HUNTER
"HUNTER"
Written by
Jim Thomas and John Thomas
With Revision #1 (Pink)
April 17, 1986
With Revision #2 (Blue)
April 28, 1986
With Revision #3 (Yellow)
May 6, 1986
With Revision #4 (Green)
May 20, 1986
With Revision #5 (Goldenrod)
January 27, 1987
April 7, 1986
With Revision #6 (Goldenrod)
January 30, 1987
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"HUNTER"
FADE IN
1 EXT. OUTER SPACE 1
The infinite blackness punctuated by a billion stars.
As we slowly DESCEND through the varied shades of blue
of the Earth's atmosphere, we HEAR the first strains of
a haunting, Central American FLUTE, joined by a swelling
background of JUNGLE SOUNDS. We descend further,
through a lush JUNGLE CANOPY, backlit by a setting sun.
DISSOLVE TO:
2 EXT. JUNGLE COASTLINE - DAY (MAGIC HOUR) 2
Through a collage of shimmering HEAT-WAVES, a dark,
OTHER-WORLDLY OBJECT drops INTO VIEW, backlit by the
fiery, ORANGE-RED sphere of a setting tropical SUN,
heading slowly towards us, floating, as if suspended by
the rising heat of the jungle.
Continuing to approach, the shimmering object resolves
into a MILITARY ASSAULT HELICOPTER, its rotors strobing
in the fading sunlight. Drawing closer, the SOUND of
powerful TURBINES, throbbing in the heavy air, becomes
dominant, overpowering.
Guided by COLORED SMOKE and LANDING LIGHTS, the chopper
looms hard INTO VIEW, pitching forward and settling to
the ground, kicking up a maelstrom of dust and vegetation
2-A INT. COMMAND POST - DAY (MAGIC HOUR) 2-A *
Where a MAN wearing a military UNIFORM watches through
the large open windows the helicopter as it continues
to approach. Before the skids have even touched down he
SEES the first of the MEN, dressed in CIVILIAN CLOTHES
but carrying full COMBAT GEAR, alight gracefully from
the chopper, double-timing in close order to one side,
the orders SHOUTED by one man lost in the ROAR of the
chopper.
The man turns away from the window, to a FIGURE, hidden *
in the shadows.
MAN *
He's here.
He turns back, lowering a BAMBOO SHADE, obscuring the *
window.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
2-B EXT. HELICOPTER PAD - NIGHT 2-B *
On adjoining PADS, two other HELICOPTERS are VISIBLE; in
the b.g. can be SEEN several concrete and THATCHWORK
BUILDINGS, a secret command post disguised as a COASTAL
FISHING VILLAGE.
The post in a flurry of activity, AMERICAN ADVISORS
shouting directions to dozens of LATIN AMERICAN SOLDIERS
who stand by to assist the landing helicopter and to
load EQUIPMENT into the other choppers.
Inside the chopper, one man remains, stretched out against *
the bulkhead, as if asleep. He stirs, sits up, lighting *
up a CIGAR. With fatigue showing in his motion, he leans *
forward, descending to the ground. *
A JEEP pulls to stop, the man swinging casually into the *
front seat, tossing his GEAR into the rear. With a *
lurch the jeep heads out towards the command post. *
In the doorway TWO MEN solemnly watch as the jeep
approaches. Reaching the command post the man alights
from the jeep, heading towards the two men.
Into the pool of light cast by the fixture above the
door steps MAJOR ALAN SCHAEFER, the team leader, 38, an
intelligent and intense man. He informally salutes,
GENERAL H.L. PHILIPS, 55, hardened, close-cropped graying
hair, his nameplate and insignia identifying him as a
member of an elite commando unit in the U.S. Army. He
clasps Schaefer warmly on the shoulder.
PHILIPS
(with affection)
You're looking well, Dutch.
SCHAEFER
It's been a long time, General.
They walk up the stairs, entering the palapa, leaving
the other man on guard.
3 INT. PALAPA - DAY 3
Large, two room concrete floor, thatched walls and roof.
Behind a partially drawn curtain in the kitchen, a naked
lightbulb hung from the rafters illuminates a bank of
compact FIELD RADIO EQUIPMENT, MAPS and AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHS. Otherwise the rooms are primitive and
stand out in stark contrast to this high-tech invasion.
Philips and Schaefer enter the room.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
3 CONTINUED 3
PHILIPS
(growing serious)
We've got a real problem here,
something right up your alley.
They cross to the center of the room to a folding table,
covered with a large TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP of the Central
American highland jungle. Philips leans over the table,
circling a set of COORDINATES and a MARK on the open
map.
PHILIPS
Eighteen hours ago I was
informed that one of our
choppers, transporting three
presidential cabinet members
from this charming little
country, was shot down...
(point to
the circled
area)
...The pilots radioed from the
ground that they were all
alive. Their position was
fixed by the transponder
beacon onboard the chopper.
(points)
Here.
Schaefer studies the map. He looks up at Philips.
SCHAEFER
That's over the border,
General.
PHILIPS
(dead serious)
That's the problem. Apparently
they strayed off course.
(pause)
We're certain they've been
captured by the guerrillas.
Schaefer looks up, puffing lightly on the cigar.
SCHAEFER
(quietly)
What have you got in mind,
General.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
3 CONTINUED: (2) 3
PHILIPS
We figure we've got less than
twenty-four hours to catch
up with them. After that,
there's not much hope. We
want a rescue operation
mounted tonight. That doesn't
give you much time.
Another puff on the cigar.
SCHAEFER
What else it new? When do
we leave?
Philips looks at his watch.
PHILIPS
You lift off in three hours.
(pause)
There's one other thing.
SCHAEFER
What's that, General?
PHILIPS
Someone else will be going
in with you.
Schaefer stubbs out his cigar in an ashtray.
SCHAEFER
You know we don't work with
outsiders, General.
VOICE
(o.s.)
Who said anything about
outsiders, Dutch?
Schaefer turns, SEEING the outline of a figure standing
in the doorway of the communications room, holding a
sheaf of PAPERS.
Wearing pressed fatigues, DILLON, mid-thirties, black,
walks into the room.
Although as rugged looking as the others, his bearing
and grooming indicate he's been away from the business
of soldiering for sometime. His quick intelligent eyes
reveal his current profession.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
3 CONTINUED: (3) 3
DILLON
Last time we danced, it was
Lieutenant, Schaefer.
A grin breaks out across Schaefer's face.
SCHAEFER
Dillon, you son of a bitch.
The two men step forward and simultaneous swing from
the hip as it to land a punch...but their hands SLAP
together in a gesture of friendship, their forearms
bulging, testing each other's strength.
DILLON
(warmly)
How you been, Dutch?
They continue the contest, Schaefer has the edge, forcing
Dillon's arm slowly downward.
SCHAEFER
You've been pushing too many
Pencils, Dillon. Had enough?
DILLON
(grinning)
No way, old buddy.
SCHAEFER
You never did know when to
quit.
They look into each other's faces, each remembering
something from the past. A moment's hesitation and they
quit the contest. They laugh, Dillon slapping Schaefer
on the shoulder.
DILLON
That piece of work you guys
pulled off at the Berlin
embassy last week was really
something. Blew the entry
points on three floors and
neutralized the opposition
in eight seconds flat.
Beautiful.
SCHAEFER
Like the old days, Dillon.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6
3 CONTINUED: (4) 3
DILLON
Also heard that you passed
on that little job in Libya.
Schaefer looks at Dillon, quietly considering him.
SCHAEFER
Wasn't my style. We're a
rescue unit, not assassins.
(smiles)
This must be good. Big shot
from the CIA, leaves his desk
to come back to the bush.
What's so important?
DILLON
Those cabinet members are
very important to our scope
of operations in this part
of the world. They're about
to get squeezed. We can't
let that happen. I needed
someone who could get the job
done, quick and quiet...no
screw-ups. I needed the best.
The best. So, I pulled a few
strings at the State
Department...and here we are.
SCHAEFER
Go on.
Dillon goes to the map.
DILLON
The set-up is simple, Dutch.
One day job. We pick up their
trail at the chopper, run 'em
down, grab the hostages and
bounce back across the
border before anyone knows
we were there. You've done
it a hundred times. Nothing
out of the ordinary.
Schaefer considers this.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
7
3 CONTINUED: (5) 3
SCHAEFER
And nothing we can't handle
alone.
Philips breaks in.
PHILIPS
I'm afraid those are your
orders, Major. Once you
reach your objective, Dillon
will evaluate the situation
and take charge.
Schaefer looks from Philips to Dillon. He still doesn't
like it.
DILLON
Not to worry, Dutch. I
haven't lost my edge. They've
got a head start on us in
some real tough country,
otherwise, believe me, it's
a piece of cake.
PHILIPS
Gentlemen, we're losing time.
(to Schaefer)
You'd better get your men
ready.
(pause)
Good luck, Major.
4 EXT. TWO ASSAULT HELICOPTERS - NIGHT 4
Burst over the top of a ridge. Rising up in silhouette
they perform a radical left bank turn and descend
rapidly into an adjoining valley, racing over the
jungle at treetop level.
As the helicopters perform dizzying, high-speed
maneuvers through the winding canyon, the PILOT'S
VOICES can be HEARD, coordinating their operations.
PILOT ONE
(voice over)
Redbird Two, Two. Bearing
south, three, five, zero, one
o'ckock on the saddle ridge.
Over.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
4 CONTINUED: 4
PILOT TWO
(voice over)
Roger, Blue Leader. Three,
five, zero, on your move.
Over.
The helicopters rise in perfect coordination over
another ridge and bank sharply into the next valley,
leveling out as they go.
5 INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 5
Illuminated by the eerie red glow of NIGHT LIGHTS, are
SEVEN MEN, dressed in jungle camouflage, soft hats and
camouflage face-makeup. They wear no identity badges
or insignias. The man are checking their WEAPONS,
making last minute adjustments to their GEAR.
The compartment reverberates with the NOISE of the
THUMPING ROTORS and the ROAR of air from the open
doors.
BLAIN, weapons and ordinance specialist, a frightening
bull of a man, a 240 pound killer, removes from his
shirtpocket a think PLUG OF TOBACCO. He looks across
at:
MAC, a huge bear of a man, black, holding am M-60
MACHINE GUN. Blain holds out the tobacco to Mac who
refuses with a gentle shake of the head, a knowing
smile, he knows what's coming.
Holding the plug between his teeth Blain yanks free
from his shoulder scabbard a wicked, ten inch COMBAT
KNIFE. Placing the razor sharp blade next to his lips
he slices through the plug as if it were butter. He
chews throughtfully.
Seated by the open doorway is RAMIREZ, a slight,
angular man, an East L.A. streetwise Chicano.
Adding a final piece of camouflage TAPE to his pack
HARNESS, he looks up and smiles, faking a throw and
the bulleting the tape to:
HAWKINS, the radioman and medic, Irish, street-tough,
reading a rolled-up magazine, as if he were a rush hour
commuter. He snags the tape with an instinctual snap
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 9
*
5 CONTINUED: 5
of the wrist, continuing to read for a moment before
looking up, grinning at Ramirez, his boyish, eager
face belying the rugged professional beneath. He
turns his gaze to the man next to him:
BILLY, the Kit Carson Scout, an American Indian, proud,
stoic, a man of quiet strength and simplicity,
carefully replacing the FIRING MECHANISM of his M-203,
working its action several times. He looks up with a
smile at Hawkins.
HAWKINS
(shouting)
Hey, Billy, how many marines
does it take to eat a squirrel?
Billy looks back, shaking his head, uncomprehending.
HAWKINS
Two. One to eat it and one
to watch for cars.
Hawkins laughs heartily at his joke.
6 EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT 6
Clearing another ridge, the helicopters plunge into a
steep descent, turning quickly into a DEEP-WALLED
CANYON, the force of the turn accentuated by the
changing PITCH of the screaming turbines and the
biting of rotors into the air.
7 INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 7
The men, suspended in RESTRAINING HARNESSES from the
bulkheads, lean forward, nearly upside down in response
to the radical maneuver, handling the situation with
ease.
Blain holds out the tobacco to Ramirez, who swats at
the offending object as if it were alive.
RAMIREZ
(shouting)
Get that stinkin' thing out
of my face, Blain!
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 10
7 CONTINUED: 7
Grinning, Blain proffers the plug to each man, each one
refusing; they've done it a thousand times. It's an old
gag but they obviously care for the man in a big way.
BLAIN
...bunch of slack-jawed
faggots around here...
(holds up plug)
...this stuff will put hair
guaranteed...
(chewing)
...make you a God-damned
sexual ty-ran-toe-sore-ass...
just like me.
This brings a chorus of HOOTS and SHOUTS from the others.
The helicopter makes another radical turn.
Schaefer and Dillon, seated near the cockpit, communicate
through HEADSETS, also linked to the pilot. They
consult a TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP by RED PENLIGHTS.
DILLON
(pointing to
the map)
Our rendezvous points and
radio freqs. are indicated
and fixed. AWACS contact on
four hour intervals.
SCHAEFER
Who's our back-up on this?
DILLON
(grinning)
No such thing, old buddy.
It's a one way ticket.
Once we cross that border,
we're on our own.
SCHAEFER
This gets better by the
minute.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11
8 INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT 8
The PILOT and CO-PILOT are surrounded by an array of
dimly lit GAUGES and SWITCHES. Before the Co-Pilot is
a RADAR SCREEN and an INFRA-RED DISPLAY TERMINAL on
which the TWO HELICOPTERS appear as HEAT SOURCES.
PILOT NUMBER ONE
...roger Bird Two, Two.
Reconfirm insertion at Tango,
Charlie, Delta One, zero,
niner on the grid at zero,
two, two, mark four by zero.
Over.
PILOT NUMBER TWO
(voice over)
Two, Two, leader. Roger your
insert co-ord. Over.
PILOT NUMBER ONE
Leader to Bird Two Two. I
bear two minutes to Landing
Zone.
The Pilot throws a SWITCH on the panel before him
9 INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 9
A BLUE LIGHT appears on the forward bulkhead. Schaefer
is speaking over a RADIO TELEPHONE. The Co-Pilot turns
and hands him a clipboard. Schaefer reads, notes his
approval and hands it back.
10 EXT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 10
Flares up into position over the jungle and hovers, as
the SUPPORT HELICOPTER holds in a protective position
above.
11 INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 11
Dillon seems comfortable with the men, showing Ramirez
a battered CIGARETTE LIGHTER from a famed commando
unit from the past.
But his ingratiating demeanor is not impressing Mac, who
regards Dillon with the cold suspicion reserved for an
outsider. Mac looks up at Blain, his eyes narrowing.
Blain's massive jaws roll as he masticates the chew.
He pauses, eyes moving downward, spotting his target.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12
11 CONTINUED: 11
He hocks a thick, vile stream of TOBACCO JUICE directly
between Dillon's legs and onto the floor, a gelatinous
skein lacing across the toe of one boot. Dillon looks
up, his face goes cold and menacing.
DILLON
(icy)
Man, that's a real bad habit
you've got.
Dillon turns back to Ramirez, ignoring Mac and Blain,
who continues to stare at him. Mac looks across at
Blain, wide grins breaking across their huge faces.
Cradled in Blain's arms, as if it were a part of his
body, is a large, CANVAS-COVERED BUNDLE. Blain looks
down at his bundle, almost affectionately.
The PILOT's VOICE breaks in over Schaefer's headset.
PILOT NUMBER ONE
(voice over)
LZ comin' up in 30 seconds.
Stand by the rappel lines.
Looking up, Schaefer gives a hand signal to the nearest
man who nods and in return,passes the signal down the
line.
Ramirez and Blain pick up heavy, METAL CONICAL DEVICES,
attached to canvas bags filled with rope.
12 EXT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 12
From the open doors the RAPPELLING LINES hurtle into
space, CRASHING through the double canopy of the trees
and to the jungle floor below.
13 INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT 13 *
The blue light changes to GREEN. Schaefer nods.
RAPPELLING DEVICES SNAP into place. Gloved hands grab
onto rope. Combat boots move into position.
DILLON
(shouting to
Schaefer)
You don't know how much I
missed this, Dutch!!! Once
you get this in your blood,
you never get it out!!!
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
13
13 CONTINUED: 13
SCHAEFER
You never were all that
smart...let's go!!!
Schaefer signals. Men leap from the chopper.
14 EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT 14
The man crash through the trees and are swallowed up by
the darkness below. The helicopters depart, THUMPING
their way into the night.
DISSOLVE TO:
15 EXT. MOUNTAIN RIDGE - DAY (DAWN) 15
A light shower passes through the trees. The sky
clears, REVEALING a lush and exotic foliage. Birds
are beginning to SING but otherwise, all is SILENT.
The dense growth seems impenetrable, but from a solid
wall of undergrowth, a HAND appears and signals in a
downward motion.
As if by magic, the assault team materializes, quietly,
cautiously. Schaefer makes another gesture and the team
moves forward in perfect harmony in POINT-LOCK step,
taking their cue from Ramirez, the pointman. Schaefer,
highly focused and alert to every sound and movement,
follows Ramirez, as if organically connected.
16 EXT. JUNGLE HILLSIDE - DAY 16
Descending the steep mountain slope, the team encounters
an even denser growth of jungle, at times moving by
instinct, as they are often visually separated. At one
point, Schaefer checks his COMPASS, flashing some hand
signals to Ramirez, indicating a new direction. Ramirez
nods and moves on, Schaefer signaling to the rest of the
men.
17 EXT. JUNGLE CLEARING - DAY 17
Blain, in a defensive position, sweeps the jungle slowly
with his MP-5. He steps back and turns, checking,
revealing in the b.g. the WRECKAGE OF A U.S. ARMY UH-1H
HELICOPTER, hanging upside down, twenty feet above the
ground, entangled in vines in the heavy capony, badly
damaged, rotors bent, its tail section blown away.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/21/86 14
*
17 CONTINUED: 17
A GRAPPLING HOOK is hurled from the ground, CLATTERING
into the cargo hold, hooking the edge of the airframe.
18 INT. HELICOPTER - DAY 18
Ramirez moves cautiously, searching for trip wires,
using his knife to check the edges of the seats and
door frames. Grimly he glances at the TWO BODIES
slumped over the controls and then exits, snapping
into and rappelling down the rope to the ground.
He joins Schaefer standing in the f.g. They look
up, watching as Dillon moves through the cockpit,
searching through pockets and compartments. Schaefer
turns his back to the helicopter.
RAMIREZ
The pilots have each got one
round in the head. And whoever
hit it stripped the shit out of it.
Schaefer studies the clearing, eyes always moving, wary.
He turns back, looking at the chopper.
SCHAEFER
Took 'em out with a heat seeker.
RAMIREZ
There's something else, Major...
SCHAEFER
Mmmnnn...?
RAMIREZ
I don't think that was any ordinary
army taxi...
Schaefer looks at him quizically.
RAMIREZ
...looks more like a surveillance
bird to me.
Dillon rappells down the line and approaches.
DILLON
Have you picked up their trail yet?
Schaefer taps Ramirez on the shoulder and he moves
away. Schaefer turns to Dillon:
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/21/86 15
*
SCHAEFER
Billy's on it.
(indicates chopper)
Heat seeker. Pretty sophisticated
for half-asses mountain boys.
DILLON
They're getting better equipped
every day.
Bill approaches from the b.g.
BILLY
Major, looks like there were ten,
maybe twelve guerrillas. Looks
like they took some prisoners
from the chopper.
(points)
Then a different set of track,
over there.
SCHAEFER
(puzzled)
What do you mean?
BILLY
Six others, U.S. issue jungle
boots. They came in from the
north, then followed the guerrillas.
Schaefer turns to Dillon.
SCHAEFER
Mean anything to you?
DILLON
Probably another rebel patrol.
They operate in here all the time.
Schaefer is obviously concerned about this. He
turns to Billy.
SCHAEFER
Get ahead, see what you can find.
(to Ramirez)
Slow and easy.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/27/86 16
18 CONTINUED: (2) 18
SCHAEFER (Contd.)
(to Dillon)
We don't want any accidents.
Billy takes up the trail, disappearing in to the jungle.
Ramirez signals, the team moves out.
19 EXT. JUNGLE - DAY 19
As Billy reconnoiters, Ramirez looks back and gives a *
sign...
Schaefer nods and rappels down cliff. *
As he joins Ramirez, there seem to be butterflies *
everywhere --
SCHAEFER *
What's he got?
RAMIREZ *
Same business, guerrillas
hauling two guys from the
chopper...followed by men
with American equipment...
Ramirez seems concerned by this. Schaefer signals him to *
move on. Before he follows, Schaefer looks around: there's*
something dodgy about this. He goes. *
Over his head is a butterfly on a limb: *
20 EXT. JUNGLE - OVERHEAD - DAY 20
As the assault team passes below, a BUTTERFLY lands on
what appears to be the BARK of a TREE. It fans its wings
and flies on.
The impression of the butterfly remains in PERFECT
RELIEF, as is imprinted on the bark. The image fades,
REVEALING for an instant a gridwork of TINY SCALES on
the bark.
The bark moves! Changing colors, like a chameleon,
REVEALING for an instant the form of something alive
as it flows into the leaves, once again becoming
indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage.
TWO EYES, faintly flowing yellow, appear in the
foliage. They blink, disappearing, and then become
VISIBLE again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/27/87 16-A
21 EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 21
SEEN THROUGH HEAT-SEEKING VISION, studying the team's
careful, silent movements at they pass by.
The SOUNDS of the FOREST are also ALTERED and ENHANCED
with an electric, STATICLIKE quality.
The Observer scans over the men...and then focuses
on Schaefer as he crouches down, signaling forward
and rear with a circular motion. He refers to an
OBJECT in his hand, studying it carefully.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17
22 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 22
Using a MAP in lining out a course on his COMPASS. The
other team members appear, silently, clustering around
him. Using hand signals, Schaefer indicates a course
change.
23 EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY 23
Watches closely as Schaefer continues with his hand
signals, instructing his team.
24 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 24
25 OUT 25
26 EXT. DENSE UNDERGROWTH - DAY 26
The hillside of a steep valley, dark and foreboding.
Billy passes by and halts, removing his KNIFE. With
his other hand he pulls down from overhead a THICK VINE,
severing it. A thin stream of WATER emerges which
he drinks.
Suddenly he stops, letting the water drip to the
ground. He quietly releases the vine and brings his
M-203 shotgun to bear, listening intently. Something
seems wrong. He brings his eyes upward and stares,
hard into the treeline of the opposing hillside.
As his eyes strain to penetrate the dense, intertwined
canopy, he is engulfed by the rising SOUNDS of the
JUNGLE, a cacophony of BUZZING and CLICKING,
amplified in the sweltering heat of the day. Unable
to locate a source to account for his anxiety, he
relaxes, moving on, resuming the track.
27 BILLY (MINUTES LATER) 27
examines the ground as he moves, growing confused
and puzzled by what he sees before him. He stops,
scrutinizing the jungle, probing the world around him
with his keen senses.
HEARING a faint RUSTLING SOUND he looks up, SEEING a
curtain of MOSS several feet away. He takes a cautious
step forward, extending his weapon. He reaches
forward with his free hand, touching the moss.
Behind the curtain a slight shifting of DARK FORMS
occurs. He pauses and then with a sudden movement,
sweeps the moss aside...
A BLACK EXPLOSION of FLUTTERING WINGS as carrion-eating
BIRDS rush past Billy's body.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
18
27 CONTINUED: 27
Billy's face seizes into a mask of horror, his
expression descending into a state of complete,
primitive shock, his eyes staring transfixed, inches
away from the leering death-grin of a HUMAN FACE,
upside down, completely stripped of skin.
Reeling, his body numbed by the sight before him,
he stumbles backwards and stops.
Vines threaded through their achilles tendons, the
BODIES OF THREE MEN, skinned and gutted, hang
suspended in the think, suffocating air, BUZZING
with insects.
Billy turns away, revulsed as Ramirez moves quietly
INTO VIEW, Schaefer directly behind him. Ramirez
stares at the bodies, now seen to be in the first
stages of deterioration, strips of flesh torn away
by the birds and other scavengers. In an almost
childlike manner, he crosses himself.
RAMIREZ
(hoarse whisper)
Holy Mother...
Schaefer moves into the clearing, kneeling beside
a bloody pile of CLOTHING and ENTRAILS. He examines
the clothing and then rises, holding a DOG TAG on
a broken chain. He reads the tag, his face growing
hardened and bitter as he stares down at the tag,
recognizing the name.
SCHAEFER
(to himself)
J.S. Davis, Captain, U.S. Army...
Schaefer's eyes move from the bloody dog tag to
the bodies.
SCHAEFER
(coldly)
Mac. Cut them down.
Mac moves forward, withdrawing his COMBAT KNIFE.
The blade flashes, cutting the vine as the first
body THUDS to the ground. He bends over, picking up
other DOG TAGS.
Schaefer turns to Dillon.
(CONTINUING)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/19/86 19
*
27 CONTINUED: (2) 27
SCHAEFER
I knew this man. Green Berets,
out of Fort Bragg. What the hell
were they doing in here? You got
any answers for this, Dillon?
DILLON
(stunned)
Jesus...this is inhuman.
(to Schaefer)
Uh...I wasn't told of any
operations in this area. They
shouldn't have been here.
SCHAEFER
(angry)
Well somebody sent them.
Schaefer walks off. Mac steps out of the clearing,
sheathing his knife with a violent gesture, passing
Ramirez.
RAMIREZ
(seething)
Must have run into the guerrillas
...Fucking animals.
Mac moves alongside Blain.
MAC
(spits)
Ain't no way for a soldier to
die.
(looks at Blain)
Time to let 'ol 'painless'
out of the bag.
Grimly, Blain RIPS apart the velcro closures of the
CANVAS BUNDLE slung across his shoulder, REVEALING
a truly awesome weapon, a SIX-BARRELED MINI-GUN adapted
for field combat.
28 EXT. BILLY - DAY 28
Kneels at the side of the original trail examining the
ground. He rises, holding a spent CARTRIDGE. Schaefer
approaches, kneeling beside him.
SCHAEFER
What happened here, Billy?
Billy looks at him, puzzled.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/20/86 20
*
28 CONTINUED: 28
BILLY
Strange, Major. There was a
firefight. Shooting in all
directions.
SCHAEFER
I can't believe Jim Hopper
walked into an ambush.
BILLY
I don't believe he did, Sir.
I couldn't find a single track.
Just doesn't make sense.
SCHAEFER
What about the rest of Hopper's
men?
Billy shakes his head.
BILLY
(uncomfortably)
No sign. They never left here
Major.
(pause)
It's like they just disappeared.
Schaefer ponders a moment. Then, to Billy:
SCHAEFER
Stick with the guerilla trail.
(to team)
Let's get it over with. We move.
Five meter spread. No sound.
Nothing.
CUT TO:
28-A EXT. BLAIN - DAY 28-A
Blain feeds the magazine of BELTED-SHELLS into the
weapon, cocking it. He looks up at Mac, his eyes
cold, his face taut with anger.
BLAIN
Payback time.
Blain hefts the Mini-gun to his hip as Mac draws back
slightly on the breech bolt of the M-60, letting it
snap.
They move on, Billy pausing to look at the jungle
before disappearing into the foliage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/20/86 21
*
29 EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 29
carefully watching this exchange from high in the
treetop canopy. The Observer watches as Schaefer
turns and leaves the clearing, cautiously moving
into the jungle.
30 EXT. JUNGLE HILLSIDE - DAY 30
Mac appears suddenly, materializing out of the
undergrowth, pausing cautiously, his senses alert,
intense, almost nervous. He moves on, his huge body
barely making a sound as he weaves through the heavy
undergrowth.
Dillon appears. As he moves on, he crosses over a
fallen TREE. Stepping down, his foot breaks through
a rotten portion, a CHUCK of the log breaking free
and rolling down the hill.
Dillon at once goes into a defensive position,
listening. The jungle is SILENT. He stands and
starts to move forward. Suddenly Mac appears
within inches of Dillon's face. Mac's face is
menacing, angry.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
22
30 CONTINUED: 30
MAC
(hissing; barely
audible)
You're ghostin' on me, mother
fokaaa!...I don't care who
you are back in the world...
You give away our position
again and I'll bleed you quiet
and leave your fuckin' ass
right here.
(hisses; spits)
Got it?
Dillon's eyes are wide and fixed, staring back in
cold hatred at Mac, controlling his rage...he knows
the rules.
Not waiting for a response, Mac turns and vanished
into the jungle. Seething with anger Dillon
focuses on a still moving LEAF and STEM, indicating
Mac's exit point. He moves on.
31 EXT. BLAIN - DAY 31
Crouches under heavy foliage, waiting. He is
joined by Mac. They glance briefly at each other,
scanning in opposite directions for movement and
sounds. They speak in whispers.
BLAIN
Say, Bull. What's goin' down?
We got movement?
MAC
No. Shithead with his
trenchcoat and dee-coda-da
ring was makin' enough noise
to get us all waxed. I don't
like that guy. Don't like
him at my back. I ain't
winding up like those
bastards back there.
Mac, sweating heavily, wipes the moisture from
his brow with his finger.
Blain pats the mini-gun affectionately.
BLAIN
I know what you mean, Bull,
but don't sweat it, me and
'ol 'painless' here are
watchin' the front door.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
23
31 CONTINUED: 31
MAC
As always, bro...
They do a gentle fist dap and smile warmly at
each other. Two men who have seen it all,
through a dozen no-win situations, and have lived
to tell about it.
Mac advances a few meters and signals slowly.
32 EXT. KNOLL 32
The assault team moving up the hill, barely
visible in the heavy foliage, the team moves
cautiously into defensive positions. Holding.
A moment later they continue up the hill,
crawling.
On their stomachs, Schaefer and Ramirez clear
the edge of the knoll, SEEING below a GUERRILLA
VILLAGE, a huge, spreading PALAPA covering
implacements dug into a hillside, descending
to a winding stream bed below. 30 MEN, dressed
in a mixture of jungle fatigues and civilian
clothes, armed with AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLES move
about the camp. A heavy MACHINE GUN emplacement
guards the entrance to the camp. TWO MEN sit
in the camouflaged emplacement.
33 SCHAEFER 33
sweeping the camp with BINOCULARS, SEES a
GUARD above the camp. One of the man picks up
a hand-held ROCKET LAUNCHER, placing it beside
a bandolier of ROCKETS and a RADIO SET and
CONSULS taken from the U.S. surveillance
helicopter as if preparing to take them away.
Schaefer puts down the glasses, looking at
Ramirez who nods in acknowledgment. A sudden
MUFFLED CRY brings Schaefer's attention to one
end of the camp, where a heavily thatched DOOR
covers and opening to the PALAPA. A GUARD
stands at the door.
The door flies open as a HOSTAGE, shirtless,
hands tied behind his back, staggers through
the door as if kicked from behind.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 24
33 CONTINUED 33
The man falls to the ground, feebly trying to regain
his footing. Although difficult to see from Schaefer's
vantage point, the man's battered face and welt-covered
back indicate he has been severely tortured.
Emerging from the palapa, a GUERRILLA LEADER,
moustached and wearing a SIDEARM, approaches the
beaten man, kicking him viciously in the stomach,
rolling him to his side.
Kneeling beside the man he withdraws an AUTOMATIC from
his holster and cocks the hammer. Grabbing the man by
the hair he jams the muzzle into the man's ear and with
a violent twist, pulls the trigger.
The guerrilla leader stands and strides quickly back
to the palapa, still holding the pistol, closing the
door behind him.
34 SCHAEFER 34
grim-faced at having witnesses the murder, lowers him
glasses, a look of cold determination on his face.
Quickly he and Ramirez ease down the escarpment,
joining the other team members.
Schaefer makes a circling motion with his thumb
and the team members gather in close, huddle formation.
SCHAEFER
(whispering; angry)
Just killed one of the *
prisoners. No time for *
invitations. We take them,
now.
35 EXT. BLAIN AND MAC - DAY 35
Crawl silently through the underbrush. With nearly
impreceptible movements, Blain slips out of the
cartridge pack, ditching the Mini-gun. He withdraws
his COMBAT KNIFE, placing it between his teeth.
They move through the underbrush in tandem, like
two bug cats, stalking. Mac freezes, the sweat
pouring from his face, holds up his hand as Blain
stops.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
25
35 CONTINUED: 35
Using a BLADE OF GRASS, Mac points out a metal TRIP
WIRE, following it to a hidden CLAYMORE MINE. Blain
grins making a switching GESTURE. Carefully Mac
detaches the LEAD WIRES. Directing the mine towards
the camp, he reattaches the wires, nodding at Blain.
36 EXT. JUNGLE - OVERHEAD - ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 36
SEEN THROUGH HEAT-SEEKING VISION, FOCUSED ON Blain
and Mac, lying in the grass below, their bodies
outlined in LUMONOUS AUREOLES. The Observer SEES the
NETWORK of TRIP WIRES guarding the approaches to the
machine gun nests. The wires GLOW as if ELECTRIFIED,
standing out in hard-edged relief in contrast to
the jungle foliage. He moves higher into the forest
canopy.
37 EXT. BILLY - DAY 37
On Schaefer's signal rises up, pulling a SENTRY to
him, covering his mouth with his hand, jerking him
backwards and to the side, knocking him off balance
with a sweeping motion of his left leg, killing him
with his COMBAT KNIFE.
38 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 38 *
Belly crawls silently through the tall grass just
outside and above the main entrance to the camp. He
stops, studying the ancient, rusted skeleton of a
TRUCK parked on a level spot above the camp, its
engine quietly IDLING. The truck is jacked and
blocked up, one rear wheel attached to a belt-drive
leading to a PUMP, drawing water from a river nearby.
In the open cab of the truck a GUARD is on duty,
watching the high ground above the camp.
Schaefer moves out, heading for the guard.
39 EXT. MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT - DAY 39
While one Guerrilla attends to his equipment, the
OTHER attentively watches the approaches to the camp.
He is momentarily distracted by a BUZZING FLY, which
he annoyingly swats at with his hand.
He hears something to his side. Turning to investigate,
the huge, hamhock fist of Mack smashes into his throat.
Simultaneously, Blain rises up behind the other man,
grabs him by the hair, pulling him down, his COMBAT
KNIFE driving downward.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
26
40 EXT. TRUCK - DAY 40 *
A SATCHEL CHARGE is looped over the gearshift lever,
resting on the floorboard. Schaefer, lying low
across the seat of the truck, turns and looks, SEEING
the guard, lying in a heap in the foliage.
40-A EXT. RAMIREZ - DAY 40-A *
Moves into position to the side and above the camp.
He carefully checks the readiness of his SIX-SHOT
GRENADE LAUNCHER, also setting his MP-5 in front of
him, ready for action.
41 EXT. SCHAEFER 41 *
Crouched to the side of the truck, watches the camp,
SEEING below through the dense undergrowth, Ramirez,
barely visible, signaling.
Before him are two FRAGMENTATION GRENADES. He looks
at his watch, and then up the hill to:
41-A DILLON AND HAWKINS 41-A *
their weapons ready. Dillon picks up his binoculars,
focusing on the machine gun emplacement, seeing a MAN,
his face covered by a HAT. The head rises, REVEALING
the face of Blain, who looks above the camp and
slightly nods. Putting his glasses down, motions
to Hawkins.
DILLON
(to Hawkins)
Ready, kid?
Hawkins grins back. Together they slip through the
grass, downward towards the edge of the camp.
42- OUT 42-
43 43
44 EXT. SCHAEFER 44 *
Holds his huge, COMMANDO MACHETE on a diagonal,
pushing through the belt, slicing it cleanly. Turning
he crawls silently to the rear of the truck,
positioning himself behind the rear of the one ton
truck.
He squats, and with an enormous, concentrated effort,
deadlifts the rear of the truck, its rusted springs
and frame beginning to CREAK and GROAN slightly.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
27
44 CONTINUED: 44
With a herculean effort he lifts the truck free of
its blocks and then pushes forward. He rolls aside,
disappearing into the ground cover as the truck, its
tireless rims digging into the earth, lops down the
hill, slowly picking up speed.
45 EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE - DAY 45
A Guerrilla, alerted by the SOUND of the approaching
truck, looks up at the hillside, SEEING the vehicle
still moving down the hill at a moderate roll. He
CALLS OUT and several Guerrilla leaves their posts,
moving out to prepare to stop the truck.
The truck rolls into the clearing picking up speed,
heading towards the main palapa. The men rush
forward, surrounding the truck, trying to slow it
down, but the truck rolls, SMASHING through the front
wall of the palapa. The men gather around truck
and then look back up the hill.
46 EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 46 *
Watching as Schaefer pulls the pin and launches the
GRENADE into the air, the Observer following its
arc as it spirals dead-center into the camp, bouncing
twice before rolling into the FUEL DUMP...which a
moment later, EXPLODES into an incredible FIREBALL.
The expanding FIREBALL released from the explosion
is to the Observer like an erupting sun, momentarily
blinding him.
47 EXT. GUERRILLA CAMP - DAY 47
The truck is BLOWN up into the air by the explosion...
a moment later the satchel charge DETONATES with an
ear-splitting EXPLOSION, tearing the truck apart.
48 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 48
Jumps to his feet, FIRING an M-203 round into the
camp.
49 EXT. KNOLL - DAY 49
Schaefer races down the hillside, joined by Dillon,
leaving Hawkins to cover them. Bullets burst around
their feet as they run low, firing short bursts to
his left and right.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
28
49 CONTINUED: 49
He FIRES the undermounted GRENADE LAUNCHER, sending a
round into a gun position in the trees. Still running
he breaks open the breach, slamming in another 40mm
ROUND from the cartridge pack at his waist.
Blain and Mac fire the heavy machine guns, laying down
a withering curtain of lead, shredding the camp,
taking out five Guerrillas at once.
50 EXT. GUERRILLA CAMP - DAY 50
A MAN almost completely ON FIRE is hit by an onslaught
of GUNFIRE, ripping him back into the jungle.
Ramirez cuts loose a barrage from the SIX-SHOOTER...
seconds later the MACHINE GUN IMPLACEMENT erupts in
a series of EXPLOSIONS, blowing two Guerrillas into
the air.
At the HILLSIDE HUT, two Guerrillas move into position
by the window, drawing down on Schaefer as he appears,
racing down the hill.
As they are about to open fire, Dillon appears,
YELLING OUT a warning.
DILLON
On your nine!!!
