Part III
INT. A KITCHEN - TARA'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON
JEFFREY WASH disgustedly reads the newspaper while sipping some coffee. Tara
enters the room carrying a soccer ball and is dressed to play.
TARA
I'm ready to go dad.
Jeffrey slaps the newspaper.
JEFFREY
Can you believe this! You can't trust
the government. This lousy senator took
three million in campaign contributions
in one month and everyone of the contributors
now has a juicy contract with the federal
government.
TARA
Dad, we're late.
Jeffrey stands and starts looking around for his keys.
JEFFREY
Our tax dollars at work! Where are
my keys? You just can't trust the
government!
Tara turns an pulls the keys off the counter behind her. She dangles them. Jeffrey
continues to search through the piles of stuff on the table.
TARA
Dad?
JEFFREY
Oh. Thanks. At least I can trust my
little girl. Let's go.
TARA
To find your keys anyway.
They exit.
EXT. A FOREST - LATE MORNING
Henry runs full tilt through a forest. He has traded in his military style green T-shirt
for a tank top. A camouflage bandanna covers his head. A long knife is strapped to one leg.
For the first time we see Henry as a soldier but without reflector shades.
The Sergeant narrates in the background.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
We will now begin phase III training.
Henry jumps a fallen tree like a jungle cat.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
Initially this will consist of straight exercise.
Henry leaps a small stream.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
We will carve your body into steel.
Henry bursts forth from some brush at the stop of a small ridge and sails through
the air.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
After two weeks you will begin applying
your hand to hand skills in a more dynamic
scenario.
Henry comes to a clearing and stops.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
You will apply the techniques we have taught you
thus far in the field.
Moon stands across the clearing from Henry. He too is without reflector shades
SERGEANT(V.O.)
These are nonlethal exercises, Soldier. You
will NOT, I repeat NOT seriously damage any
of your training partners.
Moon and Henry charge each other. They both launch into flying sidekicks and sail
past each other. They land and spin instantly to reengage. The battle is bloody
and fierce. Henry manages to sweep Moon to the ground.
Henry leaves Moon and continues to run.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
As I have stated before many of your Ops
may require going into a scenario unarmed
while your opponents may be armed.
Henry runs by a tree. A tall black soldier steps out with a staff and swings for
Henry's head. Henry ducks at the last second. He stops and spins to a low stance.
The soldier swings back. Henry catches the staff, moves it out of the way and palm
heels the assassin. He flips the soldier to his back and knocks him unconscious.
Henry jumps up and continues his run.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
You may be required to take out multiple opponents.
Henry comes to another clearing by a brook. He slows down. He scans his surroundings.
A tall large soldier steps out from behind a tree. He has a 9mm automatic aimed at
Henry's head.
Another soldier steps out behind Henry. This man points a gun at Henry's back.
SOLDIER 1
You screwed up Soldier! You froze at the sight of a gun.
Soldier #1 motions to his partner.
SOLDIER 1
Secure the prisoner.
Soldier #2 holsters his weapon.
SOLDIER 1
Place your hands behind your head and interlock your fingers.
Henry does as he is told. The soldier with the gun moves closer until his gun is
almost in Henry's face. Soldier 2 pulls a plastic tie out of his belt and begins
to grab one of Henry's arms.
Henry spins an elbow into the gun that is in his face. He loops a hand around the gun arm
and fires an elbow into Soldier 1's face.
Henry shoots a front kick into the soldier that is now in front of him. The man doubles over.
Henry kicks his knee and he falls to the ground. Henry flips the soldier with the gun over
his shoulder onto the man on the ground. He finishes him off with an elbow to the face.
BIGGS
I guess I thawed out.
Henry takes off into the woods.
INT. THE DARK ROOM - LATER
Sergeant stands at parade rest as Henry runs into the room from the darkness. Henry now wears his
reflector shades. Henry stands a attention before the Sergeant.
Sergeant looks Henry over with a smile and nods in appreciation.
SERGEANT
You did good soldier. Damn good.
BIGGS
Thank you Sergeant.
A small twig with a couple of leaves on it has lodged itself in Henry's belt. Sergeant
approaches Henry
and grabs the twig. He holds up to Henry's face.
SERGEANT
This twig is not regulation uniform soldier.
BIGGS
Sorry Sergeant.
The Sergeant smiles.
SERGEANT
That was a joke Soldier. You are allowed
to laugh.
BIGGS
Ha, Ha, Ha, Sergeant.
