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INT. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Nick walks in -- dressed and cleaned up, but he still doesn't
look good. Ryerson spots him -- hurries over.
RYERSON
Nick, where the hell have you been?
Things have gone crazy around here.
NICK
You're tellin' me.
Nearby a cell phone rings and the WND FLICKERS. Nick curses
under his breath -- walks away. Ryerson follows. Nick
conceals the WND in his palm.
As they turn a corner -- Nick loses the signal. He doubles
over in pain.
RYERSON
Are you all right?
Nick takes another turn -- finds the signal again.
NICK
I'm fine. I sometimes get these
migraines...
RYERSON
We're running out of time. The NSA
wants McCormack and apparently their
interest in her overrides ours.
They've already sent an agent to pick
her up.
NICK
What?
RYERSON
He's here now. Some prick named
Vance.
Ryerson gets flagged down by another agent.
RYERSON
Let's at least get in there and see
what she knows.
As Ryerson walks away, Nick thinks quickly -- then hurries
over to an empty desk. Picks up the phone and quickly dials.
VANCE -- walks with Prichard sipping his coffee.
VANCE
God, your coffee's worse than ours. --
Got those papers ready?
PRICHARD
In my office.
The PA clicks on overhead.
OPERATOR
(over PA)
Agent Vance, please call 7461. Agent
Vance, 7461.
PRICHARD
You can take it on the back wall.
Vance quickly breaks away -- heads for the phone.
NICK -- walks past Vance -- just one row over.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Nick quickly slips inside -- heads straight for Ali. Without
a word he unfastens her from the chair.
ALI
What are you doing?
NICK
I'm getting you out of here.
ALI
You're letting me go?
Ali stands up, but before she takes a step -- Nick handcuffs
her hands in front of her.
NICK
Not quite. Just keep your head down
and don't make a sound.
He opens the door -- peeks outside, then leads her out.
INT. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Vance picks up the wall phone, impatient.
VANCE
This is Vance.
He only hears a recorded voice.
PLEASANT WOMAN
Please stay on the line for an
important message about the new
Platinum Card with zero percent
interest for twelve months. You may
already be qualified...
Vance slams the phone down and hurries back toward the
interrogation rooms.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Vance practically breaks down the door. One glance inside at
the empty room and he knows he's been had.
VANCE
Bitch did it again.
INT. CYBER INVESTIGATIONS - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Nick leads Ali through. She keeps her head to the floor,
occasionally raising her eyes for direction. They pass the
main server room -- Deckland pops out.
DECKLAND
Hey Nick, that MIT professor got back
to me. Dunn and Alison McCormack
were in the same research lab for a
while.
NICK
That's great Deckland.
DECKLAND
Hey wait -- isn't that --
But Nick's already gone before he can finish.
INT. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE - FBI OFFICE - DAY
Vance double-times it with Prichard toward the elevators.
Agents are on alert.
VANCE
You run a real tight ship Prichard.
PRICHARD
The building's being locked down now.
She won't get far on her own.
VANCE
What if she's not on her own?
Ryerson takes the hint and ducks down another hallway at full
speed.
INT. STAIRWELL - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Nick and Ali thunder down the stairs as quickly as they can.
Then they both hear commotion below. Nick peers over the
edge -- sees scores of agents climbing up.
He stops Ali at the next door they come to and pushes her
through.
INT. OFFICES - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Nick and Ali navigate through a maze of cubicles, trying to
keep out of sight.
NICK
That was a quicker response then I
expected. That Vance guy must really
have it in for you. What'd you do to
piss him off?
ALI
Long story. I wanna know why you're
trying to bust me out.
NICK
Long story.
As they empty into a long corridor Nick pulls her back
another direction.
INT. SECURITY CENTER - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Ryerson watches in disbelief at a surveillance monitor that
shows Nick getting Ali out.
RYERSON
I'll be damned. This day just got
real crazy.
(pulls out his radio)
Sir? Agent Reeve is the agent
escorting Ms. McCormack out.
INT. ELEVATOR - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Prichard listens to Ryerson in disbelief.
PRICHARD
Nick? Are you sure?
RYERSON
(over radio)
Sir, I'm just tellin' ya what my own
eyeballs are tellin' me. They're on
the fourth floor.
Prichard clicks the radio back on his belt -- confused and
angry.
VANCE
It's never the ones you expect.
PRICHARD
It doesn't make any sense -- doesn't
make any goddamned sense.
INT. MAZE OF CORRIDORS/OFFICES - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Nick and Ali force their way through the everyday traffic of
the office. When an Agent spots them at the far end -- Nick
yanks Ali down another corridor.
