Alien Nation s01e22 Episode Script

The Touch

NARRATOR: That was the scene in California 's Mojave Desert, five years ago.
Our historic first view of the Newcomers' ship.
Theirs was a slave ship carrying a quarter-million beings bred to adapt and labor in any environment.
But they've washed ashore on Earth with no way to get back to where they came from.
And in the last five years, the Newcomers have become the latest addition to the population of Los Angeles.
[All chanting.]
l've been putting in so much overtime l didn't even know my son was flunking math.
l know.
l can't remember the last time l got home before midnight.
They work us like slaves around here.
Oh, l'm sorry.
Cathy? l'll see you later, Helen.
Andron.
Andron, is that you? [Door opening.]
lt's me, Andron, Gelana.
Andron.
[Baby crying.]
-Good morning, Francisco.
-Oh, good morning, Captain.
-What is that? -lt's an oscillator.
lt's important for Newcomer infants to receive an abundance of circular motion.
lt's good for the harmony of their being.
Why is she harmonizing in my squad room? l'm sorry, but the babysitter didn't show and Susan had already left for work.
l didn't know what else to do.
Look, l understand you've got family problems, but this is no place for a child.
-Hey, Cap.
-Pay up.
-l don't owe you any money.
-Come on, when the credits were rolling your cheeks looked like Niagara Falls.
Now cough up $20.
Come on.
-Niagara Falls? -He was crying like a baby.
-l know about that.
-l wasn't crying.
-Right.
-Hey, what's with the kid? The sitter didn't show.
-Why were you crying, Matthew? -l wasn't! l got some popcorn salt in my eye-- l don't understand.
Me and Sikes, we went to see a love story last night at the movies.
Gone With the Wind Two.
: Return to Tara.
And l bet Sikes that he would cry like a baby.
And he did.
l didn't.
Matthew, you and Beatrice were out on a date? -No! -Me? With this hermit on a date? Are you kidding me? Hey, Sikes, l bet you can't remember the last time you were on a real date.
The hell l can't.
lt was.
Well? Don't you have something better to do, Zepeda? Yeah, l think l'll go figure out how to spend my winnings.
What? Matthew, in all the time l've known you l can't ever remember you being on a date.
-Maybe you never got the touch.
-Hey, pal, l have the touch.
No, l don't mean a way to get on with women.
l mean a way to give and receive love.
Watch.
You see, for us, the temples are the center where love is received and from which love flows.
lt's especially important for the young to feel and experience this love.
Perhaps that's your problem.
You never got enough of the touch.
Or its human equivalent when you were a child.
l got your touch.
Sikes.
Hi, Cathy.
Cathy, what's wrong? She wasn't making much sense.
l've never heard her like that before.
Said it was important for both of us to be here-- Maybe l should call the station again.
George, you can't spend all day on the phone.
Albert will take care of Vessna.
He's her Binnaum.
l'm her father.
The thought of her spending all day in a janitor's closet makes me rot under the collar.
That's ''hot.
'' Besides, she'll be on the spinner, she'll think it's the Ritz.
lf she doesn't throw up.
-No-- -l'm going to call, will only take a second.
Quickie bar, you're mine.
Whoa ! That's the last Quickie bar.
Oh, well, l'm sorry, are you waiting for this? No l mean.
No.
Good, l missed breakfast.
You eat Quickie bars for breakfast? Call me a health-nut.
You were waiting for this, weren't you? Well, yeah, but.
You don't look like a kind of guy who could pass up a Quickie, so.
You don't have to do this.
Junk food lovers are an endangered species.
We should stick together.
Besides, l kept the big half.
She's fine.
Yeah, she is.
GEORGE: You knew him on the ship? l cared for him.
l worked in the nursery for a short while.
His name is Andron.
He's a very special child.
He's very loving.
After quarantine, l spent a lot of time searching for him and finally l was told that he died.
They found him last night in a dumpster.
SlKES: No child was reported missing.
We've located the mother.
That's very strange.
Why wouldn't a parent report their child missing? Who's the woman? Child welfare.
The boy looks frightened.
He won't speak, he won't eat, and he recoils from the slightest touch.
