"Sheldonopolis…Conclusion..."
Summary: In a dystopic future, Humanity's last hope is the visionary metropolis created by the genius of grand Administrator Sheldon Cooperson and Rotwolowitz, the inventor...But is it a paradise or a Sheldonesque version of Hell? And can a savior from the waitressing ranks of its cloned workers change its future?
(Note-the video trailer for "Sheldonopolis" can be viewed at The Sheldonverse page of my Buffy Rebecca verse page. Google "The Sheldonverse", go down to Sheldonopolis, click on the video link).
Sheldon Cooperson, the Master of Sheldonopolis… Dr. Sheldon L. Cooper
Calvin Cooperson, his son…
Senator Hofstadter, opposition leader…
Councilor Firme, 2031 Councilor …
Clark… Dr. Leonard Hofstadter
Rotwolowitz, the inventor…
Tom Rossikivich, aide to Warren Rick… Howard, the engineer
Hel… Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski
Amy, nervous Chief Assistant to the Master of Sheldonopolis… Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler
Penny/Futura, her android double…
The Creative Person…
Death…
The Seven Deadly Sins…
Assistant Security Chief Eastwood…
Security Captain Hildy… Penny, the waitress
The Thin Man… Name withheld by request
Male Worker clones… Howard, the engineer
Grotta, chief clone supervisor for the Heart machine…Female worker clones… Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski
Georgy…
September, mysterious owner of Yoshiwara's….
Councilor Layton, 2031 Councilor
Worker clone guard…
Bruce Stuart Wayne, 2056 Counselor (you want me to do this for a free lunch, I'm Bruce Wayne)
Ronnie 21955, Chicago node clone leader… Stuart Bloom
Ted, former US Senator and leader of Droog marauder band in 2030…
Warren Rick, former governor of Texas, City Councilor…
Minister Flemm…
Councilor Romney, 2031 Councilor…
Brent Adelsen Kocher, 2056 Opposition Leader/Councilor…
2056 Tower of Babel receptionist…
Worker clone guard…
Assistant Security Forces Commander… Toby Loobenfeld
Mandy, 2056 "Missy"-line courtesan clone…
Security agent 2031…
Various female clones of the "Lucy" and "Mandy/Missy" lines… Name withheld by request
William, clone leader…
Huge worker clone…Angry workers in mob… Zachary Johnson
Part CXV…
At the next corner of 12th West Cooperson, 12th West Cooperson and Cooperson Drive, where a giant holographic poster running on its own solar battery vividly proclaimed… "Celebrate the 35th anniversary of our Great Leader, the Grand Administrator with a trip to the "Life of Sheldon on Ice" show at the Sheldonopolis Arena." With images of scenes from the said Life, on Ice…Currently one of Sheldon skating with the world on his manly if slight shoulders… ("But I can't ice skate…Ice is cold and hard and dislikes me and my weak ankles." Sheldon notes as Howard adjusts skates for the shot at the Pasadena Indoor Ice Rink. "Just stand up in them, for a moment." "If he pushes Sheldon on that ice, Howard is a dead man." Amy notes calmly to Bernadette who makes "nix" sign to Howard standing just behind where Sheldon reluctantly stands, holding rail. The things I do for this "Craft" thing… Howard, reluctantly settling… "Ok, confidence…"Think 'Triumph of the Will'..." "Howard?" Sheldon, desperately hanging on rail, Amy at side supporting. "I know who the Nazis were. My mom and Meemaw would be crushed if I play a Nazi here. I may play a dictator and I may have some fond memories of Heidelberg, but I'm not a Nazi, Howard." Hard stare. Amy, likewise.
"He's not bad at the commanding presence thing, gotta admit…" Leonard noted to Penny.
"Fine…Sorry, you're right…My inner Fritz got the better of me there." Nod, sigh. "Ok…" Howard intoned. "You're the new Augustus, before your reformation…." Eyeing Amy's stare, she nodding…Ok… "…crushing your enemies." "That works for me…" Sheldon, giving grim Coopersonian stare.) …Penny made a dash to the right, down Cooperson Drive, running parallel to the Grand Boulevard…
"Hel!" she heard Rotwolowitz's call… "Sheldon can't fool me, I know where you are!"
