04x11 - Ghost in the Machine

Episode transcripts for the TV show "The 4400". Aired: July 2004 to September 2007.*
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4,400 people are suddenly returned to Earth.
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04x11 - Ghost in the Machine

Post by bunniefuu »

The world will have to deal with us.

Previously on The 4400: Well, I'm linking together profiles of the people who've taken the sh*t.

Pretty soon Kevin thinks he'll be able to predict who will survive the sh*t and who won't.

Are you really asking me to tell people not to take promicin?

Only for a few months.

I am not making any announcement.

- Who are you?

- I'm Lindsey.

This is Maia Rutledge.

She was the first one to disappear as far as we can tell.

They're dead, aren't they?

There's a faction of elites who want the future to stay exactly as it is.

I call them the Marked.

What about Imroth?

The CEO of Ubient Software is supposed to be some kind of double agent from the future?

Tell the others I went to see the NTAC agents.

Baldwin thinks there's some kind of ploy.

When we need him, he'll be there for us.

You're becoming your new self.

Do what Tom Baldwin would do.

Find Isabelle Tyler.

You have to take your abilities back.

Then you're gonna bring Jordan Collier to me.

Tom, what's going on?

I felt restless.

I kept tossing and turning.

I didn't wanna wake you.

So you were just sitting there?

No, I was watching you sleep.

It was kind of relaxing.

Well, I'm awake now.

So why don't you come back to bed?

There.

Isn't this more relaxing?

Andalusia's?

Isn't that a little bit fancy?

So?

I'm not a little kid anymore.

I miss the days when the only place you'd eat was Charlie's Pizza Palace.

Mom, that was, like, a long time ago.

Oh, yeah.

At least a year.

And besides, it would be fun eating Spanish food with Ben again.

I hope you're not getting your hopes up for nothing.

I know that Ben said that he might make it but London is a long way off.

I promise I won't be disappointed.

But on my birthday it's just been, I don't know, just you and me.

With Ben it would feel more like a family.

Whoa, excuse me.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

What was that?

I don't believe this.

Is this real money?

Certainly looks like it.

"Welcome to the new world." "The new world"?

That's right out of Jordan Collier's playbook.

It sounds like it.

But can we be really sure that these ATM malfunctions are being caused by some 4400 ability?

Because it could be the work of some sophisticated computer hacker who is just looking to create some havoc.

Actually, I have to go with the p-positive here, Diana.

So far 58 ATMs from four separate banking institutions have been affected.

That means four computer mainframes have been compromised.

Thousands and thousands of dollars are being dispensed.

Every time they shut down a cash machine, another one goes haywire.

I'd like to meet the hacker that can pull that off.

You know, without an ability.

Pretty aggressive move, though.

Even for Collier.

If you wanna create a new world, first you have to destroy the old one.

Disrupting the economy is a pretty good way to start.

I wouldn't mind driving.

- Does that work for you?

- Yeah, be my guest.

I'm gonna need an hour before we go see Collier.

- Is there something wrong?

- Hopefully not.

I've got an appointment for a CAT scan.

It's just a precaution.

Since the mole came back, I've been on edge.

You don't feel any different, do you?

You mean am I one of the Marked?

Some kind of zombie controlled by a future human?

Not...

Not yet, anyway.

Look, I'll call you when I'm done with the hospital.

Are you sure you won't reconsider, Mr. Chatha?

Taking the sh*t would be hugely beneficial, not only to you, but to the millions of your readers who would follow your example.

Yes, but you have to understand that there is no guarantee that this alleged compatibility test of Shawn Farrell's will ever be perfected.

Yes.

Yes, well, if you change your mind, the door is always open.

We have your cousin to thank for that.

But Chatha's name was on the list in the White Light book.

We already know he can survive the sh*t.

It's his followers he's worried about.

Why risk their lives when Shawn's announced it's only a matter of time before the test is available?

Too bad you lost Chatha.

It wouldn't have happened if you'd clone what I told you to.

Yeah, I know.

Stop Shawn, right?

And what does that mean exactly?

I was hoping you'd figure that out for yourself.

Shawn's not developing this test by himself.

What you need to do is get rid of Kevin Burkhoff.

Get rid of him?

