Part 10

[trey]

Updates will continue to be sporadic until the school year's over. Anyway:

DESERT-ISH LANDSCAPE – SUNSET

The helicopter is parked in the middle of a large patch of desert. It is clear that it is far away from any visible civilization. Rashad and Vanessa are talking together away from the copter while Alex, Tariq, Eli and Vincent hang around the copter, bored. Eli is holding a large machine gun.

TARIQ
Whaddya think, they got this figured out?

VINCENT
I just hope we get to eat soon.

TARIQ
Well, it’s a pretty dumbass move to smoke on an empty stomach.

VINCENT
fuck you. (lights up a cigarette)

ELI
Tariq, why don’t you go find my boombox and bring it out here?

TARIQ
(nervously) Can’t you get it?

ELI
I’m keeping watch.

TARIQ
Then why not ask Rob or Vince?

ELI
Because I’m asking you.

Tariq goes into the helicopter, trying not to look too defiant. Rashad and Vanessa walk over to the group.

RASHAD
That was Thompson on the phone. We strayed a bit too far from the course. We can cover the gas, but it’ll cost a meal for about three of us.

VINCENT
Uh huh. So who gets the short straws?

RASHAD
No one. (thrusts a revolver at Eli) Would you be willing to grab us some extra money.

Eli puts down the machine gun and takes the revolver.

ELI
(somewhat bitterly) Like I have a say.

Eli walks away.

RASHAD
(to Eli) Wait! (turns to Alex) Robert, do you have interest in helping out?

ALEX
(unsure) I guess…. Won’t I need a gun?

RASHAD
Not if Eli does it right.

Alex walks over to Eli and the two make begin walking away from the helicopter. They walk for a while, as Eli remains silent.

ALEX
Seems a bit petty, this sort of thing, yeah?

ELI
Sorry?

ALEX
The extra cash, I assume we’re robbing at gunpoint? Although I’m not sure why Rashad told me to come, I mean it’s-

ELI
Well, you’ll probably be bait.

ALEX
(laughs nervously) Sure…

ELI
No, you will be, but not in whatever way Tariq may have been implying. You lie down on the side of the road and we wait until a car stops. Then we take all their money, pop the tires and leave them on the side of the road.

ALEX
Huh.

ELI
Yeah.

ALEX
Still, I dunno you don’t think it sounds petty?

ELI
What?

ALEX
I mean, we have a helicopter full of machine guns, we’re going to go bomb a power plant…

ELI
We’re not bombing the plant, we’re just shutting it down.

ALEX
(discomfited) Yeah, sorry. It just feels odd that we’re resorting to drive by robberies.

ELI
So because we’re willing to kill thousands of people, it ruins our reputation to do highway robbery?

ALEX
(looks uneasy) Well, I guess it goes against the whole idea of punishing people messing with the earth, yeah?

ELI
In the Humanitarian’s eyes, all you have to do exist and you’re taking from the earth. And you deserve to die.

ALEX
And what about us?

ELI
Well, we’re fine. Cause you know us, we see “the big picture”. (he says this like he doesn’t believe it)

Alex looks at Eli silently. Eli looks off into the distance, Alex follows his gaze and they see a barren road. Eli pulls out a large knife from under his leg. Alex flinches until Eli throws him a bag filled with red fluid.

ELI
Here. Take off your shirt so they can see it better. And save some to spread around you when you lay down.

The two begin walking towards the road.

ALEX
So, how did you join?

ELI
Doesn’t matter. I’m here aren’t I?

ALEX
Yeah, I know, just conversation.

They keep walking until they get to the road. Alex takes off his shirt and lies down on the road. Eli breaks open the pack of fake blood with the knife and spreads some on Alex’s chest and by the side of the road.

ALEX
Hey, how will they think I got injured? I mean, it’s not as if we could have gotten into a car wreck.

ELI
Hopefully they won’t think about that until we have their money.

ALEX
Mmmmm.

They wait for a long stretch of time. Suddenly a car comes into the distance. Eli walks out into the middle of the road and spreads his arms, trying to get the car to stop. The car comes close to Alex and Eli before swerving out of the way (and nearly going off the road) to drive around them.

ELI
Goddammit.

Eli pulls out the handgun and fires several shots at the back tires. The car is stopped and Eli begins to march towards the car.

ELI
(to Alex) Stay down!

CUT TO

INT – CAR
A family is sitting inside the car. The father sees Eli coming through the rear view mirror. His wife is in near hysterics as she is rushing the husband to call 911. Two small children are in the back seat yelling incomprehensibly.

CUT TO

EXT. – HELICOPTER – SEVERAL MINUTES LATER

Rashad, Tariq, Vanessa, and Vincent are standing around the helicopter bored, Tariq and Vincent holding machine guns. Alex and Eli can be seen coming in the distance. Eli’s front in nearly soaked in blood while Alex has wiped much of the fake blood off his chest with his undershirt. Eli holds up a wallet in a defeated manner. Vincent and Tariq give excited looks.

[trey]

I suppose I'll continue this, although I've been getting lazier despite all the free time. Well, I guess this is one week not wasted.

INT. - STRIP MALL – ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER

Alex, Eli, Tariq, and Vincent are inside of a strip mall ordering food from a Subway-style restaurant. They are drawing a bit of stares from the amount of food ordered (enough for at least two days of three full meals for six people), Tariq’s ethnicity, and Eli’s bodybuilder frame. Alex and Eli being American are in charge with ordering the food (and can be heard in the background indistinctly) while Tariq and Vincent stand behind them looking at the consumers in the mall. They see obese children, unruly teenagers (one quickly shoplifts from an adjacent store), overly tanned women holding far too may bags of clothes, lazy guards, and other stereotypical examples of bad American values. The two smirk and make snide comments under their breath until Alex and Eli hand them each a pile of sandwiches and bottled water to take back.

