1 1 INT. SMITH HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY - ON JOHNNY SMITH
sleeping late. With a smile on his face. Then we see
why. REBECCA enters, wearing his shirt. She looks better
in it than he does. She slips up to Johnny and gently
nuzzles him awake.
JOHNNY
(groggy)
...hey...
REBECCA
Hungry?
JOHNNY
On so many levels.
They kiss. Apparently this is not their first night
together.
JOHNNY
(can smell it)
What's for breakfast?
REBECCA
It's a surprise...
He playfully touches her arm. We hear a mini-Dead Zone
WHOOSH.
JOHNNY
Toaster waffles?
REBECCA
(he's right damn it)
Not very psychic. It's all you
had.
JOHNNY
Sorry, I wasn't expecting company.
Smiling, Rebecca pulls away.
REBECCA
C'mon, I'll make some bad coffee.
JOHNNY
I love it when you talk like that.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - TEASER - 4/26/04 - YELLOW 2.
1 CONTINUED: 1
She exits as Johnny pulls on some sweats and a t-shirt.
Then he reaches for his cane, triggering a REAL WHOOSH. A
thunderclap of pain hits Johnny above the left eye.
Instantly Johnny senses he's not alone. He turns to see...
2 2 INT. JOHNNY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS - CHRISTOPHER WEY
slumped against a wall, looking weary.
JOHNNY
...you... how long have you been
there?
WEY
Here? Just a few seconds... but
I've been waiting a long time.
Johnny has to fight to control the pain.
JOHNNY
What do you want?
WEY
Reverend Purdy lied.
JOHNNY
What do you mean?
WEY
About Mike Kennedy. You knew
something was wrong the night
they set you free -- you didn't
know what, but you felt it.
JOHNNY
How could you know that? You
weren't here.
WEY
I just know, okay. Get the truth
from Purdy.
And with that, he drops the cane top, and the VISION ENDS.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - TEASER - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 3.
2 CONTINUED: 2
Johnny presses the heel of his palm to his forehead, hit
with a fresh wave of excruciating pain.
CUT TO:
3 3 INT. SMITH HOUSE - HALLWAY/BEDROOM - MOVING WITH REBECCA
following her down the hall as she floats two cups of bad
coffee back to the bedroom.
REBECCA
I hope you like your coffee black,
your milk went out of date two
weeks ago... Johnny?
As she rounds the corner into the bedroom...
REBECCA
JOHNNY! Oh my god... Johnny...
A wider view REVEALS what she's reacting to: Johnny passed
out on the floor.
4 4 OMITTED
5 5 EXT. JAEGER NEUROLOGY INSTITUTE - DAY
Establishing. A sleek modern structure.
JOHNNY (V.O.)
I just got a little dizzy that's
all...
6 6 INT. JAEGER'S OFFICE - DAY
Lots of glass and reflective surfaces. Off to the side, a
computer work station with several monitors. Johnny and
Rebecca sit in front of a desk covered not in papers and
files, but with puzzles and various building toys; a
playground for the mind. Across from them sits DOCTOR
JAEGER wearing custom surgical greens.
REBECCA
Johnny... you were passed out on
the floor.
Jaeger absentmindedly plays with a small wooden finger
puzzle as he listens to Johnny and Rebecca.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - TEASER - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 4.
6 CONTINUED: 6
JAEGER
...and according to your medical
records, you've had these blackouts
before correct?
JOHNNY
Yes.
JAEGER
And they're associated with your,
"dead zone" the "visions" you've
been experiencing since emerging
from your coma?
JOHNNY
Not all my visions... just certain
ones.
JAEGER
Fascinating.
Jaeger sets the puzzle down, having solved it as he sat
there. Johnny picks up the puzzle to look at it,
triggering:
7 7 VISION BLAST
A machine gun burst of two-frame visions of brain surgery
images. Ouch.
8 8 RESUME JOHNNY - INT. DR. JAEGER'S OFFICE - DAY
He could have done without that. He keeps his reaction to
himself as Jaeger continues.
JAEGER
Johnny, brain damage is not a
static condition, it evolves.
Sometimes for the better, such as
when you emerged from your coma...
but more often, we see things
take a sudden turn for the worse.
These blackouts and memory losses
you've been experiencing are
actually seizures that indicate
serious problems deep within your
brain. They could be a precursor
to a life threatening stroke, or
even worse, you could slip back
into a coma.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - TEASER - 4/26/04 - PINK 5.
8 CONTINUED: 8
JOHNNY
I understand that, but I've always
felt like I was living on borrowed
time since my accident. It's
just something I have to live
with.
JAEGER
Maybe not. After carefully
reviewing your medical history,
I'm cautiously optimistic that we
can help you.
JOHNNY
How?
JAEGER
I think we can cure your "dead
zone."
Off Johnny and Rebecca's reaction.
FADE OUT:
END TEASER
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 6.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
9 9 INT. JAEGER'S IMAGING LAB - DAY (FORMERLY HIS OFFICE)
Johnny and Rebecca follow Jaeger into his imaging lab, a
large clean room featuring a state of the art (plus some)
MRI/PET scanner and a smaller adjoining Control Room full
of equipment racks and computer monitors, with a window so
the operator can view the patient while scanning.
JAEGER
Medical science has made huge
strides Johnny in the study of
Neuroanatomy -- the functioning
of the brain. With MRI's, and
P.E.T. scans, we can now pinpoint
and surgically treat brain tumors
and strokes that were, until quite
recently, inoperable.
REBECCA
Are you saying you think you can
remove Johnny's Dead Zone?
JAEGER
Actually, we would remove the
diseased part of the brain causing
his symptoms, the headaches,
blackouts...
JOHNNY
And my visions?
