Odyssey Spin-off Series in the Works?

This was seen posted at odysseyscoop.com on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, but mysteriously vanished a few hours later...

"Have you ever imagined an Adventures in Odyssey spinoff series? Although it hasn't been officially approved by Focus on the Family for production, the wheels are turning. Take a look at what the series could (perhaps) involve:

A new spin-off series may be in the works for older Adventures in Odyssey fans, ages 13–20, featuring your 3 favorite characters, Whit, Connie and Eugene, and other old favorites as well! The stories and situations will center around Campbell County Community College and deal with spiritual warfare, covert government operations and more! This idea is not yet officially approved by Focus on the Family, but if it sounds exciting to you, tell all of your AIO friends! Let’s get this spin-off series on the air!

Will an Adventures in Odyssey spinoff series actually happen? That's where you come in. If you are interested in seeing Odyssey branch off into a similar series for older listeners, be sure to show your support and share with other AIO fans. Of course, we'll keep you posted as Odyssey news hits the fan in the days ahead. Show your support and bring even more valuable Adventures in Odyssey!"

6-19: Download Your Brain (Part Six)

Scene 1: Inside an Air Vent

(Jonathan, Scientist, Doctor, Computer)

Jonathan is crawling through a long air vent inside the building with his hands tied.

JONATHAN

(to himself)

Well, here I am. - A fine mess I’ve gotten myself into. – I get locked up in a room by some guys I’ve never seen before in my life, and now I’m crawling through an air vent to escape. – But I don’t have any idea where it leads.

(thinking while crawling)

Actually, I did recognize one of them. He was one of the guys I saw on the bus. I wonder what he’s doing here. It doesn’t make any sense. Heh, a better question would be, what am I doing here. Now that’s what doesn’t make sense. Why did we stay on the bus the whole way? We knew better than to stay on when it got on the ferry boat. – But we did anyway. We must have been out of it or something. Maybe it was a combination of the heat and…some sort of…gas, I guess. - That still doesn’t make sense. – The only thing that seemed to wake me up was when that one guy went to the back and started walking off the bus with Jessica’s suitcase. I couldn’t let him get away with it. After all, the only reason I was on that bus is because Jessica had forgotten her suitcase. – Tim was so confused.

(notices something)

Hello, what’s this? It looks like I’ve come all the way to the end of the line. There’s another grate up there. I hope it leads outside.

Jonathan keeps crawling and begins to hear voices on the other side of the grate. They are speaking in Turkish.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(quietly to himself)

Oh, it looks like it doesn’t lead outside. – Just to another part of the building. – And I’ve got company over here too.

The two men on the other side of the grate say something in English.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(quietly to himself)

Wait a minute. Did I just hear them say something in English? I’d better listen.

Jonathan listens to the voices of the two men.

SCIENTIST

Why do you say that we have to speak in English?

DOCTOR

It’s only for the moment. I don’t want the men in the next room to understand what we’re saying.

SCIENTIST

You do not trust them?

DOCTOR

You cannot trust anyone these days.

SCIENTIST

Why English? I think I would prefer French.

DOCTOR

So would I. But the men in the other room can probably understand French. English may be more difficult for us to speak, but it is also more difficult for them to understand.

SCIENTIST

I see. I understand English, but I do not understand why they bombed the city. Everybody knows it was the Turks who did it, but no one knows why they hit the Turkish side instead of the Greek side.

DOCTOR

That is what I wanted to speak to you about. I have been going over it in my head all day, but it does not make any sense to me. – But earlier today, I overheard the boss telling someone that he got an e-mail saying that our acts of treachery would never be forgotten and it would be better to have the device destroyed than to let us have it.

SCIENTIST

Device? Do you mean to say that it never made it to Jerusalem?

DOCTOR

We know for sure that it made it all the way to Tel Aviv. After that, we don’t know.

SCIENTIST

Then it was stolen?

