Darin Morgan, 50% of X-Files' Awesome

I am one of those seemingly rare people who is convinced that what made X-Files great was not the overly slogging and convoluted yet pointless mythology, but the truly excellent one off episodes. Which is baffling to even me, as I normally champion a series doing an intensive ongoing story, but the X-Files... just didn't have a well thought out mythology, alternating between screaming "CONSPIRACY!" and "SISTER!" as if it was suppose to be deep and meaningful, most of the time it was unwatchable. But when they did their monster of the week episodes, the series truly shined. As I rewatch some of my favorites, I came across a single name in connection with several of the early episodes, each more memorable than the last. So, if you are looking for a quick X-Files marathon of quality, I present the Darin Morgan anthology!

Season 2 - Episode 2 "The Host"

The Flukeman is likely one of X-Files most famous monsters. And this is where our Darin Morgan journey begins. Not because he wrote this episode, but in fact, he plays none other than the big fluke himself! While the episode is not one of those writing triumphs that some of the later entries on this list are, it definitely makes up for it with the monster. Darin Morgan was first brought into the series to suffer under ten tons of makeup, but as you will quickly see, he made FAR more of a mark on the series with his writing...

Season 2 - Episode 3 "Blood"

Now we start getting into the good stuff. After that fluke of a role, they gave Darin Morgan the opportunity to write an episode for them. And here we begin to see some of the hallmarks of his episodes
 such as bizarre events (even by X-File's standards) and an undercurrent of dark humor. The episode also gets bonus points for including the ever present Sci-Fi staple of William Sanderson. (And a personal one from me for having John Cygan, who voiced one of my favorite Metal Gear characters later.) Of course, as this episode was co-written with the duo of his brother Glen Morgan and James Wong (probably most notable for creating the character Tooms in the first season, as well as The Thing knockoff episode "Ice" and inbred mutant family shindig "Home") the episode doesn't quite get up there with his solo efforts, but almost.

Season 2 - Episode 20 "Humbug"

Having joined the writing staff at this point, Darin Morgan was let loose with an episode of his own. For me personally, X-Files kinda hovered in an area of "It was pretty okay, I might keep watching" and into an episode that is the first I'm willing to call "REALLY GOOD". Centered around the freak community and even featuring a killer conjoined twin that can detach and enjoys burrowing back into bodies. This episode also features two notable actors in Twin Peaks' Michael J. Anderson, and science fiction TV actor who you see in everything, but you never know is name Alex Daikun. This episode is definitely the point where the show became something watchable.

Season 3 - Episode 4 "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose"

An BOOM X-Files truly hits it out of the park! Featuring the immortal (If in renown, if sadly not physical existence) Peter Boyle as a psychic who only sees when people will die, along with a serial killer targeting various diviners. (Note too that once again, Alex Daikun returns, a genre TV good luck charm, or omniscient alien from the future? You decide. ) This episode is the first to really get the wonderful symmetry in poignant philosophy and dark humor. Proving that there is some justice in the medium, both Boyle and Morgan won Emmys for this episode. You can skip nearly all the episode that come before, but definitely don't skip this one.

Season 3 - Episode 12 "War of the Coprophages"

The one with the killer Roaches. But OH so much more than that. Calling upon the notion of insectoid miniture robots and even War of the Worlds itself, the episode is full of moments of humor and moments of just plain "UGH!" Nevermind Mulder getting the hots for a bug lady and nearly scoring! If not for the wheelchair bound robotics expert of course. This is an episode where nearly every moment is a delight. If not for his next episode, it likely would have been the best of the season. But of course, there was a final episode written by him...

Season 3 - Episode 20 "Jose Chung's From Outer Space"

YEOW! That's a bleepin' dead alien all right. From Outer Space is easily the best episode the series ever produced. (With "Bad Blood" coming in a close second) Mired in ufology concepts and notions, There is not a single scene in this episode that is not a giggling masterpiece. Featuring Smoking aliens being abducted, a foul mouth yet helpfully censored detective, Alex Trebek and Jesse Ventura as Men in Black, and ridiculous aliens from the Earth's Core. This episode more than anything makes me wish I was living in a parallel universe where someone smacked Chris Carter upside the head and handed the keys over to Darin Morgan. Would the series have lasted as long? Probably not. But god DAMN if it wouldn't have been a ride! Sadly, Morgan left the staff after this episode, but at least he went out with a bang! Even if you only saw Venus.

Season 3 - Episode 22 "Quagmire"

Didn't I say Morgan left the series? Well, he stuck around long enough to help with the script for the Nessie knockoff. Once again, you can tell it wasn't pure 100% Morgan, but that doesn't stop it from being quite fun, such as the scene on the lake with Mulder and Scully trapped out in the "middle" of the lake, and even the end of the ever sinister Queequeg.  Not often do Monster of the week episode put their character's center stage, but this one managed to. Not too shabby for a lake monster episode.

Season 4 - Episode 20 "Small Potatoes"

Darin Morgan's involvement in the series ends where it began, playing a monster of the week. Fortunately, it is a wonderful episode in its own right. A rash of tail babies leads into the story of a shapeshifter who likes to knock women up as Luke Skywalker. Bonus points for once again mocking Mulder, double bonus for using the Mulder/Scully shipping as a plot point!


While they kept trying and even had a few good ones on par with that excellent third season, I can't help but wish they had kept Darin Morgan on. Give his brother and James Wong the other half of the series, and you'd have something spectacular, veering between horror and dark humor. Now THERE is a series for the ages. (If only Fringe had thought to keep him around for more than the first season, it wouldn't have had as poor a showing as it did, but that is a rant for another day."

So, Darin Morgan, I salute you and your efforts to make X-Files truly special!

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.”

The Thing: Episode 3

Well, here's Episode 3. Don't know what else to say other than that.

"Auto Pilot"

Teaser:

Nauls, Norris, Mac, Childs and Bennings stand outside the main building as they look to the growing spec in the distance as the sound of the helicopter’s rotor blades grows. Nauls asks who it could be to Childs who stares through a pair of binoculars. Childs says he can’t make out the writing from this angle. As he watches, Lars leans out the side and begins firing at something below. He pulls the binoculars down and says the crazy SOB is shooting at something. Nauls takes a step back, asking what he’s shooting at. Childs shakes his head saying he can’t see. Nauls starts to speak up, making an excuse to go tell Garry but Norris chimes in first. Nauls watches in silence as his excuse heads back inside with Norris. He crosses his arms, clearly fear taking hold of him.
In the chopper, Lars curses as he fires at the dog and reloads. He complains that he’s running out of ammo. Matias watches the dog out the front window, rather than paying attention to the controls. Lars turns to Matias and asks if he can swing low and directly over the dog. Matias looks unsure but nods. Lars pulls the crate of grenades forward and grabs one out. He leans out the side, getting ready as he urges Matias on. Matias takes the chopper down.
Below the dog runs through the snow, bounding and leaping as it moves through the thick, loose layer. This doesn’t even seem to slow it down. Forward, forward, forward it moves. Outpost 31 grows in the distance. The snow is kicked about and the fur on the dogs back bristles as the chopper flies directly over the dog’s head. The dog doesn’t flinch at all. It just keeps running. The thermite grenade explodes, but it’s far too far away to even slow the dog down.
Lars curses at Matias and tells him to pass over head slower. Matias grits his teeth and tries to make another pass, complaining that he’s having trouble. Lars readies a second grenade.
The helicopter passes over the dog again. The thermite grenade explodes. The dog flinches and pauses as this one was too close. After a moment it continues forward.
Lars screams how he almost got him! He yells for Matias to get right overhead, hover, keep right on top of him. Matias grumbles in frustration as he fights to get the chopper to do what he wants. Lars grabs a third grenade.
The dog runs. Forward. Forward. Almost there now. Another few minutes and they’ll be at Outpost 31. The specks of the Outpost 31 crew can be seen in front of the building. The snow swirls and the dogs hair moves as the helicopter lowers overhead, fighting to keep pace with the dog. It’s a testament to Matias’ skill that he can manage. Slowly it matches up with the dog. The dog keeps running.
Lars yells for Matias to keep it steady. Just a little more! Matias focuses all his attentions on his readings, gritting his teeth as he tries to keep it working. Lars continues yelling, almost there! Matias complains that he’s having trouble. He looks over the readouts, complaining that something is wrong. Lars just urges him on. Matias shakes his head, this isn’t right. Lars yells for Matias to hold its stead. Matias begins to get a worried look, complaining that Lars doesn’t understand. Lars tells him he’s doing fine, he can do this, they’ve almost got the dog. Matias shakes his head as his look of worry turns to a look of fear. Matias tells him it hasn’t been right since they took off. Lars gets the grenade ready, the dog is nearly directly below them. Matias complains to Lars, he doesn’t understand. Lars tells him to just do it. Matias says he doesn’t understand. Then he says it. They’re too heavy by over 100 pounds. Lars pauses and looks at him. Matias is almost shaking as he he stares in fear at Lars. Lars slowly turns. There’s someone else with them.
Lars yells a frightened curse and pulls the pin from the thermite.
Bennings yells at the others, wondering what the hell those explosions are. Clark and Garry join the others outside. Almost all of them jump as the helicopter explodes in a fireball. The curse and yell and panic as the chopper goes down in a ball of fire, crashing into the snow below. Bennings yells about helping survivors. Childs runs to get the Snowcat. Garry wonders loudly about what the hell is going on. Mac and Clark are silent. Nauls looks at the fire and smoke in the distance with an expression of terror.