What am I supposed to do exactly?

k*ll the guy?

I expect you to do whatever it takes to fulfil the prophecy and help Jordan Collier bring heaven to Earth.

Good morning, Isabelle.

I hope you're feeling at home.

You know, I have to say, of all of our real-estate holdings, this place is my favourite.

You know, I thought you'd like to know, tomorrow your father's being moved from Seattle to an NTAC holding facility in Virginia.

You need to take your abilities back before Richard steps on that plane.

Because if you don't, he's not getting off it.

You caused your mother's death.

Do you wanna be responsible for your father's too?

Even if I agreed to take the sh*t, what's the point?

The government doctors already told me that promicin will k*ll me.

We can change that, Isabelle.

I guarantee you'll live to fulfil your original mission: To destroy the 4400 and anyone else with promicin in their system.

And you will start by bringing us Jordan Collier.

You know, Kyle used to talk about you all the time.

He said you were a decent man.

But then you're not Tom Baldwin, are you?

Tom Baldwin.

Tom Baldwin was a confused and unhappy man.

I'm giving him the clarity of purpose he desperately needed.

And I wanna give that to you, Isabelle.

After all, I created you, placed you in your mother's womb to make sure you were sent in that ball of light so you can protect the world from the 4400.

No, Isabelle.

Promicin is evil.

People who use it are evil.

Their goal isn't to change the world.

It is to end it.

You can stop them.

You have to stop them.

It's what you were meant to do.

How can you say no to your destiny?

Manual labour in Promise City.

Isn't that a bit old school?

Nothing wrong with old school when it comes to a little sweat and muscle.

Having an ability can lead to complacency.

And complacency is the measure of a dying society.

Welcome to the new world.

You're here about the att*cks on the banking system.

- You know about that?

- I try to stay current.

But I can assure you that despite the attacker's utopian signature, nobody here had anything to do with it.

Can you really be sure of that?

You must have like 500 people living here by now.

Nobody would do something like that without Jordan's consent.

- Which I didn't give.

- Well, just prove it to us.

Let us talk to your people.

And if nobody did it, then maybe they can help us find out - who the hell is responsible.

- I'm afraid I can't do that.

You mean you won't.

I mean, whoever's doing this has my best wishes.

The system you live in is obsolete.

Any society that worships at the altar of wealth is doomed, so why not flood the streets with money until all those little pieces of paper are worthless as confetti?

Christ, Tom, no.

No!

Dad, don't.

Please don't.

Please don't, Dad.

Because the future I believe in is one that exists without the need for money.

It's a world where miracles are common currency.

Now, excuse me.

I have some work to do.

It's not just ATMs anymore.

We're looking at computer system failures all over the country.

Make that the world.

Federal agencies, financial institutions, private businesses...

Even your friendly neighbourhood laptops are crashing.

Victims of the same corrosive virus that infected the ATMs.

Yeah.

And these att*cks are anything but random.

Yeah, every malfunctioning computer, including the original ATMs, has one thing in common.

They all run Ubient's Enzyme operating system.

Ubient?

That's Drew Imroth's company.

So I guess the question we have to ask is this: Are these att*cks against Drew Imroth, the multi-billionaire corporate giant?

Dr Drew Imroth, the alleged member of the global conspiracy known as the Marked?

The operative word is "alleged." We don't have hard evidence that the Marked exists.

No, Tom and I are pretty certain.

Yeah, that's right.

Even so, Ubient is one of the biggest corporations in the world.

If it goes under, we're all in trouble.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to interrupt.

No.

Everybody, this is Abigail Hunnicutt.

She's new.

- Hi.

- We were lucky to grab her.

Abigail has been teaching a course in combinatorics and probability at MIT since she was 22.

I also worked my way through graduate school in the Men's Department at Saks.

Who knows?

Maybe I can teach these guys how to dress like grownups.

I thought everyone should see this.

It's some kind of manifesto.

Every computer infected with the virus is printing it out.

It's calling for the destruction of all Ubient software.

Which is why, Marked or not, we need to speak with Drew Imroth.

- Hello?

- Hey, Maia.

It's me, Lindsey.

Happy birthday.

Hi.

I can't believe you remembered.

You know, it's not for another two days.

Okay, whatever.

I have got the coolest gift for you.

