HOSPITAL
[Standing in the hallway outside of the hospital room, the Tragers and Petersons are talking about Kyle. Stephen is explaining what happened at the carnival. Kyle can see them through the open door. He keeps staring at them, and Julia can't take her eyes off of him or take the smile off of her face.]
STEPHEN [to David]
The kids called us from the car. Apparently, he had a seizure.
[Lori is sitting on the end of Kyle's bed and Josh is standing nearby. The three of them have been looking back and forth at the Petersons.]
LORI [patting Kyle's hand]
It's gonna be okay. We're gonna figure this out.
STEPHEN [to David]
That's about what happened.
DAVID
As you can imagine, it's all we've been talking about.
[From his hospital bed, Kyle is staring suspiciously at the Petersons.]
VOICEOVER
At a glance, anyone would believe the Petersons and I were related. They'd say I had her mouth and his chin. But I wanted more than a passing resemblance. Instead of thinking they could be my parents, I needed to feel that they were.
LORI [looking over her shoulder]
They look like nice people.
JOSH [frowning at the Petersons]
What the hell kinda name is Noah?
LORI
I can't believe you. Kyle's about to get hauled off by his parents. Can't you think of something decent to say?
JOSH
It's not like I want him to go. He doesn't even look like a Noah.
KYLE
Do you think they'll wanna take me home with them soon?
LORI
Maybe. I don't know.
DAVID
Well, we'd been living in Hong Kong for two years when it happened. Five years ago, Noah left for school, never came home.
JULIA [she hasn't taken her eyes off of Kyle]
We thought it was a kidnapping. Some sort of extortion scheme. David's an executive for a bank.
DAVID
But there was never any ransom call. I mean, there were no clues at all, right from the beginning.
JULIA
And still, we never stopped looking for him. We never stopped hoping. And finally. . .out of nowhere, a hit on a missing person website.
DAVID
We couldn't tell from the picture, but after talking to the detective and now seeing him. . .
JULIA
I used to call him my Wandering Wonder. Sharp, inquisitive, studying everything, taking it all in.
[Julia and Kyle keep looking at each other.]
NICOLE
Kyle is --. I'm sorry. We're so used to calling him that.
DAVID
We understand.
NICOLE
Kyle is special. . .and. . .different in many ways.
JULIA
He was born with some physical defects. His organs weren't all in the right place.
DAVID
But the corrective surgeries have made him as good as new, but without a belly button.
[Stephen and Nicole exchange glances.]
NICOLE
We have so many questions.
JULIA
So do we.
DAVID
Well, they'll have to wait. The hospital arranged some DNA tests to verify paternity. In the meantime. . .
JULIA [looking at album in her hands]
We were told that Noah has no memory from the day before he was found. I put this photo album together. [hands the album to Nicole]
DAVID
Thought it might jog some memories.
THE TRAGER HOUSE
Kyle's Room - Later That Evening
[Back at home, Kyle is sitting in his bathtub looking through the photo album. By his expression, nothing is familiar to him. He looks up towards the hidden camera in his room. He knows where it is because he saw his room on the monitor in Tom's apartment.]
KYLE [to the camera]
You said you had answers.
[In his apartment, Tom turns around at the sound of Kyle's voice. Kyle drops the photo album and gets out of the tub. Grabbing a chair, he climbs up on it in front of the camera and talks to Tom.]
Foss - listen to me. I know you're there. [Tom leans in to watch him on the monitor]
We are these people?!
[Kyle shakes the shelf where the camera lens is hidden so hard that the connection is lost, and Tom is left staring at nothing but static.]
[opening theme]
The Living Room
[The Tragers and Petersons are talking together when Kyle walks in carrying the photo album and a piece of paper. Without any formalities, Kyle begins questioning them immediately. He is suspicious and unfriendly.]
KYLE
I have questions.
JULIA
Go ahead.
KYLE
Where am I from?
JULIA
Well, let's see. You were born in Manhattan. And from there we moved around a little bit - D.C., Connecticut, Hong Kong.
KYLE
Do I have any brothers or sisters?
DAVID
We only wanted one child.
KYLE
Pets?
DAVID
We're both allergic.
NICOLE
Kyle - slow down.
JULIA
Maybe if we tell you some stories.
DAVID
You remember the old claw-foot tub? From the house in Connecticut?
JULIA
When we were moving to Hong Kong, Noah kept insisting he didn't wanna go because he didn't know what the tub would be like. David, as a surprise, had the tub shipped.
DAVID [to Stephen]
He jumped into it as soon as we took it out of the crate. Slept in it that night.
JULIA [looking at Kyle]
And every night until. . .
[David reaches out to put his arm around her.]
STEPHEN
Kyle, is there anything else you want to ask?
KYLE
Yes, who's Adam Bailen?
DAVID [looks confused]
It doesn't sound familiar.
KYLE
What about Professor William Kern?
JULIA [confused]
Who?
KYLE [he walks towards her and shoves the piece of paper at her. It is Adam's drawing.]
This logo, do you recognize it?
NICOLE
Kyle. . .
KYLE [frustrated and angry]
No, they act like they know me. They can't tell me anything to help me remember. And they don't know why people are missing or dead or how these people are connected to me.
NICOLE
It's a lot to take in. It seems like for all of you, five years is just. . .gone.
