I, Spy

britishbecca

Project QL Intern
Nov 21, 2005
28
0
0
44
London
TEASER

SAM LEAPS​
Sam finds himself in the body of a pilot at the controls of a small aircraft.
The aircraft is spinning wildly out of control.
And a mountain is looming.
Beside him is a woman dressed like Lara Croft, her name is Baby Logrine.

SAM: Oh boy.



BABY: That's a real helpful thing to say. Got any other pearls of wisdom 'cos I have... PULL UP!!


Sam glances over at Baby, then back at the mountain then he yanks at the controls. Which makes not a jot of difference.


BABY: Pull up. Come on, pull up. Please, pull up. Pull up for Baby.



SAM: I... I can't.



BABY: We're gonna crash.



SAM: We're gonna crash.



BABY: Oh boy.


The ground is really big now, Sam looks over at Baby.


SAM: I'm sorry.



BABY: It's okay.


And the plane CRASHES.


END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

EXT - Utah - crash site
Sam wakes up with a start then regrets it. He's laying flat out on the sand, under the plane's wing. There's a magnificent bruise over his right eye and temple. His shirt is torn and a part of it has been used as a sling for his left arm.

There doesn't seem to be anybody around so Sam rolls painfully on to his front, crawls out from under the wing and clambers to his feet.

The plane, and him, is in the middle of a rocky desert with no settlements in site. The plane is mangled after its crash into the side of a crevice.


SAM: Uh-oh.


He looks about him for the woman who was with him and doesn't see her.


SAM: Err... hello? Miss?


He suddenly has a horrible, cold feeling and crawls up to the wreckage of the 'plane.

Here he catches sight of the reflection of Terence 'Tom' Sawyer in a polished metal panel or a mirror or something in the cockpit.

Then he remembers Baby again.


SAM: Hello?



BABY (OC): Hi.


Sam jumps and looks around to see nobody's around.


SAM: What?



BABY (OC): Look up.


Sam looks up. Baby is climbing down the side of the cliff.


SAM: What are you doing up there?



BABY: I'm coming back down.


Baby climbs down the side of the cliff-face like a mountain goat.
She lands at the bottom with Sam and it's clear that she too is hurt. She's got glass cuts on her face and she's limping.​


BABY: Were you looking for me in the 'plane?



SAM: Err... well, I couldn't... I didn't...



BABY: Who do you think dragged you out of the wreckage and tied up your arm? Angels?



SAM: You never know.



BABY: I guess that's true. How are you feeling?


Sam shrugs his good shoulder.


BABY: You're very eloquent.



SAM: Are you... are you alright?



BABY: Me? Oh, yeah. Cuts and bruises. Nothing more.



SAM: You're limping.



BABY: And you've dislocated your elbow so let's not play the 'whose hurt worse' game, okay?



SAM: Okay. What happened?



BABY: You crashed the 'plane.



SAM: I'm a pilot?



BABY: Allegedly.



SAM: And I crashed the 'plane?



BABY: It was probably sabotage.



SAM: (sarcastic) That makes me feel much better.



BABY: It should. I suppose we should introduce ourselves to each other.



SAM: We don't know one another?



BABY: Not really. My name's Baby Logrine. You may call me Baby, you may not make fun of my name. You are Terence Sawyer. Correct me if I'm wrong but people call you 'Tom'. Real original.



SAM: Like Baby?



BABY: What did I just say about making fun of my name?



SAM: Alright. Sorry.



BABY: I deserved that one a little. But no more. I'm very sensitive.



SAM: Okay. Have we... Have we met?



BABY: No. Not before I got in that 'plane with you in Ecuador. Are you alright?



SAM: Yeah. I'm just a little shaken, I guess.



BABY: Concussion takes some people that way, I wouldn't worry about it.


Baby reaches into the 'plane.


BABY: Look, I know it's bad form to look up another agent's details. Really bad form. But we all do it. It's common sense. So let's just pretend that we don't know anything about each other and start from scratch, alright?



SAM: Fine with me.


Baby comes back up with a bag and a water canteen and slings the bag and the canteen over her shoulder.
Then she starts out along the bottom of the cliff -face.
Sam follows.​


SAM: Where are we?



BABY: Utah.



SAM: Utah?



BABY: Otherwise known as the middle of nowhere.



SAM: Great.



BABY: It's not so bad. I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Not far from here, actually.



SAM: (hopefully) Really?



BABY: If you call a hundred miles or so not far.



SAM: I don't.



BABY: Don't worry. There's a nice shady outcrop a few minutes from here. We'll hole up there and get going tonight. Never fear, Tom. Things are gonna be just fine.



EXT - Desert - outcrop
The outcrop is a large slab of rock propped up on another larger rock. Not very big but it's shade.
Baby throws the bag and canteen under the rock and crawls in after it. She looks beat but Sam looks even worse when he joins Baby in the shade.​


SAM: Thatwas a few minutes?



