BROKEN ARROW
Written by
Graham Yost
FOURTH DRAFT
March 7, 1995
FADE IN:
A FIST HITS A FACE
The fist is in a boxing glove. It belongs to VIC DEAKINS, 38.
The face belongs to RAWLEY HALE, 28. They are in...
INT. GYMNASIUM, WHITEMAN AFB - DAY
Hale and Deakins are sparring in a ring. Other people are
lifting weights, shooting baskets.
IN THE RING
Hale and Deakins circle each other. Hale is shaking cobwebs out
of his head.
DEAKINS
You know what happened there?
HALE
Hell, I barely know what day it is.
DEAKINS
I set you up. I fake right, go
left three times in a row. You
expect it again, I take the right
in hard. That's what boxing's all
about. Make your opponent think
you're gonna do one thing, then do
another. Like Ali in Zaire, using
the rope-a-dope on Foreman.
(mimes rope-a-dope)
Everyone thought Ali's arms were
getting destroyed, when he was
really just letting Foreman tire
himself out. Eighth round, Ali
starts hitting, George's got
nothing left -- fight's over.
HALE
The fact that I can't feel the
left side of my face -- that's
okay, right?
Deakins laughs. Hale seizes the relaxed moment and suddenly
launches into Deakins with a flurry of punches.
THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE GYM
Take notice -- the fight is getting real. They move to the ring.
DEAKINS
Several of Hale's punches land. Deakins staggers back, caught
off guard. It looks like he might even go down.
2.
HALE
He cocks his arm back. He could finish Deakins off. But he
doesn't. He drops his fist.
DEAKINS
Seizes the opportunity and slugs back.
THE CROWD
Loves it.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Now Deakins has the upperhand. He backs Hale around the ring.
DEAKINS
Don't watch my hands -- watch my
shoulders. That's where the punch
starts. Ready?
Deakins hits Hale hard in the face, sending him back.
THE SPECTATORS
Are circling the ring, following the fighters, cheering.
HALE AND DEAKINS
DEAKINS
You were looking at my hands.
Let's try it again. Ready?
Deakins hits Hale hard. He's got Hale on the run.
DEAKINS
Come on. Focus. Ready?
(PUNCH)
My shoulders. Ready?
Deakins fakes left, puts everything into one big uppercut. It
connects.
HALE
Lands, dazed, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth.
DEAKINS
He's in silhouette, the lights above him.
HALE
Looks up at Deakins, catches his breath.
3.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Deakins offers his hand. Hale pushes it aside. Deakins ignores
Hale, grabs him and helps him to his feet. Deakins climbs out
of the ring between the ropes.
Hale grabs the top rope and flips himself over, landing on his
feet. Deakins gives Hale a look, laughs, shakes his head.
INT. SHOWERS
Hale lets the water rinse the blood off his face.
INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY
Hale and Deakins are sitting on the bench between their lockers,
getting into their flightsuits, pulling on boots. Deakins is
smoking a cigarette. The smoke curls up into the light slanting
down across the room from high windows.
HALE'S LOCKER
Is in sunlight. On the inside of his locker door are pictures
of exotic planes -- the SR-71, a swept-wing fighter, an artist's
rendition of the Aurora, etc.
DEAKINS' LOCKER
On the shady side of the room. Nothing on the inside of his
locker door. The locker is spare, Zen-like in its neatness.
HALE
Here.
HALE'S HAND
Slams a twenty dollar bill down on the bench.
DEAKINS
I can't take that.
HALE
Oh, shut up.
DEAKINS
Really. I feel bad. How many times
have we fought and how many times
have you won?
HALE
Jerk.
DEAKINS
Well, if you insist.
Deakins grins, folds the bill and jams it into his flightsuit.
4.
DEAKINS
You know why I beat you?
HALE
Because you've been boxing for
twenty years and you're much
better at it than I am?
DEAKINS
You don't want it enough. You had
me today. I was back on my heels.
But you didn't close the door.
HALE
We were just sparring.
DEAKINS
Life isn't sparring, Hale.
HALE
I think I saw that on a T-shirt.
Deakins pulls out the twenty dollar bill; hands it back to Hale.
DEAKINS
Here.
HALE
No, that's yours.
DEAKINS
If you weren't giving it
everything you've got, then I
don't want it.
HALE
No, I mean -- that's yours,
literally. I took it out of your
wallet when you were in the shower.
Deakins laughs, puts the money away.
EXT. WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE - DUSK
Planes taxiing, vehicles moving.
INT. WHITEMAN MISSION BRIEFING ROOM
Deakins and Hale enter to find GENERAL BOONE, 50s.
DEAKINS/HALE
General.
5.
BOONE
Gentlemen.
(nods at NO SMOKING
SIGN)
Deak?
DEAKINS
Sorry.
(puts out cigarette)
What's the mission, General?
BOONE
Simulate a border penetration. Hug
the ground. Scare some cows. See
if anyone can spot you.
HALE
The usual ...?
BOONE
No, actually, it's a little
unusual. You're carrying a couple
of nukes tonight, fellas.
(off their looks)
Palmdale's afraid low-level gamma
and x-ray diffusion might screw up
the peripherals. They asked us to
send a couple on a run, see if
anything glows.
HALE
'61s?
BOONE
(shakes head)
Big ones. '83s.
HALE
Ooh. Crowpleasers.
INT. HANGAR
A BOMB TRUCK carrying two B-83 nuclear weapons drives under the
wing of a big, black plane, toward the open bomb bays. GROUND
CREWMEN are hurrying about.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Enter and walk under the plane, nodding to the ground crew. Hale
and Deakins are royalty. Deakins and Hale climb up the
airplane's Crew Entry steps and disappear.
INT. COCKPIT
Hale and Deakins climb into a very strange cockpit. There are
two pilots' seats in this plane, with duplicate controls.
6.
But instead of the usual dials and gauges on the control panels,
there are FOUR COMPUTER SCREENS in front of each pilot. Hale
gets into the left seat; Deakins the right. They review
information on their screens, flip switches.
INTERCUT WITH BOMBS
Being loaded into the bomb bays. When they've been clamped into
place in the rotary bomb racks...
DEAKINS
(into helmet mike)
Ready for rollout.
INT./EXT. HANGAR
Alarm horns sound, wheels roll on track and the huge hangar
doors open revealing...
THE GHOST
An enormous black flying wing.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins looks at maps on his computer screens. Hale looks over,
sees the map of Utah.
HALE
You know, these exercises are
fantastic. I mean, when that day
comes and we finally go to war
against Utah, we are really going
to kick ass.
CUT TO:
EXT. CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH - NIGHT
Bright moonlight shows a campfire burning at the edge of an
escarpment, the Colorado River a thousand feet below. Near the
campfire is an Army surplus tent. Next to it, an easel holds a
painting in progress.
A PARK RANGER TRUCK
Drives up, stops. The driver's door open, and out gets...
A RANGER
We don't see his face in the dark. He switches on a flashlight,
walks over and taps on the tent.
RANGER
Park Ranger. I'd like to talk to
somebody about this fire.
7.
We hear a man and a woman -- JIM and WANDA, 60s -- wake up.
JIM (O.S.)
Wha--? Oh, hell.
WANDA (O.S.)
I'll talk to him, Jim.
JIM (O.S.)
Wanda, you stay put.
Jim comes out of the tent, the ranger's light in his face.
JIM
I know -- no wood fires in the
Park. It's just -- Wanda's got a
cold and I wanted her to stay warm.
RANGER
Sir, you see any other hikers,
campers anywhere around here?
JIM
Not this time of year. What's the
fine for something like this?
RANGER
Your life.
Jim grins. But the ranger pulls out a pistol and shoots Jim,
who falls into the fire. He then puts three shots through the
wall of the tent. Nothing moves. The Ranger -- call him
BAKER -- pulls out a walkie-talkie, clicks on.
BAKER
Done.
HEADLIGHTS
Come on and two Humvees roll in and four men get out. Three of
them -- JOHNSON, a tech-whiz; LETT, gangly, grim, and NOVACEK,
a wiry guy in a baseball cap -- start setting up what looks to
be a high-tech missile launcher. The fourth man is...
MR. PRITCHETT
A neatly groomed man, 40s, with a perpetually sour attitude. He
looks like -- and is -- a lawyer.
PRITCHETT
(to Baker, re: Jim in
FIRE)
Jesus. Do you think maybe you
could get him out of the fire?
Unless you like that smell.
8.
EXT. THE NIGHT SKY
The Ghost flies overhead, roaring.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins and Hale check their screens.
DEAKINS
(thinks of something)
Weren't you going to call Taylor
today about the Aurora Project?
HALE
Yeah. Turns out he wants people
with more fighter hours.
DEAKINS
What'd you say?
HALE
What could I say?
DEAKINS
Jesus. You are such a pussy. You
never fight for anything.
Hale is stung. Pissed, he goes on the offensive.
HALE
Yeah, well you know what your
problem is?
DEAKINS
Because I said what your problem
is, you're gonna--?
HALE
You fight too much.
(Deakins look at him)
Right? You said it yourself --
you should be at least Wing
Commander by now. Maybe you would
be if you didn't insist on telling
people what they're doing wrong
all the time.
DEAKINS
I'm usually right though, aren't I?
Hale shakes his head, grins. Deakins clicks on his mike.
DEAKINS
Ghost 7 to McMurran. Hey,
Wilkins, you old bag of dirt, your
boys in Utah still awake?
9.
EXT. MCMURRAN AIR FORCE BASE - UTAH
Establishing shot of McMurran Air Force Base.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Jammed with MEN looking at radar screens and computer monitors.
COLONEL WILKINS, 50s, seen it all, talks over a headset.
WILKINS
Ready and waiting, Mr. Deakins.
And tell our favorite hotshot,
he's not gonna lose us tonight.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins covers his mike, turns to Hale.
DEAKINS
Wilkins says you won't lose them
tonight.
HALE
Tell Colonel Wilkins I could fly
this puppy up his ass without him
knowing.
DEAKINS
(grins, shakes his
head; into helmet
MIKE)
Hale says ... if anyone can catch
him it'd be you.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
CU RADAR SCREEN
The Ghost makes a prominent blip on the screen.
WILKINS
Everyone get a fix! They're about
to turn out the lights!
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins turns to Hale.
DEAKINS
Ready, Major?
HALE
On your word.
DEAKINS
Go to war.
10.
CLOSE ON CONTROL PANEL - THREE BUTTONS
The left, labeled TAKE OFF, is lighted. The other two buttons
are MISSION and LANDING. Hale pushes MISSION.
THE COCKPIT
everything goes quiet.
EXT. NIGHT SKY
The plane's running lights go out. The roar of the engines
quickly drops to a low rushing sound. The plane in in full
stealth mode.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
CU RADAR SCREEN
The Ghost's blip disappears.
WILKINS
Lost 'em on active! Who's still
got 'em?
IR CREWMAN
Got their heat signature, sir.
(points to computer
SCREEN)
Their engines may be cold, but the
air is colder.
CU COMPUTER SCREEN
Half of the screen shows a waveform, like a voiceprint. The
other half shows a triangle moving across a map of Colorado.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins studies the maps on the computer screens.
DEAKINS
Descend to 400 feet AGL. River
valley approach.
HALE
Airspeed lock at point-seven Mach.
Blue line descent on throttle to
400 feet AGL.
Hale pulls back on the throttle. The plane descends.
HALE
Time to limbo down. How low can
we go.
11.
EXT. NIGHT SKY
The Ghost drops away from us, a stark black cut-out against the
moonlit Colorado landscape. The Colorado River is a winding
silver ribbon five miles below.
EXT. CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH - NIGHT
A PARK RANGER TRUCK
Driving along the blacktop. The driver is not Baker. It's...
TERRY CARMICHAEL
Pretty, late 20s. Her radio squawks.
CLYDE (V.0.)
Terry? You been through the
Needles entrance tonight?
TERRY
(grabs mike, answers)
No. Why?
CLYDE (V.0.)
Mrs. Parker called --
TERRY
Oh, God. What is it this time?
UFO abduction? Ritual human
sacrifice?
CLYDE (V.0.)
She said she saw a bunch of trucks
going through the Needles entrance
an hour ago and thought they
looked suspicious.
TERRY
Yes, well, this is a woman who
chopped off one of her own fingers
because it'd "turned on her."
CLYDE (V.0.)
Thing is, she said one of the
trucks was ours, and you're the
only one out.
TERRY
(arches eyebrow)
She was probably hallucinating,
but I'll check it out.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER VALLEY - THIRTY MILES UP RIVER
We feel the Ghost before we hear it. It rushes over, close to
the river, below the ridgelines on either side of the valley.
12.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
The triangle representing the Ghost disappears from a computer
screen.
IR CREWMAN
Lost 'em.
WILKINS
Stay on it. They're gonna have to
come up for air sooner or later.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins reads his computer screens.
DEAKINS
We're under the radar. Proceed to
primary target.
Hale hits a button, lets go of the stick -- they're on
autopilot. It's a moment of peace. Hale looks out.
HALE
I tell people I became a pilot
because I wanted to fly cool
planes. It's also for this. When
we're up here, I feel... closer
... I don't know.
DEAKINS
To God? Is that what you're going
to say? That you feel closer to
God up here?
(SNORTS)
Hell, Hale, with the payload we're
carrying, we are God.
Deakins notices something odd on his screen. He checks between
the screen and what he can see through the windshield.
DEAKINS
Hale, take a look out your side.
I think our terrain following is
off. It's got us two klicks from
the left flank ridge.
Hale turns to look out the window on his side.
HALE'S POV
Looking out the window. There's some movement in the reflection
in the glass. QUICK PULL FOCUS to see, distorted in the curve
of the window, Deakins reaching inside his flight suit.
