4-13 Ghosts From the Past

Ghosts From the Past

We don’t have time to be patient.

Miss Parker

Ghosts From the Past

We don’t have time to be patient.

Miss Parker

Original air date: February 26, 2000

Written by: Tony Blake & Paul Jackson

Directed by: Michael T. Weiss

When Jarod infiltrates a gang of white supremecists in order to prevent the nurder of a pastor’s family, he encounters a man he tried to bring justice to years earlier.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Gospel Music

Jarod’s Occupations: KKK Member, ATF Agent

Jarod’s Aliases: Jarod

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Jarod impersonates a white supremacist in order to infiltrate a hate group out to kill a pastor and his family.

The clairvoyant Angelo warns Miss Parker, Broots and Sydney that Jarod is in imminent danger. The threesome move Angelo to a lab full of crates containing articles from Jarod’s past. In a trance-like state, Angelo dramatically tears the tops from the crates and frantically searches through them. Each article resonates with Angelo as a ghost from Jarod’s past. Angelo grabs Sydney’s arm repeating, “Hate kills, hate will kill Jarod.”

Meanwhile, as Pastor Jones, an African-American, and his daughters, Kati and Niki, leave their church, three masked white supremacists approach in a pickup truck. As one man takes cans of gasoline from the truck, another approaches the Pastor and his daughters with a baseball bat. The Pastor rushes his daughters back into the sanctuary and locks the door. Moments later, rocks burst through the windows. One of the masked men ignites a big wooden cross. Another yells to the Pastor, “Get the hell outta here while you can.” As the three men drive away, they remove their stocking masks…revealing Jarod as one of the white supremacists.

Jarod enters a cabin hideway with the two men, James and Donny. Donny takes off his jacket…revealing swastika tattoos on his skin. A new member, Luke, arrives with orders from their boss, “The General,” to stay hidden in the cabin where they are to construct bombs targeted for the church’s unity rally that Sunday. Back at the church, Sheriff Richards unsuccessfully tries to convince Pastor Jones to postpone the rally.

In the Centre lab, Angelo uncovers some potentially lethal ghosts from Jarod’s past. Each candidate from Jarod’s archives is revived in a series of flashbacks, ranging from the “Black Widow,” who Jarod put away for murdering her husband, to the sociopath Captain Robert Saunders, a convicted rapist and murderer. Though the profiles are disturbing, Angelo knows that he still has not uncovered the identity of the true culprit. Angelo desperately, but systematically, continues rummaging through the crates evaluating those individuals who have the most intense feelings of hatred toward Jarod. The avenging “ghost” from Jarod’s past remains on the loose.

As he wires a bomb, Jarod listens silently to James’ white supremacist rhetoric. But Luke tells Jarod that the General has changed the logistical plans for the bomb, and that Jarod is not going to be the person who plants the explosives. The General plans to kill the Pastor’s girls with the device so he can end “this unity crap once and for all.”

Later that night, the General, Bartlett, arrives. As Bartlett turns to Jarod, an instantaneous moment of recognition flickers between them. Bartlett takes the end of the shotgun and knocks Jarod out with a blow to the head. A flashback recounts their hostile history. In the flashback, Jarod traps Bartlett in a net and strings him up in a tree like some helpless prey. Barlett had smuggled Haitians into the country and hiked the price paid their families in Miami. When one family couldn’t raise the extra money, Bartlett locked the Haitian family in a shack where they died in a fierce hurricane. With Bartlett ensnared in the net, Jarod plans to leave him to the mercy of an approaching hurricane. However, after Jarod leaves Bartlett to the elements, Bartlett chews through the net with his teeth and escapes.

Back at the Centre lab, Broots stands by Angelo, who hangs from the net Jarod used to capture Bartlett. Angelo yells, “Bartlett, must stop Bartlett. Bartlett hates Jarod, hates everyone. Wants to kill. Must help Jarod now!” Parker holds a personal stake in this particular ghost from the past, since she had an unsavory run-in with Bartlett in Florida during the Haitian tragedy. Parker says, “Bartlett’s a racist sleazebag who’d kill his own mother.” Sydney, Broots, and Parker race to find Bartlett’s whereabouts.

Jarod regains consciousness to find his hands tied behind his back, surrounded by Barlett, Luke, James and Donny. Bartlett preaches that Jarod is God’s instrument because he had Bartlett thrown in jail, where Bartlett found his purpose in life. Bartlett starts to take Jarod out to the woods for an execution, but Luke volunteers for the job, saying that Bartlett does not need to dirty his hands. Luke, a shotgun in hand, forces Jarod through the woods. Soon after, a shotgun blast echoes through the night. But Luke, it turns out, is an undercover agent for the Georgia State Police. Jarod reveals his true identity and tosses Luke his bloodied bandanna, telling him to keep the white supremacists busy. Luke returns to the cabin with the bandanna and volunteers to place the bomb. But Bartlett wants to activate his “vision” himself.

