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TRIUMVIRATE (Installment Nine)
By The Host
Part nine represents the next twelve pages of screenplay -- taking us to the ninety-nine minute mark. This is also the most action-packed and suspenseful section before the extended finale.
Hold tight, because the end's in sight. Just a couple of more chapters to go and I'll be releasing the final, completed screenplay. Happy Christmas!
Picking up where we left off. . .
OUTSIDE, a sub is in hot pursuit of a fighter. The fighter barrel-rolls toward the station and pulls away at the last moment. The sub is forced to pull too late and grazes the station’s hull, spinning terribly as it zooms away in the opposite direction. It suddenly collides with a fighter and the two vessels explode. A huge intact hunk of the fighter spirals away – directly toward the nearby stationary gunship.
INSIDE, Doyle sees the twisted steel approaching.
DOYLEOh, shit.
Doyle jumps up and begins to move quickly back to the others; Davies stands and sees the object and sees Doyle coming and is confused. Macy, inside the umbilical, spins his head around.
MACYWhat?
DAVIESShouldn’t--?
At that instant the item hits the gunship head-on; the gunship sways sickeningly and moves out of position, twisting the umbilical; the glass in the gunship starts to crack and tiny streams of water begin to pour in; Doyle is thrown sideways into a jutting piece of equipment, strikes his head hard against it, and falls to the floor, his hair matted with blood. Davies is terrified.
DAVIESJesus.
INSIDE THE UMBILICAL, water is spouting in little jets through tiny tears in the umbilical.
WILLEMWhat the hell?!
Macy’s checking a monitor on the underside of the gunship above him.
MACYUmbilical integrity should hold another forty-five seconds, maybe.
(Shouting)
C’mon, Davies, Doyle, get in here!
Getty’s now through the hatch and Willem’s on his way; Davies drops into the connector.
MACY (CONT'D)Doyle?
MACYI think he’s dead.
Even as Willem’s head disappears there’s a loud CREAKING and then a SMASHING and then the RUSH of water. Water suddenly begins pouring into the umbilical from above.
MACYShit! Jack, get down there!
DAVIESI didn't think--
MACYGO!
Davies promptly obeys and disappears into the hatch.
INT. MACGUFFIN BASE -- OUTER SHELL -- DARK -- CONTINUOUS
The ladder leads down to a catwalk maybe fifteen feet below the hatch; below that and around it darkness bleeds into impenetrable depths. The only light is that which comes from the hatch and gunship above; it is scattered by the cascading water. The water pours down on Davies, making the ladder slippery. Davies is terrified: he struggles down as best he can but the water is making it hard and suddenly his hand slips and he slides down and catches onto the next rung. He catches his breath as a feeble light appears below – somebody’s flashlight – and then the light above disappears and the flow of water stops. Davies looks up a second to see a shadowy figure come down almost onto his face.
MACYIt’s only me! Keep going!
Davies moves faster now, eagerly toward the light. As he steps onto the catwalk Macy hops down right behind him and there is a sudden WRENCHING as the gunship above them implodes. Davies looks at his mates in the dim light of now two flashlights, his chest heaving.
DAVIESWe were hit. I thought it could handle impacts. We entered the water fast—
MACYAt a precisely calculated angle. We were one degree from death back there. And I don’t think whatever hit us hit us at such a perfect angle.
Davies tries to control his breathing. The remaining two flashlights switch on.
DAVIESDoyle’s dead.
But the others are already moving forward down the catwalk.
MACYCome on, let’s go.
Davies, after a moment, quickly follows, not wanting to be left alone in the dark.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The audience sits down together. There is a pause as the President takes a long sip of water, emptying his glass, and then places it heavily beside him on the podium. He speaks.
THE PRESIDENTClearly, we have attained great things.
(Beat)
But none of it has been of our own accord.
Silence.
INT. COPLEY’S OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS
Copley, bringing his glass to his lips, halts all movement and stares at the holographic image of the President.
INT. QUARTERS -- CONTINUOUS
Johnson leans forward with sudden interest.
INT. USS GEMINI -- STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Dawson swings his head around to the small image of the President near at hand.
INT. MACGUFFIN BASE –- OUTER SHELL -- DARK -- CONTINUOUS
The five remaining Black Aces move forward along the catwalk. To either side of them darkness sweeps into the abyss below. Willem is keeping a close eye on a hand-held monitor.
WILLEMShould be a door just ahead.
At that moment walls approach from left and right and the group is now in a corridor only inches wider than the catwalk itself. A few feet on they come to a hatch and halt.
MACYLet’s check this out.
Steve is already plunging through his pack.
INT. UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
One could hear a pin drop from five hundred feet. The President slowly resumes his speech.
THE PRESIDENTOur nation has achieved all of its glories, its victories and its defeats, through the will, through the desire, and through the greed of The Corporation.
The CEO stands up at his place. There are murmurs throughout the crowd.
INT. QUARTERS
Johnson and his wingmates are positively stunned by the President’s words.
