Episode 17: How We All Died

EPISODE 17

“HOW WE ALL DIED”

RECAP

OPENING CREDITS

FADE IN

INT. HOSPITAL- EMMA'S ROOM

EMMA has her mouth open as a DOCTOR looks her over, gently touching some of the bruises as CHARLES stands in the corner, watching carefully.

DOCTOR

Do any of the bruises hurt when I touch them?

EMMA

Only a little.

DOCTOR

It's a remarkable recovery, it seems this is not the first time you have been in such a critical condition.

EMMA

No I've been wounded, maybe not to the extent I was in but In my line of work, bumps, bruises, and gunshot and stab wounds are all just part of it.

DOCTOR

Well you've trained your body well to physically heal itself, the bruises will hurt and linger for a bit but in a few days they should all but be healed. As for your internal injuries, you didn't sustain some heavy blunt force trauma, but I have subscribed to some medication that will help speed the internal healing process along at an accelerated rate.

EMMA

So I'm guessing this is an all clear?

DOCTOR

Miss LAIN, you are free to go.

EMMA

That's what I wanted to hear, thanks doc.

EMMA gets up as the DOCTOR waits a moment as EMMA comes over towards CHARLES, smiling as CHARLES pinches her chin.

CHARLES

Everyone's waiting for us at the HANGOUT, go on down and check out.

EMMA

Yes, sir.

EMMA salutes him as she heads out, the DOCTOR watching as CHARLES watches her go before he closes the door.

CHARLES

Alright, DOCTOR, give it to me straight.

DOCTOR

Physically she is fine, a marvel really, I've been treating your team for a while now, and they all seem to possess incredible endurance and durability. But if I may be truthful...I fear that one's...emotional state...may be far more injured and wounded.

CHARLES

She'll pass psyche, and she'll come off as fine, I know her, she's resilient.

DOCTOR

That may be. But she may not crumble like you may think. She could come unhinged, snap into a delicate and violent state, or she could freeze up, become catatonic and non responsive in the face of peril. I cannot tell you what or how, or even if or when. But I can tell you that she needs to be watched, carefully. Until then you don't know exactly what you may get from her.

CHARLES

Thanks, DOC. I assume we'll be seeing you sooner rather than later I'm afraid.

DOCTOR

It's why I have job security. Good luck out there, watch yourselves.

CHARLES

That I cannot promise, but never fail in at least trying.

CHARLES exits the ROOM as the DOCTOR nods to himself and looks concerned.

INT. THE HANGOUT

CHARLES opens the DOOR into the HANGOUT as EMMA is close behind, CHARLES looking around to see that no one was around as EMMA steps in and looks at CHARLES, smirking as she shakes her head.

EMMA

What a lovely get together you've planned, CHARLES.

CHARLES

They can't all be winners, apparently.

EMMA

It was a lovely gesture nonetheless.

CHARLES

Are you feeling alright? Honestly.

EMMA

Am I going to have to deal with this for...

CHARLES

You were jumped by a PHANTOM, EMMA. Beaten near an inch of your life.

EMMA

If they wanted to kill me, or really hurt me they'd have done more damage around my eyes, but they didn't CHARLES, I am fine...

CHARLES

You can lie to me if you want, but don't think for a moment that I don't know that you're not alright.

EMMA

Yeah, okay. Can you at least give a sista a beer?

CHARLES

I don't have any up here, I moved the fridge downstairs.

EMMA

Why?

CHARLES

We're always there then up here...son of a bitch.

EMMA

What?

CHARLES

Haha, nothing, come on.

EMMA

Okay...?

CHARLES heads to the ELEVATOR as EMMA follows him in, the the TWO taking the LIFT down as CHARLES smirks as SHANE, ANTHONY, NIKKI, AUSTIN and even COLBY were all waiting for them, beers in hand as they cheer as EMMA steps out with a smile and some tears, NIKKI hugging her first as CHARLES comes over and grabs a few beers from the fridge in the corner of the room as EMMA hugs SHANE and AUSTIN, ANTHONY smiling at her as she hugs him last before shaking COLBY'S HAND.

COLBY

You look well.

EMMA

I still feel a bit like shit.

AUSTIN

You're too legit to feel like shit.

SHANE

Wow, that was terrible.

AUSTIN

Yeah, I'm starting to realize that.

EMMA

Aww, it was cute.

AUSTIN

And boom goes the dynamite.

EMMA

So what's the deal, are we going to go bust some heads? Got a job for us COLBY?

COLBY

No jobs, CHARLES asked for a temporary squad leave of absence.

EMMA

Why?

CHARLES

Because we could use the break, and we've been through a lot, the least we could do is spend some time together not busting open skulls. Here.

CHARLES hands her a beer as EMMA takes a seat on one of the sofas, NIKKI and SHANE taking up seats beside her as CHARLES sits in his chair, COLBY taking a swivel for himself as AUSTIN and ANTHONY take up on the second sofa that was seated directly across from CHARLES'S CHAIR and adjacent to the first sofa.

EMMA

A genuine day off, that's...something. Why here though? Can't we go out, TAVERN or...

ANTHONY

No way, we're not going anywhere near the TAVERN.

EMMA

Guys come on, I don't need to be treated with kid gloves.

AUSTIN

It's not all about you this time, we may or may not have capped a ZOMBIE in the face much to no one's care, and the chagrin of your boss.

