"Goliath"
by Fernando Frias
thechaosfactor@hotmail.com
TEASER
EXT. PERIMETER FENCE - NIGHT
Legend : Santiago City Perimeter, Harsh Realm
The silence of twilight is broken by the deep rumble of a car engine.
Humvees suddenly appear. They move easily over the terrain,
toward the fence. It looks like they're going to hit it, but as they close
in, the fence digitizes and disappears.
They roar through, and begin to slow down a short distance away from the
fence, and we pull back to see about fifteen of them in a row. The lead
vehicle comes to a halt, and MEL WATERS steps out. He has a deeply disturbed
look. Light seems to dance across his face, but we don't see the source yet.
WATERS
Sweet Jesus.
Shift to Waters' POV. Only a few yards away, the skeleton of a Humvee
burns in a raging conflagration. No bodies are present, but the grass is
literally soaking in blood, stained in crimson.
Waters puts his hand to his nose. The smell is unbearable. He stares at
the devestation until he turns back to the vehicles:
WATERS
Fan out. I want a full search of the area!
Republican Guard begins to pour out of the Humvees like a swarm of
locusts. They have their weapons drawn.
One of them, a younger officer, breaks off from the rest and approaches
Waters. The name on his uniform reads "Gelman".
GELMAN
Major Waters, I've got a recording of the
last transmission received from the radio
before we lost contact.
WATERS
Let's hear it.
Gelman produces a tape player from his uniform, slips in a casette,
and plays it.
RADIO
This is Lieutenant Major Baxter of Unit 24.
We've gotten a report from one of the
civilians of hostile parties near the fence.
We're investigating it. Nothing yet.
Waters listens intently.
RADIO
(beat)
Hold it, I think we've got something.
(change of tone; he's now
terrified.)
What the hell?!
Suddenly the sounds of violence come through. Waters
looks curious.
RADIO
Son of a -
Static finishes off the transmission. Waters regards Gelman. Gelman
only stares back before Waters trudges away.
CUT TO :
The soldiers are still searching the area. One of them walks back toward
the parked Humvees. A stray. He takes out a pack of cigarettes from his
pocket and slips one in his mouth. He takes out a lighter, and flicks a
glowing flame into existence. As the fire nears his lips an enormous shadow
falls across him.
He looks up, and his eyes widen in terror. His mouth opens, but before he
can utter anything, monstrous hands clench around his throat, and lifts him
off the ground. He gasps, struggling for air, until finally his neck breaks
with a nauseating snap.
The figure throws him savagely into the air like a rag doll. He lands on
the ground and DIGITIZES.
Shouts come out from other soldiers. From their POV, a Humvee is overturned
and goes rolling across the ground with little effort. The soldiers run
toward the figure, still a silhouette in the moonlight.
One lifts his machine gun and opens fire. Blood spatters on his uniform.
The figure barely shows any realization. Instead, it lifts an arm and
viciously strikes him back. Other soldiers open fire, but the figure turns,
bullets seemingly bouncing off him with no effect. It disappears behind the
Humvees.
The soldiers still fire. Waters is shoved back by one of them.
SOLDIER
Major Waters, please stay back.
Suddenly, over the rapid echoes of gunfire, an even more threatening
sound issues out. A loud, ominous grinding. One by one, the Humvees
begin to topple over like dominoes, and ignite in a ravenous inferno.
On the lead car, the Santiago City flag, with crossed swords, catches
on fire.
SOLDIER (os)
RETREAT! Everyone, back behind the fence!
The Republican Guards run back to the fence in a cowardly manner.
Waters stares back as he flees back to it. The fence DIGITIZES and
the soldiers pour in. Back on Waters POV. The towering figure stands
like a monolith. Almost unaffected. Then, for the first time, the
figure speaks:
FIGURE
I am that I am.
Then we reverse. The Humvee fire illuminates his face, enough so that
we can get a good look : the figure is almost nine feet tall, has pale,
ghastly skin, and a scar running down the side of his face. His eyes
are small and beady, but nonetheless threatening. As he watches the
Republican Guard flee, he suddenly throws his head back and laughs; a
long, maniacal laugh.
CLOSE IN:
The Santiago City flag slowly blackening up as it burns. The Figure's
laugh continues to echo off into the night.
ACT ONE
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Legend : VERMONT FRONTIER, HARSH REALM
The sound of an engine approaches, and Pinocchio's Chevelle cruises down
a disheveled, ancient roadway.
HOBBES (vo)
My dearest Sophie. Today we are
no closer to defeating Santiago
and ending this game. I pray
every day that somehow, something
will reveal itself as a hope,
but I find that I am the only
hope for this twisted world.
The car begins to come to a stop.
HOBBES (vo)
This feeling, that I am Harsh
Realm's savior, only makes me
feel smaller at times. Unable
to measure up to the expectations
of the abused and dying people
of this cruel place.
Hobbes appears from the passenger seat. Pinocchio comes out of the
driver's seat.
HOBBES
This the place?
PINOCCHIO
Yeah. Before Gordon Sym died,
he left a couple of rebel
encampments scattered through
the New Frontier. One of them's
beyond that hill.
Pinocchio looks around. From his POV, a pair of military combat boots
are exposed from the brush. Hobbes looks at Pinocchio, and both men
bound toward them.
Hobbes reaches down to pull the figure out. He barely grasps the
man's feet before a gun cocks in his face. Hobbes looks squarely at
the man, who stares back at him.
Almost as quickly, Pinocchio's MP5K slides into the frame. The man
regards it.
PINOCCHIO
Put it down.
The man lowers his automatic pistol. He stands up. Pinocchio keeps his
gun aimed on him until Hobbes motions for him to lower it.
HOBBES
What's your name?
The man spits.
MAN
Yeah, and who the hell are
you?
HOBBES
Thomas Hobbes. I was with
Gordon Sym before he died.
The man seems to shed his demeanor at the name.
MAN
Mark Williams.
PINOCCHIO
What are you doing out here?
WILLIAMS
What are *you* doing out here?
Pinocchio sighs. He thinks it isn't worth arguing.
HOBBES
We came to find an encampment
Gordon Sym left behind.
WILLIAMS
Yeah, well it's long gone now.
PINOCCHIO
What happened?
WILLIAMS
Why don't you take a look for
yourself?
He points to the top of a mound.
Pinocchio and Hobbes climb to the top and look downward.
HOBBES POV. Below them, nestled within a gorge, is the burnt and
detstroyed remains of the encampment. Smoke still curls up into the
sky like a vine. It looks like the entire encampment was flipped
upside down. No bodies are present.
Pinocchio retains a stoic expression. Hobbes's mouth hangs open.
Williams approaches them from behind, and coughs, grabbing their
attention.
WILLIAMS
It was a monster or something. Our
encampment isn't that large, we're
still trying to rebuild it after a
bout with Rebublican Guard.
Pinocchio rolls his eyes. It seems to say 'You've gotta be kidding
me'.
HOBBES
What do you mean a monster? Was it
black with red eyes?