DOCTOR

I do not know what they are talking about. It is crazy talk. – But the way I see it is that there is a connection between the bombing and the e-mail. It is the only reason I can see for why the Turks would bomb the Turks.

SCIENTIST

Do you think that one of those bombs was meant for us?

DOCTOR

I hope not, but it certainly looks like a possibility. The craziest thing about that though is that we designed the device, we have the plans, and we even have another device just like the one we delivered to that guy based in Jerusalem.

SCIENTIST

I do not understand. Why do they think we would steal our own device back? There is nothing good in that for us.

DOCTOR

Well, at least the device they gave us did not get stolen. Do you have it?

SCIENTIST

It is right here.

DOCTOR

Go ahead and stick it in the slot.

The two men are standing directly beneath the vent that Jonathan is listening through. There are some computer-like sound-effects.

JONATHAN

(quietly to himself)

What are they doing? I can’t see.

SCIENTIST

Is it set on conversion?

DOCTOR

Not for now. It will only do a test run on the data. We had better go get the patient. Oh, you can probably stop speaking in English. I think it is safe now.

The two men start speaking in Turkish as they walk away.

JONATHAN

(to himself)

They’re gone. Now’s my chance. I’d better hurry though.

Jonathan begins pushing against the grate on the air vent.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(grunting)

Come on, grate. Open up. (grunts)

The grate gives way. The grate and Jonathan fall to the floor below. The grate is loud. Jonathan makes a noise but quickly hushes himself up. He hears the two men around the corner at the end of the hall way he landed in. The two men sound startled.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(to himself - horror)

Oh, no! Here they come! What do I do! Quick! In the closet!

Jonathan turns and steps into what he thinks is a closet. It is a small empty room that echoes when he takes a step.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(to himself – panicked)

Where’s the door? – There isn’t one. Now what? What is this room?

Jonathan suddenly hears a computerized female voice coming from the ceiling of the room. It is speaking in Turkish. The room starts making noises as the computers begin to boot and the fans begin to run. Jonathan can hear a computer-run machine starting up.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(to himself)

What was that? What’s that mean? What’s on this computer screen?

A data run? How do I turn this thing off? Someone’s going to hear it.

A heavy sliding door closes behind Jonathan.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(surprised)

Ah… there is a door. Maybe they won’t hear this stupid computer now.

The computer says something in Turkish and immediately the lights go out in the room. The sound of the lights turning off echoes through the room.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(surprised)

Ah… there went the lights. – I can’t see a thing. Wait a minute. My hands aren’t tied together anymore… weird.

An Imagination Station-like sound can be heard.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(to himself – amazed)

What is that bright light over there?

The whirring, swishing, computer noises get louder and Jonathan is sucked into space. His voice eventually fades out.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(amazed and falling)

Whhhoooooooaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Scene 2: Inside the Computer

(Jonathan, Mrs. Weis, Little Kid Jonathan, Pastor Weis, Slightly Older Jonathan, Little Kid Bully, Kid Jonathan, Tim, Older Kid Jonathan, Kid Ashley, Little Kid Peter, Joe, Kid Jessica, Little Kid Aaron, Kurt, Junior High Jonathan, Dave, Junior High Michael, Hannah, Older Kid Jessica, Aaron, Anthony, Jessica, Ashley, Christopher, Kevin)

Jonathan seems to be traveling at a great speed. He begins to see things that he doesn’t fully understand, but are familiar to him. There’s a flash and he begins to experience scenes of the past. He sees his mom singing a lullaby to him when he was a baby.

MRS. WEIS

(dreamlike - finishing her lullaby – speaking tenderly)

Now, now, little Jonathan. Go to sleep.

JONATHAN

(to himself – amazed)

What is this?

Another scene flashes before him.

LITTLE KID JONATHAN

I lost the string to my yo-yo.

PASTOR WEIS

(dreamlike)

Where did you lose it?

LITTLE KID JONATHAN

In the yard.