- You wanna come over?

- It's not that kind of present.

You have to come to Promise City and see it for yourself.

My mom really wants me to stay away from there.

She doesn't have to know.

You are so gonna thank me for this.

I guess I can come by tomorrow after school.

Great.

Meet me at the southwest corner of Beacon and 64th Street at 3:30.

I've got some friends who will help us sneak past the government blockade.

Okay, bye.

Yes, Mr. Secretary.

I understand how sensitive your department records are and I promise that once we get the problem resolved, Ubient will do everything possible to retrieve your lost data.

Believe me, sir, I feel your pain.

I'm a stockholder too.

I warned you that something like this was gonna happen.

Jordan Collier and his followers are bent on global revolution.

And this as*ault on my company is the opening salvo.

We just came from Promise City.

Collier's denying any involvement.

Well, I don't believe that.

And I certainly hope you two don't either.

Whether it's Collier's people or some rogue p-positive, it doesn't really matter.

We'll find them.

When will that be?

Will I still have a company left by then?

We're doing our best.

All of this could have been avoided if you people had done your jobs in the first place.

But no, you were too busy chasing after imaginary conspiracies.

How about it, Agent Baldwin?

Would you like to check my mole again?

That won't be necessary.

Glad to see you finally have your priorities straight.

I just hope it's not too late to save my company.

With all your success over the years, you must have made enemies.

Thousands of them.

In fact, I keep a list of everyone who's ever sent me a threatening letter or e-mail.

Organised by level of vehemence.

It's a hobby.

Steve Jobs on page one?

You might wanna give him a promicin test.

Dr. Burkhoff, you ready for a break?

Not now.

I lost quite a bit of data when this computer crashed.

Right.

That's that Ubient virus.

The net's down in the entire building.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?

I have to reconstruct a 74-page document from memory and I'm on, like, what, page 12?

Well, I appreciate your dedication but I kind of promised Tess that I'd get you out of the lab once in a while.

- You spoke to Tess?

- Yeah.

Just now.

Sounds like she's having a great time with her niece.

Grandniece, actually.

Tess was born in 1937.

Right, sorry.

I forgot.

Okay, you need a break.

I've got a surprise for you.

Come on.

It's a massage.

- She's waiting upstairs.

- No, thank you.

I don't like strangers touching me.

Human hand can be so clammy.

Okay, but I already paid for the hour.

Well, be my guest.

Enjoy yourself.

I'll just be down here working to save thousands of lives and change the world for the better.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

You know, Imroth was not joking when he said he had a lot of enemies.

This is gonna take all night to get through this.

I think I'm gonna take my half home.

That's a good idea.

You really surprised me today at Imroth's office, the way you reacted when he got in your face.

The guy was having a rough day.

I was trying to be diplomatic.

I mean, considering what we suspect him of.

Because he brought up the Marked and you didn't even, well, pursue it.

Neither did you.

Look, it's not like he's gonna admit to anything.

I promise, next time he gives attitude, you'll see some fireworks, okay?

- Good night.

- Tom?

Yeah?

Did you get the results of the CAT scan?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Thanks for asking.

Good night.

Good night.

- Hello?

- Hello?

Hi, Kevin.

I'm back.

Tess?

Out here.

- See me?

- Tess?

Come find me.

I thought you weren't coming back for a few days.

Kevin, I'm over here.

Where are you?

You found me.

I brought your breakfast.

Come on.

Orders are you're supposed to eat.

Let her go.

We're not supposed to hurt her.

- Morning, Diana.

- Hi.

You read any good death threats lately?

Too many.

I mean, so, what do we got, like 8,000 suspects?

- Yeah.

- Good luck tracking them all down.

So how was your night?

It was kind of strange.

I was on my way home when I got a phone call from Drew Imroth.

Yeah, I know.

It threw me too.

Anyway, he told me he had to see me right away alone at Madison Park.

It all felt a little cloak-and-dagger but what was I gonna do?

- I guess you had to go.

- Exactly.

Turns out he wants me to pass the case off to another agent.

He's worried that I'm still obsessed about proving he's one of the Marked.

- What did you tell him?

- The truth.

That he had nothing to worry about.

That I'd do my job to the best of my abilities.

