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EXT. THE BUNKER

Ray and Jane pull up.

A small welcoming party forms as Gerard and Frank appear.

Gerard hugs Jane as she gets off the bike.

GERARD
How did it go?

Frank is checking out the bike.

FRANK
She let you drive?

Answering neither question, Jane and Ray look at each other
nervously.

Frank and Gerard notice.

GERARD
What's wrong?

JANE
There's news. We'll explain inside.

CUT TO:



INT. THE BUNKER

Gerard, Mikey, Frank, Ray, Jane, Mitch, Jacob, and Deanna are
all gathered around, having been brought up to speed. The
mood is tense.

JACOB
I don't see how it can be done.

DEANNA
It's suicide!

GERARD
It's our problem.

DEANNA
Getting yourselves killed won't
make things any better for your
niece. She'll still be there.

GERARD
We're not leaving her there!

MIKEY
We can't.

DEANNA
You're not thinking!

GERARD
There's nothing to think about!

Jane and Ray have been sitting quietly, looking worried.

Ray turns quietly to Jane.

RAY
Can we do something?

Jane nods and they both stand up.

JANE
When have we ever not tried to help
someone because it was dangerous?

Ray now turns to Gerard.

RAY
And once the rescue mission
launches from here, even if only
the four of us go, everyone is
going to have to leave.

Mikey looks to Deanna in surprise.

MIKEY
Is that true?

DEANNA
Yes.

RAY
Let's just decide that we're all in
this together.

JACOB
How can we do this?

RAY
We start with what we have.

JANE
We have two people who have worked
around their headquarters and are
familiar with the building. We also
have an architecture major who can
use that knowledge to get the
layout and figure out weak spots
and points of approach from there.

RAY
Otis gave me some short wave
radios. We can separate and still
keep in touch.

JACOB
We have eight brave people who have
dealt with fire fights and fast
getaways a few times.

Jane smiles gratefully at Jacob.

JANE
That's not a bad start.

RAY
We also have someone who can see
how a plan will turn out, as long
as we can do it within two days.

Jane looks worried at this, but nods tiredly.

MITCH
Gerard, I guess you and Jacob and I
need to get together.

DEANNA
I used to drive in the city a lot.
Maybe Frank and I can discuss
routes.

FRANK
We still have the nitrous oxide.

DEANNA
Yeah. That can help.

People begin talking in small groups, focusing on different
angles.



INT. BUNKER

Later, Jane is going through her medical kit when the Gerard,
Mikey, Ray, and Frank come in with the map.

RAY
We have a plan. Can you see if it
will work?

JANE
Sure.

Gerard lays out a map on the table, and everyone gathers
round.

RAY
If Grace is always with Liu, then
we want a time where we know Liu
will probably be there, but not
heavily guarded.

JANE
She's always heavily guarded.

FRANK
But there is a smaller guard at
night, and it will be easier to get
to her when she is in the office
than after she goes to bed.

GERARD
We were thinking we could target
arriving at 21:00 hours, crash
through Gate A, then straight to
the data center, grab Grace and get
out.

FRANK
Deanna's got a backup team in the
van to extract us, because we
probably won't be able to get back
to the car.

JANE
Okay, it sounds plausible. Let me
take a look.

Jane closes her eyes and starts to look ahead. As she sees
the scenes in her mind, she narrates to Frank, Ray, Mikey,
and Gerard, telling them what they do.

CUT TO:



INT. TUNNEL

In the car, they crash through the control gate, firing off a
few shots as they go, but making it.

JANE (V.O.)
You make it through the gate.



EXT.

They walk across the bridge, opening fire and taking out the
entry guard.

JANE (V.O.)
You're in the building.



INT.

They enter the data center and take out more guards.

Lights are flashing, indicating that the invasion is known.
This may be why Liu is not there, but she has left Grace.

Grace runs into Gerard's arms and he holds her tightly.

JANE (V.O.)
You've found Grace!



INT. HALLWAY

They are running down the corridor with Grace in tow. Mikey
signals the van via the radio.

