A Sliders Fan Script
by Ashe P. Kirk
Episode 4 of my "Season 6 in the 2020s" series
Completed: 29 July 2022,
With small edits made on the 30th.
I want to quickly preface this by saying that in this episode, Cole is something of a mouthpiece for my opinion on the so-called "Mandela Effect."
I consider it one of the many ways conspiracy theorists reject the most likely explanation and invent convoluted ways of explaining their experience of the world to suit their own feelings on a matter (heaven forbid their own infallible brain could ever recall something incorrectly). It represents a lack of critical thinking that's really dangerous in the current age of misinformation marked by the neo-Satanic-panic and antivax hysteria.
Just thought I should put that out there before anyone starts to think I would buy into this concept.
Still, it's extremely compatible with the Sliders-verse, so I decided to put my own spin on it.
Arturo
My dear... I've been sent a message from another world
Mallory As Quinn
H-How are you here?
Wade
-- A few days ago the timer sprung to life -- I don't know how. But I took it as a sign, and it led us right back home.
Wade
What is it about Quinn Mallorys and crazy things happening to them?
Maggie
We did it. We got the two of you separated.
Mallory
I... feel lighter, somehow.
Quinn
It's good to be me again!
Quinn
I can't fully explain it, but we were just so similar that we just kind of slotted together like we were meant to be one being the whole time.
Wade
(wide-eyed)
So... do you still...
Quinn
Love you?
Maggie
You two look like you've seen a ghost.
Diana
I've seen someone flicker and shift like that before...
Cole
Here's to many more wild days to come.
Note: I helped you - now it's your turn to help me. - Colin
Fade to Black
The living room, which we haven't seen previously, is what you'd expect of a high-class dwelling. Rembrandt sits on the large modular leather sofa, looking at Wade, stunned.
Quinn is beside him and also seated in various spots are Maggie, and Diana.
Quinn
So, you missed a few things today...
Rembrandt
Is that...
Quinn
I'm sorry Remy, she's not the Wade you knew. As for me?
(beat)
Complicated.
Rembrandt looks crestfallen.
Wade
We had a Rembrandt too. Got caught up in the slide with us. But he stayed behind on the first livable world we landed on.
(remembering)
Just... got in a cab and never came back. I think he hated us.
Rembrandt
No way, I-- he could never have hated you.
Diana
Can anyone explain what is going on? How you all ended up here?
Quinn
We'll fill you in on all the juicy details in a minute, but-
Quinn produces Colin's note and waves it around.
Quinn
(looking from Remy to Diana)
-first, where did this come from?!
Diana
There was someone in the house. Someone who... flickered out of this dimension right after throwing this at us. And well, if the note is accurate...
Quinn
(frantic)
He was here? Did you get a good look at him?
Rembrandt
No, as soon as we saw him he disappeared. I just know he was tall. But if I was a bettin' man...
Maggie
It has to be him. Who else could it have been?
Quinn starts to pace.
Quinn
What did he mean he "helped" us?
Wade
Who are you talking about?
Quinn stops, and looks at her.
Quinn
I-
I have a brother. I never knew him until I found him on another world, but almost as soon as I had him back, I lost him again.
Wade
Wait, a brother? This must have been the other Quinn, right?
Quinn
Yeah. I was actually put on my world as a kind of refugee when I was young, and Colin was put on a different one. Back around '99 we finally reunited, and then-
Diana
Doctor Geiger happened. An experiment went wrong, and Quinn was put into Mallory's body, while Colin became Unstuck.
Rembrandt
We hadn't seen him since, until now.
Wade
Unstuck?
Diana
Unmoored from any dimension; he'll just keep shifting from one to the next forever, unless we can get a hold of him.
Wade
And the note says he helped you?
Diana
Doctor Geiger was Unstuck too - and he had a strange understanding of the quantum fields involved in the wormholes. He was able to sense things - when gateways opened, even before it happened. Who knows what else?
Quinn
(thoughtful)
Just like being trapped inside a brain gave me heightened control over them, maybe Colin has some influence over sliding...
Wade
Wait - our timer. It turned on spontaneously, and brought us right back home. Maybe it was no coincidence after all...
Quinn
Right! And the inter-dimensional beacon I built. There was an infinitesimally small likelihood it would have reached the Professor in just a day or two. I just thought it was an insane fluke, but...
Rembrandt
Are you saying Colin's been runnin' around behind the scenes, giving us all these lucky breaks lately?