Act 1:

Nauls looks ahead in fear from the rear of the snowcat. Garry, Mac, Bennings and Clark sit in the various seats while Childs drives. Childs snarls, saying “First Palmer, now this shit.” Clark insists they should just leave it alone, it’s none of their business. They can’t be American, or they would have heard. Nauls nods slightly at this but doesn’t speak. Childs tells Clark to shut up, that they can’t just leave them out there. Garry points out they are require to aid in any rescue operations, regardless of nation. Bennings wonders aloud just what the hell the guy was shooting at, and all the explosions. He wonders if it’s particularly safe. Nauls again nods in silent agreement. Garry says that just to make sure, he brought protection. He pulls the gun from his coat and holds it up. The color instantly drains from Nauls face as he sees it. Bennings asks where the hell he got that, that the Antarctic treaty expressly prohibits guns on the continent. Garry says that if he’s going to be stuck in a remote area with eleven plus other people, he’s going to make sure he has some protection. Clark says that’s the first sane thing he’s heard in days. Nauls continues to stare in fear at the gun as Garry puts it away. Childs says “Good lord” as they pull up to the burning wreckage of the helicopter. The cockpit is mostly intact, but an inferno. The rotors and tail have been torn off in the crash, and there’s a long trail of debris and melted snow where it came in. Nauls quietly asks how anyone could survive that. Mac says they better find out if anyone could and climbs out.
The Past. New York. A movie theater. A group of friends walk out of the theater talking loudly about the movie they just saw. They pass the movie poster at the end for “Changeling”. The two others discuss the movie with a younger Nauls, but only just. It is easy to tell this is the same person. They refer to him as Carter. The one friend complains loudly of Nauls’ choice of going to see Changeling. Nauls defends his choice stating that as a J. Michael Straczynski written film, it was worth it for that alone. He goes on to state that it was also critically acclaimed at Cannes. But states that beyond those it was a fascination exploration of a true story from the 1920s. His friend points out that as yet another of Clit Eastwoods directing efforts, it left something to be desired. Nauls complains that his friend just wont open his mind to Eastwood being anything other than the gruff hero of those silly old westerns and that when he produces something truly worth while, people just can’t accept it. His friend shrugs and states that at least Eastwood didn’t unplug her at the end of this one. Nauls’ other friend points out that he enjoyed the story and it’s focus on corruption in government in the 1920s, rather than taking the more popular romanticized notion of it being a simpler, more innocent time. They point out they enjoyed the parallels of law enforcement willing to kill criminals rather bring them in, compared to vigilantism in the likes of the Ku Kux Klan of the era. Nauls’ less enthusiastic friend scoffs at the notion calling it another trite effort by Eastwood to bring issues of child endangerment to the fore. That using the trope of a child in trouble allows the story to wrack up the drama and pathos without earning it, simply hold a gun to a kids head metaphorically speaking and the critics will line up to give you a blowjob. Nauls tells him he’s being a stupid cynic. That the entire point of the movie wasn’t that the child was in danger, nor the political corruption, that it was in fact a tale condemning the efforts of the era to disempower women. That it’s a portrait of how a woman’s independence is seen as an outright threat to male dominace in a patriarchal society.  Nauls goes on to say that JMS tapped into the continuing sexism inherent in our society, that attitudes towards women haven’t really changed. He points out that it’s Similar to Ingrid Bergman’s Gaslight, in that men in power use their position to question a womans sanity only in an effort to keep her in her “place.” His friend takes an affront to this challenging Nauls tired efforts at phony feminism as just an attempt to get laid. He complains about this silly notion that if you make a female character strong you are a bastion of good and right and that to cast them in a harsh light is to become all that is wrong in this world. He states that if men would stop white knighting for people they never knew and stopped trying to elevate people like Joss Whedon to godhood status just because his idolization of super women is more shiney than casting them as human characters, an easy, lazy way out, That maybe just maybe we’ll stop getting such ridiculous cinema tripe. Nauls clearly takes exception to this and points out that’s exactly what’s wrong with this world, a chauvinistic mindset where the only use of women is the women in refrigerators trope used to enhance a male character rather than allow her to be the strong courageous woman unfettered by male egotistic notion. His friend questions if Nauls is just outright gay and calls him a pussy, pointing out that he wouldn’t know courage if it bit him in the ass. That it’s one thing to bitch about it on the internet, it’s another thing entirely to grow a pair and do something about it. Nauls shuts up instantly. They walk in silence for a bit. His friend sighs and apologizes. Nauls shakes his head, saying it’s okay, but it’s clearly not. His friend says he knows that Nauls has always had trouble with… And then the man with the gun is upon them. He screams for them to hand over their wallets. Nauls friends react in fear, Nauls reacts like a deer in the headlights. The man with the gun points it at each of them in turn, demanding they hurry up. They fumble in an effort to get the wallets out, he snatches them from them. Nauls is frozen in place. The man with the gun takes exception to this, he demands that Nauls give up his wallet. Nauls just kind of gapes like a fish and slightly shakes his head, too frightened to move. The man with the gun rushes forward and presses the gun to Nauls face. Nauls jumps and closes his eyes, beginning to whimper. The man forcefully demands the wallet. There’s a scream from across the street as a woman goes running off. The gunman curses. Nauls just shakes his head begging. The gunman grabs Nauls by the collar and pushes the gun against Nauls’ eye. He again demands the wallet. Nauls whimpers and begs, his friends tell him to just give up the wallet. The gunman yells in Nauls’ face for him to give it up NOW. Nauls jumps and tries to reach for his pocket, tears stream down his face. The gunman looks around, hearing a siren in the distance. He is tired of this. He slams the gun into the side of Nauls head, knocking him to the ground. He reaches into Nauls pockets fishing. Finding the wallet, he grabs it and runs off. His friends rush to help him up, but Nauls is out of it, there’s a ringing in his ears and his head swims. They help sit him up. Nauls looks around stupidly as the situation comes back to him. The fear, his freezing, and his realization at the large wet spot on the front of his pants. Nauls looks to be on the verge of sobbing.

Act 2:

The group from Outpost 31 piles out of the snowcat. Childs, Bennings and Mac rush over to the wreckage and begin spraying it with fire extinguishers. Garry looks at the marking on what remains of the tail, “NORGE”. He points out that they must be from the Norwegian camp North of there. Nauls just stares as the fire is extinguished. Childs pulls on one of the doors, burning his hand even through his glove and flinching. Mac points out that it’s hot. Childs curtly thanks him. Childs scoops up some snow and tosses it on the handle a few times. After a moment, he cautiously tries the handle again. The door opens and falls from the hinge, causing Childs to jump back. Mac just stares at him a moment, then looks inside. He says they’ve got two bodies, he thinks. A pilot and a passenger in the back. Nauls gives an exclamation, covering his mouth as he does so. As the others look at him, they realize he’s not talking about the chopper. They turn to see the blackened form limping towards them. It’s skin is burnt, it’s coat melted, and its gait that of pain and it drags a gun behind. It’s Lars.
Lars limps towards them, asking them for help in norwegian. They just stare at this burnt man speaking gibberish. He stumbles forward in great effort. Garry slowly pulls the gun from his coat, wary of the fact that he’s armed. Nauls gapes at him. Childs tells him to take it easy but doesn’t close the gap. Lars looks around at them each in turn, asking for help. His breathing is ragged and forced. He looks like the only thing keeping him on his feet is his force of will. Bennings glances away as he sees something out of the corner of his eye, asking if that’s a dog. They all look to see the huskie running towards them. Lars turns to see the dog. He begins yelling about it not being a dog, how it’s going to kill them all and it needs to be stopped, but of course, it’s just gibberish to them. He raises the gun and opens fire, almost falling off his feet with the pain. The shots go wide. The dog runs past him. He turns firing as he does so. Mac and Childs dive out of the way but one of the shots goes through Bennings’ leg. He screams in pain and drops. The dog runs up to Clark, jumping on him and licking at him as if asking for help. Lars turns and approaches them, gun raised. Garry points his own gun at Lars and orders him to drop his weapon. Clark yells that it’s just a dog as he tries to comfort the seemingly scared animal. Lars pleads with them, begs them to get away from the dog. They don’t know what it really is. He begs them to get out of the way, to kill it. The dog looks back at him and darts off towards camp. Seeing his chance, Lars raises the gun. Garry orders him to put it down once again. Lars opens fire at the dog. Clark screams “No!” and grabs the gun from Garry. He fires two shots at Lars, hitting him in the chest, causing him to stagger, the third shot hits Lars between the eyes. The body slumps to the snow. Nauls covers his mouth in horror and looks away. Garry just stares for a moment then growls and grabs the gun back from Clark, asking what the hell he’s doing. Clark demands that he couldn’t just let him hurt the dog. Garry nods in frustration, saying how just great that is. Mac walks over to the body and looks down at it. He pushes it with his boot, saying he thinks he’s dead. Childs tells him no shit. Bennings yells about how they could PLEASE help the not so dead guy. Childs helps him up. Garry tells him to get him back to Copper, then bring the snowcat back so they can deal with the bodies. He then tells Clark to head back and find his damn dog. Childs, Clark and Bennings return to the snowcat. Garry and Mac look at the wreckage. Mac points out how big a pain in the ass it will be to get the other two bodies out. Garry points out that they can’t just leave them in there. Nauls just stares at the gun in Garry’s hand. Garry tells him to give Mac a hand. Nauls just continues to stare at the gun. Garry calls his name. Nauls just stares. Garry calls his name again, more forcefully. Nauls just stares.
The Past. Nauls sits at a desk in front of a computer. He wears office attire as normal office events happen all around him. His head is patched and he just staring at the monitor. His boss calls his name. Twice. Nauls jumps as he calls his name from right behind him. He turns and looks at his boss. His boss asks what the hell is wrong with him. Nauls shakes his head, looking away sheepishly, claiming nothing is wrong with him. His boss takes him at his word saying that’s good. He tells Nauls that since he is going to be having a golf game with his own boss, he’ll be cutting out early, he intends to have lunch with his family first but that Nauls needs to stay a little later to make up for all the work he missed coming in late. Nauls looks like he wants to argue, but lets it go, telling him okay. His boss says that’s great and starts to walk away. He stops and come back, adding that because of their backlog of work, he wants Nauls to come in tomorrow on his day off. Nauls turns and looks at him in surprise. He shakes his head and says he can’t, that he has class tomorrow. He has a test that counts for a third of his grade. His boss seems to ponder this. He asks Nauls what time his class is. Nauls confirms that it’s in the morning. His boss perks at this news, telling Nauls that he just needs to get as much as he can in tonight, then come on in after class. Nauls again looks like he wants to argue, but instead he relents. His boss says that’s great and slaps Nauls on the shoulder, calling him a team player. As he walks away, Nauls sighs. He glances back to make sure his boss is gone, then opens back up his blog page. He continues checking his post decrying the use of guns in the country. He goes on a long rant about how just because some idiot thinks he has the right to carry around murder weapons, that doesn’t mean that the rest of them just have to shut up and get killed like a bunch of animals. He goes on and on about statistics from other countries linking the lower death rate with the fact that guns are banned. He checks the comments sections. Multiple people agree with him, giving their own reasons for their support of banning guns. One mentions how they need to stage a protest or something to show the government that they need to take action. Nauls quickly times a reply agreeing. He continues. Another argues with his opinion, point out that even without guns that people would still kill one another. Nauls replies that it doesn’t mean that we have to give people extra incentive to do so. That there is literally no other point to guns other than to kill things. Anther reply calls him and idiot and tells him that if he hates guns so much that he should get the fuck out of this country and go someplace they don’t allow them. It them calls him a libtard fag. Nauls chuckles and replies, simply stating that maybe he will, but he’ll be sure to send him a thesaurus as a going away present. Having had his minor victory, he returns to his work.
Later, Nauls, bleary eyed checks the time on his phone. He curses at the lateness of the hour. He shuts down his computer, packs up his stuff and heads home. Nauls unlocks the door and stumbles inside. He heads through to his room. Tosses his bag down, shuts the door and flops into bed fully dressed. He stares at the clock, mumbling about just getting a few hours. He closes his eyes.
Nauls phone rings. He fumbles through his pockets as he tries to find it. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at the caller. It’s his boss. Nauls curses and tells the phone to give it a rest. He tosses it down and looks at the clock. It takes his sleep addled mind a moment to process. Noon. His eyes go wide and he jumps up, screaming a curse.

Act 3:

Outpost 31. Dr. Copper stitches up the hole in Bennings’ leg as he flinches in pain. Copper smiles at him and tells him it’ll be just a bit more then he can go rest and dope himself up on painkillers. Childs and Nauls heft a black body bag into the room, asking Copper where he wants it. Copper points to one of the specimen carts and tells them to set it up on there. Nauls and Childs comply. Childs warns Copper that they’re pretty messed up from the crash. Childs taps Nauls on the chest and tells him two more to go. Copper finishes stitching Bennings and wraps his leg in gauze. He tells him to just stay off of it for a few days. Blair stares at the black body bag. He asks Bennings if he’s sure that they were shooting at the dog. Bennings says he is, and that they were bombing too. He asks the two of them if they were whacked out on something. Copper shrugs and says they’d have to check, but it could take days, and with the test from Fuchs’ blood already going on, it could take even longer. Blair says that he can have it done by tomorrow. Copper looks at him in surprise. Blair shrugs and rattles of an explanation about how it’s a simple process. Copper nods in agreement, impressed. Childs and Nauls bring the next body in. Blair points to the table and tells them to set it over there. He then asks if they’ve found the dog yet. Nauls tells him that Clark is searching the camp for him, but that it was pretty scared. Blair just nods. Childs looks at him curiously, asking him why all the sudden interest. Blair says that when a group of norwegians declare war on a dog, he gets a bit curious. Besides, he’s finished his reports for the season and he needs a new project before heading home for the rotation. Childs just shakes his head. Nauls asks if maybe they came down with something, brain parasites or something. “Kahn Worms.” Bennings says. “Or those ones from X-Files” Copper interjects. “I hate that episode.” Bennings replies. Nauls says he was kinda thinking about those ants with the fungus. Blair chuckles and calls it “Ophiocordyceps unilateralis” and says he doubts that something like it could survive out here, besides there’s quarantine rules. Plus he points out that such things in humans are rare. There’s mad cow, but that’s a disease rather than a parasite and an outbreak of mad cow here would be absurd. Copper says that whatever the issue, with Blair’s help they should have the answer in no time. Blair says that in the meantime, they should help Clark find the dog. Blair would like a sample from it too. Nauls looks at him in doubt, asking him why. Blair smiles and says that if it’s worth shooting at, isn’t he curious to find out what makes it so special?
Outside. Clark wanders around camp, calling out to the dog. He looks behind boxes and equipment, but still has no luck. He continues calling out, telling the dog that he’s not going to hurt it. Nothing. As he makes his way around camp, he finds the kennel door open. He looks at it curiously for a second, then heads inside. He glances around as he makes his way down the corridor. He grumbles at how poorly lit the kennels are, grabbing a flashlight off the shelf. He walks forward and glances inside the dog kennels. The dogs lays about, and generally do dog like things. All of them taking notice of him to some capacity. One of them wags it’s tail and barks at him. He shushes the dog, calling it Charnauk, and telling him to calm down. Charnauk whines but does as he’s told. Clark continues on, glancing over at the cattle. He elicits a series of Moos from them as he disturbs them with the flashlight. He pats one on the side as he goes past, apologizing for disturbing her. He continues back into the darkest areas of the kennels. He glances around at the crates of feed and other necessities. He calls out again to the dog and whistles. Charnauk begins barking again. He turns back and shushes the dog. As he does so, something briefly passes by the light. Clark turns back but it’s already gone before he even catches a glimpse. He continues on, calling for the dog. He turns a corner and stops as the dog appears in his light. He startles slightly but calms down as he see the dog is just standing there, staring at him. He smiles at the dog, and tells him it’s okay. The dog just stands there, staring. He asks the dog if he’s the one who opened the door. The dog says nothing. Clark says he’s a pretty smart boy if he did. The dog just stares. Clark says that he just wants to be friends, that the dog is safe now. The dog just stares. Clark steps forward and kneels down, holding out his hand. The dog just stares. He tells the dog it’s okay, he’s not going to hurt him. The dog just stares. He tells the dog to come on, holding his hand out. The dog just stares. He repeats, telling the dog it will be alright. The dog stares… and takes a step forward. Clark encourages him, again telling him its okay. The dog takes another step… and another. Always does it keep it’s eyes on Clark’s. It slowly makes its way forward to his hand. Clark keeps his arm extended and perfectly still. The dog reaches Clark’s hand and slowly begins sniffing it. Clark smiles and says he smells like the other dogs, that it’s okay. The dog sniffs Clark’s hand, but always keeps his eyes on Clark’s eyes. Clark says he’s a pretty smart fella. The dog stops sniffing Clark’s hand and… begins licking it. Clark pats him on the head and tells him that he’s a good boy. The dog keeps staring at Clark as he licks his hand.
Nauls walks down the corridor, calling out for Clark. He walks down the stairs and into the kennel looking around. He calls out to Clark, asking if he found the damn dog. The dogs in the kennel all jump up and begin barking and carrying on at Nauls. Nauls glares at them and tells them to shut up. He shakes his head and grumbles at the stupid dogs. He calls out to Clark again. Clark calls him over. Nauls walks to the back of the kennel, past the cows and sees Clark sitting on the floor with the dog. Clark smiles as he strokes the dog’s fur. The dog stares at Nauls. Nauls points and asks if that’s the one. Clark confirms that it is. Nauls tells him that Blair wants a sample from it later. Clark looks up at him suspiciously and asks him why. Nauls shrugs and says that Blair just wants to be sure there’s nothing wrong with it. Clark pauses for a minute, then tells him he guesses that it should be okay. Nauls acknowledges and starts to walk away, but pauses. He looks at the dog just staring at him. Nauls stares at the dog. The dog stares at Nauls. Nauls shudders and walks away, shaking his head and calling it god damned creepy.
The Past. Nauls sits at his cubicle, his head in his hands. The phone on his desk rings, Nauls sighs and picks it up. His boss asks him if he couldn’t come into his office for a second. Nauls tells him sure. As Nauls enters his office, his boss doesn’t even look up from his paperwork. Nauls stands there for a moment, in silence, being ignored. After a moment, he clears his throat. His boss still doesn’t look up, and tells him that he needs Nauls to go clock out. Nauls sighs in relief and tells him he doesn’t know how glad he is to hear that, he needs a day off after the morning he’s having. His boss tells him no, he doesn’t want him to go home, he wants him to work off the clock. They’ve been having issues with the accounting and they need to cut a few corners. He’d like him to go clock out, then stick around for a while finishing up some of their backlog of work. Nauls shakes his head hesitantly, saying he doesn’t know if that’s such a good idea. His boss looks up at him at last and smiles. He tells him he understands, but that he wants to continue to be a team player doesn’t he? Nauls looks away telling him he guesses so. His boss interlocks his fingers and tells Nauls he’s going to confide in him. That the accounting problem is too much expenditure. That if they can’t real it in, they’ll have to start letting people go. He asks Nauls if he doesn’t want that on his conscience. Nauls looks at him sadly for a moment, then hangs his head and agrees. His boss tells him that that’s a team mindset. As he returns to his work, he adds that plus, it could always be Nauls to end up unemployed, so it’s really for the best. He laughs at his own apparent joke. Nauls just walks back to his desk.
Nauls bitches and complains as he sits in the bar. He rants about his asshole of a boss taking advantage of him. He says that one of these days he’s just going to march into his office and tell him to shove it. His sister laughs at him. She tells him that he’s always been like this. Never once stood up for himself. She points out that he spent all of elementary getting pantsed by the bully up the street. She asks his name and Nauls says it was T.K. His sister laughs, remembering it now. She says that every day Nauls would either come home breathless from the run or humiliated and pantsless. Nauls says nothing. She goes on, telling him that even when he got lucky and T.K. Moved away, there was the coach in middle school. About how every day he would make Nauls run laps because he wasn’t a team player. Nauls grumbles and says he remembers. She adds that in high school… Nauls interrupts her and tells her he gets it. He asks her what she wants from him. He points out that today he already had to beg his professor to let him take a makeup exam. That the only way he consented was if Nauls agreed to be his aid the next semester. That even then if he gets his bachelors in sociology, he still needs a BSW or else there’s no chance of getting into social work. And even then that’s not even getting started on the problems nation wide like the god damn rednecks and their gun racks and pickups beating their chest and crying about their right to deadly weapons! She stares at him, eyebrow raised. He glances over at the bar and sees the two men staring angrily at him. One wears an NRA shirt, the other a NASCAR cap. Nauls smiles sheepishly. He apologizes and says he’s been having a bad day, next round is on him. The two men turn away. Nauls lays his head down on the table and tells his sister it’s been a long week. He asks her why it’s always him. All he ever wanted to do was get into social work and help people’s lives. She laughs and tells him it’s because he’s a doormat. Until he stands up for himself, people are just going to smell it on him. He laughs and asks her what she expects him to do, go start a barroom brawl with his new friends over there. He points out he has just enough upper body strength to curl up into a ball and defend his major organs. She says that just because he knows he stood up to somebody, it doesn’t mean THEY have to know. He looks at her, totally lost. She tells him that maybe he can find a way to get his boss into a little hot water and in the process get a little confidence for himself. She smiles at him.

Act 4:

Outpost 31. Blair unzips the first body bag and takes a blood sample from Lars’ body. He checks it and begins putting it into a test tube.
The rest of the crew, save Clark, sits around the rec room discussing what to do next. Childs says they can’t find Fuchs anywhere and Palmer isn’t talking, now they have this new mess to deal with. Garry asks about Clark, wondering where he is. Nauls chimes in and tells him that he’s taking care of the new dog. Garry nods.
Blair unzips the second body bag and takes a sample from Matias. Again he checks it before injecting it into a test tube and putting it aide.
Garry continues stating that if they’re from the Norwegian camp, they better figure out why three of their men went of chasing a dog and blew themselves up. Norris asks why they don’t just radio them. Windows says that he can’t get through, they’re not responding. Connant admits he can’t even get a ping off their system that not only is the radio down, their dish is likely down too. Mac says “Great.”
Blair unzips the third body bag and pauses, something is amiss. He leans in closer, trying to get a better look at it.
Garry says they are going to need to take a trip up there in person. Bennings asks what if they’re all hostile like the ones in the helicopter. Nauls says that he didn’t think they were hostile. Bennings says he disagrees, pointing to his leg. Garry says, just in case, they’ll go armed and set the gun down on the table next to him. Nauls stares at it, wide eyed. Garry goes on, stating that with Palmer out as co-pilot, he’ll head out there with Mac and Dr. Copper, just in case they need medical attention. He then adds the Connant will be coming too just in case they need to check out their computers. Connant grumbles in frustration. Bennings tells them to hurry because the weather station reports a storm will be blowing through that area soon. Garry asks Copper about the bodies. Copper tells him that Blair is taking samples right this minute. Blair appears in the doorway. He tells them that in fact there’s something he thinks they should see. They all look around at one another, and begin to follow Blair out. Nauls looks back at the table where Garry has left the gun.
The past. Nauls glances over from his cubicle at his Boss’ office. His boss sits inside. A man in a suit enters the area, a security guard following him. Nauls smiles to himself. The man in the suit enters Nauls’ Boss’ office. He asks him if he’s been doing anything unauthorized on his computer. The boos looks puzzled and shakes his head no, he hasn’t. The boss points out he’s just gotten a report from IT that this very terminal has been used for… other purposes than business related ones. Nauls can barely contain his glee.  He stifles a laugh as the rest of the room begins to take notice of the situation. As they do, another employee enters and looks around. He then heads for the man in the suit. The boss stares up and the man in the suit saying he doesn’t understand what this is all about. The employee comes up and whispers something in his ear. The man in the suit gets a horrified look on his face and glances at the boss. The boss looks away. The man in the suit motions for the security guard to come over and then whispers something to him. He nods and leaves the room and pics up one of the phones at the desk. He begins speaking into the phone, glancing back over his shoulder at the office. At this point Nauls gets a confused look on his face. He doesn’t quite understand the turn this has taken, shouldn’t they be escorting him out? After several minutes the curiosity is still circulating the room slowly. That’s when a group of police enter the area and head for the office. By this point everyone stands up and begins looking. They enter and the man in the suit points at the computer and begins explaining something to them. Nauls’ boss just sits there, staring down in shame. Nauls can’t figure what the hell’s going on. The police check the computer with the aid of the IT guy. He gets a look of disgust. The cop nods to the others. They help the boss up and handcuff him, reading him his rights. They unplug the computer and pack up the harddrive. As they lead him past Nauls desk, he hears his boss pleading with the police not to do it this way, that his wife and daughter are going to be meeting him for lunch.
Everyone gathers around the windows to look at the street below. Nauls slowly joins them and looks down at the sight. He watches as the police march his boss from the building and lead him to one of the cop cars. Sure enough, there’s a woman and a little girl who seem distraught over the whole thing. Nauls frown in sadness. A group of officers and a detective approach the already distraught woman and seem to be telling her something. She clutches her daughter close. The detective motions to the officers. The woman appears to be screaming at this point. They forcibly seperate the woman and the little girl. As the mother screams the officers restrain her as another carries the screaming little girl to another waiting cop car. Nauls looks on in horror, his hand over his mouth.
Nauls sits in the bar, his head down on the table. He tells his sister that he doesn’t want to live on this planet anymore. She comforts him by telling him that he had no idea what was already on the computer. He points out that’s the reason he doesn’t want to live on this planet anymore. She points out he probably did some good. He replies that it certainly doesn’t feel like it. His sister sighs and tells him he just needs to get away for a while. Nauls laughs and tells her that there’s not a far enough away from this. She shrugs and says maybe there is. He doubts this. She tells him about one of her ex boyfriends, how he dropped out and headed out to antarctica for a while, got away from it all. Nauls laughs loudly. She tells him to wait and hear her out. She tells him that this guy spent a year or two up there, said it was the most grueling time he’d ever had. But at the same time, he said it was soul clensing. He came back a different guy. He was damn near a misanthrope but when he came back, he couldn’t get enough of people. Nauls sarcastically says he wonders why. She tells her little brother that she thinks the experience could do him a bit of good, maybe help him find the good in people again. Nauls sighs. She points out they don’t allow guns on the continent and they have zero murders. He glances at her and asks if she’s sure of her information. She shrugs and says it can’t be worse than her last idea. What’s the worst that could happen? Nauls stares at her for a long minute.
Outpost 31. Nauls enters the room after the others. They gather around the body bag. Blair looks at Nauls, Garry, Mac, Childs and Bennings. He asks them if they’re sure the chopper exploded and crashed, they put out the fires, took the bodies out, brought them back here and that was it. They all agree to this. Blair again reiterates that they saw nothing else, that the bodies were not tampered with. Childs asks in an annoyed tone what Blair is getting at. Blair looks at them all for a long minute. He then tells them that he checked the first two bodies and found that they were burned and damaged by the explosion and crash. The burns and injuries were consistent with this. Garry crosses his arms and asks “and?” Blair looks at him, then continues. As he went to check the third body, he found something unusual.  Copper looks at him and asks “Unusual, how?” Blair points at the body bag, telling him that as he knows, the human body reacts a certain way to stimulus. Bones break, skin burns, fat melts. Injuries are consistent with the stimulus they have received. This is how forensics works, an understanding of how things react. What causes something. He points at the bag and says that this body does not. None of them seem to be understanding him. Seeing this, he opens the bag. They all stare at the sight within with a variety of reactions. From within, the body stares out. There is an expression of horror, or anger or… something on its face, that is plain. The problem being that half of its face sits six inches lower and separate from the other side, the two halves connected with a stretched mass of tissues and skin between. Mac asks Blair what the problem is, he shrugs and says the head was split by some shrapnel and the fire fused some of the tissue together. Blair stares at him for a long moment. He then puts a pair of gloves on and picks up a scalpel. The others watch as he cuts a slit down the stretched middle section between the halves. He then pushes them apart and taps at the exposed section, producing a solid sound. Blair points out that there is bone between the sections. He looks up and asks Mac how many times he’s seen bone liquify. Mac has no answer to this. The room gets very silent as no one knows what to say. Blair adds that whatever happened to this body, it happened before the crash. They all stare at the split face thing in various states of emotion as it stares up at the ceiling with eyeless sockets.

