Short screenplay from the Done Deal "End Of Summer" contest.
"The Enemy"
FADE IN:
EXT. EMPTY DESERT - NIGHT
A sea of sand dunes, lit by moonlight and stars.
EXT. BUNKER ENTRANCE - NIGHT
A waist-high concrete and steel hatch is guarded by TWO
ARMED MEN wearing combat suits, helmets and goggles.
They stand perfectly still except for their heads which
turn from left to right and back again, scanning 180
degrees. An electronic BEEPING comes from each man.
FROM OUT OF THE NIGHT SKY - a whooshing blur of paraglider
wings. Black-clad COMMANDOS open fire with SILENCED
PISTOLS. The Guards topple like felled trees. The BEEPING
stops.
The Commandos release their gliders and run to the bunker
hatch. One slaps on an explosive charge. They duck and
cover their ears. BLAM! They leap up through the smoke,
wrench the blown hatch open and drop down inside.
TWO HUMVEES zoom over the dunes and skid to a stop at the
bunker hatch. COMMANDOS and CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS swarm
out. The Commandos guide the Techs down through the hatch.
Among the Techs, PROFESSOR FINCH, 60s.
One of the dead Guards has lost his helmet and his goggles
sit askew, revealing METALLIC SKIN and INFRA RED SENSORS
instead of human eyes.
INT. DOOR-LINED CORRIDOR - NIGHT
The Commandos engage goggle-wearing GUARDS in a blazing
shootout. The Guards go down! The Commandos sprint along
the smoke-filled hallway.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
Filled with technology and monitor screens. Goggle-wearing,
beeping OPERATORS sit at control consoles.
The door CRASHES open, the Commandos rush inside and SHOOT
the Operators as they rise out of their seats. The last
Operator slumps in its seat, its BEEPING grows weaker and
weaker like a failing heartbeat... and stops.
A Commando tears off his mask revealing a sweatstained,
chiseled face. MAJOR JOHN RAWLINS kicks the dead Operator
out of its seat and sneers with contempt.
------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
RAWLINS
Listen up! Let's rig this place
to blow. Sixty second fuses.
Hipe!
His men prepare explosive charges and electronic timers.
FINCH (O.S.)
Stop, Major!
Finch and his Techs enter. Rawlins watches as the Techs
swarm over the control consoles. A Tech checks a console
and NODS to Finch.
FINCH (CONT'D)
Bad, very bad. The time matrix
has already been used.
RAWLINS
Well, that just f-cks everything
all to hell, don't it?
TIME DISSOLVE:
Rawlins, Finch and a Tech hunch over a MONITOR that shows
a timeline of historical events spanning centuries.
FINCH
History is littered with Nexus
Points, Major. They pose a series
of "what if?" questions. What if
someone went back in time to
Nineteen-Thirty and gave the Nazis
plans for an atom bomb? What if
someone introduced the concept of
steam-driven vehicles to Napoleon
so he conquered Europe and set up
an Empire that spanned centuries?
One little push in the wrong
direction at a crucial instant, at
one of the Nexus Points, and the
development of the human race is
forever changed.
RAWLINS
Thanks for the lecture, Professor.
How about cutting the sh-t and
telling me where those Goddamn
robots are?
FINCH
The Meks are much more than robots,
Major. They are cleverer than
their designers ever dreamed. One
might almost say they are a new
life form, an admirable,
superintelligent breed of being--
------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
Rawlins grabs Finch and growls into his face:
RAWLINS
They're a bunch of murdering
machines. They've killed tens of
thousands of innocent people,
including their designers. My
mission is to hunt them down and
destroy them, not give them a round
of applause. So keep your Goddamn
opinions to yourself and help me
find them. Clear?
FINCH
Ironic, isn't it, that we must
employ a killer to stop other
killers?
Rawlins's angry snarl is interrupted by a COMMANDO.
COMMANDO
Something you should see, Major.
RAWLINS
(to Tech)
Keep searching. Call me as soon
as you find them.
