The wind is blowing hard. We see Flipper cruising through the water. Back at the Institute, Pam is looking through a microscope. She hands something off to Alexis, who walks away. Mike and Maya come up the stairs, soaking wet.

MIKE: You should have seen the waves out there, they were huge!

PAM: Well, it's storm season, there's gonna be a lot of days like this.

MIKE: Cool.

PAM: Wait a minute, you're wet. Were you in the water?

MIKE: Maya pushed me in.

MAYA: Ugh! Did not!

PAM: You guys stay out of those waves, they're dangerous.

MIKE: (gesturing towards the microscope) Do you mind if I take a look?

PAM: Be my guest!

Pam backs away from the microscope, and Mike peers in. We see lots of cells.

MIKE: Frisbees! Thousands of them.

PAM: Corpuscles, Aphrodite's.

MAYA: When will you stop doing tests on Aphrodite?

PAM: When she stops being pregnant.

CUT TO: The lab, where Alexis and another trainer are running an ultrasound on Aphrodite.

ALEXIS: Okay!

We see the ultrasound, with the internal organs of the developing calf.

CUT TO: Back upstairs, where Keith joins Pam, Mike, and Maya. He looks upset.

PAM: Keith, what's going on?

KEITH: They just upgraded Hurricane Gretel. Level Four.

PAM: Oh, well, that's only bad if you're in it's path! It's headed out to sea, it's going right out into the Atlantic. (off Keith's look and hand gestures) Please tell me that it's still headed out to sea.

KEITH: It's turned. It's heading straight for us.

Off everyone's concerned looks, we fade out.

OPENING CREDITS

ACT ONE

Outside the Institute, equipment is being stored and preparations being made for the hurricane. Keith directs a couple of people who are strapping down the submersible.

KEITH: Put some muscle into that, I want that thing down tight! (he wanders away to meet up with Pam)

PAM: What about the rescue boat?

KEITH: We'll unload everything that isn't tied down, then we'll anchor out there off the dock.

PAM: Okay. (she sets off to work)

Keith moves on to another group who are setting up a boat on a trailer to be hauled away.

KEITH: You're going to need to drag this north to Orlando if you can make it. Then pull over to a motel and spend the night, all right?

STUDENT: We can't afford a motel!

KEITH: Oh... (he pulls a credit card out and hands it to her) Uh, here. If that's maxed out... keep driving.

STUDENT: Okay.

CUT TO: Pam directing another person to secure the rescue boat. The radio is on, playing hurricane updates.

PAM: Just take this, and this.

She hands him two containers and he moves off. Keith joins her. He turns off the radio.

PAM: Wait a minute, didn't you want to hear what's going on?

KEITH: I know what's going on. We don't have much time, we gotta keep moving.

PAM: Okay.

They grab a few more containers, then leave the boat. As they near the Insitute's entrance, Alexis walks up with two small gas cans.

KEITH: Oh, two gallons? That's it? I gave you twenty bucks!

ALEXIS: Keith, I went to five different gas stations. They're all mobbed, I was lucky to get this.

PAM: How long will that keep the backup generator running?

KEITH: Not long enough. Let's shut down everything except the fish freezer. We need to start siphoning cars and boats. We need every drop we can get. And Alexis, when you're done, you're outta here.

ALEXIS: Oh, don't worry, you won't have to ask me twice.

KEITH: Good.

Alexis leaves, and Pam and Keith continue on. They hear Mike nearby. He and Maya are standing at the main entrance.

MIKE: Mom! Keith! Dolphins are acting kinda weird.

MAYA: Aphrodite's swimming in circles.

MIKE: I didn't know what to do.

KEITH: All right.

PAM: Okay, all right, come on.

CUT TO: The water's edge, where the dolphins are circling and slapping their flukes on the surface. Flipper jumps over the dock into the pools.

CUT TO: The television inside, playing the latest updates on the hurricane. It is showing demolished buildings.

REPORTER 1: (voiceover on the TV) And the news copter reporting live from Freeport in the Bahamas, where Hurricane Gretel struck with full force just before midnight. As you can see, the damage is extensive. It may be weeks, even months before these people will be able to return to their homes.

The camera pans back, and we see a full room watching, inclusing Pam, Keith, and Alexis.

REPORTER 2: Now, what about casualties?

REPORTER 1: The death toll currently stands at 25, but that number is sure to rise as rescue workers begin the grim task of digging out.

REPORTER 2: Thank you, Michael, for that live report. On the homefront, south Florida prepares for the worst as strong wind and driving rain begin to pound Key West. Traffic is bumper-to-bumper on Highway 1 as widespread evacuations get underway. local stores are reporting shortages on such items as bottled water, batteries, and baby food. With sustained winds of 130 miles an hour, Gretel is making her way directly toward the Florida Keys and is expected to make landfall in three hours, just after eight o'clock tonight.

