Épisode Le retour de Jack S02E01 - Torchwood Saison 2

Il fait nuit à Cardiff et les rues sont désertes. Une vieille dame attend à un passage piétons que le voyant passe au vert afin de traverser. Soudain, une voiture de sport décapotable arrive et s’arrête pour la laisser passer. Le chauffeur est un alien à tête de poisson-lune. La dame étonnée finit tout de même par traverser, et quelques instants après le départ de la décapotable, le SUV de Torchwood arrive au même endroit et Gwen demande à la vieille dame si elle a vu le poisson lune passer. La dame lui indique du doigt par où il est parti, et à peine le SUV parti, dit à haute voix : "Maudit Torchwood".

Dans le SUV, Gwen, Owen, Tosh et Ianto parlent de la cible : provenance, physiologie, et armes spéciales. Tosh avoue que Jack saurait ce qu’il faut faire, mais Owen l’interrompt en disant qu’il est parti depuis plusieurs mois, qu’il a disparu. Ils retrouvent le poisson, et Owen lui crève un pneu en un coup de revolver. Ils le retrouvent dans une maison un peu plus loin. Le poisson-lune a tiré sur une personne et en tient une autre en otage. Ianto le vise avec son arme, mais ne se décide pas à tirer pour ne pas blesser l’otage tandis qu'Owen tente de maintenir le blessé en vie. L'alien les provoque en parlant de l’abandon de Jack, et d’un coup il se prend une balle en pleine tête. Ianto vérifie son arme et voyant que ce n’est pas lui qui a tiré, il se retourne et voit Jack demandant à l’équipe s’il leur a manqué.

De retour au Hub, Gwen dirige l’équipe. Tosh s’occupe de vérifier la faille, Owen l’autopsie du corps, Ianto de la voiture volée… Jack les regarde faire, et leur lance qu’ils se débrouillent bien sans lui. Gwen se met en colère et lui reproche d’être parti sans rien dire. Tosh finit par lui demander où il était passé, et Jack leur répond simplement qu’il a trouvé son docteur. Owen lui demande s’il l’a guéri, et Jack tourne ça à la rigolade. Ianto, discret, lui demande avec un air perplexe  s’il a l’intention de repartir avec le Docteur. Jack répond alors maladroitement qu’il est revenu pour lui, et se reprend aussi vite en disant qu’il est revenu pour toute l’équipe. Soudain, la faille se met en activité.

A l’autre bout de la ville, dans un parking sur les toits, la faille s’ouvre. Un étrange personnage la traverse et voit tout de suite un homme se faire menacer par un malfrat qui essaye de lui voler sa voiture. L’homme se dirige vers eux, et attrape le voleur par le cou, le pend au dessus du vide et le lâche. Après cela, il se rend dans un bar, et fait sortir presque tout le monde en sortant ses armes.

Au pied de l’immeuble où se trouve le parking, Torchwood est arrivé sur les lieux. Ils enquêtent sur le cadavre et remarquent les traces de la faille sur son cou. Jack imagine tout de suite la scène, et l’équipe commence à se poser des questions sur l’alien qui a pu traverser la faille. Torchwood se dirige vers le SUV pour retourner au Hub, mais le bracelet de Jack se met à biper. Ianto remarque tout de suite que le bracelet ne sonne jamais. Jack le confirme avec inquiétude: soudain, son bracelet projette un message holographique de l’homme étrange qui a traversé la faille. Harkness semble blémir en l'apercevant; dès la fin du message, il prend le SUV et court le retrouver, en laissant tous les autres en plan, leur interdisant de le suivre. Owen le prend mal, Tosh leur dit qu’elle peut le traquer, et Ianto appelle un taxi.

En arrivant au bar, Jack et l’étranger se dirigent l’un vers l’autre comme dans un western, mais au lieu de se battre, ils s’embrassent. Ce n’est cependant que de courte durée : l’étranger frappe Jack et les deux, avec de grands sourires, se mettent à se battre. Au même moment, le reste de l’équipe Torchwood, dans un taxi, se dirige vers le bar. Ils commencent à débattre sur les secrets de leur capitaine, et Owen, Tosh et Gwen médisent sur lui. Mais c’était sans compter sur Ianto qui lance simplement : « Mais c’est plus marrant quand il est là ». Et les autres acquiescent d’un air dépité.

Dans le bar, les deuxhommes arrêtent de se battre. Ils se connaissent. L’étranger s’appelle John Hart, Capitaine John Hart. Ils s’assoient au bar et prennent un verre. On apprend que Hart est un agent du temps tout comme l’était Jack avant de rencontrer le Docteur, mais aussi que l’agence du temps a fermé, pour la plus grande stupeur de l'ancien voyageur temporel. John Hart finit par avouer que Jack lui a manqué. Il s’approche pour l’embrasser, Jack s’approche à son tour, mais au lieu de lui donner un baiser, il lui dit juste qu’il veut qu’il parte sur le champ. Ils sont alors interrompus par le reste de l’équipe. John Hart ironise sur le fait que Jack soit en équipe, et quand il demande le nom d’équipe et que Jack lui répond que c’est Torchwood, Hart lui rétorque : « Pas Excalibur ? ».

(Pour la petite histoire, Excalibur devait être le nom de la série. Le créateur de la série avait l’idée de Torchwood avant même de s’occuper de Doctor Who. Pour des raisons de production, et donc d’argent, il s’est occupé de Doctor Who qui était prioritaire pour la BBC. Pendant la création de Doctor Who, afin de garder le secret sur cette série événement, l’équipe de création de la série lui a donné le nom de code « Torchwood », anagramme de « Doctor Who ». Enfin, lorsque qu’il put créer Torchwood, il finit par conserver ce nom au lieu d’utiliser Excalibur)

Jack fait les présentations, et à cette occasion, on apprend qu’il a eu une relation avec John Hart pendant 2 semaines, alors qu'ils étaient tous les deux bloqués dans un cercle temporel qui a en fait duré 5 ans. Jack finit par lui demander la raison de se présence ici. Au cours de la conversation, John révèle aux autres membres de l’équipe que Jack fut un agent du temps. Il explique ensuite qu’il est là pour retrouver des bombes qui seraient passées par la faille. Il y en a trois dispersées dans Cardiff et qu’il doit récupérer parce qu'en plus d’être dangereuse, les retrouver est le dernier vœu d’une mourante, une amie. Jack accepte de l’aider, et lui demande de partir tout de suite après la mission.

Jack amène John au Hub. Suite à son arrivée, Gwen interroge Jack sur John et sur l’agence du temps. Jack élude la question en lui disant que le passé ne compte pas. Ce qui compte pour lui à présent, c’est ce qu’il est devenu, la mission de Torchwood… Et Gwen coupe court en lui demandant pourquoi dans ce cas il les a abandonnés, et où il est allé. Jack finit par lui confesser qu’il a passé de durs moments, et que c’est en pensant à son équipe qu’il a tenu le coup. Finalement, il fini par avouer qu’il a enfin compris que sa place était à Torchwood Cardiff, auprès d’eux. En prenant amicalement la main de Gwen, Jack découvre la bague de fiançailles que Rhys lui a offerte. Jack prend l’air étonné, et Gwen finit par lui dire que personne d’autre ne l’aurait demandée en mariage.

Tosh finit par localiser les « bombes » à trois endroits différents. Gwen propose trois équipes de deux : Tosh et Owen, Gwen et John, Ianto et Jack. Jack met en garde Gwen contre John Hart, sur le fait qu’elle ne peut pas lui faire confiance.

Gwen et John s’occupent de l’aire de stockage. Elle essaye de glaner des informations sur Jack mais échoue. Quand ils finissent par trouver la bombe, John embrasse Gwen qui finit par être paralysée. John lui avoue que c’est un poison. De leur côté, Owen et Tosh prennent en charge le vieil entrepôt. Quand ils trouvent la bombe, John arrive et tire une balle sur Owen. Il a coupé les communications avec les autres membres. Pour Jack et Ianto, c’est un bâtiment de bureaux qu’ils ont à fouiller. Comme entrée en matière, Jack confie à Ianto que les bureaux sont un de ses fantasmes. Mais Ianto lui coupe la parole afin de revenir au travail d’un ton abrasif. Jack s’en aperçoit et lui demande comment il va. Et comme à son habitude, Ianto répond : « Content de vous revoir, Patron. ». Jack lui demande d’arrêter le « patron ».

D’un air gêné, le Capitaine Harkness confesse que pendant le temps où il était parti, il avait pensé à lui proposer d’aller au ciné ou au resto. Et Ianto lui répond juste que tant que ce n’est pas dans un bureau… Ils se remettent au travail et alors que Jack se dirige vers le toit, Ianto lui demande, un peu agacé, pourquoi ils aident John Hart. Il lui répond qu’il veut qu’il quitte sa vie le plus tôt possible. Et avant de partir, il lui demande s'il accepte le rencard. Ianto lui répond juste oui, d’un air gêné.

