The Shadow Left Behind

Part IV

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - AFTERNOON

Tara walks down the dark corridor of her high school.  She is alone.  The shadows are long. 
 It is late in the day and no one seems to be about.

INT. CORRIDOR

At the very end of this corridor, in the gloom, is the silhouette of a soldier.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL 

Tara starts to turn down another corridor.  There is the crash of metal behind her.  Startled, 
she spins and looks over her shoulder.  A janitor picks up his spilled bucket.

INT. INTERSECTION OF TWO CORRIDORS

We pull a tight close up on the wall as Henry disgorges from the shadows and stares 
back down the corridor at us.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL

Tara opens her locker.  There is the creak of a door.  She spins as the door closes apparently 
on its own.

INT. OUTSIDE A CLASSROOM DOOR

Henry's silhouette is distorted by the glass of the doors window.

INT. TARA'S LOCKER

Tara has put the books she was carrying back in the locker.  She pulls out a knapsack and turns to go.  
She looks up in horror and screams.

INT. OUTSIDE A CLASSROOM DOOR.

Dr. Peoples steps out from the classroom.  He is looking back over his shoulder.

                           DR. PEOPLES
          Thank you Dr. Andrews I'll be sure to talk to my son.
          
Dr. Peoples closes the door and turns towards us.  His face register one of shock.

                           DR. PEOPLES
          Henry!?
          
Henry stands in front of him dressed in civilian garb, but wearing a military style cap.  Henry seems to 
be shaking as though he were engaged in some inner turmoil.

                           BIGGS
          It is wrong to kill.
          
Dr. Peoples can barely speak.
          
                           DR. PEOPLES
          Oh my God Henry please.
          
INT. A HOSPITAL ROOM

Dr. Peoples squirts some liquid from a needle and turns towards us.  He reaches for us.

                           DR. PEOPLES
          I'm sorry son, but this one has to go in under the eyeball.
          
INT. HIGH SCHOOL

Henry snaps.  He fires out a lethal hand into Dr. Peoples throat.  This is followed by a kick to the groin.  
Dr. Peoples doubles over.  Henry wraps his arms around the Doctor's neck and snaps it.  The Doctor
goes limp.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL

Tara gets a face full of water and falls back to her locker.  Three teen age boys cackle with laughter and 
run off.

                           TARA
          Billy Ricks!  I'm going to get you!  You just wait!
          
Tara opens her suitcase to find a bandanna and wipes herself off.

                           TARA
          Jerks!  I wish Henry were here.

INT. COMPUTER LAB

The Sergeant pulls off a virtual reality headset.  He sits in a chair next to Henry's bed.  He stands.  
Bruce enters the room.

                           BRUCE STERLING
          How is he?
          
                           SERGEANT
          Locked down.
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          And the good Doctor?
          
The Sergeant is impassive.

                           SERGEANT
          He had a terrible accident.  Slipped and fell.
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          Too bad.  
          
                           SERGEANT
          I don't like this Mr. Sterling.  The Doctor was the 
          only one capable of handling any anomalies 
          with Biggs.
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          He became a serious liability, because of your 
          carelessness I might add.
          
The Sergeant frowns.

                           SERGEANT
          The room was secured.  I never figured 
          the Doctor for a snoop.
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          Your forgiven.  The issue has been rectified.  
          The Doctor has been rectified.  Lets move on.
          
                           SERGEANT
          What about this hacker.          
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          I've had my experts track her down.  She's a teenage 
          kid on the other side of the country.  A non-threat.  
          We've sealed up our holes in the network.  It's time 
          to begin "Beautiful Son".
          
The Sergeant nods in agreement.

INT. THE DARK ROOM

Henry stands at attention in the dark room.  Death strolls out of the dark.  He is now dressed in a 
three piece suit and looks very dapper.

                           DEATH
          Good day, Henry.
          
Henry acknowledges Death with a nod.

                           BIGGS
          Sir.  How are you?
          