The Thing: Episode 2

Well! I decided to do another one, figuring one cannot just stop with the first episode. I figured I liked the ideas I was playing with too much. Ultimately, I figure there's four seasons worth of material here. But, I wanted to get another one out. I do apologize for these being pretty much outlines, but I cannot justify giving an idea that is more or less just that, the full written treatment. I mean, the Thing isn't mine at all. However, were somebody interested in the ideas, they could certainly have them. The likelyhood of that? Zero. But lets continue out little what if game for the moment, shall we!

Today, I give you the second episode. But... A warning. This one... Well, it got quite dark, so be awares of mature subject matter and dark dark dark content. I mean, seriously, I wrote the thing and even I find it disturbing...

Enjoy!

"Dog Days"

Teaser: 

Palmer sits within his makeshift cell, having calmed down considerably. Though he had trashed the contents of the cage at some point before he did. Now he just sits there, staring at the window in the supply room door. On the other side, Garry and Childs watch him through the window. Childs insists that he’s going to get to the bottom of this whole mess, stating that there’s only ever been one murder on the continent, but that if there’s been a second, he’ll make sure that Palmer doesn’t get away with it. Garry tells him that he understands Childs has been working at the station the longest, but he asks who appointed him sheriff of the group. Childs tells him that his daddy was a cop, and he’ll be damned if he’s going to let any more people get hurt by some nut. As he walks away he insists that things wont get any worse on his watch.
Lars and Matias Fly the helicopter over the snow fields and jagged rocks that jut up from the terrain. Lars hangs out the side of the chopper taking pot shots at the dog as it runs. He curses under his breath and yells for Matias to keep it steady. Matias tells him it’s damn near impossible due to the heavy winds at this altitude. Lars tells him to take it down then. Matias asks if he’d rather be splattered all over the mountains instead. Lars glares at him and tells him that if they don’t kill that thing then everyone is dead anyway. Matias sighs but takes it down, mentioning that Lars sounds like a crazy person, and if it were any of the others, he wouldn’t have bought a single thing he was saying. Lars replies that the others were already dead, but he’ll make sure it pays.
As they continue flying Lars continues firing. He reloads and keeps going. Again. Again. And again. He is a man obsessed with killing this dog. Then BANG! The dog yelps as it rolls over in a spray of blood. Lars screams that he got it! He orders Matias to take the helicopter down so he can finish it off, grabbing one of the thermite grenades in the process.
As they touch down, Lars leaps from the helicopter and runs towards the body of the dog. He pulls the pin from the grenade and flings it through the air towards the dog. As the grenade lands in the snow, the dog leaps up and darts off again. The thermite explodes seconds too late, incinerate the spot where the dog had been laying only moments before. Lars yells in frustration as the dog darts through a rocky outcropping. Lars runs after it, unslinging the rifle from his back, Matias yells for him to wait but Lars ignores him.
Lars tries to follow the dog, but it’s already out of sight. He makes his way through the rocks, looking left and right, waiting for an ambush. As he enters a small clearing he pauses and lowers his rifle in surprise. Matias catches up to him, yelling for him to wait. When he sees it too, he pauses. The two men stand there staring at the Snowcat. Matias asks Lars if that’s one of theirs. Lars confirms that it is.

Act 1: 