EMMA

Goddammit, why'd you do that?

AUSTIN gives ANTHONY and SHANE a look, the TWO giving it back but say nothing as CHARLES clears his throat.

CHARLES

I think the point trying to be made here, is that it's not a real good spot for all of us at the moment.

EMMA

Well I do work there, so thanks for continuing to make my other job more and more difficult.

AUSTIN

You're welcome.

ANTHONY elbows AUSTIN in the side as NIKKI snickers, EMMA taking a drink as CHARLES leans back in his CHAIR.

CHARLES

I was going to suggest the DINER...

NIKKI

Was?

CHARLES

Okay so I lobbied hard, I haven't seen CINDY in a few weeks and I miss my burger.

SHANE

It also has partial fire damage to the left side of the entire building cuz it got hit during the outbreak of mayhem.

CHARLES

That too.

EMMA

So it was more of a default choice then anything.

CHARLES

More or less.

EMMA

Well, if this is all for cheering me up, and or spending some quality time together, I say we do something we've never done before, and make “new meat” here (shoulder nudging SHANE)really feel like he's one of us.

NIKKI

What the hell are you talking about, girl?

EMMA

Let's play my favorite truth game.

AUSTIN

EMMA...

EMMA

“How We All Died”.

AUSTIN

Goddamnit.

NIKKI

No.

EMMA

Why not?

CHARLES

I understand you just went through a trauma but...

EMMA

Oh don't go blaming this on what happened to me, you know we do this every few years, always on my behest, and you know what, SHANE here deserves to know more about us. Just like we deserve to know more about SHANE.

COLBY

I don't see the harm, we've all spilled the details once or twice.

AUSTIN

Retelling how you died when you were in the living world are not happy memories most of us here want to pray tell, COLBY.

COLBY

I already know how you died, as does everyone else in this room, albeit TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT here.

SHANE

It's SHANE.

COLBY

Yes, sorry about that.

CHARLES

I don't like it, but we did agree to do what EMMA wants in the hopes of raising her spirits.

NIKKI

Raising her spirits by lowering ours? That's bullshit.

EMMA

Tell me how you really feel.

NIKKI

I don't like talking about it, EMMA.

EMMA

No one does. Here.

EMMA goes over to the DESK behind CHARLES and begins writing, the group watching as she writes for a few minutes and then tears the paper into strips, folding them up as she goes over and grabs a bowl and drops the paper strips in.

EMMA

Everyone's name is on a piece of paper, whenever I draw you gotta tell your story, no arguing no buts. You can do the nice long story I like or you can do the abridged version and leave us in suspension, either way, it's happening.

NIKKI

I am not pleased with this at all.

EMMA

It's alright, NIKKI. Safe space, right? I mean that's what this is all about for me right? So why not do it for each other.

NIKKI

Fine.

EMMA

AUSTIN?

AUSTIN

Whatever.

EMMA

I don't think I'm going to get much bucking and braying from the rest of you, so I'll go ahead and draw.

EMMA reaches her hand in and mixes it around as everyone watches her as she pulls a name out, EMMA opening it as she shows it around as the name of the piece of paper is “SHANE”.

EMMA

Well well, “new meat” got the lucky first draw.

SHANE

Lucky, bah.

EMMA

Alright, SHANE. Spill it, How did you die?

SHANE watches as everyone looks at him, SHANE taking a swig as he sets his beer down.

SHANE

Not a lot to tell really. I wasn't very socially active or had a lot of friends, I kept to myself, worked a lot. I was coming back from a concert actually.

AUSTIN

A concert? Really? I didn't take you as a concert guy.

SHANE

Metal shows, man.

AUSTIN

Heavy metal, ha.

SHANE

Yeah, I doubt we have a lot of UNDEAD heavy metal bands around huh?

NIKKI

There are a few...I think the biggest band in the FRINGE is sorta a metal group, but I don't really know what you consider metal so...

SHANE

Yeah, well, I was coming back from that, and there was a bad accident. Giant pile up, guessing someone who left the concert drunk, was driving at a top speed on the highway, and just...I don't know, I remember skidding and braking as hard as I could and I hit the car in front of me, but I was okay. Till I stepped out of my car.

EMMA

What happened?

SHANE

I got hit by a Semi Truck.

AUSTIN

Oh shit haha.

SHANE watches as AUSTIN and ANTHONY begin laughing, SHANE looking as CHARLES was smirking and shaking his head as NIKKI and EMMA were joining in, SHANE breaking out into laughter as he nods and takes a drink.

SHANE

Yep, splattered on the pavement like a bug, I didn't feel it, or anything, but I can kinda imagine my face when that SEMI TRUCK was right there on me.

ANTHONY

A giant “Oh shit!” face.

SHANE

Oh yeah, it was massive haha.

EMMA

Death by Semi Truck, touche sir.

SHANE

Thank ya, thank ya.

EMMA

Well, that was funny, but not as hard hitting a story as I wanted, so knowing how these sad sacks went, I would sit back and take in some new respect you'll have for your friends here.

SHANE nods as he looks at everyone who suddenly snap back into somberness as EMMA reaches into the bowl and grabs another piece of paper, checking it before showing that it was “AUSTIN”.

EMMA

Mr. BLACK

AUSTIN

Shit.

