The Thing: Episode 4

Check it out, Logo. Yeah. Nice. (Yes, I realize it's pointless, but hey! So is the whole process.)

ANYHOO, here we have Episode 4. Is it just me, or are these getting longer and longer? (It's not just me.) Still, one must do, what one must do. I imagine things would be cut out or shifted forward since the first episode is relatively light. I'm not really sure. I just know I'm rather pleased about this one. It was one I wanted to do about Copper for a long time, (He says, having just begun this a week ago) ever since writing that scene with him debating Nauls on alien movies. It was that moment, plus his involvement in the Norwegian Camp scene in the movie that really made me want to give him this sort of backstory. It helps separate him from Blair all the more. Blair is more the no nonsense business scientist while Copper is more of the loose faith based doctor type.

But the less said, the better... Enjoy.

"Ring of Truth"

Teaser:

Copper discusses the potential state of the Norwegian Camp with Garry as they return to the rec room. Garry tells him that they should take enough supplies to treat at least a dozen, but he hopes at the same time they wont need to. Garry walks over to the table and stops. He turns in a circle as he looks around for the missing gun. He makes a loud, angry exclamation when he realizes it’s been taken. He storms back out into the hall and begins yelling at the men, demanding that the culprit return the weapon. All of them look around at one another in confusion. Connant says he thought Garry picked it back up. Garry yells at him, telling him that he is not yet senile, nor drugged out of his mind like some. Connant shuts up and looks away. Garry again demands the weapon be returned. Childs chimes in, demanding to know who took it. Windows points out that Childs is mighty quick to jump in. Childs takes a step towards him and asks him what he said. Windows looks away sheepishly. Mac steps up and says they don’t have time for this shit, that Bennings said the storm would be in soon. Garry says he’s not going to take men out there without them being armed. Mac says that he’s got the gun that the crazy Swede had with him, they can take that. Copper tries to point out he was Norwegian. Mac replies with a “Whatever.” Childs says he can keep looking here while they head out. The men all look to Garry for his final decision. Garry hesitates, looking at all the eyes on him. He stutters for a moment, kind of shaking his head like he can’t make up his mind. Mac presses him by saying his name. Garry snaps out of it and nods, saying okay. He tells Childs to make sure he finds that gun. That if there’s going to be another Palmer situation, he’d rather that break not be an armed one. He points at the men and tells them that it’s in their best interest and safety to make sure that gun is found. They all begin looking at one another in suspicion, Copper and Mac look at Garry as if he just called out fire in a crowded theater. Childs begins herding the men into the rec room to question them. Mac turns and walks away, telling them it’s time to go. Connant and Copper look to Garry, who repeats Mac’s words and follows after him. Copper says that there’s nothing like a field trip. Connant just gives an “Aww man.” and follows.

Act 1:

The Outpost 31 helicopter flies over the white desert of Antarctica. Mac sits in the Pilot’s seat as Garry plays Co-Pilot. Dr. Copper and Connant sit in the back. Connant has his arms wrapped around himself, he clearly does not take to the cold well. Dr. Copper stares out the window, lost in his own thoughts. Mac says that they should be nearly there. Copper doesn’t pay it much mind.
The Past. San Diego. A much younger Copper walks down the sidewalk, across from the beach. He isn’t quite a soggy in the mid section, his hair is darker and fuller, he is a man just on the beginning slide after his prime. He turns to look over at the beach, taking in the sights. But mostly taking in all the women in small bikinis. He smiles at the sight as he glances over his sunglasses and continues on. He walks up a set of stairs to his practice on the second floor. A plaque he passes reads “John W. Copper, M.D.”
In the waiting room a handful of patients wait, their ages and sexes run the gamut. He greets them all warmly one at a time, stopping to give each a cursory glance, telling them he’ll be ready to start seeing them shortly. He walks over to his secretary at the desk and gives her a big smile. He greets her and calls her by her first name. She smiles back at him, with a hint of annoyance, telling him that he’s late. She hands him a stack of notes, telling him of his calls. A majority of them seem to be women. He makes various faces of joy and discontent as he reads off the names. His secretary reminds him that this is a doctor’s office and his patients need him. He tells her not to worry, he’s in the business of making people feel better and he estimates these women feel just fine. She rolls her eyes at him. Finishing checking his messages he sets them aside and leans over the desk. He asks his secretary if they’re still on for dinner. She reminds him that they never made any such plans… nor will they ever. He makes a mock gesture of pain to his heart and tells her that he’s gotten friendlier reception from the other side while he was in the army. He walks towards the back, telling her to give him ten minutes, then send back the first patient. She agrees. He pauses to give her a little wave before he does. As he disappears into the back, she shakes her head with a smile.
