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Doom (Part 1)
By Aragorn
DOOM
WRITTEN BY
Dave Thac
&
Jeff Long
Based on the video games Doom and Doom 3, and the Doom Bible which can be found here: http://5years.doomworld.com/doombible/
EXT. MARS
We see the red planet and its two moons - Phobos and Deimos. We pan down and see that Mars’ surface is dotted with factories and labs. Most of the buildings reside in one large crater.
SUBTITLE
Mars City - Fridyen Crater
INT. MARS CITY - HANGAR BAY
Several military transports are being prepped for takeoff. The logo for the UAC - Union Aerospace Corperation - is on everything. Pilots hurry to their stations. A proud-looking officer walks through the chaos, the classic military leader type - white hair, strong chin, chest covered with medals. This is COMMANDER KEEN and the pale look on his face alerts us that this is no ordinary mission. Following him is a fidgety man in glasses and a white lab coat. He flaps his clipboard angrily. This is DR. BILL RITCH.
DR. RITCH
Commander Keen!
Keen pretends not to hear him. He passes by an armoured Marine who catches Dr. Ritch's attention.
Dr. RITCH
(To Marine)
Soldier! Detain him immediately!
The Marine raises one eyebrow and stares the doctor down. He's a broad-shouldered, badass-looking marine, his face painted with sweat and grime. This is CORPORAL FLYNN TAGGART.
Taggart hears the doctor's orders, but doesn't move a muscle.
DR. RITCH
I said STOP the commander, soldier!
TAGGART
I don't take orders from lab geeks, Doc.
DR. RITCH
I am the project leader of this facility! You work for me!
TAGGART
I work for the United States Marine Corps.
DR. RITCH
The United States Marine Corps works for UAC!
Commander Keen has stopped to observe the confrontation. He backtracks to their position.
COMMANDER KEEN
Stop harassing my men, Doctor.
DR. RITCH
I want you with me on that transport in five minutes, Commander!
COMMANDER KEEN
I'm not going to the Deimos moon.
DR. RITCH
This is a landmark event in human history and just like that you're going to turn your back on it?
COMMANDER KEEN
We signed on to provide security for your team. Now my men have been used for everything from washing windows to taking out the garbage. I will suffer those indignities but I will not stand by while you use my boys in your petty experiments! They are soldiers! Not lab rats!
TAGGART
Whoa, wait. What's going on here?
DR. RITCH
None of your concern, grunt, get back to work.
(To Keen)
General McGee has approved this test. And he wants you on Deimos.
COMMANDER KEEN
General McGee can kiss my round hairy ass. I am not going!
He tears a handful of medals from his uniform and throws them on the floor at Dr. Ritch’s feet and then storms off.
DR. RITCH
Commander!
Taggart whistles and turns back to whatever manual labour he was performing. Dr. Ritch narrows his eyes and grabs the Marine by the arm.
DR. RITCH
I know who you are now. Yes, I thought you seemed familiar. You're that Sergeant who got busted down to Corporal after he punched out his superior officer.
Taggart turns with a smile.
TAGGART
I didn't punch him out. I broke his wrist.
Dr. Ritch slowly withdraws his hand from Taggart’s arm. Just then, a snivelling man, LT. WEEMS, walks over. Taggart grimaces and salutes the man. Weems returns the gesture
TAGGART
Salute's a little off there, LT. How's the wrist?
LT. WEEMS
Taggart, you're on waste disposal duty tonight.
TAGGART
Again? Why am I not surprised.
LT. WEEMS
Maybe because you're getting what you deserve...Corporal.
DR. RITCH
This one doesn't seem to have much respect for authority.
LT. WEEMS
That's all right. He's still good for something.
(To Taggart)
Now get down to the refinery and start hauling that sludge.
Weems smiles and walks off. Dr. Ritch gives Taggart one last, lingering look and heads to his transport.
INT. MARS CITY - REFINERY
A tall guy with a square chin and baseball cap is pushing a cart loaded with toxic waste barrels. He is wearing about half of the required armour. This is CPL. DACOTE. Glowing green slime jostles about in the uncovered containers.
Taggart walks into the disposal chamber and nods to his fellow soldier.
TAGGART
Guess who's back?
DACOTE
Ha! Imagine that!
