The winds of time
Original
Screenplay
by
Rob Stone
The year is 2076 and the landscape is that of a hostile environment and the cold chill from the winter solstice
has just set in. A deadly virus goes
airborne shortly
after the
The Earth is post apocalyptic with only
Standing through the vast nuclear
devastation.
FADE IN
EXT.
INT.
The HEAVEN
III BIO-CENTER is a three story building
standing high
into the sky on immense pillars
in the middle
of the tarmac. It provides a complete
Earth
environment. The only special gear the staff
requires
outside of the Bio-Center is a small tube
hanging under
their nose with an Oxygen bottle on
their belt.
The President of the
EDMOND TURNER
is about to give a speech.
TURNER
For the past ten years the
have spent billions of dollars in
an attempt to prevent what we know
as the inevitable.
For a man of
forty-eight, TURNER looks older,
maybe because
he worry's too much.
TURNER (cont.)
In what is estimated to be as soon
as one month, the Judicis Virus
will have completed it’s final
mutation cycle and will become
air born. Once this happens, life
as we know it will never be the same.
FLASHBACK
EXT. NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE 2070 DAY
EXT.
Scientists
have been predicting that the world was
long overdue for a devastating VIRUS
PANDEMIC like
those that killed more than 20 million
people in
2060.
Arial Shot - Snow Storm
View of small bay heavily covered with
sheet ice
with The HIGHLANDS Team has traveled
quietly
through the Village so they would not raise too
much fuss among BREVIG'S residents.
By that afternoon the team and a local crew
had
begun digging, and they eventually produced
a
trench 9 ft. wide, 30 ft. long and 8 ft.
deep.
They came across several bare skeletons
before
they hit pay dirt, the well-preserved body
of
a 30 year old woman so obese that her fat
had
insulated her organs from the effects of
decades of frost and thaw. DR. ANASTASIA
and DR. BEN STRIKER are wearing heavy sub
zero
clothing. The winter has started in the
frozen
north, the Arctic wind is blowing and the
figures are barely seen. They've just
removed
samples from the frozen body of a woman
buried
nearly 80 years ago in the remote Northwest
Alaska Village of BREVIG MISSION, and it
has
yielded valuable clues about the deadly
2060
Virus epidemic that swept the globe. While
they're packing flesh samples ANASTASIA
gives BEN STRIKER some vital history.
ANASTASIA
In 2070 I took part in an
expedition
to BREVIG MISSION, to try to
extract
virus from long-frozen victims of
the 2060 VIRUS. Now we're ready to
try again.
With the wind blowing at 45 to 50 miles per
hour
and the wind chill factor pushing the
temperature
down to 36 degrees below zero, ANASTASIAS
voice is barely audible. But she raises her
voice
and continues.
ANASTASIA (CONT.)
We knew from hard experience that
no live virus had survived under
the permafrost. But our paper
convinced them that technology
had advanced to the point where
even a dead virus could be of
immense value.
BEN STRIKER
The moment I saw your Science
paper,
I told myself, There. This is it.
I must go with her!
They finish bagging the tissue samples and
head
back to their quarters. The blowing snow
now is
so heavy they are barely seen through the
blizzard.
INT. SUB
ZERO PORTABLE QUARTERS (PRE-FAB)
They finally arrive at their quarters and
enter
the warming room. They close the outside
door and
the sound of the blizzard is still heard
but the
temperature now starts to go up. They
remove
their outer garments and strip down to
their
thermal undergarments. The get into heavy
sweat
suits and open the door into the main
living
quarters.
ANASTASIA
I asked Dr. MOSS whether he would
accept and analyze samples of lung
tissue from frozen graves, he said
yes if I went to the Northern
Hemisphere to get them. Two
weeks
later, here we are.
The samples put to rest any doubt that
Moss's
lab had indeed found and sequenced key
portions
of the original JUDICIS VIRUS.
ANASTASIA (Cont.)
I was struck by the uncanny timing
of this journey, which took place
just as a strange virus with great
pandemic potential was emerging in
as I was waiting for it to come
and it didn't. But another
pandemic,
is inevitable.
BEN STRIKER
I was told that in 2060 another
village
thirty miles from here where its
elders,
after learning of the advancing
plague,
stationed armed guards at the
village
perimeter with orders to shoot
anyone
who tried to enter. The village
survived unscathed.
INT. SUB
ZERO PORTABLE QUARTERS - MORNING
ANASTASIA turns on the TV in the living
room
where the balance of her crew is seen. A
newscast
is in process with breaking news coming
from
the
NEWSCASTER
Researchers from the
of Pathology, has found genetic
material from the body of
the
INUPIAT woman, a victim of
the
disease that killed 85
percent
of the villagers in a single
week. The body exhumed by
researchers
in their search for the virus
remnants
had been buried in a mass grave.
ANASTASIA is seen meeting with the research
staff
Ryan Grant a man in his middle fifties.
Skip
Westover a strong looking man in his late forties
and several members of the crew and staff.
They
are reviewing important points on viruses.
BEN STRIKER
Hi folks, I've been asked by some
of the members of the supporting
staff to give a brief rundown on
what our research here is about.
The
genetic material from all
viruses is in the form of RNA, a
single-strand structure that is
far
less stable than the double-strand
DNA. RNA usually breaks down in
less
than
a month, and that makes it
particularly difficult to
preserve.
ANASTASIA
This could help health officials
in the
next VIRUS pandemic.
BEN STRIKER
Records dating to the 2070’s
indicate
that global VIRUS epidemics occur
every
50 to 70 years. With the last
major
outbreaks occurring in 2010 and
2060,
I think the world is due for
another
such experience. We definitely
will
see another JUDICIS VIRUS
pandemic.
The 2060 epidemic was particularly
vicious, killing about 60
percent
of the WORLD population.
Victims
often succumbed within a few
days
of contracting the virus.
ANASTASIA
After the discovery of the micro
organism,
bacteria, by Louis Pasteur, another
scientist,
Richard Pfeiffer, argued that a bacteria,
known as Pfeiffer's bacillus,
caused the
JUDICIS VIRUS. A French
scientist, DEBRE,
began to doubt Pfeiffer's
claim and by 2062,
had concluded that the
JUDICIS VIRUS is
caused by a new, smaller organism, known as a virus.
BEN STRIKER
Viruses are a shell of proteins,
which cover
a clump of genetic material. Many
scientists
don't believe viruses should be
considered
living organisms, as they aren't
totally self
sufficient. The virus that causes
DEATH is a
relatively small one. About two
hundred
million virus cells would
fill the space
taken up by the period at
the end of a
sentence.
ANASTASIA
Virus spreads into the body
either by inhalation or by
physical
contact. The incubation period of
the
virus is very short, one or two
days.
The virus spreads and attacks
quickly.
Symptoms occur with the onset of
the
virus, including a runny nose,
sore
throat, congestion, fever,
headaches,
fatigue, and cough.
BEN STRIKER
The immune system communicates
very
closely with every cell in the
body,
allowing this system to quickly
counterattack the virus. White blood
cells are designed to attack any
foreign
substance, while antibodies are
made to attack particular foreign
substances. They latch onto the
foreign substance, and white blood
cells surround and destroy the
substance.
ANASTASIA
The immune system temporarily
makes
Antibodies to combat any specific
strain
of the Virus that the body had
encountered.
But by the time that happens it’s
too late.
BEN STRIKER
This natural immunization process
is
utilized by scientists, in the
production of vaccines. A Virus
vaccine
is made of the virus itself.
Vaccination involves injecting a
dead
strain of virus into the body,
which easily overwhelms the dead
virus
and continues to make antibodies
which
fight that strain of the virus.
ANASTASIA
There are, however, several
problems
with Virus vaccination. First, all
vaccinations are only temporary,
lasting for about six months. The
second problem is the need to
choose
which strain to vaccinate against,
since it is impossible to
vaccinate
against all Virus strains.
BEN STRIKER
Another problem with vaccinating
against
the virus is its ability to
mutate. This
virus mutates very readily
its genetic
material, RNA, recombines or changes its
arrangement. The jump across the species
barrier didn't diminish the role that
pigs play in
the development of new Virus
strains. We are now trying
to unravel
the mystery of how the virus
was able to
jump from animals to humans.
ANASTASIA
Like other viruses that carry
their
genetic material in the form of
RNA
rather than DNA, this virus
mutates
very rapidly as it uses the
genetic
machinery of its host cells
to churn
out new copies of itself. So
yes,
I think we could have
another Virus
Pandemic!
BEN STRIKER
We are racing to develop a human
vaccine
against the Virus. The most
common
strain is JUDICIS VIRUS, the
virus that
emerged with the 2060
outbreak, which
killed 20 million people.
ANASTASIA
Worst case is, if the JUDICIS
VIRUS
Goes airborne we will have a
really bad
strain! We could lose all of our
people before we get it under
control!
STAFF MEMBER
How serious is this STRAIN?
ANASTASIA
The Airborne JUDICIS VIRUS is
fatal!
BEN STRIKER
Currently we have about 15 percent
of the virus decoded. The virus
is broken up into eight
different
RNA segments. What we have
to do
is basically put together
these
pieces, one piece at a time.
ANASTASIA
But we really think the material
is representative and ultimately
we might be able to decode the
entire virus. But it's going to
take years of effort because
the pieces are so small that to
reassemble them is an incredibly
tedious and time consuming task.
BEN STRIKER
The one thing we can say is that
this is definitively a JUDICIS
VIRUS, a type virus of the
subtype
JUDICIS VIRUS That was
predicted
Based on the antibodies that
people
had in their blood who were alive
in 2060 and infected with the
virus
but survived.
ANASTASIA
One thing that is an ultimate goal
of the project is to try to figure
out how it is that this virus got
into humans and started a
pandemic.
And in general, it's not thought
that JUDICIS VIRUS like those
that infect ducks can directly
infect
humans.
BEN STRIKER
So where does that leave us?
ANASTASIA
One thing that this 2060 virus
suggests is that all the gene
segments we've looked at so far
look like they fall into the
mammalian class of viruses, that
swine/human class, not the avian
class.
BEN STRIKER
So it will be really interesting
to
try to unravel that, as to how the
virus actually got into humans.
ANASTASIA
There is some evidence to suggest
that
humans had been infected with
similar
JUDICIS VIRUS as early as about
2060, by
antibody evidence.
BEN STRIKER
So we're dealing with a
recombinant virus
that
has some human-like characteristics
of a human virus that was maybe
not a
killer virus but was already a
human
adapted JUDICIS VIRUS that was
Circulating
in the decade or so before 2060
and that
something happened to it, either
by
recombination with other viruses
in pigs
or from birds, and that it turned
into
a killer virus.
ANASTASIA
The incubation period is between 2
and
4 days. For the adult population
one
dose of inactivated vaccine should
be
adequate. As I mentioned before
there are three main antigenic
types of
viruses currently circulating
among humans, all of which have a
remarkable capacity to change
their
characteristics from year to year.
BACK TO
CURRENT TIMES – 2076
A LINE OF
POLICEMEN - NIGHT. They stand like sentinels. Black uniforms.
Bullet-proof
shields with large emblems, the
American
eagle against a green background, and
in bold
letters underneath, HIGHLANDS COMMUNITIES
POLICE FORCE.
TURNER
(LOUDSPEAKER) (VO)
Fearing
a massive invasion from the
Infected ones, the
prepares for war. The Great Wall is
built along the perimeter of the
HIGHLANDS COMMUNITIES, is cutting
off the flow of mutants.
The infected
one by most people are referred to
as Mutants!
BELOW A TORCH-LIT
LANDSCAPE - NIGHT. The ruins of a metropolis, Rubble, smoke, a lethal
wasteland. An army of terrifying figures climbs atop a mountain of debris. They
raise their weapons into the night sky.
A concrete
wall tracks along the mountainous areas surrounding
the HIGHLANDS
COMMUNITIES home base, defining the perimeter
of the armed
fortress. Police firebases and gun emplacements
are indicated
in the Mountains.
ZOOM INTO the
surface From the glowing, outlined canyons come the cries of rage of a million
lost souls.
Helicopter
searchlights blast down on the street. JACK STRIKER is suddenly caught in the
glare. He starts to move away...
STRIKER. Long
hair. A tight-lipped grimace. The impression of coiled aggression and intense
cynicism. The toughest, most dangerous man on the planet earth. A legend.
EXT.
CONTAINMENT WALL -
Searchlights
sweep down across a column of policemen marching past a concrete wall. Camera
begins to crane up the wall. Sound of roaring turbines. The howl of the wind.
Camera
reaches the top of the wall. Armed police troops stand on the battlements.
Hidden by the
Mountains, the surface glows in the distance with a hundred fires. Smoke surges
from the jagged horizon. Above, the sky is an angry orange.
ANOTHER ANGLE
- TOP OF THE WALL
Red sensor
lights glow in evenly spaced intervals. Searchlights sweep into the darkness.
Cannons are in place every 200 feet, manned by police guards.
EXT.
This is a
fortified base camp in the Mountains.
It is a
sprawling police complex with low concrete
bunkers, gun
emplacements, satellite communications,
vehicles,
troops, the works.
ON A LARGE
ASPHALT FIELD, opposite the main complex
is the
heliport row after row of black, multi-bladed,
totally evil
police battle helicopters parked like
giant bugs on
the ground.
A throng of
policemen gather at the edge of yelling
and cheering,
their fists in the air. Cops with
camcorders
videotape the event. A police anchor
reports.
A MASSIVE
2-ROTORED, 8-BLADED HELICOPTER TRANSPORT
comes
slamming down out of the black sky and lands.