Quinn
(proud of his brother)
That's my bro. He's been orchestrating all these apparent coincidences...
(dawning realisation)
And the only thing he can't help is himself.
Wade
And now he wants our help in return? I say let's do it!
Quinn sits on the sofa next to Wade, taking her by the hand.
Quinn
The other Wade never got to meet him. I really want you to. Can't get married 'til all the family can be there, right?
Wade grins in response.
Rembrandt
Married?! I think you'd better explain everything I missed, Q-ball.
Quinn
Sure. It's a little complicated, but I'm still technically two Quinns. I'm a much more compatible amalgamation, though.
(gesticulating)
The Quinn inside Mallory was able to cross a neural bridge and join up with the neurologically incomplete Quinn in this body and...
(interlocking fingers)
We both sorta fused into one guy, and it felt right. That make sense?
Rembrandt
Not a lick, but... it's you?
Quinn
It's me, Remy.
(beat)
And this is Wade from the world with the Azure Gate Bridge. I - or I should say, the Quinn from that world that's a part of me now - was engaged to her, before the incident.
Rembrandt
Incident?
Maggie
Even now, Rickman haunts us from the grave. It was him.
Rembrandt
That bastard got around.
Wade
Yeah. And since my Quinn couldn't communicate, I didn't want to just go through with a wedding I had no idea if he still wanted. So we've just been officially engaged since then.
Quinn
(tenderly)
I still want it if you still want it.
Wade
(hesitant)
I think... we can really get to know each other again, just to make sure we're still right for each other after all this, then we'll decide.
Quinn
Well, you know how I feel. I just hope I make the grade.
Wade
(flirty)
I have a good feeling. You've made every grade you've ever set eyes on.
Quinn
(reciprocating the flirtation)
You got me there.
Maggie looks upon this, not knowing whether or not to be jealous.
Rembrandt just marvels.
Arturo enters the room, carrying his timer aloft.
Arturo
Sorry to interrupt.
(beat)
Time's almost up for me - just a few minutes. Can I expect any companions back to the Earth where I hang my hat?
Quinn and Wade have an unspoken moment between them.
Quinn
We're coming. I can't wait to talk to Mom.
Rembrandt
Oh man, you have two Moms now.
Quinn snorts.
Quinn
(bemused)
I guess I do.
(beat)
I will absolutely be back to see Mom Prime next, count on it.
Diana
Wait, let me come too. You wanted that portable magnetic field built into your new timer, right?
Quinn
Good thinking.
Arturo
Well, I suppose we have ourselves a team. Pip pip.
Arturo dashes off towards the entryway, with the rest in tow.
As the gang from the previous scene emerge into the entry hall, Mallory and Cole emerge from the other side.
Cole
Wait! Can I go too? I've always wanted to see what it's like. Just this once?
Mallory
What kind of father would I be if I said yes, knowing what can go wrong?
Cole
Um, the greatest father in the world?
Maggie
Look, you're an adult. We can't stop you. But I'd advise against it. It's dangerous.
Cole
Even though the Professor has been jumping back and forth for days and he's completely fine?
Mallory just sighs.
Cole knows that means he's given up, and grins, hugging him.
Cole
See you when I get back!
Arturo
Three, two...
He points the timer, and opens the portal.
As Quinn steps forward, his gaze meets Mallory's eye, and they share bittersweet look. Their constant companionship has come to a close.
Quinn
See you round, Mallory.
Wade grabs his hand.
Wade
Come on.
Rembrandt takes one last look at Wade, and sighs with regret.
Quinn and Wade disappear into the tunnel, with Arturo hot on their heels.
Diana nods towards the remaining people, and steps in too.
Finally, Cole gives their mother a quick hug, and bounds towards the gateway. They give one quick glance back before walking into it. It closes behind them.
Maggie grabs and squeezes Mallory's hand.
Maggie
Cole'll be fine... right?
She's trying to convince herself more than asking a question.
Mallory
(sappy, hand on chest)
Our baby's first slide. I know I shouldn't be proud, but...
Maggie regards him with amusement.
The vortex deposits the sliders in the basement, and closes up.
Cole
That. Was. Amazing!
Diana looks around the room, impressed.
Quinn heads for the stairs, with Wade close behind.
Cole takes a moment to appreciate the basement, before heading upstairs.
Arturo sidles up to Diana.
Arturo
What you see before you is hardly a state of the art facility, but it is twenty years of tireless calculations and elbow grease.
Diana
You did all of this alone?
