"¶¶ [ Radio.'Easy Rock ]" "¶ Standin' at the corner station like I left you ¶" "¶ With eyes so soft it felt like I would die ¶" "¶ you wore a yellow necktie and glasses ¶" "¶ So I had to ask you ¶¶" "Charlie!" "[ Screams ]" "Andy.!" " Daddy, what's going on?" "Where's Mommy?" " We have to go." "She's okay." "Andy, get Charlie!" " [ Rifle Shot ] - [ Screams ]" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Come on, come on!" "[ Rifle Shot ]" "[ Panting ]" "Hey!" "Let me shut down." "Where'd you get the coffee, brother?" "Hospital's got a coffee shop." "Tastes like Band-Aids smell." "Love that smell." "Shall we go?" "Aren't you gonna ask me how he is?" "How is he?" "You could just go up there and then you'd know, wouldn't you?" "I'm gonna be late." "Do you want a ride or not?" "Change of plans." "I told Dad I'd d stay." "Knock yourself out." "Hey, he wanted me to give this to you." "Tell him no thanks." "No givebacks!" "[ Laughs ]" "[ Woman ] Gil, good." "Here's the address index." "Got any victims for me?" "Yeah." "Uh, Mary Conant." "Fresh meat!" "Congratulations, Mrs. Conant." "You have won the class-action lottery." "Yep, one more and we close the Western Region." "Two more." "This one's top priority." "No, no, I already closed this one twice." "Joel wants you to take another crack at it." "She's dead." "Did you tell him that?" "You don't move up by telling the boss things he doesn't want to hear." "You do what you're told, and keep filling out that time card." "[ Woman ] Morning, Tommie." "Sarah!" "I'm sorry." "I got caught up." "Really?" "Let's see?" "Come on, let me see." "We have, uh, Zinc," "A History of the Vertical-Retort Smelting Process in America." "Ooh!" "Hard to put down." "It's fascinating." "Where'd you find this?" "Somebody just left it on the table." "It's a Ph.D. thesis, and unpublished theses go in the" "Come on, you've been working here a week." "In the morgue." "I can put it back." "Thanks, sweetie." "[ Knocking ] Joel, you got a minute?" "Vincent, come on in." "How's the West coming?" "We're down to the last names." "Good, good." "I need those people located by the end of this week." "That's what I wanted to talk to you about." "This file came back to us, Charlene McGee." "Mm-hmm." "I sent it back." "I've cleared this file twice already." "There was an explosion in 1 989" "No body was recovered." "Right." "But according to the coroner's report, the fire was so hot it would've consumed everything." "Even the teeth!" "It'll just slow us up if we waste our time tracking down a corpse." "The head of RD requested we make another effort on this one." "What does Research and Development have to do with the settlement?" "Not a thing." "Then why" "Look, Vincent." "I pay you to find these people whether it's easy or not." "Yes?" "Yes." "Then find her, Vincent." "Shut the door on your way out." "Yes, sir." "[ Sarah ] Tommie.!" "You startled me." "I found another one." "If people would just put things back in the first place." "[ Phone Ringing ]" "[ Gil ] Having any fun yet?" "[ Vincent ] Are you kidding?" "I'd do this for free." ""James Richardson"?" "Yeah." "He's been drawing a pension from Millington College, but they have no address." "So how does he get his money?" "Apparently he shows up in person, collects his check and cashes it." "Sounds a little paranoid." "Yeah, well, anyway, I figured you'd stake out the registrar's office and wait for him to show." "That's great, but I gotta go to Reno to close Conant." "I can't hang out hoping this guy pops up." "You go." "I just find them." "I'm not authorized to cut a check." "But you haven't found him yet, have you?" "It's only a two-hour drive." "Do I have a sign on my back today?" "Fine, I'll find him." "Joel didn't cut you any slack on McGee, huh?" "Nope." "You want her, you can have her." "Just make sure you bring your shovel." "Bye." "[ Woman ] I can't believe you did that." "That's so stupid." "[ Man ] I'm stupid now." "Yeah, you're stupid." "Mm-hmm." "But I like stupid." "Excuse me!" "Just gotta put the book back." "Okay." "Did you see her staring?" "[ Sighs ] God." "[ Vincent's Voice ] My name's Vincent Sforza, with Systems Operations Corporation." "According to our records, a James Richardson... participated in an experiment here at Millington in 1 979." "A class-action lawsuit was settled in conjunction with that study... and he stands to receive a very large payment." "If you wanna leave a message, we could give it to him when he picks up his check." "I don't suppose I can have an address or a phone number." "No, we don't have that, and even if we did-- Try the phone company." "That's the first place I tried." "Um, how often does he come in?" "One time, he didn't come in for a whole year to get his check." "Once he came in three times in one day." "So, who knows?" "Does your office have contact with any other people from the program?" "Anyone who might know where he is?" "No, but if it's names you're looking for, try records from the program." "They should still be on file." "That'd be great." "Do you know where l could find those?" "I'm sorry!" "Sorry." "Sorry." "We call the archives "the morgue."" "Of course, that's not the official name." "I suppose an official morgue would have dead bodies in it." "Most of these documents used to be classified." "It wasn't till the past year that they became public." "They're not even cataloged yet." "We don't have the staff for it." "It's a struggle to get students to major in library science." "I can imagine." "Not just here at Millington." "There is a nationwide shortage of qualified librarians." "It's a national disgrace." "Here we are." "Et voila.!" "[ Sighing ] Great." "Seventy-five." "Seventy-six." "[ Mumbling ] Seventy-nine." "Okay, let's see what we got." "[ Reading To Himself] "Sixth in a series of blind tests conducted in 1 97 9," "Lot 6 was tested on 1 2 students with ages ranging from--"" "Blah, blah, blah." "Come on, give me something." "" The results were an immediate and statistically verifiable increase in--"" "" Psychic abilities."" "" Positive results from Lot 6 were offset by drastic side effects." "" One subject died during the initial tests from self-inflicted wounds." "" Of the survivors, six developed severe mental illness, and three committed suicide within two years."" "¶¶ [ Hard Rock ]" "Where did you come from?" "[ Moans ]" "[ Moaning ] I have-- l have to go." "What?" "I gotta go!" "You have to go?" "I have to go!" "Wait a minute!" "You can't just work me up and then take off!" "Hey!" "Come on.!" "you bitch.!" " You have to stop it!" " [ Charlie ] I don't want to." " Charlie, you have to stop this!" " I can't." "[ Ringing ]" "This is Vincent." "I got your package." "Hey, brother." "Where'd you get the tape?" "The library at Millington." "But I didn't have a machine that could play it." "Can you do a transfer for me?" "Already done." "Check your mail." "Ah, you're a digital god." "Hold on a second." "[ Sighs ]" "Hold up." "Vincent, what the hell is this?" "I don't know." "I haven't seen it yet." "You didn't do anything illegal to get it, did you?" "No, not really." "Why?" "Just play it." "What is it?" "[ Audio:" "indistinct, Distorted ]" "What the hell are we looking at?" "[ Vincent ] I don't know." "Looks like some kind of experiment." "This is riveting." "Keep watching." "[ Patient Groaning ]" "[ Patient, Very Agitated ]" "[ Woman Patient Screams ]" "The next time you send me something like this, would you put a warning label on it?" "Let me call you back." "Bye." "[ Sarah ] No, it's not a problem." "Of course not." "Sure thing." "Okay, bye-bye." "Some documents are missing from the archives." "What's been taken?" "I'm not sure exactly." "Who's been in there?" "The sign-in sheet's over there, so" "Tommie, um" "Tommie.!" "Joseph spent his entire life in pursuit of science." "The university's reaction, an absolute disgrace." "Mrs. Wanless, people forget it was a different situation." "Exactly." "The Soviet Union had already made tremendous advances in this area." "The Lot 6 program was an opportunity to narrow the gap." "What sort of drug was it?" "Di-lysergic triune acid." "One of several new psychotropics tested." "I don't recall the others." "But Joseph thought Lot 6 was a real breakthrough." "He felt terrible for those people, of course, but you have to make sacrifices for knowledge." "Did Dr. Wanless keep any personal records of his research?" "Of course." "Come with me." "This way." "I kept all of it just as when he was alive." "You know if he did any follow-up on the Lot 6 program?" "Oh, Lot 6, that's here." "This is what you want right here." "May I?" "Oh, yes, certainly." "[ Reading To Himself] "Covert surveillance was maintained..." "" on the four subjects who demonstrated no overt adverse effects:" "Mary Conant, Andrew McGee, James Richardson..." "" and Vicky Tomlinson." "" In an unexpected turn of events," "McGee and Tomlinson were married that year and produced one child in 1 98O," "Charlene McGee. '" "Charlene McGee wasn't part of the original study?" "No, she was a mistake." "[ Reading To Himself] "Charlene McGee, a.k.a. Charlie McGee," "" a.k.a. 