(Opening scene Max is racing at night another biker on her motorcycle through the streets of Seattle. )

Max (voice over): I don't sleep much, but that's okay. Takes up an awful lot of time, and I can always find something productive to do.

(singing) I got grass, but don't make me use it, I'll make you lose it, about to do it shake my ... Down to the music I'm a smooth chick, I'm a cool chick I got grass, but don't make me use it I'll make you lose it, about to do it I'm a shake my ... Down to the music come on, baby, let's do the bump keep drinkin' up...

Max: Sometimes I think "what's wrong with all you people snoring your lives away?" The night is the best part of the whole day. So all that talk is a no, no, no

(Scene cuts to Max and the other biker racing neck and neck when a van pulls out in front of Max. The other biker pulls ahead. Max takes a shortcut through an alley.)

(singing) I'm a smooth chick, I'm a cool chick I got grass, but don't make me use it I'll make you lose it, about to do it shake my ... Down to the music I'm a smooth chick, I'm a cool chick I got grass, but don't make me use it I'll make you lose it, about to do it I'm a shake my ... Down to the music I'm a smooth chick, I'm a cool chick I got grass, but don't make me use it I'll make you lose it, about to do it shake my ... Down to the music I'm a smooth chick, I'm a cool chick...

(Scene cuts Max and the other biker nearly crash into each other. Max looses sight of the other motorcycle, and is stopped by the cops. Max pulls her bike to a stop in front of a check point.)

Cop: Can I see some I.D., please?

(Max takes out her I.D. and hands it to the cop as his partner walks around behind Max's bike.)

Cop: Step off the motorcycle please.

(Max lifts up her riding glasses.)

Max: What's the problem, officer?

(Max gets off her bike)

Cop: Did you know that your taillight's out?

Max: It's working fine.

(The other cop bashes in the taillight)

Max: Guess I'll have to get that looked at.

Cop: I'm going to have to impound this vehicle.

Max: What for?

(Cop#2 takes Max's bike and walks it away.)

Cop: It's a hazard to public safety.

Max: No way...!

(Max tries to go after her bike but is stopped by the cop.)

Max: Look, if this is about money.

Cop: Impound yard opens at 7:00 a.m.

Max: The buses have stopped running. How's a girl supposed to get home?

Cop: Somehow.

(The Cop hands Max her I.D. back.)

Max: (talking to herself) But then there are those nights that just plain suck.

(Max turns and starts walking away from the checkpoint.)

(Scene cuts to the elevator of Logan's apartment building. Logan is carrying two bags in his lap. Logan has is having trouble pushing the Penthouse button after sliding his security card through a reader. Logan uses a loaf of bread to push the button.)

(Scene cuts to Logans apartment. Bling is busy in the kitchen as Logan enters.)

Logan: Bling? I ought to rig this thing with an umbrella. Then I might look like something out of a Disney movie.

Bling: There's someone here to see you. I put her in the living room.

Logan: Her? As in?

Bling: Says she's your ex-wife.

(Logan hands Bling the grocery bags and moves into the living room. A redheaded woman is moving Logan's furniture around.)

Logan: Valerie? What are you doing?

Valerie: That table's got to go. It's, uh...Blocking the flow to your prosperity center and trapping your chi.

(Valerie is moving more of his furniture around)

Logan: My chi?

Valerie: Your energy field.

Logan: Hmm. Unlike most folks these days prosperity's one thing I'm not having trouble with.

Valerie: I heard what happened and I'M...I'm so sorry.

Logan: Me, too.

Valerie: I was thinking maybe some bagua mirrors would lower the in-force and let more positive frequencies into your experience.

Logan: It's going to take more than feng shui to, uh...Get me back on the dance floor, But thanks.

Valerie: A water element on that wall...an aquarium maybe.

Logan: You didn't come here to rearrange my furniture, val.

(Valerie picks up a stack of books.)

Valerie: Um. I um...I haven't had a drink in a year and a half.

Logan: That's great. So... You're on the program?

(Valerie places the books on a table.)

Valerie: In a big way. Um... My primary activity these days is...Apologizing to people.

Logan: And I'm on the short list.

Valerie: No, actually you're at the end of a very long list. I had to work my way up to you. 'Cause I know there isn't anyone in the world I hurt more.

(Scene cut to Max at the impound yard talking to the impound clerk.)

Max: It's not a nomad, a nemesis or a nirvana. It's a ninja. A ninja 650, black...Like my mood, thanks to you.

