TRIUMVIRATE SE Deleted Scene 7
By The Host
The following is by far the most significant cut from the
film. As explained in the author’s commentary, the brief
shoot-out in the Tower was originally a much longer and more
complex action sequence. It includes a brief exchange
between the CEO and Copley that *is* in the final draft of
the screenplay; it also includes an exchange between Dawson
and Joggins that foreshadowed the ending of the film. The
latter was cut because while it was intended to make the
ending more clear, it simply acted instead to confuse the
reader. Anyway, here’s the sequence in its entirety.
EXT. CORPORATE TOWER -- NIGHT
The great gothic tower stretches thirty thousand feet above
the level of the street, inspiring awe and terror in all
that see it.
INT. LOBBY -- CONTINUOUS
Davies, Macy and Johnson enter the vast lobby of the
Corporate headquarters. It is an immense square room, the
upper levels of the walls carved with intricate motifs,
dominated by a cross. HUNDREDS OF WORKERS in suits pack the
room, going about their business.
JOHNSON
This place isn’t empty!
Macy sighs.
MACY
A lot of people are going to die.
DAVIES
This couldn’t have been Dawson’s
intention.
MACY
Let’s find a lift, get to the top.
At that moment, alarms go off in the building. Above the
doors flashing words: SECURITY.
MACY (CONT’D)
They know we’re here.
DAVIES
How?
JOHNSON
We can’t use a lift now; they’ll
track us for certain.
MACY
Yes we can. Follow me.
He leads them through the lobby.
INT. GLASS BRIDGE -- CONTINUOUS
The reason for the alarm now becomes clear: Willem and Steve
and the cabbie run across a glassed-in footbridge over a
busy highway; at the far end the words ‘CORPORATE TOWER’ are
inscribed above the door. ‘SECURITY’ flashes just below
that.
CABBIE
They know we’re here.
STEVE
Hell of an entrance you made back
there.
Guards are now in the bridge behind them. The glass doors
ahead begin to close. Willem and Steve and the cabbie speed
up; they make it through the doors just as they close, just
as the guards’ first laser blasts are let loose, now
harmlessly blasting the door.
INT. CORRIDOR -- CONTINUOUS
Now they find themselves in a wide hallway which leads to
the lobby. They stop to catch their breath.
WILLEM
Why are they still chasing us if
you left all of your loot back in
the cab? Don’t they have more
important things to do?
STEVE
(Indicating he and Willem)
I assume they’re chasing us.
CABBIE
Some hostages you are.
STEVE
We’d better get going. There’ll be
more after us before long.
CABBIE
I’ll stay here, face the music.
I’ll just slow you down.
STEVE
You said you used to work in this
building?
The cabbie nods.
STEVE (CONT’D)
You’re coming with us, then.
C’mon.
The cabbie nods and they disappear into a side corridor just
as the guards get the glass doors open and plunge into the
corridor.
INT. CORRIDOR –- MOMENTS LATER
Davies and Macy and Johnson make their way through a bright,
empty corridor. They come to a monitor set into the wall;
Macy halts.
JOHNSON
So what do we do?
MACY
The lifts here work on an enhanced-
grav system: there’s no motors,
they just manipulate the strength
and direction of gravity to get
these things to move. Now, there
should be a lift just around this
corner. I have some skill with
these things; I can disable it,
make it zero-gee, open the doors
for you, and you go in. You’ve got
boosters in your packs. Use them
to go up the shaft. It’ll take a
while, but it’ll be safe. It’ll
just look like a malfunction to
security, and they won’t be able
to tell what floor you get off on.
JOHNSON
Where’d you ever learn to do
something like that?
MACY
I was an engineer in another life.
JOHNSON
God help us.
DAVIES
(To Macy)
What about you?
MACY
I’ll stay here until I get it set
up, hold anyone off for a few
minutes. Then I’ll come behind
you.
Macy’s already at work with the computer system.
MACY (CONT’D)
Go on, go! This’ll only take me a
second.
The two nod; before they run off, Johnson unhooks his pack
and throws it to Macy.
JOHNSON
Here, you might need this. We’ll
only need one.
Macy nods his thanks and Davies and Johnson escape around
the corner.