JAEGER
My belief is that your visions
are a unique state of consciousness
arising from a specific part of
your brain. Somehow your accident
awakened this dormant region. If
we can find it, and discover how
it works, we may be able to
surgically alleviate, or at least
control the negative side effects.
JOHNNY
And you think this is possible?
JAEGER
Let me show you something.
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/26/04 - PINK 7.
9A 9A IN THE CONTROL ROOM
Jaeger sits in front of a large flat screen monitor,
navigating his way through Johnny's medical history.
Thumbnails of various x-rays and MRI results fill the
screen. Jaeger clicks a few levels into a scan series,
then double clicks on a file, opening a P.E.T. scan series
full screen.
JAEGER
When I was reviewing the records
sent over by your doctor, I found
this incomplete scan -- the
technician wrote a note that this
scan was redone because, "patient
suffered temporary hallucination
during image capture."
JOHNNY
I remember that. I didn't
hallucinate, I had a vision of a
little girl who had an MRI right
before me.
JAEGER
What did you see?
JOHNNY
Her funeral. She had a brain
tumor.
JAEGER
And you got this vision from
touching something she had touched?
JOHNNY
That's how it usually happens.
Jaeger opens a file revealing a 3-D P.E.T. scan that is
incomplete, only two thirds of the brain in 3D.
JAEGER
There, that red blur, that glare --
that occurs nowhere else in all
the other scans -- only when you
had a vision. Somewhere in that
red blur might just be the source
of your Dead Zone.
Off Johnny's reaction...
10 10 EXT. JAEGER CLINIC - DAY - JOHNNY AND REBECCA - MOVING
As they head back to the car, Rebecca has to catch up with
Johnny, who seems like he can't get out of there fast
enough.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 8.
10 CONTINUED: 10
JOHNNY
...It's not an option. Not for
me. Not now.
REBECCA
You heard Doctor Jaeger, these
headaches and blackouts are going
to get worse. You could die.
JOHNNY
I'll have to take my chances.
REBECCA
I understand why you wouldn't
want to lose your gift, but...
Johnny please stop so I can talk
to you...
Johnny stops. He doesn't want to hear what she has to say
because he knows she's going to be right.
REBECCA
What's happening between us, it's
great, but it's just beginning...
and I can't tell you what to do
here. Please, talk to your
friends, to people you trust.
Talk to Sarah. In the meantime
let Dr. Jaeger run the tests he
needs to do... at least then you'll
be basing your decision on all
the information.
Johnny looks at her and relents.
JOHNNY
I'll go through the testing, but
I can't promise anything beyond
that.
REBECCA
Thank you...
And they continue on to the car.
10A 10A INT. JOHNNY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Reverend Purdy leans into Johnny's open front door, finding
the house dark.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/26/04 - YELLOW 9.
10A CONTINUED: 10A
PURDY
Johnny? Johnny are you here?
It's Gene. Johnny?
Johnny's voice echoes from back inside the house.
JOHNNY
In the living room.
The view follows Purdy through the dark house, where he
finds Johnny sitting in the darkened living room.
PURDY
Johnny? What are you doing in
the dark?
Johnny turns on a dim lamp.
JOHNNY
Fighting off a migraine. Thanks
for coming. I'm not supposed to
drive or I would have come to
you.
PURDY
Not a problem. You said you wanted
to ask me something?
Johnny studies Purdy for a long beat, making him nervous.
JOHNNY
Why did you lie?
PURDY
What do you mean? ...about the
trust fund? I told you. We made
some bad investments. You'll be
made whole, I promise.
JOHNNY
I don't care about the money.
There's something else. Something
about Rachel's murder.
(a beat)
The night I was released, after
you found Mike Kennedy's suicide
note, I knew something was wrong...
But I couldn't say anything or
I'd land back in jail as the only
suspect.
10B 10B MEMORY FLASH - BLACK AND WHITE
Johnny touches Purdy, they trade looks back and forth.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 10.
10B CONTINUED: 10B
(re-used footage from "Rachel Part Two")
JOHNNY (O.S.)
I got a vision of your future
when I touched you... you were
having a breakdown, begging for
forgiveness. Forgiveness for
what?
10C 10C RESUME JOHNNY AND PURDY - CONTINUOUS
PURDY
I don't know Johnny... you've
seen the future... I haven't.
JOHNNY
The truth will out Reverend. If
there's something you know about
Rachel's murder or Kennedy's
suicide, you need to come forward
with it.
Purdy's not ready to go there, not yet. Johnny keeps
working him.
JOHNNY
Walt is having Mike Kennedy's
body exhumed, they're going over
everything again. It's only a
matter of time till we know what
really happened.
PURDY
Everything I did, I did to protect
you.
JOHNNY
I don't need your protection. I
need the truth.
PURDY
The truth is, I don't know who
killed Rachel Caldwell. Or why
Mike Kennedy killed himself. I
just know these are not ordinary
times, and after I saw what you
had written -- about your visions
of the future. I was afraid...
Purdy knows he's said too much.
JOHNNY
Afraid of what?
PURDY
Of you...
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 11.
10D 10D INT. COUNTY MORGUE - DAY (FORMERLY SCENE 59)
The CORONER is just finishing a second autopsy on Mike
Kennedy when Johnny and Walt arrive. They watch as the
coroner covers Kennedy's body, getting a glimpse of his
sawed open skull.
DR. SURMAN
You're early Bannerman, my report
won't be ready for forty-eight
hours.
WALT
But if I know you, you've already
made up your mind... what did you
find out?
DR. SURMAN
Same as the first time. Probable
suicide. I can't rule out homicide
to a medical certainty, but there's
nothing here to support changing
the cause of death.
Johnny looks at the specimen bags, particularly one with a
whole lobe of brain.
