INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - HOURS BEFORE - LIGHT

The hospital room is QUIET. Elliot wakes, STRETCHING in a chair, RUBBLING the leather of the chair. Carter dark eyes shoot open.

CARTER
Where is your mother?

Elliot gives a hard look to Carter. He doesn't answer, instead he nods his head to a sofa close to the door. Tami sleeps on it.

Carter WHEEZING. RASPY BREATHS.

CARTER
Come here. There's something I need you to do for me, son.

ELLIOT
It's Elliot.

CARTER
I remember when I was your age. I thought
I knew how to handle things rationally. But in reality-

ELLIOT
What are you getting at?

CARTER
I'm saying, you may think this is how you should behave.
How you should go about this. About us. But it isn't the right ending.

He gives his father a heartless glare. Disgusted.

ELLIOT
Oh, so you know me all of a sudden?
A little yelling makes you feel like we're good now?
It's been over, so stop trying to give me fatherly advice.

CARTER
(shouts)
I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU!!!

ELLIOT
(yells)
FROM WHAT?!!

CARTER
From what I'm leaving behind.

Elliot leans his head back on the chair it in frustration, closing his eyes.

EXT. O'HARE AIRPORT - AFTERNOON - BRIGHT - (HOURS AHEAD)

Jim PARKS an all black Nissan outside O'Hare Airport. Coatless. Heavy snow add inches to the ground. He RANS out of the car, POUNDING inside the building.

Hundreds of people BUZZ and WALK inside and exit to the outside of the airport.

CHATTER. BEEPING. INAUDIBLE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Jim searches for Sonya.

On someone's phone close by, a voice SPEAKS:

RADIO
There is a rumor that a public health official, who unidentified, leaked a very vague epidemic warning in a twitter post. Using a newly created account named REDAdvisory. This alleged post read: "Washington State is facing an unknown virus. It is highly advised that everyone stays updated. This is not a test." That post was deleted fifteen minutes after surfacing, along with the account. To whoever's listening, was this a hoax? Call in and voice your opinion.

INT. HOSPITAL - BREAK ROOM - LIGHT - AN HOUR LATER

The three doctors stand in a circle in a neat break room.

DOCTOR PEGGY
The CDC requires Mr. Knox's body for further testing.

A severity spread their faces.

DOCTOR THOMPSON
I figured this would happen.

DOCTOR PEGGY
His life has to end within an hour. That's an order. This is
a critical mission in order to assist in uncovering answers.
He will be airlifted promptly after passing.

Stone face drops emotionally.

DOCTOR STONE
(indifferent)
What about what his family wants?
They have to make plans for him. A funeral...

DOCTOR PEGGY
Their wants do not matter, he's property of the CDC now.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - RESTROOM - LIGHT

Elliot WASHES his hands in a restroom sink. Cool water. The muscles of his jaws jump. His eyes lazy. Water SPRAYS. He stares at his hands under the water. Dizzily. Hypnotically. Unblinking.

TALKING from beyond the door catches his attention.

VOICES BEYOND DOOR:

DOCTOR PEGGY
Yes, that is the best possible option for your husband. His soul is ready to let go, every second he is suffering and the virus is shutting down his organs. This shouldn't be allowed to go on any longer. When you're ready, just take that line there and discon-

TAMI
(bothered)
I've seen it done before, Doctor,
I can manage from here. Thank you.

FOOTSTEPS sound on the floor, moving away. Then a door lightly SHUTS.

TAMI
Okay, okay. Alright.
(hyperventilating)
OH GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS!!!

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - LIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Elliot HURRIES from the restroom. Tami DROPS to the floor, CRYING into her hands. He kneels down to her.

ELLIOT
It's alright. It's alright.

TAMI
This isn't happening. I'm dreaming
I'm...I...just need to wake up!
(whispers)
I need to wake up.

ELLIOT
(sincerely)
I'm here, okay?

Elliot cuddles with her on the floor.

A tear falls down Carter's face while he watches his family. His fingers still try to LIFT the mattress up. STRUGGLING. SLIPPING.

STRAINING. Raising the mattress up a few inches. Until he is successful. His hand SHOVES through the mattress lining.

ELLIOT (CONT'D)
We have to say goodbye, you can do this.
We came all this way, to do this. Alright, let's go.

He cuffs his mother's face in his palms. She EXHALES sharply.

TAMI
(sniffs)
Okay, okay...yeah, we can do this.

ELLIOT
(assuringly)
We can.

Carter WRAPS something too small to see, into his palm. His family nears him. Tami keeps her focus from her husband as she GRABS the plug coming from a monitor.

TAMI (CONT'D)
Goodbye, Carter

Carter SWALLOWS hard. WHEEZING. RASPY BREATHING.