Guy really and increasingly puts the "mad" in "mad scientist", she thought, racing down the Drive, past the entrance to the famed Maison Shel restaurant where a few looters were stunned at being interrupted during the best meal they'd ever had by none other than the fiendish Witch herself passing before the broken windows, followed by the famed Father-Creator, Rotwolowitz, himself, clearly in hot pursuit.
"Maybe we oughta go after them?" one asked.
"Eh, looks like Dr. Rotwolowitz is doing the People's work there. How's about another glass of Verve Cliquot?"
"Don't mind if I…Urp..Do…" nod, raising glass…
"Hey, see…There go some of us right after them. The People have the situation well in hand." a third, female at their table noted, as Calvin and his group raced past.
"Wasn't that Calvin Cooperson?" the first speaker blinked, sipping at his glass. "Why would any of our folks be with him?"
"Politics, who knows?" the second speaker shrugged. "C'est la vie. Pass the brie?"
("This is great, Raj, thanks for springing for all this…" Leonard, sipping champagne. "Well, just be glad Daddy kicked some cash in for things. He always secretly hoped one of his children would become a Bollywood star and this is close as he's likely to get."
Best not to ask which of his children Dr. Koothrappali hoped to see at Bollywood, I suppose? Howard hissed to Raj. "Just drink the free champagne and shut up." Raj frowned.)
…
On reaching the Cooperson Drive entrance for the Grand Cathedral, Penny hurried in through the ever-open doors. Fortunately the mob had had some modicum of respect and had generally avoided the place, partly at Grotta's order, partly lack of expectation of finding much to pillage…
She paused a moment, as several groups of terrified refugees, mostly elites, cowered at the sight of a worker rampaging in…
"It's alright!" she put up arms. "I'm not here to hurt you…" she looked over to a priest in vestiments, who paused in leading a mass for the salvation of the City… "Father Cagney, you know me!"
"Penny, child? What are you doing here?" Father Cagney…Indeed the same monk/priest Calvin had seen there, days before, reading from the Book of St John, stared.
("Cagney?" Bernadette eyed Leonard. "Raj asked and I thought, why not?" "Yeah…But it's Howard who does a great Cagney…" she noted, eyeing him. "We already noted the priest looks like the Thin Man and Howard's got lots to do here…" Leonard, a bit nonplussed at Bernie's winsome…Aww, come on…Look. "He could dub for Raj later. Come on, he'd love to do his Cagney here. Lemme tell him he can do the voice…? Please…?")
"They're after me, Father…" she gasped.
"And so they should be, it's her! Their leader!" one of the worshipper/refugees cried. "She set these maniacs on us all!" Several coming forward to menace Penny…
"No, that wasn't me!"
"Wait!" Father Cagney raised hand.
("Raj? Why are you letting Howard do your voice here?" Lucy, a bit put out. "What can I say? I adore his Cagney." Raj sighed.)
"You all pipe down! I know this girl, she's all right. Come up here, kid. Tell us what this is all about…"
"Grab her, she's probably got a bomb!" a terrified man in suit came up, seeking to seize her, Father Cagney slapping him back.
"Sidown, you mug!" he barked. The man falling back, taking seat.
"Penny, tell us what's going on here, child?"
"Well…" she began…
"Hel! Get away from her, all of you!" Rotwolowitz had entered, pistol drawn.
("No flames…?" Bernadette grinned at Howard in the church as she backed from the video camera…. "Soright, sofar." He grinned back. "Thanks loads for arranging the filming, Zac." Leonard smiled to Zac. "I never thought we'd be able to do it here in St. Andrews." "My cousin the pastor's a big fan of 'Metropolis', glad to do it." Nod.)
"That's enough pal…" Father Cagney blocked him, Penny behind him.