Another scene.

LITTLE KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(happy and proud)

I got to go to the cheese factory today.

Another scene.

LITTLE KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(worried)

Look! Look! The building’s on fire!

Another scene.

PASTOR WEIS AND MRS. WEIS

Happy birthday to you, happy birth…

Another scene.

LITTLE KID JONATHAN

(happy and proud)

Did you see the snow fort that me and Michael made?

MRS. WEIS

(dreamlike - happy and proud)

I did.

Another scene.

SLIGHTLY OLDER JONATHAN

I don’t like girls. They’re weird…

Another scene.

LITTLE KID BULLY

What did you call me? That’s not my name! Of all the…

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN

(happy and proud)

I knocked over the bully today. He didn’t think I could, but I did.

MRS. WEIS

You what?

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN

Why do I always make myself look goofy?

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

I’m sorry I lied to you.

PASTOR WEIS

I forgive you.

Another scene.

MRS. WEIS

(happy)

Jonathan, you’re going to have another baby brother.

Another scene.

PASTOR WEIS

(laughing)

How do they say it in the army, Tim?

TIM

No, sir, no!

PASTOR WEIS

Uh, I think you mean ‘Sir, no, sir!’

Another scene.

PASTOR WEIS (CONT’D)

We’re going to be moving to another place soon.

KID JONATHAN

But I don’t want to move.

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(disgusted)

Crazy tourists. Why don’t they watch where they’re going?

Another scene.

KID ASHLEY

(stuck up)

All boys have cooties.

KID JONATHAN

Oh, good grief.

Another scene.

MRS. WEIS

I think we should pray…

Another flash.

KID JONATHAN

Dear, Jesus. Please come into my heart and forgive me of my sins…

Another scene.

LITTLE KID PETER

Somebody help! Aaron fell in! Aaron fell in!

JOE

(calling from a distance away)

Get him, Ashley!

KID ASHLEY

(reaching out into the water)

Got him!

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN

Do you see all the stars, Jessica?

KID JESSICA

Yes, They’re so pretty.

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN

They don’t understand what it’s like to be a pastor’s kid…

Another flash.

KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

I don’t want my only friends to be either girls or my brothers…

Another scene.

KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

You’re name’s Aaron, right?

LITTLE KID AARON

Yep. Maybe we can be friends?

KID JONATHAN

Yeah.

Another scene.

OLDER KID JONATHAN

I wonder why she was the only one who never left…

Another scene.

OLDER KID JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Even though there were a lot of mistakes, I still think that the Christmas pageant went well…

Another flash.

KURT

(singing)

I wonder as I wander out under the sky…

Another scene.

KID JESSICA

I don’t understand what they’re doing.

OLDER KID JONATHAN

I don’t either.

Another scene.

LITTLE KID AARON

We can pretend we have a time machine…

Another scene.

KID JESSICA

Do you like my idea?

KID ASHLEY

(stuck up)

Not really.

KID JESSICA

(annoyed)

Well, Jonathan did…

Another scene.

OLDER KID JONATHAN

Girls aren’t exactly weird. They’re just very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very hard to understand…

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

I don’t understand why Christian teenagers would do things like that…

Another scene.

TIM

Hi, Jonathan. It’s good to see you again…

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

Thanks for saving my life, Dave.

DAVE

Oh, don’t mention it. What else could I have done? I couldn’t just leave you there…

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH MICHAEL

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

Yeah.

Another scene.

HANNAH

Why do you keep following us around?

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

I’m not! You guys are following me around.

OLDER KID JESSICA

Where are you going?

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

Downstairs.

OLDER KID JESSICA

(laughing)

So are we.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

(to himself)

Oh, good grief…

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Look at all the fireworks!

AARON

Cool!

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

I want to be baptized.

Another scene.

PASTOR WEIS

You’re checking with me to see if it’s okay for you to ask Robyn out on a date?