Schaefer dives, hitting the ground as Dillon OPENS
FIRE taking out the Guerrillas. Schaefer rolls to
his feet, spins, firing the 203 grenade launcher,
completely destroying the hut.
51 EXT. ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 51
As the Observer regains its vision an eerie, surreal
experience of sight and sound unfolds:
BULLETS streak through the air, leaving blood-red
trails of HEAT, like laser blasts. As they impact
into the Guerillas, we HEAR the enhanced SLAPPING
of BULLETS, SEEING tiny blossoms of HEAT mushroom
out of their bodies.
We HEAR the horrific, deformed CRIES and SCREAMS
of the dying men.
Another searing, blinding EXPLOSION sends pieces of
SHRAPNEL ripping through the air, some of them
ROARING past the Observer's position, like tiny
meteors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
29
52 EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE 52 *
at the entrance way to the main palapa, a Guerrilla
stands in the doorway, giving COVER FIRE to his comrades
as they fall back inside.
Jumping from the roof of the adjoining palapa, Billy
drops directly in front of the Guerrilla.
From the side, unseen by Billy, another Guerrilla *
thrusts out with a knife, Billy ducking backwards, the
tip of the knife SLASHING his face. With a lightning
move, Billy whips his arm up and around the Guerrilla,
locking his elbow, breaking the joint.
Still holding the man he FIRES, blowing the other
Guerrilla off his feet with the SHOTGUN portion of his
weapon. He looks at the Guerrilla out of the corner of
his eye. He suddenly strikes, breaking his neck,
dropping him in a heap.
Billy continues on, racing down the stairs, firing the
M-203.
Meanwhile, Blain is crouched next to a tree, providing *
cover. Behind Blain, at the edge of the camp, circling
around from below, TWO GUERRILLAS appear and FIRE a
grenade round which EXPLODES behind Blain, fragments
ripping into the tree next to which Blain is standing,
bark and dirt flying as shrapnel rips into his vest, one
piece tearing into his upper shoulder. The hits have
no effect on the huge man and with a savage GROWL, he
spins, opening fire, raking the two attackers with the
Mini-gun.
Nearby, Mac charges from the jungle on a dead run,
diving over a fallen tree as machine gun FIRE rakes the
ground around him.
Blain, spotting the sniper high in a tree, opens FIRE
with the MINI-GUN, shredding the tree, sending the
Guerrilla crashing down through the roof of the
palapa.
53 INT. PALAPA - DAY 53
The sniper CRASHES through the roof, landing on the
floor near Hawkins and Ramirez who do a quick double
take before opening fire on a group of fleeing
Guerrillas, taking out two, giving chase to the others.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30
53 CONTINUED: 53
Schaefer and Dillon appear at the top of the staircase, *
Schaefer freezing as he SEES below a Guerrilla raising
an AK-47, preparing to fire. Schaefer tackles Dillon,
the two men hurling into the air, a moment later BULLETS
ripping into the CRATES behind where they were standing.
Dillon rises up, kicking over a crate, shooting the *
Guerrilla who is trying to bring the gun around to fire
at him.
Schaefer crouches, covering the upper entrances to the *
palapa, as Ramirez rushes past, joining Schaefer. From
the corner of his eye, Schaefer catches a movement.
With a whipping, backhanded throw, he lets fly his
COMMANDO MACHETE...
The machete impales the attacking Guerrilla, driving him *
backwards, pinning him to a post.
SCHAEFER
Stick around.
Schaefer and Ramirez run towards the lower levels, side
by side, firing as they go.
They reach a door, Schaefer taking out an ATTACKING
Guerrilla. Ramirez grabs the side of the door, shoots
a look to Schaefer and throws it open. With Schaefer
covering him, Ramirez takes a quick peak inside and
then rushes into the room.
53-A INT. ROOM - DAY 53-A
At one end is a STAIRWAY, leading to an escape door.
A Guerrilla, seen from the waist up, scrambles down
the stairs.
At the base of the stairs, a Guerrilla, holding an
AK-47 on his hip, turns and starts to fire.
Schaefer and Ramirez respond with full AUTO BURSTS
which rip into the Guerrilla, spinning him around,
knocking over a crude WOODEN TABLE, scattering a
BRIEFCASE with burning PAPERS, FOOD CANS, and LIQUOR
BOTTLES.
As he spins he FIRES the weapon, an arcing line of SLUGS
slamming into the tin roof, sending down a shower of
rust and dirt. He falls to the ground. Dead.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
31
53-A CONTINUED: 53-A
Ramirez charges through the DUST and thick SMOKE to
cover the fallen men; Schaefer following close behind,
jerking a new CLIP from his ammo belt.
Suddenly, another Guerrilla erupts from behind some
ammunition crates, drawing down on Ramirez with a
machine pistol.
SCHAEFER
(shouting)
Down!!!
As the Guerrilla fires, Schaefer smashes the butt of
his empty weapon into the Guerrilla's shoulder, knocking
the gun aside, the SLUGS thudding into the wall
harmlessly.
He hits the Guerrilla with a vicious glancing blow to
the head with the barrel of his weapon. The Guerrilla
is hurled backward, crashing into the wooden crates and
to the floor.
Ramirez, recovering quickly, descends the stairs with
catlike agility, disappearing.
Schaefer crouches and spins, jamming a new clip into the
rifle, scanning the palapa for any other movement. He
races to the main door of the room, shouting into the
palapa.
He SEES Blain charging down the steps. Catching his
attention he signals him on, out the back to cover
Ramirez.
SCHAEFER
(to Hawkins)
Hawk, Get Con. Op. on the
hook! Position and situation,
now!
As Blain runs down the stairs, Hawkins already has the
radio off his back, setting up the portable SATELLITE
DISH ANTENNA.
HAWKINS
You got it, Major!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 32
53-B EXT. PALAPA - WATER AREA - DAY 53-B
Ramirez, Blain and Billy race down the back stairs
of the palapa, FIRING Mini-gun, automatic and grenade
rounds at the escaping GUERRILLAS as they flee the area,
splashing, charging across the shallow river.
The guerrillas are history...in no uncertain terms.
53-C INT. PALAPA - DAY 53-C
For the first time, Schaefer studies the interior of
the cavernous palapa, SEEING the enormous stockpile
of WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES stacked along the
walls, obviously a major military stronghold hidden
deep within the mountains. Mac hustles up to Schaefer,
a look of urgency on his face.
SCHAEFER
Any sign of the hostages?
MAC
(nods)
We found 'em both, dead.
And the gear from the chopper.
If they're Central American,
I'm a fuckin' Chinaman. By *
the looks of 'em, I'd say our *
cabinet minister and his aide *
are CIA.
(pause)
Another thing, Major, we were
lucky...couple of those guys
we waxed are Russians,
military advisors by the look
of it. Something big was
about to happen here.
Schaefer looks at Mac a moment, a flush of anger
beginning to show.
SCHAEFER
Good work, Mac. Clear the
area, no traces. Get the men
ready to move.
Schaefer goes back into the room, looking down at the
unconscious guerrilla, racking a round into the
chamber, reloading his weapon.
He kneels, staring into the FACE of a WOMAN, ANNA,
dark, late twenties. Despite her blood and
dirt-smeared face, she is beautiful.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
33
53-C CONTINUED: 53-C
SCHAEFER
(closes eyes)
Shit...
He checks her pulse and then slowly he bends to pick
up her PISTOL, ejecting the clip. He stands, beginning
to shuffle through the PAPERS scattered about the room.
Staring at one he looks up, the pieces falling together.
54 EXT. JUNGLE - DAY 54
Ramirez, at a crouch, runs through the jungle,
following the obvious signs of the Guerrilla's
retreat. He emerges from the trees into an opening,
leading to a sheer rock cliff, towering fifty feet
above the ground. Scanning the wall, he SEES
movement and quickly takes cover, as automatic
FIRE rips up the ground before him.
54-A EXT. ROCK WALL - DAY 54-A
Near the center of which a narrow cut, two feet
wide, leads to the top of the cliff, giving access
to the adjoining ridge.
Two Guerrillas scramble up through the chimney,
assisted by a ROPE, which with withdraw as they
reach the top. Ramirez takes out one man, the
other taking cover, returning fire.
54-B EXT. BASE OF ROCK WALL - DAY 54-B *
Blain joins Ramirez, behind cover at the foot of
the cliff. As they take cover, Ramirez notices
the wound on Blain's shoulder.
RAMIREZ
You're hit. You're bleedin',
man.
Blain looks briefly at the wound.
BLAIN
(spits)
Ain't got time to bleed.
On a signal, they both clear cover and fire LONG
BURSTS from their weapons up the cliff.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
34
54-B CONTINUED: 54-B
The smoke is hardly cleared when they are answered
by withering FIRE. They duck down as a grenade
EXPLODES nearby. Ramirez quickly replaces the 40MM
rounds into the SIX-SHOOTER.
BLAIN
Son of a bitch's dug in like
a Alabama tick...
(spits)
...jack us around all day.
RAMIREZ
Hell, dude, we don't have all
day.
Ramirez immediately rolls into the line of fire,
BLASTING six RAPID-FIRE shots on a HIGH-ARC trajectory
towards the rocks. Blain reacts.
BLAIN
Shit, Pancho!!!
Blain dives against the protective cover of the
rock wall, covering his head. Ramirez casually
hops across, squatting next to Blain. They make
eye-contact.
RAMIREZ
What's your problem, dude?
Before Blain can answer, Ramirez puts his fingers
into his ears and grimaces just as...
The entire hillside EXPLODES, blowing the Guerrillas
into the air, a torrent of vegetation and earth
raining down the cliff, obscuring Blain and Ramirez.
55 INT. PALAPA ROOM - DAY 55
Schaefer is staring out the window, his weapon slack
in one arm, still holding the paper. Dillon enters,
obviously excited about what he has found. He sees
the papers on the floor. He reads through them
quickly, growing even more excited.
DILLON
This is beautiful! More than
we ever thought. We got the
bastards!
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 35
*
55 CONTINUED: 55
Schaefer turns, striding slowly to Dillon, handing him
the paper he is holding.
SCHAEFER
I think this is the one you want.
Dillon reads it.
DILLON
(reacting)
Two days...that's all we had.
In two days, three hundred of
these bastards would have been
equipped with all this. After
they crossed the border, it
would have taken a year to
stop them.
(looks up)
We've averted a major
guerrilla invasion, Dutch...
Schaefer moves in close to Dillon, face to face,
anger flaring in his eyes.
SCHAEFER
(slow; deliberate)
It was all bullshit. All of it.
From the start...you set us up,
got us in here to do your
dirty work.
DILLON
(angry)
That's right, I set you up.
You're a veteran at this, Dutch,
I had to.
SCHAEFER
Why us?
DILLON
Because I told you, you're the
best. I knew you could do it but
I couldn't get you in here without
a cover story.
SCHAEFER
What story did you give to Davis?
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 36
55 CONTINUED: (2) 55
DILLON
We've been lookin' for this
place for months. The chopper
must have gotten close when
they got shot down. Hopper *
was sent in to get my men.
He was just doing his job.
When he disappeared I had to
clean this up, I had to stop
there bastards. We were so
close, we couldn't quit. We
couldn't sleep through this
one. I needed you, Dutch,
can't you see that?
DILLON
To invade a foreign country,
illegally? You lied, Dillon.
Stacked the odds against us. Set
us up. You could have gotten
us all killed.
(pause; looking at him)
You used to be one of us,
Dillon, someone I could trust
with my life...
DILLON
We've been through a lot together
Dutch. When we were together, no *
one could stop us, the hottest *
Goddamned team the army ever saw. *
But things changed, I woke up.
We're fighting them in a dozen
Goddamned countries. It's a
fight we can't lose, Dutch. We're
all expendable assets, can't you
see that?
Schaefer takes the paper from Dillon's hands.
SCHAEFER
That's your problem, Dillon.
You always did put ambition
before the lives of your men.
(pause)
My men are not expendable. I
don't do this kind of work.
(crumples up
paper in fist)
This is your dirty little war,
not mine.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 37
*
55 CONTINUED: (3) 55
He stuffs the crumpled paper into Dillon's shirt
pocket.
Anna, regaining consciousness, GROANS, a heavy flow
of blood running down her face from her head wound.
Hawkins appears at the door.
HAWKINS
Major!
Schaefer turns away from Dillon and steps through
the doorway into the palapa as Anna moans again,
MUMBLING something in Spanish. Dillon kneels,
beside her.
DILLON
(quietly; in Spanish)
Are you all right?
55-A INT. PALAPA - DAY 55-A
Schaefer is talking to Hawkins who has the field
radio set on a crate just outside the door.
HAWKINS
(urgent)
Major, we stepped into some
real shit here. I got a hook-up
with aerial surveillance.
SCHAEFER
Movement?
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 38
55-A CONTINUED: 55-A
HAWKINS
(nods)
Guerrillas swarming like flies *
all over the place. Can't be more *
then one, maybe two miles away. *
Place is going down, Major.
SCHAEFER
How much time?
HAWKINS
Half an hour, maybe less. *
Schaefer touches him on the shoulder.
SCHAEFER
(urgently)
Tell Mac we move in five.
He starts to walk away.
DILLON
(o.s.)
She goes with us.
Schaefer turns. Dillon is at the doorway, supporting
the still groggy Anna.
DILLON
She's too valuable. She's
got to know their whole
network. The whole set up.
We take her with us. *
SCHAEFER
We take her and she'll give
away our position, every
chance she gets. No
prisoners, Dillon.
Dillon grabs the handset from Hawkin's radio, shoving it
at Schaefer.
DILLON
You're still under orders,
Dutch. You want to make the
call, or should I?
Schaefer looks at the handset. Then at Dillon, he knows
Dillon's won.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
39
55-A CONTINUED: (2) 55-A
He starts to walk away but stops, turning back, pointing
a finger at Dillon.
SCHAEFER
I'm getting my men out of this
damn jungle, Dillon. She's
your baggage. You fall behind,
you're on your own.
56 EXT. GUERRILLA VILLAGE - DAY 56
Schaefer and Billy are kneeling on the ground near the
trailhead, studying a MAP. In the b.g., the team, hidden,
covers the hillside approaches to the camp, nervous and
wary, weapons ready.
SCHAEFER
This place is too hot for a pick-up.
They won't touch us until we're over
the border. We can lift at LZ 49,
here.
(points to map)
Spotter plane says we're cut off.
(points to map)
Except for this valley.
Billy shakes his head, following the CONTOUR LINES of
the rugged terrain.
BILLY
Looks bad, Major. It's gonna be
a real bitch.
(points to map)
If we follow above the river and
then down, here, at this canyon,
we might find a way out.
Schaefer turns to Ramirez, kneeling close by.
SCHAEFER
(decisively)
Not much choice. Pancho, take
the lead. Double time it.
He turns and looks at Dillon, Anna as his side, her
forehead bandaged, her hands bound in front of her.
He turns back to the others.
SCHAEFER
Lock n' load, watch your ass.
Blain moves out, swinging the Mini-gun in front of him
as he goes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40
56-A EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY 56-A
Watching as Dillon leads ANNA onward, SEEING her bound
hands. Dillon pushes her.
57 EXT. ANNA - DAY 57
Spins, hurling a string of insults to Dillon in
SPANISH.
ANNA
(in Spanish)
You touch me again, pig, and
I will cut off your balls!
DILLON
(in Spanish)
It's a long walk back, make it
easy on yourself.
She spits at him, turning forward with a twist of
her head.
Dillon picks up his back, shouldering it. As they
move on, Mac calls out to him.
MAC
(quietly)
Hey, Dillon, over here.
Dillon doesn't respond.
MAC
(louder)
Dillon, over here.
Dillon turns and approaches, warily, holding
the girl.
DILLON
Yeah, what is it, Sergeant?
MAc unsheathes his knife. He gives Dillon a cold
look and turns him by the shoulders. Crawling
across the PACK on Dillon's back is a huge SCORPION.
Mac skeweres the scorpion with the tip of his
blade, holding it before the wincing Dillon. Anna
smirks, nodding to the writhing, stinging insect.
ANNA
(in Spanish)
When my people catch you,
you'll wish you were him.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
41
57 CONTINUED: 57
Dillon looks at Mac.
DILLON
Thanks.
MAC
(coolly)
Anytime.
Mac flings the scorpion to the ground, crushing it
with his boot. He looks up at Dillon, walks away.
Dillon follows, pulling Anna behind him.
Billy, guarding the rear, glances furtively around
the clearing. He moves a step forward and stops,
freezing.
Slowly he turns back, his eyes riveted upon the
treeline above the camp. His eyes strain, his
senses registering a fear he cannot name or see.
Something is out there, in the trees, waiting,
watching.
Billy turns and walks into the jungle, pausing
one last time to look behind him before he too
disappears from sight.
The jungle GROWS SILENT.
58 EXT. OBSERVER'S ALTERED P.O.V. - DAY 58
LOOKING DOWN from his vantage point TO the treeline
below, terraces like stepping stones, FOCUSING ON
a TREE, fifty feet away.
The Observer utters a LOW TRILL and springs outward
into space, hurtling downward towards his landing
point, the canopy of the trees approaching in a
staccato rush of green.
The SOUNDS of the FOREST are again altered and
enhanced with an electric, STATIC-LIKE quality as
the Observer descends fluidly through the trees
and to the ground.
He enters the camp, surveying the terrible
destruction and carnage. He SEES the dead
Guerrillas, the dissipating heat from their bodies
leaving them pale and GHOST-LIKE, as if fading
light about to extinguish. He sees their weapons,
the cold hard steel of the barrels registering
ICE BLUE in his vision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
42
58-A EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. OF HIS HAND - DAY 58-A
As it appears, pulsing in a pale magenta heat, low
to the ground, holding his weapon. He lays down
the weapon, picking up the SCORPION, turning it
slowly in his fingers, examining it. It looks like
an exotic flower, its color fading from sight,
turning to BLACK.
A low SOUND is uttered, something vaguely familiar
about it: A NEARLY HUMAN VOICE, a distorted
imitation of Mac.
HUNTER
(o.s.; filtered)
Dillon, over here.
Again the phrase is uttered, improving, closer to
Mac's inflection and accent.
HUNTER
(o.s.)
Dillon, over here.
The Hunter lowers the pitch.
HUNTER
(o.s.)
Dillon, over here.
The last effort is a chilling simulation of Mac's
voice.
59 EXT. OBSERVER'S HAND - DAY 59
Drops the scorpion and picks up the weapon which
changes instantly back to the Observer's skin tones.
59-A EXT. OBSERVER'S P.O.V. - DAY 59-A
He turns and focuses on the area where the team
left camp.
He crouches and springs to the lower branches of a
tree, grasping them with his clawed, three-fingered
hands, pulling himself up and through the branches
with astounding speed and simian-like dexterity; his
spurred prehensile feet, grasping and thrusting him
to a vantage point, fifty feet above the ground.
As he moves on, the jungle grows suddenly QUIET, as
if aware, sensing that the HUNTER is now stalking, no
longer observing!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
43
60 EXT. JUNGLE VALLEY - DAY 60
The twilight world of a PREHISTORIC FOREST, filled
with gigantic plants and towering trees, overgrown
with vines and creepers.
The team, with Billy at point, walk alongside a
wandering STREAM BED, weirdly illuminated by SHAFTS
OF LIGHT, streaming through openings in the trees,
as if from spotlights, a hundred feet above.
It is midday, hot and humid, the air BUZZING with the
sounds of insects, the CRYING of birds and monkeys.
The men are moving fast and quiet, straining to see
into the dense jungle, aware of every sound, sweating,
quietly slapping at biting insects.
61 EXT. GIANT HARDWOOD TREE - DAY 61
Lies across their path. As the man climb over a
rotten section, Mac stops to assist Blain with his
Mini-gun.
MAC
I've seen some badass bush
before, but nothin' like
this, man.
(pause)
Little taste 'o home?
Blain nods and pauses to rest, looking around him
as Mac withdraws a small silver POCKET FLASK. He
takes a nip, passing the flask to Blain who also
takes a sip.
BLAIN
I hear you bro, this is some
shit. Makes Cambodia look
like Kansas. Lose your way
in here, man, you be in some
kinda hurt.
Blain hands back the flask, Mac replacing it inside
his vest. They do their hand dap, looking warily
behind them before they move on.
62 EXT. ANNA AND DILLON - JUNGLE - DAY 62
Have fallen behind, Dillon looking worriedly ahead
at the them out distancing them. Anna is keeping
her pace purposefully slow. She trips on a root
falling to the ground. She lies there, motionless.
He quickly reaches down to haul her to her feet.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 44
62 CONTINUED: 62
DILLON
(urgently)
Shit. Come on...
Like an uncoiled spring, Anna turns, flinging a
handful of DIRT into his face, momentarily blinding
him. She lunges for his rifle with her bound hands.
Suddenly the BARREL of an MP-5 is thrust into her face.
Looking up she SEES Ramirez, calmly holding the weapon
on her, the look in his eyes indicating he'd hove no
trouble shooting her.
RAMIREZ
(in Spanish)
Don't try it.
She looks back at Dillon, wiping the dirt from his eyes.
She moves on. Ramirez gives him a cold look as Dillon
hurries past.
RAMIREZ
(coolly)
You should put her on a leash,
Agent Man. If you can't handle
her, just say the word.
Dillon moves on, ignoring Ramirez, who turns, scanning
the jungle behind him before moving on. Dillon catches
up with Anna, turning her sharply by the chin.
DILLON
(cold; in Spanish)
Try that again. Please. *
She looks at him contemptuously, undaunted. She will
try it again. She breaks away from his grasp and
moves on, Dillon watching her go, he won't hesitate
next time.
63 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 63
As he travels, directly overhead, timing his movement
with those of the team. He moves lower, closer to
the slowly moving humans.
64 EXT. RIVER BED - DAY 64
The team moves cautiously through the winding stream
bed, now wearing their clothing in various stages of
disarray for comfort, sweat dripping from their bodies.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 45
64 CONTINUED: 64
Billy, in the lead, picks his way along the riverbank,
his concentration rapt, aboriginal. His face a
trancelike mask of expectation.
Blain, cradling the heavy Mini-gun as if it were a
toy, swings the weapon relentlessly across his field
of view. He pauses to adjust the hanging, belted
loop of cartridges trailing from the back pack
magazine. An INSECT lands on his face and is trapped
in the grease paint near his lips. He draws the
hapless bug into his mouth with his tongue and quietly
spits it out, his concentration unbroken.
Mac follows, holding the M-60 high across his chest.
Schaefer, bent, cautious, his feet moving aside the
dry leaves on the ground, heel to toe and on foot
edges. He glances around, checking the team's
position and progress.
Hawkins follows, his mouth open, breathing deeply,
exhausted, the radio a 60 pound demon.
Anna, struggling to climb a section of the stream
bank, slips on some loose dirt. Unable to assist
herself with her hands tied, she nearly falls.
Dillon prods her with his rifle, forcing her to
her feet. She scrambles up the bank, Dillon following.
65 EXT. RIVER BANK - DAY 65
As Billy enters a small clearing, bordered on one
side by the towering trees, carpeting the
mountainside. High above in the thick, impenetrable
treeline, brightly colored birds SQUAWK loudly,
chasing each other from branch to branch.
Suddenly Billy stops. Schaefer holds up his hand
and the team freezes in position. An eerie SILENCE,
like a slowly falling curtain, descends over the
jungle until even the BUZZING and CLICKING of insects
have CEASED.
66 EXT. TEAM MEMBERS - DAY 66
Sensing an ambush, move quietly into the foliage.
Dillon moves into the undergrowth, dragging Anna
with him. He slings his MP-5 over his shoulder,
withdrawing his KNIFE. Grasping Anna by her shirt
collar and pushing her to the ground he holds the
weapon near her throat. Dillon signals to Ramirez *
who approaches. Dillon hands Ramirez the knife.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 46
*
66 CONTINUED: 66
DILLON
Watch her.
Before Ramirez can respond, Dillon slips into the
undergrowth. Ramirez holds the knife on Anna,
cautiously scanning around him for movement.
Unseen by Ramirez, Anna's outstretched hands slowly
tighten around a stout ROOT-BURL, lying loose on the
ground.
67 EXT. BILLY - AT THE RIVER BED - DAY 67
He remains frozen and transfixed, staring into the
treeline. Something is moving, fluid, silently and
downward, into the forest. Billy remains rooted to
the spot, lost in concentration.
68 SCHAEFER 68
sensing something very wrong with Billy, moves alongside
Mac.
SCHAEFER
What's got Billy so spooked?
MAC
Can't say, Major...been
squirrely all mornin'...
fuckin' weird...sometimes
I think that nose of his is
too good...smells things that
ain't there.
Schaefer signals for Mac to cover him and then moves low
and quiet towards Billy. Dillon appears, looking to
Mac for an explanation. Mac ignores him, concentrating
on the jungle. Dillon looks forward at...
Billy, his eyes riveted to the capony above, as he
unconsciously reaches to his throat, grasping a LEATHER
POUCH, secured to his neck by a thong. He fingers the
MEDICINE BAG talisman.
69 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 69
As he slowly descends through the trees, moving
towards Billy, who's eyes search the treeline for
movement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
47
70 BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER 70
approaches Billy, gripping his shoulders and in a
hoarse whisper, speaks his name.
SCHAEFER
What is it...?
Billy, rigid, does not respond. Schaefer forcefully
jerks his around to face him.
SCHAEFER
Billy...What the hell's wrong
with you?
BILLY
(low)
Something...in the trees...
71 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 71
Still closing in on Billy. Billy turns back, looking
high into the trees, puzzled and frightened. He's
lost sense of the Hunter's presence. He lowers his
vision, looking towards the Hunter, now on the ground,
30 yards across the clearing from Billy. The Hunter
pauses.
72 BACK TO SCENE/BILLY AND SCHAEFER 72
BILLY
(whispers)
Can you see anything...
(points)
...there?
Schaefer stares hard at the jungle.
SCHAEFER
It's...nothing...
73 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 73
Moves behind a broad fern, skirting around Billy
and Schaefer, heading away from the column.
74 BACK TO SCENE/BILLY AND SCHAEFER 74
Schaefer shakes his head, continuing to stare into
the jungle. He turns to Billy.
SCHAEFER
What do you think...?
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 48
*
74 CONTINUED: 74
Billy turns, a puzzled look in his eyes. He nods
in agreement.
BILLY
It's nothing...
75 EXT. ANNA AND RAMIREZ - DAY 75
Sensing the danger has passed, Ramirez releases his
grip on Anna. As they start to rise, Ramirez sheaths
his knife and unslings his MP-5. Anna still stares
hard into the jungle.
Suddenly, without even looking, Anna with the trained
reflexes of an experienced fighter swings the BURL with
all her might, catching Ramirez hard on the side of the
head, just above the eye, opening a wicked gash.
Spinning around she knees him brutally in the groin.
As Ramirez goes down, doubled over in pain, Anna turns,
scrambling up the embankment, running for the jungle.
Ramirez CRIES out.
76 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 76
HEARING Ramirez' cry, Schaefer signals to Hawkins to
move. Hawkins moves out, fast, heading towards the
sound...
77 EXT. HAWKINS - DAY 77
SEES Anna running away. He gives chase.
Anna, although bound, is light and fit and runs fast,
hurdling fallen logs and branches, charging through the
undergrowth. SHe has a good start.
Hawkins, hampered by the radio and weapon but in
tremendous shape, thunders after her, closing the
distance.
78 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 78
As he passes from behind a large tree, surrounded by
dense foliage, SEEING the fleeing Anna. He watches
her and then begins to move parallel with her, only
faster, the green of the jungle rushing by in a blur.
79 EXT. ANNA AND HAWKINS - DAY 79
Anna, bursting through a grove of ferns, drives on,
breathing hard with the exertion.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
49
79 CONTINUED: 79
Hawkins, ten yards behind, closing the distance,
taking advantage of any hesitation Anna makes,
struggling with the dense jungle.
Anna hits a small clearing, an alleyway through
the trees. She sprints hard across the clear
ground.
80 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 80
Moving through the jungle. As he steps clear of
the foliage he SEES Anna driving hard into the
alleyway, running directly towards him. Twenty
yards away, Hawkins, closes in.
81 BACK TO SCENE/HAWKINS 81
Only a few feet behind Anna, lunges forward, knocking
her to the ground. In a second he's on her, his
weapon ready. She struggles to her feet, fighting,
gasping for breath. Hawkins holds the MP-5 on her,
looking at her, almost pleading. He doesn't want
to shoot her, but he will if he has to.
HAWKINS
Please...
She looks at the weapon, to Hawkins and then,
hopefully, to the jungle. She stops, staring hard
down the alleyway. Something...suddenly she sees it!
ANNA
(in Spanish)
Look out, behind you!!!
Hawkins spins...
82 EXT. HAWKINS AND ANNA'S P.O.V. - DAY 82
SEEING the MOTTLED OUTLINE of the Hunter's body,
racing towards them, as if the entire wall of the
jungle were rushing in. The Hunter's WEAPON
flares to life.
83 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - ANNA AND HAWKINS - DAY 83
As he hurtles towards them, their faces frozen in
surprise.
84 BACK TO SCENE/ANNA AND HAWKINS 84
A splitting THUD as Hawkins is hurtled backwards into
the undergrowth, the Hunter's hand and WEAPON flashing
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 50
*
84 CONTINUED: 84
through the air. BLOOD splashes on Anna's face.
She SCREAMS as Hawkins' MP-5 FIRES a short BURST
into the air.
85 EXT. RIVER BED - DAY 85
HEARING the GUNFIRE, Schaefer WHISTLES low and sharp.
Ramirez, face bloody, swings into action, moving in a
coordinated defensive/offensive pattern into the
jungle.
86 HAWKINS/BACK TO SCENE 86
The Hunter's ARM and SPUR hook into Hawkins' leg, and
he is dragged into the jungle.
87 EXT. RAMIREZ - DAY 87
Ramirez runs forward ten paces, drops to a crouch,
scanning to each side. Immediately Schaefer runs
forward twenty paces. As he passes Ramirez, Ramirez
turns and scans the rear and flanks.
Dillon, Mac and Blain repeat the maneuver, leap-frogging
forward, canvassing the jungle, providing areas of
intersection cover.
88 EXT. RAMIREZ 88
Entering the alleyway where Hawkins was killed he SEES
Anna, cowering in the bushes, her blood splattered
face glazed with terror, his eyes vacant. He
approaches, angry, wary, but the girl is so stunned.
He SEES the trail of BLOOD and CRUSHED GRASSES leading
into the jungle. He gives a LOW WHISTLE and then moves
on, the rest of the team assuming defensive positions
around the clearing.
He follows the trail, finding first Hawkins'
blood-covered weapon, and then, a few yards later,
the radio. Ramirez cautiously parts the brush before
him. A look of puzzlement and then revulsion comes
of his face.
89 EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY 89
Blain and Mac at either end, cautiously searching
the jungle; Billy covering their flanks.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
51
89 CONTINUED: 89
Schaefer and Dillon approach Anna. She seems unaware
of their presence, staring numbly ahead. Schaefer
checks her out, looking for wounds, he wipes some of
the blood from her face.
SCHAEFER
It's not her blood.
Ramirez emerges from the jungle carrying Hawkins'
MP-5 and radio. He approaches, dumping the equipment
on the ground.
RAMIREZ
Major, you'd better take a
look at this.
SCHAEFER
Hawkins?
RAMIREZ
(oddly)
I can't tell.
90 EXT. SCHAEFER AND RAMIREZ - DAY 90
Dillon in the b.g., as Ramirez parts the brush with
his weapon. Before them, covered with dirt and
leaves, are Hawkins' ENTRAILS. There is no body.
SCHAEFER
(shocked)
What in God's name...?
RAMIREZ
I think it's Hawkins.
SCHAEFER
Where the hell is his body?
RAMIREZ
There's no sign of it.
91 EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY 91
The entire team is gathered, still holding defensive
positions. Anna, still stunned, is beginning to
come around. She looks up at Schaefer. He turns to
Ramirez.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 52
*
91 CONTINUED: 91
SCHAEFER
Ramirez, ask her what
happened.
Ramirez drops to one knee and talks softly to her in
SPANISH. She mutters incoherently in Spanish, still
dazed, shaking her head. Dillon listens closely to her
response. Ramirez turns to Schaefer. He seems
confused.
RAMIREZ
She says...the jungle came
alive, and took him...
DILLON
That isn't what she said...
she said...
(pondering; to
Ramirez)
...she doesn't make sense.
RAMIREZ
(growing angry)
Couple of sappers been
trailing us all the way from
the camp, Major. Billy heard
them. She set us up, ran
for it...They were waiting.
I should've wasted the bitch
when I had the chance.
Schaefer, looking at Hawkins' bloodstained equipment
lying at Anna's feet, looks up.
SCHAEFER
(quietly)
Why didn't they take the
radio and his weapon?
(pause)
Why didn't she escape?
Ramirez and Dillon look at the equipment and then
to the girl, still numb with shock.
DILLON
(grimly; remembering)
They did the same thing to
Davis...
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
53
91 CONTINUED: (2) 91
The two veteran commandos look at each other, finding
no explanation between them.
SCHAEFER
(urgent; to the others)
I want him found. Sweep
pattern and double back. Fifty
meters.
They move out. Schaefer moves into the jungle,
searching. He crouches at the base of a huge
MAHOGANY TREE, covered with vines, studying the
jungle. He moves away from the tree and into the
forest, looking for signs on the ground.
Where he was sitting, a DROP OF BLOOD falls. Another
drop falls, dripping from a leaf and above that, from
another leaf. Above that, high in the top of the
tree, SUSPENDED from vines from his ankles, is
HAWKINS' BODY, his chest a gaping wound.
He hands there as if he were an animal, field dressed.
92 EXT. BLAIN - DAY 92
Crouched in the undergrowth. There is a movement in
the brush before him. He wipes the sweat from his
eyes and clicks his safety on the Mini-gun to fire.
The SOUND is growing closer. Blain levels the weapon.
A smile crosses his face.
BLAIN
(whispers)
Come on in you fuckers...come on
in. 'ol 'painless' is waitin'...
The movement in the brush is GROWING LOUDER. Blain's
finger moves closer to the trigger.
Suddenly a small TAPIR bursts through the leaves,
startling Blain. He relaxes momentarily as he
watches the animal scurrying from sight. He
stands...
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
54
92 CONTINUED: 92
SOMETHING grazes his shoulder, a gout of BLOOD erupting.
He starts to turn, the Mini-gun held low, ready to
fire...
...from out of the jungle, 75 feet away, the Hunter's
WEAPON streaks toward him like a missile. He SCREAMS
as it enters his back, erupting from his chest in an
EXPLOSION of BLOOD.
93 EXT. MAC - DAY 93
Has heard Blain's cry. He moves fast through the brush.
He HEARS a RUSTLING in the bushes. A wet SUCKING SOUND.
Mac charges into the clearing. In the instant before
the Hunter disappears into the forest, Mac SEES a vision
so brief and fantastic that it seems like a
hallucination.
The Hunter's EYES flare momentarily from the green
before they vanish.
Mac sees his friend, lying on the ground, his chest
open, the powerful man, dead.
MAC
(shouting)
Contact, 30 Right!!!
He OPENS FIRE with his M-203, belted shells slamming
into the weapon from the magazine at his waist,
expending it in one LONG BURST.
94 EXT. THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS - DAY 94
Flying through the jungle, weapons ready, eyes searching
for movement.
95 EXT. MAC - DAY 95
He throws down the weapon and with a cry of rage, lunges
forward, grabbing the Mini-gun. As he stands, the
CARTRIDGE BELT, attached to Blain, strings out between
them.
He opens FIRE and the foliage before him EXPLODES with
the fury of the terrible weapon. Mac sweeps the
Mini-gun from left to right, like a man possessed,
mowing down the jungle.
The other team members race INTO SIGHT and begin firing
with Mac.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 55
95 CONTINUED: 95
Ramirez opens FIRE with the SIX-SHOOTER grenade
launcher...EXPLOSIONS rock the jungle.
96 EXT. HUNTER - DAY 96
Moving. A piece of SHRAPNEL cuts his shoulder. A
splash of ORANGE BLOOD spatters across the LEAVES
of a nearby tree, bullet holes ripping through the
surrounding foliage.
97 BACK TO SCENE/MAC 97
More FIRING. Mac, his weapon expended, continues
to thrust the Mini-gun forward, still squeezing the
trigger.
Suddenly, as quickly as it started, THE FIRING STOPS.
The men move catlike into the jungle, reloading,
searching, their nerves taut, stretched to the limit,
ready to fire again at any second.
Mac is frozen, eyes wide, unblinking, his breath
coming in rapid gasps as he stares into the jungle,
still squeezing the trigger of the weapon, its
breech locked open, GUNSMOKE wafting from the chamber
and barrel.
Schaefer moves in front of Mac, still staring into the
jungle. Dillon pushes Anna into the clearing, moving
towards the body. Anna looks at the body and then up
to Mac. Schaefer sees a terrifying moment of
recognition flash in her eyes as she continues to
stare at Mac. He turns to Mac.
MAC
(confused)
I...saw it.
At these words, Anna reacts in shock, drawing a *
slight breath. Schaefer turns, sees her staring at *
Mac. He turns back.
SCHAEFER
You saw what?
MAC
(still dazed)
I saw it.
Schaefer turns back to see Anna, staring fixidly at Mac, *
watching his lips. Schaefer turns quickly to Blain's *
body and kneels alongside Dillon.
98 SCHAEFER 98
is at Blain's side, shocked at the sight of the
mutilated body. He is joined by Dillon.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
56
98 CONTINUED: 98
SCHAEFER
(to himself)
Blain...
(puzzled)
...Just like the others...no
powder burns, no shrapnel.
DILLON
The wound all fused,
cauterized...what the hell
did this?
Schaefer stands, looking at the body. In the b.g.
Anna drifts away from the group.
SCHAEFER
(to Mac)
...Mac!
Mac stares ahead, dumbly, not hearing. He grabs Mac
by his shoulders, shaking him violently back to
awareness.
SCHAEFER
(demanding;
angry)
Mac! Mac! Look at me!
Mac turn to face Schaefer, a shocked expression on his
face.
SCHAEFER
(urgent)
Mac, who did this?
Mac is suddenly angry and frustrated, he has no
explanation.
MAC
I don't know. Goddamn it,
something...I saw something/.
