FACE/OFF

                             EVE
               I've got surgery.

                             CASTOR
               Surgery -- are you okay?

     Then he spots her medical bag.  Oops.

                             EVE
               Don't try to charm me -- I'm still
               angry.  There're leftovers in the
               fridge.

                             CASTOR
               Have fun at work.

     Castor kisses her good-bye -- on the mouth.

                             EVE
               What is with you?

                             CASTOR
               Don't I usually kiss my wife?

                             EVE
               No.

     Castor reacts as she gets in the car and pulls out.

     INT. ARCHER'S HOUSE - DAY

     Castor steps inside, looks around.

                             CASTOR
               What a dump.

     INT. STUDY - DAY

     Castor sifts through Christmas cards from holidays past,
     studying the ones with photos.  He's memorizing --
     matching names to faces -- Wanda's, Buzz's, Lazarro's,
     etc.

     Something else catches his eye.  He finds a floral
     notebook -- Eve's diary -- and pages through it.  Then,
     he reads:

                             CASTOR
               '... "Date-night" has been a
               typical failure... we haven't made
               love in almost two months...'
               What a loser ...

     Castor hears a voice.  Glancing across the hall, he
     sees...

     GLIMPSES OF JAMIE

     As she walks back and forth in her room, talking on the
     phone -- and wearing only panties and a cropped T-shirt.
     Castor steps closer -- enjoying the view.

                             CASTOR
               The plot thickens.

     INT. JAMIE'S ROOM - DAY

     Jamie stamps out her cigarette.

                             JAMIE
               -- I got your E-mail, Karl.  That
               poem was really sweet --
                      (spots Castor
                       at door)
               Hang on a sec...

     She slams it -- but he gets his foot inside.

                             JAMIE
               I'll call you back.
                      (to Castor)
               You're not respecting my
               boundaries.

                             CASTOR
               I'm coming in, Janie.

     Castor pushes menacingly into the room.

                             JAMIE
               'Janie'?

     Castor spots her correct name embroidered on a pillow. 
     He gazes seductively -- unnerving Jamie as he steps
     toward her.

                             CASTOR
               I don't think you heard me...
               Jamie... You have something I
               want ...

     He reaches for her -- and right past her.  He picks up a
     pack of cigarettes from the desk.

                             JAMIE
               Clarissa left those here.

                             CASTOR
                      (shrugs and
                       lights up)
               I won't tell mom if you don't.

                             JAMIE
               When did you start smoking?

                             CASTOR
               You'll be seeing a lot of changes
               around here --
                      (blows a perfect
                       smoke ring)
               Daddy's a new man.

     Jamie stares, astonished, as Castor goes out.

     INT. EREWHON PRISON - ARCHER'S CELL

     Fists bloody, voice hoarse, Archer pounds at the cell
     door.  Exhausted, he finally stops -- staring at the face
     of his enemy in the mirrored door -- the enemy who now
     has total command of his life.

     INT. FBI - LOBBY CHECKPOINT - DAY

     Castor dons his stern "Archer" face as the gate guard
     checks his thumbprint ID.  He's cleared and waved in.

     INT. FBI INTERROGATION BOOTH - DAY

     Buzz and Wanda watch Pollux through the two-way mirror.
     He's gorging himself on a big lunch.  Castor arrives.

                             BUZZ
               Listen, sir... we just want you to
               know...

                             WANDA
               We're all really sorry about
               Tito...

                             CASTOR
               Yeah, well, shit happens.

     Buzz and Wanda exchange a glance.  To them, "Archer" is
     just avoiding his feelings again.

                             CASTOR
               How's our star witness?

                             BUZZ
               He hasn't told us a damn thing
               except what kind of mustard he
               likes on his tongue sandwiches.

                             WANDA
               If that bomb is out there -- we're
               almost out of time.

                             LAZARRO (O.S.)
               Archer!

     Lazarro stomps toward them... furious.  Buzz and Wanda
     quickly excuse themselves.

                             LAZARRO
               You made a deal with Pollux Troy?
               He's 'a manipulative psychopath.'
               Your own words, Jon!

                             CASTOR
               Just let me do my job, Victor.