JOHNNY
Is that what it looks like?
DR. SURMAN
Right frontal lobe. You can see
where the bullet passed through.
Size of the hole matches the
caliber of the gun found in his
hand.
WALT
Did you find the slug?
DR. SURMAN
Most of the bullet went straight
through and shattered the driver's
window. We found it nearby.
There were also numerous bullet
fragments we removed today.
Johnny points to another evidence bag.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/26/04 - PINK 12.
10D CONTINUED: 10D
JOHNNY
These?
DR. SURMAN
Yes.
JOHNNY
Can I touch them?
Surman looks to Walt, as if to say, "Don't ask me this."
WALT
I'll take responsibility.
Johnny opens the bag with the bullet fragments and pours
them out on his hand, triggering:
10E 10E VISION: FOLLOWING THE BULLET (FORMERLY SCENE 60)
As it reforms into a whole bullet, the VIEW RAMPS IN tight
on the now spinning bullet and the PERSPECTIVE SHIFTS so
we are now watching the bullet unscrew its way backwards
out of Mike Kennedy's head. Our view continues to follow
the bullet, panning it back to the gun to reveal:
Sonny Elliman, gloved hands wrapped around Kennedy's limp
fingers on the gun. The bullet retreats back into the gun
as it swallows the muzzle blast and we relive the moment
Elliman pulled the trigger. The real time gunblast ends
the vision.
10F 10F RESUME JOHNNY - INT. MORGUE (FORMERLY SCENE 61)
He winces, a sympathetic shock of pain cracking through
his skull. Surman reacts to Johnny, then looks over her
shoulder to make sure nobody is seeing this.
JOHNNY
AHH... my head.
WALT
You all right?
Johnny nods "yes." He pulls Walt away from the coroner so
they can talk privately.
JOHNNY
Elliman. It was Sonny Elliman.
WALT
Security guy, works for Congressman
Stillson?
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 13.
10F CONTINUED: 10F
JOHNNY
Kennedy was knocked out. Elliman
put the gun in his hand and pulled
the trigger. Why would Stillson
want Mike Kennedy dead?
WALT
Let's get Elliman in here and
sweat it out of him.
JOHNNY
Not yet. As soon as we say Mike
Kennedy didn't kill Rachel, I
become your prime suspect again.
WALT
So, if Mike Kennedy didn't kill
Rachel, who did? Stillson?
Johnny nods affirmatively.
WALT (CONT'D)
We just have to prove it.
11 11 OMITTED
AND AND
12 12
13 13 INT. SMITH HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Rebecca enters with a bag of groceries.
REBECCA
Johnny? You home? I bought some
groceries. Thought maybe I'd
make us dinner tonight... Johnny?
Johnny steps into the kitchen. He's got something on his
mind.
JOHNNY
Hey...
Rebecca gives him a quick kiss as she breezes past on her
way to the fridge.
REBECCA
Hey yourself. How you feeling?
JOHNNY
Okay...
Johnny hesitates, not sure how to put this.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 14.
13 CONTINUED: 13
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
Rebecca...
REBECCA
What is it?
JOHNNY
(a beat)
I have some bad news, but I want
you to know... I'm here for you...
and whatever happens, we're going
to see this through, together.
REBECCA
What is it?
JOHNNY
Mike Kennedy didn't kill Rachel.
Rebecca lets this news soak in.
REBECCA
What do you mean?
JOHNNY
I had a vision. Mike Kennedy
didn't commit suicide. He was
murdered by someone working for
Stillson, Sonny Elliman. Something
Rachel found out while shooting
her documentary got her killed.
Rebecca is lost in thought as she processes all this.
JOHNNY
Rebecca... When the truth comes
out about Mike Kennedy, that he
didn't kill Rachel... I'll be a
suspect again... They might arrest
me.
REBECCA
We can't let that happen...
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/27/04 - GOLD 15.
13 CONTINUED: (2) 13
REBECCA (CONT'D)
(she looks Johnny in
the eye)
I know you didn't hurt Rachel...
If it was Greg Stillson, then we
have to prove it. We owe it to
her.
JOHNNY
We'll go over everything again.
Maybe there's something I missed.
13A 13A INT. PURDY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
After hours. Purdy stares at his large ornate bible, reading
and re-reading passages of Revelations. There's something
very OCD about his behavior. Apparently he's got the
spirit.
EXTREME ON THE BIBLE
Apocalyptic phrases and words, as if spinning through his
head in a jumble.
PURDY
Flipping pages, re-reading, as if it would somehow change
if he just keeps checking.
JUST THEN - GREG STILLSON
Appears in the doorway.
STILLSON
Glad to see you're getting some
use out of that bible I gave you.
PURDY
"Congressman..."
STILLSON
(re:bible)
Yes sir, the deluxe edition.
Back when Daddy and I sold the
good book door to door, one of
these deluxe illustrated editions
was the grand slam of sales...
Daddy would sell one of these, he
could lay up drunk for a full
week before we'd have to get back
at it... Good times.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 16.
13A CONTINUED: 13A
PURDY
What do you want?
STILLSON
I suppose by now you heard they
dug up poor Mike Kennedy?
PURDY
Yes...
STILLSON
Now what do you suppose prompted
that?
PURDY
I'm sure I wouldn't know. You'll
have to ask Sheriff Bannerman.
STILLSON
Did seem awful convenient, Mike
taking the blame for Johnny Smith.
PURDY
What's your point?
STILLSON
My point is, don't let Smith take
you down with him. He and
Bannerman couldn't frame me for
Rachel Caldwell's murder so now
they're poking around Mike
Kennedy's death looking for
something they can use against
me. But they aren't going to
find anything are they? ...are
they?
PURDY
Not from me...