Later, Copper walks around his office reading various charts, he still wears his white coat as he walks down the hall towards the last exam room. His secretary glances warily at the door as she holds a clipboard to her chest. He looks up at her with a smile, saying last customer of the day. She looks at him, plainly worried. He asks her what’s wrong. She shakes her head saying she just has a funny feeling about this one. He looks at her curiously, but listens. She tells him that her Grandmother always used to get these… premonitions. That no one in the family took it for much. Then, one day, during a heavy storm, she started calling the house urgently. Over and over again. She kept asking about her son. The mother had to keep telling her that he was at work, he was at work. But she wouldn’t let up. Her mother, having had enough, finally decided to call her father at work. There was no answer. Her mother worried the rest of the day. By the evening, she was practically beside herself. Later and later it got, and still he wasn’t home… Finally, he showed up. He apologized but said the phones had gone down due to the storm. He called his mother up and assured her that he was fine. And everything went to normal. The next day, on his way to work, his car lost control on the wet road and he crashed into a telephone pole. He was killed instantly. She concludes, telling him that, right up until the day her Grandmother died of lung cancer, no one doubted her abilities to predict the future again. She hangs her head for a moment, then forces herself to laugh. She then says she must sound crazy. Copper puts his hand on her shoulder and tells her emphatically, he believes her. She smiles at him. He smiles back. She glances back at the door, still worried. He tells her not to, that everything will be all right. She nods her head and hands him the chart. With a parting pat on the shoulder, he enters the room.
He reads over the chart as he enters and looks up at the woman with a smile. She looks nervous and uncomfortable. He asks her what the problem is today, using the first name she has placed on the form. She shifts uncomfortably, with a slight twitch, telling him that she’s not sure. Lately, she’s been suffering from nosebleeds and her neck is always sore. He smiles and tells her okay, he’ll have a look. He walks over to the medical station and pulls a pair of rubber gloves out of the box and snaps them on his hands. He walks around behind her, asking her to lean forward and to lift her hair. She does so, but seems very uncomfortable with the whole thing. He tells her to let him know if it hurts and she nods. As he places his hands on her, she jumps slightly. He asks her if she’s okay. She confirms she is and apologizes. He tells her its okay. As he looks at her neck, feeling the skin, he takes note of a curious scar across the back. He asks her if she’s ever been in an accident, or had any sort of neck injury. She pauses, then tells him no, she hasn’t. He continues looking at the scar with curiosity. He touches it, getting another jump from her. She apologizes again. He runs his hand over the spot, pressing slightly. He tells her that he feels something odd, almost metallic. He ponders this and tells her that he’d like to take a quick x-ray of the area. She is hesitant, but ultimately agrees.
Copper checks over the x-rays in his office, his eyes bright at the possibility. They show something small and metallic is indeed under the scar, on her spine. His patient sits across from him on the other side of the desk, still seemingly uncomfortable. He asks her again if she’s had any major surgery. She shakes her head emphatically and tells him no. He whispers that it is “remarkable.” She looks at him curiously. He sets the x-ray down and looks at her, interlocking his fingers. He tells her that he has a rather strange question for her. He asks her if she ever feels like she’s being observed by a third party. Watched. She nods, telling him that she can’t help like feeling eyes are always on her. He smiles and says he has another question. He asks her if she ever suffers from periods of missing time. Where she can’t seem to recall where she’s been, or what she’s done. She seems to brighten at the question, nodding her head and telling him it happens all the time. Sometimes she’s out for hours and then when she wakes up, she doesn’t know where she is. He grows excited, practically jumping up from the desk, but restrains himself. He tells her that he has one more question for her. He looks at her seriously and asks if she’s ever heard of… alien abduction. She repeats the words, curiously. This time he can no longer handle it, he jumps up from his chair and goes to the book shelf. As he pulls one book after another out, checking them, he excitedly explains to her. That all over the world, people report symptoms just like hers, nose bleeds, mysterious metallic objects, missing time. He explains that it all started with the Hill case in the fifties and has spread like wildfire. People, normal people reportedly being visited by otherworldly beings. Taken, tagged, probed, tracked. He tells her it’s happening more and more. He finds the book he is looking for and hands it to her. The images inside show photos of people with various scars and talks about chips and metallic implants. She asks him if she thinks that’s what she is, an abductee. He nods his head emphatically. He tells her he’s always believed that we were not alone in the universe, but there was never any proof. But now an honest to goodness case has walked in through his door. He tries to reel his excitement in, telling her they’ll need to be sure. He’d like to take her to see a specialist he knows, that he will be able to put her under a hypnotic trance so that they can uncover the missing memories she has of being abducted. With her permission of course. She nods and tells him that anyone else would think she was crazy. He walks forward and takes her hand, and tells her sincerely that he believes her. She smiles up at him.
The Norwegian Camp. Mac announces that they’re here. Copper comes to and looks out the window. Below, the camp lies in ruins. Smoke still billows from certain sections but the fires have mostly gone out. Few of the buildings remain intact, having burned to the ground or been torn apart. Connant reacts in surprise. Garry rhetorically asks if they had a war or something. Mac asks in return “yeah, but who with?” Copper just looks around at the damage.

Act 2:

The four men pile out of the chopper. Surveying the damage first hand. Mac says they’d better split up and check for survivors. Garry agrees, telling Copper to go with Mac and for Connant to come with him. The two groups part, Garry and Connant heading for the communications building while Mac and Copper head for the living quarters.