(Max enters a building and the impound clerk goes behind a counter.)

Impound Clerk: Uh, ninja...

Max: Ninja.

(The impound clerk puts on his glasses.)

Impound Clerk: Ninja, ninja, ninja...

(Max points at the book the impound clerk is looking at.)

Max: Ninja! Right there.

Impound Clerk: Oh, ninja 650. Black... Like your mood.

Max: How much?

Impound Clerk: Three thousand dollars.

Max: Right.

Impound Clerk: In cash.

Max: You're not serious?

(The impound clerk nods affirmatively.)

Max: That's ridiculous. It's robbery. It's wrong.

Impound Clerk: It's what you owe if you want your bike back. In twenties, preferably.

(Max turns and leaves.)

(Scene cuts to the locker area of Jam Pony. Max is slamming her locker.)

Original Cindy: Just what the cops do to pass time when they aren't beating on people.

Max: It's extortion.

(Max walks towards the lounge area. Herbal is standing on a couch.)

Herbal: That is pure wickedness. But it's also an opportunity to rise above the wheels of Babylon.

Max: Herbal... I'm not in the mood.

(Normal comes over and tosses Max a package.)

Normal: Hot run, 299 kensington. Ho!

(Original Cindy is reading a paper.)

Herbal: Let the injustice roll off you like water.

Max: I let normal screeching roll off me like water, I let cheating boyfriends roll off me like water, I let everything that is wrong and lousy in this world roll off me like water but this is my motorcycle.

Herbal: I hear you, sister, but you don't hear me.

Herbal: Now, John have a lesson for I and I, you know. Look upon I. Last night, my woman's friend come to stay with us. Winston. No, no, I know they were sweethearts from before. But you see how easy I take it? Even though she cook italla soup for him but never for I.

Original Cindy: Your shorty's just being a good host.

(Original Cindy hands Max the newspaper.)

Original Cindy: Check the classifieds out, boo. You could probably find a used ride for less than the po-po's jacking you for.

Max: I don't want a used ride. I want my motorcycle.

Original Cindy: It's just a machine.

Max: It's an extension of my soul if there is such a thing.

(Max starts looking at the classifieds and sees an ad with her barcode number 332960073452 in it.)

Herbal: Maxie, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I'm trying to get you to key into that.

Original Cindy: What's up?

(Normal comes over as Max is leaving.)

Normal: I don't want to interrupt your social life with my petty concerns so why don't we just close down the business and live off the charity of strangers, huh?

(Scene cuts to Original Cindy and Herbal walking out as Zack is coming in.)

Herbal: So you really think my woman just being a good host to this Winston?

Original Cindy: I'm glad it's rolling off you like water, Herbal.

(Zack stops Sketchy.)

Zack: Who would I talk to about working here?

Sketchy: Well, if you're smart, no one. But if you're desperate and male prostitution is out of the question talk to that fool.

(Zack walks over to the dispatch desk where Normal is writing something.)

Zack: (Clearing throat ) excuse me. I was wondering if you had any job openings?

Normal: Yeah, 'cause I'm not warehousing enough dead-beat, no good bums.

Zack: Okay. Would it be an imposition if I check back with you, sir? I'm not afraid of hard work and I'd be grateful for an opportunity to prove myself.

Normal: Did you just call me "sir"?

Zack: Yes, sir.

Normal: I like that. Here. Fill this out, get back to me in the morning.

(Normal hands over a crumpled application form to Zack.)

Zack: Thank you.

Normal: You're welcome.

(Zack takes the application and leaves.)

(Scene cuts to Logan's apartment. Logan sitting at a table in the living room and looking at the ad wit Max's barcode.)

Logan: A random series of numbers is significant how?

Max: Those numbers are me.

Logan: This is your barcode?

Max: Black and white for the whole world to see. It's like opening the paper and finding my panties.

Logan: Who else knows this number?

Max: Only someone from Manticore.

(Max walks over to a window.)

Logan: Lydecker.

Max: Or Brin. Or Johndie. 12 of us got away that night.

(Scene cuts to a flashback by Max on Manticore. A young Zack is giving hand signals to the other young X-5's gathered in a snowy clearing to move out in groups of two.)

(End flashback.)

(Scene cuts back to Max at the window of Logan's apartment.)

Logan: You could be walking right into a trap.

Max: I'll be careful. Promise. But you can't expect me to turn my back on this. They were brothers and sisters to me. When we escaped that night, Zack made us split up. I've been looking for them ever since.

