"Adjustments" - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
This is an excerpt (first 20 pages) of a completed screenplay.
"Adjustments" - screenplay by Derek Paterson.
FADE IN:
EXT. GAS STATION - DAY
Establish. A beautiful Texas morning. Clear blue skies,
bright sunshine.
The GAS STATION is little more than a cabin with an
adjoining toilet, and a couple of pumps out front. If
anyone's here then they're inside, keeping out of the sun as
the heat builds up.
A CAR zooms along the highway, kicking up dust. It SLOWS as
it nears the gas station, pulls in and stops beside one of
the pumps.
The DRIVER climbs out. He's wearing a black T-shirt that
shows off a fit physique, slacks and trainers. He's also
wearing sunglasses so we can't see his eyes.
He helps himself to the pump, sticking the hose into his gas
tank. While it's filling up, he looks up and down the road
expectantly. He also looks up, searching the skies.
The cabin door opens and the PUMP ATTENDANT comes out.
The Driver moves so fast we don't see it. His arm is fully
extended. He's aiming a PISTOL at the Pump Attendant, who
freezes on the step, his hands held palm outward.
PUMP ATTENDANT
Jesus! Don't shoot!
The Driver lowers the pistol. He sticks it back into his
waistband.
PUMP ATTENDANT
There's maybe twenty bucks in the cash
register. You want me to get it?
DRIVER
Negative. This isn't a stick up.
They stay as they are until the tank is full. The Driver
removes the hose. He walks over to the frightened Pump
Attendant, takes money from his pocket and offers it. The
Pump Attendant reluctantly takes the notes.
PUMP ATTENDANT
L-lemme get your change.
DRIVER
Keep it. Seen anyone else today?
PUMP ATTENDANT
Nossir. You're my first and only
customer this morning.
DRIVER
How about unusual traffic?
PUMP ATTENDANT
I don't know what you mean by "unusual."
DRIVER
Military vehicles. Aircraft.
PUMP ATTENDANT
Aircraft?
The Driver looks up at the sky.
DRIVER
Helicopters.
PUMP ATTENDANT
Nossir. I don't believe I have.
The Driver returns to his car. He starts the engine and
heads out.
We stay with the Pump Attendant. He looks down at the
money. His hands are trembling.
PUMP ATTENDANT (CONT'D)
Fuck you, you son of a bitch. I hope
they get you.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
A clear stretch of highway bisects the desert.
The same CAR zooms along.
INT./EXT. CAR (MOVING) - DAY
Engine noise.
The DRIVER looks around, as if sensing something.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
As before, the CAR zooms along.
INT./EXT. CAR (MOVING) - DAY
The windscreen and side windows SHATTER. The Driver is hit
by several BULLETS. He gasps in agony. Wrenches the wheel
over.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The CAR comes bouncing off the highway and skids over rough
ground.
It STOPS. The driver's door is thrown open. The Driver
stumbles out. He's BLEEDING from half a dozen wounds. He
should be falling down dead, but he's still standing. He
points his PISTOL, trying to find something to shoot at.
More BULLETS strike him. No sounds of shots -- the unseen
snipers are using noise suppressors -- just the dull thud of
metal penetrating flesh.
The Driver falls to his knees, then pitches forward onto his
face. It's over. Maybe.
COMMAND NET (FILTERED)
Target is down. Hunter units, maintain
cover. Do not approach the target.
Stand by, stand by.
WIDER: The site of the ambush from a short distance away.
There's an eye-searing, ear-rattling EXPLOSION. Billowing
smoke obscures our view.
COMMAND NET (CONT'D)
Target is dusted. Hunter units stand
by, helo transport is on its way.
Near the site of the explosion…
There's a SIGN beside the highway. It reads,
LANGSTON AIR FORCE BASE, 10 MILES
DISSOLVE TO BLACK:
A beat. Bleed in sounds of aircraft engines.
FADE IN:
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
A moderately busy AIRPORT. PLANES land and take off.
PEOPLE enter and leave the terminal building, going about
their business, doing airport stuff.
At the airport's HELIPAD, a helicopter sits in the sun
before a hangar. A small, neat sign by the door says,
JAKE'S FLYING SCHOOL
A portly figure steps into view from inside the hangar.
This must be JAKE. He's reading from a clipboard, flipping
over pages. A KEYRING hangs from his belt.