"He's insane, Father…Don't hurt anyone, Howard!" she cried.
"You get out of my way! Hel, they've tried to fool me, but I didn't buy it. Come with me now." Howard, trembling. "Hel?! Don't make me hurt anyone!"
"You're not taking the girl anywhere, see, pal. You're giving me that gun and telling me what's going on here." Father Cagney confronted Rotwolowitz.
"Hel!" Howard grimly. "You get outta my way, Father or…"
"No!" Penny cried. "All right, Howard…"
Too late as cries from the rear indicated more pursuers had arrived…
"Excuse me, sorry!" Calvin's voice… "But have you seen…?"
"Penny!" Brittany's voice…
"Ma! Calvin!" Penny cried as Rotwolowitz, in desperation, fired at the priest ("Pew!") and Father Cagney, grabbing at his hand, groaned and went down, but still tightly gripping the seized gun. Howard running at Penny as the priest fell, the worshippers screaming in terror. Calvin and a few of the workers with him hurrying forward, even as Penny raced to the side, just avoiding Howard's grasp and hurried into a stairway and up the stairs.
Rotwolowitz crying after her, right behind her… "Hel! Hel! Come back!"
("You sure…?" Penny, winsome look to Howard as they stood on the church stairs about halfway up. "Penny, I love 'Vertigo' too, but I just can't see how we can work that in smoothly here." Howard shrugged. "We could just shoot it and keep the footage for later marking when we do 'Vertigo'." Bernadette noted, innocently. "I wanna try the telescoping stairwell shot…I know I can do it." She admitted, eagerly
"We're doing 'Vertigo' next?" Toby perked up ears.
Penny eyeing Leonard… "You don't know me. My name is Madeline Elster…" rich tone, grin.
"You know I always thought an urbane Indian, perhaps a former rakish playboy himself, could bring a special quality to Gavin Elster." Raj noted. "And my dad might be persuaded…"
Hmmn…Amy considered.
Sheldon does have that taciturn but lovable, strong but romantic James Stewart quality…
And Midge isn't a bad part…She gets him, in the end…
"Roll them…" Howard, in Hitchcochian tone.)
"Take care of the Father…I'll get her!" Calvin urged Brittany, beside him with the group of workers, they having managed to persuade most to wait outside to avoid frightening anyone within the cathedral. He made for the stairs, two following with him, the rest tending to the wounded priest. Brittany taking the gun from his hand and hurrying after Calvin and the others…
…
Back at the pedestal site, Kocher had managed to make a truce of sorts with Grotta and her Council…Though as she noted, there'd be no holding back the mob about Cooperson if any negative word was received as to the fate of the worker families below. Meanwhile, the Barrier Wall continued to broadcast images of rescued families from around the world, much of the crowd for the moment now far more concerned with learning their families' fates than with the Grand Administrator.
Wayne hurried back to the ring of security agents and Grotta's workers doing what they could to hold the mob in check. A few still angrily confronting those within the guarded circle, others while anxiously awaiting news, clearly volatile and ready to swing back to rage in an instant…
"They're calmer now…" Wayne told the anxious Amy, with a worried Mandy, and the Thin Man in attendance…Cooperson still on phone to Brenda, trying to coordinate a jamming signal to block Futura's postronic signal if she should try to broadcast for detonation, but he looking to them and hurrying over…
"My son, Wayne? Where is he?!"
"He was all right, the crowd's sorta made him their hero for now…Some of them are helping him find Penny. From what we can gather, Rotwolowitz is after her. Penny's father's gone with more to help. But…" Wayne paused.
"There's still no sign of the android…" Cooperson eyed him.
"None, Administrator."
"If we don't find her and Howard does first…" Amy looked at Sheldon.
"Brenda and the team are working on a broad range blocking signal…But we can't be sure how much of a range Howard can generate, now he knows we're blocking his transit signals." Cooperson, grimly.
"Sir!" Brenda's voice on his phone screen…"We've got a transmission…"
He looked, all about him stunned.
Is it…The end?