The growing
crowd of cheering cops goes nuts like
fans at a
football game.
INT. COMMAND
HQ - MAIN CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
A mammoth
room filled with high-tech instrumentation.
INT.
PROTOTYPE DEFENSE LAB - SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
The
three-thousand
square feet.
TURNER (cont.)
are either infected or dead.
Ten years later and the landscape is
that of a hostile environment and devastation. From the highlands communities
we move through clouds atmospheric changes, infection, devastation, death,
bodies being burned by the hundreds of thousands as we arrive at the surface of
the Earth ten years later.
Close-up
A sandstorm
of what used to be a large Metropolis. The
city is
scared with death. Buildings are
abandoned
and
destroyed. Street lights are out, stores
have been
completely
looted. The only signs of civilization
are
trash and
debris from what used to be a society.
EXT. HIGHLAND
COMMUNITIES DAY
Silence. Gradually
the sound of distant traffic becomes
audible. A LOW ANGLE
bounded on one side by a chain-link
fence and on the other by the one-story public school
buildings. Spray-can hieroglyphics and distant streetlight shadows. This was a public school in what used to be a blue collar neighborhood.
in a LOW ANGLE, part of the clutter behind the gymnasium.
A CAT enters FRAME.
CAMERA DOLLIES FORWARD, prowling with
him through the landscape of trash receptacles and shadows.
CLOSE ON CAT, which freezes, alert, sensing something just
beyond human perception.
A source less wind rises, and with it a keening WHINE.
Papers blow across the pavement. The cat YOWLS and
hides under the dumpster.
Windows rattle in their frames.
The WHINE intensifies, accompanied now by a wash of frigid
PURPLE LIGHT. A
CONCUSSION like a thunderclap right
overhead blows in all the windows facing the yard.
faucet and climb a drain pipe like a Jacob's Ladder.
JACK STRIKER is in his mid-thirties with rough
brown hair
and bright
blue eyes. Extremely well built, he
wears a
mask
breather) that purifies the air he breathes. Compact
and muscular, slumped in the seat of his motorcycle.
His face has been aged by ordeal, the mouth hard, eyes
grim.
A crinkled burn scar traverses
one side of his face from
chin to
forehead. Other scars, from burns and bullets,
mar his
hard-muscled body.
The rain washes a fine coating of white ash from his skin
as electrical ARCS lace back and forth between the fire
escapes behind him, HISSING and SPUTTERING. The sound
fades, then stops altogether, to be replaced by a rising
scream of animal agony
He and his
sidekick WILLIAM ‘BILLY’ TURNING
early
twenties, scrawny and outspoken are
riding old
Harley Davidson motorcycles and
seem to be
searching for something.
JACK STRIKER
There is nothing here let’s
return to our Base Camp.
The Earth is
post-apocalyptic with camps set-up
where cities
once were. Jack is the leader of
his camp which
consists of an underground
parking lot
and a system of caves turned into
living
quarters resembling dorms and POW camps.
The camps are
at constant battle with each
other for
food, water, and most importantly
there are
stronger camps. He lives in an abandoned
old turn of
the century hotel.
EXT. SCHOOLYARD - NIGHT
SLOW PAN as the sound of stray electrical CRACKLING
subsides.
FRAME comes to rest on the figure of a POWERFUL MAN
kneeling,
faced away, in the previously empty yard.
He stands, slowly.
The man is in his early forties, tall and powerfully built,
moving with graceful precision. His facial features
reiterate the power of his body and are dominated by the eyes, which are
intense, blue and depthless. His hair is
jet black with silver streaks.
This man is Strikers nemesis,
CAAN MATEO, reigns over the rival
camp that has
more air, supplies, breathers and purifiers.
He glances down, taking calm inventory of himself, and notices that a fine white ash covers his skin. He brushes at it unconcernedly as he walks toward the fence, scanning his surroundings.
CAMERA MOVES UP as MATEO
approaches the schoolyard fence
beyond which is an embankment rolling down in darkness to
the
cityscape below. The
school is perched at the edge of a
promontory offering a respectable view of the urban sprawl
teeming and glistening under a sullen sky. The night clouds
are shot through with occasional flashes of LIGHTNING,
presaging a thunderstorm.
MATEO
stands, hands on hips in
prefect symmetry, gazing down at the city as the CAMERA
REACHES FULL HEIGHT.
As Jack and
Billy return to the camp they are greeted with the respect they deserve. It’s
obvious that Jack is the leader of his camp and he gives a small speech to his
fellow members.
JACK STRIKER
People it is more crucial than
ever that we stick together
and that things will only get
worse.
A light RAIN begins to fall.
Striker emerges onto the street from the camp, pausing in
the pool of light under a streetlight to hike the collar of his jacket.
EXT. STRIKERS
HOTEL ENTRANCE - NIGHT
An electrical
storm is brewing. STRIKER stands out-
side the
entrance to an old hotel holding an umbrella,
as people
scuttle into doorways to avoid the sudden
downpour.
INT. STRIKERS
HOTEL LOBBY - NIGHT
A heavy metal
maze of cubicles and perilous iron
balconies,
peopled with rejects from the surface
world, plains
Indians in white man's clothes and
other welfare
recipients. Strikers camp is crowded,
cramped and
darkly alive.
STRIKER steps
out of an elevator and moves through the
crowd. A cloud of steam drifts up through a grating
as two old
men, clad in towels descend a flight of
stairs under
a neon sign that says bath house.
A musty
subterranean wind ripples STRIKER'S clothes as
he turns into
an alcove. He stops in front of a door
that says,
MANAGER and pushes the buzzer. It's
opened
by an
emphysema victim with an oxygen tank lashed to
his hip. STRIKER flashes his ID and speaks some words
which are
inaudible due to the TUBA MUSIC down the hall.
The man grabs
a key from his wall, hands it over and
shuts the
door.
INT. STRIKERS
HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
The companion
ways below deck of a big ship are no
more
bewildering than the ups and downs and ins and
outs of this
establishment. But STRIKER finds the
door
he's looking
for. He pauses a moment, listens, then
knocks. He inserts the key and with a hand on his gun
opens it.
INT. STRIKERS
ROOM - NIGHT
An empty
room. A cot and not much else. He steps in
and stands
quiet as a hunter sensing the signs. For
a
place
surrounded by greasy hovels it is surprisingly
clean. Spartan in fact. The towel by the spotless
basin is
perfectly folded.
STRIKER runs
two fingers over a shelf. No dust. He
looks in the
waste basket. Wadded up candy wrappers.
The bed by
the window is neatly made. STRIKER looks
under it,
then runs his hands along both sides of the
mattress.
The
closet. There's one suit in it. He pats it down.
Nothing. A
show box on the floor. He stoops, takes
out what
looks like a pen from his pocket and care-
fully traces
it over the box. Assured of its
harmlessness,
he lifts off the lid.
It contains a
little stack of photos bound with a
rubber
band. STRIKER removes them, goes to the
lamp
by the
balcony window and turns it on.
A touching
collection of his family snapshots. The
kind of
anonymous stuff sold by the bunch in dusty
junk shops.
The family dog. Junior on the pony
squinting in
the sun. Grandpa John clowning with
the
kids. The faded Polaroid of Christmas
morning.
Simple pictures
of simple folks celebrating the
family
bond. A curious collection for the likes
of STRIKER as
he studies them with interest.
EXT. STREET
BELOW - NIGHT
Oblivious to
the cloudburst, an infected one stands
in the doorway,
peddling candy and artificial flowers
looking like
he'd never been touched by the light of
day.
Mateo is
standing behind him, staring up at strikers
room,
watching STRIKER at the window. He's
still
wearing his
desert storm fatigues, but he looks
different. His face is more intent, smarter and
angry.
EXT. STREET
BELOW - NIGHT
For one
seething moment it looks like Mateo might mash
something,
but suddenly he swings away and disappears
into
the crowd.
INT. STRIKER'S
ROOM - NIGHT
STRIKER
pockets the pictures and moves away from the
window.
EXT. HIGHLANDS-TYE LAZAAR’S PALACE DAY
INT. LAZAAR’S PALACE
Lazaar’s daughter, ANNASTASIA LAZAAR, is giving
a
lecture to
the youth of the elite survivors
explaining
the history of World War III and how
civilization
as they know it came to be.
Annastasia is in her mid-thirties, attractive
with
long wavy
brown hair, green eyes, and wearing
spectacles.
She notices a very nasty looking man
has been
staring and smiling at her from the
audience and
is running his tongue across his lips.
ANNASTASIA LAZAAR
People as you know awe are making
more and more trips to the surface
for oxygen ore and other natural
resources. We need to stay away
from the Mutants even though they
are a constant threat to the
mining operations.
One of the
young ladies raises her hand and is recognized
by the
speaker.
ANNASTASIA
Yes Julie you have a question?
JULIE
ANNASTASIA, how did this terrible
war start?
ANNASTASIA
The war began when the Chinese
attempted to monopolize energy
and electricity. The Chinese damned
the
along with
to harness the most powerful source
of energy known to man. With the
Swedish technology giant turbine
jet engines were created to create
the largest hydro-electric power
plant known to man.
JULIE
Why??
ANNASTASIA
The plan was to monopolize the energy
market driving all the major power
companies and competitors into the
ground.
JULIE
What did the
ANNASTASIA
As the
about their plans, a war began to brew.
When the dam was completed in 2021
there was still a hope for global
peace, but as the Chinese government
grew in power and economic place
amongst the globe, things began to
fall apart at a rapid rate. Three
years later in 2024, the dam was
destroyed in a nuclear attack.
She notices
the very nasty looking man is still looking,
Still running
his tongue across his lips. She sees her
Friend Jack
Striker in the audience and she waves to him.
JULIE
What happened then?
ANNASTASIA
The river flooded and millions of
Chinese were killed. Millions more
lost their farms due to the vast
flooding of their country.
JULIE
Then?
ANNASTASIA
A full blown World War came to be.
Eventually
submersed and was lost forever.
JULIE
How did the people of the world
handle this situation?
ANNASTASIA
Racism was reborn on a higher level.
Chinese, Russian, and Swedish-Americans
were incarcerated. The planet turned
on the
everyone. Then years later, . . .
the Judicis
Virus!
She notices
the very nasty looking man is brandishing his
laser gun and
is still looking at her and is now making
a move to
her. She sees Jack Striker has also noticed
this creep
and he gives her a hand single to come to him.
ANASTASIA
Jack, help me!
STRIKER
Why, what’s wrong?
ANASTASIA
I’m being stalked!
Almost on a
whim, Striker grabs her. Then he runs. Anastasia follows him.
Striker heads
toward a side street, looks over his shoulder,
sees
Anastasia following...
STRIKER
Follow me.
ANASTASIA
Slow down your going to fast.
STRIKER
Do the best you can.
Then Striker
comes to a dead stop.
HIS POV -
DOWN THE STREET, comes a mass of Mutants
right at him.
Anastasia grabs Striker, pulls him
with her.
They take off down a dark cobblestone
street.
EXT. DARK
ALLEY - NIGHT
Striker and
Anastasia run. Behind them the
Mutant horde
gives chase. They stop at
another small
alley between two large
buildings.
ANASTASIA
Down
this way.
They
disappear into the small alley.
EXT. SMALL
ALLEY - CUL DE SAC - NIGHT
It's long and
narrow and completely enclosed
by the buildings
on either side. Suddenly
Striker and
Anastasia come to the end, a 200
foot high
four-story building blocking
the
passageway to the main street.
STRIKER
(Looks at her)
This
is a dead end.
ANASTASIA
I just thought you wanted
to help me get away. I
didn't know you wanted
to go someplace.
CLANK! They
turn...
The mutants
stagger down the alley,
Striker
shoves Anastasia toward a broken window.
STRIKER
Go!
He follows
Anastasia through the window.
INT. SECOND
FLOOR BALCONY - NIGHT
Striker and
Anastasia climb dilapidated stairs,
move along
the balcony railing. Torn and tattered
paintings
hang crooked on a wall. Twenty foot
high bright
red letters "Kill all Mutants" lie
strewn across
the marble floor. Various offices
are wrecked and
dark, paper lay all over the
place.
They stop at
a dark hallway. Anastasia moves cautiously ahead.
ANASTASIA
Be careful of the wild cats.
They live in these buildings.
STRIKER
Striker
reaches for his other 9mm in its holder,
but his hands
are trapped by the large cat
that has
jumped on him and is digging in his side.
Using his
other hand he grabs the other 9mm and
blows the cat
away. He loses the other gun during
the
commotion.
Anastasia
scrambles, picks up Striker's 9mm,
then stares
at the two large male cats running
to her.
STRIKER
(Yelling)
Give me the gun!
Anastasia
starts to hand it to him. Finally,
it's in
Striker's grasp. He blasts three
times each
one hitting. The cats shudder,
die and roll
away.
Striker gets
to his feet. He blasts one more
time for good
measure, then follows Anastasia
down the
hallway.
INT. FIRST
FLOOR - REAR EXIT - NIGHT
They come
down a flight of stairs, stop at the
rear door.
STRIKER
How do we get out of here?
ANASTASIA:
Sewers. Come on.
She pushes
open the door...
EXT.
Striker and
Anastasia run from the building,
as a chorus
of wails rises. Mutants swarm
around the
building in pursuit.
Anastasia
stops at a sewer grate in the street.
ANASTASIA:
Down there.
Striker lifts
the grating. Anastasia jumps in,
followed by
Striker...