'The Firestarter.'" "In 1 989, it was determined that the child had unprecedented--"" "What's pyrokinesis?" "She lights fires... with her mind." "" She was remanded to the custody of the state." "Her father refused to cooperate, resulting in the incident at Mander's farm."" "is there any more on Charlene McGee?" "Yes, there's a film somewhere." "Joseph saved everything." "He has more pictures of that little girl than our own boy." "[ Doorbell Rings ]" "I'll just be a moment." "Could you hit the lights, please?" "[ Andy ] They found us." "Hi, Charlie." "Go away." "Go away and leave us alone." "Can't do that." "And you're fresh out of places to hide, Andy." "You can't have her." "It's not up to you." "We all want what's best for Charlie, don't we?" "Come here, honey." "You're not taking my daughter!" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Screaming ]" "Charlie, stop it!" "Charlie, listen to me!" "Stop it!" "Charlie." "I can't." "Charlie, you have to stop it!" "I don't want to." "What's wrong?" "Go sit down." "Nothing." "I'm m okay." "I'm okay." "You sure?" "Y-Yeah." "It was just the lights." "They made me dizzy, is all." "Have we met before?" "No." "You sure?" "You look very familiar." "I don't think so." "I'm Vincent..." "Sforza." "Tommie Andrews." "Miss Andrews is doing her thesis on my husband's research into human psychic potential." "Outside the library." "What?" "That's where we met." "Outside the library." "I bumped into you." "I work at the library." "There you have it." "So what is your interest in Dr. Wanless?" "I'm doing a follow-up study." "What are you following up?" "An earlier study." "Mr. Sforza's looking into the role Joseph's research played in winning the cold war." "Maybe I can save you some work." "There's no reason why we should both have to dig through this raw data." "I can send you a summary when I'm m finished." "That's sweet, but I'm m looking for very specific information." "Really, you're both perfectly welcome to examine my husband's files... for as long as you need." "[ Cell Phone Ringing ] That's me." "Would you excuse me?" "If I could take these files and make copies-- You know I won't allow that." "I've tracked down some of the stuff we didn't have access to." "Some of the original files from the study." "It's pretty disturbing." "I mean, some of the things they did to these people,Joel." "And this relates to finding Richardson how?" "Because I would hate to think that you're wasting my time." "[ Vincent ] There's names and addresses in those files." "I could probably find Richardson through his parents or relatives." "Who knows, I may even find Charlene McGee for you." "[Joel ] That would work for me." "We still have serious concerns about Radiant Thunder." "Specifically, staging the test in an uncontrolled environment." "is it too late to move the operation to a government facility?" "Radiant Thunder was designed to fight the undeclared wars of the 21 st century." "That means hitting targets in the midst of a civilian population... with total surprise and complete deniability." "You can't test it on a government facility." "It defeats the purpose of the test." "But the target-- a bank?" "Yes?" "That's correct." "You're using these children, the most advanced weapon system created, to rob a bank?" "It's not about the bank." "Think about what robbing a bank entails." "Crowd control, penetrating a hardened structure, targeting a specific objective." "We understand all that." "It just seems so" "Mundane." "Mundane.!" "Yes!" "And totally deniable." "Nonetheless, we may have to postpone this operation." "According to your own reports, Joel, there are former participants in the Western Region that have to be accounted for." "These people are considered security risks." "And they will be accounted for." "You have my word." "Gentlemen, thank you for your time." "I have to get back to work now." "Excuse me a minute, gentlemen." "John, you didn't do me any favors in there." "So, where are we in tracking down the previous test subjects?" "We've found virtually all." ""Virtually" means the opposite of what it sounds." "We will locate all the surviving test subjects before Radiant Thunder." "Even Charlene McGee?" "With all due respect,John, Charlene McGee is dead." "With respect,Joel, you don't know anything." "Even if she were alive, what makes you think she's a threat to Radiant Thunder?" "When she was 1 0 years old, she could produce 20,000 degrees of spot heat in less than three seconds." "Enough heat for concrete blocks to explode." "I'd say that makes her a threat, wouldn't you?" "Aren't you letting your imagination run away with you,John?" "Joel, my job requires an absolute lack of imagination." "John's here." "[ Boy ] Hi,John.!" "Ohh!" "Ohh!" "There's my boy!" "There he is!" "Whoa!" "Look what I did." "I took out his brains." "Oh, yes, you did." "Here's the cerebellum, then here's the cerebrum, then here's the medulla." "Can I have a puppy next?" "Oh, well, if you're a good boy." "Oh!" "You're a heavy lump." "Down you get." "Let's see how Cody's doing." "How's my boy today?" "Can I get you anything?" "[ Boy ] Why does he get all the attention?" "We can all do stuff." "He doesn't do anything." "Yeah, I mean, what is so special about him anyway?" "Soon." "Soon." "Why don't you tell us the story about Charlie?" "Those stories are so stupid!" "Be nice, Paul, be nice." " l like it when she burns stuff." " The farm's the best 'cause she gets to burn up people." "All right then, gather 'round, gather 'round." "Does anyone know what happened to Charlie after she burnt up the people at the farm?" "She burned up more people." "[ Chuckles ] No." "No, not quite." "Well, do you give up?" "Do you want me to tell you?" "No." "Hey, stop it, you two!" "Just stop it!" "Well," "Charlie and her daddy ran away." "They went someplace where nobody knew them." "And Charlie was very lonely." "Then a big bird saw her from way, way up in the sky." "And it swooped down and grabbed her with its golden claws." "And it took her to a magic castle." "And in the castle, there were toys and games and friends." "But Charlie didn't want to play." "No!" "Why not, Charlie?" "My daddy told me not to." "And since Charlie wouldn't play, nobody liked her." "Charlie was all alone." "[ Crying ]" "There you are!" "Don't cry." "Why not?" "Because they can see you." "You don't want... them to see you crying, do you?" "I don't care." "Do you know what they're gonna do?" "I hope they kill me." "No, you don't." "Yes, I do." "It's my fault Mommy's gone and Daddy's gone... because I'm m bad!" "Look at me." "Look at me!" "You are not bad!" "You're a very beautiful girl with a very special gift." "A great gift." "They're dead because of me." "Your daddy's not dead." "Shh." "He's here, in a cell, like you." "Yeah. I could take him a message if you want." "How?" "I take him his food." "Why would you help me?" "I, I don't have that many friends." "Everybody should have at least one great friend, right?" "Besides, I know how you can help your daddy." "Just give 'em what they want." "No." "Daddy said" "D-D-D-D-- Listen to me." "You give them what they want, just a little, make them really need you, then you get what you want." "My daddy?" "That's right." "It's up to you." "What's your name?" "John." "John, tell my dad I'm m okay." "Tell him I love him." "Okay, Charlie, I'll tell him." "You have an intuitive grasp of child psychology." "It doesn't really matter whether she cooperates or not." "She's far too dangerous." "She'll have to be eliminated." "Nobody kills that girl but me." "Mary Conant?" "[ Woman ] Who's asking?" "Gil James." "I'm with a company called Systems Operations." "What do you want?" "I've got a check for you." "A class-action suit." "Some study you took part in." "What are you saying?" "I never joined any class-action suit." "Well, I guess you must've been one of the folks they just included... along with the ones who filed." "You were part of the study, right?" "I'm not interested." "Please go away." "Are you sure?" "This is a lot of money!" "Go away!" "Or I'll call the police." "I'm, I'm sorry you feel that way." "[ Whispering ] Go away." "Go away." "Would you like something?" "I could make some tea." "Oh, that'd be great." "Thank you." "Excuse me." "Could you pass me that?" "Green folder." "Thanks." "So, what's so special about Richardson?" "Just a name on my list." "You have a list?" "The people who participated in this study won a huge class-action suit." "My job is to find them and compensate them." "Hmm." "You think that makes it all right?" "No, but at least it's something." "Who else is on your list?" "McGee, Charlene." "Do you know where she is?" "I think she's dead." "Terminal burnout." "You think this stuff s all funny, huh?" "Not that she's dead." "But" "Some of this other stuff?" "Come on." ""Once the girl's cooperation had been established," "Charlene McGee participated in several tests to verify her pyrokinetic ability." "Igniting in succession a five-kilogram block of wood, a concrete brick... and a 1 985 Ford Escort. ' l guess a Pinto would've been too easy." "So you don't believe it." "What? " Human psychic potential"?" "Do you?" "What do you think happened?" "I think it was a scam to get research funding." "And this Wanless guy made up this psychic power stuff... so he could justify what he was doing to these people." "I have this tape." "And you should see, these experiments were horrible." "I think you better leave now." "Both of you." "Sorry about that." "She knew what he was doing." "Wow, you're cynical." "So I'm gonna have to come back tomorrow and apologize for your behavior." "She liked me." "Great!" "You gonna share anything?" "Why should I?" "I'll buy you a cheeseburger." "[ Glass Shattering ]" "Who's there?" "No!" "[ Sighs ]" "[ Knocking At Door ]" "[ Knocking Continues ] What do you want?" "Go away!" "[ Gil ] I'm so sorry.!" "Do you have a cat?" "I just ran over somebody's cat." "God!" "Did you kill it?" "No.!" "It's alive." "But he's hurt really bad." "Oh, my God.!" "I'm so sorry.!" "I" " I think he's crying." "Poor guy." "Come on,your mother's coming." "you'll be all right." "Just hang in there, buddy." "No!" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Gasping ]" "Excuse me." "You never really told me what your research was about." "No, I didn't." "What?" "[ Laughs ] Do I have something stuck in my teeth?" "What happens when you find the people on your list?" "You said you give them money." "I don't actually hand them a check." "I just track them down." "So you don't really know." "[ Cell Phone Ringing ]" "Hold on a second." "Yeah, brother." "What are you doing?" "Having lunch with someone." "Stop what you're doing and open your laptop." "It's my brother." "Sorry." "Yeah." "Okay." "Open the file and push the resolution as far as it'll go." "Hello?" "Are you still there?" "Yeah, yeah, I'm in the file." "What's the frame number?" "22-06-53." "Do you see it?" "It looks like somebody threw a clipboard." "What's the big deal?" "Look a little harder." "Come on." "What the hell is that?" "This is top-notch work." "The shadows line up, there's no ghosting, no matte lines." "I didn't think they could fake something like this in '7 9." "I don't think they did." "Hold on." "Tommie?" "Tommie!" "Brother, let me call you back." "Tommie?" "Tommie!" "Tommie, you okay?" "Did you see her face?" "She didn't even know what was happening to her." "Well, I told you it was bad." "I knew somebody who was a part of it." "Really?" "Who?" "They weren't part of your list." "I'm sorry. I never even thought of them as people." "I wanted to help them or find a cure or something." "That's why you wanted the files?" "How are you supposed to find a cure?" "It's not like you can open up the files and find red kryptonite." "Red kryptonite?" "Green kryptonite kills Superman, but red kryptonite just takes away his powers." "You're thinking of gold kryptonite, because red kryptonite, it just does weird stuff like split Superman in two and turn him into a baby." "You like Superman?" "I like Batman more." "Really?" "Why?" "'Cause he's an ordinary guy, and 'cause in Dark Knight he kicks Superman's butt." "Yes, he does." "Listen, I don't know if it'll help, but I don't just have the tape, I've also got these files." "you may not wanna look at them, but you're welcome to." "Okay." "Yeah, it's Gill." "Tell Rainbird I have just closed the Conant file." "I couldn't manage the note, but I think they'll buy suicide." "I mean, why not?" "Check her file." "She's already tried it twice." "Third time is the charm." "Nice kitty-cat." "[ Meows ]" "Found what you were looking for?" "Mmm, not yet." "That's not a file." "Ohh!" "is this your father?" "yep." "He looks nice." "He took a nice picture." "is he dead?" "Not yet." "What did he do to you?" "You don't wanna hear about my dad." "Sure I do!" "What happened?" "The usual." "What's the usual?" "The usual: " Dad was never there for me, cheated on my mom, then he left." "Treated my brother and me like we didn't exist."" "Mmm, the usual." "How old were you?" "When he left?" "Nine." "Oh, so you basically grew up without a father." "Basically." "Pictures are funny." "You look so close, and you hate him." "I don't hate him." "I can't forgive him, but I don't hate him." "Yeah, I'm sorry." "It's not your fault." "I'm still sorry." "You still play football?" "No, no." "I, um, I ran cross-country in high school." "Ohh!" "I lettered!" "Why is that funny?" "Come here." "I have to go." "What?" "I have to go!" "We can stop if you want." "What are you doing?" "Did I do something wrong?" "No. I can't do this." "Wait a minute." "Hold on a second." "Wait a minute." "Talk to me." "What are you doing?" "Please don't touch me." "I like you, Vincent." "I don't want to hurt you." "What?" "Tommie!" "[ Dialing Cell Phone ]" "Joel... sorry to wake you." "It's Vincent Sforza." "I found McGee." "Charlene McGee." "I found her." "W-Wait,Joel." "Don't put me on ho" "[ Cell Phone Ringing ]" "Yes?" "Really?" "Well, you better put him through." "Hello, Mr. Sforza." "John Rainbird here." "Congratulations." "I hear your persistence paid off." "[ Knocking ]" "Yes." "Do you believe in destiny,Joel?" "No, sir." "I believe in cash flow." "I wonder what Vincent Sforza believes in." "Tell me something about him." "You have his personnel file." "Does he appear to be... trustworthy?" "He seems honest." "No." "That's not quite what I mean." "I've told him to bring in Charlene McGee, to persuade her to come in." "We don't have much time before Radiant Thunder." "If he's located her, we'd better send somebody in to handle it." "Hmph!" "Charlie cannot be handled." "If you're counting on him to deceive her" "No." "He thinks he's trying to help her." "You see, it's easy to tell a lie... when you don't know what the truth is." "[ Knocking On Door ]" "It's me, Vincent." "I need to talk to you." "Go away." "I know who you are." "You're Charlene McGee." "Come on, Charlie, open up." "Can I come in?" "I like the fire extinguishers." "Very Andy Warhol." "You leaving?" "Nope." "Listen, this company I work for?" "They've got top scientists." "If you came in and talked to them, I'm sure they could help you." "I can take care of myself." "You can't just run away like this." "You saw the film." "I can't tell what happened!" "I killed two people." "That's what happened." "They were trying to hurt you, right?" "They were just doing their job." "You were 1 0 years old!" "It's not like they're gonna charge you with murder." "No, they don't want to punish me." "They want to use me." "Let me get you the money from the settlement." "Don't touch me!" "You're afraid, aren't you?" "That's good." "Charlie!" "Charlie, wait." "Go away!" "I'm just trying to help you." "Why?" "Why?" "Because I know what it's like not to have anybody you can trust." "It can get lonely." "Everyone who's ever tried to help me is dead because of me." "What's your idea of lonely?" "Okay, fine." "You win." "All I'm saying is that these people can have the cure that you've been looking for." "" These people"?" "Your company?" "Am I supposed to trust them?" "What's your alternative?" "You think you're gonna find it on your own?" "This could be the best shot you have." "Gold kryptonite?" "Look, I'm gonna be with you every step of the way." "Nothing's gonna happen that you don't want to have happen." "Will you at least think about it?" "Just think about it." "She's coming in." "Congratulations, Vincent." "Good job." "Thank you, sir." "I'd like to be there for the initial meeting." "You would?" "I told her I'd meet her there." "She's had a rough life." "It's difficult for her to trust people." "And she trusts you?" "I think so." "The thing is, Vincent, we have trained psychologists that do this." "And they follow a very specific procedure." "I'd like to talk to them." "You still have Richardson to find." "Let's stay focused here, okay?" "Before I forget." "Who restored that video file for you?" "My brother." "Your brother?" "He did a good job." "That's good to know, Vincent." "Thank you, Vincent." "What happens when you find the people on your list?" "You said you give them money." "[ Vincent's Voice ] I don't actually hand them a check." "I just track 'em down." "[ Charlie's Voice ] So you don't really know." "How can a name not be found?" "I put it there." "Yeah?" "Yeah, Gil, it's Vincent." "Hey, Vincent!" "Heard you found McGee." "Kudos." "Thanks." "Yeah, listen." "I've been doing some bookkeeping." "[ Gil ] Not exactly your department, buddy." "I know, but I can't find any of the payments." "A.P. has several accounts that we use for disbursements." "We're trying to keep this class action on the hush, hush." "There's nothing on Conant or Pierce or Smithers, none of the people I found." "Look, these people were paid." "Everything's been taken care