A peine Jack parti, John Hart débarque et se débrouille pour envoyer Ianto chercher les autres. Il rejoint Jack et après quelques mots échangés, il le jette du haut du toit. Le pensant mort, John se rend au Hub. Il ouvre les soit-disant bombes qui ne sont en fait qu’une carte pour trouver un diamant. Il a tué la personne qui la possédait. Il n’a pas le temps d’assembler les morceaux du puzzle que toute l’équipe Torchwood arrive sur les lieux. Tous les membres lui braquent une arme dessus.

Jack lui avoue qu’il ne peut pas mourir. Il finit par lui demander d’assembler le puzzle, et à peine fait, un hologramme de la femme que John Hart a tuée lui annonce qu’en fait il n'y a pas de diamant; un objet vient se coller sur sa poitrine. L'hologramme lui annonce que c’est une bombe qui reconnait son ADN. Sachant ça, John prend Gwen en otage et demande à Jack de trouver une solution. Ils partent sur le parking où John est arrivé. En fait, Gwen pense se jeter avec John dans la faille pour éviter de mettre en danger la population de Cardiff. Owen a l’idée d’injecter du sang de chacun des membres de l’équipe afin de modifier temporairement l'ADN de John et de tromper la bombe. Après quelques frayeurs, la feinte fonctionne.

A la fin, John propose à Jack de le prendre dans l’équipe, et Jack refuse en lui demandant instamment de quitter la Terre. John s’exécute et avant de partir, il annonce à Jack qu’il a retrouvé un certain Gray. Jack blémit, et on assiste à un flash: deux mains se tenant, pour venir se séparer. Visiblement dévasté, le chef de Torchwood prend un certain temps pour se reprendre, avant de refuser de répondre aux questions de ses amis, demandant au lieu de cela de retourner faire leur boulot.

  

Ecrit par Tomdevil

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

It's night. The streets are damp, but it's not raining. It's very quiet. We hold on above intersection with a traffic light and crosswalk. There are no cars on the streets. All is peaceful and quiet. An old lady with a cane slowly walks up to the crosswalk. She presses the signal button.WAIT. The light turns red. She steps up to the curb when the sounds of a car engine approach. She looks up and sees a red convertible, with top down, speeding toward the crosswalk. With rap music blaring and tires screeching, it stops at the line. The driver turns. It' a biped with a red fish head. He looks at her. She looks at him. The light changes from red to walk. The blowfish looks at her, growls and motions her across the road. The old woman crosses the road. The blowfish waits for her. She reaches the other side and the traffic light turns green. The red convertible speeds away as the old woman watches. Its taillights disappear in the distance. All is silent again. The old woman turns as the black Torchwood SUV approaches. It stops in front of her. Gwen rolls down the window.

GWEN : (politely) Excuse me, have you seen a blowfish driving a sports car ?

The old woman points toward the road.

GWEN : Thank you.

And the Torchwood SUV takes off as the old woman watches. Its taillights disappear in the distance. All is silent again.

OLD WOMAN : Bloody Torchwood.

 

CUT TO :

INT. SUV (MOVING) - NIGHT

Toshiko sits in the back seat and has skeletal scans and DNA typing on the computer. Ianto sits next to her and puts bullets in his gun magazine.

TOSHIKO : Species not on record. DNA-type says some sort of land fish.

Gwen is in the passenger seat as Owen drives.

GWEN : All I'm saying is, you are speeding and there are children.

OWEN : (dryly) Well, if kids are out at midnight, they've got it coming.

TOSHIKO : Detecting high levels of algae.

GWEN : (amused) Who's afraid of the big scary fish, then ?

OWEN: Big fish... with a gun !

IANTO : Special weapons ?

TOSHIKO : Not that I can see.

The gun clicks as Ianto pulls the slider back and puts a bullet in the chamber.

IANTO : Do we need special weapons ?

OWEN : What are we gonna do when we catch it ?

TOSHIKO : Jack would know.

OWEN : Well, Jack's not here, is he ? Jack's disappeared. Fat lot of good Jack is.

Everyone is suddenly very somber.

GWEN : Blowfish !

She points to the red taillights in front of them. Owen steps on the gas.

OWEN : Hold on !

 

VARIOUS CUTS :

With tires screeching, the Torchwood SUV catches up with the red convertible.

Owen reaches for his seat belt with one hand while the other is on the wheel.

OWEN : (to Gwen) Hold the wheel.

GWEN : (warns) Don't you dare, Owen !

OWEN : (shouts) Hold the wheel !

He releases his seat belt and relinquishes the steering wheel to Gwen.

GWEN : Right, got it.

The SUV tires screech as she drives from the passenger seat. Owen sits up out the window. He aims and fires at the convertible. The first shot misses, the second shot ricochets off the metal. The third shot takes the tire out. The car exhaust flares and veers around the corner. Owen sits back down in the driver's seat. Gwen gives him a look. Owen smugly blows on the tip of his smoking gun.

 

EXT. STREET - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

It's raining. The Torchwood SUV turns the corner and stops at the red convertible. They get out of the SUV and approach the convertible with their guns out only to find it empty.

GWEN : Where is it ? Where's it gone ?

They look around the houses. Two gunshots sound from a nearby house.

OWEN : Go ! Go ! Go !

They run for the house.

 

INT. RESIDENCE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Owen enters first.

OWEN : Gwen, go left ! Tosh, go right ! Ianto, take center ! Positions !

The blowfish stands at the back of the room holding a gun on the daughter of the house. Gwen gets the mother aside to safety. The father is on the ground, choking, from the gunshot wounds. Owen takes his jacket off to stop the bleeding. Ianto and Toshiko keep their guns on the blowfish. Toshiko also reads her hand-held scanner.

TOSHIKO : Massive levels of adrenalin mixed with approximately three grams of cocaine. This fish is wired.

BLOWFISH : So this is Team Torchwood. The teacher's pets, but teacher's gone, hasn't he ? Leaving the kiddy-kids all alone. And look at you, trying so hard to be all grown up. (to Owen) The Doctor, with his hands full of blood. (to Gwen) The Carer with her oh-so-beating heart. (to Toshiko) The Technician, with her cold devices. (to Ianto) Which leaves me, with the Office Boy, promoted beyond his measure. All of you... lost without your master. All of you... pretending to be so brave. All of you, so scared.

The blowfish laughs at them. He turns and kisses the teenaged girl on her cheek, breathing her in.

BLOWFISH : (to Ianto) So, what about it, minion ? Can you do it ? How good are you ? How sharp is your aim ? What if you kill her ? (taunts) What if I kill her first ? Can you shoot, before I do ? Can you ? Dare you ? Would you ? Won't you ?

A bullet fires. It hits the blowfish dead center of his forehead and takes out a chunk of the back of his head, splattering blood and fish brains on the curtains behind him.

BLOWFISH : Aah...

The blowfish falls to the floor. Dead. The mother pushes Gwen aside to go to her daughter. Ianto looks at his gun. He didn't fire. He turns around... and finds himself staring down the barrel of Jack's gun. Everyone stares.

JACK : Hey kids. Did you miss me ?

Jack chuckles.

 

SMASH TO END OF TEASER

ROLL TITLE CREDITS

 

EXT. CARDIFF CITY (STOCK) - NIGHT

Top view of the area.

 

INT. HUB - WORKSTATIONS

The team is back in the hub. After a few moments, it's clear that Gwen's been in charge during Jack's absence.

GWEN : Are you sure no more like him came through ?

She checks on Toshiko at her workstation.

TOSHIKO : Cross-referencing with the rift activity monitor, doesn't look like it.

Jack stands on the side and watches the interchange. Ianto reports to Gwen. Everyone pretty much ignores Jack for the moment.

IANTO : The car's been impounded. I'll get it back to the owner in the morning.

GWEN : (to Owen) How you doing, all right ?

Owen hands her a file on his way to Toshiko. He hands her a drive.

OWEN : Bio-profile's onscreen now. Nothing in his genetic make-up likely to contaminate the city.

GWEN : Okay, Tosh. Can you add that to the species database ? Ianto ?

IANTO : Hello.

GWEN : Sorry. Um, can you deal with the body when it's cold ?

IANTO : My pleasure... unless you mean making sushi.

GWEN : No, the morgue'll do fine. Thank you.

JACK : Got pretty organized without me.

Although Gwen is working on a computer and not looking at him, she is seething.

GWEN : Yeah, well we had to.

JACK : (looks around) Hey, did you decorate in here ?

Gwen violently pushes him backward. He hits the door frame.