He's recalling the monster from 'La Morte Veini Dall'alto'.
WILLIAMS
No. Why?
Hobbes shakes his head.
HOBBES
Just tell me what it was.
WILLIAMS
It was a man. About nine feet tall.
Pastiest skin I've ever seen, and
arms the size of tree trunks. Did all
of this. Guy was invincible, no matter
how many times we shot him, he just
wouldn't die.
Hobbes looks curious. He pulls Pinocchio aside and walks a short
distance from Williams.
PINOCCHIO
Don't tell me you think that joker's
for real.
HOBBES
Do you expect me to think he's a
liar?
Pinocchio exhales sharply. Hobbes has a point.
HOBBES
Listen, this could be another one
of Santiago's experiments. Like those
red-eyed creatures or the bioweapons.
(Note: From 'La Morte Viene Dall'alto' and 'Glitch')
PINOCCHIO
And what if it is? You gonna charge in
like an idiot and get yourself killed?
HOBBES
I'm not gonna let it go around killing
innocent people who could help us defeat
Santiago.
He walks off back to Williams, who by now has cleaned the grime off
his face.
HOBBES
Can you tell me what direction it went
after?
WILLIAMS
I'll show you.
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY
LEGEND : GOVERNMENT HOUSE, SANTIAGO CITY, HARSH REALM
SANTIAGO stands regally in the center of the room. All his ADVISORS
give each other a look of concern. The only one who seems to give no
impression of being affected is INGA FOSSA.
ADVISOR
Can you tell us what exactly happened
out there, Major Waters?
WATERS stands up. Everyone stares intently.
WATERS
We were attacked by a giant man.
Scattered laughter. Waters does not look pleased.
SANTIAGO
SILENCE!
His anger catches his Advisors off guard. He looks at Waters.
SANTIAGO
Continue, Major Waters.
WATERS
It looked about nine feet tall, had a
scar running down the side of its cheek.
It seemed . . . engineered. Biologically
enhanced.
ADVISOR
No one has the ability to biologically
engineer outside the fence.
SANTIAGO
Maybe it wasn't anyone outside the fence.
Silence descends on the room. The Advisors look warily at each other
again.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - AFTERNOON
Santiago appears alone untl we shift to the left and see Inga approach
him from behind. He runs his finger across the map of the US.
INGA
Was that another one of yours?
Santiago almost strikes her for her impertinence. She gasps and cowers
before realizing he's changed his mind. He lowers his arm.
SANTIAGO
If it was my doing, it would not
have gone awry.
INGA
Unless you willed it.
Santiago's eyes narrow.
INGA
If it's not yours, who else would
be able to . . .
She stops.
INGA
Gretchen.
Santiago gives her a meaningful look.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
The figure is trudging through the brush. We barely catch a glimpse of
his body. Only leaves slide and bend across his thick arms. We hear
him pant.
Finally, he stops.
>From his POV, we see a disheveled old shack. The figure resumes toward
it.
INT. LABORATORY - DAY
Inside, a rather elderly man, 60s, balding, stands over a very drab
table. Littered across it are numberous flasks, containers, and test
tubes. Chemicals of various colors bubble, either acidically or under
heat. He hears a thump behind him, and turns around.
DR. POLOWSKY
Mordred.
The figure steps out in front of him.
MORDRED
Master.
DR. POLOWSKY
I hear you've been busy.
Mordred nods.
MORDRED
I attacked the enemy. Left their
army in shambles. They fear me now.
DR. POLOWSKY
Excellent.
MORDRED
After that, I destroyed a rebel
encampment.
Polowsky stops, visibly shaken.
DR. POLOWSKY
That wasn't your objective.
Mordred shrugs.
MORDRED
You created me to be the one,
didn't you? To end the game so you
and I can return to your real world.
If I am truly the One, then I need
no help from them.
DR. POLOWSKY
But they're innocent men . . .
MORDRED
They would only get in my way of
defeating Santiago.
Mordred lies down on a cot by Polowsky. Polowsky begins to prepare
a syringe full of a blue liquid.
MORDRED
The glory belongs to me.
Polowsky inserts the needle into Mordred.
DR. POLOWSKY
All the better. Continue your mission.
Mordred closes his eyes. As he opens him, ZOOM into his eyes. A mirror
image of the Republican Guard flag blazing.
MORDRED
I will.
TIME CUT TO:
INT. LABORATORY - DAY
Polowsky wakes up from sleep, and looks around. Mordred's gone.
VOICE (os)
Where is he?
Polowsky sits up quickly, to face GRETCHEN MOLRY.
GRETCHEN
Where's Mordred?
He remains speechless.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Pinocchio's Chevelle sputters as it drives across the highway.
INT. CHEVELLE - DAY
Pinocchio is in the driver's seat, protectively guarding the wheel.
Hobbes is in the passenger seat, with Williams in the back seat with his
legs on the upholstery. Pinocchio looks at Williams' feet, then at him.
Williams puts his feet down.
Hobbes senses some uneasiness, and tries to ease it.
HOBBES
So how long have you been working
for Sym?
WILLIAMS
Three years. Almost the moment I
came into the game I hooked up
with his rebel group. It was great.
Got all the food I needed, a tent to
live in . . .
HOBBES
And now?
Williams exhales deeply.
WILLIAMS
Ever since Sym died, the rebel group's
fallen on hard times. Our rations are
low, we're constantly being attacked
by Republican Guard, and now we've
got the problem with the giant. I swear,
as soon as I get back to the Real World
I'm gonna buy a cheap apartment and stare
at the ceiling for the rest of my life.
Hobbes grins empathetically.
HOBBES
You got a girl?
WILLIAMS
No. But I intend to get one.
Suddenly the Chevelle comes to a screeching halt. Hobbes bounces a bit
before settling down.
HOBBES
What the mat-
Hobbes realizes Pinocchio's eyes are wide with fear. He looks forward.
PINOCCHIO
Get out of the car.
>From Pinocchio's POV, Mordred races toward the Chevelle at full speed.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
RESUME :
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Mordred continues. He's nearing the car. Immediately Hobbes and
Pinocchio dive out, and land on the ground.
INT. CAR - DAY
With an expression of total panic, Williams grabs the lever on the
driver's seat and pushes it up.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
We see Williams' form fly out too, a split second before Mordred's
hulking form slams across the hood, sending the car swerving to the
side. Screws, bolts, pieces of debris fly everywhere.
Pinocchio watches with grim realization from the ground, and covers
his face from harm. His lip is bleeding.
PINOCCHIO (to himself)
Great. And I just got the smog
checked.
Pinocchio is unseen to Hobbes, who looks wildly toward Mordred. A hand
lifts him to his feet; it's Williams, panting and cut. Blood streams
down his temples. Hobbes wavers when he stands. His leg is bleeding
badly.
Resume Pinocchio. A hand reaches out and grabs him, and pulls him to
his feet as well; he looks up to see:
MORDRED.
MORDRED
You are mine.
Pinocchio continues to stare at the giant until Mordred's monstrous
fists hurl down toward his face.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
Resume Hobbes and Williams. The Chevelle flies up, teetering on only
its back wheels. It lands on its back.
