[A man walking to his car is beat up by two thugs, who steal his car and speed off.]

[DM walks out of deli with paper bag, thanking the person inside in Italian. As he walks, he stops several times to pick up items that fall out of the bag. Distracted by this, he steps off the curb just as the stolen car speeds by, hitting him. He lies unconscious on the street as a good Samaritan runs up and tells a passerby to call for an ambulance.]

Randi - --but I'm a reporter, not a reader!

Talmadge - How do you think Barbara Walters got started?

Randi - With speech therapy? (then, seriously) Look, Mr. Talmadge, I belong out in the field--

Talmadge - Do you know how many girls -- uh, women -- would give their right arms to sit behind the anchor desk?

Randi - All the ones called "lefty"? I don't want to be an anchor! Anchors are only good for holding things down! I'm an investigative reporter -- I belong out in the street!

Talmadge - Wrong. You're a co-anchor filling the slot between weather and sports, and as long as I sign the checks, you'll be in makeup ready to roll for "news at eleven."

Wilder - What've we got?

Barbara - Hit-and-run twenty minutes ago, pupils reactive, so they had to jump-start him. His respiration's ragged as hell. He's also got extensive head injuries.

Wilder - I want X-rays on this, stat!

Barbara - Right away.

Wilder - Let's go. [medics and nurses prepare to move DM from gurney onto ER bed] Get him squared away with admitting right away.

Nurse - IV up.

[Teleprompter scrolls past:

Randi - . . . "the ten best-dressed actors in Hollywood--" Who cares? They call that news?

Jack - It's the . . . lighter side.

Police Scanner Radio - --Possible 545 in vicinity of Sixth and Hill, victim en route to City Center Emergency, suspect vehicle description two-door domestic, dark blue, last seen going north on Lake.

Randi - You hear that? Things are HAPPENING out there--

Jack - Yeah. Too bad the cops can't do anything about it.

Randi - You see, THAT'S a story. The personal side of becoming a random victim in this city . . . [walks over to video camera] Can you run one of these?

Jack - Yeah, in my sleep. I didn't go to six years of film school for this.

Randi - Let's go.

Jack - What about the "news at eleven"?

Randi - Well, it's four-and-a-half hours from now . . . And this could be our lead feature: The Little Victim In The Big City! Come on.

Jack - I don't know . . .

Randi - Come on, Jack, where's your sense of adventure? Come on, where's your ambition? Let's go!

Jack - Okay.

Randi - [as they walk to exit] {Get} the camera, Jack. [He runs back to get it.] Come on, hurry up!

RR - [to Tessa, who is drawing] Where's the Lord and Master?

Tessa - [smiling] Late.

RR - So he's NOT perfect after all.

Nurse - His vital signs are stabilizing.

Wilder - I need cardiac consult now, not in the morning. [to Barbara] What's happening with X-ray?

Barbara - I'll go up.

Wilder - Barbara . . . [stops her] Thanks.

Medics - [pushing another gurney off screen] Coming through!

[Everyone rushes to help them, leaving DM alone for a few minutes.]

Nurse 1 - [off screen] . . . We need chest x-rays and blood gasses.

Nurse 2 - [off screen] Pupils are fixed and dilated.

Nurse 1 - [off screen] Hold him down . . .

[DM wakes up, pulls oxygen mask and neck brace off, blood pressure cuff, IV line, and ECG leads (although ECG machine continues to show heartbeat in background), grabs his coat -- and his head -- and hobbles out of the room while everyone else is still clustered around the other gurney.]

[DM walks down the hall, tucking in his shirt, putting on his jacket, and suddenly realizes his wallet is missing. Looking around, he sees a sign for Admitting, and heads in that direction.]

Wilder - All right, let's take him over to ICU. [to medic as they wheel gurney out] Have Dr. Stevens look after him.

Medic - Right.

Barbara - [back from radiology, to Wilder] It doesn't look good. I'm afraid we're gonna lose him.

Wilder - [pulls radiographs from viewer, slaps up several views of DM's skull.] Massive hemorrhaging in the frontal lobe--

Barbara - What's left of it.

Wilder - Terminal edema throughout the cortex . . . I'm surprised he wasn't D.O.A. What's his vitals now?

Barbara - [turns toward room where DM was, turns back] Where did he go?