Mac and Copper walk up to the building and stare through the Massive hole in the side. Mac comments about they wont have to knock. Copper chuckles as Mac steps inside, Lars’ gun at the ready. The building has filled with snow through the openings while the interior seems to have been set on fire at some point. They slowly make their way forward, glancing into the burned out rooms as they go. Mac calls out for the Swedes. Asking if anyone’s alive. Copper tries to correct him again. Mac just replies that it’s all the same thing. Copper tells him to say that the next time someone calls him Canadian. Mac turns and looks at him. Copper chuckles and continues on.
Garry pushes open the door to the comms room. His first reaction is a look of surprise and an exclamation. Inside, every single piece of equipment has been trashed, wires and circuits and plastic bits of all sizes lie scattered about the room. As he steps into the room, Connant follows. Connant looks around and says “Well, THERE’S your problem!” Garry tells him that it’s likely pointless to ask if there’s anything salvageable. Connant replies that there would be if Garry gives him a few years to work on it. Garry tells him to skip it.
Mac and Copper reach the end of the living quarters. The pair glance at a fire ax wedged into the wall as they pass. Mac pushes open one of the last doors slowly and glances in. Just a large hole in the wall and snow wait within. Mac asks where they all could have gone. Copper replies with a wry smile that perhaps they’ve all been abducted. Mac tells him “sure they were.” Mac opens the door on the other side. He stops as he sees what’s within. He glances back at Copper and asks if he still thinks they were abducted. Mac and Copper enter the room. The two walk around the clearly frozen body sitting in the chair, staring out through another hole in the wall. As they come around they see the truth. His face is frozen in a look of terror but his throat has been ripped out, to the point of nearly severing his head completely. The blood has frozen, producing a waterfall like effect as it ran down his body an began to pool around the chair. Mac looks to Copper and asks if he’s gonna check for a pulse. Copper looks at him in disbelief. Mac just shrugs. Copper suggests they check out the research area, try and find out just what they were working on. Maybe it would provide some clues.
Garry and Connant make their way from the comms room to the machine shop. The room doesn’t look any better in daylight. Pieces of vehicles and devices lay strewn about. Garry points out that someone took apart the snowcat and snowmobiles. Connant picks up an engine piece and points out it was “more like tore apart.” Garry looks over at the door sitting wide open, just as Lars left it. There’s the sound of something shifting in the back of the shop. Connant glances back in that direction but can’t see anything. Garry walks over to the door and looks out. He looks across the snow to where the gas canister still sits. There’s a loud crash inside the machine shop, causing Garry to turn around and look. Connant holds up his hands and says “My bad.” Garry tells him not to bring the building down on them. Connant excitedly tells him what he’s found, an old WWII style flamethrower. Garry walks over to him and his find, telling him they likely used it for working with the ice. Connant says it’s still “tres cool”. Garry tells him to “leave it alone and come on.” Connant looks at it sadly and follows after Garry.
Mac and Copper ender the research area. The shelves have been pushed over and the equipment smashed, but for the most part, the fire didn’t touch this building. The two of them walk over to a series of maps and charts. They’ve circled a location and though the writing is not in english, there are plenty of exclamation points. Copper tells Mac that from what he gathers, they were working on a site a few miles from here. Possibly a dig site. Mac asks if Copper knows what they were digging up. Copper tells Mac that he doesn’t read norwegian any better than he does. Mac grunts a reply and walks on. Copper continues to look over the maps. He picks up a memory stick setting off to the side and glances at it. Mac calls out to him, asking him to come there for a second. Copper glances in that direction before he grabs one of the maps and rolls it up. He walks through the room and through a set of double doors, trying to find Mac. Mac looks over at him as he enters, but Copper’s eyes are drawn to something else. In the middle of the room sits a large block of ice. However, it seems to have been cored out and is now hollow. Mac tells Copper that he estimates they found something at their little dig. Copper looks at it in awe and curiosity.
