SCHOLLANDER
Let's just say that Dr. Gockel makes my
reports just a little more...
comprehensive.
As Garber digests this revelation, Schollander returns his gaze to the night sky.
SCHOLLANDER'S POV - THE NIGHT SKY
SCHOLLANDER
(O.S.)
Let's wish the Major all the luck in
the world. And off of it.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' - LATER
CLOSE SHOT of a Predator hand. It slaps Omura's seemingly lifeless face. His eyes snap open.
WIDER ANGLE
The Subordinate is crouching over Omura who has crumpled in a corner. He shakes his head.
OMURA
(rubbing his cheek)
What happened?
The Leader is standing by the Pilot, who is seated in the pilot's chair, operating both a computer and some sort of 'joystick'.
LEADER
Acceleration...too much for...you.
Omura struggles to his feet.
OMURA
Where are we?
LEADER
(points to screen by
the Pilot)
Here.
Omura joins the Leader just in time to see a series of indecipherable symbols vanish from the screen. We HEAR and SEE THE EFFECTS of an external THUD.
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LEADER
Welcome...to my ship.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' - LATER
The Leader straightens after working on a computer.
LEADER
No living...detected in ship. But sensors...not...not
OMURA
Reliable?
LEADER
Not good. Yes. Bad.
In his own tongue, the Subordinate comments to the Leader. The Leader seems to agree, and the Subordinate moves to the hatch, collecting a lance on the way.
OMURA
Where is he going?
LEADER
You ...need new...legs.
OMURA
What?
SUBORDINATE
A device. From Medical. . .Bay.
(slaps his own leg)
Help you...walk.
OMURA
But what about the radiation? You said...
LEADER
This port...only possible for...docking.
Close to Medical. Too far to...Engine
Room.
OMURA
But...
SUBORDINATE
I'll...run.
The 'Bulldog' hatch slides open, revealing an airlock
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beyond. As the Subordinate makes to step through, Omura grabs his arm.
OMURA
Everything depends on you. Everything.
My daughter.
SUBORDINATE
My ship. My...comrades.
OMURA
Thank you.
Grim, the Subordinate pulls his arm away roughly. A BEAT.
SUBORDINATE
HA!
He slaps Omura's head like a playful older brother. He
checks a timer on his forearm computer, squares his
shoulders, then steps into the airlock. It HISSES closed behind him.
On one of the 'Bulldog's' multi-function screens Omura and the other two Predators follow the Subordinate's rapid progress through the dim corridors. Intermittent INTERFERENCE forces them to continually shift ANGLES and VIEWS etc. until they can no longer hold an image. His garbled AUDIO SIGNAL also FADES to nothing. They've lost him: he's on his own.
INT. THE CORRIDORS - MINUTES LATER
The Subordinate stops running, sways a little, and rests his weight on the extended lance. For a second he LISTENS - there is just the THROB of the ship and a few NON-DESCRIPT SOUNDS, making him glance left and right.
SUBORDINATE
(quietly into his forearm
computer. subtitled)
Leader. LEADER!
We HEAR nothing but STATIC. He SPITS A CURSE and slaps the machine, then...a NOISE makes him crouch and turn, lance ready.
SUBORDINATE'S POV - SHADED CORRIDORS - HAND-HELD CAMERA - ERRATIC
Pg. 64
A SHADOW flits, gone.
RESUME SCENE
A BEAT. ANOTHER. The Subordinate finally straightens, listens. NOTHING. He turns away, resumes a laboured jogging towards Medical.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' – LATER
Omura is hunched over a static-filled monitor, staring hard at it.
OMURA
He's taking too long.
LEADER
He's taking...too long.
Suddenly the Subordinate's breathless VOICE breaks into the air. The Pilot jumps to the console and manipulates controls. Gradually a VISUAL begins to form on one of the screens. Through the clearing static we SEE the Subordinate is slowly dragging a huge METAL CONTAINER behind himself.
SUBORDINATE
(from screen, own tongue,
garbled, subtitled)
...damaged...not open...bring it all.
The Pilot points to symbols on the screen, reports to his Leader.