As they reach the entrance, Draculoids emerge, starting a gun
battle.

Shots are traded between both groups as they try and get
closer to the door.

One Draculoid grabs Grace and Gerard grabs and shoots him.

The mask comes off in Gerard's hand as the Draculoid falls.

Gerard does not see Korse come around the corner.

Korse shoves Gerard against the wall and places his gun under
Gerard's chin, smiling.

JANE (V.O.)
No.

Mikey sees what is happening but does not have a clear shot.
He tries to run closer as Korse shoots.

MIKEY
Gee!

Gerard slumps to the floor.

As Mikey aims at Korse another shot takes him out from the
side, and Mikey is down.

Grace screams.

Ray grabs Grace and pulls her towards the door.

Frank shoves Ray and Grace outside and turns to provide
cover. After firing a few shots, he is hit as well and goes
down.

The van tears around the corner and as they pull Grace
inside, Ray is shot.

The van pulls away, trading fire with the Draculoids, but
making it out.

CUT TO:



INT. BUNKER

Jane leans back in her chair, drained.

They already know it will not be good, but they must ask.

RAY
What happens?

JANE
You die. All of you die.

GERARD
And Grace?

JANE
She gets away.

GERARD
Then it works.

JANE
There has to be a better way.

RAY
Okay. What if the van support comes
earlier, and provides some fire
cover?

JANE
Right. Okay.

There is a pause as Jane closes her eyes and looks, but she
sees nothing good.

JANE (CONT'D)
It's even worse. They all die too.

FRANK
Maybe it's timing, like if we leave
a little earlier or later?

JANE
No. No.

MIKEY
What about the Draculoid outfit we
have? Maybe we can use that to
sneak someone in?

FRANK
Right! They wouldn't know it was us
right away.

JANE
It only helps until you are in the
building, then they know.

Ray turns to Frank.

RAY
Could we get other people in the
car, so we start out with more
people going in?

FRANK
That would really slow it down,
we'd be cramped...

RAY
I know, but if it's a firepower
issue-

GERARD
What if we just sent one person?

A shocked silence falls across the group, and then things get
heated.

MIKEY
Dammit, Gee! She's my niece too!

FRANK
She's all of ours!

GERARD
I'm sorry. You're right. But if we
don't all have to die...

JANE
It doesn't matter. That doesn't
work either.

The men look at each other, and then back at Jane.

RAY
So the only plan that actually
results in Grace leaving the
building is the original one?

Jane begins to feel desperate.

JANE
The only one we've seen so far, but
maybe we're missing something or
not thinking of something. Maybe it
needs more time.

GERARD
But you can't see much farther out,
so we could also lose our chance
completely if we wait.

JANE
Yes.

MIKEY
Then I think we know what we need
to do.

Jane starts to respond, but has nothing to say and lowers her
head.

RAY
Well, we probably have some things
we should be doing now, to get
ready.

Ray and Frank leave the room.

Mikey takes Jane's hand.

MIKEY
Thanks for checking. That can't
have been much fun.

Janes squeezes his hand in response, but can't speak. They
don't need words though, and Mikey exits.

This leaves Gerard alone with Jane.

GERARD
Thanks. It's good to know it will
work.

JANE
This doesn't feel like working.

GERARD
If it's the best we can do-

JANE
Maybe it's not!

GERARD
I'll still take it.

Gerard kisses Jane on the forehead.

GERARD (CONT'D)
Thanks for everything.

Gerard quietly leaves as Janes buries her head on the table.



INT. BUNKER, TWO HOURS LATER

Gerard walks in to find Jane still sitting at the table,
going through spells of concentration and despair.

Jane looks up and sees him.

JANE
I can't find a way for you to live.

Gerard comes over and sits next to Jane, putting his arms
around her.

GERARD
You don't need to do this.

JANE
Yes. I do.

GERARD
If you haven't found anything by
now...I hate seeing you hurting.

JANE
Do you think I have a chance of not
hurting?

GERARD
Maybe just hurting less.