"It's the android…Sir, she wants to talk to you."
Amy blinking…The Thin Man pondering…
"It wants to…" Mandy stared.
"Hi, Sheldon…Good to see you." Futura's blankly quiet face on screen. "You've got to get to our boy, Sheldon. Howard's lost his mind….I think he may hurt Penny and him. They're in the Cathedral, I'm trying to get there."
"Hel…" he gasped.
"Hurry…" her portion of the screen went blank.
"Hurry!" the Thin Man called to the crowd and his agents… "The Cathedral! They need help at the Cathedral, Rotwolowitz is there."
"Brenda?" Cooperson looked at the stunned face on the right, expanding to the whole screen. "Continue the jamming effort but I think we're going to be all right." He sighed.
"Sheldon?!" Amy grabbed him as he collapsed. "Help!" she cried
"I'm all…right…Get me…To the Cathedral…Hurry…Calvin…" he gasped out as she knelt by him, the Thin Man hurrying to his other side, both helping him up.
"Here…" a worker passed a canteen of water over to Amy who brought it to Sheldon's lips…
("Cuuuuttt! Ok, look here…I am not going to drink from that." Sheldon frowned, sitting up. "Just fake it, Sheldon…" Howard sighed. "The craft, darling…Think of the Craft." Amy noted.
"God, these people don't even have Equity membership and they're putting on airs…" Penny hissed to Toby who sighed, shrugging.
"Some clown on Fox rants and she's a journalist…Some guy quotes a line of Shakespeare and he's an actor, what can ya do?" He sighed.
"Worst of it is…They're all so good at it." She sighed. "I noticed that." He shrugged.)
"Thank you." Cooperson rose, slowly, handing the canteen back, eyeing the man carefully.
"Don't mention it, friend." Smile.
"Counselor?" he turned to Bruce. "Go and tell President Kocher we think the android will not detonate but the workers should try and take her intact if they can find her. Whatever they do, they mustn't try to destroy her, she might self-activate, even involuntarily."
Wayne, nodding, hurried off…
"You believe her?" Amy asked, putting arm under his shoulder for support.
"I believe Hel." He nodded. "Get me to the Cathedral, Amy. Our boy's in danger."
…
Penny had emerged on the roof of the Cathedral…Trying to clamber over the tiles to where she might be able to leap to the next building, a flat-roofed office complex.
"Hel!" Howard had emerged onto the roof. "No! Come back!..." he hurried after her, groaning…Ooof as she kicked back at him.
("Well…" Bernadette shrugged to Amy eyeing her. "Don't want Penny to look too much like a simp. And Howie can take it, some…"
"I said I'll take you to the ER as soon as we finish the retake…" she hissed to a groaning Howard.
Retake?)
"Hel! I can't let you go!" he cried. Pulling what looked a gun from his pocket and firing…
OOooohhh…She went down, tasered.
That…crazy…She passed out.
("Come on, guys…" Penny hissed as Leonard, Raj, Sheldon, Howard all held her gently during her descent. "I'm not made of glass…Howard, you'll never be able to CGI all of you out…" "You guys go talk comics…Leave this one to me!" Bernadette commanded.)
"Hel! Hell?!" Rotwolowitz clambered over to her unconscious form.
"Penny?!" Calvin's cry behind them.
….
Much of the crowd, the security agents, and Amy, Cooperson, and the Thin Man had made their way a block down the Boulevard when a cry from just down the Boulevard, in fact from the Cathedral's roof, caused all to look up…
To see where figures were strugging…
Cries from the crowd…
("Penny..Not made of glass either…" Leonard hissed as Penny stood anxiously beside where he stood with Howard on the mock-up roof. "Go talk acting with Toby…Leo…Whoever…" Bernadette ordered Penny.)
"Calvin!" Cooperson cried, hands to his head…Amy, beside him.
"Can you target Dr. Rotwolowitz?" the Thin Man turned to a security team agent, who pulled his specialized pistol, extending for range.
"I can't id him from Mr. Cooperson, sir."