Hobbes POV. Nothing. Mordred and Pinocchio have disappeared. Williams
still holds Hobbes to his feet like a human crutch.
HOBBES (shouting)
Pinocchio!
No response.
HOBBES (louder)
PINOCCHIO!
Nothing. Hobbes's face is an expression of disbelief.
INT. LABORATORY - DUSK
Dr. Polowsky sits at his various rows of test tubes. He pours in a few drops
of a jade solution into a bubbling erlenmeyer flask of another crimson
liquid.
The two mix, and finally form into the same blue liquid he injected into
Mordred only hours before.
He hears the rumble of footsteps, and turns slowly around. Behind him,
Mordred
appears through a door. Pan down. He's holding Pinocchio by the back of his
shirt.
Pinocchio's face is swollen, so he's almost unrecognizable. His face remains
pointed down and out of view for most of the scene.
Polowsky's lifts an eyebrow.
DR. POLOWSKY
What's this?
Mordred dumps Pinocchio's unconscious form on the ground. He lands squarely
on the wood.
MORDRED
One who threatens to get in the way
of achieving our goal.
Polowsky reaches down and drags Pinocchio to the corner of the lab. He pulls
rope from his pocket and begins to tie Pinocchio's arms together.
DR. POLOWSKY
Why didn't you kill him? Like the
others?
It comes out almost sarcastically. Mordred does not look pleased.
MORDRED
It is a trap. I will destroy this one
when I lure his companion to us.
DR. POLOWSKY
What companion?
Mordred pauses.
MORDRED
The one you spoke of. The one who the
unbelievers put faith in, yet he does
nothing to stop Santiago.
Polowsky's eyes widen in recognition.
DR. POLOWSKY
Thomas Hobbes.
Mordred nods.
MORDRED
Keep this one here. He will come.
He tromps back out the door, and vanishes.
EXT. FOREST - DAY
Between the trees, Williams and Hobbes are leaning against two trees, facing
each other. Hobbes seems somewhat worried. His eyes are wide, his hand
gripped tightly on his pistol. In the background, we see the Chevelle,
battered from its bout with Mordred.
Suddenly Hobbes hears the sound of footsteps approaching. He's instantly at
his feet.
Williams groans as he pushes himself up, and holds Pinocchio's MP5K.
Hobbes scans between the trees. No one appears to be there until a split
second later, a twig snaps behind him. He whirls around and points his
pistol at:
Gretchen.
GRETCHEN
Put the gun down, Hobbes. It's only
me.
Hobbes gives a sigh of relief and lowers his pistol down. Williams keeps
his own weapon still pointed at her.
WILLIAMS
Who's she?
Hobbes holds his hand out, and motions for Williams to lower the gun.
HOBBES
It's all right.
GRETCHEN
Hobbes. I need your help.
HOBBES
I can't. Not now.
Gretchen lifts an eyebrow.
GRETCHEN
Where's Pinocchio?
HOBBES
He's gone. It took him.
GRETCHEN
What took him?
Hobbes hesitates for a moment; it's crazy.
HOBBES
A giant.
Gretchen's eyes widen in realization.
GRETCHEN
Mordred . . .
Disbelief floods Hobbes' face.
HOBBES
You know . . . ?
Gretchen nods sourly.
GRETCHEN
Yes. I created him.
Hobbes' jaw drops.
GRETCHEN
If he has Pinocchio, we have to find
him quickly.
EXT. MEADOW - DUSK
Pinocchio's eyes flutter open as he bounces along the cold metal of the back
of a pick-up truck. He sits up, and turns to Dr. Polowsky, who is in the
driver's seat. Polowsky is fiddling with the radio.
RADIO
This is WSCR, the Santiago City radio
station . . .
Polowsky rolls his eyes and changes it to another frequency.
RADIO (new voice)
Unit 223, we've got another disturbance
outside the gates. Please respond to threat
quickly under orders of General Santiago . . .
He does it one more time.
RADIO (different new voice)
Oh my god, it's huge! Break off attack!
Retreat! Retreat!
Static replaces the transmission.
Finally, his face contorts with disgust, and he flicks it off. A knocking
behind him shakes him with surprise, and he turns to face Pinocchio, badly
bruised but not as bad as when we last saw him, knocking his knuckles on
the rear window.
The car jolts to a stop. Polowsky comes out with a syringe of translucent
liquid, and pulls himself into the back toward Pinocchio.
Instantly Pinocchio sees the needle.
PINOCCHIO
Hey hey hey! You don't have to do that,
I'll be good.
For the first time Polowsky sees Pinocchio's face clearly, and an angry look
of recognition appears.
DR. POLOWSKY
You . . .
Abruptly he kicks him. Pinocchio gasps for air.
DR. POLOWSKY
I should have told Mordred to kill
you right then and there, Republican
Guard! I'll be glad to see him rip you
apart!
Before Pinocchio can say anything, Polowsky backhands him with a tightly
clenched fist.
DR. POLOWSKY
Too bad we have to go on the move. Molry
would probably come with your friends before
Mordred returned.
Pinocchio's gasps are replaced by a groan of agony. Polowsky plunges the
needle into his arm.
Almost immediately he falls limp.
Polowsky gives him one final look before returning to the driver's seat and
bringing the life back into the truck's engine.
INT. LABORATORY - NIGHT
The bursts open, and almost as quickly, Hobbes enters, his gun drawn. Behind
him is Gretchen, followed by Williams.
>From Hobbes' POV, he surveys the laboratory. The lab is completely deserted.
Only the flasks and test tubes remain, but they are barren; all the
solutions
once in them are gone.
Hobbes reaches down, and runs his hand across a stain on the floor. Zoom in
on his fingers: they are tainted with blue film. Dried fragments of the
serum
are on him.
He wipes it off on his pants.
WILLIAMS
Damn.
He realizes it too; they've come too late.
GRETCHEN
He probably knew we were coming.
WILLIAMS
Why?
GRETCHEN
I visited him before I came to you.
Hobbes still stares around at the abandoned lab.
HOBBES
Why would you go to him?
GRETCHEN
I thought I could talk some sense into
him.
Williams begins to pick up and examine the empty flasks intently.
HOBBES
Who is he?
GRETCHEN
A colleague. His name is Jean Polowsky.
He was one of the engineers for Santiago
when I first started working for him.
HOBBES
How do you know about . . . Mordred?
Gretchen sighs mournfully.
FLASHBACK:
INT. COMPUTER LAB - DAY
The same flashback from 'Glitch'
Gretchen, in nicer clothes. Maybe even a white lab coat.
She looks younger, more freshly scrubbed, less world-weary.
There are other programmers, too.
Santiago, in full Republican Guard uniform, at the front of
the room.
He begins to speak, but unlike last time this flashback was shown, we hear
no voice.
He clicks a button and a multimedia presentation begins,
the room darkened.
Gretchen watches with youthful excitement.
ON THE SCREEN:
Soldiers, moving in formation, etc. Looks like an Army
commerical.
