Original subtitles

The National Scoop has a circulation of 10 million readers and that's just the people

who actually buy the paper. Think of the countless others who just read it in the checkout line.

That's a staggering thought. You'd be known nationwide, worldwide, millions of people

would recognize you on site. Ellen, I have mixed feelings about those things. I don't.

Good. Maybe you can talk some sense into your father. It's a terrible idea. Terrible?

It's not a terrible idea. It's a terrific idea. A profile about the two of you, a father-son

crime-fighting team, a super-sleuth doctor, and a slightly slow cop is a really, really...

Okay. I'll be honest with you. There's another reason I need you to do this for me.

Gee. Two minutes and 45 seconds to get to the truth. A new world record for intrepid

reporter Ellen Sharp. Wait a second. That's not fair, is it? Thank you. I mean, obviously

it's hard for her to say what she has to say. You know, she'd have told us the truth in

the beginning. What she was going to tell us is that if she does an article on us, it'll

get her a job on a real news theme. Come on, that kind of sarcasm just makes it harder

for her, Steve. This is her one chance to escape her dreary mind-numbing job and become

a respective journalist. Good. Come on. Tell us what you were really going to tell us,

Steve. Yeah, okay. I, uh... I don't recall. That was right. No. Sloaneer. You mean you

were going to do an article about us just so you could get a better job? If it got to

the attention of the right people. Uh-huh, I can be there in about 20 minutes. Right.

Something important? Yeah, it could be. Just follow up on it. Oh, no, you don't. What?

Ellen, I like you. I really do. I like you, too. But as we've already discovered, we

don't work well together. Are you kidding? We solved the Earthonomy murder case. Excuse

me. I think my father and I did... I solved it. No, what you did was nearly get yourself

killed three or more times. Nearly is the operative word there. Ellen, I can't blame

me for wanting to escape the scoop, but I can only cheer you on. I can't provide the

shovel. I'll be home in time for dinner. Okay. Is he all right? What are you going to

do? I've always been this stubborn. I'll tell you so. Yeah, we don't leave him anyway.

You're the real hook. I mean, a cop fighting crime, what's unusual about that? But a doctor.

Ellen. Murder maven Mark Sloan. Homicide stalks the mild-mannered physician through

the corridors of community general hospital. Nobody stalks me. I'm a consultant for the

police department. The rare times that I help them out, the cases come from them. That's

why. But it's real. I just wouldn't want to give your readers the impression that bodies

just wash up on shore right in my feet. What's that? You were saying?

I'm not going to give you a chance. I'm not going to give you a chance. I'm not going

to give you a chance. The cause of death was asphyxiation. There's also evidence of blood

instrument trauma. And I also found a wood sliver in the back of her head. So someone

knocked her out and dumped her in the ocean. Well, she could hit her head on something

after she was in the ocean. No, generally people don't intentionally go into the ocean

with their boots on. Especially these boots. Expensive. Very expensive. We're running a

fingerprint match right now, but until that comes back, all we can tell you is that we

have ourselves a very healthy Jane Doe, with the exception of the beginnings of an eye

infection. Well, there's not too many places selling this kind of Western wear anymore.

Maybe somebody will remember selling them. Well, it's a starting place anyway. I may

have a better one. School for migrant workers? She was wearing it.

Ah, por favor. Dundia esta la escuela. Esta porella. Gracias. I'm not going to give you

a call. No. I have every right to be here. How did you even find out? A good reporter

never reveals a source. It was my dad, wasn't it? All right, you're here, but you're not

to do any talking, you understand? Do you understand? Do you recognize the fact that

you recognize her? It's sharp. What happened to her? Who is she? She was wearing one of

your school t-shirts. Helen. Well, the past few months she taught here, the vista volunteer.

That's it? What else do you want to know? A name might be helpful. Helen, would you

wait outside for a minute, please? Outside, please. This always happens. I need to know

the victim's name. Lara Adams. Did she have any enemies that you know about? How would

I know that? Miss Sán says I'm just trying to find out what happened to her. If she was

someone you knew or cared about, you might want to help me. She was dating my brother

Angel. Her father was very angry about it. He doesn't think much of Mexicans. Where

would I find Angel? I haven't seen him for a couple of days. Try the union hall, United

Farm Workers. He spends a lot of time there. Thank you. It's an occupational hazard. I

don't mean to ask questions, but some big old space appears in the conversation, and before

I know it, a question pops out of my mouth. See? Like right now, for instance, if I could

think of a question to ask you, I would, because I find the silence just, well, difficult.

I knew you'd understand. I should have gone into that migrant camp and dragged her out.

Should have sent her to Europe. I should have done anything. Keep away from that boy. By

that boy, you mean Angel Sanchez? See, this is Malcolm Adams. He just identified the body

of his daughter, Lara. This is my son, Steve Sloan. He's a detective lieutenant with the

L.A.B.D. My daughter's going for her M.B.A. at Stanford. Top of her class. Then she meets

this low-life scum. From what I understand, Angel is pretty right himself. He's working

on a law degree. Knights. Where? Paco's drive-through law school? Mr. Adams. He was a parasite.

A union organizing con man. My daughter fell for his line of bull. Hook, line, and sinker.

And now she's dead. You'd better find him before I do.

The guys down at the union hall say Angel Sanchez is their most effective organ either. He's

been working with farm workers up and down the California coast. No record of violence?

No complaints from old girlfriends? He's had a couple of run-ins with cops on the picket

lines, but other than that, his sheet's clean. I just think it's so odd that he should disappear

on the day that his girlfriend drowns. He travels around a lot. Maybe the news hasn't

caught up with him, but we're going to head back out to the camp. Maybe his sister's

heard something from him by now. Of course, anything you print will be uncorroborated

and will have to be returned.

My father, he collapsed on the field.

Okay.

I'll take him to trauma three. Please, Dr. Travis.

You need to get him to a hospital.

We have no insurance.

Doesn't matter. He needs help.

He won't get it. We have no insurance.

His name is Angel Sanchez.

Angel Sanchez?

Mr. Sanchez, are you on any medication of any sort right now?

Is that to Monda Medicina?

Mr. Sanchez?

Well, I guess I should have asked him about his head's first and his name's second.

He's coding.

You can stop the phone in here now.

Let's go get him.

All right.

Clear.

Positive. It's Angel Sanchez.

Yeah. He came in with flu-like symptoms.

He was conscious of coherent women, and then he just passed out.

Okay. Clear.

These lesions look very interesting.

They almost look granulomatous.

Hmm.

You talk to Angel Sanchez' family?

Yeah, sister. You determined to cause a death?

Not yet. She found something in this wallet that was kind of out of place.

Nicholas Faber, President.

Verket Faber, Pharmaceutical.

You remember who that is?

Verket Faber. Aren't they donating a wing to Community General?

What is their connection to Angel Sanchez?

Well, it shouldn't be hard to find out.

I know Walter Brooke can't have found another company.

As a matter of fact, I know where he is right now.

This is an auspicious day for kicking off our partnership with Community General Hospital.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Verket Faber Pharmaceutical.

Again, thank you for a better way to celebrate this new partnership

than by breaking ground on the Verket Faber Research Wing.