INT. SEWER
TUNNEL - NIGHT
Dim, greenish
light. Striker and Anastasia
begin running
down the sewer tunnel.
Through the
hole behind them drop mutants,
giving chase.
Striker and Anastasia race
through a
half-filled storm drain seeping
with slime.
They turn a
corner into another tunnel,
and run smack
into a horde of mutants.
Instantly,
the mutants overpower them.
Hands reach
out and drag them down.
Suddenly,
from down the tunnel comes an
unearthly
sound, a weird screech like
a demon
unleashed from the underworld.
It gets
louder and louder. Loud music
from Wagner’s
charge of the VALKERIES.
The mutants
freeze, then begin screaming
and, as the
sound gets louder still,
they all
disappear, escaping back
down the
tunnel.
FROM DOWN THE
TUNNEL
An eerie
light appears, coming nearer and
nearer every
moment.
ANASTASIA
Jack, what is it?
STRIKER
Beats the shit out of me!
Slowly, the
light takes form. It is a single,
gigantic eye
floating in pitch-black darkness.
It continues
coming growing larger and larger.
Suddenly the
sewer begins to echo with a
blasting,
ringing sound. A dwarf appears on a
jeep.
DWARF
What're you doing in here?
STRIKER
Looking to get out.
DWARF
Good.
I want you out.
This is my sewer.
STRIKER:
Which way?
With a grunt
of curiosity, the dwarf moves
up to
Striker. Suddenly his eye flashes
on like a
tiny, built-in spotlight.
With it, he
examines Striker's face.
DWARF
You're
Jack Striker.
ANASTASIA
Yes. Isn't he cool?
There is a
clicking sound and the lighted eye
is
extinguished. He turns of the music. The
dwarf extends
his hand.
DWARF
An honor, dude. They call
me SHORT ROUND.
Striker
doesn't shake. From down the tunnel the
shouts and
footfalls of the mutants gets closer.
SHORT ROUND
Those damn mutants are coming
back. You'd better climb aboard.
Striker and
Anastasia climb into the rear of the
jeep. Short
Round spins the jeep, takes off
in the other
direction.
INT.
UNDERGROUND PASSAGE - NIGHT
The jeep
streaks along through a dark sewer
passage. The
only light comes from the light
on the front
of the vehicle.
SHORT ROUND
I use the light and the music
to scare them off. They're
so whacked out, man, it works
great. Chased a whole bunch
of em right off the edge
there a few months ago.
He points to
a sheer, pitch-black drop-off on
one side of
the passage.
ANASTASIA
(She peers over the side)
SHORT ROUND
Don't know, never do hear
em land. Earthquake opened
it up.
The jeep
creaks into a narrow tunnel.
INSIDE THE
TUNNEL
Mercenaries
in fatigues, with rifles and sunglasses,
line the
walls. They watch as the jeep passes.
Up ahead is a
door marked:
GUN
INT.
The jeep
pulls into the remains of a mammoth
underground
control center.
It's lined
with ladders, catwalks, machines
full of
gauges and levers. A few are still
working most
are broken and covered with
dust and
grime.
Filling the
room is an underground enclave of
Men, women,
children, living in tents and
lean-to's,
cooking over open fires next to
old rusted
cars on blocks, lots of weapons.
Also,
high-tech, futuristic rifles, cannons,
Grenade
launchers an amazing arsenal. Crates
of explosives
are stacked everywhere.
The jeep
comes to a stop and they get off.
SHORT ROUND
I own this whole place. Used
to work here in the old days.
I was right in this room
when the big one hit. What
a mess. We were waist high
in shit. Everybody else ran,
but not me. I stayed at my
post. Now it's all mine. I
brought my whole family,
down here to live with me.
ANASTASIA
Gun
runners.
SHORT ROUND
Hey, it's a living, baby.
STRIKER
Why don't you get out of
here? Take a boat to
take an airplane to
(Looks at Anastasia)
Earthquakes, death, shit.
Why do you stay?
ANASTASIA
I don't know. Somehow, I
just can't leave.
SHORT ROUND
You know, this is not such a
bad place, Striker. We got
our problems, sure but this
is paradise, man.
Short Round
leans in close and whispers
conspiratorially
to Striker.
SHORT ROUND
Say,
you need anything, Guns?
Explosives? I can get you a
crate of hellfire grenades,
no problem in five MINUTES.
STRIKER
Yeah.
So how do I get back to
my camp?
SHORT ROUND
All
the sewers are collapsed
under your camp. You have to
go topside. Right up there.
He leads
Striker and Anastasia to a ladder that goes up into the darkness. A line of men
steadily climb up, one after the other, carrying crates of weapons.
SHORT ROUND
Comes
out near the south Freeway.
Just follow the signs. Get off
at the Lincoln Exit, turn left.
SHORT ROUND
interrupts the line of men. Striker starts up the ladder, followed by
Anastasia...
SHORT ROUND
Nice
to meet you, Striker.
You too, Miss. You're
welcome down here anytime.
Anytime at all. With or
without him!
EXT. STREET
UNDER THE SOUTH FREEWAY OVERPASS - NIGHT
Striker, gun
in hand, sticks his head out of
the open
grate. Anastasia follows. The gun
runners who
have climbed up out of the sewers
loaded their
weapons crates into various cars
in heavily
armed groups. They rumble off into
the night.
Anastasia
points to a freeway on-ramp.
ANASTASIA
The freeway's over there.
But, I don't think it's
such a good idea.
Striker
starts toward the on-ramp. Anastasia
doesn't move.
ANASTASIA:
The freeways are dangerous.
He keeps
walking.
ANASTASIA
Goodbye,
Jack.
Striker
stops, turns back, looks at her a
half-smile.
It's as close to thank you
as he gets.
ANASTASIA
Sun's coming up in a few hours.
She walks up
to him.
ANASTASIA
UV's gonna be
bad today.
I have a friend who's got
a place near here. You can
crash there if you want,
Jack.
Without an
answer Striker turns and walks away.
EXT.
As far as the
eye can see there are lines
of rusting
cars and trucks, bumper to
bumper like a
giant junkyard rush hour.
Striker walks
up the on-ramp, onto the freeway.
He strides
past rows of junked cars. A few
of them have
people inside.
EXT. AIR RESEARCH & PRESERVATION LABORATORIES
INT. VIRUS PREVENTION LABORATORIES
Here we see,
BEN STRIKER, late 50’s and void of life,
and VINCENT
BORNEO, late 40’s mad scientist type,
intensely
working and researching the Judicis Virus.
It's
magnified and deeply revealed. Flecks of green
and yellow in
a field of milky blue. Icy filaments
surround the
undulating center.
From the
point of view of a surveillance camera.
The lab is
huge. Banks of processors, disk drives
test bays,
prototype assembly areas. High tech.
A group of
government officials is being given a tour.
At
1030 hours Wednesday, a group
of government officials began a
tour of the Highlands Defense Lab.
The President's daughter, Elena,
was among them. Elena, 17, the
President's daughter is among them.
Pretty, she wears a flowered dress.
An hour
later, she boarded a shuttle headed for an unknown location.
ELENA (V.O.)
Today is Day One of a brand
new world. The days of the
empire are finished. (beat)
To the President, my father,
you know what this is.
She holds up
the anodized box with the red button and thrusts it at the camera.
Somehow
during the tour, she
came into possession of a
prototype transmitting device.
We don't know how.
BEN STRIKER
Caan mateo, A Peruvian terrorist.
Runs the biggest baddest
gang
in
So what's the deal, huh? Go into
find the President's daughter, secure
the box, and bring 'em both out?
BEN STRIKER
That's the deal.
The virus is
brown in a tiny screen. On the metallic
surface
below, the words ARP-LAB are finely etched.
There's a
touch-light panel across the top and on
the side of
the screen, a dial that registers
fluctuations
of the virus.
The instrument
is no bigger than a laptop computer and
sits on a
table between the two men. Despite the
obvious heat,
The man
facing him is lean, hollow cheeks and dressed
in gray. Detached and efficient, he looks like a cop
or an
accountant. His name is BEN STRIKER and
he's all
business,
except for the sweat on his face.
The room is
large and humid. Rows of salvaged junk
are stacked
neatly against the walls. Two large fans
whir above
their heads.
STRIKER
Okay if I talk?
Virus
nucleus.
STRIKER
I
kind of get nervous when I’m
Doing this.
Don't move.
STRIKER
Sorry.
He tries not
to move but finally his lips can't help
a sheepish
smile.
STRIKER
I Already checked the nucleus this week
but I don't think we had any changes.
(cutting in)
Timing is an important factor in this,
so we need to check it daily
STRIKER compresses
his lips and nods his big head eagerly.
response.
Look there it is, a change
in this sector.
STRIKER
Which one?
It was a
timid attempt to understand but, hardly audible.
What?
STRIKER
What sector?
Doesn't
make any difference what
sector
it's completely dynamic
and
must be tracked.
STRIKER
Hey lighten up, don’t be so
bitchy!
Not bitchy, just tired.
STRIKER
Maybe
you're fed up, maybe you
want
to be by yourself who
knows. So you look down at me
because
you are pissed off
because
were not making any
progress.
Bullshit, I just don’t want to
miss anything, Ben!
STRIKER
I just need for you to know
I’m not your whipping boy!
Of course your not.
STRIKER
I
don’t need this fucking job and
I
can do better elsewhere.
He sees
Striker’s patience is wearing thin.
Hey buddy I’m sorry, I need
you on this project!
STRIKER
Yeah sure.
Keeping an
eye on the Virus,
in the
electron microscope. One of the needles
quivers
slightly.
What the hell was that!
STRIKER
What?
Disregarding
the question,
up the pace.
The tortoise lays on its back,
its belly baking in the hot sun,
beating its legs trying to turn
itself over. But it can't.
Not
without your help. But you're
not helping.
Striker’s
shaking his head and looks disgusted.
STRIKER
Whatcha
mean, I'm not helping?
I mean you're not helping!
Who is that, Ben?
Ben Striker
looks shocked and surprised when he sees
one of the
Mutants crawling in through the window.
The intruder
goes for the inside of his coat. But
Ben Striker
is faster. His LASER BURNS a hole the
size of a
quarter through the intruders stomach.
Unlike a
bullet, a laser causes no impact. It goes
through the
Mutants spine and comes out his back,
clean as a
whistle. Like a rag doll he falls back
out of the
window. By the time he hits the floor,
Striker is
already walking away. But he stops,
turns and
with a little smile of satisfaction
blows the
imaginary smoke off of the end of the
barrel.
Nice shooting
Chief
Inspector Joe Brown runs into the lab.
The INSPECTOR
is in his fifties. The deep creases in
his face, the
broken capillaries in his nose say
brawler,
spoiler, drinker, but the diplomas on the
wall say
something else. Brown is kneeling next to
the intruder
checking for a pulse.
BROWN
He
and his buddy escaped from
the
colonies two weeks ago.
They
jumped a shuttle. An
Aerial
patrol found them near
the
lab but lost them.
So where is the other one?
BROWN
Three
nights ago one of them
managed
to break into the
armory. Killed two guards
and
got as far as the Genetic
Sector
before he got fried
going
through an ELECTRO-FIELD.
What was he after?
BROWN
Guns
of course but after the guards
smoked
him there wasn't much left
of
him, so we can't be sure. Going
on
the possibility they might try
to
infiltrate we tightened security.
A
grim pause.
Are you sure there was only two?
BROWN
Yup
just two!
Lab assistant ANDREA MASON an
attractive lady in her early
forties walks
into the lab.
Yes, what is it Andrea, are we
still
having morale problems?
Mason
We have a more pressing problem at
hand, my guys just found something
near the last core sample in a
small cave. It looks like some
kind of prior civilization was
here
and what we have found looks like
a Time Capsule.
BEN
Well what is it and where
is it?
STRIKER
science lab. Andrea,
will you please show
Ben what we found?
She looks at
VINCENT then Ben, and motions
them to
follow her.
EXT. AIR RESEARCH & PRESERVATION LABORATORIES
INT. TOXIC LAB LEVEL 4
ANDREA
Ben, you wont believe what
we've found.
She has her
hands inside protective gloves and opening
a box she
removes what appears to be a 2 quart cylinder
having a
screw top.
ANDREA (Cont.)
Ben, we wanted you to be present
when we opened it just in case we
have a problem, ok.
BEN
have here.
Andrea opens
the stainless steel cylinder and as
the top is
removed a sound of air escaping is heard.
A device
looking like a tape-recorder is seen inside.
A row of
small buttons are visible along the top edge
of the
device, Andrea places her index finger on the
green one.
ANDREA
Well shall we go for it?
BEN
(Ben stares at
the device)
What if it's a nuclear device
and we set the sequence on?
ANDREA
We've already scanned it for
explosives and found nothing.
BEN
Ok lets go for it!
As Andrea
places her finger on the button, she pauses
then presses
it.
A blue haze
engulfs the device and a small laser beam
directs
itself from the device and an image forms.
A
monotone
voice is heard from the image which is made
up of a
Holographic Projection of a middle age man
dressed in
what appears to be a takeoff of a World War
One German
Officers uniform. The language is Alien to
everyone.
Andrea flips an overhead switch turning
on the
VOICE (V.O.)
Welcome to the blue planet, we
hope
your stay will be Beneficial to
yourself and your people. We're
sorry, we can't be here to welcome
you, but at least you will have
this image and voice from our
civilization. We are the LYRAN'S
and have come from a planet
outside of this nine planet
solar system.
VINCENT
LYRAN'S?