Kitchen - The Next Morning
[Coming downstairs into the kitchen, Josh is all dressed up in a suit and tie. Stephen is drinking his coffee at the counter.]
JOSH
Let's go people. God is waiting.
KYLE [walks in holding a small present in his hand]
You wanna go to Amanda's confirmation with me?
JOSH
Sure! Church is neat. And I never get a chance to wear this suit.
STEPHEN [gets up to put milk carton back into the frig]
When do you ever wear that suit? And when did you start reeking of my aftershave? Ah - what's her name?
JOSH
Okay. Maybe there's this girl named Ashley that I met at a party. Maybe she goes to Holy Family and sings in the choir. And maybe she finds the scent of a man. . .irresistible.
[to Kyle] Hey, tuck in your shirt. [Kyle looks down at his shirt] The Lord hates a slob.
STEPHEN [walking out of kitchen]
Watch yourself, Josh. Church isn't supposed to be fun.
JOSH
Oh, is that why you never go?
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
Amanda's Confirmation
[Amanda is standing at the front of the church with several other candidates. Standing behind her, her sponsor holds a hand lightly upon Amanda's right shoulder as the Bishop walks by in prayer. In the choir section, Ashley watches and smiles.
Kyle and Josh are sitting in a pew watching the ceremony.]
JOSH [looking at Ashley]
God, she's hot. [Kyle looks over at him]
Oh my God, can I even say "God?"
[looks up at the ceiling] Sorry.
[Kyle looks around the church. Amanda smiles at her mother who is sitting in a pew with Charlie. Her mother looks at her proudly.]
VOICEOVER
Everywhere I looked, church provided unsettling contrasts. People whose beliefs encouraged honesty also practiced betrayal.
[Hillary is across the aisle from Charlie and they sneak smiles at each other.]
There was a lot about church I didn't understand, but I did know that faith meant believing in something, often without tangible proof. I wondered if I'd be able to do the same with the Petersons. . .and come to accept them wholeheartedly.
JOSH [watches the Bishop anointing Amanda's forehead]
What's he putting on her head?
KYLE
Everyone else is being quiet, Josh. I think we should be quiet, too.
[Josh sighs]
THE TRAGER HOUSE
The Living Room
[Nicole is sitting on the sofa looking through Kyle's photo album when Stephen comes home from dropping the kids off at the church.]
NICOLE
Did church walls crumble at the sight of you?
STEPHEN [sits down next to her]
Very funny.
[She shows him a baby picture of Kyle. Julia is holding him up on his feet and he is smiling. They both chuckle at how cute he is.]
[Looking at pictures on the pages] Yeah, I had gotten used to Kyle havin' no memories. Feels kinda strange to have his whole life laid out before us.
NICOLE [looking at some more pictures of Kyle as a small boy]
Ah, he looks happy in these photos.
STEPHEN
How're you doin'?
NICOLE
I'm fine.
STEPHEN
You can't be fine. I'm not fine.
NICOLE
Look, since day one, he's been searching for clues to who he is and where he comes from - and now he knows. For me to be upset would just be selfish.
STEPHEN
Or human.
NICOLE [hands him the album]
I'm fine.
[She calmly gets up and leaves the room.]
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
[After the ceremony, Mrs. Bloom and Amanda are standing with Charlie outside the church. Kyle (with his shirt tucked in) is walking up behind them carrying his gift.]
MRS. BLOOM [playing with Amanda's hair]
Oh, I'm just so proud of her.
[She presses her forehead against Amanda's, then looking around, sees Kyle.]
Oh. Look, it's our neighbor.
KYLE
Hi.
AMANDA
Hi.
CHARLIE
Hey Kyle. Good to see you feelin' better.
[Kyle doesn't answer him, but hands Amanda her gift.]
AMANDA [takes present]
Thanks.
MRS. BLOOM [takes Amanda's arm and tries to lead her off]
Amanda, I think we should go and thank the Bishop now, okay?
AMANDA
We already thanked him.
MRS. BLOOM
Amanda. . .
AMANDA
Okay. God. . .
MRS. BLOOM
Shsh!
[they leave together]
CHARLIE [smiles]
Her mother's a piece of work. [grabs some food off a buffet table]
KYLE
I think Amanda has bigger problems right now. I know about Hillary.
CHARLIE [stares for a moment at Kyle]
You can't tell her.
KYLE
I'm not the one who should.
[Lori and Declan are standing across the street next to Declan's car, waiting to pick up Josh and Kyle. Lori is watching the exchange between Charlie and Kyle. Charlie says something to Kyle and walks off as Josh comes over.]
LORI
Men are such dogs.
DECLAN
Gee, thanks.
LORI
You've proven yourself to be moderately undoglike, but Amanda's the nicest girl in the universe. How could he cheat on her?
DECLAN
She's a nice girl who doesn't believe in sex before marriage. And he's a guy.
LORI
That's hideous logic.
DECLAN
But accurate.
[Josh and Kyle cross over to where Lori and Declan are waiting.]
JOSH
Church sucks.
LORI [chuckles]
News flash.
DECLAN [to Kyle]
Did you get the DNA results?
KYLE
Not yet.
DECLAN [serious]
Did the police run their plates? Have they done anything to prove the Petersons are who they say they are?
LORI
They're not criminals, Declan. They're a nice married couple from Connecticut who lost their son.
