These are scenes from the March 20, 1997 first revision of the script for the episode This Slide of Paradise written by Nan Hagan. These scenes did not make it into the final episode due to time and story considerations.
Well, no place to begin like the beginning. The original beginning for "This Slide of Paradise" was radically different...
TEASER
FADE IN
EXT. MEXICAN STREET - DAY (D1)
A tumbleweed blows across the asphalt, passing a raised hang-man's platform. We find QUINN and MAGGIE, hands tied behind, led up the steps by a grizzled, smelly man, KYLE.
MAGGIE
I couldn't fold. I figured him for
a bad loser, but this?
QUINN
(a look; then)
They call him Hanging Harry. Did
you maybe think there was a reason
for that?
MAGGIE
Of course. I just didn't think it
was because he actually hung
pepole. Who does that these days?
Kyle places nooses around their necks.
The town clock RINGS OUT FIVE BELLS. Maggie and Quinn exchange a look. She's afraid. His eyes search the street. Where are they?
MAGGIE
You know I never got a chance to
say some things to Steve. I don't
want that to happen again, with us.
QUINN
It's not over yet. Remmy and Wade
will --
MAGGIE
We have no idea where Remmy and
Wade are.
HANGING HARRY comes up the steps.
HARRY
They say anticipation is the worst
part. That true?
QUINN
The worst part is having your ugly
face be the last thing we'll ever
see.
Kyle laughs. Harry burns a look that way.
HARRY
Just pull the lever, Kyle.
Kyle crosses to the lever. Maggie takes a deep breath.
MAGGIE
I really care about you. I just
thought you should know that.
A look between them. A moment locked in time.
QUINN
I feel the same.
Kyle jerks the lever. The floor drops out from beneath Maggie and Quinn. Their bodies drop like stones, the ropes swing tautly. The crowd GASPS. Harry LAUGHS.
A WHIRLING NOISE is heard. He looks into the hole.
INT. HANGMAN'S WELL - SAME TIME
The VORTEX of course. Quinn and Maggie are gone. The ropes have been cut by WADE and REMBRANDT, who each hold a knife. Wade leaps into the vortex. Remmy turns, winks at Harry.
REMBRANDT
Adios amigos!
Remmy laughs as he jumps into the hole.
EXT. HANGMAN'S PLATFORM
Kyle comes up next to Harry, starts to laugh again. Harry pulls him up by the lapel.
HARRY
Far as I'm concerned, one hanging's
as good as another.
Kyle panics and pushes Harry away with the butt of his rifle, knocking Harry into the vortex...
EXT. ISLAND PARADISE - BEACH DAY
Paradise. The VORTEX is OPEN over the water. Quinn and Maggie are struggling to pull themselves out of the water, on the sand, hands still tied, cut nooses still on...Quinn smiles at Maggie.
QUINN
Told you they'd make it.
Wade flies out of the VORTEX, landing in the shallow water beyond. She moves out of the water, cuts them both loose with her knife. The vortex is far enough away that it doesn't sound too loud.
MAGGIE
A little close, wasn't it?
WADE
Sorry. Only way to get to you
without getting us all shot, was to
wait underneath.
We hear Remmy land in the water.
REMBRANDT
I hate water landings!
(he exits the water)
Everybody okay?
QUINN
We are now, thanks to you guys.
REMBRANDT
Our pleasure. It's why we're here.
He and Quinn do a high-five. Wade gets a look around. They start up the beach.
WADE
This slide looks too good to be
true.
HARRY (O.S.)
Ayyyy!
Harry comes flying out of the VORTEX.
WADE
I knew it.
REMBRANDT
So what're we going to do with him?
QUINN
He's not our responsibility. We
didn't ask him to come along.
HARRY
What just happened? Where am I?
The rifle floats up with Harry. Remmy grabs it.
WADE
Forget him. We've got other things
to worry about.
(off the timer)
We've got twenty-two hours here to
find Rickman.
Quinn crosses, taking the timer from her. He smiles.
QUINN
I'm getting him, his timer. We're
going home. He's not getting away
again.
Wade eyes the edge of beach. Thick brush just beyond. Quinn leads them up the beach. Remmy moves up next to Quinn.
REMBRANDT
I'm curious. When you thought you
were gonna swing, what were your
last thoughts? Guys must've said
something to each other, right?
Maggie and Quinn exchange a glance.
MAGGIE
Yeah. We totally confessed our
love for each other.
REMBRANDT
(disappointed)
C'mon...
WADE
Guys...
She moves forward... Remmy comes up next to her.