(The phone rings.)

Logan (Answering machine): No one's around...

Logan: I know how much they mean to you, max but what if Lydecker...

Valerie (on answering machine): Hey, loogie...It's me. God, it was good seeing you. And just so you know you're the same beautiful man with the sly smile I fell in love with.

(Logan picks up the phone.)

Logan: (quickly answering the phone) Hey, Val. Hi, um... Yeah, I know I'm kind of in the middle of something right here. Yeah, call me back. Okay, bye.

(Logan hangs up the phone.)

Logan: So... Where were we?

Max: I don't know. Where were we?

Logan: Uh...My ex-wife.

Max: Oh?

Logan: What?

Max: Nothing.

Logan: So, anyway, about this bar code business you're out of your mind if you go anywhere near this.

Max: I never pictured you as the married type. You're more the lone warrior. You know, windmills, armor.

Logan: Would you mind if we didn't talk about this?

Max: Why you getting all embarrassed?

Logan: I'm not.

Max: Do I not have the proper security clearance to know about Mrs. Eyes only?

Logan: Valerie doesn't know about that stuff. Eyes Only came along well after we split.

Max: All I'm saying is it's no big deal... you were married. There's tons of stuff you don't know about me.

Logan: Including whether or not you plan on using common sense and staying away from Yesler and Viaduct tonight.

Max: Oh, loogie. What would be the fun in that?

Logan: I mean it, max. It's dangerous.

Max: Like that ever stopped you doing what you needed to do.

(Max turns and leaves.)

(Scene cuts to Max looking at her watch, waiting by a payphone in an alley. The phone rings and Max picks up.)

Vogelsang: Well, it's about time you showed up. I've been running that ad for about a week.

Max: Where are you?

Vogelsang: Turn around.

(Max turns around and see Vogelsang holding a cell phone.)

Vogelsang: Well, it would be nice if you used your pager every once in a while.

Max: Yeah, well, I figured you handed my pager number over to the people looking for me same way you gave up Hannah.

Vogelsang: Hey, no worries. I took precautions here. We weren't followed. I've got new clothes here in case the old ones are bugged. It's just you and me, all right? We're alone.

Max: What do you want?

Vogelsang: How about $15,000.

Max: Oh, damn, you know. I left my wallet in my other pants. In exchange for some information about some fugitives from a project Manticore. What's to stop you from taking my money and blowing me to Lydecker for the daily double?

Vogelsang: Yeah, right, somebody that keeps me in a cage for two weeks, does complicated painful things to my body. I kind of want to stay away from that person, okay? Far away as possible.

Max: How do I know what you got's real?

Vogelsang: I got your number, didn't I? And there's more where that came from, let me tell you.

Max: Yeah, like what?

Vogelsang: What if I were to tell you that a pal of yours from this Manticore is right here in Seattle?

Max: Who?

Vogelsang: Fifteen grand. Here. Be at this address, 3:30. Day after tomorrow.

(Vogelsang hands Max a piece of paper.)

Max: You're giving me less than 48 hours to come up with 15 grand.

Vogelsang: Yeah, if you want the information. As for me, I'm getting out of dodge one way or another. Good luck to you, kid.

Max: Good luck to both of us.

(Max turns and leaves. A shadowy figure moves away from a nearby alley.)

(Scene cuts to the dining area of Jam Pony. Max and Original are walking over to the dispatch desk.)

Original Cindy: Should have been at crash last night. The plot is thickening with my lickety-boo. She said hello and told me her name. Chrisette. Is that a bomb-ass name for a female, or what?

Max: Where would you go f you needed cash in a flash?

Original Cindy: Still jonesing over that motorcycle, huh? You could always rob a bank.

Max: You know, I was thinking that.

(Normal and Sketchy are walking in.)

Sketchy: Even in these dark times you like to think the U.S. Constitution still means something. Apparently not.

(Normal walks behind the dispatch desk.)

Normal: The man was taking drugs.

Druid: He was exercising his right to religion.

Normal: He was smoking a marijuana cigarette in the men's room.

Sketchy: Herbal thought happens to be a Rastafarian. Ganja happens to be a sacrament in his religion.

Original Cindy: It says right there in genesis: "Thou shalt eat the herb of the fields."

Normal: Listen, if Herbal was nibbling leafy vegetables in the men's room I would give up my life defending his right to do so. But no, that's not the case. He was breaking the law of the land.