Andy? Oh, Andy.
-Mrs.
Day? -Yes, how's my boy? Well, mostly dirty.
l'm Lorraine Clark.
We spoke on the phone.
Can l take him now? Excuse me, Mrs.
Day.
l'm Detective Francisco.
And l'm Detective Sikes.
MRS.
DAY: Police? SlKES: Yeah.
MRS.
DAY: Did Andy get into trouble? No, ma'am, we'd just like to ask you a few questions like why didn't you report your boy as missing? l went to bed early last night.
l didn't notice he was missing until this morning.
l was just about to call the police when Miss Clark called me.
What happened to Andron? l knew him before we landed.
He injured his head when the ship came down.
Crash trauma, they call it.
He was so vibrant, and so alive.
He doesn't even know me now.
l'm so sorry.
Andy, let's go.
Thank you.
Mrs.
Day my name is Cathy Frankel.
l want to work with Andy.
l was very close with him on the ship and l know that l can help him.
l've seen all the experts.
Thank you, no.
But, there have been terrific strides that medicine have made in this area.
-l've seen crash trauma patients-- -No.
Andy is fine, really.
Thank you anyway.
[Door opening.]
Gelana.
GEORGE: Quiet, neemu.
-l don't think she's hungry.
-Buck, please, just feed her.
Yes, l understand that you were sick, but you could have called to say that you weren't going to be here.
l had to take Vessna to work.
-Sorry, l'm late.
-We'll just have to find someone else.
SUSAN: The client wanted to see my marketing ideas for Yak bubble-gum and l came up with this wonderful idea.
Sort of a play on that old human song ''yakety yak, don't smack back.
'' -That's funny.
-Here, Buck, let me feed her.
l don't think she's hungry.
She won't take her bottle.
-We lost another sitter.
-That's the sixth in three weeks.
Can't we find anyone reliable? She's not hungry, she just needs George? You're not giving her the touch every hour? Sorry.
Maybe l can work at home for the next two days, but after that.
l think we're going to have to put her in daycare.
BUCK: Daycare? Vessna needs to be with her family, not strangers.
Well, who do you suggest stays home? Buck, this family needs two incomes.
l'll make an appointment.
Rigac, here he comes.
RlGAC: Andron, over here.
Cathy, l know you care about Andy, but you followed him? l just felt l had to and l was right.
l know Andy's in trouble, and l know Rigac is behind it.
This Rigac, did he force Andy into the car? No.
Did he harm him in any way? Well, no.
Then, Cathy what is it, that you want me to investigate? Matt, we're not talking about just any Overseer.
Rigac was the Chooser.
l worked in the nursery.
l gave these children love.
Rigac would pick through the children and assign them their fates.
Where they would be sold how they would live and who would die.
He took Andron from me on the ship.
And he's got him now, and look what he's done to him.
Please, Matt there must be something we can do.
l'm afraid Miss Frankel is mistaken.
l don't know anyone named Rigac.
He was the Overseer known as the Chooser.
-Still don't know who he is? -l don't associate with Overseers.
Then why did Andy climb into his car yesterday after school? Cathy.
My son comes home from school on a special bus.
l've gone through all of this with Miss Clark.
What are your findings? l'll be filing a favorable report.
Mrs.
Day was very cooperative and what l found was a clean and positive environment for Andy.
Then why is he acting like a walking vegetable? That is so cruel.
When Andron was under my care on the ship, he was a healthy child.
-What is he now? -A child who suffered an injury.
l don't believe you.
And l don't believe he was injured in the crash.
Andy has been abused.
And l think that we should have him tested.
Wait a minute.
This woman is following my son around like a lunatic and l'm the one who's being accused? He is my son.
And if you and your partner don't keep her away from him l'm going to be filing some charges of my own.
You're not gonna just let her go? There has been no crime.
You obviously care deeply for Andy.
l wish l could give you more assurances but based on my criteria, Andy's home is sound.
But your criteria is made by humans to protect humans.
Andron is a Newcomer and you don't understand him.
Cathy, that's not fair.
