INT MARKHAM ASYLUM NIGHT

Jean Codere is walking down the hall, accompanied by a psychiatrist. Jean is wearing blue jeans and a jean shirt. Dr. Brown is wearing a white lab coat over top of a vest and bow tie, with round spectacles on his nose.

DR. JOHN BROWN: She's been quite docile, but confused. It seems she's blocked the last 4 years out of her mind altogether. She has asked about you constantly, you know.

JEAN: I thought she might. I've had…other responsibilities.

DR. BROWN: Ah! Here we are!

JEAN: Doctor, has she exhibited any unusual symptoms lately? Mood swings? Odd cravings?

DR. BROWN: Do you think she's pregnant?

JEAN: No, nothing like that.

DR. BROWN: If you ask me, she's not dangerous at all, of course this could be one of many personalities; we may simply have not seen all the manifestations yet. I can find no other explanation to reconcile the psychotic behaviour with her current personality.

JEAN: Could something trigger another manifestation?

DR. BROWN: A traumatic event, yes.

JEAN: How long could someone have been like this?

DR. BROWN: Sometimes it starts in adolescence - there's a theory that links it to the hormonal chemical changes in the brain and that it upsets the delicate balance of neurotransmitters and hormone receptors.

JEAN: What about a virus?

DR. BROWN: Well, it's possible, but I've never heard of it. True there are plenty of examples of dementia being brought on by viral infection, usually as a secondary illness, but I've never heard of it happening with a multiple personality disorder.

JEAN: What if something else happened to restore that balance?

DR. BROWN: Well, it's extremely complicated, it's not just a matter of add this and subtract that…

JEAN: Is it possible?

DR. BROWN: It isn't like the movies where someone gets amnesia through a bump on the head and suddenly gets it back after another, but there are some biological processes that can alter brain and body chemistry significantly. I published a paper on the effects of pregnancy on common pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and cerebrovascular headaches, and how some patients with chronic depression can be restored to normal functioning from such things. It's an extremely radical notion, of course, which is why it isn't exactly a prescribed procedure.

JEAN: What about a mutagenic transformation?

DR. BROWN: Like the destabilised Mega addicts?

JEAN: Something like that.

DR. BROWN: It's possible, since metahumans often have substantially altered physiological chemistry when their adolescent transformations onset. Since Ms. Beauchamps is here, I assumed that she was meta, is that not so?

JEAN: She is, in a manner of speaking. Listen, Doc, there's something very important I must ask of you. There is an older gentleman, fancily dressed, who may try to visit. He is not to see her, furthermore, you should contact Canadian Shield as soon as he tries to. Don't try to get in his way, just call them. He's very very dangerous, understand?

DR. BROWN: I take it this is not your grandfather Rene you're speaking of?

JEAN: No, of course not. He's fine. The other fellow sometimes goes by the name Iblis.

DR. BROWN: That is interesting.

JEAN: Why?

DR. BROWN: Ms. Beauchamps was calling out his name during a nightmare last night. I thought it was gibberish.

JEAN: No, it's not. Thank you for telling me, doctor.

They arrive at a grey steel door with a small barred window. Dr. Brown swipes a passcard through a scanner by the door.

DR. BROWN: Here we are. Now take this pen.

Dr. Brown shows Jean a small black click pen.

DR. BROWN: It's a panic button. Click it in and out once quickly and our security staff will come.

JEAN: Thank you doctor, but I can handle myself.

DR. BROWN: Take it anyway. It's standard procedure.

Jean takes the pen and tucks it into his shirt pocket.

The door opens. Jean steps inside.

INT CELL NIGHT

Jean enters and stands just past the door as it closes behind him.

ON DANIELLE in a corner, white bed sheets are wrapped around her.

JEAN: Hi.

Danielle says nothing, keeps rocking back and forth. Lightning flashes outside.

JEAN: Weather's odd these days. Can't say I remember many rainy Decembers back home, do you?

Danielle still says nothing, but she shakes her head slowly.

JEAN: Did my grandfather talk to you much?

Nods, yes.

JEAN: Did you talk with him?

Shakes, no.

JEAN: Do you want to talk with me?

Nods, yes. Tears welling up in her eyes. Jean comes closer, crouches beside her, gently brushes the hair from her face.

JEAN: Did you have something you wanted to say to me?

Danielle starts crying. She flings her arms around Jean and holds on to him, her body shaking with each sob.

DANIELLE: I missed you so much. I was so scared.

JEAN: I'm here now.

DANIELLE: Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me again.

JEAN: They won't let me stay here, but when you're better, they'll let you go home and then we can be together.

DANIELLE: What did I do? Why am I here? What do they want from me?

Jean pulls apart just far enough to look at her in the face. He searches her eyes.

JEAN: You really don't remember, do you?

DANIELLE: Remember what? I don't even know how I got to this city. The last thing I remember was going to meet you in our secret woods.

JEAN: I remember, but it's been some time since then.

DANIELLE: Why don't I remember? What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so different?

JEAN: I don't understand, but the doctors are trying to help.

DANIELLE: Stay with me tonight, please.

JEAN: I will. I'll be right here.

Jean sits down on the floor and leans against the wall. Danielle rests her head on his lap. He gently strokes her hair and her breathing becomes slow and regular. She drifts off to sleep with a pleasant smile on her face. Outside, the storm is raging, wind blowing, rain pouring.

FADE TO BLACK

INT CELL NIGHT.

Danielle is asleep in her cot. Jean is sitting beside her bed, reading a book, Milton's "Paradise Lost", and glancing over between pages to ensure she's okay. The storm continues, the rain battering the window outside.

ON DANIELLE sleeping. She is on her stomach, arms out, holding on to the pillow like a drowning sailor clutching a piece of driftwood. She moans, as if in the midst of a nightmare. Jean leans over and strokes her hair gently. She emits a contented sigh and goes back to sleeping peacefully. She turns over on to her back. The action exposes her chest. Jean stops reading and stares, despite himself. He snaps out of it and gets up.

JEAN: That won't do.

Jean pulls the sheet back over her chest and tucks her in, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

BANG! Danielle's eyes snap open. Her eyes are luminous and feral. She gasps and Jean sees her canines are more pronounced. She sits bolt upright, breathing rapidly.

JEAN: Danielle? You were having a nightmare. It's okay.

DANIELLE: I feel so strange. You look different. What is that smell?

JEAN: What smell? What is it you're sensing?

DANIELLE: It's you, but it's more. I can smell more of you. (beat) I'm hungry.

Jean smiles.

JEAN: I'll get the staff to bring some food. What would you like? Steak - really rare?

DANIELLE: Perfect!

JEAN: I'll see what I can do.

DANIELLE: I didn't realise how much the girl across the hall snores. God, she's loud! And these sheets itch!

Danielle flings the covers off her body again. Jean finds himself staring again. He blinks hard and tries to shake it off.

JEAN: I'll see about getting some silk sheets instead. They're probably the only thing that doesn't irritate the skin at this stage.

DANIELLE: Stage of what?

Jean places his hands over hers.

JEAN: Danielle, you're going through some changes. Things are going to be a little weird for the next while.

DANIELLE: Going through some changes? Jeez, Jean you sound like my mom when she gave me the Big Talk when I was 12. (beat) Yeah, that's it. I must be getting my period soon because I feel so goddamn horny. (beat) Did I say that? I'm sorry, that was crass. I just feel like I'm PMS-ing to the max.

