White Light
Kyle stares, remote in hand, changing the channels on a hospital room television. Linda speaks to him, calling him Kyle, and he says he's not Kyle; he doesn't know who he is, but he's not Kyle. Tom and Linda are both, obviously, concerned, but Kyle's doctor reassures them this can be normal for someone coming out of a coma of some length. They're going to keep Kyle in the hospital for some tests.
Diana and Maia are getting a snack from a street vendor named Tony. It's obvious Diana's frequented his cart many times. Maia likes him, and lets Diana know he's going to fall in love today. Diana is pleased, and asks if it's with her. Maia says no, which doesn't surprise Diana. The little girl seems pensive, and Diana asks if there's anything else. Maia asks how long she's going to be 'like this", and Diana replies, "Like what/" Maia says she doesn't want to know things, she wants to be normal, the way she used to be. Normal, like Diana. Diana smiles, and says, "You want to know a secret? Normal people, like me? Wish they could be special, like you." Maia smiles.
Back at the hospital, Tom asks Kyle what he's looking for, in books and television; maybe they could help him find it. Kyle says nothing, just puts his hand out for the remote. Tom gives it back, and lets Linda know he's going to pick up some stuff, he'll be back in about half an hour, and he leaves. As he does, several suits, led by Lytell, enter the hospital - and it's obvious they were waiting for Tom to leave. They go to Kyle's room, as Linda is down the hall, getting coffee. She sees them, and rushes back, as they walk Kyle out of the room. She tries to stop them, threatening to call security, but Lytell says that's not necessary, they work with Tom. She doesn't care, and pulls Kyle to her. He whispers in her ear "Tell Tom I've figured it out, I know why I have to be here." Lytell tells her not to worry, they'll be supervising Kyle's medical care from now on. Linda watches, horrorstruck, as these men hustle her son away.
Back at headquarters, Dennis, who is clearly pissed, berates Lytell for 'snatching' Kyle from the hospital; Lytell counters by saying Kyle is the only witness to an abduction, and could have some valuable information about what's been happening. Dennis reminds him Kyle can't even remember his own name, Lytell says they'll help him remember. Lytell goes on about understanding why Linda's upset, the family's been through a lot, but he's been sent from DC to straighten things out. Just then Tom walks in, goes up to Lytell, grabs him by the front of his shirt, and pushes him against a wall. "Where's my son?" he practically growls. Lytell tells Tom to let go, and Tom pulls his gun, putting it up to Lytell's chin. Lytell asks Dennis for some help; Dennis, with a Mona Lisa smile, says "Tough call," but he does tell Tom to put it away, he's made his point. Minutes later, Tom and Dennis are walking down a hallway, and Tom and Dennis are both regretting Dennis wouldn't let Tom blow Lytell away. They pause, and Tom asks why Kyle? Why not Shawn? Dennis replies it's because while 'their' doctors have been over Shawn with a fine-toothed comb, Kyle is new to them, and may have something new to offer. Dennis, who is obviously upset by Lytell's actions as well, tells Tom they'll get Kyle back, but he can't really answer any more than that. Tom says that's not good enough, and storms off. He runs into Diana, who offers to help. They leave.
Meanwhile, Lily is at the ob-gyn's office, and the doctor, Roxanne Kern, tells her everything looks fine, all normal, but then tells her she has to draw more amniotic fluid. Lily asks what's wrong, but the doctor doesn't answer right away. We then see Lily and Richard sitting on a park bench, and she's apparently just finished telling him that the doctor is checking for a genetic anomaly. She doesn't know any more than that; she's clearly worried and Richard tries to comfort her. The bench they're sitting on is on the edge of Arcadia Estates' -the returnees' community- soon-to-be golf course, and just then Jordan Collier drives up in a golf cart; he's got a couple of other business-types with him, but he stops the cart and walks over to Richard and Lily. Richard asks about the ob-gyn, as Lily was referred to her by Jordan, and the tycoon says she's the best in the Northwest. He asks how the catered meeting goes [it went well and the lobster was a hit], and also brings up the conversation he and Lily had earlier, when Lily had reminded him she's with Richard and happy. Jordan says to Richard with a smile that Lily actually thought he was trying to steal her away from him. Richard's reply shows his confidence in his and Lily's relationship, and Jordan shakes hands with him, saying he admires Richard for it. Jordan walks away with a smile. Richard turns to Lily with an inquiring look, and Lily, who is irritated by Jordan's conversation choices, says, "I wasn't worried."
In town, Nikki and Shawn are sitting in his car, and watch Danny walking around with other kids. She says they've got to tell him. Shawn says he'll do it, he's tired of sneaking around. She is also, and they kiss. [Yes, they're still sitting in plain sight, during the day, just across the street from where Danny was just walking. Yup, sneakin' around all right.]
