4.1 – Fallout

IMMUNITIES episode 4.1 – FALLOUT

SCENE: Outside of Scholl house. Roxanne is walking toward her front door.

ROXANNE

*hums Yellow Rose Of Texas*

Roxanne puts her key in the door. Liliah, the Looker identified in previous seasons as Woman 1, approaches her unseen.

LILIAH

Hello, Ms. Scholl.

ROXANNE

*is startled*

LILIAH

I am sorry if I have frightened you. My name is Liliah Andreou. We worked together at the Liaison Office. Do you remember?

ROXANNE
Oh. Yes, of course I remember you.

*laughs*

“Worked together.” More like you looked at the forms I filled out, and I was a bitch to you about it.

LILIAH

I…did look at the forms, yes.

ROXANNE

*pause*

So…what brings you here?

LILIAH

You…stopped working at the Office, rather suddenly.

ROXANNE

*acting sarcastic*

Oh, were there forms I should have filled out when I left?

LILIAH

No! Well…honestly, yes. There were. But I took the proper steps to complete them without your signature. I even have your final paycheck, in the drawer, at my station. I am sorry, I am not allowed to bring it to you.

ROXANNE

(puzzled by this earnestness)

Don’t worry about it.

LILIAH

I…will try not to.

ROXANNE

*pause*

Sooooo, why are you here, then?

LILIAH

When I learned that you would not return, I regretted not being able to tell you, how saddened I was by the death of your mother.

ROXANNE

Oh!

LILIAH

Not merely because she was an unusually energetic and public-spirited leader, although she was that.

ROXANNE

Mmm hmm.

LILIAH

But more specifically because I have also…been without the company…of someone I love deeply. And while I am sure that our experiences are very different, I, at the time, wished to express…something which is difficult for me to articulate. That I…sympathize with your loss, perhaps more than others could.

ROXANNE

*a little unsure, but also touched, and trying to be nice*

That’s very…sweet. Would you like to come in? I’ve got groceries for dinner with my dad and sister. There’s plenty. It…might be nice to have four at the table again.

LILIAH

No!

ROXANNE

Okayyyyy.

LILIAH

I apologize for my outburst. I mean to say…thank you for your offer, but your sister will not be at dinner tonight. She has been detained.

ROXANNE

What???

LILIAH

In the interest of national security.

ROXANNE

Oh- Oh my God. Does Dad know?

LILIAH

Yes. He has…volunteered to accompany you sister, to the extent that he is allowed to do so.

ROXANNE

Okay, that makes sense. How can I reach them?

LILIAH

I do not know.

ROXANNE

*takes an anxious breath*

LILIAH

I would tell you if I could.

ROXANNE

Of course you would.

LILIAH

But I can not.

ROXANNE
Can…can you tell me if I’m safe?

LILIAH

I feel certain that, no matter what happens, you will be treated humanely.

ROXANNE

Oh Jesus. That’s not…do you know if they’re planning to “detain” me too?

LILIAH

I do not know. The plan to detain your sister was not shared with me, until after it was accomplished. And then I…felt an urgency, to inform you about it.

ROXANNE

*trying to think it out, not really listening*

Okay.

LILIAH

Though I do not entirely understand my motivations for haste. Perhaps, I felt that this would be my last chance to tell you…

ROXANNE

*listening again*

Tell me what?

LILIAH

How very, very sorry I was, to hear about your mother.

ROXANNE
Thank you, again, that’s sweet. Can you do me a favor?

LILIAH

What favor is that?

ROXANNE

I’m not going into that house, not now. But I have perishables in this bag. If I give you the key, can you go in there and put them away?

LILIAH

I…certainly. And then come back out and return the key to you?

ROXANNE

No, I’ll be gone by then.

LILIAH

Then how will I return-

ROXANNE

Do you still have the same job?

LILIAH

Yes, I do.

ROXANNE

Then I know where to find you. Just keep the keys handy. Good-bye, and thank you. I really appreciate it.

LILIAH

I…hope you do.

SCENE: The Woods

Sound of Roxanne moving through the brush.

ROXANNE

*quietly, but fervently*

Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit. It can’t end like this. We sacrificed too much, to have it end like this.

