"xXx"
by
Rich Wilkes
August 26, 2001
Third Draft
FADE IN:
EXT. PRAGUE - NIGHT
On a hill above the city is an old CATHEDRAL. The night is
spooky, with harsh shadows playing across the cobblestones
and medieval walls.
A NERVOUS YOUNG HACKER makes his way down an alley.
There is a DOOR at the end of the alley. MUSIC can be faintly
heard from inside.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
High above the street an INTRUDER DRESSED ALL IN BLACK spies
from the roof. He's watching with NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.
He pulls out a CROSSBOW and FIRES.
A BOLT flies, trailing CABLE.
THUNK! It sticks into the alley wall below.
EXT. THE ALLEY - NIGHT
As he passes by the ominous Cathedral, the Hacker spins,
sure he's heard something.
But there's nothing there. He continues on.
Then the Intruder comes sliding down the ZIP-LINE from above.
WHAM! He kicks the Hacker into the wall, knocking him out.
The Intruder pulls off his mask, revealing the chiseled
features of a dashing BRITISH SECRET AGENT. His name is
STERLING.
STERLING
I hate to drop in unexpectedly.
Sterling searches the Hacker and pulls a SMALL BLACK CASE
from his coat. Inside the case is a DATA CHIP. Sterling tucks
it away.
Sterling unzips his black jumpsuit, revealing a crisp TUXEDO
underneath. He pulls out CAR KEYS. In a quick insert we see
the "ASTON-MARTIN" LOGO.
As he strolls back out the alley, he HEARS something and
flattens against the wall.
A BLACKED OUT SUV screeches to a stop, blocking his exit.
The SUV's HEADLIGHTS illuminate the slumped Hacker.
BAD GUYS get out to investigate, pulling out weapons.
Cornered, Sterling heads deeper into the alley, staying in
the shadows. He gets to that DOOR the Hacker was heading
towards.
As he PICKS THE LOCK Sterling can hear MUSIC from inside. He
smooths his hair and prepares to "blend in" with the crowd.
INT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT
Sterling comes through the door and his face falls. He's
stepped into a loud METAL CONCERT.
We see a GO-GO DANCER in LATEX. Onstage is RAMMSTEIN, a
bizarre German industrial-metal band.
The tattooed YOUNG CROWD slam dances and swings glo-stix
over their heads. Some wear rubber BRAIN SKULLCAPS outfitted
with fiber optic lights. It's a sea of SPIKED HAIR and BONDAGE
OUTFITS.
Sterling squares his jaw and starts pushing through the crowd.
With his tuxedo he sticks out like a penguin in a chicken
coop.
ON THE BALCONY ABOVE THE CROWD stands a wild haired young
GANGSTER with PIERCED BROWS. With him is a STREET-TOUGH GIRL
with multi-colored hair. They look like a post-Apocalyptic
Bonnie & Clyde. They are YORGI and PETRA.
Yorgi checks his watch. His delivery is late. Then his CELL
PHONE rings. He's getting the news from outside.
He looks down, spots Sterling amidst the moshing crowd. With
that look, that tux, there's no mistaking what he is.
They make EYE CONTACT and Sterling gives a little nod.
Yorgi calmly issues orders into his phone.
Immediately VIKTOR starts moving in Sterling's direction.
Viktor is huge, with a MOHAWK and a six-inch GOATEE.
Sterling sees him advancing and makes for the exit, pushing
through the freaky crowd.
EXT. CONCERT HALL - NIGHT
Sterling's ASTON-MARTIN VANTAGE screeches away from the curb.
INT. ASTON-MARTIN - MOVING - NIGHT
Sterling is at the wheel of his spy car. He plugs the DATA
CHIP into the dash and punches buttons. A computer screen
says "DATA DOWNLOADING".
He sees a BLACKED-OUT SUV racing up behind him.
He accelerates and hits a SWITCH.
ARMORED PLATING slides up over the rear window.
EXT. COBBLESTONE STREET - NIGHT
The SUV is right behind him. Viktor rolls down the passenger
window, readies his PISTOL.
The rear bumper of the spy car opens. SMOKE BOMBS drop out.
They explode in MASSIVE CLOUDS, obscuring the narrow, street.
Sterling skids around a corner.
The blinded bad guys drive straight into a STOREFRONT. Glass
and merchandise flies as the SUV gets stuck.
The Aston-Martin rounds another corner and slides to a stop.
Blocking the road ahead are two more SUV's.
A MOTORCYCLE slides to a stop in front of them. The rider is
ANDERS, a leather clad biker who looks half Viking.
Anders pulls out a SILENCED SUB-MACHINE GUN and starts
BLASTING.
BULLETS SLAM into the Aston-Martin, cracking the bullet-proof
glass, shattering headlights, and BLOWING OUT THE FRONT TIRES!
Sterling jams it into reverse and backs around the corner on
the RIMS.
INT. ASTON-MARTIN - IDLING - NIGHT
Sterling notices an ERROR MESSAGE now flashing on his computer
screen: "TRANSMISSION ERROR: - DATA PARTIALLY SENT".
Sterling looks around desperately. Somehow he's got to get
this data out of here.
Straight ahead is the RIVER. Chugging up the river: a PARTY
BARGE.
PARTYGOERS in formal attire dance to an orchestra. A SWIMMING
POOL is in the middle of the deck for a perfect water landing.
STERLING
Time for a slow boat to China.
He hits a BUTTON.
EXT. COBBLESTONE STREET - NIGHT
The rear license plate folds down, revealing a ROCKET ENGINE.
Flames spew as he jams down the accelerator.
Sterling is pushed back into his seat by the G-forces.
SPARKS fly from the rims as he skips across the pavement at
ever increasing speed.
Anders FIRES with his gun, but Sterling is getting away!
But then KIRILL steps around the corner. He's academic
looking, a CHAIN SMOKING intellectual with COKE-BOTTLE
GLASSES. He's also a highly proficient and cold-blooded
SNIPER.
Kirill puts his lit cigarette behind his ear and unslings a
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE LAUNCHER from his shoulder.
The Aston-Martin reaches the riverbank and goes AIRBORNE. It
ROCKETS through the air towards the party barge.
We see the car REFLECTED in Kirill's glasses as he AIMS.
On a little SCREEN we see the missile launcher HOME IN on
the HEAT SOURCE of the jet engine.
The missile locks-in and FIRES...
HEATSEEKER P.O.V. - we see a GREEN CAR with all its hot spots
GLOWING RED. Camera ROARS towards the flying car.
INT. ASTON-MARTIN - FLYING - NIGHT
Sterling sees the missile streaking at him.
STERLING
Oh bloody hell!
EXT. THE RIVER - NIGKT
WHOOMPH! The Aston-Martin EXPLODES in mid-air.
Partygoers shriek as the AXLE and FLAMING RIMS rain down on
the deck.
Kirill takes the cigarette from his ear, PUFFS IT.
Finally, Sterling's flaming BOW TIE flutters down and lands
on a LEAPING SALMON ICE-SCULPTURE above a tantalizing SEAFOOD
BUFFET.
CUT TO:
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C.
A STRAFING SHOT over the city. We make a sudden left turn
and SPEED OUT OF TOWN.
We shoot over to the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS of VIRGINIA. In
the middle of NOWHERE we dive towards a COMPLEX OF BLACK
BUILDINGS.
INT. UNDERGROUND HEADQUARTERS - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Inside it's modern, cold and high tech. An elevator COUNTS
DOWN to a deep basement level.
The doors open and a TALL MAN man with a PROSTHETIC LEG
strides down the empty hall. AGENT GIBBONS is African-
American, a battle-scarred WARRIOR. Even with a limp he looks
sturdy, confident, deadly.
At the end of the hall is a METAL DOOR.
INT. ULTIMATE INFORMATION ROOM - NIGHT
Gibbons walks into the INFORMATION ROOM of the NATIONAL
SECURITY AGENCY (NSA). There are WORLD MAPS, SATELLITE IMAGES
on COMPUTER SCREENS, TECHIES monitoring everything.
If a nuclear war broke out, you could run the country from
down here.
Gibbons takes an elevator up.
INT. SAM TANNICK'S OFFICE - NIGHT
The office is expensive yet devoid of personality, reflecting
the shadowy nature of it's owner. One wall is GLASS, looking
down on the information room. SAM TANNICK, grizzled NSA chief,
looks down at the activity below.
SAM TANNICK
Come.
Gibbons enters, stands by the desk.
GIBBONS
Evening, Sam.
Sam remains in shadow.
SAM TANNICK
What do you have?
GIBBONS
Not a whole helluva lot. His final
transmission was mangled. About
something or someone called "Ahab".
Whatever it is, it cost him his life.
SAM TANNICK
He was the best there was. That makes
three agents lost.
GIBBONS
They're ruthless and they have a lot
of firepower. It's only a matter of
time before they figure out how to
deploy Silent Night. Then we're gonna
have a catastrophe on our hands.
SAM TANNICK
Silent Night in the hands of a bunch
of impertinent cowboys
GIBBONS
We're gonna have to step in, Sam.
Those CIA boys couldn't find a clown
in a field of cactus. Let me take
care of it.
SAM TANNICK
How will you fix it?
GIBBONS
I'll go in with a team. But first
I'm going to need some intel. I'll
have to put someone inside, someone
new, someone they won't see coming.
One of their own.
SAM TANNICK
So you'll dredge the bottom again.
You've done that before. The results
were... uneven.
GIBBONS
You wanna find out about rats, ask a
rat. I've had my people put together
a talent pool. I downloaded it to
your desktop.
Gibbons snaps on the giant FLATSCREEN on Sam's desk. He starts
cycling through PHOTO AFTER PHOTO of TOUGH LOOKING MEN.
GIBBONS
The usual prospects. Convicts,
contract killers, murde...
SAM TANNICK
The scum of the Earth.
GIBBONS
But programmable. And expendable.
SAM TANNICK
I've seen enough. Turn it off.
Gibbons clicks off the screen.
SAM TANNICK
They're degenerates. There's not a
man in there that would give a damn
if the Chinese took over.
GIBBONS
That's exactly why we need them.
Sam sighs, stares out at the information room.
SAM TANNICK
Get these "scum", Mr. Gibbons, bring
them in. Test them. Train them. Find
your man.
CUT TO:
EXT. SKYSCRAPER - DOWNTOWN LA - NIGHT
The huge ARCO TOWER rises up towards a moonlit sky.
We see ACCOMPLICE #1 (TRAVIS PASTRANA) sneak up and take
position behind a FOUNTAIN.
ACCOMPLICE #2 (CAREY HART) sneaks across a roof and takes
position overlooking the fountain position of #1.
ACCOMPLICE #3 (DAVE MIRRA) takes up position in the second
story window of a FLOPHOUSE HOTEL down the street.
A MESSENGER (BOB BURNQUIST) skates up to the front of the
skyscraper with a PACKAGE. He gets the attention of the
SECURITY GUARD inside. The Security Guard unlocks the door
and lets him in.
Just then a VAN pulls up and ACCOMPLICES #4 (SHAUN PALMER)
and #5 (MAT HOFFMAN) hop out. They open up the back and a
BICYCLE is rolled out of the back by a MAN IN A HOODED JACKET.
Jacket Man rolls the bike to the skyscraper and enters the
lobby.
INT. SKYSCRAPER LOBBY - NIGHT
The Security Guard is checking his computer.
SECURITY GUARD
Crump... I'm sorry, no one by that
name.
K The Guard glances up as Jacket Man gets into an ELEVATOR.
SECURITY GUARD
Hey! You can't go up there!
The Security Guard rushes to intercept him. The Messenger
kicks his skateboard out, TRIPPING UP the Security Guard.
The Messenger hauls ass out the door. The Security Guard
pulls out his WALKIE-TALKIE.
SECURITY GUARD
We've got an intruder in the express
elevator!
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The button for "91 - ROOF ACCESS" is lit up. Jacket Man waits
patiently.
INT. 91ST FLOOR - NIGHT
This fancy office is empty for the night. The STAIRWELL DOOR
opens and a PLATOON of SECURITY GUARDS rushes in. They take
Up position in front of the elevator doors armed with BILLY
CLUBS and TASERS.
DING! The elevator arrives and the door swings open. But
there's NOBODY INSIDE.
One Guard steps forward and suddenly a bicycle SWINGS DOWN
from the ceiling, TAGGING HIM IN THE FACE. He falls back,
TASERING another Guard.
Jacket Man drops down onto his bike and pedals through the
chaos before the Guards know what hit them. There's a CURVY
PIECE OF ART in the room, some kind of modern art statue.
Jacket Man rides up the artwork like a ramp and does a
TABLETOP AERIAL over a DIVIDER. He hits the ground pedalling,
the Guards hot after him.
Jacket Man enters a HUGE OPEN ROOM with a FIELD OF CUBICLES
in the middle. He bunny hops onto a desk and SLIDES TO A
STOP. He tosses back his hood and we get a good look at him
for the first time.
He is XANDER CAGE. He's got a shaved head, bizarre TATTOOS
all over his body and multiple PIERCINGS. He's lean and
heavily cut, even dangerous looking.
The Guards charge at him and he HOPS up onto the top of the
CUBICLE WALL. This thing is maybe FOUR INCHES WIDE and FIVE
FEET TALL.
He pedals across the top of the cubicle wall, the Guards
scrambling after him.
Xander bunny hops over one guy's head onto the next set of
cubicles and pedals hard. The Guards fall all over themselves
trying to catch him.
At the other end Xander catches air and lands on a CONFERENCE
TABLE. He does a WHEELIE across it's length with Guards
closing in.
Xander springs up and does a TAIL WHIP, knocking them back
with his rear wheel. He lands and pedals to the stairwell
untouched.
EXT. THE ROOF - NIGHT
Xander bursts out of the stairwell to the top of the TALLEST
BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN LA. He climbs on a RAISED PLATFORM.
From here he can drop down onto another level that is strewn
with SATELLITE DISHES and MICROWAVE RELAYS.
Guards rush onto the roof and try to corral him.
Xander tears off his jacket, revealing a BACKPACK on his
back and VIDEO CAMERA on his chest. He pulls out a ROAD FLARE
and SPARKS IT. We see there are SOAKED RAGS tied to his
SPOKES.
He LIGHTS THEM with the flare. Then he TOSSES THE FLARE off
the building.
EXT. STREET LEVEL - NIGHT
The Accomplices see the flare drop. #'s 1, 2 & 3 pull CAMERAS
OUT and start filming.
EXT. THE ROOF - NIGHT
Xander races around the roof like a trapped animal. He evades
Security Guards, picking up speed.
With Guards right behind, he drops off the TOP PLATFORM and
lands on a massive SATELLITE DISH.
Using the dish as a ramp, Xander LAUNCHES himself OFF THE
TOP OF THE BUILDING. We're talking 90 some stories here.
He spins through the air, his bike on fire. He's doing end
over end backflips. One... Two... Three... Four...
He's looping through space on his bike, a crazy man on a
flaming bike against a backdrop of sleek skyscrapers and
night lights.
The stunt is covered by the various Accomplices and Xander's
own chest camera, in SUPER 8 and DIGITAL VIDEO, from four
different angles.
Xander ditches the bike, kicking it away from him and plummets
towards the ground.
At the last moment he throws out a "bucket" and his PARACHUTE
OPENS.
EXT. STREET LEVEL - NIGHT
The bicycle comes flying down and SMASHES into the pavement.
It bounces a full TWO STORIES back up before coming to rest.
Xander glides down and makes his landing. Accomplices #4 and
#5 rush out to help him gather up his chute and jump in the
van. SIRENS APPROACH as the van makes it's escape.
As COP CARS screech up to the skyscraper, one of them RUNS
OVER the smoking wreckage of the bike.
SLAM TO:
TITLE SEQUENCE - HARDCORE MUSIC plays as we see a flowing
TAPESTRY OF FLORID TATTOOS. SILHOUETTED against this backdrop
we see the OUTLINES of NUDE WOMEN riding BMX BIKES in a HALF-
PIPE, BLADING ever obstacles, SKY SURFING and doing street
SKATE TRICKS. It's a collision of outlandish imagery that
tells you one thing: This ain't your daddy's spy movie.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT
Xander, now on a MOTORCYCLE, zips through traffic. He's
smiling, leaning it way over on the turns. He's got another
BACKPACK on his back.
EXT. LOFT DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN - NIGHT
Xander drives his motorcycle into the garage of his building.
INT. XANDER'S LOFT APARTMENT - NIGHT
A FREIGHT ELEVATOR rises up, bringing Xander and his
motorcycle into the loft.
There are EXTREME SPORTS ACTION POSTERS on the walls,
MOTORCYCLE PARTS and BARBELLS on the floor, and everywhere
there's EXTREME SPORTS EQUIPMENT of every description.
XANDER
Sky, you there? Start packin' cause
we are out of here!
There's a NEATLY FOLDED FLAG hanging in a slightly crooked
FRAME on the wall. Xander straightens it as he goes by.
He hears her in the sectioned off "bedroom" and heads back
there.
XANDER
Did I promise you a fat vacation or
what? Get ready to get down in
paradise.
He comes into the bedroom to find SKY, his long-suffering
girlfriend. She's a wannabe artist type. She's got SUITCASES
and BOXES scattered around and she's PACKING.
XANDER
Hey, you don't need all this just to
go on vacation. Unless this ain't
for going on vacation...
SKY
I'm through, Xander.
XANDER
I can see that. Why?