ANTHONY

Uh, well, I guess so.

PASTOR WEIS

(laughing on the inside)

It’s okay with me.

ANTHONY

(excited)

Really? Great! I’ll go talk to her…

Another scene.

JUNIOR HIGH JONATHAN

Why are so many people dying?

MRS. WEIS

I don’t know…

Another flash.

JONATHAN

Thanks, Tim.

TIM

You’re welcome…

Another flash.

JONATHAN

I should have been praying…

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

I need to learn to let go of my anger…

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Drama’s pretty cool…

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

I learned a lot this year.

Another scene.

DAVE

Is there something going on between you and Jessica?

JONATHAN

Not that I know of.

Another scene.

JESSICA

That concert was cool.

JONATHAN

I agree.

Another scene.

ASHLEY

I’m going to ride shot gun. You and Jessica have to sit in the back.

JONATHAN

Very well.

Another scene.

TIM

Come on, slowpokes. Get your stuff in the van. We need to get going.

JONATHAN

Oh, alright. Where’s your suitcase, Kevin?

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Hey, Aaron. Look at Anthony and Robyn. You’d think they were putting on a show for us.

Jonathan and Aaron start laughing.

ROBYN

(annoyed)

Would you two mind your own business!

Jonathan and Aaron keep laughing – There is another flash.

ANN

Remember, guys. I don’t want to hear any terrorist jokes as we go through security.

CHRISTOPHER

Don’t worry. We’re not that dumb.

ASHLEY

(laughing)

Yeah, they ask us our names as we go through, and we’re like, Osama Bin Laden…

EVERYONE

Shh!

Another flash.

KEVIN

(excited)

Isn’t this cool, Dave? We’re actually in New York!

Another flash.

KEVIN (CONT’D)

(excited)

Isn’t this cool, Dave? We’re actually in London!

Another flash.

KEVIN (CONT’D)

(excited)

Isn’t this cool, Dave? We’re actually in Paris!

Another flash.

KEVIN (CONT’D)

(excited)

Isn’t this cool, Dave? We’re actually in Israel!

Another flash.

JONATHAN

I saw your suitcase on the platform, Jessica – and I couldn’t just let it sit there. – So, here you go.

JESSICA

Thanks, Jonathan. I thought for sure I brought that with me.

Another flash.

JONATHAN

Oh, no. I’m on the wrong bus.

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Those men looked awfully suspicious. – Boy, I sure am tired…

Another flash.

DAVE

…we’re on the island of Cyprus…

Another flash.

JONATHAN

Even though we’re stuck here, I am readily enjoying myself.

DAVE

Me too. Play it cool. That’s what I say.

Another flash.

JONATHAN

Hey, Christopher, how about a game of chess?

CHRISTOPHER

Sure.

Another flash.

JONATHAN

(to himself)

Yes! I was able to look Jessica in the face without acting clingy again.

(thinking)

Hmm, maybe not.

Another flash.

JESSICA

The planes! They’re dropping bombs!

TIM

Follow me!

Another flash.

JESSICA

That was close. Thanks for helping me up.

Another flash.

JONATHAN

Interesting knight piece…

(panic)

Where’d Dave and Jessica go!

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

That smoke must be coming from the city.

Another flash.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Wait a minute. That’s Jason, Eugene, and Wooton over there!

The scenes start speeding up and begin to run together. – The scenes now are of Jonathan running towards the building after Jason, Eugene and Wooton, Jonathan arguing with the guards and getting knocked in the jaw. The guards lock him in a room. He pulls the gag off his mouth, climbs through an air vent and falls out the other side. He hears people coming and runs into an empty room. The door closes behind him and the computer starts talking in Turkish.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(to himself)

Wait a minute. I’m back to where I started.

The computer says something in Turkish. – Suddenly, The scenes Jonathan has just seen flash before him in about fifteen seconds.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(scared)

No! Stop! Stop!