INT. CEO’S OFFICE -- NIGHT
The CEO holds a drink in his hand, still full. He watches
battle rage over the city outside his window. The sky is
beginning to lighten: dawn will soon come, shedding light
into his darkened office.
Just as the CEO take the drink to his lips there is a
beeping sound and the image of Admiral Copley appears behind
him. The CEO turns and places his drink down on his desk.
COPLEY
Driven to drink?
(Beat)
Good, good. The war with Al T’Har
is over here. We won. Of course.
THE CEO
Congratulations.
COPLEY
Yes, yes, thanks. Meanwhile, your
battle? I’ve been watching on the
holovision, of course, but I
wanted to hear it from yourself.
THE CEO
We’re awaiting your
reinforcements.
COPLEY
Yes, about that. I see you’re
currently out-numbered six to one,
and you’re taking more casualties
than Dawson. With my
reinforcements you’ll only be out-
numbered three to one.
There is a long, bitter pause. Then:
COPLEY
It’s all broken, our Triumvirate,
our plan. Yours is a sinking ship.
Well, I’m keeping my head above
water. Good luck, good riddance,
good bye.
Copley disappears. The CEO falls heavily into his seat and
downs the alcohol.
EXT. SPACE
A convoy of freighters makes its way through the raging
battle. In the distance the Gemini makes quick work of any
vessel that dares attack it.
INT. GEMINI –- STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM
Dawson looks up from his view of the battle as Exler Joggins
enters the room.
JOGGINS
Sir, there is a train of supply
vessels leaving the planet,
several hundred of them, with
minimal escort, making their way
to the hypergate.
DAWSON
That’s them.
JOGGINS
We don’t attack?
DAWSON
Of course we don’t attack!
Joggins nods and leaves the room. Dawson returns to his view
of battle.
INT. CORRIDOR
Davies and Johnson reach the end of the corridor – and the
doors to a lift. A sign overhead blinks ‘OUT OF ORDER’.
JOHNSON
Come on!
He jams his fingers into the crack between the doors and
pulls. Davies joins them and they heave the doors open.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
They peer into the shaft, surprisingly well-lit, which
plunges down several stories and stretches up to
indeterminate height. Johnson takes a deep breath.
JOHNSON
Here goes nothing.
He steps into the shaft – but he doesn’t fall. Instead he
floats slowly in the direction he had stepped. He hits the
opposite wall and turns, pushing himself off and coming back
to the doors.
JOHNSON (CONT’D)
Secure yourself to me, Jack.
Jack reaches out and grabs Johnson by the shoulder, turns
him around, and hooks himself to Johnson’s pack so that they
stand back-to-back, Davies on the floor and Johnson floating
in the shaft. Johnson reaches down and pulls a tab on his
backpack; a strange device protrudes from the bottom and
shoots out a jet of gas. The two begin to rocket up the
shaft.
INT. CORRIDOR
Hawk Macy finishes his work with the monitor and turns to
follow Davies and Johnson – and bumps into a patrol of
FIFTEEN CORPORATE SOLDIERS. The lead soldier halts the
brigade, looks at Macy, looks at the lift, and then motions
his men forward.
SOLDIER
Get him!
Macy turns and sprints; some of the soldiers follow,
withdrawing their laser guns; others halt to aim and fire;
still others move to the monitor. Macy runs through a nearby
doorway.
INT. BOARD ROOM -- CONTINUOUS
Macy finds himself in a small corporate boardroom. He runs
across and crouches behind the long table, kicking chairs
out of the way and reaching into his pack to withdraw a
large laser rifle. He frantically clears papers from the
table and sets the gun down in time to cleanly shoot the
first two Corporate soldiers that come into the room. The
next two assume positions on either side of the entrance,
shooting at Macy. He ducks under the table; they miss.
INT. CORRIDOR
Steve and Willem and the cabbie make their way through a
dark hallway lined with rich mahogany paneling.
CABBIE
So what are we doing?
WILLEM
I guess first we have to find our
friends.
STEVE
Yeah, but – waitaminute!
WILLEM
(Reaching into his pocket)
Christ, I forgot!