The Sergeant shakes his head and smiles at his Vulcan like protogee.
SERGEANT
I have good news for you Soldier.
Command has selected a mission for
you. In one month you will be able to
prove yourself on the field of battle.
BIGGS
Yes Sergeant!
SERGEANT
This mission is code named "Beautiful Son".
Your target is a coward who would destroy the
very foundations of this country. Your mission
will be to terminate this coward.
BIGGS
Yes, Sergeant.
SERGEANT
This loathsome, craven, terrorist is
hiding out in Canada. We believe he
has adopted the identity of an important
politician. Even now our agents are
monitoring his movements. At the
appropriate time you will be sent into to
rectify the target. Do you understood soldier?
BIGGS
Yes, Sergeant.
SERGEANT
Good. I can't stress how important
this mission is. There is no room for failure.
BIGGS
No Sergeant.
The Sergeant looks Henry over for a second. He spins and disappears into the gloom.
INT. HENRY'S BEDROOM
Henry's eyes snap open. He lies in bed. Sheila is asleep behind him. He moves an arm
under the covers and shifts uncomfortably. His hand snakes out of the covers.
Henry holds the twig from his dreams. His eyes go wide when he realizes what it is. He
contemplates the twig.
INT. COMPUTER LAB
Dr. Peoples exits the lab. Sergeant pecks at a notebook computer. Bruce enters carrying a
manila folder. The Sergeant spins and stands when he sees Bruce.
BRUCE STERLING
Is he locked down?
SERGEANT
Yeah. We were prepping him for another
session.
BRUCE STERLING
Let me see him.
The Sergeant leads Bruce through a door to an adjoining room.
INT. ADJOINING ROOM
Henry lies on a hospital bed. A virtual reality headset is mounted on his unconscious form.
Electrodes are wired by the hundreds to just about every muscle on his body. An IV drips
into his right arm. A virtual reality headset sits on a nearby chair.
SERGEANT
What's up?
BRUCE STERLING
Is he ready?
SERGEANT
I thought we had a month?
BRUCE STERLING
For "Beautiful Son" we do, but our superiors
want a live test. They don't want to send in a
raw recruit now matter how well he's been trained.
SERGEANT
Is one of them volunteering to be the test
subject.
BRUCE STERLING
Very funny. I have a friend in the DEA who
I owe a favor. There's this particular thorn
in his side that he would like removed.
SERGEANT
What if Biggs blows it?
BRUCE STERLING
I'd rather have him blow it on some drug
punk then the prime minister of Quebec.
Bruce hands the folder to the Sergeant.
BRUCE STERLING
Make it happen. You have a week.
A scowling Sergeant opens the file. Bruce exits.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON
Tara sits among her classmates as Mr. O'Conner lectures. She seems lost in the ozone as she
stares at the book in front of her.
MR O'CONNER
So this is why we have to ask ourselves
what are the consequences of an independent
Quebec. Can anyone tell me who the current
Prime Minister of Quebec is?
The classroom is silent. Tara doesn't even hear the question.
MR. O'CONNER
Tara? How about you. Can you tell
me who the current Prime Minister of
Quebec is?
Tara pops back to reality.
TARA
Huh? Excuse me?
Mr. O'Conner smiles.
MR. O'CONNER
Well, I was looking to find out who
the Prime Minister of Quebec is, but
maybe you can tell me who the Prime
Minister of Mars is, because that's
obviously where you were.
The class breaks out into laughter. Tara smiles sheepishly.
TARA
Actually they don't have a Prime
Minister on Mars they have a President
and his name is Fizzlewig.
MR. O'CONNER
Fizzlewig. I didn't know that. I'll have to
put that on the midterm for extra credit. However,
since this a social studies course on TERRESTRIAL
current events can someone tell me who the
Prime Minister of Quebec is? Charice?
A cute sixteen year old who is obviously preoccupied with the latest fashion answers.
CHARICE
Raymond Beausoliel.
MR. O'CONNER
Very good, Charice, I'm impressed.
CHARICE
He's like so cute.
A few of the girls giggle.
MR. O'CONNER
I wouldn't know. All right lets break out
our books and turn to the map of Canada
and go over some of the demographics.
The students all pull their books out. Tara gives Charice a friendly "you know it all" look.
EXT. BUS STOP - LATER
Tara exits the bus along with some of her neighbors. She begins to walk down the lightly
traveled street by herself. Charice catches up to her.
CHARICE
So. Are you back from Mars yet?