EXT. – WOODS NEAR PLAZA – SEVERAL MINUTES LATER

The three men and Vincent are walking across the parking lot of the mall into some neighboring woods that will continue to get thicker until they make it to the helicopter. After a few paces of silent walking, Vincent looks behind at the mall (barely visible through the trees).

VINCENT
‘Kay Eli, looks like we’re clear to whip ‘em out.

ELI
I’m holding too much food, I’m sure we won’t come across anybody.

VINCENT
Hang on. (Puts sandwich bags from one hand in mouth and pulls out a handgun from a holster under his shirt) There we go.

TARIQ
Here Eli, I’ll take your gun (manages to grab gun from under Eli’s coat without dropping sandwich bags). Ah! Got it. You know that rent-a-cop from the front did not take his fucking eye off me the whole time.

ELI
(flatly) I’m shocked. If only he knew the real you.

TARIQ
fuck you Eli. (This seems to go ignored by everyone)

VINCENT
I’m so glad that Rashad decided to land us in Buttfuck New Mexico. Holy shit. I’m not ashamed to say some of those slugs in the food court were making me nauseous.

TARIQ
It’s gross, it really is. And to think, this forest will probably be a neighboring center in a few years.

ALEX
Yeah….

ELI
Cause all Americans are fat just like all Frenchmen are cowards and all Middle Easterns are suicide bombers.

VINCENT
Well Frederick, yeah (winks at Alex). But c’mon, I’ve been to America before and this isn’t the worst I’ve seen. And everything in that fucking building was money peddling sex, filth, and the big wheel of consumerism.

ELI
We were in a fucking sandwich shop.

VINCENT
Can’t you just wait to see them once the plant shuts down? (mocking) I mean what will they do without their microwaves, and their nighttime sitcoms and Internet porn? It’ll be like cutting the head off a chicken.

Tariq grins cruelly. Eli and Alex don’t say anything because while they do show some resentment for the “American” lifestyle, they still hold human life in a bit more value.

TARIQ
Though, I did hear that most of Pennsylvania will be swept by Carter and Sadie, so maybe they won’t have to worry too long.

VINCENT
(smile wanes a bit) Heh, yeah. Fuckers….

The four walk along a bit. Tariq starts to eat one of his sandwiches.

TARIQ
So, what are you all doing once we make it back to headquarters?

ELI
‘Cause you’ll still be under the Humanitarian’s warning list, right?

Tariq throws down his sandwiches and strikes Eli in the face with his handgun.

TARIQ
Shut up. Shut up, shut up, shut your goddamn cockhole cockhole cockhole mouth. We didn’t all have the goddamn cockhole cockhole cockhole cushy life in the States like you did. Some of us had to work our way up from the streets any way we could. If a militia group was our ticket out of starving in the gutters, believe me you would have taken it too. And why are you going off on such morals all of a sudden. Rob, Eli has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 900 people since he joined. And believe me, either I or Rashad can back up any of those. I know this world makes you as sick as the rest of us. A world where sometimes people like me have to choose between hunger or murder. You’re such suburban Yankee trash, you know that?

Eli, his forehead gashed, stares at Tariq loathingly. He just turns and keeps walking in the helicopter’s direction. Alex, Vincent, and Tariq just stand where they stopped.

VINCENT
Knock that shit off, Tariq.

TARIQ
(indignant) fuck him seriously.

VINCENT
You know he’s been on retainer way longer than you. And we have no guarantee his daughter won’t be a causality. In fact he won’t know unless they let him go. And that’s an if. (to Alex) This is all for your benefit, Robert. Sorry these two might get us all killed.

TARIQ
C’mon, let’s go. I don’t think I can finish this until I can put the rest down.

The three walk in Eli’s direction at a brisk pace until they start catching up to Eli. Eli pulls out a walkie-talkie.

ELI
(into walkie) Rashad, we’re like 100 feet from the site. I think. Don’t shoot us when we come out. Except Tariq.

RASHAD
(over walkie) Why Tariq?

ELI
(into walkie) Forget I said that, bad joke.

The other three are at a fair distance. Eli looks at them, his gash having gone untended and blood has covered his whole face. He gives a quick expressionless look at Tariq and continues walking.

ELI
Vincent, get in front and keep your weapon out. I dunno, it’ll make Rashad feel safe.

Vincent runs up in front of Eli and keeps going through the woods. After a few paces he comes across a torn piece of cloth tied to a tree.

VINCENT
(softly) ‘Kay. (yelling) Marco!

RASHAD (O.S.)
(beat) Polo!

VINCENT
We’re coming, don’t worry, Tariq made sure we weren’t followed.

They walk into a clearing where Rashad and Vanessa are standing on either side of the copter, each holding machines guns.

ELI
You kids have fun while we were away?

RASHAD
What happened to your face?

ELI
Tripped. Doesn’t matter, but we did get the food….

Alex walks to the other side of the copter where Vanessa is still keeping watch. He then notices on the edge of a clearing a jeep with two dead park rangers in the front.

ALEX
(to Vanessa) What happened….?

RASHAD
(cutting off Vanessa) Some people came and we stopped them. Well Vanessa did.

Vanessa smiles shyly.

VANESSA
Well, whatddya say, get the cooler packed?

RASHAD
Well, we’re making good time as it is. Just lemme stitch up Eli and we’ll be good to go.

Alex stares at the jeep with the two rangers before getting into the copter.