A young STRANGER wearing a sweatshirt, blue jeans and
sunglasses walks toward the hangar. Jake sees him coming,
wonders who he is.
STRANGER
Morning. You Jake Willings?
JAKE
Willings by name, willing by nature.
What can I do for you?
STRANGER
I'm looking for a flying lesson, Mr.
Willings.
JAKE
That's funny, I give flying lessons.
Have you flown before?
STRANGER
Only in simulators. This will be my
first time.
JAKE
Simulators?
(he chuckles)
Well, I've got clients booked this
morning and this afternoon. Tomorrow's
pretty solid, too. Young bucks from the
sports club, want to tell their girls
they're chopper pilots.
STRANGER
I was kinda hoping to fly right now, Mr.
Willings.
JAKE
You rob a bank or something? I admire
enthusiasm, but that's taking things a
little too far. Come inside and I'll
take your details. We'll figure
something out.
STRANGER
There's military airspace somewhere
around here, isn't there?
Jake points into the distance.
JAKE
You mean the missile range. You can bet
your socks we don't fly anywhere near
there.
We stay with Jake as he turns to go into the hangar. He
STOPS when he realizes the Stranger isn't following him.
JAKE (CONT'D)
Son of a bitch!
We see why Jake's mad. His KEYRING is missing from his
belt. And the Stranger is already sitting inside the
helicopter. Jake RUNS to the helicopter.
INT. HELICOPTER - DAY
The Stranger powers up the electrics and starts the engine.
He performs the routine quickly and competently.
Jake runs up and starts banging on the door. His lips move
but we can't hear what he's saying -- though we can guess.
The Stranger ignores him.
EXT. HELIPAD - DAY
The helicopter's rotors spin faster. The engine noise
becomes deafening.
Jake has no choice but to retreat, buffeted by the wind. He
watches helplessly as his helicopter takes off and climbs
away.
INT. HANGAR - DAY
Jake stumbles inside. He finds a telephone and dials a
number. He's panting heavily.
JAKE
(into phone)
Hey Mike, this is Jake Willings over at
the helipad. Mike, you are not going to
believe this -- some son of a bitch just
stole my chopper!
EXT. DESERT - DAY
An empty stretch of desert. Hardly even a cactus.
Jake's HELICOPTER flies low overhead, rising and falling
with the contours of the terrain. It heads into the
distance.
OPERATOR (FILTERED)
Target is nine kilometers out and
closing. We have a firing solution.
Request shoot confirmation. Over.
COMMAND NET (FILTERED)
My authority is Majestic. Bring him
down. Say again, bring him down.
The helicopter suddenly BURSTS INTO FLAMES. It falls to the
ground, a flaming wreck, and EXPLODES.
Hold on the wreck. Then slowly PAN AROUND to a length of
chain link fence some distance away. There's a sign hanging
from the fence. We zoom in until we can read:
U.S. ARMY
RESTRICTED AREA
COLLINS MISSILE RANGE
DISSOLVE TO BLACK:
A beat. Bleed in wailful Country & Western music.
FADE IN:
EXT. BAR - DAY
A dusty Texas street in a dusty Texas town. Late afternoon.
Among the sparse buildings is a BAR which opens onto the
street. Some CARS are parked out front. Through the bar's
windows, we see the outlines of CUSTOMERS inside.
A MAN pushes the door open and steps out onto the street.
This dude looks like he needs a shave and a haircut, not to
mention a hot bath. He's wearing an orange baseball cap (so
he's easy to remember when he appears again later).
He looks left and right as if trying to make his mind up
which way to go, then sets off along the street, walking
fast and angry.
INT. BAR - DAY
Dark, smoky interior. The Country & Western music comes
from a juke box in the corner. It competes with a small TV
on a shelf behind the bar. The TV screen shows a NEWS
ANNOUNCER reading from sheets.
ANNOUNCER (TV)
...State Governor MacQueen insists there
is no cause for alarm. Police and
National Guard units continue to hunt
the deserters, most of whom have already
been executed.
Customers sit at the bar and at tables near the windows.
They're trying not to be too obvious about it, but they're
all looking at someone.
The someone attracting all the attention sits at the bar
with his back to the room. From behind, he's nondescript,
wearing ordinary clothes that appear a couple sizes too
large. As if he "borrowed" them from a clothes line.
Behind the bar, the BAR OWNER and a BARMAID watch the
customer like he's the only entertainment they're likely to
get in this town. Only they're not smiling.
ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
Vigilantes who claimed to have caught
and killed one of the deserters in
Ridgeport have been arrested for
allegedly shooting a man dead. The
victim, a traveling salesman, had driven
into Ridgeport and stopped to ask for
directions...
The barmaid hits a switch on the remote, turning the TV off.
She nudges the bar owner. The bar owner is reluctant to
move, but she hisses something under her breath, and all but
pushes him forward.
The bar owner comes to stand in front of the young man
sitting at the bar. He carefully places his hands on the
bar so the young man can see them.
BAR OWNER
I don't want no trouble. You can't stay
here. Finish your beer and get out.
We see the customer's FACE for the first time. His hair is
cropped short, military style. He's wearing SUNGLASSES
indoors. The name's JOE BLESKOE. He hasn't even touched
the glass of beer that's sitting on the bar in front of him,
getting warmer by the minute.
Bleskoe pushes the beer toward the bar owner. He gets up,
turns and heads for the door without argument.
The barmaid comes to stand alongside the bar owner. They
exchange relieved looks. The other customers follow
Bleskoe's movements.
Bleskoe reaches the door, pushes it open, steps outside into
bright daylight.
EXT. BAR - DAY
Bleskoe steps out of the bar. He pauses on the step.
A SHERIFF'S CAR stops in the middle of the street. The
doors open and the town SHERIFF and his DEPUTY emerge.
They're not sure if Bleskoe is who they're looking for.
They're cautious, but they don't draw their pistols yet.
SHERIFF
Stop right there, son. We need to see
some identification.
Bleskoe doesn't move or say anything.
DEPUTY
Something wrong with your hearing, boy?
Sheriff said we need to see I.D. Don't
just stand there, answer him.
Bleskoe still doesn't react. The Sheriff and Deputy look at
each other.
SHERIFF
Take off your sunglasses.
Bleskoe takes off his sunglasses.
HIS EYES are an uncanny SILVER, gleaming in the sunlight.
The Sheriff and Deputy place their hands on the butts of
their pistols, but still don't draw their weapons.
DEPUTY
Goddamn! He's one of them! He's a
freakin' deserter!
The Deputy SLAPS the sunglasses out of Bleskoe's hand and
STAMPS on them.
DEPUTY (CONT'D)
Your hiding days are over, you damn
coward!
SHERIFF
(to Bleskoe)
Raise your hands above your head, boy.
I mean now!
Bleskoe obligingly reaches for the sky. The Sheriff pulls
plastic cuffs from his belt.
SHERIFF (CONT'D)
Now turn around and put your hands
against the wall.
BLESKOE
Negative.
The Sheriff and Deputy look at each other again.
SHERIFF
I said, turn around!
BLESKOE
Can't do that.
The Sheriff and Deputy draw their pistols.
A split-second later they're both DEAD, lying in the dust.
Bleskoe stands with his hands by his side. We didn't even
see what he did, it happened so fast.
Bleskoe looks down at them impassively for a moment. Tough
to tell what he feels, if anything.
A PICKUP TRUCK roars down the street. Two men sit in the
cab and two others are standing in back. The men in back
are armed with rifles. The passenger leans out -- it's the
dude with the orange baseball cap who left the bar earlier
after spotting Bleskoe. He's armed with a PISTOL.
Before the pickup even stops, Bleskoe picks up the Sheriff's
pistol and shoots THREE times, BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
The two guys in back with rifles tumble out onto the street
-- DEAD.
The dude with the orange baseball cap SLUMPS, his head and
arm hanging out the window. He's dead, too.
The driver hits the brakes, the pickup skids to a halt. He
looks around and realizes he's the only one still alive. He
opens the door, jumps out and runs for his life, heading
back up the street like an Olympic sprinter.
Bleskoe SNAP-SHOOTS without even aiming. The driver
collapses, crying out in pain. He rolls around, clutching
his KNEE and wailing. He's still alive!
Bleskoe moves to the pickup and pulls the dead dude with the
orange baseball cap out of the passenger seat. He walks
around to the driver's side and climbs in.
Customers inside the bar crowd the windows, watching him.
The bar owner and barmaid are among them. They are stunned
and horrified by what they've just witnessed.
POLICE SIRENS wail in the distance.
Bleskoe turns the pickup around and puts the pedal to the
metal, getting out of town fast.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NEXT TOWN, MAIN STREET - NIGHT
Another town, much later. It's dark, but a lot of lights
are still on.