of." "All right?" "So don't worry about it." "Okay?" " Vincent!" " Yeah, okay." "Got any victims for me?" "No." "Oh, God." "No." "No, no, no, no, no." "No, no, no, no.!" "Before I forget, who restored that video file for you?" "[ Phone Ringing ]" "Hello?" "Henry, get out of your apartment right now." " I'm making soup!" " I'm not kidding.Just do it." "What is this about?" "It's about that tape." "Leave now, please!" "Or what, the " Men in Black" are gonna come get me?" "[ Vincent ] Just please leave." "I'm gonna download the tape." "Henry, leave the tape." "Just go." "You can't enter." "This is a private facility." "I'm Charlene McGee." "They're expecting me." "Building 1 4, through the town, on the left." "The town?" "Yeah." "The town." "Charlie?" "Just look at you." "All grown-up." "All right, Charlie, let's go." "Where?" "Don't you trust me?" "Daddy!" "Daddy!" "What's wrong with him?" "They drugged him." "[ Sighs ] I'm in a lot of trouble, Charlie." "They know that I like you more than I should." "They know that I've been helping you." "But... they're gonna give me one last chance." "What?" "Come here." "I don't even like to ask you this." "What?" "Well, they want to use your power against a person, Charlie." "No." "That's exactly what I told them." "But then they said if you didn't, then they would kill me." "So, that's why I brought you down here so that you could see your daddy." "Because when I'm gone, you're never gonna see your daddy again." "I'm sorry I let you down, Charlie." "John, I'll-- Yeah?" "He's lying!" "Everything he says is a lie." "He's the one who took you from me." "He's the man who had your mommy killed." "That's enough!" "Have you ever looked into the eyes of a dying man?" "[ Gasping ]" "You've lost her." "Charlie, wait!" "No!" "Flames!" "No!" "No!" "Wait!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No, no!" "I saw you die." "No." "You saw me burn." "It's far more painful." "Oh, don't worry, Charlie." "I forgave you a long time ago." "I hope you've forgiven me." "Yeah?" "You killed my father." "I didn't want to." "He wanted to die, and he tricked me." "And he left us both to take the blame." "You still twist everything around." "You haven't changed at all." "Oh, but I have." "I used to look into the eyes of dying men... for something to bring purpose to this life." "God, I suppose." "What do you want with me?" "I want you to help me fill the void." "What?" "I want a God to judge me." "I want a God to damn me so..." "I'm going to make him." "You're gonna make God?" "You were the first step." "We've come a long way since then." "You're serious." "I want you to come back." " Charlie?" " Ah, Mr. Sforza.!" "We have you to thank for this happy reunion." "Charlie, this isn't what it looks like." "Henry?" "Henry?" "Hey, buddy!" "I've already talked to Joel." "We're offering you a promotion." "Oh, dear!" "Gil." "Mr. Sforza, you do realize that aiming a firearm at your employer... is grounds for immediate termination." "That makes sense." "Well?" "Well what?" "Shoot me." "I didn't think so." "Run!" "Oh!" "I swear to God, I didn't know anything about any of this." "Charlie, you've got" "Shh." "Oh, no." "Come on." "What the hell is this?" "I told you she'd come." "Shut up." "She knows." "They're like me." "Don't shoot me." "Nobody's gonna shoot anybody." "We're just gonna go out the way we came." "I wasn't asking you." "I'm telling you." "Don't shoot me." "In fact, why don't you shoot yourself?" "In the foot." " Vincent!" " Very cool." "[ Screaming ]" "Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is." "I'm disappointed." "I'd even say I feel... cheated." "What about you?" "Definitely cheated." "All right." "Let's see what you've got." "My feet!" "My feet are on fire!" "My feet!" "My feet are on" "[ Screaming ]" "Come here." "Get on your knees." "Stay!" "You look just like I thought you would." "Can you stand?" "[ Gil ] Vincent, come on out." "We don't want to kill you." "Mr. Rainbird wants you alive." "But make no mistake." "you're not leaving this facility." "Okay, okay." "Here's what we do." "Vincent." "Put the gun away." "What?" "You don't need it." "[ Gil ] Vincent.!" "All right." "Now lie on the ground." "No." "No?" "No." "But you can run if you like." "[ Men Shouting ]" "[ Screaming ]" "Screw this!" "[ Screaming ]" "Charlie?" "is that inside you all the time?" "I'm sorry you had to see that." "is that you too?" "No, that's not me." "What are you?" "Charlie?" "You know what I can do." " You know what I can do?" " l don't want to hurt you." "I don't want to hurt you!" "I mean it." "What are you?" "Don't make me do this." "Charlie?" "Charlie, stop it.!" "Stop it.!" "What'd you do?" "Let go!" "More!" "Let go." "More.!" "Let go!" "Let go." "More!" "More!" "Stop it." "Stop it, stop it." "More!" "No, no." "No." "No." "No more." "Stop it!" "Oh, don't!" "Don't shoot him." "Please." "Charlie for the boy." "That's the deal." "All right." "Tell him to let her go." "Cody." "Now you lower your gun." "No, I don't think so." "I think we'll stay just like this until Charlie gets outta here." "All right, Mr. Sforza." "It's your show." "Get outta here, Charlie." "Go." "Go, Charlie!" "He has no idea how interesting his life is about to become." "John's still alive." "I know." "You have to go back." "No." "No!" " Why's John still alive?" " l don't know." "I promised Daddy I wouldn't, okay?" "I broke a promise for nothing." "No, wait." "No, I had to!" "I had to!" "Sometimes you have to break promises." "It's okay." "No, it's not okay." "So do something." "Let's think." "What do we do when we're in trouble?" "We run, we disappear." "No." "No." "That's the only way that we've ever stayed safe." "No." "No." "You're lying." "No." "Mommy, Daddy lied,John lied, and now you're lying." "No, no, no." "Everybody's lying to me." "Oh, sh-sh-sh." "We don't have to be like that." "We never, ever have to be like that, ever." "What are we gonna do?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "I don't know." "[ Crying ]" "There isn't a cure." "You know what you have to do, right?" "You have to go back." "[ Man ] Miss." "You have to go back." "Miss." "You have to go back." "[ Knocking ]" "Miss, you can't sleep here." "Um, I'm just waiting for my bus." " Which bus?" " Uh, Phoenix." "You still got about 20 minutes or so." "Thank you." "You're thinking about Vincent." "You're thinking, "Do I get on the bus, or do I go back for him?"" "Excuse me?" "The answer is, you go back." "How did you find me?" "I'm not your enemy." "That's right." "The whole world is my friend, and I'm happy to be part of it." "Are you one of Rainbird's plants?" "is that it?" "You know better, Charlie." "Well, if you know who I am, then you know what I can do." "I know." "Well, what do you want?" "It's complicated." "Well, start at the beginning." "Use small words." "I was a friend of your family's, Charlie." "I was there with them 20 years ago... when Dr. Wanless gave us the drug, when they changed us forever." "Richardson." "[ Gil ] Sir, it was just one big, uncontrollable mess, and then, before you know it" "She got out." "How could you lose control of the situation?" "Vincent took my gun, sir." "Vincent took your gun." "Yeah, he got lucky." "He got lucky?" "He's an accountant." "He doesn't have access to this facility." "He's not supposed to be here." "Mr. Rainbird told me to bring him in." "Who signs your paychecks?" "You do, sir." "That's right." "You work for me." "Vincent is supposed to be tracking down Richardson." "You're supposed to be closing." "But I found-- You found McGee, yes, and look what happened." "She blew up the facility, and now you have to find her again." "Which means delays which cost money." "Am I making myself clear?" "Yes, sir." "Find Richardson, Gil, because the trucks are rolling." "Radiant Thunder may be over-budget, but it will be on time." "Yes, sir." "What was she like?" "It wasn't a big deal, okay?" " She set his shoes on fire." " Shut up." " She was hot too." " [ Snickering ] That's funny." "I told you to shut up, okay, Andrew?" "Yeah, Andrew, shut up." "And she wasn't hot." "She was old." "You saw her too, didn't you?" "Good morning,John." "Good morning." "Quite a night last night, huh?" "Yes, yes." "Very exciting." "Not the word I was looking for, but I see your point." "A security breach of this magnitude less than 2 4 hours before Radiant Thunder" "But if you're excited, I'm excited." "Look, look, look, look." "Watch Cody." "What else did she do?" "Nothing." "She tasted sweet." "Wow." "The kid doesn't say anything his entire life, and now he put three whole words together." "Way to go, Cody-- your first complete sentence." "What-- do you think she's your girlfriend or something?" "She didn't want to play with us." "I guess it made her mad or something." "She was lame." "Okay, guys?" "She was lame." "End of story." "She played with me." "Don't you see it?" "See what?" "Just look at him!" "He's more responsive, he's interested." "The potential has always