A younger grunt, PRIVATE SHIELD, enters lugging his own cart of toxic waste.
SHIELD
Hey Dacote!
DACOTE
Yo.
SHIELD
Whadda’ those letters on your hat mean?
Dacote turns the baseball cap, which reads "AEOS", toward Shield. Taggart grins.
SHIELD
Aerospace Engineering Officer...?
DACOTE
.Ass End of Space. Now bring those barrels over here before they explode.
SHIELD
Ha ha ha, explode.
Neither Dacote nor Taggart laugh. Shield hustles his cart over to a huge vat laid into the earth.
TAGGART
May as well get my hands dirty.
He crouches beside a barrel and lifts it up with amazing strength. Shield watches in awe as Taggart dumps the entire thing into the vat.
SHIELD
So are we gonna get growths or anything from messing with this stuff?
TAGGART
You seen Dacote's chin?
DACOTE
Ha, nice. Look at your head.
TAGGART
Don't worry Shield, if this stuff was lethal, the Corps wouldn't be throwing it out.
SHIELD
Man, this is worse than Toothbrush cleaning duty.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
A very state-of-the-art laboratory is filled with labcoats and military brass. Seated at the central console, beautiful DR. LORELEI CHEN logs that day's going-ons. Bald-headed SERGEANT GOFORTH is surrounded by doctors who are putting various bits of monitoring equipment on his armour and limbs.
Commander Keen watches uneasily from behind Chen's seat.
COMMANDER KEEN
What is all that, Doctor Chen?
CHEN
It's necessary to monitor his vitals.
COMMANDER KEEN
Level with me here. What are his chances?
CHEN
I don't really know, that's why we're running this test.
Thinking that was maybe a bit harsh, she turns and smiles.
CHEN
But I think he'll be just fine.
The front wall separates into dozens of sections, like a Tetris board coming apart - and a huge archway covered in WARNING labels rumbles out. The other sections of the wall, which have split off & pistoned forth, lock onto the arch like fingers to secure its place. Sergeant Goforth looks up with a mixture of fear and wonder.
CHEN
This is the Gateway, Sergeant.
EXT. SPACE - MARS
We zoom out from Mars and revolve around the Red Planet, until the moon, Deimos is in view.
SUBTITLE
Deimos - Mars’ smaller moon
INT. DEIMOS COMPLEX - LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
Newly-arrived Dr. Ritch enters the room with a platoon of armed Marines that immediately rush forward and surround the Deimos Gateway. The scientists here look nervous and one of them points to the soldiers.
TECHNICIAN
Why are they here?
DR. RITCH
Peace of mind. Are we ready?
TECHNICIAN
Uploading coordinates as we speak.
He starts looking around the room.
TECHNICIAN
Um, where's Commander Keen? I was informed that he would be here.
DR. RITCH
Commander Keen decided that he'd rather be court-marshalled than witness history.
Dr. Ritch turns to the others (many of whom ignore him and keep working) to make a grand speech.
DR. RITCH
For months we've been teleporting barrels and vehicles between the moons of Mars. Today, we take an unprecedented step that will ensure Mankind's dominion over the physics of the very cosmos. Indeed, over God himself. (he gets a few funny looks but doesn’t seem to notice) Today we will be receiving a human subject from Mars!
There is a round of polite applause. Lieutenant Weems takes his place beside the doctor.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
A technician hands Sgt. Goforth a pump shotgun.
GOFORTH
What's this for?
TECHNICIAN
We want to simulate an actual combat scenario.
CHEN
Be careful, that's loaded.
GOFORTH
Yeah, I'll do my best.
He slings the gun over his shoulder and turns to the archway. Bands of blue energy leap across the gate, crisscrossing until a solid wall of light has formed inside the arch.
CHEN
Everyone to their stations!
Commander Keen gives Sgt. Goforth a firm salute.
COMMANDER KEEN
I'm proud of you, son.
GOFORTH
Thank you, sir.
The technicians back off as the sergeant stands before the Gateway. He breathes in and steps into the light.
INT. DEIMOS - LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
The Deimos Gateway casts a similar glow upon the faces of the scientists & their Marine escort.
DR. RITCH
Status.
TECHNICIAN
In transit, sir.