Wilder - What? Who ordered him moved?

Barbara - Nobody told me. [enters room] The IV's still dripping.

Wilder - Is he dead? [walks to nurse's station, picks up phone, dials]

Man - [on phone] Morgue.

Wilder - [into phone] Uh, yes, hi. This is Dr. Wilder in ER. Did we just send over a cold one?

Man - Uh, no, Dr. Wilder. It's been real dead down here.

Wilder - Thank you. [hangs up phone, looks at Barbara, picks phone up and dials again]

Carol - [answering phone at reception desk] Admitting. This is Carol.

Wilder - Yes, Carol. Uh, this is Dr. Wilder in ER. We sent up ID on a critical accident patient. Have you notified next of kin yet?

Carol - Well, I was going to, but his brother just came by and--

Wilder - [stuttering] His brother?

Carol - Yeah. He was REALLY nice. About six feet, good looking, ponytail.

Wilder - Thank you. [hangs up phone] Well, apparently our critical patient just checked out of the hospital.

Barbara - That's impossible.

Wilder - His brother came by to take him home.

Barbara - The man was dying. We have to find him. [begins to walk off]

Wilder - Barbara! [goes after her] Barbara . . . [pulls her to one side of the room] Barbara, we've worked together a long time, you and I, and I'd like to think that we have more than a professional relationship.

Barbara - I was hoping so . . .

<Wilder - Me, too. CUT Oh, and Barbara . . . don't mention this to the rest of the staff. I'll . . . I'll follow it up myself.>

Barbara - If you're certain. [Wilder kisses her cheek, they go separate ways.]

Wilder - [picks up phone at nurse's station again] Uh, yes, Carol, this is Dr. Wilder once again. About that patient we have down here, you did photocopy his ID, didn't you?

Carol - That's standard procedure, Dr. Wilder.

Wilder - I see. Would it be possible if I could come up there and look at it?

Carol - I'll be here.

Wilder - Thank you.

[DM gets out of taxi, walks to T-bird, gets in and drives off.]

Carol - [to Randi and Jack] Yes, we did admit a hit-and-run victim earlier this evening. Are you related to Mr. MacLeod?

Randi - Who? Wait, what was that? The accident victim's name is MacLeod?

Carol - I can't divulge any--

Randi - DUNCAN MacLeod?

Jack - What, you know the guy?

Randi - [to Jack] Let's go.

Carol - Well, are you related?

Randi - [over her shoulder] Yes, yes, I'm his sister.

Tessa - Why doesn't he call?

RR - He probably got hung up someplace without a phone. Maybe he ran into somebody.

Tessa - Like another immortal.

RR - Tess, he can take care of himself.

[DM pauses by the door, still affected by his injuries. Suddenly Dr. Wilder appears behind him, sticks him with a needle in the neck, drags him into the back seat of the T-bird, and drives off.]

Randi - [speaking into a microphone as Jack walks beside her, recording video] --the exigencies of urban life, never realizing how vulnerable each of us is, has brought us to the emergency room of City Hospital, where a man who only hours ago was healthy and living his life . . . a man who now lies injured--

Barbara - Excuse me, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave.

Randi - We're doing a story on the city's victims of violence.

Barbara - Please, this is a hospital.

Randi - We're checking on your patient, Duncan MacLeod.

Barbara - The admitting office handles--

Randi - Is he in surgery?

Barbara - Look, if you'll just turn it off . . .

Randi - [quietly to Jack] Okay, okay, forget the camera. [to Barbara] But can we SEE Mr. MacLeod?

Barbara - Mr. MacLeod's injuries were minor. He's been discharged. There's nothing more I can tell you.

Randi - But the police call was for vehicular homicide.

Barbara - The police were wrong.

Randi - That's good. Well, there goes the story, huh? I'm really sorry, I'm sorry to bother you. Sorry. Let's go, Jack. Sorry.

[DM, strapped to a table and drugged, can barely focus on Wilder, who walks down the steps into the basement.]