A green CAD frame outline of a soldier within a 3-D grid -
standard design computer code.
Finally we hear Santiago's voice.
SANTIAGO
- to pioneer the "Perfect Program" -
an undefeatable soldier, combining the
best of human knowledge and ability
with the superior conditioning and
strength of computers.
ON THE SCREEN:
The CAD soldier frame becomes filled in, transformed into a
seriously mean looking soldier.
Santiago looks at the screen himself, almost smiles.
END FLASHBACK
INT. LABORATORY - DUSK
She seems almost shaken this time.
GRETCHEN
I made Mordred.
HOBBES
I know that. You've said it before.
She winces, almost hesitating to divulge anything to him.
GRETCHEN
Santiago asked me to make the perfect
soldier, an soldier incapable of being
defeated by any conventional means.
FLASHBACK :
INT. CENTRAL SECURITY ROOM - DAY
A new one, but similar to the last. Gretchen is standing before a computer,
her fingers typing faster than anyone thought possible. Lines of code strung
together appear effortlessly on the screen in front of her.
Next to her, Polowsky, younger, appears smiling, watching intently.
Gretchen's voice continues over the scene.
GRETCHEN (vo)
I did that. I followed orders to the
best of my abilites. And I suceeded in
doing so.
ON THE SCREEN :
A wire-frame of a person. It already appears to be a heavy-set person.
Muscular, tall, strong.
GRETCHEN (vo)
Pinocchio may have told you about my
success. It came in the form of the
Guardians.
Gretchen presses some more keys. The wire-frame begins to be
texture-wrapped.
GRETCHEN (vo)
They eventually turned on Santiago, and
formed their own war faction against his
regime.
The texture has built up to the figure's waist from its feet.
GRETCHEN (vo)
Before they were created, we went through
a mass of prototypes for them.
Finally the texture wraps to the face, and we see it clearly. It's Mordred.
GRETCHEN (vo)
Mordred was one of them. The last, before
the perfection on the Guardians was made.
END OF FLASHBACK
RESUME :
INT. LABORATORY - NIGHT
Williams is no longer playing with the lab equipment. He now sits on the
enormous cot Mordred was on earlier, and is listening with all seriousness
to Gretchen's explanation.
GRETCHEN
I thought he was deleted. Orders from
Santiago himself. He cared little for size,
only for perfection.
WILLIAMS
And then what?
GRETCHEN
He wasn't. Polowsky must have taken his
file with him, activated it fully, and
let him go on the loose.
HOBBES
Why would he do that?
Gretchen shrugs.
GRETCHEN
He was one of the first people to convince
me that working for Santiago was wrong. He
must have programmed Mordred to fight against
him.
Williams stands up suddenly. He's angry.
WILLIAMS
Then why is he attacking rebel encampments?
GRETCHEN
I don't know.
Williams' rage grows.
WILLIAMS
Dammit! We're on his side! Don't you know
anything?! He's killing people who'll
help him!
Hobbes is visibly shaken. He hasn't expected Williams to act this way.
HOBBES
Williams . . .
WILLIAMS
Don't tell me to calm down! I saw that
monster kill my men!
As if to cool off alone, he ducks out of the room and disappears from sight.
Hobbes and Gretchen are alone now. He looks at her with all seriousness.
HOBBES
I understand him. He's a freedom
fighter against Santiago.
GRETCHEN
Hobbes, I didn't mean . . .
HOBBES
Why's Mordred after Pinocchio?
GRETCHEN
I don't think it's Pinocchio he's after.
Hobbes understands. It's him.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
A fire burns in the center of the camp. It's makeshift, one tent on the
side.
Pinocchio is lying on a log. His head seems a bit better, less red. It's
still swollen. He wakes up, and sits up.
His hands and ankles are still bound by ropes. He tugs at him.
Polowsky appears in front of him. Pinocchio throws him a dirty look as he
approaches, holding a knife poised in his hand.
PINOCCHIO
Come to finish me off before the Incredible
Hulk does? Thought you were gonna let him do
it.
Polowsky holds out a can of meat, and sinks the blade into it. He curls the
can in his hands in a circular motion, slicing the metal top. It pops off
cleanly, and he places the contents in a pan.
DR. POLOWSKY
And I still intend to.
Pinocchio winces.
PINOCCHIO
Yeah? What's your deal with him? Hired hand?
DR. POLOWSKY
No, I made him to be the One.
As he speaks, Polowsky fixes the pan over the campfire.
PINOCCHIO
You can't just make the One. He has to be
chosen. He has to fit . . .
Polowsky flares.
DR. POLOWSKY
He isn't doing anything, is he?!
Pinocchio stays quiet for a moment.
PINOCCHIO
So you just have him run all over wreaking
havoc all over the rest of Harsh Realm?
DR. POLOWSKY
He's my only hope home. He defeats Santiago,
I get to go home.
PINOCCHIO
How'd you get him to agree to it?
DR. POLOWSKY (shrugs)
Promised him he would return with me.
Pinocchio's eyes narrow.
PINOCCHIO
You lied to him.
DR. POLOWSKY
He doesn't know that.
PINOCCHIO
He's vc. You can't take him with you.
DR. POLOSWKY
All that matters . . .
PINOCCHIO
Is yourself.
Dr. Polowsky pauses.
We pan back, breaking off from them. Past the bushes, the trees, all the
foliage of the serene Harsh Realm forest. Where no one can see. Almost
shrouded in a pall of darkness.
And where small, beady eyes open and blink, glowing in the moonlight.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - NIGHT
Santiago stands by a window. His gaze is drifting, away from the map of
his conquests, away from the empty crescent table where his Advisors sit.
>From his POV, he surveys the glowing metropolis he created. Skyscrapers
spiral up toward the stars. Helicopters swim across the horizon. Below,
Humvees roll in and out of a weapons depot. Republican Guard buzz around
them as if it were a hive.
The Lord of the Realm sighs deeply.
He turns around just in time to see the doors open and Mel Waters march
into the chamber.
Santiago removes his beret and sets it on the table.
SANTIAGO
Major Waters. Has the threat been
neutralized?
Waters shakes his head.
WATERS
We haven't been able to locate the
creature. He's been sighted all over
the map, from west Virginia to northern
Vermont. If he's travelling on foot,
his speed is beyond anything my men can
handle.
He waits for an answer. Santiago remains motionless.
Finally:
SANTIAGO
Continue your search. The pendelum of
defeat is swinging dangerously close
to us.
He turns away to stare out the window.
Waters hesitates before bounding out the door.
INT. GOVERNMENT HOUSE HALLWAY - DAY
Waters walks down the hallway just as a voice stops him.
INGA (os)
How is our fearless leader?
The slightest shadow of a smile crosses over Waters. It quickly
disappears.
WATERS
Trying to hide his fear. He talks so
much of being fearless warriors, but
he's a coward himself.
Inga smiles mysteriously.
INGA
Such words are treason, Major Waters.
Waters doesn't hesitate this time to smile.
WATERS
So are our plans.