Keith shuts off the TV.

KEITH: All right, everybody, you know the drill. We're going to secure this place, top to bottom. Come on. We've done this before. Everybody to their stations! Alexis and I are going to come around and check each of your stations. Let's go!

Everyone begins to scatter and set to work.

PAM: (to Mike, Maya and Alexis) Listen, hurricane or no hurricane, Aphrodite needs an ultrasound and I could use a hand. Come on.

They head downstairs together.

PAM: Alexis, is everything ready?

ALEXIS: Yeah.

PAM: Okay, good.

They pass Keith, who's directing the operations.

KEITH: I'm gonna give these guys a hand now.

PAM: Okay.

Pam, Mike, Maya, and Alexis disappear downstairs, while Keith helps lift a board up to the window.

KEITH: There you go! (he crosses the room to help another group) Over here! (lifting the board) Slide it in. All right, now screw this thing down.

CUT TO: The lab, where Pam is giving Aphrodite the ultrasound.

MAYA: How soon is she due?

PAM: Soon soon. Every morning I'm half expecting for a baby calf to swim up.

ALEXIS: You know, I think she's a little tired of being pregnant.

MAYA: She's been complaining for weeks. She says she's too fat.

PAM: Aphrodite's complaining about her weight?

ALEXIS: (chuckling) Why not? I complain about my weight, and I'm not even pregnant!

PAM: And you're also not fat, so cut it out.

ALEXIS: (looking at the moitor) Hey, I have it.

PAM: Okay, freeze it.

ALEXIS: All right.

We see the ultrasound again, and everyone crowds around to look.

PAM: Now, can you see the outline of the calf?

MIKE: What is this, Where's Waldo? I don't see anything.

MAYA: There's the baby. (points) Tail... head.

PAM: (motioning behind her) Keith, come here.

KEITH: What?

PAM: The calf's tail-down in the uterus, fully presented.

MIKE: Is that bad?

KEITH: Well, no, it's good, except when a hurricane is on its way.

ALEXIS: (worried) She's going to have her baby during the storm?

PAM: We don't know, but she's certainly ready.

Aphrodite swims away. Keith looks up at the people working around them, boarding up doors and windows.

KEITH: Hey, hey, hey! No nails! Screws! And a lot of 'em! I want that thing to hold, all right?

PAM: What are we building here, Fort Knox?

KEITH: Have you ever been in 130 mph wind?

PAM: No.

KEITH: Smallest piece of debris turns into a bullet. Trees get cut in half. Cars get tossed around liek playtoys. I don't know, you make the call - nails, or screws?

Keith walks away, and Pam looks over at the people working.

PAM: Hey, you heard what he said. Screws, and big ones!

CUT TO: The lagoon, where the dolphins are fluke slapping again.

KEITH: They know what's coming.

MAYA: That's why Flipper's here. He wants them to follow him.

KEITH: All right, let's open the gates.

MIKE: But they're gonna take off!

KEITH: That's the point.

PAM: Keith, they don't have any idea how to survive out there.

KEITH: They have a lot better chance out in the open water than they do getting banged around in here.

They all look out at the frenzied dolphins.

KEITH: You haven't been through this before. Trust me. Come on, let's go.

Mike and Keith open the gates. The dolphins hesitate, screaming.

KEITH: Come on!

MIKE: They don't want to leave!

MAYA AND PAM: Come on, let's go!

KEITH: Come on, buddy!

The dolphins finally dash out to sea, but Aphrodite hangs back.

MIKE: Okay, come on, Aphrodite! Come on, you gotta get out of here!

KEITH: All right, I'm serious, let's go!

MIKE: Flipper! Come on, help us get Aphrodite out.

MAYA: Go!

MIKE: Looks like Aphrodite's sticking around.

MAYA: She's worried about her baby.

KEITH: All right, Flipper, you can take off. We'll keep a good eye on her for you. All right?

Flipper chatters, then disappears.

More shots of the wind, starting to pick up. Aphrodite remains in the lagoon. Fade out.

ACT TWO

Pam, Keith, Mike, and Maya are coming up the stairs at the Institute. Keith spots something, and puts a finger to his lips.

KEITH: Shh!

The camera pans, and we see Cliff Bethers looking through the refrigerator. Suddenly, Keith slaps the table loudly.

KEITH: (grinning) Out of the fridge, Bethers!

Cliff jumps, and everyone else laughs.

CLIFF: Keith! Been looking all over for you guys.

KEITH: What, in the fridge? No, Cliff, we were outside trying to get the dolphins to leave, and I bet you're trying to get us to leave, right?