JEAN: It's something like that only worse. You'll begin to feel quite strange very soon. Stranger than this, but it's okay; I'll be able to help you through it. I've gone through it myself.

DANIELLE: You have such a beautiful mouth.

Danielle leans forward and kisses Jean, wrapping her arms around him. She parts his lips and explores his mouth. Jean pulls her away gently but forcefully. Danielle wipes the saliva from her lips as she catches her breath.

DANIELLE: What's wrong? Don't you love me any more?

JEAN: Of course I do, that's not what this is about.

DANIELLE: Don't you want me?

JEAN: I do, but it's not allowed. Not now, not here.

DANIELLE: Oh, damn the rules. I want you! I need you!

She starts fondling him again, running her fingers through his hair - all of his hair.

JEAN: Danielle, do you remember our first time?

Danielle stops groping. She looks away, almost as if listening to something. She smiles.

DANIELLE: Sure, I do. We made love in your barn, in the hay.

Jean swallows hard.

JEAN: And then what happened? What do you remember.

Danielle frowns. Shakes her head as if to scatter cobwebs away.

DANIELLE: I don't know. I don't remember.

JEAN: Do you know what happened to me after I left Riviere du Loup?

DANIELLE: When did you leave?

Jean sighs.

JEAN: I met some people who could control people's minds. They took control of mine. I…I think that's what happened to you; that's why you can't remember so much of the last four years.

DANIELLE: Four years? I've lost four years? How could that happen?

JEAN: Like I told you, there are people who can control minds. They can make you do things you don't want to do, hurt people you don't want to hurt and even forget things that happened so you can't even warn people about them or know what you've done. I've done some terrible things, but I was never in control of myself, so when the others were stopped, the …police let me go.

DANIELLE: Oh, my God, Jean. I'm so sorry; it must have been horrible. Who would do such a thing? What would they want from you?

JEAN: They wanted me because I have a special gift; Something that makes me different from other people.

DANIELLE: What gift? What are you talking about? Oh, God, I forgot how good you smelled. I could just eat you up.

She leans forward to kiss him again.

JEAN: Danielle, I…

Danielle doubles over in pain. She curls up into a foetal position and gasps as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

JEAN: Danielle! Concentrate on breathing slowly. Just listen to the sound of my voice.

Danielle starts thrashing about. Jean does his best to hold her still.

DANIELLE: Oh, God, it hurts! It hurts! What's happening to me?

JEAN: Listen to me! Danielle? Look into my eyes, okay? Stay focused on my eyes. Don't look away.

Danielle tries. But she's still twitching violently. Jean holds her down and keeps looking her in the eyes. She meets his eyes and does her best to stay on target.

JEAN: You're changing. It's okay, but it'll be a little painful. Your body knows what to do, you just have to let it, okay?

DANIELLE: mmm-hmmm!

JEAN: Deep slow breaths, remember that. Just keep breathing slowly.

Danielle screams in pain, arching her back. Her fingernails start growing and turning black. Her fangs grow larger and hair starts to grow all over her body.

JEAN(under his breath): Damnit! It's too soon! The shock is too much.

DANIELLE: H-h-h-h-hold m-m-m-meeeee…

JEAN: I've got you.

Danielle clings to him, arms and legs wrapped around him. Her body shakes and spasms with the violence of her transformation. She clutches at his back.

JEAN: Danielle, try to think of something calm, something peaceful. Something that keeps the nightmares away.

DANIELLE: Y-y-y-you….hhhhhhhhhhhhhhelp m-m-mmeee.

JEAN: It's going to be all right. I won't leave you. Just stay calm and listen to the sound of my voice. Everything will be fine. This will pass and you'll be okay; I promise.

The tremors calm down and the body hair and nails recede again. They both let out a sigh of relief. Jean helps her into the bed again and tucks her in. She holds his hand and he strokes her hair with the other free one until she falls asleep again.

JEAN: I promise.

FADE TO BLACK

INT MARKHAM ASYLUM DAY

Rene Codere walks down the hallway, led by Dr. Brown. He is carrying a large duffel bag.

INT CELL DAY

Jean is sitting beside Danielle's bed. She's sleeping peacefully, lying on her stomach, the covers flung off. There is a knock at the door and Jean gets up. The panel slides open to reveal Rene's face. He looks at Jean.

RENE: Rough night?

JEAN: She started to change.

RENE: Oh, dear.

The door unlocks and swings open. Rene enters. Dr. Brown stays in the doorway.

BROWN: Will you be alright from here?

RENE: We can handle things, just fine, thank you. We'll call if we need anything.

The door closes. Rene looks at Danielle for a moment, then turns to Jean again.

RENE: The Itch?

JEAN: Yeah, really bad.

RENE: Well, then, it's a good thing I came prepared.

Rene puts down the duffel bag he'd been carrying and opens it up. He pulls out a set of silk sheets and a silk bathrobe He hands them to Jean, who places them on the bedside table. He leans over Danielle and kisses her gently on the cheek.

JEAN: Dani? We've got something more comfortable for you to wear and some sheets that won’t itch. We'll need to change the bed now. My grandfather is here to take care of you today. I'll be back at six tonight, okay?

Danielle opens one eye groggily. She nods.

DANIELLE: Mmmm-hmmm? Sleepy.

JEAN: I know. You can go right back to sleep when we're done, in fact you'll probably sleep better.

DANIELLE: 'kay.

Jean picks her up in his arms. Danielle leans her head against his shoulder and snuggles in, her eyes still closed. Rene fixes the bed and lays the robe out at the foot of it.

RENE: You tuck her in. I'm going down the hall to the commissary to make breakfast.

DANIELLE: Food?

RENE: Half dozen eggs, back bacon, side bacon, ham, sausages and pancakes.

DANIELLE: Bring me two.

RENE: Coming up.

Rene leaves, closing the door behind him. Jean helps Danielle into bed and tucks her in.

DANIELLE: These feel nice.

JEAN: I'm glad.

DANIELLE: Hurry back, okay?

JEAN: I will. I promise.

FADE

EXT TORONTO STREET, NOON.

Jean and the others are hanging around, watching. Anya and Xi are standing with him.

XI: No sign yet. I don't think it'll show.

ANYA: Maybe it - or the people controlling it - know we're here and don't want to risk it.

JEAN: It would be nice to think that we acted as a deterrent, that the violence was avoided by our presence, but I don't think so.

Anthony comes around the opposite street corner. He speaks quietly, under his breath, but looks right at the other three.

ANTHONY: I got bupkis. No sign of nothin'.

Jean stifles a yawn.

JEAN: Keep looking, but stay close.

ANYA: You look really tired; you should go home and rest.

JEAN: I plan to, at around one o'clock.

ANYA: You're worried about Danielle, aren't you?

JEAN: I want this to turn out all right. Maybe if I can help her through the first transformation I can somehow make it up to her for what I've done.

ANYA: You shouldn't blame yourself for this. You were young and in love and carried away by the moment. You didn't know this would happen.

JEAN: Accident or no, I'm still responsible.

ANYA: Ask yourself this: Will she be happy in a relationship with a partner who was staying with her out of guilt?

JEAN: I still do love her, Anya; I always will.

ANYA: But…?

JEAN: But I'm a different person than when I was 16. A lot has happened to me since then. To her, it's still five years ago and we're still in high school. I've lived through a rough time and I feel different about everything.