Inga walks up seductively closer to him, leans up, and kisses him
passionately on the lips. After a few moments, she releases him.
INGA
Just don't let this new development
get in the way.
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - NIGHT
Santiago is no longer immersed in viewing his domain. Now, he sits, hunched,
with his beret on once again. His hands are propped up on the table and
rest on his upper lip. He's staring intently at something. Light dances
across his face.
>From his POV, we see he's staring at a television screen.
ON THE SCREEN:
A camera surveillance system. Complete with speakers. We can still hear
footsteps as Inga walks away from Waters.
Back on Santiago; he only continues watching.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
The Chevelle cruises a dirt track. Its engine whirs as it passes the camera.
INT. CHEVELLE - NIGHT
For once, we see Hobbes in the driver's seat. Williams is in the seat in
the back, and Gretchen is in the passenger's.
On her lap rests her laptop. Her fingers fly across the keys for a while,
and she stops.
ON THE SCREEN:
A window appears. On it is a bar and the words FILE SEARCH.
She stares nervously at the window for a while. The bar begins to be
pigmented on the screen.
ON THE SCREEN:
The bar reaches 57% . . . then 72% . . . then 91% Finally, it comes to 100%.
FILE LOCATED.
A complex string of code runs across the screen.
Gretchen turns to Hobbes.
GRETCHEN
He's not far ahead. I just located
his file in the main frame.
Hobbes nods, and continues driving.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
RESUME:
Where we last left off with Pinocchio and Polowsky. Polowsky scowls at
Pinocchio a final time before he plunges the knife into the ground.
DR. POLOWSKY
Mordred's coming. I can feel it. It's
only a matter of time.
He turns around, in time for us to see Pinocchio eye the knife still
embedded
in the dirt.
Just as Polowsky turns around, familiar footsteps suddenly approach.
Polowsky smiles, but it's not a pleasant smile. It's one of malice.
DR. POLOWSKY
What'd I tell you?
He turns around and tromps off toward the footsteps, still distant.
Pinocchio hesitates for a moment before pushing himself toward the knife.
CUT TO:
Polowsky stands in the middle of the clearing. Quite a while from where he
left Pinocchio. We can't even see the fire in the background. He turns
warily
to the camp. A shadow falls across the back of his head.
MORDRED
Polowsky.
Polowsky turns back, somewhat shaken. He's used to being referred to as
'master'.
DR. POLOWSKY
I'm pleased. You found us. Their
friends have not yet arrived.
Mordred bows his head and grits his teeth.
MORDRED
They no longer matter.
Polowsky arches an eyebrow.
DR. POLOWSKY
You were going to retrieve them and
keep them out of your way.
Mordred's lumbering arms suddenly snap around Polowsky's throat like a steel
trap. His grip tightens. Polowsky begins to wheeze.
MORDRED
You are a liar.
Polowsky continues to fight for air.
DR. POLOWSKY
Please . . . I can't . . .
MORDRED
You are a liar! I heard what that
man told you.
Polowsky's gasps become longer, but he begins to weaken.
MORDRED
You promised me freedom! You promised
greatness! You lie! I'm trapped in this
world forever, and you lied!
Mordred's eyes bulge. They blaze, bloodshot.
DR. POLOWSKY
No . . .
MORDRED
The end is nigh for you, Polowsky. I
will destroy you.
(beat)
You should have deleted me when you
had the chance.
Polowsky throws his head back.
CUT TO:
Pinocchio, wrenching free of the bonds with the knife. A cold-blooded scream
echoes through the forest.
RESUME:
Polowsky lands flat on the ground with a resounding thump. Mordred studies
him with an apparent hatred before he digitizes.
MORDRED
But now I have ended you.
He bounds off in the direction of the camp.
EXT. CAMP - NIGHT
Mordred appears, and thrashes the tent Polowsky set up into a pile of
battered
wood and a tarp. He laughs with an insufferable madness all the while.
Finally
he turns to the campfire and hurls his fists into the flames. It snuffs out
the blaze quickly.
He kicks the burnt embers and ashen wood away. His laughing continues.
He stares around at the tattered remains of the camp. From his POV, he sees
ropes lying on the ground. Their ends are cut up. Next to them lies a knife.
Mordred picks up the knife, and stares at the clean blade as it reflects the
moonlight. For no reason, he tosses it aside, almost disgusted.
MORDRED
I have no use for this.
>From his POV again, ZOOM IN on footprints in the muddy turf. They appear
freshly made, imprinted from combat boots.
MORDRED
You cannot evade me.
With a kick of speed, he disappears into the brush.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Pinocchio running through the forest. He's panting, but he can hear the
thundering footsteps behind him. They seem distant, but he knows if he
doesn't
continue, they won't stay distant for very long.
He stops and leans against a tree stump, trying to regain his breath.
After a short pause, the footsteps sound closer.
With a heave, he runs off further.
INT. CHEVELLE - NIGHT
WILLIAMS
Look. He's on the move.
He points at the screen. A blue blip on Gretchen's laptop is furiously
moving
about the screen. At some points, the image on it shifts.
A second blip appears. It's larger, and red.
WILLIAMS
What's that?
GRETCHEN
It's Mordred. He's following Pinocchio.
We have to find him before Mordred beats
us to the punch.
WILLIAMS (to Hobbes)
Turn the car. He's turning northeast.
HOBBES
Away from us.
Hobbes whirls the steering wheel.
EXT. ABANDONED ROAD - NIGHT
The Chevelle comes skidding, and swerves quickly to the left. It stops at a
perfect 360 degree turn. Almost knocking against a tree trunk.
INT. CHEVELLE - NIGHT
Hobbes looks shaken.
GRETCHEN
Don't do that again. Knowing Pinocchio,
he'll have your head if you scratch his
paint job.
EXT. ABANDONED ROAD - NIGHT
The wheels on the Chevelle spin, and the car drives off.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
On a clear, bubbling stream. It's shallow, we can still see the fish
swimming
playfully around it. Suddenly they dart off-screen, replaced by foam as
boots
splash into the water.
Pinocchio's breath is still stilted, but he must continue. He's soaked up to
his knees. He hauls himself from the water and bounds faster and faster into
the woodland.
>From his POV:
A narrow tunnel through a muddy dirt mound. It's about fifteen feet high.
Above him, lightning begins to flash, and the clouds beat out a murderous
thunder. It almost obscures the clamor of Mordred in pursuit.
Almost.
The footsteps still reach out toward Pinocchio. He shows no hesitation as he
hurls himself into the tunnel. He disappears down to his waist, finally
kicking his legs inside. He's now gone completely.
INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT
The thunder still hammers. Pinocchio grasps roots poking through the walls
of
the naturally-made underpass for support. He pulls himself forward by
pulling
on the roots, kicking with his feet, and clawing the ground. His face is
entirely covered in mud.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Same stream we were at earlier. The fish have rejoined in it. Like
clockwork,
they dart off camera just as larger, more monstrous shoes break the peace
and
cast ripples through the water.
Mordred pulls himself up. He's barely soaked to his shins.