CLIFF: Yeah. State of emergency. Evacuation procedures.

KEITH: Fine.

CLIFF: Wait. Really? No, wait. No complaints?

KEITH: No.

CLIFF: No threats? You'll go?

KEITH: Well, they'll go, I'm staying.

CLIFF: Come on, Keith, you know that's not going to wash.

PAM: No way, I'm not leaving Aphrodite!

CLIFF: You're being evacuated!

PAM: I'm a doctor of veterinary medicine.

CLIFF: I am an officer of the law.

MIKE: I am your son. If you stay, then I stay.

MAYA: Me too!

CLIFF: Cut it out. I'm taking you all into custody if you don't come with me right now.

KEITH: He's serious. He'll do it.

CLIFF: Right.

PAM: Wait a minute. What about Aphrodite?

CLIFF: Forget it! You can't take a dolphin with you.

PAM: Cliff!

KEITH: Bethers, give me your handcuffs.

CLIFF: What?

KEITH: Give me your handcuffs.

Cliff hands over the handcuffs to Keith.

PAM: Keith, what are you doing?

KEITH: You'll see.

Cliff lifts a carton of juice up to drink from it.

PAM: Cliff, use a glass.

Maya giggles, and Keith sneaks in behind her and Mike. He handcuffs the two teenagers together.

MIKE: No!

MAYA: No! No, Keith, this isn't right! How can you do this to us?

KEITH: Ohh, yeah. (to Cliff) All right, here they are, take them to the shelter!

CLIFF: What about you two?

PAM: No, that's our final offer.

KEITH: Yeah. And you're out of handcuffs.

MIKE: You're just going to leave him here? Shoot him!

Cliff begins to lead Mike and Maya away.

PAM: Mike, it'll be okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Maya, I'll tell your sister where you are.

MIKE: What about the house?

PAM: Uh, if I have time, I'll put plywood on the windows.

MIKE: Iggy is there!

CLIFF: What, whoa, who?

PAM: Our pet bat.

CLIFF: Wha-? I didn't need to know that! Let's just go.

Mike and Maya shoot Pam and Keith pitiful looks as they're led away. Pam and Keith share a laugh.

KEITH: Are you sure you want to go through this?

PAM: I've been through natural disasters before! I was in the earthquake in San Francisco in 1989, the big one.

KEITH: Oh, a half a minute of hell?

PAM: Oh, please, you're telling me you think hurricanes are worse than an earthquake?

KEITH: No. (he leans in close) Just a lot longer.

Keith walks away, leaving Pam looking worried as thunder and lightning begin.

CUT TO: More footage of the wind picking up, and the surf getting bad.

CUT TO: Teh dock along the lagoon. Pam and Keith, decked out in rain gear, try to call Aphrodite over. They have to yell to be heard over the storm.

PAM: Come on, Aphrodite! Come on! Come on, sweetheart! Fresh herring, how could you resist?

KEITH: That's a first. Aphrodite turning down a free meal?

PAM: I don't know, maybe she's in labor.

KEITH: Nah, she's probably a little anxious about the storm.

PAM: Well, if it doesn't get any worse than this, I think we'll be okay.

KEITH: Pam? It hasn't even started yet.

PAM: What?!

Flipper dashes in the open gate, breaching.

KEITH: Hey, look who's here! Hey, Flipper, welcome back!

Flipper and Aphrodite lobtail around the pool.

KEITH: That ought to brighten up her spirits. Come on, buddy, let's take her out to the open ocean! Let's go! Let's go!

Flipper and Aphrodite approach the gate, but Aphrodite still refuses to leave.

PAM: She's not going to leave. Not until she has her baby.

Overhead, a lighting fixture begins to rip loose from the side of the building.

KEITH: Hey! Look out!

It's too late - the fixture falls and hits Pam in the head. She falls into the pool and disappears. Keith flies into action, pulling off his rain coat and diving in after her. He can't see her in the murky water. He searches around the base of the pilings and finally finds her, barely conscious. He pulls her into his arms and carries her to the surface, gasping for air.

KEITH: Pam? You okay? You all right?

PAM: What happened?

KEITH: Gretel's first victim.

Pam rubs at the back of her head gingerly. Keith lifts her hair, and realizes that she's really hurt herself.

KEITH: Whoa. Whoa!

He gives her a quick, reassuring hug.

KEITH: Come on, let's get you inside.

CUT TO: The emergency shelter, where Mike is using the phone. Maya stands with him, impatiently.

MIKE: Still no answer.

MAYA: They probably just can't hear the phone.

MIKE: How can they not hear the phone? Wait - unless they went to the house.