GWEN : (lashes out) You left us, Jack !

Everyone is quiet and watching.

JACK : (sighs) I know. I'm sorry.

GWEN : We knew nothing, Jack !

TOSHIKO : Where were you ?

JACK : I found my doctor.

OWEN : Did he fix you ?

JACK : What's to fix ? You don't mess with this level of perfection.

IANTO : Are you going back to him ?

JACK : I came back for you. All of you.

The computer beeps. Toshiko turns and recognizes it.

TOSHIKO : Rift activity !

Everyone gets back to work.

ZOOM IN and linger on the blowfish on the table in the autopsy area. There's something in his right pants pocket beeping with a blinking red light. It goes unnoticed.

 

EXT. CARDIFF CITY (STOCK) - NIGHT

Top view of the area.

 

EXT. GARAGE ROOF - NIGHT

All is quiet. Then a golden gaseous light appears - faint at first, then larger and larger. It opens in the middle and a man walks out. He's wearing a red military uniform jacket of sorts. It's unbuttoned and the shirt under it is so dirty it's gray. He has black pants tucked in his boots. He pauses and looks around.

VICTIM (MAN) : (o.s.) Get off, I didn't do it.

He hears the voices and heads over. Saunters, really. He's in no rush to get there and it's obvious he just doesn't care. He has two gun holsters on either leg with a samurai sword on his right side. He is armed and very dangerous.

VICTIM (MAN) : (o.s.) Please, leave me alone.

At the end of the rooftop is a man being attacked by knife-point by an attacker holding him bent backward on a car hood. Both attacker and victim see John Hart approach them.

VICTIM (MAN) : Help me !

MUGGER : Come any closer and I'll open up his neck !

Ignoring him, John Hart walks right up to them.

JOHN HART : Fine.

MUGGER : What ?!

JOHN HART : Which artery do you normally sever ?

VICTIM (MAN) : No !

MUGGER : I'm not bluffing !

JOHN HART : Oh, well, see now, you've... uh... given yourself away. Only someone who's bluffing ever says they're not.

The mugger turns to face John Hart. John grabs the mugger's knife hand while he grabs his neck with the other. He's swift and deadly. He lifts the mugger clear off the ground and carries him over to the edge of the roof. He doesn't stop there. He holds the mugger clear off the side of the roof with nothing but air beneath him.

MUGGER : Oh, God ! Shit ! Please ! Please stop !

JOHN HART: Well... no.

John lets him go. The mugger screams and falls. The victim watches and gasps. The victim runs to the edge of the room and looks down. The mugger is dead on the sidewalk below.

VICTIM (MAN) : He's dead.

John Hart looks at the man. The man looks at John Hart and realizes that he may not be safe from his rescuer. John Hart grabs him by his shirtfront.

VICTIM (MAN) : Please...

JOHN HART : I... was never here.

The man swallows hard and nods. John rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

JOHN HART : Go.

He releases the man, patting him on his chest. The man runs. John Hart starts walking.

JOHN HART : Thirsty now.

He walks out of frame.

 

EXT. VARIOUS CARDIFF CITY LIGHTS (STOCK) - NIGHT

Speedy views of the area.

 

INT. BAR REUNION - NIGHT

Music blares at the establishment. It's comfortably filled with people casually having drinks. The double doors open. John Hart pushes them in as he enters. He smiles. Just what he's looking for. The doors close behind him. He opens his wristband and presses a button. The dance music stops immediately. The crowd groans. Some people notice him.

JOHN HART : (loudly) All right ! Now...

He looks around the room. He starts with the nearest people and works his way inward.

JOHN HART : You, go. You... go. You, go. You ? (smiles) Stay. Go, go, go. Stay. Go, go, go, go. Go, go. Oh ! (to the blonde twins at the bar) Stay, stay, stay. Go, go, go. Go, go! (loudly) The rest of you... go !

He turns his back to the people in the room.

JOHN HART : (to the barkeep) I'll take one of everything.

He turns back to the people in the room.

JOHN HART : Any questions ?

A large bouncer steps out. He's with another bouncer.

BOUNCER : All right, mate, let's take it outside.

JOHN HART : Oh. (He whips out both his large guns and holds them up.) Did I mention I'm armed ?

People scream and run for the door.

 

PAN AROUND the room.

John Hart smiles with amusement. There's no faster way of clearing the bar. He laughs and turns toward the bar.

 

EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE GARAGE BUILDING - NIGHT

Torchwood is at the scene with police and SOCO there also. Torchwood is with the body. Toshiko's hand-held scanner beeps as she takes a reading.

TOSHIKO : Fragments of rift energy around the neck, arm and shoulders.

JACK : He was grabbed... and pushed.

TOSHIKO : Explains the residual energy cluster.

JACK : How did you ever manage without me ?

OWEN : So, there's a potential killer on the loose,bi-pedal, maybe humanoid.

GWEN : Any other alien tech involved, Tosh ?

TOSHIKO : No readings to suggest that.

JACK : Okay, let's get back and see what we can piece together.

GWEN : Taking charge again are you ?

JACK : I was hoping for a little power struggle, resolved by some naked wrestling.

Gwen heads to the crime scene tape. Andy holds it up for her.

GWEN : Thank you, Andy. You can let SOCO in now, they can eliminate us from whatever they want.

ANDY : This another one of your spooky-do's, is it ?

GWEN : Not yet, but... uh... I'll let you know.

She turns and follows the rest of the team back to the SUV.

ANDY : (to her back) "Thanks, Andy. You've been very helpful." "Don't mention it, Gwen."

Jack reaches for the door. His wristband beeps. Jack presses a button and turns it off. Too late ! Ianto noticed.

IANTO : Whoa, that never beeps.

This can't be good.

JACK : That's what I was thinking.

Everyone is gathered around him. Jack presses his wristband button and a nearly-life-sized 3-D light image of John Hart appears in front of him. The image looks like something out of Star Wars IV.

JOHN HART : (image recording) I can't believe I got the answer machine ! What can you be doing that's more important than me ? Anyway, you've probably traced the energy shift, found the body. All me, sorry about the mess. Bill me for the clean-up. Now... (claps and rubs his hands) Drinks ! Retrolock the transmission coordinates, that's where I am. And hurry up, work to do ! (girl voice) Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope !

The image turns to look on the side just like in the movie... then it vanishes.

JACK : (very serious) Stay here. Don't come after me.

GWEN : Who was that ?

JACK : Stay here.

Jack gets in the SUV.

GWEN : But...

Jack drives away, leaving them there.

GWEN : Hey, Jack !

OWEN : Whoa !

GWEN : Wait !

Gwen, Owen and Toshiko watch as Jack and the SUV speeds away. Ianto turns and heads back toward the main road. Owen stomps his foot on the ground in frustration.

OWEN : You see that ? He swans back in and then he shuts us right out.

GWEN : I'm not having this.

TOSHIKO : (holds up her scanner) I can track him !

Ianto whistles loudly. Everyone turns.

IANTO : Taxi !

 

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

The Torchwood SUV turns the corner and with tires screeching, stops on the side of the road. The door opens and Jack steps out. We're low and on his feet as he crosses the road toward the bar. The car alarm chirps on. Jack pauses at the Bar reunion. He takes a deep breath and prepares himself.

 

INT. BAR REUNION - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

John Hart sits at the bar with a line of shot glasses in front of him as he works his way through them. He picks up the glass and downs the drink. He puts the shot glass back in its place, but before he actually puts the glass down on the bar, he stops and turns to look at the doors.

 

CLOSE : JOHN HART'S EYES

His eyes are sharp and knowing. He knows he's here. John goes back to his next drink.

 

THE FRONT DOORS

Jack's shadow appears in the glass.

LOW ON FEET. The double doors open. Jack walks in, the hem of his long coat flapping against his legs. The doors close behind him. John steps out and away from the bar. Like two gunfighters in an old western bar, the two time agents face each other. Jack's face is inscrutable. We can't tell whether he's happy to see him or not. John Hart unsnaps both his holsters. That's a threatening move. After a beat, he starts toward Jack. Way across the other side of the room, Jack starts toward him. They move without hesitation, their ground-eating steps bring them both swiftly to the other. They stop mere inches from the other. The two men stare. We can feel it building... and building... then, they kiss. Passionately. Hands groping and grabbing at each other - heads, shoulders, backs. Their breaths in short, rasping, devastating pants. And the kiss goes on... till they push each other away. John pulls back and slugs Jack hard in the face. Jack smiles. Then, he slugs John hard in the face. John smiles. Now the games begin. John punches Jack in the gut, doubling him over.

JACK : Whoa !