He pulls out the bullet-shaped communicator and places it
into his ear; Steve follows suit. The cabbie watches on.
WILLEM
(Tapping his ear)
Macy? Johnson? Jack? Where are
you?
INT. BOARDROOM
Macy continues to shoot. Now soldiers are entering the room,
crouching, rushing along the sides.
WILLEM (V.O.)
Macy?
MACY
Guys, I could use some help here!
INT. CORRIDOR
Steve and Willem smile.
CABBIE
What?
STEVE
Where are you, Hawk?
INT. BOARDROOM
The soldiers almost have him. He looks up at the door.
MACY
Boardroom eighteen.
The nearest soldier is upon him. He picks up the rifle and
hits the soldier across the face with it as two more come
from behind.
INT. CORRIDOR
Steve turns to the cabbie.
STEVE
Boardroom eighteen! You know where
it is?
CABBIE
Yeah, that’s right nearby, this
floor! Come on!
They run along the corridor, following the cabbie,
withdrawing their weapons.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
Davies and Johnson continue to fly up the shaft.
JOHNSON
So how’s life been with the Black
Aces?
DAVIES
Exciting.
JOHNSON
Yeah.
He smiles. At that moment the lights, glowing white, begin
to pulse amber. There is a great moaning sound growing
quickly louder and deeper.
DAVIES
What does that mean?
JOHNSON
Hold on to something!
Johnson swings around and grabs onto a small metal
protrusion from the side of the shaft, reaching down and
shutting off his jetpack. At that instant everything goes
topsy-turvy. Their legs are drawn up, they dangle up, as
though they are hanging from an upside-down cliff. Johnson
strains to hold on, but then they see something below them,
rapidly approaching: the lift!
DAVIES
What the hell?
JOHNSON
They must’ve got Macy! Hold on!
And with that he lets go. They fall up the elevator shaft at
incredible speed, the lift ‘falling’ behind them. As if that
wasn’t bad enough, a roof panel of the lift is pushed aside
and THREE CORPORATE TROOPS emerge. They stand atop the
elevator car and begin shooting at our heroes.
INT. CORRIDOR
Steve and Willem and the Cabbie run through the corridor.
Steve carries a laser rifle, smaller than Macy’s; Willem
carries the same and is drawing a smaller gun from his belt.
They tear around a corner, coming upon six of the Corporate
soldiers; in their midst walks Macy in handcuffs.
Immediately Steve and Willem and the cabbie assume defensive
positions on either side of the corridor. Willem throws the
cabbie his smaller gun.
CABBIE
Thanks.
STEVE
And don’t shoot the guy in the
middle!
They shoot at the troops, who wheel around and exchange
fire.
INT. LIFT
Davies and Johnson, still falling, fire back at the troops
on the lift. Johnson reaches down to turn the rocket pack
back on in an attempt to slow their ascent. One of Davies’s
blasts connects and a soldier falls back into the lift car;
an opposite blast strikes Johnson’s arm. He yelps, but it’s
merely a flesh wound, and he turns back to the backpack.
Suddenly the rocket’s back on and they plow through the air
toward the lift below, still shooting.
INT. CORRIDOR
Two of the Corporate troops lie dead; two more grab Macy and
flee the scene. Steve and Willem leap out from their spots
hiding in door-frames.
STEVE
Come on!
Still firing, they run toward the soldiers. The cabbie
remains behind a moment, and is able to shoot one more
soldier. Then he bounds away through a side door. Meanwhile,
the other two have reached the junction of corridors. Willem
bludgeons the remaining soldier with his rifle; he crumples
to the ground. Now it’s three chasing two, but they can’t
shoot, because one of the remaining soldiers has Macy in a
death grip, and turns, his gun to Macy’s head.
SOLDIER
Shoot! I dare you!
The second soldier wheels around behind the first and raises
his gun to make short work of Steve and Willem, who halt in
their tracks, when suddenly the cabbie emerges from a door
behind the two Corporate soldiers. He hits the nearest on
the head with the butt of his gun and shoots the soldier
holding Macy before that soldier can react. The cabbie
begins to undo Macy’s cuffs as Willem and Steve rush up.
MACY
Who’re you?
