room too, a welcome.... that night, the shooting.... man....he was a goner..... (he crosses himself)....Though might give him a headache, them roses... (he walks purposefully to the back of the motel and turns into the back alley)

Dwayne and the big skinny dog walk towards Ramon.

Dwayne: Hi! You are Ramon? Have you seen Butchie and Shaun?

Ramon: They must be at the beach, today's a big event. The boy, he's left earlier, then his father.

Dwayne: Do you think I can leave the dog here, at the motel for now? She needs water and food.

Ramon: Food, yes.... we are having a cookout tonight.... Tamales, hot dogs, hamburgers, the usual....

--svengali2

-------------------------------------

Butchie paces back and forth, holding the phone up high against his ear, elbow pointing to the sky. Frustrated, and choosing not to leave a message, he hangs up.

Butchie: (to himself and under his breath) F**k!

Returning to the trailer he enters and finds Mitch, Link, Shaun and Jake. They all look at him.

Butchie: What?

No one responds, but Link is searching for the right words to convince Mitch to surf.

Link: Don't think of it as competition, Mitch. Think of it as an exhibition. People want to see the legend....getting wet.

Mitch: Oh, so I'm a circus act. See the old freak actually get up on his board. I don't need this shit.

Link: Then show them your not an old freak. Show them the timeless, ageless legend you are.

Mitch gives a condescending look. Link looks at Butchie. Butchie holds his hands up as if to say "Don't look at me?"

Link: (to Jake) Just, set up an autograph table for Mitch. (to Mitch) Unless that's to freaky for you.

Mitch looks away as Jake leaves.

Butchie: Where's John?

Shaun: (now in his wet suit) He was here.

Link: (to himself) That ship is looking better every day. (Pausing to think) Shaun, come with me. (to Mitch and Butchie) Can I at least count on seeing you both at the tent in (looking at his watch and rolling his eyes) an... hour ago. Shaking his head in disgust, Link leaves with Shaun.

Butchie: What the fuck, Dad?

Mitch: (pause) What if it happens on the water?

Butchie: What if what happens on the water?

Mitch: What if I ...levitate...out there?

Butchie: (getting into his wetsuit) Yea, well what if you levitate standing on the beach? What, are going to walk around holding on to a rope all the time?

Mitch: Well, I thought, maybe, I should stay under the tent.

Butchie: (turning so Mitch could zip his suit) I don't know what the fuck this is all about, Dad, but, somehow, I don't think its about you floating into the fucking stratosphere. Hell, give me some of that juice and I'll put on a show they'll never fucking forget!

Mitch: (contemplating Butchie's remark) Go on, I'll be down in minute.

Butchie looks around the room, and seeing a duffle bag, picks it up and begins stuffing it with everything he can find. Checking its weight, he turns to Mitch.

Butchie: Here, carry this.

--Waxon

---------------------------------------

[Sven2]

---------------------------------------


(Mitch paces back and forth in the trailer clinching the duffle bag. He goes to the door, reaches for the door knob and turns away. John appears behind him)

John: Mitch Yost should get back in the game.

Mitch: Where did you come from?

(John does not respond)

Mitch: Link is looking for you - like he's on a mission.

John: Link is on a mission.

(Exasperated, Mitch stares at John.)

John: (looking at Mitch in a reassuring fashion) The end is near!

Mitch: What's coming to an end? Is my end near? Is that what you're telling me? Are you here to tell me to go out there and give my swan song? That I am going to die - out there? Am I going to float away, John?

John: (smiling) Give your swan song, Mitch

(Mitch looks mortified. John walks towards him and takes the duffle bag from him. Hesitant to let go, Mitch and John both clutch the bag)

John: (looking into Mitch's eyes) Give me some weight, Mitch. In my father's word you will not be let down. You will rise to the occasion. (Mitch begins to levitate and looks down at his feet and then back at John)

John: (looking up at Mitch) You will be the father - and the father's father - and you will be - in the game. Surf without reservation, and you will conquer the waves beneath you. You will not fall nor float away - but you will rise above this place and see the end . From up on that wave, Mitch, you will see beyond the horizon. From up on that wave, Mitch, you will see God.

Mitch: (looks away from John and stares into space) I'm not sure I want to see God.

John: I am not sure I want to see God.

Mitch: But I don't even have my board

John: (flings open the trailer door to reveal Mitch's surf board standing upright in the sand just outside of the trailer) Your chariot awaits you, Mitch Yost.

Mitch: Can I have the bag?

(Turning to hear John's reply, Mitch finds that John and the bag are gone. As he opens the door he looks down at his bare feet now firmly on the floor. He steps out of the trailer and feels the sand on his feet.)

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

Click and minimize

In the courtyard of Snug Harbor Kai locks the door of Room E. She goes to the office, puts the room key on the counter and leaves unnoticed by Freddy and Palaka who are drinking coffee, their backs to the door. She walks to the Jeep, looking around at all the familiar things: the shuffleboard, the pool; then turns around, taking the long last look of the motel and jumps in the car.

Cut to Jenny's house. Kai and Jenny stand at the back of the Jeep. Kai is covering a surfboard with the blanket.

Jenny: You taking this one with you?

Kai: The best one I shaped. It's my lucky one.

They look at each other silently.

Jenny: Why now, Kai, it's been just two weeks, right?

Kai: Thirteen days. (embarrassed, as to hide her eyes from Jenny she kicks a piece of gravel on the road.) He's clean, he don't need me. They'll be OK.

Jenny: You are gonna miss him.

Kai: I do anyway.... every minute he's not with me. But I got to split. My time is now, it's like the voice, the wave calls... To find the one I've never rode... I got to.... Pipeline first, then to Tahiti, then... wherever.

Jenny: (hugging Kai) Oh, go, win big, come back a star.

Kai: I don't know... Feels like the end... of something... Like I won't see this place again. Stupid, right?

--svengali2

--------------------------------------

In the Stinkweed tent by the shore and we see Butchie and Shaun each sitting at tables signing autographs. John is standing by a group of reporters and the camera zooms on him.

John: (Spinning and extending his hand towards the tent) Meet the fucking Jetsons!

(The view returns to Butchie and Shaun under the tent. Mitch is approaching from behind them carrying his board)

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

Cissy turns off her car, gets out and begins walking down the street toward the pier. She walks briskly, being deep in thought. Momentarily she realizes she is in a massive crowd of people.

Cissy: (To herself while taking in the scene) What the hell?

Now having to stop abruptly to avoid a collision with teenage skate boarder. She yells, "Does your mother know where you are?" But he has gone as fast as he appeared. She begins to see the surf company banners in storefronts and realizes the crowded streets are a result of the surf competition.

Cissy: (to herself) Boy, they move fast these days.

Her demeanor is somewhat humbled as she discovers just how big of an event is transpiring.

Click and Minimize (music from the competition sound system)

The street, the pier, the shops are almost unrecognizable. Even on the street the music from the sound system of the competition can be heard. Cissy can hear PA announcements from the beach but can't make out what is said. In front of the now packed pier there is a small group protesting for the legalization of pot. She gives a nod of partial approval.