[trey]

So it seems at this point my main goal to is just finish this script; or very rough outline as it would be since the basic idea is something I don't have the means to research (that is environmental terrorism). I probably should have done something that I would be more comfortable with (like something in a high school setting) but whatever, I'll just try to finish this one.

EXT- HELICOPTER

Various shots of the five men in the helicopter as the day fades into night and back to day. Eli is listening to his stereo now with headphones (presumably at Vincent’s request) and looking out the window trying to look distracted. Vincent and Alex are listening to Tariq reading from a book of short stories and play cards. Vincent is still smoking. Rashad is also looking out the window looking grimly determined. He continually glances at a clipboard he’s holding in his hand, pausing every so often to read it. Eventually he falls asleep. In the morning, Vanessa is sleeping in the back as Rashad silently flies the copter. Everyone else is sleeping except Alex who stares out the window. He sees a picture-esque American suburb with well-dressed men and women getting into the cars for work while kids wait for the school bus. Alex whispers The Humanitarian’s words to himself.

ALEX (quietly)
Buildings will fall and civilizations collapse….. For we will be carved into the books as the liberators from humanity’s sins…..

Alex looks at the four sleeping next to him. He frowns determinedly.

HELICOPTER – EXT. – 12 HOURS LATER

The copter touches down in a large clearing in the middle of the woods. Tree stumps from loggers define the entire clearing which doesn’t even have the normal “forest sounds” that would generally accompany an area.

HELICOPTER – INT.

TARIQ
Are we here?

VINCENT
(semi-angrily) Holy fuck we better be here. My legs feel like brick.

RASHAD
(from inside cockpit) Yes, we’re here. But, let me and Eli go first; let me find the other three, alright?

Tariq grumbles in compliance. Vincent shushs him.

Rashad and Eli open the doors slowly and carefully walk into the clearing holding machine guns in front of them, Rashad in front, Eli in the back. From Alex’s point of view, he can see Rashad talk into a walkie. A few moments later, a tall statue-esque woman comes out from behind a small patch of trees connected to the rest of the forest. Rashad waltzes right up to her as Eli gestures to Alex, Vincent and Tariq.

TARIQ
Hot damn! (grabs a machine gun from the ceiling)

VINCENT
Rob, head on out. We have to get a few weapons. ‘Nessa, we’ll see you in a few hours. Keep her safe.

VANESSA
Alright. Take care of business you guys (smiles at Vincent).

Alex gets out and walks toward the Eli, Tariq and the woman. The three are huddled somewhat, blocking Alex from joining in their conversation.

ALEX
Hi.

Eli turns around and lets Alex into the group.

ALEX
(extends hand towards the woman) Hi, my name is Robert Phillips.

WOMAN
(shakes hand) Jaclyn Appiagyei. It’s nice to meet you, Robert. Rashad just told me you’re one of our newer recruits. So, why are you here?

ALEX
To bring about a better world.

JACLYN
(smiles) Good, you’re one of those psychos looking for some trigger time.

ALEX
No ma’am (they both laugh).

WOODS – EXT. – 30 MINUTES LATER

Rashad, Jaclyn, and two other group leaders (Tersavich and Marino) are standing in front of a different helicopter in a different clearing. Eli, Alex, Tariq, and Vincent are amongst a group of the other people from the other three groups, conversing and introducing themselves. The copter’s pilot and three of Jaclyn’s people are standing around each corner of the group holding machine guns. After a few moments, Jaclyn whistles shrilly the get everyone’s attention.

JACLYN
Woah, woah, alright. Settle down guys. I trust that you’ve all acquainted yourselves with everyone. For those that don’t know, my pilot, Angelo Petrillo, and three of my people, Ellay Thompson, Marion Kosinski, and Blake Mercer are guarding us. (points them out as she says this) I don’t think they can hear me, but that’s all right. And that’s okay, because what they know, all of you do not need to worry about. So, the Bradford Power Plant (points to a blueprint taped to the side of the copter) is our mission. Tunde’s expectations were to shut it down. Permanently. We have about 30 or 40 workers that don’t need to leave after we’re done, and as long as we work together, we’ll be in the sky before any police need to show up. Thanks to our fellow engineer Conrad Newman (she says this, Conrad smiles and nods at her) myself, Ellay, Marion, and Blake have a visitor’s pass to the plant. With Conrad as our guide, once we arrive, we should reach the turbine within 30 minutes. Marino’s team will be stationed outside to deter any outside interference, security all that bullshit. We’re going to blow it up and run like hell. (some scattered laughs) And that’s really it. I mean, there’s a reason we have this job.

TERSAVICH
Shoot ‘em and run, right?

JACLYN
M’yeah. Though We have Robert, who has joined us this week, and according to the rules he cannot hold a weapon. Sorry, Robert.

ALEX
No, it’s fine, I know.

JACLYN
So, we have a policeman’s uniform and we can have one of your teammates hold you hostage. You’ll have a gun, but it won’t be loaded. Oh, and your name is Mike Stacey.

Several people turn to look at Alex.

ALEX
Yeah, yeah that sounds cool.

RASHAD
Well have Tariq do it. Vincent’s a kid so I already doubt he’ll get shot at. And we need Eli on the front.

JACLYN
Alright. Well, I’ve given blueprints of the plant to each of your team leaders and be ready at 6 am tomorrow. We’ll be in the air in time for breakfast just as long as you know this plant by memory. Be forceful, be quick, and be merciless. These people have made their living pouring poison into our world. Don’t hold back.

The group disperses.

[trey]

Slowly, but surely, I progress.

EXT. – WOODS – NIGHT

Rashad’s helicopter rests in its spot in the forest. Rashad, Tariq and Vanessa are doing weapons and inventory check, Tariq can be heard talking loudly and obnoxiously. Some feet away Eli is sitting reading a book by a lamp while Vincent is standing over him, leaning nonchalantly against a tree. Alex is sitting even farther away, writing on a piece of paper information on code (unknown to the audience). Vincent leaves Eli and comes to sit by Alex.