It's a game of cat and mouse and they're trapped in a cage.
Nick pulls Ali into an empty office just as the Agent rounds
the corner.
They flatten themselves against the wall until he passes by,
then rush out the other way.
Nick's radio crackles to life.
RYERSON
(over radio)
Subjects are on the fourth floor --
repeat, the fourth floor.
NICK
Shit, they're boxing us in.
He pulls her down another corridor -- a quick sharp PAIN
sends Nick scurrying back to where there was a signal.
ALI
What is wrong with you?
NICK
It's -- it's this -- ah hell, I don't
even understand it.
He kicks open a locked corner office and closes the door
behind them.
INT. OFFICES - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Vance and Prichard march down the aisles of cubicles while
Agents search each one.
PRICHARD
We've got the stairwell and elevator
covered. They're here -- somewhere.
INT./EXT. CORNER OFFICE - FBI BUILDING - DAY
Nick wipes sweat from his forehead -- his eyes wander to the
window.
A large Window Cleaning Platform sits outside. The WASHER
calmly runs the Squeegee down the glass.
He jumps as the window pane next to him explodes out in a
shower of glass. An office chair SPLASHES into the large
pond four stories down.
Nick and Ali leap onto the cleaning platform. It shakes
under their weight. The Washer smartly leaps through the
window and into the building.
Nick lowers the platform down. It moves at a snail's pace.
He draws his sidearm -- takes careful aim at the pulley
assembly at the top of the roof. He fires three times before
the bullet finds the mark.
ALI
What are you doing?
NICK
Making this an express.
ANGLE ON WINDOW CLEANER PULLEY SYSTEM ON ROOF
The weight difference of the one cable strains the mechanism
holding the pulley system together. Finally, the brake
holding the cable SNAPS!
Like a runaway train, the cable lets out the slack.
The cleaner drops down the side of the building like an
anchor. Nick and Ali hang on for dear life.
The ground gets closer by the second. Their screams mix with
the rushing wind.
The cleaner CRASHES into the pond spilling them into the
water.
VANCE AND PRICHARD -- enter the corner office, see the
bewildered Washer and the shattered window. They race over
and stick their heads out -- see Nick and Ali below.
Nick drags Ali back out of the pond. He spots a PRISSY GIRL
getting out of a Lime Green VW bug. He moves the Prissy Girl
away from the car -- takes her keys.
NICK
I'm sorry, official business.
Agents pour out of the building and Ali slides in the
passenger seat. Nick's about to get in, when --
PRISSY GIRL
HELP! CARJACKER!!
She unloads PEPPER SPRAY into Nick's face. He covers his
head and gets inside the car, peels away.
PRISSY GIRL
ASSHOLE!
INT. VW BUG - NIGHT
Tears stream down Nick's face as he struggles to stay on the
right side of the street.
NICK
God, this stuff really does burn.
ALI
Well what did you expect? Can you
see?
NICK
Kind of...
Ali shrieks and pulls the steering wheel over hard to avoid
an oncoming car. She glances at the side mirror. Flashing
lights.
ALI
They're already behind us.
EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT
Nick swerves the VW Bug between cars, -- dodges oncoming
traffic. Horns BLARE as he slides through a busy red light,
narrowly avoids a crash.
A team of government sedans and SUVs roar up on their tail,
each trying to pass and cut them off.
The VW sails over the crest of a hill. At the base is a
massive accident, cars piled up everywhere and ambulances
blocking the road.
VANCE -- sits in the passenger seat of one of the SUV's. He
grabs the radio. Ryerson looks at him, annoyed.
VANCE
Cut him off!
The team of cars slows at the top of the hill, but Nick keeps
going.
RYERSON
Is he...accelerating?
PUNK MUSIC blasts on the stereo.
NICK
Turn this shit off! I can't
concentrate.
Nick spots an exit and zooms forward. The panicked medical
workers wave for him to slow down --
Just before the traffic jam, Nick pulls a hard left into an
alley.
EXT. STORE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Nick squeals out of the alley and into a parking lot of a
crowded grocery store. He's actually having a hard time
seeing.
NICK
OK, Ali, I think I may need your --
Ali finally finds the off button on the stereo, when --
ALI
OH MY GOD!
An OLD MAN, wheeling a long line of shopping carts back
toward the store jumps out of the way. Nick PLOWS the VW
right through the middle of them all.
Shredded metal and wheels fly everywhere. Nick speeds out
the exit leaving the Old Man standing in the middle of a junk
yard.
OLD MAN
Well, GOD Damn.
Nick turns another corner and heads down a straightaway.
NICK
I think we lost 'em.