Thank you.

I hope by this time next week I'll see you all again.

Perhaps it'll be a cooler day when I announce the director of this dynamic news center.

Thank you.

Cheers to Travis.

Yeah.

Big day, huh?

Yes, it is. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Nice to see you.

Walter, I have to ask you a question about your partner, Nicholas Faber.

Oh, you mean Wild Man Faber?

Wild Man?

Yeah.

I just feel crazy.

He's always off somewhere risking his neck.

What's he done this time?

Well, I was kind of curious as to why he might be meeting with a united farm worker labor organizer,

Angel Sanchez.

You know anything about that?

I wouldn't have any idea why Nick is meeting with anybody.

You have to ask him yourself.

Of course, then, you have to find him first.

Take it he's not one sit around the office place.

He can stand hanging around the suits.

One, maybe two weeks at the most.

And he's off.

Off?

Oh, yeah.

Skiing in Grestin, trekking in Nepal, hand-feeding the sharks off the Great Barrier Reef.

Last year, he rode in the Paris to Dakar motorcycle rally.

Came in fourth.

Is that good?

It's unbelievable.

Man's a genius.

Let's can't stand the routine of day-to-day running a business.

Let's ask the farm worker why he's meeting with Nick.

Unfortunately, he's dead.

Well, for whatever it's worth, I can assure you Nick will turn up.

Of course, when is anybody's guess?

Would you excuse me?

I've got to make a couple quick calls.

What's going on?

What do you mean?

You're Mark Sloan, the Will Rogers of the medical profession,

the doctor who's never met a man he doesn't like.

You exaggerate, but what's your point?

You don't like Walter Burkett.

What makes you think that?

Because I know you.

When you don't like someone, you get a little thing going on in your eye, a little tick.

I do not.

All right, you don't.

But I can tell you don't like him.

No.

Why?

You know I'm not sure.

Back when I was in college and undergraduate school, I had this fish tank.

I just have to tell you, I don't enjoy fish tank stories.

You'll enjoy this one.

Can I just guess, is this the one about you bringing home a Japanese fighting fish

and unbeknownst to you it ate up all the other fish in the tank?

Did I tell you the story?

Is there any other fish tank story?

Oh.

And Walter Burkett reminds you of the Japanese fighting fish.

There's something in the eyes, really.

Yeah, you got to come up with some better fish stories.

Listen, what do you think your chances for being the new director are?

I think they're pretty good.

What do you think?

They got a shot, right?

Yeah, we got to finish it.

Mind if I join you?

As a matter of fact, I do.

You can't give your own father five minutes to get you--

Go finish your damn sandwich, I'll leave.

That was Walter Burkett.

What are you guys fighting about?

You're imagining things.

Selena, Lieutenant Sloan is here.

Go away, please.

I'm very sorry about your father, Miss Sanchez,

but I have to call the coroner.

There has to be an autopsy.

No.

Sanchez.

I'm taking him home.

You know you can't get him across the border,

not without getting past all the paperwork and red tape.

Lieutenant Sloan can help you with that.

But you need to let him take your father now.

Why?

When someone dies that's not under the care of a physician,

there has to be an autopsy.

The law.

After which he'll help you take your father home.

Tomahiko?

Yes.

He's a policeman.

He has all kinds of connections.

He can do that.

I will.

You can.

Will you?

I'll try.

He will.

Here you go.

Oh, hey, thanks.

I, uh, went to the Santa Monica Pier this afternoon.

Yeah, this probably where Laura went in the water.

Yeah.

If I've got the currents figured right.

Laura Adams and Angel Sanchez had a fight at the end of the pier,

dis-according to the security guard.

Uh, lover spat, he called it.

It was very late, and the pier was deserted.

Spat is not a word you hear much anymore.

Did the guard say anything to him?

As long as he didn't get physical, he didn't want to butt in.

Anyway, the guard saw Sanchez drive off.

Laura stayed.

The guard finished his rounds, and when he got back, Laura was gone.

Did you get any samples off those pilings?

They matched a splinter Amanda found in her hair.

I guess she could have jumped off committing suicide.

If she was going to kill herself,

she wouldn't have cared about those expensive boots.

Or Sanchez could have driven back,

hit her in the head, and then thrown her in the ocean.

If she hadn't had that eye infection,

I wouldn't be so sure there was something else going on there.

Her boyfriend had the infection, her boyfriend's father had it.

I mean, it could be a coincidence, but...

I know, I know.

Of course, I'm just a slightly slow cop.

I probably don't have the instincts of a super sleuth like yourself.

How is Ellen, anyway?

You know how she is.

She's nuts.

She promised these people, this woman Selena,

that I'd get her father and her brother back to Mexico to be buried.

Ooh, that's gonna go for a lot of paperwork.

And it's expensive, too.

I didn't know you were that generous.

The preliminary autopsy reports indicate

that both Sanchez men died of parasitic encephalitis and kenthemeba.

Doesn't make any sense.

Doesn't?

Well, in different regions of the world,

people build immunities against local parasites.

This is one which the Mexican population has learned to live with.

It's only developed into a minor superficial infection.

Like, uh, Lara's eye infection.

You know something?

It's behaving like nagleria.

Excuse me?

Nagleria. It's a similar parasite, just a lot more aggressive.

It causes skin lesions and brain infections.

Amanda, this got to be what they had.

That's what I thought at first, but it isn't so.

They were definitely infected with the kenthemeba.

Which somehow turned deadly.

The only reason why it didn't kill Lara Adams

is because she drowned before it had a chance to spread.

No, if she had it, she brought it back into the general population.

We could be facing a potential epidemic.

Yeah, we'd better notify the state health department.

But Jesse's already on his way over to see them.

Where are you going?

Make sure this news stays with us.

This is about the migrant workers camp, isn't it?

I'm gonna find out eventually, so you might as well--

I know you're gonna find out. That's why I asked you to meet me here.

I'm gonna tell you something, but I want you to promise me

you won't write about it or talk about it

or even think about it after I tell you.

Excuse me?

This can't get out to anyone.

Okay, have you heard of the First Amendment to the Constitution?

It goes something like this.

You can't hear a fire in a crowded theater.

That's not the amendment.

That's some lame excuse for getting around the amendment.

You're saying there's a fire in the theater.

I'm saying there might be.

A big one.

Yes.

And you want me to sit on this until we know for sure how big it is?

Yeah, that's what I'm asking.

Oh, God, I hate this.

You know, real journalists have to face these kind of moral dilemmas every day.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I took journalism 101.

You did?

I didn't think you needed it.

If I promise to keep this information, whatever it is,

to myself, until the appropriate time.

Will you promise to tell me everything you know as soon as you know it?

Everything?

You're asking me to trust you, but you won't trust me?

Trust is not something most detectives have a whole lot of.

Reporters, either.

What is it about you?

Dr. Kessel at the state health department said he would post some signs

over at the farm worker's camp, warning anyone with an "I" invention

to come in for a check-up.

You know, they're all migrant workers.

They're not very likely to trust any government signs.

Yeah, I mentioned that. He didn't seem to care.

What about the water supply? Are they gonna test it?