STILLSON
Good. Because the only one who's
going to be hurt by Smith digging
into Mike Kennedy's past is you.
Off Purdy's look.
14 14 EXT. POLICE IMPOUND - DAY (FORMERLY USED CAR DEALERSHIP)
WALT leads Johnny and Rebecca through the rows of cars
until they arrive at Rachel's station wagon.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/29/04 - GREEN-2 17.
14 CONTINUED: 14
WALT
Here it is.
REBECCA
Didn't you already touch her car?
JOHNNY
Not the inside. The initial vision
I got from the door handle led us
to the camera. By then I was a
suspect.
Johnny opens the driver's door and sits down, but refrains
from touching the steering wheel. Rebecca opens the
passenger door and sits next to him.
Johnny grips the steering wheel, triggering:
15 15 VISION - SPLIT REALITY
INTERCUTTING: Johnny and Rebecca in the parked car in
daylight; with Johnny (as the killer) and RACHEL in the
passenger seat, the night of Rachel's murder. (The car is
pulled off the highway.)
REBECCA
What is it? What do you see?
JOHNNY
Rachel... it must be the night of
the murder...
Johnny is behind the wheel as the killer. Rachel, having
just been kidnapped from her office and knocked out,
suddenly awakens, terrified, and begins to put up a fight.
Johnny, as the killer, pulls off his ski mask.
JOHNNY
(as the killer)
What did you tell him?
Rebecca is startled by the sudden change in Johnny's
demeanor.
REBECCA
Johnny? What's wrong?
JOHNNY
What did you tell Smith about us?
RACHEL
Nothing. Nothing I swear. Please
don't hurt me. Don't hurt me.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT ONE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 18.
15 CONTINUED: 15
Her hand finds the camera on the seat next to her and she
instinctually fights for her life, bashing Johnny (the
killer) repeatedly with the camera. She kicks at Johnny,
struggles to open the door, and tumbles out of the car.
As Johnny (the killer) takes his hands off the wheel to
pursue her, THE VISION ENDS.
16 16 RESUME JOHNNY AND REBECCA - INT. RACHEL'S CAR
Rebecca is ready to pounce on Johnny.
REBECCA
Who was it? Who was driving the
car?
JOHNNY
I couldn't see his face, but she
knew him. The killer kept saying,
"What did you tell Smith about us."
REBECCA
You said before you thought she
had an affair with Stillson.
Maybe he thought she told you...
JOHNNY
He must have thought she told me
something worth killing her for...
REBECCA
So it was him.
Johnny and Walt exchange a look, their thoughts echoing
Rebecca's.
17 17 OMITTED
THRU THRU
19 19
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 5/10/04 - WHITE-3 19.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
20 20 EXT. AN EMPTY BEACH - DAY
Pristine. New England dunes. We find Johnny. Alone.
Lying on his back in the sand, wearing sweats and a t-shirt.
REBECCA
Can you feel the warm sand Johnny?
Dressed in a bikini, Rebecca appears sitting on the sand
next to Johnny.
JOHNNY
Actually all I feel is cold
metal... but keep going...
21 21 ALTERNATE VIEW REVEALS: INT. JAEGER IMAGING LAB -
CONTINUOUS
Rebecca sits with Johnny as he lies back in the same
position he is in on the beach, except now he is on the
patient-sled about to be fed into the P.E.T. scanner. His
body strapped down, his head locked into a halo.
JOHNNY
...It helps just to hear your
voice.
REBECCA
Try and imagine yourself listening
to the waves... smell the salt
air... feel the sand between your
toes...
22 22 MIXED REALITY - THE MRI ON THE BEACH
Johnny is concentrating on Rebecca's words, trying to will
himself out of that hospital room.
JOHNNY
I'm feeling it...
REBECCA
Good. They're going to insert
something into your neck now, but
I want you to ignore the pain...
just picture yourself lying on
that warm sand...
As a NURSE inserts a nasty looking catheter into an artery
in Johnny's neck...
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 5/10/04 - WHITE-3 20.
22 CONTINUED: 22
JOHNNY
Aaargh...
REBECCA
Stay on the beach Johnny... let
the pain go... and come back to
me on the beach...
22A 22A JOHNNY ON THE BEACH - INTERCUTTING
JOHNNY EXPERIENCES himself on the beach, Rebecca gently
rubbing his chest with her hand.
REBECCA
How does that feel?
JOHNNY
Much better...
23 23 IN THE IMAGING LAB
Her hand comig to rest on his chest, Rebecca looks to Dr.
Jaeger who signals they are ready.
REBECCA
They're getting ready to start
now Johnny, so I have to go...
but I want you to stay on the
beach... listen to the waves,
feel the warm sand... and just
drift away...
24 24 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
Eyes closed, resting on a dune, a smile on his face.
25 25 JOHNNY IN THE SCANNER
Wrapped tight in velcro straps, immobilized as he begins
the journey into the jaws of the scanner.
26 26 JAEGER AND REBECCA - IN THE CONTROL ROOM
She joins Jaeger in the control booth.
JAEGER
Nice job... I know it hurts like
hell, but any anesthesia would
alter the scan. You've done this
before?
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/26/04 - PINK 21.
26 CONTINUED: 26
REBECCA
Just a little guided imagery. I
use it sometimes on the traumatized
kids I work with.
Jaeger and a LAB TECH start navigating their way through a
series of on-screen menus. Through a window, they watch
Johnny in the next room, now completely inside the scanner.
27 27 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
Still buried in sand. Jaeger's voice echoes from somewhere
down the beach.
JAEGER
We're going to inject the
radioisotope now Johnny. You may
hear a little noise from the
scanner, just try to ignore it...
A low buzz-buzz-buzz becomes perceptible to Johnny.