                           DEATH
          Actually I've been feeling a bit under 
          the weather.  My cholesterol level is 
          way down, my blood pressure is down 
          and I think I'm HIV free.

                           BIGGS
          I'm sorry to hear that.
          
                           DEATH
          Well, these things come and go.  
          So I see you've been a busy boy.
          
                           BIGGS
          Yes sir.  My superiors have decided 
          I am a valuable asset.
          
                           DEATH
          A valuable asset...  Hmmmm.  I could 
          say the same.  You've sent me seven 
          clients in as many days.  I suppose I 
          should thank you.
          
Henry seems disturbed.

                           BIGGS
          My... mission parameters... 
          require target... termination.
          
                           DEATH
          It don't sit well with you though 
          does it?

                           BIGGS
          No sir.
          
                           DEATH
          Now why is that?  You're a soldier.  
          A killing machine.  A death dealer.  
          No ordinary dealer either, we're talking 
          wholesale.
          
                           BIGGS
          I don't know.
          
                           DEATH
          I'll tell you why, mate.  Everything is 
          not as it seems.
          
                           BIGGS
          I don't understand.
          
                           DEATH
          It's against me contract to meddle 
          in human affairs, but I do so hate to 
          see the truth get twisted around so.  
          And let's face it, death is the ultimate 
          truth.  Isn't any shades of gray in my 
          world.  You're either dead or your not... 
          And like I said before, I like you, mate.
          
Death places a consoling hand on Henry's shoulder.

                           DEATH
          Take care to think about what you 
          do before you do it, mate.  That's 
          the best advice I can give any man.
          
Henry stares forward and contemplates Death's words.  Death is gone.

INT. LIVING ROOM 

Tara and Charice lounge about this room.  Each of them studies from their own text book.  Charice 
sighs and puts her book down.

                           CHARICE
          I'm bored.
                           TARA
          You're always bored.
          
                           CHARICE
          I hate chemistry.  I'm never going 
          to use this.  Who cares about molecular 
          structures.
          
                           TARA
          Chemists.
          
                           CHARICE
          How come you weren't in French 
          class today?
          
                           TARA
          My dad had to take me to the physical 
          therapist to check out my knee one last time.         
                    
                           CHARICE
          Well, you missed Charlie 
          Beausoliel making a total ass 
          out of himself.
          
                           TARA
          What are you talking about.  Charlie's a nice guy.
          
                           CHARICE
          He has like a total crush on Miss 
          Sevagny.  I mean it's disgusting 
          it's sooooo obvious.
          
                           TARA
          Like you've never had a crush 
          on a teacher before.
          
                           CHARICE
          At least I wasn't so obvious about it.
          
                           TARA
          What did he do?
          
                           CHARICE
          Miss Sevagny calls out his name 
          and then she says, "Did you know 
          Beausoliel means beautiful sun?"  
          And then Charlie blurts out, "I'm your 
          beautiful son Miss Sevegny.  I just 
          about wretched...  Tara are you listening 
          to me.
          
Tara is sitting straight up.  The light of realization lights her eyes.

                           TARA
          Who's the Prime Minister of Quebec?
          
                           CHARAICE
          Raymond Beausoliel.  Why?
          
                           TARA
          Oh my God!
          
Tara rushes out of the room.

                           CHARICE
          What?  I swear he's not that cute.
          
INT. TARA'S BEDROOM

Tara has her virtual reality headset on.  She is typing frantically on her keyboard.  Charice 
enters the room.

                           CHARICE
          Tara what are you doing?  I 
          thought we were going to study.
          
                           TARA
          I can't get through.  They shut me out!
          
                           CHARICE
          I swear I don't know what you're talking about.
          
Tara pulls off her headset and stares at the monitor.

                           TARA
          Henry. 
          
INT. MINIVAN - TRAVELING - DAY

Henry stares out the window as he travels down a little traveled highway bordered by forest.  The 
Sergeant narrates.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          As I said before, the fate of the nation 
          rests upon youR successful conclusion 
          of operation "Beautiful Son".  The 
          termination of this gross coward is of 
          highest priority.
          