13.
HALE
Turns his head back toward Deakins.
HALE
Deak, you can't smoke in here --
But then Hale sees it's not a cigarette that Deakins is pulling
out of his flight suit. It's shiny, metal. It's...
A GUN
And Deakins levels it right at Hale's head and his finger starts
to squeeze the trigger.
HALE
Grabs Deakins' hand, pushing up as...
DEAKINS
Pulls the trigger and the gun FIRES.
HALE
The bullet cuts a line through the top of his helmet, punching
a hole in the window by his head.
DEAKINS AND HALE
Deakins goes for another shot, but Hale grabs the gun and pushes
up, sending bullets through the ceiling of the plane, into the
walls. Deakins forces the gun down, fires.
THE BULLET
Tears through Hale's harness, blowing apart a shoulder strap.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Hale brings Deakins' gun hand hard against Hale's own helmet.
Deakins yowls and the gun goes flying. Then Hale sees something.
THE PLANE
Is banking towards a ridge-line cliff wall.
HALE
Sees it, yanks on the stick.
THE PLANE
Banks hard away from the cliff, just missing.
14.
EXT. CANYONLANDS
Baker gives a sign. Johnson, standing beside the missile
launcher-like device, hits a button. Instead of a missile, a
brilliant light shoots out.
INT. COCKPIT
ARMAMENTS CONTROL BUTTONS
Buttons include ONE, TWO, LOCK, LEFT, RIGHT, OPEN, CLOSE, ARM
and RELEASE. Deakins presses ONE and TWO, then RIGHT.
HALE
No!
He pulls at Deakins' arms.
CU COMPUTER SCREENS
Graphics of bomb racks rotate, the B-83 nukes -- labeled and
glowing red -- move into the bottom spot. The word RELEASE
appears on the screen. Next to it, the word UNARMED flashes.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Deakins hits Hale with the back of his hand, knocking him back.
Hale grabs Deakins' helmet, yanks it off his head and smashes
Deakins back with it. Hale keys the armament buttons.
CU COMPUTER SCREENS
The nukes rotate out of the release position. RELEASE and
UNARMED disappear.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Deakins grabs a fire extinguisher, swings it, getting Hale in
the face. Hale is almost knocked out, blood running from his
nose.
EXT. PARK - NEEDLES AREA
Terry is standing by her truck, talking on the radio.
TERRY
Clyde, tell Mrs. Parker that
there's nothing weird going on. No
truck, no UFOs, and, except for
the odd human head on a stick, no
sign of Satan.
She feels it before she hears it or sees it.
15.
THE GHOST
Rushes over Terry, no more than fifty feet above the ground. The
jet-wash rocks the truck, almost knocks Terry down.
TERRY
Holy shit.
INT. COCKPIT
Hale groggy, hears a loud click. He looks down to see...
DEAKINS' HAND
AUTO to MANUAL. Deakins grabs Hale's EJECTION HANDLE.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Hale tries to push the handle down as Deakins pulls it up as...
EXT. THE GHOST
Heads into the beacon light.
INT. COCKPIT
Hale and Deakins look at each other as the plane enters the
light and the light, in SLOW MOTION, washes across their faces.
DEAKINS
Suddenly lets go of Hale's hand, then hits Hale hard under the
chin with the fire extinguisher.
HALE
His head snaps back as Deakins pulls.
HALE'S EJECTION SEAT HANDLE
Pop, hiss like a huge vacuum-sealed can is being opened.
EXT. ABOVE GHOST
The ejection hatch blows and is ripped away by the wind.
HALE'S POV
As he rockets up out of the cockpit.
HALE
When the chute opens, he almost spills out because of the
severed shoulder harness. He grabs the straps, holds on.
16.
EXT. ON THE GROUND
Terry, on the radio with Clyde.
TERRY
Somebody ejected!
INT. COCKPIT
Debris -- coffee cups, flight bags, anything not nailed down --
is whipping around the inside of the cabin. Deakins reaches
through the maelstrom, then reaches to the ARMAMENT BUTTONS and
punches them.
INT. BOMB BAYS
The the clamps snap back and the two B-83s drop toward the earth.
INT. COCKPIT
Deakins looks around, then gets an idea. He hits the LANDING
mission mode button and the cockpit lights up.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
The Ghost starts popping up on everyone's screens. There's a
chorus of "I got em!" and "They're ba-a-a-ck!" Wilkins looks at
a screen, puzzled.
WILKINS
They're not due for another
halfhour.
INT. GHOST COCKPIT
Deakins yells into his helmet mike as he gets ready to eject.
DEAKINS
(into helmet mike)
This is Deakins! Hale lost it!
I have to punch out!
Deakins pulls his second handle. BLAM! WHOOSH! He's gone. He
hear and feel the plane dropping, screaming toward the earth.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
CU RADAR SCREEN
The Ghost's blip suddenly disappears from the screen. A chorus
of "What the hell?" and "Jesus."
WILKINS
That's not good.
17.
EXT. MCMURRAN RUNWAY
Alarm horns blare. FIVE MEN are running to a waiting Blackhawk
helicopter. Waving the men on is Wilkins. The last man up is...
LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAM RHODES
40s, short grey hair: he could snap your neck with a look.
Wilkins pats Rhodes on the shoulder and Rhodes jumps into...
THE HELICOPTER
And it lifts up and flies off.
EXT. CANYONLANDS
Hale lies, unconscious, his parachute whipping in the wind.
INT./EXT. SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTER/DESERT
The helicopter glides over wind-whipped sand, searchlights on.
Rhodes sits with MCKELLAR, the pilot. Lieutenants KELLY, REED
and THOMAS are in the back.
IN THE SAND
Something glints in the searchlights but the helicopter moves on.
RHODES
Hold it. Come back.
The lights sweep back, find...
THE TIP OF BLACK WING
Sticking out of the sand.
CUT TO:
EXT. PENTAGON - NIGHT
Establishing shot.
INT. PENTAGON - SITUATION ROOM
AKA "The War Room." Phones, faxes, computers, TV monitors,
backlit maps and coffee. Present are GENERALS (including Air
Force General CREELEY), the CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF (CHAIRMAN) and ASSISTANTS, all in uniform. They turn as...
BAIRD
Enters. Baird, 60s, is the White House Chief of Staff. His
assistant stays in the b.g. as Baird walks in.
18.
BAIRD
So, do I wake the President?
CHAIRMAN
Where is he -- Las Vegas?
BAIRD
(NODS)
Computer convention. Some
information superhighway crap.
CHAIRMAN
Let him sleep for now.
(hands Baird a piece
of paper)
We're going out with this. Rick's
team prepared it.
The chairman nods toward RICK. Baird reads, mumbling.
BAIRD
"United States Air Force ...
regrets to announce ... C-130
heavy-lift cargo plane ... down
over the Utah desert ... status of
crew not determined at this time
... yadda yadda ... Nice bullshit,
Rick.
Baird hands it to Rick, who starts for the door.
GILES (O.S.)
That's a mistake.
The room quiets. All eyes on...
GILES
Baird's intensely competent assistant.
BAIRD
Giles ...?
GILES
Aviation Week has been following
this plane's development for
years. They have stringers who
spend their vacations sitting in
lawnchairs all night long by the
Whiteman perimeter fence just in
case one of these things takes
off. The boys in those lawnchairs
know one took off tonight. They're
going to know when it doesn't come
back.
(MORE)
19.
GILES (cont'd)
And when we put out a press
release saying a C-130 went down
in Utah, they're going to put two
and two together. Aviation week
will run a story, everyone'll know
what really happened and we're
going to look real stupid.
(BEAT)
We might as well tell the truth.
BAIRD
(mock shock)
The truth? How the hell did you
get this job?
A few chuckles in the room. Baird looks at the Chairman --
well? The Chairman thinks for a second, nods. Baird turns to
Rick.
BAIRD
Rewrite it. What Giles just said.
Rick grits his teeth and hurries out. Baird looks at Giles.
BAIRD
I want you in Utah. Now.
Giles nods, heads out. Baird grabs his arm.
BAIRD
You scare me sometimes.
GILES
Hell, sir. Sometimes I scare
myself.
And out Giles goes.
EXT. GHOST CRASH SITE
Rhodes and his men are on the ground. Wind is whipping the
sand. Rhodes is walking under part of the wing that is exposed.
He's yelling into a headset microphone.
RHODES
(into mike)
Cockpit's empty! We're checking
the payload!
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Wilkins talks to Rhodes over the radio.
WILKINS
Watch your needles!
20.
EXT. GHOST CRASH SITE
Rhodes walks up to his men who are in the process of opening the
bomb bay doors manually. The doors are open a foot. Rhodes
signals his men to stop. Rhodes steps up, shines a light into
the bomb bays.
INSIDE BOMB BAYS
Rhodes' light plays over the bomb racks -- empty.
RHODES
(into headset mike)
Colonel?
(takes breath)
We've got ourselves a Broken Arrow.
INT.PENTAGON - SITUATION ROOM
Stunned silence. They've just gotten the news. Baird doesn't
know what it means.
BAIRD
Broken Arrow?
CHAIRMAN
That's what we call it when we
lose a nuclear weapon.
BAIRD
Oh, Jesus.
(thinks, shakes head)
I don't know what's scarier --
losing nuclear weapons or the fact
that it happens so often that you
people have a term for it.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Wilkins is on the radio with Rhodes.
WILKINS
Find the nukes, Sam. But be
careful. I know they say those
eggs can't be cracked, but if your
geigers pick up more rads than
you'd get off a toaster, I want
you out of there.
Wilkins to the CORPORAL.
WILKINS
Get the teams in. I want Colonel
Rhodes and his men backed up.
21.
INT. PENTAGON SITUATION ROOM
CU COMPUTER SCREEN
Various views of a B-83 nuclear weapon. Creeley is briefing
Baird on the nukes.
BAIRD
They dropped from a plane but they
didn't go off...?
CREELEY
They have to be armed to detonate.
BAIRD
Then they're destroyed?
CREELEY
(shakes head)
They're designed to survive
crashes intact. They can lie in
a pool of burning jet fuel for
five hours without any problem.
BAIRD
How did this happen?
CREELEY
In his last transmission, Colonel
Deakins said Major Hale lost
control. He probably hit weapons
release by accident. Believe me,
when a plane's auguring in, you
start pushing every button you can.
Baird stands, looks at a picture of a Ghost shakes his head.
BAIRD
Hell, we should take the cost of
the plane out of major Hale's
salary. Although I guess at two
billion dollars a pop, that could
take a while.
EXT. CANYONLANDS - DAWN
Hale is still unconscious, lying beside his parachute. There's
the crunch of footsteps and a FIGURE looms over Hale. The figure
reaches down to touch Hale's shoulder and...
HALE
Spins, grabs the shirt of the figure and cocks his arm about to
punch. He hesitates when he sees it's...
22.
TERRY
She seizes Hale's hesitation and punches him hard.
HALE AND TERRY
Hale is stunned. Terry starts to get up, reaching for her gun.
Hale strikes out with a leg, getting Terry in the gut, sending
her back. She hits the ground, still struggling for her gun.
Hale gets up, runs, sprinting off over the rocky terrain.
HIS POV
Jarring, racing over rock and then...
HALE
Pulls up fast, almost not fast enough.
HALE'S POV
He's stopped right at the edge of a fifty foot drop.
TERRY (O.S.)
That would be the wrong way.
TERRY
Is walking slowly, calmy, up behind Hale, pistol out.
TERRY
Turn around.
HALE
(TURNING)
Look, I --
TERRY
(not interested)
Gimme your hands.
Hale sticks his hands behind him. Terry handcuffs them.
HALE
I'm going to tell you something I
can't tell you.
Terry puts away her gun, spins Hale around and starts marching
him off.
HALE
There were nuclear weapons on that
plane. The guy I was flying with
is trying to steal them.
Terry reacts to that, but keeps Hale moving.
23.
HALE
I have to stop him, and I need
your help.
TERRY
(STOPS)
Look, pal, all I know is, I saw
you come down, I come in to help
you and you grab me, kick me and
run away.
HALE
I only ran because you punched me.
TERRY
What, we're ten years old now?
"You started it. No you started
it."
HALE
He has men on the ground. I --
TERRY
Save it. My dog's waiting for his
breakfast.
Terry starts to push Hale along again and...
HALE
Jumps up and through the handcuffs.
TERRY
Reaches for her revolver, but...
HALE
Grabs it from her, puts it to-her head, but not before...
TERRY
Whips a knife from her belt and puts it under Hale's chin.
HALE AND TERRY
Don't move. A beat while they catch their breath.
HALE
This isn't a stand-off, okay? I've
got a gun.
TERRY
Yeah, well, I never keep my gun
loaded.
Terry taps her belt.
24.
CLOSE ON HER BELT
A line of bullets.
HALE AND TERRY
Terry holds out her hand. Hale lets the revolver swing down on
his finger. Just as Terry takes it...
HALE
Moves fast, grabs Terry's knife hand, then kicks her legs out
from under her. Hale lands on top of her, still holding her
knife hand, putting the knife to her throat.
HALE
I'm telling you the truth.
TERRY
This is a good way to convince me.
HALE
I could kill you now. Right?
Terry nods, bewildered and more than a little scared.
Hale lets go of Terry's hand holding the knife.
HALE
I need your help.
Terry looks at Hale for a long moment. She's still holding the
knife. She exhales, then sticks the knife in the dirt.
INT./EXT. HELICOPTER
The helicopter flies low. Rhodes looks at a device on his lap.
ON THE DEVICE'S SCREEN
Green, like a radar screen. It's blank, and then two dots
appear on the outer edge of the screen.
RHODES
Got 'em!