INT. DARK STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT
Light floods inside as a door opens. Rawlins and the
Commando look in. The room is filled with racks of
clothing.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT
The Commando reaches into the room and pulls out a uniform.
It's a blue Union Army jacket with a leather belt and a
big brass buckle, plus matching pants, circa early 1860s.
COMMANDO
You watching, Major?
The Commando twists the belt buckle. THE UNIFORM CHANGES
FROM UNION BLUE TO CONFEDERATE GRAY.
RAWLINS
What the hell?
COMMANDO
Some kind of molecular polarization
field. The buckle's a miniature
generator. Our instruments picked
them up right away.
He twists the buckle, the uniform turns back to Union Blue.
------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
COMMANDO (CONT'D)
That's not all, Major.
He pulls out a musket of the period. He gives this to
Rawlins who takes aim and pulls the trigger. A BOLT OF
LIGHT flashes and PUNCHES A SMOKING HOLE in the far wall.
COMMANDO (CONT'D)
Pulse laser, Major, disguised as
an antique. There's plenty of
'em, and revolvers, too.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
Rawlins, Finch and the Tech peer at the monitor.
THE MONITOR shows details of The Civil War, 1861-1865.
The political leaders. The legendary generals. The dates
and places of major battles that have passed into history.
RAWLINS
Show us the tachyon scan results.
THE MONITOR shows a map of Virginia, with Richmond and
other towns labeled. Dotted all over the map are RED SPOTS,
many clustered together in and around towns, some in smaller
groups, some individuals.
RAWLINS (CONT'D)
How many?
TECH
Must be a hundred... maybe more.
RAWLINS
That explains why we got in here
so easy. Just a handful left behind
to operate the time matrix.
FINCH
How do we bring them back?
RAWLINS
We don't.
INT. TIME MATRIX - NIGHT
An empty room with swirling patterns etched upon the floor,
walls and ceiling, like a giant psychedelic hypnotic disc.
Finch examines the patterns curiously. Two Techs man a
control console behind a shielded panel.
RAWLINS (O.S.)
Doesn't look like much, does it?
------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
Rawlins enters wearing a Union captain's uniform and hat.
He adjusts his belt and holster, and slings a musket over
his shoulder.
FINCH
We've been trying to build a time
machine for decades, without
success. The Meks made it work.
RAWLINS
Bully for them. Let's fire her up
and see what happens.
Finch nods to the Techs. The lights dim and the swirling
patterns glow.
FINCH
Are you sure you want to go through
with this?
RAWLINS
Someone's got to go back and find
out what those monsters are up to.
And figure how we can stop them.
FINCH
There are certain risks you should
be made aware of...
RAWLINS
Go ahead, make my day.
FINCH
We don't have the precise space-
time coordinates the Meks used.
You and your men have, ah, robbed
us of the opportunity to retrieve
the data, thanks to your excellent
shooting.
RAWLINS
Sorry for the inconvenience.
FINCH
We can put you within a day or two
of the last Mek displacement. And
probably within a ten mile radius.
RAWLINS
Gets better and better. OK, it'll
have to do. Give me twenty-four
hours, then reverse the feed. If
I can't make it back I'll try to
send a message instead.
FINCH
And if the worst happens?
------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
RAWLINS
Pick a name out of a hat, give him
a uniform and send him on his way.
Finch moves behind the shielded panel.
Rawlins takes a deep breath and walks forward.
A BLINDING FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT.
EXT. FARMYARD - DAY
Rawlins staggers out of a barn, covered in straw. He
brushes himself down -- and finds himself staring into the
barrel of a shotgun held by a grim young woman of 22,
ELIZABETH.
ELIZABETH
Drop your guns, mister. I swear
I'll blow you in two.
Rawlins shrugs off his musket, throws away his revolver.
RAWLINS
I don't mean you any harm, lady.
HOOFBEATS warn of approaching RIDERS.
ELIZABETH
Get inside.