On the corner across from the pier, amidst the bustling crowd walking along the sidewalk, is a seemingly homeless man with a sign that reads LUKE: 23; 34. Someone bumps into him causing him to turn around where the back of the sign reads "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do".

Cissy: (to herself) You said it all there, pal.

Descending the stairs next to the pier leading to the beach, she sees a grandstand has been erected. The crowd that has gathered on the beach seems endless. It is hard to tell where the surfing fans stop and regular beach goers begin. Cissy is astonished that this could have come together in a matter of days.

To the left there is the rows of trailers and closer to the water are the rows of tents. In the middle of those there are three black tents each with a part of the Stinkweed Monad logo on its top - being visible from above. One has the circle, the next a line and the third has the sideways V.

She heads towards the tents but as she enters the sand, the crowd makes it hard for her to see the tents. Her rising level of frustration is only complicated by traversing the sand in her boots. She stops and takes them off. Clutching them in her hand she continues to maneuver through the crowd trying to get a fix on the tents. Amidst the surfing fans on the beach, she hears bits of conversations of "Butchie the Beast" and "Mitch Yost". She tries to hear more but doesn't slow her pace.

Scene cuts to the Stinkweed tents (as music continues)

Butchie and John sit at a table in the first tent signing autographs, Shaun and Link in the second, Mitch and Jake in the third. Over the music a PS system announces that the competition will soon begin. Link and Jake begin to close the autograph lines. John, Butchie, Shaun and Mitch congregate in the middle tent.

Cissy approaches from behind them.

Cissy: I see the vampires have improved their game.

Butchie: Hi, Mom.

Shaun: Hi, Grams!

Cissy looks over and sees John.

Cissy: (to John) Don't you have some people to scare out of their fucking wits?

John turns away and Shaun walks over and stands next to him - both facing the water

Cissy: (to Mitch and Butchie) What's this, is the Kahuna going to bless all these morons with an appearance?

Butchie: Dad's gonna get wet

Mitch: I don't know (leaning into Butchie and Cissy in order not to be overheard) John said I am going to see God out there.

Butchie: Yea, well get in line, Pops!

Cissy: Oh that should prove to be a momentous occasion - the two most powerful and all knowing beings in the whole fucking universe getting togeither for a little fun and leisure.

Butchie: Well if this is a line for seeing God you're welcome to cut in front of me. I already saw him once today.

Mitch: You saw God?

Butchie: Fuck, I don't know. John says,"See God Butchie" and the next thing I know I wake up floating on my back in the water.

Mitch: I don't know.

Butchie: You're in it, now, Dad. Link already made the announcement.

Mitch: That asshole.

Scene cuts to a close-up of John and Shaun.

Cissy approaches from behind, grabs John by the ear (taking him a few steps from Shaun).

Cissy: (Whispering in John's ear) You let anything happen to them and you and your father will have to answer to me. Got it?

John's eyes show his grasp of her sentiment, but he doesn't respond. Cissy pushes his head away letting go of his ear and John returns to his position next to Shaun.

Shaun: (having overheard Cissy's threat) Looks like some pretty good one's, huh, John?

John doesn't reply.
As the music continues we see scenes of the crowd and the characters on the beach.

--Waxon

-------------------------------------

Cut to Bill Jack's house.

Bill opens the door and walks to the couch. He sits down and taking a deep breath rubs his face with both hands.

Bill: Time to move North, Zip. Not just the oil and plugs, now the AC is going. An old geezers, riding down the road.... this car and me.... All goddamn cylinders and pistons losing pressure, that's what it's coming to.... (he goes to Zippy's cage).

Bill: Mary and Joseph! Zippy, what.... the.... hell? (he looks at Zippy, who is sitting on his perch with a feather in his beak. There are more feathers at the bottom of the cage. Zippy's wings are showing skin in some places where feathers used to be).

Bill: You mean her ladyship.... she... what? Plucks her feathers?... Jesus Christ, Zippy! Now, if you consider what is the order of our priorities here.... (Zippy drops the feather and squawks angrily).

Bill: Yes, pardon me, if I for a moment felt sorry for myself.... am I allowed a piss and a sip of water before your next command, the honorable cruise director? (he turns around and walks away from the cage, speaking to himself) The birdbrain promised to go on strike! You see, Lo, what cards I am dealt with... After 16 years on the force.... taking orders from a goddamn parrot...

--svengali2

---------------------------------------


Away from the noise and crowds of the competition, on a deserted stretch of sand, Noah and Adam are sitting on the piece of a driftwood. Adam is drawing stick figures in the sand with a small twig.

Noah: You done placed your trust in de boy, dat no means he jus' leaves his mama for you, son. He's got a big things to do, bigger'n his self, an' him not groweth yet. Come, see de day, find your friends, let thy heart cheer you, son, don't be sittin' with me oldster. (he gently pushes Adam from the log, making the boy stand up. Adam looks down on Noah, comes to the water edge and throws the twig in the ocean watching it fall in the wide arch. Than he runs back to the distant humming sounds of music.

Noah: For some - dem sunsets, den for others, a sun risin'. Be it a littlelest bird not knowin' a breath, or dem peoples cryin' in de night. All a stubborn an' persistent lot, lookin' where's dat sun mightta be staying high, ever and ever.... Always lookin' an' hopin', an' askin' an' prayin be, children...

--svengali2

--------------------------------------

Freddie and Palaka finally drive by the scene of the accident on the highway. As they pass their heads turn toward the scene - like all the others. They see Emma and Luke (although they do not know them) sitting on the back of an ambulance being attended to while their car is being retrieved from the ditch.

Palaka: Looks like everyone's OK, Boss.

Freddy: Well, now I can fucking relax. (Rolls his eyes)

(Having passed the accident, their speed has now resumed.)

Freddy: Meanwhile the kid is unprotected - at the mercy of the Volcano! And here we are with out thumbs up our asses in this sardine can......... That shape changer better fucking be watchin out out after that boy........ Look at me, in bed with a fuckin shape changer.

Palaka: (Looks confused) I'm sorry, boss, did you say volcano? I was not aware there were any active volcanoes in this 'region'.

Freddy: Of course, you aren't aware of that fact because you don't even know what 'region' this is.

(Palaka is momentarily speachless - thinking hard)

Palaka: Uh, OK. Whatever you say. I have no idea where I am - other than being in this car with you.......Mine is not to question why, mine is but........

Freddy: (interrupting) The volcano that I speak of - that is about to erupt - involves the boy, the Yosts, the shape changer, and that fucking ghost - the evil one.

Palaka: (Relieved to now understand) Oh yea, that volcano.

(Freddie is riding the bumper of the pick up truck in front of him. He tries twice to pass but is unable.)

Palaka: (imitating the hand motions of a flight attendant's pre-flight instructions) Uh, Boss, remember on the airplane when that stewardess lady said that in the case of the oxygen masks dropping, adults should secure their own before putting them on their children? Remember when I said how fucked up that sounded? And remember you said...