A bush rustles.

ROXANNE

*whisper*

Who’s that?

DOM

*isn’t supposed to talk to her, but doing it anyway*

Hey.

ROXANNE

*low voice*

Hey, Dom! It’s been a while.

DOM

Yeah I know.

ROXANNE

I did want to see you, but I was afraid to go to your house. I was heading for headquarters to see Thee.

DOM

Uh…she’s not there.

ROXANNE

No? What’s going on? Why are you out here? Are you on watch?

DOM

Yeah.

ROXANNE

Are the Lookers out, like with Professor Holbrook?

DOM

No, knock wood. Thee and Mr. Channing are having a meeting, out there beyond Gwen’s box. Because the Lookers don’t come here…because of Gwen.

ROXANNE

But why outside at all? Have the Lookers found the HQ?

DOM

No, but…there’s something up. I think Thee doesn’t want the rest of the resistance to know what they’re talking about.

ROXANNE

Oh shit, is it another Looker mole?

DOM

I don’t think so. I think it’s…people. It’s like they don’t trust the other resistance people.

ROXANNE

What about me?

DOM

They didn’t say anything about you…specifically.

ROXANNE

Well whatever’s going on, I need to know about it. I’m having a crisis.

DOM

What’s wrong?

ROXANNE

*not sure how much to tell him*

Uh. Shit! They took Dad and Shelly away.

DOM

Oh crap.

ROXANNE

Yeah. One of the Lookers…I guess, warned me? I don’t know. I don’t understand them. But I need everyone’s help to find Dad and Shelly and rescue them.

DOM

Rescue them?

ROXANNE

Yes rescue them! They’re my family. And Shelly has done more for the Resistance than anyone.

DOM

But…they’re Lookers. They’re the enemy.

ROXANNE

If they’re the enemy, why have they been arrested? And the stuff you were just saying. Maybe it’s not as simple as Humans and Lookers anymore. I have to know what they’re talking about. I’m going on. If you think you have to stop me, give it a try. But otherwise I’m going.

DOM

Okay, wait, I’ll take you.

ROXANNE

No, I’ll do better on my own.

DOM

Better on your own?

ROXANNE

Yeah, one person is quieter than two. I’m sneaking. Whatever they’re up to, I need to hear it. To know if I can still trust them.

DOM

How could you not trust Thee? She believed in you when Craig wanted you dead.

ROXANNE

I trust Thee to have her heart in the right place. But remember when I pulled off the Kray caper, she was THIS CLOSE to sending me away. I can’t let her do that this time. Not until I rescue Dad and Shelly.

DOM

You can’t endanger yourself like that. You’re too important to the cause.

ROXANNE

The cause OWES me. And it owes Dad and Shelly, even if Dad and Shelly don’t know it. Consciously or unconsciously, they’ve been helping the Resistance, and that, one hundred percent, has to be the reason that they’re in trouble. I’m not running out on them, and I’m not letting Thee ship me out.

DOM

Ugh.

*deep breath*

So what do you want me to do, super-soldier?

ROXANNE

Let me pass, forget I was here, and then follow your orders.

DOM

(not liking it, but going along)

Forget and follow orders, check. Until when?

ROXANNE

Until…you see me again. Depending on what I hear, I may reveal myself to them, or I may come back this way and talk to you, or I may grab a sleeping bag from the stash and…disappear for a while.

DOM

Jesus.

ROXANNE

If he’s around, I hope he’ll help me.

DOM

So this might be goodbye. For a while.

ROXANNE

Yeah. Kiss for luck, and old times’ sake?

They kiss.

DOM

*feeling he’s never going to see her again*

Good luck, Roxanne.

ROXANNE

You to…Dominic. Hasta.

Roxanne continues through the brush. Gwen’s voice becomes audible.

GWEN

These are the beginning of sorrows. They shall deliver up your kind to be afflicted, and shall kill them: and you shall be hated by all factions and armies. And many will be offended, and will betray one another, and hate one another. And many false voices will rise, and deceive many. And the love of many shall wax cold.

Gwen reaches peak volume, as Roxanne passes near her.