Jonathan suddenly wakes up from what seems to have been a dream. He is breathing hard.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

I must have passed out. – I don’t know how.

(beat – concerned)

Oh, no. Everything’s starting to spin again.

The machine starts to make some more Imagination Station-like noises, but then the noises stop. – The computer speaks in English this time.

COMPUTER

Proceeding into level one.

The machine starts whirring to life again.

COMPUTER (CONT’D)

Transfer of mind-message to patient will begin shortly. – Warning: portion of download has been scrambled. Will began transfer in five seconds.

The computer begins counting down to one, starting with four.

JONATHAN

(to himself)

What’s going on?

The Imagination Station sounds begin again when the computer gets to one.

COMPUTER

The infiltration of the identification chip has been unsuccessful thus far. However, we have made a rather extraordinary breakthrough. We have been able to successfully manipulate the features of the updated chips and can control the operations by radio frequencies. The connection to the nerve endings has yielded little results, however, when tested on lab rats, the experiment proved successful in the manipulation of the limbs. Will need to see more test results before this can be implemented in the European Identification chip. We expect results before the next election.

Suddenly, the program stops running and the lights begin to come on in the room. The door begins to slide open.

JONATHAN

(gasps)

They’ve found me. I’ll have to make a break for it. Wait, my hands are tied again. How could that have happened?

The two men walk through the door and are speaking in Turkish. – They grab Jonathan and pull him out of the machine. – They say something in Turkish, but then stop.

DOCTOR

You are an American, aren’t you? You had better not have ruined our experiment. How did you get in here?

JONATHAN

Through the front door.

DOCTOR

What did you see?

JONATHAN

Where?

DOCTOR

Never mind. We will soon find out anyway. I think we have just found a new patient to experiment on. Quick! Get him out of here. I need to make sure he did not ruin anything.

SCIENTIST

(to doctor)

Yes, sir.

(to Jonathan)

Come on, you.

The scientist takes Jonathan away.

DOCTOR

(to himself)

No need to question him. We can simply look in the computer files. He practically downloaded his entire memory onto the computer. Yes, it is quite easy to find out everything you want to know about someone when they’ve given you a virtual copy of their brain.

Scene 3: In an Empty Part of the Building

(Scientist, Jonathan, Eugene)

The Scientist is leading Jonathan through an empty part of the building.

SCIENTIST

(gruff)

Come on.

JONATHAN

Where are we going?

SCIENTIST

(gruff)

Quiet! Once we find out who you are, you will be sorry you ever stepped into our line of work. – Stand still.

They stop walking.

SCIENTIST

I will show you what we have done with the lab rats. We will perform the same experiments on you.

Suddenly, Eugene jumps out of nowhere and hits the Scientist on the top of the head. They make the appropriate noises and the Scientist collapses unconscious. Jonathan is surprised.

JONATHAN

Eugene. – It’s you.

EUGENE

(A bit excited)

Indeed. You looked as though you needed some assistance. Are you well?

JONATHAN

I’m fine. – But I think our friend here will have a nasty headache when he wakes up. How did you know I was here?

EUGENE

I found this.

He holds up Jonathan’s backpack.

JONATHAN

My backpack?

EUGENE

When I saw your name on it I knew that something was amiss. Do you know where Tim and the other teens are?

JONATHAN

Well, I’m pretty sure they’re still in the woods. That’s where they all ran after the bombs came.

EUGENE

You mean they’re not here?

JONATHAN

No.

EUGENE

Excellent. Now all we have to do is find Jason and Wooton and see if they have had as much success as I have. Quickly, Jonathan! - We must find them post haste!

Scene 4: In an Empty Hallway
(Eugene, Jason, Wooton, Reuben)

EUGENE

(hushed voice)

Where have you guys been? We’ve been looking for you all over the place.

JASON

(hushed voice)

Sorry, Eugene. We had some business to take care of…but as you can see, we’ve got Anthony and the others.