INT. MACGUFFIN BASE -- OUTER SHELL –- CONTINUOUS
Steve grabs a monitor connected to a stethoscope-like object, which he now holds up to the door. The others gather around to see: on his glowing monitor screen is etched the image of what lies beyond the door. Another door.
STEVE(Looking up)
It’s an airlock. We must be on different pressure systems or something.
MACYAll right, help me open this.
The others help Macy to turn the wheel on the outer hatch.
INT. UNTIED CENTER –- CONTINUOUS
The President carries on.
THE PRESIDENTOur great nation has long been entirely dependent upon The Corporation for its every need, and our nation has long complied with The Corporation’s every whim. But I say, ‘No more!’
There is a great commotion. An AIDE moves toward the President but is shooed away.
INT. MACGUFFIN BASE -- AIRLOCK -- CONTINUOUS
The men are now in the small airlock, and Steve has his device pressed to the inner door. On the other side he can see a long empty corridor stretching off to the left and to the right.
STEVECoast’s clear.
DAVIESCan we get this door open?
Steve indicates the hatch they just came through.
STEVENot with that one open.
Without another word Macy and Getty turn to pull the hatch closed.
INT. UNTIED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The President is motioning for silence. The clamor dies down a bit.
THE PRESIDENTRight now a rebellion is beginning. None of you have been forewarned, at Corporate request. But as we speak MacGuffin Base is being attacked by the fleets of our Admiral Dawson.
A tide of astonishment washes across the audience. Some stand and try to leave. The President continues on, louder now.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)Admiral Dawson feels this government is weak. Admiral Dawson feels this government is subservient to a greater power. I intend to prove him wrong!
INT. AIRLOCK -- CONTINUOUS
The outer hatch is closed now. Steve has continued to monitor the inner door.
STEVEWe’re good to go, guys.
MACYAll right, open it.
Steve plugs his monitor into a small outlet near the door and presses a few buttons. There is a soft beep, and then the door begins to slowly slide open – and immediately water explodes in from the corridor, which is completely flooded.
MACYJesus Christ!
He swings to the outer hatch and grabs the wheel.
INT. UNTIED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The President continues to speak, louder now.
THE PRESIDENTI make it my mandate to dissolve The Corporation and strike a committee to investigate its practices and its leaders!
INT. AIRLOCK
Water is now at chest level and rising quickly.
MACYCome on!
Already he and Getty are turning the wheel; now Steve and Willem and Jack Davies too; and then Macy takes a deep breath and plunges into the water as it finally fills the entire chamber, and still they struggle to turn, turn, turn, and then suddenly they’ve done it, and the hatch swings open, and the water rushes out.
INT. OUTER SHELL -– CONTINUOUS
And all of a sudden the corridor the catwalk passes through has become a rushing river, carrying the five wingmates along its gushing path, along the catwalk.
MACYGRAB ONTO SOMETHING!
And Willem reaches out with his hands, searching, and finds the railing of the catwalk, and grips, and holds, and grabs with his other arm, and holds himself there against the unending onslaught of water. So too does Steve grab onto a railing post and hold on for dear life. Macy and Getty and Davies are swept out into the wider darker expanse and still they cannot grab on to anything, and Macy finally tumbles forward past the water as it seeps over either edge of the catwalk, but then the force of this very same water flips Davies over the rail, and he grabs hold of it at the last possible second, and dangles there over the impenetrable darkness and unfathomable depths below, pounded constantly by water, and then Getty goes right over him, and Davies watches as Getty falls down ever down the new waterfall-of-sorts, beyond Jack and almost engulfed by shadow before he hits a jutting pipe and ricochets sickeningly but still falls ever down. Jack looks up and all his sight is blinded by water and darkness, and he can only feel the railing, feel it and hold on, but even now his hands start to slip. Suddenly he feels a welcome hand grip onto his, helping to hold him up.
MACYHold on, Jack!
Hawk Macy has difficulties of his own. He stands on the narrow catwalk, braced against rail posts and pounded by water; he holds a railing in a death grip with one hand and with the other he hangs desperately onto Davies, fallen over the opposite rail. He looks to Willem and Steve, still both stunned and holding onto the rail in the corridor.
MACY (CONT'D)Get that goddamn hatch closed, I don’t care how!
Willem nods, frantic.
INT. UNITED CENTER -– CONTINUOUS
The Center is in utter chaos. The CEO has left. Audience members clap, cheer, boo, shout, scramble towards the podium, ask questions, throw papers. The President remains resolute.
THE PRESIDENTWe will use force if necessary. And I assure you, we will prevail!
INT. OUTER SHELL -- CONTINUOUS
Meanwhile, the four surviving Black Aces fight against the torrent. Macy smiles at Davies as he continues to grip his flightmate’s arm.
MACYDon’t ever let anybody call you inexperienced after this.
Davies tries to smile, weakly, but finds himself little comforted and still utterly terrified.
Macy turns to the others.
MACYJesus, guys, come on!!
Willem, still holding tightly to the railing, is finally able to jump up so that both of his feet are on the rail, between his hands, and he crouches there for a second, a few inches above the flowing water.