Bartlett enters Pastor Jone’s church at night and quietly walks to the podium where the Pastor’s girls will sing. Suddenly, Jarod appears from behind the altar with a baseball bat. Bartlett and Jarod struggle until Jarod knocks Bartlett out with the bat. He takes him outside, chains a large cross behind his back and ties Bartlett to a pyre, pouring gasoline around him. Jarod ignites the gasoline…triggering a fireworks display that spells out the word “Repent.” Bartlett whimpers as the Georgia State Troopers arrive to take him away.

The unity rally goes on as scheduled that Sunday. A diverse group of people celebrate together as a gospel group sings a rousing spiritual. Parker, Sydney, and Broots arrive and ask Pastor Jones if he knows of Jarod’s whereabouts. Pastor Jones tells the trio that they missed him by a few hours. Jarod left this message for them: He isn’t the only one haunted by a ghost from the past. The trio drives away amidst Pastor Jones’ daughters singing.

Movies

Ghosts From the Past Transcript

The Centre, Blue Cove, Delaware. Angelo’s cell. Curled up on the floor in a corner, Angelo dreams of Jarod. He wakes up suddenly.

Angelo		Jarod? Jarod. Danger. Hate! Hate destroy Jarod! [With something like a knife or screwdriver in his hand, he begins to carve huge lines in his stone walls, singing:] “Lay down your burden, open up your heart. Lay down your burden, let the healing start. Lay down your burdens, open up your heart…” [He has carved a cross.]


		Georgia, evening, Westland Community Church, a small country church. A simple cross on the wall; a poster advertising an interracial Unity Rally Two little Black girls, Kati and Niki Jones, sit on the floor singing and coloring. Pastor Jones enters.


Kati and Niki [singing]		“Lay down your burden, open up your heart. Lay down your burden …”
Pastor Jones [clapping]		Very good, very good. You sound like two angels! And I can’t wait to hear you at the rally.
Kati		Thanks, Daddy.
Pastor Jones		Alright, I gotta get you two home. Okay, you got a big weekend ahead of you. Finish you homework?
Niki		I did, but Kati didn’t.
Kati		Because I was too busy doing yours.
Pastor Jones		Okay, that’s enough of that. We have plenty of time before we go to bed. Okay, let’s hear you practice your song again.
Niki		Daddy…
Pastor Jones		Ah, ah! Practice makes what?
Kati and Niki		Perfect.
Pastor Jones		Here we go.
All three [singing]		“Lay down your burden, open up your heart …”
		[They go out of the front door, singing.]
Man’s voice [shouting roughly]		Evenin’, Pastor Jones!
Niki		Daddy!
		[Pastor Jones grabs his daughters as a car’s headlights illuminate them, revealing a number of men carrying clubs or baseball bats and wearing stockings over their heads.]
Pastor Jones		Listen, gentlemen! I’d appreciate it if you’d all just turn around and go right back where you came from!
James [in a twangy Southern accent]		That’s not very friendly coming from a civil rights leader famous for preaching unity! [He smashes the church’s sign with a baseball bat. The girls scream.]
Pastor Jones		No – no, it’s okay, it’s okay.
James		Of course, some of us have a different opinion about the world being under one big rainbow and such!
		[All the men shout agreement and whoops. Pastor Jones shoves his daughters inside the church.]
James		I say we show Pastor Jones the light – the way we see it!
		[The men shout agreement. Pastor Jones locks the church from inside, forces his daughters onto the floor as the men rush around the building, whooping and breaking windows. He tries to call the police, but the wires are cut. He rushes to his daughters and holds them tightly.]
Niki		Daddy, make them stop!
		[The girls scream as the men continue breaking things. They get gasoline and a tall, cloth-wrapped cross from the trucks, set up the cross in the yard, and light it on fire, using a Unity Rally poster as a torch.]
Niki		Daddy, make them stop!
Pastor Jones		It’s okay, it’s okay. Daddy’s here, baby.
Donny		That’s your last warning!
James		Nobody wants unity with you people! Get the hell out of here while you still can!
Kati [crying]		Why do they do this to us, Daddy? Why?
Pastor Jones		It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.
James		[pulling stocking off head]I think we made our point!
Jarod		[in rough accent, pulling off stocking]Yeah, I think they get the message this time.


		Intro

		The Centre, Sydney’s laboratory. Broots, Sydney, and Miss Parker walk into the lab, where Sam the Sweeper is watching Angelo rummaging through containers.

Broots		Angelo has gone postal! He’s going through all the evidence from Jarod’s old Pretends, and he’s flipping out!
Sam		The little freak’s possessed!
Sydney		Has he said anything?
Sam		Plenty. But none of it makes any sense.
Angelo [wearing a firefighter’s jacket and hat and taking a crowbar from a silver case]		Fire! Fire!
Sam		Like I said! He’s possessed.
		[Angelo reenacts fire-fighting movements.]

		[Memory flashback 1996, Jarod as a firefighter.]