The Gateway crackles and fluctuates. A combat boot steps out, met with a gasp from everyone in the room. Then Goforth comes out, looking exactly as he did when he went in, maybe a little shaky, but intact and alive.
DR. RITCH
Shut down the Gateway.
He smiles from ear-to-ear and heads over to congratulate the sergeant. Goforth drops the shotgun from his shoulder. The Marines tense.
DR. RITCH
Sergeant?
Goforth coughs and doubles over.
DR. RITCH
Sergeant? Are you...
The unfortunate Marine looks back up with eyes glowing red. One of his fellow soldiers steps forward to offer a hand. Goforth offers a shotgun blast to his stomach.
Everyone watches in horrified bewilderment as the shot Marine flies back off his feet, over a computer console. Hitting the floor, a web of guts sprays out from beneath him, splattering the face of a stunned Dr. Ritch.
Lt. Weems's jaw opens, but no sound comes out. The other soldiers gape at their superior.
LT. WEEMS
K…K…Kill him!
Goforth roars and takes out the nearest grunt with a headshot. The rest open fire on him.
He flies back into the Gateway under a barrage of gunfire.
DR. RITCH
Shut it down! Now!
A flaming skull shoots out of the light like a missile, straight into Weems' chest. The lieutenant says something inaudible and looks down at the smoldering thing eating through his armor and devouring his heart.
DR. RITCH
Jesus!
More of the flaming skulls - now screaming in horrid delight - pour out of the Gateway and attack the humans. These LOST SOULS tear into the limbs and torsos of their victims with rabid glee as panicked bursts of gunfire send others to their deaths.
Dr. Ritch drops behind a console, watching as the legs of a seated technician jerk spastically. He looks up in hopes of seeing a friendly face - but a ghoulish grin bathed in fire returns the stare.
In the center of the melee, a severely-wounded soldier stands up, blood spreading rapidly across his midsection. Another Marine watches as his side splits open and his entrails slop out. The soldier doesn't fall. Instead, his eyes glaze over and he shoots his comrade.
The blue light of the gateway shifts abruptly to crimson, reflecting red off the surfaces that aren’t already covered in gore. A sobbing Dr. Ritch crawls toward the exit. A female tech drops in front of him with her face eaten away. She grabs his arm and shrieks.
One last brave Marine climbs on top of a console and rains ammo down on the Lost Souls and undead soldiers. They sweep up in a wave to overwhelm him.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
Dr. Chen stares at her computer monitor in confusion.
COMMANDER KEEN
Well? Did it work?
CHEN
I...it's gone.
COMMANDER KEEN
What's gone? What do you mean?
CHEN
Deimos. It's gone.
COMMANDER KEEN
That's impossible!
Dr. Chen swivels away from the console and shows him the monitor.
CHEN
It's disappeared from the star map.
COMMANDER KEEN
Get me a satellite image!
He points to a tech who brings up the image on a large flat screen for all to see. Indeed, the smaller moon has ceased to be.
COMMANDER KEEN
How? (he looks at Chen) Why?!
The Gateway turns blood-red.
COMMANDER KEEN
Marines!
The few officers in the room draw their side-arms. Commander Keen turns to Dr. Chen
COMMANDER KEEM
I'd get out of here if I were you.
CHEN
I'm not going anywhere.
They both turn to face the crimson light.
INT. MARS CITY - REFINERY
Taggart sits back with a yawn and Dacote presses a can of beer into his hand.
DACOTE
You got tomorrow off?
TAGGART
Yeah.
DACOTE
Asshole.
TAGGART
If Weems had his way though, I'd be living in this sludge.
DACOTE
I swear that guy's heartless.
Shield frowns as his radio headset crackles.
SHIELD
Come again? Hello? This is PFC Shield!
Taggart and Dacote smirk and, glancing at one another, start chugging their beers as fast as they can.
SHIELD
My headset's on the fritz.
TAGGART
What else is new?
He crumples his beer can and tosses it aside. Dacote is no more than halfway through his.
TAGGART
You owe me a dollar.
DACOTE
Damn it.
Taggart grabs a headset from his belt and slips it on.
TAGGART
Let's see what's going on. Maybe there's a puke stain that needs to be cleaned up.
He switches on his radio and recoils as a static scream tears across the sound waves
RADIO VOICE
All Marines to the Delta Labs immediately! Get the fuck down here! Jesus H. Chri…
The transmission ends.