She gestures toward the farmhouse, a modest shack with a
slanted roof. She picks up his musket and revolver and
follows Rawlins inside.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
She hides his weapons and her shotgun behind a wood pile.
ELIZABETH
You better hide, mister.
EXT. FARMYARD - DAY
FOUR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS ride up. Two dismount, one checks
the barn, another heads for the house. The mounted pair
move their heads from left to right, scanning 180 degrees.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
The Confederate Soldier enters and stares at Elizabeth who
is alone. She trembles, unnerved by the Soldier's BEEPING.
The Soldier turns to leave -- but stops. He turns back.
------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
Rawlins erupts from under a trapdoor! He yanks the
Soldier's feet from under him, the Soldier SLAMS to the
floor. Rawlins jumps on him and TWISTS HIS HEAD OFF!
Elizabeth turns away.
EXT. FARMYARD - DAY
The headless body CRASHES through a window! The Soldiers
on horseback and the Soldier in the barn take aim but it's
a decoy! Rawlins steps through the door and SHOOTS them.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
Elizabeth watches, fascinated and scared, as Rawlins wires
gizmos into the Soldier's detached HEAD which sits on the
table, its eyes shut.
ELIZABETH
How come there's no blood?
RAWLINS
You ever see a steam locomotive?
ELIZABETH
Course I've seen a steam locomotive.
Kind of question is that?
Rawlins tears at the Head's "flesh" revealing metal beneath.
RAWLINS
This is just like a locomotive,
except it's made to look like a
man. And it uses a different kind
of steam.
Elizabeth shakes her head. But she's still fascinated.
ELIZABETH
They've been riding around for
days, hunting down Yankee soldiers.
Can't hardly sleep at night for
the screams.
Rawlins adjusts a gizmo -- the Head's EYES pop open and
look at him. Elizabeth GASPS.
RAWLINS
Welcome back. I've disabled your
radio link and your defense
protocols. Oh, and your obedience
subroutine is running again. Tell
me your plans.
------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
HEAD
Establish supply and communications
headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.
Replace Confederate officers with
Mek duplicates. Defeat Union forces
and win the war for the Confederacy.
RAWLINS
Who's in command? Who's your
leader?
HEAD
The Central Processor.
Elizabeth takes the shotgun from behind the wood pile.
RAWLINS
Central Processor, huh? And where
can I find this... gentleman?
The Head blinks rapidly, then looks suspiciously at Rawlins.
HEAD
Alert! Subversion in progress!
BOOM! Elizabeth blows the Head to Hell! Rawlins angrily
grabs the shotgun from her. Then he calms down.
RAWLINS
I guess he was done talking anyway.
ELIZABETH
They murdered my husband. Said he
was a Yankee. They just wouldn't
listen.
She turns away, sobbing. Rawlins picks up what's left of
the Head, picks up his weapons.
RAWLINS
I'll bury their bodies and set the
horses free.
She doesn't reply. Rawlins searches his pockets, finds
money, drops a wad of bills on the table. He heads for
the door.
ELIZABETH
I don't want your money.
RAWLINS
Just paying you for the window,
miss.
------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
EXT. CONFEDERATE CAMP PERIMETER - NIGHT
SENTRIES keep watch while the night sky is lit by cannon
flashes, complimented by distant THUNDER.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
A young Confederate DISPATCH RIDER gallops along. He slows
as a CONFEDERATE OFFICER steps out of the trees and holds
up his hand. It's Rawlins, his uniform now Confederate
gray.
DISPATCH RIDER
I got dispatches for the General.
RAWLINS
Is that so?
EXT. CONFEDERATE CAMP - NIGHT
A SENTRY leans on his musket and watches the fireworks.
He looks round as Rawlins rides in on the Dispatch Rider's
horse.
RAWLINS
Dispatches for the General.
The Sentry points the way. Rawlins studies the blazing
sky.
RAWLINS (CONT'D)
Them Yankees sure are taking a
licking tonight.