TARA
Very funny Miss geography.
CHARICE
I bet you were thinking about who you
were going to go to the dance with this weekend.
TARA
No... I met this guy on the net.
CHARICE
I swear you are like such a computer geek.
TARA
And I'm also getting A's in all of my classes,
well except French class anyway. Are you?
CHARICE
Because of your computer?
TARA
It helps. Anyway I was hacking
around the NSF's super computer
network.
CHARICE
Super computers! That sounds cool.
TARA
It is so cool. ANYWAY I found this back
door to an experiment. I think it's an
experiment. It's a virtual reality world and
in there I found this guy.
CHARICE
Was he cute!?
TARA
Charice. He's old enough to be our father.
CHARICE
So he could still be cute.
TARA
Charice... So at first I thought this
guy was an A.I.
CHARICE
What's an A.I.?
TARA
An artificial intelligence. A made up person.
CHARICE
You mean like Data on Star Trek.
TARA
No more like the Doctor on Voyager.
CHARICE
Oh. Data's cuter. So why did you think this
guy was an A.I.
TARA
He talked kind of funny. He didn't even now
what soccer was.
CHARICE
Must be an A.I.
TARA
That's what I thought, but the more
I talked to him the more he seemed
like a real person. And they've got
him doing this weird training.
CHARICE
Training?
TARA
Karate and stuff.
CHARICE
Karate! That is so cool. Maybe he
could teach us and we could take care
of Billy Ricks and his water pistol punks.
They're going to get suspended if they
get caught.
TARA
He'd teach me if I asked him.
He wants me to teach him soccer.
CHARICE
He doesn't even know about soccer.
Are you sure this guy isn't some kind
of pervert or something. Daddy says
the net's full of perverts.
Tara laughs.
TARA
Henry? Henry is just confused. He
wouldn't hurt a fly.
EXT. FOLIAGE - WOODS - NOONISH
We peer through the dense foliage of a wood. After a few seconds of allowing our eyes to focus
we spy a heavily camouflaged Henry. The Sergeant narrates.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
Command has decided you are to be
tested prior to the execution of "Beautiful Son".
EXT. THE DRIVEWAY LEADING UP TO A CONTEMPORARY HOUSE
An armed guard walks the driveway to a stone faced house. He seems bored. He wears a
woodsy outfit that looks like it was picked from the pages of an L.L. Bean catalog.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
You are to be given the honor of taking
out a scumbag drug lord. This drug lord
will be vacationing at his home in Maine.
We move further down the driveway to find another heavily armed guard standing near the front
door to this place. He is dressed much the same as his fellow.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
You will have to take out six guards. All
of them will be armed. Each one of them
is a known killer.
EXT. DECK ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE
A sizable wrap around deck surrounds the house. Another guard patrols the deck on the left side
of the house. He too is well armed and dressed as his fellows.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
In order to fully test your abilities you
will only be allowed to bring a knife
with you... a big knife.
EXT. THE REAR DECK
Three more heavily armed guards occupy themselves on this rear deck. One is dressed in a sharp
three piece suit. The other two have gone with the L.L. Bean fare.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
How you deal with the guards is your option.
The Guard at the far end of the house. Lights up a cigar and takes a seat on some steps that
lead off the deck.
INT. INSIDE THE CONTEMPORARY HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
A good looking man in his early thirties puffs on a cigar and reads a magazine. A couple glasses
of wine sit nearby as does an empty bottle. The man is dressed in only a silk bathrobe, a T-shirt
and a bathing suit.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
The target is an American National named
Armand Delgado. He is responsible for much
of the heroin that is now coming in through Mexico.
Armand places his cigar in an ashtray and attempts to refill his wine glass. The bottle is empty.
Armand looks over one shoulder to a spot out of the room.
ARMAND
Selma! Can you bring another bottle
of wine in with you?
There is no answer. Armand shakes his head and returns to his magazine and cigar. He seems annoyed.
SERGEANT(V.O.)
We will have an agent on the inside
who will monitor your progress and
resolve any... anomalies. Good luck
soldier.
EXT. THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY
The guard sits down on a green box at the end of the driveway to enjoy a cigarette.
Some of the foliage across the street shakes.
The guard looks at it quizzically. The greens shake again. The guard stands up and lazily cradles his
gun. He saunters over to the brush.
GUARD
I'd like to know what kind of freakin'
animals the have in this place.
The brush shakes again.
GUARD
You a kitty? A nice little kitty not a big
old mean bear that I'm going to have to
shoot.