                             LAZARRO
               The job I've been protecting for
               the last eight years.  From now
               on, you go strictly by the book.
               Everything gets cleared by me.
               Understand?

     Lazarro stomps off.  Castor watches him go, wheels
     turning.

     INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

     Castor enters -- shutting down the mikes... and the
     blinds.

                             CASTOR
               You're supposed to be snitching --
               making me look good.

                             POLLUX
               'Look good'?
                      (drops food in
                       disgust)
               Seeing that face -- I want to
               vomit.

                             CASTOR
               I'm the one who has to look at
               this butt-ugly mug every time I
               pass a mirror.  Look at my eyes,
               my chin, my perfect nose -- gone!
                      (considers his
                       reflection)
               Archer took my life, so I'm taking
               his.  Bro, I'm going straight.

                             POLLUX
               Sounds like they took your brain,
               too?

                             CASTOR
               Imagine Dillinger as J. Edgar
               Hoover.  Carlos the Jackal running
               Interpol.  Kaddafi heading the
               Mossad.  Think of the secrets we
               could sell...

     Pollux listens carefully -- mind clicking like an abacus.

                             POLLUX
               The drug agents we could expose.
               The movie stars we could
               blackmail!

                             CASTOR
               That's just the bottom of the food
               chain.  Pollux -- what would
               happen if somebody planted a bomb
               on Air Force One?

                             POLLUX
               ... that somebody would get rich.
               And, I suppose, the nation would
               be pretty pissed-off.

                             CASTOR
               Pissed-off, vulnerable... looking
               for someone to step in, take
               charge, give them hope again.
               What if that someone was an F.B.I.
               hero?  A true Boy Scout and family
               man -- with a spotless past.
               Imagine where that guy could land
               -- if the timing's right.

                             POLLUX
               It's an audacious dream, Caz.  But
               Jon Archer is hardly a household
               name.

                             CASTOR
               Not yet he isn't.  But after you
               'confess' -- you'll be a free man.
               And I'll be on my way...

     EXT. CONVENTION CENTER - DAY

     Police VEHICLES ROAR into position.  Squads of police
     evacuate throngs of people.

     INT. CONVENTION CENTER - SUB-BASEMENT - EXTREME
     CLOSEUP - BOMB TIMER - DAY

     TICKS down to less than two minutes.

     Working as a unit, the BOMB SQUAD carefully remove the
     bomb's casing.  Inside, the complex guts glow evilly.
     The men are tense, cautious -- and way out of their
     league.

                             BOMB LEADER
               Jesus... Any suggestions?

                             TECHNICIAN
               Yeah... run

     Castor pushes up his blast visor.  He looks grim.

                             BOMB LEADER
               It's protected by a vibration
               detector... One touch and...

                             CASTOR
               Evacuate your team, Captain.

                             BOMB LEADER
               Sir, you can't disarm it --

                             CASTOR
               Just go!

     The bomb squad hustles out.  Waiting until he's alone,
     Castor pulls a radio device from his pocket and hits its
     switch.  The bomb's glow dies instantly.

     EXTREME CLOSEUP - TIMER

     stops at 26 seconds.

     BACK TO SCENE

     Not satisfied, Castor starts it up again -- running the
     timer down to four seconds.  That's better.

    
     INT. EREWHON PRISON - "POPULATION" - DAY

     The inmates eat lunch.  Walton enters -- prodding a
     beaten Jon Archer ahead of him.

                             WALTON
               A special privilege today:  TV --
               by order of Agent Jon Archer of
               the F.B.I...

     Jeers from the inmates as the big screen changes from the
     nature loop to... CNN.

     ON SCREEN - CONVENTION CENTER

     "Sweating," Castor lumbers out, carrying the disarmed
     bomb.

                            ANCHORMAN (V.O.)
               That was the scene at the L.A.
               Convention Center, where an F.B.I.
               agent is being hailed as a hero.
               Agent Jon Archer disarmed a
               powerful bomb just seconds before
               it was set to explode.  Let's get
               the latest from Valerie Rice...

     EXT. CONVENTION CENTER - DAY

     Castor basks in the attention of the gathered media.