BABY: Yeah. Few minutes.



SAM: It felt like about ten years.



BABY: Yeah. Ten years.


Baby takes a drink of water and hands the canteen to Sam, who also takes a drink, finishing the last drops.


SAM: That's the last of the water, isn't it?



BABY: Yeah. But there's a spring in the cliff a couple of hundred yards up.



SAM: You know the area pretty specifically considering you grew up a hundred miles away.



BABY: What do you think that little climb earlier was for? Fun? Basic survival training. Lay of the land. Shade. Water. You know the drill.



SAM: Right. Well, one of us is going to have to go out and get more water because we need it.



BABY: Oh... it's so hot for going out.



SAM: I'll go.


Baby snatches the canteen away from him.


BABY: No, no. I'll go.



SAM: Let me. You're the one with the injured ankle. At least I got two good legs.



BABY: It's just a sprain.



SAM: Uh-huh.


He holds out his hand for the canteen.
Baby hands it over.
Sam leaves.​


EXT - desert - spring
Sam staggers over the sand, staying as close as he can to the cliff for the meagre shade it offers.


SAM: Al... Where are you, Al?


Al appears.


AL: Hi, Sam. How are you feeling?



SAM: Awful.



AL: You look awful.



SAM: Thanks. What's going on?



AL: Your name is Terence Sawyer but everyone calls you...



SAM: (interrupts) Tom. Yeah, I know. And I'm a government agent of some kind?



AL: CIA.


They reach the spring and Sam takes a drink, then fills up the canteen.


SAM: I crashed a plane, Al.



AL: Yeah, I know.



SAM: I couldn't do anything. I mean, I leaped in and... I didn't even have my bearings yet... and I tried to pull up... but...



AL: I know, Sam.



SAM: So, I'm here to make sure me and Baby get out of the desert alive?



AL: Baby. I mean, that's a great name.



SAM: Al!



AL: Okay, okay. In the original history Tom was the agent assigned to pick Baby up from a job in Ecuador. The agent she'd been working with had been killed and he had a list of CIA agents' real identities and addresses. Baby was returning to the Agency with the list.


Sam starts walking back to the shade.


SAM: Quicker, Al, I'm dying here.



AL: The plane did crash in the Utah desert. Both agents were found dead but the list was missing. The agency changed as many identities as they could as quickly as they could but three agents from the list and their families died, Sam. The CIA concluded that one of the agents was a double agent and whoever they gave the list to double crossed them.



SAM: A double agent? Me or Baby?



AL: Well, not you. Tom. Tom or Baby. Baby, baby.



SAM: Al!



AL: Sorry.



SAM: I can't believe either of us is a double agent.



AL: The CIA couldn't either. You should see their records, Sam. But that was the conclusion. One of them had to be a double agent.



SAM: What does Ziggy say?



AL: Ziggy says that there's a 92.4% probability that you're here to either destroy that list or get it back to DC safely and save those agents and their families. If I were you I'd destroy it as soon as I got my hands on it. Safest way.



SAM: What about me and Baby? What'll happen to us if I destroy it?



AL: I don't know, Sam, Ziggy's still working on it.


Sam reaches the outcrop again and crawls under it.
Baby snatches the canteen away from him.​


BABY: What took you so long?



SAM: Sorry, Baby.



AL: Oh, Baby.



SAM: (to Al) Go away.



AL: Aw, Sam.



BABY: Look, I know you've been hit on the head and you've been out in the sun but could you try not to lose your mind?



SAM: Sure.



AL: Okay, Sam, I'm going. But remember, history says that one of you is a double agent about to sell a CIA list to somebody who's going to kill you both. Watch your back.



SAM: Al. I can barely even walk.



BABY: You and me both, Tom.



AL: Baby, Baby.



SAM: Al!


Al gives in, opens the door and disappears.


BABY: Tom?



SAM: Yes?



BABY: I know I said you couldn't make fun of my name. But you don't have to call me Al. You can still call me Baby.



SAM: Okay.



BABY: No problem. Now, shut up, and let's try and sleep a little.



END OF ACT ONE
 
ACT TWO



EXT - desert - outcrop - sunset
Sam wakes up, sleepily rolls on to his injured arm, winces and rolls back.
He looks about for Baby.
She's sitting cross-legged just outside the outcrop.
Sam crawls over to her.​


SAM: Baby?


Baby hands him the canteen which she'd been holding.


SAM: Thanks.


Sam follows Baby's gaze to a glorious sunset.


BABY: One thing I always liked about growing up in the desert. The sun puts on a hell of a show at the horizon.



SAM: Yeah.


Baby looks distant and brooding.


SAM: Are you alright, Baby?



BABY: Just thinking.



SAM: Wanna talk about it?

BABY: Not really.

Sam waits.


BABY: I knew Greg for six years. Got on well with his wife and his son. Some lame assignment in Ecuador and he gets himself killed.