Freddie: What...the fuck ...are you rambling on about? I remember......the stewardess......the mask......what are you gettin at?

Palaka: Well if we want to be there to watch over good Shaunie, we gotta get there alive.

Freddie: (Cuts his eyes at Palaka and then back to the road) Speak for your fuckin monkey self.

--Waxon

--------------------------------------


Unbuckling his seat belt and twisting in his seat Palaka takes two cell phones out of his pants pocket. Freddy is not paying attention, he's busy navigating around a cattle trailer. Palaka flips a phone open, and presses couple of buttons. The very loud music startles Freddy, who throws Palaka murderous look.

Palaka: (apologetically, while trying to adjust the volume) Um, boss, I was thinking, uh, in case we get, you know, separated.... lost may be, the phones paid for..... new tools and such...

Freddy: If I'd not needed both hands..... this fucking zoo on wheels.... and...and... I am allergic to bees!

Palaka: Um, boss, I didn't know...mine were um... best intentions!

--svengali2

--------------------------------------


Kai stands in the doorway of her trailer, bag over her shoulder. She is frozen in time. She looks around the room for anything she might be forgetting. The memories and emotions pouring over her like a wave cresting in her doorway. A close-up reveals she has been crying but is now resolved in her purpose. She reaches into her bag and pulls out her phone. Looking at her missed calls she sees three from Butchie. Pausing, she gazes up into nowhere. After a moment, she sets her bag down, walks to the back of the trailer, kneels and gently places the phone on the mattress lying on the floor. She looks at the tape player next to the mattress, picks out a tape and places in the player.

Suddenly, as if in an urgent rush, she stands and heads toward the door grabbing her bag without missing a stride, walks out the door and closes it behind her. She throws the bag in the back of her Jeep, where a couple of surf boards protrude. Sitting behind the wheel, the tears now roll down her cheeks, but her resolve is unhampered by them. She hits the gas so hard she nearly runs into a grill which sits on the grass outside the trailer. The camera pans down and closes in on the back tire of the Jeep as it displaces some gravel that once must have been a parking spot. With the camera staying on the gravel, we can hear the sound of the car fade.

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

[Sven2]

Barry and Meyer drive up the highway with the windows down. Silently they turn to look again at the water before the road curves inland putting the oceans edge at their back. They glide through low broken green wetlands and look eastward to the gradually rising hills dividing them from a contradictory desert growing just beyond sight.

Barry: Has it been months that have passed just now?

Meyer: Not sure I'm following you but I'm sure it's been no less than twenty minutes since we left the Motel.

Barry: Has it not been a year or more now? Have minutes become hours and days become weeks?... My life has vanished, I no longer remember the world I knew.

Meyer: If I am understanding, perhaps you refer to the differing perceptions of time our experiences are said to be able to produce. I certainly feel that effect when I am with Daphne. Let me tell you, some of those moments seem endless and others a flash.

Barry: Was I not just on a beach with Butchie and Mitch after finding a wonderful collection of sea shells? I have them somewhere drying.

Meyer: You've been through quite a bit. Perhaps your recent injury has brought about some sort of reconnection with lost memory and you are trying to reassemble pieces of the past like a puzzle of sorts?

Barry: (his eyes widen in recollection) I remember a puzzle. I was just a boy then. My mother put it in a zip loc bag and threw away the broken box. I watched her put it in the trash trying to remember the picture of what it was to be. I still have that bag of pieces. I just found it when I was unpacking. I can't remember the picture. I do remember the box though. I wanted to put tape on the corners but she said we didn't have any.

Meyer: (reading a passing road sign) I think this next exit is the one we want.

Barry: (slowing down as they approach the turn off, he sees the sign with a left arrow) Sea World. (he smiles) I am suddenly very happy and so glad that you are with me. Thank you for helping me Mr. Dickstein, you have given good counsel. I am in your debt... I am in everyone's debt!

Meyer: I am glad to be of service. Perhaps when you have recovered more fully we can discuss some pressing matters regarding your plans for the motel? But not now.

Barry: (shakes his head and breathes in the fresh air as if to clear his senses) Like waking from a dream. Yes, thank you, pressing matters indeed, but now only one matter matters. Let me tell you about Cincinnatus.

Meyer: You mean Cincinnati?

Barry: (looks at Meyer questioningly) Were you there?

--SpiritontheWater

---------------------------------------

[Sven2]

---------------------------------------


As they crest a small hill Barry slows again as they see ahead several large black vehicles blocking the road

Meyer: I doubt any reason to worry, an action related to illegal immigration or drug trafficking I would hazard to guess.

Barry: An interdiction. Rather, Mr. Dickstein, like one is denied holy sacrament. These men are here for us. I have just now been told. It seems I will not see Eve as soon as I had hoped.

As they approach, a man in a ballcap, jeans and a t-shirt emerges from one of the vehicles and waves at them, two other men dressed in lightweight tactical clothing motion for Barry to stop the car. As he does the man in the ball cap walks up to speak with Barry. None of the men appear to be carrying weapons.

Meyer: Perhaps I should speak with this person Mr. Cunningham, we are entitled to legally binding procedures addressing a multitude of rights if their intention is to detain us for any undue reason.

Barry: Not necessary Meyer, I know their reason and they do intend to detain me.

Man in Ballcap: (leaning down in to Barry's window and smiling) Good morning Mr. Cunningham, we're glad you could make it. Sorry if we've given you a scare but you'll need to come with us if you don't mind, we have been ordered to transport you to the facility under guard. I hope you understand, your friend will not be allowed.

--SpiritontheWater

-------------------------------------


Inside the California Free Clinic.

Dr. Smith is at the examination table, applying dressing to Bitzy's paw. The dog's eyes are closed, the big body is still and glistening wet. An almost full IV bag is connected to the dog's front leg.
Ramon stands behind Dr. Smith with the pained expression on his face.

Dr. Smith: No, Ramon, you shouldn't blame yourself.... My experience lies mostly in emergency medicine, and you may argue that area is far from veterinary.... but it is not.... I treated a few with a heat stroke. Here I see the obvious signs of malnutrition and abuse, and perhaps some experiments were performed on this creature.... The heat and dehydration were just the last straw that brought her down... and here, if I may say... just in time....thanks to you.... (he finishes his work and moves to change the speed on the IV drip) The antibiotics and IV fluids in addition to the cooling bath should restore her to balance. I have come to believe it's all we can do, Ramon.... With patience and hope, we just try to restore the balance..... and wait.

Ramon: She's got a lot of fight left in her... young dog.... My mother.... when sick.... she prayed to Saint Agatha.

Dr. Smith: That certainly..... I have to see if all supplies are in place, medications are stored and the generator is in working condition.... Coming storm or fair weather.... (he looks down at the dog) I'll stay here until the sedative wears off.

Ramon: May be I should go take care of the cookout now.

Dr. Smith: It would be somewhat entertaining for you, Ramon to learn that chicken soup is recommended to replenish electrolytes in dogs as well....