EXT. THE STREETS OF MONTREAL - LATE MORNING

Henry walks down a main street of Montreal.  He is dressed in civilian garb again.  He has 
been dressed to blend in.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          You will be transported to the streets of 
          Montreal overland and anonamosly.  From 
          your drop off point you will proceed to the 
          Quebec state house building where this coward hides.
          
INT. TARA'S KITCHEN

Jeffrey is staring at his daughter like she's from mars.  She is almost in tears.

                           JEFFREY
          Tara!  This is ludicrous!  This is the 
          real world.  This kind of stuff just doesn't 
          happen.
          
                           TARA
          Well, someone should tell that to Henry, 
          because he doesn't know what's real and 
          what isn't!
          
                           JEFFERY
          How do you know this isn't all some 
          network joke!  Some hacker pulling a prank.
          
                           TARA
          Henry told me he killed a drug lord.  
          Did you hear the news last week.  
          Seven people were killed.
          
Jeffrey looks shocked.

                           JEFFERY
          And you want to go after this maniac!?
         
                           TARA
          He's not a maniac!  He's being controlled.  
          If he could see me I could talk to him.  I 
          could bring him out of virtuality!

EXT. STREETS OF MONTREAL

Henry walks as Sergeant talks.

                           SERGEANT
          We will have operatives monitoring 
          your progress.  I will be communicating 
          with you the entire time from nearby 
          via an earpiece you will be wearing.
          
EXT. CLOSE UP ON HENRRY'S RIGHT EAR

We see the ear piece.

INT. TARA'S KITCHEN

                           JEFFERY
          Tara this is a job for the police 
          or the F.B.I. not a sixteen year old girl.
          
                           TARA
          I told you dad this whole thing is 
          being run by the NSA. I'll bet they 
          have people in the F.B.I.
          
                           JEFFERY
          Now you sound paranoid.  Listen 
          to you.  You've seen to many spy movies.
          
                           TARA
          You're the one that's always 
          saying you can't trust the government.
          
Jeffrey frowns at his own words.

EXT. THE STREETS OF MONTREAL

                           SERGEANT
          This operation will require that 
          you be totally unarmed.  The tests 
          you have taken to date prove that 
          you have the skill required to 
          successfully complete your mission 
          under these circumstances.
          
Henry mounts the steps to the state building.

INT. TARA'S KITCHEN

                           TARA
          Dad, I'm the only one that can 
          identify Henry.  Either way I HAVE 
          to go to Montreal.  I'd rather go with 
          you than people I don't trust.  Maybe 
          I am being paranoid, but I'd rather 
          be safe than sorry.
          
Jeffrey contemplates his little girl.
          
                           JEFFERY
          I knew getting you that virtual 
          reality stuff was a mistake.          
          
                           TARA
          Not if it saves someone's life.  
          A couple a days ago you said 
          "At least I can trust my little girl".  
          Did you mean that?
          
Jeffrey frowns and then smiles.
          
                           JEFFERY
          You know I really hate it when you 
          use my own words against me...  Pack 
          a bag.  I'll call the airport.
          
EXT. THE QUEBEC STATE HOUSE BUILDING

Henry enters trough the main doors to the state house building.  A metal detector frames the door.  
People come and go.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          Once you are in the building you will 
          proceed to the main desk and ask for 
          the office of Mademoiselle Madelaine 
          Beauvalle.  She works on the same 
          floor as your target.  We have arranged 
          a meeting with a fictitious client in order 
          to get you by the front desk.

Two Quebec security force officers man the metal detector.  They wear side arms.  Henry steps through.  
The detector goes off.  One of the officers waves a wand over Henry.  Henry seems bored.

                           SERGEANT
          Your coward hides behind only two 
          guards who are stationed just outside 
          of his office.  Once you are on his floor, 
          proceed to the guards, neutralize them 
          and then conclude your mission.  Good 
          luck soldier.