Angelo		Fire – burn! Jarod! Must help Jarod!
Sydney		Angelo…
Angelo		Jarod! Jarod!
		[Sydney kneels beside him, and Angelo clutches him.]
Sydney		What’s wrong?
Angelo		Must save Jarod.
Sydney		From what?
Angelo		From fire! From hate. Hate kills. Hate will kill Jarod. Must save…Jarod.
Miss Parker		What do you make of it, Freud?
Sydney		I believe Angelo thinks someone from Jarod’s past is going to try and kill him.
Angelo		Jarod! Must save Jarod!
Sydney		The question is, who?
		[Angelo throws off the firefighter’s jacket and seizes another case.]

		Georgia, nighttime. Trucks driving recklessly and men whooping in triumph. The trucks pull up to a building in a wooded country area, and men get out.
James		Yeah! I say we larned Pastor Jones a lesson or two today!
Donny		A little visual aid always helped my third grade students get the point!
James		I say burning crosses is a lot more effective than a field trip!
Donny		I guess we showed him the light, huh, Jarod?
Jarod		If a picture’s worth a thousand words, a flamin’ cross is worth a mouthful!

		[They all grab beers, raise them, and cheer. Luke comes walking out of the building toward them.]

Luke		It oughta be against the law to have that much fun. In fact I believe it is against the law!
		[Laughter]
James		It beats the hell out of sellin’ life insurance! I say we go celebrate!
		[Cheers]
Luke		Nobody’s goin’ anywhere. Change of plans.
Jarod		Uh, is there somethin’ wrong?
Luke		While you were all out playin’, I got a call from the General.
James		The General?
Donny		What’d he want?
Luke		He’s comin’ in early. He could be here any time.
Jarod		So why’s that change our plan?
Luke		-˜Cause he’s got a new mission. A bold message, one that’s not just gonna be heard around the country – it’s gonna be heard around the world!
Donny		That sounds big!
Luke		Yeah, it is, Donny, and on account of that, he wants each of you here when he shows up.
James		What’d you mean, we gotta stay here all night?
Donny		You mean we can’t go anywhere?
Luke		Until he shows up! Y’all been recruited from outside the state. The General’s worried you go into town you’ll stand out like a raccoon in a henhouse. Now, I got a little gift here from the General he wants us to use to deliver our message. [Tosses a small box at Jarod.]
Jarod		C-4 explosive?
Luke		Yeah.
Jarod		[grinning] Well, that packs a hell of a punch.
Luke		Damn right. You’re our demolition expert. You’re gonna rig us up a little device to dis-unify this Unity Rally!
		[Laughter and cheers]
Luke		I tell you somethin’, boys. When we’re finished, the partyin’ ain’t gonna stop!
		[Cheers, clinking of beer bottles. Jarod joins enthusiastically.]


		Scene 3 Georgia, morning, outside the Westland Community Church. Police officers investigate the vandalism and charred cross.

Sheriff		How long has this craziness been going on?
Pastor Jones		Several weeks ago we organized a Unity Rally. This event’s supposed to bring together people from the community, from all walks of life. Well, when support grew, that’s when we started receiving threats.
Sheriff		What kind of threats?
Pastor Jones		Oh, warnin’s, telling us to call off the rally.
Sheriff		And when you didn’t?
Pastor Jones		That’s when the acts of vandalism began, leadin’ up to last night.
Sheriff		Look, Pastor, the rally’s tomorrow. These types probably aren’t going away. So maybe…
Pastor Jones		Maybe what, Sheriff? Hmm? Maybe we should just give in, huh? Give in – just call the whole thing off. No, sir. That’s exactly what they want.
Sheriff		Postpone it. Think about your girls
Pastor Jones		You know, Sheriff, when I was thirteen, I saw a man beat, dragged behind a truck, and nobody did nothin’ to stop it. [Putting a Unity Rally poster back on the church door.] Not even me. That man lived for three days, the whole time prayin’ to die. That man, Sheriff, was my big brother. See, if you don’t face this kind of hate, it will destroy everyone that it touches. It’s because of my daughters that I gotta do this. So, yes, sir. Yes, I will be at that rally tomorrow, with my church, and with my family.
		[The sheriff tips his hat and walks away. Pastor Jones slumps down onto the church steps.]


		Scene 4 The Centre, Sydney’s laboratory. Angelo looking at explosives, Broots on a laptop. Miss Parker enters.

Miss Parker		Any progress?
Sydney		Angelo senses that someone Jarod brought to justice is going to try to kill him, and we’re trying to find out who by letting him empath various items the Centre recovered from past Pretends.
Miss Parker		I’m certainly not surprised someone from Jarod’s past wants to kill him. In fact, that’s a hell of a long line. And it starts behind me.
		[Angelo stares at her, holding a white dress with red roses.]
Broots		Hey, that’s the dress the Black Widow was wearing – the one that Jarod took down for murdering her husband.
Miss Parker		She certainly has enough reason. And she did try to kill him once.
		[Angelo sees Miss Parker wearing the dress.]
Broots [whispering to Sydney]		Does he think it’s her?