EMMA

Do tell your tale to our beloved friend here, and make it fluffy.

AUSTIN

EMMA...

EMMA

Please.

AUSTIN and EMMA lock eyes as she looks at him as he nods and takes a deep breath, setting his beer down as SHANE watches him tentatively.

AUSTIN

I died, SEPTEMBER 12th, 1996. at ELEVEN PAST THREE. Am. I guess everything that led to that was really what caused it...

AUSTIN'S FLASHBACK-1996

INT. APARTMENT

A low rent APARTMENT, a huge step down from AUSTIN'S current living situation is littered with trash and perishables as AUSTIN storms into a room, stubbing his toe as he curses loudly and moves the PHONE away from his mouth as he winces in pain, AUSTIN putting the PHONE back to his head.

AUSTIN

No listen here goddamnit! I am not going to pay you shit, do you understand me?! If you want to take me to fucking court, take me to fucking court, but until then, I don't owe you fucking shit!

(O.S.)

I was raging pretty hard after my ex fiance left me, not so much left as, got caught fucking one of my so called “friends”. We had lived together for a while and she was demanding a bunch of stuff she had left, stuff I bought and shit I didn't care for but, fuck if I was going to give that shit back to her.

NIGHT has fallen as AUSTIN sits at a table in his KITCHEN, downing a bottle of WHISKEY as he had prescribed pill bottles on the nearby counters.

AUSTIN

(O.S.)

I was in bad shape, I was drinking all the time, battling a heart condition, and clinical depression. I mean the thing with her really messed me up, but there were other things in my life that all just happened all at once. I got hurt on the job, my own fault, but I lied a bit, fudged the details to get workers comp, but that ended up drying up and I lost my job cuz I just didn't care about it. Family life was...non existent.

AUSTIN goes for a PILL BOTTLE as takes a few of them and keeps drinking.

AUSTIN

(O.S.)

I didn't know what I was doing, or how much of either one I went overboard on but...

The SUN begins to peak as AUSTIN lay on the table, motionless and still, his skin pale and lifeless as he had an empty bottle on the table.

AUSTIN

(O.S.)

One pill too many, or one drink too much, in the end, I felt a...sharp sudden pain in my chest, and everything was black and cold and still, and then I was here.

PRESENT

INT. THE HANGOUT

AUSTIN takes a drink as SHANE looks at the others.

SHANE

So...And excuse me for asking this but...did you mean to do it?

CHARLES

If he did it'd of been a suicide.

SHANE

My point.

COLBY

Heaven and Hell have a pretty strict and clear mandate on suicides. If you do it, your ass belongs to hell.

SHANE

So you accidentally overdosed?

AUSTIN

I wasn't trying to kill myself, not at that time. I just was drinking. Started to feel some pain in the chest, and just...mixed it without really heeding much warning.

EMMA

You okay, AUSTIN?

AUSTIN

No, not really, I feel naked and edgy and slightly upset that we're having to do all of this, so can we move on.

EMMA

As you wish.

EMMA reaches and pulls out another piece of paper, EMMA watching as she holds up and shows it to COLBY.

EMMA

You're up.

COLBY

Oh my.

SHANE

Do you even remember what it was like when you were alive? I thought HANDLERS had their memories wiped?

COLBY

I did, but CHARLES here knows my story and he tells it better than I could, because I can't tell it. CHARLES if you would.

CHARLES

COLBY here died when he was 28, in the roaring 1940s, or 1944 to be exact.

SHANE

You were alive during the 40S?

COLBY

Yes I was.

SHANE

Man.

CHARLES

COLBY was in the fifth regiment of a black op unit that was sent into an Nazi occupied part of Britain...

COLBY'S FLASHBACK-1944

EXT. FIELD

COLBY runs as the screen is BLACK AND WHITE, COLBY covered in grime and possibly blood or sweat, as COLBY has a PISTOL and a K-BAR KNIFE in his hands.

CHARLES

(O.S.)

COLBY ended up separated at some point from the rest of his group, and was trapped behind enemy lines, he was working his way through a ridge that led to a point on the ISLE that he was on, there he would find his base camp. Only...

COLBY comes to a CLIFF FACE and looks down to see his base completely destroyed, dead bodies sprawled about as some of them are burning as others have been executed.

CHARLES

(O.S.)

His squad was found out, and everyone who was there was murdered. Let's just say, with no way home, and no way out, COLBY didn't have much choice, but to do what he had come to do.

EXT. NAZI CAMP

THREE NAZI'S are conversing with one another, sharing a cigarette as the MOON was high in the SKY as COLBY suddenly appears behind one and slices his throat, a NAZI going to shout but COLBY quickly stabs his BLADE once into his throat, the NAZI grabbing it as gargling sounds and blood come squirming out as he dances about, COLBY watching as the third NAZI pulls his SUB MACHINE GUN but COLBY shoulder hits him in the arm, forcing the NAZI to aim the gun down as COLBY hits him twice in the face before stabbing through his flak jacket and shanking him a half dozen times as the NAZI who was stabbed in the throat finally goes to his knees, gasping as COLBY comes over and snaps the NAZI'S NECK.

COLBY goes through the rest of the CAMP, slaughtering and killing every NAZI that he could.

CHARLES

(O.S.)

It was a glorious display of heroic American patriotism, however, the kick ass war movie one man army scene came to a...startling end.