DECLAN
I just want to make sure.
JOSH
He has a point. I mean, aliens can't just land their craft on the front yard and retrieve Kyle without drawing attention. They've hatched the perfect plan. We invite them into our home and they make off with our alien.
[Kyle gives him another disgusted look, but Lori just laughs]
What??
[They all get into the car to leave.]
ZZYX
[In the room with the video screens, Rebecca Thatcher is sitting at the desk with her ZZYX fishbowl. She is still watching the same videos of Kyle climbing the fence in the woods over and over again. Cyrus Reynolds comes into the room.]
REYNOLDS
You wanted to see me, Miss Thatcher?
THATCHER
Every day that subject 781227 remains alive, we risk someone discovering his abilities.
REYNOLDS
He's surrounded by people all the time. Makes it very complicated to try and take him out. But I do have a plan in motion.
THATCHER
Just find a moment when he's alone and get rid of him. I do not want any evidence of our experiment to exist outside the walls of this Company.
THE TRAGER HOUSE
Kyle's Room
[Declan and Kyle are standing at Kyle's desk. Laid out in front of them are all of Kyle's drawings of the woods, arranged to form the keycard logo in the middle.]
DECLAN
All right, let's think this through. You remember being in the back of a car on a rainy night.
KYLE
And seeing Tom Foss kill Professor Kern in the woods.
DECLAN
And then you woke up alone.
KYLE
With no memory of what just happened. No memories at all.
[Picks up newspaper with the article about the missing Professor.]
But we know Professor Kern was connected to Adam Bailen, who looked just like me 20 years ago before he disappeared.
DECLAN
I'm also rulin' out time travel and aliens and pink goo. It's too ridiculous.
KYLE [indicates Adam's drawing on the paper]
And Adam Bailen drew a picture of the keycard logo.
DECLAN
Which you subconsciously drew.
KYLE
Which led me to the coordinates of a location I couldn't identify.
DECLAN
And then your supposed real parents show up.
KYLE
With no idea where I've been for the past five years. . .or why I can do the things I can do.
DECLAN
I got nothin'.
[Kyle picks up Deichman's drawing and considers it.]
But. . .you're not a superhero, either.
KYLE
I wish more things would come back to me. They're trapped in my head.
DECLAN
I bet Tom Foss could put those pieces together.
KYLE
We can't go near Foss. It's too dangerous.
Lori's Room
[Lori is sitting on her bed listening to Hillary chat about Charlie.]
HILLARY
You should've seen Charlie, all clean-cut and churchy. Holding her hand like a frickin' choirboy.
[lies down on the bed] Too bad she can't make him sing like I can.
LORI
Hil, I hate to be all doom and gloomy, but you know this can't end well, right?
HILLARY
I know he doesn't wanna hurt her right now because she lost her dad and everything. But I can wait.
LORI
And what happens if he dumps her for you? You're with a guy who's cheating on his girlfriend. What's to say he won't do the same thing to you?
HILLARY
How are you suddenly a relationship expert? It's not like Declan's Mr. Ideal Boyfriend.
LORI
No, but weirdly enough. . .I trust him.
HILLARY
Turnaround of the century!
LORI [smiling]
Crazy, huh?
HILLARY
But sweet. I'm happy for you.
Kyle's Room
[Alone in his room, Kyle is still looking at the papers on his desk. Amanda walks through the door behind him.]
AMANDA
I didn't get a chance to thank you for my present. [touches the medal hanging around her neck] It was really thoughtful. Saint Collette is -
KYLE
The patron saint of people who've lost a parent.
AMANDA
Yeah.
We still haven't had the chance to talk about everything that's happened to you since yesterday.
[she glances over at the tub] You wanna?
[Kyle smiles at her, and they both get into the tub and sit across from each other.]
You should look happy. You don't look happy.
KYLE
I'm not.
AMANDA
You know, it's a funny thing about my religion. There's a saint for pretty much everything - cab drivers, stomach aches, geese. There's even a patron saint for bald people. Sometimes I wonder if everything's covered, then why do so many bad things happen to people? Then I realized that everyone needs something to get us through the bad stuff.
KYLE
So I need a saint.
AMANDA
The patron saint of lost pasts and confusing futures.
KYLE
Any idea where I can find one?
The Kitchen - Late That Afternoon
[Lori and Josh are helping Nicole prepare for their company. Lori is putting plates and silverware on the table and Josh is tossing napkins.]
LORI
Why do they have to come over again?
NICOLE [putting pastries on a serving dish]
Well, nothing's triggered any recognition yet, so the more they get to know each other, the more hope we have of Kyle remembering them.
JOSH
Unless there's nothing to remember. [Nicole hands him the cream and sugar]
LORI
Josh has spun an alien conspiracy theory of epic proportions. [Nicole hands her the plate of pastries]
NICOLE [holds up her hands]
Okay, I understand this is difficult, but we have to start dealing with the idea that Kyle might be leaving us.
[She looks over at Stephen coming into the kitchen. He sighs heavily.]
What's the matter?
STEPHEN
I just got off the phone with the hospital. The DNA's a match. [He looks sadly at Nicole]
NICOLE
Well. . .now we know.
[Lori nods bravely, but Josh just looks grim.]
KYLE [coming into kitchen]
I'm not going with them.
JOSH
Damn straight.