VOICE (V.O.)
Our people arrived here just after
the great flood on the blue
planet.
When the water on the blue planet
receded, we decided to send a team
of our scientists to see if anyone
had survived, and of course if
someone had we would assist in any
way we could. After months of
searching we found nothing. Our
Elders decided to send a small
group of our people to the Blue
Planet in an attempt to repopulate
it.
BEN
Amazing!
LORAL (V.O.)
I'm LORAL the leader of this CAMP,
and whoever finds this time
capsule
needs to know this planet which we
call the BLUE Planet has certain
dangers that all of your people
should be aware of. This threat
was so bad we moved our entire
CAMP to the
years after land was visible.
ANDREA
The great deluge!
LORAL (V.O.)
(Cont.)
When we first arrived on this
planet
we felt very fortunate because we
were lucky enough to find a planet
that fit our needs. We had
initially
wanted to settle on the fourth
planet
from the sun which we call SOL IV,
but because of the lack of oxygen
we settled on the third planet
from
the sun which we named SOL III or
the
Blue Planet.
ANDREA
The blue planet!
LORAL
(V.O.) (Cont.)
The prior civilization had constructed
large canals to bring water from ice
melting from the south pole. We had
everything we needed. The proper
atmosphere, water, an abundance of
flora and fauna. Yes, we had found
paradise. Our civilization
prospered
for years, then it happened.
BEN
Nuclear war?
LORAN (V.O.)
In late summer this planet started
Volcanic activity which we thought
was just a seasonal event, but it
continued for several years.
It was so bad we decided to move
to
the
Volcanic activity to end we decided
to dig in. We developed several
cities underground to escape the
volcanic flow and gases.
ANDREA
No wonder it's so barren here!
LORAN (V.O.)
In the development of the third
underground city we encountered a
major problem during the
excavation.
In a deep underground chamber our
workman discovered what appeared
to
be remnants of a prior
civilization.
On further examination the
discovery
of "Pods" of some form
of Alien
species that had lived here prior
to us.
BEN
Pods?
LORAN
(V.O.)
At the depth that we found them, it
is now apparent to us that this
planet goes through some kind
of a regenerative life cycle where
all the inhabitants at that time
have to go underground. We moved
some of these pods to one of our
research centers for closer
inspection.
BEN
I wonder if they were toxic?
LORAN
(V.O.)
Our scientist's isolated them and
we started the inspection process.
After inspecting the first one
for any element that would be
biologically unsafe for us we
started the autopsy.
BEN
Autopsy?
LORAN (V.O.)
There were three membrane covers
we had to go through to get to
the thing inside the pod. After
the covers were peeled off the
creature was wrapped in a thin
membrane sac. We removed the sac
and upon closer discovery the
creature resembled one of us
but with one exception it was a
unisex being, or Hermaphrodite.
ANDREA
Oh please.
LORAN (V.O.)
Upon closer inspection, our
scientists
discovered the being was in a
suspended
animation state and could possibly
be
awaken with electrical impulses. We
received authorization from the
council
elders to attempt an awakening of
this
being. After several attempts we finally
succeeded in getting a heart
beat.
BEN
Andrea can you turn it off
for a minute?
As Andrea
places her finger on the Red button, she
pauses then
presses it.
VINCENT
BEN
Andrea, are you still recording
everything said in the science
lab?
ANDREA
Yes, it's voice activated. At the
end of the day I place the Disk
in the media safe and load a
new Disk in the recorder.
BEN
I need for you to play this disk
for the rest of the crew later.
ANDREA
Consider it done.
BEN
Ok, turn it back on.
LORAN (V.O.)
After several days the Alien woke
and sat up on the hospital bed.
It spoke a language unknown to us
and also was not able to write.
We have named it ALPHA and we're
able to use our translation
equipment in an attempt to capture
the language it speaks. After
several weeks we finally were able
to communicate with it by using,
sign language.
ANDREA
(Pushing the Red then
green
button)
It sounds like something really
bad happened
on
Earth millions of years ago and something
happened and now it's happening again!
LORAN (V.O.)
We thought everything was under
control until we discovered all
of us were infected with a toxic
Virus passed to us by the aliens.
Our people started dying by the
hundreds, I am the last of our
species and to the best of my
knowledge the virus is
indestructible. This Virus is
airborne and ....... once infected
death is within twenty-four hours.
First indication of infection is
a nose bleed, then chills then
death.
VINCENT
(Nervous)
You know, I had a nose bleed
yesterday.
LORAN
(V.O.)
We were able to isolate the virus
and we think it's a member of the
virus family called FILOVIRIDAE.
There are two strains of the virus.
Both of these strains are
extremely
fatal to humans. They both operate
very quickly and are quick to
destroy
their hosts. These viruses can
enter
the body a number of different
ways,
through any opening through which
air is taken in because the virus
can
travel airborne, and the virus can
also
enter the body through any opening
in
the skin, specifically cuts. This
Virus is very complex and is more
complex than our scientists
imagined.
ANDREA
Shit that's all we need up here!
LORAN (V.O.)
Once either strain has entered the
body, it enters a cell and
proceeds
in multiplying or reproducing in
the
cells cytoplasm. Once the one
virus
has become an army of viruses
inside
the cell, it leaves the cell to
attack more cells. This is
happening
in millions of cells all over the
body. It has the ability to spread
from cell to cell very quickly.
Once
we knew a person was infected we
bagged the body and burned it.
I'm very weak now and I'm bleeding
from every orifice in my body.
Goodbye and Good Luck.
BEN
Has anyone dated the container?
ANDREA
Yes, I dated it when it was
brought into me and we're
looking at it's origin in
a time from ten to twelve
thousand years ago.
VINCENT
Maybe, just maybe that's
what caused the death of
all of our people.
BEN
Andrea, is there anything else
in the container?
ANDREA
There is a small vial inside.
It probably contains a sample
of the virus. Do you want me
to remove it?
BEN
No, but I would say we have a very
high probability that this is the
Judicis Virus!
ANDREA
This is really bad shit!
EXT. JACK
STRIKERS’ BASE CAMP:
The camp is
built in one of the only remaining
Safe areas in
the South.
With a roar an AERIAL PATROL CRAFT enters close overhead.
It has flashing red and blue lights and powerful search-
lights which stab down.
TILT DOWN
to a vista of moonlit devastation. White ash blows
in drifts among fire-gutted ruins. Blackened bones
lie everywhere in heaps. Searchlights sweep the night.
As Striker
arrives on his motorcycle,
A gleaming chrome Harley Davidson SPORTSTER grinds
through the debris of the shattered street on its
tank-like tracks, crushing burnt skulls.
His head turns slowly, playing high-intensity lights
over the buildings.
He is
searched and then brought into the garden
where CAAN
MATEO, his wife SARAH and Anastasia
are. He is well received with extreme caution.
His huge arms are folded, mantis-like, against
his torso. After it passes a number of human
figures darting from shadow to shadow.
Striker
immediately notices that Sarah has contracted
the Judicis Virus because she does not wear a mask.
The
sores and legions on her beautiful face and arms
are
quite hideous.
CAAN MATEO,
early forties with jet black and silver
hair is
rugged with skin as rough as sandpaper.
He is
among a SQUAD OF MEN in black fatigues, carrying
equipment and energy rifles, who enter a debris-littered
tunnel.
He greets
Striker with extreme caution and passes him
a sealed
glass of red wine he is sipping on.
The straw on
the glass enabled the liquid to pass
through
without air being allowed back into it.
Striker
gratefully accepts, (this is quite a delicacy).
They briefly
interact as Striker gets down to the point.
STRIKER
I believe there is a cure for the
Virus
in the
to shut down this camp and remain
confined to quarters until we can
determine where we are with this virus.
MATEO
I agree with you but we've
probably
already been exposed to it. But sure
let’s give it our best shot.
STRIKER
OK, we need to join forces and put all
the petty bullshit away.
MATEO
You know Jack, an internationally
renowned scientist, Vincent Borneo,
is suspected to be on the surface
in the Northern part of
and that he knows the secrets of
smuggling one into the
They control their people by implanting
Computer chips in the neck of all
STRIKER
No shit, I’ve heard about him!
MATEO
They constantly monitor one’s health,
and, if necessary, can terminate
one’s life.
STRIKER
Let’s get our guys together and find him.
By the way
for the Virus somewhere and if we destroy
it the virus will be gone for ever.
MATEO
Let’s see if we can find it.
EXT. HUGE VERTICAL CAVE DAY
INT. SHUTTLE CRAFT
Striker,
Anastasia and Mateo are sitting near an
observation
window with a view of the barren
landscape.
The Shuttle Craft is used for short
trips
and is not capable of space travel.
We are hovering at about one
thousand feet. Why don't you
drop the probe.
MATEO
Why don't we wait until we
get over the deep canyon and
we'll drop the probe.
ANASTASIA
He's right Jack, if any organism
is toxic it usually tends to keep
itself in an inaccessible place.
STRIKER
Ok, we're within ten miles of
the deepest part of that cave.
Hang on here we go.
The Shuttle
Craft is seen descending down into
the deep
cave. The walls of the deep canyon
show levels
of where water or ice have stained
the stone
walls. The outside temperature is
dropping
rapidly and the crafts heater goes
into high
heat range. The outside temperature
shows ten
degrees below zero. ANASTASIA is bracing
herself
against the side of the shuttle cabin.
ANASTASIA
Easy Jack, easy!
Mateo is
trying to peer down into the dark
abyss as
Striker is controlling the craft as it
sinks deeper
into the heavy haze and mist of
the cave. The
instruments show the bottom is
another two
thousand feet down. Ice is now
visible on
the walls of the vertical stone cave
they are
following down. The craft bumps a
few time as
pockets of heavy ice mist is
encountered
during the descent.
ANASTASIA
The crafts
instruments now show the bottom is one
thousand feet
more. Striker starts to slow the
craft down
and ANASTASIA keeps closing her eyes
as she
expects the ground to come up suddenly.
Striker comes
to within one hundred feet of the
bottom when
he stops the descent of the craft
and starts a
hover.
STRIKER
probe.
Mateo pulls
up a release handle and a small door
opens on the
bottom of the craft and a device the
size of a
football is seen descending down into
the abyss.
They switch on the panel marked probe
monitor and
it lights up. Several readouts are
seen showing
toxicity readings, the instrument
payload
includes an X-ray/gamma ray
spectrometer,
near-infrared spectrograph, laser
range-finder,
magnetometer and etc.
MATEO
Shit, the only thing toxic
down here is the dirty
black water in the pit
below. Everything is more
normal down here than at
the bio-center.
ANASTASIA
I was so sure we would find
the virus down there in that
slime and filth.
MATEO
Let's get out of here and go
to the area near the cave
where the time capsule was
found. (A beat). What's wrong?
STRIKER
I don't know, the shuttle is
not responding to my commands!
ANASTASIA
Shit!
That's all we need, to be
stuck down here in this shit-hole
for the rest of our lives!
MATEO
Calm down ANASTASIA, it's probably
just
a temporary thing,,,,, right ,,,
JACK?
STRIKER
Looks like I'll have to set it down
on that sand bar, over there.
EXT. DEEP VERTICAL CAVE DAY
The shuttle
craft is seen slowly coming down
on a large
sandbar sticking out of the quagmire
in the abyss.
The craft finally settles in the
soft sand.
All of the exterior lights come on
and a bright
aura of light is seen around the
craft as the
power unit winds down. Striker exits
the Captains
seat and heads for the rear cabin
where the
power plant is located.
MATEO
Anastasia, a Geologist would give his
right
arm to be down in this place.
ANASTASIA
Look at the stress lines in the stone
walls it's like axis tilted
or the crust suddenly, violently,
moved over the mantle, then the
oceans would move en masse, as
immense tidal waves, away from
the equator and toward the poles.
MATEO
In the ancient Ocean, the tidewater
would flow more easily near the
poles, covering a larger area,
this would create smaller continental
floods. This place was at one time
the deepest part of a huge ancient
ocean larger than the pacific and
ANASTASIA
Right and any long-lived, large,
deep body of water in a glacier
would melt a channel either under
or through the ice and would flow
away as a river.
STRIKER is
seen coming back from the engine room and climbs
back into the
Captains seat.
STRIKER
Hate to interrupt the geology seminar
but I think I found the problem and
I'm ready to give it another try.
MATEO
I hear you, were ready.
STRIKER
Ok guys here we go!
The shuttle
craft is seen slowly coming off the
large sandbar
un-sticking itself out of the
quagmire in
the abyss. The craft finally
settles into
a steady hover and starts to rise
up along the
side of the stone wall. All of
the exterior
lights continue to create a
bright aura
of light seen around the craft
as the power
unit winds up. STRIKER is seen
smiling in
the Captains seat and continues
the ascent to
the top.
STRIKER (Cont.)
Shit that was too close for
comfort!
ANASTASIA
Jack why don't we try the Beta
dig where Andrea and Skip
died, maybe the virus reservoir
is in the cave where they found
the time capsule.
MATEO
I think it's worth a try,
at least we don't have to go
down into hell to look for
the fucking Virus.
EXT. BETA RIDGE CALDERA DAY
EXT. UNITED
The shuttle
craft is seen flying in circular
patterns then
descends and lands near the
what appears
to be a stone pyramid. The team
emerge from
the craft wearing their bright
orange RACAL
BIO SUITS.
Oh my god what have we uncovered
We don't know what's inside,
plus we don't know if there
is any low level radiation inside.
So lets be real careful.
MATEO
They group
near the front entrance to the large
pyramid.
