A Predator, dressed in the same uniform, but of a different colour, strides to the panel of the flashing
beacon. A seated CREW MEMBER is manning that station. The
Predator leans over, quickly pushes buttons: the BEEPING stops. He depresses more buttons: the BEEPING resumes.
STANDING PREDATOR
This is old. And it looks like ELITE.
The Crew Member manipulates a control. The BEEPING runs through a series of AUDIBLE MUTATIONS then returns to normal.
CREW MEMBER
Yes, Commander. Confirmed Elite.
Identification retrieval initiated.
INSERT: CLOSE SHOT ON THE PANEL.
A version of the Predator SYMBOLS we have seen in the past
scroll ultra-fast through a small screen. Suddenly they stop and the resulting readout begins to flash.
BACK TO SCENE: CU STANDING PREDATOR
A BEAT, then his tiny eyes open wide.
STANDING PREDATOR
Call THE LEADER. NOW!
INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE SHIP - CONTINUOUS
A much larger space: an EXPANSIVE CHAMBER, four or five levels high. The rows of terraces are lined with large, armoured doors. The whole chamber is filled with a cacophony of SCREAMING and ROARING and METALLIC BANGING.
ANOTHER ANGLE
On the topmost level there is a TEN-STRONG FORCE of fully armed, helmeted PREDATORS, uniformed as the Bridge Crew, and commanded by one other in a BLOOD RED version of the same outfit. He, too, is armed and helmeted. This is THE LEADER.
Standing outside one of the doors, the Leader confers with ONE of his crew. Suddenly he turns his head away and,
placing a hand to the temple of his temple, seems to LISTEN to a relayed message. He straightens, gives a hurried final command to his subordinate, then strides away. The
Pg. 32
subordinate relays the information to the others who raise their weapons at the door. Then, punching commands into his forearm computer, the subordinate causes the security seals around the jamb to IMPLODE the door. The Force storms in.
INT. THE ENIGMA'S MAIN HOLD - CONTINUOUS
Schollander has called his agents off: he is in control of himself again.
SCHOLLANDER
Can I smell something now, Captain Omura?
(a beat)
Could it be fear?
Omura has had it with this guy. He drops all pretence of civility.
OMURA
How close have you been to one of these
things, Schollander? A grainy computer photograph from the L.A.
know you spoke to Mike Harrigan...and you
still don't get it.
Once again Luck mediates, hands upraised.
LUCK
Please. Gentlemen. This is a stressful
time for all of us.
WICKES
(to Luck)
Sir, we should...
Luck silences him with a hand.
LUCK
(to all)
People, we have a situation. Suggestions,
please.
OMURA
Destroy the ship...and pray.
SCHOLLANDER
(scoffing)
Destroy the ship. You have no idea what
we can learn from the technologies here.
Pg. 33
Weapons, you mean? Miss the Cold War
much?
OMURA
We have all we need from it. Destroy
the ship.
SCHOLLANDER
Ah, yes. The all-important enzymes.
Gentlemen. If it was a homing signal
then the damage is done. If it wasn't,
then no damage is done. Call your
superiors if necessary. Make prepara-
tions if you think you can. But before
you do anything as drastic as blowing
up an artifact of such historical
significance, allow Professor MacTavish
and myself to at least break their
language and their codes. Let's try to
confirm what we're blindly arguing about.
(to Omura)
I'm one of those who believes that know-
ledge is power.
MacTAVISH
Aye, she's right. Let's not be too hasty.
After all...
Suddenly we HEAR the BEEPING start up again. All heads whip around to the 'Bulldog'.
INSERT: CLOSE SHOT OF THE DAMAGED PANEL
We SEE a GREEN LIGHT now blinking beside the destroyed red one.
BACK TO SCENE: CU ON OMURA
His eyes are wide and haunted.
MacTAVISH
(O.S.)
Uh, oh. Guess who's coming to dinner.
OMURA
And guess who's on the menu.
Pg. 34
WIDER ANGLE
LUCK
Victor. A moment, if you please.