EUGENE

Good. Now let’s get out of here.

JASON

(confused) Wait, what’s he doing in here?

EUGENE

Jonathan? I’ll explain later – that is – he will.

WOOTON

Do we have to explain to him why we’re here or does he already know?

REUBEN

(concerned)

Listen – any explaining that we need to get done can be accomplished far away from this building. Why don’t we leave and have a little talk in the woods.

WOOTON

Good idea. This place makes me nervous.

JASON

Let’s go.

Scene 5: Behind the Building

(Anthony, Jason, Eugene, Wooton, Reuben, Preston, Jonathan)

The back door to the building slowly opens and Anthony peeks his head out.

ANTHONY

(hushed voice)

It’s all clear guys. There’s not a guard in sight back here.

Everyone starts to walk out the door.

JASON

Alright. Now let’s get rid of these lab coats and head on up into the woods.

EUGENE

Wait, what happened to the crate containing all the lab coats?

WOOTON

It’s gone.

EUGENE

What do we do now?

JASON

We dump them in the woods - that’s what we do.

EUGENE

Oh.

REUBEN

(impatient)

Let’s get going then.

ANTHONY

I’d hold on to that card key if I were you. You might need it later.

JASON

I hope not.

WOOTON

Yeah, we hope not either.

JASON

I’ll hold on to it though, just in case.

WOOTON

In case what? You start to miss the place and decide come back for a friendly visit?

JASON

Not quite.

ANTHONY

Hey, where’d Preston go?

JONATHAN

He’s waiting for us in the woods over there. I think I’ll go join him now.

WOOTON

Yeah, I think I will too.

ANTHONY

He’s in the woods? Shouldn’t he wait for the rest of us?

JONATHAN

I’m not.

WOOTON

Me neither.

JONATHAN

It’s better for us to catch up with him than for him to wait for us.

WOOTON

Yeah, we’re going. See ya.

Jonathan and Wooton walk off into the woods.

JONATHAN

Why are you guys on Cyprus anyway?

WOOTON

Oh, I don’t know. Just hangin’ out I guess.

(chuckle-snort)

Why, what are you doing here?

JONATHAN

I have absolutely no idea.

WOOTON

Hey, that’s cool. Say, is it the new fashion to where ropes around your wrists these days?

JONATHAN

No, why do you ask?

WOOTON

Oh, I was just wondering.

Scene 6: In the Woods

(Eugene, Jonathan, Preston, Wooton, Anthony, Reuben, Jason)

The others catch up in the woods and continue to walk deeper into them while they talk.

EUGENE

Well, that was rather strange experience.

JONATHAN

I’ll say.

EUGENE

And there is something that I would really like to know if it were possible.

PRESTON

What would that be?

EUGENE

Why in the world are the six… no… seven of us wandering through the woods on this island?

JONATHAN

Oh, that’s easy. We’re looking for our friends.

EUGENE

Well, of course, Jonathan, but why are you here in the first place? Why didn’t you and the other kids get off the bus when it stopped at Tel Aviv? Why did you wait until after it boarded a ferry to Cypress?

JONATHAN

Uh… Tel Aviv?

EUGENE

Indeed. Formerly known as Joppa… one of several important locations in the book of the prophet Jonah in the Old Testament…

WOOTON

(excited)

Ooh! Jonah!

EUGENE

…the narrative of which I do not have time to get into right now.

WOOTON

(disappointed)

Aww.

JONATHAN

Well, I don’t know why we’re here. I can’t remember much of anything that happened from the time we got on the bus until the time we got off it. I don’t know. Maybe Tim knows more than I do, but I’m sure where he is right now. They all ran off in the woods when the planes came in and attacked the city.

EUGENE

I see. But I do have further questions… What about Anthony and Preston? What are they doing here?

WOOTON

Yeah, and who’s the guy with the fat lip?