Mike puts another quarter in the phone and tries again.

MAYA: It's not like you to worry about your mother.

MIKE: I'm not worried.

MAYA: No! I think it's really cute! (she teasingly pinches his cheek)

MIKE: Cut it out, okay? I'm not worried.

MAYA: There's nothing to be ashamed of! You're just getting in touch with your feminine side.

MIKE: That's it. Read my lips: I am not worried.

MAYA: ...no answer?

MIKE: (hanging up the phone and turning away) What if something bad happened?

MAYA: Like what?

MIKE: I don't know. I don't know. I mean, what if she went back to get that stupid bat? She could be... she could be hit in the head! She could be lying there, right now, unconscious, on the kitchen floor, in a pool of her own blood.

MAYA: You are a very strange boy, do you know that?

MIKE: I have to go home.

MAYA: I know you do, and I'll go with you.

MIKE: You will?

MAYA: You'll talk me into it eventually anyway. I might as well cave in now. Let's hurry - I want to get back here before the storm gets any worse.

As they leave, Mike grabs rolls of bandages from a first aid counter. Maya grabs his arm.

MAYA: Mike!

MIKE: What? In case I have to bandage her up!

With an exaspterated shrug, Maya follows him out.

CUT TO: The Institute's upstairs, where Keith is cleaning up Pam's injury.

PAM: OHH! That stings!

KEITH: Well, if it doesn't sting, it's not working.

PAM: Oh, since when was pain a measure of effectiveness?

KEITH: Well, it's gonna hurt a lot less later if it hurts a little more now.

PAM: Oh, well, why don't you just use hydrochloric acid and I'll feel like a million dollars. (beat) Ow! Keith, cut it out! (grabbing the bottle being used to clean the wound) Rubbing alcohol?! Florence Nightengale used rubbing alcohol! Modern doctors use antispetic wash!

KEITH: (frustrated) Do you want me to help you? Or do you just want to sit here and bleed?

Pam sits for a moment, calming herself down and thinking.

PAM: How bad is it?

KEITH: Wide open to the bone.

PAM: You're gonna have to stitch me up.

KEITH: Ohhh, no. No, see, butterfly bandages is the extent of my skills here.

PAM: No, I'll walk you through it. It's as easy as darning socks.

KEITH: I don't darn socks. I don't sew on buttons. I don't sew pieces of human flesh together!

PAM: (hitting her breaking point) Well I don't want to use bandages because then you're going to have to shave off a patch of my hair and I don't want to have to deal with this right now, okay?!

KEITH: (hestitantly giving in) All right. I'll sew you up.

PAM: Thanks. (beat) If it's any consolation, I'm sure it's going to sting like crazy.

KEITH: (chuckling) Warms my heart. Where's the suture kit?

PAM: In the first aid kit. (Keith leaves to get it) Oh, and we'll need a couple of mirrors.

KEITH: What for?

PAM: (as if it should be obvious) 'Cause I want to watch!

CUT TO: more shots of the hurricane - trees beding, signposts fluttering in the wind, etc.

CUT TO: Pam and Mike's house. Mike and Maya burst through the door, exhausted. Mike immediately turns on the lights and begins searching the house.

MAYA: I thought we'd never make it across the causeway!

MIKE: Mom? Mother? Mom? Mom? ...I guess she's not here.

MAYA: Nope! No blood on the kitchen floor either! The next time you want to flirt with death because of some gory fantasy, count me out.

MIKE: Well, at least Iggy's okay, okay? (pokes at Iggy's cage) Hey, buddy, how you doing?

Maya shoots Mike a dirty look.

MIKE: All right. All right, okay, we should have stayed at the shelter. But we're here now, and we're safe.

MAYA: Yeah, it doesn't seem so bad. Maybe we're going to miss the worst of it.

As she speaks, lightning strikes and the kitchen window is blown out. Maya lets out a terrified scream. Mike grabs Iggy's cage and runs.

MIKE: Go! Go! Come on! Come on! Hurry! Go! Go!

They frantically scrabble at the closet door.

MAYA: I am!

They make it into the closet, breathing hard.

MIKE: It'll be okay. Everything will be okay, I promise.

MAYA: If I had a dollar for every time you said that, I'd be living like the kids on 90210.

Thunder crashes overhead.

MIKE: Oh, great.

CUT TO: The Institute, where Keith is carefully stitching up Pam's injury. Pam watches, with the aid of two mirrors.

KEITH: Hold still!

PAM: I am holding still!

KEITH: Ohhh, I lost my place.

PAM: Are you kidding?! I cannot see what you're doing.

KEITH: Yeah, well, it's probably better that way.

PAM: (gasps) Aww, Keith, any chance the sutures could be a little smaller? It's going to look like Boris Karloff stitched me up! Ow!