Then I asked him to name every member of the Marked.

Which led to some of that fireworks you were hoping for.

I better take this.

I'll see you in there.

Okay.

Baldwin.

When?

Is Isabelle all right?

Fine.

I'll have to make an excuse here.

I'll be right over.

Joanna.

What happened?

Where's Kevin?

I don't know.

The cleaning staff came in this morning.

This is how they found the place.

All his work is missing too.

This was Jordan.

It had to be.

He knows about the compatibility test.

It's so strange.

All those people willing to risk their lives to get an ability.

Thinking it'll make them feel less alone, more powerful.

I never felt more alone and less powerful than when I had limitless abilities.

It overwhelmed my entire life, became my identity, cut me off from everyone.

My parents, Shawn.

It's only when I lost everything that I found myself.

And now you want me to go back there, become that person again.

That person is who you are.

It won't be that bad, Isabelle.

These past few months, you got a vacation.

You spent a little time out in the world.

But now it's time to go back to work.

It was nice to be normal.

At least for a little while.

Okay, so this is a modification of a document-authorisation programme Abigail designed while she was at MIT.

We used it to cross-reference the language in the anti-Ubient manifesto with the hate ma“ directed at Drew “moth.

We were looking for idiosyncratic phrases and word choices with a high degree of similarity in both documents.

Now, you can see whoever wrote the manifesto likes to use semicolons by the handful.

He's also fond of "who" or "which" instead of "that." And he refers to “moth as Mr. Puppetmaster.

A phrase he repeats a total of six times.

And what do we find in the hate-mail department?

This document.

Semicolons, "who" and "which" used again instead of "that." And finally, our old friend Mr. Puppetmaster.

So the two authors are one and the same?

Do you have a name for us?

This e-mail is signed "Swindled." Imroth put his people on it.

They traced it to a Warren Trask.

Turns outback in the early '805, Trask designed a primitive version of the Enzyme operating system.

When Imroth came out with a very similar programme, Trask sued.

Let me guess.

He lost.

No.

It never went to court.

Imroth offered Trask an out-of-court settlement.

Trask wound up with $100,000.

Meanwhile, Enzyme has made Imroth billions.

- So the guy is pissed.

- Wouldn't you be?

You can ask him yourself.

He lives right here in Seattle.

Well, nice work, Marco.

Well, actually, it was all Abigail.

She buy you that suit too?

Stop looking so freaked out.

- We're almost there.

- I told you I can't stay long.

- If my mom finds out...

- She won't.

I promised you a birthday surprise, right?

Well, here it is.

Maia?

Mom?

Dad?

Maia, is it really you?

Vic, can you believe how big she's gotten?

She's still my little girl.

I only wish I could give you a great big birthday hug.

Me too.

But you can't.

You're just somebody's 4400 ability.

Whatever we are, we're your parents.

And we love you so much.

Excuse me.

I'm Agent Baldwin.

This is Agent Skouris.

We're with NTAC.

We're here to see Warren Trask.

I'm his daughter Eileen.

What's this all about?

We'd like to ask your father some questions about Drew Imroth.

Well, you can ask him anything you want.

Just don't expect any answers.

My dad had a stroke three months ago.

He hasn't moved a muscle or said a word since.

My father was a brilliant man, but he was naive and trusting.

And Drew Imroth took advantage of that to cheat my father out of his life's work.

His career, his marriage, his health, my father lost it all.

So when did he take the promicin sh*t?

About six months ago.

As far as I know, it didn't do anything.

No ability.

Nothing.

And then he had the aneurysm.

Do you really still believe he's behind what's happening to Ubient?

These machines he's hooked up to, they're run by a computer, so he's connected to networks for emergency response monitoring.

If his mind can still function and he's got an ability, yeah.

He could be the ghost in the machine.

Well, that would be...

wonderful.

Daddy, if that's true, I am so happy for you.

Don't stop until you ruin Imroth like he ruined you.

That's enough of that.

- You're hurting me.

- Tom.

Let her go.

Look, she's an accessory to a half dozen felonies.

If there is anything you are holding back, you better tell us now.

I don't know anything.

But if my father is bringing down Drew Imroth, I'd consider that justice.


Am I mistaken, or am I looking at a Xerces Blue butterfly?