Arturo
Well, Mister Mallory's machine was stolen away by the military, and there was nobody else around with the understanding of physics and mathematics needed not to make a bloody mess of things, so I had to do it alone.
Diana
This is incredible.
Arturo looks chuffed at the compliment.
Arturo
You're very kind.
(sadder now)
I don't get much recognition since the government cover-up forced me into obscurity.
Diana
Corrupt government, huh? Yeah, that checks out.
Arturo
It pains me to think of what they could have been doing with that technology all this time.
Quinn emerges from the stairs, and heads toward the Master bedroom. Wade and Cole come up behind.
Quinn
(low volume)
She might be asleep, but I can't wait.
He reaches the closed door, and pushes it ajar, checking for signs of his mother.
A bedside lamp is on, and Missus Mallory sits in bed, working on a crossword puzzle.
She looks up in surprise at the door moving.
Quinn's head peeks around the door.
Missus Mallory
Quinn?
Quinn
Hi Ma. It's me.
He enters the room in full.
She drops her puzzle book and pen, and flings herself out of the bed.
Missus Mallory
Quinn... how are you...
Quinn
(reaching for her)
Long story. Just hug me, okay?
Mother and son embrace.
In the doorway, Wade and Cole look on, hearts warmed.
Arturo sits at a keyboard, typing something. Beside the keyboard is his communications device, the one on which he received the message in Episode 1. It's plugged into a USB port on the wall.
He rubs his eyes - clearly tired.
Meanwhile, Diana has a number of electronics components in front of her on a table, and is tinkering.
Arturo
I daresay, I've almost got it... but not quite. Unfortunately I may have to swallow my pride and ask Mister Mallory.
Diana
Got what?
Arturo
This communication module I developed, it receives messages from other dimensions. I'm trying to make a two-way comms system so that we're able to communicate with each other across dimensions. I may need to ask Quinn how he made his beacon device, which could transmit information rather than receive it.
Diana's eyes light up, and she reaches into her handbag. She pulls out the beacon.
Diana
Is this it?
Arturo eyes it.
Arturo
If it is, why do you have it?
Diana
I didn't mean to swipe it, but at the time I was looking for Mallory and Maggie, and this was the only clue.
Arturo
Let me see.
He takes it from her.
Arturo
Oh my, what happened here? It's damaged.
Diana
It was like that when I found it, I swear.
Arturo
Well, perhaps I can replace some parts and reconfigure it. Thank you, Miss Davis.
Diana
You're welcome Professor. Any thoughts on this magnetic field?
She holds up a palm-sized metal disc, about an inch in height, with a small series of buttons on the side.
She taps a couple of buttons, and a blue tube-shaped force field appears from the flat top side of the disc. It's small, fading away after about 20cm of height.
Diana
It's way too small for Colin right now.
Arturo
Looks like it needs significantly more power. But I have nothing here that will suffice.
Diana sighs.
Diana
Alright, I'll head back home in the morning and see what I can get my hands on there.
Arturo
(checking his watch)
Excellent idea. Blimey, it's after 2 in the morning. Let's turn in.
Diana nods.
Arturo
I'm afraid I haven't got enough beds for everyone, but feel free to sleep wherever you can.
Diana
Will do.
Arturo heads up the stairs.
Arturo enters to find Quinn and Missus Mallory asleep on the bed together. It's like they haven't stopped hugging since we last saw them.
Arturo smiles at them, and leaves the room to find somewhere else to sleep.
Everyone other than Arturo is gathered here. They're all dressed and prepared to leave.
Arturo enters from the basement, timer in hand.
Arturo
Ready to go?
Missus Mallory sits with Quinn on the sofa. She can't stop herself from holding his hand and leaning against him.
Missus Mallory
Do you really have to leave again, Quinn?
Quinn
Sorry Ma. You're... not the only Mom I need to see.
Missus Mallory
(still not quite grasping it)
Because you're two Quinns.
Quinn
I'm a convergence of two - so I'm one now. A few conflicting memories, but all the same feelings. I love both my Moms just as much as the original two did each of theirs.
And my Mom on the other world is not likely to be with us for much longer.
Missus Mallory shakes her head. She'll never quite grasp it.
Cole
I would have liked to stay longer too, but I guess I have class.
Wade
I'd like to stay behind - just for now. Since I came back, I haven't seen my own family, you know? And now that Quinn's okay...
Quinn
I'd be offended if you didn't. Go.
Wade nods at him.