Tell me, Miss Clark, when you visited his home was his meekar full of jowab? Jowab? Was his Nalit facing the rising moon? But it was a positive environment.
George, please.
Thank you for trying.
lt's amazing.
Reagan's been out of office eight years and his hair is still not gray.
Ronald Reagan, an amazing man.
A president who put the family first in the first family.
That's something we can all be proud of.
l'm Mr.
Eugene.
You must be Mr.
and Mrs.
Francisco.
Won't you let me show you our demonstrator.
This is a scaled down version of our sensory room which is a loving nest to over 200 other happy tots.
Now l see from your family profile chart that you're looking for such an abode for little Cessna.
-Vessna.
-What a beautiful name that is, too.
Well, l think she'll love this sensory room.
All of her needs from nutrition to stimulation are taken care of.
Yes, this room was designed to give today's child be they Newcomer or human, everything it needs in today's world.
A personal touch through technology.
A personal touch? Everything's computerized.
The best 1996 has to offer.
Each containment unit is sensory wired, so the nurse on duty can monitor them all.
As you can see, this little baby has activated its dampness sensor.
ln mere moments, it would be dried, powdered and back online.
Now that's a personal touch our competitors can't touch.
Well, thank you very much for your time.
Leaving so soon? l was just about to demonstrate the automated formula pumps.
-lt's quite impressive.
-Maybe some other time.
-This place reminds me of the ship.
-lt's no place to house our little Cessna.
Jelly doughnuts with hot chocolate and bubble gum ice cream.
A mere midnight snack.
How about a double chili cheeseburger pork rinds and a triple-thick shake? No.
Check this.
Captain Crunch, chocolate milk, whip cream with butterscotch topping chased by a root beer float.
All before 7 a.
m.
-l'm impressed.
-And my mother was a nutritionist.
Excuse me.
Can we have some extra hot fudge, please? -Sure.
-lt's all good for you.
All except for the banana.
You know, l'm really glad that we could have lunch today.
l felt bad that there wasn't more that l could do for your friend.
She's taking it all pretty hard.
We can only imagine the hell they went through on that ship.
Yeah, l've seen my partner relive some of it.
Yeah, l mean, it isn't easy, but Cathy's strong.
You know, she was right.
We hardly know anything about their species.
Especially in my line of work.
When you figure them out let me in on it, okay? Come on, your partner's a Newcomer.
You're with him all day.
Let's put it this way, they're not exactly easy to understand.
Tell you what, Sikes.
You come over some time and you give me your insight into who they are.
And l will make you the best deep fried macaroni and cheese hot dog pie that you've ever had.
A pretty light dinner.
l meant for breakfast.
All right, tell me, Sikes, how was the malt shop with Lori? -Can it, Zepeda.
-Come on, did you use two straws or one? l don't sip and tell.
Hey, George, how you doing? Cat got your tongue? No.
What's wrong? l have trouble with a species that cares so little about the welfare of their children.
l don't have all the answers, but you heard Lorraine.
-There's nothing we can do for Cathy.
-This isn't about Cathy.
lt's about Vessna.
Daycare was a bust, huh? l'd as soon leave her in the janitor's closet all day.
At least there she'd know she was loved.
Hey, Romeo, l forgot to tell you Mrs.
Avery, at Newcomer Affairs, returned your call.
-l left the message on your desk.
-Thanks.
You know, Lorraine's been lobbying hard at the city office to get daycare centers started.
You ought to talk to Grazer.
Maybe you can start one here.
Mrs.
Avery? Matt Sikes.
You're sure? Okay, thank you.
-What is it? -Newcomer Affairs.
Their records show Andy came out of the crash perfectly healthy.
No indication he was ever hurt.
My friend cries out for help and l'm gorging on a boffo-banana-blitz.
l should have seen it coming, George.
-Matt, we don't have all the facts.
-lt's a lock.
They found traces of this on a rag in the boy's room.
Quirkus.
lt has the same effect on Newcomers that ether has on humans.
l found this bottle in Cathy's apartment.
Her place looked like Dorothy's farm after she blew out of Kansas.
She was headed somewhere fast.
We're sympathetic to the situation, Mrs.