He comes to the same tunnel, and peers into it.
INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT
One bloodshot eye blinks with sheer threat into it.
ZOOM IN:
On the footprint on the roof of the cavity. It's perfectly boot-shaped. Like
the footprints he saw earlier at the camp. Besides that, it is empty.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
With all his strength, Mordred forces his massive body into the tunnel. Dirt
falls as he bores into it like a jackhammer.
INT. TUNNEL - NIGHT
Mordred continues shoving his form through the tunnel.
Through his teeth, he chants, almost insane.
MORDRED
You are close. You are close. You
are close.
(beat)
I will have you.
>From his POV, we see the end of the tunnel. Light flashes across it. A few
seconds pass before thunder follows the flashes. Lightning. Mordred wriggles
his gargantuan shoulders. That is enough to push him along.
EXT. TUNNEL EXIT - NIGHT
His ghastly-pale face lurches out into the open air. Sweat drips down his
face
in torrents.
Lightning flashes again.
Out of nowhere, a thick, log-like piece of wood comes crashing down against
his face. It breaks in half, but only one piece of it splinters off and
rolls
off screen.
Mordred seems dazed, almost shocked by the suddeness of the attack. His
expression is someone we've never seen before. His beady eyes widen, and
then his pupils roll up into his sockets.
Finally, he's out cold.
PULL BACK:
Pinocchio is standing over him, half of the wood still grasped tightly in
his
hands. He coughs, finally gaining the breath he wants.
He reaches out to feel Mordred's pulse, but stops.
He backs off, almost frightened by the unconscious monstrosity. Then he
turns,
and trudges away again into the night.
It begins to rain.
TIME CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST - DAWN
The sun is beginning to come up, and Pinocchio is fast asleep against a tree
stump. We don't know how long he's been asleep, but he's limp. So limp, he
almost looks dead. The wood chunk he used on Mordred is lying next to him.
It looks like it has stopped raining for quite some time.
He jolts to life just as the shuffle of feet approach from behind him. He
grasps the wood and whirls around to face:
HOBBES
HOBBES
It's okay, Pinocchio. It's me.
Pinocchio grunts sardonically.
PINOCCHIO
About time.
He looks behind Hobbes just as Williams and Gretchen appear.
PINOCCHIO
What's she doing here?
HOBBES
She knows about the giant. About
Mordred.
PINOCCHIO
No kidding.
Gretchen approaches him.
GRETCHEN
Pinocchio . . .
PINOCCHIO
You can start by telling me what the
hell we're all running from.
GRETCHEN
It's an artificially created being. Supposed
to be for Santiago's army, a prototype.
PINOCCHIO
Was running around killing everyone in its
path part of the design?
Gretchen's eyes narrow. She isn't used to this.
GRETCHEN
He was a prototype for the Guardians.
Now what I'd like to know is how you're
still alive.
Pinocchio rolls his eyes.
PINOCCHIO
I clubbed him with a stick. You happy?
WILLIAMS
Where?
PINOCCHIO
What's it to you? When did you join the
brigade?
WILLIAMS
I want this thing bad. It killed my men.
Pinocchio sighs.
PINOCCHIO
I smacked the moron on the forehead. That
should be able to knock anyone out.
HOBBES
We're not dealing with a normal person.
GRETCHEN
Congratulations, Pinocchio, you found Mordred's
weakness for us.
Hobbes looks confusedly at Gretchen.
HOBBES (to Gretchen)
I thought you said he was designed to be
invincible.
GRETCHEN
That's why he wasn't up to Santiago's
standards.
WILLIAMS
What?
GRETCHEN
For security reasons, we uploaded an extra code
into him.
PINOCCHIO
What is it?
GRETCHEN
A file deletion trigger. A weakness in him. Kill
him there, hit him there, injure him in any way
on the location of the FDT, and he goes out.
HOBBES
That's why Santiago didn't want him. He had a
weakness. He didn't want any weaknesses on his
soldiers.
Gretchen nods.
Abruptly she flips open her laptop, switches it on, and types in some
commands.
GRETCHEN
We'd better hurry and stop him. It's encoded
in him now that he must end the game.
PINOCCHIO
Where's he headed?
Gretchen stares at the screen.
GRETCHEN
Southeast direction.
Pinocchio and Hobbes look at each other.
WILLIAMS
Santiago City.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
EXT. FRINGES OF SANTIAGO CITY - DAY
The brush rumbles just as muscular legs appear from it, thundering a
threatening call of footsteps we now know is all too familiar.
Mordred steps into view. He's maddened even more than previously,
not of anger, but of pure insanity. Blood has caked around his temples,
and a deep gash adorns his forehead like a symbol of honor.
MORDRED (to self)
The time is close at hand. This
world has seen its last sunrise.
He staggers further. The bushes beneath his feet disappear, turning
into a meadow.
>From Mordred's POV:
The fence of Santiago, Past it, the gleaming towers reaching toward the
heavens as if grasping into God's open palm.
Mordred walks up to the fence, and puts his hands on the fence.
A glitch?
No. Sparks fly, spreading their fiery embers in all directions. Bolts
surge up across Mordred's huge biceps, but he's smiling with glee.
Viciously, he rips the fence away. He tosses a huge portion onto the
ground. The sparks have alrighty ignited some grass on the floor, and
are consuming it. It's blackened.
The alarm starts briefly, as Mordred rips the overhead lights off.
It crashes on the ground, lifeless.
He walks painlessly into the confines of the fence.
MORDRED
I am the One.
EXT. ROADWAY - DAY
The Chevelle races down the disheveled highway.
INT. CHEVELLE - DAY
Pinocchio sits in the driver's seat, almost protectively. He's clutching
the MP5K in the same manner.
He turns to Hobbes in the backseat with Williams.
PINOCCHIO
Just so you know, Hobbes, I never
want you driving my car.
He returns his gaze to the road up ahead. Hobbes grins, but Pinocchio
doesn't look like that was intended to be a joke.
PINOCCHIO (muttering)
Bang up my car . . . hell.
He's right, too. From his POV, we can still see a giant dent on the
hood of the car.
Gretchen sits next to him.
GRETCHEN
He's just entered the City. Some data in
his code is degraded. He's weak. But still
operational. The FDT's probably not keeping
him entirely under control.
She frowns.
WILLIAMS
What is it?
GRETCHEN
He's under attack.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
A Humvee swerves to the side, bringing its crossed-swords emblem into
full view. The rapid beat of machine gun fire thrums across the mileu.
A Republican Guard, LIEUTENANT RENOIR, leaps out and joins the fray.
Mordred appears from the smoke of fired weapons a thrown grenades.
He's barely even hurt. Blood oozes onto his clothing, but his hideous
strength makes them seem obselete.
Renoir brings his gun forward, and opens fire. We see the material of
Modred's clothing twitch as bullets rip across him. Mordred suddenly
breaks into a run, sprinting as quickly as humanly possible with his
arms outstretched. Like battering rams, he pushes everyone out of his
way. Men scream as they slam across the pavement.