ANTHONY

Uh…

REUBEN

They cannot discuss the reason for which they came. In the meantime though, I have a few questions of my own for you and your three friends.

JONATHAN

My hands are still tied.

ANTHONY

Here, I’ll take care of that.

Anthony takes out his knife and cuts the ropes from Jonathan’s hands.

JONATHAN

Ooh, that feels better. Thanks.

ANTHONY

You’re welcome.

REUBEN

Ahem… if I may… Why did you come to Cypress?

EUGENE

Who, me?

REUBEN

Yes, you.

EUGENE

Well, I came to find Jonathan here, along with eight other friends.

REUBEN

What are their names?

EUGENE

Uh… let’s see, uh… Timothy Morgan, uh… Christopher Perkins, David and Melissa Peterson, Kevin Saint John, Ashley Hamilton, Jessica Nordstrom, and… uh… Alexis Applegate.

REUBEN

What are their ages?

EUGENE

Um… I’m not certain. Uh… Tim’s in his early thirties, I believe. And the others I believe are in the range of twelve to eighteen.

REUBEN

I see. How about you? – Jonathan, was it?

JONATHAN

Yes.

REUBEN

Why are you here, Jonathan?

JONATHAN

I… I don’t know.

REUBEN

You don’t?

JONATHAN

No. It’s like I was saying earlier. It’s like I just woke up here.

REUBEN

How do you mean?

JONATHAN

Well… this sounds weird, but all I know is that we were all supposed to take a bus from the airport in Jerusalem to somewhere else in the city – the place where we would be staying. I don’t know where exactly that is. You would have to ask someone like Tim… or Anthony here. He was supposed to be there, too. In fact, I got on a bus with him, but ended up getting on another bus instead with the rest of the group.

REUBEN

Why didn’t you all get on the same bus?

JONATHAN

Well, the first bus that arrived only had room for a few people, so Ann, Lisa, and Robyn took it and we waited for the next one… but we got confused about which bus to take, so some of us got on one bus and others… well, just Anthony as it turns out, got on a different bus. But I guess the rest of us were on the wrong bus, because next thing I know, I wake up at the ferry terminal here. The bus is driving down the ramp off the ferry, and after it stops we get up and walk off with no idea where we are.

EUGENE

Are you following any of this, Jason?

JASON

Not really. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

EUGENE

Yes, I lost him in the part about all the busses.

WOOTON

Oh, I got. Don’t worry. It makes perfect sense.

REUBEN

Are you saying that you slept the entire trip?

JONATHAN

I guess so. – I mean, it kind of make sense. I was feeling pretty tired. I still am. Oh, and there’s one more thing.

REUBEN

What’s that?

JONATHAN

There were two men at the building we were just at that I recognized from the bus we arrived on. They’re the ones who tied me up and locked in a room. I never did like the looks of them. But I noticed them trading suitcases with another shady looking guy before we got on the bus in Jerusalem.

REUBEN

What did the suitcases look like?

JONATHAN

Uh… I don’t know. They looked like suitcases. They were black, I guess? Uh… no, no wait. One of them was a light blue color with… a… purple heart on it…

Jonathan becomes very thoughtful.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

Hmm…

EUGENE

A purple heart?

JASON

Weird.

WOOTON

Cool. I love purple hearts.

REUBEN

Well… it’s obvious that these three gentlemen standing in front of me used the doctors coats and the card keys they found to sneak into the building, but how did you manage to do so?

JONATHAN

Oh, I didn’t sneak in. After we all ran off into the woods during the bombing and we got separated from each other and wandered back in this direction until I got to that building. I saw Wooton, Eugene, and Jason walk inside so I tried to follow them, but got caught by those guys from the bus.

REUBEN

I see.

JONATHAN

Um…

REUBEN

What is it?

JONATHAN

Well, it’s just… if you don’t mind, I have needed to use the restroom for quite some time now. If you don’t mind postponing your questioning, would you allow me to be excused for a few minutes?

