The Verification (5)
ALAN
Barbara, Leah, Tommy, where are you?
Alan walks through the house, opening doors, searching
and calling.
ALICE
I wonder where they are?
Alan picks up a phone and punches a number.
ALAN
Hello, George, where's Barbara and the
children?
GEORGE (O.S.)
You took them on a vacation two days ago.
Where are you?
ALAN
I'm at the house. I didn't take them
anywhere.
GEORGE (O.S.)
Then who did?
ALAN
It was my clone.
GEORGE (O.S.)
Your clone? What the hell are you
talking about?
ALAN
I'll explain it to you when I see you.
GEORGE (O.S.)
I'm coming right over.
ALICE
Your family's in great danger.
ALAN
(hanging up)
We have to find them.
ALICE
We will, but we must leave now.
ALAN
I'll leave a note for George.
He takes a pad from the table with the telephone and
scribbles a note. He places it on the coffee table.
ALAN
George is my father-in-law.
ALICE
We've got to hurry.
Alan takes a bowl of water and gives it to Stella, who
laps it up thirstily.
He and Alice exit the house.
EXT. WASHINGTON DC - DAY
Streaks of sunlight catch the walls of the skyscraper
buildings.
Men and women hasten to their destinations.
INT. BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORIES - OFFICE
Laboratory technicians work arduously with their tests.
In a corner of the laboratory, Jim sits with Morton Small.
On a desk, a large computer sits with piles of neatly
stacked documents.
JIM
How is Helga?
MORTON
If this had happened in the far future,
the outcome would have been different.
So Jim, what is it you want to show me?
Jim takes an envelope from his bag and takes out two photos.
and shows it to Morton.
INSERT
One photo is of Alan in leisure clothes. His hair is slightly
gray. The other photo is of Alan dressed in a designer suit.
His dark brown hair has no trace of gray and he appears younger.
END INSERT
MORTON
What's this about?
JIM
We're trying to solve some murders.
JIM (cont'd)
I'm pretty sure one of them is the
culprit. Are these people twins?
MORTON
Could be.
JIM
Even if one looks older.
MORTON
One may have had another lifestyle.
Morton takes out a magnifying glass and studies the photos
closely.
INSERT
On the wrist of Alan's duplicate. there is a
small tattoo of a meteor with the initials ZZZ.
Morton's face is flushed with surprise and fear.
JIM
What do you see?
MORTON
Only one of them has this tattoo...
Morton hands Jim the magnifying glass. He points to the
photo. Jim studies the photo with the tattoo.
MORTON
You see it?
JIM
Huh! We missed this. What's it mean?
END INSERT
MORTON
I've seen this before
JIM
Where?
MORTON
On a confidential report about some
discovered clones.
JIM
Do you have the report?
MORTON
It's missing and nothing more has
been heard about it.
JIM
(pointing to photo)
You're saying he's a clone.
MORTON
I'm only giving you a fact. It's
not a conclusion.
A secretary appears and serves Morton a tray of coffee
and cookies.
SECRETARY
(to Jim)
Would you like some coffee?
JIM
(smiling)
No thanks.
The secretary returns the smile and leaves.
JIM
How is a clone made?
MORTON
By a process called artificial twining, the
splitting up of tiny embryos to make duplicates.
Another process is the zapping of two combined
cells with a jolt of electricity. The two cells
act like a fertilized egg cell and begin to
divide.
JIM
So human clones have been made here?
MORTON
Sheep and a monkeys were successfully cloned.
As for human cloning, I believe that there's
been some experiments made on a remote island,
but with disastrous results. Maybe it's been
done successfully in another world.
JIM
Another world?
MORTON
There's a large galaxy out there. Some
of us believe that there may be an advance
civilization that could be thousands of
years ahead of us.
JIM
Where is this island that these experiments
are being made?
Morton pauses for a moment.
MORTON
(whispering)
This information is highly confidential.
If they find that I've divulged any of
this, it could be my head.
JIM
You never told me anything.
MORTON
There's been an unusual activity on this
island. Unknown airships have been seen
periodically landing and taking off from
the area.
JIM
UFO's?
MORTON
They're not ours.
JIM
How do I get to the island?
Morton pulls out a drawer from the desk. He shuffles through
some documents and takes out a map. He opens the map.