Gerard strokes Jane's hair affectionately.

GERARD (CONT'D)
Thank you for not trying to stop
me.

JANE
I told you I'd support you, and I
do, it's just...

GERARD
I know, but it's going to work, and
I can live with this.

Jane looks sharply at Gerard.

GERARD (CONT'D)
Bad word choice. I just mean that
it's worth it. Look out for Grace,
will you? She reads okay. Maybe
teach her some math or something.

JANE
She's going to be devastated!

GERARD
Someday she'll understand why. I
know she's important somehow, and
whatever plans they have for her
can't be good. It's about time she
hung out with someone responsible.

JANE
I'll do what I can, but-

GERARD
Then that will be enough. Now
please go to bed. Take some time
off from this.

JANE
I will soon.

Gerard starts to exit, but he turns around again.

GERARD
Jane, I-

Gerard stops, the one thing that he really wants to say also
being the thing that seems least fair to say.

GERARD (CONT'D)
I'm really glad I got to see you
again.

JANE
You're glad I'm alive?

GERARD
I truly am. Good night.

JANE
Good night.

Gerard exits.

Jane replays the original plan once more in her mind, trying
to find a crack.

Her mind flashes back and forth between what has happened and
what will happen.

Ray is hit just outside the building, and Ray sits down next
to her at the Caves.

Frank smiles at her and winks when working on the car, and
Frank gets shot at Scarecrow headquarters.

Mikey is stretched out dead on the floor, but then is
visiting with her in Gerard's room.

Gerard slumps to the floor, having been shot by Korse, but
then they are kissing on a hill, and she is trying to save
his life in the desert.

Going back to the moment where Korse pushes Gerard up against
the wall, Jane focuses on one dropped gun in the foreground.

In her mind's eye Jane focuses harder, and still finds death.
She nods, resolute.

JANE (CONT'D)
It is worth it.



EXT. BUNKER

The van crew is loading up. Deanna is driving, Mitch has
shotgun, and Jacob is in the back.

Jane hands in Rosalie's cage to Jacob, then closes the door
without getting in.

MITCH
What's going on?

JANE
I'll take the bike. There are some
things I need to do first.

DEANNA
Do you know where to head after?

JANE
Don't say any more. I'm covered.

Deanna looks at Jane strangely, but then nods and drives off.

Gerard, Mikey, Ray, and Frank come out and start loading into
the Trans-Am.

GERARD
I thought you were going with them.

JANE
There's something else I need to do
first, but don't worry.
Everything's covered.

RAY
Any last thoughts?

JANE
You know what you need to do. Get
in, get Grace, and head for the
exit. Signal the van at the halfway
point.

MIKEY
Let's go.

They load into the car.

Gerard lingers, trying to find the last right thing to say,
but there isn't one, and it's understood.

Gerard finally gets into the car and they pull out, with Jane
watching them go.

Once the car is out of sight, Jane clenches her fists and
strides back inside.

Grabbing the Draculoid suit and mask, she changes into the
white suit, folding her own clothes neatly on top of the cot.

Once changed, Jane takes the trifold from her jacket pocket.
She pauses and touches the pictures. Making up her mind, she
tucks it back into her jacket, adding it to the pile.

Tucking the mask under her arm, Jane walks back out. She pats
her old bike, and mounts the Draculoid bike.

Kicking off, Jane accelerates towards Battery City.



INT. CAR

The Trans-am is getting closer to Battery City.

The mood in the car is uncomfortably serious. They try to
break it.

GERARD
The car's handling really well.

FRANK
Yeah, I changed out the camshaft
and some other stuff.

GERARD
Jane said you were working on that.

RAY
We found some really good parts at
this Boneyard place. You should
check it out.

GERARD
I'll have to do that.

Gallows humor begins to set in.

MIKEY
On the plus side, I won't mind
never having to eat Power Pup
again.

RAY
I was starting to kind of like it.

MIKEY
I could have lived my whole life
without knowing that.

FRANK
You came close.