The wand beeps at Henry's midsection.  The officer gestures.  Henry opens his jacket.  The officer 
waves the wand.  It goes off over a metal belt buckle.  The officer smiles and waves Henry on.

Henry proceeds to a main desk where two officers process visitors.

                           OFFICER 1
          Bon jour Monsieur?
          
                           BIGGS
          Bon jour.  I have an appointment with Mademoiselle Beauvalle.
          
                           OFFICER 1
          And who shall I say is calling?
          
                           BIGGS
          Jonathan Doe.
          
The officer picks up a phone and waits for someone on the other end.

INT. HOTEL ROOM

The Sergeant stands at a hotel room window looking out with a pair of binoculars.  Corp. Hazzard 
stands by his side.  Both soldiers are dressed in civilian garb and are wearing headsets.  Bruce 
joins the pair.

                           BRUCE STERLING
          Is he in yet?
          
                           SERGEANT
          His in the building, but not Beausoliel's office.
          
                           CORP. HAZZARD
          We should be able to monitor the execution 
          from here.  We have line of sight directly 
          into Beausoliel's office.

INT. AIRPORT

Tara drags her father through the concourse.  The two are fairly running.

INT. THE QUEBEC STATE HOUSE BUILDING

Officer 1 hangs up the phone and turns to Henry.

                           OFFICER 1
          Mademoiselle had an emergency and 
          had to step out of the office for a few 
          minutes.  You may wait over there.
          
The officer motions off to Henry's left.  Henry seems confused.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          Ask him were the mens room is.
          
                           BIGGS
          Where's the mens room?
          
                           OFFICER 1
          Over there, Monsieur.
          
Henry follows the officer's direction.

INT. TAXI - TRAVELING

Tara and her father tear through the streets of Montreal.

INT. MENS ROOM

Henry makes his way to  a sink.  He stares into a mirror.

INT. THE LIVING ROOM OF ARMAND DELGADO

A dead Armand lies on his couch.

INT. HENRY'S KITCHEN

Henry converses with Sheila from an earlier scene.

                           SHEILA
          You're starting to piss me off with this name thing.

INT. DARK ROOM

Henry sings the blues to Tara.

INT. SCHOOL HALL

Henry faces a surprised Dr. Peoples just prior to killing him.

INT. ARMAND DELGADO'S LIVING ROOM

Corp. Hazzard shoots the still form of Armand.

                           CORP. HAZZARD
          That's for being a lousy lover.

INT. DARK ROOM
          
Tara talks to Henry from an earlier scene.
          
                           TARA
          You're not SUPPOSED to kill people.  It's wrong.
          
INT. BACK TO THE MEN'S ROOM

Henry stares at his own reflection.  He says to no one.

                           BIGGS
          It's wrong.
                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          What's that soldier!  What did you say?
          
Henry does not reply.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          It's time to proceed.

Henry is frozen.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          Did you hear me soldier?
          
                           BIGGS
          Yes, Sergeant.
          
Henry exits.

INT. STATE HOUSE LOBBY

Henry makes his to the central guard station.  Officer 1 smiles and directs Henry to a bank of 
elevators.  Henry leaves.

Tara and Jeffrey are trying to rush through the metal detector.  The guards block their view of
Henry.

Tara and Jeffrey rush to the central guard station.  They converse frantically with the guard.  
Everything seems to be moving in slow motion.

Tara looks over her shoulder.  Henry boards an elevator.  

Officer 1 picks up a phone.

Tara yanks on her father's sleeve.  He turns from the guard.  Tara points at the elevator and 
runs after it.  

Jeffrey looks frantically from the guards to his daughter.  He chases after his daughter.  The 
guard screams to his men to follow Jeffrey and Tara.  Officer 1 screams into the phone.

INT. THE CORRIDOR OUTSIDE OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE

Henry makes his way down the corridor.  Two guards armed with side arms stand opposite 
him at the other end of the corridor.  Henry starts towards them.