CARTER
My last words, please? Son, come here.

Elliot stands next to his father. Leaning down to him. His expression calm and attentive. A bit glum and accepting.

ELLIOT
(nicely)
Alright, what are your last words.

Carter raises his hand to his son who takes it. In a flash he TUGS Elliot down towards him, roughly. A syringe containing black liquid JAMS into Elliot's arm.

BLOOD SQUIRTS onto all of their faces and onto the sheets. Carter uses the last of his strength to INJECT the vaccine, his hand shaking vigorously. The metal needle DRAGS and RIPS down the SKIN and FLESH of his son's arm. BREAKING. SLICING.

ELLIOT
AHH!!!

Elliot attempts to escape the hold his father has locked onto his arm. Tami PUSHES Carter's away from holding her son. Carter doesn't budge. The syringe is held firmly in place by his hand. Barely moving.

Tami SCREAMS, and FLEES to the plug from the monitor. DISCONNECTING the plug hastily. Elliot and Carter stare into each other's eyes in bewilderment.

Elliot face quivers as he looks to his badly damaged arm. Disbelieving. Going sickly from all the blood running down his GUSHING arm in many lines. DRIPPING on the sheet of the bed.

CARTER
(breathlessly)
Son...I love you, please... please?

Carter goes LIMP on the bed. Dead.

Tami SPRINTS to the emergency button on the wall.

Elliot THUDS to the floor, his bloody arm leaving trails on the railing, sheets, and floor.

An ALARM goes off.

INT. HIGHRISE - CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING - MINUTES LATER

The sponsors are still in the conference room of the high-rise. They all are huddled in a circle. Elmore, is seated at the long table with the Lead Sponsor who stands beside him. Strangely obedient.

COLD RAIN DRIZZLES onto the windows. Lightly.

SPONSOR TWO
We've made our decision. You don't need to stay and try and convince us. No means no.

LEAD SPONSOR
(hypnotized)
There is high promise in his offer.

Sponsor Three mean mugs the Lead Sponsor.

SPONSOR THREE
You keep saying that...what does it promise exactly??

Elmore surveys the group from the table, SCRATCHING dust from the wood surface with his nails.

LEAD SPONSOR
I cannot tell you why. It can only be
shown. Elmore will show you all.

SPONSOR THREE
(boiling)
There he goes again, saying the same shit as if he's programmed. Does anyone know what's happening here?!!

The Sponsor looks around for answers. Elmore rises from the table.

ELMORE
Quiet now.

The Lead Sponsor pauses like a manikin. Unmoving. Unblinking.

SPONSOR TWO
What in the world?!!

SPONSOR THREE
Look, whatever the hell this is.
We don't want any part in it. Alright?

ELMORE
I never cared about winning votes, people. I do not
need them. There are other ways to receive what I want.

SPONSOR TWO
(snickers)
By force? Please don't say that line.

ELMORE
You all were too busy bickering and let two hours pass. I thought you all would have realized the beauty in my offer by now, it is an invitation. But...you are simple. I overestimated.

SPONSOR THREE
Get security up here!

The sponsor BARKS at a co worker.

ELMORE
Funny, how you think you have control. You
have nothing but wasted time and useless souls.

One of the members of the group WALKS to a wall intercom. Preparing to press it, reaching out...but stopping full force, while their arm is mid air. Everyone else in the room freezes in place as well, like the Lead Sponsor. Manikin like. Almost as if they're spelled.

All of their eyes shift in panic, jumping around frantically, fighting to gain control. As if their bodies are disobeying them. They strain their necks and their knitted shut mouths. MUMBLING with the confinement of motion.

Elmore watches them, focused, as he removes a folded paper from jacket.

ELMORE (CONT'D)
This is how it will go.

He UNFOLDS the paper, typed in black, the lettering shows through from the dim sun shadowing onto it. Elmore turns the paper over to the group. The frozen people watch. MUMBLING.

A red tint lights Elmore's eyes.

BUZZING fills everyone's ears.

The group submits completely, automatically. No longer fighting against their will. Their eyes halt on Elmore. Obediently.

ELMORE (CONT'D)
I only need ten seconds. The whole time that is all I needed.
(laughs)
But it was entertaining watching comedy show. Now, it is time for reconsideration.

The document in his hand reads; C.A.S.

The first page has a blank, numbered list of fifty. Elmore CLICKS a pen and offers it to a sponsor.

In order, each of the sponsors line up, uniformly. Almost as if sped up in speed, each of them SIGN their name on the letter. Their body motion similar to 60 FPS (frames per second).

The Lead Sponsor SCRIBBLES his signature, finalizing the file.

ELMORE (CONT'D)
See? It is as I said...
(sinisterly)
only ten seconds.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

END EPISODE