John pulls back and laughs. Jack kicks him in the shins, bringing John down to his knees. John looks up at Jack, who has his arms out wide, cheeky smile on his face and tongue sticking out in a dare. John rushes Jack, grabbing his waist. Jack turns and tosses John to the ground behind him. John rolls and stands up.

 

SERIES OF QUICK CUTS :

Jack turns and punches him. He punches back. They exchange a series of punches to the head and gut. John kicks Jack. Jack grabs his leg and flips him over to the ground. They grab each other around their necks. John slams Jack back against the wall. Jack grabs John's face and pushes him back against the end of the bar. Glass breaks. John rolls backward and tosses Jack clear through the thin screen partition. Jack rolls over and gets to his feet. The fight continues. John head-butts Jack.

JACK : Ahhh !

He grabs Jack, slams his head down on the bar counter and slides him across the bar - through the long line of his shot glasses. He smashes them all and continues right off screen.

 

CUT TO :

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The taxi with Owen, Gwen, Toshiko and Ianto inside zooms across the screen.

TOSHIKO : (v.o.) Reports coming in of a bar disturbance.

 

INT. TAXI (MOVING) - NIGHT

She looks at the hand-held scanner.

TOSHIKO : Same coordinates as the SUV.

GWEN : Tell the police we're dealing with it.

OWEN : Okay, so who the hell was the bloke in the hologram ?

IANTO : Looked like Jack recognized him.

TOSHIKO : Why didn't he let us go with him ?

GWEN : 'Cause it's typical Jack, isn't it ? Disappears, he comes back, then he runs away again. Shuts us out. We don't even know his real name.

TOSHIKO : Or which time he comes from.

GWEN : Exactly. He's supposed to be our boss, we know nothing about him. It drives me crazy !

Everyone lapses into silence.

IANTO : It is more fun when he's around, though.

OWEN : Yeah.

TOSHIKO : Oh, definitely !

GWEN : Yeah, it is.

 

CUT TO:

INT. BAR REUNION - NIGHT

Jack and John both crash through a glass partition. The place is a mess. They land on the floor, roll apart, reach for their guns and draw on each other. Their guns are on each other: a draw. They smile and chuckle as they circle the other and wait for the next round of attacks. The guns don't waiver.

JOHN : You're putting on weight ?

JACK : You're losing your hair ?

JOHN : What are you wearing ?

JACK : Captain Jack Harkness, note the stripes.

JOHN : Captain John Hart, note the sarcasm.

JACK : Hey, I worked my way up through the ranks.

JOHN : I bet the ranks were very grateful. I need a drink.

JACK : I thought you'd never ask.

The fight over, they lower their guns and head for the bar. John reaches over the bar and grabs a bottle. He hands it to Jack as he grabs a bottle for himself. Jack bites the spout off and spits it aside. John turns around and leans against the bar as he guzzles over half the bottle. Jack watches him and doesn't touch his own bottle.

JACK : So... how was rehab ?

JOHN : Rehabs. (smiles) Plural.

He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

JACK : Drink, drugs, sex and...

JOHN : Murder.

JACK : (chuckles) Ah ha ha ! You went to murder rehab ?

JOHN : I know, ridiculous. The odd kill, who does it hurt ?

JACK : You clean now ?

JOHN : Yeah. Kicked everything. Living like a priest.

Jack chuckles. He sets his bottle down on the counter.

JACK : So, how's the Time Agency ?

JOHN : You didn't hear ? (By the look on his face, no.) It's... shut down.

JACK : You're kidding.

JOHN : No. There's only seven of us left now.

JACK : Wow.

JOHN : It's good to see you. It was never the same without you.

Jack leans forward. John leans forward as if to kiss him, but Jack stops.

JACK : You need to go. I don't want you on my territory.

JOHN : What ?

John stands up and puts his nearly empty bottle on the counter.

JOHN : Time was, you couldn't get enough of me on your "territory".

John moves very, very fast. He grabs the gun off the counter. Jack ducks to avoid whatever's coming. John shoots out the glass in the front door. He turns and shoots out the glass at the back.

JOHN : (shouts) All right, everybody out !

The front door opens. Gwen and Ianto step inside. Gwen is facing front while Ianto covers her from the side.

GWEN : Everything all right, Jack ?

JACK : It's okay, okay, okay !

Owen comes out from the back with Toshiko.

JOHN : (amused) You've got a team ! How sweet ! Oh, pretty little friends ! No blonde, though. You need a blonde.

They continue inching forward toward them.

OWEN : God ! He's worse than Jack.

JOHN : Oh, do you have a team name ? I love team names, go on !

JACK : Torchwood.

JOHN : Oh. Not Excalibur ? Blizzard ? Bikini Cops ? No ? Torchwood. Oh, dear.

JACK : Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper, meet...

JOHN : Captain John Hart.

JACK : We go back.

JOHN : Excuse me. We more than go back. We were partners.

IANTO : In what way ?

JOHN : In every way. And then some.

JACK : It was two weeks.

JOHN : Except that two weeks was trapped in a time loop, so we were together for five years. It was like having a wife.

JACK : You were the wife.

JOHN : YOU were the wife.

JACK : No, you were the wife.

JOHN : Oh, but I was a good wife.

TOSHIKO : I bet you were. What ? Don't pretend you haven't noticed, he's cute.

JOHN : They're just shy.

JACK : (to John) What are you doing here ?

JOHN : I was wondering when we'd get to that.

He opens his wristband and punches some buttons.

TOSHIKO : That's the same as yours.

JACK : A little smaller.

JOHN : (rolls his eyes) But lasts much longer. Get two Time Agents in the same room together, it's always about the size of the wrist strap.

OWEN : Ah, yes, sorry ? What's a Time Agent ?

JOHN : What ? He's never told you about his past ?

GWEN : No, he hasn't.

Jack and John both look at each other.

JOHN : Anyway...

John presses his wristband. It beeps and a holographic image of a canister appears.

JOHN : I'm working with this woman, beautiful, clever, sexy, yadda yadda yadda, and we both get shot. And as she's dying, she begs me. She tells me about these radiation cluster bombs she'd been working on.

OWEN : I don't like the sound of that.

JOHN : Three canisters, contents beyond toxic, swallowed up in a riftstorm.

TOSHIKO : And ended up here.

JOHN : Bingo. That's the downside of your city being built on a rift in space and time. Now, left to their own devices, the radiation'll break down the canisters and then infect your people and planet. They need to be neutralized.

He presses more buttons and the holograph disappears.

JACK : What do you get out of this ?

JOHN : Dying woman's wish. (Jack doesn't believe him.) Now, there's only one problem : I don't know where they are. Hoping local knowledge might help.

TOSHIKO : When we get back to the Hub, I can run a citywide scan on radiation surges and cross-reference that with the rift activity during that time span.

JOHN : What are you, the brains and the beauty ? You see, together it's an easy job.

Jack gets in John's face.

JACK : We do this, you get out of here when it's finished. Right away.

JOHN : Does this mean I get to see your house ?

Jack's not smiling. Hold on John Hart.

 

EXT. PLAZA - NIGHT

Jack stands at the base of the water tower.

JOHN : You live in a sculpture ? Could you be any more pretentious ?

Jack points to the concrete block.

JACK : Get on.

John looks around.

JOHN : So your team not allowed in this way ?

He steps on the block with Jack.

JACK : This is the entrance for tourists.

JOHN : I remember the last time you said that.

The block starts to descend.

JOHN : Where the hell are we... ?

Jack smiles at him. He shakes his head.

 

INT. THE HUB - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Toshiko watches as the block descends into the hub.

JOHN : It's roomy, I'll give you that.

John looks around. Toshiko, Gwen and Ianto are waiting at the base. Toshiko hands Gwen the scanner.

JOHN : Your taste in interior design hasn't got any better, though. What is this, sewer chic ?

Ianto waits for them. Owen stands in the back, his gun out. The block stops. Jack steps off and faces John. He stops him from stepping off the block.

JACK : Weapons.

John removes his guns and hands them to Jack, who puts them on the silver tray Ianto is holding. John removes his samurai sword and gives it to Jack, who hands it to Ianto. John shrugs innocently. Jack holds out his hand.

JACK : And the rest.

JOHN : Oh, you know me. I'm a two-weapon man.

GWEN : (reading the scanner) One pistol strapped to each leg, laser knife beneath left elbow, 17 small explosive charges in the lining of his coat.

 

QUICK CUTS :

As she talks, John hands over the weapons.

JOHN : Slipped my mind.

Jack drops the tiny pistol on the tray on top of the other weapons.

 

INT. HUB - BACK CORRIDOR

Gwen and Jack walk.

GWEN : He's a compulsive liar ! Why is he in the building ?

JACK : There's the tiniest one percent chance he's breaking a habit of a lifetime, and telling the truth. Which means this city is in danger.