"Don't fire! Not unless you can see Calvin!" Cooperson ordered. Amy pulling Sheldonphone and quickly setting magnification… "I see them!" she cried. "Mrs. Dadelus is there, I can't see Penny. Oh, they're fighting…Howard and Calvin…Calvin's down! Mrs. Dadelus is shooting! Oh, she missed…"
("And Cooperson is down…One-two-…" Bernadette cried. "Looks like the referee failed to end the round… three-four-
"I'm only allowing this 'cause we were hard on Howard…And he's done such a terrific job as director and villain and I know how hard Bernie took some of the evil Howard scenes." Penny grimly hissed to Amy.
"I'm kinda wishin' you weren't having to be 'damsel in distress', bestie…" Amy sighed. "Though virginal damsel sex does sell, natch."
"Well, I gotta watch it these days, after all, and it's for Leonard…" Penny shrugged. "Calvin beats the crap out of Rotsy in a minute…" she beamed. "And macho man fight sex sells too, even if we don't like to admit it sometimes. And Cooperson is up…" she grinned at the frowning Bernadette.)
"Calvin's up and climbing after Dr. Rotwolowitz…Sheldon, our people are there, Slim's guys." Amy, anxiously watching her phone screen. "I don't think they can get a clear shot…Oh, my…" she looked at the Thin Man. "That one looks exactly like Penny. She is ours, right?"
"That'll be Hildy." The Thin Man nodded.
"Howard's climbed up after…I think that's Penny!" Amy cried. "He's trying to carry her…Oh!"
The crowd below the Cathedral seeing Calvin fall back at Rotwolowitz' kick let up a collective groan.
("And Cooperson is down again!" Bernadette beamed. "Any bets, place your bets?!" she cried.
"Are you kidding?" Penny eyed her. "Twenty bucks on Cooperson."
"You do know this is the rehearsal shot and no holds are barred…" Bernadette, wicked gleam.
"Oh…Yeah…" Penny nodded, grim look.
"He'll do it!" Amy confident pat to Penny.
"Ten bucks on Howard to win…" she hissed to Bernadette as Penny went to Lucy for a final make-up adjustment.
"Lets see some blood, boys!" Bernadette cried up to the two trying to keep balance on the angled boards representing the Cathedral roof, about five feet off the ground.
"Leonard, aim for the bean bags with the cushions I put out!" Penny called. "I mean, if you fall, which you won't! Sweetheart! Do you need your inhaler, honey?")
"They're going over the top of the roof…" Amy cried. "But Calvin's up! He's after them. Ouch! I think Howard just pushed Penny over the top. He's gone over and Calvin's going now."
Hmmn…What a gyp…Several of the crowd sighed as the combatants vanished from view. The crowd heading up the Bouelvard, for the other side.
"Captain?!" the Thin Man was calling into his phone… "Can you reach them?"
"We're trying, sir…" Hildy's face on screen. "We can't get a clear shot…"
"Penny!" Cooperson called to the Thin Man. "Is she all right?"
"What about Penny?" the Thin Man called to his phone.
"She's unconscious, it's looks like…He threw her over the roof's edge but she's still safe on the other side…We're gonna try to reach them! Hang on! Holy crap! Sinclair, Ken, kid? Get back down and grab that thing!" Hildy commanded the three.
"We see the android, sir. She's on the street below, watching…" she told the phone.
….
On the roof's opposite side…
"Kid! Get away from me or…Godson or no!" Rotwolowitz, stopping his climb down to Penny's still form, grabbed at his taser pistol, furious glare to Calvin.
Calvin dodging a burst, climbing down.
Large numbers of the mob of workers now reaching the area, hurrying to circle the Cathedral…
Amy, the Thin Man, Cooperson, and security agents and worker guards hurrying just behind…With Kocher, Wayne, Grotta, her Council, and others following them…
"Rotwolowitz!" Hildy's call as she and Brittany carefully climbed up to the roof's edge, peering over… "Stop or we'll shoot!"
