Inside the Stedman Clinic in Boston, Dr. Raynard Bauer takes 2 pills from a prescription bottle and swallows them. He enters a room full of computer equipment and medical monitors, where a patient, Sherwood Nichols, is waiting. Sherwood is in a wheelchair and appears to be immobilized and catatonic. He has a small device attached to his forehead and he is facing a screen displaying the letters of the alphabet.

"Good evening, Sherwood. How are you tonight? I have to give a speech at the symposium, you believe my luck?" Bauer asks conversationally. He gets no response from Sherwood. "I really need you to keep trying," Bauer sighs. "Just move your eyes a little. Sherwood, pick a letter, any letter all." Still nothing from Sherwood. Bauer puts a hand on Sherwood's shoulder and says, "Well, we're gonna keep at it, we're not giving up." A small tear escapes Sherwood's eye.

Alva and Paul enter the symposium hall. "I enjoy an arcane medical symposium as much as the next man who has no life, but why the big interest in Sikovsky's Syndrome?" Paul asks. Alva explains that some people with Sikovsky's have exhibited paranormal abilities and that Dr. Bauer is a world-renowned researcher of the disease. Paul decides to stay in the back when Alva admits that he plans to question the doctor about paranormal abilities. Alva takes a seat near the front.

Bauer invites the crowd to try to visualize life with this disease. "You cannot move a single muscle, not even your eyes. You cannot feed or care for yourself. You cannot sleep without medication. Should something go wrong with your ventilator, you will be dead in a few short minutes." Bauer attests to his commitment to beating the disease, thanks the audience, and invites questions.

Alva immediately begins questioning the doctor about paranormal abilities and whether he has seen any anomalies in his patients. Bauer tries to shut Alva down.

From the back, Paul shares a glance with a young woman. "He's kind of a blowhard, huh?" she asks. "Doctors can be kind of pompous," Paul replies. The woman was referring to Alva. Paul pauses, "Oh, him."

Paul admits to working with Alva, much to the woman's amusement. She introduces herself as Raina Bauer and tells Paul that she is the doctor's daughter. She is a doctor herself, working in California, and is somewhat estranged from her father. Paul is clearly interested in her, but she leaves as soon as the symposium ends.

Back at the clinic, in Sherwood's room, Bauer takes another pill, and then begins dictating into a tape recorder. Sherwood's eyes suddenly move and the light on the device on his forehead switches on. His eye selects the letter "A" on the computer screen. A voice box located on Sherwood's chest says in a computerized voice, "A".

Bauer spins around and asks, "Sherwood…?" He checks the computer screen, then looks back at Sherwood. "Sherwood, is that you?" he asks. "Y..E..S" appears on the computer screen and is heard from the voice box. "Sherwood, you did it," says Bauer in disbelief.

"No, you did it Doctor…" says the voice box. Sherwood's eyes rapidly scan the screen and words pour out of him faster and faster. He is explaining in detail to Bauer, in scientific and medical terms, a new theory and formula. Bauer is incredulous. Sherwood pauses and asks, "Dr. Bauer, are you getting this down?"

Sherwood continues as Bauer stares in shock. Suddenly, Sherwood's eyes stop moving and the light goes out. The door opens and a nurse enters to give Sherwood his sleep medication. She tells Bauer that he could use some sleep himself. After the nurse leaves, Bauer saves the data that he received from Sherwood and takes the disk home with him.

At home, Bauer spends time reviewing what he finds on the disk. Raina comes home and listens to him from the hall. He begins dictating, "I may be losing my mind, but apparently I am getting information from my patient. Sherwood Nichols is providing me with the cure for his own disease!" He continues and Raina goes upstairs without interrupting him.

The next day, Paul shows up at the SQ office. Evelyn tells him that a woman named Raina called for him. "Raina Bauer?" Paul asks. "You know more than one Raina?" Evelyn retorts. Paul explains that he met Raina at the symposium.

Evelyn says that Raina did not leave a number, but said she was out walking in Braddock Park and would call back later. "Braddock Park," Paul muses. "You like this girl, don't you," says Evelyn. "I hardly know her," corrects Paul. "Its only a few blocks to that park," points out Evelyn. Paul smiles.

Still at his house, Dr. Bauer phones Mrs. Nichols, Sherwood's mother, on the pretense of reviewing Sherwood's history. He asks if Sherwood had an interest in genetics or molecular biology. Mrs. Nichols doesn't think so. "He always knew when the weather was going to change. And who was going to win the football games. And puppets. Sherwood loved puppets." Bauer thanks her and hangs up.