They enter the tunnel into the city, and begin seeing ads for
BLIND.

MIKEY
I hate those guys.

GERARD
Well, let's see how many we can
take with us.

They come up to the entry booth, alerting the guards.

The guards motion for the car to stop, but Ray and Frank lean
outside and fire, taking down the guards just before the car
crashes through the gate.

FRANK
Think they know we're coming?

GERARD
They do now.

RAY
Don't slow down.

Gerard accelerates, spinning to an abrupt stop in front of
the SCARECROW entrance.

The Killjoys pour out of the car, weapons raised.

There is little resistance at this time of night, allowing
them to get past the entry guards easily, but the intrusion
is noted in the central control room.



INT. CONTROL ROOM

Watching the cameras is Liu. A few guards and Draculoids are
with her, and Grace is sitting on the floor.

Irritated, Liu signals for Korse, but does not get a
response.

Liu looks at Grace reproachfully.

LIU
You didn't fix the signal link.
Wait here.

Liu exits to retrieve Korse.

Grace is surprised, then overjoyed as her rescue team enters
the room in a burst of gunfire.

The defense is dispatched, and Gerard kneels down as Grace
runs into his arms. He holds her tightly, knowing it will be
the last time.

GERARD
Let's get you out of here.

They move down the corridor in tight formation.

Why can't we make it out? Gerard thinks. We're so close.

A side corridor opens up behind them and a small troop of
guards pours out, led by Korse.

Another detachment appears near the entrance.

KORSE
Don't harm the girl!

Under no similar constraints, Gerard, Mikey, Frank, and Ray
shoot with deadly accuracy, fanning out to get better
coverage.

They are deadly, but there are more on the other side, and
they keep getting closer.

Grace is hiding behind one corner of a wall. It seemed like a
good position, but a Draculoid appears from the other side
and grabs her.

Unable to shoot without hitting Grace, Gerard pulls him away
physically first, grabbing the maske, and then shoots. The
mask comes off, revealing Trey as he falls, killed by
Gerard's shot.

Gerard is stunned, and freezes with the mask in his hand.

As he tries to regain his composure, Korse is upon him,
shoving Gerard against a wall, and smiling sickly as he
places his gun underneath Gerard's chin.

This is it.

A shot rings out and Korse is shoved back. It is Jane who has
fired.

She shoots again but as Korse falls he gets off a shot as
well, hitting Jane square in the chest.

Now Jane falls. Gerard drops down with her, taking her hand.

GERARD
No!

Knowing it would happen did not prepare her for the pain. As
for the look in Gerard's eyes, Jane hadn't even let herself
think about that.

A red stain is rapidly spreading across the white shirt.

Jane forces a smile, and the words:

JANE
Worth it. Now go!

Perhaps it is the spasm that courses through Jane's body that
causes her to push away Gerard's hand. Her eyes roll back,
and close, and she goes limp.

GERARD
Jane!

It would be so easy to fall apart, but Gerard hears Grace
screaming, and he knows that if the plan has changed it is to
change the outcome.

Gerard grabs a gun and fires off three rapid shots, taking
down three Draculoids. He scoops up Grace and backs up
towards the doors.

GERARD (CONT'D)
Come on!

It is with difficulty and with much blood, but they all make
it out the doors.

The van pulls up as scheduled, and they pile in, running past
the discarded Drac bike.

RAY
Let's go!

Before the door is even closed the van pulls away. Some more
fire is exchanged, but the nitrous oxide is added, and the
van easily clears the building and makes its escape of the
city.

DEANNA
I can't believe you all made it
out.

GERARD
Not all.

Gerard replies so softly she doesn't even hear.

Gerard is holding Grace close, and is grateful for her, but
there is a new pain he hadn't been expecting.

Gerard closes his eyes as the van heads back into the hills.

Back in the entrance, Liu arrives, and surveys the motionless
bodies of Korse and Jane.

LIU
How interesting.



EXT. ALBANY HOTEL

The van pulls up to an old hotel off of an old highway.