GWEN : What did he mean by a Time Agent ? You've never mentioned it.

JACK : That was in the past.

GWEN : Oh, okay. Here we go again. You know everything about me, Jack, why d'you keep shutting me out ?

JACK : Here and now, that's what's important. The work we do, the person I am now. That's what I'm proud of.

GWEN : Then why did you desert us ?

Jack doesn't answer her.

GWEN : Where did you go ? No, no, come on, where did you go ? Tell me. Talk to me.

JACK : I have died so many times. Been dragged back into life, like being hauled over broken glass. I saw the end of the world.

GWEN : How ?

JACK : Doesn't matter now. But after it was all over... I knew I belong here. What kept me fighting was the thought of coming home to you.

He runs his hand down her arm, looks at her and smiles. He takes her hand and notices her ring. He holds her hand up.

JACK : What's this ?

GWEN : That's an engagement ring, that is.

She looks at her ring with surprise.

JACK : You're getting married ?

GWEN : Yes. Rhys asked. (She puts her hand down.) When you were away.

JACK : Wow ! Gwen Cooper getting married. (She nods.) Down on one knee ?

GWEN : He tried to, and then he had a twinge in his back and had to lie on the settee, and that's when he popped the question.

JACK : And you said yes.

GWEN : Well, no-one else will have me.

They look at each other.

JACK : Good for you.

Jack kisses her on the cheek.

JACK : We should get back to work.

GWEN : Mm-hm.

Jack turns and heads back. Gwen nods, just standing there for a moment.

 

INT. HUB - CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT

Toshiko presents her findings to everyone. John Hart sits back on the conference seat, his leg up on the table.

TOSHIKO : Seven hours ago we logged a minor surge in rift energy, across three locations.

JOHN : Six of us, three locations. That's simple. Two people per canister.

JACK : Excuse me, I give the orders.

JOHN : Well, give some, big boy !

GWEN : John's right. Sorry... um... d'you prefer John, or Captain ?

JOHN : With eyes like yours, call me Vera, I won't complain.

Ianto rolls his eyes.

GWEN : Tosh and Owen, take the north. Ianto and Jack go west. Me and Vera'll take the docks.

JACK : Excuse me, not to repeat myself...

GWEN : Got a problem with this, Jack ?

Everyone waits. Jack smiles and backs off.

JACK : Not at all.

Gwen nods.

JOHN : Now, given the canisters are radioactive, don't open them, eh ?

GWEN : Let's go, guys.

JACK : Gwen, I need a word.

Everyone else leaves.

JOHN : Oh, can I watch this bit ? He's gonna give you all the dos and don'ts. I love it.

JACK : (points to the door) She'll be with you in a second.

John gets up and leaves the room.

JACK : What the hell are you doing ?

GWEN : If I can get him talking, flirt a bit, he may drop his guard. I can find out what he's really up to.

JACK : Okay, clever.

GWEN : Thank you.

JACK : But dangerous, leave it to me.

GWEN : I led the team while you were way, Jack. I can handle this. He knows you too well. He'll never tell you the truth.

JACK : Three rules : One, don't believe anything he says. Two, always keep him in front of you. And three, under no circumstances let him kiss you.

GWEN : As if I would !

JOHN : (o.s.) Has he gone to the no-kissing rule yet ?

John is leaning against the wall out in the hallway.

JOHN : He only invented that because he wants me all to himself.

Gwen starts out. Jack watches them go.

GWEN : (to John) Keep in front.

 

EXT. VARIOUS CARDIFF CITY LIGHTS (STOCK) - NIGHT

Top view of the area.

 

EXT. SHIPYARD - NIGHT

There are stacks of shipping containers in the shipyard. John and Gwen look through them.

JOHN : Nothing.

He opens the next container.

JOHN : Are you sure this is the right spot ?

Gwen peers into the container with her flashlight, but remains behind him.

GWEN : Yeah. But containers get shifted all the time.

She closes the container door.

JOHN : This could take days.

They continue looking.

GWEN : So that woman, the one with the canister, how did you get to know her again ?

JOHN : We were in love.

GWEN : Oh. I'm sorry. Did they catch the person who shot her ?

JOHN : Do we have to talk about this ?

GWEN : No, no, of course not.

She drops the subject. John opens the nearest container. Gwen's phone rings. She ignores it.

JOHN : Don't mind me.

She answers the phone and turns her back to John.

GWEN : (to phone) Shouldn't you be asleep ?

 

INTERCUT WITH :

INT. RHYS/GWEN'S PLACE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

RHYS : (to phone) I got it !

GWEN : (filtered) Sorry ?

RHYS : (excited) Manager at Harwoods !

Gwen motions to the canister next to her.

RHYS : (filtered) The letter was on the mat ! I got the bloody job !

He laughs and opens the refrigerator.

GWEN : (to phone) Oh, my God ! Rhys, that is fantastic !

John crowds her.

JOHN : (sexy voice) Baby, you're fantastic too. Yeah, just there !

She shoves him away from her and steps away.

RHYS : (to phone) Who's that ?

GWEN : (to phone) It's some idiot I work with, that's all.

RHYS : (filtered) I don't suppose there's any chance of me seeing you before breakfast ?

Gwen steps away from him.

GWEN : (to phone) It looks like it's gonna be an all-nighter. Go on, get yourself to bed. I am so proud of you. I love you.

RHYS : (to phone) Yeah, well, I love you more.

GWEN : Bye.

She hangs up and tucks her phone back into her jacket pocket.

GWEN : John ?

There's no answer. She checks where she left him last... and finds him gone.)

GWEN : John ?

There's no sign of him. She looks around.

GWEN : John !

There's no answer. She takes her gun out.

GWEN : John !

JOHN : Worried you'd lost me ?

Surprised, she swings around, her gun out and pointed at him.

JOHN HAR: Whoa. Little bit jumpy there ?

GWEN : Keep in front of me, okay ?

JOHN : God, you're so untrusting. But with your boss, it's probably wise.

GWEN : Yeah, well. I trust him just fine, thank you.

JOHN : Once a con man, always a con man.

GWEN : What do you mean by that ?

JOHN : Look, just don't rely on him, Gwen. There's a lot about him you don't know.

He goes to the container door.

JOHN : Fancy a peek ?

He opens the doors. Gwen steps inside and looks. They find a canister.

JOHN : Aha !

GWEN : Is that it ?

Gwen heads over first. John follows behind her. She picks up the canister. He walks up to her, pushes her to the side. Her back slams up against the wall.

GWEN : What are you doing ?!

And he kisses her hard. She pushes him away from her.

GWEN : Get off me !

He laughs.

JOHN : Celebrating, that's all. (Gwen gasps for breath and falls to the floor.) God, the 21st Century is so frigid !

Something is wrong with her.

GWEN : What've you done ?

JOHN : Don't get up. I mean, you can't anyway. Paralyzing lip gloss. I think it might have even been Jack taught me that trick. Just one problem, if you're not found in two hours, your major organs will go into shutdown.

He takes her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and wiggles it in front of her.

JOHN : Thanks.

He pushes her down to the ground, gets up and heads out.

JOHN : (o.s.) You gonna be okay in here without me ?

He stops in the doorway.

JOHN : He won't stay with you. He and I shared something.

John closes the door behind him. Gwen is as good as dead in the container. Her eyes are wide and she swallows. She's helpless and she knows it.

 

EXT. CONTAINER - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

John secures the bar across the container door. He looks at Gwen's cell phone, turns and throws it as far and as high as he can. We hear it land somewhere. He turns and leaves.

 

EXT. SHIPYARD (STOCK) - NIGHT

EXT. VARIOUS CARDIFF CITY LIGHTS (STOCK) - NIGHT

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Owen and Toshiko cautiously make their way through the warehouse containers. Toshiko tries the light switch. It doesn't work.

TOSHIKO : No bulbs.

OWEN : No, 'cause that would only be helpful. Oh, great, how are we gonna find a canister in all this tut ?

TOP VIEW DOWN of the very large and very full warehouse.

OWEN : What are we doing with our lives, Tosh ?

TOSHIKO : I know. We should be out having fun ! Bet you'd normally be out on the pull, this time of night.

OWEN : Oh, no, bollocks to that, Tosh. Talk about diminishing returns.

TOSHIKO : Not with you.

OWEN : Well, you know, I've done all that, haven't I ? Where did it get me ? No, you know, I need a proper woman, you know. Someone I've got something in common with, you know. Er, got anyone on the horizon ?

TOSHIKO : Like you say, difficult to meet anyone I've got anything in common with. What with the things we see.

OWEN : You beauty !

She turns. Owen's found it. He drags a chair over to the shelf.

OWEN : Yes !

Owen finds the canister up on the shelf.

OWEN : Job done !

JOHN HART : (o.s.) Good work, team !