EXT. CANYONLANDS
Terry unlocks Hale's handcuffs.
TERRY
I've got a radio in the truck. We
can call McMurran and get the
Marines in here.
25.
HALE
(shakes head)
Deakins'll be monitoring any radio
transmissions out of here.
(off her look)
That's what I'd do.
TERRY
Who is this guy?
HALE
(a flash of the
horrible betrayal he
FEELS)
Someone I would've trusted with my
life.
(BEAT)
You've gotta get to a phone.
TERRY
Me? What are you going to do?
(no answer, she
REALIZES)
Wait. You're gonna go after this
guy? Isn't he going to have a lot
guns and shit? I don't want to
sound insulting or anything, but
... you're just a pilot.
HALE
I don't have any choice. The
nukes are my responsibility.
Besides...
(pulls something from
POCKET)
I do have one thing going for me.
TERRY
What's that?
Hale sticks...
A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL
Under a rock.
HALE
The last thing in the world he
expects is for me to come after
him.
Hale walks off into the light of the rising sun. Terry looks at
the $20 bill.
EXT. CREVICE SITE
The helicopter is parked at the edge of a deep crevice.
26.
DOWN IN THE CREVICE
Rhodes comes down the last few feet of rope to the bottom of the
crevice. Kelly, Thomas and Reed are waiting, shining lights on
a B-83 lying in the dirt, all in one piece.
RHODES
(into mike)
We've got one intact.
(to his men)
Let's go find the other one.
Rhodes starts off along the bottom of the crevice.
EXT. TOP OF THE CREVICE - BY THE HELICOPTER
McKellar is sitting in the pilot's seat, eating a candy bar. He
turns at the unexpected sound of a truck-driving up.
A HUMVEE
climbs up the slope toward the helicopter.
MCKELLAR
Grabs his rifle, hops out of the helicopter.
NOVACEK AND LETT
Are in the Humvee. Novacek sticks his head out.
NOVACEK
Hey, you guys need any help?
MCKELLAR
It's an Air Force training
exercise, sir. I'm going to have
to ask you to leave.
NOVACEK
Hey, no problem. We just --
LETT
Whips out a silenced rifle and shoots.
MCKELLAR
Barely has time to raise his rifle before he's hit. He drops.
ANOTHER HUMVEE
Drives up fast.
BAKER, JOHNSON AND PRITCHETT
Get out. Johnson wears radio headgear. Pritchett is furious.
27.
NOVACEK
Picks up McKellar's half-eaten candy bar, takes a bite.
BAKER
(to Novacek)
Any sign of Deakins?
Novacek, mouth full, shakes his head.
PRITCHETT
He better be dead.
DEAKINS (O.S.)
Sorry to disappoint you, Mr.
Pritchett.
They all look over to see...
DEAKINS
Walk out of the shadows, smoking a cigarette. While soldierly
with his men, Deakins is courteous and polite with Pritchett.
PRITCHETT
You said nothing would go wrong!
DEAKINS
Well, point of fact, nothing has.
PRITCHETT
You didn't drop the nukes where
you were supposed to!
DEAKINS
Ah, but we always planned on the
search and rescue team finding the
weapons for us, and they have. Mr.
Pritchett, I really have thought
of everything.
Johnson walks up, pointing to his radio headgear.
JOHNSON
Newsflash. Two gunships just left
from McMurran and they're headed
this way.
PRITCHETT
You thought of that?
DEAKINS
That'll take care of itself.
PRITCHETT
What about the other pilot? We
saw him eject.
28.
DEAKINS
You don't have to worry about
Major Hale. He's probably hiding
behind a rock somewhere, praying
I don't find him.
JOHNSON
Someone else might find him.
(off Deakins' look)
A Ranger called her base, said she
saw a pilot come down and was
gonna go look for him.
Deakins thinks it over, turns to Novacek.
DEAKINS
Get ready. You'll go when the
clean-up's done.
Novacek nods, goes to the helicopter.
Ext. Canyonlands - 4wd trail
Hale and Terry are hurrying along a 4WD trail toward Terry's
truck. Terry taken a look at Hale's ripped and torn flightsuit.
TERRY
Is that the new uniform?
HALE
Yeah. Less constricting.
TERRY
The dayshift guy left some work
clothes in the truck. You can
have them if you want.
Hale nods. His feet crunch on something.
TERRY
Don't walk there.
HALE
Don't walk where?
TERRY
On that black stuff. That's
cryptogamic soil. It's very
fragile. One footprint takes
centuries to repair.
HALE
That's a new one. Endangered dirt.
Terry gives Hale a look.
29.
EXT. BOTTOM OF THE CREVICE
Rhodes, Reed, Thomas and Kelly move along the shadowy crevice.
INT. HELICOPTER
Novacek flips switches in the helicopter, getting ready to start
up. Deakins reaches in, flips off a switch marked COM LINK.
EXT. BOTTOM OF CREVICE
Rhodes hears the connection go dead. He taps his headset.
RHODES
Hello? McMurran? Come in.
Suddenly, there's a soft popping sound and Reed drops.
RHODES
Reed? What the --?
Rhodes looks down, sees blood on Reed. Before he can say
another word, there's a fusillade of soft popping sounds as
silenced bullets ricochet off the rock around them. Thomas goes
down.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Silence from the speakers.
WILKINS
Sam? Sam, are you there? Sam?
EXT. TOP OF CREVICE
Lett aims a sniper's rifle down into the crevice. He flips a
switch and a red laser beam stabs out from the scope.
EXT. BOTTOM OF CREVICE
Rhodes and Kelly are pressed against the crevice wall.
THE RED LASER BEAN
Dances along the wall, heading for them.
RHODES
Raises his pistol and shoots at the source of the laser.
EXT. ATOP THE CREVICE
Lett pitches back, dead.
30.
PRITCHETT AND DEAKINS
Pritchett looks at Deakins -- another part of the plan? Deakins
is unperturbed. He's holding an overnight bag. He unzips it.
EXT. BOTTOM OF THE CREVICE
Rhodes whispers to Kelly.
RHODES
We'll open up the access panels,
put in a couple grenades. The
nukes won't go nuclear, but they
will go dirty. I won't lie and
say we'll be all right. We won't.
But if we're gonna go, might as
well take those bastards with us.
Rhodes scrambles off.
KELLY
Just one thing, sir.
RHODES
(TURNS)
What?
KELLY
This.
Kelly opens fire with his rifle. Rhodes is thrown back, dead.
Kelly yells up top.
KELLY
Done!
Kelly grabs the rope, climbs fast.
EXT. ATOP THE CREVICE
Mr. Pritchett looks at Deakins, surprised. Deakins -- putting
on new clothes -- just grins. Deakins takes...
THE TWENTY DOLLAR BILL
From his flightsuit and puts it into his shirt pocket.
KELLY
Climbs into view.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Kelly's voice comes in over the speaker.
31.
KELLY (V.0.)
(TERRIFIED)
Colonel Wilkins? You there?
WILKINS
Who is this?
KELLY (V.0.)
It's Lieutenant Kelly, sir.
WILKINS
What happened, Kelly?
EXT. ATOP CREVICE
Kelly talks over the helicopter's radio mike. Deakins is behind
him, shaving with an electric shaver.
KELLY
Colonel Rhodes is dead, sir!
They're all dead!
WILKINS (V. 0.)
What happened?
Deakins puts the shaver to the radio mike. There's a wash of 40
static. Deakins pulls the shaver away, nods to Kelly.
KELLY
It's the nuke, sir! It's open!
Wide open! Oh, God, what am I
going to do?!
Deakins puts the shaver to the mike again -- more static. He
reaches into the helicopter and flips off the COM LINK switch,
then backs away, shaving. He nods to Novacek, who fires up the
helicopter.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Wilkins slumps in his chair.
WILKINS
Call back the teams and get me the
Room. We're gonna need NEST in
here.
EXT. CREVICE SITE
Novacek lifts off in the helicopter and flies away.
Deakins turns to Kelly and applauds his performance.
DEAKINS
Brought a tear to my eye.
32.
KELLY
I'd just like to thank the members
of the Academy.
PRITCHETT
(to Deakins)
I hope you've got another surprise
up your sleeve. If I'm not
mistaken, there are two attack
helicopters headed this way.
JOHNSON
Not any longer.
They look at him; he taps his radio headgear.
JOHNSON
They've just been recalled.
DEAKINS
You see, Mr. Pritchett, they think
they've got an exposed core.
They'll want to get a satellite to
take a look, but it'll take ninety
minutes minimum to shift the
orbit. Until then? Well, people
get a little weird when it comes
to radiation. No one'll have the
balls to come near here unless
it's NEST -- the Nuclear Emergency
Search Teams --and it'll take the
nearest team at least two hours to
get out here, and we only need an
hour to reach our connection with
the transport squad.
(GRINS)
Not that I'm not delighted with
your presence, but you really
don't need to be here.
INT./EXT. TERRY'S TRUCK - 4WD TRAIL
Hale and Terry are riding in Terry's truck. Terry drives. Hale
is wearing work clothes. After some silence...
HALE
What's your dog's name?
TERRY
Bear. I was going to call him
Death, so I could say things like,
"I walk with Death," and "Death
chewed my boots," but I chickened
out. You?
HALE
No dog.
33.
TERRY
Do you have a name, or is that
classified?
Before Hale can answer...
THE SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTER
Rises up in front of them, Novacek piloting. Novacek thumbs a
button and machine guns on the sides open up.
TERRY AND HALE
Terry jumps on the brakes. She and Hale bail out as...
THE TRUCK
is riddled with bullets and explodes.
TERRY AND HALE
Sprint up the trail.
HALE
We've gotta hide!
TERRY
Follow me!
Terry leads Hale up a short slope. Hale scrambles over the top
and is stunned. Terry runs out onto an open expanse -- no cover.
HALE
Hide where?
IN THE HELICOPTER
Novacek grins, shoots.
HALE
Looks at the helicopter as the bullets whistle in. When he
turns back, Terry's gone.
HALE
What the --?
TERRY (O.S)
Come on!
Hale runs in the direction of her voice.
NOVACEK'S POV
Aiming at Hale's back. But then Hale suddenly drops from view.
34.
HALE
Arms flailing, drops fifteen feet, to deep sand.
TERRY
This way.
Terry runs. Hale follows.
HALE
How do you --?
TERRY
(looks back, still
RUNNING)
I'm a Ranger. I've been over
these trails a million times.
Not looking, Terry runs straight into a wall, smacks her head
and drops like a rock.
IN THE HELICOPTER
Novacek can't see his prey. He gets an idea and reaches back.
TERRY AND HALE
Terry is trying to get her eyes to focus.
TERRY
Please don't tell anyone I did
that.
IN THE HELICOPTER
Novacek has a box of grenades beside him. He pulls the pin on
a grenade and drops it.
TERRY AND HALE
Hale is helping Terry to her feet as BOOM -- the first grenade
goes off. They run.
THE HELICOPTER
Chases them, strafing them. BOOM! -- a grenade goes off in
front of them. They run back. They're cornered. Hale looks
around, looks up.
HALE
Can you climb up?
TERRY
Yeah ...?
HALE
Give me your gun.
35.
TOP OF CLIFF
Terry climbs up into view of...
NOVACEK
Who sees her.
TERRY
Pull herself up, stands, hands up.
THE HELICOPTER
Novacek swivels the helicopter around.
TERRY
This has nothing to do with me.
NOVACEK
Tell me where he is!
HALE
Is down in the fissure, pointing the revolver straight up at the
helicopter hovering right overhead, figuring out where to shoot.
HALE
Blackhawk ... Moved pilot seat
back a foot ... Puts him right
about ... here.
Hale hesitates -- he's never shot at someone before -- then
takes a breath and starts shooting.
IN THE HELICOPTER
The bullets fly up from below. One hits Novacek. He slumps,
pushing the joystick to one side.
THE HELICOPTER
Starts to lean over sideways.
HALE
Is surprised -- it worked!'
TERRY
Watches in horror as...
THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES
Angle toward her, slicing the air as the helicopter tips over.
36.
TERRY
Dives and rolls over the edge of the cliff as...
THE ROTOR BLADES
Hit the rock, sparking, grinding, right over Terry's head. The
blades stop dead. But the torque of the motor brings...
THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER
Up and over, in a high arc.
TERRY
Looks up.
THE TAIL --SECTION
Is swinging over fast and the tail rotor is coming right for her.
HALE AND TERRY
Hale runs up, grabs Terry, pulls her to her feet as...
THE TAIL SECTION
Swings down, rotor spinning. It digs into the dirt and sand a
split-second after...
HALE AND TERRY
Run clear.
EXT. ATOP CREVICE
Deakins and Pritchett watch a fireball from the exploding
helicopter rise up in the distance.
PRITCHETT
We don't have to worry about the
other pilot?
Deakins shakes his head.
PRITCHETT
Then how come the helicopter
crashed?
DEAKINS
(a flicker of worry)
Pilot error.
Deakins turns and walks away, over to...
37.
BAKER AND KELLY
Who have taken the three-foot, pointed, front section off each
nuke. They are loading them into the back of one Humvee.
Pritchett walks up behind Deakins, still nagging.
PRITCHETT
Tell me again how I don't need to
be here.
DEAKINS
Mr. Pritchett, I understand your
concerns. You and your associates
gave me a lot of money to mount
this operation. But they're
getting ten times that back if we
succeed.
PRITCHETT
If we succeed?
DEAKINS
All I can do is my part. We've
got the weapons, we're ...
(checks watch)
... seventeen minutes ahead of
schedule and everything will be in
place within two hours. But I
can't guarantee that the assholes
in Washington won't do something
stupid like not pay.
PRITCHETT
What if they don't?