WADE
You're getting a weird feeling
aren't you? I hate it when that
happens.
MAGGIE
Why?
QUINN
Because, she's got good instincts.
A NOISE. They all heard it.
QUINN
C'mon, better find cover.
(looks down the beach)
Those rocks.
They start down the beach, headed for an overlook area. The noise follows them. They all start to run.
QUINN
Move faster!
Harry stumbles.
HARRY
Help me!
He turns as two huge man/panther BEASTS roar out of the bush. Quinn fires at them. One is hit and goes down dead. The other ROARS viciously and attacks Harry, dragging him off into the bushes. Off this horror, we --
FADE OUT
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN
EXT. BEACH - MOMENTS LATER
Wade stares out into the jungle.
WADE
We should go after him, shouldn't
we? He could still be alive.
REMBRANDT
I don't see how. Even if he was,
we don't know what that was, or if
they're more of them in there.
Remmy leads Wade over to where Quinn and Maggie are over the dead panther's body.
MAGGIE
I'll bite, what is it?
QUINN
Hard to say.
REMBRANDT
Smells bad though, whatever it is.
WADE
That looks like a human hand.
REMBRANDT
Check out the face. Definite human
qualities.
MAGGIE
Could that thing be one of us?
QUINN
I don't know, but it's definitely
got some of us in its genetic code.
There is a HOWLING in the distance. It unnerves them.
WADE
Whatever they are, they know we got
one of them.
MAGGIE
Might be wise if we weren't here
when they came back.
Quinn checks the rifle.
QUINN
Anybody happen to have a few extra
shells on them?
Looks exchanged.
QUINN
It's empty.
(then)
Better get to higher ground.
QUINN slips the rifle over his shoulder and they walk.
EXT. ANIMAL LAIR - SAME TIME
At a small pond, a furry man/beast splashes water on his face. He looks up as the man/panther, CERES (SEER-IES) enters the area with Harry in tow.
RICKMAN
Is that Doctor Paul?
CERES
No, Colonel. He's a stranger.
It's what you need, right?
He drops Harry by the man beast who is -- RICKMAN. His face, teeth and hands ever more animalistic. Ceres is a huge beast, the James Earl Jones of the hybrids. His voice is frightening in its depth and tone. Harry is in bad shape, but not dead.
RICKMAN
(nods)
Fresh brain food. Where did you
find him?
CERES
On the beach. There were others.
RICKMAN
Describe them.
CERES
Four. Men and women. They fell
out of the sky.
RICKMAN
Sliders. And I thought they'd
given up on me.
Rickman HOWLS. The other pack animals joining in.
CERES
They killed Jared.
RICKMAN
Maybe it's better, Ceres. He was
dying, wasn't he?
Ceres GROWLS.
RICKMAN
At least this way, he didn't
suffer.
HARRY
Please, help me.
Rickman looks down on the suffering Harry. Smiles as he pulls his needle out.
RICKMAN
Let me put you out of your misery.
He needles Harry and then injects himself. He MORPHS temporarily into HARRY. The animals recoil at the sight.
CERES
What are you?
RICKMAN
A little this, a little that.
Rickman shakes off a morph chill.
RICKMAN
Now. Show me where the people are.
EXT. BEACH - CLIFF SIDE - LATER
Sun is starting to set. A tough climb, but they make it. Quinn is first.
EXT. BEACH OVERLOOK - CONTINUOUS
Quinn helps the others to get up. At the top, they have a view of the ocean waters beyond.
QUINN
We're on an island.
Beyond them, in the waters, are dozens of other islands (STOCK) closely chained. They stretch on for miles.
MAGGIE
Does the Pacific look like this on
your world? Doesn't on mine.
QUINN
No. We've got a few islands off
the coast, but nothing like this.
REMBRANDT
This has got to be California,
right? So, what happened to it?
WADE
Earthquake.
(off their looks)
We've been hearing for years that
the big one would come and
California would break off. Maybe
here, it actually happened.
QUINN
An island should make finding
Rickman all the easier.
The Sliders then venture off into the jungle as night sets in...and while they're walking, they become encircled by the man beasts and Alisandra comes to rescue just as we saw...
Maggie originally had a little more to say about going off with Alisandra...
EXT. HIDDEN PATH - NIGHT
A narrow path between rocky cliffs. You can hear the BEASTS howling in the distance. They're near, but not too close. Maggie comes up to Quinn.
MAGGIE
How do we know we can trust her?
She could be taking us right into a
trap.
Quinn nods, but keeps moving. Maggie pulls him to a stop.