He motions Schollander away from the rest and the two move off to confer.
OMURA
(to Lansing
Well, now you know. So, how powerful do
you feel?
She is silent as Omura limps past her. He heads for Luck and Schollander.
EXT. THE NORFOLK
A HEAVY LIFT 'SEA STALLION' HELICOPTER lifts the shrouded 'Bulldog' from the deck of the Enigma to a WIDE LOAD FLATBED TRUCK on the docks. A TEAM OF MILITARY PERSONNEL begins the job of securing the craft to the truck.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Omura, Schollander, and Luck stand watching the transfer. As well, there is much activity all around as the various TEAMS OF SPECIALISTS each conducts its own transfer of equipment and personnel to vans and coaches. Everything is happening under extraordinary security.
LUCK
Well, Gentlemen, I'd be lying if I said
I wasn't glad to be rid of the thing. If
there is a spacecraft with seven-feet-tall
'great predators' heading this way to pick
up some misplaced hardware, then a research
ship bobbing around on the ocean probably
isn't the best place to prepare for them.
SCHOLLANDER
Very wise, Stan. We were correct to move
as quickly as we have done, and your recom-
mendation for the relocation is sound.
OMURA
(to Luck)
May I ask where that is, Sir?
Pg. 35
Before Luck can answer...
SCHOLLANDER
Oh, at this point that's 'need to know'
only, I'm afraid, Captain..
Luck removes his cap and runs his fingers through his thinning, grey hair.
LUCK
Actually, Victor, that won't be a problem
for Captain Omura. I took the liberty...
He is interrupted by the arrival of a YOUNG SEAMAN who salutes and hands him two official-looking envelopes.
SEAMAN
Admiral Luck, Sir. The documentation you
were expecting.
Luck takes the envelopes.
LUCK
Thank you, Seaman. Dismissed.
The sailor salutes, turns on his heel, and is gone. Luck
checks out both envelopes, somehow decides which contains what. He hands one to Omura.
LUCK
Your orders, Major.
OMURA
Orders?
SCHOLLANDER
Major?
OMURA
But, Sir. I'm retired from active service.
LUCK
Not anymore you're not.
(to Schollander)
'Solar Storm' had to remain a Joint
Command. The Joint Chiefs agreed. For
the duration of the operation, Major
Omura is my replacement. After all, we
couldn't have a lowly Captain handling
Pg. 36
such an important operation.
(to Omura, with finality)
That's all right with you, isn't it,
Major?
OMURA
(a beat)
Of course, Sir.
SCHOLLANDER
(flustered)
Well now, Stan, I really think I should
have had some...
LUCK
This had nothing to do with you, Victor.
I wanted me replaced. Your status is
unchanged.
He waves his envelope in the air.
LUCK
This is the Joint Chiefs’ blessing.
Omura and Schollander eye each other.
LUCK
And now, Gentlemen, I must leave this
adventure in your capable hands. I
have more pressing concerns.
(a beat)
Tomorrow is my granddaughter's ninth
birthday. I am not going to miss it.
He salutes. Omura returns it. Luck shakes each man's hand.
LUCK
Good luck, Gentlemen.
OMURA
Thank you, Sir.
Schollander merely nods. Luck EXITS. Omura has already ripped open his envelope and scanned the contents. He nods, then frowns for a second as he recalls some information.
OMURA
So we're going to AREA SEVEN.
(folds the papers,
recounts to himself)Pg. 37
Ultra secret ARMY FACILITY beneath the
called, um, Elko. Presently under the
command of COLONEL ANDERSON DRU. If I'm
not mistaken, the nickname for the base
is 'SITE UNSEEN'.
(a beat. To Schollander)
How’d I do, partner?
Schollander manages a condescending smile.
SCHOLLANDER
Impressive.
(a beat)
Let's saddle up...partner.
He EXITS. Smiling as he watches the C.I.A. man leave, Omura pockets his orders.
