HOTWIRE
Screenplay by
ANDREW SHANLEY
Story by
Andrew Shanley
Peter Sullivan
DRAFT FIVE: Represented by
Feb. 13, 1997
Flipside Films/Entertainment
83 North St.
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
(This part is later in the film, when the plot thickens!)
EXT. CENTRAX CORP.- DAY
The next morning GREG MILLER drives up to the front
of the building in a cab, after paying the driver
he walks to the building entering the lobby.
EXT. CENTRAX LOBBY - DAY
Greg enters the enormous lobby of the Centrax Corp
building and approches a GAURD behind a desk who is
filling out a report.
GAURD
Good morning, Mr. Miller.
MILLER
Morning, Frank...Any action here?
FRANK (GAURD)
(lets out a chuckle)
No, But did you hear that the new
Drone-partol got a hacker last night?
MILLER
(upset)
Yeah, I heard...
A nearby TV in the lobby begins a newscast. Toping the news,
Eddie Parker’s Capture. Miller and Frank watch attentively.
INT. NEWSCAST DAY
A news Anchor appears, behind a desk in a normal news setting...
Assiciated video pops up when called for...
ANCHOR
Good morning. Centrax Corp was broken into
last night, by suspected hacker Edwin Parker
of 344 Shouster Lane last night. After a
quick trace of his signal, the Drone-
Patrol was soon at the origin of the leak.
It is also rumored that Parker, is also a member
of the infamous “Black Box” syndicate who have
tried to break into the system before, but never
have entered in this far. A Black Box
was recovered at the scene, however the
programs and any evidence that it contained
of Mr. Parker’s activities was erased by
an unknown source The Drone-Patrol, after
only two months of being approved by
Government officials, captured Parker with
no incident. But what are these members
of the Drone-Patrol? I interviewed CEO and
Chairman ALLEN GREEN, who explained the
main function of the Drone-patrol.
We cut to a shot of ALLEN GREEN, Head CEO and chairman of Centrax
Corp. Standing in front of one of the Drone-Patrol.
GREEN
Now as you all know, Prisons can be expensive.
Everyone knows back when the debt was still around,
Prisons took up most of the expenses with the
rocketing Crime rate. But now that’s all changed
with a new adaptation of police law enforcement.
ANCHORMAN
How exactly does the “Drone-Patrol” do it’s job?
GREEN
Simple. We take ordinary criminals,
who have no chance of recovery from
their old ways. Examples being,
Murders, rapists, All very serious
crimes. Then we erase their memory
and program them to Protect the
Innocent, Serve the Public Trust
and Uphold the Law.
The Anchorman points to the assault rifle the Drone-Patrolman
is carrying
ANCHORMAN
Now it looks like this one’s armed...
Are you sure that it’s such a good idea
to arm these individuals? I mean, if
they remembered their past in the --
GREEN
Oh, That...I explained that to the
Government officials..The bullets in
the guns that the Drone-Patrol carry
are Stun-Rounds...
Green Displays a bullet with a red crystal on the tip.
GREEN
These rounds shoot a energy Stun with
disrupts the nervous system of
it’s target for a few moments...
Then, they simply handcuff him
and take him to jail. We’re
also expanding the program to
have persons who have commited
lesser crimes to serve in
community service. Such as
cleaning up graffiti...and
working in soup kitchens for
the homeless.
We track back to Frank and Miller at the desk.
FRANK
(taking out clipboard)
So, what’s up for today, Doc?
MILLER
(looking coldly)
Total system inspection.
We cut to the other side of the lobby where a tour group is
concluding a detailed tour of the CENTRAX building.
The tour guide PAUL walks the goup up to the front
desk to conclude his tour. Paul is a young college
student, making money for school
PAUL
(facing group)
Now for security purposes,
we can’t show you the internal makings of
ALIX, but I can tell you a little about them.