SAM: I'm sorry.



BABY: He was laying there and all I could think about was 'how am I gonna tell Chris?'. But I had to go through his pockets. Like a thief on a battlefield. I kept telling myself it's not him anymore, not Greg, it's just a body and you have to get it. I had to get it.



SAM: It's okay, Baby. Greg would have understood that you had to protect the list.


Baby turns to Sam with a frown that tells him he said something wrong.


BABY: Yeah. I mean, we've all got stories like that. Right, Tom?


She's staring at him like she's trying to catch him out and Sam's very aware that he could be easily caught out since he knows nothing about Tom and doesn't know how much Baby knows. He settles for...


SAM: Uh-huh.


Baby watches him for a long, silent moment then she stands up.


BABY: We should get moving.



SAM: Yeah.


Sam crawls out of the outcrop and gets to his feet.


BABY: How's your arm?



SAM: Fine. Your ankle?



BABY: Fine.



SAM: Are there any towns or houses or villages or anything around here?



BABY: It'll be another day or two, maybe three before we hit civilisation.



SAM: You don't seem certain.



BABY: That's because I'm not certain. Cheer up, Tom, it'll give us plenty of time to get to know each other.



SAM: You know all about me already.



BABY: Then, tell me something I don't know.


Again Sam gets the feeling Baby's trying to catch him out.
He tries his best charming smile. Baby nods at the smile, then heads off.​


EXT - desert - night
Baby and Sam are walking, not side by side. Sam is ahead of Baby and Baby's still limping.
Al appears beside Sam. He ignores Sam and turns to look at Baby.​


AL: Ah, Baby, Baby.



SAM: Al.



AL: I mean, what are the chances of a girl named Baby growing up to look like that?



SAM: Al!



AL: Sorry.



SAM: What's Ziggy say?



AL: He still doesn't know if you or Baby is the double agent.



SAM: It can't be her, Al.



AL: Listen, Sam, I'm as blinded as you. Probably more so. But...



SAM: (interrupts) Al, she frisked her dead friend to get the list back to safety.



AL: Maybe they're paying her well enough to do that.



SAM: No. It's not her.



AL: Then it's you.



SAM: I don't think it's me either. Why would I crash a 'plane with me in it? I mean, why would Tom? It makes no sense.



AL: Maybe the plane crash wasn't part of your plan.



SAM: What about Tom?



AL: What do you mean?



SAM: In the Waiting Room.



AL: Oh, right. He's not talking at all. His name and his badge number, that's it. But he's CIA so he's trained not to talk and he's good at it.



SAM: What do I do, Al?



AL: Stall.



SAM: Stall?



AL: We don't know who the traitor is. And you sure as hell can't let that list get out. So, stall.



SAM: We're in a desert, Al. If I stall, we die.



AL: If you don't stall, you both get killed by whoever is buying the list from whichever of you it is.



SAM: Are you telling me that He doesn't mind if we die?



AL: I'm telling you that Ziggy says that the reason you're here is to stop that list getting out. And CIA agents die to protect these kinds of things. Baby's partner did. And I think you know Baby would.


Sam nods.


AL: I'm gonna go back and hit Ziggy with a hammer and see if he comes up with an answer.



SAM: Okay, Al.



AL: Good luck, Sam.



SAM: Thanks.


Al disappears.
Baby picks up her pace a little.​


BABY: Talking to yourself again, Tom?



SAM: Yeah.



BABY: Well, whatever gets you through the night, big fella. You don't mind if we stop?



SAM: Not at all.


Baby sits down slowly, nursing her ankle.


SAM: Are you alright?



BABY: Oh, you know.



SAM: Let me take a look.


Sam crouches in front of Baby and gently examines her foot, while she bites down on the pain.


SAM: Jeez, Baby, you've torn a tendon in your ankle.



BABY: Yeah, I know.



SAM: You must be in agony.



BABY: Doesn't matter.



SAM: Of course it matters. You shouldn't be doing all this walking on it.



BABY: What choice do I have? This is an important mission, Tom. I can't just lay down on the sand and give up. Lives are at stake.



SAM: I know. But you should've said something to me.



BABY: Why? You've got your own problems.


Baby indicates the sling.


SAM: Where are we going, Baby?



BABY: Out of this desert, hopefully.



SAM: You don't know?



BABY: Look, Tom, I grew up a hundred miles away and I couldn't see any place of safety from that ridge so I'm going off of vague memories from when I was knee high to a road runner.



SAM: I see.



BABY: I'm going this way because I think there's a little village around here somewhere. Hyemarsh, or something.



SAM: Okay.



BABY: Which way do you think we should go, Tom?



SAM: Anyway you wanna go is okay with me. As long as we go slowly.



BABY: Tom, I'm fine and this is...



SAM: (interrupts) I know how important this is but preventing yourself from getting permanent ankle damage isn't going to make a difference. We're in the middle of the desert, what can happen to us?



