Early Edition (1996) s02e15 Episode Script

All right, class, our next stop is the Inuit canoe, which was once used to hunt whales in the Arctic.
Aw, man.
We saw this in third grade.
Miss Baker? What's in there? I know, Miss Baker, I know.
It's the treasures of Akenubis exhibit.
And can you tell us who Akenubis was? A pharaoh? Close.
He was a high priest in ancient Egypt.
They recently found his tomb, which was full of wonderful things.
Can we go in? Well, perhaps we can arrange a special trip after it opens.
Let's all go see that whaling canoe.
Cool museum, huh? Let's go.
Let's not.
You coming? Come on, Hassan, I need your help.
I'll be right back.
Quick, this way! Over here.
That was close.
Whoa! What's this? It's just a cat.
A mummy of a cat.
Think it bites? Here, kitty, kitty.
Let's get out of here! What if you knew, beyond a doubt, what was going to happen tomorrow? What would you do? There's no easy answer for a guy who gets tomorrow's news today.
* * Good morning, Chicago.
It's 6:30 in the morning in the Windy City All right.
All right.
You can't believe everything you read in the newspaper.
that's what my daddy told me, anyway.
But he was talking about today's paper.
Coming.
What if you got tomorrow's paper a day early? Oh, surprise.
You'd have to believe that, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? "Curse of the mummy?" Right, curse of the mummy.
Come on, it's a publicity stunt.
At the Museum of Natural History? Hey, museums need money.
It's called show business.
This is the biggest exhibit they've had since King Tut.
You don't think they're gonna milk it for every drachma? You got Akenubis T-shirts, Akenubis tote bags, Akenubis breath mints, Ak Breath mints? Look, you got the mummy, that is good.
You got the curse, that's even better.
Am I right, Gare? Gare? "The gala opening of "the Treasures of Akenubis exhibit "turned from glamour to gore "last night when archaeologist Trevor Bradford was struck "in the head by an ornamental sculpture that broke free of its mooring.
" The guy gets his head knocked off.
That doesn't sound like a stunt to me.
Well, you've got to stop it, Gary.
How? It's the hottest ticket in town.
The only way to crash that party is you give a million bucks to the museum, or you're one of the Egyptian delegation.
Thank you, Chuck.
What'd I say? What'd he say? I feel ridiculous.
Hey, you're the one who said your grandmother had Egyptian blood on her side.
No, I said she went to Egypt and had her picture taken in front of the pyramids.
Step right this way.
Thank you.
Batter up.
Good evening.
Welcome to the museum.
This is the Princess Effendi of the royal family Qatar and Khartoum.
Great.
Invitations, please.
I don't think you understand.
This is the princess.
She still needs an invitation.
Listen, this is kind of embarrassing, but, uh, she lost her invitation.
I mean, she has a tendency to do that.
I'm sorry, sir, our orders are clear: No invitation, no admittance.
Listen, let me tell you something.
You're making a mistake.
This is the princess This is an outrage.
I have never seen such an insult to Egypt in my life.
Do you not know the Princess Effendi? She doesn't have an She does not need an invitation.
She is known throughout the Middle East as the blind princess.
If that is not invitation enough, then I would be honored to have her and her escort enter as my guests.
Okay, Mr.
Bishara.
I'm sorry, miss.
We understand.
Tell me, Your Highness, how is it that our families have never met before? We, um, don't get out much.
* * Why did you help us, Ali? We both know I'm no princess.
Oh, on the contrary, you are, my dear.
Maybe not an Egyptian princess.
My friend Gary, um, had to be here tonight, and this is his idea.
Most ingenious, too.
Resourcefulness plays a big part in my business.
Let's just say I'm a great admirer of ingenuity.
And of beauty.
MAN Good evening.
I'm Michael Lawson, museum director.
And it's my great pleasure to introduce the man who made this evening and this exhibit possible, archaeologist Trevor Bradford.
Good evening.
It's been a long and arduous journey from the Nile Delta to Chicago, but tonight, I feel it's all been worth it.
With the discovery of the tomb of Akenubis, the world has become a much richer place.
Excuse me, sir.
Sammi Awad from the University of Chicago.