Wilder - [shining a penlight into DM's eyes] Sorry about the morphine, Mr. MacLeod. But over the years, I've realized that my . . . "in house" patients require substantial sedation to avoid disturbing my neighbors. But none of them have ever held your promise. [puts on lab coat and exam gloves] Modern medicine, Mr. MacLeod, it does such a poor job of healing the body. We simply must improve the healing process . . . but how? Now, a man comes into my ER with severe brain trauma, multiple internal injuries, bone fractures, and he simply gets up and walks out. I must know more about this man. [unbuttons top part of DM's shirt, baring his chest. DM mumbles unintelligibly.] There, there, Mr. MacLeod. Any discomfort you're about to feel will pale in the medical history we're about to make together. [scrubs DM's forearm with alcohol swag.] Our first approach will be a cell pathology exam, for which I will need a tissue sample. [holds up scalpel, bends over, then straightens holding small piece of tissue with forceps. Leans back over DM in time to see the "wound" healing with small flashes of electricity.] Mr. MacLeod . . . this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Tessa - [hears Randi enter the store] Duncan?

Randi - [as Tessa walks into the room] Hi . . . you remember me? Randi McFarland.

Tessa - Yes. What can I do for you?

Randi - I just came by to see how Mr. MacLeod was doing. Y'see, I'm doing a story on the city's accident victims--

Tessa - Accident? What accident?

Randi - He didn't tell you? About last night?

Tessa - No . . . no, he never even came home. What happened?

Randi - Well, there was this accident, a hit-and-run, and he was taken to City Hospital.

Tessa - Dr. Wilder?

Wilder - Ah, yes . . . you were looking for me?

Tessa - Yes, well, actually we're looking for someone you saw last night: Duncan MacLeod.

Wilder - ["remembering"] MacLeod . . . MacLeod . . . Yes, I saw Mr. MacLeod last evening.

Tessa - Was he hurt?

Wilder - Well, actually, we're not really sure. You see, when a patient checks himself out of the hospital, um, we have no choice but to discharge him.

Tessa - Has anyone else come looking for him?

Wilder - No.

PA - Dr. Wilder, report to the ER, stat. Dr. Wilder.

Wilder - Will you excuse me. [leaves]

RR - If he was here, something pretty nasty must have gone down. He's not exactly the accident-prone type.

Tessa - But if he left, where is he?

Wilder - Honestly, there's nothing else for me to tell you.

Randi - Well then, can I see his file?

Wilder - Well, as I recall, the man wasn't here long enough to create any sort of a file.

Randi - How about his X-rays?

Wilder - Nope. No, he was out of here long before we could order up any X-rays.

Randi - Do you ordinarily sign the discharge papers?

Wilder - Well, some--

Barbara - [walking up] Dr. Wilder, we've got a bad dog bite down here.

Wilder - Thank you. [to Randi] Look, I really would like to help you, but . . . I don't know what else to say.

Randi - The paramedics said he was seriously injured.

Wilder - Paramedics aren't equipped to give any sort of diagnosis.

Barbara - [from doorway] Dr. Wilder?

Wilder - Yes. [turns back to Randi] --and Mr. MacLeod walked out of here on his own volition. Now, seriously injured people, they don't do that . . . do they?

<Herrald - I told you, lady, nothing strange in the way of a homicide has been reported. I mean, maybe he just took a business trip, forgot to tell you--

RR - Aw, give me a break. Are you nuts?

Tessa - Listen, Sergeant Herrald, first your people told me I had to wait forty-eight hours before I could file a missing person's report--

Herrald - That's the law.

Tessa - Then they said I should come back-- CUT

Herrald - I wish I had something to tell you.>

RR - So do we.

Tessa - A man doesn't disappear without a trace!

Herrald - Look, Miss Noel . . . we get a couple of these things a week in here. I mean, we spend more time trying to track these guys down than you'd imagine. And you know what? When we find them, they usually don't want to be found.

Tessa - What are you saying?

Herrald - You're a beautiful woman, and a guy would have to be crazy . . . but men are men. These things happen.

Tessa - [to Richie] Let's go.

[DM is still strapped to the table, still drugged, unable to escape.]

Jack - [at table with Randi, working on a computer] I don't get this. What is so damned newsworthy about this MacLeod guy?

Randi - He's brought into the hospital after being run down. He gets up and he walks out under his own power . . . and THEN he promptly disappears! I mean, it sounds like there's a story in there somewhere.

Jack - So we want his complete medical history, then.

Randi - Who knows? Maybe he's got something to hide.

Jack - [searching a database] Okay . . .

Wilder - A party?

