RIPLEY
Thousands? Then why weren’t some of them
used aboard the Auriga, for God’s sake?
WOODS
They’ve never been tested.
GRIGGS
(insistent)
Ma’am. Do you have a Directive?
Woods’ tiny frame seems to shrink even further into itself. Her voice becomes even weaker.
WOODS
I have to assume that, now they know
of the Alien, they will somehow track it.
They will come here.
She tries to rally herself.
WOODS
(to Griggs)
Have Commodore Haynes mobilize the best
defense for this facility as he sees fit.
I leave it in his capable hands.
Ripley steps up beside Woods, addresses Griggs.
RIPLEY
Yeah, you do that, Griggs. And here’s
another couple of things to put on your
‘to-do’ list. Dust off these BiOids we’ve
just heard about, then get me a flyer,
something way smaller than the thing we
arrived in, and one good pilot.
GRIGGS
The BiOids? What good...?
RIPLEY
Just do it!
We SEE Griggs’ eyes flit to Woods who hesitates then nods.
The monitor blinks off.
Pg. 92
RIPLEY
(to Johner)
Up for a little excitement?
JOHNER
I knew you couldn’t resist me forever.
RIPLEY
(to Woods)
How do we get back to the launch bay?
EXT. THE SURFACE OF TRITON
We SEE the icy surface crack and shatter as massive doors beneath ponderously part. From the opening, dozens of craft of various types and sizes rise. We FOLLOW them as they head towards a gargantuan shimmering distortion. Each ship ‘winks out’ and disappears when it reaches the rippling expanse.
When the last craft has been swallowed the distortion alters its orientation, and begins moving towards the far off Sun.
INT. A HUGE CAVE – DAY
Daylight floods in from the BG. A flying USM machine settles to the cave floor.
INT. THE FLYER - CONTINUOUS
The PILOT and Johner are both in cold-weather gear. Ripley is not. Flashlight in hand, she begins to open the hatch.
RIPLEY
(to the pilot)
You stay here.
PILOT
No problem.
JOHNER
(to the pilot)
Hey, Junior. Any heat in this bird?
PILOT
You mean guns?
Pg. 93
RIPLEY
What do you want a gun for?
JOHNER
I’ll make me feel better.
(to the pilot)
Well?
The pilot reaches into a compartment beside his seat. He pulls out one handgun, two extra clips. Johner’s shoulders sag. He doesn’t take the gun.
JOHNER (cont’d)
Any real guns?
The pilot points back to a bench-length compartment.
PILOT
In there.
Johner opens the lid. He finds several long, heavy-muzzled weapons, picks one, quickly checks the firing mechanisms, slings the accompanying ammunition holder over his shoulder.
JOHNER
(admiring the weapon)
Momma come to Papa.
RIPLEY
Johner, what do you want the gun for?
JOHNER
It’ll make me feel better!
RIPLEY
We’re not going in there to kill
anything.
JOHNER
C’mon. It’s dark in there. I’d feel
kinda naked without it. You don’t
want to see me naked, do ya, Ripley?
Ripley just looks at him.
RIPLEY
Well, just stay cool.
Pg. 94
JOHNER
I promise not to panic unless you give
me the green light.
Ripley pushes the hatch open.
INT. THE CAVE – CONTINUOUS
Johner pulls the hood of his parka up, and switches on his rifle’s attached flashlight. Ripley, too, lights her flashlight, and they both aim the beams into the murk.
THEIR POV
Their lights are swallowed into nothingness.
INT. THE LANDING/LAUNCH BAY – CONCURRENT TIME
Tech crews swarm all over the USM fighters and cruisers. Pilots climb into cockpits, canopies smack shut, thumbs-ups given. Engines roar. Some of the aircraft begin to taxi.
Marines by the hundreds double-time it into preset positions. We SEE that all are equipped with helmets sporting slim, one-piece visors, currently flipped up.
Echoing orders BLARE from the PA system.
ON ONE SQUAD
A SGT. LACOPO (name on breast pocket) approaches a superior, CAP. ROTHMAN (name on breast pocket). They salute.
LACOPO
Is this the big one, Sir?
ROTHMAN
According to The Commodore.
LACOPO
The alien Hunters. They’re really coming?
ROTHMAN
This facility was established almost one
hundred years ago, for just this
eventuality. I strongly suspect the founders
Pg. 95
hoped that it would never be tested.
LACOPO
You don’t always get what you want, eh, Sir?
ROTHMAN
Very true, Sergeant.
LACOPO
Still, I wouldn’t mind trying a wish
for something right now.
FADE TO:
INT: THE CABIN OF A LEAR JET-SIZED AIRCRAFT – CONCURRENT TIME
From the rear we SEE a pilot and a co-pilot, the co-pilot wearing a classic Aussie hat.
ROTHMAN
(V.O.)
And what would that be?