BABY: You mean apart from starving to death or dying of thirst or being attacked by animals or falling down an arroyo or getting sunstroke or...?



SAM: (interrupts) Yes. Apart from those things. Which may very well happen to us whether we go slow or not.



BABY: Fine. We take it slow.



EXT - desert - night
Sam and Baby are still walking. Side by side this time, so Sam can keep an eye on Baby.


BABY: How you holding up, Tom?



SAM: I think it's me should be asking you that question.



BABY: I guess neither of us is going to answer it.



SAM: Guess not.



BABY: You know, when I was a kid I used to come hiking out here with my buddies. I always wanted to go further, climb higher. I loved the wide open spaces.



SAM: Yeah, I know what you mean. Where I grew up on the farm, I used to go out running and keep going until there was nothing but fields. You can't beat that feeling of solitude and freedom.



BABY: Farm? I thought you grew up in Chicago, Tom.



SAM: Oh... yeah, I did.



BABY: Lot of farms in your part of Chicago were there?



SAM: No... well... My grandparents lived in Indiana on a farm. And I used to stay out there a lot and I spent so much time there it felt like I was growing up there.


Baby continues to frown at him.


SAM: What?



BABY: Nothing. It's just that my research said your maternal grandparents live in Denmark and your paternal grandparents were part of the last gold rush. Which, as far as I know, didn't end up in Indiana.



SAM: Well... maybe your research isn't all that accurate.



BABY: My research was perfect.


Baby stares at Sam for a moment longer, then Sam is saved from trying further explanations when the ground under Baby trembles and she staggers.


SAM: What was that?



BABY: I dunno.



SAM: You don't know? You grew up around here!



BABY: Err... there's a rumour of old mines but nobody really believes it.


The ground trembles again, then it crumbles under Baby's feet. Sam instinctively reaches out and grabs Baby's wrist.
Baby's weight pulls him to the ground sharply and he lands on his broken arm with a yell.
Baby looks down to see that she's suspended over a chasm of old mine shafts, definitely a fatal fall.
Then she looks up to see Sam holding her, but forced to lay on his broken arm to keep hold of her, the pain showing in his face and his grip on Baby's wrist slowly slipping as he tries to shift off his broken arm.​


BABY: Oh boy.



END OF ACT TWO
 
ACT THREE



EXT - desert - night
As we left Sam and Baby at the end of act two.
Sam is holding on to Baby's wrist, who is suspended over a hole. Sam is laying on his broken arm and can't roll off it or he'll drop Baby.​


BABY: You could let me fall.



SAM: I could. But I'm not going to.


Baby reaches up with her other arm to grab Sam's wrist, grinning like Sam's just passed some kind of test.


BABY: Then, pull me up.


Somewhat awkwardly, with one very broken arm, and gritting his teeth against the pain Sam hauls Baby up to the edge, they crawl a little way from the hole and collapse.


BABY: I guess those rumours about mines were true.


Sam laughs weakly.


BABY: You alright?



SAM: Sort of.



BABY: Thank you, Tom.



SAM: Yeah, you're welcome.



BABY: You know? I think I've had just about enough of excitement and adventure.



SAM: Couldn't agree more.


Baby takes out the canteen and drinks.


BABY: Shame it's not over.



SAM: A real shame.


She hands the canteen to Sam.


BABY: Are you ready to go?



SAM: No.


But Sam gets up anyway.


BABY: Attaboy.



EXT - desert - night
Sam is stoking a fire. Baby limps over to him, carrying the bag and the canteen and sits beside him.


BABY: Good fire.



SAM: Thanks. What's for dinner?



BABY: Well, neither of us is in any condition to go hunting so...


She reaches into her pack and takes out two candy bars. Hands one to Sam and keeps one for herself.


BABY: Bon appetite.



SAM: Just like mother used to make.



BABY: Eat your candy bar, Tom, or you don't get any dessert.



SAM: What's for dessert?



AL (OC): I know what I'd like for dessert.


Sam flinches and looks around, sees Al behind him.


BABY: For dessert we have delicious water.



SAM: (to Al) Um... Did you find anything?



BABY: No. I didn't see any shelter.



AL: No, Sam. Sorry. Ziggy still says he can't tell which of you is the spy.



SAM: Maybe it's neither.



BABY: What?



SAM: Nothing.



AL: Then explain where the list went to and how three agents on it ended up dead, five if you count the two of you.


Sam shrugs, he can't.


AL: But, I have an idea. We have more detail about Baby's past now. Maybe if you can get her to talk, we'll see a discrepancy and we'll know she's lying.


Sam pulls a face.


AL: You got any other bright ideas?


Sam fidgets nervously and turns to Baby while Al sits down at the other side of the fire.


SAM: So, Baby, tell me about where you grew up?



BABY: As if you didn't already know.



SAM: I thought we were pretending we didn't know anything about each other.



BABY: Oh yes, I forgot. Okay, you want the FAQs?