VINCENT
Bobby! Or, Rob, sorry, you like Rob that’s it.

ALEX
It’s whatever. How you feeling Vincent?

VINCENT
Things are good, but I came over to see how you’re holding up. Got a lot riding on tomorrow.

ALEX
Mmm.

VINCENT
But I mean, you and Vanessa have the greatest shot at making it out. I just don’t want you to be nervous is all.

ALEX
What are we going to do with Tariq?

VINCENT
Sorry?

ALEX
Well, I mean I don’t want Eli doing-

VINCENT
Please, please don’t worry about Tariq. Tariq has always been an asshole, but he’ll deliver tomorrow, I promise. Eli’s not going to touch him.

ALEX
He seemed all right, he was the first guy I met, well on the boat.

VINCENT
I mean, it’s fine whatever. It’s really no big deal. The more he talks with you, the less he’ll feel the need to bother us. Uh, you wanna smoke?

ALEX
Nah. You’re really combating French stereotypes, aren’t you?

VINCENT
(laughs heartily) What can I say? My mother was a frog.

ALEX
(laughs heartily as well) Yeah…… By the way, when I first met Tariq, and uh asked him what it was you guys were doing…

VINCENT
Uh huh.

ALEX
Well, he said that your job, uh, our job was to tear down the world. He said, we have to kill a million Chinese to clean the air, we need to blow up buildings.

VINCENT
Sounds like Tariq was dreaming up his own genocide porn. Well, you heard Jackie and The Humanitarian and Rashad and those guys. But you know that we’re not killing these people because we want to. Or, because we like killing. Though Tariq might, I dunno, the sick fuck. It’s just that we have too much on this planet that we cannot support. I know that Jackie gets dramatic with the whole “pouring poison into the rivers” stuff. I guess that phrasing gets people like Tariq excited and people like Rashad angry. But, this is all about change. If this goes well, no matter how many people die, we’ll have brought our culture, all of humanity to a place that can be obtainable. There won’t be reports of food shortages, overpopulation, excessive pollution. But the only way we can fix it, the only feasible way is unfortunately killing off people. It’s not bad that people take up space and put out pollution and consume food. It’s just that we have so fucking many of them.

Alex sits there, passively.

VINCENT
It’s a hard thing to do, but it’s our future. And our children’s future, and yadda yadda that bullshit.

A long pause.

ALEX
So, after tomorrow, things are going to be different?

VINCENT
Oh, it’ll be one for the history books, I guarantee. It won’t last though, I think even the Humanitarian knows that. Once we break out with the firepower (mimes firing a machine gun) we only have so long before military finds us. Unless we really catch ‘em off guard.

He notices Alex’s worried face.

VINCENT
But our instructions are to make it back to base, and I’m an optimist.

He smiles at Alex.

VINCENT
Just be the best goddamn cockhole hostage, and leave it all to us. Even Fuckhead Tariq.

ALEX
Got it, got it.

VINCENT
Oh, and Mike.

Alex looks up too slowly.

VINCENT
Uh! Remember, that’s your new name. Good night, Mike, Rob, Danny, whatever the fuck your name is. (laughing)

ALEX
(now struggling to laugh) Alright, goodnight Vincent.

Vincent walks off. Alex continues to write down on his piece of paper and quickly conceals it before Rashad can notice him. Alex then crawls into his sleeping bag and watches as Tariq, Rashad and Vanessa slowly close up for the night. Before going to bed, Rashad talks to Eli unintelligibly and hands him a rifle, supposedly to be on night watch. Alex pretends to sleep as he watches Eli stand, disgruntled with his rifle. Eli shoots Alex a look as though he knows he isn’t sleeping and then starts to look up at the sky. Alex falls asleep.

[trey]

EXT. COAL PLANT – 6 AM

The coal plant is seen from a distance. It lies in a large section of vegetation free land, dusty and rocky with signs of habitat destruction. Beyond are a large patch of trees where two of the helicopters are hidden. Right next to the plant is a wide river, some miles beyond that, a city. Marino’s helicopter circles a short distance away. In front, Eli, Vincent, Rashad (all holding machine guns with ammo belts) and Alex in a security guard outfit stand, all in great distance from each other. Rashad is holding a cellphone as he is supposedly waiting for Appiagyei to call. The bodies of three dead security guards lie on the ground but are not shown immediately. Eli, sits on the ground, rubbing a blood smear with his boot. He looks off into the distance at an oil well. And “finger-guns” it, making barely audible “pachew” noises. Rashad looks off at the tress, presumably at Vanessa and Tariq’s location. Vincent and Alex are standing much closer to each other. Alex pulls out the gun from his holster and plays with it, though the gun is empty.

VINCENT
(notices gun) Oh, I didn’t see they gave you the gun. I don’t think you’ll be holding on to that for long, prisoner.

Alex points the gun at Vincent and pulls the trigger, making a clicking noise. Vincent makes a gurgling faux-death noise, but doesn’t laugh. Rashad looks at his cellphone and makes a call.

RASHAD
(into phone) Hello? (beat)Yeah. Still hasn’t called, huh? (beat) No, he hasn’t. (beat) Just figured I’d…. (beat) yeah? Well, if you keep going in circles, I’d imagine she would. Too bad you can’t make it like you’re rescuing a seal or something like that. (beat) Five minutes. (hangs up phone)

Alex, Vincent and Eli all look at Rashad. Rashad gives them a “well, what did you expect, we’re still out here” sort of look. Eli screws up his face and gets up, walking over to Rashad (stepping over one of the bodies). Then Rashad’s phone rings. He looks at the caller.