                             REPORTER RICE
               The apparent target was a group of
               Supreme Court justices -- due to
               speak here today.
                      (thrusting microphone)
               Mr. Archer, do you have any idea
               who planted it?

                             CASTOR
               That's classified.  But if he's
               listening I have a message for
               him:
                      (directly into
                       camera)
               Nice try.  Now you know who's
               really in charge.

     INT. EREWHON PRISON - POPULATION

     Watching the TV, Archer's enraged, frustrated.  Then his
     eyes focus... he watches closely as --

     A guard uses his "thumbprint ID" to get through the
     security door.  Archer's eyes fall on the thumbprint scan
     pad.

     INT. FBI - BULLPEN - DAY

     Castor gets a "thumbs up" from some co-workers, others
     smile -- but they know better than to applaud.

                             CASTOR
               Don't you guys watch TV?  Where's
               the parade?

     They look at each other -- afraid.  But proud rookie
     Loomis starts clapping, so everyone else joins in rousing
     applause.

                             CASTOR
               -- Loomis, Buzz, uh -- Wanda...
               all of you, thanks from the bottom
               of my heart.  Thanks for enduring
               all those years I was an
               insufferable boor.  From now on --
               consider me reborn.

                             WANDA
               Stop the presses -- Jon Archer
               found a personality...

     Wild applause... interrupted by an excited Kim.

                             KIM
               Sir... the White House is calling.

     Castor acts startled... as if at a loss.  Then he struts
     toward his office -- pausing only to give Kim a playful
     swat on the rump.  She's stunned.

     INT. ARCHER'S OFFICE - DAY

     Castor surveys his new domain.  He settles into Archer's
     big leather chair... sees a framed photo of Archer and
     family.  He apes Archer's dumb posed smile...

                             CASTOR
               Jon, your career is finally taking
               of.
                      (picks up phone)
               Archer.  Sure I'll hold...

     Waiting, he picks up a handbook:  You and the FBI:  A
     Primer for New Employees.  Then...

                             CASTOR
               Mr. President, what an honor...

     Castor pumps a "whacking off" gesture with his hand.

     EXT. ARCHER'S HOME - DAY

     Castor, carrying grocery bags, comes into the back yard
     where Jamie practices free throws.  He watches her miss.

                             CASTOR
               How about a game of horse?

                             JAMIE
               Don't make me beat your butt
               again, Dad.  It's harmful to my
               developing psyche.

                             CASTOR
               Afraid you'll lose?

     Castor crisply sinks a free-throw.  Jamie glares, takes
     the ball -- and tosses an air-ball.

                             CASTOR
               'H.'

     Jamie sneers at him.  He buries another one.

                             CASTOR
               Try putting a higher arc on the
               ball... and square your shoulders
               to the basket.

     Begrudgingly, she listens -- and sinks a clean shot.
     Pleased, she nods.  HONK!  A BMW pulls into the driveway.

                             JAMIE
               Gotta go.  Karl's here.

     Jamie trots over to greet KARL (17) -- a clean-cut
     preppie.  Opening the car door dor her, Karl waves,
     smiling at Castor.  Castor studies Karl carefully, not
     liking what he sees.

     INT. ARCHER'S HOME - NIGHT

     A tired Eve opens the door.  It's pitch black inside.  As
     she fumbles for the light switch...

     MATCH

     flares as Castor lights a candle.  The dining room table
     is set for a candlelight dinner.  He smiles warmly at her
     confusion.

                             CASTOR
               Don't tell me you forgot.  Eve --
               it's date night!

     DINING ROOM - LATER

     Eve looks up from her pasta.  After an awkward silence.

                             EVE
               Why do I feel like I'm on a blind
               date?

                             CASTOR
               It's important to keep some
               mystery... so things stay...
               unpredictable.

     Eve studies him as he pours her more wine.  Her smile
     slowly fades as she realizes what's going on.

                             EVE
               'Unpredictable'?  You're about as
               unpredictable as the tide.
                      (detached)
               How long are you going to be gone
               this time?

                             CASTOR
               Gone?

                             EVE
               Isn't that what all this is about?
               The wine, cooking me dinner --
               your next assignment?