SHIELD
Your headset work?
TAGGART
We gotta get going.
DACOTE
What's up?
TAGGART
Something at the lab. Doesn't sound good.
He draws his standard-issue Beretta (a retro classic) and nods to the others.
DACOTE
You're kidding, right?
TAGGART
You know how shitty my sense of humor is.
Dacote grabs his gun.
EXT. MARS CITY - DAY
A small Jeep-like rover drives full-speed over the red dirt and pulls up to a closed gate and the three Marines get out, wearing full armor and combat helmets.
TAGGART
Looks like we gotta let ourselves in.
The area is eerily quiet. Taggart grabs the gate and slides it open.
DACOTE
O-kaaaay.
TAGGART
Can you raise anyone on your radio?
Dacote tries however he gets no answers. Just static.
DACOTE
Nope.
SHIELD
I don't like this.
TAGGART
Really? (sarcastic) I think it's fucking great.
He crouches and scampers across the soil, ducking behind a crate, then running to another rover. There are several vehicles parked around the compound in haphazard fashion, and countless footprints crisscrossing each other in the dirt. But no people.
TAGGART
Anybody out there?
Dacote joins him.
DACOTE
I have a feeling we got here too late. Whatever happened, we missed it.
TAGGART
This place is deserted, man. Doesn't make sense.
DACOTE
They could all be inside.
TAGGART
With all the radios turned off?
Dacote shrugs and un-velcro’s a pocket on his thigh armor. He pulls out a thin, silvery bill.
TAGGART
What's this?
DACOTE
That dollar I owe ya.
TAGGART
Don't.
DACOTE
We gotta go in there and I don't think we're gonna like what we find.
Taggart snatches the dollar and stuffs it back into Dacote's pocket. Shield finally makes his way to the rover.
TAGGART
Let's lock 'n' load.
They creep around the vehicle and plant themselves on either side of the entrance.
DACOTE
Should we knock first?
TAGGART
Eh, why the hell not?
He steps back, shoots the door twice and delivers a kick that blows it off its hinges.
INT. MARS CITY - CORRIDOR
Flickering lights. Blood-splattered walls. Not a soul in sight.
TAGGART
Shit.
SHIELD
Hey, I think I hear somebody on the radio!
They all reach to their helmets to adjust their radios. A guttural sound comes over the airwaves.
SHIELD
Hello?
TAGGART
Kid. Zip it.
Taggart scans the hall, his Beretta following his gaze all the way. Dacote slips past him and checks a nearby door.
DACOTE
Unlocked.
TAGGART
Go for it.
Dacote punches a keypad and the door retracts sideways into the wall.
INT. MARS CITY - OFFICE
There are no working lights at all in the small room. They can make out cabinets flung open and equipment smashed on the floor. Dacote pops out a flashlight, slaps it a few times, and assesses the damage.
DACOTE
We ain't cleaning this up.
SHIELD
(O.S.)
Ordover!
TAGGART
Huh?
Taggart backs into the hall and sees Shield waving to an injured PFC.
SHIELD
It's Ordover! Hey man!
Ordover glances up and growls. He shoots Shield in the chest.
TAGGART
Shield!
The young Marine turns to Taggart with a confused expression. Then he crumples to the floor.
TAGGART
Shit!
Ordover points his gun at Taggart. Taggart puts one right between his eyes. Ordover stumbles a bit, and resumes his firing position.
TAGGART
What the fuck…?
He empties his entire clip into the zombified private. Ordover drops to the floor.
DACOTE
What the hell is going on?
TAGGART
Did you see his eyes?
DACOTE
What?
TAGGART
His eyes! Did you see them?!
DACOTE
No! Why?
There's a grunt from the shadows. Two more undead step into the corridor; one holds a pistol, and the other a large heavy wrench.
TAGGART
Give me a clip.
DACOTE
Don't got one.
TAGGART
Hell.
He turns and enters in a code on an electronic lock for a locker mounted on the wall. The door opens and among some power tools is a chainsaw.
DACOTE
Nice.
(To zombies)
Fellas? Let's call it a night, huh?
The undead advance. Dacote drops into a marksman's stance and pops off a few rounds into the zombie with the gun. Headshot, headshot, headshot. Blood streams down the PFC's face. Its only reaction is to raise its pistol.