(Normal walks to the front of the dispatch desk.)

Original Cindy: You're not going to seriously deprive this man of his livelihood.

Normal: He's lucky that's all I'm doing. I should be reporting his ass to the proper authorities.

(Herbal walks down a flight of stairs behind Normal.)

Herbal: Brothers and sisters, please, judge not this man. He's only an instrument of the most high. Fulfilling the book.

(Herbal leaves.)

Normal: Hey, huh? I'm inspired by divine providence. All right, good luck in your future endeavors. Don't let the door hit your keister on the way out.

Sketchy: Enjoy your little victory, Normal. We're understaffed as it is and you just canned your best rider.

(Zack is walking a bike in as Herbal is leaving.)

Normal: Here's the man of the hour.

Zack: Hey!

Normal: Come here. May I present your new colleague, Sam. He's a fine young man. He's got a good attitude bright future. I commend all of you to his example, right? Why don't you grab a locker, my boy. I'll set you up on your first run.

Normal: There we go.

Normal: Cheer up.

(Scene cuts to Logan's apartment. Bling greets Max and heads over tot he kitchen.)

Bling: Hey, Max.

Max: Hey, Bling. Is his crankiness in?

Bling: He's out shopping with a friend.

Max: The ex?

Bling: Seems less cranky.

Max: I'm glad.

Bling: They should be back soon. You're welcome to wait.

Max: Got to bounce... things to do. So, what's she like?

Bling: Nice.

Max: Nice...

Bling: Nice.

Max: As in, uh, quiet, sweet intellectual without being pretentious bookish, grad student kind of way?

Bling: As in pretty, great body very funny outgoing... Great body.

Max: Never mind. Do we know how long they were together?

Bling: We don't. But long enough for them to seem pretty comfortable with each other.

Max: Tell him I stopped by.

Bling: Will do.

(Scene cuts to the street outside Logan's apartment)

Logan: I don't think I've been to a street fair since...Actually, I don't think I've ever been to a street fair.

Valerie: Not that I recall. Then, recall wasn't my long suit when we were together.

Logan: That's all behind you now.

Valerie: By the grace of god.

Logan: Stay for dinner.

Valerie: I better not. Nah, miss a bus, I'll wind up sitting on the curb all night.

Logan: Take a cab.

Valerie: It's too expensive.

Logan: I got you covered.

Valerie: There you go with your caretaker routine again.

Logan: What?

Valerie: I'm finally learning how to be self-sufficient in my life.

Logan: All I'm saying is there are resources available to you should you need them.

Valerie: Thank you.

Logan: Okay.

Valerie: And I will, if I need to.

Logan: Okay.

(Max runs into Logan and Valerie on the street.)

Max: Since you're handing out money, Santa I've been a good girl.

Logan: Val, this is my friend, Max.

Max: Hi.

Valerie: Hey.

Max: Do you mind if I borrow your ex for two seconds?

Valerie: No, I'll see you upstairs.

Logan: Okay, yeah. I'll be right up. Thanks.

(Logan hands Valerie the keys and she leaves.)

Max: Turns out Vogelsang ran that ad. He's looking to sell some information. I need about $15,000.

Logan: Max.

Max: You know I'm good for it.

Logan: It's not about the money.

Max: We made a deal. I help you save civilization, as we know it. You help me find Zack and the others. I've kept my end of the bargain.

Logan: Yeah, I don't recall agreeing to foot the bill for you to get yourself killed.

Max: Fine.

Max: I'll explore other options.

Max: So that's the ex, huh? Not what I expected.

(Max leaves.)

(Scene cuts to a park. Herbal is reading from a bible.)

Herbal: "And my roarings "are poured out like the waters "for the thing which I had greatly feared has come upon me."

Sketchy: You'll find another job.

Herbal: That is not my concern. My woman tell me that, uh... She still have feelings for Winston.

Sketchy: No way.

Herbal: Sometime I feel like I want to mash this man in the face! Should punch the guy's lights out.

Sketchy: No, jealousy is good.

Herbal: Show my woman my love and understanding. Open up my heart to this, uh... Winston.

Sketchy: Man, I got to tell you, you're taking all this a lot better than I would.

Hsrbal: Jah never give a man more than him can bear.

Sketchy: That's deep.

Herbal: Winston!

(Scene cuts to later that night at the impound yard. Max throws some meat over a fence. Max leaps over the fence.)