Renoir is still standing, the last man. He looks face up at Mordred,
who begins to chuckle.
MORDRED
So brave.
Renoir has a look of terror.
MORDRED
Pray that your master gets more mercy
than you do.
His arms are still stretched in a straight line from his body. With
full force, he slams his titan palms into each other, with Renoir's
head in between. As if he was swatting a fly between his hands.
Before we can see the incredibly gory sight, Renoir digitizes. Mordred
withdraws his blood-soaken fingers. He looks into the horizon.
Mordred's POV : Central Security
EXT. FENCE - DAY
The Chevelle comes to a halt, and all four step out.
Williams slips a new clip into his pistol, and sighs sharply. He then
smiles.
PINOCCHIO
Eager, aren't you?
Williams nods.
WILLIAMS
I'm doing this for the men who lost
their lives at the encampment.
HOBBES
Don't worry. You'll succeed.
WILLIAMS
I better.
(beat)
If I don't, I'll come back half a man.
Gretchen gives Williams a funny look before opening her laptop up.
GRETCHEN
Find a glitch in the fence while I
work on finding him.
PINOCCHIO (os)
I don't think we have to.
Gretchen looks up from the screen and stares in shock at the gaping
hole in the fence. Ripped apart by bare hands.
PINOCCHIO
The Terminator did it for us.
HOBBES
Where is he?
Gretchen's attention is snapped back to the screen. She presses keys
at an astounding pace.
GRETCHEN
I'm accessing his direction subroutines.
It looks like . . .
She bites her lip.
GRETCHEN
Central Security.
Hobbes looks bewildered.
HOBBES
Right to Santiago.
WILLIAMS
Santiago know about the FDT?
GRETCHEN
Yeah, but not where it is. Shake a leg.
He's within three miles of it.
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
Flames soar into life at Mordred's form from the nozzle of a flame
thrower. A Republican Guard is behind it, wearing a protective mask.
For a while, it seems as if Mordred is finally defeated.
Massive arms appear from the blaze and casually crush the thrower,
along with the Guardsmen's back.
His arms aren't blackened. Another Guard leaps up and tackles Mordred,
jamming the blade of an Army-issue survival knife into his arm. The
blade snaps like a piece of plastic.
Mordred wrestles him off and clenches his fist around the Guard's
throat. He tosses him aside, and the Guard slams across the glass
window of a shop on the street.
With a satisfied look, Mordred continues toward Central Security.
EXT. PERIMETER - DAY
HOBBES
How do we get there? Without any ID
chips . . .
GRETCHEN
We have them.
She reaches into her pocket and produces three ID chips.
GRETCHEN
Freddy wasn't the only chip forger in
Harsh Realm. And mine are more reliable.
Pinocchio seems almost amused by Hobbes' surprised look.
WILLIAMS
We still have to get to Central Security.
GRETCHEN
I'm working on a jump port. Something that'll
slip your three files into Central Security.
PINOCCHIO
And what about you?
Gretchen purses her lips.
GRETCHEN
I have to go. The refugees in the Underworld.
I left them as soon as I heard about Mordred.
They still need me.
WILLIAMS
You're gonna abandon us?
Gretchen finally bursts into anger.
GRETCHEN
Listen! This is your chance! If you let Mordred
kill Santiago, you risk crashing the system!
That's what he'll do! He'll crash it!
(beat)
Which means you, and hundreds of other soldiers
and millions of VCs are gonna die. No going home.
Williams has a defeated look.
Gretchen taps more keys. After a few tense moments, she looks up at
the three men, and bows her head.
GRETCHEN
Good luck.
Specifically, she's looking at Hobbes. She hands Pinocchio a palm
pilot, with a blinking dot on it.
GRETCHEN
You'll need it.
All three men pixellate.
INT. CENTRAL SECURITY - DAY
Inga and Waters are face to face in the hallway.
INGA
It's coming.
Waters nods.
WATERS
I heard. None of the troops seem to
be able to stop it. We've lost a lot
of men for one being.
INGA
It's headed here. For Santiago.
WATERS
It won't kill him.
INGA
How do you know?
Waters hesitates.
INGA
Santiago must be preserved if we are
to go forward.
WATERS
I think you know why he won't die. He'll
come. He'll stop it before it can get
to Santiago.
INGA
In any event, we must go. We risk being
destroyed if we remain here.
She walks away, leaving Waters unnerved for a while.
INT. SANTIAGO'S APARTMENT - DAY
Santiago puts his red beret on his head, and confidently stands. His
expression if one of bravery. He appears calculating in his mind.
He walks toward the door.
INT. SANTIAGO'S CENTRAL SECURITY OFFICE - DAY
He appears through the crossed-swords-laden door, and stares up at
the flag flapping a bit on the far wall. A symbol of his own glory.
Santiago sits down, and stares intently at the door.
We crane down to see a gun hidden beneath the desk. It's in a holster,
and fully loaded. His right hand rests on a knee directly below it.
And still he waits.
INT. CENTRAL SECURITY HALLWAY - DAY
With a gleam enough to blind anyone too close, the three figures
pixellate into existence. Williams pumps his pistol ready, and Hobbes
looks around warily.
HOBBES
Where is he?
Pinocchio fiddles with the palm pilot.
PINOCCHIO
Mordred's on the tenth floor.
WILLIAMS
And us?
Pinocchio looks around. He spies a number on an elevator shaft.
PINOCCHIO
Ninth.
Above them, heavy footsteps crash.
HOBBES
He wouldn't come here if Santiago wasn't
here.
PINOCCHIO
I know. And I know where Santiago would be.
Twelfth floor. Main offices.
INT. SANTIAGO'S CENTRAL SECURITY OFFICE - DAY
Just as Santiago sets a glass of water down, the doors fly open
violently. One slams across the east wall and falls weakly over to
the side.
Mordred arrogantly walks in. He is not weak, not scared. He only grins
in sickening triumph.
SANTIAGO
I've been expecting you.
Mordred stands before the Lord of the Realm.
SANTIAGO
I've heard much about you.
MORDRED
Of course you have. If it were not for your
orders, I would never have been created.
Santiago smiles.
SANTIAGO
You are a spectacular warrior. One bred to
be fierce, true to your master, and lacking
any weakness in body and soul.
MORDRED
I am a creation. Artificial.
SANTIAGO
No. You believe that I look down on the virtual
creations of this world. I ask you, are the
billions of lines of code any less marvelous
than the genes on a strand of DNA? No. Of
course not.
MORDRED
No. I do not believe. I am artificial. But I
will do what one man who many put faith in could
not.
SANTIAGO
I know it is in your programming.
MORDRED
Then you see why I do not have my own mind.
My own thinking. And I must end this game.
It is in me. I can't stop it. Can't control.
He repeats what we have always expected from him.
MORDRED
You are mine.
Santiago reaches down and pulls the gun out. He fires a shot at
Mordred's chest. Nothing.
He fires again at his jaw. Nothing.
He fires another shot at his shoulder. Nothing.
Mordred smiles.