DACOTE
Flynn...!
The chainsaw roars to life just as the wrench zombie lunges forward. The saw's whirring teeth meet the metal object in a shower of sparks and both combatants lean into their weapons, coming face to ugly face.
Dacote nails the gun zombie in the kneecap. It sags, grabs onto the wall for support, and keeps coming. Taggart pushes the wrench aside and tears into the zombie's meat. Its eyes widen and it grabs his arm, trying to pull the saw out.
DACOTE
I'm out of ammo!
The wrench comes at Taggart's head. He throws an arm up out to block it, but we can see a pained expression on his face when his arm and the wrench collide. He screams as he turns the saw in the undead's bowels, spewing innards all over the corporal.
TAGGART
Hang on!
The saw kicks off of the zombie's spine and goes up into his ribs. It's a huge mess. Taggart pulls the saw out.
TAGGART
Try this on for size!
Taggart swings the saw and it crashes into the PFC's side and his entire upper half tears free at the waist. Dacote snatches the wrench out of the air and slams it down on the back of the gun zombie's head, cracking open his skull and sending it crashing to the floor.
DACOTE
'Bout time.
TAGGART
You owe me two dollars.
Dacote takes the zombie’s pistol and the two head deeper into the base.
INT. MARS CITY - WORK AREA
Shattered fluorescent lights hang from the ceiling, a few of them offering momentary glimpses of overturned shelves and splintered desks. Rows and rows of blood-streaked cubicles stretch across the arena-like room. Taggart and Dacote stay close to the wall, looking for any sign of movement.
DACOTE
I don’t like this, man
TAGGART
What’s to like?
They step around a swinging light fixture and Taggart sees a shadow moving behind them.
TAGGART
Duck!
They duck just in time to avoid being blasted by a shotgun. A zombified sergeant has crept up behind them. Dacote rolls aside as the shot hits the light, shattering it. The sergeant growls and pumps the gun. Dacote rises, puts two bullets in the sergeant's head and while the zombie is "distracted", Taggart swings the chainsaw in a sweeping arc, without even starting it up.
The undead's head flies threw the air, lands and bounces across the floor into a cubicle. Taggart claims the shotgun and pumps it as he attaches the chainsaw to a piece of his armor.
TAGGART
Any more of ya out there?
A few moans come at them from various directions and the two soldiers glance at each other. The swinging lights catch a shadow moving on the walls, nearing them.
DACOTE
Come on...come to momma and papa...
However, what steps into the light is the last thing they expect: It is humanoid with brown, leathery skin, a half-dozen glowing demonic eyes, and huge claws on its hands. This is an IMP.
Taggart hesitates for a second before blowing it away. It skids back on its heels, spitting blood. Another one comes at him from the side and swipes at him. Taggart ducks as he pivots and fires a shot just beneath its chin. Shattered bone scatters like pebbles across the floor. Dacote readies the pistol as a third one runs at Taggart and a fourth Imp sneaks up from behind Dacote and slashes his back.
DACOTE
Aaaaah!
He drops to his knees and shoots the fourth one repeatedly until it goes down. The third stops as Taggart reloads his shotgun. Its claws start to glow and then suddenly form a huge ball of flame.
TAGGART
Shit!
The fireball hits him right in the breastplate, sending him toppling backwards. He smashes through a cubicle wall, which collapses on top of him. He kicks it into the air and lets loose another shotgun blast. The Imp goes down. Dacote rushes over and reaches his hand down, helping Taggart to his feet.
DACOTE
Make that one dollar.
TAGGART
It’ll be back to two soon enough, don’t ya worry about that
They creep over to one of the Imp corpses and peer down at its closed eyes.
DACOTE
What the fuck is it?
TAGGART
Does this really look like the face of someone who knows?
DACOTE
Oh fuck off.
Close Up - a tiny fireball begins spawning in the Imp’s palm.
There's an orange gleam in the corner of Taggart's eye. He smiles grimly and then blows the Imp's hand off.
TAGGART
Fucking aliens is my guess.
DACOTE
I can't believe this shit.
Grabbing the dead sergeant's leg, Taggart hauls the corpse over and fishes through the pockets for ammo. He finds a few shells, but nothing more.
TAGGART
Looks like we're on a tight budget. Gonna want to hang on to these.