He said yes, but I get a strong feeling that it's a low priority.

I also notified the CDC in Atlanta.

I figured those guys might want to run a couple tests.

Oh, my God!

That place. Wow, pretty good size.

Was it just me or did the earth move for you two?

Right off the scale.

See ya.

He's just pulling up. That's it for me.

Steve Sloan, I appreciate the call.

Chip Nielsen, ma'am.

Ellen Sharp.

Ma'am, we knew you'd put out an APB on this Nicholas Faber

and this guy answers the description.

The seismologists came out to check their equipment

after the quake this morning.

They're pretty surprised to find a dead body.

Okay.

Are these the latest in hiking hills?

Oh, what are those? Rock climbing loafers?

Nice tassels. Thanks.

Must have been buried at the top of the hill before it slid.

We try not to contaminate the crime scene.

Is it Nicholas Faber?

It used to be.

There's absolutely no reason for me to move in here.

Your place was trashed.

That might not have been the earthquake.

My cleaning lady hasn't been in for a while.

Besides, you think I'm afraid of a little five-point templar?

What's that?

It's just a truck going by and a road out for us.

They do that from time to time.

I knew that.

Ellen, you just want me here where you can keep an eye on me.

You got that right.

Okay, Angel Sanchez and his father

both died from a mysterious parasitic infection.

Laura Adams had the disease, but she drowned.

And Nick Faber was, what, poisoned?

Whoever did it used enough arsenic to bring down a grizzly.

He wasn't taking any chances.

Keep going back to Nicholas Faber's business, Carter.

Why would Angel Sanchez handle it?

If Burkett Faber Pharmaceuticals is involved in any of this,

then we have a real problem here.

Well, it depends.

We can't be in business with any company that's implicated in an epidemic.

This is not only a question of ethics.

It's a liability problem.

If there's a connection, if.

We don't know how high this goes.

Maybe you should have another conversation with Walter Burkett.

Dr. Sloan, have a word with you?

Sure, Alex.

Do not touch that muffin.

What is it like today?

Yesterday after the groundbreaking, I ran into Craig Burke.

Sure, right.

I went to get a cup of coffee and saw Craig having an argument with Walter Burkett.

Burkett, right.

And when I asked Craig about it, he said that I'd imagine the whole thing.

And I couldn't figure out why he'd lie about it.

So then I got to thinking, Burke, Burkett, maybe there was a connection.

So I went into personnel and talked my way into Craig's files.

I didn't know you were gonna do that.

Well, I hate it when people stick their noses in other people's business,

but it was so weird, you know?

What'd you find out?

Walter Burkett, the man he claimed he didn't know,

is Craig Burke's father.

Dr. Sloan, hello.

Catch up on your reading.

Always more to learn.

You know, I just learned something kind of interesting myself.

Craig, is there any reason to change your name when you apply to medical school?

You have a good relationship with your father, Dr. Sloan?

I'm afraid I didn't know my father very well.

I don't either, but I know enough to know I don't want to be anything like him.

You know, a lot of young people go through a stage of kind of feeling that way.

If it's a phase, I hope I never get over it.

Craig, did you know your father's business partner, Nicholas Faber?

My reputation.

My dad was rarely around the house, let alone his business partner.

They just found his body. He'd been murdered.

You know, of anybody who might want to see him dead.

Gregory Spenfield was his top researcher.

He'd know what Faber was working on, if that would help.

Spenfield. Yeah, they just might. Thank you, Craig.

Last time I saw Nick, he seemed agitated.

A little hyper, but that wasn't unusual.

He asked me for a brief update on our research projects,

and he left. No one saw him alive after that.

Did he talk about the Acanthamimba project?

We're not working on anything having to do with the Acanthamimba parasite,

unless I'm completely out of the loop, which I doubt.

And he didn't seem upset about anything?

No.

Did he tell you where he was going?

I guess I assumed he was going riding in the desert.

He usually did when he was in town, but I really didn't know or care.

You looked up my personnel file.

Craig. Don't deny it. I went down there. I asked.

I was just trying to-- There's no excuse for it, Alex.

I thought we were friends.

Hi.

Your father's body and your brothers will be released in the next day or two.

I've already pushed through the paperwork,

so you will be able to take him home to Mexico for burial.

Thank you.

I was wondering if you'd take a look at this photo.

Who is he?

It's Nicholas Faber. He's a partner in Burkett Faber Pharmaceuticals.

You're going to recognize him?

Not the face, but I know the name.

The last day we were all together, my father and Angel got into an argument.

It seemed like every other word was Faber.

What were they arguing about?

They fought every time they were together, those two.

I had stopped paying close attention.

Hi.

I think you should see this.

Esteban.

In spite of all the signs, he had no intentions of seeing a doctor.

In fact, he was wearing sunglasses so that nobody would notice.

They don't want to lose the day's pay.

Thing. He's not the only one.

We're going to need some help out here.

Tell my dad.

They're not responding to where they should, are they?

No. Amanda was right. It's the Canthemeba.

I've never seen a strain like this before. The antibiotics aren't working.

What can we do?

Nothing. All we can do right now is keep it contained.

Quarantine?

Yeah, I know. It kind of screams the headline, doesn't it?

Mr. Adams.

Yes. You said you were looking for me.

You told me my daughter had an eye infection.

They could've killed her if she hadn't drowned? Yes.

Is that what I have?

Let's have a look here.

Mr. Adams, we're going to put you in isolation just till we're sure.

This is Angel Sanchez' fault. Dr. Sloane?

I'm with the patient, Craig.

It'll just take a second.

Excuse me.

This mutated parasite has gotten out into the general public.

Well, it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

Craig.

She's still looking to be done.

There's a faucet over there.

Thanks, Charlotte.

All right, you guys.

Come on. We've got to be running on empty by now.

Come on, you've been working nonstop for hours.

You've got to eat, both of you. March.

Steve, good idea. Thank you.

What you got?

No onions?

Onions give you heartburn.

I like onions.

What's going on at the camp?

It's grim.

You know, somebody had to bring that parasite into the country.

It had to be Angel Sanchez or his father.

Because they were the first ones to show signs of the infection.

Being from Mexico, they should have had a natural immunity to a camp amoeba.

Yeah, but not this many strain.

The question is, why did they mutate in such a virulent form?

Most of those people down at the camp from the same town in Mexico.

Yeah, Carmen, eat it.

They just pushed through the paperwork so Selena could take her father and her brother back there.

Well, I'm willing to bet that that's where our problem lies.

I better get myself down to Carmonita.

I'm going with you.

Well, at least stay long enough to finish your pizza.

These onions.

See?

Excuse me, I'm Dr. Mark Sloan. This is Dr. Amanda Bentley.

May we speak with the doctor at your house, please?

The doctor in charge died yesterday.

The new doctor is on his way.

In the meantime, I'm in charge.

Mrs. Lopez, do you know what the doctor died of?

Not until the autopsy is performed.

But could it have been a camp amoeba?

I think you'd better go.

Well, could we maybe give you a hand here?

Are you licensed to practice medicine in Mexico?

I could not take the responsibility.

May we at least have a look at the patient files?

Of course not.