SKY
You run around with maniacs jumping
motorcycles in the desert, you break
36 bones crashing wave runners and
snowboarding off cliffs, all with no
health insurance... It's insane, I
can't take it anymore.
XANDER
I'm having fun, what's the problem?
SKY
You have all this talent, and you
waste it. You won't take a single
endorsement deal. Meanwhile those
other guys have their own video games!
But no, you've got too much
"integrity" for that.
XANDER
I don't wanna go mersh, you know
that. But hey, if this is about
money...
He opens up the backpack, revealing WADS OF CASH.
XANDER
I got an advance on the next bootleg.
Let's get out of here, just you and
me. We'll chill out in Bora Bora for
a couple months.
She sorts through the money.
SKY
French Polynesia? This wouldn't last
us a week in a cheap hotel. Do you
know how expensive it is down there?
XANDER
Alright, so I'll get more.
SKY
It's not about the money, X! You
never plan for anything. I can't
live like that anymore, I need some
stability.
XANDER
Well if you're bailing, I guess I'd
better give you your surprise now.
He pulls off his shirt. Pierced through his nipple is a
DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING.
SKY
What...?
XANDER
I was gonna wait till the islands,
but...
SKY
You're serious?
XANDER
Of course I'm serious. I bought it,
didn't I?
SKY
(shakes her head)
This is so typical. I can't believe
you. I've barely seen you for the
last three weeks and now this? Are
you out of your mind?
XANDER
I don't know. I thought this is what
you wanted. You want stability, here
it is.
SKY
You can't just propose to me out of
nowhere. You think that's going to
solve our problems? I'm sorry, X. It
was a kick for a while, but it's
over. You're just not going anywhere.
XANDER
You're not exactly "going anywhere"
yourself.
SKY
You're wrong about that. I'm heading
out that door right now.
She heads towards the front door.
Just then the door BLOWS IN.
CRASH! -- the windows SMASH IN too. Then the LIGHTS GO OUT
as STORMTROOPERS in black body armor rush in, weapons drawn.
It's a blur of FLASHLIGHTS, PISTOLS and JACK BOOTS. It's
scary as hell. A professional take-down.
They slam Xander against the wall.
Just like that it's quiet again. Sky hyperventilates, a gun
in her face.
XANDER
She had nothing to do with the tower
jump. She's nobody. I just met her
last night. Tell them.
(with meaning)
I hardly know you.
The Stormtrooper looks at Sky. She nods. The Stormtroopers
take their guns off her.
Sky grabs up here stuff. She looks back at Xander.
SKY
Keep the ring. It looks better on
you anyways.
She heads out.
XANDER
God, I hate cops. What's the charges
this time?
The Stormtrooper pulls out a DART GUN and SHOOTS Xander. He
pulls a CHROME DART from his chest, examines it.
XANDER
(groggy)
You... pussies...
Xander slides to the floor.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. PAN'S DINER - DAY
A SIDEWAYS IMAGE: an out of focus COFFEE CREAMER.
Xander wakes up with his head on the counter of a DINER. He
shakes out the cobwebs.
XANDER
What the hell?
WHIP PAN as a WAITRESS walks by. Xander blinks.
XANDER
Hey. Where am I? How did I get here?
WAITRESS
I don't know, you wandered in ten
minutes ago and put your head down.
I told you we were closing.
Xander looks around, sees a TRUCKER chewing with his mouth
open. A SALESMAN buried in his NEWSPAPER.
Xander gets up. Where the hell is he? He takes a step towards
the door.
WAITRESS
Want some coffee?
XANDER
Huh?
The Waitress pours him coffee. QUICK PUSH TO: her hands are
shaking.
XANDER
You alright?
WAITRESS
(smiles)
Fine, just fine. Come on and sit.
I'll get you something to eat.
XANDER
Yeah, sure.
Xander sits. When he swigs his coffee, he notices something
written on his napkin in shaky ballpoint: "S.O.S."
What the hell? He looks at the Trucker. The Trucker's staring
at the waitress. QUICK PUSH TO: The Trucker has a BULGE
underneath his vest... then PUSH TO: The Salesman's eyes
darting about suspiciously, newspaper pulled up to his nose.
Something is going down...
He hears a SLOWED DOWN VOICE and glances back at the Trucker,
who's now fixing him with a DEATH STARE. Xander snaps from
his reverie.
XANDER
What?
TRUCKER
I said, you got a problem, boy?
XANDER
Problem? No, no problem. You go right
ahead.
TRUCKER
With what? I said, go right on ahead
with what?
XANDER
Whatever, dude.
The Trucker and the Salesman look at each other. Suddenly
they jump up.
The Trucker pulls a PISTOL from his vest, the Salesman
brandishes the SHOTGUN he had behind the paper. The Waitress
cringes.
TRUCKER
Alright, nobody make a move!
(to Xander)
Shoulda walked away when you had the
chance, dumb shit.
SALESMAN
Forget him, Buck, let's just do it.
TRUCKER
Shut up!
(in Xander's face)
You keep still or I'm gonna make
damn sure you stop breathing today.
Got that?
Xander stays strangely calm, his senses now fully focused.
XANDER
(shrugs)
Alright, "Buck", whatever you say.
The Waitress let's out a whimper.
TRUCKER
Keep your gotdam mouth shut and empty
that register! Couldn't just let him
leave, could ya! You know what I'm
gonna do to ya for that? Huh? Do
ya?!
She goes to open the register and knocks a tray of glasses
on the floor. Xander springs into action.
He CHOPS down on the Trucker's arm and ELBOWS him in the
face.
Xander twists the gun out of his hand and kicks his legs out
from under him.
The Salesman pumps on his shotgun, but it seems to be jammed.
XANDER
Better shoot me quick.
The Salesman fights with his gun but can't get it to work.
Xander advances on him.
XANDER
Too late!
He unleashes with a series of rapid front kicks to the jaw.
The Salesman goes crashing through the kitchen doors.
Xander turns to the terrified Waitress.
XANDER
Alright, bitch, what's going on?
She stares at him, unable to speak. He raises the gun.
XANDER
Talk! What's the game? Who are you
people?
The front door bell JINGLES. A guy with an impeccably tailored
suit and a cane hobbles in. It's Gibbons. There a problem,
Mr. Cage?
XANDER
Who the hell are you?
GIBBONS
The name's Gibbons. You were saying?
XANDER
What is this place?
GIBBONS
Looks like a diner.
XANDER
Diner, huh? Let me tell you what the
problem is. I wake up drugged to
find what? You've got a "salesman"
over here reading a three week old
newspaper. He's pulling a 211 with a
"trucker", who happens to be packing
a cop issue H&K 9mm. I get tipped
that something is going down when
she passes me a note. How's that for
twisted logic? How did she know there
was trouble unless they pulled the
guns before I "walked" in? And if
that's true, why'd they stop and
wait until I woke up to gaffle the
money? Then I notice how beefy they
both are. Hell, even the waitress is
cut. All three of them look like
they went through the same training
program. Ergo they ain't strangers
and this isn't what it seems. That's
how I knew yo-yo wouldn't get a round
off even if I gave him all day. Why?
He aims at the Waitress and FIRES! She's startled, but unhurt.
XANDER
Cuz there's nothing but blanks in
these guns. And no offense, but their
performances were terrible.
Xander tosses the gun on the counter. Gibbons gives a sly
smile.
GIBBONS
Not bad. Not bad at all. Have a seat.
Gibbons sits in a booth. Xander sits across from him. In the
background the Waitress helps the Trucker and Salesman up.
GIBBONS
Most guys we ran through this either
took off or helped them rob the place.
I expected you to do the same.
XANDER
That shows me already that you don't
have a clue. What's it to you, anyway?
GIBBONS
Whether you thought this was for
real or not, you jumped in and helped
the waitress on instinct. That tells
me something about your character.
XANDER
Good for you. Now why don't you stop
wasting my time and tell me what you
want. You didn't go through all this
for my benefit.
GIBBONS
It's your lucky day. You just might
get the chance to pay back our
wonderful country for all the freedom
you enjoy.
XANDER
A Fed, I shoulda known. Who else
would have this kind of budget? Now
you're gonna hit me with the sales
pitch.
GIBBONS
Alright, Cage, you've got me. This
is one of those moments. "Many are
called, few are chosen", that kind
of thing. Your government needs you.
Are you up for the challenge?
XANDER
..If you're trolling around for narcs,
man, have you got the wrong guy.
GIBBONS
Why is that?
XANDER
Look at me, dude, do I look like a
fan of law enforcement? Forget the
tests, you shoulda just asked me. I
woulda saved you a lot of trouble.
GIBBONS
Oh I don't know, I think the tests
work pretty well. Sometimes they
give me answers you wouldn't admit
to in a million years.
XANDER
Are we done now? You've got nothing
on me. So if you ain't booking me,
I'm walking.
GIBBONS
You've got this wrong. You're not
under arrest, you've been abducted.
And until I say different, you belong
to me.
XANDER
Is that a fact?
GIBBONS
Sure as gravity. I've had a feeling
about you from the start, Cage. It's
nausea.
XANDER
(smiles)
You know what I hate? Any scumbag
with a clean shirt and a bad haircut
can get one of those tin stars and
suddenly they think they're God.
GIBBONS
(smiles)
You know what I hate? It's always
the assholes that pass the tests.
There's a POP and Xander clutches his stomach. Gibbons tosses
his DART GUN onto the table. Xander blinks at him.
He pulls another CHROME DART from his gut and examines it.
XANDER
You bastards love to see me sleep.
WHACK! He goes face down on the table.
CUT TO BLACK:
CLOSE ON - XANDER'S FACE
He comes to, blinking in low RED LIGHT. He's shocked to find
that he's...
INT. AIRPLANE - TWILIGHT
Xander's on the floor of a military aircraft. TWO OTHER TOUGH
GUYS are waking up next to him. One's a greaser named VIRG,
the other is T.J., ex-Navy.
Xander notices as they each pull out CHROME DARTS. They sit
up, looking at each other. Xander chuckles.
VIRG
What's so damn funny?
XANDER
Been to any good diners lately?
The three laugh, realizing they're all in the same boat.
T.J.
We must be the final "candidates".
They quiet down as they notice for the first time, THEY ARE
NOT ALONE.
Sitting silently on benches facing them are SOLDIERS DRESSED
IN BLACK. They wear BLACK MASKS over their faces. They are a
nasty looking BLACK OPS TEAM.
XANDER
Nobody told me this was a costume
party.
The Black Ops Team, just stares.
T.J.
I've worked with guys like this
before. Black Ops. Serious government
spooks.
Virg notices something STRAPPED TO HIS BODY. They all have
them.
VIRG
Heads up, man. What's this thing on
my back?
XANDER
A parachute. This does not argue
well.
Then the red light switches to GREEN.
One of the Soldiers opens the JUMP DOOR. The rest of the
team advances on Xander, Virg and T.J.
VIRG
This is bullshit! Hey!
They drag Virg to the door and THROW HIM OUT. T.J. goes next,
kicking and fighting.
Then they turn on Xander.
XANDER
I get the picture.
Xander jumps out on his own.
We see him tumbling away from the airplane. Far below his
chute BLOSSOMS OPEN.
EXT. A FIELD - TWILIGHT
We see three chutes coming down. The first two HIT HARD.
We ROCKET IN on the last chute as Xander lands like a pro.
The other guys run up to him. Then they hear SHOUTING in
SPANISH.
VIRG
Jee-zus, man! What the hell now?
Another damn test?
T.J.
We should head for those trees.
XANDER
Don't look at me, brother. It's every
man for himself.
They wrestle out of their chutes and push past each other as
they TAKE OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
Xander runs low down a culvert. There's SHOUTING all around.
He flattens down and crawls up over the rise. What he sees
stuns him.
XANDER
You gotta be kidding me.
We crane up to reveal A FIELD OF POT PLANTS. There's a COCAINE
PROCESSING PLANT along the field's edge. The whole place
looks exactly like a Central American DRUG FARM.
NARCO TERRORISTS run around with AK-47's.
Xander sneaks past EQUIPMENT covered in CAMOUFLAGE NETTING.
A squad of Narcos runs by and Xander makes his move.
He rounds another pile of equipment and comes right into the
HEADLIGHTS of a truck.
Narcos hop out and charge forward.
Xander raises his hands.
XANDER
You boys are too good for me. Guess
I failed this one, huh?
They grab him and haul him away.
INT. TORTURE ROOM - NIGHT
We see a RUSTY MEAT HOOK. A CHAIN is wrapped around it.
Attached to the chain, his arms over his head, is Xander.
He's in the middle of a bleak looking room. There are
BLOODSTAINS on the wooden walls, the floor strewn with filthy
HAY.
Behind him against the wall Xander sees T.J. and Virg both
HOG-TIED.
XANDER
So much for "every man for himself".
Nice to see you again, fellas.
T.J.
They really went all out on this
one. This is a pretty gnarly setup.
VIRG
Check the table in the corner.
There's a BLOOD STAINED TOWEL COVERING a TABLE near the door.
XANDER
This oughta be good.
Then they hear talking outside and the door is UNLOCKED.
A very nasty looking Marco comes in. By his look he's the
LEADER.
XANDER
This must be el jefe. How's it goin'
jefe? Some weather we're havin'.
Narco Guards bring in one of their PARACHUTES and toss it on
the floor. They exit, closing the door behind them.
Jefe goes to the table throws back the towel. Beneath it are
HIDEOUS, BLOOD ENCRUSTED TORTURE DEVICES: a HACK SAW, a BOLT
CUTTERS, KNIVES, CHISELS, a BLOW TORCH.
XANDER
What's on the menu tonight? The old
blowtorch-to-the-family jewels
routine, I'll bet. Hey, you want
roasted nuts, let's break out the
Planters.
T.J. and Virg both crack up. Jefe gives them a withering
look.
JEFE
Do you know what we do with people
come round here? You know what we do
with people come in our business?
Jefe passes his hand over the various tools. He finally
settles on a crude MACHETE. He walks amongst them brandishing
it.
JEFE
We cut the Achilles tendon. Your
feet flop around like a marionette.
You ain't walkin' nowhere no more.
Sound good, tough guy? Or maybe
instead you wanna tell me something.
He stops in front of Xander.
JEFE
Whatchu doing here?
XANDER
Oh, I don't know. It was an accident.
JEFE
That's some accident, hombre. You
accidentally fall out of a plane in
the middle of the night and land up
in my back yard.
He BACKHANDS Xander across the face.
JEFE
We seen this kind of parachutes
before, you know. U.S. Army. You got
some friends here, jump out with you
guys?
XANDER
We're anti-social. We don't have any
friends.
Jefe SLAPS him again.
JEFE
No friends, huh? That's funny, I
don't know no U.S. Army that comes
without no friends. That's cuz U.S.
Army is pussies. They always come
with the five hundred guys and the
helicopters and the see-in-the-dark
glasses. So don't you tell me you
all alone out here, my friend. You
bullshitting the wrong guy.
Xander looks over at T.J. and Virg.
XANDER
Who's writing this dude's dialogue?
VIRG
He's a pretty good actor, though.
T.J.
Makes the diner look like a sixth
grade play. He's even got them crazy
eyes.
JEFE
You ain't begun to see crazy yet,
amigo.
XANDER
We're on to the game, ese. You got
the fake blood splattered all over
the walls, you got your torture
tools... It's all very cute. But
come on, let's quit while you're
ahead. I'm only trying to save you a
beatin'.
JEFE
You saving me? You talking pretty
tough for a guy got himself chained
to the ceiling.
XANDER
(shrugs)
Alright. You wanna eat through a
tube, be my guest.
JEFE
Now you're gonna make me enjoy this,
funny guy. Now I'm gonna take the
whole foot off. Whatchu think of
that?
A low THUMPING is heard outside. It's the sound of approaching
HELICOPTERS, lots of them.
Then the night ERUPTS in GUNFIRE. It sounds like a full scale
assault outside.
JEFE
What's that, eh? I thought you didn't
have no friends!
Jefe goes into a fury. He SWINGS his machete at Xander's
legs.
Xander JUMPS UP, grabbing on to the chain above, and KICKS
Jefe in the chest.
Jefe falls back and Xander climbs up to the roof BEAM.
He grabs onto the beam with his legs and UNHOOKS his chain
from the meat hook.
He drops down, six feet of chain still hanging from his cuffed
wrists, and Jefe comes charging at him.
Xander dodges a few wild swings.
He grabs Jefe's PANT CUFF and dumps him on his ass.
Jefe scrambles to his feet, drawing his PISTOL.
Xander swings his chain and WHIPS the gun out of Jefe's hand.
With another swing he WRAPS the chain around Jefe's neck and
pulls it taught.
XANDER
Keys. You got 'em?
Jefe nods, choking, and reaches into his pocket.
XANDER
Hand 'em to me.
Instead Jefe hurls them out the window.
XANDER
I hope you're getting paid extra for
this.
Xander jerks the chain, slamming Jefe head first into the
wall. Jefe drops, knocked out.
Outside it sounds like a full scale FIREFIGHT. Xander gets
the machete and CUTS the ropes holding T.J. and Virg.
Then a HAIL OF BULLETS sprays through the room.
All three guys hit the deck but T.J. gets shot. He clutches
his side, BLOOD all over his hands.
T.J.
I'm hit! I'm hit!
VIRG
They're shooting for real! This is
all real.
Xander knows this is true.
XANDER
Aw shit.
He checks out T.J.'s wound.
XANDER
Help me with this guy.
VIRG
It's like you said, every man for
himself.