SAM: Yeah.



BABY: I got the name Baby because I was born in a town so small I was the only baby born that year. My parents were umming and ahing about a name and while they did everyone simply called me Baby. I guess my folks got to like it.



AL: I love it.



BABY: I was home schooled in said small town until I was sixteen and decided I wanted to go to a high school with other kids. For some reason that seemed great at the time I elected to move to Las Vegas and go to school there.



AL: So far so good, Sam. And, get this, she went there alone.



SAM: Alone? At sixteen?



BABY: Yeah, alone at sixteen. I worked my way through in one of the casinos as a ...



AL: Please say 'showgirl'.



SAM: Al!



BABY: Huh?



SAM: Sorry, carry on.



BABY: I worked as a croupier. I looked older than my age and the casino I worked in didn't much care that I wasn't over 21. I finished high school with a few college courses already under my belt so I took some time out.



SAM: Doing what?



BABY: This and that. Travelling. You know.



AL: That's understating it. She circumnavigated the world by hitchhiking. She was probably the first person to ever do it.



BABY: I got home, went to college, graduated, joined the agency. Story to date.


Sam looks at Al.


AL: Hard to say, Sam. She's being kinda vague.



SAM: Why did you join the Agency, Baby?



BABY: Why does anybody?



SAM: Why did you?



BABY: I guess the official line is to serve my country, protect my nation's interests.



AL: (suspicious) Official line?



SAM: You don't want to protect the nation's interests?



BABY: Don't be stupid. Of course I do. Would I be here? All I'm saying is there are other ways to do that. Some of which involve offices and paperwork and staying at home.



SAM: And yet you're in a desert in Utah.



BABY: Yeah. I guess I like the rush.



SAM: The rush?



BABY: You know, when everything works out and the job is done and you get that rush. You know?



SAM: Yeah. I know the rush.



AL: 'Course in your case the rush is usually followed by a leap, Sam.



SAM: (to Al) So, what do you think?



AL: I dunno, Sam.



BABY: About what?



SAM: Um... Our chances of getting out of here.



BABY: We'll be alright. Hyemarsh isn't far.



AL: Her story seems to check out but I've got a niggling worry that I can't put my finger on.



SAM: Yeah?



BABY: Yeah.



AL: Yeah, Sam. Something doesn't fit.



BABY: What about you, Tom? What's your potted history?



SAM: Huh? Me? Um....



AL: I'm gonna go think about it, Sam. I'll be back.


Al opens up the door.


SAM: Al...



AL: Keep stalling.


Al disappears.


BABY: Alright, fine, you don't have to tell me a thing. We should get moving anyway.



SAM: Yeah, let's go.


They get to their feet.


BABY: And stop calling me 'Al'.



SAM: You got it.



EXT - desert - early dawn
The sky is starting to get light.
Baby stumbles on nothing and goes over, yelping with the pain.
Sam goes back to her.​


SAM: Are you okay, Baby?


Baby punches at the sand angrily.


SAM: Shall I take that as a 'no'?


Baby laughs and sits up.


BABY: It's getting light. We should find somewhere to shelter for the day.


Sam stands up and looks around him. He sees a boulder sticking up from the sand, it's the best he can do.
He puts out an arm to help Baby.​


SAM: Come on.



BABY: I can stand up by myself.


She tries to stand, stumbles again and tears of frustration and pain well in her eyes.
Sam doesn't take 'no' for an answer this time. He pulls her to her feet, helping her.​


EXT - desert - Sam's boulder
Sam has dug out a hole and made a makeshift tent out of things they had in Baby's bag, or his jacket or something. He's quite the boy scout.
Both are underneath it, sheltering from the sun.​


SAM: How are you, Baby?



BABY: I feel like Hell.



SAM: Me too. We're gonna be fine though, right?



BABY: Sure.



SAM: I'm glad you sound so certain.



BABY: I'm not certain. I haven't been certain since I found Greg's body and realised that I was going to have to come home alone with such an important item.



SAM: You're not alone. You've got me.



BABY: Yeah.


Baby shivers.


SAM: Still a little chilly, isn't it?



BABY: Funny how you only notice it when you stop moving.



SAM: Yeah.



BABY: Never mind. It's gonna be hotter than the devil's ass in a few hours.



SAM: Yeah, well, until then...


He reaches out his arm to Baby and pats his chest.


BABY: What?



SAM: We can... y'know... share our body heat.



BABY: (sarcastic) You're cute.



SAM: I'm freezing.


Baby smiles and shuffles closer to let Sam hold her.


BABY: Better?



SAM: Warmer.



BABY: I'm glad I could be of help, Tom.



EXT - desert - Sam's boulder - day
Baby and Sam are sleeping separately now 'cos it's too damn hot to cuddle. Baby sleeps with her head on her bag.
Al is leaning over Sam.​


AL: Sam! Wakey wakey, Sam!


Sam flinches but doesn't seem to wake up.