The Past. Suburbs. A school bus pulls to a stop at the curb allowing three early teenage boys off. They chat about various things ever important to them. One of the three boys breaks off and waves. They wave back and say good bye to their friend, calling him Keith. He passes a mailbox with the name “Childs” written on it as he passes through a short chain link fence. As he does, a rottweiler runs up to him. He bends down, petting and scratching the dog behind the ears. He asks the dog what he’s doing outside, obviously, the dog doesn’t answer. The young Childs looks over at the driveway to see the cop car sitting there. He smiles and continues up the walkway to the door.
As he enters, he tosses his book bag down and calls out to his mother and father. No one answers. Continuing through the house he heads to the kitchen. Checking the fridge, he makes himself a snack. A bit later, after polishing it off, he makes his way upstairs, finishing the last bit on the way. As he reaches the door to his room, he stops. He hears something from coming down the hall. He again calls out for his mom and dad. As he makes his way down the hall, the sound becomes clearer. Sort of a cracking/snapping sort of sound. Step by step, he gets closer to the source of the sound, his parents bedroom. As the cracking sound gets louder, another sound is mixed in, more high pitch, one he doesn’t recognize. The door to the room is open, just a crack. Slowly, he peeks inside, moving the door slightly to get a better look. His eyes go wide. His mother wears some sort of black and revealing outfit, he hands and feet are bound with a pair of handcuffs. She is leaning over the bed. A man in a leather outfit stands behind her. He holds a riding crop in his hand. He swings it forcefully, striking her ass with it, producing the loud crack. His mother squeaks in a high pitch then gives a deeper moan of pleasure, asking for more. The man complies. Striking her again and again and again. She moans how he knows just what she likes. The man in leather lifts her up and pulls her underwear down as he gets behind her. The young Childs stumbles backwards a step and slowly backs away from the door, a horrified look on his face as the man lets out a loud grunt. The young Childs scrambles through his bedroom door and shuts it behind him. Curling up on his bed, he begins rocking, the expression on his face one of horror. The sounds are muffled but can clearly be heard through the wall. His mother calls out about just a little more, she’s almost there. The cracking and moaning and grunting continue louder and more often right up till his mother lets out a screamed “yes”.
Outpost 31. Childs questions Bennings but doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. He points out that Bennings’ and Windows’ room is right across the hall from Fuchs and Nauls’ room. Again asking him if he saw or heard anything. Bennings again denies knowing anything, telling Childs that he had been in the rec room playing foosball with Nauls. After a particularly crushing victory over Nauls, he gave the game up to Connant and said he was heading to bed. On the way there, he decided that he would stop in and check on Fuchs to see if his nose felt better. When he opened the door… he stops, his face going blank. The sight clearly running through his mind. Seeing the look on his face, Childs relents. He tells Bennings he’s going to see what the others know, Bennings distantly acknowledges him. Childs walks away, glancing back at him once.
Connant finishes assembling the laptop he had been working on, flips it over and turns it on. Childs looks through the door, and leans on the frame as he asks Connant if he knows anything. Connant glances up at him with his ever tired eyes before apologizing and telling him he doesn’t. Childs asks him if he knew where Palmer was all night. He mentions that Windows, Nauls and he were going to meet up with Palmer in the green house. Childs looks at him questioningly and asks why the green house. Connant smiles and tells him that he knows, as he puts his fingers to his lips and inhales. Childs nods distractedly. Connant shrugs and tells him that he and Nauls hung around, but Windows headed off first. The two played a round before getting bored. Before they could get to the green house, the commotion broke out. He admits he saw neither Windows or Palmer before it happened. Childs stares at Connant for a moment, before telling him to give the shit up before it fries his brain. Connant laughs and tells Childs it keeps him mellow, he should try it some time. Childs grunts a reply and walks off. Connant chuckles to himself and looks back to the computer.
Windows sits in the rec room, staring off into space. Childs walks up to him. Windows realizes he’s there, looking up at him. Windows then quickly looks away as if he doesn’t want to meet Childs’ eyes. Childs asks him if he saw anything. Windows instantly replies that he didn’t see anything. Childs looks at him suspiciously, Windows continues to look away. Windows says Fuchs went to his room after getting the busted nose and that’s all he knows. Childs then asks about Palmer. Windows tells him he didn’t see him the rest of the night after the fight. Childs asks him if he’s sure. Windows is again quick and frustratedly tells him he’s not Palmer’s keeper and doesn’t keep track of his every move. Childs then asks him about the green house. Windows claims to know nothing about it. After a moment of staring at him in silence, Childs speaks, telling him he doesn’t care what shit he’s got going on, he just wants to know what happened to Fuchs. Windows looks at him in surprise, then looks away again, saying he doesn’t know anything. Childs asks if he’s sure about that. Windows looks up and him and tells him he doesn’t know anything about Fuchs. Childs watches him for a moment and decides he’s telling the truth on this one. He tells him fine, but points at him. He informs Windows that he better not find out about whatever he DOES know about. Windows looks away in fear. Childs, feeling he’s made his point, walks away.
Childs walks down the hall. Norris calls out to him. Childs backs up and enters the room with Norris. Norris tells him he heard he was asking around camp about Fuchs. Childs asks him if he knows anything. Norris tells him that he saw Fuchs in the kitchen later, after he had gone to bed. He tells Childs he seemed frustrated. The last he saw he was heading to the lab. He tells Childs that Blair might know something. He asks him if he knows anything else, like where Palmer was. Norris shakes his head and says he didn’t see Palmer all night. Childs thanks Norris and heads for the lab.
Childs says Blair’s name. Repeatedly. Blair just continues working. Childs, having had enough, slams his fist on the table. Blair doesn’t just but does look up. Childs curses at him and tells him he needs to focus on something other than work for five minutes. Blair calmly explains that this stuff is very important, and he doesn’t have time to chit chat like the others. Childs informs him that a possible murder is pretty damned important. Blair frowns, but asks him what he wants. Childs tells him how Fuchs was seen heading into the lab after he supposedly went off to bed. Blair ponders this for a moment, then confirms. He believes Fuchs was in there for a time. He says no more. Childs presses him to go on. Blair thinks about it, telling Childs Fuchs was ranting about something. He assumed it was just the busted nose and didn’t bother giving it much attention. He goes on to tell Childs that while one of his PHD is in psychology, he’s not a psychiatrist, despite what some of the people around the station believe. He goes on to say he was working in the lab and focusing on his samples, that he needed to make another report in the morning. Fuchs came in, ranted, Blair gave him less than half an ear and told him to just set his mind to something else and cool off for a while. Fuchs seemed satisfied enough and left. Blair continued working right up till all the commotion. Then, after Childs locked Palmer up, he went back to work. He then asks Childs if that is all he needs, that he hasn’t gotten much sleep so he would like to finish his tests, make his overdue report and head to bed. Childs stares at him for a long moment, then tells him that’s fine. Blair returns to his work with little more words. Childs shakes his head in frustration and walks out.

Act 2: 

The Past. Young Childs stands outside the arcade, just kinda staring inside. He doesn’t make a move to go in, nor does he make a move to walk away. He just kinda stares. The cop car pulls up behind him. The cop speaks, telling his son that the last person who should be playing hooky is the son of a cop. The young Childs apologizes, but doesn’t really look at his father. His father watches him a moment and tells him to get in, he’ll take him to school. Childs stands for a moment, then finally goes around and gets in the passenger side. As he and his father drive through town, he just stares out the window. The father checks on his son several times but says nothing at first. He speaks finally, asking his son what’s the matter. That he’s been distant, not himself lately. His son quickly tells him it’s nothing. His father laughs then tells him that it’s his job to know when someone is lying. He says that his son can talk to him. Tell him if there’s something wrong. Childs remains silent for a long moment. Then tells his dad to promise him that he wont get angry. His father laughs and promises. Childs is quiet for another long moment then slowly starts to speak. He tells his father that he came home and… he saw. His father asks him what he means. He tells his father that he knows, he saw he had come home early and he saw him with his mother. His father laughs and tells him that he still doesn’t get it, that his son knows he was working late. Childs shakes his head, insisting he saw the cop car outside and then saw the two of them in the bedroom… It takes a moment but his father finally puts it all together. He instantly gets the look of a furious man trying to hide his temper. Childs picks up on this immediately, insisting his father promised not to get angry. His father tells him not to worry, he’s not angry… at him.
Outpost 31. Childs smolders as he walks down the hall towards Fuchs’ room. He stops as he hears a commotion from within. As he continues forward, Nauls steps out of the room. He wears a pair of yellow rubber gloves, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand as if he’d been sweating. As Childs steps up to him, he glances into the room. The sheets from the bed are gone and the blood has all been cleaned up. Childs yells at him, asking him what the hell he’s done. Nauls insists that there’s no chance in hell that he’s going to sleep in the room with all that mess. Childs again yells, telling him that it’s a crime scene. Nauls looks at him, baffled. He stammers a moment, telling Childs that he asked Copper if it would be fine, and he said it would be. Childs curses and walks the other direction. Nauls glances back at the bucket of bloody water sitting on the floor.
Copper sits at his lab station looking through a microscope. Childs storms in and demands to know why Copper told Nauls he could clean up a crime scene. Copper looks up at him with a smile saying that he saw no problem with it, that there’s not any police around who could set up a proper cordon anyway. He then asks Childs that if his roommate was murdered, would he want to just leave the room as is. Childs curses and tells Copper that with the blood they could at least know SOMETHING of what happened. Copper smiles and informs him that’s the exact reason he took a sample before telling Nauls he could clean up. Childs looks at him in surprise. Copper then begins telling him how exciting he finds the prospect of a mystery. He tells him that Mac and Clark have already started looking for the body. But the very fact that Palmer managed to get it out of the room, assuming his guilt of course, but not only did he get the body out of the room, he left no trace of of evidence in the hallway. Never mind that someone SHOULD have seen something. Childs ponders over this and states that maybe someone did. He then asks Copper what he intends to do. Copper rambles on about comparing it the the sample of Fuchs blood they have, see if there’s anything amiss about it. Maybe some drugs or something that would keep Fuchs quiet. He points at that, was he being slaughtered, he might make a bit of noise in the process, asking Childs if he remembers any bloody screams last night. Childs confirms that he didn’t. He then asks Copper how long the whole thing should take. Copper considers, stating it shouldn’t be more than a few days. Childs tells him to let him know if he finds anything. Copper agrees and goes back to work as Childs leaves the room.
Outside Mac and Clark Debate possible places to hide a body. Childs walks up to them and asks if they found anything. Mac tells him that Clark checked the dog pens and found nothing, they already checked the garbage area and nothing. The snowmobiles are still locked up so he couldn’t have taken it out from camp either. He figures they’ll try the tool shed next. After that, there’s pretty much nothing else other than checking every nook and cranny inside the main building. Childs nods and tells them he’s going to look through Palmer’s belongings, see if he can’t find something there. He then walks off. Clark looks at Mac and points out that Childs just gave himself the job of looking around inside the warm building. Mac replies “Caught that too did ya?”
Inside, Childs enters Palmer’s room. He glances over the piles of junk and debris. He halfheartedly pushes a pile out of the way and watches it clatter to the floor. He mumbles about always telling Palmer to clean up his side of the room. He walks over to the dresser, pulls open a drawer and begins rummaging around. All he finds is clothes. He shuts the drawer and opens the next, again pushing clothes about. Still nothing. He opens a third and begins rummaging around. He grunts in pain and yanks his hand back. He holds his hand up and looks at the trickle of blood coming from his finger. He sucks it briefly and looks back at the drawer. More carefully this time, he moves the clothes aside. He pauses as he sees it. Reaching into the drawer, he slowly pulls out the bloody knife. He stares at it a moment, seeing the blood is mostly dried. As he glances into the drawer he makes another find. Setting the knife down for the moment, he pulls out the stack of magazines. He’s found Palmer’s porn stash. Flipping through them briefly, he sees they run the gamut. Straight and Gay. As he glances through the covers they begin moving towards the realm of S&M. Bondage, leather, whips, chains. Childs turns his lip up at them, seemingly growing angry as he looks through them. As he does an envelope falls out. He glances down at it, then chucks the magazines away in disgust as he leans down to pick up the envelope. Opening it, inside he finds a stack of photos. Much like the magazines, he finds the images depict men and women in various states of bondage. They go from mere bondage to images of wax and whips and crops and torment. The content getting more violent. Childs hands are shaking at the content, but he forces himself to keep looking. And then they get worse. The leather stops in the images, but the bondage continues. Only now the subjects appear to be wearing more forcibly removed attire. There are images of pants and shirts torn and ripped to expose flesh. They continue, moving on to bruises and blood. Childs looks pale as they continue and the subjects appear to be in pain and fear. There are tears on the twisted faces. They no longer look like consenting activities. Childs swallows hard.