INT. AN ELEVATOR

A nervous father and daughter trade anxious looks.  Jeffrey takes his daughters hand.

INT. HOTEL ROOM

The Sergeant and Corp. Hazzard stare out through the window with their binoculars.

                           BRUCE STERLING
          Status?
          
                           SERGEANT
          He's outside his office.
          
INT. CORRIDOR

Henry walks to about two thirds the length of the corridor.  One of the guards starts to raise a hand 
and speak.  Henry interrupts him.

                           BIGGS
          Excuse moi, Monsieur.  I'm lost.  
          I was supposed to have a meeting 
          with Mademoiselle Beauvalle can 
          you direct me to her office.
          
Henry advances on the guards as he converses.

                           GUARD 1
          Certainment Monsieur.  You need 
          to head back down this corridor.  Take 
          a right.  Go all the way to the end of 
          the hall and her's is the last office on the left.
          
Henry is almost within striking range.

Tara and Jeffrey appear at the other end of the corridor.  Tara spies Henry and screams.

                           TARA
          Henry!  Don't.
          
Henry spins.  He spies Tara.

                           BIGGS
          Tara?          
          
INT. HOTEL ROOM

The Sergeant drops his binoculars and covers the microphone to his headset.

                           SERGEANT
          Tara!?  Who the hell is that
          
                           BRUCE STERLING
          Oh damn!  That's our hacker!
          
The Sergeant uncovers his mouthpiece.
          
                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          You've got a mission to complete soldier.  Focus!
          
INT. CORRIDOR

Tara starts to run towards Henry.  Her father follows.  Four more armed guards appear 
behind Jeffrey.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          You must complete the mission.  Nothing else matters.

One of the guards next to Henry starts to draw a weapon.

Henry fires off an elbow into the guards face.  The guards head bounces against the door 
to the office behind him and he goes down.

                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          This coward is using these people to get at you.

The other guard reaches for his sidearm.  

Henry sidekicks him in the stomach.  The guard bounces off the wall.  Henry grabs the man, 
spins him and kicks him in the back of the knee.  This stands the man up more upright.  Henry 
grabs his head and smashes it into the wall.

Henry pulls the man's automatic from it's holster.  

Henry enters the office of Raymond Beausoliel and closes the door behind him.

INT. RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL'S OFFICE

Henry enters the room.  Mr. Beausoliel has obviously heard the noise outside and is 
staring at Henry as he closes the door and locks it.

Henry spins, moves closer and takes aim with and outstretched weapon.

Raymond Beausoliel sneers at him.

                           DEATH(V.O.)
          Think about what you do before you 
          do it, mate.
 
Henry hesitates and screams.

                           BIGGS
          You're a coward!
          
The Prime ministers scowls and stands.

                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          I'm not the one holding a gun on an unarmed man, Monsieur.  I 
          will not grovel before you.
          
                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          Shoot soldier!  Shoot!  Conclude the target!
          
                           BIGGS
          You are a terrorist!  A coward!
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          A terrorist?  Once again Monsieur you are the one 
          with the gun and I resent you calling me a coward.  
          I do not fear you.
          
                           SERGEANT(V.O.)
          Conclude the target, Biggs!

There is a crash behind Henry.  The door flies open.  

Henry rushes the Prime Minister.  He dives over the desk.  Both men crash against the floor.  
Henry's ear piece pops out.

Henry places his weapon against the Prime Minister's temple and drags him to a corner of 
the room.  Four armed guards have entered the room and train their weapons on Henry.

                           BIGGS
          Stay back!  Stay back all of you 
          or he's dead.
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          The game is done, Monsieur.  Give yourself 
          up before you do real harm.
          
                           BIGGS
          You are the target!  You are the terrorist.  
          Mission objectives must be concluded!
          
Tara manages to squeeze through the guards.  She is shocked to find Henry holed up 
in the corner of the room like a frightened animal.

                           TARA
          Henry!  Let him go.
          