MAGGIE
Hey. We don't even know what these
things are and we're just blindly
following her. Maybe we should be
a little smarter about this.
QUINN
We are! Okay? For the moment,
we're ahead of the others. We
weren't dragged off like Harry.
That seems pretty smart to me.
He gives her a look. They move to catch up with the others. Alisandra stops at the edge of the path.
ALISANDRA
The compound where I live is just
beyond the clearing. We'll be safe
once we're inside the fence.
The rest is as we saw it...
And Dr. Paul originally had different things to say...
He hands Maggie her [tranq] gun and starts to load one for Wade, who's over by some pictures of Dr. Paul with his hybrids.
WADE
You look awfully chummy with the
animals.
DR. PAUL
Hybrids. And I should be. I
created them.
(off their looks)
It's not hard, really, two parts my
DNA, one part theirs, stir in a
little nuclear transfer technology
and voila. Almost anybody with an
easy bake oven could do it.
MAGGIE
That's your idea of a good time?
Making genetic mutations for fun?
DR. PAUL
It's not fun. It's necessary. The
hybrids are experiments in
controlling genetic markers. Genes
that cause cancers, Parkinson's --
that kind of thing.
QUINN
You having any luck identifying the
markers?
DR. PAUL
Some. There are some side effects
though. Aging and genetic
dominance factors. Once I get them
mastered, I'll get the other stuff.
WADE
Kind of odd you're working all
alone on an island. Not exactly
your standard set up for major
research...
DR. PAUL
Couldn't be helped. The boys on
the mainland wouldn't let me play
in their sandbox. So I packed up
my experiments and moved out of
their court of jurisdiction.
QUINN
How many of them are out there?
DR. PAUL
Hard to say. Some of them have
died. I don't keep track.
The Sliders exchange a look.
DR. PAUL
Before you get all judgemental on
me, let me show you something.
He hands Wade her gun, then crosses to a cabinet...
DR. PAUL
Science is an adventure into the
unknown. There's no room for
caution, only for those who want to
venture into the brave, new world.
He opens it, REVEALING a large aquarium and inside that is a well-developed baby (about 7 human months), gestating in a warm, yellow liquid.
MAGGIE
Is that thing alive?
DR. PAUL
That 'thing' is nine-tenths human
and one tenth feline, bred for
gentleness and humor.
And yes, she's very much alive.
(knocks gently)
Hello, Beatrice.
The eyes open. The fetus smiles. It's truly grotesque and yet, fascinating.
INT. COMPOUND - MAIN HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
Rembrandt watches as Alisandra swallows some pills.
REMBRANDT
You okay now?
ALISANDRA
I think so. Thanks.
REMBRANDT
I should find my friends.
ALISANDRA
They're probably in the lab.
Remmy nods and heads out, with one last glance her way, Alisandra MOANS in a pain.
REMBRANDT
Alisandra?
Alisandra looks to him, a finality in her eyes.
ALISANDRA
It's starting...
REMBRANDT
What is?
She begins to tremble, then starts to shake violently. She falls, seizing. Remmy rushes back in.
REMBRANDT
What's happening to you?
She writhes in pain, shaking as an epileptic would.
EXT. MAIN HOUSE - VERANDA - SAME TIME
Quinn, Wade and Maggie heading for the house when they hear:
REMBRANDT
Hey! I need help here!
INT. MAIN HOUSE - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
They race in, horrified by what's going on. Wade rushes to Alisandra's side, holding her down while we she seizes.
REMBRANDT
She's having a seizure.
WADE
Find something she can bite down
on.
Maggie searches, finding a wood ruler --
MAGGIE
Will this do?
QUINN
(at the same time)
Paivon!!
Wade take the ruler, tries to put it in Alisandra's mouth.
ALISANDRA
(struggles to say)
The med, medi...
Daniel enters, cowering in a corner.
REMBRANDT
Daniel, what's she trying to say?
Alisandra's seizures become rhythmically horrific.
DANIEL
She needs the medicine.
QUINN
Then get it!
DANIEL
It's in the cabinet. I don't have
the key.
Quinn eyes the cabinet. He tries to pull it open. Can't. He pulls the cabinet over. It CRASHES -- Quinn pulls the thing backing off the cabinet, digs through the debris and finds a needle and a vial of medicine.
QUINN
Is this it?
DR. PAUL
(entering)
Yes. Let me.
He grabs the needle and crosses to Alisandra. Remmy gets out of the way. Dr. Paul holds her as her seizure decreases.
MAGGIE
What are you waiting for, inject
her.
DR. PAUL
It's too late.
Remmy grabs the needle from him.