ANYA: Including her?

JEAN: I don't know.

FADE

INT MARKHAM ASYLUM CELL, EVENING

Jean opens the cell door. Rene is reading and looks up. Danielle is sleeping.

JEAN: They gave me a pass key so it'll be easier to go for supplies. How's she doing?

RENE: Oh, well, I suppose. She had another bad spell this afternoon, but not a full change yet. She asked about you. I assured her you'd be back soon.

JEAN: Thank you for helping me with all of this.

RENE: The pack always helps each other. Besides, you're family. It was my pleasure. I haven't had anyone to cook for besides myself in years and she was very appreciative.

Rene gets up to go. Jean yawns.

RENE: Busy day?

JEAN: Patrolling. Nothing happened. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up. I hope the others come back soon.

Rene gets a thoughtful look.

RENE: Let's hope so.

Jean notices the look.

JEAN: What's that mean?

RENE: I'm just saying those are some good friends you have there.

JEAN: Yes, I know.

Rene waves and leaves, closing the door behind him. Danielle continues sleeping, oblivious to the changing of the guard. Jean goes over, kisses her forehead and begins the process of settling in for the night.

TIME LAPSE FADE

MONTAGE Jean sitting reading, Jean pacing, Danielle tossing and turning in bed, Jean washing Danielle's sweaty face with a moist cloth, Jean reading some more.

EXT MARKHAM ASYLUM NIGHT

The moon is rising and it's almost full. Its light sets the snowy grounds aglow.

INT CELL NIGHT

Jean is asleep in his chair, sprawled, with an open book in his lap.

ON DANIELLE sleeping

She moans, and a rippling effect can be seen along her skin. She starts breathing in short rapid breaths. She is covered in sweat, her hair matted to her head and face from the dampness. Her silk slip, clinging to her body.

BANG! Her eyes open and she sits up straight in bed. Her eyes are glowing ice blue. She stands up, gets out of bed. She walks over to Jean, still sleeping. She stands over him, watching him for a moment, then walks over to the barred window.

ON DANIELLE THROUGH THE WINDOW The moonlight is streaming in, illuminating her in half-shadow. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Her mouth opens in a rapturous expression that allows us to see her prominent fangs.

INT CELL OVER JEAN'S SHOULDER

She walks back to Jean in his chair. Standing behind him, she slides her hand down his open shirt and runs her fingers through his chest hair. He moans in his sleep. Danielle kisses him gently on the neck and Jean smiles.

Danielle winces in pain and withdraws her hand, doubling over.

CLOSE UP Danielle's hand is changing shape, her nails darkening, hair growing longer and darker.

ON DANIELLE, MEDIUM SHOT She's holding her hand up in front of her face, staring at it in wonder and horror.

She screams.

Jean wakes up and leaps to his feet.

DANIELLE: What's happening to me? Help me Jean! Help me! Make it stop!

Jean comes over to her and holds her arms just below the shoulders, facing him.

JEAN: It'll be okay, it's going to hurt a bit but you'll be fine.

Danielle's voice is getting deeper and rougher.

DANIELLE: Don't bullshit me! What's happening to me?

JEAN: You're turning into a werewolf. A werewolf like me. Now you have to let it happen - don't fight it, but don't be frightened - it will hurt for a while but then it will be over and it will feel amazing.

The effect of the transformation spreads from her hand through her arm.

DANIELLE: This can't be happening! I'm having a nightmare! It must be!

JEAN: Danielle, you're not having a nightmare, it's real. If you try to deny it the shock could kill you. It's happening, trust me. Just let it happen. Breathe deeply.

Danielle tries to do what he says but she's obviously scared. She starts sobbing.

JEAN: It's okay, it'll be fine, I promise. I go through this once a month; it's no big deal.

DANIELLE: Show me.

JEAN: I'm not sure I should; it can be pretty scary if you're not prepared for it.

Jean looks worried. He's thinking of something else. Danielle's voice raises to a hysterical shriek.

DANIELLE: Show me!

JEAN: Okay, okay, watch carefully and remember it's still me.

He takes off his clothes quickly, watching the transformation reach her shoulder.

Jean stands with his hands up over his head as if preparing to dive into a pool, and then falls forward. As he falls he changes. When he hits the ground, it's on all fours in his wolf form. The wolf sits down on its haunches and looks up at Danielle with a happy panting smile.

Danielle's eyes are wide. She brings her good arm up to her mouth. She backs away.

The wolf whines, sadly, raises a paw in the air as if offering a handshake or clawing an invisible door and tilts its head to the side.

Danielle falls to her knees, staring at the black wolf before her. Her eyes well up again.

The wolf pads slowly towards her, waiting to see her reaction. Her eyes go distant, her face, numb. The wolf comes closer and nuzzles her, licks her face. She reaches out with her good hand and half-heartedly strokes its fur.

DANIELLE: You're beautiful…

She doubles over in pain. The wolf shifts back into Jean Codere again. He catches her as she's about to fall over.

DANIELLE: Owwwww!!! It hurts! It hurts!

JEAN: I know, Dani, just a little more. It's like having a baby, except you're the baby.

DANIELLE: I'm afraid.

JEAN: I'm here. I'll help you.

Danielle's breathing sounds wet and laboured.

DANIELLE: Why didn't you tell me?

JEAN: I was afraid.

DANIELLE: We've … known … each other … all our lives … Shared … everything … why did you … hide this?

JEAN: Fourty thousand years of prejudice. I didn't want you to think of me as a monster.

Danielle manages to smile. Her teeth are longer and her jaw is starting to stretch. The transformation has reached her torso and spreading to the other limbs. Her ears are becoming pointed and hairy.

DANIELLE: I … would … never … I …

JEAN: Don't try to talk, just breathe deeply.

DANIELLE: … love … you … silly.

Danielle gasps and starts convulsing, as if in the midst of a tonic clonic seizure. Jean grabs a pillow to place under her head. The change is all over now. Her body starts expanding, the musculature becoming more bulky. The silk slip tears and peels off. Her cries become roars.

JEAN: It's still you, remember! You're still a human inside! You have to remember who you are! You're Danielle Beauchamps! Danielle -

His words are cut off as the werewolf's flailing arms catch Jean in the chest, sending him flying against the wall. As he falls, he hits his head on the beside table and slumps to the ground, unconscious.

The werewolf stands up, the transformation complete. It looks around the room and finds Jean's slumped body. It sniffs him intently and then a growl builds from deep inside. It roars and grabbing the bed, rips it from its moorings and flings it aside, wedging it against the door.

INT MARKHAM ASYLUM HALLWAY. Alarms are sounding. Orderlies and guards appear with firearms. They're trying the doors, but the passcard system has shortened out. One of the guards starts banging the doorframe with the butt of his rifle. Dr. Brown comes running down the hallway towards them.

DR. BROWN: No, you idiots! The doors are meant to hold a superhuman in, that will do nothing but damage your rifle! Stand aside. Mr. Codere! Are you in there! Can you hear me? Are you okay?

INT CELL NIGHT

Witch Wolf is standing over Jean's body, teeth bared, claws out. Jean stirs, starts to open his eyes. Witch Wolf rears up and swings her arm back to take a swing.

Jean dodges. The bedside table smashes into kindling.

Jean rolls out of the way, dodging Witch Wolf's attacks. The claws leave deep scratches in the walls. He still seems groggy, but he hears Dr. Brown's yelling.