They turn around and John Hart walks in.

TOSHIKO : Where's Gwen ?

He doesn't answer her. Toshiko reaches to draw her gun, but he reaches her first. He head-butts her in the face and pushes her down to the side. He pulls his gun on Owen, who is just climbing down off the chair.

JOHN : Ah, ah, ah ! Gun on the floor...

He slowly, deliberately, dangerously turns his gun on Toshiko, who is still on the floor and is sporting a bleeding nose.

JOHN : ...or I shoot her.

Owen puts his gun on the floor.

OWEN : (to comm) Jack, where are you ?

JOHN : I muted the comms system as soon as we left the palace under the pavement. (Owen looks at John. John raises his arm.) I love my little wrist strap. Now... phones.

OWEN : You touch her again, and I will kill you. Okay ?

Owen and Toshiko slide their phones toward John. John takes a couple of steps forward. He picks up a cricket bat on the shelf nearby and looks at Owen.

JOHN : The efficiency of a gun, or the brutality of wood ?

OWEN : Yeah, look, stop toying with me and get on with it.

John fires.

 

CUT TO :

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT

The doors open. Jack and Ianto step into the office.

JACK : Oh, yeah ! Loving that office-y feel ! (They look around.) I always get excited in these places. To me, they're exotic. Office romances... photocopying your butt... well, maybe not your butt, although as we're here, why don't we...

IANTO : (interrupts) The rift was active at these coordinates approximately two hundred feet above ground. That means this floor or the roof.

Ianto continues searching. Jack watches him.

JACK : How are you, Ianto ?

IANTO : All the better for having you back, sir...

Ianto turns away and checks one of the desks furthest away from Jack.

JACK : Can we maybe drop the sir, now ? While I was away, I was thinking... maybe we could, you know, when this is all done... dinner ? A movie ?

Ianto turns and looks at Jack.

IANTO : Are you asking me out on a date ?

JACK : Interested ?

IANTO : Well... as long as it's not in an office. Some fetishes should be kept to yourself.

Ianto continues looking.

JACK : Looks like we're gonna have to go through every drawer, bin and plant pot.

IANTO : Right. Okay. I'll do this floor, don't want you getting overexcited, and you take the roof. You're good on roofs.

Jack starts for the door. Ianto whirls around.

IANTO : Jack ? Why are we helping him ?

JACK : He's a reminder of my past. I want him gone.

Jack starts to leave again, but turns back.

JACK : By the way... was that a yes ?

IANTO : Yes ! Yes.

Jack smiles and leaves the office. Ianto continues looking around.

 

EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT

The door bursts open and Jack steps out onto the roof. He starts looking around.

 

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT

VARIOUS QUICK CUTS OF :

Ianto continues to search the office.

The elevator bell dings. He stands up quickly and turns around. He waits a bit, then pulls out his gun. He pulls the slider back, putting a bullet in the chamber, then he cautiously heads out.

 

INT. OFFICE - HALLWAY - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Ianto steps out of the office and starts down the hallway. He reaches the first elevator and finds the doors closed. He checks the second elevator and finds the door open and no one inside. John presses the muzzle of his gun against the back of Ianto's head.

JOHN : Into the lift, eye candy.

Ianto puts his hands up. John takes his gun from him. Ianto turns around.

JOHN : Your friends are bleeding and dying.

John advances on him, forcing him to step backward into the elevator.

JOHN : You barely have enough time to save them.

Ianto hits his earpiece.

IANTO : (to comm) Owen ? Gwen ?

JOHN: (scoffs) What am I, a child ? It's primitive bit of technology, easily blocked; you should be embarrassed. And when you get to the bottom, run. You look like a man who enjoys a challenge, see if you can save them. Come back up here, I'll shoot on sight.

John presses the elevator button.

ELEVATOR VOICE : Going down.

He backs away as the doors start to close.

JOHN : Going down. Yes, please.

Ianto steps forward and stops the doors.

IANTO : Why are you doing this ?

JOHN : We're a cosmic joke, eye candy, an accident of chemicals and evolution. The jokes, the sex, (he strokes Ianto's cheeks with the muzzle of his gun) - just cover the fact that nothing means anything. And the only consolation is... money. (He puts the muzzle of the gun against Ianto's forehead and pushes him back into the elevator.) So run, Ianto Jones !

ELEVATOR VOICE : Going down.

John backs away and smiles.

ELEVATOR VOICE : Doors closing.

Ianto punches the wall in frustration and turns as the doors close on him.

 

EXT. STREET BELOW - NIGHT

Ianto runs around the SUV. He climbs inside, starts the engine and drives away.

 

PAN UP the side of the building to...

EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Jack finds the canister and bends over to pick it up.

JOHN : (o.s.) Rear of the Year.

Jack turns around. John joins him on the rooftop.

JOHN : 5094. Still looking good.

Jack's phone rings. He looks at it.

JOHN : Cute boy, ringing to warn you about me.

John grabs the phone from him and tosses it aside. He holds his hand out.

JOHN : Canister.

JACK : If you've harmed them in any way...

JOHN : You know, they're pretty, but stupid. You used to have better taste.

JACK : Doesn't look like that from here.

JOHN : Just give it here.

JACK : Radiation cluster bombs ? Really ?

JOHN : Let's not get hung up on details.

JACK : Little embarrassing that you needed help to find them.

JOHN : A little humiliating you fell for the scam. Your dolly birds did all my legwork.

JACK : Is that what you wanted ?

JOHN : What I want is for you to come to your senses. Join me, Jack. Back in the old routine, we'd be emperors. How can you stay tied to one planet when there's thousands of worlds, sparkling with wonder? We should be up there, among the stars, claiming them for our own. Just like before.

JACK : I can't.

JOHN : Why not ? What the hell is there to keep you here ? Come on. The glitter of the galaxy. The mischief we could make.

JACK : You know, you never really mastered that temptation spiel.

JOHN : It's not a spiel. It's fact.

JACK : Move on. Here I am, in a new life and you're still churning out the same old tunes. And sorry, but they don't play as well, now you're looking a little older. And what are they ? Wrinkles around your eyes ?

JOHN : Laugh lines.

JACK : Oh, hell of a good joke.

JOHN : It's you I'm laughing at. Canister.

Jack holds up the canister, then tosses it over his shoulder and off the building somewhere behind him.

JACK : Whoops.

John seethes. Jack laughs at him.

JOHN : Whoops.

John pushes Jack backward off the building.

JACK : Ahh !

TOP VIEW DOWN : John watches as Jack falls.

Jack falls and falls and falls... and he doesn't scream.

JOHN'S POV : Jack has stopped falling and appears to be dead.

John pushes himself away from the edge of the rooftop and walks away.

CARLIGHTS FLASH as the SUV turns the corner.

 

EXT. CARDIFF CITY (STOCK) - NIGHT

The Torchwood SUV zooms along the highway. Ianto dials and puts his earpiece in.

 

INTERCUT WITH :

EXT. SHIPYARD - NIGHT

Gwen's phone rings. It's on the ground somewhere. Ianto drives. His hand taps the steering wheel impatiently as he listens to the linering.

IANTO : (mutters) Come on.

 

TOP VIEW OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS

Gwen's phone continues to ring. Her eyes are open and she's still on the ground in the dark container. She's conscious and unable to move. Her phone continues to ring.

 

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

The Torchwood SUV continues to zoom across the highway.

 

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Toshiko is tending to Owen.

OWEN : Agh !

TOSHIKO : I'm sorry ! I'm sorry.

OWEN : Ow !

Owen puts the cloth aside. His jeans are open and there's a pair of scissors open as well. Toshiko hands him a vial as he works on himself.

TOSHIKO : Why didn't he just kill us ?

OWEN : He got what he wanted. Maybe he just underestimated us.

 

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

The SUV stops outside. Ianto gets out and looks at the building. He uses a crowbar and hits the padlock on the door.

 

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

Owen uses his teeth and tears off a strip of tape. He continues working on his wound.

IANTO : (o.s.) Tosh ! Owen !

TOSHIKO : (shouts) Ianto !

IANTO : (o.s.) Tosh !

She gets up.

TOSHIKO : (shouts) We're over here.

Ianto has his gun out as he quickly and cautiously makes his way toward them.

IANTO : What happened ?

TOSHIKO : Where's Gwen ? Have you heard from Gwen ?

IANTO : No.

 

EXT. PLAZA OUTSIDE BUILDING - NIGHT

John exits out of the building through the spinning doors. He picks up the canister, then walks over to Jack, who is sprawled over the concrete benches. John crouches next to him, setting the canister down on the ground.

JOHN : Rehab... didn't really work.

Jack's eyes are open and unresponsive. John removes Jack's wristband.

JOHN : Front door key. Thanks.