Virg bolts for the door.
XANDER
That only works if you're a man!
EXT. DRUG FARM - NIGHT
Narcos are shouting, running to and fro.
TRACER ROUNDS cut through the air. They are trying to repel
an UNSEEN ASSAULT FORCE.
Overhead SIX MILITARY HELICOPTERS buzz the compound like
Apocalypse Now, their NIGHT SUNS lighting up the place.
Xander comes out of the torture building holding T.J. in a
fireman's carry. His hands are still CUFFED, the length of
chain dragging.
Xander crouches behind some equipment, putting T.J. on the
ground.
XANDER
You alright?
T.J.
I used to be a SEAL, it's not the
first time I've been shot. Thanks,
man.
XANDER
Keep your head down, I'll be right
back. I'm gonna steal us some wheels.
Xander moves on, finds cover under the camouflage netting.
He can see Narcos shooting into the trees at the UNSEEN ENEMY.
Looking the other way, he spots Virg running back his way.
He's been corralled by one of the Helicopters.
He's zigzagging, trying to stay out of the beam of it's Night
Sun.
Xander darts out and GRABS him, pulling him under the
camouflage netting.
VIRG
They're all over the place! What the
hell's going on?
XANDER
Looks like we're in the middle of
the drug war.
The Helicopter lights up the camouflage netting.
They're pinned down.
XANDER
Alright Mr. free-for-all, you go
that way, I'm gonna go this way.
They can't follow us both.
They squat down in runners stances, the helicopter kicking
up DUST all around them.
XANDER
Go!
They jet off in opposite directions.
Xander books, running for all he's worth. His cuffed hands
and the dangling chain make it difficult.
He's heading straight into the FIELD OF POT PLANTS.
Suddenly the massive SPOTLIGHT picks him out.
XANDER
Shit!
The CHOPPER swoops down after him.
Its big GATLING GUNS turn, aiming right at him.
BRAAAAAAAAPPP! The guns cut loose, tearing up the ground
right behind him.
Xander sprints, the chopper after him like Cary Grant in
"North By Northwest", except instead of corn fields, Xander's
running through a field of HUGE MARIJUANA PLANTS.
Xander hits the deck and the chopper soars over him.
Xander cuts over a couple rows and hunkers down amongst the
plants.
All around him it's a chaos of Helicopters and GUNFIRE.
Two choppers attack the factory building, BLASTING it with
their guns. Narcos run terrified.
Xander notices a FAT PURPLE BUD on the plant right in front
of him. He SNAPS IT OFF.
XANDER
I'm gonna need to hit the trees after
a night like this.
He tucks it-into his shirt and takes off through the POT
FOREST.
Xander finally spots a vehicle. It's a TRUCK LADEN WITH BAILS
OF COCAINE. He heads for it.
Then the SPOTLIGHT finds him again and the Chopper swings
around. The gatling guns RIP the plants to pieces all around
him.
Xander hauls ass, heading for the truck.
Bullets chew up the dirt all around him.
As the helicopter passes overhead, it's guns RAKE THE TRUCK.
There is a FLASH as the GAS TANK goes up.
WHOOOOPPHH! A SUPERNOVA OF FIRE AND HIGH-GRADE COKE erupts
into the night air.
Xander dives into a DRAINAGE DITCH. He tumbles down into
FILTHY WATER.
A powdery cloud washes over him, dusting the trees white.
Near him is a big DRAINPIPE leeching sewage. Xander crawls
inside.
The Chopper makes another pass overhead.
The big spotlight plays over the area, then moves on.
Xander gives a sigh of relief. He crawls out of the drainpipe.
JEEPS race by on the road right above him as MILITARY MEN
flood the compound. There's no going back.
Xander turns and makes his way along the tree line.
The chopper and gunfire are in the distance now. Things are
quieter here and he starts to relax. Bad idea.
As he goes by, one of the TREES moves.
He takes a few more steps and the grass he just walked on
EXPLODES UPWARDS. ARMS reach out, tackling Xander from behind.
Another TEAM of BLACK OPS SOLDIERS bursts from the weeds,
the bushes, all perfectly camouflaged like the landscape.
They fall on him like a curtain.
XANDER'S P.O.V. - Soldiers hold him down while a BLACK HOOD
is pulled over his head.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. AIRPLANE HANGER - DAY
As the MASSIVE HANGER DOORS CLOSE we can see CHOPPERS taking
off and landing. MEXICAN SOLDIERS load Jefe and his Narcos
onto a FEDERALE BUS. Virg resists and is BEATEN. T.J. can be
seen being loaded into an AMBULANCE.
The hanger doors slide shut with a THUD.
We see Xander's HANDS as the CHAINS are cut away.
Xander sits in a chair with the BLACK HOOD still over his
head. He blinks when the hood is torn off. A Black Ops Soldier
smirks as he walks away.
Xander looks around, sees the Black Ops Team unpacking some
STRANGE GEAR. Two of them are dumping bottles of a CLEAR
LIQUID into a RUSTY CLAWFOOT BATHTUB.
XANDER
Nice of you to draw me a bath. Is it
Saturday already?
The Black Ops guys grin knowingly.
On the other side, Xander sees a FLIGHT CREW readying a
GULFSTREAM for travel. Gibbons steps up from behind him.
GIBBONS
Congratulations, you've just graduated
at the head of your class.
XANDER
You're a cold piece of work. You
almost got three people killed out
there.
GIBBONS
Good thing you were there to save
the day. Come walk with me.
Xander gets up and Gibbons leads him on a stroll around the
GIBBONS
You've really got me confused, Cage.
On the one hand you showed leadership,
courage under fire, a willingness to
protect men you hardly knew... and
on the other you have an arrest record
that pegs you as near sociopathic.
Help me out here. I'm not following
your evolution.
XANDER
You want the cheap backstory? The
runaway mom, the suicide dad and the
foster homes? Gimme a break. You're
not interested in my past, you're
interested in my future as some kind
of spy.
GIBBONS
You're perceptive too. I forgot to
add that to the list of surprises.
I'm with the National Security Agency.
And unlikely as it may sound, I need
your help.
XANDER
I'm not interested. I've already got
a job.
GIBBONS
You're an adrenaline junkie with one
foot in the penitentiary. You risk
your ass building a daredevil myth
that means nothing and you're not
getting any younger.
XANDER
I plan on getting a lot older. And
playing spy games sounds like a quick
way to get yourself dead.
GIBBONS
That's too bad. I thought a guy like
you would appreciate the challenge.
As they walk by the Black Ops guys, Xander sees they're
getting busy. One spreads out a plastic DROPCLOTH. Another
plugs in a BONE SAW.
XANDER
What's this? You're gonna try to
scare me now?
Gibbons grabs a CHICKEN LEG from a guy eating lunch.
GIBBONS
Do you know the reason why I try to
recruit guys like you? There's no
risk.
He tosses it into the tub. Instantly it starts to SIZZLE and
BUBBLE. The tub is full of ACID.
GIBBONS
There's nobody back home who's gonna
ask questions if you just... disappear
for a while.
In seconds the entire leg has been consumed, leaving only a
oily cloud of residue.
Gibbons eyes him coldly, nailing the point home.
XANDER
Now I'm the one who's nauseous. So
what's the deal? What do you need me
for?
GIBBONS
There's some folks I want to keep
tabs on. Dirty, tattooed, uncivilized.
Your kind of people.
XANDER
What do I get out of it?
GIBBONS
If you find out what I want to know,
and if I'm able to successfully use
that information, you get to go back
to your degenerate little life. If
not, you take a bath.
XANDER
You're one sick bastard. A sadist
with a badge looking to rope me in
to a suicide mission. I think no
matter which way I go I'm likely to
wind up face down on a sheet of
plastic. So here's my answer: kiss
my ass, Hop-along.
Gibbons kicks the back of Xander's leg and dumps him on his
ass. Gibbons was so quick, Xander never saw it coming.
The Black Ops guys clap and cheer, always interested in a
fight.
XANDER
Not bad for a gimp.
GIBBONS
What's with that "X" on the back of
your head? Does that mean you're
"extreme"? I've got some news for
you, Mr. X, you're a three time loser.
So maybe you should tattoo another
couple of X's on your head.
Xander gets up.
XANDER
I'll take that under advisement.
Maybe I can be like you and lose a
leg for the old Stars and Bars. I
bet the flag's a great comfort every
time you need help climbing stairs.
Gibbons lunges and grabs Xander's throat in the vice-like
grip of his thumb and middle finger.
GIBBONS
One twitch and my finger and thumb
will meet inside your esophagus.
Believe me, Mr. X, I've put foot to
ass for my country on many occasions
and I don't feel the urge to stop
just yet. So think carefully before
you tell me: Is "kiss my ass, Hop-
along" your final answer?
The fingers are so powerful that Xander is paralysed. He
looks over, sees the bone saw start revving.
XANDER
(choking)
No.
Gibbons releases his grip.
GIBBONS
I thought you might see it my way.
Then Xander starts walking away.
GIBBONS
Where you going, X? I said where you
going?
The Black Ops guys grab weapons, ready to stop him.
XANDER
You tell me.
Xander climbs up the steps of the Gulfstream.
XANDER
There better be a movie on this Goddam
flight.
INT. GULFSTREAM - DAY
Xander sits with Gibbons in big leather chairs. They are
surrounded by NSA AGENTS in suits.
A NERDY AGENT snaps an ANKLET around Xander's ankle.
XANDER
How about a pedicure as long as you're
down there. What's this? Lo-Jack?
GIBBONS
Wherever you go on the planet, I'll
find you. There's no quitting. If
you try to take it off, a ring of
needles will inject enough curare
into your bloodstream to kill you
before you hit the ground. Is all
that clear?
XANDER
Yeah, I spy or I die.
INT. EMPTY FIRST CLASS LOUNGE - SUNSET
Orange light floods this beautiful airline lounge. There's a
fully stocked bar, a snack table, all unused. That's because
it's been sealed off for NSA use. (NOTE: perfect product
placement opportunity for an AIRLINE).
Xander, Gibbons and his Men are all silhouetted against the
smoked glass windows.
The Nerdy Agent hands Xander a Palm Pilot sized ELECTRONIC
DEVICE.
NERDY AGENT
This is your communicator. You'll
identify yourself by a call sign.
From here on out you're Bulldog Omega
5.
XANDER
You must stay up late to come up
with shit like that.
GIBBONS
I expect you to call in regularly
with progress reports.
XANDER
Fine, but I'm not gonna be no Bulldog
Omega 5.
Gibbons checks his watch. They get up and start walking.
INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - SUNSET
The phalanx of Agents surrounds Xander and Gibbons as they
walk to the gate. The Nerdy Agent hurries to catch up.
AGENT
Uh... Call signs derive from the
parameters of the mission.
GIBBONS
If he doesn't like it, we can make
an exception just this once. We'll
call him "Triple X".
They walk past the gate, down the jet-way, the Agents FLASH
BADGES to the GATE WORKERS.
XANDER
Up yours.
GIBBONS
Crude and defiant as always, Triple
X. It fits so well because you're
obscene.
Xander is the last one to board the plane.
XANDER
Is that all?
GIBBONS
Just remember, I'll be watching.
As the door closes, he looks back at Gibbons and his phalanx
of Agents.
XANDER
I've got something for you to chew
on. Next time you send someone to
save the world, make sure they like
the planet the way it is.
The jet's door CLOSES.
INT. COMMERCIAL JET - NIGHT
Xander is in the last row against the bulkhead. He's got a
personal DVD player and headphones and he's reviewing his
mission. The high-tech screen shows photos, maps, cool
graphics.
The KID sitting across the aisle leans over for a look.
KID
What game is that?
XANDER
Slick graphics, huh? See these dudes?
They're called "Anarchy 99", they're
the bad guy bosses.
KID
Do they have any special powers? The
bosses always have special powers.
XANDER
You wanna check it out? Come here.
The kid moves to the seat next to Xander.
Onscreen see photos of the FIVE BAD GUYS from the opening
sequence. We DIVE IN to the computer as Xander describes
them.
For each of the baddies, we'll see 3-D PHOTOS and VIDEO CLIPS,
all enhanced with COMPUTER GRAPHICS and POP-UP MENUS.
XANDER
First we've got Anders, the psycho
looking biker. In charge of
transportation and smuggling. Controls
every trucking union in Eastern
Europe. Don't look too clean, either.
We see ANDERS, the wild-eyed and unclean Swedish biker,
against a backdrop of MOTORCYCLES and MUSCLE CARS.
XANDER
Next we got a Siberian redneck,
Viktor. Into snowmobiles and
snowboarding. So naturally, he covers
prostitution and the drug trade.
KID
Naturally.
We see Viktor, with the goatee and belly, doing some hairy
snowboarding.
KID
This guy's kinda dorky lookin'.
XANDER
Kirill, the sniper. Looks like a
bookworm, but he had 72 confirmed
kills in Chechnya, they called him
the "Finger of God". Assassination
and weapons.
We see Kirill in UNIFORM with his well used SNIPER RIFLE.
KID
Who's the hottie?
He indicates Petra, the tough gangster chick. With her LEATHER
and TATTOOS she looks like she could mop up the floor with
Lara Croft.
XANDER
You like her, huh? Petra. She runs
their finances, money laundering,
computers. Joined the gang after
spending some time as the girlfriend
of this dude, Yorgi Azar Zimin. Capo
of Anarchy 99.
Finally we see YORGI, the unlikely looking Mafiya Don. We
see CRIME SCENE PHOTOS that illustrate his exploits.
XANDER
Yorgi masterminded the take-over of
three Red Mafiya clans. Cops called
it "blood week". He combined all of
their global enterprises into one
huge crime syndicate: Anarchy 99.
KID
(skeptically)
"Anarchy" 99"?
XANDER
What are you gonna do? They're Euro-
trash.
KID
What weapons do you have?
Xander clicks on "INVENTORY". He scrolls through a staggering
array of WEAPONS and VEHICLES.
XANDER
Just about anything I want, it looks
like. This is gonna be tough, though.
There's no way to save this game. I
gotta get it right the first time
through.
KID
What do you get if you finish?
XANDER
Nothing, really. My guy is just doing
it to stay alive.
KID
Oh. I bet by the end he gets something
out of it.
XANDER
Like what?
KID
He gets to be the hero.
The Kid's mom calls him back to his seat. Xander looks at
the kid, then gets back to his research.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PRAGUE - DAY
We CRANE UP from the COBBLESTONE STREET as a BEAT-UP CAR
races by. We rise up, revealing PRAGUE in all it's glory.
INT. BEAT-UP CAR - MOVING
Xander sits in the back, wedged between TWO IDENTICAL LOOKING
TOUGH GUYS. If you were to call Central Casting and ask for
a couple of cold war spy types, this is what they'd send.
They're both 6' 4", have sloppily cut hair, square jaws,
wrinkled overcoats.
XANDER
This is bullshit, man, I wanna see
some ID.
The two tough guys flash their COP ID's. Xander studies them.
"IVAN PEDGRAG" and "IVAN PODROV".
XANDER
You're both named Ivan? That's gotta
be confusing on Valentine's Day. So
where we headed? Fellas, I said where
we headed?
(beat)
Yeah, whatever.
He looks out the window, sees a GRAND HOTEL. They drive right
on by.
EXT. DIRTY APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
It's a crumbling old dump in a nasty part of town. Xander
shakes his head.
XANDER
James Bond never had to put up with
this shit.
Ivan 1 pulls Xander's gear bag from the trunk and throws it
on the sidewalk.
Xander picks it up and carries it into the building.
INT. DIRTY APARTMENT - DAY
Dumpy furniture, roaches, cracked windows. Xander is ushered
in. There's another GUY in a UGLY SUIT waiting. He is
DETECTIVE MILAN SLOVO.
SLOVO
Sit down.
XANDER
I've been on a plane for twelve hours,
I think I'll stand.
Ivan 1 shoves him into a chair.
SLOVO
My name is Slovo, Czech secret police.
When you are here you are under my
jurisdiction, you take my orders,
you do what I say. If you become any
kind of an inconvenience, I'll shoot
you.
XANDER
Here we go again.
SLOVO
You're here because your government
is putting pressure on my government.
This is an internal affair, a Czech
affair, that you are interfering
with. I will warn you once: Don't
shit in my lawn. Get whatever
information your government seeks
and get our.
XANDER
First of all, you should kill whoever
sold you that suit. Two, I don't
wanna be here either, so just step
off. Three, if you had the authority
to shoot me you would've done it by
now, so just ease up on the machismo,
bitch. Now that we've got that sorted
out, I'm gonna get some rest.
Xander lays down on the bed. Slovo stares, burning with
hatred. He heads to the door.
SLOVO
Be ready in three hours.
Slovo exits. Ivans 1 & 2 stay, staring at Xander.
EXT. HALF-PIPE DISCO - NIGHT
A fancy, flashy disco with an extreme sports theme. A big
bouncer in a leather coat works the door. This is a highclass,
expensive joint but it still looks seedy and dangerous.
Xander and Slovo walk up to the place. Xander's wearing a
Tshirt that says "RON JEREMY: AMERICAN LEGEND" complete with
a photo of the Hedgehog.
INT. HALF-PIPE DISCO - NIGHT
A STRIPPER that looks like a runway model SLIDES across the
stage on SKATEBOARD KNEE-PADS while PATRONS cheer. The disco
is a combination STRIP-CLUB and CONCERT VENUE. All the
STRIPPERS are outfitted in HELMETS, ELBOW PADS, G-STRINGS
and BELLY SHIRTS.