Ramirez runs from the jungle, breathing hard, shaking
his head.
RAMIREZ
Nothing. The same thing.
Not a fucking trace. No
bodies, blood, anything.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
57
98 CONTINUED: (2) 98
Mac stands. Instinctively the team has now grouped
around Schaefer, their weapons pointing into the jungle,
ready, their nerves on total edge. Schaefer looks
upward at the darkening sky.
SCHAEFER
(quietly)
We're losing the light. Mac,
I want a defensive position
above this ridge, mined with
everything we're got.
Man is again the hardened professional.
MAC
Yessir.
Schaefer looks down at Blain's body. He turns to
Ramirez and Billy.
SCHAEFER
Put him in his poncho and
liner and carry him back.
We'll bury him in the morning.
MAC
I'll take him.
99 ANNA 99
as they leave approaches the brush, her attention
focused on something clinging to the leaves, well off
to the side of where Mac saw the Hunter. She draws
closer, reaching out, hesitant, as if drawn magnetically
to the leaves.
100 EXT. DETAIL - HUNTER'S BLOOD - DAY 100
Clinging to the leaves, thick, viscous, pale-orange,
almost like the sap of an exotic plant. Her fingers
hover above it, hesitantly, and then touch it.
101 ANNA 101
examines the blood, transfixed. Dillon appears at her
shoulder, startling her. He motions for her to return.
She turns, wiping the blood onto her pants leg.
102 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DUSK 102
The team is dug into the foxholes in a dense grove of
trees, a solid wall to their backs. The men are barely
visible they blend in so well.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
58
102 CONTINUED: 102
Nearby, Mac is stringing a TRIP WIRE, low to the ground,
covering it with leaves and grass. He moves into camp
and reports to Schaefer.
MAC
We've got most of the flares,
frags. and two claymores just
outside. Nothin's comin'
close to here without trippin'
on somethin'.
SCHAEFER
Thank you, Sergeant.
Mac starts to go but Schaefer places his hand on his
shoulder.
SCHAEFER
I'm sorry, Bull. It's never
easy. He was a good soldier.
MAC
(hardened)
The best friend I ever had.
Mac turns and walks through the camp, stopping beside
a DARK OBJECT on the ground. He kneels beside the
PONCHO pulling back the zipper REVEALING Blain's face,
looking peaceful in death, as if lying in state.
Mac removes something from his pocket, holding it in
his hand, studying it.
103 DETAIL OF OBJECT IN MAC'S HAND 103
The small WHISKEY FLASH, the chrome rubbed away in
places REVEALING the brass beneath and a MEDALLION
depicting the 101 1ST AIRBORNE DIVISION.
104 MAC 104
takes a tiny sip from the flask. He replaces the cap
and lifts the flap of Blain's shirt pocket, placing
the flask inside. He lingers on the face and then
closes the zipper.
MAC
(softly)
Good-bye, Bro.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
59
105 ANNA 105
is huddles into a foxhole, her hands still tied in front
of her. She looks down at her pants leg. The Hunter's
BLOODSTAIN glows with a faint luminosity. She places
her fingers near the stain.
106 INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT 106
Hawkins' BODY impacts the floor with a THUMP.
107 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (DUSK) 107
A momentary HUSH falls over the symphony of night
sounds. Anna and Billy turn towards the trees with a
growing look of wariness. The others, setting up the
RADIO, show no response.
108 INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - DAY (DUSK) 108
The Hunter's foot steps on the upper leg of the corpse,
the PREHENSILE SPUR digging deep, pinioning the body
to the ground. The Hunter's HAND extends, his
FINGERS puncturing the skin at the base of the spine,
gripping the vertebrae.
With otherworldly strength the arm pulls, the entire
SPINAL COLUMN ripping free from the body, a sickly
SNAPPING and POPPING of cartilage separating from bone
and tissue.
109 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (DUSK) 109
Ramirez is tuning in the compact FIELD RADIO, equipped
with a CRYPTO-PHONE device. Dillon holds the handset.
DILLON
(to phone)
Blazer One, say again...
A CRACKLE of STATIC over the radio.
BLAZER ONE
(voice over)
Red Fox, I say again. Your
request for extraction denied.
Your area still compromised.
Proceed to Sector 3000 for
prisoner extraction, Priority
Alpha. Next contact at 1030
hours.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 60
*
109 CONTINUED: 109
DILLON
(to phone;
angry)
Roger, Blazer One. 1030
hours...damn, bastards.
He puts down the phone, turning to the group, huddled
together in a tight circle, Ramirez and Billy facing
outward in defensive positions, Anna, silent, watching.
Schaefer is look at him.
DILLON
(angry;
shocked)
We're still too far in, they
won't risk coming in for us.
SCHAEFER
Expendable assets, Dillon.
Seems Langley is never around
when you need them.
DILLON
I can accept that, it comes
with the job.
SCHAEFER
Bullshit. You're just like
the rest of us.
Dillon glares back. Schaefer leaves, lost in thought.
Ramirez looks up at the impenetrable canopy.
RAMIREZ
Shit load o' good a chopper'd
do us in here anyway.
Dillon turns to Mac.
DILLON
Mac. Who hit us today?
Mac is still obviously feeling the anger and bitterness
of the mystifying event.
MAC
Don't know, only saw one of
'em. Camouflaged. He was
there...
(remembering)
...Those fucking eyes...
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 61
*
109 CONTINUED: (2) 109
DILLON
(abruptly;
pushing)
What, Sergeant?
MAC
(returning;
angry)
Those eyes...disappeared. But
I know one thing, Major...
(pause)
...I drew down and fired
right at it. Capped-off two
hundred rounds and then the
Mini-gun; the full pack.
Nothin'...nothin' on this
earth could have lived...not
at that range.
Dillon ponders this for a moment, staring hard at Mac.
Mac gets up.
MAC
I've got the first watch.
Mac departs. Dillon watches Mac as he creeps forward
to the sentry position. He turns to Ramirez.
DILLON
Ask her again. What did she
see? What happened to
Hawkins?
Ramirez turns to Anna. They talk quietly in Spanish,
Dillon watching, listening carefully. Ramirez turns
back to Dillon.
RAMIREZ
(interpreting)
She says the same thing...
It was the jungle...
Ramirez looks up at Billy who continues to stare into
the jungle, aware, catlike, reacting to every sound,
his nerves on edge, as if ready to snap. Ramirez
rises, moves alongside his friend, Dillon watching
closely.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 62
*
109 CONTINUED: (3) 109
RAMIREZ
(whispering;
imploring)
You know something Billy, what
is it?
Billy turns, his face a mask of primal fear. He moves
close to Ramirez.
BILLY
I'm scared.
Ramirez is frightened by this.
RAMIREZ
(shaken)
Bullshit. You ain't afraid
of no man.
Billy looks deep into his eyes, chilling Ramirez to the
bone, looking at his with eyes which have seen on an
instinctual level what the others have so far only begun
to sense.
BILLY
There's something out there,
waiting for us...it ain't
no man.
Billy turns away, moving a short distance away, taking
up his position. Dillon looks after him and then into
the blackness of the jungle canopy. Dillon speaks to
Ramirez.
DILLON
He's losing his cool. There's
nothing out there but a couple
of men that we're going to
have to take down.
Despite his words, there is an edge of doubt in his
voice. Schaefer returns. He's overheard this exchange.
He's holding the group of DOG TAGS taken from Davis' men.
He holds them up for Dillon to see.
SCHAEFER
You still don't get it, do
you Dillon? He took Davis...
and now he wants us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
63
110 INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT 110
CLOSE ON an oval CHAMBER made of an otherworldly looking
metal with a strange copperlike patina, its interior
bathed in INTENSE BLUE LIGHT. In the chamber is
Hawkins' SKULL CAP and SPINAL COLUMN still attached.
The light field suddenly changes as all connective
tissue, flesh and blood and drawn away from the bony
structures with incredible force, disintegrating as they
rush toward the sides of the chamber.
The light changes in frequency to a dull glow as the
Hunter's hands remove the GLAZED, POLISHED trophy from
the chamber. He turns, carefully placing it upon a
GLOWING SURFACE. He touches the trophy gently, feeling
its texture, as a man might touch the hide of a big cat.
He pulls his hand away and instantly an opaque FORCE
FIELD covers the trophies.
111 EXT. MAC - NIGHT (LATER) 111
Hunched down in a foxhole, the Mini-gun on a tripod
before him. It's nearly a FULL MOON, the jungle a
montage of SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS. Mac stares into
the night, his eyes always moving.
MAC
(distant;
whispering)
It's the same kinda jungle,
Bro, same moon...
everything...
(pause)
...a real number ten night.
Remember Bro? Only you and
me, the only one's out of the
whole fuckin' platoon who made
it out.
His eyes probe the darkness, remembering.
MAC
...we walked out on top of
'em. Not a scratch, not a
fuckin' scratch.
(spits into
the night)
No fuckin' chili-choker got
to you, Bro...you were just
too good...
He ponders this a moment.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
64
111 CONTINUED: 111
MAC
...I promise you this, Bro...
whoever he is, I hope he's
plannin' to hit us again...
(pauses;
spits)
...'cause he's got my name
on 'em.
112 INT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT 112
A FORCE FIELD that permeates the jungle, becoming one
with the trees and foliage. The Hunter walks down a
CORRIDOR of SOLID LIGHT, leading to an opening to the
jungle. As the Hunter reaches the doorway he changes
from visible to invisible, moving on into the night.
113 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT 113
The mist has thickened, the night alive with a million
JUNGLE SOUNDS. The team members sleep uneasily, if at
all.
Mac, although weary, stares hard into the night,
waiting, each small sound a potential enemy. A LULL
spreads over the jungle, animals and insects QUIETING.
Mac tightens his grip on the Mini-gun.
Billy awakens, peering into the night. Nothing.
Suddenly, a metallic CLICK, a POP, the SOUND of a
warning flare rocketing into the canopy. A moment later
a brilliant FLASH as the flare burns, illuminating the
camp.
An echoing eerie SCREAM fills the night as a DARK SHAPE
in the mist rockets through the undergrowth towards Mac.
Mac spins, hauling the heavy gun around, just as
something crashes into his upper body, driving the huge
man into the foxhole.
A desperate battle for life ensues, illuminated with
the strobing light of the descending flare. Mac's
enraged SHOUTS and ROARS mingled with horrific SCREAMS
fill the night.
Mac's razor-edged KNIFE slashes in the light; BLOOD
spatters his face as he attacks fiercely.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
65
113 CONTINUED: 113
Schaefer and Ramirez rush at a crouching run towards
the foxhole, their weapons ready.
A tremendous climatic SCREAM from the foxhole AND THEN,
SILENCE. Schaefer and Ramirez approach, cautiously.
Mac stands, his face and clothes drenched in blood,
some of it his, his breath coming in rapid gasps. He
looks at Schaefer, whispering hoarsely.
MAC
Got the motherfucker...
As the flare breaks through the canopy, dying out in
great flickering bursts, the man stare down into the
foxhole. A huge, jungle BOAR lies mutilated in a pool
of blood, still quivering in the final throes of death.
The flare dies out.
Mac, shaking from adrenalin, breathing heavily, looks
down at the dying animal.
MAC
(incredulous)
A pig...just a fucking pig...
Schaefer shines his TEKNA-LIGHT onto the boar, playing
the light along its massive hulk, its razor edges tusks
gleaming in the light. Ramirez appears by his side,
looking down at the huge carcass.
RAMIREZ
Holy shit, Mac.
Nearby, unnoticed by the men, Anna stoops, her hands
still bound, picking up an MP-5 from the ground. She
turns, looking for an avenue of escape, running for
the jungle.
But the forest looks foreboding and sinister. She
stops, staring at the jungle, the moonlight reflected
off leaves like a thousand eyes. For a brief second
she imagines she can see the Hunter's eyes, crashing
towards her, the shifting patterns of light and dark
making the jungle seem to strobe, like it is about to
rush in at her. She freezes, paralyzed by fear, by her
memories of the attack.
She drops the MP-5 to the ground.
Back at the foxhole, Schaefer and Ramirez help the
still shaken Mac from the hole. Schaefer looks at
Mac, at the huge gash across his chest.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
66
113 CONTINUED: (2) 113
SCHAEFER
Get a field dressing on that
right away.
Suddenly he remembers, Anna.
SCHAEFER
Where's the girl?
They all turn, ready to move and then stop. Coming
forth from the shadows Anna appears, still frightened,
seeking the security of the soldiers.
From the darkness nearby, Billy's VOICE in a hoarse
WHISPER.
BILLY
(o.s.; urgently)
Major, over here.
Schaefer turns, apprehensive, something in Billy's
voice...
He walks over to Billy, standing with a FLASHLIGHT
pointing to the ground. They see Blain's BODY BAG
slashed open, covered in blood. Ramirez appears.
BILLY
The body...it's gone.
RAMIREZ
Came in through the trip
wires, took it right out from
under our noses...
Anna appears between Schaefer and Ramirez, staring down
at the empty, blood-soaked body bag. She looks up, into
Schaefer's eyes.
114 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (PRE-DAWN) 114
A patchy GROUND FOG covers the area. Anna, in her
foxhole, awakens, LISTENING to the rising SOUNDS of
the jungle. MONKEYS begin to forage, their noisy
CHATTERING and SCREECHING filling the air.
A BIRD flutters back to its nest; a CHAMELEON emerges
onto a leaf, directly above Anna's head.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86 67
114 CONTINUED: 114
Anna carefully extends her arm, allowing the lizard
to crawl onto her, watching, fascinated as it changes
colors. She carefully places the chameleon back on the
leaf, which changes color again, becoming nearly
invisible.
Near the empty PONCHO, Schaefer, Billy and Ramirez
are examining the ground and the trip wire to the
flare. Billy stands, turns to Schaefer.
BILLY
Boar set off the trip flare,
Major. No other tracks.
Schaefer kneels and examines the thin, well hidden
WIRE. He stands, looking around the camp.
RAMIREZ
How could anyone get through
this, carry Blain out, right *
under our noses without leavin' *
a trace?
SCHAEFER
He knows our defenses. *
*
RAMIREZ
Why didn't he try to kill one
of us last night?
Schaefer looks at him.
SCHAEFER
He came back for the body.
(pause)
He's killing us, one at a
time...
Schaefer turns and looks at Billy, asking with his
eyes for a viable explanation.
BILLY
Like a Hunter. *
Schaefer stares at him, the words sinking in. He *
looks up, reconstructing in his mind the possible *
events of last night, his eyes following the tree line, *
tracing the path of the intruder as he might have *
travelled through the trees and down to the ground. *
He looks up at Billy.
SCHAEFER
He uses the trees. *
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86 68
114 CONTINUED: (2) 114
Billy and Ramirez stare up at the trees, a wave of fear *
passing through them...from the trees. Schaefer turns, *
moving to where Dillon is guarding Anna, sitting on the
ground. Reaching down, Schaefer pulls her firmly to her
feet, looking at her intensely.
SCHAEFER
Yesterday. What did you see?
She stares back at him.
DILLON
You're wastin' your time.
SCHAEFER
No more games.
She looks at him a long moment, and then answers in
English.
ANNA
I don't know what it was.
It...
Dillon does a double take. Schaefer continues to look *
at Anna. He wasn't surprised: he knew it yesterday. *
SCHAEFER
Go on.
ANNA
It changes colors, like the
chameleon. It uses the jungle...
DILLON
(derisively)
Shit, you trying to tell me
Blain and Hawkins were killed
by a fucking lizard? Don't
listen to her. Its's a psych-job.
Two, maybe three of them, that's *
all. We keep our cool, out-think *
them 'til we're across the *
border... *
Ignoring him, Schaefer takes her hands, drawing his
COMMANDO KNIFE, looking squarely into her eyes.
SCHAEFER
What's you name?
She looks back into his eyes.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86 69
114 CONTINUED: (3) 114
ANNA
Anna.
SCHAEFER
Anna. He's hunting us. You
know that?
She nods. With a sudden movement he slices through
her bonds.
DILLON
What the hell do you think
you're doing?
SCHAEFER
We're going to need everyone. *
DILLON
What are you talking about?
We'll be out of here in ten *
minutes. *
SCHAEFER
We're not going. *
DILLON
That rendezvous is ten maybe *
twelve miles, at most! We're *
almost home. But the chopper *
won't wait.
Schaefer turns to face him.
SCHAEFER
Dillon...This thing doesn't *
care who we are, who she is.
We make a stand or there won't *
be anyone left to make that *
chopper.
Dillon stares back, not wanting to hear what he
already knows to be true.
Anna touches Schaefer's arm.
ANNA
There is something else. When
the big man was killed, you
must have wounded it.
(pause)
It's blood was on the leaves.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 5/6/86 70
*
114 CONTINUED: (4) 114
She touches her pant leg, the stain is faded but still
there. Schaefer turns to Dillon.
SCHAEFER
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
115 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - MORNING (LATER) 115
Anna at the base of the rocks scans the jungle with
binoculars watching the tree line. Mac moves past her,
uncoiling a trip wire linking up four CLAYMORE mines
hidden at various points with leaves and foliage. In
a tree at the edge of the clearing, Billy tosses an
uncoiling roll of wire to Ramirez who attaches it to
a GRENADE, wedged it the crouch of a tree.
Wires attached to GRENADES and CLAYMORE MINES lead off
through the underbrush and trees leaving a long, unmined
corridor leading from the camp and into the jungle.
At the corridor's end, where the rocks merge with
the jungle, Schaefer hauls down on a HEAVY VINE,
straining with every ounce of strength, his muscles
bulging, while Dillon takes up the slack of the vine
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/29/86 71
115 CONTINUED: 115
around the base of a tree. The vine is attached to a
forty foot SAPLING, arcing closer to the ground in a
gigantic bow with every pull, CREAKING and GROANING
with tension. With a last mighty heave, Schaefer draws
the tree almost within reach, gesturing to Dillon to *
tie it off, who does. *
DILLON
(straining)
I'm tellin' you, this little *
'boy scout' stunt is a *
Godamned waste of time. *
(stands) *
We've got to get the hell out *
of here, now, while we've still *
got the chance.
Ignoring him, Schaefer rapidly drags into position a
NET crudely woven of differing sizes of vines, their
LEAVES still attached. He carefully begins to cover
the net with leaves and debris. Dillon watches him
in growing frustration as Schaefer moves quickly,
picking up a FRAMEWORK of STICKS he has tied together,
a TREADLE-SPRING TRIGGER. He holds up the framework,
hurriedly examining his work before placing it on
the ground.
SCHAEFER
He'll be looking for the trip wires.
If we're lucky, he won't see this.
DILLON
Now what, Dutch. You going to
send your mystery guest an
invitation?
Schaefer turns, there is a touch of fear in Dillon's
eyes.
SCHAEFER
You're catching on, Dillon.
Schaefer returns to his work on the net and trigger. *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 1/30/87 72
*
116 EXT. ENCAMPMENT - DAY (LATER) 116
Morning passes. Fog lifts as the sun creeps into the jungle.
Insects swarm and are fed upon by BIRDS and other predators.
At the entranceway to the rock outcropping, the net and trigger
are hidden beneath the leaves, the framework of the trigger
bulging with tension from the straining vine attached to the
bent tree.
At the other end of the corridor, several meters above the
jungle floor, Schaefer and his team, heavily camouflaged,
nearly invisible, lie hidden, waiting. The team members, as
if hypnotized by the BUZZING din, stare into the jungle,
fixated, alert.
ANNA while waiting at the net:
ANNA
(hushed)
When I was little we find a man --
(she struggles for
the words)
-- like a butcher. The old ones in
the village cross themselves and
whisper crazy things. 'Demonio,
cazador de trofoes...Only the hottest
times of the hottest years...' Crazy
things...This year is grows hot. And
we begin finding our men. We find
them sometimes without their skin.
Sometimes...much, much worse. Cazador
de trofoes...means the demon who takes
trophies.
SLOW RACK TO Schaefer's face. Ashen. HOLD. Suddenly an
EERIE SILENCE moves over the jungle:
He whips his face forward. The silence is SHATTERED by a
bird flapping from the brush.
Schaefer sits back and scratches his head, frustrated and a
little chagrined.
DILLON
(o.s.)
What'll you try next -- cheese?
Schaefer glares at him. Turns to go --
He stands and begins to move low to the ground toward the
waiting snare.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "THE HUNTER" - 1/27/87 72-A
*
116 Cont.
Behind him, sighting down their well-hidden gun barrels, the
others scan the jungle, alert for the slightest sound or
movement, covering him.
Schaefer reaches the trap, carefully skirting the trigger
hidden beneath the leaves. He reaches the end of the corridor,
moving out into the jungle. He moves further away from the
others, the silence crushing down on him. He stops and waits,
sweat pouring down his face, his finger tightening on the
trigger of his M-203, eyes scanning the jungle.
He turns his back on the jungle, waiting. Nothing. He moves
back towards the corridor, reaching the net, again waiting,
listening, sensing. Nothing. He turns around, looking at the
jungle one last time, his face measuring defeat and then, with
carefully, measured strides, he walks back to the camp.
Schaefer looks at Billy who shakes his head in puzzlement.
Nearby, Dillon starts to rise.
DILLON
(low; whispered)
Satisfied? Now let's get the hell
out...
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
73
116 CONTINUED: 116
Suddenly, behind Schaefer at the end of the corridor,
with a resounding SWISH and SNAP, the NET explodes off
the floor of the jungle in a hail of leaves and sticks,
rocketing upward into the treetops.
Schaefer spins, the others leaping to their feet as
they SEE the net as it tears into the treetops, a
large struggling bulge trapped within as a long,
unearthly TRILLING SCREAM ECHOES through the jungle.
Schaefer and the others charge from the rocks towards
the jungle and the bobbing net, their weapons ready.
Anna remains behind, watching terrified from the rocks.
They arrive under the net, raising their weapons to
fire...but before they can fire the entire net
EXPLODES into a flurry of leaves, twigs, vines, dirt
and a FLASH of PULSATING CRIMSON.
117 EXT. HUNTER'S HAND AND ARM - DAY 117
As the Hunter leaps from the net his WEAPON activates,
his arm slashing out, severing a THICK LIMB of the
spreading tree capony, entangled in vines.
118 EXT. THE TEAM - DAY 118
The limb CRASHES down from the trees, Schaefer, Dillon,
Billy and Mac Diving for safety. But Ramirez, following
the Hunter's leap, SEES too late the pendular movement
of the severed limb and is struck a THUDDING blow in
the ribs, which lifts him off his feet, hurling him
backwards like a rag doll, his shirt torn open,
exposing a BLOODY WOUND.
As Anna runs to Ramirez's side the others, still
stunned, look upward, frozen in shock SEEING: THE
HUNTER, clinging to a side of a tree, flushed bright
crimson.
Dillis is dumbfounded, like the others, rooted to the
ground staring upward.
DILLON
What is God's name...?
The Hunter utters an unearthly SNARL and HISS from his
open mouth as an instant later his camouflage resumes
and he vanishes from sight...a rapid, furtive movement
through the trees.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
74
118 CONTINUED: 118
Mac OPENS FIRE with the M-60, the others joining in,
shredding the foliage, but they know the creature is
gone.
With a SHOUT, Mac races into the jungle, in pursuit
of the Hunter.
SCHAEFER
Mac!
Schaefer hurriedly ejects the spent clip from the M-203,
slamming in a new one. He shouts an order to Billy.
SCHAEFER
(to Billy)
Get Ramirez on his feet! Take
the girl and get the hell out
of here!
He turns to run after Mac. Dillon steps in front of
him, putting his hand on Schaefer's chest.
DILLON
No way, Dutch. I'm going.
You get these people and get
the hell out of here.
SCHAEFER
This isn't your style, Dillon.
DILLON
Guess I've picked up some bad
habits from you, Dutch. Now
don't argue with me, you know
I'm right. Get to that
chopper and hold it for us.
We'll be along.
SCHAEFER
You know you can't win this
one.
Dillon stares at him.
DILLON
You know me, Dutch, I never
did know when to quit.
Dillon turns and begins to move out.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
75
118 CONTINUED: (2) 118
SCHAEFER
Dillon!
Dillon turns. Picking up the spare MP-5, Schaefer
tosses the weapon to Dillon, who grabs it with one
hand. They share a look, knowing this is farewell.
SCHAEFER
I'll see you there.
DILLON
Right behind you.
Hefting both weapons at the hip he runs into the jungle
after Mac. Schaefer watches him leave. He breaks and
goes to Ramirez, attended by Anna and Billy, who is now
sitting up, holding his ribs and gasping for breath.
BILLY
He's busted up, bad, Major.
RAMIREZ
(gasping)
I can make it, Major.
Schaefer lifts him to his feet, supporting him.
SCHAEFER
Come on, Poncho, we're getting
out of here.
(to Billy)
Billy, take the radio, leave
the rest. Come on!
119 EXT. MAC - DAY 119
Creeping low to the ground, his eyes searching through
the trees.
MAC
(whispered)
Come on, you motherfucker!
120 EXT. DILLON - DAY 120
Moving through the underbrush HEARS a slight RUSTLING
in the foliage. Mac? He strains to locate the source
of the movement.
He HEARS A SOUND, too faint at first it identify. He
listens. Silence. He hears is again, the SOUND of
a VOICE, barely audible. A VERY QUIET WHISPER.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
76
120 CONTINUED: 120
VOICE
(o.s.)
Dillon, over here.
Dillon locates the direction of the voice and moves
towards it.
VOICE
(o.s.; barely
audible)
Dillon, over here.
Dillon moves a few feet into the undergrowth. He
carefully parts the thick leaves and vines and enters
a tiny opening. He looks around, seeing nothing.
DILLON
(whispering)
Mac?
Suddenly a HAND appears and covers Dillon's mouth.
Dillon gasps as Mac pulls him down to where he is
hiding.
MAC
(whispering;
close)
Out there. Past the rocks...
can you see it?
Something seems to MOVE in the direction Mac is pointing.
DILLON
(whispering)
I see it!
(pause)
We're gonna take this thing.
Dillon points to an OUTCROPPING OF ROCKS, covered with
VINES.
DILLON
Take a position over there.
I'll work around towards you.
When I flush him, you nail
him...
MAC
(a mean look)
...Right, I got a score to
settle for the Bro...
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
77
120 CONTINUED: (2) 120
DILLON
We both got scores to settle.
Dillon silently disappears into the jungle, Mac
watching him go.
Mac makes his way toward the rock outcropping, working
his way between the rocks and the vines. He takes up
a position and scans the jungle before him.
121 DILLON 121
moving quietly, his face intense, determined. He
stops and listens.
122 MAC/ROCK OUTCROPPING 122
straining to hear VAGUE SOUNDS coming from the jungle.
He reaches out and grabs a VINE and carefully pulls
himself forward into a better position.
123 BACK TO SCENE/DILLON 123
moving, searching. He goes into a crouch.
124 MAC/ROCK OUTCROPPING 124
There is MOVEMENT in the undergrowth. He begins to
sweat. He moves the safety to fire; reaches out and
grabs another vine to pull himself forward. Mac
reacts in shock.
The vine is alive! Before he can move, the Hunter's
HAND appears from the vines, grabbing Mac by the
wrist.
In the moment before he is killed, Mac turns and SEES
the Hunter's glowing EYES.
A FLASH as the Hunter's other hand, moves with
blinding speed, Mac's face contorting in pain as the
Hunter's razor-sharp SPUR rips deep into his throat.
He falls forward into the leaves.
125 DILLON 125
He HEARS the faint disturbance in the leaves. He
pauses, turning in Mac's direction, listening.
Hearing no further sound he relaxes, moving on.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
78
126 EXT. NARROW RIVER GORGE - DAY 126
Anna in the lead, followed by Schaefer carrying Ramirez
on his back. Billy, carrying the RADIO is covering
them from above, as they skitter and slide down the
loose gravel of a rocky slope, leading to a river
crossing.
127 EXT. DILLON 127
He stalks through a narrow corridor of tangled vines
and moss, leading to the rock outcropping on the other
side, his face alert, showing no signs of fear, his
weapon ready.
128 EXT. VINES AND MOSS - DETAIL - DAY 128
Through the thick tangle of undergrowth, there is
MOVEMENT, a slight, undulating distortion, drifting
through the hanging vegetation, as if cast by a
passing shadow.
129 DILLON 129
as he stops and crouches slightly, listing behind him.
Did he hear something? He moves on.
130 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 130
Behind Dillon and to the side of the corridor. The
Hunter syncopates him movements precisely with those
of Dillon.
Dillon stops. The Hunter freezes in position.
131 BACK TO SCENE/DILLON 131
He does sense something behind him. He crouches and
spins, leveling the weapon. The corridor behind him
is empty, quiet and undisturbed. He studies the trail
intently.
132 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 132
Peering out through the vines. Dillon is looking
directly at him. Dillon turns, moves on, as the
Hunter resumes his stalk, timing his movements
perfectly with those of Dillon.
133 BACK TO SCENE/DILLON 133
as he approaches the rock outcropping. He signals.
Receiving no response he moves closer, turning
cautiously to right and left.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
79
133 CONTINUED: 133
DILLON
(whispering)
Mac...Mac.
He moves closer to the rocks, eyes probing. Through a
gap in the rocks he SEES Mac's face, staring up at him,
eyes frozen wide in death.
Dillon spins hard. He stares at the solid wall of
undergrowth. He looks from one side of the corridor
to the other. Something it out there. Where?
Something in the vines has caught his attention. He
stares hard at a section of moss.
134 EXT. MOSS - DETAIL - DAY 134
Suddenly the right combination of light and shadow
prevail and Dillon SEES in an instant, the Hunter's
EYES materialize and then disappear.
135 BACK TO SCENE/DILLON 135
With a growl and exhalation of breath, charges,
bringing the weapon to bear. A short BURST OF GUNFIRE
erupts from the barrel.
136 EXT. THE HUNTER - DAY 136
In an indiscernible blue of camouflage releases his
weapon.
137 DILLON 137
SCREAMS, his arm instantly severed halfway between
his shoulder and elbow. The weapon drops to the
ground, the forearm still attached, still FIRING.
With his left hand he FIRES the second weapon
SHOUTING INSANELY as swings it towards the blurred
image of his unseen attacker, hitting nothing.
The Hunter reloads his WEAPON which turns INVISIBLE
again. Dillon continues to fire. The Hunter's
weapon appears from below, cutting into Dillon's
unprotected abdomen, which, as if hit by a samurai
sword, bursts open. Dillon CRIES OUT as the huge man
hits the ground.
138 EXT. LOG CROSSING - DAY 138
spanning the narrow gorge, Schaefer and Anna with
Ramirez between them, move onto the log, preparing
to cross. They stop, HEARING Dillon's GUNFIRE.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
80
139 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 139
Moving through the jungle with incredible speed,
leaping, tearing from tree to tree, the jungle a rush
of HEAT TRAILS as he charges on.
140 EXT. LOG CROSSING - DAY 140
The jungle is still deathly SILENT. Schaefer, Anna
and Ramirez cross the log, moving onto the other side.
Billy, still at the foot of the log, providing cover,
turns to face the jungle.
He lifts his head towards the trees, feeling the
onrushing presence of the Hunter. He shrugs off the
radio letting it fall, smashing into the rocks
below.
He casts away his weapon. Staring forward he reaches
into his cargo pocket, withdrawing a small
GREASE-PAINT TIN. Covering his finger in BLACK
PAINT he applies dark slashes under his eyes and
again, vertically down his cheeks. Taking another
dap of paint he makes a SYMBOL on his bare skin, over
his heart.
He drops the tin, withdrawing his COMBAT KNIFE. Holding
the knife he grasps the MEDICINE BAG around his neck,
yanking it free with a quick snap. He wraps the
leather thong around his hand and knife, binding the
weapon and bag together.
Staring outward, as if in a trance, he begins a low
CHANT.
On the other side, Schaefer carrying Ramirez on his
back, laboring up the steep slope, nearing the top,
turns and SEES Billy standing, waiting at the foot of
the bridge.
SCHAEFER
(screaming)
Billy!!!
But Billy stands at the foot of the bridge, knife
raised, waiting, accepting his oncoming destiny.
SCHAEFER
Billy!!!
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 81
*
140 CONTINUED: 140
In frustration, Schaefer hikes Ramirez higher onto his
back, digs in and sprints to the top of the hill, Anna
waiting at the top.
141 OUT 141
142 EXT. BILLY - DAY 142
Crouches low, knife extended in a fighting position.
143- OUT 143-
144 144
145 EXT. RIDGETOP - DAY 145
Over the top, in a low depression, Schaefer props
Ramirez against some rocks, reaching for his weapon.
They HEAR Billy's echoing SCREAM. Instantly their
weapons are raised, cocked and ready.
SCHAEFER
Get back, into the rocks!
Schaefer sweeps Anna behind him as Ramirez struggles
to his feet. Together they back up, covering the
ridgeline over which they've just come.
Suddenly, from one side, near Ramirez, the Hunter
bursts from the jungle, Ramirez, seeing the Hunter,
spins raising his weapons to fire...
Ramirez SEES the Hunter's onrushing face, still in
camouflage, a montage of organic textures and colors,
his yellow eyes burning.
Whipping the MP-5 is the direction of the Hunter
he is hurled backwards from the impact of the Hunter's
weapon, his neck gushing BLOOD, the MP-5 flying
through the air, landing in front of Anna. She moves
for the weapon...
The Hunter, with unearthly speed, turns towards
Anna, as Schaefer starts to spin, SEEING the Hunter
about to strike as Anna dives for the weapon.
Schaefer lunges kicking the MP-5 out of Anna's reach.
SCHAEFER
(to Anna)
Run! Get to the chopper!
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
82
145 CONTINUED: 145
Schaefer spins and FIRES, bullets THUDDING into the
ground, the barrel arcing towards the Hunter as Anna
stumbles to her feet running into the jungle.
In a blur the Hunter spins back, hurling his weapon at
Schaefer which slices through the wooden stock of the
rifle, SPARKS FLYING as it severs the trigger guard
and steel breech.
The M-203 flies out of Schaefer's hands as the Hunter's
weapon cuts deeply into his left shoulder, laying open
the flesh.
The M-203 hits the ground, where it lies broken in half,
useless.
Schaefer hits the ground and is rolling, up and running
for his life, the Hunter charging after him.
146 SCHAEFER 146
crashes headlong through the jungle. He leaps a fallen
log, stumbles, struggles to his feet, running on pure
adrenalin, his shoulder pulsing blood, his eyes filled
with terror.
Behind him he can hear the Hunter in pursuit, closing.
Schaefer spins to look behind him, a wild desperate
look on his face; he turns back, ducks an overhanging
limb and lunges on.
147 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. OF SCHAEFER - DAY 147
Closing rapidly...another few yard.
148 BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER 148
runs like a madman, the SOUND of the Hunter's FOOTSTEPS
close behind. He's losing ground. He knows he's going
to die.
Schaefer SHOUTS. Suddenly the ground before him
COLLAPSES and he disappears from sight.
149 EXT. CANYON WALL - DAY 149
In a shower of leaves, flailing arms and legs, Schaefer
crashes through the trees at the canyon's edge, free
falling into space.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
83
149 CONTINUED: 149
With a sickening IMPACT, he hits the branches of the
first trees lining the canyon and falls, a hundred feet,
through one canopy after another, desperately grabbing
for limbs and branched to break his fall.
He hits the bottom branches of the list line of trees,
impacting crosschest on a large BRANCH, knocking his
wind out.
Semi-conscious, he hangs momentarily before he slides
off, fingers digging into the bark, falling another ten
feet into the swiftly moving river.
150 EXT. RIVER - DAY 150
Weighted down by his boots and clothing, Schaefer
struggles to stay afloat. Gasping for air he ducks
underwater, untying one of his boots. He surfaces,
fills his lungs and dives again, releasing the other
boot. He surfaces, strips off his shirt and pants and
begins to swim towards shore, stroking with one arm.
151 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 151
As he nears the edge of the precipice from which
Schaefer has fallen. The Hunter in close pursuit does
not hesitate but LAUNCHES himself off the cliff in
a spectacular LEAP, streaking downward towards the tops
of the trees that grow out from the canyon wall.
The Hunter tears through the canopy of the first tree,
the branches and leaves rushing past in a KALEIDOSCOPIC
BLUR.
The Hunter bounds off of one branch after another,
moving through the trees as an expert skier might
negotiate a series of downhill gates.
The Hunter leaps free of one tree, bounds across twenty
feet of open space to a large branch of a huge tree,
affording a good view of the river below. From his
vantage point, looking down at the windening, slowing
expanse of river, Schaefer is nowhere to be seen.
152 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 152
He is swept into a still FASTER CURRENT and is carried
helplessly downstream. Boiling WHITEWATER appears.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
84
152 CONTINUED: 152
Out of control he is swept through a series of rapids,
pulling his further and further downstream until he is
finally ducked into the undertow and hurled over the
top of a six foot falls, driven deep underwater by the
pounding force of the water.
153 EXT. POOL AT BASE OF FALLS - DAY 153
There is no sign of Schaefer. Precious seconds pass.
Slowly, looking like a drowned rat, he surfaces, taking
a feeble breath. He is nearly finished, his energy
sapped. But the water is calm and a few strokes are
enough to carry him near the shore. His feet hit
bottom.
He tries to stand but pitches headfirst into the thick
MUD SLURRY at the river bank. With his last ounce of
strength, he crawls, panting and gasping into a
sheltered mud OVERHANG, collapsing beside the exposed
ROOT-SYSTEM OF A DEAD TREE, his body completely covered
in thick, gray MUD.
Nearly unconscious, he raises his head and looks to the
opposite side of the river, scanning the bank. There is
no sign of the Hunter. He collapses in relief. He's
escaped.
Suddenly, the Hunter impacts the water, throwing up a
huge SPLASH. He stands up in the waist deep water. As
the water streams off of his body, the chameleon effect
rapidly changes, struggling to match the shifting color
patterns of the shimmering water.
His glaring yellow orbs stare directly at the spot where
Schaefer lies helplessly trapped.
The Hunter surges forward, relentlessly closing in on
this prey.
154 SCHAEFER 154
is frozen in terror, paralyzed with fear, his eyes
locked ontothe incredible creature that is about to
kill him.
155 EXT. HUNTER - DAY 155
Closing rapidly, another ten feet. He leaves the water
and walks through the mud, stopping, towering over
Schaefer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
85
156 EXT. SCHAEFER'S P.O.V. - DAY 156
As the Hunter's feet surge though the mud and stop,
three feet away.