Garry enters the room with the ice block and tells them that Connant found a working computer and  that he’s trying to see what’s on it now. Garry stares at the ice block in surprise for a moment before Mac and Copper follow him to the next room where Connant works with a computer. Connant shakes his head saying the battery wont last long, and it’s all in some moon language anyway. Copper produces the Memory stick and asks Connant to see what’s on it. Connant looks at it a moment, shrugs and plugs it in. The stick’s data appears on the screen. Connant clicks and opens it. To his surprise, the filenames are in english. Mac comments that it looks like they all weren’t Swedes. Copper looks at him. Mac corrects himself to Norwegian. Connant says that it’s mostly video files. He tries to open one producing just a bunch of noise and color. He curses and says it looks like some of the data was corrupted. He tries several more files. Each in turn producing the same effect. Finally one seems to play. A woman’s face appears on the screen. She’s speaking english. Connant says he thinks it’s her journal or something. As the woman talks she mentions the specimine and the obsession with Dr. Halverson to figure out the nature of their little discovery. She has edited in video footage of the block. Only now it is whole and complete. Inside can be seen… something. A dark shadow, but misshapen. She mentions that it appears to be an arthropod… possibly. Garry asks what the hell an arthropod is. Copper and Connant answer instantly at the same time, an insect. Mac points out that that’s a big damn bug then. The sound scrambles and the video cuts out. Connant curses again. Garry looks to Copper and asks him what the hell that was. Copper shrugs and says they must have found an age old insect or something. Garry asks if they had bugs that big. Copper nods and says at one time, possibly. Mac tells Connant to try another. Connant does so. Another dud. And another. And another. Finally one that works. Partially, the video starts with the woman excitedly saying “Precambrian”. Connant says “that explains the bug.” Copper replies with a “not hardly”. She has spliced in more footage. It shows a large field of ice. The men have spread out, trying to mark the site of something. They stand twenty, thirty feet apart, at least. The camera pans trying to show them all. The site they mark is huge. The footage cuts to a shakey cam shot from a helicopter. It can be seen below the ice rests a MASSIVE circular shadow. Mac asks what the hell this is. No one replies but Coppers eyes have lit up. The footage show them using flamethrowers and thermite, trying to get through the ice. The footage starts to show the results but the file goes corrupt before it can. Copper points at the screen, almost vibrating in excitement. He tells Garry they have to go out there. Garry looks at him in surprise. Copper repeats that they need to go to that dig site. Now. Garry seems confused. Copper leads him into the other room explaining the maps, trying to get him to agree. Mac closes the gap behind Connant and asks him if they have dates. Connant looks throught the files and tells him they do. He then realizes that they’re out of order, she numbered them and named them but one file is untitled. It’s the latest. Mac tells him to try it. Connant complies. The video opens. Another corrupt file. The audio squeals as the colors flash by. For a moment at least. The video picks up with the woman in her coat. The room is dark and noises can be heard all around, gunfire, screams and other strange noises. The woman looks into the camera, there is sweat running down her face and she looks afraid and says that she’s going after Halverson. She adds that Lars and the others are trying to get the last of them, but if Halverson gets away, it’s the end. She adds to anyone watching this recording, they need to… the file cuts out. Connant and Mac stare at it in silence. Connant’s mouth gapes a few times before he manages a “What the hell was THAT?!” Mac says nothing. Copper and Garry return. Garry nods, trying to get Copper to shut up. He agrees, but they’ll have to make it fast, the storm should be coming in any time and that this whole area is going to get hit hard. Copper practically jumps up and down in excitement. Garry adds that it better be worth it. Copper assures him it will be more than worth it. Copper and Garry exit the room, Mac tells Connant to come on. Connant tells him to hang on, there’s something he wants to pick up. Mac tells him to make it quick, that Copper looks like he’s about to piss himself.
The Past. The younger Copper stands in front of a large room filled with people. He points to a slide show that plays behind him as he speaks. He shows images of the woman, using her name, and tells them of the discovery of the metal device in her neck. He goes on to point out how that under regressive hypnotherapy, the woman recalled dozens of incidents of abduction. He explains how she described episodes of missing time and that with help, they uncovered the memories buried there. How at multiple times, she had been taken aboard an extraterrestrial vessel. How they performed experiments on her and would ultimately return her, but missing at several points when she found herself waking up in places she couldn’t remember. He changes the slide to show an artists rendering of a grey alien with large black eyes. He tells the audience that these are the beings that she described. This elicits a series of gasps and whispers from the audience. Copper smiles, loving every moment of it. He concludes his presentation, telling them that this is likely the best evidence they have ever had for the existence of extraterrestrial life, a true eye witness. He thanks the audience for their time. They erupt into applause. As the light comes up the audience can be seen wearing a variety of outfits, many in t-shirts with catchy ufo slogans. Copper eats up the attention.
As Copper exits the auditorium, he walks up to his secretary who is waiting for him with a frown. He tells her that it went wonderfully. That she didn’t have anything to worry about. She tells him that this is a bad idea, that he’s risking his reputation on this joke. He asks her what joke, that he believes. He tells her with a smile that he’s seen things he can’t explain. That while he was in the army, he saw something up in the sky one night, moving erratically. That he and the others reported it in, but the guys manning the radars swore up and down there was nothing there. He tells her that finally, FINALLY he has some proof. She shakes her head and tells him she hopes he’s right. He smiles and says he bets her dinner that by the end of the day, he’ll be famous for his part in proving the existence of aliens. She smiles at him finally and asks him about what happens if he loses this bet. He shrugs and tells her to name it. She laughs and looks around, telling him that she doesn’t know. He pushes her, trying to get her to name it. She glances over and sees a woman looking at herself in a mirror at one of the kiosks. She checks to see how a pair of big spangly star earrings look. The secretary smiles and looks back to Copper. She tells him that if he loses, he gets his ear pierced. He looks at her incredulously. She adds “on the gay side.” He stares at her blankly for a second as she smiles at him. Then it dawns on him, he gets it. He tells her to not be such a child. She laughs and tells him that he’s just afraid of losing out on a piece of ass. He stares at her for a long moment, then tells her she’s on and shakes her hand. She nods approvingly. He tells her that she’ll see. By tonight, they’ll be having dinner. After that… who knows? She laughs and shakes her head at him calling him a pig. He chuckles at the insult. A man walks up to him and asks if he’s Dr. Copper. Copper looks back at her with a smug smile, then confirms to the man that he is. The man hauls off and slugs Copper in the jaw, knocking him to the floor. Copper looks up at him in surprise. The man yells down at him that Copper is using his sister. Copper blinks in surprise.
