FACE/OFF

     The back DOOR CLICKS open.  A voice booms out.

                             COP (O.S.)
               Dr. Archer, are you okay?

                             ARCHER
               If you need hard evidence, get it.
               Your husband's blood type is O
               negative.  Castor's is A.B.

     Archer glances at the balcony -- as FOOTSTEPS CLOMP up
     the stairs.  Eve is about to answer -- or scream.  But
     then...

                             ARCHER
               Remember the parachute dream?  I'm
               falling, Eve... I'm falling...

     The blood drains from her face as... Archer slips over
     the balcony and disappears.

     INT. STUDY - LATER

     Eve is at the computer -- dazed and disoriented.  She
     snaps alert on hearing the front DOOR OPEN -- Castor is
     giving orders to the cops guarding the house.

                             CASTOR (O.S.)
               I want you guys here around-the-
               clock.  And stay off the lawn.

     Eve feigns interest in her laptop as Castor enters.  She
     tenses as he starts massaging her back.

                             CASTOR
               You're all in knots.  Maybe
               another date night will help you
               relax...

                             EVE
               Not tonight... I'm way behind in
               my Continuing Ed.

     He studies Eve, then grasps her firmly by the shoulders.

                             CASTOR
               You think I've been acting
               strange.  Like a completely
               different person.

                             EVE
               -- Yes.

                             CASTOR
               Okay, I have a confession to make.
               But you aren't going to like it...

     Castor wraps his hands around her slender neck...

                             CASTOR (cont'd)
               ... I read your diary.  I've been
               trying to change -- trying to be
               more like the man you want me to
               be.

     Eve reacts to the explanation.  There is a logic to it.

                             CASTOR
               And to prove it, I'm taking you
               and Jamie away on a trip -- right
               after the memorial service.

                             EVE
               What memorial service?

                             CASTOR
               Victor Lazarro had a heart
               seizure... right in my office.  It
               was horrible...

                             EVE
               Oh, my God...

     Castor pours it on -- feigning immense grief.

                             CASTOR
               First Tito... now Victor...
                      (holds her tight)
               ... please don't tell me I'm going
               to lose you, too...

                             EVE
                      (returns the embrace)
               Of course not.

     INT. ARCHER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

     Castor slumbers fitfully.  Suddenly, his shoulder
     twitches, rousing him.  He looks up to find Eve reading
     beside him.

                             CASTOR
               What was that?

                             EVE
               What was what?

                             CASTOR
               Something bit me.

                             EVE
               Probably a mosquito -- I'll close
               the window.

     Eve rubs Castor's shoulder blade until he falls asleep. 
     She gets up, closes the window, then goes into the
     bathroom.

     INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

     Eve takes a breath, then produces a lancet from her
     pocket.  She squeezes the lancet -- and a drop of blood
     splashes into a glass vial -- Castor's blood.

     EXT. ARCHER HOME - NIGHT

     As Eve gets the key in her car door -- a hand grabs her.
     She stifles a scream -- then sees... the two COPS.

                             COP
               Sorry, Dr. Archer.  Where are you
               going at this hour?

                             EVE
               There's been an emergency at the
               hospital.

                             COP
               One of us will have to escort you.

                             EVE
               Fine...
                      (a beat)
               But please don't wake my
               husband... he's exhausted.

     EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

     Nothing happening here at 4 A.M.  Nothing indeed.  The
     bored Cop keeps watch outside -- as Eve hustles in.

     INT. HOSPITAL - EVE'S OFFICE - NIGHT

     Eve paces anxiously as the BLOOD ANALYZER CLICKS away.

                             EVE
               Please be O-neg.  Please...

     The MACHINE STOPS CLICKING.  It reads "Male -- Type AB." 
     She buries her face in her hands -- completely stunned.

                             ARCHER (O.S.)
               Thanks for believing me.

     Archer emerges from the darkness of her office -- but Eve
     pulls a pistol -- aiming it with calm authority.

                             ARCHER
               What are you doing?  Where did you
               get that gun?

                             EVE
               I took it from my fake husband.

                             ARCHER
               Why point it at me?  I'm the real
               thing.