Act 3: 

The Past. Childs sits in his room, tears stream down his face. Downstairs two loud voices can be heard. Young Childs’ mother and father yell in fury at one another. He demands to know the identity of her friend. She yells back that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He asks he “no?” He then tells her that their son came home and saw what she was doing, he tells her what Childs said about the chains and leather and whipping. She gets a shocked look on her face, realizing what her son had seen. She tries to go upstairs, but Childs father stops her, grabbing her by the arm, telling her that they’re not done yet. She yanks her arm free. She looks at him in anger, then smiles. She admits it. She informs him just who it was with her. He is shocked when he realizes that it’s his old partner. But he’s confused because he hasn’t seen him in years and can’t fathom how they would know each other after that. She smiles and asks him when he thinks the whole thing started. He gets a looks of surprise that slowly turns to anger. She taunts him, telling him it’s been going for years and that maybe if he was more of a man, she wouldn’t have had to find a real one in the first place. He snaps and backhands her across the face. She stumbles back a step, holding her face in shock. He screams at her, asking her why she has that look, that he figured she’d like something like that. He smacks her across the face again, asking her if that’s the kind of thing that gets her off. He strikes her a third time. She screams and shoves him back. He raises his fist. She screams for him to just get out. He holds, his fist in the air, almost debating. He then drops his hand and tells her fine. He grabs his keys off the table and slams the door on his way out. Tears run down her face as she listens to the car pull out and drive away. She lets out a sob. She turns and sees Childs standing there at the base of the stairs, staring at her. The tears well up in her eyes again and she pushes past him and heads up stairs. Childs stands there in shock.
Outpost 31. Childs flings the pile of photos at the cage. He demands Palmer tell him what all this shit is. Palmer smiles as he looks at it. He tells Childs he thinks it’s pretty self explanatory. Childs snarls and calls him a sick son of a bitch. Palmer laughs and tells him to lighten up. He tells him that everybody has their kinks. Childs yells in fury, asking him if that’s what he calls this, just kinks. Palmer shrugs and tells him that shit happens. Childs asks if he means like what he did to Fuchs. Palmer shakes his head and reaffirms he didn’t do anything to Fuchs. Childs calls it bullshit. He then pulls out the knife and shows it to Palmer, asking him about the blood. Palmer smiles. Childs demands that Palmer tell him about the knife. Palmer continues to smile. Childs kicks the cage in his rage and screams for Palmer to explain it. Palmer sighs and slowly rolls up his sleeves. Holding out his forearms, he shows Childs the series of cuts and scars running all up and down the length of the inside of his arms. Palmer tells him it’s just a little something he picked up in his teens. To relieve the stress. Get rid of the bad juju. Tells Childs he should try it sometime. Childs snarls in disgust then flings the knife away, storming out of the room. Palmer chuckles, then looks down at the photos all over the floor, smiling.
Childs storms up and down the hall. Nauls and Norris watch him. Childs insists that Palmer did it as he paces back and forth. He KNOWS Palmer did it. Nauls tells him to take a breath. Childs tells him to fuck off. Nauls shuts his mouth and backs up a step. Norris says nothing. Mac walks in with Clark. Mac tells him that they’ve checked everywhere. There just isn’t a body. Childs looks through the window at Palmer. He insists Palmer knows where the body is. Mac tells Childs to calm down. Childs looks at him in anger and tells him that he IS calm. Mac tells him he doesn’t look very calm. Childs stares at Mac in anger. Mac holds up his hands in mock surrender. Childs scoffs at him and looks back through the window. Mac tries again, telling Childs that short of beating it out of him, there’s not much they can do to Palmer. Childs looks at him in surprise and then storms away. Mac curses under his breath and follows Childs.
Meanwhile. Lars and Matias slowly approach the snowcat. Matias walks up to the door. Lars points his gun at it. Matias reaches for the door. He grabs the handle and looks back at Lars. Lars nods at him, gun ready. Matias holds a moment and flings open the door. Lars is instantly looking inside, finger on the trigger. Nothing. The snowcat is empty. Lars shakes his head. Matias sighs in relief and asks him what the hell its doing out here. Lars shakes his head again and climbs out. Matias asks him “now what?” Lars slings the gun over his shoulder, pulls one of the grenades from his coat, pulls the pin and chucks it inside. Matias darts away and Lars walks after him, the grenade goes off, reducing the snowcat to slag. Matias curses at him. Lars just looks around the rocks. Matias says Lars name, almost in a whisper. Lars ignores him. Matias says his name again. Lars looks down at him. Matias is not looking at Lars. Lars turns, following his line of sight. He spots it instantly. The dog. It’s standing there, looking at them. Just staring. Matias slowly tries to crawl backwards. Lars ever so slowly tries to get the gun from his shoulder. The dog just stares. Slowly, Lars moves his hand to the gun. Slowly. Slowly. Inch by inch. The Dog darts forward. Matias screams. Lars curses and stumbles backward, grabbing for the gun. The dog is upon them. Lars fires and misses. The dog leaps. Lars falls backwards off his feet as the dog sails past. Lars fires, fires and fires again, still trying to hit the dog while laying on his back. The last two shots almost hit Matias, who ducks and yells in fear as the bulls hit the rock right above his head. Lars scrambles to his feet to give chase. He yells at Matias to hurry and helps him get to his feet, cursing at him the whole time. Once Matias is up, Lars runs after the dog. Matias follows Lars. The snowcat continues to burn. Lars charges out from the rocks and fires at the dog. He fires at the dog who runs off in the distance. The gun clicks empty again. Lars curses and reloads. He runs for the chopper, screaming at Matias the whole way. The two climb in the chopper and take off again. In the distance what appears to be a tiny cluster of buildings can be seen.

Act 4: 