REMBRANDT
Get out of the way. I'll do it.
WADE
Remmy...
She shakes her head. He knows what it means. Alisandra is completely still. Daniel sobs.
REMBRANDT
What's going on here?
DR. PAUL
It was her time. It happens.
(touches her tenderly)
Daniel, take her to her room.
Daniel gently picks her up and carries her out. Paivon sipes his brow. his hand trembles. He goes to fix himself a drink. He's completely distraught --
QUINN
This is your brave, new world?
Hey, nice going.
Quinn exits...
DR. PAUL
(a look; then)
I'll let you out of the compound.
WADE
Don't bother, we'll let ourselves
out.
DR. PAUL
I'll have Daniel turn the gate on
after you've gone.
EXT. COMPOUND - MAIN GATE - NIGHT
The Sliders, each with gun, move out. Daniel comes up after them, closing the gate. The electricity HUMS.
REMBRANDT
"It happens." What kind of man is
okay with that?
WADE
It's no wonder the animals hate
him.
QUINN
Look, I feel bad about her too,
but we need to focus on finding the
timer without becoming somebody's
lunch. Heads up, okay?
(to Maggie)
You see any of them?
MAGGIE
No. But they could just be waiting
until we hit a good spot to jump
us.
QUINN
Wade, Remmy... hang back some.
We'll be harder to attack if we're
spread out a bit.
Wade and Remmy nod and allow Maggie and Quinn to move ahead. REVEAL we see this from an animal's POV as he (MAX) watches, then turns and lopes away.
The next scene is back at the Hybrid lair where Ceres is asking Rickman why he needs another timer just like the one he already has...
After the Sliders get caught...there is another difference. In the original version, Quinn escapes to go back to the compound...and Dr. Paul asks for Quinn's DNA - not Remmy's. Why?
DR. PAUL
I need your DNA.
(off Quinn's look)
My genes are programmed for me at
this stage. I think that's why my
hybrids are rapidly aging and why
they live in pain. You're young.
Your DNA is healthy.
There is also a difference in Rickman's opening conversation with Maggie in her cage...
INT. ANIMAL LAIR - DAY
CLOSE ON RICKMAN'S ANIMAL FACE
sideways, smiling strangely.
RICKMAN
Can you hear me, Maggie?
Maggie, Remmy and Wade are caged. Rickman peers in on the sleeping Sliders. Several hybrids surround him. The Sliders' timer is near him (his is in his pocket). He puts his hand through the cage and pets Maggie. She stirs.
MAGGIE
Get your stinking paw off of me.
RICKMAN
You always were beautiful when you
were sleeping.
(then)
Your downfall's always been when
you're awake.
She's disgusted. Rickman looks to Wade, strokes her hair.
RICKMAN
Why couldn't you be like this one?
She has a certain charm you lack.
MAGGIE
Go to hell.
RICKMAN
Sorry, luv, already there.
And it plays out as we saw it from there...including the affair revelation.
Once Rickman tells Maggie her true mistake was marrying Steven, things take a different turn...
Maggie slaps Rickman, hard. The animals break out in anger at her. Rickman reaches in and grabs Maggie by the hair.
RICKMAN
For that, darlin, you will be
first to feed my need.
WADE
Maggie...
Wade tries to pull Maggie back into the cell. Rembrandt reaches out too. Ceres swipes his paw through the bars.
REMBRANDT
Damn!
Rickman pulls his needle, but stops when Max begins to seize. Rickman crosses and cradles Max gently.
RICKMAN
Max.
MAX
It hurts... hurts bad.
Max seizes. His pain seems ten times worse than what Alisandra went through.
EXT. ANIMAL LAIR - BACK ENTRANCE - DAY
Dr. Paul, Quinn and Daniel quietly creep up. They're on an overlook that hangs above the pond area.
DR. PAUL
That's the front way in. Daniel
and I'll go down. I've got pain
pills. They'll come out for that.
QUINN
Where's the back entrance?
DR. PAUL
Over there.
He indicates. There's a hole leading down.
DR. PAUL
Give us five minutes. Then go.
QUINN
Meet you back at the compound.
INT. ANIMAL LAIR - SAME TIME
Rickman has laid Max's dead body on an area across from the cage. He turns to the Sliders, pained.
RICKMAN
They live in pain and die in agony.
Thanks to that freak, Doctor Paul.
(to the hybrids)
He must pay for this, for Max!
WADE
Leave them alone, Rickman. You're
not helping them by any of this.
RICKMAN
You're wrong. They know the truth
now. He never cared for them. He
used them.
(to the animals)
Doctor Paul's not your friend.