Barbara - [wrapping a woman's ankle with an ace bandage] Yeah, we're all meeting down at Clancy's for dinner. I thought it might be a chance for . . . everyone to have a good time.

Wilder - [to patient] You know, Ms. Moore, someday a sprain like this will heal in minutes, right from within your own body. [Ms. Moore scoffs]

PA - Telephone call for Dr. Wilder. Dr. Wilder, telephone.

Barbara - I can handle this. You go ahead. [Wilder walks over to nurse's station to answer the phone.]

Wilder - [into telephone] Yes, this is Dr. Wilder.

Randi - It's Randi McFarland, Doctor.

Wilder - Oh, hi, um . . . I'm rather busy right now, can I call you back?

Randi - You're too busy to hear about your patient, Duncan MacLeod?

Wilder - Uh, can I put you on hold? [hangs up phone] Barbara? I have a . . . I have to take this in the other room. [walks down hallway and picks up a different phone] Um, go ahead, Miss McFarland.

Randi - We've been doing some research, Doctor, and there are no medical records anywhere on Duncan MacLeod. No vaccinations, no hospitalizations, there's not even dental work.

Wilder - Well, um, maybe he's just really healthy.

Randi - It's odd though, that, you know, after he left your hospital he just disappeared, isn't it?

Wilder - Yes. Yes it is. Um, but thank you for calling and I'll make sure to call you if I hear anything. [hangs up the phone]

 
Randi - [to Jack] I just tell this guy about a medical miracle and he acts like I'm talking about dental floss. Let's check into this Dr. Wilder and his ER and see what turns up.

 
Wilder - [returning to triage room] Everything all right?

Barbara - Yeah, everything's fine, just fine. So you think you're going to make it tonight?

Wilder - Oh, right, the party. Look, Barbara, I'm -- I'm -- I'm not very good at parties. But, uh . . . I'll, um . . . I'll be there.

[DM manages to get free and staggers toward the stairs. He hears Wilder walk into the house and hides under the stairs instead. Wilder comes downstairs, sees that DM is missing and begins to look around. He turns his back to take a gun from the cabinet and DM charges him. They scuffle, DM knocks Wilder down and escapes.]

[Barbara, holding receiver, listens to phone ring]

[Wilder, still unconscious on the floor, is woken by phone ringing, gets up, answers phone.]

Wilder - [into phone] Hello?

Barbara - Paul? I thought you were coming. The party's over.

Wilder - Oh, Barbara . . . um, I'm sorry, uh . . . something came up.

Barbara - Something always comes up!

Wilder - It's just . . . it's not been a very good time.

Barbara - It's about that patient, Duncan MacLeod, isn't it?

Wilder - Barbara, I thought we said we weren't gonna mention him again.

Barbara - He wasn't the first, Paul. I've always done what you asked me, you owe me the truth. As much as I care for you, if you can't tell me I'm going to have to bring it up with the hospital board of inquiry.

Wilder - No, no, you can't do that.

Barbara - Then explain it to me.

Wilder - All right, I'll come over to the restaurant.

Barbara - The restaurant's closed. Everybody's gone home.

Wilder - All right, uh, well, I -- I'd still love to see you.

Barbara - I'd like that.

Wilder - Uh, where are you?

Barbara - Um, I'm at the pier, next to the parking lot.

Wilder - I'll be right there. [hangs up phone]

[DM stumbles along the sidewalk, still drugged and disoriented.]

Barbara - [turns as car drives up and stops] Paul . . . glad you came.

Wilder - Hi, Barbara. [kisses her]

Barbara - Hi.

Wilder - Are you all right?

Barbara - Yeah. You missed a great party. But I took a lot of pictures.

Wilder - Barbara . . . you MUST promise me that you will forget about MacLeod and never mention his name again.

Barbara - What are you afraid of, Paul? What have you done?

Wilder - Nothing. I -- I've done nothing.

Barbara - Then why all the secrets and all the lies?

Wilder - I -- I don't know what you're talking about.

Barbara - I heard what you told the reporters, about us not taking any X-rays.

Wilder - I don't recall . . .

Barbara - I checked radiology. The X-rays aren't there anymore. The same thing happened with Mrs. Wilson and Mr. DeSavlo. Please, Paul, what is going on? We've gotta tell somebody about that MacLeod fellow, about what happened to him in there. How he left ER in critical condition.