PILOT
(subtitled)
He is close.
The IMAGE winks off the screen, then flutters back on. We SEE a HUGE, SHIMMERING DISTORTION close behind the struggling Subordinate.
LEADER
The Lawless.
Omura pushes in past the Pilot. YELLING.
OMURA
(yelling)
Behind you!
Pg. 65
INT. THE CORRIDORS - CONTINUOUS
The Subordinate FREEZES. The distortion STOPS.
All in one fluid motion, the Subordinate drops the makeshift HARNESS from his shoulders, turns, produces a lethally spiked DISC from his uniform, tosses it at his stalker, and charges with his lance. The Lawless, wearing a SILVER RADIATION SUIT, becomes visible, dodges the spiked weapon with frightening ease, and grabs the lance with disdain. The weakened Subordinate finds himself flung hard against the bulkhead, and the Elite-trained warrior - bigger, stronger, faster - is on him. It is no contest. The Subordinate fights with all his alien strength, but he is weakened by the radiation. He is beaten back. He is cut, slashed. He starts to lose yellow blood.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' - SAME
OMURA
(beseeching)
Leader, do something. He's your man.
LEADER
His...contest.
Omura moves. He grabs a BIG GUN, shuffles to the hatch, starts pushing symbols on the wall. Nothing happens.
OMURA
(irate)
Open this thing!
(a beat)
The Lawless will take the package.
The Leader's head whips around. The Pilot barks a word. The Leader nods in agreement. The Pilot moves, pushes Omura aside, and is out of the airlock before Omura can regain his footing.
INT. THE CORRIDORS - CONTINUOUS
The Pilot charges the silver-clad Predator. Meeting this new challenge the Lawless forgets the beaten Subordinate, who takes the advantage and, on his belly, continues to drag the long slim box inch by agonizing inch closer to the airlock.
But the Lawless is also proving too much for the Pilot. He delivers a thunderous blow and jawbones CRACK. But even as
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he falls, the Pilot swipes with his exo-claws and rips the protective silver suit. He crashes to the floor, stunned, as the Lawless grabs for his damaged legging. Realizing the danger, he lumbers away, but not before tossing a hand projectile of his own and disabling the corridor viewer.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' - CONTINUOUS
The viewing screen goes blank. The Leader tries valiantly to re-establish a visual but, after a few seconds, he desists when he and Omura HEAR the outer lock HISS open and close. They open the inner lock. Doubled over on the floor, beside the all-important package, the Pilot is retching, wheezing, and holding his jaw. A viscous, yellow-streaked goo is drooling uncontrollably from his smashed, fanged mouth. And beside him, drenched in yellow blood, lies the Subordinate. DEAD.
INT. THE 'BULLDOG' - LATER
Starting at his feet, we PAN along Omura's body, lying face down on a table. He is wearing only his boots, while his pants have been torn off high above the knee. His shirt has also been removed. We SEE that his legs are now clad in some APPARATUS of FINE METALLIC RODS culminating in a BELT about his waist. From there, several THIN CABLES snake up his back to a SMALL BOX attached to his right shoulder, and also to a BLACK METALLIC CURVED PLATE which cups the back of his head between his ears. On both the box and the plate tiny lights slowly WINK ON and OFF.
WIDER ANGLE
A FINAL CABLE from the belt, as yet unconnected, is held by the Leader. Beside him, the Pilot - his jaw enclosed in a CLEAR PLASTIC BRACE - prepares a LARGE METALLIC SYRINGE.
LEADER
(to Omura)
Ready?
OMURA
What if I say 'No'?
The Leader places a TINY DISC on Omura’s spine, square between his shoulder blades. He repositions it once, twice: is satisfied, and nods to the Pilot who promptly plunges the large NEEDLE straight into the disc’s centre. Omura jerks. The Pilot removes the syringe but leaves the nose cone of the needle implanted. To this the Leader then screws the
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last cable. The lights on the skull plate begin to flash rapidly.
LEADER
(to Omura)
Get up.