28 28 JOHNNY IN THE SCANNER
Inside the scan room, the BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ is deafening as a
powerful electron gun blasts Johnny's skull.
29 29 CONTROL ROOM
Jaeger and Rebecca watch as the first batch of scans, each
representing a slice of Johnny's brain, are displayed on
the monitors. With a few keystrokes, Jaeger combines the
slices into a three dimensional view of Johnny's brain,
which he manipulates with a track-ball, viewing the scan
from several angles.
JAEGER
Great. We have an excellent
baseline.
(then to Rebecca)
You can see the areas of brain
activity, the brighter colors,
here in the frontal lobe. We're
literally "seeing" him imagine
your beach.
REBECCA
Incredible...
Jaeger signals the nurse in the room with Johnny, who wheels
over a heavy lab cart with a small vice bolted to the top.
In the vice: a baseball.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 22.
29 CONTINUED: 29
JAEGER
(into his headset)
Johnny we're going to try and
trigger a vision now by touching
an object to your hand, but I
want you to just relax and let
the vision happen... ready?
30 30 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
Happy as a clam...
JOHNNY
Ready.
31 31 JOHNNY IN THE SCANNER
As the lab technician maneuvers the vice-gripped baseball
so it touches Johnny's hand , triggering:
32 32 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
The baseball in his hand. We HEAR THE ROAR OF A CROWD...
33 33 VISION - BASEBALL STANDS
Doctor Jaeger sits in the crowded bleachers with his TEN
YEAR OLD SON. As Johnny watches from the row behind them,
Jaeger and his son jump to their feet along with the rest
of the crowd, cheering a home run. In SLOW MOTION, Jaeger's
son stretches with his mitt to reach the incoming home run
ball...
34 34 JAEGER
Hits the "scan" button, firing off a scan.
35 35 VISION - RESUME STANDS
Johnny watches as Jaeger's kid snags the ball away from
the pushy adults around him.
36 36 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
Smiles at the kid's victory...
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/26/04 - PINK 23.
36 CONTINUED: 36
JOHNNY
Yessssss....
37 37 IN THE CONTROL BOOTH
Jaeger and Rebecca watch as another series of scans becomes
a 3-D model of Johnny's brain.
JAEGER
What did you see Johnny?
JOHNNY
Your son catching a home run.
JAEGER
(blown away)
...that's... right...
Jaeger puts both scans up on the screen, rotating them for
comparison. In the VISION SCAN Johnny's brain is
essentially dark, except for a blurry glow from deep inside.
JAEGER
(to Rebecca)
There... look... that glow near
the amygdala - this area of the
brain integrates the senses and
links our emotions to memories...
But the image is very undefined.
We need to evoke a stronger vision.
He said only certain visions cause
his seizures. What triggers them?
Off Rebecca's concerned look...
37A 37A JOHNNY'S CANE
Being tightened into the vice. The view widens to reveal
the Nurse moving it into position near Johnny's hand.
JAEGER
We're going to try another vision
now Johnny.
REBECCA
How's the beach?
37B 37B JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
JOHNNY
All I need is a Pina Colada.
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 5/10/04 - WHITE-3 24.
37C 37C REBECCA AND JAEGER
Exchange a look. Jaeger nods to the Nurse, who pushes the
plunger sending another load of radioisotope into Johnny's
brain, then very carefully moves the cane top closer...
37C1 37C1 ON THE BEACH - IN THE MRI
Johnny reacts to the splitting headache that accompanies
the radioisotope hitting his brain.
37D 37D EXTREME ON THE CANE TOP - (IN THE LAB)
As it touches Johnny's hand, triggering:
38 38 OMITTED
THRU THRU
44 44
45 45 VISION - JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
Suddenly sits up, as the beach around him MORPHS INTO:
46 46 VISION - THE FUTURE
Christopher Wey is tied to a chair in front of Johnny,
holding the cane top in a hand tied to the arm of the chair.
Looking around, Johnny realizes they are in a small dark
room, Wey being held captive by somebody...
WEY
(to somebody)
He's here...
JOHNNY
Who did this to you?
WEY
Nevermind that... the camera...
the dead girl's camera...
47 47 JOHNNY IN THE SCANNER
lying frozen deep inside the machine. A heart monitor
ALARM goes off, the technician looking to Jaeger for
instructions.
48 48 JAEGER AND REBECCA
Rebecca looks at the monitor that shows Johnny's vital
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 5/14/04 - BLUE-3 24A.
48 CONTINUED: 48
signs as a series of medical alarms sound off.
REBECCA
Something's wrong. Stop the test.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 25.
48 CONTINUED: (2) 48
JAEGER
Wait!
He hits the scan button one last time.
49 49 RESUME VISION - FUTURE
Wey and Johnny back in the room.
JOHNNY
What about the camera?
Before Wey can answer, a hardened TWENTY YEAR OLD MAN
carrying an assault rifle enters the room.
TWENTY
Who are you talking to? Is he
here?
The young man looks around the room. Johnny is right in
front of him, but the man can't see him. Johnny studies
his face.
JOHNNY
Who is this? Do I know him?
WEY
You should, he's...
But the young man quickly knocks the cane top out of Wey's
hand with the butt of his gun, ENDING THE VISION.
50 50 JOHNNY ON THE BEACH
He panics and struggles as he is sucked under the surface
of the sand.
51 51 JOHNNY IN THE SCANNER
Rebecca joins the technician as they scramble to pull a
convulsing Johnny from the scanner. As soon as they get
him out and sit him up, the vital sign monitors begin to
return to normal.
REBECCA
Are you all right?
JOHNNY
(pained but recovering)
I think so... what happened? Did
it work?
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/29/04 - PINK-2 26.