NICOLE
Kyle. . .of course we don't wanna lose you, but it's not that easy.
STEPHEN
They're your family.
KYLE
You're my family. I don't care what the test says, they're strangers to me. How can I go live with them when you're the only family I know? [he turns and leaves]
NICOLE [starts to go after him]
Kyle, wait -
STEPHEN [stops her]
Honey. . . [shakes his head no; he looks as if he could cry.]
[They all hear the front door slam as Kyle leaves the house.]
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
[Sitting in a pew alone in the church, Kyle looks up at the cross above the altar.]
VOICEOVER
I'd read the story of the father who sacrificed his son for the good of all mankind. I wondered if having faith meant making our own sacrifices for the good of others.
[A man in a long dark coat comes into the church, walks up the aisle, and sits down in the pew next to Kyle. Kyle looks over at him for a moment then back to the altar.]
MAN [leans head towards Kyle]
You can kneel if you want to. Helps sometimes. Gets you in the mood to pray.
KYLE [looks at the man]
I've never prayed before.
MAN
It's simple. It's like telling your troubles to a friendly ear.
KYLE
I'm in search of a saint.
MAN
Well, you picked a good place.
What do you need a saint for?
KYLE
I don't know where I belong. . .I don't know where I come from. . .but I'm supposed to go there, wherever it is. . .with people I don't know.
MAN
That's a lot to handle.
KYLE
I don't know what to do. And I'm not sure how any of this here is supposed to help.
MAN
Well, whether or not you consider yourself a believer, there's someone out there who made you. . .who cares about you very much. In the midst of a confusing situation, you may not be able to see or appreciate him, but he's there. . .and he wants you to have the answers to all of your questions.
KYLE
When?
MAN [looks straight at Kyle]
When the time is right.
[Kyle looks up at the altar again.
[Kyle has left the church and is walking home alone. He is so engrossed in his thoughts, he doesn't know that Cyrus Reynolds is running after him. As he passes by a tree, a man grabs Kyle from behind and smothers his nose and mouth with a cloth. After a few moments, Kyle loses consciousness.]
THE WOODS NEAR VICTOR FALLS
Early That Evening
[Slumped in the backseat of a moving car, Kyle regains consciousness for a few moments, but he is very groggy. It is dark now and raining. Thunder and lightening crash around him.]
VOICEOVER
I didn't know where I was or who had taken me, but it seemed the danger I'd been warned of had finally come to pass.
[As in his dreams, he sees the windshield wipers moving back and forth in the rain and a blurry image of the dashboard.]
The memories that haunted me came flooding in again.
[He sees himself looking at his hand covered in a slimy substance. As he did before in a dream, Kyle holds up his hand, turning it over and looking at it.]
Was I remembering my past? [sees Prof. Kern's face in the window]
Or was history repeating itself? [the face changes to Tom Foss]
THE TRAGER HOUSE
The Living Room
[David and Stephen are having a conversation in the living room.]
DAVID
Julia and I prayed for his safety. We're thankful he was taken in by people like you and Nicole.
STEPHEN
Are you a religious family?
DAVID
I take it you're not.
STEPHEN
No. I was raised to be, but. . .it got away from me over the years.
DAVID
Yeah, we never used to be either. But. . .when you lose a child, somehow you need a kind of higher power for comfort.
The Kitchen
[Julia is sitting at the kitchen counter. While is she talking, Nicole serves her a beverage from the refrigerator.]
JULIA
I can't blame him for being scared. We're strangers to him, and he's like a stranger to us.
NICOLE
Maybe he's not the only one who's scared.
JULIA
What if those five years have changed him somehow? They've changed me.
NICOLE [shakes her head]
He's still the same boy you knew. . .no matter what happened. He's still got a sweet tooth like nobody's business. I caught him putting Sour Patch Kids on his cereal once.
JULIA
Oh my!
NICOLE [they both laugh]
Yeah. Ah, he's funny. You know, not just his humor, but the way he looks at the world. I mean, he can turn to everything and show it to you in a whole new way. And he's got such a strong sense of what's right, and he's so quick to learn and so eager to connect with other people.
JULIA [smiling]
Like he's connected with you.
NICOLE
With all of us. [nods]
THE WOODS NEAR VICTOR FALLS
[Kyle is lying on his back on the wet ground, raindrops on his face. He blinks open his eyes.]
VOICEOVER
Once again I was in a familiar place, where my story began. But suddenly, like a flash, the whole story fell into place.
[In a flash of light, he sees Tom Foss and Prof. Kern standing over him in the rain. They are arguing. Kern has a gun pointed directly at Tom.]
TOM
Don't do this!
KERN
ZZYX ordered you to exterminate him. I can't let either of you walk away.
TOM
You were Bailen's mentor; he trusted you! Now you're working for them!
KERN
No, no. Bailen gave up any claim on the boy when he turned his back on The Company. They want the boy dead!
[In another flash, the two men are struggling, hands around each other's throats. Tom shoves Kern down to the ground and reaches for the gun he knocked out of his hand. A keycard is lying in the wet leaves. Tom fires the gun and kills the Professor.]
VOICEOVER
I finally had a piece of the truth. Now it was time to get the rest.
[Coming fully awake, Kyle jumps up off of the ground. Turning around, he comes face to face with Tom Foss.]
TOM
It's all right. It's all right. Settle down. Listen to me. It's okay.