been there, but he's never had enough energy to fuel the change." "But Charlie has all the fuel that he needs." "To change into what?" "I'm not quite sure." "John, how much did you know about our unscheduled visit last night?" "I know how devoted you are to this project, sir." "But I also know how important it is for you to tie up certain loose ends, and I'm hoping Charlene McGee is not going to distract you from the big picture." "Thank you,Joel." "I do appreciate your candor." "Thank you, sir, and I hope you understand I'm speaking from a position of deepest respect." "Of course." "So, what are you doing about Vincent?" "Joel, you like having plausible deniability, don't you?" "From a legal standpoint, yes." "Then don't ask too many questions." "[ P.A. Announcer ] Kansas City, Topeka, St. George, Las Vegas and Barstow now boarding" "So, how well did you know them?" "Everyone knew Vicky." "She had this laugh." "Once it got going, she couldn't stop it, so all the kids were always trying to crack her up." "You liked her." "Yeah, but she didn't even notice me, not after she met Andy." "I mean, you'd just look at them, and you could see... that they fit." "Vicky and Andy." "Dating-- that's cool." "Why do you think they did it?" "What?" "Lot 6." "Well, a hundred dollars was worth a lot of money in 1 97 9, and it was at the school." "It should be safe, right?" "A lot of us had" "We couldn't adjust to the change." "You know, you modify a couple of proteins, and-- [ imitates Explosion ]" "[ Chuckles ] You know, your parents were very strong to last as long as they did." "You adjusted." "No." "I went crazy." "Well, you don't-- l mean, you're not crazy." "How's your coffee?" "Tastes like cigarettes." "What have you been doing for the last 20 years?" "I've been waiting for you." "How'd you know where l was gonna be?" "Because this is where we meet." "That's not really an answer." "It is an answer, it's just not the answer that you want to hear." "What do I wanna hear?" "Chain of events, cause and effect." "The universe doesn't really work that way." "There's no past, there's no future." "It just is." "You are crazy." "And you light fires with your mind." "I used to be like everyone else." "I used to walk through my life facing backwards, only seeing where I'd d been." "And then they gave me Lot 6." "Now I see everything." "I see the past, I see the present, I see the future." "I see everything... all at once." "And it's time to go." "We have to go now." "What?" "Why?" "Because they're looking for you, and in less than a minute they're going to be walking through that door." "Well, I'm not going with you." "That's what you say, but it's not what you do." "Why should I believe you?" "Don't." "Hang out another minute and see what happens." "[ Moans ]" "Hi." "[ Gasping ] Hi." "I'm Max." "Do you want me to show you where your thyroid is?" "Max." "Thank you." "Hello." "Do you know where you are, Mr. Sforza?" "No." "You're in the Systems Operations day care facility." "Are all of them-- Special?" "Oh,yes." "Very special." "Now, look." "I'm going to say two words to you, Mr. Sforza, and you're going to tell me everything you know about those words." "Charlene McGee." "You can see the future!" "No, I don't see it." "I'm in it." "Everything's already happened, and I can't change anything." "Everyone has a choice." "No, they have the illusion of choice." "It's not the same thing." "You're wrong." "Am I?" "Why did you go back to Systems Operations?" "Vincent said that they could help me." "And you believed him?" "It doesn't matter now." "It does matter." "Everything matters." "It's all connected." "What happens to Vincent changes everything." "What do you mean, "what happens to Vincent"?" "You got away." "Vincent didn't." "I didn't ask him to do what he did." "He had no choice." "And I don't either, right?" "I have to save him?" "No." "So I don't go back for him?" "You go back for him." "You don't save him." "Vincent dies." "Vincent" " You don't mind if I call you Vincent, and, of course, you must call me John." " What are they doing?" " Helping." "you're in complete control, Vincent." "you can stop anytime you want." "All you've got to do is to talk to me." "Tell me about her, Vincent." "You've seen the files." "You know more than I do." "What I want isn't in the file." "I want to-- l want to know what she's like." "I don't understand." "Well, does she still suck on her lower lip when she gets nervous?" "Does she" " Mmm." "Does she fall asleep when you tickle her back?" "I want to know her." "I missed her growing up, you see." "Where is she, Vincent?" "I don't know." "[ Screaming ]" "Does she have someplace to go-- someplace safe?" "I don't know." "God, I don't know!" "I swear to God I don't know!" "And I'm glad, because if I did, I'd d tell you." "Yes, I think you would." "Hmm." "Paul, ask him how he found out about us." "You already know that." "Your eyes-- they're burning." "[ Grunting ]" "They're melting." "[ Groaning ]" "[ Phone Rings ]" " Hello?" " Henry!" "Get out of your apartment right now." "I'm making soup." "What is this about?" "Just do it." "It's about that tape, Henry." "Get out right now." "Or else what-- the " Men in Black" are gonna come get me?" " I'm gonna download the tape." "Just leave the tape.Just go." "Henry?" "Henry?" " Hey, buddy." " Where's my brother?" "We've got the tape, got you." "I think we can let your brother slide." "There never was a class-action suit." "You killed those people." "Yeah." "You brought them to me." "Why?" "Why do you think, Vincent?" "It's what we're paid to do." "Close the Western Region." " No comebacks." " Comebacks from what?" "Radiant Thunder." "[ Vincent Screaming ] Gil.!" "Gil told me!" "[ Moaning ]" "All right." "Well, as I told you before, you're in control." " We'll stop whenever you want." " I'd d like to stop now, please." "And if you get him out, then what?" "You're the psychic." "Just because I know something doesn't mean I understand why." "I thought I didn't have a choice." "But you think you do." "Well, I don't know, you know?" "Vincent knows about me, and he's not afraid." "So-- He's not afraid of you?" "Come on." "Forget it." "What?" "Oh, you think you and Vincent are like your parents." "Look, I said forget it, okay?" "I wish things were different for you. I really do." "Yeah, you think you know everything, don't you?" "I do." "Well, I am really getting tired of all this metaphysical crap." "Do you think I like it-- knowing everything that's gonna happen every second, every day?" "When they gave me that drug, they destroyed my life as surely as they'd put a bullet through my brain." "Ah, but you're gonna burn their house down." "That's what Rainbird wants." "Every time I lose control, every time I kill, he wins." "I'm gonna save Vincent, and that's all I'm gonna do." "Whatever you say." "And you know what?" "You don't have to patronize me, because you may think you don't have a choice, but I do." "[ Chuckling ] Okay." "Okay." "Okay." "You passed out." "Here." "Take this." "Come on." "It's only water." "I could make him drink it." "Whoa-oh-oh-oh." "Not too fast." "Ooh-ooh." "That's better." "Hmm?" "Yeah." "You've got to save all your strength." "Now, Vincent,just because I'm torturing you... doesn't mean to say that you're not part of my team." "I'm not part of your team." "[ Scoffs ] But of course you are." "I mean, you're the one that found Charlie." "I'd been looking for her for 1 0 years." "I didn't find her." "You did." "[ Cody ] I'm hungry." "You didn't stop with her, did you?" "How many drugs did you test?" "What" " Lot 7, Lot 8?" "How many?" "Well, you should know." "I mean, you were tracking down all the failures." "I think we finally perfected the process with Lot 23, and these fine young men here are the happy result." "Lot 23?" "Yes." "It seems overwhelming, I know, but we were just developing a technology like any other." "Ours just happened to be a gene sequence on the 1 7 th chromosome." "You can't just go around treating people like they were experiments." "Oh, I do." "[ Cody ] John," "I'm hungry." "[ Electricity Arcing ] [ Grunting ]" "What's with him?" "I think the boy's hungry." "Hmm." "You see, Cody is an energy sink." "He absorbs energy-- electricity, heat, life." "[ Electricity Arcing ] [ Grunting ]" "[ Panting ] Life?" "What is life if not energy?" "Yes, he absorbs life." "He consumes life." "I've only met one other with a power to match his, but, of course, you know all about her," "how I taught her everything." "And when she left me" "Well." "Hmm." "That's the reason I only work with boys now." "Oh, look at this." "Hmm." "[ Sniffing ] Hmm." "I bet she looked beautiful wearing this, didn't she, hmm?" "Mmm." "Mm-hmm." "I wouldn't know." "Now, you just tell me, what exactly happened when you two were alone?" "Hmm?" "Nothing." "He's lying." "Did you-- did you..." "sleep with her?" "That's none of your business." "[ Whispering ] Did... you..." "sleep... with... her?" "[ Man ] Case number 9 