COLBY disarms a NAZI and shoots him twice in the face before pulling a pin on a GRENADE and tossing it into a COMMUNICATIONS TENT, COLBY walking away as the TENT explodes but as it does COLBY is riddled with six bullets, three hitting his flak jacket and vest as one hits him in the arm, and two in the leg.

COLBY falls over, screaming as a few JEEPS had pulled up, a couple of NAZI'S firing on COLBY from the JEEPS as COLBY was struck, unable to move or fight back as the NAZI TROOPS descend upon him and the destroyed camp.

CHARLES

(O.S.)

But he didn't die from those wounds. In fact...he was captured.

SHANE

(O.S.)

Oh damn..

CHARLES

(O.S.)

He was shipped to NAZI OCCUPIED FRANCE, put into a concentration camp as a POW. Where he faced unspeakable horrors.

A MONTAGE plays of VARIOUS TORTURES and BEATINGS that are inflicted upon a beaten and sickly pale and skinny looking COLBY.

CHARLES

(O.S.)

COLBY held on for nearly six weeks from the time he arrived at the camp...but it was his last act of defiance that sealed his fate.

INT. CONCENTRATION CAMP

COLBY is pushed towards a LINE that was heading towards a CHAMBER, COLBY looking at the FRENCH PRISONERS FACES as COLBY looks back to see a NAZI screaming at him in GERMAN, gun raised, but COLBY doesn't budge as the NAZI'S watching the sight were beginning to murmur as the others were beginning to head into the CHAMBER, COLBY not moving as one of the NAZI'S walks towards him, screaming and brandishing his machine gun but COLBY smirks and headbutts him in the face, the NAZI'S around him running towards him as they begin to viciously beat on him, COLBY taking it in stride as the NAZI he head butted stands up, nose bleeding as he pushes the other NAZI'S aside and pulls his pistol from his side holster, COLBY looking up at him as his eyes had nearly been beaten shut, COLBY smirking at the NAZI as the NAZI aims down and opens fire.

INT. THE HANGOUT

SHANE looks at COLBY who nods as AUSTIN and ANTHONY begin to clap and cheer, NIKKI laughing as EMMA and CHARLES just smile as COLBY stands and bows as SHANE smirks hesitantly as CHARLES reaches over and squeezes COLBY on the shoulder.

CHARLES

My friend here was a real badass, should've seen him when he came in all cock sure and full of himself.

COLBY

I do remember that day, I remember everything when I arrived here, but even him telling that story, it's like...like it was someone else's story, someone else's life, not mine. But CHARLES and these guys swear that it was how I died, so I'm inclined to believe them.

EMMA

That story always makes me happy, cuz it's not really sad, it's profound but not overly.

SHANE

You seem to critique our death stories like we're wine or something.

EMMA

Yeah, I have a tendency to do that, now be a doll and grab me another beer would you, please, doll, would you please, please, would you...

SHANE

Alright, alright yes.

EMMA

Thank you...okay, who's next...

SHANE gets up as he goes to the FRIDGE as EMMA pulls the next name, EMMA looking at it as she looks around and tries to put it away but AUSTIN spots her.

AUSTIN

Ah! No! You! I saw that, who'd you pull!

EMMA

What? No, it's dumb...

AUSTIN

You pulled yourself didn't you...

EMMA

It's...

SHANE

EMMA...

EMMA looks behind her as SHANE hands her her beer from behind as he is smirking.

SHANE

I can see that it's your name.

NIKKI

You little...

EMMA

Sorry if I wasn't thrilled about bringing my shit up yet just now.

NIKKI

Oh but as long as everyone else is doing it it's all okay right?

EMMA

No, just...I...

SHANE

EMMA you did kinda strong arm everyone into this you might as well just get yours over with...

EMMA

Yeah, you're right, you're right...

EMMA looks around as she takes a drink.

EMMA

Alright SHANE well since you're the only one I know who doesn't know, I'm really just...opening this all up for you.

SHANE

You don't have to...

NIKKI

The hell she does...

EMMA

No it's okay, I made everyone else. So here it is. I sorta abandoned everyone I ever knew when I got sick. I didn't want them to see me suffer, I didn't want them to see what I would become. The girl you see now, this...form this was me, this was the EMMA they all knew. But what I was to become, That image I didn't want them to have.

SHANE

What were you sick with?

EMMA

Cancer. By the time I was diagnosed, It had spread. So I ran. I left my boyfriend, and my dad, mom was dead by that point. I was shallow, so...I didn't have any real friends, at least none that cared enough to remember me. I went through the treatments, went through as much as I could, the chemo was just...rough, what it was doing to me...everyday was a struggle to look myself in the mirror and not hate what I was becoming. I was rotting away. Only took six months But at FIFTEEN BEFORE FOUR, on Friday, August 11th, 2004, I came here, Of course I've been here a few decades comparatively but I still remember the date.

SHANE reaches over as he rubs her shoulder, EMMA rubbing his hand as NIKKI looks around the room before looking down as CHARLES gets up and goes to the fridge.

CHARLES

Next beer is going to have to go upstairs to the reserve fridge.

AUSTIN

Do we have a reserve fridge?

CHARLES

I keep a mini one in the back corner for emergencies.

ANTHONY

We're alcoholic's aren't we?

AUSTIN

Nah, just merry men.