Your country isn't the only one with privacy laws.

Mrs. Lopez, we have a serious medical problem in Los Angeles.

I think it'd be traced back right here to Carmonita.

Obviously, you have the same problem.

I think you'd better go.

Mrs. Lopez, at least talk to us.

If you prefer, I call the police.

All right. Are you ready to receive?

I'm going to try to transmit now.

Yeah.

Steve.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Open the window. I can't hear you.

What are you doing?

Nothing. I told you.

You're sending a story.

Well, kind of. I can explain.

You promised me.

See, I knew you were going to react this way.

That's why I didn't want to tell you.

You knew? I would. Of course you knew.

I can't believe you'd do this.

You're leaping to conclusions.

Well, I don't have to leap, Ellen.

There is no leap. It's so obvious.

After I trusted you.

Hey!

What? After you trust--

After you-- You didn't even trust me long enough to listen to what I had to say.

Let me show you the story.

I'll pick up a copy in a newsstand.

Stay here.

Read it.

Two-headed alien colony discovered in the hills north of Las Vegas.

Alien group believed to be the--

Last of ancient Indian tribe,

which disappeared from the face of the earth 500 years ago.

This is the story you were sending?

My editor knew I was on to a story.

He said if I didn't send something in, he'd assign someone to come find me.

So you were sending him that?

Why didn't you just tell me?

So you could make fun of the kind of journalism I do?

Can you give me one good reason I shouldn't send him the real story?

I suppose I could.

I don't know why you'd listen to me.

Yeah. Me either.

It's alone here.

I think I found the source of the account for me about it.

The school room.

It's the only air-cooled structure in the entire camp.

The water.

A pair of sights like the water.

I'm convinced it's collected in the water that settles at the bottom of the swamp cooler.

From there, much like Legionnaire's disease,

it spreads as a fine mist threw the air into the eyes of the children.

They, in turn, transmit it to their parents.

That's gotta be it.

Laura Adams could have gotten it here.

Well, right now it's just a theory. We need to run some tests.

What are you doing here?

Your father brought us tons of medical supplies and food.

For what in return?

Nothing. Come on, I'll give you a ride home.

Oh, I see. You give us supplies if I agree to leave, like a good little boy.

You think everything is always about--

Me?

Since you bring it up,

I want you to know that I strongly disapprove

of giving interns and medical students such dangerous assignments.

Not the kind of leadership I'll be expecting from the director of the new center.

Your son volunteered.

My point is that it's irresponsible.

It's even immoral to take advantage of young people's idealism.

You'll know that once you get a little maturity.

How's this for the height of Gaul?

Walter Brickette lecturing on ethics and values.

Why do I bother with you?

Craig had an idea.

Oh, you're right. You're absolutely right.

I'm gonna call the guys over at the state health department

and see if they can pick this up and bring it over to CDC.

In the meantime, will you guys keep the place secure?

Anya and my father installed the swan cooler.

They were so proud, so happy for the children.

There's nothing they did.

Can I see you in the tent?

Yeah, I'll be right there.

Craig.

Thank you for coming out here.

Putting your own health at risk to help out.

It's what we do, isn't it?

How about your father?

It's all right, Alex.

I don't know why I was trying so hard to hide the connection.

I'm gonna have to face up to being his son sooner or later.

I might as well start now.

I don't know what your problems with him were, but...

Let's just say that some people should have to get a license to become a parent.

I lost my dad last year.

I didn't even make it home in time to say goodbye.

And you know all the things that seemed so important?

All the ways I thought he had failed me so miserably?

I can't even remember what they were.

I don't know your dad.

Maybe you're right. Maybe he's a total loss.

What if you're wrong?

I don't believe this.

It's like a bomb hit and killed every man between the age of 15 and 60.

Bomb called poverty.

All the able-bodied men are up north working in our fields.

Hey!

I am already overcrowded.

You're gonna have to make room for one more.

Okay.

Chip? - Senate?

His name's Henry Bottens.

Yeah, around here they call him Pioté Buttons.

And believe me, he's much more likely to talk to cacti than to people.

He talked to you, didn't he?

I must remind him of cactus.

Look, you're just gonna have to take my word for it that he said what I said he said.

Mine?

Thanks.

The officer here said someone was shooting at you the other night.

Actually, he said he only heard one shot.

Uh-huh.

You know who it was that shot at you, Henry?

I don't even know if this has anything to do with the victim we found out for the earthquake.

I mean, he was poisoned. Not shot.

So you didn't get a look at who shot at you?

Yeah, I thought you wouldn't talk to you.

See, I figured they poisoned this guy.

Then they brought him up to the hillside to bury him.

They saw old Henry dozing around.

Might have taken a shot at him.

Well, old Henry isn't gonna tell us who it was.

I'm not sure what good it would have done us anyway.

Nice talking to you, Henry.

Just put this back, please.

You know, I might have been way off track with this, anyway.

Old Henry, he sees blind saucers all the time.

Last week, he saw Elvis at a karaoke bar in town.

But I figured, you know, you never know.

Uh-huh. Well, thanks.

So what'd you find out?

Well, my Spanish leaves something to be desired.

But it seems, whatever it was they came in with, they were treated with Toxamethalin.

And they all ended up suffering from a Cantanema.

What the devil is Toxamethalin?

I was hoping you knew.

Well, I have my laptop in the car. I'll be right back.

And I'll order some more... dip.

Hi.

Hi.

Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.

I'm, uh...

really...

really sorry.

I know. You said.

And I wanted to make it up to you, so I, uh, I brought you this.

I don't get it. Where's the story?

Well, it's this crazy, eccentric guy in an out-of-the-way place.

Uh, people call him Peyote Buttons.

He, uh, hears things. He sees flying saucers.

And I, uh, you know, I just thought it might tie in with your, uh, two-headed alien story.

You're making fun of me.

No, no, I'm not.

So you're just stalling me from writing about the epidemic?

No, I just thought it, uh, you know, it might be worth a drive out there.

I mean, the guy doesn't talk much, but, uh...

if anybody could get him to open up, I thought it might be you.

You're, uh...

very good at that.

Thank God for wireless technology. Here we go.

Tux Mephilin.

It was a protocol that was being tested in the third-world countries

for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis?

Because of limited success, the FDA refused to grant permission

to test it in the United States.

Who applied for the permission?

Faber Limited.

Faber.

A division of...

We're getting Faber Pharmaceuticals.

Ellen?

Steve?

Oh, Dad.

Yeah. Uh, listen, uh,

a man and I are gonna catch the first plane we can back to Los Angeles.

We need somebody to meet us at the airport.

What? You found something?

Oh, boy. Like the man in the movie said,

"I'm Mad as hell. I'm not gonna take it anymore."

See you at the airport.

See you there.

You've got nothing.

All drug companies test outside the U.S.

It's common practice.

We know the Tox Mephilin severely compromised

the immune systems of the test group.

And in turn, that provided a perfect environment

for the growth of the Acanthamiba strain.

This is a fairy tale.

Do you have anything even slightly resembling proof?

We have.

The people who carried that Acanthamiba

from sovereignty to Mexico did the work camps here.