(A dog is growling at Max.)

Max: (to the dog): Let's get one thing straight. I'm the leader of the pack. Back off!

(The dog whines. Max gives the dog a steak.)

(Scene cuts to Max breaking in and searching the impound office for money. Max finds a large envelope in the safe, she grabs her bike keys off the key rack)

Max: That's a good boy.

(Max finds her bike)

Max (to bike) :Sweetheart, are you okay?

(Max looks at the other bikes)

Max(to other bikes) : Sorry, guys, you're on your own.

(A security guard sees the dog with food.)

Security Guard (to dog): Hey, boy. Where did you get that?

(Scene cuts to Max starting her bike and leaping over the guard and the fence)

(Scene cuts to Manticore.)

Sandoval: we've been keeping Vogelsang under routine maintenance surveillance. This is the first evidence of subsequent contact with the subject.

Lydecker: Play the tape.

Max: (over recorder) What's to stop you from taking my money...

(Loud static)

Vogelsang: Yeah, right, somebody keeps me in a cage for two weeks does complicated, painful things to my body...

(Loud static)

Vogelsang:...Away from that person, okay? Far away as possible.

Lydecker: Why all the noise?

Sandoval: It's one of the problems with micro-implants. You put the equipment in the subject's ear but it tends to migrate. We put this in Vogelsang's cochlea. It ended up in his auditory canal. I've been filtering out the sound of ear fluid for hours.

Lydecker: I don't care how you do it but clean up that tape. I want to hear every word The girl. Are you sure it's her?

Dochnovich: Matches the voice signature from the phone tap that led us to the Braganza kidnap. Do you want us to pick up Vogelsang?

Lydecker: No, I do not. I want you to keep visual surveillance... In rotating teams. Don't let him spot you.

Dochnovich: Yes, sir.

Lydecker: He's going to want to see her again. And when he does... We're going to be there.

(Scene cuts to the Jam Pony dispatch desk.)

Normal: I have 12 packages going to sector two. Seven hot runs to sector four. Let's go! People, bip, bip, bip! You've been gone three hours, my friend.

Sketchy: I got held up at a checkpoint and I'm not your friend.

Original Cindy: Funny how everything started to fall apart when you canned Herbal.

Normal: Oh, I get it. This is some sort of job slowdown. Ooh! Payback for me trying to operate a drug-free workplace.

Druid: A sacrament-free workplace is more like it.

Normal: What about all those customers out there waiting for these packages? Don't they deserve some consideration? Or is this "hey, man" philosophy that you all seem to share more important?

Sketchy: Well, what about your joy boy Sam? I thought he was the great white hope.

Normal: Hey, that young man is worth the rest of you bums put together.

Zack: Hey, 1535 Eagle. Eagle street is where, exactly?

Sketchy: It's just past wurlitzer, south of north jesus avenue.

Original Cindy: Between proctor and gamble.

Druid: Yeah, right across the street from... Power nipple.

Zack: Excuse me, sir do you know where...?

(Zack is holding up a package.)

Max: I've got to be in sector two at 3:30. You got anything for me?

Normal: Here, follow her. She's headed that way.

(Scene cut to a hover drone doing patrol. Max and Zack on the streets riding their bikes.)

Zack: Appreciate you helping me out.

Max: Don't get used to it. Normal's your mentor, not me.

Zack: Look, I didn't get your friend fired, okay?

Max: Nope, but don't expect an outpouring of love from Jam Pony anytime soon. I'm taking a break.

Zack: What is this, part of the slowdown?

(Max stops in front of a shop and walks her bike down a flight of stairs, Zack follows.)

Max: No. A girl's got to pee.

(Scene cuts to Max and Zack sitting at a table in a coffee shop. Max checks her watch as she eyes two girls giggling at a payphone.)

Zack: Expecting a call?

Max: You never know.

(Max gets up)

(Scene cut to Max handing the two girls some change, and sticks her gum in the coin slot of the phone and sighs )

Max: All right time's up. There's another phone down the block. It's on me.

(Max comes back to the table.)

Zack: you seem nervous.

Max: Compared to what? You don't even know me.

Zack: Maybe we knew each other in a past life.

Max: I don't believe in that stuff.

Zack: It doesn't mean it's not true.

Max: Oh, please tell me you're not one of those people: Because a raindrop fell in the ocean 10,000 years ago and a butterfly farted in India you and I are sitting right here right now enjoying a cup of coffee that tastes like goat piss.