RASHAD
(energized) Alright, it’s her. Vincent, Rob, get up front. Alright, let’s do it!

Machine gun fire erupts from the other side of the coal plant as presumably the other team is firing at workers. Vincent grabs Alex’s hands, holds him in front like a human shield and forces him into the building, with Rashad close behind. Inside the plant, a worker runs towards them. Vincent pushes Alex’s head down and fires casually into the worker. A guard with a hand gun is not far behind.

VINCENT
Whoa, whoa! (jams a loaded gun into Alex’s temple) Don’t! Alright, you, put the gun down, hands on your head. (the guard obeys) Alright, don’t worry, we’re just shutting down the plant, sir.

RASHAD
(to Vincent) I have to go find her at the turbine room. (to Eli) C’mon. (the two run off)

Vincent is now alone with the guard and Alex. Vincent lingers too long at the two running off and the guard reaches for his gun. Alex ducks and Vincent whips back, and shoots the man in the head. However, his gun discharges and fires a shot into Vincent’s shoulder. Vincent falls back with surprise and pain.

VINCENT
fuck! Oh fuck!

Alex scrambles to get up. In the distance, machine gun fire is heard. Alex does a quick double take and runs out the way that they came, but realizing he still has no way out, turns around and trips over Vincent’s outstretched leg.

VINCENT
(yelling) Rob, what the fuck are you doing!

ALEX
Uh…. Help! I’m looking for help!

VINCENT
fuck that! Get us out of here! Vanessa has the copter out by now.

Alex seems to contemplate leaving Vincent when Holden, one of the Appiagyei’s people comes running towards them.

HOLDEN
Hey Vince, Rob, they’re down in the turbine room. They can’t find a way to shut it down, so we’re blowing it up.

VINCENT
The hell? They agreed on no explosives!

HOLDEN
If know how to turn this off, fine. But the supervisor just shot himself. We’re just blowing up the room, weren’t not turning the whole complex into a light show. (notices Vincent’s shoulder wound) Oh Jesus, c’mon. (to Alex) Get in front Rob.

Holden grabs Alex’s arms together and thrusts him forward. He then straps his machine gun to his back and grabs Vincent’s shoulder , marching the two of them out of the coal plant. They walk out into the blinding sunlight, craning their necks to see four helicopters circling around madly. Holden lets go of Alex and waves madly at the sky. Several others emerge from inside the plant as two of the copters lower down onto the ground. In the distance, three police speedboats approach with a bracing speed. Alex watches intensely as the other copters circle upwards and fire at the boats. Enough hit their target to stop them completely. This happens in a matter of seconds.

HOLDEN
(to Vincent) You gonna make it?

VINCENT
(sounding more confident than he did before) Of course I will.

One of the copters lands close to Holden, Vincent and Alex, Vanessa’s copter. Tariq runs out from the side.

TARIQ
(looking at Vincent’s shoulder) Boy, am I glad they let me stay up here.

VINCENT
(unfriendly) You’re an asshole.

Holden helps Vincent onto the copter while Alex watches more people running in the direction of the copters. Finally, Rashad, Appiagyei and two of Appiagyei’s people come running up. Vanessa clims out of the cockpit and runs towards Rashad.

VANESSA
How we doin’?

APPIAGYEI
We got it. We got the bomb in place, it’s about to go off in (drags out syllable) 20 seconds. (Vanessa nearly blurts out something, but Appiagyei stops her) No no no, look. (points to the smoke stacks)

After a few seconds (to which all of the people have made out to the copters) a low rumble is heard, signifying the explosion of the turbine room. The pollution coming out of the stacks gradually tapers off and then stops. Everyone cheers joyously.

[trey]

Hurm, after rereading that, I think I should spend this week on a rewrite.

[trey]

Inspiration has yet to strike on how to better write what I suppose would be my only action scene. Perhaps they're hard scenes to write. But, I did think of how to better handle one scene from way before when Alex gets on the helicopter and meets another new recruit named David Horelik. Or at least give me more to work with. Since I'm more or less just getting a first feel for this screenwriting business. The only thing is, this could seem too similar to Alex asking Tariq why he's a part of this organization and then Eli and then Vincent. But maybe it will give the overall feeling that these people have given up their free thinking to this idea of destroying civilization.

INT. – HELICOPTER

Alex crawls into the back of the helicopter. Sitting are two men carrying a passive conversation in Russian, Jean (the driver from the Monica kidnapping) listening to some music, and an outdoorsy looking man reading a paperback novel. Alex is able to sit by the outdoors man and one of the Russian men. Alex looks around at the inside of the copter, no one really noticing him. He finally glances over at the man’s book (which at this point is Tree of Smoke, but what the hell, I can change it for anything that may have more baring on the actual story).

ALEX
That good?

OUTDOORS MAN
Hmmm? (looks up) Oh! Yeah, it’s pretty good. You a fan of Denis Johnson?

ALEX
Oh, I’m not that much of a reader. (cuts self off) By the way, I’m Robert. Robert Phillips.

OUTDOORS MAN
David Horelik. I’m pretty green to this whole organization, got any pointers for a fresh face like me?

ALEX
(laughs lightly) I’m new too. Actually, I just joined a few days ago. Skinner (points to the cockpit where Skinner and Mr. Rocky can’t hear them at all) got me all checked in, I guess you could say.

DAVID
Interesting. One of my friends clued me, after we hadn’t spoken in like four years.

ALEX
Mm’yeah, but of the same for me.

(beat)

DAVID
Nervous? From what I hear, the leader has something huge planned. One for the history books.