With the group coming down the stairs of the basement, Arturo pushes the button and the vortex opens.
Missus Mallory kisses Quinn on the cheek, and lets his hand slide out of hers as he enters the gateway.
Then, Cole and Diana step through.
Arturo glances down at the timer.
Arturo
(shocked)
What!
Wade
What is it?
Arturo
Something's wrong. The blasted coordinates changed!
(dawning horror)
Who knows what kind of world they just landed on?
Missus Mallory
Can't you go after them?
Arturo
Yes, I have the coordinates recorded, but I need to make sure it's not going to do the same to me or we could all end up lost!
He sits down and starts inspecting the timer.
Arturo
(cranky, and without looking up)
No sense in you two getting in the way, off with you.
Miss Welles, don't you have a family to see?
The women look at each other, extremely worried, and head upstairs.
The wormhole spits out the sliders, who tumble to the hard concrete floor without grace.
Quinn
Ow, that was a bumpy one.
Diana
I think I scraped my knee.
Cole
Uh guys, where the hell are we?!
The three stand up and glance around this dusty building.
Quinn
I... don't think this is where we were meant to go.
All of a sudden, a man in a gas mask (henceforth known as Zealot) jumps out in front of them from behind an old crate.
He holds something that looks like a fire extinguisher, and just lets loose. A white gas - definitely not fire extinguisher foam - engulfs the sliders.
Instantly, they lose their senses, and stumble to the ground, coughing.
Cole
I can't feel my legs...
Through the fog, Zealot grabs the arm of each one, and jabs a metal stamp onto the back of their hand. What's left behind is several concentric circles cut into all their skin.
Quinn
What is this gas?
Zealot
I'm sorry, it's just temporary. Had to stop you from gettin' away before I could mark you.
Diana
Mark us?
As the gas dissipates, Zealot removes his mask and looks at them with manic eyes.
Zealot
I'm sorry. The angel told me to.
With this, the man is off and running away.
We now see the warehouse is across the road from a public library.
Zealot scrambles out of the doors and starts booking it down the street.
The strange stamp, however, falls out of his pocket and clatters to the sidewalk.
A pair of children's feet stop beside it, and a small hand grabs it.
Sammy, a small boy, inspects the thing. It's bloodstained. He touches the edge, and it cuts him.
He inhales sharply, drops the object, and puts his finger in his mouth.
Sammy's Mother (O.S.)
Sammy! Get a move on! And would you stop biting those nails?
Sammy runs off toward the library.
Quinn helps Cole to their feet, while Diana leans against a wall.
Diana
Some kind of paralysis gas...
Quinn
That was not a warm welcome to this world.
Cole
So it's true. This is some random world, and now we're never gonna get home because we don't have a timer?
Quinn
Well, when you put it like that...
Diana
The Professor will find us. He was keeping all the coordinates. I'm sure he's planned for something like this.
Quinn
Yeah, let's hope he can come get us. But in the meantime we need to figure out why we just had these patterns cut into our hands.
Cole
(rubbing her hand)
It's itchy.
Diana
What could this symbol mean?
Quinn
Guess we can ask around?
Cole
I'm more worried about tetanus or something. That thing looked dirty to me.
The group hobbles out of the warehouse.
The group spots the library.
Cole
A library!
Quinn
Oh, that's convenient. We can do some research of this world.
There is a small play area for children, along with rows of children's books. Sitting on a chair is Sammy's mother.
Sammy is perusing a bookshelf. He spots a Berenstain Bears book, and pulls it off the shelf.
He flips it open and starts to read.
A moment passes and Sammy has a strange feeling. Like the vibe of the room just changed.
And the book he was holding has vanished.
He looks up, and it's back on the shelf where he got it. Only now, it's "Berenstein" Bears. He grabs the book again, tracing his fingers over the title.
Then the book pops out of his hands once again. He looks up at the shelf. Now, it's "Berenstone" Bears.
Sammy
(spinning around, frantic)
Mom!
His mother is not there any more. In fact, the chair she was sitting on is on the other side of the area.
Sammy is panicked now.
Cole, Quinn, and Diana are scanning the books on the shelves. Another library patron, a woman, stands in the aisle with them, looking at a book.
Cole starts flipping through a book on great leaders. They flip past a page about Nelson Mandela.
Cole
Hmm, pretty normal.
Quinn turns to the library patron.
Quinn
Excuse me...
Library Patron
Yes?
Quinn holds up his hand
Quinn
Do you recognise this symbol?
The woman glances at it.