Ramon: (smiling) I'll get a chicken at the store.

Ramon walks out of the Clinic.

Ramon: (looking up, to the white tufts of clouds) The wind is picking up.

--svengali2

---------------------------------------


Butchie, Shaun and John paddle out into the surf along with the other surfers in the competition. The waves are good. Each takes a turn and rides well, but nothing fancy. As Butchie stands in the surf watching Shaun ride in, he turns to Mitch. Their eyes meet. Mitch remains firmly planted in the sand - board in hand. Seeing Shaun come in without alarm, Butchie begins to run into the oncoming waves, and landing on his board, begins to paddle out. John has come in behind Shaun mimicking Shaun?s dismount into the knee high surf, pumping every last bit of energy from the wave. As Butchie tops a wave he sees in the distance what looks like a big wave building. He hurries his pace but is not even near it as it begins to crest. It glides under him and he rises again to vantage point where he can see the oncoming waves building. Having passed the barrier, he sits up on his board and looks around. He sees Shaun and John cresting a wave together coming toward him. As they approach, Butchie turns again to the oncoming waves. He sees a wave building and paddles to it. Rising to his feet he meets the wave. This time is different. Butchie begins to ride the wave and in a burst of energy turns his board into it is thrust high into the air.

On the beach, the crowd cheers. Cissy's eyes get big and Mitch looks on.

Turning in mid air, Butchie lands perfectly on top of the wave and begins to descend its wall. Settling perfectly into position, he crouches down as the wave crests just behind him. Soon he is surrounded by the wave and the camera pans back as he emerges.

Shaun follows, shooting a wave perfectly and John, again mimics Shaun.

Cissy: (to Mitch) How many opportunities like this do you think are in your fucking future?

--Waxon

--------------------------------------

Mitch begins walking toward the water and as he enters the surf, he is announced over the PA system. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mitch Yost!" The crowd cheers and everyone begins to stand in excitement. Mitch paddles out and sits on his board as the waves roll under him.

Soon he is joined by Butchie, Shaun and John. The four of them sit on their boards.

Shaun: Hi, Gramps.

Mitch: Hey, Shaunie.

Shaun: Are you scared, Gramps?

Mitch: Of what?

Shaun: Of the apocalypse.

Mitch is stunned. Unsure how to respond.

--Waxon

---------------------------------------

Butchie: (Looking into the oncoming waves) Fuck me!

They all look to see a huge wave building in the distance. It is much bigger than any other wave. John smiles.

Butchie: What do think, Dad?.

Mitch: I don't know. Just hold on.

Butchie: (Reaching to Shaun) Come here, Shaun!

John: (raises his arms like Moses and with his innocent smile) And the wave lifts them up!

As the wave approaches they each come to realize that they are in perfect position. Without another word spoken each of them instinctively turns into the wave and almost in unison rise to their feet. As the camera pans back we can see the four of them riding this semi monster wave. The crowd goes wild.

Jake and Link look at each other, speechless.
Cissy is speechless.

The cheering crowd soon begins to realize that something is wrong. People begin to run away from the beach. The four ride the wave with precision. As the wave crests, all four find themselves in line shooting the wave. As the crest fully forms, they disappear into its tunnel.

Those close to the waters edge run from the surf, Cissy, Link and Jake remain in the tent watching.

Palaka begins to back up but Freddie remains in place next to the tent his eyes focused on the wave.

A helicopter hovers above the four surfers. A man leaning from its side films with a camera. Cass film from the beach.

As the wave begins to crash on the beach, some twenty five feet beyond where the others had been, a state of panic takes over the crowd. Cass?s camera shows the panic. The water, approaches the tent and those under it find themselves up their knees in water. Digging in to withstand the undertow as the wave retracts, they remain focused down the beach in the direction of the four surfers.

From the helicopter camera view we see a surfer emerge from the tunnel. Then another, then three and then four. The four of them ride into the shore down the beach (right where Noah is sitting).

--Waxon

------------------------------------


The announcement is made that the surfers are safe. But the crowd is exiting off the beach in panic although the waves have returned to normal.

The only people near the beach are those standing under the Stinkweed tents.

The helicopter veers away. Link and Jake still standing speechless, look at each other ? each beginning to realize the implications of what has just transpired.

--Waxon

[Sven2]

--------------------------------------

Cissy is running full pace down the beach towards Shaun, Mitch, Butchie and John. She comes to a stop as she sees them walking towards her, boards in hand. She hears a voice to her left and turns to see the car salesman.

Car salesman: Well, what did you think? Is that a ride you can you can hang your hat on or what?

Cissy is stunned by his presence and breathing heavily.

Car Salesman: Speechless, I see. Well, who wouldn't be? Just look at that, the four horseman of the apocalypse! Of course, they don't have a clue about what just happened. My advice to you, maam, don't get too excited. It might not be good for the baby.

Cissy: (Catching her breath and looking through him with piercing eyes) Get the fuck away from me or lose your fucking balls!

Car Salesman: Are you sure you don't need a ride?

(Scene changes back to the Stinkweed tents)

Link hangs up the phone and turns to Jake.

Link: Are you ready to jump on this surf board, now? Cause everyone on that boat just shit in their pants.

Jake: Did they get all of it?

Link: They got it all and they are still filming. (Link points to the helicopter now hovering high above the shore filming the crowd's exodus.)

Jake: Remind me never to fuck with John's father.

Link: It's his father's father you gotta watch out for.

(Scene changes back to Cissy as the four are approaching)

Cissy: Shaunie!

Shaun: (Now standing in front of Cissy) Hey, Grams. Where'd everybody go?

Cissy: They're back there, I mean they were there, I mean they all.... Are you OK?

Shaun: (checking himself out) Sure.

Cissy: (To Mitch) I hold you responsible!

Mitch looks as to say "for what?"

Cissy: (To Butchie) And what kind of father....

Butchie: Relax, Mom, we're OK.

Cissy: What the fuck is going on!

Cissy looks at John. John looks back at her with a blank expression. Feeling faint Cissy drops to her knees. Mitch quickly grabs her.

Mitch: Let's get her home.

--Waxon

-------------------------------------


Somewhere off the Pacific coast of Mexico, a house is perched on a steep, 150 feet cliff on one of the small islands. The camera shows a spacious room where sunlight is streaming inside through big sliding doors open to the terrace overlooking the ocean.

Mr. White is in a comfortable chair, a glass with the amber liquid in his hand. A small child, of 7 or 8 years old, with dark black skin and big luminous eyes is sitting at his feet. Mr. White's hand is resting on the child's head. The child is wearing only a loincloth with feather tassels.

A man with deep wrinkles and graying hair plastered to his scalp enters the room.

Mr. White: (to the child) No bai fanadu!

The child immediately jumps to his feet and runs outside through the open doors.

Visitor: (with a smug smile) Very secluded.... beautiful house.... beautiful.... ugh....boy.