EMMA

Alright, well, fuck being sad, I'm drawing the next name.

EMMA reaches in and grabs the next name, EMMA smirking as she shows SHANE who looks at ANTHONY.

ANTHONY

Oh man, my turn already. I can't really follow EMMA'S with anything profound or sad, mine is rather lame actually.

EMMA

Enlighten us again on that.

SHANE smirks as CHARLES takes a drink, ANTHONY nodding as AUSTIN pats him on the chest.

ANTHONY

I was working in the film industry, circa, 1964...

ANTHONY'S FLASHBACK-FILM SET, 1964

ANTHONY, wearing casual 60's wear is wearing a timid old timey headset as he is carrying a tray of coffee to various men in suits.

ANTHONY

(O.S.)

I was an intern on the set of a...let's just say a mob funded movie, lots of money, lots of press, and stars, and surprisingly, not very good production values.

ANTHONY comes up to a few MOBSTERS as they are speaking with the DIRECTOR, ANTHONY pushing his way timidly through as he hands the DIRECTOR one of the coffees and begins to head out but stops after the DIRECTOR had taken a sip.

DIRECTOR

Hey you! Yeah, coffee kid, come here.

ANTHONY turns as the MOBSTERS begin to laugh, the DIRECTOR looking ANTHONY over as the DIRECTOR spills the COFFEE over ANTHONY'S HEAD and then knocks the tray out of his hand, spilling the last few coffees all over the ground.

DIRECTOR

You ever bring me this lukewarm piss again, I will personally shit down your throat, remember what you are and who you are working for okay?

ANTHONY

Yes, sir...

DIRECTOR

Now clean this up, and get me another fucking coffee, the way I like it please.

The DIRECTOR heads back over towards the MOBSTERS, laughing and smiling as ANTHONY gets down and begins to clean the floor as he comes over and grabs a roll of PAPER TOWELS from a table, knocking the table a few inches to the left, which bumps into a steel post.

ANTHONY

(O.S.)

The attitude, and the coffee spilling, the laughing and completely and utter humiliation, that was just part of the job, you had to start off low to move up in the film industry, and when I was at my lowest, the most tragic and sad point I guy in my position could be in, something occurred to me as I was wiping that floor...

ANTHONY begins to tear large chunks of the paper towels apart, mopping up the coffee spills as he suddenly smirks, not noticing the OVERHEAD LIGHT above him begin to shake loose.

ANTHONY

(O.S.)

That my time was coming, that this was as low as I could possibly get, that everything I did from that point on was going to be...

ANTHONY rocks forward as the OVERHEAD LIGHT falls and conclaves his skull inward, killing him on impact as he lay a bloody mess on the floor.

ANTHONY

(O.S.)

...For not. Killed by a fucking overhead sky light on a shitty set, for a shitty movie that I never got to see.

SHANE

(O.S.)

What was the movie called?

ANTHONY

(O.S.)

Hell If I remember.

INT. THE HANGOUT

SHANE shakes his head as ANTHONY takes a drink.

ANTHONY

I thought my career was gonna be something.

EMMA

It is thought. I mean, look at all the movies you've made since you've been here. Look at everything you've accomplished as a writer, as a director.

ANTHONY

I can say that now, but...it's just...

AUSTIN

Different when you were alive.

ANTHONY

Yeah. I mean, I can't be the only one who feels that way right? I mean no matter what it is. Drinking beers, or making movies, having sex or just...I know everything here is more in-tuned here, but it just feels...different when you're alive.

CHARLES

No arguments there.

EMMA

Well, I can't say I don't get ya. But, in any case, I guess we're going to move on...

NIKKI

I was killed by my husband.

SHANE looks at NIKKI as the others look about a bit uncomfortably, only AUSTIN keeps his eyes on NIKKI as she looks about at them.

NIKKI

Might as well get this out of the way, since I didn't want to do it in the first place. But yes, SHANE, that is how I died, I was having problems with my husband, we had been married for a few years, and he was a heavy drinker, and an abuser. And one night it got out of control, and he had shut me off from everyone I knew, I cut off ties with all of my family, I had no friends, It was just me and him. And one night he got out of control, I threatened to leave him. I threatened to tell people his little secrets, to send him to jail for the rest of his miserable life. He didn't hesitate after I picked up the phone to wrap his hands around my throat, and never let go. So that's my story.

NIKKI downs the rest of her beer as AUSTIN watches her carefully, SHANE looking at her as EMMA looks down.

EMMA

NIKKI, I'm sorry...I just...I'm sorry.

NIKKI

It's okay.

NIKKI rubs her back as EMMA looks at her with sad eyes, NIKKI pulls her into a hug as CHARLES sits back and sets his beer down.

SHANE

Guess that leaves you, boss.

CHARLES

Not much to tell really.

AUSTIN

The hell there isn't.

CHARLES

I suppose.

SHANE

I've always been interested in what your life was like before you died. I mean you've been here the longest.

CHARLES

A few centuries.

SHANE

So what was it like, did you die like in the 1800s?

CHARLES

No.

SHANE

Okay give me a few guesses...

ANTHONY

You'll never be able to guess it man. You may not be able to really understand it...

SHANE

I don't follow...?

EMMA

Tell him, CHARLES.

SHANE looks at everyone first before he looks at CHARLES as CHARLES nods.

CHARLES

SHANE, I died in the year 2078.