Well, I've heard bloody trails before, Mark.

And mountains of evidence.

What you're doing is making wild accusations

without anything whatsoever to back them up.

And believe me, if you go public with any of these pipe dreams,

I'm gonna sue you for slant.

Oh, be my guest, Walter.

I'll be happy to show up at that trial.

Mr. Bercat, there's obviously some connection

between your drug Tox Mephilin

and this new improved version of Acanthamiba.

And what's more, I think Nick Faber

was intending to do something about it.

Such as?

Blow the whistle on you.

I think that's why he was killed.

For a grown-up, you have a very fanciful imagination.

So you wouldn't mind turning over all your research papers

to clear Bercat Faber's name?

You don't turn over our records to anyone for any reason.

I can get a court order.

Give it your best shot.

Hey, we've collected all the Tox Mephilin

that was brought up from Mexico,

unless some of the workers are hiding it from us.

Take a look at this.

It's responding to drugs usually used for naglieria.

Kissing cousin to Acanthamiba.

We're not having much luck with any other antibiotics,

and the concoction's very expensive.

Yeah, well, I forgot about Bercat Faber's bill.

Do me a favor, man.

I can get me as much of this as you can, okay?

Yeah.

Hey, uh, Laura Adams.

Did anybody ever figure out

how she gave the disease to her father?

Yeah, she used to use her dad's hot tub

when she stayed with him on weekends.

As it turns out, it's a perfect breeding ground

for Acanthamiba.

Next time her dad used the hot tub,

Acanthamiba was waiting.

So, uh, these people who were shooting at you,

did you get a good look at them?

Was there just, um, one man or two?

Or one man with two heads?

Strike that question.

Uh, when you saw Elvis, did he sing at all?

Uh, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I really appreciate your meeting with me.

Well, I figured it was the only way to keep you

from barging into my office.

But I have nothing to say.

I disagree.

Please, go away.

I have a family.

I have a mortgage, a school fees.

And a confidentiality agreement

with Bercat Faber Pharmaceuticals.

I am not going to risk everything

I've worked for my whole life.

Look, I'm gonna write an address down

on a piece of paper.

All I'm asking for is about an hour of your time.

I want you to go and see what your work

at Bercat Faber is done.

I won't bother you again.

Mark, any luck?

I don't think so.

Well, it's not all bad news.

Come with me.

All right.

Jesse and I started using IV amphotericin B

and my connoisseur.

It's usually used for infections that are caused by naglieria.

Amphotericin B is a pretty strong sentence.

It sure is.

It's highly toxic in and of itself,

but that's what it's gonna take to knock out this parasite.

Good work.

Yeah, his fever broke in a few hours.

Oh, that's marvelous.

I can hug you.

Well, don't let a little thing like professional decor

get in the way.

Come on.

Are you using the same stuff out of the camp?

We got it up to the camp this afternoon.

We're in a wait and see pattern.

We did it.

The fever's gone and much more alert.

It's great.

Look at that.

What's this?

Bercat Faber, pharmaceuticals,

while admitting no negligence,

offers $10,000 in full to any victim of a canthameva.

Yeah, they're trying to slip off the hook

without admitting they did anything wrong.

$10,000 is a lot of money, those people.

It's a manual salary to some of those farm workers.

But dirt cheap for killing someone's brother or father.

So what are we gonna do about it?

Where's Ellen?

I thought she'd be wanting to come with us.

Yeah.

I'm not sure where she is.

Do you have a fight?

I don't know.

With us, I can never tell.

Well, I guess we better get started.

Good evening.

Thank you for coming.

Most of you don't know me.

My name is Dr. Mark Sloan.

And I called this meeting to talk to you about this offer

you received.

I know this sounds like a lot of money,

but I want to urge you not to sign these agreements.

My name's Emilio Gonzalez,

and I want to know why this is any of your business.

Well, Mr. Gonzalez, I'm a doctor,

and I care about how the medical community behaves.

I think that Bercat Faber should be held responsible

in a court of law for what they did here.

They made a mistake, and now they're apologizing.

If you read this booklet carefully,

you'll notice that they don't admit to anything.

They don't even say they're sorry.

But they do say that if you accept this one-time payment,

you give up all claims for damages.

They're trying to get off very cheaply.

$10,000 doesn't sound cheap to me.

You want to pay us $10,000?

I bet you we won't sign these agreements.

You all know me.

You know what happened to my brother, to my father.

I guess $10,000 is supposed to make me feel better

about never seeing them again,

about never bringing my children

to sit on their grandfather's knee,

and another $10,000 to never be able

to turn to my brother for advice, for love.

They're offering us a fortune.

Do you think those gringo doctors

would offer you this money

if they didn't think they had much, much more to lose?

Tell them, Dr. Sloan.

She's right.

We can hire a lawyer.

We can sue for damages.

It's called a class action suit.

Lawyers will get all the money.

We could end up with nothing.

Nothing? Is our pride nothing?

Are we so poor, so poor in spirit

and encouraged that we do not fight?

This company kills our friends and our family.

Then they throw us 10,000 pieces of silver,

and we say, "Oh, gracias. Muchas gracias."

They murdered my father.

They murdered my brother.

To hell with these killers.

I do not take their tips.

Thank you.

You're high and mighty holier than thou, hypocrite.

You must think you can get away with murder.

You seem to have me confused with someone else. Namely, you.

You've gone too far, Sloan.

I didn't have anything to do with this article.

Tell it to the judge. Not only am I suing that rag,

I'm coming after you, everything you own,

everything you ever dreamed of owning.

I didn't write this.

You're the one who's been threatening me with it.

On top of that, I've just learned that one of their reporters

has been living under your roof.

Oh, by the way, if Burkett Faber's board of directors

decides to cancel its commitment to the research wing,

there'll be nobody to blame but you.

Yeah, I don't know, Dad.

She promised she'd hold off, but maybe she decided she couldn't.

Listen to my cell phone drain.

Yeah, if I talk to her, I'll ask her.

Yeah, see ya.

Steve Sloan.

Hi, it's me, Ellen.

Yes?

Did you hear me? I said it's Ellen.

Yeah, I heard you.

I just don't know why you're calling me

since you already got your article out.

What?

Your article on Burkett Faber pharmaceuticals.

It's out?

Oh, like you had nothing to do with it.

Oh, man. You have a hard time trusting people.

Anybody ever tell you that?

Based on experience, I'd say it's word.

Oh, my God. You are such a -- Ugh!

Look, I'm not mad at you.

I understand why you did it.

I did not write a story about Burkett Faber.

You don't have to lie to me.

I don't know anything about it, okay?

But I do know something about something.

So, you know, I think you should get your butt out here now.

It's important.

Out where?

Well, Mr. Brilliant Detective, where'd you send me?

Not Sloan. Selena?

Yes.

Yes, of course. I'll be here.

What took you so long, Sherlock?

The Wednesday polling league.

Okay. I couldn't imagine why anyone would bother shooting at pay-whitty buttons.

I figured he had just had some kind of drug flashback.

I came to the same conclusion.

But this morning, when I stopped in to have breakfast

before my drive back to L.A., something weird happened.