GWEN

The abomination of desolation will soon stand in the holy place, (whoever listens, let her understand!). Therefore: flee into the fastness. Let she who is on the housetop not take any thing out of her house. Neither let she which is in the field return back to take her clothes. For there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the changing of the world.

Jordan’s voice gradually rises.

JORDAN

If you have anything to tell me about this, tell me now. Did you have any role, however small, in these kidnappings?

THEE
How can you ask me that? Of course not.

JORDAN

But you knew about it?

THEE

Only from the Lookers’ news reports. Whenever I was in contact with someone from Overlook Four, or the surrounding area, I would ask what was going on. And I was always told they had nothing to tell me. But I kept asking anyway, because it seemed like a problem.

JORDAN

A PROBLEM? It’s an unmitigated disaster! This could set everything back months. Trust, the appearance of compliance, public opinion among the Primaries-

THEE
Heh. It is not as if the Primaries have an alternative. They will not join the other side.

JORDAN

Yes! But the Resistance lives on volunteer effort. All it takes for the Lookers to prevail is for the Immune to do nothing.

THEE
But how can the civilians be sure that this was the doing of the Resistance? Are WE even sure of it?

JORDAN

The trail is hard to find, but it’s there…I can smell it. The chemicals, the scientific equipment, the way Lorna Gerrold’s disappearance was covered up…There’s no way Derek Holroyd could put all those dominoes in place on his own. But, no one who might know how he did it wants to talk about it. It’s a conspiracy of silence, to cover the conspiracy of…whatever they were trying to achieve.

THEE

According to Lorna Gerrold, Holroyd was trying to re-convert the Lookers. Many would sympathize with such a goal, and few would want to turn him in or expose those who aided him. However misplaced their trust was.

JORDAN

That attitude is…understandable, but we can’t let that be the end of it. This will not disappear, believe me. If we spread reeds over it, it’ll just stink more. The Lookers will exploit it forever, and in the meantime, some other Primary will decide the rules don’t apply and do it again, or something worse. And that’s not even getting into the possibility of retaliation from the Lookers. I’ve dealt with some of those…people, for months now, and I’ve never seen them so agitated. And others are being replaced. Have you heard of Calvin Noone?

THEE

I…don’t think so.

JORDAN

He’s our new congressman.

THEE

I must admit, I did not think Congress was very relevant anymore.

JORDAN

Understandable, but he’s been making himself known by talking about these events, and he publicly let slip that Liaison itself may be a failed experiment.

THEE
What would that mean?

JORDAN

That part, he didn’t mention. Maybe they’re debating it within the Unity. Perhaps they’ll send us all to the Overlooks to prevent this from happening again, then see what happens to us without fuel and medicine from outside. It’s because of that kind of fear that we have to get to the bottom of this ourselves, and soon. Even if there’s no official action, at any moment one of them could remember what anger feels like and break the Truce. And next thing you know we have missiles in the air. So we have to find out who helped Derek Holroyd, and whether they’re hiding him.

THEE
*pause*

So we have to investigate our own people. Our fellow Resistance leaders.

JORDAN

They’re the only ones who could have made this happen.

THEE
Can you make them talk?

JORDAN

My authority over them is shakey. According to the Resistance chain of command, I run the state, but every group has had to rely on themselves so much, they’re not used to obeying orders they don’t like. I’ve only kept things going through persuasion and bargaining. And of course, officially, I’m just a community activist. I don’t have a police force, or investigators. I need someone on the ground, to knock heads together. I wonder if I could borrow Jefferson Craig, send him out and have him put the fear of God into people.

BREWSTER

A good choice. I will make the Major available to you.

JORDAN

Thank you.

BREWSTER

Hmm…with him gone, I shall have to set someone else in charge of our most valuable agent.

JORDAN

Right. How is Roxanne doing?

BREWSTER

She continues to provide vital information, and it seems like any suspicion of her has passed on. And she says the Lookers have received no further communication from their mole.

JORDAN

Good. With things unsettled as they are, her inside information is more pivotal than ever. Hrrm. The transport network is unsettled now, but it’s going to get a lot worse, with the Lookers and Jefferson turning things upside-down to find Holroyd and his accomplices. Maybe we should move her now, while we still have the resources.