AL: Sam! Don't make me come in there and get you.


Sam wakes up reluctantly.


SAM: I'm sleeping, Al.



AL: Well, stop it.



SAM: Did you figure out your niggling worry?



AL: I did. She's lying to you, Sam.



SAM: What?



AL: There is a town called Hyemarsh round here but she's taking you the wrong way. And she didn't grow up a hundred miles from here. She grew up in Hyemarsh.



SAM: Maybe she's lost.



AL: She's not lost.



SAM: Al, she's got a torn tendon in her ankle. Every step is agony and she's still going. She's not a traitor.



AL: And as I mentioned earlier. Maybe they're paying her well.



SAM: It's not her.



AL: Then it's you.



SAM: If it's me then we're not making the rendezvous because I don't know where it is so that's the job done so...



AL: ... so, you should be leaping. Which means?



SAM: It's not her, Al.



AL: I want to agree with you, Sam. I do want to.



SAM: But, I'm not leaping.



AL: You gotta get that list.



SAM: Yeah. How?


Al shrugs.
Baby sighs in her sleep and rolls over. Sam and Al look over to see that she's rolled off her bag.​


AL: Her bag.


Sam's reluctant for a moment but then he leans towards her slowly and slips his good hand into her bag, rooting around for what might be the list.


AL: Careful.



SAM: I don't even know what I'm looking for.



AL: You'll know it when you feel it, Sam.



SAM: You sure?



AL: Sure I'm sure. But, be careful, you don't want to...


Baby wakes suddenly and twists over, grabbing and twisting Sam's wrist.


AL: ...wake her up.



BABY: You want two useless arms?



SAM: No


Sam, wisely, extracts his hand from the bag.


BABY: What are you doing?


Sam stammers wordlessly.


BABY: As if I didn't know. It is you. Do you think I didn't know there was someone after the list. There always is. Was it you killed Greg for it?



AL; This is not good.



SAM: No



BABY: One of your buddies, then?



AL: Can you get your arm out of that grip, Sam?



SAM: No.



BABY: What were you going to do to me? Kill me in my sleep once you had the list? Bury me in the sand? Or wouldn't you have even bothered with a burial?



SAM: It's not like that, Baby.



BABY: Sure. You just wanted a kleenex.


Sam tries his charming smile. Baby returns it and lets him go. She picks up her bag and ducks out of the tent.
Sam gets up to follow her.​


SAM: Baby, don't!



BABY: Stay away from me, Tom.



AL: You can't let her go, Sam.



SAM: It's broad daylight, Baby.



BABY: And I have the water.



AL: Uh-oh. She's got the water!



SAM: You'd leave me here without any water?


Baby hesitates.


BABY: You tried to steal the list. And I've got a pretty good idea where that list would have ended up. So, yeah, I'm gonna leave you here without any water.


Baby starts to walk away.
Sam follows.​


SAM: Baby, please.


Baby turns around and punches Sam very, very hard.
Sam hits the sand and Baby runs away.​


AL: Get up! Get up, Sam!


Sam, still reeling from the punch, staggers to his feet.


AL: After her.


But Sam's already on his way.


SAM: You're just full of useful advice, Al.



AL: What would you do without me?



EXT - desert - day
Sam is catching up to Baby. He's reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder when there's a holler from a nearby crevice.
Both of them freeze.​


BABY: I've heard that before.



SAM: What? Where?


The holler again, closer this time.
Baby turns to face Sam.​


BABY: In Ecuador.



SAM: We're in trouble, aren't we?


Baby nods.
A grenade is tossed in their direction and an explosion beside them kicks up sand over them and they throw themselves down.
As the sand clears, they find themselves surrounded by large, Cuban men with guns.

BABY: (to Sam) Oh boy?



SAM: Oh boy.



END OF ACT THREE
 
ACT FOUR

EXT - desert - Cuban camp
The large, Cuban men with guns are all over the place. Some on horseback.
Sam and Baby are tied back to back to a stake sunk in the sand in full sunlight and they're both starting to show signs of being out in the sun way too long.​


BABY: I feel like I'm in a bad western.



SAM: Does that make me John Wayne?



BABY: I don't think so. John Wayne would have shot a half a dozen of these guys by now.


Al appears.


AL: Hey, Sam! Great news, it wasn't...


Al sees what's going on.


AL: Oh. The double agent wasn't Baby.


Sam nods then turns to Baby as far as he can.


SAM: I'm sorry, Baby.



BABY: For what?



SAM: I thought it was you. I thought you were leading me wrong, so you could deliver the list.



BABY: Yeah, well, I thought it was you.



AL: It wasn't either of you. It was Baby's partner, Greg.


Sam shakes his head, if Baby finds out she'll be devastated.


BABY: I'm glad it wasn't you, Tom.



SAM: I'm glad it wasn't you, Baby.



AL: (fairly sincerely) That was a beautiful moment, Sam.