Can you tell us the difference between what you're doing and grave robbing, which I believe is a federal offense in this country? Young lady, this exhibit benefits the entire world.
So, why do you have a percentage of catalog sales? Hey, look out! Get down! What's going on? What's happening? Hey, get out of there.
Ooh, roses.
Let me see.
Let me see.
Hey! Ooh, what do we got here? "My dearest Marissa, "I expected to see rare and beautiful things last night, but none so rare and beautiful as you.
" Is he kidding? Just keep reading.
"I return to Egypt soon.
"I must see you again.
Signed " Ali Bishara.
That can't be his real name.
No one has a name like that.
That's his real name, Chuck.
He's an art dealer, an expert in Egyptian antiquities, and he's got offices on three continents.
Yeah? Mm-hmm.
Sounds like he writes Harlequin romances.
Oh, stop.
I "Fire at the Natural History Museum.
Akenubis opening postponed again.
" Oh, no.
Didn't we just go through this? It sounds to me like somebody wants to delay the opening of that exhibit.
Who? For starters, how about that woman from the University of Chicago? Yes, bring them in.
Oh.
Oh, I thought you were one of the librarians.
I have some books on call.
Uh, no.
Uh I'm Gary Hobson.
I saw you at the-the museum last night, didn't I? You saved Trevor Bradford, didn't you? Yeah.
You a Egyptologist.
One month short of my Ph.
D.
And you? Me? Well, I, uh, I, uh, run a bar.
But, uh, well, I'm here because I, uh, I don't want anything to happen at the exhibit.
What do you mean? What I mean is I don't want to see anything happen to it.
You know, like, uh, say it might catch on fire.
What are you, a cop? Me? No, I'm not a cop.
I Sit down, Mr.
Hobson.
Just because I'm politically active does not make me an arsonist.
Well I have devoted my life to Egyptian antiquities.
Well, no And I'm not planning to throw away my career in some act of obscene vandalism.
What makes you think somebody wants to destroy this exhibit? Well, I Let's just say I've got feelings about these kind of things.
Like last night when you saved Trevor Bradford? Well, yeah, something like I think I've bothered you enough.
Wait.
You're really serious about that? Well, yes, I am.
Hm.
The ancient Egyptians believed in something called ka- a person's spirit double.
The immortal soul, if you will.
They believed a dead person's ka could communicate with the living.
Sometimes, late at night, alone in here, I feel like the ka of some ancient Egyptian is trying to speak to me.
I feel like there are mysteries out there that even science can't explain.
Boy, lady, you can say that again.
Wait.
You really believe someone is going to set fire to the exhibit? Uh, yes, I do.
Tonight.
Well, then we should do something about it, shouldn't we? Well, I-I think that we probably sh What do you mean, "we"? How did you know this door was going to be unlocked? Uh, must have been the ka or something.
This way.
It can't be! Oh, my God What's all this? You know this guy? Hassan Rajid, my foreman.
We caught him setting fire to the exhibit.
Setting fire to my treasures?! Your treasures? I was the one who discovered them, not you.
If it wasn't for me, you would still be digging in the desert.
Is that why you tried to kill him last night? What?! I saw him standing by the cables right after the accident.
Hassan! Oh, are you all right? Come on, let's go.
Oh You're late.
The cat, it What about the cat? It came alive.
My dear Hassan, you're letting your peasant imagination run away with you.
It was coming at me, Ali, I swear! Yes.
But you're here now, all in one piece, are you not? Yes.
Yes.
And the emeralds? You've done well, my friend.
Don't worry, it's all there.
And now, adieu.
WOMAN Good morning, Chicago, and here's the extended forecast for today and tomorrow.
Dry and cool, with highs in the 40's and lower 50's, lows in the 20's and lower 30's.
Friday, a chance of rain, highs in the "Mysterious death of " Hassan! I thought that guy Hassan popped you in the museum.
What do you care whether he's dead or not? Hey, I'm telling you, Gare, it's a publicity stunt.
Where's Marissa? Oh, Our Lady of the Nile is presently engaged.
With who? With, uh, Ali what's his name.
Whom else? Ali, I-I really should be getting back to work.