Paul arrives at the park and sees Raina. He has second thoughts and starts to turn away, but Raina sees him. Paul asks Raina if everything is all right. She tells him how obsessed her father has been while working on the disease. "Last night, he came home with a new theory and formula - a big breakthrough - given to him by one of his patients."

"I thought they couldn't move or speak," said Paul. Not until last night, Raina confirms. She admits to sneaking into her father's computer while he was sleeping and discovering that all the new data he had downloaded had come from his patient's computer-broadcast from the patient's voice box.

"Have you talked to your father about this?" Paul asks. Raina smiles and admits that she and her father don't talk. "There's kind of a gulf there." She goes on to say that while he's a great man and he has done a lot for her, they are just not close. She asks Paul to talk to him. "I'd pay you," she adds.

Paul seems flustered by the offer of payment. "I want to help, but you don't have to pay me for it. I'll look into it." Raina thanks him, relieved.

Back at SQ, Alva, Paul and Evelyn brainstorm. "The patient telling the doctor how to cure the patient. This is interesting," muses Alva. Paul speculates that the patient may be acting as a sympathetic conduit for Dr. Bauer. Alva warms to the idea. Meanwhile, Evelyn teases Paul about not getting Raina's phone number. "I'm not doing this because I want to date her," insists Paul. Evelyn looks unconvinced.

Back on track, Alva says, "Tricky thing, broadcasting wishes into the void."

"Why?" asks Evelyn.

Alva explains, "It can play games. It can mirror our own worst impulses and reflect them right back on us."

Evelyn thinks that any breakthrough would have to be positive. Alva disagrees, saying that a dark energy might not appear so at first. "'The devil always comes in wondrous guise,'" quotes Paul.

Back at the clinic, Bauer presents the breakthrough to his research assistants while Paul watches behind a glass door from the hall. The researchers are very excited. Bauer stops when he sees a nurse wheel Sherwood into the room. "What's Sherwood doing here?" he asks. The nurse replies that she just got Bauer's e-mail instructing her to bring Sherwood to the lab immediately.

Bauer tries to compose himself and continues giving orders to the researchers. To everyone's surprise, Sherwood's eyes start moving, activating the voice box. "Dr. Bauer is a great man. His new treatment is working for me already!" comes from the voice box. The researchers are stunned and thrilled. Paul takes notes while Bauer worriedly looks at Sherwood.

As Sherwood is being wheeled back to his room, he passes Paul in the hallway and appears to smirk.

Paul introduces himself to Bauer, hands him his card and tells him he works with Alva. Bauer hands the card back and heads up the stairs. Paul perseveres. "I just want you to know, if there's something going on that doesn't quite make sense, we might be able to help," says Paul. Bauer keeps going.

Paul heads to Sherwood's room and sneaks in. He looks around, approaches Sherwood and asks, "Mr. Nichols?" Paul leans in closer. "Sherwood?" Sherwood remains still and expressionless. Paul is beginning to feel silly, but gives it one more try. "Do you know things?" he asks. Still no response. Paul apologizes and leaves the room.

After the door closes, Sherwood says, "Some things."

In the car, Paul uses his cell phone to report back to Evelyn and Alva. "There definitely was a breakthrough," Paul says. Paul reports that he talked to Bauer, but he blew him off. Paul then admits to trying to talk to the patient.

"And…?" prompts Alva.

Paul reluctantly explains that he thought he could smell tar in the room. "Is that significant?" asks Evelyn. Alva replies that it could indicate the presence of a Merry Prankster or something worse. Paul says that he had to run an errand. Before he can hang up, Evelyn teases him about asking Raina out.

Paul pulls up outside Bauer's house. He watches Bauer sit down in his office. On the other side of the house he sees Raina through the window.

Inside, Raina walks into the kitchen then hears her father dictating in his office. She moves toward his office to hear more clearly. She listens as he admits to doing something he shouldn't have. He used information that he received in a way he doesn't understand. "I've never done anything dishonest or unethical in my life. I acted alone," states Bauer.

The phone rings and Bauer picks it up. It is Sherwood. "You haven't done anything wrong. You are a great man. Everyone says so," says Sherwood. He tells Bauer to close the door so they can talk. Raina goes back to the kitchen.

Outside the house, Paul is startled by a knock on his car window. He rolls down the window. "So, are you stalking me?" teases Raina.