157 EXT. SCHAEFER - DAY 157
Realizing his life is about to end, closes his eyes,
awaiting the Hunter's killing blow.
158 EXT. HUNTER'S EYES - DAY 158
The fierce yellow orbs look downward.
159 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - DAY 159
He's looking directly at Schaefer, EXCEPT HE CAN'T
SEE HIM.
He can clearly see the EXPOSED ROOT-SYSTEM, but because
of the heavy mud blocking Schaefer's body heat, Schaefer
registers in the Hunter's vision as merely an indistinct
lump of clay, unrecognizable to the Hunter as a human
being.
He scans the bank, searching, looking for heat sources.
Detecting none he moves on sounding a questioning TRILL
several times.
160 BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER 160
disbelieving that he's still alive, opens one eye,
SEEING the Hunter's feet move away, his prehensile
spurs dragging in the mud. He rounds a bend and
disappears, heading for the undergrowth.
Astonished, he tries to raise up on his hands but a
sudden jabbing pain in his shoulder causes him to
collapse, falling onto his side, unconscious in the
mud.
161 EXT. RIVER - DAY 161
As a HUEY ATTACK HELICOPTER breaks over the top of the
ridge, diving forward, moving down the canyon. The
chopper flares up into a holding pattern.
In the open doorway, a SOLDIER searches the top of
the canyon with binoculars. Seeing no sign of life,
the chopper flies on, disappearing down the canyon
rim.
162 BACK TO SCENE/SCHAEFER 162
lies unconscious in the mud, the distant SOUND of the
helicopter THRUMPING into the distance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
86
163 EXT. ANNA - DAY 163
She runs into a clearing, stopping momentarily, gasping
for breath. She is startled by a sudden movement
behind her. She spins, looking. There is nothing
there. She runs on.
164 EXT. THE CANYON - DAY (DUSK) 164
Schaefer GASPS as his eyes bolt open in fear. As if
the Hunter were still attacking, Schaefer rolls to his
feet and runs, slogging through the THICK MUD, stumbling,
lunging forward, gasping for breath.
Schaefer spins and staggers backwards into a shallow
POOL, scuttling, crablike into the chest deep water.
Schaefer backs into the moss-covered wall by the
waterfall, looking for movement, regaining his senses.
As the water settles, he looks down, SEEING the image
of himself, reflected in the pool; his hair and face
covered in THICK CLAY. He stares, mesmerized at the
image.
He lifts his arm from the water, his fingers wiping the
MUD from his face, exposing a PATCH of SKIN. He studies
the mud in his hand and then looks at the image of
himself in the water, SEEING the exposed skin. HE
stares at it, a wave of realization rushing through
his mind. He places the mud back on his face, again
looking at his image.
SCHAEFER
You couldn't see me.
He looks up, out into the failing light, at the treeline
of the deepening forest, realizing that fate has given
him a fighting chance. Slowly a look of vengeance and
hatred crosses over his face.
165 EXT. CLAY BANK - NIGHT 165
Using his MACHETE he carves MAGNESIUM SHAVINGS from a
fire block into a pile of KINDLING. He removes a match
from the hollow handle of the machete, also containing
a coil of PIANO WIRE, GREEN TAPE and MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
He lights the shavings which burn with a brilliant white
light. Schaefer shelters the fire with a banana leaf
until the flame dies down. He feeds the fire with more
kindling, fanning it with a leaf.
165-A SCHAEFER - BOW AND ARROW MONTAGE - NIGHT (LATER) 166
Holding a three foot section of FIRE-HARDENED sapling
between his feet and shoulder, he scrapes the char
from the seasoned wood with his machete.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
87
165-A CONTINUED: 165-A
He bends the bow and attaches a long piece of PIANO
WIRE to one end, carefully wrapping it for strength,
using strips of green tape to cover the sides of the
wire where the nock of the arrow will fit.
He attaches split quilled FEATHERS with fishing line to
an ARROW, its tip fashioned into a series of barbs,
rubbing them to a polished hardness against a smooth
stone. When finished he places the arrow on the ground
next to three other identical arrows.
SCHAEFER
One chance, that's all.
166 EXT. CLAY BANK - NIGHT 166
Schaefer is pounding a peeled root between two stones.
He pauses to drool saliva into the pulpy mass. He
scrapes the milky substance onto a BANANA LEAF, mixing
it with a sticky SAP, holding it over the coals until
the mixture steams.
Schaefer coats the arrow tips with the sticky poison,
holding them over the coals until the sap bubbles and
smokes. He spins the arrows in his hands, blowing on
the tips to cool and harden the mixture.
Using the tip of his machete, he pries open the casing
of one of the 40MM grenades, discarding the warhead. He
dumps the PROPELLANT POWDER from the shell onto a leaf,
mixing that with a mound of MAGNESIUM SHAVINGS.
He opens the narrow, tight roll of GAUZE taken from the
first aid kit of the machete handle, fluffing it into a
large, loose BUNDLE, the size of a baseball. He pours
the powder-mixture into the gauze, mixing it into the
fabric.
He transfers the ball of explosive ladened gauze to a
pliable DRY LEAF, closing it into a bundle, binding it
at the top with a long strand of jungle-grass.
He twists the remaining gauze around a MATCH, leaving
the head exposed, forming a self-striking FUSE.
He coats the fuse with SAP and then thickly covers it
with more powder from the 40MM grenade. He pokes the
fuse down into the leaf. Taking a long strand of JUNGLE
GRASS he makes a large loop, tying it onto the grenade,
slipping the loop and grenade over his head.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
88
166 CONTINUED: 166
Finally, using several sections of BAMBOO of differing
diameters, he fashions a crude, anti-personnel
SPEAR-BOMB, a BANG-STICK like weapon, using the
sharpened TONGUE from his belt buckle for a FIRING PIN
and a 40MM GRENADE from his belt pouch as an explosive
charge.
167 EXT. RIVER'S EDGE - NIGHT 167
Schaefer appears, he has covered him entire body with a
variety of CLAYS and OCHERS, creating a mottled, EARTHEN
CAMOUFLAGE pattern.
Holding his weapons in one hand, he moves up the canyon,
ascending into a rising boulder field.
167-A EXT. BOULDER FIELD - NIGHT 167-A
Where the river flows into a series of falls and pools,
surrounded by massive boulders and table top rocks,
their crevices jammed with large amounts of DRIFTWOOD
swept down at high water from the forests above.
On a flattened section of rock, Schaefer drags a large
section of BRANCHES INTO VIEW, adding it to a growing
mound of FIREWOOD. He kneels, tending to a pile of
DRIES GRASS, LEAVES and other tinder. Using the last of
his precious matches, he sets fire to the tinder, gently
coaxing the tiny blaze into a slowly consumming FIRE,
flames starting to lick upward through the dry wood.
He stands, staring into the rapidly growing blaze. He
turns, facing the canyon rim, raising his weapons in one
hand. From the depths of his soul, a SOUND emerges;
primitive and visceral, as if from an animal in pain.
He throws back his head and SHOUTS.
168 EXT. CANYON RIM - NIGHT 168
A hundred feet below, Schaefer stands in the boulder
field, his mud coated body bathed in RED FIRELIGHT,
looking like a fierce, primitive warrior; a timeless,
prehistoric sight, his long and WAILING CRY, ECHOING
endlessly through the canyon.
169 EXT. HUNTER'S SHIP - NIGHT 169
Backlit by the LIGHT of the open door, the Hunter's
head, in three-quarter profile, his eyes gleaming, rears
INTO VIEW, looking up at the sky, HEARING Schaefer's cry.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
89
169 CONTINUED: 169
Responding with a low HISS, he turns back, raising in
one hand his weapon, in the other a U-shaped SHARPENING
DEVICE. As he passes the weapon through the device, it
FLASHES into life, a deep, HARMONIC HUM emitted as the
blade grows with energy, growing hotter, hotter and
HOTTER with each stroke. He draws the blade now WHITE-HOT
through the device for the last stroke. He lifts
it, testing its balance, the WHITE-HOT blade
illuminating his alien face.
170- OUT 170-
177 177
178 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - JUNGLE - NIGHT 178
Emerging from his camp, the Hunter swings into the
nearby tree line, moving to the uppermost branches.
The Hunter travels silently from tree to tree, arriving
at the canyon rim where far below he SEES in the
canyon, the BONFIRE, a leaping, shifting, multi-colored
collage of HEAT WAVES and FLARES, luring him onward.
179 SCHAEFER 179
hidden back within the deep notch of several large
LOGS and broken trees, in the river canyon. Below
him, on the rock plateau, is the bonfire, illuminating
in SHIFTING PATTERNS of LIGHT, the awaiting arena of
destiny.
His eyes shift, trancelike, moving from side to side,
watching the approaches to the fire below. His senses
are alert; his nerves on a wire edge.
180 EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT 180
His SHADOW-FORM descending through the canyon, a
rippling movement of grays and blacks, passing through
the shifting light patterns on the rocks, cast by the
growing bonfire below.
181 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - NIGHT 181
His eyes probe the canyon, drawn to the swirling
patterns of HEAT given off by the gaseous COMBUSTION
of the bonfire.
182 EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT 182
Continues on, moving silently down through the canyon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
90
183 SCHAEFER 183
sits motionless, nearly invisible in his mud camouflage
amid the darkness of the logs.
Suddenly, over the CRACKLING of the FIRE, the BUZZING,
CLICKING of INSECTS, and the CROAKING of FROGS, suddenly
CEASES.
Slowly, painfully he draws the bow to full arch, his
wounded shoulder trembling, the BLOOD beginning to seep
through the bandage.
The bow straining at full draw, Schaefer stares intently,
concentrating, searching for the Hunter's form in the
dancing light below.
183-A EXT. THE HUNTER - NIGHT 183-A
Like a giant insect, drops from above, fifteen feet
above Schaefer, his steel-like spurs digging deep into
the log.
183-B EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT 183-B
He freezes at the sound of the Hunter dropping, his
eyes wide with fear. The slightest movement will bring
an instant attack from the Hunter behind him. But to
wait, his back exposed.
183-C EXT. THE HUNTER - NIGHT 183-C
Jumps from the log above and to Schaefer's left, onto
a boulder, gaining a better vantage point of the arena
and fire below. He raises his weapon, his EYES
glistening in the dim light, searching. A quiet HISS
emerges from his mouth.
183-D EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT 183-D
Spins and fires at the movement of the Hunter.
184 EXT. ARROW - NIGHT 184
Flies into the night, lodging into a BRANCH of an
exposed tree, just missing the Hunter's head.
In a blur, the Hunter's arm streaks downward, a dull
flash of light leaving his fingers as he fires the
weapon, the projectile STREAKING downward, EXPLODING
into the log, inches from Schaefer, sending a SHOWER
of wood chips and bark, flying in every direction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
91
185 SCHAEFER 185
in a flash, is up and running, clutching his weapons,
leaping from boulder to boulder. He jumps down into the
lighted area below, landing hard, rolling into the
protective shadows of the rocks, putting the loping fire
between he and the Hunter's position on the rocks above.
He moves forward, darting to look backwards before
leaping off the lip of the table rock into the boulder
field below, a flat plane littered by weirdly shaped,
water-erroded rocks, forming a giant stone AMPITHEATER.
Shadows leap and dance across the boulders, cast by the
bonfire from the plateau above.
Schaefer crouches between two large boulders, quietly
breathing through clenched teeth, feeling the pain of
his now freely bleeding shoulder wound.
185-A EXT. HUNTER - NIGHT 185-A
A nightmarish silhouette appearing for an instant on the
rim of the plateau above.
185-B EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT 185-B
Over the SOUNDS of the FIRE and the softly flowing
RIVER, distinguishes a NEW SOUND, one that brings fear
and a savage determination to his heart: the rhythmical
CLICK-SCRAPE, CLICK-SCRAPE of the Hunter's feet, moving
over the rocks, somewhere above him.
Drawing back on the bow, Schaefer moves around the
boulder to his left, heading towards the sound of the
Hunter.
186- OUT 186-
197 197
198 INT. HUNTER. SOMEWHERE IN THE BOULDERS - NIGHT 198
REVEALED in flashes of strobing light, pauses at the
juncture of several towering rocks.
He stands, erect, tilting his head slowly, turning it
from side to side, his ears trying to orientate to the
diversity of SOUNDS reflecting off the circular walls,
enclosing the boulder field.
199 INT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - NIGHT 199
His vision, accustomed to another spectrum, has little
available heat to register vivid images of the inert,
lifeless forms of the stones. He SEES instead, a world
of soft, ill-defined shapes in a pale MAGENTA field of
flickering heat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
92
200 INT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT 200
Creeping forward, carefully placing one foot in front
of the other, suddenly stops, hearing the CLICK-SCRAPE,
CLICK-SCRAPE, now on his right.
Starting to move in this new direction, he stops again,
HEARING the sound now directly across from him.
Listening, he hears the sound again from yet another
direction, the sound ECHOING in the natural ampitheater
of rock.
Schaefer, uncertain of where to turn, waits. Suddenly
he crouches and freezes, HEARING the unbelievable SOUND
of a HUMAN VOICE, softly echoing through the
ampitheater.
ANNA'S VOICE
(o.s.; filtered;
in Spanish)
Look out, behind you!!!
Schaefer spins, his breath catching at the sound of
Anna's voice. Wide-eyed, straining, he waits, hearing
only the muted FLOWING of water, the HISSING and POPPING
of the dying fire above, the shadows growing longer,
darker with each minute.
And then again, Anna's VOICE.
ANNA'S VOICE
(o.s.; in
Spanish)
...Look out, behind you!
SCHAEFER
(to himself)
Anna...?
Tracelike he moves towards the sound.
201 THE HUNTER 201
his head canted, throat distended, utters another
mimicry.
202 SCHAEFER 202
moving towards the space between two boulders from which
the VOICE seems to emanate.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
93
202 CONTINUED: 202
SCHAEFER
(louder)
Anna...?
203 THE HUNTER 203
his ears now directed towards the SOUND of Schaefer's
voice, his slowly approaching FOOTSTEPS, raises his
weapon.
204 SCHAEFER 204
pauses before the opening of the passageway. All is
silent. He hesitates to enter. Listeneing. He starts
to move and then hears a NEW VOICE:
HUNTER
(o.s.; Mac's
voice)
Dillon, over here...
Schaefer, horrified at the sound of the dead man's
voice, backs quickly into the space between a boulder
and the high rock wall of the ampitheater.
205 INT. HUNTER - SOMEWHERE IN THE BOULDERS - NIGHT 205
His feet moving quietly over the rock, the shadow-light
deepening with the dying fire above, closing in.
205-A EXT. SCHAEFER - NIGHT 205-A
Bow drawn, trapped against the rock, HEARING the sound
of the Hunter approaching from the left, now the
right, is helpless, not knowing where to fire, the
Hunter's deadly strike only an instant away.
Still holding the bang-stick in his bow hand, he
carefully releases the draw on the string, reaching
to his neck for the FLASH-GRENADE. With painstaking
care he removes the grenade from his neck.
Focusing on the rocks before him and the still
approaching SOUND, he reaches down with the grenade,
gripping with his fingertips the matchhead fuse,
placing it against the rocks at his side.
With a sudden jerk of his hand he strikes and throws
the grenade, snatching up the bang-stick with his
good hand.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
94
205-A CONTINUED: 205-A
The matchhead SPUTTERS as the grenade flies through the
air, an instant later a blinding, WHITE FLASH of light
illuminates the ampitheater...
In that instant Schaefer SEES above him and to his left,
the HUNTER, poised on top of a rock, his weapon raised,
about to strike! Momentarily blinded by the flash of
light, the Hunter's head recoils to the side.
Darkness swallows the image of the Hunter, but in that
second, Schaefer seizes his advantage, hurling the
bang-stick spear.
206- OUT 206-
213 213
214 INT. THE SPEAR - NIGHT 214
It smashes into the boulder at the Hunter's feet. The
Hunter leaps as the grenade DETONATES, shrapnel tearing
into his body.
With a terrifying SCREAM of pain and anger, the Hunter
clutches frantically at the WOUNDS in his neck and
chest. Another bloodcurdling SCREAM OF RAGE and the
Hunter is gone.
215 INT. WATERFALL - NIGHT 215
Cascades over the rocks, fed by a small stream running
through the ravine. A pile of BOULDERS breaks the
falls, filling the area with an everconstant MIST.
Schaefer appears, holding the bow and arrow, following
the LUMINOUS BLOOD TRAIL of the Hunter over the rock.
Moving behind the falls, Schaefer's body is briefly
soaked by the water, the hardened and CAMOUFLAGE
beginning to dissolve, running off his body. He
continues on, slowly, cautiously following the blood
trail.
216 INT. TABLE TOP BOULDER - NIGHT 216
Next to the flowing stream, surrounded by an open area
of rock.
Schaefer, smeared with blood and sweat, his clay and
ochre camouflage partially washed away, climbs up a log
onto the boulder. Oblivious to the searing pain in his
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
95
216 CONTINUED: 216
shoulder, he breathes in hot, powerful exchanges, his
eyes wide and glowing with vengeance.
SCHAEFER
Bleed, you bastard.
His bow down, Schaefer follows the blood trail across
the rock, edging alongside a huge vertical boulder.
The blood trail stops.
He takes another step forward, past a darkened ALCOVE...
Schaefer spins, SEEING in the alcove the SURPRISED
Hunter whirl and spring towards him...
Schaefer in a bound closes the distance, savagely
kicking the Hunter's arm. The WEAPON flies from the
Hunter's hand CLATTERING to the rock.
Before he can recover, Schaefer follows with a karate
kick to the chest, hurling the Hunter to the ground,
his back exposed.
In a flash, Schaefer is standing over the Hunter, the
bow drawn, poised, the blood from his open wound
dripping onto the Hunter's back.
The Hunter slowly rolls onto his back, REVEALING his
face, his eyes bleached white in shock from the loss of
blood. The Hunter's body, rippled out of control,
trying desperately to orientate itself to the
environment.
SCHAEFER
(incredulous)
Who the hell are you...?
217 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. OF SCHAEFER - NIGHT 217
Schaefer's body, looms over him, MOTTLED and STREAKED
from his exposed skin, blood oozing from the shoulder
wound, his eyes like black sockets in his almost
skull-like face. Seen from this perspective, Schaefer
is a frightening, horrible visage.
218 THE HUNTER 218
shudders, GASPING hungrily for air, strugging to speak.
From his throat, Schaefer HEARS the feeble, distorted
efforts of the Hunter, at first garbled,
incomprehensible and then, slowly, chillingly, taking
on the timbre and quality of his OWN VOICE.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
96
218 CONTINUED: 218
HUNTER
(electronic;
filtered)
Who...
(improving)
...the hell...
(nearly perfect)
...are...
(perfect)
...You?
The Hunter's strength seems to fade even more...
Then, suddenly, with the last of his diminishing
strength, he lashes out with one arm, activating the
lethal, razor sharp SPURS on his wrists.
The Hunter's coiled leg kicks upward with incredible
force, his terrible spur ripping into Schaefer's thigh,
hurling Schaefer into the air, flipping him over,
sending him crashing to his back into the shallow pool
of water, momentarily losing his bow. He flounders
desperately in the water, searching for the bow. He
finds it just as...
The Hunter rises slowly to his feet, GASPING desperately
for breath. He inhales deeply, hungrily, gaining
strength with each breath.
Schaefer looks from the pool to SEE the Hunter, raising
his weapon to throw.
In one totally instinctual movement, Schaefer draws
back on the arrow to its very tip and fires.
The arrow, with a deadly THUD, penetrates deeply into
the Hunter's neck. Another bloodcurdling SCREAM of RAGE
as the Hunter clutches his throat, dropping his weapon.
An instant later and the Hunter is gone.
219 EXT. LOG BRIDGE - NIGHT (PRE-DAWN) 219
Emerging onto a huge log leading to the rim of the
canyon, Schaefer holding the Hunter's weapon, pauses
several times, finding more traces of the Hunter's
blood, the deep WOUND in his thigh flowing heavily.
He continues across the log and climbs the bank,
following the traces into the jungle.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
97
220 EXT. JUNGLE - PRE-DAWN 220
Moving along the rim of the coulee, Schaefer follows
the thick, orange blobs hanging on leaves and spent on
the forest floor.
Too weak to move through the trees, the Hunter has
left a SWATH of trampled grasses, broken twigs and
branches in his headlong retreat from Schaefer: the
Hunter turned Hunted.
221 EXT. TWO ATTACK HELICOPTERS - DAY (PRE-DAWN) 221
Powering upward from the canyon, the WATERFALL in the
b.g., clear the rim, racing along at treetop height,
heading towards the island promontory.
222 EXT. HUNTER'S P.O.V. - CAMP -PRE-DAWN 222
Staggering into the clearing, bleeding severely. The
Hunter is rapidly losing his camouflage ability, his
skin turning a PALE GREEN, flexing and pulsing in
shock. The glow of light from the ENERGY FIELD
reflecting off the spreading apron of BLOOD flowing
from his wound.
With trembling hands he grasps the arrow and breaks
it, pulling the shaft from his neck. He screams in
pain.
223 EXT. GLEN - PRE-DAWN 223
Schaefer follows the blood trail, deeper into the
incredibly dense vegetation, ripping aside the heavy
growth, plunging onward.
Before him, covering a narrow passageway, is a huge
SPIDER WEB, intricate, four feet across. Schaefer
starts to sweep aside the web. With a sharp intake
of breath, he halts, inches from the wed. Something
is wrong.
Examining the web closer he sees not silken threads
but a hard and shiny network of HAIR-FINE WIRE: A TRAP.
He backs up, picking up a hefty branch from the ground.
He swings the branch with a mighty heave, clenching
his teeth in pain. The branch sails end over end
into the web impacting the strands. A metallic SNAP
is HEARD; a high-pitches WHINE and the log is violently
severed, the pieces flying in opposite directions with
great speed.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
98
223 CONTINUED: 223
Schaefer runs on, again picking up the blood traces of
the fleeing Hunter.
224 EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP 224
At the edge of the site. He SEES the Hunter staggering
through the foliage.
Schaefer starts after him but then stops, dumbfounded
by the incredible images that crash in on him:
TRANSLUCENT HUMAN SKINS stretched over frames, the hair
of the attached scalps moving lightly in the wind;
SKINNED BODIES, some lying on the ground, others hung
from the trees, like Hopper and his men were.
He turns back, SEEING the Hunter as he passes through
the shimmering distortion of a FORCEFIELD enveloping
the forest. Within the force field he SEES the vague,
nearly transparent OUTLINE of the Hunter's ship.
He approaches it, wide-eyed, his senses reeling with
astonishment and rage.
From within the force field, a PASSAGE WAY of BLUE LIGHT
appears, the Hunter's form backlit as he ascends the
RAMP to his spacecraft.
225- OUT 225-
226 226
227 THE HUNTER 227
as he passes his hand through a light BEAM, the ship
instantly responds, as a low, TURBINELIKE HOWL is
HEARD, building slowly in volume and pitch.
228 SCHAEFER 228
in his weakened condition staggers forward, looking
up, SEEING the passage way of light diminish as the
door begins to close.
As rising HEAT WAVES begin to envelope the ship, the
Hunter stares out at Schaefer, the heat waves
increasing as the KEENING WHINE of the ship's drive
builds. He enters the force field, the door now
inches from closing.
On the ground, nearly obscured by the grass and leaves,
Schaefer SEES the Hunter's WEAPON, lying where he
dropped it in his desperate flight to escape.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
99
228 CONTINUED: 228
Schaefer grabs up the weapon and holds it. How the
hell does it work?...He squeezes the handle of the
weapon feeling it resist. Nothing happens.
With the last ounce of his strength, and with a BELLOW
of RAGE, his arm muscles bulging, he crushes down on
the handle...
In a FLASH of blue-white light, the weapon becomes
ACTIVATED.
Schaefer raises the weapon, sensing its power and
function.
In the final seconds before the door closes, Schaefer,
with a triumphant SCREAM, fires the weapon...
The weapon, flaring with deadly energy, drops and turns
sideways, accelerating through the door and into the
spacecraft.
229 INT. SPACECRAFT - DAY 229
The weapon impacts the Hunter, his head EXPLODING in
a fountain of orange blood and pale green tissue.
The weapon continues on, burying itself into the energy
field, bolts of plasma-energy begin arcing from the
force field.
Schaefer falls forward onto his hands and knees,
staring at the Hunter's ship. The SOUND of the
hyper-drive continues to increase, as the ship begins
to tremble.
230 EXT. HELICOPTER COCKPIT - DAY 230
As suddenly the instrument panel goes wild, gauges
spinning, digital readouts racing out of control.
The SOUND of the turbine faltering, changing pitch.
The pilot lurches forward with the stick, fighting
for control.
231 EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP - DAY 231
The multi harmonic whine of the Hunter's ship is
still building as the ground begins to shake.
Schaefer, realizing that the ship is going to explode,
and ignoring the pain of his shoulder and leg, runs
desperately, searching for cover. He sprints for
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
100
231 CONTINUED: 231
the edge of the clearing, diving over the embankment
just as:
A blinding purple FLASH blows the ship to pieces.
232 EXT. HELICOPTER - COCKPIT - DAY 232
Enveloped in the flash of intense light. CRIES of
surprise fill the ship as the SHOCK-WAVE hits the
chopper, heeling it hard over to one side.
Below, the concentric waves of energy race outward
from the center of the blast, an unearthly sight, like
the miniature birth of a star.
The helicopter suddenly regains control, its power
restored.
PILOT
Holy, fuck, what was
that...?!!!
PHILIPS
Orbit right...check it out!
The helicopter levels out and heads toward the smoking,
devastated site of the blast.
233 EXT. HUNTER'S CAMP - DAY 133
The jungle has been completely transformed. No longer
lush and verdant, the area is clear-cut, two feet
above the ground, covered in FINE WHITE, smoldering
ASH. Amongst the shattered stumps, debris from the
ship, bright as magnesium flares, burns with exotic
colors.
If the f.g., Schaefer, a living dead-man, streaked
with the alien ash, rises up from a shallow depression,
staring dumbstruck at the site.
Breaking in low over the treetops, the HELICOPTERS
flare up into position, one preparing to land.
As the chopper descends, the crew, standing in the
door way, stare transfixed at the devastation, their
eyes trying to penetrate the dense white smoke.
As the helicopter slowly descends, its propwash creating
a raging storm, Schaefer materializes from the SWIRLING
SMOKE AND ASH, his features taking form as he
approaches, his naked body covered in mud, blood and
ash.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
101
234 EXT. SCHAEFER'S P.O.V. - LANDING HELICOPTER - DAY 234
As the chopper, emerging from the vortex, settles
towards the ground where the spacecraft once stood.
Through the distorted veil, the helicopter, bristling
with WEAPONS, VISORED and HELMETED MEN, now covered
with WHITE ASH, looks like a landing spacecraft.
235 EXT. HELICOPTER - DAY 235
The door gunner swings the M-60 into firing position,
pointing it at Schaefer. He racks the bolt, loading
a round.
The crewmen look tense, frightened.
Anna, standing next to the door gunner, stares at the
strange creature before her, narrowing her eyes,
uncertain. Is there something familiar about the
figure?
236 SCHAEFER 236
stands in the clearing, staring at the helicopter and
the array of weapons pointed at him. He looks dazed,
like a man making contact with members of an alien
race, for the first time.
237 THE HELICOPTER 237
hovers low to the ground, the tension inside building
as Schaefer approaches.
More weapons swing into position. Fingers tighten on
triggers. Suddenly Anna recognizes the figure.
Realizing the danger she holds up her hands, shouting
ANNA
NOOOOOO!!!!!!
238 EXT. HELICOPTERS - JUNGLE - DAY 238
Flash overhead, heading across the trackless jungle,
their rotors THUMPING like heavy machine gun fire.
239 INT. HELICOPTER - DAY 239
Schaefer, a blanket over his shoulders, still in the
remains of his mud camouflage, his body laced with
deep cuts; his chest and shoulder caked with dried
blood, is seated on a bench in the cargo hold.
(CONTINUED)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISED - "HUNTER" - 4/17/86 102
*
239 CONTINUED: 239
Near the cockpit are General Philips, an ARMY MEDIC,
two MACHINE GUNNERS. They look at Schaefer in awe.
The Medic, holding an open FIELD KIT, a syringe and
bandages, turns to Philips.
MEDIC
(shaking his head)
Looks like he's been through
hell...can't believe he's
still alive. What the hell
went on down there?
PHILIPS
If it hadn't been for her, he'd
be dead now. That story she
told us...I still can't believe
it.
He looks at Anna, her eyes meeting his, as if asking
for an explanation. She looks at him a moment before
turning back to Schaefer, staring at him as if he were
risen from the dead.
She looks into Schaefer's face, Schaefer returning her
look, recognition passing between them. Anna extends
her hand. Schaefer slowly reaches out, touching her
fingers, then clasping her hand.
Schaefer turns his eyes to stare out the open door,
beyond the passing jungle below, out to the heavens.
He turns back, looking at Anna, a faint smile crossing
his face...they made it.
240 EXT. TWO HELICOPTERS - JUNGLE - DAY 240
Pull away and head towards the distant, green horizon.
FADE OUT
THE END
Aliens vs. Predator
Dark Horse Prod. Presents
ALIENS
Vs.
PREDATOR
Screenplay by Peter Briggs
EXT. DEEP SPACE
We OPEN on TOTAL BLACKNESS, a sea of stars spread across the infinite
depths of space. As the TITLES ROLL, we notice that three of these
specks seem to be moving; one of them picking up acceleration and
racing toward us. Our perspective changes, and we catch a quick
glimpse as it HURTLES past, and into the gravitational pull of a large
brownish planet. Kicking up SPARKS of FRICTION as it hits atmosphere.
It seems to be manmade. Or at least artificial.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
The planet is dead, barren. Death Valley on a grand scale. We watch
the object plummet through the wispy cloud-cover, emitting a few last
burning embers before falling to ground way-off in the distance. A
BOOMING ECHO resonates across the dusty plains, before settling back
into an eerie silence.
EXT. FISSURE CANYON - DAY
We're looking into a deep gorge, dark and sinister. A howling wind
whips dust into a sandstorm, reducing visibility to almost zero. About
seventy feet down there's a hole in the rock-face that just might be a
cave entrance, and near is a peculiar SHIMMERING in the air. We hear a
mechanical BEEPING and the SHIMMERING disappears, replaced by FIVE
humanoid SHAPES clinging to the sheer rock - each well over seven feet
tall. They are PREDATORS, a race of intergalactic big-game hunters on
permanent safari; their clothing and weaponry a bizarre mix of
aborigine and ultra-hi-tech. In their hands are circular metal discs;
'smart weapons' which cut into the stone and give them purchase.
PREDATOR-VISION.
From their P.O.V., we see the fissure reduced to THERMAL HEAT SOURCES.
The entrance registers as a black gaping void.
INT. FISSURE NEST TUNNEL
The five hunters climb inside the rim of the tunnel, out of the wind's
banshee wailing. The lead PREDATOR reaches up to his headgear, pulling
at the coupling pipes connecting it to a hidden breathing-apparatus.
He removes the helmet, clips it to his rear utility pack, and takes a
deep breath of the air. A curious speckled pattern runs across his
wide forehead, marking him
different to the others; in addition, one of the fangs of his mandibles
has been sheared away. We'll call him BROKEN TUSK, he's the leader of
the hunting party. He reaches out a hand to caress the wall of the
tunnel.
Several feet in from the rim, it changes from rock to a textured
biomechanical surface; a swirling mass of disturbing shapes. He
hurries forward in response to the GURGLING-HISS of one of his team who
has found something.
The other PREDATOR holds a telescopic spear up for scrutiny. Skewered
on the end is a shriveled FORM with eight spindly legs and a segmented
tail; it's a FACEHUGGER, the first stage of the deadly ALIEN lifeform.
BROKEN TUSK HISSES a caution to his party; they respond by pulling
spears and elaborately-shaped swords. Several shoulder-mounted plasma
cannons slide up to firing position, tracking with their owners'
helmets. Thus armed, they move cautiously ahead...taking no chances.
One helmeted PREDATOR pauses, scanning the area.
PREDATOR-VISION.
He switches through a variety of different views; infra-red, ultra-
violet, enhanced motion-tracking. Nothing.
He's so pre-occupied with this task, he totally fails to notice the
skeletal ALIEN loom up behind him, emerging from the biomechanical
growth on the floor. A barbed tail skewers the PREDATOR straight
through the neck, splashing luminous blood across his chestplate. A
gargled DEATH-RATTLE issues from his throat, the band of PREDATORS
spinning around in time to see him being dragged below the ground. The
band of extraterrestrial hunters have no time to come to his aid; they
themselves are set upon by a half-dozen ALIEN WARRIORS. The carnage is
swift and terrifying, a blur of motion.
Steel blades and serrated biomechanical limbs scythe the air, alive
with the CRIES and HISSES of both adversaries. One PREDATOR is pinned
against the tunnel wall, his spear out of range. The ALIEN claws away
his face mask, and he finds himself dodging the ALIEN's toothed tongue,
extended toward him with pile-driver speed. He reaches down, grasping
the 'smart-weapon' hanging from his belt and brings it up in an arc
that terminates at the ALIEN's grinning face. Big mistake. The two
are in such close proximity that the ALIEN's acidic blood sprays across
the PREDATOR's head. While their technology seems to be resistant to
it, their bodies aren't: the viscous yellow liquid begins burning into
the PREDATOR's skin. He kicks the skeletal corpse away with a HIDEOUS
PIERCING SCREAM, clawing at his seared face.
It all seems to be over as quickly as it began; there can be no
question as to who were the victors. The PREDATORS stand amidst a sea
of biomechanical limbs strewn around like a charnel house. As his
companions begin to carefully decapitate the ALIEN skulls, BROKEN TUSK
steps over the corpses to examine his fallen comrades. The first
PREDATOR to be attacked was killed instantly; he crosses to the other.
What he finds causes him to react with
pity and disgust. His fallen comrade is only just alive; mandibles
clicking frailly, half his head burnt away. BROKEN TUSK watches the
ailing PREDATOR slide a steel blade from it's sheath and offer it to
him. He takes it, knowing what has to be done. Rolling the knife
quickly over the back of his hand - the sort of elaborate trick
seasoned Green Berets perform - he plunges it downward into the fallen
hunter. This unpleasant task accomplished,
BROKEN TUSK straightens up and activates his wrist-computer. A dark
shape blots out the light coming from the entrance; a small PREDATOR
shuttlecraft, sleek and elegant. It hovers in the air with little more
than a loud HUM, and extends a ramp. The surviving PREDATORS leap
aboard, carrying their trophies with the reserved silence of men
returning from combat.
One more thing need to be done. BROKEN TUSK bends down and flips a
sequence of keys on the dead PREDATOR's wrist. A countdown is
displayed in some unknown character-set, accompanied by a HIGH PITCHED
BEEPING. He then turns and swiftly boards the craft which takes
smoothly to the air, it's undergear retracting.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY
A white-hot fireball erupts out of the fissure, the result of the
PREDATOR's suicide-destruct mechanism. The shuttlecraft pulls quickly
away, disappearing into the clouds.
EXT. SPACE
A large spacecraft is suspended in orbit around the planet; the
PREDATOR Mothership. The shuttle heads swiftly towards it.
INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - DOCKING BAY
An airlock RUMBLES open and the PREDATORS file NOISILY into the
Mothership's docking bay. An OLD PREDATOR crouched against a strut
takes time out from carving something into a block of wood to briefly
look up at them. Like the PREDATORS themselves, the ship is a curious
mixture of old and new. An elaborate frieze written in alien script
runs around the wall, with racks of sophisticated equipment recessed
into it. Hatches lead off to various parts of the ship; we see BROKEN
TUSK carry his ALIEN head off down one of them.
INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - VIEWING GALLERY
The gallery seems to be more mechanical than the rest of the ship.
BROKEN TUSK enters, pausing next to a kind of readout device: a
cylindrical tube containing a substance similar to mercury which
constantly changes it's mass into shapes and alien text. He peers over
the protective railing.
WHAT HE SEES is magnificent: a captive QUEEN ALIEN, the nucleus of the
ALIEN society, fed by giant intravenous pipes. Each of it's limbs is
tethered by straining clamps preventing any movement. To the rear,
it's giant egg-sac glows and throbs, suspended by a jury-rigged sling.
A SCANNING MECHANISM hangs above the EGGS the QUEEN lays, seemingly
defying gravity. As each EGG is scanned by a blue triangular beam -
similar to a PREDATOR gun-sight - it becomes translucent, giving us a
view of the pulsing FACEHUGGER inside. This done, a manipulator are
carefully loads several eggs onto a pallet, which then sinks into a
hatchway in the floor. It's an assembly-line of almost frightening
mechanical efficiency.
EXT. SPACE
We see a pod ejected from the Mothership, rocketing away from the
planet into deep space. The inference is obvious; the PREDATORS are
seeding worlds with ALIENS to hunt.
INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - VIEWING GALLERY
The blue beam slides across one of the eggs, and suddenly changes to
red, BEEPING rapidly. BROKEN TUSK sees the flowing display-tank alter
from a rotating simulation of an ALIEN WARRIOR skull to a
representation of a QUEEN's head. The manipulator arm swiftly grasps
the EGG in question and moves it over to a protrusion on the floor.
The causes the QUEEN to go
berserk, straining at her bonds and SHRIEKING ferociously. She's
obviously been through this before and knows what's about to happen.
The protrusionsplits open, spilling out an intense white light: an
energy-filled blast furnace. The manipulator claw opens, the EGG drops
in, and is no more.
INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - LIVING QUARTERS
An orange light plays across a wall of skulls, casting dark shadows
into long-empty orbs. BROKEN TUSK sprawls lizard-like across a flat
slab of rock in the center of the room, inspecting his formidable
arsenal of weaponry. Satisfied, he reaches out to run a finger across
the jaw of his ALIEN trophy in an almost-erotic gesture. He regards it
for a long moment as if coming to a decision of some kind, before
finally getting to his feet.
INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - VIEWING GALLERY
The lights in the gallery are dimmer when BROKEN TUSK enters. He
watches the cherry-red beam of the gliding SCANNING MECHANISM lock onto
one of the EGGS, then runs his hand in sequence over the control board.