The guard can see nothing in the brush. He moves the brush aside with his gun, but can
still see nothing.
GUARD
Here kitty, kitty, kitty.
There is the flash of a camouflaged hand and a glimpse of Henry. The guard disappears into
the brush.
EXT. THE BRUSH
The guard is thrown to his stomach. Henry is on his back in a flash. He draws his knife across the
guards throat. The man never gets a chance to struggle.
EXT. THE FRONT DOOR
The Guard at the front door has missed his compatriots demise. He is sitting on the front stoop
reading a magazine. His weapon sits next to him.
He looks up. He notices his friend is missing. He drops the magazine and picks up his weapon.
He moves closer to the stone wall in front of him searching for his friend.
GUARD
Yo Vic?
Vic does not answer being dead.
GUARD
If you're gonna take a piss your
supposed to tell me.
The guard starts to turn back to his spot at the front door.
Henry kicks a knee out from under the guard. This Rocks the guard back. Henry encircles
the mans neck with his own two powerful arms. The struggling man is hauled out of sight
in a death clamp.
EXT. THE SIDE DECK
The guard strolls toward the end of the deck that is closest to the front part of the house.
He yawns. He stops at the end of the deck. He rests his weapon on the railing and then leans
on it himself.
Henry is in a bush directly in front of him. He pops up and slams the guard in the throat with
a knife hand. He grabs the Guard by head and throws him over the railing onto his stomach.
Henry smacks him in the back of the head with the hilt of his knife.
Henry fairly crawls back over to the deck. He spies the well dressed guard at the other end of
deck. The guard turns and heads back to the rear of the house.
Henry looks down and finds some garden implements, a coil of rope and a discarded ladder.
EXT. REAR DECK
The well dressed guard has stopped to look out over the lake. One of the other guards joins him.
WOODSY GUARD
How come you got to wear such fancy
clothes all the time?
WELL DRESSED GUARD
Look. Armand wants me to come out to the
sticks, fine, but that don't mean I have to
look like no hick.
The well dressed guard rubs his compatriots flannel shirt.
WELL DRESSED GUARD
You wanna look like Al Borland from tool
time? Fine. Me I like silk.
The well dressed guard fingers his own suit.
WOODSY GUARD
You stick out like a sore thumb.
WELL DRESSED GUARD
Better than looking like one.
The woodsy guard frowns and the Well Dressed Guard turns to stroll to the side deck.
EXT. SIDE DECK
The gentleman guard notices his fellow is missing. He makes his way to the end of the deck.
He looks around, but does not find him.
The guard makes his way down the steps and heads down the slope to the lake looking for his friend.
He does not notice his friends hand sticking out from under the deck through a bush.
Henry rolls out from under the deck. He silently charges the well dressed guard from behind. Once
again he kicks out a knee only this time he snaps the guards neck.
Henry now has the coil of rope around one arm.
EXT. REAR DECK
The guard at the far end of the house is still enjoying his cigar on the steps. There is a
scraping noise in between his feet. He looks but he sees nothing.
He puts his head between his leg and squats to see what is behind the steps he sits on. A
hand snakes out, grabs the back of his head and yanks his throat into the step. Another hand
snakes out and snaps this guards neck.
INT. LIVING ROOM
Armand puts his magazine down and stamps out his cigar in the ashtray. He grabs his wine glass and
heads to the kitchen.
ARMAND
Selma! What are you doing girl!?
Two six foot windows look out on the lake. The last woodsy guard stands there scanning the lake.
Armand ignores him.
Armand finds a bottle of wine in one of the cabinets and fills his glass.
EXT. REAR DECK
For the first time the woodsy guard notices him cohort with his head between his legs.
GUARD
What are you doing man? That is
disgusting. Maybe Armand can lend
you his girlfriend. Hey Louis!? You
listening to me?
INT. KITCHEN
Armand turns away from the kitchen windows with his newly filled glass of wine.
ARMAND
Selma! I'm hungry! Get out here!
The last struggling guard is being hauled out of sight by a rope around his neck.
INT. LIVING ROOM
Armand returns to his spot on the couch with the glass of wine.
Henry burst into the room carrying one of the guards handguns. Armand looks up in surprise as
Henry shoots him three times in the chest. Henry stares at him for a few seconds.
Sheila runs into the room carrying two plastic bags filled with a cigar butt and a wine glass. Henry
is in shock when he sees her.
BIGGS
Sheila!?