We get to meet Humphrey as he walks through Al. Humphrey is the big man boss of the large, Cuban men.


HUMPHREY: (not sincerely at all) How touching.


Sam and Baby look up at him. He's all flashy suits and big hats.


HUMPHREY: My, my, if it isn't two CIA agents baking in the sun.



AL: Oh no, Sam. This is Humphrey Jadin. He's a nasty piece of work. He does high profile assassin jobs for other nasty pieces of work with the aid of these fine gentlemen. Every law enforcement agency in the world is trying to nail this guy.



HUMPHREY: Would you like to know who it was? My mole in the CIA?



SAM: It doesn't matter now.



AL: Sam, you gotta get out of this and destroy that list.


Sam widens his eyes at Al 'how the Hell...?'.


AL: I know, I know. I'm thinking.



BABY: What are you talking about, Tom? Of course it matters.


Humphrey grins at Sam and moves around to crouch in front of Baby.


HUMPHREY: It was your partner, Agent Logrine.



BABY: You're a liar, Jadin.



HUMPHREY: You think so?



BABY: Greg?



HUMPHREY: Yes. It's regrettable we had to have him killed. Especially since we never did find the list on his body before you showed up. Baby.



SAM: Don't call her that.



AL: Stay cool, Sam. This guy'll kill you soon as look at you.


Humphrey stands up and paces between them.


HUMPHREY: It is her name, Agent Sawyer. We were forced to improvise after that. We sabotaged your 'plane and followed you to see where you'd crash. I was hoping you'd both die in the crash, actually.



BABY: Then, why aren't we dead yet?



HUMPHREY: It occurred to me to be cautious when I realised the list could look like almost anything.



SAM: Your mole didn't tell you what to look for?



HUMPHREY: He said it was a barrel. But that doesn't make any sense. There's nothing in your bag or in the canteen. So, which one of you has the list?



AL: Hey, Sam. If he has to search you, he'll have to untie you then you'll have a break.


Sam makes a face again, looking around at the men with guns and horses.


AL: Not much of one but it's better than nothing, isn't it?



HUMPHREY: I will ask again. Which one of you has the list?



AL: Don't answer him, Sam. Then he'll have to search you.


Sam pays attention to Al. Baby stays silent without Al's advice.


HUMPHREY: Which one has the list?!


When Sam and Baby don't reply again, Humphrey snaps and waves his men closer.
Then he kneels beside them and cuts their ropes.​


HUMPHREY: Get up very slowly and carefully, Agents. Or you will be shot.


And now they're free. Two of the guards come forward and pat their pockets, taking out a few personal items and throwing them on the sand.
Humphrey looks at them but doesn't see the list.​


HUMPHREY: Where is it?!


Neither Sam nor Baby reply.
Humphrey steps forward with the knife and holds the blade to Baby's throat.​


SAM: Baby!


Sam takes a step towards Baby, but a couple of guards grab him from behind.


AL: Sam, be careful.



HUMPHREY: Where is it, Agent Sawyer?



SAM: What?



HUMPHREY: If you tell me where it is, I won't kill her.


Sam looks stubborn for a moment. Humphrey presses the knife towards Baby who leans back as far as she can.


HUMPHREY: On your head be it, Agent Sawyer.


Sam sees the blade start to press into Baby's skin.
Before blood is drawn Sam cracks.​


SAM: I don't know where it is!



AL: Aw, Sam, no.


Humphrey pauses and looks over at Sam.


SAM: I swear. I don't know where it is or what it looks like.


Humphrey appears to believe Sam, perhaps because he's being truthful, so he turns back to Baby.


HUMPHREY: How about you? How about I peg him out in the sun and only give him water when you tell me what I want to know?!


Baby glances over at Sam but doesn't say anything to save him. He nods that it's okay. She nods in return.
As Baby nods Humphrey notices a chain around her neck.​


HUMPHREY: What have we here?


Humphrey pulls it from around her neck, breaking the chain. The chain slithers into the sand and Humphrey opens his hand to reveal a little tarnished silver barrel. Like the kind you put your dog's name and your phone number in.
Baby still doesn't say anything, but her expression should tell us that this is the list.​


HUMPHREY: A barrel.



AL: Sam! You can't let Jadin have it.


Sam, using the two men holding him as a crutch, swings both of his legs up and kicks Humphrey's hands. The little barrel goes flying up into the air and Sam and his two guards tumble to the ground.
Guns are aimed at Sam and Baby.​


HUMPHREY: Forget them! Find the list!



SAM: Al!



AL: It's over here, Sam.


Sam fights his way towards Al and drops to his hands and knees.
Meanwhile, in the excitement, Baby sneaks away to the fringes.
Sam finds the list and sits back on his haunches. As he sits back he sees Humphrey see that Sam has found the barrel.
Sam looks from Humphrey to the little barrel to Humphrey... what does he do?
So, he swallows it. Humphrey darts forward to try and stop him but too late.​


AL: That was brilliant, Sam! Very quick thinking.