The manipulator arm swings over, seizing the egg and loading it onto a
waiting pallet.
BROKEN TUSK points his finger at the QUEEN and makes a guttural
CLICKING SOUND from deep in his throat. The effect is not unlike that
of a child firing an imaginary gun. As if reading BROKEN TOOTH's
thoughts, the QUEEN lifts her crested head upwards and emits a venomous
HISS of contempt.
EXT. SPACE
In CENTER FRAME, the planet sits still and green, awash with nebulous
clouds. A hulking METAL FORM ROLLS RIGHT-TO-LEFT across our view,
sunlight glinting from it's surface. It's a rectangular satellite-
construction comprised of hundreds of communication dishes in a
latticework of steel tubing. We hear FILTERED HUMAN VOICES O.S.
Subspace chatter.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - MIDDAY
Imagine a world where every square mile is covered by a canopy of
treetop foliage, and you've just drawn yourself a picture of the planet
Ryushi.
Nestled amongst this lush rainforest is the Yutani-Templin
Communications Relay Station. Several inverted-'U'-shaped suspension
cranes painted bright yellow look down over a collection of
preassembled buildings and roadways raised above the swamp on
platforms, much like a truncated oil-rig. A navigation beacon flashes
intermittently from a tall gantry tower above, while dominating the
view is the sloping face of a communications array several storeyes
high. Off to one side of the platform is a gigantic many-wheeled
haulage vehicle. A flock of bird-like creatures fly past.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
We're in the dark womb of a split-level command center alive with
clusters of video readouts, somewhat reminiscent of a futuristic air-
traffic control tower. On the upper tier, a large circular holo-
display currently projects an image of the satellite we just saw. Thin
trailers of paper flutter gently in the current coming from the air
conditioning ducks, though beads of sweat still dot the foreheads of
the people manning the consoled here. We move in on CASSIE DOLLANDER
and ROB PARSONS, two monitoring technicians occupying a control bank.
CASSIE listens carefully to something on her headset.
CASSIE
Ah, negative on that request commercial freighter 'Nan-Shan'. I've
already got an inbound on that approach pending a beacon-fix. Hold on
my mark until I get back with some confirmation. Rimward Traffic
Control out.
She thumbs a button and leans over to PARSONS.
CASSIE (CONT'D)
How's it looking?
PARSONS worriedly shakes his head.
PARSONS
That's the second time I ran it, and it still reads the same.
CASSIE
Better tell the boss.
PARSONS pulls out a coin.
PARSONS
Toss you for it.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - EXECUTIVE OFFICE
HIROKO NOGUCHI is sweating heavily, a black forelock of hair falling
across her Oriental features. Her eyes flicker warily from side-to-
side as she holds the smooth length of the sword before her, trying to
assess from where the next attack will come. She doesn't have to wait
long; two NINJA SWORDSMEN drop to the floor in front of her, striking
without hesitation.
She expertly avoid the blows, parrying relentlessly. A persistent TONE
begins to intrude O.S., like a telephone RINGING. She tries to ignore
it, but her concentration is clearly broken. A THIRD SWORDSMAN appears
from out of nowhere, his sword SWISHING towards her chest. The blade
plunges deep into her stomach, emerging from her back. She glances
down in annoyed disbelief.
HIROKO
Fuck! Holo off.
The SWORDSMEN immediately flicker and disappear. She sheathes the
sword with one precise movement and crosses the wooden paneled floor to
her desk. Mopping her face with a towel, she thumbs a stud. The
RINGING TONE stops, the corporate logo on her flat-screen desk panel
replaced with a black girl's face.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Noguchi.
CASSIE (O.S., onscreen)
Something just came up on Deep Space Tracking.
HIROKO
What kind of 'something'?
CASSIE (O.S., onscreen)
Easier if you come down and look.
HIROKO
I'm on my way.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - MIDDAY
An eight-wheeled articulated crawler rolls noisily through the rain,
climbing an access ramp leading from the swamp to the outpost's empty
main-street. A group of rhinos - brown two-horned quadrupeds
indigenous to Ryushi - restlessly stir in their corral at it's
approach. The crawler's pneumatics HISS gently as it comes to a halt,
while somewhere off in the distance a dog BARKS.
DON KAMEN, a lean man in his forties. climbs down from the cab mounted
five feet above the ground and squints up at the main relay antenna. He
adjusts the cowboy hat on his head against the drizzle and crosses the
street towards one of the buildings, ignoring a Pepsi sign CREAKING in
the gentle breeze. A glass-paneled door SWISHES automatically open
before him.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
KAMEN steps into the command center, nodding familiarly to the DUTY
PERSONNEL. A long-haired labrador rushes up to KAMEN, wagging it's
tail. Her name is BREWSTER. She's the base mascot. KAMEN reaches down
and ruffles it's fur. He climbs the few stairs to the monitoring tier,
pulling the French-plaited hair of ANNIE URIOSTE, an Italian systems-
mechanic with her hands buried in a disassembled console.
URIOSTE
You didn't wipe your feet coming in.
KAMEN
Well, it's okay. You didn't tell me it was monsoon season going out.
PARSONS looks up at KAMEN and grins.
PARSONS
Hey, buenos dias, cowboy. When d'you blow in?
KAMEN places his hat on PARSONS' head and THUMPS it down.
KAMEN
Just got back. Missed anything?
URIOSTE (snorts)
Yeah. We're almost out of beer.
PARSONS
Ahh, don't pay any attention to Urioste. She's still pissed that
Noguchi wouldn't let her go off on your hunting trip.
KAMEN pours himself a cup of coffee from a BUBBLING percolator.
KAMEN
Wasn't my trip, I just did the driving. 'Sides, freezing my butt off
out in the wet taking pot-shots at the local wildlife isn't my idea of
a good time, either.
He sips gingerly from the cup of scalding liquid.
PARSONS
Where'd you leave them?
KAMEN
Camped out by the navi-beacon out on Linson's Range. They're making
their own way back tomorrow.
CASSIE
MarsCo went belly-up on the Dow Jones.
KAMEN
Shit. When?
CASSIE
Yesterday. We got the Network feed from Gateway; it was the top story
on 'Sixty Seconds'. Biggest market crash since twenty-four.
KAMEN looks ill.
KAMEN
Fucking great. I invested some money in them.
CASSIE
You win some, you loose some.
KAMEN
I lose 'em all, that's why I'm still out here on this rock. Anything
else you wanna ruin my day with?
CASSIE
No, but I got something that might interest you.
HIROKO enters, pulling on a leather jacket.
HIROKO
What've you got?
KAMEN nods to her and receives a quick smile for his trouble. They
turn to watch the display clear, replaced with a computer simulation of
the neighboring solar system.
CASSIE
A pair of incomings. They popped-up on the medium-range about thirteen
twenty-four local time.
PARSONS
We figured on it being a magnetic anomaly, but we ran a back-trace just
to make sure.
CASSIE
Yeah. Turns out they dropped straight out of hyperspace.
The simulation ZOOMS IN, revealing two unidentified objects heading
towards the planet in the center of the display. Computer notations
accompany them.
CASSIE (CONT'D)
Curious thing is, the mass detector says they're too small to carry a
deep-space drive.
HIROKO
Sounds like a couple of escape shuttles.
PARSONS
That's what we thought.
HIROKO
Have you got an updated Lloyds' Almanac to cross-reff them through?
PARSONS
Done it already. Nothing matches.
CASSIE
And if you thought that was interesting, watch this...
HIROKO watches the course of the two objects simultaneously change.
KAMEN
Jesus.
PARSONS
Yeah, exactly. Those're pre-programmed course adjustments you're
looking at.
KAMEN
Tactical nukes, maybe?
Everybody gives him a quick look, but nobody says anything. It's
obviously not an appealing thought.
HIROKO
Where're they headed?
CASSIE
We ran a trajectory simulation. If they carry on along that path, it's
possible they'll make intra-orbital insertion.
There's a great exhalation of breath, and everyone swaps significant
glances. HIROKO seems worried. She scratches her forehead.
HIROKO
I don't know what to make of this. Get a copy of the telemetry relayed
back to Antarctica Traffic Control. Better alert the nearest RimCorp
Base, too.
PARSONS nods, suddenly serious.
PARSONS
Fort Powell. What do we tell 'em?
HIROKO
Just give them the facts. They can leap to their own conclusions.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - SWAMP - AFTERNOON
Down here in the swamp, the trunks of magnificent trees terminate in
gnarled roots and disappear into watery murk, much like a Louisiana
bayou. A group of attentive LEMUR-TYPE CREATURES suddenly bound for
cover as a line of bullets THUDS into the wood nearby. Seconds later,
a loud HUMMING NOISE intrudes O.S. and a pair of manta-ray-shaped
hover-bikes with sleek lines and garnish decals SLAMS into FRAME
suspended two feet above the mire, their powerful turbines kicking-up a
swirl of spray. The two BIKERS skid to a halt and watch the CREATURES
scatter. ACKLAND and YORK - men who on Earth might be called "good 'ol
boys" - are both riding one-handed; powerful hi-tech rifles gripped in
the other.
YORK (yelling)
You missed 'em, Ackland!
ACKLAND
Little fuckers move too fast. Let's do a sweep and catch 'em on the
other side.
YORK nods his head, pulling his goggles down over his eyes. The two
bikes ROAR off in pursuit.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - AFTERNOON
Up on a mud-bank, at the base of a sturdy gantry tower with two
blinking blue lights atop it, stands the camp. It looks a little like
a Bedouin bivouac, but up-close we can see the techno-fitted details.
A hard-featured woman seated next to a solid-fuel burner sips from a
mug, while her Vietnamese counterpart is manually loading large-caliber
bullets into a belt-feed. They
watch as ACKLAND and YORK roar past WHOOPING. MINH scrambles out of
the way as a beer can lobbed by YORK CLATTERS to the ground near him.
MINH
Crazy idiots.
BEAUVAIS cups her drink with both hands, assessing him.
BEAUVAIS
Ahhh, they're just letting off some steam; don't let 'em get to you.
Ackland and York aren't such bad guys when you get to know 'em. Just a
couple of weekend warriors...
She peers curiously at the clunky cartridges MINH's thumbing into the
belt feed. On the ground next to him is a widebore weapon on an over-
the-shoulder guidance mechanism.
BEAUVAIS (CONT'D)
Nice howitzer you've got there.
MINH
Thanks.
BEAUVAIS
Good argument for gun-control. What are you going after, rhino?
MINH
Nah. I just wanna squeeze off a few rounds. 'Sides, they tagged the
rhinos for the migration project, so they're protected. They'll dock
you a month's pay for just mentioning it.
He peers into the belt and blows out some dirt.
MINH (CONT'D)
Sure wish there was something on this planet with a bit of fight in it,
though.
EXT. DEEP SPACE
Against a sea of stars, a small metal shape HURTLES towards us,
followed moments later by it's identical twin.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - BIG BERTHA - AFTERNOON
A strand of HIROKO's hair falls forward into her face, slick with rain.
She brushes up at the miserable weather. She and KAMEN are standing on
one of the twelve-feet-in-diameter wheels of the gargantuan haulage
vehicle we saw outside the base earlier. Up on the side of the cab is
painted a Nordic Valkyrie with an impressive bustline, next to which is
the legend 'BIG BERTHA'. Two mechanics, JAN GUTTIEREZ and KEVIN
DILLER, watch KAMEN point something out to HIROKO from the vantage
point of KAMEN's crawler parked in the swamp nearby.
KAMEN
See that sheathing on the suspension? Eaten away. Same thing with the
pumps on the base air purifiers. The algae out here just isn't good on
these new plastics.
HIROKO
We haven't used Big Bertha since we relocated the generator module.
That was four months ago. I can't ask for them to keep bringing spares
in on the shuttle, it's already costing too much as it is.
KAMEN shrugs.
KAMEN
If you want these things kept in working condition, that's the only
choice you've got.
DILLER leans in to murmur quietly to GUTTIEREZ.
DILLER
Maybe she wouldn't be so tetchy if she got laid every once-in-a-while.
GUTTIEREZ
You offering?
A buzzer inside the crawler goes OFF. DILLER gets up to answer.
DILLER
Nah. Freeze my dick off.
HIROKO shakes her head dubiously at KAMEN's comment.
HIROKO
I don't know. I think we'll have to run it on a rota; one month down,
one month operational.
DILLER leans out of the crawler's cab and calls across.
DILLER
Miss Noguchi! You're wanted in admin.
HIROKO
Thanks.
She turns back to KAMEN.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Let me sort this out and we'll go over the logistics in my office.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
HIROKO peers at the display with undisguised concern. A sense of
urgency buzzes around the room.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
When?
CASSIE
Seven minutes ago, the third course change in an hour. Those incomings
are going to skim past the communications platform just a little too
close for comfort.
HIROKO
Can we move it to a different orbit in time?
PARSONS looks up from his board in harassment.
PARSONS
Already working on it.
HIROKO
Get off an all-bands emergency distress, and put it on a repeater.
She meets KAMEN's eyes.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Looks like you were right. Someone's lobbed a pair of smart-missiles
at us.
KAMEN shakes his head.
KAMEN
Relay station like us out in the middle of the boonies; why bother?
All you're gonna do is punch a temporary hole in the traffic control
net. That'd be small potatoes even for terrorists.
PARSONS and CASSIE are all-business at the control board.
PARSONS
Can you patch me a temporary loop on DCMGS?
CASSIE
Okay, give me the numbers.
She flips a switch. A nearby screen changes to display an orbital path
sketched out in rectangular neon blocks.
EXT. SPACE
A cluster of thruster rockets on one corner of the relay frame ignites,
and the darkened bulk of the satellite begins to move.
EXT. DEEP SPACE
The two pods ROAR towards us at immense speed.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
The two blips on the holo-board representing the pods make a marked
alteration in their course.
PARSONS
They've changed their heading again.
HIROKO
Compensate!
PARSONS
Punch me in a solution for their delta-vee.
CASSIE
What do you need?
PARSONS
A three-second burn to port, on my mark.
CASSIE
It's on the board.
EXT. SPACE
Framed against the green backdrop of Ryushi, the PREDATOR pods rocket
towards the communications platform.
CASSIE
Picking up velocity.
HIROKO
Match it!
A bead of sweat trickles down PARSONS' temple.
PARSONS
Not gonna make it...
EXT. DEEP SPACE
The pod speeds THUNDEROUSLY into CAMERA, blotting out our view.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
One of the two blips on the holo-display vanishes, and three-quarters
of the monitors abruptly turn to static. PARSONS curses.
PARSONS
Goddammit!
He pulls off his headset with weary resignation.
PARSONS (CONT'D)
We've lost the downlink. It's gone.
EXT. SPACE
The mass of the satellite tumbles end-over-end. A gaping rent is torn
through it; something sparks and flashes within. The second pod
accelerates off curving into the atmosphere.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - RIVERBANK - DUSK
A SONIC THUNDERCRACK BOOMS overhead; YORK looks up in time to see an
object sear across the dusk sky. He pulls his bike to a stationary
hover.
YORK
Shit! What's that?
ACKLAND has already dismounted as he watches the fireball hurtle to the
ground. A BOOMING ECHO resonates across the forest, followed by a few
plaintive SCREECHES from the planet's indigenous lifeforms, before
settling back into an eerie silence.
ACKLAND
Meteor, I guess.
He raises a set of compact field binoculars to his face. THROUGH THEM
he sees a thin haze of smoke rising from the treetops.
ACKLAND
D'you feel any impact shock?
YORK (uncertain)
Not really.
He lowers the binoculars and frowns.
ACKLAND
Me either. I tell you, I used to be with a mining outfit on Callisto,
and when something like that hits... believe me, you know about it.
YORK
Do you wanna head back and call it in?
ACKLAND (hesitant)
I dunno... I dunno. Something about this feels funny.
He looks across at the plume of smoke snaking off into the sky.
ACKLAND (CONT'D)
That is the damndest impact I've ever saw...
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - IMPACT SIGHT - DUSK
The earth around the crater-rim is charred and cracked; some of the
surrounding brush still aflame. A SCORPION scuttles inquisitively to
the edge of the pit and stops, it's stinger twitching hesitantly. We
HEAR a LOW HUM, and the SOUND of METAL-ON-METAL. Before the SCORPION
can decide what to do, it's fate is sealed. A large METAL CLAW comes
down, crushing it in an instant. A SECOND CLAW emerges, and a MACHINE
heaves itself out of the hole, it's surface smoking with heat. It
pauses for a BEAT like some giant tarantula seeking prey, them moves
purposely outwards about twenty yards before halting. A hatch on the
underside opens, and a complex delivery mechanism extends. After a
moment there's a LOW CLUNK, and the mechanism retracts. In it's place
is an ALIEN EGG. The MACHINE crawls off, vanishing into the long
reeds.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - NIGHT
HIROKO sits on the front wheel of KAMEN's crawler, her knees pulled up
to her chin, staring off into a thin mist that makes the night
impenetrable. Behind and above, the lights of the cranes and the
communications array strobe on-and-off. Above the bar on the main
street is a flicking neon sign erected after-the-fact, emblazoned with
the words "TORCHY'S". The MUFFLED SOUNDS of MERRY-MAKING from within
become momentarily louder, and HIROKO glances over to see it's
pressure-door CRASH back, disgorging several drunken people. KAMEN
follows them through. He spots HIROKO and heads over.
KAMEN
Hey, boss. Wondered where you'd gotten to.
HIROKO
I just... wanted to be put on my own for a while. Clear my head.
KAMEN
Didn't feel like whoopin' it up with the rest of us blue collars, huh?
She shakes her head, and manages a smile.
HIROKO
I've got a lot of thinking to do. 'Sides, the room was getting too
crowded for me.
KAMEN
Not too much of the socializing type, then?
HIROKO
No, not really. More sort of the 'claustrophobic' type.
KAMEN LAUGHS. HIROKO is straight-faced.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
I'm serious. That's why I switched from orbiting to planetary
installations.
KAMEN
Is that a fact.
HIROKO
Uh-huh. Used to get it pretty bad. I'd wake up in a cold sweat and
want to claw open a vacuum hatch.
KAMEN
How long you been out here for now, anyway? Three months?
HIROKO
Four.
KAMEN
And before that?
HIROKO
Six month stint on Datus.
KAMEN
Only six?
HIROKO
What is this? 'Twenty Questions'?
KAMEN
Just curious. There's a lot of talk goes around.
HIROKO shrugs. Thinks about it.
HIROKO
I don't know. I guess I've just never found anywhere I really felt at
home.
She hugs her knees again, and suddenly looks a whole lot more at ease.
KAMEN spots a square glass balanced on one of the tire's wide treads.
KAMEN
What is that?
HIROKO
Real man' drink.
She offers the glass to him. He takes it and sniff cautiously.
KAMEN
Seltzer?
HIROKO
Want some?
KAMEN hands the glass back and raises his own bottle.
KAMEN
I'll stick with my own.
He sits with her and stares into the darkness.
HIROKO
Any luck raising Ackland's party?
KAMEN
Nothing. With the satellite down, we can't transmit over the mountain
range. He's most likely sitting there wondering why he can't raise us.
HIROKO
First light, we'll take a chopper out there and tell them to head back.
KAMEN
'We'? You wanna fly out there with me?
HIROKO
Sure. Do me good to stretch my legs.
HIROKO takes a sip of her drink, her brow furrowing.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
This whole thing's got me spooked.
KAMEN hops off the wheel.
KAMEN
Don't worry about it. If the Network goes by the book, like everyone
figures they will, a Marine gunboat from Powell'll drop-by for a look-
see in four-or-five days. They can go poke around out there and find
whatever it was hit us. All we've gotta do is sit tight.
HIROKO
Do you think Ackland'll sit tight?
KAMEN
There'd have to be a helluva good reason for him not to.
EXT. SPACE
A peculiar blue scanning beam plays over the rotating mass of the
incapacitated satellite, examining every section. it comes to the rent
torn through it, and pauses.
FROM THE SCANNER'S P.O.V., we see the structure of the satellite made
up from a series of blue geodesic shapes. The damage registers as a
cold, black mass.
The beam switches off and the hovering PREDATOR shuttle turns smoothly
on it's axis, thrusting towards the planet.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - IMPACT SITE - NIGHT
Shafts of torch-light fan out above the thick foliage in the darkness.
YORK and ACKLAND wade through the chin-high reeds, cursing.
ACKLAND
Found anything?
YORK looks down at his data-stick, a handheld torch with a multi-
purpose readout screen.
YORK
Nada. No radiation... no movement... nothing.
ACKLAND
Well, just keep looking. It's gotta be... whoa, Jesus!
ACKLAND falls toward onto something, and YORK comes running.
YORK
What is it?
ACKLAND steadies himself, and the two men shine their torches at the
rhythmically-breathing SHAPE on the ground.
ACKLAND
It's a rhino.
YORK
Is it dead?
ACKLAND
No, it's still breathing. Kinda clammy though. Are you sure your
stick's not broken.
YORK looks at the data-stick again.
YORK
Yeah, it's fine.
ACKLAND
God, I hope that thing didn't bring down a virus.
YORK
I told you we... what's that?
Their torch beams PAN ACROSS a three-foot high ovular shape.
ACKLAND
Looks like a spore. Fungus of some kind, maybe?
YORK
Bloody big if it is. Top's open.
ACKLAND steps cautiously forward to shine his torch inside.
YORK (CONT'D)
Careful...
There's nothing inside. ACKLAND looks disappointed.
ACKLAND
It's hollow. Think our rhino must've ate something that didn't agree
with him.
A heavy gust of air blows unexpectedly across the clearing with a
BANSHEE HOWL, ruffling their hair.
YORK
Let's get back and call this in.
ACKLAND
Wait a minute.
YORK reluctantly follows ACKLAND as he thrashes through the thinn ing
foliage, coming out at the rim of the impact crater. It's beginning to
partially collapse, water seeping in. YORK runs his beam over
something at the bottom of the shallow pit.
YORK
What is that... is that metal fragments?
ACKLAND's maybe getting a little nervous now.
ACKLAND
This is very fucking weird.
He sees the churned earth, and the muddy trail leading off into the
broken foliage.
ACKLAND (CONT'D)
It's like something came out of the crater and went that way...
There's a TINY CLICK, and ACKLAND looks over to see YORK taking the
safety off his rifle. ACKLAND wordlessly unshoulders his too. They
step around the crater and warily follow the ragged path to...
YORK
Another one?
ACKLAND prods this SECOND EGG with his gun.
ACKLAND
Yeah. This's closed.
There's a CRACKLING NOISE, and the top of the EGG peels neatly open in
four sections. The two men jump back in alarm, and YORK LAUGHS
nervously. Something organic is pulsing inside. ACKLAND cranes his
neck forward for a better look...
There's an EXPLOSION of MOVEMENT. A spindly shape with a long
segmented tail launches itself jack-in-a-box-style at ACKLAND. It's a
FACEHUGGER. ACKLAND trips backwards, caught off-balance. His finger
involuntarily squeezes the trigger of his rifle as he falls. A volley
of shots describe and arc and light up the night with a PERCUSSIVE
BOOM, and we...
CUT TO
...A SHORT DISTANCE ACROSS THE CLEARING. SOMETHING is watching them
from the trees; something with a heat-vision P.O.V. A PREDATOR. We
see the flare of ACKLAND's gunshots, then SNAP IN to see the multi-
colored from of his body toppling over, trailing a purplish FACEHUGGER,
before we...
CUT BACK TO
...One of ACKLAND's bullets taking a meaty chunk out of YORK's thigh as
he races forward to help his friend. The HUGGER's tail is already
around ACKLAND's throat, it's fingers scrabbling for purchase. YORK
pulls at one set of digits, and manages to raise them for just an
instant. What we see is horrific; the look of terror on ACKLAND's
face, and the questing tendril on
the HUGGER's underside trying to force it's way between ACKLAND's lips.
In a second, it's all over; the FACEHUGGER struggles free of YORK's
grasp, and clamps itself firmly on ACKLAND's face with a faint SUCKING
SOUND. YORK shivers, then uses his good leg to propel himself a few
feet away. He watches the hapless Teamster go rigid, then stop moving
altogether.
YORK
Oh, God; oh, shit; oh, God.
The FACEHUGGER's tail slithers tighter around ACKLAND's neck; and as
YORK quickly retrieves his rifle, we...
CUT TO
A PREDATOR-VISION SHOT, watching the color-bloom of YORK dragging
ACKLAND's body away from the crater. It CLOSES IN on the FACEHUGGER,
giving us a muted X-ray-type VIEW of circulatory fluid pumping around
the HUGGER and into ACKLAND.
YORK's limping badly, a dark stain blossoming on his baggy fatigue
trousers. ACKLAND's not a small man, and the physical effort of hauling
him through the reeds makes him sweat profusely. There's movement on
the ground, and YORK sees why; one of the LEMURS has fallen victim to
another FACEHUGGER, which dwarfs it's small furry body. The HUGGER's
fingers all ripple simultaneously as it strengthens it's hold; the
movement akin to somebody drumming their
fingers on a table-top.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - RIVER BANK - NIGHT
As YORK hauls ACKLAND onto one of the bikes, he hears a TICKING SOUND
from the trees, like an engine cooling on a warm summer's day. YORK
clutches his rifle and stares upward. There seems to be a VAGUE
SHIMMERING FORM in the bough of a tree. Although it might be a trick
of the light, he isn't sticking around to find out. YORK guns the bike
to life and ROARS off above the swamp.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - IMPACT SITE - NIGHT
PREDATOR-VISION.
We're looking at the site in colours: the cold blue of empty ALIEN
EGGS, and the warm reds of just-breathing ANIMALS rendered inert the
FACEHUGGER parasites.
A group of PREDATORS appear in three-dimensional solidity, their
camouflage cloaks deactivated. The LEAD PREDATOR SPLASHES across to
the exposed roots of a tree and kneels down to examine an ANIMAL CORPSE
curled up there. Most of it has been madly mutilated by something
erupting from inside it's body. The PREDATOR looks up and scans the
swamp, ignoring the swarm of FLIES buzzing in the air.
PREDATOR-VISION.
This time, an oscillating line appears to the left of our view, and a
band sweeps quickly ACROSS the screen synchronous to us hearing
different levels of SOUND STATIC. This abruptly stops as the
oscillating line begins to moves in peaks and valleys. The PREDATOR is
picking up radio
waves. A HUMAN VOICE; albeit grossly-distorted.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT
We hear a RAPID BEEPING; movement-sensors set up on tripods to warn
against intruding animals. The sound brings BEAUVAIS out of her tent,
bleary-eyed and fumbling with her pistol. She's suddenly wide awake
when she sees YORK's hover-bike, lit by the sensors' flashing red
strobe. It skids to a halt against a mud-bank, sending up a spray of
silt. YORK climbs off the bike and stumbles, then starts to unfasten
the straps holding ACKLAND's body.
BEAUVAIS
Jesus Christ! What happened?
YORK
Give me a hand with Ack.
She races over to help YORK ease ACKLAND up.
BEAUVAIS
How bad is... oh my God.
As ACKLAND is turned over, BEAUVIAS gets her first look at a
FACEHUGGER. She shies away, repulsed.
BEAUVAIS
What is that?
YORK
Don't... uuh... don't know. Help me... uuh... help me get him inside.
Shit!
YORK grits his teeth, but the leg injury is too painful. He slumps
slowly to the floor.
BEAUVAIS (yelling)
Minh! Minh, get out here!
INT. TENT - NIGHT
A portable neon light in the tent flickers, casting staccato bluish
light over ACKLAND and the FACEHUGGER. MINH and BEAUVAIS stare at it
in horrified fascination, while YORK pulls a tourniquet around his
thigh. He winces.
BEAUVAIS
Have you tried prising it off?
YORK shakes his head.
YORK
I wanted to get him back here; get him back to base.
MINH
Forget it. We lost the satellite link. It's dead.
There's a long pause while everyone considers the options.
BEAUVAIS
We've got no option. We're gonna have to get it off.
MINH
Oh man...
YORK
Get real, Beauvais! That thing might chew his fucking face off for all
be know!
The motion sensor outside begins BEEPING again. MINH catches BEAUVAIS'
head-jerk.
BEAUVAIS
Minh...
MINH
Yep...
MINH hefts his 'howitzer' and leaves the tent. BEAUVAIS rounds on
YORK, continuing.
BEAUVAIS
How do you know it's not already?
YORK
I don't, but I think we should just wait and let the Doc take a look...
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT
MINH walks towards a line of flashing red strobes at the perimeter of
the camp, the barrel of his weapon pointing casually forward. He
studies the surrounding darkness. There's nothing out there. He
shakes his head in
disgust.
MINH (muttering)
Take a goddamn wrench to those things...
He thumbs a stud on the top of the 'howitzer'. There's a gentle WHINE,
and the HISS of hydraulic cylinders as the harness mechanism lifts the
weapon up. It darts quickly to-and-fro; a mechanical snake seeking a
target. We see MINH's hand in CLOSE UP. In addition to the firing
trigger, there's also a thumb button. He squeezes it...
The gun swings sharply around in a blinding movement, tracking
something automatically. There's a THUNDEROUS RUMBLE as it fires-off
three shots in rapid succession. Something that was only yards from
MINH APPEARS and is blown backwards to CRASH against a tree bole, a
mass of luminous green liquid and motion.
MINH (CONT'D) (dumbstruck)
God.
MINH watches the helmeted PREDATOR fall face down into the water with a
SPLASH, then lie motionless. YORK and BEAUVAIS are out of the tent in
an instant.
PREDATOR-VISION.
Three humans; in motion and 'hot'. The triangular mechanism of the
PREDATOR's gun locks onto MINH.
A BLAST of plasma-energy rips a gaping hole through MINH's body,
spraying blood across YORK. He topples dead to the ground, a look of
pained surprise on his face. BEAUVAIS is there immediately, racing
across and scrabbling for the 'howitzer'. She doesn't have time to
take the harness off - she just slides her finger through the trigger
guard and starts squeezing off random shots. The air shimmers as an
unseen shape races at her. There's a loud
SWISH of sliding metal, and a telescopic spear appears out of thin air.
It SLAMS through BEAUVAIS' body, lifting her off the ground and
impaling her against a tree.
YORK watches in horror as BEAUVAIS' arms thrash around. A moment later
her struggles cease, and she'd dropped to the floor like a broken
marionette. There's a CRACKLING SOUND, and the hazy air around BEAUVAIS
disappears. In it's place is a PREDATOR, a luminous green patch
trickling from a wound on it's arm. It's head flicks around as it
zeroes-in on YORK, the three red dots of the PREDATOR's cannon
following suit. YORK's quick though, already up and running when the
plasma bolt EXPLODES into the tree despite the pain in his leg.
His options are limited. The hover-bike is nearby. He sprints for
that and his luck holds...the key's still in the ignition. He flips
it. The engine COUGHS and then dies. YORK looks up. The wounded
PREDATOR bounds across the clearing at frightened speed. YORK turns
the key again, but the PREDATOR's almost upon him. The creature WHIPS
an ornately-shaped lance from it's back and thrusts it...JUST AS THE
ENGINE ROARS TO LIFE AND THE HOVER-BIKE RISES FROM THE MUD! The blade
slices into the bike's body and jams there, while one of it's manta-
wings SMACKS into the PREDATOR's jaw, sending it reeling backwards into
the swamp.
YORK swivels the bike on it's axis as another plasma-bolt rips into the
rear, melting away a sizable chunk of the bodywork. He sees a PREDATOR
handing from a tree, and the SHIMMERING of two more PREDATORS in their
camouflage nearby. He's not sticking around to argue though. YORK
jams the throttle hard and the bike shoots off into the bayou as more
cannon-blasts blossom around him.
The group of PREDATORS appear in the camp and cautiously survey the
area. The LEAD PREDATOR - the one with the distinctive armor - crosses
to the tent and opens the entry flap.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
PREDATOR-VISION.
The extraterrestrial hunter scrutinizes the pulsing FACEHUGGER on
ACKLAND for a long moment, but takes no further action.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - NIGHT
We PAN SLOWLY ACROSS the deserted campsite. There isn't a soul there,
human or otherwise. The wind whistles eerily through the tree-boughs.
EXT. RAINFOREST AIRSPACE - DAWN
First light the next day, the sun rising on the horizon. A 'chopper' -
actually a twin-turbine heli-jet - flies in low above the veil of mist
hanging over the treetops.
INT. CHOPPER - DAWN
The cockpit is small, a two-seater with room for cargo in the back.
KAMEN's in the pilot seat, and HIROKO's riding shotgun. The controls
moving by themselves, on autopilot. A REPETITIVE BEEPING causes KAMEN
to look up from his magazine.
KAMEN'S P.O.V.
From out of the window of the 'chopper', we see the twin blue lights of
the navigation beacon blinking on-and-off above the trees.
KAMEN nudges HIROKO awake.
KAMEN
Wake up. We're at the beacon.
He switches the controls over to manual and takes the chopper down.
HIROKO rubs the sleep from her eyes.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN
Twin searchlights on the underside of the descending chopper sweep
across the clearing. The encampment has been wrecked, much of is
reduced to a twisted tangle of smoking debris. All-terrain gear lowers
from the chopper, as it makes a watery landing in the swamp.
INT. CHOPPER - DAWN
KAMEN and HIROKO stare at the site in disbelief. KAMEN hauls an
automatic pulse-rifle from the rear.
KAMEN
Looks like trouble.
KAMEN reaches under the pilot's seat and pulls out a hand-pistol.
Passes it to her.
KAMEN (CONT'D)
Used one of these before?
HIROKO coolly examines it.
HIROKO
Fabrique Nationale tactical autoloader. Uses twelve mill hollow 'O'
rounds, with through the barrel smart laser-sighting. Sure, I can
handle this.
HIROKO's show-boating and KAMEN knows it, but he still can't help being
a little bit impressed.
KAMEN
Okay. Watch were you point it...
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN
The two of them pick their way across mangled tripods and charred
canvas. Part of the bivouac has collapsed - one of the guide ropes has
burned through.
HIROKO (quietly)
Somebody picked an argument.
KAMEN
Yeah. Somebody won.
HIROKO
Check out the tent.
KAMEN nods and heads off that way, while HIROKO carefully inspects the
wreckage dotted around the perimeter.
INT. TENT - DAWN
KAMEN opens the tent flap and peers inside. ACKLAND's on the cot,
sweating heavily. There is no sign of the FACEHUGGER.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - DAWN
Across the clearing, HIROKO turns a piece of charred plating over in
her hands before discarding it.
Her foot slips on an object sunk into the soft mud. It's MINH's
'howitzer'. A dark slippery patch coats the metal. She crouches down
and rubs her fingers through it. Blood. KAMEN's VOICE intrudes, O.S.
KAMEN (O.S.)
I've found Ackland!
HIROKO
Hold on...
She begins to cross the camp, and her foot catches on a taut length of
rope. SOMETHING swings down from the trees, hitting her squarely in the
face and knocking her off her feet. HIROKO CRIES OUT in fear and
surprise, then freezes at what she sees.
Two bloodied bodies dangle head-first from the bough overhead; BEAUVAIS
and MINH. Each has been skinned and is beyond recognition. KAMEN
hears her exclamation and is out of the tent in an instant. He stops
in his tracks.
KAMEN
Jesus palomino...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - MORNING
It's raining again at the base. Under cover of an overhang, HIROKO
watches as ACKLAND is trundled away from the 'chopper' on a paramedic
trolley by GUTTIEREZ and DOC REVNA, an Indian woman in her late
thirties. As KAMEN slams the 'chopper's side door, we see that HIROKO
has left her leather jacket on the passenger seat. KAMEN runs after
REVNA clutching a clear plastic bag.
KAMEN
Wait a minute, Doc...
He hands the bag over to REVNA. She peers at the contents curiously.
The FACEHUGGER is inside, stiff and shriveled.
REVNA
Is this it?
KAMEN
Yeah. Found it curled up in a corner of the tent. Any idea?
REVNA shakes her head.
REVNA
Never come across one of these before. Maybe the original survey team
did. I'll run it through records and see what comes up.
GUTTIEREZ checks that ACKLAND's body's secure on the trolley. KAMEN
raps him on the back to get his attention.
KAMEN
Hey, Jan. See if you can get someone to check out the chopper.
GUTTIEREZ
What's the problem?
KAMEN
She was running a little sluggish on the way back. Think the turbines
might be playing up.
GUTTIEREZ
Give me twenty minutes and I'll do it myself.
KAMEN
Appreciate that.
REVNA interrupts.
REVNA
Where're the bodies?
HIROKO
Bagged and in the back. They're not a pretty sight.
ACKLAND is wheeled into a freight elevator. As KAMEN and HIROKO walk
away across the rain-swept platform, a SHIMMERING FROM detaches itself
from the rear of the chopper and lowers itself to the heli-jet pad.
PREDATOR-VISION.
A newly-arrived PREDATOR scans the towers and modules of the relay-
station with great interest. An oscillating red line appears to the
LEFT of the SHOT as the PREDATOR analyses HIROKO's voice-pattern.
PREDATOR (O.S., distorted)
Not a pretty sight. Not a pretty sight...
He reaches down to his wrist computer and activates it.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - IMPACT SIGHT - DAY
Under the cathedral-like light filtering through the trees above, a row
of metal spikes have been driven into the earth. Four are topped with
still-smoking ALIEN skulls. Two and empty.
PREDATOR-VISION.
A newly decapitated ALIEN head is turned around in another PREDATOR's
hands in admiration. This PREDATOR thrusts his trophy onto the next
spike, then stares at the vacant one for a long moment. His wrist
computer BLEEPS for attention...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
With nothing to do, most of the screens are out and the remaining
personnel bored. PARSONS is reading a magazine with his feet up on the
console, uninterested in HIROKO and KAMEN's conversation nearby.
HIROKO
I'm going to need you to co-sign the report. Until we come up with
something, this'll be treated as first degree murder.
KAMEN
Agreed.
HIROKO
When we get the link back, and I send this in, I.C.C.'ll throw a fit.
KAMEN
Ah, don't worry about I.C.C. They're the least of your problems right
now.
HIROKO
What do you mean?
URIOSTE walks up, very serious. She interrupts.
URIOSTE
Sorry. Can I have a word?
HIROKO
Sure. What's up?
URIOSTE
Three-Pump failed a half-hour ago. The algae must have clogged up an
intake duct.
KAMEN
Think I spoke too soon...
HIROKO
Again? How long before we start noticing the difference?