A car backfired, and old Peyote took off like he'd been shot.

You were shot at?

Yes.

So I thought, what if he was out here the night of the murder,

and what if a car backfired or something?

Boy, that's a long shot.

Yeah, well, when you work for the scoop, every lead is a long shot.

Okay, so I came out here to see Peyote and found this.

Looks like a chunk of tire.

It might have been a blowout.

It could have come off the car that was transporting Faber's body.

I don't know. We're still quite a ways from where we found the body.

I'm not that far. I mean, come on. Think like a cop.

Yeah, well, I'm trying.

You know, this is, uh, potentially, uh, great.

And I guess that was potentially a compliment.

We still have to find a match for the car and tie the car to the killer.

Yeah, see, when you just write for a tabloid,

you don't have to go to all that trouble.

But, uh, when you find all that stuff, be sure and let me know.

Okay.

Nice work.

Ms. Sherlock.

You're sure this is the same man?

Before we left Carmenita,

I took my father to the clinic for his arthritis.

There were posters all over town saying they had a new cure.

His hands hurt him so all the time.

And this doctor, Spenfield, he was there.

If that's his name, all I know is that he was there.

He told my father that this medicine would help him with his hands

so that he could continue with his work,

picking fruit and vegetables, feed his family.

Celina, would you take a drive with me over to broquette favor of pharmaceuticals?

I'd like you to make a positive identify.

That won't be necessary.

We were so sure we'd found a cure for rheumatoid arthritis.

We never thought anyone would die.

You realize if I do this, I'm through.

No research company in America will ever hire me again.

Well, I'm not so sure.

Yes, you are.

Whenever you cut cut with Nicholas,

I don't see how I can be held responsible for that.

I sent you a copy of the findings.

Really?

I wonder why I don't have a single negative report about toximephalin in my files.

I put it in the courier package.

It was addressed to you, personal, confidential.

You know what I think, Gregory?

I think you're covering your own butt.

You didn't say anything to me, personally, did you?

Not in person.

And we have only your word that you shared your belated concerns with Mr. Faber.

I don't know what you did in Mexico. I wasn't there.

Maybe it was criminal. Maybe it wasn't.

But I do know that Burkett Faber is going to bring a civil suit against you

for preaching confidentiality. Now, get the hell out of here!

That goes for you, too.

I don't work for you, Walter.

And I'm not sworn to secrecy, either.

I'll flail away, Dr. Quixote.

You hate us because Burkett Faber,

along with every other pharmaceutical company,

tests its new products in third-world countries.

Well, whose fault is that?

The companies make the decision as to where the tests are run.

People. People make me sick.

You're part of that same bunch.

You don't want us performing experiments on animals.

You won't allow us to experiment on criminals.

What would you have?

On top of that, we spend $1 billion coming up with a new drug.

FDA tells us, "Take a number. We'll get to you when we're good and ready."

Better safe than sorry.

Really? I'd say it's all a question of whose ox is being gored.

Just ask the people who are bitter about the slow pace of AIDS research.

When you're suffering, Dr. Sloan, you want something you can take now,

even if it's only a placebo.

You can talk to your blue in the face.

You can't justify what you did down there.

What if we made an honest mistake?

I'm not saying we did.

What if... handful of wetbacks paid the price?

That's true, Walter. The backs are wet. From sweat.

Those people do the hardest, dirtiest kind of stoop work,

trying to give their kids a chance.

Who are you to sit in this fancy office and judge them?

I am Walter Burkett. I am the founder, CEO,

and principal shareholder in Burkett Faber Pharmaceuticals.

Who the hell are you to come lecturing me?

I come in here as a doctor, and like every other doctor,

I swore to lead us to a code, the first order of which is do no harm.

Do no harm. There's not too much I ask of you.

Spare me the sermon.

The important thing is that we have taken a giant step toward curing

a crippling debilitating disease.

Compare that to the fact that a few less heads of lettuce got picked last week.

You make the call. Was it worth it?

Your intentions do not justify evil means.

You were supposed to be a scientist, Dr. Sloan.

I expected more than liberal pablum from you.

No, you didn't. You expected less,

but you're gonna get more, a lot more.

I'm gonna throw everything I can at you, Walter.

My files are all gone.

Nothing left.

No way to prove anything.

I know it doesn't look like it at the moment,

but you did the right thing.

You know, that Walter briquette's right.

The bottom line justifies everything these days.

Never thought I'd hear that coming from you.

Mark, just because I know what's going on out there in the world

doesn't mean I have to like it.

Corporations killing people for money, nobody's held accountable,

and even if there is a class action suit,

it takes years for it to wind its way through the system,

and by the time the jury awards a judgment,

if they award a judgment,

half the time they can't find the people who deserve the compensation.

Well, I'm not giving up. I don't care what they are.

I'm not giving up.

Craig!

I wasn't feeling it very well, so I thought I should...

I hope this is what I think it is.

I want him out of here. I'm putting him in private care.

You move him, now you'll kill him. You can see that.

We'll give him even the best there is.

Get out of here. I don't want to see you.

Don't you get that. Just get out!

Don't you talk to me like that. I'm your father!

You have to leave, Walter.

I don't have a father. Just leave me alone.

Walter.

All right. I'm leaving.

You'll be sorry for this, Craig.

One of these days, I'm leaving.

You'll be sorry for this, Craig. One of these days, you're going to need my help.

Don't come looking for it.

Mr. Brickette.

I have nothing to say to any of your people.

I'm not going to pretend to approve of what you've done.

What do I care about your approval?

Craig is sick. And he's scared and he's lashing out.

You're an easy target.

And that makes this all right, huh?

No. I'm just saying that right now he needs to know that you love him.

Well, I guess maybe we don't always get what we need in this life, huh?

I'll stay with him tonight.

If anything changes, I'll call you.

Thank you, Alex.

I was hoping a piece of tire we found would tie in with Walter Brickette.

And?

It didn't.

How's his son Craig doing?

Well, he's not responding as well as I would like.

We're giving him exactly the same thing we're giving everybody else, but there's no effect.

You know, Brickette came by and tried to have him moved.

Does you really think we gave Craig the acanthamimba some sort of retaliation?

Those would have been like that, thanks.

I'll get it. I'm going to get home to the boys.

See you later.

Bye.

Hi.

Hi.

I thought I should tell you that another big story is breaking tomorrow, and I did write this one.

So, I thought it was only fair to give you some warning.

What is it?

There's a new, richest woman in America. Interesting, but...

Nicholas Faber left her everything in his will.

And you talked to her?

She doesn't have a phone, but, um, if you drive out there tonight,

you can probably catch her first thing in the morning before the rest of the world press gets there.

Thanks. You, uh, want to go with me?

I've already talked to her.

Don't suppose I can see your notes?

No.

I didn't think so.

Thanks for the advance warning. You'll, uh, be here when I get back.

Barbecue pops?

No, I mean...

Los Angeles?

No. Yeah, well, yeah, I mean, forget it. I don't know what I mean.

I'll, uh, I'll call you.

I think I'll go with you.

I'm too flustered to drive.

Who was it with his name?

Jacqueline.

Jacqueline.

Do I look like a Jacqueline to you?