Outpost 31. Childs enters his room, reaches behind the door and grabs his baseball bat. As he turns to leave, Mac steps up in his way. Childs tells him to get the fuck out of his way. Mac holds his hands up again, telling Childs he doesn’t want to do this. Childs stares at him for a long moment. Mac tells him that they’ll find Fuchs and Palmer will pay if he’s guilty. All they have to do is keep looking and keep Palmer locked up till the turn over shift arrives. Childs glares at him for a bit then sighs. He tells Mac that he’s right. He lowers the bat and walks forward, past Mac. He tells Childs that he doesn’t blame him. Childs says “Good.” He then shoves Mac into the room, slams the door and shoves a chair under the knob. As Mac bangs on the door, Childs walks away.
Outside the supply room, Garry has joined the others. They watch as Childs walks up and holds out him hand. He tells Garry to give him the keys. Norris and Nauls look between the two men. Garry studies Childs’ hard expression, then looks down at the bat in his hand. Childs remains motionless, his hand out. Garry reaches down, pulls the keys from his belt and hands them to Childs. Childs enters the room and shuts the door behind him. Nauls asks Garry if he’s gone crazy. Garry shrugs and asks why. He then says he didn’t see anything, then walks away. Nauls looks at Norris in shock. Norris just shakes his head.
Palmer looks up at Childs. Childs slowly walks towards the cage. He tells Palmer he’s going to give him one more chance to tell him where Fuchs is. Palmer shakes his head and says he already told him, he doesn’t know. Childs calls it bullshit. Palmer shrugs and asks if he just wants him to lie about it. Tell him he ate him or something. Childs points at him with a snarl, calling him a sick bastard and telling him he gave him one last chance to be a decent human being. Palmer laughs out loud at the statement, repeating the decent human being part as if the statement is absurd. Childs tells him to have it his way as he unlocks the cage and flings open the door. The smile disappears from Palmer’s face as Childs grabs him by the collar and flings him out into the supply room. He stands over Palmer. Childs asks again about Fuchs. Palmer tells him to go fuck himself. With that Childs swings the bat down on Palmers stomach, knocking the breath from him. He rolls onto his side, curling up into a fetal position. Childs asks again, anger entering his tone. Palmer gasps for breath, but manages to say he doesn’t know. Childs hits him again, this time in the back. Palmer grunts loudly and grasps for his back. Childs asks again, getting angrier still. Palmer grunts out another denial. Childs hits him again, this time the shoulder.  Childs asks yet again, nearly yelling. Palmers doesn’t answer, just groans in pain. Childs hits him again, this time the leg. He asks again, yelling now in a rage. He doesn’t wait for Palmer to answer. Immediately he hits him again. He asks and hits him once more. Again. And again. And again. Childs alternates his screaming question and savage blows. Palmer gets no opportunity to answer, only make noises of pain. As Childs continues the beating, he stops the question altogether. Simply alternating blows with more blows. Again and again and again the rage clear on his face.
The past. Childs’ mother sits on the bed, her legs pulled up to her chest and sobbing. Her husband asks her what the hell she has to be crying about. She looks up, startled. He stands in the doorway, a dark expression on his face. He looks horrible. She tells his to just get the fuck out. He tells her that it’s his house too. She gets up and goes to push him out and shut the door. He holds it open. She reacts in disgust to the smell, he has clearly been drinking. He can’t even look at him, she tells him to just go. He continues holding the door and steps inside, pushing her back. He asks her what the fuck is wrong with her. He tells her that he’s always been a good man to her. He asks her just why she’s doing this to him. Why she’s acting like some whore. She turns to walk away from him. He is instantly enraged. He grabs her by the hair and tells her not to fucking walk away from him. She yells in pain as he yanks her backwards and wraps his arm around her. He looks at her closely, asking her again just what the hell is wrong with her. Again pointing out how he’s a good man. He repeats this over and over and over again, getting louder each time. He screams once more in her ear about how he’s a good man, before he shoves her forward onto the bed. As she tries to get up, he grabs her again, flipping her over onto her back. She yells at him and tries to push him off, but he holds her down. He asks her if this is the kind of shit she likes before he smacks her across the face. He asks again and strikes her again. He calls her various names as the blows get harder and harder and harder. Eventually he’s simply beating on her. He looks at her, her face swollen and bloody. He says that she must be getting off on this and immediately rips her pants off. He head lulls back and forth as he fumbles with his pants. He’s immediately on top of her, grunting and forcefully thrusting. The daze on her face slowly turns to horror as she realizes what’s happening. He keeps repeating over and over again how much she must be loving this, that this is exactly what she deserves. She whimpers and starts to try and scream. She jumps with the loud bang as she’s splattered in blood. She stares dazed at the blank expression on his face and the new hole in his head. As he rolls off her, she looks up at the door. There stands Childs, his father’s gun in his violently shaking hand. An utter look of horror on his face. His mother’s expression nearly mirrors his own. She asks him what he’s done. Childs stutters, his voice wavering. He says he didn’t mean to. He just wanted it to stop. He didn’t mean to. He didn’t mean to. He didn’t mean to. His mother sobs, nearing a scream but the sound can’t quite come out. The young Childs repeats, shaking his head but unable to look away, that he didn’t mean to.
Outpost 31. Childs continues his assault on Palmer. He yells at him, calling him a perverse, rabid dog. He delivers one more blow to the side of Palmer’s face. Finally Childs stops. He stands there panting and fuming in his anger. Palmer makes a strange noise as he holds the side of his face. Childs stares at him, working back up to another round. That’s when he realizes what Palmer’s doing. He’s laughing. Palmer rolls onto his back, clutching his eye in pain, but he laughs all the same. He groans loudly and says Childs knows just what he likes. Childs blinks in surprise and drops the bat. Palmer continues to laugh, asking Childs if that’s it, that it was just getting really good. Childs takes a step back. Palmer continues laughing, telling Childs to keep going, just a little more, just till he gets off, he’s almost there as it is. Childs just stares at Palmer in horror. The same look he had on his face all those years ago. The door flings open as Mac rushes in. He looks at the sight of Palmer laying on the floor, laughing as Childs stares at him in horror.
Mac walks over to Childs. Keeping his eyes on him he reaches down slowly and picks up the bat. Childs just stares at Palmer. He slowly reaches out and touches Childs on the shoulder. Childs slowly turns and stares at Mac with his blank expression. He blinks slightly as if trying to come to his senses. Mac tells him to come on. He leads Childs from the room. He motions for Copper to check Palmer out as he moves past. Clark follows Copper in.
The past. The young Childs sits in his cell. He has aged several years and bulked up considerably. His expression is hard. A man in a suit discusses matters with him. Telling him he would have been out a long time ago had he kept his temper under control. Childs sneers and says they were bullies, leaning on the others. He only gave them a taste of their own medicine. The man in the suit sighs and reads off a list consisting of various injuries and broken limbs. Childs looks away in impatience. He then points out that he’s been behaving recently. The man points out that’s entirely because the other prisoners have taken to avoiding him entirely. Childs says that it suits him fine. The man it the suit goes on to tell him that because of it, he’s managed to finagle him a parole hearing. He tells Childs that he’s been trying to find a character witness and that he’s contacted his mother. Childs interrupts, correcting him that he doesn’t have a mother. The man stares at him in silence, but then continues. He states that with his mothers testimony that he was originally acting in self defense, and combined with his age when he entered the system and agreeing to visit a psychologist and take anger management courses, that he should be able to get him out. Childs shrugs. The man tells him that he even might be able to line him up with a job on the outside. Probably not much better than a janitor but it’s something to get him started. Childs continues looking away. The man sighs and gets up to leave. As he does, Childs calls out to him. As he turns back, Childs begrudgingly thanks him. The man nods and tells him to just keep that temper under control when he gets out.
Outpost 31. Childs sits in the rec room. He groans loudly as he rubs his face with both hands. Mac holds out a glass of jim beam for him. Childs looks up at him and takes it. He takes a swig of it and reacts in disgust. He tells Mac that he doesn’t know how he drinks that shit. Mac shrugs and takes a swig of his own, saying that the cold helps. He takes the glass and returns to the bar. Norris comes in and sits down across from Childs. He informs his that Copper says Palmer will be fine. He’s got a couple broken ribs and a fractured wrist, but other than cuts and bruises and a dislocated shoulder, he’s in perfect health. He smiles at Childs. Childs chuckles slightly and says that he learned a while back how to cause pain without causing too much major injury. Norris nods as if he understands. He then asks if he’s be okay. Childs nods slowly, saying he will be. Mac offers Childs another drink from across the room, Childs shakes his head with a frown. Mac offers Norris one. Norris tells him he doesn’t drink anymore. Mac nods and takes another shot his his drink. The three remain silent for a long moment before Childs sighs loudly. He looks up at Norris and asks him if he ever told him how he got this job. Norris shakes his head. Childs tells him that he was working as a janitor at St. Johns University out in Queens. While he was there, he became friends with one of the professors. He calls him a good guy, and says the used to go out drinking and bitch about their problems regularly. He tells Norris that one night out Childs was bitching about the shit he had to clean everyday. Literal shit. That college kids are some of the most disgusting groups of humans he’d ever seen. Well, as he was bitching about it, his friend pipes up and tells him that he still has a damned temper problem and that he needs to cool his head off. Well, he goes on to mention a friend of his was going to be heading out to work in McMurdo Sound in a few months. Childs asked him where that was, and nearly choked on his beer when he said Antarctica. Childs told him that he was crazy. His friend insisted that it might be good. Get away from people for a bit and they always needed people willing to work for a living. And the pay wasn’t supposed to be all too bad either. Childs says he thought it over a couple weeks and… that was that. He headed down here, got his first job and eventually moved out to work at Installation 4. He tells Norris there’s really nothing like the south pole to cool your head off. Mostly. Norris nods with a smile. He then asks Childs what he started out doing. Childs looks at him and tells him. Cleaning out the toilets. Norris stares at him. Childs smiles and the two begin chuckling. Mac has moved over to the window and looks outside. Childs concludes his tale telling Norris that he’s always tried to keep a cool head, fights damn hard to do it. But the thought of someone snapping and hurting someone… He just shakes his head. Norris nods, telling him that he understands. Childs sighs once more and sits there in silence. He then glances around as he hears a faint noise growing. He asks Norris if he hears that noise. Norris confirms that he does. Childs asks what the hell it is. Mac tells him It’s a chopper. Childs looks at him baffled and says they aren’t expecting anyone. Mac walks away from the window saying he doesn’t think it’s one of theirs. Norris and Childs look at one another, then jump up to follow Mac out.