URIOSTE
I reckon it'll be another day before the smell gets unbearable.
Beauvais usually fixes it, but... ah...
HIROKO knows what she means. BEAUVAIS is dead.
HIROKO
Can you handle it?
URIOSTE
Sure, I can manage. But I'm not going into the Pit on my own.
HIROKO (to Urioste)
Alright, get somebody from the auto-shop. (to Kamen) Is that
alright?
KAMEN
Yeah, no problem. Ask Diller, he's good with his hands.
URIOSTE exchanges a grin with CASSIE.
CASSIE
I'll go along with that.
A SHRILL TRILLING from his console communicator makes PARSONS leap up
to answer.
PARSONS
Parsons. (long beat) Yeah. Hold on.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - INFIRMARY
A CLOSE UP of an eye, bright blue and dilated. DOC REVNA's shining a
hand- held light into ACKLAND's face. ACKLAND's regained
consciousness, but is far from happy. He's sitting on the edge of a
cot in the base Infirmary, an antiseptic room full of automated medical
equipment. The Autodoc is suspended from the ceiling nearby, a
circular cluster of sophisticated manipulator arms tipped with cutting
blades and surgical paraphernalia.
ACKLAND
Hey, c'mon Doc, I feel fine. Really.
REVNA flicks off the probe.
REVNA
Headache? Dehydration?
ACKLAND
The head's okay, but I could sink a six-pack.
REVNA
Forget that. I want you off alcohol for at least seventy-two hours.
I've got some toxin build-up tests still to run.
REVNA shakes her head and turns to KAMEN.
REVNA (CONT'D)
He's broken a fever that would kill a mule, but if he says he's alright
I'm prepared to believe him. He's all yours.
HIROKO enters. She watches from behind KAMEN.
KAMEN
What happened out there, Ack?
ACKLAND (consternated)
What do you mean, 'what happened'? What am I doing back here? Where's
York?
HIROKO (insistent)
What's the last thing you can remember?
ACKLAND thinks hard.
ACKLAND
We... watched a meteor hit over Linson's.
HIROKO and KAMEN exchange significant glances.
HIROKO
A meteor?
ACKLAND
Yeah, it impacted really off. We went out to the crash-site... and...
uh... that's... that's all.
KAMEN
Nothing else?
ACKLAND
No.
KAMEN turns to REVNA.
KAMEN
Show him 'Fido'.
REVNA pulls out a cylindrical glass stasis tube from a wall rack. She
hands it to ACKLAND. He studies the dead FACEHUGGER floating inside
with morbid fascination.
REVNA
Ring any bells?
ACKLAND tries hard to think, but it's as if a wall's slammed down hard
on his mind.
ACKLAND
Not really, no. Ugly little sonuvabitch. What is it?
KAMEN
We thought you might be able to tell us. I found it by your cot at the
camp. You were out cold.
ACKLAND
What did York say?
HIROKO
York's vanished.
ACKLAND
Vanished?
HIROKO
Beauvais and Minh are dead, Ackland. York's gone awol, unless you can
help us go some way toward disproving our suspicion, he's the prime
suspect right now.
The news hits ACKLAND hard. He falters and leans back, addressing
REVNA.
ACKLAND
Can I... um... have some water? Please?
REVNA
Sure.
She goes to fetch a cup.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMISSARY
It's lunchtime, and the SOUND of machinery STEAMING food mixes with the
CHATTER of the twenty-or-so personnel eating there. HIROKO and KAMEN
are deep in conversation across a table.
KAMEN
Do you believe him?
HIROKO
Ackland? I don't know him well enough to say. If we were back on
Earth we could run him though an Aldhoven test and find out for sure.
There's not much we can do out here.
KAMEN stares hard at her. That's not much of an answer, and HIROKO
knows it. She capitulates.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Alright then, For what it's worth... yes, I do.
KAMEN digs appreciatively into a container of food with his fork.
KAMEN
You should try this seasoned stuff. It's good.
GUTTIEREZ approaches the table carrying something.
GUTTIEREZ
Got a present for you.
He hands HIROKO's leather jacket over to her.
HIROKO
Oh, I've been looking for this! Where was it?
GUTTIEREZ
You left it in the chopper. Oh, and before I forget, Don? I ran that
test you wanted on the turbines.
KAMEN
And...?
GUTTIEREZ
And, nothing. They checked out just fine.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - AFTERNOON
A metal rail surrounds the perimeter of the platform. DILLER leans
against it down by the access ramp, smoking a cigarette and idly
blowing rings into the air. BREWSTER pricks up her years and begins to
quietly SNARL. DILLER glances down at her curiously.
DILLER
What's the matter, girl? You smell something?
Now the rhino are restless too. CASSIE walks across the concrete
roadway to join them.
CASSIE
Rhinos look a little antsy,
BREWSTER stops SNARLS and progresses onwards to full-fledged BARKING.
DILLER
Yeah. Never seem 'em act like this before.
PREDATOR-VISION.
CASSIE and DILLER are 'warm', but the rhinos are BREWSTER are 'hotter'
still. Their VOICES and BREWSTER's BARKS are filtered to the point of
unrecognizability, eerily distorted.
CASSIE's the first to hear the SOUND.
CASSIE
Do you hear that?
DILLER straightens up, looking out into the surrounding trees. It's a
FAINT HUM, getting LOUDER every second.
DILLER
Yeah...
A hoverbike appears, trailing smoke from one of it's turbine intakes as
it hurtles towards the base. Halfway between the trees and the ramp,
it clips a fallen log and spins end-over-end. It's rider flies through
the air and hits the swamp face-first. DILLER and CASSIE race down the
ramp with BREWSTER YELPING excitedly in the lead.
CASSIE
I don't believe it.
DILLER splashes through the swamp and pulls the limp body out of the
mire. It's YORK. Blood has caked around his wounded leg.
DILLER
He looks in a bad way. Help me get him up to Infirmary.
CASSIE
Wait a minute...
Something else has caught CASSIE's eye. A "something" almost two
metres in length protruding from the rear of the wrecked hoverbike.
Grasping the haft firmly, she works it free. CASSIE examines the
PREDATOR spear, and slowly shakes her head.
CASSIE (CONT'D)
Holy Mary...
PREDATOR-VISION.
The concealed hunter watches as the colorised human curiously turns the
weapon over in her hands.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - INFIRMARY
REVNA sits at a desk and peers into a microscope. Every so often she
GRUNTS in satisfaction and types something into her computer terminal.
The stasis tube containing the dead FACEHUGGER stands to one side of
the computer screen. The Infirmary is very quiet, and only the gentle
THROB of the air-conditioning intrudes. ACKLAND tosses uncomfortably
on his cot. He finally sits up and massages his chest.
ACKLAND
Oh. Oh God...
REVNA lowers her pen and looks across.
REVNA
What is it?
ACKLAND
It's nothing, Doc. Just a... touch of indigestion... something.
REVNA
Do you want a tablet?
ACKLAND winces in pain. His breathing's getting heavy. He nods.
ACKLAND
Uh-huh.
REVNA gets up swiftly and crosses to an automated pharmacy. ACKLAND's
beginning to COUGH now.
REVNA
That sounds nasty. I'll give you a couple of Demazine.
ACKLAND nods again. His COUGHING has deepened, and now he's banging
his chest with a balled fist. REVNA hurries over with three red
tablets and a disposable cup of water. ACKLAND takes them gratefully
and gulps them down. The effect is almost immediate; ACKLAND quietens
and an appreciative smile comes to his pale lips.
REVNA (CONT'D)
Better?
ACKLAND
Yeah...
Before he has a chance to elaborate, ACKLAND COUGHS once more. A thin
spray of blood and saliva dots REVNA's white smock and speckles her
cheek. ACKLAND's scrabbling fingers grab her lapels as he begins to
hyperventilate. She pulls away, dragging him from the bed in the
process. He falls to the floor, his MOANS growing in volume.
REVNA
Hold on, it's alright. I'm gonna give you a shot...
Her fingers tremble as she clumsily examines a tray of surgical
instruments. She finds a pneumatic spray-injector, fully charged with a
vial of amber liquid attached. ACKLAND SCREAMS and fall backwards onto
the floor, his hands clawing at the air. REVNA fumbles with the
injector control and gives him a blast in his upper arm. ACKLAND
convulses once then goes still, his eyes staring fixedly at the
ceiling. The Infirmary is deathly quiet once again.
We hear a gentle CRACKING, like twigs being snapped. REVNA watches in
horrified fascination as a pool of blood spreads swiftly outward across
the floor from below ACKLAND's corpse. REVNA shudders as the body
moves a little, then is rolled over by something underneath it.
WHAT SHE SEES. ACKLAND's body slumps forward onto it's front,
revealing a gaping cavity in his back. Bits of spine and ribcage are
just visible. A CHESTBURSTER - the second stage of the ALIEN lifeform
- pulls itself clear and wipes red gunk from it's body with a pair of
still-underdeveloped arms.
Around it's head is a distinctive nascent crest. It kicks away from
ACKLAND with a powerful push from it's legs, quickly gaining balance.
After a moment appraising it's new environment, it stalks off behind a
table. REVNA thinks quickly. She leaps forward and THUMPS a large red
stud next to the pressure-door, which promptly RUMBLES closed.
The room is bathed in pools of shadows. Plenty of hiding space for the
creature. REVNA hears breaking glass, making her start. She
cautiously edges over to the Autodoc and looks up into the forest of
probe-arms.
There's a wicked looking blade there, the kind used in major surgery.
REVNA reaches up and twists the base; it detaches easily. Now she's
armed. Stooped over, she begins to stalk the CHESTBURSTER...
There's a flurry of movement, and suddenly the hunter becomes the
hunted. The CHESTBURSTER vaults from the table at her with a SHRILL
SHRIEK, and REVNA blindly swings her make-shift knife in defense. We
hear a SIZZLE like frying bacon...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - INFIRMARY CORRIDOR
HIROKO sprints down the corridor and reaches the Infirmary. DILLER,
CASSIE, and a few others are crowded around outside. YORK lays
unconscious on one of the medical trolleys next to the door, making
access difficult. Above them, a hinged flap on the wall lies open
revealing a circular mechanism beneath. BREWSTER scratches at the
bulkhead and WHINES. MUFFLED THUMPS come from within.
HIROKO
What happened?
DILLER
York just turned up outside. We're trying to get him into Infirmary.
HIROKO (astonished)
York...
HIROKO leans over to examine him, but a particularly loud CRASH from
within the Infirmary distracts her.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
What's going on?
CASSIE
The door's sealed from inside. Doc Revna's in there, and it sounds
like Ackland's going nuts.
HIROKO
Force the door.
DILLER
Can't. It's pressure sealed.
GUTTIEREZ races up and hands DILLER a wrench with a shaped tip.
GUTTIEREZ
Here...
DILLER
Thanks.
He inserts the end into the open flap and pulls hard, the physical
effort showing on his face. The door grinds open about eight inches...
The bloodied CHESTBURSTER forces itself through the narrow gap, HISSING
vehemently. Yellow fluid wells from a wound in it's crested skull,
dissolving everything it comes into contact with. The small group
gathered around fall back in panic, jarring YORK's trolley and knocking
HIROKO to the floor. BREWSTER BARKS at the CHESTBURSTER, which tenses
as if to leap.
DILLER brings the wrench down, but the CHESTBURSTER evades his blow and
takes flight. It strikes at HIROKO, who reflexively draws her head
back and escapes with nothing more than a light scratch to the cheek.
The ALIEN disappears down the corridor, leaving a trail of smeared
blood and a series of acidic pits which melt the grillework flooring.
GUTTIEREZ bends down and
helps HIROKO to her feet. Shocked, she MUTTERS something to herself in
JAPANESE, and regains some of her composure.
HIROKO
Get after it, don't let it get away!
DILLER stands there with the metal bar. Does she think he's nuts?
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Go on!
This galvanises DILLER. He races off in pursuit.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Jan, give me a hand over here.
HIROKO AND GUTTIEREZ try to force the door, but DILLER was right - it
won't budge. HIROKO slips her arm through the gap and fumbles around
blindly. She must have hit the control knob, because the door slides
back. CASSIE looks inside.
CASSIE
Oh my God...
She turns away and retches. HIROKO steps through and goes pale. There
are blood-smears over everything, and it's all GUTTIEREZ can do to stop
BREWSTER from getting in there.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS' finger traces a path along a set of computer schematics
displayed on a suspended glass screen.
PARSONS
It left a melted trail on the deck all the way down to here...
HIROKO
What is that?
DILLER
Secondary fluidic shunt for the sewage system. I found the grating
ripped right off. The little fucker was strong.
HIROKO
Where does that lead to?
PARSONS
Central Pumping. All the waste gets treated, broken-down, and flushed
out into the swamp. If it wanted a quick exit then it really lucked-
out.
HIROKO
You've checked that end?
GUTTIEREZ
Not yet, no.
HIROKO
Do it. I don't want that thing on my installation. I want it caught
and destroyed.
KAMEN
Cornering it shouldn't be a problem. Each part of this station is
basically a self-sufficient deep-space transport module running off
external couplers. If we disconnect them and seal off every section,
we've got a ceiling of about thirty-six hours on internal power. That
should give us ample time to find it.
HIROKO
Alright. Pull some trackers and headsets out of stores, and I'll sign
a release for the weapons. Cassie, organise a team roster and put it
on the board.
CASSIE nods soberly. HIROKO looks at everybody, and her words are
carefully chosen.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
I don't care how you kill this thing, just be careful not to get in
it's way when it bleeds. You all saw what happened to Doc Revna.
There are nods of agreement and general enthusiasm all round.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Nobody wander off on their own until it's found. Keep in pairs.
Diller, once the first team's done their sweep I want you to go down
with Annie to Three-Pump while she replaces it.
DILLER
Okay.
HIROKO
One final point. Killing this sonuvabitch ought to be a reward in
itself. However, just to add a little incentive... I'm authorizing a
hefty bonus in the next pay-packet for whoever does.
This seems to appeal to those assembled there. There's a palpable buzz
in the air.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Alright, let's get to it. New York rules apply.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - EXECUTIVE OFFICE
YORK is recounting his story to KAMEN and HIROKO in a hushed voice.
Small beads of sweat stand out on his forehead and his eyes are haunted
by remembrance. The man's a mess.
YORK
...I mean, these... these mothers were... were huge. They look like
bushmen, but they had all this hi-tech shit strapped all over 'em.
They must've wasted Beauvais and Minh inside thirty seconds. Minh got
off a couple of shots from that cannon of his, but he might as well
have been using a B-B gun. I don't know how the hell I made it out of
there alive.
He nods toward the PREDATOR spear in HIROKO's hands.
YORK (CONT'D)
The one I clipped with the hoverbike shoved that at me. Whatever it's
made of, it went straight through a double-layer of honeycomb polyalloy
composite like it was butter.
YORK shakes his head in fear.
YORK (CONT'D)
I don't wanna ever come up against those things again. Ever.
KAMEN claps the man on the shoulder to reassure him.
KAMEN
Don't worry about it, Yorkie. You're safe now. Go get come rest.
YORK nods. He gets to his feet and leaves the room. HIROKO waits
until the door slides shut behind him.
HIROKO
So, what do you think?
KAMEN
What do I think? I think if those Marines from Powell don't shift
their butts getting here, we're gonna get caught up to our necks in the
middle of something we shouldn't.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
It's late, and the base's exterior lighting casts yellow pools of light
across the metal and concrete thoroughfares. GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES -
a tough-looking Afrikaan woman with a think accent - looks uneasily
about them. Another GROUP of PEOPLE with trackers and guns are
searching around in the BACKGROUND. Nearby, the vertical yellow column
of a suspension-crane gantry towers high above.
DE VRIES
C'mon, man. One more sweep.
GUTTIEREZ
One more sweep... one more sweep. I'm getting tired of one more
fuckin' sweep. We're been lookin' for this thing for three days now,
and found zip.
DE VRIES
Ah, quit griping. Keeps you in shape doesn't it?
GUTTIEREZ
Hey! I was in shape before we started doing this.
DE VRIES pauses, listening to the sound from the surrounding forest.
DE VRIES
Listen to that...
GUTTIEREZ cocks his head and listens. He has no idea what she means.
GUTTIEREZ
Listen to what?
DE VRIES
That's what I mean. This is the quietest I've ever heard it. It's
unnatural.
GUTTIEREZ shivers in the wind as he looks out into the impenetrable
blackness beyond the confines of the base.
GUTTIEREZ
De Vries?
DE VRIES
Yeah?
GUTTIEREZ
Next time you have a thought like that? Keep it to yourself.
BREWSTER the dog stares in fascination at the rhinos through the
meshwork fence of their pens. The animals move around in agitation.
Not at her, but at something else...
DE VRIES
Something spooking the rhinos?
GUTTIEREZ
I dunno.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - SWAMP LEVEL - DUSK
PREDATOR-VISION.
The rhino's, the dog, and the two humans can be seen way above on the
platform's edge, bright red.
Indistinct inside their camouflage cloaks, the small group of PREDATORS
wade carefully through the water towards the base of the installation.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
DARKNESS. DILLER and URIOSTE's VOICES heard O.S. in HUSHED TONES. The
scraping of METAL-ON-METAL.
DILLER
What is that...is that it?
URIOSTE
No. I... think that's a regulator valve. Hold on.
There's more NOISE.
URIOSTE (CONT'D)
Ah, got it...!
About a dozen fluorescent strips ringing the small circular chamber
illuminate. Three others flicker erratically, one of them remaining
unlit. DILLER waves the tracker cautiously around and keeps his pulse-
rifle level. He enters, followed by URIOSTE. She's carrying a portable
- but bulky - piece of machinery.
URIOSTE
Are you getting anything?
DILLER (sarcastic)
Yeah, eyestrain. What's with the lights?
URIOSTE
They're always like that. Head-Office are real cheap when it comes to
spares. Wave that thing in the corner...
DILLER sweeps the tracker carefully around. The small screen registers
nothing.
DILLER
The room's clean.
URIOSTE
Great.
URIOSTE pulls at a two-piece hexagonal grating set in the center of the
floor. It's heavy and thick with grease, but she doesn't seem to mind.
Below it is what looks like a round metal plug. Recessed into its
surface is a lever next to a central pressure valve, with handholds on
either side. She turns the lever. There's a loud CLUNK, and a plume
of steam JETS out of the valve.
URIOSTE (CONT'D)
Give me a hand with this.
GRUNTING, the two of them pull the thick metal plug clear of the pit.
Murky water sloshes around below. URIOSTE pulls a second lever, and
hidden pumps make the water level drop rapidly.
URIOSTE (CONT'D)
Pass me over that tripod, will you?
Leaning against the wall behind DILLER is a sturdy metal tripod topped
with a block-and-tackle arrangement. A hook dangles below this, it's
thick metal cabling going up through the block-and-tackle and
connecting to the drum of a small industrial winch attached securely to
the wall. DILLER hands the tripod over to URIOSTE. She splays the
legs apart and inserts their tips into matching holes around the open
pit.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES walk over to the rhino pen, BREWSTER pulling at
her leash. GUTTIEREZ frowns at what he sees. All the rhinos are
nervously huddled together in the far corner.
GUTTIEREZ
That's real peculiar behavior.
DE VRIES fingers a rough metal edge.
DE VRIES
Hey, Guttierez?
GUTTIEREZ
What?
DE VRIES
Take a look at this.
GUTTIEREZ moves over for a closer look. There's a torn hole in the
meshwork, just big enough for a rhino to squeeze through. Blood and
fragments of skin coat the edge of the gap.
GUTTIEREZ
One of 'em must have escaped.
DE VRIES
That's impossible, man. This fence is high-tensile. The breaking
tolerance'd stand up to the strain of a rhino, easy. I know, I put it
up.
GUTTIEREZ shines the flashlight along the deck. A trail of smeared
blood runs all the way to the perimeter. The surrounding fence has
been buckled and twisted. They cross to it and look down at the swamp.
The torch beam sparkles on the murky water far below.
GUTTIEREZ
There's no way a rhino'd survive that drop.
DE VRIES
Goldsmith's gonna be plenty pissed at losing one of her babies.
GUTTIEREZ
That's a fact.
GUTTIEREZ' tracker starts to BLEEP. He raises it excitedly.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Whoa, wait a minute...
DE VRIES
What?
GUTTIEREZ
Just got a reading...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
Most of the lights in Admin are off, and the room's deserted. PARSONS
is seated away from his usual station at a console topped by ten
monitor screens, each displaying a securi-cam picture. He looks tired.
KAMEN comes up behind him carrying two mugs of coffee.
KAMEN
How's it going?
PARSONS
Yeah, 'Good Evening' to you, too.
He takes the coffee gratefully and sips at it.
PARSONS (CONT'D)
Today's party's finished their sweep, the relief team's out there now.
Everybody else is either asleep or running shift in the auto-shop.
KAMEN
You should hit the sack, too.
PARSONS
Nah, I'll stick it out for another hour or so.
KAMEN
What time's sundown?
PARSONS
'Bout five minutes.
KAMEN
Give me a yell is something happens.
PARSONS
You got it, cowboy.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
GUTTIEREZ sweeps the tracker slowly around, and BREWSTER begins to
gently SNARL.
DE VRIES pulls on the dog's leash to quieten her.
GUTTIEREZ
It's up there somewhere...
He shoulders his rifle.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Come on.
A metal ladder runs up the side of one of the base buildings.
GUTTIEREZ crosses to it and starts to climb the first few rungs.
DE VRIES
What? Are you nuts? Just the two of us?
GUTTIEREZ
I've seen this mother, De Vries. We can bag it, no problem.
DE VRIES
Forget it, man.
GUTTIEREZ
C'mon De Vries. Think of the bonus.
DE VRIES
Fuck the bonus. I hate heights. You wouldn't get me up there even if
it wasn't night.
GUTTIEREZ starts to climb the ladder.
DE VRIES
What the hell are you doing?
GUTTIEREZ
Hey, fair enough. If you won't come, I'll handle it myself.
DE VRIES runs her fingers through her hair in frustration. Comes to a
decision counter to what she wants to do...
DE VRIES
Wait a minute!
GUTTIEREZ stops climbing.
DE VRIES (CONT'D)
Alright, okay. Look...
GUTTIEREZ
What?
DE VRIES
I'll come with you.
BREWSTER BARKS. She drags the dog over to a metal stanchion and ties
the leash around it.
DE VRIES (CONT'D)
But I'm going first...
GUTTIEREZ
Anything you say, Mammacitta.
She climbs around GUTTIEREZ and begins to ascend the ladder. BREWSTER
WHIMPERS and plaintively BARKS after them.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - DUSK
The rooftop is dark, mysterious. Pieces of retrofitted junk can be
seen in silhouette, edged in light from way below. DE VRIES and
GUTTIEREZ carefully step over the threshold. They speak in WHISPERS.
DE VRIES
Careful of that edging there...
GUTTIEREZ
Yeah, I got it.
Although we have an outstanding VIEW of the night lights of the base up
here, the immediate gloom is impenetrable.
DE VRIES
Where's that flashlight?
By way of an answer, a powerful ray cuts a swathe through the air. DE
VRIES takes the torch from him and shines it on the ground. Circular
extractor fans rotate quietly in the gloom.
DE VRIES (CONT'D)
Still got him?
GUTTIEREZ
It's moving slow. About... eleven metres. On the left.
DE VRIES plays the flashlight across the rooftop.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Little bit further...
The beam comes to rest on a protruding piece of apparatus. A short-
range antennae, about seven feet wide.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right there, right behind the antennae. I think
we're got it cornered...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
HIROKO bends down to inspect a small plastic grating fitted flush with
the roadway. The broken grillework is melted outwards. KAMEN and two
other men - CALDWELL and THOMAS - stand behind.
THOMAS
The door to the food storage locker was smashed open. It must have
come straight out of here.
HIROKO yawns.
HIROKO
Alright. Keep your eyes peeled.
She voices her concern to KAMEN.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
If it got out of the systems, it could be anywhere.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - DUSK
It's very quiet, and we can hear the NERVOUS BREATHING of GUTTIEREZ and
DE VRIES as they cautiously stalk forward.
GUTTIEREZ
Hold it, hold it...
DE VRIES
What's wrong?
GUTTIEREZ
I'm picking up another signal.
DE VRIES looks around, unnerved.
DE VRIES
What? Where?
GUTTIEREZ
Just behind us, over to the right.
DE VRIES shines her beam over the surface of the yellow crane to their
rear, shifting her attention to-and-fro from it and the antennae.
DE VRIES
Can't see a thing. Are you sure?
GUTTIEREZ
Yeah, I...
The second blip on the small screen abruptly vanishes.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Wait. Lost it.
DE VRIES
How?
GUTTIEREZ
I dunno. Might be a glitch.
From behind the metal disc there comes a SHUFFLING SOUND, followed by a
METALLIC THUNK. This gets their attention. The two of them halt in
their tracks.
DE VRIES
Oh, man. That's no glitch!
GUTTIEREZ
It's alright, it's cool...
DE VRIES
Is it still moving?
GUTTIEREZ
No, he's stopped; he's totally still. Just take it nice and easy, babe.
Nice and easy...
A small many-limbed SHAPE hurls itself from the confines of it's hiding
place with a FERAL SHRIEK. DE VRIES YELPS in surprise, and looses off
a spray of bullets.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
HIROKO looks up, startled by the sound of GUNFIRE. She sees the
rooftop of one of the building modules lit by tracer fire. BREWSTER's
tethered nearby, BARKING furiously.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM - PUMP SHAFT
A think metal cable connected to her jacket harness suspends URIOSTE in
the gloom of the Pump Shaft. In front of her is a machine-part we saw
her carry earlier. With the strap of a flashlight clenched in her
mouth, she's just finishing up bolting the part to the larger piece of
machinery in an alcove, with simultaneously doing her best not to touch
the walls which are covered by a thin layer of gunge.
The REPORT of DE VRIES' weapon can be heard even down here, perhaps
more startling in the confined space. URIOSTE jumps, dropping the
flashlight into the water in the process.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
DILLER turns away from the winch and peers into and beyond the access
tunnel leading outside. URIOSTE's VOICE floats up out of the shaft.
URIOSTE (O.S., muffled)
What was that?
DILLER (raising his voice)
Something outside...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - DUSK
The wind whips at GUTTIEREZ as he blinks away his shock.
GUTTIEREZ
Holy shit...
DE VRIES keeps her torch beam on the moving shape. It halts by the
edge of the roof, and stares at them.
DE VRIES
Oh, nice going, man! It was a lemur! A goddamn lemur!
GUTTIEREZ' radio headset CRACKLES to life.
HIROKO (O.S., on headset)
Guttierez, what the hell's going on up there?
GUTTIEREZ
Uh... sorry about that, boss. Everything's fine. False alarm, that's
all.
DE VRIES glances around the rooftop, annoyed.
DE VRIES
Hey, look; let's forget it. There's nothing up here.
PREDATOR-VISION.
DE VRIES in CLOSE-UP, glowing brightly. Her VOICE replayed and
distorted.
PREDATOR (O.S.)
Nothing up here. Nothing up here.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM - PUMP SHAFT
URIOSTE's flashlight bobs up-and-down on the water below, still lit and
well out of reach.
URIOSTE (disgustedly)
Shit.
DILLER (O.S., muffled)
What's the matter?
URIOSTE
I've dropped my torch into the water. Give me about... uh... a meter-
and-a-half's worth of slack.
DILLER (O.S., muffled)
Okay.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
DILLER crosses to the wall-mounted winch. On the mechanism's side is a
luminous digital counter giving the current cable depth in meters. He
pulls a throw-switch, and the display slowly changes from "8" to "9.5"
as the cable feeds out.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM - PUMP SHAFT
URIOSTE descends the dingy shaft, partially abseiling off the walls.
Her feet almost tread water. She's down as far as she can go.
URIOSTE (CONT'D)
Whoa, whoa...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
URIOSTE's VOICE echoes up out of the pit.
URIOSTE (CONT'D) (O.S., muffled)
That's enough.
DILLER locks the winch-switch back into it's 'up' position. The WHINE
of the cable-feed stops immediately.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM - PUMP SHAFT
URIOSTE stretches out to the floating lamp, flexing her fingers.
It's... just... about... in... reach...
Six slender fingers EXPLODE from beneath the water's surface and clamp
like a vise around URIOSTE's wrist. A sleek eyeless head follows,
trailing a body straight out of a charnel-house nightmare. A SCREAM
forms in her throat, rapidly cut-off as the ALIEN's other hand clamps
firmly over her mouth, jerking her downwards.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
DILLER whirls in response to the CHOKED CRY from below. He sees the
winch tripod above the shaft RATTLE, the cable going taut as an
angler's line. The wall-mounted drum is yanked so hard the lever leaps
from it's 'clamped' position, freely unspooling cable at a frightening
rate. The digital counter flickers rapidly;
"11...11.5...12...12.5...13..." DILLER watches the tripod's tubular
legs buckle and collapse under the tremendous strain. He scrambles for
the winch-lever and only just manages to lock it firmly into place; the
over-stressed cable vibrating with a LOW METALLIC TWANG as it hits the
shaft's edge. DILLER's moment of satisfaction is short-lived; the
deep-sunk bolts attaching the mechanism to the wall are pull outward by
the colossal force from below. He leaps aside, avoiding the heavy
piece of machinery as it HURTLES towards him. Watches it disappear
noisily into the conduit.
DILLER
Annie!
DILLER's quivering fingers grope for his flashlight.
DILLER (CONT'D)
Annie!
He feverishly reaches the shaft's edge and peers into the darkness.
WHAT HE SEES. The torchbeam picks out the biomechanical form of the
ALIEN emerging from the sewage and effortlessly climbing the shaft
walls towards him. Recoiling in horror, he makes a run for the door.
Half-way there he remembers his pulse-rifle and dives to the floor,
grasping it just as the ALIEN reaches the top. DILLER fumbles with the
safety and give the creature a full BLAST on rock-and-roll, BLASTING it
back into the pit.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - DUSK
GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES hear the gunfire from below.
GUTTIEREZ
The hell was that?
PREDATOR-VISION.
The PREDATOR's gaze SNAPS away from the two humans and down onto the
platform below. He watches the infra-red shapes of other people
running towards the source of the shots...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - PUMP ROOM
DILLER's on his feet and shakily heading for the exit as ANOTHER
ALIEN's claws emerge from the exposed hole. He races across the
threshold and SLAMS the thin inner door closed.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
In a HAND-HELD SHOT we're running with HIROKO's group along the narrow
catwalk bridging the roadway to the Pump Room, KAMEN taking the lead.
DILLER sprints out of the building like a bat out of hell and collides
with him.
KAMEN
Kev, wha...?
DILLER breaks free of the other man's grasp. He looks as if he's about
to say something, but never gets the chance.
There's a sound of TEARING METAL, and a HISSING seven-foot express
train of teeth and biomechanical limbs ERUPTS from the shadows.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - DUSK
PREDATOR-VISION.
Gazing down at the platform, an unseen hunter watches the swift black
SHAPE of the ALIEN in amongst the group of humans...
From the corner of her eye, DE VRIES sees something moving nearby. She
violently pulls GUTTIEREZ out of the path of the shimmering FORM that
barges past them, launching itself from the rooftop.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS sits bolt upright in his chair as the scene outside is relayed
to his bank of screens by an exterior securi-cam.
PARSONS
Oh my God...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
With superhuman strength, the ALIEN brutally back-hands DILLER,
splintering his skull and killing him instantly. His body caromes into
THOMAS, knocking the man to the floor. The ALIEN turns to KAMEN, it's
questing fingers closing around his throat and hauling him off the
ground. The space on the catwalk it limited; there's so many people
it's impossible to get a clean
shot...
HIROKO
Move! Get out of the way!
HIROKO draws a bead on the ALIEN. She flips off the safety on her
rifle. It's the tiniest CLICK, but the ALIEN somehow senses danger.
It's skeletal tail lashes out, sending both her and the weapon flying.
CALDWELL gets in for his shot, but the tail's there in a second. It
strikes like a snake. Once. Twice. The stinger punctures CALDWELL's
chest and throat. Nobody could survive something like that...
The ALIEN flicks it's skull back around to KAMEN. The man's head is
inches away from it's eyeless face...a row of burnished metal teeth
open...the toothed inner tongue ready to strike...
WHOOMPH. Something lands heavily close-up, jarring the catwalk. The
ALIEN drops KAMEN and WHIRLS. A spear wielded by an INVISIBLE FORM
appears out of nowhere and PIERCES the ALIEN's midriff, spraying acidic
fluid. The creature emits a OUTRAGED SHRIEK and flails around, it's
ubiquitous tail arcing toward the camouflaged assailant. The STINGER
makes contact: there's a SPUTTERING SOUND as the PREDATOR's cloaking
device begins to flicker spasmodically, giving us peek-a-boo glimpses
of it's natural form. Electrical sparks dance around the PREDATOR's
ruin wrist-computer, luminous green blood welling from a wound in his
arm...
From out of the Pump Room comes more NOISE, like metal being trashed in
a compactor. HIROKO SCREAMS at KAMEN, who's COUGHING painfully next to
the door panel.
HIROKO
Get the door!
KAMEN hastily slaps the 'close' button and both halves of the exterior
pressure bulkhead RUMBLE together. A SECOND ALIEN appears from the
shadows within and prises it's fingers into the dwindling gap,
struggling for purchase. Despite the ALIEN's best efforts, the door
motors are too powerful and the opening seals with a satisfying solid
CLUNK. MUFFLED POUNDING comes from the other side.
Nearby, THOMAS has retrieved CALDWELL's weapon in the heat of the fight
and is bringing it to bear on the PREDATOR. At the last possible
moment HIROKO sees what he's about to do...
HIROKO
No!
Reflexively, she knocks the barrel away as THOMAS looses a volley of
shots.
PREDATOR-VISION.
The PREDATOR's speech analyser plays back her vocal patterns as white-
hot bullets sear the night.
PREDATOR
No!
PREDATOR-VISION.
SNAPPING IN for a closer look at her.
PREDATOR (CONT'D)
No!
One of the ALIEN's hands clamps firmly onto the PREDATOR's mask and
wrenches it off. HIROKO stares at the PREDATOR's face in fascination.
From the distinctive features, we see that it's BROKEN TUSK. The
PREDATOR's good hand flashes down to his thigh, almost too quick to
follow. In one rapid movement a circular 'smart-weapon' is brought up,
slicing the front of the ALIEN skull away from it's head. In a feat of
strength, the PREDATOR lifts his opponent's corpse on the end of the
spear and hurls it over the catwalk railing...
Not wasting a second, BROKEN TUSK performs an almost-vertical bound of
some twenty feet with astounding grace. He grips a pipe running down
the side of one of the building modules, then clambers over the roof's
edge and finally disappears from view. BREWSTER continues to BARK
frenetically.
HIROKO's headset has been knocked to the floor and a FRANTIC MUTED
VOICE is coming from it. She picks it up, and presses the 'transmit'
switch.
HIROKO (into headset)
It's alright, Rob...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS listens to HIROKO, suddenly wide awake. The morning shifts are
starting to filter in, and it's obvious to them something's wrong...
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on speaker)
Everything's under control. Wait a second.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
THOMAS is moving from DILLER to CALDWELL, checking them for signs of
life. HIROKO catches his eye.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Well?
THOMAS shakes his head. GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES race across the
platform to join the stunned survivors of the skirmish. GUTTIEREZ
bends down by DILLER's body. THOMAS lays a hand on GUTTIEREZ' arm.
THOMAS
Come on, man. Leave it alone.
GUTTIEREZ
Oh, God. Dear Lord Jesus...
DE VRIES
This is like a bad dream, man. A bad fucking dream.
HIROKO thinks quickly, and comes to a decision. She speaks into her
radio headset.
HIROKO
Rob? I want you to evac everybody from the non-connective modules into
admin. That goes double for anybody...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on speaker)
...already out here. We're going to lock every bulkhead and seal the
base.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
HIROKO turns her headset off and watches numerous rotating coloured
lights dotted around the platform start to blink on-and-off. KAMEN
COUGHS a few more times.
HIROKO
Are you okay?
KAMEN rubs his throat. He nods.
KAMEN
I'll survive.
BREWSTER's BARKS cease, replaced instead with a TERRIFIED LOW WHINING.
DE VRIES
What's with the dog?
GUTTIEREZ jogs over to BREWSTER. Lowers his rifle to the ground and
fumbles with the knot tying the dog to the pipe.
GUTTIEREZ
Hey; c'mon now, girl. It's alright. Let's just get this knot
undone...
A spray of plastic shards EXPLODES not three feet away from GUTTIEREZ.
The rifle goes skittering away out of reach, and he scrambles away as
an ALIEN half-pulls itself out of the sewer overflow, wet and
glistening...
KAMEN
Jan!
BREWSTER's a mass of fur, totally out of control. When the ALIEN
lashes out to grab the HOWLING animal, there's nothing GUTTIEREZ can
do. BREWSTER's legs are the last thing we see, thrashing helplessly as
she's dragged down into the splinter-edged gap.
DE VRIES
Get out of there, man!
THOMAS grabs CALDWELL's rifle from the deck. He races towards
GUTTIEREZ, with
DE VRIES close behind...
THOMAS
Catch this!
From behind comes the SOUND of more rupturing plastic as biomechanoid
limbs struggle up out of newly-broken ducts. THOMAS heaves the rifle
over the heads of the emerging ALIENS. Although GUTTIEREZ snags it
awkwardly, he quickly turns the barrel on the relentless creatures.
GUTTIEREZ
Chew on this!
DE VRIES races up to join them, SCREAMING as she fires. KAMEN glances
down at this tracker's tiny screen. It shows clusters of signals, lots
of them.
KAMEN (hollering)
They're all around, they're in the drainage system!
DE VRIES reacts swiftly, loosing a round of shots at the emerging
ALIENS. GUTTIEREZ yells across to KAMEN.
GUTTIEREZ
Get your ass out of here, boss!
ALIENS are appearing everywhere. From the overflow ducts; over the
platform edges; along overhead cable supports. Having taken on the
genetic characteristics of their hosts, many of them are non-humanoid.
All of them are living nightmares.
HIROKO
Oh my God...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - LIVING QUARTERS
CASSIE brushes her teeth in front of the wall-mounted mirror of her
tiny bathroom-cubicle. A raucous emergency klaxon GOES OFF in the
corridor outside.