ALEX
In all honesty, they’ve been pretty cryptic. Well not in a bad way, but Skinner says it will all make sense in a few days.

DAVID
I guess they don’t want us knowing too much, yeah? (small laugh)

ALEX
Heh, yeah.

DAVID
So what’s your story, what made you join?

ALEX
Boredom. (small laugh) No, I just had no direction and when a friend puts an opportunity like this in front of you, it’s hard to say no. Especially when you’re inches from being kicked out of the apartment. No, my life was in the gutters.

DAVID
And what, he said ‘Don’t miss out on the chance to become a terrorist?’

ALEX
Terrorist?

DAVID
Well, not really terrorists. Jean over there (motions to Jean) says nobody calls themselves terrorists. Ever, like it’s ugly to say that. But the last guy who got arrested, Michael something. They labeled him a terrorist, or Fox News would say “far left”. (Alex forces a smile) They may have actually said that.

ALEX
Well, I’m optimistic. I think I’m in the right place.

DAVID
Me too. I used to be a naturalist up in northern Maine, me and three of my friends from school would camp in this little region up my Moosehead Forest so study the ecology and keep things safe. Summers mostly, since it was so cold in the winter.

ALEX
Sounds pretty cool.

DAVID
It was, we would live off the land, sleep under the stars, the whole natural, getting back to Mother Nature shebang. But in all honesty, just living in nature, you really get a peaceful, ethereal feeling. Even with the danger. Everything is just so simple (David pauses) and I dunno, it’s hard to get nostalgic anymore.

ALEX
I take it things didn’t go so well.

DAVID
Well, we, the friends and I, did get into plenty of trouble. Sort of like our own little guerilla-environmentalism, but on a smaller scale. We’d strip off our clothes and scare hunters away, spook developers looking to bulldoze the land. Twice we got arrested. The first time was just from some asshole for trespassing even though we were just studying the plant life and that old fuck would throw parties that left tons of garbage in the forest. Second time we ripped apart a steam shovel that was tearing ass a few miles from our camp. Lots of bullshit with that state and eventually we couldn’t afford to run amuck of the law. I never blamed them, but I never quite kept in touch with those guys much. And that was seven years ago.

ALEX
Where’s the land now?

DAVID
It’s all neighborhoods. Bunch of fat fuckers in minivans and TV dinners. Our old campsite, that exact site is now a retirement community, land now set aside so our kind can die in comfort. Whatever it is they’re gonna have me do, I won’t be sorry.

ALEX
That’s…. that’s terrible.

DAVID
Yeah. It’s not fun. But, I’m glad I’m here. Civilization’s gonna get one swift kick in the balls once we’re done with them. Ya know?

Alex smiles confidently.

[trey]

After some consideration about the scene I should have rewritten, I may just let it stand for now, only because as short and rushed as it reads, I feel like that scene would be rushed and short. But it will definitely be looked at when I rewrite the entire thing (once it’s done) but I’ll just leave it for now. I think my next script will have no action at all, maybe a college story about foul-mouthed ruffians getting stoned and screwing. Continuing

EXT. COAL PLANT – SAME TIME AS LAST SCENE
The men and women celebrate over the accomplishment, with some cheering, kissing, whooping, and a few half-hearted exclamations of joy from the wounded. All appear are present. Alex stands a bit uncomfortably given his role in all of this. Suddenly, a large thunderous sound is heard. The people who had their backs to the city across the lake turn to see a building collapse. A few helicopters circle around the area like flies. The small distant shapes of police helicopters and more police boats emerging from the city towards the group are seen. The group leaders immediately spring to their feet and begin calling out to get everybody into the air.

RASHAD
Eli, Rob, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon! (gets into copter) Vanessa, you ready?

Vanessa doesn’t respond and starts up the copter. Alex leaps a bit when the copter lurches upwards and begins to fly across the lake towards the city.

ALEX
(suddenly panicked) Wait! I thought we were going back to-

His words are cut off by Tariq who fires quick machine gun fire into the police boats. Vincent with his injury, grabs a water bottle from a cooler under the seats.

RASHAD
What?!

ALEX
(yelling) I thought we were going back to headquarters! I thought we only had to shut down the plant!

A police helicopter explodes around him as one of the other copters fires a rocket into its cockpit.

TARIQ
(cutting off Rashad who now has a loaded machine gun) You see that bucket of clips behind you?

ALEX
Yeah!

TARIQ
Whenever one of us says ‘go’ you hand one, got it? That’s your job!

ALEX
(defeated) Got it!

Alex sits in one of the back seats with Vincent. Now he can only see Rashad, Tariq and Eli leaning outside the copter with their machine guns. He can also see enough of the outside to know that they are now in the city and flying very low. Vincent has finished his water.

VINCENT
(yelling over machine gun fire) Hey, I don’t mean to be an asshole, but can I have my knife back?!

Alex pauses, genuinely forgetting he had Vincent’s knife and then pulls it out of his pocket. He then watches, blank-faced as Vincent digs incredibly deep into his shoulder and flicks out the bullet with one clean stroke.

VINCENT
Fuuuuuuuuuaaaggghhhh!!! Ha ha ha ha (now laughing) ha! Ha ha ha!! You see?! Vincent DeMonte is bullet proof! Ho ha ha!

Fresh blood spurts out of the wound as Vincent tries to get up.

ELI
Go!

Alex sits stunned before handing Eli a clip in a stunned trance. Eli plugs it in and begins firing without any pause. (as the scene plays out, Eli, Tariq and Rashad continually ask for clips)

VINCENT
Hey! Hey! Eli, hey! HEY!!!

Eli turns around for the briefest of seconds.