Zack: Anything's possible.

Max: Unravel this mystery, grasshopper.

( Phone ringing )

Max: what is the sound of one hand hitting you upside your head, hmm?

(Max hits Sam on the head, walks to the payphone.)

Max (phone): Punk ass here.

Vogelsang (payphone) : You got the money?

Max: I've got it.

Vogelsang (payphone): All right, 6:00. Rooming house on Jackson and third, room 18.

Max: How do i know you're not setting me up?

Vogelsang (payphone): You don't!

Max: Then give me something else, to help your credibility.

Vogelsang (payphone): Male adult had a barcode removed from his neck at a tattoo parlor in Chinatown two weeks ago. Number, uh, 3-3-0-4-1-7-2-9-1-5-9-9.

Max: Zack...

Max: What tattoo parlor?

Vogelsang (payphone): 6:00!

(Vogelsang and Max oth hang up.)

(Max walks back to the table.)

Zack: Good news?

Max: Yep and it's none of your business.

Zack: Let me get this. I was thinking maybe later me.

Max: .. Don't even try to hit on me.

Zack: No, I was just...

Max: Don't

(Max leaves.)

(Scene cuts to a park. Max and the other Jam Pony's are lying in the sun as bikes are doing jumps on some nearby ramps.)

Sketchy: Do you ever think that maybe there are saints walking among us?

Max: No.

Sketchy: I mean Herbal. H..his woman's ex moves in eats his food and sniffs after shorty but then Herbal sees it as an opportunity to learn how to be more understanding. Wh... I'm just not that good a person.

Max: No one is.

Original Cindy: The brother man either too naïve or too big-hearted to see where this is headed. He not careful, he going to get maxed out of every little thing.

Sketchy: You think "Weenston" is a real player, huh?

Original Cindy: "Weenston" came back for a reason and it ain't to help Herbal learn to be more understanding.

(Original Cindy chuckles )

Original Cindy: You better put some sunblock on wiggins. You look ridiculous!

Sketchy: What?

(Sketchy pulls his sunglasses off his head to reveal a burn line where his glasses had covered his forhead)

Original Cindy: All up in there.

(Original Cindy points to Sketchy's forhead)

( Max has a brief flashback to Valerie's hand when she notices a line where a ring was on Sketchy's hand.)

(Flashback ends.)

(Scene cuts back to the park. Max gets up and leaves.)

Original Cindy: Where you going, boo?

Max: Errand to run. Bye, guys.

(Scene cuts to Max following Valerie after she leaves Logan's place. Max follows Valerie to an apartment. Max is observing the conversation by the window.)

Valerie’s Husband: You're home early. What, he didn't ask you to stay?

Valerie: He asked me. Didn't want to push it.

Valerie’s Husband: Oh, that's why you're the bright one and I'm the pretty one. Hon, i need a grand by the end of the week. You're going to make that happen, right?

Valerie: I don't know.

Valerie’s Husband: Come on, this guy's loaded and you... You are...

Valerie: You blew through my divorce settlement pretty good. We got to... Be more careful this time.

Valerie’s Husband: Okay. We'll be more careful. How about $500?

Valerie: Anybody ever tell you that you are a bad boy?

Valerie’s Husband: Yeah. You wouldn't have it any other way. You don't ever let roller boy touch you?

Valerie: No, I save that for you, honey. Me and him are strictly business.

(Scene cut to Max riding up to the meeting location with Vogelsang, and sees a crowd gathered. Max sees that Volgelsang has been shot. The police are investigating the crime scene.)

Coroner: Single shot through the back of the head. No exit wound. Probably .38 caliber. Looks like a professional job.

(Max leaves.)

(Scene cuts to Logan's apartment.)

Max: You got to help me run down this tattoo lead.

Max: You can bet Vogelsang gave it up to Lydecker before he took a bullet in the head.

Logan: Along with everything else he was going to sell you.

Max: I don't even want to go there.

Logan: There's one thing that doesn't make sense. If Lydecker squeezed Vogelsang, he would have known you were coming--why didn't he wait for you to show?

Max: Something went sideways.

Logan: Or someone else killed Vogelsang.

Max: Vogelsang's dead. Lydecker was there. That's good enough for me. Zack's in danger and it's my fault. Now I've got to get to Zack before Lydecker does. Are you going to help me or not?

Logan: Might want to think about having your bar code removed, too.