SHANE looks at CHARLES shell shocked.

SHANE

What?! No...

AUSTIN

It's true dude.

SHANE

How in the hell is that possible?!

CHARLES

Time is convoluted. People come to the FRINGE at all different points in the universe. Why do you think everything here is so technologically advanced? You think that was merely ANGELS and DEMONS, no, it was people from my time, or hundreds of years ahead of my time, dying, and coming to the FRINGE, sharing and integrating the technologies of their time periods into one seamlessly dystopian utopia.

SHANE

You died nearly sixty years after I died, and yet you're trying to sell me that you were here, hundreds of years before I did.

COLBY

He is right, SHANE. The FRINGE does not differentiate between the fluxes of time. Remember here we stand as a pillar, and time spirals around us, while pulling people and souls from all the different planes of existence that exist within the levels of that spiral.

SHANE

In English, please.

EMMA

There are other earths, other existences aside from ours, us, our unit, happen to have come from the same one, but at various and different points in time.

SHANE

So there are people who have come from...other parallel universes?

NIKKI

Yes. A lot of RECLAIMER units are made up from the existence in which they had died from.

SHANE

That's...

ANTHONY

It's pretty trippy I know.

SHANE

CHARLES, you still never said how you died though?

CHARLES

America was on the brink of a new aged civil war, between the ultra elite, and the middle class, who was championing the lower class who were all but eradicated by that point.

SHANE

AMERICAN genocide?

CHARLES

Our future becomes one full of greed, and anger, technology advances, cures are found, but people are unwilling to share it, unwilling to care. So things begin to fester, the powers at be begin to fear, and soon enough, the beginning of a very tumultuous time is upon me. I wasn't anybody though, just another faceless body in a crowd of anger. Riot I was in went sour, protest lead to violence, lead to...murder. Mine being one of them. Beaten to death, by riot police, paid off by the higher powers to quash the voices of the oppressed by any means necessary.

SHANE

That sucks.

CHARLES

It is what it is. But now, that's what matters. See how we all died, that was our birth into this life, into this world. Birth by Death. A cycle inverse upon what we believed was the fulcrum of reality, regardless of what you believed in. So I say no matter how bloody, or unpleasant, depressing, or irreverent our deaths were, or seemed, I say, for better, and or for worse, we are all together. By choice or by fate. And I'll toast to that.

AUSTIN

Fuck yeah.

SHANE

Here here.

CHARLES, AUSTIN, SHANE, ANTHONY and EMMA hold their beers up as NIKKI smirks but doesn't drink as COLBY swirls his bottle around before he finishes his beer as SHANE downs the rest of his.

SHANE

I'm out.

CHARLES

Then ding ding, you're the next contestant on getting us all beer.

SHANE

Oh that's bullshit.

CHARLES

You proclaimed to be out first, and therein lies the reason why you get first draw.

SHANE

Dammit.

AUSTIN

You're a trooper, SHANE. I mean you have to go up the ELEVATOR an entire floor, then go to the corner of the far end of the room, and grab a case out of the mini fridge, and then bring it back down. I mean, touche brother.

SHANE

Eat my ass.

AUSTIN

Whoa...

SHANE heads towards the ELEVATOR as the others converse amongst themselves, SHANE taking the lift up as he smirks to himself as he shakes his head, lost in thought as the lift goes up to the first floor of the HANGOUT, SHANE stepping out as he takes a stop and stops cold, dropping his beer bottle as JARED is sitting in the love seat in the middle of the foyer, JARED smirking as SHANE doesn't move.

JARED

Hello, SHANE.

SHANE goes for his hip but feels that he doesn't have his hip holsters on, SHANE sneering as JARED smirks.

JARED

You're unarmed. Bit of bad luck, but also not needed, I'm just here to talk. I was hoping you or at least CHARLES would be the one to come up first, you two are the more rational of the group, but also the most difficult to convince. So I'm going to try.

SHANE

What the hell are you talking about?

JARED

Sit down.

SHANE

No.

JARED

I'm not asking.

SHANE doesn't budge but slowly comes over, taking a seat on the couch across from JARED as JARED sits comfortably, his legs crossed as he has his arms splayed over the top ridge line of the love seat.

JARED

It's a nice little place you got here, prime real estate, I'm surprised you guys don't live here, make it a sorority house.

SHANE

How'd you find us, how'd you find this place...

JARED

I have my resources.

SHANE

You mean your mole.

JARED

I have many moles. But I have one that's very keen on seeing bad things happen to you folks. But again, I have not come to fight, or cause harm. I have come to talk.

SHANE

What the hell are you up to.

JARED

I like you SHANE, you're to the point, your brash. You remind me a lot about me when I first came to the FRINGE.

SHANE

Before or after you turned into a genocidal prick?

JARED

I'm not doing this out of spite. I'm not leading the MISFITS because I can, I am not an anarchist, I have reasons above just doing things because.

SHANE

Then why?! Why shut the SYSTEM down, why through this place into Anarchy, why!?

JARED

The simple answer. Because we're saving this world. We're saving the FRINGE.

SHANE

Oh please, I've seen bond villains with the same motives. “Oh we're not bad, we're just misunderstood”.

JARED

We are not misunderstood because we have never proclaimed our reasons. And we will not, the less the masses know, the easier the end will be.

SHANE

You...