Gingerly, Omura swings his legs off the table, and automatically reaches for his cane propped there. The Leader spits a curse, backhands the cane away, and shoves Omura hard. Omura tumbles from the table but catches himself, and does not fall. For a moment we SEE his face fill with elation as he kneads his legs, but then he becomes grim again. Almost immediately he begins to arm himself for the task ahead: two HANDGUNS, a snubbed SHOTGUN slung snugly on his back, a SIX-INCH KNIFE strapped to his thigh, AMMO. He also straps a forearm computer to his left arm. We SEE him glance at the dead Subordinate, still lying on the floor.
CLOSE ON THE SUBORDINATE'S EXO-CLAW
OMURA
(O.S.)
I want that.
RESUME SCENE
LEADER
(shaking his head)
One objective. No...revenge. If Lawless comes...use guns.
(a BEAT)
He is Elite. You cannot...beat him.
As close as possible, Omura comes face to face with the Leader.
OMURA
It’s been done twice before.
OUTSIDE THE AIRLOCK
The airlock HISSES closed behind Omura. He refers to the computer, takes his bearings, and starts forward...exo-claw at the ready.
INT. 'SITE UNSEEN' - A 'COLD ROOM' STORAGE AREA
Schollander passes TWO GUARDS at the entrance, enters, and
Pg. 68
closes the large door behind himself. We SEE his BREATH cloud into the air as he pulls the lapels of his suit jacket up around his neck, blows into his hands, and hugs his
jacket more tightly around himself. He moves forward into the DIMLY LIT, GREEN-TINGED room. He approaches the first of several slabs on which the SHROUDED CADAVERS of the landing party have been laid. He pulls back a large YELLOW DRAPE and, almost lovingly, caresses the face of the dead Predator there with the back of his hand.
SCHOLLANDER
Ah, my hideous friend. If only my name
was Frankenstein. I would reanimate you
so that we might leave this place together.
Then my task would be oh, so much easier.
He bends forward until his face is close to the alien's, and delivers an open-mouthed gust of icy breath which swirls about the Predator’s limp fangs and then disipates.
SCHOLLANDER
(con’t)
Hmph.
The SOUND of the DOOR OPENING makes him straighten and turn.
HIS POV
of the door. Dru and Hindman have entered and come towards him.
RESUME SCENE
SCHOLLANDER
Gentlemen.
DRU
Sir. I've been contacted by Lieuitenant
Janice Fanfarski. She is the officer who
is...
SCHOLLANDER
(impatiently)
Yes, yes.
HINDMAN
Mr. Schollander. Carol – Major Omura’s
wife - is insisting that she and Madeleine
be allowed to join him here. I've had an
update from an associate monitoring the
Pg. 69
child. I'm afraid it doesn't look good.
Schollander considers, nodding and pursing his lips.
SCHOLLANDER
Of course. Of course. Colonel. Please
make the arrangements.
DRU
Yes, Sir.
HINDMAN
Thank you, Mr. Schollander.
They turn and EXIT, passing Agent Garber who is ENTERING.
GARBER
(to Schollander)
They want the wife and kid to come here.
Did you okay it?
SCHOLLANDER
Of course. Why, a man's family is his
strength. His strength...and his weakness.
(a beat, frowning)
By the way. I know this name, Fanfarski,
but I can't quite...
(taps his forehead)
GARBER
First female TOP GUN out of MIRAMAR
Class of '95.
SCHOLLANDER
(eyes light up)
Ah, yes. Of course. Of course.
INT. THE PREDATOR SHIP - THE ENGINE ROOM
A large chamber. STEAM wafts at floor level. GARISH LIGHTING of ever changing colours slowly pulses on and off.
In the centre, a MASSIVE ARMOURED SPHERE, partially submerged and mounted in a HUGE WELL, rotates sluggishly. From the Well a myriad cables snake to a dozen or more individual control stations positioned around it. Most of the stations have been destroyed or show damage.
We PAN around the space, SEEING a number of SHRIVELLED CORPSES lying on the floor or in chairs. The bodies are
Pg. 70
mostly CREW; three LAWLESS.