WILLEM(To Steve)
Like this.
Then, in a single smooth move, Willem lets go of the rail with both hands and stretches his left leg across the corridor so that his foot comes to rest upon the opposite rail. He spreads his arms and splays them against the walls for support. Steve begins to follow suit.
INT. THE UNITED CENTER -- CONTINUOUS
The President surveys the scene before him with stolid pride. An AIDE finally reaches the President and turns him, protesting, away from the podium. Suddenly a laser shot rings out and a MAN only a few feet from the President falls down dead. There is a rising terror within the audience.
INT. OUTER SHELL –- CONTINUOUS
Willem and Steve have reached the hatch by walking along the railings, Steve first.
STEVESecure me.
Steve hops down into the water, holding onto the railing. Willem grabs a rope out of his bag and loops it around Steve’s waist, tying it tightly, and then loops it around the rail several times and ties it tightly again. Steve lets go of the rail and pushes against the hatch with all his might, pushing back on a rail post with his heel for leverage, while Willem ties himself to the rail. Suddenly Steve slips and is carried back a few feet by the water; he bangs his chin hard against the metal floor of the catwalk but is all right. He struggles to right himself.
MACY, meanwhile, holds onto Jack with an iron grip. Jack is terrified.
DAVIESI’m slipping.
MACYNo you’re not.
DAVIESI can feel it, I’m slipping.
MACYI’ve got you.
Willem and Steve struggle against the hatch but the force of the water is too strong, and they can budge it only a few inches. Steve yells out.
STEVEMacy, we need you!
Macy looks up.
MACYI can’t!
STEVEWe can’t get this hatch closed by ourselves!
Macy thinks for a second, then looks back to Jack.
DAVIESNo, no—
MACYJack, I have to go now and get the hatch.
DAVIESNo, no, you can’t—
MACYJack, I can’t hold you forever. We’ve got to get that door closed and they can’t do it alone.
DAVIESDon’t leave me. I’ll fall.
Macy looks up again, bites his lip, looks down.
MACYIt’ll only be a minute, Jack.
DAVIESNo—
MACYHere’s what I want you to do. I want you to hold on tight – just curl your fingers around and hold on tight—
DAVIESI can’t.
MACYYes you can. It’s only for a minute. I have to let you go, Jack.
Davies can’t speak for fear.
MACYHold on tight, Jack. I’m letting go ... now.
Macy pulls his hand away. Davies holds on still, his teeth grit, his eyes closed. He opens his eyes and looks up at Macy, and squeaks out a single word.
DAVIESHurry.
Macy disappears. He indeed does hurry, pushing himself against the current, gripping the rails, until he comes to the corridor; then he hops onto the rails and walks quickly down to the door. He crawls over Steve and Willem, wedging himself behind the door where there’s no water flow, and the three of them push as hard as they can, leaning all of their weight into the door.
DAVIES holds on as tight as he can but he can’t hold on much longer. He moans; the fingers of one hand start slowly to slip off of the rail.
AND FINALLY the three men together are able to close the hatch maybe halfway, but now Steve and Willem can go no farther, being tied to the rail. Macy holds the door, grunting under the incredible pressure, as the other two untie themselves one by one.
AND DAVIES’S HAND SLIPS, dangles below him; his glove falls off into the darkness below, and it’s only a matter of time now . . .
AND STEVE AND WILLEM ARE FREE, and with a final mighty shove they heave the door closed, and Macy turns the wheel to lock it as Steve and Willem speed along the corridor to Jack.
JACK DAVIES’S HAND is starting to slip, and Jack Davies is starting to wail, as Steve and Willem finally reach him, reach down, and grab him, one by the arm and the other by the shoulder, and as the last droplets of water drip down down down, they haul Jack Davies over the side and onto the catwalk. They lie there in a heap, propped against the rail, as Macy reemerges from the corridor.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. OUTER SHELL –- MOMENTS LATER
The four water-logged survivors reach another hatch, this one open. Steve passes through and scans the inner door with his monitor.
STEVEDefinitely no water.
There are dozens of SOLDIERS moving along this corridor.
MACYFuck it, we’ll take our chances.
Just as Willem heaves the hatch to Steve inserts his monitor into a receptacle near the door as before and the doorway slides slowly open.
INT. CORRIDOR -- CONTINUOUS
The four battered men emerge into the busy hall; the door shuts behind them. They turn together and start moving down the corridor when an OFFICER shouts at them from behind
OFFICERYou there!
They turn.
OFFICER (CONT'D)It’s all over.
Macy sets his jaw and moves to draw his laser pistol.
MACYLike hell it is.
The officer holds his hands out in a gesture of peace.
OFFICERNo, I mean, it’s over. We’ve been ordered to stand down.
Macy looks to his comrades. This is perhaps the most exhausting news yet.
FADE OUT. . .
Please comment! Look for the next two chapters soon. Then I'll be releasing the full and final draft!
-The Host
12/17/2002 9:59:47 PM
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