CABBIE
Leonard J. Forsythe III at your
service, sir, but call me Leo.
Macy nods his thanks as the others arrive, breathless.
STEVE
Where’s Jack and Robert?
MACY
Come on, I have to find a monitor!
They run together down the hall, Willem and Leo flanking
with their laser guns at the ready.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
And Davies is close enough now to reach out with his gun and
strike the only remaining soldier (the other’s body lies
bloodied to one side). This soldier grabs Davies and spins
him over to face him; Johnson is taken along for the ride,
shutting off his rocket pack. Davies lands on the lift’s top
and immediately throws a punch at the soldier; Johnson
dangles over the open hole in the ceiling of the lift –
there are SOILDIERS yet inside. One of them grabs his legs
and pulls. Davies grapples with one of the soldiers as he is
pulled down. Johnson is able to unhook himself from his pack
before he is pulled into the lift itself. Davies and the
soldier on top continue to wrestle.
INT. CORRIDOR
Macy and his entourage reach a monitor. Macy’s fingers fly
across it as the others form a barrier around him, watching
for any sign of resistance.
INT. LIFT
Johnson holds his own with the three soldiers in the lift,
fighting with them. He punches one, knocks him down over the
body of the first fallen; another kicks at Johnson, knocking
the wind out of him; this continues.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
The lift suddenly begins to slow. The soldier looks away
from Davies in momentary surprise; Davies takes this
opportunity to lunge at the soldier, holding him down as the
lift comes to a stop and begins to fall.
INT. CORRIDOR
Macy curses.
MACY
Goddamn it, I screwed it up . . .
Hold on, hold on. . .
INT. LIFT
Johnson’s enemies are all down or momentarily stunned; he
takes this opportunity to flip the switch on his rocket
pack.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
He emerges to see Davies repeatedly punching the soldier he
has down.
JOHNSON
Let him go, Jack. Come on.
Now the lift is slowing again. Two soldiers climb out as
Davies hooks onto Johnson and they kick off shooting.
Johnson maneuvers as Davies shoots below, picking off one of
the soldiers.
JOHNSON (CONT’D)
Almost there.
INT. GEMINI –- STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM
Dawson watches the struggle in the shaft, looking away from
his strategic display for the moment. He smiles, speaks.
DAWSON
Good job, Jack.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
Jack and Johnson zoom up along the shaft now, the lift
rapidly falling out of sight.
DAWSON (V.O.) (CONT’D)
You’ve made it, lad. Now don’t let
me down.
INT. CORRIDOR
Macy and Steve and Willem and Leo make their way to a lift.
STEVE
Where now?
LEO
I can take you to the Chief’s
office, all right. We can be there
in two minutes. Just follow me, I
know the ways.
INT. LIFT SHAFT
Johnson alights upon a ledge at the top of the shaft. He
grabs a small device from his utility belt, places it to the
wall beside the doors, and with a spark and a swish they
open.
INT. OUTER OFFICE
He moves forward, his rocket pack off, Davies now on the
ground and detaching himself. They look around them: a
large, empty room lined with windows. There are several
desks and monitors throughout the deserted room, and several
sets of doors. One large set looms ahead: emblazoned above
it, the words, “OFFICE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE
CORPORATION” and, below that, a small white cross. Johnson
taps his ear.
JOHNSON
Macy?
INT. CORRIDOR
Macy stops; the others halt a second later.
MACY
Robert? How are you? How’s Jack?
JOHNSON (V.O.)
We’re fine.
INT. OUTER OFFICE
Johnson speaks.
JOHNSON
We’re here now, going into the
CEO’s office.
INT. CORRIDOR
Steve and Willem now listen intently.
JOHNSON (V.O.)
Steve, get yourself to a computer
station, hack in, screw with their
methane levels and whatever you
have to do. Jack and I will have
the securities turned off in a
minute.
Steve nods.
STEVE
I’m on it.
INT. GEMINI –- STRATEGIC PLANNING ROOM
Dawson frowns. He speaks to Davies again.
DAWSON
Jack, don’t fail me now.
SCENE ACCESS
MAIN MENU
4/12/2003 3:31:51 AM
(Updated: 4/12/2003 6:11:21 PM)
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