He and Calvin again locked in struggle…
("Wouldn't mind seeing the adult version, with oil, stripped to waist…" Bernadette grinned.
God, I thought Howard was the creepy one…Penny thought.
Although…She pictured.)
"I don't think I can get a clear shot! Can you, miss?!" Brittany noted to Hildy who shook head. Simon emerging onto the roof just behind them, carefully hurrying to Brittany, who looked to him in desperation.
"Penny!" he cried. "Calvin, lad! We're here, we're coming!" he began climbing down.
("Really, I can't." Bernadette noted. "You two got go round and let us set it up as the fighting side again…The light's not working here."
"Here…" Penny offered a wheezing Leonard his inhaler. "Don't thank me, just fire a round and look like you wanna break Howard's nose again. Wait…" she beamed. "Say…'This one's for you, Kurt!" when you go in again, would ya?"
"Really?" he beamed. "You're not just making fun of me…?"
"Do it…And…See…" she gave lewd grin.
Better get ready for an hour's 'oh, I forgot my doctor's appointment, sorry, Howard. We'll be back.' cut…Bernadette hissed to Howard who shrugged.
"It's ok. I figured, with the fight scene, Leonard'd need at least an inhaler break or one of us would end up in the ER this afternoon. Besides, I need that look of utter devotion and a degree of lust for Futura's next shots.")
"Howard! Don't!" Futura screamed to him from below as he aimed at Calvin…Startled and lowering gun…Then raising, too late as Calvin slammed into him…
("Lets remember…Howard is supposed to be an old man here." Bernadette noted grimly to Amy, Lucy, and a rather pleased Penny, as Howard went down.)
Both men tumbling to the edge, Rotwolowitz struggling to rise, halting in mid-kick at Calvin as he saw Penny moving slightly and in danger of going over.
"Rotwolowitz! I'll kill you if you harm me daughter!" Simon cried, still climbing down. "Shoot the son of a bitch, dear!" he called back to Brittany, who tried to take aim…But still unable as was Hildy to get a clear shot.
"Calvin!" Rotwolowitz pointed to where Penny was slipping toward the edge. Calvin turning to grab Penny even as Howard came at him, lunging and dodged by Calvin, fell.
("Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Who da man?!" Penny cried. "One-two…ten…And it's Cooperson, winner and champion! Calvin! Calvin! Calvin!"
I'm only letting this go because I know she feels bad about giving Leonard a hard time about her part before…Bernadette grimly noted to Howard. "And Rotwolowitz did try to cheat.")
Just as a large group of workers, followed by Cooperson's group, Cooperson and Amy in the lead, the Thin Man beside them, rounded the building and were stunned to see Futura, on her knees, cradling Rotwolowitz in her arms…
"Calvin!" Cooperson cried, looking up…Amy and the Thin Man looking as well…
Calvin, holding a still stunned but recovering Penny…Simon reaching them a moment later…Waving down to the crowd…Which now burst into cheers.
"Thank Heaven!" Cooperson, falling to his knees, Amy kneeling beside him, hugging him…The Thin Man turning to where Futura was now surrounded, trying to make his way with his men to reach her.
"Please…" she pleaded to the group encircling her. "He's ill…He didn't know what he was doing…Please…" she held the groaning Rotwolowitz in her arms, rising to her feet.
"Stop!" the Thin Man commanded the crowd. "She's dangerous, don't come near her."
"I won't activate the material…" she eyed the Thin Man… "Please don't let them kill him."
"Hel…" Howard gasped. "Hel…"
"I'm here, darling…" Futura, soothingly. "It's all right, I'm here. Sheldon?!" she called to Cooperson.
"Let me through, please!" Cooperson had risen, Amy beside him, moving through the uncertain crowd…
"Hel…" Howard groaned… "Forgive me…"
"Always…Always…" Futura murmured, rocking him gently.
"Hel?" Cooperson had reached the Thin Man's group, a few feet now from the robot who now set Howard gently down and knelt by him.
"Sheldon…Please…" she regarded him with her blank, expressionless face, hand gently stroking Rotwolowitz.