Day.
We want your boy found safe as well.
Everything possible is being done.
Yes, an APB or whatever you call it and your two very best detectives assigned to the case.
ls there a problem here? l have a problem when the detective in charge is the suspect's boyfriend, yes.
l'm not her boyfriend, lady.
Whomever she is, she has kidnapped my son.
Kidnapping? You're sure it wasn't a rescue mission.
-Sikes! -How dare you say that? Then maybe you can tell us why the Bureau of Newcomer Affairs said Andy was released from quarantine with a clean bill of health.
There was no record of severe crash trauma.
Their records are inaccurate, and you know it.
l am not on trial here! Are you going to let them talk to me that way? -Mrs.
Day, please-- -Maybe, the Commissioner would object.
Hold it, please, let's just settle down here.
Go home.
Try to be patient.
l promise we'll keep you posted.
We're doing everything we can.
-And you both keep digging.
-We'll keep digging, Captain.
You can count on it.
Stupidity.
l didn't tell you about the Frankel woman because l didn't think it was serious.
-The police, the kidnapping, l had no idea.
-No idea? The destiny of the Chosen is at stake and you had no idea? Given the circumstances, maybe the boy isn't worth the risk.
l selected him once, he should be with us again.
And if you hadn't let him escape during the ceremony we wouldn't be in the situation we are now.
-But there are others, sir.
-And all of them are necessary.
They must all, we must all, be the sum total of a united race.
l've invested too much time in him to forget about him now.
But, here on Earth, we must adjust our plan we're not the force we were on the ship.
Does this mean nothing to you? Have you forgotten already? Gone soft without sniveling Dregna at your feet each day? l have not forgotten.
We are the Chosen.
And forever will be.
What are you drawing? Can l see? Andy.
Andron.
Do you remember me? The ship was a bad place, l know.
But you and l it was special.
Please, Andron, let me see what you've drawn.
Gelana.
Gelana.
Andron! Andron! ZEPEDA: Here, this was delivered to you.
l guess Lorraine finds guys that cry at movies irresistible.
But without that sense of loving without proper attention from family, our little ones will suffer both human and Newcomer.
l'm sorry, Francisco, my decision is final.
No daycare in the precinct.
But there are many officers here with young children don't you care about their morale? Daycare would bolster their attitudes -their performances.
-Would it? What about the police calls missed while they're off cooing Junior? Our job is to serve the public, not strain peas.
But Captain, think of all of the extra hours the officers would be willing to work knowing their child is safe, virtually at arm's length.
Safe? This is a police squad room, Francisco.
Look my wife and l may be childless but l can still sympathize with your dilemma.
George, l just don't have the solution for it.
Neither do l.
Yeah, great, ok, thanks, Pizeman.
No daycare, huh? You okay? lt's not me l'm worried about.
LORRAlNE: Hi, Matt, you got a minute? -Lori, hi.
-Hi, George.
Thanks.
l just found out something very interesting.
Yeah, l just hit gold myself.
Been doing some digging on this Mrs.
Day.
Get this, she's on the payroll of a holding company owned by Marty Gras.
Marty Gras? That's his Earth name.
On the Newcomer ship he was known as Rigac.
She works for the Chooser? Well, maybe this helps, or maybe it doesn't but l just found out that when Andy was released from quarantine he wasn't released to his natural mother.
Day isn't his real mother? George, how could that be? With the intricate tissue typing that should have been impossible.
lt's possible his real parents are out there somewhere.
l've been trying to track them down.
-Sikes, line two.
-Later.
Sikes, it's Cathy.
Trace it.
-Cathy.
-Hello, Matt.
Cathy, where are you? l called to tell you that we're safe.
Listen to me.
Do yourself a favor and come in now.
No.
Damn it, l mean it! Cathy, look, we're talking felony here.
l can help you, but only if you come in now.
l can't do that.
l don't know why, but they've done terrible things to Andron.
-Here, and on the ship.
-We're gonna nail Rigac and Mrs.
Day.
We're making headway, they won't get away with-- You can't promise that.
Then you are going to have to trust me.
l do trust you, but as long as you can't promise Andron's in danger and l won't take that risk.