THEE

To an Overlook?

JORDAN

Hmm…no. It seems like she needs direct access to Lookers in order to gather information. But maybe somewhere less populated, and where she’ll be less known. Where we can carefully control how much Looker-exposure she has. And that way, we don’t need to get her past a checkpoint. What do you think?

THEE

That seems like the right option, if we were to move her. But I believe that so long as her situation remains stable, it is a safer bet to leave her where she is, where she has the benefit of being exactly where she is legally supposed to be.

JORDAN

Hmmm…that makes sense. I’ll trust your judgment on that. But at the first sign of something changing: don’t delay, don’t consult me. Just get her out of here. Until then, we do it your way. Do you agree?

THEE

I do. Oh, and Jordan?

JORDAN

Yes?

THEE

You do not have to persuade and bargain with me. I fully recognize the chain of command, even if others do not.

JORDAN

*amused*

Heh. I think Jefferson might disagree.

THEE

The Major was not himself. It was my duty to prevent him from doing something unforgivable. My duty to him, as much as to the Resistance.

Jordan and Brewster begin to walk away, and their voices gradually diminish.

JORDAN

Hopefully you won’t have to perform that same duty with me.

THEE
I do not foresee that.

JORDAN

Don’t be so certain. We have to put our faith in the cause and the process and the rules, not individuals. Someone trusted Derek Holroyd, and that’s how we got into this mess.

THEE

But if we do not trust individuals, how are we different from the Lookers?

JORDAN

It’s like Professor Holbrook wrote: We’re building a voluntary order, they conjured up a mandatory one.

Once their voices are low, Roxanne starts moving again. Gwen’s voice returns, as Roxanne moves past her again.

GWEN

If that time is not shortened, no flesh can be saved. The sun would be darkened, and the moon not give light. But because of the chosen, it MAY be shortened. So, when someone says: “Here is the chosen, or there;” let them not be believed. And if they say: “Behold, she is in the secret chambers;” let no one listen. Let the eagles gather wherever the carcass lies, not where they have been taken into the Arc.

Yes! In the days before the flood: we were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Then a sign appeared in the sky, and the tribes of the earth mourned, to see the sign in power. The world passed away, but the WORDS do not pass away.

And now, they gather the chosen. Two be in the field; the one taken, and the other left. Two women grind at the mill; the one taken, the other left.

But know this: if the man of the house had known when the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein you time comes.

Roxanne stops walking.

Sleeping bag is unrolled, unzipped. Roxanne lies down. Bag is re-zipped.

SCENE: Spectral version of forest. Night noises become abstract..

LILIAH

(Emotional, normal human)

Hello? Is there anyone there?

Roxanne unzips her sleeping bag again.

LILIAH

Please, anyone! I’m lost.

ROXANNE
Shhhh. I’m here, come to my voice. Just please be quieter.

LILIAH

Oh, I see you now. Thank you. Sorry, I was being silly, I know, but I felt so alone. My name is…is…

ROXANNE
Liliah Andreou.

LILIAH

I…yes! I’m sorry, have we met?

ROXANNE

Yes, we have. My name is Roxanne Scholl.

LILIAH

That sounds familiar, but I can’t place you. Do you work with Justin?

ROXANNE

I’m not sure. But I worked with you, not that long ago. In the Liason Office.

LILIAH

Liaison Office?

ROXANNE

At the old county building.

LILIAH

I’m sorry, you must be thinking of someone else. I work at a bank.

ROXANNE

Not anymore. They probably closed your branch when all the bank companies merged.

LILIAH

That’s…I think I would remember something like that. Thank you for your help, but I should go home now.

ROXANNE
No, wait: try to think. This meeting has a purpose. You have something to tell me. Try to remember.

LILIAH

Try to remember what? I’m sorry but-

ROXANNE

Maybe it would be like a dream.

LILIAH

What would?