"He won't be hurt, Hel. I promise." Cooperson nodded.
"Thank you." She eyed him. "Is Calvin all right?"
"Yes…Hel, is it really you?" he stared.
"Matter of opinion, dear." She noted. "But I would say so and perhaps that's all that matters. Sheldon…?" as Howard groaned, clearly in bad shape.
"Slim, get the copter here as fast as possible…" Cooperson turned to the Thin Man. "We'll get him to a hospital, Hel."
She nodded… "Please let me go with him…That's not a threat. Sheldon?"
"Yes, they'll take you both." He nodded. Pulling his phone… "Calvin?" he stared at the face on screen. "Thank God. Is Penny all right, too?"
"We're both fine, Father." Calvin's image told him.
"Calvin…" Futura, warm tone. "You're all right?"
"Uh…Yeah…" Calvin replied. "Is that?" he asked his father's image, it nodding.
"The witch…" some in the crowd now murmuring…
"Please…" Cooperson turned to face the crowd. "Don't confront her...It's too dangerous. She'll harm no one if we take her and Rotwolowitz out."
"I'll harm no one…" Futura agreed, raising voice to the crowd. "Please, just let me get Howard to the hospital."
"Hel…Don't…Let…Them hurt you…" Howard gasped, looking over to Cooperson. "Sheldon…Help her…"
"Please…" the Thin Man urged the crowd, trying to single out leaders among them. "We'll see Supervisor Grotta has full charge of the prisoners…Just don't do anything to panic her."
Kocher, Wayne, and Grotta now appearing from the Boulevard, with more workers and the Workers Council in tow.
"Sheldon…!" Futura called to him from where she knelt with Howard…
"There's no time left. Howard needs to know. Please, tell him…"
Amy staring at Sheldon as he eyed Futura, hesitating…
"Please, Sheldon…You know what I mean…" the robot, expressionless metal face but pleading tone…
He nodded…Moving closer to the robot and Howard… "Howard, listen, please…Hel only came to me to help us both." He paused as Rotwolowitz feebly turned head to look at him. "Howard…She knew only the shock of leaving you might shake you enough to save you from what you were becoming. And she knew I honestly couldn't go on without her help. She loved us both, Howard. Calvin may have been my son, but she meant him to be a son to both of us." He paused, Amy staring at him…Howard, vaguely eyeing him. "My old friend, I should have told you this years ago but I convinced myself you'd never believe it. I wanted to try to believe Hel loved only me and I wanted you to believe that, forgive me. But she never stopped loving either of us."
"It's true, Howard…" Futura, gently. "And that day, at Cal Tech, you panicked for only a moment. You were so ashamed of your fear, you had a breakdown and convinced yourself you abandoned me, but you didn't…You helped Sheldon save me that day."
"It's true, Howard…" Sheldon nodded gently to Rotwolowitz's stare. "I tried to tell you that, with Hel, many times but you wouldn't let yourself believe it. But it's true…You never abandoned Hel until you let yourself believe you had."
Howard staring…Looking up at Futura.
"I love you, Howard. I'm here for you. Sheldon has our son but you have me, always." She patted him.
"I love you, Hel…" Howard gasped…Dying.
"Howard…Howard…" she whispered… "My Howard…"
"Sir…" the Thin Man hissed to Cooperson…Who shook head.
"No…Leave her be."
"Sheldon?" she looked up at him. "You know I have to help Howard…He needs me more, now. But I loved you too…?"
"I know…" he nodded, wan smile.
"And now you have Amy to help you." Warm tone. "Tell Calvin…I'm so happy to have seen him grown, and happy. Take care of him." She eyed him.
"I will…I will, Hel."
Amy, the Thin Man, and the crowd about them, now torn between concern and fascination…Even, wonder…
"Time…To die…" Futura, slightest of nods…Her body freezing in place, one hand on Howard's chest, the other cradling his head. Cooperson, with Amy at his side, moving past the guards silently, kneeling and putting a hand to her cheek, then to Howard's, tears visible as he rose and turned back after a long moment…Amy holding his arm gently.