I think my mother had big plans for me.

Just call me Jackie, and he is Murphy.

How did Mr. Faber come to Willa's fortune to you?

Were the two of you ever married?

We came real close a number of times, but, uh, we kept sobering up just in time.

Back then, getting married wasn't such a big deal.

We're talking almost 30 years ago,

when Brickette Faber was barely a twinkle in Nick's eye.

He and Walter just about went crazy.

Trying one thing after another, nothing ever worked.

I can't say I really cared, though.

All I ever really cared about was Nick.

Why did you, uh, break up?

Finally, it was, uh, it was the other woman.

Brickette Faber.

When she started becoming successful, she just took up all his time.

And I don't suppose you'd guess it to look at me,

but I am actually a very jealous person.

You know, you must have had some effect on him,

because, uh, in later years, he showed up at work, less and less.

It's good for him. A little late for me.

Sometimes I wish I could just turn back the clock

to the days when Nick and I ride out there on his motorcycle

through that gorgeous desert.

Not a dime in our pockets, howling at the moon.

I even missed that little rented cabin we had,

even though we had Walter bunking in with us most of the time.

Later I read that, uh, when the money started rolling in,

the boys bought the cabin.

Then in this article, they said that every year,

they'd go up there on the anniversary

of the founding of Brickette Faber.

What for?

Apparently, they wanted to review the past year

and plan for the new one.

I think partly it was superstition.

Keep it around like a good luck piece.

And I think, too, they liked to remember how far they'd come.

Maybe that's not the only thing Mr. Faber wanted to remember.

That was a lovely thing to say. Thank you.

You know, the company just had its 25th anniversary.

I know. On the 17th.

Every year I thought, "I'll just show up."

And every year I chickened out.

Someone once said that it's not the things that we do we must regret.

It's the things we don't do.

And I think he had me in mind.

Know what you mean?

Where is this cabin of theirs?

It's just a few miles due north. I can draw you mad.

Oh, that'd be great. Thank you.

You know, if you don't mind me asking,

how does it feel to suddenly be so rich?

Very uncomfortable.

Really, it's like--it's almost like waking up in somebody else's clothes.

But, uh, fortunately, the world's full of very good causes

and wonderful people, so I don't think I'll have to worry

about the money for very long.

Let me get you that, Matt.

You know, Jacqueline, there's any consolation.

I don't think Nicholas Faber ever got over you.

We traveled the world looking for excitement, it seemed,

but there never was another woman in his life.

Good. Serves him right.

Imagine picking $500 million over me.

Go figure.

Well, this is where it all started.

Feels like it should be a little museum.

Yeah, at least have a plaque up that says

this is where a billion-dollar company was created.

It's also the place where a motorcycle disappeared into thin air.

We know that Faber rode that motorcycle all the way out here,

but then what happened to it?

And what exactly happened to Faber?

What do you mean?

Well, we know Faber came all the way out here

to have a knockdown drag out with Burkett.

So how does he let himself get poisoned?

Well, you forget a couple of things.

There are old-time friends of those two,

and no matter how upset Faber was,

I'm sure he'd get Burkett the benefit of the doubt.

I suppose. So what's the other thing?

Well, it was their anniversary.

Do you think Faber would have turned down to celebrate rowing toast?

One second, you're toasting another successful year at Burkett Faber,

and the next second, you realize your oldest friend just murdered you.

Yeah, awful way to die.

Poison? Oh, yeah, the worst.

Well, I was thinking more about betrayal.

Well, that too.

And we still have left the disposal of Faber's motorcycle.

No.

Not the disposal, just the transport.

You know where it is?

I might. You know, I may have seen it

before I even realized I was looking for it.

Where?

Exactly where Edgar Allan Poe said I'd things.

In plain sight.

You were right. It was here all the time.

I passed here a couple of times without ever realizing this was Faber's bike.

The question remains, how did they get here?

Oh, no.

In case you're wondering if Nicholas Faber

kept an extra set of keys at the office, the answer's no.

I just smooched his secretary. There's nothing left to discover.

You sent us out of town so you could get to Burkett Faber first.

Oh, please. I could have come here without saying anything to you at all,

and you wouldn't even be here now.

He's right.

No keys at his house. No keys at his office.

I think the set of keys you found in Faber's pocket was the only set he had.

Then how'd the motorcycle get back here?

You said that's super verbal you found

looked like it came from a small truck or an SUV.

And Burkett doesn't own either one.

Well, I can't picture a hot-wiring one,

but I can see him renting something big enough to hold a body and a motorcycle.

Exactly. And there's a bucksaver rental agency around the corner.

We'll take one car. It'll be faster.

The thing is, you'd have to have a pretty big SUV to hold something like that.

I guess you could take the wheels off.

Yeah, you'd probably...

I suppose you'd like to go.

Sorry, Dad.

Wow. Mr. Adams?

Seems like you're feeling a lot better today, huh?

Well, thanks to you.

Hey. We're gonna be able to release Mr. Adams this afternoon.

Craig isn't responding to the medication.

Oh, my gosh.

I'm gonna order a whole new battery of tests. You stay with him, okay?

Yeah.

You know, suddenly she's gonna give her credit.

It was her hunch that run us here.

Burkett did rent an SUV for these people.

Brand new one. No mileage on it.

And luckily for us, nobody's rented it since.

Yeah, I know, but the clerk said there was no problem with the tires.

Just too easy, Dad. It's not gonna be the smoking gun.

Look at this.

Left front tire.

New, just like the rest of 'em.

New, same brand. Different tread.

You know some issues, right?

I hate to burst your bubble, but this one tire's not exactly gonna convince a jury that Burkett's a killer.

When he was a kid, did he always complain about his birthday presents?

No, no, he was very pleasant with him.

We never thought he was gonna learn to walk, though.

I am really slow.

It's a kind of finicky eater.

Can we just get back to the investigation, please?

Always had to have all of his food separated. Nothing could touch.

Dad, finally had to get him one of those army trays that are always separated.

Look at this. The odometer.

Uh-huh. It's only about 75 miles from the desert.

Yeah, this says 903.

Proving?

Proving that he probably did drive to San Francisco to throw us off the tracks.

And a darn good job he did, too.

Are you being sarcastic?

You get a flashlight on you?

You find something?

Yeah, this little oil stain here.

Makes you wonder how it got inside the car, doesn't it?

Sure does.

Okay, I'll bite.

Well, he rented an SUV because he knew all along he was gonna have to bring Faber's motorcycle back to town.

Yeah, but why go to all that trouble?

Why not just dump the bike where he does Faber?

Well, you knew that sooner or later a body would disappear on the desert.

But an expensive motorcycle, that's another problem.

Somebody trips over it, starts looking around and begins to ask questions.

That makes sense.

The problem is, how do we match that oil stain to the oil on that motorcycle?

All new oil is identical.

But once it's been circulated through the engine a few times, it takes some very distinctive characteristics.

I, um... I did a story on the Hell's Angels once.

Well, in that case, even the great Walter Brackett's gonna have trouble explaining how that oil stain got in there in San Francisco.

Yes, I'll go tell the agent we're going to have to impound the vehicle.