		Memory flashbacks late 1998, Kristi Kincaid meeting Jarod, swimming, kissing Jarod.
Kristi		I want this to be over.
Jarod [smiling]		I know you do.
		[He walks away toward the house.]
Kristi		Jarod? I love you.
		[Jarod nods, walks away into the house. It blows up. Kristi smiles.]
Angelo		Ahh! Jarod’s in danger! But not her! Not a woman…
Miss Parker		Syd! Does he even know what he’s doing?
Angelo		Jarod doesn’t know.
Sydney		Angelo is systematically evaluating and eliminating individuals in Jarod’s past with the most intense feelings of hatred for him.
Miss Parker		Then we need to keep this from Lyle and Raines. They’ll only interfere with Angelo’s progress.
Broots		Oh, then we better move fast, because, uh, secrets aren’t kept long around here.
Sydney		If Angelo can successfully isolate the potential killer, he can take us to him.
Broots		And to Jarod?
Sydney		Hopefully in time to save him!
Miss Parker		Even better, in time to catch him.
		[She stalks out.]


		Act 2 Scene 1 Georgia, daytime, the white supremacist compound. Men walking around with guns. Inside, Jarod soldering something, Luke watching over his shoulder. James comes in, chuckles at Jarod’s work. Strange music in the background.

Donny		Hey, turn that damn thing off, will ya? Jungle music -¦
James		Can’t even listen to the radio anymore without hearing that crap. Aren’t you -˜bout done with that thang?
Jarod		-˜Bout.
Luke		Just make sure it works.
Jarod		It’ll work.
Luke		It’d better. We’re gonna make this damn Unity Rally a wakeup call!
James [with a shotgun]		The General says that when the blood of all them sons of Cain flows through the gutters, [cocks gun] our people will unite.
Donny		And see God’s will to exterminate all the parasites who are sucking the life out of this country.
James		Amen, brother. Amen. [Clinks shot glasses with him.]
Donny		Amen.


		[Memory flashback 1969, Young Jarod watching the projection of Martin Luther King, Jr.,’s “I Have a Dream - speech, along with footage of police brutality and civil rights marches. King -¦formed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little -¦
Jarod		Why do people hate other people because of the color of their skin?
King		-¦one day live in a nation -¦
Sydney		I don’t know, Jarod. It’s called Racism. It’s important that you learn what’s wrong in the world as well as what’s right.
King		I have a dream that one day -¦
Jarod		Are they taught to do this?
Sydney		In some ways, yes. Jarod, there is no simple solution to racism.
Jarod		But there is. Stop hating!
Sydney		It takes time, and compassion. Do you understand this, Jarod?
Jarod		I understand it. But I can’t accept it.
King		I have a dream -¦

James [hitting Jarod’s arm]		What’s the matter wit’ you, boy? You look like you seen a ghost.
Jarod		No, brotha. Just seein’ the light. There, it’s finished.
Donny		When we pull this off, you’re gonna score big points with the General.
Jarod		I’m going to take this into town, make sure it’s all in place for tomorrow. [Puts his device in a box.]
Luke		I don’t think so. Nobody’s goin’ into town until the General arrives. Don’t wanna make anybody suspicious. I’ll take care of this from now on. You want something to do, finish reloading those shotgun shells.
Jarod		Now, wait a minute, the plan was that I would set any explosives that we used.
Luke		Well, the plan changed. Hotshot! General’s orders. [Takes the box.] He wants this set special. [Throws photographs of Pastor Jones’ daughters on the table.] He wants the preacher’s girls to be the message.
		[Everyone stares at him.]
Jarod		He wants us to kill them?
Luke		Yep. He’s gonna put an end to this unity crap once and for all.


		Scene 2 The Centre, Sydney’s laboratory. Angelo is in the balcony shooting an empty pistol.

Sydney		I have tried every possible avenue to contact Jarod. No response.
Broots		Sydney, I think Angelo’s on to something.
Miss Parker [entering]		I hope he doesn’t find the bullets.
Broots [reading from a file]		The gun belonged to a mid-level thug – uh, Joey Melino. He killed an undercover cop. Jarod sent him away. Word from prison is Joey’s not too happy about it.
Miss Parker		Maybe he’s paying someone to kill Jarod.
		[Angelo starts shouting and running with the gun.]
Sydney		Angelo, what is it?
Angelo		Danger! Death! Hate! Hate getting closer to Jarod. [Stares at the gun.] Oh! Jarod doesn’t want to hate. Doesn’t want to kill! But – someone wants to kill Jarod!

		[Memory flashback early 1998, Jarod as money forger for Joey Melino, Joey threatening Jarod.]
Angelo		Jarod! [He pulls forgery tools from a case.]

		[Memory flashback Joey and his henchmen in the freezer, Jarod talking through the window.
Joey		You’re a dead man, Jarod! You hear me? You’re dead!
Jarod		Oh, you need to chill out!
Joey		Listen, Jarod! I’ll give you anything you want!
Jarod		See ya.
Joey		Jarod – no! Jarod!