Bleskoe's pickup rolls into town with its lights out. No
one is around to notice. Bleskoe backs into an alleyway
that gives him a good view of the street.
He sits there for a while, looking across at a late night
diner, watching the CUSTOMERS through the diner's windows.
He gets out and crosses the street. After a moment's
hesitation, he enters the diner.
INT. DINER - NIGHT
A pleasant family environment, with subdued lighting and
checkered cloth on the tables.
Bleskoe moves to a corner table away from other customers
and sits down. He keeps his head down and hides his face
behind the menu while watching everything that's happening
around him. With the subdued lighting, the customers don't
even notice him.
The waitress approaches. Mature, attractive. Her nameplate
says BONNIE.
BONNIE
Hi, what can I get you?
BLESKOE
Biggest steak you've got. No fries or
trimmings, just steak. Don't overcook
it.
She writes it down on her pad. Doesn't even look up.
BONNIE
Sure. Drink?
Bleskoe looks outside. Watches as a SQUAD CAR pulls up
across the street. A uniformed COP gets out and looks at
the pickup.
BLESKOE
Water.
BONNIE
Sure. That all?
BLESKOE
Affirmative.
Bonnie takes his order to the kitchen.
The cop crosses the street, heading for the diner. It's a
she. Her name's KATE TYLER. Mid-twenties, 18 months on the
job, competent, divorced, likes her work.
Bleskoe watches her come inside. She glances around the
diner, smiles and waves when she sees a familiar face at the
other end of the room. A customer waves back. Kate heads
for the LADIES ROOM.
While Bleskoe was distracted, two cars pulled up outside.
Around half a dozen guys get out. They're in a laughing and
joking mood, clowning around. Maybe they've been drinking.
They make their way toward the diner.
The group of men look at the menu displayed on the window,
trying to figure what they want.
One of them notices Bleskoe.
The discovery provokes a reaction. The guy who noticed him
stays put and keeps tabs on Bleskoe while the rest run back
to their cars. They open the trunks and break out HUNTING
RIFLES. The lone observer keeps glancing over his shoulder,
wanting his friends to get back here as quickly as they can.
Bonnie comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray. She puts
the plate containing the mother of all steaks down on the
table, then sets down a glass of water and a full pitcher.
BONNIE
There ya go. Enjoy.
Kate appears. Bonnie looks round, just when she might have
noticed Bleskoe's silver eyes.
BONNIE (CONT'D)
Hey, Kate. You in for some pie?
KATE
(shakes head)
Trying to watch the calories.
BONNIE
(pretends to whisper)
You want me to keep you a slice?
KATE
(laughs)
Damn. You know me so well.
Kate is about to head for the door when she suddenly
realizes who and what Bleskoe is. She gives him a long,
hard stare.
BLESKOE
All I want is chow. Then I'm gone.
Kate doesn't say anything. Bleskoe cuts up his steak and
starts eating at top speed, jamming the steak down his
throat. As he eats, he keeps an eye on the men outside.
Kate doesn't know what to do. Arrest him? Run to her car
and radio for backup? Her fingers twitch, but she doesn't
touch her pistol.
The half-dozen men are getting ready to come inside. Their
LEADER starts giving orders. Two of the men stay outside.
The others head for the entrance. A couple of the guys give
each other high-fives. They're charged up and ready to go.
Bleskoe keeps eating.
The Leader and his three buddies enter the diner. The other
two guys stay out in the street, watching Bleskoe through
the window.
Kate holds up her hand, stopping them.
KATE
Hold it! Where do you think you're
going? Take those weapons outside!
The Leader of the vigilante committee SCOWLS at her. The
other customers stop eating and watch in shocked silence.
The vigilantes spread out. They mean business, but they
don't point their weapons at Bleskoe. Not yet.
VIGILANTE LEADER
Emergency Law says we can kill this
turkey wherever we like.
KATE
The hell you say. There are people in
here.
VIGILANTE LEADER
Screw you, we'll take him round back and
deal with him there.
(to Bleskoe)
You, soldier boy! Get up and keep your
hands where we can see them.
The Leader aims his RIFLE at Bleskoe.
He's DEAD ON HIS FEET an instant later.
Bleskoe stands frozen in a moment of time, like a still
frame, his rigid fingers sunk into the Leader's THROAT. He
leapt up from his seat and attacked the Leader so fast we
didn't even see the movement.