You know, in my country, you wouldn't have to pretend to be a princess, you could live like one.
Well, I guess I was just born in the wrong place.
No need to stay there.
You could start a new life in a new country, with me.
Uh Ali, um I'm not quite sure what you're saying.
I think you are sure.
I think you know exactly what I'm saying.
So what do you say, my dear? Will you come with me? A- Ali, it's all happening so fast.
I Sometimes life is like that.
You must seize the moment.
Absolutely right.
In that case, my answer's gonna Ali.
I need to talk to you.
Now, Ali.
Will you excuse me, my dear? Uh, sure.
Ali.
The jewels, I need them.
You must be joking.
Take your money- I don't want it.
Hassan! Look at me, Ali! It's the curse! What curse? This.
It's a curse, I tell you.
Where did you get that? The cat.
You idiot! I told you to only take the eyes! Give them to me, Ali! Hey! Hassan? You all right? The curse Huh? Get away! Hey! I didn't see him! Man, you see that? He came out of nowhere.
Buddy, you okay? Somebody call an ambulance! Diane, got a minute? I am so late for my OB appointment.
Yeah, there's a patient I want you to see when you got time- uh, Egyptian, strange rash.
Yeah, great, I-I'll catch you later.
How is he? Well, he, uh, he's in surgery.
What do you, uh, what do you make of that? Where'd you get it? It fell out of Hassan's hand in the ambulance.
He kept mumbling something about a curse.
It's a scarab.
An amulet in the shape of a dung beetle.
Oh, that's very nice.
Beetles were a symbol of rebirth to the Egyptians.
Very significant.
What do you make of the hieroglyphics? It's an inscription.
They were often commemorative and historical.
Um I'd love a shot at translating this.
Is it okay? You can have it.
I've got enough curses in my life right now.
Okay.
Mr.
Hobson, um, your friend is out of surgery.
He's stable, but, um, he's got a high fever and an unusual rash.
Do you know anything about that? No.
Okay, well, you can wait if you want, but he's not gonna be seeing anybody until that fever goes down.
Ah What is with this guy? I mean, to you, air freshener would have the same effect, right? Marissa? Hello? You and Gary could run the place without me, right? Uh wh-what are you talking about? Well, Ali asked me to go to Egypt with him.
Ali? You've known Ali for ten minutes.
Well, maybe that's enough.
No, I don't think that's enough.
Something very strange is going on here.
Why? You don't think someone could fall in love with me? No, it's not that.
I'm blind, Chuck- it doesn't make me any less of a person than you or anybody else.
I never said anything about that.
Ali makes me feel like a woman.
Like an attractive woman, and I don't get to feel that way very often.
What are you saying, I don't make you feel like an attractive woman? Marissa.
Oh, come on, Chuck, that's not what Ali! Ali! Well, hello! We Nice to meet you.
I'm Chuck Fishman - I work with Marissa over here.
It's a pleasure.
So, uh, I'll just be leaving you two alone.
How are you, my dear? A- Ali, what's wrong? You're breathing very hard, and your hands, they're clammy.
Wha? Is everything? Just the excitement of seeing you again.
Oh.
Listen, uh time is running short.
I may have to return to Egypt sooner than expected.
Sooner? How much sooner? A day or two, no more.
Have you thought about my proposition any further? Um Ali, I-I still don't know.
Then perhaps these will help persuade you.
They feel like earrings.
Emerald earrings.
They belonged to my mother.
Now they're yours.
I- I couldn't.
Shh.
Put them on.
As long as you wear these, Marissa, I know that there's a chance that you will come with me.
Yes.
Yes, I will.
I will come with you.
You've made me very happy.
Promise me something.
Promise me you will always wear them.
Of course, Ali.
I'll never take them off.
Excellent.
Coffee? Oh, no, thanks.
Okay, I've got the first line of the inscription.
"To all who enter here, may you show proper respect and " uh, something.
Something? It's not like reading French, you know.
No.
"To all who enter here " What does that mean? To all who enter where? Perhaps a temple.
Attention: The library will be closing in 15 minutes.
How about a tomb? Oh.