There's a WARPED TOUR BAND playing on a STAGE. On either
side of the stage are two MINI-HALF PIPES that the GIRLS are
cutting back and forth on.
WEALTHY BUSINESSMEN sit in plush booths getting table dances
while the dance floor is packed with sexily dressed YOUNG
HIPSTERS.
Xander gets a beer from a BUXOM COCKTAIL WAITRESS on IN-LINE
SKATES.
XANDER
Nice hops.
SLOVO
The corner. Anarchy 99.
Slovo points them out in the far corner. They're surrounded
by straight faced BODYGUARDS.
What ANARCHY 99 is doing in their booth with the STRIPPERS
looks like Led Zeppelin on tour. Booze, broads, good times...
These guys are living like rock stars.
They're all here: Anders the biker, Viktor, Kirill. In the
middle sit Yorgi and Petra. Petra's wearing an "I AM EVIL"
Tshirt.
SLOVO
See the one with the funny colored
hair? Crazy bitch stabbed one of my
men in the knee-cap. There they are,
American. The low-rent millionaire
criminals. And you thought only your
country had white trash. American?
He looks around but Xander is gone. He heads for the exit,
pushing his way through the crowd. But then he spots him,
not by the door but deeper in the club.
SLOVO
Oh no!
He sees Xander walk right up to the Anarchy 99 booth and
start talking to them.
SLOVO
Jesus Christ!
Slovo can't hear a thing, but they're obviously interested
in what he has to say. Next thing he knows Xander is pointing
at him and waving him over.
SLOVO
(horrified)
What the hell...?
Slovo makes his way through the crowd to the booth. Yorgi
looks him up and down.
XANDER
That's the guy.
YORGI
This pizda? Never seen him before.
XANDER
(to Slovo)
Who you workin' for? What do you do
for a living, dickhead?
SLOVO
Uh... I am... I work in insurance.
Xander grabs Slovo and starts searching him.
SLOVO
(panicked whisper)
What the hell are you doing?
He slams Slovo up against the wall and pulls out Slovo's
police badge.
XANDER
Look what we have here. Czech 5-0 on
the mack.
The Bodyguards pull out guns and Slovo rushes for the
emergency exit in a panic. In seconds he's out and gone.
YORGI
Cops. Like a plague. No matter how
many you pay there's always another
with his hand out. How did you pick
him out?
XANDER
He flashed his badge to half the bar
when he bought his drink.
YORGI
I appreciate you bringing this to
our attention. Whatever you want,
the rest of the night, consider it
on the house.
Yorgi waves over some strippers.
XANDER
Thanks, but I'm here on business. I
heard you're the G around here. I'm
looking for some cars, expensive
ones. A lot of them.
YORGI
Sorry, man, don't know what you're
talking about.
XANDER
I'm talking about the sports cars
that disappear off the docks in Genoa
and wind up here. If you don't know
about 'em, who does?
Yorgi nods and the Bodyguards step in front of Xander.
XANDER
I guess I heard wrong.
Xander turns to leave.
That's when Anders notices the "X" tattoo on the back of
Xander's head. He gets excited and alerts Yorgi.
YORGI
Xander Cage!
Xander turns. Suddenly their whole demeanor changes. All
five guys get up, awed, and push the Bodyguards out of the
way.
ANDERS
The X man! We seen your bootleg
videos!
VIKTOR
You sick! You sick crazy on a board,
on a bike! Everything!
YORGI
This is insane, man. Xander Cage in
Prague. Come on, sit. Sit with us.
Yorgi signals for more drinks.
YORGI
I remember that one where you jump
the motorcycle over the freeway at
rush hour.
XANDER
When else are you gonna do it?
VIKTOR
You almost died on that one.
XANDER
Cops arrested me while I was still
in surgery. Did two months.
YORGI
We seen all your shit! So you want
cars? We get whatever cars you need.
What are you looking for?
XANDER
Ferrari's, Lamborghini's... high end
pasta rockets. Ten to start.
ANDERS
Ten! No problem! We do that no
problem!
Petra elbows Anders.
PETRA
Ten is hardly worth the effort. We're
talking a lousy million five U.S.
XANDER
I have Japanese buyers who are looking
to move a fleet, if you have the
quality of merchandise they're after.
And it's a mil two, max.
Petra glances at Yorgi who nods.
PETRA
Do you know what a wire transfer is?
XANDER
Is she for real? Honey, maybe you
should quiet down and let the grownups
have a conversation.
PETRA
My goodness, a word with four
syllables. I should get some ice
before your brain gets too hot.
XANDER
Sure. Just chisel some off your heart.
PETRA
(smiles)
So cute. He shows up for a battle of
wits with a mental butter knife.
Xander looks to Yorgi.
YORGI
(laughing)
Don't look at me, X, she handles all
the details.
XANDER
It'll work faster if I have an account
number.
Petra scrawls numbers on a cocktail napkin.
PETRA
You'll have forty-eight hours to
complete the transfer. Don't waste
our time.
Xander snatches the napkin.
XANDER
Wouldn't dream of it. I'm even gonna
throw in a few extra bucks to send
you to charm school.
Petra glares at him.
YORGI
Alright, now that business is
finished, we party! Bitches, come!
We have a drink and toast the deal!
Yorgi claps and a flock of strippers descends on the booth.
Anarchy 99 lifts their glasses. Xander joins in the toast.
XANDER
I believe I can hang with you fellas
for a while.
INT. UNDERGROUND HEADQUARTERS - HALLWAY - MORNING
We see the FEET of AGENT POLK sprinting down the hallway.
INT. ULTIMATE INFORMATION ROOM - MORNING
Agent Polk looks around, spots Gibbons. He rushes to him,
waving a COMMUNIQUÉ.
Gibbons grabs the communiqué, reads it. He looks up, stunned.
INT. DIRTY APARTMENT - DAY
Xander is having coffee at his window when his communicator
RINGS.
XANDER
(into phone)
I guess you got my E-mail. I set up
a purchase. Ten cars.
INTERCUT WITH GIBBONS IN INFORMATION ROOM
GIBBONS
If you're trying to push my buttons,
you're on the right track. Don't
make me question my own judgment, X.
XANDER
Buddy, you sent me here to get close
to their organization, that costs
money.
GIBBONS
One point two million dollars? I did
not authorize you to spend one point
two million dollars!
XANDER
I'm already on a first name basis
with these dudes, I got a deal set
up, you want me to hammer it or not?
GIBBONS
We're not after car thieves here.
XANDER
What the hell am I after? You're
telling me dick.
GIBBONS
That information is classified. You're
there to gather information on their
operations, period.
XANDER
Call me crazy, but I thought hooking
up a million dollar deal was a great
way to get on their good side. What
else? You gonna hassle me about the
weapons and spy stuff too?
GIBBONS
My friend, if you're planning on
crossing me...
XANDER
I know, poison needles in my shins.
You've got 36 hours. Peace, out.
Xander hangs up.
INT. SAM TANNICK'S OFFICE - DAY
Gibbons stands before Sam's desk. Sam scans over the
communiqué.
SAM TANNICK
Ridiculous. Cut him off. I'm sorry
Gibbons, you pulled up a shark this
time.
GIBBONS
I think we should send him whatever
he wants.
SAM TANNICK
You what? A wire transfer of this
size?
GIBBONS
If it means getting Silent Night
back, absolutely.
SAM TANNICK
You're talking about a very expensive
risk here.
GIBBONS
He's gotten closer in 24 hours than
all of the other operatives combined.
He got us an account number to boot.
Now even if he's just dumb and lucky,
I say we back his play.
(beat)
I put him out there, Sam. If he
doesn't come up with the money,
they'll kill him. I can't let that
happen.
SAM TANNICK
Why not? You were going to throw him
in a tub full of acid, weren't you?
Gibbons smiles.
SAM TANNICK
Alright, do what you want. But keep
the screws on him. He's a wild card.
That could be either good or bad.
GIBBONS
So the odds are up to fifty-fifty? I
can deal with that.
CUT TO:
EXT. CZECH POLICE BUILDING - ROOFTOP - DAY
A HELICOPTER comes flying in, a MAN standing out on the strut.
He's a disgruntled GADGET WRANGLER from the NSA. His name is
TOBY LEE SHAVERS.
Slovo and Xander watch from a distance as a series of METAL
CASES is unloaded by CZECH COPS. Slovo lets out a low whistle.
SLOVO
Your government must know something
we don't.
Shavers walks up to them.
SHAVERS
Hate those Russkie choppers. Rattle-
trap pieces of garbage. I'm agent
Shavers. Toby Lee Shavers. I'm looking
for what's his name. Three X' s.
XANDER
That's would be me.
Shavers gives him a disapproving look.
SHAVERS
Figures. You got someplace we can
spread out my gear or what? I mean
today.
Slovo gestures towards the stairs and Shavers marches off,
muttering to himself.
SLOVO
I'll leave you two alone to talk.
XANDER
Yeah, thanks a lot.
INT. CZECH POLICE BUILDING - BASEMENT TRAINING AREA - DAY
Down in the basement there is a SHOOTING RANGE along one
wall. A squad of CZECH COPS is BLASTING AWAY. They become
distracted by the noise in the middle of the room.
One of the metal boxes has been dropped by a Cop. The rest
are spread out in front of Xander, Slovo and Shavers.
SHAVERS
Back off, just go away you klutz.
Alright, here's the story. The items
in these cases belong to me. I
designed them, built them, and was
going to use them in the field myself
until you showed up.
XANDER
I stole your beat, huh? Guess you
forgot to brown-nose the right people.
SHAVERS
Is that supposed to be funny? I'm
not laughing. I've worked for ten
years to get my shot at being a field
agent, funny boy. And ar the last
minute I get bumped by you, some
reject from the Ozzfest.
XANDER
Why don't you show me some gear before
you get hurt.
SHAVERS
Listen to you. Right away, sir,
anything you say, sir.
Shavers pops open the first metal case. Inside are various
GADGETS laid into the molded carbon fiber lining.
XANDER
What is all this? I didn't even order
some of this stuff.
Shavers holds up a small METAL BALL.
SHAVERS
You're gonna need it, rookie, trust
me.
The metal ball unrolls into a six legged ROBOT INSECT.
SHAVERS
An all-terrain mobile video monitoring
system for surveillance. I call it
the "Roach Cam". See the little camera
it's got for a head?
Xander picks it up.
XANDER
Kinda looks like you.
Shavers snatches it back. He puts on a METAL GLOVE, it's
fingers are SHARP TALONS.
SHAVERS
"Terminator" climbing claws.
He CLAMPS the claw onto the metal case. It holds fast.
SHAVERS
Miniature power cams set in on
contact, giving you a sure grip on
any surface.
XANDER
They come in any other styles or
colors?
He tosses the glove aside, pulls out a DART GUN.
SHAVERS
This is your standard dart gun.
XANDER
That one I'm real familiar with.
Shavers displays a case of DARTS.
SHAVERS
You've got your chromium knock-out
dart, microphone listening dart,
explosive dart, even one with a
splatter blood packet, whatever you
need. They also come in a special
9mm casing for use with your service
pistol.
Xander pulls out some SUPER BINOCULARS.
SHAVERS
Multi-view binoculars. Nine different
enhanced vision modes, plus a digital
camera.
Xander looks through them, starts cycling through the
different modes.
BINOCULAR P.O.V. - we see the various modes as Xander scans
the grounds.
SHAVERS
Infrared, starlight... Even a special
"penetrator" mode to see through
walls, curtains, almost anything...
Xander aims at the shooting range.
BINOCULAR P.O.V. - we see through the clothes of the FEMALE
COPS on the shooting range. (PG-13 style, of course). We can
even see the INNER WORKINGS of their GUNS. One of the Female
Cops turns and gives Xander an approving look.
XANDER
I think I'll hang on to these.
SHAVERS
Think again, that's government
property. You have to sign for
everything. I've got one more that
wasn't on your list.
Shavers pulls out a JUMPSUIT.
XANDER
From the Beastie Boys collection?
SHAVERS
It's a stakeout suit. It's got food,
water, recording gear, anything you
need for covert spying. It's all-
weather, fire retardant, and if you
give this buckle a sharp pull, the
whole outfit deploys into a parachute.
XANDER
You're joking, right?
Shavers just gives him a deadpan look.
SHAVERS
Now that I've given you the overview,
we're going to spend the next couple
hours going into extensive operational
detail.
XANDER
I thought that was in detail.
As Shavers drones on, Xander hangs his head.
EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - DAY
The TEN BLACK MARKET EUROPEAN SPORTS CARS are loaded on two
TRANSPORT TRUCKS. Mafiya BODYGUARDS keep watch.
The Ivans (in Teamster garb) inspect the cars while Xander
supervises. Anders hovers around him.
ANDERS
So what you think? Beautiful!
Sitting in an OFFICE watching are Yorgi, Kirill and Petra.
Petra has a LAPTOP.
YORGI
Has it arrived yet?
Petra checks her computer. ON SCREEN she's monitoring their
BANK ACCOUNT.
PETRA
Nothing. He had two days.
YORGI
Perhaps he is not all he says he is.
Outside the Ivans nod approval and Xander heads to the office.
Yorgi looks to kirill, who puts his hand on his PISTOL.
Xander opens the door.
XANDER
Very nice. I'm impressed.
YORGI
I'm somewhat less so. We seem to
have a bit of a problem...
Just then Petra's computer BEEPS and the MONEY floods into
their account. Xander holds up a CELL PHONE and smiles.
XANDER
I had to inspect the merchandise
first.
YORGI
Of course.
He nods for Kirill to stand down.
OUTSIDE - the two transport trucks are driven off by the
Ivans. As they pull out they reveal ANOTHER CAR under a COVER.
XANDER
What's this?
YORGI
This is a gift. From me to you.
Anders pulls off the cover, revealing a cherry '72 PONTIAC
GTO.
YORGI
It's a little nothing, you take it.
Xander checks out his new ride. Yorgi gets in the passenger
seat.
YORGI
Come on, get in.
Xander sits behind the wheel and STARTS IT UP. The big engine
ROARS.
XANDER
You're alright, Yorgi.
Next door to the warehouse sits an ABANDONED BUILDING. Up on
the sloped roof, Slovo spies down on the transaction. He's
got a camera with a big zoom lens.
SLOVO
Smile, bychara.
Slovo snaps a few pictures but his view is obscured. To get
a better vantage, he JUMPS DOWN onto a lower part of the
roof.
CRUNCH! His foot BREAKS THROUGH THE SHABBY ROOF TILE.
Down below, Kirill hears the noise.
KIRILL
Yorgi!
They all look to the abandoned building.
Through the second floor window they can see Slovo's leg
poking through the ceiling.
Xander is taken aback.
YORGI
What in the hell...?
Yorgi turns to Xander, goes for his pistol.
Thinking fast, Xander does the same.
They draw simultaneously and hold the guns to each other's
heads as they sit in the car. Petra, Kirill and Anders draw
as well, all of them covering Xander.
YORGI
What's going on, my friend?
XANDER
You tell me! You got a sniper up
there or what?
YORGI
He's not with us, Xander. He must be
with you.
XANDER
(he cocks the hammer)
Bullshit! You get your boy off that
roof or I swear to God I'm gonna
give you another hole to breathe out
of.
Yorgi stares, finally believes him. He lowers his gun.
YORGI
Get him! Find out who he is!
By now Slovo is down the fire escape. He hits the ground and
goes running down the street.
The Anarchy 99 crew heads for their cars. Xander SPINS the
cylinder on his REVOLVER.
XANDER
I've got him. Buckle up.
The GTO peels out.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Slovo is huffing and puffing as fast as he can when Xander
comes skidding around the corner. He looks back and sees the
speeding GTO.
YORGI
That's the cop from the club!
Xander does the only thing he can. He puts the car sideways
and aims out the window as he slides to a stop.
Slovo turns and BLAM! Xander SHOOTS Slovo right in the chest.
IN SLO-MO: a spray of BLOOD erupts from his chest and Slovo
falls backwards, his face frozen in a look of shock and
betrayal.
The smoking shell clatters to the ground.
Slovo blinks up at Xander, gasping for words, then lays still.
Xander hops out, rifles through Slovo's pockets. The other
Anarchy 99 cars pull up, the whole group looking on.
YORGI
What are you doing? Get in the car!
Xander heads back to the GTO and the cars peel out.
INT. GTO - MOVING - DAY
The rest of Anarchy 99 follows behind the GTO.
YORGI
I don't believe it! You can't shoot
a cop in the middle of the street!
XANDER
(grim)
Had to do what I had to do.
He pulls out the roll of FILM. Yorgi laughs.
YORGI
You say you get a million, you get
the million. Some cop gives us shit,
he's dead. Jesus Christ, man, you're
hard-core!
EXT. DEAD END STREET - DAY
The Ivans pull up in their transport trucks. They see all
the blood and rush towards Slovo. But something doesn't look
right.
Ivan 1 TASTES the blood and spits it out.
IVAN 1
It's sweet.
Ivan 2 pulls a CHROME DART from Slovo's chest. Slovo GROANS.
INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
It's a crowded basement rave club. Hot and sweaty RAVERS
dance in provocative outfits. The Anarchy 99 group is standing
on the best booth, right on the packed dance floor.
Surrounding them are a handful of MAFIYA BODYGUARDS who stand
at attention like the Secret Service.
Anders swings from a water pipe and then drops onto the table,
smashing glass.