He's your enemy.
Now, we HEAR a MURMUR or "Doctor Paul, he's here."
EXT. ANIMAL LAIR - A MINUTE LATER
A badly timed visit. Dr. Paul and Daniel approach. Paivon tosses out pills, kind of like chicken feed. The animals rush to get the catch.
Daniel hangs back, holding his dart gun in fear. Ceres GROWLS and swipes at Paivon.
DR. PAUL
Is that any way to welcome me,
Ceres?
CERES
You are not welcome here.
DR. PAUL
Do you all feel that way? Because
if you do, I'll leave.
The animals give him a look. One comes over and allows Paivon to pet him.
DR. PAUL
Hey, Davey. How are you?
RICKMAN
He's rather sad right now, Max
just died...
Rickman steps out of the lair. Daniel raises his gun. Paivon waves the gun off.
DR. PAUL
You must be Colonel Rickman.
RICKMAN
You must be the pathetic Doctor
Paul.
DR. PAUL
From what I hear, that's a little
like calling the kettle black.
RICKMAN
Poor fellow. Have I insulted you?
Because I hope I have.
INT. ANIMAL LAIR - BACK ENTRANCE
Quinn watches what's going on below, checks his watch and then slips into the lair.
EXT. ANIMAL LAIR - SAME TIME
RICKMAN
It's good to finally meet you...
Gives me the chance to ask you some
questions.
DR. PAUL
Not interested in talking. I just
came for a quick visit.
The animals stir restlessly... Ceres circles Dr. Paivon.
RICKMAN
See what I mean? If he really
cared about you, wouldn't he want
to stay, see how you're all doing?
DR. PAUL
Shut your mouth, Colonel. They
know I care for them.
RICKMAN
Then why do you discard them like
yesterday's garbage.
The hybrids make noise about this... Dr. Paul is starting to feel the heat a bit.
DANIEL
Perhaps we should go, Doctor Paul.
From there, it is as we saw...
And there was originally a little more insight when the Sliders were freed from Rickman's cage...not to mention the much smarter Rickman we see portrayed...
INT. ANIMAL LAIR - SAME TIME
Maggie, Wade and Remmy try to open the cage, but can't. Tensions are rising.
WADE
We could've gotten Quinn and made
it out of there, but oh no, you
just had to shoot at Rickman,
didn't you?
MAGGIE
I'm not in the mood to hear it.
WADE
I'm not in the mood to spend the
rest of my life as brain food for
him either, but thank to you --
REMBRANDT
Can you help me here, instead of
using all your energy ripping at
her?
QUINN (O.S.)
I'll help.
Quinn appears from the back entrance...
REMBRANDT
How'd you get in here?
QUINN
Back way. Paivon's out front,
keeping Rickman and the animals
busy.
(undoes the latch)
Where're the timers?
WADE
Rickman has them on him.
QUINN
We'll never get to him now. We'll
have to figure something out later.
They head out the way he entered.
EXT. ANIMAL LAIR - BACK ENTRANCE
Quinn, Remmy and Wade are topside as Maggie crawls out an opening in the rocks. There is a HELLACIOUS ROAR from below. Wade moves to the edge. Remmy steps up next to her.
THEIR POV - LOOKING DOWN ON THE ANIMAL LAIR ENTRANCE
The hybrids have killed Daniel.
MAGGIE
Is that Daniel?
All four Sliders react to the horrible scene.
QUINN
They were just supposed to decoy
them. This wasn't supposed to
happen.
WADE
When you mess with things you're
not supposed to, things that
shouldn't happen *do*.
A beat. A look.
REMBRANDT
I don't see Paivon down there.
QUINN
He might have made it out. If he
did, he'll head to the compound.
We should, too.
EXT. JUNGLE - CLEARING - LATER
The Sliders walk back, tense, expecting to be jumped at any minute. Quinn has the only weapon. He's ever ready.
He and Remmy are a few feet behind the girls.
REMBRANDT
Q-ball, about me barking at you
back at the clearing. I'm sorry.
QUINN
I didn't take it personally. I
know it's just the pressure. We
need to keep a lid on it. We're
doing a lot of fighting these days.
REMBRANDT
I guess in a way, that's a good
thing. Sure sign we've become
family.
ON THE GIRLS
Wade is ahead of Maggie, who moves faster to fall in step.
MAGGIE
Don't tell Quinn about me and
Rickman, okay. I'd like to explain
it to him myself.
WADE
That's an explanation I'd like to
hear.
MAGGIE
You want to hear it, fine. The
Colonel wasn't always like he is
now. He was an amazing man before.