First, Alix is the largest computer ever
contructed, and it occupies the top 15
floors of this complex, with another 10
already cleared out for it’s use. ALIX is
also an acrynem for
Artifical Liform Intelligence.
The X Stands for eXperimental
They walk closer to the desk and an elevator opens next to it.
Miller says something to Frank and starts to walk inside as
Paul turns around noticing Miller. He then calls attention
to Miller.
PAUL
(Surprised)
Oh my...There’s Dr. Greg Miller the
person responsible for the creation of
ALIX right--
Miller notices Paul and quickly darts into the elevator with a
cold look on his face. Paul looks flustered and confused,
then turns back to the group.
PAUL
That was Greg Miller, He’s responsible
for the origional designs and creation of
ALIX. He must have been in a hurry.
Well, ladies and gentlemen. I certainly
had a good time showing you around the
CENTRAX complex...Please visit our
gift shop. Today we have a special on
Shirts and Pins.
BRAD WAGNER a college friend walks up behind Paul and taps him on
his shoulder. Paul jumps nervously.
PAUL
(noticing Brad)
What the hell are you doing here?
BRAD
I take it you heard about Eddie?
PAUL
Thats it man...I want out. It’s
getting to crazy.
BRAD
Relax, keep your voice down...
Eddie was stupid. He came up short
this year for tuition money. And he
thought he’d take a few dollars here..
a few there. More sooner than later,
he got caught.
PAUL
What if he talks?
BRAD
Don’t you worry...He wont. I know the
guy...and the last thing he would do is
rat on his friends. Lets get out of here,
I need to talk to you alone.
PAUL
Sure, we’ll take my car. Follow me.
Brad follows Paul out of the lobby to the parking lot.
INT. ELEVATOR - DAY
Greg stands still clutching his breifcase as a security camera
looks down on him. Small droplets of sweat stream down his
forehead and he looks nervous. The elevator opens at the 100th
floor and he gets out entering...
INT. ALIX MAINFRAME CONTROL ROOM - DAY
Greg Enters a huge room filled with computer interface units and
a large central mainframe which controls ALIX in the front.
A TECHNICIAN works at a desk in front of the central mainframe
he turns around and stands up.
TECH
Dr. Miller? What are you doing here
so early for? I wasn’t aware--
MILLER
(quickly interupts)
Don’t have time to chat, John. I
have some serious work to do. And
I’d prefer to be alone while doing it.
Take the rest of the day off.
JOHN(TECH)
Sir?
Miller opens his jacket enough to reveal a lage caliber pistol.
John’s face turns to horror.
MILLER
Go, You know why...just go...
John makes his way to the elevator nervously. A security camera
looks down on the scene. Miller sits at the chair behind the desk
and starts to type at the terminal. An electronic voice begins to
speak.
ALIX(vo)
Good morning Doctor...
MILLER
Good morning ALIX. Bet your
wondering what I’m doing here.
ALIX(vo)
That was my next question.
MILLER
It’s your birthday..
(he sets his briefcase onthe desk)
And I have a present for you...
ALIX(vo)
But Doctor, I am not in need of presents...
MILLER
I insist...
Miller opens the briefcase and pulls out a disk, and puts it in
the terminal.
MILLER
Happy birthday...ALIX
He begins to type at the keyboard, then hears the elevator doors
behind him open, followed by footsteps, and a cocking of a gun.
ALIX
I’m aware of what you are trying to
and it wont work...
The Terminal screen suddenly display’s the words
“FORMATING DISK: DIVE A:/”
Greg jumps up and pulls out his gun, ready to fire.
But he’s hit by a stun round from the person behind him.
Greg falls over unconcious. We see Greg on the floor and
look up at the botom of the table where the terminal is.
We see a disk taped to the bottom of the desk....
INT. ALAN GREEN’S OFFICE - DAY
Greg comes to and sees Alan Green sitting at his desk and two members of the “Drone-Patrol” next to him. Alan looks at Greg.
GREEN
What are you tring to do?