JEAN: I'm okay, doctor. I can handle this. Don't send in the guards, please, this is under control.

Jean dodges as a furry fist cracks the plaster where his head was.

ON WITCH WOLF as her head turns around, snarling.

POV WITCH WOLF as we see Jean, steadying himself against the far wall. He gets closer as Witch Wolf runs towards him.

BANG! Witch Wolf is thrown backward, landing on the floor. Standing where Jean was is his were form Loup Garou.

Witch Wolf gets up again and charges Loup Garou. He blocks and flips the other werewolf, sending her to the floor again. She tries to get up and he knocks her down again. He jumps on top of her, holding her arms and legs as she struggles. He opens his jaws and applies a light pressure to Witch Wolf's throat.

CLOSE UP of Witch Wolf's throat. No blood is seen, but teeth are making contact. Witch Wolf stops struggling. Loup Garou's jaws release her throat. He looks her in the eyes. She avoids his gaze.

He stands up. Witch Wolf crouches beside his legs, nuzzling him. He scratches behind her ears and gently strokes her head, then puts his arms around her and crouches down beside her. She leans against him, making a sad whine.

LOUP GAROU: You okay?

WITCH WOLF: Yes.

LOUP GAROU: Worst over.

WITCH WOLF: Sorry.

LOUP GAROU: Not worry. Is okay. All go crazy first time.

WITCH WOLF: How long?

LOUP GAROU: Sun comes up.

WITCH WOLF: Love me?

LOUP GAROU: Always.

EXT MARKHAM ASYLUM DAY The sun is coming up.

TIME LAPSE Loup Garou and Witch Wolf fade into Jean and Danielle. They are sleeping on the mattress on the floor, Danielle's arm across Jean's chest with him lying on his back.

ON THE DOOR. It creaks open, revealing Rene Codere with several bags with Harvey's logos on them in one hand, the door in the other. He pulls aside the wreckage that several humans could barely budge as easily as batting a cobweb away from his face. He stops at the threshold and surveys the damage.

RENE: Rough night, eh?

JEAN: You could say that.

DANIELLE: Ooh! Breakfast! I'm starved!

She grabs one of the bags and starts rifling through it. Rene hands another to Jean, and gives him The Look - a raised eyebrow with a frown on the other half. Jean shakes his head in a reassuring way.

RENE: How do you feel?

Danielle swallows what she had been consuming and wipes her mouth off, self-consciously.

DANIELLE: Other than hungry? I feel…

She pauses to think about this and takes a deep breath.

DANIELLE: Amazing. Like I could take on the world and win!

RENE: Sounds normal. It's quite a feeling.

DANIELLE: This food tastes so good!

RENE: And there's plenty of it. Enjoy.

JEAN: Well, I'd better be getting back to the base. I need my rest.

Danielle grabs Jean as he tries to get up.

DANIELLE: Aw! Can't you stay and play for a while?

RENE: I can keep you entertained. I happen to be a champion Euchre player.

Danielle smirks wryly. Not exactly what she had in mind.

RENE: I'll take it as a yes. I'll see about getting some…furniture.

He leaves.

JEAN: I'll be back tonight, okay?

DANIELLE: So is he?

JEAN: Yeah, it runs in the family. My mom was too.

DANIELLE: Can you change any time you want to or just during the full moon?

JEAN: Any time you want. My grandfather taught me, he can teach you how to control it too.

DANIELLE: I'd like that.

JEAN: I'll see what we can do.

INT MARKHAM ASYLUM DAY - HALLWAY

Dr. Brown and Jean are arguing.

BROWN: I'm sorry, Mr. Codere, but the court has ordered her to remain here until we can determine for sure whether she is a danger to herself or others. Last night's incident did not exactly inspire confidence in a fast recovery.

JEAN: It’s because of the lycanthropy, Doc. That’s all. Passions tend to get a little heated when you first change. I don’t doubt that Danielle still loves me just because she attacked me last night, so I don’t see a problem.

BROWN: It’s just that we don’t yet know what the cause of the memory blackout is yet.

JEAN: I know what it is! It was that goddamn mentalist Coup…Iblis who was messing around in her brain. For all I know it was Iblis that influenced her to escape from Our Lady of Anguish and kill those people in the first place.

BROWN: Or it could be a suppressed memory. Sometimes the mind can’t handle what it’s seen or done and it blanks out the memories of the events. If it was a mentalist at work, we will know when the court appointed telepath arrives.

JEAN: Court appointed telepath?

BROWN: Yes, it’s standard procedure nowadays. He or she will come here, visit with Danielle and see if there have been deliberate blocks on her memory. If there are any such blocks, they will remove them.

Jean looks ashen. He stops walking and steadies himself against the wall.

JEAN: And she’ll suddenly remember everything…

BROWN: Or if it’s a suppressed memory, then we’ll know right away and can start treating her with conventional means.

JEAN: How long until then?

BROWN: There aren’t that many telepaths working these days, so they’re very busy, but probably no more than a day or so.

INT CELL DAY

Rene and Danielle are sitting and talking together. It seems very pleasant and the sunlight is streaming in through the window casting a golden glow over the two of them. Danielle is dressed in street clothes and is even made up.

Jean enters.

RENE: Jean! I thought you were headed back to the base!

JEAN: I need to talk with you. Alone. Now.

RENE(to Danielle): Would you excuse me, dear? Family business, you know.

DANIELLE: Of course! But hurry back, I want to hear more about Marie. (to Jean) Your grandfather has been telling me all about his exciting adventures in World War Two. We were just getting to the part where he met your grandmother.

Jean forces a smile.

JEAN: Yeah, I heard that one. It’s a great story. We’ll be right back.

They leave. Danielle looks around, bored and frustrated. She looks at the ceiling, she looks at the floor. She holds her hand out and checks her nails – painted red. She goes over to the bed and flops down, arms and legs spread as if she was a rag doll someone has thrown away. She dangles a leg back and forth, staring at the ceiling. Then she lifts her head up.

DANIELLE: Jean? Rene?

She gets up, walks to the door and listens. She frowns and then cocks her head to one side. She walks over to the window and peeks out.

POV DANIELLE on the yard behind the asylum. We can see Jean and Rene arguing. We can even faintly hear what they’re saying. Danielle turns her head to listen.

EXT COURTYARD DAY

Jean and Rene, having barely done up their coats are stomping about back and forth. Jean does most of the pacing with Rene keeping up with his zig-zagging.

JEAN: …poking about in her brain? Bad enough they’ve got her locked up here but to put her through that? I mean what will happen if she remembers everything all at once? Is she strong enough to take it? Will THAT be the shock that kills her?

RENE: Jean, it’s not that simple, it…

JEAN: Oh, I should’ve seen it coming. We finally get things under control and BAM! They’ve got to throw a wrench into the works. Damnit!

RENE: She’s a strong girl, Jean, she can handle it.

JEAN: Handle that she’s killed eight people? Handle that she’s damned six more to a lifelong curse? Handle that four years have passed and her high school sweetheart maybe isn’t the same person he was? Handle that I was a terrorist? That I’ve killed people too?

RENE: We all have taken lives in one way or another. No life comes without some kind of death, even vegetarians.

JEAN: Spare me your Zen master bullshit today, Gramps, this is me being pissed off. For once in our lives maybe there’s something you can’t fix. Not that you did a great job the last time.