I almost married him.
(beat; reflective)
All of this might've been different
if I had.
WADE
Oh, that's so perfect, Maggie.
It's all about you, isn't it?
Maggie pulls Wade to a stop. Lets a little anger loose --
MAGGIE
When I left him and married Steven,
he S.U'ed for the Gulf Mission.
That's where he got the brain
fungus. So, yeah, when I look at
him, I feel a little guilty for the
way things turned out.
(then)
And maybe I'm a little angry
because I know he killed Steven
just to get back at me.
(then)
It may not be *all* about me, but
I'm a big part of it.
WADE
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
MAGGIE
Yeah, well -- now you do.
Maggie walks off. A beat later, Remmy and Quinn catch up.
QUINN
What was that?
WADE
She'll tell you.
REMBRANDT
Shh... Hear that?
Something is running through the forest.
QUINN
Run!
EXT. COMPOUND - MAIN GATE
The Sliders run for the gate, which is open. Remmy trips, just as whatever is chasing them emerges. Quinn turns, gun ready. It's Paivon, dazed and bloodied.
DR. PAUL
Don't. Just me.
(looks back)
But they're on my tail...
He helps Rembrandt up and the Sliders rush into the compound, closing the gate and switching on the electricity. The Sliders move hurriedly towards the house.
Rickman, Ceres and two others rush out of the jungle, right up to the front gate. Ceres GROWLS viciously, swipes at the gate and gets electrocuted. His paw is jolted back. Quinn stops, turns, watching Rickman and Ceres...
CERES
We can destroy the fence.
RICKMAN
No need, Ceres. In twelve minutes
and nine seconds, they'll be
opening the gate for us...
CERES
Why wait!
RICKMAN
Because I want to see their vortex
close without them and see the
look on their faces when they
realize they're stuck here for the
next twenty-nine years!
He looks at the Sliders and laughs... he then turns and heads back into the jungle. Remmy comes up next to Quinn.
REMBRANDT
What'd he just say?
QUINN
Twelve minutes and we miss our
vortex.
Off which --
FADE OUT
END OF ACT THREE
And now for the grand conclusion...as you can guess, all of Act Four was completely different. Including the original ending...which *wasn't* a cliffhanger.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN
INT. COMPOUND - LAB
Wade sits Dr. Paivon down, tends to his wounds. Quinn and Maggie cross to the cabinet and pull out containers. Remmy stands by the door, watching the gate.
QUINN
Where would he go?
DR. PAUL
I don't know. Maybe the lair.
MAGGIE
No way. He knows that's the first
place we'd go to find him.
There's a tension to the scene, a sense of urgency as --
DR. PAUL
What was that thing he had? And
what was the talk about leaving
you here for twenty-nine years?
WADE
It's a timer. It opens a porthole
to parallel earths. We use it to
slide between dimensions.
QUINN
If we don't get it back from
Rickman, we're not sliding
anywhere.
DR. PAUL
You've got to be kidding.
MAGGIE
Do we look like we're kidding?
QUINN
What's happening out there?
REMBRANDT
Two of the hybrids are sticking by
the gate. Getting by them might be
a problem.
MAGGIE
We fire a few darts and they're
out. Problem solved.
QUINN
Not so fast, Beckett.
Quinn uses the last of the tranquilizer solution.
QUINN
We're out of this.
(to Paivon)
Anymore in the house?
DR. PAUL
That's the last of it.
WADE
You don't keep extra bottles of
something that important?
DR. PAUL
I usually only use a few darts a
month. I had no idea I'd ever need
it to defend my life.
REMBRANDT
How many darts do we have?
QUINN
One.
Beat. Looks between them.
WADE
Okay, so unless we can hit like
five of them with that one dart,
we're pretty much in trouble here.
QUINN
How much time?
REMBRANDT
(off his watch)
Ten minutes, fifty-four seconds.
MAGGIE
And counting.
Wade crosses to the cabinet and begins to pull things out...
WADE
There must be something else in
here that'll work. This place is
full of chemicals. Something must
act like that tranquilizer stuff.
DR. PAUL
Those're all bio-solutions for the
experiments. No sedatives...
QUINN
What about the medicine? What's in
that, some kind of morphine, right?
DR. PAUL
Yeah. Epinephrine, they're closely
related.
INT. MAIN HOUSE - DINING ROOM - A MOMENT LATER
Quinn is filling a dart with the medicine.
DR. PAUL
It works differently on everybody.
Too little and it's ineffective.
Too much and they'll have a heart
attack and die within seconds.