CASSIE
Shit.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - DUSK
THOMAS, GUTTIEREZ, and DE VRIES are cut-off. As they race swiftly down
the street, GUTTIEREZ tries hard to interpret his tracker's signals. A
particularly loud BLEEP registers from a source immediately behind
them. He glances over his shoulder and sees an ALIEN crawling down the
outside of a module towards them.
GUTTIEREZ
De Vries!
DE VRIES' head turns. She sees the ALIEN and nails it with a rapid
burst. It falls onto the concrete nearby, writhing in it's death
throes.
The group round the corner of a building. Across the street from them
is parked KAMEN's crawler.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
Inside, inside!
They scramble up into the cab. GUTTIEREZ throws himself into the
driver's seat. An ALIEN sprints at the crawler with bared teeth.
THOMAS looses a shot, blasting it backward into a Pepsi sign.
THOMAS
Yo' momma, boneface!
DE VRIES (to Guttierez)
C'mon, man; punch this cow!
GUTTIEREZ fumbles at the ignition. They keys are there. He flips
them, and the engine GROWLS to life.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - DUSK
PREDATOR-VISION.
From way up here, we've got an outstanding view of the humans running
across the platform...
Crouching on a bright-yellow catwalk, BROKEN TUSK presses closed a
panel on the small container balanced on his knee. Inside it are rows
of metal instruments with a pristine surgical quality about them.
BROKEN TUSK flexes his hand experimentally. Satisfied, he clips the
medical kit onto his back before getting to his feet.
Standing around him are several other PREDATORS. All but one have
their camouflage cloaks activated. The SOUND of GUNFIRE way across the
station draws their attention...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
HIROKO and KAMEN bolt towards an external hatch, with KAMEN laying down
a field of covering fire on full-automatic. The blaze of light from
the rifle's barrel abruptly stops.
HIROKO
What?
KAMEN
I'm out of ammo. Get inside, get inside!
HIROKO hears a HORRIBLE NOISE nearby. A field of cows being
slaughtered by machetes would sound like this.
HIROKO
They're in with the rhino!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - RHINO PEN - DUSK
An ALIEN is SMASHED sideways into the one solid wall of the pen,
broadsided and instantly crushed by a ton of FRENZIED rhino. It's
yellow blood eats into the weighty quadruped, eliciting ANGUISHED
BELLOWS of pain from the hapless creature.
ALIEN stingers slice through the air. Rhinos try to bolt but are
intercepted by inhumanly powerful forces. It's wholesale carnage.
PREDATOR-VISION.
We're moving swiftly along the rooftops and surveying the melee below,
lessening the distance with each second...
Several indefinable FIGURES plunge into the fray, creating anarchy
within the ALIENS' ranks. The biomechanoids HISS with fury as the
PREDATORS join battle against them...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
An ALIEN hurls itself through the air and onto the speeding crawler's
roof.
INT. CRAWLER - DUSK
KER-CHUNK! The cab's occupants react as the thin roof buckles
slightly. Skeletal fingers SLICE through, RIPPING at the metal like a
can-opener.
DE VRIES
Jesus!
THOMAS raises his rifle and looses a fusillade of shots through the
roof. One of them RICOCHETS off the interior, SHATTERING the
windscreen. There's a THUMP from outside...
DE VRIES (CONT'D)
You got 'im!
Their triumph is short-lived. Globules of yellow acid perforate the
roof like Swiss cheese, dripping down on them. GUTTIEREZ floors the
brakes. The crawler swings through ninety degrees before SCREECHING to
a halt.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CASSIE enters admin at a run. Before, it was empty. Now it's sheer
chaos. She shoves her way through dozens of grim-faced people. PARSONS
is standing at a console, YELLING into his headset.
PARSONS
Seal everything now!
CASSIE
What's happening?
PARSONS
Cassie, thank Christ! We're under attack.
CASSIE
We're what!?
York races in, SHOUTING above the clamor.
YORK
The son-of-bitches got into 'E' wing! They're ripping it apart!
PARSONS
Fuck! Somebody get over there with some guns! Now!
CASSIE watches the scene unfolding on the banks of monitors. PEOPLE
mouthing unheard words into camera. Bursts of STATIC. Fleeting
glimpses of nightmarish SHAPES darting across the picture...
CASSIE
How many of them are there?
PARSONS
Too many.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - DUSK
GUTTIEREZ' group hurriedly exits the crawler. A cloud of acrid smoke
rapidly fills the cabin.
DE VRIES (coughing)
Move it, man!
The dead ALIEN's corpse tumbles through the acid-eaten hole, falling
into the cab's rear seat and promptly burning through that as well. Not
far away across the platform, the massive doors to the auto-shop hanger
are RUMBLING slowly closed...
GUTTIEREZ (shouting)
Hold the doors, hold the doors!
They don't hear him. The doors seal with a BOOM of finality.
DE VRIES
Over there, on the right!
THOMAS sees the two ALIENS nimbly climbing the platform's edge. He
squeezes off about five shots, managing to kill the FIRST ALIEN...
THOMAS
These bastards ain't so tough!
***************************
***** PAGE 70 MISSING *****
***************************
THOMAS looks concernedly at GUTTIEREZ.
THOMAS
Is that thing working?
GUTTIEREZ takes off the headset and scrutinises it closely.
GUTTIEREZ
Shit! The casing's cracked!
DE VRIES rips her headset off and urgently passes it to him.
DE VRIES
Use mine. Channel twenty-six.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
Despite their ferocity and weapons, it's clear that the small group of
PREDATORS are being overrun by the ALIEN horde.
BROKEN TUSK's shoulder cannon swivels automatically, blowing away
another attacker. Hearing a distinctive SCREAM, he looks across the
platform. One of the PREDATORS, it's camouflage cloak flickering
intermittently, is trying to resist being dragged down into a duct.
The two ALIENS in either side plunge their tail-stingers into the
PREDATOR's body, making it CRY OUT in agony.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CORRIDORS
Pumped up with adrenalin, KAMEN reaches an intersection and encounters
a harrowing tableau. An ALIEN blocks his way on the other side of a
corridor bulkhead, holding a STRUGGLING MAN above the floor. It's
piston-like tongue shoots into the MAN's skull, spraying gore.
The ALIEN sees KAMEN, and it's mouth twists into a bloody SNARL. Both
KAMEN and the ALIEN lunge forward together, but KAMEN's got the edge by
a split-second. He STRIKES a bright red switch and the overhead
pressure bulkhead SLAMS down and locks into place. His breathing is
heavy as he slowly backs away from the hatch...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - DUSK
The two ALIENS THOMAS killed must have been the scout party. Others
appear, more cautiously this time...
DE VRIES
Hurry up and figure that thing out, man!
GUTTIEREZ is desperately trying to operate the tiny plastic
microswitches on the headset with his fingernails.
GUTTIEREZ
What?
THOMAS
We've got company!
THOMAS brings his weapon to bear and pulls on the trigger. He gets off
one shot, then nothing more happens. He looks at the counter on the
side. It reads 'zero'.
THOMAS (CONT'D)
Shit, I'm dry! You're up!
DE VRIES raises her rifle. She aims, and...
CLICK.
DE VRIES
I'm jammed!
THOMAS
You're what?!
She works the manual slide.
DE VRIES
It's locked solid...
THOMAS
Quick, give me the clip!
DE VRIES fumbles the ammunition clip from her rifle. It falls from her
hands onto a plastic overflow grate. THOMAS leaps after it...about a
second too late. It slips through the narrow gap, gone for good.
THOMAS (CONT'D)
Oh, Lord! Please, no! Not now!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - EXECUTIVE OFFICE
HIROKO enters her office at a run. She crosses to an inset control box
on the far wall and presses a button. Two exterior panels begin to
slide closed behind the polycarbonate window.
KERSMASH! Fracture lines appear on the toughened plastic as it comes
under assault from the razor-edge tip of an ALIEN's tail. In shock,
HIROKO reflexively falls backwards onto the floor, scrambling away.
She watches the creature precariously balancing on the this ledge
outside, fighting against the closing shutters with simultaneously
raining repeated blows on the window with it's tail.
The ALIEN leaps through the gap as the window gives way under the
onslaught, showering splinters across the room. The twin shutters
secure behind it, closing on the creatures tail in the process. It
HISSES in indignation and thrashes about. Like a lizard, the segmented
tail SNAPS in two. The freed ALIEN staggers a little before gaining
balance, blood dripping from the laceration and penetrating the wooden
floorboards. It sights HIROKO and hurls itself in her direction, an
unstoppable killing machine...
HIROKO
Holo on!
Her VOICE quavers so badly with fear and panic, it's a wonder the
computer can recognize it. FOUR NINJA SWORDSMEN promptly appear,
forming a semi-circle between HIROKO and the ALIEN. The ALIEN halts,
confused by this intrusion. It swipes at the pre-programmed holograms,
bewildered by the lack of contact as it's claws pass through them.
Gaining on a few seconds of bought time, HIROKO flings herself towards
the PREDATOR spear lying forgotten nearby. The ALIEN locks in on this
sudden movement and charges through the holograms at her. HIROKO
GRUNTS, swinging the spear with her full strength...
She's no super-athlete, but the cutting edge's advanced metallurgy does
the job. It slices half-way through the ALIEN's skull and sticks
there, spewing yellow fluid everywhere. HIROKO beats a hasty retreat
as the dying biomechanoid falls to the floor, fumbling at the lodged
weapon...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CORRIDORS
HIROKO reels into the outside corridor. She SHRIEKS as her shoulders
are seized from behind...
KAMEN
Come on!
HIROKO looks at KAMEN confusedly as he continues along the corridor.
HIROKO
That's the wrong way!
KAMEN
Detour. Other way's blocked...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - DUSK
Back outside, the ALIENS have sensed that something's amiss. DE VRIES
turns desperately to GUTTIEREZ.
DE VRIES
You got any slugs left?
GUTTIEREZ looks down at the counter on his slung weapon.
GUTTIEREZ
Yeah. Uh...
DE VRIES rips the weapon off his shoulder. GUTTIEREZ completes his
sentence.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
...Seven.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! DE VRIES tries to make each shot count. She
sights an ALIEN crawling across the top of a group of cylindrical
storage containers. Draws a bead on the metal tank and fires...
A molten ball EXPLODES outward, transforming the immediate vicinity
into a blazing inferno. The ALIEN's body twists end-over-end,
remaining immobile as it hits the deck. A curtain of fire ripples
across the platform...
THOMAS
Yes!
Their victory is short-lived. The other ALIENS crawl cautiously
forward, flames licking their faces but leaving them unharmed. We can
clearly hear the HISSING of their internal jaws.
DE VRIES
Try again, man...
The headset in GUTTIEREZ' hand BLEEPS as it turns into the correct
channel. He YELLS into it...
GUTTIEREZ
Matt! Open these damn doors right now, I'll ream your ass so bad these
things out here'll seem like the Easter Bunny in comparison! Swear to
God!
THOMAS turns and hammers on the impenetrable plate metal.
THOMAS
Open the doors! Open the goddamned fucking doors!
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! CLICK. GUTTIEREZ' bullets are gone.
DE VRIES
That's it! We're dead!
The first of the ALIENS rushes at them. This is the end. DE VRIES
SCREAMS...
There's a blinding flash, and most of the ALIEN's head vaporises.
GUTTIEREZ blinks is disbelief as hazy SHAPES comprised of refracted
fire suddenly occupy the killing ground between the HUMAN and ALIEN
antagonists. Intense bursts of light illuminate the platform as hi-
tech PREDATOR weaponry far in advance of the humans' sears the air...
GUTTIEREZ turns at the SOUND of the huge metal doors GRINDING slowly
open. Just enough for them to get through.
GUTTIEREZ
Move!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP
THOMAS pushes DE VRIES through the opening, with GUTTIEREZ hurriedly
following.
The Auto-shop is a large spacious workshop with three bays lining one
wall. The front of a crawler pokes from one of them, while in the
center of the room another crawler is raised above a maintenance-pit on
a hydraulic platform. A handful of GREASE MONKEYS stands around the
doorway, brandishing power-tools in lieu of firearms. A blonde surfer-
type with long straggly
hair rushes over to them. This is MATT, their savior.
MATT
Close it up, close it up!
GUTTIEREZ stares through the narrow opening as the doors seal back up.
In the midst of the flames, the ALIENS are fighting a pitched battle
tooth-and-nail with their unseen opponents. It's like a scene out of
Hell.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CORRIDORS
Clusters of rotating emergency lights wig-wag above HIROKO and KAMEN as
they flee through the maze of long corridors leading to the Command
Center. KAMEN is falling behind as they approach a junction.
HIROKO
Hurry it up.
KAMEN
Don't wait for me!
HIROKO and KAMEN race along the final corridor leading to the Command
Center. Halfway down, KAMEN turns in response to a JARRING SOUND from
the rear. The metal grating making up the floor is SMASHED violently
from beneath.
KAMEN
Run!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
The PANDEMONIUM from the outside corridors gets the attention of YORK
and everybody else in admin. He crosses to the bulkhead doorframe, and
what he sees makes his eyes bug.
YORK
Jesus Christ!
He SHOUTS back into the crowded room.
YORK (CONT'D)
They're inside, inside the corridor!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CORRIDOR
HIROKO and KAMEN try to outrun the tidal wave of twisted and broken
steel that emerges in their wake. KAMEN YELLS with fright as an ALIEN
claw pinions his ankle. He trashes about, clutching at anything to
prevent himself being dragged beneath the floor. CRYING OUT is pain as
slivers of edged metal slice into his hands...
HIROKO (anguished)
No!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
YORK stands frozen at the bulkhead frame, staring down the corridor in
horror. CASSIE races up and pushes him out of the way...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CORRIDOR
HIROKO looks furiously around. Spying an emergency axe in it's wall
housing, she SMASHES the glass with her elbow, cutting herself in the
process. HIROKO hefts the heavy tool, swinging it down onto the
disappearing ALIEN's carapace with all her might...
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Bastard!
The blade bites deep, and yellow blood bursts from the threshing
ALIEN's wound. Speckles of it dot KAMEN's leg, eating through the
material of his trousers and into the skin and muscle beneath. He
SCREAMS, a sound of pure intense pain...
HIROKO hurls the axe aside. She begins pulling KAMEN out of the hole
as the caustic liquid seeps into the nearby electrical conduit.
There's a SPARKING, followed by a FLASH and a SHEET OF FLAME. CASSIE
steps through into the corridor, just as valves evenly-spaced along the
length of the tunnel open up, jetting white high-density foam under
extreme pressure. The hatch to the Command Center at the far end
begins to close...
HIROKO
Cassie...!
CASSIE's head shoots around.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
YORK seizes a metal chair from behind a nearby console and wedges it
into the narrowing divide. CASSIE squeezes through the gap and
urgently HOLLERS to HIROKO...
CASSIE
It you don't... uh!... move your ass, you're gonna need a helluva diet
to get through here!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
from CASSIE's P.O.V. we watch HIROKO supporting KAMEN and stumbling him
along. Foam fills three-quarters of the corridor to their rear and is
nearly up to their knees everywhere else. The chair's frame CREAKS
ominously in protest...
YORK
Hurry up, we're losing it!
CASSIE's eyes widen in terror...
CASSIE
Behind you!
HIROKO turns to see the long, phallic head of an ALIEN emerge
momentarily from out of the foam. Something yanks at KAMEN and he
disappears beneath the surface with an expression of pained surprise...
HIROKO
Kamen!
HIROKO starts to thrash at the foam, but CASSIE reaches out and drags
her away.
CASSIE
It's too late!
HIROKO
Nooooo!
The chair begins to buckle, collapsing in on itself...
YORK
It's going!
With a supreme effort, CASSIE yanks HIROKO through the gap. YORK
vaults clear as the chair SNAPS in two, leaving the bulkhead to THUNDER
closed. The two women collapse in a heap on the floor.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - DUSK
The battle outside is going badly for the PREDATORS. There's only
three of them left, and one is BROKEN TUSK.
A projectile WHISTLES through the air towards an ALIEN, expanding in
flight into a wire capture net. Barbed tips on each corner bite into
the wall of a base module, trapping the enraged creature. Small motors
WHINE as the thin metal pulls inward, slicing into the ALIEN's body...
The PREDATOR savors the scene for just a second...which is a second too
long. ALIENS are all over him, clawing and ripping at his body. The
shoulder-mounted plasma-cannon is unceremoniously yanked away and
CLATTERS to the floor.
The PREDATOR goes down, groping for the self-destruct system on his
wrist. He manages to stroke a fingernail across the activation bar, but
gets no further. An ALIEN pounces at him, it's tail descending. The
PREDATOR raises his arm in reflex, but the stinger SMASHES straight
through the buries it in his face-plate, taking out the wrist-computer
in the process.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
HIROKO stares at the closed bulkhead with an expression of dazed
disbelief.
PARSONS
Miss Noguchi?
No reaction. He tries again.
PARSONS (CONT'D)
Miss Noguchi!
HIROKO snaps out of it. She crosses over to the bank of monitoring
screens.
HIROKO
What's the story?
PARSONS runs through each of the screens.
PARSONS
Everything on this module is locked and sealed. We've lost 'B', 'C',
and 'E' wings, but 'E' was the only one we didn't manage to totally
evacuate.
HIROKO
How many... how many people are missing?
CASSIE
Unconfirmed reports of eighteen or so far, but the numbers are all over
the place.
HIROKO
What's our weapons situation?
DRISCOLL - a big guy with a beard - LAUGHS curtly.
DRISCOLL
Shit! Our armory's a big blue box from the back shelf of stores. We
got about two clips left for an autoloader, and that's it.
HIROKO
Auto-shop?
CASSIE
Auto-shop's sealed, but those boys are cut-off.
HIROKO
Has anybody talked to them?
CASSIE
Not yet.
HIROKO
Do it.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOPS - DUSK
BROKEN TUSK and the other PREDATOR scramble up onto the rooftop in a
bid to escape their unstoppable opponents. Back-to-back, they take up
fighting positions. A few seconds later, the first of the ALIENS
arrives.
Both the PREDATORS' shoulder cannons blaze, firing volley-after-volley.
Still the ALIENS keep on coming, finally reaching the point where it's
hand-to-hand...and nothing else.
It's a vicious, fast, and bloody on both sides. BROKEN TUSK takes
flight; his companion is not as lucky. The other PREDATOR kicks an
ALIEN from him and over the roof's edge. The ALIEN lashes out with
lightning-fast reflexes, pulling the PREDATOR with it. Both creatures
hurtle downward and hit a nest of cabling stretched across from one of
the modules. Caught like flies in a spider's web. Both thrash about,
severing cables as they do. Electrical sparks CRACKLE through the
air...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
Everything electrical in the Command Center flickers momentarily, and
the bank of monitors turn to static. There's an instant of silence
collective concerns amongst those gathered there.
DRISCOLL
What the hell...?
PARSONS
Don't panic, people. We've just switched over to internals.
HIROKO
They knocked out the external feeds.
PARSONS
Looks like it.
CASSIE
Thirty six hours?
PARSONS nods.
PARSONS
Give or take.
CASSIE
We're not gonna make it, are we?
HIROKO
Get the auto-shop on-line.
PARSONS shakes his head.
PARSONS
Communications to auto-shop go through an F.O. link off the main trunk.
That's down with the other feeds.
HIROKO
Well... try the headset.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP
Spirits are low in the auto-shop.
MATT
I'm tellin' you, it's impossible. Nothing can grow and reproduce this
fast.
THOMAS
Yeah. Right. You wanna go outside and tell them that?
DE VRIES
What's keeping those fucking Marines, man? They should'a been here by
now!
THOMAS lashes out at an empty can, kicking it noisily across the floor.
THOMAS
Maybe they ain't coming. Maybe they don't even know we've got
problems...
GUTTIEREZ
I don't wanna hear that kind of crap, Thomas. They're coming. Just a
matter of time, that's all...
GUTTIEREZ' headset lies nearby. PARSONS muted VOICE comes out of it.
One of the GREASE MONKEY's snatches it up and listens.
GREASE MONKEY
Yo! Guttierez!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS
Through now.
HIROKO
Jan, it's Hiroko. What sort of shape are you in down there?
GUTTIEREZ (O.S., on speaker)
Pretty damn good shape, considering. You can tell Don Kamen from me
his people have got balls of steel.
HIROKO
Kamen didn't make it, Jan.
There's a pregnant PAUSE from the speakers.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Jan?
GUTTIEREZ (O.S., on speakers)
Yeah. I... we're still here. We're all... uh... all sorry to hear
that.
HIROKO
Can you make it back?
GUTTIEREZ (O.S., on speakers)
Uh... I'd say that was a negative. If we open the doors, those things
are gonna swarm inside. There's another problem, too.
HIROKO
What's that?
GUTTIEREZ (O.S., on speakers)
De Vries put a round through the storage tanks over by the west pier on
the way in here. Right now, the stuff sprayin' out is just burnin' up,
but if we get a blow-back, a good part of the station could go with it.
CASSIE
Oh, man...
HIROKO
Alright, let's keep calm. We've got to have an option of some sort...
there's got to be a way out of this.
YORK
Oh yeah? Like what?
YORK's kept quiet, but everyone turns to him now. His tone is scathing
and cuts to the marrow.
CASSIE
Well, what about those other things outside; those warriors? Maybe we
can cut some kind of deal...
YORK looks around at them in incredulous disbelief.
***************************
***** PAGE 84 MISSING *****
***************************
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP
MATT walks nervously around, holding the headset. Everybody's eyes are
on him.
MATT
Well, it occurred to me that we could use the overhead crane to load
the admin module onto the back of Big Bertha. That way we could put a
bit of distance...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
MATT (CONT'D) (O.S., on speakers)
...Between us and the station. Least 'till the guys from Fort Powell
arrive.
HIROKO
That sounds promising. Can we operate the crane from here?
DRISCOLL
Nah. It's got programmable facilities, but it was never rigged for
remote operation. Someone'd have to go up to the cab to get it up and
running.
HIROKO
Which mean physically going outside.
DRISCOLL looks around uneasily.
DRISCOLL
Yeah.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER - LOWER DECK
A small group of people, most of whom we saw in the Command Center, are
clustered around a section of the poorly-lit maintenance corridor.
HIROKO's wearing a black hi-tech catsuit, a fetishist's dream. Across
her shoulder is a pistol in a slung bandolier holster. She nods at a
pile of clothing in DRISCOLL's hands.
HIROKO
Is this the suit?
DRISCOLL
Uh-huh.
She takes it from him. Slides her legs into the bottom half and pulls
it up. YORK watches with an expression of incredulity etched on his
face.
YORK
This is fuckin' lunacy! You're not gonna make it across the platform
on foot!
CASSIE
Shut up, York.
HIROKO
No, he's right. Has anyone got a bike near here?
A REDHEADED GIRL looks around hesitantly, then raises her voice.
REDHEADED GIRL
I have.
HIROKO
Let me have the keys.
The GIRL rummages in her pockets and throws the keys over. HIROKO puts
them in a pocket on the suit's sleeve.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Which one is it?
REDHEADED GIRL
Uh... the Hyundai racer. Yellow and black stripes.
YORK
Oh, yeah. Real inconspicuous...
HIROKO
Listen, I don't care if it's pink and purple polka-dots as long as it
gets me there in one piece. Somebody loan me a headset.
CASSIE pulls off hers and hands it over. DRISCOLL's watching HIROKO
fasten up the suit. He spots a mistake.
DRISCOLL
No, go back. Second clasp from the bottom.
HIROKO finds the offending clasp and locks it.
HIROKO
How much air-time have I got?
CASSIE
About thirty minutes. Those are slimmed-down tanks, so no stopping to
admire the scenery.
HIROKO
Deal.
CASSIE
We've dumped the whole data-base from one of the cleaning remotes into
the helmet. It'll project the route through the sewer system onto the
inside of the glass as you go.
DRISCOLL
Yeah, I stripped down a motion tracker and hardwired it through to the
helmet pick-ups, too. That's also on the display.
HIROKO
Sounds great.
PARSONS
It's not all good news. We had to take off the helmet lights. You'll
be going in blind.
HIROKO
What? Why?
DRISCOLL
We had to. They were just too cumbersome for some of the conduits
you're gonna have to negotiate. Besides, all the crap floating around
reduces visibility to the extent where I doubt having helmet lights
would have make that much difference, anyway. Maintenance lights down
there oughta be enough to do the trick.
HIROKO
How tight are these shafts?
CASSIE and DRISCOLL exchange worried looks.
CASSIE
Tight. We chose a route we felt would reduce the chance of you running
into any Aliens.
HIROKO takes a deep breath. Beads of perspiration dot her forehead.
PARSONS nods.
PARSONS
There's still time to back-out.
HIROKO
Forget it. I wouldn't ask somebody to do something I wouldn't do
myself. Where's the disk?
PARSONS hands over a vinyl-wrapped packet.
PARSONS
Don't lose it.
HIROKO slips it into a breast-pocket and secures the flap.
HIROKO
Don't worry. I won't.
DRISCOLL hands several metallic objects to HIROKO.
DRISCOLL
Here. If you got to use 'em, make 'em count.
They're magazines for her gun. She slots them into the bandolier.
HIROKO
Thanks.
PARSONS
Let's just run through it one more time so I know you've got it
straight.
HIROKO
Okay, I pull the access panel off of the console. Insert the disk, and
press the green enabling button...
PARSONS (interrupting)
No. There's two of them.
She pulls on the zip and begins locking the harness clasps into place.
HIROKO
Sorry. Two green enabling buttons...
PARSONS
Right. When you've done that, don't waste any time getting out of
there. Once that crane starts moving...well, it's bound to provoke
some kind of response.
YORK hands over a sophisticated-looking power-tool.
YORK
You'll need this for the gratings. Trigger finger to operate, thumb
button to switch over to the rivet gun. The sensors'll choose blade or
socket heads automatically.
HIROKO
Right. (long beat) Okay, I'm set.
YORK and DRISCOLL lower the massive dome-fronted helmet over HIROKO's
head. Auto-clasps lock into place as it brackets with the collar.
PARSONS clips the slimline air-tank to her back, and DRISCOLL makes the
connections.
PARSONS
Alright, let's open her up. Carefully, now...
CASSIE and the others hold their weapons and motion-trackers steadily
at a fixed point on the ground. Two ONLOOKERS bend down to the
pressure-hatch beneath the floor-grating. It's identical to the one
DILLER and URIOSTE removed earlier. A plume of pressurised gas jets
into the air, and they pull the metal sealing-plug free. CASSIE
scrutinizes her tracker...
CASSIE
All clear...
HIROKO reaches up to her helmet and presses a chunky button on one
side.
HIROKO's P.O.V.
We're looking through the transparent bowl of the helmet at the open
shaft, braken water SLOSHING around it's rim. Superimposed lines of
glowing neon appear on the visor's surface, a precisely overlaid
duplication of the scene in computer-graphic form. A flatly-
synthesised male
COMPUTER VOICE comes over the helmet speakers, O.S.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Approaching 'A' module lower level venturiduct DS Oh-four...
HIROKO gets down on her hands and knees and crawls towards the opening.
She stares at the murky water with mounting apprehension. Tries to
reassure herself.
HIROKO
Okay. Okay.
She looks around at the impassive, staring faces. Summoning up her
courage, she submerges the helmet...
HIROKO'S P.O.V.
The pale illumination of the lower level deck-lights gives way to
absolute nothingness; a stygian nightmare. She SHUDDERS with horror
and pulls her head free.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Oh...! Oh, God...
She WIPES frenetically at the slickly-coated visor, breathing heavily.
Worried hands grab her.
CASSIE
Are you alright?
PARSONS
What? What's wrong? What is it?
HIROKO's eyes dart around, speaking volumes. She swallows hard and
calms down.
HIROKO
It's alright. I'm okay.
Steeling herself, she takes a deep breath and plunges headfirst into
the water once more...
HIROKO's P.O.V.
Everything goes to blackness again. The head-up-display presents a
view of the unseen tunnel in cheerful candy-apple hues.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Entering venturi duct, en route to secondary overflow sump DS oh four
slash eleven...
YORK watches HIROKO's feet disappear into the shaft.
PARSONS
Seal it.
The heavy sealing-plug is dragged across the grating and positioned
over the hole. YORK shakes his head.
YORK
Suicide run, man. Fuckin' suicide run.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - VENTURI DUCT
CASSIE wasn't kidding about the venturi-duct. It's only about half-
again as wide as HIROKO. The only illumination comes from the hazy
circle above. As the plug reseals the hole, even that's gone.
Something flickers. Two weak fluorescent tubes come on, lighting the
murk with a faint orange haze.
CASSIE (O.S. on speakers)
All the comforts of home.
HIROKO
Thanks, Cassie.
CASSIE (O.S., on speakers)
Don't mention it.
She inches her way through the narrow space towards us, breathing
heavily. The CLICKING of the motion-tracker in her helmet is
overwhelming in the silence...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ANTENNA ARRAY - NIGHT
The station's massive antenna array is being transformed. Otherworldly
shapes comprised of surreal creatures and protrusions are starting to
cover it's surface. ALIENS drop from dizzying heights, exuding streams
of gelatinous gunk from the four 'exhaust' pipes on their backs.
They're building a nest of staggering proportions.
Unnoticed by the busy biomechanoids, faint sparks flicker from the
crane catwalk high above...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - NIGHT
BROKEN TUSK sits on the catwalk floor, a small shower of sparks
lighting his face. He's attempting to repair his broken wrist computer
with an intricate tool. He removes it and presses a switch. The
display glows briefly, then fades. He inserts it again. Electrical
sparks CRACKLE across the computer's fascia, before burning out.
BROKEN TUSK throws the ruined machine away in disgust.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP
From our P.O.V. high up near the roof of the auto-shop we see THOMAS
sitting on the raised hydraulic platform. He GRUNTS as he pulls a
valve on the crawler's underside.
Across the room, the second crawler RUMBLES out of the far bay. One of
the GREASE MONKEYS walks slowly backwards, waving it on.
GREASE MONKEY
Okay. Back. Back. Little bit more...
He steps into a pool of slippery residue and loses his footing.
GREASE MONKEY (CONT'D)
Whoa...shit!
The man crouches and runs a finger through the colorless goo on the
floor. Scowls first, then frowns. It's sticky.
Over near the doors, MATT exhales deeply on a cigarette. DE VRIES is
nearby, listening attentively as GUTTIEREZ gets a message on his
helmet.
GUTTIEREZ
She just set off!
MATT claps his hands together - just once - to get everybody's
attention.
MATT
Okay, people. Let's hustle...
There's a SCREAM from behind. They wheel around in time to see the
GREASE MONKEY being tugged into the maintenance opening. THOMAS yells
down from the platform.
THOMAS
They're comin' up through the pit!
A box with two large buttons - one green, one red - dangles from the
ceiling on the end of a cable. MATT forces down the red control,
making the platform lower. Several tons of machinery and crawler bring
about the demise of the ALIENS as they reach the lip of the opening,
CRUSHING their chitinous limbs to smithereens.
An ALIEN rolls out of the pit in time, scrambling for the safety of the
nearby shadows. DE VRIES sights it.
DE VRIES
Over there!
One of the MEN has seen it. His head snaps up to a mammoth engine-
block suspended from a winch high above. He LEAPS for the release-
catch as the ALIEN passes underneath. Pulls hard on the grip. Chains
RATTLE noisily as the block THUNDERS down. The ALIEN begins to look
up, just a second too late. The heavy piece of machinery SMASHES into
the creature, flattening it instantly.
Unseen by anybody, another ALIEN has escaped to the roof of the
platform-bound crawler. It wraps it's long, bony fingers around the
face of the MAN, stifling his CRIES and pulling him off the deck. The
LOUD CLATTERING of his chainsaw bouncing off the floor-grating gets
THOMAS' attention.
THOMAS
Mother-fucker!
THOMAS retrieves the fallen tool and jams the 'on' switch hard. The
ALIEN's tongue shoots through the GREASE MONKEY's skull, showering
THOMAS with a faint speckling of blood. The ALIEN discards the body
and lunges at THOMAS, who counters bringing the chainsaw up.
The blade slices into the creature's throat, and up through it's head.
THOMAS draws out the chainsaw quickly. Something happens to the PITCH
of the blade, a peculiar sound...
The acid eats through the links of the chainsaw band. Like a metallic
snake, it WHIPS off it's supporting frame.
Straight at THOMAS.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - VENTURI DUCT
HIROKO elbows her way further through the cramped water-filled duct. A
wide grille directly in her path blocks further headway.
HIROKO'S P.O.V. Green neon flashes in her display, with accompanying
notations.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Progress to secondary overflow sump DS oh-four slash eleven impeded.
Grating must be removed to facilitate entry...
HIROKO (into headset)
Okay, I'm at the first access grate.
CASSIE's VOICE is a little less clear now, with traces of STATIC
drifting in...
CASSIE (O.S., on speakers)
Copy that. Be careful, now.
HIROKO
You betcha.
She places the tip of her power-tool over the first of the grille's
anchoring bolts. The complex mechanism WHINES as it selects the
correct wrench-tip for the job...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS races up to the GIRL manning the communication console.
PARSONS
What is it?
GIRL
Auto-shop.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP- CRAWLER CABIN
THOMAS is laid-out in the back seat of the crawler's cab, with DE VRIES
and MATT trying to staunch the wounds from the chainsaw band's impact
to his chest. GUTTIEREZ speaks into his headset mike.
GUTTIEREZ
Rob? We got problems.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - SUMP CHAMBER
THUMP. THUMP. SLAM! The grille in knocked out of it's housing and
floats lazily off into the water. HIROKO passes through the newly-
created hole.
HIROKO'S P.O.V.
She finds herself in an upright cylindrical chamber, about five feet in
height. Massive extractor fans churn dangerously where both the floor
and ceiling ought to be. Kicking up a swirl of particles. Pale blue
light filters down from above.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Caution! Entering secondary overflow sump DS oh-four slash eleven.
Grating must be removed to facilitate entry to Central Reservoir...
HIROKO (annoyed)
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
With difficulty, she straddles the floor turbine. A vortex of water
swirls around her as she brings the power-tool up once more.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS listens attentively. He CLICKS his fingers at CASSIE.
PARSONS
Where is she?
CASSIE
Comin' up the Central Reservoir.
PARSONS
Quick! Run a trace on the culvert leading off the auto-shop
maintenance pit.
CASSIE's all-business, immediately calling-up the base floor-plan files
on a monitor.
PARSONS (CONT'D) (into headset)
Is Thomas gonna make it?
GUTTIEREZ (O.S., on speakers)
Uh...difficult to say. I think...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP
GUTTIEREZ looks on as MATT ties-off a bandage.
GUTTIEREZ (CONT'D)
...The chainsaw band might have punctured his lungs.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CASSIE looks up, worriedly.
CASSIE
I found it...
PARSONS
And?
CASSIE
Drains right into the Central Reservoir.
PARSONS
Get her on-line. Now!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - SUMP CENTER
HIROKO's pulls her third bolt free. It drifts slowly downward,
slipping between the vanes of the floor turbine.
A fragmented VOICE comes through on her headset, distorted beyond
recognition. HIROKO's forehead knits together in concentration and
annoyance.
HIROKO
What was that? I don't copy.
CLICK. CLICK. BEEP! The routine sound of the motion tracker changes
suddenly. HIROKO turns her attention from the task-in-hand to study
the tracker's helmet readout. THREE NEBULOUS BLOBS have appeared from
off-screen. Heading straight for her position.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CASSIE turns to PARSONS in frustration.
CASSIE
I can't reach her. Too much signal break-up.
PARSONS
Keep trying!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - SUMP CHAMBER
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. The signals pick-up speed the closer they get.
CASSIE's garbled VOICE isn't helping ease HIROKO's panic. She looks
wildly around the chamber. The only way out the way she came in...
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Attention. Removal of restraining bolts it necessary to facilitate
access to...
HIROKO stabs the exterior helmet control. The COMPUTER VOICE ceases,
while the BEEPING from the tracker rises in both pitch and volume.
Whatever the signals are, they're almost on top of her...
HIROKO turns to the narrow entry duct. It's position makes it
virtually impossible to get back into. She tries anyhow.
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP! A rush of displaced water flood into the chamber,
flattening her against the wall. DARK SHAPES THUNDER past the other
side of the grille like express trains in the night...going away from
HIROKO. She twitches in fear and disbelief as the BLOBS on the monitor
screen recede and finally disappear. The tracker's pitch returns to
it's hollow CLICKING.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
BROKEN TUSK tries to be as unobtrusive as possible as he picks through
the aftermath of the battle down by the now-empty rhino pen. He finds
something. A PREDATOR face-mask, with a massive crack down one side.
He turns it carefully over in his hands.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - CENTRAL RESERVOIR
HIROKO emerges from the water, a thin membrane of surface slime
adhering to her helmet. Blinded, she raises a gloved hand and wipes
the mucus away...
HIROKO'S P.O.V.
She's inside the Central Reservoir, a long cylindrical concrete tunnel
some eighteen feet in diameter. The water-level comes up about half-
way. What fills the remainder freezes her with revulsion...
She's found the main offshoot of the ALIENS' nest. Glued into the
curved walls by a secretive resin as BODIES. HUMANS, RHINOS, LEMURS.
Other ANIMALS. Most are dead, their innards blown open. The rest are
comatose, twitching occasionally. Every square inch not containing
bodies is filled with ALIEN EGGS. It's like Hell for real.
HIROKO reaches slowly up and reactivates her helmet readout.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
...Brrzzt. Traversing Central Reservoir en route to platform venturi
dust DS two-six.
HIROKO's P.O.V.
She looks around and finds the exit point on the display. It's several
feet away. Under the surface. She wades swiftly through the water,
passing beneath something that gives her cause to pause. A large
PULSATING BAG, about ten feet long and roughly ovular in shape. It
might be translucent, but in this light it's hard to tell.
HIROKO submerges. Sure enough, there's the grille. She raises the
power-tool and starts extracting the bolts. BZZZZ! There's the first
one, no problem. BZZZZ...BZZZZ! The second and third are just as
easy. She goes for the fourth. BZZZ...CHUNK. Nothing happens.
HIROKO
Come on...
She bears down on the trigger again. The motor's not running. A tiny
green LED flashes on the machine's side. It's locked solid. A
malfunction.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Attention. Removal of restraining bolts is necessary to facilitate
access to venturi ducts.
There's only one recourse left to her. She jams down the thumb
button...