KEITH: Maybe I should have practiced on your lips first.

Thunder crashes, and Pam starts. Keith looks up at the roof.

KEITH: It's getting worse.

PAM: Give me you hands.

KEITH: What?

Keith tentatively holds out a gloved hand.

PAM: Give me your hand.

KEITH: Why?

PAM: (studies his hand for a moment) Just checking.

KEITH: What?

PAM: If they were shaking as bad as mine, I wanted you to stop.

KEITH: Look, I've just got one more to do, all right?

PAM: Okay...

KEITH: (going back to work) It's actually kinda cool, it's like tying flies.

Pam winces as Keith finishes up.

KEITH: Hold tight!

Keith snips the thread, and Pam gets up, groaning.

PAM: Thanks, Keith. I'm sorry I was such a pain.

KEITH: Yeah, yeah, yeah, what's new?

Pam shoots Keith a look, but at a sudden crash of thunder and lightning, she startles and clings to him. The power goes out around them, leaving them in the dark.

KEITH: Don't worry, the generator will kick on in a few seconds.

PAM: I don't like this.

KEITH: (smirking) Well, I have mixed feelings about it.

Pam is confused for a moment, before realizing she's still clinging to him. She steps back and glares at him.

PAM: I'm talking about the hurricane.

KEITH: (defensively) So was I!

PAM: Oh.

A tree suddenly crashes through the window, startling them both. Outside, we see it's been completely uprooted.

CUT TO: Pam and Mike's house, where Mike and Maya are still hunkered down in the closet.

MAYA: My grandmother told me the story of the very first hurricane. It happened a really long time ago when the world was young.

MIKE: (sarcastically) How young? Jurassic? Pre-Cambrian?

MAYA: You're being obnoxious!

MIKE: I'm listening.

MAYA: Okay. In the beginning, Neptune, god of the sea, allowed men to take whatever they needed from the ocean. Enough to feed their families and clothe their children, but nothing more. Well, men became greedy. They took pearls from Neptune's oysters, and coral from the great reefs that guarded his home. They slaughtered dolphins and whales. They even put poisons into the water.

MIKE: So, Neptune got angry.

MAYA: Well, he sent his fiercest winds to drive the men off the sea and persuade them to change their ways.

A peal of thunder echoes overhead, and the two pause for a moment.

MIKE: Okay! I'm convinced! He can let up any time now.

MAYA: My grandmother says that if he ever comes to take you away, you can hear him call your name.

MIKE: Thank you for sharing this with me.

CUT TO: Shots of the wind and the rain as the hurricane barrels through.

CUT TO: Back to the closet at Pam and Mike's house. Mike and Maya are sitting next to each other silently, a blanket across them. Maya glares at Mike suddenly.

MAYA: Mike, stop it!

MIKE: Stop what?

MAYA: You know what! What's come over you, anyways?

MIKE: Terror? Despair? Hopelessness?

MAYA: Hopelessness is right! Keep your hands to yourself!

MIKE: (confused) I am!

Mike holds up his hands, and Maya's eyes go wide.

MAYA: Then what's crawling up my leg?

MIKE: (realizing) Iggy!

Maya jumps up and screams, throwing off the blanket. We hear Iggy chirping. Mike tries to pull Iggy away from her.

MIKE: Easy, boy, easy! I got him! Easy! Come on.

Maya stands frozen, in shock.

MIKE: Easy. Come on, Iggy. (he puts Iggy back in the cage, turns to Maya) Okay. It's okay. I got him. Sit down now.

Maya slowly sits back down.

MIKE: It's okay!

MAYA: I can't believe it. I'm spending my last night on Earth with a bat. (she lays her head on her arms)

MIKE: I'm sorry, Maya, I'm really sorry, I should never have gotten you into this.

He tries to put a comforting arm around her shoulders. Maya looks up with a glare.

MAYA: Hands. Off.

MIKE: Fine! (holds his hands up) Fine.

But with another crack of thunder, they're both scrambling for each other. Fade out.

ACT THREE

Shots of the area - the wind and rain have died down, but the area is already in tatters.

CUT TO: The closet in Pam and Mike's home. Mike and Maya are fast asleep. Mike wakes up.

MIKE: Maya. (nudging her) Maya, wake up.

MAYA: (groggily) What?

MIKE: Listen.

MAYA: I don't hear anything.

MIKE: Neither do I.

They jump up and walk out into the house, which is a mess. There's a tree through the window, and everything is soaked.

MIKE: ...Wow.

MAYA: What a mess!

Mike picks up a couch cushion and wrings it out.

MIKE: At least my mom can't blame me for this one. I'm going to go check out my room.