JARED

Again, there is more to why we have to do what we do.

SHANE

Then spill it out already, or get to the point of why you're here.

JARED

The OUTSIDERS are coming.

SHANE

Who are the OUTSIDERS?

JARED

They are the reason we must cleanse this world, the reason we are willing to destroy everything, including ourselves, to prevent what they could do from happening.

SHANE

Stop with the vague answers, just tell me.

JARED

You want answers, real answers? Quit being a RECLAIMER. And join me.

SHANE

No fucking way.

JARED

I will spare you crew, I will give them a head start even. Let me show you why we must do what we are doing, let me prove to you, that our way, is the only way to save this world. To really protect it. These, UNEVENTFUL, they are just another unit, in a broken system. Join me, SHANE. And you will understand all.

SHANE

If I don't...

JARED

Then you don't. The answers you seek still remain cryptic and vague, and you will never be able to stop what happens.

SHANE

You've underestimated us before.

JARED

And I do not intend to do that again, In fact I welcome the challenge. So I will do this. I will give you four days to decide on whether or not you want to join me. I will give your little crew a little head start on where to find me once I leave here. If you can apprehend me in those four days, I will tell you everything you need to know.

SHANE

And if we don't?

JARED

I'll kill one of you myself.

SHANE

You wouldn't dare!

JARED

Oh but I would. And I can. Because that's just how good I am.

SHANE

I won't give you the chance...

JARED

You couldn't win a fair fight against me.

SHANE

You'd be surprised, I've been actually holding my own pretty well over the last few weeks.

JARED

So I've heard. But none of that, is me.

SHANE

Well...I guess we're going to have to see about that.

JARED

Don't do this...don't test my patience, and do not try me. You will not like the outcome.

SHANE

I'm not letting you play games with my life...with my friends lives...or with the existence of this world...

JARED

As I've said before, you can't stop me. The only options you have, is to join me, or to die.

SHANE

I'm dying either way right, if we do it your way?

JARED

You do it my way, by my side, it's quick and painless, just like everyone else's, you do it this way, it's nasty, it's bloody, and I will let you experience such pain and fear that your mind would have never possibly imagined.

SHANE

Well...

SHANE sits forward, JARED doing the same as SHANE looks him over.

SHANE

I guess that makes my answer, pretty clear then.

SHANE throws a punch but JARED slaps it down and hits him a few times in the throat and chest but SHANE counters a third strike and tackles JARED, the TWO landing hard as they land on the ground, SHANE rolling on top of JARED as he begins to throw a few punches down but JARED blocks them with his elbows and crosses SHANE'S arms with a counter of his own, pulling SHANE down as JARED head butts SHANE in the face before he knees SHANE upwards and flips him off of him, SHANE landing hard as his legs slam against a table, SHANE heaping up as JARED flips up, JARED smirking as SHANE gets to his feet and begins throwing punches at JARED, JARED easily blocking each one but is caught off guard by a faked PUNCH that he turned into a spinning back hand, JARED sneering as SHANE goes for a kick but JARED catches it, and pulls SHANE'S leg forward, SHANE unable to keep his balance as JARED uses SHANE'S own momentum and uppercuts him across the face.

SHANE lands hard, blood coming out of his nose and mouth as JARED steps back.

JARED

I want my money's worth!

SHANE stands groggily as JARED throws his arms out.

JARED

Get a few free ones, on the house.

SHANE sneers and rushes JARED throwing a few hooks across JARED'S face, JARED taking them without moving but as he does SHANE spins around JARED and grabs JARED around the neck with his arms, SHANE wrapping his legs around JARED'S WAIST as he tugs back and drops hard onto his back, but he keeps JARED in his sleeper lock, JARED reeling as SHANE screams and digs his arm into JARED'S NECK, JARED trying to fight out of it as SHANE holds on for dear life as SHANE reaches for a BLADE on JARED'S HIP, SHANE grabbing it as he pulls the BLADE out, but as he does JARED grabs SHANE'S hand and pushes his neck forward, getting out of SHANE'S HOLD as he turns and head butts SHANE a few times before he twists SHANE'S WRIST, disarming the BLADE as JARED knees his knee into SHANE'S LEFT ARM, pinning him to the ground as JARED strikes SHANE in the face viciously a few times, JARED taking a deep breath as he puts the BLADE back into his holster.

JARED

I told you, not to test me.

SHANE

Bite me...

JARED

Now now. The offer still stands, and be sure to relay my best to the rest of the...

JARED looks up as the ELEVATOR had gone down during the fight without the two noticing but had now reached, as CHARLES, AUSTIN, EMMA and NIKKI were inside the SHAFT.

JARED

Never mind, then.

SHANE

Guys get back!

AUSTIN

Holy shit...