REAL TIME starts up again. The Leader topples sideways like
a felled tree, his throat crushed.
The other vigilantes REACT. Bleskoe goes through them like
a whirlwind, sticking his steak knife into one guy's
eyeball, smashing his elbow into another guy's head.
They're dead before they can pull their triggers.
The fourth vigilante panics and SHOOTS, but MISSES Bleskoe.
BONNIE the waitress is hit instead.
CLOSE ON Kate in marksman's stance, aiming at the fourth
vigilante -- not at Bleskoe.
Bleskoe drives his hand into the shooter's chest, snapping
ribs and straight-arming him through the diner window. The
window SHATTERS as the vigilante flies into the street like
a ballistic missile.
Before Kate can do or say anything, Bleskoe leaps through
the broken window after the flying vigilante.
EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT
Outside the diner. Bleskoe confronts the two astonished
vigilantes who stayed in the street. They stare at the dead
man Bleskoe just launched through the window. Realization
hits them. They bring their rifles up, ready to shoot.
Bleskoe slaps their rifles aside and SNAPS THEIR NECKS like
twigs. The vigilantes fall dead.
WIDE SHOT, LOOKING DOWN. Bleskoe stands among THREE DEAD
BODIES.
There's PANDEMONIUM inside the diner as customers flee out
the doors in panic. Kate moves to the broken window and
stares at Bleskoe. She still doesn't know what to do. The
violence she's witnessed has stunned her.
Bleskoe JUMPS through the window, back into the diner.
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Bleskoe pushes past Kate and goes down on one knee beside
Bonnie. She's still alive, but there's blood everywhere.
One look is enough to tell us she's had it.
Kate stands over Bleskoe, still holding her pistol, but not
aiming at him. She looks at the bodies. At Bleskoe. At
the bodies. She holsters her pistol and gets down beside
him.
Bonnie whimpers in pain and gasps for breath. Bleskoe
presses his FINGERS into her stomach and neck. Bonnie stops
whimpering and her breathing slows. He's made the pain go
away. She looks up at him, very calm, almost content. His
odd appearance doesn't bother her.
Kate looks from Bonnie to Bleskoe, asking him without words,
can't he DO something? Bonnie's eyes close, she stops
breathing. She's DEAD.
KATE
Oh God, no.
Bleskoe gets up and exits the diner. Kate stays beside with
Bonnie, ignoring him. Through the window, Bleskoe moves
across the street, to the nearest vigilante CAR.
EXT. MAIN STREET - NIGHT
Bleskoe reaches the car. Gets in. No ignition key. He
cracks open the wheel housing with the heel of his hand and
expertly hot-wires the engine. The engine rumbles into
life. He puts the car into gear.
Bleskoe REACTS as Kate opens the passenger door and climbs
in beside him. He relaxes. Kate doesn't realize she has
just avoided death by a nanosecond. Bleskoe stares at her,
not sure what she's doing.
KATE
Drive, for God's sake!
Bleskoe does as he's told. They head out of town, into the
night.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
Bleskoe and Kate leave the town behind. Bleskoe hasn't
bothered to switch the car headlights on, never mind that
it's dark outside.
KATE
Do you always drive at night without
lights?
CLOSE ON Bleskoe's silver eyes...
BLESKOE'S POV: It's like looking through NIGHT VISION
GOGGLES. The landscape is a ghostly green, with every
detail crystal clear. Bleskoe doesn't need the headlights.
BLESKOE
I'm doing okay.
Kate swallows hard. She's just beginning to realize what
she's done, where she is.
KATE
You -- you must be wondering -- why I'm
here. My brother is in the Corps.
BLESKOE
What unit?
KATE
I don't know. I didn't think you'd know
him personally. But you were Out There,
weren't you? You're one of them.
BLESKOE
Yes Ma'am, I'm one of them.
She takes a deep breath.
KATE
Identify.
BLESKOE
Bleskoe, Joseph Thomas, Corporal, KR-678-
436, 77th Assault Regiment, United Earth
Defense Corps.
KATE
That was automatic, wasn't it?
BLESKOE
Affirmative. Programmed response to low-
level query.
KATE
And that's how you kill? A programmed
response?
BLESKOE
Yes Ma'am, that's how I kill.
A beat. We need time to take this in.
KATE
What if I told you to kill someone?
BLESKOE
Insufficient authority.
KATE
What if an enemy soldier shouted
identify in the middle of a fight?