I believe that's what it's called.

Xerces Blue has been extinct since 1941.

Not here.

Not anymore.

We have a resident who can modify DNA to re-create extinct species.

Only insects so far, but he hopes to work his way up to mammals.

I don't know about you, but I'd love to see a woolly mammoth in the flesh.

I am impressed.

And I'm not easily impressed.

A man of your intellect could do just about anything here in Promise City.

Well, which might be a more persuasive argument if I weren't a kidnap victim being held against my will.

It was my idea to bring you here.

Jordan knew nothing about it.

And is that supposed to make everything all right?

Kyle's method might have been extreme but I can't fault his motive.

You belong here in Promise City with us, Kevin.

You're the father of the promicin movement.

Without your discoveries, Promise City wouldn't even exist.

I made a scientific breakthrough but I didn't start a religious cult.

Kevin, like it or not, you're revered by everyone here.

However, I can't allow your research to continue.

The promicin compatibility test would be death to this movement.

All I'm trying to do is save lives, Jordan.

So are we.

We're just thinking a little more long-term.

50 until you share our vision, I'm afraid I'll have to insist you remain our guest.

Tomorrow at 8 am.

I was kind of hoping for something sooner.

No, no.

We can't prove conclusively that Trask's our man but we know he took the promicin sh*t.

Okay.

If that's the best you can do.

Okay, thanks.

We can't get a court order to move Trask to NTAC Medical till morning.

Ubient is haemorrhaging millions of dollars an hour.

The stock market is down over 500 points, and my pension plan is history.

We've done all we can to isolate him.

We've cut off the phone services and Internet to his home.

We don't know if he needs a phone to access the net.

We need to get Trask on the inhibitor and do it now.

It's not an option.

His doctors have ruled it out.

Given the state Of his health, it's risky.

Well, maybe it's worth the risk.

Just keeping Trask under wraps at NTAC is no guarantee that the att*cks against Ubient will stop.

What are you suggesting, Tom?

We k*ll him?

Of course not.

It's just...

Look, it's just frustrating for all of us.

Anyhow, I guess there's nothing we can do till morning.

Hey, birthday girl.

I'm home.

Why aren't you dressed yet?

The dinner reservation's for 7:00.

I'll be ready in time.

Okay.

Then we come home and open the presents, all right?

That'll be good.

What's wrong?

Did something happen today?

No.

I told you not to get your hopes up about Ben.

I told you I'm past all that.

Well, that's good.

Because I don't know about you but I'm ready for some birthday cake.

So let's get going, okay?

- Yeah?

- It's me.

Tell me you've got good news.

Because at this rate, Ubient Software will cease to exist in three days, which means we lose all our financial backing.

Not to mention our spyware programme.

I get it.

Don't worry.

I'm taking care of it.

I hope so.

Oh, my God.

Daddy.

Daddy.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Half a dozen residents claim they heard the crash.

- Nobody saw anything?

- Apparently not.

Morning.

Court order come through yet?

Yes, it did.

Not that it matters anymore.

- Why?

What's going on?

- Last night someone stole a car and ploughed it into a telephone pole a few blacks from Warren Trask's house.

Blacked out the entire neighbourhood.

The life support system shut down.

Ran on battery power for a while but we had his daughter's cell phone jammed.

- By the time she got to a phone...

- Trask's dead?

Try not to sound so broken up about it.

Well, I'm just surprised, that's all.

What about the att*cks on Ubient?

As of this morning, Ubient software is running virus-free.

Seems Imroth's company is gonna survive.

And so is the economy.

Stock market's already up 200 points.

Weird way for things to work out but I guess we'll take it.

Yeah, we all got lucky.

Except for Warren Trask.

- Yeah.

- What happened to your head?

Oh, I banged it on the medicine cabinet in the middle of the night.

- I guess next time I'll turn on the light.

- Good idea.

You have five minutes, Shawn.

Tell me what you want.

I want you ta release Kevin Burkhoff.

Don't tell me he's not here.

Dr. Burkhoff is here.

He's my guest and he'll remain that way for the time being.

Tell me, Jordan, since when did kidnapping become part of this new religion of yours?

It seems like a pretty twisted way to bring the world closer to God.