Then he sees -- a swell of police cars heading straight for
them. In the rear view mirror the lights of the FBI cars are
getting closer. He's blocked in.
A little further down the street Nick spots a skyscraper
whose entire ground floor is made of glass walls.
NICK
Hang on to somethin'.
He races down the street like he's going to ram the police
barricade. At the last minute --
Nick pulls the VW hard to the right, down a few steps. He
heads straight for the skyscraper. With a final burst of
speed, Nick CRASHES through the glass wall.
INT. SKYSCRAPER GROUND FLOOR - CONTINUOUS
The shattered glass slides off the VW as it hurtles across
the polished marble floor -- A security guard leaps out of
the way --
Nick heads for the opposite end of the building, then without
warning -- He loses the wireless signal! His body tenses as
the surge goes through him.
Ali takes the wheel and the VW glances off a wall, taking a
chunk of it out.
As they reach the other end of the building, his body
suddenly relaxes.
ALI
Are you okay?!
NICK
Yeah, I think --
Another Glass Wall!
EXT. CITY STREETS - CONTINUOUS
The VW crashes out of the building onto another set of stairs
and bounces down back on the street, near a highway on ramp.
Nick pulls it over, barrelling down a concrete embankment.
He quickly drives the car under the ramp, cloaking it in
darkness. Out of breath, they wait in silence.
The squad of FBI cars speeds around the corner, lead by
Ryerson. He sees the shattered glass, then looks to the
highway.
RYERSON
(into radio)
Get a chopper on the highway. Block
all on and off ramps.
He leads the squad onto the entrance ramp -- the sirens drown
out.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Run down and twenty years out of date on the decor. A
perfect hiding place. Ali sits slumped on one of the filthy
beds, one hand handcuffed to the radiator.
Nick lets himself in with a bag of fast food. He tosses her
a burger -- she bites into it like a ravenous animal.
ALI
You know I'm not your prisoner
anymore. Uncuff me, will ya?
NICK
You have no idea how important it is
that you don't run again.
ALI
It's Dunn, isn't it? You're working
for him.
NICK
In a way, yeah.
Nick's cell phone rings -- makes him jump. He starts to
answer, but gets worried. He hands it to Ali.
NICK
Please Alison.
Ali reluctantly takes it.
ALI
It's Ali. Only my father called me
that.
(answers the phone)
Hello?
DUNN
(over phone)
What a surprise. Is this the
legendary Jester?
INTERCUT WITH DUNN IN HIS WORKSHOP
ALI
What do you want?
DUNN
Cerberus of course. It's my
understanding that there is no
computer system in the world safe
from it.
ALI
I don't know where you get your
information, but Cerberus doesn't
exist. It never did.
Nick suddenly convulses like he's in the electric chair. He
drops to the floor.
DUNN
Ms. McCormack, Nick would appreciate
it if you didn't lie to me. For in a
moment he will cease to exist unless
you stop treating me like a
dilettante and start treating this
matter with the respect it deserves!
ALI
PLEASE STOP IT! CERBERUS ISN'T
REAL...!
DUNN
Then my need for him is finished.
A loud BEEP comes from the back of Nick's head. Ali freaks --
she's torn. Finally --
ALI
ALL RIGHT! Just stop it! I'll give
it to you!
The BEEPING stops and Nick passes out.
DUNN
You have one hour to deliver it --
ALI
I can't. I can't get it until
tomorrow.
DUNN
You had better be telling the truth
or your fate will be far worse than
his. Tomorrow. Noon.
The phone goes dead. Ali takes a deep breath -- looks down
at Nick, out cold and sweaty from the intense pain. Then she
sees --
The handcuff key -- within her reach.
EXT. HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP - NIGHT
Police flashers light the area like Cirque De Solei. Vance
and Ryerson inspect the VW Bug. Ryerson shines his
flashlight on the steering wheel.
RYERSON
Check this out.
Vance looks over to the dashboard. "DUNN" is carved into it --
appears to be from a pocketknife.
VANCE
What does it mean?
RYERSON
It's a case we were working.
McCormack was a part of it.
VANCE
Tell me why I should care.
RYERSON
Maybe Nick wasn't acting on his own.
VANCE
All I care about is getting one
Alison McCormack in my custody.
Anything else is just an
inconvenience.
RYERSON
Maybe backtracking will help with
that.
VANCE
Hey, it's your show ace.
Ryerson notes the sarcasm.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Nick comes to. He sees his handcuffs lying on the floor and
Ali gone. -- But then the bathroom door opens. Ali walks out
of the bathroom, just showered. She sits next to Nick --
puts a washcloth on his head.