[smiles a little] I'm sorry about the chloroform. I tried to get the jump on you before and it wasn't pretty, so. . .
KYLE
I remember what happened. . .with Kern. The two of you were talking about Adam Bailen - something called ZZYX. Is that connected with the location I discovered in Bailen's papers? The logo?
TOM
This is why I warned ya to stop asking questions.
KYLE
You didn't bring me out here to lecture me.
TOM [shakes his head]
No.
KYLE
Then why?
TOM
Because I thought it would help you remember.
KYLE [looks to the side]
Did you hear something?
TOM
What?
[Someone has Kyle and Tom pinpointed in the sights of a rifle scope. They are looking around trying to find out who else is out there with them. Kyle turns and looks directly at the sniper. A shot rings out, but Kyle is too fast and swings his body away from the path of the bullet. Tom ducks and begins to yell at Kyle.]
TOM
Get down!! Get down!! Go!!
Go!!
[Kyle and Tom are running through the woods away from the sniper. Multiple shots are being fired at them as they run. One of them hits Tom in the upper arm and he goes down. The sniper follows them - it is Cyrus Reynolds.
Realizing Tom is hurt, Kyle runs back to help him.]
KYLE [reaching for Tom]
Are you all right? Come on!! Give me your arm!!
[Kyle pulls Tom off of the ground and they run together towards Tom's truck. Reynolds is still firing at them as Kyle helps Tom into the passenger seat, but the bullets are hitting the truck and the passenger door. He starts to run around to the other side.]
TOM
Go!! Get in!! Get in!!
[Kyle gets in behind the wheel of the truck.]
You don't know how to drive.
KYLE [putting keys in ignition]
Hold on.
[Another bullet hits the truck.]
TOM [yelling and in great pain]
Go!!
[Kyle hits the gas and the truck fishtails down the muddy road through the woods while Reynolds fires after them. Making their getaway, they leave him standing in the rain.]
THE TRAGER HOUSE
Lori's Room
[Lori is lying on her back on the bed listening to music and Declan comes into the room.]
DECLAN
Hey.
LORI
What are you doing here?
DECLAN
I was driving through the neighborhood and felt the strains of downer lesbian music emanating from your house. [lies down on bed]
Thought you might need a boost.
LORI
Let me guess. You think I should heal my pain through sex?
DECLAN
No, I was going for a heavy duty mack session, but if you insist.
LORI [upset]
It freaks me out that I spent so much time not caring if Kyle was here or not. And now that he might leave. . .
DECLAN
He's not goin' anywhere.
LORI
You sound like Josh.
DECLAN
He's got a life here. A trippy, no-memory, messed up life, but. . .it's still a life. He's not gonna throw that away for two people he has no memory of ever knowing.
LORI [looks at him]
How can you be so sure?
DECLAN
Because the other ending to that story's. . .[shakes his head] . . .it's not somethin' I'm willing to accept.
[He puts his arm across her and they lie there looking at one another.]
OUT OF THE WOODS
[Sitting behind the wheel of Tom's truck, Kyle has moved from helpless passenger to the driver in control now. He watches Tom slumped against the front seat in pain.]
KYLE
You should've let me take you to the hospital.
TOM
I'll take care of that. Get out of here. Go.
KYLE
I'm not getting out of this car until you've told me everything.
TOM [short of breath]
You know most of it already. [sighs] We were in the woods. And we were surprised. . .by Kern and. . .and I killed him, because he was gonna kill you. And by the time I was done getting rid of the body, you'd woken up and you. . .you'd wandered into the city and got put in juvenile detention. And once Nicole Trager took ya in, I. . .[grimaces in pain]. . .I uh, I just figured it was smarter to keep an eye on ya.
KYLE
Tell me more. Tell me why people want me dead. Tell me why that test said that David and Julia Peterson were my parents when I don't remember anything about them. Why don't I remember anything before that night in the woods with Kern?
TOM [sighs]
Okay, I'll tell ya.
THE TRAGER HOUSE
The Living Room
[The Tragers and Petersons have been visiting together. The Petersons are getting ready to leave and Nicole is stacking dishes on the coffee table.]
DAVID
Now should we be worried that he's not back yet?
NICOLE
Oh, I think he got overwhelmed. We'll talk to him.
STEPHEN
We can try it again tomorrow.
JULIA
That would be great.
STEPHEN
Okay.
DAVID [reaches for Stephen's hand]
Okay, thanks a lot for your time.
STEPHEN [shakes hands]
You're welcome.
[At that moment, the front door opens. Kyle walks into the living room and faces all of them.]
NICOLE
Kyle. . .
JULIA
Noah. . .
DAVID
Where you been?
STEPHEN
Doin' okay?
[They watch him with expectant looks on their faces.
Kyle's mind flashes back to that first night in the woods in the rain - Kern's face staring through the window of the truck, Foss and Kern in a struggle over his life, Foss shooting and killing Kern - to this night and the face of Tom Foss, sitting across from him with a bullet in his arm.]
VOICEOVER
My mind was racing with the information I had just learned from Foss. Foss - my patron saint of lost pasts and confusing futures. Everyone was there in front of me - the family who took me in. . .and the family who wanted to take me home. And right then, I knew exactly what I had to do.
KYLE
I remember.
Mom. [Julia is relieved]
Dad. [David smiles]
I remember you.