The Dig Site. Connant holds his newly acquired toy, the flamethrower. Garry glances back at him and shakes his head. Copper looks like he can barely contain himself. Mac touches the chopper down and says that they’re here. Copper is the first out of the chopper. Garry yells for him to wait. Copper has already run off. Copper runs through the snow as fast as his legs can carry him. He pants at the effort but wears an expectant smile on his face all the same. He races the distance across the snow and over to the hole in the ice. He pants and tries to catch his breath as he looks out over the crater taking in the sight. He repeats to himself several “oh my gods” and “remarkables.” Unconsciously, he reaches up and begins fiddling with the earring in his ear. The others finally manage to catch up to him and look out over the site. Connant gives a shocked “what the hell…” As Copper practically begins to laugh and nod his head. He begins repeating joyfully “I knew it! I knew it!” Copper laughs his head off as the others look on in disbelief at the sight of the uncovered and quite massive, flying saucer.

Act 3:

The four men ride the construction elevator car down. Copper practically has his face pressed to the fencing as he tries to take in the sights. Connant looks around in disbelief, asking that it’s can’t really be a UFO, can it? Garry tells him that it looks like it. Copper repeats how remarkable this whole thing is. Alien life. The PROOF of alien life. The elevator stops and Copper runs out on the surface of the UFO. Mac calls out to him asking how he can be so certain that this thing is alien. Copper points at the ice walls around the dig site, pointing out that the structure of it points to the backscatter effect bringing this up from ancient times. It then dawns on him what the woman meant and he exclaims “Precambrian!” That the ice around the saucer must indicate it goes all the way back. Connant tells Mac that the Precambrian era was when life first began to appear on this planet. So for this thing to exist dating from that period, the early bugs would have had to be smarter than we thought. Mac looks at him questioningly, asking how he knows all this. Connant looks at him and asks if he ever went to school in his life. Mac shrugs at the comment. Copper rushes across the surface of the saucer to the middle of the disk. There a hatch hangs open. Copper is excited at first but is then disheartened when he realizes the opening is filled with ice. He wipes it off, trying to see inside to no avail. Garry comments how they must have only just dug it out before whatever happened, happened. Copper sighs, and says he wonders what was in the block of ice then. Mac points over to the short cave carved out in the ice, leading from the UFO, stating he guesses it’s from over there. Copper perks up again. He states that whatever was in the ice must have been the pilot who ejected and crawled away from the wreck, before getting frozen. Mac points out that’s a pretty big conclusion to jump to. Copper looks at him and nods, confirming he’s right, it is a big leap. Copper stares at the hole as he tries to restrain his excitement, but still allows himself a smile.
The Past. The young Copper sits with this head in his hands at his desk in his office. Before him is a series of files. All of them on his patient. The woman’s brother paces back and forth in front of him. He tells Copper that his sister is a very sick girl. That she has spent most of her life in an institution for delusional episodes. Occasionally, she has another break and goes to see doctors about her condition. He points out that MOST doctors pull up her records and find that she was in a car accident while she was a kid, and MOST of them identify the pin in her neck as perfectly man made in either case. Her “missing time” is nothing more than her periods when she’s least lucid. The doctors at the institution have watched her more than once just kind of zone out and wake up later. Copper rubs his head in disbelief. The man angrily points out, that as Copper can see, she is on medication to deal with her episodes. However, this time she’s refusing to go back on them, that Copper has “convinced her of the truth”. All the attention he’s brought on her is feeding it, giving her more reason to believe the fantasy in her head. He states that he hates the idea of his sister being stuck in an institution but if she persists in this, they’ll have no choice. Copper asks what he would like him to do. The man points at Copper in his rage and tells him that he’s going to sue Copper’s ass off for malpractice and make sure his medical license is revoked. But first, he wants Copper to undo the mess he’s caused. He points out that his sister trusts Copper for some unknown reason. And that when Copper tells her that he was mistaken, she’ll go back on her meds. Copper rubs his face and sits silently for a long moment. He then tells the man to brings his sister in, he’ll do what’s right.