DEAKINS
Then the next census for this
region is going to show a very
sudden drop in population.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
Giles enters and is brought over to Wilkins.
GILES
Colonel Wilkins? I'm Giles
Prentice.
(they shake hands)
My word from your search and
rescue team?
WILKINS
No.
38.
GILES
I'm sorry. Picked up any
radiation?
Wilkins shakes his head.
GILES
That's kind of strange -- if
there's an exposed core out there.
WILKINS
Point?
GILES
Probably nothing. I asked for a
transcript of the last cockpit
transmission...?
Wilkins nods to a CORPORAL who hands some papers to Giles. Giles
reads them quickly.
WILKINS
I don't know what you expect to
find.
CU TRANSCRIPTS
We see COLONEL DEAKINS: "This is Deakins! Hale lost it! Oh,
God! I have to punch out!"
GILES
You know these guys? The pilots?
WILKINS
Just on the radio. Never met 'em.
Why?
GILES
(looks up)
What if this wasn't pilot error?
INT. PENTAGON SITUATION ROOM
Baird has put Giles on speaker phone. The people in the
Situation Room exchange looks.
BAIRD
No rhetorical questions, Giles.
Spit it out.
39.
CROSSCUT WITH GILES IN MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
GILES
In the last transmission from the
plane, Colonel Deakins said Major
Hale lost it and made the plane
crash. We all assumed that meant
pilot error. But what if Deakins
meant Hale made the plane crash.
Murmurs of "That's insane" "No way" fill the room.
BAIRD
Why would he do that?
GILES
Two nuclear weapons would be worth
a hell of a lot of money.
CHAIRMAN
To whom? Son, there are easier
ways for someone to buy nuclear
weapons. You go to one of the old
Soviet republics, you can get one
for the price of a BMW.
GILES
I meant they'd be worth a lot of
money to us. How much would we
pay to get them back? To make
sure they weren't used in this
country?
A flurry of looks around the room.
BAIRD
Hold on, hold on.
(to Creeley)
These nukes have codes or
something that prevent people from
using them.
CREELEY
Of course.
BAIRD
No one has these codes -- outside
of the President and you guys.
CREELEY
Access to the codes requires the
highest security --
BAIRD
I mean, not even the pilots have
these codes, right?
40.
Creeley starts to stammer. Baird slumps. The chairman turns.
CHAIRMAN
(to an assistant)
Where's that NEST team now?
ASSISTANT
They just took off.
EXT. NEST HELICOPTER - IN FLIGHT
A sleek, very serious-looking helicopter.
INT. NEST HELICOPTER
SIX very serious-looking SOLDIERS are in black radiation suits,
listening to COLONEL HUNT, 45, over headsets.
HUNT
Listen up, sportsfans. Word is,
this particular broken arrow has
broken open. Our ETA Utah is
ninety-six minutes. I want
everyone to take that time to
triple-check the seams and seals
on their E-suits. Let's go!
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
Giles looks at Wilkins.
GILES
You think I'm nuts. You don't
think NEST or the satellite will
find anything weird.
WILKINS
That's right.
(BEAT)
But it wouldn't hurt to get some
gunships fueled just in case.
Wilkins reaches for a phone. Giles smiles.
EXT. HELICOPTER EXPLOSION SITE
The helicopter wreck burns. Hale looks over the terrain.
HALE
How do they get out of here?
TERRY
Get out? I don't think that
helicopter's going anywhere.
41.
HALE
Deak'd have a back-up. He'd be
prepared.
TERRY
If they've got trucks they could
take the four-wheel-drive trail we
were on.
HALE
He wouldn't want to go towards
town.
TERRY
He could go to the river.
Hale looks at Terry -- that's exactly what Deakins would do.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
The two Humvees roll along the narrow, twisting trail.
IN THE SECOND HUMVEE
Kelly drives, Deakins beside him, Johnson and Pritchett in back.
DEAKINS
You a fan of boxing, Mr. Pritchett?
PRITCHETT
I think it's barbaric.
DEAKINS
Me, too! I love it! Two men
trying to do as much damage to the
other as he can. As basic as you
can get, don't you think?
PRITCHETT
I think it should be banned.
DEAKINS
So do I! God, wouldn't that make
it more exciting? Having to go
into dark alleys and basements to
see a fight? I bet we see eye-to-
eye on a lot of things, Mr.
Pritchett.
Deakins grins; Mr. Pritchett steams.
EXT. CANYONLANDS
Hale and Terry stand on an outcropping overlooking the 4WD trail.
42.
THEIR POV
The two Humvees make their way along the trail.
HALE
See the one in front? It just has
a driver? They wanted to keep the
weight down. It has the nukes.
Hale takes Terry's gun from her.
TERRY
You gonna shoot out the tires?
HALE
Humvees can reseal and inflate
with the flick of a switch. That's
why Deak chose 'em.
Terry looks at Hale -- then what is he going to do?
HALE
I'm gonna steal it.
(checks gun)
You get to a phone and call
McMurran.
TERRY
The nearest phone is a two-hour
walk.
HALE
Then you better start walking.
TERRY
Look, I know my way around here.
You're gonna need me.
HALE
(very serious)
I appreciate what you've done so
far. But now it gets hairy. Go
to the phone.
He scrambles off over the rock.
THE HUMVEES
Come around a corner. The trail hugs the face of a ten-foot-
high cliff. Suddenly, from off the cliff...
HALE AND TERRY
Jump down onto the roof of the lead Humvee. Hale looks at
Terry, angry. But before he can say anything...
43.
IN THE HUMVEE
Baker swerves, trying to throw them off. He pulls out a pistol,
shoots up through the ceiling.
HALE AND TERRY
Bullets punch up. Hale pulls out the gun. It falls from his
hand. Terry grabs it as a sharp swerve sends...
HALE
Flying. He lands hard behind the Humvee.
IN THE SECOND HUMVEE
Deakins points at Hale, getting to his feet.
DEAKINS
Run him down.
HALE
Sprints after the leading Humvee. Deakins' Humvee closes fast.
TERRY
Looks back, sees Hale's predicament.
TERRY
Here!
She slides the pistol along the truck roof.
HALE
Grabs the gun out of the air as...
BAKER
Slams on the brakes.
TERRY
Comes flying off the top, landing on the hood, barely holding on.
HALE
Is going to be crushed between the Humvees. He jumps up,
turning, as the bumpers come together. He lands on the tailgate
facing backwards and fires into Deakins' windshield.
DEAKINS AND KELLY
Kelly ducks below the dash and slams on the brakes but Deakins
doesn't flinch. The bullets bounce off the glass --bulletproof.
44.
IN THE LEAD HUMVEE
Baker sticks his gun out the window and aims at Terry and starts
to pull the trigger when he stops, feeling a gun against the
back of his head.
HALE
Is behind him. Hale gets into the passenger seat.
HALE
Gimme the gun and get out.
BAKER
(SMIRKING)
I don't know. I think we got
ourselves a little stand-off.
HALE
No, we don't.
Hale shoots Baker in the thigh. Baker howls.
TERRY
Reaches forward and grabs Baker's gun as...
HALE
Kicks Baker out of the Humvee.
BAKER
Bad timing for him. He tumbles out, right in front of...
DEAKINS' HUMVEE
And is run over.
HALE
Holds the steering wheel, yells to Terry.
HALE
You drive!
TERRY
Climbs into the Humvee, takes the wheel from Hale. She jams
Baker's gun into her belt.
HALE
I'd yell at you for coming after
me, but you did just save my life.
45.
There's a look between them, then Hale climbs into the back. He
finds what he is looking for -- a jerry can of gasoline and an
emergency tool box.
IN THE SECOND HUMVEE
DEAKINS
What're you doing, Hale?
IN HALE AND TERRY'S HUMVEE
Hale keeps his back to the other Humves. He pulls gaffer's tape
off a roll, tears it with his teeth, grabs...
A FLARE
Out of the tool kit.
IN THE SECOND HUMVEE
KELLY
Maybe he'll set off a nuke. That'd
show us.
BETWEEN THE HUMVEES
Hale tosses the jerry can of gasoline out the back of the Humvee.
THE JERRY CAN OF GASOLINE
Flies through the air. There's a burning flare taped to the
side of the plastic can.
ECU TIP OF FLARE
As the plastic of the can bubbles and melts and...
IN THE SECOND HUMVEE
DEAKINS
Stop!
But it's too late and...
THE JERRY CAN
Explodes.
THE SECOND HUMVEE
Skids to a stop, showered with burning gasoline. Deakins and
his men bail out. Kelly, Johnson and Pritchett run for cover.
DEAKINS
Coolly grabs a fire extinguisher and starts spraying.
46.
IN HALE AND TERRYS HUMVEE
Hale climbs up into the front seat. Terry looks at him,
genuinely impressed.
HALE
We need somewhere to hide.
TERRY
(THINKS)
I know a place.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins keeps spraying the burning Humvee with foam.
EXT. MINE ENTRANCE
Terry and Hale have taken the Humvee to the parking area in
front of an abandoned mine. The winch on the Humvee strains.
The cable is attached to the handles on the padlocked metal
doors. The doors are slowly pulling out, groaning.
TERRY
It was a copper mine, barely
squeaking along for years. They
shut it-down a few months ago when
they hit an underground river.
The hinges on the metal doors buckle and snap and the doors rip
loose. Hale shuts down the winch, unhooks it from the doors.
He motions for Terry to drive it in.
INT. MINESHAFT ENTRANCE
Terry drives the Humvee into the mineshaft entrance. Hale uses
a flashlight to look around. He finds a switch a flips it. A
gas generator comes to life. Another click and lights come on.
Now they can see the rest of the entry area, including a wire-
mesh-enclosed elevator. As Terry looks around, Hale grabs the
Humvee radio, tries to tune in other frequencies, gives up.
HALE
They hardwired in their frequency.
We can't call out.
TERRY
What are we gonna do?
Hale goes to the back of the Humvee, pulls down the tailgate.
HALE
I'm gonna take away Deakins'
reason for being here.
Hale grabs a screwdriver from the tool kit and pries open a
panel on the side of one of the B-83s.
47.
INSIDE PANEL
There's an LCD DISPLAY, a NUMERIC KEYPAD and a CLOCK showing the
current time. The keys are oversized and brightly colored.
TERRY
Fisher-Price makes nuclear weapons?
HALE
They're designed to be used by
guys wearing gloves in Alaska.
He reaches in, hits a key and the LCD display lights up.
HALE
These nukes have security codes.
If you enter the wrong code three
times, the nuke goes dead -- all
the circuitry shorts out and shuts
down. Kind of like the security
systems with car radios.
TERRY
And people say the public doesn't
benefit from defense spending.
HALE
(GRINS)
Hand me the radio.
Terry goes for the radio mike. Hale sees something.
A PLASTIC NAME TAG
Sticking out from under one of the nukes.
HALE
Pulls it out, looks at it.
ECU NAMETAG
It's from "St. Judes Hospital, Radiology Department."
HALE AND TERRY
Hale turns to Terry as she pulls over the radio mike.
HALE
Where's St. Judes Hospital?
INT. 4WD TRAIL -- DEAKINS' HUMVEE
The fire is out. The radio crackles.
HALE (V.0.)
Deak -- you there?
48.
Deakins and Kelly look at each other.
HALE (V.O.)
Ding, ding, ding, Deak. We're
starting a new round. You took
the first couple, but I've got you
on the ropes now, you son of bitch.
Deakins gets in the passenger side, grabs the radio mike.
DEAKINS
Hey, there. What was that last
part? There was some static.
(clicks off mike; to
JOHNSON)
Find them.
(to Pritchett and
KELLY)
Let's go!
Johnson pulls out a radiation detector scanner like the one
Rhodes used. Kelly and Pritchett get back in the vehicle.
CROSSCUT BETWEEN HALE AND DEAKINS
Kelly drives Deakins' Humvee along the trail as they talk.
HALE
I know you're stalling while you
try to find the nukes with your
scanner, but you're gonna be too
late. Hear that?
Hale holds the radio mike up to the keypad as he enters numbers.
HALE
I'm entering the wrong code, you
bastard. A couple more times and
these are gonna be useless to you.
DEAKINS
You really got me there. I sure
didn't think of that.
Hale slows down -- something's wrong -- Deakins doesn't cars.
DEAKINS
All that time we spent in the
cockpit together and you think I'm
stupid? I got some new boards and
circuits from a friend at Pantex.
But nice try.
Hale curses to himself. Terry looks at him. He shakes his head
they're in trouble.
49.
DEAKINS
You know, Hale, I thought of
asking you to join me on this. You
wanna know why I didn't?
HALE
Because I would've said no?
DEAKINS
I would've just killed you if you
said no. I was more afraid you'd
say yes. Because I knew I
couldn't count on you. You can
pretend you've got guts, but when
and if it comes down to it, you're
gonna run off crying like a little
girl.
HALE
You better hope that's true, Doak.
Because I've got the nukes, and
there's nothing to stop me from
entering the right code, if you
know what I mean.
DEAKINS
(flash of worry)
You wouldn't do that.
HALE
Nah. You're right. I wouldn't
have the guts.
END SPLIT-SCREEN. Hale drops the mike; looks at the elevator.
HALE
How deep is this mine?
TERRY
I don't know. A couple thousand
feet.
HALE
That's deep enough.
Hale opens the elevator gate.
TERRY
For what?
HALE
A nuclear explosion.
Terry's jaw drops.
50.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL/ INT. DEAKINS' HUMVEE
Kelly drives the blackened Humvee as fast as he can. Johnson
looks at his scanner, grins.
JOHNSON
Got it! They're --
DEAKINS
In the mine.
(off their looks)
I could tell he was inside
something. There was an echo.
INT. MINE ENTRANCE
Hale hurries to the back of the Humvee.