Rene looks like he was shot. He flashes back angrily at Jean

RENE: That’s not fair and you know it! I did the best I could to take care of the situation.

JEAN: Take care of the situation? More like sweep it under the rug along with the ashes of everything we’ve built! Do you think I liked having to start over? Do you think Danielle liked being left behind in an asylum? Jesus! Every time things get difficult we pack up and run away, start over again and hope it isn’t too long before the neighbours start asking questions. This is a different time, now. Things don’t stay buried like so many bodies any more. The world has eyes and it sees what we do. We can’t run forever. Damnit! I have friends and a life here! I have a place where, for the first time in my life I feel like I belong, like my life has a purpose.

RENE: Is Danielle part of that purpose?

JEAN: She’s my responsibility and I am going to live up to my responsibilities. I may not love her like I did when I was 18 but I am damn well going to take care of her. What happened to her was my fault. I am going to grow up and fulfil my obligations. It’s no different than if I’d gotten her pregnant 4 years ago instead of turning her into a werewolf.

RENE: Is it fair to her if you stay together, even though you don’t love her any more?

JEAN: I didn’t say that, I…!

RENE: Yes, you did. And I can smell it on you too. You don’t love her, you’re feeling obligation, not love. You said it yourself, if she was pregnant…You’re just being noble, you don’t really think of her as the love of your life any more do you?

JEAN: What does it matter? I’ve made my bed, now I’ll sleep in it! For better or for worse!

RENE: What if she never gets out of there, hmm? What if she’s in an institution for the rest of her life? The drugs they use won’t affect us and she’s much too strong. Are you going to live your life alone, chained to a living ghost? A ghost of the love you once knew? Push away anyone who wants to get close to you? Siren loves you, you know, even if she won’t admit it to herself.

JEAN: Leave her out of it!

RENE: No, that’s what you’re doing!

JEAN: What would you have me do? Leave her, go shack up with Siren and pretend this didn’t happen?

Rene frowns and looks up.

POV RENE on the hospital. Danielle was looking out the window at them, but ducked back inside when he looked up.

ON RENE He motions to Jean.

ON JEAN Jean turns around and stares at the empty window.

TWO SHOT Jean is staring, Rene comes up to stand beside him, also watching. Jean and Rene speak in low tones that only they can hear.

RENE: Do you think she heard us?

JEAN: I think Buffalo heard us. Shit, what do we do now?

RENE: Go back inside and pick up the pieces?

JEAN: Score another perfect zero for the home team.

He sighs and they both trudge back inside.

INT CELL DAY

Danielle is sitting in the same chair she was in when they left, but her eyes are red from crying. She is busily fixing her makeup. When she’s done, she crosses her arms and legs and sits in the chair, facing the door.

The door opens. Jean and Rene enter tentatively. Danielle puts on a happy face, but with angry defiance in her eyes.

DANIELLE: Back so soon? I thought you were going to be gone forever.

Jean and Rene exchange looks. "She knows" and "Oh, Fuck" respectively.

JEAN: Danielle, we need to talk.

Jean comes over to her chair and kneels before it. He tries to put his hand on hers, but she yanks it away.

DANIELLE: Don’t touch me! I don’t need your pity. When the fuck were you going to tell me?

Jean sits down in the opposite chair.

JEAN: Gradually. We were afraid the shock would be too much. We didn’t want to upset you.

DANIELLE: Well, nice work, Genius! I’m not upset at all!

JEAN: We were trying to help…

DANIELLE: Well, I don’t need your help, okay? I don’t want your pity, I don’t want your charity and I certainly don’t want your crocodile tears! You must think I am so naïve – poor dumb little country girl, huh?

JEAN: Dani –

DANIELLE: Shut up!

RENE: Listen, I…

DANIELLE: Shut up!

Danielle looks both of them coolly.

DANIELLE: Alright, I want the complete truth from both of you, from start to finish on everything you know about me and what’s happened in the last four years, no bullshit. I want to be prepared when the thought police come. Spill. Jean first. Tell me how I became a werewolf.

Jean looks uncomfortable again. His voice has a tremor to it when he first starts talking.

JEAN: You remember that time by the lake?

Danielle nods, then gestures with a flipping gesture of her hand for him to continue.

JEAN: Well, that was the first time I changed. It was a full moon and…

DANIELLE: Yes, I remember that. So you knew you were a werewolf for months while we were together and you never told me?

JEAN: Well, no, I…

DANIELLE: Didn’t you trust me? I thought we were friends, I thought we were in love.

RENE: Actually, that was my fault. I told him not to tell anyone. Secrecy is our safety net, my father used to say…

DANIELLE: Thank you Rene. So, then what happened next?

JEAN: Grandfather started to teach me, and then things started to get back to more or less normal.

DANIELLE: Until our roll in the hay?

JEAN: Um…yeah. Until then. While we were making love…

DANIELLE: Fucking. Call it fucking because you don’t know a THING about love!

Jean looks as if he’s been stabbed in the heart with a cold dagger.

JEAN: Fucking…and then when I …came, I …lost control. I started to change. And that’s probably when you were…infected. I changed into my werewolf form and you were frightened when you saw me.

DANIELLE: I was 18. You were my first love. God, I wish I’d never met you. Keep going. What happened next?

Jean winces at the last comment and then something goes cold inside.

JEAN: You were found running naked through the woods. You were admitted to Our Lady of Anguish mental institution that week, after all you could say was "wolf" over and over again. I visited you at your parent's house while they were still trying to cope with you at home, and you screamed bloody murder at the sight of me.

Danielle tries to show it's not bothering her.

DANIELLE: Then?

JEAN: My grandfather torched our family home to the ground and made up a story about a wolf coming in and attacking us while we were making love.

DANIELLE(to Rene): That must have been hard for you, to destroy so much you'd worked so hard to build up. A home your family has lived in for generations and you just burned it to the ground.

RENE: It hadn't been the same home since Marie died 30 years ago.

DANIELLE: I'm sorry.

Rene nods, then brings his hand up to hide his tears.

DANIELLE(to Jean): What happened to you then?

JEAN: Grandpere went to New Orleans to retire. I went to McGill, studied classics. There I met a pair of metahuman telepaths. They took control of my brain and made me do very bad things.

DANIELLE: What kind of very bad things?

Jean fixes her with a steely gaze. He maintains eye contact and doesn't even blink through the entire speech. His face says "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

JEAN: I was the muscle for the Nouveau Fronte de Liberation de Quebec. I was a terrorist; it was my business to inflict terror. At first it was just scaring people; intimidation to get what we wanted or to drive away politicians that didn't see things our way, scare the voters away from the Referendum polling stations. There was a reason the vote was so close. The No votes would've been stronger if it hadn't been for us. (beat)

Then it got worse. Then the killing started. Sometimes people would get too close to figuring out what we were up to so we'd "eliminate them from the equation" as Etienne used to say. I lost count. Hell, I didn't even remember most of it because Etienne and Isabeau kept blocking my memories so if I was caught, I couldn't tell on them.

(beat)

And then the bombings started. A few letter bombs out of nostalgia at first, but that was just a calling card - there were bigger targets ahead and this would show the world we meant business.

(beat)

We planted a bomb at the Skydome in Toronto, where Trudeau was attending a game. He was to throw out the first baseball, you know. I was with the team at Queen's Park, guarding a dummy bomb to distract the authorities and draw Canadian Shield's attention away from the game. It almost worked, but someone saw through a brutish exterior and realized there was a good, kind person deep inside all that anger screaming to get out.