Later, the woman sits in the chair at Copper’s office, smiling at him. He looks at her and smiles briefly before looking away in shame. Her brother stands nearby, his arms crossed. Copper stands up and begins to pace. He sighs loudly as he tries to work himself up to what he has to do. She just smiles serenely at him. He finally musters his courage and sits on the edge of his desk in front of her. He starts slowly, saying her name. She says his in return. He pauses as his nerve cracks, but forces himself to continue, saying her name again. He tells her that they’ve been through a lot in the short time they’ve known one another. She confirms they have. He continues, stating that he only wants what’s best for her… but… in his excitement he may have inadvertently harmed her. She looks at him, confused. He again fights to find the right words. He tells her than her brother came to see him. At this she glances back at him, then returns he gaze to Copper. Copper continues that he brother informed him of certain… medical needs she has that, in his haste, he may have overlooked. She furrows he brow as she tries to understand what he’s getting at. He pauses again… then states that he wants to believe. That his need for that belief may have harmed her by not doing what he was supposed to, by not looking out for her before that. She shakes her head, telling him she doesn’t understand. Copper tells him that he checked on her medical history after her brother came to him. That all of her… issues have a perfectly mundane, terrestrial meaning behind them. The nosebleed, those she has a history of. The metal in her neck is a pin from an operation she had as a child. None of these things are extraterrestrial in origin. She shakes her head more adamantly, growing agitated, asking him about the missing time. He sighs and looks down, telling her that is in her files as well. She doesn’t go anywhere. She’s not taken anywhere by aliens. She grows more agitated, defiant, pointing out the memories. He looks away, simply apologizing. She just stares at him. He comes forward and takes her hand. He looks into her eyes and says her name, and asks her to take her medication. She gets a look of anger on her face. Copper continues, begging her, that if she just takes her meds, then all this will go away. She yanks her hand back and tells him that she doesn’t want it to go away, that people finally believe her. They don’t caller her a liar. Copper tries to tell her he doesn’t think she’s a liar. She gets to her feet, yelling now. She yells at Copper for believing her brother. She tells Copper that HE’S the liar. That all those doctors are liars. Her expression changes to one of fear as she grabs Copper’s shirt. Her brother comes forward and tries to pull her off. She begs him to believe her, he tells her that he does. She tells him that her brother isn’t who he says he is, that he’s one of them. That they’re everywhere. Watching her. Trying to make people think she’s crazy. Copper softly says that he believes her. She repeatedly begs Copper to believer her, that they’re out to get her. He brother finally pries her off and tells her they’re going home. She begs Copper not to let him take her, that he’s one of them. He’s not her brother. That they’re all lying. They’re all not who they say they are. They’re all aliens! He brother drags her from the office, screaming the whole way. Copper just sits with his head in his hands. His secretary comes in, looking down the hall at all the commotion. She enters the room and asks Copper if he’s okay. He looks up at her, his eyes bloodshot as he fights back the tears. He composes himself as he stands up. He tells her that he’s going to get a drink, grabbing his coat on the way out. She calls after him as he walks down the hall. He ignores her.
The Dig Site. Copper continues staring at the hole. Mac calls out and tells them it’s time to go, time for them to head back before the storm gets there. Garry puts his hand on Coppers shoulder. Copper glances back at him. Garry smiles at him and tells him to come on, it’ll still be here when the storm passes. Copper nods and the two walk off. Connant joins them as an exciting possibility has just come to him. Does this mean they’re all going to be rich and famous? Garry scoffs at Connant. Connant screams at the top of his lungs and exclaims he’s gonna buy an ET shaped swimming pool! Copper shakes his head and tells Connant to not get him started.

Act 4:

Outpost 31. Blair examines his sample of blood from the split face under a microscope. He scribbles several notes on his notepad. In the background Childs can be heard yelling about the gun.
In the rec room, Childs looks around at most of the crew. Blair and Clark are both missing. He tells them that if they don’t tell him where Garry’s gun is, he’s going to start cracking skulls. He points at Windows and tells him that he’s starting there. Windows gets an offended look on his face and demands to know why him. Childs snarls at him and tells him that out of all the others, Windows is the secretive one. Always has some sort of game going on. Windows insists that he didn’t touch the gun. Bennings tells Childs to lay off Windows. Childs turns his attention to Bennings now, asking if he’s got a confession to make in that case. Bennings rolls his eyes and asks him what good a gun is going to do him, he’s already hobbled. Childs points out that’s exactly why he would need one. Childs looks around them all once more. He tells them that if the gun doesn’t make an appearance soon, they’ll get to know how Palmer feels. Windows asks him if he’s going to lock all of them up. Once more Childs attention is on Windows. He asks him if that’s a confession. Because it sounds like one. Windows tells him he’s cracked. Childs takes a step towards him. Norris speaks up, calmly suggesting that maybe they need a break, that Childs isn’t getting anywhere. Childs seems to back down, sighing and telling Norris that maybe he’s right. He tells them that he’s done for now. He stops and tells them that he WILL find the gun though. As they get up and file off in different directions he growls and asks where the hell Clark is. Norris tells him that he thinks he’s in the kennel. He offers to go talk to him. Childs nods and rubs his head. Norris smiles and tells him to be careful, he’ll give himself a headache at this rate. Childs tells him that time is well past as he sits down on the couch.