Sheila shoots him a dirty look.
CORP. HAZZARD
That's Corporal Hazzard, soldier! Here!
Place this in the ashtray. Don't touch it
with your hands.
A confused Henry does as he is told.
BIGGS
I don't understand.
Corporal Hazzard very carefully pulls the wine glass out of the plastic bag being careful
not to touch it.
CORP. HAZZARD
That cigar put has the saliva and thus
DNA of Pablo Ortega on it. Mr. Ortega
is Armand's arch enemy.
Corporal Hazzard begins to fill the wine glass with the wine from Armand's glass.
CORP. HAZZARD
This wine glass has Mr. Ortega's finger
prints on it.
Sheila pockets the plastic bags and grabs the handgun from Henry's numb hand. She fires another
round into Armand's chest.
CORP. HAZZARD
That's for being a lousy lover. Let's go.
A reluctant and shocked Henry follows Corporal Hazzard out of the room.
INT. HENRY'S BEDROOM -EARLY MORNING
Henry wakes. Sheila is still asleep behind him. He rises and exits.
INT. HENRY'S KITCHEN
Henry makes himself a coffee. A radio rests on the counter. He flips it on. The news drones
over the box.
NEWSCASTER(V.O.)
And now on to national news. The body of
Armand Delgado an alleged American drug
lord was found yesterday at his vacation home
in Maine.
Henry freezes.
NEWSCASTER(V.O.)
Mr. Delgado was shot four times in the chest.
His six bodyguards were all killed by what police
are describing as an expert killer.
Henry pounces on the radio and turns it off. He draws back and stares at it in disbelief.
For the first time he notices a bottle of wine on the counter. Two wine glasses sit nearby.
Fade out on the bottle.
INT. THE DARK ROOM - LATER
Henry stands at attention. Tara enters holding a soccer ball. Henry spies her and smiles.
BIGGS
Tara! How are you?
TARA
Fine. I thought maybe we
could kick around the soccer
ball a little.
BIGGS
That would be fun. I have wonderful news.
TARA
What's that.
BIGGS
I've been given a mission! A mission!
My Sergeant has every confidence that
I will be successful at completing all
mission objectives.
Tara smiles.
TARA
Do they give your mission a name
like they do for wars and stuff?
BIGGS
Oh yes. My mission is called
"Beautiful Son".
TARA
That sounds nice. Are you like
delivering aid to needy children
or rescuing people or something?
Tara drops the ball to her feet and begins to idly roll it with one foot.
BIGGS
No. I am given the task of
terminating an international terrorist.
He is a murdering coward hiding
behind the facade of a politician.
Tara freezes. She looks shocked.
TARA
You're going to kill someone!?
Henry is surprised at Tara's response.
BIGGS
That is my mission objective.
TARA
You can't kill people!
Henry is confused.
BIGGS
It's actually very easy.
TARA
That's not what I mean. You're
not SUPPOSED to kill people.
It's wrong.
BIGGS
It's wrong?
TARA
I thought you were a nice guy
Henry.
Henry is becoming disturbed.
BIGGS
I am a nice guy. My mission
is to save the nation. In order
to do that I must terminate this person.
TARA
Save the nation? From what?
BIGGS
From... this coward.
TARA
You don't sound to sure about
this Henry. Are you sure the
Sergeant is one of the good guys.
BIGGS
Yes. He knows who the bad people
are. We killed the drug lord.
TARA
What?
BIGGS
He was bringing in heroin into this
country. You know what heroin does
to people.
Tara studies Henry. She's not so sure of him anymore.
TARA
How do I know you won't kill me?
BIGGS
Tara! I would never hurt you! You
are my friend.
Henry seems genuinely hurt.
TARA
What if I was your mission?
Henry does not answer. Tara picks up her ball and starts to leave. Henry is obviously upset.
TARA
I have to go.
BIGGS
All I ever wanted was...
TARA
What.
Henry looks lost.
INT. A PRACTICE ROOM
Henry fronts the blues band he was seen with earlier. He sings but we can not hear anything.
EXT. THE DARK ROOM
BIGGS
I think it had something to do with music.
TARA
The blues?
Henry smiles and seems to calm.
BIGGS
Yes the blues.
Tara smiles, turns and leaves.
INT. TARA'S BEDROOM
Tara sits in front of her PC. She is wearing a virtual reality headset. She pulls
the headset off and stares at the monitor in front of her. She is deep in thought.
Click here for
PART IV of "The Shadow Left Behind"