Dacote winces and pries off his damaged torso armor. On his back are four deep gashes from when the Imp got him from behind.
TAGGART
Looks like we need to get you to the Infirmary.
An inhuman roar echoes through the room. Whatever it is, it isn't far away.
DACOTE
Anywhere but here is fine by me.
They gather their shit and get going.
INT. MARS CITY - INFIRMARY
PAN OVER an array of discarded syringes, gauze, empty stimpacks, and first-aid kits spread over a countertop. Taggart and Dacote are squatted down behind the counter, tending to a few scrapes.
TAGGART
All right, we got you a few stimpacks, so I think you’ll be fine. How many of these fuckers can there be?
DACOTE
Enough to give me a serious fuckin’ headache.
The whooshing sound of the door opening is head and heavy footsteps can be heard walking across the floor. Then silence.
TAGGART
Speak or we’ll shoot!
No response. Taggart and Dacote stand up and whip around the corner. They find themselves staring right into the glistening pink face of a giant four-legged dog-like animal. It’s back two legs are metal and its head has no eyes or ears. Just a glistening dome with sharp teeth in the mouth. This is a PINKY DEMON. It opens it’s mouth and let’s out a loud, almost prehistoric, roar.
TAGGART
Whoa!
They back up into the wall and fire their guns, a few of the shots hit, but they seem to do no damage. The creature quickly leaps to the side, avoiding most of the shots. The Pinky Demon then leaps onto the counter, snorts, and then lunges. It lands right in front of Dacote and uses it’s head to slam him up against the wall, hard. Then it lifts it’s head and chomps into Dacote’s bare chest. As Dacote’ screams, the creature rips out his guts in a grisly savage display.
TAGGART
No!
The Pinky Demon turns it’s head and snorts at Taggart. Taggart uses that moment to ram the shotgun down its throat, stopping when its huge fangs are just inches from his fingers.
TAGGART
Taste this, you pink bitch.
The top of the Pinky Demon's long narrow head blows open like a geyser, showering the infirmary with gore. The body falls over, dead. Taggart crouches next to Dacote’s body and touches his friend's arm.
TAGGART
I'm sorry, man...
Words cannot describe his grief or his rage. He stands up as he hears more snorting coming from the hall.
TAGGART
Great. Just fucking great.
He looks at the doorway as he hears a growl, then a muffled explosion coming from the other side. Could it be another Marine? He hurries into the hall…
…Only to find an Imp and Pinky Demon fighting each other in the corridor. The Imp's arm is caught in the Demon's slobbery jaws, and it’s slamming fireball after fireball into the head of the Pinky Demon as the Pinky Demon tears at its stomach.
TAGGART
Hey!
The Imp looks up and turns to glare at Taggart. During that time, the Pinky Demon chomps on the Imp, finishing him off.
TAGGART
I play winner.
He detaches the chainsaw and starts it up.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - CORRIDOR
Taggart walks slowly, whispering to himself.
TAGGART
So these things don't all get along, huh? Hell of an army I'm dealing with here. How did these goons manage to wipe out all our boys?
The COMMAND CONTROL sign with the UAC logo up ahead catches his eye.
TAGGART
Okay. Here we go.
He takes a few breaths, psyching himself up, and enters.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
The lab has become a sight rivaling the Deimos massacre. Bodies and body parts are strewn everywhere. Long skewer pillars made of bone are jammed up through the consoles and coming out of the walls, and some marines and scientists are impaled on them. There is even one marine hanging from the ceiling by his entrails.
Taggart’s eyes bulge and he turns his head to throw up. He wipes his mouth and quickly sweeps the area, all the while eyeing the glowing red Gateway, still active, pulsating at the other end of the room.
TAGGART
What the hell is this? What have we been doing here?
He wipes a blood smear from a monitor and checks the readout.
TAGGART
A Gateway? To where?
CHEN
(V.O)
The Deimos moon.
Taggart turns and gets a shard of metal jabbed into his neck, stopping just short of piercing the skin. Dr. Lorelei Chen is drenched with gore.
CHEN
You human?
TAGGART
Yeah, I'm human.
CHEN
How do I know you aren’t lying?
TAGGART
Because you're still breathing, sweetie.
He slaps her arm away.
TAGGART
Is this room secure?