STRIKER
I will go in first then Mateo
and if everything is ok then
ANASTASIA.
MATEO
I'm ready, let's do it.
STRIKER goes
in the entrance and through a long
corridor
partial filled with ash.
The corridor
opens out into a large room
also
partially covered with ash. STRIKER calls
for Mateo.
(Yelling)
Ok Mateo come in, and you can
come in too Anastasia.
The balance
of the crew walk into the large room
and all have
their light source scanning
the room for
safety.
ANSATASIA
I expected to see solidified
bodies like pictures from
Mateo pulls a
canister marked OXYGEN from his large
jock bag and
opens the valve pouring Oxygen into the
room. He
positions three other canisters strategically
in the room
and opens the valves.
MATEO
Anastasia, let me know when the
Oxygen
reaches breathable level in here
so we can take the suits off.
STRIKER
We need at least 10 minutes, right
Mateo?
MATEO
Maybe.
Anastasia
checks her sensors and taps one of the gauges.
ANASTASIA
We
are now at 6 percent and
moving up very rapidly.
MATEO
More than enough time.
covering and
tape up the entrance to prevent
loss of
Oxygen.
MATEO
Striker removes
is head gear and takes a deep breath.
He smiles and
remarks.
MATEO (Cont.)
The air mixture is good, you can
take your headgear off guys.
MATEO pulls
the release on the headgear and it comes off.
STRIKER (Cont.)
Ok, yeah the air is fine.
ANASTASIA
takes off her head gear.
MATEO, let's go back to the
shuttle
and get the large upright
emergency
lights and set them up in here.
It's
too damn dark, we can't work this
way.
EXT.
PYRAMID DAY
INT. PYRAMID
ROOM
The Team is
seen cleaning up the inside of the
main room in
what appears to be a replica of
a Mayan
Pyramid.
STRIKER
Ok guys let's take a break.
The crew is
having lunch and ANASTASIA has set up sensors
on a long
stone shelf.
ANASTASIA
You know what MATEO, I'm really
disappointed we didn't find ,,,,
MATEO
Some bodies, or at least skeletal
remains?
ANASTASIA
Yeah, like where in the hell did
everybody go?
MATEO
The mix is loosing Oxygen, so we
better head back to the
Bio-Center,
STRIKER and
ANASTASIA are having a discussion over the
finding
of an ancient structure.
ANASTASIA
You now VINCENT, isn't amazing how
all the real Ancient structures
look like Egyptian Pyramids. The
Mayan, Aztec, ours, Lyrans and
on and on.
MATEO
The Triangle structure is the most
solid ever designed. It will take
any earthquake the Earth can come
up with.
STRIKER
I spent a summer in Mexico and
I
saw writing like that.
MATEO
No shit!
STRIKER
There was a Mayan stepped pyramid
at Comalcalco, Tobasco, Mexico. This
pyramid, also known locally as a
Temple, was constructed of fired
bricks. The pyramid and bricks are
not anomalous, but the language
inscribed on thousands of the
bricks is, for it is typical of
Roman North Africa. Punic, Libyan,
and Arabic scripts. The current
theory is that the temple was
constructed by Christians and
Moslems captured by the Mayans
long before Columbus ventured
westward into the Atlantic.
MATEO
Do you think there's a connection?
STRIKER
There seems to be certain
similarities.
accumulation
of ash from the inside of the ancient
structure.
They have sealed the entrance with MYLAR
and have
generated a breathable environment by using
canisters of
Oxygen.
STRIKER
You know MATEO, the exact
alignment
of the GIZA PYRAMIDS with the
three stars of Orion's Belt in 10450 BC comes as no surprise
to those of us who are familiar
to the most diehard Egyptologist,
that the pyramids of GIZA are
distinct from the others in Egypt.
The perfect 52 degree slopes of the GIZA pyramids were never
successfully copied by the
pharaohs
who ruled 8,000 years later.
MATEO
So
what you're saying is that
that the GIZA pyramids should
be studied in the context of
a highly advanced worldwide
culture which preceded the
earliest civilizations of
the 4th millennium BC.
STRIKER
It is an archaeological fact
that the mysterious fortified
town of JERICHO, dates back
to 8000 BC.
MATEO
There
is belief that the pyramids
of GIZA acted as beacons which
guided the pilots of ancient
aircraft towards a landing site
at BAALBEK.
STRIKER
The answer to the Great Pyramid's
function lies in ancient texts
which refer to it as a House Like
a Mountain with a Pointed Peak.
These texts describe the use of
its awesome powers in a war of
the gods. As a result of this war,
the Pyramid was permanently
taken out of service and its
capstone removed.
EXT. ANCIENT STRUCTURE
INT. ANCIENT STRUCTURE -
LARGE ROOM
STRIKER and
MATEO are seen scanning the stone floor
with a sonar
device and marking some stone slabs
with a
scribe. They continue to brush away the
heavy
accumulation of ash from the inside of the
ancient
structure. ANASTASIA has been running tests to
determine how
stable and how long the breathable
environment
of Oxygen is good for.
STRIKER
You know, the GIZA PYRAMIDS,
after all these years are still
coming up with new secret passage
ways.
MATEO
So
what you're saying is that
that if the people who built
the GIZA pyramids had secret
passage ways the we have to
assume we have some here.
STRIKER
It's an archaeological fact
that the new trap doors and
chambers are found all the
time.
MATEO
What
if this structure was a
beacon for pilots of ancient
aircraft to guide them in
when they coming back from
another interstellar trip.
STRIKER
The answer to the Great Pyramid
function lies in ancient texts
which refer to the awesome
powers of the Pyramid. You know
what? I noticed this pyramid
still has its capstone.
ANASTASIA
Oh guys here's the best I can
do on the estimate you wanted.
At the current consumption rate
of air we have six hours and
ten minutes! Then by going on
the portable oxygen re-breathers,
we should have another two hours.
EXT. VINCENT
BORNEO’S SHUTTLE:
VINCENT
BORNEO, frizzled hair mad scientist, is in
his shuttle
with his girlfriend Georgia.
He is clearly
a lunatic which she is completely
attracted to.
GEORGIA
Honey, what’s in that silver
briefcase?
BORNEO
It contains all the research files
and logs since the creation of the
Highlands in 2075, one year before
the public disclosure of the
Judicis Virus’s mutation. There are
also a few small vials in a secret
sub-compartment of the case containing
samples of the virus and or the
anti-virus?
GEORGIA
Oky doky!
There is a
tremendous roar and the shuttle disappears.
EXT. JACK
STRIKERS’ BASE CAMP:
The shuttle
lands on earth only to be surrounded and
detained by
the team sent by Striker and Mateo.
He’s taken to
Caan’s camp.
EXT. CANN’S
CAMP:
PANAGLIDE WITH THEM as they trot through a
Labyrinth Of tunnels,
pass several
guard-posts.
The visitors enter a cavernous chamber, an
old parking structure, in which a large
group is gathering. At the entrance,
new arrivals: men wearing mismatched
uniforms or rags and carrying all types
of weapons from lasers to shotguns.
weapons are left at the sentry post.
FOLLOWING them as guards patrol the perimeter.
They walk along a row of CARS, models from the
eighties and nineties, now stripped, rusty
and modified to carry weapons.
There are conventional military vehicles as well.
Borneo, gazing down.
His head snaps around
at the sudden sound of BARKING.
ANGLE ON SENTRY POST as the dogs go crazy.
An innocuous, RAG-DRESSED MAN flips back his
poncho to reveal a powerful PLASMA-RIFLE.
He opens FIRE, running forward. ENERGY
BOLTS rip into the crowd.
POWERBOLTS EXPLODE among the fleeing people.
Beams sear the darkness.
ANGLE ON the intruder running.
The guards level their energy-rifles and starts firing,
Impressions implode on him: running feet, flashes,
energy beams raking the ground leaving molten worm-tracks,
screaming, a burning dog howling. The intruder goes down.
A brilliant explosion as the intruder evaporates.
In the distance a dog is barking.
Finally Striker and Mateo meet Borneo and sit
down at a table and everyone shakes hands.
STRIKER
Vincent we’ve heard you have
come up with a cure for the
virus!
VINCENT
That I have lad it really
works!
After
convincing Vincent Borneo of the progress
they’ve made,
and basically forcing him to
join forces
in order to continue his research
on the ‘surface’
with a team they’ve especially
picked out
for him, he agrees.
Borneo still
conceals his briefcase from them
and allows no
one to get near it. He has
plans of his
own to build a secret community
on earth and
to kill both Striker and Mateo.
HIGHLANDS
CONSULATE CONFERENCE:
A closed
meeting is underway. This time we
see about 1/3
of the people that were at
the initial
meeting.
The
President, Edmond Turner, is there,
as well as Tye Lazaar, and they’re
extremely
concerned with Vincent
Borneo’s
escape.
They come
down on GENERAL DOUGLAS
for the
breach of security and insist that
there is a
traitor on the inside who had
to have
helped Borneo escape.
Douglas also
brings it to their attention
that the
‘metallic briefcase’ in Borneo’s
possession
may contain samples of the
anti-virus.
We now notice
Annastasia appears in
the
background of the meeting.
She’s eager
to get involved in the
discussion
but holds back.
EXT: SHUTTLE
DOCKING AREA - NIGHT
An unmarked
SHUTTLE is moored to the loading dock
one mile from
the Highlands Consulate Conference.
A large crane
hoists a pallet of fuel drums
from the
dock. It swings slowly over the
shuttle. A
man on the dock yells to the
crane
operator.
EXT.
DOCK
Behind an old
and weathered fleet shuttle
in dry-dock,
Inspector Brown and detective
Moore watch
the men from the shadows.
MOORE
What-are
they speaking?
BROWN
CHICANO,
I think.
MOORE
CHICANO?
BROWN
where
English is mixed with
Spanish.
DOLLY OVER TO
REVEAL:
Moore
climbing up the side of the old shuttle.
CONTINUE PAST
HIM TO REVEAL:
A very large
and old shuttle.
Moore
maneuvers through a mesh of twisted steel,
Arriving at a
vantage point near the rear of
the large
shuttle.
Brown’s
P.O.V.
A black van
pulls up and parks near the crane.
Four men get
out. One remains with the van
and the other
three walk toward the shuttle.
On the
shuttle, five men come up from below deck.
They are
tense and cautious around the men
in suits.
Someone speaks in Spanish and someone
else in
English. It takes a moment before
anyone speaks
the same tongue. They settle on
Chicano for
both negotiators.
Moore grabs a
large shoulder bag stuffed with
C4 explosive.
He tests a timer on top.
He
picks up a walkie-talkie.
MOORE
Are we ready?
Detective
CARLOS RUBIO is positioning himself
on the roof
of the shuttle with an assault
rifle.
He stops and
grabs his radio.
RUBIO
and
answer you, I would be.
BROWN
(into radio)
Everyone
shut up. I'm ready.
Moore
you better be set up
in
ten seconds.
(On radio)
I'm there.
BROWN
(To Moore)
I want you to stay here.
Understand? Wait by the car.
MOORE
(Confused)
Inspector, I can't just wait
here how about you and Carlos?
BROWN
We need someone to watch our back.
MOORE
What if you….
BROWN
Just do what I tell you.
Moore turns
and takes a few steps. He stops and
looks back,
his face marked with guilt and agony.
BROWN (Cont.)
If we don’t make it tell my
wife I love her.
Brown leaves
before Moore can respond. He walks
down a ramp
toward the old shuttle.
He is no more
than a few yards out of the shadows
before the
first man sees him.
One of the
men in suits starts to yell to the
others. The
men pull out guns and try to look
as cool as
they can.
Brown walks
right into the face of all of these men,
undaunted.
His hands are in his pockets.
Above him, in
the darkness, Moore pokes his head
out and spies
Brown pulls his head back and
starts the
sequence on the detonator.
Brown comes
to a stop about twenty feet from
the men all
together.
RUBIOS'S
P.O.V.
Rubio stares
through the scope of his rifle at
the scene.
The
cross-hairs breeze past Brown and find a
target. A man
in fatigues.
Rubio
Bang.
He moves to
another and then another, picking up
speed and
mock-shooting the men. He is steady
and quick. It
is clear he could take all three
in a few
seconds.
The men shout
questions at Brown in a number
of languages.
Rubio’s
P.O.V.
A few men
standing on the dock near the stern of
the large
shuttle, move towards the commotion.
Finally two
men walk right towards Brown. The
other one
trains his gun on him. They reach
for his arms,
pointing their guns right at him.
At the far
end of the dock, Moore throws his
bomb onto the
stern of the shuttle.
IT EXPLODES
The men
surrounding Brown, are distracted.
Brown pulls a
pistol out of each pocket
and shoots
the two men closest to him.
Rubio fires
as fast as he can taking out
the other
man.
Other men
from the shuttle try to peg Brown,
but Rubio’s
sniping has them running.
The crane
operator opens the door to bail out,
leaving the
crane in motion.
Rubio runs
across the roof of the shuttle and
jumps down to
the street.
MEANWHILE ON
THE DOCK:
Rubio is
firing in all directions.
SUDDENLY, he
realizes no one is left on the dock.
PAUSE
FINALLY, he
turns and runs back for the van parked
on the pier
above. He finds a ramp leading from
the dock to
the pier.
At the van,
he finds the one man who has stayed
behind to
protect it.
The man hears
Rubio coming and raises his gun.
Rubio runs
straight at him, screaming frantically.
RUBIO
(In Chicano)
DON'T SHOOT, DON'T SHOOT.