Cathy, please.
And not until l find the Andron l once knew.
Cathy? Where are you? l won't be anywhere long.
-Goodbye, Matt.
-Cathy, don't.
Got it.
TROY: How long must we sweep this gutter? RlGAC: Until we find the child.
-May l help you? -Only Dregna sleep in this dump.
Look familiar? Room 21 .
No! l remember you.
Shut up! Bring them both.
Police.
Which room? -Room 21, with the others.
-Others? What's it mean, George? George? Look, it's simple, Pizeman, the witness got all but the last three digits of the plate MX5, a silver sedan.
Run it through the computer, please.
Then, cancel your coffee break take the doughnut out of your face, cause the guy driving the car kidnapped somebody l give a damn about, got it? Pretty spooky stuff.
This poor kid couldn't have been very happy when he drew this.
What is that they're putting on his head? lt seems to be a metallic band covering his temples.
George, didn't you say that temples were some sort of love center or something? lt is where Newcomers receive love.
-Why would they want to cover that? -l don't know.
Hi.
Any word? -No.
-l might have something.
ln trying to locate Andy's real parents l've found 20 other Newcomer children in the same situation as Andy.
-Not with their natural parents? -Exactly.
l contacted the other parents and they all think their children died in the crash.
And these parents just blindly accepted that their kids were killed? Given our personal rights at the time, Matthew we were hardly in any position to question the authorities.
Susan and l were lucky to be reunited with Buck.
Lori, you got any of the names of those adoptive parents you turned up? Yeah, a bunch.
Matt? Well, well, well.
Not only are they all adoptive parents they're also on the payroll of Rigac's holding company.
Zep, find out what this holding company owns.
l'm on it.
Rigac, the Chooser, he's behind all of this.
What does an Overseer want with these children? What if he's continuing his mission, like ODESSA? Time out, George.
After their defeat in World War ll the most militant surviving Nazis particularly the SS regrouped, planned orchestrated the survival of the Nazi Party.
Their race.
That is what the temple-bands are for.
By denying them love, he's turning them into monsters.
He's turning them into Overseers.
Andron will not become one of you.
You cannot prevent it.
This is not the ship you are no longer Keezantsun.
We'll always be Keezantsun.
Whether it takes one year or 1000 years to be rescued from this planet we will always be strong united, the superior ones.
You will not succeed.
Dregna stop us? l won't let you destroy Andron.
Dregna are such children.
We controlled your thought, your very existence.
But the one thing you couldn't control was our love.
Your love is your weakness.
Our resistance to it is what makes us strong.
Andron will demonstrate that.
Sixty-five different possibilities from Pizeman.
We don't have the manpower to check all those plates.
Matt.
What do you see, George? There's a pattern in these sketches of Andy's.
The child is torn from someone close to him.
Fixed with some kind of temple-guard.
lsolated, as if being prepared or brainwashed for some type of sacrificial ceremony.
What do these markings on the sacrifice mean? They are Tenctonese symbols for love.
What, the kid kills love? Or, kills the one he loves to become Keezantsun.
They're gonna make Andy kill Cathy.
Sikes, Rigac's holding company, mostly real estate.
You know, the new mall down on Catalina, the Regent Hotel downtown office buildings-- -The Regent Hotel.
-Yeah.
Bull's-eye.
We've got a vehicle registered to the Regent Hotel.
Let's move.
Andron.
Andron, it's Gelana.
Andron.
He's mine now.
-All right, let's split up.
-Head around back.
Andron, free yourself.
You are loved.
The Chosen shall let his actions speak.
You are the Chosen, fulfill your birthright.
-Police, freeze! -Everyone stay where you are! Get on your knees.
Get your hands on your head, Keezantsun.
You all right? With us, you're safe now, son.
-Francisco.
-Yes, Captain.
Look, about your daycare idea.
l was thinking maybe we could clear out the weight room get some stuffed animals or something.
-On a trial basis, Francisco-- -Of course.
-Okay.
-Thank you, Captain.
Would you like a moment with him? Hello, Andy.
Andron, are you ready to go? What?
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