1-1 99O," "Mary Conant." "Body is that of a well-nourished adult Caucasian female... approximately 48 years old, brown hair, brown eyes." "The body is..." "64 inches long, weighs 1 25 pounds." "Skin is of normal texture, appendectomy scar, no tattoos or other markings visible." "[ Thinking ] I'm alive!" "Manner of death is believed to be self-inflicted asphyxiation." "Cause of death appears to be a dry cleaners plastic bag... which was removed from the head of the deceased at the scene... and placed into evidence." "Help me." "I will now examine the brain of the deceased... in order to determine the mechanism of death." "[ Thinking, Whimpers ]" "[ Whirring ]" "[ Motor Slows, Stops ]" "[ Clicking Switch ]" "[ Whirring Resumes ]" " Help me!" " Aaah!" "[ Sports Announcer Over Radio, Indistinct ]" "May I help you?" "John Rainbird." "Excuse me?" "John..." "Rainbird." "We don't have a John Rainbird." "Are you sure?" "He's not on the list." "What division is he with?" "Research and Development." "Nope." "Try kidnapping and murder." "Sss-ss-ss-ss-ss." "[ Chuckling ]" "[ Alarms Beeping, Blaring ]" "Hey.!" "Hey.!" "Hey, you can't go in there!" "Hey!" "[ Alarms Continue ] All right, boys." "Back to your room." "[ Babies Crying ]" "[ Children Chattering ]" "I wanna see the fire." "Shut up." "Hey, moron, what are you doing?" "Charlie's here." "You can't leave." "I wanna see Charlie." "But we're not supposed to go." "You stay." "No one is going to leave this room." " Says who?" " l do." "Do you want me to kick your ass?" "Because you know I can." "I got more strength than you." "Stop, stop, stop it!" "Get away from me." "Why didn't you stop him?" "I tried." "It was like there's nothing there." "[ Alarm Continues, Stops ]" "Shut the door, Martin." "Sit down over there." "Face the wall." "What?" "Face the wall." "What's going on?" "Shh." "Keep quiet." "[ Pounds Door] Vincent." "[ Continues Pounding ] Vincent.!" "Charlie, look out!" "[ Screams ]" "Hello, Charlie." "Let him go." "No, I don't think so." "Do it, Charlie." "How precise is your weapon, Charlie?" "is it as precise as mine?" "Fry the son of a bitch!" "Oh, she can't do that, Vincent." "She doesn't want to kill you too." "I said, let him go." "No." "I think you're going to have to kill me, Charlie." "That's what you want, isn't it?" " Let him go, please." " Let's trade." "What will you give me?" "l-I'll stay here with you." "No, Charlie, don't-- [ Gasps ] You'll stay?" "Yes." "You're right." "I belong here with you." "[ Scoffs ] I don't believe you." "Too bad." "[ Electricity Arcing ]" "Well, look who's here." "Charlie, why are you holding back?" "[ Vincent ] Get out of here, Charlie.!" "After she came all this way to rescue you?" "I don't think so." "Or are you afraid of who you really are?" " [ Vincent ] Don't listen to him, Charlie.!" " I can see it in your face." "Let it go, Charlie." "Come on, Charlie." "Shut up!" "Show us what you're made of." " No!" " [ Groans ]" "Well, don't just stand there." "[ Gasps, Grunts ]" "This way." "[ Grunts ] [ Yells ]" "Okay, come on." "What is this place?" "[ Vincent ] I don't know." "Why do you re-create a town?" "Training?" "Training for what?" "Come on." "Wait, wait!" "Wait, wait!" "Wait!" "I mean, you hear about these near-death experiences where the victim recounts... being compelled towards a light, but then turning back at the last moment." "She said she had an out-of-body experience?" "That's what's different here." "She claims she was conscious the whole time." "How could she have been pronounced dead?" "There's been cases documented where someone's buried beneath snow or been underwater... and had apparently expired-- no discernible pulse, no breathing-- and then spontaneously revived." "Spontaneous revival." "Kind of like spontaneous combustion, huh?" "Have you ever heard of suspended animation?" "Yeah, it's where they freeze people." "It's like a hibernative state." "The heart beats so slowly that someone checking for a pulse wouldn't find one." "We're talking like a single beat in an hour." "And there have actually been cases of that, huh?" "In textbooks, at least." "Hi, Mary." "Mary, I'm Special Agent Pruitt." "I'm with the F.B.l." "I understand you believe some people tried to kill you." "You have to stop them." "Yeah, we will." "You don't worry now." "You're safe." "I'm not worried about me." "They think I'm dead." "Who else is in danger, Mary?" "You think they'd tell me?" "They've tried to kill me." "They want to keep me quiet." "I know things." "Who are these people, Mary?" "He said his name was Gil James." "He's with Systems Operations." "Gil James." "The man who tried to kill me!" "Rainbird sent him." "Rainbird." "Lot 6." "I'm sorry." "What?" "Lot 6-- drugs, mind-control experiments back in the '7 0s." "They enhanced our brains." "[ Sobbing ] He" "God, Rainbird!" "Rainbird was there back then." "That means they're still out there." "Mary, Mary, shhh." "You're okay." "It's them!" "It's them!" "You're very safe right now." "Mary, tell me how they enhanced your brain." "We could do things." "What things?" "Different things." "We were all different." "What kind of things could you do, Mary?" " l could make things work." " Like fix things that were broken?" "No!" "Okay, I don't understand." "Why don't you show me?" "[ Sobbing ] It hurts if I do it." "Yeah." "Yeah, I'm sure it does." "[ Sobbing ] Wait!" "Where are you going?" "Well, what are you thinking?" "What do you think?" "I believe she believes it, and in this particular instance, I am willing to keep an open mind." "[ Pager Beeping ]" "[ Grunting ]" "[ Monitor Beeping ]" "Do you believe her now?" "Clear!" "You know, I've been looking for you." "You're Richardson." "Yeah." "[ Chuckling ]" "What?" "[ Sighs ] I just cleared the Western Region." "[ Charlie ] You said I couldn't save him." "You said I couldn't save him, and I did." "Yes, you did." "Damn right." "Will you tell us a story?" "It doesn't have to be about Charlie." "It could be about something else." "No." "No stories." "Why?" "[ Scoffs ] "Why?"" "I wanted you to do something for me, a simple thing, and you wouldn't do it." "How do you think that makes me feel?" "Are you mad at us?" "Mad?" "No." "I'm just mad at myself." "I realize that I haven't taught you something... that's just as important as tying your shoelaces or riding your bike." "I'm sorry, sir, they told me to come in." "I can wait outside." "Gil, please, come in." "Sit down here." "There you are." "Go on." "We won't be a minute." "We're just having a lesson." "Oh." "On second thought, Gil, maybe you can help us." "Uh, sure." "Why not?" "" Why not?"" "Gil works for me as an accountant, which means sometimes he has to kill people." "Gil was supposed to stop Charlie from going away, but he didn't." "And then when Charlie came back, he missed her the second time." "Obviously he's too big for me to spank, and I can't ground him." "So, anyone, any ideas?" "Any ideas?" "What am I going to do?" "Garcia." "Yeah." "Grab a clean undershirt." "We're taking a field trip." "Where?" "Colorado." "My victim's information was right." "There is a company called Systems Operations." "Three, in fact." "There is?" "But only the one in Colorado has a John Rainbird and a Gil James." "Catch." "It's for your head." "Thanks." "You okay?" "No." "Two days ago, my life made sense." "It was boring, but it made sense." "Now" " You're in my world." " Charlie, all those people I found-- all the ones they didn't even need-- they're dead because of me." "Hey, you didn't kill them." "Yes, I did." "'Cause I did my job-- my stupid little boring job." "When I was younger, this is the sort of thing I thought would be so cool-- superheroes, psychic powers and stuff-- but it's not cool, it's terrifying." "Yeah, it is." "We can't just leave it like this." "We've got to tell somebody." "Who do you want to tell?" "I don't know." "How about the press?" "I tried that." "They turned me into a bedtime story to scare children." "What about the police?" "They own the police." "The only reason I keep running is because it's the only thing that works." "You can't run your whole life." "Mmm." "Yes, I can." "Every time, you know, I see him, it just gets harder and harder." "It's" "What gets harder?" "Charlie?" "It's nothing." "Why'd you come back for me?" "'Cause they were gonna kill you." "I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this." "You didn't drag me into this." "I was born into this." "What did he do to you?" "He let them take turns." "They were playing." "They're not even kids." "They're like these little monsters." "Hey, is that what I am to you?" "No." "You got away." "They didn't." "They're his." "Well, what did you tell him?" "Whatever he wanted to hear." "It was weird." "He wanted to know what you were like, like he was your father or something." "He's not my father." "He's nothing like my father." "I didn't say he was." "I didn't mean it like that." "I just don't get his obsession with you." "The world thinks you're dead, he