[Julia walks over and puts her arms around him. Kyle hugs her back as Nicole looks on.
Kyle is sitting on the arm of the sofa facing both of his families. Lori, Declan and Josh walk into the living room and listen to him.]
KYLE
I remember the vacation we had when I was nine to Hawaii. I'd never seen a palm tree before. And you took me to the science museum where they had the Whispering Corridors.
[Julia and David are smiling at him, while Nicole watches them back and forth.]
And we went sailing near the waterfall on the boat with the rainbow sail. And every night at the hotel, I'd order the same thing for dessert.
JULIA
Banana split - hold the banana. [chuckles]
[Josh is listening to this revelation with an unhappy look on his face. The Tragers should be happy, but by their expressions, they are not.]
DAVID
Can you tell us what happened to you? Where you've been all this time?
KYLE
Still a blank.
NICOLE [emotional]
Well. . .once you get home, I'm sure you can find a new therapist who can help him recover even more of his memory.
JOSH
Why can't you still be his therapist?
LORI
Yeah, you know him better than anyone.
[to the Petersons] Sorry.
[But the Petersons look upset over this.]
NICOLE
The Petersons live in Connecticut.
STEPHEN
So, how soon before you leave?
JULIA [to Stephen]
Well, uh, we don't wanna rush anything.
KYLE
I'll be ready to go by tomorrow.
[Josh shakes his head and leaves the room. Stephen is surprised and very sad.]
Now that I know - I'm ready.
KYLE'S GOOD BYE PARTY
The Next Day
[Standing by the swimming pool, Amanda and Lori are watching Kyle getting food off a buffet table on the other side. Hillary comes over to join them.]
HILLARY
I can't believe he's leaving before I got to make out with him. [they just look at her]
Kidding.
AMANDA
We should be happy for him.
HILLARY
Keep telling yourself that, Sister Sunshine.
CHARLIE [walks up to the girls]
I thought this was supposed to be a good bye party.
LORI
Woo-hoo.
[Charlie smiles and walks off.]
DECLAN [at the grill]
I just don't get it. You went from savant amnesia victim to the banana split guy in like two hours?
KYLE
It all just came rushing back.
DECLAN
Dude, I put myself out for you. I kept your secrets; almost screwed things up with Lori. I did everything I could to help you get to the bottom of the mystery, and now you're telling me it's done?
KYLE
Yes.
DECLAN
There's somethin' else goin' on here; somethin' you're not telling me about.
KYLE
You've proven you can keep my secrets. If there was anything to tell, don't you think I'd find a way to bring you in on it?
DECLAN
This sucks. [throws tongs down and walks off]
CHARLIE [passing by Declan]
Whoa, whoa.
[To Kyle] Whoa, did you two break up or somethin'?
[Kyle doesn't like Charlie anymore and his expression says so.]
[lowers his voice] All right, look man. I know you think I'm a bad guy. It's just, I know where Amanda stands on the sex thing.
[Hillary starts walking up behind Charlie and can overhear their conversation.]
Look, I respect her for it, I do. You know, I...I would do anything for the self control to wait for her. I mean, this whole thing with Hillary, it's...it's just physical. It has nothing to do with how much I love Amanda.
[Hillary comes around in front of him and stands next to Kyle.]
Great.
HILLARY
It's okay, I understand. You have needs. I have needs, too. And right now I need to do this.
[She throws her drink in Charlie's face and walks off.]
CHARLIE [he's soaking wet; Kyle is still just staring at him.]
[self-righteous] Don't judge me. I've seen the way you look at Amanda. You're probably dyin' to tell her.
KYLE
I'm leaving in a few hours. The only thing I want is to know that after I'm gone, she'll be surrounded by people that are trustworthy, honest and kind. Because that's exactly the kind of person she is. [walks away]
THE TRAGER HOUSE
The Living Room
[Nicole is packing up boxes. She lovingly touches one item before packing it away. Stephen comes in carrying a crate. In the foyer, Josh grabs some keys, put them in his pocket and prepares to leave.]
JOSH
Bye guys.
STEPHEN
Where you off to?
JOSH
Out.
NICOLE
Well, I'm sure whatever it is, it can wait. Kyle's gonna be leaving soon.
JOSH [sarcastically]
Shouldn't you call him Noah Peterson? That's his real name.
STEPHEN
Hey, now that's not cool.
[Josh walks out the front door.]
[pointing after him] You get back here, Josh!
[The front door slams.]
NICOLE
Stephen, he's protecting himself from some pretty strong emotions right now.
STEPHEN
Well, he shouldn't be running off like that.
NICOLE
Well, just let him deal with it in his own way.
[She watches Stephen tape up a box; it is evident he is angry and upset. He throws down the tape dispenser.]
Stephen. . .
STEPHEN
What, Nicole?
Can't I be just a little bit upset?!
Yeah, Kyle's goin' off to his home. That's where he belongs. Doesn't make it any easier.
[Nicole comes over and hugs him.]
Through this whole thing, you haven't faltered. Not once.
NICOLE [rubbing his neck to comfort him]
Well, in my line of work, this is what ya hope for. Most foster care stories don't have happy endings. You know, for Kyle to be placed with his real parents and his memories coming back, I couldn't be happier.
STEPHEN
Well. . .that's why you're my higher power.