Max: I tried once. It feels like someone's pouring acid on your skin after it's been sandblasted. Came back in a couple weeks. It's etched into our genetic code.

(Logan uses his computer.)

Logan: The mark of Cain. So why would this guy bother?

Max: Zack's the kind of guy that does whatever it takes as often as it takes.

Logan: All right. here's four tattoo parlors in Chinatown... At least with phones.

Max: Thanks.

Logan: Can't talk you out of this?

Max: Don't even try.

Logan: Be careful.

Max: In case anything does happen, there's something you need to know. It's about your ex.

(Scene cuts to a Chinese man closing a tatoo parlor. Max comes up to him.)

Chinese Man: apologies, miss, but I have very little money.

Max: How about I fatten your wallet?

(Scene cuts to Max talking to a Mercy Chang at a Chinese gambling parlor.)

Max: Your uncle Bob down at the tattoo parlor says you run a housing service. He sent a young man to you about three weeks ago.

Mercy Chang: Client of his? Oh, yes, I remember. A nice young man. He needed a place right away. Here's his address.

Max: Great.

(Scene cuts to Max at a door and she enters the apartment that Mercy Chang gave her. Max starts going through the things there, classified ad, Jam Pony flyer, Motorcycle helmet, bottle of trytophan, etc.)

Zack: Stop!

(Zack comes up behind Max and grabs her.)

Max: It's me, max!

(Max turns and see's Zack)

Max: You? You're Zack? Why didn't you tell me?

(Zack looks out the window, and sees hummers arriving)

Zack: Lydecker...

(Scene cuts to Max and Zack at the stariwell. Max and Zack head up towards the roof. They are alerted to Manticore soldiers come down and some coming up. Zack hand signals to Max. Zack takes on the soldiers on the lower flights of stairs as Max leaps up to handle the ones on the upper level.)

(Scene cuts to Zack knocking out his opponets and a soldier firing at Max. Max leaps and evades the shots. Max runs across the wall and knocks out a soldier. Zack finishes off another soldier but more show. Max knocks out two more soldiers and heads up towards the rooftop. Max and Zack meet up on a upper floor.)

Zack: Not bad.

(Scene cuts to the rooftop. Max finds a line and tosses it to Zack. Zack give Max some orders by hand signal. Max turns around in time to knock out another Manticore soldier sneaking up behind her. Zack leaps up and secures the line. Zack swings on the line, grabs Max and slide down a cable to safety.)

(Scene cuts to a Railroad yard.)

Zack: how did you find me?

Max: Vogelsang tipped me on your visit to the tattoo parlor. You killed him, didn't you?

Zack: Lydecker was set up on him. You were walking into a trap.

Max: You should have warned me, told me not to go.

Zack: Vogelsang knew too much.

Max: You murdered an innocent man.

Zack: The night we all escaped you put your lives in my hands. I've been looking out for you ever since. Every one of you. Vogelsang was weak. Lydecker would have gotten the information out of him. He would have hunted us down one by one and I couldn't let that happen.

Max: So you traded one life for 12, is that it?

Zack: I stand by my decision. It's not safe here. Lydecker's men will be combing the city. We have to leave tonight. I can get us to San Francisco, and we'll split up there.

Max: Split up?

Zack: What are you talking about? We can't stay together, max. It will compromise everyone's safety.

Max: You know where the others are? Tell me!

Zack: The less you know about the others, the better that way if anyone gets captured the others will still be safe.

Max: But they're my family!

Zack: They're soldiers... And so are you. The only person you can rely on, max, is yourself. Everything else is just a lie. It's phony sentimentality. And it will get you killed. Now, let's go.

Max: No.

Zack: I'm not asking you, max. I'm giving you an order.

Max: What are you going to do, court-martial me?

Zack: If you stay here, you risk tactical exposure or have you forgotten everything that they taught us?

Max: No, but I'm trying real hard at it. You're still back at Manticore. Maybe I'm chasing a sentimental lie but at least i'm trying to get away from it.

Zack: I can't be responsible for you if you won't listen.

Max: Zack, don't go. Please.

Zack: I have to. They did a good job on you, Max. Turned out okay.

(Max turns and leaves.)

(Scene cuts to Logan's apartment. Valerie comes in carrying a bag of grocery to the kitchen. Logan is staring out a window.)

Valerie: hey! I hope you're hungry 'cause I'm going to make us a fabulous dinner. You know, I've become quite the cook, you know... not like back in the day when I'd polish off a bottle of wine and end up setting the kitchen on fire.