SENTRY
Yep. We'll be in Washington by
tomorrow, thanks to these new guns.
He pats his shiny musket affectionately. Rawlins rides
on.
EXT. CONFEDERATE COMMAND TENT - NIGHT
Rawlins dismounts and is stopped by more SENTRIES.
RAWLINS
Important dispatches for the
General.
The Sentries let him inside.
------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
INT. CONFEDERATE COMMAND TENT - NIGHT
THE GENERAL stands over a map table. Rawlins enters, draws
his revolver. The General emits a frantic BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.
Rawlins SHOOTS, a FLASH of laser light. The General falls
onto a cot and spasms. The BEEP-BEEP-BEEP continues.
Rawlins tears the General's coat open revealing a metal
chest panel, which he opens. Inside, a maze of complex
electronics around a gleaming silver basketball-size
"heart."
RAWLINS
Kinda figured a Central Processor
would need a big power source to
communicate with everyone.
Rawlins rips out cables and fiddles around inside. The
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP continues.
EXT. CONFEDERATE COMMAND TENT - NIGHT
The Sentries become nervous when several Confederate
OFFICERS come running toward the tent with their guns drawn.
EXT. CONFEDERATE CAMP PERIMETER - NIGHT
Rawlins gallops out of there fast.
EXT. CONFEDERATE COMMAND TENT - NIGHT
The Officers push the Sentries aside and enter the tent.
More OFFICERS come running out of the darkness, responding
to the General's BEEP-BEEP-BEEP distress signal.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Rawlins rides as if the hounds of Hell are on his tail.
INT. CONFEDERATE COMMAND TENT - NIGHT
The Officers crowd around the General. Hands open the
General's coat, his electronic guts are revealed. Lights
turn red. The BEEP-BEEP-BEEP becomes a CONTINUOUS SHRIEK.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
Behind Rawlins, A DAZZLING ORANGE LIGHT illuminates the
entire sky. Then a HURRICANE WIND throws him from his
terrified horse. A fiery mushroom cloud rises to blot out
the stars. Rawlins, lying face down, is oblivious.
------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
EXT. FARMYARD - NIGHT
The night sky pulses with bright orange light. Winds HOWL.
Rawlins staggers toward the barn and lurches inside.
A BLINDING FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT.
EXT. BLIZZARD - DAY
Rawlins looks around, confused. Where the hell is he?
By sheer luck he stumbles upon the snow-covered bunker
hatch.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Finch sits huddled inside a fur-trimmed parka, asleep.
Rawlins shakes him. Finch wakes up with a start.
FINCH
Major. Major Rawlins. Thank God.
RAWLINS
What's happened? Where is everyone?
FINCH
Gone. As soon as they passed
outside the time matrix's energy
field, they ceased to exist. When
they understood what had happened...
they choose to leave. I stayed in
case you returned.
Rawlins shakes his head, he didn't understand a word.
FINCH (CONT'D)
A clever stratagem, Major. Destroy
the leader and the Mek plan fails.
What you could not have foreseen
are the consequences of your
actions. Each Mek is powered by a
nuclear generator. There wasn't
just one explosion... there were
hundreds. A progressive chain
reaction. Growing exponentially.
Blasting billions of tons of debris
into the atmosphere. Creating the
world above. A nuclear winter.
The end of all life.
Realization hits Rawlins hard. He slumps into a chair.
------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
FINCH (CONT'D)
Not your fault, of course. You
did what you thought was best.
(a beat)
Shall we try to fix it?
Rawlins looks up, his disbelief meets Finch's smile.
FINCH (CONT'D)
It may have escaped your notice,
Major, but we have a time machine
at our disposal.
INT. TIME MATRIX - DAY
The lights dim and the time matrix's swirling patterns
glow.
FINCH
I've moved the clock back twenty-
four hours. You'll try your very
best this time, won't you, Major?
Rawlins nods. They share a smile. Rawlins walks forward.
A BLINDING FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT.
FADE OUT:
09/05
§