[Sighing, Nicole kisses him and hugs him close to her.]
KYLE'S GOOD BYE PARTY
[Hillary is sitting by the swimming pool crying. Seeing her, Lori comes running over.]
LORI
You okay?
HILLARY
I'm totally not crying. Waterproof mascara rules.
LORI [rubs Hillary's knee]
What happened?
HILLARY
You know the story. Homewrecker-in-training tragically rejected by the heir to the cheater's throne. [starts to cry] You can say you told me so.
LORI
What kind of homewrecker's friend would that make me?
[They hug each other]
Put it behind you. One day you are gonna meet a smart, faithful guy --
HILLARY
Doctor.
LORI
Who'll whisk you off your feet --
HILLARY
In his convertible.
LORI [smiles]
And you'll live happily ever after --
HILLARY [smiles]
Until the magnificent divorce settlement.
LORI [chuckles]
Exactly.
[They hug each other again]
[Amanda is cleaning up by the pool. Kyle walks up behind her.]
AMANDA
Have you seen Charlie? He just disappeared.
KYLE
Uh, he's inside - cleaning up.
AMANDA [they face each other]
I can't believe you're leaving. I'll see you again, though. It's not like forever, right?
KYLE
I don't want it to be.
AMANDA
Okay. Then no good byes.
KYLE
No good byes.
AMANDA
Just like. . .see ya.
KYLE [nods]
See ya.
[They look at each for a moment. Overcome, they hug each other good bye. Getting hold of his emotions, Kyle pulls away.]
KYLE
Come on.
[He takes her hand and they walk off together, hand in hand.]
THE TRAGER HOUSE
Kyle's Room
[Kyle is packing up clothes into boxes and Nicole comes into his room.]
NICOLE
Need any help?
KYLE
I'm not taking much.
[looking around] I bet Stephen will be glad to have his workshop back.
NICOLE
Ah, I don't know. He may wanna leave it this way in case you wanna come visit.
KYLE
That would be nice.
NICOLE [walks over to the desk]
You're not takin' these? [picks up Kyle's drawings]
Somethin' to remember us by?
KYLE
I'll draw new ones. [smiles at her]
NICOLE
Kyle - if Josh doesn't make it home to say good bye, it's not because. . .
KYLE
I understand.
[They look at one another. Nicole nods her head at him and leaves the room.]
SAYING GOOD BYE
[In front of the Trager's house, David is loading up the trunk of his car with Kyle's belongings. Lori hands one of the bags over to Julia.]
JULIA
Thanks.
DECLAN [arriving]
Hey.
LORI [turning around]
Hey. Did you come for a real good bye?
DECLAN
Yeah, you know. I don't want him to leave with me all mad at him.
LORI
Totally undoglike.
DECLAN
Don't make a thing out of it.
LORI
Out of what?
DECLAN
The fact that you turned me into a good guy.
LORI
I have?
DECLAN
What Trager? You think all this sensitive crap comes naturally? Get real.
LORI [smiles]
I feel like we're having a moment.
DECLAN
I guess that's what happens when you're in a relationship.
LORI
Yeah. . .it's horrible, right?
DECLAN
Awful. [they smile at each other]
[Kyle, Stephen and Nicole slowly walk up to the car together. Kyle wasn't expecting to see Declan waiting there.]
KYLE
Hey.
DECLAN
Hey.
DAVID [Julia walks over to join him]
We're all set here.
[Josh pulls up on his bicycle and takes off his helmet. He walks over to stand next to Lori.]
JOSH [to Kyle]
So. . .you're finally out of here?
KYLE
Yeah.
JOSH
After all that, you're just a regular kid with normal parents.
KYLE
Apparently.
JOSH [pauses]
I liked you better as an alien.
[Kyle walks up to Josh. . .]
KYLE
Don't worry. I still got a few alien tricks up my sleeve. [. . .and puts his hand on his shoulder.
Standing next to Josh is Lori. She and Kyle hug one another and she smiles good bye at him.
Kyle goes to Declan to say good bye.]
DECLAN [reaches out his hand]
Later.
KYLE [they shake hands]
Later.
[He passes by Nicole to say good bye to Stephen. They hug one another. Stephen is very emotional.]
KYLE
Thanks for everything.
STEPHEN
Take care, kid.
[Saving Nicole for last, she and Kyle hug each other very tightly. With a brave look on her face, she smiles at him.]
NICOLE
We'll call you everyday.
[Kyle nods and gives her one last long look.]
KYLE [turning to David and Julia]
Ready?
JULIA
Ready. [the Petersons are almost as emotional as everyone else.]
[Backing up, Kyle starts to walk towards the car. Nicole continues to smile at him and Stephen is very close to tears. David and Julia get into the car. As he reaches for the backdoor handle, Kyle pauses and turns around.]
KYLE
Declan - I left a few things for you. They're in my room.
DECLAN [frowns; he knows this is important]
Thanks, man.
[Kyle opens the door of the car. For a moment, he rests his hand on the hood, then turns around to the only family he has ever known, and raises his hand in farewell. The Tragers and Declan sadly wave back to him. He gets into the backseat and the car drives off.
Standing together by the side of the road, they watch him go. Nicole rubs Stephen's chest with her fingers and Declan puts his arm around Lori as the car slowly disappears from their sight.