A DRUNK GUY tries to pull Petra onto the dance floor and she
PUNCHES him. The Bodyguards drag the dude out for a proper
thrashing. Yorgi shatters a BOTTLE against the wall.
YORGI
Total chaos, man! Welcome to Anarchy
99!
XANDER
What's "Anarchy 99"?
YORGI
It's all this craziness! It's what
we've been living since 99, when we
left the Army. One of our brothers
died in Grozny and we said the hell
with this shit. What for? He dies
for what? Politics? Who's politics?
Not ours.
XANDER
You wanna see my politics?
Xander shows him a TATTOO on his arm. It shows PLANET EARTH
with a giant SCREW through it.
XANDER
Screw the world. If I'm gonna die
for something, it better be bitches
and money.
YORGI
That's what I'm talking about, man!
That's why Anarchy 99 was born.
Yorgi rolls up his sleeve, revealing an Anarchy 99 tat (a
circled "A" with "99" underneath).
YORGI
To us it means no walls, no speed
limits, no jails. It's everybody
does what he wants. People think
democracy is freedom but they don't
have a clue. There's an old punk
song. It says: "America stands for
freedom, but if you think you're
free..."
XANDER
"...try walking into a deli and
urinating on the cheese". 'Anarchy
Burger' by the Vandals.
YORGI
You got it, man. It's stupid but
it's true. True freedom is when you
do whatever you want anytime you
want. That's when you know you're
living, man.
XANDER
How you gonna do that with government
and rules everywhere?
YORGI
Easy. You get enough money that you
grow an ass big enough for the whole
world to kiss.
Yorgi throws a fistful of money onto the dance floor. The
Xed out ravers swat it around like confetti.
YORGI
You hang with us, buddy, taste some
freedom! Petra! Dance with this guy!
Yorgi melts into the dance floor crowd, leaving Xander alone
with Petra. She gets up grumpily and starts dancing. Xander
joins her, but she won't even look at him.
XANDER
This is great, dancing with the back
of your head.
She reluctantly turns around.
XANDER
If you got a problem with me, why
are we dancing?
PETRA
Yorgi asked me to.
XANDER
You do everything Yorgi says?
PETRA
Go to hell.
XANDER
It's gonna be like that, huh? You
got all bent out of shape as soon as
he started dancing with someone else.
Why's that?
PETRA
Mind your business.
XANDER
Did you guys used to date? That's
it, right? He broke your heart and
you're still soft on him. That's
funny, it don't seem to fit with a
tough broad like you.
She glares at him and walks away. Xander follows.
XANDER
Where are you going?
PETRA
Why are you still hanging around?
Your business is finished, you should
go home.
XANDER
I was invited. What's your story?
PETRA
I don't know who you are or where
you come from, but I don't like you.
You ask too many questions.
There's a big line outside the "ladies" and no line at the
"men's". Petra heads into the Men's Room.
Some DUDE whistles at her. She pushes him out of the way and
enters a stall. Xander leans on the sink.
XANDER
Come on, don't front like that. You'll
put a guy right off you.
PETRA
Don't even bother, X man, I'm not
your type.
XANDER
That right? Why's that?
The stall door flies open and Petra marches out.
PETRA
My chest is too small and my brain
is too big.
She shoves him to the door and stomps back to her stall.
Xander walks back out, shaking his head and laughing.
Across the room, Viktor shoves the D.J. out of the way and
puts on "ANARCHY BURGER" by the Vandals. The rave dance is
interrupted by the pounding punk beat.
YORGI
Xander, check it out! The revolution
begins!
Viktor and Anders swiftly turn the dance floor into a violent
mosh pit. Xander can't help it, he actually likes these guys.
YORGI
Let's get some air, man.
Yorgi and Xander head outside. A moment later, Kirill hurries
out another door.
EXT. PRAGUE RIVERFRONT - NIGHT
It's late. Yorgi and Xander stroll along the river.
XANDER
You got a great set-up here Yorgi.
You really know how to live.
YORGI
It's a beautiful town, Prague. It's
been good to me.
XANDER
I've been here before, when I was a
kid. My old man was in the service,
we used to live on the Army base in
Hamburg.
YORGI
You, an Army brat? I don't see that
one at all. Did you join the service
as well?
XANDER
Hell no. My dad was a straight up
tin soldier. Somehow he pissed this
general off and got himself
dishonorably discharged. Had a court
martial and everything. The charges
were total bullshit, so he was sure
he'd get his name cleared, but it
didn't happen.
YORGI
Connections and politics, it's the
same everywhere.
XANDER
My old man, he bought into the system,
and it screwed him. So he swallowed
a bullet. Me, I don't believe in
nothing I can't see and touch.
The camera suddenly ZOOMS across the city, flying over streets
and houses until, half a mile away, it finds Kirill in a
window with his SNIPER RIFLE.
P.O.V. THROUGH SCOPE - Xander's head is in the crosshairs.
The scope pans over to Yorgi, who looks INTO CAMERA and gives
a small signal, calling off the hit.
BACK ON YORGI AND XANDER
Yorgi looks up at a "PRAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE" banner.
YORGI
Next week these idiots are having a
peace conference here. What the hell
are they going to talk about? It's
the system itself that causes all
the world's problems. You're okay,
buddy. Come on, it's getting early.
They stroll off and Kirill stands down.
EXT. PRAGUE STREETS - SUNRISE
A flotilla of VEHICLES (Xander's GTO among them) drives
through the gate in a massive, stone wall. It's a big manor
house in the middle of town.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - COURTYARD - PRAGUE - SUNRISE
The GTO, sedans, SUV's park in the courtyard. Xander sees a
row of MOTORCYCLES parked here as well.
Xander also sees a Guard hit a switch that LOWERS the HEAVY
WOODEN GATE.
Yorgi corrals a bunch of STRIPPERS he's brought home.
YORGI
This way, girls, let's go!
He leads the whole troop inside.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - HALLWAY - SUNRISE
As they go down the hall/Xander sees ROOMS FULL OF OFFICE
WORKERS and MAFIYA GOONS.
VIKTOR
Diversified global operations. The
sun never sets on our empire.
Xander takes in WORLD MAPS, FAX MACHINES, BANKS OF COMPUTERS.
For all their screwing around, it's clear Anarchy 99 runs a
large operation.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - MAIN HALL - SUNRISE
With leaded glass windows overlooking the river, this place
is beautiful. Inside it's done up more like the house from
MTV's "Real World", except trashed. There's cool fish tanks,
a pool table, PS2 on a flatscreen and spray paint and holes
all over the walls.
SERVANTS welcome them with food and Yorgi's SECRETARY gives
him important messages.
YORGI
(sorting through
messages)
Not bad, yes? The original owners,
they just one day decide to move
out.
Anders starts pounding on a drumset. Petra kicks a soccer
ball at him.
PETRA
Yeb vas, z'opa. Shut up!
Yorgi paws at a Stripper.
YORGI
I've got meetings this afternoon,
I've got to get some sleep. Just
pick a girl.
XANDER
That's alright, I'm kinda tired.
YORGI
You want to insult me? This is my
hospitality. Pick one.
Xander points at one of the Strippers. She's wearing a
fashionable FLAK JACKET.
YORGI
Good, now find a room to crash in.
Petra, show him.
The surly Petra opens a door, revealing a hall of doors.
Xander and Flak Jacket follow.
XANDER
You gonna tuck us in?
She just gives him a nasty look, walks into her room and
slams the door. Xander scratches his head and picks a room.
The others shuffle off to their beds with their Strippers.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - XANDER'S ROOM - SUNRISE
Flak Jacket is out of sight in the bathroom. Xander talks to
her while he gets undressed.
XANDER
Listen, no offense, but I'm not in
the market right now, okay? You can
stay here, but let's not --
He trails off as she steps out of the bathroom. She's wearing
just a G-string and the flak jacket.
XANDER
You don't understand a word I'm
saying, do you?
She just smiles at him sweetly and pulls his shirt off. She
looks at the ENGAGEMENT RING still pierced through his nipple
and gives a puzzled look.
XANDER
Stupid, right? That's what I was
trying to tell you. I just got out
of this heavy thing...
She kisses him and lets the flak jacket fall (PG-13 style).
XANDER
The things I have to do for my
country.
He gives in and starts making out with her.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - HALLWAY - LATER THAT MORNING
Xander sneaks out of his room and down the hail. Behind him,
we can see Flak Jacket asleep amongst the tussled sheets.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - MAIN HALL - MORNING
Anders is snoring on the floor. Xander skirrs around him and
goes through another door.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - OFFICE - DAY
Xander finds an office and starts going through the desk. He
finds a PALM PILOT and snaps a RECORDING DEVICE to the bottom.
In seconds he's copied everything on it. He moves on to some
drawers.
PETRA
What are you doing?
He turns, sees Petra standing in the doorway with a GUN.
XANDER
Looking for a phone book. I want to
call a cab. Unless you wanna give me
a ride?
She shuts the door, advances, staring him down.
PETRA
Who are you?
XANDER
We hung out last night, remember?
PETRA
I also remember you drove your car
here. Who are you really? Make no
mistake, I will shoot you and not
feel bad about it. Who are you working
for?
XANDER
Hey, take it easy. I'm just a dude
trying to make a buck.
She SLAPS him, hard.
PETRA
Bullshit. I see you look at
everything, study everything, ask
questions. I know exactly what you're
doing. Empty your pockets.
XANDER
You've got to relax, baby, you're
paranoid.
She SLAPS him again and Xander goes for her gun. Before he
can pry it from her hand, she's pulled another gun from
nowhere and has it jammed against his neck. He lets go.
XANDER
Hey, you're good.
PETRA
Maybe we should start again, yes? I
know so little about you, except
that you're not what you say you
are.
XANDER
That makes two of us then, sweetheart,
because I ain't buying your bullshit
either. You're not like them, I can
see it in your eyes. So you tell me,
who's bullshitting who?
INT. YORGI'S BEDROOM - DAY
There are THREE STRIPPERS asleep in bed. Yorgi is sitting at
his COMPUTER in his underwear.
He's hacked in to the CZECH POLICE network.
YORGI
Something bothers me about you, Mr.
Xander Cage...
He looks around a bit, doesn't find what he's looking for.
He sits up, getting pissed.
YORGI
Get Kirill. Now!
She heads out. Yorgi goes to the bathroom, splashes water on
his face.
Kirill enters, still half asleep.
KIRILL
What's the problem?
YORGI
I'm inside the police mainframe. Do
you see anything?
Kirill studies the screen while Yorgi pulls on clothes.
KIRILL
What?
YORGI
I've searched their E-mail. No funeral
announcement, no obituary, no call-
to-arms. Nothing on the news, even.
I swear I saw a cop get shot
yesterday. How come no one is talking
about it?
Kirill looks back at the screen. Nothing there.
YORGI
I also check the wire transfer. I
follow the money back to it's source,
but there is no source. It comes
from nowhere. First they bring CIA,
then British SAS, now maybe they
plumb the lower depths. Maybe now
they send someone who looks like us.
Maybe someone like our houseguest
Mr. X.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - OFFICE - DAY
Petra still has the gun on Xander.
PETRA
I don't know what you're talking
about.
XANDER
The eyes don't lie. All this has
gotten to you, hasn't it, Petra? You
came in as Yorgi's girlfriend and
you stayed because it was fun. Now
you don't like it so much, but you're
in so deep you can't get out anymore.
Tell me if I'm wrong, Petra.
PETRA
Go to hell!
XANDER
Look at you. You're helping run things
now. You're a gangster. I bet that
snuck up on you. You woke up one day
and you were a criminal.
She pulls back the hammer on her gun.
XANDER
It's cool, I feel you. I might even
be able to help. Here, let me show
you something. You wanna see what's
in my pocket, I'll show you.
He makes a move and she jabs the gun at him. She reaches
into the pocket for him and pulls out his little data
recorder.
PETRA
What are you?
XANDER
I'm an information gatherer. You
wanna go somewhere and talk about
it?
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - HALLWAY - DAY
Yorgi creeps down the hall, Kirill in tow. They both screw
SILENCERS onto their PISTOLS.
They flatten themselves up against the wall and prepare to
burst into Xander's room.
One...
Two...
THREE! They kick in the door and aim their guns around.
Flak Jacket sits up, terrified.
Yorgi and Kirill lower their guns. Viktor stumbles by in his
underwear.
YORGI
Where is he?
VIKTOR
They went to breakfast.
INT. ROMANTIC RESTAURANT - DAY
This is a beautiful and historic Prague location with WINDOWS
and a nice view. It's rather fancy and PACKED with UPSCALE
PATRONS. Petra and Xander sit in the middle of the room,
sticking out badly in their grungy clothes.
A WAITER takes their order.
PETRA
Perogies, potato pancakes, fried
goose livers, the sausage plate and
a pot of Turkish coffee.
Xander shakes his head.
XANDER
I'm just gonna have a garden salad.
Oil and balsamic vinegar on the side.
The Waiter takes off. Petra puffs on a cigarette, staring at
Xander.
PETRA
That's how you eat? It's like a
gerbil.
XANDER
(shrugs)
I'm from L.A.
PETRA
So why don't you tell me something
about who you gather information
for. They obviously have very deep
pockets. Are you from a rival clan?
XANDER
Let's just say I'm freelancing and
leave it at that.
PETRA
Whoever sent you knew what they were
doing. You and Yorgi are practically
twins. Two nihilistic fashion victims
who make a lot of noise but don't
say much.
XANDER
Don't judge a comic book by it's
cover.
PETRA
You agree with a lot of what he says,
don't you.
XANDER
I know where he's coming from. The
only thing I really don't get is why
he dumped you. Up until I found that
out, I thought his judgment was pretty
sound.
PETRA
Don't even start. I'll be honest, I
don't trust you. Bur lets pretend
for a minute that what you say is
true, that I want to leave. What can
you do about it?
XANDER
The people I know want facts, the
kinds of things an insider would
know. They're interested in putting
Anarchy 99 out of business.
PETRA
All I have to do is risk my life
providing you with these facts.
XANDER
We could work together. Then maybe
we could both get the hell out of
here. There's a beach in Bora Bora
with my name on it.
PETRA
A beach named X? That I'd like to
see.
XANDER
So there you have it. I guess you
just have to ask yourself, how bad
to you want out?
She thinks on it. Then her cell phone RINGS.
PETRA
(into phone)
Da!
KIRILL (O.S.)
(on phone)
Listen very carefully, Petra. We
think Cage may be an American agent,
do you understand what I'm telling
you?
PETRA
(into phone)
Yes.
KIRILL (O.S.)
(on phone)
Don't worry, I've got your back. I'm
right across the street, above the
bakery. Just bring him outside and
let me do the rest.
Kirill hangs up. She looks back at Xander, shell shocked.
XANDER
What's up? Is there a problem?
She studies his eyes, decides to risk it.
PETRA
They tell me you're an American agent.
XANDER
What are you talking about?
PETRA
There's no more time for games. They
made you. There's a sniper out front
waiting to put a bullet in your eye.
Tell me if it's true.
XANDER
It's a long story, but yeah, more or
less.
PETRA
Jesus Christ. You're going to have
to go out the back. The data that
you copied with your toy. Tomorrow,
at six o'clock. Look it up. We're
taking a trip. Be there at six and
you'll have plenty to tell your
people.
XANDER
If I go out the back, he'll know
you've warned me.
PETRA
That's alright, I'll figure something
out.
XANDER
Not an option. Just get up slowly
like everything's cool. Petra, trust
me. You just hung yourself out to
dry for me, I'm not gonna let you
down.
EXT. BAKERY ROOF - DAY
Kirill lays on his stomach, peering into the scope of his
SILENCED SNIPER RIFLE.
P.O.V. Through scope - he can faintly see them inside the
crowded restaurant. Xander and Petra are making their way
towards the exit.
KIRILL
Nice and easy, Petra...
INT. ROMANTIC RESTAURANT - DAY
They work their way through the lunchtime crowd.
PETRA
I can't let this happen. I want you
to go out the back. I'll make up
some excuse.
XANDER
They'll kill you, you know they will.
Besides, there is no back door. Keep
smiling. Ready? Now.
EXT. ROMANTIC RESTAURANT - DAY
Xander's timed it perfectly so that just as they get to the
door, a BUS passes by.
Kirill keeps focused, waiting for the bus to pass.
P.O.V. THROUGH SCOPE - Xander's head is sporadically visible
through the bus windows.
Kirill's finger tightens on the trigger...
As soon as the bus passes he FIRES!
But Xander's not there, he's ducked down to tie his shoe.
CRASH! The glass door behind him shatters. Feigning surprise,
Xander PUNCHES PETRA IN THE FACE and sprints down the block.
He runs bent low, the parked cars protecting him from the
sniper. Kirill fires anyway, taking out car windows.
At the end of the block is a long staircase with a METAL
RAIL down the middle.
As he runs by an outdoor restaurant Xander snatches the
SERVING TRAY from a startled WAITER, sending food and drink
flying.
He hops on the serving tray like it's a skateboard and does
a RAIL-SLIDE down the length of the stairs. He's moving too
fast for Kirill.
He jumps off at the bottom and the tray POPS UP INTO THE
AIR.
Kirill BLASTS it like a clay pigeon.
By now Xander is out of sight. Kirill pounds his rifle in
frustration.
Petra gets to the top of the stairs. She gives Kirill a "Where
did he go?" look. Her nose is bloody, helping to sell her
performance.
Then she turns and looks off after Xander. She sees his GTO
speeding away.