(beat)

I got help. A mentalist named Siren helped me restore my memories. Memories of you and our night together that the Coup Twins - that's Etienne and Isabeau, in case you weren't keeping track - had distorted for their own purposes. I killed people for them because I believed that in doing so I would help free you from prison, where they told me you were - that the federal government of Canada was a fascist lie and that we had to separate for the good of the country and everyone in it - and so that when we succeeded they'd have to let you go.

(beat)

It wasn't until long after that I even knew what had happened to you. I tried to look you up, but you'd already escaped Anguish and were running loose. Apparently the medication you were on at the hospital suppressed or slowed down the first change - slowed down the progression of the Lycanthrope Retrovirus through your system. It didn't stop it, just slowed its progress. Eventually it caught up to you and you changed.

(beat)

The first change is a brutal, traumatic experience as you now know. Sometimes the mind can’t accept what the body is doing and shuts down for good. Sometimes the shock of the tissues distorting and reshaping or simply the pain - is too much and the whole system shuts down - sometimes in mid transformation, like what happened to Dr. Abroms; one of the people you tried to turn into a werewolf . Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

(beat)

With your new-found strength and immunity, you broke out of Our Lady of Anguish and ran off. When someone first changes into a werewolf, they feel a profound hunger. If there's no one to guide them through the process, they sometimes go wild and attack the first living creature they see. Sometimes that creature is a human being. That's where all the legends of werewolves killing people comes from. It's just new werewolves with no one to guide them. They go crazy. Just like you did. So you carved a bloody swath through the hills of Montreal. Are you still with me?

Danielle looks like she is but there's a look of dawning horror and remorse forming on her face. She shakes it off and gestures to Jean to continue.

DANIELLE: Yes, yes, killing spree.

JEAN: Right, which is when you ran into the same people I had left. Somehow they got out on their way to Stronghold and evaded the authorities. They found you. They heard of a villains wanted notice that some major player had posted and signed up. The organization, and its figurehead was called Gaia. While with Gaia, you met quite a few telepaths including Jesus Manson, the famous drug lord, The Coup Twins, who brought you there, and of course Count Iblis. What they seemed to do was to focus your dementia into a useful psychosis. What's wrong?

Danielle goes pale.

DANIELLE: Iblis? Did you say Iblis?

Jean takes a mental step back.

JEAN: Yes. Do you remember him?

Danielle strains and frowns and winces.

DANIELLE: I can't…it's almost there, but it's not. I can't remember!

Jean softens somewhat. He's seen that look in the mirror plenty of times.

JEAN: We stopped Gaia's plans, but let her escape. You stayed with her for a few weeks but then jumped ship in Victoria and made your way back to Toronto, where you started your own pack of werewolves.

DANIELLE: Did I … sleep with them?

JEAN: It's only infectious when you're in werewolf form, but in that case it can be transmitted through saliva in the case of a bite wound that becomes infected. That much IS like the movies. At some point during this, you made contact with Iblis again and he trained you and your team, but for what purpose, we don't know. You had your own agenda, which was to hurt me as much as you could and to draw me out alone so you could kill me or make me your slave or something. Unfortunately, that kind of ruined Iblis' plans for the others…

Danielle puts her hands to her head as if her head might burst apart at any moment.

RENE: Are you okay?

DANIELLE: Something is happening. I can't … too much noise, I …

Danielle can only make painful moaning noises, but we can still hear her speak.

DANIELLE(VO): …can't stand it, it hurts.

JEAN(VO): Danielle? Can you hear me?

DANIELLE(VO): Yes, I can, what's going on?

JEAN(VO): It's telepathy. You're speaking to me with your mind instead of your mouth.

SIREN(VO): Jean? What's happening? I can hear someone else in my mind.

JEAN(VO): Oh, shit.

JEAN: Merde.

JEAN(VO): Not sure how, but you're hearing the first telepathic conference call I've ever heard of. Danielle is with me and she's mind linked to me somehow. I think that's how Iblis was controlling the other werewolves through her. She was a mental conduit. That's why they seemed so well trained - he was guiding them. Now the mention of his name seems to trigger something in Danielle's mind.

SIREN(VO): Oh, no.

DANIELLE(VO): Who is that woman speaking?

SIREN(VO): A friend.

JEAN(VO): She helped me back from the Coup Twins' brainwashing.

DANIELLE(VO): Can you help me?

IBLIS(VO): NO ONE CAN HELP YOU, MY CHILD.

DANIELLE(VO): It hurts! Please make it stop!

IBLIS(VO): I CAN MAKE IT STOP, BUT YOU MUST DO AS I ASK.

SIREN(VO): Don't listen to him, Danielle, he's evil. He means to hurt you and everyone else. Fight it!

IBLIS(VO): WHY SIREN, YOU SURPRISE ME. I THOUGHT YOU NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN THESE MATTERS. I THOUGHT YOUR JOB WAS LEADING MEN TO THEIR DEATHS. HOW MUCH BLOOD IS ON YOUR SOUL, SIREN? DO YOU THINK THAT WILL EVER WASH OFF?

JEAN(VO): Siren is the most selfless, honourable, caring person I know. You're just trying to confuse the issue. We know what you are now! You're not the devil, you're a charlatan, a con man.

IBLIS(VO): ASK SIREN ABOUT ALL THE MEN SHE'S LED ON AND LATER BETRAYED; SENT TO THEIR DEATHS. SHE HAS QUITE A FEW STORIES TO TELL.

JEAN(VO): You're full of shit.

IBLIS(VO): AH, BUT I WAS THERE AND SO WAS SHE. WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS, WON'T WE SIREN?

SIREN(VO): You bastard alien thing!

IBLIS(VO): SUCH NAME CALLING FROM ONE OF MY CHILDREN.

DANIELLE(VO): Children?

IBLIS(VO): WHY OF COURSE! I HELPED CREATE YOU…OH, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. A GENETIC PALATTE AND A VARIETY OF SPECIES TO CHOOSE FROM AND PRESTO: WEREWOLF, PRESTO: SIRENS, PRESTO: MUTANTS AND MONSTERS ALIKE. THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS FITTING YOU LEAD MY ARMY.

DANIELLE(VO): You're the devil?

IBLIS(VO): PLEASED TO MEET YOU, HOPE YOU GUESS MY NAME.

A chilling, mocking laughter echoes through their minds. Danielle falls off her chair in pain. Rene goes to help her.

ZAP! Rene is thrown across the room and slams against the wall.

Jean comes rushing towards her and feels a sledgehammer bash his brain about like a croquet ball. He crumples to the floor.

SIREN(VO): Jean? Jean? JEAN!!!

IBLIS(VO): THANK YOU, DANIELLE. YOU'VE BEEN A MOST USEFUL CONDUIT, BUT YOUR USEFULLNESS HAS COME TO AN END. I HAVE JUST ONE OR TWO MORE THINGS FOR YOU TO DO AND THEN YOU CAN GO.

SIREN(VO): Fight it Danielle! Don't listen to him! Hold on!

IBLIS(VO): NO ONE LISTENS TO YOU SIREN, SURELY YOU'VE FIGURED THAT OUT IN 3000 YEARS? BUT SINCE I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE THESE POOR MORTALS, I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU HUNG UP NOW.