Mr. White: I prefer not to be disturbed by solicitors and commoners.... (slowly sipping his drink) I came by this child on one of my journeys, in a rather remote part of a small, very small country.... Travel is an acquired taste of mine.... an affinity you may call it.... And gracious! Their obscure rituals.... It's not a boy, and rather less than a girl now, after she made an acquaintance with an old pharaoh.... quite intimately. But I digress.... You are here to tell me....

Visitor: Good news. We detained one of the principals, Barry Cunningham!

Mr. White: Don't interrupt me.... again.... Considering the unlimited resources you had at your disposal, and I reiterate, unlimited.... the results are.... pitiful. You and your cohorts let some animals escape; you couldn't eliminate any of the action figures.... Your promised "Brown Note" concert for the exhibition never materialized. Can you deliver.... anything?

Visitor: Unforeseen obstacles, sir, a big hand playing against.... But I have a plan, here....

Mr. White: Leave the papers and depart. Now. You will be contacted. You are never to come here, is that understood?

Nodding, the mortified visitor hastily retreats.

Mr. White: Lying, stealing pig. Worse.... Animals can't lie. They hunt and kill. You, captain, hunt from your chopper.... Desolation you bring....

The camera moves outside showing the house, then countless bird colonies nesting on the rocks, then live-forever plants covered with blooms. A small girl is seen sitting on the edge of a cliff as she watches gray whales breaching and splashing under the setting sun. The ocean waters are calm; they surround the island with a deep blue and as the music starts and the credits roll the island disappears, swallowed by the all encompassing blue, indistinguishable between the ocean and the sky.

--svengali2

[Sven2]

John From Cincinnati, Episode 17, His Visit, Day 16

DISCLAIMER: John From Cincinnati and its canon characters are the property of HBO and the show's producers; no copyright infringement is intended.

The Further Days of John From Cincinnati continues - Arrivals and Departures

Written by: SpiritontheWater, backinthegame, Waxon, Skordamou, anonymous, svengali2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We see a bowl of dog food set down alongside a small bowl of water. Bitzy is groggy and slowly eases toward the food without standing. Dr. Smith turns to notice the dog still lying on her stomach taking small bites of food from the bowl.

Dr. Smith: Well, hello there.

Bitzy looks up at the doctor.

Dr. Smith: It's OK, girl. You need to eat.

The doctor gently places his hand on Bitzy's head and glides his hand along her back. After a second pass Bitzy begins to eat again - this time more heartily.

Dr. Smith: That's the way.

Bitzy stands and begins to drink the water. After a long drink, she takes a few steps back, lays down and closes her eyes.

Dr. Smith returns to his work.

A few minutes later Bitzy stands, stretches and shakes. Dr. Smith again turns to her but this time she is attentively staring directly at him. Letting out a single bark she begins to walk with a slight limp to the door.

Dr. Smith: Oh....uh... yea, of course.

Rufus Thomas "Walking the Dog"

As he opens the door, Bitzy steps outside and looks around. She raises her nose to the air and sniffs intently. Turning to the Doctor, now standing in the doorway, she lets out another single bark.

Dr. Smith: What?

Two more barks and Bitzy turns and heads along the sidewalk. Dr. Smith closes the door and rushes after her. She stops at the corner long enough to let a car pass and then crosses the street. Once across, she raises her nose to air. Looking back at the doctor, she turns and continues down the sidewalk. The doctor follows - now curious about her sudden sense of direction and purpose. Soon they leave the clinic behind and begin walking on the side of the road .

Dr. Smith: Uh, where are we going?

Now they are walking in front of houses - one after another. Dr. Smith is following, seemingly mesmerized . He continues to follow Bitzy for sometime - until she stops and, again turns to him. Looking up, he realizes they are in front of the Yost house. Bitzy walks straight to the front door.

Dr. Smith: You know the Yosts? .......It doesn't look like anyone is home.

Just then, Butchie's van rolls up and parks on the street in front of he house. Butchie and Mitch meet at the side of the van and help Cissy out. Dr. Smith approach's them leaning over Mitch's shoulder.

Dr. Smith: What happened?

Butchie: She passed out, Doc.

Cissy: I'm fine, I'm telling you!

Dr. Smith: Let's get her inside.

Cissy: How about you get me a fucking smoke! (Cissy shakes off Butchie and Mitch and walks towards the door).

Butchie: (to the doctor) Who called you?

Dr. Smith: No one, I just.... uhh...(looks at Bitzy)

Butchie: He yours, Doc?

Dr. Smith: She. (pause) ... I don't know...I mean, I don't think so.

Butchie: (looking at the doctor) You OK, Doc?

Dr. Smith: Me. (pause) I don't know... I mean, I think so.

Butchie raises an eybrow out of confusion, shakes his head, shrugging it off, and they all enter the house as the music fades.

--Waxon

----------------------------------------

We see the chaos the monster wave left on the beach - fallen tents, vendors, trying to collect remnants of their fare off the sand - soaked t-shirts, plastic bags full of paper cups, a few posters washed up in the tide.
We see faces of people who are just starting to recover from the shock as they are still streaming toward the parking lot, slower and more orderly now.

A woman with glossy eyes is standing next to the pier flailing her arms up in the air and screaming.

Woman: The end is here! God's wrath is upon us!

A man holding a surfboard walks by, shaking his head.

Man: Jesus fucking Christ, what a vindictive jerk you're praying to!

Two children and a woman catch up with him.

Boy: Dad, that wave was humongous!

Man: It sure was, man!

--svengali2

------------------------------------------

As the agent turns Barry around an enormous gust of wind hits them at their back knocking everyone from their feet to the ground. The guards and the agent quickly get to their feet and lead Barry to and through the doors of the large black van. The windows are all blacked out. Barry is smiling as the agent lifts him hurriedly up and into the single plush seat in the back. The doors are slammed behind him. A narrow beam of blue light is all that illuminates his smiling face. A set of headphones are placed on his head.

Meyer is panicked as he picks himself up and climbs back in and starts the car. Making a u- turn he spins the car around toward Imperial Beach.

Meyer: What in the world is happening... something has just happened!... I'm so sorry Barry, but I didn't know what to do... I had no power to stop them. (he swerves the car and barely maintains control as he becomes aware of John who suddenly appears in the passenger seat next to him. The car lurches as it comes to a stop crossing the lanes in the middle of the road)

John: Ooh bubula! You know what to do! Drive me home baby!

Meyer: (dumbfounded) What...where did you come from? This is not possible!

John: Go my little man, drive, drive, drive, drive me wild you beautiful man of mine! (Loudly as he pounds his hands on the dashboard) Oh GOD Meyer! GO!

Meyer: (steps on the gas and the tires squeal as the car lurches forward down the road, he screams above the sound) How can you know those words?!!!

John: (smiling, and screaming back) I don't know Butchie instead!


Inside the black van Barry jerks from side to side as the agent turns the vehicle around and speeds toward Sea World. He cannot hear the sounds from the drivers compartment as voices begin screaming over the radio.

Tears fill Barry's eyes as another sound fills his ears.

Barry: Cincinnatus!... I am coming!