Humphrey still keeps coming though and tackles Sam on to his back, the knife going straight to Sam's throat.
The rest of the guards are oblivious to the fact that Sam found the barrel and are still milling about looking for it.​


HUMPHREY: Do you think I won't cut you open to get it, Sawyer?



AL: Don't you dare, you big, no-good...


But before Al can even finish his threat Humphrey collapses off Sam.
Sam looks up to see Baby riding a horse and brandishing a shotgun, which she just used to hit Humphrey.​


BABY: Need a ride?


Sam jumps up to his feet and Baby pulls him up on to the horse and hands him the gun. As Baby gallops away, Sam turns to return fire when the guards fire at them.


BABY: You feel the rush, Tom?



SAM: I feel it.



INT - Hyemarsh - The Logrine household - spare room
This is Baby's childhood home.
Sam is asleep. He looks much better now. Cleaned, shaved, rested.
Al is leaning over him.​


AL: Sam. Sam! Wake up.



SAM: Go away, Al.



AL: Are you awake?



SAM: No. Go away.



AL: Sam. Haven't you noticed anything?



SAM: What do you mean?



AL: You haven't leaped.


Sam wakes up a bit more and sits up.


SAM: You think Jadin'll try to get the list again?



AL: No, no. I mean, he will. But he's figured that you two went back to DC with the list. Never dreaming you'd stick around here in Hyemarsh. He goes to Washington and immediately gets arrested because Baby has already radioed in to her office. Thanks to testimony from the two of you he never gets out.



SAM: Good. So, maybe I haven't leaped because He is going to let me get a little sleep. Unlike you.



AL: Interesting, but Ziggy has a different theory.



SAM: Tom and Baby?



AL: No, but don't you wish. Ziggy thinks we have to wait until you... you know... pass the list.



SAM: Pass the...? Oh, I see.



AL: Meanwhile, I guess you'll have to hang out here with Baby for a while.


Speaking of whom...
There's a knock at the door and Baby enters carrying a mug.​


BABY: We're not in the desert now so you can stop talking to yourself.



SAM: I was... talking in my sleep.



BABY: Whatever you say.


Baby sits on the bed beside Sam and hands him the mug.


SAM: Coffee.



BABY: No. Laxative.



SAM: Yum.



AL: Well, you'll be hanging out here for 4 to 6 hours anyway.



BABY: And one of these.


Baby leans over and kisses Sam.


SAM: What was that for?



BABY: I dunno. Seemed like the right thing to do.


Baby curls up into Sam's arms, her head on his shoulder, as Al talks.


AL: Ziggy says that Tom and Baby... oh, they don't get married, not to each other but never to anybody else either. And on her next assignment Baby requests that Tom accompany her and they never work with anyone else after that. They do some great things together for this country, Sam.



BABY'S MOM (OC): Baby! Do you and your friend want pancakes for breakfast?



BABY: Pancakes?



SAM: Sure.


Baby gets up and goes to the open door.


BABY: (shouting off) We'll be right down, Mom! (to Sam) Drink your laxative first. Then come down for breakfast.



SAM: I won't be long.


Baby leaves.


AL: Oh, Baby.


Sam throws Al a glare.


AL: Alright, alright, you don't need me. Enjoy your 4 to 6 hours, Sam. I know you won't take advantage of it like I would.


The door opens.


AL: Don't do anything I wouldn't do.



SAM: Is there anything you wouldn't do?



AL: Good point.


The door closes.


INT - Hyemarsh - the Logrine household - bathroom door
Baby is waiting anxiously outside the door (no noises from within, please, that'd be gross...)
The door opens and Sam comes out holding out the little barrel (which he has, thankfully, washed).​


SAM: Got it.



BABY: Mazel tov.



SAM LEAPS
 
Review

I enjoyed this story Becca
Have you written any others?

Have you thought of writing for the Virtual Seasons? *plugostity*

One tiny niggle, when you have

Sam, using the two men holding him as a crutch, swings both of his legs up and kicks Humphrey's hands. The little barrel goes flying up into the air and Sam and his two guards tumble to the ground.

you seem to overlook Sam's broken arm!
I'm not saying our hero couldn't still have done it, but oh boy should it have hurt! I just thought that needed to be acknowledged.

Aside from that, I thought it was well paced and an interesting story.
Well done.
 
Thank you, Leaper. No... first Quantum Leap story. I try not to write fan fiction too much. It's a guilty pleasure!

Yeah... the broken arm occurred to me too when I was writing it. But I decided to gloss over it 'cos like I always say... plot gets in the way of a good story.
 
There were horses... some of Humphrey's boys were on horseback and they were armed so somebody must've had a shotgun. Baby's Little Miss Indiana Jones so I'm sure she could've pulled it off.

Besides... plot gets in the way of a good story (see? I said I always say that).