ROXANNE

A dream that you had another life, where people come to you, and you sign out equipment to them, check their timesheets. You did that for me, a bunch of times. And you told me how sorry you were about my mother…and…and once, months ago, you saw me crying, out by the train tracks, and you thought it was my boyfriend’s fault, so you asked me if I was okay. Do you remember any of this?

LILIAH

I must admit, I can picture what you’re saying, but I think I might just be imagining it. Like deja vous. I’d still better-

ROXANNE
You lost someone, and you’re very sad about it.

LILIAH

What do you mean? I mean…I lost my grandparents, but that was years ago.

ROXANNE

No you’re…what was it, separated, unable to see, without the company of…someone you were very close to. It’s the most important thing in your life. So important that it made you feel sorry for me, even though we should be enemies.

LILIAH

I can’t…enemies? I don’t have enemies.

ROXANNE
Who’s Justin?

LILIAH

Who?

ROXANNE
You asked me if I worked with Justin. Who is he?

LILIAH

Oh, he’s my husband. Huh. Funny that I’d forget that.

ROXANNE
Do you live with him?

LILIAH

Of course.

ROXANNE

When’s the last time you remember seeing him?.

LILIAH

It was…at night. We had dinner, then took a couple glasses of wine outside, and looked at the stars. And then he felt a little down, so he took a nap.

ROXANNE

And then?

LILIAH

Um…I went back inside, cleaned things up a bit…then later I heard him stirring so I checked on him. And…

*pause*

ROXANNE

And what?

LILIAH

There was a light. In his eyes.

ROXANNE

Yes.

LILIAH

And a sound, a chorus of people. They were comforting, but they were also so…hurt, and afraid, and alone. They needed me. And I wanted so much to be there for them.

ROXANNE

*pause*

What happened next?

LILIAH

It was too much for me. I needed a moment, to organize my thoughts. So I lay down. Justin helped me. But some part of me knew that it was all his fault.

ROXANNE

*pause*

And then?

LILIAH

And then…after that, everything is the dream. The dream where I know you. The dream where…Justin had to go away. He has a secret mission. To find the Outsider.

ROXANNE

(shifting gears, this news is dangerous)

Outsider?

LILIAH

(from this point on, Liliah talks halfway between Looker and Unaltered)

The Alphabeta.

ROXANNE

Your HUSBAND is looking for the AlphaBeta?

LILIAH

Yes.

ROXANNE

I’ve got some kind of luck.

LILIAH

SOMEONE knows who the AlphaBeta is, and Justin has to find them. But the Outsider can hear us, so Justin has to shut himself off, underground.

ROXANNE

(remembering what Gwen said)
The fastness. The secret chambers.

LILIAH

(not hearing her)

And I was left behind. I got a post as close to him as I could, but I could not link with him, or even see him or talk to him like we did before the Night. That newswoman went to see him every day…she looked so glamorous…but all I could do was watch her go. Not even ask her anything about him. Because she might tell me something secret, and I might tell the Outsider without knowing I’m doing it.

ROXANNE

*uncomfortable pause*

Right.

*another pause*

Liliah, listen, if Justin finds the Outsider, what will he do?

LILIAH

I am not sure what his orders are. I am sure he would do the right thing.

ROXANNE

But, what if his orders and the right thing are two different things?

LILIAH

Well…I should not tell you this.

ROXANNE
PLEASE!

LILIAH

Justin works for the FBI. He…several times, he told me he had left people’s names out of reports, people who helped him, so the Bureau would not have a record of them. He told me, because he wanted to be sure I agreed with it.

ROXANNE

What sort of people?

LILIAH

Computer hackers, drug users. People who gave him information, who the Bureau might have pressured, turned into informants. Justin would not do that. If they did what he asked, he let them go.

ROXANNE

Why?

LILIAH

Because he believed his duty was to improve things, not to control people.

*pause, reverting back to non-Looker*

Of course, this was the real Justin, not the one in the dreams.

ROXANNE

How are they different? At the core?

LILIAH

They’re…they’re not. The new Justin wants the same things the old Justin did. He just goes about it in a different way.

ROXANNE
Oh God. Maybe you’re all the same as you were.