Behind him, Hobbes, Pinocchio, and Williams burst in the room.
Williams immediately fires six shots at the hulking form.
Santiago ducks under his desk.
Mordred is unhurt. He grabs Williams and punches him in the stomach.
Williams flops down and shrieks in agony. He writhes on the floor
just as Mordred looks at Hobbes.
He suddenly erupts in rage.
MORDRED
NO! The glory is mine!
He grabs Hobbes and clenches him by the arm. Hobbes begins to convulse
with the ever tightening grasp of the giant.
Without warning, Mordred tosses him down. He whirls around to find
Santiago, but instead faces Pinocchio.
PINOCCHIO
Wanna rumble again, Rocky?
Rear view of Pinocchio. He has a penknife from Santiago's desk hidden
in his right hand.
Resume Mordred. His breathing is beginning to heave more with rage.
He grabs Pinocchio by the neck and lifts him up. From Pinocchio's POV,
Mordred's eyes are wide, his grin broadening.
MORDRED
Finally. You will taste my wrath. You
cannot defeat me twice.
PINOCCHIO
Oh yeah?
Pinocchio is mustering strength visibly. Suddenly, he lifts the
penknife up and jams it into Mordred's forehead.
Mordred loses his grasp. Pinocchio lands on the floor. He's still
looking at the titan.
Mordred totters backwards, and then falls limply on the ground. He thrashes
wildly, trying to get hold of the penknife sticking from his
forehead. Anger pulses through his already bulging veins. He screams in
defeat. His eyes close, and then he begins to digitize.
Hobbes sits up, still stunned from being tossed by Mordred. A hand
slides into frame.
He looks up to see Pinocchio's face beyond the open hand.
PINOCCHIO
Come on.
Hobbes scans the room.
HOBBES (wheezing)
Santiago. He was here.
Pinocchio shakes his head.
PINOCCHIO
He slipped out while Mordred was
busy with me.
Hobbes looks at Williams, who's trying to regain his strength.
PINOCCHIO
Let's go.
INT. CENTRAL SECURITY HALLWAY - DAY
The three men emerge from the battered doors, but not the slightest
hint of victory crosses them.
WILLIAMS
Where do you think Santiago is? We still
have to kill him.
Hobbes shakes his head.
HOBBES
No. Another time. There'll be another time.
VOICE (os)
Did you do it?
The three turn around to find Gretchen.
PINOCCHIO
Yeah. We did.
GRETCHEN
I'm glad you're still here. I worried you
might have made a break for the Portal.
Williams' eyes fly open.
HOBBES
No, there's still work to do.
WILLIAMS
The Portal?! It's here?
HOBBES
Williams, no . . . you said you wanted to
stay. To lead your men.
WILLIAMS
I only want to go home.
He winces in regret.
WILLIAMS
I never told you, but they threw me out. That's
why I survived. I was away from the camp when it
went the way of the dinosaur.
HOBBES
Then stay with us.
WILLIAMS
No. I'm going home.
He turns and flies down the corridor, to disappear.
HOBBES
Williams . . .
Gretchen stops him with a comforting hand before he goes in pursuit.
GRETCHEN
A man must choose his own destiny.
She smiles wanly, a vain attempt to reconcile him.
GRETCHEN
Let's go.
FADE TO :
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
In front of a gleaming fire, Hobbes sits with Pinocchio. Two men,
perhaps the most valiant of all in Harsh Realm. Though they should
be celebrating their victory, they don't. They remain soberly looking
into the embers.
Hobbes finally breaks the silence.
HOBBES
Good work, huh?
Pinocchio doesn't answer. He's still transfixed on the blaze.
HOBBES
I never told you this before, Pinocchio,
but . . . I admire you.
Pinocchio grunts.
HOBBES (continuing)
You're one of the best soldiers I've ever
served with.
Pinocchio looks Hobbes straight in the eye. It's not a particularly
nice look either.
PINOCCHIO
Served with? We're not in the Army anymore.
Hobbes sighs.
HOBBES
Still, you're pretty damn good in a fight.
Pinocchio puts in another piece of firewood, then stands up and begins
to walk to the Chevelle in the background.
Hobbes grins.
HOBBES
You sure proved that the penknife is mightier
than the crossed swords!
He chuckles a bit at his own joke. Pull back to Pinocchio.
He doesn't find it funny. Instead, he goes and sits back down with
Hobbes, who's looking into the sky.
FADE TO:
INT. CENTRAL SECURITY HALLWAY - DAY
Williams steps out into the clean, mirror-walled hallways of the
Fourteenth floor. The Portal level.
Hobbes' and Pinocchio's conversation continue above the scene.
HOBBES (vo)
You know, they say that man is unique from
animals.
Williams has his gun drawn. His face is taut with tension.
He walks over to the chip scanner in front of the Portal room and
stands before it as it reads his chip.
HOBBES (vo)
Animals fight for food, mating, territory.
The door whooshes open, and he enters.
INT. PORTAL ROOM - DAY
Williams looks around suspiciously, expecting something to happen.
With a sigh, he lies down on the dentist chair-like seat.
HOBBES (vo)
But mankind is different. We fight uniquely
for our beliefs.
The headphones close in over his head. He closes his eyes.
The Portal begins to absorb him. His head, his shoulders, chest, arms,
stomach, finally all the way to his waist disappear.
PINOCCHIO (vo)
That's a load of garbage. Especially here,
in Harsh Realm.
Two hands wrap around Williams' legs before he is completely gone,
and gives a gruff yank to them. Williams' body reappears, palled in
an eerie blue glow. As if he's going to digitize at any moment.
PINOCCHIO (vo)
In Harsh Realm, we aren't any more savage
than animals. Out here, we're fighting for
survival. You and I have to fight for food.
We have to fight just to stay alive on both
sides of the fence.
With a flicker, the glow disappears. From his POV, he looks at the
owner of the hands that pulled him from freedom.
Waters.
The Republican Guard Major leads him away.
INT. PROJECT HARSH REALM WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Rows and rows of catatonic men, all hooked up to the same maniacal
Hell of a game. All showing no emotion. Only slumber. At peace.
Certainly not what they're going through in Harsh Realm.
Rest on one of the men. Mark Williams.
PINOCCHIO (vo)
And like an animal, Santiago's fighting
for territory. It's only a lie behind the
mask of utopian vision. Some twisted little
hellhole he can call a country.
Crane up. One of the project doctors begins to notice the body of
Williams stir. He looks over on one of the computer monitors next
to him.
ON THE SCREEN :
It reads in fuzzy white text font - "49 percent upload".
He returns, almost horrified, to the body beginning to flutter awake.
HOBBES (vo)
I don't believe that. Isn't there
something you believe in? Something
that urges you on to fight?
Mark Williams sits up from the gurney, and looks around. His eyes
rest on something. And we pull back to see what it is.
Michael Pinocchio himself. Catatonic, scarred, and legless.
Williams is wrapped in a white robe and led away. The camera never
moves from Pinocchio's face.
PINOCCHIO (vo)
To hell with everything I ever believed
in.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END.