INT CSF JET DAY

Siren and the others are strapped in for orbital flight. Siren's expression one of worry turns to panic. She arches her back as if she were being electrocuted and strains against the straps.

SIREN(VO): Jean? Jean? JEAN!!!

SIREN: Oh no, no no, no, no, NO!!!

INT CELL DAY

Jean and Rene are unconscious on the floor of the cell. Each has a trickle of blood coming from their nostrils and ears. Danielle is standing up between them, almost as if in a trance. Her eyes are glowing brightly.

DANIELLE: Yes, I understand.

She walks over to the unconscious form of Rene Codere and turns him over onto his back.

She changes into her werewolf form, slowly, her face contorted in pain. Once fully transformed she grabs hold of his head, tilts it back as if preparing to perform CPR and with her jaws open, leans in towards Rene's exposed throat.

JEAN: NO!!!

Jean's scream turns into a roaring snarling growling sound. It shakes the room and stops Witch Wolf before her kill. She looks up just in time to be tackled by Jean leaping through the air.

They grapple. Witch Wolf seems to be able to anticipate Loup Garou's every move. For the moment, the battle seems evenly matched. Loup Garou dives for his discarded shirt and grabs the pen but it's knocked out of his paws by a kick from Witch Wolf. He swings his legs around, tripping her. She falls on her back and he leaps on top of her. She changes back to human form. Jean does the same.

DANIELLE: Jean, please stop me. You have to stop me. I still love you but I can't control this much longer. Kill me. Kill me, quickly, please!

Jean hesitates, perhaps remembering another grim promise like this.

JEAN: I can't I…

IBLIS(VO): TOO LATE.

Danielle transforms into Witch Wolf again and throws Jean against the dresser. He slams into it, mid back, still in his human form. A sickening crack is heard and he falls to the floor unconscious.

Witch Wolf stands over his crumpled form and lets loose a mournful howl that shakes the walls. She runs at the door and slams into it with her shoulder. It distorts but does not break.

Rene has regained consciousness and grabs for the emergency pen.

RENE(to himself): If they don't know this is an emergency by now…

Rene gives the pen a quick double click.

Witch Wolf turns around and grabs him, picking him off his feet.

RENE: Danielle! I know you're in there somewhere, fight it! Fight him!

WITCH WOLF: Give it up, old man! Your grandson is dead and soon you will be too. The whole world will learn your shameful secret! You've lost!

RENE: I may be old…

Rene transforms into a werewolf with a grey coat much like a timber wolf's. He breaks free of Witch Wolf's grip.

BISCLAVRET: But even an old dog can still learn new tricks!

Wham! Wham! Wham! He lands a series of punches, sending Witch Wolf reeling backward. She slams against the door, further bending the metal. She shakes off the blows but catches a glimpse of Jean's still form in the corner of the room.

She howls with grief and rage.

BISCLAVRET: Fight it!

The door opens, revealing a squad of armed guards beyond, brandishing weapons.

Witch Wolf rushes past them, tossing them aside like dolls.

BISCLAVRET: No! Come back!

Two of the guards fire off shots at Bisclavret. He reels but seems unhurt.

BISCLAVRET: Knock off that gun shit! I'm not the one you should be worried about!

Bisclavret shifts back into Rene Codere.

Some of the guards have already given chase.

Rene turns and walks over to Jean's still form. He picks him up and holds his head in his arms, kneeling on the floor. His eyes are blurry with tears.

RENE: Comon! Come back to me, I know you can.

A few seconds pass with nothing happening and then Jean's eyes snap open.

JEAN: I know what she's going to do! We have to stop her!

Jean is out the door and shifts into wolf form for speed as he does. The guards barely dodge him as he runs past. Rene follows suit.

INT LOBBY MARKHAM ASYLUM DAY

There are several chairs, a large grand piano, paintings on the wall, potted plants here and there and two large mirrors flanking the bottom of the stairs. Witch Wolf comes running in and the patients and visitors flee out every available exit, screaming in terror. Witch Wolf looks around and then catches a glimpse of herself in a tall gold-framed mirror.

POV WITCH WOLF. She is staring at the reflection. The creature's eyes are wide and a clawed hand comes up and touches her face.

SFX: Roaring wailing howl.

Witch Wolf brings her arm back clenched in a fist and brings it forth, shattering the mirror. Shards fall and scatter, covering the floor in front of her. She lurches about, smashing chairs and overturning tables, cracking the piano in two, creating a hideous cacophony. In the midst of her rage, she turns around and sees the other mirror.

REFLECTION IN MIRROR we see Witch Wolf approach. Her form shifts and melts and she is Danielle again. Danielle walks towards the mirror.

CLOSE UP of her hand reaching towards the mirror, fingers splayed.

PAN BACK TO Danielle's expression is one of surprise and horror. She looks like she doesn't recognize herself as a human either. Her outstretched arm stays fixed, but her other hand comes up to touch her face as her werewolf self did moments ago. She is trembling.

She screams an angry frustrated scream and smashes this mirror too.

LONG SHOT as Loup Garou and Bisclavret enter the lobby. They shift into their human forms and approach slowly.

CLOSE UP of the mirror shards on the ground. Danielle's hand moves into frame and picks up a long jagged piece. Looking for all the world like a cross between a lightning bolt and a dagger.

Jean and Rene enter in their human forms as Danielle stands before them, holding the mirror fragment. Red welts are already forming on her hands where it touches. She is crying as she holds the makeshift knife ready in one hand and holds out her arm. Jean sneezes and suddenly he knows.

JEAN: Danielle? Put the knife down.

RENE: We can help you. Please let us help you.

She looks at them, tears streaming down her face.

DANIELLE: It has to stop. I can't keep going like this.

JEAN: There has to be another way! You can't throw your life away like this!

DANIELLE: What life? What life? I've killed people, I've ruined others' lives and I nearly killed you too. You don't love me any more and I can look forward to life in prison or life in an asylum. Worse still, another time I might succeed in killing you too.

RENE: I can train you to control your special nature. There are people - metahumans who can help release you from this devil's control. There are always other choices. While there is life, there is still hope. Don't throw it away.

DANIELLE: I'm sorry Rene, You've been very kind to me. I never knew my grandfather, he died when I was a baby. I would've liked to hear the rest of your story about you and Marie. Did it have a happy ending?

RENE: I married her.

DANIELLE: That's so sweet. I wish I could have more time to get to know you.

JEAN: Danielle, I'm so sorry. I wish none of this had happened. I wish I could undo everything that I've done. I wish I could make it all better but I can't. I can tell you that your chances in court are good because I was pardoned. It's not your fault if you're used by a mentalist. It's a new part of the temporary insanity defense - I'm telling you it will work. Now please, please put the knife down.

RENE: Let us help you!

DANIELLE: It's not as simple as that. He's inside me, you see. He's inside me and he's growing every day. He's got some hold on me and I can't shake it. I only have a little while before he does it again. I have to stop this. I don't have anything to live for, but you do. If I die, we can both be free.

Jean is edging towards Danielle and becoming more and more frantic.