Cincinnatus: I have been waiting for you. They are near and the time is close.

John: (looking over at Meyer who is speeding down the highway) You are close, and I am near. The first wave has come, but do not fear! My father is driving the El Camino.

--SpiritontheWater

-----------------------------------------

Officer Anderson struggles to hear the voice over his walkie talkie, panicked he throws the radio in the front seat of his squad car and runs across the street to the police station, bursting through the doors he jumps the counter and hits a large red button sounding the public emergency alarm. Bells and sirens begin to sound throughout IB.


Ring them Bells

--SpiiritontheWater

------------------------------------------

Bill Jacks stands on the bluff behind the elephant cage, looking out to sea, across the shore, he sees the tide receding.

Bill: (laughs to himself) Well here we go Lo, another recession. I'll never forgive myself for buying that cheap bird seed... I know you told me honey...

Zippy: Cheep!

Bill: Thanks for that! I do remember quite well enough...

Zippy: Cheep!

Bill: Oh, then it was you who cleaned that accumulation?

Zippy: Cheep! Cheep!

Bill: Are you even looking at the water (he cocks his head and looks at the bird on his shoulder questioningly) crap machine?

Zippy: Cheep!

--SpiritontheWater

---------------------------------------

Kai reaches up and turns the nozzle releasing the fresh air supply above her window seat. She looks to the passenger sitting next to her.

Kai: I'm so glad you decided to come. I'm really going to need a friend.

--SpiritontheWater

--------------------------------------

Noah bends down and picks up a piece of paper off the sand, he turns it over and reads the message "The last happy hour of the year". It"s written across a large yellow smiley faced head atop a surfer's body riding a wave.

Noah: Ya mean the last hour of the last happy year. I'll be there man, I'll be there.

--SpiritontheWater

----------------------------------------

[Sven2]

Inside the hotel in Huntington.

Linc walks up to his room, then turns around and follows down the corridor. He enters another room without knocking, as the door is slightly ajar.

Tina, the towel wrapped around her waist, walks out of the shower and seeing Linc covers herself crossing her arms.

Linc: I thought.... I'd see if you are still here.

Tina: (awkwardly) I am.

Linc: You drove away in Meyer's car. He might've called the police. You're a firecracker! What'd I say?

Tina: You know what....

Linc: Tina, this thing is bigger than you and me! Did you see that? That wave.... it stopped as if on command, fuck all the laws of physics!

Tina: I was at the beach, I saw it. I saw Shaunie and Butchie, they were so.... beautiful out there, like weightless.... on the water.

Linc comes close to Tina, slowly pulls her arms down and kisses her on the lips.

Linc: I'm not used to being the last one.

Tina: I'm sorry you couldn't be the first....

--svengali2

----------------------------------------

In Yost's house, Butchie is sitting on the bed in Shaun's room. He is holding his cell, listening to its ringing. Finally he flips the phone closed, drops it on the bed and sits there looking at the poster of a surfer on the wall.

Swallowed In The Sea

--svengali2

-----------------------------------------

Bill walks back to his car parked on the road. As he approaches the car door he sees another car coming down the road. He stands by his car to let it pass but it slows as it approaches. Bill sees that it is Freddy and Palaka. Bill and Freddy look at each other as they slowly pass. Bill raises his arm to motion to them but as he does Zippy flies off his shoulder - distracting Bill. Not intending to stop, Freddy turns his eyes back to the road but is startled to see that Zippy is sitting on the hood of his car looking directly at him. He slams on the brakes sending Palaka head first into the dash board. Zippy flies back to Bill. Bill and Zippy approach the car. Palaka is holding his forehead with both hands.

Bill: What are you trying to do, kill my bird?

Freddy: That birds trying to kill us!

Bill: If that was his wish I'd be the last to stop him.

Freddy looks away.

Zippy: Cheep!

Bill: (to Zippy) Alright, alright. (to Freddy) Uh, funny you should happen by.....uh....my bird wants me to ask you something.

Freddy: I can't wait to hear this.

Bill: I've been given an order by a fish, a whale to be exact.

Freddy: Are there any animals who don't boss you around? (under his breath) Bottom of the fuckin food chain.

Bill: Well, they know how to get results.

Freddy: If they ordered you to look like a fucking idiot, you're passing with flying colors.

Zippy: Cheep!

Bill: (to Zippy) You're pushing it now, you crap machine. With that Zippy dumps out on Bills shoulder.

Bill: Jesus Christ!

Freddy: What does any of this have to do with me?

Palaka: Yea, what does any of this have to do with us? (Palaka looks at Freddy) I mean, with him.

Bill: (to himself) What could possibly be the point of this?

Freddy: Well, we'll just be on our way.

Bill: Wait! ..... the orders ... are to go to ... Sea World. And the bird thinks I should ask you degenerates to accompany me.

Freddy: (sarcastically) You sure you don't want to go to fucking Disneyland?

Palaka laughs and begins to sing: M-I-C, K-E-Y, Y because...

Bill: Because we like you. (now getting frustrated) How the hell should I know why! It was his idea (motioning to Zippy)

Bill and Freddy catch eyes.

Bill: ... and I have a pretty bad gut feeling about it.

Freddy: Seaworld. A whale.

Palaka: Hey Boss, you were sayin that we should go to S...

Freddy: (to Palaka) Shut up. (to Bill) Who the fuck am I to argue with a bird.

Bill: OK, then.

Freddy: Tomorrow.

Bill: Around 10 - if you can get up that early.

Freddy shrugs his shoulders and begins to drive off leaving Bill standing on the side of the road.

Bill: Rendezvous at the Snug Harbor Motel! .... I hope you know what you're doing, Zip.

Bill looks back at the elephant cage for a moment and then shakes his head before getting in his car.

--Waxon

-----------------------------------------

Kass slowly walks on the beach checking the camera lens. She steps on an empty bottle left in the sand, tries to regain her balance and falls.

Kass: Shit! Shit! That's it. I am not moving. I am not! Oh, a kingdom for a horse! I am tired, thirsty, and have no idea why, oh fucking why, you just come and go John, and who are you after all, with your sweet baby innocence and.... most of all, why I so want to be around you....

She sits up, brushes sand off her legs and seeing a sea shell picks it up and plays with it as children do, holding it to her ear as a cell phone.

Kass: Do you like green eggs and ham? Would you like them here or there? Would you like them anywhere?

John (appears sitting next to Kass, he copies her pose, holding his palm as a sea shell) Yes, I will eat them here or there! I will eat them anywhere!

Kass: I know, you can be.... anywhere, Cheshire Cat. When you leave, only the smile stays.... then the smile will vanish too....

John: You will not cry because it's over. You will smile because it happened.

Cass: Thanks for the consolation prize, Dr. Seuss!

John: (smiling) Sam I am!

--svengali2

----------------------------------------

A rooftop of an old building. Below are narrow streets of an ancient Middle Eastern city.
An old man in a long robe of a monk is dosing off in a wooden chair.

John: What do you want?

The man opens his eyes, startled.