Library Patron
No. Sorry. Looks painful though. Why would you do that to yourself?
Quinn
I didn't.
He turns to the others. Cole is putting the book back while Diana looks at a rack of old newspapers.
Quinn
Nobody knows what it is.
He turns around again to say something else to the woman.
Quinn
Could you--
The woman is gone.
Diana
Oh my god.
Quinn
What is it?
The two join her at the newspapers and she points at a headline.
Diana
I swear to high heaven that headline just said "President Sanders" a second ago.
The headline in question now says "President Clinton Inaugurated" next to a photo of Hillary Clinton being sworn in as president.
Quinn
Are you sure?
Diana
Well, I was sure.
Cole's attention is caught by the sound of a child crying.
They look around the side of the aisle to see Sammy on the floor, weeping.
Cole
(rushing to him)
Hey... hey... What's the matter, kid?
Sammy looks up at them, wiping his snotty nose.
Sammy
I can't find my Mom and there are ghosts.
Cole furrows their brow.
Cole
Ghosts?
Sammy
They keep changing everything and everyone I talk to keeps disappearing...
He collapses into a new torrent of cries.
Cole hugs and comforts him.
Cole
It's alright. I'm not going to disappear.
Sammy
Everyone else did!
Quinn and Diana appear behind Cole.
Quinn
Cole, something really weird's happening here. Everything's in a state of flux.
Cole
What? What do you mean?
Quinn grabs the nearest book from a shelf.
Quinn
Wait for it...
A moment of suspense, and...
It vanishes out of his hands.
Cole gasps.
Quinn
That's not all.
He reaches out, and grabs the same book from the same spot.
Quinn
It's like it's resetting.
Diana
The headlines on the newspapers keep on changing in small ways.
The book pops out of Quinn's hands again.
Cole looks at Sammy.
Cole
Is that what's happening to you?
Sammy nods.
Sammy
But you're not disappearing like my Mom did?
Quinn
Whatever's happening, it seems to be happening to just us and this kid. Nobody else is batting an eye.
Cole
Oh shoot, it's like the Mandela Effect.
Quinn
The what?
Cole
(dismissive)
Just some internet conspiracy theory. People have memory lapses where they remember things incorrectly, and they claim it's because they "shifted timelines" to an alternate world.
(rolling eyes)
But really it's just the human brain as an unreliable narrator. They'd rather believe they're involuntarily sliding than believe that their own mind is flawed.
Quinn
(smirking)
Not so unrealistic now, huh?
Cole makes a grimace. He's right, as usual.
Diana
Why is it called that?
Cole
'Cause there's some subset of people that seem to recall Nelson Mandela as dying before he ever ascended to power in South Africa.
(smirking)
I'm willing to bet that any South Africans who lived under his leadership are "mysteriously" immune to the phenomenon.
Diana processes this for a moment, and then crouches to Sammy's level.
Diana
What's your name, sweetie?
Sammy
(sniffing)
Sammy.
She offers him a hand.
Diana
Come on, we'll figure this out. It's what we do.
They head toward the exit of the library. Behind them, another shift happens - the fiction and non-fiction sections flip. People are suddenly in different places.
Cole
(glancing around)
This is so unsettling.
And then, as the next shift passes over them, Sammy vanishes.
Cole
Sammy! No!
Diana and Quinn look at each other, terrified and grave.
The group comes to the kerb and stops dead, seeing that the abandoned warehouse is no longer abandoned, but a fully functional warehouse with trucks being loaded up.
Quinn
It's like we're sliding without sliding. Almost like...
Diana
Being Unstuck?
Quinn and Diana exchange a grave look.
Cole spots something further down the street.
Cole
(shouting, angry)
Hey!
Cole takes off, and we see that Zealot is standing on the street, looking towards her with confusion.
Quinn and Diana follow.
Cole tackles the man, who cries out in confusion.
Cole
What did you do to us?!
Zealot
What are you talking about? Who are you?!
Cole
You said an angel told you to gas us and cut us, what did they look like?!
Zealot
I swear I have no clue what you're talking about. Please let me go. Do you want my wallet? I'll give it to you.
Quinn
Cole, stop. It's not the same guy.
Zealot
He's right, whoever you think I am, I'm not. Honest! I don't know anything about no angels.
Cole stands up.
Cole
I'm sorry.
Unknown Voice (O.S.)
There you are.
The group turns towards the voice, and Quinn's jaw drops.