EXT. THE DOCKS - LATER
With security both fore and aft of the flatbed, a convoy of vehicles moves out of the docks.
EXT. ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE - NIGHT - ESTABLISH
ON THE TARMAC
Omura and Messina
So does that mean I really have to call you
'Sir'?
OMURA
Of course. And salute, too.
(smiles)
And while you're thinking about that, I'll
think about what our good friend Victor
is doing.
He looks OFF CAMERA
OMURA'S POV
of Schollander, a little way off, talking to an AIR FORCE PILOT. He finishes the conversation and makes his way over to Omura and Messina
Pg. 38
RESUME SCENE
SCHOLLANDER
Just going over some details with CAPTAIN
(deadpans)
I didn't know the Welsh had their own
super hero.
Omura looks at him askew.
(con’t)
Sir.
SCHOLLANDER
He and another flyer will be our escort
to Area Seven. Two F-18s. Nothing
ostentatious.
OMURA
Victor. We covered this. We agreed no
weapons.
SCHOLLANDER
We agreed no one would be armed. And
none of us will be. But do you really
think the boys upstairs would let this
operation move forward totally undefend-
ed? We are responsible for several
notable foreign nationals, leaders of
the scientific community, and one actual
Nobel Prize winner. I'm afraid your
conclusions on these creatures' warped
sense of 'fair play' place you very
firmly in the minority.
(pauses)
Please feel free to mount an official
objection.
Omura takes a moment to collect himself.
OMURA
Okay. But as far as the personal weapons
go, if I even suspect that any of your men
is armed, I'll personally place him very
firmly on the endangered species list.
Pg. 39
SCHOLLANDER
(finds a smile)
So glad we had this chat...Major.
He makes to leave, hesitates, turns.
SCHOLLANDER
Oh, and I believe the fighters will
be re-fueling. Somewhere over Nebraska
I’m told. Apparently there’s no room
for additional fuel tanks...
(a beat)
when they’re so heavily armed.
He EXITS.
I don't like him.
Omura is silent, and returns his attention to the loading continuing in the BG.
EXT. THE OPEN SKY - DAY
FROM ABOVE and AHEAD we look DOWN on the giant Galaxy C-5 as it lumbers through the sky. We PAN away to one of the F-18s, flying a circuit around the transport. We HEAR CHATTER from one FIGHTER PILOT to THE OTHER.
PILOT ONE
(V.O.)
WOLF EYE TWO. Tanker from OFFUTT at
twelve o'clock. One-four-zero nautical.
Plug in, fifteen minutes. Say fuel
state.
PILOT TWO
(V.O.)
Fuel state five thousand.
INT. THE GALAXY C-5 - CONTINUOUS
The FLIGHT ENGINEER, SERGEANT HENDRY,(name on his breast pocket) reports to Omura, Schollander, and Messina in one of the plane's spartan personnel sections.
HENDRY
Sirs. The re-fueling tanker out of the
Omaha Offutt facility will be here in
Pg. 40
approximately fifteen minutes. You can
watch the procedure on the port side.
OMURA
Thank you, Sergeant.
Hendry EXITS.
Well I'm going to get a good seat.
(to Schollander)
Please feel free to pick a window far
away from me, Mr. Schollander.
He EXITS
SCHOLLANDER
Your man should show more respect for his superiors, Major.
OMURA
Accept my apologies, but he's a marine.
(a beat)
You're not.
SERIES OF SHOTS: EXT. THE OPEN SKY - MINUTES LATER
The C-5 and the fighters catch the slower moving KC 10 TANKER: smaller than the transport, still a big plane. We SEE the re-fueling hose snake out from the rear of the tanker.
TANKER PILOT
(V.O.)
Wolf Eye One. You are cleared into the
ready position behind the boom.
PILOT ONE
(V.O.)
Cleared into ready position.
The first of the F-18s moves into position aft of the tanker, its nose-mounted fueling nozzle raised. Male enters female and connects.
TANKER PILOT
(V.O.)
Re-fueling commen... Wha..? Holy Christ!
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