QUINN
What will half a dart do?
DR. PAUL
That should work on a man the
Colonel's size.
QUINN
Good. We can get three shots then.
MAGGIE
Wouldn't it be better to have one
full dart, just to be sure?
DR. PAUL
That much will kill him.
MAGGIE
I can live with that.
A beat. A look between her and Quinn.
QUINN
We don't need to kill him. We just
need to get the timers.
(pointed)
Let's not lose sight of that
objective.
He hands them each a dart gun.
QUINN
One shot each.
The Sliders head out. Quinn looks back at Paivon.
QUINN
You're not gonna help, are you?
DR. PAUL
Hey, not my problem.
EXT. COMPOUND - A MOMENT LATER
The Sliders come down the veranda. Two hybrids pace at the gate, eagerly awaiting them.
REMBRANDT
Four to two. Good odds for once.
I think we can take them without
wasting the darts.
MAGGIE
Yeah. Better to save them for
Rickman.
Quinn eyes the lab.
WADE
No time, Quinn.
QUINN
I gotta make time for this.
He head into the lab.
REMBRANDT
Let's find something to deal with
those mutants.
The three move into the compound to find a clever way to get rid of the immediate threat.
Behind them, Paivon exits the house. He realizes Quinn is missing and looks to the lab, alarmed.
INT. LAB - SAME TIME
Quinn has put his gun on the counter and is searching. Paivon enters.
DR. PAUL
I can't let you take it.
QUINN
You don't have a choice. I
should've never given it to you in
the first place.
DR. PAUL
I see. You're suddenly feeling a
pang of conscience. You disapprove
of what I'm doing.
QUINN
I disapprove of what you're putting
those animals through.
Dr. Paul makes a grab for the gun. Points it at Quinn.
DR. PAUL
Advancement always comes with a
price.
Quinn eyes the gun, but moves to the refrigerator, reaches, opening it. Paivon slams the door shut. Dr. Paul nudges the dart gun at Quinn.
DR. PAUL
We made a deal. Now go, get your
timer back and slide out of here.
You'll never have to worry about
what you've left behind.
QUINN
It doesn't work that way.
DR. PAUL
I shoot and you miss your slide.
You really want to spend the next
twenty-years on this island with
me?
QUINN
You're right. What do I care?
DR. PAUL
Exactly.
Quinn turns to go, then turns back, knocking the gun from Dr. Paul. They struggle, fighting, breaking up the lab. Glass CRASHES all around.
EXT. COMPOUND - SAME TIME
Remmy carries a wooden bat (NOTE: By bat, I don't mean "baseball bat," I mean a stout, solid stick of some kind). Wade holds a gob of netting. They turn as they hear the CRASHING NOISE and run for the lab.
INT. LAB - SAME TIME
Dr. Paul reaches for the gun. Quinn punches him, sending him flying. Dr. Paul's hand FINDS a knife. He picks it up, coming towards Quin, who rolls, finding his dart gun and THWACCK. He shoots Dr. Paul, who goes down, woozy.
QUINN
You want advancement, *you* pay for
it. Not the animals.
Dr. Paul heads for dreamworld.
Rembrand, Wade and Maggie enter as Quinn crosses to the refrigerator and takes out the DNA samples, destroying them by pouring them down a sink...
REMBRANDT
You okay, Q-ball?
QUINN
Yeah. Had to use a dart though.
Sorry.
WADE
Don't be. It was a dart well used.
The Sliders step over Dr. Paul's pathetic body.
EXT. COMPOUND - MAIN GATE - A MOMENT LATER
The Sliders move to the gate. Remmy hands Quinn his gun.
REMBRANDT
Take mine. I'll be okay with this.
He indicates the wooden bat. The Sliders take a minute to size up the two hybrids on the other side of the gate. The hybrids look savagely hungry.
QUINN
Easy boys.
One of them ROARS. Wade has moved to the on/off lever.
QUINN
Open it!
Wade turns off the electricity. Maggie opens the gate. Quinn and Remmy are immediately attacked by a hybrid. Remmy puts the bat into the hybrid's jaw, then rolls it over, knocking it out with a punch or two.
Quinn does a hand-to-hand with his animal. Wade and Maggie spread the netting and pull Quinn's hybrid away, captured. They blanket the second hybrid with the netting and tie them up. So much for them.
Maggie kneels down next to the one awake animal.
MAGGIE
Where did Rickman go?
The animal GROWLS, but doesn't answer. Maggie aims the dart gun, but the animal doesn't fear.
WADE
He's not going to tell us.
Quinn pulls a few of Paivon's pain pills and kneels next to the beast.
