Episode: "Essence of Life" Premiere: July 23, 1999 (Showtime)    Week of Feb 21, 2000 (syndication)

Episode Synopsis:

Episode 4614 "ESSENCE OF LIFE"
Starring: Daniel Baldwin, Jessica Steen, Joel Grey and Daphne Zuniga
Directed by: Brad Turner

 Eleven years after a viral epidemic wiped out most of the world's people, the population is beginning to rebound. The world is ruled by The Code, which bans outward displays of emotion, particularly the mourning of lost loved ones. The Code is enforced by agents like Dan Kagan (Daniel Baldwin) and his partner Stephanie Sawyer (Jessica Steen), who hunt down "social terrorists" like Dr. Nathan Seward (Joel Grey). Seward traffics in Essence of Life - Ess for short - a substance made of the dearly departed's DNA that allows the living a brief but poignant reunion.

In trying to catch Dr. Seward, Dan succumbs to the temptation to visit his late wife, Juliette (Daphne Zuniga), who died two years earlier of cancer. When his visits with Juliette become more bizarre, Dr. Seward, afraid Dan's not ready for the catharsis Ess offers, threatens to cut him off. But the agent is hooked and he's willing to risk anything to see Juliette again. Will his next visit cost him his career? Or his life?

Last update: May 10, 2001 3:23 AM