MORTON
(pointing to an area)
Here's where it is. You'll need a sturdy
boat.
JIM
(taking map and getting up)
Thanks Mort. You've been a great help.
MORTON
Call me if you need any more information,
JIM
Thanks, I will.
Jim and Morton shake hands and embrace.
EXT. OKEECHOBEE SWAMPS - DAY
The swamps are shrouded in a fog and light rain.
Alan's car pulls up to a dock.
Alan, Alice with Buddy emerge from the car and walk up to
a small cabin at the dock. They enter
THE CABIN
It contains all sorts of marine equipment. CHARLIE,
a weather-beaten old man stows away some fishing
equipment. He turns around and sees Alice, Alan and
Buddy.
CHARLIE
Mister Taylor?
ALAN
That's me. Do you have the boat for us.
CHARLIE
It's all revved up and ready to go.
ALICE
And you'll let Buddy stay here with you?
CHARLIE
I don't mind at all. It gets lonely here.
ALICE
I have his food here.
She hands him a packet of food.
CHARLIE
I've had two dogs of my own. I'll take
good care of him.
ALICE
Thanks.
She hands him the leash with Buddy. Charlie ties Buddy
to the back of the counter.
CHARLIE
Let me show you the boat.
They leave the cabin and walk to the dock. Several power
boats and a sailboat are tied to the dock piles. Buddy's
moaning, echoes across the dock.
CHARLIE
(pointing to boat)
She's already for you.
ALAN
Thanks for taking care of us on such
short notice.
CHARLIE
Take care of the boat and she'll take
care of you.
ALAN
Thanks.
Alan and Alice board the boat.
Charlie unties the lines from the dock piles and hurls them
aboard the boat.
Alan is at the helm. He turns on the motor and glides
the boat out of its slip.
Charlie waves to Alan and Alice.
Alan waves back. The boat slowly threads its way through
the water.
After several beats, the boat slows up.
Sounds of swamp creatures are heard.
Alan, his eyes straining, attempts to see his way through
the thick fog.
ALAN
I can hardly see anything.
ALICE
We're nearly there.
A small dock is seen.
Alan slowly glides the boat to the dock.
Alice disembarks and ties up the boat. They leave the
dock and enter the swamps.
ALAN
Which way?
ALICE
Follow me.
Alice and Alan slowly make their way through the swamps.
Alligators, frogs and snakes are seen.
After several beats, Alan is wet with perspiration.
His steps and breathing are labored. He stops.
ALICE
Do you want to rest awhile?
ALAN
(taking several breaths)
Let's continue.
Alan grits his teeth and continues on.
A mass of lights are seen ahead.
Alan and Alice come to a narrow brook.
A large open-lighted area is seen.
Alan and Alice cross the brook. They walk cautiously up
to the perimeter, protected by a cyclone fence topped by
angled razor edge wires.
The gate is open.
They quickly walk through the gate. They come to several
buildings.
They peer into the building. There is a desk with emptied
drawers, several broken chairs, a computer stand without a
computer and several lamps.
ALAN
They're not here.
ALICE
They're in another building.
They proceed slowly to the second building and look into a
window.
Large tubes containing all forms of misshapen body parts
are seen.
They enter the building.
In another room , there are sick, malformed clones in
bed and some that walk around in a stupor.
They walk among the clones. After a beat Alan stops, his
face a mixture of shock an disbelief.
ALAN
(screaming)
Fred! Fred! Is that you?
Fred, his body frail, his face weather worn and his hair
silver gray, stares at Alan. He slowly starts to smile.
FRED
I promised we'd meet some day. Didn't I?
Alan embraces him.
ALAN
Where's Harry.
FRED
He passed away some time ago.
ALAN
(At Alice)
I had no idea that he was...
ALICE
I'll come back here soon for everyone.
Alan and Alice leave the building and walk to another one.
Alice peers into a window.
ALICE
Here they are.
Alan looks through the window.
Two attendants administer injections to several clones
that are strapped to beds.
In the back of the room, Barbara and the children are tied to chairs.
They appear to be drugged.
ALAN
(with anguish)
Thank God! They're alive!
Alan and Alice burst into the room
They are confronted by the attendants. Alan attempts to
pass them, but is blocked by the attendants.
FIRST ATTENDANT
What are you doing here?
ALICE
(pointing to Barbara
and the children)
I have orders to bring them out.