		[Angelo drops the tools and sucks on his fingers as if frostbitten.]
Sydney		Angelo? Is it Joey?
Angelo		No! Not – not Joey! Someone hates Jarod more. Hates others! Must find soon!
Miss Parker		This is going nowhere!
Angelo		Jarod will die!
Sydney		Patience, Parker. Angelo is narrowing down the suspects.
Angelo		Must find soon, or Jarod will die!
Miss Parker		We don’t have time to be patient.
		[Looks at Broots and Sydney and finds them staring at her. Stalks out.]


		Scene 3 Georgia, afternoon, white supremacists’ compound. Jarod loading shotgun shells with a hand-crank machine. James, Donny, and others playing cards at a table behind him.

James		Finish them shells, Jarod! We need another loser at the table.
		[Laughter]
Donny		You been cheatin’ the whole time. You gotta give me a chance to win this.
James		Everybody’s cheatin’, Donny -¦
		[Jarod glances at them playing and bantering, at another man sleeping, and inches quietly out, taking truck keys. He makes it to a truck and starts to unlock it, then is startled by the sound of a gun cocking behind him.]
Luke		Goin’ somewhere?
Jarod		Yeah. Get a little black powder. Pack around the C-4. Thought it might give more impact visually.
Luke		The General wants to use napalm.
Jarod		Napalm? But that wasn’t part –
Luke		Naw, no buts! His plan, his cause – we do things his way. You got a problem with that?
Jarod		Hell, no. I’m a believer. I just like to know what’s going on, that’s all.
Luke		And right now what’s going on is you’re staying here.
Jarod		Yes, sir.
Luke		General’s orders.
Jarod		Yes, sir.
		[Donny, James, and others hurry out of the house.]
Donny		Luke!
Luke		What?
Donny		We got another message from the General.
Luke		There a problem?
Donny		Matter of fact, there is. He has word one of us isn’t exactly who we claim to be.
James		Sounds like one of us is a traitor.
Donny		General says to tell you, no one leaves till he gets here.
Luke		Alright. You boys get back in the house. We’ll sort this out when the General shows up.
		[Jarod lingers behind. Luke whistles at him.]
Luke		Hey!
		[Jarod follows. Luke stares at him.]


		Act 3 Scene 1 Georgia, nighttime, Pastor Jones’ home. Pastor Jones and his daughters kneel in the girls’ bedroom to say their prayers.

Niki		God bless Kati and Daddy, and God bless Mama up in Heaven. Amen.
Kati		Amen.
Pastor Jones		Amen. Alright, you two. Time for bed. Daddy’s angels got to rest those voices for the rally tomorrow.
Kati		Why do those people hate us?
Niki		What did we do?
Pastor Jones		Here, sit down. Come here, baby. [They sit on a bed, and he takes Niki on his lap.] Listen. You didn’t do anything wrong. Hear me, sweetheart? You did nothing at all. People hate -˜cause they’re afraid. They’re afraid of things that they don’t know, things that they don’t understand. That’s why this rally is so important. Understand?
Girls [nodding]		Uh huh.
Pastor Jones		Sure?
Niki		Yes.
Pastor Jones		Good. Alright. Let’s get to bed, get some sleep, and we’ll see you in the morning. Alright. [He tucks them in and kisses them goodnight.] Love you.
Kati		Daddy? Can you please close the window?
Pastor Jones [saddened]		Sure, sweetheart.
Niki		And lock it.
Pastor Jones [locking it]		There. It’s locked. Night.
Girls		Good night.
		[Pastor Jones turns off the light, sighs, and rests his head against the doorpost.]


		Scene 2 Nighttime, the Centre, Sydney’s laboratory. Angelo, wearing night-vision goggles, clutches a manikin dressed in Army fatigues.

Miss Parker		Any word on Jarod? [Gives Angelo a look.] Looks like Saturday night at your house, Broots.
Broots		Huh?
Sydney		Angelo is trying to empath Captain Robert Saunders.
Broots		Yeah. He’s the one serving twenty-to-life at Leavenworth, thanks to Jarod.
Miss Parker		Captain Robert Saunders. Textbook sociopath.
Sydney		As well as a convicted rapist and murderer. He certainly fits the profile.
Miss Parker		And his own record as having sworn to get back at Jarod.
Broots		Well, Jarod sure knows how to pick his enemies, doesn’t he?
Miss Parker		Yes, he has a penchant for pissing people off.
		[Angelo violently strangles the manikin. Everyone stares.]
Angelo		Saunders – hates – Jarod! Wants to – hurt Jarod! Wants to hurt Jarod!

		Memory flashback early 1998, Saunders in the hole with Jarod.
Jarod		What’s the matter, Saunders? You look scared.
Saunders		Who’s in here!
Jarod		Just demons in your mind.
Saunders		Stevens, is that you? Hey, this is crazy!
Jarod		Well, gotta go now. Have fun in your own private little hell.
Saunders		Don’t leave! Come on! Let me out!