Wilder - Barbara, I'm sorry, but . . . you won't be telling anybody anything.

Barbara - Why?

Wilder - Because you'll be dead. [pulls scalpel out of his jacket, grabs Barbara]

Barbara - Oh, please! Oh, no, please! Paul! Let me go, let me go!

[As they struggle, Barbara drops her camera, hitting the shutter button as it falls from her hand to fall into the water below. Wilder stabs her and she slides to the ground. He gets into the T-bird and drives off.]

[DM continues to stumble along in an empty warehouse area, trips over a trailer hitch and passes out on the ground behind a dumpster.]

Randi - [talking into microphone, looking into Jack's camera lens] --and with me here is Sergeant Bill Herrald. Sergeant, what exactly occurred here last night?

Herrald - Well, we have an apparent female homicide victim, age 25 to 30.

Randi - Any idea who might have done this?

Herrald - Not at this time, although we do have several witnesses who saw a car leaving the scene. We'll keep you informed, all right?

Randi - [to camera] A grisly scene down on the pier last night, with more details as they become available. <Reporting live from Silver Strand Beach, this is Randi McFarland. Now back to you, Brian . . . CUT

Jack - And we're out. [lowers camera]

Randi - [as Herrald walks past] Sergeant! What kind of car was seen?

Herrald - Look, I'm not at liberty to tell you anything--

Randi - It's off the record! I promise I'll stay out of your hair.

Herrald - All right, off the record it's a black T-bird.>

Randi - Dr. Wilder, do you have any comment on the murder of Barbara Madison?

Wilder - Um, I only heard about it this morning. I'm shocked and saddened. Now, if you'll excuse me--

Randi - But are you aware that the prime suspect in her murder is the patient we discussed?

Wilder - Yes, Duncan MacLeod. I have no idea why he would do such a thing.

Randi - Well, do you see any possibilities between his visit to this hospital and the events of last night?

Wilder - I . . . leave such matters to the police. I suggest you do the same.

CUT

< Tessa - The pier? You think he was there?

Herrald - Witnesses saw his car speeding away from the scene.>

Tessa - Then he's alive!

Richie - Yeah, but this murder down by the bridge, they think Duncan did it.

Herrald - Bright boy.

Tessa - This is insane. Duncan didn't kill anyone.

Herrald - Look, if he phones, I wanna know, you got it?

[DM wakes up, still slightly dizzy, sees a pay phone nearby and goes to it]

Tessa - [answers ringing phone] MacLeod and Noel Antiques--

Operator - Will you accept a collect call from Duncan?

Tessa - Yes! Yes, I will.

Operator - Go ahead, Party.

Tessa - Duncan, is that you?

DM - Yeah, yeah, it's me.

Tessa - Are you all right? Where have you been?

DM - I'm not really . . . [flashback to Wilder leaning over him with a scalpel] . . . sure.

Tessa - Where are you now?

DM - [looking around] Uh, the harbor. Near Silver Strand.

Tessa - Okay. Okay, there is a little café there. I'll be right there . . . and stay hidden.

DM - Why?

Tessa - You're wanted for murder.

DM - What?

Tessa - You're wanted for murder.

[DM sees police car approaching and leaves phone booth to hide.]

Tessa - Hello? Duncan? [to Richie] I've got to go get him. Richie, help me.

Richie - I'll take care of it.

[Herrald and cop sit in the unmarked car. Richie crawls up to the car and puts a sharp piece of metal in front of the back left tire. Tessa walks to her convertible and drives away.]

Herrald - All right, this is it -- let's go, let's go!

[Their car pulls forward and the tire goes flat. Richie peeks around the corner of the building and chuckles.]

< Tessa - [rushes to where DM sits at table by window] You're alive! [they kiss]

DM - Yeah, well, don't judge a book by its cover.

Tessa - Where have you been all this time? CUT

DM - All what time?

Tessa - Look at today's date . . .

DM - [looks at newspaper heading] Oh my God.

Tessa - Where have you been?

DM - I don't know. [looks at newspaper again, sees headline: "Nurse Found Slain"] Look at this. The police think I killed this woman.

Tessa - They have witnesses who swear your car was there.>

DM - [reading article] She was a nurse at City Hospital.