TERRY
We can still hide them!
HALE
He's got a scanner. He'd find
them.
TERRY
You're talking about setting off
a nuclear weapon!
HALE
They set them off underground in
Nevada all through the fifties and
sixties. There's no risk.
TERRY
Tell it to the two-headed cows.
Hale grabs the straps around one of the nukes, pulls. He can
barely move the thing. He turns to Terry.
TERRY
No! I am not helping you set off
a nuclear weapon.
HALE
We won't be down there when it
goes off. This isn't a suicide
mission.
TERRY
No!
51.
HALE
(IMPATIENT)
All right. Fine. Though I think
you should know, before I ejected,
I heard Deakins say the nukes were
going to be used to wipe out the
last few remaining handicapped gay
whales.
Terry looks at him -- you asshole. Hale looks at her, very
serious.
HALE
I need your help.
Terry thinks, shakes her head, steps up and grabs the nuke.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
The Humvee takes the turn-off to the mine entrance.
INT. MINESHAFT ELEVATOR - DESCENDING
Hale and Terry are going down with the nukes.
HALE
When we get to the bottom we'll
have to get away from this shaft.
It'll limit the amount of
radiation released into-the
atmosphere.
EXT. MINE ENTRANCE
Deakins's Humvee comes into the clearing. The Humvee stops and
Deakins and Kelly jump out, followed by Pritchett and Johnson.
EXT. MINE - BOTTOM OF ELEVATOR SHAFT
The elevator comes down. Hale slides open the gate. He and
Terry drag the nukes out.
TERRY
We'll each drag one down a tunnel?
HALE
No. I'm only going to set off one.
We'll leave the other one here.
It'll be buried under a billion
tons of rock.
They are startled when the elevator starts going up behind them
HALE
We better hurry.
(nods down tunnel)
Let's try down there.
52.
They start hauling the nuke down the tunnel.
INT. MINE ENTRANCE
Deakins, Pritchett, Kelly and Johnson wait by the elevator.
PRITCHETT
I can't wait to see how this fits
into your plan.
Deakins' charm peels away for an instant and he fixes Pritchett
with a stare. Pritchett shrinks back.
INT. PENTAGON SITUATION ROOM
Baird, the Chairman and the others are watching large TV
monitors. Creeley walks them through what they're looking at.
ON THE MONITORS
A wide-view, bird's-eye, thermal image of rocky terrain.
CREELEY
This is the KH-12 satellite's
infrared view of the area. An
exposed nuclear core would be
relatively hot -- it'd show as a
circle of bright white. As you
can see, there's nothing. The
only heat signatures we found were
these.
The image changes. There are four blotches, glowing a dull red.
BAIRD
What's --?
CREELEY
We think it's Colonel Rhodes and
his men. Their bodies.
A look between Baird and the Chairman. The Chairman reaches for
a phone.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL CENTER
Wilkins is on the phone. Giles looks at him.
WILKINS
I understand, sir.
GILES
(WHISPERS)
Was I right?
Wilkins nods. Giles grins smugly for about half a second, then
realizes what it really means.
53.
GILES
Oh, shit.
WILKINS
(into phone)
I've got ten ships ready to go ...
We should be hearing from NEST any
minute now.
EXT. NEST HELICOPTER IN FLIGHT
Flying over Canyonlands.
INT. MINESHAFT ELEVATOR - DESCENDING
Deakins, Kelly and Johnson are in the elevator. Kelly holds a
small metal briefcase.
INT. END OF MINE TUNNEL
Hale and Terry have stopped at the end of a tunnel. Hale has
opened the guts of the nuke. He's pulling out a chip.
TERRY
How do you know how to do this?
HALE
Pilots who fly with nuclear
weapons have standing orders to ...
(quoting from the
MANUAL)
... "retrieve if possible, disable
if necessary and destroy if we
must," and destroy I must.
He stands, looks around. He sees...
EYEBOLTS
Screwed into the cross beaus on the ceiling.
HALE
I'm gonna need your belt and one
of your socks.
INT. BOTTOM OF ELEVATOR SHAFT
The elevator descends into view. Deakins, Kelly and Johnson get
out. They see the other nuke lying there.
KELLY
Send it up?
DEAKINS
(shakes head)
Let's take care of Hale first.
Spread out.
54.
INT. END OF MINE TUNNEL
In one hand Hale holds Terry's sock, filled with sand. His
other hand grips the eyebolt. Terry is giving Hale a log up,
straining under the weight.
TERRY
Take your time. Really.
Hale has pushed the open end of the sock through the eyebolt. He
tightens a belt around the open end of the sock.
HALE
Okay.
Terry lets Hale down. Hale picks up a big rock and loops the
free end of the belt around it. Then he picks up a smaller rock.
CLOSE ON NUCLEAR WEAPON
One chip has been pulled out of a circuit board. Hale very
gingerly lays the small rock on top of the chip.
HALE
We make a small hole in the sock,
and when enough sand drains out --
and we're hopefully in New
Mexico -- the sock is pulled
through the eyebolt, the rock
drops...
(re: smaller rock)
... hitting the rock on this chip,
closing the firing circuit and
that's it.
Hale finishes putting the small rock in position. He stands.
TERRY
How much time are we going to have?
HALE
I don't know precisely. This
isn't a Swiss sock. Ten minutes,
maybe --
Hale is cut off by...
BULLETS
Flying in, ricocheting off the rock walls, fired by...
JOHNSON
Thirty yards down the tunnel.
55.
HALE AND TERRY
Dive to the ground. They pull pistols, start shooting.
THE SOCK
One of Johnson's bullets cuts through it.
HALE
Feels sand hitting his face, looks up.
HIS POV
Sand is draining out of the sock very fast.
HALE AND TERRY
Reaches up to grab the big rock, but Johnson sends a spray of
bullets in. Terry grabs Hale.
TERRY
Come on!
HALE
The sock --
More bullets. Terry pulls Hale. They run down a side passage.
Hale and Terry fire back at Johnson as they run out of sight.
JOHNSON
Shoots after them, then runs up to the weapon. He reaches for
the rock, stops -- maybe that'll set it off.
THE SOCK
The last sand pours out; the sock is sucked through the eye-bolt.
THE ROCK
Drops fast toward the nuke.
A HAND
Grabs it, stopping it just in time. The hand belongs to...
DEAKINS
He looks at Johnson in disgust, exhales, and tosses the rock. He
pulls out a walkie-talkie, clicks on, talks into it.
56.
DEAKINS
We're at the end of tunnel three.
(clicks off; to
JOHNSON)
You two get this one set. I'll
take the other one up.
HALE AND TERRY
Running along a tunnel.
TERRY
What do we do?
HALE
Beat 'em back to the elevator.
Stop 'em from getting out.
Terry nods. They hurry off around a corner and are met by...
A FLURRY OF BULLETS
Fired by...
DEAKINS
With his Uzi.
HALE AND TERRY
Run back down the side tunnel, bullets winging off the rock all
around them, shooting back. Hale starts shooting out the
lights, plunging the tunnel into darkness.
DEAKINS
Slows down.
DEAKINS
The bit with the sock was good.
I like it. Still, I'm gonna use
the the Field Expedient Tactical
Timer. It's a little more precise.
(BEAT)
See, Hale -- you aren't the only
one who's thought of setting off
a nuke in this mine.
BY THE NUKE
Kelly is there with Johnson. Kelly flips on a lamp on a
headstrap, giving him better light as he opens up the metal
briefcase he's been carrying.
INSIDE THE BRIEFCASE
An elaborate electronic timer.
57.
IN THE TUNNELS
Deakins pulls out a fresh clip.
DEAKINS
I need a demonstration. Otherwise,
some swinging dick in Washington
is going to say I don't have the
balls or the ability to set off a
nuclear weapon. I'm gonna show
these puppies I'm ready, willing
and able. Hell, I'm eager.
Deakins jams in his clip, walks into the dark part of the tunnel.
HALE AND TERRY
In the dark, waiting to ambush Deakins and then...
DEAKINS
Opens fire -- but not at Hale and Terry -- at the cable along
the ceiling connecting the lights. The cable snaps and
electrical sparks shoot out, flooding the tunnel with light,
showing...
HALE AND TERRY
Suddenly exposed to Deakins' fire. The bullets whiz in.
DEAKINS
The muzzle flashes from his Uzi give away his position and Hale
and Terry's bullets scream in at him. He backs around a corner.
HALE AND TERRY
Take cover. It's a stand-off.
DEAKINS
Well, Hale, I better be going.
Look at it this way, partner. If
you wanted to get closer to God,
you are about to get your wish.
Hale hears Deakins' footsteps start off.
HALE
You're gonna ransom Salt Lake
City, aren't you?
The footsteps stop.
DEAKINS
What makes you think that?
58.
HALE
That's where St. Judes Hospital
is. You're gonna hide the nukes
near the radiology department so
they won't show up an any
satellite radiation scans.
DEAKINS
I'm impressed.
HALE
How much are you gonna ask for?
DEAKINS
Enough. I've got a broker in
Stockholm. Monday morning he's
going to buy me five percent of
Volvo. For the rest of my days
I'm going to live off the
dividends, happy in the knowledge
I'm helping to build the safest
car in the world.
HALE
So that's it? You're just doing
'this for the money? I'm kind of
disappointed.
DEAKINS
Why would you do it, Hale?
HALE
That's the thing -- I wouldn't.
DEAKINS
If you were me.
HALE
If I were you...?
(thinks, starts in)
Because ... because I got passed
over for promotion and goddamnit
I'm going to show the bastards
that I'm smarter than them all.
(getting angry)
Because ... everyone's selling out
and cashing in, so why not me?
(ANGRIER)
Because ... because my ex-wife was
sleeping around. Because my
parents abused me. Because I ate
some sugar.
(MORE)
59.
HALE (cont'd)
(FURIOUS)
Because I don't like Mondays.
(takes a breath,
GRINS)
It's all bullshit, Deak. There
are no reasons. Not really.
There's no difference between you
and the guy who shoots up the
schoolyard with an M-16. You both
think you have reasons. You both
think you were wronged. The
truth? You're both just fucked in
the head.
DEAKINS' FACE
Grim, evil -- fades into darkness as he turns and walks off.
HALE AND TERRY
They hear footsteps, receding. Hale bolts out of their hiding
spot. Terry follows.
INT. BOTTOM OF ELEVATOR SHAFT
Deakins gets to the elevator, drags the other nuke in, shuts the
gate and starts up.
INT. END OF TUNNEL
Kelly finishes keying in numbers into the nuke timer. An amber
light comes on and...
THE TIMER
Starts ticking down from ton minutes.
KELLY AND JOHNSON
Grab their guns and run.
INT. MINESHAFT ENTRANCE
The elevator comes up. Deakins drags out the nuke, hits the
DOWN button, shuts the gate. The elevator descends.
DEAKINS
Mr. Pritchett!
INT. BOTTOM OF ELEVATOR SHAFT
Hale and Terry are waiting for the elevator to come down when...
KELLY AND JOHNSON
Run in. A half-second of surprise is broken when...
60.
THE ELEVATOR
Comes down.
HALE AND TERRY
Make a move toward the elevator, but...
KELLY AND JOHNSON
Unload with their Uzis.
HALE AND TERRY
Back around a corner, side by side, shooting their pistols.
JOHNSON
Is shot, drops.
KELLY
Grabs Johnson's Uzi and, firing both guns, backs to the
elevator, kicks open the gate with his foot and gets inside. He
hits the UP button with the butt of one of the guns and the
elevator starts to rise.
HALE AND TERRY
Step out of the tunnel and fire on the climbing elevator.
INSERT - ECU NUKE TIMER
Seven minutes and counting.
INT. MINESHAFT ENTRANCE
Deakins and Pritchett get the nuke into the back of the Humvee.
INT. BOTTOM OF ELEVATOR SHAFT
TERRY
We can go back, try to shut it
down.
HALE
We don't know the code, and Deak'd
have it wired to blow if we so
much as look at it funny.
TERRY
Then we're...
Hale looks at her.
61.
HALE
I'm sorry. I shouldn't've let you
come.
TERRY
Oh, God.
Hale takes Terry in his arms, holds her.
TERRY
I ... I just hope someone
remembers to feed my dog.
Hale nods, hugs Terry. Terry starts to say something else, but
Hale puts a finger to his lips -- he's heard something -- a
distant rushing.
HALE
Come on.
Hale pulls Terry, running, down the far tunnel.
TERRY
What're you --?
HALE
You said they shut down the mine
when they hit an underground river.
INT. MINESHAFT ENTRANCE
Deakins slams the tailgate on the Humvee shut. From the
distance, he and Pritchett hear the whump-whump-whump of a
helicopter. Deakins motions Pritchett to stay.
EXT. MINE ENTRANCE
Deakins comes out, looks up, sees...
THE NEST HELICOPTER
Coming toward him, two miles away.
INT. NEST HELICOPTER
Hunt sees something, points.
HUNT
Ten o'clock! In the clearing!
HIS POV
The blackened Humvee and Deakins by the mine entrance.
62.
INT. MINE TUNNEL
Hale and Terry run up. The tunnel comes to an end at a big
hole. The rushing sound comes from the hole. They step up
to the edge and look down.
THEIR POV
Dark water rushes by ten feet below them.
HALE
Any idea where it goes?
TERRY
No.
They look at each other. They don't have any choice. They
flick on their flashlights and jump. They-hit the water and are
swept from view.
INT. MINESHAFT ENTRANCE
Deakins enters, motions for Pritchett to get into the Humvee.
DEAKINS
Get in. We're leaving.
PRITCHETT
(re: Kelly and
JOHNSON)
Aren't you going to wait for them?
DEAKINS
No time. And if they get out,
they might talk. Fortunately,
there's something wrong with the
elevator.