MAYA: (grabbing his arm and pulling him away) No, no, no. Forget about rour room. We are going to the shelter, right now.

MIKE: Why? The storm's over!

MAYA: Half over. We're in the eye. It's just a matter of time before the back side hits.

MIKE: You mean we have to go through this again?

MAYA: Yeah.

MIKE: I'm moving to Nevada.

MAYA: Let's go.

MIKE: (grabbing Iggy's cage) Not to the shelter, to the Institute. I have to see about my mom. Come on. Come on, hurry!

CUT TO: The Institute, where Flipper is swimming around the lagoon as Pam tosses storm debris off the beach area.

PAM: Flipper!

Keith comes out onto the dock, walking over to Pam.

KEITH: Well, we've lost one of the sheds, and the Zodiac is... well, probably in Alabama by now.

PAM: How's the roof?

KEITH: Ah, the patch seems to be holding, but the lagoon lab is weakened. I hope it holds up. What about Aphrodite?

Pam kneels at the water's edge, wiggling her hand in the water to call Aphrodite over.

PAM: Well, she's still here. And she's still not eating.

Aphrodite slides up onto the beach, whistling.

MAYA: (offscreen) Hey, guys!

Keith looks up, annoyed, as Mike and Maya approach.

KEITH: Oh... Well, what a non-surprise.

PAM: What are - You are supposed to be at the shelter!

MIKE: I'm glad you're alive, too! (beat) What happened to your head?

KEITH: She got hit by a lighting fixture.

PAM: Felt more like a big-screen TV. What are you doing here? (to Maya) And you too, young lady!

MIKE: We just decided to hang. We got Iggy for you.

MAYA: Tell her the truth, Mike.

MIKE: I did!

MAYA: He was worried about, freaked out, we spent the night in your hall closet.

PAM: Freaked out?

MIKE: I knew you were okay.

MAYA: He kept calling, you kept not answering.

MIKE: Twice! I tried twice!

MAYA: I thought he was going to cry.

MIKE: She did cry.

PAM: You went out in the middle of the hurricane because you were worried about me?

MIKE: (smiling, giving in) It wasn't exactly the middle.

PAM: I love you.

Pam pulls her son into a big hug.

MIKE: Mom, take it easy!

KEITH: Been doing a lot of that, lately.

PAM: Sometimes you just have to get hit over the head to get any sentiment out of them.

KEITH: Oh, and while you were gushing, the hurricane god decided to come back, so we'd better get going.

PAM: (looking worriedly at the sky) I hate that guy...

They all turn and head inside.

CUT TO: the upstairs lab, where Keith is drilling more support boards in.

KEITH: That ought to do it.

PAM: Well, it better. We're out of screws.

KEITH: Yeah, and plywood.

PAM: Think it'll hold?

KEITH: Yeah, it ought to.

There is another crash of thunder and lightning.

PAM: Ugh! Will this ever stop?

KEITH: Even when it does, you'll hear the wind in your head for weeks!

PAM: Did you ever hear the Mayan legend of Hurakan?

KEITH: Who?

PAM: The god of wind.

KEITH: Oh, the god of wind. Uh, that'd be my big brother, Sandy.

PAM: (laughing) According to legend, the god Hurakon was a benevolent god, and everything was peaceful until he fell in love with the goddess of rain. Unfortunately, she was married, and so was he.

KEITH: Is this gonna be a long story?

PAM: No. So when Hurakan realizes that he would never have her, he whipped himself into such a frenzy that great spouts of water appeared in the ocean and tidal waves attacked the shore and torrential rains covered the land.

KEITH: So what you're saying is basically every time there's a hurricane, some pagan god is thinking about cheating on his wife, right?

PAM: Well, the Mayans wouldn't have thought he was a pagan. Maybe you would.

KEITH: That's worse than daytime TV.

There's another loud crack of thunder and lightning, and Pam shouts and jumps into Keith's arms again. Keith covers he mouth to stifle the yelling.

CUT TO: the lagoon, where Flipper races in and swims with a vocal, fluke-slapping Aphrodite.

CUT TO: more shots of the hurricane - huge waves, houses being ripped to shreds, etc.

CUT TO: the upstairs conference room. Pam, Keith, Mike, and Maya are sitting around and listening to the radio.

RADIO VOICE: On Ruby Key, the hurricane apparent claimed another victim. Marine Patrol captain Phil Davis gave his life while trying to save someone else. According to eyewitness accounts, David was swept out to sea after rescuing a teenage boy who was clinging to a piling under the Ruby Key Causeway. The boy, who has not yet been identified, was taken to an area hospital.

In the background, dolphin sounds can be heard.

MIKE: It's Flipper.