LILIAH

No. Not me. If I wasn’t in the dream, I would never have let him go. I mean, I did let him face danger every day, but I would never have let him bury himself someplace where I couldn’t follow him. The dream…the voices made me do that, and I can’t undo it because he’s gone. But even in the dream, I stay as close to him as I can.

SCENE: The spectral sounds change to the sound of the Liaison Office.

Liliah rings her bell.

LILIAH

(now a Looker again)

Next! Next, please!

ROXANNE

Hello.

LILAH

Ms. Scholl! I am…I am pleased, to see you again.

ROXANNE

I’m glad too.

LILIAH

I have your keys. And- and- your paycheck.

ROXANNE

Please, keep them for me a little longer. I’m here for something else.

LILIAH

All right, I can do that. But, are YOU all right, Ms. Scholl? Are those burrs in your hair? Did you sleep outside last night? I am sorry. I should have left the keys for you somewhere.

ROXANNE
Listen, Liliah, this is all sweet of you, but there’s something different I need you to do for me. More urgent.

LILIAH

Oh. What is that?

ROXANNE

I need to talk to Justin.

LILIAH

Talk to…how do you know Justin?

ROXANNE

I just need to. It’s important for everyone.

LILIAH

I am sorry, but I can not help you. I do not have the authority.

ROXANNE

Does Justin have the authority?

LILIAH

He…might. But I do not even have the authority to ask him. I have not communicated with him in some time.

ROXANNE
Then find someone, someone who has the authority, and who you trust. Like you trusted my mom. Someone who can get a message to Justin about me.

LILIAH

But…I do not understand. What would you have to say to him? What could I say to anyone, that would convince them to let you say it?

ROXANNE

Tell them…oh shit. Sorry. Tell them…that I have information for him. But only for him, face to face, in person.

LILIAH

What-

*cuts herself off, lowers voice*

What information?

ROXANNE
(also quietly)

It’s about the Outsider. I can help Justin find the Outsider.

LILIAH

(awestruck)

Oh.

ROXANNE
But there’s no time to waste. You have to start now.

Liliah rings her bell.

LILIAH

(back at normal volume, and businesslike tone)

This window is closed. Ms. Scholl, please follow me to the waiting room.

ROXANNE

Um…sure.

They walk to a quieter place. Music is playing from the TV.

LILIAH

Please wait here.

ROXANNE

Of course. Um, does the TV have to be on?

LILIAH

I am afraid it does.

ROXANNE

Okay. Fine.

The door closes. The office noises disappear completely, the only sound is the TV music.

ROXANNE

Oh girl, what have you done? You’ve just bet everything, on what, a hunch? Okay, sure, that worked last time, but this is a lot crazier. And is it even your hunch, or what Weird Gwen said? Yeah, the stuff she says makes a twisted sense sometimes but…how do you know this is one of those times?

*she shudders with anxiety*

Oh God, or whoever it is that talks to Gwen. You could be the collective unconscious, or the good part of the Unity, or aliens, or Gwen’s psychic powers. I don’t know what, but please, I trusted you, don’t let me down. And if you can, maybe give me a sign that I’m on the right track.

Music dies away,

CARRIE KRAY (on TV)

We’d like to thank Congressman Noone for generously giving his time for that phone interview. I’m sure that his ideas will warrant careful thought, both by our leaders, and by citizens at large.

ROXANNE

Ugh. Okay, she was NOT what I had in mind.

CARRIE

And now, we have a very special, very important program for you. Many of you have already heard, or perhaps seen our special programming about, the incredible story of the courageous young women who freed themselves from captivity days ago, through an amazing show of solidarity that crossed the rifts that too often divide our society. Well, we are fortunate to have several of these heroines with us here tonight.

Now, before I bring them out, a brief note to our unaltered viewers: Our guests will be wearing darkened, specially polarized eyewear, which, I am assured, will prevent viewers from suffering the effects of what is sometimes called “Alpha-wave sickness” from our broadcast. But rest assured, it is very bright in the studio, and they should have no difficulty finding their way around.

That said, I am truly honored to welcome Lorna Gerrold, Candace Majeed, and Molly Olinger.

ROXANNE

Wow. Three blind mice.