                             EVE
               I don't know that.  Maybe Jon's
               already dead.

                             ARCHER
               What more proof do you need?

                             EVE
               Tell me... tell me about the all-
               night dentist.

     As Archer speaks -- Eve searches his eyes for the truth.

                             ARCHER
               ... I took a date out for chicken
               and ribs -- not knowing she was a
               vegetarian.  When the night
               couldn't get worse, she broke
               her tooth on a pebble that got
               into her three-bean salad
               Somehow she and I had fun driving
               around looking for an all-night
               dentist...
                      (a beat)
               And even though it must have hurt
               -- you still kissed me.

     Eve slowly puts the gun down, fighting off tears.

                             EVE
               Christ, Jon!  How could you put us
               in this position?  Do you know --
               do you know what he did to me...?

                             ARCHER
               Whatever happened, whatever he did
               -- I know it's my fault and I know
               I can never make it up to you --

     She pulls herself together -- regaining her composure.

                             EVE
               But you're damn well going to try.
                      (a beat)
               First -- how are we going to get
               you out of this?

     INT. ARCHER HOME - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT

     Castor wakes up and finds Eve gone.  His eyes narrow as
     he touches the mosquito bite -- the one that isn't there.

     INT. HOSPITAL - EVE'S OFFICE - NIGHT

     Eve sifts through the supply cabinet and finds a yellow
     vial.

                             EVE
               This will knock him out for hours.

                             ARCHER
               Good.  What's his schedule
               tomorrow?

                             EVE
               He doesn't tell me anymore than
               you ever did... All I know is --
               tomorrow we're going to Victor's
               memorial service.

                             ARCHER
               Victor... Tito... they both died
               thinking I killed them... And in a
               way... I did.

                             EVE
               Jon -- you can't think about that
               now.

     Archer takes a breath -- and pulls himself together.

                             ARCHER
               -- What happens after the memorial?

                             EVE
               He's taking Jamie and me away.

                             ARCHER
               And neither of you will be coming
               back.  Where's the service?

                             EVE
               Saint Mary's-By-The-Sea.

     Archer reacts... the irony's not lost on him.

                             EVE
               What are you going to do?

                             ARCHER
               Hit him with a trank dart.  Once
               he's unconscious -- I'll try to
               get to Buzz and Wanda before the
               security team gets to me.

                             EVE
               What else can I do?

                             ARCHER
               Think up a good excuse.  I don't
               want you or Jamie anywhere near
               that service.

                             EVE
               I can cover for Jamie.  But if I'm
               not there, he'll suspect
               something...
                      (as Archer
                       considers)
               The second you make your move, all
               hell's going to break loose.  If
               I'm there beside him -- I can take
               charge.  I'm his wife, remember?
                      (a beat)
               There's no way around it -- for
               once, you need me.

     Archer looks into her eyes -- the regrets flooding over.

                             ARCHER
               I've always needed you...

     They embrace... soaking up each other's warmth.

                             EVE
               Jon -- what are the odds?

                             ARCHER
               Terrible.  But it's the best we
               can do with what we have.
                      (a beat)
               If it doesn't happen, take Jamie
               and don't look back...

                             EVE
               It'll happen.

     FOOTSTEPS APPROACH -- they break their embrace.

                             ARCHER
               Do doctors travel in packs?

                             EVE
               Only when we're golfing.

     INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT

     Castor and the twins round the bend -- just in time to
     see the door to the burn ward close.

     INT. BURN WARD - NIGHT

     Eve quickly wraps gauze around a patient's head -- when
     Castor and his boys rush in, guns leveled.

                             EVE
               Jon!  What are you doing here?

                             CASTOR
               That's what you're going to
               explain to me.

                             EVE
               Didn't the police tell you?  There
               was an emergency.

     Lars starts pulling at the patient's bandages.

                             EVE
               Jon -- stop it!  Mr. Alandro is
               very ill!

                             CASTOR
               Not as ill as he's going to be...

     He blanches as Lars reveals a scarred burn victim -- Mr.
     Alandro.  Eve is livid as she attends to the patient.