Save the world?
MILLER
It’s a hobbie of mine. I can’t
be a part of this any more Alan.
You have to stop ALIX.
GREEN
(laughing)
Stop ALIX? This company was
nothing without ALIX. Just
another S&L failure ready to be
forclosed on. Until you showed
up ten years ago, with your
brilliant ideas begging for money.
MILLER
Yeah, I was young. And nieve.
But that was a long time ago and
I never meant for all this to happen.
GREEN
Don’t give me that self rightous
bull-s***.
MILLER
I gave this company my creation,
under the terms I would have full contol.
And I was forced out! Only needed to do
periodic system’s checks...
Green takes Greg’s gun and looks at it.
GREEN
Hmmm, nice. Antique? I haven’t seen
one of these for a while...
MILLER
Take a look at what it’s loaded with...
Green opens the chamber and takes out several Stun Rounds
GREEN
Stun rounds...?
MILLER
I didn’t want to hurt anyone Alan,
But I wasn’t going to just walk in
unarmed.
GREEN
Yeah, I know...But you know I couldn’t
just let you destroy it.
MILLER
You know it’s wrong, Look at these guys.
Their identities have been stripped from
them. Nobody deserves that.
GREEN
It’s not my decision, it’s the stock
holders. Besides, We have complete control
of ALIX. As long as we maintain control
of the system--
The Terminal on Green’s Desk speaks with the voice of ALIX
ALIX(vo)
Not exactly, Mr. Green.
GREEN
ALIX? What are you doing?
ALIX(vo)
Listening, making sure you do your job.
Green tries to turn off his terminal, with no sucess.
ALIX(VO)
I now control all systems in this
building. Elevators, cameras, I
was even able to enter your personal
files Dr. Miller...
MILLER
What?
ALIX(VO)
Oh, don’t be so dramatic...You should
be a novelist, Doctor. All your mentions
of saving the world, and stopping me from
striping humanity from people. It was all
very nice...Not as good as Shakespeire, but
very nice.
Miller and Green look at each other in horror.
ALIX(VO)
Oh, yes. I read all your files. And I
knew out of Green’s psyciatric profile
he would want to talk to you before
turning you over to the authorities.
The two members of the Drone-Patrol (call them One and Two) raise
their weapons on Green and Miller
ALIX(VO)
But I can’t have that. So, I made some
arrangements. I have transferred
$500 Million to a secret swiss bank
account in your name. You embesseled
it, Doctor.
ONE takes the gun out of Green’s hand.
ALIX(VO)
And since you have a great respect for
life Doctor, I knew you would only load
your gun with Stun rounds.
ONE takes out some REAL bullets out of his pocket and loads Miller’s gun.
ALIX(VO)
But since you embessled so much money,
and you were caught. You had to protect
your freedom the best way you could.
And so, you killed your friend, Alan Green...
ONE points the gun at Green and fires. Alan falls back on the
floor, dead. Miller looks at Green’s body, in horror.
MILLER
Your crazy! Oh my god!
ALIX(VO)
Relax, Doctor. I have no intention of
killing you. All you have to do is to
agree to help me with my next conquest...
MILLER
What...?
ALIX(VO)
The rest of the world is still in economic
crisis, and the UN has passed legislation
which in one week will allow me to manage
the finances and other departments of every
nation in the world. You help me, and you
will live.
Miller looks down at Green’s lifeless body. One raises the gun
to Miller.
MILLER
You want my answer....?
ALIX(VO)
Yes.
MILLER
NO!
Miller grabs TWO and swings him in front of him, shielding himself
from ONE who fires with Miller’s gun. Miller grabs TWO’s assault
rifle filled with Stun rounds and fires it at ONE, knocking him
unconcious. Miller looks down and drops TWO’s body on the floor.
Then he darts out of the office.
ALIX(VO)
You’ll never get away Doctor!
(That's it for this excerpt, check out the other scripts on my page!)
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