LET'S GET THE FUCK OUT
OF HERE. EVERYONE IS DEAD.
BOOM
He shoots the
man point blank in the face and
Runs over his
body as it falls.
He gets to
the back door of the van and yanks
it open.
The inside is
stacked with large wooden crates.
Rubio,
suddenly oblivious to the sound of
gunfire,
opens one of the crates and looks
inside.
IT’S FILLED
WITH MONEY. Cash and bundles
of drugs.
He smiles.
BOOM
BLOOD sprays
all over the money Rubio looks at it, puzzled.
He raises a
blood-soaked hand from his belly.
He turns and
stares in horror.
BOOM -
Another shot takes off the top of his head.
Moore runs
like a wild man across the street,
heading for
the car.
He shoots in
all directions as though he has
eyes in the
back of his head.
Moore is
wrestling with what to do. He finally
makes a break
for the other side of the
shuttle.
The crane
continues to swing.
A single
bullet hits one of the barrels on the
Suspended
pallet.
Gasoline
pours out through the bullet-hole.
Brown arrives
at the top of the ramp leading
from the dock
to the street.
He ducks down
behind a guardrail beside the ramp.
He turns and
sees Rubio’s dead body next to
the van.
He looks
around frantically, frozen in terror.
It is quiet,
except for the sounds of screaming,
far off in
the bowels of the shuttle and the
hum of the
crane.
Brown and
Moore step out of the hold, walking
slowly and
cautiously back from where they
came. They
hear the sounds of footsteps
running near
the shuttle and the occasional
hollered
sentence in Chicano.
MOORE
Where's Rubio?
He didn’t make it.
They come to
a corner. They can go left or right.
MOORE
I can't remember which way.
BROWN
Right -
BOOM - BOOM
Gunshots fill
the alley behind them. They do
not stop to
turn around. Moore goes left,
Brown goes
right. They run in opposite
directions
with the sound of gunfire right
behind them.
The shuttle
is quiet now. Moore walks out onto
the street
Brown
approaches the van, stepping over
RUBIOS'S
body. He closes the back doors
of the van.
He looks to
his left at the huge loading crane.
He glances
upward along the giant arm as it
swings
steadily on.
Somewhere,
off in the distance, the sound of
SIRENS can be
heard.
Moore kneels
by Rubio, trembling with rage.
After a
moment he stands, looking down at
Rubio’s dead
body.
SUDDENLY,
Brown realizes something. He turns
and goes to
call out a warning to Moore. He
is too late.
Moore never
sees the crane coming.
WHAM
The pallet of
barrels hits him square in the
back and
sends him flying into the street.
Moore is
still for a moment. Finally, he
tries to get
up, but finds he cannot move
his legs.
Moore runs
down the ramp as fast as he can.
SUDDENLY, he
stops dead in his tracks,
looking up at
the shuttle.
MOORE
All of this for drugs, when
will it all end.
From where he
stands, he can just make out the figure of a man walking along the edge of the
shuttle. He moves quietly and
calmly in the
shadows towards the crane.
Striker is
hiding in the tangle of girders
and cables on
the shuttle.
STRIKERS'S
P.O.V.
MOVE INTO THE
DARKNESS.
Sirens are
close now. Almost here. The sound
of fire
raging out of control.
SIRENS
BLARING. TIRES SQUEALING. CAR DOORS
OPENING. FEET
POUNDING THE PAVEMENT.
MOVE FURTHER,
SLOWER, INTO THE DARKNESS.
Voices
yelling. New light flickering in
the
surrounding darkness.
EXT.
HIGHLANDS HYCO-POLICE HEADQUARTERS:
An
interrogation of Ben Striker is taking
place by one
of General Douglas Lieutenant’s,
DEREK WATTS,
30 and tough as a rock. General
Douglas is
observing along with Lazaar during
the
interrogation. Ben proclaims he’s not
a traitor and
had no knowledge of Borneo’s plans.
Douglas does
not buy it. They try force him
and Ben
remains the same. They stop.
EXT.
HIGHLANDS NEW WHITE HOUSE/OVAL OFFICE:
General
Douglas, the President, and
Tye Lazaar are
in a heated conversation.
The General
and Lazaar clearly have a plan
to suggest to
the President.
Douglas
We need to get Borneo back!
We’re putting together a
reconnaissance mission to
recover Borneo and the
‘briefcase’. We want
Annastasia to accompany
them because she has the
most knowledge of the
disease besides Ben Striker
and Borneo.
TURNER
What do you think Lazaar?
LAZAAR
Let’s do it!
TURNER
Ok, I approve but it
better work!
EXT.
HIGHLANDS DEPARTURE STATION:
Annastasia is at the station as General Douglas
reminds her
of the dangers she faces.
Douglas
I’m sending Lieutenant Derek
Watts with you because this
is a very dangerous mission.
General
Douglas believes that she
may be a
traitor.
EXT. CAAN’S
BASE CAMP SURFACE:
The
reconnaissance team arrives.
First two
escort shuttles land and
announce the
arrival of Annastasia
and the
America’s team.
Caan has never seen anything like this nor
has Striker
making them frightened and on
extreme
guard.
ANNASTASIA
We have come in peace.
CAAN
meet with ANNASTASIA and
Derek Watts in my personal
chamber so we can sit face
to face under my men’s
supervision.
ANNASTASIA
CAAN
I have not seen him.
ANNASTASIA
May we be allowed to leave a
guard posted in case Borneo
does decide to show up here..
CAAN
I don’t have a problem with that.
At that time
Jack Striker emerges from the
background
and walks straight to Annastasia.
STRIKER
There will be no deals. My people
and Caans
people, are dying and
have been left to die and that
in no way will they help them out.
machine guns
upon Watts.
Mateo raises
his head to stop them.
Striker
doesn’t flinch.
Annastasia senses something pure in Striker
as does he in
her as their eyes lock with
one
another’s.
Watts puts
down his weapon as do Mateo’s guards.
ANNASTASIA
Borneo is a madman and may
have his own plans on the
surface and you should
be cautious of him.
As Annastasia and Watts leave, Annastasia
turns
to Striker
handing him a communication device.
ANNASTASIA
Contact me if anything comes up.
EXT. SURFACE
– VINCENT BORNEO’S SHUTTLE:
Striker and
Mateo interrogate Borneo and his
girlfriend.
VINCENT
I left because of the quality
of life. I was constantly
under watch and being forced to
produce more and more results.
STRIKER
I promise you total freedom here
and we will not push you.
VINCENT
I had results of my own that
I did not share with them.
But I need one mineral that
is being biogenetically
engineered from infected cells
at the Highlands laboratories.
I have a research partner Ben
Striker that will not be treated
Very well because of him
leaving.
EXT. CAAN’S
BASE CAMP:
Striker sits
alone remembering his father Ben.
The
government said he was killed in a tragic
experiment
gone wrong.
Jack leaves
to go back to his camp.
Along the way
he uses the communication device
that was
given to him by Annastasia.
STRIKER
I must get to the Highlands
to speak with my father Ben
Striker!
EXT. STRIKER
BASE CAMP:
As Striker
arrives, he is completely shocked
to see his
camp almost completely destroyed.
The air
purifying machines have been shot
down and all
the people have been burned.
Out of the
rubble comes Billy, his sidekick,
partially
burned and towing a line of breathers.
Jack and
Billy head back to Mateo’s camp and
take Borneo’s
shuttle to the Highlands.
VINCENT
I need to have a special permit
waiting for them at the Highlands
Arrival dock.
ANNASTASIA
I
will meet you there with
the permit.
EXT.
HIGHLANDS ARRIVAL DOCK:
Jack and
Billy arrive but there is no sign of
Annastasia.
STRIKER
Billy
stay back and hide and
keep the communicator close
by because I may need you
Jack is in
awe at his first sight of the Highlands.
Cars are
flying through the air, and everything
appears to be
bright and pure. A man approaches
him and leads
him to Annastasia.
EXT. AIR
PRESERVATION LABORATORIES:
Annastasia stands over Ben Striker.
As Jack
enters the room, Ben slowly turns
to his utter
amazement. He drops to his
knees.
It has been
over fifteen years since they’ve
seen each
other.
Jack runs to
him as they embrace one another.
EXT. AIR
PRESERVATION LABORATORIES SECURITY ROOM:
Tight on a
monitor of the interior of the lab
with Jack and
Ben embracing one another.
Pull back to
reveal Tye Lazaar and the
General
watching this
happen.
LAZAAR
We have a new election and
I’m concerned that Striker
will stir something up.
EXT. AIR
PRESERVATION LABORATORIES:
Jack and his
father Ben reconcile with one another.
JACK
I thought you were dead!
BEN
Borneo has escaped with the
cure, and that we must recover
it and bring it to him.
JACK
Or we could take you to him.
EXT.
HIGHLANDS DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL DOCK – NIGHT:
Jack, Ben and
Annastasia sneak onto Borneo’s shuttle
where Billy
is ready and waiting to leave.
Just after
they take off, a transmission comes
through from Tye Lazaar.
LAZAAR (VO)
Annastasia
you must return to the
Highlands immediately!
ANNASTASIA
No, I will not return you have
been
using me and I found out there is a
cure for the Virus, and you have
been hiding it from me.
LAZAAR (VO)
Annastasia I have been hiding nothing
from
you!
ANNASTASIA
How could you do this, I loved
you, I
thought you were a good man, how many
more people have to die, mom is already
dead, why, why?
EXT.
HIGHLANDS – TYE LAZAAR’S OFFICE:
Lazaar is having a meeting with General
Douglas
LAZAAR
Send a shuttle to bring them back
and if there is any trouble to
destroy their shuttle!!
EXT. BORNEO’S
SHUTTLE:
Annastasia sends a transmission to the President.
ANNASTASIA
My father has gone crazy and they
have a cure for the Virus.
Striker sends
a transmission to Caan.
STRIKER
We will arrive very soon, so be
ready.
CAAN
Borneo tried to kill me so he is
being detained.
EXT. SPACE:
Borneo’s
shuttle flies along as fighter shuttles are
seen
approaching and closing on them quickly.
They start
firing on them.
BORNEO’S
SHUTTLE:
Striker takes
the controls from Billy.
STRIKER
Hang on everyone, we’ve got
company.
A dog fight
begins then all of a sudden
they’re
hit.
The right
engine is out.
BILLY
I don’t know if we can make it
Billy.
Then out of
no where two Presidential escorts blast the
fighter ship
into oblivion! They move along side
Striker’s
ship and escort them to the surface.
EXT. CAAN’S
BASE CAMP:
Jack, Annastasia, Ben and Billy rush to Caan.
They enter
the make shift laboratory where
Borneo is
sitting with restraints, along
with his
briefcase.
Ben removes
the leather cover from his
briefcase
revealing an identical ‘metallic’
briefcase.
He places it
next to Borneo on a table.
He takes a
key out from around his neck
and removes
the one from Borneo.
He unlocks
the respective cases.
As this
happens, a shaft shoots out from
each case
forming a key hole.
Annastasia then takes a key from her neck
and unlocks
the whole thing that opens
simultaneously.
The two
briefcases form one self-contained unit.
A sphere
opens up in the middle from the shafts.
There are two
glove openings for hands to enter.
Annastasia places her hands in the openings
and mixes the
two compounds from the cases.
ANNASTASIA
It works!
She fixes a
syringe and they bring it
over to
Sarah, Caan’s infected wife.
They hook her
up to a monitoring system.
The cells are
miraculously rebuilding.
ANNASTASIA
All we need to do is take an
infected air sample and infuse
the cure with that air and
release it into the environment!
Tye Lazaar is
arrested and sent to a mental institute.
EXT. EXTREME NORTHERN HEMISPHERE (PANGEA) DAY
The
highlands Council has dispatched their team of
four
experts in their executive shuttle, to find
a
meteor the size of a basketball in Pangea.
They
fly over the EXTREME NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.
Ice,
snow, and bleak dirty gray land and seascape is
all
that's visible. They are not that far north out
of
a large Bay when all vegetation vanishes, to be
replaced
by gray.
EXT. EXTREME NORTHERN HEMISPHERE (PANGEA) DAY
EXT. EXTREME NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TARMAC DAY
They
land at PANGEA Shuttle Base,800 miles from the
North
Pole. A magnetic compass points nearly due west,
into
the North at the magnetic pole. The Base built
in
the lowlands below the ice cap on PANGEA Bay.
The
base is a stopover for shuttles who re-supply
the
far north villages
PANGEA
is a possession of the Highlands Enterprise and
if
one were to describe PANGEA in a single word, it
would
be bleak. What vegetation exists is small and
low
to the ground. Most of the snow which fell on
the
base was not a result of local precipitation,
but
rather was blown off the ice cap which had hundreds
of
thousands of square miles of year-round snow.
Situated
on a high bluff, several hundred feet above
and
overlooking the head of PANGEA FJORD and about
three
miles from the ice cap, the Highlands Enterprise
Base
commanded a magnificent view of the fjord!
Meteors
are bits of the solar system that have fallen
to
the Earth and most come from asteroids, and some
believed
to have come from comets. A large number of
meteors
are of Martian origin, and one of the
Martian meteors, known as ALH84001, is believed to show evidence
of
early life on Mars. Meteors believed to have
originated
on Mars are called ACHONDRITES.
EXT. HIGHLANDS ENTERPRISE HALL DAY
It's
an overcast day and the main lecture building is
full
of Scientists and dignitaries from all over the
world.
Today BEN STRIKER is giving a briefing on
Mars
and a Martian Meteor. STRIKER starts the review.