Deakins opens fire with his Uzi on the generator. Sparks fly
and the thing shuts down.
INT. ELEVATOR
Kelly is jarred when the elevator stops and the lights dim.
EXT. MINE ENTRANCE
Deakins and Pritchett drive out of the mine in the Humvee.
Deakins punches the trip odometer, setting it to zeroes.
INT. ELEVATOR
Kelly switches on his headlamp.
KELLY
Wrong person to screw with, Deak.
63.
He pulls open the gate and climbs down.
THE ELEVATOR SHAFT
Kelly swings under the elevator.
KELLY
I know the goddamn code, asshole.
He grabs the cable trailing off below the elevator and starts
sliding down it into the darkness.
INSERT - ECU NUKE TIMER
Two minutes and counting.
INT. THE UNDERGROUND RIVER
Hale and Terry are being sucked along through the fast,
turbulent water. Their flashlights show...
STALACTITES
Jutting down like knives, ready-to rip then open.
HALE AND TERRY
Dodge them, push off, duck under. And then they notice that...
THE CEILING
Is getting lower, getting closer to the surface of the water.
They're running out of breathing room. Three feet, two feet,
one foot. They take big breaths, maybe their last, and
they're...
UNDERWATER
Tumbling along, pulled at by the eddies, flashlights showing
their faces -- they are running out of air. And then, there's
light above them in the water.
HALE AND TERRY
Lungs bursting, they start kicking up.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER
Terry and Hale come to the surface, coughing, sucking in air.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL/INT. HUMVEE
Deakins drives fast along the 4WD trail, glancing in his
sideview mirror at...
64.
THE NEST HELICOPTER
Closing in on him.
PRITCHETT
Is holding on tight as Deakins drives wildly.
PRITCHETT
I think I've finally figured out
your plan. Those guys in the
helicopter are going to kill us,
but we're going to rise from the
dead and
DEAKINS
Very suddenly and very violently lashes out. The side of his
hand hits Pritchett in the throat.
PRITCHETT
Gags silently, suddenly unable to get any air. He pulls at his
throat, even pounds himself in the back of the neck. No go. He
slowly slumps, dying, skin turning blue.
DEAKINS
Maybe now you'll shut up.
INT. MINE TUNNEL
Kelly is running as fast as he can, headlamp lighting the way.
INSERT - ECU NUKE TIMER
Thirty seconds and counting.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER
Hale and Terry are swimming toward the bank.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins barrels along in the Humvee, the NEST helicopter getting
closer behind him.
IN THE HUMVEE
Deakins has a thought and looks over at Pritchett, dead, held up
by the seatbelt.
DEAKINS
I just realized I've never killed
anyone before. I mean, I dropped
bombs on Baghdad, but never face
to face.
(MORE)
65.
DEAKINS (cont'd)
(thinks about it,
SHRUGS)
I don't know what the big deal is.
INT. MINE - END OF TUNNEL
ECU NUKE TIMER
Eighteen seconds left.
KELLY
Runs up, starts entering numbers into the timer keypad.
INT./EXT. NEST HELICOPTER
The NEST helicopter closes fast on Deakins. They are a couple
hundred feet above him, a quarter mile back.
HUNT
Let him know we're here!
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
A line of bullets kicks up dust in front of Deakins' Humvee.
INT. HUMVEE
Deakins looks at...
THE TRIP ODOMETER
It clicks over from 2.9 to 3.0 miles.
DEAKINS
Grins, steps on the brakes.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
The Humvee stops and Deakins gets out, arms above his head.
THE NEST HELICOPTER
A hundred feet in the air, slowly coming in toward Deakins.
INT. MINE - END OF TUNNEL
ECU NUKE TIMER
Eleven, ten, nine...
KELLY
Punches in the last two numbers of the code then ENTER.
66.
ECU NUKE TIMER
It stops with seven seconds left. The amber light goes off and
the red light comes on.
KELLY
Sits back on the floor, takes a breath.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins is watching the helicopter. Strangely, he is grinning.
Then the camera CLOSES IN fast on...
DEAKINS' HAND
He's holding a small black box. He presses a button and...
INT. MINE - END OF TUNNEL
Kelly hears a click. He looks over at...
THE TIMER
The red light goes out. The amber light comes on. A splitsecond
later, the green light comes on.
KELLY
Oh shit.
The screen goes white.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
DEAKINS
Watching the helicopter, listening to Hunt over the loudspeaker.
HUNT (V.O.)
Do not move or you will be fired --
THE GROUND
Rises up beneath Deakins.
HIGH ANGLE - WIDE SHOT
The ripples of the shockwave shoot out from the mine, shaking
dust and dirt into the air with an incredible, deafening roar.
DEAKINS AMD THE HUMVEE
Fly ten feet into the air.
67.
INT. NEST HELICOPTER
There's a roar of static over everyone's headphones and then
every light, every piece of electronic equipment shuts down.
HUNT
No...!
They plummet.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER RIVER BANK
Terry and Hale are pulling themselves out of the water when the
shockwave hits, knocking them off their feet.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
Wilkins and Giles hear the sudden rumble and then the shockwave
hits, knocking stuff off desks, swinging lamps.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins and the Humvee land. In the b.g...
THE NEST HELICOPTER
Drops out of sight behind a rock formation. There's an
explosion and a ball of fire shoots up.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER - RIVER BANK
Terry looks over at Hale -- holy shit.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
The lamps are still swinging.
GILES
That's all we need. A goddamn
earthquake.
WILKINS
Son, I was at the Nevada Test site
in the fifties. That wasn't an
earthquake.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins picks himself up.
DEAKINS
(to himself)
At least I know they work.
INT. MCMURRAN CONTROL ROOM
Wilkins grabs a phone. Giles is pacing, freaked.
68.
WILKINS
(into phone)
Get me the Room.
GILES
I have to get out of here.
WILKINS
You're going to be fine. It was
underground.
(into phone)
Colonel Wilkins for General
Creeley.
GILES
How do you know?
WILKINS
For one thing, if it was above
ground, it wouldn't have caused
the same kind of ground tremor.
For another, if it was above
ground, we'd all be blind and
dying.
(into phone)
Sir, we've just had a detonation.
INT. PENTAGON -- SITUATION ROOM
Bedlam. People yelling. The Chairman is huddling with Baird.
BAIRD
How'd that happen?
CHAIRMAN
I don't know, but thank God it
happened underground.
BAIRD
What do we do now?
CHAIRMAN
First thing we do is put a huge
goddamn lid on this thing. With
all due respect to your boy Giles
and his belief in honesty as the
best policy, from now on and until
the end of time, what happened in
Utah tonight was an earthquake.
All right?
Baird nods.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
The Humvee races along the trail.
69.
IN THE HUMVEE
Deakins and the dead Pritchett motor along. Deakins turns to
Pritchett as if Pritchett had just asked him a question.
DEAKINS
The helicopter? It was hit by
EMP. Electromagnetic pulse. It's
released in a nuclear detonation.
It wipes out anything electronic
for miles. That"s another reason
I wanted to set off a nuke. I
knew it'd bring down any
helicopters coming for us. It'll
also shut down all radio
communications for a few hours,
which will severely screw up their
response.
(GRINS)
You see, Mr. Pritchett? There
really is nothing for you to worry
about.
Pritchett's body seems to nod from the motion of the Humvee.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER - RIVER BANK
BUTTERFLIES
Hover and dance over the water in the early morning light.
HALE
Hale has his shirt off and is wringing it out.
TERRY (O.S.)
Goddamn it!
He turns to see Terry trying to undo her buttons but unable to
her fingers are too numb.
TERRY
Stupid buttons. I hate these
shirts. They're ugly and stupid
and --
Terry suddenly starts crying. It's not the shirt she's upset
about. Hale holds her.
HALE
It's okay.
TERRY
We just ... I mean, we almost...
HALE
I know.
70.
TERRY
A nuclear bomb went off.
HALE
That it did.
TERRY
Are we...?
HALE
Look.
(points at
BUTTERFLIES)
If the butterflies are okay, then
we'll be okay.
TERRY
Really?
HALE
Absolutely. It says so in the
manual. "If you see butterflies
after a detonation, you are fine."
Terry looks at Hale. She knows he's bullshitting her, but she
appreciates it. They look at each other. They could kiss ...
but they both shy away from it. Terry gets her shirt off.
HALE
We better get moving. We might be
able to reach Deakins when he gets
to the river.
They start off along a trail by the river.
HALE
Something I've been meaning to ask.
(Terry looks at him)
How did someone like you end up
with a gun?
TERRY
I hit a bankrobber with a frozen
chicken.
HALE
Excuse me?
TERRY
I came out here one summer during
college. It was the campaign to
stop the dam in the Grand Canyon.
I loved it here. I came back,
worked as a river guide and
eventually stayed year-round. When
a Park Ranger job came open, I
applied.
71.
HALE
I'm still waiting for the chicken.
TERRY
The local Parks Department wasn't
sure how I'd do with the law
enforcement part of the job. Well,
one night I was coming home from
the store and Tommy Drewson part
of the local brain trust was
robbing old Bob Kearney in front
of the ATM. I bear old Bob
yelling and I see Tommy heading
for his car, so I tossed a bag of
groceries at him at thirty miles
an hour. A frozen chicken in the
bag hit him in the forehead and he
dropped like a rock. Next thing
I know, I'm a Ranger.
Hale looks at Terry with a new appreciation.
EXT. 4WD TRAIL
Deakins pilots the Humvee along the trail.
EXT. COLORADO RIVER - RIVERBANK TRAIL
Hale and Terry are crouching behind a rock, looking down.
THEIR POV
A zodiac raft has been pulled up on the river bank. A man with
an Uzi -- SHEPPARD -- waits, duffel bag by his feet.
TERRY
Get me a frozen Zacky's fryer and
he's a dead man.
There's the sound of an approaching engine. Sheppard stands,
gun ready. The engine stops. A few seconds later...
DEAKINS
Appears, walking down a footpath toward Sheppard.
SHEPPARD
Where is everyone?
DEAKINS
I am everyone. Let's go.
Sheppard hurries to Deakins. They disappear up the footpath.
72.
HALE AND TERRY
HALE
Shit.
TERRY
What?
HALE
We're the only ones who know
what's going on, and I don't have
the faintest idea how we're gonna
stop them.
TERRY
You'll think of something.
HALE
Why do you say that?
TERRY
You have so far.
Hale looks at Terry -- she's right. But it almost pisses him
off more than it gives him confidence. He grumbles to himself
and starts off down toward the raft.
TERRY
Sink it?
HALE
Steal it.
They get down to the raft. They climb in. Hale grabs the
engine throttle, slumps.
HALE
Keys.
Hale looks around, spots Sheppard's duffel bag lying on the
riverbank. He hops out and starts rummaging through it when
they hear grunting and feet approaching.
Hale looks around for a place to hide. There isn't any. Terry
tries to get out of the raft, but she trips on a tarpaulin
bunched on the bottom of the raft. she drops.
WITH DEAKINS AND SHEPPARD
Coming down a path, lugging the last remaining nuke.
THEIR POV
Of the raft. Hale and Terry are nowhere to be seen.
73.
HALE
Is alone, in the water, on the far side of the raft, very
silent. He hears Deakins and Sheppard load the nuke into the
raft.
SHEPPARD (O.S.)
Why were you driving around with
a dead guy?
DEAKINS (O.S.)
Because I like him. He doesn't
ask a lot of annoying questions.
All right?
A few seconds later the engine starts up. Hale ducks down under
water as the raft takes off over him. He surfaces to watch the
raft zooming off into the distance. He is very worried.
ON THE RAFT - MOVING
The nuke is on a pallet in the middle of the raft. Sheppard
pilots the raft. Deakins looks around, sees what he wants.
A TARP
Is lying on the deck of the raft along one side, all bunched up.
It'd be the kind of thing you'd hide under.
DEAKINS
Grabs the tarp and pulls.
UNDER THE TARP
There's no one there.
DEAKINS
Throws the tarp over the nuke. As he does, we PAN OVER to...
A LONG CRATE MARKED "LIFE JACKETS"
Strapped to one of the side pontoons. A small triangle of cloth
is sticking out from inside the crate -- like the corner of a
shirt. It's quickly pulled out of sight from within.
BACK ON THE RIVERBANK
Hale climbs out of the water and looks around, not knowing quite
what to do.
EXT. LAKE POWELL - TRANSFER POINT
The zodiac boat is on the shore. Sheppard and four man -- call
them the GUNMEN -- are hauling the nuke to the truck. Deakins
walks with another man -- MAX, 50s. Max checks his watch.
74.
MAX
Your friends in Washington should
be getting the package about now.
DEAKINS
I wish I could see their faces.
INT. PENTAGON - SITUATION ROOM
Baird, the Chairman, Creeley and the others are all staring
slack-jawed at a TV screen.
ON THE TV
Camcorder shot of Deakins against a black backdrop.
DEAKINS
... two-hundred-and-fifty million
dollars, by nine a.m. Utah time.
The depositing instructions are in
the envelope that came with this
tape. This deadline is not
negotiable, and there is no grace
period. The device is on a timer.
Shortly after you receive this,
the timer will be activated. At
nine a.m., I will make a call. If
I find out you've done as you've
been told, I will stop the timer.
If you have not complied --
The screen suddenly cuts to a flurry of images of nuclear
destruction -- buildings being knocked sideways, mushroom
clouds, shockwaves, fires.
CHAIRMAN
Turn that off!
EXT. LAKE POWELL
Hale runs along the shoreline, headed for...
A MARINA
Where houseboats are rented out. Hale's eyes focus on a sign
with a picture of a phone on it.