Car Salesman: (appearing next to John) Hush, country! You are not ready to go global! Thinks he is the little engine that could.... Too many dealerships, I am telling you!

--svengali2

-----------------------------------------

Flor and Erlemeyer close the door of Flor's house and step into courtyard. Suddenly the air is filled with flapping, cheeping and chattering sounds as hundreds of birds fly in from the surrounding trees. They fly in circles above Erlemeyer and Flor, some perch on the table, chairs and walls of the courtyard. Flor and Erlemeyer stop. Erlemeyer has an amused expression on his face. Flor throws her hands up over her head.

Flor: Mis amigos de aves. No entiendo. Not all at once!

Erlemeyer: Looks like your friends are happy to see you, Flor.

Flor: That's not it, Chuck. They want something. What has gotten them so excited?

Flor puts here head back and makes loud bird sounds. The other birds immediately become still, Dodi flies forward and perches on the edge of the fountain. He bobs his head a few times then looks directly at Flor, his head cocked to one side.
Dodi chirps excitedly, not taking his eyes from Flor, who is nodding her head.

Flor: Hmmm. It is not for me to say if your work is done here, Chuck. But it is time for you to go back now. That is the message.

Erlemeyer: Changing plans is inevitable these days, Flor. I will go. I'll arrange for Julio to stop by and check in with you. This city is just too dangerous now.

Flor: Me? Stay here? (She gives Erlemeyer a big grin) No such luck, Chuck. I'm going with you.

Erlemeyer: (begins to protest, but changes his mind) What about-uh- them? (gesturing to Dodi and the other birds)

Flor: They'll be just fine, Chuck. They're birds! They fly! See how free they are? They go where they want. Give me five minutes. I want to grab some clothes and my paints.

Erlemeyer: (murmuring as he watches Flor walking away into the house) And may we not encounter difficulty. Just a couple of tourists, off to I.B.

--Skordamou

-----------------------------------------

Erlemeyer walks up the driveway to the Yost house. Mitch comes out to meet him.

Erlemeyer: I'm here on orders from her bird. (gesturing towards Flor)

Mitch: Stranger things have happened, Chuck. It's been a fuckin' 3 ring circus here. I don't know what the hell is goin' on. It's all just getting loonier by the minute . What the fuck?

Mitch is looking over to where Erlemeyer's camper is parked. The entire area is covered with birds.

Erlemeyer: Yes, an interesting phenomenon. They followed us here. High in the sky, and relentless.

Mitch: It appears, old friend, you're now part of this crazy fucked up story. Whether you want to be or not.

Erlemeyer: Yes, Mitch. I've known for a long time that change was coming. I made a point of not seeking it out. And then you showed up. What choice does one have, really, Mitch? We do what we must. Even you, the surfer king, must realize that now.

He turns to Flor and with a flourish, gestures towards Mitch

Erlemeyer: Flor, meet Mitch. Mitch, this is my friend Flor. She is also, as you so eloquently stated, a part of the story.

Cissy comes out of the house.

Cissy: Chemist! What the fuck're you doing? here? You're supposed to be findin' out if I'm gonna die or turn into a fuckin' zombie or somethin'. (she points to her foot) Not that I needed your help. The weirdo fixed me up. Good as new, no thanks to you.

Cissy looks Flor up and down. Flor is smiling, nervously twisting her long hair around her fingers.

Cissy: And who's "Miss I'm still livin' in 1968" here? Where the fuck did she come from?

Erlemeyer: (smiles and gives Flor an apologetic smile as he addresses Cissy) Cissy, meet my friend Flor.

Flor steps toward Cissy and begins to extend her hand. Cissy gives her a withering look. Flor drops her hand and steps back, but continues to smile at Cissy)

Erlemeyer: I wouldn't worry about that foot anymore, Cissy. It is unlikely that there will be any long term effects. (murmuring) I must consider the possibility that I read the signs wrong.

Cissy: What the fuck you sayin', o mystical one?

Erlemeyer: I'm not certain, but I think the break-in may have merely been a distraction.

Cissy: And what the fuck does that mean, Wizard?

Erlemeyer: What we learn from Tijuana will be just one piece of this cosmic puzzle. The center is here in I.B. I'm beginning to understand. What was important was for me to find Flor. And to bring her here with me. We all have parts to play now. May God help us to understand.

Flor crosses herself. The birds, as if assured that Flor and Erlemeyer have now safely reached their destination, rise up and fly in a large circle around Cissy and Mitch, Flor and Erlemeyer. Then they flock into formation, with Dodi at the lead, and head south, flying back towards Mexico.

--Skordamou

----------------------------------------

[Sven2]

----------------------------------------

SETTING: THE BAR

Sitting barside are Vietnam Joe, Bandanna Buddy,
Bill Jacks, the bartender and John From Cincinnati

Joe: Man I had a really weird dream last night.

Bandanna: What? Another one of those war dreams,
Joe?

Joe: Well yes and no, sort of.

Bill: How much dope did you smoke before you went to
bed?

Joe: Fuck man, I haven t smoke in three days! Maybe that s the problem.

Bill: Yeah, that s the problem (sarcastically).

Bandanna: Well, are you gonna tell us the dream or not?

Joe: OK. Well back in boot camp before my unit even got to the Nam there was this kid named Bobby North, Jesus he musta been damn near 7 foot tall, no shit, bright red hair and really really white skin, you know the kinda guy that just burns up in the sun, ya know?

John: Just burns up in the sun.

Bandanna: Yeah, I seen guys like that.

Joe: Yeah, he was a big fucker alright, but he was a real gentle guy. On liberty night he wouldn't go to the whorehouse with the rest of us or go down to the bar to fuck up the locals, uh-uh, not Bobby. He'd rather go to see some foreign movie or to the library to read a book or something for chrissakes. He shouldn't been in no fucking army that's for damn sure.

John: He shouldn't been in no fucking army that's for damn sure.

Bill: Did he enlist or what?

Joe: Fuck no! Got drafted just like the rest of us dumb motherfuckers. But he was a good guy, always had his shit together, always passed inspection, could blow the balls offa an ant at fifty yards, but the fucker just wasn't a fighter and just cause he was so big with that bright red hair and freckled face he just made an easy target for the other littler guys. Man, they gave him some hard shit too. I saw one of the little Puerto Rican guys, Morales, literally jump up off the ground to punch Bobby in the nose. Popped him a good one.

John: Popped him a good one.

Bandanna: No shit?

Joe: No shit. And that little PR fucker stood back in a boxer's stance ready to throw, but Bobby just stood there rubbing his nose with both his hands, he just couldn't understand what the fuck he'd done to deserve that, but then it started....

Bill: What?

Joe: His nose started bleeding, I mean just gushing red, ya know, all down his GI t-shirt, down his fatigues onto his jungle boots. He tilted his head back to make it stop, but no fucking way, he just kept bleeding and bleeding, fucking blood all over the place and then 'cause he got hit so hard, his eyes started tearing up, so here's this big Paul Bunyan of a guy standing in the middle of the barracks bleeding and crying. It was awful.