He tenderly touches Jack's lips and looks regretfully at him. He picks up the canister, gets up and leaves.

 

TOP VIEW DOWN :

John walks away from Jack's dead body.

 

EXT. SHIPYARD - NIGHT

Ianto, Owen and Toshiko search the containers. He walks past them.

IANTO : If she's in one of these, we'll never find her, there's too many !

TOSHIKO : Just keep looking !

Owen opens a container door and groans.

OWEN : Aah ! God, I need more painkillers !

Ianto takes his phone out.

IANTO : I'll try her phone again.

ZOOM over to Gwen in the dark container. Her eyes are open and she's still not moving. She hears her phone ring faintly. Her eyes move as she looks to the side.

IANTO'S PHONE

They hear the phone ringing. Ianto follows the sound and starts running toward it.

IANTO : (shouts) Over here !

Toshiko and Owen head over as well. Gwen is in the dark and waits.

 

TOP VIEW OF SHIPYARD.

The phone rings. Gwen's phone is on the ground. Owen picks it up.

OWEN : She must've dropped it.

Ianto has his gun out. He's being cautious.

IANTO : (shouts) Gwen ! Gwen !

Toshiko digs into her bag.

TOSHIKO : Unless it's another of Captain John's tricks.

She takes out her hand-held scanner.

IANTO : What're you doing? 

TOSHIKO : If Gwen used the phone here, I can use the network to triangulate the location where she answered her last call. Got it !

Toshiko turns and heads off. Ianto and Owen follow.

 

INT. CONTAINTER - CONTINUOUS

Gwen lies on the cold floor.

 

EXT. CONTAINER - CONTINUOUS

They arrive at the location. Owen and Ianto head for the last two containers.

TOSHIKO : This is where she made the call. Open every container door !

They open the container doors and start checking. Toshiko opens a container door.

 

INT. CONTAINTER - CONTINUOUS

Gwen's on the floor. The container door opens and Toshiko finds her.

TOSHIKO : She's here !

They run inside to check on her.

TOSHIKO : Gwen, it's all right. We're here with you.

Toshiko turns Gwen's head so she can see them.

TOSHIKO : What happened ? What's he done to her ?

Owen gets to work. They all move quickly and efficiently.

OWEN : She's still breathing. No discernible injuries. Tosh, let's get this thing started. Ianto, take a swab.

Owen hands Ianto a swab out of his kit. Toshiko opens her laptop. Owen checks her eyes.

OWEN : Right, pupils dilating, she's still conscious. (Ianto swabs Gwen's lips.) Stay with us, darling.

Ianto dabs the swab in Toshiko's scanner. Toshiko runs the analysis and gets the results. She turns the laptop toward Owen.

TOSHIKO : He's poisoned her.

OWEN : (to Ianto) Anti-toxin kit now !

Ianto gets up to get it.

OWEN : Gwen, hold on.

 

EXT. CARDIFF CITY - BAY (STOCK) - MORNING

Establish time of day.

 

INT. HUB - AUTOPSY AREA - MORNING

John Hart is back in Torchwood. He picks up the last canister and opens it. He takes out the piece inside to match the other two pieces. He places the last piece as the third side of a triangle on the counter. He turns and walks over to the blowfish's body on the table behind him. He sighs.

JOHN : Had to go and steal a car. Get yourself noticed.

John checks his pockets and finds a small pyramid. It's beeping. He looks at it.

JOHN : Now...

He heads back to the counter and we can see that the pyramid is a fourth piece and fits perfectly in the open center of the triangle. John crouches down and starts to set the piece.

CLOSE-UP ON four guns and four hands pulling the gun slides back to load the chamber.

John turns and finds Ianto, Gwen, Owen and Toshiko standing at the top of the bay area with their guns trained on him.

JOHN : Ok.

He stands up and faces them. The pyramid piece is still in his hand. The pyramid stops beeping.

JOHN : Pretty and resilient. Is that even fair ?

GWEN : Maybe you didn't realize. You can beat, shoot, threaten, and even poison us, and we keep coming back. Stronger every time.

JOHN : (casually) Well, I think you ought to know, your boss is splayed out on the...

Jack steps forward into view. John is sufficiently surprised to see him.

JOHN :... pavement. Now that's impressive. Seriously, you can earn a fortune in the Vegas galaxies with an act like that. Go on, how's it work ?

JACK : I can't die.

JOHN : No. But, really...

JACK : No. But really, you can't kill me. No matter how many times you try. I can't die. Ever.

Jack starts down the steps into the bay area. Gwen and Ianto make room for him, then train their guns back on John.

JOHN HART : But what does it cost you ? Every time you have to drag yourself back here, how does it feel ? All that pain and trauma. Plus, you're reborn into this godforsaken mess. I pity you.

JACK : These people. This planet. All the beauty you could never see. That's what I come back for.

JOHN HART : Well, goody on you.

GWEN : What's in the canisters ?

OWEN : Come-clean time, Captain.

JOHN : Yeah, all right. That woman I told you about ? Had herself an Arcadian diamond, the rarest gem in the Damascene Cluster. Just when I'd got my hands on her, she only generates her own personal riftstorm. God, I hate technological geniuses.

TOSHIKO : You said this was a dying woman's request.

JOHN : Yeah, she was dying. I shot her. Thought my luck had changed when I found it had ended up here. So, I'm thinking 50/50 ? Even split, good deal. Or if anyone fancies an orgy ?

 

INT. HUB - JACK'S OFFICE - DAY

The pyramid is on Jack's desk. Jack sits and rubs his chin, thinking about it.

JACK : Open it.

JOHN : What, not even a please ? Don't your manners get brought back to life too ?

JACK : Now !

JOHN : This should give us the location of the diamond.

John puts the triangle pieces, now snapped together in one piece, over the pyramid. It fits perfectly. The pyramid projects a holographic image up on the desk. She's a beautiful woman.

JOHN : There she is.

GWEN : The woman you murdered.

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : You've traveled several galaxies for this. Well done.

JOHN : Thank you, gorgeous.

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : Except... there's no diamond.

JOHN : What ?

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : Only this.

The metal pyramid opens to reveal a bright metal piece inside. The three-piece base spreads, separates and twists.

JOHN : No, no, no.

The bright metal piece inside floats out and changes into a circular disc with clamps.

JOHN : No, no, no, no, no. There's got to be a diamond. It's all about the diamond ! What the hell is tha...

The disc ZOOMS and attaches itself to John's chest, the metal clamps embedding a firm hold on him. A red light appears and it ticks. John staggers backward. The Holographic Woman turns and smiles in his direction. John can't remove it. It is clamped securely to his chest.

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : It's an explosive device, which will latch on to the DNA of whoever killed me. It'll detonate in ten minutes.

Always at the ready, Ianto takes out his stopwatch and starts the timer.

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : It can't be removed without exploding, so don't bother trying. Goodbye, lover.

JOHN : No, wait !

HOLOGRAM WOMAN : See you in hell.

The hologram ends.

GWEN : She can't be serious. Ten minutes.

JOHN : (shouts) Get out off me !

IANTO : Actually, nine minutes... 50, 49, 48... always at the ready.

He holds up the stopwatch.

GWEN : Okay. How big is this explosion likely to be, Jack ?

JACK : That technology, that size,big.

OWEN : So, we should really get him out of the city.

IANTO : Nine minutes 37.

JOHN : (turns to Jack) You've got to help me ! Please.

Jack stands up and faces him.

JACK : Why ?

John punches Jack in the face, then grabs Gwen, twists her arms behind her back and pulls her backward out the office door. Owen pulls his gun out.

OWEN : Let her go !

JOHN : Get back ! Back, back off ! Get back !

 

INT. THE HUB - WORKSTATIONS - CONTINUOUS

Everyone has their guns out and follows John out of the office.

GWEN : Jack, help me !

JOHN : Get back !

He lets her go as the handcuffs snap shut around her wrist. She looks at her left wrist handcuffed to his right wrist.

GWEN : What've you done ?!

JOHN HART : It's... uh... hypersteel, impermeable, deadlock sealed. No way to undo them. Unless you have this key.

He shows them a key, then puts it in his mouth and swallows it. She grabs him by his throat.

GWEN : You are unbelievable !

JOHN : And yet, you still find me strangely attractive. Now you had better find a solution pronto or she'll be blown up with me !

OWEN : Would shooting him stop the DNA trigger ?

JACK : (puts a hand on Owen's shoulder to stay him) No.

JOHN HART : So ! What are we gonna do now, team ? The orgy's still on offer, by the way. Especially now the cuffs are out.

IANTO : Nine minutes, four seconds.

GWEN : Tosh ? The rift predictor program, have you perfected yet ?

TOSHIKO : Pretty much.

JOHN : What ?