CHEN
I think so. Nothing has come out of that Gateway for awhile.
TAGGART
Any other survivors?
CHEN
Just one.
She points to a darkened corner. Taggart warily makes his way forward.
TAGGART
Commander...
Commander Keen's body is riddled with stab wounds. It looks like he was a chewtoy for a pack of Pinky Demons.
COMMANDER KEEN
You might want to think about falling back.
Taggart removes his helmet & kneels beside his superior, nothing to do but to watch him die.
TAGGART
I'm the last one, sir.
Keen coughs up some bile and sighs.
COMMANDER KEEN
De...destroy...
TAGGART
The Gateway?
COMMANDER KEEN
No...no son. You destroy the Gateway, UAC will build another one. And whatever they are...they'll be waiting. (he coughs and then continues) You’ve…gotta...destroy them.
Taggart nods solemnly.
COMMANDER KEEN
Here.
He gives Taggart a red keycard.
COMMANDER KEEN
On...Deimos...there's a weapon. But you'll need two other keys...a yellow one and a blue one.
TAGGART
Where are they, sir?
COMMANDER KEEN
The other project leaders have them...
He's erupts with a series of painful coughs. Blood trickles from each of his wounds. Taggart cradles the commander with Dr. Chen looking on.
COMMANDER KEEN
Get the weapon. Kill 'em all, Corporal. Give those sons of
bitches hell.
TAGGART
I will, sir.
The commander nods, forces a smile, and closes his eyes as he dies. Taggart stands u and faces Dr. Chen.
CHEN
There is no weapon anymore.
TAGGART
What do you mean? Why?
CHEN
Because there is no Deimos anymore. It's gone.
TAGGART
What the fuck are you talking about?
CHEN
I'm telling you, Deimos has vanished! It’s not there anymore.
Taggart glares at her, then at the Gateway.
TAGGART
Then where does that thing lead?
CHEN
Well...Deimos...I think.
TAGGART
Then I'm going to fuckin’ Deimos.
He sticks the chainsaw onto his utility belt and pumps the shotgun.
CHEN
What about me?
TAGGART
We're getting you out of here. C'mon.
INT. MARS CITY - HANGAR BAY
The hangar is largely undisturbed. Either no one thought to try & flee, or no one had the chance. Taggart pulls Chen along behind a row of fuel tanks.
CHEN
(whispering) We'll never make it out of here without drawing their attention!
TAGGART
And that's why I'm going to cover you.
CHEN
What?
He turns and speaks slowly. He uses his fingers to demonstrate each word.
TAGGART
You. Get in ship. Fly away. I stay and shoot bad monsters.
CHEN
I'm not leaving you.
TAGGART
I have my orders, Doc.
He points to a tiny transport across the way.
TAGGART
That's your ride.
Realizing that there is no point in arguing, Chen follows him. Taggart sees a shadow move at the end of the hanger.
TAGGART
Hug the wall. Now.
As Chen does what she’s told, something from across the Hanger shrieks. Two pinpoints of distant light quickly expand and grow brighter. That’s when Taggart realizes they are twin rockets hurtling toward them.
TAGGART
Get down!
He shoves Chen under a transport and ducks just as the rockets speed by and crash into the fuel tanks.
BAROOM! The entire rear wall of the hangar is blistered by the explosion. The blast spins Taggart back and around, slamming hard into the hull of a dropship. Taggart moans as he gathers his bearings. He focuses his eyes and sees the creature up close as it steps towards him. It is a lanky skeleton with two shoulder-mounted rocket launchers. It is the REVENANT. It screams again as its empty eye sockets fix themselves on the Marine.
TAGGART
Holy mother of…
Before he can finish the sentence, the Revenant fires both barrels once again. Taggart throws the chainsaw, causing it to hit one of the rockets, exploding it. He runs and jumps, barely dodging the second one, which hits a parked jeep, resulting in a massive explosion.
TAGGART
Get your little ass to the ship, Doc!
Chen scrambles out from her hiding place and sprints. The Revenant spies her and turns to fire.
TAGGART
Hey beautiful!
The Revenant looks back to him. Taggart aims his shotgun for one of the rocket launchers and fires. The launcher explodes on the monster's shoulder, slamming it into a cargo ship. It bounces off the hull and slams to the floor. It gets back to its feet with an angry scream.