makes me track you down." "Even the way that he looks at you." "Yeah, he loves me." "Whoa, Charlie, what Rainbird has for you-- that's not love." "That's something else, something sick." "When you love someone, you watch out for them, you care for them." "Like you and your father." "This has nothing to do with my father." "I just don't understand." "Your father's sick, and you won't even go see him." "I can't, okay?" "Because it hurts!" "Why?" "Why?" "Yeah, love hurts." "It's not just gentle and simple and kind." "It hurts." "And it's always the people you love that hurt you the most." "Rainbird teach you that?" "I just think you should go see your father." "Why?" "Well, I can't go see mine." "Why do we have to go anyway?" "It's going to be just like we practiced, moron." "He's never been outside." "Inside, outside-- what's the difference?" "There's people." "He's afraid of Charlie." "Why?" "She didn't do anything last time." "And if she tries anything next time" "Next time?" "Did you do that?" " Mm-hmm." " Cut it out." " No." " l mean it." " l know you do." " If you got a problem with me" "Don't worry." "I don't want you." "Do you know what our exposure is on this?" "How much money the corporation stands to lose if the Rivermeade test is delayed?" "You're shouting." "Of course I'm shouting!" "The past was supposed to be erased, now it's come back and bitten us in the ass!" "We don't have Richardson." "We don't have McGee." "Radiant Thunder's in six hours, and you" "John, I have tried to work with you on this." "I really have." "But I am concerned-- and this reflects the feelings of the board as well-- that Charlene McGee may be distracting you from our ultimate goal here." "Ah." "And what is our ultimate goal,Joel-- ruling the world?" "" Ruling the world." Don't be absurd,John." "Now, owning a substantial piece-- that would be nice." "I'm kidding." "I'm trying to bring a new technology to market, and now I can't do that." "Oh?" "Why not?" "What if they go to the feds,John?" "What if they do?" "The federal government is just another potential buyer, isn't it, hmm?" "We have spent substantial resources cleaning up 20 years of mistakes, and now you tell me it just doesn't matter?" "I just wanted to find Charlie." "That's all." "Our legal position is more vulnerable now than it was when those test subjects were alive." "The government has turned a blind eye before." "I should know." "And what if they don't?" "What if they don't?" "Do you think that, after this test, the government would really matter?" "What if she shows up?" "Ah, good afternoon, gentlemen." "I'm sorry to keep you waiting." "I keep a very busy schedule." "You know what they say about idle hands." "You're John Rainbird?" "I am indeed." "I'm Special Agent Pruitt." "This is Special Agent Garcia." "How do you do?" "Hopefully we won't take up too much of your time." "Hopefully not." "You ever meet a woman named Mary Conant?" " No, I don't believe so." "What's all this about?" " Well, she says she knows you." "Oh, well, then it's entirely possible." "Twenty years ago, she said, you were involved with something called Lot 6... as part of some mind-control experiment." "" Mind control"?" "Well, that's preposterous." "No, I like to think of our work here... as a sort of enhancement of human potential." "" Enhancement." Enhancement in what way?" "Any way possible." "With drugs?" "Yes, with drugs if necessary." "So you are familiar with something called Lot 6?" "It's an awful long time ago, but, yes, I do remember Lot 6-- fondly, as a matter of fact." "And do you remember Mary Conant?" "You know, I'm beginning to put a face with that name." "Yes." "Mary Conant." "I think I heard she died, didn't she?" "No." "No, she's waiting in the lobby with another one of our agents." "My mistake." "She said you sent a man named Gil James to kill her." "Well, that's ridiculous." "That's not my department." "That's not your department." "We'd like to see Mr.James right now." "Certainly." "I'd be only too happy to take you to him." "I believe the last time I saw him he was in the lab." "This way." "Paul." "Yeah?" "John needs us." "In here, gentlemen." "So where's Mr.James?" "Now, let me see." "Well, I believe he's chilling." "Oh, dear." "You don't suppose this is a health code violation, do you?" "Look, I'll tell you what." "What if we get him out of here before nightfall?" "Mr. Rainbird, you're under arrest." "You have the right to remain silent." "I appreciate the sentiment, but this is hardly necessary." "Well, then, you tell me." "What the hell's going on here?" "Radiant Thunder, my friends." "Radiant Thunder is what is going on here." "And what is Radiant Thunder?" "Twenty-five years of hard work, culminating tonight in a town called Rivermeade." "What's going on tonight in Rivermeade?" "Glorious destiny." "It's a pity you won't be there to witness it." " Are you threatening us, Rainbird?" " Oh, he does talk." "No, I'm not threatening you, I'm just stating the facts." "Lower your weapons!" "What do you want me to tell them,John?" "What?" "I was just, uh, wondering what it's like." "What?" "Having someone to call." "Oh, I don't even remember." "I feel like I'm looking at this life I could have, and if I look away... it's just gonna be gone, he's gonna be gone." "That's true of all things." "Yeah." "You don't have to tell me that." "I want to take my life for granted, you know, one day without Rainbird or fire." "Can I do that?" "No." "[ Ringing ]" "Hello?" "[ Vincent ] Henry, it's me." "Where the hell are you?" "Are you okay?" "Sure, I'm fine." "I'm great." "I'm scared, Vincent." "What did you do?" "Nothing." "Listen" "" Nothing"?" "is that why men broke into my place last night and tried to kill me?" "This is about that tape, isn't it?" "Forget about the tape." "What do you mean?" "It's best if they think you don't know anything." "Who's " they"?" "What the hell are you talking about?" " Henry,just stop." " Answer my question!" "Henry,just stop, okay?" "Please?" "Okay?" "Okay." "How's Mom?" "How do you think she is?" "And Dad?" "He's not getting better." " When are you gonna see him?" " Tonight." "Tell Dad I'll see him tonight." "Don't say it if you don't mean it." "Henry, I promise." "I'll be there tonight." "You're going away, aren't you?" "Henry" "Thanks." "You're the oracle." "Give me something I can use." "It doesn't really work that way." "Well, what are we gonna do now?" "You wanna hear what you think you're gonna do, or what you're really gonna do?" "Tell me what I think I'm gonna do." "You think you're going to Canada, live in a cabin in the mountains where there's lots of snow." "What am I really gonna do?" "Do you really want to know?" "Yeah." "You're gonna go to Canada." "You're gonna live in a cabin high in the mountains... where there's lots of snow." "Hey." "How'd it go?" "I have to see him." "Okay." "And then I'm coming with you." "You don't have to do that." "As long as I'm around, my family's in danger." "Well, as long as you're around me, then you're in danger." "What-- it gets worse?" "I don't even know where I'm going." "So?" "Look, we can go see him, then we can go to Canada or something." "If you want to run, you must do it now." "Forget about your father, forget about Rainbird." "Can you do that?" "Will you take us to the hospital?" "I always do." "Miss Conant?" "Mary?" "Mary." "Mary?" "Damn it!" "Miss Conant!" "I thought you were coming back to the lobby." "What is taking them so long?" "I can identify those people!" "Just let us do our jobs." "I'm sure they've got it under control." " There they are." "John." "That's him." "That's Rainbird." "Thank you so much." "A pleasure meeting you." "They're letting him go!" "No!" "Mary, relax!" "Okay?" "Just wait here." "Pruitt!" "What's going on?" "" What's going on?" Nothing's going on." "These guys make titanium ski bindings." "It's a nothing, man, a zero." "We're on a big wild-goose chase." " She says that's the guy." " Then she's mistaken." "No, you bastard!" "Not after all this!" "Hey!" "Rainbird!" " Mary!" "No, Mary!" "Mary!" "Mary!" " Rainbird.!" "Mary." "Mary?" "Mary?" "Mary." "Mary!" "Destiny." "Why are we stopping?" "Oh, no." "What is it?" "It's the town." "It's the same as the warehouse." "[ Vincent ] Why did you bring us here?" "[ Richardson ] Because this is where it all ends." "Vincent." "Hello, Charlie." "Welcome to Rivermeade." "They picked me up just before you." "Why are you doing this?" "[ Rainbird ] Of all the test subjects, that you survived this long amazes me." "I thought you would have hanged yourself years ago." "I know how I die." "Oh, yes, well, I know how you die too." "Must be a terrible thing, to know everything... and not to be able to change a thing." "You must be a very frustrated man." "It has its moments." "Yes, I suppose." "Not much of a precognitive, though, are you, if you didn't know Gil was coming." "I knew he was coming." "But I haven't seen you in so long, I thought I'd d check in, see how you're doing." "But I