We PAN back and along the floor of the craft, reaching a large coffin-like box.
LACOPO
(V.O.)
Well, Sir, even though we have our
Vision Augmentation, I’d sure like to
have some other big-ass secret weapon
up our sleeves. Sir.
Lying in the box we SEE a helmeted PREDATOR.
ROTHMAN
(V.O.)
I hear that.
INT. THE CAVE – LATER
Ripley and Johner are making their way slowly down a wide descending tunnel, feeling their way cautiously along the wall. Johner stops, throws his hood back, and props his gun against the rock face. He is sweating slightly.
Pg. 96
JOHNER
(harsh whisper)
Hey. Ripley. Wait up.
Ripley turns. Johner begins to peel off his top layer.
JOHNER
Why’s it getting so damn hot in here?
RIPLEY
We’re getting close.
JOHNER
To your ET buddy? How’s he’s makin’ it this
hot? And what good is he gonna be, anyway?
I know he’s pretty tough, but I’d put my
money on a couple of these Hunter guys, never
mind a whole God-damned invasion. An’ are you
100% on controlling that guy? Maybe I’ll need
this baby after all.
He pats the gun against the wall.
RIPLEY
That’s a lot of questions, Johner.
JOHNER
Well, you know me. I’m a regular sponge
for knowledge.
Ripley aims her flashlight across at the opposite wall. We SEE that it seems to be smoother than the other rock faces.
She crosses and runs her hands over the wall, closes her eyes, and her head drops forward.
RIPLEY
(harsh whisper)
Johner. Here.
Johner picks up his gun and joins her. He touches the wall and sniffs his fingers. His eyebrows rise.
JOHNER
Sweet. Junior’s handiwork?
Ripley nods, but continues to hang her head. Johner lightly taps the substance with a knuckle.
Pg. 97
JOHNER
Doesn’t seem too thick. So what now? Maybe
we should knock.
He hits the wall, none too hard, with the side of his fist.
Ripley holds out a restraining hand.
RIPLEY
(croaky)
No, Johner. Don’t...
The wall shatters. Johner overbalances and falls in.
JOHNER
Son-of-a-bi...!
...and is gone.
RIPLEY
Johner!
She drops to her knees, plays the flashlight into the abyss.
HER POV
of a long, smooth slope disappearing into the depths.
CLOSE ON RIPLEY
There is a confused craziness on her face. She flops back to sit on the tunnel floor. Her eyes begin to fill with tears.
RIPLEY
(whispering, weeping)
Hicks! Hicks, grab her!
We HEAR a faraway, echoing call.
JOHNER
(O.S. distant)
Ripley! Hey, Ripley. Can you hear me?
Ripley frowns even as her eyes go wide, darting from side to side.
Pg. 98
GIRL’S (NEWT FROM ALIENS) VOICE
(V.O.)
Rip-lee! Rip-lee!
Ripley gets to her knees.
RIPLEY
Newt?
INT. THE LOWER CHAMBER – CONTINUOUS
The light from Johner’s dropped weapon casts a faint illumination. We HEAR him close by.
JOHNER
(O.S.)
Son-of-a...OH! OW! FUCK!
He hobbles INTO FRAME sweating freely and favouring his left leg. Limping towards his gun, he picks it up and drags himself to sit with his back against a smoothly ribbed, moist wall. He runs his fingers over its slickness.
JOHNER (cont’d)
What the fuck?
He plays the light about in front of himself...and we SEE the eggs. Several closest to him are opening.
JOHNER (cont’d)
Holy Mother!
Bum leg forgotten he springs up and levels the rifle.
SERIES OF DYNAMIC SHOTS
The closest of the Facehuggers leaps. Johner blows it away. A second one flies at him. He takes it out. A third and a fourth launch themselves. He shoots them down.
Other eggs, further out, begin to quiver.
We HEAR a monstrous SCREAM
Pg. 99
CLOSE ON JOHNER
just holding it together. He sweeps his weapon wildly from side to side, up and down, probing the darkness. And suddenly...
HIS POV
Out of the darkness, an enraged Queen striding over her eggs straight towards him.
WIDE ANGLE
Johner raises the weapon, tries to steady his aim, as the Queen lumbers forward.
JOHNER
(shouting)
You want some of this?
The Queen keeps coming...and Ripley shoots off the bottom of the slope, rolling into the Queen’s path. The Queen screams and flails to a stop.
Ripley jumps up, aims her flashlight’s powerful beam up at the Queen’s huge crested head.
RIPLEY
(growling)
Don’t make me tell you again.
The Queen’s head cocks back.
JOHNER
Ripley! Holy shit!
The Queen takes a massive stride towards Ripley.
RIPLEY
(to Johner, over her shoulder)
Get the hell out of here.
She spreads her arms wide, thrusts her chest out, makes herself as big as possible.
The Queen roars.
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