KEITH: Yup.

They spring into action.

PAM: He's in the lab.

RADIO VOICE: (playing over the discussion) According to coworkers, Davis was a great guy who was always sticking his neck out for his friends...

KEITH: All right!

PAM: (to Mike and Maya) Where are you guys going?

MIKE: We're coming with you.

KEITH: No, you're staying here.

MAYA: We can help!

KEITH: No, you can't.

MIKE: Mom?

PAM: No, we cannot concentrate on the dolphins if we're worried about you. (to Maya) Maya, see that he doesn't leave this room. Tie him down, if necessary.

MAYA: Cool. Can I torture him, too?

KEITH: Yes.

Maya grins and pushes Mike along.

CUT TO: the lab, where Aphrodite is resting at the surface, along with Flipper. Pam and Keith enter with flashlights.

KEITH: Aphrodite's in trouble. Okay...

Keith kneels at the water's edge, while Pam grabs a stethoscope. Keith brings Aphrodite parallel to the edge, turning her on her back.

KEITH: Come here! Oooh... All right! There we go!

Pam reaches over and listens to the fetus with the stethoscope.

KEITH: I'm not getting any movement from the calf. Are you getting a heartbeat?

PAM: I can barely hear you. We need to do an ultrasound.

Keith picks up the hand Pam has the stethoscope in, and speaks into it.

KEITH: We don't have any power down here.

Pam pulls the stethoscope from her ears, annoyed.

KEITH: I'm gonna need to tie the generator into this circuit, all right? Talk to her.

PAM: About what?

KEITH: About childbirth! You've been through it before.

PAM: What?!

KEITH: No time for skepticism! She needs you!

Aphrodite makes pitiful, almost painful squeaks. As Keith leaves, Pam slips into the water with her.

PAM: Okay, sweetheart, you're not going to understand a word I say, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. Here I come, sweetie. Come here! Come here, Aphrodite! (tapping the water's surface) Come on, sweetie. Come here! Here I am. Come here! Here you go, sweetie.

Aphrodite hesitantly targets on Pam's hand.

PAM: Good girl!

Pam begins to rub Aphrodite down as she talks.

PAM: I know you're scared. I was scared too, when I had Mike. I was only 18, and his father was only 19. He stayed with me though labor, but when the going got rough... well, that pretty much sums up his personality.

As the generator starts up, the lights come on.

PAM: He said I ordered him out of the room. I don't remember. I should have ordered him out of my life, but unfortunately that took another ten years. He never grew up, you know? And I grew up too fast. Motherhood will do that to you. Especially when you have a kid like Mike.

Keith comes back into the room, overhearing the conversation.

KEITH: She's a dolphin, not a psychiatrist.

PAM: Ugh.

KEITH: You're supposed to be comforting her.

PAM: Well, we'll finish this later, when there aren't any men around.

Keith hands the sonogram device to Pam as she guides Aphrodite into position.

KEITH: Here, you got it?

PAM: (to Aphrodite) Easy...

KEITH: Okay.

PAM: Good girl!

KEITH: You got it?

PAM: Got it. Good girl! Shh. Good girl. Okay!

Pam holds it in place, while Keith watches the screen. He looks concerned.

PAM: Keith, what's wrong?

KEITH: That calf has turned.

PAM: Well, that's all right, it'll just come out head first, the risk is more -

KEITH: No. The calf has turned a quarter turn. Aphrodite is in labor, and the calf is stuck in the birth canal.

PAM: What?!

Off Pam's concerned look, we fade out.

ACT FOUR

In the Institute's conference room, Mike and Maya huddle under the table as the radio continues to play updates.

RADIO VOICE: It has now been more than 16 hours since the hurricane struck, and the wind contiues to howl, and the question arises: how much more can we endure? ...

MAYA: I think I liked your closet better.

MIKE: I wonder how Mom and Keith are doing. (off Maya's look) They've been gone awhile, I hope they're okay! Mom!

MAYA: They can't hear you.

MIKE: What if something happened?

MAYA: Oh, don't start, Mike!

MIKE: Maybe something blew open and hit them. They could be lying there, right now -

MIKE AND MAYA: -In a pool of blood.

MIKE: Yes!

MAYA: I know, I know!

MIKE: I've gotta find out.

He gets up and tries to leave, but stops suddenly and falls to the ground. We see that Maya actually has tied him down!

MAYA: Sit.

CUT TO: the lab, Pam and Keith are still giving Aphrodite the ultrasound.

KEITH: Okay, stop! Right there!

PAM: Heart?

KEITH: Got it!

PAM: How's the heartbeat?

KEITH: Strong.

PAM: (sitting up) Okay, good girl.

KEITH: No sign of distress. Aww, look!