thought you already knew everything." "I do-- every damn thing." "Well, so, then you know how I'm doing." "You know what I want, and you know what I'll give you." "What you want, I can't give you, and what you'll give me isn't worth a cup of spit." "Well, I thought you might be partial to it." "There's nothing you can do to me that you haven't already done." "You know, back in the French Revolution, beggars would do almost anything to get noticed." "I mean, they'd cut off their own fingers, even a foot." "But the crowds were so jaded, they didn't even notice." "So the enterprising beggar would go to a butcher... or find a cousin with a sharp knife, fix him up real good." "The first cut starts at the left corner of the mouth... and extends to the lobe of the nearest ear." "The same on the other side." "And then the lips are removed... so everyone can see that big, big smile of yours." "And last, the nose, turning what's left of that face into a skull." "Except, of course, you're still alive." "Well, that's fascinating." "It really is." "Reminds me of this drug test some 20 years ago." "Maybe you heard of it:" "Lot 6." "Everyone who took it-- turned 'em into a freak." "But you know who it messed with most?" "Who?" "You." "Me?" "All that talk about God, and all you had to do was take the drug, but you didn't." "And you know why?" "Because you're scared." "You won't." "Now, why wouldn't I?" "Because I'm the one that gives you Charlie McGee." "You'll bring her here to me?" "Not because you want me to, and not because you won't kill me." "But because-- l know, I know." "Because you don't have a choice." "He didn't give me anything." "But you helped me save Vincent." "All I did was drop you off." "Before I could drive away, you came running out the back." "Wait.!" "Wait, wait.!" "Oh, hell." "But you knew my parents, and you were there with them." "And I trusted you." "I didn't ask you to." "Everything that you said was a lie." "I never lie." "I did know your parents, I can see the future, and this is what has to happen." " No, you are making this happen." " I'm going now." "We won't be seeing each other again." "You sound so sure." "You're getting everything you've always wanted." "I feel sorry for you." "you don't have to do this." "you can still help us." "This is what has to happen." "I'm so sorry, Charlie." "Vincent, come on." "[ Horn Honks ]" "Charlie, you said they'd built a town for training." "Training for what?" "I don't know." "How should I know?" "We have to get out of here." "Charlie, this town's wired." "[ Charlie ] There." "There." "As of today, the gun and the bomb are obsolete." "Welcome to warfare in the 21 st century." "We own it." "What we'll see tonight is a coordinated attack... on a single hardened structure-- in this case, a bank." "Any other weapons system would result in unacceptable civilian casualties." "Our operatives will achieve their goal with no collateral damage... and complete deniability." "Excuse me a moment." "There's a matter that requires my immediate attention." "Door, please." "Come on, Charlie, let's go." "What the hell is she doing here?" "Richardson brought her, just like I told him to." "This doesn't make any sense-- all this for a bank." "There's a police officer." "Vincent, wait, no" "Officer!" "Officer." "[ Panting ]" "The bank's about to be robbed." "You should call for backup or something." " You see these kids?" " yeah." "They're about to take down the bank." "All of 'em?" "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but you gotta believe me." "Come on, Vincent." "I'm telling you the truth!" "I know it sounds crazy" "He can't believe you." "How could you bring her here?" "Do you want this test to fail?" "You seem upset." "Do you know who's in that room?" "The board of directors, waiting for something to happen." "If it doesn't, I'm going to have to tell them that you've blown the test." "Oh, something will happen." "He closed the bank." "The bank is closed!" "Forget about the bank." "Damn it, the bank is the test." "Joel, even you could rob that bank." "Charlie is the test." "She's always been the test." "No." "No." "You insisted on that bank." "You said the bank would demonstrate crowd control... and teamwork and all that crap." "[ Chuckling ]" "The board of directors is" "" More than I, if truth were told," "" have stood and sweated, hot and cold." "And through their reigns in ice and fire, fear contended with desire." "Agued once like me were they," "I, like them, shall win my way." "Lastly, to the bed of mold, where there's neither heat nor cold." "But from my grave across my brow, plays no wind of healing now." "And fire and ice within me fight, beneath the suffocating night. '" "I don't understand." "They're not doing anything." "What are they waiting for?" "Me." "What?" "They're waiting for me." "Why are you doing this?" "For you, of course." "I want to set you free." "You're going to hurt all these people." "Hurt them?" "No." "I'm going to kill them." "But you can stop me." "N-No." "No." "Charlie?" "Charlie, where're you going?" "I have to get out of here." "You have to do something." "What do you want me to do, Vincent?" "Burn down the town?" "'Cause that's what's gonna happen." "Hey." "Are you lost?" "Where's your parents?" "Well, what do you say we come over here and sit down, and I'll go look for 'em, all right?" "Now, don't move." "You can't go." "You're the only one who can stop them." "But I won't stop." "Don't you see?" "It's what he wants." "Then I've got to do something." "I have to try." "Vincent" "You're talking about a massacre." "Yes!" "Something to make the world sit up and pay attention." "Cody will absorb all of Charlie's power." "And then what?" "Joel, do you believe in transubstantiation-- where man can become God?" "You're nuts." "I'm pulling the plug." "Oh, it's too late to develop a conscience,Joel." "Who said anything about a conscience?" "This is self-preservation." "It's too late for that too." "[ Screaming ]" "[ All Clamoring, Shouting ]" "[ Horn Honking ]" "You're blind." "Now walk." "Hey, what's up, man?" "Where are you going?" "[ Horn Honking ]" "[ Screaming ]" "Look out!" "[ Grunts ]" "[ Cop ] Folks, let's move!" "Get outta here!" "Move, people!" "You can't stand." "Come on, son." "Come with me." "[ Moaning ]" "[ Screaming ]" "Emily.!" "Emi-- [ Screams ]" "Wanna see your spleen?" "'Cause I can show it to you." " No!" " No!" "Let go!" "Put me down!" "No!" "You gotta stop!" "You're killing them!" "I don't care!" "John's still alive." "you know what you have to do, right?" "You have to go back." "you have to go back." "Let him go." "Now, you pick up that piece of glass," "hold it to your throat." "That's enough." "I know you think that Rainbird is your friend, but he's not." "He lies." "He hurt me, and he'll hurt you." " No, he won't." " He's hurting you right now." "Every time you use your powers, you become less human, and he knows it." " You're lying." "She's lying!" " No!" "Ask him. ls she lying?" "No." " l tried." " You did the right thing, and I don't want to run away anymore." "The rules haven't changed, Charlie." "you know what you have to do." "Don't listen to him, Charlie." "You can taste it, can't you-- like sulphur on your tongue." "You don't know what you're asking." "It's what you are, isn't it, Charlie?" "It's what you've always been." "Just let it happen." "It's not like I'm giving you a choice." "No.!" "[ Sobbing ] No-no-no-no-no!" "[ Gurgling ] Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh." "Char" " Charlie." "[ Screaming ]" "yes. yes.!" "That's my girl." "All my life I've been looking for God." "You want a God to forgive you?" "No, for a God to damn me." "The closest I've ever come, Charlie, is in your eyes." "Look closer." "[ Muffled Screaming ]" "You know what I can do." "You have no idea what I can do." "Yes, I do, and I want it." "You don't want this." "I want everything." "More!" "Give me everything!" "[ Cody Gasping ]" "[ Screaming ]" "[ Screaming Continues ]" "[ Screaming Continues ]" "[ Henry ] I think I was in the third grade, and there was this kid who used to beat me up, and Vincent made him stop because it was his job to beat me up." "And the time Vincent tried to sell you to the neighbors?" "[ Laughing ] I guess they didn't offer enough." "I guess not." "Can I help you?" "I'm a friend of Vincent's." "My name is Charlie McGee." "I came to tell you how sorry I am... and that you should know that Vincent was going to come and see you." "But he didn't." "But he was going to." "Well, that's all I really came to say." "Excuse me, Charlie." "How did you know my son?" "Well, he helped me out a lot." "He sort of helped me trust people again, I guess." "You should be really proud of him." "Thank you for coming." "[ P.A. Announcer ] your attention, please." "Announcing the departure of Greyhound Intercontinental to Edmonton" " Ft." "Morgan, Lincoln," "Burlington, Chicago and Edmonton, Canada." "This is your final boarding call at gate number 6-A."