EXT. LAKE POWELL - TRANSFER POINT
The back gate of the truck is shut from the inside. The truck
starts up and rumbles off, slowly at first.
TERRY
Jumps up from the raft and runs after the truck, staying right
behind. She grabs a handhold and pulls herself up. She holds
on tight as the truck bounces off down the dirt road.
75.
INT. PENTAGON SITUATION ROOM
Loud voices and crosstalk. Baird is on the phone, nodding.
BAIRD
Yes, sir.
Creeley's phone rings. He answers it.
CREELEY
Creeley.
BAIRD
(covers phone; to
CHAIRMAN)
The President wants to know if we
know where the device is headed.
CHAIRMAN
If Deakins had a plane waiting, it
could be anywhere. We just don't
know.
CREELEY
I do.
(all eyes on him)
Major Hale is alive. According to
him, Colonel Deakins is headed for
Salt Lake City.
EXT. LAKE POWELL - MARINA
Army helicopters are landing near the marina. Two are already
down. One has TROOPS standing outside of it.
HALE, WILKINS AND GILES
Are walking toward the second helicopter.
WILKINS
We found the raft on the other
side of the lake. Tracks from a
heavy truck ran out when they hit
the paved road.
HALE
If we get a rad scanner we can
track them.
A brief look between Wilkins and Giles.
WILKINS
Actually, Major, we're going back
to McMurran.
HALE
What?
76.
GILES
We'd just like to ask you a few
questions.
HALE
I'm not wasting time answering
questions. We've got --
WILKINS
No debate, Major. I was given
orders. Now, you can come with us,
or you can go with them.
Wilkins nods over at the other helicopter. The troops standing
in front of it are MPs. Hale looks at Wilkins, astounded.
EXT./INT. WILKINS' HELICOPTER - IN FLIGHT
Wilkins is up front with the pilot. Hale and Giles are in back.
All wear headsets. Hale is yelling at Wilkins.
HALE
Deakins thinks I'm dead. He
thinks it's over. You've got to
let me go after him. I can help.
I know how his mind works.
WILKINS
Major, I know this is personal for
you, but I think we can handle it.
We're putting a wall of men and
machines around Salt Lake City as
we speak. That truck is not
getting through.
INT. TRUCK
CLOSE ON THE NUCLEAR WEAPON
Dusty slices of light come through the truck's slatted walls.
The nuclear weapon is lashed to a hammock, straps running off to
D-rings on the sides. Max is hooking up an electronic timer.
INT. WILKINS' HELICOPTER
HALE
What about the Ranger?
GILES
What about her?
HALE
When you find that truck, you'll
hit it hard. Chances are she'll
be killed in the crossfire.
"Regrettable but unavoidable."
77.
Giles and Wilkins share a look -- Hale is right.
HALE
Look, she's not supposed to be
there. She should be checking
camping permits, finding lost
kids. She...
(BEAT)
She saved my life.
Giles wants to help. So does Wilkins, but...
WILKINS
We were ordered to take you back
to McMurran. You understand what
orders are, don't you, Major?
Wilkins turns away. Hale sits back, mind racing, not knowing
what to do. He quickly grabs a pistol from the helicopter's
weapons rack and puts it to Wilkin's neck.
WILKINS
Major, put that away or say
goodbye to your career and hello
to twenty years in Leavenworth.
HALE
If that's what it takes.
WILKINS
You'll have to shoot me.
Hale thinks, but there's no way he can do that. He lowers the
gun, sits back.
Giles gets Hale's attention, then points to his own head. Hale
doesn't understand, so Giles grabs Hale's gunhand and puts the
gun up to his head.
GILES
Colonel! How about this?
Wilkins looks back, sees Hale holding the gun to Giles' head.
HALE
(bad acting)
I swear to God I'll shoot.
Wilkins grins.
INT. TRUCK
Max finishes hooking up the timer. He looks at Deakins.
MAX
Ready when you are.
78.
DEAKINS
Wait until I get back. I'm going
to check on Sheppard.
Deakins goes to a ladder that leads up to the ceiling.
INT. WILKIN'S HELICOPTER
Hale is looking back and forth between what he sees out the
window and the map on his lap.
WILKINS
I don't know what you're looking
for, Major. Every road between
here and salt Lake has already
been sealed.
HALE
Deak would know that. Maybe he's
not on the road.
Wilkins doesn't understand.
HALE
They were using maps like these to
set up the roadblocks?
WILKINS
Yes...?
HALE
Then that's the answer.
Wilkins doesn't understand. Hale points outside, down at...
TRAIN TRACKS
On the ground. Old ones, half-covered by weeds.
HALE
It's an old spur. Probably hasn't
been used in twenty years. Nobody
bothered to put it on the new maps.
WILKINS
What are you --?
HALE
The nuke isn't in a truck,
Colonel. It's on a train.
EXT. TRAIN
A freight train -- engine, a car carrier (carrying a load of
Toyotas), several boxcars and a caboose. A hatch opens up an
the roof of one of the boxcars near the tail of the train and...
79.
DEAKINS
Climbs out and we discover that indeed they are not in a truck,
they're in a train. The "nuke boxcar" has a small satellite
dish mounted on the roof.
THE FOUR GUNMEN
Are in position at points along the train, ready with Uzis.
INT. WILKINS' HELICOPTER
Wilkins hangs up the radio mike.
WILKINS
Radio's still down. We'll head
north, look for a phone, then look
for a train.
Giles nods. Hale is thinking. Wilkins starts to tell the pilot.
HALE
No. Go south.
GILES
Salt Lake is north.
HALE
He's not going to Salt Lake.
GILES
But you said it would be Salt
Lake. You found that hospital tag.
HALE
He planted that. He wanted
whoever found it to think that's
where he was going.
(Shakes head)
He's been doing a rope-a-dope.
Giles and Wilkins look at him like he's nuts.
HALE
It's a boxing term. When Ali --
Look, I know this guy. If
everything has been saying he's
heading north, then he's heading
south.
They look at him, then Wilkins grabs the map.
WILKINS
What's south of here?
80.
ECU MAP
Wilkins' finger follows the train line on the map. It goes
right into Las Vegas.
HALE
No. Not Vegas. What the hell is
there to blow up in Vegas?
Wilkins' finger keeps moving on the map.
GILES
The President.
Wilkins' finger stops.
EXT. TRAIN
Deakins jumps the gap between two boxcars and walks on. We
ANGLE DOWN to reveal...
TERRY
Crouching down between the two cars.
INT. TRAIN ENGINE - DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT
Sheppard is working with a torch, welding the brake and
accelerator controls. Deakins enters. Sheppard turns the torch
down. Deakins lights a cigarette off it.
DEAKINS
How much longer?
SHEPPARD
Almost done.
INT. TRAIN ENGINE ENGINE AREA
Behind the driver's compartment is the engine itself, with
walkways along either side.
TERRY
Creeps-up to one of the doors that lead into the driver's
compartment. She hears...
SHEPPARD (O.S.)
How long until the helicopter gets
here?
INT. DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT
DEAKINS
Five minutes. We'll leave from
the boxcar roof.
81.
Deakins turns to go.
INT. TRAIN ENGINE - ENGINE AREA
Deakins opens the door and strides along beside the engine.
TERRY
Is hiding on the other side of the engine, very quiet and still.
As Deakins goes out the back door of the engine, Terry follows.
EXT. TRAIN - BETWEEN ENGINE AND BOXCAR
Terry comes out the door and is about to step across to the
ladder on the boxcar when we PULL BACK to reveal...
DEAKINS
As he puts a gun to the back of Terry's head.
EXT. GAS STATION AND MINI-MART
A RANCHER comes out of the mini-mart with a cup of coffee and
heads for his old pickup truck. He starts to open his door when
he hears, incongruously, whump-whump-whump. He looks up as...
WILKINS' HELICOPTER
Comes in, gets about three feet off the ground and Giles jumps
out. As Giles runs to a payphone, the helicopter pulls up and
flies away, leaving the Rancher agog.
INT. NUKE BOXCAR
Terry comes down the ladder from the hatch, followed by Deakins
with a gun.
DEAKINS
Terry, Max. Max, Terry.
MAX
(to Terry)
A pleasure.
(to Deakins)
What the hell is a "Terry" and why
is it still live?
DEAKINS
She asked me how I thought I was
going to get away with this and I
thought I'd tell her.
(to Terry)
We're going to a cabin in the
mountains, not far from here. When
we get there I'm gonna make two
phone calls.
(MORE)
82.
DEAKINS (cont'd)
The first is to the Pentagon. I'm
gonna tell them where the train
is.
(GRINS)
See, all their forces are up at
Salt Lake by now. By the time
they could get a F-15 down here
the train will be on the outskirts
of Vegas. And I'll remind them
about the impact trigger -- if
they hit this train hard, the
nuke'll blow.
(shakes head)
They won't have any choice.
They'll have to let the train get
into the city and because of that,
they'll have to pay.
TERRY
You said two phone calls.
DEAKINS
The second will be to my bank in
Geneva. If the money's in my
account, I use this...
(pulls out what looks
like a modified cell-
PHONE)
... and shut down the timer. If
not, we sit back, put on some
shades and get a quick tan.
TERRY
But -- radio isn't working.
DEAKINS
You saw the dish on the roof?
Microwave. It's not affected by
EMP. See? I really have thought
of everything.
MAX
You kept her alive just so you can
impress her with how smart you are?
DEAKINS
(to Max)
No, I kept her alive because I
want her to do me a favor. See,
if something goes wrong and this
thing goes off, a half a million
people are going to be vaporized.
I don't want that on my
conscience. So I'm not going to
arm the nuke.
(MORE)
83.
DEAKINS (cont'd)
(puts gun to Terry's
HEAD)
She is.
INT. PENTAGON SITUATION ROOM
The room is silent. Everyone is looking at video monitors
showing a map of Las Vegas. They are listening to a nervous
ASSISTANT as he uses a telestrator to diagram the blast effects.
AIR FORCE ASSISTANT
Starting at ground zero and moving
out, we have, in terms of
immediate effect, one hundred
percent fatalities to thirty
miles. Ninety percent from thirty
to forty miles, dropping roughly
ten percent for every-ten miles
after that. The long term --
CHAIRMAN
(cut to the chase)
Son?
AIR FORCE ASSISTANT
(looks up, seared)
Two hundred and fifty thousand in
the first few seconds. The same
again within a year.
BAIRD
(it sinks in)
Good God.
INT. NUKE BOXCAR
Terry is shaking, tears in her eyes, as she slowly-enters the
numbers Deakins tells her to in the nuke timer keypad.
DEAKINS
Nine ... Then pound ... Good. Now
six ...
ECU TERRY'S EYES
Filled with tears. She blinks and...
QUICK CUTS
Terry has visions of RETIREES in Vegas, watering potted plants
outside their motor home, of TEENAGERS ragging on each other as
they walk to school, of CHILDREN in a playground.
DEAKINS
Seven ... Star ... One...
84.
And Terry shakingly pushing each button and then...
The images of the retirees, the teenagers and the children each
bleach out to white, fast, as if hit by a nuclear blast.
DEAKINS
Then ENTER and it's done.
TERRY
Her finger hovers over the ENTER button, almost pushes it, then
shifts to CANCEL and pushes that.
ECU NUKE TIMER
The display goes blank.
DEAKINS
Stunned. He shakes his head.
DEAKINS
Ooh. You really shouldn't have
done that. I said I would kill
you, and I will.
TERRY
I'm gonna be dead either way. I
don't want any part of this.
Deakins shrugs -- he sees her logic. He puts his gun to Terry's
head. Terry shuts her eyes.
DEAKINS
Night-night.
Deakins is about to pull the trigger when Max stops him. Max
gestures -- listen. They hear a helicopter approaching. Max
checks his watch.
DEAKINS
They're early.
Just then, they hear gunfire. Max gives Deakins a look.
DEAKINS
It's not a problem. Set the
timer, then kill her. Have fun
with it.
Deakins starts climbing up the ladder to the hatch.
EXT. TRAIN
The GUNMAN at the caboose is firing on Wilkins's helicopter,
hanging a hundred yards off the back of the train.
85.
INT. NUKE BOXCAR
Max holds a pistol on Terry with one hand while he quickly sets
the timer with the other.
TERRY'S HAND
Rests on Max's tool tray. Her fingers creep over to a vrench.
MAX
Presses ENTER and finishes setting the timer.
MAX
There.
TERRY AND MAX
Terry swings hard and fast with the wrench, knocking the gun out
of Max's hand. Max spins, and when Terry swings at him again.
Max kicks the wrench out of her hand, then steps up fast and
hits Terry under the chin with the heel of his hand. She drops
straight back.
MAX
Thought I was just friendly old
Max, huh? Lady, I was a Navy SEAL.
You should see what I can do with
just my thumb.
Max goes for his gun.
TERRY'S HAND
Grabs onto something. It's the wrench.
TERRY AND MAX
As Max turns back with the gun, Terry heaves the wrench. It
hits Max square in the forehead. He drops like a rock.
TERRY
Yeah? Well, you should see what
I can do with just a chicken.
EXT. TRAIN - CABOOSE
Deakins joins his man on top of the caboose, firing on Wilkins,
helicopter.
INT. HELICOPTER
Wilkins and Hale are returning fire. Hale points at Deakins.
HALE
That's him!
86.
WILKINS
(to pilot)
Get him!
PILOT
They've got guns!
WILKINS
You've got a helicopter. Use it!
EXT. TRAIN
Deakins and the gunman keep firing on the helicopter as...
THE HELICOPTER
Comes swooping in.
DEAKINS
Sees what's going to happen and turns and runs as...
THE HELICOPTER
Drops down beside the train. The rotor blades whip about three
feet over the train roof and the pilot starts forward.