Tessa - That's the hospital you were at.

DM - I was?

Tessa - Don't you remember?

DM - [remembering] I've seen her before.

[Flashback to Barbara leaning over him, saying, "Massive head injury."]

DM - [reading again] She was killed on the pier.

Tessa - At the rear of Clancy's parking lot.

DM - Well, they say the only thing stolen was her camera. [thinks for a minute] How do they know that?

Tessa - Because she had the camera strap attached to her wrist.

DM - Why steal her camera and not her purse? I wonder . . .

DM - [as DM hauls himself out of the water, holding Barbara's camera] Tada!

Tessa - [as DM hauls himself out of the water, holding Barbara's camera] You found it.

DM - Yeah, a well-protected bay with limited tidal action this time of year.

Tessa - But Duncan, the film -- even if there's anything worth looking at, it's been sitting in salt water.

DM - Tessa, trust me. We're not going to One Hour Photo. [stands up] Come on.

Sam - Why don't you just take this to One Hour Photo?

DM - Because, uh . . . we don't have an hour to spare and, uh . . . I happen to be wanted for murder.

Sam - [to Tessa] He's joking, right? [Tessa shakes her head.] I forgot, he doesn't have a sense of humor.

Tessa - [about the camera] So what do you think?

Sam - How far down was it?

DM - Eighteen feet. Stuck in rocks.

Sam - Case is still intact, which is good. The immersion in salt water, which is bad. But I do like a challenge. [turns off lights, leaving darkroom red bulb shining as he prepares to develop the film.]

[Sam places piece of photo paper in developing tray, time lapse as images appear on the paper.]

Sam - Lights. [DM turns the lights back on as Sam studies the sheet] Hm, not bad, considering the salt water. Looks like a party.

Tessa - Is that all?

Sam - Well, it's a full roll . . . twenty-four exposures.

DM - She squeezed off an extra shot at the end of the roll.

Sam - Oh, you're right. It's over-exposed and out of focus. You can't see what it is.

DM - You might be able to enhance it with a computer simulation.

Sam - That'll take all night.

DM - I'll give you a hand. Besides, what else have you got to do?

Randi - Something's weird with MacLeod.

Jack - How do you mean?

Randi - Well, this isn't the first time he's shown up right in the middle of one of my stories.

Jack - Coincidence?

Randi - I stopped believing in that about the same time I stopped believing in the Tooth Fairy. He's into something with the good Doctor. And I'm going to learn what it is.

Tessa - [looking at computer screen] So what's it doing?

DM - [tapping at keyboard] It's taking what can be seen in the picture and creating the most probable form.

Sam - Helluva thing.

DM - [as picture slowly sharpens into focus] Looks like a finger.

Tessa - [pointing] What's that?

DM - Looks like a ring.

Sam - It's some sort of a symbol.

DM - [enlarging image of the ring] It's the Greek letter omicron.

Sam - Well, it sure doesn't tell you much.

DM - You'd be surprised, Sam, you'd be surprised.

Wilder - [from around the corner, as Randi knocks on front door] Can I help you, Miss McFarland?

Randi - Dr. Wilder? I'd just like to ask you a few questions.

Wilder - Not now.

Randi - Where are the others who disappeared from your ER?

Wilder - What's this about?

Randi - It's about a half a dozen people being discharged from your emergency room and then disappearing.

Wilder - Young lady, are you implying--

Randi - That there's something going on in your ER and Duncan MacLeod is a part of it? You bet.

Wilder - You don't give up, do you?

Randi - Never.

Wilder - Well, it's a rather long story, but I assure you there's a creditable explanation for all of this.

Randi - I've got the time.

[Wilder smiles and motions her into the house.]

Sam - Seventy-two organizations in this country using the Greek letter omicron.

DM - How many use omicron as the first letter?

Sam - Let's see . . . [taps on keyboard] Ah, I love these software upgradings. [words scroll on monitor] Ah, one. Omicron Delta. Honorary Medical Fraternity . . . of trauma care specialists.

DM - Emergency room doctors. [Flashback to Dr. Wilder]

Sam - . . . of which there are thirty-three members in this city.

DM - And only one treated me.

[Wilder shows Randi down the stairs. She walks around the room, looking at the medical equipment, then turns to find Wilder pointing a gun at her.]