You think this is from the exhibit? Considering Hassan's sterling personality, I think that's a great possibility, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
What is that? It's a catalog for the museum show.
Voila.
That's a cat.
The Egyptians buried all kinds of animal mummies.
Um, cats, owls, falcons And check out the necklace.
Are you telling me that you think that this is the same as that? Mm-hmm.
Sure looks like it.
We better get this back to the museum then.
Oh, let me finish translating first.
Okay.
Help me, please.
I need a doctor.
Good morning, Chicago.
It's 6:30 a.
m.
in the Windy City, and traffic is already bumpin' and grindin'.
"Epidemic linked to the mummy exhibit.
"Health officials shut down "the Natural History Museum yesterday, "and seized artifacts from its mummy exhibit "to investigate a possible link to a mysterious epidemic affecting museum visitors and employees.
" Epidemic? Epidemic.
Pain Management call 9340.
What do you think? He's sick as a dog.
And look at this rash.
The pustules, they're like welts.
I haven't seen that before.
How's the other patient? We're having a hard time keeping him stabilized.
He keeps jumping up to 105.
I'll tell the lab to put a rush on this.
This is something simple, right? Probably.
An epidemic? How do you stop an epidemic? I have no idea.
Oh, by the way, Marissa's going to Egypt.
Yeah.
She's what?! Ali popped the question.
Well, sort of.
Ali Ba What do you mean sort of? He asked her to go to Egypt with him.
And she said yes? All I know is, she's wearing his mama's earrings.
Emeralds.
Wait a second.
She hardly even knows that guy.
That's what I told her.
That guy's, that guy's old enough to be her father.
She doesn't know that.
Guys, great news.
They got it all wrong.
They got what wrong? Who got what wrong? Trevor Bradford at the museum.
This exhibit is not the treasures of Akenubis.
It's not? Exactly as I suspected.
Well, who are you? Chuck Fishman, Gary's partner.
Oh.
Sammi Awad.
It's a pleasure.
Who got what wrong? Oh.
Akenubis was a priest who served a god- a goddess, actually- called Bastet.
Mm Yes, here it is.
Here, Look.
That's still a cat.
Well, Bastet could take many forms- lioness, leopard, house cat.
The Egyptians built many shrines to her, especially in Bubastis, where this tomb was found.
Now, if they could build shrines, why not a tomb? Are you telling me that that mummy was some special cat.
You see, they believe she was a direct descendant of Bastet.
She had special powers.
What kind of powers? She could see the future.
Ah, a clairvoyant kitty.
Well, she helped Akenubis see the future, but the people believed that the power came from her.
Something strange is going on here, Gare.
No.
Don't you see? The exhibit has it backwards.
The priest wasn't buried with his cat.
The cat was buried with her priest.
Oh.
What do you mean? Wait a second.
Wait, wait just a second.
We've got other problems, don't we? Not more ka? That's right, we- that's right, we've got more ka problems to deal with, don't we? Ka? Ka.
Oh, right, more ka.
See, you see, I'm getting the feeling that uh, people are gonna get sick, real sick- epidemic, sick- you understand? Oh.
That is so weird.
You know, because Bastet was the protector against contagion and disease.
And there is this inscription- the inscription said that if anyone plunders the tomb, there's going to be a terrible plague.
A plague? You mean, like as in Passover plague? That's all it said, a plague.
How bad? They got counts that suggest everything from toxoplasmosis to viral pneumonitis.
White cell counts dropping below 200, bronchoscopy shows pulmonary lesions proliferating in both lungs.
That's bad.
Whatever the exact pathogen is, both patients are clearly incubating it.
How infectious is it? Well, there's no way of telling, not without an exact diagnosis.
And you don't have one? Oh, not even close.
All right, I don't want to jump the gun, Diane, but don't you think we should call the Health Department? I mean, you're the expert on infectious diseases, and you've never seen this before.
Exactly what are we dealing with? The plague? She's nuts.
She wants to destroy the exhibit.
That's not true.
Look, look, look, what, what what if it's possible that the exhibit is contaminated? Now, you'd at least have to check into it before you let the people in to see it, right? Surely you don't expect me to delay the opening any further based on some theory.
Hear, hear.