Diana, who has now heard the whole tale, including about Shawn's 'power', and how it helped Kyle, is quite ticked with Tom for keeping it all from her. He says he didn't even tell Linda, and she points out he's divorcing Linda, but she's his partner and needed to know. Tom reminds her of how clinical she was about the 4400 when they first started working together, and she says he should have noticed a change in her about that, because she feels differently about it now that she is caring for Maia. He says point taken. Diana says "So what are we going to do about Kyle?" "We?" " Of course, 'we'." Diana is clearly exasperated with Tom's lack of understanding what being half of a partnership is all about. Tom considers what's been said, and he says they're going to find Kyle, and bring him back home. Diana replies that they'd better get to work, with a satisfied smile.
At Arcadia Estates, Richard is bringing routine security logs to Jordan's office, and dropping them off with his secretary, when he overhears her thanking Dr Kern for calling, and that she'll let Jordan know she called. Richard asks if that's the ob-gyn, which the secretary confirms. He asks if Collier is expecting, and the woman says she doesn't know. Richard, whose spidey-senses are clearly tingling doesn't let on, smoothly asks to see Jordan's phone logs for last few weeks. The secretary asks why, and Richard replies that Collier's been getting some threatening mail, and he wants to see if there is any connection with Jordan's phone calls. She gives the log to him, saying it can't leave the office. Richard looks it over, and, sure enough, Dr Kern's name is listed several times. Richard storms into Kerns' office, and demands to know why Collier gets a call after all of Lily's visits to her. What does Jordan Collier know about Lily's baby that Lily doesn't?
"Sickle cell?" Lily questions, with a waver in her voice. "How can my baby have the trait for sickle cell, unless the father was black?" Richard says maybe he is - maybe those that 'took' them used him -Richard- as a donor. The next question is, why did Collier know and yet keep it from them? Time for Richard and Jordan to have a chat.
Tom is watching Lytell at the office. He calls Marco [the techno-geek], who is with Diana, and lets them know Lytell's logged on. They get into his files, and find out where Kyle is being kept: Quarantine Center, Building 9, Sub-basement 3. The plan is to go in after five, when the center is half-staffed for the night.
Tom goes home, gets some clothes; he plans to hide Kyle away for awhile. Linda, a realtor, has a perfect safe-house; an isolated home, whose owner will be in Spain for three months. She's going to get it ready for Tom and Kyle, and Tom tells her to be careful, as Lytell may have someone watching her. She understands, and the two agree to meet later, after Tom has Kyle.
Danny presents Nikki with a gift, a beautiful pair of earrings. She tells him she can't accept the present, he doesn't understand why. She asks him if Shawn hasn't talked to him, and he asks what Shawn has to do with it?
Diana goes to pick Maia up from school, and is told the girl is sitting by the lake, talking with one of her colleagues - Lytell. Maia has said that lots of things are different, but she likes video games. He's asking her if she didn't like the ones in the quarantine center, when Diana quickly walks up to them. Diana is not pleased, tells Lytell to stay away from Maia. He replies that it's not really her call, tells Maia it was nice talking to her, and they'll do it again soon. He leaves. Maia waits for a second, then says quietly that she doesn't like him, and he doesn't really like her either. Diana reassures the little girl that she doesn't have to worry about him, that Diana isn't going to let anything bad happen to her. They hug.
Back at Collier's palatial estate, Richard has arrived for their 'chat'. Jordan, climbing out of his swimming pool, knows why Richard's there; the doctor called right after he left. Richard tells Jordan that while he and Lily appreciate everything Jordan's done, from the house to Richard's job, they'd like Jordan to back off. Jordan says no problem. Tells Richard to says hi to Lily for him, then casually turns back to the pool, and dives in. Dismissed.
Tom is picking Diana up from her apartment, before the two of them go to 'spring' Kyle. Diana tells the sitter not to let anyone in, and she and Maia hug again, Diana telling the girl she'll be back soon. Maia walks up to Tom, and tells him not to worry, they'll find Kyle. And she says Kyle is the answer. "To what?" a somewhat confused Tom asks. "Everything." Maia replies casually, and turns away. Tom, clearly bemused, tries to absorb this as he leaves with Diana.