It's Colin. A haggard, bearded, shaggy-haired Colin, but Colin all the same. He wears the exact outfit he was wearing at the time he became unstuck. It doesn't seem to have worn a day.
Quinn staggers to him, looking at his brother in awe.
Cole gawks, before looking down at where Zealot had been cowering. He's gone. They look back towards Colin, who's now hugging Quinn.
Colin
It's good to finally see you, brother.
Quinn
So it was you who brought us here.
Colin
Yes, I'm sorry about all of this. It was the only way I could think of to finally get us in the same place.
Quinn
And how exactly did you do this?
Colin is already walking down the road, pointing.
Colin
Come on, let's find somewhere to sit and eat and we can talk all about it.
A marketplace expands out ahead.
Colin strides ahead, as the others struggle to catch up.
As they pass different shops and street vendors, Colin grabs an apple from a fruit cart, and starts eating it, without ever paying the vendor.
Vendor
Hey, you can't just-
And then the vendor resets to a passive state, as they shift into the next world, and the apple is gone.
Quinn
Is this how you eat?
Colin looks back and nods.
Colin
(continuing on)
Yes, sometimes it's all I can do. The shifts are not normally this rapid-fire, though. I think having you all here with me has made it go a bit haywire.
(grabbing a bag of chips from a vendor)
But yes, I have to work quickly to get anything down my oesophagus. Once it's in there, it shifts with me, but until then...
The chip pack pops out of existence again before he's able to eat any. He gestures as if to say "see?"
Colin
On a good day, I can get a full restaurant meal before I shift, at least if they don't take too long to cook. At least I never need to pay, not that I could if I wanted to.
He turns sharply, and disappears into a bar.
The other three hurry behind him, each with some degree of horror on their faces.
Colin's still moving at a high pace, knowing that he can't slow down while shifts are happening so fast.
The bar itself is fairly quiet.
The other three finally catch up to him as he takes a seat at the bar.
Colin
May I have your beer sampler please?
The bartender nods, and turns away to pull the beers.
Colin
(to Quinn)
I think I can hold up the next shift for a few minutes. Just 'til we can get a bit of spirit into us.
Cole
You can hold up a shift?
Colin
Not for long, and it takes effort.
Time is of the essence, always.
It's taken me a long time to get my... abilities, as it were, strong enough to really start affecting things, but it's never enough.
Bartender
One beer sampler. Twelve bucks.
He places a tray of four small glasses filled with different kinds of beer.
Colin
Allow me to open a tab, if you will, Barkeep.
Bartender
Hang on.
He turns away and starts tapping on his till touch screen.
Colin
Getting the sampler tray saves them from too much waste to throw away when we go.
(beat)
Bottoms up. Quickly.
He grabs one of the beers and starts downing it. Quinn follows suit, and Cole takes one too.
Diana
That's okay, I don't need it.
Colin puts his empty glass on the bar. Quinn places his beside it. Cole isn't so fast.
The Bartender looks back.
Bartender
What name?
Colin
It doesn't matter.
The Bartender looks at him funny, and then disappears. We see that he's now been reset to the other end of the bar, and is engaged in conversation with a patron.
The beers and empty glasses are gone.
Cole, with hands and lips in a drinking position, just without the glass, pouts.
Cole
You can't ever slow down, can you?
Colin
(sighing)
Not for twenty years.
Note: During this next sequence, the bar will shift and change over the course of the conversation, all in the background.
Quinn moves to comfort Colin, then his eye catches the symbol on his hand, reminding him of its existence.
He holds it up to Colin.
Quinn
What is this? And what did you say to that guy who did this to us?
Colin
That I can explain.
A long time ago, I found out that if my blood mingles with that of another, they get temporarily pulled into my orbit, as it were. I don't know how it works or why - haven't had many opportunities to read scientific papers of late. But when whatever this effect is wears off, the person just goes back to the world they started, while I continue on.
(beat)
I took a long shot with that religious fellow. On some worlds he's completely normal, and on others he's a zealot. I shifted into existence right in front of him and he instantly believed me to be an angel. Then I gave him my blood and some instructions.
Meanwhile I held off my shift for as long as I could while also directing your wormhole to me. Took a lot out of me, I can tell you. Couldn't shift until you were all marked, and that's why I had to have a helper. Took all my concentration.
Cole
What's the weird symbol mean?
Colin
Symbol? Oh, the pattern on your hands? It's the stamp of one of those cigar lighters from a car.