We SEE a large DOOR open, sliding upwards. Omura ENTERS cautiously, one handgun raised.
HIS POV
of the damage PANS around and comes to rest on a mangled WALL-MOUNTED COMPARTMENT. Silver radiation suits, all shredded, with many showing yellow blood stains, are scattered all about it.
OMURA
(O.S.)
Leader. Protective suits. No use.
Destroyed.
RESUME SCENE
Omura is talking into his forearm computer.
OMURA
Proceeding to STATION ONE.
He walks around the control stations, checking a symbol on each. He stops at one: it is destroyed.
OMURA
Station One. Destroyed.
LEADER
(O.S., through static)
Seven. Try S...tion Sev...n.
Omura finds Station Seven.
OMURA
Seven seems OK.
LEADER
Good. Transmitting symbol...series. ..ollow...ex....ctly.
CLOSE SHOT of forearm computer and control station. Symbols flash in the computer's small screens and Omura's fingers press the equivalents on the station.
CU Omura's eyes as he concentrates and struggles to keep pace. The STRANGE NOISES of the place keep his eyes darting here and there. A LOUDER SOUND makes his head turn. He
Pg. 71
looks back to the computer.
CLOSE SHOT: symbols continue to flow.
ON OMURA
OMURA
(exasperated)
Leader. Leader, I missed some. Do I
have to start again?
LEADER
(indistinguishable sound)
YES!
Omura screws his face, wipes the sweat from his eyes, sucks it up.
OMURA
OK. Go.
(DIRECTOR: SERIES OF SHOTS. OMURA'S EYES, FINGERS, SYMBOLS ETC: SHOW PASSAGE OF TIME)
RESUME SCENE
Omura hits a final symbol with gusto.
OMURA
Leader. Completed. What is...our
status?
LEADER
(connection worse)
good...down...return...
Omura gives up on the communication. He makes his way to
the door, listening all the while to the alien noises about him. Just before he exits, almost reluctantly, he casts a last look around the engine room and turns to leave...when a vicious blow from nowhere blasts him back into the chamber, sending him sprawling to the floor. He draws one sidearm and pumps wildly in the direction of the doorway, which is now sliding down to close. The bullets WHINE crazily, some bouncing from the walls themselves and others ricocheting, with metallic 'PINGS ', apparently out of thin air. The Lawless becomes visible, roaring as he rips the destroyed control panel from his arm and tosses it aside.
Omura discards the spent gun, grabs his second, but the alien is already lunging, ploughing into him, knocking the
Pg. 72
gun free. Omura vaults away, landing an inhuman distance from his attacker. SURPRISE shows on his face. He touches his 'robotic' legs. The Lawless is up and turning. He is breathing hard. CLOSE SHOT of his exo-claws snapping forward...and we SEE yellow blood staining his legging from the poorly repaired slash in his suit there.
ON OMURA
who holds his own claws up. They, too, slide up.
OMURA
Let's dance.
RESUME SCENE
Their struggle is ferocious. Omura is now FASTER, bobbing, weaving; the alien LABOURING. But he is still immensely stronger. Slashing claws CLASH. Blood, both red and yellow, FLOWS. A desperate charge knocks Omura almost senseless, and opens a large wound on his left side, but the alien cannot press the advantage. He sways, grabs at his damaged legging, and with Omura still groggy, gets to the door and OPENS it...and comes face to face with the Leader and the Pilot.
All three are surprised, but it is the Lawless who reacts quickest. He charges between them, aiming a BLOW at the delicate jaw of the Pilot, who goes down. At the same
time, the Lawless RAKES his exo-claws across the Leader's chest, and grabs him from behind like a shield.
The Pilot gets up. Omura is on his knees. The Lawless SCREAMS in his own tongue.
We SEE Omura grab his knife and launch it underhand. The Lawless SCREAMS again and looks down...
CLOSE SHOT of the knife buried in his leg just above the knee.
His grip loosens, and the bleeding Leader falls free. The Lawless looks up.
HIS POV
of Omura aiming the SHOTGUN directly at his face.
WIDER ANGLE
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