52 52 JAEGER - BACK IN THE CONTROL BOOTH
Is looking at the monitor, an expression of awe on his
face. Johnny manages to get to the control booth with
Rebecca to lean on.
JAEGER
... there it is.
WHAT THEY SEE ON THE MONITOR
Another 3-D model of Johnny's brain, but this time, there
at the center, clearly defined in a concentrated red glow,
is an uncharted structure deep inside Johnny's brain, his
Dead Zone.
Off Johnny's reaction...
53 53 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK - DAY
Johnny and Sarah walk along a tree covered street.
SARAH
They really think they know what
causes your visions?
JOHNNY
This Doctor Jaeger has a theory,
but that's all it is, a theory.
SARAH
And you could actually see it?
JOHNNY
He thinks my "dead zone" is some
kind of anomaly deep inside my
brain. It's the source of my
visions. It's also the source of
my headaches and blackouts.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/29/04 - PINK-2 27.
53 CONTINUED: 53
SARAH
Is it something they can treat?
JOHNNY
If they can isolate it, they might
be able to operate.
SARAH
What would that do to your visions?
JOHNNY
Stop them. Maybe.
(a beat)
Listen, Sarah... there's something
I need to ask you...
SARAH
Yes?
JOHNNY
If something happened... and I
wound up in the hospital... if
I'm not able to, I want you to be
the one to decide whether to
operate.
Sarah lets that soak in.
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
I know it's a lot to ask...
SARAH
Of course I'll be there for you.
Whatever you need, always. We're
your family, J.J., Walt, and I.
JOHNNY
There's one more thing... Sarah --
if it ever comes to it -- don't
leave me in another coma. Pull
the plug... promise me...
SARAH
Johnny, I...
She nods yes, and silently mouths "promise", unable to
bring herself to even say it out loud.
SARAH
Have you told Rebecca?
JOHNNY
Yeah. She's been great. She's
been through a lot. We both have.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 5/14/04 - BLUE-3 27A.
53 CONTINUED: (2) 53
JOHNNY (CONT'D)
(a beat)
For the first time since you and
I... there's somebody I really
care about... This operation... I
dream about getting rid of these
visions... having a normal life
with somebody like Rebecca...
(a beat)
But a part of me knows it just
isn't possible.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/29/04 - PINK-2 28.
53 CONTINUED: (3) 53
SARAH
Of course it's possible. You're
a father now... J.J. loves you...
You have this wonderful girl who's
crazy about you. I can see it in
the way she looks at you. Everyone
can.
(beat)
If you want a life with her, then
fight for it.
Off Johnny's reaction.
54 54 EXT. WASHINGTON D.C.
Establishing.
55 55 INT. STILLSON'S CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE - NIGHT
Behind closed doors. After hours. Cigars. Booze. This
is where business gets done. Stillson is here, holding
court with his new legislative pals, including JAKE TRUAX
and the others from Johnny's voting machine vision in
"Finding Rachel, Part One."
Truax hands Stillson a fresh drink and pulls him aside,
purposefully snubbing JAMES STILLSON, who swallows his
reaction. It's a bitter pill.
TRUAX
Get yourself another drink Jimmy,
I just need Greg for a minute...
thanks.
JAMES
I've got some thoughts on those
amendments when you guys are
through.
Truax just shines him on, focused only on Greg.
TRUAX
(just to Greg)
Listen, Greg, I think I speak for
everyone here when I say we're
all impressed with the work you've
done for us on the "Justice For
All" bill... our re-naming it
"Rachel's Law" will help with
your constituents back home.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 29.
55 CONTINUED: 55
Truax checks to make sure nobody can hear them, his tone
darkening.
TRUAX
But something has come to our
attention that is cause for
concern. A friend over in the
justice department told me the
Penobscot County Sheriff is having
the FBI crime lab re-examine
evidence in the Rachel Caldwell
murder. We wouldn't want an overzealous
Sheriff to re-open her
murder investigation. Who knows
what peripheral issues might come
to light.
STILLSON
Don't worry. I've got it under
control.
CUT TO:
56 56 OMITTED
THRU THRU
61 61
62 62 INT. REVEREND PURDY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
After hours. In a wide view of the office, we see Purdy
at his desk, methodically feeding papers into his shredder.
From the looks of it, he's been at it all night, a huge
pile of shreddings cascading across the floor. As the
view moves closer, we see that Purdy is having some kind
of breakdown; hair disheveled, eyes dull, his affect flat
and emotionless as he continues to shred. As the view
moves closer still, we see just how gone Purdy is when we
reveal what he is shredding -- his Bible.
63 63 EXT. PARK - DAY (FORMERLY EXT. CEMETERY)
Two young blonde girls, ten and five years old, playing on
swings, rising and falling out of frame in slow motion.
Happy. Laughing. Rebecca and Rachel in happier times.
Each in turn dip out of frame, only to rise back up as
their older selves, still happy in a perfect world. Rebecca
in particular seems happy in a way we've never seen her,
because she's with her sister. She throws her head back
and laughs, swinging up with all her might as Rachel swings
past disappearing out of frame. But when Rebecca reaches
her apex and begins her descent, her expression changes,
something suddenly very wrong. Where Rachel was a second
ago, now only an empty swing remains, arcing past Rebecca
on her way down.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 30.
63 CONTINUED: 63
Confused, Rebecca jumps off her swing, looking everywhere
for her sister as the VIEW WIDENS TO REVEAL: Rachel is
gone, vanished.
REBECCA
Rachel!!!
64 64 INT. SMITH HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT - REBECCA
sits bolt upright in bed, her CRY for Rachel carrying across
the cut as she awakens from her nightmare, finding herself
in Johnny's bed. Hearing her, he wakes up.
REBECCA
...Rachel!
JOHNNY
You okay?
REBECCA
No... I... I was having a dream,
that's all...