"No. I was just parked alone. In front of your house. At night," he admits sheepishly. Raina offers him some coffee and Paul lets her into the car.

"Here's hoping you are wicked shy and not a serial killer," she toasts. Paul is surprised that she knows how he likes his coffee. "Lucky guess," Raina shrugs. Raina asks Paul if they can drive.

While driving, they talk about their lives and careers. Raina asks, "You're a nice guy, you seem pretty smart, are you sure this is what you want to do with your life?" Paul admits that he is drawn to the dark corner of things but keeps hoping he'll see some light. Raina then asks Paul to pull over - so she can kiss him.

Paul quickly pulls over, cutting off another car, but his cell phone rings. It is Bauer asking him to go see something at the clinic. He offers to drop Raina off, but she hops out of the car saying she will get a cab. "Thanks for doing this. Rain check on the other?" she smiles.

Bauer meets Paul at the clinic. He thanks Paul for coming and reminds Paul that he said he would help if something were happening that didn't make sense. Reluctantly Bauer says, "Something is definitely happening. So far my only credible hypothesis is I think I'm losing my mind."

They go into Sherwood's room. Bauer hesitantly asks Sherwood if he called him that night and if he asked him to have Paul meet him there. Paul looks surprised. Sherwood does not respond. "I thought he gave me your number," mumbles Bauer. Paul suggests that they ask Alva to come over to have a look. Bauer consents, but before Paul can take out his cell phone, Sherwood says, "Paul, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Sherwood begins taunting Paul. "Keel doesn't trust you, you know that, right? If he did he'd be telling you a whole lot more," says Sherwood. Bauer looks confused. Paul asks Sherwood how he knows his name. "Oh, it's on everyone's lips where I come from," mocks Sherwood. He then proceeds to talk about Tommy, cruelly reminding Paul that Tommy died saving Paul's life.

Paul leans forward and proclaims a phrase in Latin. Sherwood abruptly shuts down. "What was that, is that an exorcism?" asks Bauer.

Paul says "Pray!" and proceeds to do so.

Bauer continues, "And it worked?"

For a moment it appears that it has, then Sherwood says, "Well, no. Nice try, Paul. I just don't swing that way."

Meanwhile, Alva arranges to send a photo of the "entity" to a specialist. While he digs around looking for a camera, he explains to Evelyn, "This one is extremely malevolent, deadly in fact, a parasitic energy always looking for ways to get in."

Evelyn asks, "What about Paul? Wouldn't this thing target Paul in two seconds flat?"

"Oh, yes. Let's keep him away from it and not find out," Alva replies as he finds a Polaroid camera. Alva explains that the entity gives off an invisible aura that will show up in photographs. "How do we get rid of it?" asks Evelyn. Alva admits that since it thrives on the energy of the human host, the best way to send it back is to kill the host.

Back at the clinic, Sherwood starts to mess with Bauer, asking him why he is mixed up with Paul. Paul's cell phone rings. "Go ahead, answer it. Its from an old friend," Sherwood taunts. The Caller ID on Paul's phone indicates "YOUR MOTHER". Paul looks stunned and drops the phone. Sherwood continues to mock Paul.

Paul urgently tells Bauer that needs to leave. "Go!" he shouts.

Sherwood's chair moves forward and cuts them off. He tries to convince Bauer, "Paul Callan doesn't even exist. Doc, listen to me." Paul desperately tells Bauer not to listen; it's not his patient, its some kind of entity. Sherwood counters, telling Bauer that Paul is the entity brought on by exhaustion and all the pills Bauer has been taking.

Paul pushes Sherwood's chair out of the way. "Oh nice, shove a cripple," sneers Sherwood. He warns Bauer that if he leaves with Paul he will be ruined and never get the answers. Paul tells Bauer to ignore him. Sherwood changes tactics. "Tell him about his daughter, Paul." Bauer stops.

"What about her?" Bauer asks. Sherwood forces Paul to admit that he is seeing Raina. He adds that Raina is worried about her father and had asked Paul to help him. This puts Bauer over the edge. While Sherwood distracts Paul, Bauer hits Paul over the head with a fire extinguisher and Paul crashes to the floor unconscious.

Sherwood begins reassuring Bauer that he has done the right thing. Once he is sure that Bauer is "with" him, Sherwood tell Bauer that in order to find the answers, he needs to up the dosage. "Give it to everyone on the "B" ward. Then, take it yourself," Sherwood advises. "All your questions will be answered and all your worries will be stilled." Bauer, looking increasingly dazed, agrees to do it.