SECOND ATTENDANT
Show me your orders.
ALICE
They're verbal orders.
FIRST ATTENDANT
Stay here, Don't move. We'll find out
about this.
He motions to the other attendant, who picks up a phone.
After a moment, he hangs up the phone.
SECOND ATTENDANT
It's dead.
Alan shoves the attendant aside and rushes to Barbara.
The attendants attempt to run after Alan.
Alice takes out the amulet. She aims it at the attendants
and presses a lever. Piercing green rays are ejected from the
amulet. striking the attendants. They crash to the
ground.
Alice hastens to Alan. They untie Barbara and the children.
ALAN
Barbara, wake up it's me, Alan.
Barbara and the children slowly wake.
BARBARA
(groggily)
Alan?
ALAN
Hurry, there's no time to waste.
They hasten to the door. It suddenly whips open.
Standing at the door is Alan's duplicate.
ALAN'S DUPLICATE
What are you doing here?
ALICE
Get out of our way.
Alice shoves Alan's duplicate, who strikes Alice, nearly
knocking her off her feet. Alan rushes Alan's duplicate,
but is stopped by a green ray ejected from Alan's duplicate eyes.
Alan crashes to the ground.
ALICE
Go quickly.
ALAN
What about you?
ALICE
I have to get the clones out. Wait for
me at the dock.
Alan gathers his family and they exit the building.
They hasten out of the compound and through the gate.
They make their way to
THE SWAMPS
Alan leads his family through the swamps. Sounds of swamp
animals are piercing. Leah and Tommy huddle close to Alan,
their faces wrinkled with fear. After several beats, Alan
stops. They are exhausted and wet with perspiration.
BARBARA
Why are we stopping?
ALAN
We should have been at the dock by now.
BARBARA
You're lost. Aren't you?
ALAN
I must have taken a wrong turn back there.
BARBARA
What are we going to do?
EXT. BUILDING
A large saucer style space ship hovers over the building
Alice and an alien lead the sick clones out of the building
and onto a ramp leading up to the ship. Alice and the alien
are huddled in a conversation. The alien embraces Alice
and walks onto the ramp. The ramp is pulled up and the space
ship lifts off.
EXT. SWAMPS
Alan and his family are huddled together.
Several loud explosions are heard.
ALAN
Oh my God! Alice!
BARBARA
Who is she?
ALAN
A dear friend who we owe our lives to.
EXT. LABORATORY COMPOUND
Several space ships light up the sky, They blast explosive rays
upon the area. The buildings are blown away and reduced to
piles of smoldering dust.
EXT. SWAMPS
Alan gathers his family, shielding them from the bitter area.
Crunching leaves and snapping twigs break the silence.
Alan turns around and stares at the parting branches.
ALAN
You're alive!
Alice emerges from the cluster of branches.
ALICE
I freed them.
ALAN
The clones?
ALICE
Yes. You're going the wrong way.
Follow me.
BARBARA
Thank you for everything.
They make their way through the swamps.
LATER
EXT. SWAMPS
On a motor boat, Jim and six armed FBI men sail through
the water. A strong bow light illuminate the area.
The boat glides to the dock. The men tie up the boat and
disembark.
JIM
Let's look sharp. We don't know what
we'll find here.
They enter and they thread their way through the swamps.
EXT. DOCK/CABIN
Alan's boat slowly pulls up to the dock. Alan jumps off
the boat and ties it to the dock pile. Alice disembarks.
Alan help Barbara and the children off the boat.
They walk toward the cabin. Buddy's howling and barking
are heard.
Charlie, holding Buddy on a leash, stands in front of the
cabin. Buddy jumps up and down excitedly.
As Alice comes into view, Buddy breaks away from Charlie.
He jumps on Alice, smothering her with kisses.
ALICE
We missed you too.
ALICE
(to Charlie)
Was Buddy much trouble for you?
CHARLIE
None at all. He was restless and kept
looking at the door, waiting for you.
Leah and Tommy hug and pet Buddy.
ALAN
Thanks for everything.
CHARLIE
It was nice doing business with you.
ALICE
Thanks.
Alan, Alice with Buddy, Barbara and the children walk off
the dock.
EXT. LABORATORY COMPOUND
Jim and his men enter the compound.
They view the remains of the compound.