Angelo		[yelling, throwing the manikin to the floor] Saunders hates Jarod, but not him. Someone else hates Jarod more.
Miss Parker		It’s hard to imagine it could get much worse.
Angelo		Broots! Hurry! [Grabs Broots’ arm, yanks him from his seat and up the stairs.] There’s no time left for Jarod!
Broots		Aah! Angelo, calm down! I’ve never seen him like this.
Angelo		Can’t calm down! [Opens a large chest full of rope, gives a yell.] Hates Jarod! Hates Jarod! Gaaah! Hates Miss Parker too!


		Scene 3 Georgia, nighttime. A large Army vehicle approaches the compound. Inside the men are putting things away. Jarod is sweeping.

Luke		Alright, he’s here.
		[A man in Army boots steps out of the vehicle.]
Luke		Jarod, get them damn beer bottles out of here.
		[Jarod obeys, takes them into a back room, while the man in Army boots approaches the house. He enters.]
Luke		General. [Shakes the General’s hand.] I’m glad you’re here.
Donny		General. [Shakes hands.]
James		Sir. [Shakes hands.]
Luke		Everything’s ready for tomorrow, sir. We’re just waiting on your word. Just like you ordered, none of us have left.
Donny		We’re all here to help you figure out who the traitor is, sir.
		[Jarod has reentered the room from the back, confronts the General abruptly, who smiles.]
General		Well, that won’t be necessary. Will it, Jarod?

		Memory flashback 1996, Florida, Jarod trapping a man in a crocodile net.
Bartlett		What the hell is this? Are you going to stand there? Cut me out of this?
Jarod		I spent a long time making that thing.
Bartlett		Cut me out of this now. [Pulls a gun.] Or I’ll blow you away! [Shoots, but nothing happens.]
Jarod		Guess your clip’s empty. Gotta go. Hurricane’s coming right through here.
Bartlett		Jarod! Jarod, you son of a –

General [taking a shotgun]		Matter of fact, we go back a long way, don’t we? Last time we were together there was a hurricane blowing. Let me tell you something. That storm ain’t got half the fury that I got left in me right now.
		[He hits Jarod with the gun. Jarod falls, and he hits him again and again. All the men cheer.]
General		Gentlemen, we’re back on schedule.


		Scene 4 The Centre. Angelo swings around in the crocodile net.

Broots		Bartlett’s the guy that tried to kill Jarod. And you.
Miss Parker		And almost succeeded. I had tracked Jarod to the middle of the Everglades, where we were trapped together in a hurricane.
Sydney		So that’s the net Jarod used to capture him.
Miss Parker		It took more than a net to hold an animal like Bartlett.
		[Angelo growls and gnaws on the net.]

		Memory flashback Bartlett chewing his way out of the net, tracking down Jarod and Miss Parker with a shotgun.
Bartlett		Honey, I’m home!

Sydney		Bartlett, Angelo! Is he the one who’s going to kill Jarod?
Angelo [nodding]		Bartlett! Must stop Bartlett. Bartlett hates Jarod, hates everyone. Bartlett wants to kill – wants to kill Jarod! Sydney, help Jarod now.
Sydney		Parker, we have to do something.
Miss Parker		Broots, call the Florida Bureau of Prisons, see if Bartlett is still in custody.
Broots		Okay.
Miss Parker		Bartlett is a racist sleazebag who would kill his own mother. Syd, we have to find him. If Bartlett finds Jarod first, he will kill him. [Sydney stares at Miss Parker.] And ruin my chance.
		[Angelo, exhausted, collapses on the floor.]
Sydney		Let’s just pray we’re not too late.


		Scene 5 Georgia, nighttime, the compound. Jarod lies on the floor as Luke binds his hands behind him.

General		Jarod, the Lord works in mysterious ways. See, you were His instrument to have me thrown into jail where I could come to see His purpose in my life. And then through His divine providence, I was set free so that I could unite my people and cleanse this country. And now here you are, dropped right in my lap, manna from Heaven.
Jarod		You’re sick, Bartlett. You’re so consumed with hate you’ll destroy yourself and everyone around you.
General [bending down]		No, Jarod, not sick. [Grabs Jarod by the hair.] Misunderstood, yes. Persecuted like the prophets of old, yes. But not sick.
James		What do we do with him?
General		I’ll take him out into the woods and send him to his judgment.
Luke [forcing Jarod to his feet]		You don’t need to dirty your hands with this. Let me do it. It would be my honor to take this Judas to his justice.
General		[Grins and hands Luke the shotgun, squeezes his shoulder] A true apostle. Do it down by the creek. Just leave his body there. Dust to dust. We have things to do for the Unity Rally tomorrow, don’t we? There are going to be a lot of people singing the blues tomorrow. Get him out of here.
Luke [pushing Jarod out]		Let’s go. Let’s go!

		[Luke pushes Jarod out of the house and through the woods at gunpoint, down into the creek. Jarod falls into the water and, with his hands bound, has a hard time getting his face up out of the water. Luke forces him to his feet.]
Luke		Let’s go. Come on!
		[They continue down the creek until Luke pushes Jarod to his knees.]
Luke		Get down on your knees!
Jarod		You can’t do this! [Gasping and shuddering.]
		[Luke cocks the gun. In the house, the General examines a glass of spirits. A gunshot sounds in the distance, and he smiles and drinks.]