                           BIGGS
          Tara?
          
                           TARA
          They're using you Henry.  He's 
          not a terrorist he's the prime minister 
          of Quebec.  The place where we met 
          wasn't real.  It's virtual reality.  They 
          were programming you Henry.
          
Henry is very confused.  He turns to the Prime Minister.  The Prime Minister smiles.

                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          I am no coward, sir.  Someone has been lying to you.
          
                           BIGGS
          I am programmed?
          
                           TARA
          Henry you sing the blues, remember?  You're not a killer.  You're a musician.
          
Henry starts to drop the gun.  He stares at it.

EXT. BACK ROAD

We look over the hood of Henry's car through a sheet of flame.  He is slumped against the 
steering wheel, his head and face are covered in blood.

INT. RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL'S OFFICE

A tear rolls down Henry's face.

                           BIGGS
          I am dead.
          
Henry lifts the gun to his own temple.  Tara screams.

                           TARA
          No.
          
The Prime Minister grabs at the gun.  There is an explosion of gunfire.

INT. A HOSPITAL ROOM

We pull a tight shot on an orderly as he cleans up various hospital equipment from Henry's 
room.  We never see the orderly's face.

Henry is hooked up to a plethora of equipment.  A nurse takes his blood pressure and leaves.  
Tara, Jeffrey and the Prime Minister stare at the unconscious man.  Tara holds Henry's hand.

                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          The state of Quebec... non, I owe you great 
          debt, Tara.  You and your father saved my life.
          
                           TARA
          I wish we could have saved Henry too.
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          The doctors think his prognosis is good.  According 
          to their tests he's been in a coma before, but this one 
          is much less severe.
          
                           JEFFERY
          What's going to happen to him.
          
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          A very good question.  We don't even know who he is.  
          Your government has no records of him at all.  
          He was a well designed weapon.
          
                           TARA
          What about the people who did this?
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          I'm afraid your government doesn't know 
          who they are either.  All traces of them are gone.
          
                           JEFFERY
          Surprise surprise.
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          It is interesting to note that Ambassador Whitam, 
          my supposed good friend, has been recalled to 
          Washington.  There are rumors of her being replaced.
          
                           TARA
          Why did they do this?
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          Sometimes paranoid little minds are allowed to 
          float to the tops of the wrong organizations.  I 
          suspect there are those in your government who 
          do not trust my intentions and the intentions of 
          an independent Quebec.  I find this humorous in 
          a country that holds their own independence day 
          in such high regard.
          
                           JEFFERY
          We don't all feel that way.         
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          Of course not and that's why I've written this 
          entire affair off to the act of a few irresponsible 
          men.  I will insist your government find them 
          and remove them.
          
                           TARA
          Do you think that will happen.

                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          Probably not, but they won't dare try it again.

                           TARA
          It Henry going to go to Jail?
          
                           RAYMOND BEAUSOLIEL
          No.  He's as much a victim here as anyone else.  
          I will see that he is well taken care of.  A man with 
          such devoted friends must be worth rehabilitating.
          
Tara and Jeffrey smile.  The three turn their attentions back to an unconscious Henry.  We 
follow the orderly out of the room as he pushes a cart of medical paraphernalia.

INT. THE CORRIDOR OUTSIDE OF HENRY'S ROOM

We follow the Orderly from behind.  He is bent over his cart and we still can not see his face.  

The orderly makes his way to an elevator.  A nurse gets off of the elevator and leaves it vacant.  
The orderly pushes the cart in and makes his way to the rear of the elevator.  The orderly turns 
and smiles at us.

Death pulls a cigar out of a pocket and begins to light it up.  He address  us.
          
                           DEATH
          Don't worry mates.  It wouldn't 
          be very sportin' if I took 'em after 
          all that now would it.
          
Death breaks into laughter.

EXT. SOCCER FIELD

Henry and Tara pass a soccer ball between each other.  They are obviously having 
a good time.

Roll the credits.



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