All right.
Well, just suppose that uh, that there were forces at work that were, were unexplainable.
What forces? Well Dr.
Lawson, you have an entire museum devoted to cultures and beliefs different than your own.
Are you willing to say that you're the only one who knows the truth? Well, I Michael, they should both be committed.
Well, of course the museum can always be shut down and quarantined.
I'm a scientist by training, Mr.
Hobson.
If you want me to even think about postponement, I need proof of a health risk involved.
Quantifiable proof.
Well, nice of you to drop by, Princess.
I overslept.
I think I want some tea.
Are you okay? I think I'm coming down with something.
I don't think you're coming down with something, I think, I think you've got something Marissa! Hey, fellas! Chuck? Ah, hey.
She just collapsed.
She was burning up with fever.
What'd the doctors say? They didn't say anything.
They wouldn't even let me see her.
So far we haven't been able to isolate any viral or bacterial agents.
Three patients? Right.
And they haven't responded to treatment? Not broadspectrum antibiotics, not vancomycin I started them on acyclovir on the outside chance this is some form of herpetic infection.
I mean, without knowing the pathogen, Phillip, there's not much more we can do.
All right, the first two are Egyptian nationalists.
Any connection to her? Not that we know of.
Uh, excuse me.
She was dating one of them.
And you are? Gary Hobson.
He brought in the first patient.
Um, what do you know about this? Well, I know that the three patients you have here were all at the party for the new exhibit at the museum.
And you think there's some sort of link? Well, that, that's a possibility.
I, I, I think maybe that something was brought over from Egypt, something contagious.
Maybe in the artifacts themselves.
Diane? If it wasn't for my work with Lupita, I'd say it was crazy, too.
Lupita? Yeah.
A frozen uh, I was granted the opportunity to examine her on the outside chance, uh, she was carrying a disease we know nothing about.
Well, then, then you, then you would agree that it is a possibility My results were inconclusive.
You're talking about thousands of years here.
Well, right, but it, but if it's a possibility, then you've gotta follow that, because you don't have any other leads here, and Listen, this, this is a very dear friend of mine in here, and I don't want her to die.
Well, neither do we.
Oh, well, another thing.
Uh The, uh Since we're talking about life and death, you should know the mummy exhibit, uh may be cursed.
Cursed? Ali, where are you? Ali, no! Ali.
Gare.
Gary.
How was she? Huh? Is she gonna be okay? What did they say? Everything was fine until I brought up the, uh, curse.
I tried to explain everything to them, but they didn't seem to-to want to listen.
Maybe she needs more than medical science.
What do you mean? Well, maybe we need to lift the curse.
The inscription said that, uh, there'd be a plague if something was plundered.
Yeah, but we already returned the scarab.
Well, maybe there's something else.
Well, like what? Oh.
What's wrong with you? I don't know.
I- I don't feel good at all.
I just Mm.
Oh.
I'll-I'll be all right.
I hope.
N- Not now.
Stop it.
Not now.
Get down.
Get down.
You can't have these.
They're not yours, they're Marissa's.
Where did she get these? She got them from her, uh, Egypt friend, Ali.
And where did he get it? He got them from his mother.
Well, not unless his mother was a cat.
What? Look at those.
You mean he didn't get them from his mother? No.
Those are the mummy's.
Then where did Ali get them? Wait a second.
Hassan steals them from the exhibit, he gives them to Ali.
Ali stashes them on Marissa.
She doesn't know it, but she's smuggling jewels into Egypt.
Poor Marissa.
Can't she find a normal guy? Well, if these are the cat's eyes, and there's anything to this curse, that's got to be one very angry mummy.
Angry mummy? Ah, come on, that's insane.
Gary.
I wouldn't laugh if I were you.
Listen to me now.
Marissa's sick and you're sick.
If there's any truth to all this, we got to find out.
I mean, it's no crazier than any of the other things that goes on around here, if you know what I mean.
Yeah, you're right.
Let's go.
W- Wait a second.
You're going to the hospital.
No, no, I'm going with you.
Doctors don't know what's going on.
You said so yourself.
Between modern medical science and a 3,000-year-old curse, I- I put my money on the curse anytime.