Randi - People know I'm here.

Wilder - I see. But this isn't where they'll find you.

Randi - This would qualify as an infringement of the first amendment. You're trying to muzzle the press.

Wilder - I'm glad to see that you still have a sense of humor, Miss McFarland. Please, walk over to the gurney. Please. [pushes her when she does not move.]

[Tessa parks her convertible by the curb and runs inside while DM waits in the car.]

Carol - Yes, may I help you?

Tessa - I hope so. Uh, I was looking for Dr. Wilder. Is he in?

Carol - And you are . . . ?

Tessa - A very old friend. My plane has a layover for a couple of hours and I thought I might catch him.

Carol - He should be here but he hasn't checked in. Uh, he could be at home.

Tessa - Thank you. [turns to walk away, then turns back] Oh, I forgot . . . my address book is in my luggage. He lives at . . . ?

Carol - 421 Highland.

Tessa - Thank you so much. [goes back outside and gets into car with DM] <He's not there, but I've got his address.> CUT

Wilder - [holding Randi down] No, no, no, no, no, it's just a little shot, Miss McFarland, really. No, you'll go to sleep. You won't feel any pain at all.

Randi - [already drugged] Look, Doctor, I want to know more about these experiments of yours. I think it'd make a great story. It's just, here, unconscious, I can't help you.

Wilder - No, no, don't underestimate yourself. You're of enormous help to me and to all mankind.

Randi - I can get you on Sixty Minutes. On CNN.

Wilder - Now you're underestimating MY intelligence. Do you think I'm insane?

Randi - Mm, no, it never crossed my mind.

[Tessa and DM walk up to porch. DM remembers flashbacks of the porch and of Dr. Wilder]

DM - This is it. Now stay here.

Tessa - Let me go with you.

DM - No. [tries the door, it's locked, continues around side of house]

Wilder - Miss McFarland, you should be excited. You're about to be part of something historically significant. You see, by altering genes, we may be able to prolong our lives for . . . decades. Even centuries.

Randi - No . . . I -- I report history, I don't participate. I -- please! [quietly] You're gonna kill me.

Wilder - Of course not. My mission is to save lives. But I do, I need my research subjects. And although you're not as interesting as Mr. MacLeod, you'll . . . you'll do fine.

Randi - [losing consciousness] Please.

Wilder - Miss McFarland, someday you'll be proud of what you've done. Very proud.

DM - [off screen] No peace for the wicked, Doctor?

Wilder - [holding scalpel at Randi's neck] Get out. I'll kill her . . . she's not like you. She won't survive.

DM - If you even so much as scratch her, I'll dissect you.

[They fight. Randi is knocked off the gurney onto the floor. A small fire starts. Wilder throws a cup of liquid into DM's face, blinding him.]

Tessa - [coming down the stairs] Duncan, watch out!

[As Wilder grabs his gun, Tessa knocks him off balance with the IV pole, and DM throws him to the ground. Tessa rolls him onto his back -- the scalpel blade is imbedded in his chest. DM picks Randi up and carries her toward the stairs.]

DM - [to Tessa] Leave him. Come on! Go!

[Sirens wail and lights flash as emergency personnel move about the premises. Randi is on an ambulance gurney on the porch.]

Randi - [to Tessa] It's you. [remembers] Wilder?

Tessa - He won't hurt you.

Randi - Where is he?

<Tessa - He's dead. CUT

Herrald - [walks up] The lab is pretty burned up.> It's hard to tell what he was doing down there. I'm not sure I really want to know, but can you give us a statement?

Randi - A statement? I think I just slept through the best story of my career.

Herrald - [sees DM standing off to the side] Hey, what about you, MacLeod?

DM - He was trying to help mankind. For some men, that's a dangerous impulse. Can we go?

Herrald - Yeah, okay, but I want a full statement from you later.

<DM - [to Tessa] Let's go home. [they walk toward their car] CUT

Randi - [to Herrald] Thanks for getting me out of there.

Herrald - It wasn't us. We found you out here.

Randi - [looks over at MacLeod] MacLeod! [he is already out of sight] I'm gonna get that story, one of these days.

DM - [as they walk to their car] All because I was gonna cook Italian.

Tessa - You have a long memory.

DM - Yeah, I have to. [kisses her]>