DEAKINS AND THE GUNMAN
Run from the blades as fast as they can.
THE HELICOPTER
Closes fast.
DEAKINS AND THE GUNMAN
Jump from car to car. The gunman passes Deakins. Just when the
helicopter blades are about to catch up to Deakins...
DEAKINS
Jumps down between two boxcars and the rotor blades go right
over his head. Deakins hears an awful sound and a scream cut
short.
HELICOPTER POV
Swooping fast over the train when suddenly...
TERRY
Pops up out of the hatch, her back to the helicopter.
HALE (O.S.)
Pull up!
87.
THE HELICOPTER
Pulls up fast.
TERRY
Watches the helicopter bank away. Bullets-start whizzing by her.
DEAKINS
Has climbed up and is shooting at her.
TERRY
Runs away from Deakins, shooting Max's pistol behind her blindly.
TWO GUNMEN
Appear two cars ahead of Terry and start toward her, shooting.
TERRY
Is caught between Deakins and the gunmen with no way out when...
THE HELICOPTER
Comes along the length of the train, flying low. It rises up
and there's...
HALE
Hanging from the helicopter on a cable hooked to a harness and
he's firing a pistol, shooting right over Terry at...
THE FIRST GUNMAN
He's hit, falls off the train.
THE SECOND GUNMAN
Aims at Terry and starts firing.
TERRY
The bullets rip up the boxcar roof around her. She jumps up and
grabs onto...
HALE
As he swings in on the cable, shooting his pistol.
HALE AND TERRY
Are lifted up and over...
88.
THE SECOND GUNMAN
Who turns, firing a shotgun. Hale's bullets find him. He falls.
SHEPPARD
Appears, firing an Uzi at Hale, Terry and the helicopter.
IN THE HELICOPTER
Bullets rip through. Wilkins is hit, knocked back.
THE CABLE HOLDING HALE AND TERRY
Is severed by one of Sheppard's bullets.
HALE AND TERRY
Drop ten feet to the roof of a boxcar. Hale shoots as they fall.
SHEPPARD
Is hit and drops.
THE HELICOPTER
Banks away fast, making ugly sounds, smoke billowing out. The
engine cuts out and the helicopter drops to a hard landing
beside the tracks.
HALE AND TERRY
Watch the helicopter land as the train rolls on. They look at
each other.
TERRY
You stop the nuke. I'll stop the
train.
Hale nods. Terry starts forward, then turns.
TERRY
I'd yell at you for coming after
me, but you did just save my life.
Hale grins. They hear a helicopter in the distance. They look
over to see...
A RED CROSS HELICOPTER
Coming in fast.
HALE AND TERRY
Any excitement turns to confusion when they see...
89.
A MAN
Standing in the doorway of the Red Cross helicopter, holding a
gun.
TERRY
That's Deakins' escape route.
HALE
Not any more.
Terry nods. They share a last look, then Terry heads off. Male
coils up the winch cable, slings it over his shoulder and heads
for the nuke boxcar and his old friend Deakins. He picks up...
THE SHOTGUN
Left by deceased Gunman #2.
EXT. CAR CARRIER
Makes her way past the Toyotas.
EXT. WILKINS' HELICOPTER - BESIDE TRAIN TRACKS
Wilkins and the pilot stand outside their disabled helicopter.
The train is way off in the distance. They hear honking and
turn to see...
A PICKUP TRUCK
Tearing toward then along a dirt road, horn honking.
CLOSE ON PICKUP
The RANCHER from the mini-mart is driving; Giles beside him.
INT. TRAIN ENGINE - DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT
Terry comes into the driver's compartment. She tugs at the
brake and accelerator levers. It's useless. She looks around,
spots a cigarette lighter.
INT. BOXCAR
Deakins and the one remaining GUNMAN hear the helicopter. They
start toward the ladder to the roof hatch when they hear
footsteps on the roof of the car. Deakins gestures to the
gunman. He raises his gun, trying to figure out where to shoot.
Then they hear someone tugging at the hatch handle. The gunman
opens fire on the hatch.
EXT. ON TOP OF BOXCAR
Bullets stream up through the hatch cover, but Hale is nowhere
in sight. One end of Hale's helicopter winch cable is tied to
the hatch cover.
90.
We follow the cable fast, over to the side of the boxcar to
find...
HALE
Standing, tugging on the cable, still attached to the harness.
Hale racks a load in the shotgun and jumps back off the side of
the train.
INT. BOXCAR
The gunman hears a sound, starts to turn, just as...
HALE
Swings into the boxcar on the cable, firing the shotgun.
THE GUNMAN
Is picked up by the blast and smashed back through the wood slat
wall of the boxcar and out of the train.
DEAKINS
Climbs up fast through the hatch to the roof.
HALE
Shoots at Deakins, misses. The shotgun clicks empty. Hale
tosses the gun then unhooks the cable from the harness. He
drops to the floor-of the boxcar and runs to the ladder.
EXT. CAR CARRIER
Terry has a three-foot length of gasoline-soaked cloth stuffed
into the gas tank opening of a Toyota on the lower level of the
car carrier. She lights it and hurries off.
EXT. ROOF OF TRAIN
Deakins steadies himself as...
THE RED CROSS HELICOPTER
Hovers in sideways toward the train. The MAN in the doorway
holds out a hand to Deakins.
DEAKINS
Is reaching for the man's hand and grabs it when...
HALE
Reaches out of the hatch and grabs onto Deakins' foot.
91.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Deakins kicks free of Hale, holds onto the man in the helicopter
and is pulled onboard.
THE HELICOPTER
Moves sideways over the train.
IN THE HELICOPTER
Deakins turns, pulling his gun and shoots down at the train as...
THE HELICOPTER
Moves back sideways over the train.
DEAKINS' POV
No sign of Hale on the train roof.
DEAKINS
Get us out of here!
THE PILOT
Nods and starts to lift and bank. Then he gets an odd
expression. The helicopter isn't doing what he wants.
THE HELICOPTER
Is hovering over the train, but it can't fly away because...
HALE
Is hanging onto the skids and he's hooked the cable to the skid.
The other end of the cable is still attached to the hatch.
THE HELICOPTER
Strains against the cable, but it doesn't snap.
IN THE HELICOPTER
DEAKINS
Hurry!
POWER LINES
Cross the track, a quarter-mile ahead.
DEAKINS
Leans out of the helicopter with his Uzi, shooting down at...
92.
HALE
Who grabs onto the cable and slides down it to the roof of the
train, bullets plugging in all around his. He jumps down
through the hatch as...
DEAKINS
Sees what's coming and jumps.
THE HELICOPTER
Hits...
THE POWER LIKES
Which snap, shoot sparks and wrap around the helicopter's rotor.
THE HELICOPTER
Breaks up and flies apart as the train rolls on.
EXT. CAR CARRIER
The flame burning up the gas-soaked cloth goes into the Toyota
gas tank and...
THE TOYOTA
Explodes.
INT. NUKE BOXCAR
Hale gets to his feet, goes to look at the nuke.
ECU NUKE TIMER
Five minutes and counting.
HALE
Looks at it, trying to figure out how to disarm it. He hears
the whoosh-thump of someone jumping down into the boxcar. He
turns.
DEAKINS
Stands there, trying to smile, trying to be cool, but...
DEAKINS
They would've paid and I would've
stopped it. You've made a very,
very big mistake.
HALE
It's over, Deak. I beat you.
Disarm it.
93.
DEAKINS
If it's over and you beat me, you
disarm it.
HALE
Deak...
DEAKINS
Course you are going to need this.
(holds cell-phone
REMOTE)
All you have to do is get it.
(puts remote in
POCKET)
And if you do, as a special added
bonus, you get this.
Deakins pulls out...
THE TWENTY DOLLAR BILL
Then pockets it.
HALE AND DEAKINS
Share a look. Deakins puts up his fists.
DEAKINS
Ready?
Hale puts up his fists.
EXT. CAR CARRIER
It's a chain reaction, with one flaming Toyota setting off the
one above it or next to it.
BETWEEN BOXCAR AND CAR CARRIER
Terry is looking under the car carrier.
TERRY'S POV
The train car axle is smoking, grinding, glowing red in the heat
from the flaming Toyotas.
INT. BOXCAR
Hale and Deakins circle each other.
DEAKINS
Modern boxing is a pussy sport.
They want to make it about scoring
points. It's not about scoring
points! It's about this!
94.
Deakins fakes a right, jabs with his left, catching Hale on the
chin. Hale is jarred. Blood runs from his mouth.
DEAKINS
Okay. You're bleeding. Good. In
the old fights, there'd be so much
blood, guys would slip and fall.
Let's see if we can't get a little
more of that red goo out of you.
Ready?
Again Deakins fakes right, jabs left. Hale half blocks it, but
is sent back.
EXT. TRAIN
CU TRAIN AXLE
The axle is bending, grinding, groaning.
TERRY
Is between the car carrier and a boxcar, looking down at the
axle, not knowing what the hell she's going to do when she hears
a horn honking. She turns.
INT. BOXCAR
DEAKINS
Used to be, every fight was to a
knockout. You know what happens
when you get knocked out? It's
your brain slapping against the
inside of your skull. Here. I'll
let you see what it's like. Ready?
Deakins steps toward Hale, about to finish him off. Deakins
swings. Hale ducks, comes up hard with all he's got, gets
Deakins under the chin and Deakins sails up and back, landing
prone, seeing stars.
HALE
Stands over Deakins, in silhouette, the light of the hatch above
him. And then...
EXT. THE TRAIN AXLE
Snaps and...
THE TRAIN
Jumps the tracks.
INT. BOXCAR
Hale is thrown off his feet.
95.
THE NUCLEAR WEAPON
Swings wildly in the hammock webbing.
THE STRAPS
Securing the webbing to the walls of the car start to snap.
EXT. TRAIN
The front cars accordion sideways off the tracks, down a short,
steep, embankment. It's all grinding, twisting, groaning metal.
FLAMING TOYOTAS
Fly, tumble, explode.
INT. BOXCAR
Hale tries to get to his feet, but then the floor starts
dropping below him as...
EXT. THE TRAIN
THE NUKE BOXCAR
Goes down the steep slope of the embankment and stops.
THE TRAIN
The sounds of the crash cease. Dust and smoke. Burning Toyotas.
INT. BOXCAR
Flickering light from a burning Toyota comes in through the
slatted walls. In this weird light, Hale sees...
THE NUCLEAR WEAPON
It's above him, at the end (top) of the car. It's hanging in
mid-air, tangled up in the webbing. Two straps are the only
things keeping the nuclear weapon from dropping twenty feet to
the bottom of the car.
DEAKINS
Is lying at the bottom (end) of the car, directly under the
nuke, not moving.
HALE
Looks around for something. He sees it --
DEAKINS' REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
On the floor.
96.
DEAKINS' EYES
Flicker open. He sees...
A PISTOL
Lying a few feet away.
HALE
DEAKINS (O.S.)
You have to push amber, then red.
You might have time to push amber.
You won't get to red.
Hale turns to see...
DEAKINS
Pointing a gun at him.
HALE
The nuke is armed, Deak. If it
falls, the impact trigger will set
it off.
DEAKINS
I know.
HALE
Half a million people will die.
DEAKINS
(thinks, shrugs)
Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
ONE OF THE STRAPS
Holding the nuke tears through. One strap left.
HALE
His finger hovers over the amber button.
DEAKINS
Do it and I shoot.
Hale looks at Deakins.
HALE
I guess you really don't know me
that well after all.
Hale presses the amber button.
97.
DEAKINS
Shoots.
HALE
Spins back, blood spraying from his shoulder.
THE REMOTE
Falls from his hand.
DEAKINS
Is about to shoot again, then hears a tearing and looks up as...
THE LAST STRAP
Rips through and...
THE NUKE
Drops toward him, point first.
HALE'S BLOODY HAND
Grabs the remote and his finger presses the RED button.
ECU NUKE TIMER
Mid-air, dropping, the clock and display go blank as...
DEAKINS
His eyes fill with true terror as...
THE NUCLEAR WEAPON
Punches into Deakins, point first, crushing him.
HALE
Gets to his feet and stands over Deakins. He reaches down,
opens Deakins' pocket and pulls out the twenty-dollar bill.
HALE
Ready.
He heads out of the boxcar.
EXT. TRAIN TRACKS
Hale climbs out of the boxcar and starts running through the
train wreckage and burning cars, looking for Terry.
98.
A TV NEWSVAN
Pulls up and a REPORTER and CAMERAMAN jump out.
HALE
Keeps running through the wreckage. He stops, unable to breathe
when he sees...
A FOOT
In a boot, sticking out from under a burning Toyota.
HALE
Runs to the car, pulls at the foot, tries to push the car off
the body underneath. O.S. another vehicle drives up.
HALE
Come on! Oh, God. Oh, no.
Hale is pulling hard on the foot when...
TERRY (O.S.)
The Air Force pays you so little
you have to steal shoes off dead
people?
Hale turns to see...
TERRY
Walkins over from the Rancher's pickup truck.
WILKINS AND GILES
Are behind her, grinning.
HALE AND TERRY
Run to each other. They embrace, start smoothing each other's
hair, start wiping blood off each other's faces, start kissing,
only to be interrupted by...
THE TV REPORTER AND CAMERMAN
REPORTER
What happened here?
Hale and Wilkins and Giles share a look.
HALE
Uh...
(looks at flaming
TOYOTAS)
... somebody was trying to steal
some Toyotas.
99.
The reporter asks more questions. Hale and Terry walk off, arms
around each other. As they go, Hale sticks out his hand to
Terry.
HALE
Rawley Hale.
TERRY
Terry Carmichael.
They shake hands and walk on as we...
FADE TO BLACK
THE END
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