Making its way slowly down Leo's block, more fortress than transportation. Inside, the haunted, passing faces of the already chosen. On top, soldiers. The Biedermans and Hotchners are on the sidewalk, suitcases beside them. Other families stand sullenly on their lawns.

The bus stops, soldiers pour out of the bus in full battle gear, form a perimeter. It's precise, frightening. A young LIEUTENANT with a clipboard jogs over.

LIEUTENANT
Biederman?

DON BIEDERMAN
That's us.

LIEUTENANT
IDs please.

A small line: Ellen, Jane, Don, Leo and Sarah, the Hotchners. He checks IDs, shines his flashlight in their faces. Sends them to the bus. Don carries two suitcases.

LIEUTENANT (CONT'D)
Only one suitcase.

DON BIEDERMAN
It's our family photos, keepsakes.

LIEUTENANT
Only one suitcase is going, sir.
I don't care which one.

Don looks to his wife, stricken. Leo sets his bag down.

LEO
I don't need my stuff, Dad.
(shows his ID)
This is my wife, Sarah. Here's
our notarized marriage license.

The Lieutenant takes it, reads. Nods toward the bus.

LIEUTENANT
...okay. Get on.

Leo and Sarah smile at each other. Start for the bus. The Lieutenant signals to his men.

LIEUTENANT (CONT'D)
That's it, let's go.

They close in behind Leo and Sarah. Leo turns, the Hotchner's have been left behind.

LEO
The Hotchners are coming, too.

The Lieutenant turns his small flashlight back on, studies the list. There's a long, tortuous wait.

LIEUTENANT
H..o..t..c...?

LEO
.h..n..e..r.

LIEUTENANT
Not here.

He starts off again. Leo stops him again.

LEO
They have to be there! FCDA [fidca]
sent their names to the White House!

LIEUTENANT
They aren't there.

LEO
Check again... please!

The Lieutenant's getting annoyed, looks again. A beat.

LIEUTENANT
They're not on the list.
(to his men)
Let's go...!

LEO
They're here! They have to be!
(to the Hotchners)
I put you on the list, they said
you were on the list. Sarah, I
put them on the list!

CHUCK HOTCHNER
(it hits him)
We're not on the list.

VICKY
But... you said...

CHUCK HOTCHNER
We're not on the list...

VICKY
But Sarah, and the baby...

LEO
Sarah can come.

VICKY
Tell them the baby is yours...
tell them the baby is yours.

LEO
(to the Lieutenant)
This is our baby...

LIEUTENANT
Oh, come on... I can't do that!

VICKY
What do we do?

SARAH
(help me, please...)
Mommy... Daddy... I don't want to
leave you....

Don Biederman is behind Leo.

DON
Leo, just grab her, get her inside!

Leo and Don hold onto Sarah, she pulls back.

SARAH
I can't!

CHUCK HOTCHNER
Sarah... Sarah... you have to go.

He tries to push her onto the bus.

LIEUTENANT
Come or stay, girl... this bus is
moving out!

LEO
I'm not going without you!

SARAH
I can't leave my family!

VICKY
Sarah! Get on the bus.

SARAH
I don't want to leave you!

CHUCK HOTCHNER
You don't know what you're doing,
Sarah...

LEO
Listen to them! You'll die if you
stay here, you know that!

SARAH
(resolute)
If I die, I'll live on in you, in
your memory.

Tears run down Leo's face. She leans in, kisses him.

SARAH (CONT'D)
If you love me. You'll go...

The bus STARTS. She stares into his eyes.

SARAH (CONT'D)
Please...

Leo backs slowly away from Sarah, anguished. She nods, encouraging him to keep walking. He's to the bus door, Don pushes him up on board. The Lieutenant climbs on. The bus doors close. It PULLS AWAY. Leo rushes to the back window, stares out at Sarah, his hand smashed against the glass, as if to touch her. She waves, her mother sobs in her father's arms. And Leo's gone.

-- written by
Bruce Joel Rubin & Michael Tolkin