Oh, I can't wait to see the look on his face.

She's really something.

Yeah, she deserves better.

What, you mean her job on the scoop? I'd say so.

No. Well, yeah, that too. It's just... I don't know. She's just...

I'd better get back to her or get Faber. Do you mind waiting for the impound guys?

No, I don't mind.

Where's he going?

Uh, when a few errands pick up Walter and a few, uh, personal things that my father's intuition is right.

You know, as a kid, he hates salt on his strawberries, isn't it, hon?

Uh, this odd way of talking, saying a bunch of words that don't really mean anything, does that run in the family?

Yeah, I'm afraid it does.

I like him.

I told you Mr. Burkett wasn't in.

Where is he?

I couldn't say. All I know is he received a phone call and then he immediately left the office.

He didn't give any indication where he was going?

No. He did say an odd thing on his way out, though. He said, "Hold all my calls."

What's so odd?

Hold all my calls for the next 20 years. I guess it was a joke, but frankly, I don't get it.

Ah, Senor Burkett, welcome back to Costa Rica. It's been too long.

Well, that's much too long.

What will you have? Your regular?

Yes. And from now on, as regularly as possible.

Mark. Craig Burkett's immune system is totally overwhelmed with the cecanthomiba.

He's allergic to all the antibiotics. Just don't think he's going to make it.

All right.

Just go on and buy it.

Always take it back.

Okay.

All right.

The other hand wants to rush. Don't rush me.

Hey.

Hi.

I did a good thing here. You should be proud.

Thanks. It's just, uh, it's not easy feeling proud when four people have died and the man responsible has fled the country.

Well, think of the lives you did save.

You know, it seems like the more cures we find, the stronger these diseases become, and I'll tell you,

sometimes it doesn't seem worth it, you know?

Of course it is. You know that.

You're just tired, way tired. I get that way myself.

So did you get a story out of this?

Not yet. You know, it's scooped on the quarantine.

Burkett fled the country.

Stories keep slipping through my fingers, but something will turn up. I know it will.

Hey, it's Mr. Adams, the first victim's father.

Selena, I've thought a lot about this.

I believe my daughter committed suicide.

Laura had gone through the motions before. I didn't take it very seriously.

I just wrote it off to adolescent melodrama.

I'm sorry about your brother.

I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better.

And I'm sorry he's gone.

There's a story in that.

Too invasive.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Where are you folks heading?

The others are going to Selena's for the letters.

I'm taking my brother and my father back to Carmenita.

Selena!

I have to go.

But I'll be back for the class action suit. Better.

I have to go. But I'll be back for the class action suit. Better.

Sorry I didn't mean to wake you.

You didn't, Dr. Sloan. Occasionally I shut my eyes just so I can see something besides these walls.

What do you see when you close your eyes?

Just now it was a baseball game.

Any particular game?

Game four of the '96 series.

My beloved Yankees down two games to one to the Atlanta Braves.

Down by six runs and fifth inning.

And they wind up winning eight to six.

What a great game.

Not if you were brave, Sam.

Oh, lucky I wasn't.

Yeah, me neither.

I'm going to die, aren't I?

I'm doing everything I can.

But it's not working.

No, it isn't.

Well, here's hoping I was all wet about reincarnation.

Selena sends her love.

I'm going to miss her.

I mean, I guess I'm going to miss a lot of people.

It goes both ways.

I heard the news about my father.

You know, I can't believe he actually did it.

As far as I know, Nick Faber was his only friend.

How can you kill your one and only friend?

You found him as a desperate man.

I know it sounds crazy, but I feel sorry for him.

On the other hand, what's armor lucky?

Getting a little comparison shopping.

Just because you're going to the store doesn't mean you're going to buy.

All right.

Okay.

Oh, good.

You can take me to the airport. I was going to call a cab.

Were you taking a trip?

Come on, I don't want to miss by plane.

Where are you going?

Dad, you hate flying.

You sure you won't join me?

No, thank you.

I'd say to be thirsty after your long flight.

No, I'm fine.

Good.

That makes two of us.

All right.

What made you think to look for me in Costa Rica?

Well, I knew about your fondness for popular crimes.

That doesn't cut it down that much.

And I also have a reporter friend who has contact in airline business.

That would help.

And I knew that Costa Rica has no expedition treaty.

I'm beginning to understand why the police call upon you from time to time.

Why are you here?

Walter, I thought you should know that your son is dying.

You could have phoned.

I didn't think you'd believe me.

What makes you think I'd believe you now?

I brought Craig's medical records with me.

Turns out he was allergic to the antibiotics.

In case of the cure of being worse than the disease.

So I'm supposed to come home, say goodbye to a sudden,

and everyone wants to see me again.

Oh, by the way, while I'm there, you can have me arrested.

You know, I lost my daughter recently.

At the time, you think your life's over.

Things will never be the same again.

But life does start up again.

You think things are going to be like they were, but then they're not.

You discover you're doing things differently than you used to.

It's as if you realize that if you get to live and your child has to die,

you better make your life stand for something.

I know it's a hard decision, but if your son--

That's it?

That's the end of the sermon?

I just wanted to give you the information moment.

I know what you do about it. It's up to you.

Hi.

Hi.

I, uh...

I just wanted to say goodbye.

Goodbye.

I got a job.

You did?

Yeah.

That's great.

Where?

The Chicago Outlook.

Well, that's definitely a step up.

You know, I just thought we, uh...

You know, that this is it.

This is my big break, my dream.

And if I don't take it now, I probably never will.

And I'll wake up one day and I'll be 80 years old

and I'll wonder what I do with my life.

And I probably won't like the answer, so...

I understand, but it's just Chicago.

It's, uh... quite a ways away.

Cold, too.

But a real job?

Right. That's what you always wanted.

I guess you got to grab it.

Yeah.

It's like this really is goodbye.

I, uh...

I really enjoyed it.

I, uh...

I really enjoyed working with you.

Me, too.

And, uh, everything else.

So...

So...

I guess there's nothing else to say.

Except I love you.

And I was hoping you'd, uh...

consider marrying me.

But I wouldn't want to do anything to stand in the way of your career.

What'd you say?

I wouldn't want to do anything to, uh...

stand in the way of your career.

Before that?

Nothing.

Yeah. I think there was something.

I don't think so. I don't remember anything.

You said I love you.

Oh, I don't think so. I think I'd remember if I said that.

And I was hoping you'd consider marrying me.

You were?

No. You were.

Yes.

Yes, I was.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Did you ask her to marry you?

I didn't know what else to do.

I'd already bought the ring.

I am never leaving town again.

You think I did the right thing?

I don't see that you had any other choice.

Because I'd already bought the ring.

Exactly.

Of course you could have taken the ring back.

No way.

We're just having an accident.

Hey!

Congratulations.

Dad told us the good news.

Oh, you see our rumors, friend.

That is no rumor. That is carved in stone.

Well, we're happy for you guys.

We came by to give you some more good news.

The board of directors at Brickette Faber Pharmaceuticals

is going to settle the class action suit out of court.

For more than $10,000 a header.

Oh, way more.

Is that who I think it is?

Do you mind if I do that?