I know it's an unorthodox way to pass blood into another, but in my trials, that concentric circle pattern was the most efficient way to create the effect for an even two hours, no more or less.
He pulls up his sleeve to show marks of the same pattern on his own skin.
Colin
I'm sorry to say it doesn't happen in reverse.
Cole
What happened to that little boy, Sammy? He was shifting with us too, until he just disappeared.
Colin
A child?
(thoughtful)
It's possible he somehow got some of my blood in him too - just significantly less of a dose. I couldn't begin to guess how.
Quinn
But he's okay? He went back to his world?
Colin
(not confident)
Probably?
Quinn places his elbows on the ever-changing bar, and puts his palm to his chin.
Quinn
I'm sorry it took us so long to find you.
Colin
It's alright, brother. I don't blame you for any of this.
He turns to Diana.
Colin
You, on the other hand...
He scowls at her.
She shrinks from him.
Diana
I'm sorry for the hand I had in this. I was young and arrogant, and I never believed Doctor Geiger would steer us wrong - not until the incident with you and Quinn happened.
(introspective)
I've spent my life since then trying my best to make it up to everyone.
She produces the magnetic field generating disc from her handbag.
Diana
I've been working on this field generator to stabilise you in one world. It's not finished yet, though. It's only big enough for something no larger than a fist.
Quinn
Or... a vial of blood?
Diana meets his eye.
Diana
(dawning realisation)
We know now it carries his quantum signature. Maybe the Professor would be able to analyse and record it so we can track Colin across dimensions.
Quinn
Or, if nothing else, when we've got a beefed up prototype of this magnetic field, one of us can use the blood to get pulled into his flux state, and use it on him to finally stabilise him.
Diana
There's only one problem with that, and it's that a magnetic field of that size won't be sustainable inside the wormhole. Wherever he gets stabilised is where he'll need to stay. Maybe forever.
Quinn
So our best bet would be to figure out some way to draw Colin to one of our home worlds, and stabilise him there.
Diana
(sarcastic)
Oh, Yeah. Easy peasy.
Colin
Well, I've done as much as I'm able from this position. I've exhausted the limits of my vortex manipulations. I will let you take my blood, but we'd better get going before I lose you again.
Diana
All right, where's the closest hospital or clinic?
Colin
I certainly can't guarantee it will be a clinic by the time we get there, given the circumstances, but I'll take you.
(to Quinn and Cole)
You two head back to the warehouse. Your Professor friend should be arriving soon.
Colin walks in and heads straight for an open room, paying little mind to the people in the area. Diana follows closely behind him, looking much more nervous about the brazen breach of protocol.
A Nurse moves to stop them, a little too late.
Nurse
Hey, you can't go in there. Excuse me!
She chases after them, until the next shift happens and she vanishes.
The two enter, and Diana closes the door and locks it behind them.
Colin
No point in doing that, it'll be open again in a minute.
Diana
Well, I just bought us that minute.
She hunts around for the right sterile equipment, and grabs a syringe and some vials, plus some swabs.
Colin
Hurry. I can't hold the shift back much longer.
She scrambles to get it ready.
Colin sighs.
Colin
You never put effort into finding me, did you?
Diana
(still setting up the needle)
I'm sorry, I didn't have the first idea about where you could be or how to track you down.
She wraps a strap around his arm and starts looking for a vein.
Diana
Make a fist for me...
Colin
Yeah, but that man, Doctor something.
Diana sticks the needle in.
Colin
He was like me, and you worked with him for a long time. You didn't learn anything in all that time that could help me?
Diana
I'm sorry. Doctor Geiger had an uncanny control and understanding that he never shared with anyone else. I mean, not in any way that could have helped you, that is.
Colin
(angry)
I don't believe you.
With that, the vial vanishes, and the blood that had been collected spills all over Diana's hands.
She holds them up in mild disgust.
Colin
That's fitting.
Diana, sighing, uses her elbow to close the door that is now open once more, and rinses off her hands at the basin.
Diana
(repeating the preparatory steps)
What do you want me to say? I failed you? Yes, I did, okay? I failed both Quinns, too. I even erased the daughter I never had from existence. I'm a screw-up.
Drying her hands, she rifles through the shelves to recollect the blood-taking instruments.
Diana
(eyes tearing up)
I'm goddamned useless compared to all the superior intellects around me.
She places the strap on Colin once again, and he balls up his hand.
Diana
(sticking in the needle)
I ended up sliding with Mallory because I felt responsible, and I stayed long after anyone wanted me because it was the only way I could sleep at night.