Diana walks up, alone, to the security guard at Kyle's sub-basement holding area, and presents her credentials, asking to see Kyle Baldwin. The guard looks over a list, and tells her she's not on the authorized list. She tells him that she's friends of the family, works with Kyle's father, and she's trying to find out if he's okay, to give the family some kind of reassurance. She reminds the guard they're all on the same side, come on, be a good guy. He smiles, and says, okay. As he turns, Diana whips out a needle-'gun' and gives the guard a shot that immediately brings him down. "You won't even have a headache" she cheerfully says as he slides down the wall. "Well, maybe a little one." Diana then whips out her cell, tells Tom to come on in. The two burst into the room Kyle's in, and the poor kid is strapped into a chair, with some kind of monitor set up on his head; he doesn't look well. He says he has to go to Highland Beach - the place Shawn was taken from. In the car, Tom tells Linda by cell that he has Kyle in the car with him, and that he seems okay, at least no worse. He says they'll meet her shortly. Diana asks how far the safe-house is, and as Tom replies, Kyle realizes they aren't going to Highland Beach. He actually pulls on the wheel, trying to get Tom to turn around, and says again he has to go to Highland Beach. Tom says if he has to go there that badly, then they'll bring him.
Lytell confronts Dennis after learning that Diana and Tom have Kyle. He asks if Dennis is going to bring them in. Dennis doesn't reply to Lytell, but quietly asks another agent to find them.
Lily is at Jordan's office, giving Jordan's secretary a list of those expected to attend the next support group meeting, and says they may need a few more tables. As she turns to leave, Jordan appears at the office door, and asks if he could talk to Lily. She's clearly uncomfortable, and tries to make an excuse to leave, but he says it'll only be a few minutes. She joins him in his office. He presents her with photocopies of old newspaper stories about Richard: "Negro Accused Of Attacking Local Woman'. She's startled, but asks Jordan if he thinks this will make her change her feelings for Richard. He says that's up to her, but that she also has to decide if that -pointing at the article- is the kind of man she wants raising her child.
Lily asks Richard about the incident. He says it was his 23rd birthday, and some of the guys brought him to a bar. He was kind of happy about it, because whites didn't ordinarily socialize much with blacks then. After some time, a white woman started looking at him like she was interested, and Richard prudently decided it was time to go. She followed him out, propositioned him, he respectfully declined, and she started screaming that he attacked her. Lily asked if that was it, and Richard pointed out in 1945 that's all it took. As a relatively present-day woman, Lily is a little skeptical because the story was so detailed, but he said the woman lied. The charges were dropped. The Air Force trained him to be a pilot, actually made him an officer; they would never have done that if it hadn't been proved a false accusation. Lily believes him and asks why Jordan would even bring it up. Richard points out Jordan wants her to start doubting in him, in them. He asks if she does. In reply, she hugs him, hard, and says, with a look of determination on her face, they have to pack up whatever they can in five minutes, and go.
Dennis has found Tom, Diana and Kyle, and orders his car brought around. Lytell says he's coming, and Dennis replies he doesn't care what Lytell does, just to shut his mouth and stay out of Dennis' way.
Shawn and his mom are discussing going to the movies together, when Danny bursts in, jumps Shawn, and starts to beat the cr*p out of his brother. On the floor, Shawn doesn't really defend himself, just yells at Danny to listen, and then he holds Danny away, by putting his hand on Danny's chest. He tells Danny not to blame him, Danny and Nikki were over. Suddenly Danny is having a hard time breathing; his face turns blue. Susan yells for Shawn to stop, and Danny collapses as Shawn scrambles away, stunned by what's just happened. He reaches out to help, and his mother yells to get away. Shawn, devastated, runs out of the house. He bumps into Nikki outside, she heard the fight from next door. He doesn't want to touch her, doesn't want her to touch him. He says she's the only good thing that's happened to him, but he has to leave. All this time he's moving closer to his car, and as he reaches it, he says he loves her. He gets in, and she tries to get him to stop, stay, talk to her, but he drives away, leaving Nikki crying in the street behind him.
Back at the Tyler/Moore home, Richard and Lily are packing up the car, when Jordan pulls up, and emerges from the back seat of a stylish SUV; there are two other men [goons] in suits with him. He asks what's going on. Richard replies "Isn't it obvious?" Jordan appeals to Lily, asks her to think of the baby. She asks what the baby has to do with it. He says the baby could be the key to everything, and needs to be protected. Collier says he can do that better than Richard or anyone else. Richard and Lily have had it; Richard tells her to get in the car. Jordan says he can't let her do that, and suddenly everyone's moving. The two goons go for Richard, while Jordan gets to Lily, and attempts to take her away, presumably to the SUV. While Richard fights both the security men off, quite well, the baby shows it's able to defend itself and its mother - when Jordan takes one of Lily's arm, and puts his other hand on her stomach, just under her waist, it's like he's being electrified, and he falls to the ground. Richard and Lily get in the car and drive away. Jordan, who has apparently only been stunned, gets up, and vows to find them, saying "…that baby belongs with me!"