                             CASTOR
               Sorry.  But what's a guy to think
               when his wife runs off in the
               middle of the night?

                             EVE
               It's my fault.  I should've woken
               you up before I left.
                      (kisses him)
               Now please let me get back to
               work.

     They leave.  Eve wipes his ugly taste from her mouth.

     EXT. HOSPITAL PARKING LOT - DAWN

     Castor gets into his car as he confabs with the twins.

                             CASTOR
               Stay here.  Watch her like a hawk.

                             LARS
               Think she knows?

                             CASTOR
               Who cares?  She's going to be dead
               by tonight anyway.  They're all
               going to be dead.  The wife, the
               kid... and the father.

     EXT. OLD RANCH - HIGH GRASS - DAY

     Archer waits as Sasha appears with a long case.  In the
     b.g., Adam plays on the Ranch House porch with Dietrich.

                             ARCHER
               How's the boy?

                             SASHA
               His ears are still ringing -- but
               he'll be okay.

     Archer opens the case.  Inside is a sniper rifle.

                             SASHA
               The truck's all gassed up.
               Look, Caz, there'll be F.B.I.
               agents all over that place.  Maybe
               I can talk my brother into helping
               us.

                             ARCHER
               'Us'?  No, Sasha -- believe me,
               this isn't your fight.

     He turns to leave -- but her look draws him back.  He
     kisses her -- not passionately, but nobly.

                             ARCHER
               Thanks...

     She watches him as he walks off toward the truck.

     EXT. ARCHER'S HOME - DAY

     Dressed in staid black, Eve joins Castor at the limo.

                             CASTOR
               Where's Jamie?

                             EVE
               That's what I'd like to know.  She
               stole fifty dollars from my purse
               and took off.

     Castor's eyes narrow -- trying to read Eve.

                             EVE
               Don't act so stunned, Jon.  You
               know how hard it is to get that
               girl into a dress.

                             CASTOR
               I'll deal with her later.

                             EVE
               Good.  Because I am fed up.

     EXT. ST. MARY'S-BY-THE-SEA - DAY

     A crucifix gleams in the sun... and anchoring the
     crucifix is... a headstone.

     Like so many others -- except this headstone is Matthew
     Archer's.  And hidden behind it is -- Jon Archer.  He
     finishes assembling the sniper rifle.

     For a moment he acknowledges Matthew's grave... the
     regrets giving way to determination.  He looks down from
     his vantage point onto --

     EXT. SEA-SIDE - DAY

     At the foot of the cemetery knoll.  Rows of chairs...
     white flowers... mourners.  A yacht is docked at the
     breakwater.

     INTERCUT WITH:

     ARCHER'S POV THROUGH SCOPE

     peers down through scope -- seeing...

     Castor and Eve as they emerge from their limo.

     Eve glances around, searching for Archer.  She comes eye-
     to-eye with Lars -- who is watching her every move.

     Archer TRACKS Castor and Eve as they sit in the front
     row.  The ceremony begins.

                             PRIEST
               We are here to celebrate the life
               of Victor Lazarro.  We all know
               him as a man who dedicated himself
               to defending this great nation --
               first, as a highly decorated
               admiral -- then, as west coast
               director of the F.B.I.  But not
               all of you know what a deeply
               spiritual man he was.  It was his
               wish that his Requiem Mass be
               performed in Latin.
                      (a beat)
               In Nomine Patris, et Filii et
               Spiritus Sancti.  Amen...

     The PRIEST begins to recite a beautiful and somber mass.

     ARCHER

     fills the trank-dart with sedative.

     PRIEST

     continues the solemn ritual.

                             PRIEST
               Domine, de morte aeterna, in
               die illa tremenda quando caeli
               movendi sunt et terra...

     EVE

     checks her watch... barely lifting her eyes away...

     Castor absently pats her knee.  She's forced to return
     focus to the service.

     ARCHER

     chambers the dart, twists a knob on the range-finder, and
     carefully peers over the crucifix.

     THROUGH SCOPE

     Archer TRACKS THROUGH the mourners -- and FINDS Castor.
     As the cross-hairs neatly cube his head...