BLESKOE
Battlefield conditions deactivate low-
level responses. I'd shoot the enemy
soldier.
A beat.
KATE
You were aboard Vesuvius, weren't you?
BLESKOE
Yes, Ma'am.
KATE
Tell me what happened.
BLESKOE
Not much to tell, Ma'am.
KATE
Stop calling me that! I'm not your
officer. My name's Kate, Kate Tyler.
My brother's name is Randy. Your ship
made it back to Earth. How?
BLESKOE
You already know.
KATE
No, I don't. I only know what they told
us. They said you'd stolen the ship.
That you were deserters.
BLESKOE
That's a lie.
KATE
I know. I know because Randy told me
everyone he met in the Corps was
prepared to die to defend Earth. That
was why they volunteered. They knew
that if they failed, we were all fucked.
(beat)
The whole idea of "deserters" is just
crazy. The moment I heard it, I knew it
wasn't true. That's why I want to hear
your side of the story. I want to know
what really happened.
CLOSE ON Bleskoe as he REMEMBERS...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ALIEN HOMEWORLD FROM ORBIT - BLESKOE'S FLASHBACK
We're thrust screaming into the middle of a SPACE BATTLE.
Modified SPACE SHUTTLES fitted with missile racks and with
industrial-sized LASER CANNONS crowding their cargo bays
attack orbital FORTRESSES that EXPLODE violently, sometimes
taking the attacking Space Shuttles with them.
The fortresses are of bizarre alien design, as are the
smaller ships that move out from the planet to engage the
Space Shuttles. These ships appear as squidlike as the
aliens who are flying them. We know instinctively that
they're the BAD GUYS.
The Space Shuttle forces take heavy casualities but they
DON'T STOP. Space is cluttered with drifting hulks
hopelessly ablaze. A Space Shuttle spins slowly past the
camera -- it's recognizable as a NASA Shuttle, with the logo
half-burned away; its entire nose section is missing.
CLOSE ON one of the Space Shuttles. It's a patchwork quilt,
bolted and welded together in a great hurry. Almost as if
it rolled off the assembly line and was taken to the launch
pad immediately. Which is indeed the case.
Slowly ZOOM inside the COCKPIT. Three crewmen wearing
starsuits and helmets are strapped in, operating their
instruments. Nearby EXPLOSIONS light up the cockpit.
The Space Shuttle PILOT'S eyes are SILVER like Bleskoe's.
He is an ADJUSTED TROOPER, Earth's last hope in an
interstellar war gone badly wrong.
PILOT (FILTERED)
(into radio)
Negative, I say again, negative. All
squadrons, continue with the attack.
This is the only chance we're going to
get! Let's make it count!
A huge SHADOW falls over the Space Shuttle. The PILOT looks
up. A huge mother of a squid vessel hovers overhead. It's
shooting all kinds of shit at other Space Shuttles,
transforming them into fireballs.
CREWMAN (FILTERED)
We're dry! Missile racks are empty!
Laser cannon has taken a hit!
The Pilot alters course and aims for the huge squid vessel,
which grows uncomfortably larger with each passing second.
PILOT (FILTERED)
(into radio)
Attack squadrons, protect the transports
at all costs. Get them down there. Do
whatever you have to do, but get them
down there. PRIORITY ALPHA, THE RACE
MUST SURVIVE!
The Pilot deliberately steers his Space Shuttle into the
huge squid vessel, which is BLOWN TO HELL by the kamikaze
attack.
A dazzling NUCLEAR PULSE floods surrounding space like
ripples in a pond. The shock wave strikes the nearest squid
ships and ignites them, an unforeseen chain reaction. A
couple of Space Shuttles are also caught and destroyed.
Several Space Shuttles with their cargo bay doors closed --
the troop transports -- fall toward the squid homeworld in
tight formation, escorted by armed Space Shuttles that run a
gauntlet of hellfire. Many escorting Shuttles are
destroyed, but the troop transports get through.
BACK TO SCENE:
Bleskoe blinks out of the flashback. Kate looks at him,
expecting an answer.
BLESKOE
We blasted our way through the enemy's
orbital defenses. Landed on their home
planet. Fought our way into their
command nest. Knocked out their battle
computers, or what passed for battle
computers. Ended the war.
As Bleskoe explains, superimposed BACKGROUND IMAGES
compliment the scenes he describes.