Norris makes his way down to the kennel asking after Clark. He gets no reply. He makes his way down the stairs. As he enters the room he sees the dogs in the kennel. Most of them lay around and just generally act like dogs. One of them though just stands in the caged area, staring straight ahead. Norris looks curiously at the dog as he comes forward. He turns to follow the Dog’s line of sight. He finds Clark leaning back in a chair, his foot propped up on a table. His arms are crossed and his head is down. Norris says his name. No response. Norris walks towards him, again repeating his name. Still nothing. Norris glances over at the dog to see it is just standing there, staring at Clark. He gets closer to Clark. Charnauk takes an interest in this and stands up. He sniffs the staring dog once, and turns his attention fully to Norris and Clark, wagging his tail. Norris reaches out for Clark. Charnauk barks. Clark jumps awake with a snort, looking around confused. He looks up at Norris, rubbing his eyes. Norris tells him that Childs was wondering where he was. Clark tells him he was right here. Norris adds about the missing gun. Clark tells him he has no idea about it. Norris then tells him that he heard he did use it though. Clark confirms this. Norris asks him if he’s okay. Clark shrugs and says he just did what he had to, the Norwegian was going to hurt the dog. He points at the staring dog. Clark adds that he couldn’t let that happen. Norris looks at him, considering pushing it, but lets it go and asks him how the dog is instead. Clark tells him he’s healthy, smart too, but just keeps on staring, it’s the damndest thing. That the dog is probably still scared. Norris asks him about the staring stating that a dog that’s staring is supposed to be dangerous. Clark tells him that a dog that’s staring is scared. He looks up at Norris and adds that it’s people who are dangerous. Norris nods.
Blair calls down the stairs for Clark as he enters the kennel. He asks Clark about helping him take a sample from the dog. The dog turns his head and looks at Blair. Norris and Clark seem to find this odd, Blair doesn’t seem to care a bit. Clark asks if it’s going to hurt him. Blair shakes his head and tells him it’s just a blood sample. Clark stares at the dog a long moment as the dog stares at Blair. Clark is hesitant, but he finally agrees, getting up out of the chair. He asks Blair if he needs it now. Blair nods. Clark goes over to the kennel door and unlatches it. The dogs all get up and start moving about excitedly. Clark tells them to quiet down. They continue carrying on. Clark points at them and tells them to sit. He holds firm. One by one the dogs sit or lay down. All of them accept Charnauk and the staring dog. Charnauk barks. The other dog stares at Blair. Norris chuckles at the Dogs obedience. Clark opens the kennel and steps in. He shoos Charnauk away and pets the staring dog. He kneels down next to it, stroking its fur. Telling him that’s it’s okay, they just need something from him. Blair enters the cage, holding the tray. The dog growls at him. Clark stops petting him and tells him easy, it’s not going to hurt. The dog closes its mouth but keeps staring. Clark continues petting him, telling him that’s it. Blair kneels down next to the dog as Clark wraps his arm around it. Blair lifts the dog’s leg. The dog just stares ahead, past them both. Blair finds the vein he needs on the dog’s leg, picks up a small razor and shaves a patch of fur then swabs some alcohol on the spot with a cotton swab. Then inserts the syringe. Clark quietly comforts the dog, telling him it’s all right, that he’s doing good. The dog just stares ahead. Blair draws the blood he needs and removes the syringe. He swabs the spot once more before bandaging it. He takes the tray and the sample and leaves without another word. The dog watches him go. Clark pats the dog, telling him he did good. The dogs all look up at what it takes Clark and Norris a moment to realize is the sound of the chopper incoming. Norris wonders if they found anything. Clark shrugs.
The Past. Night has fallen. The office door flies open as the younger Copper stumbles into his practice. He is clearly drunk off his ass. His secretary looks at him in concern and gets up. She asks him where he’s been. He tells her that he’s been making problems go away. He adds that it didn’t work, but he feels better about how screwed he is. She catches him as he starts to fall over. His legs wobble but she manages to hold him up as he puts his weight on her. He complements her on her strength. She sighs as she helps him over to her chair, where he plops down. He chuckles. She crosses her arms and tells him that they need to get him home so he can rest. He laughs and tells her that she’s the best. She nod patronizingly. He waves his arm and tells her, no, he really means it. Without her, this place would have gone down the drain long ago. He looks at her and loudly wonders if she shouldn’t have been the doctor and him the secretary. She confirms that probably would have been for the best. He laughs. She begins digging through her purse for her keys, telling him that she’ll drive him home. He holds up his hand, telling her to stop and wait a second. She looks at him curiously. He smiles and asks her if she likes. She looks at him, baffled asking id she likes what. Copper moves his head around obviously for a second, before pointing obviously at his ear. That when she realizes he has gone through with getting his ear pierced. She replies with an “oh lord.” He tells her no, a bet is a bet and he lost. Fair is fair. She finally laughs and shakes her head, telling him that this situation is really not the time for it. He tells her that he knows, but damnit, he made her a promise. She thanks him facetiously. He tells her she’s welcome, quite sincerely. She tells him that it’s time to get him home.