FADE TO:
EXT. NORWEGIAN FJORDS - LATE AFTERNOON
We're looking down at a SHIP moving through the fjord, seen
from high above. It's towing a SMALLER BOAT behind it. An
airplane? No, we're at the top of the Trollveggen, Norway's
legendary "Troll Wall". It's a near 5,000 foot sheer drop to
the ocean.
Six figures stand at the edge of the barren cliff. They wear
webbed "squirrel" jumpsuits, helmets and parachutes. On each
thigh they have pistols and on their chests they have silenced
MP-5 sub-machine guns. Together they stare down at the ship.
Petra is among them. She looks down at her watch. It is
precisely 5:59PM. She glances around. The top of the cliff
is rocky and flat. Xander is nowhere to be seen.
FIFTY YARDS AWAY - we see Xander sneaking forward military
style. He's got his "stakeout suit" on and is keeping low.
HE CHECKS HIS WATCH: "6 PM"
The members of Anarchy 99 put on their goggles and, without
saying a word, they leap off the Troll Wall.
Xander runs to the edge and looks down. He sees the group
freefailing down the sheer cliff face.
XANDER
Very nice.
The six plummet away from him at incredible speed. In a hard
arch, they peak at 120 m.p.h.
Then, using the webbed wings under their arms and between
their legs, they go into aerodynamic "track" positions and
rocket away from the wall.
Like dark angels, they soar out over the water in formation.
ON THE SHIP BELOW --
The ship below is a scientific research vessel. On the deck,
a few SAILORS and SCIENTISTS watch the sun set.
The six dark figures close in rapidly.
At the last moment they pull their chutes and deftly glide
towards the ship.
A sailor looks up and spots them.
Before he can shout, he's SHOT IN THE LEG and goes down.
Seconds later, they're on the deck, tearing off their rigs.
They race across the deck, taking over the ship in a surgical
manner. They herd everyone back heading for the bridge.
Petra hangs back. She looks back at the cliff, up towards
Xander.
XANDER'S P.O.V.
Through his SUPER BINOCULARS we see them storming the bridge.
As they head inside, they disappear from view.
Xander hits a button on the side of the binoculars.
XANDER
Let's see what's going on inside...
"PENETRATOR" P.O.V.
Now he can see THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE SHIP.
He sees THE CREW, herded into a room and LOCKED IN by Anarchy
99.
INT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
Anarchy 99 seals the door, locking the crew away. They slap
five and bump chests, still totally amped up.
EXT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
ANGLE ON - a LARGE SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLE. It's white and twelve
feet long. There are MOTORS on either side and a PANEL OF
SOLAR CELLS on the top of a periscope-like projection rising
from the back.
This is the AHAB DEVICE. It sits in the WET WELL at the back
of the ship, ready to be launched out the back sea doors.
YORGI
Ready the boat.
There is a SMALLER BOAT moored to the back of the ship.
Kirill and Viktor hop onto it's deck. They start to WHISTLE
as they work. Sounds like the "Andy Griffith" theme.
XANDER'S BINOCULARS P.O.V.
He takes DIGITAL PHOTOS of the Ahab device.
XANDER
What the hell are you guys stealing?
BACK ON THE SHIP
The smaller boat is launched and ready to do. Yorgi goes to
the WET WELL CONTROLS and hits a switch.
The aft doors open, letting water into the wet well. In
seconds Ahab starts to float. Anders loosens it from it's
moorings and they TIE AHAB TO THE BACK OF THE SMALLER BOAT.
KIRILL
Ready.
Yorgi hits another switch, opening the BALLAST DOORS on the
port side of the ship. Air flows out, causing the ship to
list to one side.
PETRA
What are you doing?
YORGI
It all happened so fast. Such an
unfortunate accident.
Yorgi MACHINE GUNS the wet well control panel.
YORGI
Let's go.
They climb onto the boat. Petra is the last to board. She
looks up towards Xander and MACHINE GUNS the panel some more,
making sure he notices.
XANDER'S P.O.V.
He sees the smaller boat pulling away, the Ahab device being
towed behind. He pans over and ZOOMS IN on the shot-up control
panel.
XANDER
What the hell...?
He pans over to the wet well and sees it's flooding.
With the ballast open on only one side, the ship starts
LISTING. The thing is going down.
He pans over, clicks into "penetrator" mode, and sees the
Crew pounding on the walls below decks. They're trapped,
their WRISTS AND ANKLES BOUND WITH PLEXI-CUFFS.
EXT. TOP OF TROLL WALL - LATE AFTERNOON
Xander puts down the binoculars and gets up.
XANDER
No way, man, no way. I'm just supposed
to be an observer. Aw shit. This job
sucks.
He pats his jumpsuit, checking for the buckle.
XANDER
Toby Lee Shavers, if this thing don't
work, your ass is kicked.
Xander steels himself, takes a few deep breaths.
Then he sprints to the edge and JUMPS off the cliff...
And that's it. He's gone. One mile, straight down.
Suddenly we're falling with him.
We hear the rush of air as he free-falls a dozen feet from
the craggy rock face.
The force of the wind ripples his cheeks.
He streamlines himself into a track position and jets away
from the cliff like Superman.
Before he gets too low, he RIPS THE BUCKLE.
Immediately his jumpsuit TEARS OFF HIS BODY in MULTIPLE
LAYERS, unfurling into a full sized PARASAIL.
Xander looks up at his parasail, relieved, and glides towards
the ship.
EXT. SMALLER BOAT - LATE AFTERNOON
Petra spots the parasail and has to act quickly to keep Yorgi
from spotting it. She grabs him suddenly and KISSES him.
YORGI
What was that for?
PETRA
I'd forgotten how exciting it is
working together.
YORGI
You've been so quiet lately, Petra,
I thought you no longer cared.
PETRA
Why don't we go below decks and work
off some of this adrenaline.
YORGI
(smiles)
Viktor! Stay the course.
Yorgi kisses her again and heads to the cabin below.
EXT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
Xander comes in for a perfect landing. He lands on the listing
deck and undoes his harness.
He sees several WOUNDED scattered on the deck.
XANDER
Son of a bitch!
He looks across the water, sees the smaller boat far away.
EXT. SMALLER BOAT - LATE AFTERNOON
Petra looks back one last time, catching sight of Xander on
the deck of the ship. She smiles, relieved.
Then she turns solemn as she heads below decks to pay the
price.
EXT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
Xander gets to the wet well and sees the water flooding in.
With the ship listing like this, the water is pouring below
decks.
INT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
Xander opens a hatch and lowers himself into the hold. Here
is where the entire Crew has been left to drown. They are
struggling to stay above water, their hands and feet bound.
As the far end of the room is another HATCH. Water pours in
from this one and Xander has to get it shut.
He swims through the struggling Crew, spots the CAPTAIN
holding his YOUNG SON above water. The water is rising
rapidly, filling up the compartment.
Xander braces his feet against the bulkhead and PUSHES, but
the force of the water is too much.
He surfaces. He's got to wait until the room floods before
he can close that door.
He watches as the Crew goes into a panic, the water rising
up to the ceiling. They are gasping in the last foot of air
that's available. He sees the Captain's Son, crying and
clutching at his father.
Xander takes a deep breath and dives down. He grabs the hatch
door, braces his feet and PULLS.
His muscles strain as the heavy metal door slowly swings
SHUT.
Xander surfaces and swims to the ladder. He CUTS the Captain's
plastic cuffs.
XANDER
Is the boy alright?
CAPTAIN
Yes. I will cut the others loose,
you must run the bilge pumps!
The Captain takes the knife and swims to free his men.
Xander takes the Captain's Son and climbs up the ladder.
EXT. SHIP'S BRIDGE - LATE AFTERNOON
Xander scans the controls but has no idea what he's looking
for. The Captain's Son shows him the right switch.
XANDER
You sure?
The Son nods and Xander flips the switch. MOTORS start to
HUM.
EXT. SHIP - LATE AFTERNOON
The bilge pumps spew out water furiously. Crew members come
up from below decks. They are soaked and grateful. They go
about tending to the wounded as Xander slumps down next to
the exhausted Captain.
XANDER
Captain, huh? You get a lot of broads
with that uniform?
They both laugh, relieved, as the ship slowly rights itself.
FADE TO:
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - THAT NIGHT
Xander is in a room with the SCIENTISTS from the ship. They
have blueprints of the torpedo spread out. The Captain's Son
is wrapped in BLANKETS, shivering.
Xander is talking to Gibbons on his communicator.
XANDER
(into communicator)
They call it "Ahab", it's a solar
powered submersible. It can
circumnavigate the globe on it's
own. They use it to track and study
the migration patterns of whales.
INTERCUT WITH GIBBONS IN THE ULTIMATE INFORMATION ROOM
Gibbons jots down the information furiously.
GIBBONS
You did say "Ahab"? You're sure about
that?
XANDER
Yeah, I sent you pictures. Here's
what I'm thinking. If they take out
the cameras and sensors, they could
probably put a bomb in this thing.
You drop it in the water in the Red
Sea and three weeks later it's
swimming up the Potomac.
GIBBONS
This is good work, X, damn fine work.
You need to press on at all costs,
find out what they have planned with
this "Ahab".
XANDER
Hey, one miracle at a time. They're
on to me now, remember?
GIBBONS
I'm gonna be en route with a team
shortly to relieve you. Just keep
the pressure on until the cavalry
arrives. And X? You done yourself
proud helping those people today.
Xander tussles the hair of the Captain's Son.
XANDER
Thanks.
GIBBONS
You're a grungy little phoenix, you
know that? Keep up the good work.
XANDER
You ain't seen nothing yet.
CUT TO:
EXT. CZECH POLICE BUILDING - DAY
The GTO screeches into the lot. Shavers is on his way out
with his SUITCASE.
XANDER
Get in. We've got work to do.
INT. POLICE BUILDING BASEMENT - DAY
PAN OVER WEAPONS - they're all laid out on the floor. 50
cal. MACHINE GUNS, MINES, ROCKETS, BELTS OF AMMO.
We finally arrive at Xander leaning on his GTO. He sparks a
BLOWTORCH and lights a CIGAR.
XANDER
I want all that...
(he pats the GTO)
In there.
Shavers looks on in shock. He's got a crew of MECHANICS with
him. Xander hands him the blowtorch and walks away.
EXT. PRAGUE OPEN AIR MARKET - DAY
This is a beautiful open air market in a town square
surrounded by old buildings. The place is PACKED.
In the midst of it all, we make out Petra moving through the
crowd. She stops to look at some vegetables when Xander passes
by her.
XANDER
Right behind you.
They keep talking, pretending to shop.
XANDER
So what's the plan with this Ahab?
Are they selling it or what?
PETRA
No, something worse. He says it's a
surprise, but I know him. This is
his masterpiece.
XANDER
We've got to find out what it is.
Can you handle that?
PETRA
(beat)
There's something I didn't have time
to tell you before.
XANDER
What's that?
PETRA
I'm a agent as well. KGB. I've been
undercover for over a year.
XANDER
You're what? What the hell have you
been doing?
PETRA
I don't know. Eight months ago I
stop hearing from my people. No
explanation, just silence. So I stay
and I wait like I was told. Soon I'm
in so far, they'd kill me if I left.
Now every day I get farther and
farther away from what I was. I'm
like you said, a criminal.
XANDER
I'm busted up for you, but Jesus,
what the hell are you doing? Those
people almost drowned on that boat
and you didn't lift a finger.
This stings her. She knows well the price she paid.
PETRA
No, I guess I've been no help at all
to you.
XANDER
Get your head back in the game. There
are lives at stake here.
PETRA
Of course. I'll do what I can. I
have to go, before they notice.
XANDER
When can I see you again?
PETRA
You can't, it's too risky. I'm not
much help anyway, remember?
Then she's off into the crowd.
EXT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - NIGHT
The craggy surface of the wall is swathed in shadows. Xander
approaches and flattens himself against it. He's all in BLACK,
packed with weapons and sporting a COMBAT VEST.
He grabs a toehold on the wall and ZOOM! He SPEED CLIMBS up
the side.
He reaches the top in seconds and scopes out the manor house.
VIDEO CAMERAS, PATROLLING GUARDS. It's not gonna be easy.
Xander slips over the wall down to the courtyard below.
EXT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - COURTYARD - NIGHT
Xander places an EXPLOSIVE on a CONTROL BOX.
He waits for a GUARD to stroll by and then slips through a
basement window.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - DARKENED ROOMS - NIGHT
Xander makes his way through a series of rooms. Finally he
finds himself in a study with a window overlooking the
CAVERNOUS BASEMENT of the Manor.
Laid out below he can see the AHAB DEVICE, hanging from
chains. TECHIES are working with the Anarchy 99 crew to
RETROFIT the thing.
They are installing a LAUNCHER RACK of TEN TUBES.
Xander can't hear a thing through the thick glass.
He takes a METAL BALL from his pocket. There's a sink in the
corner and he drops the metal ball down the drain.
INT. DRAIN PIPE
We follow the metal ball as it rolls through the trap and
down into the wall. The pipe zigzags around like a
rollercoaster and then levels off.
The ball rolls past a T-intersection, stops, and unrolls
like a pill bug.
Six metal legs appear and we see it's the ROACH CAM. It
scuttles back up the pipe and makes the turn.
INT. MANOR BASEMENT - MAIN HALL - NIGHT
We're close on a sink as the Roach Cam comes up the pipe. It
scurries into hiding just as a HAND reaches in to turn on
the water.
The roach peers out from between items on a workbench and we
PUSH IN on it's VIDEO CAMERA head.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - STUDY - NIGHT
CLOSE ON - VIDEO MONITOR - ROACH CAM P.O.V.
We see a handheld video image of Viktor.
VIKTOR
Okay, fire one.
Viktor pushes a button on Ahab and a VODKA BOTTLE launches
from tube one, SHATTERING against the ceiling.
YORGI
Perfect!
Pull back to reveal Xander watching the image on his
communicator. Using a joystick he's able to control the roach.
He steers the camera towards Petra, gets a low-angle shot of
her legs in a punked-out CATHOLIC SCHOOL GIRL SKIRT.
He smiles, enjoying himself.
XANDER
Great piece of hardware.
He plugs his earpiece in and listens in.
INT. MANOR BASEMENT - MAIN HALL - NIGHT
Petra works on a COMPUTER CONTROLLER.
The roach scurries across the floor, circling to get a better
look at Ahab.
Anders pushes a CART holding TEN GLASS CANISTERS OF LIQUID.
Each canister is separated in two, with a BLACK LIQUID on
top and a WHITE LIQUID on the bottom.
He hands the canisters to Viktor one by one.
ANDERS
(singing)
"Silent Night... Holy Night"
Viktor laughs and joins in.
Then Kirill looks down and SPOTS THE ROACH CAM.
He STOMPS it with his boot.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - STUDY - NIGHT
Xander jerks out his earpiece and rubs his ear.
XANDER
Damn.
He looks down into the room, sees Kirill bending down to
examine the roach. Time to go.
INT. MANOR BASEMENT - MAIN HALL - NIGHT
Kirill lifts the dead "roach" and sees its wires.
KIRILL
There's some bullshit going on!
Yorgi hits an ALARM switch, alerting the guards.
The Anarchy boys grab weapons and start racing through the
house.
INT. MEDIEVAL MANOR - VARIOUS - NIGHT
The Anarchy boys move swiftly from room to room in practiced
close combat maneuvers.
Cueing each other with hand signals, they run through each
room, weapons ready.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Xander sprints down the hallway. With the Anarchy 99 boys
and Guards roaming the house, he's having a hard time finding
his way out.
INT. DINING HALL - NIGHT
He runs into a darkened dining hall, sprints across only to
find the opposite door locked. He hides behind one of the
many COLUMNS as his pursuers enter the room.
Kirill gives a thumbs up and puts on a pair of NIGHT VISION
GOGGLES. He scans the big room but sees nothing.
Xander, hidden at the opposite end, waits breathlessly.
Kirill advances slowly, his buddies covering him from the
door.
YORGI
Xander, my friend, that can only be
you. Why don't we put our weapons
down for a few minutes and discuss
this like friends. How would you
like to come to work for us instead?
We could Rage Against the Machine
together.
Across the room, Xander sees a small window leading to the
courtyard. He has to run across open ground to reach it. He
calls out to Yorgi.
XANDER
Speaking of people that are full of
shit, funny you should mention those
guys!
Xander's voice echoes around the empty hall, making it
impossible to pinpoint.
XANDER
They put their records out through
Sony, one of the biggest corporate
machines on the planet. Some
revolutionaries, huh?
He pulls out his gun as Kirill creeps ever closer.
Against the far wall Xander spots a FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
YORGI
Come on, you're the one who's fooling
yourself. Why risk your life for
your government when we can offer
you a future that is truly free?
Kirill is almost on top of him.
Xander sights up and FIRES.
The fire extinguisher EXPLODES, blinding Kirill.
Xander makes a run for it.
Everyone FIRES WILDLY (except for Petra), bullets tearing
tapestries off the walls.
Xander dives and crashes through the window.
EXT. COURTYARD - SUNRISE
Xander tuck and rolls, comes up running.
Guards are running around, unsure just what the hell is going
on.
Xander hops on one of the TRIALS MOTORCYCLES parked nearby
and fires up the engine. He hits a remote switch and BLAM!
The EXPLOSIVE CHARGE he left earlier blows-up.
He points the bike at a set of STONE STAIRS. They form a
"ramp" that he can use to JUMP THE WALL. He GUNS THE ENGINE.