ELI
(turns back) Sorry Vincent, that shoulder looks too inf-

A bullet ricochets off the top of the copter. Everyone jumps.

TARIQ
(pointing down) Fuckers, (fires an excessive amount of bullets into one direction) looks like a few cops survived the blast.

Eli whips his head back as if to avoid something, though Alex can see that he’s crying. Tariq turns and lets out a short cruel burst of laughter. Alex continues to sit in the back paralyzed with fear and awe as Vincent is leaning forward, trying to get a good view of the action. Alex grabs three clips from behind him and carefully crawls forward to get a look over Rashad’s shoulder.

Alex can see the city, with every third person dead on the sidewalk while others run in terror in tightly knitted, slow moving bunches. Another helicopter is seen in Alex’s POV with machine gun fire being heard audibly from the sides. For a few brief seconds, Alex can see a car run over a mob of people to get to safety. A few people run into buildings, others try to claw their way in as shop owners and security guards lock others out. Everything is dark given the recent power outage. Rashad then nudges Alex back.

RASHAD
Sorry.

TARIQ
Go!

Alex hands him a clip and moves cautiously back to his seat.

VINCENT
(suddenly looking grim) Christ, what a scene, huh?

ALEX
Mmmm. (trying not to look sick)

VINCENT
I don’t like it either, but they had it coming. Water? (offers up bottle, Alex shakes head)

Vincent looks around and spies Eli’s radio. He picks it up and starts fiddling with the dials until he gets to a station.

RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT
…. Has advised that this not a drill. The United States is under attack by an unknown terrorist threat. The U.S. Air Force has been deployed to strike in California and Washington where reports….

RASHAD
Wait! Wait! Wait! Hold up!

For a brief second, everyone stops firing. The sounds of machine gun fire, people screaming and small explosions are heard in the distance. Tariq looks at Rashad and begins firing into the crowds again.

RASHAD
Did they just say they deployed the air force?

VINCENT
Only to Washington and California so far, but I don’t think PA is anywhere on their route.

RASHAD
Shiiiiiit. Doesn’t matter. Nessa, radio Jackie, ask her if she received anything from General Tunde.

VANESSA
Yup (indistinct dialogue into radio)

Rashad picks up his machine gun and begins firing, now looking aggravated. Alex looks at Vincent, now with a pained look on his face. Alex just sits and takes it all in.

[trey]

I'm sort of thinking (in vain) of how I might end this particular scene, but I'm trying to get rid of too much exposition dialog and anything overly explanatory. But at least I now know how the whole thing will end.

EXT. – HELICOPTER
From outside, we see the city in peril. A dozen helicopters hang around the city like lazy bumblebees with machine gun fire erupting from their sides. Occasionally a grenade will be thrown resulting in a small, fiery explosion. The streets are reasonably deserted with dead bodies and crashed cars littering the streets. A few demolished buildings are present, mostly that of the police and fire department. Vanessa’s helicopter weaves in and out through the buildings, flying low so any stragglers can be picked off, before being seen traveling the direction of the forested area from where they came. A few of the helicopters travel in the other direction, towards even more urban areas.

INT. – HELICOPTER

Eli, Rashad, and Tariq are still leaning out the helicopter with their machine guns. They take sporadic shots, signifying they are running out of targets. Rashad finally steps back and starts to take apart his gun, the others follow suit. They all sit down, Eli grabbing a water bottle and swigging it down aggressively.

TARIQ
(after a long pause) Well, good job all. I’d say that was kick-ass.

Everyone acts like they didn’t hear him.

RASHAD
(after another long pause) Vanessa, hand me one of the phones.

Vanessa stretches to give Rashad a cellphone. Rashad dials a number as Alex strains his neck to see behind him. The fast receding city can still be seen, looking as untouched as ever. The sounds of a few explosions can be heard in the distance, like fireworks.

RASHAD
(heard in background) Mmm….. We’re heading towards the border…… Yeah….. Got it……. Alright, he did?
(generic conservation talk) Alright, bye.

ELI
What’s the deal?

RASHAD
We’re heading up past the border, and then we’re going to keep going north until we’re safe. Then on to headquarters.

Eli nods in agreement and begins wiping his face with a towel.

RASHAD
The Air Force is already getting our guys in California. And it worries me that the Japan and China squads won’t meet their quota in time.

Vincent and Tariq seem concerned. Alex and Eli look like they want to leap out of the copter any minute.

RASHAD
Alright, well we need to have a ballpark. There were 26 employees in the coal plant. (writes this down on a clipboard) I got four of them, Eli you got seven, and Vincent you got….?

VINCENT
Two. Also, Holden said that the supervisor killed himself.

RASHAD
Right. And I got about 140 in the city. Tariq?

TARIQ
I’d say about 175. I dunno, a few of the crowds I lost count.

RASHAD
Eli?

ELI
(balefully) Over 200.

RASHAD
I’ll just put that as 210. (makes some more scribbling on his paper)

TARIQ
No more stops before the end?

RASHAD
We’ll be passing over a few towns. Your choice, I suppose. It’s not as though any planes will be looking for us up there.

Tariq grabs his machine gun and steps towards the opening, looking down. Eli takes out his boombox and puts in a CD. The Beach Boys (or like music) are heard faintly. Vincent gives Alex a knowing look, like ‘well, this is it.’ Alex closes his eyes and falls asleep.

EXT. CANADA – 5 HOURS LATER

Vanessa lands the helicopter in the middle of a clearing. It is on top of a hill, with views of various cities visible from the corners of everyone’s eyes. Vanessa and the men lope out, Rashad, Vanessa and Tariq ducking into the woods to relieve themselves.

RASHAD
(before going into the woods) Twenty minutes!