CARRIE

Please have a seat, ladies. Now, my understanding is that Kelsey Habcek is still recovering from the injuries inflicted on her, and so will not be joining us tonight. But I’m sure I speak for everyone here and at home in wishing her a speedy recovery.

LORNA

Oh yes, we do.

CANDACE
That is correct.

MOLLY

All of us wish that.

CARRIE

Just as I thought. And now, on to your inspiring story. Molly, you were abducted first out of you three, what can you tell us about your experience?

MOLLY

What I have to tell is very simple. The unaltered took me, held me prisoner, and intended to torture me to death.

CARRIE

Well, perhaps you could expand-

CANDACE

If I may say something, Carrie, I would like to make clear that, I believe, Molly means “the unaltered” to refer to a single unaltered individual, not to our unaltered fellow-citizens as a whole.

MOLLY

(grudging)

I suppose I did.

CARRIE

Yes. Yes, and Ms. Majeed makes a good point. It is important to keep in mind that Derek Holroyd’s actions are not indicative of all unaltered people, many of whom wish to live with us in peace, and take part in our society. But we must also remember that these actions did spring from the attitude of their leadership, both open and underground, which have misled those people, sheltered Derek Holroyd himself, and who make liaison between us difficult. But the actions of Lorna, here, show that an unaltered person can rise above their prejudices for the common good. We salute you, Lorna.

LORNA

I…I merely did what seemed right at the time, when the only alternative was to help Derek to do things I knew were wrong.

CARRIE

Well that’s as good a definition of heroism as I can imagine.

CANDACE
Mrs. Kray…

CARRIE

Yes Candace?

CANDACE

I agree with you, that Lorna acted heroically, and that Derek acted out of prejudice. But I would also like to add, that these prejudices you mention can afflict altered people as well.

MOLLY

*pause, then Molly sighs*

I suppose you mean me, Candace, and I admit you are correct. I am afraid that I was not very nice to Lorna, and did not believe you when you said that we could put our trust in her. But even in those dark days, I told her I would love her as a sister when she became one of us, and I do.

CANDACE

As do I.

LORNA

Thank you both.

CANDACE

But…not as much as I loved her before.

LORNA

Oh.

MOLLY

What?

CARRIE

I’m sorry, I may have misheard you.

CANDACE

You are wonderful, Lorna. And I love both the parts of you that remain from before the Look, and the new parts that have grown. But other parts, essential parts, are gone, and I miss the person you used to be. The person who saved us. What happened to you was a crime.

MOLLY

Candace, this is being televised. We should talk about this elsewhere.

CARRIE

Um, well, Molly, I think what Miss Majeed is saying, is that Ms. Gerrold’s alteration is something that Altered society would never have initiated pre-emptively, because we consider the Truce to be law. It was the consequence of Derek Holroyd’s actions, not ours. Even under the pressures of captivity and imminent torture and murder, as I understand it, you would not have done it, even to save yourself, without Ms. Gerrold’s consent. Isn’t that right, Candace?

CANDACE

Everything you say is true, Mrs. Kray. Absolutely accurate. But what I meant, specifically, was that spreading the Look is a crime in and of itself. The fact that it was Derek’s actions, which caused Lorna to sacrifice herself, does not change the fact that the Look took my friend away.

MOLLY

Candace!

CARRIE

Um…I…

LORNA

Candace? How can you say that? How can you speak of me having sacrificed myself, when I am sitting here right in front of you? I love you Candace, but I do not understand.

CANDACE

You do not understand, Lorna, because you do not know what you have lost. And I do not know what I have lost. That awareness, of what we used to be, is one of the things that the Look has taken from us.

MOLLY

Why did you wait until now to say this? What possibly possessed you?

CANDACE

I wanted a chance to tell the Unaltered out there: Some of us understand. We are not all alike. We only want-

Candace’s microphone is cut off.

CARRIE

Sorry Candace, I’m getting a signal from my producers that it’s time to move on to the next story. We now take you Ted Nordham in Oakland.

TV music resumes.

ROXANNE

Jesus Christ, God. When you send a sign, you don’t fuck around, do you?

SILENCE

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