Nicole and Stephen's Room
[Alone in her room, Nicole sits on the edge of the bed and looks over at a photograph on the nightstand. It is a picture from Lori's birthday party, all of the family and Amanda gathered around the birthday cake and smiling. All of her feelings come flooding out and she starts to cry broken-heartedly over Kyle. She clutches her fist over her heart...]
Kyle's Room
[Declan walks into Kyle's room and sees the box waiting for him. He pulls off the packing tape and reaches inside. Pulling out an Earth Geographic magazine, he remembers what Kyle had told everyone the night before. . .
"I remember the vacation we had when I was nine to Hawaii. I'd never seen a palm tree before."
Declan looks at the palm tree on the cover of the magazine.
"And you took me to the science museum where they had the Whispering Corridors."
Declan opens the magazine to a page marked with a postcard. It is an article about the Whispering Corridors.
"And we went sailing near the waterfall on the boat with the rainbow sail."
He pulls a toy sailboat with a multicolored sail out of the box.
"You've proven you can keep my secrets. If there was anything to tell, don't you think I'd find a way to bring you in on it?"]
LORI [standing in the doorway]
What you got there?
[Declan holds up the sailboat and looks at it.]
IN THE CAR
[Kyle is sitting in the backseat of the car with tears in his eyes.]
KYLE
You two are very good liars.
JULIA [smiling; David reaches over and pats her leg]
It's our job.
[She and David smile at each other]
KYLE
Banana split - hold the banana.
JULIA
Had to seem authentic.
KYLE
And the DNA test?
DAVID
We were provided the appropriate genetic material.
KYLE [frowns]
From who?
DAVID [looks at Kyle in rearview mirror]
Oh, you'll meet him soon.
[Kyle nods briefly]
TOM'S APARTMENT
[Slumped in a chair, his arm wrapped in a bloody bandage, Tom reaches down to press a key on his cell phone when it rings.]
TOM [speaking towards phone on table]
It's done.
MAN ON PHONE [a man's fingers holding a phone appear]
ZZYX will come after you, you know. Rebecca Thatcher will make it her mission.
TOM
Yeah.
MAN ON PHONE
What are you gonna do?
TOM
I'll be ready.
MAN ON PHONE [the man is standing outside near water and a garden]
What did you tell him?
TOM
I told him to go with the Petersons. That it was the only way to keep the Tragers out of danger, and that I was gonna send him to somebody that could tell him everything.
MAN ON PHONE
Good. I'll be waiting.
[Tom hangs up and slumps back into his chair in obvious pain.]
IN THE CAR
[Riding in the car to his unknown future, Kyle thinks back on the conversation he had in the truck with Tom.]
"Tell me more. Tell me why people want me dead. Tell me why that test said that David and Julia Peterson were my parents when I don't remember anything about them. Why don't I remember anything before that night in the woods with Kern?"
"Okay, I'll tell ya."
TOM
You don't remember anything before that night, because there's nothing to remember.
KYLE [staring at him]
What do you mean?
TOM
Before that night, for all intents and purposes, you, uh. . .you didn't exist.
ZZYX
[Reynolds and Thatcher are in a laboratory room. She is typing on a raised keypad.]
THATCHER
I assume the news isn't good.
REYNOLDS [walking over to stand next to a capsule]
According to the records, the boy's been returned to his birth parents.
THATCHER
That's amusing, considering he doesn't have any.
REYNOLDS [looking into the capsule]
I tried to find out who they are. The paper trail led to a series of dead ends. It's as though he disappeared without a trace.
THATCHER [comes to stand next to him]
Not entirely. I have an idea who's behind all this.
DESTINATION
[After a short trip, the Petersons pull up in front of a large iron gate. Kyle is looking out the window of the car. When they come to a stop, he immediately gets out and walks towards the gate. The Petersons get out, too.]
KYLE
Where are we?
DAVID
All we were told was to bring you here.
[With a squeak, the gate starts to swing open, as if he were expected. Kyle walks through the gate while the Petersons remain behind.
A man is sitting on a bench next to a water garden. He is quietly waiting when Kyle walks up behind him.]
MAN
It's good to see you again, Kyle.
[The man turns around and smiles. It is the same man who spoke to Kyle in the church.]
I'm Adam Bailen.
KYLE [starts to smile]
What do you want from me?
ADAM
What would you like to know?
KYLE [smiling]
Everything.
ADAM [stands up]
Then you should come with me.
[Side by side, they turn around to face the past and the future together.]
ZZYX
[Back in the laboratory, Reynolds and Thatcher carry on their conversation over the capsule.]
REYNOLDS
Do you think they'll actually tell him where he came from?
THATCHER
That he was nothing more than a scientific experiment? A failed one at that?
REYNOLDS
Well, Bailen might disagree with your assessment. Of being a failure? After all, the boy did what neither of you intended him to do when you started. He survived in the outside world.
THATCHER
I'll take care of 781227 and Adam Bailen.
[Goes over and types on the keypad once more.]
In the meantime, I've run the diagnostics.
[She looks down into the capsule.]
781228 is in excellent condition.
[Reynolds and Thatcher are looking into the capsule. A body is floating inside; a body with a face that strongly resembles Kyle. On the side of the capsule are the letters XX. As the camera pans to show the entire length of the capsule, the body's identification is clearly marked in large black numbers: 781228.]
THE END
Ecrit par Titenoiset