You wanna get back in my good graces, Shawn?

It's simple.

Hold another press conference, announce you had a change of heart and that you now support the taking of promicin.

You know I can't do that.

Then Kevin Burkhoff remains my guest.

And you...

You're no longer welcome in Promise City.

Goodbye, Shawn.

How is my girl feeling?

Like I'm gonna die.

It's just your body ridding itself of the anti-promicin allergens.

It's all part of the process.

Look this way.

There you go.

Now it's time for the next step.

Don't.

No.

It's okay, Isabelle.

In a few seconds you are gonna feel a lot better.

No.

See?

That wasn't so bad.

Oh, and, Isabelle, I know what you're thinking.

Once your abilities return, you're gonna use them against me.

It worked once before when you m*rder*d Matthew Ross.

But I wouldn't try it again.

This time we're not taking any chances.

We placed a deterrent inside you while you were in prison.

Call it a k*ll switch.

If you move against me or disobey me in any way, it will be activated and you will die.

Now you just rest for another hour or so.

And when you get up, you'll be the most powerful person on the planet.

Again.

Hey.

So, what do we have?

The lab ran the test you asked for.

The last sample they pulled was pretty degraded.

It's gonna take a couple days to get conclusive results.

But we do have the preliminary results.

I'm sorry, Diana, but there's an 80 percent chance that the blood belongs to Tom Baldwin.

These last few weeks I could tell there was something wrong.

It's like he was the same guy but different, you know?

And I kept telling myself, "It's okay.

It's still Torn." Well, I didn't wanna believe it either.

He's been my partner and my friend for years.

Talk about sleeping with the enemy.

I don't know if he told you but Tom and I...

No, he didn't.

But the possibility had crossed my mind.

Okay, so we're past that.

Now the question is, what do we do now, Diana?

Well, we have to find a way to get the real Torn Baldwin back.

And we can't let him suspect that we know anything.

We just have to force ourselves to act like nothings changed.

Well, that's not gonna be a problem in the office, but outside, I mean, it's not gonna be easy.

The physical-intimacy thing.

I'm not sure I can handle it.

So you two got it all figured out?

Whatever it is you're talking about.

Tom, what are you doing in the office so late?

Just catching up on some loose ends.

- What about you guys?

- Same.

You know, I was thinking about catching a bite.

Who's with me?

I can't.

I'm supposed to be at my dad's.

- Di?

- Oh, I gotta get home.

Okay.

Well, I'm just gonna finish up here.

- You two have a good night.

- You too.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I have to say, you did wonderful work.

With Trask out of the way, the company has finally rebounded.

The next two fiscal quarters will be shaky at best.

But thanks to you, Ubient lives.

You're not celebrating.

What's wrong?

One of the last things Trask did was spread your personal data all over the Internet.

Names, phone records, financial statements.

They're all out there for all eyes to see.

To study.

Could lead to some very dangerous questions.

So we do damage control.

Delete all we can and deny the rest.

No, that'll only feed the conspiracy theorists.

So it's been decided, Drew.

We're gonna have to take a more radical approach.

What do you have in mind?

Oh, honey.

Over here.

Hey, Mom.

Hi, Dad.

Hello, sweetheart.

Did you have a fun birthday?

Pretty fun.

I just wish you could have been there.

- So do we.

- I bet you got some nice gifts.

I got a new iPod.

It's like a record player only it plays thousands of songs.

- Any Sinatra?

- Tons of Sinatra.

Next time I come I'll bring it with me.

Are you sure you can get away?

We wouldn't want to interfere with any homework or anything.

You're not interfering.

I like coming here and seeing you.

I wish I could come every day.

So do we.

But you're here now.

Jordan's never gonna let Kevin 90.

So that's it?

The compatibility test isn't gonna happen?

It has to happen.

I have to make it happen.

Get on the phone.

Get a hold of Tess.

We're taking Kevin out of Promise City.

Isabelle.

It's all settled.

He understands what he has to do.

He may have been a little disappointed at first.

After all, he had a good run.

But in the end, he took it well.

He knows it's time to move on.

I'm sure he considers it an honor.

Especially after he heard about the new host we have lined up for him.

He made an excellent Drew Imroth.

But he'll make an even better Jordan Collier.
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