		Act 4 Scene 1 Georgia, nighttime, in the creek. Luke stands with the gun in his hands. Jarod, on his knees, breathes heavily. Luke kneels in the water and unties his hands.


Luke		Hope I didn’t scare you too bad.
Jarod		I better check my pants. But I’m still alive.
Luke		I’m undercover too. Georgia State Police.
Jarod		ATF, Federal Taskforce.
Luke		We’ve been after Bartlett since his conviction for murder and civil rights violations were overturned. Some Fed popped him for those. My guess is that was you.
Jarod		Guilty. I had no idea he had been released. You have a plan?
Luke		No, Bartlett’s changing everything. I’m completely cut off from the outside. Look, we go back in there right now, we can pop him for conspiracy.
Jarod		No! We catch him in the act of setting those explosives, we can put him away for life
Luke		We don’t stop him, he’s going to kill Pastor Jones’ little girls.
		[Jarod takes off his coat, cuts his arm with a large hunting knife, rubs the blood on the coat, and gives it to Luke.]
Jarod		Here. You go back in there. I’ll think of something. And, uh – good luck.
Luke [shaking his hand]		Good luck.
		[They run off in different directions. Luke throws the bloody coat down before the General.]
Luke		He didn’t beg -¦much.
		[Chuckles]
Bartlett		Well, it’s too bad. Takes some of the fun out of it. [He opens the box with Jarod’s explosive device.] I should have known. Jarod crossed the detonator wires – this thing woulda never gone off. Now looka that. Ain’t that pretty? [Luke nods half-heartedly.] A little C-4 and napalm. That oughta make quite a statement. [He puts it, fixed, into a silver briefcase.]
Luke		Yes, sir. I’ll just run that into town, and you tell me where you want me to place it.
Bartlett		No. This is my vision, my calling.
Luke		Then we’ll do it together.
Bartlett		I said it was my calling. I do it alone. You boys just be ready tomorrow. You be ready for war.


		Scene 2 Nighttime, the Centre, Miss Parker’s office. Miss Parker sits at her desk, nursing a glass.


		Memory flashback October 7, 1969. Young Jarod behind a glass wall with electrodes taped to his head.
Sydney		I’d like you to meet someone, Jarod.
		[Jarod puts his hand up against the glass wall, half-smiling. Little Miss Parker puts up her hand to touch the glass as well.]
Jarod		You’re a -¦girl.
		[Little Miss Parker nods.]


		Memory flashback April, 1997. Florida. Miss Parker confronts Jarod.
Miss Parker		Why did you save my life?
Jarod		Because I still remember the little girl who gave me my first kiss.


		Memory flashback 1969. Sydney’s laboratory. Little Miss Parker kisses young Jarod.


		[Miss Parker sits gazing over her glass. Broots rushes in, opens a file.]
Broots		I found something on Bartlett. He’s been released from prison.
Miss Parker		Let me guess. His conviction was overturned on a technicality.
Broots		Exactly! But while he was in prison, he started a violent white supremacists’ group.
Miss Parker		And?
Broots		And rumor is he’s in Georgia, and he’s organized a march in opposition to a unity rally tomorrow.
Miss Parker		Then let’s stop the son of a bitch. [Picks up her gun.] And get Jarod.
		[She goes out. Broots follows with raised eyebrows.]


		Scene 3 Georgia, nighttime, Westland Community Church. The church door opens, the General enters with a flashlight, shotgun, and silver case. Opening the case, he prays over the explosive device. A burst of sound from the piano startles him, and he rises, aiming his gun. Jarod steps up on top of the piano with a baseball bat in his hand, stretches his arms out in the shape of a cross.]
Jarod		Here to repent, brotha?
Bartlett		Jarod?
Jarod		Now who’s singing the blues?
Bartlett		I’m sick to death of you! You have more lives than a barnyard cat. But this is going to be your last one. [Cocks the gun.] You weren’t able to take the rounds out of my clip this time. [Aims and shoots at Jarod. Nothing happens except noise. Jarod jumps down from the piano as Bartlett continues to shoot at him.]
Jarod		Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but guess who reloaded those shells? Must have forgot to put shot in them.
Bartlett		[Swinging the gun at Jarod] Son of a bitch!
		[Jarod ducks and swings his bat into Bartlett’s stomach.]
Jarod		Oh, by the way, I owe you this one. [He slams Bartlett across the back. Bartlett collapses.]


		Scene 4 Georgia, nighttime, outside Westland Community Church. A tall white cross, Bartlett tied to the bottom of it, unconscious, firewood at his feet.