His
aide projects the first ENTERPRISE chart.
He
directs a red dot using a small laser pointer.
BEN STRIKER
Thank you all for coming. The Big
Bang theory says that all matter
in the Universe was, at one time,
concentrated in a giant mass, a
black hole that blew apart over
20 billion years ago and is still
expanding. About 5 billion years
ago, some of the matter condensed
until forces were so strong that
thermonuclear reactions began,
and this was the origin of our sun.
His
aide projects the next frame of the ENTERPRISE chart.
BEN STRIKER (Cont.)
A disk shaped cloud of matter
still orbiting the sun condensed
into the planets. Thus, about 4.6
billion years ago, the planets
coalesced, and it is thought that
Earth began as a cold world.
Later the planet heated up enough
to melt and sort into layers by
density, core, mantle and crust.
STRIKER
adjusts the microphone and takes a small drink of water.
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
The first atmosphere was
made largely
of water vapor and as the surface of
Earth cooled again, torrential rains
of this mixture formed the first seas,
the primordial soup.
The
next chart is seen on the large screen.
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
Lightening, ultraviolet radiation,
volcanic action all were more
intense than they are now. The
first step is thought to have
been the AMBIONIC synthesis of
organic monomers in other words,
putting inorganic chemicals
like methane, carbon dioxide,
and ammonia together to form simple
organic chemicals like amino acids,
simple sugars, fatty acids, and
nucleic acids.
A
tall man in his early thirties stands up identifies
himself
and asks a question.
LEWIS
Sir, I'm Dewy Lewis from CNN and frankly
isn't this just a theory, there's no real
proof that this was the way we started.
BEN
STRIKER Clearing his throat, and motioning to the aide to go
to
the next slide.
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
Yes, the closest thing we have to
proving out this portion of the
hypothesis was later tested by
an experiment done by a scientist
using a sterile, enclosed system
consisting of a flask over a heat
source, a spark chamber, and
various other tubing. Heat was
applied under the flask to simulate
volcanic action, and this was
enough to turn a significant
portion of the water into steam.
LEWIS
continues with his questioning.
LEWIS
Sir, are you convinced this was
an experiment to convince
everyone of how our planet
started?
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
A spark chamber periodically discharged
electricity into the gasses to simulate
lightening. This experiment started out
with transparent water and transparent
gasses. However, after only one week,
the scientist had a brown, murky soup.
Subsequent chemical analysis showed the
presence of a number of amino acids and
other organic compounds.
Lewis
continues with his line of questioning.
LEWIS
That was the German experiment which
has been challenged for many years,
isn't that correct?
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
Yes, but from this experiment,
scientists generalize that if
this can happen in a lab, it
could have happened in a similar
way on early Earth.
LEWIS
Sir, don't you think that's
really stretching it?
STRIKER attempts to establish a good foothold on his
presentation.
BEN
STRIKER
The next step in going from
non-living to living is thought
to have been the ABIOTIC
synthesis of organic polymers.
LEWIS
So what you are saying is that
if the proteins involved happen
to be enzymes, these globules
can even carry on metabolic
activity, although they have
no means to replicate themselves.
BEN
STRIKER
Yes, it is thought, then, that
about 4.1 to 3.5 billion years
ago, the first prokaryotes
organisms without a true nucleus
like bacteria came into existence.
LEWIS
What proof does NASA have?
BEN
STRIKER
We have found space dust and
a meteor that we believe came
from Mars which has the
ingredients to create life
with a Mars generic
identification.
Lewis
comes back with his hard line of questioning.
LEWIS
Sir, are you saying that the
Earth's Generic beginning is
from the planet Mars?
BEN
STRIKER
Yes I am!
The
entire audience is stunned and small discussions start
among
the reporters, politicians and scientists.
LEWIS
Sir do you have a date when this alleged
seeding of Earth from Mars took place?
BEN
STRIKER
It's difficult to pinpoint a date
for this because bacteria doesn't
have skeletons to leave behind.
The first fossils of prokaryotes
seem to be this age.
LEWIS
This age that you say is thought
to be 4.1 to 3.5 billion years ago?
BEN
STRIKER
Once the first living organisms,
the first prokaryotes came into
existence, then the Theory of
Evolution takes over to provide
an explanation for how, not why
these primitive cells diversified
into the five kingdoms of life
which we recognize today.
A
young lady stands up and gets STRIKER’S attention.
He
points to her, and says,
BEN
STRIKER
Yes my dear you have a question
The
young lady is in her late twenties, tall well dressed
and
very attractive, talking with a New England accent,
SILK
Sir, I'm Jane Silk the Science Editor
for the Highlands Post. So what you're
saying is Life began in Mars as
microscopic spores then later landed
on earth to act as seeds. Similar to
amino acids found in Meteors?
BEN
STRIKER
Yes, of course there also existed
Amino Acids in Meteors and
interstellar clouds then as now.
SILK
Ok, man's ancestors, 3 to 4 million
years ago. If this report is valid
then isn't it possible that maybe
the seeds had just a pit stop at
Mars, but actually came from some
other planet in the Solar System,
thus exogenous delivery of amino
acids to the Earth?
BEN STRIKER
Ms Silk, we've used ALPHA-AMINOISOBUTYRIC
ACID (AIB) as an indicator of EXOGENOUSLY
derived ORGANICS. This amino acid was
selected because it is abundant in many CARBONACEOUS
CHONDRITES, is readily
synthesized in PREBIOTIC simulation
experiments, but is a rare component of
BIOGENIC material.
SILK
So what you are saying that after careful
examination of the BIOGENITIC material
it could only have come from Mars?
BEN
STRIKER
Yes, that's correct my dear. We have
analyzed polar ices, sea water,
Antarctic micro Meteors, lunar
soils and a Martian Meteor for the
presence of AIB.
SILK
Any other clues or evidence?
BEN
STRIKER
So far, AIB has been detected in a
4400 year old ice sample from
Greenland and in a sample of about
30 micro Meteors collected from
the Antarctic ice sheet. We estimate
from these results that the flux
of AIB to the Earth today from
micro Meteors is about 99% Mars,
which is in good agreement with
the predicted exogenous AIB flux
on the planet Earth.
SILK
Sir, is it possible that humans
existed on Mars millions of years
ago and their seed found it's way
here to Earth?
BEN
STRIKER
Our studies show that humans or a
species similar to earth humans
existed on Mars and they had an
atmosphere like ours.
SILK
Sir, do we know what happened to them?
BEN
STRIKER
We believe Mars was struck by a giant
asteroid about three million years ago
and within several years life ended
there. As we speak, a select team of
International Scientists are searching
for a very large meteor in Greenland
it will gives us answers to more of our
mysteries of creation.
LEWIS
(Standing)
Sir you said your studies show that
humans or a species similar o earth
humans existed on Mars and that they
had an atmosphere like ours, and how
did you arrive at this assumption?
BEN
STRIKER
The only life currently known to
exist in our universe is on the
planet Earth. Therefore, the
Exobiology research program
focuses on these conditions,
substances and chemical reactions
of primitive Earth and its
extraterrestrial environment,
beginning about 4.6 billion
years ago.
A tall thin lady in her late twenties, a Scientist
on
BEN STRIKER’S staff adds a support pillar,
ANASTASIA
I'm Anastasia , Bio-markers are the
oldest geological record Aggregates
of APATITE with inclusions of
ISOTOPICALLY light carbon appear
to be fossilized remnants of
MICROBIAL MINERALIZATION, and are
found in aqueous sediments of all ages.
BEN
STRIKER
We're interested in finding out how far
back in time these bio-markers extend,
thereby expanding the time span for life
on Earth and offering possibilities for
similar studies on meteoritic materials
identified as being from Mars, and on
any future samples returned from the
Martian surface.
ANASTASIA
Currently, our findings of these
indicators extend into the
oldest sedimentary rock formations
known on Earth, with ages in excess
of 3.87 billion years. We are now
trying to push this limit further
back in time the present occurrences
are sufficiently old to place some
constraints on the geophysical and
geo Chemical events associated with
the formation of the Earth.
An
elderly lady from the Associated Press
gets
BEN STRIKER’S attention.
AUSTIN
Sir, I'm Sharon Austin from the
Highlands Science Bureau and I
know it's difficult to discuss
Science without Scientific Terms,
But I have a Masters in Biology
and I'm barely keeping up with
you and your staff, will you
please try to use layman's terms
if at all possible?
BEN
STRIKER smiles and continues
BEN
STRIKER
Of course my dear, now let's see
where were we, oh yes, Life is
often portrayed as spontaneously
arising from some sort of,
primordial soup. There it is
quiet, tranquil, warm nutrients
in a primitive sea, a lightning
strike in the distance is
imparting the energy of life soon
life will be emerging to the shores.
LUBBOCK
To explain the origin of life by
Non supernatural means we must
have a plausible explanation for
each of these steps. Science
sometimes even considers the
possibility of life dropping in
from outer space, called the
theory of PANSPERMIA. Biological
evolution descent with modification
from a common ancestor, once life
existed is a subset of the larger
picture.
BEN
STRIKER
So if there are no other questions
I would like to go on with the
next bit of business. You all
probably have heard about the huge
explosion last week that was 12
billion light years from Earth,
that in one second released almost
as much energy as all the stars
of the universe.
SILK
Will the shock wave hit Earth?
BEN STRIKER
The explosion was too far away
to affect the Earth or the sun,
but astronomers say they are
astounded by the might of the
blast and baffled about what
might have caused it. The energy
released by this burst in its
first few seconds staggers the
imagination. For about one or
two seconds, this burst was as
luminous as all the rest of
the entire Universe. In a
region about ten thousand miles
across, the burst created
conditions like those in the
early universe, about one
millisecond after the Big Bang.
SILK
I was astounded when I first heard
about this, at first I could hardly
believe it, but now I'm convinced
it's true, and it makes the Universe
bigger and more exciting than I
ever thought before. I understand
the gamma ray explosion came from a
faint galaxy known as GRB 971214.
Lewis
raises his hand,
LEWIS
Sir there are some prominent
scientists in the country that
have their own opinions about
the unexplained explosion
in GRB 971214."
BEN
STRIKER takes a long drink of water and says,
BEN
STRIKER
And what is that Mr. Lewis?
Lewis
coughs and replies,
LEWIS
They think the explosion is a
failure of the Universe to keep
itself together and when the
force of the space SHOCK wave
hits our solar system it's power
is going to tumble all of our
planets, is any of this
information being entertained by
the Highlands Council.
BEN STRIKER replies,
BEN
STRIKER
Gamma ray bursts are common,
occurring once or twice a day,
but the rays are invisible
and can be detected only by
satellites orbiting above the
Earth's atmosphere.
Jane
Silk stands up to be recognized.
SILK
So what you are saying sir,
is the Earth is no danger
of any Space Shock Wave
from this event? And if we
are in danger, how long
will it take for the space
wave to hit us?
BEN
STRIKER
Takes a long drink of water
and says, We speculate that
such an explosion may occur
when a black hole swallows a
neutron star. A black hole
is a collapsed object that
is so dense that its gravity
permits not even light to
escape, a neutron star is
a massive collapsed star.
LUBBOCK
Astronomers believe the immense
explosion sent matter, such as
neutrons and electrons,
streaking outward at near the
speed of light. About a day
later, the matter smashed into
gas and dust particles, and the
violence and heat of the
collisions created gamma rays,
X-rays, and then visible light.
BEN
STRIKER
Most of the theoretical models
proposed to explain these bursts
cannot explain how this much
energy might have come from a
rotating black hole.
LUBBOCK
On the other hand, this is such
an extreme phenomenon that it's
possible that we are dealing
with something completely
unanticipated and even more
exotic and unknown.
Jane
Silk continues,
SILK
So what you are saying is that
We have no idea if we're
going to feel the results
of this mystery explosion?
BEN
STRIKER concedes,
BEN
STRIKER
Yes I'm afraid that's the case
in this anomaly, we just don't
have enough data to even hazard
a guess! When we have more data
and can come up to any sort of
a educated guess I will call a
press conference.
BEN
STRIKER looks around the room for any raised hands.
BEN
STRIKER (Cont.)
If there are no other questions
on the explosion in space I will
go on with the next bit of
business. A report on our elusive
Meteor in Greenland.
BEN
STRIKER
We've received the first pictures
of dust from the meteor that
landed in Greenland. They are
Brown particles, originally fine
crystalline material. Sharp
fragmentation edges probably
formed by an explosive event,
surface smoothed by subsequent
melting. The grains and
fragments were found from snow
samples taken over an area from
the fall region representing
more than 100 square miles of
ice surface.
ANASTASIA
The hope is that the melting of the
snow will have laid bare the so
called blue ice, facilitating the
search for bigger fragments. This
search will be quite demanding
for the Exploration Team, as the
thawing is revealing exactly how
many crevasses are in the search
area. In principle, they all have
to be searched, making it very
necessary to descend with rope
and ice axes into hundreds of
crevasses.
BEN
STRIKER
Analysis of the dust filtered from
snow samples now show microscopic
red and blue particles stemming
from the meteor. There's no
information about particular
patterns or concentrations in the
samples taken during the present
phase of the search. However,
samples taken during the preparatory
expedition in July show a high
concentration of particles further
to the north.
ANASTASIA
Based on the video and on eyewitness
accounts, it's clear that the
Greenland meteor entered the
atmosphere at a velocity around
10,000 miles per hour and that it
must have weighed at least several
tons. So too,
they know that
the meteor exploded some 15 to 20
feet above the ground, pelting the
ice with at least 20 cosmic rocks.