JEAN: Death is not freedom! Death is just death! All the religions in the world are just myths! It's all bullshit! There's no Heaven and Hell, no Demons and Angels, no God and Satan! They're all myths! It's a bunch of aliens and we're their twisted science experiment. They used the Earth as a giant petri dish. That's what Iblis meant by us being his children. It isn't that we're the creation of the devil, it's that he and his alien buddies had a hand in making us, just like every other mutant or paranormal creature on this planet. They're sick twisted fucks who don't deserve a place in this universe any more! Don't give them the satisfaction of destroying another life! Don't let them beat you! We can win! We can win, but we have to keep trying. We have to keep fighting or we'll just let them turn us into their puppets. Give me the knife, Danielle! Don't let them win! Please, if you say you still love me, don't do this to me! Don't do this to yourself!

DANIELLE: Do you love me? Do you really?

JEAN: Yes. I do love you, Danielle.

DANIELLE: I wish I could believe you.

JEAN: I will always love you, Danielle. That will never change. Yes, I'm in love with someone else, I won't lie to you, but I will always love you too. You were my first love and you never forget that. You deserve better than this, Danielle. You deserve better than me! Stop hating yourself for what was done to you and give yourself a chance.

Jean is close, very close. He is almost touching her. Rene watches at a distance, ready to help.

DANIELLE: No it won't happen again, I won't let it.

She brings the knife down on her wrist, slashing a big red wound open. It bleeds and bleeds. Danielle goes limp and Jean catches her.

RENE: Medic! We need a medical team in here NOW!

SFX: Alarms sound.

Jean holds Danielle in his arms, she is leaning her back against him as he kneels on the floor. He is holding her wrist, but there is a lot of blood. Danielle weakly raises her other arm to his face and looks up at him with sad eyes.

DANIELLE: Don't be sad, the pain is gone now. We're free. We're fr…

Her hand comes away from his face, leaving a bloody smear. The arm goes limp at her side.

Jean looks up and howls.

JEAN: NO!!!

He shakes Danielle desperately.

JEAN: No, you can't die; you can't, you're stronger than this! I know you! You were never a quitter, so don't give up on me now! You can't leave me, not like this! Danielle listen to me! Don't go!

Danielle starts to go limp, her eyes roll back in her head and she is still.

Jean cries, sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth holding Danielle.

The paramedics arrive, stepping over the shattered remains of the lobby. They try to take Danielle from Jean but he resists.

JEAN: No, she's going to be fine, do you hear? She's strong, she's a fighter!

PARAMEDIC: We'll do everything we can, sir, if you'll just let us help.

Jean lets go, the fight gone out of him. The paramedics torniquet Danielle's wrist and load her into the gurney and race off.

Rene picks up his grandson's limp body and carries him off, his sobs echoing through the hall.

FADE

INT HOSPITAL DAY

Jean and Rene approach a door with policemen in front of it. Jean shows his CSF ID badge and they let him pass.

INT HOSPITAL ROOM DAY

A red haired woman in a dark suit is sitting beside Danielle's sleeping form, holding her hand. The woman's eyes are closed, but squinted as if in concentration. Jean enters the room and watches, silently. An EEG machine reports her vital statistics in green glowing jagged lines.

After a moment, the woman in the suit takes a deep breath and lets go of Danielle's hand and sits up. She opens her eyes. She takes out a Palm Pilot and begins scribbling notes. She tucks the Palm Pilot into a pocket and gets up to leave.

JEAN: Is that it? You're not going to say anything?

The woman looks at Jean. Jean looks back at her and nods.

JEAN: Yes, I can. She did. No. How…? I see. Thank you. Yes, of course.

The woman smiles, places a comforting hand on Jean's shoulder and then walks out the door.

Jean shakes his head.

JEAN: Too many people.

He walks over to Danielle's bed and watches her. He sniffs at her and peels back the edge of the bandage.

CLOSE UP of Danielle's wrists. The wound is completely healed.

Danielle's eyes flutter open. She speaks in a voice that is a million miles away.

DANIELLE: Hi stranger.

JEAN: Hi yourself.

DANIELLE: It's so quiet in here.

Jean strokes her hair gently.

JEAN: It'll stay that way.

DANIELLE: What's going to happen now?

JEAN: You're free to go.

DANIELLE: What?

JEAN: While you've been sleeping, I've been in court. The judge ruled that you were not acting of your own free will on the occasions of the murders and were deemed Not Guilty By Reason of Mind Control.

DANIELLE: I can go?

JEAN: As soon as you feel up to it, of course.

DANIELLE: I feel worse than that case of mono from junior high.

JEAN: You nearly died. It could've been worse.

DANIELLE: Thank you.

JEAN: For what?

DANIELLE: For saving me.

JEAN: It was a team effort. And you've got a clean bill of health from a Ms. Alexander of the Telepath Union, so you're free of any other influences as well. She said there was something like the telepathic equivalent of a radio collar in your mind; That's how Iblis was able to control you and to attack us through you, but it's gone now, she's removed it.

DANIELLE: Are you sure?

JEAN: She's sure and she's the best in the business. Siren hired her for us.

DANIELLE: Tell her thank you too.

JEAN: Well, you can thank her in person when she comes to visit.

DANIELLE: Jean?

JEAN: Yes?

DANIELLE: Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want to see you for a while.

JEAN: Is there a right way to take that?

DANIELLE: I'd been talking with your grandfather…

Jean is completely floored.

JEAN: When?

DANIELLE: Earlier today. He's been practically sleeping in this hospital, watching over me. He's a sweet man.

JEAN: Yes he is.

Jean looks through the glass to the lobby where Rene is waiting. He catches Jean's "We must talk." Look and grins a toothy grin.

DANIELLE: He's offered to continue my training, back in Riviere du Loup. He and the pack have been planning a school for wayward werewolves and he's asked me to come. He also asked me to tell you that it's okay if you don't come for a while. He figures it will take me about six months till I can manage on my own, so I'll train with him and the pack while you finish your tour of duty with Canadian Shield and when you're ready, you can join him there.

JEAN: And you?

DANIELLE: I can't stay around here, too many bad memories. Me and my baggage are going to take a trip.

JEAN: But I thought…

DANIELLE: That we'd be together at last and live out a happy little life in the country? Come on Jean, you know that won't work. We love each other, but we're not in love any more. You have your new family and someone who cares as much about you as you do about her. I think you'll be very happy together and I wish you both all the best, I really do.

Jean is stunned. His mouth starts to move but he can't seem to say anything.

DANIELLE: I could smell her on you the first day you came to visit. I was just in denial for a long time, but I think it's time we let go of the past, don't you?

Jean smiles, nods with a wry smile.

JEAN: Yeah. I guess so.

They hug each other and then, parting slightly, a gentle kiss; One more of friendship than any kind of passion.

JEAN: Take care.

DANIELLE: You too.

The door opens and Rene walks in.

RENE: Well! How's our patient?

DANIELLE: Feeling 100% better, thank you!

Jean stands in front of Rene. There's an awkward silence. Jean moves forward and hugs Rene tightly.

JEAN: I'm …

RENE: I know. Forget it. Let's bury the past and try and grow a sweeter crop, shall we?

JEAN: Say, that makes me feel like lunch, how about it?

DANIELLE: Double quarter-pounder with cheese, please!

RENE: Just what the doctor ordered.

Jean leaves to fill their order.

EXT HOSPITAL DAY

Jean walks outside of the hospital he looks up to see that the sun is shining brightly. He smiles, and looks at the sun, feeling like a prisoner after a long confinement, seeing daylight for the first time. It feels warm on his face and he finds himself humming as he walks down the street to the nearest restaurant.

FADE

I can see clearly now,
*(Holly Cole Trio version)