A Guard races across the wall with a rifle, taking aim.
Xander races and JUMPS THE BIKE over the wail. As he goes by
he does a CAN-CAN AERIAL, KICKING THE GUARD OFF THE WALL
before he can shoot.
The Anarchy 99 guys run outside just in time to see him go.
YORGI
He blew the gate control. Anders!
Get the bastard!
Anders fires up the other trials bike, slings a submachine
gun across his back and goes up and over. Petra watches him
go, hoping for the best.
EXT. PRAGUE STREETS - DAYBREAK
(NOTE: action will be re-choreographed based on actual
locations. Any freestyle motorcycle moves will be motivated
by a physical reason)
Xander blazes down the street, Anders racing right behind
him. A wrong turn sends him into a dead end.
At the end is a panel truck parked next to a stone wall.
Xander slows the trials bike and drives it up the hood of
the truck and onto it's roof. Balancing on the rear wheel,
he hops onto the wall.
The machine gun blasts again. Xander drives off along the
top of the wall. Anders shoulders his gun and follows.
They are riding a 15' high wall that's only a foot wide.
They make several 90 degree turns, racing above a sleeping
neighborhood. Xander sees the end of the wall ahead and takes
a detour.
He hops onto the second floor balcony of a BUILDING UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.
INT. BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION - MORNING
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS bolt out of the way as the motorcycle
leaps into their building.
Xander pops a wheelie and slams through a BLUEPRINT TABLE.
Anders follows, demolishing their SNACK TABLE.
Xander darts through the building, between beams and 2 x
4's, until he reaches a skeletal STAIRCASE.
More WORKERS appear at the bottom of the stairs so Xander
goes up. He cranks up three flights of stairs and bashes
onto the roof.
EXT. THE ROOFTOPS - MORNING
Xander looks around for a way out. The next building isn't
that far away. He revs up and JUMPS ACROSS.
Anders jams another magazine into his sub-machine gun and
follows Xander.
They jump from roof to roof, down a DESCENDING SERIES OF
ROOFTOPS towards the river. Anders pulls up alongside as
they race towards that last apartment building.
Neck and neck they head for the brink. At the last jump,
Xander pulls up behind Anders.
They hit the last roof in a crunch of gravel. Anders clamps
on the brakes and comes skidding to a stop, Xander right
behind him.
They skid to a stop at the very edge, with Anders balanced
on his front wheel. He looks down, sees street five stories
below.
He glances back at Xander, sweat beading, struggling to keep
his balance. Xander observes him coolly, totally in control.
Anders reaches for his machine gun. Xander pops a wheelie
and RAMS Anders over the edge.
The bike tumbles and PANCAKES into the pavement. Anders tears
through several AWNINGS before slamming into the ground.
Xander turns and rides to the next apartment building.
He hops down a steep series of roofs that will eventually
take him to street level.
As he makes his way down, Anders stirs. The guy is a bloody,
broken mess but he gets to his feet. He sees where Xander is
headed and he scurries off to intercept him.
EXT. ALLEY - MORNING
Xander is heading to the far end of a dead end alley. The
only way out is fenced in. But there's a RAMP leading up to
a LOADING DOCK. Xander will have to use that ramp to jump
the fence.
Anders climbs to the second floor of the building. There is
a small crane arm loaded with metal. If he pushes it at the
right time, it will swing out and knock Xander from his bike.
He giggles maniacally, blood dripping.
Xander drops down into the alley and heads towards the jump.
Anders times it perfectly and swings the crane arm out.
IN SLOW MOTION: The bike leaves the ramp and soars up over
the fence.
The crane arm swings out, on a collision course with Xander.
Xander sees it and THROWS HIMSELF OFF THE BIKE, grabbing
onto the back in a SUPERMAN SEAT-GRAB. He passes RIGHT
UNDERNEATH the swinging crane arm.
Anders's face falls when he sees Xander go by, hanging on
with ONE HAND. In his OTHER HAND Xander's got his PISTOL.
BLAP!
Xander pulls himself back onto the bike and lands. He stops,
sees Anders' BLOODY HELMET come bouncing into the alley. He
tucks his pistol away and roars off.
INT. DIRTY APARTMENT - DAY
Xander comes up the stairs and sees LIGHTS ON in his
apartment. He draws his gun and pushes the door open.
XANDER
Slovo?
Slovo is sitting in the armchair.
XANDER
Dude, what are you doing here?
SLOVO
You killed me, remember? Now I have
to hide out here with you. Where
have you been?
Xander holsters his gun, searches around for his communicator.
XANDER
I found something big enough for us
to take these guys down with. They've
got a of nerve agent they're gonna
unleash.
SLOVO
Is this what you're looking for?
Xander turns to see Slovo waving the communicator.
XANDER
Yeah, give it here.
Slovo raises his pistol.
SLOVO
Sorry, "dude".
XANDER
(stunned beat)
What's the deal?
SLOVO
Oh come on, don't feel bad. You got
played, so what? You're new at this.
Did you think you could just stroll
into this business one day and have
all the angles figured out?
XANDER
Why you dogging me up?
SLOVO
(shrugs)
They came and found me. They said
they'd kill me unless I help them.
Plus they offer me a lot of money.
No big deal. These things happen.
Dump your gun on the floor.
Xander does so.
SLOVO
Where do you want it? The head to be
quick? Or the chest for an open
casket?
Suddenly GUNFIRE blasts through the closed door.
Bullets shatter a LAMP, a PICTURE, and finally tag Slovo in
a wild salvo.
Slovo crumples, never knowing what hit him.
The door creaks open. It's Petra, her gun still smoking.
She's with the Ivans.
PETRA
Are you alright?
XANDER
What the hell are you doing? You
could've killed me!
PETRA
(shrugs)
I heard you talking. I could tell
where you were in the room.
XANDER
I don't know what's going on anymore.
I thought I was square with that
dude. Now everybody's switching sides
like it's the WWF.
The Ivans go to Slovo's body, kicking the gun from his hands.
One of them SPITS on his corpse in disgust.
XANDER
What are you doing with the Ivans?
PETRA
I know which cops are good and which
are bad. Come with me. Come on, right
now.
She drags him to the door.
EXT. ST. CHARLES BRIDGE - DAY
The beautiful and historic St. Charles bridge spans the river.
There are BANNERS hanging in celebration of the coming PRAGUE
PEACE CONFERENCE. Petra leads Xander across it.
XANDER
Where are we going?
PETRA
We're getting out of this place.
We've done enough.
XANDER
Wait a minute, whoa. We can't go
now. What's Yorgi got planned with
that nerve agent?
PETRA
It doesn't matter anymore, forget
it.
XANDER
Of course it matters. Hey, hold on!
PETRA
What do we owe our governments? Yours
kidnapped you, mine abandoned me.
XANDER
Petra, this ain't about the people
that sent us here, you know that.
PETRA
No, now it's about us. Let's do
something for us before we both get
killed. Don't you want to get to
Bora Bora, Xander?
XANDER
We can't leave now. We have to do
something.
PETRA
Why? You're the one who believes in
nothing. Screw the world, or whatever
you said.
Xander grabs her by shoulders.
XANDER
Alright, so I was full of shit. I
thought believing in things was wrong.
Turns out believing in nothing is
worse. You might as well be dead.
I'm not thrilled with the world, but
I'm not gonna let those idiots start
killing people. Come on, you're a
cop, we've got to get these guys.
He's gotten through to her. She nods in agreement.
PETRA
They left. To a fortress in the
mountains.
XANDER
We'll have to go after them.
PETRA
Aren't you afraid?
XANDER
A long time ago I learned how to put
fear away in a little place in my
head. Maybe that's my problem. If
you don't feel fear you can do some
amazing things, but you can also
screw your life up in ways you can't
imagine.
PETRA
I must be healthy, then, because I'm
scared to death. I guess I'd better
get back to Yorgi.
XANDER
You don't have to do that.
PETRA
Yes, I do. You're right. I can't
just let him go free. Besides, I can
help you from the inside.
XANDER
Aren't they gonna wonder were you've
been?
PETRA
(shrugs)
I was supposed to wait for the cop
to kill you and then kill the cop.
They'll believe me.
(beat)
I've been lying for so long, one
more time won't hurt.
XANDER
When this is over, we're just gonna
take off, the two of us. Take a
vacation.
PETRA
What the hell are we doing? We're
doing all this together, trusting
each other, making plans, and we
haven't even slept together yet.
Xander kisses her.
XANDER
That gives us something to live for.
Together they walk back across the bridge. We crane up,
revealing the PRAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE banners all over a big
BUILDING on the river.
EXT. MOUNTAIN - DAY
We see a craggy, gnarly mountain. The front side is a rock
strewn, near vertical drop.
Then we see Xander come scaling up from the back side. He's
got GEAR strapped to his back and it looks like it's been a
helluva climb.
Xander sits at the very peak and catches his breath. It's
beautiful up here.
He pulls a COLLAPSIBLE SNOWBOARD off his back, hits a switch
and the thing SWITCHBLADES OUT to full size. He clamps it on
his feet.
Xander moves to the edge and peers down. At the bottom of
the mountain he can see the CASTLE, an imposing medieval
fortress in the snow. He leans over the edge and starts down
the mountain. He doesn't get far before he notices something
else. He slides to a stop on the near vertical face, clinging
to rocks for balance.
On the mountain below him, between him and the castle, is a
GUARD OUTPOST. Right now he's in full view and he's been
spotted. He sees GUARDS scrambling out, hopping on
SNOWMOBILES. From up here they look like ants.
EXT. GUARD OUTPOST - DAY
Viktor, the goateed cold weather warrior, strides out of the
Outpost and looks up the mountain. He shouts orders to his
men.
A Guard runs up and brings him his weapon: A FLAME-THROWER.
Viktor straps it on and. climbs onto his SNOWMOBILE.
All around him the Guards are driving into position. They
form a gauntlet of AK-47's. There must be a DOZEN of them.
Viktor rides up twenty yards and waits, his engine idling.
VIKTOR
Hold positions!
He squints up at the speck that is Xander.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - DAY
Xander pulls a CONCUSSION GRENADE from his jacket.
XANDER
Nothing like fresh powder.
He puts his goggles on and pulls the pin from the grenade.
Then he TOSSES IT OVER HIS SHOULDER.
The grenade lands in the snow above him and starts ROLLING
DOWNHILL TOWARDS HIM. Xander pushes off and starts bombing
down the mountain.
The grenade bounces after him and then WHAM! It goes up with
a tremendous shock.
There is a SHIFT in the snow, a GROAN of shifting weight,
then the ENTIRE CORNICE cracks loose and topples over the
brink.
Xander streaks down the mountain with that wall of snow at
his heels.
From down below it's an awesome sight. The slack-jawed Guards
watch as tons of churning snow bear down on them.
Shooting in and out of that powdery mass like a surfer, they
can see Xander skipping like a stone down the mountain face.
There's a mad scramble as Guards turn their snowmobiles and
ride for their lives. A furious Viktor spins around and makes
a run for it as well.
Nobody has a chance. The avalanche is coming like a freight
train, frothing like white water.
Xander blazes right through the scrambling Guards and hits a
JUMP. He goes soaring up and lands square on the sloped roof
of the Outpost.
The avalanche is right behind him, slamming down everything
and everyone in its way.
Guards are swallowed up and tossed, snowmobiles go tumbling
under the onslaught.
Xander grabs onto the chimney as the avalanche washes over
the Outpost. He holds on until the ocean of snow comes to a
stop.
Then it's all quiet.
Above him the slope is a battlefield of icy rubble. There's
nothing moving up there anymore. Xander pulls himself free.
Then he hears a gushing sound and a DEEP BENEATH THE SURFACE,
he sees the WARM ORANGE GLOW OF FLAME. It's Viktor and his
flame thrower. There's another SPURT and the glow fades for
good.
Xander boards to a rock and sits to catch his breath. He's
right above the Castle now. Then his communicator starts to
BEEP.
XANDER
(into communicator)
Gibbons, long time no talk. You
wouldn't believe my day.
INTERCUT WITH GIBBONS ON THE PRIVATE JET WITH A TEAM OF
AGENTS.
GIBBONS
What the hell has been going on,
Triple X? How about a status report?
Xander looks down on the Castle. There seem to be MAFIYA
HENCHMEN all over the grounds.
XANDER
Snow covered fortress. Army of bad
guys. The usual.
GIBBONS
I'm on the way with a team to relieve
you. What's the latest?
XANDER
They retrofitted Ahab with some kind
of rocket launcher. They were loading
canisters of liquid into it, light
colored and dark colored in the same
tube but separate. Something tells
me this it that "classified" stuff
you didn't want me to know about.
Does the song "Silent Night" mean
anything to you?
GIBBONS
Yes it does.
XANDER
Come on, Gibbons, you can do better
then that.
GIBBONS
Silent Night is the name of a top
secret binary nerve agent. The glass
canister is shot into the air and
detonated. The black and white
chemicals mix, forming a toxic cloud.
When it settles down to Earth, it'll
kill everything in the vicinity.
XANDER
Jesus Christ, Gibbons, this is
something we came up with?
GIBBONS
Yeah, that's right. So now that you
know, you understand why it's
important that we get it back.
XANDER
Kinda funny, though, isn't it? We're
not supposed to be making weapons
like that anyway. Guess we shoulda
played by the rules.
GIBBONS
Somebody else makes those decisions,
not guys like you and me. You've
done your job, X, head back to Prague.
I'll be landing in 90 minutes. This
is my operation now.
XANDER
We don't have that kinda time, boss,
I don't think Prague's gonna be around
much longer. I've gotta go now. I've
got a lot of bad guys to kill.
Xander hangs up and heads down the hill.
EXT. CASTLE - DAY
A GUARD patrols the rocky grounds outside the castle. He
stops for a smoke when Xander walks right up to him.
WHACK! With two quick blows he knocks him out and keeps
walking. He's a man on a mission.
He runs in a low crouch to the smooth castle wall. There's
no hand-holds, it's, a perfectly flat climb. A canyon of
ROCKS is below.
Xander reaches into his jacket and pulls out the "TERMINATOR"
CLIMBING CLAWS. He pulls on the metal gloves and CLAWS into
the solid rock.
Just like that he starts scaling the vertical surface.
We see him outlined against the mountains, steadily making
this impossible climb.
At the top is an overhang. It's a gnarly transition. As he's
rounding it, his FEET SLIP. His legs dangle over the rocky
chasm below.
Using all his strength, he pulls himself up the rest of the
way with his climbing claws.
At the top a GUARD leans over, aiming his gun at him. Xander
grabs him and pulls him over the edge.
The Guard FALLS into the chasm.
Xander rolls onto the parapet, exhausted. Then another GUARD
rushes him, grabbing for his rifle.
Xander springs, the claws lashing out, and tears the gun
from his hands. With the other hand he SLASHES, taking the
Guard down.
He pulls off the claws and heads into the Guard Tower.
INT. CASTLE - COURTYARD - DAY
Xander exits the Guard Tower at the ground level.
As he crosses the courtyard an EXPLOSION rocks the tower he
just left.
There is shouting as GUARDS race around the parapets, unsure
where the attack is coming from. A GUARD runs up to Xander.
GUARD
(in Russian)
What's going on?
Xander CLOTHESLINES him and catches his AK-47 as he drops.
Up inside the castle he can see Yorgi at a window. Yorgi
appears mildly shocked as they make EYE CONTACT.
Xander takes aim.
POV ON XANDER THRU SNIPER SCOPE
From up above, Kirill has Xander in his sights.
BLAW! The bullet hits Xander's AK, sending it spinning.
Xander rubs his sore hand but stays put. Kirill could have
killed him and he knows it. From a doorway comes Yorgi with
some Guards.
Yorgi walks up and SMASHES Xander in the face.
YORGI
That was for Anders.
XANDER
Don't forget goatee boy. I greased
him up on the diamond run.
Yorgi punches him again.
INT. CASTLE - MAIN BUILDING - DAY
Petra sits at a desk working on a LAPTOP. Yorgi enters with
Xander and Kirill.
YORGI
Look who we found playing outside.
Petra looks up. She can barely hide her shock.
YORGI
Petra, my sweet dove, do you notice
anything strange about X? He looks
slightly less than dead.
Kirill aims his gun at Petra.
PETRA
Yorgi, I thought he was --
Yorgi SLAPS her.
YORGI
Do you think I didn't know about you
all along? My contacts in the KGB
told me you were coming. You show up
undercover and, I must admit, you
play your part to the hilt. When
it's time to be cruel, you are cruel.
When it's time to be passionate, you
are very very passionate indeed.
Petra is devastated by this revelation.
YORGI
I could have killed you, but I thought
this would be so much more fun. To
twist you and use you how I see fit.
And to be honest, you went much
farther than I ever expected you
would for your country.
He runs this fingers through her hair and moves on to Xander.
YORGI
And you. Why do you have such a
problem staying away, my friend? Did
you miss us that much?
XANDER
I wanted to get the hell out of Prague
before Silent Night falls.
YORGI
Not bad, man, not bad. You put things
together quick. Prague it is.
PETRA
The Peace conference...
YORGI
Nice place to start, don't you think?
XANDER
What's the gimmick, Yorgi? That's
the part I don't get. You gonna hold
the world hostage with your gas bombs?
I didn't think you were dumb enough
to go with that hack cliche.
YORGI
You think I'm after money? I told
you, my friend. Anarchy. Time for a
change. Money is good, but for true
freedom you have to get rid of the
rules themselves.