Chen is halfway to the ship when Taggart turns and starts running in the opposite direction.
TAGGART
C'mon, you bastard! Over here!
The Revenant fires a rocket from its remaining launcher, and Taggart slides under a dropship, coming out the other side just before it explodes from the rocket’s impact. He repeats the move again, another transport blown to bits.
The Revenant sprints after him, taking out ship after ship in a domino display of explosions and flying debris. Charred steel ricochets off the walls and carves ugly wounds into the floor as Taggart rolls frantically from ship to ship, hurdling past each flaming obstacle.
Chen pushes the button to open the hatch of her ship. It opens six inches, then stalls, causing sparks to fly, and then stops moving.
CHEN
No!
The Revenant hears her and changes course, deciding she is an easier target! Taggart aims and hits it with a shotgun blast, causing it to swivel its head back to him.
TAGGART
We're not through here!
Another rocket heads his way.
Chen wedges her shoulder between the hatch and the wall and pushes with all her might.
CHEN
Please!
She doesn't notice the Imp clambering over the top of the ship, however Taggart does.
TAGGART
Doc!
She doesn’t hear him. He takes off and races toward her. The Revenant scrambles over a burning heap and follows as well.
Chen closes her eyes and heaves her entire body. The hatch slides open just as the Imp scrambles across the top of the ship, using it’s arms an legs to move, nearing Chen.
Chen looks over her shoulder to see Taggart and the Revenant coming.
CHEN
What are you doing?!
The Revenant fires, the rocket speeding towards Taggart. Chen leaps away from the ship, tackling him Taggart to the floor. A second later, the rocket speeds over their heads and crashes into the ship, destroying it in an explosion that also engulfs the Imp. The Revenant lets out one last scream before a flying piece of metal debris swings out and decapitates it.
Chen and Taggart lie in a stunned embrace on the floor, slight smoke drifting off their clothes.
TAGGART
What. The. Fuck!
CHEN
You tell me!
He throws her off.
TAGGART
One of those things was coming for you…
CHEN
And you were leading the other one right to me!
TAGGART
…and then you… (throws his arms in the air)…that was your ship!
Shaking his head in disdain, Taggart coughs on the thick gathering black smoke.
TAGGART
We've gotta move.
CHEN
To where?
TAGGART
Back to Command Control.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - CORRIDOR
The pair make their way down a dark corridor, passing by many closed doors. The lights are flickering on and off and there are blood smears on the floor.
CHEN
I want a gun.
Taggart hands her the pistol. She looks enviously at his shotgun and he notices.
TAGGART
You wanna take point?
CHEN
Are you crazy?
TAGGART
Then you keep the pistol.
CHEN
Fair enough.
By now they've reached Command Control and Chen enters a code to open the door.
INT. MARS CITY - DELTA LABS - COMMAND CONTROL
The Gateway continues to cast its ominous red glow over the lab. Taggart pulls the headset off of a dead soldier.
TAGGART
Here.
CHEN
What's this for?
TAGGART
So we can keep in touch, honey.
LORELEI CHEN
You're really going through there, aren’t you?
Taggart begins to scavenge through the human remains that are not on pillars, for ammo.
TAGGART
Yeah, I'm really going. You stay here and stabilize the Gateway or
whatever it is they pay you to do here.
CHEN
Whatever those creatures are, wherever they came from, that Gateway brought them here. You might not come back.
TAGGART
Do you really think that hasn't crossed my mind?
Satisfied with his haul, he slips on a scavenged helmet and faces the pulsating gate. Chen reluctantly puts on the headset.
TAGGART
Test.
CHEN
I hear you.
TAGGART
Talk to you soon, then Doctor.
CHEN
I hope so, soldier.
Without turning back to face her, he speaks to her.
TAGGART
The name's Flynn Taggart.
CHEN
Chen. Lorelei Chen.
TAGGART
Look...sorry about the hangar. It was my fault. I was trying to help.
CHEN
I know you were.
Taggart raises a hand and slowly reaches toward the shimmering red wall. His fingertips pierce it and he shudders.
CHEN
You all right?
TAGGART
Ask me again in five minutes.
He takes a deep breath and goes for it, stepping into the Gateway.
8/23/2005 12:35:38 AM
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