Circling around the back, they find another white van
occupying the loading ramp.

DEANNA
We're not alone.

JACOB
It looks like one of ours.

The van parks nearby, and the passengers begin to unload.

Ray steps out and takes Grace from Gerard. As this is
happening, Natalia bursts out of a side entrance.

NATALIA
I can't believe you did it! You got
her and you lived to tell about it!

Natalia claps Ray on the shoulder, but her enthusiasm fades
as she notices the mood.

NATALIA (CONT'D)
What's wrong?

Natalia begins counting the faces that are there, and the one
that is missing.

RAY
Jane didn't make it.

Before Natalia can fully process this, Latron comes out.

LATRON
You made-

At this point, everyone is out of the van.

RAY
I'm sorry. Jane-

Latron turns and goes back in the door.

NATALIA
He's going to want to be alone for
a while.

RAY
How about you?

Natalia squeezes the lump out of her throat and shakes her
head.

NATALIA
Forget that. Let's get you all
inside.



INT. ALBANY HOTEL

This is easily the most comfortable of the spots they have
seen. There are soft couches and chairs and carpet.

Grace is sleeping on a couch in the lobby.

Otis is talking to Frank behind the couch.

OTIS
We have real beds here.

FRANK
This is fine for now.

OTIS
You hungry?

FRANK
A little.

They walk over towards the dining area.

Mitch and Rogers are already eating over here.

Over in another corner, Ray sits down next to Natalia.

RAY
I'm sorry I didn't bring better
news.

NATALIA
You brought great news. What you
pulled off, with only one
casualty...

Natalia gets choked up, and can't go on.

RAY
Maybe just the wrong one.

NATALIA
There's never a right one. I
just...I don't know.

RAY
You were close to her.

NATALIA
That's the stupid thing. We were
never together. We both kind of
kept to ourselves before, and then
when we escaped it was a bond, and
we had so much in common, but we
always tried to go off with
different groups so more people
could have a medic. She's like the
best friend I never got to see.

RAY
You meant a lot to her.

NATALIA
She saved my life.

RAY
Mine too.

Gerard is staring out a window, not really seeing.

Mikey comes up to him.

MIKEY
You can't shut down again. Grace
needs you. We need you.

GERARD
I know. It hasn't even been a day.

MIKEY
I just keep remembering-

GERARD
And you're right. I should have
been there for you. I knew that.

MIKEY
You've made up for it. I just don't
want to go back.

GERARD
I don't even have headphones now.
How would I shut people out?

MIKEY
There's still your personality.

Gerard gives a wry smile.

GERARD
I'm going to be better. I promise.
I just didn't want it to be this
way.

MIKEY
No one did.

Mikey pauses for a moment.

MIKEY (CONT'D)
I could have been better too.

GERARD
You don't need to say that.

MIKEY
It's true. I was angry about a lot
of things, but I focused on you.

GERARD
You've made up for it.

Mikey nods, but is still thinking.

MIKEY
Gee?

GERARD
Yeah?

MIKEY
What about...remember how you used
to pick up on things? Do you still?

GERARD
It's not so bad this time. Maybe
it's because there are less people
around.

MIKEY
Maybe it's just that they're really
good ones.

On her couch, Grace wakes up and looks around.

She slips out a French door to the courtyard and empty pool.

Latron is brooding on a deck chair.

Grace goes and sits next to him.

LATRON
What do you want?

GRACE
I had a bad dream.

LATRON
Join the club.

GRACE
I'm sorry that she got hurt.

Latron looks at Grace for a moment.

LATRON
It's not your fault. That's just
what it's like for us.

GRACE
I don't like it.

LATRON
Me neither.

GRACE
Are you mad at me?

Latron looks at Grace again, and his face softens.

LATRON
No. I just miss my friend, but it's
not your fault.

Grace reaches out for Latron's hand and he lets her take it.

Gerard continues to stare out the window. The polluted sky
turns to blood as the sun goes down.

My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me,

So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.

Part One: Life XCVI, Emily Dickenson