REUBEN

Huh? Oh, sure. Fine. Whatever. Go find a tree over there.

JONATHAN

Thank you.

Jonathan walks up the hill to go find a good tree.

PRESTON

Well, while he’s taking care of his business… I wanted to ask you what you thought of the officer’s statement about taking over Cypress? What do you think he meant by that?

ANTHONY

I don’t know. He mentioned something about his bosses having bigger plans than that though. I wasn’t sure what he meant by that either.

REUBEN

I’m guessing that the officer wouldn’t have let so much information slip if he had ever planned on releasing us.

JASON

He was going to have you guys tortured.

REUBEN

I’m sure when he was done with that he would have found something worse to do with us.

Scene 7: In the Woods

(Jonathan)

Jonathan has finished his business.

JONATHAN

(gives a deep sigh of relief)

Well, that takes care of that item of business. Conveniently placed trees, I might add. This section of the forest looks like it has some pretty old growth…

Suddenly, the ground starts moving under his feet.

JONATHAN (CONT’D)

(surprised)

What was that? I think I… whaa!

Jonathan falls and disappears into the ground.

Scene 8: In the Woods

(Jason, Anthony, Reuben, Preston, Wooton, Eugene)

JASON

Do you think we should check on him?

ANTHONY

He sure is taking a long time.

REUBEN

You don’t think he ran off, do you?

ANTHONY

No, he wouldn’t do something like that.

PRESTON

I’ll go and see if he’s alright. He went up that hill and beyond those trees, right?

REUBEN

Yeah, I think so. Here, I’ll come with you.

Reuben and Preston walk off.

WOOTON

Hey, Anthony, you’ll never guess what we had for breakfast this morning.

ANTHONY

What? Coffee?

WOOTON

Nope! Breakfast burritos!

ANTHONY

Awesome! I could go for one of those right now.

JASON

I’ve got to admit they were pretty good.

WOOTON

Well, you can’t go wrong with breakfast burritos!

EUGENE

Blech… you three have repulsive taste.

Scene 9: In the Woods

Preston and Reuben are looking for Anthony.

REUBEN

Where could he have gone?

PRESTON

I don’t know.

(beat)

Wait…

(beat)

Well, this is curious?

REUBEN

What is it?

PRESTON

It looks like there was a bit of a commotion up here. Look. Look at the way the dirt is marked up… and the branches on these bushes are broken… Something happened up here… but… it’s almost like he… vanished…

(frightened)

Whoa!

Suddenly, the soil gives way beneath their feet, and they both fall down a deep hole in the ground. The sound of their voices echoes down the hole and quickly disappears.

Scene 10: In the Woods

(Eugene, Jason, Anthony, Wooton, Guard, Mr. Albert)

EUGENE

You know, the rewards of a healthy well-balanced diet far outweigh the expenses.

JASON

I don’t know. Organic food can be a bit pricy sometimes, can’t it?

EUGENE

Well, if you look in the right place…

ANTHONY

(frightened)

What’s that?

WOOTON

(frightened)

What is it? A snake?

ANTHONY

Shh!

JASON

Uh-oh…

Suddenly, a few men jump out from behind bushes and trees brandishing machetes.

GUARD

You four! Come with us!

JASON

Well, well, well, if it isn’t our friends from earlier. What are you going to do? Poke us with your pocket knives?

EUGENE

Uhh… those look like machetes to me.

WOOTON

Yeah, me too.

GUARD

Quiet! Now put your hands in the air and come with us!

EUGENE

What should we do?

JASON

Prepare to run!

GUARD

Get them!

Suddenly, there is machine gun fire all around. Everyone is confused, even the guards. The guards start yelling panicked things in Turkish.

GUARD

(panicked)

Where did that come from?

ANTHONY

(panicked)

I don’t know!

Other men with large guns emerge from other bushes and trees.

MR. ALBERT

None of you move! If you do, you’ll all be dead!