GWEN : Anything in the next few minutes ?

Toshiko heads for her computer to check.

JACK : Gwen, no way.

Jack looks at Gwen.

JOHN : What's she talking about ?

Jack shakes his head.

GWEN : If we're in the rift when that disc explodes, the city will be safe.

JOHN : How does that save us ?

GWEN : It doesn't.

IANTO : Eight thirty-two... thirty-one...

JOHN : You're bluffing.

GWEN : (dead serious) Try me.

TOSHIKO : The car park where he arrived. The crack in the rift is still active up there.

GWEN : That's where we're going.

Gwen grabs John and pulls him after her as she leaves the workstation areas.

JOHN : (shouts) Somebody better start doing something !

Ianto and Toshiko follow. Jack starts to follow, but Owen stops him.

IANTO : (o.s.) Cut his hand off !

TOSHIKO : (o.s.) That would activate the bomb.

Owen grabs Jack's arm and motions him toward the autopsy area.

OWEN : Come on, come on.

GWEN : (o.s.) Don't make me pull you ! Get up the stairs! Now !

Gwen pulls John after her. Ianto and Toshiko follow them out.

 

INT. HUB - AUTOPSY BAY - CONTINUOUS

REVERSE VIEW INSIDE THE REFRIGERATOR

Owen takes out a tray of vials filled with blood samples.

 

SERIES OF CUTS :

He puts the tray on the counter and starts pulling out vials of blood. He hands one to Jack, who adds it to a vial he's holding. Owen pulls out another vial, uncaps it and hands it to Jack to add it to the mixture. Owen pulls another vial out labeled "Ianto, Jones." Jack uncaps it and adds it to the mixture.

 

CUT TO :

Owen starts the machine to mix the blood.

 

EXT. VARIOUS CARDIFF (STOCK) - DAY

ZOOM out and up from the city.

 

INT. TORCHWOOD SUV (TRAVELING) - DAY

Ianto monitors the time.

IANTO : Five minutes, twenty-two seconds.

Gwen is driving. Toshiko is working on the computer in the back seat.

TOSHIKO : I can't find the frequency the device works on. There's no chance of jamming it !

GWEN : What happened to Jack ? He should be here.

JOHN : What I've been saying all along, unreliable.

GWEN : Shut up !

As they drive, John sees a couple of young women walking along the sidewalk.

JOHN : Think I'm starting to see what he likes about this place. (He sees a woman and a man walking.) She's beautiful, he's stunning.

GWEN : Don't you ever stop ?

JOHN : What five minutes to live, you want me to behave ? (He sees something off screen.) Oh, that's gorgeous.

GWEN : That's a poodle.

JOHN : That's nice.

 

INT. HUB - AUTOPSY AREA - DAY

Owen stops the machine and grabs the mixed canister. Jack picks up a syringe.

JACK : (holds it up) This better work.

OWEN : (holds it up) Trust me, I'm an improviser.

They head out.

 

EXT. GARAGE - ROOFTOP - DAY

The Torchwood SUV arrives at the top of the garage rooftop where John Hart first appeared. It comes to a screeching halt. Gwen gets out of the car. She pulls John out behind her. Ianto and Toshiko get out of the SUV.

GWEN : Out ! GET OUT !

JOHN : Ow, ow ! I do love a woman who's rough.

IANTO : Fifty-one seconds.

Gwen looks out and waits for the rift. A golden gaseous light appears - faint at first, then larger and larger.

JOHN : You're not really gonna sacrifice yourself, are you ?

IANTO : Forty-five seconds.

GWEN : We have to go.

Gwen starts toward the rift and pulls John along with her.

JOHN HART : (protesting) No ! What about a last-minute rescue ? What's the point of being on a team if you don't get a last-minute rescue !

IANTO : Forty seconds !

GWEN : Tell...

She turns to look at Ianto and Toshiko.

GWEN : ...Tell Jack... Tell Jack, I...

The screeching tires of a car approaching sounds. They turn and see the red convertible speed out of the entrance. Jack is driving. The car stops. Owen gets out of the car, holding his injured side and running toward them. Jack jumps out of the car, the syringe between his teeth.

IANTO : Thirty seconds.

He grabs the syringe and runs toward them.

JOHN : Er, what's he doing ?

Jack tackles them both and they slam backward to the concrete. Jack stabs the syringe needle directly into his chest, injecting him with the blood mixture.

JOHN : Agh ! Get off me !

John grabs his wrist and pulls him off. After the syringe is emptied into him, Jack lets go and backs away. He waits for a reaction.

JACK : Owen, it's not working.

IANTO : Fifteen seconds !

Gwen kneels next to John.

GWEN : What are you doing ?!

OWEN : Trying to confuse the disc !

JACK : Why hasn't it worked ?

OWEN : I don't know !

IANTO : Twelve seconds !

TOSHIKO : Jack, do something !

Gwen grabs John by his shirt and yanks him up. She looks back at Jack.

GWEN : I've gotta go, Jack.

Jack reaches down and grabs John to help her when they pull John to his feet and the disc falls off.

IANTO : Five... Four...

Jack picks up the disc.

IANTO : Three...

Owen turns and grabs Toshiko, pushing her back toward the cars.

IANTO : Two...

Jack hurls the disc into the rift !

IANTO : One !

The disc enters the rift.

IANTO : Go !

It explodes. Owen, Toshiko and Ianto take cover behind the cars. Jack turns and starts running with Gwen and John.

JACK : Run !

The explosion rips out of the rift - light, sound, and time and day is now night.

The force of the explosion lifts Jack, Gwen and John clear off the pavement. They hit the ground. They turn around and look back at where the rift was. Jack looks at his watch. Everything is quiet.

JACK : What the hell ?

GWEN : Jack, what's going on ? Why's it gone dark ?

JACK : The rift's reverted to the moment he came through. Everything's jumped back to the beginning of the night.

GWEN : Like you were never here.

Owen, Toshiko and Ianto return and join them.

JACK : Now we've got to avoid ourselves, great !

JOHN : It's a temporal displacement ! Makes your tongue tingle, doesn't it ? Lovely !

GWEN : (to Owen) What was in the syringe ?

OWEN : Torchwood DNA.

GWEN : What ?

OWEN : DNA samples from the five of us, fused and injected into his heart. Temporarily corrupted his DNA coding, confused the disc.

JOHN : You mean, there's a bit of all of you inside of me ? Sweet goddesses, that's all I need.

GWEN : Thank you, Owen.

OWEN : You're welcome.

JACK : (to John) I want you gone.

GWEN : Well, we've got to work out a way to get these off first.

She holds up her handcuffed wrist.

JOHN : Actually...

He motions her closer. With a sly look at Jack, he tilts his head back, reaches down into the back of his mouth, gags a little, and pulls out a key.

JOHN : Old Artesian trick. (to Gwen) Keep it in the lining of the throat. Has a lot of uses.

GWEN : You had that all along ?

JOHN : You were my passport to survival. (He unlocks the handcuffs.) No hard feelings. Well, not in that sense.

Gwen takes a step back and slugs him once in the face, hard. And all the guys feel it with him.

OWEN : Oh !

Gwen backs away from John, who is holding the side of his mouth. Ianto looks absolutely stunned. Jack chuckles with amusement. Owen puts a hand on Gwen's shoulder.

IANTO : Remind me never to get on your bad side.

Jack holds out his hand to John.

JACK : (clears throat) Ahem !

They look at each other. John reaches into his jacket pocket and gives Jack his wristband back. Owen has his arm around Gwen's shoulders. Jack looks at his wristband.

JACK : Definitely bigger.

He secures it back on his wrist.

JOHN : If you need a new team member...

JACK : No.

JOHN : Really ? I could...

JACK : No.

JOHN : But...

JACK : No. Go now, and you can harness the residual rift energy.

JOHN : Listen...

JACK : Goodbye.

JOHN : Okay.

John grabs Jack and kisses him. He takes a step back and pats him on his chest. He heads for the rift. He presses a button on his wrist band and the golden gaseous light appears. As the gaseous light engulfs him...

JOHN : Oh ! By the way... I meant to tell you. (serious) I found Gray.

 

ZOOM IN on Jack's stunned face.

QUICK CUTS OF :

A white light and a child's hand slipping out of the adult's hand. A man yelling and a child screaming in the background.

ON JACK, absolutely devastated.

Toshiko, Gwen, Owen and Ianto step up behind him. John watches his reaction, turns and disappears into the gold light. The rift vanishes.

GWEN : Who's Gray ?

Jack's back is to them. He takes a moment to answer, still processing that bit of information. He takes several breaths and shakes his head a little.

JACK : It's nothing. Let's get back to work.

With the team following behind him, Jack turns and heads out straight toward the camera.

 

END