Alex walks out, and tries walking around to regain feeling to his legs. Eli and Vincent both walk out carrying a few fast food sandwiches with them.

VINCENT
Rob, gotta piss?

ALEX
I will once I can stand up straight. (weak laugh)

VINCENT
Same here. Here, take one. (tosses a sandwich to Alex) I didn’t want to ask you this in front of Rashad, but what did you think of it?

ALEX
(long pause as Alex’s face threatens to break down) It….. well, I mean like you said, this isn’t what should have happened but…. It’ll bring good in the end (speech is fractured, as Alex doesn’t believe what he’s saying).

VINCENT
I’m thinking we start a rummy game, then our next stop at the shoreline we get a Texas Hold ‘Em game together. Eli will destroy you though, he’s the one that taught me. (to Eli) Right Eli?

Eli flexes his eyebrows at Vincent. They chew on the sandwiches for a few silent seconds. Tariq comes out of the woods and walks briskly towards the helicopter.

ELI
(to Tariq) The other two?

TARIQ
fucking maybe? I dunno, maybe Rashad fell in.

Eli rolls his eyes. Tariq joins the three of them.

ELI
Didja have fun today, Tariq?

TARIQ
(off-guard) Hmmm?

ELI
I mean, did you enjoy our trip to the city?

TARIQ
I don’t know. Why, did you?

Eli glares at Tariq.

ELI
I guess not.

Tariq nods mockingly.

TARIQ
Alright then, good talk. Good talk.

[trey]

Good Lord it has been a while since I updated this. Anyway, the story continues

Eli sits on a rock chewing away slowly at his food, looking out into the distance calmly. A small mouse scurries up to him and begins to eat some of the food he dropped. Eli looks down sadly at the mouse and puts his boot over it. Slowly, he brings his foot down on the unassuming mouse. Rashad has come out of the forest by now and is talking indistinctly over the radio. He walks out of the copter and stands in the middle of Tariq, Eli, Vincent and Alex.

RASHAD
I just got off the line with Jackie. Tunde apparently just issued a report saying he doesn’t want anyone near the eastern American coast.

VINCENT
You said we were gonna move across the Canadian border.

TARIQ
Wait, have they made it to Japan yet?

RASHAD
All he said was if we were still in the heartland to stay put for at least an hour. I guess there’s too much activity and we can’t have everyone moving if the Air Force is in the skies.

VINCENT
But what if they see….

RASHAD
We’ll move the copter, relax.

TARIQ
Well we can’t stay here anyway.

RASHAD
Why?

TARIQ
A few miles east there was a house in the middle of the woods. I think a road too, but the trees were pretty thick.

VANESSA
(appearing behind Rashad and making Rashad jump) Yeah, I saw it too. But that doesn’t mean anything right?

RASHAD
Well, it could give us some shelter if no one’s home.

ALEX
And if anyone’s home?

RASHAD
I don’t care.

Vincent mouths the word “pow”.

TARIQ
I’ll go check it out if you want.

ALEX
Yeah, I’ll go too.

Rashad looks uneasily at them.

RASHAD
(contemplating) Well, you can go, but only if-

VINCENT
I’ll go too.

RASHAD
Not in that condition (motions to Vincent’s shoulder)

VINCENT
Please, it’s only a flesh wound. (Everyone around him rolls their eyes. Eli mutters, “Goddammit.”) If it’s just walking, I don’t see the problem. Besides, they could have some more bandages since the one’s we have are getting pretty stiff.

RASHAD
How are your fingers?

VINCENT
(dramatically extends and wiggles fingers) Right as rain, Rashad.

Rashad hands him a handgun. Tariq still has a machine gun slung over his shoulder.

RASHAD
I want you guys back in an hour. Rob (hands Alex a walkie talkie) I want feedback every five minutes just in case we need to leave. And if you do not make it there within twenty minutes, turn back. Got it?

ALEX
Got it.

Tariq and Vincent chime in.

Tariq and Alex start to walk towards the woods while Rashad and Vanessa lope back to the copter. As Vincent starts to walk, Eli grabs him by his good shoulder.

ELI
(in French) Don’t let them out of your sight.

He lets go of Vincent and walks back.

TARIQ
(starts into a walk-run) C’mon!

Alex and Vincent walk behind Tariq, trying not to trip on any branches or undergrowth in the thick forest.

TARIQ
So, I saw you fell asleep, Rob. Big day, huh?

ALEX
Oh yeah, that’s what everyone’s been saying.

VINCENT
Well it’ll get better, don’t worry.

TARIQ
fucking Americans. Eli was such a bitch about it too.

Vincent gives Alex a look.

VINCENT
Where is this house exactly?

TARIQ
I dunno, east?

A sound in the distance like rolling thunder is heard.

TARIQ
Hoo-ah. fucking calvary’s on its way.

VINCENT
Yeah…..

The three walk through the forest for a while, the thunderous sounds persisting. They end up at a road where across the street is a large, two story house. To the side of the house is a large garden filled with not-yet ripened vegetables and a flowerbed. A bike haphazardly lies on the front lawn. The garage door is not open and no lights are on.

TARIQ
You want to go…?

VINCENT
Your find, Tariq.

The three walk across the street to the house (Alex looks both ways by instinct) and up to the front door. Tariq tries to open the door, but finds it locked. Still holding his machine gun in plain sight, Tariq rings the doorbell. No answer, he takes a step back, apparently preparing to fire at the front door.

VINCENT
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not yet, try the back.

Vincent and Alex begin to walk towards the backyard. Tariq begins to follow them, then whips back and shoots the front door on its hinges. He runs towards the door and pushes it open.

VINCENT
Holy fuck you’re an idiot.