Pam looks over his shoulder at the screen.

KEITH: Looks like the calf's going to be okay.

PAM: No, it's not going to be okay. We still have to turn it around.

KEITH: Yeah... how?

PAM: Surgery.

KEITH: Surgery.

PAM: Yeah. C-section.

KEITH: On a dolphin?!

PAM: Yes, it has been done before, I've participated.

KEITH: Not here. Not with these facilities. And not in the middle of a hurricane!

PAM: Keith, all we have to do is hoist her up on a sling!

KEITH: No, forget about it!

PAM: Wait a minute, I cannot do this on my own!

KEITH: No, Pam. You cannot do it at all.

PAM: She might lose the baby, and she might die!

KEITH: She might die if you cut her open!

PAM: All right, then, I'll go in manually. I'll just try to turn the baby around.

KEITH: You're going to put your hand up in the birth canal?!

PAM: Yes! I'm going to try! I have to try!

KEITH: (talking over Pam) Don't even think about it!

KEITH: It's too risky!

PAM: Well, I have to do something!

KEITH: Yes! You're going to have to let nature run its course.

PAM: And that isn't risky?! Thank god you weren't my obstetrician!

Pam moves off to do something. As Flipper and Aphrodite look on, Pam grabs a large box and sets it on a desk, rifling through its contents. Keith joins her, watching suspiciously.

KEITH: What are you doing?

PAM: (angrily) Aphrodite is in labor, and you refuse to help me turn that calf around, so I am going to stop her labor!

KEITH: Magnesium sulfate?!

PAM: We are out of terbutaline, so that is just going to have to do!

KEITH: Give me that!

PAM: (snatching her hand back) No!

KEITH: You are not going to inject her with this stuff!

PAM: And I am not going to let her die!

KEITH: Give me that syringe!

Keith grabs at her wrist. Aphrodite and Flipper look on in agitation.

PAM: No!

KEITH: Give it to me!

PAM: Keith, let me go!

KEITH: Give it!

PAM: NO!

Snapping, Pam reaches back and slaps Keith hard across the face. Stunned, he drops her arm and stares. Pam's face crumples as she realizes what she's done. As the weight of the situation crashes down on her, she begins to sob. When another crash of lightning makes her jump, Pam drops the syringe to the ground. Keith gently takes her hand and pulls her into a tight hug.

PAM: (sobbing) I'm sorry... oh, I'm sorry, Keith... just make it stop...

Flipper and Aphrodite swim away, leaving the two in private.

PAM: I'm sorry, Keith... I'm so afraid...

There's a loud crash upstairs.

PAM: What's happening?

KEITH: It spawned a tornado.

PAM: Oh, my god, the kids!

Pam and Keith rush upstairs. The conference room is a mess. A tree has fallen through the roof.

PAM: Oh, my god! Mike! Keith, where are they?

They rush into the next room, where Mike and Maya were.

KEITH: There they are! Right where we left them.

Mike and Maya are still under the table, fast asleep.

KEITH: How can they do that?!

PAM: I don't know... innocence of youth?

KEITH: Innocence of youth? Those two?

CUT TO: the next morning. The sea is calm, and the sun is shining. Television reports show the damage.

TELEVISION ANNOUNCER: Look at the path of destruction Hurricane Gretel left in her wake. Some of it is beyond imagining. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, have been left homeless. Neighbor helps neighbor as we begin the long, hard task of beginning again. In a storm like this, no one is left untouched. Those of us who survived breathe a collective sigh of relief.

CUT TO: the Institute. Aphrodite swims around the pool - with the calf's tail flukes now visible!

Upstairs, Pam is fast asleep, snoring lightly. A hand nudges her awake.

KEITH: Pam! Wake up. It's morning.

PAM: What?

KEITH: Storm's over.

PAM: (looking around) Where are the kids?

KEITH: (smiling) They're with Aphrodite. Come on, take a look.

Pam gets up and follows Keith out of the room. In the next room, she sees the tree that has fallen through the roof.

KEITH: Come on!

PAM: (gasping) Oh my god...

KEITH: I know, I know, I know. We'll deal with it later.

PAM: Oh, my gosh, this place is a mess!

Pam and Keith arrive at the water's edge, where Mike and Maya are sitting.

MAYA: You're just in time!

MIKE: You gotta see this, it's incredible.

Underwater, we watch as the calf is born. Aphrodite and the calf swim to the surface, to the cheering of everyone watching.

MIKE: Way to go, Flipper! You're a dad!

MAYA: Congrats, Aphrodite!

Flipper leaps into the air.

KEITH: (unintelligible)

The image freezes on Flipper, Aphrodite, and the calf swimming together.

END CREDITS