Jarod		Oh, Bartlett!!![Throws a marshmallow at his head.] Bartlett! [Throws another marshmallow. Shouts] Wake up!
Bartlett		[Waking up, struggling] Jarod! What the hell is this?
Jarod		Think of it as your -¦cross to bear. And since you so enjoy burning crosses and terrorizing innocent families, I thought it might be fun for you to experience terror for once, like you were going to do to those two innocent little girls!
Bartlett		I wasn’t going to scare ’em! I was going to kill ’em!
		[Jarod picks up a large gasoline can and pours it over the wood at Bartlett’s feet.]
Bartlett		Don’t make me laugh! We’ve been through this before, Jarod. You’re not going to do anything! [Laughs.] You ain’t got the heart for it! Now, that bitch you were with before – she could do it!
Jarod		[Finishes pouring, picks up a torch]Well, you see, it’s not heart that I need to burn you at the stake. [Lights the torch.] It’s another part of my anatomy. And let me tell ya I got those. [Grins, waving the torch.]
Bartlett		You’ll never get away with this! I got people out there – Luke and the boys. Luke! Luke!
Jarod [laughing]		You know something, Bartlett, you’re not as smart as you think you are! You had two infiltrators in your group. Luke was an undercover cop with the Georgia State Police. The rest of your “apostles - should be in custody just about now.
Bartlett		Damn you! Damn you!
Jarod		[Points the torch at him] No -damn you! [Holds the torch near the wood.]
Bartlett		You can’t do this! Please don’t do it! Don’t do it – don’t! Help! I don’t wanna die! No! No!
		[Jarod touches the torch to the wood. Something catches.]
Bartlett [screaming]		No! Don’t do it! I’m sorry! Please! I don’t wanna die!
		[A long fuse burns through the wood and up the back of the cross. Nothing else catches fire.]
Bartlett		Jarod, I’m begging you! Please, not like this! [Sparks from the fuse burn him, and he screams.] No! I don’t wanna die!
		[Jarod watches with a smirk as the fuse lights a fire in the crossbar of the cross, illuminating the word REPENT.]
Bartlett		I don’t wanna die! Someone help me! Help! Help! Jarod, please! I’m so sorry! Dear God, please! No! [Begins to laugh hysterically.]
		[Jarod picks up a skewer prepared with marshmallows, lights it from the fire coming from the T in REPENT.]
Jarod		You know something? You’re right I don’t have the heart to kill. Or the hate. [Eats a charred marshmallow whole.] Mmm.
		[Police cars drive up, sirens blaring.]
Jarod		Have fun rotting in prison.
		[Jarod walks away. Bartlett whimpers.]


		Scene 5 Georgia, Westland Community Church, daytime. The church is full of people and music. Kati and Niki Jones sing with a white-robed choir.


Girls [quietly and gently]		Lay down your burden, open up your heart. Lay down your burden, let the healing start. [Choir joins in harmony.] Be blessed and guided through eternity. Lay down your burden and be free. Lay down your burden and be free.
		[The music begins more loudly and energetically, and everyone claps and dances. Pastor Jones claps with his Bible in his hand. The congregation of white and black people dances, claps, waves their hands, and sings.]
Choir		Lay down your burdens, open up your heart. Lay down your burden, let the healing start! Be blessed and guided through eternity. Lay down your burden and be free.

		[Miss Parker, Broots, and Sydney push through the crowd at the door. Miss Parker stares around in slight wonder and disgust. Broots bops to the music, clapping and grinning. Sydney smiles and watches, nods his head to the music. Pastor Jones notices them and moves toward them.]

Miss Parker [glaring at Broots dancing]		Start speaking in tongues and I’ll send you on to the next life right here and now.
Broots [chuckles]		Gosh, sorry. It kind of reminds me of going with my cousin Newton to the Slipper Rock Church of the Great Redeemer when I was a kid.
		[Miss Parker kicks him and glares at him. Pastor Jones comes up to them.]
Pastor Jones		Hi. Thanks for coming. Sorry, standing room only.
Miss Parker		We’re not here to worship, Reverend.
Pastor Jones		Pastor. I’m Pastor Jones.
Sydney		Pastor Jones, we’re looking for this man. [Hands him a picture of Jarod.] The name is Jarod. We believe he’s involved in a confrontation with a racist named Bartlett.
Pastor Jones		I’m sorry. Never seen him before. Now, I do know about Bartlett. If you wanna talk to him, you might want to try the state penitentiary.
Miss Parker		Good. I hope they fry his ass this time.
Pastor Jones		Well, ma’am, it’s my hope and prayer that one day Bartlett would choose to end the hate and start the healing that only love and forgiveness can bring.
Miss Parker [staring at him]		Better pray for all of us.
Pastor Jones		God bless you.
		[Miss Parker goes out, followed by Broots, who is still dancing.]
Sydney		Pastor Jones, thank you kindly.
		[He follows Broots, leaving Pastor Jones clapping to the music.]
Miss Parker [walking to the car]		We’re out of here, Syd. Looks like their guardian angel’s come and gone.
		[They get in and drive away. More people are coming to the church. Sitting on top of the church under the cross, dancing and clapping joyously, is Jarod, the tails of his long white coat spread out around him like the wings of an angel.]
Choir		Lay down your burdens! Lay down your burdens! Lay down your burdens and you will be free!