Many of these rocks were large
enough--and fell fast enough that
witnesses claimed to have tracked
their glowing paths all the way
down to the horizon.
BEN STRIKER
Unless
you have additional questions
to the material I've presented this
ends this press conference.
ANASTASIA
Sir we were just told by our news
agency that a new Mars Meteor was
just found in the Sahara Desert.
ANASTASIA
trying to get Strikers attention.
ANASTASIA
A meteor discovered in the target
area was positively identified
as originating from Mars. The
new Mars meteor weighs about
125 pounds, and has been
tentatively classified as a
SHERGOTITE, the most common type
of Mars meteors. At this time our
scientists have found traces of
a virus very similar tour JUDICUIS
VIRUS. So what I’m saying this
could be the source of our virus
here on earth.
EXT: THE
HIGHLANDS MOORS DAY
THE HIGHLANDS MOORS have recovered from bad air and
garbage and the atmosphere Generators are now running 24 seven.
The
Highlands moors can be described as bleak, barren, and bare. The moors are just
a section of the landscape of the larger Highlands Dales. The moors are located
at the higher elevations of the Dales. When standing at the higher elevations
it seems as though the rolling hills of the moors go on for miles.
STRIKER
and ANASTASIA are seen pulling up next to a small stream in their Land Rover.
ANASTASIA
gets out of the Rover and walks down to the stream, and takes her shoes off.
"Since I was a kid the Moors always fascinated me, you know the SHERLOCK
HOMES book about the HOUNDS OF THE BASKERVILLES! STRIKER smiles.
EXT: THE
HIGHLANDS MOORS DAY
The
sun comes up on the North Highlands
Moors 600 square miles of OPEN MOORLAND and upland valleys,
much
of the area remains uninhabited with the
villages
and small towns situated in the
sheltered
valleys and around the edges of the
moors.
Scattered
across the region are an estimated 10,000 burial mounds, some dating back to
Americas Neolithic period (5000 years ago), and it is during the excavation of
some of these cairns and tumuli that the majority of rock carvings have been
found.
Carvings
on exposed rock surfaces are comparatively rare and where these do occur they
tend to be in the vicinity of burial mounds.
STRIKER
and ANASTASIA have packed a picnic
basket
and have ventured miles from
Strikers
camp. STRIKER drops to his knees
and points to one of the
burial mounds.
He brushes off a corner,
STRIKER
ANASTASIA this is a
Fertility Stone, that have specific
names and associated
folklore which indicate their use in historic Times.
ANASTASIA
You know JACK, you’re
such a well of knowledge, is there anything you don’t know, I’m really hungry,
can we eat?
STRIKER
In the past, Mayday folklore and customs related specifically to
promoting fertility in people, playing
an integral part in these customs.
ANASTASIA
Jack, enough of the History lesson, let’s eat.
STRIKER
Interestingly
the WASHBURN VALLEY is also known for the activities of a group of women who
were accused of being witches in the 1600's.
ANASTASIA
laughing,
ANASTASIA
Oh
I knew that was coming!
STRIKER
The
Witch's Stone. This was the name given to a boulder with sloping upper surface
of the rock had a line of 24 cup marks and this surface had also become highly
polished due to the practice of barren women sliding down the slope in the
hope
that they would become mothers.
ANASTASIA
(ANASTASIA quips)
Yeah
I know and now we have vibrators so we don’t need to do that anymore!
They
have found a beautiful knoll near a large rock to spread out the quilt and
place the contents of the picnic basket. STRIKER pops open the wine, ANASTASIA
hands him a sandwich. As STRIKER is munching his sandwich he notices ANASTASIA
is very close to one of the fertility stones.
STRIKER
You
better be careful my dear that rock you're laying on is the, Fertility Rock.
ANASTASIA
Honey
it will take more than a rock to light my fire, it was extinguished when I lost
my last boyfriend.
ANASTASIA
is seen laying against the large rock that looks like a small monument. She’s
finished her sandwich and polished off her second glass of wine.
The
expression on her face shows some kind of passion running through her body like
a fire stream and a beautiful expression comes across her face.
She
opens her eyes and is watching STRIKER babbling on about the fertility stone.
She’s reached a defining moment in her war with the loss of her late boyfriend
Richard and she feels maybe it’s time to let go of it.
She
glances at STRIKER and his lips are moving but she hears nothing. She feels
good all over and she feels totally at peace with herself. God she feels like
screaming at the top of her lungs, Oh god I feel so good and I’m finally at
peace with myself.
STRIKER
stops babbling on for a minute and looks at her and it’s like a rainbow has
come over her and the pot of gold is close by. Her hair is golden, her eyes
blue and her cheeks are pink like ripe peaches and her lips are full and wet.
Her
lips are so full they look like they want to be kissed. She closes her eyes and
smiles and rubs her open hands down her tight riding britches finding every
nook and cranny on her body. She is perspiring profusely and starts fanning
herself with a magazine.
She
opens her eyes and looking at STRIKER she appears hypnotized. Quietly he speaks
to her,
STRIKER
ANASTASIA
are you ok?
ANASTASIA
is laying there in a stupor so he walks up and gets very close to her and sees
she has shallow breathing and is perspiring. Touching
her
hand she blinks her yes and speaks to him.
ANASTASIA
Jack
honey I want you to make love to me, right here and now.
STRIKER
taken by total surprise is aghast with delight like a young boy with a new toy.
STRIKER
ANASTASIA
we’re in plain sight of the whole world here, why don’t we go back to the Inn
then we’ll have more privacy.
ANASTASIA
It’s
either now or never!
She
starts to remove her riding boots and is having trouble. He helps her with her
boots, once removed
she
unzips her riding britches and pulls them off.
She
removes her blouse and bra. Laying there she
looks
like a goddess ready to take on the world.
ANASTASIA
Come
to me Richard, please come to me!
Disappointed
he bleats like a small sheep,
STRIKER
ANASTASIA
I’m Jack not Richard!
He
lays down next to her and takes her in his arms giving her a very passionate
kiss. She
opens her eyes,
ANASTASIA
I’m sorry I called you Richard, but please make mad passionate love to
me!
She slightly remembers
his words, ANASTASIA this
is a Fertility Stone. STRIKER is kissing her
and his right hand is
holding her beautiful bare shoulder as she reaches around his neck
with her hand and locks
in his kiss.
Again ANASTASIA drifts into the words from STRIKER,
In the past, customs related specifically to promoting fertility in
people playing a part in these customs.
As
they are laying there making love STRIKER’S
mind
goes to the worship of her beautiful body.
STRIKER
(Thinking about it)
ANASTASIA,
you are my goddess and I am your mortal!
The
response from ANASTASIA is breathtaking.
His mind
starts to wander again back to
the purpose
of the stone.
STRIKER
(Thinking about it)
The rights
of the owner are already completely sacrificed, his property being held in
contravention of the statues of delegated possession, is held in a new lovers
lips.
They climax
at the same moment in time and a strong connection is made between the soul of
the goddess
and the soul
of the poor foolish mortal!
Already
the sudden storm is passing to the west but it’s heading for the lovers, and
its fierceness is showing itself in steady winds.
The
sky is beginning to redden over the moors.
The
rain has started and even though it’s warm the lovers are being drenched. They
quickly dress, collect heir goods and start back to
the
Inn.
EXT: THE
HIGHLANDS MOORS INN DAY
ANASTASIA
and STRIKER are sitting at a quaint table and are looking at the menu. She
looks up at STRIKER clears her throat and mumbles,
ANASTASIA
What
happened back there on the moors on the fertility rock was just an anomaly,
nothing more nothing less.
STRIKER
scratches off a piece of marmalade stuck to the pages and mumbles back,
STRIKER
I
wouldn't say that.
The
waitress shows up and they order.
She
turns the page and mumbles to herself,
ANASTASIA
Let's
see Kidney and Mushroom Pie, Mushroom Morney and
Filled Jacket Potatoe and hot tea.
With
a sorrowful face STRIKER orders,
STRIKER
Fresh
Melon Fan with Strawberry Coullis and hot tea. Double
Glenfiddich on the side.
ANASTASIA
drinks some water and looking at STRIKER, breaks the silence,
ANASTASIA
I
didn't mean for it to sound like what we had back there was nothing, what I was
trying to say was that it was a short term thing, you know a defining moment.
STRIKER
takes a long drink of water,
STRIKER
It
was a wonderful moment for me so please don't shoot it in the leg, because it
meant a lot to me.
ANASTASIA
I
think I better just shut up.
STRIKER
Look
if your worried about a rematch and are just trying in a nice way to say no,
forget it, it's bad enough you called me Richard without rubbing it in, that it
just wasn't a good thing.
The
waitress brings the hot tea and crackers, and STRIKER'S whisky.
He
looks up at ANASTASIA and asks,
STRIKER
What
are the sleeping arrangements tonight?
ANASTASIA
Where
do you want to sleep?
Sheepishly
he says,
STRIKER
With you.
ANASTASIA
You
may sleep with me on one condition, no hanky panky.
STRIKER
No
problem.
The
waitress shows up with their food and they act like two hungry lovers.
EXT:
BED AND BREAKFAST
INT: BEDROOM
STRIKER
and ANASTASIA are seen reading in bed when he opens a conversation.
STRIKER
Would
you like to hear the rest of the old witches tales?
Before
she can answer a very loud noise is heard outside like a low flying shuttle and
the entire window is illuminated by a bright light then
an
explosion.
STRIKER
jumps out of bed and runs to the window,
STRIKER
Look
at this ANASTASIA, a meteor shower!
He
runs to the door and goes outside. She follows him and they're seen standing
outside of the cottage looking into the sky.
The
sky is filled with bright trails of small meteors in a luminous light show.
STRIKER
Some
of these babies are pretty big, maybe even 5 to ten centimeters!
ANASTASIA
yells,
ANASTASIA
Is
there any chance our cottage could be hit tonight while we're sleeping?
STRIKER
I
guess we could sleep under our bed, if you want, ANASTASIA.
ANASTASIA
replies,
ANASTASIA
Let
me think about it.
EXT: THE
HIGHLANDS MOORS DAY
The
sun comes up on the North Highlands Moors 600 square miles of OPEN MOORLAND and
upland valleys.
ANASTASIA
and STRIKER decided they needed to get away from all the stress that is going
on in their lives. It’s almost noon and
the sun is out for the first time today.
They decided it would be a wonderful day to take a ride to the beautiful
countryside where they had gone before, where the passionate love making
occurred. This time though not the exact
same place, but something like it, but even more exotic and even more romantic
and very private.
ANASTASIA
wanted to wear something sexy for STRIKER, but at the same time be very casual.
She’s wearing a long white spring dress with small pearl buttons along the
entire front of the dress, no bra, a white lace thong, and white leather
sandals. She’s wearing her hair up in a
clip that completes the whole sexy casual look.
They
have packed a lunch basket, with wine, cheese, meat and crackers, a blanket and
a CD player.
They
have found the perfect getaway, up on a hill-top that overlooks everything.
They get out of their Land Rover and walk along a small trail on a hill covered
with blooming heather and a small running brook.
They
decided to follow the stream for a while in hopes they would come to a small
piece of paradise, where they can be together in a hot steamy, romantic love
affair.
They
soon reached a nook in the rolling hills and discover a beautiful hot spring
pool. How lucky they are to have found
such a private place, with no one in sight for miles.
They
become like small children playing, chasing each other through the heather and
over the river rocks.
ANASTASIA
slips on one of the small wet rocks and falls into the Hot Springs pool with
STRIKER falling in right behind her. At that moment ANASTASIA gazes deep into
HIS eyes.
He
looks at her wet body, the long white dress is tuck to her body like a wet “T”
shirt. Her breasts and dark nipples are screaming through the dress in one
quick moment of ecstasy.
Her
lips are soft and wet with spring water dripping from them.
Her
eyes are glowing with passion. He looks at her, as if saying “Oh my god” but
says nothing as he is stunned. His eyes become glazed and starts to unbutton
all the little white ivory buttons.
He
closes his eyes to make sure he’s not dreaming.
He
finishes unbuttoning all of the buttons and her dress falls in a small heap. He
starts to caress her breasts and the moment becomes so passionate they move
back up to the river rocks where he takes her.
The
sun is now starting to set and STRIKER
Wakes
up from an afternoon nap and sees she is still asleep on the wet grass in the
shade of the small trees. She opens her eyes and looks at him.
ANASTASIA
You
talk in your sleep.
STRIKER
is taken off guard and a worrisome look goes across his face. He clears his
throat and picks something from his teeth.
STRIKER
What did I say?
ANASTASIA
sips some of her tea and like a Fox and Hounds very carefully sets here trap.
ANASTASIA
I
believe you told me you secretly want to marry me!
STRIKER
What
is that suppose to mean?
ANASTASIA
Did
I stutter?
STRIKER
I
lie a lot when I talk in my sleep.
ANASTASIA
What
ever.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
After taking a fractured breath, he forced a smile and said,
MARCY
I
love you, Anastasia. Let’s go home.
EXT: ANASTASIAS COTTAGE
ANASTASIA
and STRIKER are looking out the large window in the cottage and the dawn is
just breaking.
ANASTASIA
If
I had to guess what Heaven looks like I would say this is it, it's
indescribable!
The ceremony
takes place as they open the
atmosphere
and return to Earth to rebuild what was lost.
At the
ceremony, Striker and Annastasia kiss and
she tells him
she wants children of her own.
They live happily
ever after.
FADE OUT