NIKKI draws on JARED but JARED rushes forward, dodging out of the way as NIKKI couldn't get a shot off as CHARLES rushes to cut JARED off but JARED strikes CHARLES a few times, CHARLES taking the hits without staggering as he hits JARED a few times in the chest and face but the TWO COUNTER each other as EMMA stands frozen near the ELEVATOR, not moving as AUSTIN goes and grabs JARED from behind as CHARLES begins punching JARED over and over but JARED jumps and kicks CHARLES in the face before he grabs AUSTIN and judo throws him into NIKKI, knocking the TWO near across the room as SHANE gets up as CHARLES and JARED are countering each other a few times before JARED uses his speed and blocks CHARLES and trips him up, JARED throwing him into a wall, slamming CHARLES'S HEAD against the dry wall as SHANE rushes by EMMA, who hadn't moved as JARED grabs CHARLES and head butts him a few times, but SHANE tackles JARED away from CHARLES, CHARLES reeling as JARED rolls over and quickly gets back to his feet, SHANE screaming as he goes for a wild punch but JARED easily counter attacks and sends SHANE flying hard, CHARLES going for a sneak attack but JARED anticipated it and counters CHARLES, hitting CHARLES with a devastating punch that brings CHARLES to his knees, SHANE reeling as JARED looks at him.

JARED

Four days.

JARED walks past CHARLES as NIKKI and AUSTIN hadn't moved from the impact of their collision, SHANE watching as JARED stops as he had almost passed EMMA, JARED looking her over as he reaches over and gently caresses her cheek, EMMA shaking in fear as JARED smirks and continues on, stepping over AUSTIN and NIKKI as he simply walks out of the HANGOUT, SHANE coming over to CHARLES who motions for him to get away, CHARLES standing as SHANE comes and looks EMMA over, EMMA beginning to let tears come down as CHARLES notices her, CHARLES sighing as he shakes his head, SHANE coming over to NIKKI and AUSTIN as NIKKI was stirring but AUSTIN was still out.

INT. TERESA'S OFFICE

TERESA sits at her DESK as CHARLES was fuming, COLBY sitting in the chair across from her as TERESA looked apprehensive.

TERESA

I don't know what you want me to say.

CHARLES

How about how the guy who is leading the MISFITS somehow found out where our team's base of operations was without difficulty!

TERESA

I understand that it's a scary thing to deal with...

CHARLES

There is a leak in the SYSTEM! You all know, and now it's specifically targeting me and mine. Someone here is helping them to achieve their goals, and it's only going to get worse if we don't do something about it now!

TERESA

And what would you have me do? What would you do?

CHARLES

JARED is giving us four days to find him, and he's giving us a location to start.

TERESA

I was informed.

CHARLES

I say we go for him. All out manhunt, if he wants to be caught, then we'll get him.

TERESA

And then what?

CHARLES

Someone here won't like that, they'll get antsy, they'll get worried. SHANE says that JARED promised him to spill everything if we caught him...or if he joined.

COLBY

Which we're hoping he won't do.

CHARLES

He won't. Meaning it's up to us to bring him in, and if we can do that, everything about why he's doing it, and what they're planning on doing next is within our grasp.

COLBY

Assuming he's telling the truth and that he would cooperate.

CHARLES

Even if he doesn't.

CHARLES looks at COLBY and then at TERESA, TERESA nodding.

TERESA

Whoever was helping him may think he may actually talk, give him up, and even if he doesn't...

CHARLES

Exactly.

TERESA

I pitch this, BENJAMIN will want to take the helm, the others too, to show their not the traitor. You'll get the full backing of the COUNCIL, but this guy hasn't been caught for nearly eighty plus years, I doubt four days is gonna make a difference.

CHARLES

I don't know what he's planning, we may be just playing into it, but we can't bury our heads in the sand on this anymore, they've attacked me and mine one to many times...it's time we start fighting back.

TERESA

Okay.

CHARLES

Thank you, COLBY, I'll be in touch.

CHARLES exits as COLBY and TERESA eye each other.

INT. THE HANGOUT

EMMA sits alone as ANTHONY comes up from the bottom floor, ANTHONY coming over towards her as he sits down.

ANTHONY

You didn't go with the others?

EMMA

They had to go to the hospital, get SHANE another dose of medicine, get AUSTIN'S noggin' checked out.

ANTHONY

Lemme look at you.

EMMA

I'm fine.

ANTHONY

You don't look fine.

ANTHONY moves her face towards his, ANTHONY looking her over as EMMA looks at ANTHONY with a hint of sadness.

EMMA

I froze ANTHONY...I couldn't help them. I watched him...savage them, and there was nothing I could do...I was frozen with fear...Me, afraid.

ANTHONY

EMMA, what happened to you has only been a few days.

EMMA

I can't help you guys. I can't be a part of this group if I'm just going to fall apart when they need me most...

ANTHONY

Don't say that. Don't ever say that. You matter too much, you mean too much to all of us. You can't just run, I can't imagine what you're going through, what you've been through, but...we can get through this.

EMMA

I don't know.

ANTHONY

I do. You think you're the only one who feels worthless? You feel some doubt now, but who could blame you? I'm worthless every moment I am around you guys. And I know it, you know it, but...that's okay, because I have purpose. Because in some way, I am needed, and even if it's not apparent now, in some way , some day, I won't be worthless to you guys anymore.

EMMA

You're not worthless, ANTHONY.

ANTHONY

Well If I'm not, you're certainly not. Of that I can promise you. So...cheer up.

ANTHONY wipes a tear from her face as EMMA smirks and nods, ANTHONY standing as EMMA grabs his arm.

EMMA

You don't have to go.

ANTHONY

Okay.

ANTHONY sits back down as EMMA holds onto his arm and lays her head on his shoulder, staring off into space as ANTHONY looks longingly at her before he looks away, the two not saying anything as they just sit in the moment.

FADE OUT

END OF EPISODE