Logan: That's for you.

(Logan turns around and points at an envelope on a nearby table to Valerie.)

Valerie: What's this?

(Valerie looks inside the envelope and sees money)

Logan: What you came for.

Valerie: Logan, what's wrong.

Logan: Val, don't. I know what's going on.

Valerie: I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.

Logan: Valerie, please, don't make me run the math. It will just make things worse for both of us.

Valerie: It wasn't my idea.

Logan: I know how tough things are out there.

Valerie: God, Logan, I'm so sorry.

Logan: Me, too. Please, just go.

(Valerie, pauses before taking the money and leaving)

(Scene cuts to the bar. Max is sitting at a table and reflecting. Original Cindy comes over.)

Original Cindy: Can I get a pitcher, please? Hear the good news? Normal gave herbal his job back.

Max: So, the slowdown worked?

Original Cindy: That and the fact that his boy Sam turned out to be a dud. Never made his deliveries, never came back, neither. Probably still out there looking for power nipple. Come sit with us.

Max: No. I think I'm going to drink my coffee and go home. Kind of in my own head space. All right.

Original Cindy: See you at work, boo.

(Original Cindy brings over a pitcher of beer to the table where Sketchy, Herbal and druid are laughing. )

Druid: That's my girl.

Sketchy: Max okay?

Original Cindy: She's just thinking about things.

Herbal: I must thank you highly, you know? Because of you, Normal found it in his heart to give me my job back.

Sketchy: How's the war on the home front? No war.

Herbal: I tell Winston, there's only one man in this house and that is I.

Sketchy: And he blazed?

Herbal: Well... I escorted him to the door with my foot.

(Everyone at the table laughs.)

Herbal: To Winston!

(Herbal raises his cup)

Druid: Yeah! All right!

Herbal: And to Normal!

Druid: Ah, let's not get carried away.

(Scene cuts to Max turning to leave and she sees Bling coming in.)

Max: Hey, Bling, I didn't know you kicked it here.

Bling: I don't. Your roomie said this is where I might find you.

Max: Logan okay?

Bling: Yeah... Considering the knowledge you dropped on him today.

Max: I had to tell him the truth.

Bling: You think somewhere not so deep down he didn't already know the truth? He was married to the woman.

Max: So, I'm the bad guy for saying it out loud?

Bling: Man's been through a lot. Maybe he didn't mind...Pretending a little bit.

Max: What am I supposed to do? Go over there and apologize?

Bling: It's my strong sense he's feeling very much alone at the moment. It wouldn't hurt for someone to let him know he isn't.

Max: I'll go over there and read him a bedtime story. Hey, bartender...Give this gentleman anything he wants.

(Scene cuts to Logan's apartment. Logan is staring out a window at the rain coming down as thunder rumbles. Max comes in.)

Max: doorbell's broken.

Logan: No. I was just ignoring it.

Max: So, do you hate me now?

(Logan turns around and looks at Max.)

Logan: Oh, I was pissed off at you for ten minutes maybe. You know... Kill the messenger.

(Max takes a seat.)

Max: Or in this case, the nosy messenger... Rooting around in stuff that's none of her business.

Logan: First time Val played me, ended our marriage and it was shame on her. This time, it's shame on me. Well, at least she's sober. Now, she's really got to live with herself. The truth is, it's more embarrassing than anything else. Having to face the fact that I keep wanting to believe in something that was never there in the first place.

Max: I know the feeling. Hooked up with Zack.

Logan: Sounds like it didn't turn out the way you wanted.

Max: After all these years of waiting and wondering I guess I expected .. I don't know...That finding Zack would change everything. My life would finally make sense. Pretty stupid of me, huh? I just wanted somebody that was like me. Someone I can connect with.

Logan: Basic human impulse...not wanting to be alone.

Max: According to Zack, it's phony sentimentality. We're soldiers. This is enemy territory. We're constantly on the move. That's one way to live your life. I just don't know if i want to do that anymore. But maybe he's right. Maybe I don't have a choice.

Logan: there's some food in the kitchen if you're hungry.

Max: Not really.

Logan: Me neither. What time is it?

Max: Late

Logan: You can crash here if you want. In the guest room.

Max: Not tired.

Logan: Me neither. Feel like going for a spin in the park?

Max: it's raining.

Logan: I don't mind.

Max: Me neither.

(Max and Logan leave as the rain falls against the window.)