Soon, Alva and Evelyn rush into the room, the nurse protesting at their heels. They find Paul on the floor beginning to wake up. "How did you know I was here?" he asks.

"Raina called and said you were in trouble," Evelyn replied. Paul looks around for Bauer. He is worried that Bauer might hurt his patients and himself.

Sherwood accuses, "You were supposed to be out cold."

The nurse begins examining the text on the computer screen. She sees the reference to the new dosage for the patients. As she reads, the words dissolve and are replaced by a big happy face. She asks, "Did someone tell Dr. Bauer to overdose the patients?"

"Wasn't me," replies Sherwood. The nurse exclaims that this dosage will kill them. Paul, Evelyn and the nurse rush out to stop Bauer. Alva stays, closes the door and calmly takes Sherwood's picture.

Paul, Evelyn and the nurse rush around, poking their heads in doors, looking for Bauer. They check the monitors and can see that he hasn't yet hurt the patients. They rush upstairs to the "B" ward.

Back in Sherwood's room, Alva examines the Polaroid picture of Sherwood. An aura is distinctly visible around Sherwood. "All right, you caught me. Let's chat," invites Sherwood. Alva wedges a chair under the door handle. Sherwood pretends he isn't worried and tries to lure Alva. "What's coming next. Wouldn't you like to know?" Sherwood coaxes.

Alva studies Sherwood's ventilator. Sherwood warns Alva not to touch it and tries to distract him by inviting Alva to talk to his mother. "I know you blame yourself for her death, but after what your father did to her, and you…"

Alva leans in towards Sherwood and whispers, "I do have one question." He asks Sherwood his name.

"Well, they call me Mr. Friendly."

"Good-bye, Mr. Friendly," says Alva as he unplugs Sherwood's ventilator. Sherwood's eyes bulge and he stares in disbelief. Alarms start ringing as Alva examines his watch.

Paul, Evelyn and the nurse continue looking for Bauer. Paul smashes a glass window in the door to a supply room in order to get in. He finds Bauer injecting himself with a syringe. Paul rips the syringe out of Bauer's arm before he can finish injecting himself. Bauer struggles mightily, repeatedly smashing Paul into the wall as Paul tries to restrain him. Bauer keeps repeating, "I have to know!" He finally collapses.

Alarms are still heard in Sherwood's room and an orderly is pounding on the door demanding to be let in. Alva continues to check his watch, then the heart monitor flat lines. He plugs the ventilator back in, the alarms stop and Sherwood's heart starts beating again. Alva quickly takes another picture of Sherwood. When the picture develops, he sees that the aura is gone. Alva leans close to Sherwood, pats his shoulder and whispers, "It's all right. He's gone."

A couple of days later, at Bauer's bedside at the hospital, Raina smiles down at him. She tells him that he will be all right and that she loves him. He drifts off to sleep.

Paul waits outside in the hallway. When Raina comes out of her father's room, he asks how her father is doing. "He's a whole lot better. Thank you for saving his life." Raina explains that she knew he wouldn't harm his patients, only himself. She adds that her father really did have a breakthrough on the disease before the entity distorted it. She smiles as she tells Paul that patients are beginning to respond.

When Paul finds out that Raina is going back to California, he offers her a ride to the airport. She declines and says she will miss him. He clearly hates to see her go. She smiles and says, "You're a good man. You keep looking for that light and you'll find it." Paul asks if he can kiss her. "Please," she responds. They kiss deeply, then she walks away. Paul stops her and asks how she knew to send his people to the clinic to help him. She replies, "Same way I knew how you liked your coffee. Some things you just know." She turns and leaves.

Later, Paul visits Bauer. Bauer thanks him for coming and for his help. Paul asks Bauer what he remembers. Bauer admits that he thought Paul wasn't real, but that Paul was smart to bring up Raina. Bauer goes on to say that he was lucky he had Raina as long as he did. He wishes that he told her that more often before she got sick. Paul looks stunned. "What do you mean?" he asks carefully. "When she died two years ago from Sikovsky's, I vowed I wouldn't rest until I found a cure. Now I feel she wants me to rest and let go." Paul is devastated. "Mr. Callan, are you all right?" asks Bauer. Paul moves away.

On a cloudy day, Paul visits a cemetery and looks at a headstone with a picture of Raina engraved on it. While Paul watches, the sun peaks out from behind a cloud and a ray of sunlight shines on Raina's picture. Paul smiles.