Kyle, Tom and Diana have reached the place Shawn disappeared and Kyle fell into his coma, three years earlier. Kyle is still searching, wandering around, and the two agents are getting nervous - whatever Kyle needs to do, it needs to be done now.
Shawn has reached his perceived sanctuary - with Jordan Collier, who tells Shawn as a 4400, he's welcome to stay with Jordan as long as he likes. Jordan casually asks Shawn to tell him more about "this ability of yours"…
Richard and Lily are on the road, and Lily is worried about Jordan coming after them. Richard doesn't know their destination, just that he'll know it when he sees it. He strokes Lily's hair while he's driving, and the baby likes it. They agree it wouldn't be so bad if Richard was the baby's father…
Dennis and Lytell have reached Highland Beach, along with several other cars. Dennis reminds everyone present these are two of their own, and warns everyone to keep their guns holstered.
Tom warns Kyle to hurry, they're coming, and they're going to want to take him away. Kyle straightens up and says " They're too late…" A bright, bluish-white light starts emanating from him, and another reaches down from above him. As it envelopes him, Tom rushes towards him, ignoring Diana's plea "Don't…!" The cool light surrounds them both… and they're standing next to the lake at Mount Rainer, where the 4400 were returned several months earlier. It's not nighttime there, and the two aren't embracing in a bluish light, but standing, facing each other. Tom says "Kyle…" and Kyle answers "Tom." Tom realizes this is not his son. Kyle confirms this, and says Kyle was meant to be a channel. He was supposed to be the link, the communicator between Tom and the 4400, but Shawn's attempt to help his cousin instead interrupted the process, leading to Kyle's coma. Tom, realizing this, starts to get mad; it's this...being's fault that his son was in a coma for three years.
Meanwhile, Diana is watching, helpless, as the strange light continues to enclose Tom and Kyle. The two are as frozen, still able to be seen, not moving, surrounded by a hazy light. Diana circles them, saying Tom's name, but not knowing what she can do to help her partner. Dennis, Lytell, and a number of other agents approach quietly.
Tom asks Kyle what he is, and the being that is Kyle says he's human. Tom doesn't believe him, but Kyle reassures him it's true. He's human, but from a different time; the 4400 were taken to help the future humans survive.
Outside, Dennis and the others have reached the trio, and ask Diana what's going on.
Kyle tells Tom in his time, humanity is coming to an end.
Diana tells Dennis she doesn't know, just that Kyle brought them out here, and seemed to know it was going to happen. Lytell says they should consider the possiblity that Kyle isn't Kyle Baldwin, which is what he's been saying all along. Dennis calls out to his friend… "Tom?" No response. "Tom, are you alright?" Lytell says they have to do something, "Kyle" could harm Tom or take him too. Dennis says they aren't doing anything until they know what's going on.
Kyle tells Tom the ones that were taken are the only ones that could prevent 'the catastrophe" from happening. They've been altered in order to assist them to do just that. They were returned to Washington, because "history tells us this is where the path to oblivion began". And the 4400 are already beginning to do their work. As is Tom…
Diana tries to reach for Tom…
Kyle tells Tom his job is to help the returnees…
… and it's like she's hit an electric fence - there's a bright light at the impact and she's thrown back, with a cry of pain. Lytell reacts - by shooting Kyle.
… "Help them how?" Tom is asking Kyle again, when the teenager gets a strange look on his face… and the bloodstain appears on his shirt. Tom has just enough time to reach out to his son, and say "You're bleeding..."
The light breaks throwing the two apart. Kyle stands for a second, then falls backwards. Tom, staggering, doesn't seem to get it for a minute. Dennis grabs the gun from Lytell. Diana shouts for an ambulance. Tom realizes his son is lying on the ground, breathing hard and wet. He run to him, dropping to his knees next to his son, pleading with his boy to stay, stay with him. Diana follows, kneeling on Kyle's other side. Kyle dies. Just as this registers, Kyle's eyes spring open, and he starts to breath, heavy, unevenly, and the bluish white light starts to emanate again, startling Diana and Tom who fall back. The white light expands and then flashes. In a minute -or an eternity- it's over.
Kyle slowly sits up onto his elbows. He's clearly confused. "Dad? What are you doing here? Where's Shawn? Uh, I can explain about the beer…" Tom says to forget the beer, grabs Kyle, and hugs him like there's no tomorrow. Diana is pleased. Dennis comes over, asking Tom what he saw. Tom, continuing to hug Kyle, looks at him, but doesn't answer...
Six months later, we find Richard and Lily, now very expectant, are cozily living in a secluded cabin. Lily begins to feel labor pains. As they drive to the hospital, traveling on a long stretch of pine-tree lined road, the trees clearly bend as the car passes, as if to wave. Or bow…
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