QUINN
I'll trade you these for where he
went.
The animal looks at the pills, reaches for them through the netting. Quinn pulls his hand.
QUINN
Tell us first.
ANIMAL
The beach. He likes the cliffs.
Quinn hands the beast the pills.
QUINN
Time?
Remmy looks at his watch, shakes his head.
REMBRANDT
Seven minutes and loose change.
Looks between them.
QUINN
We'll make it.
They take off running.
INT. JUNGLE - DAY - MINUTES LATER
The Sliders run through the jungle, trying to make it to the beach in time.
They turn a corner and a man/panther beast is there (perhaps the one from the opening who died?), ROARING viciously. The Sliders come to a stop.
QUINN
Whoa. Reverse.
They turn and run... The beast is on their heels.
INT. JUNGLE - VARIOUS
Being chased... The beast leaps onto Wade. They tumble onto the ground. Maggie returns to fight the beast off. As he turns to leap onto Maggie, Wade uses her dart gun. THWAACK... This beast goes down too. The girls share a look.
MAGGIE
Thanks.
WADE
Likewise.
QUINN
C'mon!
They move on...
EXT. BEACH - DAY
They arrive at the place where they landed yesterday. They look up at the cliff, hurrying down the beach.
REMBRANDT
I can't see him.
MAGGIE
Maybe he's not there.
WADE
Maybe it doesn't matter.
(off their looks)
He's got a timer too. If we miss
ours, we can grab his.
Quinn checks his watch, looks worried.
QUINN
We don't know that he hasn't
missed his slide. We can't miss
ours on a gamble.
EXT. BEACH - CLIFF SIDE - CONTINUOUS
They arrive and make their way up the cliff.
EXT. BEACH OVERLOOK - A MOMENT LATER
As Quinn makes it over the top. He sees Rickman by the edge. Ceres is with him. Rickman turns, smiles. Quinn helps up the others through --
RICKMAN
Too late, Sliders. Time's up.
Slide, if you can make it past us!
Rickman opens their vortex over the cliff. WINDS WHIRL. PIZZA PANS SPIN.
QUINN
Not without the timer!
RICKMAN
Which one?
He laughs and holds up the second timer. The Sliders flank out, ready for attack. Quinn moves close to Rickman, who tucks the timers into his pockets.
RICKMAN
You lose, Mallory, you'll be my
next fix.
Rickman kicks the gun from Quinn. They dust it up. Maggie moves to Quinn. Rickman pushes her back, sending her flying. Ceres launches himself at Rembrandt, who uses his bat to protect himself. Wade rushes to help Remmy. Maggie gets up, midway between two fights. In Quinn's fight, a timer falls to the ground. Wade turns to Maggie!
WADE
Dart him.
QUINN
(at the same time)
Grab the timer!
Maggie hesitates. She crosses to help instead of darting. They gus roll away from the timer and Wade grabs it.
WADE
It's ours!
(off the vortex)
We're running out of time.
Remmy manages to WHACK Ceres with the bat. He goes down. Maggie and Remmy stand, sigh. That was rough. Quinn punches Rickman and rolls, grabbing his gun, turning to Rickman, who's got a small rock. He advances on Quinn. Quinn FIRES. Rickman staggers back. Quinn reaches up to Rickman, his hand just about to grab the other timer when --
From where Maggie is, it looks like Rickman is about to bash Quinn's head with the rock. She turns quickly and FIRES.
QUINN
Maggie, no!
Too late. Rickman is struck. The double dose of Epinephrine works immediately. Rickman looks to Maggie, begins to shake violently and steps back and over the cliff.
REMBRANDT
Aaayyy!
The Sliders rush to the cliff's edge and look down.
THEIR POV
A hundred feet down to a rocky cliff. Rickman's gone.
BACK TO SCENE
Quinn takes their timer from Wade. They'll have to leap into the void to catch the waning vortex.
QUINN
His timer. Our home coordinates.
They're gone.
Quinn looks to Maggie. She's hurt by his anger. He moves to where he'll need to leap from. Wade comes up.
WADE
She was trying to help you, Quinn.
QUINN
Was she? Or was she doing what she
wanted to do -- like always.
MAGGIE
He got what he deserved.
REMBRANDT
This isn't about him. What about
us? What're we gonna do now?
QUINN
Keep sliding.
(strong, rallying)
We'll get home, just going to be a
longer ride than we thought.
A look. Heads nod. Quinn leads them all into the VORTEX.
INT. VORTEX - STOCK
And so, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride continues...
FADE OUT
THE END
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