KER-SLAM! The force of the rivet-gun propels her backwards, her
internal suit-pressure making her rise to the surface. She wipes the
slime from her helmet yet again...
...And finds herself staring at an ALIEN EGG, it's top cracking open in
four neat sections. The FACEHUGGER leaps straight as her faceplate...
...And misses, it's fingers failing to gain purchase on the slippery
dome. HIROKO kicks away from the spindly creature as it orientates
itself on the water's surface, it's powerful tail propelling itself
back toward her. It contracts on itself, preparing to leap. HIROKO
raises the power-tool,
reflexively squeezing the trigger again and again. Fat rivets RIP
through the FACEHUGGER's body. It writhes around on the water's
surface, a cloud ofyellow acid billowing outward from it. HIROKO dives
into the water again. She rams the power-tool at the final bolt.
BZZZZ! It's out! She levers-off the grille. Forces herself into the
confined space beyond...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - VENTURI DUCT
Another poorly-lit shaft filled with murky water, though this one goes
upwards on a diagonal slope. HIROKO braces herself against the walls
and begins to climb.
COMPUTER VOICE (O.S., on speaker)
Traversing venturi duct en route to platform surface.
WHAM! An ALIEN's head squeezes through the opening behind her. It's
claw snakes in, groping blindly just inches from her feet. She grits
her teeth and puts more effort into her ascent.
WALLPO! It's hand closes around her leg, yanking her back. She tries
frantically to gain purchase on anything. She fails. The ALIEN draws
her nearer, it's other hand closing on the helmet's visor. Fracture
lines appear on the glass, followed by cracks. Polluted water starts
to flood in, while air-bubbles expand outward from the broken glass.
HIROKO drives the power-tool at the ALIEN and mashes the trigger.
Rivets penetrate the creature's endoskeleton, making it draw back. A
haze of yellow blood spills out into the duct. HIROKO pushes upward,
coughing. She closes her fist around a lever above. Pulls on it with
all her might.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
Internal pressure forces the metallic plug out like a champagne cork.
It hits the platform with a loud CLUNK. HIROKO hauls herself from the
shaft, trailing a cloud of smoke as the acid eats into her suit. She
throws the helmet to the ground, SHATTERING the visor. Yanks
desperately at the suit's release clamps, kicking the ruined garment
off.
As promised, the yellow-and-black hoverbike is nearby. HIROKO starts
towards it, then remembers the keys are in the sleeve pocket of the
ruined pressure-suit. She drops to he knees and gingerly pokes through
the smoking pile of cloth. Finds the flap, RIPS it open, and withdraws
the keys.
SLAP! A glistening wet claw emerges from the open hole. HIROKO
scrambles to her feet as the injured ALIEN pulls itself out. She tears
across to the bike and rams the key into the ignition. The turbines
ROAR to life, and it lifts smoothly into the air. HIROKO pivots the
powerful machine around, avoiding the creature's questing grasp.
Losing it's balance, the ALIEN SMASHES into the deck.
HIROKO's guns the bike away, speeding along the platform. The fire
over by the auto-shop rages out of control, a column of black-and-
orange smoke rising into the air.
A DARK FORM hurls itself at her from an overhead cable-support. Yet
another ALIEN. It lands awkwardly on the protruding front cowl of the
hoverbike, gaining balance in an instant.
HIROKO twists on her controls, trying to dislodge the creature by see-
sawing the bike side-to-side. The ALIEN's got a firm hold though,
crawling hand-over-hand towards her. HIROKO releases her grip on both
throttles simultaneously. Air-brakes cut in, and the bike SLAMS to a
halt. The breath WHOOSHES out of HIROKO as her chest impacts with the
surrounding roll-bar. The ALIEN is even less fortunate; momentum hurls
it back onto the concrete. HIROKO guns the engine again, and the
leading-edge of the manta-shaped machine's aerofoil catches the rising
creature, neatly decapitating it.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE BASE - NIGHT
The hoverbike GROWLS to a halt by the base of the crane. HIROKO
dismounts and draws her pistol. Takes in the sheer height of the
ladder she's going to have to scale. Thumbs her headset.
HIROKO
Okay, I make it to the crane. You...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
Everybody in admin registers astonishment as her voice comes over the
speakers.
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on speakers)
...Can all uncross your fingers.
A WHOOP goes up. Various hands are SLAPPED.
PARSONS
We copy, boss. Nice going.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE LADDER - NIGHT
HIROKO's climbing the ladder. She stops to catch her breath.
HIROKO
Yeah, well don't get too carried away; we're only halfway home.
Talk...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on speakers)
...To you shortly. Noguchi out.
PARSONS clicks his fingers to DRISCOLL.
PARSONS
Driscoll; you're up.
DRISCOLL's moving even as PARSONS speaks.
DRISCOLL
I hear you...
EXT. RHUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - NIGHT
HIROKO reaches the top and sprints along the catwalk towards the
Control Cab. She narrowly misses something metallic near the base of
the handrail. If she'd taken the time to stop and look, she would have
seen BROKEN TUSK's ruined wrist computer.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER - LADDER WELL
DRISCOLL flips open an access flap on one wall of the ladder-well.
Printed on the inside is a set of instructions, with the following
printed boldly in red;
CAUTION! EXPLOSIVE BOLTS - READ CAREFULLY!
He traces his finger along a line of text.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CAB - NIGHT
HIROKO enters the cab at a run. She flips a row of switches, and the
control board comes to life.
HIROKO
Access panel... access panel...
She finds it. Gets her fingers in the groove and slides it out.
Beneath is a mini-disk drive with two buttons.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Bingo.
She pulls the vinyl-wrapped packet from her catsuit pocket. Carefully
withdraws the disk and slides it home. Thumbs the first button, which
glows an emerald green.
The board's flatscreen monitor lights up immediately. HIROKO studies
it for a moment, then presses her headset link.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Okay, we're in business.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS
Right. Auto-shop, you all set?
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP - CRAWLER CAB
Everybody from Auto-shop is crammed into the two articulated vehicles.
GUTTIEREZ sits in the driver's seat of the first crawler. He glances
out of the side window. MATT gives him a 'thumbs-up' from the cab of
the second crawler.
GUTTIEREZ (into headset)
Say the word, and you won't see our asses for dust.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CAB - NIGHT
HIROKO wipes a trickle of sweat from her forehead. She poises her
finger over the second drive-button.
HIROKO
Alright. Here we go...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
Everybody in admin looks tense.
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on speakers)
Three...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - AUTO-SHOP - CRAWLER CAB
GUTTIEREZ leans forward.
HIROKO (CONT'D) (O.S., on headset)
Two...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CAB - NIGHT
HIROKO blinks as the sweat drains into her eyes.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
One...mark!
She stabs the drive switch.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE - NIGHT
Smoothly maintained engineering comes to life. The enormous yellow
crane starts to move on it's track-rails.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CAB - NIGHT
The control board monitor is suddenly awash with information and
schematics...
HIROKO
Okay, I'm out of here!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
PARSONS
Blow those suckers, Driscoll!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER - LADDER WELL
DRISCOLL raises a black device shaped like a cylinder with a handgrip
on the end. Slots it into the mechanism beneath the flap and carefully
turns it. A tiny red LED comes on.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER MODULE
Complex mechanical assemblies attach the module to it's supporting
pier-platforms. There are a number of LOUD BANGS, similar to car
engines misfiring. Explosive bolts release the tethers.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER - LADDER WELL
DRISCOLL reports into his headset.
DRISCOLL
Bolts blown!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - NIGHT
HIROKO runs back across the catwalk. She might have missed the
PREDATOR's damaged computer before, but she doesn't this time. Her
foot comes down on it and she slips. The gun goes flying from her
hand. HIROKO watches in horror as it teeters on the catwalk's edge for
a moment...
HIROKO
No!
...Then goes over. She drops to all fours and peers over the side.
Luckily it's only fallen about four feet onto a dirty ledge. She
reaches out for it...
INT. FIRST CRAWLER CAB
GUTTIEREZ pushes forward on the crawler's controls. The head-up
display projected on the cab windscreen changes from 'NEUTRAL' to
'DRIVE'.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - NIGHT
The two crawlers TEAR OUT of the auto-shop's opening doors, headlights
blazing.
INT. FIRST CRAWLER CAB - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ braces himself as they speed on a collision course towards
the ditched crawler they left outside auto-shop earlier.
GUTTIEREZ
Shit!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - NIGHT
KER-SMASM! GUTTIEREZ' crawler rams the other vehicle off the roadway
and through the platform safety barrier. It balances precariously for
a second, until finally it's weight sends it plunging into the swamp in
a CACOPHONY of STRESSED METAL and CRUMBLING CONCRETE.
INT. SECOND CRAWLER CAB - NIGHT
MATT
Yee-haa! Demolition derby, baby!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - NIGHT
Holding the cracked mask to his face, BROKEN TUSK looks up at the
gigantic crane moving against the night sky.
PREDATOR VISION.
Although the helmet's nightsight is malfunctioning, it's still good
enough to register the 'hot' infra-red shape of HIROKO on the catwalk.
The sound of the two crawlers hurtling across the platform gets BROKEN
TUSK's attention.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - NIGHT
HIROKO gets a firm grasp on one of the railing rungs, anchoring
herself. Stretches for the pistol with renewed determination. She
brushes the barrel. Not good enough. Tries again. Success! Her
fingers curl around the weapon, and she tugs it upwards.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
The two crawlers plunge into the curtain of flames spreading across the
platform.
INT. FIRST CRAWLER CAB - NIGHT
DE VRIES YELLS at GUTTIEREZ over the ROAR of the flames.
DE VRIES
Hotter 'n hell out there!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE BASE - NIGHT
HIROKO leaps the last few rungs from the moving crane onto the
platform. She dashes towards the hoverbike, some thirty feet away.
With no time to loose, she slides her boots into the foot-supports,
which automatically WHIRR closed. Gropes for the ignition key...
Before she's even located it, the hoverbike moves. SCRAPING across the
concrete. ALIEN claws appear around the edge of one of the bike's
manta wings. She's parked the bike over a drainage exit!
HIROKO SPINS the key and guns the engine. The white-hot downblast from
the turbine exhaust SPLASHES across the SCREECHING ALIENS. The vehicle
tilts and KICKS forward.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
The two crawlers emerge from the conflagration, scorched and trailing
fire. In the BACKGROUND, the crane-hoist centers over the admin module.
CATWALK P.O.V.,
looking straight down. Four lasers scan quickly around the module's
edges.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CAB - NIGHT
A blinking message on the crane's monitor screen:
POSITIVE MATCH. COMMENCE LIFTING OPERATION.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - NIGHT
The sound of SHREDDING METAL makes HIROKO look down. An ALIEN is
hanging on the underside of the bike! She twists the throttle,
reducing acceleration and causing the vehicle to drop several inches.
Sparks shower the ground from where the creature makes contact with the
roadway. The ALIEN's determination is astounding. It's tail SLAMS up
through the alloy 'wing', anchoring it.
The biomechanoid starts to pulls itself up, shifting the bike's center
of gravity. She fights the controls, but finds herself swerving. One-
handed, she takes aim. BLAM! BLAM! She misses the ALIEN, rupturing a
fuel pipe instead.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
The crane's clamping mechanism closes around the admin module, locking
into place.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CLANG! Everybody reacts as the SOUND penetrates through the walls and
ECHOES around admin.
PARSONS
Okay, people. Hold on tight...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
The crane hoists the module aloft, free of it's umbilicals.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
Pencils, disposable cups, and anything else not bolted down all roll
from table-tops. Most are grabbed by their owners.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - NIGHT
HIROKO's bike veers blindly around the corner of a building, with
HIROKO still SHOOTING. She looks up and her eyes widen. Ahead is the
out-of-control blaze. A tongue of flame licks out across the platform,
directly in her path.
HIROKO slides the gun quickly into her shoulder-holster and ducks for
cover behind the bike's windshield. The ALIEN's head twists around,
and they plunge into the inferno...
WHOOMPH! The liquid from the breached pipe ignites, trailing a plume
of yellow flame. HIROKO jams down on the foot-release and wrenches the
steering bar hard to the right. She leaps for safety as the burning
bike with it's ALIEN passenger crashes through the station's safety-
rail and plummets into the swamp.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM RAMP - NIGHT
The two crawlers THUNDER down the ramp. GUTTIEREZ' vehicle pulls into
a tight right turn, while MATT's continues on it's course. The crane
with it's underslug module continues to RUMBLE slowly forward.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM FAR SIDE - NIGHT
HIROKO mechanically tries to get up from the concrete roadway. Winces.
Something hurts. She looks down at the back of her left hand. The
skin has been scraped away.
A DISTANT NOISE, something else being broken. HIROKO turns. Through
the conflagration, ALIENS are advancing.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ' smoldering crawler pulls-up alongside Big Bertha's titanic
wheels.
INT. FIRST CRAWLER - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ turns his head to one of the guys in the rear.
GUTTIEREZ
Take the wheel, Roy!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES exit the crawler in a big hurry. The moment
they're clear, the vehicle starts up and is gone. DE VRIES is alert,
the tip of her rifle probing their surroundings.
DE VRIES
C'mon, man! Let's shag it!
GUTTIEREZ begins climbing the tall ladder running up to the Bertha's
cab.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
HIROKO's running along the platform, pistol clenched firmly in hand.
She thumbs her headset.
HIROKO
Rob, it's Hiroko. Come in.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CASSIE answers, holding on to the edge of her console.
CASSIE
Hiroko, it's Cassie. What's...
HIROKO's VOICE interrupts.
HIROKO (O.S., on speakers)
I've lost the bike and I'm cut-off.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
HIROKO spins around the corner, pointing her gun cop-stance.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
If I can get to the chopper, I'll meet you at the rendezvous. Don't
wait for me.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
CASSIE
But...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
The heli-jet pad's just up ahead. The relief on HIROKO's face is
enormous.
HIROKO
No 'buts'. Just do it. Noguchi out.
INT. BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ and DE VRIES pile inside the surprisingly cramped driver's
cab. There's a seat up-front, with another behind a small control
fascia pointing out-back. DE VRIES hands over her rifle and slides
into the rear. She flicks on an overhead light. Taped to one side is
a black-and-white magazine cut-out of a naked male body-builder.
DE VRIES
Nice buns...
She gives the control board a cursory once-over. GUTTIEREZ calls back
from his vantage point at the doorway.
GUTTIEREZ
Can you handle it?
DE VRIES powers-up the console.
DE VRIES
Piece of cake.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - NIGHT
HIROKO runs towards the waiting heli-jet. The flicker of an
andrenalin-fueled smile plays on her face...the disappears.
Like a scorpion scuttling over a rock, the ALIEN climbs up on top of
the grounded machine. It's head turn towards her. HIROKO starts to
raise her pistol... then stops. Other ALIENS are descending the nearby
navigation tower... straight for her.
HIROKO turns tail. She races over to a ladder running up the side of a
building and begins to climb.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
The shadow of the crane and it's cargo falls over Big Bertha's rear
flatbed. Flashing warning strobes illuminate the twin hydraulic arms
which rise up to meet it.
INT. BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
DE VRIES twists on the 'waldo' controls operating the manipulator
hands.
EXT. SWAMP - NIGHT
ALIENS rise up out of the swamp below, and start to scale Bertha's
balloon tires.
INT. BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
GUTTIEREZ fires a barrage down at the oncoming creatures. He HOLLERS
back to DE VRIES.
GUTTIEREZ
Move it baby, or they're gonna be chewin' on my cojones!
DE VRIES
Couple more seconds!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - NIGHT
HIROKO takes flight across the rooftops with the ALIENS in pursuit like
a pack of dogs. She vaults extractor intakes and retrofitted junk with
ease. So do the ALIENS.
She cuts across a conduit overpass bridging two buildings across the
main street, trying not to lose her footing. Just before reaching the
other side, HIROKO slips and falls to her knees. Her headset drops
thirty feet onto the concrete roadway. Her hand rests on something
red. It's the cover for the explosive bolts connecting the conduit to
the building. She scrambles onto the rooftop and flips over the hatch.
Glances up. The ALIENS are already starting across. She pulls the
primer cylinder out by it's handle. Jams it into the detonator, and
turns...
She's practically on top of the bolts. The EXPLOSION is DEAFENING.
With the clamp on this side free, the conduit falls into the street
with a SCREECH of twisted metal. One of the ALIENS is pulverized by
the falling debris, but the others survive. All HIROKO's managed to do
is buy herself some breathing space...
She races across the building's roof. Reaches the other
side...straight into a dead end.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
The admin module locks onto Bertha's manipulator arms with a satisfying
CLUNK. Autocouplers slot into place, and the crane releases it's load.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - COMMAND CENTER
The connecting jolt is even greater then before. Several larger
objects CRASH to the deck.
INT. BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
DE VRIES
That's it! We've got it! Get us out of here.
GUTTIEREZ looses one last volley at the ALIENS. He pulls the cab door
shut, and throws himself into the driver's seat.
GUTTIEREZ
C'mon sweetheart. Do your stuff...
EXT. SWAMP - NIGHT
Bertha's wheels GRIND to life, spilling ALIENS and crushing them under
it's treads...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - NIGHT
HIROKO's P.O.V. It's a straight drop thirty feet onto concrete, with
no ladders or any other way down. She looks desperately around for
another avenue of escape.
The leering face of an ALIEN comes up over the roof's edge. HIROKO
swings her pistol over and fires. It falls away...only to be replaced
seconds later by two others.
Her gun goes dry. Quick as a flash, she ejects the spent magazine.
She slaps the spare in and continues firing.
INT. BIG BERTHA - NIGHT
Big Bertha's heading away from the base into the surrounding trees.
GUTTIEREZ grits his teeth as they plunge towards the high branches.
GUTTIEREZ
Get down!
DE VRIES hits the floor. The thick boughs impact with the cab,
SHATTERING the safety glass.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - NIGHT
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! CLICK. HIROKO's gun's empty. She reaches
for another clip on her bandolier...then realises that was her last
one.
The encircling ALIENS HISS triumphantly and close in. With no place to
go, and no means of defending herself, HIROKO's a goner. The lead
ALIEN's lethal double-barrel teeth open. It's almost on her. HIROKO
CRIES OUT...
WHOOSH! The ALIEN's face is severed in half. A circular metal object
blurs through the air and loops back on itself, almost faster then the
human eye can follow. A massive form SLAMS down in front of HIROKO,
pushing her out of the way. She hits the deck hard and gasps. BROKEN
TUSK is standing before her. He skillfully catches the frisbee-like
'smart weapon', then
throws it again.
HIROKO watches with awe as the PREDATOR joins battle against the
ALIENS. HISSING ALIEN jaws are silenced by BROKEN TUSK's formidable
fighting technique. Questing limbs are BLASTED and HACKED away by
advanced PREDATOR weaponry. Acidic blood flows freely. The skirmish
is surprisingly brief.
BROKEN TUSK and HIROKO stare at one another. BROKEN TUSK pulls a slung
metal rod from his shoulder. Two barbed tips SCHNICK outwards, forming
a spear. The PREDATOR looks at her, and his lip curls. It takes a
second for HIROKO to realise he's offering it to her. Bewildered, she
accepts it, pulling herself up.
A bright orange ball of flame mushrooms up behind, getting both of
their attentions. BROKEN TUSK regards her. His mandibles CLICK-CLACK
nervously...
HIROKO
Look. Don't take this the wrong way, but when I imagined the cavalry
coming to my rescue... they never looked like you.
The PREDATOR turns away, seemingly uninterested.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - NIGHT
Another gout of flame BELCHES out of the churning mass in the middle of
the station.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - ROOFTOP LEVEL - NIGHT
HIROKO turns her recovered headset over in her hands.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Broken. Useless!
She throws it aside. BROKEN TUSK stands beside her, keeping guard.
Another DETONATION goes off behind, even LOUDER.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Jesus. I.C.C.'re gonna have to close the book on this place.
She SLAPS BROKEN TUSK on the arm.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Come on, Butch. Let's go.
She begins to walk away. BROKEN TUSK crosses to the safety barrier,
peering over the side...
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Hey! I said come on!
The PREDATOR turns a deaf ear to her. He gauges the distance below,
then throws himself off the platform's edge.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
What...?
She races across to the rail and gazes downward.
HIROKO'S P.O.V.
The PREDATOR wades through the swamp towards something she cannot see.
HIROKO looks around the platform. She's suddenly very alone.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Shit!
She crosses to a maintenance ladder and begins to descend.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - SWAMP LEVEL - NIGHT
HIROKO SPLASHES through the swamp towards the PREDATOR. BROKEN TUSK
has paused before a culvert nestled within the shadows of the platform
piers, running directly out into the swamp. Most of the drain is
underwater, with only about eight inches protruding from the water.
The thick metal grille covering it is mangled and twisted. Broken from
within.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
You've got to be joking. No way am I going back in there!
No joke. BROKEN TUSK starts submerging to get across inside.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Hey!
BROKEN TUSK pauses for a moment. He gives her a look, then disappears
into the blackness. HIROKO looks around. It's no fun being the last
person left alive here.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Goddammit!
She takes several deep breaths, then reluctantly follows...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - CULVERT
HIROKO emerges within an air pocket inside the drain. She shivers.
It's just as dirty and cramped as she remembers. Several of the
maintenance lights down here are broken, and visibility is minimal.
HIROKO (CONT'D) (quietly)
Wha...?
BROKEN TUSK whirls, and clamps a hand across her mouth. She gets the
message.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - CENTRAL RESERVOIR
They exit the culvert through another smashed grate. HIROKO finds
herself back in the Central Reservoir again. She wades through the
water behind BROKEN TUSK, holding the spear above her head. The two of
them look very vulnerable in here. They pass beneath the PULSATING SAC
HIROKO saw earlier. It looks riper now, ready to burst. An INSIDIOUS
PULSING NOISE - like a heartbeat - gains in volume the further they
travel.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
They come out in a chamber some forty feet in height and dominated by
an enormous pump. ALIEN gunk covers everything.
HIROKO gasps. High above it a QUEEN ALIEN, nesting on top of the vast
mechanism. It's EGG SAC drapes around the pump; spiraling down around
it. She seems to be asleep.
BROKEN TUSK ignores the QUEEN. His eyes are searching the multitude of
forms - human and otherwise - cocooned into the walls. He finds what
he's looking for. Up on one wall is another PREDATOR. Dead. It's
stomach blown open.
HIROKO holds her spear tightly. FACEHUGGERS pulse malignantly, wrapped
around several trapped victims. A number of empty EGGS are scattered
here-and-there.
BROKEN TUSK looks around. No ALIENS. He begins climbing the organic
fresco, watching the QUEEN ALIEN carefully for signs of awareness. The
bellows-like SOUND of her BREATHING is overwhelming. He reaches the
entrapped PREDATOR. It's left arm is encased in a solidified mass of
secreted resin. BROKEN TUSK raises his 'smart weapon' and activates
it.
The SPLINTERING NOISE makes HIROKO wince. She glances up at the QUEEN.
It's breathing start to change, and it's head moves...
BROKEN TUSK sees it too. He hesitates for a moment. The QUEEN
settles, and her breathing goes back to normal. BROKEN TUSK resumes
his work, chipping off the final chunk of coating. He sheathes the
'smart weapon', and flips open the other PREDATOR's wrist device. He
withdraws the small manipulator device we saw earlier, and goes to
work...
DOWN BELOW, HIROKO's backing away. She doesn't see the arm coated in
slime that grasps at her hair. She shudders, stifling a SCREAM. Her
eyes are wide as she turns...
It's KAMEN. He's been embedded into the biomechanical frieze. When he
speaks, his voice is wracked with pain and suffering.
KAMEN
Hiroko...
HIROKO fearfully says something beneath her breath in JAPANESE.
UP ON THE WALL, BROKEN TUSK has finished his task. He slides the tip
of a claw across the self-destruct mechanism. It's readout display
illuminates with alien characters. He activates a button, and the
readout begins to blink...
BELOW, KAMEN is talking to a sickened HIROKO.
KAMEN (CONT'D)
They...they snapped my legs to fit... fit me in here. I
don't...remember what happened next.
HIROKO
What can I do?
KAMEN
I can... feel it moving around inside me. You've got to kill me.
HIROKO
I... I can't!
KAMEN
You have to...
HIROKO
No!
BROKEN TUSK appears as HIROKO's shoulder. He raises his right arm.
SCHNICK!
The wrist knives slice outwards. Red blood SPATTERS HIROKO's pale
face. BROKEN TUSK grabs her arm roughly and pulls her away.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - CENTRAL RESERVOIR
BROKEN TUSK pushes HIROKO through the reservoir. An ALIEN EGG on a
nearby wall PEELS OPEN. Before the FACEHUGGER even has a chance to
spring, BROKEN TUSK swings his wrist-blades in a wide arc, cutting
through the EGG and it's writhing contents.
The two of them reach the deep end and have to wade. HIROKO pushes
herself along the biomechanical outcropping. Ahead of them is the
PULSING SAC. Before they're even passed beneath it, they hear
SOMETHING. A SOUND like water-filled balloons hitting wet concrete.
The SAC ruptures, spattering thick gloopy matter. A form comprised of
slender limbs emerges from within. An IMMATURE QUEEN ALIEN. Though
just-born, it's reflexes are razor-sharp. It lashes out at HIROKO and
BROKEN TUSK. HIROKO ducks, and the QUEEN's claws embed themselves in
BROKEN TUSK's shoulder, destroying his automatic cannon.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - PRE-DAWN
A VAST EXPLOSION rips through the base, broiling clouds of flame
rolling across the platform and seeping into the drainage ducts.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
Columns of fire jet from fissures and openings inside the Pump Chamber,
rippling across the adult QUEEN ALIEN and her hapless victims. She
begins to SCREAM, flailing around atop her metal throne...
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - CENTRAL RESERVOIR
The adult QUEEN's SHRIEK echoes through the reservoir, accompanied by a
ball of fire that travels part of the way down. The IMMATURE QUEEN
turns her head in reply, answering with her own YOWL.
BROKEN TUSK HISSES with hate, and brings his 'smart weapon' SLICING
down through her arm, severing it at the wrist. HIROKO simultanesouly
DRIVES her spear into the ALIEN's chest. She grabs the injured
PREDATOR and pulls him away from the thrashing creature.
HIROKO
Come on! Come on!
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
The alien numbers on the PREDATOR self-destruct readout inexorably
count down...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - PRE-DAWN
The metal plug HIROKO blew during her earlier escape still lies to one
side of the duct HIROKO and BROKEN TUSK crawl hastily out of.
Fireballs are erupting all around now, making their situation
precarious.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - CRANE CATWALK - PRE-DAWN
From a vantage point high above, we see HIROKO and BROKEN TUSK racing
across the platform towards the heli-jet pad.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PLATFORM - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK stumbles and falls. HIROKO bends down to help him up, but
the PREDATOR shoves her away. He doesn't want her assistance.
HIROKO
If you don't move your ugly butt, we're gonna end up barbecued! Come
on!
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO runs towards the waiting heli-jet, with the PREDATOR close
behind. The landing pad is made up of an intricate series of grilles
designed to deflect downward exhaust gases. HIROKO's feet CLATTER
across the metal...
KER-SMASH! The metal is SMASHED from beneath, right in front of her.
The IMMATURE ALIEN QUEEN has made is out of the sewer system and has
got the jump on them. HIROKO's forward momentum won't allow her to
stop running...she's too close. Almost at the last moment, she jumps.
claws brush her trouser leg, but close on thin air. She hits the deck
and quickly closes the last few feet to the chopper.
BROKEN TUSK stops. ALIENS are appearing all over the pad and out of
nearby drainage ducts.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO slips into the chopper's pilot seat. She flips a bunch of
switches and the turbines RISE in VOLUME from a LOW WHINE to a DULL
ROAR.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - PRE-DAWN
An orange ball of flame mushrooms up behind BROKEN TUSK. With the
ALIENS blocking his path, there's no refuge for him. Almost. The
Navigation Tower looms overhead, nearby. BROKEN TUSK takes a
calculated risk and LEAPS for it.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
The heli-jet flies pretty much like a standard helicopter. HIROKO
pulls-back on the collective, and the turbines' pitch changes from a
THROATY GROWL to a HIGH-PITCHED WHINE.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - HELI-JET PAD - PRE-DAWN
The heli-jet rises, a little unsteadily. The wash from the turbines
plays across the SHRIEKING ALIENS.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO'S P.O.V. Through the canopy dome, we see BROKEN TUSK climbing
the Navigation Tower, with the ALIENS close behind.
HIROKO
Okay, Butch. I can play cavalry, too...
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - NAVIGATION TOWER - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK scales the ladder as quickly as he can. As the top of the
tower is a gallery catwalk surrounding the flashing beacon array.
The IMMATURE QUEEN, accompanied by a phalanx of warrior ALIENS, is
almost upon him. The PREDATOR drives his wrist knives into the throat
of a grasping ALIEN, which falls downward, writhing. It CRASHES into
the QUEEN, who almost loses her grip on the skeletal metalwork. She
HISSES, lashing out at the creature. Sends it hurtling to the ground.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - TOWER CATWALK - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK makes it to the top. There's not much space on the catwalk
to maneuver. He looks around, then down. This is his last stand.
Instinctively, he reaches down to his wrist for the self-destruct
computer. Of course, it's not there.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
The third row of digits on the alien destruct mechanism disappear.
Time's running out...fast.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - TOWER CATWALK - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK SMASHES his foot hard into the face of an ALIEN. A BLAST
of displaced air hits him like a sledgehammer. He turns...
HIROKO's heli-jet hovers stationary just a few feet away from the
tower, the door on the co-pilot's side flapping open. She HOLLERS at
the PREDATOR over the ROAR of the engines.
HIROKO
C'mon! Jump!
BROKEN TUSK looks down. It's a long drop...but it's the best option
available to him. He jumps.
THWACK! His hands grip the door frame. The heli-jet wobbles slightly,
it's center of gravity shifting. BROKEN TUSK hauls himself up and
through the door as...
...KER-BLAM! A massive explosion mushrooms up from the base as the
storage tanks below ignite. The shock wave buffets the chopper against
the tower.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK's P.O.V.
The grinning face of the young QUEEN gets suddenly closer as the heli-
jet is propelled towards the metal structure.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - NAVIGATION TOWER - PRE-DAWN
CRUNCH! The chopper hits, knocking several ALIENS from their
handholds. One of the QUEEN's arms SHOOTS OUT, wrapping itself around
the port engine mount.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO pushes on the stick. The heli-jet pulls away...then tilts
violently to one side, engines desperately trying to compensate.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PRE-DAWN
The QUEEN is hanging from the beleaguered craft, it's weight drawing it
slowly down. In the BACKGROUND, the Navigation Tower begins to slowly
collapse.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO wrestles the overtaxed controls.
HIROKO
Shit!
BROKEN TUSK turns towards her.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
In the back! In the back!
The PREDATOR may not understand her words, but he can follow the
frantic jerking of her hand. He twists around to look in the chopper's
rear.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO pilots the heli-jet over the station's storage tanks. The
conflagration below has gotten completely out-of-hand.
EXT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
The QUEEN is starting to struggle up, it's arms flailing for purchase.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
BROKEN TUSK pulls out a pulse-rifle from the rear. He quickly takes
stock of it.
HIROKO
Watch your shots! If you hit the engine you'll blow us both to hell!
BROKEN TUSK goes for the trigger. His index finger won't slide into
the trigger guard...it's too big! He takes the guard in both hands and
exerts pressure. SNAP. Problem solved.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
BLEEP! There's only one set of digits left on the destruct device's
display counter.
EXT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
A red dot of light runs across the QUEEN's head. She must sense it
somehow. Her head comes round to bear...
BROKEN TUSK's got the pulse-rifle trained right on her.
BROKEN TUSK
Chew...on...this...!
BLAM! A round open a nice, neat hole in the QUEEN's head. She YOWLS.
BLAM! A second round does the job. The QUEEN relinquishes her grip and
falls, SCREECHING all the way down into the raging inferno below.
INT. RYUSHI STATION - SEWER SYSTEM - PUMP CHAMBER
The last segment of the destruct mechanism's display disappears. We
hear a
HIGH-PITCHED TONE.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO throws the joystick forward.
EXT. RYUSHI STATION - PRE-DAWN
The heli-jet accelerates hell-for-leather away. An incandescent BALL
OF ENERGY expands outward, vaporising the station and most of the
surrounding bayou for about a mile's radius.
EXT. LINSON'S RANGE - ENCAMPMENT - PRE-DAWN
Big Bertha's parked by the blinking blue beacon tower, site of the ill-
fated hunting expedition. About a dozen or so people are milling
around, smoking cigarettes or talking.
MATT and DE VRIES are leaning against the wheels of MATT's crawler.
They feel the concussive shock-wave, and look upward.
Their P.O.V.
Above the treetops, a blinding white-light BLURS OUT the horizon...
MATT
Holy shit!
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
Gauges and other instruments are going crazy as the heli-jet rides the
turbulence out.
EXT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
A chunk of metal is propelled through the air and RIPS into the
chopper's starboard engine. There's a BURST of flame, then the
extinguishers cut in.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
The heli-jet's bucking like a bronco now, and they're losing height
rapidly.
HIROKO
We've lost the starboard engine! We're going down! Hold on!
EXT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
The chopper clips the tree boughs, and bounces.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO and BROKEN TUSK are hurled around the cockpit like rag dolls.
The glass cracks with the impact.
HIROKO'S P.O.V.
Leaves, twigs, and branches rush past as the heli-jet breaks through
the canopy of foliage.
EXT. SWAMP - PRE-DAWN
The heli-jet PLOUGHS into the swamp floor with a sickening CRUNCH,
spraying mud all around.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
The canopy implodes. A hail of glass shards RIP through the cockpit,
spraying across HIROKO and cutting her skin. She SCREAMS.
EXT. SWAMP - PRE-DAWN
The chopper comes to rest in the swamp. The SQUAWKING of the local
WILDLIFE O.S. gradually dies down.
INT. CHOPPER - PRE-DAWN
HIROKO moves her head, and GROANS. There's a nasty gash across her
forehead. She turns to BROKEN TUSK. The door frame on his side is
buckled and twisted. Part of the metal has sheared off, it's sharp end
impaling him through the shoulder. The PREDATOR coughs luminous green
blood.
HIROKO
We've gotta get you out of here.
EXT. SWAMP - DAWN
The sun begins to rise as HIROKO exits the heli-jet and goes around to
the other side. She manages to get the mangled door open. BROKEN
TUSK's wound looks even worse up-close.
HIROKO (CONT'D)
Hold on. This is gonna hurt some.
HIROKO gets her arm under BROKEN TUSK's shoulder. The PREDATOR braces
himself, and starts to move. The agony is excruciating; his mandibles
open and he lets out a LEONINE ROAR.
HIROKO helps him out of the seat. The PREDATOR gets unsteadily to his
feet. What happens next is totally unexpected.
BROKEN TUSK's throat BURSTS, fountaining green blood. Shocked, HIROKO
gets out of the path of the PREDATOR's tumbling mass. She looks up.
The ALIEN stowaway on the roof of the chopper retracts it's
sledgehammer tongue, it's head following her movements.
The PREDATOR's 'smart' weapon has dropped to the floor and is laying
blade-down in the mire. HIROKO scoops up, activating it and scrambling
away. She gets to her feet and holds the HUMMING disc before her.
The ALIEN climbs warily down from the heli-jet, and the two opponents
face each other like sumo wrestlers. HIROKO assumes a defensive
stance, holding the disc ready to strike. The ALIEN hisses, it's tail
stinger coming around. It leaps for her, and battle is joined. The
ALIEN lashes out, but HIROKO counters by swinging the weapon time and
time again. With each thrust, surgically thin wounds open up on the
biomechanoid's body. One of the ALIEN's attacks sends her reeling to
the floor, it's stinger arching towards her. She parries, slicing the
tail in half and struggling to her feet.
The ALIEN strikes again. HIROKO feints, then thrusts, lopping off one
of it's hands. The ALIEN HOWLS with pain, blinding lashing out at her
and sending the 'smart' weapon flying from her grip.
She's lost, and the creature knows it. It's lips curl into a SNARL.
KER-POW! KER-POW! The ALIEN's head DETONATES, and it's skeletal body
slumps forward to SPLASH into the swamp...revealing BROKEN TUSK
pointing the pulse
rifle.
The dying PREDATOR GURGLES, his head drooping. HIROKO stumbles across
to him. BROKEN TUSK's in a bad way, green gore is pulsing freely from
it's throat. It gazes up at HIROKO.
BROKEN TUSK
Not...a pretty...sight...
And with that, the PREDATOR dies.
HIROKO look around. The sun is rising above the treetops, and the
setting is serene. Somehow beautiful.
The speakers in the heli-jet cabin CRACKLE to life, jarring her.
VOICE (O.S., on speakers)
Rimward Tracking Station, this is the one thirty-second Rim Corp
Battalion operating out of the cruiser Tartarus from Fort Powell.
Please respond. Over.
There's a sound O.S., like a THUNDERCLAP. HIROKO surveys the horizon.
HIROKO's P.O.V.
A pair of MARINE DROPSHIPS float above the distant rainforest, their
weapons arms unfurled like exotic armed insects. Searchlights probe the
ground far below.
A shadow falls over HIROKO, blocking out the sun. A monstrous SHAPE
occupies the air above, delineated only by a telltale vibration. The
PREDATOR shuttlecraft lowers it's cloaking device, extending landing
gear and a ramp. It touches down in the bayou with scarcely a whisper.
HIROKO watches the PREDATORS file slowly out. BROKEN TUSK's body is
borne aloft and carried back inside. The LEAD PREDATOR turns to
HIROKO. He crosses to her. HIROKO's face is reflected in the faceted
eyepieces of the PREDATOR's helmet.
The extraterrestrial hunter pulls out his telescopic spear. KER-CHUNK!
The tips lock into place. The PREDATOR offers it to HIROKO. She
accepts, a little confused.
There's a long moment. The PREDATOR is still standing there. Waiting.
HIROKO's eyes narrow. Her mind is working furiously. What do they
want?
She realises. It suddenly becomes clear. She smiles.
HIROKO
Yeah. Why not.
HIROKO glances back at the hovering DROPSHIPS, then walks around the
waiting PREDATOR and into the shuttlecraft without looking back.
The PREDATOR follows her. The ramp SLAMS closed, as we...
CUT TO BLACK
THE END