NICK
Your handcuffs -- you're still here?
What happened?
ALI
I found out the truth. Just because
I broke a law... or two in my life
doesn't mean I want your death on my
conscience. Now turn over, I want to
get a look at this thing he put in
your head.
Nick slowly rolls over -- every muscle hurts. Ali directs a
desk lamp to Nick's head and studies the incision.
ALI
I'm going to take a couple of
stitches out to get a better look.
NICK
You're kiddin', right? Hold on a...
She goes in, carefully uses scissors to gently cut some of
the stitches away.
NICK
(feeling the scissors)
What's the use -- I can't convince
him Cerberus isn't real.
ALI
Oh. It's real alright.
Snip.
NICK
Ah! -- What? You lied about it?
ALI
Of course I did. I don't want
Cerberus to get into anyone's hands,
especially his.
NICK
What's so -- ow! -- dangerous about
it?
ALI
Sorry, almost there. Imagine being
able to get into any computer system
in the world. No limits. For a
college kid, he might break into
banks and steal extra cash for booze.
In a Trekkie's hands, he might find
out the truth behind Area 51 and
whether aliens live among us. But in
a terrorist's hands...or even worse,
Dunn's, the information it could get
for them would be --
NICK
Catastrophic. OK, I get the picture.
Ali finishes removing the stitches and carefully peels back
the skin to reveal the chip. She stifles a gasp.
ALI
I didn't invent Cerberus to destroy
the world, I was trying to help it.
I realize that the government needs
to keep secrets, I do. But there's a
lot of secrets kept that if they ever
got out, it would open a lot of eyes
in this country. We've grown too
comfortable trusting our government
with our lives. We need to stop
looking the other way before we
crumble from the inside out. My
father was a general -- Harold
McCormack --
NICK
Scary Harry? I remember that sort
of. It was on TV a few years ago.
ALI
That's right. He was charged with
conspiracy. They set him up when he
was about to expose an oil scandal
that made a lot of people a lot of
money they had no right getting. I
thought Cerberus could save him...
NICK
It didn't?
ALI
They had erased every trace of it by
the time I had built it.
NICK
What happened to your father?
ALI
Sentenced to twenty-five years. He
died a month later.
NICK
I'm sorry.
ALI
After that I realized what Cerberus
could do in the wrong hands.
NICK
But you told Dunn you'd give it to
him.
ALI
I was buying time...
(sees the issue)
Nick -- this chip --
NICK
Give it to me straight doc. I'm
fucked aren't I?
ALI
For lack of a better word...yes.
It's got a trip. If I try to remove
it, it'll go off. The only way to
get it out is to deactivate it first.
NICK
Great. That shouldn't be too hard.
Ali doesn't utter a word.
NICK
Right, Ali?
ALI
I remember Dunn. How quiet he was.
Always studying people. -- He wants
Cerberus for a reason Nick. He's got
something planned.
NICK
And it seems if I want to live, I
don't have much of a choice other
than to give it to him. I need your
help.
ALI
I'll help you. But I want to live
too, and not in the shadows anymore.
I want my record cleaned and any
outstanding charges dropped.
Nick sits up -- puts a bandage on the head wound.
NICK
I don't think I can promise that.
There's things you've done to some
pretty pissed off powerful people you
just might have to answer for.
ALI
It's not all black and white you
know. Sometimes there's very good
reasons for breaking the rules.
NICK
Like closing down the Stock Exchange
for a day?
ALI
You have to see the bigger picture.
Jesus, you broke about every law in
the book today.
NICK
And did what I had to do to save my
life. It's a little different.
ALI
Is it? What's more important? Doing
something you believe in -- something
that's right -- or saving your own
ass?
She walks into the bathroom and slams the door. But it's got
Nick thinking.
INT. NICK'S APARTMENT - DAY
Stagnant and quiet as Ryerson and Vance search the apartment
with flashlights. Vance notices the drab decor.
VANCE
Is this Agent Reeve really this
boring, or is he redecorating?
RYERSON
You know as much as I do. I just met
the guy.
Ryerson looks to the window near the fire escape as the wind
sneaks through the curtains.
RYERSON
Window by the fire escape is open.
He spots something -- kneels to the floor. Blood drops.
RYERSON
I've got blood.
VANCE
So what does that mean? Could be
anything. A bloody nose -- cut
finger.
RYERSON
It's fresh.
Ryerson's phone rings.
RYERSON
Ryerson.
After listening he looks to Vance.
RYERSON
We got 'em. They're at Briarwood
Mall.
VANCE
Are they picking out curtains?
They hurry out of the apartment.
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