Let's go.
Feeling better already.
I have something.
You're not gonna like it.
I don't like it, but Well, wh-why don't you just tell me? I have been back through every textbook I have, every database.
I can tell you what it isn't, for sure.
It's not rubella, varicella, mumps Just tell me, Diane.
I think it's smallpox.
What? A mutant strain, possibly.
Diane, smallpox has been eradicated from this planet, I mean, for 20 years.
It tracks, Phillip.
The ancient Egyptians carried smallpox.
The-the mummy of Ramses V even shows scars.
We know the virus is extremely stable.
It's been documented to survive months, even years, outside the human body, in-in bales of cotton, in dust.
I mean, put it into a virtually airtight environment, who knows how long it can lie dormant, or mutate.
All right, call Atlanta.
I already did.
The CDC's sending a team on the next plane.
Well, we'll have to get those patients in isolation.
That's gonna be a real problem.
The first two are missing.
What do you mean missing? They're not in their beds.
They're gone.
All right, here it is.
Glass.
Give her the other ones.
Hmm? Oh.
All right.
Barely hanging on.
GARY Come on, come on.
Hey, come on, Chuck! This isn't happening.
Hassan? What are you doing here? He was trying to stop me.
Stop you from what? From taking the emeralds.
A nurse at the hospital told me they gave them to you, so I followed you here.
Now, please, hand them over.
I have a plane to catch.
No, I can't do that.
If I do that, a friend of mine will die.
It can't be helped.
Uh-uh.
No.
As you wish.
Here.
I can't let you die, too.
Very sensible.
Ali, no.
Wait! The curse! Get back! The curse, Ali! No! No! Where'd they go? Look.
How bizarre.
All right, clear.
Clear.
Anything? No.
All right, again.
Clear.
Ace and saline.
Again.
Clear.
No spontaneous rhythm.
Prep atropine.
Again.
Clear.
I've got her prepped right here.
Clear.
Epi's in.
Again.
Clear.
Clear.
Atropine in.
Charge up.
Okay, we got a pulse.
Good work, people.
Systolic at 90.
Gare.
Gare! Hey.
I think, uh, I think my rash is gone.
I feel better.
Huh? And so is your fever.
Oh, good.
Well, now what? She stabilized.
Yeah, from out of nowhere.
You didn't change treatments? She stopped breathing, we brought her back, and within minutes, her fever dropped.
Even her rash looks better.
Maybe the amphotericin kicked in.
Maybe.
"Mummy draws cat-astrophic crowd.
" Gare! Come on! Wow, they rearranged the whole exhibit.
The cat gets top billing now.
The museum offered Sammi a position in the archaeology department.
That's great.
Are you all right? Do you want to sit down, rest? I'm fine.
Yeah? Hey, the doctor told you you got to take it easy.
I know what the doctor said.
I'm fine.
Yeah, but you just got to rest sometime.
Well, you know, it was just, um, one of those freak things.
I don't know.
I think she should lie down.
I'm fine.
Yeah, come on.
Let's go.
Okay.
Diane.
Watters tells me you're writing a journal article about what happened.
Yeah.
If nothing else, I'm gonna try to convince Atlanta not to destroy their stock of smallpox vaccine.
You realize there's only four places in the world that still store it? I mean, what if it turns out to be real next time? Well, there's a cheery thought.
What do you think it was, anyway? I don't know.
I'd like to talk to that Gary Hobson.
He seemed to know more than he let on.
Are you kidding? That guy's nuts.
He's certifiable.
Yeah, I suppose you're right.
Well, it's best you forget the guy.
Yeah.
You deserve better than Ali.
Yeah, well, I'd still like to know what happened to the guy.
So would a lot of people.
Yeah.
So would the hospital, Egyptian security, the police.
Yeah, I just don't understand how someone could vanish into thin air like that.
Well, important thing is that we got you back.
Yeah, and from now on, I'm screening all of your dates.
Excuse me a minute.
Yeah, sure.
Maybe you can't believe everything you read.
But how about everything you see? Or do the eyes play tricks sometimes? Do we only see what we want to see? I'd tell you what I think, but the cat's got my tongue.