"Off the Rails" Just past the intersection of Riverbank Drive and the 101, total chaos surrounds the scene as emergency personnel try to cordon off the area from onlookers. Six of the train's 17 cars are completely engulfed in flames as two others teeter precariously on the side of the bridge. A huge plume of oily dark smoke rises into the sky. The KCON news van arrives with the rest of the media. Morrigan: (Looking at the madness before her) Dear God! Gracie: (Speaking to the station) BENNY, ARE YOU GUYS READY OVER THERE? - WE'LL BE GOING LIVE IN TWO MINUTES... START THE COUNT Morrigan heads for a police officer as Gracie sets up the shot. MM: OFFICER, OFFICER... could you please tell us what happened here? Cop: Sorry Ma'am, you're going to have to wait for our Public Information Officer just like everyone else Morrigan: Can you at least tell me if there have been any deaths? Cop: There have been fatalities - again, you'll have to wait for more details... now, I'm going to have to ask you two ladies to step back Morrigan: Thank you, officer Zach comes rushing over. Zach: I just talked to one of my fireman buddies - they're going to start evacuating 10 square blocks of the surrounding area because of toxic smoke and fumes Gracie: Great, I just had the van washed! Morrigan: How bad is it? Zach: He said he particulate level is not that bad... yet - if this thing gets any bigger, people's lungs are going to be doing the "Benzene Boogie" Gracie: Morri, get ready Morrigan: (Into her mike) CHECK, CHECK... 1, 2... CHECK - they're not getting me, Gracie Gracie: (Banging on some equipment) There's too much interference for audio but the vid feed is fine - get on the cell to the talking heads and give them all of your info, they're just going to have to read over the shot! Morrigan: (Dialing the cell phone) If we move back about 100 yards, we might get some clearance Gracie: Yeah, but the studio wants me in as tight as possible on the shot Morrigan: No doubt - let me talk to the anchors and then I'll go find the DIS-information guy... let me know when we have audio Gracie: Will do! Darkfin swims effortlessly up the river towards the spill, cutting through the water at upwards of 70 knots. Her sonic signature warns off the marine life in the area, clearing the river of fish. As she approaches the site, she can "taste" the change in the water. She stealthily rises from the water, concealed among some reeds and surveys the situation. Darkfin: I'm getting really tired of this Piloting a USCG helicopter, Lt. Fiore flies over the scene with Captain Phelps next to her, barking orders into his radio. Craig: I WANT ALL WATERCRAFT OUT OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA, GET SOME TEAMS DOWN HERE TO START A CONTAINMENT BOOM AROUND THE OIL Anita: (Looking down below) NOTHING is going to contain that shit! Craig: (Turning off his radio) SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER, FIORE, SO SOME ASSHOLE WITH A SCANNER CAN PICK UP THAT EXACT QUOTE Anita: Sorry - do you want me to go in closer? Craig: Nah, I can see all I need to see - remain at this level, we can coordinate better with this vantage point Hidden below, Darkfin holds up her middle finger to the air. Anita: (Looking out at the rising smoke and growing oil slick) The wind speed is low, the spill is fresh and the water current is less than a knot... we have perfect conditions for an in-situ burn! Craig: There's a nearby residential area southeast of here Anita: The wind isn't blowing in that direction Craig: For now Anita: The conditions aren't going to get any better Craig: Fine, Anita, go ahead and click the red tape scissors shoes three times - let's see what happens Anita: Dammit, Craig, time is of the essence! Craig: There are too many variables and we need the Federal and State On-Scene Coordinators' permission with a residential area so close by Anita: IT'S THE FREAKING WEEKEND, THEY WON'T BE HERE FOR HOURS Craig: That's not our fault, is it? Anita: (Slamming her hand down on the panel) This is Alaskan North Slope Crude Oil, once it hits the bay, we're going to have another Exxon Valdez on our hands - it will take YEARS to clean up CP: At least someone will be getting an employment opportunity out of it Anita: HOW CAN YOU BE SO CAVALIER? - think of what it'll cost the people living here! Craig: THINK of our CAREERS going up in FLAMES if one person so much as COUGHS because of the fire WE set Anita: Save a few people... or an entire ecosystem - I say we choose the latter Craig: NOW who is the one being cavalier? - you've been hanging around your brother-in-law too much! Anita: At least Sandy, Shelby and Erika are trying to figure out ways to help Craig: Well, unless those science wizards are down there with magic wands, there's nothing any of us can do at this point Darkfin: (Clutching her trident and watching the slick spread towards the faster currents of the river) What are these fools waiting for, LIGHT IT Calculating in her head and gauging the surrounding factors, Darkfin looks at the train. Darkfin: Just the right angle On a cliff overhead, Morrigan and Zach question the Information Officer as the evening sky is obscured by flame and smoke. Info Officer: At this point, we can't rule out sabotage but we have no conclusive evidence yet and no further comment Morrigan: But one witness said there was a small explosion BEFORE the train derailed Info Officer: We have no confirmation of that yet - we're looking into faulty tracks, as well as, human error - it will take awhile before we know for sure Zach: At this time, there are two dead and three injured - all crew members of the train? Info Officer: That is correct Morrigan: Most of the cargo is from Meer-A-Mar Shipping, when can we expect to talk with them? Info Officer: They are helping set up a command center and will have a statement for you within the hour Zach: How is the evacuation going? Info Officer: Smoothly - a few people have been treated at local hospitals for smoke inhalation - but, as long as the wind continues to blow to the northwest, we don't foresee a problem Out of the corner of her eye, Morrigan notices something in one of the wrecked cars by the bridge. Morrigan: Excuse me, I'll be right back The young reporter snakes her way around the confusion and tries to get a closer look. Zach trails behind her. Zach: McBride, what are you doing? Morrigan: (Making her way down a side embankment) I think... IT IS... IT'S A MAN... HE'S TRAPPED BEHIND THE CAR Zach: I'LL GO FOR HELP Morrigan: (Now inching along the bridge towards the man) THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT, THIS WHOLE BRIDGE IS ABOUT TO GO UP IN FLAMES Zach: DON'T DO IT, HE'S PROBABLY ALREADY DEAD Morrigan: WHAT IF HE ISN'T? Zach: (Now following cautiously behind her) FIRST RULE OF JOURNALISM, NEVER BE PART OF THE STORY Morrigan: FIRST RULE OF HUMANITY, ALWAYS HELP OTHERS As Gracie pans the scene with her camera, she notices Morrigan and Zach. Gracie: (Zooming in) NO... NONONONO, WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THEY DOING? Above, in the helicopter, Anita and Craig also spot the situation. Craig: (Screaming into his radio) WE'VE GOT CIVILIANS ON THE BRIDGE, GET THEM OUT OF THERE Anita: (Flying in closer) IT LOOKS LIKE ISAACSON AND MCBRIDE... CHRIST ALMIGHTY With trident in hand, Darkfin takes a deep breath and positions herself carefully. Darkfin: It will still be a mess, but at least it's a mess that can be handled The two reporters reach the man and start to carry him to safety. As they near the edge of the bridge, the man chokes and gasps. Man: Ahhgh... Pete... he's still inside... HELP HIM Morrigan takes off back to the car, towards the smoke and flames. Zach: DON'T DO IT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME Gracie: (Watching through the camera lens) WHY IS SHE GOING BACK? Anita: (From the helicopter) JESUS, SHE'S GOING BACK Darkfin bangs the bottom of her trident down hard on a rock to activate the charge. She prepares to throw it. Darkfin: Time's up Inside the car, Morrigan looks frantically for another man. Morrigan: PETE... PETE... CAN YOU HEAR ME? A small whimper is heard over the increasing roar of the flames. The woman finds a frightened Border Collie crawling towards her. Morrigan: Pete? - C'MON BOY, IT'S OK, C'MON Grabbing the dog in her arms, Morrigan starts to run as fast as she can. Before she makes it off the bridge, everything in back of her explodes into flames.

® All Rights Reserved, Jan. 2001