JOHNNY
Would it help to talk about it?
Rebecca melts slightly at his touch, but the dream still
has its hooks in her.
REBECCA
Rachel and I were together. We
were on these swings, in a park
near where I grew up. We were
both laughing hysterically. It
felt so good to be with her again.
I keep dreaming about her... happy
dreams, then I wake up into a
nightmare where she's gone.
Johnny wraps her in his embrace, but she doesn't let it
soften her resolve.
REBECCA
If Greg Stillson killed my sister,
we've got to do something about
it. Whatever it takes... I can't
live with him walking around free
while she's...
JOHNNY
Listen to me... I know how much
he hurt you, what he took away
from you... He won't get away
with it. I promise.
He pulls her tight, letting her borrow his shred of courage,
but at the same time, knowing his promise is no guarantee
of the future to come.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT TWO - 4/21/04 - BLUE 31.
64 CONTINUED: 64
And in her eyes, we see that she knows, life is not fair,
or neat, or easy, and it may take more than Johnny's promise
to bring Rachel's killer to justice. Off her soulful look
of doubt...
FADE OUT:
END ACT TWO
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/27/04 - GOLD 32.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
65 65 OMITTED
THRU THRU
69 69
70 70 INT. SHERIFF'S EVIDENCE LOCKUP - NIGHT
Walt leads Johnny and Rebecca through the shelves of boxed
up evidence, checking a clipboard as he looks for the Rachel
Caldwell case evidence. Walt finds the boxes he's looking
for.
WALT
Here it is.
He pulls three large file boxes off the shelf, cutting off
the official seals before opening them.
WALT
Make it quick. District attorney
Schweigel would have my head on a
stick if he found out.
JOHNNY
I know. I wouldn't ask if I could
think of any other way.
Johnny and Rebecca sort through the evidence: personal
items of Rachel's, her purse, car keys, a jacket.
WALT
What exactly are you looking for?
JOHNNY
Something I never touched...
Johnny lifts an evidence bag containing Rachel's video
camera.
JOHNNY
...the murder weapon.
Rebecca eyes the bloodstained camera as if she's afraid of
it.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 33.
70 CONTINUED: 70
WALT
Lets get this over with.
Walt puts on a pair of rubber gloves, then slices open the
sealed bag. He holds the camera out for Johnny, who passes
his hand over the controls, before suddenly latching on to
the handgrip like it was magnetic, triggering:
71 71 A MACHINE GUN BURST OF VISIONS
A rapid fire montage of images from the night Rachel was
kidnapped. Out of the maelstrom of images, a single vision
suddenly emerges --
72 72 VISION - LOADING DOCK - NIGHT
Johnny witnesses a reprise of the vision he had the first
time he bumped into Rachel. Four men, right in front of
Johnny, including Stillson, looking down off camera, talking
about a woman.
STILLSON
No one else knows about her, huh?
TRUAX
Nobody outside present company.
The view ramps into Johnny as he turns, swinging around
180 degrees to reveal what the men are looking at: A DIGITAL
VOTING MACHINE.
STILLSON
May I?
TRUAX
That's what we're here for.
[As originally written for "Finding Rachel, Part One:"
Stillson reaches forward, the VIEW MOVES TO REVEAL what
the men have been salivating over: not a woman, but a small
computer kiosk -- one the new digital VOTING MACHINES.
Seen on the screen: a menu of the candidates from the
Congressional election. Stillson's hand circles the screen
sensuously.]
STILLSON
Let me ask a stupid question.
Does it even matter which one of
these I pick?
The men laugh.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 33A.
72 CONTINUED: 72
TRUAX
Of course it matters. Every vote
counts...
STILLSON
Yeah, just some count a little
more than others.
TRUAX
In a close election like yours,
it all gets down to margin of
error, which our friend here
manipulated in your favor.
Undetected, of course. The digital
equivalent of a hanging Chad.
Johnny watches as Stillson caresses the screen. The vision
SPEEDS FORWARD IN TIME -- pausing for Johnny to see:
STILLSON
And there's no paper trail?
MAN THREE
Only the one we generate.
Stillson touches the screen next to his name, registering
a vote for himself. He stares at the screen, transfixed.
MAN TWO
Better than sex isn't it?
Stillson throws a look to Man Two.
STILLSON
You, my friend, need to get out
more.
The men all laugh. The vision SPEEDS FORWARD AGAIN. James
Stillson steps up, putting a hand on his son's shoulder.
JAMES STILLSON
Nothing can stop us now, Son.
The sound of a DOOR OPENING off screen draws everyone's
attention.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 34.
72 CONTINUED: (2) 72
They all look worried, except for Stillson, who recognizes
the person at the door. Johnny turns and sees Rachel poke
her head in the door.
RACHEL
I'm sorry, I was just looking for
the exit.
STILLSON
(smiling)
No, no, it's okay, c'mon over,
we're just finishing up here...
Johnny notices how underlings deftly shut everything up to
conceal it from Rachel, who is carrying her video camera
down at her side like it's not on.
TIME SPEEDS FORWARD and Stillson is introducing Rachel to
the group of men.
STILLSON
Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet
Rachel Caldwell, my next
communications director...
THE VISION FREEZES, giving Johnny a chance to study
everyone's reaction to Rachel. It's like one of those
Dutch Masters Tableaus, every face riveted on RACHEL, but
all of them telling a different story. Rachel smiles at
Truax as Stillson introduces her. Johnny walks among the
frozen men, reading their expressions. Several of the men
are staring at her breasts, but JAMES STILLSON is glancing
sideways at her, eyes narrowed, clearly suspicious.
Johnny's study ends on Stillson, frozen mid smile, his
eyes cast down, not at Rachel's body -- but at the camera
in her hand. Johnny follows Stillson's gaze and sees what
Stillson sees, the red recording light, frozen mid blink...