BLESKOE
We waited for evac. Didn't happen.
Trapped on squid homeworld. Casualties
started dying. Captain Adams
commandeered supply shuttle, got us up
into orbit. Boarded supply ship
Vesuvius. Set course for Earth just
before they locked down the jumpgate
array.
BACKGROUND:
1. Surface of alien planet. Wounded TROOPERS are tended by
MEDICS. Other troopers stand alert in guard position,
surrounding the wounded.
2. CAPTAIN ADAMS, commander of Bleskoe's unit, speaks on
the radio. He's ANGRY. He's not getting the answers he
needs. Medics frantically work on a wounded soldier. It's
no good, the soldier DIES. Adams is deeply affected.
3. A SUPPLY SHUTTLE lands nearby. Adams gives orders to
the medics. They stretcher the rest of the wounded to the
shuttle. The shuttle PILOT tries to argue with Adams. No
good. Adams sees his men are taken aboard. The shuttle
hatches close, the shuttle blasts off.
4. An orbiting SHIP. The supply shuttle approaches and
enters through an airlock. The ship's name is VESUVIUS.
5. The ship's BRIDGE. Adams and Bleskoe enter and examine
the controls.
6. The ship heads toward an ENERGY VORTEX -- a JUMP GATE.
It plunges THROUGH the vortex. The vortex folds in upon
itself and VANISHES.
KATE
And -- when you got here?
BLESKOE
Refused permission to land. Ordered us
to stay in orbit until "decontamination
procedure" was worked out. Captain
Adams said we'd have to wait. We
waited. No medical facilities. No
coldsleep. Had to eject our dead into
space. Captain kept asking for update.
Communications blackout, no reply.
BACKGROUND:
7. Ship's cargo bay. Wounded troopers are still being
tended by medics. They're in a bad way. Another soldier
dies. His buddies carry his body away. Adams is enraged.
8. The ship's Bridge. Adams talks on the ship's radio. No
response. He tries again. No response. He slams his fist
against the control panel, frustrated. Denting the metal.
KATE
And then--?
BLESKOE
Detected tugs coming in from Luna. Said
they were going to tow us out of parking
orbit. Didn't say to where. Didn't say
why. Captain Adams kept asking. No
answer. Sixteen of us dead by then.
Combat effectiveness of unit threatened.
Priority Alpha, the unit must survive.
Captain initiated emergency re-entry
sequence.
BACKGROUND:
9. The ship in orbit above Earth.
10. Adams and Bleskoe on the bridge. They're looking at a
DISPLAY. Two SHIPS are visible, approaching their vessel.
Adams tries the ship's radio again. Doesn't like the answer
he receives. Adams gets into the pilot's seat. The
controls don't respond. He TEARS THE PANELS OPEN to reveal
circuits and cabling. Bleskoe helps him to rig an override.
11. THE SHIP: the main booster FIRES. The ship DROPS
toward Earth. RE-ENTRY HEAT makes the hull GLOW RED.
BLESKOE
Came down in Gulf of Mexico. Ship sank
fast. Most of us got out. National
Guard gunships tried to shoot us in the
water. Wounded men acted as live
decoys. Brought down two gunships
before the others got them. Nineteen of
us swam ashore and ran.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. GULF OF MEXICO - NIGHT - BLESKOE'S FLASHBACK
A nightmarish scene. Dozens of desperate SOLDIERS are in
the water, swimming for their lives, being hunted by
HELICOPTERS. The whup-whup of rotor blades is DEAFENING.
Dazzling SEARCHLIGHTS stab down from above, sweeping back
and forth, picking out swimming figures.
MACHINE GUNS rattle loudly, executing the swimmers in cold
blood. A searchlight beam picks out a new target. The
target is CAPTAIN ADAMS. Adams is backpeddling instead of
swimming because he's aiming a ROCKET LAUNCHER.
He FIRES. The helicopter is BLOWN TO HELL. The explosion
lights up the night. BURNING FRAGMENTS rain down.
Around Adams, other soldiers backpeddle in the water and
open fire at the other helicopters with small arms. They
aren't giving up without a fight. More die as machine gun
bullets stitch the waters.
Adams is hit. He throws his arms wide and disappears
beneath the surface. His men try to reach him, but it's too
late.
BACK TO SCENE:
Kate stares at Bleskoe, stunned.
KATE
And you've been running ever since.
BLESKOE
Affirmative. The unit must survive.
§
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