But in the end, I failed at every way I tried to help.
Colin
Did you fail because you're inferior, or did you fail because you simply see yourself as inferior and were living up to that self-assessment?
Diana
(finishing up)
Either way, the result's the same.
She pulls out the field generator disc, places the vial on it, and turns it on. Then takes a deep breath of relief.
Colin
The world I grew up on shuns people of science. Meeting my brother was the first time I ever got real praise and encouragement for my achievements.
Sure, my stupid flying machine was just a glider that every other world invented ages ago, and Quinn's intellect is far more advanced than mine, but he never let me feel inferior to him, you know?
(reminiscing)
He used to call me a genius, boast about me. That's the kind of person my brother is. And those words of encouragement were so motivating for me to start learning about all the complex concepts he already knew inside and out.
Colin opens up the door, and moves to the doorway. Diana's eyes glimmer.
Colin
If you let him boost you up too, I bet you'll find you'll be overcoming barriers you thought too difficult before.
You've already done more for me today than you did in decades. Is it mere coincidence that it's been less than a day since you met my brother in the flesh?
He exits the room, and his voice becomes muffled as he walks away. On Diana as she digests his words.
Colin (O.S.)
You're not forgiven, by the way. Not yet.
The warehouse is once again empty and dilapidated.
Quinn and Cole enter.
Cole
He said the Professor would be here soon, yeah?
Quinn
Or is it that we'll be at him soon?
Cole
Oh right, we have to shift back to where we arrived first.
From the darkness, a voice:
Arturo (O.S.)
Oh, thank God.
Arturo walks into a shaft of light.
Arturo
What an absolute blunder today has been. Where's Miss Davis?
Quinn's face falls.
Quinn
If we're back here, that means...
Diana (O.S.)
Colin's gone!
Diana appears through the doors of the warehouse.
Arturo
So you really did see Colin. I had a suspicion he had some hand in all of this.
Diana
(holding up the disc)
I got his blood sample though. Let's hope it's enough.
She arrives at the other three now.
Diana
Boy am I glad to see you, Professor.
Arturo
Likewise.
He checks his timer.
Arturo
We have twenty minutes until the slide window. What shall we do 'til then?
Cole
I've got an idea.
Sammy is sitting in a bean bag, on his mother's lap. She's reading the original "Winnie the Pooh" by A. A. Milne to him.
Sammy's Mother
(reading aloud, softly)
"Help, help!" cried Piglet, "a Heffalump, a Horrible Heffalump!" and he scampered off as hard as he could.
Sammy catches sight of a familiar face.
He jumps up and goes to Cole, who's standing there with Diana.
Sammy
You're back!
Cole
Sorry for disappearing, Sammy. We had to go frighten off the ghosts. Did it work?
Sammy nods happily.
Sammy
Mom came back and everything.
Cole looks at the mother on the bean bag, and nods to her, giving her a warm smile.
Diana
We promise they won't be scaring you like that any more, okay? We got 'em good.
Sammy
Thank you!
He goes back to his mother, and sits on her lap.
Sammy's Mother
Who are they?
Sammy
My friends who scared away the ghosts!
He waves at them, and they wave back before turning to leave.
Sammy's Mother
(back to reading)
"Help, help, a Herrible Hoffalump! Hoff, Hoff, a Hellible Horralump! Holl, Holl, a Hoffable Hellerump!" And he didn't stop crying and scampering until he got to Christopher Robin's house.
The portal opens once again, and so returns Quinn, Cole, Diana, and Wade.
Quinn
Looks like we made the jump this time.
Cole
Home, sweet home. Well, that was an adventure. And a learning experience. And... terrifying.
Wade
Kind of bummed I missed out on the fun.
Quinn
Not sure I'd call it fun. But seeing Colin was more than worth it.
Diana
(brooding)
It was certainly enlightening.
Cole
(facetious)
And hey, we all got these neat scars.
Maggie (O.S.)
I'm sorry, what's this about scars?
Maggie enters the room from the right of the stairs.
Cole and Quinn exchange an awkward look.
Cole
Uh, Quinn'll fill you in. See ya.
Cole dashes for the stairs, giggling, and disappears up them.
Maggie
(mocking)
Quinn... were you an irresponsible parent?
Quinn
(holding hands up defensively)
I can honestly say that none of what happened was my doing. Pinkie swear.
(grinning nervously)
But, you might want to sit down to hear about it.
Maggie gives him a look.
Fade Out