As she helps him out of the chair they both stop. The woman patient has returned and is standing in the doorway. Copper squints at her, saying her name as if trying to recognize her. She tells him that she trusted him. The secretary catches on quicker than Copper, reacting with an “oh my god”. But Copper catches on too when the woman raises her gun. Copper semi-sobers instantly and pushes the secretary behind him. Copper holds out his hand, asking her what she’s doing. She tells him that he was the only one who ever believed her. That all the others were fake people, but not him. She trusted him, he believed her, he cared. He tells her to put the gun away and they can talk. He asks her why she needs a gun anyway. She tells him that he cared. That no one else did. He agrees, he does care. He doesn’t want anything to happen to her. She smiles. She tells him that he’s the only one who cares. He’s the only real people. And that’s why she loves him. The secretary looks between the two, as if adding something up. Copper repeats that he does care, and that he’s sorry he hurt her, he didn’t mean to use her. He genuinely believed. He takes a sloppy step towards her, telling her that even with his mistake, he still believes. She nods her head, she’s almost in tears at this point. Copper continues as he takes another step forward, telling her there doesn’t need to be anymore mistakes. She nods her head agreeing, no more mistakes. He takes another step forward and slowly starts to reach for the gun. He tells her that it can all go away tonight. There doesn’t need to be any more pain. She nods her head, a big smile on her face and tears in her eyes. Copper shakes his head, telling her how sorry he is. She tells him that she knows, that no one else believed her. He reaches for the gun, telling her he did. With a big smile she tells him thank you. He smiles back, nodding. He tells her it’s going to be all right. She nods back at him. She yanks the gun from his grip, puts it to her head and pulls the trigger. Copper’s yell is drown out by the gun shot.
Later, Copper sits on the steps of the building, watching as they load the body into the ambulance. Various people stand around gawking. A policeman asks Copper various questions. He doesn’t hear one of them. He stares, his expression blank from shock as they pull the wheels of the gurney up and slide the sheet covered, bloody form into the back. They close the doors and after a second, they pull away. Copper continues to stare ahead. The cop continues trying to get through to him. Copper still doesn’t hear. He then sees something out of the corner of his eye, and turns his head slightly. It’s his secretary. She has a blanket wrapped around her and she also speaks to a cop. She turns and looks at Copper. Their eyes meet. She frowns as he can almost read the accusation on her face. She squeezes her eyes shut and looks away. She shakes her head at the cop and walks away.Copper lets his eyes drift down to the sidewalk. And in this moment, he knows everything is truly lost.
Outpost 31. Copper looks out the window, lost in thought as the chopper approaches the installation.
Inside. Blair enters his lab and sits the tray down. He walks around the body bag as he preps the sample. He slides the slide under the microscope, sits down on the stool and looks at the dog sample. He ponders and makes a note on his pad. Behind him, the body bag slowly begins to move. Blair takes no notice, looking into his microscope. Little by little the bag undulates as the contents seem to take on a life of their own. The movements are miniscule enough not to produce much if any noise. In the background the chopper can be heard. Blair looks up as he hears the sound of it incoming. He glances back down at his station. He picks up his notes, gets up and walks out, leaving the moving bag behind.
Connant is the first out of the chopper. He carries his prize joyfully into the building. Garry shakes his head and tells Mac that he gets no fuel for the thing. Mac shrugs and calls him the boss. Garry and Copper are the next out. Garry heads for the door, but Copper stops him. Garry looks at him curiously for a moment. Copper tells him that he just wants to say… thank you. Garry asks him for what. Copper tells him for bringing him down here, for letting his check out the UFO himself, for everything. He adds that he knows Garry didn’t have to. Garry puts his hand on Copper’s should and smiles, telling him that he believes everybody deserves a second chance. Just ask Mac. Copper chuckles. Blair rushes up to them, he hasn’t even bothered to put a coat on. Garry asks what the hell he’s doing. Blair tells them that they’ll never believe what he found. Copper smiles and tells him that they can top it. Blair ignores him and continues. He tells them that he wants to how them something and walks off. Garry and Copper look at one another, then follow.
Inside Connant is showing off his new toy to Windows and Nauls. The both of them stare at him in disbelief as he tells his tale. Childs and Bennings stop Mac to ask him what they found. Blair leads Copper and Garry down the hall to the labs. As they walk he tells them that he’s checked the three bodies and at first there seems to be nothing out of the ordinary, and that for two of the three bodies, there isn’t. But for the third, the third he says, the sample shows normal cellular activity. The cells are continuing to grow and multiply. Copper looks at him is disbelief, asking him if he’s sure. Blair nods. Garry looks between the two, confused asking what he’s talking about. Copper tells him that, if that’s accurate then that means that one of them is still alive. Garry gives and exclamation of “What?!” Blair says they need to run more tests on the body, do a proper autopsy and find out what’s going on. As they enter the room, Blair comes to a stop. Copper and Garry stop next to him. Copper looks at Blair as he removes his coat and asks him what he’s waiting for, to show him. Blair tells him he can’t. Copper asks why not, confused. Blair looks at Copper and Garry, then points at the empty table and tells them “Because the body is gone.”