…
At the Thin Man's urgent request, Grotta had allowed the transport copter to land and remove the bodies of Rotwolowitz and the robot, with two of her own associates on board, to the security facility where the initial exam confirming that Futura was indeed deactivated and her detonation control neutralized, could be doubly confirmed. And allowed the party of Cooperson, his aides, and the security agents to climb the Cathedral stairs to await those within…
But only with the further assurance that Administrator Cooperson would remain there to handle negotiations and face the charges of her followers…
The true Penny now somewhat cleared by Cooperson's statement to the fact of her innocence…And the android's culpability…
And his own…Though the Thin Man and Amy immediately insisting Rotwolowitz's insanity as leading all into confusion…
Cooperson silent, nodding to the demands passed on to him, watching the Cathedral doors expectantly, cautiously as if afraid to hope too much.
The mob now generally calm, many still awaiting news of family and friends, but hopefully now…
Calvin, Penny, the Dadeluses, and the team led by Hildy, emerged from the Cathedral's main doors…Calvin with arm about the still shaky Penny's shoulders…
Cooperson, Amy beside him on one side, the Thin Man on the other, carefully staring across to them. Penny giving a cautious smile.
Kocher with Wayne passed the security ring and came up the steps to where Cooperson stood…
"Mr. President…Thanks…" Cooperson nodded.
"Glad to be of help, Administrator…" Kocher, nodding back. "But what's the situation? Are all the worker areas evacuated?"
"Brenda?" Sheldon turned to his phone… "Status on the evacuations for President Kocher…"He handed his phone to Kocher.
"Sir?" Brenda's face on screen a bit puzzled.
"The President has charge of the City government now…" Sheldon noted. "Give him your report…"
"Uh…Yes, sir… Mr. President? All nodes report the evacuations have succeeded…The Workers' City is being searched worldwide for any additional persons but we believe 100 percent evacuation is likely…"
"Very good…" Kocher nodded, smiling at Brenda. "But this is yours, Administrator." He handed phone to Sheldon who eyed him.
"We'll need a full investigation but as far as I'm concerned we can't afford to lose you, Cooperson. Not now." Kocher shook head. "Bruce?""
"I can only speak for myself, sir." Wayne nodded. "But…I concur, so far as that goes."
"It's the people's decision and their right…I think we've just learned no one man is indispensable. But thanks, Brent…Bruce…" Cooperson nodded.
"Father!" Calvin came to him, leading Penny…
"Calvin…Thank God, son…" Cooperson, startling Calvin with an embrace…A somewhat wan Penny beaming at them.
"Penny…" Cooperson turned to her, taking a hand. "I've no right to ask or expect it but…"
"Hello, Father…" she kissed him gently.
Grotta approached the Cathedral steps now, with a phalanx of workers, her Council in the forefront..She waving for the group to halt before the stairs and climbed them, several Council members with her.
"Administrator…" she paused before him. Nervously eyeing the great ones…Sheldon stepping forward to meet her…He hesitant as well…
"No more…" he shook head. "The government is yours now…Yours and President Kocher's."
"You can't abandon us now, Administrator." Grotta eyed him.
He stared at her…
"We need you, Administrator…" Grotta noted. "We need our voices heard but you are the Brain of this City. We all have failed to listen to each other, but we can see your dream, if you'll let us help, join with us as partners…We can still realize it."
"You're outvoted, Coop…" Kocher grinned. "For once, accept a little help here. We need you too badly right now. All of us…" smile to Wayne who nodded.
Sheldon…Hesitant…
"Calvin…" Penny turned to him as he stood by her… "Head and Hands need a Heart to speak to each other…Be the Heart your Mother once tried to be, for them." He eyed her, nodding, and stepped forward, taking Grotta's and Kocher's hands gently and putting them in Cooperson's…Clasping firmly…
("And play end theme and…Cut…" Howard beamed. "That's a wrap.")
…..