THE VISION UNFREEZES, and in real time, the scene plays
completely different, everyone covering their true reaction
to this sheep in their midst. It's smiles all around as
THE VISION ENDS.
73 73 RESUME EVIDENCE LOCKUP - CONTINUOUS
Johnny drops the camera like a hot potato, Walt snatching
it out of his hands.
REBECCA
What did you see?
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - WHT-2 35.
73 CONTINUED: 73
JOHNNY
Rachel and Stillson. I saw this
before... the first time I bumped
into her. They're with a group
of men. They're looking at one
of those new computerized voting
machines when she walks in on
them with her video camera running.
It might be what go her killed.
REBECCA
So he was rigging the voting
machines and she caught him?
WALT
I can't go accusing Stillson of
voter fraud without some rock
solid evidence.
REBECCA
I don't want Stillson fined for
election fraud, I want him in
jail for the rest of his life for
murder.
JOHNNY
Maybe there's some other angle to
look at this from, another way in
for a vision.
REBECCA
What about Stillson?
WALT
He's not going to let Johnny
anywhere near him.
REBECCA
There might be a way. He's been
wanting to talk to me about
endorsing this bill he's trying
to get passed, "Rachel's Law."
He's here in Bangor for the next
few days, I could arrange a
meeting. You could be my
chaperone.
WALT
You'll need one.
Off Johnny's look...
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/27/04 - GOLD 36.
74 74 OMITTED
75 75 INT. PURDY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Purdy's office is full of television equipment as he
prepares for a live broadcast from his desk. Purdy sits
brooding as the last minute preparations swirl around him,
the office full of TECHNICIANS and a few SUPPORTERS. A
STAGE MANAGER approaches, counting down...
STAGE MANAGER
...and we're back in five-fourthree...
And he mimes the "two-one" before the cameras come on. A
music cue heralds the beginning of the broadcast as a prerecorded
announcer intones...
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
And now, live from his office
with a special message of hope
and salvation, the founder of
Faith Heritage Ministries, Reverend
Gene Purdy...
PURDY
Thank you. All of you, both those
here at Faith Heritage, and all
of you watching at home. We are
blessed by your continued
support...
But then Purdy stops, as if he's gone up on his lines.
There's a long pregnant pause as he considers what he is
about to do.
PURDY
For more than twenty years I have
witnessed the good news to you
and you have placed your faith in
me. Today I come before you to
say, I am not worthy of that faith.
I have sinned. A grievous sin
that cannot go unpunished...
The Faith Heritage workers look at each other, wondering
what's going on.
PURDY
I have given false witness against
a colleague of mine, a man who
recently took his own life, Mike
Kennedy...
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 37.
75A 75A INT. SMITH RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Johnny and Rebecca are watching a replay of Purdy's speech
on the news, his broadcast playing in a window surrounded
by CNN-type graphics.
PURDY
...In a misguided effort to help
secure the release of Johnny Smith,
a man who I believe is a true
prophet of God and was falsely
accused of murder, I forged a
suicide note stating that Mike
Kennedy was responsible for the
murder of Rachel Caldwell...
Johnny and Rebecca react.
REBECCA
When did this happen?
JOHNNY
A few hours ago -- during one of
his televised crusades.
75B 75B INT. STILLSON LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE - NIGHT
Watching the same news cast.
PURDY
I know that what I did was a sin,
and I accept whatever punishment
God and Caesar wish to bring upon
me. I am resigning my directorship
here at Faith Heritage, effective
immediately. Good Night. And
God Bless.
STILLSON
Son of a bitch...
75C 75C INT. SMITH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
As the news moves on, Johnny shuts off the TV.
JOHNNY
That's what he needed to confess...
He wrote the suicide note.
REBECCA
What's going to happen now?
Johnny looks to Rebecca, wondering himself.
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 5/14/04 - BLUE-3 37A.
76 76 EXT. STILLSON'S LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE - NEXT DAY
A storefront on a quaint stretch of Main Street. A large
STILLSON banner fills the window.
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/21/04 - BLUE 38.
77 77 INT. STILLSON'S INNER OFFICE - DAY
Stillson is just wrapping up a phone call...
STILLSON
... I'm back on the last flight,
I just have a little business to
wrap up here. Thanks. You too.
His secretary buzzes him.
STILLSON
Yes, Gloria?
GLORIA
(on speaker box)
Ms. Caldwell is here.
STILLSON
Great. Send her in.
Stillson is getting up and rounding his desk, a salesman's
smile on his face as the door opens, revealing:
REBECCA AND JOHNNY
Walking in together, catching Stillson off guard. He
darkens for a flash when he sees Johnny, but quickly
recovers.
STILLSON
Rebecca... and Smith...
REBECCA
I asked Johnny to come along, I
hope that's not a problem.
STILLSON
Not for me. But I have to admit
I'm a little surprised after
Reverend Purdy's announcement
last night... Seems to me you're
a suspect again, aren't you?
JOHNNY
I didn't kill Rachel and you know
it.
STILLSON
We'll let the Justice Department
sort that out. Bannerman's
investigation was so inept, I've
asked the U.S. Attorney's office
to take over the investigation.
(CONTINUED)
DEAD ZONE: TIPPING POINT - ACT THREE - 4/28/04 - BLUE-2 39.
77 CONTINUED: 77
REBECCA
I have complete faith in Johnny.
STILLSON
I understand but... I was really
hoping to speak to you alone.
REBECCA
You can say whatever you have to
say in front of him.
STILLSON
Heck he probably already knows
what I'm going to say, don't you?
Johnny doesn't give him a response. Just a cryptic smile
that bothers Stillson.