XANDER
So all by yourself, you're going to
destroy every government; in the
world.
YORGI
Easier than that, buddy. I'll get
them to destroy each other. You kill
an entire Peace conference, someone
is going to have to pay. Then our
friend Ahab continues down the river
to the ocean and begins his world
tour. London, Cairo, Beijing... Pretty
soon everyone's involved. These guys
bomb those guys, those guys invade
these guys. Soon the whole world is
like your wild West cowboy days. No
rules, no law, everybody free to do
what they want.
XANDER
Including rape, pillage, murder.
YORGI
Sure, if that's what you want. Why
not? It's all human nature. So we
just have to launch our baby and
wait for the decline and fall of
civilization as we know it.
XANDER
And here I thought "anarchy" was
just something cool to put on a
Tshirt.
YORGI
Come on, Xander. You used to stand
for something. What happened to you,
man? I thought you'd get it.
PETRA
Don't you see, X? For the betterment
of humanity, he's going to start
World War Three.
XANDER
He's a regular humanitarian. And all
this time I thought he was just a
tool.
YORGI
You both could have been a part of
it. You could have ridden with us
into a new day, the dawning of a new
age of --
XANDER
Oh just shoot us already. I'm sorry
I asked.
Yorgi's eye twitches.
YORGI
Screw you too, buddy.
He raises his gun and suddenly BOOOOOM! A massive explosion
rocks the whole castle. Shrapnel shatters the windows,
spraying glass, and Yorgi's shot goes wide.
EXT. THE CASTLE - DAY
The front gates have just been blown apart. Through the smoke
and wreckage come Ivans 1 & 2 with a PLATOON OF CRACK CZECH
SECRET POLICE. Their submachine guns rattle in threeshot
bursts, sweeping Guards from the parapets.
INT. CASTLE - MAIN BUILDING - DAY
Kirill looks down at the carnage below. Xander takes advantage
of the distraction and charges at Yorgi.
Yorgi goes to shoot but his hand won't work. There's a HUGE
SHARD OF GLASS sticking through his forearm.
By the time he pulls it out, Xander is on top of him. He
body checks Yorgi, sending him flying over a desk. Kirill
spins and starts FIRING. Xander ducks for cover.
EXT. THE CASTLE - DAY
The Czech Secret Police are having their way. They cross the
courtyard and burst into the main building.
INT. CASTLE - MAIN BUILDING - DAY
The Police whip through the building like lightening, mowing
down everyone in their path.
One Czech Secret Policeman is wounded and the others retaliate
with a volley of RPG's that evaporates a pocket of resistance.
In the main room upstairs, Kirill is blasting away. Yorgi
starts rounding up the computer gear.
YORGI
Hurry up, kill him!
Before Kirill can do so, Cops burst into the room, spraying
bullets everywhere.
Xander and Petra are pinned down, but Yorgi and Kirill manage
to make a fast exit out another door.
XANDER
Hey! We're on your side!
The Cops keep shooting.
EXT. CASTLE - COURTYARD - DAY
Ivan 1 is talking on the radio when Yorgi appears behind him
and shoots him in the back.
They step over him and enter a GARAGE.
INT. CASTLE - GARAGE - DAY
The Ahab device is in the back of a flatbed TRUCK. Yorgi and
Kirill start up the truck and jam it into gear.
EXT. CASTLE - COURTYARD - DAY
The truck smashes through the garage doors and rumbles across
the courtyard.
Police open fire, but the truck tears out the gate and starts
heading down the mountain.
INT. CASTLE - MAIN BUILDING - DAY
Meanwhile, Xander and Petra are still pinned down.
XANDER
Petra! Tell them something!
Petra starts calling out in RUSSIAN. Finally the cops stop
shooting.
EXT. CASTLE - COURTYARD - DAY
Xander and Petra are brought outside. They see the Police
working on the wounded Ivan 1. Ivan 2 walks up.
XANDER
How's Ivan?
IVAN 2
He is okay.
XANDER
Thanks for coming, man, you guys
were right on time.
IVAN 2
We are always on time. Two have
escaped, in truck.
PETRA
Yorgi and Kirill.
XANDER
Let me guess, they had a big white
torpedo with them.
IVAN 2
Yes. Your friend, the angry one, he
send something for you.
EXT. CASTLE - DAY
A big truck pulls to a stop. Its ramp lowers and Xander's
blown-out '72 GTO comes rolling out.
IVAN 2
We'll be right behind you.
Xander and Petra both strap on grenades and pistols.
XANDER
Did you do your homework?
PETRA
(nods)
If they launch it, I know how to
bring it back.
XANDER
Let's do this.
They both climb in and the GTO peels out.
EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY
Xander drives all out, trying hard to catch up.
He passes several of Ivan's Police Jeeps at a furious clip.
Up ahead they see the truck winding it's way down the
mountain.
XANDER
Where's he headed?
PETRA
He owns a big industrial complex on
the river. He'll launch it from there.
Xander floors it.
Up ahead, in the flatbed truck, Yorgi drives. He can see the
GTO gaining on them.
YORGI
(in Russian, subtitled)
They're coming! Get back there.
Kirill loads his sniper rifle and climbs out of the cab. He
lays down, resting the rifle on the Ahab container.
As the GTO comes into view, he sights up and FIRES, WHACK!
The first shot goes clean through the windshield and blows
the headrest off Xander's seat.
XANDER
You get down! I'll take care of this
fool!
He pulls out an Mp-5 out and hangs it out the window.
PETRA
No! Don't shoot! He's hiding behind
the nerve agent!
Another shot blasts through, taking off the rear-view mirror.
XANDER
Goddamit! He's gonna stop playing
around soon and shoot something
valuable!
Kirill laughs and takes aim once again. He puts Petra in the
sights.
Xander jerks the steering wheel and BLAM! the shot goes wide.
The GTO veers onto a dirt road that cuts down the mountain.
Xander fights for control as they slide around the turns.
The road flattens out and they can see the Industrial Complex
up ahead. They cut across a field, heading right for it.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX - DAY
The truck heads through the gates of the industrial complex.
Quickly the gates are closed again. Armed GUARDS can be seen
up above.
The GTO comes at the gates at full speed.
XANDER
Let's see what my man put together.
Xander opens a DASH PANEL, revealing a ROW OF SWITCHES. He
flips one.
The HEADLIGHTS EJECT, revealing a MINI-GUN IN EACH FENDER.
BRRRAAAAAAPPP!! The mini-guns spin.
The metal doors are getting SHREDDED.
Empty SHELLS spill down the sides of the GTO.
The metal doors come apart, falling in chunks.
The GTO slams through the wreckage without slowing down.
A Guard comes tumbling down and BOUNCES off the trunk as the
GTO zips inside.
EXT. INSIDE THE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX - DAY
The Anarchy 99 guys seem to have a whole other army in here.
Guards spill onto the road, shooting at them from everywhere.
A BELLY PANEL on the GTO opens and ping-pong ball sized
MINIBOMBS dump onto the road. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! The bombs
send the Guards scattering.
The GTO sizzles away.
XANDER
Where'd the damn truck go?!
PETRA
Go to the water, it's that way!
A tactical (a pick-up with a .50 cal machine gun attached)
pulls up behind them and opens fire.
XANDER
Toadies right behind.
PETRA
Let me.
Petra punches another button.
The REAR HUBCAPS pop off. They roll along the road on their
own. Inside they seem to be LINED WITH SPIKES.
As the Tactical pulls up in between the hubcaps they BLOW
UP, SPRAYING SPIKES at both sides of the Tactical.
All four wheels BLOW OUT and the Tactical goes out of control.
It crashes through a fence and pitches into the water, the
men going sprawling.
PETRA
Fantastic options.
At the riverbank Yorgi and Kirill pull Ahab off the truck
and prepare for launching.
They remove it from it's box and carry it waist deep into
the water. Yorgi opens a panel and works feverishly on Ahab's
insides.
YORGI
I've got it, go! Cover me!
Kirill grabs his sniper rifle and heads off.
He climbs up to a second story window of a wooden building
on a WHARF. From here he can shoot and NOT BE SEEN. He takes
his LIT CIGARETTE and tucks it behind his ear.
When the GTO rounds the corner he FIRES.
The bullet goes through the window and SLAMS into the steering
column.
Xander jams it into reverse. They retreat behind a building.
Petra clutches her arm, wounded.
XANDER
You okay?
PETRA
A piece of shrapnel hit me.
XANDER
I'm sick of that guy. Let's stop
playing nice.
Kirill chambers another bullet and waits for them to make
their second approach. The GTO comes roaring out, spinning
in circles wildly. Xander's is just doing donuts as fast as
he can.
Kirill aims, but with all the dust being kicked up he doesn't
have much of a target.
KIRILL
What are you doing!
He doesn't notice Petra pop up from behind a fence with a
HEAT SEEKING MISSILE LAUNCHER.
ANGLE ON - the missile launcher's COMPUTER SCREEN. The green
display shows a faint red glow in the upstairs window. Its
the GLOWING POINT of Kirill's lit cigarette.
The Launcher BEEPS as it locks in and she FIRES.
Kirill looks up to see the missile blazing down the wharf at
him.
He gets it immediately. In a panic he fumbles for the
cigarette...
Too late. The missile zeroes in on his head.
WHOOOSH! The entire wooden shack blows apart.
Xander walks up to Petra.
XANDER
I guess the surgeon general was right.
ANGLE ON - Ahab as Yorgi flips a switch and let's it go. The
electric motor purrs to life and Ahab zips out into the river.
Xander and Petra run to the water's edge in time to see Yorgi
escaping in a MOTORBOAT. In the opposite direction they see
the ripples of Ahab as it speeds towards it's destination.
Petra finds the CONTROLLER in the cab of the truck. She
presses buttons desperately.
PETRA
He's shut out the communication
circuit!
XANDER
You can't talk to it?
PETRA
No, it's like a safety. We are going
to have to access the manual controls.
XANDER
A manual control on a moving torpedo.
This day keeps getting better and
better.
Xander starts running towards a second moored MOTORBOAT.
XANDER
Radio Ivan! Tell him what's going
down! Have them evacuate downtown!
EXT. THE RIVER - DAY
Yorgi is motoring away, smiling, when he glances back and
sees Xander and Petra take off after Ahab. He pounds on his
steering wheel and turns around. His bigger boat closes on
them and he reloads his weapons.
Xander drives while Petra checks her controller.
PETRA
It's running three meters down. Twenty
knots.
XANDER
It has to surface to release the
nerve agent, right?
PETRA
By then it's too late! The only way
to safely dispose of the nerve agent
is in deep water! The chemicals will
break down and dissipate!
XANDER
Use your grenades! Maybe we can blow
it up underwater!
They're heading into downtown Prague now, the riverbank
getting more and more populated. Yorgi is closing fast.
Down below them Petra can see the white streak of Ahab beneath
the water.
PETRA
There it is! Hold it steady!
Petra pulls the pin on a grenade. She tosses it out in front
of Ahab. WHOOMPH! A jet of water goes up, but too far behind.
She pulls another pin and is ready to throw when Yorgi's
boat pulls up alongside. Yorgi aims and FIRES and the bullet
GRAZES Petra's arm.
XANDER
Petra!
She loses her grip and the grenade bounces down into the
engine compartment.
Xander grabs Petra and jumps. Together they land in Yorgi's
boat. The grenade explodes and their boat slams into a bridge
support and shatters.
They are in the heart of the old city now. We see piazza's
full of tourists, markets packed with locals, children playing
in front of cathedrals. And on the river Yorgi and
Xander battle it out while Petra steers the boat.
PETRA
Xander! It's coming up!
Xander glances down, sees Ahab nearing the surface. Yorgi
clobbers him and Xander falls to the edge of the boat. Petra
tries to help, but Yorgi slugs her in her wounded arm.
Xander can see Ahab just a few inches under as Yorgi grabs
him from behind in a chokehold.
YORGI
This is going to be exciting, buddy!
Front row seats to the apocalypse!
Come on, sing with me!
(singing madly)
"I am an Antichrist / I am an
anarchist / I... wan-na be...
Anarchy!"
Xander elbow's Yorgi's gut and breaks the chokehold. He flips
him and they both topple overboard.
They land on Ahab and both grab on. They punch and pummel
each other while desperately hanging on to the speeding
torpedo. It surfaces as it approaches the magnificent St.
Charles bridge.
On the bridge is a chaos of COPS, FIREMEN and CROWDS OF
PEOPLE. They are desperately trying to herd people away from
the river.
Xander pounds Yorgi's face and dunks him underwater. Yorgi
slips and falls back to the tail section, dragging along in
the torpedo's wake.
Ahab starts making noise and it's payload doors swing open.
Inside Xander can see the row of glass cannister containing
Silent Night. The first one rises up into FIRING POSITION.
XANDER
No you don't.
He pries the first rocket off it's launcher. The thing is
BEEPING menacingly.
IN SLO-MOTION - Xander blinks at the liquid death in his
hands. He looks over at Petra. She's shouting at him, but he
doesn't hear a thing but his own HEARTBEAT.
He looks the other direction, to the mass of PEOPLE on the
bridge above him. Total strangers...
The fate of the whole world is in the hands of a former
nihilist.
Through the crowd, Xander sees Gibbons break through with
his squad of Agents. Gibbons and Xander make eye contact.
Then Yorgi lunges onto his back, trying to pull him into the
water. Xander HITS BUTTONS on the control panel and Ahab
starts to DIVE.
EXT. UNDERWATER - DAY
With Yorgi hanging on his back, Xander turns the rocket upside
down and stuffs it BACK IN THE LAUNCHER.
Ahab heads down to the bottom of the river, the two men
fighting.
We see one man get THROWN FREE, the other is caught up on
Ahab and continues downstream.
Then the booster rocket FIRES, giving off SPARKS and BUBBLES.
It's all in silhouette now as WHAM! The rocket EXPLODES,
setting off a CHAIN REACTION. WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Ahab and
it's unfortunate passenger are DISINTEGRATED by the BLASTS.
The chemicals BELCH OUT in harmless clouds.
EXT. THE RIVER - DAY
A FUNNEL OF WATER blasts into the sky. The crowd recoils.
EXT. THE RIVERBANK - DAY
Ivan 2 helps Petra off the motorboat. They look down at the
water, but there's no sign of Xander.
Gibbons and his men push through the cordon of POLICE,
scanning the water. Nothing.
Tears well in Petra's eyes. Even Gibbons looks dejected.
Then Petra let's out a gasp and they look downstream.
There's a boat ramp leading into the water. At first they
see a ripple, then the top of a SHAVED HEAD emerges.
The whole crowd looks on as Xander rises from the water,
walking up the boat ramp.
His shirt is tattered, his tattooed body battered. But there's
a look on his face, a calm, a self-confidence we haven't
seen before. The Phoenix has risen.
Petra runs down to him and throws her arms around him. Xander
shakes Ivan 2's hand and then turns to Gibbons.
GIBBONS
Thought you bought the farm down
there, X. Glad as hell to see you.
XANDER
I'm pretty happy to see me too. So
are you done with me yet?
GIBBONS
You've kept up your end of the
bargain, I'll do the same. But you
really should consider staying on,
you make a decent agent.
XANDER
But I hate cops, remember? Except
for her.
GIBBONS
Cut the crap, X, I saw you down there.
You're a hero. Don't be afraid to
join the good guys.
XANDER
Who says you're the good guys?
He starts walking off with Petra.
GIBBONS
You know what they say, the only way
to change the system is from the
inside.
XANDER
Oh yeah? Why don't we start by taking
this thing off my ankle? The poison
needles?
GIBBONS
On come on, X. Did you really think
we were that barbaric?
XANDER
No needles, huh? What about the acid
bath?
GIBBONS
All for show. Just a psychological
mind game to get you to do the right
thing.
XANDER
(smiles)
You're a jerk-off, you know that?
Gibbons waves.
GIBBONS
We'll be talking soon, you'll see.
You'll be back.
Xander and Petra move off through the crowd arm in arm.
PETRA
I can't believe my mission is finally
over. I don't even know what to do
with myself.
XANDER
You can't welch on me now. We had a
deal.
DISSOLVE TO:
ANGLE ON - a big "X" spelled out in SEASHELLS on the sand.
The camera shoots up into the sky, showing a perfect white
beach, a perfect lagoon, a lush green island... BORA BORA...
Then we hear the BUZZING of a TATTOO NEEDLE.
CUT TO:
A THIRD "X" BEING TATTOOED ON THE BACK OF XANDER'S HEAD.
INT. HUT - DAY
His ink done, Xander walks out onto the back deck.
EXT. BORA BORA - DAY
Craggy mountain peaks and perfect turquoise blue water.
Xander steps out of a hut built over the water.
We see Petra sprawled out on the deck in a bikini. She's got
a bucket of HINANO BEER chilling down. It's a vision of
heaven.
He lays down next to her, starts pulling her bikini bottom
off.
PETRA
(laughing)
What are you doing?
XANDER
It's about your next mission. You
need to be debriefed.
FROM UNDERWATER - we see the two of them dive into the lagoon
nude. There's too many bubbles to see any real skin, but we
know what they're up to.
Back on the surface we see BUBBLES rising and catch glimpses
of their outlines beneath the water.
The Camera pulls back to the deck, where we see Xander's
COMMUNICATOR on the table next to the beers. We hear them
surface and start SPLASHING off camera.
Then the damn communicator starts to BEEP.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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