John: Awful.

Bandanna: So then what happened?

Joe: Well, Bobby just turned around and walked away. I saw him later laying out on his bunk with a wet towel wrapped around his face. I went up to him and asked him if he was okay, he said yeah, he was used to this shit, used to happen to him all the time in school, littler guys beating up on him. Turns out his old man was some sort of minister or something, never taught him how to fight, but told him always to turn the other cheek, love your enemies, all that kinda shit. Fuck, man!

John: Love your enemies.

Bill: Well, what the hell was he doing in the army then? He coulda went CO or something.

Joe: (laughs): No, not old Bobby. He wanted to do his duty and all of that patriotic crap they fill your head with out there in fucking Iowa or some damn place.

Bill: Nothing wrong with being a patriot.

John: Being a patriot.

Joe: True. But I asked him, man, if you can't even defend yourself in a fist fight how you're
gonna be able to shoot the goddam enemy who by the way will be doing everything humanly possible to shoot you?."That's different", he says. "One is where I'm fighting for myself and the other is in defense of god and country".

John: God and country.



Part II: The same setting, the Bar


Joe: Well they shipped our asses over to Nam and man, we came in hot. The airfield where we was supposed to land at was under mortar attack, VC, NVA the whole fucking nine yards, a real fucking horror show. We had to circle around for about an hour before we could land, and as soon as we did we were taking fire.

John: Taking fire.

Bill: Tough place.

Joe: Hell yeah. But Bobby, man, he was a smart fucker. While all the other guys were shitting their pants and praying and crying, old Bobby was looking out port and spotting all the places were those little fucking dwarfs were firing from and when that troop plane belly landed and the back hatch opened up, Bobby was the first one out, hit the ground running, firing his weapon like crazy directly at those spots he'd seen. He looked like a one man cavalry! (laughs shaking his head) He gave the hand sign for the rest of the guys to spread out and follow him and I'll be damned if they didn't. All the guys picked up on what Bobby was doing, pointing to the places where those little fucks were firing from. Bobby alone took out an entire mortar launching crew and the rest of those fuckers just hightailed it outta there!

Bandanna: Wow!

Joe: Fucking-a man! We only had one KIA that day - Morales the kid that bloodied Bobby's nose. When he heard about it he double timed over to the body screaming at the death detail to stay the fuck away from him. First time I ever really heard Bobby curse, ya know? He took Morales tags and jungle boots, picked him up like a baby and laid him down in the body bag so gentle like, ya know? Zipped him up and let the death detail load him up on the same damn plane that brought him in. Fucking sad, man.

Bill: I hear ya, bro.

John: Fucking sad.

Joe: Well, a big change came over Bobby. He still wouldn't go whoring with us, or get drunk, gamble and fight, I think I saw him take a beer once, didn't even curse, but fuck, man, he was a first rate killer. He had 13 confirmed kills, including an NVA officer, a lieutenant I think, one water buffalo, two dogs and a nine year old girl. The animals couldn't be helped and the girl was an accident. The water buffalo was in his line of fire so he had to take it out to get a clear shot, and then we were on this search and destroy mission in this village and the dogs attacked him, just doing their job I guess, but Bobby he had this phobia about germs and getting diseases, you know, like rabies and shit, so he took the dogs one round a piece.

John: One round a piece.

Joe: Yeah. So we were rounding the villagers up outta their huts, trying to figure out who were the real civilians and who the VC were and that s when it happened. Outta the corner of his eye Bobby saw something move in one of the huts that shouldn t-a been there, and Bobby man he just wheeled around slicker n snot and let loose a burst of fire with that Thompson and busted through the door of that hut alone and then it got real quiet and then we heard Bobby give out a long loud wail, like a howling wolf. We all thought he was celebrating a kill. But then it come to us Bobby was crying, wailing man, and he come outta that hut carrying that dead girl in his arms howling and crying. The medics relieved him of the girl and Bobby went off by himself and we just let him be, til we was done cleaning up the vill.

Bill: But what about the dream, Joe?

Joe: Yeah well I m getting to that. After that Bobby really went kinda fucking crazy. After a really brutal fire fight the VC tried to surrender, threw their weapons down, hands up screaming, "Dong hai, dong hai" and old Bobby, he just spit on the ground and said, "Dong hai my ass!" And blew the fuckers away. He went and cut the guys dicks off, stringed em up and wore them around his neck like love beads, man!

John: Like love beads.

Joe: The stink was unbearable. All the guys respected Bobby, followed him without question, but man sitting down to eat with him was whole nother story. Bobby understood, didn t take any offense. Usually we let the FNGs take point when we were out on patrol, but Bobby d always volunteer. He liked being in the shit.

John: Liked being in the shit.

Joe: And then it happened.

Bill: What?

Joe: Well we were walking the trail, Bobby a few meters ahead of me. He'd let his hair grow down past his shoulders and grew this great big bushy red beard, he'd lost weight like we all did, but he put on some muscle too. He looked like one of those
Viking Beserkers, crazy to die, man!

John: Crazy to die, man!

Joe: It was just getting dawn, the sun rising behind us and that s when I heard it, a soft pop sound. I thought one of the guys behind us had cracked open a beer. Bobby just stopped, we all stopped, frozen, waiting for his hand signal either spread out or thumbs up for OK, but he just stood there and then I saw a little hole right in the back of his neck, just below the helmet line, a little trickle of blood. Bobby turned round and man his face looked like fucking hamburger, man, his jaw flapping loose, his tongue hanging like a thirsty dog, his teeth hanging like pearls and I swear to god, it looked like he was smiling and he just went down like a big red tree face first in the mud. It took about a second for it to register on us but Bobby was dead.Fuckingsniper!Always some littler guy trying to take Bobby down, ya know?

Bill: Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Jesus Christ!

John: Bobby was dead.

Joe: So I pointed up into the trees and the guys just let loose everything they had into the tree tops until finally this little VC fucker come flopping outta the palms like a drunken monkey, deader'n hell.

John: Deader 'n hell.

Bartender: At least ya got the bastard Joe. But what about the dream?

Joe: Well Bobby come to me, long red hair flowing, his big bushy red beard, his face all put back together like normal, and Bobby s laughing, still in his jungle camo, weapon at the ready and this what he says:
Joe, there is death in all your ecstasies, that is the nature of the dimension you live in, but you
don t have to deny yourself any pleasures. Own what you desire and all that exquisite energy will be released as waves of joy on earth as it is in heaven. Stop judging what you are doing. Own it or stop doing it and decide to be alive.

Bill: (getting off his barstool) I gotta go home and tell my bird about this!

Bartender: I never heard anything like that before, especially not in a dream.

John: Some things I know and some things I don t, but this man knows a lot. He is with my Father and Mother now. He sees God the Mother of God. He is not dead, Joe. He will be born again. Not farewell, oh warrior, but fare forward.

Joe: Fucking-a!

Bartender: That calls for a round of beer on the house!

--anonymous/congadrumbam

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