They shake their heads in disbelief.
JIM
There's nothing we can do here now.
A whirring sound is HEARD. The sky is lit up by shining
lights.
Jim and the men are blinded, as they stare at the blazing
sky.
JIM
What the hell!...
Loud motor sounds are HEARD. Within a flash, the whirring
sound stops and the sky turns black.
The men stand rapt, as they continue to stare at the sky.
JIM
Let's get out of this hellhole.
Jim and the men pack up their gear and start to leave the
compound.
EXT. ALICE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Alan's car drives up to the house.
Alan, Alice and Buddy emerge from the car and walk up to
the house.
ALAN
Will you be all right?
ALICE
(handing him the jade)
The decision has been made for me to
return to my planet. There's much work
to be done.
ALAN
I don't regret what we were together.
I'm sorry it had to end.
ALICE
(embracing Alan)
I'll always cherish those moments.
Your place is with your family. I
know that.
ALAN
I won't forget you.
Alice and Buddy walk up to the house. She turns and waves
Alan waves back, gets into the car and drives off.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
A thin veil of rain covers a grave site.
A coffin is lowered into an open grave. Grave diggers
cover the grave with earth.
Jim stands next to Helga, who stands with a cane.
A group of mourners are huddled next to the grave. The
men wear yarmulkes. A Rabbi stands at the grave. He prays
silently.
RABBI
(full voice)
May God remember the soul of Morton Small,
who has gone to his repose. May he enjoy
eternal life with the righteous who are in
paradise. And let us say Amen.
MOURNERS
(in unison)
Amen.
HELGA
(approaching the Rabbi)
Thank you Rabbi.
RABBI
May he rest in peace.
The mourners approach Helga. They embrace her and express
their condolences. They walk to their cars and drive off.
Jim and Helga walk away from the grave site and through a
panorama of endless graves.
HELGA
I was the sick one and God took Morton.
JIM
It was a shock.
HELGA
According to Jewish law, he had to
be buried by today.
JIM
Is there something you want to tell me?
HELGA
There will be an autopsy.
JIM
A homicide?
HELGA
Morton was as meticulous about his health
as he was about his work.
JIM
Who's doing the autopsy?
HELGA
I want you to help me.
JIM
I'll do anything I can for you.
HELGA
Thanks.
Helga embraces Jim, her tears rolling down her face.
They walk off in the distance.
INT. CHICAGO DAILY NEWSPAPER - DAY
The newspaper offices teem with activity, as employees work
arduously at their respective jobs.
INT. EDITOR'S OFFICE
In a glass enclosed office, BILL POWERS, a middle age man
sits at a desk cluttered with documents, files and newspapers.
Seated in front of him is Alan. His brow is creased as he
speaks.
ALAN
Of course I can prove it. I was there and
so was my family.
POWERS
And you say that a Alice brought you to the
island.
ALAN
She did.
POWERS
She'd be willing to corroborate this?
ALAN
I'm sure she would, except she's not here
now.
POWERS
Where is she?
ALAN
She went back to her planet.
POWERS
...Her planet!
ALAN
You don't believe me. Do you?
Powers smiles and shakes his head.
ALAN
How can I convince you that clones are
taking over our lives and the world?
POWERS
Your wife told us that you had a nervous
breakdown and that you're under a doctor's
care.
ALAN
I'm all right now.
POWERS
..We print facts and facts only. We
can't help you.
ALAN
Who can?
POWERS
A government agency. Try the FBI,
the police.
ALAN
I've already been there.
POWERS
Well! Good bye and good luck.
Alan gets up.
ALAN
Bye.
Alan leaves.
Powers picks up a telephone and punches a number.
INSERT
On his right wrist, there is a tattoo with a comet and the
initials ZZZ.
POWERS (OS)
Hello...Yes, he just left...It will be
taken care of.
EXT. BUS STOP - DAY
A young man and several people stand at a bus stop. He reads a newspaper.
After a beat, he looks up from his paper and sees
A young, slender blind woman with a seeing-eye dog approach
the bus stop.
The dog cuddles up to the young man who starts to pet him.
BLIND WOMAN
I sense my Buddy has found a new friend.
YOUNG MAN
He's a beautiful dog.
BLIND WOMAN
That's what they tell me.
FADE OUT
THE END
Copyright © 2001 Stanley Heisler |